Hmmmmm....thinking about this one!!!

First blocks are the reindeer row.

Hancocks of Paducah

So we took a little road trip this week, and we went right through Paducah!!! And there it was! Just a block from exit 4. I had to do it! Fairly unassuming exterior, but I was getting excited.

At first, I wasn't that impressed.  I mean, I've been to Mary Jo's many times.  But the more I looked the more I liked!  I found so many beautiful fabrics.

I was ready to go, and, while in search of the bathroom, I stumbled on a whole new room.  Oh my gosh!!!!  It was the room of kits and cuts room.  I had so much fun looking! I had a Christmas tree quilt picked out, but they were out and had no more.

Those shelves in the back were for the internet sales and were all nicely labeled with specials and sales! It was really a wonderful place.

But here is the part that you will find hard to believe:  I didn't buy one thing.  Not one.  I would have gotten the kit, but they were out.  I looked at notions, but nothing called to me.  And the one thing I really, really wanted, thread or my mid-arm, they didn't have.  So I just enjoyed breathing in the dyes and looking around.  Next time we go through there, I'll have myself an agenda! I actually think it's better than Mary Jo's!!

I still am without mojo, but I'm thinking about quilting more.  That's good.  I need some black thread to quilt my Halloween quilt, but I haven't ordered it yet.  Need to continue work on my tshirt quilt.

I am working on an embroidery for my nail lady who has done my nails for 20 years.  She's a Halloween freak, so I'm trying to get it done for that.  I enjoy hand stitching.

Hope all is well for you.  Busy times coming up.  Fall break for my grandkids.  Football games.  Hayride.  Halloween.  Another road trip!

I'm here....but nobody will care!!!! Ha!

So I disappeared off the face of the earth, but I see a couple of people have still be checking in!  Thank you!

My mojo sorta' kinda' got up and left.  I helped my friend do the quilt below, and then she wanted to do another one for her sweet precious boy.  So we did.  Now she wants to do a Christmas throw for her couch since she found some fabric that she liked.  I have created a monster.  So will do that soon

I have been busy and seems like I can't do two things at one time.  I was planning our Europe trip.  We took our oldest grandson to Paris, Germany, and Austria for his graduation present.  We had a wonderful time.  He practiced his German a tiny bit, and now is off to college.  I didn't look at fabric one time but I some beautiful linens.  Like I needed them.

I have started a tshirt quilt for above grandson.  I've worked on it twice.  Two whole afternoons.  I have decided I don't like my beautiful sewing area downstairs.  It's lonesome.  I want to be up here junking up my living area.  I don't know.  And how in the heck am I ever going to get all those different sized blocks all together????

Maybe I'll be back blogging?  Will you be back reading?

Sewing Buddy!

I have really had fun this weekend!!! I had a sewing buddy who is not a dog!!! It was so nice to have someone to bounce ideas off and visit with. My friend for years, Joy, is making a quilt for her first grandbaby due in March. It's a little boy, and she is happy beyond words.

 I tried to help her with an easy pattern, so we went with this one. After a few hours of sewing circles on, I realized she'd have been better off with a straight stitch pattern like a Jelly Roll Race or charm squares. I've apologized profusely, but she is happy with her quilt, as she should be. She has taken it off to the long arm quilter today and hopes it will be ready for a shower in February.

This is the quilt from Missouri Star Quilt Company that I'm making for her daughter.  It's all Dr. Seuss fabric.  I'm going to make a small border of the black and then a little wider with the white.  The back is like the white with red stripes.

Here is Joy's complete circle top.  Her daughter's colors are gray and navy.  I think this will fit right in.  Also, she has some deliciously soft gray Minky for the back.  I've never used Minky on a back, so I wasn't much good on advice there.

So I am going to have to quilt the Topsy Turvy quilt myself.  I refuse to pay a long arm quilter when I have that Tiara just sitting there.  So I must practice.  Nothing else to do on days like today....cold and rainy and yukky!!!

So I was getting ready to write up all I accomplished last year, when it hit. I had finished nothing. Not one project. And there are so many things that need to be wrapped up. On top of that, there is more to do.

This is a bear paw that my aunt started years ago.  I said I'd finish it, but there it sits.

And I have a good friend whose first grandson will be here in march.  I started the topsy turvy blocks from Missouri Star Quilt Company.  So there's that.  It's all in Dr. Seuss fabrics.

This is my quilting closet.  Everything on the top two rows is a UFO or PIGS.  A lot are all organized with the pattern and fabric.

But here is the saddest group of all.  This Valentine heart quilt I did last February and it is totally ready to go.  The back is even ready.  I would have it done, but I bought that Tiara II and I can't take it to be quilted since I should do it myself.  And I am sooooo bad.  This is a sad situation.

This one is from Diane Hundley and has been finished for years.  It's ready to go, too.  I just didn't know how I wanted it quilted.  I still don't.

So I am going to contemplate a while before I make my list of things to do for 2015.  Have so many possibilities.

