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!
applique · daily life · family · longarm quilting · machine quilting · quilting · quilts

Making up for lost blogging time…lol

Wild Rose Quilter6 Comments

I’ve been going around today taking some pictures to post in the next few days.  Today, I will start with some pics I took yesterday.  I took my cousin’s quilt to my parents house, to lay out on their bed for better photos.  I still don’t have it trimmed, and now that my shoulder is feeling better, I hope to be able to get the binding attached to the front today.  Then I can start the handstitching.  I think it will be plenty big, even after shrinking when I wash it.  I’m sure y’all are getting tired of this one, and will be ready for me to move on to another project…lol.  Right now, this one has to be top priority. I think they will love it, especially when they notice the little details, like the horses and horse shoes in the borders, and the stetsons and boots. That is not threadiness in the feather spine, but marking chalk, which will wash out.

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Speaking of yesterday, we went to my parents house, which is an hour from where we live.  My brother and his family came, too.  We had a really nice day.  I ate wayyyyy to much and loved every bite! Mom sent us home with a nice bit of leftovers and I am looking forward to heating them up in a bit. 

It is freezing cold outside and we are getting our first snowfall of the season. What a great day to get to be home! Ilove, love, love four day weekends! 🙂

Coming up soon, I will have pics of some small projects I managed to work on, even while my shoulder was bothering me so, and I will discuss my stash and the need to be using it up and not adding to it, and catching up with the “what’s on your bed” question that has been going around.  Stay tuned! 🙂

quilting

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wild Rose Quilter9 Comments

Please bear with me, as I’ve been quite a blog slacker as of late.  I just have to let this shoulder-whatever thing ease up, and am severely limiting my computer time to give it more time to rest.  I had my xrays Monday, and after a quick look at them, my chiro said the only thing jumping out at him was that my whole upper spine seems to be shifted to the right side.  He was going to go over them more closely and will visit with me indepth about them at my next appt.  However, after taking the round of prednisone, I do feel better.  Today is the best it has been.  I seriously wonder if it is the amount of time I’m using that arm/hand with my mouse.  I spend many hours, at work and home, on the computer.  And neither place is set up for great ergonomics.  I don’t think that would necessarily explain the grinding, popping noises and feelings going on in that side.  Like the feeling that my collar bone is popping in and out of place, and that my vertebrae feel like they are rubbing against each other, among numerous other pops & crackles in that side.  None of this goes on in the left side, mind you.  Just the right.  Anyway, I am also going to try a massage therapist.  If this doesn’t start helping, I am going back to my doctor and insist that he sends me to a doctor in Amarillo that can do more extensive testing, like a nerve study or something. Something has to be happening to explain the extreme amount of pain I end up in.  It really irritates and depresses me, because it keeps me from my quilting! Anyway, today I am much better, and for that I am thankful! Thank y’all for the well wishes and the private emails that I have rec’d checking up on me.  I wanted to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving.  I was going to do a post listing things I am thankful for, but I would be here typing til midnight!  When I really start to list my blessings….WOW! I’m a lucky girl!

I hope to have some more interesting material in the next few days.  Thanks for hanging in here with me!

daily life · quilting

Just Checking In…this post is all WHINE…

Wild Rose Quilter16 Comments

I’m sorry if you’ve been dropping by just to find nothing new.  I woke up Saturday morning with my shoulder/back really bothering me, but tried to keep doing a few things.  By Sunday morning, I couldn’t raise up out of bed w/o help from DH.  Monday, I got in to my chiro and he worked on my, did ultrasound treatment, told me to ice it and really up my intake of Aleve or Advil.  I had a wonderful three day weekend planned to work on my projects and couldn’t do a darn thing.  Three glorious days off from my day job and I spent most all of them in bed. Plus I stayed home Tues as I still wasn’t much better, took 12 Aleve throughout the day.  Went to work Wed morning, back to chiro that afternoon.  He did a muscle stem treatment on me, which has helped some.  And he called my doctor and they have me taking Prednisone to reduce the inflammation.  Monday morning I go for new xrays.  So I haven’t been able to stand being on the computer much and I haven’t done any sewing.  Hopefully, I will have it back under control soon and can get back to my normal routines.  Oh, and lets don’t even talk about the shape my house is in now….

 TTYL

community · daily life · fabric baskets · longarm quilting · machine quilting · pretty fabric · quilts · sewing

Time’s Up! And the winner is…..

Wild Rose Quilter6 Comments

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Congratulations Deb Levy! Email me your snail mail, and I will be sending you your fabric prize.  I chose five of my favorite “blender” fabrics from my stash and cut one yard pieces from each.

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Thank you to all of the 22 entries in my blog contest! I wish I could send you all a prize.  I will have to think of more reasons for future contests!

Notice that I used my newly made basket to hold your names!

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I think it’s not too bad for a first try, though I’m not convinced I’m finished with it just yet.  I think it needs some kind of handles added.  I hope to get a few smaller ones made up for some handmade Christmas gifts this year.

I haven’t signed up to be an official PIF participant, (the Pay It Forward movement that is going around on many of the blogs) simply because I have so many obligations to meet in my life already, that I didn’t want to sign up, fail, and feel badly.  However, I intend to unofficially participate, and look for ways to bless others with my handiwork.  I just don’t want it to feel like another thing I “have” to get done.  I hope that doesn’t sound terrible, I’m just being honest.  Most days I’m already stretched about as thin as I can go, as I know most of you are, too.  I really admire those of you that find ways to handle it all, and still find time and energy to give so much of yourselves. 

