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