Still busy!

I've been busy making saddle pads.  I'm doing some new, never before seen designs.  They look really nice.  All of the ones I'm doing now are going to be show donations.  I did just recently complete one for a customer though.  I sent some gift certificates to the holder of the QH Congress Model Show that was held Oct 15th, hopefully whoever got them will use them!

Mike is also still busy out in the garage.  Living here in Garner is sooo much nicer.  I do miss going to Mason City for errands and having lunch with Mike though, only get to do that once a month now when I go pay rent.  I also can't get any of my floss or cloth here in town so I have to make sure I'm well stocked enough to last a month.  I wonder if ordering online would be cost effective....

Stay tuned for photos of the new saddle pads.  I'm going to do a bunch before I finish them and take photos, it's so much easier to sit down with half a dozen to finish then just one or two.

Busy, busy, busy!

I've started working on the saddle pads that are going to be live show donations, have one stitched with a second coming along nicely.  I have several color combinations picked out for more, just need to get other patterns made up and printed next.  The three saddle pads I just finished and listed for sale have already sold (sold within a day) and are on their way to Australia!  So, they're my first true international sale!  It's hard not to list these new ones for sale, but I keep telling myself that doing these for show donations will get my name/work out there which will hopefully give me more business.

I'm not the only one busy though.  Mike's busy out in the garage working on the next project - a '79 Jeep CJ7.  It's another ground up build.  He's hoping to have it done by Christmas when the truck's owner comes home for the Holidays.  He's already got new sides and rocker panels on it and he ordered all the parts he needs so they'll be here Tuesday.  And our neighbors are such a DRASTIC difference from the ones we had in Rockwell.  One came over yesterday to borrow a socket and he was impressed with Mike's handywork, said he'll be coming to Mike if he ever needs body work done.  And they all say the same thing - they NEVER hear Mike out in the garage working.  We just weren't 'welcome' in Rockwell since we weren't 'Rockwellites' and people did whatever they could to get us out of town.

Landlord has finally made it home for a few hours today as well.  He hasn't been home since the day we moved in back in July.  He's coming over to blow several inches of new insulation into the attic for us which will hopefully help with the heat bills this winter.  He hasn't seen the kitchen in person yet so can't wait to see what his reaction is.  I am a bit peeved though.  The other day Mike noticed that some of the tiles by the sink seemed to be 'lifting'.  Then the next day I came home to find a small puddle of water and a 'squishy' spot on the floor.  I wiped up the puddle just to have another one appear.....I started looking.  Drain for the sink had come apart so every time water was run it ran out onto the bottom of the cupboard, leaked through, and soaked the subfloor.  So, now several tiles in front of the sink as well as the subfloor need to be ripped out and replaced.  We were hoping that the subfloor would dry but it's cheap particle board (not true subflooring) and just keeps getting worse, one of the tiles has lifted to the point of breaking off.

Keep checking back as I'll hopefully be posting some pics of the donation saddle pads!

Changes to the saddle pads coming

I'm going to be making some slight changes to the saddle pads.  Up until now I've been using a 14 count aida cloth to make the traditional size pads.  I just made my first classic size pad using 22 count aida cloth and I love the end result.  From now on for the traditional size pads I'll be using 18 count aida cloth.  The smaller squares/higher counts are a bit harder to work with but I'm liking the end results a lot more.  They look more in scale with the models and the stitches are a lot 'tighter'.  I was figuring it out last night and even though I'm changing the count size, I should still be able to use my patterns just as they are which will be nice.  My prices will remain the same too.  I'm curious to see what the response will be, the first pads I make with the new count will be show donations.

Slight modifications needed to be made...

Well, apparently a 20 count aida cloth isn't made!  So, I'll just have to make the classic size pads on the 22 count.  I also measured Wahoo King and even though he looks bigger (to me), he's not really any bigger than the new classic models.  I'm really liking how small the stitches are on the 22 count although my eyes don't like trying to look at those tiny stitches!  And because the pad is so small it's not taking any time to do it, should have it done in another day or so.  It's a simple pattern so I can take it with me outside and sit out in the garage with Mike and stitch away while he does his thing (did that for several hours today).  I found that all the bright lights in the garage also help me see what I'm doing too, guess when you have big halogen lights that are supposed to be outside in a small 20x24 building that tends to happen.

