Monday, March 31, 2008

The Saga of the 30's prints.....

Linda left a comment yesterday asking if I bought the 30's fabric, which made me realize that I neglected to write about that.....

So around the corner from "THE" vendor that was suspicious of me was a vendor with 3 tables of 30's FQ's. Now, these were on my list. I need 12 to make "Snapshots" from Terri Atkinson's Happy Hour book for Ava. She will be 3 right after Christmas so I thought 30's would be perfect. You know 3, 3-0's....oh well.... Anyway...

I roped Miss Nancy and Anne into helping me find the perfect FQ's. 12 divided by 2 is 6, so I wanted 6 yellow and 6 pink. We pawed through every FQ's there and made an absolute mess of them and couldn't find 6 yellows and 6 pinks that I liked. So, we decided to add purple. 12 divided by 3 colors is 4. I should be able to find 4 of each color, right? A half hour later and we have 12 FQ's that look wonderful together. Then, Miss Nancy decides to open one up. Dang Nab it...They aren't FQ's, they are 1/4 yards. Heck, I don't know if I can use them as I don't have the pattern with me. No FQ's for me....although we left a complete mess...

Rain yesterday....and I would tell you what the weather is today, but I am sure you don't care and I am writing this yesterday which is really today so the I can't predict.

Happy Sewing,
Nancy
PS - It is dreary, gray and wet. A perfect day to run some errands and do some sewing.
PPS - No sewing therapy yesterday.....I WILL sew the backing today....

The Quilt Show and the Thief.....

Yesterday was a fabulous day. I set off at 10am to pick up Miss Nancy and Anne and we headed over to the Bit's and Pieces Quilt Show. After buying raffle tickets for a quilt and a sewing machine, we got down to business. We decided to walk around the vendors first, then look at some quilts, have lunch and then BUY.... Not a bad idea.

So first there were the vendors. Not as many this year as last. No hand embroidery vendors. First stop was the Viking vendor. Miss Nancy wanted to try out the Fabu-motion fabric thingy (I don't know Viking products, can you tell?) Anyway, first they grabbed Anne and I with the big long arm, but the lady couldn't keep the machine threaded, so we finally walked away and told her we would be back later to try it. (we lied, we had no intention of going back, we would have liked to try it, but neither of us have room for a long arm so we just wanted to play). We got Miss Nancy a salesman and they sat her down to play on the fab-u thingy. I couldn't believe that Viking was demonstrating this product and the fabric they gave her was FLEECE!! And the fleece wasn't the filler, it was the only fabric they offered. I spoke up and asked if they had any cotton to use, "no". But then the salesman found some scrap and put that on top. Nothing but fleece on the bottom... The fabric slipped all over and of Miss Nancy didn't buy it. I was really disappointed the this huge company came to a well known quilt show and didn't think far enough ahead of time to have proper samples for potential customers. I must say that it did do a great stitch. It was very even and regular.

So then we found Ann of Patches Quilt Shop. She is a certified quilt appraiser and was doing her thing. She also had some of her books that she would sell and sign.

We then found a vendor called The Stash Store. They had lots of Civil War FQ's and Miss Nancy found a couple she thought she might like to take home. Now remember, we didn't want to buy just yet, we wanted to look and come back to buy. So we decide that she will "hide" the FQ's underneath all the other FQ's. Good idea. There are only millions of matching FQ's, but you never know. There could be a huge rush on this very fabric before we get back. So we slide them underneath the row and walk off thinking aren't we the clever shoppers!!

Next up is a couple of more vendors, including Jackman's and some more I don't remember...

I had two things on my list, so I notice the vendor with 30's fabrics and check off that we will be back to line up 12 FQ's for Ava's quilts. She had a huge selection all color coordinated.

Now we go have lunch and then some quilt viewing.....such beautiful quilts....


This is Nellie. This quilt was made from one pattern that was sliced into 6 portions. She sent one section of the pattern to 5 other guild members. All she told them was to use the yellow background. After getting all the sections back she sewed them together and quilted them. Isn't is fabulous??


This quilt was a modern version of a celtic quilt pattern. It was very striking and hard to see the pattern in the far away pic, so below is a close-up of one block. She won a prize for best piecing.



