Design Wall Monday

Here is the rag quilt I started yesterday for my nephew for Christmas. All I have to do is finish the snipping of each block and the washing and drying of the quilt. This is all I did yesterday! I should have the snipping by the end of the week.  I also finished another shopping bag. Stop by Judy L's blog to see the awesome quilts on everybody else's design wall.

In stitches,
Judy

Weekend Wrap Up

The rag quilt for my nephew is all sewn together. It looks kind of small but then he is only 5 and a little guy. I am going to spend my evenings this week snipping all the squares and then a trip to the laundromat to wash and dry the quilt. It shoud be ready for it's final pictues by next weekend. I will put a picture tomorrow for the Design Wall Monday.

I am going to stop at JoAnn's one night this week to purchase more fabric but it too,  for a Christmas present. Since we have drawn names for Christmas with my family that is all I can say about the project. No pictures of the finished quilt until Christmas. But I will post a picture of the fabric.

I need to get ready for bed. I have a piece of chicken in my crock pot for lunch tomorrow. I am cooking it with my homemade spaghetti/pizza sauce. I also have a can of green beans to go with it.  I also will be taking a coffee cake to work for the gal who sits next to me. She has been off for a week to take care of her daughter who had her tonsils out a week ago. The coffee cake needs a glaze which I will mix up and take with me.

In stiches,
Judy

Stash Report

Christmas is coming and I went out yesterday and bought fabric for a rag quilt that I wanted to make for my nephew. I am off by 1/3 of a yard to have enough to complete the quilt. I have been sewing but until I completely finish something I do not count it. That makes me accountable to finish things!!!

Used this Week: 0 yds
Used year to Date: 48.875 yards
Added this Week: 6 yards
Added Year to Date: 67.5 yards
Net Used for 2010: -18.625 yards
 
Check out Patchwork Times to see how Judy L is doing with her stash busting.
 
In stitches,
Judy

Saturday's trip to JoAnn's

I worked 8 hours today. Only 3.5 hours were overtime since I went home early on Wednesday to doctor the kidney stone. Of course, there is a JoAnn's right by work and all I needed was some elastic for the handles of my shopping bags. It should have been a quick in/out trip. But it wasn't. Christmas is coming and I am getting ready to make a rag quilt for my nephew. He is 5. Flannel was on sale and I picked these pieces for the beginnings of the rag quilt. I am going to cut the squares and use them as "leaders and enders" to sew the "X" on each pair of squares.

Here is the blue flannel for the back of the quilt along with the elastic for shopping bag handles.

The holiday stuff is coming out. Here are 4 stars that I found in a box of Christmas picks. I am going to add them to the patriotic decorations in my hasket on my front door.

And lastly, I need a new belt. My pants seem to be going south, so I am going to make a belt tomorrow so my pants will stay put.

In stitches,
Judy

One more tote bag....

almost. I needed to stop sewing before I made any more mistakes. It is a quilt as you go project and mine would have been if I had remebered to add the backing to the piece before I started sewing. I have added the backing and with about 30 minutes of sewing tomorrow I will finish another tote bag. I am going to sort my strips into three piles. Pink in one pile, purple in another pile and every thing else. I am making a pink one for a gal at work and purple will be for my mom. My sisters will get everything else.

In stitches,
Judy

A Hike in the Woods

The humidity has taken a vacation and it was just beautiful outside today. I decided to take a walk at Sharon Woods, yet another park in the Hamilton County Park District. I called a gal I used to work with and we took a walk together and caught up on each other's lives. It was nice.

Of course, without much rain we end up with very little water movement and lots of this yucky, scummy, green stuff in all the waterways at the park.

But here is one brave, little waterfall. I hope to get back here in the fall to see the leaves and hope there will be more water going over the waterfalls.

Tomorrow is sewing with Jennifer.  She will be alternating between her Grandmother's Flower Garden and ironing for my tote bags. She really does enjoy ironing and she all gets samples of my stash.

In stitches,
Judy

Tote Bag

The kidney stone sent me home from work today. I had plans with my sister, Becky, tonight so I came home and doctored my kidney stone so we could keep our appointment. But I was feeling a bit better and was able to finish my tote/shopping bag. I am going to made a few for myself to haul my groceries home in. It turned out the way I thought it would. But for some reason it killed about 4 needles. Oh well!! I forgot to put the interior pockets on, but there will more bags and more pockets!!