I am also happy to report that my stepdaughter is going home from the hospital as I type! She had her surgery Thursday and all went well.  The doctor didn’t see anything that looks suspicious, but we won’t have the official report til next week.  That is such a huge relief! I just wish she didn’t have to go through the discomfort that follows.  She is such a special young woman and I love her very much! Thank you for your prayers for her.

Have a wonderful Saturday!

Blogroll · community · longarm quilting · quilting · quilts · sewing

TADA!!! 10,000 Hits!

Wild Rose Quilter22 Comments

Ok, I promised a contest on my blog when I reached 10,000 hits.  That magic number just popped up in my stats! So, here is what I am going to do to celebrate all my fun friends in blogland.  Everyone that comments on THIS post will be entered into a drawing.  The prize will be FABRIC!!! I will raid my stash for a nice selection to send to the lucky winner.  I can’t believe I have faithful readers, but I do, and I appreciate you!  I enjoy sharing with y’all and reading up on your blogs.  Thanks for coming to visit me!

I will keep the the contest open til noon on Saturday to give everyone a chance to pop in and not miss out on the fun!  Good luck!

fabric baskets · longarm quilting · machine quilting · quilt top · quilting · quilts · sewing

WIP Wednesday

Wild Rose Quilter5 Comments

I have managed to work on my projects some this week, in the evenings after work.  Tonight, before DH got home and dinner was ready, I managed to get started on the final big feather in my cousin’s quilt.

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And, I’ve been wrapping clothesline while watching TV at night, and on my lunch breaks I’ve been able to stitch for a few minutes on my first basket attempt.  This is kind of fun! It’s really starting to look like something!

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There is one small spot right before I stopped stitching where my fabric shifted and the clothesline is showing.  I will fix that.  And that’s all I have for my midweek project report!

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

Sneak Peeks at Quilting the “Cowboy Way”

Wild Rose Quilter12 Comments

I am almost finished quilting my cousin’s quilt.  One large feather to go, and it will be on to the binding. Since my blog has been seriously lacking in quilt related photos lately, I’m going to make up for it with some preview photos.  I wanted to give them “durability” in the quilting, as this will be used, but also wanted special elements in the quilting to reflect their lifestyle, and give it a personal touch for them.  Thankfully, Dave Hudson has several designs that filled the bill perfectly.  This top started out at right at 118″ square.  a quick measurement a moment ago, tells me the quilting process has already shrunk it to about 115″.  I know it will shrink a bit more when I wash it, but surely it will still be large enough.  I always worry about that!  Anyway, here are the pics…they aren’t the best quality, but never fear, there will be more when it is finished. 🙂

Lots of stippling, and a bit of feathering…carrie7.jpg

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I put Dave Hudson’s stallions in the inner top and bottom borders.

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I put Dave’s horseshoes in the side inner borders.

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I used another of Dave’s pantos for the large outside borders.  It has Stetsons & cowboy boots with meandering around them. It is perfect for this quilt.

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And finally, Quilt EZ feathered wreaths in the corners.

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And that concludes the preview show.  I think it is coming together quite nicely.  I also think I am FINALLY “getting it” when it comes to doing a custom quilt job.  I have struggled with “putting it all together” and getting the quilt stabilized w/o problems, etc.  I don’t know why this was so hard for me to figure out, but I think the light bulbs are finally all coming on! 

daily life · family · love of my life

Welcome Home, Sweetheart!

Wild Rose Quilter4 Comments

Woohoo! My husband is coming home today!  He has been gone since Sunday morning, on a fishing trip to Amistad Lake.  Kay has written some very funny posts in her blog about being “paranoid” when her DH is gone and she is alone in the house.  I, on the other hand, am more paranoid about telling the “whole world” that he is gone, than I am about the actual being alone part.  So, now that he is on his way home, I can “safely” tell y’all that he’s not been here with me all week.  How silly is that? LOL!  Anyway, I am so excited that my sweet baby will be home with me tonight! 🙂

Now, I’m up and off of this computer to get dressed, and do something quilty! I am making great progress on Carrie & John’s quilt, and I hope in the end it will look great. I am to the point of taking it off and turning it for the last borders, and I still have some quilting to do in the center, but while I have it off, I want to mark the vein for the final feathers, that will go throught the dark diamond around the center. After the borders and final feathers are done, I will have some simple meandering left to do, and I will be finished with the quilting.  But, while I have it off, I have to baste one more baby quilt for a customer.

Have a great weekend, y’all!

daily life · machine quilting

Is it not Friday yet…???

Wild Rose Quilter4 Comments

This has been such a hectic week for me at work.  Today will be the same.  I’m sure ready for Friday.  Tomorrow I get off early, but I’m getting my hair cut & new color, so that will take pretty much the whole afternoon.  I need to be working on my quilting projects.  I am making progress on my cousin’s quilt, and I think that may have something to do with my anxious-ness.  I’ve frogged two feathers, already…hopefully there will be no more frogging.  I think that I’m trying “too hard” because I want it to be so special, that I get myself all frazzled out in my head.  And I become extremely critical of my work.  I think it’s just too many things going on at once in different areas of my life. 

My oldest stepdaughter will be having a hysterectomy on the 8th, and I am ready for that to be behind her, also.  She’s only 31.  If you are so inclined, please say a prayer for her that all will go smoothly and there will be no bad test results from the lab work.

Carla, I finally took a pic of the inversion table for you.  It’s at a bit of a weird angle, but I was trying to get the whole apparatus in the pic. It’s a Teeter Hang Ups.

inversion.jpgI went for my chiropractic treatment yesterday, and my chiropractor said he thinks it’s great that I  got one and am using it.

Gotta run for now!