I guess most of you probably have missed me for the last week, but when I got home from the wedding everyone was moving and I wasn't sure what I was going to do. I spent most of the week thinking and finally decided to move over to blogger since I already have a blog set up there. My new address is http://moneik.blogspot.com/

I wrote about the wedding over there and added lots of pictures because it was easier. I'll slowly move my other posts over as well. After the wedding I found out that my good friend at work Karen's dad passed away and the funeral was Tues. about 3 1/2 hours from where I live, so I talked to my mom and she met me half way and we went to the funeral. Turns out that Karen's husband and I have the same great-aunt! It's such a small world! I spent most of Wed. and Thurs. playing catch up at work and trying to get caught up at home. Friday night we moved all the furniture out of the living room. Sat. morning bright and early Paul and I put in hardwood floor. We got about half done and I had to go to Hill City as I had tickets for a Judy Neimeyer trunk show with my mom. Paul's mom helped him finish the floor. They got done about 11 when I got home! I was really disappointed with the trunk show or at least the presenter. I expected her to be a real professional and she wasn't. She was terrible at presenting, read from a powerpoint for most of the night and was really monotonous.
Sun. morning mom and I met for church and then I picked my aunt up and we went to Hill City to the Outdoor Quilt Show. They had to move all the quilts inside because it started raining. It was the first year in like 10 that it rained. We went through the vendors and I found a lot of fat quarters for a yellow brick road I am going to make this winter. When i got home I took a nap and then we finished moving all the furniture back into the living room. Paul has to finish up with the tile in the entry way, but he was too tired to do it this weekend. Tonight we were exhausted and Paul went to bed early. I worked on a wall hanging I am making and got some fabrics together for another class I want to take this week. This weekend we are going to my parents and then riding along to my great-aunts 80th birthday party. Should be a good time!
Hope you will all follow me over to blogspot and if you move let me know as I have all my RSS feeds that I read everyday. Don't want to miss anyone.

I've sadly neglected telling everyone about my other brother Ed. He's my little brother, okay younger is a more appropriate word. He's 21 and 6'5" and 215lbs. He is the one in the center of the picture. His friend Todd is my "little brother" too. We had their graduation reception out at his dad's garage. He calls my mom "mom" and he's part of the family. He was there for Ed when my grandparents died and Jim and I had significant others. Troy the guy in the red went to school with both of them. Ed and Todd just showed up with a fifth wheel camper and they are mowing the lawn and getting ready to park it for the weekend. We live a mile and a half from where the wedding is, so they will probably just walk home and crash in it after the dance so there won't be any drunk driving. Paul and I might do the same. Anyway I'm printing pictures to hang up at my mom and dad's and found this one so I thought I would share.

Mom and I made our trip to town today. We left the house by 7:00 am and were there by7:30am for coffee with her friends. One of the ladies daughters just got married, so we got to see pictures. We ran our errands and I found the fabric I wanted to use for the mission statement quilt I'm going to make after the wedding. We had about 15 min. to spare before my haircut so we looked in the store in town that has three different buildings on the main street. It just kills me, but they have three buildings, with a different store in between each. You bring all your purchases to the one building and pay for it. The doors are just open on the other two, no one working there! I guess that is small town for you. I got a nice short haircut and now I feel a lot better. I attempted to stain my moms quilt rack and window frame. I've decided I'm not a stainer. I'll leave that to Paul, my carpenter boyfriend. My other brother and his friend arrive tomorrow, so it will be a full day. Thanks for all the comments on my pictures from yesterday. I'll try to post some of the wedding after it is over.

This is the banner my mom, aunt, and I made for the local church in memory of my grandparents. We hung the quilt behind the alter, which is where there normally is one hanging. I made the four blocks that were paper pieced with the little lines. They were extremely difficult1 My aunt did the cross blocks that were simple and the maroon cross parts and my  mom did the applique and put all the blocks, borders and binding on. We had a lady quilt it and it looks like there are rays coming out of the quilt. I was fixing my pictures on moms laptop to upload my dress and saw this one and thought I would share.

Here's a picture of the label I designed on my mom's software program and embroidered out for Jim and Adele's wedding quilt. I think it turned out really well. I'm so impressed with myself for actually getting it labeled. I put what is says below since it might be hard to read in this picture. On the label it is really easy to read.

He roped her heart from the start,
She caught him hook, line, and sinker,

They join as one that will not part.

James & Adele Harty

September 1, 2007

When I give to you

what I make with my hands,

I share my heart and love.

Made especially for you by

Moneik Harty 2007

Well I have a dress to wear! and a jacket and purse to go with it. I still have a little handwork to do on the dress, but for the most part it is done. My mom made the jacket for me (I wasn't getting my sewing done fast enough!) Tonight after I got done with my work for the day, I made the runaround bag out of the scraps from the dress. I hadn't intended to make it, but I needed some sewing time, the machine and serger were set up and threaded with the right thread and my mom had the perfect zipper in her stash. I used her BSR to do the stippling on it, then put the zipper in and serged it together. I love it and I think it will be great to have my camera, extra card, extra battery, money, and kleenex in for the wedding. I think the dress looks huge and I'm not really that big, but more the way the fabric lays.

Today mom and I spent cleaning. My mom did a lot a couple weeks ago, but living in the country we have a ton of dirt, so we went room by room and dusted, vaccuumed, and put up the curtains she had washed. I decorated with her quilts, quilts I made her, and put everything away. This will be the first time a lot of our family has been to the house, so my mom wants everything perfect. The vaccum started smoking and so we quit, called the neighbor and borrowed hers. My dad looked at it tonight and we had picked up a cigarette lighter and it had gotten caught up in the fan. Luckily it didn't start a fire! I don't know where it came from as no one in my familly smokes. We got the bedrooms, living room, and sewing room done. Still have the bathroom and kitchen to do, but will do those tomorrow afternoon. Company starts arriving Thurs. Tomorrow we are headed to Philip, the town near us, so I can get a haircut, eyebrows done, and buy groceries. I'm also going to hit the variety store for some fabric. We are going really early so my mom can have coffee with her friends at 7:30. That is really what she misses being out in the country, so I said I thought we should go. I think she needs to see her friends and share the excitement of the wedding. I just finished watching the Nightline special on Senator Tim Johnson's recovery from his brain mva. He is our senator, so I found it really interesting.

