Ghosts in the Electricity

I took my machine in for it's semi annual cleaning (late as usual), which meant I had to come home and rearrange everything so my back up machine could be used.  I spent 30 minutes looking for the table insert, that I had recently seen but couldn't remember where.  I knew I kept it somewhere safe because I was going to need it soon. I finally found it under neath by bed, go figure. 

So I get the machine set up, add a book underneath to make it the same size, since I didn't want to adjust my Koala table---it is a big pain for me, and get everything plugged in and I am already to go...or so I thought.  I turn on the machine and nothing.  I fiddle around with the cord and nothing.  I move the machine to another room, plug it in and nothing. 

So in a state of panic, who wants to be without a machine for a week, I grab it up and head back up the the LQS where my other machine is waiting patiently to be picked up today for its week long trip.  I figure I will try one of their cords and see if it works.  If not I will rotate the machines and keep the working one until the other one gets back.  Well....lo and behold I barrow one of their cords, plug it in, and it works... What???? So I unplug their cord and try again with my cord..it works.   What???? So I just decided to wait a few minutes and try again and it still works.  Ok...don't know what that was all about but I turn around and come home (good thing quilt store is only 10 minutes away) and get the machine and set it up again, plug it in and it works. 

There must have been some ghosts in my electricity giving me grief......so I did get some sewing done but not as much as planned.  I finished another 2 steps in my Jovial Christmas Ribbons...

I might get this top finished yet.

Michelle

Jelly Roll Christmas

I didn't get a bunch of stuff done over the weekend.  I decided to take a break from my DJ blocks and start cutting fabric for a new quilt....of course I still don't need a new one..but what can you do.

I just love Jovial by Basic Grey for Moda...so what is a girl to do but find some fabric and have some fun.  I have been wanting to make all of the quilts out of  Kim Brackets books so I bit the bullet and here I am.  It seemed like it took forever to cut the fabric for this. I think that is because I have been doing the DJ blocks and only have to cut a little, sew a little, cut a little, scream a little, sew a little, cuss a little...well you get the idea. 


I just hope I am able to spend sometime getting to know my quilting machine so that I can start busting out all of these flimsies I have piled up. 

Well I am off to take my baby (my machine) in to the shop for service, which means it won't be back until next week.  So I will have to move my 220 over and get that set up, which changing my Koala table around to fit is a pain in the rumpus...oh well.  I have decided that I am going to use the 220 as much as possible and save my 440 (btw these are Berninas) for embroidery and decorative stitches.  It already has a bagillion stitches on it so I have to give it some TLC for awhile.

Hope everyone gets a chance to sew.

Michelle

Winner and Results

Well, I decided to wait until late last night to draw a winner, then I fell asleep. Woke up early to hit the walking trail so now here I am.

The results of the favorite quilt are.....

1. Blue Ridge Beauty
2. RRCB
3. Undecided
4. Orange Crush
5. Carolina Christmas
6.. Perkiomen Dreams, Random Ohio Stars,  Star Struck, Basket Weave, Double Delight.
7. Jared Takes A Wife, Smith Mountain, Bricks and Stepping Stones, and "Whatever The Next One" is.


So the winner of the magazine....is number 11....Sue in Scottsdale, AZ said...

My favorite Bonnie quilt? Oh my, where do I start. For charity quilts, I love her strip twist and crumbs. I love her Blue Ridge Beauty and hope to someday make it. I also love Smith Mountain Morning. I could go on and on and on, but I'll stop now.


Congratulations Sue,  I will send and email and wait for your snail mail and get this out to you this week.

Thank you everyone for leaving your comments.

