Mary Anne's little quilt spot

Another year has gone by!!!

2012-01-04T18:54:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year, everyone!

Man, I don't keep this blog up to date, do I? LOL New Year's resolution is to do just that. To blog more.

Christmas was a nice one. Santa was very good to me. Left a Janome Horizon 7700 under the tree! Yee haw Haven't really had a chance to see what this baby can do but then again still early in the year and will have to find the time to play with it. It does look nice and I sure do like the thread cutter button on it. That will come in handy for paper piecing ... lol Don't look at date on picture. Camera year is off :( Will set that next time I snap a picture if I think about it.

Been over a year!!!

2011-01-14T22:09:00.000-08:00

Been over a year since I've posted! Time flies, eh?

Yep, haven't really done much. But I did make a pillowcase for a friend who will be sleeping in her new home tomorrow night. First time every making one. Went by a tutorial I saw online. Very quick, very easy. Now I want to make more, more and more of them ... lol

Felt good to be at the sewing machine once more. Will have to make friends with it all over again. Do love the SewEZi table I got back in September. The one I've been wanting for over 2 years.

Off I get. Getting late and have to work tomorrow. Seahawks game Sunday. Go Hawks!!!!

been procrastinating ... as always

2010-01-12T16:21:00.000-08:00

Have the top done, been done ... lol Even added a small black inner border to it. Problem, don't have enough of the red that's long enough to go from top to bottom on the sides. Thinking of what to put in the four corners to help with this matter. Do like the quilt top, though. Will think on it a little longer, I guess.

Started another mystery. Did the 8 appliqued hearts that it calls for. Not sure if applique is my "bag" ... haha Went searching for the longest time on the net, knew dang well I had been to a blog or site or something that showed how to set up your Bernina machine for appliqueing. Found it, tried it, it worked. Didn't have the DMC machine embroidery thread they mentioned so just used the Sulky thread that I had on hand. Ann Sutton
sure does do a beautiful job at it!!! May have to get some of that DMC if I want to applique in the future ... lol That will remain to be seen.

Having camera issues. Don't know what I did to the blasted contraption but it doesn't want to take as good a picture as I think it will or have done in the past. Will tinker with it some more and cuss it out even more.

Happy 2010 y'all !!!

2010-01-04T10:50:00.000-08:00

Would have, could have, should have said this earlier but have been busy with work and sewing ... lol So Happy belated 2010!!! May it be as good as (if your last year was a good one) or better than (if your last year was as bad as mine). Onward, forward, don't look back. May you do better than me at keeping any resolutions that you have made ... haha

Been sewing on Ann Smith's mystery every chance I've gotten the last couple of days. Need sewing machine at work. Was naturally and understandably slow few days after NYE. Kept busy stocking this and that, though. Was so far ahead of myself Saturday felt like I didn't need to come in Sunday ... lmdao!!!

Have all the clues sewn on the mystery. Now to get it all put together :) :) :) Been having fun and so far every thing seems to be lining up. Rarity for me, let me tell you!!!! Must be getting better at sewing in my old age ... hahaha

Pics below :)

Starting another mystery

2009-12-30T16:55:00.001-08:00

This mystery starts tomorrow but I won't be able to sew on it until after work. Did just finish up the pre-sewing of the mystery. Doing the lap/twin size that calls for 288 2½" HST's! Ouch. But they are finally all cut, sewn, ironed and squared up ... whew. Here are the fabrics I got at Joann's for the mystery. The lady was just putting out Valentine fabric and I fell in love with the doggie material! So went a searching for others that might go with this focal material ... lol lol lol Found some dog bones, some paw prints, some dalmation like dotted, and a gorgeous, to die for black!

Here's a picture of all those tiny HST's. If I wanted to turn this into a full/queen size then it would require 300 more of these!!! Think I will stick with the lap/twin. 288 is enough for me, can't imagine doing 588 of them!!! Oh, the pic got a portion of the 8½" X 24" Omnigrid, non slip ruler I got for Christmas. Am going to enjoy this ruler! Green in color. Will have to get used to that since all the other rulers I have are either a yellowish or clearish color.

Side note on Bonnie's mystery: Was working on it, my litte Blossom came down sick and with vet, surgery, hospital stay ($2,500 in all) I kind of lost interest. She is doing well now. Know she is 10 years old and that was a lot of money (at least for poor old working fool like me) but want her around for as long as the Good Lord lets me. Did do some on the mystery, though. Quite a bit actually, but I peeked ahead, shame on me! Bonnie does some fantastic patterns, but, this one didn't really suit me. Either that or the colors I picked just didn't work out well. Soooooooo ... will just wait until she posts another mystery ... ha

Later on update ... lol Just finished cutting out the rest of the clues for the mystery tomorrow. Hoping this will turn out pretty neat. The designer is Ann Smith. She has some nice patterns from what I've seen. Her last one I saved. Never got around to it yet. Still kind of picking out fabrics for it. Have the focus fabric but not all the other to go with it.