I loved the color combo of this quilt.

We saw these quilts very early on. Only after we had gone two rows over did Anne say "Look at those quilts now!". These quilts were made for a Gray Hair/Hare challenge within the guild. These were made with 1 inch squares of white,black and gray fabrics.

So, now it's time to go back and BUY, BUY, BUY...... Miss Nancy has stopped to talk to Ann of Patches again, so I sneak over and "find" the FQ's that she hid earlier. I scoop them up and hold them down at my side. "Look Anne, I have Miss Nancy's fabric and she is gonna come over and find out that someone else bought them. Won't that be funny?" Now let me say right here, that ANNE AGREED....It would be funny!!
"Oh, here comes Miss Nancy" I will just very carefully slide the fabric down to my side so she can't see. Ok, out of the corner of my eye, I see the husband of the vendor get up and walk over to the fabric where Anne and I are standing. hmmm....wonder why he would pick NOW to straighten out FQ's. Ok, he is really eyeing me... ON NO!! He thinks I am trying to shop lift!!???!! ARKKKKK!!!! I have never shoplifted anything in my life. Ok, I was there one time when my sister (who shall remain nameless) "stole" a little ladybug stickpin off a dress at Famous. Hey, I am pretty sure the statue of limitations is over since she was in high school and she is now, well, lets just say she isn't in high school anymore. So anyway, this guy is watching me like a hawk.... He doesn't take his eyes off of me. I quick tell Anne what is going on....we are laughing and talking and I am trying to show him that I am not stealing the fabric, but here comes Miss Nancy and she is digging around in the bucket, and digging and digging and she looks up puzzled and I walk over and say "looking for these?". She starts laughing and Anne and I are laughing and then we shop some more, but the guy keeps watching me....FINALLY I decide to tell his wife, who is taking some of Miss Nancy and Anne's money what happened and that her husband thinks we are shoplifting. She just smiles....and then SHE starts watching me....Ok, off to the next vendor for me!!! I guess I should have bought something from them, but they only had civil war and I don't use civil war fabric....

I did buy some goodies... I am hoping to get the backpack done for Paducah..


Whew..long post and it is now noon, I just heard thunder. Thanks for reading to the end....have a great day. I am off to the sewing room to do some much needed therapy.

Happy Sewing,
Nancy

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Boring and then some.....

Just a boring weekend here in Mid Missouri. I emailed a friend this morning to see if she was home and could I come pick up my Happy Hour book. "Yes, come before 9 please". Yikes....hurry and get dressed. She had borrowed it and I need it back. It's ok, she is done with it. I decided that since the boy's quilts match that the girls quilts should match, so I will be hunting for FQ's tomorrow at the quilt show. I don't keep up with the new lines of fabrics that come out, so don't have anything in particular to look for. I don't even know if I want brights or pastels. She is two and doesn't have a "style" yet. lol

After picking up the book (and asking her to go along to the show tomorrow), DH and I headed out to pick up a garage sale find... Wednesday I teach Redwork at my LQS. One of the ladies was apologizing for the black under her nails. She said she has been painting a chair to sell at her garage sale this weekend. A few questions later and I yelled "SOLD" and handed her a measly $5...

I love it....much better than the one formally in that spot.
This one was too scrolly for me...too fancy...anyone interested for $7?? LOL
You would have to pick it up...

Tonight we are dropping the Rock Star and 2 friends at a concert, then meeting DH sister and brother-in-law for dinner at a Chinese restaurant. We have never been there, but they get rave reviews.

Tomorrow I will be sewing the backing for Weaver Fever so I can get it to the quilter on Monday. I think an all over meander will work for this one.

It's to be a Christmas present for DH and will used as a couch quilt. HEY, don't tell him, it's a surprise.

Hope you all are having a great weekend.
Happy Sewing,
Nancy

Thursday, March 27, 2008

I've been tagged.....

Amanda has tagged me.

The rules are as follows:

1. Once you have been tagged, link back to the person that tagged you!
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Post 7 weird or random facts about you.
4. Tag 7 people and link to them.

So 7 random things about me...hmm...which 7 do I want to reveal??

1. I do not like to go to places that I have never been before. Not by myself or with anyone else either. You would think that would limit the number of places I have ever been, but no....because I will go if someone else goes and I need to tag along... and they make me.

