Some Progress to Begin the Week!

I've had a very unusual Sunday afternoon since I go home from church.  Neither my doorbell nor my phone rang at all until tonight about 8:30.  That happens very rarely no matter what day it is, but it was rather nice because I was in the mood to finish marking and get started on  sandwiching my Civil War quilt.  I still have to decide how I'll try to quilt the open spaces, which worries me a bit.

The table I use is 60" x 30", and the quilt top is about 90" square, so that means I have to move it again and clamp it down again.  Anyway, it's centered and  clamped down and ready for me to start pinning it in the morning.    I probably won't get to start quilting until later in the week.

Saturday I went to Walmart and got some fat quarters to make a baby quilt to replace the one I refused to finish.  I forgot to take a picture of the fabrics, but I'll get it made before the next quilting bee meeting and will show it when I get it finished.

Thanks to my readers who left a comment on my last two posts.  Sandy had asked whether my little blue parakeet was still around.  I hadn't seen him for a few days until late this afternoon, but I looked out and there he was on the feeder with a big white winged dove.  I grabbed my camera and took some pictures from inside the sunroom.  He's not a bit afraid of the big doves, which really surprises me.  I managed to take seven pictures.  Again, please excuse the yard and rose trellis.  I wonder how long he will stay, and where he came from.

I hope I get my quilt all pinned tomorrow; maybe I will.

---"Love"

A Little Better Attitude

Hey, the sun has been shining since last Monday; it's wonderful!  Some say it's too hot, but to me, it's been great!  (Thank you, Lord!)

I need to go back  to last Monday's quilting bee meeting; I have a confession to make.  We were shown how to put those scrappy strippy blocks together.  I got three of my first row together, but my machine was not cooperating.  I got disgusted again.  I decided to gather up my blocks and leftover fabrics and give them to our leader who was working on her own blocks.  I told her I just wasn't enjoying that method from the get-go, and that I wasn't going to spend any more time on it.  She graciously took the blocks and said she would finish them, no problem.  I felt better in a few minutes, but I never will participate again in a method I do not like, particularly with fabrics or patterns I dislike so very much.   I'll just have to do my own donation quilt to my own liking.  Not very nice I know, but sometimes that's just me.  Sorry.  Anyway, now it's time to move on.

I've been doing a lot of planning and thinking, and even experimenting on the quilting for my large Civil War quilt.  I had a few blocks leftover, so I decided to put them together and experiment a bit.  I sandwiched it and quilted it like I thought I might like, but I didn't.  So I ripped all that out and tried another plan which I like much better.  It may drive me crazier by the time I get it done, but I think, with lots of patience and determination, I can make it work.  I still have a bit more to decide in the open areas, but here's a look at what I have in mind for the big blocks. Some of the markings from the first run are still showing.  You may have to double-click to see it.  Just remember, I'm new at this free motion idea and this block is just an experiment.

I'm in the process now of marking the top.  I know I should be able to just eye-ball it, but I'd hate to ruin the quilt with my quilting.  (I still may ruin it.)  I have the backing ready, but won't sandwich it all for a few days.  (Life, or rather death, keeps getting in the way.  I have to help with funeral dinners at church two days next week already.)  I am, however, looking forward to working on the project; don't know how long it will take, but I'm going to take my time.

Hope everyone is happy with the projects you are working on.

---"Love"

Quilt As You Go Donation Blocks

Last month the area quilting bee I belong to (formerly the local Guild) decided to make some donation quilts for the children in the CPS program in our County.  It was suggested we use the "quilt as you go" method, and we were each told to take fabric and strips from fabrics on hand, and sixteen 9" squares of pre-cut batting.  Instructions were given at the workshop, and we were told to bring our 16 completed blocks back to our meeting tomorrow where we would be instructed on how to put the blocks together.