In stitches,
Judy

Tote Update

Nothing new to report on the tote. Overtime overruled sewing last night. After doing a ten hour day yesterday, sewing had no big appeal. No sewing before work as I was sleeping. But I am hoping to get back on track. And this morning the kidney stone is rearing it's ugly head! Yipee!!

A shot of one of Hamilton County's park over the weekend. It was hot and humid as normal for our corner of Ohio. But today the humidity is gone and it will barely hit 80 or so the weatherman says.

In stitches,
Judy

Tote Bag Today

I am up early yet again today and decided I could start on a tote bag for me. I am going to make on for each of my sisters and my mom, so I really need to get started. I do not have a pattern so I am making it as I go along. In my mind's eye I can see it all finished and it looks great! Here is what I have so far.

It needs some more work and I am hoping to do that tonight. I should be able to finish it tonight. Look for more pictures!

In stitches,
Judy

Monday Design Wall

I was not going to post tonight because I had nothing on my design wall. I went to our small quilt group meeting tonight and came home with these blocks. I think there are about 24 blocks and I like the on point setting. I am thinking of adding a sashing and border. Yet another UFO to add to the list. Check out Judy's blog to see what is on everyone else's design walls.

In stitches,
Judy

Monday

Everyone can use a tote bag/shopping bag and I am no exception. An idea for a bag has been living in my brain all weekend and this week I am going to let it out. I am going to use some of the 2.5" strips that are living in the bin under my sewing table. It will be scrappy but functional and fun. Hopefully there will be a picture by the end of the week.

In stitches,
Jufy

Stash Report

I started and finished something this weekend!! A new reversible table runner and it is on my dining room table right now. Check out Judy L's blog and see what everyone else is up to.


Used this Week: 1 yds
Used year to Date: 48.875 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 61.5 yards
Net Used for 2010: -12.625 yards
 
 
In stitches,
Judy

Wrap up of Friday Night Sew In

I finished something!!! I started a table runner for my dining room table and I finished it. It is on my table at this time. Jennifer joined me for Friday Night Sew In and she started and finished her project before she went home. Go to  Friday Night Sew In and see what everyone accomplished.

In stitches,

Judy

Friday Night Sew In

Don't forget that tonight is Friday Night Sew In.  I have my project picked out and my fabric has been located in the messy sewing room. My friend, Jennifer will be joining me for dinner and night of sewing. We are going to be making table runners. Hers will be scrappy to put on a table in her sewing room and mine will be planned to match my dining room. It will compliment my curtains. It will look good on the table for Thanksgiving.

In stitches,
Judy

Another no sew day

Today is yet another no sew day, but I did some cooking. I have made some homemade pizza crust and homemade sauce. It was good for dinner tonight. I also made some slaw.

I have found a new project to start for the Friday night Sew In  It will be a table runner using the fabrics that match my dining room. It is a sew as you go project. Jennifer is coming over for dinner and sewing. I will set up the second sewing machine and we will both be doing this project. It will be fun.

In stitches,
Judy

No sew Monday

I decided to take a walk at the local park today after work instead of sewing. The humidity in this part of Ohio had finally broken and it was a delightful day for walking. Of course, when I go walking I always take my camera  because you never know what you will find.

I came home and fixed Jennifer's favorite meal. Including a baked potatoe with onions. "Hi Jennifer" and then some work around the house and some time on the computer to check out what every one else is up to on my favorite blogs.

And another one of my quilts from an earlier time. This one is hanging at my mom's. She loves purple and I hand quilted using purple thread.

And here is one for the season quickly approaching. I made this for a raffle at work and I wish I could remember which magazine this came out of so I can do it again. I just love Snowmen!!!


In stitches,
Judy

Friday Night Sew In Alert

The August Friday Night Sew In is this Friday, August 20th. I am sure everyone has something to finish or something to start for this event. I am going to work on a wall hanging for my hallway, using my 30's prints and some pinwheels. I think I can do it from start to finish in one weekend!!

