Saturday, December 30, 2006

Rain--Rain


Nearly the end of December and we have nearly 2" of rain so far. more moving in shortly. Goodness it would have been 20+ inches if it had come as snow.

This is a small quilt of painted poppies, then thread painting was done over the top of the paint to enhance the flowers. Had a lot of fun doing this, it was inspired by a greeting card.

Have been cutting squares from scrap fabric. 38+ years of scrap fabric---about time I did something with it-right?

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Try # 2


Will try again---Yea it worked. here is the Peek of Pink entry. May have figured it all out now, just missed clicking one box last night. enjoy

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

hummm

picture didn't load--will try again tomorrow when I can think--

Christmas

Whew made it through another Christmas, now to make it through the New Year changeovers, well probably won't stay up to watch it come in, so had best "sew".

Will try to remember how to put a picture up on here. My 06 Hoffman Challenge piece, A Peek of Pink. It didn't get selected to travel this year, my 04 and 05 pieces did travel.

Monday, December 25, 2006

I did it!!! Yea!!



Finally figured out how to get the picture to load, so now I can share some more.
This is the full picture of the CQC 07 raffle quilt and a closeup of the stitching.

Through the Garden Gate

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas, do not know how it got to be Christmas so fast, but its here again. Will have company later in the day, but all in all will be a quiet time for us. Rick will be over after he gets up. Works 6pm to 6am, so sleeps during the day.

Will cut some more scrap fabrics into strips and squares until company comes. Have another quilt that needs quilting too, so may start that this evening. Its pieced and basted and ready to quilt.

Have a grand day.

Friday, December 15, 2006

Its done

Whew its done, finished the quilting on the fund raiser quilt in time for its debute on the 12th. Will I ever volunteer to do this again? probably, but not for a while.

Finished a challenge quilt also. Just had to add binding to it. Also completed the top to another challenge quilt due next August. I'm ahead of the game for once. Now to just keep this going all year. Maybe 2007 will mean I finish lots of P.I.G.S (projects in grocery sacks) I can hope.

Still haven't figured out how to post pictures, maybe soon.

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

Another day

Another day of working on the quilt. Am down to the last feather sprays on the border and then will have the last stippling on the outer border and it will be ready to bind. Should have it done for next Tuesday deadline. Will be happy its done.

Had a bit of complication with a Ganglion Cyst popping up on my left wrist. Makes it painful to type, can quilt as I don't use the wrist action much for that, but sure hurts to type. Or keyboard as its known today.

Getting cold and supposed to be 0 degrees in the morning. At least no snow so thats a blessing.

back to the quilt.

Saturday, November 25, 2006

stupid computers

Ah well, maybe it isn't the computer, just the operator!! Anyway have had computer messed up.

Quilt is coming along nicely, Center is completely finished and I'm working on the outer background quilting. Should complete it by my deadline of 2nd Tuesday of Dec. I can hope anyway. All is working out better than I had hoped though.

If I could figure out how to get pictures on here things would be more interesting, eventually I hope.
Had a wonderful Thanksgiving at DD's home. Lots of good eating and visiting, oldest GS didn't get to come because he had to work. However he said it was triple time pay, so it took some of the pain out of having to work that day.

I'm behind in my postcard swaps, but hope to catch up this next week. Hate it when that happens.

Ordered the new fabric silhouettes book, looks interesting and I have some good ideas to use this in the near future. Also ordered the new Dazzling quilts book, lots of ideas for embellishments in it. Now to have time to try what I have read.

Need to find the new Hoffman challenge fabric as I have an idea for an entry for that again this year. Traveled 2 out of the last 3 years, so not to bad. Wish me luck on this one.

Club wants to try journal quilts, so have to work something up for the January meeting on that subject. Hope I can get them started trying new things.

Thats all for now, break time is over and its back to the quilting machine.

Saturday, November 11, 2006

Back

A while since I wrote anything. Elections are over (thank goodness) the locals went the way I hoped and we still have a very good town board. Whew. So many half truths and outright lies from the opposition. Thankfully people saw through the garbage and re-elected the good guys.

Quilt is coming along. I'm enjoying the process and hope it turns out like planned, came up with a cool (at least I think so) background quilting design that is a combination of McTavishing and feathers. Hope it keeps going well.

Finished my Norfolk challenge and the tulip stained glass from retreat. Feels good to accomplish something for a change. Seems like I have been spinning my wheels all fall.

Signed up to go to Ricky Tims seminar in Omaha next August. Should be a fun 2 1/2 days. Of course its just a couple weeks after state meeting so will be a busy time.

Colder today, a bit of snow covering the ground yesterday but it melted quickly.

