No one to blame but myself!!

I say that with tongue in cheek! When bad things happen, I always try, very hard, to pass the blame onto someone else, but several things happened yesterday that - well, there was only me to blame. I'm good with that. Let's say that I had a few laughs over it and let's move on!

I was back to the dentist yesterday. Three weeks in a row! I hope that's the last of the dentist until my next cleaning in six months. This time, it was to get some work done on two teeth. Not really cavities, but areas that needed some build up? I can't really explain it, but anyway, I needed freezing. Of course, they tell you not to eat anything until the freezing comes out, or you'll chew up your lip. Right? My appointment was at 10:30, and I usually eat lunch at 11:30. By 12:30, I was getting hungry, so I thought it was OK to eat some soup. OK - so I had some cheese and crackers as well.

Well, as careful as I was, I managed to gnaw on the inside of my lip! So, while my teeth, where the dentist worked, feel fine, my lip is sore today! Yep - I should have listened!

While I was at the dentist, I asked a fundamental question. Should you floss before or after you brush your teeth? I had heard them chattering on the radio last week that you should floss BEFORE you brush your teeth. I wanted confirmation. I had to chuckle at the dentist's response. He said, "I'm happy to get people to floss, never mind that they floss and brush in the right order." Or something to that effect.

I said to the dentist, "If I'm going to put the time into flossing, I need to do it right to maximize my effort!"  So, I've been flossing before I brush my teeth to dislodge all the crude and well - I want a glowing report at my next check-up. I'm going to call them in advance to order champagne and balloons!!!

Maybe, I'll even start flossing and brushing twice a day! I'm determined. Of course, this is all a little too late. Well, not too late because better late than never. I just wish it was a habit that had been instilled in me when I was younger. Let's move on - we can't go back in time.

I cut out the blocks for the Vintage Christmas homework that is due today. I'm happy to report that the blocks are sewn together, and I'll be writing up the homework shortly. However, I did such a poor job of cutting. I would cut ONE of each piece and then realize after that I needed two or more. It was the worst cutting job ever! I must have been totally dreaming about the backyard at that point. The blocks are done - let's move on!

That's one advantage of having deadlines. If you goof up, you have no choice but to fix and move on!

I did NOT go in the backyard yesterday. No - that's a lie. I did eat lunch and dinner out there, but I did not go to the gazebo. That's just deadly!!

I did snap a picture of the pond with SEVEN flowers. Those lilies are flourishing with no help from me.

Seven flowers in the pond

Thanks to Pauline, I realize that the way my Mom pronounced "daylias," rather "daalias" is the British way rather than North American. Which makes sense as my grandfather was from London, England, and an avid gardener!!!

Here's a customer quilt that I quilted the other day. I still need to trim it so the customer can come and pick it up. I hope to get to that today. It's very dramatic! I believe this is a paper-piece pattern by Violet Craft.

Customer quilt - DONE

 I puttered to get some small stuff done. These are the flower buttons that I wanted to put on my Mom's quilt. Yes - I need to get that quilt in the mail. I spoke to her yesterday and told her it was coming.

Look at that huge shank on those buttons. That's just not going to work on my flat quilt.

A large button shank

I used the wire cutters and snipped off the shank. The little shanks from the four buttons went flying. I'm sure I'll find them around Studio B someday.

The flower button with NO shank

I used hot glue to attach the buttons to the wall hanging. The bird got a bead (sewn on) for an eye, and the heart button got sewn on one of the birdhouses.

The summer mini-quilt

The back is done with TWO labels no less. One with the story and one is my signature label. The two hanger triangles are on, and this one is DONE.

The back of the summer mini-quilt

I just need to find a box for it and walk to the post office. One thing that I'm noticing is that places that I used to think are far away to walk to are really not that far once you do the route once or twice. I've started on a new route in the evening. It's a HUGE block around my area. It takes me 1 hour and 15 minutes, and I'm going at a good pace. It's over 5 KM. I should actually measure the distance someday.

