Dead Mouse

“It just goes to show ya, it’s always something.”
 - Roseanne Rosannadanna

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If it’s not one thing – it’s another.

Monday night – I was all set to schedule my Two Question Tuesday post –

And my laptop was giving me fits.

I could get to the internet –

But when I went to load a page –

It took FOREVER.

In fact - it took SO LONG – it “timed out”.

And that ain’t right!

My tech support (husband) declared that the problem wasn’t with my computer –

YAY!!

BUT –

That meant that it was “something else” –

And that I had to wait until “someone” resolved the “issue” – whatever it was.

That’s why my Two Question Tuesday post was late.

So –

What’s all this got to do with a dead mouse?

Well –

After “someone” resolved my computer “issue” –

My mouse died -

Poor mouse – deader than a doornail.

So I had to get a new mouse –

This time I got a pretty RED one – 

Sure hope she lives longer than the other one…;))



Talk to you later – gotta go – gotta sew -

Two Question Tuesday - 8/30/11

Two Question Tuesday – 8/30/11

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.
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Two questions for you this Tuesday -

1.  What food would you eat if you had to eat the same food at every meal for a month?
2.  How do you get your sewing/quilting mojo back?

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1.  What food would you eat if you had to eat the same food at every meal for a month?
RICE.  I never get tired of rice.  Plain.  Butter - salt - pepper.  Ketchup rice.  Chili and rice.  Beans and rice.  Chicken and rice.  ANYTHING and rice.  Or just rice.  Plain.


2.  How do you get your sewing/quilting mojo back?
Playing with my fabric usually gets my sewing/quilting mojo back.
Pre-washing it - untangling it - trimming it - pressing it - folding it - patting it - fondling it - touching it - sometimes just looking at it.  I LOVE FABRIC!!

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OK - your turn.



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

Design Wall Monday - 8/29/11

DESIGN WALL MONDAY – 8/29/11

This is pretty much the same as last week - 

"Black Cosmo" is still not finished - no surprise there, huh?

I was BUSY though - WORKing on my book(s) -

and WORK makes my head hurt!!  A LOT!!

It messes with my sewing mojo, too - 

All week I had no sewing mojo - 

So Saturday - I decided to play with my fabric - and I had SO MUCH FUN!!

Untangling - trimming - pressing - folding - patting - fondling - my FABRIC!! 

Let's see - 

WORK - 

or - 

FUN!!

Gee - I vote for FUN this week!!

The book(s) can wait - 

You guys aren't in any hurry are you??

You've waited this long - 

Another week/month won't make that much difference, right?

Good - I thought so - 


Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

Scrappy Saturday - 8/27/11

Scrappy Saturday - 8/27/11


Still don't have much sewing mojo - 

Been working on my book(s) - 

So I thought I would play with my fabric today -

That usually works - 

So I pulled out a bunch of 10" square packs - 

I don't usually pre-wash them - 

But I pre-washed these last night just for fun - 

(I just corrected a typo - you wouldn't believe what I just typed instead of "pre"!!  ;))

in lingerie bags -  so they wouldn't ravel too much - 

and got this - 

Now I get to sit and untangle them - 

and press them - 

and fold them - 

and fondle them - 

I'll let you know later if it worked - 


Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

Two Question Tuesday - 8/23/11

Two Question Tuesday – 8/23/11

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.
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Two questions for you this Tuesday -

1.  If they made a movie – who should play "Jack Reacher"?
2.  Do you do any crafts other than quilting?  Which ones?

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1.  If they made a movie – who should play "Jack Reacher"?
Josh Brolin.  I read somewhere that “they” were thinking of making a "Jack Reacher" movie - based on the books written by Lee Child – and casting Tom Cruise as Jack.  NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!  If they cast Tom Cruise – they will ruin the whole thing – and I, for one, won’t watch the movie.  Josh and Jack are “tall, dark, and handsome” - Tom is short and sorta creepy.  That’s just my opinion – I could be wrong.  ;))

(Edit update - Check out BOB's blog - here - for links to some websites for more info on Jack Reacher.)

