April UFO #4 - Update

APRIL UFO #4 - UPDATE -
Stage 4 - Needs Basting
Summer Lotus 

This sucker has a 1" grid to be quilted - oh, goody!  Without a long-arm - that should be fun!

But first it had to be basted.  That's all I had to do this month.

Get it out of Stage 4 and on up to Stage 3 - Need Quilting, etc.

So I sent my husband over to JoAnns (with a picture of what I wanted and a coupon) to get me some basting spray.  Turns out they don't sell it at the store any more - they only sell it online - so I had to order some. (Not from you, Randolph!!)

While I was waiting for my order to arrive - I got to thinking.
(And no - I didn't get a headache - this time!)

I thought a bunch of things -

• I already have several quilts that are basted and waiting to be quilted - Stage 3.

• I don't have a long-arm quilting machine so we're talking about quilting it on a little domestic machine.  For me - quilting anything larger than a baby quilt is a huge PITA!!

• I really have no desire to baste a Queen-sized quilt only to have it sit while I find the time (and inclination) to quilt it - along with the others.

• I don't have room to store it in a basted state.  It would be HUGE - and it takes up plenty of space just the way it is.

• It wouldn't make sense to send it to a long-arm quilter.  The whole point of buying it pre-stenciled was to quilt a wholecloth quilt myself.  Although, I must admit - I had intended to do it by hand - but that's just not going to happen!

• My original goal/challenge was to move my UFOs out of their current Stage and up the ladder - and then eventually off the ladder - to the "Done" list.

• I could move this particular UFO out of its current Stage - #4 - to another Stage more in keeping with its actual status.  That would satisfy the move part of the goal - just not the up part.  (Half a goal is better than none, right?)

• It could be considered a kit - something that is ready to go - just needs pre-washing - but it has been pre-washed so that's not quite right.

• Then I realized that this UFO wasn't all that different from my Stage 11 projects -

Stage 11.  Prepped - Pre-washed - Pressed - Ready to Cut - etc.

So I moved it - to Stage 11 -

Summer Lotus is no longer a Stage 4 project - YAY!!

Mission Accomplished!

My UFOs - My Rules!



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

Two Question Tuesday - 4/26/11

Two Question Tuesday - 4/26/11

Here's the deal -  I really liked Mama M.'s Five Question Friday - but that's just too many questions for me.  So I'm going to do my version - and without the linky thingy.

I'll ask two questions and then give you my answers.  If you want to play - you can give me your answers in the comment section.  If you have a blog and would rather answer them there - just leave a link to your blog instead.  I don't know how to do the "Linky" thing like Mama M. yet - and to be honest - I would rather sew than find out - so I'll do it this way until I figure it out - if you don't mind.  (Computers and I get along sometimes and then they do something stupid like give me "server reject" errors when I try to "insert image".  Drove me nuts on my Design Wall Monday post yesterday.  So no more photos until I figure out what is going on.)


Two questions for you this Tuesday -

1.  Have you ever had a tooth pulled?

2.  Have you ever had your house professionally cleaned?

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1.  Have you ever had a tooth pulled?

YES -
I was just sitting there enjoying some wonderful peanut brittle - all sweet and peanut-ty - and thought I broke a tooth on Tuesday.  Realized I really did break a tooth on Wednesday.  Called the dentist on Thursday and asked if they could see me soon.  They said I could come now.  So I did.  Sure enough - broke it - under the crown that was attached to another crown - supposed to be stronger that way.  Nope.  Just means if you mess up one tooth - you mess up two teeth.  And the only thing worse than having a tooth pulled is having two teeth pulled.  Still sore but not too bad.  Go back in a week for a follow-up and then more time off for healing and then back for a "partial".  That there was some pretty expensive peanut brittle.

