Here it is the end of May

Well I have finally finished this wall hanging called American Spirit. I was given to me on Sept. 11, 2008, from a friend that I sew with at the sewing group. I embroidered the words by hand after I printed them out on the computer and window copied them on to the fabric. I have had it sewn together for 6 to 7 months and bought some fabric at a garage sale almost a year ago, think I got like 21 yards of fabric for $2.00---it was 4 large pieces---great for backings. Well I loaded it on the long arm and waited a few days to quilt it. Thought I was putting the backing on the machine right way up and wasn't till I was sewing the binding on I realized it was upside down---as it has words on the backing----no I didn't take the quilting out. Thought it was fitting to have finished it today---Memorial Day. I have been also hand quilting a table runner that is almost done. So that is 2 UFOs completed in a sort of short time. I was in a spring flower block swap and planning to work on it next.

We haven't seen very much spring here in Northern Nevada, as we had snow last week. We are lucky to get 2 days of sun and then the clouds come back. Yes every time I plant something the next day it snows, rains like a sun-of-a-gun or is so glumly. I did pull a few weeds yesterday and this morning---but there is more out there.

Computers are confusing

Where is my son when I need him---well he is in Las Vegas---but I figured it out.

I have spent the weekend sewing which I haven't done for awhile. I think we are all moved in, still need to put some stuff away here and there. Spring is trying to show up as the daffodils have already bloomed and the tulips are just starting with the bushes showing signs of new growth. So with most of the stuff done and the garage sale over I can get back to sewing. I wanted to make a wall hanging for our bedroom and went out over the weekend to a fabric store that is closing and bought what I needed plus extra for 30% off. Well in two afternoons I made a 9-block wall hanging with the Fractured Crystal's pattern by Linda Ballard. I am waiting to quilt it as I need to see the fair quilt for the LWC as I liked the quilting and want to try the same on mine. I have also finished the 3rd round of the Round Robin that I talked about in the last message---of course I can't show it as I don't know if any of the ladies look at my blog!

A New Adventure

I have taken on a new adventure in my sewing as I have never done a Round Robin. Well a few weeks back one of the ladies in our sewing group brought in a panel of fabric with pictures of fabric buying/stashing and such. There were 12 different pictures on this piece and so we each picked a piece. Now some were small and other are quite large---I picked out one on the small size. We have 2 groups of 6 ladies each and we are to add to our own by April 1st as we put them in brown bags and someone in our group will do the next round---we will not see our starting center until sometime in December. We will have 3 to 4 weeks in the beginning and then up to 5 to 6 weeks as they get bigger. So what did I do to mine well I added a colorful checked fabric and those corner blocks are 1 1/2" square to match the quilt on the chair behind the lady. Each piece of the blocks is only 1/2" and the blades of the stars are paper pieced---I got up one morning at 2 AM and drew 16-1/2" blocks on paper to make them. I have added a yard minus the inch stripe to make the blocks of the pink fabric to go with the block, they will have the option to use it. Oh yeah we have to write in a journal things about the block and in each that we work on.

This will be interesting as to how they will turn out. One thing was we can't talk/discuss what we are doing to anyone in our own group----as I said there are 2 groups and I am in Group "2"---so I can talk to only those in group "1" if I need suggestions. So in Nine months we will see what I get back.

Been a while

WOW 6 months have passed since I last wrote----to let you know it was a busy/stressful time as my mom was in the hospital for 6 weeks. Three days after I arrived in Calif., my Grandmother passed away at 102. DH and I handled all that went with that as my mom was still in ICU at the time and didn't know what was going on. I spent about 4 weeks with her after she got out of the convalescent hospital. Then to add to all that we moved into a larger house so my mom could be with us----so far things have gone well. Only trouble is deciding who's stuff to use as we combined 2 houses into one. Our move was very far---2.32 miles east---my mom was 492 miles east and into another state---but seems very happy with us.

So while at my moms I sewed on the LWC fair quilt and finished it---queen size. Tickets have gone on sale and the winning ticket will be picked June 27th at the close of the fair. I think it turned out beautiful.

The club has called it Nevada Crystals----It is Fractured Crystals from Linda Ballard. I have been working on a few other projects during this 6 month time also.

Hope to not be gone so long in between writings.

It's Been a While and Then Some

I really don't think I have finished up that much in the quilting way as I have been busy working on parts of many projects for the LWC. Right now I am doing a stack and whack star with 10 blocks completed. I did enter 3 items in the Elko County Fair this year and earned a 1st place, 2nd place and a merit ribbon. My Magic Ribbons designed by Dorothy Young was my Blue Ribbon winner.

I did get my treadle serviced, but now need to refinish the cabinet but I don't want to pay over $300.00 to do it so will be trying it myself----will be a good fall project.

Hope to be back sooner than I was!

It's Been a While

Yes it has been a while since last posting but been busy here and there. Had two Gkids graduate from Pre-School, one here in Elko and one in Las Vegas. The sewing group has been working on aprons, kool-ties, flags and our own projects. Photos of items made will be in another post. The LWC just put on the Country Fair last weekend and boy is that a lot of work. Anyway have had DS and DGD up from Las Vegas for 2 weeks. Now I am getting items made up for the Art in the Park this next weekend (2-days).

Well I have been taking DH to garage sales on the last few Saturdays and bought a few items here and there. Best find was 10 yards of fabric for $1.00, up until today the 1st one we went to said craft stuff. Well as I wandered around their tables I saw a Singer Treadle sewing machine. Be still my heart as I have been looking into getting one and thought one was just going to have to fall in my lap----so to speak. Well I caught one today. From it's number it was made about 1909 to 1910, it has some scraps offs of the decal on the flat area but that just looks like it has been used a lot. It has a bunch of extra feet in a drawer and the cabinet has a bit of damage----looks like they had a plant on one corner. Well my feet have finally come back to earth ---- just can't wait to stitch up a quilt top on it.

Then the other thing I have been working on the last few days has been Watermelon Pickles. Getting the treadle was as big of thrill but to hear those 6 pints lids ping as I took them out of the canner---that was exciting also. It took over an hour to get that kettle to boil today---I think it has to do with the high altitude as it takes awhile to boil water for pasta.

Friend two Friend

A few weeks ago my Internet group, TQP, had a Homeboree Party as some were at the Jamboree up in Washington, anyway we had a quilting project offered to us. We could make any size we wanted from a small wall hanging, crib size or for a full size for a bed. I made the crib size. I used flannel for the front and back without batting as it has gone to Las Vegas for a friend's daughter's baby. As it is called Friend 2 Friend. It was designed by Liz, one of the members of our group. We also played games like Scavenger hunt where there was a sentence and we had to figure the name of the block, then we had make up a paragraph with as many quilt block names included, some posted recipes, and list our UFOs and how long they have been UFOs. Well I won for having the oldest UFO, which is my GFG that I started back in the early '70's. Those that signed up for the party received a quilt pattern book that was donated from ???? can't think of the company right now, and Sharen from Florida made book markers and cute crazy patch pins. I won the pattern called "Moose on the Loose" from Pat (?) and her mom's store B & B Creations----very cute.