Ruler talk.....................

I keep surfing looking at quilts, and reading blogs and finding rulers and tricks to make certain pieces easier to cut.  To make making those "hard" blocks easier. You know what I mean?
Every single time I see one of these oh so great rulers I think, hey I made that block! I guess I don't have enough sense to know I need a special ruler to make some cuts lol!
I am very basic on rulers. I still have the same four rulers I got when I started quilting. Ok I did replace one because the numbers had worn off. But here's what I use.....

 6x24 ruler
6x12 ruler
12" square ruler
8 1/2" square ruler

That's it....my whole collection of rulers. Oh wait, I think I have two of the Easy Angle ones somewhere but guess what? I never use them. I find that it's just as easy to use these four rulers to make any block I want.

I see quilters with tons and tons of rulers and I have to wonder if they all actually get used? Or is it just about having them?
I think I'd forget I had them! I know I've done that with the Easy Angle ones.

So what do you use? Do you have a ruler stash? or do you keep them to a bare minimum?

Now I'm NOT being quilt policey or judgemental or anything.....I am just curious.

Almost done!

I worked all day on this and I'm almost done. That's a good feeling! Hopefully today I will get it finished. I need to stitch around the seaweed, scallop the top, and back and quilt it. Not too much more to do.

I also started cutting the pieces for this last night....
http://www.mccallsquilting.com/mccallsquilting/articles/Gosling_Go_Round_FREE_Flying_Geese_Quilt_Block_Pattern

I just LOVE Flying Geese for some reason and right now pinks appeal to me! I was able to pull everything I needed from my stash too! I remember when I first started quilting five short years ago.......I looked at pictures of other quilter's stash and was amazed. I didn't think I'd EVER be able to make a quilt from mine. Now I still can't rival some of those pictures but I can make a quilt from mine! I'm thinking this might be my first quilt to tie......I am not sure though. I can also picture big stitches around all those geese and something in those big pink squares. Isn't it just lovely?

Wall hanging for a friend....

This is the start of a wallhanging I am making for a friend. She wanted bright colors and it is going in her new home at the beach. So I thought an underwater scene would be perfect.
I am out of my comfort zone! I've got the background laid out so far. I have a plan for the rest of it....now I just have to figure out how to put it into action!

It definitely is some stress relief to escape away and work on this......dd's wedding is tomorrow! Family is coming in today! The house looks like a tornado hit it! Sunday I will crash I think.

Wedding dresses are on my mind!

The time is fast approaching! Daughter #2 has her wedding in 2 weeks. I'm finishing up alterations on her dress this week. Let me say right away I am NOT a seamstress. I don't even like making clothes. But....a friend of mine who is marvelous at it is already making daughter #1's dress and I just couldn't ask her to do this too. So I am tackling it.

So we're going from this

to something like this....

The front of it isn't so bad but I have to tackle moving the zipper today and I am  NOT looking forward to that!

And here is my other daughter's dress made by my friend. DD took her a picture and she has copied almost to the letter! Now the front of it is not attached yet....this was the fitting to see if everything was going together right.

I think I'm going to have two beautiful brides this summer!
Some of these are not good pictures....my next cell phone whenever that may be is going to have a GOOD camera!

I also have the plan for the wallhanging for my friend. Here's the fabric for it. It will be an underwater scene and I am completely out of my comfort zone making an art quilt as much as I am altering wedding dresses! But picture sand and seaweed and bright fish swimming against a blue sea.

Just the binding left!

I can't believe the wedding quilt is almost done..and ahead of time! I need to do the binding and wash it. I'm pleased with how it turned out overall. My usual problem is with the back and this one is no different. No matter how well it seems I pin I end up with at least one pucker......But hopefully they will look past that pucker and just see the quilt and the love put into it. oh and excuse my very rough looking chair......that was intended to be my summer project...restoring the whole set but with two weddings this summer it seems those may be pushed off until fall!

TOGA is over for another year....

It was a great weekend if a little  hectic. We got to the church Friday and got set up. Our first class was t-shirt scarves. Guess what I will be making for Christmas gifts this year? Then of course lunch. There always has to be food!
In the afternoon we made thread catchers. Those things are awesome! Do you use one? I'd looked at them  and looked at them and just never took the time to make one. Why did I wait so long?
Then before we knew it it was time to leave for the day. Since we were done with the machines we loaded them up. Now comes the really genius move I made......I left my purse there! We got all the way to the motel to check in before we realized it too. So a mad rush back to the church hoping and praying someone was still there. Thankfully someone was! Needless to say by the time we checked in, ate supper and got back we were tired. We watched some tv and went to bed.
Saturday morning we made the fabric flowers to go on top of the thread catchers. They're really cute! My daughter though did a MUCH better job at making them than I did though! Mine looked kind of windblown.  Then it was time to clean up and head home.
We made it home safely only to discover we had left something.....again! My camera! Thankfully a couple that lives nearby found it and emailed me. I'll be meeting them later this week to get it back.
So no TOGA pictures till then!