Today was sewing day! My mom and I have projects for each day, because we have a lot to accomplish. Today was the day we had to get all the sewing done. Mom finished the bridesmaids dress while I embroidered the label for the wedding quilt. It turned out really good, so I'll try to post a picture tomorrow. Then I embroidered pillowcases, one with Jim and one with Adele and then put the quilt in them and tied it with the extra binding. The present is ready! Then on to my dress. Mom helped me and she made me a bolero jacket to match. There is a little hand work to do, but it is done for the most part. Tomorrow is cleaning day and Wed. we have to go to town so I can get a haircut and get some fabric or another project. I want to embroider our schools mission statement. I have it all designed on the software, but I just need fabric to stitch it out on. Mom had an amazing embroidery machine and software, so it is really easy for me to make things that are special. I helped dad put in a new kitchen faucet tonight, but the pipes didn't fit, so he'll have to get new ones tomorrow.  Well I need to get to sleep. Lots to do and I'll be checking in. My parents have three computers, so it's easy to get on at least a few times a day.

Wow! Everyone has been super busy this weekend. I feel like I have done a lot, but nothing sewing related. Friday after work I met Paul, my little bro Ed and my mom and we went to the PRCA rodeo at the fair. They have the best rodeo in our region and a lot of NFR (National Finals Rodeo) contenders there. JJ Elshere, who won the NFR 10 rounds last year, and I went to grade school/high school together and he rode Fri. night. His family lives about 5 miles from my parents, so we know him well. Chad Ferley who won the NFR Saddlebronc world title last year also rode. Jeff Willert who won the year before was also there. Those are just a few of the ones we know and several of my former students rode as well. It was a great rodeo. It was also Tough Enough to wear pink night and any cowboy who wore pink and won, got extra money. It's a big Breast cancer awareness night at the rodeo. 

Sat. morning I knew I had so much to do that I was wide awake at 5 AM. I stayed in bed til 6:45 and finally got up and did laundry, pedicure, took my nails off, and packed all before 9! I am not a morning person, so this was a shocker. I went and got French tip nails put on for my brothers wedding, had breakfast with Paul and his mom ( I haven't seen her several weeks since I've been on the go!), and then Paul and I went shopping. He needed new black jeans and a wine western shirt for the wedding. We went to four stores and finally he is ordering the shirt in his size and it will be here Wed. I went looking for new pink boots and ended up with brown Fat Baby boots by Ariat. They are so comfy and really nice to wear. I also ended up with a teal shirt for the dance and a wine shirt for the rehearsal supper. I dropped off my machine for its service since I'll be home all week and not using it.

Paul and I met up with my parents and had supper then I came home with them. We got home just after midnight and had church this morning at 7AM! I don't do mornings, so this was too early. Then mom and I worked on cleaning up her sewing room, so tomorrow we can sew. I need to make my dress, embroider the pillowcases and make them, embroider the label for the wedding quilt and hand sew it on, and embroider some words for a quilt I am making for work. Mom has to finish the hems on the three bridesmaid dresses. Luckily she has two sewing machines, so I'll embroider while she's working and then I can sew when she is done. She has a serger too, so I didn't have to bring mine home.
Tonight we went to town (30 miles) for the presentation of the memorial money from my grandparents to the Ambulance service. They are all volunteers and saved my grandpa's life twice, so we gave a donation for them to buy 4 Baby Annie and 1 Toddler Kyle maniquiens to train on for CPR. My aunt came and her, my mom and I presented the check to the service at their meeting.
Tomorrow bright and early we are sewing! Have a sewful week. I'll try to keep you updated as the week goes on. Five days till the wedding!

I'm completely exhausted, but having a great time this week. Tues. night mom and I went to Bombshell and Craig Morgan. They were both really good shows. Last night we went to Hancocks for a pattern fitting class. It was a promo for this pattern system, but it was really interesting to learn how to fit patterns to our body size. We got the tools to use to make the contours different. We both learned a lot and my mom took tailoring in college, so she thought it was new to her too. We had planned to go to Joe Nichols at 8:30, but when we left at 8 it was pooring rain, so we went to my little bros house instead and I went home. I was home by 9! Paul, his mom and I visited for a while, so it was nice to catch up with them. Tonight we are going to the PRCA rodeo and will do so Fri & Sat. as well. Paul is going to come those nights. The guys we know who are riding will ride tomorrow night. I am so looking forward to vacation! 1 day and counting!

Wow this was really a whirlwind weekend! There were so many posts to catch up on today. Seems like I am running and won't stop until after the wedding. Friday night Paul dropped me off with my mom and we went to the mall to pick up a gift and eat. We had just gotten done when they stuck us in the storm shelter! There were tornados touching down and baseball size hail and extreme flooding. We spent an hour there before we were able to leave. We headed for Adele's house about 1 1/2 hours away. We got there about 10 and went right to bed. My brother Jim and my dad had spent the night too. We got up at 3 AM and left at 4 to go to CO. Adele's parents live down in the sand hills and we were going to attend her bridal shower. We made it to her parents by noon and went to the shower then we all went to her parents for supper. The girls went to a bar down the road for her bachelorrete party. We had a good time, but oh we were tired. Her sisters live 1 1/2 hours and 8 hours away, so we had all had short nights. She loved the run around bag I made her. Her mom loved her purse too and her favorite color is blue! I'm really good... no really I just made it and had no clue that she liked blue. Sunday morning we left about 11:30 and came back to Adele's house. Mom and I stayed over night and came back yesterday. We both worked and then went to the Neal McCoy/ Taylor Swift concerts at the Central States Fair. I'm exhausted but had a great time. I still have to get my dress done, but I do have next week when I am at mom and dads on my vacation. Tonight mom and I are going to Craig Morgan and Bombshell. Should be another good concert. I feel like I haven't touched my sewing machine in ages! She's going in for a cleaning next week while I'm on vacation, so I won't miss her too much. Guess I better get back to work.