Okay, off I go. Work tomorrow so have to get up early. Will certainly start sewing when I get home!

Starting Bonnie's mystery

2009-11-29T20:24:00.000-08:00

Here's the fabric I picked out for Bonnie's new mystery, Carolina Christmas. Started the day after Thanksgiving. Clue 2 is up and I still haven't finished with clue 1 ... lol Drat work, gets in my way of having sewing fun at home. Oh, Thanksgiving day hub complained about the tons of unwashed material on top of dryer. Said for me not to buy any more until I could find a place for what I have or to use some of it up. After a serious "silence" time and after smoothing my ruffled feathers I guess you can say I agree with him. There is way too much here in this tiny trailer. My goal for 2010 is to use up what I have. Okay, some purchases along the way, going to buy white with small print and cream with small print. This way sooner or later I will have some to put in one of Bonnie's mysteries. Gives the quilt some depth and it looks P U R T Y ... hahaha Oh, and still have to buy some batiks here and there and still keep buying for my pinks collection that I've been working on for some years. One day going to do a pink and brown quilt! UMMM ... since I have to buy this and that, does this mean I will have less of a stash? (EG) :) :) :)

Will post pic of clue 1 when and if I get it all done.

Oh! And next month will be doing an Ann Smith mystery. This is what got me in trouble. Saw a pretty damn cute Valentine doggie and cat fabric at Joann's and had to get it, plus had to look around for some fabrics that went with it that will go in the mystery. AND then saw some bird fabric that I grabbed and growled over. Oh and then at the check out line a magazine caught my eyeballs. Geeeeeezzzzzz Louise, keep me out of Joann's!!! Especially when I don't have a blasted coupon with me.

The Mini from He** is done ...

2009-10-14T07:27:00.000-07:00

Finished this Carol Doak mini late last night. FINALLY. Anything and everything that could go wrong ... DID. It was Sept. 4th when she posted the challenge. Liked the looks of it so went to Joann's and got some of the fabrics I didn't have in stash. I have cussed at and pushed this mini aside quite a few times, let me tell you! At least it is done. Think I will "birth" it, that is when I find out how to birth one. Don't care for my choice of colors or fabrics, so don't want to spend too much time in getting it completely done.

Day 2 continued ... :)

2009-09-30T17:57:00.000-07:00

Can't believe it ... already finished with section E and F!!! This day is good, getting on in the evening, but this day is good ... haha Pups food has been cooked and I even have a load of washing in the washer.

Not sure of my fern colors. Seems pale and hardly noticeable against that darn sky fabric. Oh, well, onward and upward. I sure ain't a gonna do over again.

Back to sewing I goooooooooo

9:19pm ... it's all done! WOW ... amazed myself. Now to see what kind of border I can come up with for it. Really enjoyed doing this mystery. Perhaps not my fabric choices.

Shopping for some batiks next week!!! lmao!!!

Paper Piecing

2009-09-29T22:32:00.000-07:00

Working on Paper Panache mystery #52. If you are doing it and haven't gotten to the point where you know what it is, don't look at my picture ... hahaha Downloaded the pattern late last night, colored it in to find out what it was going to be and when I saw that it was a flamingo decided to work on it. Like those long legged birdies. And pink seems to be my "new" color right now for some odd reason. Getting old and tastes change, I suppose. But I still love my browns! And just bought 4 yards of some at Wal-mart yesterday. If and when I finish this bird am hoping to start on one of Cindy Carter's patterns called Scrappy Fall Leaves. Check out her site. She is very talented and comes up with some great free patterns!!!

Off I get. Need to work some more on pinkie bird ... lol lol lol

Day 2 ... just finished doing sections C and D and adding it to sections A and B that I did last night. Progress! lol Funny looking flamingo but at least I'm working on it. Think I'm going to start buying batiks. See an awful lot of people using them and they sure can make for a great quilt. Now just watch me buy the wrong kinds when I do. This old gal has weird tastes when it comes to fabric that attracks her ... haha But I really do think batiks are the way to go. Will start out like I did years ago when I got into quilting, fat quarter here and there and work my way up to ½ yard and then into yards of it.

Back to sewing. See how much more of this I can get done.

What I got in the mail today!!!

2009-09-10T17:57:00.000-07:00

Oh, heck, long day at work today. Was tired as all get out. Didn't have to walk home, though, boss man gave me a ride! I checked the mailbox and then went inside to greedily open two packages my sister sent me (all thoughts of being tired went out of head and body quickly!). Both packages contained some counted cross stitch pictures I had done YEARS ago. And in one of the package sis had sent me a birthday card with some $$$money$$$ wrapped up in a "bee-U-tee-full" antique hankie. I immediately called her, wanted to speak with her and thank her for what she did before I bawled like a baby. Which I promptly did after we finished talking ... haha

Anyhow, these pictures all need to be washed. Filthy! Each were in a frame, but she took them out so that it wouldn't cost a small fortune to send me. Some of the glass had been broken in a few and some of the frames scratched. I can frame them again, no biggie. Am mulling around the idea of adding a patchwork border on each and sandwiching them. Soft framing ... lol That way if they get dirty again they can go in washer. And if need to move from here to wherever they won't weigh a ton, be breakable and cost oddles of dollars to send. All of these were done back in my still young eyes days. The girl with her arm resting on her knee was done in 1987. The girl in blue dress holding hat was done in 1988. LONG time ago!