So, there I was back at the long arm and quilting the last of the Quilts of Valour quilts that I'm prepping for this month. I got ready to do the last row and NO WAY!!!!!!  I made the backing for this quilt, and I made it too short!!!!

Not enough backing for the quilt

Well, that put a damper on my positive attitude! Let's just say that I said a few choice words. And then I said a few more choice words. Then I just got the fabric out and cut more and added it.

I decided to try something different. I used the long arm to sew the extra piece to the existing backing. Let's say that was a challenge, but it worked. I must see if there's a YouTube video to get some tips. I know that if I pinned the two pieces together, it would probably have worked better.

Sewing some extra backing to the existing backing

Soon, I was back in business. So what happened? When I did my calculation, I cut 20" of the extra fabric to add on. Then instead of cutting a second piece that was 20" to add lengthwise to the first piece to make it long enough, I cut the 20" in half and then joined the two 10" pieces end to end!!!  Oh boy - my brain was in another world that day. No matter - it didn't' take that long to fix. But here's a lesson learned - before you put the quilt on the machine, just do yourself a favor and check to make sure the backing is the right size!!!!  After the air cleared, I did have a chuckle and thought - YEP - even you make mistakes! Well, we knew that anyway.

Now the backing is large enough for the quilt

And there's the quilt - DONE. It also needs to be trimmed. Amazing how that pile of quilts to be trimmed just seems to grow!! But once they get trimmed, I need to do the bindings! For most of the quilts these days!

Quilts of Valour quilt - DONE

I got the binding on this small wall hanging. I love the bright green. It really pops.

The binding is on the Christmas wall hanging

And there's the back. This one also got the little triangles in the corner for a hanger.

The back of the Christmas wall hanging

Someone asked me how this system works. Well, you take two squares of fabric and fold them in half on the diagonal. Baste them into the top two corners of your quilt. I would only do this for a small quilt. Then you can insert a dowel or a flat lathe into those pockets and hang the quilt on a single nail hole.

The triangle hanging system 

I joined Costco the other day. I went to get the membership and two things. I got 11 items, and that cost me almost $200! Oh well - it's stuff I need and will use. I didn't buy anything frivolous. BUT I saved three dollars (from my local grocery store) on a huge watermelon. Oh my - I'm enjoying that watermelon. It's delicious. I'm the only one who eats watermelon in our house, and I'm perfectly OK with that. No need to share!!

My watermelon snack

While I was working on the homework for Christmas Vintage, I managed to use my snail's trail blocks as my enders and leaders. I now have four blocks completed. Yes - I'm counting the one with no contrast.

Snail's trail blocks

Gosh - that bugs me. I can live with the one on the bottom left, but the one on the right? I may just take the silly thing apart and fix it. It drives me nuts.

Another box of goodies arrived yesterday!!  I won't need this for a month or so, so I'm not even going to bother opening it. OH - I should, just to check that it's the right thing.

Box of goodies

Oh - let me tell you how much I wish it was the box of fabric that I'm expecting. I double-checked the delivery date. I thought it might be the next day like the first package they sent me. Oh no - they put it on the slow boat, and it's not due to arrive until June 24th. The day I'm supposed to leave for a couple of days. Good grief. That means I'll work like a dog when I get home to get the quilt sewn and quilted in two days. It can be done, but just a pain to work that fast.

Add in several Zoom meetings with customers (including M) and that about rounded out the day. I swear, keeping up with all the paperwork is a challenge. But I'm doing OK.


Well, it's going to be another wild and crazy day at my house. Let's hope that there will be no blaming of anyone today! My lip feels better today, but it's going to take a couple of days to heal. Oh - I just shake my head!!

Have a super day!!!

Ciao!!!

I passed or did I?

I got a lot accomplished yesterday, although it wasn't exactly what I thought I would get done. Funny how that happens! But a few phone calls here and there, a few extra e-mails, a couple of errands, and well the day was totally shot!