In stitches,
Judy

Stash report

Trying to pass this kidney stone has helped my stash report. I am not getting out to buy fabric and that is good. I am also not sewing because I am in too much pain. That is the down side of the kidney stone. I am getting bits of things done in the sewing room. I have stuff to move out of the sewing room closet in order to convert it to my home office. There is a big chance I will soon be working from home!!! The car purchase is on hold for right now.

Used this Week: 0 yds
Used year to Date: 47.875 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 61.5 yards
Net Used for 2010: -13.625 yards
 

Check out Judy L's blog to see how others are doing with their stashes!!!
 
In stitches,
Judy

Brown Bag Quilt Contest

I have been reading the posts at Stash Manicure with lots of interest. I am always looking for ways to use my stash. Every day there is guest blogger who shares her ways of using her stash. Or ways to store the stash. It is incredible.

I am into doing challenges and there is a challenge starting on Stash Manicure on September 1st. It is called Brown Bag Quilt Contest and you can sign up now. Something new to start once summer is over. I should have my sewing space organized by then and I will be ready for something new and exciting!!

In stitches,
Judy

Summer storms

The weather here in Ohio has been hot and humid. And that is triggering thunderstorms. But it is not getting rid of the humidity. It is something you have to live with if you live in this part of Ohio.

The kidney stone has not moved much since yesterday. I did my errands this morning and put 7 bean soup in the crock pot for dinner and have been resting with my pain pills. No sewing was done today. I am getting ready to crawl back into bed and call it a night.

Here is a picture of some of my finished quilts that Jennifer photographed last night. I am trying to get everything photographed and then I can add them to my blog so everyone can see them.

In stitches,
Judy

Friday night fun

Jennifer was here tonight for our regular Friday Night Sewing Time. She did sew but I did not. The kidney stone from yesterday has still not passed so I was in no mood for sewing. But we did take pictures of most of the quilts that I have made and are still here at the house. And pictures of the quilt tops!!!

We had a good dinner of homemade pulled pork BBQ from one of the nights of my crock pot cooking. We also had fresh corn on the cob and some brocolli.  And popsicles for dessert but there were no takers for dessert.

I have found a new project to hand piece but I cannot find my little ruler for making the seam allowances and I cannot find a pencil. I will put that on my list for my shopping in the morning.

Of course, the evening would not be complete without putting something in the crock pot. More soup. 7 Bean Soup. I have to finish gathering the ingredients. I am trying to fill my tiny freezer and then no cooking after work. More time to sew!!!

In stitches,
Judy

Organizing

I am trying to organize my sewing space and that alone is a big job. So every few moment I am slaving away in my sewing. This morning it is the magazine mess. I am putting the whole magazine in 3 ring binders with these.

The next project is to pare down the magazines. I love getting and looking at magazines for inspiration, but there are some magazines that have absolutely nothing that floats my boat in them. Those are being asked to leave the sewing space. There are too many patterns that are free on the internet and I have EQ7 and lots of books. I should be able to find a pattern when I am ready to start something new.

I made soup last night in my quest to cook in the crock pot overnight. I used a pre-packaged soup mix from our local Amish store that had some kind of pasta, yellow lentils, and split peas in it. To that I added carrots, onions, tomatoes, ham, garlic, and water. It cooked all night on low (not warm) and it smells so good. I am trying to get it cooled down so it can go in the refrigerator while I am at work. I will take a bowl with me to work.  I am not sure what is going in the pot tonight if anything.

In stitches,
Judy

Kidney stones suck!!

This is what we found on the front window of the office this morning. Some of the biggest Praying Mantises we had ever seen. I thought you might be interested in them.

The new medicine still is messing with my life.  I have a huge amount of energy, not sleeping much and last night I had leg cramps. Yuck!!! And if that wasn't bad enough, a kidney stone is on the move. I have a bunch of little ones in both kidneys and today one is on the move. I worked all day long and it was not fun. I stopped at the store after work and it got worse. I ate a light dinner and took something for the pain and ususally it makes me sleepy, not a chance today. I am starting to wind down now and I will take another pill for the pain and turn in.

Today was the day I gave Shannon the quilt for her daughter, Bailey. She was so excited!! Here is a picture of her and the quilt. The black and white is skull and crossbones with pink bows on the skulls and that is the backing.

