DARE Graduation

The youngest grandchild has hit this local milestone.  It's a program that is so needed in this day and age IMHO.  The program is about Saying NO to drugs, No to under age drinking and builds self confidence and what to do in certain situations to keep your self safe in skit mannerisms.  The local Sheriff's Department has an employee at the school for Fifth Graders, getting to know the children and build a rapport with them and lead as a prime example of community involvement.  Many children treated this Deputy as the Pied Piper.

I love these Boys!
PGS#3 on the left with his BFF, RS what a great kid! on the right
Congratulations Guys!  

 

Slow Stitching Sunday

Joining along with Kathy for the Slow Stitching Sunday and loving the progress made of the Lizzie Kate Winter.

Just noticed the upper left part of the V is weird, think I ran out of thread.  Off to check on it and get ready for the super bowl.  Meeting up with friends, our dish is all set and my portable project with hearts is all set.  

                                 Now who is playing?    

Just kidding,    

Go Patriots! 

Football games, youngest grands here.....

So much for posting once a month!  What's that they say against the best laid plans?   Well of of my blogging plans were thrown out somewhere and I've had all I can do to keep up.  Since the last post DH and I have had more Doctors appointments, heart work ups for him (another catherization) and surgery for myself.  The gardens are being closed up and finished up until next year and there's yet more to get done for them.  Landscape blocks laid around the perimeter being one item, etc....

So I'll give some bits that happened through our summer.

PGS#2 had Prom with his beautiful girlfriend, Kayla.

Josh and Kayla May 2014
 

PGD#1  and family went to Disney- Of course they had to let her be a princess 2014 they all enjoyed themselves immensely.

 

PGS#1 received 2 awards at school in June and we were able to get to Mass for it.  :)

 

Youngest grandson, PGS#3 graduated preschool with super star and a more serious photo of him in the center,

way to go, lil' guy

the whole family attended the ceremony

 

Husband and his two sisters at a nephew's graduation party

 

 

grand daughter acting silly with her favortie 'spaghettios"

First time fishing for each of them and they each caught 7 fish!

A great time and a picnic near Lake Champlain

Our maple tree is glorious!

DH at one of our favorite spots after a football game near Lake Placid.

Daughter participated in her first race with friends and coworkers. The Muderella in Maine and she had a blast!

It's been a rush and there's so much more.  Sewing and quilting have taken a back seat for a bit but I was able to attend a quilt weekend to attend a Hunter's Star quilt class with a friend, Trudy along with another friend Cathie who did another class and studio time too.  Was able to have fun, sew, and make new friends, (Elsie and a few others) so was a very nice "me" time spent in September.   : )   Will be sharing that project on another day. 

TTFN,
Jane 
 

Veteran's Day and 11/12/13

Have been sick recently with a cold.   This past weekend was a busy and a sad one.  I was out of town for my guild's meeting with a friend on Saturday.  Then on Sunday and Monday we were mourning the loss of two friends with the ceremonies all of that contains.  All because of a tragic accident and lives snuffed out too quickly.   Goodbye Frannie and Barb.  You are taking this last trip together, may you both find peace.

So with all that shared,  I didn't do what I normally like to do and post of honored Holidays, my birthday and unique dates.   I am okay and will beback shortly.    Am gathering my steam .....  Jane

Quilt show entries, First one- "Tweet Camping"

Thank goodness our local quilt show isn't a judged show, otherwise most of my entries would have been shown to the door.  And no, I am not kidding!   Our show has many ribbons that people can win and people with all kinds of areas, expertise and backgrounds are asked to pick their favorite.  Of course some picks are spectacularly done quilts, well deserving of their awards while some others are nice quilts, but not as great as some that are just as well deserving IMHO.    The show kept taking my breath away with the many and varietied quilts shown.   I also would be remiss not to  mention that a good friend, Michele won a well deserved ribbon for her New York Beauty Quilt entry (Talk about Gorgeous!!!) and my granddaughter won a ribbon for her first Doll Quilt. 

Well done Michele, McKenna and fellow members of CVQG of NY!

