I need a bigger design wall!

Okay folks, I got home from church tonight, and this was waiting on the table:
In it you ask? These ...
Yep, you counted right, that's 80 pink and brown SBS blocks from the recent swap. All are so beautiful - I wish I didn't have to work tomorrow so that I could stay home and go through them. I'm thinking a dark brown for the sashing. Anyone have any other suggestions? If I get a chance, I will be making 8 more so that the ones I sent in are included. Nearly every block has a 4" label that I will somehow use in the quilt.

To wet your appetite, here are some that caught me eye first:
What a beautiful bouquet.

I'm definitely a brights girl.

Isn't this pink scrumptious? I love the hearts.

Such precision!

Hopefully in the next week or so I'll get a spreadsheet of who sent me what so I can credit and thank everyone. Til then, enjoy these photos!

~QB29

Looking forward to the weekend!

Guess where I get to go? I'll give you a hint ... it's a shack. If you guessed Fabric Shack, you're a winner! No prize though - you'll need to wait until post #100 for that giveaway. The blogger count says this is #98 (Yeah, I know #93 was off by one b/c I had an unpublished, and now out-dated and deleted, post. So my count changed.)

And .... it looks like a friend gets to come with me :-D.

Tonight I've got church, but so wishing I could be home quilting. When you're in the mood to quilt, it's hard being away from the machine. Oh well, at least I have a baby quilt with me to work on binding before church starts.

~QB29

top is finished!

Top is all finished. I just need to baste (thank you, oh thank you, 505 :-D) and quilt and bind and label. The backing fabric is the print from which the animals are cut.

I have a primary colored variegated thread I'm planning on using to quilt it. I'm thinking of a basic meander just to get it done so I can gift it while the little guy is in town this week.

Not too sure about binding - there's not enough of the blue left, which doesn't really match the blue in the print (backing). Maybe red? I may have enough of the white w/ colored dots, but I don't want to do a white binding. I'll decide when it's quilted. Any suggestions?

I really do like how this pattern turned out. I may use the floral scraps that are left still to do something like this. I think it would be interesting.

~QB29

I have a design wall!

Look! I put up a design wall. It's just a simple flannel backed vinyl tablecloth. In the hour or so that I've had it, I can't believe I managed this long without one, lol. Here's a pic. You probably can't tell, but the inner border will be the white print that's in each of the blocks. I do have 2 of the strips up there. The outer border will be the blue that's in the blocks. I wanted to get this posted, but I'm heading back up to get the top finished. This is the "Ian" quilt I referenced earlier.

~QB29

Goals for Week

1. Cut strips for Bonnie Hunter workshops in August. Need a gazillion 2 1/2" strips. - half lights, half darks.
2. Piece Baby Ian's quilt.
3. Quilt Baby Ian's quilt. halfway there!
4. Bind/label Ian's quilt.
5. Gift Ian's Quilt. -- he and his mommy and daddy are in town this week visiting her parents. Getting it done this week saves me postage :-D.
6. Attack binding pile. got 1 done!

~QB29

Monday happenings ...

Allergies, gotta love 'em. I went for my weekly (okay, sometimes bi-weekly) shots today. I started a new vial and they bumped it from 1:5000 concentration to 1:1000 concentration. My arm said no. Normally I don't feel anything, but will often get splotchy, sometimes about the size of a fist, around the injection site. This is normal for me. I've done it the last 2 or 3 years of shots. Don't ask, my allergies stopped making sense a long time ago. Every now and then I will feel the splotchiness start to develop but pay it no mind.

The office wants you to wait 20 minutes to make sure no bad reaction will start - usually I wait 10 and then take off since my "normal" reaction has occurred (and is so normal, I don't show them anymore). Today, I felt pain, but didn't think anything of it. As I walked out of the office I glanced at the injection sites - I had a welt on each arm larger than a dime and the one was close to 1/2" thick. I immediately went back in and showed them. They measured, globbed anti-itch cream on me, told me to take an alavert (which I carry in my purse) and told me to advise them of how it progressed. So on my merry way to lunch I go, take the alavert, and smear some more anti-itch cream on by the time I get back to work.