Sunday, October 29, 2006

tried to load a picture

Will see if anything happens. May figure this picture thing out yet.

just checking

Good the post went through this time.

progress

Fund raiser top is complete and backing is ready, now to baste and start the quilting.

progress

Progress to report on the fund raiser quilt. The applique is complete and quilt is layered and ready to begin the quilting. Only glitch was when I tried to dye the backing fabric, it didn't turn out very well. Ended up ordering the same batik that is used on the front of the quilt. It will add a bit to the cost of the quilt, but will be worth it in the end. (I hope)

Have been out of the loop for a week as I strained my back last Sunday, so have been spending loads of time on ice packs. Ugh. Haven't done this for years, but its healing up fine, so am thankful for that.

Finished my CPQG challenge quilt. If I can ever figure out how to get pictures onto this site, I will post pictures. It takes me a bit to figure things out.

Supposed to be 70 degrees out today, so will require that I take a walk in the warm air. I do not expect many more of these Indian Summer days as it has been rather chilly for the last month. In a way I look forward to winter as I get lots of stitching done when not interrupted with outside events.

The only major event for winter will be CPQG retreat in February. That will be more work this year as I am on the committee. I think we have it mostly planned, but the last minute details will take away from some stitching time. Everyone has to take their turns at being on committee though. The last time I was on, the dates got switched and I had to miss as I was hosting a bus trip to Chicago Quilt Festival. That is the only time in 15 years I missed retreat.

Wish I could explain to my body that daylight savings time changed. grin-- I still wake up at the same time so now instead of waking at 5 I will be awake at 4---grrrr. But morning is my favorite time of day, so thats ok too.

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

retreat

Another week is gone. CQC retreat was this past weekend. I finished 5 sets of postcards to swap, plus a tulip stained glass small quilt. Shirley taught the stained glass workshop. 14 attended this year, so was a good attendance for our small group.
We had Bonnie Kucera at our Norfolk guild meeting this past Monday. She brought lots of her quilts to show. Bonnie is a former member who moved, so it was nice to see her again.

First snow today. Just flurries around 5 AM, but it is the first snow of the season. If the old wives tale is correct we will have 18 snows this winter. OH I hope its not correct!!! Not that happy with snow.

Started my Norfolk challenge and have the top ready to stitch down the applique. Its to be a small Christmas Quilt. Should be fun seeing what everyone comes up with.

Back to laundry now, then plan to finish the small challenge quilt.

Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Quilting Design

Finished perforating the quilting design for the fund raiser quilt. Will use the heat removable Quilt Pounce to mark the design on the feathers.

One more beautiful day, then cooler for a few and possibly some rain. Hope its nice for Threads on Friday and Saturday. My demo's are ready, just need to pull together a few things in my demo basket and clean and oil my machine. Should be a fun time and hopefully we will raise lots of $$ for the Quilt Study Center in Lincoln.

Sunday, October 01, 2006

Job accomplished

Finished getting my posterboards ready for Threads. One a step by step on how to make fabric postcards, the other with samples of 20 different cards I have made. Should give everyone a good idea on how to get started. Will demo them on friday and saturday. Should be a fun time and hope we make big bucks for the Quilt Study Center.

Need to run a few loads of laundry through, so had best get with it.

Friday, September 29, 2006

still here

Haven't had time to write anything or to even stitch anythng for the last days. The pear tree has had bushels of fruit this year. between trying to give it away I have put 24 gallon in the freezer. UGH. Need to get back to some fun stiff soon or I will go stir crazy.

Did help work on ornaments for our quilt guild tree a the Festival of Trees. They are really neat stockings, trees, bells, gingerbread men, hearts, mittens and several other designs. Done with wool felt and buttonhole stitch.

Norfolk Guild had their quilt show last week, had to work there too, but it turned out OK even though it did drizzle most of the day. Think that may have brought people into the exhibit as it was so nasty outdoors.

Think I had best go re-arrange some dust.

Friday, September 15, 2006

Stitching

No time to stitch the last days. The pear tree has bushels of pears on it and I am peeling and freezing pears. Takes a bit of time and effort to keep up.

Did get the fund raiser quilt to Gloria to stitch down the appliques. When she is done we will baste it and I will quilt it. Hope it turns out like we planned it

Elderly neighbor fell and broke her leg a couple days ago. Luckily someone saw her and called 911. Rescue was there within a couple minutes and they had her packaged and on the way to hospital in good time. She has been having some problems lately so all the neighbors keep an eye on her while she is outdoors. Paid off this time as three of us were with her within a minute or two. She has had surgery to set the break and is doing oK.

Had a good speaker at the last club meeting. Lots of beautiful old quilts as well as some neat stories about the quilts. Had a pot luck lunch which went over well.

Must get to re-arranging some dust.

Sunday, September 10, 2006

wet and dreary day

Its a wet and dreary day today. Over 2" of rain last night and this morning. Good day to try to get some stitching done.

Will try to get the center of the fund raiser quilt done today. Gloria will then stitch it down and we will get it basted and I will be doing the quilting.

Worked on several postcards this morning --one for Halloween swap has purple fabric with black bats printed on it. I am quilting a silver spider web over this and will put black spiders crawling on the web. Should make a very spooky Halloween card.

