Life

I guess life must really be getting in the way!!! It has been well over a month since I have posted anything to my blog. Sometimes I just get to involved with other projects to remember to update my blog. I have had my 50th birthday since I last posted, some family illnesses, as well as my own health problems, but I do believe that all is getting better for the time being.

I really need to get busy with my quilting, and other necessities of life (yes, I consider quilting a life necessity for me). So to all of my blog followers I am going to try to keep up better.

I would also like to Thank my Secret Pal, for the wonderful September package. I can't wait to finish the miniature quilt, and hang it in my office at work.

W.)

August DJ Secret Pal Package

WOW it sure has been a long time since I have posted! I guess life has been to busy, and exciting lately.

I got this lovely package for my Birthday month from my DJ Secret Pal. Every month I can hardly wait to get my package, as each one is so unique, and I love them all. I got some teapot fabric, which I love, and I know I will have a hard time cutting into. Some tweezers, for just those times when you need a little something extra to pluck a stray thread etc. Binding clips in a tin, I just seem to never have enough of them. Mini duster, and how fitting that my Secret Pal said that she used hers on her side winder, as I just purchased one yesterday, and my package arrived yesterday. Glue for all of those crafty things, and a chain piecing thread cutter, I had never seen one of these, and just from looking at it I can tell just how useful it is going to be, and I am sure that once I start using it, I won't know how I ever lived without it.

Everything is great and I thank her from the bottom of my heart. These packages are great, and lift my spirits tremendously when I have had a rough day.

W.)

Case Forum Prize Package

My package arrived today for the July CCC Forum drawing. What a great package it was. There was a Case polishing cloth, a sharpening stone. A Stainless Steel Lockback, a Yellow Sod Buster, and a Seahorse Whittler Knife, last but not least, was a Rick Garcia (Rayban) original handmade knife case, designed specifically for a seahorse whittler. The generosity of the men, and women on the knife forum, never ceases to amaze me, as is shown with the package that I received from Blademon (JC) on the knife forum.

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Winner of a Monday

Monday was the first official day of my much needed vacation from work, and what a great day it was. Full of Surprises, and just a calm relaxing day. First thing in the morning I found out that my name was drawn for the July drawing on the Case Knife Forum. My first instinct was to say YAY! I never win anything, but after thinking about it, I no that it isn't so, as I have won several different drawings, and contest where Case knives are concerned, but it was a wonderful surprise.

Later in the early evening, after having spent some quality time with my DH, when we arrived home I had received a surprise package from my DJ Secret Pal. A "SWEET" bouquet of lollipops, some hot iron transfers which I will use to try some red work, a sweet little brass teapot pincushion, which will add nicely to my teapot, and pincushion collections, an Angel for my Angel collection which is now hanging in my sewing studio, over my quilting frame, a stencil which I didn't have, and last but not least , a cute fabric covered box that I had the perfect spot for. I had just set up a small table in front of my bay window, and I had an opening on it that I just wasn't quite sure what to put there, and low and behold my package arrived with the perfect box to put in that spot. I will use this to hold all of the sweet cards that my secret pals from last year and this year have sent. I certainly have been very lucky, as I have had 2 of the best Secret Pals anyone could ask for.

Well, day 2 of my vacation is getting well underway, and I believe it is time for some quilting!!!

W.)

Seth's Graduation Cake

My nephew Seth graduated from High School last week, and we are all so proud of him. His Graduation party is tomorrow, and being that I am the resident cake decorator for our family for everything from Birthday's to Weddings this is what I came up with for his Graduation it is a then and now cake with his Kindergarten, and Senior picture on it. I am really hoping that he likes it. I now consider myself on vacation with this cake finished, and now I can relax for a week. I'm really hoping to get some serious quilting done, and spend some quality time with my DH.

W.)