2.  Do you do any crafts other than quilting?  Which ones?
Yes – I knit (right-handed), crochet (left-handed), and embroider (left-handed).
Other than that - I'm not really "crafty".  I "scrapbook" a little – but nothing fancy - just enough to document my quilts.

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OK - your turn.



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

Design Wall Monday - 8/22/11

DESIGN WALL MONDAY – 8/22/11

OK – I showed you my Scrappy project on Saturday - 

and I'm redesigning all of my Left-Handed Quilting stuff for some upcoming books - 

So I'm in the mood now for some mindless sewing -

I pulled out "Black Cosmo" - 

It's one of the five Black/White/Red quilts that I'm making -

Yeah - I said FIVE!!

Similar - just not the same - 

I already finished the pillowcases - 

and moved "Red Cosmo" to Stage 5 in January - 

and "Black Stripe" to Stage 5 in June - 

so I have "Red Stripe" - "Black Cosmo" -  and "Multi" still in Stage 7.

All I have to do is get the blocks made - and they can all go to Stage 6 - 

If I get extra ambitious - I can get the tops together and move them to Stage 5.

But right now - I'm not that ambitious - 

I've lost my mojo again - 

It's probably playing with my 1/4" seam allowance - 

I lose one or the other or both sometimes.

This is one of those times.  ;))


Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

Scrappy Saturday - 8/20/11

Scrappy Saturday - 8/20/11


On Monday I showed you some fat quarters that I had pressed 
and I told you that I SAVE the THREAD BITS that I cut off the edges -  

YES – I SAVE THREAD BITS!!

Some of you have asked me what I did with them –

I USE THEM!!

I can’t really explain in any detail –

Or show you the steps –

Because I don’t want to violate any copyright thingies –

But –

I can tell you this -

First – I dug out one of my books –
I have hundreds of books –
I love books –

The book I dug out was - 
“Fast, Fun & Easy ® Incredible Thread-A-Bowls” by Wendy Hill –
C&T Publishing – © 2005 - also available here .

Then I gathered my baggie of THREAD BITS - 
And some “stuff” –
I have tons of “stuff” –
I love “stuff” -
Almost as much as I love books - 

And then I made this – 
TA DAH!!

Cool, huh?

How’s that for USING THREAD BITS!!

And you throw yours away??  ;((



Talk to you later – gotta go – gotta sew –

County Fair - 2011

So we went to the County Fair –

On the way in – we saw some scooters that look like tricycles –
Can’t tell if they’re intended for handicapped or not –
But they sure don’t look all that comfortable to me –

First the food –
Fair food is WONDERFUL –
But the prices are OUTRAGEOUS -

CORNDOG MENU – $4.50

MINI DONUTS – ONE DOZEN - $4.75

PRETZELS - $7.00

TATER DOG – That was something new – don’t remember how much that was

BEER, OF COURSE – CAN’T HAVE FUN WITHOUT THE BEER...

After checking out the food –
We ventured over to the landscaping display –

Whoever designed this one probably had a bit too much beer –
The water feature is beautiful –
But you can’t see it –
THE SIGNS ARE IN THE WAY!!

And then the Quilts –
We saved the best for last –

In past years - the quilt displays have always been sadly lacking –
I was really hoping that this year would be better –
Nope -
This year was no different -

Crocheted and knitted items were all rolled up and stuffed in cases -
but that is to be expected, I guess -
they are kinda hard to display -

Some quilts were displayed so that you could see the whole thing -

But - some quilts were all folded up and stuffed into other cases –
How would you feel it that was your quilt all folded up?

Then there were more quilts hung up on the wall –

But the way they fold them –
You can only see the bottom – middle – third of the quilt -
I would REALLY like to see the WHOLE quilt -
Especially if it were mine -

And did you notice the black binder clips?
BLACK BINDER CLIPS on the quilts?
Who wants BLACK BINDER CLIPS on their quilt?

