Life happens

I had such great plans for this week. I was going to sew every night after work. And I did on Monday, but then life happened. I have been doing training on the new system at work and even though it is not physical work it really kicks butt. Wednesday night was my sister's concert in the park. It was a good concert but rain shower made us all a little damp during the concert. And we kept getting buzzed by a sheriff's department helicopter. We did have a good time. Last night no sewing was done. And tonight is the Concert on the Green with the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. I do have a piece of hand quilting that I will take with me.

I have a piece that I am machine quilting and hope to work on that tomorrow after I get off work. And yes, there is skull and cross bones on the back of this quilt, this is the gal at work wanted!! Yes the mandatory overtime is finished but every once in a while we are offered voluntary overtime and I snagged some for Saturday. It is 8-4:30 or until the boss says we can leave whichever comes first. And I want to have it machine quilted so I can get the binding on it and take to the guild meeting on Monday for show and tell.

In stitches,
Judy

How to clean off your sewing surface....

I figured out how to clean off my sewing surface last night. Start machine quilting a smallish quilt and think it is a good idea to leave things around the sewing surface. I am merrily quilting along and things are falling off the table and onto my feet and the area around the table. I did move the big and the heavy things before I started quilting. The small things moved themselves. I am coming home from work tonight and going straight to the machine. I am hoping to get the quilting done tonight and the binding put on so I have some hand stitching to do at my sister's concert in the park on Wednesday. I am sure I can find some hand stitching to do if I am not finished. I have two concerts this week. Once with the University of Cincinnat Alumni Band and the other with Cincinnati Pops Orchestra.

In stiches,
Judy

Design Wall Monday

I finally have something to share with everyone on my design wall. I did take the pictures yesterday because the stuff on my design is no longer there. I am making a quilt for a gal at work. The first picture is one half of the quilt. This half has 72 different squares in it. The other half has the same amount of squares and each square matches one in the first half. Check out the designs at Judy L's blog.

This picture is on my design couch and it is the completed top. I have to go to work a bit later today so I am going to layer it and start machine quilting it either tonight or tomorrow night. Our guild meeting is on Monday night and I want to be part of show and tell with the quilt before I give it to the gal at work.

In stitches,
Judy

What I did this weekend....

Sounds kind of corny, like the first day of school. I spent Saturday with my sisters. We went antiquing in Waynesville. I was the only person spending money. I stopped at the Fabric Shack and bought 6 pieces of fabric for my 30's print quilt. Patty was without children and Karen was off for the weekend. Of course, the weather was hot and humid and the heat index was over 100 degrees. From left to right, Patty, Becky, and Karen taking my picture!!!

And on Sunday I worked on a quilt for a gal at work. It is for her daughter who is about 14 months old. It is based on the memory tiles in the memory game. I will have pictures tomorrow of  that quilt.

I also went to my mom's for dinner. My sister, Becky did the cooking and it was yummy. I also spoke to my son twice. Once to see how he was doing and the second time, to check on our Thanksgiving plans. It's almost 100 degrees outside, who is thinking of turkey and dressing? My son and his wife are in New York City and they were checking airline prices. It looks like I won't have to make a late night airport run this year. It looks like they will be flying into Dayton, Ohio and his dad can get them. I am not going to think about Thanksgiving until at least after Labor Day.

In stitches,
Judy

Stash report

I was in Waynesville yesterday with my sisters and I was the only person buying anything. I stopped in the Fabric Shack and came home with 6 new pieces of 30's print for my next 30's print quilt. Stop over at  Patchwork Times and see what everyone else is up to.

Used this Week: 0 yds
Used year to Date: 39.375 yards
Added this Week: 2 yards
Added Year to Date: 58 yards
Net Used for 2010: -18.625 yards
 
In stitches,
Judy

Friday night fun

Overtime is officially over!!! I got sent home from work early today. We were slow and they started sending people home at noon. I got quite a lot of stuff done before Jennifer joined me for sewing. Actually no one sewed. We went to JoAnn Fabrics to get backing and batting for my "Feedsack" quilt. Radio Shack for a new battery for my cordless phone. And the grocery store to get riccota cheese for dinner. After dinner I got Jennifer started on pinning her quilt so she could quickly tie it. She is making a quilt for her grandson who is having his tonsils out next Friday. The quilt is for his recovery. And I transferred redwork designs for my sister who no longer owns an iron. I still have one more to do.

Tomorrow is antique shopping in Waynesville with all of my sisters. I am looking for unique sewing storage for the sewing room. We should have a great time!!

In stitches,
Judy

Out and about

Here are a couple of shots of what I saw while I was out and about. I work on the fifth floor of an office building in Mason, Ohio. I have been told that these vultures have been nesting on our roof for many years. I have only been in this building since November and in the window seat since June.

On Thursdays my town has a farmer's market. It was very hot, humid, and looked like it would rain at any time. I was able to get my corn on the cob and onions before the rain came. I also ordered beets from a farmer in Indiana and they should be here next week.

I came home and before going to bed I have made coffee cake from scratch. Tomorrow is Friday and payday and I think we deserve it for all of our good work. Overtime is officially over effective on Saturday. I guess I am glad.

