Design Wall Monday

I was given a rooster at Quilt retreat back in March.  I just love my little rooster.  Later this week I am helping with Vacation Bible School.  I have a spinner coming to demonstrate!  I thought that I would give her the larger rooster.  I am also hoping to get a mug rug done for her.

I think that my version turned out real cute.  It is made with two nine patches.  I had everything in stock!  Even better.

 

 

Lola….decided that she wants to sew!!!!  She found a pattern at Hancock’s.  She was hoping for a cute t-shirt dress, we ended up with a fitted sundress.  Now, let me first say, I can sew….blankets that aren’t ever actually square or rectangular and blankets that only lay flat after of the puckers are quilted out of them.  I am also good at making pj pants that never step foot outside of the house.  Lola asked if I was as excited about this project as she was….”No, I am just nervous and anxious.” 

Here is the top bodice….Look at all those pleats.  This is the other side of the bodice.  The pattern is Simplicity 2250.  I am sure that all will be okay.  God has dropped a great seamstress I know in my life twice now.   We saw her 1st on the day at the store…this was great in helping picking out lining and interfacing.  I saw her again today at Wal-mart.  I haven’t seen her more than 3 times in the last few years.  Now I have seen her twice in 2 weeks (devine intervention).

Lola’s Moment:  I just would like to add that I am not intending to become a “sewing fiend”, I just want to make something that no one else has.  Be prepared to see pictures of my future epic masterpiece!  xo Lola!

I have started on the quilting for the table runner.  The light squares are done.  I am having trouble with the tension.  The light squares have light thread on both sides, and you can’t see the polka dots.  The red and dark squares I have ripped out twice now. 

June UFO Project

Judy L over at The Patchwork Times pulled #8 for the UFO Project.  I am really enjoying this challenge.  I find the finishing of projects cathartic.  I find myself going through many different states.  I feel joy as I pull out the much anticipated project, or apprehension at pulling out a more challenging project.  I once heard that you should finish a project while it is still exciting.  I believe that this is why many projects end up getting set aside.  The new project has excitement that the old and familiar does not.  I think working through some of the problems on the project is helping me work through some of “lifes” problems.
Here is # 8.  It is a 2 sided table runner.  I have it all basted in place.  I did a crappy job.  I will have to redo it. 
               
I made it over Christmas with my mother.  I needed some time in the sew room with all the company present. A friend from church had made several tops in this style and these runners looked so simple but turned out so nice once the small meandering I did was done.  I am looking forward to finishing this one.  The batik side with the stripe matches this quilt that is slated for the couch in the living room.  The table runner will go on the cedar chest under the TV.  The chest was a gift from my brother (he made it) for Christmas in 1998.  I will be able to just flip it for holiday decorating.

 The table runner goes with this quilt.  It is #2 on my UFO list.  I did some work on it at Retreat in February.  It’s goal is to have the top done.  Depending on when that number is pulled, I may get further on it than just the top done.
I am looking forward to the fact that this month is a smaller project.  The girls are out of school.  The husband is working lots.  The garden and lake are calling my name, along with the car to do some traveling.
Back to finishing these UFO projects.  Why is it most projects only get finished because of a deadline?  These projects are those with no “home”.  These are projects are ones we really wanted to make.  You know, life will not be complete unless we have this quilt in our collection.  However, life gets in the way, our collection is not complete, the excitement is gone.  Sometimes working through those hard parts is what we need to do. 

I am still going to Weight Watchers.  I am about 7 lbs. from my maximum ideal weight.  I also would like to lose another 7 lbs. after that.  The meetings talk of support.  Where do you get it?  Who are your sabotager’s?  Are you changing yourself?  Doing the hard work?  Being okay, finishing the job without the excitement of a new project.  Taking something to completion?  It is a learning process.  I eat when no one is around.  I eat when I am lonely.  I eat to indulge when I think I need the indulgence. . . . I don't need the food for sustenance.  I am not a terribly large person.  I am close to the goal weight, but I find myself at a plateau.  I need to do the hard work to get over the hump to achieve my goal.

Just Another Quilter learning to live with myself.

May's UFO---SOCKS!

Boy are the knitting ladies going to be excited to hear that my socks I started back in October are the UFO of the month.  I can't wait to show them a finished project. 

I finished them yesterday!

It has been very chaotic here this month.  We have had car accidents, boss' retire unexpectedly, extra hours at work and a venture or two into the basement with tornado warnings.

My socks!

I watched a neighbor child the other night.  We made a quick quilt.  It turned out so cute.  I am hoping to get some pics. 

I hoping to have more time next month to write.  I have been lurking and keeping on all the blogs.
My big news is that I have lost 12 lbs. with weight watchers.

April UFO is Done!