I had another visit to the dentist. This was for my regular cleaning, which was initially scheduled for June 9th. The original appointment got canceled and then got rescheduled as the dentist is back in business. They've added plexiglass around the reception area. You still have to wait outside to get the OK to go in. I had to laugh because the receptionist said that people drive up and remain in their cars. They don't let the dentist know they are there! It's all new to us! We're all learning, but it's so weird.

They took my temperature, and we had to sit on hard chairs in the waiting room - 6 feet apart and no magazine to browse through!

Of course, I walked there. It's not far from my house. My last cleaning was in December. I vowed to show the dentist that I could floss every day and well - I did. I might have missed a day or two, but I was diligent. So did it make a difference? Did I pass? NO bleeding gums, so I was not asked to rinse during the cleaning. NOT ONCE - so that was good. Although when I did arrive and was seated, I was asked to rinse with a peroxide solution. It wasn't awful, so I didn't mind.

And the hygienist didn't spend tons of time picking in between my teeth. Nor did she ask me during the cleaning process how often I flossed. So that was all good. HOWEVER, when the dentist comes in, I hear there was slight plaque - well slight is a HUGE improvement over the previous visits. I was asked how often I floss and how regularly I brush. Once a day for each. Well, perhaps I could brush twice a day.

Seriously??? Where's my GOLD STAR??? Where's my pat on the back? Dentists need to learn that we want that recognition! I want a gold star!!!!

My personal grocery shopper wasn't able to get to the grocery store, and I needed some supplies for breakfast, so I decided to venture out myself. It was my first time in our usual grocery store since everything got locked down. I was going to drive, then I thought - what? I don't drive to the grocery store. What was I thinking? So I got my trusty backpack, and my mask, and I was off. Of course, I wasn't allowed to take my bag into the store, so I left it in the entranceway on a shelf.

I got my groceries - it's all good - just weird and kept forgetting to follow the arrows on the floor. And at one point, I reached over an employee (who was wearing a mask and so was I) to get something, and you would have sworn by his reaction that I had just pulled a gun. Oh well - I didn't get any turkey bacon! I just walked away.

What I "love" about wearing masks? We can't see it when others smile!!!  So when you smile - you have to smile BIG, so it comes out your eyes!

Anyway - the cashier asked me if I wanted bags. I said, "not really as I was going to load it all into my backpack." She said - put the groceries back in the cart and then load them in the backpack. So I did that. No plastic bags were sacrificed on my grocery trip. I must be out of practice as that backpack was heavy on the walk home.

My grocery backpack

I don't feel like I bought lots, but that milk and fruit was heavy! It's good to get back into a routine!

What I bought!

Speaking of routines! I was invited to attend an online meeting for a quilt guild. Just as a guest. The meeting ran from 7 - 9 PM. Hmm - do I want to attend? At first, I wasn't going to, but I wanted to - just to see how it was run. And to touch base with some of the others that I hadn't seen in quite a while. Part of the reason I didn't want to attend was that I'm enjoying my absolutely free evenings. I have dinner, go for a walk and read or whatever. It's a routine that I'm really enjoying.

Can you believe it? I have to admit that being in lockdown (or whatever you want to call it) has me really enjoying scheduling my own time!! Anyway, I went for half of my usual evening walk and still had time to log into the meeting. I'm glad I did. I fired up the sewing machine and sewed while I watched everyone show off their sewing spaces. Holy --- I have NO REASON to complain about my area. Some people are sewing in unfinished basements next to the washer and dryer. I'm in sewing heaven in my space. Although some people have taken over their living rooms, which I might consider should I ever be on my own!

I bought this metal sunflower for the backyard last year. One of the petals had fallen off, and Shelly fixed it for me. I finally got some wire attached to it and hung it up last week - a great addition to the metalwork in the backyard. Best kind of flowers ever - no watering and they are always there! I know - not good for the bees, but they can play in the water lilies.

