Where to begin

I would like to say that I have been sewing so much that there was no time for blogging. But that is not the case. Mostly real life has put my sewing on the back burner. I have cut out several things for Elly's summer wardrobe. It is such fun to sew for a little girl. I sewed for my boys, but they did like wearing dresses!

I am getting to be the queen of bartering. I bartered yard work for a baby quilt. The quilt is done but I am still waiting on my yard work. I have bartered another quilt for a Kindle Fire. I have the Kindle Fire, just waiting on my niece to decide about a quilt. I now have bartered for my grass cutting. My new neighbor will be glad to cut my yard, if I let him use my mower and he can then cut his yard, too. He has a lousy mower and mine is great.

My sister, Karen, and I are doing a project a month. My May project is Elly's summer wardrobe. My June project is to finish the rag quilt for my nephew's birthday. He will be two at the end of June. The blocks are cut but that is all. And everyone should be working with flannel in June. In July we are doing Christmas. I have a Lil Twister pattern ready to go and I want to pin baste my Christmas quilt and start hand quilting. And I am churning out crocheted dish cloths. I do them while I am waiting for my callers to find the information I need to do their Prior Authorizations. A good week I can do 5-6. So if you see me coming watch out, I just might offer you a crocheted dish cloth.

Time to go to Hobby Lobby and get some lace to put on edges of Elly's dresses. I will post pictures of the wardrobe once Elly has them in New York. I want her mommy to see them in person before they show up on the blog.

In stitches,
Judy

Busy, busy

I can finally say that I have been sewing and that makes me happy. I have been hand stitching the binding on several quilts! One is going to my sister and the others will be going to guild meeting with me on Monday.
I have a request to make several walker bags to hand out at the nursing home where my mom did her rehab after her fall. Many, many tease ago I made a walker bag for my grandma. After she passed I got the bag back. When Mom fell, I redid the bag adding purple straps and purple buttons. Now mom's sister in law is sporting the bag.
In stitches,
Judy

Many plans, not much done!

I had such big plans for my weekend and not much was finished. I took down the fabric I had swagged over my living room windows. Don't take down dusty swags minutes before you are to log in and take customer calls. Not a good idea!! I was coughing and clearing my throat for better part of an hour after that. Each window swag was 10 yards of fabric. I will be able to get two self lined panels out of each ten yard piece. I bought rings at JoAnn's today and now I am ready to make the new curtains for my living room. 

I have found a shoebox full of 3 inch nine patch blocks in my basement. I have an idea in my head how to use these for a quilt. I am still trying to use the stuff on hand. And boy is there a lot of stuff here. 

I am finally caving into the hexie craze. Many, many years ago I started a paper pieced Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt. At the time I started this quilt I was making it for a king sized water bed. I have a much smaller bed now and I am thinking about working on it again. I have gathered all of my supplies together and I guess I will start working on it again.

I did get my front yard cut. I was not going to do the back yard until today but it has rained on and off most of the day and it is too wet to cut. I also want to start some Moon Flower seeds. I am planning to use some in the back yard by the deck and some in the front yard near the porch. These only bloom at night. 

I was going to bind the three quilts that need binding by next weekend. But they are still sitting on the floor in the living room.  

In stitches,
Judy
   

New Toy

I have a new toy. I think it's going to get me in trouble. I am the proud owner of a Kindle Fire.
No sewing was done yesterday. I have picked up the quilt that I am going to deconstruct and make it into two table cloths. These are supposed to be my April projects. Looks like they are moving to May.
In stitches,
Judy

making progress

I am excited today, I am sewing on baby quilts! I like it when the prep work is done. I cut fabric on Saturday and it has paid off.
I have started dinner already. it is cooler out today and I have black  bean chili in the crock pot.

Time to get ready for work! No more sewing now, but I will bring out the crocheting. Time to work on some dish cloths.
In stitches,
Judy

Sewing

Today was my day off and I got busy quilting first thing in the morning. I have finished quilting another charity quilt. It does need the binding and I will attach that on Tuesday morning. I will then start on the next two quilts. They are both in the same color family so I will be able to chain piece them. I have found a panel in my stash that will work for the fourth quilt I need to make to get caught up with monthly charity quilt quota. I am hoping to finish 12 this year and I am behind.

I was also able to pick up 3 hours of overtime this evening. I only had to take a couple of calls in order to get the phone line shut down. I signed up to do faxes, but I usually get pulled to do phone calls. And I did.

In stitches,
Judy

Updates

Things have been moving along nicely. I have successfully changed the light bulb in my sewing machine twice. The first bulb was a dud and I had to repeat it all over again.

I have finished quilting the baby quilt and now I need to stitch down the binding. 

 
The yard looks a 100% better now that my sister, my mom, Vincent, Lily, and Neil came to work on it. I am bartering with my sister for more yard work from her crew and I am making a baby quilt for her to give as gift.

 
I will not be starting a table cloth for my sister in law. Instead I will cut up the quilt top and make it into two table cloths. I have several patterns in mind to use my 30's prints and make a quilt for my bed.