 

I did the bare minimum for quilting because I procrastinated way too long.  

When I registered them in June, I figured they  would be done for the show.   

I had 5, Yep,  I said 5 UFOS that I entered. 

I figured that by committing them to be there, I'd get them done.  ROTFLOL!!!!

 

But I swear

I will never,

EVER!

I mean NEVER EVER!!  do this to myself again!!!

 

So this post will share the parts about

 

"Tweet Camping"

 

This quilt came to be  because I found this Bird fabric at my LQS and fell in Love with it.   The pattern design was inspired by a connecting threads kit I saw in their catolog but the dimensions wouldn't work because it was a baby quilt and the much smaller blocks wouldn't play well with this fabric so  I played with lots of math to make my own.  With the pattern, I really like the fact that all of those rectangles were being stacked and packed so to speak (a much needed choir when it comes to camping) so it seemed a perfect fit especially with the wobbliness of those stacks tottering.  Shopping my stash first,  then shopping for  a few more batiks to throw in for good measure gives this quilt a bit of color and punch.  I find projects made from different fabric lines is very appealing.  Quickly,  I even envisioned having shipping peanuts (circular shaped packing protectors) quilted in the white background areas with much more quilting done for the boxes, sashings and borders. So off it went.

 

 

 

What I was able to get done was quilt a "linking squares" meander  in the outside blue borders 

with the "peanut packing" for the white areas. 

Running out of time, I had to leave the rest of the quilting for when I have more time after the show. 

Thankfully it hung well enough at the show not to be too huge of an embarrassment.   A vanilla cream, minkee dot was used for this back which makes it a very cuddly and drapable quilt.  

 

 

Close up shots of the quilting in the border, white spacings while I was auditioning bindings.  

Quilting was done with a Universal needle without any problems

using the minkee dot backing, as for the threads, many were used. 

 

In the borders a Superior Lava Thread called KuKui Nut (soft browns) was used for the top and bobbin.

In the white background a Superior's Kimono white silk(color 373) for the top and

 Superior's White Bottom Line in the bobbin.

I'm thinking of dong a back and forth motion in the sashings and perhaps cross haches in the stacked boxes but am unsure what to do in the bird focal fabric.  Any and all ideas or suggestions are welcome.  What would you do? 

 

 

 

 

I love having piping or flanges on many of my projects, but elected not to on this one and just finished it simply by using the striped fabric that went with this fabric line called  "Love Lives Here" by P. Carter Carpin by P&B textiles.    I love this bird print and it fit the bill nicely for the For the Birds hop I participated in earlier this year.  Another tidbit to share is how a different label was made for it.  I folded 2 blocks with some sashing from that row I took off the quilt since it was really too long before borders and turned them into a label.  If there is any damage in the years to come, that label can help with many of the fabrics contained within.  Also a strip of the selvage from that fabric line was used too as to document more of the information and who wouldn't like the motto "love lives here".

Here's how it looks:

 

 

 

To the left of those stacked blocks is the date, quilt name, place done and maker's name documented centered with more brown and blue fabrics.
 This is the largest label I've ever made, it's huge 14"x 12".

 

 Finally I'll share a shot of "Herman" the weeping cedar bush near the pool deck, showing Tweet Camping in the backyard where love lives here.

Tweet Camping
88" x 88"
 

I'll share more of the quilts that were entered by me bit by bit. Sorry this was photo heavy but I wanted documentation for  future reference.  First item on my agenda this week will be to quilt the sashings on this quilt and read the book The Saving Graces which our club meets on Wednesday to discuss.  I totally slid on my reading while focusing on getting ready for the show.  Enjoy your Holiday. 

Jane    8^)

Stash Report #13 of 2013 and a March's Mew FO

With a couple of Superman Capes made for the youngest grandchildren this past week (sorry no photos grabbed of those, they literally flew out the door, LOL!), there is movement (no less  two weeks in a row now) of stash used!    YEAH ME!!!!

This weeks stash report #13 of 2013,     drumroll ....... 