Sunflower in the backyard

Here's a pet peeve of mine. Why does a certain company NEED such HUGE plugs???  That would be the white one. And now another colossal company that also starts with A decides that their devices also require these giant plugs. So a 6-plug power bar can only accommodate four items. Why is that?

A power bar that can't be filled because of HUGE plugs

I did a lot of puttering yesterday. Got the rest of those huge chunks of orange backing fabrics measured and on the shelf. Did some trimming of half-square triangles that I use as enders and leaders.

Half-square triangles

More half-square triangles

My goal is to trim as I sew. That's the only way - otherwise, I'll be trimming for days!!!

I had a wee peek at my retreat laundry basket to ensure things were prepped. I decided to change one thing on my backpack, so now I have to find more fabric so I can make different straps. That's a job for today.

I did get all those diamonds (tumbling blocks quilts) marked with the seam intersections the other day when I was on a call! And while I listened to the guild meeting, I sewed some more on my paper pieced blocks (muted, of course!)

I also got most of the quilts trimmed yesterday. I have to send out e-mails today to notify everyone that their quilts are ready for pickup.

And I had to get more kits ready for Diane. She's a machine! As fast as I get the quilts quilted and bound to drop off for Quilts of Valour, she's whipping up new tops! I'm giving her FOUR more kits today. That should slow her down a bit, but I think she's dropping off three completed tops! Here's the thing - if you like to sew and you don't need/want another quilt - sewing a community project quilt is a good alternative.

And I have to say that almost NOTHING is sacred in my personal fabric stash these days. As I'm rifling through the baskets to find coordinating fabrics, I'm mentally getting ready to let more go. I've flipped through the pink basket a couple of times in the last couple of days and seriously???  Most of that just needs to be bundled into a kit (or two or three or four) and be made up and given away. Oh, yes - this is HUGE. I can't wait to get rid of what's already set aside so we can move forward into getting rid of more stuff.

Now, I could donate these fabrics to someone else, but what's the point of that? I still get the pleasure of working with my fabrics, and I get to see the final quilt, and I get to decide where that quilt goes. I bought all that darn fabric - I want SOME enjoyment out of it!!!

Speaking of which, I got another quilt done for Quilts of Valour yesterday. Yeah!!!! I think (but not 100% sure) that this is the LAST quilt of the shirting. NO - it's not the last, I know of one more, but it's not large enough for Quilts of Valour.

Quilts of Valour quilt - DONE

 Guess what I found this morning as I loaded the next quilt onto the long arm? Yep - a gold thread on the fabric leader. God - that stuff went everywhere!

Gold thread!

OK -- so I have to show you my position on the map on my walk between Saskatoon and Regina. Susan - this one is for you! I'm the closest to you that I'll ever be on this walk. So I'm waving! Can you see me waving?

My position on the map between Saskatoon and Regina

The reason I shared that is because of this picture that Susan shared with me last week. Do you know what this is??? It's a WILD BOAR! Yes - this area has wild boars, and they are very dangerous! They were "introduced" into the area several years ago, and they run wild through the fields. Thanks for the heads up, Susan!

Wild boar

On that note, I've got food for today, no appointments, no phone calls, and a ton of things I want to get accomplished. It's going to be a focused kind of day - just like every other day! Don't worry - I do get enough free time to keep me happy although I haven't sat in the gazebo for a day or two! But I walked over 18,000 steps yesterday, so don't worry that I'm stuck in the house and sewing all day!!!


Don't forget the Virtual Retreat tomorrow and Sunday. This is the link for SATURDAY. I'll post the Sunday link tomorrow.

Here's the link for Saturday, June 13th   The Retreat starts at 9 AM EST and runs until 8 PM EST. 

