What's on my Design Wall 4 Oct 2010 and etc

I decided to finish a UFO.  I started this, I think, last year.  I had three blocks to make and then put it together.  I will make the back, get it quilted and bound and then it will it will be back here again, hopefully then I can hang it. 

It is absolutely beautiful in the south, the deep south, south west Louisiana.  It is 71 degrees, the sky is a beautiful blue, there is a wonderful breeze and fall is here.  I could not be happier.  Goodbye summer.........

Victor was here this past weekend and cleaned out part of the garage.  I can park in it.  Anybody who knew Jimmy Dear knows he had many duplicates, triplicates and so on, all filling up the garage.  He loved to shop probably as much as I love to buy fabric.  I was looking at the garage and thinking what a lovely sewing room it would make.  It would be perfect for a long arm. 

Hope all is well........

What's on my Design Wall 27 Sept 2010 and etc...............

I worked on the Bali Wedding Star yesterday.  I put a block together to see how it would look.  I am hoping the next block will be better.  I have not trimmed this up so hopefully it will come out to the correct size.  I blocked it yesterday and may do it over today.  I woke up this morning with a new idea.  I also made some of the "footballs."   I am not sure how big I am going to make this quilt.  I have ideas and if they materialize I will not need so many rings.  My plan is to make a few blocks at a time and then when I think I have enough, stop.  Then the border, I think I am going to use the arc's that I made backwards (former posting).  This is going to be a loooong project. 

The blocks at the top - this is a batik project (another one).  You can't see much here but the colors are pretty.  Next week I will show more.

Look at this beauty. It is a 1951 "301."  I bought it from a friend.  My featherweight has a broken thread in the bobbin area and it is jammed.  So this came up at the right time.  I needed something to take to retreat (the 8th) and something fairly light to take with me when I sew elsewhere.  Besides, what is one more sewing machine.  I have them all designated for something, so none will sit and go to waste.  I have a friend that just bought a "401."  I am going over to see it.  I just love these old machines. 

It is 9:50 a.m. and it is 67 degrees.  Isn't that wonderful.  Fall is in the air.  I am hoping the 90 degree weather is gone. The ten day forcast is 80 degree weather for highs and 50's and 60's for lows.  It won't be long until those highs will be 70's and I can't wait.  I am so tired of hot weather. 

Hope all is well on your end.

What's on my Design Wall 20 Sept 2010

I designed a quilt in EQ7 and just had to see how it would look.  I also wanted to make an easy and faster quilt.  I have a lot of fabric sitting around and I also have a lot of irons in the fire, so thought I would make this and get rid of some fabric.  I posted it in my stash report (also have a picture of it) yesterday. 

As those who follow my blog know, I love English Paper Piecing.  I have a new project (I am getting ready to teach).  I am trying to get some samples made.  All the samples will be eventially finished into quilts.  Making hexies are fun no matter the size and it is interesting to add other shapes to them.  Check out the front and the back of "Delilah" in the right column under Sharies Trunk Show of Quilts.  In earlier posts I have another hexie and diamond project.  I have another coming up with hexies making tumbling blocks.  It is going to be a neat quilt. 

I am still waiting for cooler weather.  I just know it is coming, I hope sooner then later.

Stash Report 19 Sept 2010.........etc

I have not done a stash report since 22 August but I have been taking notes.  I have made borders and pulled fabric for three quilts (no borders or backs).  I am going to make a back (pieced) this week so will pull fabric for that.  I have oodles to do, am going to sew this afternoon.  I am trying to finish up some quilts, but cannot stand not to start new ones (EQ7 is to blame).  Isn't this fabric gorgeous.  It was in my stash.  I created a pattern for it and hopefully I will show it tomorrow on "What's on my Design Wall."  I best go make some blocks.

I just let my dog out into the back yard.  A lizard fell on my head.  He jumped onto the floor, they move very fast.  He ran under an empty box (thankfully I saw him).  I lifted the box he ran for the door, before the cat got him, I opened the door and out ran the lizard.  I love the lizards, they are amazing.  I love them outside, not in my house.  It is so fun to watch them do pushups.  They will sit and look at you and bounce around if you talk to them.  I think they actually like people. 

