My Sewing machine just Died......

I thought I would go and do some sewing today.  I have a couple stressers happening  today.  I feel stuck in the house (rain can do that to me) and we (meaning hubby) is re-doing the upstairs bathroom.... for the past couple weeks..... And it is almost done.  I do not feel like I am part of this process, more in the way, and when I make a comment or suggestion, it's like I didn't speak.... so, I thought I would go sew.  As I am sewing, barley got started, Uh, what was that noise?? (I sew with headphones on, not very loud but this way I don't have to have my book or music I am listening to LOUD!!!) So, I hear a kinda grinding noise..... hmmm. That is not right.  Press the petal again, yup, it  made that noise again.  So, on the third press (thinking I could " work through the noise" and it will stop....) uh, well, it worked I guess.......   The machine, just shut off!!! BLACK SCREEN!!!!  And it won't turn back on!!!!  No matter how much I ask it to, or plug and re-plug things in and out!!!!!  oh my.......

I do have my spare machine, but - I wanted to just sit and sew without any stress'....

So, if I can't sew, let me show you some pictures instead!  See!  the silver lining in this black cloud!!!  (hmmm, new machine coming home soon???)...... okay, pics!!!

This is the front of a baby quit - for no reason other than I wanted to make it!  It is a coin quilt - "Stacked Coins Baby Quilt" by Amanda Jean!!  I just really liked this quilt and when I saw the nickel pack - soft blues, greens, yellow, not baby/kid colours at all, I just thought it would be a great quilt to make.  And I like it!!  Even that wrinkly part, hmmmmm - it is there now, and I am not sure if I will/can leave it, but for now, it stays.  Below is the backing.  I just realized, it does not have the extra strip sewn on the bottom of the backing in this pic!! Well, when it's done done - I will show you the full pieced backing for this guy!! (Or Girl!!!!)

No, no one is expecting - that I know of!!  I just am finding myself looking a baby quilts lately. Probably because of the fact that I can make something, and it won't be HUGE!!!  But I can still try to make the block! and try the process with an big commitment of time or fabric. And I like new things to try....

Now we have moved onto my newest start..... I know, I said I wouldn't, but I did.  This is the Jelly Bean quilt from the book Accent on Angles, that I show below.   I had gone to her trunk show (uh oh!!) and just had to bring this book home.  I paid more for this book (yes, it's signed!!) than I normally do.  I paid full quilt store price....I usually find my books online for way less..... but, I bought it!! I had to re-live the trunks show!!  I liked what I saw and they are here to see again!!!!

This is one labour intensive quilt!!

 First you cut up strips, lots of strips, then sew them together into 6.5"x 20" (or more, what every you can get from the FQ or your  length of fabric you are using.  Then, after they are sewn, you cut them into pieces, mix up some a bit, then sewn on the bright strips between the original fabric strips - remaking the strips. Take a breath, grab a drink, and the next step, cut them into squares!!!  THEN, this is the halfway point, you sew these squares together to create the middle of the quilt top!!

After the middle part is done, I am going to be making the borders - out of left over brights for the zinger, and the other  borders are also squares and rectangles from the original black and white materials I have used in the quilt!!!

 This is going to be one fun quilt!!  I figure, I have made a Bonnie Hunter mystery - this is a piece of cake!! Or a jelly bean!!!  ;-)

And the above book, I saw a fellow blogger making her project and she said it came  from here..... I like this book!!! And NO, I am not starting anything from it.... at least not this month!!! ;-)

Okay, need to get out my travel machine, set it up and get the ol' girl into her case and she is going to the Dr's tomorrow..... Hubby thought it might be the power supply gave up the ghost.  The old girl is about 13 years old.... maybe more, but not much, so..... tomorrow I will find out.
Tomorrow I am off to take the dog to the groomers and then visit with my sister for a bit.  I am busy tomorrow - and now I need to go take my machine in......  I am going to make myself feel like it's HAPPY HOUR - it is still a great day!!!!!

Thursday in March....

I have been thinking of making my 'goal' list for the month for a few days now - okay, over a week now, but I just have not done it.  I have been sewing though.  And I have pictures to show it too!!
What I don't have a pic of is my FINISHED Orca quilt from Bonnie Hunters mystery.  Yes, it's done and within a day or two of it being done, I had it and the backing I made for it, at my quilters - in time for the free batting special she had last month!!!  That was my goal, and I made it!!!!
This is the first time I have made a top that fast and into the quilters - normally it's a year or so (if ever....) that they go to be quilted.....
And that is my goal this year - FINISH WHAT I START!!!  And while I am at it, finish what I have already started and get my room cleared out of things so I can move in there.  And in January, I have one completed project from years ago - and when it was laying there, I noticed an area that needs to be fixed..... But it's done and that is the whole point of it.

So this is the way it will look next year when I  hang it on my wall.  This was a class my guild had years ago and now, it's done.

I liked this so much I thought I would do another one - well, I have the pattern but I don't think I will be using it...






Here is a close up of the winter scene.

 And this here is my UFO plan for this month.  Yes, Halloween.  Small wall hanging - and all they need is to be sewn - applique style and they are done.  Easy to do?  Yes.  Take much time? No, they are quick projects.  How long have they been waiting?
Uh, onto other things now.........

 In answer to that question, to long.  Years again....

And this is a Swoon blk!!  Have you hear of these??  Well, it's a 24" blk, that make up pretty fast and looks kinda neat IF you don't use pattern for the back ground!!!!   I keep wanting to 'fix' it, but I am going to leave it alone!!! The butterflies are flying among the lilac leaves and flowers and I am not touching it to make the background white!!!  That would show up the pattern better and make the blk 'better', but what if it doesn't??
And so, I am leaving it as is and using it for the backing if I ever make a quilt out of it!!!

