Happy Easter!

We are so blessed--He died for our sins and is Risen!  Hallelujah!

We attended the Easter Vigil last night--what a beautiful Mass.  When we got home at about 11:30 pm, we were greeted by our priest and one of our deacons who were spending the night with us to save driving time this morning.  (In the great spaces of Wyoming, our priests and deacons travel a lot!  The two churches are almost 55 miles apart--the time between the Saturday Vigil Mass and the Easter Sunday morning Mass is way too few hours to spend 2 hours traveling.)  Besides, we loved hosting them--and have no family close, so it made our Easter even more special!

The sun is shining, the pussy willows have their catkins out, the birds are chirping--what a beautiful day!

STASH REPORT - Week 13, 2013

Used this Week: 3.5 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date:  79.09 yards
Added Year to Date: 1.5 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2013: 77.59 yards

 

Smaller numbers this week, but still going in the right direction.  I used most of the rest of the flannel to make burp cloths and a receiving blanket (now called a swaddling blanket!)--and am crocheting different edgings on each burp cloth.  I want to get the entredeux stitch around all those that are cut out before I take the wing needle out of my Diamond.  And then I worked on income tax--ugh!  It is done and "resting"--I should have it sent off on Monday.  Then I can get back to the "important" things--like quilting!  Everything is just like it was in the quilting studio, waiting patiently.

I got to hunt Easter eggs this morning after brunch--nothing like returning to your youth.  Unfortunately, Smokey, the dog, helped me and found one before I did--I think he ate a large M&M.  I had walked right by that one, but he found it.  DH hid them in plain sight, which helped.  We still have quite a bit of snow in the front yard, making them more visible.

I wish everyone a Happy Easter--we are blessed and renewed on this special day!

STASH REPORT - Week 12, 2013

Used this Week: 15 yards
Added this Week: 1.5 yards

Used year to Date:  75.59 yards
Added Year to Date: 1.5 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2013: 74.09 yards

 

Finally, something good to report stash-wise!  One quilt top, 2 bindings, 1 quilt back, 2 burp cloths, and 25 inches (of ugly fabric!) given to Carol for her crocheted rugs--and I finally got the fabric I need to finish my red Christmas quilt (but haven't finished it yet)!  The Forest Floor quilt top used nearly all of my leftover leaf fabric; it was left from a previous autumn leaf quilt which has long since found a new home.  I really like this quilt pattern--reminds me of leaves blowing in the wind.  (The blocks that look white are really tan/gold--the picture doesn't show the vibrancy of some of the colors.) The burp cloths were from doubled flannel and had what Diane called an "X and O" crocheted edging.  I only have the edging on one, and will probably put a different edging on the other one.  So, now I have 2 burp cloths made with the same edging--one that was purchased and one that I used scrap flannel that I have in my stash.  I downloaded a pattern from the internet for the burp cloth and used variegated thread.  I have a lot of colored crochet thread from my mother, and will probably make more and donate them to Turning Point. 

 

Carol came over again to give me encouragement/help in doing a border for the T-shirt quilt.  The top with border is now draped over the longarm--I'll try to get it quilted before the end of the month--and then on its way back to KS!  It seems heavier than the one I quilted for Carol's granddaughter--but the fusible is what is recommended on several how-to sites for t-shirt quilts.  I'll need to make a backing for it and then load it on the machine--will be so glad to get it in the mail.  Don't think T-shirt quilts are my thing!

Other than the above, I've made a little progress on my crocheted angel baby afghan and managed to burn the potatoes when I forgot I had put them on the stove!  Just finished cleaning the stainless steel pan using the vinegar method--thank goodness for the information on the internet!!

STASH REPORT - Week 11, 2013

Used this Week: 0 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date:  60.59 yards
Added Year to Date: 0 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2013: 60.59 yards

 

A lot of sewing accomplished this week, but nothing to report!  I'm still waiting on the red fabric for the red Xmas basket quilt--which remains draped over the longarm, saying "Finish Me!"  On Tuesday Carol came over and helped me back the t-shirts for my grand-niece's T-shirt quilt; after she left, I sewed the blocks together and--yup!--draped it over the longarm.  That night I started worrying that the fused interfacing might be the wrong kind as the top is very heavy--but I checked the next morning and it is the recommended Pellon.  Since my niece and grand-niece started backing some of the t-shirts before handing it to me with a "pretty please will you finish this," I wasn't sure.  Carol is coming over this coming Tuesday, and we are going to make a border with smaller pieces of the t-shirts.  This is not my favorite type of piecing/quilting (can you tell?)--they gave me the box of t-shirts the first week of July and I've managed to put it off until now!  Only Jessie's upcoming graduation from high school has made me put it on March's goal list!  Periodically my niece has called to check on my progress (none!); I'm sure she wonders if the box fell into a black hole!

So, while I was waiting for Carol's next visit to lend me encouragement and moral support, the Forest Floor quilt began calling my name.  So, I took my leftover autumn fabrics (from a previous autumn leaf quilt which has long-since found a new home), and started piecing Forest Floor (and avoiding the siren calls of the 2 unfinished quilts that are draped over the longarm!).  I still have 8 of the 6-inch leaf blocks to finish before I can assemble the top and decide on what borders I want to use.  I think I'll be able to count that fabric next week--and hopefully, have the T-shirt quilt machine quilted/bound and ready to return to Kansas!

