Category: longarm quilting

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! 

longarm quilting · quilting

New Books to Read

Wild Rose Quilter6 Comments

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I ordered a couple of books while looking for that bunny, on the online www.fabshophop.com .  I ran across a BOGO sale at www.quiltersobsession.com . I’ve thought before that I would like to know how to make these fabric bowls & baskets, and I liked the look of this border book, and what could be better than getting one free!? Yummy, something fun to look at while I’m watching TV in bed tonight.  My Teeter Hang Ups inversion table came today, too!  DH is reading that instruction book 🙂 That’s really all I have to report today! It was my all day Friday at work today, so I’ve only been home a couple of hours.  I need to clean/oil my machine and table, and staighten my work area to get ready for the next project. TGIF!!

longarm quilting · machine quilting · quilting · quilts

A cute quilt and a great panto!

Wild Rose Quilter7 Comments

I finished quilting this little gem of a quilt last night after work.  It is a customer top, made by my good friend, Betty.  She did a great job on this one, and chose the Star Swirl panto, from Terri Watson & Michelle Wyman. I love this panto, it quilts up quick & easy, & looks great.  This top and backing were made from unwashed batiks, so I was a little apprehensive, but Corky handled it great.  I had one spot I had to pick out and restitch, because it skipped some stitches.  I’m not sure what caused it, but I thought about all the tips I have read and decided to loosen the quilt sandwich a bit more, and I didn’t have any more problems.  It was one little spot, about 1/2 inch long where there was one long stitch.  The backing is a gorgeous red batik, and I had trouble getting a good photo of it, but the pattern and variegated thread look fabulous on it. I think Betty will really like it.

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The next quilt to go on the machine is my cousin’s log cabin, with the cattle brand in the center.  I’m anxious to get started on it.  I hope this weekend will be good for quilting! Hopefully my body will be on the same page as my mind, and be cooperative!

daily life · dogs · longarm quilting · Lulu · NASCAR · quilt top · quilting · quilts

Thank You, Gina!

Wild Rose Quilter7 Comments

Yesterday, my mailman brought a sweet surprise.  My prize from Gina, for winning her birthday drawing on her blog.  She had all kinds of goodies packed into this adorable coffee cup, including fabric & chocolate.  There is also some yummy Apple Cinnamon Chardonnay jelly. I need a little smilie face licking it’s lips to insert here.  (WordPress really needs to improve the smilies and ease of use.  How hard could that be?) Anyway, I digress…Thank you Gina!

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Thank you for the “feel better” wishes. After taking muscle relaxers for a couple of days, I’m still sore, but better.  I’ve taken Jan’s advice, and ordered an inversion table.  My chiro had mentioned a couple visits ago, that he might start me on traction, so hopefully the inversion table will do the trick. I have had xrays done, which show I have significant straightening of my cervical spine, and I have a bulging disc.  My chiro has helped, it just doesn’t last very long.  I had an MRI on my shoulder, but not my cervical spine.  That might not be a bad idea. I’ve taken it pretty easy all weekend, but I did manage to complete my cousing’s quilt top, and prepare the backing.  I also loaded a throw size customer on the machine, and have a couple panto rows done.  Of course, I’m watching NASCAR today.  🙂

Lulu still seems to be doing better, but I think I will call the vet to see if it’s too soon for her to have another allergy shot this week, and maybe just have him look in her ears again to make sure the antibiotics did all the good in there.

We watched The Illusionist last night.  I give it two thumbs up!  One of the better movies I’ve seen lately.

Hope you are having a great weekend!

daily life · dogs · home improvement · longarm quilting · Lulu · NASCAR · quilting · remodeling

Busy Saturday

Wild Rose Quilter4 Comments

Today started off like normal, with coffee 🙂 , only not as early as most days.  Then I had to do emergency grooming on Lulu.  She is having a horrible time with allergies this year.  I have already taken her for shots, but she keeps itching.  Yesterday, while we were at work, she apparently scratched under her chin til she made a large hot spot.  I didn’t notice it til yesterday evening.  DH made a quick trip to the grocery store to see what we could get, came home with medicated shampoo, and a couple bottles of stuff that is supposed to help.  We cleaned up the area last night, as best as we could, and put medicine on it, and little socks on her back feet to try to minimize her scratching.  This morning, I got the clippers out, and cut all her hair as short as I could, bathed her with the medicated shampoo, doctored her up, and have spoiled & pampered her as much as possible today.  I will call the vet Monday and get her back in for more shots.  Poor baby.

Also, I worked on our entryway hallway some more.  I am almost done with the texturing…one more coat on one side and it will be ready for paint as soon as it’s all dried out.  I finished Kilz-ing the paneling on the bottom half of the walls, and got one side painted.  The new color looks really nice, I think. 

Also, I went to the shop with DH, and we pulled out a retail gondola shelf that he had disassembled and stored in the back.  We cleaned it up and put it together, and filled it up with my packages of Quilter’s Dream batting.  Now to get the word out to the local quilters that we have it available in the shop.

I am excited to report that I have found a group of longarmers that meets once a month, and I have been invited to go to their meetings.  It’s a two hour drive for me, but I am really looking forward to going and meeting them.  This month’s meeting was today, and I was hoping to get to go, but with Lulu like she was, I wasn’t about to leave her.  Hopefully, I will get to go next month.  I found them through one of our local deputies.  Since I work in the adult probation office, we visit often, and he knows about my quilting.  His mom is a longarmer, and the meetings are in her shop.  He talked to his mom and got me invited. 

Oh! I had a wonderful surprise this morning while drinking my coffee and surfing the blogs I like to keep up with.  Gina had a contest on her blog, on her birthday.  I won the drawing!  How fun!  I need to think of a contest for my blog.  Maybe a celebration contest when I hit 10,000 views.  This is the 2nd blog contest I have won.  Earlier this year I won some of Gayle’s gorgeous hand dyed fabrics.  Hmmm…maybe I need to be buying more lottery tickets 🙂 !

The NASCAR race is on, so I must get back to watching!  My favorite driver is Bobby Labonte.  He is driving with lots of pink on his car tonight for breast cancer awareness.  I am calling it the Boobie Cure Car! Go Bobby in the Boobie Cure Car!

longarm quilting · machine quilting

Sometimes things just work out like they were supposed to all along

Wild Rose Quilter2 Comments

While picking out the Signature variegated thread, I really began to question my choice of it on this little top in the first place.  So, when I got it all set up to quilt again, I decided to switch to the Rainbows Autumn.  I did some stitching on my practice sandwich, tension was perfect, and did a row on the top.  It looks so much prettier than the Signature did! I really think the Signature was too heavy and stood out too much, where the Rainbows complements it without stealing the show.  I only did one row, as I was already tired, but now I look forward to finishing it.  Perfect tension on this row, too.  Oh well, live and learn.