I'm Back

The last year has been real rough for me, basically I just shut down, and got thru each day. Thats one reason that I did not have any posts. I did not even do any quilting or collect any fabric for my stash, spent most of my time reading books. But, I decided last week that enough was enough. And to start off with a bang I got a Accuquilt GO, received it yesterday. A friend sent me a link to the AccuQuilt facebook site, they are trying to build up members and having giveaways for every 1,000. No I didn't win one - used my charge card. But it started me thinking about my life, and how depressed I had been - and helped give me the kick in the ass I needed.

I started looking at other sites on Facebook and reconnected with the quilt world. Which brought me back to Blogger. For a week I did a review of several of the blogs that I followed. Even entered for a couple of giveaways. Have marked several with pictures of quilts that I have to make, and spent hours going thru my fabric stash and making plans.

I sorted and ironed most of my scraps for use with the GO. Since I ordered the Tumbler die I have been making string strips that are just larger than 7 inch wide to use with it. I can picture a quilt with nothing but string tumblers - some of the strings going up, some down (have to make a new string strip the width of die). Or make string tumblers and alternate with a background tumbler. Will have to play around on the design wall and see what happens.

Got the strips dies in 1 1/2, 2 1/2, and 3 1/2 inches. I have been taking some of my oldest fabric and cutting into 1 1/2 strips to add to the strings basket. Once upon a time I used strings to make blocks for heartstring projects, now I make strings for the GO.

Thats all for now - Got to feed the Go.

Update 54/40

I have not been able to do a lot of quilting. My Uncle passed away on the 12th after a two week illness, and things have been hectic. Doug was diabetic and on dialysis for several years, he and Vickie (my Aunt) made the decision to stop all treatments. It was a very hard decision, but one I agree with and support. His death has also dredged up memories of my mom's passing (a few months ago), leaving me sad, blue, and in no mood to quilt or do much of anything. I also worry about a friend who is also diabetic and is not even willing to talk about dialysis. His doctor has said that without dialysis he has at most 3 months. Stan is worn out and tired all the time, and has been having bouts of confusion, I doubt that he will last the 3 months, more like 3 weeks.



54/40 Update - Well what started out crib size, made up from a few orphan blocks, has morphed into a King size top, yes that's right, I had to make more blocks. Tarranda asked me to make it big enough for a bedspread, so its now 96x108. Still on the design wall - at least half of it is - won't all fit so I'm having to sew it in sections. I have all the row components finished and just need to assemble the last few rows (6 rows left), then sew them together. The borders and binding are ready to go, and the longarm quilter is expecting the top the first of next month. With luck I can get it finished up tomorrow, I am eager to get started on a different quilt - am getting tired of this one.



Have done some sewing on the Jan 24th "Mystery Quilt - Scrappy Stars". I like how the sample blocks look, might have to make it my "Leaders and Enders" project. My next quilt has to be the "Hearts", I need to get it made and quilted before the first week of April. I hate deadlines, but it is an anniversary gift for Arlene and Stan. And if the worst happens, and Stan passes away, it will become a "Quilt of Comfort" for Arlene.



Here is hoping that the next few weeks will be easier.

Going to sew like a mad woman,

Time gets away from me, how about you? I have had the same quilt on the design wall for over 2 weeks. This started out with me trying to use up some orphan (leftover) blocks, I needed just a few more to make it twin size. Once on the design wall I decided that I really loved it, and that I needed to make it Queen size, so off to the scrap pile to select fabric for more blocks. I'm loving making this quilt using only scraps, except of the background this entire quilt is from scraps. I'm ready to move on to a different quilt, so my goal for the next couple of days is to sew like a mad woman and get this top done. I already have a home for it, and the longarm quilt is booked.

Just got a box of scraps that I need to sort and cut. Like I didn't have enough scraps, I bought some on line, this is my second batch in two months. I was getting tired of the scraps that I have, and wanted some new ones to play with. The selection is so good that I almost ordered more - before even getting this batch sorted, much less used. Have decided no more fabric, at least not before I get these cut and sorted. Have set aside several for my "Broken Heart" quilt, and a few for hexagons to use in my next "Grandmother's Flower Garden".

I need to quit dragging my feet and just start sewing, so I'm off the reacquaint myself with my sewing machine. My goal is to finish the 54/40, sort the new scraps, and finish the sewing on the "Scrappy Star" that was the Jan 24th mystery quilt. I have to finish the 54/40 so I have the design wall available for the Scrappy Star.

String Quilts Update

Spent the entire day working on the string blocks, (13 hours). I had a blast - quilting is always relaxing and gives me a sense of peace. I was alone for most of the day, and the time just flew by. Looked at my watch and it was 1:30 in the morning, couldn't believe that I had spent that long sewing/quilting.

• Red string quilt top is finished, I have decided not to put on borders.
• Blue string blocks are still finished, but have not decided how to lay them out.
• Random scrappy, the blocks are on the design wall. Have decided to use sashing strips between the blocks, selected a dark blue stripe on the outer rows, kind of like a border - with luck it will fall just right to frame the bed. I'm using a dark blue sashing in the center rows. Not sure what fabric for cornerstones - most likely a bright yellow. What started out being a crib quilt has turned into a full/queen. I like how this one has turned out, I might just have to keep this one for myself.

What is shocking is the fact that I have been quilting for over 25 years and only have two quilts that I've made. And those 2 quilts are ones that I had given my mom and retrieved after she died, a Double Wedding Ring, and a hand pieced Grandmothers Flower Garden.

Fabric Scraps Under Control

Spent most of the day cutting my scraps into assorted size squares and bricks. The smallest square is 2 1/2 inches the largest 6 inches. The bricks for the upcoming scrap mystery and are 2 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches, I needed 100 light and 100 dark, now have about 500 of each, and about 750 that I would call medium. Needless the say I think that there will be more than one quilt from these bricks. I also finished cutting the 3 1/2 by 6 1/2 inch bricks needed for the broken heart quilt.

I have finished sorting and cutting one of the boxes of scraps, anything that is to small to get a 2 1/2 square from, is being passed on to a quilter who makes "Crumb" quilts. I have made a total of 4 crumb blocks, what was I thinking. . . lol . . . gave me flashbacks to the "Postage Stamp" quilt that I make years ago.

Had a great dinner, added Gorgonzola cheese, and Cajun seasons to some venison. Made two small meatloaves, so I had dinner tonight and a meal tomorrow. Giving me more time for quilting or reading, love it when a plan comes together.