This is the run around bag I improvised from the pictures Jen and Hazel had. I went to buy the pattern last night and it was sold out and they only had the sassy bag, but that wasn't really what I wanted, so I made it up.  I got this fabric for Adele since she is a cowgirl. Since Kristie is in KY, I think it's safe until I give it to her. I was invited to her personal shower/ girl's night out party this weekend while we are in CO, so I wanted something special for her. I put a fun shot glass, body lotions and shower gel from Bath and Body, a massager, and candles in it. Since we aren't real close, I didn't want to get something too personal. I think she will like it. I was going to make the wonder wallet to match since I have that pattern, but I ran out of time.  I was making the purse last night and couldn't for the life of me get my serger to work. It hasn't worked since Sat. when I sewed my fat quarter purse. It's a brand new Bernina, and I just couldn't get it to work, it kept skipping stitches. I took it in tonight and the owner looked at it and said it definately wasn't my fault, something was up and he couldn't figure it out in the few minutes he had, so I left it and he is going to fix it. I finished the purse with a zig zag on my other machine. It worked great. Guess I'm learning to adapt. We leave tomorrow afternoon to go to Adele's and will leave from there for CO at 3AM on Sat.

This is the tabletopper I made for the Ugly Fat Quarter swap on Carol Doak's website. The "ugly" is the middle block. There were a couple of the same square on the fat quarter, but they were printed off grain. I couldn't get this to work out the best since it was off grain. I used two Carol Doak patterns from her Simply Sensational 9 patch book.  I hate fabric that is printed off grain, especially since it was a block and there was no straightening to it. It's due out Aug. 31. Remind me never again to do something with a deadline when I am going to be gone on vacation.

I finally took a picture of the postcards I received in the 2007 postcard swap. This is the one Jen and I had so many problems with. They are from Monica, Jan, Jen (renegade swap),
Cathy, William, Carol, and Ana. I'm really trying to update my quilt journal.

Okay I lied, I got a burst of energy and came down to print some pictures, so I just took pictures of the purses while I was waiting for the other pictures to print. The first is the Horse purse. I am such a big fan I don't think I'll be able to give it away like I had originally intended.

This one is the blue/purple batik with the decorative stitches. I really think this is pretty too, but I made it for Sandy, Adele's mom, and I really hope she likes it.
 

This is my new prize purse, made especially for me. I really liked the one I made for mom, but this one is a little more my style, with lots of pockets. I think it will come in handy when we go to the quilt stores this weekend and I have room to stuff my purchases.

Well I'be been making purses left and right! I was waiting for Paul Sat morning so we could go run errands and I didn't know what I was going to do, so I went to my sewing studio. I had seriously considered making my brothers fiance a purse, because I saw a really cute one with a leather bottom and brown suede and a cowgirl pictured pocket at Chili's Friday night. That is really more her style than my black/white purse. Well I didn't find what I was looking for, so I pulled out some more of the fabric I used for my mom's purse and made one for myself. Mine's a bit different, but still way cute! We went shopping and when we go home I made stromboli and while that was raising and cooking, I made my purse. It was a little too thick for my serger as I used Pellon 70 instead of fleece. The zipper went in really easy so I was happy! I tried working on my dress, but at 9 when I sewed a seam wrong, I just quit.

Sunday I slept in then worked on my homework all afternoon. I work for an online university and one of the benefits if you will call it that is after a year we can take undergraduate classes for no tuition! I have a bachelors in speech communication education and some day want my masters, but that's not in the cards right now, so I decided to take business classes and broaden my horizons. I took Prin. of Management last quarter and passed it with flying colors and now I'm taking Prin. of Marketing. It is really easy and I have learned a lot, especially about the way online marketing is done. Sure makes you realize how much work goes into getting our money. I have used the local sewing store as my target company and Bernina/Janome as examples. So far my teacher thinks I'm doing a great job and I've learned a lot about these companies. But I have to have my homework done by midnight on Sunday and wouldn't you know I always leave it till Sun! This week is finals, so I have a lot to get done and won't be leaving it till the weekend since we are going to CO. This really cuts into my sewing time though!

After I got done I talked to my mom, since we were planning our CO trip and looking for quilt shops in the Ft. Collins area. She reminded me that I need to take Adele's mom a hostess gift since we are spending the weekend there. Being the creative person I am, I decided I would make her a ........ you guessed it..... A PURSE! Well Adele is a western person, so I took out some scraps and make a horse/rope/brown purse. I'll have to take pictures later. I know Kristie would steal it if she was here. It is way cute, but I tried to change thread and I had a total mess. I finally just quit!
Tonight I worked on the serger, got it working, and I got the seams done. I just have to sew the handles on now. Well it was way to cute to give it away, so I decided to use a blue/purple batik and make her mom a different one since maybe she isn't as western as Adele is. I used decorative stitches and varigated thread and it turned out well. I'm pleased and I think I'll put some lavendar water in a spray bottle in it and call it good. My mom is making her a little table topper, so I think we have the hostess part covered. 
Well I better get to bed. I have a long day ahead of me tomorrow. Maybe I'll even get to the pictures tomorrow!

We made it to Sturgis last night to see the bikes and the people. I took a couple pictures on my camera phone before it got too dark. We usually go up and walk up and down main street and Lazelle street, the two main streets through Sturgis. Main is only for the bikes so this is where I took pictures. There are tons of shops for 10 blocks up and back. It was pretty calm this year, but Daughtry was playing out at the Buffalo Chip Campground, which is like 5 miles out of town, so a lot of people were there. You will see a few kids in the bottom picture. These are locals. Very few bikers bring their kids, it's not the place for them to be. The locals (like us) will go out for the evening and just look around and see what is going on. It's okay to take kids to this type of activity because for the most part everyone is covered. I think we only saw 2 that had pasties on. Most of the ones that are scantily clad just want the attention.  The rally is over on Sun. so our little area will go back to being quiet and slow. We're off to do errands today, so I better get moving.

