Lucy's All Better - June Goals

I wasn't sure where to take Lucy, so I googled to find a local Janome service provider, and came up with Triangle Sewing Centre.  It's just a few blocks from where I live, and just across the street from the local quilt shop.  WOW!  SO MUCH EYE CANDY!!!  

I dropped Lucy onto the serviceman's table, explained what she was doing.  He explained that there was a problem with a circuit board in the foot pedal itself, and I would need to replace the foot pedal, and he had a suitable replacement in stock!  Terrific!  

The shop is PACKED with so much to see - - the most batiks I'd ever seen, so many quilting books, threads, notions.  I'll have to go back someday soon to have a more thorough look.  I asked about local long arm quilters, and the ladies gave me a couple of business cards and brochures, and made some personal recommendations.  I also asked about a special notion that I had heard about, but couldn't think of the name, and one of the staff knew exactly what I was talking about.

Little Genie Magic Bobbin Washers - I've read some reviews about this product, and hope that I'll experience some improvement in my own FMQ.  

"These slick space age washers eliminate the backlash in the bobbin when changing directions at high speed. Backlash creates "birds nests"in free-motion quilting and embroidery. Just drop a LITTLE GENIE in the bobbin case, replace the bobbin and you're good to go!. Fits all domestic machines. Designed by author, teacher and award winning quilter Sharon Schamber. Package of 12. Tough and long-lasting."

I find that if my stitch speed is too slow, I don't get nicely rounded curves, but if my stitch speed is too fast, the bobbin thread drags on the back, and looks terrible.

I'm a little alarmed at the price.  I paid $13 (Canadian) for a package of 12 little plastic discs.  Seems sort of inflated - but if it works, I'll retract any complaint about price - they will be worth every penny.  I'll report back.

I took some time to give Lucy some TLC last night - a thorough wipe down, cleaned all the lint out of her, a drip of oil, and a needle change.  She's sweetly humming along, and I gave her a test drive:

I-13 Sweet Harmony

June Goals

1. Well, now that I've gotten Dear Jane back on my mind, and recognized that I have so very few blocks left to do, I will finish one block a week for the month of June.

2. Continue keeping up with Grandmother's Choice Block of the Week.  There's only 10 weeks left of blocks, but because there is 5 Saturdays in June - that means five blocks

3. Sampler Pillows - complete piecing, quilt, and finish.

4. Pick a quilt top - ANY quilt top and FINISH IT!  For months I've been saying I would be finishing "Heart of the Home" - but have yet to make any actual moves to do so.  Enough!  I'm not sure what's holding me back, so I'm committing to choose any of the MANY flimsies in the pile and make it into a real finished quilt.  If it happens to be "Heart of the Home"...well, all the better.

5. Pull out one of my "pre-cut" quilt kits, and start it as a Leader & Ender project.  I need to have something to slip under my needle while I'm piecing Dear Jane blocks.

April Goals - - waffling

I don't know what to choose for my April UFO goals.  I'll keep up with Dear Jane blocks and Grandmother's Choice blocks, but...

I'm on holidays this week!  This was a last minute decision - I have four weeks to use up before mid-August, and this week didn't look too messy, so I just booked it off.  Hubby is home today for Easter Monday, but I have the next four days to myself!  So here's what I'm thinking:

While I've got the extra time, I want to get over 'the hump' on a couple of bigger projects.  You know what I mean...the next step that seems too difficult or too fussy to take on - but once done, would open the door to a finish.  

• Heart of the Home - it's been on my Goals List for Feb & March, but incomplete.  It's the basting that I'm not into. 
• I have thought of an idea for the borders on Virginia Bound - but there is math involved.  If I can get past the measuring and calculating, it should take too long at all.
•  I need to cut some more hexies papers to do some more flowers for GFG, but that means changing the ink cartridge in the printer, trimming freezer paper to the correct size.

I'd also like to finish a couple of projects.  There's a couple of pillows that I'm anxious to make using these sampler pieces.

I also want to make a fabric basket to store my knee high nylons in.  The need for knee-highs is nearly over as the warmer season finally comes upon us, but I'd like to tidy up my drawers, and this would help. I have saved a couple of ideas for this on Pinterest, and I've got some girly fabric set aside in my stash that will work well for dainty storage.

February Goals in Review

I wasn't able to accomplish all of my goals for February due to my thumb injury - which is healing nicely, but still lacks some feeling, and dexterity.  It's hard to match raw edges with a raw thumb!

But I did finish the borders on Black & White.  It needs to go to the quilter.

I got the borders on this Log Cabin.  My goal was to finish this bad boy, but alas...

And I did finish my four Grandmother's Choice blocks!

I haven't gotten any solid plans for March yet.  I'll consider this today, and post tonight.  

Log Cabin Flimsy - done!

Yes, I'm quite pleased with the borders I added to this quilt.  It's now a perfect size for a double bed (I've photographed it on a Queen size) with plenty of drop and a generous pillow tuck.  I must remember that I want to bind it with a light neutral.  I do wish I had used some brighter scraps in the border - - I have pinks and yellows and turquoises in the centre - - but the borders are more subdued browns, reds, lilacs, and blues.  But it's all right - I like it.

