Tag Archives: SewingMachine

Another Flimsy, Another Finish, Etc.

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I finished another flimsy. This one is modern.  Some of you might be thinking I’m just a flimsy maker, but I’m not. I do finish quilts. I’m just taking a short break from the actual quilting part to make tops.  I’m working on building up inventory for my Etsy shop.  I’d like to take it off “vacation status” by mid October and have at least 20 items to list. I’m also waiting on modifications on the DIY sewing table in order to quilt more comfortably.  
I made me another bag.  It’s a LARGE quilt carry bag that stretches to over 45″ when full of quilts.   It’s a quilt as you go pattern from the book Jelly Roll Quilts by Pam and Nicky Lintott of  The Quilt Room.  I used fabric from the Laurel Burch Jungle Songs collection.  The pattern called for magnetic snaps but me being “Ms. Thrifty”, decided to go w/the cheaper option of sew-on snaps.   Needless to say, if I make it again, I’ll use the magnetic snaps. I’d also put some batting in the strap and make it longer.   
I added faux buttons to the outside of the bag too.

This is Penelope. A back-up/traveler/loaner I bought for $25 from a coworker whose Aunt (owner) had recently passed away. She runs beautifully.

And this is Oh Suzanna!  I got her for $25 too from the same coworker.  I had no idea how awesome sergers are! I’m happy to add her to my collection.  
Connecting Threads had their Essential Cotton Thread on sale for $1.95/spool. So I bought a few spools.

I pulled the old Black and Decker stand-by out of the closet.  I finally got fed up dealing w/my constantly dripping Rowenta Effective. I cannot for the life of me remember why I put this baby in the closet in the first place. It doesn’t drip and it gives me a little warning beep when it’s getting ready to shut-off.  I hope to use it until I can get the Panasonic Cordless 360 , which has been on my wish list for quite some time.

I won these adorable magnetic needle minders from a giveaway that Lara B. of Buzzin Bumble had a few weeks ago.  They are from an Etsy shop called YumYumButtons.

My new pen! It’s cigar style (fat) and made of Bubinga.

And lastly, I visited Quilt n’ Sew Connection in Prescott Valley and practiced a little woodgrain fmq on an awesome, if very expensive machine.  The Bernina Q20 which is a sit-down longarm. Yes! It is now on my wishlist too!

Until next time, Happy Quilting and God Bless!

A Thread for Life
A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. Proverbs 15:1 NIV

Linking up at:
Let’s Bee Social
Needle and Thread Thursday

Touching Base

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I planned to have 2 quilts completed for my Denver trip, which I leave for in 2 days, but life got in the way and I was only able to complete one. What was going to be my niece’s graduation quilt, is going to be her “off to college” quilt.  I don’t feel too terrible about it though because I made her a quilt not quite 2 years ago and I bought her something for graduation., 
I did finish this scrappy log cabin lap quilt for a friend. I quilted it block by block to practice my FMQ.  Up close it’s not very pretty, but from a distance it’s a true beauty. 
If I would’ve known starting a fabric fast would get me free fabric, I would’ve done it a long time ago!!  Remember back in March I wrote about my friend +Greta Anderson sending me a box of goodies? Well a few weeks ago, another friend gave me a ton of lovely batiks and just last weekend I got a bunch more fabric from another friend!! It may not be the latest and greatest lines, but I am so NOT picky. I love free! Honestly, I can probably  go a year from today, without purchasing any new fabric!! And I just might do it! 

