monday ramblings

I worked some more on Jess’s quilt today.  Got it pinned together and actually did some quilting.  I decided to throw caution to the wind and practice some free motion meandering  instead of just stitching in the ditch..

I did some practicing first to warm up.  I’ve done a little over 1/4 of the quilt.   I guess I kind of got in the groove.  I’m pretty pleased with what I’ve done so far.

I’ve been doing a little work in my sewing room lately – the rearrange- organizing kind.  It’s a slow process because  it takes away from my sewing time  I’m too lazy to take the bull by the horns and just get it done.

I’ll post some before and after when I do--- maybe June??

I really liked being able to use my sewing table to sandwich a quilt finally.  It was great.  I had gotten a large cutting mat awhile back – one of those 33 x58 inch ones from Joann’s.   The only thing I didn’t like was when I have my machine up, I was having to push the mat back so far it was hanging off the back.  So I lined up the mat where I wanted it.  One end lined up even with the “hole” that my machine sits down in.  I cut out the part of the mat that fits right over the “hole” and just take the mat and the inset out when I am raising my machine to sew and set it all back when I lower the machine back down.  It’s working great so far.

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I’ve been obsessed with looking at puppies on line the last couple of days.  It’s unreal the number of dogs that are in shelters in Nashville and surrounding areas.  I’ve put in “applications” at about four different places.  A couple of them are an hour or more from Spring Hill – of course they have the most younger dogs.  Guess I’ll do a little driving over the next few weeks.

I’m making aprons for my local grands to have when they come help me cook.  I’m using some kitchen towels I found at the Bernina store and I’m embroidering a cupcake on each one. I got it off the Internet – it was a free design.

I’ve done my practice cupcake and just need to take an afternoon and get them done.  I’m also doing some valentine t-shirts.  Guess who’s going to wear the one with this applique

Don’t you think that will be cute – black fabric on a red t-shirt

And then for the girls

Some girly valentine moda scraps on pink shirts.  Of course the colors in the pictures are not the color threads I’ll use.  I’ll have to see what I have that will compliment the fabric I use.  So these are on my to do list too.

I’m watching Dave Letterman whom I’ve grow to dislike immensely over the years but he is having Abby from NCIS on tonight and I’ve never seen her interviewed before – I just wish she had been the first guest.

Well, think I’ll look at a few dogs and then head to bed.

monkey business

I'm down to just the handsewing of the binding and I'll be F  I N I S H E D!! Well, I'll still need to clean up all the threads that need hiding.  I need to figure out how to not have so many thread stops and starts.  I guess I need to choose more "all-over" designs. I'm wishing I had used a nicer muslin for the backing but I know not to use this muslin anymore.  I echoed the whole center section, did a loopy meander in the red border, circle swirls in the inner row of monkeys and something resembling the element in your electric oven in the outer row of monkeys.  It was definitely some good practice for my free motion skills.  And fun to make.

a finished quilt top and a preview

I've finally finished the quilt top I promised my niece. She sent me the fabric awhile back and I decided I'd better get it done before it got swallowed up in my stash:)  It's based on a pattern from the Moda Bake Shop but because she had a toile fabric that she wanted as the focal point, I made a couple of changes.  I think she will like it. 

The picture's not real clear but if you click on it you will see that the blocks are not all solids. My dilemma now is what to use as a backing -- I'm leaning toward flannel- possibly gray or something similar to the background in the toile.  I'll jazz it up with some of the scraps from the fabrics in the quilt top.  I'm also wondering what color thread to use when quilting.  I will probably match the bobbin color to the backing, but the top?? maybe gray or red.   Should I stitch in the ditch or free motion?  I know I won't get too free in my motion if my thread is going to stand out.  I'm still not that confident with it.  Still lots to think about.

Got a package from fabric.com today.  This was in it.

I'm going to work on a project for somewhere in my house and will show before and after when it's done.  Hopefully in the next week or so.  Now, I'm off to bed.

gus came and . . . .

 Gus went. He stayed with me for a week. He had issues that didn't start showing up until about the 4th or 5th day. Long story short, he ended up not being the dog for me and though it made me very sad to take him back, I know it was the right thing to do.  The experience has made me rethink getting a rescue dog -- unless maybe it's a puppy.  Anyhoo, on to more interesting things.

The TX branch of the family was here from Sat. to Thurs.  We had soo much fun.  The spent ten hours on the road Saturday and after stretching their legs for about 30 minutes, they were off to a hockey game to watch the Predators beat ?   They did win the game in overtime.  You can see pictures  here.  It  was cold and rainy pretty much the whole time they were here except for Sunday when they got to play outside after lunch

so one afternoon we went to the church building where they have a huge room upstairs where the preschool students play on rainy days and let them run wild for about an hour.  Where do they get the energy???  Another day we ate supper out and then went to the mall and let them play on the little indoor playground they have there.  They had a ball.

They painted pottery at the Factory too.

Mostly we just spent time together visiting and playing.   It was a great time and I can't wait for them to come again.

it's another GREAT giveaway!

KarrieLyne at Freckled Whimsy is having a giveaway to celebrate the first birthday of her blog.  If you enjoy sewing or shopping for fabric, hop on over and take a look.  You won't be sorry. She has lots of great quilt tutorials too.

snow and other stuff

We got about four inches of snow last night.  It gave me an excuse to just stay in and so some things around the house.  I took some snow pictures.

I started cooking in preparation for my company next week.  Today I made some corn/chicken chowder and I'm going to make a sour cream pound cake after I finish this post.

I went through my fabric and found two pieces of fabric from Sandy Gervais Essence line and made a cover for my 820.  Now she won't get so dusty when she's not working.

I tried my hand at pajamas for Micah the other day -- I need help learning how to do a t-shirt type neckline.  But, they are just pajamas.

 I made a couple of cute burp cloths to go with a blanket Jennifer made for a friend having her first baby.

I've been researching dog possibilities around this area and found a boxer rescue that I'm going to visit when the snow clears up.  They have boxers and boxer mixes.  No brand new puppies but they do have some younger dogs.  I saw two on line that I want to meet when I go --
Baby -- 3 + months old and has a real boxer look to her even though she's a mix and --

 Bailey who is three and has a boxer mom and a chocolate lab Dad

 I'm going to look at all the ones they have  and the we shall see what happens.