The original inspiration for this quilt comes from the Spring 2010 issue of McCall's America Quilts Hometown Favorites

I started this quilt in June 2010

Carrie Nation

This week's Grandmother's Choice BOW is Carrie Nation.  And I understand that we are now halfway through this project - as this is block # 25.

And the pieced border units for the log cabin quilt are all ready to be added on.  I guess it's been a pretty good morning of sewing so far.

Happy Family Day Weekend!

While not a holiday in all Canadian provinces, I'm sure glad that I have a three day weekend!  

No big plans except getting the log cabin quilt I've been working away at completely pieced and sandwiched and ready to start quilting.  I've got the pieced border units 75% done.

Itty Bitty is coming home this weekend.  This is Reading Week for him  and he has a couple of assignments to do.  Maybe I'll help him!

Working on the next UFO

Inspired by the image above, which must have come from some old quilting magazine - - I'm C.A.S.E.ing (copying and stealing everything) the border! I had set aside enough fabric from the log cabin centres to do the binding, but I've changed my mind.  I'm going to use it for a narrow border, and then add a six inch pieced border all the way around, based on Bonnie Hunter's Scrappy Mountain Majesties.

I've sewn all the big HSTs, and started trimming them up into 1.5" strips.  I hope to have the pieces stitched together before the weekend, and get this baby sandwiched and start quilting over the long weekend.

I've decided I'm not going to quilt the Black & White quilt myself on my domestic machine.  It nearly broke my back to put those borders on.  It is HEAVY!

Thinking on my February Goals

January was a pretty good month!  But what will February's goals look like?

So I've sat down with pencil and paper to consider what's on the list, which seems like it might be a little ambitious, but I'm going to give it a shot!

1) 4 Grandmother's Choice BOW blocks
I've been able to keep up with this all of the month of January by making it my Saturday morning project.

2) 4 Dear Jane blocks

3) Finish adding borders to Black & White quilt top

4) Finish piecing Shirt Stripes top, piece the back together

5) Sandwich & pin baste Heart of the Home, machine quilt on domestic machine, and bind. I think I will take another look at this and possibly add a border.

What's Inspiring Me - on Wednesday!

I only got two GFG flowers done this week.  The truth is....(dum! dum! dum! dum!) I'm out of the plain green centre fabric.  I think this brings me up to 49 flowers in total.  I have some more hexi's prepped to be stitched into blossoms, but nooooo centres.  I stopped into Lens Mills on Monday, but they had NOTHING similar.  Met quilty friend Jacqui there, and she suggested Fabricland, but I have a sneaking suspicion I'm going to have to go up to The Marsh Store.

But this means I've been able to make quite a bit of headway on my Log Cabin blocks.  Three more logs on each block, and they are done!  Boy, did I ever use up a lot of scrap material!

The Simple Abundance Project continues.  I dropped off another bag of stuff from my kitchen at the thrift store this morning.  Also, I threw out all of the jams and pickles that I put up ...was it three years ago?...yesterday, which was garbage day. That opened up a shelf in the basement.  Hubby and Itty Bitty are getting in on the project too.  They contributed a bag of stuff from the man cave/music studio this morning, and last night, we dropped off an extra electronic Keyboard at a friend's house.  Feels good!

Bathroom Demo/Reno Hell 2010 continues.  Good thing I didn't hold my breath about Monday being completion day.  The only things left to do: install cove molding, install a light fixture, install mirror/medicine cabinet, some caulking, a little touch-up painting here and there.  It's all but done!  If I thought I could do the trim myself, I'd do it.  Maybe Itty Bitty and I are up to the challenge.  Feel like playing with some electricity today baby??? 

Incidently, the wall colour in the advertisement above --it's called "Rain Washed" is the colour of my bathroom paint.

The next thing I want to locate is one of these chrome rack sort of things that are shown in the two pictures below.  I don't know what to call them.  But at least I have photos, so I can walk into a place and say, "Hey, have you got anything like this?"

Next on my mind is painting our bedroom.  I've hated the wall colour since we moved in, in 2004.  It's a dull dark'ish' grey-blue.  Think storm clouds, cramps, and broken dreams.  It's THAT depressing.

It is a HUGE room - it was once 2 small bedrooms, but prior to our arrival, it was converted into one big bedroom with an enormous walk-in closet.  Our furniture is very dark wood. So I've been flipping through decorating magazines, trying to decide on some colours that are a little more uplifting, while still restful.  Here's a couple of ads - -

What colour is your bedroom?  What is your best advice on bedroom wall colour?

Tuesday - ugh...I hate titles!

Here's what I'm reading now.  I've read Wally Lamb before - and enjoyed "She's Come Undone", but I'm not getting into this one.  I'll give it one more day, and if I can't settle into it, out it goes.

I've GOT to get a paper written today.  It's due tomorrow.  Ugh... what was I thinking ... summer school? Geezzzzzzzzzzz...

