Playing Around Wild Onion Style

January 27, 2008 Wild Rose Quilter3 Comments

I was really itchin’ to do some stitchin’ yesterday, so I picked out some fabric, got my Wild Onion pattern out, and started playing. I don’t know how successful my design ideas will be in the end, but I’m having fun. I’m scattering some organic looking designs allover, in random spaces, with Autumn Rainbows, then I will go back and fill in all the unquilted area with some type of quilting. I am going to use a solid thread that blends well with the fabric for that. Since my blog seems to have been running low on actual quilting content lately, I’ll throw in a few teaser pics. 🙂

I had trouble getting the colors to come through accurately. This first pic shows the true fabric color the best, but it still isn’t quite right.

This is another pic I took just trying to get the color right.

What I haven’t decided, is what type of filler to use. I was going to just keep going with similar quilting designs, echoing around and swirling, throw in a shape, etc., but now I’m thinking that maybe just a regular old stipple meander around the designs, might be best. What do you think? Any suggestions? Or maybe mostly stippling with a random shape here & there….?? And I’m thinking fairly small on the stippling, not micro small, but small.

I think I’m going to go do some more piecing on my EB 9p’s & stripes right now, though. I will be back later with my Sunday Stash Report and weigh in results. Stay tuned!

How about a little dose of cuteness before you go? Big sis & little sis, all cozy on Daddy’s lap.

daily life · longarm quilting · quilting · weight

Off to a Great Start Today!

January 26, 2008 Wild Rose Quilter5 Comments

My son feels fabulous today…not even in pain. He’s just doing amazingly well. I flipped on Fons & Porter on PBS, as I was getting dressed this morning, and Marilyn Badger was on, and it was an episode I hadn’t seen. I love that they are doing some longarm episodes. So I quickly dressed and hopped on the Treadclimber while I watched. Boy did that workout fly by quickly, as I had something worthwhile to watch. After that, I decided to try on a pair of Nike windpants that I couldn’t wear two weeks ago, and they fit again! Yeehaw! Now, what to do with the rest of this fabulous day…..work on my EB quilts, or throw something on the longarm and play….hmmm…..

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

Sunday Stash Report Time

January 20, 2008January 21, 2008 Wild Rose Quilter15 Comments

Finally, I am back in a quilting mood. I finished trimming the stripe blocks for my two 9P & stripe quilts. I pulled fabric from my stash for the background squares and setting triangles for each quilt. The pattern calls for 2.75 yds each, but I washed up 3 yds apiece. I hate to end up a tad short, so I had a little leftover. Here is a preview of what they will look like.

The pattern calls for using a medium background in one, and a light background in the other. However, on my light, I decided to use the same fabric for the setting triangles and squares, as I used for the background of my 9P’s & stripes. I hope to really hone my quilting skills in all those open spaces. I’m planning on lots & lots of feathers. Will I be able to pull it off? We shall see!

I did get started sewing them together today. I’m sewing them simultaneously. That way, I don’t get one finished, and get burned out, and leave the other sitting for awhile.

So, I got almost 6 more yards out of my stash and headed into quilts. I am also happy to report that I did not buy any fabric.

I’m still working on some beginner knitting projects, and completed two scarves, and am getting close to finishing a special shawl I’m knitting.

Sunday weigh in time! Last week, my starting weight was 150. Today, my weight was……………..150. I lost a total of zero lbs. this week. I really wanted to see a 140-something. However, I’m not disappointed in my myself, because I did great on my working out…a total of six times this week, and I did not blow it with the eating. I know this is just a natural part of the diet/exercise process. I know I made progress, because I can see a change in my body shape, and in the way my clothes are fitting. Hopefully, the scale will be kinder next week. 🙂

Remeber that I mentioned that I found a new buffet hutch for my dining room, when we went to Amarillo. I finally took a pic. I am really enjoying it. It has helped so much to have this extra space to store some of my stoneware and other dishes, making my cabinets much safer to open…lol. (you know, less thing falling out at you when you open the door)

Some gratitudes this week were:

My son breaking away from an unhealthy relationship
My 20″ Omnigrid ruler
My new hutch
None of us wrecked driving on the ice this week
My husband cleaning the floors!

I guess that’s it for my report today. Hope y’all have a great week ahead.

flat stanley · knitting · longarm quilting · machine quilting · quilting · stash busting · weight

Sunday Report

January 13, 2008January 13, 2008 Wild Rose Quilter17 Comments

Not much to report here, this week. I did not buy any fabric. I did finish sewing my stripe blocks for my quilt, but I haven’t finished trimming & pressing. I freehand quilted up four yards of fleece for a customer order.

