Monday check in

I have to laugh at Skyler.  First he rousts me from bed anytime from 0545 to 0630 usually insisting that we go to the kitchen to get his treat bite.  The heck with the crunchies since he ate those all up before he got me up.  Pony up with the good stuff, Mom.

So I head back to the bedroom to get dressed and make the bed and look who crawls back in the sack?  (He was sleeping till I got out the camera and gave him some pets).  Bed is still not made and I'm still not dressed as I'm blogging, LOL.   Pretty chilly this morning so I am debating what to put on more than anything.

Well, how do you follow up a great week of sewing with your buds?  I don't know that you can necessarily. Yesterday I decided to not even start up the machine.   I pulled out my Halloween blackwork piece and later the hat I had started knitting while Cindy was here.  She makes hats and mittens for kids in need at the schools near her as an on-going project.  When she pulled out her knitting needles on Monday evening, I asked her how many stitches to cast on and pulled out a skein of yarn I had tucked up in the closet.  Only thing was I misunderstood---60 stitches if I used two strands which I wasn't.   I got a good bit of it done and when I got the email with written out instructions, it said 70 stitches for a single strand.  OOPS!  I ripped it all out and started over while I was watching TV on Thursday evening.  At this point I am a few rows over where I was on Monday night, LOL.

 I had sent some yarn from a project I had started and supply of knitting needles that she can use or give away as she sees fit to any knitting helpers she may have.  I only saved my double points and the sizes I had below 5 to over 13.  You see, I have a wonderful set of circular needles from Denise interchangeable knitting needles that my parents gave me back in high school.   One of the best presents, I have gotten in terms of how much it has been used over the years and enjoyed.  Oh, I have added a couple extra needle tips and more lengths of cable and buttons in recent years now that they have an online presence.  It is an interesting story of how the present owners took over the business---satisfied customers like me but could not find the product to order sets for their children.  When they did locate them, the originators were ready to retire and sell the business.  A portion of their sales goes to breast cancer research too.  I see that they even have a crochet set now---how cool is that?

I finished off the evening by typing up the minutes for Friendship Quilters.  Jackie, our newsletter gal put a bee in my bonnet and needed the materials ASAP.  I really should do the whole job within days of the meeting as the notes get cold.  Normally I type up the show and tell list because I know Beth will be posting the pictures from the meeting to a Facebook album.  I have to write the info down anyway for the minutes so I always send her THAT portion within 24 hrs of the meeting.  Minutes?  Naw, got other things to do, LOL.

Plans for the day?  Get my bed made and get dressed!  Only half kidding there.  I could happily keep knitting and/or embroidering but other things have been on the back burner this past week.

First, my Bama Belles "Tons of Black" challenge will need to be at least pieced by our December meeting.  Cindy had gone through her stash and pulled some fabrics she did not wish to work with for the Belles---for piecing or backs, however we saw fit.  I got to go through it first being as we are long time pals.  I spotted that dusty teal piece and immediately thought of the TOB challenge.

Bev had donated about 20 yards of that black---well, I call it black but actually it is more like a directional dark gray tone on tone.   That is a lot of fabric to find a use for so it became a challenge piece.  Beverly and Lois, I know have tops done already---even pinned and ready to quilt them.  Me?  I know what I want to do and have all along it was just which piece of contrast and background would make the cut.  I had raided my mom's stash, with her permission, when I was "home" in June.    That is where the black on white/cream came from.  The pattern is Mock Trip Around the World from quilting assistant.   My FAB pal Pat has made several of these and I have loved  them in the various colorways she has done up.  HERE  is a one such version showing her quilting choice.  Well done, Pat!   I almost emailed you to see what size blocks you normally chose and how many strips as my brain was a little slow to get going in the math area this morning.  I drew it up in EQ just to get things clear in my head.  Mine will finish at 7.5 inches, 48 blocks in a 6 x 8 set to get that medallion effect.  Without borders, 45 x 60 which is around the WTIL range.

