Sunday, September 4, 2011

Sorry so long

Life has kinda hit me for one we had to get the house required.  Yep one of those things, just didn't know that the house didn't have a ground wire anywhere, I am so lucky nothing caught on fire.

As far as quilting I have been very busy for one I finished my mom's quilt, I tried another more complicated quilt and finished that one and then trainwrecked another one which will be cut up to make pillows out of now.  I decided that since I am a beginner quilter I would sign up for another class and hopefully my skills will improve.  In the meanwhile I will work on a few UFO's and finish some beginner quilts.  Someday I won't ruin some.  Due to having to redo some quilts my stash is growing.  UGH!!

So here are some pics for your enjoyment.

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Moms quilt and a learning process

Well I finally finished my moms quilt and it is ready to be sent to the long arm quilted. I got a lot of compliments regarding the use of greens in the quilt, everyone oohed and Ahhed over it. So I thought I could do the same monochromatic theme with a different pattern, so I set off to use a peach tone for the new pattern. Well that was a complete craft fail because the entire block wound up looking like one giant blob on peach and didn't even look anything as nice as my moms quilt. So back to the drawing board with that idea. Maybe I should try pinbasting my brother Dennis's quilt and finish that one off instead for A while. That ought to help bring my self esteem up a bit.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

New machine

That's right folks I traded up the Emerald Viking that was worthless for a Viking Sapphire 875 quilt.  I am loving this machine, it does everything I wanted a machine to do.  I am glad I did it.  Even though I am going to have to make payments on the thing for a year, but the payments are doeable.

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Sorry

Haven't posted and there is a reason why.  Some of my family came out over the Memorial Day Weekend.  Spent lots of time with my brother and his two kids.  Saw Pirates of the Caribean in 3D, it wasn't as good as the original movie but okay I guess.  Then the next day off to Claim Jumper for lunch and then 3 games of bowling.  Needless to say I was very tired. 

I did give my brother the quilt for his daughter Kearra.  And I found out today that she loves the quilt.  Which is a good thing and one the reasons why I love quilting.  Got a block done for the Quilting NewBee's group, and I did something wrong and it wound up wonky (not done on purpose) but the queen bee for this month said it was fine although I do plan on doing another one and have it better than this one...



then I got a mug rug completed for the Mug Rug Adventure swap that I am involved in, here is a sample of it since I cannot show the entire thing until my partner gets it.



  So I guess I am busy.  I hope to get my brother and his wife's quilt pin basted so that I can start on the quilting.

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Most of neices quilt done and list of favorite things

So I realize that I am a newbie quilter and am just learning but loving every minute of it.  I am in the home stretch so to speak regarding my neices quilt.  Here is just a short example of what I have done with it from the backside only because I am doing previews of the process for my sister-in-law and don't want to spoil the surprise until it is totally finished.  So sorry that you only get the back view.



Also on the favorite things list.  Don't know if my mug rug secret partner reads this but I figure I would drop some hints.  I picked up a Debbie Macomber book today and I love this author she writes so well it is unbelieveable draws you right into the story right from the first few pages and keeps you wanting to read more.  Highly recommended.  Other than my love for sushi, I picked up to teas that were on sale and my favorite such as English Breakfast Tea and Earl Grey.  Also couldn't resist a Starbucks gift card as well as a quilting magazine.  Am I addicted or what. 

Went today to my favorite quilt store and of course some bolts jumped into my arms (hey it can happen) so I got more fabric, then off to my other quilt store around the corner (yes competition) and got more quilt related stuff.  (I really need to stop but I am loving it too much)

Well I do need to get back to the quilt, I am hoping to finish it by this weekend.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Fabric rant

Why is it that when you find a fabric that you absolutely love and realize that you are short of enough in order to finish a project that you find out that the design has been discontinued.  I was making binding for my neices quilt in order to finish it was looking fantastic too and then realized that I was short on it.  Grr!  So off to the fabric store only to find out that it has been discontinued and if I really wanted it the material would have to be special ordered and would be double the price.  Like WHAT!!  Now I have to refigure the binding issue and make it look like it belongs to the quilt.  I am so irritated it isn't even funny, I was near the end of the project too. 

Monday, May 23, 2011

Neices quilt is almost complete

Doesn't look bad for a beginner quilter either.  I have a few pics of the work in progress but it really doesn't do it justice yet.  But here are a few pics for you to look at.