In stitches,
Judy

No sewing today

No sewing done tonight. I did get a lot done today yet again, thanks to the new medication. I am still not sleeping as much at night. I did cook again last night and the chili is in the freezer. I have a hunk of pork in the crock pot with a homemade rub on it and a bunch of onions. I am hoping for pulled pork BBQ in the morning. I am still learning about my crock pot. I cooked the chili last night on "warm". I am glad it was just chili and did not need any real cooking. Tonight I am using low.

I am delivering Bailey's quilt tomorrow. I spoke to her mom after work today and she is so excited. I hope Bailey gets to use the quilt. I have a lead on another quilt a different gal at work wants. Something to display the ribbons her daughter won while competing with her horse. And two quilts for Christmas. One will be a flannel rag quilt for my nephew. I need to start collecting boy type flannel. I gave his sister one and now he wants one, too. It should be a piece of cake to do. Mine is full/queen and his will be much smaller.

It rained here today and I did not have to go out and water my meager garden. Most of it is dead. And a lot did not get planted. There is always next year. I seem to have big plans but little time. Of course, we did bunches of overtime this spring and most of summer. It looks like they may not need volunteers for Saturday. Oh darn, I will have to stay home and sew. I have a new idea roaming around in my brain. I am going to take some measurements and start cutting and sewing. Perhaps it will be done by the time the weekend is over. I will keep you posted.

I am going to go and try and get some sleep. Most days I am up by 5 so I had better lay down now.

In stitches,
Judy

Look what I made

It's a clothespin bag to corral my clothespins. I have two rather short lines in my basement and I have clothespins clipped all over those two lines. I have to move the pins every time I hang something on the lines. My dryer door is bent and I have to jerry rig it to keep it closed. Saying that, I use the dryer very little and hang everything on the lines except for towels which are in the jerry rigged dryer at this time.

I am on new medicine and it is not allowing me to sleep at night. I have been up since 4am and it is almost 10pm and I am still going strong. I got up this morning and cut some 30's prints and made some pinwheels using thangles and took out all the trash. I am going upstairs to lay down and hope that sleeps comes. I can always come down here and sew in the morning.

I have been cooking at night in my crock pot and tonight will be no different. I am going to put on a pot of chili before I go to bed. I am trying to fill the freezer for winter so I can concentrate on sewing and still have good dinners.

In stitches,
Judy

Weekend wrap up

I just finished a 4 day weekend and I did accomplish quite a lot. I finished two projects, started cleaning the sewing room and the unfinished side of the basement,  did some cooking, and spent time with friends and family.

The Winter Olympic table runner is finished. I put the last stitches in the binding at the concert on Saturday night. It was a project some one had given me and all I had to do was add the batting and backing. I also did the hand quilting on it.

I finished the quilt for Bailey. 72 pairs of squares. Based on the Memory game for children. Mom and dad will be able to put Bailey on the quilt and have her locate the matching square for whatever square they pick. 

The sewing room was horrid. But with some work by myself and Jennifer it is starting to look much better. I am starting to carpeting. The unfinished side of the basement is starting to take shape. I have been in the house for almost 3 yrs and I found a couple of boxes that need unpacking. I did empty several over the weekend and bagged up 3 bags of trash and junk. Yeah!!

I went shopping on Friday after the mechanic hooked up my AC in my car. He had unhooked the AC so I could get some lukewarm heat this past winter, but with all my overtime at work I was unable to get back to the mechanic for the AC fix. It is awesome to have AC in these warm days of summer in Ohio. I bought a racy red crockpot. I had contacted Rival after my lid for my crockpot cracked. They do not seem to make replacemet lids for crockpots that are 30 years old. Mine was a wedding present in 1979. The marriage lasted for only 19 years. I have been cooking up a storm with the new crockpot. I have made homemade spaghetti sauce for my freezer and home made beef stew for the gals at work today. Tonight before going to bed I will put in meatless chili. I am trying to build up my freezer so I won't have to cook dinner and give myself more time for sewing after work.

