Monday, August 25, 2008 - These kinds of things just happen to me

I took my kids to a wedding at Virginina Beach this weekend.  My husband didn't come because he went to a wedding in Cleveland last weekend, and just wasn't feeling it.  It was a beautiful and short outdoor wedding looking out over the water.  The food was great, and my children and I had a wonderful time dancing to nearly every song.  We were also able to get in a few quick trips into the water - one right after we arrived in town but before we had to dress for the ceremony, and one Sunday morning before the 4 1/2 hour drive back home.  On Sunday morning, I had our belongings - flip flops, towels, shirts and wallet/car keys/phone - all bundled neatly on the sand while we played in the water.  I kept one eye on our bundle at pretty much all times, since I needed that stuff in order to get us home.  At one point, I noticed a woman with two dogs on a leash near our stuff.  My thought was, "Oh, how considerate!  Someone who doesn't just let their dogs run amok terrorizing people on the beach."   Don't get me wrong, I love dogs.  But it is a bit unfair to subject others to your dog, unfettered, especially when they don't know his temperment.  Anyway, the time came to leave and I got my kids up to our towels to dry off.  Only we didn't - because those dogs had peed all over our stuff.  These kinds of things just happen to me.  The kids found it hilarious - and it was - but a bit revolting, too.

When we got home yesterday, all I wanted to do was quilt.  For one thing, all this time away from home this summer is making me go through withdrawals.  But also, as much as I love my children, I need some space every once in a while, too.  Especially from my 3 year old, who morphs into a tantrum throwing monster every once in a while.  He did it more than once this weekend, and I was so frustrated that I didn't know what to do.  I was that mom with that kid, the one everyone tries not to stare at, the one I used to internally shake my head at and wonder when she was going to take the time to develop some parenting skills, the one I now wanted to hug and slip away into a coffee shop with to commiserate.  I probably shouldn't put it out there that my children aren't angels all the time, especially because they have everyone we know fooled into thinking that they are, but they challenge me sometimes.  I know that everyone's children have their moments, but that thought never reassures me when I am wrapped up in my child's moment, trying to find a way out.

Anyway, I was sneaking upstairs for some alone time with my sewing machine, when my husband stopped me and put the keys to his new Jeep in my hand along with some cash and told me to go into town and get something to eat by myself.  At first, I was miffed, thinking "No! I want to sew!"  But he knows me and he knows my kids.  They would have been in there with me asking for things and pestering me and I wouldn't have had a moment to myself.  As it was, I wasn't hungry because I had just treated the kids to ice cream on the way home, so I drove into the national forest just beyond our house and started reading "Old Maid's Puzzle", the new Terri Thayer book (which, by the way, is much better than the first one, I think).  When I came home nearly two hours later, the kids were fed and in bed and I was able to go up and sew for a while after all.  I sure do love that man.  And to be truthful, I sure do love those kids of mine, too.

Tuesday, August 19, 2008 - Thank you, Thomas!!

Friday, August 15, 2008 - Exhausted

Wednesday, August 13, 2008 - My husband is cramping my style!

My husband is the men's basketball coach at the university where we both work.  It is recruiting season, and he spends several hours each night on the phone calling recruits.  He works from a desk because he logs all his calls in his database.  The problem is our children.  They only have two volumes - loud and asleep.  So he is trying to make calls in the two hours before they go to bed, and he doesn't really have a place to do it where he can close the door and drown out the family.  Our computer, where he usually works, is in our family room, and while the kids don't spend much time in there, there are no doors to shut out the sounds they make wherever they are.  We're trying to come up with a solution, but in the meantime, he has been using my sewing room.  I don't mind sharing, but he is in there during the time when I usually quilt.  I am going crazy not being able to get to my machine and fabric, etc.  I can't go in there with him because 1) then I would be the one making too much noise and 2) my children are like my shadows - where I go, they go.  So I've been trying to make do with other quilt-related projects.  Last night I cut out ten more Grandmother's Flower Garden sets so I will be ready whenever I am quilting away from home again.  Today, I've been going through some more of those old QNM that I need to get rid of.  1987 right now.  I've found quite a few pictures to pull out, much to my surprise - I don't usually like the quilts I find in the older QNM, but this particular year there have been quite a few that speak to me.  Anyway, hubby is going out of town this weekend to a wedding in Cleveland - I bought him the ticket myself with the voucher I got when I was stranded in Quito, Ecuador for two extra days last fall.  Is it wrong of me to be looking forward to his being away so I can get back to quilting?  I love him and all, but, you know...