I got one of my blocks together at the meeting last month, and when I showed it, our leader teased me and said the blocks were supposed to be really scrappy, not the same on opposite sides of the block.  While I love to look at "scrappy" quilts, somehow I can't make myself  make "scrappy" easily for some reason.  We all had a good laugh,   but I decided to make my blocks like my first one, except that I knew I would not have enough of any of the fabrics and strips I had picked out.  I did the best I could this week with what I had to work with.  I had to add another narrow strip to four of the blocks; consequently, it almost created the "scrappy" look I think she wanted, though that certainly was not my rebellious intention.  All I can say is "it is what it is!  (or will be.)"

Actually I think I like the back sides much better.

We will be shown how to put them together with strips on the top and back sides.  Who knows what that fabric will be!!  I pinned numbers on my blocks so I'd know the order to place them so both sides could look the best possible.  (Can you tell I'm not very enthusiastic about this project?  I'm a mean old lady!)

We've had several days of beautiful sunshine, and then this afternoon, my rain gauge caught 2.2" rain in about an hour and 15 minutes.  My neighbor's yard looks like lake again!

My dentist decided he could re-cement my crown earlier this week, and so far, it is holding!  At least I lucked out there!

Have I mentioned MS decided I needed Windows 10 installed on my computer last week?   I'm still struggling with some things, but maybe someday I'll figure it all out.  I liked Windows 7 better, but more than even that, I liked XP!

(Come on, Love; surely you can do a better job of griping than this!)

Let's all try to have a great week, okay?

---"Love"

Did I Really Steal a Wedding Ring Quilt Top?

Well,.......almost!  You may remember that sometime back a friend and I went to a flea market where we hit the jackpot with fabric.  Included in what I got was a quilt top all together except the last section.  You can see it  here .  I decided it's time to finish it, so I've been working on it the past several days, and finished it a couple of days ago.

Since it really didn't cost me much at all, I decided to try some free motion quilting after practicing a little bit on some small sandwiches.  Before beginning on it, I looked closely at the rings and discovered they were all done with really nice hand applique.  I showed it to my friend who confirmed what I discovered.  Don't examine it too closely or you'll see lots of wobbles, but I'm a little pleased with how my quilting turned out, especially since it is really the first thing I've ever done this large with mostly free motion.  It is 73" x 48".  I actually did better and had more fun with the hearts than I did with the rings.   Of course, the hearts were marked with a template.

Maybe I'll not be so fearful of trying FMQ again sometime.   I just cannot believe anyone would get rid of such a beautiful job of hand applique.   If the Quilt Police don't get me for theft, they will punish me somehow for machine quilting this beautiful work of hand applique!

I've had a beautiful but unusual back yard visitor the past ten days or so.  You know how I love birds, and this little pretty thing played chase with a baby sparrow in my rose garden this past week, and finally got on the bird feeder outside the window where I sew; needless to say, I enjoyed the interruptions!  I have no idea where he came from, but I hope he stays!

He plays with the little sparrows, and is not afraid of the large white winged doves, which ignore him.  

Please overlook the tall grass!  Remember I've been unable to work in my yard this year!
Every time I see him, I grab my camera and get up close to the window. 

For the last month, we've had rain at some point almost every day.  Fortunately, my yard slopes just a little to  the back of my property.  Unfortunately, all that water drains into my neighbor's back yard!

See the water on the left, and flowing down behind her shed.
We got 2.5" in about 40 minutes!
It drained on down to  the next yard by the next day.

 
At least we haven't had serious flooding for days like so many Texas areas have had! For that I'm thankful!  We are supposed to have sunshine for almost all the coming week!  Yea!!!

Microsoft decided to download Windows 10 on my computer last Friday, and I'm struggling with some of it.  It doesn't like my photo program I've been using, but it will just have to adjust (I think)!

Then as if I hadn't had enough of doctors and physical therapy since December, I lost a crown tonight, so I guess tomorrow I'll be seeing the dentist!  I had just gotten out of hock for the last dental work, a four-tooth bridge.  I suspect this one will be very similar!  Got to have pretty teeth while lying in a casket, right?

I surely hope all this posts okay tonight.  It's my first attempt with Windows 10.

---"Love"