I worked hard on sewing my dress for the wedding last night at Sit and Sew. I was working on the back and went to press the seam when the mini iron all of a sudden melted a hole right through the dress! I was so upset, I literally freaked. I ended up recutting the piece out of what would have been a jacket. Oh well, guess that I didn't need the jacket or maybe I can get more fabric. I am so frustrated that maybe I'll find something in CO and scratch the whole idea. Guess we'll see what happens. I gave up on it tonight and worked on my hardanger.

This is the FINISHED wedding quilt. It turned out really well and I'm impressed with it. I used a bias binding and the closeup shows that by doing this I got the straight print at a cool diagonal. I am so excited to be done with it and the wedding is still 3 weeks away!

This is the deer wall hangin I made for Jim and Adele's wedding shower in CO. We go there next weekend. The print wasn't the best for the pattern, but I wanted to try the pattern. It is really easy and goes together in under an hour! I would definately do this one again, but not with a directional print.

This is the first Hardanger piece I ever did. I gave it away as a wedding shower gift. It's white on white. You stitch it all on fabric and then cut around the entire piece and in the center. Very delicate work.

Boy I never thought about explaining what hardanger was, nor do I know how to really explain it. It is an old Norweigen art form. My great aunt Mildred almost exclusively does this type of needlework. I grew up thinking it was really gorgeous, so I wanted to learn and it looked so easy! I use #5 DMC thread to do the Satin stitches. There are five rows of thread that cover four rows of the aida cloth. They alternate going horizontal and vertical and usually in a diagonal line.  Then after the pattern is completed you cut around the stitching and pull threads to make weaves and webs in the open spaces. A lot of times it is stitched white on white or cream on cream on 22 or 24 count Aida or Hardanger cloth. The intricate work with the weaving uses #8 DMC thread. It's very detailed work because of the cutting. Everything has to match perfectly or when you cut it the stitching will fall out. The back should be as clean as the front because you don't want to have threads behind open areas or cut a thread that is part of the rest of the design.  My favorite site to order materials from is Nordic Needle. They have an awesome selection of books, charts, and patterns as well as the thread and cloth. I'll include a link to the site so you can see different patterns. They aren't very good pictures to show the detail, but if I can find the picture of a doily I completed when i get home I will upload it. I have gotten the whole outside section done and it looks really neat already. I'll post pictures when it looks like something.

http://www.nordicneedle.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=A07-13-00

Since I finished the quilt and wall hanging and I need to be working on my dress, I decided I didn't want to start any new quilts. I packed all my stuff, sewing machine, serger, fabric, pattern and sewing to go tote and got it all in my pickup last night except for my machines. Paul put both in my pickup for me this morning. He's such an amazing guy! I can't hardly think at 5:30 am, but I can remind him to load my machines so I don't have to do it. Last night I went through all my new Hardanger books and couldn't decide what to make for my bros CO wedding reception. I was originally going to do a frame and put a picture in it, but I tried that pattern and didn't care for it. I found one that is an 8X8 square for a new baby and I decided it was easy, the wording could be changed and it would be really appropriate to have their names and wedding date on a nice piece. She cross stitches, so I think she will appreciate this Hardanger piece. My great-aunt lives in Mitchell and she has done some amazing pieces, so I really wanted to learn. My mom took classes on it years ago, so at Easter she taught me how. I'm not very good yet, but learning more every day. It's something different than quilting and it looks so elegant. Plus the piece I am working on will have both the teal and wine colors in it. I will put hearts in the centers of the motif since our least name is harty and our brand is L(open heart)T. It should be pretty cool and then I'll have it mounted with a wine frame at Hobby Lobby and it'll be easy to pack to go to CO for their reception down there. Plus I can work on it at my parents in the evenings before the wedding and they'll never know. I just tuck it away in my little bag!
Tonight I have sit and sew. I am going to work on my dress for the wedding. I won't have time to stop for supper because the biker traffic is so heavy, but maybe afterwards I will pick something up. Mom and I ususally go shopping afterwards which is so enjoyable. Guess I better finish my work for the day.

I can hear the royal rumbling of the bikes and it's after 10PM! I love the sounds of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, as long as I don't have to drive there. We live about 20 miles from Sturgis, SD, where the annual Motorcycle Rally takes place for a week each August. We're less than a mile from I-90, so there is constant traffic on the road. We saw a few on Sat., heard more yesterday when I stayed home, but this afternoon I could tell they had arrived! I think there are 10 times the bikes on the road and they all drive my main route home, so I have to be extra careful. It takes me a good 10 minutes extra to get home. Last year I missed the rally completely because my grandpa died on Sat. and my grandma died on Mon., so I spent the entire week at my parents, which is 120 miles away. I enjoy seeing all the interesting attire the bikers wear. I'm not much for riding nor dressing so scantily, but I do enjoy seeing what others are will to do. We will probably go up and walk around one night this weekend. If you've never been to a rally, it's an interesting experience. One play you don't find them is in the quilt shops. More room for me! A lot of people won't even drive when the bikers are in town because of the traffic issues. They travel all over Western SD, going to the Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, Deadwood, and throughout the Black Hills. I love to see the bikers, but it always gets really quiet when they go home.

I think this was one of the best quilting weekends I have had in a long time! I got up early Sat. morning and made a wall hanging. It was really easy and I think it will make a nice gift for my brothers wedding shower in CO. I am going with my parents, brother, and his fiance to their wedding shower down at her parents, so I needed to get it finished soon as we leave on the 17th. I used the deer fabric I picked up on Thurs. I got the top done on Sat.

Paul and I went out with his mom and her dad and his wife for supper. It was a nice evening and a good break from sewing. We also did some fun shopping and I found a great new pair of black Wranglers to wear for the rehearsal dinner. Since the bride wore blue jeans to her wedding shower, I'm guessing the rehearsal will not be a dressed up occasion like some I have been to in the past. I know my dad got new blue Wranglers to wear. The groomsmen/groom are wearing black Wranglers for the wedding, so I'll still probably be over dressed for the rehearsal, but oh well. I also picked up some quilt basting spray. I tried to spray baste the borders Sat. night, but it was too humid and it didn't work.

