Wednesday, July 30, 2008

Angels Among Us



The angels need hair and other various and sundry embroidery on this first block, but the applique is done! There are a couple of things I really want to go back and fix, but I'll wait and see how I feel about them when I'm done with all the blocks! LOL

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Daisy has settled down



I sat on the floor by her and gave her her favorite toy to play with.

Excuse the red eye. LOL. She's such a sweetie. That shaking really had her confused. All better now that Mommy's home!

THAT got my attention!

That's what I don't like about earthquakes. Out of the blue with no warning. When this one hit this morning, there was a tremendously hard jolt and then my desk chair start "bucking." It did that five or six times, and then it changed to a violent swaying back and forth. My desk is under a window that looks out into the hallway, and that window was bowing back and forth like an old saw and the wall was banging against my desk.

I pushed my desk chair back quickly and hard. I rolled all the way back into my file cabinets. I tried to stand up but the floor kept moving on me. I stumbled my way out into the hallway, and it was five or six feet before I got my legs under me. That's when this little old lady kicked into turbo! I went running down the hall as fast as my little thunder thighs could carry me out into the production office. All of those California natives were under their desks! I stood there for a couple of seconds watching the desks dance around and the blinds swinging back and forth.

And then it stopped.

The plant workers were all looking around and looking up. And then there was one of our maintenance guys - who was on the roof checking something. I've never seen a kid shimmy down a ladder as quickly as he did!

I've been in SoCal for 14 years, and I have never felt one this violent before. I was really shaken by it all. My legs felt like Jell-O all afternoon, and my heart still feels like it's missing beats. Yeah, I'd say I've got a good case of the old Southern lady "nerves."

I just got home and all is well downstairs, except Daisy has this wild, wide-eyed look about her. Upstairs things were slightly rearranged. The pictures on the walls are askew, and some books and antique darners and textile bobbins came tumbling off the bookshelves and onto the floor. A stack of DVDs on the nightstand were on the floor, and a couple of bottles fell off the vanity in my bathroom.

Things to remember for the next quake:

~ Duck and cover. Crawl under the desk instead of trying to run out the building.

~ Put Daisy in the kennel every morning. I wasn't too worried about her being hurt because she was in her kennel today. Put a leash for Daisy in the QuiltMobile.

~ Put a flashlight at all strategic locations in the house - by the doors, at the top and bottom of the stairs, in the garage.

~ Keep a pair of shoes by the bed.

~ Seriously consider moving!

Sunday, July 27, 2008

I Give Up

It's futile for me to report stash busting any more because I'm not busting any. I keep sewing and sewing, and I've got two or three projects within striking distance of finishing and busting. The problem is I keep buying things.

I thought I was being so good this week, but then stuff happened.

I purchases two little towers of plaid brushed cottons from Sharon at Red Geranium Cottage, but that was 6 yards. I grabbed a piece of fabric on sale from The Fat Quater Shop, 5 yards. Then the first block and the backing came in for Angels Among us from Kimberly, and that backing was 4 yards. See where this is headed? And I haven't even gotten to the Long Beach quilt show yet.

10.25 yards in a kit at the show, a quilt for my bed. Another 6 yards of batiks - wow, that added up quickly. In Brenda Riddle's booth, four half-yard cuts, 2 yards. Osnaberg, 1 yard.

I guess I'll keep reporting (sigh) because the busts are going to happen fast and furiously, but it's discouraging. I've never kept track before. Judy keeps reminding me that I'm buying less because I'm keeping track. It's true, but all the same ...

Year-to-Date Totals:

Busted: 190.5 yards
Purchased: 508.0 yards
Net YTD: <317.5> yards busted

Off to finish up a binding for a friend, and then I'm going to bust something today if it kills me!

Saturday, July 26, 2008

Long Beach Quilt Show



I had so much fun today, and I am SO tired! I took one picture of the front of the convention center, and my camera batteries died! Wouldn't you know it! Turns out I had grabbed the uncharged ones for my camera. I left home at 6:30 this morning to meet up with Jane, so I guess I wasn't functioning on all cylinders at that point.

I've never been to a quilt show that big! Honestly, I was on stimulation overload after about two hours. However, I did manage to do a bit of shopping. Lots of stitchery patterns and other patterns. Except for a few half yard cuts at the Little Acorns booth, I was doing real good until the last few minutes before we left. That's when I found the Bonnie Blue booth and a kit followed me home. I'll have to do the math in the morning for my stash report.



It was so much fun meeting Brenda Riddle! What a delightful lady! As I handed her my debit card, I told her I was so excited about meeting her! She looked down and saw my name on the card and hugs ensued! LOL. For those of you who don't know, Brenda designed the finishing kit for Kimberly at the Fat Quarter Shop for the Prairie Paisley Patchwork Party quilt that I've almost finished. I look forward to doing many more of Brenda's patterns as the instructions were perfect!

