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

Getting Things Done

 

 

My computer has been under the weather for a while and it spent a week at my sister's boyfriend's house. It was cleaned and more memory was added. It is moving quite nicely now and I am quite happy. 

I have been sewing while my computer was down. I started and finished my flannel nightgown and have layered and quilted one of the two quilts for my sister's school fundraiser. I quilted two tops like these last year. I am hoping to get both of them quilted and the binding ready for the hand stitching so I can take them with me on my trip to Georgia next week, when I got to visit my other sister.

 I also made a charity quilt for our guild's service project. My plan is to make one quilt a month. Of course, I will not be home to go to February meeting so I will turn two in at the March meeting. Most of the blocks were left over from an earlier project. I did buy about 1/2 yard to complete the top and for the binding. I also bought some fabric for the backing.

In stitches,
Judy

 

Making Progress!

My computer is still sick. My sister and her boyfriend are coming on Sunday to fix it. Yea! I have been sewing on my Christmas quilt. Making good progress. Did not have enough block. Had to make 14 more blocks! I have 7 out of 12 strips made. Maybe tomorrow I will have the top finished. Want to make a back pack and my flannel night gown. It is supposed to be extremely cold next week.  The quilt tops from Villa Hills Academy should be here soon and ready for quilting! So many projects so little time!!

In stitches,
Judy

Tuesday

 I was able to get quite a bit of sewing done this weekend. But my computer is still down so there are no pictures to be found.
I am hoping to have my computer up and running again by this weekend.I am currently working on my Christmas quilt. On paper it seems like a good size in real life it seems a bit big.All the fabric is coming out  of my stash. Once the quilt is completely finished, I will be able to subtract it from my stash. I need too get busy!

In stitches,
Judy

Life

Happy and frustrated all rolled into one. The new monitor is lovely. But my computer is not working right now. Blogging on my smart phone is not  my favorite. I did finish a baby quilt this past week. No pictures until I get my computer fixed.Going to work on my Christmas quilt today.  Also crocheting a few dish cloths for fun. Using the stuff on hand. Did stop at Joann's for fabric for a specific project. Hope to finish it in time for the stash report tomorrow!

In stitches,

Judy

Stash Report

Better late than never. I am going to try and do this every week. I had to connect my new monitor and I did not do that until this afternoon, so no stash report yesterday. Judy L is the keeper of the stash report. Check it out!


Used this week:     4.5 yds
Used year to date: 4.5 yds
Added this week:   2.5 yds.
Added year to date: 2.5 yds.
Net Used for 2012:  2 yds.

Hey, I am ahead. Wow!!

In stitches,
Judy

Really?!!

I decided that I was going on a no buy diet in 2013. Right before Christmas I giftrd myself a new exhauzt system for my car. Yeah! This morning, I gifted myself a new monitor for my home computer! Oh well, it's only money and I cannot take it with me. I had done some overtime this week hoping to get ahead, but that is not going to happen!

I did finish cutting out my charity quilt and hope to start sewing on it if the phones settle down. If enough people get sent home in a call center, I will get back to back to back  calls! Lucky me.

In stitches, 

Judy

Using my Stash

I have decided that 2013 will be the year of the Stash. I am planning to whittle it down considerably this year. I was able to locate some more of the older Christmas fabric to add to the quilt I am working on. Also found several bigger pieces that will work for a pieced back. I would really like to put flannel on the back but there is not any in my stash. Oh well.

I found several pieces that will work for a nice kid's quilt for our guild's charity project. Our meeting is Monday night and my plan is to have a quilt finished to turn in at the meeting. I need to get busy on that front. Just need to decide on a pattern. Something quick and easy.

In stitches,
Judy

Moving right along

I had big plans to sew yesterday. I had to work and I knew we would not be busy and as long as I am tethered to my phone, I can sew. I was going to cut out my flannel nightgown on New Year's Eve and sew it up yesterday. That did not happen. I spent most of Monday in various airports and the grocery store once I got back to Ohio. I was too tired to do much of anything once I got home.

