Category: machine quilting

longarm quilting · machine quilting · quilting · stash busting

Stash Busting Report, 8-24-08

Wild Rose Quilter8 Comments

I busted 4 & 1/3 yds this week.  I used four yard fleece on a fleece blanket, that I forgot to photo.  I used 1/3 yd. making binding for the storm at sea. 

YTD totals:

  • Incoming Yardage to date: 83
  • Outgoing Yardage to date:  92 & 3/4 yds.
  • Total Stash Busted to date: 9 & 3/4 yds.

It’s been a busy week.  I made a fleece blanket.  I quilted the customer wallhanging, and that took most of my spare time during the week, and yesterday.  Small quilt, but time consuming.  No pics yet, as it is my customer’s for a guild challenge. 

I loaded up the commissioned baby quilt (Chinese coins that I posted recently), and did one pass of a panto on it.  It’s looking good!  I also attached a hanging sleeve, and did the machine stitching of the binding to the front, on my storm at sea quilt. 

Corky, my longarm, got her “spa treatment”.  This involves removing the front cover piece and oiling several points in the front, oiling all the regular oiling points, loosening the covers that give me access to the gears, so that I could pack some more grease on them, and just giving her an allover cleaning.  I cleaned the table, table tracks, carriage tracks and wheels. 

I also attacked the huge mess that was in my closet, and cleaned out a big sack of clothes.  Woohoo…that’s like a weight off.  How does it get in such a shape? 

Seems like such a boring post without pics.  Glad you stopped by.  Hope you have a great week ahead!

longarm quilting · machine quilting · quilting · quilts

Wonderful Wednesday Mail Surprise!

Wild Rose Quilter5 Comments

Teresa! Thank you so much!  What a sweet surpise the mail brought today.  I’ve wondered what these taste like for a long time!  Now I know…yum! I thank you, and my family does, too. 🙂  And yes, they made it just fine, with no melting.  You really, really made my day.  Hugs to you!!

I also have a cute little swallow pic to share with y’all today.  This is the newest little batch of fledglings.  This is what they look like when it’s raining outside. 

I wish they didn’t make such a big mess, right at my front door, but I don’t have the heart to make them leave. 😦

I must get back to quilting! I picked up a small customer job, but it’s gonna take a fair amount of time.  It’s a rush job, to be shown at the next guilt meeting, as part of their challenge. I’ve been praying that everything goes smooth sailing on this one!  Sew far, sew good, but I’ve barely gotten started.

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

Another W.O.B. Bites the Dust

Wild Rose Quilter11 Comments

Yesterday, I just felt the need for that satisfaction that comes from finishing something.  So, after I finished the quilting on the Oz quilt, I pulled one of my quilts that has been waiting on binding, Greg’s courthouse steps quilt.  The sad part, is that this one was Greg’s Christmas present last year.  Well, at least he will be using it before Christmas this year.  I did the binding completely by machine, so I could get it all done in one day, plus added the label.  I much prefer to attach my binding to the front of my quilts, by machine, then do the finishing stitching to the back by hand, because they look so much better.  I do a good job on those.  This one, I attached to the back, by machine, then flipped it over, and stitched it to the top, also by machine.  This is a technique I am still trying to perfect.  But in this case, done is good, hubby is happy, and so am I.  That gets two of my w.o.b.’s done this month.  Woohoo!  I used 2/3 of a yard for the binding, and that is my stash busted amount for this week.  Total incoming for the week is zero.  YTD total busted is 5 & 5/12 yds.  (I’m not ashamed to admit I had to use a free online fraction calculator to come up with that amount…lol).

I woke up to a beautiful, rainy day this morning.  And it has not stopped.

I’m loving it! I’m piddling around on laundry, worked on the memorial quilt, and just enjoying some down time.  I’m having the next best thing to a pajama day.  Nice comfy sweats & a big, sloppy t-shirt, with fuzzy house shoes day.

Yesterday, was cool & cloudy.  I’m glad I got out to the garden to harvest.

