Spring’s First Slow Stitching Sunday

 

 

 

Yesterday was Worldwide Quilting Day and the first full day of spring … and a very productive day here at Chez Nana. 

 

I finally got around to organizing our coat closet and master bedroom closet.  This house doesn’t have enough closets (the only real downside to this house), so those two closets tend to get anything/everything that doesn’t have anywhere else to go.  I got rid of 3 trash bags full of stuff that hasn’t been used in years (the stuff will go to Goodwill … just loaded it all into trash bags for easy hauling).  It was such a good feeling!  I think I might have been motivated to tackle the basement (our other storage space), but I just didn’t have the energy … I’ve found that I still don’t have as much energy as I did pre-sinus infection.  And more importantly, I wanted to spend some time in my sewing room … it was Quilting Day, after all.   

 

I finished piecing (and restitching opened seams) on my Kiss quilt.  This is one big quilt (a generous king-sized bed quilt … it’ll be 96”x112”.  It was later in the day by the time I got it done, but thanks to Daylight Savings Time, I still had enough daylight to get a picture taken outside.  That flimsie about drove me bonkers, what with having to restitch all those opened seams … as you can see, there are a whole lot of seams along the outer edges … times that by all 4 sides of 42 blocks, and there was a whole lot of restitching going on.  Hopefully the handquilting will be a lot less troublesome.

 

By then, I was done with working with the Kiss quilt so I spent my evening working on the final full block of my Martha Washington’s Flower Garden. 

After I finish this block, I’ll start adding the connectors … and then the setting blocks – half blocks. 

This is my inspiration (source:  http://www.quiltindex.org) … I’m making a couple of changes – mine isn’t going to have a border, and my connector blocks will be red. 

 

 

Today, I hope to have an equally productive day.  I would like to get the Kiss quilt sandwiched and be able to get in a few quilting stitches.  This is the best part of quiltmaking for me … sitting in my recliner, listening to an audiobook, and stitching away.  Pure bliss.

 

I hope that whatever you have planned for today includes a little something that brings you joy ... have a great day!
Kathy

Spring Has Sprung

Or she will by 5:45 PM CDT.  And not a moment too soon.  And it looks like she’s bringing some nice weather, at least to our neck of the woods … weekend temperatures will be in the 60s. 

I’ve got 5 of the 7 rows of Kiss blocks sewn together.  I need to sew on the last two (they’re already sewn together, so I have just one seam left to stitch) … then I need to check all the outer edge seams to make sure that none of them have worked loose, followed by stay stitching along the outer edge so nothing will work loose while I’m quilting on it.  I’ve got the backing, washed and dried.  I’m just not sure when I’ll get to make my quilt sandwich as I’ll be at DD’s today and perhaps tomorrow … I’m watching the Ts while she attends a homeschooling convention in St. Louis.  I’m hoping to be able to share a picture of at least the top by the end of the weekend. 

DH and I spent yesterday morning doing some overdue shopping for some home improvements.  We’d been talking for some time now about upgrading a few things around the house, and we finally decided to take care of them.  I’ve got a couple more on my “to-do” list but am still searching for them. 

My half yard bundle from Fat Quarter Shop arrived yesterday … it’s like Christmas all over again when something quilty is delivered. 

I hope that whatever you have planned for today includes a little something that brings you joy ... have a great day!
Kathy

Wednesday Hodgepodge

1. Share a favorite song, book, or movie title containing the word green?
Green Eggs and Ham. I don’t know that it’s really a favorite, but it always makes me think of St. Patrick’s Day because when DD was in preschool, they added a little green food coloring to some scrambled eggs on St. Patrick’s Day.
 
 
2. Ralph Waldo Emerson is quoted as saying, 'Shallow men believe in luck. Strong men believe in cause and effect.' Would you agree? Are you a believer in luck?
No, I do not believe in luck. Luck is defined as:

1. the force that seems to operate for good or ill in a person's life, as in shaping circumstances, events, or opportunities;
2. good fortune; advantage or success, considered as the result of chance;
3. a combination of circumstances, events, etc., operating by chance to bring good or ill to a person.

As a Christian, I believe that God is in control, that what may seem like randomness or chance are all part of His plan.

 
3. Spring water, Hot Springs, handspring, spring fling, spring break, spring fever, offspring...which 'spring' word best applies to something in your day, week, or life right now?
Offspring … I got a phone call from DD Monday morning … they were going to take a day off and wanted to know if I wanted to go up and spend the day with her and the Ts. Well, duh! Of course, I did! Instead of spending time in the sewing room, I spent time with my favorite people.



4. What's something you do to make yourself look or feel more confident?
Hmmmm, that’s a tough one.  



5.  It's National Celery Month...are you a fan? If so, what's a snack or dish you enjoy that calls for celery?
I’m not much of a fan of celery alone … but I do enjoy it in recipes. For Thanksgiving, we always make Bread and Celery Stuffing.
 


