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I had tried to post this with the last note--danged blogger and those photos--done and then nothing there. Liar!!

I was going to share a still picture of what I saw last night while I was preparing dinner (Vidalia onion quiche--I think it was better as leftovers than when fresh which is different) Here was a ground hog (or woodchuck?) out there chomping on the kudzu leaves. My new digital camera will make movies and we caught the little guy running up the backyard and then standing up and grabbing a leaf in his mouth. Film quality stinks because I didn't know what I was doing and I was shooting throught the closed kitchen window. DJ and I got a kick out of it in spite of the jumpy image.

Well, off to fix supper---turkey tetrazini. Crockpot turkey breast leftovers that I put in the freezer will be pressed into action tonight. If we don't want to be eating supper at 7, I better get cracking.

stitching, stitching

Well, once things settled down a bit around here I am actually getting some sewing done. The "Whatever " top on the left is hot off the press. I decided to try that zigzag set that had so intrigued me from one of Evelyn's past post. I'm just being lazy right now or I would go look for the link for you. Edited later Scrappy Happy Quilts by Starfishy: April 2006 scroll down to "Blue Progress"

The blocks were made at the Bama Belles spring sew-in by the group. I had just enough completed for this top though there are a few more centers done. All I did was cut the setting QSTs and HST's. If Pam and Finn were to look closely they would see some of the cut squares they both sent recently. I see bits of my fabric in there as well--stashbusting a bit at a time from several peoples stash. Fun bits from the Belles as well though I really couldn't say who made which block at this point. There were so many bits and pieces piled up on the tables.

I had not intended to use this old gold color either--my sketch showed a nice teal but of course, try to find that. I think it sets the blocks off nicely with the golds and oranges that showed up in the blocks. With as many machines that were involved with the making of the quilt, there is a bit of fudging and zigzagging over the seam allowances in the assembly process but I am pleased with how it turned out.

Oh, I'll do another one at some point. Finn sent some more 2 1/2 inch squares recently so I started doing some leaders-enders checkboard squares too. I think the next one might be the half step drop version as I liked the way that looked when I drew it up.

I'll need to round up some backing fabric for this one--52 x 70 so I'll need an extra length. I'll make that my after supper project. (Edited notation--two lengths of blue toned backing fabric Finn sent were pressed into duty with more of one of them added at the bottom. A bit unconventional but it works) Still busting stash even it is not my own, LOL---glad to help out!!

Friday afternoon I was able to get a heart quilt assembled in memorial of our friend and fellow Bama Belle Gail who lost her battle to ovarian cancer. My mom had made a stack of heart blocks that she sent back with me last month and I had cut the alternate plain blocks when I cut the sashing for my 30's sampler. I marked the plain blocks before I put it up for pinning (Finn, that pink backing might work on it if we pin really carefully--going to try it anyway) No picture because it is so similiar to one we just all too soon for another member who also passed away.

Tomorrow, it is on to the Pineapple Blossom blocks we did earlier this year. Actually that one is on my UFO list even though I had some help making the blocks---I gotta put it together and quilt it, after all. I think it still counts.

Oren came by to pick up Betsy's Christmas quilt this morning to take to the long armer so that is moved on but I'll get it back for binding and labeling. He told me that the receipient and his family will be here next month for a visit so it would be great if they can take it home with them then. See how that times out, anyway.

working in series

Our local Hancock's opened several years ago and I was asked to teach some quilting classes. I guess that the manager had talked to people who said they were making a quilt to see who might be able or interested in teaching because my name kept coming up from the help I had given my quilt group. Okay, I was in. I could do this since I was doing it informally anyway.

A small sampler seemed like the way to explore doing some of the basics of rotary cutting as well as the techniques of the basic blocks units--four patch, nine patch, HST's and QST's. The quilt at left was one of three that I made as my class sample. I have a 4th cut out as I kept making them and then giving them away to WTIL when there were no class prospects. I'll get around to piecing the rest of the 4th sampler one of these days but it won't be used for teaching purposes this time around.


Eventually in frustration, I quit trying teach and someone else has the honors (doing a crazy patch block from what I understand) You see, all too often people would sign up saying they were interested. You would spend hours and time away from your "work" calling a long list of people to set up a time and date. Then only one or two would show up. With no money taken in advance why should they bother to call to say they weren't coming? Several people got one on one lessons but not worth all my time and effort writing handouts, etc. I can only hope that I got a few people started on the way to quilting.

I didn't get one thing done yesterday in the sewing department though I certainly had ever intention of doing so. First, I needed to run to Walmart for a couple of things: my meds, a colored ink cartridge, a background fabric for the Whatever blocks and a few groceries items. I tell you what I was shopping for only because it is integral to the story.

I got home and my husband questioned the amount I had to pay for one med---it is pricey and I had just gotten a card from the drug company to help pay for it. DJ got on the phone---first to the company that issued the card and then to Walmart pharmacy. This after they insisted that they had applied the new card when I questioned it in person--very little off the bill from what I normally pay. Turns out I DID have a refund due me.

In the meantime I wastrying to install the color cartridge but the printer did not recognize that it is even there. Come to think of it, all the sudden it was not recognizing the recently installed color cartridge anymore and said the ink was gone. Since I had not really printed much there is no way that should be happening. I decided to try to uninstall and re-install and see what would happen. Meanwhile he gets off the phone and I told him to get in the car so we could straighten out the med snafu in case the person he spoke with was not there. Smart girl--left the refund before she left for lunch. Go looking for an item I forgot on round one--back in the photo department near where the printers and ink cartridges are--it is up on a top shelf if they even have it so forget that for now. I pointed out to DJ that the all in one printers are pretty cheap and only about 18 bucks difference between the ink cartridge that does not seem to be cooperating. HMMMM, buy a new one? Refund from my med over charge and the cartridge would almost pay for it.