I added a new machine to my family.  I bought this Viking on Craigslist to be my traveling machine. I have yet to name it. 
So, we leave in 2 days.  Originally it was going to be ALL of us going, but one of my sons is in the hospital in Nebraska and won’t be able to go (please say a prayer for him), and my daughter and grand kids aren’t going either. We haven’t had a chance to all visit together since we left Denver in 2005. I’m bummed because my mom has never met her great-grand daughter who shares her birthday and is already 3 1/2 yrs old.  We’ll have to have a reunion at some point. I am looking forward to seeing friends I haven’t seen in years and the cooler weather.
I finally reupholstered my dining chairs.  It was on my fall/winter “To Do” list….so I was just a few months behind. 
before
after

I know some of you aren’t going to like this…but I’m down to one cat.  Sadly, a few months back I had to put Kiko down because he had blocked urethra.   Sunday, I got rid of Roscoe. That morning, after not being able to sleep at all Saturday night, I was debating on whether or not to go to church.  After talking w/my son about driving me, I walked back into my bedroom to find Roscoe looking crazy and my curtains and rod pulled out of the wall on one side. When I went to try and fix it, I noticed he had peed in the darn windowsill! Instead of going to church, I had my son drive me to the Humane Society, where I surrendered him. I was relieved to find he was micro chipped and that most likely he’d go back to the wherever he was registered. I won’t get any more pets. One cat at a time is plenty!

Lastly, I’d like to ask you to pray for me. Lately I feel calloused and empty. I’m in a funk.  I haven’t been reading the bible or praying. I haven’t taken stock or given thanks for my many blessings and instead I’ve been complaining about what I still don’t have (namely a husband).  The nerve of me! I just wrote about family and gifts and and friends and I have the nerve to feel ungrateful!  I’m struggling… Lord forgive me. 
A Thread for Life
Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again – my Savior and my God! ~ Psalm 42:11
 I’m linking up over at  Val’s Quilting Studio.

Fabric Fast Update and Other News

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I started a Fabric Fast on Jan 1, 2014. The rules are I cannot make fabric purchases from Jan 1 – Jun 30, 2014. The idea is to use fabric from the stash I already have, instead of purchasing new fabric with money I shouldn’t be spending.  It was a perfect solution for me because I am planning a trip to Canada and New York in May 2014 that I needed to save for.  I’m very proud to say that I have not purchased an inch of fabric AND my trip is just about fully funded! Yay Me!!!

Last week I volunteered and attended the AQG Quilt Show here in Mesa, AZ.  There were so many beautiful quilts. I left very inspired. I made the mistake of test driving a couple of Gammill Vision LongArm Quilting machines. OMG! They are awesome! I could totally do FMQ w/one of these babies!  I left there dreaming about owning one. I say dreaming because the cheapest machine is right around $10,000!!! Fortunately for me I have a marvelous and generous friend who says I can come over and use her longarm whenever I am ready! Yay Me again!!!

some pics from the show…

This was made by a QA Chapter member!!

I bought this pattern

And then to my delight, on Thursday night at our monthly QA meeting,  we had Obsessive Quilter – Ann L. Petersen as our guest speaker.  She won Best in Show at the  AQG!!

OMG her quilts are some of the most STUNNING creations I’ve ever laid my eyes on!!! It’s no wonder she’s a multi-award winner!  So her quilts are amazing but what’s even more amazing is that they were all quilted on her regular sewing machine, which used to be a Bernina 150 and more recently I believe she said a Bernina 440.  If I was inspired after the quilt show, I was even more so after her trunk show!  And to make this night even sweeter, she was offering 50% off her online class Quilting BIG Projects on a small machine. Needless to say I quick hurried up and enrolled! Spending $20 on a class is much more feasible than $10,000 on a longarm! And I’m not saying I’ll never get a longarm, but I’d like to be able to use and benefit from what I have right now.

And speaking of Bernina, they are currently having a Faceplate Face-Off.  By voting for your favorite faceplate you enter for a chance to win a 2015 Bernina 350 special edition machine (msrp $1899)!!! You can vote once a day until April 14th! I’ve been voting daily!

Now for my quilty news,  yesterday I basted these 2 quilts and started quilting the chevron.

Until next time, Happy Quilting! =)
A Thread for Life

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it. 1 Thes 5:23-24