This is a photo of one of my quilts displayed on the floor some years ago.
I don't know if you can see real well - the photo is old and crappy -
but - the white smudges on the edges are FOOTPRINTS -
they STEPPED ON IT after they laid it out on the floor!

And they wonder why the quilt entries are down every year.

Their crappy displays are one of the reasons why I don’t enter my quilts in
the County Fair anymore.

And I don’t think many of the guild members enter their quilts either.

I think that they save their quilts for the Guild Quilt Show.
(I know I would - IF I belonged to the Guild.)

Maybe the County Fair would get more entries if they hung the quilts
so that YOU COULD ACTUALLY SEE THEM!!

WOW – what a concept!!

This sounds an awful lot like a BOB rant, huh?

Oh, well - what can I say - she went to the County Fair with us...



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

Two Question Tuesday - 8/16/11

Two Question Tuesday – 8/2/11

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.
==========

Two questions for you this Tuesday -

1.  When was the last time you reconciled your bank statement?
2.  How many UFOs do you have?

==========

1.  When was the last time you reconciled your bank statement?
Last week.  Occupational hazard.  It's not that hard to do - and it tells me how much/little money I have in the bank.  ;))  If you guys want a tutorial - let me know.

2.  How many UFOs do you have?
A lot.  Don't know exactly how many anymore - I have lost count.  But I'm working on them - and a ton of other things - and having a GREAT TIME!!  To be perfectly honest - I don't care how many I have!  They will all get done eventually - or not.  Either way - I'm good.

And BOB doesn't know what the big deal with UFOs is anyway.
To find out what she thinks - hit that little peach colored button over on the side bar.

==========

OK - your turn.




Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

Design Wall Monday - 8/15/11

DESIGN WALL MONDAY – 8/15/11

OK – so I finished this one –

Well – I got the top sewn together –
And that's as “finished” as it’s going to get for now -
Out of Stage 7 – on up to Stage 5 -
YAY – One down!

Next I tried to make one of those little mini-boards –
(WARNING - Turn your speakers down/off if you don't like blog music) - 
Didn’t turn out so well –
Tried to trim it with blue “extra-wide” bias tape –
I didn’t like it – too messy – wrong glue -
And the color is distracting -
So I tore it off –
Another UFO/redo for some other time –
Maybe I'll trim it in muslin – or white-on-white -
(But I need to find my glue gun first - ;))

Then I pressed some fat quarters –
Question for you –
What do YOU do with the threads on the edges?
Cut them off and throw them away?
(And I don't need a lecture on how to keep the edges from raveling! ;))
I cut them off and SAVE mine – yeah, I do! - 
I even have a project in mind – 
(I’ll show you when I get to it - ;))

Then I decided to pull out another UFO project –
This is a BIG one and dates back to 1997 –
(BIG = Probably why it's not DONE yet - ;)) 

And I found some stitching samples I made back then -

Here’s one part – partially done -

Don’t like the dark orange thread on the light orange center –
So I need to find a lighter orange -
Good thing I have some thread, huh?
(And there's another layer of thread trays under the ones you can see - ;)) 

Found what I wanted –
Some frogging and some restitching - 
(Should be my middle name - ;))

Much better –

That's all for now -
I'll show you more when I have more to show - ;))



Talk to you later – gotta go – gotta sew –

LHQ - International Left-Handed Quilters Anonymous - 08/13/11

Hello – my name is Kitty – and I’m A LEFT-HANDED QUILTER!

Now you guys say – Hello, Kitty!  ;))

Today - August 13 - is INTERNATIONAL LEFT-HANDERS DAY - 

SO - 

WELCOME to the First Official Meeting of -

INTERNATIONAL LEFT-HANDED QUILTERS ANONYMOUS

VISITORS ARE WELCOME - 
If you are Right-Handed -
Please sign in below as "Visitor" - and let me know what you think of the "Show".

LEFTIES SIGN IN - PLEASE
If you are Left-Handed - to sign in - please leave a comment below.
Please include –
Your first name (and last initial if you want) – we are anonymous after all -
The name of your blog (if any) – and a link to your blog - so we can visit -
The name of your dog – not really - just checking to see if you are paying attention - ;))
The name of your country – just how ”International” are we?