I signed up for the bus trip to the Houston International show.  The shop (from the Shop Hop - see earlier postings) in Lafayette is furnishing a bus (of course we pay). It will stop in Lake Charles to pick us up on its way to Houston.  It is an over-nighter.  We leave on Friday and return on Saturday.  It should be great fun.

Stash Report
In  1 1/2 yards
Out  29 1/2 yards

Year to Date
In  127 yards
Out  -97 3/4 yards
Net 29 1/4 yards

I might break even by the end of the year that is if I practice self control at Houston.   I think I will look for things that I might like to have (a new mat) rather than fabric.  Fabric I don't need................

What's on my Design Wall 5 Sept 2010...............and etc.

There is a group (8) of us making the Judy Neimeyer Bali Star Wedding Quilt.  Each of us are making our own quilt and some are making more than one.  I am much behind and am trying to play catch-up.  Most of this week I have worked on that quilt.  I don't have much to show for it though.  There is 24 pages of directions.  I have read and reread and reread.  I found it was easier to make a copy of the foundation pieces (I put them on one page) and then wrote notes on that.  There is a lot of cutting.  I had finished the arcs awhile back.  Yesterday, I discovered that I made one of the groups backwards so will have to remake 16 more of them.  The backwards arcs will go on the back of the quilt although, I am dreaming up a border and maybe I will put them in the border.  This is the pattern and this is the first block (it is not sewed together). 

Also on my design wall is a couple of houses and a set of trees. 

On the home front...............My daughter and her cat are on their way to Spokane tomorrow.  She was unable to find a job here and is hoping that she will find one there.  A high school friend is living there and has invited her to stay while she looks.  She had been hoping to leave the winters of Wisconsin behind her.  Spokane has a lot of winter.  My kitty cats are going to miss Chester. 

Hope all is well on your end.......................

What's on my Design Wall...............and Ellen's Pictures

Nothing really exciting on my design wall, but I hope it will turn into something exciting.  I have always wanted to make a "house" quilt.  I have lots of pieces mostly small left over from "A Bow Tie Affair."  I had originally bought a bundle of Portobello Market fabric.  I had not used two of the colorways in the ABTA quilt and also had all of these little pieces left over.  With some additions from my stash I could use up this fabric and hopefully have a nice "house" quilt.  This is the second story of the house.  Later today, hopefully, I will have the rest of the house finished.  The other squares that you see in the background are another quilt.  I am also going to work on that today. 

I want to show you the "skinny wall" in my sewing room.  These pictures were painted by my daughter.  If you are interested she has an etsy shop.  I hope to add some of her pictures to the right column of this blog.  First she has to figure out how to get them to me.  For some reason the email isn't coming through.  I haven't looked at it as yet, but will.

We have a dreary day in south west Louisiana.  It is not raining but looks like it will.  It is 77 degrees.  Wish it would stay at that all day.  I am a bit tired of summer and am greatly looking forward to winter. 

Hope all is well on your end..........

What's on my Design Board and the Beaumont Guild Meeting

I have finished a quilt front.  I should hear drums rolling.  And now the back.  I piece my backs as most everyone knows.  I started out with the idea that I would make a bow tie on the back (the quilts name is a bow tie affair).  EQ7 (my best buddy) and I made a drawing something to resemble a bow tie.  So thus I am putting this together without knowing exactly how much fabric I have.  I use the left over pieces so sometimes they just are not large enough.  Sometimes I can work with that as I am doing here.  It helps if you have enough fabric of the right color, of which I quickly discovered that I do not have.  So back to the drawing board and I may have to hit the "stash" too and no more bow tie. 

Last Thursday was guild at Beaumont, TX.  I am a member.  It is a really nice guild with a great membership.  Their guest speaker was Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville.com.  She is a scrappy quilter and uses many, many little pieces.   She and I have dropped from the same apple tree.  She has a quilt with over 10,000 pieces in it.  I have one somewhere around 5000 pieces.  Her pieces were smaller.  I loved her line - if the fabric is still ugly, you have not cut it small enough yet.  She also is a English Paper Piecer - hexagons - now you all know how I love hexagons and English Paper Piecing.   She should live closer, I know we could convert some of you to little pieces and hexagons.