Who else has really enjoyed watching Michael Phelps make history?  I am officially now a Phelps Phan.  He seems like such a nice guy.  Congratulations, Michael!

I conclude my post today, with a couple pics of the first Olympic hero in my life.  My Uncle Randy, another really nice guy.  I was born in 1966, right between his Olympics, and named after him.  I had asthma really bad, and would get so sick at times.  He would come over sometimes, and sit up with me at night, when I was a baby, so my parents could get some sleep. 

Silver medal, Tokyo Olympics, 1964
Silver medal, Tokyo Olympics, 1964
Gold medal winner, Mexico City, 1968
Gold medal winner, Mexico City, 1968

 

This post has been quite a hodge podge of topics!  Hope you are enjoying your Sunday as much as I am mine.

longarm quilting · machine quilting · quilting

We’re off to see the Wizard!

Wild Rose Quilter13 Comments

Finally!  This one took me way too long.  It was really a challenge for me.  It’s for a customer and will be a Christmas gift to one of her granddaughters.

The little girl’s nickname is Butterfly, so I stenciled butterflies in the border and connected them with swirls.

The back shows how much stitching there really is.

I hope she likes it!  I have another finish to report, but I’m saving that for tomorrow’s post.  See you then!

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

Sunday Report, 8-3-08

Wild Rose Quilter10 Comments

  • I used 16.75 yard total this week.
  • I bought 17 yards
  • YTD total used is 4.75 yards

Yes, I fell off the wagon this week, but busted enough to not lose too much ground.  Now, I’m NOT buying any more fabric the rest of the year!  No, really, I mean it.  I do.  What are you laughing at?  I’m serious.

Ok, so what did I buy?  32 fat quarters, at 40% off, and then I ordered some more from Thousands of Bolts.

Purty, huh?

What did I bust? I finished my dad’s top, and pulled 9.25 yards for the backing.  This is going to be one of those “quilting makes the quilt” tops.  It’s just flat right now, but I think I will love it once it’s quilted.

I also finished the top for a commissioned baby quilt, made the backing, and cut the binding.  I used a Chinse Coins pattern I picked up from www.quiltintia.com.  There’s lots of Chinese Coins patterns out there, and I could’ve figured out how to make it without a pattern, but I’m lazy sometimes, and just don’t want to do all the math and fabric figuring myself.  Quiltin’ Tia has several simple little patterns like this, where they have all the yardage figured, etc., and permission on the pattern to use it for personal use or profit.  Just don’t share copies of the pattern.  I pulled all the fabric for this little quilt from my stash.

More test results back, and my estrogen levels were too low.  The MRI got rescheduled, because the hospital forgot to get an authorization number from my insurance.  Still waiting on some of the other blood work to come back.  I am feeling better today, though. 

I’ve started working on one of two commissioned memory quilts, made from the shirts of a 14 year old boy, that was killed in an auto accident 7 years ago.  One will be a t-shirt quilt.  The one I’m working on right now, is going to be simple squares cut from his plaid button up shirts, joined with a neutral sashing, with a border of the same sashing fabric.  The boy’s three surviving siblings are having them made for their mom.  I have to kind of turn my brain off a bit while I’m cutting up the shirts. 

How many of you remember ‘Mater Man?  I used him as the subject of my first attempt at an art quilt.  And I used my newly dyed fabrics for him.  Try not to laugh too hard.

A stressful moment from the week involved a large toad.  I saw him by a drain pipe at the hospital when I went for testing.  He was hurt pretty bad, but not dead.  It was apparent that he was just suffering a slow death.  I will spare you the details, but I did not leave the hospital without him, and his suffering was soon over. 

I did have to cut my big sunflower and bring it in, and the blooms have continued to open.

Thanks for dropping by! Have a great week!

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

Midweek Snippets

Wild Rose Quilter13 Comments

I’ve mentioned that I’m taking an online art quilting class.  One of the class projects involves dying my own fabric with fabric paint.  I can now see why so many people do this.  It’s fun!  These four little pieces are all I have done, and they are for a still life assignment.  Mine will involve tomatoes and jalapenos, therefore, the red/orange/yellow/green scheme.  The one really wild one was just for fun and I threw in some of every color I had.