Sunday, August 10, 2008 - Back from vacation

I just spent a blissful week at Martha's Vineyard!  I went with my hubby and kids, my twin sister and her family, and my best friend and her family.  There were 6 adults and 6 kids, aged 6 and under.  It was exhausting, but so much fun!  I swam, ran, rode bikes, read, quilted, ate, played Scrabble and Uno, and just had a wonderful time.  Here's a picture of the whole crew on the porch of the house we rented: (I'm the one in the middle holding the whiffle ball bat with my youngest on my lap, my husband and oldest are on the far right, my sister and her family are behind me and my best friend and her family are on the left)

I worked on my Grandmother's Flower Garden while we were there and in the car.  It is now about 90 flowers big.  I've been working on it for about 13 months now.  At this rate, the twin size top should be done in about 4 more years :)

My progress was helped along by my friend Nancy (mamanance on www.myquiltblog.com) who met me the day before I left and gave me a baggie of about 10 sets of precut hexagons from her stash.  I took 6 sets with me to do on vacation, and I am glad to say that I finished all 6.  

The sad thing is that it is back to work for me tomorrow.  I am starting my 6th year working at the same job.  I've never done anything for this long in my life, and I fear that I am starting to get restless.  It isn't that I don't like my job, I just don't want to have to go there every day.  I know everyone probably feels this way, but especially after being at Martha's Vineyard and seeing so much wealth and leisure, I am frustrated by having to work so much for so little.  The truth is, I don't long for more disposable income - what I crave is more disposable time.

Anyway, I should go to bed.  I hope to catch up on everyone's posts tomorrow. 

Wednesday, July 30, 2008 - They know which buttons to push...

Tuesday, July 29, 2008 - Molly's tips

I'm feeling a bit icky today, so I stayed home from work today.  And like a fool, when I emailed in to let them know I wouldn't be there, I assured them that I could get some of the work I needed to get done done from home.    So, I got some work done from home today.  Actually, I was much more productive in a much shorter period of time than I would have been if I'd been sitting at my desk at work.  So, after taking a nap, I treated myself to a few minutes of sewing time.  I decided to try out Molly's tips. 

First, I took two 5" squares and sewed them together and cut.  The result was four 3" squares (once I trimmed them up).  I was amazed!  Using my usual methods, I can only get two 3" half sqaure triangles from 2 5" squares.  I sewed them together as a pinwheel block.

Then, I tried trick number two.  I sewed together two 8 1/2" squares and then cut.  I didn't measure all of the resulting triangles, but when I put them together in this border(?), the end result is 5" x 19".  Pretty cool!  The only drawback I see to this method is that outside edges are on the bias, but when you are trying to make do with not a lot of fabric, you do what works.  Thanks, Molly!

Monday, July 28, 2008 - New Avatar

The avatar I've been using is a picture of my youngest son from when I first joined the blog about 2 years ago.  He just saw my blog and asked who the baby was.  I don't blame him, he doesn't look like that anymore.  So, I've changed to a picture of me taken earlier this summer at a wedding.  It was about 480 degrees at the time, so I am melting in the picture, but I guess this is what I look like.  I don't have many photos of me because I am usually on the other side of the lens.  Anyway, when you see my avatar when I leave comments, please don't be alarmed - it is just me.

Monday, July 28, 2008 - Bad intentions

I've been having problems focusing at work lately.  I know that it is just because it is summer.  Even though I've been out of college for 15 years, it still seems wrong to me to work during the summer.  Even though I worked ever summer since I was 13, it was always something different from what I did during the year, a break from my routine.  So, I went into work today with bad intentions.  I was going to upload my photos from this weekend there, during working hours.  Slacker, I know.  But, I guess my conscience had other plans for me, namely work, because, although I brought my camera to work, I forgot the USB connector.  So I just worked at work today.  B-O-R-I-N-G.

Now I am at home so I can upload and post with a clear conscience.  Of course, my kids are clamoring for food, but the popsicles and White Cheddar Cheez-Its I gave them should hold them off for a while.

I didn't get as much done on my new flannel quilt as I would have liked this weekend.

That's because I found another scrappy pattern - Crossing Paths - that uses 1.5 and 2.5" squares.  As you probably know, I regularly cut my scraps into various size squares and am always looking for ways to use them, so when I saw this quilt, I just had to try it. (And yes, this means I am using yet another pattern instead of just winging it!)

I have only made two blocks so far, but I am in SCRAP HEAVEN!

Here are some partial blocks and strips and squares calling to me to whip up some more blocks (must feed the kids first!).

Too bad the quilt doesn't call for 2" squares.  As you can see here, my supply has exceeded my tin capacity!

Oh, and then I stitched up some more flannel nine-patches with some more pre-sewn strips that I found in the fabric I was given.  I'm trying to come up with some ideas for something to do with them.  Here's the layout I am auditioning now.

