Friday, December 31, 2010

New Years Resolutions

Anymore I just tend to make resolutions/goals of a general nature and most of them are quilty, can you imagine that!!!

Anyway my goals for 2011 are:

1. to appreciate my family each and every day and be thanksful for our health.

Then on to "quilty" goals.

2. Continue to use up more fabric than I buy during the year, hope to use up 100+ yards.

3. Use up some of those panel quilts I have collected and not made up

4. Continue charity quilting but limit it to only hospice quilts so that I have time to piece some charity quilts myself.

5. Keep up with Judy L's (At patchworktimes) UFO challenge.

A friend of mine that passed away a few years ago always said to be sure and do on New Years Day what you hope to be doing all year. So tomorrow I will be sewing, spending time with my family and absolutely doing NO CHORES.

Kathie

Thursday, December 30, 2010

MidWeek Update

Well I didn't post a midweek update yesterday, mainly because I couldn't get out of bed. I came down with some type of cold/flu/whatever bug tuesday night and have been feeling terrible ever since.

A little better today so hopefully will be able to get a few things done.

I did manage to get my batik quilt quilted tuesday morning and also got the binding on. Hopefully tonight I will get more of the binding stitched down. I am looking forward to having this in our bedroom.


It is backed by flannel. I wouldn't think to put flannel with batik but I did a couple of customer quilts with that combination and they quilted up very nice and the backs were so soft and warm.

I also got another charity quilt (this one made by JoAnne) loaded on my frame the other day thinking I would get one more quilted this year. I think instead it will probably be the first one I quilt in 2011. Thats fine, I will have still quilted 29 charity quilts in 2010 and that far exceeded my goal of one to two a month.



Kathie

Monday, December 27, 2010

Design Wall Monday - December 27, 2010


I bought myself the Accuquilt GO cutter as a Christmas present to myself and ordered the large tumbler die at the same time. I was able to pick up the GO on Christmas Eve and cut this quilt out the same day. All rows are sewn but still working on sewing the rows together.

My stash of red/white and blue fabrics is definitely depleated but had enough of 12 different fabrics to make this quilt. I doubt I have anything that will make appropriate borders for this but I don't mind fabric shopping when I have a specific mission.

Though we didn't get dumped on snow wise we did get a respectible amount yesterday, maybe five inches. Since the roads are all covered and there is nowhere that we HAVE to be today it will probably just be a good day to stay in and stay warm.

Kathie

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Final Stash Report of 2010

Hard to believe that I have been reporting my stash usage for a whole year!! I definitely like being able to see some room on my shelves and also that some of the really old fabric is gone.

As the holidays were approaching I had extra time so I was sewing like a woman possessed. I think it was partly because it just felt good to have time to do some piecing and also to try and reach my personal goal of having a net usage of fabric of 100 yards in 2010.

I made three backings, finished a quilt top (borders and cut the binding) and made another quilt top from start to finish. This is the Wickedly Easy quilt top that I made out of a stack of FQs that I have had for at least seven years.



All the sewing paid off, here are my end of the year stats:

Fabric used this week: 17.25 yards
Fabric used YTD: 280
Fabric purchased this week: 0
Fabric purchased YTD: 179.75

Net fabric used in 2010: 100.25

I REACHED MY GOAL!!!! Just barely, but hey it is over 100 yards. I have really enjoyed the challenge and am going to do it again. It helps keep my purchases in check and ensures that I am using up the old stuff.

Kathie

Saturday, December 25, 2010

A Different Christmas

Every year since I was a kid we always had Turkey and all the trimmings on Christmas, just like thanksgiving. Today when I went to take the turkey out of the bag to get it ready to pop in the oven it had the most terrible smell.

The whole thing ended up in the trash.

I was glad that it was only going to be the three of us for dinner so wasn't hard to come up with a Plan B for dinner.

I ended up thawing out cube steaks to have with our mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce etc.

I missed the turkey and will miss all the left overs but the best part of dinner was just being together and after all thats what counts!!!

Merry Christmas

Kathie

Friday, December 24, 2010

Christmas Eve


I hope everyone is enjoy their Christmas and will have Christmas day with family or friends.

I had a nice surprise. My Accuquilt GO that was suppose to be back ordered till early January came in last night so I was able to pick it up this morning.

It stayed under the tree for a few hours and then I just had to play with it. I cut out a whole tumbler patriotic quilt out of 12 different fabrics in about an hour. How cool is that.

Kathie

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Last Charity Quilt of the Year (Maybe)

I quilted the Left Over Roses quilt I made yesterday and trimmed it up so will now be ready to hand off to one of my binding fairies after Christmas. It was fun to both piece and quilt this one.


We are going to be having high winds the next couple of days so doubt that I will put anything else on the frame right now. I don't want to be running my machine if there is a chance of power going out in the wind.

I will have all next week till the end of the year so who knows, I might get another one quilted.

I think today I am going to try and get a backing made for my batik quilt and maybe start sewing together my Wickedly Easy blocks.

I got an email that my Accuquilt GO has shipped so I should be getting that sometime next week. I sure look forward to playing with that.

Kathie

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Christmas Bonus??

Do you remember when a lot of companies used to give Christmas bonuses, or maybe a lavish Christmas party? I worked for several companies through the years that did one or the other but not in the last few years thats for sure.