Quitting time rolls along - my arm hurts. It doesn't just itch, the injection site hurts like someone punched me! The welt around the injection site has gone done, but there is a slightly raised area bigger than my first, which burns and hurts and is hard. So back to the Dr.'s I go. Good thing I can almost see their building from my office. The nurse sees me come back and starts toward me. I slightly lift up my sleeve and say "I've still got the reaction". The other two nurses in the area immediately come running. Apparently it was quite a reaction. I guess not many react that way. All 3 check it out, decide it's okay, measure, and tell me that my vial will definitely be diluted. I was advised to take a benedryl when I got home, but I didn't b/c I didn't want to sleep, lol. It's still slightly warm and tender, but the swelling has gone down completely and the color is almost back to normal.

FWIW, I only do this on one side. Only one injection sets it off - I get one in each arm. Yet the other one doesn't do it. I guess I just have to have trouble allergies.

~QB29

A finish!

I finished a baby quilt today. And just in time too. Her daddy and mommy are moving after next weekend to go serve the Lord in a church in Indiana. I'm right on schedule with it - she's going on 6 months old, lol.

The quilt is a scrappy disappearing nine patch. It's so scrappy the disappearing nine-patch really does disappear!. One day I decided I really was not the floral type person, so I dumped all my floral/pastels F.Q. in a box and started cutting squares. This is quilt #2 from round #1 of cutting - enough scraps remain to do at least 2 more baby quilts. The border is the same fabric that was used to back baby Wynter's quilt - told ya I liked it. It was also used to back quilt #1 from the scrappy disappearing nine-patches.

The close-up photo shows one of my favorite fabrics in the quilt. I just didn't think I would ever use it in anything else, so it ended up in the pile. It is the green rectangle with plum and purple and dark pink colored flowers.

Off to sew some more. I'm really loving not having to worry about school work :-). Freedom until August 24th when classes start back up.

~QB29

Post #93

Just thought I'd share ... I'm at post #93. Be on the lookout for post #100. Now that school's out for summer I should get around to posting quite a bit. And when I hit that #100, it'll be a good one.

~QB29

Giveaway Madness

Hi all,

Ryan from "I'm Just a Guy Who Quilts" is having a giveaway to celebrate his birthday. Stop by, check out the goods, and enter for yourselves! Here are some of the cool prizes he's got:

Plus he has one that is at least a complete surprise!

~QB29

Almost done

Last night was my last class for summer term. Our professor bought us pizza :-D. Both groups presented their projects. Surprisingly, ours actually worked. It was rough, but it worked :-D. I still have to write a paper for that class, but since grades aren't due until August he's letting us (all of us) turn it in next Friday instead of today when "Summer 1st 8 wk term" officially ends. Grades have not yet been posted for the other class yet, but I'm confident I got my A.

~QB29

daily giggle

So I ride up with a co-worker in the elevator today. She says, "It's a great day this morning. The garage didn't trap me in the house this morning."

*** her garage spring snapped night before last so yesterday she couldn't get out.

~QB29

July Block done!

You guessed it, I'm again avoiding my term paper. So here's what I sewed tonight - it's my July BOM and today is only the 4th! (Okay, I just looked at the clock at it's 12:13 AM on the 5th) Wow, I must be sick or something. June's was mailed July 1st and May's June 29th. Two pics to show - one of the FQ (actually FQ leftovers) that I used for my print and one of the block. I liked how it turned out. I'm interested to see what others do with the directions. They stated, "Use a medium print with a minimal amount of background that contrasts with the Moda Swirls Natural fabric. Think fruits, veggies, flowers, leaves, anything that reminds you of autumn." So does mine pass the test? I think so.

Okay - I'm in withdrawal

In case you haven't noticed, it's not been two weeks yet. It hasn't even been 1 week. I just couldn't take it. Not blogging is like not breathing. Don't live long without either, lol, unless you're at a quilt retreat that doesn't have internet, then you might survive not blogging :-D.

Okay, so the reason for this post: I'm caught up, at least until the July block is posted this week, on my BOM that I do. May blocks mailed out earlier this week and June blocks are set to be dropped off at the PO this afternoon.

Here are pics:
June 2009 - Ribbon Star

May 2009 - Calico Puzzle

~QB29

Goodbye My Friends .....

At least until Saturday, July 11, 12:00 AM.

My professor assigned a term paper tonight. That's right, TWO weeks before the end of summer term!!!!! On top of a group project that can only be done on a campus computer!!!!!!! My laptop using campus wireless is not sufficient. So unless you are an expert on Web Engineering, this is your notice. You will not be seeing me.

Thank you, and have a good two weeks and a day.

~QB29

Look who I have this weekend!

Isn't he cute?




