Sunday evening

I would give anything for him to tell me what he was finding so fascinating about the floor this morning! Oddest thing, a few hours later he was doing his "best Snoopy atop the doghouse" pose on DJ's desk chair.

This being Sunday both Cher and Norma were asking what project is next up on my list.  I took things easy last night, though I was on the hunt for a pattern which I eventually located.  Along the way I found something that may work for a guild "top secret" project so no hunt is without rewards.

I mentioned several things in response.

DJ's neck things did NOT get done last week.  He told me he was in no hurry.  While not sure that was such a good thing to tell me since I DID leave a shirt of his that asked me to iron for months one time.  I did the hand finishing on those two wall hangings instead.  Here they are finished up----one and a spare.  He's happy and I'm happy that it is out of the way.

 2nd choice was to pick up with the Prairie Stroll donation top, last seen HERE.  I was thinking about doing this at Bama Belles on Tuesday but have another plan now.  The machine is revved up from the neck things, the blocks are all done.  Assembly should not take all that long----nice Sunday evening/Monday project.

3rd choice----start back on Popsicle Sticks------I drug the fabric tote out but will need to see just where I left off on it.  Too much water over the bridge, LOL.  It is going to be a pretty quilt, I think as it will have all my favorites in it!

And then there is this------the veteran's home did NOT open in July as planned.  They totally messed up the floors in moving beds, equipment etc in from what we were told.  Now they are shooting for Labor Day weekend or less than 3 weeks away.  Margaret, the coordinator for this project and former state QOV coordinator had brought in about 10 quilts that will be donated by our guild members but we need to finish our binding first.  One of mine was among them.  Odd that it is one of the ones I made this year and not the one I turned in way back in September last year but whatever, Line Art/Skinny Strips will not be done in time for the opening though I certainly did my part to make that happen.   Craig Heyer of Over The Mountain Quilting in the BHM area quilted this one as he had volunteered his services for some of them at Margaret's request.  Since the backing is a golden colored print, he did rings of stars on it.    I believe you can see them from this angle.

  

I think binding this will be a good project for the quilt meeting since I will have far more table space to spread it out than I do at home.  As long as we get it delivered back over to Pell City later this month, it should be okay.  I believe Jane and Aline have one to take care of as well so we can probably make the run together.  Decision made.

The guild also passes out little quilty gifts in our birthday months.  I was one of about 6 guild members with an August birthday.  Here is what came out of the reach in and grab one----a bit of a fall feel, don't you think?  Not sure which project it will show up in but you just  never know!!

And sew it goes-------back to top assembly for me.  I woke up entirely too early this morning so hard telling how long any ambition will last, LOL.  Hope you have had an enjoyable weekend.

another finish/birthday dinner story

Another finish 8-10-2012 Friday p.m.  By the time we left for our supper at Outback Steakhouse I only had the last long side to go.  Looks pretty good on that Button Up base, doesn't it?

Funny story about our meal out.  Part of my reason for picking Outback for my birthday dinner was because we had some of the money left on a gift card that DJ's son and his family had given us for Christmas.  Well, that and the coconut shrimp, LOL.  I had encouraged him to take a trip down there for a good meal when I was on vacation but he didn't go.  I figured the remaining monies would pay for one of us and less money out of his pocket.  Tracy's birthday is just 5 days earlier than mine so between the two of us, the checkbook takes a hit.

I spotted a new addition to the menu---the coconut shrimp was offered with a sirloin steak of varying sizes along with two sides.  I proposed that we order that item, split the baked potato and let him pick the 2nd side (vegetable medley) and I would get a house salad.  I would eat the shrimp and he could have the 6 oz. steak which he felt would be plenty and give me a bite.  Tab would be around 17 bucks and add on the tax and tip, water with lemon was fine too. ( There was 17 bucks left on the card.  Cheap date!)

