Starting My First Mystery Quilt

October 15, 2008October 15, 2008 Wild Rose Quilter7 Comments

I went to the guild meeting last night and we rec’d the fabric instructions for this year’s mystery quilt. I have never done a mystery quilt before. I really want to participate in as many of the guild projects as I can, so I’m going to try to do this, and see if I can keep up. Besides, it’s a great way to bust some stash. This is one of those times that I am thankful for my stash. I was able to go to my quilt room, in my jammies, and “shop” for the required fabrics for the quilt. These are my choices.

The first one, the pale green, will be the background. The floral print will be the main fabric, with the remaining two being the accent fabrics. I like them together like this…whether or not they will be successful for the pattern, I suppose only time will tell. They are going to send out the cutting instructions in our next newsletter. I’m anxious to see what they are. I will post progress reports, so you can see the mystery unfold, along with me. I love being able to use my stash like this, and this is precisely why I have one. Instant gratification when I want to start a project. No waiting til I can make a trip to the nearest fabric shop, which is about an hour away. And no waiting for an internet order to show up. I had everything I needed, right under my roof, and even options for different color schemes. Yes, having a stash is good thing! 🙂

machine quilting · quilt top · quilting · quilts · sewing

Plugging Away on the Pumpkins

September 28, 2008September 28, 2008 Wild Rose Quilter9 Comments

I’ve just been piddling along on this project this week.

When I started it, I was using the freezer paper method for the the turned edge applique. I am not very experienced with applique, and find it much more challenging than piecing. I found out early on that needle turn is not the method for me. I’m not crazy about fusibles. I am now using Sharon Schamber’s methods, and slowly but surely, I think I’m getting a little better, and I’m enjoying the process more. I bought Sharon’s book, Piece by Piece Machine Applique, and have a premium membership to her network, where I can watch her training videos. I am very much a visual learner, so I find the videos quite helpful. Maybe I have finally found the method that works best for me.

Now, if only I could quit getting my pieces backwards…

quilt top · quilting · quilts

It’s a Pumpkin!

September 24, 2008September 24, 2008 Wild Rose Quilter4 Comments

The arrival of Fall has put me back in the mood to pull this project back out. I started on it last year, made the crow and sunflower blocks, except for the embroidery, and then stalled out. I managed to get this far on the first pumpkin block after work last night. Applique is challenging for me. Hopefully, I’ll get better with practice, and maybe, just maybe, I’ll have this finished in time to decorate my home with it when Fall arrives next year.

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

Finished Quilting and Salsa Recipe

September 21, 2008September 21, 2008 Wild Rose Quilter14 Comments

My stash numbers remain unchanged from last week. None in, none out. However, I’ve been working on projects. I’m almost done stitching the binding sleeve on my Storm At Sea. I have started the handstitching of the binding on the memorial quilt. I completed the quilting on my Daddy’s log cabin. I used Quilter’s Dream cotton batting in the deluxe weight, Superior Rainbows Waikiki in the blue with Pastel Blue So Fine in the bobbin, Superior So Fine Cashew in the tans, with So Fine Toast in the bobbin.

I quilted whimsical hearts in the corners, since it’s for my Daddy. 🙂

I was very pleased with the effect of this curl quilting and will be using this lots more.

My original plan was to quilt a ferny design in the tan, and literally changed my mind at the last minute. I think this design was more appropriate for this one.

Now, on to salsa! My cherry tomato plants have been giving me more little tomatoes that I could eat, one at time, before they would start spoiling. I’ve even been giving some away. Why didn’t I think of using them for salsa before!? Here is a quick & easy way to use up those cherry tomatoes in a hurry. I used the the little food chopper thingy that came with my blender.

Throw in some ‘maters.

Throw in some cilantro, onion chunks, and jalapeno peppers. I grew the peppers, too and they are hot. I do not seed my peppers, either, ’cause I like my salsa hot. I just cut it into two or three chunks, so it chops up better.

I put the lid on and hit the “pulse” button on my blender, quickly, two or three times, til I have this consistency.

I empty into a bowl and add some of this Creole Seasoning.

I’m pretty generous with it.

Squeeze in some lime juice.

Stir it all up. Have a bite! Be sure to have something close at hand, to put out the fire!

Yummm….think I’ll go have a bowl while I flip back and forth between watching the NASCAR race and the Ryder Cup.

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

Swirly Curly Freehand Quilting Fun

September 20, 2008 Wild Rose Quilter7 Comments

I’m liking it.

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

Stash Tracking, 9-14-08

September 14, 2008 Wild Rose Quilter8 Comments

No new fabric came into the stash this week. I used 2.25 yds. adding the striped border to the darker 9P & Stripe. YTD totals are:

Incoming Yardage to date: 84
Outgoing Yardage to date: 105 & 5/12yds
Total Stash Busted to date: 21 & 5/12 yds

I’m liking this one.

I also made the binding for the memorial quilt, and got it attached to the front of the quilt, ready for the hand stitching.

