Sunday, April 02, 2017

Curve Balls

I've been sewing up a storm lately and have a lot of things to post.  Unfortunately, Picasa is no more and all the pictures I thought I had downloaded are nowhere to be found.  I haven't really had much time to research another photo edit program.  The one time I sat down to try to find something, I was overwhelmed by 1) monthly fees, 2) a lot of language I didn't understand and 3) its "un-user-friendly" aspects.  If you have any suggestions, I'm all ears.  I know I can download directly from my iPhone to my blog, but I can't type well on that small keyboard.  I'd rather post to my blog on my PC. So until then ...

I'm all caught up on the Minick & Simpson BOM, Portage Lake.  Waiting for Month 10.  I have all the blocks finished on the Fat Quarter Shop Sew Sampler bonus blocks, the one where a recipe card came in each month's Sew Sampler box.  Just need to put that puppy together.   I started sewing a quilt from the Miss Rosie's Farmhouse Favorites book and, honest to Pete, I made so many mistakes cutting and sewing this last week that you'd a-thunk I was a newbie quilter.  All is well now and I'm looking forward to heading back to the Cottage today to sew some more on that.

Two weekends ago I had delivery and set-up of the HandiQuilter Simply Sixteen.  It doesn't take up a lot of space and I've been having fun playing with that using the ugliest fabric in the world found in my stash.  (rolls eyes)  I'm waiting for the rear handles and ruler base and then I'll be good to go.  No desire to be a blue ribbon quilter but just thought I could get some of these smaller quilts and charity quilts done myself.  The big or special quilts will still be sent out.

The weather has been so beautiful in my tiny town but we have a rain storm expected this afternoon.  I'm hoping the remaining pollen from the oak trees will be washed away.  I had the worst allergy attack and was really feeling puny for two weeks, but a visit to the doctor and four prescriptions later, I feel like a new person.  I have a box of anti-viral facemasks in both the house and Cottage for the next time things pollinate around here.  Heck, Penny was even sneezing but I seriously doubt she'll tolerate a facemask.  That would be a Kodak moment - if I would be able to post that picture.

I'll be on Instagram at "krz4kwlts."  Hope to see you there.  Happy April!

Sunday, February 05, 2017

Trying Real Hard ...

I'm trying real hard to get back in the swing of things!

I've been trying to catch up on some things that I fell behind on when I was feeling so puny. Today I am going to prep the next appliqued block for the Minick & Simpson BOM, Portage Lake.  I caught up on all the pieced blocks yesterday except for one block. I need to make four copies of the pattern for paper piecing and found my printer wasn't working.  It's new but may just be out of ink. I don't know.  Anyway, I'll get that copied this week and get it done.  I just love this quilt! (I forgot to take a picture with the lastest blocks.)


Today I am also going to finish catching up on the bonus blocks that the Fat Quarter Shop gave us in the Sew Sampler monthly mailings.  There are ten so far, and I'm working on the eighth one.  There are three sizes on the block card, and for some reason I made the wrong size yesterday.  I had more than enough fabric to make another block from that fat quarter, but really?  The wrong size? Sheesh ...


The part I hate most in the quilting process is actually cutting the quilt.  So I'm going to take a weekend and cut, cut, cut.  Queued on the cutting board is Raspberry Blue and Olio by Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie's fame, and Martin Place by Minick & Simpson.  Maybe a baby quilt or two.  That ought to keep me busy sewing for a while.

My biggest problem is the "squirrel" factor.  I don't need to explain that one because I'm sure everyone has experienced it from time to time.  I thought and thought about the next few projects yesterday and got real frustrated when I figured out I can't make everything.  So I decided to just focus on what I have already purchased fabric for and the others can wait.  I don't need to be making the same thing everyone else is doing right now.

Off to the Cottage.  The day is wasting away!