 Secondly, I also want to cut these two projects out.  I have spoken of them before.  Joined at the Hip Button Up  #BU 19 Happy Halloween and the Harvest Door Banner from their book Folk Art Favorites that I will bump a tad in width so it will cover the Button Up Base.  Either of them are "reward projects".  I have completed all that quilting recently and made two more pro bono tops so I am due!!  Past due.  Of course the Halloween deal would just be ready for hanging NEXT year but the Harvest one could go most of the fall, when I didn't hang the turkey featured on the "Give Thanks"

And then there is this---Farmer's Wife Inspired Sampler though there is a whole 20 qt tote of fabric stored elsewhere.  I want to get the next batch cut out--25 more and I will be at the half way point.  If those little cuties are prepped and ready to go I am more apt to stay focused and sew a couple each week or however my heart leads at the time.  Kitted is always better, in my book, than thinking about cutting them.  Just do it!

Then too Christmas is coming.  Which of the holiday projects might capture my attention?     Maybe make more of the blocks for that long awaited Oxmoor House project?  Sash that Christmas JOY?  Make Allison a tree skirt?  HMMMM  finish the binding on my Twister wreath might be a start!

I already know that DJ wants us to go downtown to complete some papers at the tax office and has offered lunch out.  He asked me last week when I was trying to sew between the two sew-in dates and I said any day THIS week would be fine.  Maybe a stop at the library as well.  Best get off the computer and get to cutting and playing with fabric!

And sew it goes-------

FWIS 21-30

I just finished up block #30 so it is time to show you Blocks 21-30 and share a little about them.  I will be quilting this coming week with a little cutting for a Lil Twister Christmas wreath project and/or Halloween twister row thrown in for a weekend project with my FAB pals.  Until I get a bunch more --like, the next 20?-- blocks cut out, this project is temporarily on hold.

Block 21  #66 Periwinkle  (FWS book)
I used fabrics that had once belonged to my friend Theramae who passed away several years back.  This was pieced conventionally and actually I went together much more easily than I thought.   Some of the gals on the yahoo group had foundation pieced it so that was the fall back position.  I DID stitch around the outside edge of the block to stabilize it since I could not figure out how to cut it for the grain lines to be in the proper place.

Block 22  #3143 (BlockBase) 8 Points in a Square--pieced and then button hole appliqued to the base.
I had fun playing in the pink bin pulling fabrics for this block!   I knew from making one of these before that I needed to extent the EQ template and square it off to make that nice sewn-in point and no raw edge.  I also extended the length of the template so it would lessen the size of the circle required at center.

Block 23  #1853 (BlockBase)  Walls of Jericho.   I picked this one as it should look good on point.  Purple and green is always a fav choice too.  Foundation pieced  

Block 24 #9 Box (FWS book)  I shared about this the other day when piecing or cutting was not going so well.  'Nuff said, LOL.

Block 25--#56 Maple Leaf (FWS book)  Marti Michell templates except for that stem part which was foundation pieced.  I adapted the original 9 patch design as Michell suggested.

Block 26   H 035 Modified Puss in the Corner  (BlockBase) but I tweaked it.  Foundation pieced.
You can see how well that turned out.  This one will need to be re-done as I have an iron stain and a wonky segment there in the upper right.  I love the fabric but it was not easy matching this all up even with foundation piecing.   It also undersized.   SIGH.  Try again or substitute another block.

Block 27  #1851 Greek Cross (BlockBase)   Conventionally pieced.
I think that the background is a little much but I am going to let that go for now.  I love that Vintage Modern but I don't know that it necessarily works for these small babies.  This is the end block for Row 5

Block 28  #93 Swallow (FWS book)  First block of row 6.  
This one is a bit blendy too but I think the aqua shows up better in person.  Conventionally pieced---well, I did use some thangles!! but other than that, LOL.

Block 29  #90 Storm Signal (FWIS book)
Definitely foundation pieced as this does not section out like you would think.  Pieced QST's and then a HST to finish it off.  I used a piece of vintage appearing fabric in the black (from my mom?)  while the "light" print was a recent find at Wilson's in Boaz--some of my birthday money purchase.  The gold print is from my 30's reproduction stash.

Block 30   #4 Basketweave---actually this is one that I borrowed from a fellow blogger Starwood Quilter called Three By Three from Maggie Malone's 5500 Quilt Block Designs.    Even kinda, sorta went with her colorway too.  As easy as this was, I still managed to mess it up as I had switched machines and 1/4 inch  seam allowance was eluding me, etc.  I gave up and foundation pieced it but had to take the other one apart first as I had used two yellow charms and one orange charm of Riveria II----and that is all I had!  I even had to patch up two of the yellow rails to squeeze them out.  Hey, if it worked my quilting foremothers it will work for me!

