Saturday, July 30, 2016

Week ending 7/28/16

Here we go.

Friday-really had no desire to go down and work, but one of the "girls" called and was having trouble with fusibles. So she came over and I helped her out with that. Other than that, nada.

Saturday-really didn't want to do anything, but I came down and worked on a sample for the Mini of the Month group.

Sunday-decided I really need to get something done so I came down and started working on another car quilt. Then caught up on computer work. Had to print out some new patterns and some more Beginning Quilt books. Also started work on writing up a new pattern. Then I started quilting the quilt (on of mine) that's on the LA.
Here's the car quilt I have completed the top.



Monday-had to go out to the LQS to pick up kit for the next Block of the Month. Came home and finished up sewing on the car quilt top.

Tuesday-went for walk with BQB. Came home and had some banking business to take care of and then ran to the big box sewing store to get a light bulb and split rings for projects. Then worked in the yard for the rest of the day. DH is re-doing the fence and we had to empty may garden shed and move it out, last week, so he could get to the fence in that part of the yard. Got it moved back and then I had to put everything back in.

Wednesday-just got down here. My objective today is to get the backing pieced for the car quilt. Make another sample for the Mini of the Month. Find backings for 2 other Mini's I've gotten done. Do some quilting on the quilt I STILL have on the machine, and start cutting on the new Block of the Month. Let's see what I get done.
Edit: I did make the backing for the car quilt. Started on the next sample for the Mini. Got the backing for the 2 other mini's and then decided to go ahead and get them quilted, put binding to the front and finished them up in the evening. Did not quilt on the LA.

Thursday-BQB came over and I worked on the New BOM that I need to have ready by Monday (top only). Got 7 of the blocks made.


That about covers it for this week.

Til later,
Hugs & Stitches,
Mary

Saturday, July 23, 2016

Week ending 7/21/16

Here's this week in a nutshell.

Friday-Finished client quilt and loaded the next one.

Saturday-quilted client quilt and then put on another one. Got that one finished too. No, I'm not a super quilter. Both were on the small side. I am now at a point that I can work on some of my stuff. More or less caught up on client quilts (if that's ever possible).

Sunday-came down and started on some of my things. Have to make inventory for quilt shows and a craft show I do. Started working on the little mini duffels I make. Today will be a me day :-).
Ended up working on the duffel  sand piecing some on the tumbler leaders and Enders. Time to finish that up and get ready for Bonnie's new leader and ender challenge for this year.



Monday-out at the LQS all day for the Mini of the Month Club.

Tuesday-morning walk with BQB and then had to run down to Olympia and take parts and supplies for the car project.

Wednesday-clean up the house a little for the little sewing group meeting tomorrow. Then down to service 2 machines for customers. After that loaded one of my quilts to get done.

Thursday-BQB came over and we went for our walk. Came back and came downstairs. She went to work on the quilt for the next retreat raffle and I just sort of looked at mags and books. Not really into sewing or anything right now. Sort of a little head trip going on  right now and need to talk myself out of it. Later the "girls" came over for our meeting.

That's about it for this week. Hopefully I will be back to normal by this next week.

Til later,
Hugs & Stitches,
Mary

Friday, July 15, 2016

Week ending 7/14/16

Friday-finished client quilt. Loaded another one on and got it halfway done.

Saturday-finished quilt. It took me a while to get it done because all of a sudden my bobbin thread kept jumping out of the tension slot. After picking out several times I pulled out my old bobbin case and did some work on it (it wouldn't keep any tension) and got it to working. Whew! Loaded a quilt back on (the one I finished last week and discovered a cold in the back and had to pick out 2 partial rows) and got that part re-quilted and DONE! Loaded a 3rd quilt and got started on that before calling it a day. Stick a fork in me-----I'M DONE!!!!

Sunday-finished quilt and loaded a bed runner on. Got that one done and was going to load another on and stopped. I decided that that was enough for the week. I was going to take a half day off and veg. So, that's what I did.

Monday-out at LQS for the block of the month. So the day was shot cause I get out there about 8:30 AM and get home about 7:30 PM.

Tuesday-Came down and wondered what to start on this AM. Started with sewing up 30 Pretty Pockets. If you missed my post on what these are find out their story HERE. Then it was on to sewing up a backing for one of my 5 yard quilts. Next up. piecing a client backing together. She sent a backing that she thought was big enough. When I went to put in on, the width was 3" short of the top. Luckily she had sent a 108" piece. I had enough to trim off one end and piece to the side to make it wide enough. Got the quilt loaded on the machine and ready to rock & roll on it tomorrow. Made the 6 blocks that our little weekly meeting group is trading each month.

Wednesday-came down and decided to work on some of the little duffels that I make to sell at a craft show I vend at in November. Spent some time picking out fabric for another car quilt.  Now to get started on the client quilt I have loaded. Started on quilt and almost have it finished.

Thursday-this is sewing day with BQB. It's been about a month since we've gotten together to have a sew day. It's normally every Thursday, but with going to retreat, then she went with DH to visit Mother -in-law is CA. So, we finally got back on schedule. Since we finished The Gypsy Wife, it's now time to go back to doing some UFO's. I had a second Moth in the Window that needed finishing. I got to work on getting the top set together and here it is.