I just wanted to see what a 24" blk looked like and how it would come together.  Looks fine and came together easily and it was fun to do.

And this is my Block of the Month.

This is #1.

Made from Stonehenge fabrics and I like it. It comes in two colour ways but the other colour - well, I found it bright and gaudy - I did not like it at all.  This I find calming and for some reason makes me think of a castle.......
Weird.

And this is the 2nd blk of the series. actually bought the template pk for this one.  I have never used templates before and well, besides the orange stripe in the corner blks, I really did not need them.  I wish they would give you a choice on this, but they only give you templates.  Paper ones that come with the pattern, then you have the option of buying the heavy plastic ones for the project. The templates are from Marti Michell - the Perfect Patchwork Templates.

The project is 'Stonehenge Meets Jamestown'
It will be 12 blks with log cabins in there too, and it looks nice.  It is an 82" by 106" quilt - so it's not tiny but not HUGE either..... like the BOM I found on-line last night!!!   It's called 'Through the Woods" and it's a free project as long as you don't miss a month, which, since I just learned about it, I did - but its only a $3 cost and yes, I did pay for it - it's the center star blk and I like it!!!  Love those kinds of blks - so pretty and just, well, I like them!
So, as long as you print the pattern in the month it's offered, this is a free BOM!!  Just don't think about the cost of the fabrics in this thing or the cost of thread, or that, yes,even though you do  get options on the size of project you want to make - the pattern is for a KING sized quilt!!!  But I like it - even with the applique on it!  (although that did make me pause for a minute or two....)


My next thing is my Goal List for the MONTH!!

• Fran's BOM blks 1 & 2
• Make up Gemini kit (counted the other day, almost done!!
• Clean up scraps.  (this is on going - I will never be done, but I will keep at it!!)
• Coffee Quilt - FINSIH!!  I have to get my border finished and sewn on.... not sure how close I am, but I will keep working on this project.  I hope it looks like I want it too!?!
• Grinch pillowcase
• Christmas tree skirt
• UFO - Halloween - orange witch and Frankenstein (shown above!)
• Leader & Enders - with a purpose.  I am now sewing blue/neutral squares together because I LOVE the Blue Ridge Beauty found on page 23 of Bonnie Hunters "leader/Enders" book, and I want to make one.  Have loved it since I first saw it, but now, it's time to work on creating one with my scraps.
• Double Delight - another of Bonnie's mysteries which only needs the last borders on it.  The reason for the delay?  I was not happy to see two identical triangles touching in the last row I put on - I did not want that!!  So, I thought I would replace one... uh, did not happen and now, I am fine with it!! It will not be in a show and who cares?? It's my quilt, made for fun and now I want it DONE!!!

This is a pretty big list - and that is another reason why I need to make sure I do not start either of these patterns!!!  They both are talking to  me at night (when I am at my weakest!!) and no, I just can not start either of you right now!!!!  But I want to - oh how I want to.... But I WON'T!!!  That would go against my plan of getting my room cleared up of all my past starts and not finishes!!!  I do not want to carry that on this year. So the starting stops here!!!   Yin Yang and Crooked Mile - you are just going to have to wait your turn!  (And I also want to be prepared for these projects, not jump in with two feet and realize  there is no water in the pool!!!)

So this is my Month of March!!  Projects like a lion, but hopefully all done so they can leave my room like a lamb!!!! (tree skirt is something I am not sure of though.... that might be on the list next month too......)

Feb. Ends....

I did not get as much stuff as I had thought I would - that is what happens when you don't sew for 2 weeks, and who's fault is that??,  But, I did get Orca done!!  So one thing off my list!!
(no pics - I have already taken it to my quilter!!! That is amazing in itself - but I will be posting pics ASAP!!)

And as for the border on my Halloween quilt - decided it  didn't need it - so now I just have to revamp my list for tomorrow and make March the best sewing and finishing month so far this year!!!  Since I have got Orca done, I am ready to rock!!!!  (uh, yes, with pics - I promise!!!)

Long time, no sew... But I am there now... kinda!

I have made myself goals - things I want done, and guess what? The month is almost over and I am not done anything... And I did not sew for over 2 weeks - that is not how we finish things, and since finishing things is not a strong point with me, I have to stick to my plan and work my goals.

Today, I am sewing.  And yet, when I stopped for  snack, the TV got turned on and here I am, on the computer..... Uh, this is not part of my plan either.  This is not doing what I planned.....again.  Hmmm. Problem.

This weekend, I am sewing ALL WEEKEND.  Want to join me??? Our own personal retreat, at home, ignoring the phone and NOT TURNING ON THE TV!!!  At least not until you have sewn the day away and need to unwind, or, uh, hmm, unsew something??  Then, TV is okay, but until it's to dark to sew (my room's lighting is not great and the other day, one of my lights just gave up the ghost and that does not help!!!).  I have found ways to work around it, but still, I like lots of light!!!  (hmmmm, sounds like a shopping trip is in the works - BUT NOT THIS WEEKEND!!)

So, I am going back to the room that I have been avoiding - and then get things done.

And I will be back to show you what I have done and the gift I received - a bookmark from a friend, which is doing it's job very well thank-you!!  And the reason I came on the computer in the first place, was to find a good book to listen to while I am on this retreat.... I didn't find anything that grabbed me, so ...... I really need to find one that I can get lost in for awhile!!!
I will go look again, and then - back to sewing on Orca!!  (I am close to a finished top here, so gotta keep on going......) ~bye!!