Michelle

Cheddar Challenge

Yesterday while I was working on my DJ blocks I couldn't stop thinking about the cheddar challenge that Bonnie is having over at her site. So after a couple more blocks I gave in.  I finished piecing the block I was working on and stopped and went and cut some leaders and enders and some cheddar.  I cut 10 strips of cheddar, which gave me 110 sets and then set about cutting the bow tie fabrics.  I now am already to sew.  I figure I will just keep cutting in sets of 110 and stop when I feel like it.  I have to admit though that they are very addicting and I almost set my DJ aside, but I controlled myself. I WILL only work on these as leaders and enders.  I think part of the reason they were sew addicting is that they are sew simple, especially compared to DJ.  So I can not wait to get back into the sewing room and sew some more of these. 

I really didn't need to start another project but what the heck. I still have BRB and sisters 9 patch all ready to assemble sitting in their baskets whats another basket full.....

Of course to get to the cart with my 2" strings I had to move 2 other carts since they are all wedged between the frame and the wall, go figure, and it was hotter than hot yesterday, but it will all be worth the pounds of sweat in the long run. I  wonder how many I will do before I tire of them?

Have a wonderful weekend and hopefully I will have lots to share next week.

Oh yeah and don't forget the announcement of the giveaway this weekend.

Michelle

Jo's Club Finish 2

Yesterday I started a new exercise regime with my mother. We are just walking every morning at the crack of dawn before it gets too hot.  Now since the only "exercise" I get is quilting. So this is rather difficult.  We walked about an hour which was a little lesa than 1.5 miles each way.

I ended up coming home and did a whole lot of nothing the rest of the day. I had the dentist at 1100 and that was the extent of it. I did try and take a nap to no avail and the boys kept asking me what was wrong.  Well lets just say my energy level was in the negatives. 

It finally cooled down with a short early afternoon rain shower so I summoned enough energy to replant a plant of my mothers.  Short explanation here.  We moved back to Colorado from Las Vegas last year and we are now renting the house I grew up in.  My mom just couldn't handle the "big" house anymore, either can dad for that matter. When we moved in the house came with some furniture and we also inherited 2 birds and a cat (we came with only a dog, boy was that ever run..dog doesn't like cats, cat doesn't like dog).  In our house the birds rule, then the cat, then the dog....go figure.

Anyway, I also ended up with 5 of my mothers plants.  I have the ability to practically kill weeds without trying and am really good at killing cacti so giving me 5 plants is not good for my well being. So I am kinda of OCD about these plants, she has had most of them since I was young.  Well, this one plant is gargantuan and when I watered it yesterday I realized that the roots were sprouting over the top of the soil.  Guess that means it needs to be re potted.  So off to buy a mongo pot and transplant.

Well, after getting dirty (which by the way I hate), I was revived and decided in between my shows last night to finally get my Jo's club for August bound (it had only been sitting for over a month waiting). So it is done.  Yeah.  I washed and dried last night, label is on- just need to write on it and now I have another finish to my name.

Hope everyone has a great day today.

Michelle

Homespun Magazine Giveaway

To celebrate the almost finish of the quilt room, mom's remission, and the back to blogging life I am hosting a giveaway.

I ended up with an extra copy of Homespun Magazine featuring Jamestown Landing from Bonnie Hunter.

Just leave a comment stating what Bonnie Hunter quilt is your favorite and I will pick a winner on Sunday evening.

Good luck.

Michelle

Hand Sewing with Dear Jane

I am working on block B3 - Mirror Image.. I decided to try and hand sew.  It actually wasn't as hard as i thought it was going to be and so far isn't really time consuming.  I don't think my stitches are as small as they need to be but I do think it gets better with time.  I did get a little bit frustrated.  I mean you watch you tube videos of others hand piecing and they just zip through it likes it's nothing.  I mean just because they have been doing if forever means nothing right.  I figure I should be able to zip through just as easy...well, maybe with a lot more practice.  So off I go to make some more of these little blocks, did 2 yesterday and cut out this one so maybe after the dentist today I can zip through a few more.

I still have to press this little guy, I've only finger pressed so far. I have 3 more to make then I can put this little bad boy on the design wall and move on to more intricate patterns.  I think they will get harder the farther along I get. 

I have done 18 1/4 /225.....just keep sewing, just keep sewing.

Michelle