Flower Head Pin

I am not sure if this is a testimony of the durability of the Janome 6600, the Organ Sewing Machine needle, or just plain old fashioned luck. But tonight as I was layering a quilt and basting the edge to get ready to frame machine quilt a quilt, I accidentally got to close to a pin, and I didn't see it, until I was done, but I felt a pop - pop - pop, and I heard it as well, and just assumed it had hit a thick seam. Well to make a long story short, as I removed all of the pins, and went to meander the first row, I haven't to see a pin that I had missed under the edge of the seam, and I had to get my seam ripper out to remove it as I had sewn it the the quilt threw the flower head. I couldn't believe it. The needle didn't break, the machine is purring like a kitten, and so far (knock on wood) it is still sewing like a dream. This just amazes me as I have broken needles just sewing over a seam wrong, and this didn't sew just once threw the head as you can see it went threw it 3 times. Now is that luck or what.

W.)

Family Traditions

This is the newest addition to my Case Knife Collection. This is a mint set offered only to Case Collector Club Members, and you have to have your name added to a lottery to win the chance to purchase them, as there are only 500 sets made. Well, in all honesty my DH won the chance to purchase them not me, but I had won one from the winter promotion lottery, so I swapped him as I love the family tradition sets. I know knife collecting is so much different from my quilting hobby but this is something that I do with my husband, and we have a great time doing this together. He has many more than I do as I only collect on a small scale, but I enjoy it none the less.

W.)

Another SP Package

I got another DJ Secret Pal package yesterday, they are always a nice surprise when they arrive. I love receiving home made gifts, as they are from the heart, and are a part of the person who made them. they show there personality, and creativity all in one, and give me inspiration as well. For this reason I just love this picture frame she made for me, with all of the buttons, butterfly's, hearts, and lady bugs, which just happens to be my Case Knife forum nick name. Don't my 2 grandchildren look as cute as button in this frame. I was going to take a picture of my 2 four legged children to put in the frame, but being that my grandchildren are cousins, not brother and sister they aren't at my house at the same time very often, so when they both came at the same time today, I decided that this frame was meant to have a picture of the 2 of them together in. The wind chimes are sweet, and I have them hung in my sewing room so I can hear them chime when I have my window open, and I also love the lords prayer charm. She sure is doing a great job, choosing gifts that are me.

W.)

Purple Lasagne

My beautiful red headed granddaughter ordered a purple quilt to take a nap with when she is at Grami, and Papa's house so this is what I came up with. It is a Lasagne quilt, done in every shade of purple imaginable. It is also the first quilt that I machine quilted on my new machine quilting frame, and I think I did quite well for my first quilt. It is a basic large meander.

Machine quilting is not as easy as some may think it is. There is more to it than just moving the machine around. When Lexi was here Friday it was still on the frame, and she wanted to finish it for me. I think she just may be a quilter. She always asks me about my "chine" as she calls it, and goes in and looks over my fabric and feels it. She just loves all of the fabric, so I am thinking that it must be a good sign.

I am hoping to get another quilt quilted but it is just so beautiful outside, that I want to be out there enjoying all of the warmth and sunshine. It was such a long winter, and summer seams so short, that I need to enjoy it while I can.

W.)

DJ Secret Pal

WOW! It sure has been along time since I posted. Things have been very hectic at home, as well as at work.

I have the greatest Secret Pal. The first picture is from my package that I received yesterday from this months gifts. The second picture is the contents of last months package. I loved everything in both of them but some how I got behind and never got last month posted.

I have been practicing on my frame and am getting better at it. It is not as simple as it looks, and it take a lot of practice, but for me it is just like piecing blocks, it is very relaxing, and a great stress reducer.

I have started sewing together a quick lasagna quilt in all purples for my granddaughter who at 3yrs old loves the color purple, and said to me awhile back Grami I want a purple quilt to cover up with at your house. So being that she has me wrapped around her little finger, I thought that I would throw a quick one together so I could use it for frame practice, and make her, her purple quilt at the same time. Her middle name is Rose so I am going to try doing a rose panto design on it for her. I am going to have to make her cousin, and my grandson Kyle a quilt also, as I don't want anyone feeling left out.

