Author: Wild Rose Quilter

I’m a simple woman…at least that what my DH (Dear Husband) used to say about me…I was a wife, I am now a widow, mother, step-mother & step-grandmother, quilter, and have a full time job in criminal justice. I lost my DH on May 22nd, 2011. I live in a small town in Texas. I love piecing quilts, I love quilting quilts. I have a serious addiction to fabric. I’ve been quilting since 1998, and purchased my first longarm, a Gammill Premier, in 2004. I upgraded to an A-1 Elite, named Corky, in March, 2007. I am in the process of rebuilding my life after losing my spouse. All photos and content in this blog are my own, and I request that you not download, copy or otherwise use anything here without my permission. I hope you enjoy visiting my blog and would love to hear your comments. Thanks for stopping by!

Sunday Reporting, 10-19-08

October 19, 2008October 19, 2008 Wild Rose Quilter10 Comments

My stash hasn’t changed a bit, either in or out. I did pull fabrics from it for the guild mystery quilt, but I’m not counting that til I actually start on it. I have been working on some projects, though. I quilted one customer lap quilt, and have another ready to start. My parents came for a visit Saturday, so Friday afternoon was spent cleaning, and getting ready. I really enjoyed our time together Saturday. I demo’d my embroidery machine for Mom, by working on the label for my Dad’s log cabin quilt. Then, after they left, I just had some play time with it. I got these Christmas ornament patterns, at the shop where my machine came from. They are an OESD Christmas promo. You spend $60.00 shopping, and you get the patterns for free. This is the one I made last night. I used a red that had been prewashed, but after wetting it to get the stabilizer out, and leaving it overnight to dry, the red still bled through the white stitching, turning it pink around the edge of the applique. And, I don’t think I had my tension set quite right on this one.

Today, as I was making a label for the back of my Storm At Sea quilt, I thought that a scrap of that fabric might make a neat ornament, so I played with a different color theme.

The ornament is still wet, from rinsing out the stabilizer, but when it’s dry, it will be the same color as the label it is laying beside. Also in the pic, is the label for Daddy’s quilt. I still need to trim it up.

I like the way the ornament came out, in the golden color, with a bit of silver metallic thread for some sparkle. I will add some crystals for further embellishment. I think I’ll be making some more of these. It was fun!

I also jazzed up one of my DH’s fishing shirts, by adding a couple of embroidered designs to it. He loves it! I was so proud of myself for getting them on so straight, and even symmetrical with each other!

And, I got the labels for the commissioned memorial quilt ready to stitch.

All in all, I had a really nice weekend. Just too short, as usual. Hope yours was great, too! I’m off to soak in the new infinity pool hot tub now!

daily life

LOL At Us!

October 18, 2008October 18, 2008 Wild Rose Quilter5 Comments

I think infinity pools are really cool…however, this is not the way to try to get one…

OOPS! Someone forgot to check on how fast the tub was filling.

And even as we are progressing into the fall season, new life is appearing in our backyard. Lots of these little guys.

I was surprised to see them this late in the year. Aren’t they cute? I hope they find enough to eat before they burrow in to hibernate. And hopefully, I will see some of them again in the spring.

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

Starting My First Mystery Quilt

October 15, 2008October 15, 2008 Wild Rose Quilter7 Comments

I went to the guild meeting last night and we rec’d the fabric instructions for this year’s mystery quilt. I have never done a mystery quilt before. I really want to participate in as many of the guild projects as I can, so I’m going to try to do this, and see if I can keep up. Besides, it’s a great way to bust some stash. This is one of those times that I am thankful for my stash. I was able to go to my quilt room, in my jammies, and “shop” for the required fabrics for the quilt. These are my choices.

