Happy Thanksgiving Day

A fantastic day to remember all the things to be thankful
for - family, friends, health, etc.

Have a blessed day.

Mary

Christmas Stuff

I started working on some Christmas stuff a couple of weeks ago. Here are some of the pillowcases that I made. The top one I did some machine embroidery of playful penguins, the pattern is from Embroidery Library - one of my favorites place to download embroidery patterns.

Today while I was out doing some errands, I picked up some fabric for stockings for over the fireplace. Thought I could get the fabric quilted tomorrow, then during the week I could get the names embroidered on them and get them assembled.

Pretty much a quite day off - which was all I wanted for today.

Mary

Latest Quilt Finished

I finished this quilt this morning, really pleased with the results. I decided to to the trailing leaf quilting design in the inner border just to break up all the straight lines. Next the binding and some hand stitching, but unfortunately progress on the quilt will have to wait since it is a work day today.

Another rainy day here though I should not complain since we have a major drought going on. Should stop raining tomorrow then its going to get colder.

Oh well, have a great day.

Mary

Day of Quilting

Can't believe its been along time since I posted anything but today is the day for a post. Its cloudy here with off and on showers - just a cold day here.

So I'm spending the better part of today doing some machine quilting. I made quilt from charms (5" squares of fabric) I had collected through some swaps I had with one of the message board I belong to. No specific pattern just 4 patch blocks paired to create 8" blocks for a total of 30. Body of quilt is 5 8"blocks by 6 8" blocks then a neutral inside border and a brown outer border. I have decided to use a black print for the binding fabric. The batting is a 80/20 blend and a large crosshatch quilting pattern in the center with quilting piano keys in the border - no idea yet for the inner border.

The puppies are of no help today, they have decided once again for today to schedule a day of napping.

I have a confession - I like coffee! Those that know me know that - I like hot, cold, iced, flavored, frothed, etc.
I have been looking for awhile for a new coffee maker, the one I had was wearing out - hard to take apart to clean. So for the past few days there have been ads on TV and Radio for the single serve machines listing all the wonderful features and variety of coffees available. Knowing these advertisements were geared towards my search I bit, I purchased a Tassimo from Target on Monday along with a couple of different coffees. So Tuesday morning I unpacked it and followed the cleaning procedure in the manual - yes I read the manual - so it would be already for Wednesday morning, my day off. So Wednesday I got up and made my first cup, pretty good but needed to add a little more water - second cup perfect and the best thing about the second cup was not only that it tasted great but it was just as hot as the first unlike what I was use to. So as I am writing this blog I am on a latte break.

Enjoy!

Mary

WOW - End of August Already!

Can't believe its been a month since I have last posted anything.

Well Miss Kaleigh came to visit again this weekend to have some swim time before the season ends. Always such a bright spot in our hearts. Plenty of pool time, even an evening swim highlighted the weekend.

Kaleigh even got into jumping from the steps and probably wore her Grandpa out. She wanted to jump in because her Daddy and Grandpa were jumping in but she was selective where she jumped from. Added the video of her plunges into the pool, every so often she would ask if I was ready - meaning did I have the camera ready.

I have also added some pictures of an area outside of Tellico Plains TN to my Webshots Album labeled 2008. Last week we spent a few days camping outside of Sweetwater TN and one day we drove to Tellico Plains and then traveled some towards the Cherohala Skyway. Got a few pictures of the Waterfalls and river if you care to view. While we were there we also went to the attraction the Lost Sea, but unfortunately we both forgot the camera. That was a very interesting tour of the massive cave system leading to the underground lake. It was great just to get away if only for a few days.

Mary

Little Miss Kaleigh's Day at the Pool

Today Miss Kaleigh and of course her mother and father came to visit us; and of course there was some pool time. We started off with some swimming before lunch, then lunch, an afternoon nap and then more swimming. She was right there for all the splashing, jumping, swimming, throwing water bombs, etc. For a 3 year old she never backed down, she would be right in the middle of it. It was a great day and I know bedtime will come early tonight.

Mary

I never thought......

Well I never thought there would be a day when I would get excited over $3.66 for a gallon for gas. Well today was the day - didn't take me long to decide that I needed to fill up. And then when I was leaving the gas station a young man was caring out the number 2 to change the price - dang another 10 minutes and I could have saved another 4 cents per gallon!

Today is kind of a quiet day around the house. I'm off today and I took Joker off for a day at the spa (grooming), of course he will not be happy with me but he'll appreciate the shorter do with all this heat. Sadie had surgery this morning to remove a growth on her leg and small growths on her eye lid, so when she comes home tonight she'll need special attention. And Larry and Dee-o-Gee are sleeping so its time for some quilting.