Now I'm going to bed! Quilt shows are hard work for old ladies!

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Next Up - Borders & Busting!





I loved making Raspberry Truffle! Such a fun little quilt, made mostly from charm packs and a little yardage.

For the next couple of days I'm going to be busting borders!!!! :) :) :)

Stash Report Week 29

All I did this week was help out with sewing for a friend, so nothing to report. Not this week. By the end of the day today I'll have busted some fabric, and it will just have to go on next week's report.

No purchases this week either. I must be ill!

Year-to-Date Totals:

Busted: 190.5 yards
Purchased: 473.75 yards
Net YTD: <283.25> yards busted

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Decision Made!!



I've been threatening this for a long time now, and I'm just going to DO IT!

July will be spent finishing up a couple of quilt tops that are, frankly, laid out on the floor in various parts of the Quilting Condo and needing to be assembled. July will also be spent binding 4-6 quilts.

August -- it's MY month! I'm going to work on anything I want with NO guilt whatsoever! And what I decided to do is have a BOM party for the whole month! I've got a couple in various stages, some just needing borders, and a whole slew of them that aren't even started yet. This going to be fun!

There are a couple of new ones that I'm totally excited about -- JudyL's Patchwork Party Star BOM that starts in August, and Kimberly's Sweet Treasures BOM that kicks off in September. I want to be ready to sit down and piece the moment they're here or posted!

The others that I want to work on are the appliqued pumpkin blocks, Merry Christmas for All, Blossom Time, Butterfly Kisses, Shangri-La Garden, and maybe Home for the Holidays. I figure if I can at least get the applique blocks prepped and the pieced blocks made, then I should be able to finish them all up by the end of the year. For sure the ones that I already have all the blocks and haven't started yet!

I might even prep more Dutch Treat blocks; this has been going on four years now and I'm over halfway done with those 196 blocks! The last time I worked on them was on my last trip to Louisiana, two years ago. I may take more to work on this September when I go HOME! Hooray!

If anyone would like to join the BOM party in August, feel free! I'm going to be having a ton of fun all month long. Some time during the month, I'll be having birthday cake and champagne! I'm fully enscounced in middle age and thoroughly enjoying it. That's as good a reason as any to celebrate another birthday! LOL

Monday, July 14, 2008

Moving Right Along



I'm done with the applique on this quilt! Hooray!! I just need to do a checkerboard border around this block and this puppy is ready to assemble! Isn't it exciting when they get to this stage?

I can reasonably foresee finishing up this top as well as the Prairie Paisley this month. Of course, I always stall when I get to the borders. I don't like borders. I know, I know, they're a necessary evil, but that doesn't make me like them any better!

Now, truthfully, the reason I'm trying to finish up some of these BOMs is because ....

Simply Sophisticated Mystery BOM is starting in October!!!!! This fabric is so gorgeous! How do I know, you ask? Because I've already had the privilege of working with it! It's just knock-your-socks-off beautiful!

I hope a lot of my friends in Bloggerland will join me on this one! Wouldn't it be fun to set aside a time each month to do our blocks together? Let's see if we can organize something like that! I always do better when I'm teaming up with someone to sew. We can have our own little Simply Sophisticated Club! After all, we ARE Simply Sophisticated!! LOL

Sunday, July 13, 2008

Stash Report Week 28

The good, the bad and the ugly!

The good -- there were NO buttons pushed this week!
The bad -- an order from last week came in!
The ugly -- my totals!

I'm working so hard to get to the busting point. I have the Prairie Paisly Patchwork Party being assembled. Within two more weeks the borders and backing will be busted!!

I'm also finishing up the last applique block on the Raspberry Truffle BOM, the pink and brown one. Borders and backing will count on a bust on that one, too, within a couple of weeks. Working cuts into my quilty time!



I'm getting antsy for a bust, but I need finishes! I'm getting there. Applique sure does slow me down! LOL

Wildflower Serenade stuff came in this week. I had preordered this a while back. I keep buying fabric that I think will go with Don and Gail's rebuilt house, and I need to stop that. I'll see the house in late September. Watch! None of this stuff will "go"! LOL. A tower and jelly rolls came in, 15.5 yards. If this does work for them, I'll need a little yardage when the line hits the stores.

I finally broke down yesterday and went to Lenscrafters for new glasses. That's why I decided to applique yesterday instead of assembling the top. I wanted to test them. The lower bifocal is great for applique and reading. The top bifocal for computer distance feels funny. I'll give it until next weekend and take them back if I haven't adjusted by then.

Year-to-Date Totals:

Busted: 190.5 yards
Purchased: 473.75 yards
Net YTD: <283.25> yards busted

That is SO sick!

Thursday, July 10, 2008

That was Fun!

I went over to a local quilt shop tonight after work to check out the goings-on for the first day of the Quilter's Run. The stores are open until 9:00 each night of the run.