I will tell you that I did cut out a Lemoyne Star that I was going to try to include.  I love the fabric that I chose for it so I will do it but not today!  The pairs went together easily.  The first y-seam was passable but the 2nd was not.  I set it aside for down the line when I have a different machine out---or I may try hand piecing it even.

Next thing I know it will be time to fix supper.  I need to get started on that QOV I said I would quilt for Aline and Jane--maybe even bind it as Aline will be going out of town.  I think they hope to turn it in at the next meeting on the 13th but I may be wrong.  Always something!

THX for stopping by----------

Saturday check in

 The resident cat was conked out on the bed till I went in to check on him---and re-load a recharged battery into the camera.  I caught him mid-yawn and meow so it looks like he was baring his fangs at me, LOL.  He relocated to the window perch right after the picture taking as though he would be a safe from the flash over there.

I've been piddling around the house today doing little home tasks and such.   A sewing room vacuuming was top priority as I had been paper piecing a good bit in past days and the floor looked like it!

I had the sewing table free as I was preparing to  swap out machines so took the time to mark the Halloween stitchery.  So far the only sewing I have done is stitching down the 3 non-selvage sides of this piece so it will not un-ravel.

I am up to block 27 on my FWIS endeavors.  26 will need to be re-done or replaced as I got an iron stain on it plus one segment is a little wonky.  Wonky enough that you can tell that the piece is crooked.  A little demoralizing  after spending the better part of an afternoon working on it.  Thankfully, the one I finished up with was a variation of a wrench type block and it went so much better---fewer pieces to mess up too.  You will see it soon enough.

Actually I was down to one kitted up envelope but the block it contained has been moved down to one of the lower, later rows.  I cut out three more to get to the 30.  At this point I am a quarter of the way done.  I will be putting this aside for a short time.  Jane and Aline are pinning a QOV top up for me to quilt as I type this probably.  If they plan on getting this turned in before the facility opening I will need to quilt it up for them fairly soon.  Monday and Tuesday probably.  I play with my 3 blocks today and Sunday in other words.

There is supposedly some rain on the way in and I wish it would just get it over with.  I want those fall temps again and lower humidity.  I let my hair air dry today and you would not believe how curly it is---ringlets in the underneath layers.  Why bother with the hot blow dryer if it is going to do something like it is did anyway?

Well, off to whip up a block called Swallow---odd looking thing that dates back to 1929.  Fits my vintage type plan anyway.

FWIS 11-20

Okay---2nd batch of 10 Farmer's Wife Inspired Sampler Blocks. 91 to go, LOL.  All 6 inch finished blocks.  The last one I posted is the first block in row 5, this thing being on point. In other words, I have a long way to go.  Any number other than 1-111 indicates one that I have added to the mix, and NOT included in the book by Laurie Aaron Hird.

Block 11
3418 The Whirling Pinwheel----you saw this one before I had straighted out a flipped piece.  The green wedge as I recall.

Block 12
From the book #69 Practical Orchard but I did a quick piecing trick actually maybe one even suggested by Marti Michell

Block 13
709 Flower Pot

Block 14
71 Puss in the Corner variation----and this one will probably be re-done as it is "too blendy"  My friend Brenda said to keep for now and decide later if it needs replaced.  I like the aqua and used it in PopStix but the red looked more solid to me when I was cutting it out.  The book did not call for the pinwheel bit at center either.

Block 15
31 Evening Star  Kind blah actually

Block 16
91 Strawberry Basket but I used some quick tricks making this a variation from the book

Block 17
1856 Crazy Ann    I had to start over on this one but am pleased with the results once I foundation pieced it.

Block 18
107 Windblown Square.  There is another in the book just like it but in one color flying geese and parellogram shapes called 102 Whirlpool BUT they did the whole deal with 16 HST units.. This aqua and red combo worked better than the one above.

Block 19
2650 Four T's.  My FAB pals may recognize some of this purple fabric as we used it as one of our first challenge projects.  Joann's had some of that yardage that has 4 or 5 bands of different purple fabrics and we had to use a bit of every one in a project making a gift for one of the FABS.  See THIS POST to see how Pat and I used it.  There is still one piece that did not make the cut on this block though.