This is a quick lap size quilt I put together a couple weeks ago using 1930's fabric, the pattern is called Bricks and Blocks. I'm using a 80% cotton/20% polyester blend batting and a lighter weight white thread for the stitches. I'm doing a pantograph pattern called Plumage for the quilting design - its a real nice feather type pattern.

But for right now I think its lunch time and then time for a float in the pool since its in the 90's again and my day off.

Mary

Before and After

Thought I would do before and after pictures of the kitchen update. Not sure about the light fixture above the table, thinking I need to update that too. Pictures on the walls - need opinions - kind of thinking of black frames, not sure. Like I said I'm open to ideas.

Mary

My Banana Tree

Thought I would share a couple of pictures of my banana tree. I got it in May when it was only a foot tall and now it stands over 3 feet. Its a fast growing plant, when one leaf opens another one is starting to emerge. My father-in-law always told my that this was the 'banana belt' so its only fitting I have one growing here. Unfortunately it does get too cold here in winter to survive but we will try to keep it in the garage over winter and see if we can keep it going if it isn't too tall.

And you say I don't have a green thumb - grow that Joann!

Mary

New Countertop Installed

Well the new countertop was installed on Monday morning - what a difference it makes. I chose a solid surface countertop with an undermount sink, I really like the look of it. The top is by LG HI-MACS in the Maui Quartz color and a white under mount sink - its a real neutral color that can either go with warm or cool colors. Unfortunately my plumbing was not installed until Tuesday evening. Now that all the inconvenience is done with it is time to finish up grading the look. By Tuesday evening we finished painting the walls (pictures to come later). I want to do a tile back splash but have not decided on the tile as of yet. Kind of thinking of a matte white tile in a brick pattern with a light beige grout line - yep watching too much HGTV!
Mary

I Hate Wallpaper!!!

Have I said this before how much I dislike wallpaper in my house. I don't dislike it in other homes but I'm basically a paint type of gal, maybe a faux finish but really just painted walls. I spent my last 2 days off stripping wallpaper in my kitchen and if you have noticed in the 2nd picture no more blue countertop.

I started this project in my mind a long time ago always wanting to eventually change the look of the kitchen but since most of the time I'm the queen of procrastination it took awhile. I would look at different counter tops at work and dream, finally I got more interested this past spring, introduced my idea to Jody and a month or two later I ordered the counter top. I ordered the new top at the end of May and thought I had more than a month to get rid of the wallpaper - wrong! I ordered on the 31st of May, they called to set up the template appointment that following Thursday and install for today.

Special thanks to my husband for priming the walls over the weekend, so I am set to paint once the install is done.

Off to feed the puppies and get them to day camp (5th wheel)before the installers arrive.

Mary

My Rose Bush

Yes I know I didn't grow this - but I have kept it alive for the past 2 weeks so I deserve some credit. We were at Lowe's one night about 2 weeks ago buying azaleas for the front of our house when Jody came back to the cart with this bush. It's a grafted rose bush and is quite stunning. I asked him how much and he told him he did not know but he liked it, so on the cart it went. Then he asked me where I was going to plant it, ?????, I responded I didn't know, hadn't planned on it. So right now it is in the decorative pot it came in but will find a home up by the fence in our backyard.

Today will be just a cleaning day, don't want to but need to. Then hopefully some sewing and quilting. I have the quilt I made for our bed last winter on the frame, its been on it for more than a week. I was having all kinds of issues with my tension, self induced of course. After changing the needle, playing with the tensions, etc., I finally changed the thread in the bobbin to the same thread on top - no more issues. So I have some reversing quilting to do (ripping out stitches) on a third of what I have done so I figure about another week on the frame.

OK, break time is over back to work.

Enjoy!

Mary

Saturday's Day Trip

We left home about 10am with the final destination to be Mount Mitchell on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We headed up I85 to I26 then onto the country roads for the scenic ride to the Parkway. Along the way we came upon Rockhouse Winery - which naturally I had to stop. Unfortunately the sign said that they were open at 1pm and it was well before that. I peered into the window and woke up the dog, as I was heading back to the car the owner called me back up and opened up the tasting room. So with some tasting done and interesting conversation we left with 2 bottles of wine in tow. Back into the car and up the road we headed to a restaurant just off the Parkway for lunch. We sat on the balcony with a spectacular view and the sound of the traffic below our feet. After a great lunch we headed up the parkway to Mount Mitchell, about a 20 mile drive.