My goal in 2013 is to up my stash. I bought most of the fabric in my stash and at one point I must have liked it. So I am going to work at using the fabric that is living in my stash. There is not much money in my budget for new fabric.

First on the agenda is a Christmas quilt for my bed. It seems like starting in January is a good idea. Starting closer to Christmas is not a good idea. I found a bunch of 2.5" squares of Christmas fabric in a bag. I think they were cut out either just before or just after the divorce in 1997. I have also located the extra yardage in my stash. So I have started working on assembling the quilt.

Next will be a Christmas wall hanging for my living room using the Lil Twister ruler. I won some charm squares before Christmas and I will use them. The colors are more modern and I have found a piece of fabric in my stash for the border.

And the last thing on my list for January is a charity quilt for our guild's Kid's Komfort project. My goal is to finish and turn in a quilt every month we have a meeting. The January meeting is coming up on Monday and I want to have a quilt ready to turn in. I need to get busy!!

In stitches,
Judy

Counting down the hours

I am counting down the hours, I leave tomorrow to go back home to Ohio and leave my kids and my grand baby, Elly. She has grown and changed so much since my visit in October. She is almost 12 pounds and 24 inches long. She is now starting on teeth. I cannot wait for my next visit. Must get Skype set up. Soon!!

In stitches,
Judy
 

Stuff

It appears that there is snow at my house. I, myself, am in Brooklyn and it is dry here. I have seen pictures and listened to weather reports and spoke with my mom, who got 6 inches of snow, with more expected tonight.

I am having such fun in Brooklyn with my family. Elly is smiling a lot and starting to coo. I have been cooking bunches while I have been here. We did 3 different kinds of chickens for Christmas, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and chocolate raspberry truffle pie. Today I boiled the chicken bones with veggies to make chicken stock and in turn I will be making chicken soup with rice. And baking powder biscuits.

I have been thinking about what projects to start and what projects to finish in 2013. I know that my sister and I are trying to finish one project a month. I have decided for January to make my flannel night gown and flannel sleep pants as well as put my flannel quilt in the floor frame and start hand quilting it. I would like to do at least one charity quilt for Kids Komfort, our guild's charity quilt project. I would like to use as much of my stash in 2013 as humanly possible.

And of course, I will be dong some sewing for Elly. I have bunches of patterns that I can hardly wait to try out!

In stitches,
Judy

2012

Family

This is a picture of my Brooklyn family. Elly is wearing her Christmas dress. They had just decorated the Christmas tree. I am going to take a few more shots of Elly in her dress once I get there. Off to the left is my grand dog, Frankie. Usually she takes good picture but not at that moment!

In stitches,
Judy

Almost Done

It has been a very busy couple of days for me. I was almost done sewing and then I decided to add a couple of tiny things to my list. Elly is being baptized on Sunday, December 23rd. She will be the fourth generation to  be baptized in our dress. It needs a slip. We had one but it has been misplaced. So I have to make a slip. Not a problem. Elly needs a pretty bonnet for her Christening. I will be making a bonnet out of a man's hankie. My friend, Carlene sent me several examples of bonnets, some lace, ribbon, and hankies. I have gotten some different lace and some embellishments and I will be making a bonnet tomorrow.

I still need to do some laundry and pack. Gather some recipes for our Christmas dinner, wrap a few presents and work. I did get a shiny Christmas present for myself this year.

 A new exhaust system for my car. My mechanic said it was shiny when he installed it on Monday but I am sure it is no longer all that shiny. But my car no longer sounds like a hot rod and I am quite happy. Mine is the car on the right.

In stitches,
Judy

Surprise Sewing

I gifted the surprise sewing to my friend, Barb yesterday. She was so excited. The nightgown was a big hit! Everything else was appreciated, but by far the nightgown was the best.

I have almost finished the Christmas dress for Elly. The entire dress from top to bottom is 14" and it called for a 9" zipper. Really?!! Plan B is buttons and thread loops on the back and matching bigger button where the bodice meets the skirt. I will finish the dress today and get it in the mail. So she will have it in time for Christmas pictures.