Well, fairly quickly someone came from the kitchen with a steak and baked potato and a plate of ahi tuna. In retrospect, too quickly really.  Not our waitress though.  UH, not our order---we asked for the sirloin steak with coconut shrimp combination.  He left the steak plate and took the tuna away.   DJ assumed he was supposed to have it.  It didn't occur to us that it was bigger than it should have been and half the meal was missing.  Yep, you got it.  It belonged to a couple sitting behind us.  DJ had already cut into it when the waitress announced the error.

Out came my salad.  He shared a couple bites of steak, we split the baked potato.  At some point out comes our original order.  All of it---another baked potato, the smaller sirloin, the vegetable medley and my shrimp. I guess we know what DJ will eat for lunch tomorrow now!  Two whole meals then for the cost of tax and a more generous than usual tip.  DJ said he felt bad about the waitress getting gypped out of tip for a 2nd meal because we had shared a plate.  As you get older you often don't have as much of an appetite so no doubt other couples do that or take half of it home.

I have guild today so will check back in a couple days-----------hope you are having a good weekend in whatever you chose to do.

How did this happen?

In a blink of an eye, it would seem I went from this---------

Age 2, maybe 3??

Age 6 in my paternal grandparents kitchen  

And this past October 2011 about to enter round number territory.  Hair is a bit longer but just as gray.  

My brother who will be passing this same threshhold in 16 months  asked me if I was going to celebrate this one or just let it go by.   I think maybe I am coming to terms with the fact that I am getting older----key word is maybe.  I didn't used to feel old---these days Mother Nature is making it abundantly clear that I am getting there, LOL, in spite of my wanting to will away the inevitable.  Happens to all of us, right?  

I don't want to hear any of that stuff about "any day above ground is a good day" or "better than the alternative" or "age is mind over matter---if you don't mind, it doesn't matter".  Just quit, okay?  Let me wallow in it a bit.  I'll give myself a talking to/pep talk later.  When I turned 30 I was almost despondent.  I wasn't married, had no children and I was sure it would have happened before then.   Double that number now and I am resigned to it.  I married too late to have kids---my life may or may not have turned out as I planned but it is the hand I was dealt.

I just received word last week that my old 7th grade crush was killed in as a result of injuries suffered in a motorcycle crash.  Mike was a good guy --- maybe he got to 60 and maybe he didn't.  Other friends have wrestled with serious illness and come out on the other side.  I have been fortunate not to have had near those problems.  What could I possibly be bellyaching about?   That is what I told my mom a few days ago.

Here is what else I decided is okay about birthdays.  I like birthday cake as long as I don't have to make it.  I like dinner out at a more upscale restaurant with my husband.  I like having a bit more spending money to support my quilting habit.  So yeah, I'll be the queen for a day because that is the only time I get away with being so self centered.   Happy Birthday to me!

_______________

So how am I spending my day so far?  About like any other so far.

I finished the long side of binding that remained from yesterday's binding binge.  I still want to hand quilt around the watermelon seeds but I need to get some black quilting thread and WM had everything but.

I baked another sheet cake----this time my old TNT Tex-Mex version.  (Yesterday was Peanut Butter Sheet Cake---new to me recipe).  Aline, Jane and I are the refreshment girls at Friendship Quilter's Guild tomorrow.  I baked the two cakes and prepped a veggie tray as my part of the deal.

This afternoon---more binding on the other wall hanging but DJ is taking me out to Outback Steakhouse.  I want some coconut shrimp though I think he will probably go for steak.  

I am going to go see if this "not a birthday" cake has cooled enough for me to put it up and er. test for quaility control purposes.    THX for stopping by

WIP Weds/check-in

What is a blog without pictures?  I've got a couple, LOL.

I quilted up the August Button Up on Monday afternoon and started on the "Faux Button Up" row quilt right after that but only got the first two rows and a little bit of the third one done before I hung it up for the night.  "The Closer" was on, after all and this next Monday is the series finale!    The binding still needs to be done on both wall hangings.  You still see pins in August because I am considering hand quilting around the melon seeds.