As we ascended the mountain it was very evident that spring had just come to the mountains. Trees were first starting to bud, everything was just starting to come alive again. The temperature change wasn't too bad, as we turned off the parkway it was 64 and on top it had only dropped to 53, it was windy but not at all bad. The elevation of Mount Mitchell is 6578 and it truly has some of the most gorgeous views.

Back down the mountain and and off the Parkway to meet and have supper with some old friends of my husband's family, Max Woody and his wife Pat and his son. Max is a true craftsman, Max makes wood rockers that have been sold around the world, the waiting list for one of his rockers is about 4 years. Well after some great conversation and Max telling stories of the past and another great meal we headed out for our 2 hour trip home.

What a great day it was, I have posted more pictures of the Parkway and Mount Mitchell on my Webshots - hope you enjoy the views.

Mary

This Past Sunday's Excursion

This past Sunday we stopped picked up a couple of sub sandwiches and drove up to Lake Jocassee in the later part of the afternoon. The lake is so low, just shows how desperate the south is needing water even the thou this lake has plenty of depth to it. Pretty quiet afternoon at the lake, a few families down by the water and a few boats that came up to the ramp where we were at. I have posted the rest of the pictures on my webshots page.

Unfortunately my next Sunday's excursion will be to work - nothing to take pictures of.

Mary

Taxes Are Done and Filed

Today I finally finished our taxes and for once I'm not writing a check - YIPPEEE!! I did start on them about a month ago so I knew that we were in pretty good shape but I still procrastinated to almost the bitter end - thank goodness for e-file.

After I finished the taxes we took off to the mountains to get away for a few hours. The first stop was what I thought was a winery, fields and fields of grape vines, a nice looking Inn and Restaurant that had a real Tuscan feel. Stopped in the Inn for some information. No Winery, they sell their grapes - ??? - nearest Winery 14 miles away - ??? - looked like a real miss on their part - prefect place to open one up, should have taken a picture.

Ok back in to the car for more riding decided to go to Tryon NC and then back home. Stopped in Tryon for dinner at the local pub, they had a live band playing loudly for a small place. A couple of beers and a quick meal we were on the road again to go around Lake Lure. The picture above is the lakes version of Charleston's Color Row. Its a very peaceful lake even though just about every foot of shore line has a building on it or near it. I uploaded more pictures of the lake on my webshots page in the album 2008.

We were home by 6 and getting ready for the work week ahead and there still is laundry to do.

Mary

Been Busy

Wow can't believe its been along time since I posted last. Can't really think of anything specific that I have done but the month has sure flown by.
Spring is coming along here in the Upstate, different varities of trees and flowers take their turn with their show of colors. Its a beautiful time with all the different colors that spring brings to life. The days have been warm and the nights still cool which makes for enjoyable days.
Mary

Thirteen Years

Today is our 13th Wedding Anniversary, can't beleive it - its gone so fast and I have not regretted it one bit. I wouldn't change anything through the years - its never been boring.

To Jody - I love you and looking forward to another 13 years times 13.

Mary

Spring is Finally Here!

Thought I would share a few pictures of the cherry tree in our yard and could not pass up the first dandelion of the year. The bradford trees in the neighborhood should be in full bloom soon. All the trees are budding out - everything is coming alive again.

I wasn't sure after Tuesday night's storm any blooms would be left on the trees. Jody called me at work and while the storm was going thru and said he thought part of our roof was gone. But lucky enough not, they did report 60 mile an hour winds that went thru. Oh yes, the springtime storms are here again.

Mary

IT'S FINISHED!!

There it is - its finished - my first embroidery digitalizing challenge. Glad I had a chance to do this otherwise I don't think I would have tried to challenge myself like that (I'm sure I would have given up awhile back). File is sent on to the "Embroidery Lady" and my job is done.

The past week sure has been busy for me and has flown by, other than work not sure what sent it flying. Still waiting on the

Maytag repairman to fix my washer. Had the repairman here on Friday and he was talking with Tech support and hopefully figured out what the problem was. Said he would be back on Saturday to finish up - forgot to ask him which Saturday. So today was traveling laundry again - its getting a little old.

The weather has been pretty mild the past few days - high 60's yesterday but cooler today. I noticed today that we have a tree that is just starting to bloom - not too long now before the trees all start to come alive again. Spring is one of my favorite times of year when the days are warm and the nights are cool, all the trees and flowers start coming out of their long winters sleep like they are being born again.

I was catching up on reading my sister's blog today (link to the right) and she talk about being immersed in a creative activity is a sacred time, how being involved in your craft is relaxing and renewing. How true that is, I know I can find relaxation and calming effect after a tough day after a little time at the machine.