But here's one of Miss Calikat this morning.....she was spellchecking for me! Taken with the webcam so not great...but see those earrings at the bottom of the pic? I got those last year at TOGA and wore them all weekend this year!

Camper time!

We're at the camper part of this week. That's what we will be doing most of the summer......going back and forth between weddings and showers and such.
It's rainy today so there is lots of quilting in my plans. Tomorrow is a trip with the camprground owner, her daughter and kids to go gold mining! Kids should love that!

Wish List Machine!

4 years ago I had no idea that there was any other "old" machine besides a Singer. I definitely had no idea there were such beautiful "old" machines. It just wasn't something I thought about.

But now is a different story! I fell head over heels in love with the "old" machines! They are absolutely amazing to me. The fact that many have survived years of abuse and neglect and still sew a perfect stitch is just amazing. Not to mention the fact that they were (and some still are) things of beauty. When I look at the decals on them it makes me wonder why they ever started making plain sewing machines!

My first old machine was a Singer 127 with the shuttle bobbin. Many thanks to some wonderful ladies at TOGA who helped me get her sewing. That machine was promptly named Sally.....don't ask me why but for some reason it reminded me of something my Grannie used to say about "long legged Sally". That is still my favorite machine. I absolutely love to sew on her.

This past week I got a new to me machine. It's one I've been wanting for a couple years but everytime I've seen one for sale it's been more than my "frugal" self was willing to pay. Okay, okay my "cheap" self!  Then I saw the ad on Craigslist......I emailed. No response. I figured it was already sold. Oh well that's normal for me.....a day short and a dollar late. Three days later though the ad showed up again. I emailed again and got a response immediately! So plans were made to make the trip to go get it. I loaded up acouple of the kids and off we went!

When I got there it looked worse than in the pictures. I figured the decals were shot....cabinet definitely was. The cabinet wasn't important though as it would be going in my homemade multi-treadle table.

I brought her home and started cleaning. Three days later and I see decals! Well on the front at least. She actually looks pretty darn good! There is nothing but bare metal beside the shuttle cover which shows she was well loved. I like that.....the lady I bought her from said she belonged to her grandmother. I wonder what she made on this machine to wear the finish off? Did she make clothes or quilts?

I've got about a month to finish getting her cleaned up and then she gets to make her first quilt for me.


If you look close you can see the gunk still on her.......hours and hours of elbow grease still needed!

Has it been that long?

I didn't realize I hadn't updated this in so long. I've been busy. The wedding quilt is now a sandwich and is being quilted. I got a lot done this past Memorial weekend.
We went to the camper for "vacation" and the quilt went with me. The weather cooperated wonderfully and I was able to spend two glorious days sitting outside quilting....the end of May and it wasn't too hot.
Can you believe that?
I think I've gotten almost 6 rows done of the twelve. It was a wonderful weekend!
Sadly the river was up and too strong for the kids to play in....not to mention it was chilly with the wind blowing! But they still had fun. DD #4 didn't want to leave. She misses her Daddy so much during the week.

I did learn something this weekend. I really only like Gutermann thread for handquilting. It just feels better to me than others.

Finished top!

Brit and Stephen's wedding present. Still need to piece the back and then start the quilting.

Rain, Rain go away.....

It's been raining for days now...It's gray and dreary and depressing. The grass is growing like crazy but it's too wet to get out there and cut it.
We did see some sunshine yesterday and a little this morning.
Rain is in the forecast for today though and again this weekend........I'm sitting here now and the temperature is 44.....in May....in the south. So much for global warming! It seems spring cannot get a good foothold and stay with us. 

I've been busy on Brit and Stephen's wedding quilt. The top is halfway done. I've also realized the fabric I picked for the border does NOT work. So now I need to make another trip to the fabric store. That's not really a problem though!

We're also busy trying to get Nicole and Shane's wedding rolling. She is going in a million different directions though and I'm wondering if we'll get it all done in time.

I did sit down and draw out a wall hanging I want to make once I'm done with wedding quilts. It's been in my head for months now and finally it's on paper.

I'm also looking forward to TOGA. It's only about a month away! I so need some me time!

And just so I don't forget that it really is spring...........I took this the other week. I love the color here.

Registering for wedding gifts.......what an experience!