Now will get back to my silly tears and put my thinking hat on ... lmdao!!!!!!!!!!

Last night ... whaaaaaaa

2009-09-08T18:38:00.000-07:00

Was working on a Carol Doak holiday mini last night. Just having one grand old time. Itty bitty pieces so far. 16 of the 4½" blocks that is required. Started ironing what I had added on to all the blocks. 3rd block from the last my iron spit ... NO ... let me rephrase that ... the damn iron vomited all over the block!!!!!!! I went into a temper tanrum!!! It ain't the first time over ... ummm ... 6 years? ... that this confounded, stupid, idiotic, blasted contraption has done this to me. LAST STRAW!!! I cussed, I fussed, I wept and cussed some more. NEVER again will I buy a Proctor Silex iron. Why have I put up with it all these years? Because I'm a confounded, stupid, idiotic, blasted human. And cheap one too ... haha Just look at what it did to the poor little defensless block, the muslin sheet and the ironing board cover!

Here is the GREMLIN. Named after those cute little critters ... that is until you gave them WATER.

Went shopping today after playing bingo. Got this new Shark iron at Wally world. Am hoping it will not have to be named Gremlin2. Time will tell ... haha

Have turned it on so far, not used it, just waiting to see if it shuts off or I have to unplug it after every use. Keeping fingers crossed that it will turn out to be a fairly good iron!!!

I am still around :)

2009-08-25T20:41:00.000-07:00

I haven't posted since ... FOREVER. Was doing pretty well then my sis got sick and sent to hospital towards the end of February and almost lost her. Put a damper on being creative. Couldn't let her outdo me. I came down sick in May, fought it for nearly 2 weeks then went to see a doctor. That turkey called an ambulance and sent my fat unhappy butt to hospital for a few days. Was away from work for 3 weeks. Had pneumonia which was bad on me since they found out I also have mild emphysema. Hospital, tests, scans, doctor visits. I'll be poor for awhile since insurance doesn't cover everything. Bah hum bug. Oh, have to mention, the lung specialist that came to see me got my heart to pumping ... haha Haven't had that happen since Dr. Kildare (remember him? lol lol lol)

Anyhow ... had some good in my life. Belong to a yahoo quilt group (one of many ... haha). This lady posted a picture of her son and guess what!? He is a customer that comes in store where I work! Small world. Patty came to Washington to be with her sons new wife for a few weeks while he had to go away on business. We have gotten together and have had a blast!!! She leaves tomorrow to go back home. I am going to miss her horribly. She has been quilting since 1977 and is a wealth of quilting information! Did get hubby to take a picture of us together ... lol Patty is a total blast to get together with.

new purse :)

2009-01-29T19:03:00.000-08:00

After work today my friend and I went to Michael's craft store. I had to use restroom. Theirs were out of order :( So went next door to Gottschalks. Awww ... felt much better ... lol Did some browsing around. Hi di ho ... found a purse! Haven't bought one in 3 years or maybe longer? Debated. Was originally $55 marked down to $40.98 and then 60% off that ... YAHOO! My friend was at register making a purchase and I debated some more. Finally decided to go for it. It is now ... MINE ... hahaha

Will definitely carry it to work tomorrow. Took some time to print out the right sized photo of the pups, but now they are inside the little photo holder of the purse. Next picture I take of them they will have to get closer together ... lol lol lol

Got the top done!!!

2009-01-27T23:00:00.000-08:00

I ain't ever done a top in 2 days from start to finish!!! New year, new sewing machine and wow look at me go ... hahaha It is a simple pattern but even simple is complicated to me at times. Now to see how long it takes me to quilt and bind it and possible embellish it a little ... lol lol lol That is a horse of a different color. This banner top is roughly 28" x 42". Take a look see at it ... lol

Already thinking of doing one done up in pink? Purple? Oh, and yes, even my not so favorite color Blue that I seem to have plenty of for not liking the blasted color. Day dreaming. Pinch me and I might wake up and decide just to stick with the one I've done and forget about doing any more this year ... lmao!

Besides, other holidays are coming up, too, and as slow as I am I better think of doing something for them instead of doing anymore Valentine stuff.

Working on something

2009-01-26T21:35:00.000-08:00

Knew I had been to the blog before but took forever to find it again last night. Yeah, should put stuff I may want to go back to later in history, shoot me, I didn't, but now the blog is in there ... lol It's a heart banner from
Freda's Hive. Perfect for next month and giving me a break from Doubtful Delight at the moment. Went to Aunt Mary's quilt shop today and got some black and white fabric, little of this, little of that and some border fabric that I'm hoping to use. This part worked up pretty quickly for a slow sewer like me ... haha Had to cut up the pieces and stuff so not counting that into it, it went quick. Now to make another heart block. Had thought about putting rick-rack around the heart. May buy some tomorrow and check to see how it looks.