2.  Have you ever had your house professionally cleaned?

YES - Spring Cleaning!!
I think Mama M. asked one time what your idea of Spring Cleaning was.  And I think my answer was along the lines of "SPRING-ing" for someone else to do it for me!  Easter was coming and with it - Spring.  Our house really needed a Spring Cleaning!  A loooooooong time ago we had a cleaning service come every two weeks - it was too often and became way too expensive - so we canceled.  Then a couple of weeks ago - one of the girls (our favorite) came by the house - do you remember me kinda thing - we talked - she knew we had canceled - it's been a long time - she has her own cleaning service and her own crew now - would we like her to clean our house - we said yes.  We never had a problem with how well they cleaned - just that they (not her - the other girls they sent) were always late - and it was expensive.  We scheduled it for the Saturday before Easter (and before I broke my tooth).  It took them a while but they deep cleaned my WHOLE house from top to bottom.  Not cheap - but totally worth it!!  I asked her where she learned to clean so well (like I wish I could) - she said she didn't know - she just knew what was clean and what was NOT clean.  Good answer!  Good answer!

So - if you have never had your house professionally cleaned by a really good crew - treat yourself - just once!  It was better than peanut brittle!

==========

OK - your turn.

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

Design Wall Monday - 4/25/11

Design Wall Monday - 4/25/11

Still working on the ladies -

Found some inspiration in my books and my stash - just need some wonky blocks -

and some fabrics -

Rats! - don't  have enough of the purple - just need a fat quarter - bits and pieces might work -
(Should have asked mainer for some of her purple before she used it all on her purple scrap challenge - oh, well, too late!)

Oh, wait!  Double-checked the stash - and found this (in the WRONG place) -
not quite a fat quarter - but close enough -  this should work -

So - here's what I got -

I'm not liking the orange/brown in the wonky nine-patches or wonky strips -
and next to the purple/pink/orange batik on the left -

or the really light beige - in the wonky four patches in the lower left - and wonky strips -
too blah - blends in with the design wall - can't even see it -

So - trade those out for some more pinks and purples and oranges ??

Yeah - much better -

I like the lady on the light pink background -
and that wild orange/pink batik on the right - 

OK - so now to "unsew" the light beige and the orange/brown - and replace it with new stuff.

===

I LOVE MY STASH!!

I collected for YEARS - always saving for SOMEDAY to make SOMETHING SPECIAL.

Well - guess what -

TODAY is SOMEDAY and this is SOMETHING SPECIAL!!

Besides - they say you might as well use your stash 'cuz when you die -
your husband's next wife is gonna sell it for a nickel a yard at a yard sale - 
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!


Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta "unsew" -

Mail Call #2

Mail Call #2

Got my prize package from Toni (The Quilting Pirate) yesterday - Thanks, Toni!

The Hobo Bag pattern looks to be a pretty good size - 8" high (plus strap length ) x 14-1/2" wide - not bad.

And the charms are just too cute!  There were some duplicates - but look at all of those colors!  And the cupcakes - see the cupcakes in the bottom left corner?  And the ice cream sundaes right above them?  And the chili peppers in the top right corner?  And the kangaroo and joey below that?  And the paddle ball toys on the red background?  How cute!

Add these goodies to all of my UFOs and the ladies and the Cupcakes - and I'm going to be busy for quite a while!

Thanks again, Toni!


Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

Design Wall Monday - 4/18/11

Design Wall Monday - 4/18/11

Still working on the ladies -

I spent a lot of time thinking about exactly how I was going to cut up this fat quarter.

I wanted to get the most out of it as possible, of course - and I really didn't want to screw it up.

So I kept it up on the wall - uncut - until yesterday - when I finally decided to just "go for it".

Here's what I cut -

the "two ladies" - got two of them and
the "single lady" - got one of them - whole -

and two "single lady" partials - a left side and a right side -

I tried to layer them to see if I could get one more "single lady" -

It actually worked!

You can hardly tell - (well, I can hardly tell)

I backed the "single ladies" with fusible and will cut them out and fuse them to another background later.  There simply isn't enough fabric around them for any kind of seam allowance.

I will have to decide which background I want for them - I'm kinda partial to this one - but it might be a little too dark -

Wonder if it's big enough?  Does it match the "two ladies" in size?
Hey - look at that!  Definite possibility!

