Finally started...

Well, I've finally started the quilting on Twisted Rope.

I've been considering how to quilt this for some time now and had been renting a long-arm machine to practice before starting it.  Last night I drew out a feathered heart on Golden Threads quilting paper.  I want this design to go in the center of each border with feathered swags on either side.

My intention is to also fill all of the vines with small circles.  I managed to get the quilt loaded and stitch the feathered heart, but when I started to tear some of the paper away, I realized that you couldn't see it!  The thread color matched too well and for all my hard work stitching it, it might as well have been invisible.  It was disappointing.  However, I bounced back and decided to do the rest of the feathers in a different color.  They turned out much better.  So I've decided to rip out the heart motif and restitch it with this new thread color.  It will add some more time and work, but I'll be much happier with the results.

So this was day 1 of what will no doubt turn out to be many, many days of quilting.  I must say, I really do enjoy quilting on the long-arm although it's a bit rough on the back.

On my way home from quilting, I stopped at the pet store and found a new toy for my cats.  As soon as I laid it on the table, Sam was all over it.

Until later...

I love you, Lord; you are my strength.  

Psalm 18:1 (NLT)

Fresh candy canes...

Last night I was able to put the last few stitches in the next Winter Wonderland block.  This was the 6th one completed, only 4 more to go before I can start putting the quilt together.

Winter Wonderland Block 6

It is also by far the largest one I've worked on, but I do know there's one remaining block that will be even larger.  All of the stitching is done with a simple backstitch using black size 12 perle cotton.

I'm going to stop working on these blocks long enough to finish the hand applique for Here's My Heart, a pattern by Bunny Hill Designs.  Between working on it last night and some tonight, I almost have the vines completed.

Here's My Heart

It really doesn't look like much now, but I'll start adding the leaves and flowers next.  I'm enjoying getting back to doing some hand applique.  I do all of mine using the back-basting method - meaning I baste each piece in place from the back before appliqueing it down.

I managed to get a surprise picture of David.  He looks rather grumpy here although he's really not.

Until later...

"Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. . . . Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." 

Romans 12:2 (MSG)

Stash Report Week #2...

January 8 - 14, 2011

I was hoping by this second stash report to be back in the black, but I think it's going to take me another week or two.  Let me start with my purchases for this week.  I only bought 2.75 yards of this black and gold batik that I plan to use trying out a new quilt pattern for a friend.

I still need to find a couple more coordinating fabrics before I can start.  I hope to find them this next week at Wish Upon A Quilt. 

Looking back at my blog posts, I see that I finished two quilts this week and can count the backing and binding for both.  I used 3.25 yards for Stargazing and another 3.25 yards for Nestled in the Branches.  I'm in the process of quilting another small charity quilt (48" square) and hope to finish that one some time this week as well.

So,
Purchased-this-week: 2.75 yards
Used-this-week: 6.5 yards
Purchased-to-date: 9 yards
Used-to-date: 7.5 yards
Net used: -1.5 yards

Until later...

For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right. Psalm 84:11 (NLT )

Nestled in the Branches - check!

It happens that I was feeling better today and spent some time quilting.  It was enough time to finish the quilt "Nestled in the Branches".  All I really had left was to add a label and put the binding on (which I did entirely by machine).  I think the quilt turned out just as cute as the first time I made it (a year and a half ago or so).

Nestled in the Branches

The first time I made this quilt was as a prayer quilt for a friend who is battling both cancer and MS.  However, because my mom liked it so much and I still had a lot of fabric left over, I decided to make one for her as well.  I quilted it with the "Climber" pantograph by Meredith England.

Climber Pantograph by Meridith England

This is the first time I've used this pantograph but won't be the last.  I love the fabrics in this quilt and they're all from JoAnns.  I especially love the backing fabric for this with all of the various birds.

This quilt is already packaged up and ready to be mailed to its new home tomorrow.

Here are the stats for this quilt:

• Size: 55" x 65"
• Fabrics: JoAnns
• Batting: Warm & Natural
• Thread: Superior Threads King Tut 40 wt in variegated brown
• Quilting: Climber pantograph by Meridith England

Gabriel didn't think too much of the quilt, but she did keep me company while I finished it.

Until later...

"Just tell me what to do and I will do it, Lord. As long as I live I'll wholeheartedly obey." 

Psalm 119:33 (LB)

Irons in the fire...