Then I wanted to work on the 2015 Leader & Ender Tumblers from Bonnie Hunter. I want to get this done because by the end of the month she will be starting a new Leader/Ender project. I love doing this cause uses up scraps and I make 2 quilts at once. Here it is. It's still a work in progress.




That's what I have accomplished this week. Let's see what next week brings.

Til later,
Hugs & Stitches,
Mary

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Val's Piggy Bank Challenge #4


                                                                 Val's Quilting Studio

This will be the fourth year for the challenge. I am going to try to out do my last count. Although I think I did pretty good this last year. I need to buy more winning scratch tickets. If I win anything greater that $10.00 that goes into the bank. Only thing is I don't but that many.

I think this year I will put money towards something quilty. I should have my car done by then (LOL). If I can save A LOT--who knows, I might get a new embroidery machine. Shoot for the moon, I say.

If you want to participate, sign up HERE. Let's see if we can get a record amount of participants in on this.

Til later,
Hugs & Stitches,
Mary

Friday, July 8, 2016

Week ending 7/7/16

I am going to run my weeks from Friday to Thursday to keep track of my work progress.

Friday- got down here early and just puttered around at first. I unloaded and went through my project bag that I took to Idaho. I finished stuffing the pillows that go with the Quest for a Cure totes. Then I printed the labels and pinned them to 30 Pretty Pockets that go to the same place. After that I got started quilting the commission quilt that I have to get out this week. Got it finished and applied the binding to the top and will sit tonight and sew down to the back. Then I loaded a quilt that I am adding more quilting to some places. After customer and I talked about the quilting and I got it done, she decided she wanted a little more.

Saturday-came down and did some computer stuff. Trying to get back to journaling the quilts that I have finished. Started quilting one of my quilts that I loaded yesterday after finishing filling in the flower quilt. Got that finished and the binding on and ready to sew down when I can. Cleaned up a little and oiled up the longarm. Loaded another client quilt and am ready to rock and roll on it. I don't know if I'll start it today or in the morning. I have to leave shortly to check up on BQB's fur babies. They left today (BQB and her DH, not the fur babies) to go visit family.

Sunday-finished up a client quilt. Thought everything was going sooo smooth. Well guess what? I took the quilt off and found a spot on the backing that has a fold in it. Arghhhhh! No I have to pick out. Oh well. Keeps me humble I guess. I also starting writing up a pattern that I designed for a Mini of the Month group at my LQS. After gnashing my teeth about the quilt I went and tore down a machine that I have to service. I'll try getting that done by Wednesday at least. I also worked a little on the binding of my quilt that I got done the other day.

Monday-Finished writing the pattern up. Finished Mini top for the pattern and got pics for cover. Then I loaded up client quilt and got it quilted. Finished up sewing the binding on my car quilt.
Here's the finished product. I will list it on my Etsy page.

                                                                       Front of quilt.

                                                                     Back of quilt.

Tuesday-spent first 2 hours catching upon computer work. I trimmed up the client quilt that I finished yesterday then loaded another. This is a big one and might take me a couple of days to do it. Left at my usual time to go take care of the kitties I'm watching for BQB and found that they had gotten home. I wasn't sure they would be there cause they called that morning to say they were on their way. I just wanted to be sure kitties didn't miss their scheduled feeding.

Wednesday-early AM Dr's appointment and then I had to go by the PO to send out the commission quilt. Got home and got a little lazy and took a nap. Don't know how much will be accomplished today. We'll see.
Update Wednesday: I did start on the large client quilt. Also worked on  a little straightening up the sewing room.

Thursday-came down with all intentions of working on client quilt. Oh look-----squirrel! I got an idea for a mini for the Mini Of The Month Club at the LQS. Thought, "Well I just pick out the fabrics." Then it was, "Well maybe I'll just cut the pieces". Then it was, "Well everything is cut so let's just go ahead and piece it." So, it is now pieced, pattern written, we are good to go.



Worked on client quilt after that. Almost got it done, but then my bobbin thread started giving me problems. I figured before I got to upset and did something to make it worse, I would just walk away from it for the rest of the evening. I'll come down and finish it up in the morning.

That's been my progress this week. Hopefully, I can keep it up.

Til later,
Hugs & Stitches,
Mary

Wednesday, July 6, 2016

Piggy Bank Challenge


                                                                   How's Your Savings??

It has been a year since this one started. I decided that I would use what I had saved for my car funds. Even though I managed to save quite a little bit, it's not going to go far in the car fund. We took my car down at the end of April to begin the restoration process. Oh boy!!!! Hopefully I should get it back by the end of July or first part of August. I think I just bought a house (lol). Of course it didn't help that I decided to take out the 6 cylinder and put in a 289. That caused a land slide of changing out A LOT! When it is done, believe me, I will post some (a lot) of pics. Right now here are some pics of what it looks like now.














We are basically at the stage now of getting it all put back together. It has had the final primer put on. Now it's getting the engine and transmission in. The interior should be painted by this week. I think they're working on the interior (seats, door panels, etc.). Once everything is back together it will get the paint on the body. I'm hoping to have this by the end of the month or first part of August. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Anyway, the grand total from my jar is $307.98. I think that pays for one of the wheels, HA, HA.
Every little bit helps, right?

If you want to see what everyone has done with their windfall go HERE. This will take you to Val's Quilting Studio. If we do this again think about joining. It is fun to plan what you'll buy with your savings.

Til later,
Hugs & Stitches,
Mary