In stitches,
Judy

The cutting is done!!

I finished all the cutting for my newest project. Tomorrow after work I will be able to start sewing it together. It is simple sewing of squares and I should be able to get together by the weekend.

This weekend is Sisters Saturday. I have three sisters and our schedules mesh. We are going to the Antique capital of the Midwest.  Waynesville, OH  I am looking storage ideas for the sewing room. And there is a cool fabric shop called the Fabric Shack there and I might be able to sneak in there for a few minutes. None of my sisters are quilters.

In stitches,
Judy

New Project

It is time to start a new project. I am making a quilt for the gal at work for her daughter. Her daughter is about 14 months old. I am making a matching quilt. I am cutting 144 five inch squares (two each of 72 different fabrics). It will be a quilt that as the child gets older she will be able to match squares. I made something similar for my niece and nephew and they really enjoy it. My sister keeps it in her car and it has been used often. I am hoping to have the top finished by this weekend and perhaps some of the machine quilting.

I also worked in the sewing room a bit more tonight. It is coming along. I can actually see the carpeting. Yeah!!! Before and after pictures to follow.

In stitches,
Judy

Design Wall Monday

I am no longer using the design wall "stairs". I have moved to the design "couch". I finished my "Feedsack" quilt top and I was going to move it outside for cool shot but the lightning made me think twice. So here is my quilt top. Jennifer was here again tonight. Not much sewing was done but we have been working on the sewing room and I can see the floor. Wow!!! Stop by  Judy L's blog to see what everyone else is doing.

In stitches,
Judy

The top is done!!!

I finished the final 6 blocks for my "Feedsack" quilt and I have just put the last few stitches on the quilt top. I have already decided on the quilting of the top. I am going to do meandering in the print part of the block and hand quilt a motiff in thewhite squares. There are no pictures at this point. I just wanted to let everyone know it is done. Pictures will come tomorrow. I may even try some outdoor shots!!

In stitches,
Judy

Stash report

Nothing new to report about my stash. I did some sewing but I bought nothing and used nothing.


Used this Week: 0 yds
Used year to Date: 39.375 yards
Added this Week: 7.75 yards
Added Year to Date: 56 yards
Net Used for 2010: -16.625 yards
 
Check out Judy L's blog to see how everyone else is doing with their stashes.
 
In stitches,
Judy

My math is off

I was so happy when I finished sewing my blocks together last night and after working 7 hours of overtime, dinner, calls to my sister and mom, and a visit from my ex husband, I was ready to sew. Somehow I have miscounted my blocks and I am six blocks short. Guess what I will be doing tomorrow after church.

In stitches,
Judy

Friends

My quilting buddy is my friend, Jennifer. She comes here to quilt about once a week because I have "cool" toys.

 Jennifer was here tonight and while I sewed on my blocks for my "Feedsack" quilt she pressed my scrap box of fabric.

 Most times when Jennifer is here she is sewng and I am cutting her fabric for her next project. I like to cut fabric, but don't much like pressing fabric. Jennifer likes to press fabric and doesn't much like cutting fabric. We mesh together real good.

I sewed tonight and finished all 80 blocks for my quilt. I am hoping to finish the top before the weekend is over. And then start cutting for another project.

As you can see I have the perfect cutting station set up here. Just to the right of this is the TV, VCR, and DVD player. With this set up I can cut for hours.

In stitches,
Judy

I am getting closer...

I am getting closer to finishing the blocks for my "Feedsack" quilt from the book "Scrapbasket Surprises". 

 I need a total  of 80 blocks. Up until today I had finished 12 blocks and tonight I finished an additional 31 blocks. I am hoping to finish the top this weekend. I am working on Saturday and then I am coming home to hibernate in the sewing room.

In stitches,

Judy

Lights and Water

I now have lights and water. I have always had both but I now have a new ballast in the basement sewing area and lots light. There are now 5 lights in the sewing room. And I now have a very messy but well lite sewing room. I have taken some "before" pictures and soon I will be taking "after" pictures.

I also have a new shut off valve for my outside faucet in the back of the house and a new outside faucet in the front of the house. I used the new faucet this evening to water my flowers. It was really cool. My friend, Jennifer, has a son who is a plumber and he did all the work this afternoon. Yippee!!!

Jennifer did the sewing today and I did more cutting for a matching game quilt for her grandson. I am hoping to do some sewing tomorrow night.

In stitches,
Judy

Summer band concerts

I love going to summer band concerts. Most times in a local park, sometimes to hear my sister play, and like tonight under the parking garage in downtown Hamilton. I was born and raised in Hamilton, Ohio and today we got quite a bit of rain. The outdoor concert was moved to under the parking garage. The city closed the road off at both ends and it was music time. Tonight's featured band was the The Klaberheads.  A fun, lively group.  My mom made dinner and we were joined by my sister, Becky. 

We took a stroll to the river before the concert started.

Of course, no sewing was done today. But there is always tomorrow!!

