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.

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

daily life · longarm quilting · quilting · quilts · stash busting

I’ve Been Busy This Week

August 10, 2008 Wild Rose Quilter8 Comments

But not necessarily quilting. My stash report is unchanged from last week. None in, none out. I have almost finished cutting the squares from the plaid shirts for the first of the two memory quilts I’m making. I also finished a long overdue binding. YEA!!

I made this quilt two years ago, and played all over it with fantasy freehand quilting, inspired by Nichole Webb & Jamie Wallen. Many of you have seen this one before, so I will spare you the pics. If you’ve not seen it, and would like to see some closeups of the quilting, there are a ton of pics in this webshots album, http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/album/550151887DlpMBr. I even got a label made and attached. It is FINISHED!

It was a really busy week at my day job, so by the time I got home most days, I was pretty tired. But otherwise, I’m feeling much better than I had been the three weeks prior. I had my MRI yesterday morning, on my head & cervical spine. I’ve not heard anymore from my doctor yet, which leads me to think that nothing else has shown up in the other lab work, and he has nothing new to tell me and is waiting for all the results to come in.

While I have been feeling better, I decided it was time to work on some long neglected tasks around here. Remember I textured & painted my entryway last year? It was right before I ended up in bed for five days with severe muscle spasms in my back…well, I’ve had the paint for the rest of the living room, but have been afraid of triggering another spasm attack. I started on it last weekend. I am doing only one wall at a time. This is a bit of the entryway…The color isn’t exactly true.

This is the paneling in our living room…yuk.

A bit of wall I haven’t painted yet, by the fireplace.

The wall I painted this weekend, next to the other side of the fireplace. Isn’t this going to look much better?

I’m going to have to get some new switch & outlet covers. It sure brings the fireplace out and makes it more of a focal point in the room. Wonder how long it will take me to get the remaining walls done…I also spent some time on some much needed cleaning and reorganizing. I even pulled a few of my quilting books and will take them to one of my friends at work tomorrow, to see if she would like to have them.

I’m looking for a good steam press…any advice on a good brand would be appreciated! Have a great week!

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

Sunday Report, 8-3-08

August 3, 2008 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

July 31, 2008July 31, 2008 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

July 27, 2008 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…

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!

quilting · quilts · stash busting

Sunday Stash Reporting, 7-20-08

July 20, 2008July 20, 2008 Wild Rose Quilter15 Comments

I have been in two different fabric shops in the last week, and the only fabric I picked up was a bit of bleached muslin, for an online art quilting class I’m taking at MQR, which I am not counting in my totals, as it was a class requirement, and will be used up right away. TWO shops, no purchasing, lots of beautiful fabrics….I’m getting the shakes….I’m jonesing bad…I feel like going on a binge…I need a sponsor…

0 yard in this week
5 yards out (I gave it away in my reward challenge)
total busted YTD is 2 yards (woohoo! a positive number, small though it may be)

I made a day trip to Pampa yesterday to hang out with the folks, and to do a bit of shopping. I bought new crayons for the aforementioned art class. I didn’t need them. And I certainly didn’t need 120, but I did want the crayon sharpener, that is included in the box of 120 crayons. I also bought some embroidery thread. In the pic, you can see my very first tries with my new machine. I still have a lot of reading to do, in the instruction manual, and look forward to taking the class that the shop offers.

I also came home with some canning jars, that my Mom was wanting out of her way. Don’t know what I’m going to do with them, I just love canning jars and wanted them.

Some commemorate the bicenntenial. I was in the 4th grade that year.

I like these square shaped ones, too.

My husband asked, “What are YOU going to do with them?” My response was “I don’t know…I just like them…maybe I’ll can something sometime.” That comment evoked laughter from husband. Ok, so maybe I’ll just use them to make pretty displays, and store things like buttons and golf tees, like I already am doing with some I had. I just like them…

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

Time For the Weekly Stashbusting Report!

July 6, 2008 Wild Rose Quilter10 Comments

I resisted all tempation to buy new fabric, that came my way! Zero yardage added to the stash this week. Seriously, I have reached a point where my stash *almost* overwhelms me. I really do want to reduce the amount I have on hand, so that I can keep my closet neater, and have more storage space for my longarm quilting thread. I used 4.5 yards just playing around with my new Circle Lord, and practicing stencils, and other designs. So it ends up as a dog or cat blanket before heading to the trash. It’s still out of my stash! I also used a three yard piece for backing for my Storm At Sea. Yes, I started quilting it today! That gives me 7.5 yds busted this week. YTD totals are:

Incoming 66 yds.
Outgoing 63 yds.
Total busted YTD -3 yds.

Woohoo! I’m almost to a positive number!