Now have three shows that I've agreed to make donations for.  They're all in March and April so I have plenty of time thankfully as I will be making both traditional and classic size pads for each show.  Now just need to figure out some way to put my name/logo on them, what I was doing just wasn't working as it couldn't be read very easily.....  If you have an idea of what I could do let me know, just keep in mind that it has to be something that won't scratch or leave a mark on a model.

Have started doing classic size pads

Well, I finally sat down last night and figured out what count cloth I'd need to do classic size pads and still keep my patterns the way they are.  Wow.  For the larger classic size (Scamper, Wahoo King, etc) I need a 20 count cloth and for the smaller classic size (frolic stallion, AQH mare, etc) I need 22 count cloth.  I have a package of 22 count here so I opened it and started a saddle pad.  Man, I'm going cross-eyed trying to see those tiny holes!  It's going pretty quickly though, in just a couple hours or so I have about 1/4 of the pad done.  I started with a pretty simple pattern thankfully.  And once the stitches are done they're soooo tiny you can hardly tell they're there.  I think the classic pads are going to be a success.  Stay tuned for pictures of the finished product!

Getting back into the swing of things

Well, we've been here at the new house for two months now and I'm finally starting to feel settled in.  All the pictures and such are hung up on the walls again, minus a few things that need power tools to be hung up.  I couldn't stand the flooring in the kitchen and breakfast area anymore so I spent August 26th and 27th ripping out the old flooring and laying down new.  Took me about seven hours to rip out the old and about six hours to lay the new!  Changed the whole look of the two rooms.  Next week I'm hoping to get some paint and get rid of the neon yellow walls.

A fellow model horse hobbyist has put out an ad for help with her new CD of saddle pad patterns so I've offered my services.  I'll be getting a pattern (or two or three) from her which I'll stitch, then send to her and in return I'll get a copy of her newest CD as payment!  Looking forward to doing the project.

Speaking of projects I just finished another saddle pad.  I only had a small amount left on it when we packed everything to move and it's been sitting here begging to be finished.  I finally got it done.  It's a trio of greens in my cutback Native American pattern.  It will be listed for sale along with another one I finished a while ago.

My saddle pads are now international!  I just sent one to a wonderful gal who lives in Australia as a 'thank you' gift for some recent purchases she made from me.  I don't know if she shows or not but it's still neat knowing that something I made is halfway across the globe.

I should also have an order coming up for a friend.  She wants a couple of solid color pads for a couple of roping set ups she wants to show next year.  Will be nice to know that my pads will be in the show ring.

I have also sent e-mails out to a few live show holders who are asking for donations for their upcoming shows offering either completed saddle pads or certificates or both.  Time to start doing whatever it takes to get my stuff out there and in the public eye.

Stay tuned for more updates and progress photos.

Time sure does fly!

Well, we've been here at the new place for just over a month now and things are going great.  So far we're loving the little town of Garner.  There's a great grocery store, Alco store, and Dollar General just a few blocks away so I don't usually have to even leave town now to get groceries and such!  I still have to go to Mason City at least once a month to pay rent (landlord gave me his bank account number so I just deposit it in) so I can stock up on the 'really good deals' when I'm there.

Kids start school the 23rd.  They're with their mom until the 18th, they come home, I take Dustin for his physical and Dalton to have his arm checked, and then they have their before school conferences on the 19th and then they're leaving for grandma and grandpa's until the 22nd!

Mike has Land Cruiser build #3 in the garage.  The second one was just finished last week and headed for Virginia.  This one will be staying around here (for now).  He's really starting to like these trucks, they're easy to work on and he can do them quick so he's hoping to be kept busy with them.

I haven't done much crafty stuff lately and I know I should be.  I sold one quilt on eBay recently (whohoo!).  The one I was going to make for our old neighbor's new baby isn't going to be done, she 'unfriended' me on FaceBook so since we're apparently not important enough to be friends even though we don't live across the street from one another I'll figure out something to do with that fabric later....

I have started a new venture though, I'm going to try making and selling Amish Friendship Bread.  We love the stuff but because of the nature of how it's made we'd quickly be overrun with loaves if we kept it all!  Mike thinks I should take them to the Farmer's Market but those are about done for the year so maybe next year I'll give it a go there.  For now it'll be word of mouth.  I won't get rich doing it but that's not my intention.

We're moving!