Stash Report 22 Aug 2010 and etc....................

I have retrieved my other bag of fabric from shop hop.  In the last Stash Report I mentioned that there was another bag mixed in with another shoppers bags.  This fabric is super, with a couple more solids added to it, it will make a terrific quilt.

While living in California, I went into this wee little shop and found the most beautiful fabrics, fabrics that were WOW fabrics.  Naturally I bought  three of them.  Then they sat, not wanting to cut into them.  One day the light bulb went off and thus this quilt.  The picture really doesn't do justice to the colors of the quilt, but you get the idea. 

For those of you who know, I have funky chickens in my kitchen.  My kitchen table set (chairs) I bought in 1978.  Fabric just will not last forever and my chairs were in need of being redone.  I wanted something that would go with the chickens (check out the valances) and with anything else that I might change to.  The upholstery people did a fantastic job.

STASH REPORT.................
fabric from the shop hop (mentioned above)
7 yards in
-6 yards out
Year to date:
In  125 1/8 yards
Out  -68 1/4 yards
Net 56 7/8 yards

I pulled fabric for a pieced back. 
Thankfully, I don't think there are any more shop hops this year.  The Houston Show is coming up Nov 4th (I believe) and I understand that there is a bus going and staying over night.  Same people (plus) from the shop hop.  It will require self control and then some. 


Click on the pictures for a better view..........
Hope all is well on your end.............

What's on my Design Wall.............and etc..............

Actually at some point in the last few months you have seen both of these quilts.  More then showing off my quilts, I am going to show off more of my new sewing room and the shop hop "stuff" (see yesterday's post). 
The quilt laying on the table - I am putting the borders on it.  I have 2 sides to go.  The quilt on the design wall (isn't that a nice wall) has been needing attention, and it is coming up soon.  My son put up the design wall.  I am going to put up a bulletin board, made from the same material, then all the "junk" on the wall should go away.  The table (with quilt) is actually my ironing surface (that has changed from original table posted a few days ago - I made it larger).  It is (2) 23 x 48 tables and 2 big boards.  I added batting to both and covered them with muslin so that it looks like one piece. 

Now, I must show you what I bought on my shop hop...........

The sewing machine on the left - Pfaff 2170.  The other machine on the right is a Pfaff 2144 upgraded to a 2170.  Why would I buy another machine practically exactly like the one I already have???????????WELL.........I do some embroidery and I embroidery all of my labels.  I hated to change my machine from sewing to embroidery and back again.  I bought this machine because I know how to run it, all of the things that I have bought for the 2144 will work on the 2170.  So, I am a happy camper. 

I wanted to show you my work area.  Across from this is my cutting board (see previous posts).  The room is coming together.  I still have things to do, but they are on hold.  My son is off to the great northwest and he is my "put it together" person. 

More shop hop "stuff" in the next post.
Click on pictures for a better view...........
Hope all is well on your end..............

SHARIE'S STASH.............. and SHOP HOPPIN'

Shop Hop was Friday and Saturday.  We picked up a bus in Lafayette at The Borne Quilter.  We stopped at two quilt stores in Baton Rouge continued on to Independance.  I must say that we had the best bus driver in the world.  If anyone has been to Mama's Quilt Shop in anything bigger than a Volkswagon knows the road and then the drive to the shop is quite narrow (besides the ditches on each side of the drive).   We took a bus the size of a greyhound up that drive and then he backed up out of that drive.  He got a big round of applause when we were back out onto the road.  Then it was time to eat in Hammond, LA and then call it a day staying overnight in Covington. 

Saturday - another day of chasing fabric and etc.  On we went after breakfast to Mandeville and then to Houma and back to Lafayette.  Great fun was had by all.

I only have a few pictures, my camera died - dead battery. 

STASH REPORT............

You cannot go on a shop hop and not buy fabric or at least I can't.  No control at all.  I bought more and spent more than what should be allowed, but oh so fun.  The "I Love Quilting" sign is for my sewing room.  I could not resist. 

