Pitiful Pearl Paper Pieces......

I joined Spring Fling Round Robin.
I found Quilters Cache and this block.

Ok, it turned out to be a paper pieced block. I can do that. I took a class and did this....


I know you can't tell from the photo, but this is a mini quilt and only about 15 inches across.

So earlier this week, I printed out the pattern and got down to business. I chose a pretty red and yellow with white for the background. I really tried hard. After sewing the four blocks together, it was all warped along the edges. I asked here and you all gave me great insight. Miss Nancy and I emailed back and forth last night and even though she paper pieces all the time, she couldn't tell me why the right side was all warped. Then Linda called me last night. HELLO!! Trace Atkins is taking his shirt off on Celebrity Apprentice!! WOO HOO....he's a hotty... I hit the DVR button and listened as she gave me loads of advice. So, back to the quilt shop today to get two more FQ's. I already used the two I bought Monday.... Of course, first I have to drop Oliver off at the spa (as Sharon calls it) so he can smell better than a cess pool. Anyway, back to the paper piecing....

I got all four sections done. Then called Linda again, to ask her "When do I take the Paper off?" "Oh", she says in her cute Aussie accent, "you don't remove the paper". WHAT!! WHY?? She says it will destort the blocks edges as there are sure to be bias edges. WELL, why didn't someone tell me!! "Also", she says, "do a bit of a basting stitch around the edges to keep it all flat".

So here it is...........



The red in the background is not part of the block. It is just there because my carpet and the background is the same color and it looked stupid...

I won't show you the before one. I think I will cut it down and make something, or maybe I will trash it or maybe I will make it into a hot pad...who knows!!

Happy Sewing,
Nancy

I can't .........

Yesterday was Redwork club at my LQS and while there I decided to look for the fabric for my Spring Fling Swap starting block. I found a paper piece block that I want to do....

Problem??

I can't paper piece.

Well, really, how hard can it be?

HARD!!

But, I was determined....

I won't show you the horrible results. There are four sections to this block. Each section is identical. Let's see how many ways can I screw up....
1. cut off ALL the fabric, not just the part I am supposed to cut off
2. place fabric wrong side up
3. place wrong fabric in wrong place

That's really pretty much all you CAN do wrong....I did it all... sigh......

I am determined though, so if anyone does paper piecing, please help me!! I beg of you....come to my house and help me. I will serve lunch.. I will buy chocolate...I will beg.......
If you can't travel, then email me with some guidance....

Here is what I did.....
I used regular printer paper..
There was a little inch square that printed on the paper and YAH!! it was an inch square when I measure it, so I am guessing that means that the block should have finished the size indicated which is 8 1/2 in. NOT!! It finished 8 1/4 or thereabouts....

(not so) Happy Sewing
Nancy

Ta - Done.......

Pay no attention to the teenager draped across the sewing table. He wouldn't leave....lol When I told him he would end up being blogged, he said he would only allow his photo if he didn't have to eat roast for dinner....


Ok, that is as clean as it gets. I found LOTS for the give away box....

Happy Sewing,
Nancy

PS. He got pasta for dinner.

What a wonderful idea......Christine over at Liberty Star Farm
has started a Leap Year Prize-A-Palooza. Here are the rules......

"Leap Year Prize-A-Palooza!"

All you have to do is leave a comment along with your favorite color before the last minute of the 29th of February 2008 runs out. You must have a blog that I can come visit!

On Saturday, when I get up to read blogs and check emails, I will put all the names in a basket and pull a winner and I'll send you box full of quilty, fabricy, stitching kind of stuff

I have declared today Sewing Room Cleaning day and will make my own box to give away. So leave a comment on this post with your favorite color(s) and I will draw a name Saturday am.

Ok, now off to clean, purge and fill a box......

Happy Sewing,

Nancy

PS - thanks to Christine for letting me snag her quilt photo.....

It takes a box.....????

Over at Liberty Star Farm a contest was run and I won!!! The prize you ask?? Two hand knit dish cloths. I was gone all last week at my daughters (see previous post) and Saturday when I returned I found a huge box on top of my bedroom dresser. I couldn't remember ordering anything that would take a box. I did order a pattern, but it didn't need to come in a box... Imagine my surprise when I opened the box and found these.....