I decided that since I am now self employeed I could declare a Christmas Bonus for myself ...lol. Anyway as my Christmas bonus I put in an order for an Accuquilt GO machine yesterday. I know several people that have them and really enjoy them. They are out of stock until early January but thats ok, I have lots of other projects to work on now anyway.

In an effort to use up stash this is my latest project. It is called Wickedly Easy and was a free on line pattern. I printed it out well over a year ago but never made it. I think it is just perfect for the huge stack of In The Beginnings FQs that I had stashed in a drawer. I am making a total of 16 blocks (16 1/2 inch blocks) so am well on the way to having enough to make a nap quilt top.



I am liking the way this is turning out.

Kathie

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Can I Do It?

A few weeks ago I had come to the conclusion that I would not make my personal goal this year of busting 100 yards net of my stash. I was doing well but then hit several great sales on Christmas fabric and my numbers slid back.

I was ok with this. I had some room on my shelf and had also got rid of a fair amount of old fabric both in quilt tops and putting some of that "what did I buy this for" fabric in backings.

My husband and daughter are both off for Christmas starting on thursday so for the last few days I have been sewing like a crazy person to see how close to 100 yards I can get before they are home and I have family distractions. As of sunday I had a net of 83 yards.

Since that number was reported I made backings for a lap quilt and a large wall hanging, finished up another quilt using stash for borders and bindings and now I am in the process of working on a Wickedly Easy quilt that is using up a whole huge stack of fat quarters.

I am now starting to think that I might actually make 100 yards if I keep on this pace, maybe make another backing or something.

I will let you know sunday if I made my goal.

Kathie

Monday, December 20, 2010

Design Wall Monday - December 20, 2010

Boy I am having a hard time believing that Christmas is just around the corner. I am ready, just doesn't seem like it should be so soon.

In the last week I have been concentrating on busting some of my stash, mainly this pale floral pattern and its go with fabrics. I finished a top that will be for craft shows or a gift to have on hand (picture posted yesterday) then instead of putting the rest of the fabric away to age for ANOTHER SIX OR SEVEN YEARS I decided to use it up. I had some extra 4 patch blocks made so made more of those, a few rectangle blocks and cut more solid large blocks and laid it all out on my design wall.


I put this together yesterday and am now working on a pieced backing. I had two rose colored fabrics that would go with the front but not enough of either and I wanted this quilt to be 100% from my stash so am piecing it together.

This quilt will be donated to our local hospice house next year.

Kathie

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Sunday Stash Report - December 19, 2010

I was sewing up a storm this week. I spent time going through all my shelves and bins looking for UFOs to report on Judy L's (Patchwork Place) 2011 UFO challenge. (for details on the challenge click on the UFO challenge box at the right). While doing so I found a bundle of fabric that I have had for years. I know the floral fabric I had purchased in Seattle 6 or 7 years ago at In the Beginnings Quilt Shop when my mom was still living out there.

I decided that I definitely had to use that fabric up so made this 4 patch (Vintage Roses) quilt (appx. 52 x 60 inches). This will either be for next years craft shows or just to have a gift in reserve. The Top is totally from stash and I am hoping to find something for the backing from my stash also.



I made some extra 4 patch blocks and had fabrics left over so decided instead of putting everything away to make another top for a charity donation. That quilt top is still in the works.

So with all the sewing and purchasing no fabric this week my stats look pretty good.

Fabric used this week: 9 yards
Fabric used YTD: 262.75 yards
Fabric purchased this week: 0
Fabric purchased YTD: 179.75
Net fabric used in 2010: 83

Glad to be back up over 80 yards again, I had been sliding back there for awhile.

Kathie

Friday, December 17, 2010

Patchwork Times 2011 UFO Challenge - December 17, 2010

Judy L at Patchwork Times is going to be hosting a 2011 UFO challenge. Her idea is at the first of the month she will pick a number and your UFO associated with that number will be what you try and finish that month.

Today is the day we post our list of UFOs on our blogs. I found at least 12, they are not put in any special order, just the order I found them in.

So, these are some of the older and not so old projects I will be working on this year.

UFO #1 – is a floral appliqué wall hanging that I started years ago. I don’t remember when but it was prior to 911 because some of the appliqué was accomplished on a LONG plane ride to Taiwan. I was going to hand quilt this, did a little bit and decided that was not for me. To finish this I am going to take out the hand quilting, add another border or two to make it large enough for a lap quilt and put it on the frame and finally get it quilted.


UFO #2 – Is from a Convergent Quilt workshop I went to a few months ago. Just need to find some backing and get it quilted.


UFO #3 – is a nursey rhyme panel that I only put one border on. This needs a couple more simple borders.


UFO #4 – was made out of left overs from a quilt I made my grandson. It is only about 36 inches square so need to find something to add a couple more borders.


UFO #5 – My batik quilt. Recently finished the top but putting it on the list to make sure I get it done.


UFO #6 – Small Row Robin – these rows were done with a on line group of friends YEARS ago. Need to get this made into a quilt.


UFO #7 – Large Row Robin – this was put together with the same group of on line friends not to long after I started quilting. Think I am going to take the huge outer border off of it, quilt and bind it and it will be a nice sized nap quilt.