Stash In: 0 Yards 

Stash Out: 2 Yards

YTD In: 38.75 Yards

YTD Used/Out the Door: 22.5 yards

That's a Net gain this year of 16.25 more yards into stash for this year.

 

 

Yesterday I thought I'd be able to report another 3 yards out the door with making the Little Something Jacket, (March's New FO or as it's referred to this month as a MewFO, lol) out of some rayon  during a sewing day with most of my Circle of Friends quilting group.    What can I say...


 

Me...all day...and, this is all I got done!  
Jacket cut out, shoulders sewn together and one sleeve added.  But, my well was filled with laughter and the support that only girlfriends can provide.  It was a nice and successful day.    Sorry though that Carol, Michelle and Lee couldn't make it, you three were missed. 

 

 

 

DH's health issues are troublesome again but I had to chuckle when I found this gem despite the risk DH is going through.   Thank goodness I do have some good ones!  

 

On another very happy note, I won a giveaway from Cindy at Quilt Doodles!     An electronic copy of her pattern Coneflowers was in my inbox when I got back home today.   I really love that design and will be kitting it up for a project.  The kits I'm making up will be for when I drive DH to some of his appointments, I'll be having some great hand projects to help keep my sanity. 

Then even more, when going through the snail mail, oh my!  another happy surprise, the package from Marcia from Sewing and quilting blog  sent me the winnings from her giveaway.  Several beautiful notecards with a sweet postcard thrown in the mix too.  How thoughtful! 
Thank you both so much.  Perhaps I should purchase a lottery ticket, I feel so fortunate!

Enjoy your holiday weekend and the blessings of your life.
 

Jane

Stash Report 10 of 2013

Stash In: .25 Yards 

Stash Out: 0 Yards

YTD In: 31.75 Yards

YTD Used/Out the Door: 17.5 yards 

That's a Net gain of 14.25 more yards into stash for this year.

 

 

I bought 1/4 yard yesterday with some trims to finish that Santa's reindeer CXS I shared last week. Am planning on turning that into a little pillow fob to hang on one the knobs of the master bedroom's armoir.  Suffering form a red face now, would you believe I still need to rip out those lil' blue eyes and stitch them better!

Anyways.....

 

Yesterday was one of my guilds meeting, I belong to two.  We had a guest speaker, pattern designer Sue Pritt for our program.  Her lecture included her progression as a quilter and particularly into pattern designing with a very appropriate trunk show.  Talk about eye candy!   Here's a link with some of the patterns she is known for.

 

 

During her program she offered alot of interaction with the audience.  Here's a snap of my very good friend Gina with her crown after winning the statue of Liberty crown for answering New York Beauty block  when asked. 

She wore it well! 

 

Some of her quilts shown are the following.

 

What a nice and very enjoyable lecture.  Then the  workshop she offered to members afterwards was terrific. 

She did ZENDOODLING. 

It was a very similiar concept to Zentangles and to me, it resembled some of the free motion quilting Leah Day shares on her blog.   

 

Anyways, both Gina and I stayed for the workshop and  really liked it. 
 

Here's my class project.

 

Not only did I spend a gorgeous and enjoyable day with a friend,  but I also not only came home with one additional project, but TWO.   I won another giveaway Sue had.

 

 Answering correctly what PIG stood for. 
LOL

I'm ending this post with more photos of what Sue Pritt's Zendoodles samples consisted of. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Getting it done - March's list

Since February was a short month and all but one of the four listed  items for Getting It Done Challenge were completed, I'm not going to beat myself up about the one that didn't!  My book club met tonight at 7pm and my grand daughter didn't leave until 6pm and then we had to fit supper in there too so the plans I had for tonight are being thrown under the bus!  I had thought of getting that backing done tonight after getting home, but I still am in too much pain with the back issues and I am tired.  So I'll start off March's list with that encore.

I also notice so many other bloggers get so much done and accomplished that I feel like such a major slacker!  So my intention is to pick up my pace this next month.  What you may be asking, do I have planned?

