Just Checking In…this post is all WHINE…

November 15, 2007November 15, 2007 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

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

WIP Wednesday

November 7, 2007 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.

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!

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”

November 5, 2007 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…

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

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

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.

And finally, Quilt EZ feathered wreaths in the corners.

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!

quilting

Book Reviews & I’ve Been Tagged

October 27, 2007October 27, 2007 Wild Rose QuilterLeave a comment

First, I want to report that I really like both of my new books, having now had a chance to look at them. I haven’t read the border book too indepth, yet, but it has some great border ideas, with what seem to be good explanations as to how to carry them out. I’m looking forward to trying my hand at making a basket. Now to find the time…

Yesterday, a customer called to have a baby quilt basted, so I loaded that first thing this morning, got that finished, then I got started on my cousin’s quilt. I am halfway throught the stabilizing. I can’t wait to get to the fun quilting!

OK, I’ve been tagged by Deb, so I’m going to play along. Here goes:

4 jobs I’ve had:
1 Santa’s elf2 Sales clerk at Hasting’s

3 Loan secretary at a bank

4 Adult probation officer

4 films I could watch over and over:
1 Bram Stoker’s Dracula (it’s a great love story )2 Lord of the Rings movies

3 Michael

4 hmmmm….there really aren’t too many I like to watch over and over

4 TV shows I watch

1 Grey’s Anatomy

2 Desperate Housewives

3 Survivor

4 Meerkat Manor (wasn’t last night’s episode heartbreaking)

4 places I’ve lived

1 Pampa, TX

2 Canyon, TX

3 Skellytown, TX

4 Perryton, TX

4 favorite foods
1 Chips & Salsa

2 Barbecue ribs

3 Ribeye steak

4 fried chicken

4 favorite colors
Midnight Blue

Red

Sapphire Blue

Hot Pink

4 places I’d love to be right now
1. A cabin by a lake with my hubby

2. At my Mom & Dad’s, playing card games with Mom

3. In Nebraska, spending time with our daughter & her family

4. I really love being home, so I’m ok with being here right now

4 names I love but would/could not use on my children
1) Mason

2) Austin

3) Alex (girl)
4) Shay (girl)

4 people I’d love to tag
1)Wendy

2) Sharon

3) Jan T.
4) Susan

longarm quilting · quilting

New Books to Read

October 26, 2007December 13, 2007 Wild Rose Quilter6 Comments

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!

October 25, 2007October 25, 2007 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.

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!

October 21, 2007October 21, 2007 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!

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 · quilting

Stupid neck & shoulder pain

October 19, 2007 Wild Rose Quilter8 Comments

First, I want to thank everyone who took the time to post such nice comments about my starry log cabin and left good wishes for Lulu. I really appreciate it and enjoy your visits to my blog. 🙂 Lulu isn’t completely well, but she does seem to be getting better.

This week is my early off work Friday. I only had to go in til 11:00 this morning to have all my time in. I had great quilting plans for my afternoon. I was going to get the borders added to my cousin’s quilt, and start on the backing, and get a headstart on my weekend housecleaning. Not to be…my neck & shoulder pain has shot my plans all to hell. I woke up this morning with so much pain & stiffness in my neck, that I can’t bend my head all the way down. I have spent most of the time since I got off laying in bed, hoping my muscles would relax. I have taken two muscle relaxers and some anti-inflammatory. Now I am going to console myself with what’s left of the Blue Bell Pecan Pralines ‘n Cream ice cream, and vegetate in front of the TV. Whine, whine, whine… 😦

dogs · Lulu · quilt top · quilting · quilts

Starry Log Cabin and Stuff

October 16, 2007October 16, 2007 Wild Rose Quilter9 Comments

I’ve already reported how I spent most of Saturday. Sunday, I had planned to get the outer border added to my cousin’s quilt, along with getting some more work done in the entryway. Well, I forgot that I still needed to cut the yardage needed and prewash & iron it. So, I managed to get it washed Sunday, but that’s as far as I got with that. I also threw in the fabrics I pulled for the fall wallhanging, that needed washing. Saturday night, I completed that last of the Starry Log Cabin blocks. I pressed them, and began assembling it. This is what I have so far.

It’s really going together much better than I anticipated. This is NOT my finest piecing effort, and I was afraid the stars were going to be way wonky. Not too bad, though…

I think I will really love this quilt when it’s done. It is going to have that old fashioned quilt feeling to it, very comforting. I am pressing the seams open to eliminate some of the bulkiness in the stars. Hopefully that will help with the quilting, which will probably be an allover of some sort.

Tonight, after work, I got the border fabric pressed and ready to start cutting borders for my cousin’s quilt, and I hope to have them sewn on and that quilt top completed no later than the end of this coming weekend. I know I won’t get anymore work done on it tonight. I am tired. I am waiting on the pizza to get here 🙂 I really need to get this quilt finished, though. My cousin and her husband are sooooo excited about it. I hope that it lives up to their expectations. I can’t wait to get the finished product to them. She is about 13 years younger than I am, and I helped my aunt with her some when she was a baby. I am very fond of her. I just wish I got to see them more often.

Here is my poor little Lulu, who I think, I hope, may be starting to feel a little better.

Mmmm…she got to take her antibiotic in a bite of pizza tonight.

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