Next up is the nightgowns. And they should be done by the weekend and then the quilt for Tania's dad. And some time I have to sneak in some shopping and a tad bit of wrapping. I really am right on schedule. And not a bit worried.



In stitches,
Judy

Sewing

 

It seems that for every project I have completed this month, I have gotten a new one to replace and just in for Christmas. I have finished a cozy flannel nightgown and a purple and yellow bag for my friend.I will post pictures of these tomorrow. I don't think Barb reads my blog, but I want to see her face when she opens the backpack. I will tell her it is packed with paper like they do in fancy stores.  I have Elly's Christmas dress cut out and I am putting it together tonight. I have three nightgown to finish for another friend. And I want to make a bonnet for Elly to wear to church for her Christening. Let's now add a quilted wall hanging. Nothing big, just a picture of Elly, border and some quilting. My son's in-laws are going to be sharing Christmas with us and her dad is enamored with my quilts and this quilt is her idea. I will run to JoAnn's and pick up photo transfer paper and to staples to get some more ink for my printer and get busy. I have loads of time, I leave on the 22nd of December. No pressure!!

This the most current picture of Elly. Seems my son was up quite late working and needed a nap. Elly was fine to keep him company but she was not going to nap!

In stitches,
Judy

Sewing

Yesterday I was able to get some of my surprise sewing done.And I marked more of my Christmas squares for my bow tie blocks. I cut out and sewed a hug for a friend. I call a cozy flannel nightgown a hug for a friend. It is all done except for the button holes and buttons which I will  finish in the morning. Then on to the purple and yellow scrappy tote bag for her. I have gotten the measurements from Elly's mommy and I will be starting on the Christmas dress this week. I am off tomorrow and I am having a friend  for dinner. She would like me to finish the nightgowns for her, her sister, and her niece. That is all of my Christmas sewing. I could be done by next weekend. Then I have a bit of shopping to do and some wrapping.

I spend the afternoon with my mom and my sister and I brought home my hand piecing project that I am still trying to find reasons not to finish. I left it in a drawer at my sister's when we celebrated Thanksgiving. I am going to be compiling a list of projects to finish in 2013 and that will be on it.

In stitches,
Judy

Surprise Sewing

I am meeting my friend from work on the 10th of December for lunch. We both work from home and we are both off on Mondays. So I am going to be a bit of sewing for her. I have located my nightgown pattern after some digging. I bought the fabric last year but time got away from me. And I have hoarded some purple and yellow fabrics to make a tote bag. I also have been asked by another friend to finish the sewing she started last year. Flannel nightgowns for herself, her twin sister, her daughter and her niece. The little girls will  have matching gowns and the big girls will have matching gowns that will co ordinate with the little girl's gowns. I am still waiting on the measurements for Elly's Christmas dress.

Elly wrapped in the afgan I crocheted for her daddy some 30 years ago!!

In stitches,
Judy

Wednesday

My Christmas sewing this year is meager. I am making Elly's Christmas dress. She is being baptized on December 23rd, and I am making a bonnet for her to wear to the church. She will be wearing the family gown. My mom wore it, all of her 6 kids, and most of her grand kids, and now her great granddaughter. I have a few ornaments I want to make for the tree in Brooklyn. Most years the kids are here and do not put up a tree. This year we will be in Brooklyn and they have very few ornaments. I have been haunting Pinterest for ornament ideas. I have have found a few that I am going to try and a few I want to do once I get there. I have a little shopping to do. And then I am done. I will put my tree up but it is small and I carry up and down from the basement. It is decorated and lighted. Just plug her it.

This is a picture of my son and his wife Tania. You can see my meager tree in the background. But it works for me and gifts end up on the floor around the tree!

In stitches,
Judy

Sunday

In stitches,
Judy

Welcome Home

Today I stopped and picked up my sewing machine. I am so glad to have it back. I have two other machines and I could have used either one of them to sew with, but the Bernina is my favorite.
I also took back the fabric for my grand daughter's Christmas dress. I had purchased red crushed panne and I exchanged it for cream crushed panne. I still need to get the measurements from my daughter in law and some kind of embellishment for the waist.