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82795140672?pwd=U1Zqb2d1UStZVzBCZW1VemRaY0wzQT09 Meeting ID: 827 9514 0672 Password: 928966


Feel free to drop in for a few minutes to say hi or stay for an hour or stay all day. Your choice and it's free for you to participate. You don't even have to be sewing - just come and chat. As I said yesterday, it's very close to being right there with everyone. It's a lot of fun. 

Have a super day!!!!

Ciao!!!!

Work work work..................

Yep - it has been one of those weekends - yesterday, I had my two one-hour classes to start the morning - got lots of show n tell which is scheduled to post later this week. In the afternoon I had three very lucky students in my free motion class. There were only three and so it was very individualized for those three.  They went away with their head swimming with ideas, but I was very impressed as one of the students has really taken to free motion and she did a LOT of practising since the first class a month or so ago.  That warms the heart for sure!!!!

When I got home, it was time to tackle the long arm. I'm not in bad shape numbers wise, but there are a couple that need to be done. OK - more than a couple, but you know what I mean.  I have lofty plans on the "to do" pile of customer quilts - let's see how December progresses.

I had loaded this next quilt in the morning before going to class.  Not that I hate that job, but it is so nice to just start quilting, rather than having to load the quilt.  Guess what quilt????   Yep - that would be Misty Pines. Yes - everything has been cut, (hey - I still have a kit - pre-cut no less if anyone is interested), kits distributed, people are sewing. Hopefully we will only see finished quilts from now on.

Misty Pines - customer quilt - DONE

I'm very hapy with the end result.  It wasn't too difficult to choose a thread color - brown or grey?????  I think the brown won out and you can't see the thread on either the light or the dark.  I LOVE that. You can see the texture, but not the thread.

Brown thread

Brown thread - still doesn't show

We talked a LOT about thread colors for quilting yesterday in all three classes.  Thread color is so very important.    Oh - do I see a tutorial in thread color????


As I quilt each quilt - I have a lot of time to think about the next quilt, the list of quilts remaining, deadlines, etc.  I have a very tight schedule this week coming and so I decided that I would load the next quilt last night so it would be ready to go today.  Ah heck - it isn't that late, so I went ahead and quilted that one too. It was just a tiny one after all.  A tad of a pain since the backing was the EXACT size of the top.  OK - maybe there was 1/4" on each end, but that was it.  I know - most long armers would ask that teh backing be made larger, but I loaded it and quilted it.  It just means that the edges may not be as pretty as they would be if you had more space.

The edges look pretty good.  However - this should not happen and requires extra care, so don't try and send me a quilt that is short because the next one - I will refuse!!!!

Customer quilt - DONE

I think I finished about 9:15 PM which is perfect timing as I still got time to read before going to bed.

I pushed the quilting yesterday because I have a play date today and I didn't want to be up to all hours tonight since tomorrow is a work day.

For the play date - I needed 5 one half meters of fabric. I have to say that I sort of panicked - I walked into the stash room and immediately walked out - thinking it would be way faster to shop at the local quilt shop.  Then I gave my head a BIG shake and said - are you kidding me????????  

I also wanted to make it out of Northcott fabric. I know - I have to stop with that mentality.  But I shopped among the bolts of fabric (we won't go there) and then I grabbed some recent Northcott yardage that I am making some other projects from and VOILA - my project is prepped and ready to go.

Fabrics for my project

Never in a million years will I be able to put a dent in that stash.  But at least I am trying or I had better try harder to use it up. No more of this shopping anywhere else for fabric unless I need it to finish a project. And STOP me from bringing fabric home from work!!!!!   At least I only bring home stuff that is slated for a project.  Imagine bringing home one meter of each new fabric that came in?????  I'd soon need a warehouse.


I think I mentioned the other day that I went to the dentist. Yes I got the mini-lecture aabout flossing and I just can't seem to floss - it just isn't in my routine. I could make it in my routine, but I just can't.  The other day, Deborah and I were chatting about dentists and she brought these little gizmos to my attention.  