1. Get the backing made for the Lone Star quilt and send it off to a Long arm quilter.
2. Make the long awaited Kindle Bag/Cover that I've been wanting to do since forevah!  This will be a New FO for March.  I love it when a project can fill the bill in two different challenges!  Sneaky, I know.
3. Stitch Me Up Project- A new blog hop coming in March.  This will be a New FO for this month too.  I really am enjoying these blog hops Madamme Samm thinks up.  This is a personal challenge of mine to perhaps participate in one each month.  It gives me a chance to grow and explore, stepping out of my comfort zone.
4. Quilt the Convergence Wallhanging.
5. Make the - A Little Something Jacket.  It seems silly to do that now when I am really focused on loosing weight, but I am tired of waiting til who knows when!  It'll get done.
6. Hopefully if all of these are done then perhaps I can start a long over due Baby Quilt for a friend's grand daughter.  Wish me luck on this one.  It may have to wait to April though since it's already number 6 here.

Ambitious or NUTS?    Who knows, I just may surprise myself. 

With my most recent post, I was pleasantly surprised by how many blog friends stopped by and left such nice comments.  My head is beginning to swell with all of those kind words and praise over that quirky rendition of me, that I thank you all.  Another amazing note is how many people want to follow this little blog of mine!  To me it's a very public journal of the happenings in my life with highlights on vacations,  family and friends besides the hobbies or current interests from my perspective so I am humbled by the connectedness I'm feeling with such attention. 

Thank you all so much.  My heart is open and I feel so blessed to enjoy the many friendships gained  through this modality.    I can only hope I don't bore you to tears!  lol

Jane

Light your candles

 

I WILL LIGHT CANDLES…

Howard Thurman, The Mood of Christmas

 

I will light candles this Christmas

Candles of hope

Where despair keeps watch

Candles of courage

For fears ever present,

Candles of peace

To ease heavy burdens,

Candles of love

To inspire my living,

Candles that will burn all the year long.

This also was the Christmas page I printed and gave to my book club friends with a unique candle holder that spiraled upwards manually so as the candle burns down just the right amount is shown above the holder.  And of course a Yankee Candle was given too.   Thought it was a very appropriate message considering the recent days. 
We have our year end gathering at a nearby restaurant this evening.  Looking forward to it.


 

Meandering on the Big EZ

Not too much going on just now.  Recovering from a nasty flubug that gripped me quickly on Sunday.  Uhhh!  Thought I was actually passing another kidney stone or two but no just neuro muscular pains.  Probably from heaving so thoroughly. The  Official diagnosis from Dr, I kid you not "You've got a case of the "Pukey poopies".  Hows that for a proper dx?  LOL
Sums it up nicely and it's just what it was.  Though my insides still feel like a huge battle was fought and lost,  but I am starting to feel at least human again.  TG!


For my creations I've been trying to add a couple of threads to the Miss Shabby Chic I started last year.  I'm on my 5th block now and doing the August one.  Hopefully I'll be done that be this weekend and can start another block, maybe I'll do the September one next.  I made more headway this past Saturday when our Circle of Friends Quilt Group met at the local fire station.

Perhaps I can push my efforts on this and try to get the other 7 done by the end of this year.  That means one block a week so I should be close to the year end if I can keep up. 

Also, I played around for awhile trying to get a good quilting design for the Lil' Miss' Big EZ quilt.   Drawing on the white board is such a great concept and so simple which I dearly thank Dawn Ramiriz, The Pajama Quilter for.  Ever since I saw it on her DVD, I have been using it and besides the apparant auditioning the design it also helps muscle memory to draw it out so it actually comes out better as you progress.  Practice.... practice... practice. 

My final decision was for  a wonky stylized flower. 

Here's a peak or two.

I'm only about 1/4 th of the way done but here too I'll be putting forth a small effort each day.  I was thinking if I sew 2 bobbins worth of thread each day, then by Thanksgiving if not sooner it'll be quilted and ready for the next step.



I use big yellow pins to mark where I need to start the next day
when I hit a road block while quilting.  Makes it easier to start
right back up without searching. 

I was progressing along fine and then my tension seemed to slip. 

I could see my bobbin thread looping on the top (aka: eyelash) and knew I needed to lower my top tension number. 