W.)

Another Postcard

I had another postcard in today's mail. I have been doing the alphabet with some other swappers, and this one was made by Janet Parde. I love all of the different themes everyone is coming up with for the different swaps. I never would have thought of Bee hive how clever.

I have joined the spring fling swap on the DJ list, so I need to get busy making my blocks for the swap. This is my first time doing the spring fling swap so I decided to only do 2 blocks, but we are to make 5 of each block so 10 total. I am going to add the blocks that I receive back to my "Helping Hands Quilt" made by other DJ'ers that I have swap block's with in 30's re pro fabric. I think with these block's and the one's I have I will have enough for a nice size quilt.

I have been busy today working on a basket block that I am doing with another group. I will post a picture when I get it finished.

W.)

Quiet Easter

Well, my weekend is almost over, boy 4 day's sure go fast when you are having fun. We had our Easter dinner last weekend with the kids, as our youngest went away. We had dinner with my Brother last night, and just spent a quiet day at home today.

I did some PPP on my machine quilting frame, started out quite well, but toward the end I started having some problems so decided that maybe it was time to quit for the day. As, I name my machines etc, and I couldn't think of a name for my frame, I thought of a name awhile ago. I am dubbing my frame "MAX" as it is at the maximum size that I can set it up at for the size room I have. I can do a queen size quilt on it so I am quite happy with it.

Well it is back to work tomorrow so I had better get going and get my stuff around.

W.)

Dinner & a frame

I finally got a picture of my new quilting frame. I have been in practicing since my kids went home. It is not as easy as it looks, but it does take PPP, and I am not doing so bad.

It was a beautiful day but quite cool today, but we are supposed to get a nasty snow storm starting tomorrow. It sure was good to see all of the kids, and my sister in law together today. We had a great dinner, and we then went to see my Mom who isn't feeling real well.

W.)

New Frame

Well I got my new machine quilting frame Friday. I love it. One we got it together I haven't had alot of time to play yet, but was I have done I have really enjoyed. As I try to name some of my
quilting equipment I haven't been able to come up with a name yet. My 6600 is Daisie May, but I am having trouble with thinking of a name for my frame.

DH has been great helping me put it together, and he has been watching for a used quilting machine for me to use on it so I don't have to keep putting Daisy back and forth onto it. I have an old brother machine that I can piece on but once you get used to it bigger machine with all of bells, and whistles it is hard to go back.

I have been watching Micki's blog with interest in her Vampire series. I have read some other vampire books by Ann Rice, and now these sound quite interesting. I really enjoy these kind of story lines, and I am going to check into these books as I enjoy setting outside and reading in the summer, other than quilting it is probably the most relaxing thing I do.

Well, I will try to get a picture of my new toy later. My family will be here for Easter dinner today, as it is the only time we can all get together so I need to get busy. I enjoy having them all here together when we can.

W.)

More Blocks, and a beautiful day

Here are my latest 2 blocks that I have made. The first on is M-1 Spinning Hourglass for my SBS quilt, and the second on is F-1 Big Top of my DJ quilt. Both were the BOW's and I am quite pleased with how they have turned out.

It is a beautiful, yet still chilly day here in WNY, it is supposed warm up later, so I can't wait. But it is mid March so pretty much it will only get better from here.

I am still sorting out my sewing room for my machine quilting frame. It is amazing how much stuff is accumulated in such a short time. I can't wait for the frame to arrive. I'm sure that my children totally think I have lost my mind, but now that they have grown, I now have the space for it. I can't say that I have anymore time, as it seems I have less, and less time now. Now I no what my grandmother used to mean when she said the older you get the faster time goes.

W.)

Secret Pal Gift, & Machine Quilting Frame

I had a lovely surprize in my mailbox today from my DJ secret pal. I also look forward to my little gifties from her. Inside the package was a hot pepper pin cushion, a deck of travelors playing cards, 2 I'd rather be quilting note pads, a cute shamrock with an Irish saying, a scissors leash which I didn't have but needed as I am always losing my scissors, and a baggies of 2" squares which I love, as my favorite quilts are scrap quilts, and the more different fabric I can use the prettier they turn out.