I would REALLY like a head-count of the Left-Handed Quilters out there in blogland.
I believe that there are more of us than ANYONE realizes!

And - just so you know - I was going to have a "secret" door prize - but decided against it.
I think participation should be based on the love of quilting - not the possibility of a bribe prize.
Maybe next time - but not now.

And - I didn't get a linky thingy set up - too much trouble and not enough time to figure it out.
Maybe next time - if there IS a next time...


OLD BUSINESS

Button, Button – Who’s got the button?

If you have the “A Left-Handed Quilter” button on your blog –
or the "Right Handed Friend of A Left-Handed Quilter" button on your blog - 
please let me know in your comment - I want/need to update my "Lefties" list.

If you don’t have the button – you really should.  (Especially if you're on my "Lefties" list already - reciprocity and all of that. ;))

If you don’t have a blog – just tell me that you would have the button on your blog if you had a blog. That’s good enough for me.  I can still add you under - "No Bloggie - No Button".


NEW BUSINESS

#1 - First Annual International LEFT-HANDED Quilters Anonymous Online Quilt Show

Say that three times fast!

I know that we are truly International – because I know we have –

• Me – United States
• Julie – Japan
• Mad about Craft – UK
• Sue – Australia
• susanm – South Africa
• And who knows how many others!!

So - let this be our Very First Quilt Show –

If you would like to participate –

please leave a link to your blog post with a photo and the story of your Very Best Quilt.

We want our Very First Quilt Show to show our Very Best Quilt, don’t we??

So show us what you’ve got!

I posted mine yesterday – here.

ENJOY!!


#2 – PROPOSALS

But first - I would like to make the following proposals -

I propose that we form our own local "Left-Handed Quilters" (LHQ) groups.
If the “Modern” guys can do it – why can’t we?

I propose that we seek out other Lefties in the Local Quilt Guild - if you belong to one - and form our own groups.

I propose that we ask our Local Quilt Shop owner to post a sign-up sheet for Lefties –
or do it ourselves – on a bulletin board – at church - at the grocery store - or wherever they post notices - so that we can find out which other quilters in the community are Left-Handed.

I propose that we ask our Local Quilt Guilds and Quilt Shops for “Lefties Only” Classes - taught by Lefties.

I propose that – if we are Lefties – we offer to teach classes – for “Lefties Only”.

I propose that we help each other learn new techniques – cutting tricks – and share info – either in person or on the internet through tutorials on our blogs.

I propose that we add a page to our blogs – "Left-Handed Quilting" (LHQ) – with links to tutorials on “How To Do It – Left-Handed”.

I propose that we add the button – "A Left-Handed Quilter" – to our blogs – at the top where other Lefties can easily see it. Tell the world that we are Left-Handed!

I propose that WE MAKE SOME NOISE!!!

I propose that we all get together to do this again – real soon!

All in favor say “AYE!”

QJ - WATERCOLOR WREATH

QUILT JOURNAL - WATERCOLOR WREATH

Machine Pieced
Hand Quilted
33" x 33"
Started - March 17, 1996
Completed - August 3, 1996

Pattern - Easy Watercolor Wreath
By Sharon Evans Yenter

This was my first attempt at the "Watercolor" technique.

Only three floral fabrics were used in the center section with a white-on-white and some coordinating fabrics added for the corners and borders.

I quilted down the center of the 2" squares to give the illusion of even smaller quilt pieces.

It is one of my favorite quilts and is the quilt I used for the picture at the top of my sidebar.

I did my BEST hand-quilting on this quilt.
I even redid one corner three times to get it right.
The quilting pattern has four feathers on one side and five on the other.
I wanted to make them match the next corner - 5/4 - 4/5 - 5/4 - 4/5.

  I even managed to get 9 stitches to the inch -

It won 1st Place at the County Fair in 1996.