UFO #8 – Crazy blocks – I made these crumb blocks to make a table runner out of. This should be a quick and easy finish on this one.


UFO #9 – I made a tropical charity quilt last year and they are the left overs. Hopefully there is enough to make a small charity quilt from this.


UFO #10 – Swap blocks also made with on line group. I think I have 9 of them so should make a small quilt.


UFO #11 – These are some of the twin sister blocks (bonnie hunter pattern) I am working on now with left over 2 ½ strips.


UFO #12 – I made a Split Decision charity quilt last year and donated it to a wounded soldier program at Andrews Air Force Base. I had a bunch of blocks left over. I think with making a few more I should have enough for another quilt.




It should definitely be an interesting year!!

Kathie

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Mid Week Update

No pictures today, just didn't have time to take and down load them.

Yesterday I finished up my last customer order before the holidays. I am officially on vacation now!!!

A friend of mine let me borrow a magazine that had a simple Bonnie Hunter block pattern in it called Twin Sister. I cut some fabric for that on saturday and made a few of the blocks yesterday. It is definitely going to be scrappy made out of left over 2 1/2 strip that I keep. I think I am going to make it controlled scrappy using blues, purples, yellow and soft green with some neutrals tossed in. I think this will be one of those projects that I do a few blocks now and then between other projects.

Today we are hosting a holiday lunch for the people that my husband works with. Busy yesterday cleaning, shopping and putting together a lazagna. This morning I need to do all the last minute things, pop the cassarole in the oven and relax.

Since it is only 19 degrees out this morning it is a good morning to stay home.

Kathie

Monday, December 13, 2010

Design Wall Monday - December 13, 2010

I worked on this quilt a few blocks at a time between other things last week. I had purchased and washed the fabric and was getting ready to put it away but decided instead of doing that that I would go ahead and make the top. It was quick and easy and as soon as I get the binding cut I will put it away on my "to be quilted" shelf for later.



I have to get myself an Accuquilt GO machine!!! I used a friend of mines GO on saturday and it was so much fun. I cut out all these units for a scrappy flying Geese quilt in maybe half an hour. Everyone is pretty much out of the machines right now after a Christmas rush so I will wait until after Christmas and Christmas bills are paid and then I am seriously thinking about ordering one.



I don't know if this will be my next project putting these together or not. I have my last customer job to do before Christmas this week. Once that is done, a couple of luncheons out of the way and some last minute errands then I will decide what I want to work on next.

I guess that is the good part about having a stash, the possibilities are endless on what to make next.

kathie

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Sunday Stash Report - December 12, 2010

I would like to say that I made progress on busting my stash this week but I can't report that. I did do a lot of sewing including make a Christmas quilt top (pictures tomorrow as it is still on my design wall), and finishing up my batik quilt top. Sounds like a lot of sewing and fabric usage right? I guess it would have been if I had not also had a visit to a quilt shop and did some stash enhancement.

I purchased border/binding fabric for the batik quilt so at least that got used right up, but in addition I purchased some horse fabric and a pretty Christmas wreath type of cheater panel.

So I had a small back slide but at least it doesn't amount to much on the total since I did sew up a storm.

Fabric used this week: 9.5 yards
Fabric used YTD: 253.75 yards
Fabric purchased this week: 10 yards
Fabric purchased YTD: 179.75
Net fabric used in 2010: 74

How did you do this week:

Kathie

Friday, December 10, 2010

Inspired

Are you inspired in this gift giving season to do for others? I hope everyone is from donating to Toys for Tots, food to the local food bank or our charity sewing.

The absolute best gift I have this holiday season is that the three of us are healthy. So many people I know have illness in their family and I know how lucky I am that we don't.

That feeling of thankfulness has inspired me to work on some charity projects this week. The other day I quilted this quilt for hospice. It was made by Kathy V out of a kit I cut last winter from donated fabrics. It will go off to one of my binding fairies later today.


I also took some time to piece backings for two more hospice quilts. Simple one seam backings but still takes time to find a fabric, press and cut and then sew the seam. To bad I couldn't count any of the fabric as stash reduction but found fabrics that would work in one of the charity fabric boxes.

Kathie

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Batik Quilt

After weeks of working on this a little at a time I finally got the batik quilt top done. It is about 60 x 72 so a great nap sized quilt. I wish the colors looked better in this picture as the fabrics are a lot prettier than it looks here.



Everything except the borders was from a fat quarter packet that I got when I took our guild bus trip to the PA quilt show. I am so glad I went back and purchased them. Though I have quilted a lot of batik quilts for customers this is the first one I have made for myself. I can see how collecting batiks can become a habit because I really loved working with these.

kathie

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

Midweek Update


I did manage to get all the blocks for the center of the quilt sewn together yesterday and then took a trip up to the quilt shop for border fabric. Hopefully the borders will be on the quilt by the end of the day.

I would like to say that the fabric for the borders was the only thing I purchased but some other fabrics found their way home in the car with me. I had been looking for some nice horse fabric and they had that and horse shoe fabric to go with it and then I spied a Christmas fabric that looked like appliqued wreaths but it was a cheater fabric so HAD to get a yard of that.

I only get to this shop every few months. They have so much fabric that I always feel like some of it is going to topple over on me but on the flip side of that I have never gone there on a mission and not found what I was looking for.