Block 20
1495 Southern Moon----literally hot off the press with this one and just in time for me to start supper.   That center circle looks just a bit oblong to me but I am NOT taking it apart especially since I did a fair amount of re-sewing to get it finished.   Various sewing goof-ups.  IIWII

Next up # 66 Periwinkle---some have foundation pieced this one but I am going to TRY it by standard methods first and re-do it if I have to.  I think by the time I get done with the next 10 or the end of row 5 selections, I am going to give strong consideration to pre-sashing these blocks and joining rows.

Okay, off to deal with some pork chops--------

WIP Weds

This is where I left off last night at 8:30.  Another of my FWIS blocks but one of my additions and/or substitutions called "Crazy Anne"  #1856.  This is the 17th block of 111.

I used a Marti Michell suggestion on the conversion chart for this one but added another short cut to eliminate another seam.   The process I used might be a good "hint" for another post so I will get some pictures and graphics so it might make more sense than my describing it. 

I cut it out with instructions from EQ but that left that pink and background piece with a very long skinny, machine eating shape.  I would call that a recipe for disaster!!  I do own a set of Tri-Recs rulers and knew from past use they had a way of nubbing those off that made it easier to line up and stitch the pieces without guessing how much to off set the overlying piece. It appears to be right on the money but I think I need to square up those "Mary's Triangle" units a bit before I join the remaining sections. 

Of course, after I posted the other day I had to play with the Twister ruler a bit but mostly because I wanted to size a block would result if you put 4 charm squares together.  The answer was 9 inch finished (9.5 with seam allowances).  BUT I cut and stitched the whole block up and still need something for demo purposes.

Not anymore----I slapped 4 squares together and just need to put on the background bits and I'll be set for Belles on this coming Tuesday.  Maybe I'll just join the two blocks and put some sort of frame around them for another placemat??  Or more likely it will go in my long awaited Oxmoor House adapted Christmas quilt.  My blogging lefthandedquilter pal and her friend Linda are starting their Christmas race.  It was tempting to pull that out and join in but I am resisting..........for now anyway.  Too many irons in the fire at the moment.

 I was playing around with this on Monday afternoon as well.  Oh, you KNEW I would, LOL.   Pat may be joining Cher, Norma and I when we do the twister sew date.   She has a guild challenge coming up and this might be a pattern option.  I mentioned that Martha Thompson tells you to warm up to the technique by  making a placemat---or 4, LOL.   This technique is from her book Square Dance, after all, but someone made a ruler to make the cutting easier than marking around it with a template.  The acrylic ruler with feet stays put while you cut........ which is nice. 

Anyway, she says to cut the squares 4.5 inches and the border around it about 3 inches. Set the squares in a 3 x 4 grid.  Once you border the twisted stuff again it would finish up about 14 1/2 x 17 inches.  Pat wondered how big this might turn out.  Mine unstitched , measures that exactly.  If my math is correct I think I would lose 2 inches in the length and 1 1/2 in the width and that should STILL fit my plates.  I'm just goofing around and don't know what I would use for a border anyway since most of these were charms and cut 5 inch squares from another project.   That mini red print looks pink and I should have separated the colors in that dark blob in the corner, LOL.   The picture is not showing as much contrast as there is in real life.  BUT it will do for an example.   I've got more Christmas squares leftover but just not bright ones such as the ones I used in this one.  I could easily pull 12 more and whip another placemat in another colorway.

And here is another chapter in the "make me happy" category.  As a quilter who loves vintage quilts, this box is pure gold to me!  The shoe box stuffed with fabric arrived yesterday from my mom.  (I knew it was coming.)  I didn't have time to really dig through it yet but I love that red stuff on the top!!   There are bits of 30s in there too but as I said, I have not had time to look through the treasure this box contains.  THX Mom.  If not this quilt, then one down the line.

She called yesterday to tell me that she had finished the binding on a very special bed sized quilt.  I am happy dancing for her as I know it is not easy for her to do that hand work with achy wrists and hands.  She always does the donation quilt binding on the machine.  You see, the 2nd grandchild is getting married on October 6th.  Blake and Julia live in central IL about an hour from where I am from but have decided to getting married in the Denver area.  ( Julia has some family there.  So does Blake--my sister Janet and her family.)  They know that the quilt is coming.  In fact, they had asked for some of the fabric swatches to help in picking out the bed linens and curtains.  I know what pattern Mom had picked out and what color was basically selected but I cannot wait to see a picture of it.