But this was a BIG box....and guess what else was hiding in there!!???!!

THESE....



Embroidery thread, a Fons and Porter magazine, a quilt book, Thangles, a memo book, heart stickers, two quilt patterns, french tissues (oh, I suppose they really are just from Walgreens, but I can dream.....lol) and a book about Grandmas (how perfect is that??)

What a wonderful surprise of goodies..... I will never be bored in my sewing room again.....

Happy Sewing
Nancy

Yea!! I am HOME.....

Oh, it feels so nice to be in my own house again. It was really nice (and I hope helpful) to be at our daughters. She did ask me if I was coming back this Monday. Uh, NO.... I got to spend quality time with her, the two grandkids and the new baby.

Sweet isn't she??



and big sister and big brother playing on noggin.com on a school snow day....Right after this photo was taken, Jackson lost his balance and dropped the lid of the computer on top of Grace closing the game down. Oh, there was some fussing then...lol



They love having a "stay at home" day, although it would be nice to have the snow spaced a bit more, as two stay at home days in a row is not a good thing.

So yesterday, I sat around a did nothing other than look through the mail, (come back tomorrow, when I will have photos of what I won from Christine) read some email and we had KFC for dinner. Too tired to cook. Today I seem to have my energy back as already I have
1. cleaned out the pantry, the spice cabinet and the fridge.
2. done three loads of wash.
3. made a grocery list, weeks menu and shopped

Now I need to tackle the sewing room. Before I left, I just tossed things in there and now it needs a "picking up". Or maybe I will do that tomorrow when everyone is gone and the house is quiet and I don't have to listen to FOX News all day.


Yea, maybe tomorrow.......

Happy Sewing,
Nancy

buggers......

Yea!! It is Thursday and my shopping day....up at 6am to shower, dress and help get the kids ready for school. Warm up the bug and ...........what?? SNOW??? NO!!!!!

Dag nab it......school is closed....kids are home all day.....ice on the road....

no shopping today. Can you see my sad face?? I finally decided on the quilt pattern for little 2 year old Ava and now I was going to look for FQ's at two different shops here in town. Oh well, another day.....

Happy Sewing

Nancy

On the road again.....

I am missing my sewing room....I am missing my 15 year old.....and yes, I miss my DH...

I am at my oldest daughters this week, helping with the baby, and 2 siblings. Abigail is 12 days old, Grace is 6 and Jackson 5. I am not used to this....

This morning I had to set my alarm for 6:30am so I could get showered and dressed before the kids got up for school. At 7am, I woke up the kids and got them going. They dress themselves, but I made breakfast and then shoved them into daughters car to take them to school. Grace had the directions, although she reads some, she can't read her mothers writing which she calls "Chinese Writing". LOL I only had remember 3 directions but to keep Grace busy in the back, I had her read them to me.

Grace -"Ok, this mom doesn't write very goodly. It says 1, St, L and it has a circle."
Me - Ok, the L with the circle, means I turn Left.
Grace - Which way is that?
Jackson - in a small voice "my window"
Me - That's right Jackson.
Jackson - no, that's left
Me - Yes, that is CORRECT it is left
jackson - you said right.
Me - I meant correct
Jackson - then why didn't you say so.
(now, he wasn't being sassy, he was muttering under his breath, like "whats the big deal, just get us to school")
Grace - Ok, now it says 2 SL right with a cirlce. Oh that means right, but I don't even know what 2 SL means.
Me - 2 SL means 2 Stop Lights.
Grace - Then why didn't mommy right that? (this IS a sassy voice)
Me - Ok, whats next
Grace - 2 SS and then Left
Me - Ok..
Me - Here we are. who has the door code?
Grace - It's in the car, with my backpack....

Oh, how do all you mothers do it?? Of course, most of you are my daughters age, but really....I am exhausted.

I am looking forward to Thursday, when their daddy is home all day. I am going to head out to the quilt stores in town and see about buying some goodies....

Happy Sewing,
Nancy

Happy Heart Day!!!