Oh, and talk about sewing, I am definitely in love with the Pfaff I recently got!!! The Bernina still hasn't been packed up to take to get it fixed. Haven't found the time to do it or to get to the sewing place. Maybe next month? lol lol lol No biggie. Having loads of fun with the Pfaff. Got to name her. She's a keeper for sure! At least until I can get the other Pfaff ... hahaha Maybe I won't though. Time will tell. Haven't tried quilting on this one so will see how she does when the time comes.

Back to sewing. Got a little time before bed so will see how much I can get done.

A quarter? of mystery done ...

2009-01-25T18:22:00.000-08:00

Been working on and off on Bonnie's mystery. So far have gotten a corner of it pieced ... lol Don't have much time lately to do it. Besides, those blasted 9 patches are making me procrastinate. Ain't my favorite thing to do. Picture of the corner done. Was taken on the 21st and still like this. Did sew together some of the star blocks last night ... and NO ... didn't do any of the 9 patches.

The little shelf on the side of the cutting table where I have put some of my fabric on fell! Well, one side of it did! It came loose from the wall. Guess that's what I get for trying to put more on it ... lmao! I've got to STOP buying material until I can get some of what I do have sewn and out of this house. UMM, wishful thinking on my part. Too many pretty fabrics out there ... whaaaaa

Several things ...

2009-01-19T11:18:00.000-08:00

I WON the drawing at Paper Panache for Mystery #49! Can't believe it. I seldom win
anything ... and that includes bingo lately ... lol Last night when I saw that I nearly had a slight heart attack, let me tell you! Awhile back I posted the blocks I had made. Well I don't think I posted the finished product ... here it is: It's a sewflake block ... ha The blocks of the other ladies who entered are beautiful ones. Think I recognize a name or two from some of the groups I belong to. They always do such splendid work.

After I found out I won I went outside to smoke. Was cold out so wanted my stocking hat. Couldn't find it. I was beyond myself. It's an extremely old ratty-tatty faded hat, but one that means the world to me. Before bingo this morning went to work place and there it was. I had left it at work. Yahooo ... have my hat back again. Happy day.

And yesterday my friend Eddie and I after she picked me up from work we went to Joann's. Was in search of a 3 ½" square ruler. They didn't have it ... again! Did get 3 yards of some of the prettiest large floral fabric I have seen in a long time. Now what to do with it? Couldn't pass it up, it called out to me ... haha Has my colors in it. Love it, love it, love it. Now for a pattern that isn't too "busy" so the border fabric will show. Any suggestions out there? Would be greatly appreciated.

Oh, and came to an abrupt halt on Bonnie's mystery, Double Delight, when I found out I had messed up. BUT ... think I may go ahead with the pattern. May call mine Doubtful Delight or Single Delight since my centers aren't like they should be ... hahahaha

I was bummed at the time. I did make all those little tiny blocks. So, just well not waste my time, thread or fabric used in this quilt so far. It ain't too bad. Just not what Bonnie gave us. Next time she gives us a mystery, going to read the pattern up, down, sideways and even inbetween the lines so I will have a finished project that matches the pattern ... haha

Thursday blahs ...

2009-01-15T18:56:00.000-08:00

Last night was viewing photos in a quilt group I belong to. Lo and behold there was a Double Delight posted amongst those photos. Whaaaaaaaaaa It was a beautiful quilt top! Since I had already seen the mystery, I went and checked out Bonnie's group. Whaaaaaaaaaa ... beautiful quilts again. Then I went to Bonnie's site. Whaaaaaaaaaaaa ... hers is fantastic. My golds aren't all the same color as in ALL the other quilts! I was ready to throw in the towel, let me tell you! Was physically sick for a moment. Even wrote to the entire group about my mistake. Then I played a little free online bingo and went to bed ... lol lol lol

Tomorrow will be another day, they say. Well today is that tomorrow. Still not too thrilled with the blocks so far, putting on thinking hat. Size -X small ... little brain here. Will see what I come up with in the next few days or so. Bonnie designed one heck of a beautiful quilt. Leave it to me not to read instructions fully and to be gong ho with throwing out fabric on the table and greedily grabbing the rotary cutter.

Step 3 started but long ways of being finished ...

2009-01-13T19:30:00.000-08:00

Step 3 of mystery: Make 130 9-patches ... ouch! Got 20 of them done today ... hahaha Slow going for me, not good at these blocks. Am pressing seams open so perhaps that slows me down a tad, too. Not sure how many more I will get done before bedtime. But I will "git er done" eventually. 130 of these are a LOT. Let me see, this is Jan., come back in late Feb. and they may be completed ... lol lol lol Bonnie used pink in her quilt (I haven't peeked at the quilt!) according to the fabric requirements. I have some pinks but oodles of red that I would like to use up. Then I could go out and buy more newer reds ... lmao!

