Star Quilt Basted

I am happy to report that I finally basted the Folk Star quilt top. I am so happy that I actually accomplished what I said I would do, but boy, oh boy, am I totally beat. I do all my basting on the living room floor. First I tape the backing, set the batting, then set the top. I then pin and baste with thread. That took me most of the day. I had to take three breaks in order to keep going. I have got to find an easier way. I find that it's the only way to baste when I'm working with a flannel backing if I don't want it to get wrinkles. Thank goodness I have wooden floors or else I'd really be in trouble. I will be getting my hubby to help me roll it onto the frame. That's the thing about quilts with flannel backings, you have to be really careful how you roll them onto the frame. It was a very nice day and not too hot so that didn't make it too bad on me. I went to JoAnne's and used a 50% off coupon on the Kaffe Fassett's Quilt Road book that I had been eyeing for a while. I love the quilts in that book. I will post pictures of the Star quilt once it's on the frame. Cafeteria news, slacker girl left home at 8:30 on Thursday so it was just five of us working and boy was it hectic. There were times when I had to do the serving by myself, and thank goodness it was pizza day, which makes it easier for me to just slap the pizza slice onto the trays. I was so into the serving that I kept on serving trays even after there were no more kids coming. The other server looked at me and asked why I was still serving. I stopped and then realized there were no more kids. LOL! I served 350 slices of pizza, not to mention the fish and BBQ sandwiches. I'm beginning to despise pizza now. HA!

My Pin Cushions

I never gave much thought to the pin cushions I actually own but after seeing the pin cushion pictures of other bloggers I thought I'd join in. I can't do without the magnetic round one. I have to have that one close by just in case I drop some pins on the floor or something. I have all my pins in small different containers so they won't get mixed up because I use different pins for different tasks. I use to velcro the yellow square pin cushion to my old machine but that isn't possible with my current machine, but as you can see that pin cushion still holds a lot of pins. I made the Bunny pin cushion many years ago when I was bored and was in the mood to make something different. After I made it I didn't have the heart to stick pins in it, I know I'm crazy. I use the wrist flower pin cushion when I applique using the very small pins. I like being able to quickly stick them to something close by. The big green tomato is one I made also many years ago from a pattern. I do like it a lot, but just find it too big to really use so it just sits in the sewing room for show. I know I have others but they are probably in boxes or bags lost among the tons of fabric in my sewing room closets. I have actually looked for other pin cushion patterns but haven't really found any. I would like to make old fashion pin cushions to display in a shelve. Anybody out there who can lead me in the right direction?

Almost Normal

After being sick for almost two weeks I am finally beginning to feel better. I was feeling so tired at work Friday I can't even describe it. It must've been all the sleepless nights due to the coughing. I go into my sewing room and mark about six rows of stars for quilting and then I just have to stop. I will try again today so I can put the quilt on the frame and do some serious quilting on the four day weekend I will be having at the end of the month. I can't wait. My son Chris is enjoying his college and just informed me that the country he might have to go to to study abroad will be either Jordan or Costa Rica. The minute he said Jordan I felt panic go through my body. He is young and adventureous would love to go to Jordan. He was chosen to sit at a round table discussion with the President of Costa Rica next week so he is excited about that. He told me about all the school/community clubs he has joined and all the studing he has to do and I am convinced all that is for the young. I can't even remember everything we talked about. My youngest who is a very calm music loving 18 year old just thinks his brother has some weird plan to conquer the world. My son is California is still working at a T.V station and still in no hurry to marry or have kids. He doesn't have time for a family, so he says. Slacker girl, at work, didn't go to work for four days. She said it was due to having some kind of sore on her stomach and the doctor told her not to get near anything hot, so she was again at the register when she was suppose to serve this week. She sure didn't act like someone who was in pain since she even danced to a song on the radio. I have to say I out smarted all of the younger workers Friday. We are all suppose to throw out a bag or two of trash and while they were all chatting by the register I quickly got two of the lightest almost empty bags of trash and threw them away. By the time they got back to throwing their share they got stuck with the heavy bags. I wanted to laughed so bad. I just told them I've done all I have to do so I'm clocking out. Bye. You should've seen their faces. LOL! I was ready to quit Friday with my being sick and feeling tired. I hope next week is better for me. I am having a hard time coping with my going to work now that I'm almost 50. I'm still trying to figure out where would be the best place to work. If I last all year in that cafeteria it'll be a miracle. I have lost 5 pounds since I started working there.

