Kim's Quilting Adventure

still quilting

2010-10-17T08:14:00.000-07:00

A couple finishes from last week and the week before. Both are from leftover pieces from quilts made over the summer.

Quilting really took a back seat to photography this summer. But I'm glad to say with the holidays approaching the sewing/quilting has resumed. Right now I'm doing a couple of wall hanging using Bonnie Hunter's star struck pattern. One is being hand quilted and one is in pieces- hoping to be a filmsy tonight. Also doing a paper pieced pineapple table runner for me.

really- I do quilt

2010-09-04T19:29:00.000-07:00

I've been terribly busy with photography and trying to find a job all summer.

In June the state of NJ allowed the Civil Union of same sex marriages. My sister and her partner signed up the first day. SO all summer I've been working on this quilt. Their colors are black and white.

It was "supposed" to have a piano key border too but in following the directions in the book - or at least as I understood them I got a center 8x9 instead of 7x8. If I had put the piano key border on it would have been too big for my frame so......

There are a bunch of good pics on my photography blog- or on my facebook page for those that do the facebook thing :)

I also had a few friends pass away this summer from different kinds of cancers- some got quilts -some just went too quickly ( like in 6 weeks from diagnosis) seriously- it's all too quickly

Been Quilting - just not blogging

2010-06-03T15:45:00.000-07:00

Todd's Quilt finished and in transit

Kerry and Lew's Quilt- finished and delivered

Rob's Quilt- finished and delivered

What I'm working on:

I forgot

2010-03-23T08:05:00.000-07:00

I forgot this little lap quilt I made my 90 y/o grandmother for her bday. Now she wants matching pillows too.......

Some finishes

2010-03-23T07:53:00.000-07:00

It's been almost a month since I posted last- such a bad blogger I know :( But I can honestly say it's because I've been busy actually sewing and quilting.

I didn't think I'd have so many quilts finished with hubby out of work still- scrimping and saving for backing fabrics and batting but much to my sheer amazement- the batting fairy visited me last week. I kid you not- a 40 yard roll of warm and natural was delivered to my house- no names on the paperwork except mine- THANK YOU BATTING FAIRY

My friend Maureen is starting chemo today. I made her a quilt to take with her. Poor thing broke her hip jumping down off the PET Scan table last week. If you could all keep her in your prayers. Finish #12

I had a request from a little friend for a quilt. Seems I made one for her brother when he was born but I didn't know the family when she was born. Tinkerbell fabric has been sitting here since I worked at Joann's many moons ago - but I can happily say it's all gone now :) Finish #11

and I finished both wall hangings- I hand quilted mine in baptist fans and machine quilted one for my aunt. She liked the design so much when I was making them. Things you do when we lost cabe/internet and landline phones during the last Noreaster.

finish 9 and 10
On a sad note- we had to put down DD's cat , Cyd Vicious down yesterday. She was 16 y/o and we had her for just over 11 of them. She developed a huge tumor that she would lick till it bleed and I didn't want her to be out somewhere and it burst and we'd never know what happened. The vet set she had tumors throughout her insides too. RIP my friend- we will miss you.

just a couple quick pics

2010-03-02T16:39:00.001-08:00

To prove I'm realy a quilter .................
DD's finished quilt- only 8 months late as a graduation present. Finish #6

A birthday present for one of DD's friends. Never saw a person get so excited to get a quilt -lol Finish #7

Still Sewing

2010-02-22T19:20:00.000-08:00

I finally finished the top for DD's quilt I've owed her since June for graduation...another Pineapple Blossom

I made this lap quilt for my mom <3 with the bonus hsts......finish #4

And because I was bored and saw a cute template to cut wind mills from nickles of fabric I finally quilted this one today. Finish #5

Still Sewing

2010-02-17T15:51:00.000-08:00

Been working on hand quilting one of the Star Struck wall hangings while I watch tv- it's not done yet so you can see how much tv I watch- but it is over half done YEAH!

I also promised my lovely daughter a quilt for graduation from beauty school last June well with the packing and unpacking and the crap that went on with hubby losing his job I did next to no sewing for months. Well making the baby quilt renewed my quilting spirit. So I started her quilt. I'm almost done with the blocks- My mom also asked for a small lap quilt about 4' x 4' so with the bonus hsts I'm making her top at the same time.....been pretty snowy the last week or so here in NJ perfect for staying and sewing.

A second month- A second finish

2010-02-08T20:43:00.000-08:00

I did manange to quilt and bind the quilt for a friend in time for Sunday's Superbowl party. How about those Saints?

and a third finish *VBS*

I cut pieces for another quilt this morning and have started the sewing of blocks. Working on my hand quilting one of the wall hangings....it's good to be sewing.

What's on your Design wall?

2010-01-31T11:35:00.001-08:00

Bonnie Hunter came to our guild almost 2 years ago.I blogged about it here. We had such fun at dinner and I took the Star Struck workshop the next day. Unfortunatly it was the first beautiful spring day and I spent a lot of time goofing off on my cell outside :( . My friend Katie cut a million strips for me to use in the class and I got 3 blocks done. I wanted to sew this week I had grand plans of making blocks for a love quilt- though my son stepped on my 24" ruler snapping it in few places.Big ox he is. So I looked through some boxes for something to do that didn't need length or width wise cuts of fabrics and lo and behold there was the Star Struck stuff. So for about 45 minutes to an hour a day I've been sewing parts and blocks. Both pieces are the same size for wall hangings. My aunt visited yesterday and she loved the blocks - hense 2 wall hangings. But I probably have enough for a third...we shall see.
Friday I need to take Dad to the hospital for tests- we could be there hours I was told so I plan on marking at least one with baptist fans and basting it for hand stitching....have another group of blocks that needs to be quilted hopefully by game time on Sunday for a gift. If not a week from Thursday is soon enough.....so what is everyone else working on these days?????

Baby Quilt- First finish of 2010

2010-01-26T08:28:00.000-08:00

I was still sewing binding on Friday night but never fear it was finished in time for the shower on Sunday.....

She loved it <3

Actually sewing a quilt....alert the news

2010-01-20T18:54:00.000-08:00

Can you believe it? I'm actually sewing and getting ready to quilt something. After not even having the machine uncovered for almost 7 weeks- I remembered I needed a baby shower gift for THIS Sunday.....so I spent yesterday making the blocks and today making the rows....tomorrow I will layer-baste and quilt it. Using black binding.....nothing like waiting till the last moment. But I'll tell you what- my back hasn't hurt in 7 weeks and for the last 2 days it felt like any wrong movement it would give out on me....wonder why that is. I get up every 20 minutes or less to press and do something else....

Jalpaneo Jelly

2010-01-19T06:37:00.000-08:00

Either the week before Christmas and New Year's or the first week of Jan I wanted to make a jelly to go with a great phyllo recipe I saw in a mgazine- it called for a hot pepper jelly...so I scoped out the canning books- who knew I'd have almost as many canning/preserving books as bread books within a year of starting....any how, I came across a jalapeno jelly and decided to make it....it came out so yummy.

Almost too pretty to eat........

But never fear- I have a baby shower on Sunday for a family member that I need a quilt for - so I'm breaking out the machine and see if it still likes me after being turned off since before Christmas.....

Tigress's Can Jam Citrus Challenge

2010-01-17T09:07:00.000-08:00

Earlier in the month I was reading Oh Yes I Can's blog entry on Lemon Curd- found here. I almost forgot to make this month's challenge for Tigress's Can Jam...that would be bad to miss the first month.

So this morning I decided to make it but I had no lemons *insert sad face* . But I had oranges and orange juice *insert happy face* so with a few changes, I made orange curd- which was very yummy indead-especially since we had leftover scones from breakfast yesterday morning.

So the recipe I used is as follows

Orange Curd
3 large eggs
1/3 c orange juice
3/4c sugar
1TBS orange zest ( I used 2 oranges)
4 TBS unsalted butter ( I used salted because that's all I had)

Sterilize 3 4oz jelly jars and lids.

Mix eggs- oj and sugar together in a double boiler over simmering water
stirring constantly until thickened- 6-10 minutes. Remove from heat and add zest and butter. Stir until butter is melted. I didn't strain it as I wanted to keep the pretty pieces of zest.

Pour into 3 4oz jelly jars- process 15 minutes -

What didn't fit in the jars was enjoyed with the leftover scones

Cooking Challenges

2010-01-05T12:18:00.000-08:00

Ok I'm completely crazy now :) it's true...
I joined in on a canning challenge at Tigress's blogThis month's challenge is citrus....since all the marmalade went into the baskets and for gifts I'm trying to decide what kind to make.

Of course nothing is as good as lemon curd with goodies at tea time and Denise at Yes I Can has posted a recipe she found and tried. I HAVE TO make this.