I also got another small customer quilt done yesterday so all in all I had a productive time.

Kathie

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

Project of the Day


This was my customer project of the day yesterday. I wasn't sure how to quilt it since the actual pieced part was really small and the borders so large. I decided to use the Pajama Quilter Ziggle Fern to quilt this using a variegated pastel king tut thread. This was the first time I used this pattern on a customer quilt and I like the results, my spacing was a lot better than on my first couple of attempts.

I would quilt a couple of passes across the quilt and then sit down and sew a few of my batik blocks together. I have three rows done and ready to be stitched together. If I can get that done this morning I might take a run to the quilt shop and try and find some border fabric. I have been working on this project off and on for what seems like a long time (probably a couple of months) so would really like to get the top done soon.

I got the remainder of my Christmas shopping done yesterday and most things wrapped last night so I defintely feel a sense of relief that it is all done and I can enjoy the rest of December.

Kathie

Monday, December 6, 2010

Design Wall Monday - December 6, 2010

Well I do have something pinned up on my design wall this monday even if it something that has been on there a couple of times at various stages. I finally finished all the blocks for the batik quilt and got them all trimmed and squared up this weekend.


I need to piece the middle of this together (or a few rows anyway) and then take it to a quilt shop to try and find border fabric. I have never sewn with Batiks before so don't have a stash of them to try and find something.

I am a lot later posting my design wall today than normal. I had to go out fairly early this morning so decided since it was very cold and windy to go ahead and get all my errands run so that when I got home I could stay home for the rest of the day.

I finished up the last of my Christmas shopping, bank errands and a couple of other places. I even took a quick run by JoAnn fabrics and yes, I did purchase fabric. I saw a really cute snowman wall hanging in a current quilt magazine and I want to make that for next year. Since I usually start sewing Christmas things in May, well before Christmas fabric is out I wanted to pick up some snowflake fabric for the wall hanging while it was still in the stores.

Now to warm up, kick my feet up for a few and then go to the quilt room to finish loading the next customer quilt.

kathie

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Sunday Stash Report - December 5, 2010

Well no movement this week in trying to bust any stash. I did take a few minutes for "me" sewing and I did get 18 of the batik blocks all trimmed and squared up. Not to much and since I had already counted the fabric used in all of these blocks nothing to report on my weekly stats:

Fabric used this week: 0
Fabric used YTD: 244.25
Fabric purchased this week: 0
Fabric purchased YTD: 169.75
Net fabric used in 2010: 74.5

It was another busy week with customer quilts, a guild Christmas party and yesterday was my last craft show of the season. I am definitely please with how I did yesterday. It was the second biggest show I have ever done (been doing craft shows since 2001). Since the last show was down so much from last year this one made up the difference. Now that most of my lap quilts sold I need to start planning what to make for next year. Baby, Christmas and anything with horses on them seem to sell the best.

Once I get some chores done today I would like to spend some time in the sewing room but it will probably have to be putting things away and not actually sewing. Maybe I can at least get a few more blocks squared up and laid out if nothing else.

Have a great Sunday.

Kathie

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

A Calmer Month

November was crazy with my daughters wisdom teeth, dance try outs, drivers license etc., settlement on our other house and two craft shows. Even though I work at home I try and put in a few hours every day on the quilt frame working on custmer quilts.

All that and then coming down with a really bad cold I was feeling very stressed out on getting things done and having some time to just rest and relax.

I have decided to do everything I can to make December a more enjoyable and calmer month. The house is decorated, most shopping is done so now it is time to slow down a little bit and enjoy the season.

I have one more craft show to do and I am only going to take on a few more quilts with promises that they will be done for Christmas and then I am going to take a couple of weeks off around Christmas to do what I want.

In the meantime if I don't get all the cards done I want, or if I need to make for dinner whatever is the quickest or even order pizza I am going to try and not sweat it. I want to be able to make time to have lunch with friends, go driving to look at all the pretty Christmas lights and even just sit in front of the TV and watch sappy Christmas movies. Most importantly I want to have time to enjoy my daughters break from school at the holidays. All to soon she will be off on her own and we might not see her every Christmas so I intend to really enjoy them now.

Kathie

Monday, November 29, 2010

Design Wall Monday - November 29, 2010

Well there is actually nothing on my design wall again this monday. With Thanksgiving, customer quilts and a terrible cold I didn't do much sewing on anything of mine this past week.

I did manage to get the soccer quilt (Christmas present) quilted and have started stitching down the binding at night so guess this picture is a design recliner instead of a design wall.



Sandi asked if I thought I could still reach my 100 net usage on my fabric by the end of the year. The way things are going I kind of doubt that. I will definitely be busy for the next 3 weeks doing customer quilts (and will then cut it off for some me time). Also what I want to work on in between times is my batik quilt and I ahve already counted all those fat quarters. If I can get a few more yards used I will be happy but at least I have made a dent in my stash this year. Also I have used up some of the older fabric so my stash is feeling a little bit "fresher" than it did. Still have some of that old old small print calico I need to use up but I am liking my stash more and thats a big plus.