I also stopped in a quilt shop in my area. I had never been there and it was little hard to find. I found the back entrance and a sign on the front of the building. It was have been nice if either the sign or the gal I spoke to one the phone had mentioned they were on the lower level. My knees bother me and I went up and down the stairs twice first to the upper level and then to the lower level. I got this pattern. Looks like something I will start in 2013.

   I did get to do a little bit of sewing this afternoon. I made 6 dog scarves. Three of each color. My neighbor has three rescue dogs and they grace her Christmas card every year and need a new scarf every year. It is a quick and easy project to make.

In stitches,

Judy

Slow days

I worked on Thanksgiving and we were so slow. I marked a bunch of fabric for hand piecing, make homemade pizza sauce and homemade crust for my dinner, changed a light bulb on my front porch and I was tethered to my phone in case I got a phone. I ended up taking 10 calls in an eight period and four of them were hang up calls. Today was almost as bad, the bosses were sending people home right and left. I was one of the lucky ones that got to stay until the end of my shift. Finished marking my squares for my 3-D bow tie blocks and then started a stack of squares in case I decide I need more bow tie blocks. Saturday looks to be slow again, but my sewing machine is coming home from it's spa treatment tomorrow so I suppose I will be sewing. I have an order to make 6 dog scarves for my neighbor so I will work on them tomorrow afternoon and keep at it on the marking of my squares.

I am going to get the measurements of my grand baby, Elly, so I can start her Christmas dress. As a good quilter I rarely throw things out. I have the Christmas dress pattern I made for my god child many years ago and I am going to be using that pattern. I want to get it into the mail so they can get her Christmas pictures done.

In stitches,
Judy

Happy Thanksgiving

 

Judy

Busy work

Today is busy work Wednesday. I have done my dishes from last night, done a load of laundry, hung it on the lines in the basement. I have a dryer but rarely use it. The door does not stay shut and I have to jerry rig the door. I use the dryer for towels and that is about it. I also made my own fabric softemer . I have done this before but instead an expensive conditioner I use Suave Coconut Conditioner. It smells good and it is cheap. This weekend I am going to make Laundry Soap and Hand Creme. The pioneer spirit is alive and well in southern Ohio.

We have done our Thanksgiving celebration this past Sunday so there is no rushing around and cooking being done here tomorrow. I am working a different shift than normal so I will need to get to bed shortly after I get done this evening. But I am pretty sure that we won't be busy, so I am going to spend time making Christmas ornaments for my kids and marking the take along Christmas project. And I will take customer calls.

In stitches,
Judy

Stuff

The last few nights, I have had trouble sleeping and so I have been reading blogs and playing with mine. Not a good thing. The blog reading is fun and is giving me  bunches of ideas. Messing with my blog and it's layout is a very bad thing. I have this lovely new design and I hate it. I wanted a cute, pretty design and I cannot figure out how to get that one back. I cannot play anymore as it is almost time for me to fire up the work computer and take care of callers.

My take along Christmas project needs some work. Pieces were pinned together but not marked. There was not a good hard surface for marking. I can see that I have a bunch to do before I am able to make this the take along project. There was a bonus in the bag, yet another start of a project. With no direction or idea of what my intention was. Another "guess what I am" project. 

The car is fixed and back in my garage. The car has new front brakes, 4 new tires and an oil change. It took a good chunk of my savings, but it is only money and I cannot take it with me. Now I am waiting on my sewing machine and then all will be right with the world. 

 Had to share the picture of my son, Elly and Frankie {short for Francine} my grand dog and the "big sister". I heard that she had a bow on ear, but made quick work of it!!

In stitches,
Judy

Another project

I am spending my morning at the mechanics where my car will  be getting 4 new tires and an oil change. I will be waiting for my car and I need a project to work on.

