Hooked on Quilting

Another couple of steps for you to see how things are going. Probably should have just done one post at the end, but, oh, well... Unit E: Unit F: What do you think of the colors--too orange?

Well, I'm still hanging in there, but really need to bake more cookies and a pumpkin pie for tomorrow. Here's Block 1:

Okay, so I'm just a bit behind on the mystery quilt and I thought you might enjoy seeing the next couple of steps as I try to keep up with them. This is Unit C: And this is Unit D: I'm still making more A and B units.

Okay, I've decided to make the Quilt-Talk (Yahoo Group) New Year's Eve mystery quilt. Ann creates a mystery quilt and gives out clues all day today and we are supposed to make it as we go. She gives out pre-cutting and fabric requirements earlier, but, as usual, I didn't get that done, so the hours are going by very, very fast! Here's a few Unit A's: and Unit B's:

I have been trying for a long time to do a mystery and when the time comes something gets in the way. So, instead of actually sewing, I opted to do the EQ6 Mystery without sewing. I sat down yesterday and went through all the steps and have a finished quilt top (virtual). I really learned a ton of stuff and decided that I might like designing a quilt of my own. What am I thinking? I have enough kits to last a lifetime, I can't go branching out now--I'd never finish any of them. It is a wonderful program and you can do so much with it. Have you checked it out yet?

Okay, life has gotten in the way of my blogging dedication again! It is pretty scary to think that it will be 2009 on Thursday and I haven't finished enough quilts to dub myself a quilter yet! So, I'm going to start a baby quilt today and really try to make some headway. It's a pattern called "Party Mints" from The Quilt Box in Dry Ridge, KY and was sold as a kit so I'd picked up a girl and boy kit. I'm anxious to get back to quilting and spend some time in my studio. Here's a pic of the fabrics...haven't opened the boy one yet. I see that Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville is doing a mystery quilt on New Year's Eve and I think I'll join her. I've never done a mystery quilt so this should be fun for me. Check it out! Can these be counted for 2009? Pretty please?

Wow, it is so easy to let posting to your blog slip. I'm still reading all of yours, though. Happy Thanksgiving! Gained three pounds! Not good...back to Wii Fit tonight. I finished the baby quilt and even made a label. I used variegated thread leftover from my Take 5 quilt...big mistake. It shows up in all the wrong places. I really need someone to hold my hand when I make these decisions. Maybe one day, I'll get brave and take a photo and share it with all of you. I didn't really "connect" my rows so that adds to the ugly. My daughter seems happy with it, but left it behind when she went home. I thought you'd want to see it finished. Anyway, my next project is to make the smocking Christmas dresses so it's doubtful that I'll do some quilting in the next two weeks. Woe is me. Soon...

Great day! I made a continuous bias binding and attached it and now I have a completed quilt to hand-sew the binding while I watch television. Lots of flaws, but I'm so happy to have this one ready to go. I've promised to smock some Christmas bishop dresses, so I'll have to take some time off from quilting, however, I think I'll load a baby quilt, just in case I have some time to play with the Pro-Stitcher. I'm almost ready to sell my unused groovy boards and rulers and such, anyone interested?

I am enjoying a quilting/sewing retreat at home this weekend so I actually finished the quilting of my first HQ16 Pro-Stitcher quilt! It's a Take 5 pattern and I see some piecing things that I wish I'd changed. I'd also wanted to add a second inside border, but that thought got lost in our move. This was one of my first classes I took at my LQS in MD. I didn't do the best job on piecing or placement on this one so I'm hoping I made most of my learning mistakes with it. I learned lots on how to program the Pro-Stitcher, however, I "nudged" nearly everything to get it to fit. Also, I designed, in QuiltCad, a little quilting motif for the inside border. I also did a single design in the corner because I didn't have time to learn how to intertwine the outside borders. All in all it turned out rather well. I run out of bobbin thread once and it's a bit of rat's mess right there, but I'm hoping to fix that. I hope I can remember how I did every...

