Starting Early on New Years Resolution

That's It!!!!Everything is coming to a screeching halt!
I can't stand it any longer, this is going to get done today.

When I sew, I have my back to this closet.
I am beginning to feel like a kid hiding under the covers, you just know there is a big monster looming in the closet waiting to attack.

Well today this monster is going to get tamed.


I have a good start on the top shelf, and it is not even 7:00 AM yet.

Who knows what I may find in there, but I am going to start the new year with a organized stash.


Happy New Year.

I am so lucky

I have a new quilt shop 5 blocks from my home, "All About Quilts". Mary Sweet is the owner and she is just as sweet as her name.
As I said in a previous post, Flower Box Mary has ask me to sew samples for the store. I can hardly wait to start on my next project, from this gorgeous magazine "Quilt Pink".





The pattern is called French Rose. The roses are layered in rough edge applique.















This is the fabric I will be working with,
the pastel solids will be the back ground blocks,
the large pink rose fabric will be the border,
the remainder will be the layered roses.
We have yet to select the inner border and the backing.



Mary furnishes all the fabric and supplies that I need for each project, even the thread. When the quilt has worn out its usefulness at the quilt shop it will be mine to keep.


I feel very lucky to have this opportunity, especially sense I have vowed not to buy any fabric until I have used up at least half of my stash.

Speaking of stash, 1 of 2 closets, On my list of things to do, straighten this up.

Taming the border and a sewing tip.

I had so much trouble with this border, on my string quilt I'm not sure what the problem was. I usually like to baste the border edge and the backing together after I have finished quilting the body of the quilt. But this one wanted to stand up and wave. I undid the basting and continued the quilting to the edge, there are no short cuts if you want it to lay flat. Now I am glad I did the extra quilting. The binding went on so easy, then tonight it will get sewn down by hand and Waaaaaa Laaaa, done..

As I was sewing this morning I looked over at my right side. I had my camera handy so I thought I would share this tip with you. I use a scrap of batting beside the sewing machine to catch the stray threads. Better than being wrapped around the vacuum cleaner brush. Although there are plenty of those too, it does help a little. I also have my tin handy to drop my basting pins in, it is beside the cold cup a coffee. I also use blunt scissors to clip threads with, ever poke a hole in a quilt?

Jeremy's Narcissus is blooming

The Narcissus 'Ariel" blubs I recieved at Thanksgiving
from my grandson Jeremy are blooming,
just in time for Christmas.
Thank You Jeremy, what a treat to have fresh flowers this time of the year.

Flower Box and Posie Tote

I finished the "Flower Box" quilt last night






I had enough charms left over to make the "Posie Tote". A easy little pattern from "This & That"

I took them both to the quilt shop "All About Quilts" this morning for her to display.

As I said in previous post when she is done displaying them they will be mine. HAPPY QUILTING

Quilt Sample for Quilt shop

I have been ask to sew sample quilts for the local quilt shop. What a treat, she is letting me choose the pattern, and fabric.

I get to pick from the latest fabric and newest patterns. This is going to be fun.

I walked out of the shop with 2 large bags of supplies, for 3 projects. This was my first choice, a 45" X 45" wall hanging. It is made from those wonderful little 5" charm packs.
I used a new moda print called "Prairie Paisleys", the pattern required 4 packs of 40 charms each.

,

5" charms.



In progress, On the design wall


Besides having my pick of the latest fabrics and patterns, when she is done displaying the quilt it will be mine to keep.

This is a great deal for me, because I had made a bargain with myself I would not buy fabric until I had sewn up some of what I had in my stash.

Well my stash gets to remain intact for awhile longer. HAPPY QUILTING

Hanna's Quilt WIP

I have been working on several projects at once.
But don't we all?
Yesterday I pin basted Hanna's string quilt.



Then I worked on creating a border for the scrappy star quilt. I this found this UFO while working on organizing my sewing room. I am sure there are many more where this one came from from. I have 2 closets in my sewing room, so far I have only gotten one of them straightened out. Almost afraid to start on the other one.

In the evening I sit down with my hand quilting.

Today I was up at 5:30 so I got an early start on machine quilting.

Now it is time for water aerobics, so I am off and running.
Until next time, Janet

Thinking about next quilt already

Why am I always thinking about the next quilt, while working on a current project.
I know I am not alone in this, several of my quilting buddy's tell me the same thing. I am trying very hard not to start anything until I get some UFO's done. Yesterday I just couldn't help myself I pulled fabric for this quilt, I want to use the medium tones simular to the picture.And of course just had to make a sample block.Then today I was looking through photos of previous quilts I have made and found this one. The setting is differnt but the block is the same.I had even forgotten I made this one, I never dreamed when I started quilting that I would make so many I would forget one.. My daughter must have this one in her stash. I do remember that I quilted it by hand using a "Big Stitch" with crochet thread.