I have several more pictures to post but will post them in a separate posting.  Come take a look...................I actually bought 37 1/8 yards (many batiks).  I also have another sack of fabric that got mixed into someone's bags so that is not counted.
THIS WEEK:
In  38 1/8 yards
Out  -2 7/8 yards
YEAR TO DATE:
118 1/8 yards
Out  -62 1/4 yards
Net:  55 7/8 yards

It looks like I need to do some serious quilting................
Click on the pictures, you have a much better view.  Hope all is well on your end................

CONGRATULATIONS...........................

Our own (Lake Charles, LA) Judy Beskow has won first place in the Applique Division of the Hoffman Challenge of 2010.  It was such a joy to watch her put this quilt together.  Judy is a fantastic quilter and has a terrific imagination.  It will be at the Colorado show in Loveland on the 20th and then will travel during the year.  CONGRATULATIONS OVER AND OVER AGAIN, JUDY.....................

Sharie's News..........

We have been busy around here so I should have lots of news. 

I have moved into my sewing room.  It is not totally finished but should be in a few days.  I wish to hang a quilt and have just received new blinds (UPS) that need to go up and a bulletin board that needs to be shortened and hung.  I can sew in there and that is most important.  The room has a new ceramic tiled floor. Also, a new paint job thanks to my daughter, Ellen.  I am in heaven.............I have a picture or two to post.  I would like to add more but the lighting is very bad at the moment.   Come back and check out the rest of the room as I get pictures to post.

The sunporch looks very different (where I sewed before).  I still store a lot of my quilting things out there but it looks so much larger with all the tables and storage carts gone.

I am off to a Shop Hop this weekend.  We pickup a bus in Lafayette (at a quilt shop).  It will be nice since we don't have to drive.  There is about 32 women going on the bus.  We go as far as Baton Rouge, stay overnight in Covington, hit a few shops on Saturday and then home.  Should be great fun.  If I remember my camera, I will post pictures when I get back.

This is Chester.  He thought he was being helpful.  He decided to go higher.  Ellen was painting the room.  It was a peachy pink, now, a gray blue.  It goes beautifully with the tile. 

To the left is my design board and my featherweight sewing machine
and then my cutting table.  Under it is lots of project boxes.  On the lower left is a cube (holds boxes, they pull out).  I have two more cubes that need to be put together.  Organization.....  The cubes are nice since the boxes pull out.  Without a doubt, if I wanted one of the projects it would be on the bottom and I would have to move everything on the top. 

Above is my ironing surface (this is one of those things that you cannot fix with this word processor) :-(    It is a 24 x 48 table with a big board on top.  It is perfect not only for ironing but for putting long things together as I am doing there (making borders).  In the background (it is going bye bye) my old design boards.  I have to either move the blocks or sew the blocks together.  Next project after the project on the ironing board. 

The picture was done by my daughter.  She is an artist.  It is on canvas.  In the next few days I am going to post some of her art (for sale) on the right column of my blog.  Sorry, you quilters, this one is mine. 

Look at this tree.  It is changing colors and it is the 10 August and it is still in the 90's (every day).  I don't understand why it is changing colors.  Of course I don't know what kind of tree it is.  I don't recall it changing colors before this early in the year.  Sure is pretty. 



Click on pictures for a better view.

Sorry the format is not better.  This program is a long way from having a decent word processor.  It is very difficult trying to edit anything.  It is enough to pull your hair out. 

Hope all is well on your end..................

Sharie's News.......................

There is not a lot going on here.........................or is there.


My daughter moved from Wisconsin.  She is staying with me for awhile.  She is looking at going to school and finding a job.  We have been checking out the town, restaurants and the shops.


It is hot.  Typical south.  We do have a breeze this morning which helps a lot.  It looks like it is getting cloudy so maybe there will be a storm this afternoon. 


Victor was here this weekend working on the yard.  He does a great job.  We have lots of trimming and lots of mowing.  Ellen and I were helping out picking up, trimming trees and bushes.  I was busy killing fire ants.  Those things are horrible.  They will eat you alive. Fire is the right name.


I am quilting but don't really have anything new to show, maybe next week.  I should be finishing up a couple of quilts.

I had a new fence put in.  It covers part of the back yard.  It is for my dog.  It is a 5 foot vinyl chain link fence.  It really looks super, notice the pictures.  Click on the pictures for a better view.


Hope all is well on your end.................

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA

Happy 4th of July.......................