And this quilt was put together using a Brother PQ1500S.  I very large straight stitch machine with a knee lift.  Don't know what I ever did without a knee lift before and will never quilt again without one.  I am learning as I go and if you see what I have done with the quilt so far you can tell I am a beginner quilter.  Trust me it shows.  Well onward to completing the quilt

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Sewing machine issues

I am now using my straight stitch machine because my Viking decided to have bobbin tension issues.  I have tried everything to fix the issues and to no avail.  So tomorrow it is going to where I purchased the machine so that I can get it fixed.  Skipping stitches and looping was driving me nuts.  So I am done as far as that is concerned.  So my Brother straight stitch is doing all of my projects.  No fancy stitches here.  And found out that the mug rug that I made would not have worked for my partner.  So I am back to the drawing board with that one.  I am going to add some lace to hers and hope that she likes it.  I am such a horrible beginner sewer it isn't even funny.  Hopefully I will improve.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Flicker and quilting

In case you are wondering I am involved in several swaps in flicker and have been busily working on completeing blocks and mug rugs.  I am happy to say I am close to being finished with all of my swap projects and am about to finish my neices quilt Lord willing.  Then onward to a co-worker's quilt that I have been promising her forever. 
She has been complaining that I have been doing other projects and not working on her quilt.  Well the reason is that I don't have the thread to complete it (it is on order should get that later this week) and the machine that I was using broke midway through the project so I have to use my bigger straight stitch machine to finish it.  Patience is not one of her virtues.  So she pitches this fit stating to me that she knows I will never complete this project and everytime that I see her she complains that she doesn't have the promised quilt.  She actually thinks that quilting only takes a few hours (I wish).  But I am taking it with a grain of salt.  I think now I somewhat understand what my mom went through when sewing garments for people who eventually became very demanding yet she kept her cool.  I guess people just don't understand the process.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Beginning Post

I am very new to quilting and have been busy making blocks for swaps on flicker and loving it.  What got me into flicker was Leah Day and I learned about her blog from trying to figure out how to free motion quilt.  I think I got it well hopefully.  Anyway, I had a small sewing machine crisis with a Brother sewing machine that was advertised for quilting.  Did a good job of it until the needle went through the bobbin case and split it then the days of that machine were over (sigh).  Oh well ... then came the horror of trying to find another machine.  So I tried ebay which was a big mistake, I was trying to get a Viking machine because I have heard so many good things about their machines.  So I overbid on an older Viking that did quilting and embroidery.  I had dreams of making these heirloom qualty quilts that everyone would love and for once I wouldn't get laughed at because what I made was so horrible.  (did I say I am still learning)  Well...we took it into a Viking shop to see if the thing was worth keeping only to find out that the motor was going out on the machine and it would take more than I paid for the machine on ebay to repair it.  Luckily the seller had a 30 day money back guarantee on the machine.  So...I mailed the sucker back with tracking and insurance as well as requiring the seller to sign for it.  After I know that it has been delivered another email will go out to the seller for my money back. 

Meanwhile through all of this drama, I decided to buy a low end Janome.  Now no offense to Janome owners but my experience with this machine is that Janome sucks!!  The machine kept jamming on me only after a few stitches of just piecing I would have to fight to remove the material out from under the foot and unjamn the thing.  So that experience alone has turned me off to Janome machines.  Anyway, me and dear hubby went to Jo Ann Crafts and was planning on buying a Singer Confidence Quilting machine, but the lady at the sewing machine area showed me a Viking Emerald 118 machine.  Very basic but was in our budget, so needless to say I now own a Viking machine what I wanted in the first place just doesn't do embroidery like I wanted but the sales lady stated that I can trade the machine up within a year.  DH says we will do that at Christmastime and that will be my Christmas gift.  So yippeee!!! I hope to get a machine that also embroiders as well as quilting.  Hopefully my dreams of heirloom quality quilts are not out the door afterall.  That is a good thing afterall.

So today I finished a block and finished my requirement for one of the flicker groups that I am in and need to get the thing off to the mail soon.  Then work on completing three more blocks for another group which hopefully I will get done this weekend and then will only have one more small project to do.  Then I will get back to my neices quilt and also work on a quilt that I have been promising another girl at work for over a year. 

Hopefully you will join me on my journey into the wonderful world of quilting.

Now where is that thread...