LONG week of frustration...trying to play the GLAD game

I've had the Viking "Betsy" in the house for a week now.  I quilted the little pink mini quilt and am not totally pleased with it but it will do for a dolly quilt in Grandma's toy box. 

I loaded a new quilt on to quilt it this week.  I chose my "Somewhere in Time".

 I want to quilt my "Celtic Christmas Solstice" and this one is close to the same so I could 

"test" a pattern and spacing on it.

I chose this Leaf Panto and set it to repeat about 10 times.  

I had to call and ask Terri how to get the pattern to connect continuously across. 

I went to reset the machine to start and the bobbin thread wouldn't come up right. 

The thread is catching up behind the bobbin case. UGGGG

 I called and went down to the store to ask about a "housecall" so I don't have to take it apart.  

I'm playing the waiting game now.  

I decided to play with my Stitching and got my 23 'honeycomb' blocks made for the Quilty Fun SAL.

That meant cutting 92 1 1/2" squares for all the flippy corners.

 As often happens - my SEWING and Quilting time is slightly and pleasantly interrupted by choice

 "Family Moments"

 These two handsome Young Men got to go to the Temple with their Ward. 

It was Seth's first time since turning 12.

They did the 20 family names that DH has found.

It was an honor to be able to be there with them.

I woke up this morning to call into the Radio Station for a Birthday grandson turning 6 in Richland.

He didn't win a cake but I hear he's having a party today with his friends.

I looked outside and saw big fluffy flakes falling on my house and sidewalks. 

Did the Birthday boy order this?

Well, the waiting continues and tomorrow is another day...

Thanks everyone for the suggestions on which quilt to put on "Betsy" and offers to take some of my scraps off my hands.  I'll be sending some to Dianne H. soon.

Design Wall/Floor Monday- January 26,, 2014

The Quilty Fun SAL is about Half over- it's week 11.

 Click over HERE to see what parts I get to make this week.

I am still getting my Quilt Zone more organized since the Mega Quilter 18-8 arrived last week.

I am storing the batting under the machine, it's light and this makes it handy to get when 

I need to load a new Quilt. There is a rail to put my rolls of batting on. I haven't had a chance to do that yet.

I'm debating which one to try and quilt next.

In the Comments you can help me choose.

Which one of the following should I Quilt???

 A- Farmer's Wife

B- The Romance Continues

C- Somewhere in Time

D- Parcheezi

E- Celtic Solstice 

The next Quilt show deadline is coming up and I would like a NEW Quilt to enter the TriCities Quilt Show.

One that hasn't been in another show already.

Any of these would be nice to have FINISHED!

My friend, Wendy T wanted to see more pictures so I took this one from my Sewing chair- 

looking towards the TV and Longarm side of the room. 

 The Ironing table is set up beside the Cutting table next to the Sewing desk.

I sure found a bunch of SCRAPS in the process of moving and in spite of working all week at 

Cutting and putting strips and squares into the shoebox sized totes.  

{You can see totes stored under the machine and the ironing table.}

My 2.5" strips are sorted into Lights and Darks and are now in two larger totes.

I still have a laundry basket and trash bag full of scraps to sort and cut up.

I am starting to believe that the scraps multiply overnight when I'm sleeping.

I could put some of them into Ziplock bags and save them for the next Guild Treasure sale.

 Or offer them at February 1st Guild Sew-in or Quilt Seminar.

It's very tempting to fill a Flat Rate Priority Box and send it out to some LUCKY Quilter.

Anybody want a bag of my Scraps?

 Linking UP over HERE for a FUN Monday in Blogland!

No School Day- Grandma's Playtime

 2 of NaDells' girls came to spend a couple days with me and we had some fun 

playing in my scraps that I collected while cleaning up in the Quilt Zone. 

I found this set of strips from one of my trips to TRENDS I think.  Olivia sorted squares into the Quiltville Scrap savers Users sizes. Bonnie Hunter Blogged about her system HERE!

It sure tired her out.  She fell asleep waiting to go to the show -- we went to see "Frozen"

Cute Movie!  It comes out on DVD March 18th. You can pre-order it HERE

 There was no school on Tuesday either.  They didn't want to help as much the 2nd day.

My Tote and Brochures came for the Time Out for Women event coming up.  I hope I can get some people to go from around here that have never been.

 After I took the girls home I took a break to make the 4-patches for the Quilty Fun SAL HERE

 2 sets of 4 and 1 set of 8 ready and waiting to go with the rest of the blocks in this FUN Quilt.

They were made with some of the scraps I've been cutting.  1.5" squares is the smallest I will save to USE.

It's been a LONG Week!

TGIF!!!! My Friend Terri sold me her used 18-8 Viking Quilting machine and 10' table. 

I have been cleaning and moving stuff all week trying to make room for it.