Oh, someone asked about the peg board. Said it looked flush to the wall. It isn't. There are ½" spacers (they look like a drinking straw was cut up into pieces) in the back on each screw that helps bring it out from the wall thus allowing you to put in the hooks. It did the trick. Love that peg board!!!

Past time to feed the "pups" so off I get from here to feed them and then maybe do some more 9 patches. Don't think I will get many done tomorrow. Christmas tree and stuff comes down. I leave it up until the 13th for my brother Charles who passed away on this day six years ago. He sure did love Christmas. And I used to be nearly a fanatic about having the tree down before the new year rolled in. Habits can change due to life. Miss you Charles. Love you forever.

Got a peg board in sewing room!

2009-01-12T16:32:00.000-08:00

Today Jimbo put up a peg board for me in the sewing room. Already full ... lol Think I need some more positioned around this room. WOW ... can't believe how much stuff I have. At least this part of it is off the cutting table! Now I won't have to spend time looking for this or that ruler. Am tickled with it. And a lot of thanks goes to the ladies at CyberQuilters! I had asked about the board and many of them replied. Thank you ladies from the bottom of my heart. Here's a picture of it. Was off a broken sheet of peg board and it is a little dirty in spots. Paint will take care of that. Will do it when weather is nicer outside. Like a couple of more months ... lol lol lol

Still working on Bonnie Hunter's mystery quilt. Finished up step 2 the other night. Went to Joann's today and got some more reds for it. And also looked for a 3½" square ruler. NOPE, they were all out! Grrrrrrrrrrr But did pick up some Fons&Porter directional arrow pins. They should come in handy enough.

Step 1 of the mystery. Had to do 120 square in square blocks. It was a struggle at first. Am used to paper piecing this kind of block. But I am wanting to learn more on how to do machine piecing so labored away at these blocks. Was to use the Easy Angle ruler to cut the triangles. Well, I couldn't find the blasted ruler so gave up looking and cut them the regular way. Made life twice as hard for me as I was later to find out. Not only did I have to make a crease ½ way to lay the first 2 side triangles had to make it again with the last 2 triangles. Now I can find that ruler and any other I have thanks to that peg board ... hahaha

Step 2 of the mystery. Same as step one (another 120 blocks) but with gold/cheddar center and all the triangles are done in same color. By this time I had finally found the elusive Easy Angle. Wow ... blocks went so much faster!!! Squaring up in 1 and 2 I had to do my way with the Omnigrid ruler. Bonnie said to sqaure them up with the Easy Square, Jr. I tried but never got the hang of it. I sure do use the Jr. though to square up ½ square triangle blocks! Wouldn't know what to do without it when making those blocks.

Happy Belated New Year!!!

2009-01-03T19:59:00.000-08:00

Time has gotten out of hand. Way behind in posting. Whew, glad the holidays are over!!! Christmas was okay. Had to work, though. So got up EARLY to open gifts before heading off to the job. Got 5 quilt books (which I ordered or bought way before Christmas ... lol ... but didn't look inside). 3 Judy Martin books - 1. Cookies 'n' Quilts, 2. The Creative Pattern Book and 3. Scraps.

Then the other 2 are Woven Quilts by Anna Faustino and A New Twist on Strips 'n Curves by Louisa L. Smith.

Also got a new digital camera which I took the pictures of the books and you can see I still need to learn how to use this new camera ... haha Had the old one for so long and this new one is more complicated. At my age complicated isn't fair.

Oh! And the last day of December a Sew and Vac place was having a gigantic sale on some sewing machines. Guess what I got!?!?! A PAFFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not all that fancy of one, but one that should last for some time. It's a Quilt Expression 2046. Been doing some sewing on it. Working on a Bonnie Hunter's New Year mystery quilt called Double Delight. So ........ will be doing LOTS of blocks with the machine ... haha

And I also got some thread and needles while at the sewing place.

Snowed ........

2008-12-14T15:49:00.000-08:00

Last night it snowed here ... brrrrrr and grrrrrrr ... was cold and slippery early this morning. Thank goodness Jim is still on vacation so I didn't have to walk to work ... LOL Took some pictures while at work. Crud, the one of the store with lights on didn't come out so well but you can get a glimpse of what it looks like.

While still with camera took a few pictures of the inside of the little store. This one is looking out from behind the register.

To the right of the register ...

And now standing away from the counter looking in from the doorway ...

Later in the morning thought of taking a few as I stand at the door looking out down the street ...

Then I thought to take a picture of the houses close to the store and just as I was doing that a car pulled in the driveway blocking my view ... lol Never did get a chance again to snap any more pictures so all of these will have to do. Bring back old memories Karlene and Linda? hugs, love you both and miss you at the store!

Tonight ...

Almost 10pm ... finished with a table runner that I've been working on for my friend Eddie ... and NO thanks to the damn sewing machine. Every 10 minutes the monitor on it went partially blank and it stopped sewing!!! And here I thought for a fleeting moment that the blasted contraption and I could bond. Yeah, right, sure. I want a PFAFF!!!! Bah hum bug on this Bernina.

