New quilt and Ray's off to college

Started the special quilt yesterday for Rocky.  Got out the bundle and the backing I'm going to use.

Spring will be here before we know it - even though this time last year, we had 6 inches of snow and ice on the ground!!

I was going to use this in a pattern called citrus salad but I saw a square at my class Saturday and I decided to try that one.

I decided to get unwrap all of the batiks I've received in my

bundles and sort them by color - pattern and solid

This is the my first pass, they are so beautiful.  I then unwrapped the extras I bought because I either used them or I really liked them.  Got lucky, I snooped under the cutting table at the quilt shop and there was a bundle of solids that I liked and yes - I NEEDED more solid batiks AND a bundle I really liked.  They do not sell well so the shop now only cuts for the club each month.  

This is ALL of them laid out - the photo is a little blurry but you get an idea of the colors.   They are very beautiful.

This is a pile of pure beauty!!  Yes that is a calculator on the table and YES I used it.  I keep it in the sewing room.

May not look like it, but this is 48 squares 

This is one of the prints from a bundle I just bought and I am pretty sure that it will be the January bundle that will be coming to my mailbox soon.    It has a lot of silver in it - very beautiful.  I asked them why we didn't get the pretty snowflake material for the December bundle & they said there was not enough (they used it for strip club). 

By the light of the silvery moon!!  The official name for it is Moon in the Window.  This will be my companion quilt to Hidden Moons.

Last but not least - Ray started college today!!  I've taken pictures of them since their first day of school.  He was not really happy about taking it so I waited until Tallulah came in and distracted him.

would have been cheaper to buy one but not as much fun

Finished Rachel's quilt - got it delivered a few days after Christmas.  The binding is done in white on black polka dots

The label - yes - I know the letters are not the same size - another reason I hate math but hey - you can see the nice binding. 

What would have been cheaper to buy you ask.....

My new purse - bought this pattern when Janice and I went to Scarlet Thread because I like cross body bags - needless to say, it turned out NOTHING like the picture - who knows what happened - I followed the destructions...

I added brown braiding - it turned out quite nice and the colors matched perfectly and I have a custom made bag.

My bag..

The pattern... it was fun to make but instead of making me sew like a designer....Nancy made me eat chocolate and talk sailor speak...

Braiding after I basted it on

 I knew there was a presser foot that would allow me to get up to the edge - all I had to do was open the magic box...you know, the one labeled - JANOME PARTS...

I turned the edge under first - note the right side is done already.  I used brown rayon embroidery thread which is a nice contrast

Lining - I have two pieces of this paisley - one that is paisley all over and one sewn in rows - I love paisley, I love blue  and I LOVE blue and brown together so this was just perfect.  

hmmm - too long - 42 inches...

I did what any good sew-er (not sewer...) would do - I cut it in  half with the full intention of making some with the extra - I'm not saying how many inches extra but in a man's world it would be around 6

 Helps me figure out math problems

Putting in the magnetic closures - why do I have my arm stuck in it like that you ask...look at the bottom - I put the "top" one in first and squeezed it shut with pliers so I had to "go around" it to get to the bottom.

this is it, lining on the top - purse body on the bottom 

I could not let all of my  hard work go to waste so as I stood there deliberating on what to do, it hit me, just fold the bag up 3/4 of the way, sew down the sides, add another set of magnetic closures and wa la - a nice big outside pocket.

It came out really nice.  This photo is a little blurry but is shows the size.  Pefect cross body - next time - if there is one - I will put in an adjustable strap.

Becca Boo made this for me in 1995!!  Happier Days.  I sure miss that girl.

Injury Report for this project - No animals were hurt but I jabbed the seam ripper into the palm of my hand.  I guess writing SHARP on it with with a red Sharpie (HA HA) did not deter me.  The dumbest thing that happened was I ironed my thumb knuckle...

My next project - I love the colors - all that is missing is a margarita!!  It is batiks with a flannel backing.