Have been working on a new class for Quilt University. This is on embroidery stitche basics. Hope to have it ready in a couple weeks. I expect it to run after the first of the year.

Friday, September 08, 2006

Busy Week

Not a lot of time to work on fun things this week. Pear tree is getting ripe so have been preserving the fruit. Oh my gosh, I think there must be 25 bushel on it this season. Neighbors will love me or hate me depending on how many pears they get.

Found some new stick on foam shapes at craft shop, think they will work well on postcards. Assuming I add some jewel it glue to the backs to be sure they stay on through the mails.

Have been sorting cookbooks and parting with the ones I no longer use a lot, copying favorites out of each and putting them into a file. Making space. Now if I can convince myself to do this with some quilting books, I will make some room in my studio. Wishful thinking here.

Still haven't figured out the picture downloading. Am keeping trying though.

Monday, September 04, 2006

Cutting complete

Spent yesterday afternoon and most of today finishing cutting out the fused pieces for the fund raiser quilt. Now to get it on the quilt backing center and get the first stitching done.

Next step will be to get a drawing done of all the detail work and get it stamped onto the applique pieces. Will make a tracing paper copy, then run through it with an unthreaded sewing machine needle. Use the heat eraseable marking powder to get all the detail marked , then get ready to start the quilting.

Still have not mastered how to get pictures on here, but hope to figure it out soon.

Beautiful day here in the middle of the country. Sunshine, cool breeze and mild temperatures.

Saturday, September 02, 2006

trying again

Hummm posted an update blog yesterday and it didn't show up, Suppose its out in cyberspace making the rounds. Anyway I said I was working on the fusible for the quilt I am doing. Have it all cut out and ready to start fusing.

Will see if this come through.

Saturday

Progress is being made on the quilt. Still have not figured out how to put up pictures, but maybe soon.

Its cool today, we missed the rain, but the sunshine was nice. Hope it stays mild.

must get back to work on the quilt.

Friday, September 01, 2006

Its Friday already

Haven't accomplished a lot the last couple days. Took some excess "stuff" to town to a gal who puts it on ebay for us. Took hubby for checkup on his foot, all is going nicely, thank you!!!

Today I traced all the templates onto fusible web and have them cut out ready to fuse to the fabrics this weekend. Hope to accomplish that tomorrow.

Sent out 35 postcards, wish I could figure out how to get pictures up, but so far they will not load. Not sure what I am doing wrong as I get the box that says brouse and when I try to transfer the photo it doesn't go.

Was another beautiful day here today. Cool and crisp, a treat after all the heat this summer. Supposed to rain tonight, so hope they know what they are talking about, we need the moisture.

Pear tree is almost ready to pick. Hate the thought of preserving the pears, but they do taste good in the winter time. Also am anxious to make a pear pie. They are yummy.

Thats all for now. Good night.

Its Friday already

Haven't accomplished a lot the last couple days. Took some excess "stuff" to town to a gal who puts it on ebay for us. Took hubby for checkup on his foot, all is going nicely, thank you!!!

Today I traced all the templates onto fusible web and have them cut out ready to fuse to the fabrics this weekend. Hope to accomplish that tomorrow.

Sent out 35 postcards, wish I could figure out how to get pictures up, but so far they will not load. Not sure what I am doing wrong as I get the box that says brouse and when I try to transfer the photo it doesn't go.

Was another beautiful day here today. Cool and crisp, a treat after all the heat this summer. Supposed to rain tonight, so hope they know what they are talking about, we need the moisture.

Pear tree is almost ready to pick. Hate the thought of preserving the pears, but they do taste good in the winter time. Also am anxious to make a pear pie. They are yummy.

Thats all for now. Good night.

Friday, August 25, 2006

Still learning

I'm still learning how to get around here. Will figure out picture posting soon, I hope!!

I've been working on several projects this week. First is getting my swap postcards out for September. I'm up to the 15th and working. When I figure the picture thing out will share with you.

Also working on a new class for quilt university. I'm about 3/4 done with that. Should be ready for January release. Thats what I am shooting for anyway.

Working on the quilt club 2007 fund raising quilt. Will be applique and quilted with lots of feathers and background quilting. Made the large templates yesterday, and now need to get them traced onto fusible. The applique is machine fusible applique. Then a friend will do the actual applique on the pieces. I will finish the quilting and she will bind it. This has to be done by December. Hope it all goes well.

Almost chilly this AM when out for my morning walk. Ah fall, a beutiful time of year. A huge flock of blackbirds were migrating through this morning. A sure sign of fall. Also quite a few Monarch butterflies were floating South.

Now off to see if I can figure out how to add pictures to this.

Sunday, August 20, 2006

trying to find a picture

August 20--new blog

Oh my goodness, I think I just created a blog. Now what am I going to do with it? I guess I will just have to keep a record of what I am creating each day or so and see what happens. Need to learn how all this works, but hey, nothing ventured nothing gained. Jo