Well, we don't mess around.  We'll be packing everything in the next week and moving by next weekend (the 9th).  Mike brought home 160 boxes, hopefully that's enough!  The new place needs work but we both agree that it will have to be done while we're there, having all our stuff there will make things a bit more difficult but we both want OUT of this town now.  We only have a couple of neighbors sad to see us go, everyone else is just looking for a reason to report us.

And we did find out something quite interesting (although too late).  It seems that our 'snowbird' neighbors are causing quite a stir in the neighborhood.  They moved in last fall.....  I was talking to one of our good neighbors the other night (she had just found out from the kids that we are moving) and apparently the 'snowbirds' sent her a nasty letter telling her she had five days to clean up her yard or they were reporting her.  She was appalled to say the least, they've lived here SEVEN years and have never had a problem until these 'snowbirds' moved into the neighborhood.  Likewise, we've lived here over three years and never had a problem.  Coincidence?  Perhaps.  And we've heard that the mayor must be on some kind of power trip because he's causing trouble for another of our neighbors and his family.  Fortunately, this family doesn't take things sitting down and they ARE fighting back with the best people that money can buy!  Karma is a b--ch!

Mike and I decided to buy new locks for the new place as well, previous 'renter' didn't leave any keys behind and considering the condition she left the house in I highly doubt she's going to be trying to return any.  Called the new landlord to tell him and he was relieved, he had been thinking the same thing but is stuck on the road right now.  Mike's also trying to line up a big trailer that has sides to haul the garbage out that was left behind (and clean up our stuff here) and that also made the landlord happy.  His family owns a farm with a big burn pit so he told us to take everything out there and dump it so we won't even have to pay a landfill fee!  He told me to take out whatever we thought needed to be thrown and we'd go from there (some carpet definately needs replacing).

That's the newest news around here!  Will post photos of the new house when I get some!

It's been a while!

I guess time flies when you're having fun, eh?!  Mike and I have both been plenty busy lately.  I still haven't done any quilting like I need to, I've been cross stitching saddle pads instead.  Usually about the time I get ready to put the cross stitching aside I sell a few saddle pads which then makes me want to make more!

We're taking the Land Cruiser to Kansas City this coming weekend, leaving on Monday the 4th and coming back on Tuesday.  Who hoo!  Can't wait for a little 'us' time.  This first picture is what the Crusier looked like when Mike got it....

This picture is one I took this last Sunday and is what it looks like now!

And sadly it looks like we're looking for a new place to live.  We had a meeting with the city tonight and Mike was told that he can't work on ANY vehicle, even his OWN, in his OWN garage.  According to them, a garage is for housing vehicles and such, not working on them.  If he wants to work on them, even his own, he needs to buy an industrial lot and build a building.  A few of our so called 'neighbors' were there complaining about the noise from the air compressor, grinder, etc and Mike was warned that if any of the neighbors complain he'll get a $500 ticket and possible jail time.  We called our local chief of police and had him stop by after the meeting to ask him how far it could be taken.  He said technically the noise ordinance is no noise between 10 pm and 6 am (logical and understandable) but he said that if anyone finds any kind of noise Mike does 'offensive' he'll get a ticket regardless of what time of day it is.  So, if Mike is out working and the air compressor comes on, one of the 'neighbors' could complain about it.  Even the chief of police told us that since we're not 'from here' we're not liked so now the cliques are trying to run us out of town.  He said they even tried to run him out of town years ago when he first moved here and now that he's the police chief he's not liked by the 'locals'.  Pretty pathetic if you ask us (not Mike's choice of words though).  He said there's three cliques in town - the old people, the uppity ups, and the drunks.  If you're not one of those you're not welcome.  And apparently the kids are being harrassed about things too because they're more than ready to leave town and are begging us to find a new place asap.  It's pretty sad and disheartening because we do like this town but what do you do?  Mike isn't the type to sit in the house and drink like the ones who are complaining do and if he can't be outside doing something what's the point?!

On top of that, we got a letter in the mail today from the landlord, effective Aug 1st they're raising our rent by $50 a month!  They haven't done a thing to this place in the three years we've been here and it's not worth what we've been paying, let alone more!  The only reason we took it was it was closer to Mason City for Mike and it was the first place we found that was big enough for all of us.

The other sad part is that there are a LOT of nice houses for sale cheap around here, most 4+ bedrooms, but we can't get a loan and no one will co-sign a loan with us (we're talking house payments of UNDER $300 a month for a lot of these houses).  So, we're getting the word out to as many people as we can that we're looking to rent something or do a contract for deed.  Mike has been calling everyone he can think of around here that might know of something and I'm putting ads up online.  Hopefully something will come up soon.