But I don't want/have to decide right now.  I'm just going to leave the paper on for a while - and play.  When I do decide on the background - I'll cut them both out - fuse them - and go around them with a tiny black satin stitch.  Probably use the same background for both of them - or not - don't know yet.

And then I made these - for starters -

That's all I have - so far.  Lots more to do - lots more PLAYTIME coming up!  Stay tuned!


Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

BOB went to Wendy's

===========
WARNING - BOB is my alter ego - Bitchy Old Broad.
BOB's adventures are basically rants - some funny - some silly - some stupid - some sad - some just plain bitchy - depending on your point of view.  (If you haven't already - you may want to read my post - Meet BOB.)  If you prefer not to read rants - STOP READING NOW!!
===========


Wendy's is promoting this new thing they call Natural Cut Fries.

http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home/article/112557/wendys-natural-cut-fries-bnet

You know what this means - don't you??

Well - to BOB - it can mean only one thing.

It means -

They're too damn lazy to peel the potatoes before they cook them!

=====

As a child - I was taught to always peel potatoes before you cook them - and to make sure you didn't have any "eyes" looking at you when you were done!  They even have a little thingy you can use to do it - it's called a "potato peeler"!  WOW!

Guess the guys at Wendy's never heard of it.  Maybe somebody should tell them - but not me - I'd rather make fun of them.  (And get my fries elsewhere.)



But then again - it's probably just me.

LHQ - Binding - Hand Sewing the Mitered Corner

LEFT-HANDED QUILTING - Binding - Hand Sewing the Mitered Corner

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Note - these instructions are written in LEFTISH.  If you are right-handed - just reverse the directions.
============

I was talking to Rose (one of my readers) recently about quilt binding.  She asked me to show

How I hand sew the mitered corners -

so here goes -This Is How I Do It -

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For this demo - I used white thread so that it would show up against the dark fabric in the photos.  Normally I would choose a thread color to match the binding.  I also would try to make the stitches a little straighter - and pull them a little tighter - but I had to make them visible.  (That's my story and I'm sticking to it!)

Stitch down to the corner - keep a clip on the point until you get there - then replace it with a pin to keep the miter in place -

Take one stitch right IN the corner

Turn it 90 degrees - take one more stitch down the next side

Turn it back so the corner is between your right thumb and index finger

Take one stitch halfway between the corner and the point

Then one more stitch at the very tip

Turn it around so that you are stitching left to right - back to the corner
(Yeah, I know - but it's only for two stitches)

Put these two stitches in the middle of the space between the ones you sewed going to the point - like this -

OR take your first set of stitches 1/8" apart toward the point and then run your needle under the binding to come out where you want to start stitching down the next side.

When you get to the corner - go in at the corner and come out 1/8" away from the stitch you did before -

=====

The closer you can get the needle to coming out right at the fold - and
the closer you can get it to going in straight across from where the needle came out -
the more invisible this stitch is - MAGIC!!

MORE MAGIC - If you have trouble getting your stitches 1/8" apart - eight stitches to the inch - sew around your quilt at 1/4" intervals and then go around it again sewing in the middle of the space between your previous stitches.  It will look like you sewed them 1/8" apart the first time around - MAGIC!!



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

What's On My Design Wall - Wednesday - 4/13/11

What's on My Design Wall - Wednesday - 4/13/11??

The Ladies are on the wall this Wednesday -

I forgot the BLACK - gotta have the black!

I want to cut out the two "two ladies" at the top and the "single lady" at the bottom for focus blocks in a fre-form sort of thing.

But you can see that if I do a straight cut - there is only 1/2 inch between the edges of the two sets.

That will be cutting it way too close (pun intended).

I want some background around them.

I don't want them bumping right up to the edge of the "block".

So I thought about - and thought about it.  Nothing came to mind.

Funny how stuff comes to you in dreams, though, huh?

Well - naps are good for that - dreams - and puzzle solving.

I dreamt that I could cut the two "two ladies" out as large as possible -

And then back the one "single lady" with fusible - cut her out - and then applique her to a similar background.  That might work.

So - these are my choices for background.  I'm kinda partial to the first (yellow) one on the right.

or maybe the second (peachy) one next to it - 

Then I saw the partial "single" ladies on the left and right edges - down toward the bottom.