2. I am shy. Yea, no one else believes me either, but we had a seminar at work (when I worked) and had to divide ourselves into groups. First was outgoing or shy. I started walking to the shy side and was immediately hollered at. Everyone thought I was heading the wrong way.

3. I don't want to go back to work. Ever. Eventually the rock star will go to college and there will no reason for me to be home during the day. I like staying home. Someone needs to give me some reasons to stay home..

4. I lost a lot of my hair in high school. Lots of reasons.

5. I have never had a speeding ticket. And I have been driving for more than 40 years. And I have only been stopped once. For Speeding...LOL But I didn't get a ticket.

6. I love reality tv. I watch Survivor, Celebrity Apprentice(on right now), Idol and have been known to catch a bit of Dancing with the Stars.


7. I always know direction. I can tell North, South, East and West even when I am lost. I may not know which road to take, but will always know which way HOME is...

Now, I am supposed to tag 7 fellow bloggers. Consider yourself tagged if you have been blogging less than one year.

Happy Sewing,
Nancy

Age = Temp

Have you ever noticed how a person's age is directly related to the temperature they are most comfortable?? Kids starting at age 15, 16 or 17 will leave the house in the dead of winter with no coat. A temp of 15F is fine for them. (of course, it isn't COOL to wear a coat, I'm not so old I can't remember that!!) When you hit the middle ages the temperature surrounding you stays around 50F to 60F....
So where is this going?? What is in the back of this pea-brain, you ask??

Today was cleaning day....at my Mom and Dad's....where the


TEMP WAS 80F...


Are you freaking kidding me?? Just so you know, temp outside was 64. I would have had the friggin windows open!!!! But, not them.. Oh no...the FURNACE was on and humming along at 80F. I hope they don't freeze tonight...I changed it to 60F and forgot to change it back. It is quite possible they will be Popsicles in the morning...lol Oh, the things I will do for a little bit of fabric money...


Anyway......



Monday I got Grace's quilt back from the quilter and sewed on the binding. Then Tuesday I hand sewed the back. Even though you can't see it in the photo, there are at least 8 sides to this quilt. Well, that's what it seemed like when I was doing the hand sewing...I swear I thought it the edges kept growing and growing... This is Grace's Christmas quilt. She is 6 and loves pink. It will now go into a pillowcase and reside at the top of my closet to be joined by 5 more. I have two tops already completed and need to put the backs together and take them to the quilter. Then start on Ava's and find a pattern for bitty baby (as she is called at 7 weeks).

Wednesday was redwork club at my LQS. I was happy to see a new member who had never done redwork. She caught on really quick and was so excited. She couldn't wait to get started on our project, which is Winter Wonderland .

Tonight is the season finale of Celebrity Apprentice. I wasn't going to watch this one and then my sister asked if I had seen it and I was hooked. I am betting on Trace Adkins. I also can't wait to see Omarosa and Piers get at it tonight....lol

Tomorrow the beetle goes to the dealers for some repair. Some thing came out of the window and it shouldn't have... and then I got the "Grandma" call. You know the one...."I can't find a babysitter and mommy and daddy have to work and can you drive out here and watch "bitty baby"? Uh, YEA!!

If you are in the St. Louis area, visit the Bit's and Pieces Quilt Show.
Click for more information. I am going on Sunday to spend some of that Hot House Housekeeping Money....LOL

Happy Sewing,
Nancy

PS. I wanted a menopause cartoon for the top. Do me a favor?? Don't google "HOT MAMA".. LOL

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Spring into Green.......

Cottage Magpie is asking everyone to help welcome Spring.... In Mid Missouri we are in the midst of downpours and flooding. Luckily we are not in a flood area, although you wouldn't know it looking at the backyard.

So here are some little bits of green from around my home.....


These little wooden birds sit on a desk my DH made.

Part of a quilt hanging in the dining room.

The only plant that has ever stayed alive for longer than 5 days. I have even killed cactus...

An oil painting by my Great Aunt Eileen

Lunch bag made for my sister

A pillow I embroidered a couple of years ago.

A photo of two of my grandchildren

My favorite clock.

Happy Spring...
Nancy

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

WOOT, WOOT.....