Spaghetti sauce is cooling- chili is simmering as is the stock/rice and veggies for chicken soup. I'll take some out for lovely Veggie Girl aka DD. Chicken stock is as far as she'll go in the soup. Once hers is taken out I'll add the chicken and finish the soup.

Does anyone have a kitchenaide mixer that also has and uses the ice cream maker for it? My handsome son wants to learn to make ice cream this year. So I was thinking of getting the attachment. But I was also looking at this: Wish I had one today for ice cream to go with the pie....good thing DD, friend and I are hitting the gym tonight *WINK*

Still here just not quilting

2010-01-05T09:03:00.000-08:00

Remember all that canning I did of jellies - salsas etc? Add some holiday baking and candy making and you get these :

Here's one I sent to my best friend's house.

Isn't this the sweetest Santa? Aunt Kathy stitched it a couple of years ago and I got it for Christmas this year :)

And can you imagine having so many blue ribbons that you didn't want the one that went with the project? Well I got the blue ribbon she won with the stitchery...

Lately I've been more in a cooking mood than a sewing mood. Though in my defense, I did finish another row of the tumbling block top ...I think I under estimated the size and will have to add rows to both the top and bottom :(

Today though is serious cooking day....spaghetti sauce is simmering away- apple pie in the oven, chicken stock in the freezer for the fat to freeze for easy removal for chicken soup. Biscuts will be made and meatballs for the sauce. Then I need to turn the kitchen (and the dishes) to hubby to make his venison chili - yummy.

Tomorrow I plan on making 2 kinds of jelly- apple pie and jalapeno- not together but both sound wonderful....I bet the jelly would go great in those little brie bites in phyllo we made last week- hmmmm...wonder if I have any more brie in the fridge????

Chooky's Secret Santa Swap 2009

2009-12-26T07:46:00.000-08:00

Again this year, Super Elf, Chooky, organized a Secret Santa swap. I had so much fun last year I had to sign up again. My santa was Rebecca from Homestead Quilting.As you can see from this picture I got a beautiful calander of Australian Flowers. Everyone loves pics of great flowers - especially us in the USA that are in cold rainy/snowy areas and are pouring over our seed catologs dreaming of warmer weather and our gardens. And if you read this post,you can see I also recieved 2 stunning -hand embroidered items- an adorable candy cane holder and the ornament. But never did I think I would get the so very lovely table runner. It's a thing of obsolute beauty. Thank you - thank you- thank you Rebecca- I just love it. it's almost too pretty to have on the table. But rest assured that on Jan 7th- when the last of Christmas is put away after Kings Day- it will be the center piece of my table. I will have to try and get a pic of the quilting which is just amazing.

Rebecca thank you so much for being my Santa and spoiling me so and Chooky- thank you for all your hard work in getting all of us together again for a wonderful swap- please add me for next year.

With all the hustle and bustle of making jellies, jams- salsas and prettys to go into baskets for neighbors, friends and family, I almost didn't make any roll out cookies. Wednesday night I just knew I would be so mad at myself if I didn't take my copper cookie cutters and use them. For as long as I can remember, my mom used them with us kids at Christmas time and since they were given to me 20 years ago I have used them faithfully every year. How can I kill a tradition, I ask you? So after much digging in the garage they appeared.

I've added to them over the years- and they only seem to get used at Christmas even though there are plenty that are not of the a Christmas theme. One day I hope to split them and give some to both of my children......

I see a Quilt Design in that floor

2009-12-20T07:15:00.000-08:00

While trasping around NYC with my friend Cheryl, we stopped on one of the beautiful churches. Which one this is I have no clue,sorry. But look at the lovely design in the marble tiled floors.....I'm thinking Birds in the Air needs to be made.

This Elf has been busy.....

2009-12-09T15:16:00.000-08:00

I've been busy canning stuff for gift baskets. Just need to make some fudge and toffee and maybe embroider a few towels. The flavored liquors are ready, I got some great flasks at the container store for them. Herbs need to be repacked in cute glass jars. Now if I could just find 6- 8 nice sized non budget killing baskets I'd be good to go.

Salsa and jelly......

More jelly

Yipee! Both wall hangings are finsihed and hanging. I also did the binding on the gingerbread table runner while watching Angels and Demons with the hubby this afternoon.

trees up and since we had a snow day the kids decorated this morning....played with long exposure -movement and tree lights. Pics will be on the other blog.

Happy St Nicholas Day

2009-12-06T12:29:00.000-08:00

This is Sinterklaas. The Dutch Santa Claus.

Wall hanging progress and SNOW

2009-12-05T23:06:00.000-08:00

I've been working with the embroidery machine trying to stitch out 24 North Pole buildings- so cute :) I have 7 more to do for another wall hanging. I managed to get the table runner quilted today. Just need to trim and get the binding on :)

We had our first snow fall of this season....

DD and I went to NYC this evening for a short walkabout...pics are on the other blog ( click on the yellow orchids on the right)

Secret Santa Swap :)

2009-12-02T15:15:00.001-08:00

Chooky ran a Secret Santa swap again this year. THANK YOU CHOOKY!!! My package arrived today. Rebecca from Homestead Quilting was my Santa and just look at the two lovelies I was allowed to open. Sad to say we don't have our tree up yet. Maybe Sunday. But the ornament is hanging by my desk here bringing a smile everytime I see it. The candy canes and holder are now hanging on my bedroom door. The candy is still sealed. I'll wait to open and share that with the family. Gota find my pretty candy bowl.

I have this lovely to open Christmas morning ( if I can last that long ) Thanks Rebecca - I love everything ( well that I could open )

Moose is so tired watching all the work going on here with the holidays coming.

Christmas Troubles is quilted and bound and hanging on the wall over the microwave. Once I get my kitchen tree up it will be so cute.

I found some extra blocks from last years mystery and decided to make ds a wall hanging. I really need to pay attention more as I have one hst turned the wrong
way :( and it's a;; quilted and bound.

Finally sewing again :)

2009-11-27T17:26:00.000-08:00

Since the angiogram on Wednesday ( no blockages- more tests coming) I was told to do nothing for the weekend- nothing. I can't drive so I decided to break out the sewing machine and the embroidery machine. I had about 5 yards of this tiny gingerbread allover patterned fabric that I get tired of moving around. So yesterday I decided I needed a wall hanging and table runner for the holidays.

I always loved how Buffalo Troubles came out and wondered if I could make another with the gingerbread fabric of the bonus hts from the table runner points. I did have to make another couple sheets worth from Triangulations ( kinda like thangles but you print sheets)I found two browns and tah dah!

I'm calling it Christmas Troubles :)

Closeup of the fabrics

I also finished a table runner top for the holidays :)

I even did a couple dish towels and a denim shirt.

No pictures this week because I'm housebound- next weekend DD and I are meeting a friend in NYC to take pictures of the Christmas decorations. The big tree should be lit by "The Rock"- hopefully Sat night mass will be over so I can take pics in St. Pat's Cathedral.The store windows...etc etc

More of the Quilt Show

2009-11-07T17:54:00.000-08:00

Here's the booth set up for the mini quilt raffle number 4 of 5 this morning...

Look I even won 2 mini quilts I actually won 3. Two were the same quilt design ( the one on the right) I gave one to the current First VP as she wanted one too- it's nice to share :-)

Look at all the fabric I bought -WOW- you know what? I haven't been to a quilt show since the whole Buffalo move that never happened for me started and usually I spend at leasr $150 a show. I missed 6 shows so this a very small price to pay. Barb has brought me to the DARK SIDE not only applique but Civil War Reproductions *gulp* Let's start small with a pattern's worth of fqs to try a 16" block of the pattern I won last night- then I saw the blue and white kit ( my very fav combo) then I bought a book by Kim Deihl. A pieced and applique wall hanging pattern's worth of FQS. The book is called Simple Blessings...should be quite an adventure.

Look who won the doll bed and quilt. After all her hard work I think she deserved it :)

I am exausted after all the the following of Barb's lead. She wrote more on the door prize raffle this morning on her blog...too funny. You can read about it here : Tomorrow is veg out day ....

Barb thank you for such a fun learning experience and a bunch of laughs. I will be begging for help with these new projects....don't leave me alone on the dark side of Repros and applique w/o help- I beg of you......

Brownstone Quilt Guild's Show

2009-11-06T18:41:00.001-08:00

After a long time w/o a show venue, Brownstone Quilt Guild started their show today. What a long - but fun day it was.....And it's still going on tomorrow at Allendale, NJ's Northern Highlands High School. If you're in the neighborhood please come see me. I'll be at the mini auction with Barb We're in room two. We still have over 50 mini quilts for 2 drawings tomorrow.....
Part of the NJ Quilt book challenge- Grandmother Stars - my interpertaion of a GMFG. My design based on floor tiles I saw in Philley.....

I entered Musical Geese - didn't get a ribbon but I entered it just the same......