The first one, the pale green, will be the background. The floral print will be the main fabric, with the remaining two being the accent fabrics. I like them together like this…whether or not they will be successful for the pattern, I suppose only time will tell. They are going to send out the cutting instructions in our next newsletter. I’m anxious to see what they are. I will post progress reports, so you can see the mystery unfold, along with me. I love being able to use my stash like this, and this is precisely why I have one. Instant gratification when I want to start a project. No waiting til I can make a trip to the nearest fabric shop, which is about an hour away. And no waiting for an internet order to show up. I had everything I needed, right under my roof, and even options for different color schemes. Yes, having a stash is good thing! 🙂

quilting

Look What I Got to See Again Today

October 11, 2008October 11, 2008 Wild Rose Quilter9 Comments

It’s been over 20 years since I last saw this portrait. http://www.marlinadamsart.com/portrait4.html

I think the colors are actually prettier in person, than in the photo. It doesn’t really have that yellowish color in real life. When I was in college, Mr. Adams, the artist, taught art there. One day, he asked me if I would sit for a portrait for him, and he offered to pay me for my time, in money or a small portrait. Even in my youth, I was smart enough to tell him I wanted the small portrait. I gave it to my parents as a gift. This is a photo I took of it.

One day not too long ago, when I was visiting my parents, my mother made the comment that she wished they had bought the large one years ago, when they went to one of Marlin’s shows, but at the time, they just didn’t feel they could afford it. I told her it might still be available to purchase, and I could email Marlin, who is now in Georgia, to inquire. Mom & Dad both said they would like that. So, I did email him, and he answered, and long story short, it is now at home with my Mom & Dad. I can’t tell you how happy I am that they bought it. I’ve often thought about it, and wondered where “I” would eventually end up. Now, “I’m” home. It was an honor to be asked to sit for Mr. Adams. Thank you, Marlin.

Mr. Marlin Adams is an amazingly talented artist. I love his still lifes and landscapes. Treat yourself to a visit to his online gallery. http://www.marlinadamsart.com/

I got to go to my embroidery machine class today, in Amarillo. I learned a few things, and of course, bought a few things…lol. Hope you are having a great weekend!

longarm quilting · machine quilting · quilting · stash busting

Sunday Stash Report, 10-5-08

October 5, 2008October 5, 2008 Wild Rose Quilter8 Comments

0 yards in this week
4 yards out this week

YTD totals

Incoming Yardage to date: 84
Outgoing Yardage to date: 109& 5/12yds
Total Stash Busted to date: 25 & 5/12 yds

The four yards busted this week was fleece for this navy/tan fleece blanket for a customer.

I’ll probably rather quiet til my living room painting job gets finished, and I can get things back in order. It’s chaotic in here right now. The painter was making good progress. He put kilz on the two larger walls yesterday, and got started cutting in with the paint today. Then we noticed a problem. I had three cans of paint in the garage. One partial can that was left from the top half of the entryway, which is textured wall, and a lighter color than I am painting the paneling, which is in the living room and the bottom half of the entryway. We also had a partial can of the color for the paneling, and a full can of that color. DH picked up the partial can and says “is this the paint, honey?” I said it was, without looking closely, as I picked up the full can, and said “this is the full can that goes with it”. I had forgotten that the other partial can of the lighter color was sitting in the same vicinity as the other two cans. You know where this going don’t you? Yep, he had almost all the cutting in done when we realized what had happened. I managed to only say OH CRAP, OH CRAP out loud, though what was going on in my head was much worse. So work halted for today while the wrong color dries, and he went to watch the Dallas Cowboys football game. The guy painting works for my husband at our glass shop, but he used to work for a painter, and does painting jobs on the side. He & DH are gonna work on it tomorrow afternoon. It could’ve been worse. 🙂

love of my life

Thursday Thumbs Up

October 2, 2008 Wild Rose Quilter6 Comments

I could do several thumpers for the crappy week at work, but most of that I can’t talk about here….sooooo…a big Thursday Thumbs Up to my most precious, most beloved DH who has hired someone to come finish the living room painting job I started! Yippee!!

quilting · quilts · stash busting

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

September 29, 2008September 29, 2008 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

September 28, 2008September 28, 2008 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!

September 24, 2008September 24, 2008 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

September 21, 2008September 21, 2008 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. 🙂

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.