I enjoyed the first race of the NASCAR chase for the cup today. A little more so than most this year. Maybe because Kyle Busch was not up front today…lol. And it had a surprise ending today.

I can’t believe it’s already going to be Monday tomorrow. Where did this weekend go so fast?? At least I got some good fabric and thread therapy. I hope you got a chance to do something you love.

quilt top · quilting · quilts · stash busting

Sunday Stash Report, 9-7-08

September 7, 2008September 7, 2008 Wild Rose Quilter19 Comments

One yard in this week, 7 & 11/12 yds. out. YTD : 84 in, 103 & 1/6 out, 19 1/6 yds total busted.

I’ve had a busy week, but not so much quilting. I did solve my border dilemma. I purchased one yard of a gold fabric to use as an accent border or flange. I searched my stash first, and did not have any that would match. I was just a few inches shy of having enough of the green leftover to use it. Wouldn’t ya know it?

I used a yard adding the first border to the darker 9P & stripe quilt.

I almost bought more than I needed, when buying the gold. That’s just the sort of event to push me back off the wagon. However, I found some resolve, and only bought just what I needed. I calculated that my self control saved me at least $100.25. I am going to start tracking this, and putting what I don’t spend in a savings. A little incentive, besided having to be accountable here, is that I can put that money in the “fix up the kitchen” fund. I am really wanting to do some remodeling in my kitchen. I need some new appliances, but I don’t want to change them til I can freshen up the cabinets, and change the countertop. If I quit spending all my money on fabric, this project can take place sooner. I can’t believe I’m showing y’all this, buy here is my kitchen.

I don’t want to change the floor or paint job. I did the paint, and DH laid the floor, and I really like those two things.

I want a silestone counter in Kona Beige. And I’m thinking that we might just paint the cabinets (or rather have them painted) in a dark brown.

Hopefully, sometime in the not so distant future, I will get to post “after pics”.

I also got new hair again…this is the “autumn” color. I always just let my stylist do what he wants. We did darker highlights, and even some almost black “low lights”. This is much closer to my natural color.

Enjoy the rest of the your weekend!

longarm quilting · quilt top · quilting · quilts · sewing

Borders, borders, borders…

September 1, 2008 Wild Rose Quilter11 Comments

I spent most of my Labor Day laboring away on borders. First, I finished the commissioned memorial quilt top, by adding the borders to it. Then, I decided it was time to work on a “me” project. So, I got out my E. Burns 9P & Stripes tops. I got the darker one trimmed and ready for the first border, and measured and washed the fabric for that. Then I got busy on the lighter one. I had already added the first inner border to it, and the next step was the pieced border. Whew! That was a job, but I enjoyed working on it today. This top is getting big, so not a great pic of it, and ignore the lumps of laundry under it. I’ve also labored on laundry today, in between sewing sessions.

I have a bit of a design dilemma. I don’t have enough of the light fabric left to do the final border. So, I was planning on using the red. However, this will make the border 9P red squares on the edge, not show up as clearly. I would use the green, but there won’t be enough of it left, either. I guess I’ll just go with the red. What do you think?

Now then, for Jan & Connie:

Sand Tarts

1 lb. softened butter
4 T. powdered sugar
2 C. all purpose flour
2 t. vanilla
2 C. finely chopped pecans

Cream the butter, add in the powdered sugar, flour, vanilla, and nuts, in that order. Shape the cookies however you want. (My Mom always makes them kind of crescent shaped, so I do, too). Bake at 350 for approximately 20 minutes. You want them just starting to brown. Roll the warm cookies in powdered sugar.

Enjoy!

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

Sunday Stash Report, 8-31-08

August 31, 2008 Wild Rose Quilter4 Comments

This week I did not buy any fabric. And I even went to a fabric store yesterday! The only thing I bought was a pattern for a quilt with chickens on it. I love going to that store, though (Sands Fabrics in Pampa). There are always some beautiful quilts hanging there to see…some pretty longarm eye candy, too.

I have used one yard from my stash for the memorial quilt. I now have the top together, except for the outside border.

I used 1.5 yds this week making those little jewelry/notions bags I blogged about in the previous post. I made these two today.

So zero yards added this week, and 2.5 yards busted. Year to date:

Incoming 83 yards
Outgoing 95.25 yards
Total busted 11.25 yards

I’m still going in the right direction! I’m determined to end this year with a positive total. My fabric is falling off the shelves in my closet.

I finished the repair work on my storm at sea binding, and am back to stitching. That will be a 2008 finish before long. I just piddled around, back and forth, between projects today. My seasonal allergies are in full bloom today. I couldn’t get far from a kleenex today. I broke down and started back on the prescription nasal spray today. I also made these sand tarts today:

Did you get to do something you love today? I hope so! I’m looking forward to another day off from my day job tomorrow. Enjoy your labor day!

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

Another W.O.B. Bites the Dust

August 17, 2008 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.