 I found a project from several moves ago. I vaguely remember cutting a bunch of 2.5" squares from various Christmas prints. And I remember finding them in a bag but I cannot remember what I had planned for them. At least two years ago I thought about a wall hanging using 3-D bow ties and of course hand pieced. I a small amount finished and bunch marked and pinned for stitching. And a bunch of squares. So I have found my next take along project. I am excited about this one and I intend to finish for Christmas. It may not be this Christmas. And it may be a wall hanging or a throw for the couch. I just have to get busy and see where my needle takes me.

In stitches,
Judy

Vicious Circle

My sewing machine is in the shop for a much needed tune up and I miss it. So to pass the time in the evenings, I have been browsing quilt blogs. Checking out my favorites and reading new ones. Of course, I find new projects I want to start and then I remember my machine is in the shop! The vicious circle syndrome. So today I will start putting my dining room back together. Make it less of a sewing room and more of a dining room. I only have a couple of projects that need to be done for Christmas or before.

I am already looking towards 2013 and projects I would like to finish or start. I am thinking of doing one wall hanging a month. I have three places in my house right now where I hang quilts. A new wall hanging a month will give a chance to try out new techniques without tying me down to a larger quilt. I would like to quilt up some my tops.

It seems like an ambitious list for 2013 but seeing it in writing makes it more real. I think my sister, Karen, in Georgia will be joining me in making something every month in 2013. Hers probably won't be quilted but either drawn or painted as that is where her talent lies. We will be able to encourage each other. And hopefully we will do better on this challenge than we did on our last joint challenge. Or maybe we will finish our first challenge. Only time will tell.

In stitches,
Judy

That Project

We all have "that project", you know what I mean. That project that you find reasons not to finish. I have one of those projects. I should tell you that I love hand piecing and hand quilting. I have a hanger in my living room that needed a new wall hanging. I had found some bland scraps in the sewing room and I added some yellow fabric to it and made some unequal nine patch blocks. Four blocks across and five rows down, very simple. It has been over a year since I have started this simple project and I have to force myself to work on it. So yesterday I pulled it out yet again and worked on it. Saturdays are slow at work and I thought this would be the perfect project. All the blocks are sewn into rows and two rows were sewn to each other. And a third row was partially sewn to the two rows. I finished that row and partially sewed the fourth row. I was on a roll!! I have picked out the border fabric and I had dreams of starting the hand quilting. But today I took my little project with me to our Thanksgiving celebration at my sister's. And because I am trying to find reasons not to finish this project, my quilt project in tucked safely in drawer in my sister's house. I will see her in a couple of weeks and I will get my project back.

In stitches,
Judy

Friday

This is a picture of the quilt that I mailed to Brooklyn for Elly. It matches the bedding I have made for her co sleeper. I do not have pictures of the bedding for the co sleeper, I am waiting for pictures of it once it is on the co sleeper. The bumper pads are still on the back burner. They may or may not get made. The sewing machine is in the shop and should be home in about a week. Yeah!! I miss it already. Time to start cleaning.

Here is Elly sleeping peacefully under her new quilt. Right now she is hanging out on the guest bed while the co sleeper bedding is being put on the co sleeper. Pictures to follow I am sure.

In stitches,
Judy

Vacation

I know it must seem strange to talk vacation in November, but my vacation for 2013 has been approved and I will be visiting warm and sunny Georgia in February. I will be escaping the cold, dreary Ohio weather to spend some time with my sister, Karen. We tried to do this in September but it did not work out but it is set now and I cannot wait. She and her husband will not be joining us for Thanksgiving on this Sunday and she is not coming north for Christmas. I am going north for Christmas, spending it with my granddaughter, Elly and her family.

I am doing a little bit of sewing today before I pack up my machine for a trip to the shop for a tune up. I have decided that I will be cleaning the house while the machine is in the shop. And I will get my flannel quilt in the floor frame in the basement and start quilting on that. I have so many other projects to keep me busy while the machine is gone. Don't we all?!!