We have alot of great vendors- some like this one I've never seen before. Very nice people for Red Sox fans :P

Barb and I are running the Mini Quilt auction- OK Barb's running it and I just do what she says :) I won a bunch of mini quilts today- bottom left is hubby's fav and mine fav is bottom right. I wanted that quilt so bad when it was sent last year for the show - I almost kept it - see it pays to be a good girl :) I won 2 more that I made :( and gave one to Talin and one to Barb- neither is my style but they were fun to make .

The door prize gals over did themselves and had over 700 prizes of all shapes and sizes. Anything from gardening gloves and a gardening book- foot massagers (LOL)-spools of embroidery thread ( thanks Barb) patterns- fqs etc etc, It was like an addicting drug you could not walk by w/o playing and play I did....look at all this stuff. I also won a ceramic house of some kind - hubby's getting it out of my truck so I can see what it is....a pic for another day :)

And hubby,prince he is brought Barb and I some real food for dinner- what a guy!!! Thanks Dave it was yummy. He even made sure I had some cold wine when I got home- I may keep him another 20 years *VBG*

2009-11-02T10:19:00.000-08:00

What the House Test Says About You

You consider yourself important, but no more important than anyone else. You love attention, but you don't feel like you deserve more of it than anyone else.

You aren't against being community oriented, but it's not really your thing. You tend to prefer to focus on your family and not the neighborhood around you.

You are creative, expressive, and bright. You are always in the middle of some amazing project.

You take good care of your physical appearance. You dress well, stay in shape, and do your best to look great.

You are moved by romance and love. You are optimistic about people, and you love hearing about happy endings.

The House Test

Blogthings: Waste Time at Work!

It's back in the work circulation

2009-10-31T17:27:00.000-07:00

Look at what I dragged to work on last night....this is my third year of working on it...not sure why I can't stay focused enough to finish it....

and it's Moose approved :)

Look another post in the same week

2009-10-30T17:51:00.000-07:00

Last year Brownstone celebrated it's 25th anniversary. Pauline had a challenge of 25 repeats - around 25" to include silver. Lacey gave me hers afterwards- we're such yoyo heads from the land of YO as she says ......

Anyway next week is our guild's quilt show. And everything needs a label. How does one label a wall hanging of yoyos???Well I made myself crazy by sewing on a hanging sleeve to my gmfg quilt and 2 labels - my 25th anniversary challenge and my entry.

Then it dawned on me what to do.........................

Pretty clever if I do say so.....

Miss Me??

2009-10-29T15:31:00.000-07:00

I miss blogging- I miss reading what everyone is up to.
Face book is quicker and easier and all on one page....

To tell the truth I haven't done much in the way of quilting in the last month- I finished hand quilting a 30's baby quilt for a cousin's newborn daughter, Emma Faith. Pretty name huh?

I've started taking photography classes to hone my skills and am loving it. I'm in my second one for the year. This will be it till after the holidays. Then it will be photoshop classes......

Can't find a pic of the baby quilt- so I'll leave you with one from my "homework"

whoops found the baby quilt.....
But here's one of my homework anyway :)

Quilting Still lifes

2009-09-22T12:50:00.000-07:00

I'm taking a series of classes on digital photography and photo editing. We had to take still life photos using different settings for the next class. So of course you wouldn't expect me to take pics of fruit bowls or the likes of that - would you????

Monday's Mini Quilt Top

2009-09-21T09:16:00.001-07:00

This cutie measures 8x9" An insane amount of paper piecing for such a small piece.
It had me in fits a few times, I can wait to finish this one for the auction.....

After I fixed the one border....I would have been so mad if I started quilting it....

Call the Press I'm actually sewing

2009-09-20T18:35:00.000-07:00

This is a wall hanging I started quilting last weekend. It's a Christmas present for a dear friend. I'm almost done hand quilting it (:

Here are two mini quilt tops I finished this weekend. I have a third started- paper piecing *yikes* They are for a mini quilt auction that will run during our quilt show in November. You know you buy books because they're cute. These are from 2 books I bought last year.

This one is from American Doll Quilts 16 Little Projects that Honor a Tradition by Kathleen Tracy

This one is from the book,Paper Pieced Mini Quilts by Wendy Vosters. I didn't paper piece this one though. It was an easy enough design to just enlarge using 2" squares.

There are two more mini quilts I'd like to make. I started one and I need to make a million hsts for the other

I started a photography class last week- been playing with some setting on camera. I tried taking a few of the cats
Nancy is a ham and doesn't mind her pic taken. Something with the flash bothers Moose and he moves

And DD and her date before the wedding they were going to this afternoon- such cuties. He was an hour late picking her up and wasn't a happy camper....

And how about those Jets???

Celebrating Life and Liberty

2009-09-14T08:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Katie and I volunteered to help at a celebration of cancer survivors from Hackensack Medical Center held at Ellis Island. What a beautiful day it was. There was also a boat parade celebrating Henry Hudson discovering the what is now called the Hudson River. We got these rubber bracelets that allowed us free ferry rides between NJ 's Liberty State Park, Ellis and Liberty Island. I don't think I've been to the statue in 15 years. But Lady Liberty still looks great.....

There were 500 + survivors and guests.

A clipper ship just looks weird with the NYC skyline behind it......

Jelly, salsa and liquers......

2009-09-08T14:34:00.001-07:00

Second post in a day and neither is about quilting :(
Lately I've been working on other interests- like teaching myself to can, make jellies etc. For years I've been making liquers and flavoring vodkas that I use in holiday baskets.I came across a blog that taught you how make vanilla extract-I go through alot of extract baking each year and decided to start small with a half pint, it came out great! Now I need to get a dozen more vanilla beans to add to the holiday baasket list of things to make :)

I noticed over the weekend that herb garden container isn't doing as well as it was and decided to start drying what was there. Leaving a little bit of each herb so I still have some fresh. So far today the oregano, thyme and one rosemary plant have been dried. The house smells great with each different one. I want to make pesto and either freeze it or find out how to can it for the upcoming months.

Saturday I came up with a brillant (NOT) idea of making orange marmalade since it's one of my mom's favorites.
I scored and peeled about 6 oranges and then carefully cut away the pith, only to read today that I could have saved a ton of time using a vegetable peeler *sigh*

The point of making jams and jelly was to use in baskets at Christmas time.... Of course most of the jams are given away since everyone is amazed ( why I don't know) that I'm learning to can.

Tomorrow I'm going to a garden nursery with hubby to buy some plants to fill the holes in the gardens.....but maybe Thursday I'll get to do some more sewing- maybe actually get another star block done .....one never knows.

Take me out to the ball game......

2009-09-08T06:05:00.000-07:00

Tearing down the old Yankee Stadium.....sigh

I was given 2 amazing seat tickets from one of my dear friends for the first game of Labor Day's games. Hubby said I should ask my Dad first. So Daddy and I got to spend some quality time together at the ball game. I think the last game I went to with Dad and family and friends was at Shea for a Yankee vs Mets game .

Me and my handsome Dad c:

Scarey Arod bobble head in the Yankee Team Store

Scarey Jeter bobble head

CC warming up.

No hits for Jeter so close to being the all time hits player for the Yankees.

The great hall from the other side. Remember in June I posted pics but that side is the older platers in black and white pics.....

The screening behind home plate is way different- so you still need to be careful of foul balls....

THe guy timing all the pitches for mph...most were in the mid 90's for both teams

The guy filming for the behind home plate shots

Pena got hit by a pitch in the first inning broke 2 fingers and is out for the year.

Evan L someone for the Rays- plays 3rd base. He got a HR in the first game.

All you hear is people banging on this guy's pan for good luck...he's been going to games since as long as I can remember. Definatly before DD was born.

Once Upon a time......

2009-08-16T15:54:00.000-07:00

I was a quilter. Now I don't do much of anything. The stack of boxes still sits in the sewing area. I've been asked today to make a quilt for a raffle for the Masons so I guess I need to clean it up and get a move on it.

A couple of weeks ago I was playing with making jellies and preserves and that took alot of time and mess to do. Now I'm joining a bread baking blog challenge. I won't be doing it daily but I'd love to learn how to make good homemade bread.

Tomorrow is a goof off day with DD. We're heading to the beach just the two of us. Should prove to be a fun day. Hope we don't fry.

With hubby home he's been doing some much needed tlc projects around the house, painting etc.

So here's a pic of my silly friend Moose.

Does this basket make my butt look big?

A room with a view

2009-07-24T19:13:00.000-07:00

the view outside my sewing area- very neglected sewing area :(

Attention! Attention!

2009-07-18T19:37:00.000-07:00

Due to circunstances beyond our control- we are NOT -I repeat NOT moving to Buffalo.
I'm so glad that this worked out before I started packing up the rest of the house.
Hubby is going back next weekend to get the rest of the furniture and we're here in NJ where we belong. I know Cliff is happy that his meal ticket is staying :)

Things have a funny way of working themselves out in the long run.