Kathie

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Sunday Stash Report - November 28, 2010

Well this has not been a stash reduction week, it has definitely been a week of enhancement. JoAnns had their nicer Christmas fabric on sale for 60% off and I purchased some for a Christmas quilt and possibly a few runners. So here are my stats for this week:

Fabric used: 1.5 yards
Fabric used YTD: 244.25 yards
Fabruc purchased this week: 10 yards
Fabric purchased YTD: 169.75
Net used in 2010: 74.5 yards

Yesterday was the Hospice Festival of the Trees in our area. My daughter and I went to check out all the tress and she took these pictures of the two trees that were decorated by members of the quilt guild. I spied a few of the ornaments that I had made. The ladies that took the time to decorate these did a wonderful job.






Kathie

Thursday, November 25, 2010

Thanksgiving Is

Back in elementary or middle school we did a unit on poetry in English. One of our class assignments was to pick a holiday and write a poem about it. I don't remember the whole thing but the first part popped into my head this morning.

Thanksgiving Is.......

To Mom a day of cooking and baking
To Grandmas a day of stiring and tasting
To Dad a day of rest and such
To me a day of eating to much

Whatever your Thanksgiving is I hope it is a great one.

I am thankful for my husband and daughter, that we are all in good health (other than a rotten cold right now). That my husband has a good job, we have a nice house and that our teenager even though she drives us crazy at times is a really great kid.

Even with being thankful for all of that Thanksgiving is my least favorite holiday and I am always glad when it is over with. You see 15 years ago this morning my dad passed away in a Hospice House facility in Washington State after a four year battle with cancer. Time heals, pain goes away but when a parent is gone, no matter how old we are when it happens, it leaves a small hole in your heart.

Those of you lucky enough to still have your parents for Thanksgiving please give them a little extra hug today.

Kathie

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Mid Week Update

Monday I actually worked on one of my projects for a bit, I quilted two table runners I had made for the craft shows. Still have three that are unquilted but I don't plan on doing those right now. I machine sewed the bindings on both of them, and have one partially done by hand. I also managed to finish piecing the 4 batik blocks I had had in process. Not a lot of sewing but at least it is something.

I woke with a bad cold yesterday so is an effort to keep going on the customer quilts but am getting things done, though slower. Yesterday I finished quilting a pretty Christmas quilt that I started on monday and quilted a table runner. Have two more customer table runners and I will probably do them this morning. They are not next in line but when my head is clogged I don't feel like tackling anything large and at least it is getting something done.

Biggest news of the week is that we finally went to settlement on our old house last night. What a relief. We didn't get what we wanted for it but I am so glad we now don't have to maintain two houses, it has been a long five months of doing that.

Hopefully once the cold eases off I will have some pictures to show. We are not going anywhere for Thanksgiving and I indent on taking some time this weekend for "me sewing".

kathie

Monday, November 22, 2010

Design Wall Monday - November 22, 2010

Here it is monday and what is on my design wall? Nothing!! The only thing I think I have managed to sew this week is partially make 4 more batik blocks for my quilt. Lots of reasons why nothing is on the design wall.

Reason #1 - busy with customer quilts. This was one I did last week. Very cute quilt made out of just 3 inch squares.



Reason #2 - being a "Mom Taxi". My daughter spent three evenings trying out for dance team and then another afternoon taking her driver's license test. As you can see from the big smile she passed with flying colors.



Reason #3 - Getting ready for craft show #2. Yesterday was the second out of three craft shows I do so had to spend some time gathering things together again, loading up the van etc. Sales at the show were way down from last year. Hope I can make some of that up at my last show.



I am sure I am headed for another busy week but will definitely have something to show next monday even if it is a few blocks.

Kathie

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Sunday Stash Report - November 21, 2010

Life got in the way this week and I used up very little stash but the flip side of that was that I was so busy that I didn't purchase any fabric either so a slight bit closer to my 100 yards net used by the end of the year.

Fabric used this week: .50 yards
Fabric used YTD: 242.75 yards
Fabric purchased this week: 0
Fabric purchased YTD: 157.75
Net fabric used in 2010: 83

My numbers look like I better plan on spending the week between Christmas and New Years doing nothing but sewing to reach my goal.

How are you doing?

Kathie

Thursday, November 18, 2010

What a week

I sure have got zero, zip, nada done sewing wise this week.

The week has been waiting to get information on settlement (still waiting), things with my daughter (how does anyone do it with several children?) and trying to get a few customer quilts done.

Monday, tuesday and wednesday nights were my daughters dance team try outs That was running back and forth to and from practice and errands for a sports poster they had to make. Now what that has to do with dancing I don't know but like a good mom went to Michaels and got all the poster things I could think of.

At least all of the work and errands payed off as she was selected for the team last night.

That was decided then on to the next crisis. That was in the form of taking her drivers test today after a bunch of last minute practicing with her dad last night. After lots of nerves and a couple of hours out of school (lots of waiting at DMV) she passed with flying colors.

After school of course she had to go out driving by herself for the first time. I really thought I was going to have a panic attack when she pulled away from the house. Will I EVER quit worrying when she is behind the wheel?

I finished loading a quilt this evening and quilted one pass across it and then called it a night as I am to tired to concentrate.

I am hoping that tomorrow is a little less hectic, that I am able to finish the quilt, get things done around the house and maybe just sit with my feet up for a bit.