Well, I'm standing by the counter and this really sweet lady said to me, "Are you Vicky? I'm a lurker!" It was Jan who reads my blog! My first thought was, "Oh, gosh, I really need to be careful what I say on there!" ROFLOL.

It was so much fun chatting with Jan for a few minutes! Jan, hope to see you again soon! Oh, and Daisy sends puppy hugs to Teddy!

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

1st Layout



I'm getting excited now about getting this quilt top together. I forgot to make the center square-in-a-square block, so I just plopped down the pattern on top of that empty space. I need to move around the pieced blocks. This was just a first lay-out.

I'm so tired these days. It's a combination of the heat and work and the fact that I'm just plain getting old. I went to bed early last night, and I probably need to do that again tonight. Or move to a cooler climate. Or retire. Or all of the above. :)

I haven't a thing else to blog about. I'm sure there will be lots of blogging fodder from the Quilter's Run that starts tomorrow. So stay tuned! LOL

Sunday, July 06, 2008

Hooray!!!!



I met my holiday weekend goal of getting all the blocks made for the Patchwork Party quilt!!! I'm exhausted, but I did it! I really thought I had set too lofty a goal!

I'll lay it out and start assembling the top tomorrow.

Happy dancing here!

Star BOM Fabric Pull



First pull of fabric for Judy's Star BOM. I'm going to have to work on this a bit, but this is basically the direction I'm leaning. I'm just a bad stash diver; I doubt myself so badly. I'll just pretend I'm poking an order button on a BOM at The Fat Quarter Shop! LOL

Stash Report Week 27

I've been making great headway this holiday weekend on the Prairie Paisley Patchwork Party top. I'll finish up the appliqued berries in a couple of hours, all the flying geese are made, the 4-patches are made, and I just have to assemble the blocks with the 4-patches and the flying geese. This top will be finished by next weekend.

THEN I can bust the backing for it! LOL

I thought I hadn't ordered much this week (everyone who knows me knows this song!) but I went through the receipts and (insert second verse of song here) there was something I forgot came in. One package, some of it on sale, 9 yards, and the backing for the Merry Christmas to All BOM, 3.5 yards. So 12.5 yards purchased this week and I was trying (enter violins) to be SO good!

I'm so excited about sewing right now. I guess you could say I'm about to burst to bust! I really feel the rest of the year will be spent whittling down that yardage that I purchased this year in an attempt to help shore up the economy! (OMG, I hear "Stars & Stripes Forever" now!) The best I can hope for at this point is to end the year even.

So in the spirit of stash reporting, as ugly as it is:

Year-to-Date Totals:

Busted: 190.5 yards
Purchased: 458.5 yards
Net YTD: <267.75> yards busted

Saturday, July 05, 2008

July 4th Applique



I appliqued the whole day on the Prairie Paisley blocks. I finished up the stars, the centers and the leaves. Just have the berries to do on seven blocks and these are done. I need to go back and redo one center because the placement is wonky - or maybe not. :) Oh, and a good pressing, too! LOL

Today I'm going to start piecing the rest of the setting blocks. It's all downhill from this point. I want this top finished by next weekend.

Two mornings in a row now that I'm up at 5:00, even with the alarm turned off. I guess I can't turn off the internal clock.

The TV was on all day while I was appliqueing. I hardly ever do that. I watched all three "Jaws" movies back to back, and then the complete "John Adams" series. I'd like to get the DVD set of this series. Also, "Songs of Praise for America" was playing all day on a Direct TV channel. Even though I didn't cook or go anywhere to celebrate the day, between the fabric and the events on TV, it was real patriotic around here! God bless America!

Off to clean up a bit around here. Jane may come over later to sew.

One thing I've been doing this year is about once a month I go back to my 2006 and 2007 blog entries to see what was going on in my life at that time. Well, around this time in 2006 I had just begun working on "Strawberries for Lisa," and in 2007 I had the body of the Giterdun together and was about 80% finished with the applique on All Things Christmas. It seems like just yesterday that I was working on all of those!

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

I'm So Excited!



The first package of the Merry Christmas to All BOM arrived today. Four blocks, plus the backing, and lots of adorable buttons and thread!

Every time I start thinking that things just can't get any better, then a project like this comes along! I love BOMs. I know there are those who criticize that, but let me just say that folks who are a whole lot smarter than me dream them up and pull them all together, and all I have to do is poke an order button! That's the part at which I excel! I get so excited when each shipment comes! A little bit of heaven spread out over the year! LOL

I can't wait to start this one, but I will. Priority to finish is my Prairie Paisley Patchwork Party! I'm about halfway done with the applique, and then I can really zoom on the piecing part of it! It's going to be beautiful!

I'm so motivated right now!!! I can't wait to get home each evening to sew or stitch. I can barely remember life before quilting, and I've only been at it almost seven years! Best decision I ever made!