Yesterday my daughter, her mother in law and myself went to register her for gifts.
It was an all afternoon event! Three stores in all. The first two were pleasant experiences. We were going thru the stores joking and enjoying ourselves. The experience changed when we entered the last store.........
Bed Bath and Beyond is a popular place for registries. Everyone seems to like it.
I personally will never even set foot in one of their stores again, much less buy anything. The consultant was pushy. She said she didn't work on commission........well in all my years of being a consumer I've not met a commissioned salesman that was more pushy!
She was downright rude! When I "disagreed" with her on her selection of pots and pans that dd should choose it was tense. I finally asked her how much she cooked. It was an honest question.....I cook 3x a day for up to 8 people. I help cook at church for weekly meals. I cooked turkey at Thanksgiving for 160 people. I cook... a lot. So yes I have an opinion on cookware. She was apparently offended that anyone would disagree with her.
She proceeded to pull my daughter aside and tell her "she understood how stressful it was to do this with your mother and mil and she would be glad to reschedule her to come alone"......oh really! She was the one who made it stressful!
She finally left us alone and the stress level went down. I did file a complaint with the company. I will never shop there again, and I will tell everyone I know about our experience.
Oh and my daughter thanked me and her mil for going with her when it was all over. 

Not much going on this week...

It is quiet here this week. The only big thing happening is dd got her license. That's big! She has made her first solo trip out alone too. Talk about a nervous mama the whole time she was gone!

On other fronts I am working on redoing our back deck. It has tons of junk the kids have pulled out all winter and left there, leaves, and bones the dogs have "buried" in the leaves. It truly is a sad neglected place all winter.

Spring is here though and I have dreams of dragging a treadle out there and sewing while the bees buzz all around my head.....(ok I am doubting my sanity some due to those bees).

I'm finally going to sand and repaint that fabulous outdoor set that belonged to my Grandparents. Remember these? I have two chairs that go with it also.

http://vintageindie.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/06/02/vintageglider_teal.jpg

I'm trying to decide what color to paint them......something bright I think......maybe red?

Then I will need some thin cushions for them. A good project to work on with the treadle while sitting out there I think.
Oh and my indoor plants need to go out there too. Dappled light coming through the big oak tree leaves, comfy chairs to sit in, plants all around.....and a treadle to sit and sew at.......sounds inviting right? Of course the treadle will be taken in nightly.
Maybe a radio on with soft music......sounds ideal doesn't it? Best part is I don't see traffic or other people from my back deck! I will post some pics when I get it all done.

It's the simple things in life.....

that make me happy. I've learned that over the years. I don't need fancy cars or a big house. I don't need lots of jewelry or extravagant furnishings.
Instead just give me simple......a treadle sewing machine fulfills all my needs and is soothing. A nice summer day with a breeze blowing and windows open, a quilt to snuggle up under at night, the sound of the kids laughing and playing, birds singing.

I think I am just an old soul really. I've tried "keeping up with the Jones's" and honestly it about killed me.
Give me simple, give me "old fashioned", and just let me be. I don't want new.....I don't want modern. I don't want a schedule slam full of events. I don't want every new gadget out there. I actually like staying home.....

Yes I do like some modern conveniences, like the computer, I like cell phones when the kids drive and head out on their own. But most of modern technology just escapes me...not because I can't understand it.....I am fluent at dual booting operating systems on computers and cleaning them of viruses, but because I simply don't want to!

I often wonder if I am the only person in the world like this. Then I find another kindred soul....usually online, and know I am not alone!

My goal this summer is to reclaim my back deck. To reconnect with the great outdoors. I start with cleaning it and moving hubby's tools out of sight. Then a gate to keep dogs and chickens off it when I want.
Then, plants......it needs flowers. I will plant hydrangeas around the railing.  I will bring houseplants out there. I will set up a table we can eat on more often, the grill will turn into a "summer kitchen" and last but most definitely not least, I will bring a treadle out there! I will set me up an area where I can sit and treadle away all summer! The kids can play in the pool and I can enjoy listening to them being happy. Ooh and my grandparents glider will get a new coat of paint and cushions.

Now doesn't that sound inviting? A nice little area to sit and relax with a glass of sweet, iced tea, and maybe sew a little?

You can't get much more simple than that! Oh no radio and no phone allowed!

Pictures will follow ........

I LOVE Spring!!

and there are signs of it everywhere! I spent a few hours outside today. Took down the shutters on the old part of the house so it matches the addition. They were falling to pieces anyway. Now to get a pressure washer and clean the old siding and paint the eaves. I did get a lilac bush and a hydrangea planted today. I so hope they do well! If so my whole front little bed will be filled with flowering plants. My butterfly bush always does wonderful.
Oh and my little shrubs I got at Tractor Supply last year have taken off! Now if only I could remember what they are!