Interdental picks

She said that she uses them in the car - oh my!  I bet Mark is going to be impressed if he sees someone using these in the car.  Best to NOT use them on the GO train in case Mark is watching!!!!!

Anyway - I tried using one in the car and they are FABULOUS.   It's like a toothpick with a teeny brush on one end. Whether it does the same job as flossing, I don't know, but I bet using them is way better than not using anything which seems to be the scenario right now.  You can only buy them at Shopper's - they are Life brand.  I bought some others from GUM, but they are not disposable and well - they could get pretty gunky pretty quickly.  I like the idea of using these in the car. I'm in the car every day - I may just end up with plaque free teeth at my next dentist appointment.

On that note - I have to get ready for my play date.

Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!

Learning curves..............

Another awesome day!   All of the regular embroidery girls were busy, but Carol popped in  and we had a great chat. And because of her I was "forced" to trace that last snowflake block and I got most of it stitched.  Thanks Carol - I wouldn't have done it without you!!!!

After I finish this block there are THREE blocks left.   Getting so excited - does that mean I get to choose a new project????  Well - I must pick one to FINISH, not start a new one.

Then off to teach session three of the beginner quilt making class. They are keeners and were learning how to machine quilt yesterday.  They had their quilts basted and ready to go.   Can't wait to see the finished projects in two weeks.

Forgot to show you that the pond has also been shut down for the winter season.  I must get that darn leaf blower out and try to clear some of this away before the snow hits. 

And look at my cutey patootey!!!!!!   That Little Sammy is just the most adorable dog ever.  OK - so I am biased but I am allowed.  She is just fluffy and cute.

Cute Little Sammy

|See - look at that face!!!!! 

Yes - both Sparky and Little Sammy are getting old. They are both pretty white around the face. Poor Sparky is having a very hard time with the stairs particularly in the dark. She is not supposed to be on the stairs and I must find some baby gates. They both have a couple more years, but have definitely slowed down. Love you doggies!!!!!

At one of our recent Monday sewing days, we were chatting about the dentist much to Tish's dismay. She hates the dentist and conversations about the dentist. But one day we got to talking about toothbrushes and I was surprised at how many people have electric toothbrushes. Seriously?????   Well - I have to have one as well. Off to Target (my new favourite store) and I am now the proud owner of an electric toothbrush.

New toothbrush

So there is a learning curve with this thing!   First off - it sort of reminds me of that vibrator thing that the hygienist uses to clean your teeth. Seriously????   I hate that vibrator thing!!!!   Oh well - just suck it up - these electric toothbrushes are supposed to be a good thing. But there is a learning curve - this one has the little signal telling you that you have brushed 30 seconds in one area and stops after 2 minutes.  Hmmmm - my teeth did NOT feel clean when I was done. I don't think I was anywhere near my teeth, wrong angle or whatever,  Let's just say that I used my regular toothbrush when I was done and I think brushing with an electric toothbrush is a learned skill.  I hope to grasp it within the next couple of days!!!!


Loaded another quilt and got part of it done last night. Since I am delivering it later tonight, I had better get a row or two done before I head out to sewing day. Although it won't take long to finish.

I am setting class schedules for the next year at various places.  Oh my - I am so excited - there are some great things.  I hope to get a blurb out soon via e-mail and on the blog so you can see if there is anything that tweaks your interest.

On that note - I am off to get a row or two quilted.

Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!

Fast, Fun and Fabulous

Yesterday was a GOOD DAY!!!!    I know - not ONE but TWO appointments with dental related people and it was a good day????

I had to laugh at the periodontist. The assistant comes in - asks all kinds of medical questions.  For heaven's sake - I am just here for a consultation. Not getting any work done!!  Nope they ask me about everything that has ever happened to me!   Then she takes my blood pressure! Seriously???  I think they are trying to find the hidden sick people or those with white coat syndrome.  I asked her what my blood pressure was when she was done.   90 over 60!!!!   No white coat syndrome for me!!!!!!!