Sunday morning I got up early and spray basted the borders outside, so that stink wasn't in the house.  I also spray basted the wall hanging. I quilted for a while and then took a break. I did my homework for my class and got that all done by noon. Paul took his dog out to run, so I had a clean floor to quilt the rest of the quilt on. I got all the quilting done and debated making the binding. I wanted to do a bias binding, but I thought I needed my moms help as she has always had to help me before. Well I was determined to get it done, so work my tail off and talked myself through it and wouldn't you know, I figured it out! I was so proud of myself that I sewed it on and finished just after Paul got home. I was so excited and it looks amazing! I even washed and dryed it last night, so it is done. Tonight I quilted the wall hanging and put the binding on. I will have to do the hand stitching tomorrow at work during lunch, but it's almost done and then I will take a picture. Now on to my dress. As my mom said tonight, only 25 days left. Good think I have sit and sew on Wed. night.

This week has seemed to drag on forever! I've been so tired all week and need to get caught up this weekend. Wednesday night we went out for supper and to the crazy store, so it was later when I got home. I took all the pins out of my quilt and it's ready to have the borders done now. Yesterday I got off early and took my mom's birthday present to her. She loved both of the gifts. Thank goodness! Then I headed to Philip to judge the 4-H Achievement days/fair. It was really interesting and something I have always wanted to do and this year it worked out. There aren't as many kids sewing clothes anymore, but I don't think that is just in our area, I think that is the case all over. Needless to say I was done by 7 and got back to Rapid about 8:30, so I took my mom out for sour cream raisin pie at Colonial House. They make all their own pies daily, but whenever we go there to eat, I'm always too full for pie. This was a great excuse to go there and have pie and celebrate my mom's b-day. Then we did a little shopping, even finding the new Quilters Home magazine. We were both excited and each bought a copy. There is a rug design by Pearl Louise Designs in the magazine. This is really cool for us, because we go to her shop quite often as it is here in town. When I was in Philip yesterday I went to variety store and got some cool mule deer fabric that I'm going to make a wall hanging for my brothers wedding shower in CO. We go there on the 18th for the shower, so I need to get cracking! Lots of sewing to be done this weekend. Time to go home and get to work.

After showing the purse I made for my mom's birthday and everyone liking the fabric, I thought I would show you why I bought the fabric in the first placed. I didn't have any pictures, so I took some tonight. I kind of forgot to put it in my quilt journal. Now I have pictures to put in it. I am usually really good about putting all my quilts in the journal, but I guess I just kind of by passed this one. I made this back in March when I took a vacation between quarters and spent 3 days at my parents ranch, sewing with my mom. This is one of the classes she regularly teaches at the Sewing Center. You take a sweatshirt, take all the seams out, spray baste fabric to it, quilt fabric to the wrong side, so that the normal outside becomes the inside, cut around the sweatshirt to get the pattern back and then serge all the seams back together and put bias binding on the sleeves and around the jacket part. I used two heart buttons to hold mine together. I wear it to a lot of quilting events, even if just for warmth in cold rooms. It's soooo comfy! This is the front in the first picture and the back in the other. You can see that the sleeves are a coordinating print. This jacket pattern works well for large prints and border prints.

I know you've all felt it, quilting shoulders! I always think the quilting will be no big deal until I do it and get quilting shoulders. Mine hurt tonight! I'm sure you're feeling the same pain Jen. After sewing all day yesterday I was sore, so what do I do tonight? I think I can start on the wedding quilt and get it all quilted. Well I got the main crosswise quilting and once around the edges to hold it all together. I found a new stitch that I absolutely love. It's stitch 11 on Mode 3 of the 6600. It's a large curve and it just makes for an interesting quilting instead of just straight lines. I still have to do the middle blocks with two different stitches, but I'm going to do those in sections a little at a time, but I have it all set up, so I plan to do it this week a little each night.
Thanks for all the compliments on my projects over the weekend. You guys provide such motivation and encouragement! I got the carpenter fabric at the quilt show and all I know is that it's called Heavy Equipment. I have seen it at the Quilt Corral, along with the same type of cowboys fabric! That's my next purchase. I know it would be right up Kristie's alley! I got the Fat Quarter fabric to make a sweatshirt jacket that I absolutely love. I guess I don't have a picture of it, but I made it when I took a spring break vacation with my mom and she helped me. I just went and looked and I only have scraps of the fabric left, so I can't even tell you who made it. It's called Love those Fat Quarters and here's a link I found, http://www.hickoryhillquilts.com/love.htm There are lots of coordinating prints that go with it.
Well I think I need to go get a back massage and go to bed. Hope everyone had a sewful night!

This is the purse I made for my mom for her birthday. I love the fabrics and I know she does too and she hasn't made herself a purse, so I know she'll use it. I know she wants one that is big for going to quilt shows. I made two difference sides which turned out well. It was really thick as I put pellon 70 in as well as the batting, so it made it stiff. I broke two needles and finally used a titanium which I bent! I finally changed the handles, so I didn't break any more needles.

My mom's birthday is Thursday, so I made this wall hanging for her birthday. I made her a quilt with the hearts and the marroon fabric, so this is to match the quilt. I added pictures from growing up, to the past year of our family. I hope she likes it, but I know she will. I did some free motion quilting on it which was difficult, but good practice.

This is the Mini Big Board I made this morning. I have an over the door ironing board, so I got a 24X48" board from Menards and covered it with two layers of batting, a layer of the gray thinsulate stuff, and then the carpenter fabric. I just love it and was looking for a way to use it and I think this is perfect. It is so me! Paul's a custom homebuilder/ carpenter, so this really fits my style. I made one for my mom's b-day last year and it is 22"X60" for her regular board. I just used a stapler to attach all the layers and pulled them taunt.

