Design Wall

Not much sewing going on this week, but I did get a small design wall put in my sewing room. I don't know how useful it will be, it is a little hard to get at since it is behind my cutting table/ironing board, but I have hopes that it will be of some use. I had none before, just the bed and the floor, so if it works, it will be easier on my back. I keep trying to improve my space, and I know that it isn't perfect, but I do like to spend time in here, it is balm to my spirit whether I am on my computer, or sewing, or just watching television and thinking about sewing. On one of the groups that I visit there was a discussion about sewing rooms versus sewing studios, and there were opinions given, one of which was that people who felt that their skills were average or less felt that their spaces were sewing rooms, as people with more confidence in their skills had sewing studios. I think that there is truth to that theory, in my case at least, I'm not oozing confidence, but I sure do like my sewing room, and am grateful to have one. Sewing is my hobby, and I admire the work of those who excel, but I am happy to be plodding and improving.

Turning Twelve Finished

Well....., I'm not proud, but it is finished, and I've read that finished is better than perfect, so it's lots better, lol. It is a pretty poor picture, but DH is napping so I just used my bed like usual, at least I changed the quilt from my pink rail fence to my pink Sumo Sudoku. It is ready for my dentist appointment tomorrow, and I just hope that they don't look too closely, the galloping horse scenerio would be best.

Old Tobacco Road

Bonnie of Quiltville and Quiltvillechat has started another mystery 'Old Tobacco Road'. I plan to make one, but so far all I've done is choose some fabric. This time I'm going to do a little different from Bonnie's colors as I have been wanting to do a pink and brown quilt for awhile now. My scrappies will be the bottom 2 rows, and I am just hoping that there will be enough contrast, if not I'll learn to love it. I threw in a little bit of black as per Bonnie's suggestion, so we'll see. Her mysteries are always fun.

Forgot the Back and World Record Quilt Label

I almost forgot my Guinness world record contender for largest quilt label. It even looks pretty good now that it's quilted, in person anyway. I love the sunflower fabric, it feels really nice and I like sunflowers. I don't know that my back enhances the front, which was in the previous post, but I like it and no one will know except me, and I guess you, so what the hey as my father would have said. I like my Orange Crush, front and back.

Quilts Back From Longarmer

Yesterday, I got my Orange Crush and my Baby Crazy Big Block back from the longarmer, and I am pleased with them. The baby quilt is already washed, I hope she likes crinkly and doesn't just think it is wrinkly, as it is very crinkly. I love that effect, but I know that all don't. Now I am hoping to finish my Turning Twelve by Tuesday as that is when I have a dentist appointment and am hoping to give them to them that day. They are for the dentist's new baby born July 13 and their 4 year old so he doesn't feel left out.

At some points I didn't know if I was going to like my OC, and had considered making 2 quilts out of it, or setting it straight, and I love all the quilts that were done those ways, but I am glad that I stuck with Bonnie's original plan as now I have a nice big quilt for my bedroom queen sized bed, and I and DH love the way it turned out. Today I hope to get it washed and dried and on my bed and also do a little spiffing up of the actual room so it will do it justice. Sorry about the crooked picture, but the room is small and I was wedged in between furniture.

Embroidered State Quilt

This is what I've been working on since Sunday. There is a wonderful group 123 It's Almost Free Embroidery
where there is absolutely free a new state flower or a filler block each week until you have 56 finished blocks and a queen sized quilt at the finish. I had gotten a bit behind, and so Sunday I did the 4 embroideries, and today I finished up the blocks. I added the state outlines and the flower names, the flower names because I am horrible at flowers and would never have been able to identify them later. The Arizona block just came out this week, and I am anxious to do it, as it is a beautiful cactus and I like cacti. I had wanted to do a state flower quilt, but the designs I have seen were expensive up to $200.00 and more, so this is a wonderful thing to me. Now, I need to get busy on quilting my Turning Twelve. I was thinking this morning that I keep putting it off because of fear, and I need to take a lesson from Nike and just "do it". I will be mowing this morning, but I plan to work on it this afternoon or evening, and hopefully, I will have a finish to share soon. I seem to be the world's worst procrastinator.
Also, for any of you ladies who machine embroider, I tried my new electric screwdriver with my hoop and it was wonderful. It got it nice and tight, but not too tight, and my hooping stayed flatter and nicer as I was handling it less. Then when it was time to undo it, it was a snap, so no more sore fingers.
The one I got was from Sears, less than $40.00, model 9-11398. It is small so it fits a ladies hand well and very light, almost cute. After all, I am female, and I like cute even in tools. When we went tool shopping my grandson was with us, and he said, "you like little things don't you grandma?". He was right.

Amy's Giveaway

Amy of Amy's Passions is having a giveaway for her 100th post. As you can see, there is lots of fabric, and a really cheerful bag and I know she'd love it if you go to her blog and leave a comment. Just so you can be thinking about it, she would like to hear about your favorite quilt. I enjoyed very much reading the comments.

Birthday and Tools

Yesterday was DH and 3rd grandson's birthday, and we along with 9 other family and friends went to Bahama Breeze, our favorite, for lunch. I had hoped my son and his family could meet us there, but my son had to work, so it was just my daughter's part of the family. We had a nice time in spite of 'Fay'. I had been saving state quarters, and decided to cash them in to take everyone out. After we ate, DH and I went to Sears, where he got a new electric screwdriver, and I got a few tools and a toolbox to replace the one that he took over. I already had the hammer, but the other tools are new and just for me. I read how one lady uses an electric screwdriver (drill) to tighten and loosen the hoop on her embroidery machine, and it sounded like a good idea, so I got the smallest lightest one I could find. I'll let you know how it works out. Tightening them manually is hard on the fingers, plus I never feel like I get them quite tight enough. It was a fun day (almost like my birthday as I got a gift, too), but my oldest grandson was having a goodbye dinner with us as he left right after to move to Pennsylvania, so it was sort of sad, also. He is driving by himself, and had to pick up his going away gift from a friend on his way out of town. It turned out to be an 8 week old puppy, rat terrier, the perfect traveling companion?
I've been fortunate, as all my kids and grandkids have been in about a 100 mile radius until recently, and now I have a granddaughter in New Mexico, and a grandson in Pennsylvania, sometimes change is hard.

Fun Giveaway

Susan has a pretty new blog, and a new giveaway. Her blog is "Ape over Quilting" and she is a new quilter with a new machine, starting a new quilt with a beautiful new block. To participate, you just have to leave a comment and tell her about your first quilt. Hurry though, "The deadline is Friday, August 22, 2008 at 8:00PM (PST)".

Giveaways

There are two bags being given away, and I wanted to share pictures with you, but blogger is not cooperating, so I'll give you links instead.
Lurline of Lurline's Place is giving away a Cathedral Window Bag for her 100th blog and if you follow her blog, you know that everything she makes is lovely. Also Bonnie of Calamity Janes Cottage is celebrating "Getting Ready for Fall", and has an adorable bag to giveaway. It is very fallish, and has a cute Halloween button as the catch. Good Luck.
Add one more 100th post blog to the list. Amanda of Amanda's Musings. Hers is still a mystery, but it sounds like it is going to be handcrafted. If you are familiar with Amanda's blog, you know she is always working on beautiful stitchery, bags and quilts.
Wow, I can't believe it I just found another one. This is a new blog to me, but it is celebrating '200' posts. Debi of Quilting With Debi is giving away charm packs, essential thread, and a quilting book. This is a great week for giveaways.