Tuesday, I finished up the row quilt, bound and labeled them both.   I realized that I did not have near enough information in my head to complete the label but was not entirely sure where I had put the journal notes that were passed around with it.  I knew all about the top three rows----I did the stars, Lauri from MD the flag,  Diane W from IN (who has since passed away) did the kitty, bowtie and log cabin blocks.  Cher did the butterfly and veggies row---my OR FAB pal of many years.   BUT it was not clear to me which row Jacquie from WA had done and who had done the 6th one??  What year was this anyway?  I should say that the piece was inspired by the Summer wall hanging in the Country Threads book from that patchwork place Quilt Shop Series way back in 1992.  Thankfully the girls did not slavishly follow the one in the book as I think their choices made it much more unique.  I didn't like parts of that piece anyway!

After throwing  picture up on Facebook, Jacquie posted that she thought it was from 2000 and she believed she had done the watermelons as she is not an applique aficionado.  Right on both counts!  I found the journal notes in the file cabinet along with the signature squares.  Off came the label that I had applied to it that had the wrong information and cross outs on it!  WOW, it is about time that this row robin get completed.  Of course I am thrilled that the piece is the same size as my other button ups so it can be used on the base just like the others.  I will not have to do up the June Button Up unless I want to----it is picket fence with tall flowers.   Meh.   Do the May basket, skip June, the July one is done.  Sounds good to me!

Here is the proper text with the sig squares pinned to it (the fan was blowing them away, LOL)  The green and white print is the reverse coloration of the backing I used.  These strips look like white on green while the backing was green on white. Blend-y though not a match.  I will piece the squares together to make a special label for the piece.  That is on today's "list"  Cutting fabric was as far as it got this morning as DJ needed me to go up to the license tag division at the Country Administration building and a few other errands along the way.

The other pile is the prototype for DJ's nighttime neck "brace" deal.  Coincidentally this yardage is what I used on the back of August.  I have plenty of fabrics but nothing I cared to cut into for this project.  Wrong color, floral or juvenile, headed to another project---you get the picture.  That job is also on today's "list" though I know I need to get some wide velcro on the next store run to finish the piece.

Before putting away my good and faithful servant Erik the Red I gave him a thorough cleaning inside and out the best I could anyway.  I re-positioned the sewing table and got out Brother Man though left him unplugged. I vacuumed up my stringy mess and even cleaned off the ceiling fan.  It is amazing how quickly a white fan can get dusty looking!  Yeah, I know---quir looking up!

Next up in the pictures for today----some more of my bday present.  Yeah, it isn't for a couple of days but who knew it would get here so quickly?  Boy, that DJ sure knows how to "shop", LOL.    Half yards of a bit more of the Vintage Modern for my Farmer's Wife Sampler.   Love, love that aqua and red combo.   I had ordered some half yards of a few selected pieces last month but my quilt will not be make entirely of the fabric line as I want a scrappy look in my 111 block sampler.  I may not have taken a picture of that stash acquisition when it came in.  Don't remember.   I am thinking that a stop for another snap lid stackable tote is going to take care of the remainder of my spend down, LOL.

My other selection----set M of Marti Michell's Perfect Patchwork Templates which is sized for a 12 inch finished block 5 x 5 grid.  I am pretty well set now and will use these on the Farmer's Wife Sampler.  Also since I love her 1 and 2 inch finished log cabin ruler so much I got the next smaller strip sized on which finishes at 3/4 inch and 1 1/2 inches.  

Here is the longer range plan----

• Finish up Popsicle Sticks ---roughly half done at this point.   Then I can raid whatever fabrics and strips that I want from that container.  It has not seen the machine since mid-Feb 2012 meaning it is fairly new UFO
• Start cutting for Farmer's Wife Sampler at least the first 10 blocks in whatever sequence I finally settle on---numerically by the book or by the conversion chart or how they are laid out in MY version.  
• Quit talking about it and get started on those blocks, will ya?!
• Finish up the Prairie Stroll top at the next Bama Belles meeting(s)---the blocks are done, after all.

Just noticed that is time for lunch and I have to pop it in the oven---best get off the computer and into the kitchen!  THX for stopping by.

