Nearly Two Years?????

So the fact that I have not blogged for nearly 2 years tells me one of several things:
1) I really don't like  blogging, although I do Facebook.
2) I didn't get anything done.
3) My computer isn't set up, thus making blogging easier
4) I forgot I had a blog.

or all of the above........

Didn't exactly get much done in 2014.  Lotsa knitting, but not much sewing.

I don't blog, nor do I read them.  Needless to say, I forgo I  even had one.

I don't have an easy computer set up and I don't use the tablet for that sort of thing.

There you have it.  Besides, no one reads the thing but me, so  who cares?????

QUILT FINISHED!!!!

This is SO exciting!  I sent two quilts out to Tomme Fent, a long arm quilter from our guild - she does FABULOUS work and they came back just stunning!  It costs a few pennies, but it is worth it.

This is the finished product - I orginally called it Confetti Cats, but perhaps, now I will call it Delia's Cats since she is going to get the quilt at the new baby's shower.  I think she will love it.  It should go with anything they put in her room, since they were talking about changing colors and styles.  It's probably a bit "modern" for Nicki, but hey, she can toss it in the corner to make a house for all I care.  It's Delia's quilt.

The quilting is a flower design and in neon pink.  Looks great on the front AND the back!

Kind of hard to see, but it really is awesome.  I plan to show it at our guild show in August!

Happy St. Patty's Day

So since the last post, I have quilted the two Turning 20 quilts, finished 6 charity baby quits, made 75-80 knitted hats, made backings and cut battings for every quilt top I've finished and even repaired a wall hanging that john bought at the snowmobile convention this year.

Not bad. I can actually SEE progress in the "finished UFO" arena.

I am in process of marking another quilt top to take to Marcia's, hopefully over spring break. It's the Lover's Knot quilt top I did, who knows how many years ago.I am going to try doing some motifs this time, rather than free motion. A bit edgy for me. Lots of stopping and starting on the triangle parts. Also have three charity quilts to quilt on the home machine.

I am in hopes of getting at least half of the quilt tops quilted this year - a combination of going to Marcia's and sending them out. I am hoping to send one out during spring break. I want to try the gal in Troutdale. I know it was cost a bit of coin - these aren't the small quilts - so I have to be a bit fussy about when and how many.

It's really nice to finish some things - it makes me feel like I could actually shop a little for fabric one of these days.....

Give Thanks!

For getting things done. Over the Thanksgiving week I managed to finish two quilt tops and get a raggedy quilt ready for assembly. I went shopping with my friend Marcia at the big warehouse store and found a Turning 20 pattern. Everyone has been talking about them, and true to form, I am behind the trend. Decided perhaps it was a good way to get rid of some fat quarters. It was! Although I can't say I am in love with either of them, they are done and are rather nice quilts.

The first one was done with a run of fabrics from Connecting Threads called "Twilight." It's OK. I changed the blocks around several times so there were a variety of combinations. I think it made it a bit trickier to lay out. I am thinking of giving it to the head of the assisted living place where Mom lived for 3 months - he was so good to her and certainly part of her "twilight years." I dunno.

The second one was done with fabric from the same source but the run was called some body's "Garden" so the colors were more springy. If I had it to do over again, I would cut out some of the yellow and replace them with purples to push the range a bit. It's a nice happy quilt - just right for a little girl. I think it will be nice in a guest bedroom if we ever get a new house built.

I just finished sewing the flannel quilt but now I need to clip all the seams and wash it so it "fluffs." I'll post a photo of that next.

If I manage to get over to Marcia's house to use her long arm during winter break, I might get these two finished! I figure I will just meander quilt them for the most part. Nothing fancy. I have finushed 10 quilts ofmy own this year and 10 chairty quilts!!! It's a personal best!

I hope to get several quilts quilted over the break to get off to a good start for 2012!

FINISHED!!!!!!

I am in such a good place!!!! I have finished 9 quilts this year. By far the best is the batik swap that Vickie and Kathy and I did a couple of years ago. I added blocks to it to make it a queen size quilt and borders. Had it quilted by the long arm lady in The Dalles. She did a nice job.

It looks beautiful on the guest bed. I would like to have it on our bed, but since Miss Alice Cat likes to use her claws on everything, I can't. Perhaps some day I will have a hom made quilt on our bed too. The photo really doesn't do it justice.

I will set a record this year with finished projects. I have 4 more charity quilt tops ready to go and several more in the works. I also have a few tops that I can quilt at macia's on her long arm.

String Quilt

Managed to get interested again in my Christmas string quilt. I was so unhappy with the skipping stitches on the quilting that I couldn't get motivated to finish it. After finishing the little baby quilts and feeling better about myself, I was able to finally tackle the string quilt again. I had to convince myself that this thing is NOT going into the fair and no one is going to look at the stitches on the back. Got the straight stuff all done and am now on the little motifs in the white centers. It's going OK - I am still not happy with my tension, but it won't be noticable unless you stick your nose on it.

If I can get the centers done, it will be the borders and FINISHED!!!! I'll even have it done for the holidays! Woo Hoo! I am seeing this puppy done within the month. Of August, anyway.

Charity Quilts and More

Really went on a rip tear this weekend, sewing. That means I actually FINISHED nearly 4 quilts - have one left to hand sew binding down.

The first one was the BW bento that I did at Marcia's on the long arm. Not a bad first effort if you ask me. Too bad it isn't a more attractive quilt. Not sure what on earth I will do with it - pile it up with the rest of the them, I suppose. I have enough bento blocks to do a second one. I am thinking of making the blocks and then making tote bags or something. Not interesting enough for another quilt. Charity is always good too. Good will loves that sort of thing.

Next were the charity quilts for the Guild. This is my "signature pattern." I made it up and it really is cute. I like it best with the solid borders. The orange one was the first one and I had to experiment a little to get it right. I've cut our several "kits" for guild, but I am being silly about sharing the stupid "pattern." I finally convinced myself that I didn't have to sew all of the little blankie and that I had enough of my own stuff to sew. It isn't like I get brownie points for the dumb things. I even talked Jean Stone into cutting out squares for the meeting. There is one more- a blue one that needs the binding sewn down.

Last, but not least, was a panel quilt that I just machine quilted. Not my best effort, but it was good practice. It turned out OK-good thing it is for charity and that who ever gets it won't know who made it. I shouldn't be so picky about my work. I know I am not a professional machine quilter and that it takes hours of practice, so I wish i could get past my "perfectionism" issues and just enjoy sewing.

BUT the good news is that I have FIVE, count them, FIVE finished quilts- OK, four of them are small, but they are DONE . I have two more at the long arm quilters, so I should have them done before Labor Day weekend!!!!! This is amazing! I also have the potential of finishing a couple more if I can get over to Marcia's in the next couple of months. I am actually feeling like I can make new things for a change!!!

I signed up for a couple of long arm classes at the NW Quilt expo, so that should give me some ideas for finishing quilts other than just meandering around. I also plan to look through my books and photos for ideas. I can't do the fancy stuff, but I can do the simple stuff.

Feeling good for a change!!!!