I can't believe it but I ordered my machine quilting frame today. I have been wanting one for a few years, and finally took the plunge today. I feel so guilty about spending the money, but DH convinced me that I deserved it, and that I should order it while I had the chance. I am so excited, I can't wait for it to get here. I am very busy cleaning out my sewing room to put it in. It sure is going to take up a lot of space.

Tomorrow is Friday the 13Th, and I feel a little apprehensive about it as usual since losing a couple close relatives on Friday the 13Th, but I keep telling myself that it is no different than if it were to happen on say Monday the 12Th, it is just that the date keeps me thinking the worst. Well, it's about bed time, and one of my favorite shows is about to start so gotta go.

W.)

SBS, and DJ BOW's

I have finished this weeks BOW for the SBS group. I think it turned out quite well. It sure feels good to be working on this quilt again. Michael Millers fairy frost is my favorite fabric, and I can't wait to see what this quilt looks like when it is finished.

I have also finished this week's BOW on the DJ list I haven't done a lot of work on this quilt in awhile either. I am hoping to also finish the TOW for this group. The triangles can be a real challenge, but I am glad that I have decided to do them as I think they add real character to this quilt.

A new quilt shop has opened in our area finally. It is only 20 miles away, and in the same city that we do our main shopping in, so it is going to be great to be able to go when ever I get groceries.

W.)

Another UFO finished

I just finished putting the borders on this quilt top that I did with the Quiltville Chat group. It is called Strip twist it was done on Super Bowl weekend this year, as a group sew along. I did it in a lap sized quilt, as I wasn't sure what I was going to use it for, and I new that I could always use it as a couch quilt.

All of the talk on the DJ Alternates site has me thinking of my siggie quilts again, and I think I am going to get the borders finished on my 2007 siggie quilt this afternoon. I am going to quilt it on my Janome 6600, and I think I am going to do scalloped borders. I also want to work on some more DJ blocks, and triangles as well as my SBS blocks. Well I guess I had better get busy.

W.)

SP Package, and Lexi's visit

I had a lovely surprise in the mailbox yesterday, a package from my DJ secret pal. It contained a lovely quilt journal. I never had one before, so I just love it, and I no longer have any excuses, and I can now keep a journal of all my quilts that I make. I also received a sweet note pad, with 2 angels inside of a heart on it. I collect angels, and I have always loved hearts, so both of these gifts hit right at home with me, and I love them both.

Our son and granddaughter came to visit today, and after lunch she said Grami I'm so tired, I want a nap so I got her a pillow, and a quilt that I have hanging in the living room to cover up with. Lexi looks at the quilt and says no I want a purple one to cover up with, so Grami being Grami, promised to make a purple one for her to cover up with when she is here, so I guess that will be the next thing on my to do list, but that is OK, as she is so sweet, and I now know that purple must be her favorite color.

Lexi will be waking up soon so I better get going, I also have a few other things I need to do.

W.)

DJ and SBS Blocks

I have really started getting in the frame of mind to get to work on both my DJ and my SBS quilts. I really love working on both of them, and my biggest problem is deciding on which one I want to finish first, so I am going to work on them both at the same time. Here is my latest DJ block F-11 On Target. Probably not my best work, but I worked hard at getting it right. I think it is a keeper, especially if I go with the DJ motto finished is better than perfect. This brings me up to 103, 21, 0, 2692. I am going to go finish the SBS block that I started so that I can get a picture of it posted also.

I found out that I won a raffle for a selected Case Collector Club knife. It is the first drawing of this type of special knife that I have won for my collection. These are special limited edition knives and I can't wait to see it. I will be posting a picture of it as soon as I receive it. Well I have to get to work on my SBS block, as well as finishing up a couple of post cards. Micki, and Rosa yours will be on there way soon.