Last week went to help pack up the "stuff" and the kitchen- but I took a day off to visit with one of my friends that I was looking to spending time with. SHe, her darling daughter and our hubbies took a trip to the Niagra Auquarium and had a yummy Mexican lunch in Buffalo's Little Italy -LOL

I found Nemo

I'm actually sewing

2009-07-11T16:53:00.001-07:00

Leftover blocks from 2 quilts being used in a wall hanging that I'm hand quilting.

Some 30's scottie dogs for another wall hanging...needs to be basted-etc

Mini quilt for the quild's upcoming show in the fall. Just needs binding :)

A lazy gal version of Nanette's pattern using strips instead of squares. Thinking outside the box using repros ( not my fav type)

July 1st

2009-07-02T02:44:00.000-07:00

I love the color of these lilies, my friend Kathysent them to me a few summers ago. I took a few pics after what seems like our daily afternoon thunder shower- I'm hoping the one that passed through at 5AM is the one for the day...but it looks like more this
afternoon :(

Wild berries in the yard- I hope I get some before the birds eat them all.....

My friend Cliff. This cat is breaking my heart. He's been a fixture for a while of my yatd. Try as I may I bring him in and he's good for a few minutes then he freaks trying to get out any window or door he can. I don't know what's going to happen when we move..sigh..if I can'[t get him in the house, carrier or not how am I going to get him to Buffalo and I don't know if he'll
A stay in the yard to be fed or
B survve the winter outdoors....

A few Buffalo Pics

2009-06-28T07:27:00.001-07:00

The Botanical Gardens

Forest Lawn Cemetery

Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright

The Bachert grave

Frank Lloyd Wright's Darwin Martin House

back from buffalo

2009-06-25T22:50:00.000-07:00

I took hundreds of pics the last few days- spent 12 + hours on assorted trains today.
celebrated 20 years of marriage with my best friend ( yes dear even after Wed you're still my best friend :P)
having a glass of wine and calling it a day....tomorrow I need to check on my gardens and Cliff. The other kitties greeted me at the door :)
but the question of the day is......
why the ac was on in the living room with the dining room windows open.
Something to ask the boy later today.....

Vice President Quilt

2009-06-17T15:20:00.000-07:00

Is this an amazing quilt or what? I had the pleasure of going out to lunch with my Big Sister/ friend Elaine today. Elaine was the person who made my quilt from the Brownstone Quilters. It's a custom of the guild to make a quilt by the past president/vp for the new ones by the end of their term. Now that I'm done, I get to make one for Donna who is now the VP. Design done in EQ now to gather the stuff and have it ready for after the move to start.

Blue and white is such a classic combination and perfect for me. I will treasure it always. Thank you Elaine and Brownstone members for a wonderful momento of my term.

Lovely label with the Browstone Quilter's logo.

now check out this awesome fabric used for the backing-love it!

june 17

2009-06-17T08:24:00.000-07:00

Working on editing pics from the state quilt show last week. PC is not availabl till the new monitor comes- I hate working on editing on the laptop.
But here's a pic of one of my fav quilts from the show-lol

NJ Quilt Show- Brownstone's Display

2009-06-10T16:52:00.000-07:00

Our raffle quilt

The guild display of 25th anniversary challenge quilts.

My favorite of the group, Maureen's.

What's in the Box? This is what's in the box

2009-06-09T05:29:00.000-07:00

Only Paula knows for sure.
Months ago we said we'd trade boxes of goodies for opening day. Of course my box was late- real late. Like I finally mailed it Saturday morning before the guild luncheon. But it arrived in NH yesterdsay. So tonight at first pitch of the Red Sox vs Yankee game we'll be opening our boxes. I can't wait to see what goodies are in there. Thanks Paula :)

OH my I'm so spoiled by Miss Paula.
Just look at all the goodies. I love the blue baseball fabric- great choice. LOL Dominos are a fav here in the house. I'm sure the Met fans won't appreciate playing with them. THere was one more piece of dark chocolate but that's my most favorite and I just had to munch on it while uploading the pic.
There's a bag to fill with rice and herbs for when you're sore- a cute wallet and pincushion, a great magnet that says Jesus Always Welcome and a small letter K. Thank you so much Paula. I hope you enjoy your box also.

Stuff

2009-06-09T02:20:00.000-07:00

Even though I wasn't blogging regularly for awhile, I was busy sewing and have some pics to prove it :)

I've been working on these crazy blocks for the past few weeks. I'm actually adding row 15 of 30 in the pic which I finished last night. Problem is I don't think it's going to be long enough and I had to draft more rows for the top and bottom. I will eventually hand quilt it....in the very distant future. This is the second summer I'm working on it. *sigh*

I need to applique this to a background fabric- add borders and sandwich to get ready for some hand quilting to and from Buffalo in a couple of weeks.

Left over blocks to make a wall hanging .

If you see this book and the ruler, BUY IT! Lots of fun projects in it and the ruler is a great fun tool to work with. My friend Lacey is published!!!! I can't find her blog but it can be ordered here:

Here's mine on the back cover :)

Here's the actual sample hanging on DD's lime green walls. Oh we're so proud of DD she passed her state board exams for cosmotology!!

Here's our resident chicken shit who woke me up because it as thundering at 3:30 this morning :(

But I got up and made muffins from Susan's blog. Chocolate chip..yum.

The New Yankee Stadium

2009-06-08T05:34:00.000-07:00

When you come in one of the entrances you walk into the Great Hall. Full of banners of the Yankee legends, and there are alot of them, Mantle, Ruth, DiMaggio just to name a few.

Yogi's banner

Last year for the All Star game being played at the old Yankee Stadium MLB had these statues done in all the team's colors and they were all over NYC. After the game, they were auctioned off- I guess the Yankees paid alot of money to keep theirs.

After we did our little shopping for my pin and shot glass we started up the ramps towards our seats to see the Museum and we saw this.....click on pic to read the sign.....lol

If you're not sure of where your seats are in the new stadium, there are hundreds of employees walking around with these cute signs. We wanted to find the Hard Rock cause Kim collects pins and shot glasses from all the ones she's been too.

It's a pretty photo heavy blog now so I'll continue with the museum and the game next post.

Pay It Forward

2009-06-07T05:37:00.000-07:00

I've played Pay it Forward before and loved the little gifty Paula made me. Cathiwas needing some more to join hers so of course I did. Now I need 3 people to join mine.
The rules are as follows:( I copied them from Cathi's blog)

I must make and send a handmade item to the three people who join my PIF within 365 days;

In turn, the three people who join my PIF must also host their own PIF and ask three people to join and on and on;

There are no set times other than the gift must be made and sent within 365 days of hosting your PIF.

If you're interested in joining in, please tell me in a comment that you would like to join my PIF.

Bison Baseball in Buffalo

2009-06-07T05:22:00.000-07:00

One of the first things we did this trip in Buffalo was take in a Bisons baseball game. Gotta love $8 tickets to sit in great seats.
The Bisons were the Clevland Indians farm team till this year when the NY Mets bought them. Of course on a Thursday afternoon doesn't matter where your seats are you can sit anywhere cause no ones there. I hope it gets more crowed once school get out up there.

Of course the game was the Bisons vs the Clippers - Mets vs Yankees.

Willy Mo Pena- was he a Red Sox before? Hubby thought so.

Kinda cute- never saw pretzels shaped like this at games.

The conehead beer vendor.....

Here are the mascots....ok with the Buffalos already people.

Love this sign even if it is in Met's orange and blue-lol
I'm sure Paula can relate- Jeanne too.

The Sabre's hockey rink is being torn down now that they have a new one.

What a pain in the butt that is- little black specks of something flying around in everything-your hair your beer....looked like little pieces of the stuff on roofing shingles. The rink also known as the Aud is going to be completely ripped down this weekend. Yippee!

still alive

2009-06-03T20:46:00.000-07:00

back from Buffalo a few weeks ago- lots going on- end of school year for both kiddies. DD is graduating cosmotology school in a couple weeks...then I need to buckle down and finish packing....

I have a wall hanging for Paula to finish binding ( I got the hanging sleeve on today) and the Burger Queen mystery to sew the binding down and go spend a ton of money in the post office mailing lots and lots of packages.

Tomorrow I need to upload the pics from my camera from the buffalo trip and tonights Yankee game. They lost :( so I guess that makes them tied with the Red Sox for first place in the AL East.
Guess what player managed not to do much of anything except hit into a inning ending double play with men in scoring position???
The new stadium is AWESOME !!!!

But here's a pic of my ocean waves in good light on the bed in Buffalo...

Shuffling Off to Buffalo- Again!

2009-05-20T03:30:00.000-07:00

While waiting for the actual test to begin ( over 2 hours late) and while DD took the written exam I worked on more Amish Tumbling blocks. I "think" I'm attaching row 13 or 14 - Not even half way- but still working on it.