I spent a good portion of yesterday, while tethered to my work phone, cutting out fabric for several baby quilts, piecing a backing, and pin basting another baby quilt. I am 4 quilts behind for my goal of 12 quilts for 2013. I am hoping to make some good progress this week. 


Off to walk with my mom and my sister and then home to the sewing machine.

In stitches,
Judy     

Almost Done

I am almost done machine quilting the baby quilt. I have gotten a new light bulb for my sewing machine. Now I just have to get back in the machine. But the baby quilt is still attached to the machine, so once I am done with the machine quilting, I will replace the light bulb. 

Next up, is another baby quilt and then cut out the pieces for my sister in law's table cloth. 

This is the pattern I will be using for the table cloth and

this is one of the blocks already finished. 


In stitches,
Judy  

Tuesday

I am definitely making progress. I have finished the zippers except for picking out my basting threads. I have taken out the dead light bulb out of sewing machine, but it a Bernina machine and I need a Bernina bulb. So I am sewing under the light on my ceiling fan. I have got one of the baby quilts pin basted and almost completely machine quilted. I need to get the second one pin basted so it ready to go when I finish the one I am working on.

Last night at guild we had Anita Grossman Soloman speak. She is a hoot and her program was very interesting. I can see her book on Rotary cutting coming to my house very soon. She is in town for the International Quilt Festival in Cincinnati. Sadly, I will not be able to attend. I work second shift and that pretty much precludes me for attending. Of course, I really do not need any more fabrics, patterns, or books so it is a good that I am staying home!!

In stitches,
Judy

Progress

I am making progress on the zippers from the previous post, in fact they are done. Of course, it took most all day and I did not get any other sewing done because the light bulb on my sewing machine has died. It has to be changed at the shop, so when I go and get my taxes this week, I will stop in the shop and get that taken care. I have to piece the backings for the baby quilts and I will run up and do that now and then in the morning I can start quilting them. Meandering. I still think I can get them done in time for the guild meeting. Wish me luck!! It is so nice to have the zippers done and now I am able to get to real sewing!!

 In stitches,
Judy

Missing

I am missing my quilting time. I have a project for my neighbor I am doing and I am about ready to pull out my hair, one strand at a time!! I am replacing zippers in two jackets and the only seam ripper I own is dull!! I am getting up in the morning and going to JoAnn's to get several seam rippers. Tomorrow I am definitely going to get this project finished. I have to baby quilt tops ready to be quilted. Monday night is our guild meeting and I want to have both of these quilts done to turn in for our service project. I am trying to do one quilt each month. I missed February and March meetings and so I am three quilts behind. 

I also have fabric to start on Elly's summer wardrobe. It is so much fun to sew for little girls!! 

This is a picture of Elly at Easter. She is now 7 months old and I made her dress.  Her visit was just too short. 

In stitches,
Judy 

Sewing Mojo

I think my sewing mojo is back. And that is a good thing. I need to busy on Elly's Easter dress. Looks like I am going to be able to shop from stash for dress fabric and from my stash of patterns for a dress pattern. Years ago, I sewed for my god child, Lily. I collected lots of patterns for little girls in various sizes. And as a true quilter, I never throw anything away. After all, I might need that some day!! 

So this afternoon and evening in between calls at work I will replace the zippers in two jackets for my neighbor and cut out the dress for  Elly. I may need to get some lace for the bottom of the skirt, but I will have to figure that out once the dress is done. 

And I think I need a new purse. I am using the black bag I made just before Christmas and I need something new and fun!! I have a huge amount of bag patterns, but I will just grab some fabric from the upstairs stash and go from there. I will decide one a size, grab a zipper, and go from there. I will post tomorrow evening with the results of my sewing weekend. 

In stitches,
Judy  

Still no sewing

Still no sewing done here. I am fighting with a head cold and not giving into it, but not the least bit motivated to sew. I do need to start Elly's Easter dress. They will be here next Friday and the dress is still just a thought. The house also needs cleaning and menus planned. Lots to do and not much time. 

Spring is here in Ohio and I woke up to a dusting of snow on the ground and cold temperatures. The sun is out but that can be so deceiving. The outlook is for more cold weather. 

I have purchased some seeds and want to start them but I will not do that until after the Brooklyn people leave. I do not need a bunch of seed pots cluttering the house. If I cannot dig in the dirt outside, I can at least dig in the dirt in my dining room. I have lots of grand ideas for the yard this summer, but we shall see where that goes. I need to get my lawn mower fixed. First I need to drain out some of the gas before transporting it to the repair shop. Never a dull moment around here!!

In stitches,
Judy

  

 

Stuff

It is hard to believe that it is middle of March, where has all the time gone? I have been working a bit of overtime and that is cutting into my sewing time. I had wanted to make a baby quilt a month for our guild's service project. Not happening, yet, but I have plan. I want to have 12 done by December, so I still have some time left. 

I actually went to JoAnn's today and bought nothing. Amazing. I have looked at dress patterns for Elly's Easter dress but until patterns go on sale, I will not be buying a pattern. I have to look at the patterns I havc left over from my sewing days for Lily, my god child and see if I don't have something that works. 