New quilt in the works

Well, I went to Jo-Ann's last week and found some adorable fabric for a baby quilt for our neighbor's new baby that will be here in Sept (maybe Aug since she's due 9/1).  It's a Debbie Mumm but I just couldn't pass it up.  I even had them find more at another store and ship it to me!  To go along with it I found a blue solid and tan solid and then a similar Debbie Mumm flannel for the backing.  I'll hopefully get started on it this weekend sometime, I want to finish the saddle pad I'm making first.

It's been a couple of weeks!

Time sure does fly when you're having fun!  I got the saddle pad order done, photos below.  Then I figured since I already had the stuff out I'd just make some more to sell so I've been working on those.  Mike did try to make me a frame to hold the cloth but it just didn't work, even though we had a picture of a commercially available one.  We couldn't get the rods to clamp down tight enough on the cloth to hold it tight.  Then one day I was out and stopped at another craft store and found one made out of PVC pipe!  The 'clamps' are simply pieces of pipe that are ribbed on the inside that snap over the cloth/outside frame pipe.  It's a tight squeeze to make a whole traditional pad in the work area but it is doable.  And if the cloth loosens up as I work I simply turn the ribbed pipe and it tightens it right back up.  Should see if we can find that ribbed pipe because I KNOW Mike can make similar frames for a lot cheaper than what I paid - $13!  It did take some getting used to on holding but I'm getting there.

 The top photo is the Train Tracks design in blue, green, and white.  The middle photo is the Zipper design in blue and white and the bottom photo is the Double Diamond design in pink and brown.

Saddle pad order almost done!

I have one more pad to stitch and then I can finish the backs on the three pads, get photos of them, and get them shipped off to their new owner.  So stay tuned for some finished pictures!  I had a horrible head cold the middle of the week and Mike's been out in the garage every night after work until 10 or so working on a big project for someone.  He's swapping bodies on some Toyota Land Cruisers and doing some re-wiring.

I've gotten in some 'new' models in the last couple of weeks.  I haven't bought any in almost 2 years so I figured I could get some (plus I couldn't pass up the prices on them).  For Breyers I've now got Smart Little Lena w/ calf to replace one I sold years ago (and then kicked myself over), a Nakota, a classic size Warmblood stallion/foal set, and a classic size Shire.  For Peter Stones (my first ones) I've got an Ideal Stock Horse (ISH), a couple Western Pleasure Horses (WPH), a Performance Horse (PH), a Standing Drafter (really nice model), an Arab (Pain In The Brass, another nice model even though I'm not really an Arab person), and a Palouse.  I've got some others that I'm still paying for so they'll be here in a couple weeks - more WPH's (six to be exact, I may pick my favorites and then re-sell some), and then some more Breyers - Bet Yer Blue Boons, Big Chex To Cash, Wixom (a Percheron mare), 'Bouncer' (a Welsh pony), a classic size Morgan mare, a classic size Appendix QH mare (also advertised as a Warmblood), a classic size Quarter Horse stallion and mare, a classic size 'Ginger' (sort of a prancing QH), and another classic size Shire (thinking team harness).  I have a Menard's store credit so we'll be using part of it to go get what we need for Mike to build me another shelf for the new models.  I just have them sitting here and there right now but a couple are within reach of little fingers so I want to get them up asap.  I need to take some pictures of my model collection, my camera does panoramic photos.....

What a weekend!

Well, we finally have our 'new' trailer home.  What a chore!  Went over Wednesday night and looked at it, check.  Drove over Thursday night to pull it out of the pasture/mud hole it was in.  Ha!  After two hours and both Mike's truck AND my truck chained to his we pulled it to high, dry ground.  Both of our trucks are caked in mud and horse manure now.  By the time we got it pulled to dry ground 4 of the 6 tires had lost air/gone flat already.  So, we left it sit where it was.  Drove over Friday night to change the tires.  Took three of us 2 hours to change 5 tires (had to dismount and remount two).  Finally headed home with it.  I have a ton of 'new' stuff to hang up though - old bridles, hames, even a complete harness!

I'm finally able to get started on my customer order now though, not getting home til 10 three nights in a row doesn't let one accomplish much.