Here it is.  I decided to stay up late.  Sew lots and do not much else for the last 2 days.  I did take a break to mow the lawn, do laundry and attend a choir concert.  It has lots of strings that need to be trimmed and binding that needs tacking.  I am also not thoroughly impressed with my quilting in the orange border.  I like the concept, but, Lola thinks it looks like toes.  She has some strange feet phobia.  I am patiently waiting to find out what the May UFO Challenge is.  Lola would really like it if I went back and finished January’s UFO, the dreaded Alaskan Christmas Quilt.  Can you say problems?  It is the “lets have the fabric bleed all over everything quilt”.  I am hoping for #8….Christmas Table Runner.  This would be a quick one and it would give me time to paint the inside of the house before the girls finish school for the year.
Here’s to a few days of not quilting….the family would like to spend some time with me.
I would love to hear from you mom’s out there.  What would you like for Mother’s Day?   I am thinking of a few things for mine.  I am always open to creative ideas.  I also am having a hard time answering that question for my own daughters.  It was suggested that I get the gift of the family straightening my sew room—NOOOOOOO! Lola also has a little OCD about organization.  I find this funny when I open her dresser drawers.
Happy Quilting,
Just Another Quilter

April UFO & a peak at the Japanese Fabric

I have done some work on the April UFO.  I certainly can’t believe that I will finish it before the end of the month.  I still have lots of work.  I am looking forward to the month when an almost done quilt is chosen.  Life did some getting in the way of the quilting. 
DH spent some time in Tokyo, I joined Weight Watchers, and I picked up some extra time at work.

You can see I have a few more rows of applique to sew down.  This quilt is going much slower than I thought that it would.  It is irritating how much I have to scrunch the quilt and make it fit under the machine.  You can see the close up of the flowers.  I have to make the red inside of all the flowers. 
The prints that came home from Japan are border prints.  All but one of the prints have the border on both ends of the print.  I love the variety of the prints and can’t believe the beautiful colors.  When DH said he found me some fabric, this was not what I was expecting.

The “store” was just a street vendor.  I am looking forward to working with them.


Hope to keep in touch,
Just Another Quilter

Current status

I thought I would just give a quick update. 

DH returned last week Wednesday from Japan.  He went through about 5 earthquakes.  He is fine.  He returned with fabric.  I will get some pics and show later.  Today is my only day with no girls and no work this week.   He also brought home some Saki, chopsticks and Chai tea for me.

I went to Weight Watchers today.  Last week I was down 7.5 lbs.  This week 2.5 lbs.  I am so excited.  I just would be happy to make it through this week and stay even.  The key for the week:  Plan ahead.  Decide when to use your points for the week BEFORE you get to Easter dinner.  I will weigh in again on Monday after Easter.  That is a little scary.

We ended up at the Bull vs. Pacers play-off game on Saturday.  What a great game.  I hope they can pull off another win tonight.

We got to see friends in Chicago while we were there.  What a great surprise that was.

Better get quilting.  I only have an hour left before the girls arrive home.

I did work out today. : )

Just Another Quilter

Our little trip to Jamaica

We flew down on St. Patrick’s Day to the island paradise of Jamaica, Mon.  We decided to ask some neighbors if they were interested in going.  So 4 adults and 4 kids headed off.  We had adjoining rooms.  We had a little surprise…they upgraded our room.  (This was our 4th trip to the island.)  The kids enjoyed making a crocodile….then a few days later we saw a few more.

The real crocs were very docile.  The locals must feed them some because the crocs would let the workers actually touch them.  We all thought them as a little crazy.  The Jamaican’s aren’t known for great roads and more than a few of us got sick on the road to see the crocs.  The crocs are located in the brack or brae water (half salt/half fresh water) of the Black River.  We visited the YS Falls just north of the crocs. You can walk up into the falls.  There is zip-lines that fly up over the falls.  We only got to spend about 1 hour here.  Next time we will try to spend the whole day there.

The next place we headed off to was the Appleton Rum Factory.  We have been fans of the Appleton Rum for years.  This distillery has been making rum since 1749.  Many of the old ways are still in practice.  This is also the only woman senior rum blender in the world.

The view from the room is gorgeous and I can’t wait to go back.  I must say, besides the humor and events of our own group this was our least eventful trip in a long time.  We always seem to find eventful situations or it finding us (people lost at sea, fires closing roads, social uprisings, police shootings and famous people showing up).  

My socks are coming along well after lots of airport/airplane time.  I also read 2 almost 3 books.

I wrote this up just before DH left for Tokyo.  I finally had some time to gather up the photos.  Things are going pretty good.  I did sign up for Weight Watchers on Thursday before the "Are you sitting down?" call.  I am doing pretty good considering.  I have taken off most of the Jamiaca weight.   My worst time is after the girls go to bed. 

Just Another Quilter