Month: September 2008

quilting · quilts · stash busting

Sunday Stash Reporting, A Day Late (and a link to assist horses and cattle displaced by Ike)

Wild Rose Quilter3 Comments

  • Incoming Yardage to date: 84
  • Outgoing Yardage to date:  105 & 5/12yds
  • Total Stash Busted to date: 21 & 5/12 yds.

My stash numbers didn’t change any this week, either.  However, Thousand of Bolts was having one of their end of bolt sales, which is usually a big weakness of mine.  I allowed myself to “shop” and put the fabric I would normally buy, into my cart.  But instead of checking all the way out, I only went as far as getting the total cost, with shipping charges.  Then I emptied my cart.  I saved $101.47, which will be put into my little “stash savings” I’ve started.  I’m curious to see how quickly it adds up.  Sure takes some control to get it into the cart, and put it back, though.  🙂  Especially with my husband saying, “why didn’t you go ahead and get it?”  He’ such an enabler! 😉

I did get the machine stitching done on the applique for the fall wallhanging.  Now I have to see if I can do the “hand embroidery” parts with my Bernina, and do the pieced blocks. 

Yesterday morning, I looked out the back window, and there were all these little water drops, from the sprinkler, on what is left of some of my parsley.  The sunlight was hitting it just right to make it look like it was covered in little crystals.  I tried to capture it for you with my camera, but this was the best I could do.  I wish I could have caught all the brilliant colors I could see with my eyes:  red, blue, green, purple, orange, yellow.  It was so pretty.   You will have to click on the pictures, to open them up larger, to see what I’m talking about.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Something else I meant to mention in my blog over the last few days, in case you are so inclined, is that apparently there are many displaced horses and cattle, from Hurricane Ike.  They are in desparate need of food, water, and other supplies for these animals.  There was an article about it in our local newspaper.  If, like me, you want to make a donation to this cause, you can do so at this site.  Click on the “No Fences” link to donate.

machine quilting · quilt top · quilting · quilts · sewing

Plugging Away on the Pumpkins

Wild Rose Quilter9 Comments

I’ve just been piddling along on this project this week. 

 When I started it, I was using the freezer paper method for the the turned edge applique.  I am not very experienced with applique, and find it much more challenging than piecing.  I found out early on that needle turn is not the method for me.  I’m not crazy about fusibles.  I am now using Sharon Schamber’s methods, and slowly but surely, I think I’m getting a little better, and I’m enjoying the process more.  I bought Sharon’s book, Piece by Piece Machine Applique, and have a premium membership to her network, where I can watch her training videos.  I am very much a visual learner, so I find the videos quite helpful.  Maybe I have finally found the method that works best for me.

Now, if only I could quit getting my pieces backwards…

quilt top · quilting · quilts

It’s a Pumpkin!

Wild Rose Quilter4 Comments

The arrival of Fall has put me back in the mood to pull this project back out.  I started on it last year, made the crow and sunflower blocks, except for the embroidery, and then stalled out.  I managed to get this far on the first pumpkin block after work last night.  Applique is challenging for me.  Hopefully, I’ll get better with practice, and maybe, just maybe, I’ll have this finished in time to decorate my home with it when Fall arrives next year.

longarm quilting · machine quilting · quilt top · quilting · quilts · stash busting

Finished Quilting and Salsa Recipe

Wild Rose Quilter14 Comments

My stash numbers remain unchanged from last week.  None in, none out.  However, I’ve been working on projects.  I’m almost done stitching the binding sleeve on my Storm At Sea.  I have started the handstitching of the binding on the memorial quilt.  I completed the quilting on my Daddy’s log cabin.  I used Quilter’s Dream cotton batting in the deluxe weight, Superior Rainbows Waikiki in the blue with Pastel Blue So Fine in the bobbin, Superior So Fine Cashew in the tans, with So Fine Toast in the bobbin. 

I quilted whimsical hearts in the corners, since it’s for my Daddy. 🙂

back of quilt
back of quilt

 

gorgeous variegated Waikiki
gorgeous variegated Waikiki

 

gorgeous Waikiki thread
gorgeous Waikiki thread

I was very pleased with the effect of this curl quilting and will be using this lots more.

My original plan was to quilt a ferny design in the tan, and literally changed my mind at the last minute.  I think this design was more appropriate for this one. 
Now, on to salsa!  My cherry tomato plants have been giving me more little tomatoes that I could eat, one at time, before they would start spoiling.  I’ve even been giving some away.  Why didn’t I think of using them for salsa before!?  Here is a quick & easy way to use up those cherry tomatoes in a hurry.  I used the the little food chopper thingy that came with my blender.
Throw in some ‘maters.
Throw in some cilantro, onion chunks, and jalapeno peppers.  I grew the peppers, too and they are hot. I do not seed my peppers, either, ’cause I like my salsa hot.  I just cut it into two or three chunks, so it chops up better. 
I put the lid on and hit the “pulse” button on my blender, quickly, two or three times, til I have this consistency.
I empty into a bowl and add some of this Creole Seasoning.
I’m pretty generous with it.
Squeeze in some lime juice.
Stir it all up.  Have a bite!  Be sure to have something close at hand, to put out the fire!
Yummm….think I’ll go have a bowl while I flip back and forth between watching the NASCAR race and the Ryder Cup.
quilting

How about a Thursday Thumbs Up?