Backing Finished

I was able to finish the backing for the Folk Art Star quilt top. It took a lot longer than I thought since I had to add to the width and length. I used another color flannel and am very happy with the results. Couldn't get another backing done due to it just getting too hot in the sewing room for me even with central air. I just realized I still have to draw the quilt design on the star top. Darn! Oh well, I'm just going 1/2 inch around every piece. My son Chris had a very busy week at his school. Got me tired just thinking about all he mentioned in his email. I guess it'll be non-stop work for the next two years for him. He seems very happy. In the picture he is with a team mate at a Flag ceremony. My 18 year old said,"Mom you know those long emails will stop once he starts meeting people and going out, right." Yes, I know kid. Well, Firday at the cafeteria wasn't bad at all. I actually had enough strength to want to go out somewhere. Slacker girl almost cried after having to scrub 125 potatoes that were to be baked, and then sat down for a break afterwards. I over heard her ask the manager if I could do some of it but the manager told her she had me busy doing something else. I made 245 salads for the kids then served tacos, chicken tetrazinni(sp?), and the baked potatoes. Big deal, you do what you gotta do. When I saw her sitting down I felt like throwing her one of the potatoes, but off course didn't. I tell you some of these young people don't want to work. They want money without earning it.

Girly Girl Swap Goodies

I thought I'd post a picture of the goodies I received about a week ago from an internet quilt group I belong to. It was a Girly Girl swap. I really look forward to that kind of swap. LOL! My swap partner was so generous, I loved the one yard of girly fabric she sent me and the other pinks are a perfect match for it. I liked everything. I did find the three extra yards of flannel I needed to make the backing for the star quilt. I want to start that this long three day weekend. I really miss my daily quilting now that I started working. I haven't looked this forward to Friday's since I was in school.

Old Manager Out

Well, the Cafeteria District Supervisor got rid of the Manager that started the year and replaced her with a nice lady, but I just realized there won't be any jello for my fruit plates this morning. The girl who made the jello yesterday used all the jello. I noticed those jello trades were really loaded yesterday. That's the reason for no left overs for my fruit plates, and I need to make 60. Things got so distracted with meeting the new Manager and the Supervisor being there and all. Oh well. I hope the watermelon and oranges are cut up this morning also. I go in at 8:30 in the morning and all that stuff has to be prepared by someone else ready for me to use. The drama queen did cry yesterday because she had to make lot's and lot's of instant mash potatoe in because she isn't use to it and didn't know if her having to do it was going to work out. All this in front of the supervisor. I have a feeling she won't last too long. I was going to cut the backing for my Folk Star quilt top, but the top turned out to be wider than the double wide flannel I'm using as the backing. I had to run to the store and they were out, so I will have to wait for Friday to go look at other stores. I hate it when that happens. I would use a cotton, but the son I'm giving the quilt to, likes all his quilts with flannel, like Grandma use to make.

My New Used Cutting Table

My hubby's friend who use to be a draftsman gave us this table. The friend was going to give it to a quilting store in New Mexico but when hubby told him I quilted he gave it to us. The top was in bed shape it had a lot of nicks and old tape all over the place. Hubby and son sanded it and cut the legs some so I could reach it. I love the way it turned out and it has the perfect drawers for my cutting matts, rotary cutters, and rulers.

Temple Flowers Finished

I have finished piecing the Temple Flowers quilt top, well, sort of. LOL! I still have to add the borders, but those will just be cut from more floral fabric. The majority of the fabrics that went into making this top were scraps from the Rose quilt I pieced about three weeks ago. Although , the Rose quilt was made from the Turning Twenty pattern, I didn't just use fat quarters, I used several pieces of fabric that were bigger than a fat quarter. I very rarely buy fat quarters. I always feel I'm getting cheated if I buy fat quarters. I really like the way this Temple Flowers top turned out. It's so girlie and happy. Too bad I don't have any granddaughters to give it to. I guess I'll just hold on to it till I do have some. If my mom were still alive I'd give it to her. I know she would've loved it. I really miss making things for her.

Temple Flowers Quilt Started

I have started the Temple Flowers quilt with my rose fabric scraps and I think it will make a cute crib size quilt. It should be about 52x52 when finished. I have to say I'm not crazy about cutting so many strips over and over again, that's why I don't make log cabins. Although, after seeing Jeanne's, I am very tempted. I suppose I could make them with wider strips so I won't get bored while cutting. It sure has been so hot here in Texas my two Chi's have decided to sleep in the living room instead of the kitchen. This is the first time ever in the six years since we've had them that they have done that. My 18 year old wondered, out loud, if it could be that they are having hot flashes like me. Maybe. I can really feel miserable with the heat, even with central air it's not cool enough for me. When I was a kid and living in South Texas we had no air conditioning and remember my poor mom sweating buckets every summer.

Bench For Quilts

Some time back my hubby and I went to a Hancocks that had everything on sale because it was closing. He spotted a fabric shelve for $10 and bought it. When I asked him what in the world he was going to do with it he said it was going to be for me. I just couldn't figure out what he was going to do. Well, this is what he came up with, a reading bench with storage for quilts. I don't have enough room for all the quilts I'm making and he's always hearing me complain about it. This little bench is big enough for me to sit on and stretch my legs, and will be even better once I make a cushion for it. It still needs some trim on the edge of the seat to help open it. He will also put safety latches in it just in case we have any grandkids some day. Leave it to my hubby to come up with something like that. GRATITUDES 1. Creative hubby. 2. Friend who makes me laugh. 3. My two cats improved health. 4. Day not being as hot as yesterday.