Nothing better than surprise heart pancakes on a cold school morning...
I had a beautiful photo with blueberry syrup, but it looked more like the St Valentines Massacre....lol

Hubby and I both got creative this morning. I left his card in the seat of his truck and came in to find mine hidden under my laptop. I must confess, I bought him a funny card with a sports car on the front that says "You drive me Crazy, but I love it". His card is all sappy and sweet.....AH!! sniff sniff.....

Errands today and then to the sewing room!! I WILL put the last borders on Weaver Fever...I still need a better name for that quilt....

Happy Sewing,
Nancy

Spring Fling Round Robin 2008

How fun is this!! I just sent my email to join..... Are you interested?? Run over here, read the information and rules and see if it is for you....

Happy Sewing,
Nancy

Cabin Fever.....

I think I have cabin fever. It started with ice Monday afternoon, school was closed Tuesday and I couldn't get my car up the hill this morning. HELP!! Someone needs to come get me!! LOL

The Rock Guitarist had his band over yesterday to practice for a concert they are giving at school. Kind of like a Battle of the Bands (oh, I am dating myself there) Anyway they seemed to have a good time. They played some, (Thank G-- they don't play hard rock as the sewing room is right next door) and then asked for grilled cheese. Being the good mother I am, I made grilled cheese, kool-aid and chips, called them for lunch and left them to eat. That was a mistake.... apparently they were bored and went throughout the kitchen turning everything upside down. Tea pots, dishes, plates, my shoes on the floor, all the items in the pantry. I didn't dare open the fridge....

And they look so innocent, don't they???



While they were making music, I was making this.....



I had a bare wall in the back hall and while cleaning (ok, I only straightened it up so I could get in there) the sewing room, I found some chalk board fabric I had bought a long time ago... I also came across a yard of fabric on the sale shelf at the LQS that I loved and bought just because... SO... I came up with a menu/message board for the back hall. Cool huh??? I don't have any chalk or eraser (cause I can't get the car up the hill) but will soon. There are pockets along the bottom to store the chalk and eraser....

Today I am going to cut the second border for Weaver Fever and will post a finished picture here sometime soon. I was lucky and bought the fabric for the border (which I never do!) at the same time I picked out the quilt fabric and it's a good thing I did, cause she is out of it now. Come to think of it, I think I bought the rest of the bolt.....hmmm...just remembered that.

Happy Sewing,
Nancy

Quick Update....

Abigail and family are doing great. She had her first Pediatricians appt yesterday and lost 10% of her weight which is perfectly normal and expected for a breast fed baby. I keep asking for updated photos, but I guess Mom has lots of "other stuff" to do?? LOL Yesterday was photo op day and Abigail had her official photo taken for her birth announcements. Can't wait to see it.

At this household, school is closed today after yesterday afternoons ice storm. Unfortunately, the rock guitarist didn't check the school closings before getting in the shower at 5:45am and so is up and raring to go.....LOL
He seems to think that 16 year old friends are driving over to this house to hang out. I told him not to be dissapointed if their parents say NO...I wouldn't let him drive anywhere today....



This is the front walk. ALL ICE!!

Off to the sewing room. Will be cleaning today and if there is still time (and energy!) I will cut the background for TicTacMo.....

Happy Sewing...
Nancy

She is Beautiful....

Abigail was born yesterday February 7th at 4:14pm. She weighed 7-11 and is 20" long. Her sweet brother, Jackson, summed it up in three words. "She is beautiful" So far she is very calm, quiet, wide-eyed and has found her thumb. Everyone there thought she looked a lot like Dad. I think she has Grace's wide set eyes, but I pretty much think all babies look like babies for a couple of months...lol




And we have a WINNER..... Margaret please send me an email and I will send off your prize.

My daughter loved "Sweetie Tweeties for Abigail". See this post for photos of the quilt.

Well, I am beat. Got home late last night and today is full of errands, one of which will be picking up photos from Walmart......

Happy Sewing.
Nancy

It's a BABY

Contest......

My oldest daughter will be admitted tomorrow morning at 6am. This is her third child and she is already 2 cm and 50% effaced. I, of course, will be leaving here at 9am to go sit with her and son-in-law. Here is my plan. When the time gets really close, I am going to slink back into a corner and hope she doesn't realize theat I am there. I think with all the yelling, and pushing, she might not remember I am in the room? Right?? Maybe she will take pity on me since this will be my last grandchild for a LONG time. (son is only 15 and I am hoping it is at least 10 years)

Now for the contest........TA DA.....