Working Through the Blues

I named this "Friendship Star" *Working Through the Blues*, because I was working on it while my 18 year marriage was coming to an end.

Quilt top has been in my UFO pile for 8 years, it was even baisted, ready to quilt.
About time I finished it , don't you think?

The quilt back is a medium blue flannel print, problem with that is the quilting stitches do not show up. I always love the look of the hand quilting on the back of a quilt. If it hadn't already been baisted I may have changed it.

I am a little rusty at hand quilting, but enjoying it nether the less.
I never was able to get those perfect little stitches that everyone desires, but getting it done is the main goal.

However I notice my stitches are improving as I go.

Problem is my finger tips dry out and crack,. I have recently found this NEXCARE Skin Crack Care a 3M product in the band aid section of the drug store. It is the only thing I have found that works in a day or less. Paint it on the crack twice a day, it's great.

quilting tools
Originally uploaded by IdahoQuilter

Quilt top finished

Heartstrings
Originally uploaded by IdahoQuilter

I was up at 6 am this morning, so I was able to finish this quilt top.
Would have like to get the back prepared before my water aerobics class.
But time to go, now that I know the measurements I can pick up a quilt bat on my way home.

Another WIP almost completed.

Christmas Ribbons

Christmas ribbons
Originally uploaded by IdahoQuilter

Christmas Ribbons

I started this bargello 6 years ago, I worked on it steady for about a month, half way through this project I moved.

I packed it away wondering when I would ever get back to it.

I finally finished after being put aside for about 3 years, I am very happy with the results.

I hang this right before Thanksgiving and leave it up until after New Years.

Mini String quilt

PC100001
Originally uploaded by IdahoQuilter

Snowing and cold here this morning, usually at the Y this time of morning for water aerobics.

Because of bad roads I decided to stay home and play.

I was perusing other quilters blogs and ran across this at "Lucy's Blog" of the Netherlands.

I just had to make this little gem. Every bit of it came from the garbage sack I have hanging on my cutting table.

A fun little project to play with this snowy morning.

Thanks for the inspiration Lucy, I visit your blog often.

Happy Birthday Dad

Dad 1930
Originally uploaded by IdahoQuilter

IdahoQuilter

My Dad was born John Martin Brown on December 10, 1909, in Cabool Mo.

He was the oldest son of George Henry Harrison Brown, & Margret Elizabeth Seiber.

He had one older sister, Tibatha, four younger sisters, Blanche, Mary, Euince,and Doris. Three younger brothers Elmo, Ray, and Richard.

He would have been 98 years old this year.

We miss you dad!

Willies Christmas Quilt

Willies Christmas Quilt
Originally uploaded by IdahoQuilter

A quick little Christmas quilt for my 5 year old great grandson. It is free motion quilted following the race track and highlighting the cars. The checkered flag was perfect for the border.

I'm sure he will have to share with Grandpa Tom while they watch the Nascar races. I will be mailing this on Monday to Grandpa's house.
If he sees it first, Willie may not get it. LOL

Jeremy's gift

Jeremy's gift
Originally uploaded by IdahoQuilter

My grandson brought me narcissus bulbs for a hostess gift at Thanksgiving. The directions were easy, plant, then place them in a cool dark place for 2 weeks , bring them out and watch them grow. Looks like I will have Narcissus blooms for Christmas.

Thanks Jeremy.



Not so sure about the Christmas cactus. Its trying but so far only two blooms.

christmas cactus
Originally uploaded by IdahoQuilter

Remember Pearl Harbor! December 7, 1941

Making something out of nothing.

After my sewing room disaster the day before Thanksgiving: (ie: emptying the closet where all my fabric stash was stored, so the electrician could get his fat self at the fuse box.)

I really needed to take a look at what
I had stored in there.
Beginning with a container of scraps
that I have been stepping around to even get to the closet.

I dumped this out on the cutting table and started sorting strips
I will turn these




into this:










Well it's a start!!!!

A favorite quilt

Does anyone know the name of this quilt pattern?

I purchased this quilt for $5. at a Salvation Army store in 1993. What a steal huh?
The 8" blocks are made of wool, gabardine, velvet, and silk. Each circle is embroidered around, with a ladder stitch, each block is tied in the center of each diamond and each corner with red wool yarn .
The backing is a light weight wool.