Well, I should apologize for not posting for such a long time. Life just has a way of side-tracking us. <grin> Anyway, I've agreed to smock some Christmas dresses, so I'm about to renew my smocking skills and try to remember how to pleat and construct a bishop dress. I worked on my Take 5 quilt and learned a lot about how to use the HQ 16 with the Pro-Stitcher. It really doesn't take very long for the quilting process when it's automated. I'll be back with some photos--if I ever find that darned camera or move all the photos off of this card for my old one so I can share. I'm trying all things to make a design wall happen, but so far, nothing's worked, except in a room way down the hall and I've messed up twice carrying blocks from there. More soon.

I've gotten side-tracked from playing with my HQ16 Pro-Stitcher--call me scared--by starting a new project, Haunted House, a wall hanging for Halloween. Here's a few photos of the first steps...the window/shutters: Did a little playing tennis this weekend and fell so I'm not doing too much sitting as I really think I may have broken a rib or two.

My daughter has suffered a miscarriage and I made her a small quilt just to have around or she can put it away. Her call. How do you think I should quilt it?

I'm so excited! I finally put my HQ16 together and after switching out the monitor, it's ready to go!!! I have so many things I want to learn how to do.

Can you believe it? I won a small prize at one of the shops...no, not the $7K sewing machine! Two patterns, a stack of fat quarters and P&B fabric! Terribly excited! Can't wait for the next one...no, I haven't done the quilt yet!

I follow several (actually, many) quilting blogs and ran across this great blog where Jill had also done the Shop Hop but thought to bring her camera. Duh!!! Anyway, she's taken a photo of each quilt at the 10 shops and is sharing them on her blog. Check it out! I'm doing the one from the Quilt Box in Dry Ridge, KY, so what do you think of my choice? I love the background color, too! Great way to learn applique. I'm probably biting off way more than I can chew, for sure!

Oh, no, I finished up the last two shops today and got three more projects to do. Ugh!!! When will I be strong enough to stop buying stuff? Anyway, I've turned in my passport, hope I win!!! Here's what I bought today, among other things. From left to right, is Haunted House is a kit using RJR fabrics, top middle is a kit from the book, Priorities (baby quilts) and to the right is the kit, Isn't Christmas Jolly.

Yikes, I went to my first almost-local Shop Hop and bought fabric for yet another new project. I've gotten eight of the blocks and two more new shops to check out tomorrow and pick up what I've missed. I started out at the Quilt Box which is in Dry Ridge, KY. They don't have a Web site, but gosh they are just the most fun quilters I've run into since I moved here. I decided that I'd do their quilt design, "Stars in My Garden." I knew it was beautiful and that I wouldn't be disappointed at choosing their design without seeing all the others. I will definitely be returning to the Quilt Bug and Best Friends Quilt Shoppe , most of the others are probably too far away for every day shopping. I enjoyed nearly all the shops and tried to buy a little something other than just the block--for their participation. Anyway, it will be my first quilt with a light background that will show the quilting, so I'll need to go back and take photos of their quilting ...

I went to a little get-together of a group of quilters and got some help putting together one of my LQS classroom projects, Short Stacks. I'm ready to sew, but hope to make a local quilt guild meeting to see if I want to join. That's about it for my quilting adventures, not much, huh? Anyone have some inspiration for me?

Now, on to the rows!!! I just don't seem to have enough time to do all the steps! Life just gets in the way! If you see anything that I should change about the placement of the blocks, be sure to tell me. I've looked and looked to be sure the rails are going in the right direction and that all the Ohio Stars really are stars! Check out my makeshift design wall. It's two pieces of flannel sewn together and draped over two four-foot wide closed closet doors secured with plastic over-the-door hooks. Trouble is it's in the bonus room where the huge TV is located and two huge reclining couches. The couch is in the way, so all my design wall photos are going to slightly skewed. Yikes, just went to look at Bonnie's Ohio Stars and Rails and it looks like I have to shift some blocks so there are stars at all four corners, what do you think? They are just pinned for now. Ugh, does this mean I might need to make more????? Comments welcomed.