I attended a 1-day spiritual retreat yesterday which was sponsored by JCCW--always a good way to mark the mid-point of Lent--thought-provoking and uplifting.  Spending the day with old friends and new friends is a bonus.  Hope everyone had a good week of stash-busting!

A Week of Fun

This past week included some fun things and different experiences.  Tuesday, I traveled to the next little town with Carol and we sat in on a demo of how to make noodles.  My mother used to make noodles once in a while, but she always said she didn't like "thick" noodles.  With the "pasta/noodle" machines that are available, that wouldn't be a problem now.  I don't think I will be making noodles anytime soon--I just bought a huge bag of noodles at SAMs last week!  But it was fun--we even had 2 men there for the demo.

Last night we went to a new-to-us eatery after Mass with some friends.  The turkey reuben sandwiches were awesome--and huge!  I think I must have been the oldest person there--did we really frequent such noisy places in our youth?!  Needless to say, my normal early bedtime got delayed, especially when the change to daylight savings time was considered!  It was fun and I enjoyed the food and the company.  Always good to get out of our normal routine once in a while.

STASH REPORT - Week 10, 2013

Used this Week: 10.17 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date:  60.6 yards
Added Year to Date: 0 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2013: 60.6 yards

 

Well, those numbers finally moved!   And I get to cross off one of my March goals, too.  I finished the embroidered Undercover Kids (Morehead machine embroidery designs) quilt top.  I told DH that I finally used the last of the fabric I used for my breakfast nook valances when we lived in Casper--and I must have made those 20-22 years ago!!  (He said it was about time!)  The Morehead designs are so cute--I think the little girl walking in the rain is my favorite.  All of them are wearing "adult" hats/caps--just like little children do when playing dress-up!  There is another row on top that doesn't show in the picture--a total of 12.

 

 

 

The red Christmas basket quilt is still laying on the floor--waiting for the fabric to get here so it can be finished.  And I got out the T-shirts for my grandniece's T-shirt quilt.  A friend is coming over on Wednesday to help me get it ready to put together--Carol and her daughter made one for Carol's granddaughter last year and I quilted it on my longarm.  I can't say I'm excited about doing it, so it will be good to have Carol here to help.  I did start cutting out another NewFO from my UFO-NewFO list--and I am excited about it!  While I am waiting on the two above-mentioned quilts, I'm going to start making some of the blocks for Forest Floor today.  I made an autumn leaves quilt several years ago and will be using leftover leaf fabrics for Forest Floor.

And I wanted to show the metal ballot box that we got while waiting for the tech to work on my machine--it makes me happy!

Sunday Sewing...

Sewing is fun and therapeutic for me--so I don't count it as "work" which I avoid on Sundays.  (Now mending would be a different story--but I've successfully avoided that for many years!) I worked on one of my March goals today, the embroidered Undercover Kids quilt.  And became frustrated when my machine was doing the same thing it did before the tech worked on it.  Grrr!  I disassembled the bobbin area parts and found more lint than should have been there after just having been cleaned.  Every other piece I stitched had to be redone, and it was "clunking" like crazy even after I changed the needle (which was looser than I ever have it).  I hate having my machine worked on--it seems like they often do more harm than good.  The last block I pieced finally went better--guess I need to spend tomorrow sewing just to make sure it will work as it should.  I will be upset if I have to make another 250 mile trip!

STASH REPORT - Week 9, 2013

Used this Week: 0 yards
Added this Week: 0 yards

Used year to Date:  50.42 yards
Added Year to Date: 0 yards 

Net Stash Decrease for 2013: 50.42 yards

 

Well, another week with nothing to report.  Any production came to a screeching halt on Monday, when my trusty machine would not make a nice stitch.  I had just finished making some HSTs for my red Christmas basket quilt, and had some more to make when it happened.  It sucked the top thread down, and I removed the pieces twice; then I cleaned the lint out of the bobbin case area.  Long story short, I made an appointment with the nearest Viking dealer (250-mile round trip!) and asked that a block of time be reserved so that we wouldn't have to make a second trip to pick it up.  The tech said there was a piece of thread under the screw in the bobbin area--I think a dull cutter blade probably was causing the problem.  Anyway, it was past time for a good cleaning--I think it's been 2.5-3 years.  

Then life intervened--DH started asking me questions about our taxes, so I decided I'd better get started on them.  I no longer enjoy doing them; but also know that if I had them done, I would still go over everything minutely.  At this point I have my spreadsheet done and am almost ready to start reading the book to see what new laws/changes are in effect since last year.  So, no trips to the sewing room!

 

 We visited thrift shops and antique stores while waiting for my machine; that was fun!  I picked up some "bargains"--a large creamer/sugar bowl for church receptions, some winter scene wine stems that match what I already have, a ladle for my punch bowl, a Nordicware cake pan ($1), and (drumroll!) a metal ballot box that has been painted with a teddy bear (very well done!).  I love the ballot box!  When DH looked at the tag, he was surprised that it was so inexpensive!  Bargains are good--it paid to check out the things downstairs!!  I love things that bring me joy when I look at them--not the finest or most desired, just things that make me smile when I look at them.