I went to a concert in DeVoue Park in Kentucky on Saturday night to hear the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra. They did 60's music. It was a very nice evening of music and very low humidity. Almost sweater weather.  That is where I finished the binding on my table runner and sewed up the big hole in my bag for my chair in a bag.

The next project in the sewing room is to cut out more 30's prints for several projects. 6" squares for Scrappity-do-dah from McCall's America Makes Fast Quilts. From each piece I am also cutting a 2.5" strip and adding a bleached muslin piece to make pinwheel blocks using Thangles. I would like to make a smallish wall hanging for my living room and a much bigger wall hanging to put over my bed. I need 440 six inch blocks for the quilt so I cut when I can. I am not sure how many blocks I have so far. I keep collecting 30's prints whenever I am out and about.

Stash report

I actually finished two projects this weekend and am able to report better numbers for my stash. I will have pictures and a wrap up of my weekend progress tomorrow. I am so ready for bed.

Used this Week: 6.5 yds
Used year to Date: 47.875 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards
Added Year to Date: 61.5 yards
Net Used for 2010: -13.625 yards
 
Check out Judy L's  blog to see what else is going on. Especially since she now has interent access.
 
In stiches,
Judy

Progress Made

It is early Sunday morning, the last day of my four day weekend and I have gotten quite a bit of  stuff done. I have been cleaing up my sewing room. I am starting to see patches of carpeting. Jennifer came over after work on Friday and she helped me with cleaning of the sewing room.  Yeah!!! I also did so sewing. I have about a dozen squares to quilt on the quilt for Bailey (the girl from work) and I finally finished the Winter Olympic table runner. Pictures will follow tomorrow.

I went to hear the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra in DeVoue Park. Music from the 60's was on tap for the concert. It was wonderful and the weather was enjoyable. Low humidity. But that won't last, not here in Ohio.

I am going to bed now.

In stitches,
Judy

2 more days

I am counting down to my four day weekend. I have two more days of work. Yesterday we were pulled out of training because business needs dictated that we all work on faxes. Almost 1000 in the box. I opted out of the training room and back to my desk where all my favorites were stored. I stayed all afternoon and it was nice to be back. No telling what today will bring.

Last night was guild meeting and we had a wornderful speaker, Klaudeen Hansen. She was simply delightful. And she brought many of her Amish quilts with her. I did a little bit of quilting on a Christmas cheater panel. I love hand pieceing but have nothing to work on at this time. I am coming home tonight to work on my project already in the sewing machine.

In stiches,
Judy

Design Wall Monday

My design wall is a clean slate waiting for the next great masterpiece. Things are rattling around in my mind but have not made it to the wall yet. I have been cutting several things out but who wants to see a pile of squares and a few thangles. So maybe next week something will arise from all of this cutting and become the next great masterpiece.

Tonight is guild meeting and alas nothing for show and tell again. Big plans don't count. Maybe October. We don't meet in September because of Labor Day, perhaps I just need a little more time. It is time to start sewing for Christmas. I am making a quilt for someone for Christmas. I was thinking about that yesterday and starting to work on a design. Actually, I know what the design is, I just need to figure out how to do it. Think applique!! Pictures will follow.

Gotta get ready for work. Three more days of training for me. I am off Thursday and Friday. A friend is coming from out of town for a few days!! No sewing then.

In stitches,
Judy

It's almost done!!

I have been trying for almost a week to machine quilt for the gal at work. I had hoped to have it finished to take to our guild meeting tomorrow night for show and tell. Not happening. I am trying to get to bed earlier, so I am not going to push the envelope and finish tonight. I ended up working five hours of overtime today and that put me behind in my quilting. I should be able to finish it this week. I am only working three more days this week.

In stiches,
Judy

Stash report

Not much to report this week. I bought backing for the Feedsack quilt and gave away some fabric. Next week should be better. I am taking a few days off  from  work and should have some sewing time.

Used this Week: 2 yds
Used year to Date: 41.375 yards
Added this Week: 3.5 yards
Added Year to Date: 61.5 yards
Net Used for 2010: -20.125 yards
 
After I finish coloring my hair, I am off to work. System errors yesterday means still more work to be done before Monday morning!! Check out Patchwork Times to see how others are fairing this first Sunday in August.
 
In stitches,
Judy