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 Stash Report

December 9, 2007 Wild Rose Quilter9 Comments

1. The biggest news is that I finished quilting my Starry Log Cabin! And,….I already have the binding stitched to the front, and I have started the hand stitching! Yeehaw! Pics will follow, at the bottom of this post 🙂

2. I have made further progress on my courthouse steps blocks. The stack of strips left to attach has grown much smaller.

3. I was weak, and went to one of my favorite online sources for a fabric fix. I told myself I would “just get some neutrals”. Afterall, my stash is lacking in those, so it wouldn’t be so bad to get some of them. I even started picking some and putting them in my “wishlist”. BUT I STOPPED! I did NOT put them in my cart!

So, mostly this week I guess I have stayed focused on the projects at hand, determined to have finishes and not a continuing, growing pile of UFO’s in and amongst my stash. I think it was a successful week.

Now for the quilt pics. There were three pantos in the running for this quilt, but I feel confident that I chose the correct one. I love the movement Hermione’s Fantasia gives this quilt.

I used Signature cotton thread in Cranapple. I love the way it looks on the blue border. The stitching shows up nicely, but doesn’t jump out at you.

I really like the way the pattern shows up in the red diamonds, and makes them really standout.

And finally, the backing, that wasn’t really my first choice, but I already had these two fabrics in my stash, in abundance, as I have a bolt of each. I used 3.5 yds of the burgandy, and 7 yds of the tan. And now that it’s all said and done, I like it. Gives it a little touch of whimsy, which suits my personality perfectly.

And I think Hermione is right. This panto would make a very pretty wholecloth! For those of you that have asked, and may have missed my response in my comments, the quilt pattern can be found in an older Leisure Arts book, called Quick Method Liberty Quilts.

quilting

A Successful Delivery!

December 9, 2007December 9, 2007 Wild Rose Quilter4 Comments

My cousin called last night. Their quilt arrived in Laramie, Wyoming, safe & sound. They LOVE it! She said it is just beautiful on their bed. My Mom talked to my aunt last night, also, and she told my mom that my cousin told her that “it is just so much more than they ever imagined it would be”. That is exactly what I wanted to hear. What a great feeling. She had wanted shams, too, but I told her I wanted to wait on them til she saw the quilt on her bed, and then she can decide if she still wants them. If so, I have plenty of fabric left and can do them later.

I have two rows and a bit of fill-in on the bottom edge left to go on my starry log cabin, and it will be completely quilted. I will have that finished up here in a bit.

I woke up up right around 2:30 this morning, just like Judy, to the sound of ice hitting the bedroom window, then a loud clap of thunder, which prompted me right up out of bed to unplug my longarm and my sewing machine. It is currently 20 degrees outside, with a windchill of 11. A good day to stay in and quilt!

chickens · community · daily life · Lulu · quilting

I want some chickens!

December 8, 2007December 12, 2007 Wild Rose Quilter8 Comments

Unfortunately, due to city ordinances, I can’t have chickens. I don’t want a huge flock of chickens, mind you. Maybe five or six at the most. Just two to start with, then add a couple more in a year or two, so that the peak egg laying years are spread out among them. As I’m sure, when they are past the egg laying prime of their chickie lives, I will NOT be able to eat them. I even researched which breeds were well suited to a small backyard flock, most docile, and easiest to handle, etc. I even had names running through my head for them…Ruby, Maude, Mable, Darcy, Fancy….Yes, I realize chickens require some effort. I know you don’t just throw them back there in a pen and be done with it. I have a rabbit, and they require much of the same type attention. Yes, sometimes it can be a pain or inconvenience, but I enjoy the caretaking responsibilities that come along with my animals. It gives me a deep sense of satisfaction that I can’t really explain. Like it feels a void or basic need in me. I was hoping that maybe there were some minor restrictions, like no crowing roosters, or not over “x” amount. Actually, I was told I could do it, but IF a neighbor complains, you have 24 hours to get rid of them. I love fresh eggs, and have a local source I buy them from, but I thought it would be so enjoyable to have a small flock of my own. I thought about approaching my neighbors to see if they would mind, and offering to bribe them with fresh eggs, but I guess I will just let it go, and dream of the day when I can find the perfect place to live, where I can have a few chickens of my own. In the meantime, I don’t think Lulu cares for my attempt at disguising her as a Plymouth Rock hen 🙂

Enjoy your Saturday!

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

WIP Wednesday

December 5, 2007 Wild Rose Quilter12 Comments

I started the quilting on my Starry Log Cabin. I’m using Hermione Agee’s (Lorien Quilting) Fantasia panto. Let me tell ya, I am LOVING this one. I’m so excited about how pretty it is stitching up. Here’s some sneak peeks…it’ll be a few days before I have it finished. I only have four rows done, it’s an eleven inch panto, my top is 115″, so I have a ways to go yet. (yes, I’m sure that’s not “proper” English, but it’s how I talk…so if I want to write that way, too, I can, it’s MY blog 🙂 Call it creative license!) Anyway, I digress…back to the pics!