After much poking and prodding and taking UGLY pictures of my teeth - the periodontist and I had a chat.  Bottom line - no major issues.  I have UGLY but stable implants, but since no one can see them - there are no issues.  No bone graphing will solve my problem which isn't really a problem (dentist is just being cautious!) and if anything - I would need to have some gum tissue removed (I know - who would have thought!!). But for the moment - NO ACTION is required.

Ooops - let me rephrase that - these guys are scaring the devil out of me and I MUST MUST MUST continue to be scrupulous with the cleaning or I will end up with major issues.   Anyone know anything about WaterPiks?????   Not necessary, but may help.   I have HUGE holes under those loose gums!!!!


Dentist did his thing with my cavity.  Took a half hour and I was out of there.  No BIG deal.  I have learned how to relax at the dentist and I just zone right out of that room.  Good thing - since I have ONE more cavity next week.


Yeah - the things I was dreading turned out to be no big deal!!!!   BUT I must must must keep those teeth clean!!!  And let's not forget to floss!!!!!   I did get the hygienist to show me how to brush last time.  I know - sounds weird, but obviously I have been doing something wrong all these years.


Back home and got some quilting and sewing done.

I got the borders put on this curved piecing quilt.  No top or bottom borders - just the sides. The binding is done - I just need to get the backing stitched together.  Hmmm - I might take it and show my class today how to do it since we are working on backings. 

Then back to the quilting machine.  After the  classes that I have taken in the last couple of months I have made a couple of decisions.  It is time to be FAST, have FUN and get  FABULOUS.   I keep trying to communicate that to my students and while I enjoyed my quilting - I wasn`t really having the most fun that I could have.  That is going to change!!!!!   I am so excited about this change (mindset change) that I can`t wait to attack those buckets with my own quilts.  In the meantime - I will be heads down for the next couple of weeks trying to get everything caught up.

But have a look at this quilt

Customer quilt - done

Customer wanted loose feathers in the border.  I don`t have a stencil that is that width so I partially marked the feathers using the stencils that I had.   The colour of the border fabric is very hard to mark.  I finally decided to just wing it.  And you know what - I had FUN, I think the feathers are pretty FABULOUS and it was FAST.

Free hand feathers

Now there is one thing that I have learned - I can do feathers no problem, but I can`t do them upside down. So my homework is going to be practicing drawing them upside down.  Because my upside down feathers weren`t looking like feathers - I had to take the quilt off the machine and turn it.  Remember my theory of FAST - well that is not fast - so got to learn.


There are several things that I have learned over the last couple of months about machine quilting - hopefully they will help you as well.

1. NOTHING (I mean NOTHING) is perfect (nor should it be especially on a quilt. Claudia equates her quilting to her handwriting - I LOVE that anaology!)

2.  Practice - practice - practice (this wasn't something that I just learned but it is very important).   Get the paper out and practice - practice - practice on the paper.  Critical to success. Then get some muslin and practice with the sewing machine, trace with your finger - THEN you are ready for the real thing.

3.  Look at examples of quilting that you like - how can you break it down into units that you can do???   Make an inspiration book.  You would be AMAZED when you start breaking down densely quilted quilts to see how they are quilted

4. We should be having FUN while we quilt.  How does one have fun? Well - look at the above - don't try to learn everything at once.

5.  The MOST important thing about - STOP STOP STOP being so critical of yourself.  PERFECTION is NEVER going to happen.  And it shouldn't either.


So sit down - relax - STOP stressing and have FUN with your quilting..


On that note - I have embroidery this morning and I hope to get another block done!!!!!!!!!!!


Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!

Shame - SHAME on you!!!!

The day started out great - embroidery club and had a great time chatting with everyone. I was so excited - I got TWO more small blocks done.

My two blocks.  