Leave a message with your guess for date (cause she could go all day!), time and weight of baby. Whoever is closest will get a prize!!! Maybe since we are close to St Patricks day, I will send green/white FQ's. Who knows. Maybe something else will catch my eye at the LQS.... I will take guesses on this post only and only until I post again..

So...put on your thinking caps and Good Luck!!

Happy Sewing
Nancy

No phone + No computer = More sewing

My sister called me yesterday to tell me she had purchased tickets for both of us to go see Jersey Boys. WOO HOO!! I can't wait for May 17th.... After, we will head to Rigazzi's for dinner. Oh, sounds like a great day...

Anyway, back to the title of this blog. After I hung up, I headed up to the sewing room to dig out my Summer 07 Quilts and More. I have keep this magazine, because there was a wall hanging that I just kept admiring. I was thinking I would pull some fabrics for it. I got a few pulled before I got a "HEY, NANCY!!" from son and hubby. Apparently the internet wasn't working. It was extremely necessary for me to turn off the iron, turn off the radio, turn off the sewing machine, close up the ott light, turn off the light, shut the door and come downstairs.

To sit..

While son and hubby, reset the DSL box.
While son and hubby, tried the computer again.
While son and hubby, reset the DSL box again.
While son and hubby, tried the computer again.

Then...for me to pick up the phone to call the service provider, and find out we don't have a phone line. Oh, so that's why we don't have computer service.

So I get in the truck, drive to the top of the hill and use my cell to call the phone company. They write up a repair ticket, ask if someone will be home tomorrow in case they need to come by and I drive back home.

SO....no computer...no phone....LOTS more sewing...

I pulled fabric, and starting cutting and then stitching and then WAH LA!!



It's all ready to quilt....

If I had backing and batting.... and I didn't have to clean and cook so Anne and Miss Nancy can come to sew/lunch day here tomorrow. We are also going to take a field trip to my LQS which is having a moving sale with 35% off fabric and 25% off of books/patterns and I have to get some backing and batting, don't I?? lol


Happy Sewing,
Nancy

BTW, Internet and phone mysteriously appeared fixed this morning and for those that care, oldest daughter is to be induced on Thursday...I will be driving up there Thursday am and will have photos posted asap.

What a Wonderful Life.....

We quilters have a wonderful life. No matter what goes on in the world outside, we can always go into our sewing space, block out the world and create. Today I got up early, read email, cleaned (ok, straightened) the house and headed right up to the sewing room. This is what I did all day..............



It's finished and ready to go to the quilter. 2 down and 2 to go.....

So, what will I do tomorrow. I found a pattern for a wall hanging in an older magazine and will start pulling fabrics. It's a fairly easy pattern. Only blocks of color with one strip of applique.....

Happy Sewing,
Nancy

my sweatshop.....

My sewing room has become quite the sweatshop lately. Yesterday I started cutting all the pieces for TicTacMo by Terry Atkinson. I now have all the pieces cut for both quilts and all of the plaid blocks made for one. (I am making two, one for each grandson). They will be identical except for the background (the dark blue in the pattern photo). I now have to make the alternate blocks. Maybe tomorrow? If I don't get a grocery list emailed to DH he won't stop on the way home and that means no dinner and worse, I will have to go tomorrow.


The blocks look wonky, but they aren't. They just look like that because they are pinned onto the design wall. There are multiples of each block and I just pinned them all on top of each other.

On another note, we were "blessed?" with snow last night. Official amount is 8.4 inches at the airport. In my neighborhood we had 5 or 5 1/2 inches. Enough that school is closed today. The sun is shining now, the road has been cleared by a kindly neighbor and his construction plow and by tomorrow it will be 40F so it will all melt and we will have a slushy mess. In the meantime, the dog is loving running in it....and barking at the neighbor dogs....lol


So, back to the sweatshop to get some of those alternate blocks sewn up. But not before I send a grocery list....

Happy Sewing,
Nancy