I love going to The Sewing Center! It seems I always find something I don't have, but absolutely must have! Last night they had a customer appreciation BBQ. They grilled hamburgers and hot dogs and had all the fixings for a great meal. Paul and his mom came with me, so they got to meet a lot of the gals I go to sewing club/classes with. There was a silent auction, door prizes, and a discount. Paul won a Bernina music box, I won a Glitz wand and stones, and his mom won a stack the deck book.  The best part was the 30% discount of all notions and threads. I debated long and hard about whether or not to get the blue varigated thread in the small (same size as Jen's) or the mega size. I ended up with the mega, since my other small spool is half done and I use blue varigated a lot. I also use brown varigated a lot for the guys quilts. Anyway I'm using the blue varigated for my brothers quilt and I want to work on it this weekend. Thanks again to my wonderful mother who helped me pin baste my quilt, it is ready to be quilted. Now if I could only get her to do the binding for this quilt! She will have to help me though because it is a stripe that I am going to make bias binding with, so she will have to help me get to the continuous bias binding stage where it's all sewn and cut apart. That's the kind of binding that always gets me! Wow I really get side tracked here!

This morning Paul had me up at 5:30 and we went to the lake to fish. I really don't mind fishing, but it's the early hours that get to me. We caught a few small ones, but no keepers. It had rained last night, so that didn't help. It also rained as we were getting ready to have a picnic lunch, so we brought the food home. He took a nap and I went to the Sewing Center again. They were having a Test Drive a Bernina event and I thought I would check it out. Remember the Humbug bags I made a few weeks ago? That's what everyone was making. They ended up being really cool! Then I went to Hancocks where I got batting for 50% off instead of the 30% I thought it was supposed to be and with my guild discount I got another 10% off! I was in heaven getting the white batting I needed for my b/w quilt. I came home and thanks to Cindy, decided I needed to straighten up my sewing room. I put everything away and cleaned out my entire fabric stash and organized it by color and prints. It looks so good and I'm ready to sew now! Paul decided we needed to go out on a date tonight, since we were both home and didn't have big plans. We went to Menards and I got a board to make a big board ironing surface and he checked on flooring prices as we are putting hardwood floors in the living room. Then we went to the movie I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. It gave us both a few good laughs.  Then he took me to the new Sonic. It's been open a couple months, but we don't like to fight the 3 blocks of backed up traffic, so we hadn't gone. At 10 it was still really busy! I'm tired tonight, so I think I will go to bed and try sewing tomorrow. It's so nice when Paul takes me on romantic dates, even if it is to the hardware store. At least he came to the store with me last night. I told him the 25th anniversary of the store is coming up in Oct. and he'll need to come with me so hopefully he can win a prize for me then too. He gave me the music box. He's a keeper!

Well this week is completely gone and I don't feel like I accomplished anything. Monday night we went to Paul's grandpas for supper. It was a really nice evening, but we didn't get home until after 9 and I was completely exhausted. Tues. night I was going to sew. That was my goal all day. Except it was 106 when I got home and I didn't want to cook, so we went to the little diner for supper. It was 8 when we got home, so I got out the serger to make my dress and I look through the fabric and realize that I need to line it because it's see through. So I quit! Wed. night I met my mom at the nail place and we got them done and then went to the fabric stores and I got the lining fabric I needed. We also did some other shopping, so it was 10 when I got home. Then last night I started working on my moms wall quilt for her birthday. It looked really cool, but I cut it wrong, so I was upset. I called mom and she came out and helped me, then we put the quilt board on top of the layed flat futon and she helped me baste my brothers wedding quilt. I always hate that job, but she was so helpful and we had it done in 2 hours! Thank goodness for moms help or it probably would still not be done the week before the wedding. Tonight we are going to the Sewing Center for the Customer Appreciation BBQ. I even got Paul to agree to come with me. Probably because it involves food. He's not much for going there any other time. He doesn't care how often I go there as long as I don't drag him along all the time. Tomorrow we are going to Deerfield Lake to go fishing. It is really high up in the hills, so we won't have to deal with the high heat that is expected for this weekend. Some relaxing time at the lake will be nice. Maybe Sunday I will get to sew!

Well the wedding shower went really well! I got up early Sun. morning and mom helped me put the last border on the quilt for the wedding. I was hoping to baste it at her house this weekend, but we ran out of time. So we made lavendar water for the irons instead. It smells so good. You use it just like water to iron with, but it has a lavendar scent. I'm so excited that it worked. We went to town for the shower about 12:30 and got everything set up. There were probably 25 people that showed up, but it was just so much fun to see the new gifts they got. They even really liked the table runner. Sorry Kristie and Cindy, but I won't be sending it your way. They also liked the signature quilt. I'm so happy they liked them both. That means they should like the quilt for their bed. My little bro came with me, so he drove home. It was so nice not to have to drive. I got my school work done too, so I'm glad it wasn't too much work.

At least once a week Paul and I or my mom and I go to Wal-mart for needed supplies, groceries, etc. It is kind of a scuzzy store just for the part of town it is in, but it's the only one in town. They are attempting to build another one on the south side of town where I work, but there is a lot of red tape from the old people in town that don't want the city to grow. They finally had a vote as to allowing the infastructure for a new one. Well it passed by a huge majority. The people want a new one, but there have been other problems, so we still don't know if or when there will be a new one. Since there is only one in town, we go to it. Sometimes on the weekends we'll drive the 45 miles to Spearfish to the nicer one. We usually eat out, go to the park, fish hatchery, and do some other touristy stuff as an excuse. The reason that we call it the crazy store is because they never have enough help and it's always busy. Sat. afternoons there should never be attempted. Friday night all the scary people come out. We always joke that we need to spill stuff on ourselves and roll in the dirt so we look like we fit in. On the first the natives get there checks, so the weekend following is super busy and the 10th is when the welfare checks come out and we won't go on that day as there isn't a checker in sight because the lines are all to the aisle. Every family will have at least 2 sometimes 3 heaping filled carts. It's simply ridiculous. I have a lot more patience than a lot of people, but there are somedays I will pay more at a grocery store or Target for the same things just so I don't have to go there.

On a happier note, I made it home to my parents. My little brother came with me, so at least I had a travelling companion. It's about a two hour drive, so always nice to have someone keep me company. Well it's time to get mom up and work on my quilt before my other bro gets here.

This is the tablrunner I made for Jim and Adele's wedding shower gift here. I really am not pleased with the way I put the colors together. The darker blue should have been the chain or I should have used something different because the pattern is too big in the fabric. Oh well at least it is done and they won't notice the difference. Guess I should go work on their wedding quilt borders.

