Archive for November, 2008

All ready to quilt last night….

Finished this morning…. top #7 of 10 for November is done.

So my *done* list now looks like this:

Log Cabin quilted and trimmed
5 of 8 postcards for our December Exchange done
2nd load of laundry done
Loaded and started quilting the Log Cabin top
Finished 1st load of laundry
Hand stitched the binding on the Green HS quilt
Started my December postcards
Pieced backing for the Log Cabin top
Made binding and machine stitched it on the Green HS
Finished November’s postcard

It’s 5:30AM and the easy part is done, now I just have to stay awake most of today. I think I’ll go downtown for breakfast around 9AM – it’s in the mid 20′s out there so a brisk walk in the cold should help.

Email me

I’ve got 5 of the 8 postcards I need for the December exchange completely finished now. The photo doesn’t do these first ones justice – they’re very cute. The fabric has red and green tinsel like threads running through it, the trees are green wool held in place by red beads.

I backed and finished the edges on the 3 snowmen postcards too. The first one I just did my usual zigzag edge but on the other two….
I stitched a straight line and then used a deckle blade to trim the edges. I like this edge best.
I have an idea for the remaining 3 cards but I need to refer to a one of my postcard books first. Back to quilting for a little while and then it will be time for another break.

Email me

Linda commented and asked why I push myself….well there’s a couple reasons.

First, I need to get back on a regular sleep schedule because I have an upcoming trip to GA to visit my sons so this involves staying up tomorrow morning – the night part is easy – I’ve been up all night for the last week or two but have been sleeping during the day.

Second, tired and non-productive turns into the blues for me so basically, I’m playing a game with myself – to see how much I can get done while I’m meeting my first goal of getting back on *days*.

So here’s the done list so far:
Started 2nd load of laundry
Loaded and started quilting the Log Cabin top
Finished 1st load of laundry
Hand stitched the binding on the Green HS quilt
Started my December postcards
Pieced backing for the Log Cabin top
Made binding and machine stitched it on the Green HS
Finished November’s postcard

Here’s a photo of the quilting on the Log Cabin – simple freehand leaves and curls. Now to work on the postcards for a while.

Email me

The binding is done – I’ll wait until morning to take a photo on the porch. Not much progress on the laundry but one load is done which is better than nothing.

Keith got home from his dinner so I took a little break to chat with him and now that he’s gone to bed it will be back to work after I finish checking email and a few blogs….yes, there are breaks built in to this quiltathon!

Email me

Getting ready to break for dinner so I thought I’d share my progress.

Decided I might as well get caught up on the laundry while I’m in productive mode so load # 1 is in the wash.

The binding is made and machine stitched on – I’ll work on this a couple hours next while I watch some TV.
I pieced a backing for this log cabin quilt – I just realized that I need this quilt done in the next 2-3 weeks and with my Thanksgiving week plans I need to move it up the list. It will get loaded tonight after my couple hours of TV.

I started my Christmas Postcards. We usually just exchange one card each month but for December we have an option of sending one to everyone participating. I’m not doing anything elaborate but will make 2-3 different ones to send out. There are 9 of us that participate so I need to make 8 of them. The cute snowman print just has some snowflake brads attached – cute and quick. The other two are waiting for trees and I’m still debating what to do for the remaining ones.
And just because this was on my camera from yesterday. The IDS center has a beautiful atrium. I had lunch at a restaurant here yesterday.

See you in a few hours with another update.

Email me

I’ve been feeling very, very tired and lazy the last few days and with Keith gone last week, my sleep patterns are completely messed up. I’ve been up all night and sleeping away most of the day but with my upcoming trip to GA and my need to get some actual work done – I’ve decided on a personal Quiltathon tonight.

I’ll stay up ALL night and the goal will be to NOT go to bed until tomorrow night. If I find I can’t manage staying up all day tomorrow – I’ll try for just a quick afternoon nap.

Keith has a business dinner tonight and I’ve already started working. I’ll share my progress with you through the night and into the day tomorrow. Wish me luck!

My first two projects were to piece and sew a binding on the green HeartStrings quilt – I’ll work on stitching it down while I watch America’s Next Top Model and Criminal Minds later tonight and I also got the backing fused and finished the edges of my postcard for our November exchange.

Email me

Have a question? Want an answer? Enable your email address in blogger or leave your email address in your comment.

Email me

A HeartStrings top pieced by Barbara in FL and quilted today with Wonky Flowers from the Pajama Quilter DVD makes the 6th of 10 tops quilted so far this month.

Just a comment on these clamps from Tomorrow’s Heirlooms. I like them a lot better than the clamps that came with my Gammill but they are fragile. I broke another one today – the plastic broke right where the velcro attaches. I first bought a set in May 2007 and both had broken within about 9 months. I replaced them in July 2008 and bought 2 sets at that time just in case I broke another one. At $20 a set they’re not all that expensive but I do wish they were sturdier.

I’ve got an errand to run and then hopefully, I’ll have time to get a binding sewn on before Keith gets home from work.

Email me

I know some people are participating in Judy’s Quiltathon this weekend but I haven’t sewn a single stitch. Keith’s sister left today – it was a quick visit but we had fun. Does anyone recognize this Minneapolis symbol?

I thought I’d show you a full shot of my little tree too – I’m not crazy about the branches stuffed in the bottom of the pot but if I understood correctly, they’re  just sticking in the pot and they’ll die off or I could even just pull them out. The plan is that this will be our Christmas tree this year too – we’ll put some lights on it and it will adorn my deck both before and after Christmas.

but I just bought this potted tree for my deck since my flowers are gone – I need to practice getting the quilt photo at the right angle since the tree is taller than the stand with my flowers.

For those interested a photo of the log cabin quilt on my chair can be seen here at this link.