I have also finally figured out how to create my saddle pad patterns on the computer!  I found a grid right in MS Works (doh!) that is customizable so I can color in the squares as needed and print out each pattern.  It will take me a while to get all 37+ patterns done though, it's a bit time consuming to color each square but I'm doing it as simply as possible to save some time (and ink).  I'm just glad to finally be able to condense each pattern from four graph paper pages down to ONE page.  Will be so much easier to stitch from.

I was also directed to an online program that will create a cross stitch pattern from anything so I plan to try it on photographs.  Just think - being able to take ANY photo and turn it into a cross stitch pattern for a one of a kind piece of art!  Stay tuned for updates on that.

Saddle pad order!

I now have three saddle pads to do for someone, in trade for a couple of model horses she has.  I will be starting them asap but may not be able to get to them this week, the rest of this week is pretty full for me.  I did finish stitching the new saddle pad, now just need to finish it.  I started another one but with the customer order that one will be put aside for now.

Mike and I went and looked at a 40' steel gooseneck horse trailer tonight.  He wants to convert it into a car hauler with an enclosed area for tools and supplies.  It's an older trailer but is solid looking and was a good deal so he bought it.  There was some harness things inside the trailer and I bought those from the guy to hang up around the house.  I love that kind of stuff.  I have no idea what all is there, it was all hung up on hooks.  Hoping to have some decent things to put on display.  I will post pictures of everything I hang up once we get it home, the trailer is sitting in a pasture in a bunch of water, mud, ice, and snow.  The tires are half buried so it's going to take a little bit to get it out and we already have a pretty busy weekend coming up!

More new model saddle pads!

Well, I've been working on one of the new saddle pad patterns for the last couple of days and have it just about done.  I followed the pattern right down to the colors but I'm not crazy about them together.  It's a neat pattern though.  I also bought a small hoop to use to hold the aida cloth tight but it's going to take me time to get used to it.  I'm thinking I'll do the example pads like I usually do and then do customer orders using the hoop.  I do think the hoop will help them look a bit better.  If I can't get used to the hoop I may see about having Mike build me something to hold the cloth tight (thinking some thin flat pieces of wood with bolts and wing nuts to 'sandwich' the cloth edges in between).

I will also have 40 NEW saddle pad designs in the next week or so as well!  So, with the ones I had, the 10 I just got and the ones I'll be getting, I'll have almost 100 saddle pad designs!!  Now, to come up with some ideas on how to get them OUT to the public so people can see my work and hopefully spark some interest in them.  I think that now that I can make the cutback pads it will help as the cutbacks will fit a wider variety of models better.

Photos of new pads will be coming!

A post about something other than quilts

I've got 10 new model horse saddle pad designs to try out/make.  They're a cutback style, which is something new for me, but they look easy so I'm anxious to try them out and get working on also making the patterns I currently have cutbacks.  The cutback style will allow me to make pads for a wider array of models which will be nice to do.

I also got some new 'pretties'.  A fellow hobbyist is running one heck of a sale on a bunch of models she no longer needs/wants so I scored some Peter Stone models dirt cheap.  They joined my Breyer models on the shelf.  I also got them to 'have' just so if I ever do get a chance to make more tack I have the models here to fit the tack to. 

Major housecleaning time

Well, I don't think I'm going to get much done this week.  Saturday is Miss Calleigh's 1 year birthday party so my plans this week are to work on one area of the house each day.  Today I did our bedroom and the upstairs bathroom.  Tomorrow I'm hoping to get the living room dusted and picked up and my crafts area organized and get some stuff put away in the totes.  I've got stuff a foot high on my craft table right now....

I'm also not getting much done because Mike has been home sick.  Friday night I ended up taking him to the ER after he got horribly dizzy, threw up twice, and possibly blacked out.  Dr said he had an ear infection, gave him a Z-pack and some Antivert (for the dizziness) pills.  He still wasn't any better today so I called all over and finally got him in to our local clinic.  As soon as the dr read his symptoms she said that he should NOT have been given an antibiotic because he does not have an ear infection and the Antivert will do nothing unless he wants to sleep really good.  What he has is vertigo or BPPV.  She took us into another room and had him lay down on his side with his head over the edge of the table.  As soon as he did his eyes spun in circles uncontrollably!  Apparently microscopic 'stones' have lodged in the semi circular canals in his right ear, disrupting the flow of fluid, thus causing the dizziness.  And until those 'stones' dislodge he's going to continue to be dizzy.  So, he's already called in for tomorrow and he wants me to hammer him all day long with the manipulations she showed me to try and get those 'stones' to move.  So, on top of everything else I need to get done around here before Saturday I also have to try and help him get rid of this dizziness.  He never knows when an episode is going to hit either so he's scared to even drive his pickup, let alone the semi.  Right now he's out in the garage under a truck (again) rolling around on the creeper, hoping some of that helps as well.  Have to love the 'curve balls'!