Mary

Isabelle's Quilt

I finished the hand work on Isabelle's quilt this morning, unfortunately a day after I wanted to but still time to ship on Tuesday to make it by the weekend. The quilt started with the idea of a simple log cabin layout and the embellishments

were added after Kim mentioned Isabelle's mother likes elephants. So an applique elephant and flowers were added to decorate this colorful quilt. I used soft and bright poly batting and simple machine quilting to finish it off. This is the first time I did praire points on the edges and I think theycompliment the quilt just beautifully. I must say I am pretty please with it.

Every now and the take on online class thru Quilt University to learn a different technique, classes on EQ software and various other things in the quilting world. The one I am taking now is on Bargello Quilts, this is my 'homework' from the first lesson. I thought it turned out quite nicely and it together really easily. There are 3 more lessons to this course, so we'll see what I can come up with next.

Mary

Tuesday

Well its been a busy few days. I worked this past weekend and was unable to get any amount of work done on Isabelle's baby quilt. I was off on Monday and I was able to finish sewing the quilt and get it on the frame. I finished with a simply border and added the praire point like I had planned - I think it turned out really cute. I was able to finish the machine quilting and I started doing the hand stitching of the backing and should have it ready to send out on Saturday.

Still working on the embroidery badge for my husband, making progress but keep on coming up to issues to figure out. I was able to get it digitalized and now I am trying to refine the embroidery and then add the lettering - which is now where my learning curve increases.

My washer was finally fixed on Monday, it took the repair man about 20 minutes to put in the new water valve. Now to catch up on all the laundry that has been stacking up. I did use it before it was repaired I just needed to play water shut-off myself. I had it all timed out of when to turn the water off and on - so I only did what I needed to and it was all washed on the quick wash cycle. Glad thats all over with.

Well its back to work tomorrow so not much - I hope its a good day, I've got allot to do.

Mary

Thursday

For the past few days I have been working on this baby quilt. I finished appliquing the flowers this morning and I am getting ready to add the borders. I am still undecided of the design of the borders so I will layout a few ideas to preview before I make my final decision. One thing I am sure of is that I want to finish with praire points, I really like them especially on baby quilts.

Today was been a beautiful day in the Upstate, 60 degrees, and I think some of the trees are showing signs of budding out. That's one thing I like about the South, its late autumn when the leaves fall and by the end of February spring is here. Very much unlike the years I spent growing up in Wisconsin where snow mounds were still around in the parking lots late into the month of April.

Hope you have enjoyed your day - I have enjoyed mine.

Mary

Joker's Wild

One year ago we added Joker to our family, after loosing Joe so suddenly my husband searched for a little guy to fill the void we had. He found Joker at a breeder in Ohio, Mickey was his name at that time was 6 weeks old and resembled

Joe so much we had to have him. So my husband set out early in the morning to make a 1200 mile trip to bring him home. Joker as a young pup was always into everything, would drag big pet pillows around, loved to steal socks and to terrorize his older brothers and sisters. At meal time he could not eat the food at the top he would have to go for the food at the bottom of the bowl and eat his way up. As he grew up he loves to run up and down the house squeeking the loudest toy he can find, likes to run and chase balls and toys whatever you will throw for him. So the pictures are of Joker 1 year ago and from today. Diffinently lives up to his name of Jokers Wild and a true joy to have here with us.






Well not much sewing/quilting going on this weekend because I am working. I started the hand work on a this 30's quilt binding. This quilt also started out as a different idea but when I started the sewing it together I wasn't happy with it, so I did some unsewing and choose this layout. It's a nice bright cheery quilt, I used a green fabric for the first border and a peach color for the second border. This quilt is also lap size and I will be offering it for sale.


My next 2 projects, actually three. I am working on digitalizing a picture for embroidery for a patch for my husbands motorcylce group. I never have done much of digitalizing but its coming along. The first stitch out was horrible, the one I just finished is looking pretty good - so that is coming along - hope to have this done by next weekend. I also have a baby quilt a friend asked me to make for the 24th, actually before since I need to ship it. Then my last is a quilt top another friend sent me to add a border to increase the size to a queen size bed quilt and do some simple quilting on.


Looks like a busy couple of weeks here, unfortunately time to get ready for work.

Mary

Saturday

Happy Birthday Kim!

Friday

It started off to be a rainy day here in the Upstate but just before noon blue sky started to break thru the clouds.