This morning I had to deliver the Rock Star to his band practice, so since I was out and gas is SO (see me roll my eyes, cause I haven't changed any of my driving habits since gas has started getting rediculous)expensive, I thought I would head over to the post office and the quilt store. I needed a 1/2 yard of black for the first border of my 2005 COF designed by Pat Sloan. I know I had the black moda for the first border, but apparently I used it for some other project. So anyway, I headed down to the pink building. Oh, I should have taken a photo...the building is BRIGHT pink with green trim. So cute.....and you can't miss it. Right on Main Street and Cherry and BRIGHT PINK...

So, Pat Two Borders (her Indian name(no offense to real Indians))was there and my quilt was also there..... This is the first quilt she has quilted for me and she did a WONDERFUL job. She used pale yellow veriegated thread and it is wonderful (ok, I said that, but it IS!!)



That is Pat Two Borders on the left and Connie the owner of the shop on the right. The quilt is for my Gracie my first born granddaughter. It is for Christmas, This Year.....Pat thought it was for last year... Uh NO!! It is for 2008...

1 down, 4 to go.

Happy Sewing,
Nancy

PS-Guess I should tell you why I call her Pat Two Borders..Every stinkin time I go in there with a finished quilt top, she talks me into two borders. She can't stand the fact that this quilt has NO BORDERS....LOL

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Camera Case...

Becky asked me whether I used a pattern for the camera case. BECKY!! I can't answer you privately as you commented as a no-reply, so I will answer here and hope you see it...

I did not use a pattern. Sorry.. I measured the camera. It was 2 1/2 inches wide and 1 inch deep. I cut 2 piece's 4 1/2 inches wide and about 9 inches long. My camera is small. I then followed a basic purse pattern. I have probably made 20-25 purses, so the steps come automatically. If you don't sew purses, it might be easier to use double sided already quilted fabric (or quilt a piece) and then just sew a bag. Add velcro at the top to close it.

Just did some much needed grocery shopping, in the rain. The ditches along the roads are swollen and there is some flooding in the area. Luckily none around here yet.

I am done in the sewing room for the day. Tonight I am going to get out my graph paper and see if I can get a handle on measurements for the yellow leaf quilt. If I get tired of that I will work on my Winter Wonderland blocks.

Happy Sewing,
Nancy

sewing day part 2......

I just finished two projects. Unfortunately these weren't UFO's. I have two UFO's, but don't have all the fabric for them.

So, I decided to make a purse for my second daughter for an Easter present. I think she will get more use out of a purse than a lunch box and I can always make her a lunch box when she graduates from nursing school in August.



The second project was a camera case. My camera didn't come with a case and I am very afraid it will get all banged up.... I think this will work...




Now, I need to get to the grocery store as we are out of food and I WILL have to cook for the 15 year old, although it can be something frozen...(as long as there aren't any veggies in it)

Happy Sewing,
Nancy

sewing day.....

Update on my sewing day. Judy is having a sew-along and I am an eager participant. DH is off to Atlanta for two days, so I don't have to cook or clean.....

Reading too many emails and blogs gave me a late start...

Here is a quick look at my first project...

Step 1 - get everything cut out.



Will check in later with step 2.

Happy Sewing,
Nancy

Monday, March 17, 2008

I am obsessed with this quilt.....

I found this yellow leaf quilt at Sew,Mama,Sews blog and followed the links to the original one at Knitting Iris. I want to make this quilt... I am obsessed with this quilt. I have never had this affliction before. I have made many quilts that I am happy with. Most of them have been patterns by Pat Sloan, some by Teri Atkinson and other designers. Pat's quilt patterns are in almost every room of my house. I tell my DH that I am "being green" and that my quilts are doing double duty. Insulation and Beauty....Somehow I don't think he is buying it...

ANYWAY....Saturday I met my sister at the local Hancocks to help her pick out fabric for her new kitchen curtains. After steering her away from the toiles and solids and "safe" (read boring) fabrics she found a great bolt. Isn't this cool....



This is the actual folded curtains. She bought the rest of the bolt, so I made her

this work lunchbox....


I STILL had fabric left so I made her a hotpad... Then I stopped. I am keeping the rest for my stash...lol Hey, don't tell her, ok??