Wanna see a peek at my Storm At Sea? I’ve been really intimidated by this one, and have put the quilting off a long time…

If it turns out well enough, I might even put it in some quilt shows. There are a few area shows I’ve recently become aware of, and it might be a fun experience. I’ve even got a name picked out. I’m still undecided about what to do in the big diamond shapes. I’ll be saving those for last. At least I’m liking it so far, and will have a pretty Storm At Sea to hang on my wall, which is all I really wanted in the first place!

I forgot to do my weigh-in this morning, but I did weigh yesterday morning, and I’m still stuck…145. That’s a miracle, considering how I’ve been eating!

How did you do with your stashbusting this week? Don’t forget to stop by Judy’s and let us know!

inchies · quilting · stash busting

Sunday Stash Report, 6-29-08

June 29, 2008June 29, 2008 Wild Rose Quilter5 Comments

This report will be short & sweet, as I am still just so tired from the trip. I have been about as worthless as teets on a boar hog today. I have, however, managed to finish 13 of my required 29 inchies for the inchie swap on Machine Quilters Resource, organized by Carla. Inchies are tiny one inch quilts.

Incoming yardage this week = 0
Outgoing yardage this week = 4.25 yds

YTD totals:

Incoming Yardage to date: 66
Outgoing Yardage to date: 55.5
Total Stash Busted to date: -10.5

I’m doing really good lately at not buying any new fabric. Wonder how long that will last….

daily life · longarm quilting · machine quilting · quilting · stash busting

Sunday Report, June 15th, 2008

June 15, 2008June 15, 2008 Wild Rose Quilter19 Comments

Stash reporting is a bit boring again. I didn’t buy any new fabric. I did finish my cousin’s pillow shams, which used up another 3 yds of stash. I’m still in the negative for YTD, with 66 yds coming in, 51.25 going out, leaving me with -14.75 yds used. Bit by bit, I’m getting closer to a positive number!

These are my first pillow shams.

I finished the quilting on the charity quilt for the local guild. This is the 2nd of two that I donated my quilting services for. These quilts will go to a rehab facility for wounded soldiers. While I was quilting, I said prayers for the soldiers that will be using this. The blocks and border were string piecing on a fabric foundation. I’m not sure exactly what fabric was used, but it appears to have a very tight weave, and I had thread breaks on every row. Usually two, sometimes three, always at the corner end of the very top row. I loosened the quilt sandwich, tried a larger needle, turned the eye of the needle a bit to the right, tried it with the stitch regulator on and off, etc. Nothing helped. Still shredded and broke every row. That was frustrating, but I reminded myself it was nothing compared to what the soldiers are going through. The only thing I can attribute it to was that foundation fabric and the thickness of the seams. Anyway, it’s done, and I hope the guild is happy with it, and doesn’t mind that I had to do a bit of overstitching where the thread broke. You really have to look to find them, anyway. I decided overstitching a bit was the best way to deal with them, as I wanted to make sure the stops & starts would be secure, since this quilt will be used.

This is the back.

You can see one of the thread break spots above the “L” in this next pic.

This is the back of the quilt top.

I got a new haircut Friday.

Yesterday, DH had to shut the water off in the alley, so he could work on a leak on one of our toilets. He called for me to come see this in the hole where the shut off is located…

Black widow…it gave me heebie geebies.

Caterpillar sighting! Something has been eating lots of my little caterpillars, and I’m suspecting wasps. This guy, however, looks like he will make it to the finish line. I hope my friend Anita sees this! Her favorite thing on my blog are the caterpillar pics. For you, Anita! Enjoy!

Still no loss, no gain to report on the weight.

Oh YES! I had to come back and add how happy I am that Dale, Jr. won the race today! WOOHOO!

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

Sunday Reporting

June 8, 2008June 8, 2008 Wild Rose Quilter9 Comments

No new stash usage to report. No new stash bought. I was hoping to have the pillow shams finished today, but I didn’t manage to get that accomplished. I do have the tops quilted and cut out. Just didn’t have enough steam today to do the backs.

I’ve been playing with the block layouts for my dad’s log cabin quilt. I am emailing him pics, as I lay them out. So far, we both like the barn raising layout better than anything else I’ve tried, including the windmill layout I had planned on using. It just wasn’t doing it for me. The “windmills” kind of got lost. I am proud to report that as I was piecing the blocks, I went ahead and cut the scraps into 2.5 inch strips or squares, for a future leaders/enders project in blues & creams.

I’m trying to keep up with the scraps as I go from now on. I am still trying to get the sack full I already had cut into strips & squares. I did get more bricks and squares cut from that sack this week, to use in the Oklahoma Backroads quilt.

In non-quilting related news, my son won 1st place in his age division in the Jim Hitch Memorial golf tournament, in Guymon, Ok. He played in it Friday and Saturday. I thought the wind was going to blow us completely away yesterday. My face was just gritty feeling from the dirt. Yuk. This is his 2nd year in a row to win first in his group. If he plays all four years of his high school term, and has the lowest cumulative score of all the boys his age that played all four years, he will win the four year trophy, also. It’s a very nice tournament and we really enjoy it.