In stitches,
Judy

Time

Time has a way of catching us off guard. I thought I would have to work on Thanksgiving this year, so I moved our family celebration to the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Do you realize that is less than a week away. I am cooking at my sister's and that is a good thing. But there are so many details that go into that. And it turns out that we are not working on Thanksgiving, but they were looking for volunteers to work Thanksgiving. So my hand went up and that is fine. I work at home and I will not have to fight traffic to get to the office. And I imagine we will not be that busy. The extra $$'s will be nice for Christmas.

I am going to be doing a little bit of sewing this afternoon. I was going to take the sewing machine into the shop today, but it is raining and I don't want to be on the road with all the crazy rain drivers. I will be making some blocks for Hurricane Sandy relief. This seems to be an easy block and I am going to whip up a few today and take them with me when I mail out the package to Elly and the sewing machine to the shop tomorrow.

In stitches,
Judy

Stuff

 

I am so proud of myself. I have finished the cover for the co sleeper and the little extra thing for the baby. I cannot say any more about that in case Elly's mommy is reading my blog. I am taking my sewing machine to the shop on Monday. It is in dire need of a tune up. I still have a bunch of sewing to do for Christmas and I need the sewing machine to be in tip top shape.

I have spent part of my evening looking for the quilt top mentioned in the previous post. I looked in all the obvious places and it was not there. I looked in the space bags where a portion of my stash is hiding and it was not there. But my gut told me it has to be in the basement sewing room. After several more minutes of searching I have found the top, the batting, and the backing. I already know where the perle cotton that I am using for quilting is and I know where the floor frame is. I am trying to decide where to put the frame. Either in the living room or here in the basement. Decisions, decisions!!

In stitches,
Judy

Sewing

I have been busily sewing these last few days! I am working on the cover for the co sleeper. I think it will be finished tomorrow. Then on to bumper pads. And then one more surprise for the baby. Then it will be curtain and Christmas dress time.

I have decided that my quilting will be taking a backseat to baby sewing. I am thinking about putting up the floor frame in the living room and put this quilt on it.

  It is flannel on the top and the backing and cotton batting in between. I am going to use a running stitch using black perle cotton. I need to start finishing some of my UFO's so I make new UFO's!!! I was hoping to make a new Fall wall hanging for my basement landing but that looks more and more like a new UFO for 2013. I do not want to run out of things to do!!

In stitches,
Judy

Sewing without patterns

I am back home from New York and Hurricane Sandy. I had to stay an extra day waiting for the airport to open. I was happy to have an extra day with my granddaughter, Elly!! I have found my camera for Skype, just need to download it to my computer.

I have gladly accepted my new sewing assignment. Sewing for Elly. We have decided on  the pattern for the Christmas dress and I have decided on the fabric. Red crushed panne. Looks like velvet, but it is polyester and easy to launder in case of spit up!!

Next is the sleep cover for the co sleeper. It is a handy thing to have but it is kind of ugly. But I have the whole thing figured out in my head and now I need to make that along with bumper pads. Got all the stuff for that project and I hope to work on it this weekend. I do have to work tomorrow, but I can get started on it. As soon as I have finished the sewing and get it mailed to New York, I will post pictures!!

In stitches,
Judy

An extra day

I  get to spend an extra day in Brooklyn! Extra hugs and cuddling! We are having such a good visit. Will spend part of my day taking measurements for curtains and clothing. A trip to Joann Fabrics is in my future. Elly needs her Christmas dress and a pretty cover for the co~sleeper. Such a busy time. The Fall wall hanging is fading fast. I may be working on it after Christmas. But it will be done for next year!



i

stuck in New York

I am in Brooklyn with my granddaughter, Elly. We survived hurricane Sandy but my flight home has been cancelled!! Guess I will have to stay and cuddle Elly.  I missed the first snow of the season in Ohio. Oh well! Time for me to cook dinner tonight is homemade pizza and tomorrow is stuffed shells with the sauce in the freezer from my last visit.

No sewing this week but I have a list to keep me busy! Bonnets and hats more pants with elastic at legs and the Christmas dress and shoes and a curtain for the master bedroom and something foe Elly's room. Gramma will be busy!