Now, back to the yellow leaf quilt...I found the perfect color yellow for the background. I knew I need 4 yards AND it was 40% off. Got it cut and then my sister insisted on paying for it. As a Thank You for making the curtains. Now you see why I made her the lunch box?? and the hot pad?? Now I need to find a good leaf pattern and get tracing. I haven't figured out how many leaves I need, but I sure have lots of scraps to use....

Today was quilt guild....I love this quilt guild....I have many new friends and today there was a wonderful chicken casserole for lunch.. Yea, this is one of the last of the great guilds where members take turns serving lunch... LOVE IT!!!



Here is Veronica and Bev standing outside one of the gift shops in Clarksville. We were a wee bit early so we stopped and looked around. They have the best stuff. There was a green and white rabbit toile plate that should have come home with me. Not sure how I talked myself out of it... I loved all the black/white decorations...



I almost got caught taking photos. I guess I should have asked first....???

Tomorrow Judy, over at Patchwork Times is hosting a quilting day....come join us and quilt all day... Check in with her a couple of times tomorrow and tell us what you are working on...

Happy Sewing,
Nancy

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Want to win???

Go HERE, leave a comment and PLEASE tell them I sent you......

Happy Sewing,
Nancy

Saturday, March 8, 2008

It's a first.......

Tonight my baby has achieved a first. His first dance, his first car ride with friends(not parents) and his first curfew...... OUCH!!! I am not sure why it bothers me more with him than with the girls. Last week I called my oldest and asked her when her dad and I allowed her to drive in cars with friends. I was curious and too old to remember (hey, she graduated HS in 92, the same year the rock star was born). Daughter's response?? Ummm.....I was a freshman and the boy was a freshman and he had had his license about 2 months.....WHAT??!!! I let you do that??? "yes, mom" she said "you liked the boy"... She was surpised that the rock star hadn't staged a full out war about us driving him everywhere.... (Actually he never said a word and I don't think he cared.) So tonight we allowed him to go to the dance with friends, stay out til 11pm (the dance is over at 10pm so that gives them an hour to drive 7 miles) and even though he has a cell phone I promised not to call him....lol

I did however get some photos....



I should have gotten a close up of those shoes....Do you see her shoes?? They are the highest top converse I have ever seen!! AND with a fancy dress?? And of course not to be out done, the guys have fancy shoes on too......Can you see the skull/crossbones on the shoes on the right....(that's NOT my kid).
I got 4 photos that I will treasure for a life time..... I will upload them to Walmart and get multiple copies so the other Mom's can see them. Kids said no one else too pictures....

Ah....Youth.....

Cute!!!!

Well, it's 8:30pm and I need to go sit by the front door and wait for 11pm to come. I won't be able to sleep until he is home....

Happy Sewing,
Nancy

Thursday, March 6, 2008

Don't spill the beans, uh pins.....

Lynette has just started a wonderful Noah's Ark FREE BOM. The first design (of two cute bunnies) is already up and ready to print and stitch. The designs will be posted on her blog and today she has posted a mock up of the entire quilt so you can get a visual.

Blueberry Lane Designs has unearthed a treasure in a box. She has found an extra copy of an out-of-print book of Lynette's all about pincushions. She is challenging us to show her our pincushions. So here are mine....


This is the one that is attached to Bernice (my Bernina).. A piece of ribbon, a piece of velcro and a little handmade pincushion. I love this one and use it all the time.



These are my cute pincushions. The red and white was received in a swap (Thanks Anne!), I made the wool cupcake and the wool one was given to me by my sister-in-law.
Aren't they all pretty? and I am sure very functional..




Wait a minute!! What is that?? Who slipped that photo in there? Oh, these are the pincushions that I use EVERY TIME I sew... One stays on the ironing board and the other stays next to the sewing machine. I pin everything at the ironing board and remove all pins at the sewing machine. SO when one is empty, the other is full and they are switched.... Like a lot of us, they aren't the most beautiful in the world, but they are hard working and get the job done with little fuss...

Update - I got the last borders put on Weaver Fever. Off to the quilters soon.... Will post a photo when it comes back and has binding and is put away safely for a Christmas present...