His mommy and daddy and big brother are camping. So he's camping out in Ga-Ga's living room.

rant ....

I know not everyone has the same dress standards I do, but come on people, at least dress respectable. I was at the statehouse the other day and a lady a few feet away from me was wearing daisy duke shorts and a halter top (or it might have been a tube top showing bra straps - I really didn't pay attention.) When I first noticed her I honestly thought she was inconvenienced on her way to the pool or something. Please people, your dress says a lot. When you're standing before State Senators & State Representatives dress to show respect! Even if you don't think the particular Senator or Representative deserves it, at the very least give respect to the position.

~QB29

Woo Hoo!

Got my midterm back from last week. Got a 98 :-D

The other class did not have a midterm.
Now I just have to survive another 4 weeks :-).

~QB29

Waun-a-Finish Start-to-Finish

I got this beautiful dress off Denim & Co (QVC). It didn't even dawn on me until I tried it on that it had slits! It was too nice to return, so I set it aside a few weeks until I had time to sew the slits. Well, that time was this evening, and in less than 30 minutes I ripped & stitched and presto - a beautiful white dress with NO slits. The second photo shows one of the slits sewn up.

I planted!

This is my second summer at this townhouse. I decided to actually plant something this year. It's not the best - considering I haven't done any planting since I was just a kid with my mom watching over my shoulder. Oh well, at least it should add some color. I get orange, red, and yellow Celosia's. I didn't want Petunias or Impatiens and these drew my attention at the store.





~QB29

SBS blocks in mail

EDIT: I forgot, these count as a Waun-a-Finish :-D. Woo hoo, finish #2. Not bad for slow me.

Here are my long awaited SBS blocks.
I'm in my group meeting for
school right now, but will be done (or leave early) to make it to the PO before noon. I had my friend give me directions to the one here in University City since I didn't have a clue where one was located.
They'll be over-nighted to C, who's running the swap and she'll begin the swap process. I think I'm the last one :-(.

Irish Chain (B9)


Bowtie (F3)


Old Maid's Puzzle (F4)


Sarah's Choice (H3)


Weathervane (H9)
never got done :-(

Anvil (I4)

Dutchman's Puzzle (I3)


Right Hand of Friendship (I7)


Pinwheel (J7)


Enjoy!

~QB29

I need to go away more often ....

Today I took a short break from work and ran to the nearby fire station for a car seat installation/inspection. Bubba, the younger nephew, is 18+ pounds and about out of the carrier. Since I don't have a base and would have to install the carrier itself each car trip next weekend when I have him, I thought it would make much more sense to install the RF convertible car seat. Even though I needed the FD to do it for me, it is a lot easier to do b/c it has LATCH, unlike the carrier. No matter how many times I've tried, I can't get the locking clip to lock in the right place :-(.

Well, back to why I need to go away more often. I wasn't gone 30 minutes and came back and my monitors were gone! In their place were 2 flat screens! I'm the last person in the office to get flat screens, though the 3 computers in the print room don't have them yet, but those computers are only used for printing reports, not assigned to an individual, and so are unlikely to be upgraded unless something breaks.

I wonder what else could be upgraded if I leave again?


UPDATE: I was informed shortly before leaving that my flat screens will be upgraded. The ones they gave me are actually smaller than my old monitors, lol. They have some larger ones around that they will give me sometime next week. I'm moving up in the world :-D.

~QB29

Need help - any ideas?

Okay, so my sewing desk is a basic singer sewing table and my chair is a basic desk chair - not a nice cushy chair on wheels. If I had thought about it this morning and if my camera had working batteries, I would have taken a picture for you.

If I'm ever going to sew again I need to improve situation!

I am in so much back pain today after sewing every night/morning this week that I can barely move. It hurts to shuffle down the hall. I've been having back spasms for a couple of days now and stupid me, knowing it's the sewing desk/chair, keeps sewing!

So what suggestions does everyone have for making it more ergonomic?


~qb29

gui, gui, gui

Anyone want a gui? Gui's for sale!!!! Come get them before they're gone!

Can you tell that I'm just a gui-crazy today? We're working on the Gui's for our group project for Web Engineering.

No bouncing balls though :-(.

~QB29

1st finish!

For those peeps in the know, this is "the quilt" that generated my big discussion/comment seeking. It is the one I worked on at retreat with the pinks & greens that everyone loved the colors on . I told the mom about it on Sunday and checked to make sure I was spelling the name correctly on the label. I let her know that I would drop it off for tonight since I've got class on Wed and am not at church.