This quilt will be for sale....the money is going for a VERY good cause.

I have no idea what she wants - I was sewing away and felt the "stare"...seriously - no cookies are even on the 2nd floor...

Why I hate math...

All pieces of fabric/vinyl/interfacing were cut from the SAME big square ruler.  How in the world does this happen...

AND..If ANYONE tells you vinyl is easy to sew on - knock 'em silly...

My new bag for my coffee pot.  Yes - I take a 12 cup carafe of coffee to work everyday and I drink every drop.  It really does stay hot for 8 hours.

Pefect fit..

OOOHHHHH look who's in Tallulah's bed...  The minute Chewie got up - she immediately got laid down and gave him a how dare you look...

Is that a red fish jumping out of a wave...

 No - it may look like a fish but it is my new lunch bag.

I finished Nuclear this afternoon so I just had to sew something.  Idle hands...

Finally got it pulled the rest of the way thru the hole and yep - I ripped it but got it fixed.

  I used a piece of flannel backed table cloth for the inside so that if something leaks, I can just wipe it off.

Got it turned and the upper edge sewn and no...though it may look like it's flipping you off, that was not the intent...

Ray is out of town this week visiting friends.  I had a delivery made to my door last night - somebody wanted to play fetch...thankfully it had not been dunked in the water bowl first!!  The only kitty I've ever seen that will catch it, bat it and bring it back to be thrown again!!  Right now she and Chewie are chasing each other all over the house!!  Silly kitties. 

Tune in tomorrow - I will have a picture of Nuclear and I am also making a new bag for  my coffee pot.  

Patience and a good night's sleep works every time

The quilt is back on - I managed to get it straightened up and rolled back on without having to rip out ALL of the thread.

yes - this is a wicked tool and it does the job

Did I mention this thread is 10 bucks a spool...

FINISHED!!  Ready to trim off and sew on the binding -- Since I have gone thru all 4 seasons of Mad Men I will have to start watching LOST when I sew bindings down...

My helpers - they are never far away

The Quilt Diva pattern - sure is a lot to trace and cut out

Page one of two

Quilt Diva - page two - wow-we that is a LOT of stuff to trace and cut out!!  I will need to iron the paper flat so I can get a good traced image

 All of this will have to wait though - the Saints are playing the Falcons tonight.  I'm NOT a fan but my dad loved the Saints and this was always his favorite game of the year so tonight - I will have a beer and cheer for my Dad's favorite team since he is not here to do it himself.

Another beer please

Well...I started quilting and when I rolled the quilt up, I noticed serious pokeys - re loose stitches.  I decided to tear them out because they were in the whole first block.

I think this is what caused it - note the stitch length it wayyyy over and I did the first set of stitches on speed control which caused long - ruffeling type stitches.

I dialed it back and switched over to stitch regulated - this means the stitch length will stay constant and the machine only sews when I move the head

No - this is NOT good  and YES - the quilt has been detatched - I have to TEAR out all of the stitching on the first set of blocks.  I attempted to resew the first block and bad pokeys again.  

I need to see what is going on but as I tore out the first set of stitches I unrolled the quilt and caused a massive mess underneath - the quilt did not line back up correctly   

Good thing I have not gotten taken this class yet or I'd be having me some target practice...

I'm injured...it was bound to happen..

Note to self....make a NEW wrist pin cushion and put a piece of timtex on the bottom so the pins will not go thru and scrape my hand when I remove it....OOOWWWW...

Guess I didn't remember doing the same thing earlier in the week...

Nucelar backing is sewn together and rolled onto the frame.  The top is pinned but not rolled. 

New sign for my sewing room - I LOVE SNOW and love to SEW...

Other new sign...

Seriously - Valentine stuff is in the stores!!!

Tune in tomorrow - hopefully the top will be pinned and rolled, bobbins spun and I can get started on the quilting!!  

My hand, head, hip and eyes hurt - I am going to bed early...no decorating cookies or sewing anymore tonight...I just want to sleep...