And we owe our wonderful neighbor big time!  Friday the two youngest and Miss Calleigh were home with us and I didn't feel like dragging them to the ER, not knowing how long we'd have to sit and wait.  I saw our neighbor's lights on and called.  She came right over and watched the kids for us while her hubby stayed home with their little boy.  She's also pregnant and due Sept 1st!  I tried to pay her when we got home and she refused to take it so I'm going to give them a nice surprise once I know what they're having.......

The new sewing machine rocks!

I finally sat down with the new sewing machine for a while today.  Does it ever rock!  Between the needle threader, the ability to control the speed, and just the stitching I love it!  Next I need to sit down and figure out which presser foot goes with which stitch.  I'm thinking I'll write down the stitches that go with each foot and then stick that paper in a bag with that foot.  Then I can see at a glance which foot I need rather than having to flip through the manual and then dig through the feet.  As far as I'm concerned it was well worth the money.

Blue quilt on eBay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170608904185&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT

I listed this today, low starting bid with option of Buy It Now. 

My new sewing machine is here!

Well, my new sewing machine was waiting outside the back door for me yesterday morning.  Wow.  I looked at things on it whenever I could last night and just the 'quick guides' that came with it look mind boggling.  It came with a DVD as well so I may have to just sit down with that and watch it first, then go back to the manual.  It does look really nice though and I can't wait to see what all it can do!

One quilt is done!

Well, I finally cracked down on myself and got one of the quilts done today.  It's amazing how fast it gets done once I just put my mind to it!  I've washed and dried it and once I look it over to make sure everything still looks good (some yarn doesn't hold up well to washing for some reason) I'll get some pictures and get it posted for sale.  Hoping to get it sold soon as I won't be asking an ungodly price for it.

I also have the rest of the flannel for the other quilts.  I've been working on getting them ironed, cut, and sewed together.

My new sewing machine is scheduled for delivery on Thursday, can't wait!  It's coming via FedEx and I keep checking the status of it every day just to make sure it's still on it's way.  Yes, I'm anxious to get it so I can start playing with it to see what all it can do. 

I wish there were more hours in a day!

Well, I managed to get a small baby quilt tied yesterday.  So, now I have that one and the blue quilt both ready for finishing.  Problem is I haven't been able to.  Mike's been busy in the garage every night after work fixing cars for people (right now we have his niece's boyfriend's mom's Chevy Tracker in the garage and Mike's old black truck in the yard).  So that leaves me to take care of supper, Miss Calleigh, and everything else alone.  I can barely get supper made with her running around, I'd never get a quilt finished!  We're hoping our tax refund is here by Friday as we have to go to Rochester to get a part for that Tracker (another don't ever buy vehicle) and we'd rather be able to get our new washer and dryer since we're going over there and make a decent trip out of it.

Jo-Ann Fabrics is having a big sale this weekend and next week too so I'd like to go shopping and save a few bucks.  Always something!

Mike has Monday off from work.  One of the plant's holidays (gotta love a union plant).  Kids have a snow make up day that day so it'll just be Miss Calleigh, Mike, and me for the whole day.  Last year Mike and I went to town and did some shopping and had lunch......

Have to love a 'change in plans'!

Well, I got absolutely nothing done this last weekend....  Ended up spending the entire weekend at Mike's brother's as his truck broke down and he asked Mike to come help him.  What was supposed to be a few hour job turned into a three day job (don't ever buy a Dodge!).

Yesterday I did manage to get the blue quilt on the frame rods.  It's now rolled up and sitting out on the top of the deep freeze.  Probably won't get to it until this weekend when I'll be able to work on it non-stop and get it done though.  I wish I had a 'spare' room to set up my frame and leave it there.....