It’s kind of a pretty cocoa color in real life. The final recipient will be my friend’s father. I think he will like it.

I also sold a baby quilt. So does that count as stash busting? It moved out of my stash…lol.

I had a pretty busy week, otherwise. Monday, I had a sinus headache, pretty much all day. So after work, I was pretty worthless. I did stay on track with the exercise, pretty well, though. I got four workouts done. I wanted to get in a “last chance” workout yesterday, since today is weigh-in day. That didn’t happen, as we got up and went to Amarillo, to pick up DH’s new Skeeter bass boat! So Flat Stanley got to go to Amarillo sooner than he expected, as we will be going on Wednesday, too, for my doctor appt. It will take us a bit to get that written up for the Princess, but that will be coming in a few days. Some of our pics didn’t come out like we hoped, so we may just do more on Wednesday.

I also picked up a new rustic buffet cabinet for the dining room. I’ve been playing around with it this morning, and will feature it in a post in the near future.

On the weigh-in…it was hard to stay off the scale during the week, but I made myself do just that. Weighing everyday can get frustrating, too much ups & downs. But, knowing that I was going to weigh-in AND post it here, really did help me stay on track. I’m not “dieting” per se, just eating more “reasonbly” and healthily. I don’t do well with “diets” that restrict this food or that food, so I don’t do them. I’ve also watched what I drink. I’ve mostly drank water, milk or tea. I keep hearing Jillian from the Biggest Loser saying “don’t drink your calories!” So, with all that rambling said…..my starting weight for the week was 153. My current weight is 150. I lost three pounds this week, for a total weight loss of four pounds. I wish I had one of those scales that does the body fat percentage, too, but I don’t. My DH told me Friday that he could tell I looked smaller. I don’t expect to lose as much this week, as I’ve really been struggling with the 140’s for over a year now, but I just have to not get discouraged and blow it. Oh, and this included eating bacon, eggs & pancakes for supper Thursday night, and going to our favorite Mexican restaurant Friday, and eating cheese chile rellenos. I’m definitely not going hungry…lol!

In knitting news, I have discovered I have project-itis, just like with quilting. I have several items going on different sets of needles, all needing finishing. Mostly scarves, one practice hat, and a special project, a prayer shawl, for someone that needs comforting. I think working on it comforts me, too. I signed up for the knit & crochet online community, Ravelry, and got my invitation to join yesterday. It will take me a while to figure out my way around there, but it looks awesome!

Well, that’s I guess that’s it for my Sunday Report. I have a feeling I might not get much done today, either, but that’s ok. I’m tired!

daily life · health · longarm quilting · quilting · weight

Scattered Saturday Thoughts

January 5, 2008January 5, 2008 Wild Rose Quilter6 Comments

This post is just some random musings going through my head.

Slow down. Quit rushing through projects. Take my time, enjoy the process. Keep it fun and relaxing. Don’t feel guilty about telling someone “no, I’m not interested in taking that project on”, or “this is my price, take it or leave it”, because I will not GIVE my time away. My time is valuable. I would rather not do any quilting for money, than do it for less than it’s worth. To do that, makes me resent the project. I have plenty of my own projects to work on, which make me happy. My quilting must continue to be one of “my happy places”. This is not negotiable.

Set smaller goals. This really goes along with slowing down. Why do I put so much pressure on my self to finish, finish, finish? This is hard to explain, but I’m sure others of you will grasp what I’m trying to say. I think I have so many projects that I hope to make, and I start feeling like…I don’t know…the world might end, or I might die, or some other such catastrophe will occur…before I get to them. I need to get over this one. There will ALWAYS be projects coming along that I want to do, that list will never get smaller, I will never come to the end, I WILL die, or the world will end, or some other catastrophe will happen before I make EVERYTHING, or accomplish everything I want to accomplish. Anyone else relate to this crazy thinking????

So, like for example, this week, my quilting goal is ONLY to finish the nine patches for my 9P & stripe quilts. That is 88 9P’s. I’m almost done, so by the end of this day, I fully expect to meet that goal. Then next week, my goal will be to have the stripe blocks completed.

The Biggest Loser. I love this reality show. I am not obese, but I am now struggling with my weight, which has been gradually creeping up, up, up ever since my hyster, almost 3 yrs ago. I know it’s partly my age, 41, but I think also in part to the estrogen replacement I’m taking. Maybe that’s just a cop-out, denial on my part, too. I don’t really know. However, since a new season of The Biggest Loser has started, so has a new try on my part to get those numbers going back in the right direction. So, I will also start posting a weekly weigh-in on my blog. If those contestants can be brave enough to stand up before the world and weigh-in, so can I. Maybe knowing that I will be putting it here for you all to see will help keep me accountable and motivated. My starting weight is 154. Ouch! I don’t like that number. My first official weigh-in will be tomorrow. I will try to remember to do that on Sundays. Sunday is the day I view as the first day of each new week. I’m just barely, maybe even a smidge under, 5’5″. So that weight is at least 25 lbs more than I should be for my frame. And the majority of it goes south of the waistline. If I could redirect it to my boobs, all would be well…LOL. My exercise goal is not less than three times per week.