Thought I would show you part of our collection of Matrousakas and painted figures we got in Russia when we were there a lot several years ago.  My husband was working there, and I made several trips.  I bring them out in January when Christmas comes down.  I hope you enjoy looking at them  I love the slender figures the most.  They are beautifully painted and costs about $8 a piece at the time.

Have a wonderful quilty 2015!!  Happy New Year!!

Books!

I am really a reader.  My favorite time of day is when I head to bed after a shower and read until I fall asleep.  These days it's more late than early, and it's nothing for me to look up and see it's 2:00 am.

Anyway, I've decided to keep a list of books I read over on the side bar and rate them from 1-5 stars.  I'm calling it books of 2015, but I've started it early.

I just read a book I loved and wanted it on the list!  The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber is so good!!  First, let me tell you that I don't like normal books.  Don't mention Debbie MaComber to me.  I can't get through them.  Books I like have to be different.  And this one sure is!

It's about a Christian missionary in the future who goes to another planet to minister to the race who have been found there.  I give it 5 stars!!!  And I don't give my stars lightly.

Let me add that I don't buy books anymore.  Ever since I discovered my library's ebook check out system, that is all I use.  I can have 15 at a time on hold and can check out about that many, but I never do.  I keep up with NPR Books on Facebook and read their reviews and recommendations.  I keep an eye on Book Riot, as well.  I often tell my husband how much money I've saved him, but maybe he'll believe me when he sees my list.

I thought we were going to do this on Judy's Patchwork Times, but I guess it fell by the wayside along with Comfort and Joy!!  (Still finishing up the border applique on that one!)

And....Christmas approaches

I have been manically shopping online since Thanksgiving. When you have 4 kids, 4 partners, and 7 grandkids, that's a lot of money, time, and effort to get ready. I'm a little bit excited as we are having our get together on the 27th, so I plan to be out and about picking up some last minute bargains on the 26th.

 Anyway, I've gotten busy today. I have two of these ugly panels for my 4 year olds who love Frozen. I mean LOVE!!!  I have them both sandwiched (my knees are killing me!!!!)  and they will be my first real product to use my  new Tiara II.  I really thought of them as practice, but while talking to my daughter today I realized this will probably be their favorite of all time quilt and will pull it out to show they children and it will look like crap!!  Well, such is life.  Better finished than perfect.

Speaking of the Tiara II, I have gotten a little better.  I am not using the stitch regulator, but have slowed it down to about 30% and I can get some decent meandering and following the lines.

I have come across my first project for after Christmas.  I bought these little (about 5x7) coin purses in Thailand years ago.  If you ever have a chance go.  The fabric, both silk and cotton, is amazing, even in the little markets.  Anyway, I used it when I traveled putting credit cards, foreign money, and American money in different pouches.  Well, guess you can see it's had it.  I liked it so much I just never moved back into my old billfold.

I found this one put back in a drawer that I thought was too  beat up once before.  Ha! Compared to the other it's brand new.

Well, I can't seem to find any on the internet to buy, but I did find this tutorial on making one, so, even though anything zippery makes me cringe, I think I'll give it a try after the holidays.  It is illustrated beautifully, so hopefully I can get it done!

Happy holiday finishing up to all.  I need to read  blogs to see what you all are doing.  I've been worn out from the shopping!!

Can't sew!!!

Must shop!!!!!!  Cyber Monday, my favorite shopping day of the year!!!!!  Woohoo!  (PS.  Yes, I ordered fabric!!!)

Tiara II

Well, I have tackled the quilting machine.  It won for a couple of days, but then I rebounded.  I was having terrible tension problems, but it was just because my thread was not "flossed" into the tension disk.  Someone told me I should hear a click when the thread is engaged, and I had never heard anything like that.  So I put some elbow grease on it and I heard the click.  Now I am having much better luck with the sewing.  My stitches look great.

I don't, however, have much skill with the quilting.  I have a panel from Madagascar that I got half price with some coordinating backing.  I decided to practice on that instead of little tiny quilt sandwiches.  I've decided to follow the lines of the hippo ballerina and then maybe move on from there.

Winter has moved in here like it has everywhere but Florida, I think!!  Looking forward to some quilting time next week.  

Exercise in Avoidance!!

Well, I haven't been doing very much.  I did get the little girls' Frozen quilts done by cutting off some border that was on the panel, and then adding my own.  Those are still some really ugly panels.

Then we had out hayride.  It was Nov. 1 and so darn cold that I stayed inside all I could.  Everyone seemed to have a good time, but I was happy to take the little girls to the house about 9:00 so our sleepover could begin.  Little Ruby would walk around asking people if they were tired.  She goes to bed about 7:00 so 2 hours late about got to her.

So this week I rested and recovered.....and avoided practicing on the Tiara II.  ARGH!!!! Must practice!! I also wanted to finish Comfort and Joy, but I'm still machine appliqueing the borders.  I didn't get the Halloween one done, and doesn't look like I'll get the Christmas done in time either.

The whole family!!  This doesn't happen much any more!!