6. What's one thing you wish you'd learned sooner?
That life is short and that every second counts … don’t spend today longing for/waiting for something in the future.


7. Would you like to own a second home? If so where would you want that home to be?
I don’t want the cost nor aggravation of a second home, but if we were to own a second home, of course I’d want it to be on the beach on Hilton Head Island. In reality, I’d be quite content with a single home … on the beach on HHI, of course.  But our grands are here in Illinois, so we are too.

 
8.  Insert your own random thought here.
I’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again … my husband is a keeper.  I was looking at fabric at Fat Quarter Shop, and he happened to look at what was on my laptop screen.  His comment: “if you want it, order it”.  He’s SUCH an enabler when it comes to my obsession addiction passion for quilting.  So guess what will be coming to Chez Nana soon? 
 
You can never have too many neutrals … as least not in my world.  ha!

I’m working on piecing my Kiss blocks … but alas, these blocks were constructed from strips sewn together and then subcut into the size needed to fit into the block … and now the seams along the outer edges are starting to work loose.  Some are already loose past the 1/4” seam allowance and others are dangerously close.  So I’m having to restitch those seams, which is no small task now that the blocks are sewn together.  I know it’ll be worth it when I’m done, but right now I’m pretty frustrated. 


I hope that whatever you have planned for today includes a little something that brings you joy ... have a great day!
Kathy

The Weekend Wrap-up–plus a little more

Actually, there’s not a lot of wrap up this weekend as we spent it at the aquatic center for the Heartland Area Championships (comparable to state championships, with qualifying swimmers from teams from southern Illinois and eastern Missouri competing).  Forgive this Nana for bragging, but I have to say that the Ts did very well … they dropped time on almost all (if not all) of their events, medaled on most (T#1 medaled on all his, finishing 3rd or higher; T#2 medaled on all but 1 and on that event, she finished .01 second away from medaling – that’s one hundredth of a second, y’all!; and T#3 did well and medaled on 1 event – not bad at all for a 7 y.o. in his second season of swim and his first Area appearance). 

Forgive the less-than-spectacular quality of the two smaller photos, as they were taken by my iPhone from clear across the pool.  That’s T#1 in the blue hoodie and T#2 receiving her medal, and in the group photo, that’s my little guy there in the center … the one in just his jammers, with the 1 medal. 

The swimmers get a much-deserved break for a couple of weeks … then summer warm-ups start on April 6 … Monday through Thursday nights in the pool again.  Those swimmers work hard, but it has paid off in medals. 



I can’t forget T#4 … she and I went for a walk outside between the afternoon and evening sessions yesterday.  I wanted to get a picture of the tree buds, and thankfully she was my backdrop.




T#3 got his quilt last night, but I didn’t get a photo.  He was excited … I can’t wait to see it on his bed. 



I *ought* to get caught up on some housecleaning today, but I’m really wanting to get back into the sewing room to get started on piecing together my Kiss blocks.  I ought to compromise, do some cleaning until noon and then sew.  But I’m not so sure that’s what I’ll do.    After a weekend away from my needle and thread, I am anxious to sew.


I hope that whatever you have planned for today includes a little something that brings you joy ... have a great day!
Kathy

It's Done, It's Done!

I tooK this photo as soon as I finished the binding (before tossing it into the washer and dryer). And look - a label! My first labelled quilt! I learned (the hard way) a lesson about adding a label ... I attached it to the corner as I sewed on the binding - so I'd have to only hand stitch down two of the four sides ... but I was able to get the label squared up as well as I'd like. I think next time I'll baste the label in place before I sew on the binding. 😉







I was able to get this photo taken after I washed and dried it ... I wasn't sure if there'd be enough daylight to get a decent shot, but thanks to Daylight Savings Time, there was. I'm not sure why it doesn't look square in this second photo ... it is (as you can see in the first photo) ... I blame the photographer. Ha!

I've taken the quilt with me to give to my favorite 7 y.o. (after today's sessions are over). I can't wait to see his face when I give it to him.

I'm linking up to Julie's Binding Blitz.

I hope that whatever you have planned for today includes a little something that brings you joy! Have a great day!

Kathy

Winter Reading Challenge–Finale

 

 

I didn’t get in at the beginning because back in November, December and January, I thought I didn’t have time to read … I mean, all my free time is spent quilting, dontchaknow.  But then I discovered audiobooks … and my life is changed, y’all!  I used to be an avid reader before I became an avid quilter … and now I can do both!

