Really noticed

I've spent some time today looking for quilting blogs just to compare and to learn.
I'm always anxious to learn more about quilting. Whether it be cutting, patterns, piecing,
threads, binding, etc. the whole process is fancinating. Someone will always come up with an
easier or better way to do something. What I found surprised me. There are a large number of blogs
that were started and then no one ever came back to them. Also a lot that haven't been updated in
several years. Here I was feeling bad about how infrequently I post. lol  I am trying to be more consistent and add more about my actual quilting.

I for one don't like doing applique because of all the tracing and cutting. I feel like it's such a
waste of my time to duplicate the same thing over and over. I have now seen where you can use
a glue stick and put a dot on the original cut out and attach it to your ruler. Now you only cut from
that. Of course if it a complicated pattern it isn't going to work but for those straight edge things it
sure does reduce the time.

Tomorrow is my wonderful extra day off and sadly I have 3 doctor appointments to go to. Two are for my son and the last is for me, another dentist visit. I should still find time to quilt or piece.
I would really like to try to start making at least one block per week. Wish me luck.

Just had a thought

Can you tell me what you'd like to see me add to this blog?
I see that most everyone shows little tutorials, show blocks or quilts they
are working on. What would you like to see that I'm forgetting?

I appreaciate any and all of your input. Well except the troll. :)

Got a little done

I did manage to get some quilting done on my blue/yellow Wickedly Easy quilt. I've made 2 passes and then when the bobbin ran out I stopped. The 1st two bobbins were metal and now I only have the plastic ones filled so I know I'll have to do some testing and really check the bobbin. I remember when I use to be afraid to touch that bobbin tension, actually adjust just about anything on a sewing machine. I figured one wrong turn and it would be messed up for good, or at least need a trip to the shop. Now I realize it is a machine and you can change things and not wreck it. :)

Dentist appt. this afternoon and then on Friday (my extra day off) my son has 2 appts so I'll have to get to the frame early to get Wickedly Easy done and get the one for Susan on.

Our troll is still around, trying to post messages at least once a week. So glad they can't just post willy-nilly. They sure would ruin things quick.

We should be about 103 today, typical for us in July. I do see some clouds floating around out there. That could mean storms this afternoon. Seems like they always roll in about 3 or 4 pm. Just to make rush hour traffic miserable. We don't know how to drive in the rain so everyone has to slow down way too far. I will admit that the rain will come really hard sometimes so it is almost impossible to even see the road in front of you. Scary stuff from time to time.

Another new/old machine

I found another antique Singer on Craigslist and luckily got it first. It needs some work but I'm up for it.
I really wish it could talk to share it's story with me. It was made in 1924 in Clydebank, Scotland. It is a model 15k.  It was a treadle/hand operated machine which someone converted to electric while still in Europe as it is 220 volt.
It really intrigues me, just how did it get from Europe to Tucson, Az. some 86 years later? It's mechanical parts are fantastic, almost new in appearance. Very well maintained that way. The body is a little rough, it's been bounced around some. There is no base for it so now I'll be on the look out for that. I hope to find one of the small square ones. I think they are a model 23. Here is a picture. As I said, a little rough but for 86 she looks pretty good to me. It was so much fun cleaning it up. Can't wait to find a base. I know nothing of treadles so this is going to be a big learning experience for me. Wish me luck.

I am working on another Chemo quilt. Not sure why I'm being lead in that direction but it's okay with me. I believe this is my 4th or 5th. If they bring some comfort to the user that is great. So far I have known all the recipients. This one is suppose to be terminal but I told her in all honesty we are all terminal. Right? Having a slight time line gives the opportunity to get things in order. Appreciate what you have and love everyone more.
I'm sending her pictures as it progresses and she is pleased with it. If I work especially hard I could finish it tomorrow. Guess that means I'll have to get the one on the frame finished...

Tomorrow is Friday

That means no work for me outside of the house. I have no appointments scheduled so that means...I can quilt! Yippee! Sometimes it seems so difficult to get into the quilting room. I am so grateful to have that room as well as a sewing room. Still seems like I never have enough room but I do. The sewing room is 10 x 10 and the quilting room is 12 x 14. My stretch frame is 10' so there isn't a lot of room left but that is just fine with me. I'm glad it is out of the livingroom. :)

I'll start on my quilt as soon as I get up tomorrow. I am thinking I will practice doing some feathers and other patterns and hopefully I won't mess things up too badly. This one is about full size so it will take longer.
You'll get to see pictures when I'm done. Dang, I do still have some quilts that need binding don't I??? grrr
All things in good time.

Got some plexi-glass

I see that a lot of long arm quilters use a piece of plexi-glass to try out their quilting pattern.
Got my husband to pick me up a piece at Home Depot. The cost was $13.44 for a piece 20x32
I really wanted more like 20x24 but this one was already cut and waiting for him so I said okay.
It is a tad big, not the width but from top to bottom makes it hang off the frame a few inches but that
is okay. I did practice with it long enough to use up my white board marker that looks like a pen. Since
it is an arm movement and not hand/wrist it seems like I should be able to use the thicker pens as well.

Since the quilt top I have ready to go has so many different sizes and positions of rectangles I'm thinking
doing all the different designs I saw on the LAU dvd will be way too much. I will be playing with the feathers
even if I only do 6 or 8 of them total. For me, I don't like looking at a quilt where the quilting itself is so
in your face that you really don't notice the quilt itself. You know what I mean? The last quilt show I went to
it was really obvious to me that the quilting designs were more important than the quilt piecing itself. I think the quilting should compliment not overwhelm all the fabulous piecing you've done.

Going for a whole new look

I probably never mentioned that I love the color pink did I ? The new design will be extra pleasant for me to look at. I hope you don't mind. :)

Got the quilt top all ready to go. I watched a dvd that I bought from Long Arm University it was a New Year's Day Mystery quilt. It is a lot of feathers and now I don't feel quite so scared of them. I also got a piece of plexi-glass to lay on top of the quilting area so that I can see what the design will look like. With all that I should be quilting right now shouldn't I ? Trouble is I have an ear infection and the pain is something else! I took a couple tylenol a few hours ago and they really did nothing. I did go to one of those Minute Clinic places so I also have anti-biotic drops. I did just take naproxin or something like that and I really hope the pain goes away fast. If I had a pain pill I'd have taken it already. Tomorrow will be a better day so I can handle a day's worth of pain.

I think I'll check into the other dvd's Long Arm U has who knows maybe I'll get another one.

It's windy as the dickens outside but that means our heat is dropping off a little. High 90's today but mid to high 80's tomorrow. woohoo!