Any how after shutting off and turning back on, got the table runner done. Friend will get it either tomorrow or Tuesday. She's been asking my why I haven't finished with the mystery. Couldn't tell her I stopped that to make her something ... lol Guess I'll get back to the mystery now. IF the good for nothing machine co-operates. Call to dealer seems to be on my agenda rather I want it to or not.

Up late ...

2008-12-06T00:44:00.000-08:00

Been sewing and surfing and emailing. Did sew a Carol Doak ornament pattern. That was fun. Wish I had more time to do more of them. Perhaps next year. Surfed around looking for something but never found it. Guess I could have done another ornament for the time it took me to surf ... haha Emailed two different companies. One owes me for returning an order that was not meant for me in the first place. I had to pay $9.28 to ship it to them! The other one owes me a magazine or either give me back the 2 yr. subscription I paid for. Paid $29.97 for the subscription and I have yet to see any magazine in the mail box. I ain't made of money. I will sandblast their name/names on here if I don't hear anything from them. I have been patient. Am talking about since Oct. that they've owed me!

Picture of the Carol Doak ornament/gift tag. Turned mine into a gift tag.

December already!

2008-12-02T15:38:00.000-08:00

2nd day of vacation and where in the world did November go, for that matter where did all the months of 2008? Man, I must be getting old and time slipping by. Still working on the mystery block.

Have been searching on the net. Table I have been wanting for a L O N G time is getting closer, I think ... lol Called them today but no one was in. Will try again tomorrow. It's the SewEZi ! I've read nothing but great reviews on this table. So am thinking that all those people can't be wrong. Don't have a clue as to what I will do with the sewing table I have. Not enough room in here to have both and not enough room in rest of home to put it. It's been a good table all these years, just my wants have changed and I no longer want the sewing machine to sit on top of table. Perhaps will put a sign up at store and see if anyone cares for it.

That's about it for this writing. May be back later on today. Have left over turkey in crock pot cooking away to make a stew from it. Have the pups food cooking, also. Guess I better head back to the kitchen and see what else is needing to be done in there ... haha
*************
Back again ... nearly 9pm ... pups have been fed, dishes washed, some laundry done ... and most of all ... living room Christmas tree is up and decorated!!! Got a picture of it, bah hum bug, didn't get a nice one taken. Maybe too dark in there or something, or either it's hard to get a good picture of a WHITE tree ... lol lol lol Pretty in real life, though.

Unit B of mystery completed ...

2008-11-30T20:06:00.000-08:00

Ta Da ... got the B units done today! Now to sew them together. That should take ... ummm ...
forever ... lol lol

Unit A of mystery completed

2008-11-29T22:00:00.000-08:00

Just now finished up unit A of the mystery. Yipee Skippy. Moving right along, slowly, but surely. Maybe tomorrow after work I can finish with unit B? Big question mark. After I get home tomorrow I will be off for 10 whole days!!!! Don't have anything planned, except playing bingo ... haha Do hope to get some sewing done and the Christmas tree up and stuff like that. And, oh yeah, mail off Christmas cards! Perhaps I can be early this year, for once, in doing that.

Here's a picture of what I finished up tonight.

Happy belated Thanksgiving!

2008-11-28T22:00:00.000-08:00

Kind of late in wishing a happy Thanksgiving but am wishing one to y'all. Hope yours was a fantastic one. Mine was Wednesday since I had to work Thanksgiving day. And man alive, I did work. Store was busy! Kept me on my toes. And the day was long, too. Was up at 5:30am and never got to bed until 12:30am. Glad it's over ...lol Now to get the OTHER big holiday out of the way ... whew Is it January yet? hahaha

Oh, that little mystery is on hold for the moment. Hoping to get back to it pretty soon.

Paper Panache mystery

2008-11-25T00:34:00.000-08:00

While reading email Sunday after getting home from work, one of the online yahoo quilt groups I belong to someone posted that Paper Panache had a block mystery going. Went and took a peek. Lots of little pieces and units to the paper pieced project but I printed out all copies, scratched my head for some time figuring how C went together with A and B then set to work ... lol It will be my 1st mystery with them. Now if my color choices stink to high heaven Unit C is all you will see of this myster block. Unit A and B has more pieces to them so they aren't finished yet. It is now nearly 1am Tuesday morning and I better get off here and head to bed. Jimbo will be up bright and early tomorrow morning wanting to play bingo! Anyhow, here's a picture of Unit C.

Another check book cover and ...