Well, I didn't cut enough stars, so I'm back to the cutting mat. I have four more to do and then I can start the rows. Hopefully, I'll be finished enough for a photo soon.

Tonight I was invited to a small informal group of ladies that monthly at a local church to quilt. I had the best time with my new friend, Nancy, her mom and all the others. A couple of ladies belong to an organized guild and invited me to come. So I'm getting out there for motivation, however, I chatted all night instead of working on a project. I just didn't have anything "together" to take with me. Next month, I'll save something to do!!! On a side note, I didn't cut enough stars for my Ohio Stars and Rails quilt top, so I only have four more to go...photo soon!

I went shopping today...tsk, tsk, spent way too much money, but had a ball!!! I went to The Quilt Box in Dry Ridge, KY and they were so nice and extremely hopeful and friendly. I bought some "on sale" fabrics for several projects. A Mother Goose kit, some fat quarters and a civil war wallhanging kit. I also bought a shopping bag kit. Two baby quilt kits (boy and girl). It was a good thing that it was closing time or I'd still be there. Anyway, the "on sale" fabric is for the mystery quilts that I hope to start asap. How are your projects coming? I did three stars (of my Ohio Stars and Rails ), but my goal is five per day. I really want it finished (at least the top) by 9/11/08. Anyone else have a project that has a deadline?

I've been away again and need to get motivated again. My Ohio Stars and Rails is not complete, but I'm going to chip away at those stars soon. I'm anxious to start a mystery quilt and use up some of my smallish stash. So maybe I can fit one in around those star chippings. So many quilt patterns and so little time. I hope to get started on something tomorrow.

Okay, I've gotten all these blue stars to do and will chip away at them and keep you posted. I chained the first step so I'm finished that much and will get the next step finished soon. That would be the Ohio Stars and Rails from Quiltville.com . Meanwhile, I'm feeling the need to be organized. I've talked about my sewing room and it's such a mess and I could use suggestions. Let's talk about my computer desk... This is an old Ikea table from 15 years ago. I have a three-monitor computer setup and a TV on top of an empty box so that I can easily watch TV while I do "stuff" (read: surf the Internet) and not miss my favorite shows. I'm giving a lot of thought to mounting it on the wall of the A/C equipment closet--you can see the door to the left in the picture. There's an "over the door" hook that I have a couple of drapery hangers with a row or two of several quilts on each. I need a place to hang them so I don't have to be consta...

To those that celebrate, hope your day was great! It rained and no swimming, but we still enjoyed each other's company and even did a bit of shopping. Back to my Ohio Stars and Rails, I didn't meet my deadline, but everyone enjoyed looking at the red rails and the few blue stars I finished!!! I'm not going to stop working on it, though, so I'll keep you posted. Gloria

Well, I've cut all the stars and am putting them together frantically. Here's a photo of my makeshift design wall with the rails in place, still have to move around a few. Every time I walk by I see another spot with the same red too close to each other. Enjoy! I just can't imagine this will be finished by tomorrow.

I'm making a bit of progress and will try to work some today. I've found an old camera and the battery charger and took a photo of some of the completed blocks of my Ohio Stars and Rails that I wanted to be finished by July 4 (I think I might have to declare it for 2009!) Now, hopefully, I can figure out how to add it here!!!

As I'm trying desperately trying to finish some of the blue stars...this keeps crossing my mind... Okay, so in my haste to be a real quilter...I took a couple (that's lots if you are really counting) of classes at my LQS and washing first was never an option, i.e., I didn't choose the fabrics until the moment before the class or I bought the kit for it. This means that nearly all of my fabric is unwashed (and untouched, might I add). This may be as many as 20 or so projects/quilts and all BIG sizes. The kits should stay unwashed to be sure I have all the needed fabric, correct? Thoughts on that? Dare I wash these small pieces should there be any? Also, I'd had a very nice online shop owner pick out a wonderful set of fabrics for me and half way through our plans, she developed an illness and decided to close her shop. I ended up buying lots more than I needed for this king size quilt (what was I thinking?), so do you think I should wash those fabrics? At the LQS one da...