Suitcases are packed- laptop and Twilight Zone dvds packed, ipods, books and sewing for me- the last of the prepped tumbling blocks ready to be put together, the last few hexagons for the Irish Pub star wall hanging, the apple cores ( Hey Cathi- now how do I put the rows together? I have 2 almost completed.)and the wine feathered star to work on hand quilting so when I quilt my mystery, I can do hanging sleeves and binding .
I'm leaving in about 75 minutes for Buffalo with DS to see the school he should be going to. Hubby is taking us to see the Buffalo Bisons ( Met's farm team ) Thursday. There's a quilt store 1.5 miles from the house I'm hoping to check out :) we shall see. Be back late Friday night. Hopefully with a ton of pics for this blog and especially the flower blog. Going back to the Botanical Gardens with the new camera.

Catch Up

2009-05-18T10:44:00.000-07:00

I quilted my butt off this weekend. Trying to finish quilting all the tops I had in the house before I have to return the borrowed juki.
I still have a small baby quilt ( the burger queen mystery) and a mystery wall hanging that going to live with Paula when it's finished. But I don't think it'll happen till I get back from Buffalo Saturday. No time today- gotta get DS and myself packing. Tomorrow DD has state board testing for her cosmotology license and I'm her manaquin- so we leave early and get home late as the test is in Trenton :( Bringing my Amish Tumbling blocks to work on while she takes the written part of the exam.

A year or two ago Amanda Jean did a quilt along. I made all the blocks and there they sat. :(
THen she did another one that I didn't play in but I used her alternating blocks for this quilt along. It's going to a friend for a couch quilt.

I finally finished my ocean waves quilt. I love how it came out. I'm thinking of doing another one with Cindy's pattern.I guess she didn't post it there yet but I saw a great pic on one of my yahoo groups....I only have gagillion hsts ready to go.

After a very long time I finally finished the last of 4 love quilts. I'm waiting for the family to call me back so I can deliver them all- hopefully today.

Just need to sew the binding down on the quilt for my aunt with breast cancer.

I totally blame Cathi for this mess :)She has a great tutorial on her blog a few months back on the pinning of these cuties. I need a hand sewing project for the train on Wednesday. I had started english paper piecing a double wedding ring- what a mess. I have 23 fqs from a sale at Connecting threads all springy colors so I decided today was the day and I was going to print a couple hundred apple cores for the ride. Yep that's me, the insane one :)

So that's what I've been up to - taking my new camera to Buffalo and hope to take some more amazing pics at the Botanical Garden.
I'll post them to my other blog when I do.

You Tube fun.....

2009-05-11T12:13:00.000-07:00

Marge from Delaware Quilts had this on her blog

I got this one a few weeks ago- a T Mobile commercial shot in one of England's train stations- awesome- reminds me of the improvs that happen all over NYC.

Grand Central Improv:

Once Upon a Time

2009-05-11T04:30:00.001-07:00

I was a good blogger. I would blog at LEAST once a week and not be too busy to blog for almost3 weeks. In my defense I've had nothing to show quilty wise :( Mostly I've been working in the yard and gardens. With hubby gone and a lazy teen for a son , someone has to do it.....and that someone is me.
This weekend was the first a sewing machine has been on since Bonnie spoke to my guild last month. *SIGH*

I also need to finish a mystery wall hanging that I've been writing for one of my yahoo groups. I had planned to do it way earlier and send it to Paula from Coffeetime Studios and well ...life got in the way. Never fear Paula the mystery is this weekend and your box will be on it's way. Here's a peek at the fabrics I chose with you in mind.

Hubby is in Buffalo and comes home every 2 weeks and I try to pack a box or two a day for him to take back and un pack so when the move comes (in about 11 weeks) it will be pretty much the kitchen stuff and furniture.

During my absence I received a blog award from Marge of Delaware quilts. Thank you so much Marge. I read so many interesting blogs (when I can) I can't just pick one- so if you're reading this, consider yourself awarded an interesting blog award.

I have been uploading pics to my other blog, Kim's Flowers. That blog is easy- upload pics, no need to find something to say- the pics say it all pretty much. :)

Well I have a quilty day planned for today and I hope everyone had a great Mother's Day. I did after a rough start but all's well that ends well as they say.......

Atlantic City part 1

2009-04-19T12:46:00.000-07:00

Quiltville Travels to NJ part 2

2009-04-18T13:45:00.001-07:00

Today was Bonnie's workshop. It was great fun to sit and sew with some friends and visitors of the guild that came to take Bonnie's class. One of two workshops that actually filled up this year. It was a fun class but my pea brain wasn't into sewing today- maybe it's the two weeks since I touched a machine or maybe it was a beautiful spring day and I wanted to be outside playing...who knows. I did manage to make 3 blocks and with the tiny bonus hsts a starter block for an auction quilt maybe...maybe not. A 4" finished Dutchman's Puzzle...I'll take a pic later.

A close up of Bonnie's 3 inch finished log cabin blocks- wow! all I can say is wow!

A member's double delight- trying to see why she felt her colors didn't work against the original Bonnie made for the mystery.

Bonnie - Katie and Donna :)

Bonnie and Me :)

One of the guild member's blocks. The orange really pops doesn't it???

All and all it was a great two days and I totally enjoyed the lectures, dinner last night and the workshop today. But now it's time to do some boring guild stuff- like agendas for the board meeting and a letter from the VP for the guild newsletter due Monday night at the board meeting *sigh* Maybe that can wait till Monday when it's going to rain and I can go play in the sunshine for awhile.....

Quiltville Travels to NJ

2009-04-17T20:14:00.000-07:00

After a few days running around Buffalo- catching up on laundry and running to Atlantic City for a few days, I got home kinda late to do more than laundry and make agendas for 2 meetings for my guild. The president normally runs the night meeting but she's traveling. So I get the pleasure (NOT) of running the day ( my normal meeting) and the president's. If we had any other speaker than Bonnie Hunter I would have begged off for one. But Bonnie was such a wonderful speaker, and so many people came to see her lecture and beautiful ( though very heavy to hold-lol) quilts.

1" finished squares, all I can say is WOW!!!

I can't remember the name of this mystery. But web pics don't do it justice....

Pineapple blossom I think is my very favorite pattern that Bonnie designed- I've done a few of them, all prettier than the next.

The orange crush mystery.........

A scrappy happy village....

A person more insane than I doing 3" finished log cabins- not to say one won't be attempted in the future- a very distant future.

I need to find mine and finish it. I love this bargello pattern :)

We ( the program ladies,Bonnie and myself) all went to dinner between the meetings. I always heard Thai food was spicy - not to me ....Then I got to sit front and center for the evening lecture and take some pics for all my blog friends to enjoy.
Tomorrow is her workshop on Star Struck- I tell you with all the traveling I never got my class stuff cut, but my friend Katie was a true life saver and cut a ton of strips for me to use tomorrow. THANK YOU KATIE!!!!. So tomorrow is another busy day.....I hope to have more pics for tomorrow evening's edition.
But I'll you this, If you ever get a chance to hear Bonnie or take a class- DO IT! You'll enjoy it immensely- I know I did :).

Buffalo Troubles

2009-04-14T07:16:00.000-07:00

Buffalo Troubles has a place of honor on the back of the sofa :)

I "think" I want to make another one but not with red and blue- maybe green and gold....with gold quilting.....hmmmmm

Buffalo Zoo part2

2009-04-12T20:14:00.000-07:00

I love big cats and snow leopards are one of my favs. This guy was hanging out on a perch above the viewing booth hiding.

Ok the zoo had an amazing exhibit simulating an Amazon Rainforest complete with a tall waterfall and assorted plants ( mostly orchids -etc) and animals.

Look, it's Toucan Sam :)

This guy was so much fun- Moose sleeps in the same pose

This guy had just come out of the water even though it was about 40* out

Happy Easter Everyone

2009-04-12T04:56:00.000-07:00

Hope everyone has a blessed Easter. I saw the bunny hopping around the yard this morning. One of the things I'll miss moving to Buffalo- the wild life in the backyard *sigh*

Buffalo Zoo

2009-04-11T17:54:00.000-07:00

Hubby met the director of the Buffalo Zoo at a luncheon held for him a week ago and Ms Fernandez and hubby were talking about DD's love of giraffes. She said that when we came up she would give us a private tour of the zoo- kinda behind the scenes if you will. I don't think I've ever seen my daughter smile so much in the last few years.

This sweet one was born in January :)

We got to hear all about the new plans for new and improved exhibits for the animals and all about the great breeding program that Buffalo is involved in.

This dude was enjoying his water ....

This one is for Lester and Smudge..and all our kitty friends.
OMG My heart was racing in the big cat house- we walked on this concrete slab between 2 rows of cages- tigers on our left and lions on our right. Can you imagine slipping against either set? But the tigers were so beautiful up close and personal.