It was delivered today!

 I think I will call her "BETSY"!

Heavens to Betsy --it took long enough to get her.  I hope to put her through her paces and get my Flimsies FINISHED!!!

First up is this cute MINI I made while sitting around at the WW Fair.

It will make a cute Dolly quilt for Grandma's Toy Box.

Design Wall Monday January 20, 2014

First I have to show the pictures that my Friend Jessica took of me at 

Guild the day before my 57th Birthday.

Me holding up my "Faithful" Mini Quilt from the Lori of Humble Quilts SAL last year.

(click the link to see other "faithful" quilts)

It's is finally done except for a hanging sleeve and label.

I sewed the Black border around my "Midnight Flight" in time to show it off at Guild too. 

This pattern will be in Bonnie Hunter's next book- 'More Adventures with Leaders and Enders'.

I just might do the border as is was on her Quilt at the Block party. 

I made a bunch of the same units for the  Celtic Solstice Mystery, below, I may as well keep making them.

 Do I look happy to have this top completed?  I think so!  

I added an extra inch or so to the border.

 Here's my FREE Birthday Cake that I WON from calling the Radio Station.

 While we were in town to CELEBRATE DH's Mom's 90th Birthday we picked up this $29.99 Shelf.

I have been re-arranging and trying to make room for my NEW TOY!
I have 2 Granddaughters coming to 'help' me this week.
 There's No school for them Monday or Tuesday.

My Viking with 10' Quilt Table will be delivered by the end of the month.
No Before Pictures were taken, maybe I'll show some After pictures.
I'm finding I have A LOT of Totes full of fabrics.

Per my Mother-by LOVE's  request, we all went to the Columbia River Temple.

I showed her the quilt I made for her two Christmases ago.

I'm going to get finished now that my machine is finally coming.

I think she liked it. She said it was a work of art. I shared it HERE.

 The weather has turned bad with Freezing Fog since that Sunny day on my Birthday.

I had to hang my Celtic Christmas Quilt up to see how it looks at home.

 See how I made the Red go around both ways of the circle?

I really like all the Fun fabrics in my Greens, ie: Christmas Frogs, Candy Canes, Bells, Reindeer,
 Stockings, & Holly, glitter - even some Carrots that had a green background.

Part 10 of this Quilty Fun SAL will be posted today HERE.  

I got last week's done but haven't posted it to the Flickr account in time for the prizes.

We made Quarter Square Triangles or Hourglass units.

Lots of 30's scrappiness in these parts.

Linking up with Patchworktimes HERE.

I'm THAT old!

I started my Birthday earlier than I had planned.  That gave me a chance to call into the Radio Station and try to WIN a Birthday Cake. There were 3 on the list today and we all WON!  Thanks, Morning show Radio DJ's who listen to me every time I call in another Grandchild's B-day.
I don't think I have ever won a cake for myself.  
I'll pick it up while we are in town to Celebrate DH's Mother's 90th at the LDS Temple.

Since I hadn't started on my NEW Block of the Month "A-Z for Ewe and Me" yet, I decided to find similar fabrics and get sewing. I had an hour or so before the DMV opened.  YEA, No lines!

I was in contact with a LOT of my family & Friends Via Social Media & even my Answering machine. 

 I love the sweet voices of my grandchildren talking & singing to me. Thanks for the calls.

These blocks went together so perfectly. It helped to watch the Video Janet Stone did for the QUILT SHOW.  She likes to make block parts big and trim them down.  She says, then you can buy MORE fabric.
I need to do the Alphabet part next.  The month is only half over so there is time and I will have my beloved Bernina back in action by then so I can do the Blanket stitch on the fusible raw edge applique.  Top to bottom clockwise- Army Star, Flying Geese and Grandma's Choice.  I had to dig in my STASH to find some Fushia for the pinwheels. It's more likely just HOT Pink, is that Fushia??

I made Block of the Week for my Blue and White Loyal Union Sampler.
   Now I can post it to the Group to be in the running for a PIN.

 C-2 Cotton Boll.

 The mail was good to me. These came over the past few days. I got a 1/2 Price DOLL from Paradise Galleries for my Birthday month.  "Be My Valentine" by Marie Osmond. It was a price I couldn't resist! Dairy Queen and Olive Garden giftcards are a welcome thing.  I only wish that my Friend, Wendy was here still to go with me to DQ!

 My Fat Quarter Swap buddies chose well and I am Happy, Happy, Happy with these new FQ's to use in my Civil War quilts.  There were only 9 of us who swapped this year. None of these are in any of the blocks so it might get me interested in making them again.  This UFO needs to get FINISHED!

 I have two Birthday Buddies in my WARD.  Paul Brought one gift home on Sunday and the other one came by way of the DH, who dropped it off.  I also share the day with a Niece who was born on the day and a Niece who got married on this date. I just saw on FB that my Cousin's Daughter shares the day with me too.