Monday check-in

How can you tell that a quilter has been busy quilting?   I swap out what pins I have on hand for an empty box when I go to Bama Belles. This one WAS empty on July 24th and I guess this is about 9 or 10 quilts worth??  To tell you the truth, the days and the quilts are all blending together at this point.  I have lost count. I have barely left the house being a woman on a mission here but I am so close to done!!

The quilt below was the one under the needle on Saturday morning, Faux Log Cabin.  My last pinned donation quilt for the time being anyway.  I need to mark two donation tops with some wide cross hatching and figure out what will go in the off squares of another with an on-point setting. That might explain why they are still waiting?  I also know that those three and possibly the 4th will need batting pieced to accommodate extra width over 48 inches.  Translation:  more work, LOL.

I finished that one up on Saturday and did about 10 zoom lines on the one below until the thunderstorms forced me off the sewing machine and the computer.  (BTW we got about 1.8 inches of rain in the gauge in a fairly short time.)  This is Linda C's faux jelly roll with a lot of 30's prints in it which I finished zooming on Sunday.  Yes, I still need to bind it.  I got it seamed and a boatload of bobbins wound before I closed up "shop" last night.

Zoom lines don't take long.  I really want to be done with these donation quilts and start piecing again.   I was pushing forward while I listened/watched the Cardinal/Brewers game on ESPN.  I am not sure what to call this pattern.  Rails and Twisting Stars might work for the quilt document.  It is one of the tops that Linda C left behind when she moved so I can't ask her.  I think that a few blocks were turned the "wrong" way??  The stars that form at the block junctures twirl the same way but to me, there are a few spots where the rails should be going the opposite direction rather than forming a straight line.  What do you think? Is it just me?  The fabrics are lovely, aren't they but I had a few problems quilting it.  I just hope that the problems are not screamingly apparent.  I did my best with what I had to work with.  IIWII.  The binding application is on today's "to do"  list as well.

So I have a little bit of donation quilt sewing to do yet but essentially I am happy dancing to have those quilts behind me.  I DO plan on quilting my two wall hangings before I pack up Erik the Red and give him a rest.   Neither task should take long though I have to remember to cut out a strip for the hanging tabs for one of them.  Add that to today's "list"!

What I did NOT plan on was this----------

DJ has a lot of problems with his neck---forward neck posture too advance for chiropractic help.   Some time ago he and I collaborated on a neck bracing thing that helps when he is lying down by simulating the width of his fingers under the nape of the neck.  Many modifications were made along the way with the velcro and the width, etc.  UGH---here I am rejoicing from almost being out from under the obligation sewing/quilting and I get "the velcro needs replaced as it isn't holding the insert. Can you fix it?"

UH, thanks for the vote of confidence, Honey.  No, I don't think I can fix it necessarily but I could start from scratch since this thing is about shot.  Velcro is not easy to un-sew.  Don't necessarily "want" to but I will do it.  Because you asked.  Because I love you.  Because I don't want your neck to be hurting.  I offered to give it back to him until I can work out the prototype (and make two of them!)  telling him the decks would be cleared by Tuesday. Wednesday at the latest.  I think I can find some fabric around here to make another fairly easily.   Don't you?  Better check on the velcro inventory too especially if I have to make a store run from a few grocery items.

And sew it goes-------

quiet Saturday morning

Skyler wants to  play!   I drug out his kitty cube a few days ago and he has really taken to it.  He'll get bored with it soon enough and I'll put it away for a time.

Can't find him?  He might be sleeping in there. It also makes a great running spot at 100 mph.  The way he was digging in those back feet suggests that he was waiting for me to approach him from the front so he could leap out at me.  He looked even more silly before I got the camera!

Here he forgot that he could run out the other way through the cube---which he had done several times BEFORE the camera came out.  Possibly he is running out of steam as well.

At the present time he is monitoring the front door for any passing birds and passing baby spiders or encroaching ants.  Gotta love that hunter instinct.  By afternoon he will sack out for hours on end.