I took over 200 pics that I need to go through and edit or delete. Some of the zoo - mostly more pics of the orchids at the gardens where hubby works.
I'll tell you- hubby is like a Rock Star up there. The new exciting director of the Botanical Gardens....who would have known? He's still Guru to me.....

Shuffling Off to Buffalo

2009-04-07T03:22:00.001-07:00

Leaving this morning on the train with the kiddies.
Have snacks, batteries, assorted hand held games and ipods charged and ready to go.
We should be home late Saturday.
Buffalo Troubles is packed to deliver to hubby.....
Don't have too much fun without me

TAH DAH

2009-04-02T20:17:00.000-07:00

I finally finished Buffalo Troubles and was so afraid to wash it. So I tried what Rose Marie said and sewed a few color catchers on the problem areas and IT WORKED!!!

This was the only problem I had- alittle bit of running on the back- I can totally live with that.

I also rewashed the quilt that had the running dye and sewed a few color catchers to the area where the dye ran and it actually took MOST of the dye out-wow!! I was so impressed. Gotta remember that trick in the future.

Sewing/ Quilting Merrily Along

2009-04-02T07:15:00.001-07:00

This is the quilt for the dad of the family I'm making the love quilts for. It's one of Bonnie's patterns.My dad wants one just like it. Bonnie is coming to my guild 3 weeks from tomorrow!!! I'm so excited. I have to finish the last quilt for the middle daughter. Top is almost done- hoping to finish it today and load it for quilting tomorrow. Maybe, just maybe I can get these quilts out by Monday. Wouldn't that be great???

Last year I did the first quilt along with Amanda Jean. I finally figured out something to do with half the blocks- I used the setting blocks from the second quilt along-lol. I'm sending it to a friend after I finish these love quilts. It's now hanging in que for it's turn in quilting.

I was more than 75% done with the hand quilting on Buffalo Troubles when the fabric ran in the love quilt. All the bonus hsts from that quilt are in Buffalo Troubles. I got a very helpful email yesterday saying I should baste a color catcher right to the 2 hsts that ran in the other quilt. Thank You Rose Marie
I hope it works.

Here's a pic of the label *S* Now to get the binding and this label sewn down.

Another Rainy Sunday

2009-03-29T10:51:00.001-07:00

Spring is starting to bloom here in NJ. Finally!! The robins were back last week. The days are getting longer-

Hubby was home this weekend for his mom's birthday tomorrow. He brought me callas :) He left a few minutes ago with another carload of "stuff". He took Ethel ( my featherweight) so when I go up with the kids a week from Tuesday I'll have a machine up there in case I feel the urge to sew. I sent a couple of board games also.

Somewhere around here I have one of these from Marti Mitchell also. I found the booklet that came with that one and it has a very good way to do bindings so I had to try it with this tool. It's also coming in very handy for the 9 patch quilt I'm making to replace the one with the running red.I wish I remembered it last on point quilt I did. This is so much easier.

Well I guess I can go get the quilt off the frame to trim and bind. That will be number 3 of 4. Once I finish piecing this 9 patch and quilt I will be done. Then I have 3 more that need quilting lined up.

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

2009-03-26T16:37:00.000-07:00

A few months back, I won the Stashbuster Yahoo Group's challenge for no buy. I was so happy. Today, not so much.

I trimmed all those squares into smaller squares to make this quilt. Perfect for one of my friend's daughters for a love quilt. The third one. I sewed the binding on threw it in the wash with synthropol and a color catcher sheet ( I'm anal about using both) Take out of the dryer and saw this!!!!!!

No matter how many times I wash it ( I tried 4 times) it kept running and getting all over the quilt. I was fit to be tied.
With the bonus hsts from trimming the corners, I started this quilt for hubby- and of course both fabrics are in it also. Meaning it will run all over this one. It's only hand quilted and 100's of hours invested in it.

I don't know why when something says to prewash things aren't prewashed...this is a perfect example of why I hate joining in some swaps/challenges.

2009-03-26T16:20:00.000-07:00

Another Love Quilt.

2009-03-25T16:20:00.000-07:00

Mr Juki is home and purring like he should be :)
This is the second of four love quilts for my friend's family.
I used 2 blocks that Cindy designed.
The third one I'll be sewing the binding down tonight and washing it.
Tonight or tomorrow I'll be making the binding for the fourth quilt -trimming and sewing binding on to stitch down during Grey's Anotomy tomorrow night.

Back from the missing

2009-03-23T16:55:00.000-07:00

What a week. I can't even blame hubby he didn't come home last weekend. I've been FINALLY getting the love quilts for my friend, Robin's family pieced and quilted.
Of course last week the back hall way looked like this:

Scarey huh? And that's not including the one I was still piecing at the time.
I found fabric in my closet- I never put fabric in my closet of the girl's favorite colors yellow,pink and purple....here it is with the alternating blocks I'm using for the quilt along project with Amanda Jean last year.

To me, the fabric looks like Peeps Colors:

I had the yellow ones for breakfast while on the phone with Mel.

Anyhow I got 2 of the 3 quilts quilted and Mr Juki decided to act up- here's the sick Juki waiting to go to the Spa for a tuneup:
.
Lucky for me Katie has a new Juki and let me break hers in for her :)
I got the binding on one of the quilts- this is the youngest ones. Her favorite color is pink:)
.
So my goal for tomorrow is to get a second quilt trimmed and binding attached and then at night I can sew them down. Hopefully I can pick up the juki Wednesday and quilt the father's quilt and get that one bound also and maybe - just maybe deliver all 4 this weekend. Then is the push to finish the hand quilting on Buffalo Troubles for hubby......

For Cathi and Smudge

2009-03-09T05:27:00.000-07:00

For Kathi at Quilt Obsession :) Reminded me of her Smudge pic last week.

more animals

My Boys

2009-03-08T17:18:00.000-07:00

Hubby surprised everyone by driving home Friday night and arriving around 11:30 PM. He missed us :D
We missed him too. But Moose was so very glad to see hubby and followed him around all weekend. Like a dog- I swear. I think I'm going to start calling him Wart - was constantly attached to hubby. Kinda sad actually.

Hubby left around 1 this afternoon for the long drive home to Buffalo. But he made it safe and sound.
Poor Moose is very sad now :( Every slam of a car door he thinks hubby is home again.

Speaking of Buffalo- did you see the Bills signed T.O. ??? ROFLMAO

EQ Help

2009-03-06T21:58:00.000-08:00

Anyone EQ savy enough to draw this block and send the file?
Even without the melons sides. I for the life of me can't redraw it

Week Catch Up

2009-03-06T03:24:00.000-08:00

In 2006 I went on a retreat in Lancaster ,PA with one of my online groups and one of the women, Sharon had started this quilt called Women of the Bible ( apic of the finished quilt is near the bottom of the page) Now even though I have fabric dye and white kona, I decided against making mine in her fabric choice. I'm making mine scrappy with what I have here. Some are applique (grrrrr) most are pieced. Paper piecing works best I'm finding. Look at the Joseph's Coat, there are 49 pieces in the 6" block.Yikes! I never did a Dear Jane or the Civil War quilt because of all the tiny pieces. I believe I'm over that now. There's a really good Bible study that focuses on each woman for a week at a time. I've been do it on and off for a year or so and only had 8 blocks to show for it. Well I started it again the other week and am almost caught up for restarting in January. This week we read about Moses's mother. But I am going to cheat a tad and try and get the blocks for July and August done now so that when it's packing and moving time I'll be set *VBG* and can just concentrate on the readings

I'ts going to be a Christmas present and the study guide for my mil eventually. My setting won't be like the original either- to narrow and long
Ok I was cleaning out the memory card and found a couple more pictures from the gardens so I swear, these are it :)

Some kind of begonia - I never saw one like this before. Very lacey looking flowers.....

Finally, before hubby left I grabbed 5 or so quilts for him to take to Buffalo and I found Nancy on them:

Both she and Moose are lost without hubby here.....

U2- Letterman/ Hubby

2009-03-03T04:48:00.000-08:00

Anyone stay up to see U2 on Letterman's show last night???
Here's the song they did. Breath
Though I fought to stay awake after all the shoveling. A whole week of late night with Letterman and U2 WOW! Let's hope the albulm is better than the last 2 or 3.....

And lookie here:
Hubby Made the Buffalo News already

Buffalo Botanical Gardens revisited

2009-03-01T15:03:00.000-08:00

It's offical- Guru ( aka Hubby) left Saturday morning to start his new job on 3/2. Personally I would have take last week off and went up to get things like furniture, stoves and fridges delivered FIRST!!! But the sexes disagree on important things.

Poor man got there around 4 PM on Saturday went to the apartment and guess what???!! No heat! All the thermostat said was under
50*! Lovely- no heat is an emergency in Buffalo so he only had to wait till about 9:30 PM for them to come turn it on again! Poor guy, good thing I sent him with 5 quilts * wink*

Friday night my mil took the family out for a belated bday dinner for DD. Afterwards we went and finally rolled the bolt of batting onto the bar for the quilting frame! Yippee! No more guessing at the amount needed and either having too much or too little !!!