More fun stuff that the mail and FedEx dropped off.

Now I can watch and listen to Mary Poppins.  

I got the Cup to remind me of the Mystery I have completed.

DH got home from work early and I caught me napping. He let me sleep, sweet guy that he is. We went to Applebee's to use the gift card we got at Christmastime from the Goodson's.  

YUMMIEST Dessert ever- "Triple Chocolate Meltdown". I think that is what they called it.

My evening was spent playing in my Quilt Zone- I need to make room for working on my projects. Every flat surface is covered and the totes are in dire need of re-folding and stacking. I did a bit of laundry too while I was at it.

January 2014 Quilt Guild

 Jessica posted her scrappy Blocks on Facebook so I made a few more to share at guild. 

"Kansas Dugout" Pattern is HERE

 My Scrappy Kansas Dugout Blocks - 

I kept the bottom 2 that were made with scraps from my Celtic Solstice and one with scraps from Blocks I made to go in a SEAHAWKS  Quilt my DD#2, Janessa made for Jestin's Christmas gift.
I made the 4 checkerboard squares for her.  I'm so pleased with how she put it all together!
Her MIL helped her to Tie it and finish it while she was there over New Years.

 Our Seahawks are playing the 49ers this coming Sunday on their way to the
SUPER Bowl on February 2nd!

4 ladies brought blocks

They were won by Marilee and I gave her the 4 Extra from my Demo last month. 

 I spent part of my Tuesday sewing and getting a NEW display Board ready to show the Lotto for the Month. I used a piece of Foam core poster Board and Basting Spray to stick Batting onto it. 

Then I made a case from a piece of White Flannel and slipped it over the whole thing. It worked much better than the long skinny one I used last year. My Tip is to draw the lines to sew on using the Quilter's Rule- Quick Quarter by Betty Gall 1991.  I've had more success when I draw the lines for making bigger HST's.  

Link to the Pattern for "Land of Liberty" HERE

There was an announcement that February 1st is going to be a "Quilts of Valor" Sew Day for our Guild

We'll be joining Quilter's Nationwide stitch some RED, White & Blue.  The Quilt Store in Athena is having a SEW Day on Sunday the 2nd and asked to use my Block that I showed tonight.  

I am happy to share the LINK with any who want to sew a RW&B quilt. 

 If you make a quilt with any of the Blocks I have shared please share your Pictures. 

Just add the Link to your Blog with a Comment. or send to my e-mail pmcrowther@yahoo.com.

 Some days, I feel like I'm just talking to myself.

 The raffle Quilt Winner was there to receive the Quilt.

 Lianne, our New President is pictured with Peggy Riley here. She is giving it to a Niece. Lucky Girl!

For my Show n Share I got the Border on My Christmas Celtic Solstice.  I forgot to have Jessica use my camera to take a picture.  She took one with her phone and will send it to me.
I was on a ROLL today. I also added the inner border to my Midnight Flight and while we had the Business Mtg, I tacked down the binding on my Faithful Mini Quilt.

They will be shown on a future Blog post.

Design Wall Monday- January 13, 2014

On My Design Wall once again is my Bonnie Hunter Celtic Solstice Mystery Quilt 

HERE is the Corrected Final Clue LINK

Friday night I finished the last of the Chevron blocks.  See the one on the Right?  

I can get all mixed up as good as any quilter.  

My Seam ripper and I have been way too good of friends with this quilt already.

 I had this stack of Blocks when I left to go to the Movies with my DH!  

We drove an hour away and saw "The Book Thief".

The best part was seeing friends from when we lived closer to Tri-Cities.

The 1st thing I did after waking up Saturday Morning was to get all the Blocks laid out, making sure all the center 4-patches were oriented  with the red going toward the upper right corner. 

After a very Long day of FOOTBALL, Figure Skating and Stitching my Celtic Solstice is almost a TOP!

This quilt reminds me of the quilt I finished last year. It used the Tri-Recs, too.

      All I have left to do is add a final border before the Monday Link up after Groundhog Day.

I have yardage of all of these- 2 different Green Prints or Blue Moda Marble Swirl or Plain Green

IF I'm really Lucky and get what I WANT and NEED for my Birthday this year.

 It could possibly even be quilted!  

Still looking and dreaming.

Possible QUILT MACHINES HERE  or HERE or HERE

I'm turning the BIG 57 (I was born in 1957) Does that make it a "GOLDEN" Birthday?

I have to go renew my Driver's Licence at the DMV.

Speaking of  my upcoming Birthday---

This package arrived in my mail box from Janet O aka: Rogue Quilter.

BIG Thanks!!!!

Linking up HERE with Judy L.