I asked my friend J check to make sure the mom got it, so J called and checked for me (I don't have a number). J told me she loved it and wants to hang it up in the living room!!!! I told J to let her know I would add a hanging sleeve after pictures are taken.

So my question is, what do I need to do to make a hanging sleeve on an already completed baby quilt?

Okay, okay, what you all are waiting for - the details!
Label said:

Stitched with love for
Wynter Dunn
Beloved daughter of
Mike & Rhonda
Forever Loved
June 2009

Quilting - done in a cream thread, "in the ditch" around the flowers and meandered in the center/cream border.
Backing - real pretty soft pink flower print (with some green/yellow) on a cream. I'm in love with this print. I've used it at least 3 times now.

Pics are below. Sorry for the poor quality - I realized in the car on the way to drop it off that I hadn't taken pictures. If she wants me to add the hanging sleeve, I'll get better ones then.

New contest

Hey - for anyone who's been to the Sew, Mama, Sew blog, she's having a new contest that runs through the end of June. Grand prize is a sewing machine!

http://sewmamasew.com/blog2/?p=827

~QB29

Waun-a-Finish UFO list

Here goes ... I may have to add later. School's been kicking my butt so I haven't been able to do much of anything since retreat :-(

1. Dino quilt - bind/label (for Bubby)
2. Football quilt - applique/quilt/etc. (for Bubba)
3. RD baby girl - label & gift
4. AD baby boy - cut, needs sewng
5. Zoo Parade - bind/label (when returned from my Aunt)
6. Thangles 2009 ketchup
7. Thangles 2008 ketchup
8. Big C's Denim/Flannel rag quilt - partially cut
9. Bind - pink baby quilt
10. Bind - scrappy pastels baby quilt
11. label - Rachel's sunshine
12. frog/bind - bright sea life
13. Sleepytime baby quilt - ready to baste/quilt
14. Jan Stash Pot Pie Quilt - needs applique/baste/quilt

Who knows what else I've got half started????

I'm in the midst of organizing my sewing room and I can't believe all the fabric I've accumulated, including fabric for skirts. I'm amazed at everything I kept pulling out of the spare room closet. I have a roomie moving on Friday so I have to have everything out of storage from in there. I can't believe all the stuff I've accumulated. Apparently I suffer from the out of sight, out of mind, let's buy more syndrome.

~QB29

It's Y2k all over again

Head against wall, head against wall, head against wall.

Only in the car business can 2010 become 1980 or 1910. How are 1910 car models still on the road? When they're really 2010's!

Oh well, it was good for a laugh when I first heard the story.

~QB29

grrrr....

Why is when one makes plans that involve a 2nd person, the 1st person feels it's okay to change them without checking first with the 2nd person.??????

Can I just scream now!!!!!!

~QB29

hair cut & highlights!

You heard that right! When I got my hair cut last night I had my friend put highlights in it. It was my first time ever having any type of color put on my hair. I like it! I am babysitting the boys tonight and my mom's going to meet me there for dinner, so I'll have her take a picture so I have one to post.


~QB29

Dillon's Journey

Dillon is a little boy who will turn 3 in about a month. (Yes, for those of you who also got my email, I got ahead of myself by a month). I know his grandma from an internet group I have been on since college, and have followed Dillon's story since his birth.

He suffered brain damage at birth and has several disabilities as a result. His parents have worked really hard to help him. They are hoping to take him to China for stem cell treatments using umbilical cord cells in hopes that it will help his functioning (specifically mentioned were reduction in seizures and improvement in vision). Please pray for this sweet little boy and his family. Lift them up to God that He will provide and that He will keep them safe as they prepare for their journey abroad. Please, if you are able, help them financially.

Looking at Dillon and his brother JayDonn who is coming up on his 2nd birthday (yes, they're really close in age), I can't help but think of my own Bubby and Bubba. Bubby is just a few months younger than Dillon, which makes me hold Dillon even closer in my heart. He is a reminder of how God allows our best laid plans to change in an instant, but that if we trust in Him, He will use it for His good.

~QB29

I did it ...

now I'm just waiting for an email back. I think I'll be checking email every 15 minutes, though I know he probably does not get to check during the day :-(.

~QB29

I have followers!

So I was just on the blogger dashboard checking the blogs that I follow and noticed the "followers" link on it. I'm so excited! I have followers!