One of the last things I asked the love of my life Thursday or Friday was how to use the snow thrower. He told me I didn't need to know since we weren't going to need it anymore.LOL- liar!!!

Here's what yahoo weather has to say about tonight and tomorrow's weather:

TOTAL ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM 4 TO 8 INCHES OVER
ORANGE AND WESTERN PASSAIC COUNTIES...TO 10 TO 14 INCHES ACROSS
CENTRAL LONG ISLAND AND SOUTH CENTRAL CONNECTICUT.FOR THE NEW YORK CITY METRO AREA...8 TO 12 INCHES OF
SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED So guess who doesn't know how to use the snow thrower and we have a very long driveway??? Ok I only need to do 1/3 of it as it's shared but it's still 2 cars wide by the garage and pretty big! I hope our uncle can get it started if I need it.

But here are the last of the pics from Valentine's Day weekend when I was in Buffalo with hubby. Let the adventure begin...........

Ash Wednesday

2009-02-25T19:37:00.001-08:00

Today was spent not sewing like I wanted to- oh and I have so much to finish in the sewing/quilting department. Instead I typed and typed and typed some more. I've been updating membership logs for a guild. And I think I bit off more than I can chew. Nah once I get through the next few days I'll be good till the new membership year starts- never fear Lacey I've got it under control :p
Let's see the week from hell has been interesting to say the least- Monday I had a drs appointment. Lose 30 lbs blah blah blah. BUThere's the best part- my blood work was awesome. And the dr commented- she wanted to smack me when I said I didn't take any of my meds for a week. Instead I got all new prescriptions for lower doses -lol. Talking about being here with 2 teens and flying ( yeah right) back and forth to Buffalo she wrote a script for valium
hahahahahahahahahahaha- my last script was filled almost 7 years ago and I still have 1/3 of it left.

Any how- tonight hubby and I went to dinner. That's it for being grownups on Wednesday nights w/o teens *sob* then we went to church to get our ashes and I was asked what I was "giving up" for Lent.
Here it comes again- all that Catholic upbringing in a Lutheran church...so what do I say???

*borrowed from flickr*

Ok anyone that knows me well knows I have a ton of dispensers and even more packs of pez in assorted flavors- like raspberry or chocolate (new- gotta try them) What the hell was I thinking?
Pez Trivia: Did you know that a whole pack of Pez has 10 calories?
SO how much packing do you think Hubby has done????

Zero????? Correct!!! Let's not talk about it anymore ok?
Tomorrow is another day of typing *sigh* and then maybe, just maybe I can sew on Friday-YIPPEE!!!!!

Week from Hell

2009-02-22T10:51:00.000-08:00

A oldy but goody quilt pic. Hand pieced and hand quilted. This usually on the FLOOR of DS's room. I really need to get some batiks or dye some fabric and make this again

I'm coming up on the week from hell- not only do I need to do a HUGE membership roster but I need to prode the handsome man I'm married to to pack. I think he's waiting for Friday night.

I did actually turn on the sewing machine yesterday to work on 3 love quilts and made a big dent in all.

Tonight is the Oscars- Hugh Jackman is the host! Love that man :)
That means I'll get alot of Buffalo Troubles quilted-yippee!

More pretty flowers

2009-02-19T08:09:00.000-08:00

Couple more pics of the gardens- I have a few more to upload soon.

More Botanical Gardens Pics

2009-02-17T04:48:00.001-08:00

Tired of all the pretty flowers yet? Imagine if I had more than 25 minutes to take pictures of everything. In the spring /summer I'm sure the out door gardens will be blooming. I wonder if they have calla lilies....

More Buffalo Botanical Gardens pics

2009-02-16T09:34:00.001-08:00

Damn Blogger

2009-02-16T04:23:00.000-08:00

Everytime I try to upload a pic I get this:

Your image has been added.
After clicking "Done" you can change your post and publish to your blog.

Only there's no "Done" button grrrrrrrr
I still have more pics to upload from the BECBG

Hubby's New Job

2009-02-15T19:47:00.000-08:00

Could you stand to work in a place as beautiful as this every day?
These are pics of The Buffalo Erie Botanical Gardens in Buffalo, NY.Hubby starts in March. More pics will be coming this week. I think I took 30 or so :)

Happy Valentine's Day

2009-02-14T03:12:00.000-08:00

Annieis having a Valentine's day give away contest. Follow the link ( click Annie) to her blog.
Leaving for Buffalo in a few minutes.....enjoy the day with your sweetie

Sizzling Circles

2009-02-11T10:30:00.000-08:00

A couple of months ago my very talented friend,Lacey,asked me to do one of her patterns to "possibly" be used in an upcoming book.
I picked my fabric at guild one Friday afternoon and set it aside till after the holidays. Then after the holidays came the announcement that I'm moving to Buffalo. *sigh*
Well enough dragging feet, last week I started the pattern. Very well written I might add :) and screwed it up. First off the colors I picked didn't go together well at all even though they were from the same fabric line. Great off to Joann's I go, toting fabric with me. I pick a lime green . Start again and miscut one piece. Of course that means I need to drive 45 minutes to get more fabric. And then back to Joanns for batting and more lime green fabric. Everything was going along great. I mark the quilting lines with this:

Before I start the applique part I go to brush off the markings and guess what? I doesn't come off. AUGGGGGGG! So Saturday Lacey and I have a state guild meeting- the heavens are smiling on me in a quilt store!! Yeah!! I buy some more fabric, this time a batik and new fqs to make 84 yoyos! Cause now the old ones won't match!
Sunday is spent at the accountants all day affair. And I missed a message she needs my sample ASAP! So Monday night I start again. And it was all going so very well. I had my other pieces to practice anything on before I did it to the new sample. I used these for new marking- a caulk marker that can be refilled and a stabilo water soluble pencil. The pencil rocks!!!!

I go on step by step and find out later that I did something wrong. I start crying and hubby the ever loving person said - "Just finish it- no more fabric" We decided it was a design opportunity. Other than Lacey, no one will know what I did wrong. It was a great learning experience and I was so happy to be done. DD likes it so much she wants it when it comes home. But cutting big circles from fabric leaves this mess:

Of course now I'm cutting strips and little tiny 2 1/2" squares for future projects :)

Finally a finished product! Lacey picked it up this morning.

I really like the finished product and plan to make a table runner with the original fabric and another color :) See it isn't hard at all - just a series of comedy errors :)

Now for the good news! Farve decided he's really retiring!

(Sorry Kathy) Let's see he went what 26 interceptions and 26 TD passes for the year. I don't know about you but I know some high school quarterbacks that don't make millions a year with better stats.
He should have stayed retired after last season. What a waste of millions of Jets $ and now Pennington is playing in Miami- lovely.
He;s high on my shit list- right after Arod.

Now I know you're all going through Moose withdraw. Last week I kept trying to take his picture and he kept closing his eyes-lol.

Mahahahahahaha

2009-02-09T19:23:00.000-08:00

I've been calling him that all along *snicker*

Let's see te whole time he was in Texas he was on roids and when he comes to the Yankees he stops. And his batting average drops 20 points and his homerun average drops 15-20 depending on the year....

And the best is...he admitted it so he probably will never make it to Cooperstown...might as well retire now. The boo birds are going to have fun in 2 weeks in Tampa for spring training
I actually bought the paper to frame the front page and hang it next to Veritek kicking his butt in Boston :P
lol-lol-lol-lol

Scrappy Stars

2009-02-03T12:59:00.001-08:00

While waiting on the phone for "the next available agent" (25 minutes later) I was looking through pics I've taken at quilt shows of scrappy quilts. I found a quilt made from this block and said I have a drawer half full of hsts- I can do that. Believe it or not being switched from agent to agent I managed to piece most of the rows. Then it was a matter of getting the sections together :)

I'm thinking 9 blocks ( they're 24" each) and some sashing would make a nice throw :)
Well at least I didn't waste all that time today.....

Chocolate Anyone?

2009-02-02T15:30:00.000-08:00

see more puppies

Quilts/blocks/ animals

2009-01-30T19:30:00.000-08:00

With all the cold weather - the quilts have been working overtime. Better the quilts than the furnace I say. Here's handsome hubby and Moose enjoying Hubby's quilt.

This quilt must be real comfy. Here's hubby and Nancy watching the boob tube.

I have the first row of Aunt Kathy's quilt done. I love the little embroidered animals holding ribbons. I also have embroidered hearts to alternate with the 9 patches. I still need to embroider 20 or so more blocks. Thank goodness for my little brother machine *VBS*

When I mad ethe lazy/shooting star Breast Cancer quilts I had a million bonus hsts. I started making these blocks months ago and put them away. Last night looking for a pattern in an old Quilters Newletter magazine I was that they called it Split Rails. I've also seen it called Sawtooth Rails. I have these blocks going in non pink and whites - just random lights and darks.