I also went shopping at Jo-Ann Fabrics and bought a whole bunch of stuff.  Got more flannel for four more quilts, along with the batting I need for all of them.  The plan with that is to get everything ironed out and at least sandwiched together and pinned so that once I get one quilt out of the frame another one is ready to go in right away.  Along with the flannel and batting I bought some other things - a thread storage box (got tired of having spools of thread all over the place), a plastic template for making half squares, and a couple other odds and ends.

Got our taxes done last night (who hoo) and now we're just waiting for the refund.  We get enough back so we should be able to get everything we need/want this year.  That list includes a new washer and dryer, a new Brother sewing machine, a new welder and some tools for Mike, and paying off our tv.  Will be nice to have some 'new' things for a change!

Should get at least one quilt done this weekend

I was able to get the backing for the blue quilt (#1) cut and sewed together and then got everything pinned and ready to go into the frame for tying.  The kids are going to grandma and grandpa's this weekend so hopefully I can get it put in the frame and tied.  I also sold some more things today so I'll be making a trip to Jo-Ann Fabrics again to get some more fabric and supplies to get some more quilts done.

New quilt block designs

Since I'm getting tired of the 'plain' square quilt block I've been searching for different quilt block designs.  I've found some that I like that look to still be pretty simple to make.  Now I'm anxious to get some fabric to try them out!

Went on a fabric shopping frenzy!

Well, I stopped at Jo-Ann Fabrics today and found some flannel for a few of the quilts.  Quilt #11 will be backed with a burgandy flannel.  Quilt #10 will be backed with a light pink flannel.  Quilt #4 will be backed with a chocolate flannel.  Quilt #1 will be backed with a camel flannel.

I'm waiting on payments for several things that I've been selling on eBay recently so once I get that I hope to be able to go back to Jo-Ann's next week and get some more flannel, yarn, and thread.

Jo-Ann's doesn't carry a peach flannel so I may use the camel or brown on those.  They also don't carry a green flannel that goes with the green quilt tops so I need to find a complementary color for those as well.  Having quilt tops that were made several years ago is proving to be quite interesting - those fabrics aren't made anymore so finding something to be even remotely a close match is quite interesting!

I also bought some burgandy cotton that really closely matches the burgandy in the quilt blocks that I have.  I'm going to cut some sashing and see if I like the looks of it with the blocks.  If I don't, I'll be back to the drawing board with the blocks.

Quilt Tops

These are the quilt tops that need to be finished with batting, backing, and tying. Quilts 1, 7, 10. and 11 are the larger 60" by 72" 'lap' quilts and the others are the smaller 48" by 48" 'baby' quilts.  All of them are made with 6" blocks.  I hope to be able to get at least one or two done a week unless I find a really good deal on batting and flannel.  My camera didn't pick up Quilt 3's true color, it's actually a peach color, not blue!!  Not sure why it did that to that one and the others came out ok.....

Quilt #1



Quilt #2




Quilt #3




Quilt #4




Quilt #5




Quilt #6




Quilt #7




Quilt #8




Quilt #9




Quilt #10




Quilt #11




Quilt #12




Quilt #13



New Blog!

Well, after some thinking I've decided to add a blog so that anyone who's interested can follow the happenings around here.  Currently I'm working on a green butterfly print lap quilt for Calleigh to use when she's downstairs to nap or watch tv with.  Then I have a lime green quilt I'll be making that's a twin size for her.  I also have some other butterfly print fabrics that will make at least two more quilts after that.

My mom gave me 13 finished quilt tops this last weekend.  She just doesn't have the interest/finances to finish them now so she gave them to me to finish.  I have 9 that are a 48" by 48" size and 4 that are 60" by 72".  She used a sewing machine to put them together though.  I'll be getting backing fabric and yarn as I can to get them finished and listed for sale.

And since she was in the 'giving' mood she also gave me a bunch of blocks that her grandma (my great-grandma) made so they're over 100 years old.  I'd like to do something with them but I'm hesitant as the fabric seems to be rather fragile and definately not like anything that's made today!

She also gave me an almost finished top that my grandma had been doing when she passed away and several blocks that she never got put together.  I'm going to make a nice queen size quilt out of the blocks, I'll put some sashing in between each block since there aren't a whole lot.

I'm also going to start experimenting with some different quilt block patterns.  The square block is nice but I'm growing bored of doing just those and as a result I'm losing interest in those kinds of tops.  Everything will still be stitched by hand, I'll just be using different patterns.  I'll post some pictures soon.