Quilting continues----I have had a good week in that area but I am really pushing to have these donation quilts done by mid-week.   As of this writing, I have done-----

• Hot Mess Jelly Roll 1600
• Picnic BQ 1
• Aline's Turning 20
• Triple Rail---did the last 3 vertical rows and binding yesterday afternoon
• started this Faux Log Cabin right after that

I WILL get this Faux Log Cabin finished today!  That leaves just Linda C's two quilts and my two small personal projects in the stack.  The decks will be cleared for piecing/UFO completion.  Yeah, I will need to do the binding on the August piece.  The Belles will help with the binding on the donation quilts or I'll do it but over time.  Too bad I hate the way it looks when I try to machine finish it as an electric needle is sure faster!

And sew it goes--------I am a woman on a mission.  

WIP Thursday

I am declaring today a day off from quilting. To that end I left this triple rail top that is all done but 4 horizontal rows and the binding exactly where I left it at 8 p.m. Wednesday.  It would not take long to get it done but it is not going to happen today.

JOY Quilt Guild was resuming after a summer break today.  I had a couple of things to drop off and pick up from the Belles who are regular attendees.  Among the deliveries----

A fellow quilter and fellow area Facebook pal was looking for some homespun fabrics.  This 17 x 12x 14 Gevalia box is loaded with homespuns.   I think I could share.  We had arranged to get together after the meeting and she could pick out some colors she thought might work in her project.  She wants to make something that looks like this for a grandson--masculine tones needed.

Cantara quilt from onekingslane.com according to the pinterest pin.  So we went through the box and pulled out some possibles that would go with some she had ordered.  If she needs my help in calculating how many squares to cut, then I'll do that but for right now, here is some fats and/or generous 8 1/2 inch squares.

I am not secretary of this bunch so I was---------

Stitching on this Bee Tree Basket block----it seems like months since I was last stitching though probably mid-June is more likely.  You KNOW how I love to embroider.

I picked up this one---Jane had finished some of the binding and said to bring her a couple more if I had them.  Uh, since I have been quilting for about two weeks now, I have a few.  DJ held it up for the glamour shot once I got home.

Truly Twisted Sister---pattern from Ami Simms, kit from my mom but pieced and quilted by me. Bound by Jane and now folded up in my closet to join the others that will be going somewhere here in in Calhoun County probably.  Done, done and done with that one!   I am borrowing a pillowcase pattern from Jane and a block of month packet from Aline---who got donation quilt back for binding.  It had been so long since she had seen it at first she didn't think it was hers, LOL.  I also stand corrected---it was a Turning 20, not a Just Can't Cut It.

Marilyn and I had shared a ride to the meeting so we went out to lunch at a Mexican restaurant in Jacksonville before heading back home.  THX for lunch!  Her son and I share the same birthday so I think that was why she treated me.

And speaking of birthdays---I am on the spend down thing for my upcoming event.  Here is some fabric I ordered last week from thousands of bolts.com. that was waiting for me when I got home.   I hope it will work in my Farmer's Wife Sampler  The yellow is a bit brighter than I thought it might be---Michael Miller Eco Flowers--- but the other stuff should work especially the blues. If not for this quilt, then something down the line, right?   I like the gray dot but will have to see how it works with the Vintage Modern yardage that I ordering soon---with some more of my bday monies,  LOL.

So how will I spend my afternoon?

I had messed up yesterday when I was trying to backup some files to a thumb drive and somehow managed to allow duplicates a bunch of files.   I had deleted a bunch of them this morning before I left and again on coming home.   The fact that you have to click twice to get the job done is annoying when there was that many of them---delete, yes I want to delete it or I would not have asked to the first time---grrrrr.

A few kitchen tasks need to be done, decide what we can possibly have for supper since we are cleaning out the freezer and are just plan out of other stuff so choices are limited.  He had leftover chili for lunch so that idea to make a pot of vegetable beef soup would not be too appealing, LOL.   Make a note to add some quick fix stuff to the list for emergencies like this.  Actually since I got back from vacation last month, I am trying to get the grocery day moved back to Sunday if I can. It just messes up my menu planning and shopping when it does not follow the calendar.

Guess I'll put a few more stitches in this later this evening, should I feel like it.  May change my mind by then, LOL.