Yahoo! I've made progress! I've gotten the red rails completed today! Now, on to the blue stars! I just don't know what to say about no pics for you to see. I just don't know where to look for my camera anymore. I'm so worried I've lost it forever. Anyway, there's not much chance I'll get it done by next week, but I'm trying! Gloria

July 4th is looming and I've not gotten much accomplished on my OSR quilt. Surprised? I have one blue star and cut three red/white strips. I am really concerned about the next blue because it's got a lot of creme in it. I may have to let this one blue go. What do you do with the leftover bits of strips that you've sewn together? I have about an inch or so left, so you save them as is, rip them apart or do you toss them? Got a bit side-tracked with building a design wall because I want to watch this quilt go together. I've cut it so it just fits my wall to stay up by itself. I have to find the flannel to cover it, then get that up. Off to cut some blue/white star fabric that I think will go better than the last one. I priced a new camera this weekend, guess I'll have to find the old one. Sigh...why is everything so expensive? (a rhetorical question). I promise some photos one of these days. Gloria Northern KY http://airolgmd.blogspot.com/

Just wanted to update my latest project of Quiltville's Ohio Stars and Rails . I've done one star in a light blue and a strip of the rails (red/white) and I know Bonnie said they were going to be 6" squares, but I guess I didn't realize how small and how many I'm going to have to make before my so-called deadline that I sure I won't meet. Now that's positive thinking, right? Anyway, life has gotten in the way a bit, but I hope to work on it some more today. I need to work on speeding up the stars block if I'm going to finish this by July 4. (I love to dream!!!) If I just have a top by then, I'll be happy. So, I was just playing with this blog template and I can have a blog list so if you are working on this quilt, I'd love to add your blog so I can see your progress, too! Just let me know.

I'm getting settled in, still have a ton of boxes, but I've decided since the all pretty much match that they will be my decor...all the rooms now have the same theme...cardboard brown!!! Anyway, I belong to a Yahoo! group that is linked with Bonnie Hunter's Quiltville site. Bonnie designs a ton of scrappy quilts and I found one that I'd love to do. It's called " Ohio Stars & Rails " and decided to do a red/white/blue patriotic one--the kicker is, I want it finished by July 4 as a wall hanging so I can have one wall with something on it besides paint! I mentioned it to others and several are thinking about joining in with me, so maybe they will keep me focused and motivated to meet my personal deadline. I cut some reds, whites and blues and made one 6" star and one 6" rail to be sure I understood the directions. I'll try to find my camera so you can follow along with me. If the other quilters join in, perhaps they also have a blog and I...

for that darned camera. I also need to get new license plates and need the price that we paid for it for the sales tax. I'm gradually getting things put away, but I still have a ton of stuff just sitting around. Sigh. I'll write more in a bit.

Okay, it's pouring down rain today, so no swimming, probably. I did some work on the studio in the wee hours, but still have some boxes that I can't seem to find. I'm thinking of shopping today instead of working on the house. Maybe I'll get my new drivers license today. I want to stop for one of those Smart Shoppers so I can start remembering what I need when shopping. I want to go to Costco and pick up one of those six-drawer mobile cabinets or maybe two of them. I saw them online at the Container Store for something like $60 and they are at Costco for about $20. I've also decided to start playing tennis again and signed up for beginner lessons at the nearby tennis club. They begin tomorrow for 12 weeks. Since I'm not a member, it will cost more, but what's more important than your health? Not money, of course. I still haven't gotten my HQ16 put back together yet, but I just can't decide which project to do! Maybe I should stop by the LQS and start...

The move is over and we are somewhat settled in, however, I'm going slowly so I don't have to move things more than three times. Today, I want to work on my quilting studio (I'm trying to make it sound like more than just a room over the garage!) and get some things in place. It's a huge room, however, the ceilings are slanted and that cuts out a ton of my storage options. I'm still looking for my camera to show everyone. I thought I'd put down my thoughts and see if I'd get a revelation about where to put what. Basically, I have a long rectangle room with a couple half walls/slanted ceilings and a furnace/AC closet. I have a three-monitor computer and a TV and printer on two long tables with a 4' empty space--I'm thinking ironing? Too small there? Then a half-wall separating that section and another open space. The open space has a TV table angled in the corner and the other corner has two other tables. Here the sun comes in so I'm going to put ...