So, I had a good weekend, got some sewing done and played with the kids a bit - a trip to the pool, a trip to our tree swings, a trip to the drive-in movie and a rousing game of Kids of Catan (oh, if any of you are board game aficionados, Settlers of Catan is fun and addictive - give it a try!).  The weekends are just too short, though!  If only I didn't need to sleep...

Friday, July 25, 2008 - Yeah, I'm an idiot...

You have turn turn the camera on when you plug it into the computer.  Who knew?  Anyway, here is the project that I decided to work on next with my flannels.  Do not faint dead away - I am using an actual PATTERN this time.  For starters, anyway.

And here's what I've gotten done so far (not sewn together yet because I don't know that these four blocks will actually end up combined with each other):

And here are some pictures of my quilting room/guest room. When you stand in the door, you can see my machine there in the corner.  From that window in front of my machine, I can see the driveway, so if I am sewing when my husband comes home, I can run down and greet him, and then, of course, run right back upstairs and continue sewing. :)  The two back windows look at the back yard and the woods beyond.  Our property borders on a national forest - it is very private and quiet.  That is why I have set up my quilting frame there.  A quilt that is very near completion is draped over the frame.  I need to actually attach it to the frame and finish quilting it soon, or my sister (the intended recipient) is going to disown me.

Here's my quilting closet.  In an attempt to make more room in the room itself, I moved my cutting table and all of my books and fabric into the closet.  The little bookshelf on the table holds my quilt fiction, the shelves above hold my how-to and pattern and quilt history books.  The little butterfly on the shelf is a clothespin that my son made me.  I clip patterns/instructions on there to refer to while I am cutting.  Perhaps you can see the assorted tins on the little bookshelf in front on the books - these hold my squares of scraps, every size from 1.5" square to 5" square.  Below the table, you can see some fabric bins.  There is also a tower of bins to the right of the table with fabric separated by color and two big bags of flannels tucked into the corner of the closet to the left of the table.  On the far right of the closet is all my batting.

When you stand at my machine and look towards the door, this is what you see.  The antique dresser holds baggies of UFOs.  You guessed it, it is stuffed to the brim.  I am a UFO Queen!  You can see my makeshift design wall and the new (old) treadle machine that I got last weekend.  I haven't found a place for it yet.  The other door opens into my boys' room, very convenient for me because they can play and I can sew and we can still talk with each other.

Since this is TECHNICALLY a guest room, there is a bed.  However, a guest wouldn't be able to put anything in the closet or the dresser.  Hee, hee, hee!  And to actually get into bed, he/she would have to take off about 5 layers of completed tops that I store laid out on top of the bed.  My last guest didn't even get a pillow, I realized after he left.  Oops!

And finally, the place with the most mess, the ironing board.  I wash fabric as soon as I get it.  Unfortunately, I don't always iron it as soon as I wash it.  This pile needs attention, but usually I just pick out and iron what I want to use when I want to use something there.  The bags under the ironing board (and hidden behing the open door of the sewing cabinet) contain scraps not yet cut into squares.  I could cut scraps all week and not get though them all.

Welcome to my little corner of the world!

Friday, July 25, 2008 - Aaarrgghhh!

I decided on a new project using flannels and started cutting and piecing last night.  I took a picture of what I accomplished.  I also took pictures of my quilting space to share with all of you (not that it is all that to look at, but many of you have shared).  I must say that, in anticipation of taking pictures of my quilting space, I did clean up a bit.  It isn't clean by any stretch of the imagination, but it is much more tidy than it previously was.  However, when I went downstairs to post my pictures, I discovered that my internet wasn't working (satellite).  We had had some strong thunderstorms, and that probably knocked it out somehow.  My husband can always get it working again, but the darn equipment doesn't cooperate when I try to work with it.  And my husband is out of town for a few days.  No problem, I thought to myself, I will bring my camera in to work and plug it in to the USB port to download my photos.  I've never tried that before.  If I had, I would have known that all that happens when I plug the camera in to the computer is that I can charge the camera - it doesn't give me access to the pictures.  So, argh!  I'm frustrated.  Like my 3 year old, when I want to do something, I want to do it NOW.  Oh well, know that I logged on with the best of intentions, hoping to share with you.  Maybe I can figure my internet connection out when I get home tonight.  Until then, happy quilting!

Thursday, July 24, 2008 - Cutting

Tuesday, July 22, 2008 - Another flannel quilt top done

Well, Strawberry Shortcake was a fun diversion for a few days (yes, it took me several days to get this simple crib-sized top pieced), but I am ready to get back to something SCRAPPY!  I can't believe I made a quilt top with just three fabrics - this is so unlike me.  But I was able to use all but a few tiny scraps of the red flannel and quite a bit of both the green and the SS print.  Hmmm, now what?  Isn't decidingon a new project an exhilarating time?