WHAT IF - I fuse them, too - cut them out - and try to layer them to see if I can get another "single lady" block?   Don't know yet if it will work - but I'm going to try it - stay tuned.

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

I WON - AGAIN!!

Yesterday I got an email from Toni - The Quilting Pirate - and

I WON!!

Last week she had a Manic Monday Giveaway - and I won some goodies -

A Hobo Bag pattern by Indigo Junction and a novelty charm pack -

all because I left a comment and had the right number - YAY!!

Thanks, Toni!!

Guess I'm going to have another Mail Call real soon.


Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

BOB needs a new cell phone

===========
WARNING - BOB is my alter ego - Bitchy Old Broad.
BOB's adventures are basically rants - some funny - some silly - some stupid - some sad - some just plain bitchy - depending on your point of view.  (If you haven't already - you may want to read my post - Meet BOB.)  If you prefer not to read rants - STOP READING NOW!!
===========

BOB received a notice from AB&B.
(See - I remembered to change the name!)

The envelope said -

IMPORTANT
Act now to avoid interruption of your wireless service.
See inside for important details.

Inside - the notice said - (and BOB thought as she read it)

===

We would like to thank you for being a loyal AB&B customer.  (Yeah, right!)  In the coming months, AB&B will perform significant network upgrades in your area designed to increase capacity and reliability.  (This is going to be my problem - I just know it!)  Unfortunately, a small number of customers (translation - me) will no longer be able to use their phones once these upgrades are complete.  (Oh, goody!)  Our records indicate your phone (told you so!) with the wireless number(s) identified below will no longer be able to make or receive calls or perform any data function after May 15, 2011.  (Well, that will pretty much make my phone totally useless!)  You must take action to transition (transition? - since when is "transition" a verb?) your service to avoid service termination.  (Of course, it has to be ME who must take action!)

To make this transition (see- it's a noun!) as easy as possible (for you - not me), you may select a free replacement phone from the choices shown below - with no new service commitment required.  (Yeah, I bet!)  When you replace your phone, you must select a new AB&B plan.  (I knew there was a catch!  We already have a really good rate plan - who gives a crap about the free phone?)  We have rate plans to meet everyone's needs (except the plan we have now which is no longer offered - it was grandfathered in from the previous company), and you can keep your current phone number.  (Oh, gee - thanks!)  Your new service will be subject to AB&B's Terms of Service, available at abb - dot - com.  (Something else I get to do - look that up!)

To get your new, FREE phone, drop by your local AB&B company-owned store or call 1--866-xxx-xxxx by May 15, 2011.  (See - I knew this was going to be MY problem!)  Your new phone will allow you to take advantage of the planned network upgrades so you can enjoy all AB&B has to offer.  (How about offering to let me just keep the phone I have?)

Please visit your nearest AB&B company-owned retail store and select your new phone today to avoid service termination.  (Again - I have to do all of the work!)  Again, we appreciate your business and look forward to serving your wireless needs for years to come.  (Or until we upgrade again!)

Randolph H.........
(name changed to protect the guilty)
Vice-President, Sales and Service

(Well, Randolph - don't hold your breath!  If I have to get a new phone and a new rate plan - I may as well get a new provider while I'm at it!)

=====

I don't want a new phone.  I like the phone I have.

I don't need a phone that connects to the internet.  My laptop does that.

I don't need a phone that takes photos.  My camera does that.

I don't need a phone with GPS.  I can read a map.

I don't need a phone to play games.  I have a deck of cards.

I just want a phone that can make a phone call.

Is there an app for that?



But then again - it's probably just me.

Mail Call -

So - I've been messing with drafting my next bunch of posts.  I was working on a showing you how I do my quilt bindings.  First I was going to do one on how I prepare my binding using JELLY BEANS as an example.  Then I was going to do another one on how I actually attach the binding to the quilt (I can think of a couple of different ways).  Then the second one got REALLY long - and I had to make up a practice quilt - and stop every two seconds to take a photo - and try to hold the camera while I was trying to SEW - and it wasn't working very well - and then I forgot to do the part about how to join the ends - so now I have to go back to do that - and then I figured it was going to have to be four parts - and then - I said screw it - I'm taking a break - (and a nap) - I'll work on it some more tomorrow - 'cuz -

The mailman came today.