Me and my little girls.

Hope you are accomplishing more than I am.  I am hoping to finish cleaning the playroom and then hit the machine!!!

Gold Mine!!

So I found a big box of quilts that I had forgotten I had. They have been in a huge box with some tablecloths in our climate controlled storage barn. I brought them over this weekend and it was Christmas!

 All of these were made, to the best of my knowledge, by my grandmother, mother,and aunts in the 30s. I know a lot of the fabric is feed sack, and some is just beautiful.  Paisleys!!!  Not one of these has a label and they make me want to go grap a marker and start labeling all my quilts that aren't done.

They smell a little musty.  Do you think it would hurt them to air fluff with a dryer sheet?  Or should they hang in the sun?

STARS!!!!  I love this one!  It has a couple of different yellows in the background, but it's still beautiful.

Love this!!!

Looks like they had some printed squares and just used it on the back.  Did they put those on feedsacks?

This is the only quilt I remember, but I don't know where or why.  I think one of the fabrics had a velvety feel.

The one below is the best shape all around.  I love it.  It just has one place I need to mend.

Grace had a headache today so she came to our house.  She perked up pretty well after Tylenol and we had a good visit!

Progress!

Finally, I got something done!! No pictures, but trust me.

1. Sewed together winter row quilt.  Must decide on border or no border.
2. Traced and personalized a haunted house to do a hand project for a friend.
3. Trimmed and put my own border around both of the ugliest Frozen panels in the world.
4. Practiced on my the Tiara.  I drew shapes and tied to follow them.  Might work.

Now I get to spend the evening with a grandson.  Doesn't get any better than that!

Woohoo!!!!

I have been so excited!! I actually bought this at the AQS show in Chattanooga about a month ago! Then came some surgery and lots of time not being able to go get it. Finally!!!! I got it Friday and have been slowly getting everything set up and ready. It has been harder without my chief helper around to do the heavy work, but I managed to find help.

 I think I got a good deal. I got the Babylock Tiara II, mat for the top, the table, the bobbin winder, the stitch regulator, and the 3 year gold warranty program for roughly $1000 more than a used machine without regulator, tables, etc. I feel pretty good about it. There were several I'd rather have if I were filthy rich, but this fits my budget for now.

I am a pretty bad FMQuilte on my DM, so here's hoping I can get this right!!

 This is the back of my of my Halloween quilt, HocusPocusville.  Since the name is quilting confessions, I'll admit the awful truth.  I didn't have enough of the backing fabric I wanted so I just ordered 2 more yards.  Well guess what?  Still not enough.  So I took some left over fabric from the front and made a basic design.  I tell myself it has more interest this way.  (Yes, I do realize I'm full of it!!)  Wish I'd had enough.

In other news, my 6 month mammogram was today, and it's "iffy" .  I am hoping we can watch it for a while. Dr. tomorrow.   And my wonderful husband of 30 years today is almost 4 weeks out of his surgery and on the mend.

News!

I have been busy. I mean, really busy. We tried out our 5th wheel RV, and I don't know if we're meant to do that. It is not fancy, and I really did feel like I was camping. I think I would rather have the feel of home, but I didn't have that except for the dog. We camped on the quiet side of the Smokey Mountains and really enjoyed that part of it. We did not, however, see a bear. Maybe next time.

 Now to quilting! I have finished the top, I think, of Hocuspocusville. I worked and worked to try to avoid wavy borders. We'll see if I succeeded. I'll let you know!!!

My quilt holder upper is out of commission.  He had some surgery last week and is taking it easy.  So the floor it is.

Here it is with the borders.

I was going to put stitching between the houses as the pattern shows, but I tried one and I'm not happy.  The stitches were uneven from me pulling it trying to get it where I wanted it.  I think there is too much room for error for me, so I think I'll just take this out and leave well enough alone.  

 I finally got the panels for my girls' Frozen quilts for Christmas.  They are perhaps the ugliest panels ever.  I forgot to take a picture so if you are interested see it here!  I guess I tried to block it out.  They are just huge on that panel.  I mean, giant Frozen people.  Here are the fabrics I got for extra design and pieced back.  I love the Olaf.  Hope my girls like it.  If you have any ideas on how to make it extra pretty, let me know.  I have been thinking about adding some snowflakes on the borders.

I have also finished all the rows I'm going to do for my winter row quilt.  There are two snowflakes on here I might be able to use on Frozen.

The top row is the last one I did.  I think I've decided to put a small white border, a row of the blue squares the length and width, and another white border.

And if you are wondering about my partner in crime, here she is.  She has gone back to school and flat disappeared from my life.  I miss her like crazy.  Here she is getting ready to run cross country. She's doing really well and improving her time and place every week, which is what it's all about.  Her creeper pillow lies in pieces downstairs, waiting for fall break!!!

And I have something else to tell you, but I will wait for next time.  Sorry for not posting in so long.  I've been short on quilt mojo and long on chores and business!!!!  I wonder if anyone reads anyway! Oh well.  Off to check on the hubby.