So I decided that was enough for today

and will clean my machine

and do the adjustments needed

to start fresh tomorrow. 

 

 

Oh why, oh why  does this have to happen just when I'm on a good flow?  Beats me!  But I will prevail.  

Que sera!

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy your day,

Jane

A nice Halloween

Janice or The Wild Thing?

Remember last week  I mentioned a friend called out an SOS for her Halloween costume?  Well here she is with all of her animal friends.  This teacher goes all out in everything she does.  She actually borrowed an inflatable Frankenstein so it could attend the creepy story she read during reading.   I actually didn't do that much, brain storming, sewing animal sleeves on pillows and figuring how to show all of her friends with her.  Too Cute Janice, great idea!

Then this little moppet as the Bride of Frankenstein.  Her costume actually is from an alien costume.  I had sent a video clip of the Bride of Frankenstein to her Mom so she could buy the appropriate materials for me to make a costume about 3 weeks before Halloween. 

Well my DD went to the closest Joann's, about 90 minutes away with the expense of a Ferry ride and bought cob web material in plastic packaging and a black shimmery spider web  lace that she thought I could attach to PGD#1 bridal outfit.  initially it's what we discussed but DD didn't want lil' Miss bride outfit distressed and it's still a little big for her.  What she bought just  would not work, so I brought her to the den and pulled out that clip and showed her how Frankestein's bride was dressed.  A satin type sheet even would work, I could make her dress from that or fabric similiar to that then use a white turtle neck shirt underneath it if she could find it.  Luckily she found this Alien costume that worked just fine. 

 

Not to be left out her little brother PGS#3 was a monkey and truer words were never said.  He didn't let his Dad put the Monkey face hood on, it's too hot, etc.......  He's only 3.

Preschool getting lined up for the Halloween Parade, check out the lil' monkey towards the end.

And not to leave out my other two grandchildren, PGS#2 just got his learner's permit.  Congratulations!
And PGS#1 just turned 19 on the 30th, Happy Birthday Honey.  I miss you.






 

The Big EZ and other bits

The top is assembled and now I'm thinking about how to back it, quilt it to finish it before I slide it aside and it becomes a UFO.    I really am trying to get my projects completed so they can be put to use instead of just proceeding along to the next step then having my typical huge stall where a large chunk of time passes before I proceed to the finish line.  
That's my intention, Wish me luck.

As for another area that has many UFO's is in my counted cross stitch items.  I stitched 4 different little designs last fall and then, you guessed it, I laid them aside.  Well right after I finished the Big EZ I pulled out some Halloween themed prints and I am going to finish these before Halloween of 2012.     I swear!!!!!!   I really mean it this year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just a peek though:

 

 

I had to run downstairs and get out some fibers and trims that may work for some of the finishing. 

 

 

Tonight I went to a friend's house after her pleading call to help her assemble parts for her Halloween costume.  She's a teacher at the local Elementary School and always has a fantastic costume.    This year's costume will be no exception.  We were able to come up with a nice game plan on how to proceed with her idea and what sewing needs to be done.  I just wish I remembered to bring my reading glasses with me.    I could not thread a needle to save my soul and she doesn't do any stitching.  What a fine pair we made.  Lol  we giggled despite making some progress.   She'll be calling me when she's able to find a purple shirt and a purple shag rug.  I think she'll  have to do some thifting. 

I also need to get started on finishing my PGD#1's costume.  Hopefully not too much will be needed but I told her Mom I needed some time to work on it and not to do it last minute.   I hope she heard me. 

 

I've always loved this time of year but it's  also very bittersweet for me. 

My eldest Grandson who is autistic and has other mental issues has been institutionalized

since he was 8 years old and lives out of state. 

I miss him terribly and his Birthday is the day before Halloween.

I am hoping that DH and I will be able to visit him sometime soon. 

We have not seen him for 2 and a half years.  I wonder how he is and can't wait to be able to see for myself how he is.   

 

 

Oh Well,  Enjoy yourselves in what ever circumstances you find yourselves,

Jane