I've decided to call 'my plan' to strip my world of superfluous stuff the "Simple Abundance Project".  Today, I have a bag of books that is going to a friend who enjoys quirky reads.  Last night, I filled two big bags with personal care products and took them over to the local women's shelter.

I spent some time sewing my Log Cabin blocks last night.  I'm on the final round of logs, on 80 blocks.  These could be done soon!

And before I went to sleep last night, I played around with graph paper and pencil crayons, trying to draft out a design to make a quilt out of 15 FQs to donate to Itty Bitty's school as a fundraiser for a band trip to Florida next year. 

How's Your Weekend Going?

 BIG NEWS!!!  Are you sitting down?  I ... had ... a ... shower !!!!!  For the first time in 4 1/2 weeks!!!!  EEEK!!!  Yes, I have a shower again!  The Bathroom Demo/Reno From Hell 2010 continues to inch along...not much left.  Rumour has it, that it will be complete by Monday night.  I won't hold my breath, but it's nice to dream about.

I went yard sale-ing this morning.  I'm still being very good.  I only bought one shirt to deconstruct, and that's because it was brand new from Gap (I really appreciate the body of this fabric) for 50 cents. What else did I get?  Hmmmm...oh, I bought a hammer and a electric detail sander (which I have already used!) for $5 and a cute mug that says "Real Men Love Cats" on it for a quarter.  No books, no fabric, no sewing stuff.  I was a good girl. I'm sticking to this Fabric Diet.

In keeping with the Fabric Diet, I continue to trim away at the stash, cutting another kit out, and slicing the leftovers into 1.5" strips for the Log Cabin blocks I've been working on this week.

This afternoon, I took my lawnchair out onto the back lawn under a tree, and read.  This is the crap I'm reading now:

I was a HUGE Amanda Quick fan in the early 90's, but then I had to take a serious break from her.  Every book seemed to be the exact same story, and even this one seems oddly familiar (although it takes place in late Victorian England, as a change from Regency England), but it's like a box of fudge.  You can't help but to keep nibbling at it, until it makes you sick! 

I'm on the look out for "Nomad" though - - I recently heard an interview on CBC radio with Ayaan Hirsi Ali who was recently in Toronto (here's an article) promoting her new book.  I read "Infidel" last year, and it was so damn good.  It was a fascinating interview, because the interviewer Jian Gomeshi is Muslim (though not African, and definitely not a fundamentalist -- he describes himself as Persian), and it got a little uncomfortable - - though nothing like the interview he did with Billy Bob Thornton.  If you haven't read Infidel, you should go check it out of the library now.  (Nothing like a biography full of violence, politics, religion, feminism, and extremism to help you relax!)

Back to sewing for a sec...have I mentioned how much I am enjoying sewing on my Featherweight?  I love the sound she makes. 

It's Friday Night....I'm In...I'm Sewing.....

Friday Night Sew-in

I'm working away at a little mindless sewing - - the same Log Cabin blocks from last night....playing Scrabble on FaceBook with Hubby...listening to The World in Words podcasts.  I'm a multi-tasker.

You always think of the perfect thing to say....

I giggle myself stupid last night thinking of the perfect Parthian shot to deliver to my unwilling hosts the other night....."Call me!  I'll bring hummus!"

It's going to be harder to get across the street to visit my Hearty Partiers though. I'll have to wear rubber boots instead of my slippers. Here's a few scenes from my front porch:

This has been going on for a couple of weeks, and the will continue on for a few months - - I had an young Asian boy knocking at my door a couple of times yesterday with a bottle of dye: "Pour a capful of this down your toilet and flush twice", while groups of men with orange safety vests stood around a deep hole at the end of my sidewalk. 

To say I was getting a little grumpy about the noise, dirt, constant interruptions, etc, would be an understatement.  So Hubby took me for a ride down to Port Stanley to have lunch at Mackies on the beach.

Then we stopped at this shoestore that's down there which generally carries a very large selection of Crocs. Yes, I'll declare it loud and proud, I'm a crocophile, as is Hubby!  It was easy to get him a new pair of "Beach" style in a manly navy blue, but apparently they are no longer making my favourite Athens!  I had to settle for Cleo.  Which is okay...cuz they are brown and PINK! and don't make the "flip-flop" noise when I walk.

Then I was invited to the home of quilty friend Jacqui for QNIC (Quilting Night in Canada).  I grabbed up my Featherweight (which still hasn't been christened...how odd!) and a shoebox full of 1.5" strips and worked on some log cabin blocks inspired by a photo in the Spring 2010 issue of McCall's America Quilts Hometown Favorites.

When I got home around 10ish, there was a program on Treasure HD called "Artland" which featured a visit to the International Quilt Study Center in Lincoln, Nebraska, and a visit with quilter Diane Thomas.  I searched online for Diane, because I would have liked to get another look at her quilts, but no such luck.  I believe she belongs to the Omaha Quilter's Guild, so I checked that website, also with no luck.  Maybe someone reading this knows her work?   The Omaha Quilter's Guild is having their 2010 quilt show this weekend (starts today!)...uh...something tells me that I'm not going to make it to Nebraska.  Anyway, it was an interesting program, and I'm glad I caught it.