Archive for September, 2014

Safety First!

Tuesday, September 30th, 2014
Ladies! Do you have your computer, sewing machines, iron, and any other valuable appliances plugged into a surge protection strip?
Fortunately, I do! We have had electrical power problems at my house for the past week. I first noticed it last Wednesday morning when heating water in the microwave for tea. The microwave powered down. When that happened, my first thought was that it was dyeing and there would be an unexpected expense to replace it. Then my sewing machine cut off while sewing and the lights started to flicker. As the day went on other odd things happened. The washing machine didn’t have enough power to spin the water out of the tub. The television cut off. The surge strip the computer was plugged into was heating up, buzzing and smelling of that electrically heat odor. Needless to say, I turned all appliances off and unplugged them. Perhaps not soon enough!  A call to the power company, and a 5 day wait, they finally came out to diagnose the problem. There was/is a damaged wire somewhere between the utility pole and our house. Late this afternoon another team came out to do a temporary fix. So, I am up and running again! The microwave is working. The computer is working, but the surge strip it was plugged into is fried! That is why I’m giving a little plug here for safety! Use surge strips ladies! I might not have a working computer if not for the use of a surge strip! It is toast, but the computer – plugged into yet another surge strip – is working!
So, do you use surge strips?
I have one at my sewing machine, another at my cordless iron, two in the bedroom for c-pap machine, phone, and Nook. I recommend using them on any appliance you don’t want to have to replace in the event of an electrical problem!
Not much sewing done this week. But for those following, I did finish 4 charity quilts. And forgot to take photos of them before delivering them! I’ll take photos of the next batch … hopefully.
Linking up to Connie’s Linky Tuesday. Hop over and see what the other ladies are up to this week!

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Posted in Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

Travels, Family, and Antiques!

Tuesday, September 23rd, 2014

Last week two of my daughters and I traveled back east to Pennsylvania to visit my parents.

Anna, Larry – my Dad, Sharon – that’s me!, Janelle, and Marie in front- my Mom
It was a nice time of visiting, helping my folks with cleaning, and cooking up some meals for the freezer. We played some Rummikub, had lovely weather for walks, and took a drive to a peach orchard. Yum! Anna baked up 3 pies while there! Yummy! If we had room in the car, we would have bought more to bring home!
Then we popped down to Maryland to visit with both sides of our family. Before the trip, I had been inquiring into grandmother’s old Singer sewing machine. My brother had it tucked away and was happy to give it to me!
I remembered Grandmother Loper had a little black Singer, and I was hoping it was a Featherweight. She isn’t, but is very similar. I’ll have to do a little research on her. The gold scroll work is in good shape, which means she wasn’t used much. But the case is beat up and the latches are broken, and the electrical wiring is worn and taped in several places. She definitely needs a trip to our local sewing machine repair shop for some loving attention.
Next we visited with my husband’s side of the family where I was given this beauty! An old Clark’s Mile-End Spool Cabinet! My mother-in-law had used it as one of her jewelry boxes. The jewelry has been divided up amongst our female relatives, and I’m very happy to add the cabinet to my sewing room!
This Barrel Chair was given to my daughter, Anna. And will soon be re-upholstered by little ol’ me.
Eck! I hope I like the process! My daughter, Janelle, signed up for a re-upholstery class and asked if I would take it with her. Since two of my daughters have inherited chairs and they both need recovering, I signed up for the class too. The first class was last night and my hands hurt from pulling out all the tacks and staples. This particular chair had tons more tacks & staples on the right side than the left. Which makes me think 2 different people worked on this chair. It’s time for my daughter to pick out the new fabric!
The rest of this week will find me machine quilting up 10 charity quilts! Two done yesterday, 8 to go! I’ll show pictures next week.
I’m linking to Connie’s Linky Tuesday at Freemotion by the River.

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Posted in Family | 6 Comments »

2 Finishes and 10 Tops!

Tuesday, September 16th, 2014

Phew! The charity quilt tops are complete! No pictures yet, though.

Since I felt like the charity quilts are now under control I went back to working on the baby quilts! I had two already quilted, so this weekend I attached the flange binding.

Here is my favorite baby quilt so far:

I love the bubble fabric! The back (sorry no picture) is a Batik River Otter Print. I used the walking foot to quilt the spiral, using the guide bar set at 1″.

Here is a close up of one of the 9″ pieced blocks:

This next quilt was inspired by the theme fabric – line drawn animals, butterflies, and leaves. I wanted to show off the fabric, so just put a pieced border around it. Then I thought it needed another border in the theme fabric to set the pieced border off. I quilted straight lines using Jacquie Gering’s Echoing In lesson from her Walking Foot Craftsy Class.  The spiral idea is from Jacquie’s class too. I’m loving her class!

Close up:

Linking up to Linky Tuesday over at Freemotion by the River!

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Posted in Quilting | 4 Comments »

Deadlines and Classes

Tuesday, September 9th, 2014

Oh dear! I’m so very late! I signed up to make some charity quilts and I thought I had until the end of October, but I found out Saturday that they are due by September 30th! Oh no! I was a month off! I am usually not a procrastinator, but this time I have really messed up. That means I have put the babies quilts on the back burner, once again, sigh, and have amped up the charity quilt production. No pictures yet!

And just because that is not enough to be doing, I’m going to be teaching 3 classes at Fabrics and Friends Quilt Shoppe in Roanoke, IN this Fall! Tee hee! So excited about that!

Toes in the Sand Quilt Top.  The Pattern is by Jaybird Quilts and uses the Hex N More Ruler. I love love love this ruler. We have kits made up in Batiks, or gals can buy their own color way. This will be a 2 part class to learn cutting with the ruler and machine piecing the shapes (hexies, half hexies, diamonds, and triangles) and will included some in-set seams.

Charm Party Tote by Quilts Illustrated. This nice sized tote is constructed from a favorite charm pack.

Beginning garment sewing – easy PJ bottoms. Flannel and an easy drawstring casing.

I’m linking up to Freemotion by the River Linky Tuesday.

 

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Posted in Quilting, Sewing | 3 Comments »

Babies Abound!

Tuesday, September 2nd, 2014

I finished up two more baby quilt tops over the weekend. The first is a print with drawn cats, dogs, chickens, butterflies, and flowers. The back and binding will be a turquoise stripe.

The next one is a bubble print and the back is going to be a Batik otter print. This top is my new favorite!

Wednesday, August 27, another little babe joined our extended family. He was a bit early, but is doing well, still in NICU. That means I am still 2 quilts behind. I plan to make a receiving blanket for him  first and then a quilt will be added to that list I just can’t seem to reach the end of! I’ll pick up fabric Thursday from Fabrics and Friends Quilt Shoppe in Roanoke, IN. His name is Jonah, and I know just what fabric I want and how I’ll use it!

I’m linking up with Connie over at Freemotion Quilting by the River Linky Tuesday.

The rest of the week I’ll be quilting up some of these baby quilt tops!

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Posted in Family, Quilting | 8 Comments »