Happy Sewing,
Nancy

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

Not much of a snow day....



Well, it snowed for about an hour and a half here. Not enough to even cover the street. This is the view from my sewing room. I did watch the noon news and not 10 miles south of here, the snow is 4 inches deep and blowing so heavy you can't see across the street.

I thought I would work on the Spring Fling first border. This isn't due for awhile, but I am determined to not be late. This is my first swap with this group and I want to keep my good reputation....lol
Here is the finished block with the first border.



Now back to the sewing room. I think I will pull some fabrics for the lunch boxes for the girls...

Happy Sewing,
Nancy

Back to school......


There are moments that I wish I would have gone to college. I know now I would have liked to study architecture. I adore houses and house plans and floor plans and such. Since I won't ever GO back to school, I decided that the closest thing would be to make some lunch bags. Are these not the cutest things. I will be making some for Easter gifts for my girls. I always get the grandkids Easter gifts, but rarely do I give the girls something. I think these will come in handy for them. Oldest daughter starts a new job after maternity leave and will be working the night shift so I know she will be taking her "lunch" and second daughter is in nursing school and takes her lunch also. You will notice that my lunch bags have something the project doesn't have. Handles.... I think a lunch box needs a handle, so I added one. The pink one was the first I made and the handle was attached a wee bit low, the batik one is better. Not sure what I will do with these as they are samples. They will decorate my sewing room for awhile until someone happens along and loves them. Now I need to search my stash for the perfect fabric for each of them.

Weather reports started yesterday am. Ice then snow. Took off for the post office and grocery store yesterday am hopefully ahead of the ice and snow. Came home expecting school to be closed early. Nothing... Got up this morning surely expecting some ice and snow. Nothing....school open. We have a forecast for 6-8 inches of snow. It was supposed to start late last night. Nothing.... so I am still waiting for the snow to start... Think I will wait in the sewing room with my fabric...

Happy Sewing
Nancy

Saturday, March 1, 2008

UFO's, teenagers and oh, I guess we have a winner.....

My UFO's seem to be taking over the sewing room. I was very good for awhile at keeping them hidden on a shelf, then I moved them to a stack on the floor thinking they would get done if I had to trip over them. It didn't work. I like to clean out my sewing room every once in a while. So, this week while at the local huge discount store in town, I found this little shelving unit. No screws or nails, no tab a into tab b and it fits perfectly. It's small and with only 4 shelves it can't become a huge mess. It was also cheap, less than $10. Right now on the top shelf is my grandson's TicTacMo just waiting to go to the quilter. Hey, that's not really a UFO!! Oh, but it needs to have the backing bought and pieced, so I guess it is after all. Next shelf is Weaver Fever for hubby. It needs one more border, backing and it will be ready for the quilter. Third shelf 2005 Circle of Friends (a Pat Sloan pattern) and it just needs the last border, backing and it will go to the quilter also. Bottom shelf is my tree skirt. I made this 2 years ago and it has been under 2 Christmas tree's as a UFO. It needs to have the reindeer names hand embroidered and then backed, quilted (I will do this one) and bound....

Do you see a pattern here? Seems I get stopped right at the last border. I wonder why? Am I bored by that time? Do I already have another quilt ready to start? Who knows! I am determined to empty these shelves. Maybe I will tackle one of them today.....or maybe Tuesday.....

On to teenagers. Some of you know I have the Rock Guitarist....Today he has a DATE!! Well, he isn't calling a date. I am...lol Dad will drive him to town to meet "A" at the local breaskfast place. Then Dad will pick him up. So far, we haven't allowed him to ride with friends that have drivers license's. Now we are rethinking that...lol He is 15 3/4 (will be 16 in June). He has never given us any problems (other than talking too much in school) and is generally a good kid. He still gives me hugs and says "I love you, Mommy". At what age do I allow him to ride with friends? What restrictions should there be. Our girls are married and Mom's now, so I can't remember what we did with them, and really times have changed since then (his next closest sister is 28!!). Any help out there??

Oh, and I guess we have a winner. I used hubby as a random generator and he picked number 7....so Mary Anne please send me your snail mail address and I will get your box in the mail on Monday....
Here is a sneak peak.... there is more hiding underneath...



Happy Sewing,
Nancy