I was looking through the box to see what else is left (only SIX more blocks, but THREE of them are that snow flake which is a pain with all those curves).   Then I realized that the tree should have been stitched in GREEN!!!!!!   Oh crap - I know it isn't a big deal - but ALL the other trees like that were done in green.  I thought about ripping it out - but no - I will just trace another one and do it again.  What a pain that I didn't pay attention!!!  So I still have SEVEN blocks to do.


Then off to the dentist and well - I hate the dentist! You think - "I am flossing more - using those little Soft Pics - I might not be in bad shape".   HOPE - going to the dentist is like a visit to the doomsday machine.  Very chatty and newly pregnant hygienist kept me entertained at the very least while she used that vibrating thing which I CANNOT stand. Breath deep - breath deep. Then we are onto the POKEY thing and all the while - she is saying - there is a lot of debris here.  Good grief - what is the point of flossing if there is still debris????   Does anyone get a glowing report from the dentist???

She asks all the usual questions - how often do you brush, floss, etc. Takes X-rays. Then the dentist comes in and the hygienist repeats your brushing and flossing story like you are not there.  And makes it sound like a BAD thing.  Shame on you! You don't brush nearly often enough and flossing - well the frequency you floss isn't even considered flossing!!!

BUT it gets even better - I have TWO cavities - one on either side of my mouth so they have to do them separately. Oh yippee.  

WAIT - that's not all!  I have three implants and this dentist feels that the bone around the implants is receding.  It has been that way since I got them. But anyway - he has wanted me to go to a periodontist for the last year.  I said NO. I decided to get the referral slip again and go. My dentist thinks I might need surgery - OH CRAP - almost fainted at that one.  To me - the location of those implants - right in the front upper is THE MOST SENSITIVE area and I don't think I can deal with needles in that area.  I need a drink!

I remember when I was getting the implants many years ago - I asked the dentist for something to relax me when he was going to do the needles. I had someone drive me - I was lying on the chair with a blanket over me - I was in LA LA land and just feeling great.  The SECOND the first needle went in - I was WIDE AWAKE like there was no drugs in my body.  Yep - they might have to put me out to do any surgery!!!!


Oh well - you do what you have to do I guess - but crap - teeth take a lot of work!!!!  


Back home and back to work.

I got the rest of the Amish with a Twist Series Two - completely CUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!

These are the light and dark strips for the light/dark log cabins

These are the medium and dark strips for the medium/dark log cabins

The entire QUILT ready to sew - doesn't look like an entire quilt!

The leftovers - got to evaluate that - this was as per the pattern and as far as I am concerned - there are a few that had way too much on the requirements list. 

Then I looked around the studio and well - the mess is just HUGE.  I have been going to workshops and classes and prepping stuff and nothing was getting put away. And EVERY WORK SURFACE was a disaster.

The ironing board - couldn't even think of ironing anything

Now it is clear

OK - this was MUCH worse - so much stuff piled - there was just half a mat free to cut

A bit emptier - the few things on the cutting mat have to be put away. A task for later today

The sewing table - let's just say that the sewing machine was pretty much buried. Now it is cleaned off and there are TWO projects ready to sew. I can't take them to Monday as they need to be sewn on this machine. 

The rest of the stuff got dumped onto the big tables.

See what I mean - a HUGE disaster

I did a bit of packing in preparation of the upcoming sewing retreat. Reorganized the Monday and Thursday sewing basket. Put a few things away and well..............

It looks slightly better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  - I said SLIGHTLY!!!!

Made good progress on the custom quilt - almost done -will finish it this morning and then onto the next one. And let's not forget the paper work - why or why is there always so much paperwork!  Where is my secretary????


On that note - I am out of here!!!!!!!!!!!   (yes -to brush and floss) - going to have to carry that damn toothbrush in my back pocket just to prove a point to the dentist that regardless of how much I brush - he is still going to tell me it is not enough!!!!!!!!


Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!!


Ciao!!!!!!!!!!!!