It also won 1st Place in the Ojai Valley Quilt Show - January 1997.
I thought that it was funny that they didn't see the hanging sleeve and hung it sideways.
(My sleeves are usually the same fabric as the backing and are apparently invisible. ;))

Then it was shown on the "Winner's Wall" in the Ojai Valley Quilt Show - January 1998.
That time it was hung correctly. ;))

==========

And yes - I know that the Quilt Show is tomorrow. ;))

I decided to post my BEST quilt early - today - so that I can host the meeting tomorrow -

and then link back to this post for those who want to see my entry.

See you all tomorrow!



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

LHQ - Needle-Turn Applique - Basics

LEFT-HANDED QUILTING - Needle-Turn Applique - Basics

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

This little demo will show you how I do the basic “Needle-Turn” Applique stitch -

On this sample -
The blue is the appliqué
The muslin is the background
I’m going to use black thread for contrast
I would normally match the thread color to the applique (not the background)

Make a quilter’s knot

Bring the needle up in the appliqué about ¼” in from the raw edge

Use the needle to “turn” under the ¼”
(and you wondered how the stitch got it’s name??)

Take a stitch –
Insert the needle “in” the background/muslin -
directly across from where the needle came “out” of the appliqué -
and point the needle at an angle to come “out” again in the fold of the appliqué a little bit away

Take a couple of stitches

Can you see the stitches?

How about I pull it apart – can you see them now?

And If I pull the stitches tight again – can you still see them?

NO??

Well – that’s EXACTLY what we want – isn’t it??

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Talk to you later – gotta go – gotta sew –

Two Question Tuesday - 8/9/11

Two Question Tuesday – 8/9/11

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.
==========

Two questions for you this Tuesday -

1.  What is the FIRST thing you remember sewing?

2.  Did you know that Saturday – August 13 – is International Left-Handers Day?

==========

1.  What is the FIRST thing you remember sewing?
The FIRST think I remember sewing was a pink tablecloth and set of four napkins in 7th Grade – Home Ec Class.  I did a Quilt Journal post about it on Sunday – here - check it out.


2.  Did you know that Saturday – August 13 – is International Left-Handers Day?
Yup.  (These answers are easy when it’s you who makes up the questions!  ;))

In fact – I said last Saturday – here - that I thought that we should have our very own –

First Annual International LEFT-HANDED Quilters Anonymous Online Quilt Show.

Say that three times fast!

And I told you all about it again yesterday – here.  Go check it out - and let me know what you think.

You guys can write up your post for the quilt show while I try to figure out how we can all link up.

Should be fun.

Oh – and it’s going to be my 150th post –

and also because I probably have to bribe you guys to participate – 

I MAY even do a giveaway – 

forgot to tell you about that!

MAYBE a “secret” door prize for “signing in” on Saturday!

The prize is a “secret” – but I give away good stuff - just ask Rose or KatieM!!

Or MAYBE NOT – you’ll just have to wait and see!

==========

OK - your turn.



Talk to you later - gotta go - gotta sew -

Design Wall Monday - 8/08/11

Design Wall Monday - 8/08/11


I'm still playing with Bonnie Hunter's pattern - Scrappy Trip Around the World -  

So - 

“SCRAPPY TRIPPING” is still on my wall today - 

Saturday it looked like too many “lights” were bunched up in the top right corner –

So - I pretty much put it back the way it was before –

And then the mail lady brought me some “stuff” -

After I wash and press it –
I can add it to some of the other “stuff” I have to do –

YAY for “stuff”!!

I have always said that quilting keeps me out of bars at night.  ;))

And that there is ALWAYS more than one way to do something!

And YES - I can ALWAYS learn something new!

My motto should be - "Show me - show me how YOU do it!!"
 
And don’t forget to come back on Saturday – August 13 – 

I need your help with our  –

First Annual International LEFT-HANDED Quilters Anonymous Online Quilt Show.

I told you all about it – here.  Go check it out - and let me know what you think.

You guys can write up your post for the quilt show while I try to figure out how we can all link up.

Should be fun.



Talk to you later – gotta go – gotta sew -