~QB29

fear of ....

rejection? Has anyone else ever experienced this? I really want to do something, but I'm afraid I'll be rejected, so instead I sit in the shadows too timid to even try :-( I guess I'd rather not know and be able to dream than to know and have my dreams dashed.

~QB29

label cloud

Yeah, thanks to the website below I have a cool label cloud. I promise it will be cooler when I have more labels and have time to tweak the coding! I may go back and add labels to each of my posts :-). Then again maybe not, lol.

Label Cloud How-to for Blogger

~QB29

daily giggle ...

So I get this comment on my blog ....

Jen said...

You kill me!! I swear every day you make me giggle about something!!

5/05/2009 01:27:00 PM

I guess that means I need to blog a daily giggle? :-D Okay, here goes, but it's not quilt related.

I babysat Bubby, my 2 yr-old nephew, this weekend. After evening church service we went to Frisch's . Since we had eaten before service, I did not want to buy two whole meals for us, so I decided we would just split an order. I asked Bubby if he wanted pancakes and he said yes. Then I asked him if he even knew what pancakes were and he said they were "Yum-yums". I had to laugh - cause he's right, pancakes are yum-yums!

Doesn't he look ready to enjoy his yum-yums?

Best Friends/Upcoming Left-Right-Center Night

To all whom it may concern:

You may breathe easy and have a chance of winning LRC at the upcoming night at Best Friends. I hereby post my regrets in that I will be unable to claim my winning FQ's. I have a high school graduation to attend in another state. So your winnings are safe this time.

Respectfully,
QB29

Drool Alert - Fabric Shack Purchases :-)

My mom, nephew, and I visited Fabric Shack today! I managed to purchase about 15/16 yards of fabric - most of the $2.98 carts. We were there forever. I did manage to get my exercise chasing my nephew around the store. They even gave him a duster so he could "dust" the fabric. He enjoyed it.

The last two images are the $2.98 fabrics and the 1st picture are some yardages off the clearance section. Gotta love savings :-).

fabric shack visit????

For all those who visited the Fabric Shack last week, I may get to go on Monday. Since I'm off, my mom brought up running up there before taking the Bubby home. He has to be home around supper - not sure yet if that's before, at, or after. Happy drooling :-)

I got some accomplished :P

Laundry will have to wait until after I get Bubby, but I'll get it gathered and sorted so it's ready to go. He likes helping with laundry anyway, so he can be my helper and put it all in the washer. I sit hiim on the dryer and then hand him the stuff that needs to go in the washer and he puts it in. When the load is ready for the dryer, he stands next to me, I hand him the items, and he puts them in the dryer. He's a good helper.

I need milk for the boy, so we'll just stop at the grocery store on the way to the house, and I'll pick up my other needs then. I've got chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes, green beans, his favorite noodles, hotdogs, and hot cereal, so I think I'm good on Bubby food. Besides milk, his requirements are yogurt (he doesn't get any at home, just with me, so he thinks it's a very special treat) and cookies (the ones from last visit are probably stale - I haven't eaten any in awhile).

The quilt he doesn't need until I return him, so I can work on it during nap/after he goes to bed and have it ready to go.

I haven't vacuumed my bedroom/sewing room yet, but neither he nor study group will be in there, so I'm good on that account.

Retreat pictures? Yeah, not happening this week :-(. Well, not today anyway. Maybe later when I finsih Dino quilt.

It's almost time to get him :-) I'm way excited. Can you tell? My Bubby's coming for a visit!

So that's my list update.

~QB29

Thursday To-Do's

Tonight my to-do's fall into one of 3 categories:
1. Bubby prep - I'm picking him up from daycare Friday and he's spending Sat. & Sun nights with me at my place :-D. So I need to Bubby proof the place.
2. Study group prep - at least 1 classmate is coming over for a study group during bubby's nap on sunday, so we need a place to work as a group
3. sewing room - sewing & organization

So here goes (in no particular order)
1. vacuum downstairs & upstairs
2. mop kitchen/bathrooms
3. clean bathrooms
4. clear off table/cover with table cloth
5. organize computer area
6. laundry
7. finish binding dino quilt - it will go to daycare on tuesday with the bubby :-D
8. grocery store/plan menus through next week - will do with the bubby
9. put spring flag/door decor out
10. nail backs in closetmaid shelving (assembly was all after midnight when neighbors were sleeping)
11. organize/unpack sewing stuff - at least 15 minutes worth did way more than 15 minutes :-D
12. elephant's trunk on zoo parade quilt/package for mailing
13. post retreat pictures - saved for another day

I've got tonight and the AM to do all this. Knowing me, I'll probably think of other things to add and then not finish most of them :-p

~qb29

The ball bounces ....