I will be having company for Easter. My kids and grandbaby are coming from Brooklyn. Yeah!! This will be the first opportunity for Ohio family to meet Elly. It is a shame that my sister, Karen, in Georgia will not be here for Easter. 

My March project is to make a tablecloth for my sister in law. It is a pattern that I have done before, using some of my stash of  30's prints. My aim is to have the top done by the end of the month and the quilting done next month.

In stitches,
Judy
   

Where has all the sewing time gone?

It is Sunday night and where has the sewing time gone? I had big plans for making a Kid's Komfort quilt for our guild meeting tomorrow night and it is still just 20 strips. That is enough for two quilts. I am off on Mondays and the only thing I have to do is get the tags for my car. I am planning on sewing and hopefully get one quilt done for the guild meeting.


It looks like I will be having company for Easter. My kids, grandbaby, and grand dog will be coming for a visit. I am so excited. I am going to be making Elly's Easter dress and bonnet. I have gotten several linen hankies from my sister, Karen and I am making a bonnet from one of them and matching it to the Easter dress. 

My project for March is going to be a quilted tablecloth for my sister in law's banquet table. I am using a pattern I have used in the past and using 30's prints. 

In stitches,
Judy

Sewing Time

Today I will get some sewing time. I am going to be working on a flannel rag quilt for my nephew. Time to sew the front squares to the back squares. 80 of them. I am getting a jump on things with this quilt. It is a birthday gift and his birthday is in June. Yeah!!

Also working on Kid's Komfort quilts for the guild meeting in March. I need to have two done by the first Monday in March. It is a personal goal for me. I have finished the project for February that my sister and I are encouraging each other to do. Mine was my continuing education, hers is a collage. Hers is almost done.

In stitches,
Judy 

Just Stuff

It has been awhile since I last posted. I am happy to say I finished all my Continuing Education for the re-certification of my Pharm Tech certificate. That was my February project. I have been doing some cutting and sewing but not for same project. I have completed the Christmas quilt top for my bed and cut out 180 7" squares for the rag quilt for my nephew. Some of the fabric was a gift from my sister, some came out of my stash and I only had to buy one yard!! Next in line are two Kid's Komfort quilts for our guild's charity project. I am trying to finish one a month for each guild meeting. February I was in Georgia the night of the meeting. Of course, in Ohio we were having yucky weather and the meeting was cancelled! So I get a little extra time.

Work is picking up a bit and now they are offering overtime again. It is strongly encouraged for the work at home people to do overtime. I did 5 hours last night into this morning. Mondays are my day off and I had already crammed quite a bit of stuff into the day. I had hoped to sew last night but life is what happens when you make other plans.

In stitches,
Judy

No sewing for me

I really wanted to sew this week,  but it is time to work on my continuing education for Pharmacy Technician certification, It is not due until the end of next month, but I want to get it out of the way!

I have decided to make my nephew's quilt 8 rows across and 10 rows down a total of 160 squares including both the front and back. I have a little over 50 squares cut so far. I have found a few pieces in my stash. I like that option best.

I still have two Kid's Komfort quilts to make this month. One for the February guild meeting and one for the March meeting. These quilts are coming out of my stash. Yeah!!

My sister and I both finished our January projects. She did a drawing and I did my nightgown. She is working on a collage for February and I am working on my continuing education for February. Not nearly as creative as I could be but important just the same. I have several ideas roaming around in my brain for March. So many ideas so little time!!

In stitches,
Judy

Stuff

I have made good progress on the Villa quilts the Villarama fund raiser. In fact, they are both done! But I do not plan on doing this type of marathon quilting any time soon. I have never finished two quilts in ten days. The quilt tops were pieced when I got them, I only had to pin baste them, quilt them and bind them. As soon as I get pictures of them I will post them.

My sister found a quilt shop near Atlanta and we are going there today. Yeah!! Not looking for anything special, but I sure something will come home with me. So far I have shopped my sister's stash of stuff. I have her scraps of flannel from her lastest rag quilt and the neutral gender ones I will use for our nephew's rag quilt, scrap book paper for a project I found on Pinterest, leather sample squares~~ project already finished~~, and linen hankerchiefs to make a bonnet for Elly. And of course, the few purchases I have already made. So far, no fabric. At least not yet.

I am thinking that this might be the next quilt I am going to finish. It needs a border and to be quilted. It is certainly bright and cheery. Just what I will need in Ohio. It is going to be hard to say good bye to my sister and her hubby and the 70 degree weather when I leave on Sunday!

In stitches,
Judy

Vacation

I am officially on vacation. I left on Sunday from Ohio where it was 15 degrees and snowing and there was snow on the ground. I arrived in Georgia and it was 58 degrees and sunny and no snow to be found. Yesterday was my regular day off and today we my first day of vacation. Today we went driving around the countryside taking in all the sights and taking a few pictures of the interesting things that are normal in Georgia. I have left my camera cord at home and I am not able to download any pictures today. Oh well!!

My sister and I are doing craft projects. She is snipping a rag quilt for her granddaughter and I am binding one of two quilts for Villarama, the fundraiser where my sister teaches at. I hope to have both of them finished and drop them at my sister's on my way home from vacation.

In stitches,
Judy