I've been missing most of the week because Monday I was going to a quilt show meeting for the guild and managed to get into a car accident with a teen about DD's age. Poor guy was pretty shaken up. Only damage to both vehicles was his license plate wrapped around the hitch to my truck-lol. I pulled it off and stepped onto the sidewalk and some ding dong - talking on her cell phone hit his car which hit my truck again! Still no damage to my truck- but the poor kid lost a bumper. They really make cars like tin cans these days-imho. Next day I was so sore. Whiplash I'm sure but by Wednesday I had xrays to make sure nothing was seriosly wrong. there wasn't :)
but put a big damper on sewing this week.
Lots of people needing blocks for love quilts. I've done 2 of 3 requests. Need to mail them Monday. I want to finish the last request and mail all at once.

Tomorrow I clear off the table and pin baste Buffalo Troubles for hand quilting. And baste the Feathered Star for my friend's bday on Thursday. Wish me luck :)

Sunday Sewing

2009-01-25T20:36:00.000-08:00

Nancy is a little jealous that Moose has become the blog star. I mean she is my cat and Moose owns the men of the house. So I snapped a pic of sleepy Nancy last night.

My mother in law called yesterday with some bad news. Our aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer. They think in very early stages as she goes every 6 months for a mamo. Ok that part is great news- but again a friend/family member with this fucking horrible(excuse my French but it's my blog) disease and I'm so upset.I mean I've lost a good friend and a woman that was like an aunt to me in the last 3 months, had another friend diagnosed in October and now this? So what do I do? I start a love quilt of course. A few years ago we made a quilt for another friend of hearets and 9 patches. Perfect I have a ton of strips and instead of all hearts I'm using Stitchitcheap's breast cancer bears and hearts as alternating blocks. I'm half done with the 9 patch blocks and only have 10 of 35 bear/heart blocks. I keep forgetting to change the fabric in the hoop and restart the embroidery machine.

So after the congregation meeting at church I came home and brought all the pinks and whatever I had left from the jellyroll of Quilt for a Cure. I'm getting tired of pink and white/cream quilts not being made for little girls, if you know what I mean.

Some more blocks. Not too bad for an afternoon/evening's work.

Of course as I was editing pics for the blog I came across this one:

I didn't take it, it's one of those famous self portrait's of DD's.
At least she made me laugh today :)

Almost done :)

2009-01-23T20:56:00.001-08:00

Mr Juki working overtime :) I finished the in the ditch quilting on Ohio Stars and need to make and attach binding tomorrow. Yeah!

Now if I can get it finished by Sunday I'll have 2 quilts in a week finished. Woo Hoo! I forgot what a pain in the shoulder and wrist quilting like this is :( But I can see a finish in my near future and since it's late for the bday I want it done this weekend.
Especially since i need to do 5 charity quilts for guild to bring to the quilt show meeting Monday night ....

Ohio Stars

2009-01-22T17:51:00.000-08:00

For the last week or so I've been trying to make blocks and hide them to make a quilt for hubby. Yeah he gets Buffalo Troubles but I wanted something that said "Dave" so I've been making Ohio Stars and putting the Masonic Square and Compass in the centers. I really didn't think this through ( as usual) or the centers would be darker blue. The design still would have shown up. Any how I finally finished piecing the top and wouldn't you know hubby came home early and saw it :(

I did manage to make the darker squares with quilting lines for the Ohio Star and pinned it. Since we're following the stitching lines I can't use the juki and the frame. SO we're looking for the juki's reg foot pedal and I will attempt to quilt it on the dining room table over the weekend and get it done by Monday morning

One block :

Swiffer Duster Refills

2009-01-21T12:06:00.000-08:00

I've been trying to get the kids to dust their rooms. And when ever they see dust in the house. How writting dust me doesn't help they need to do something constructive about it. Problem is they go through those swiffer duster refills like I have a tree growing them in the back yard :(
So I decided to try and figure out how to make them out of fleece. I mean there are a million links for making the mopping pads for the swiffer wet jet and all kinds of crocheted and knitted knitting refills, but it was all too much detail for something so simple .
I made 3 of these this afternoon in less than 30 minutes and quickly dusted with one and threw it in the load of laundry going in. It washed great. I would probably hang them to dry from the wire shelving about the w/d instead of drying them with the clothes and fabric softener sheets. Or drying with the towels ( no dryer sheets - not good for the nap- did you now that?) Are you ready to try???? Here's what I did:

Take 4 or more 6" squares of polar fleece. Draw a line down the center of one of the squares. Then draw another line on both sides of center line 3/4" apart.Stack all squares one on top of each other neatly. Sew from top to bottom on all 3 lines.

Insert the wand thingy and clip amost to sewn seams every 1/2"

It works great! Yippee!!!!!

Another Finish

2009-01-19T20:25:00.000-08:00

We had a heat wave in NJ today! 36* Yippee! I was able to finally get the NYE mystery finished and off the frame. Now to finish a top for hubby's bday that's tomorrow. Silly man thinks that Buffalo Troubles is his BDay present. He's in for a surprise. Can't say anymore till he gets the finished product. He'll be surprised I'm sure is all I'm going to say. It's been cold and they had whiteout conditions according to the news yesterday...lovely. We got another inch or so with light snow showers . It's very pretty outside.
I was trying to cross my pattio to go talk to the next door neighbors and almost fell on my butt on the ice and stairs. Could have been very bad fall 3 cement steps but as DD says I'm like a cat and normally land on my feet *VBG*
Speaking of DD she FINALLY got a good job in a salon. Just needs to take a week off of school and be trained. Now to get her to save most of the money from now till we leave in August so we know she'll be ok......fingers crossed!

Moose heard a rumor of a nice warm from the dryer, new quilt on the boy's bed and felt he must test for quality control purposes.

More flimsys for the quilting que

2009-01-17T19:25:00.000-08:00

I did manage to get Buffalo Troubles into a flimsy stage! Yippee! I also have enough blocks to piece a lazy star top for one of the love quilts and almost enough for a different pattern for one of the other ones. All of the small triangles in Buffalo Troubles are bonus hsts from the lazy star blocks! Can you imagine? And I have to make another 100 small bocks for the third quilt. What will I do with all those bonus triangles this time? The key is to trim about every 10 blocks or 20 bonus triangles or I get discouraged - overwhelmed with all the trimming. But the top is in que for some warmer quilting weather.

And well Moose was in a playful mood this morning. I love the crossed paws- such good manners-lol!

After I piece 2 more rows for the lazy star quilts I need to seriously clean up the sewing area. DD and my best friend's son are cooking dinner for 6 of us tomorrow - how cool is that? So the table needs to be totally cleared. That hasn't happened since New Years Eve-lol

Oh and I need to make the qst for an ohio star quilt for a bday present

Making Progress

2009-01-16T06:22:00.001-08:00

I've managed to get 12 of the 20 blocks I need for the Kansas Troubles or as I'm going to call it Buffalo Troubles *wink* top.
The closer hubby gets to moving the more grief I'm getting from the teens. This too shall pass ( I hope)

I need 8 more of these blocks and I can piece the top....

Let's not forget the insane project I started last year. This poor top keeps getting pushed aside for other hand sewing. Bindings,hanging sleeves- soon english paper piecing.

My brain dead son stepped on the Marti Mitchell template I was using to cut and mark all the little pieces. After a few emails I am getting a replacement template from Marti Mitchell w/o buying a whole set...yeah!

Log Cabin Wall Hanging DONE!

2009-01-14T18:13:00.000-08:00

This was the BOM for my guild. I made all of these and 5 more.
At the day meeting that I run, there were 19 blocks up to win. Think about it 19 -I made 5 that's more than 20% of the blocks. Did I win them ?? Nope! That's why when I decided we wanted a wall hanging of them...I made sure I made enough to make it w/o any from guild.

Valentine Heart Blocks

2009-01-14T12:17:00.000-08:00

Oh you have to see the cute blocks Shanna is making over on her blog, Quilts by Design. I'm thinking once I get these blocks done and started into tops I may have to make some for a Valentine's Day wall hanging.
I have tons of reds and pinks that would be great for one....thanks for sharing Shanna.

Weekend Project

2009-01-12T19:19:00.000-08:00

I was bored Sat night and yesterday. So I started a bday present for my best friend of 40+ years.

She works as an exporter for a WA state winery. The background fabric is from the Napa Valley line.
Almost done quilting the log cabin wall hanging and started another top for another bday present. That one is a secret till given....

My Friend, Kim

2009-01-11T17:47:00.000-08:00

Remember back in Oct when I wrote this post ?
Today in our local country paper she had a wonderful write up.
You can read it here .

And because pictures make blogs way more interesting,
Here's her quilt pic again :)