Stay on track with my Flylady routines. Hit a lick at a snake. Remember that even housework done incorrectly still blesses my family, and me.

If I continue to have problems with my shoulder, back, neck, etc., to the point that I have been, and it continues to interfere with my life as it has been, I will find the courage to go back to my family doctor (I’m currently seeing only my chiro for this, and some days it’s better, most days not) and be insistent with him that he look into it further, or send me on to someone else who can & will get to the bottom of what is causing it. WHY am I getting so much inflammation, irritation, pain….??? Why do all my upper body bones pop & creak, and feel like they are grinding against each other with movement, or just changing positions, such as simple rolling over in bed? But on the other hand, I’m terrified of any kind of surgery….waaa, waaa…I know…I just get so frustrated with doctors kind of throwing their hands up and acting like I’m making too much out of it, because they can’t see anything significant on an Xray. This pain is not normal. And I would skip over my family doctor, but my insurance requires a referral from him, so this requires me to be more insistent and forceful, which for some reason, I find hard to do when dealing with health care professionals. I turn into a wimp around them. I let them completely intimidate me.

Ok, was this too much rambling for you…? Flylady just asked “where is your laundry?”, so I guess I best get up and put some in the washing machine…lol. And I have some 9P’s to finish, and some treadclimbing to do, therefore the rambling must come to an end….

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

2008 List

January 1, 2008January 6, 2008 Wild Rose Quilter2 Comments

After compiling my list of accomplishments for 2007, I worked on my list of things I hope to work on in 2008. This is what I came up with.

I found six PIGS. Four are actual kits, two are matching lap quilt patterns that I have fabric for, sitting in a sack.

My WOBS pile (this is what I call those quilts waiting on binding) is the largest group of all. I rounded up twelve quilts, large and small, that need binding.

I came up with five WIP’s. My Eleanor Burns nine patch & strips, my fall wallhanging, and old UFO with a big star in the center, a pink & white project that only consists of two completed blocks right now, and I’m counting my leaders/enders as a WIP.

Those waiting to be quilted are my Storm At Sea, and some antique tops I bought on Ebay. I think there are five of those.

Projects I haven’t started, but have the fabric for, and hope to complete this year are a log cabin for my Daddy, my batik jewel box, and a Darlene Zimmerman Boston Commons quilt in 30’s fabrics. A Turning Twenty for myself, out of my collection of chicken fabrics. And I still want to make these patterns.

It will be interesting to me to see how close I come to meeting those goals, by the end of this year. One thing I was thinking yesterday, is that I think I try to rush through too many projects, putting pressure on myself to get them finished, and move on to the next one. I’m trying not to do that with the nine patch & stripes. I am trying to take my time and get back to enjoying the process, and my time spent with beautiful fabrics and threads. I’m also rethinking whether or not I want to quilt tops for others, or stay with only commissioned quilts. I’m leaning toward the latter. There a couple of ladies that I will quilt for, but I’m thinking that with the fulltime job I already have, I really don’t need or want the added pressure, at this point in my life.

My little holiday from the real world officially ends in the morning, as I go back to the wonderful (not) world of adult probation. It’s been great to just forget about that part of my life for these past eleven days. It’s been a much needed break. I only left my house once, since I’ve been off, and that was to go to my parents Saturday. I haven’t even gone to the grocery store. I’d make a good hermit, I think.

I want to thank you, my online friends, who come to visit and spend time with me here, at my little spot on the web. I noticed that my little blog ended the year with the most hits it’s ever had in one day. I wish you all the best in 2008, and pray for strength & healing for those that are hurting.

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

End of Year Report

December 31, 2007December 31, 2007 Wild Rose Quilter3 Comments

Before I deleted my old blog, which was hosted on another site, I kept a copy of one post. That was my list of project goals for 2007.

These three patterns were on the list. I have yet to even start any of these.

I completed two commissioned baby quilts,one commissioned queen size quilt, and two commissioned king size quilts.

Finishing Starry Log Cabin was on the list to be completed and I finished it.

Courthouse steps was on the list, it is now quilted, but needs binding.

My Storm At Sea quilt kit has been sewn into a top, but still needs quilting and finishing.

I started on the fall wallhanging, and it is now a WIP.