Unknown
Originally uploaded by IdahoQuilter

I really enjoy displaying this quilt, it is quite a charmer.

Need to get back to Quilting

Applique
Originally uploaded by IdahoQuilter

December is upon us, another year almost used up.

A time for review.

I did manage to grow enough pole beans to feed me and the neighbors. I was even successful at growing birdhouse gourds, now to figure out how to get them dry. I am hoping nature will give me the solution, I have left them on the vine.

Stawberries were a different story, 2 years ago I had a bumper (farmers language) crop. This year the birds had a breakfast every morning in my strawberry patch. There were only enough to feed a few birds so I let them have at it.

This applique wall hanging has been in my UFO pile for at least 3 years. It is now finished, all it needed was a border and binding. This project was from a class I took on needle turn applique.

I am now determinded to get my sewing room back in order and finish other UFO's.

Post Thanksgiving

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.



As we say in my family we are making memories. This Thanksgiving holiday we certainly did that.

(It even beats the time Glenn dropped the half gallon of Tequlia on his big toe.)

The Good:

Dinner was at my house with 9 family members, all traveling 400 to 900 miles to get here. They all arrived safely without incident. My kids arrived on Tue., from Portland, Jeremy on Wed, from Denver. As of last night they wereall back home again, safe, what more could you ask for.

We had a wonderful traditional meal, thanks to every ones help.

The best part of the whole holiday was getting to meet my Grandson Jeremy.
Jeremy is the newest member of our family, we were all anxious to welcome him. I hope we succeeded in making him feel welcome, I believe we did.


You see, Jeremy has been lost to us for 24 of his 25 years, he found us August 1, 2006.
You would think locating someone today would be easy with the Internet, but he found me the old fashion way, he called directory assistance. I speak for the whole family when I say I am glad he did.
Wonderful memories made.

The Bad:
The day before Thanksgiving, my kitchen, dinning, & bathroom lights went out.

Flipping the breaker only sent sparks flying, scared the crap out of me.

I called my handyman cousin, Stan, to the rescue. He suggested a new breaker, easy fix, right? No such luck. Blew that breaker too.

Next, check the dinning room light fixture, where I had previous trouble. Not that easy this time, everything was in tact there.

Next solution , call a electrician, at $76 bucks an hour. Three hours later he found the problem under the house, after pulling everything out away from the walls to check every plug-in. Emptying my closet was the worst part, (breaker box located there)I felt like like my house was being torn apart right before my very eyes. Looking back now it was time to clean out that closet anyway. (Do that next week)

In the middle of the disaster, (I found out latter it was only a disaster to me) Jeremy arrives. Certainly not what I had planned for our first meeting. But he got to see, right off the bat, his raving loony grandma in action.

During this 3 hour period while we were trying to cook a ham, the electrician was turning power off & on all over the house. Somehow it all got done and we managed to put together a meal that night. I don't even remember eating.
More memories made.

The Ugly:

After Thanksgiving dinner, Jessica,



my soccer playing granddaughter ask if anyone wanted to go kick the ball around with her. No napping around here. We all went out and pretended we "The Kennedy's", only with a soccer ball instead of a football.

Grandma wasn't to be out done, I could still kick a ball. After all I have been working out lately. I was on Jeremy, & Eli's side.

I did OK for awhile, chasing that ball. Then big chance to score, I wound up for the big kick then fell flat on my face. Luckily Marty had just removed a big pile of dog crap from that area.

More memories made.

While I sat out the remainder of the game.

The girls won, playing off with sudden death....

All in all I am sure it will be one of the most memorable Thanksgivings our family has ever had.

The only thing to make it better, would have been having Tom & Rhonda here.

Almost Thanksgiving

A time to be thankful for all we have.




Thanksgiving 2006





This Thanksgiving I will be meeting my grandson, Jeremy, for the first time.
Jeremy is 25, lives in Denver. He will be travelling here for Thanksgiving, arriving on Wed.

Marty, Diane, Jessica, Sandra, Glenn, Eli, will be arriving on Tues.
They will be staying here so we can all be together. I am borrowing a travel trailer from my cousin Stanley to park here, for extra beds.

I may even have to borrow dishes, since I have been alone for the last 5 years, cooking for 1, I have narrowed down my kitchen supplies.

I am borrowing a large crock pot from Peggy for the mash potatoes. When I always had Thanksgiving at my house I had a large harvest size table I could easily put 12 to 16 people around. This year we will put two small tables together.

Thanksgiving 1996


None of that matters, we will be together.
I am looking forward to having the kids home again.