Kathie

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Project of the Day

This was the project I worked on yesterday for a customer. I wanted to show this quilt as it is another quilt that started with a pillow panel and just adding some simple borders makes for a cute quilt. Doing these for Carol is definitely making me want to break out my panels. I usually take a couple of weeks around Christmas (week before and week after) to do nothing but my projects so maybe I will pull some out then.



The only project of mine I managed to work on yesterday was to get a binding sewn on the last runner that I have quilted then last night while watching TV I got it hand stitched down. I still have five runners that need to be quilted but don't know if I will have a chance to do any of them before my next craft show on sunday.

Last night was the start of 3 days of dance team try outs for my daughter and tomorrow (maybe) we will be going to settlement on our old house. Sounds like another wacky week with rearranged schedules and not much time to sew. Sounds like Thanksgiving weekend (do you believe that is almost here) I will need to take some time for myself and hide in the basement (quilting room).

Kathie

Monday, November 15, 2010

Design Wall Monday - November 15, 2010

Do you believe we are half way through November already!!! I definitely need to start some Christmas shopping...

I was hoping to have something exciting on my design wall this week to show but the way the week went I think I am lucky to have anything at all to show.

I didn't get much sewing done in the last week but yesterday I did take some time to make these 4 blocks. This is our block of the month for December for quilt guild (Squares in Squares 2 from Quilters Cache). I didn't get the November one done so figured since I had a few minutes I would get the next one finished. It was so quick and easy and I have made the block before I decided to do the 4 of them. Three will be for entry into the drawing and I will keep one for my Christmas samplier quilt for next year.



This is going to be another busy week with my daughter's dance team try outs, settlement on the old house, driver's test etc. that I have decided to have no specific goals for this week other than getting everything back together for my next craft show (next sunday). I will try and use my time and get as much done as possible but some things just might have to wait until next week.

Kathie

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Sunday Stash Report - November 14, 2010

Purchased backing fabric this week but turned around and made it into a backing so it was never actually on my shelves but is counted in my stash report. In addition to that fabric I used up a small amount to back some table runners so at least I had a positive number this week. My stats are:

Fabric used this week: 5.5 yards
Fabric Used YTD: 242.25 yards
Fabric Purchased: 4 yards
Fabric Purchased YTD: 159.75 yards
Net used in 2010: 82.5 yards

I also received a surprise box of Christmas fabric from Sandi in San Diego yesterday. Since it was gifted to her and gifted then to me neither one of us are going to count it in our weekly reports.

It was quite a busy week with doing a couple of customer quilts, my daughter’s surgery and many many phone calls working out some glitches with a house we are selling. Fingers and toes crossed I think we are going to settlement next week.

I also worked on a few of my own projects. I hand stitched down binding on several table runners and got crystals fused as flower centers. I also got a backing made for a Christmas present. So not a lot accomplished but not bad either.


This is one of the quilts I quilted this week. One of my goals for next year is going to be to use up or give away some of the many panels I have so thought I would show this. Isn’t this a cute use of a pillow panel? She just put border after border on it until it was big enough for a lap quilt. I would have not thought to use a stripe, a plaid and a floral border all on the same quilt but it works.

Kathie

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

mid week update and Hospice 4, 5 and 6

Well my daughter is now minus all 4 wisdom teeth. Once the bleeding slowed way down she was able to eat a bit and take her pain meds and go to bed. I am hoping for her sake that she sleeps a big portion of the afternoon.

Also today a last minute glitch on a house we are trying to sell and go to settlement on next week so trying to deal with both things at once today has left me feeling a little overwhelmed.

Think I need to grab some tea, put up my feet and now that things have settled down a bit sew labels on the rest of these hospice quilts.

This one is from a 9-patch pizzazz workshop pieced by Betty and quilted by myself.



This next quilt is a strippy quilt made from a kit I cut out of donated fabrics. This was pieced by Melissa R and quilted by her mom Lee B. Nice job ladies.




This last Patriotic quilt was pieced by Jane and quilted by Eileen. This will be set aside for one of the hospice patients at the vets home.




kathie

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Hospice Quilts 2 and 3

Last night was quilt guild and I received several completed quilts for the next hospice delivery which I plan on doing probably in February.

This first one I am just calling Framed Squares was made by Carol and quilted by myself awhile back.



This Irish Chain quilt was also pieced by Carol and this one was quilted by Nancy. I love the soft colors of this quilt. I know that it will bring comfort to a patient and their family.



I am going to spend part of my day tomorrow sewing labels on all these donated quilts.

I managed to take the time to get a couple of my own table runners quilted today and plan on getting the binding on them tonight so that I can also sit and stitch them down tomorrow after my daughters surgery.

You know quilters are the very nicest people. A customer dropped off a quilt for me to do a little bit ago and knowing my daughter is getting her wisdom teeth out tomorrow brought her a little gift and card and they have never even met her. Talk about nice!!!

I received three additional quilts for hospice last night and I will try and post pictures of them tomorrow.

kathie

Monday, November 8, 2010

Design Wall Monday - November 8, 2010

No new projects on my design wall, still my batik blocks pinned up there but I am making progress in getting a few more done. I love the way all the different fabrics look together.