Not much sewing today, but I did finish the baby quilt top. I decided against varing the strips placement to give the bargello type effect. I like the way it finished up, crisp and clean looking. I'll get the backing together tomorrow and ready for quilting on Monday. Right now I am thinking I will use a pantograph probably Waterworld, should give some nice movement to this quilt.

As of today my washer still is not fixed, not happy but I'll wait a few more days before I voice my feelings. I wish he would have told me it would be a week before the part would be in, I would rather hear that news on Monday rather than Wednesday - the day the repair man was to be here.

I guess I'll survive - I always do.

Mary

Today is for Joe Cocker

Today is a sad day in our house, 1 year ago today we lost a very loyal friend and companion. Joe Cocker was our second Cocker Spaniel and was a true joy to have in our lives. He absolutely loved to play ball - catching, throwing, chasing anything that had to do with a tennis ball he was there for it. He played right up to the day before he died, which is how I found out he was not well when he would no longer want to play. The poor little guy had a tumor growing in his belly that caused his lungs to fill with fluid, he never showed any signs that he was so sick until that day when I noticed his breathing was labored and he was breathing from his abdomen. He died in my arms that night, he wanted to go off by himself but I would not let him, I knew he would not let me be alone. So today is for Joe, we miss him so much.

Mary

Card Trick Finished

Since I can remember starting to sew/quilt I have always given my self some stitchin' time in the AM. Since I work retail my hours vary so the past 2 mornings I opened which means a very limited stitchin' time. On my ealry mornings I like to work on the bindings and since I handstitch them I usually save them for the early shifts. This morning I finished the binding on the Card Trick Quilt next I have a 30's Scrappy Quilt to do.


Since Sunday, I had cut the strips for baby size Bargello Quilt and was able to get a few sewn together to get this quilt started. Thats usually how I get quilts pieced and together, just spending time whenever I can and not before long I have a quilt top done.

Well hopefully tomorrow I'll have my washer fixed. When I called yesterday to find out more information on the timing of my appointment, I described what happened and they ordered the water valve to have it for tommorrow. They were suppose to call today if they had to delay the appointment but no word from them so I will keep my fingers crossed. I don't remember the last time I looked forward to doing laundry but I have enough underwear to get me thru Friday and after that is buy new or go to the Laundromat. So fingers crossed because I don't really want to travel with dirty clothes.

Once again tomorrow will be a whole new day.

Mary

My First Post

This is all new to me since I have never blogged before nor kept a journal.

First I will tell you the I live in the Upstate of South Carolina with my husband of almost 13 years and our 4 Cocker Spaniels. I am a manager with a 'big box retailer' and have a small quilting business on the side.

I started quilting approximately 10 years ago when I could not find a comforter to fit the king size mattress we had purchased. It was a simple Rail Fence pattern and was hand quilted, wasn't very pretty but it fit the need. We do not use it anymore but I still do not have one of my quilts on our bed, that will soon change since I now

have completed the quilt top just needing to be quilted. From that first quilt my interest just grew, I became very interested in Alex Anderson's program Simply Quilts and could never miss an episode. I'm a fan of Eleanor Burns Quilt in a Day and adapt allot of her techniques to the way I piece my quilts.

Thru the years I have upgraded my sewing machines and frames I use. I have a Brother ULT2003 sewing/embroidery machine for my piecing and I use a HQ16 on a Handiquilter frame to do my handguided quilting. I have also, like any true quilter, have a well established fabric stash - my favorites are the 30's fabrics, using them always make a nice bright and cheery quilt.

I have a small quilting business, currently I have a store on eBay and I sell some of my quilts on consignment at a craft shop back home in Wisconsin. I soon will be offering machine quilting service and binding service to my eBay store and along on my website.

I am currently finishing the binding on a lap size quilt, the blocks are called Card Trick. The focal fabric of the quilt is a multi-colored floral on a black background with the blocks in a mottled fabric in complimenting colors. (Like I said I am new to this blogging I am not sure how to remove the duplicate picture). Once I am finished with this quilt I will be offering it for sale at my eBay Store.

I had plans of starting a Bargello Baby Size Quilt but my washer decided to change my plans today. Since I worked all week today was laundry day, put a load of whites in and after a little while I heard the signal chime 3 times so I went to investigate. The washer was overflowing and there was a odd code on the display, so I shut off the water and yelled for my husband. After a bit for vacuuming up the water I tried to get the washer to at least spin the wet clothes out, it did pump the water out but would go no further with the cycle. So after searching for the receipt and the extended warranty paperwork I was at least able to make an appointment to have it repaired.

Well 2 glasses of wine, alittle comfort food and 3 chocolate kisses have completed my day, not sure what tomorrow will bring---I guess I'll find out.

Mary