I’ve also made some more progress on my courthouse steps blocks some on my lunch breaks. I mailed my cousin’s quilt today, and said prayers that it makes it to them safely. That was hard to do, let it go off like that without me along to protect it. I’ll be so glad when I get a call that it made it! And that wraps up my Wednesday report. Have a great rest of the week!

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

Sunday Stash Busting Report

December 2, 2007December 12, 2007 Wild Rose Quilter7 Comments

Well, I am happy to report that I have had a pretty good week on the stash busting. I finished my starry log cabin top, that I have been working on, on and off, for almost ten years. So not only do I have the blocks finished and out of my stash, I used 3.5 yards of this beautiful blue fabric, from my stash, for the border. I will also be using about another yard for the binding.

I also shopped my stash for backing fabric, using up another 10.5 yards from my stash! It wasn’t my first choice of backing, but I decided it would work fine. You will see the backing once I have it quilted and post final pics of this project.

I also pulled out another UFO, a courthouse steps made from scraps from other projects, and made some forward progress on it. This is froma Marti Michelle “quilt as you go” pattern, but it took me two blocks to decide quilt as you go isn’t for me. I started it before I owned a longarm. After getting the longarm, I decided it would be much more fun to sew them together the regular old way, and quilt it on my longarm.

Once I have this center done, I will use the same border fabric she used on hers. And the fun part is, I already had a bolt of the border fabric in my stash, when I realized it was the one she used! How cool is that!?

I also posted some more stashbusting from the week in my Thursday post from this week. And if you want to see my out of control stash, it can be seen in the post prior to this one, so just scroll on down for it. 🙂

This pic was just too cute not to include. Look what I keep finding under the Christmas tree.

Oh, I almost forgot! I finished my cousin’s quilt! Bound, labeled, washed and dried. I just have to get it shipped off to her and pray that nothing happens to it in transit. I can’t wait to hear what they think of it.

pretty fabric · quilting · quilts · stash busting

Exposed

December 1, 2007 Wild Rose Quilter14 Comments

Others have been showing theirs, so I will show you mine. My stash!

This would be why I’m taking Judy L. up on her challenge to use the stash. Don’t get me wrong. I love my stash. I don’t want to not have a stash, but I bought these fabrics to use. I feel badly that they are just laying around on these shelves doing nothing. I want them to be in pretty quilts. One reason I like to have so much on hand is because I live in a small town without a fabric store. I like being able to “shop” in my closet when I need something, and maybe not have to wait for a fabric to arrive in the mail, or until I can make a trip to a store. I don’t think I need to keep adding to this hoard of fabric until I move some of it off the shelves and into quilts! I have discovered, though, that I do need more of certain colors that I tend to gravitate toward. And creams and tans and whites…those always seem to be in short supply in my stash. I think that this will help me to make wiser choices when I do decide to do some stash enhancing, rather than busting. 🙂

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

Fantastic Friday!

November 30, 2007December 13, 2007 Wild Rose Quilter9 Comments

Today, I only had to work at my day job til noon. I felt pretty good, and look what I accomplished! Yahoo! The whole center of Starry Log Cabin is put together! I have the border fabric washed and dried. It looks like this is really going to get finished. What a good feeling!

Tonight, I will spend some more time on stitching binding on Carrie & John’s cattle brand quilt while I watch TV. I have to remember to watch Jay Leno tonight because Johnny Depp will be on the show.

Hope your Friday was fantastic, too!

applique · fabric baskets · photos · quilt top · quilting · quilts · sewing · stash busting

Thursday Tidbits

November 29, 2007December 13, 2007 Wild Rose Quilter8 Comments

Today’s post will be a hodge podge of things I’ve been meaning to get around to posting, but haven’t found the time to sit down and do it.

Remember that pile of fabric, for the fall wallhanging, I had pulled out in the middle of my quilt room floor not so long ago? Well, since then, I did actually get started on it. I am not so good at applique, but hope my skills will improve some by the time I finish this little project. These are the first two blocks I have worked on. I still need to add the flower stem and crow’s feet. This will also qualify as a stash buster project, as I am using only fabrics that were already in my stash.

And the start of another fabric basket, which is also using fabric from my stash.

And, from my stash of scraps, I made my first attempt at a coffee cuff, and gave it to one of my friends at work. It’s not so wonderful, but she loved it.

This is the beautiful sunrise I saw out my back door yesterday morning, and I wanted to share it with you.