Woo hoo, I got my bouncing ball to bounce. My last homework for the semester is submitted and awaiting review :-). Now just comes the study time, lol.

Update on the Target/Closetmaid mess. I did return the junk to Target and purchased a real ClosetMaid at Meijer, just across the train tracks from Target. So far it's still sitting in the box upstairs - but hey, I did have a ball to bounce ;-P.

~QB29

trying to be good...

And organize my newly won FQ courtesy of Piwacket's suggestion - but no, not happening. I stopped by target this afternoon and picked up 3 organizers. First up, a 9 cube clearance closetmaid organizer - like the one here but in green. Not too happening about the green, but it was 50% off the regular Target price of $50.00. Next up was a cute little 2 shelf unit which I already have one of. I got one of these years ago to organize shoes when I was a teenager and it's served me well in every closet since.

Third, and my main reason for going, was a 15 cubby shoe organizer similar to Piwacket's. It was in with all the closetmaid stuff in a blue box similar to the closetmaid boxes. So you think it's a closetmaid? WRONG. It's Target's Ogranize-It brand and it's a piece of junk. I got it home and right out of the box one of the pieces is broken. Now, I've had stuff broken or missing in other products I've had to assemble and I've always been able to go to the website or call the comment line and order, free of charge, replacement parts. So I'm like, no biggie, I'll jump online and it'll be here in a few days. Did I mention this was the ONLY ONE on the shelf? So I couldn't just return it. Of course, after examining the packaging and the box - there is no phone number on the directions or packaging and the only website was http://www.target.com. So I call up the store and get shuffled to the guest services desk. They give me the 1-800 # to call for Target products. So I call that number and get a lady who totally gave me that "I'm suppose to be sympathetic and helpful but I really don't care" attitude in her voice and said to me, after I told her the problem, "Well do you have the receipt, if you bought it in the last 90 days you can just return it. Maybe the store can switch out the defective piece for you." DID SHE EVEN LISTEN TO ME??? I purchased it TODAY. It was the ONLY ONE on the shelf. Grr, so I'm taking it back tomorrow and will stick with Closet Maid at ANOTHER store, even if it costs me more!

It looks like Home Depot & Lowe's both carry it online. Tomorrow I'll check in store at Lowe's, Meijer's, Kmart, Walmart, Home Depot, and Bed Bath & Beyond. All are within a 5 minutes drive of my commute so other than frustration it's not bad. If I can't find one in store anywhere, I'll order online.
~QB29

to do list

Well, of course I had too much on my retreat list, but don't I always? Here's what I got accomplished. Some pictures will follow.
1. Finished Zoo Parade & Backing except for stitching elephant's trunk - I forgot my purple thread.
2. R/W/B star blocks for comfort quilt
3. Dog blocks
4. started first set of SBS blocks
5. Finished attaching binding to dinos (still needs stitched in back)
6. completed tulip blocks for baby quilt and got center and QST assembled.

And for another list ... my Monday to-do's (okay, maybe the weekly to-do)
1. Stop at store(s) and check out shoe organizer - after all, winning two rounds of LRC requires lots of FQ storage. purchased and awaiting assembly in the sewing room.
2. Spend about 30 minutes organizing sewing room.
3. Finish 1st set of SBS blocks
4. Finish piecing Baby Girl D - July top
5. School work - complete assignment for CSC815, Java Bouncing Ball & review for finals

Oh, and I can't forgot getting shot ;) - allergy shot that is.

Well, I need to get moving on my list.
~QB29

Retreat With My Peeps

Well, I'm home from my retreat. I had an awesome time. It was simply wonderful and I'm counting down until next year :-D. I'll post more later this week about it all. I just wanted to jump on and say "I'm home!".