Well yesterday was really busy at work, so I didn't get a chance to blog. Thurs. night I went out to supper with my mom and we had a quick Olive Garden supper before she had to go back to work for Sew and Sews Club. It went fairly well and I learned a lot, but the lady was unprepared and I felt bad for her. I got the pens I need for the signature quilt, so I'm good to go. After club mom and I went to the grocery store and the crazy store. I picked up the cups and nuts for the shower. I think I just have to pick up the sherbet today and then be good to go for the shower. I am packed and going to sew for a little bit before I leave at 2 to go home. I might have to wait until 4 for my little bro to get off work and come with me, but he's not sure if he is going or not yet. Last night Paul and I went out with his mom to supper and then Menards and Lowe's. I think he just loves to look, but oh well. I need to get the borders on the quilt, so I better get busy.

Okay I'll admit it, my mom is a quilt magazine junkie. She loves to get the quilting magazines and reads them all. I occassionally read them and then give them back. I just don't have the resources to buy magazines just to read. I do enjoy them, but I can only look at so many magazine pictures and that's what they mostly are. My mom has tried several mag. quilts, but the instructions are never right and she ends up with a big UFO. Anyway I digress, she accidently bought the same mag. twice, so she gave me the extra copy. She said it must have looked really good because I didn't know I already had it. Well I took it to work today and I couldn't put it down at lunch! It was sooooo good! It's by this Mark Lipinski and it's called Quilter's Home for the new generation of quilters. He's quite the comic and really tells it like it is. One of the articles is on thread, another on quilters commandments, and yet another on vanity license plates for quilters. I read it cover to cover and really enjoyed the articles! It's just that it's articles about things quilters talk about and want to know about. Yeah there are three quilts and their patterns, but they are in the back. For the most part it is stuff we talk about on blogs in a very friendly almost spoken writing. It doesn't have subscriptions, so you have to go to B& N or Borders, or quilt shops, but it's definately worth picking up a copy. I even joined his "Posse" an online quilt group called PickleRoadStudios. I just got approved, but from reading the archives it looks like an interesting group that says what's on it's mind. Check out this mag. It's on the web at> www.quiltershomemag.com.

 Tues. night I really wanted to finish up the tablerunner for the shower, but Paul wanted to go out to eat. We ended up going to Piesanno's Picasso. It's this really neat small restaurant that makes specialty pizza. Their special was calzones, so I had one of those instead. It was delicious! Then we went to the crazy store and I did my shopping for the wedding shower. By the time we got home it was 8, but I was determined to get the top done at least. Well when Paul went to bed I had the top done and was just putting on the borders. I got the first one on and it went well, went to add the second border and that didn't go so well. instead of cutting off the ends, I cut the folded side. I knew I was too tired to do any more so I quit. I went to bed and it was 11! I couldn't believe it was so late, no wonder I made a stupid mistake.
I finally had some success last night. I made 12 table toppers with the rolled hem on my serger and got those ready for the shower. I had enough fabric to make the last border on the table runner and got that done. Then I went to quilt it. Well I didn't have anything for the back. That's what always gets me. I never have enough for the back. So I used some of the backing for the quilt. Pray that I didn't use too much, but I don't think I did. So I quilted it and put the bind on and was done by 9:30! I am so glad to have that done. I bought the bag for the gift yesterday at the party store, so that is taken care of too. I just have to do a little shopping Sat. morning before I go home to get the sherbet for the punch and the nuts.
Tonight is Sew and Sew's. It's a club for all people who go to the Sewing Center. It meets every other month and last for a couple hours. They have a theme of seasons this year. Last year it was the rooms of the home. So tonight is Fall. I'm excited to see what is new and available. Plus they have some really good deals on club night. Mom and I will go out to eat with the other workers and then be back in time. The last hour is usually spent on show and tell. Let me tell you I actually have stuff to bring this time. I have my woven star table runner, irish chain table runner, black and white bags, western table runner, western quilt top, and the signature wall hanging. I feel like I've accomplished so much! Now if I could only get my B/W quilt done for myself I'd be much happier. Oh well I still need to finish the wedding quilt and my dress for the wedding first. I really have to set priorities. It's killing me to have a UFO and not have time to finish it. I have one other UFO that has been that way for 2 years because I can't figure out the curved binding. I think I'm going to end up doing it by hand.

Enough rambling for this morning. Have a sewful day!

I'M THE RING FINGER

You Are a Ring Finger

You are romantic, expressive, and hopeful. You see the best in everything. You are very artistic, and you see the world as your canvas. You are also drawn to the written word. Inventive and unique, you are often away in your own inner world. You get along well with: The Pinky Stay away from: The Index Finger

I realized today I've shown pictures of my bro, but I haven't shown any of myself. This is one of Paul and I the night of the Black Hills Stock Show Rodeo in February. This is a huge event in our area. We spent the entire week going to the booths, rodeos, and other events. The pink shirt was for the "Tough Enough to wear Pink" rodeo. My mom had breast cancer, so we both tend to wear pink a lot. This year they had a special rodeo to support cancer research and all the cowboys who wore pink and won got an added purse. We also got a discount if we wore pink. This is becoming a popular rodeo in our state. Even my dad has a couple pink shirts. Paul says he has to be over 40 to wear pink, so I guess he has a while to go. We go to a lot of rodeos as many of my friends and former classmates are on the PRCA circuit, so we like to see them ride. In August we'll go to the Central States Fair and especially the rodeos.

This is the first block of three I am making for their table runner/dresser scarf. It is their wedding shower gift from me and Paul. Since the shower is Sunday, I really have to get busy! I did this tonight with scraps from their quilt. I'm not sure I'm crazy about it,but I think I just need to put the borders on and it will look a lot better.