The wedding will be small and a reception held later so no, I am not going to the wedding.  My sister Diane (the MOG) has made travel arrangements for both sets of grandparents, her husband and herself as well as Blake's sister and her husband to get out there on various time schedules but they all fly back on the same plane.  Maybe Blake and Julia are "on their own" for getting to Denver. I'll have to ask Mom the next time I talk to her.  Can't have a wedding without the bride and groom!!

Well, daylight is burning and I had planned on making some cookies to take to the quilt set up tomorrow.  We were down to 49 for an overnight temp and even with the sun beating down, it is only up 10 degrees from that now.  Translation:  I won't mind the oven being on while I bake about 5 dozen Pride of Iowa cookies, LOL.  And DJ won't mind home baked goodies either.  

Design Wall Monday

Not much happening here though I am sort of surprised that I got THAT much of a block stitched up yesterday!  You see, the "squirrel---shiny object" was out in full force, LOL.

BTW the block is called Flower Pot, Brackman assigned #709 source: KC Star 1937.  I still have to join the sections and foundation pieced it though that was a choice, not a necessity.  Being a 5 x 5 grid can be a little tricky if your finished block is 6 inches. I knew my HST triangle units would have to be trimmed down anyway.  Just hope it all meets up like it should.   After the recent less than wonderful results, I am paranoid about it.

So what is the distraction?  It being the weekend my pal Norma were chatting like we often do.  The other three FABS were off in their own pursuits or just hadn't popped up yet in IM.  Norma and I along with Cher are planning to do something with our twister rulers, big or small, on an upcoming weekend to be determined.   Norma was telling me that she thought that piecing the whole top of squares and then cutting it up a little hard to manage.  The bulk of the quilt wants to pull away, maybe it is hard to spread it out on her cutting surface.  She was considering doing them in groups of 4 as she has seen this done on a blog somewhere.  She looked for the examples to show me on my end.

Actually this makes sense to me ---that little Christmas wall hanging I did for Christmas in July used just 4 charm squares  though we did them a row.  It would not be much different if you arranged them side by side.

Norma sent me off to http://annalenaland.com/2012/04/18/tah-dah-part-2/ with instructions to "scroll down to the pink and green (twister quilt) one"  Okay, I see how the block idea would work. There are a lot of cool quilts and projects that group was working on---bookmarking the site, put it in feeds!!

Here is a link for a gorgeous table runner  http://tamarackshack.blogspot.ca/2011/03/lil-twister.html she directed me to.

HMMMM again.   Do I still want to do summery placemats??  I was still thinking about twister Christmas wreaths.  Here is a simple one that takes about 25 squares of fabric. BEFORE you whack it up http://www.quiltingboard.com/pictures-f5/twister-t74576.html   and then see the AFTER right below it along with the finished version.  I also found a free Pinwheel Wreath pattern available in a pdf file that has got to be very similar but more squares involved.    I even pulled out some Christmas fabric later that I could try this.  

 So far Norma had not led me too far astray.  After all, I had told the Belles that I would show them how to use the Twister rulers at the next meeting.  A small project idea may be the ticket for the demonstration and something usable in the holiday season.  I found a big pile of charm squares leftover from my Christmas Patience Corner so there are all kinds of possibilities.

Then she found this Halloween row quilt---also on that annalenaland.com link.   OH OH, I was in trouble and I was dragging her down with me.   It is not my image to post here so I will link you to the photo  or if that won't open then try this one and keep scrolling down.
 http://annalenaland.com/2012/04/06/spring-quilt-escape-show-and-tell-part-2    Okay, there is a row of twisters in there done up as blocks.  But you can almost tell where this is going, can't you?

I love row quilts, we both love that Halloween row quilt.  Chances are this was a pass around project and there is no available pattern.  We can do a Halloween row quilt---we both have patterns, books, magazines, EQ.  Not sure how much fabric I would have for a Halloween row quilt but there is some up there.    Connecting Threads has a cute row too called Spooktacular Row but sold as a kit.  Click on "view more images" to see the quilt opened up instead of artfully arranged.  Cool fabrics in there too.  I love the cat row!