About Me

Now that I have finished sewing the borders to the rose quilt top, I have time to share a little about myself. It's hard to answer with just one word. One Word for - 1. Yourself: dependable 2. Your partner: friendly 3. Your hair: wild 4. Your Mother: helpful 5. Your Father: proud 6. Your favorite item: sewing machine 7. Your dream last night: none 8. Your favorite drink: cold milk 9. Your dream home: beach house 10. The room you are in: bedroom 11. Your pleasure: quilting 12. Your fear: bridges 13. Where you want to be in ten years: traveling 14. Who you hung out with last night: hubby 15. What you're not: social butterfly 16. Your best friends: laughter 17. One of your wish list items: beach house 18. Your gender: female 19. The last thing you did: sew borders on quilt top 20. What you are wearing: tank top 21. Your favorite weather: spring 22. Your favorite book: mom's scrapbook 23. Last thing you ate: chicken 24. Your life: quiet 25. Your mood: good 26. The last person you talked to on the phone: Josie 27. Who you are thinking about right now: Chris

What To Do With Left Overs

This is what I'll be making with the rose quilt left over fabrics. The pattern is Temple Flowers. You can find some really nice patterns in this site. http://www.freespiritfabric.com/core-pages/patterns.php

Rose Blocks Finished

I have finished piecing the Turning Twenty rose blocks and I love the way it looks. It's very cottage looking. I will be using the left over strips for the borders. I love this pattern, so easy and fast. I will piece the rows together tonight. Gratitudes 1. The Internet. 2. Vanilla Ice cream. 3. No more rain. 4. Living on a quiet street.

Turning Twenty Blocks

Here are three of the rose fabric blocks for the Turning twenty pattern. I really like the way they are turning out. Camera is a cheapy so they look much better in real life. I think this quilt top will go fast. GRATITUDES 1. My cousin being alright after tornado hitting in Joliet today. 2. My feeling better. 3. The sound of the patio chimes. 4. A very patient husband.

Turning 20 Quilt Top Fabric

Today I will start cutting fabric for the Turning Twenty quilt top. I have so many rose fabrics that I decided to use them for this quilt pattern. GRATITUDES 1. My cat's BB shot wound looking much better. 2. My hubby moving my computer to a cooler room in the house. 3. I've said it once and I'll say it again, Central Air. 4. My good friends.

Wedding Ring Top Finished

I have finished with the Wedding Ring quilt top. I only need the borders, hopefully I will find the same light blue fabric I used for the sashing. I really like the way this turned out. It's my version of the wedding ring pattern. I had been calling it a Dresden Plate but several people say it reminds them of Wedding Ring so that's what I shall call it. GRATITUDES 1. The microwave. 2. The voices of children playing 3. A good book. 4. A very nice sister-in-law.

More Piecing

I finished piecing the sashing to all the ring blocks today so tomorrow I will add the horizontal sashing. I got so angry with myself because I didn't buy enough fabric for the borders, just two more strips needed. I will go hunt more of the same sashing fabric tomorrow. Hope I can find it. I guess I wasn't thinking when I bought it. This quilt will be for which ever of my boys gets married first, even if it does have quite a bit of pink pieces in it. Oh, well. I will soon post a picture of the whole top. This will be the third top I finish this year, I am so happy. I will work on my rose quilt top after this one.

Doing The Happy Dance

Folk Star Quilt Top Finished

I finally finished the Folk Star quilt top. I took too long to finish the top. The two extra rows of stars that I added really made a difference. I am so happy to have finally finished since it was a nine year old UFO . I will start putting together the Dresden Plate quilt top. That won't take too long since all the blocks are done. I'll just have to add the sashing. ****************** Gratitudes 1. Sound of the light rain hitting the window this morning. 2. A quiet neighborhood. 3. Digital cameras. 4. Modern conveniences.

Going Out of Business Sale

Yesterday, my husband and I went into Houston and saw a Hancocks going out of business sale,so, we go in and everything was for sale. A couple had two truck loads full of all kinds of shelves. Hubby managed to buy a fabric shelve for $10. He says he can make me a bench/trunk out of it. We'll see. There were some women looking at the %70 off patterns thinking they were getting a great bargain,until I told them they were $.99 at JoAnn's. You should have seen they eyes, talk about almost popping out. They stashed the patterns they were looking at between some fabric bolts and dashed out the door to JoAnn's. We sewers are so much alike. That was so funny. I bought two quilting books and the 18mm rotary cutter that was %50 off.