~QB29

packin' for retreat

So how many of you actually thought I'd have everything ready to go before 11:03 PM night before retreat? Yeah, right, I just now started a load of laundry. I've been upstairs slicing and packing. Here's my official project list ('cause it's what's packed, lol)
1. Baby girl D - July quilt - finish piecing top (all cut, need to assemble 12 blocks and put together)
2. Baby boy D - june - piece top (cut except for borders)
3. Thangles blocks - whew, at the last minute I found my Thangles, though I'm almost out of 3". I'll hopefully swing by mom's and grab hers since mine did get used on her BOM from last year :-). she owes me, lol.
4. Happy scrappy - not cut or anything. I've even managed to lose a pattern :-(. Maybe mom will let me have her fan pattern. Again I can pick it up on the way :-D. But I have my background fabric and ALL of my 1930's FQ :-). So I'll be in the same boat as I was before - which ones should I use?
5. Zoo Parade - pieces for backing (not counting sashing/border) cut, green sashing/border fabrics in bag, top in bag, along with zebra stuff & book. Will need to fuse zebra block, zig-zag zebra/lion blocks, and finish piecing top.
6. SBS blocks - I only got pieces for 4 or 5 cut, but have fabrics along for the rest.
7. And if that's not enough, I have a baby quilt ready to bind - binding's sewn onto front, just needs hand stitching on back.
8. FQ - they did say to bring extra for Left, Right, Center


Projects not coming....
1. Bubba's football quilt - hey, he's getting my zoo parade, so football can wait :-).
2. Other quilts needing binding: sea life, pastels, dino
3. Big C's denim/flannel rag quilt
4. obviously rest of baby quilts - not even going to go there.

So now I need to decide what clothes to wear - at least they'll be clean since laundry's in now :-). I also need to pack shampoo/etc, let my iron cool down (after ironing tomorrow's outfit) & load my car. And yes, my sewing machine was the first thing to go into a travel case. Including extra needles & the pedal. So i'm good there. I've also got my cushion to sit on packed with it. I think I may quickly switch bags and use a suitcase like someone else suggested. I'm up to too many already with just my sewing stuff.

Tomorrow I hope to get out before 12. I need to stop by mom's on the way and maybe I can run into a quilt store????? I'll need to check google maps in the AM if I get a chance. I'm going to stop by a store someplace and pick up snacks to share with everyone :-). Probably chocolate chip cookies??? I was going to try to make brownie cups, but yea, i'm not baking at 11:32 PM.

I'm debating on whether to bring lappie. I'm going to sew, but it would be nice to have if internet is available up there. I'm not sure. I also have to modify a C++ buffer overflow program as well as write a JAVA bouncing ball program. Both are due next week and are the final assignments for their respective classes. Good news is that the Tuesday class is cancelled as the professor is out of town, so I'll have then to work on them if I need to. I'll decide in the morning.

Well, laundry's changed, so I'm going to go load the car with sewing stuff. I wanted to jump on here to make sure I packed everything :-). Looks like I got enough.

~QB29

Heading to the Post Office , Gonna send some mail :-)

Well, I got the April blocks finished for the PClassic BOM. We did a pattern called "Tea Leaf" - similar to a maple leaf, but without a stem. I'm getting ready to head out to the post office/run some errands, so these and the March blocks will be on their merry way.

The 2nd picture is better, colorwise.














~QB29

Accomplishments!

Can anyone guess what these are?



If you guessed envelopes containing one million dollars apiece - you're wrong :-). They are cards ready to address & mail with my March BOM for the online group.



So I did get something done tonight :-) I also got Mr. Tractor Quilt (for Baby Boy M - March) about half way bound. If I work on it tomorrow it should be finished and ready to give. :-)

Well, I'd better get off and get to bed :-)zzzzzz
~QB29

Weekend To Do List

Here's what I'm working on this weekend - realistically
1. Bind/label/give tractor quilt
2. Cut SBS fabrics/package w/ directions for retreat
3. Cut/attach binding to scrappy pastels
4. cut/attach binding to dino quilt
5. PClassic BOM blocks
6. Start packing projects for retreate

And nonquilty
1. Homework!!!! - Perl Script #1, #2, or #3
2. Laundry - wash/put away/plan for week
3. Clean downstairs
4. Go roller skating - haven't been but once or twice for church activities since I was a teen, but I still have my skates and figure this is a good way to get exercise :-) - so not happening, lol
5. Some stuff for work :-(

Another Picture

I am calling this one "tilted animals". I believe there are 9 different animals altogether - I'll be using 25 fof them. The center will be laid out 5 X 5, with a 2" white print border, and then a 4" border. The backing will be more of the animal fabric with probably blue binding. Here is my sample block:


This is for Baby Boy D - due in June.

~QB29

Picture Time!!!!

Really! I actually took some pictures. Let's see if I can post them :-).