In stitches,
Judy

Traveling Stash Box

The Traveling Stash Box has been quietly living in my living room with the stuff I need to put in my suitcase for my visit with Elly. It is time to pick the lucky recipient of the box. Lucky #4!! Melinda!!



Melinda said...
I would love to have the box stop at my house. I have lots of things I could put in it.

Please contact me so I can get an address from you.

I am so excited. I leave early Sunday morning to go and meet my granddaughter, Elly. Yesterday was her actual due date. She weighed in at 6lbs 10oz and 20 inches in length. She has come a long way in these past 8.5 weeks. I plan on taking lots of pictures and will post them when I get home.

In stitches,
Judy

Sewing

I have finished my baby sewing, for now. I am getting ready to go and see Elly on Sunday and I wanted to finish the rest of Elly sewing. I made 2 pairs of corduroy pants, three pairs of fleece pants, a bunting and another nursing cover for Elly's mommy. I will post pictures after I return from my trip to New York.

Now that I have finished Elly sewing, I can start working on my Fall wall hanging. I need to busy on it before Fall is over and winter comes calling.

In stitches,
Judy

Baby Sewing

I have been baby sewing. It has been a lot time since I have made pants for anyone and I cannot remember making pants this small, but like a true pack rat, I had patterns in my box from my sewing time for my niece Lily. She is ten now. So I was able to whip up 5 pairs of pants for Elly. The waist and the length were great.

The width of the legs were not so good. As you can see, the legs are quite large.  They tell me it looks like she is wearing a long skirt. I have more fabric to make 5 more pairs. I will be cutting down the leg portion of the pattern. I am hoping to finish them today along with her bunting.

In stitches,
Judy

Traveling Stash Box has arrived!!

Actually it arrived on Thursday but today I was able to get unpacked and will repack it and have it on it's way by next Saturday.

The box was certainly stuffed with many goodies. It was like Christmas opening the box.

These are the things I decided that needed to stay in Ohio with me.

Here are the gems that are going into the box



I would very much like to get this on it's way to someone else on October 27th. So I will pick a lucky recipient on Friday, October 26th some time after 11pm est.So if you are interested in the Traveling Stash Box, leave me a message. Good luck to all!!!

In stitches,
Judy

Sewing

I have been busy sewing for my granddaughter, Elly. She is out of premie clothes and needed some pants. I would show you a picture of the 5 pairs of pants I made for her, but the package is still in transit and I want her mommy to see them before the rest of you see them. I also made a nursing cover for her mommy. I did not take a picture of that. I still have to make the purple bunting for Elly. I will take that with me when I go up to see her at the end of the month.

This is my favorite picture of my son and two of his favorite girls. Elly his daughter and Frankie his dog. Frankie likes the baby and likes to lick the top of head whenever she gets a chance!!

In stitches,
Judy

Baby sewing

Today I am starting some sewing for my granddaughter, Elly. I am going to start a purple bunting. If it works out and mommy likes it, I am going to get some red flannel and my sister, Karen is going to embroider something Christmas related on it. Right now I am preshrinking the flannel. I am trying to get my Saturday projects lined up. I guess I will be making more half square triangle units for the Fall wall hanging. I need to get busy before Fall leaves and Winter arrives!

Elly is snuggled in the baby afgan  I made over 30 years ago for her daddy.

In stitches,
Judy

Tuesday

 

My work week is starting in about an hour. No sewing today, but I did chase down a couple fall panels for a friend. They are packed up and in the mail. I did buy some flannel for a bunting for my granddaughter. Purple with tiny white dots. I have been told, no pink or blue. They have bunches of pink and blue things. I am leaving on October 28th for a trip to New York to meet my granddaughter. Need to have it done by then. Should not be a problem. I am a super sewer!!

I have gotten all the bugs worked out for my Fall wall hanging. Tomorrow I start on the half square triangles for the pinwheel border. Working backwards. That is normal for me.