2008-10-24T18:55:00.000-07:00

Couldn't post this picture earlier in case my sister visited the blog. Didn't want her seeing what she was getting in the mail that she didn't know about ... lol Well, it got delivered to her today so now can post the picture. She called to let me know she got a surprise today. Know the post office said she would get it either today or tomorrow. Glad she got it today, though. She seemed to be thrilled with it. It would have gotten to her a lot sooner but when I finished it and put it in envelope Jimbo came down sick so couldn't ask him to mail it for me. Had to wait until he felt better. Better late than never ... haha

After finishing that and still in sewing mode I went to work on a table runner for my friend Eddie. It's a "quilt as you go" pattern from G. E. Designs called Madison Square. Since Halloween is just around the bend did it with Halloween fabric. Finished putting the binding on last night and took it to work with me today. At an appropriate morning hour called her from work and asked if she was coming to the store ... lol Am sure that peaked her interest. The front ain't all that bad but man, I managed to get a dang pucker on the back side. Didn't even notice the boo-boo until putting the binding on. Oh, well, back side is suppose to always be down and out of sight ... lmao!

Sewing some more

2008-10-15T10:40:00.000-07:00

Well ... I finally did it! Bought a check book cover pattern at Joann's Monday after playing (and losing) at bingo. It said it was a one hour pattern. Yeah, right, sure. Perhaps if I made a 1,000 of them then I could get it down to close to the allotted time. Anyhow, I started on it. Quit when I came upon one of the steps. Had to write to a yahoo quilt group to ask about fusible web, duh is me. Tuesday started again on it, that is after playing bingo (I won! $75 bear ... hot doggies) and grocery shopping and all. With the acquired knowledge from the group I went in search of the Steam a Seam I just knew I had. That took about 1/2 hour to find! Grrrr It was getting late, but had all done except the binding. This morning, Wednesday, I got it done, done, done. Am I going to make another? Not sure at the moment ... lmao! Even though I was having so much trouble with the blasted little thing it was still fun to make it, I must admit.

Going Green ...

2008-10-10T18:56:00.000-07:00

Recently started "going green". Bought some cloth bags from Wal-Mart and been using them. Now since buying those bags have paid attention to other stores having their own. I, for one, am not going to buy a bag from each and every store. Went to Safeway with Wal-mart bag ... lol Hey, there you get 3 cents off your purchase for using your own bags (a bag costs 99 cents, so 33 times going to Safeway will buy one bag ... haha). Not sure if I was frowned upon for using "another" stores bag but got to thinking about it. Had some orphan blocks scattered around here so got a few out and sewed them to front of the bags. Now no one will know what store they came from. TA DA ... problem solved. 1. Used up the orphan blocks. 2. Hid the identity of what store the bag was bought from.

Carol Doak has started a new BOM ...

2008-10-04T18:56:00.000-07:00

And I am doing this one. Did one or two blocks from her last Block Of The Month and then gave up. This one I am hoping (fingers crossed) to do each month. Life, work (blah) and everything else seems to get in my way of sewing a lot of the time. Okay, yeah, I know, spend way too much time at the bingo hall or on the computer or ... or ... or

Some new stuff for home

2008-09-12T22:14:00.000-07:00

Ordered a rug. Finally got it and think I like it. But now not sure if I like our couch. May have to do some looking around for a new couch ... lol One of these days will change the blasted blue carpet that's in the entire house. Don't like it at all. Blue isn't exactly my favorite color except for blue jeans ... haha

Found a rooster at Safeway the other day. Sure did remind me of when sister and I were growing up and how one of Daddy's roosters ran after her, she fell and the rooster pecked her to tears. So just had to buy the bird.

Yesterday went with my friend Eddie to pick her husband up after he docked his boat. While there visited the peacock pen and we gathered some feathers from around it. Small and medium ones. I proudly and gingerly were carrying them back to the van. Owner of the place saw them, said he had some large ones and went in his house and got some for me. This is what I did with them. Looks pretty nifty down the hallway.

Finished Carolina Crossroads

2008-02-18T14:19:00.000-08:00

Finished with Bonnie's mystery. I sure can't take a good picture! Border appears black, but it's a dark blue with tiny stars scattered around on it. At least there's a picture of the finished top. Took me long enough. Sure don't have a clue how I am going to quilt this monster. Got to thank Bonnie for helping get some of the blues out of my stash!

teeny tiny messy sewing room

2008-01-27T23:41:00.000-08:00

Figured while I was snapping a picture of the half sewn center of Bonnie's mystery quilt I would keep going and take a few pictures of my computer/sewing room combo. It's a mess but that is the normal state in this room of the house. Took the door off the closet and put the computer desk in there. Took door off going into the room to put stash cabinet in that little spot. Making do with this little room.

Half of center sewn

2008-01-27T20:59:00.000-08:00

Little while ago finished sewing together half of the center ... woohoo This quilt is going to be bigger than what I thought ... lol Bonnie said 80x80 and guess I didn't comprehend what that meant. Still not sure how I'm ever going to quilt this! Would like to have a long armer do it but they will probably throw me out the door with all the bumps and lumps I have in it so far. Think next quilt I do am going to press open all the seams! Someone in the group said they are going to tie theirs. Never tied one before, but sure am thinking something similar to that, like tack it here and there with pretty buttons or ribbon ... or or or ... hahaha I will come up with something. This is NOT going to be a UFO. Went looking for some dark blue fabric. Think I have enough of it to make the inner border. Next time I go to store am going to buy the entire bolt (or whatever they have left on it) of that fabric! It's the blue fabric that you can see on the ironing board. And can you tell I am running out of space on my itty bitty "design" wall?