So I was off to collect Halloween pattern possibilities in EQ, Norma was off to look at patterns and books.  I think this might be a "go" for some weekend in October even if we both just do a twister row then.  No, not done for this year.  Conversation to be continued!

Thanks Norma for the inspiration.  With all the wedding preparations, and staying on task, it had been a little while since we could surf and dream together.  What fun!

Today's plan for me:  finish the block above and I think a variation of Puss in the Corner follows after that.  but I got the thangles out for that one and just cut strips.  Another pinwheel type element at center--oh, boy!  Wish me luck!

I will be going with Jane on Thursday to help set up the Gadsden Quilt show and then go up Saturday evening to help with take down/bring my quilts home.  Best get some sewing in this week while I can or even cut out something for a Wreath.  That base won't take long to whip up.  And sew it goes-------

Design Wall Monday

 You know you have done little sewing when the only things on your design wall have been up there for quite a while including this little #77 Seasons (Album Cross, really) variation that will go in my FWIS.   I have got to come up with a better way of taking my FWIS pictures before I post them on here or the yahoo group (or Flickr group).

BUT that stack of 4 triple rail blocks were what I whipped up last night and only to check where to line up the presser foot on the "new to me" Kenmore to obtain a 1/4 inch seam allowance.    I tell you---this thing is right on the money!  Once pressed the entire center seam measures exactly what it should mathematically!   Color me "thrilled"!  This might be perfect for sewing the 6 inch blocks especially since a single hole needle plate is suggested when sewing such small pieces.  My Brother, while I love the way it sews ordinarily, is known to chew the edges of the fabric a bit sometimes because I cannot necessarily see where to line it up   That is a pain when you are trying to chain piece.  You must hold on to both threads before you start sewing too which is no big deal but you pay for it with a thread snarl if you don't.  Erik the Red doesn't do that and sews just fine "in the air"

I had a horrid headache much of the day yesterday.  Woke up with it and no meds I threw at it seemed to be helping.  You have got to love the cooler nights but between the cool night air from outside, fall pollens and fans constantly blowing on me, I paid for it.  I was glad that I had run the grocery errands on the way back from the sew-in on Saturday as I sure didn't feel like it yesterday!  As it was I missed going to a friend's 60th birthday party.  Much better today, thankfully.

BUT I did cut a few more blocks for the FWIS reaching 25 to stitch, for a start.  (Originally I was going to cut 10 and just kept going.)  I made such a huge mess of the fabric bin that I pulled everything out, separated it out by color, pulled some more strips and such out of the Popsicle Sticks bin too since I was yanking from there too.  What doesn't fit in the dedicated FWIS bin went back in the leftover PopStix bin anyway.  At least that one is not bulging at the seams, LOL.  I had already placed the half yard pieces of the selected Vintage Modern in the bin.  Next to it you see some of Theramae's vintage looking fabrics that will go in there at some point.   Well, the orange and blue one on top isn't hers but it still looks vintage to me!    There are a couple others in the peach/orange bins too but trust me, I would be back to bulging if I stuck them in there.  I know they are there if they are to be included down the line.

This morning I fiddled a bit more on the machine to test out the zig zag and decorative stitches,   I found that I could adjust button hole stitch down to a size that is similar to Erik the Red's version---smaller bites into the fabric and the same "1-2- swing, 1-2, swing" spacing.   I didn't actually sew it to a shape or try the blind hem but I think it will be fine.

 I do need to track down some Class 15 bobbins if what I use on the Jem and Brother is NOT a class 15.  There was only one metal bobbin included in the machine but the manual suggests using the "clear plastic lightweight bobbins when stitching at high speed with the widest and longest stitch settings."   The Singer Stylist 6548 from Lois' mom uses plastic bobbins all right but they are way flatter.  Viking has it very own and one side of them is kinda slanted or bent looking.  Sheesh!

This is also a high shank machine.  The machine bed is actually tilted just a tad I guess so you can see your work a little better?  Any help in that area would be good since these days I often have to put my readers on!   I just wish it had come with the walking foot as I know there is more space under there than my Brother.    The space for a quilt may be a bit bigger too----up about 4.5 inches and maybe 9 across?  I can't just slap on a generic walking foot because there is nothing to attach it too.  The foot is permanently attached to what holds it on the machine.  BUT I did look on the sears online parts site and apparently they sell the manufacturer's equivalent to that part number.  Something to think about anyway.