There are two of these and this one in between them I'm pretty sure will bloom yellow.

I think this is Chamomile I planted last year...either that or German Thyme. Either one works for me!

and last but not least my Rosemary bush...isn't it just beautiful? I love the smell of it!

Now if I can just get my garden planted!!

Lazy Sunday afternoon......

well after prom dress shopping for youngest dd it was! We luckily found a dress at the first place we went and were home by 3pm.

So this is what I did all afternoon. I could've worked on oldest dd's quilt but I will have all day Tuesday to do that so decided to get a start on the next dd's quilt.

With two getting married this year I'm a busy momma! One eloped and the next one is in August but the one that eloped now wants a small ceremony for family.
 Daughter number two and the new sil want their quilt in greens....traditional style. So I've been looking trying to find a pattern that spoke to me......"I am their quilt!" I found it this past week.

This is their future quilt...............just one block drawn out. It will finish at 14 inches so I think about 36 of them will make a nice size quilt once I add borders.

 These will be the colors...

Lots of greens....these are poison greens repro fabrics and I need to find a blue....the crayon I used is called Prussian Blue. Maybe I will take it with me fabric shopping!

And last but not least progress on oldest dd's quilt.....I'm calling it Tropical Surprise for now.....it's from a pattern in the Jan/Feb  Fons and Porter Love of Quilting magazine and called Triangle Surprise.

I have more blocks done but not on the wall yet.

Mornings......

It's still quiet here.....for a few moments at least. I need to get the kids up and moving. I need more coffee! I woke up this morning before the alarm clock and  as I laid there listening to the quiet....what a glorious sound that was, I wished someone would would bring my coffee to me.
Dh has been gone way too much lately and I've woken up by myself every morning. I miss mornings where we could sleep in just a bit and wake up together.
There are days too where I wish I didn't have to be so self reliant.......every once in awhile I'd like to be pampered too.
Ah well, enough self pity!
On the agenda today......church, home for lunch, and then prom dress shopping with my youngest daughter. Where oh where has the time gone? I'll post pics of her dress later!
Maybe, just maybe I can sew this evening.



What I'm so looking forward to this summer!

On the agenda today.....

it will be a busy day! I have to take my daughter to work and then pick up milk, then home for several hours.
While I'm home I'd like to try my hand at making Orange Curd.....like Lemon Curd just from oranges. It sounds yummy and I have oranges and eggs....oh my do I have eggs!
We're getting close to two dozen a day right now. I never thought I'd see the day when we had more eggs than we could eat! We can eat a LOT!
Then there's bread dough rising in the fridge that will need to be baked. I LOVE being home and getting to do these kind of things!
Oh and I'm going to try freezing some of this abundance of eggs. I've been told this is a good way to save them.....I may even pickle some. Pickled eggs sound yummy and I've never even had one! I need to rectify that.

And just to add a picture here is Miss Daisy........having a catnip treat. she is hilarious when it comes to her catnip!

Seconds after I took this one she literally sprayed dd with a catnip sneeze!

Homemade Yogurt!

Oh this is just yummy goodness in a jar! A mason jar! I have a thing for mason jars lol.
Tuesday I made yogurt from fresh raw milk. My mouth thinks it has died and gone to heaven. The kids love it.
From one gallon of milk I got 5 quarts of yogurt, two plain, two vanilla, and a maple.
The maple is divine with granola for breakfast.
The part that really got my attention though is the cost. I thought that I would be spending more per quart of yogurt than if I bought it. I did the math and would you believe that my yogurt made with raw milk is only twenty cents more than the cheapest store brand? If you compare it to the organic the savings is astronomical!
One of my daughters cannot eat store bought yogurt. We're not sure if it's the lowfat aspect or the sweeteners they use. But she is miserable every single time she eats any. She can eat my yogurt without issues!
It's super easy too. I have looked at recipes and blogs of people making yogurt for years and every single time I came to the part about measuring the temp and then wrapping it I gave up.
Then I found this site..
http://moneysavingmom.com/2012/06/homemade-yogurt-in-the-crock-pot.html

Talk about easy! So now I am happily making yogurt I feel good about feeding my kids! No extra preservatives or chemicals at all. Just milk, sugar, and some yogurt added. I did buy some organic yogurt to start my culture but the next batch should be made using my yogurt and then the cost will drop even more!

And here's my yogurt in the fridge.....in my mason jars!

Small blog link-up

Are you a small blog? This sounds like fun!


http://lilysquilts.blogspot.com/2013/04/fresh-sewing-day-and-small-blog-meet.html

Now to remember how to add that button!