Wild Rose Quilter3 Comments

I love Kay’s Thursday Thumpers.  And in fact I have one for today.  Thump Countrywide Mortgage…or rather the criminal that was working there that stole thousands of customers personal information and sold it to a third party.  The FBI discovered this in August, and Countrywide sent out letters to thousands of mortgage customers this week informing them that their personal information may have been among those sold.  We got one of those letters….THUMP THUMP THUMP. 

But, on a positive note, I’d like to start another Thursday tradition.  Thursday Thumbs Up.  My intention is not to take the place of the Thursday Thumpers.  Sometimes ya just need to give something, or somebody a good thumpin’.  But sometimes, if you have had a positive experience, or found a new product or place that you really like or love, give it a Thursday Thumbs Up.  Today, I am giving my Thursday Thumbs Up to Ore Ida Steam & Mash taters (all flavors), and Green Giant Valley Fresh Steamers (especially the super sweet corn in butter sauce).  Yummy and so convenient for those pressed for quality kitchen time, but would still like to be able to plop a tasty meal in front of their families, at the end of long work day.  Way to go, Ore Ida & Green Giant.

Also, thumbs up to those that made me smile with their comments to my previous post.  I enjoyed reading those, and am glad you got a giggle, too.

Tomorrow is TGIF!  Big thumbs up for that.

longarm quilting · machine quilting · quilt top · quilting · quilts · stash busting

Stash Tracking, 9-14-08

Wild Rose Quilter8 Comments

No new fabric came into the stash this week.  I used 2.25 yds. adding the striped border to the darker 9P & Stripe.  YTD totals are:

  • Incoming Yardage to date: 84
  • Outgoing Yardage to date:  105 & 5/12yds
  • Total Stash Busted to date: 21 & 5/12 yds

I’m liking this one.

I also made the binding for the memorial quilt, and got it attached to the front of the quilt, ready for the hand stitching. 

I enjoyed the first race of the NASCAR chase for the cup today.  A little more so than most this year.  Maybe because Kyle Busch was not up front today…lol.  And it had a surprise ending today. 

I can’t believe it’s already going to be Monday tomorrow.  Where did this weekend go so fast??  At least I got some good fabric and thread therapy.  I hope you got a chance to do something you love.

quilting

Busy Saturday

Wild Rose Quilter8 Comments

I was quite productive today, despite the fact that I couldn’t sleep last night.  It’s been awhile since I had such a sleepless night, and if it’s gonna happen, a Friday night is the best time.  So I can’t really complain about that.  I got up about 8:15 and made coffee.  Then I put some clothes on and set my timer for 15 minutes, and started straightening up in my room.  Then 15 minutes in the kitchen, and then the living room.  Then a vacuum and mopping session on the floors. 

Then I did yoga.  I got to thinking that yoga might be good for my neck, shoulders and back.  I order movies from Netflix, and wondered if they have yoga dvd’s.  Well, they do.  I ordered one called Yoga Wisdom for Neck Pain & Tight Shoulders.  I really like this one, and do think it is helping.  My massage therapist seems to be making some good progress on the tightness around and under the shoulder blade.  I’m crossing my fingers.

After a bite of lunch, I loaded the memorial quilt top.  I quilted it a panto named Joust, by Willow Leaf Studios.  I love the way this turned out.  I think the family will be pleased.  Next step is to make the binding.  I am going to make it from the boy’s shirts, also. 

I received this beautiful charm pack in the mail this week, from OzJane.  She did a blog giveaway, and ended up sending out charm packs to everyone.  How very generous.  She couldn’t have picked a more perfect pack for me!

One of my best friends, who recently moved away, was back in town two or three weekends ago.  Look what she brought me.  She found it in an estate sale for $1.00!  Still in the box, with the tag. 

The owner of the Wizard of Oz quilt has been out of town, and didn’t get to pick it up til this week.  She loved it, and so did her husband.  She also gave me a king size Turning Twenty Again top to quilt for her.  And my instructions are to just have fun and do my thing all over it.  Woohoo!  A freehand allover from the front.  I’m looking forward to getting to it.  It will be my first with wool batting.  I have some on order from Quilter’s Dream, and she has a FatBack ordered from Christian Lane Quilters, for the backing. 

I joined the local guild Tuesday night.  I went to their first meeting of the new year.  I’m looking forward to it.  I hope I can manage to find time for the projects. 

I hope tomorrow will prove to be another productive day.  If it isn’t, I won’t have much of a stash report…lol.