In stitches,
Judy

Yesterday I went to Governor Bebb Metro Park in Butler County with my mom and my

 sister, Becky. Lots of fall in the air. Costumed people telling the history of the area. Crunchy leaves and cooler weather and the scent of fire in the fireplaces of several of the buildings. Yum!

The quilt I made for a friend who became a grandma this summer. The squares are from a crib sheet that matches the baby's nursery.

This a ruffled scarf that my mom knitted for me. It is Red Heart Sashay yarn. It is fun!!

In stitches,

Judy

Saturday

I work every Saturday taking customer calls. I work in my living room. Today I made a list of everything I needed to prep for several projects. We are usually not very busy and as long as I am tethered to my phone I can cut, sew, or read. I finished cutting the fabric for my black Chain Link quilt. Or so I thought. I found one more Batik that needs to be cut. I will finish that on Sunday. I finished the design for my pumpkin wall hanging. I am going to start working on it on Sunday. I was going to butcher some old magazines for foundation for string blocks but I ended up chatting with a friend and did not get to that.

Fall is here in my part of Ohio. The leaves are changing and the air is cooler. In fact, today I turned on the furnace to get the chill out of the air. It was not on very long before it got hot in the house and off it went. I suppose if I wasn't tethered to my desk I would not have been cold and the furnace would not have been turned on.

Tomorrow is sewing time and family time. My mom and at least one of my sisters and I are going to one of the Metro Parks in the area for Pioneer Days. I will have to take my camera for sure. I would like to get some shots of Fall in Ohio.

In stitches,
Judy

Elly and her quilt

 
This a picture of my granddaughter, Elly. As you can see, she is just a peanut. And her quilt seems to drawf her.The burp cloth is from my sister, Karen. She embroider several diapers. To be used for burp clothes.  Elly is a premie. She was almost 8.5 weeks early. And she has put on about 2 pounds since birth.

In stitches,
Judy

Cutting

I am trying to use the fabric that has made upstairs to my dining room where I have my sewing machine set up. I have been trimming my scraps into strips to start making string blocks. I am going to use my telephone book pages for the foundation. I am hoping to make at least two blocks a day. I am also cutting fabric for another Chain Link quilt. That is the pattern I used for my granddaughter's quilt. It will be bit different. I am using fabrics that are either solid or read as a solid. And black.  A black border so the blocks will look like they are floating. And hand quilting it with black thread. I may be crazy. I will let you know once I start the quilting.

And then there is the Fall wall hanging that I am still designing. I am going at it backwards. I have picked the fabrics, decided on the size, have decided on the size of the border and the colors, whatever area that is left will be the center. I have the backing fabric and the quilting thread all picked out. And I have found a couple of pumpkins that will grace the center square. I should be able to get to it this weekend. Saturday is always a slow day on the phones. I work from my living room that customer service calls. My cutting mat and ruler and rotary cutter live on a table next to my desk. And some days I move the sewing machine out  by my desk.

I have found a bag in the living room with a bunch of fabric in it. Some of the fabric is cut in nice 5" squares. I wonder what my plan for those squares are?! I am hoping as I dig into the bag there will be a pattern or a magazine in the bottom of the bag. I need to starting making notes when I cut fabrics, so I will remember what I wanted to make.

In stitches,
Judy

It's finished!

This is my big finish for 2012! It is a rather large baby quilt for my granddaughter. The quilt is 50" square. Something for her to grow into. Machine pieced and hand quilted. I had great plans to have it done in time for the baby, but my hand quilting skills are rusty and I did not get it done in time for the shower. In fact, there was not a shower after all. The day before my kids were to leave New York, the doctor put my daughter in law in the hospital. Pre eclampsia. Yuck for her. No trip home for a baby shower or two. The doctors were wonderful and they went into attack mode. Gave the baby steroids to develop her lungs in case she had to make an early arrival.

   And she did. This is Eloise Sona Nayak Kamphaus. Elly. She was born 8.5 weeks early, but she is doing well and home with her mommy, daddy, and Frankie the dog. I am still trying to figure out how to get to New York to cuddle Elly.

In stitches,
Judy