Tractor quilt - going to Baby Boy M - March. I was working on attaching the binding when I stopped to get on here. The binding is the yellow-gold color in some of the blocks. This was a kit that I got online and the colors were darker and less brighter than I anticipated. Still it turned out good. My aunt quilted it for me over the summer. It was one of the ones I did not get too. It is a panel. 10 of the small squares were cut from the panel and framed by tone on tones.

And a close up of one of the blocks:

projects list

Okay, here's what I want to accomplish at retreat (or like to think I would if retreat were longer and sleep wasn't a necessity :-))

1. Thangles - I have 6 blocks for this year, and I think 11 from last year to do.
2. Scrappy Happy - BOM at LQS - need to do ALL 9 blocks so far.
3. PClassicBOM - online BOM group, I am a month behind, need to do March & April blocks.
4. Bubba's Football Quilt - need to Applique football & name (will baste @ home for hand quilting).
5. Zoo Parade - need to cut & fuse Zebra block, zig-zag zebra & lion blocks, finish piecing top, and piece back. This will be sent to my Aunt's for machine quilting.
6. SBS blocks - online swap, I signed up to make 10 each of 9 blocks, plus I am making an 11th one for me to keep - need to do all 99!!!!!! Due June 1.
7. Prep 5 quilts for binding & bind (pastels, pinks, tractors, dino, & sea life)
8. Big C's flannel/denim rag quilt - need to pick up again - have some blocks cut, need to cut rest and start piecing.
9. Church baby quilts - EEK - we have 12 babies coming!!!! (or just arrived)
* Baby Girl C - feb - just needs binding (pastels)
* Baby Boy M - mar - just needs binding (tractor)
* Baby Girl B - apr - needs quiting (sleepytime)
* Baby Boy M - apr - just needs binding (sea life)
* Baby Girl D - may - needs center appliqued (stash pot pie quilt) - do @ retreat
* Baby Boy E - may - want to do top @ retreat (sheep applique)
* Baby Boy D - jun - want to do top @ retreat (tilted animals)
* Baby Girl D - july - must have top finished - will probably start first - must be done before baby comes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! sheep/heart/pinks
* Baby Boy W - july
* Baby Boy F - aug
* Baby T - aug
* Baby A - aug
* Baby Y - aug
* Baby D - late summer/early fall
** list includes 2 not at our church - so 14 quilts to make!!!! I'm gonna be busy :-)

Of course, you know me, so I will add to the list so that it can never be finsihed :-).

~QB29

update

I can't believe it's mid April already. I have been so busy with school. School is going well. Finals are the first week of May and then I'm done for all of a week :-). I'm taking two summer classes: each meets two nights a week for 8 weeks. It will be a long start to my summer, but will so be worth it because I'll be able to take 3 classes each semester next year and finish next May :-).

I'm looking forward to a quilt retreat in a week and a half. It's a Friday - Sunday retreat in Palestine, OH (west of Dayton, North of Cincinnati). The organizer works at the quilt store I frequent in Cincinnati. The retreat is a fundraiser for St. Jude'S Children's Hospital in Memphis. A portion of our fee goes to them as well as any class fees. I believe there will be some other fund-raising or maybe charity quilting while we're there - I'm not sure, it's my first time attending.

So the rest of this week/this weekend/beginning of next week I'm working on getting stuff ready to go. So I can focus on sewing I am trying to make up kits of all the projects I want to do. For each project, my goal is to package pre-cut pieces and directions and, if necessary, matching thread, in a Ziploc baggie so all I have to do is pull out a baggie, thread my machine, and off I go :-). I need to get caught up on my Thangles and my other BOM that I'm doing this year. I also need to finish a zoo parade quilt (from Kim Schaefer's book "Quilts, Bibs, Blankies, Oh my", piece a backing for it, and make about a gazillion baby quilts.

Okay, maybe that's a gazillion less one :-). Between church & friends I have 13 or so baby quilts to do (or least to make in my head, lol). That's babies born since February through ones expected in August. I do have some quilts that just need binding that I can use for some of the babies and some tops ready for quilting that can be used for the others. My hope is to get 2 or 3 more tops completed by the end of retreat. I have 5 vacation days to take in May, so I plan on doing lots of quilting then :-). That will hopefully take care of the first batch of babies (February - April)

So my next two weeks consist of cutting, cutting, and a little sewing :-) Then lots of sewing :-).

~QB29