Came home and threw the fabric in the wash--get back to the computer and naturally it is a "no go" Back to Walmart--refund my money for the ink cartridge, buy the printer. Two stops later the one thing that I went to the store for in the first place was in hand--those album pages for the Belles. Not exactly what I was looking for but they will do.

Went home, installed the printer and the printer software, filed the pictures. Next thing I know it is about 4 p.m. and almost time to think about slicing and dicing for supper--Szechuan chicken so lots of prep but not so much cooking time. Why bother to get started sewing now? Then it is 7 p.m. and the same thing holds true. I started looking through a quilt book and read the morning paper and zip, its time for bed.

So much for being productive, LOL. I guess you could say I have my moments--yesterday was just not one of them at least not when it came to sewing. My sewing room floor stayed clean for one more day. Not holding out that possibility today unless I get off this computer. Did the editing and addition make this worse or better?

Sampler completion

Okay, you have seen all the block pictures in previous posts. The top is completed as of last evening but I waited to take the picture till this morning.

Amazing how long that process can take and how it leads to vacuuming two rooms and the hallway just to clean up after doing it. The living room still needs it from all the thead tracking and hauling the top in to show DJ. Pippi is hanging out there so I'm not dragging out the "kitty eating machine" just yet.

I'll need to purchase the backing and maybe some ultrawhite batting before this can be pinned but it is closer to done than it has been for some time.

So today, back to assembling some WTIL tops after I run a couple of errands this morning. Our next meeting is on the 13th so I will try to get a couple more together for pinning by then. There goes the clean floor, LOL but do I care? 

so how do I piece this?

This is one of my mom's quilts that I stumbled across in the photo album the night before last. I asked her how she pieced it but she could not be sure just how she went about it. It might be perfect for those remaining embroidered quilt blocks as I think I have about 8 cut 8 1/2 inch square.

I can see this one of two ways---
1) Square in a square but set on point with the setting triangles pieced in two colors--but how do you get them to line up so perfectly?

2) Embroidered square alternating between hour glass blocks but then how do you piece the outside edges? Mom thought maybe big flying geese above the cut squares and rectangles cut the same width above the hour glass blocks.

I have a square in a square ruler but would the images stay pointing the correct direction if I use it. Any thoughts on that? Just try it on some fabric I don't care about?

Well, since Cher is cracking the whip I better get busy with my sampler borders. I will as soon as I do something with this hair fresh from the shower---my gratitude today? Among other things, probably that in spite of whacking off 12 plus inches of hair earlier this year for Locks of Love, it is currently just long enough to get it pulled back into a "puny" tail and out of my face. It would be a longer and hotter summer otherwise.

done and done

At least for now I'm done---I know that I could spend a few days cleaning out my desk and file drawers if so inclined. Nope, "beach day" was probably all in my mind although I did go to lunch with my husband. He had gotten some found money and I was thinking of ways he could spend it---take his wife to lunch was one thing and a pair of alligator loppers for our overgrown bushes that need cutting back was the other, LOL. We enjoyed a good walk through our local park earlier in the morning. The weather was in the mid 60's and a nice breeze was blowing, humidity was down for which I could write a "gratitude" like our Jeanne does.

I would rather be quilting or piecing so some paperwork things get put on the back burner. Yesterday I was scanning and editing pictures and trying to figure out which quilt was which for the Bama Belles Quilt documents. Of course, the procrastination was making it a harder task. When we use similiar patterns, even though I try to pick out some identifying name or description it still doesn't help. I could not be sure that any of the pictures from 05 had been sent and probably was re-doing some work. All those Snuggle Ups and Houndstooths especially when we cut several from the same quilt kits---oh my.

One thing that did help with the 06 stuff is that the quilts, almost all of them are at my house. Missing a picture or not sure on a number? I could go look. Of course, I had a little "help" when I pulled all the ones out of the closet. The silly girl has not been on my bed in weeks---until she got a crack at all the quilts piled up. Naturally she is parked on the three that I needed to verify, LOL. Since I got up on the foot stool to put them back in the closet, I was able to cram a few more in there and move some from the hamper for the time being.

I went to bed looking at the photo albums of many of the quilts that my mom and the Bama Belles have done along with shots from past sew-in's and Christmas parties. It is always inspiring to me just to see the volume of quilts that we have done or to re-consider a pattern or two. As new or "new to me" fabric comes along you think "that might work for this yardage" In fact, I've got one that you can probably help me figure out how best to piece that I will share with you tomorrow perhaps.

This morning was more of the same--quilt documents and scanning-- with time out to chat with my mom. Finally I was able to burn the picture CD's and print off the documents. Then reconcile a couple of bank accounts for Home Extension and Bama Belles with more paperwork for Home Extension. By 4 I was finally off to the bank and post office. Clean, toss and purge a little bit in various nooks and crannies but I could have a field day in that filing cabinet and one desk drawer. I will probably get back to my sampler tomorrow---that's the plans anyway.

Weird that I can get into my blog now and apparently post but the font looks different. I didn't change the settings on my template either. Little poltergeists at work on my blog and others?? Finn, I notice the dreaded red x's for the pics lately but those seem to come back when I refresh--same for you as well? KC Quilter, you didn't say what your problems were specifically. I don't know whether to feel relieved that I am not alone or worried that we are having problems. I tell you, looking at a blank page in the correct colors that says "done" is not my idea of fun. Here's hoping that it straightens up tomorrow------

test post

Still bogged down with paper work but for some unknown reason I cannot see my own blog!!! I can get to dashboard and click on individual messages but cannot open on "view blog". How about the rest of you?

Color me perplexed.

lchj