W.)

More Postcards

Here are some more fabric postcards to have arrived in my mailbox. So much talent. The woman who make postcards, are just as close of a close knit group, as the woman who are on the DJ list. Always there to lend a helping hand, or just to talk when needed. They lend moral support as well, as unlimited kindness. I feel it is an honor to have befriended all of the ladies, on both groups.

The DJ siggie swap is supposed to be announced tomorrow. I can't wait. I have my fabric and muslin, and will order my stamp on Monday.

I found out that a new quilt shop will be opening up only 20 miles away from home, which is good, as my closest one now is about 45 miles away. I go shopping every couple of weeks in the City where the quilt shop is opening so this will be great for me.

W.)

Siggie Fever

Well Siggie fever is striking again, I have sent my Birthday Siggies to the first 2 people on the Birthday Siggie Exchange list. I also recieved these 2 siggies from my DJ friend Kathy Dillman. The first one is for last years Birthday Swap. This will make a great addition to my Birthday quilt. And, the second one is for a one on one swap from last year. I can't wait to get some of my siggie quilts finished.

The BIG SIGGIE SWAP is going to be announced Sunday, and I can't wait. I already have my fabric, it is a blue CW repro fabric, and I have my stamp picked out to use for the center, I have been thinking of using this design for the last 2 swaps, and have decided that this is the year to do it.

DH took me to our not so local quilt shop a couple of weeks ago, and I got some more CW repro fabric for my DJ quilt, and also some Michael Miller fairy frost for my SBS quilt. I can't wait to finish both of them, but I have to work on them in order to finish them. LOL. I seem to keep getting myself to involved in other things, that and a full time job keeps me hopping.

W.)

Valentine Fabric Postcards

I just finished these fabric postcards for a Valentines Day swap. I am calling them "A CANDY HEART VALENTINE". I hope everyone that I made them for likes them. I made them on Michael Millers "Fairy Frost" fabric. I am thinking about sending one of them to my Grand-daughter but not quite sure as she is only 3 and she may think that they are candy and try to eat one.

I am going to start my DJ Birthday Siggies later today. Got a new stamp for them. Can't wait to see what they are going to look like. I also have my stamp for the big swap picked out, and want to order it, but I want to wait and be sure there is going to be one this year.

It sure is a beautiful day. It is 56F, and partially sunny. I can't wait for spring.

Well I guess I had better get busy.

W.)

I have another new hobby, as if I needed one, but oh well, ya only live once. My newest hobby is fabric postcards, I enjoy making and trading them. I made one and that was all it took. I am not quite as addicted to them as making siggie quilt blocks, but I am getting there. Almost makes me want to get a embroidery machine, or embellisher, but I'm not even going to think about that until after I get my quilting frame. Here are some pictures of some of the postcards I have recieved. They are all so special. I can't wait to trade some more.

I got a package yesterday from my Secret Pal 2009', she made me this very sweet DJ friends cut out. It is so cute. I am going to put a hanger of some kind on the back and hang it in my sewing room to remind me of not only her but all of my DJ friends, and what a close group we all are. I have been working on some mystery quilts, and need to finish them. I love a good mystery, and these are turning out great. I just need to learn to finish what I start before starting another one, but oh' well that's not going to happen. I always have several works in progress, and it just doesn't seem to change. I always do finish them but not always in the order that I start them in.

I have been enjoying making fabric postcards. For some reason I never remember to take pictures before sending them on there way, but maybe later I will post some pictures of some of the ones I have received. I have also received several siggies from the international swap list, and I love them all. I have signed up for this year Birthday Siggie Swap, but there is a much smaller group of ladies on it, 23 compared to 103 I believe from last year. I also need to finish my Christmas siggie quilt, when I get a chance it will be my only Christmas quilt, and I really would like it to use next Christmas season.

It is very cold here today, -14F when we got up now it is up to a whopping 4F with a wind chill of approximately -25F a good day to stay inside, and quilt.

W.)