This is what I got accomplished tonight. I made the wedding shower "guest book". I absolutely love to do photo quilts, so I used one of their engagement pictures to make a wall hanging with fish in the border. This was taken at the river where we always go fishing for catfish. I know these are bass, but you have to take what you can get when it comes to fabric. I could only get this material in fat quarters, so I couldn't do much more than this. Paul helped me pick out the binding. He said put blue on it. I said well come here and help me choose. He said blue. I said yeah, but I have four different blues to choose from! He did come down and helped me confirm that this was what looked the best. He's keeps getting better the longer we date. He's a carpenter and does a lot of tile work, so he has an eye for patterns and colors that go together well. He's a keeper! Anyway the back is white and I have fabric markers that everyone will sign the back with. So they'll always have a special reminder of their wedding without having to look at it all the time.

I'm completely exhausted after this weekend. Saturday was Paul's family reunion. I had never met any of these people and he had only met a few of them about 10 years ago. We had a picnic in the park on Sat for lunch and then met at an uncle's apartment for the evening. It was the first time in 10years Paul's mom had seen her dad and he is now remarried and they had been trying to find her, but he only knew her first name as he has had a stroke. So it was really good for them to reunite and get to know each other. Sunday we all met for breakfast and then they came out to our house to watch the car races. It was so much fun! As soon as they left I got busy and did my school work. I hate doing it, because I always leave it till the last minute, but I got it done. Then I worked on the wall hanging for Jim and Addie's shower. I got it all quilted, but I need to put on the binding. I was just too tired last night, so I went to bed.

 I got an awesome surprise on Friday night when I picked up the mail. Jen sent me a postcard she had made with a watermelon on it. It is so cool! I had sent her one as well since we both had bad experiences with the last postcard swap we were in. The hostess sent me an email on Friday saying I haven't received your postcard, where is it. I wrote back and said it was sent on Wed. you should receive it by the weekend as the deadline for mailing isn't until Sunday. She wrote back on Sunday and said she received it, but didn't know if it was mine or not. I said well my name is on it as the creator. Guess she didn't read the fine print! She irritates me so much!!! She wants people to make blank ones and send to her so she can send them on to her friends. So I wrote Handmade by Moneik Carol Doak OQG 2007. I take credit for my work! Why would you want to send something that isn't your own work? I think if I'm sending them I want to make them for the people I send them to. I'm getting carried away, but sometimes I'm just a little annoyed with this person.

This is the other side of the table runner. It has all sewing supplies in b/w. I'm really impressed with the binding as it kind of seals it all in. This is a really easy pattern and I had a lot of fun making it. It will go on my cedar chest in the bedroom to match my b/w quilt.

I finished my woven star table runner last night! The class was so much fun and we laughed and joked the whole time. It amazes me that I am 20 years younger than all the other ladies, yet we all still find a lot to talk about. I devistated two ladies when I told them the Willie Nelson concert next week was postponed to Sept. I had read it online before class, but they hadn't heard the news. This is the back side of the tablerunner. The border is b/w sewing machines. It's a reversible table runner.

Here's the completed top of the western wedding quilt I'm making for Jim and Adele. It turned out really well and I think it'll be even better once I add the borders. I finished it up last night before class and just really wanted a picture of it.

Here's a picture of my brother Jim and his fiance Adele. It is one of their engagement pictures and I'm planning to use it on their wall hanging for the wedding shower. It was taken on the Cheyenne River in SD about 7 miles from my parents house. We go catfishing almost every weekend during the spring on this river, so it's a big part of their lives. Paul and I love going down and spending the weekend because we all (my parents, Jim, Addie, other bro Ed, Paul and I) go to the river after church Sat. night which is usually about 9PM and stay till 1 in the morning. Jim and Addie camp, but we go back to my parents. Anyway this is who I am making the western wedding quilt for.

Last night was great. I feel like I accomplished so much! I was at the store by 5:30 and got my stuff set up and right to work. I sewed all the blocks into rows for the western quilt. Mind you this is all done in diagonal strips and the pattern doesn't tell you how to lay it out, so I spent the good part of the time laying it out on the floor, going back and forth picking up pieces and sewing. I only had to take out one seam, but that was because I had to move and got the wrong pieces sewn together. I got the whole quilt except for the one middle seam to sew the two halfs together done. I am so excited and it turned out really well! Today I have to finish the weaving because we have class tonight for that. The crazy lady didn't show up, but the one's who were there were a lot of fun. There was another software class going on in the store and when they got done, one lady stayed to visit. She was super annoying so I just ignored her. She thinks is so much fun to live in a 24 ft. trailer in the mountains with no running water, sewer, anything for years at a time. Her and her husband have been in the mountains of WY for the last 3 years. She was telling of her run in with a moose and how she doesn't shower, just spit bathes for weeks at a time. I could not do that! I don't last a day without a shower. Guess each to their own, but that is not how I am spending my retirement! Give me a huge 5th wheel, electricity, and my sewing machines and I'll be happy or better yet let me stay home and take classes. I have 40+ years to think about it. Guess I'll keep dreaming!

I am kind of bummed that I didn't get much done last night. Paul wanted to go out to eat with his mom, so we went to Colonial House. Don't get me wrong, the food is great, but I don't get anything done when we go out. Then we went to DQ for ice cream. The new Sonic is still way to crazy to even attempt. Then we went to the crazy store because I needed printer ink. I so totally forgot it was EBT day and the lines were a mile long! Luckily the store manager checked us out really fast at a closed drawer. So we were home about 8:30, but I needed to finish addressing my postcards and print the invites for the shower. Well my printer didn't want to cooperate, I couldn't get mail merge to work, and I was tired. By 11 I finally had them printed, but I needed to pack my sewing stuff for Sit and Sew tonight, so no sewing for me. I really wanted to have the wedding quilt pieced, but guess I'll be doing that tonight. I went to the PO at lunch. The guy didn't want me to send my postcards because they wouldn't go through the machine. I said I've sent over 20 and received that many and none have had troubles. Well I'm warning you that they probably won't go. I said well I'll take them to my local postmaster if you don't want to send them. He said they'll still have to go through a machine. I said no they won't, she'll hand cancel them. He argued with me for a while, checked with his supervisor and finally mailed them. Guess I won't be going back to the mail PO any time soon! I was so irrate that it took me my entire lunch hour to get these mailed. Plus I'm swamped at work and haven't had a chance to breath yet since I've trained 3 groups today! I think I need a long break!