I'm at a point now where the creative juices are flowing and there are lots of things I want to work on.  Last week, I was even hopeful of finishing a number of them in January.  However, my body is putting up a protest and slowing me down quite a bit.  I've been enjoying my time using the long-arm machine at my local quilt shop, but it's taking a toll on my neck and back.  Oh, to be 8 again and able to twist myself like a pretzel.  If I tried that now, things would pop.  And groan.  And probably break.  It wouldn't be pretty.

However, since I'm not able to work on as much as I would like, I thought I'd make a list for when I do feel better.  These are my more pressing goals...

• Finish block 6 of Winter Wonderland - Another night or two of hand embroidery and I should be done with this one.
• Applique the center of Here's My Heart by Bunny Hill Designs. - I bought this kit more than 2 years ago.  I pulled it out last January, but didn't think I could get it done for Valentine's Day.  I would love to actually finish it before another February 14th passes by.

Here's My Heart

•  Add the binding and label to Nestled in the Branches. - I managed to finish quilting this earlier in the week.  If I feel better tomorrow, I might try to finish this one.
• Finish quilting the Owl quilt. - I only have some stitch-in-the-ditch to do on this to finish the quilting.  I also need to come up with a name for it.  I used minkee on the back as I'll be donating it to a shelter and thought a child might like it to snuggle up with.  In order to load it on the frame, I first adhered the batting to the minkee using spray basting before trimming the batting and backing even with each other.  Although it was pretty thick quilting through, I didn't have any problems with it stretching.

 

• Quilt Twisted Rope. - I have an appointment scheduled for next Tuesday to quilt this.  Because it's 113" square, I expect it to take me a number of visits and I'll have to be careful to spread them out so I can handle them.

Twisted Rope

• Quilt Man Cave. - I just plan to do an allover pantograph so it shouldn't take too awfully long.  But again, I have to spread out the time I spend in front of the frame.  It sure would be nice if I finished this for Mr. Quilting Bug while it was still cold outside.  Although that doesn't look to be an issue any time soon.

Man Cave

• Test Kathy's pattern. - A friend is publishing a book and has asked people to try out the pattern.  I like the pattern and plan to make the quilt.  I'm just missing two fabrics before I can start.

So those are my goals for the near future.  Although at one point I really did think I could finish all of them in January, I now realize I was completely deluding myself and have now returned to reality.  But perhaps they might see a finish by the end of February?  Maybe?

I haven't posted a picture of Gabriel lately, so here she is in her current fat, happy and somnolent state of being.  I keep telling Mr. Quilting Bug that she needs to go on a diet, but he doesn't see it.  Go figure...

Gabriel

Until later...

According to your faith will it be done to you. 

Matthew 9:29 (NIV)

Ice, ice baby...

Can you name that song?  It was popular when I was a teenager and then it became really uncool.  However, it's extremely appropriate today as this is what my driveway looks like...

OK, that's not really my driveway, but this is...

I hope you're staying safe and warm at home!  It's a good day to quilt (if you're into that sort of thing).

Until later...

"Just tell me what to do and I will do it, Lord. As long as I live I'll wholeheartedly obey." 

Psalm 119:33 (LB)

Another Sam update (#6)...

It's been a while since I've reported on Sam's diet - 24 days to be precise.  She's been on her new prescription diet food the entire time and we are finally starting to see a difference.  She is walking better and has even started jumping up on things more.




Before I weighed her, I was hoping for a half a pound weight loss, but she exceeded even that!  She's lost 0.7 lbs in the last 3 and a half weeks.  She had also just finished eating when I weighed her.  Yippee!  I'm so happy to see so much progress right now in both her weight and her well-being.  It's worth getting up at 2:30 every morning to feed her.

She's now starting to develop bags of skin around her elbows.  You know how the arms bag when you put on a sweater that's too big for you and push up the sleeves?  That's kind of what she looks like.  Not the most attractive thing, but it doesn't seem to bother her.

She's happier and that makes me happy.  I'm also finding that I don't need to give her "happy" medicine as often.  She doesn't appear to be in much if any pain right now - although I know that cats can be very stoic when it comes to that.  She's still got at least another couple of pounds to lose, but I'm so encouraged by her progress so far.

So as of today, Sam's new stats are...

• Starting Weight - 17.9 lbs
• Target Weight - less than 14 lbs
• Last Weigh-in - 17.0 lbs
• Current Weight - 16.3 lbs
• Net loss - 0.7 lbs
• Total Weight Lost - 1.6 lbs

Until later...

"According to your faith will it be done to you" 

Matthew 9:29 (NIV)