Well, it's Monday and there are a few errands to run.   Bama Belles meets tomorrow and I have a few things to tend to for that and pack up the car.   I am going to sew at least one block of my sampler today though and see what I think of using it for the subsequent blocks---all 110 of them (the design wall one is done).  Best get to it!  Daylight's burnin'.  Till next time and thanks for stopping by.

where to start?

Well, my Farmers Wife Inspired Sampler (FWIS) is still waiting for me to get to cutting.   At this point I can just about say it is not going to happen today either.  It is mid- afternoon and I promised DJ I would make some pizza for supper, meaning I'll be measuring out flour and trying to get the water temp up to make dough in a hour or so.  Cutting and this project was at the top of the quilting "to-do" list.   I want to do it but there are always obstacles to that plan. Piles of quilting, QOVs, something else.

Yesterday turned out to be paperwork day.  Quilt show entries, balance the checking account.  Take care of something for one of the Belles.  Mailings to prepare.  Couple errands to run.  No sewing, in other words.   I kept busy clear up till 2030.  Made a good dinner too.

Today, I've been up since 6 so you would think I would have more done.  The laundry is done.  Some minor household tasks are done.  More should be done, LOL but I don't live to clean.  Work on a handout was hampered by the fact that I either totally forgot how to do an exploded diagram and/or draw and color in simple shapes.   OR EQ whatever version doesn't want to play nice with Word 97-2003.  Where's those manuals when you need them!?  I got it finished up but not quite like I originally envisioned.  Downloaded some patterns and found something that might work for some Western themed fabric from the donation bin.  The link HERE will take you to EE Schenck and the free pattern site---take a look at one of the last ones "Galaxy Bunkhouse Blanket".  ( It is a pdf so I don't want to link to it directly).

One of today's tasks was to bag up all my show entries in their own individually labeled pillowcases.  New twist this year, all the contact information along with the name of the quilt.   Whatever!  I am not going to write all that info on a pillow case that I might actually use.   Take that back---this one isn't bagged as I am finally going to quilt around those watermelon seeds since I found the black quilting thread and dredge up a bead for the crow's eye.   Put that on the list of quilting "to-do's".

Oh, and see that document hanging off the bookshelf in the sleeve protector?  That is the Friendship Guild BOM.  We are having a rather impromptu sit and
sew on Thursday, Friday and meeting day Saturday next week---6th, 7th and 8th.  The days are supposed to be devoted to UFOs and comfort quilts.  I could cut out the blocks for the BOM and use them for one of my pro bonos for guild.  Or not, LOL.  I kind of like the blocks but I have another BOM up on the sewing room shelf that could be used too---already kitted up.  Now that one is really a UFO too.

And then there is this-----I was looking for the Batting Buddy templates that had been at the meeting site.  (Linda C left the batting template and the 4 patch on point pattern "Chit Chat" when she moved)  A couple months back Bev had asked for some help in figuring out the "Criss Cross"  pattern using the Fun and Done! Quilting technique from Prairie Sky Quilting.  Take a look as they have whole bunch of patterns that use this technique.   I was busy at the time but I did intend to get back to it and possibly demo it.   The others would probably be interested in seeing it as well.  Brenda had the template set as they had done this at another area quilt guild but I don't know that she took the class.    That was fine!  That is why we have a library cart in the first place---to share stuff  we no longer want or need but she thought I needed it back right away. I didn't and tried to tell her to keep it as long as she needed to.  She insisted that she was not ready to start her project.

Now I really do need to try it before the next meeting, LOL---the 11th.   The fabric on the right---the 4 fat quarters were what I pulled from the birthday bag at Friendship Quilters.  I like them but not really my palette of colors.  Then there is the stack of fabric to the left.  Marilyn gave me large pieces to use possibly for backs but there is some smaller pieces that I think were some of Linda C's leftovers.  I also have some olive-y greens that would work with it and can dig in my stash for others that might go with this.  Maybe for a more masculine appearing quilt or a fall flavored one.  Or it could possibly be my "sit and sew" project---kill two birds with one stone??   I am leaning towards that idea once I review the fabric requirements for a lap or crib sized project.