This next pic is just for fun, and for Gayle.  I found a neat moth on my patio wall. 

This pic gives an idea of it’s size.  Anyone know what kind it is? BTW, my fingernails aren’t “dirty”, that is fabric paint under them…I used gloves, but had taken them off, and forgot and handled my fabrics while they were still very wet.  That stuff is messy!

I did see my doctor on Monday, and he is putting me through a bunch of tests.  We have the first round of results and are waiting on some more to come back, a couple he is doing more followup on.  I had three vials of blood drawn Monday, and a series of xrays.  The bloodwork looks good so far, except my red blood count is actually elevated, and he is investigating that further, so another vial drawn yesterday.  He said he also ran test for B-12, hormone levels, and lupus, and those results aren’t back yet.  He said the xrays show that I have a rib on the upper right side that appears to have been cracked or broken at some time, and we are going to look further into that.  He has ordered a bone mass density, which I will have tomorrow morning.  Saturday morning, I am having an MRI of my head and, I believe, the upper back.  I raised my right shoulder up and down in his office, and it made lots of noise for him, and he could put his hand on my back and feel it “popping” also.  So I was very glad that I could actually “show” him what I was talking about. 

Did y’all hear a loud crash earlier this week…sometime Tuesday afternoon?  That would have been me falling off the “not buying fabric wagon”….LOL!  Y’all knew it was gonna happen, didn’t you?  There will be more about that in my Sunday report.  🙂  But, there will also be some stash usage to report…I have made some quilting progress this week, in spite of my pain. 

Hope your week is going great!

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

Stash Report, 7-27-08

Wild Rose Quilter18 Comments

I stayed strong and did not buy any fabric.  I did buy assorted other items, including Isacord embroidery thread, some applique supplies, and some patterns, but no fabric.

I busted 3 yards this week.  One on the inner border of my dad’s log cabin, and I gave away 2 more.  The recipient doesn’t know they are getting them yet.  🙂 

  • 66 yards in ytd
  • 71 yards out ytd
  • 5 yards total stash busted (small, but going in the right direction!)

I have not had a great week, physically.  Not feeling well, ribs & shoulder hurting a lot, hands & fingers hurting, as well as hips & knees.  Also, had a headache and extreme tiredness,  along with all this.  I have an appt. with my doc tomorrow, and I hope I can keep my resolve and make him really listen to me, because something isn’t right.  It may just be some kind of arthritis, but it’s time to try harder to figure it out.  Anyway, I still managed to keep up with my lessons for the onling art quilting class I’m taking.  And over the last two days, I sewed the inner portion of my dad’s log cabin together.  I did manage to make a little more progress on the custom job that’s loaded on the machine, but with my back issues, I didn’t do much on it. 

I’ve been anxiously waiting for this to happen! And finally this morning…

Giant Sunflower
Giant Sunflower

This next shot is just to show you how tall it is.

I can’t wait to photograph it in the dark!

Earlier this week, Theresa awarded me the Arte y Pico award.  Thank you for thinking me worthy, Theresa.

This lovely statue is called the “Arte y Pico” award which was created to be given to bloggers who inspire others with their creative energy and talents no matter whether it be in the form of writing, artwork, design, interesting material, or contributions to the blogger community. When a blogger receives this award it is considered a “special honor” and, once presented to you, it is to be passed on to at least 5 other bloggers who meet the criteria.

I know this little award has been making the rounds lately, so I am going to try to pick five that I don’t think I’ve seen awarded yet, whose blogs I enjoy.  Gayle, Terri, Jan, Sally, and Jacquie, consider yourselves awarded!

 

family · longarm quilting · machine quilting · quilting · quilts

They Really Do Grow Up Sooooo Fast

Wild Rose Quilter13 Comments

Until I was a mom, I didn’t realize how fast it really flies.  Happy 17th!

