longarm quilting · machine quilting · quilt top · quilting · quilts · stash busting · vintage tops · weight

Sunday Report, True Confessions


In addition to the beautiful So Fine threads I bought this week, I bought fabric.  I decided that I didn’t have a suitable backing fabric for the the lighter version of the two 9P & stripes I’m making.  I will be able to find a suitable fabric for the darker one in my stash, but with all this feather practice I’m doing, I wanted something really good for the lighter one.  I hope it turns out really nice. I bought 14 yds of this beautiful Benartex Giverny fabric for $4.05 a yd. from www.thousandsofbolts.com.  I really only needed 10 yds,  but they only had 14 listed in stock, so I figured the other four may as well come along for the ride    🙂  And while I was at it, I went ahead and ordered 5 yds. of this beautiful golden fabric, to use for the back of my Storm at Sea top, that has been finished for quite awhile.

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And, I didn’t stop there.  I bought these stencils. Ronda always inpires me with the beautiful quilting she does, and she recommends using stencils.  With all the feather backtracking practice I’ve been doing, I might be getting up enough nerve to try some pretty stencils.

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I’m still working on feathering that vintage top to death.  I’m actually feeling feather frazzled…I’m ready to get it off my machine.  One last edge to do…but man does that precision work make my shoulder scream.  I’ve been getting a little more careless with my backtracking, and some of the CC’s, trying to hurry it up a bit.  It’s just for me, anyway, and I’ve gotten some great experience working on it.  However, I now have three paying jobs coming in soon, so I need to get done so I’ll be ready for them.

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I did sew up my Wild Onion jacket, and I’m pleased with the quilting.  However, I think I used the wrong batting.  It’s too stiff, and it puffs out weird at the back of the shoulders.  I used Quilter’s Dream request loft poly.   So if I make another, what batting would you suggest?  A light weight cotton, maybe? Also, I think I’ll make the shorter version.

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Sunday weigh in: starting weight this week was 147.  Today my weight was 145, for a loss this week of 2 lbs! Total weight loss is now at 9 lbs.  I’m not sure I’ll do so well this next week.  DH was gone from Sunday to Thursday this week, so it was really a lot easier for me to eat less calories. 

So, that’s my report.  I wasn’t really good, but I don’t feel a bit bad!

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

Sunday Stash Report


  1. I didn’t buy any fabric.
  2. I started my first try at a Wild Onion jacket. I shopped my stash for the fabric, which was a total of 8 yds. If you click the link, it will take you to my post about it, with pics, and I’m asking for advice on the filler quilting.  I’d love to hear your thoughts.
  3. I’ve made good progress on my Eleanor Burns 9P & Stripes quilts.

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I’m three rows further along on the darker one.

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I have those rows sewn for the lighter one, just not attached to each other, or the rest of the top.

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I’m really enjoying the process on these.  Taking my time, and really enjoying the piecing.  They are coming together nicely, and I love it when I remember that when I am finished, I will have not one, but two king size tops to quilt.  How cool is that!? That will move a nice chunk of stash.  I’m going to try to do the backings from stash.  I’m pretty sure I have suitable backing for one, but I’m not sure about both. 

In knitting news, I completed two gift scarves, and both were well received by the recipients.  Of course, one was my Mom, & she loves everything I do 🙂  I’m still working on a special prayer shawl, and am getting close to having it completed, also.

Weigh-in report:

My starting weight this week was 150 lbs.  My ending weight this week was 148 lbs., for a loss this week of 2 lbs! Yea! My total weight lost is now at 6 lbs. I managed to work out six times last week. 

Some gratitudes:

  1. My son’s wisdom teeth extraction going so well. 
  2. My stash 🙂
  3. Having a longarm.
  4. Having a great weekend with my family.

That’s it for me this week!

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

Sunday Stash Report Time


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. 

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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)

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Some gratitudes this week were:

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

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

quilting · quilts

Show and Tell Friday


It’s time for Kelli’s Show and Tell Friday.  Today I want to share a special quilt.  This was made by my husband’s grandmother, whom I never had the pleasure of knowing.  She was quite the prolific quilter.  I imagine that she would have loved my longarm! And, I think she would be thrilled to know that there is now another quilter in the family.  I love the the fabrics in the quilt.  I don’t think I could pick a favorite block.

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Thanks for stopping by to see my show & tell item, and thanks to Kelli, for hosting.

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

2008 List


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


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.

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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!


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. 

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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.

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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…

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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


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. 

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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!


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.

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

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I’ll let this picture speak for itself!

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Ok, I’m ready to go back in now!

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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!

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

It’s Almost Vacation Time!!


One more day at my day job, and then I get to take a few days of vacation.  I really need it! 

I’ve been busy as a bee, trying to finish up some projects.  I should have a good stashbuster report this week.  I had to do a last minute fleece blanket for a customer.  Got that loaded & quilted Tuesday night, trimmed & fringed it yesterday.  I’m trying to finish my courthouse steps as a Christmas surprise for my DH, but I think that might be pushing it.  But I’m trying!

But I do have a finish to report! I finally bound & labeled Simply Leaves.  If you have Kim Stotsenberg’s “Just Leaf It” book, you will find this little quilt on the last page.  It wasn’t  finished yet! Anyway, it is a practice piece I did, trying to do leaves like Kim.  I was surprised and thrilled when she asked to include it in her book.  At least I finally got that binding done!

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I am exhausted today, but I thought I needed to post something so you weren’t seeing the same old same old day after day.