2008-01-23T18:54:00.000-08:00

Another sewing off and on day today. Started step 7 and got some of the "round" blocks done, then just had to start putting some of the mystery together on my design wall to see how it will look. It'll pass ... lol Now to find someone who likes blue! And it doesn't look like I have even made a dent in my blue stash. Darn.

Bonnie said something about a mystery in April. Thinking this one will be a blue quilt, too. I just will never know how I obtained so much blue when it's not my favorite color to begin with. A lot of it is Jenny Beyer fat quarters so thinking that is where it all came from. Haven't figured out how to quilt this or what border will go with it. That will come in time, I suppose. I know I don't have anything in stash that will do the trick. More shopping ... yahooooo Oh, it appears my "round" blocks are outshining the stars in this quilt so am contemplating on calling the quilt: Going Round and Round on Carolina Crossroads.

Rotary mat and wolf fabric

2008-01-22T18:48:00.000-08:00

Did pretty good at shopping today. Got a pretty fabric from Walmart that may go with some horse fabric that I got for Christmas. And then at Joann's got 1 yard of white and 1/2 yard of pink fabric. Trying to build up my stash in both of these colors. And then .... I got a rotating mat!!! Been wanting one for a very long time. Used 40% coupon since the blasted thing was $36.99 in the store. Mat should come in handy with paper piecing and also this companion angle ruler that I've been using with Bonnie's mystery. Sure wish I had had it about 2 weeks sooner.

Also got some of the prettiest wolf fabric I have seen in some time. Got the last that was left on the bolt. About 1 3/4 yards of it. Jimbo said he would stop at the Joann's in Everett on his way home Thursday night to see if that store had any of it. He liked the material, too.

Step 6 is finished ... yahooooooo

2008-01-21T18:35:00.000-08:00

Finally, finally and finally ... lol ... I have completed step 6 of Bonnie's mystery. Got up mighty early and started sewing away. There is now 16 Ohio blocks finished, 16 half star blocks and 4 quarter star blocks done. Whew. Think I need to change my name to RIPPIT ... sure have done a lot of frog stitching today! But that's okay, too. Learning as I go along and that is always a good thing.

Now I think I will take a small break and then see how much of step 7 I can get done before bedtime ... hahaha Really have enjoyed today. Jimbo wasn't as happy I don't think because we usually go play bingo Mon. mornings, drink the free coffee and lose our alloted money. There is always tomorrow morning, though.

Step 5 completed

2008-01-17T19:24:00.000-08:00

Got step 5 out of the way. Whew. For some reason these went slower than the 9 patches for me. This picture is off centered. Went to take another pic and the batteries in the camera died. They are now being recharged. The ruler that Bonnie said to make these hourglass blocks are in the middle of the 100 blocks here. Like this new ruler. Now onward and forward to step 6! Bonnie posted step 7 (the final step in this mystery) already but am trying NOT to look at it ... lol lol lol

Yeehaw ... step 4 is done

2008-01-12T19:20:00.000-08:00

I did it! Got step 4 of the mystery done. Yes, I know, I'm behind since step 6 has already been posted ... lol Step 5 should be interesting, get to use a ruler I haven't used before! Bonnie suggested the Companion Angle so went to Joann's and got one.

Step 3 finally done

2008-01-09T10:49:00.000-08:00

Finally managed to get step 3 of Bonnie's mystery finished. Now on to step 4 ... lol

Don't know if I'll ever be able to catch up to the rest of the folks working on this quilt.

2008-01-04T21:21:00.000-08:00

Step 2 of the mystery. 100 9-patch blocks! Whew, they are small but got to say I enjoyed putting them together! Mostly been a paper piecer and doing a quilt the "normal" way isn't as bad as I thought.

Bonnie Hunter's mystery Carolina Crossroads

2008-01-04T21:09:00.000-08:00

Step 1 of Bonnie's mystery quilt. Had a blast making these! My rendition of the Carolina Crossroads will be scrappy in green/blue, pink and white/cream.

New Year ... time for new things

2008-01-04T20:45:00.000-08:00

I've gone and taken the plunge. I've created a blog! lol Hope to use this spot for all my quilting stuff, be it spur of the moment blocks, tops or completed quilts and such. Joined a Bonnie Hunter mystery quilt group at yahoo.com and a lot of ladies there have blogs so I thought I would try my hand at one. The mystery so far is FUN!!! We are all doing it as Bonnie does hers. Makes one feel like a tester! Okay, must admit, not a great sewer (still learning all the aspects of quilting) so hoping to be able to hide all my bad parts when it comes to showing the finished project! Have 3 Chihuahuas and if I have to will plop each one on the bad parts of the quilt and command them to "SIT" until picture is taken.