Thimble Blossoms , a pattern company is giving away a finished quilt from their blog. The Bloom quilt was made from Allspice Tapestry by Fig Tree for Moda. It's beautiful!!! Stop by and post a comment and place a link on your blog and get three extra entries! I really love those colors!

I'm going away again. We are taking the entire family out to meet our new granddaughter! We'll be back soon. I'm just adding more quilts to my list. We are going to move mid-April and I've promised myself that during our retirement I would quilt every day, so after I get myself setup in the new house, I'll post regularly. Thanks for your patience.

I'm back from my visit to meet my new little granddaughter. She's absolutely beautiful, just like her big sister! The family will be introduced to her later this month. Our current house is still in the "staging" phase. I guess I'll need to get on the ball here! The new house needs some attention, but not sure when we can get out there again.

We have a new granddaughter! She arrived today and mom and baby are doing just fine! I'm so excited for my DIL as she was so ready! Now that we know all is well, I'm so glad she wasn't born on Friday, leap day in 2008. Makes it difficult when celebrating birthdays! Hugs and kisses to the new baby and can't wait to meet her!!!

I've updated my current home with all the contractor stuff. Now I have to finish some painting and get to "staging" the home to show to potential buyers. If you have any hints as to what I should do to "sell" it quickly, please post your thoughts. Years ago and when I was much younger, I'd never been satisfied that I had this 4-bedroom center hall Colonial home that had round-ranch molding throughout and plain, flat doors. I started, room by room, replacing the molding/doors and adding crown molding in the living room, dining room and master bedroom. I just hired a contractor to finish the job. Now, I've got to paint it all!!! All the bedroom bedding is old and tired and needs to be replaced, but I want to purchase things that will suit my new Tucsany/Old World feel/theme. So, until I do that, I can't really "dress" the windows yet. Suggestions?? If you see any bedding that suits...let me know. I guess I should get to that painting of trim...

Okay, I found another little project that needs to be done. It's a sewing roll ! It's the cutest thing ever. My Thimbleberries fabric has arrived. House update: The basement carpeting installation is Friday. Once that is completed, I can move my sewing room from the living room to the basement along with our new media room. Paint the living room and await the new countertop. Then, put the house on the market and get ready to move to our new house. Speaking of the new house...it's decorated in a Tuscany theme...grapes all over the place, rough faux finish kitchen wall (can't get used to not having smooth walls), gold colors all over the place...anyone have some good decorating tips? It appears to have been professionally decorated, how do use what I have to finish that look? Help!!!!!! Photos soon...do you want to see either house? All my UFOs? Potential projects?

Well, sorry about how long it's taking me to post. We've bought a house and I'm trying to get this one ready to sell, so I'm painting, organizing and sprucing up the place. I can't seem to find any time to sew because of the guilt. So, I'm in the planning stages of what I will do...in my new sewing room at the new house. I'm sharing this with everyone (mostly these posts are so I won't forget what I wanted to do!) and if you have already completed your quilt made from a pattern I've chosen to do, please share the link. Thanks. The Debbie Mumm fabric has arrived and I do wish I could work on it. Sigh. If you find any BOMs that I might like to try, please share the link!

I just ordered the Debbie Mumm BOM kit so I'll have the fabric soon. I wanted to order the Somewhere in Time fabric, but not all the fabrics were available so I need to look over this again. I also ordered the Thimbleberries Club fabric as well. We are hoping to move, so I ordered it online this year. I will miss my LQS very much and will tell them at the last 2007 meeting next week. Sad to leave them. I'm removing the wallpaper in my master bathroom so no time for sewing today. Sigh. My cable TV is out and they can't come until NEXT Thursday...all too quiet around here.

I've been doing the family thing and spending all my time with my children and their children and it's been a great week! More when I get caught up. Hope all you had a great time as well!