Actually we have a mail "lady" and I got one of these last week - but you get the idea.  (I never promised to be politically correct - or totally accurate.)  Besides, the package I got last week deserved a special post - and I was in the middle of drafting my "LHQ - Scrap Management" - so decided to wait to show you what I got.

Then this came in the mail - and I got it today - MY PRIZES!!

from the Weekly Themed Contest - (St. Patrick's Day) - sponsored by Rocking Chair Quilts. And a nice note from Lisa from Rocking Chair Quilts.  "Congratulations and Enjoy"....Lisa

I won the Star Hanger and the Cupcakes Galore pattern. (I tried to do a link for the hanger at Rocking Chair Quilts - but it doesn't appear to be available.  So the link goes directly to Joined at the Hip - the hanger is way down at the bottom.) 

The hanger is dark blue/navy - and goes real well with a slightly larger red one I got for Christmas - so I should be able to hang any size wall hanging with no problem.  I just have to make them first!  And this Cupcake pattern is so darn cute - I might have to make it real soon!  Another project - oh, goody!

But then -

the other thing I got in the mail - last week - was my fat quarter as promised - from  mainer-mainca for sending her a photo for St. Patrick's Day.  I asked her to send me her "ugliest" fat quarter - just for fun.  She didn't have any "ugly" fat quarters - so she sent me this!! 

Here's a close up of two ladies

And a close-up of their baskets - beautiful bright purple and orange - (the photo makes the colors look faded and dull - but they're not - trust me - they are bright and beautiful)

-

I just HAD to check my stash to see if these ladies had any friends living at my house!

YES!!

Purple - orange - and pink batik!  Perfect match!

and then I found some more friends -

They're going to have a great time together - don't you think?

 

I have no idea what I'm going to make - but I'll sure have a good time making it!!

So - if I don't post for a couple of days - I'm either trying to finish the binding posts - or playing with the ladies or making cupcakes!!

Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

BOB and the Six Truths

===========
WARNING - BOB is my alter ego - Bitchy Old Broad.
BOB's adventures are basically rants - some funny - some silly - some stupid - some sad - some just plain bitchy - depending on your point of view.  (If you haven't already - you may want to read my post - Meet BOB.)  If you prefer not to read rants - STOP READING NOW!!
===========

BOB recently received this email from a friend - and just had to share -

===

Six Truths in Life - 

1.  You cannot stick your tongue out and look up at the ceiling at the same time, a physical impossibility due to the tendons within your neck.

2.  All idiots, after reading #1 will try it.

3.  And discover #1 is a lie.

4.  You are smiling now because you are an idiot.

5.  You soon will forward this to another idiot.

6.  There is still a stupid smile on your face.

I sincerely apologize about this but I'm an idiot and I needed company.

^..^

UFO Challenge - April

UFO Challenge - April - 

Yesterday Judy picked #4 - which translates to my Stage 4 Projects -

Stage 4.  Need Basting and all of the above

• Summer Lotus
  

WOW!! - I haven't looked at this one in YEARS!!

If all it needs is basting (and everything else) maybe I could use some of my fusible batting - or maybe I could spray baste it.  Both are interesting possibilities.

I remember when I put it away my choices were either to (1) thread-baste it or (2) pin-baste it.
I really wasn't looking forward to either method - both were problematic in one way or another.

See what happens if you wait long enough?  Sometimes the problem just disappears!

Now I have two more basting choices that didn't even exist "way back when"!  YAY!

This one should be easy!  (She said - hoping it really was going to be easy.)


Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta "find" it -

P.S.  I found it!!  The damn thing is a pre-stenciled wholecloth quilt - QUEEN-sized - no less!!   No wonder I never finished it!!  DAMN!!  Looks like I'm going to need some extra hands to help me with this one.  Hmmm... wonder who the lucky owner(s) of those hands is(are) going to be...