Once I get a couple more quilts quilted I am going to take a break for a day and hopefully work on some more of these blocks and maybe get a Christmas present quilted. I have no idea how many blocks I can make with the FQ package so won't know until I get all of them done how much border fabric to look for. I would like this to be a longish lap quilt so that you can cover your toes while sitting in a recliner.

I am setting no goals for this week. I will get done as much as I can but no specifics. I have several errands including a trip to DMV to do this week plus my daughter is having all four of her wisdom teeth out wednesday so I will be playing nurse for the first 24 hours. I have been saving up some bindings to work on that day so that I can be upstairs close to her but still getting something done. So I know I will accomplish a whole lot less than usual this week but being mom comes first.

Kathie

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Sunday Stash Report - November 7, 2010

Well the 25% sale at the quilt shop did me in, that nice little FQ package that had been calling my name followed me home. Wish I had thought to take a picture before I took it apart for washing, looked like a tropical mushroom because of all the colors. I am still up slightly on my weekly stash reduction. Hope to do better this week as I have a couple of backings to do.

Fabric used this week: 4 yards
Fabric used YTD: 236.75 yards
Fabric purchased this week: 3 yards
Fabric purchased YTD: 155.75

Net fabric used in 2010: 81 yards

I did pretty good at my craft show yesterday for a small show. Nice amount of people coming through. I sold my horse quilt and probably a dozen runners.

Kathie

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Craft Shows

I was asked how I got involved with craft shows.

First you have to know that we have a small family so not a lot of family members to make quilts for, and they don't all even like or appreciate quilts.

After I had been quilting a couple of years my husband asked me what I was going to do with all the quilts I made. At that point I didn't know that people make quilts for charity efforts.

A friend did a couple of craft shows and she convinced me to give it a whirl.

Even though we have two fairly big shows in this are I would not say making quilted items is very profitable since they are so time consuming.

I make back the cost of my supplies which allows me to quilt all year at no out of pocket cost. I can try different fabrics than my usual taste because someone else would love and buy it. I make a few dollars on top of expenses but not a lot.

I have fun at the craft shows even though they are a lot of work. I think 8 years later I still get a little thrill that someone is willing to pay for items I have made.

Well off to get ready for the first show. I don't expect a whole lot from this show as it is smaller and the first year that I am doing it but hope it is at least worth while.

kathie

Friday, November 5, 2010

Craft Show Ready

I spent part of last evening going through the craft show quilts to see which ones to take with me tomorrow. Since this is a smaller show than the other two that I do every year, and I only have one table I can't take everthing with me.



I have a few last minute things to toss in but think I am mostly ready for tomorrow.

When we moved into this house in June our cat decided that he didn't want to go to the upstairs. This went on for over two months and he was always easy to find as he was somewhere on that floor. One day he just decided that he could manage the stairs after all and now we never know where he is. Cats pick funny places to lay that is for sure. This is one of his new favorites, he lays in the shower of the master bath with his chin on the ledge. Looks VERY uncomfortable to me.



Today is basically a housework day with a trip to the local quilt shop thrown in. They are having a 25% off everything sale and I figured it would be a good time to get a few quilting Christmas presents for several Christmas gift exchanges that I am in.

I am going to try and stay away from buying any fabric for myself but I don't know how I will succeed as there is a FQ bundle that has been calling my name for a long time.

Kathie

Thursday, November 4, 2010

I have trained her right!!

I forgot to post about this earlier. Monday night my daughter went to the first playoff game for her high school's soccer team (to cheer her boyfriend on). Since it was chilly she took an old quilt I had made for her with her to put across her legs.

She said that several people said it couldn't be very warm as it was so thin. She said she set them straight telling them how the layers trapped in your body heat and that it WAS NOT CALLED A BLANKET, that it was a quilt.

I thought that was too funny. I guess she really HAS been listening all these years.

Kathie

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Goals

I wanted to review my goals from last January and see how I was doing this year. What I posted as goals on January 1, 2010 are:


1. Continue to get rid of PIGS. Either make them up, return the fabric to stash for use on other projects or give them away.
(I did make up a few things and returned several packets of fabric to my stash. Not great but making progress on this one)

2. Finish/give away a few more projects from my old old old UFO listing. (I might have finished one more of the old old ones. Think I just need to give them away).


3. Continue to quilt as many charity quilts as I can between customer quilts and my own quilts and to not feel guilty if I tell someone NO. Each quilter has their own personal charity of choice and I don't have the time to do quilts for each of those. I will continue to primarily quilt hospice quilts but will do an occasional one for other causes. (to date I have quilted 26 charity quilts this year. Most of them were for hospice with a few other tossed in there. I am doing better about saying no but not so good about saying no and not feeling guilty).


4. Seriously work on using up or giving away scraps, strips and orphan blocks that just add to a messy quilt room. (I did give away most of my orphan blocks to a lady making teddy bears with miniture quilts to give to rescue squad and Sheriff department and have a couple of ladies in the guild that I give most of my scraps to so I will say this one has been a success.)

So I have overall done fairly good on my goals so I guess I will start thinking about ones for 2011. I know I am awfully early but the next two months are so busy, I want goals in mind when January hits and I have more times for projects.

I think I might focus on things like using up FQ packages I got years ago, making some of those many panels I have into quilts etc.

I quilted a Halloween quilt this afternoon. Felt kind of funny but she didn't get it done in time so hey, she will be WAY early for next year.