And sew it goes---------I do think I better quilt the watermelon seeds first though so I can put the quilt show entry deal behind me.  FWIS waited this long so what is another day.... or 5?  Grab the bags and go---and take them to Jane's or Betsy's next week or however they want to handle it.  I am going for set up but that might fit into the chair's plans.

The other change over the usual routine with the Gadsden show is that the quilts have to be turned in on the 10th about 11 days prior to the event.  Even  hanging sleeves are required, people still don't get the message.  It takes too much time to get the temporary ones pinned on when the guys are up on the ladders waiting for the quilts.  Jane said they were going to address the "sleeveless ones" at their meeting on the 11th and eliminate the last minute scrambling.  Still, it would be helpful if the quilters would bother to follow the directions.  Even more,  the chair person could stuck to his guns about "hanging (the ones) without sleeves at the show chair person's discretion".   I am afraid I would be a hard a** about it and say "no sleeve, no hang" but that is only because I have been one of the volunteers having to break my back bent over the table doing what they should have done in the first place!!   Did I say that I don't even belong to this guild but go to help them as they have a bunch of elderly members that physically can't help??

Auburn starts off its football season at 6 tonight on ESPN and Alabama plays Michigan at 7 on the ABC affiliate.   I had to laugh yesterday when I was in Walmart after ink cartridges.  Hard to print up hand outs and quilt show entry forms without that!  Right across from electronics they had a huge display of Alabama t-shirts and other items.  I said aloud "hey where is the Auburn stuff?"  thinking equal representation, right?  Lady going by with her cart dressed in black and it turns out red and white too says "they must have tossed it out".  Guy with her has a U of A cap on and grinned when she said that.  Never did see the AU stuff.   Actually DJ and I tend to cheer on both teams till they have to play each other.  We are not from here originally so we didn't have to declare allegiance at birth, LOL.  Truthfully, I do happen to have Alabama championship 2011 checks but that is more because they were cheaper than the others when I changed my account.

And for those wondering how we fared in my area--Isaac went so far to the west that we only got a 3/4 inch of rain at our house.  While overcast for days, no further rain.  It is back to being more humid than it had been----ugh!  I guess by now he is spreading joy up in the Midwest.

Well there is no shortage of things I should/would/could be doing---see what shakes out and what can be crossed off my list.  I hope you all have a safe holiday weekend.

finished to flimsy!

Oh come on!  You know I would get this done---and as planned since I just had 3 blocks and two long seams to go, LOL.  I just cannot get a decent picture of it----though the colors of the stuff hanging off the bed from the window angle is what it looks like in person.

This one looks more yellowed than it is---possibly from the overhead lights and the fact that it was 1945.  The width looks good and so does the length finishing at about 88 x 98 or something close to that.

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Woohoo!  The strips and fabrics are put away, temporarily anyway.  I had vacuumed the day before to get the worst of the mess up.  Materials gathered to start cutting on FWIS.  Off on another sewing adventure soon!

Jane, Aline and I are heading off to Pell City to drop off our QOV quilts in about an hour.  We may also be going on to Heart to Heart in Trussville from there BUT it will wholly depend on the weather.   Not raining now but some forecasts said the Isaac driven rain bands would hit Thursday through Monday.  It is overcast and who knows what it is doing 2 counties away?  Or will be doing in several hours.   Two of us get a birthday discount but I don't think I "need" anything but would go along with the others if they want to go.  I have begged off a couple times recently---like, going after the guild meeting and I need to get home.  Also Aline watches her great-granddaughter a good bit.  She may be needed at home if Pop has his hands too full of little Lily.

Besides I already ordered my quilt backing from Thousands of Bolts---Free Spirit Habitat on an aqua background.  Either by design or happenstance there are a lot of little (and some big) polka dots in this quilt so this is  perfect, not only colorwise but "theme".  The springboard was the Me and My Sisters "Amelia" so even the backgrounds have dots.  Not enough to call it  "lots and lots of dots and spots" like Pam called her version but they are there.  Once I get it the batting and backing prepped, I'll get on a long armer's list.

There are a few paperwork things I must deal with first but then full steam ahead on cutting the first little sampler blocks anyway.