 

Since my last report here, I’ve read (ok, listened to) the following:

 

Top Secret Twenty One by Janet Evanovich

I’ve read all the Stephanie Plum stories … and while they are a little more explicit than I’d like, it’s always fun to see what troubles Stephanie gets into and how she manages to get out of them.  These books are what a former co-worker called “potato chips for the mind”. 

 

Sycamore Row by John Grisham

Ok, so I knew about 2/3 of the way through how it was all going to come together – in principle, but not in detail.  Even so, I enjoyed reading this … and of course, as I read (listened), I pictured Matthew McConaughey as Jake Brigance (even though I’m not a big fan of his these days). 

 

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

I’d heard so much about this book (between the recommendations and the local media coverage when the movie was being filmed in Cape Girardeau).  The one thing I hadn’t heard (but wished I had) was the language that was used – extensively (or so it seemed to me).  The saddest part of that was that it was so unnecessary.  The story line was so compelling and not. one. single. thing was added by the language.  But because of the language, I cannot recommend this book or give it even 1 thumbs up … which is a shame, because the story itself (sans the language) would have earned 5 thumbs up.

 

The Girl on the Train

This book is a thriller that is in a lot of ways very similar to Gone Girl … but thankfully there was no offensive language to deal with.  I had a hard time putting this book down … there were so many twists and turns … I certainly didn’t see it ending how it did.

 

 

 

I’m still trying to get through At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon, but I’ve been pushing it aside to read other books as I just couldn’t get into At Home in Mitford.  I need to get back to it and give it a real go.

 

I’m also reading Matilda by Roald Dahl … my oldest granddaughter loved it and insisted that I read it!    I am having a little trouble with it … #1 T#2 loaned me her book - a “real” book, and as you remember, I use my spare time to quilt, so it’s been hard to “find” the time to sit down and read it.  And #2 I’m put off by the way the parents treat Matilda.  But T#2 is anxious for me to read it and discuss it with her, so I’m plodding through.  Although I’m sorely tempted to get the audible version so I can actually get this read. 

 

And I’m reading (listening to) Gray Mountain by John Grisham.  Yep, I love John Grisham’s work … I’ve always enjoyed his books, and they’re perfect for “reading” while sewing. 

 

 

I managed to start the binding on T#3’s quilt.  I probably should have waited another day as it might have taken a little more effort than I had … wrestling that quilt (it’s 82”x103”) to get the binding sewn on was a lot more work than I remembered.  I can’t imagine trying to machine quilt anything even close to that big!  But I was able to take it easy the rest of the day, as I sat in my recliner hand stitching the binding to the back while watching my Cardinals and my Blues win.  I’ll be taking it easy today, too, as I finish up the binding and then get back to work on my hexies.  I’ll start the Kiss quilt on Monday.

 

 

I hope that whatever you have planned for today includes a little something that brings you joy ... have a great day!
Kathy

Home Sweet Home

 

There really IS no place like home, y’all!   

 

DD got back home late last night, so I was able to get back home.  It felt so good to crawl into our bed … so why couldn’t I fall asleep?  I could blame DH’s restlessness, but my mind was as restless as his body.  I got up, spent a couple of hours trying to get caught up on emails and blogs, and finally was able to fall asleep at 2:30 … and while I’m thankful I could sleep in, I don’t like this crawling out of bed at close to 8:00.  I’m hoping I’ll be able to get back into my routine tonight … but if I’m not, I’m sure I will be by Monday, as warm ups for the swim meet start at 6:30 both Saturday and Sunday … and we’re expecting twice as many spectators as there are seats for at the aquatic center, so we’re going to try to get there closer to 6:00 to stake out good seats.  And that’s going to mean some pretty early “get-ups” this weekend.  That ought to get me back into my normal morning routine.  And yes, I’ll be wearing my new T-shirt! 

 

I got to thinking about the quilt that’s next on my agenda, after I finish up T#3’s quilt.  I have all the blocks pieced … all I have to do is piece them together and then baste and quilt … except it just dawned on me this morning that I don’t have any backing fabric for that quilt!     Thankfully I used Kansas Troubles fabrics for that quilt, so I don’t have to worry about finding something to “go with”.  I just have to decide which of the 3 colors I want for the backing.  I pieced these last April, so here’s a reminder:

The colors didn’t photograph accurately – especially that blue!    If you’re familiar with KT fabrics, you’ll know that electric blue isn’t one of her colors!  ha!  This is a block I found on the McCall’s Quilting website, called Kiss.  Since this will be for our bed, I was hoping to find a block that would have a name with meaning for the two of us. 

 

But first I have to finish up T#3’s quilt … I need to cut strips for binding, sew them together and then sew them on to his quilt.  I’d like to get this done before the weekend so I can start on our quilt on Monday. 

 

I hope that whatever you have planned for today includes a little something that brings you joy ... have a great day!
Kathy