Tomorrow on the agenda is several customer table runners.

Kathie

Last Christmas Quilt

I made four Christmas quilts for upcoming craft shows (first show is this saturday) and last night I sat down and finished the binding on the last one while watching TV. This was a cute little panel I saw at our local quilt shop and just put a few simple borders around it.



I did manage to get a couple more table runners quilted yesterday and the next customer quilt on the frame. My intention is to quilt or at least start quilting that this afternoon.

This morning is my day time guild meeting and I always look forward to that. Show and tell is always my favorite part. We have several ladies that do wonderful applique and I always enjoying seeing what they have been up to. Applique is one of thoese things I just don't do and I really admire it.

I will be going off with cutting mat and rotary cutter in hand as we are spending part of the meeting cutting donated fabric into kits to make charity quilts.

Have a nice and productive day.

Kathie

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

A Finished Top

I really should have loaded the next customer quilt yesterday but with a million errands to run and several interruptions I just didn't want to stop and start on the quilt. Instead I worked on several of my projects.

First off I got borders on this soccer quilt so it is one step closer to being a finished Christmas present.



Later I completed 13 more blocks for my batik quilt. I could swear that I was working on 14 blocks not 13 so hope I didn't lose one somewhere.

Then last evening since my hubby is gone and daughter was at a game I sat and watched TV and got the binding about half done on the last Christmas quilt I made for my craft shows.

So even with all the errands, interruptions and distractions I still got a lot done, just not what I had intended on.

Today is no school so I imagine I will be running the roads again today. Sometime today I need to fit in time to quilt two table runners as backing fabric is already on the frame and to get the next customer quilt loaded.

I have already busted some fabric stash this week so if I can just keep out of fabric stores I might have a good number to report on sunday's stash report.


Kathie

Monday, November 1, 2010

Design Wall Monday - November 1, 2010

Boy do you believe it is already November? I don't know where September and October went. Ever since school started this year it seems to have just flown by.

My daughter's boyfriend is on the high school soccer team and she asked if I would make him a soccer quilt for Christmas. I found soccer fabric awhile ago and it was just perfect as their school colors are green and gold.


I seem to go back to this warm wishes pattern just about every time I want a quick themed quilt. I started piecing it a couple of weeks ago at a retreat and finished putting the top together on friday and it is now on my design wall awaiting borders. I am going to have a thin black inner border and then a larger black/white border in fabric my daughter picked out this weekend.

I have several errands to run this morning and after that I hope to get backing fabric washed and on the frame and some of my remaining table runners quilted.

Tomorrow is another day off school (election day) so I am not counting on getting to much done in the sewing room. I will be SO GLAD when all the political commercials are off the air. They have been so negative and nasty this year that even my 16 year old is asking why no one ever says what they want to do, just what the other person has done or not done and that is usually a flat out lie or way out of context.

I am already starting to think about the end of the year and what type of quilting goals I hope to accomplish next year. Guess I should revisit my posting from the end of last year and see how I did on those goals.

Have a great start to your week.

Kathie

Sunday, October 31, 2010

Sunday Stash Report - October 31, 2010

Well back sliding again this week. I have been quilting (quilted both a charity quilt and a craft show Christmas quilt) and I have been sewing on a christmas present but all that fabric was previously counted.

The only fabric used this week and not previously counted was some fabric for bindings.

I also purchased a couple of yards of fabric but that was border fabric and will be cut and on the quilt hopefully in the next couple of days.

Fabric used this week: 1 yard
Fabric used YTD: 232.75 yards
Fabric added this week: 2 yards
Fabric added YTD: 152.75 yards

Net used in 2010: 80 yards (still no where near my goal of 100 yards and only two months to go).

Kathie

Friday, October 29, 2010

Quilt Storage

Since I have a cat that loves to spend time in my quilting room, as soon as I get a customer quilt done and off the frame I put it in a large zip lock bag so my cat doesn't decide to love all over it.

I had been getting the bags at Target which was the only place in our area that seemed to have them.

A friend of mine told me that she had found XXL bags at Dollar Tree right about the same time that Bonnie Hunter posted on her blog www.quiltville.com about getting some there. Well I don't know if it was just timing or if so many quilters read her blog or what but I have not been able to find any in stock there for the last couple of months.

My hubby finally thought to check Dollar Tree on line and found that I could order them through the website (had to order a case) for pick up at the store with no shipping costs. I did that a few days ago and picked up the box this morning of 36 of the bags.



They are the perfect size to return customers their quilts and also to take entire projects in to sew ins or retreats.


Thought I would share where I got these in case any of you were looking for quick and easy storage of your projects.



Kathie

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Project of the Day

Today's quilting project of the day was to get this strip pieced quilt quilted. A friend of mine teaches young people to quilt. This was made by a new student of hers and she is only ELEVEN. I am going to have to put a note with this when I send it back to tell her what a great job she did with matching seams and also with her fabric choices. It was fun to quilt.



I did get some binding made this morning for the patriotic donation quilt. I was planning on sewing it on tonight but we are under a storm warning so I might just leave all my machines off this evening and stick to hand sewing. I have 1/2 a Christmas quilt and about 5 runners to bind so I won't run out for a few evenings.

Kathie