The clouds, especially in the first pic, looked like snow to me, like the world was upside down.

I have been making some project progress this week, in the evenings, after work. I am working on my starry log cabin center. I have seven of the 10 rows sewn to each other. I am almost finished stitching the binding on my cousin’s quilt. I have a little over one side and one corner to go. Then a label, a wash & dry, and I will be done! Woohoo!

Christmas · daily life · longarm quilting · machine quilting · quilt top · quilting · quilts · vintage tops

Good Sunday Mornin’! Edited to add some Stashbusting

November 25, 2007December 13, 2007 Wild Rose Quilter14 Comments

One last day in my four day weekend. I’m so sad to have to go back to work tomorrow. Yesterday, I did something fun. A few months ago, I was watching one of my Linda Taylor dvd’s of her PBS series, Linda’s Longarm Quilting. She had an episode on quilting vintage tops. That set me off on an Ebay binge…lol. I finally got an opportunity to work on one of them. Isn’t it a beauty? I tried to keep it as square as possible, but it is a little wonky. Now it goes on the WOB list (waiting on binding). I hope it also qualifies as part of my stash busting effort, as it was on the shelf with my stash, and I used backing fabric for my stash, and will use the same for the binding.

Just look at all the beautiful fabrics in here. I love them!

I used a repro backing that I got from Christian Lane Quilters.

The story, from the Ebay lister, is that she purchased this top from an elderly woman named May, who she reckons to be in her 80’s. But get this…there wasn’t just this one top…there are two of these beauties! The tops were pieced by her mother, from May’s and May’s sister’s dresses. She said there was no one left in her family that would want them. They are from somewhere in Missouri. The seller had them listed separately, and I won them both. Here is the other top.

This is a pic of the backside, showing all the handstitching.

Now then, if you are reading this, and have fallen on the floor hyperventilating because I dared “machine” quilt these old tops, sorry, but you will have to get over it. I know there are some that are totally against this, but please save yourself some time and do not bother to send me flaming comments. I know, as a piecer myself, that if years and years down the road, some future quilter comes into possession of some of my unquilted tops, nothing would make me happier than for her to love them and finish them in whatever manner suited her. I think May’s mother would be tickled to see her projects finally finished, and know that they are in a good home where they are loved and appreciated.

I had some spare backing and batting left at the bottom when I was done quilting, so just for fun, I pulled out a strip of scrap fabric and did a quick feather practice.

Yes, yesterday was a good day! I got some of the ornaments hung on the tree, set out a nativity scene, and made more progress on my cousin’s binding. I hope your weekend is goind great, as well! Even though I am not done decorating it, I will conclude this post with some pics of my tree and nativity scene for Kay.

Also, on the stashbusting topic, I would like to add that I resisted the tempation to even go look at the end of bolt Thanksgiving sale at Thousands of Bolts. When I got the email, I deleted it and did not go shop for more fabric!

Christmas · daily life · longarm quilting · machine quilting · quilting · quilts

What’s on my bed?

November 24, 2007December 13, 2007 Wild Rose Quilter5 Comments

I have a cheap bedspread that I bought from JC Penney’s. However, on top of that, I have a queen size quilt that I made. It’s an oak leaf reel from a Fons & Porter issue. Since my bed is a king, it doesn’t cover, so that’s why it is on top of the bedspread. Not the greatest decorating touch, but I am hoping that before too much longer the starry log cabin I am working on will take the place of both of these, and be the “star” of my bedroom.

Yesterday, I did get the binding stitched to my cousin’s quilt, and last night I began the handstitching to the back. The finish line is getting closer!

As I was complaining to my husband that I needed to put up the Christmas tree ( I am so not in the mood for Christmas decorating this year), he reminded me that we threw our old tree out last year! I forgot this! Why didn’t I remember when we were at my parents the day before, when I was five minutes from a Walmart, rather than an hour from one? Crud! So we go out shopping here for a Christmas tree yesterday. They had some really ugly, pitiful looking ones at our Alco, but they weren’t exactly “cheap”. Well, not proportionately cheap to the ugly, anyway. Then we went to the local flower shop. Beautiful trees, but I was gonna have to drop over $450.00. But they did have a 25 year warranty. Finally found a new tree the local True Value. And it was more than I wanted to spend, also, but I guess I’ll get over it. It’s prelit with the hinged branches, like the ones at the flower store, but no 25 year warranty. I might want a new one before 25 years is over, anyway. I thought I was never gonna finish “fluffing” the branches last night. Also, it looks much larger in my living room than it did in the store. I was kinda wanting to downsize, but I didn’t manage to get that one right…lol. We usually put the tree by the fireplace, where my new leather chair and ottoman are now. So I had to find a different corner to tuck it into. I guess I’ll start putting the ornaments on today.

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