Catching up...

The Church quilt is finished and Glenda is binding it!  Yeah!  I think it turned out ok.  I'll add pics when it is finished!  The "costume" is also finished - it was a satin "poodle type skirt"  without the poodle.  Instead it had a bright orange guitar on it with musical notes made of fabric with lots of glitter.  I also made a vest using the same fabric, with a sparkly organza overlay.  Both of these garments had black fringe, and sequins.  After breaking 5 -( yes, 5) sewing machine needles trying to sew on the sequins, I hand sewed the rest.  Did I mention that both garments were black.  My eyes really need a break.  And my studio has lots of sequins and glitter on the floor.  I need to clean the ironing board, too - there's glitter there!

I was up at 5AM this morning to finish the costume.  When I finished, it was not quite 7AM, so I put a quilt on the Gammill - I'll take a pic tonight - it is a John Deere quilt that I'm quilting for my friend, Sonya.  It is really cute - Sonya said she is a new quilter, but she does nice work for a beginner!   I also went home for lunch today, and spent about thirty minutes in the studio winding bobbins and organizing stuff so I can quilt tonight.   Our family summer party is this Saturday, so I should be making brownies and cookies, but I think I can squeeze in an hour for quilting.

Father's Day was great - we had all the kids over (except for the Seattle contingent) and had a great time.  We grilled burgers, planned a little for the party, and played games.  I had gone to Hamm's Orchard this past week, so we had fresh peach cobbler and blackberries with ice cream.  Yum.  (Note to self - resume diet!)

Forgot to mention that my sister and her husband were here for a couple of days last week.  It is always good to see them.  We went shopping one day, and had a wonderful time visiting.  I don't get to see her often enough.

I don't like unsewing!

I've been busy putting the "Church Quilt" on my Gammill this past week.  This quilt is one that my small quilting group donates to the church where we meet each year as a thanks for letting us use the facility.  The top was donated by my friend, Judy, to the club and I get to quilt it this year.  I've been a little nervous about this.  I've quilted for myself and for gifts, but this is different!  I asked Judy how she would quilt it and she told me to put it on the machine and let it talk to you.  This has been one silent quilt!  I tried sweet talking it, scolding it, and even threatening it, but ..... nothing.  I picked out thread.  Still nothing.  I finally picked out a pantograph and set it up, and stitched about three inches - and something screamed "NO" - was it the quilt?  We'll never know.  I stopped and am now in the process of "unsewing" the stitches I made.(Note the seam ripper near the corner of the quilt!)  Starting over.  To make matters worse, it is about 90 degrees hot in my studio.  The AC is being replaced (bless those AC installers who are braving 100 degree heat in my attic right now!)  So - I am moving downstairs to the dining room (where it is a comfy 77 degrees) to cut out a skirt for the play that is to take place at the end of the month.  Gotta get moving on it.  Hubby is playing in a golf tourney today, so I have the house to myself (except for the AC guys), so I should get some serious sewing and quilting done.  I could clean the house instead, but ......

I got to do some quilty stuff tonight!  I put the binding on the old quilt that I am finishing for my friend, Mary.  Now I just have to do the hand sewing, which could take me several days!  My hubby has been watching the Ranger game and my dog, Chico, has been sticking close to him.  It has been a very relaxing evening.

Busy Week!

I have done very little quilting this past weekend - it was Mother's Day and I spent it with family.  I did get the binding done on a quilt for my son-in-law.  I'm so slow when it comes to bindings, and I'm always so anxious to get the quilt finished that it seems that much slower!  I've had lots to do at my day job, and meetings at night, so I'm really ready to get some quilting done.  But... the AC upstairs in my studio is on the blink - the repairman is due this week to put a new unit in for the second floor.  It is a bit warm up there - but I just might brave the heat and get that binding made and attached for the quilt for my friend.  Then I can bring the quilt downstairs for the handwork!

I visited with my accounting guru about setting up my quilting business last week.  I have a lot to do!  But it is exciting to begin a new endeavor.

When I decided to start a blog, I only knew that I wanted it to be Fiber Arts related, with a lot of family stuff thrown in, because that is who I am.  I am a wanna be Fiber artist, hampered only by lack of time. 

I have always played around with fiber arts – making my own clothes, and clothes for my sister, mom, and my children.  I watched as both my grandmothers sewed both clothing and quilts– out of necessity – and I loved the creative process.  One of my earliest memories is of me stitching away at doll clothes – and doll quilts, and being totally engrossed.  I loved Home Ec in school, and initially wanted to be a home ec teacher, but life kind of got in the way.  I fell in love with a wonderful man, and we married, and had a fabulous family, and I got busy.  In my spare time, I sewed, started quilting in earnest, learned to knit and crochet (or I should say, relearned, because the grandmothers again had piqued my interest in those things.)  I dabbled in weaving, studied spinning, but never started, and planned all those projects I would start when I had the time.  I am still doing that – at the age of 63, I have finally realized that if I want my dream, I have to make the time for it, not just try to fit it in.

  

I have many, many projects going on at the same time!  I’ll gradually introduce them – don’t want to overwhelm anyone.  I just took a quilt off my Gammill – a very old top that a friend found in the attic of her very old house.  She was going to toss several tops she found, but asked if I would like them.  Of course I said yes, and now I’ve quilted the first one. I still have to bind it - not my favorite part of the process.  I’ll post a picture when I find my camera!  This quilt has several mildew and other stains and is not very square, but it   quilted nicely.  When I finish quilting it, and get it bound, I plan on dyeing it “tea” colored – I think that will help with the stains, and I’ll give it back to my friend. 

On the family front - this weekend is Mother's Day (Yeah!), and tomorrow we are having a family day at our house.  My hubby is building a playhouse for the grandkids, and everyone is coming over for the project.  We will cook hamburgers on the grill, and have a picnic.  It should be a great Saturday.  I may even get some quilting done - at least get that binding made and sewn on.  

Until the next time I log on - 

Blessings to all.