And I started on my two Eleanor Burns nine patch & stripe quilts, making those a WIP.

I also finished DS’s lap quilt, four other baby quilts that went up for sale at my friend’s boutique, several fleece blankets for customers, and quilted a few customer tops.

I feel like I’m forgetting something, but that’s all I can come up with for now. Not too bad, considering how limited my quilting time is. Now to work on the list for 2008!

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

Sunday Report Time!

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

I cannot start this post with “I did not buy any new fabric”. I did buy new fabric. Yesterday, on a trip to Pampa, the LQS was having one of it’s two annual 40% off all fabric in the store sales. I didn’t, however, start buying willie nillie, like a chicken with my head cut off. I needed more neutrals in my stash, so I went straight to the neutral section and picked some out. I also bought some thread. I’m ok with this purchase…no feeling guilty at all.

Stash use and project progresses or completions were:

I finished this lap extra long lap quilt I made for my son, earlier this year, by making the binding and machine stitching it onto the quilt (which you can see in the second pic that I’m not that good at doing), and I added a very “professionally” done label 😉 Yes, that is sharpie written directly on the back of the quilt. This is a use me/abuse me quilt. I hope he wears it completely out one of these days.

I finished the quilting (if you can call it that) on Greg’s quilt. Prepare yourself, this may hurt your eyes…I give myself an “F” on the quilting. I was completely uninspired when I began quilting this one…to borrow Carla’s term…my “artistic harmony” was nowhere to be found. Anyway, done is good in this case. One positive that came from it, is that I was finally starting to get good at the “swirly” border! I even successfully turned the corners with it. Other than that, I really can’t say what I was thinking…

And lastly, I started working on this Eleanor Burns project. So far, I have used 10.5 yards from my stash! When I’m done, I will have not one, but two new king size quilts for my bed. You can also see part of my leaders & enders in the left bottom corner of the second photo.

I think that wraps up the quilting portion of my Sunday Report. However, I have some other “stash enhancing” to report. Though I did ok, I think, with the fabric purchasing at the quilt shop, Walmart is where I went a little stupid…lol.

I’ve been wishing for something else to work on at night, when I’m not working on a binding, or when I need something a little more portable, so I’m giving knitting another whirl. Yes, that’s right, I said another whirl. Hopefully, this time, I will have something better to show for my efforts than this “beautiful” afghan I made in college 🙂 I do remember feeling quite proud of myself at the time.

So, now that I’ve horrified you with crazy bad quilting and crazy wild knitting all in one post, I hope that won’t scare you from coming back to visit me again. With that, I conclude my Sunday report!

longarm quilting · machine quilting · quilting · quilts · stash busting

Sunday Stash Busting Report

December 23, 2007 Wild Rose Quilter2 Comments

I had a good week of stashbusting.

1. I didn’t buy any fabric, even though there was another sale at Thousands of Bolts.

2. I made the binding for my Simply Leaves wallhanging, and got that fabric out of my stash. I also attached said binding, and a label, thus completing that WIP.

3. I made the binding for a lap quilt I made for my son, earlier this year, as well as the binding for my New York Beauty wallhanging, which has been bindingless for quite some time.

4. I added the borders to the courthouse steps top. The inner border was strips that I already had cut for it, a long time ago. I used 3.5 yards of fabric, from my stash, for the outer border. I used 8.5 yards of fabric, from my stash for the backing. That quilt is currently loaded on the longarm, with quilting in progress.

5. I have continued to whittle away at the scrap pile, turning it into strips, and leaders/enders, some of which I’ve already started sewing. I usually remember the “leader”, but have a tendency to forget the “ender”. I’m working on that.

Thus concludes another successful week of stashbusting.

Libby · longarm quilting · love of my life · machine quilting · nature · pets · photos · quilting · quilts

What a Difference a Day Makes!

December 22, 2007December 22, 2007 Wild Rose Quilter2 Comments

Wow, yesterday I had that gorgeous sunrise to enjoy, and today, this! Good thing the Princess of Serendipity is keeping Flat Stanley home til after the holidays 🙂 It was not foggy, that is just blowing snow making visibility very difficult.

One of us was enjoying it! Yeehaw, says Libby as she dashes through the snow, at a high rate of speed!

I’ll let this picture speak for itself!

Ok, I’m ready to go back in now!

I took all these early this morning. It’s now almost 3:00 pm, and the sun is shining again!

In quilt news, I have the courthouse steps loaded on the longarm, but I decided to stop kidding myself. No way that it is getting finished before Christmas. I was making myself cranky by putting so much pressure on myself. I told DH today, Merry Christmas! This is your gift! He said he loves it! I sure love him!

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