Monday, July 21, 2008 - Productive? Or not.

Saturday, July 19, 2008 - My First Auction!

I've been wanting to go to an auction for a LONG time, and today I finally got my chance.  There was a house and its contents being auctioned off just 5 miles from town.  My mother came over to go with me.  And here is what I got...

A Franklin Treadle Sewing Machine from Sears and Roebuck!!!  I'll have to do some research to see how old it is.  You can see that it isn't in the best condition - the bottom drawer on the right is partially unsupported - and I'm not sure if it will actually sew, but I don't care.  I am so thrilled.  Of course, I am going to try to get it to work.  Here are some other views:

You can see that the owner clasped a little electric light to the sewing machine.

Side view

And just in case it works, these should help me figure out what I am doing.

So, a great day for me.  I need not tell you how my husband rolled his eyes when I got home, do I?  I countered by saying at least I only got one thing (which isn't actually true, since I also got a Shepherd's Hook which I put newar my front door so I can hang some flowers there).  Here's a dear for putting up with me and my quilting obsession, but truly, if that is my worst vice, I'd say he got off pretty lucky in the wife department.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - Strawberry Shortcake

No, not the food, although that would be DELICIOUS right now, but the doll.

I've mentioned before how I have been given some rather impressive amounts of flannel.  I am having SO MUCH fun with it!  I guess I hadn't realized that flannels came in so many different prints/styles, just like cotton quilting fabric.  Tonight, I decided to cut into the Strawberry Shortcake fabric, just for fun. 

I decided I needed to do something "coordinated" since most of what I do is so scrappy.  Here's what I've come up with so far - I think you can tell where I am going with this.  The fabrics are actually a bright green and a bright red, although they appear to be washed out green and orange in this picture.

The trouble is, as is always the trouble when I am 1) making quilts without a pattern and 2) making quilts with only fabric in my stash, that I have run out of the red already, and the quilt is only going to be 26" x 26" as it is currently configured.  I'm gonna have to figure something out.  Perhaps some solid pink(?) borders wtih appliqued flowers and vines like those in the print?  Or maybe I can figure out a way to make strawberrys - maybe even stuffed?  This is what I love about quilting - all the possibilities and the freedom to just create!  I'm not sure who would receive this top - maybe a comfort quilt for my guild?

Monday, July 14, 2008 - Back from vacation!

Wednesday, June 18, 2008 - Shoo fly...and butterflies?

Well, I worked long and hard a couple nights ago on my shoo-fly blocks and some sashing to go in between.  Then I decided I didn't like the sashing.  I don't want to place them side by side because the flannel seams would be so bulky when matched.  While flipping through a book for inspiration, I came across this butterfly pattern, so I cut a few out.  What about putting butterflies in alternate blocks?

Here are 10 other blocks that I have cut out but not yet sewn together.

And then, there were some strips of fabric sewn together in that marvelous grab bag of flannel scraps, so I cut them two of them apart and starting putting this together (can't just do one thing at once now, can I?  For example, right now, as I write this, I am also doing dishes and packing for a business trip!)

So, for this trip, a one-nighter to Pittsburgh to visit Heinz World Headquarters regarding a scholarship program they sponsor for us, I want to pack my hexagons for my Grandmother's Flower Garden.  Of course, I can't find my little bag of supplies.  I guess I should go look for it!

Monday, June 16, 2008 - Challenge quilt (nearly) done!

Last summer we were given about a half yard of a multicolored striped fabric.  Our challenge was to make a quilt with a circumference no greater than 120" using that fabric somewhere on the front of the quilt (and NOT the binding).  It took me a few tries to come up with something, but I really like my end result:

I fussy cut some hexagons and sewed four Grandmother's Flower Garden blocks.  I also fussy cut some fabric to meet in the center and some border stripes.  I still have a little bit more quilting I'd like to do on it, and it still needs a sleeve and label, but otherwise it is done.  I believe we are going to have a challenge section in our quilt show this year.  After that, I'm hanging it up at home.  It will look great in my newly painted dining room.  The back has a bigger piece of the challenge fabric so I would remember what I started with:

While at the Guild meeting on Saturday, I was given a bag of flannel scraps from a woman who recently moved away.  Of course, I took it home, washed it, and started working with it right away.  I found some Shoo-Fly blocks -

and decided to make a Shoo-Fly quilt.  I've always wanted one - I feel like the pattern is so old-timey and comfortable (and what is more comfortable than FLANNEL!) - so I cut up squares for 15 more blocks last night.  Today, on my lunch break, I am going to take the framing off these blocks because I don't want each block individually framed.  I haven't decided yet if I will use some sashing or not.  And tonight, I can work on it some more because my husband is taking the kids to see the HULK.  What a wonderful man I married, and such a good father!

Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - Been busy