In stitches,

Judy

Design Wall Monday

I am making slow progress on my 30's quilt. I had planned to work on this weekend and have more blocks to show. I have 12 completed and here are 6 blocks. I do not have a design wall right now so I using the design stairs. I am hoping now that overtime has been lifted that I can get some more sewing done. I did some alterations this weekend, so I did get some sewing done.

Check out Judy L's blog to see what everyone else is up to.

In stitches,

Judy

Look what followed me home....

Jennifer and I went to 4 quilt shops yesterday and look what followed me home. Most of the fabric is for my 30's print quilt, the flowered fabric is for a border for a quilt in progress and the white fat quarter is the beginings of a flannel quilt for my nephew. That will be his Christmas present.

We had a wonderful gathering of family for dinner and a concert. We had hamburgers, salad, and pasta salad. A little bit of wine for the wine drinkers and then onto to Fairfleld for a concert with the Hamilton-Fairfield Symphony Orchesta. "I Got Gerswin". It was very good.

In stiches,

Judy

Stash report

I went to 4 quilt shops yesterday. I had a good time and I bought fabric at 3 of the 4 stores. I need to be changed to my sewing machine forever to get caught up. See if anyone else fell off fabric wagon at Judy L's.


Used this Week: 0 yds

Used year to Date: 39.375 yards

Added this Week: 7.75 yards

Added Year to Date: 56 yards
Net Used for 2010: -16.625 yards

In stiches,
Judy

Too tired to sew

It is bedtime. I am too tired to sew. I got the rest of the cutting done for my 30's prints quilt. I would like to  do a bunch of thangles so I can remove the papers at the guild meeting on Monday night.

Jennifer and I are going on a mini shop hop tomorrow. Once I get a list from her of the items she needs, I can plan our trip. She is on baby watch. She is becoming a grammy any day now. I will have details and pictures for tomorrow's blog.

Went to the boat with my sister, Karen today. I have a bit of money to spend on fabric tomorrow. I can always use a fat quarter or two of 30's prints.

In stitches,

Judy

It was a sew night

Last night before going to bed, I put about an hour in on my 30's print quilt. I have finished a few more blocks, have quite alot of blocks to the final seam stage, and so on. I still need to cut 10 2.5" x 6.5" and 5 2.5" x 4.5" strips. I have a bunch of 2.5" strips already cut so it won't take much to finish those up. I am hoping by the end of the weekend the top will be done. The camera is upstairs so no pictures now.

I am prewashing some unbleached muslin so I can transfer some redwork designs for my sister. She should be here soon and we are going to the boat in Shelbyville, Indiana. I need to make breakfast quickly, get dressed and pack the cooler in less than 30 minutes. I guess I better get cracking.

In stiches,

Judy

Not much happening...

Today is the first day of my mini vacation and I would like to say I have been sewing up a storm but that would be a lie. I had to doctor appointments today and the second one included my eyes being dilated. It has been over 8 hours and things are no longer blurry. And people are no longer fuzzy, but is too late to sew. Tomorrow I am going to the boat with my sister, but there will be time to sew tomorrow night. I would like to get my 30's print quilt put together. I am using the Leaders and Enders method whenever I sew. I am using Thangles to make pinwheels for a wall hanging to compliment my 30's prints quilt.

In stitches,

Judy

Stash Report

Stash report for July better late than never and I have fallen into a fabric pit. Still not doing much sewing but buying more fabric just in case there is a fabric shortage any time soon. Check in with  Judy L's blog to see how everyone is doing.

Used this Week: 0 yds

Used year to Date: 39.375 yards

Added this Week: 8 yards

Added Year to Date: 48.25 yards

Net Used for 2010: -8.875 yards
 
In stitches,
Judy

Just a quick note....

Tomorrow is hump day and the last day I am working this week. I ended up doing 5 hours yesterday. We had to work yesterday, no holiday for us. But the boss did cook for us. Hotdogs and burgers. Everyone was to bring a dish. I did homemade apple pie. I brought home an empty pie pan. I am hoping to squeeze some sewing in this weekend. I have a bit of  sewing to do for others. Alterations! And transfer some patterns for redwork for my sister. When I picked up these pieces for her, I made sure that there was something quilting related. She will do the embroidery for me. I am not good at that. This is my sister, Karen, working on a quilt for her art guild.

Here is a picture of downtown Hamilton, Ohio, my hometown. It was an awesome day on the 4th of July with the family, the concert in the gazebo, and the parade. Then back to my mom's for dinner.

In stitches,
Judy

Road trip

Overtime was cancelled tonight. Jennifer was coming over for an evening of sewing so we did a raod trip. The  local quilt shop was having a sale and we went to that and picked up a few pieces, then onto Hancock's to pick up some more University of Michigan fabric for a quilt Jennifer is working on. When we got to Hancock's they did not have the fabric we wanted. So they called a couple of the other stores in the area and found the fabric in Kentucky. Road trip!!! We got the fabric, stopped in to see my sister and I got to do the bath thing with my nephew and then we got ice cream and came back to my house.

Here is a picture of Jennifer with three of her blocks and the quilt from EQ7. We should be able to get the top put together tomorrow. I am doing the grunt work and Jennifer is doing the sewing.

In stitches,

Judy