I also didn’t know how much I would miss that sweaty, smelly little boy that used to run around this house.  The one that played Bomberman, Jurassic Park, Monopoly and other games with me.  That dyed Easter Eggs with me, colored coloring books with me, bugged me to the point of insanity to open his Christmas presents early.  The one that sent me searching for Power Rangers, Megazords, and Transformers.  Oh, let’s not forget the Pokemon cards.  I can still see his face light up brighter than the brightest Christmas tree when I would show up to get him at the end of the work/school day, or to eat lunch with him at school.  The one that insisted on this routine, every night:  (me) Good night (him) Good night (me) Sleep tight (him) Sleep tight (me) Sweet dreams (him) Sweet dreams (me) Don’t let the bed bugs bite (him) I won’t, you either (me) I won’t, I love you (him) I love you, too.  Yes, I miss that boy.  He left so quickly…But what a wonderful young man has taken his place.

DH & I did a bit of yard work Sunday evening.  I found this.

This is what yard work does to me.  Nice hair, huh?  LOL  And yes, my glasses are crooked…I really need some new ones. 

And I have gotten to play with my new embroidery machine a little.  I made this label for my friend, to put on her snowman quilt.  She loves it and I got a hug!

I’ve had a customer quilt on the machine ever since I got done with my Storm At Sea.  It’s not a big quilt, but it’s custom, and it’s going slow.  It’s been one of my biggest longarm challenges so far.  I’m anxious to see the final result.

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

Storm At Sea Quilting Ta-Done!

Wild Rose Quilter44 Comments

I love it! I used Quilters Dream Poly for the batting, Rainbows Rain Forest on the top, and So Fine Marigold on the back.  All the pics are “clickable” so you can see them better, if you’d like.

I wish I could get a pic of the true color of the back…it’s almost the color of canned pumpkin.  Much more vibrant and pretty than the pics show.  Quilting this was fun!

EDIT: Thanks for the photo tip, Vicki! It worked perfectly!

BTW, it’s a nice, cool 68 degrees outside here, right now! How awesome is that for July?!

longarm quilting · machine quilting · quilting · quilts

Quilting Away on the Storm at Sea

Wild Rose Quilter25 Comments

I had to show you some more peeks!  I’m not quilting it as well as I had hoped I would, yet it’s better than I expected.  I don’t always hit my marks right on, but I’m just having so much fun quilting this one, and I’m liking the way it looks.  If you do like Eleanor says, and just hang it up and go by at 30 or 40 miles an hour, it looks pretty good!  🙂  Somewhere after the first few “bobbles” where my stitches didn’t land exactly where I was aiming, I remembered why I made this one in the first place.  Because I saw it in a Fons & Porter magazine and fell in love with it, and thought “I want one of those”.  So I said to myself, quit obsessing over every little mistake, and enjoy what you are doing.  Suit yourself and worry about no one else.  Wow! What a little epiphany!  I still think I might put it in the quilt show I have in mind.  We’ll see.  Oh yea, here I am rambling again, and you just wanna see pics, don’t ya!?

I really struggled over what to put in the large diamonds.  I finally came up with this design, after doodling like a gagillion other ideas, used a paper template of the diamond to fold up like when you cut snowflakes, so I could make a symmetrical template.  Then I used the paper template to trace the pattern out on craft foam.  I’ve been using a Fons & Porter chalk pencil, or a Marvy marker to trace the design.  This shape has been a little challenging for me to quilt “perfectly”, but I’m finding the more of them I do, I’m getting the hang of it a little better.

I also tried out this chalk spray, to mark the stencil designs.  I like it, it works pretty well, but it is a bit messy, kind of expensive, and puts off some pretty strong fumes.

I really like the way the back is looking.  I couldn’t get a really good pic of it, though.

If you haven’t commented on my Blog Birthday Post yet, don’t forget to scroll down to it, and get yourself entered in my reward challenge give-away! There will be one lucky winner come Saturday morning.  I can’t tell you how the nice comments that have already been left have warmed my heart!

XXOO’s