Raccoon in the daytime

This can't be good. The raccoon is probably looking for birdseed and strawberries. I hope it's not sick. It's another gray, rainy day in the Ohio Valley here in Crestwood, Kentucky, USA. So, I think I'll do some quilting....smile....

It's binding time again...whoopee!

The Bloomin' Roses is complete, all that's left is the binding. This is my favorite time, cause it means it's done. I like a narrow binding, usually darker than the quilt. I think it gives it a nice frame of sorts, a finish, if you will, that holds in all the business of the quilt. Also, I like lots of quilting. In older quilts, those with the most quilting usually last longer. So, for me longevity of my work is important. That goes for the bright colors too. In a few years, those super bright colors will dull down to a lovely patina. That's joy for me now and joy for me later. Don't get me wrong, I like the civil war, warm palette, or the muted Japanese/ping colors also. They will only get richer looking, if it's good fabric. But, again, I think something deep down in us draws us to something, and for me it's bright and cheery colors...smile...

It took about a half a day to complete the machine quilting with this set up.

The back of my quilt is usually where you can really see the quilting. Not so much on this one. The pattern of the fabric is pretty busy. If you don't want to your stitches to show, choose a busy backing fabric. This is a flannel fabric, made by Marcus Brothers. It is the zodiac, I just like the interesting colors and symbols. Plus it's flannel, my favorite backing. I chose a variety of quilting designs, all free motion-don't like them templates or drawing lines. Again, this is not a piece for a contest, so I'm happy with some imperfections. It is done and that's always better than perfect. I did echo quilting around each flower and then created my own flower in the corner and finished with quilting in the ditch on the hourglass border.

The batting

inside the quilt sandwich is silk and I'll have to let you know how it feels under it. But, it sews like butter on the machine, I don't know about hand quilting. It is thin but gives enough body to the stitching that you can see the quilting quite well.

This is a picture this morning. No butterflies for me. The strawberries were there all day, but, I'm sure the raccoons came in the evening and ate them all. Oh well, next batch of fruit, I'll leave out again, and try to be vewy, vewy quite....hehehehe....smile

Butterflies, Bloomin Roses and Machine Quilting...

Shhhhhh....be vewy, vewy quite...we're hunting butterflies...hehehehe...Loonie Tunes...remember that saying?
Elmer J. Fudd?

Not really hunting, just trying to attract them. Since I've stopped feeding the birds, as they bring along various raccoons, squirrels and shrews, we have halted the bird seed. But, there is no end to my need for cheap entertainment, thus the strawberries. I understand that butterflies like very ripe fruit. My camera is at the ready, in case we get a lovely visitor.

Shrew you ask? Yes, in our house. My husband, daughter and I chased it all over our basement and DH was able to swish it out the door safely with a broom. Cute little critters, maybe they don't eat birdseed, but, one in the house was enough.

On to all things quilting...since our Bloomin' Roses are due for the Show and Tell party at one of our member's homes, I thought I'd show the final stages of completion. It's only taken me about a half a day to complete the quilting. I'm using the silk batting with this lap quilt. My machine seems to like the batting. It's very thin. The best test, for me is the cover test. How does it feel under the quilt. I'll let you know when I get there.Here's me in at the machine. There's really nothing more enjoyable than machine quilting, free motion. It is a lot like painting. The faster you go the easier it is. I don't like templates that much, but, I know they have a place and I've used them before. Whatever you do don't throw away the leftover batting. I like to use it in pillows. You can also hand sew the pieces together to use in another quilt. Just butt the edges up against each other and zigzag sew-trying not to create a lot of bulk. You then sandwich this in a regular quilt, nobody will know.

It's a beautiful day here in Kentucky, and it's summer so that means strawberries. Here's the fruity portion of strawberry shortcake. I've got a Bisquik mix to make later for the desert. For my homesick daughter in NYC, here's our summertime backyard in Crestwood, Kentucky, USA.

Is there nothing more poetic than wilting roses? These are Chelsea's favorite flowers,

they'd be happy if she was here...smile...

This, on the other hand, makes us very happy and very proud. Way to go Jennifer!

Happy Quilting....

I survied the excercise, but, I want a pink sash...

OMG! I'm sore, but alive and slept the best I had in a long time. After viewing the video in the previous post, I think if I had a pink sash to wear, it could help. I went with a friend,who also hadn't been to an aerobics class in a long time, but, I'm hesitant to call her to ask if she's sore. I don't want to be negative or discourage her. We both faked it pretty well, I think, but we go back again tomorrow at 9:00am and we'll see how it goes. All I know is, I've got to do some exercise to feel good. As much as I like quilting, it is a sedentary hobby and I must make myself move more. This workout routine is 1hour and 15 minutes with aerobics, weights, and mat work/Pilate's. The instructor has been teaching the class, at our church, for 18 years! So of course, it's all very easy to her and I think she hasn't had someone so new, or at least in a long time. Oh well, it can't hurt me...to much...smile...

Ben Kweller - Penny On The Train Track

This is my motivational video...I start an aerobics class for the first time in mumble, mumble, years...smile

Lavender's, Bread of Life, and Quilt King Products

Well, we had a great day on the road here in Kentucky, USA. My oh my what a wonderful day. Of course, buying fabric is always fun and I've been sooooo good and haven't bought much at all in the last few months. But, that's all gone now. I've loaded up, big time. I think it was a combination of PMS-you know how those hormones reek havoc, and lack of purchasing for so long-spending withdrawals-the pain. Plus, it didn't help my non purchasing strength, being in a group of 15 quilt fabric shoppers, all in a frenzy to buy fabric for less than $3.00 a yard. Oh yes, and we had temporarily lifted the fat quarter penalty for purchasing, thank goodness-I'm weak I tell ya! Anyway, here's my lovelies.

Flannel is my favorite fabric for backing-it's the most cozy/comfortable, in my opinion. This is 8 yards of flannel for my future vintage quilt that's growing in my mind.

I've got a Christmas quilt in a box-did I mention it's only the fabric and pattern ready to go? Well now I've the backing for the future quilt/WISP. It's a wonder I remember these projects, because they've been on the shelf for at least 2 years! But, you know, they don't go bad on the shelf and I'll get to it....smile....

Here's some funky fabric, I just couldn't resist. You know, I'm always preaching to my friends to stretch yourself and try something new...you know, so you don't get bored or go stale on your interest. But, there is something deep within me that pulls me back to a little more unique or unusual quilt/fabrics. Love, Love, Love..smile.

Of course, all quilter's should have a good supply of tone on tone and I like to have white on white on hand. It's hard to see, but this is cream and white dots and flowers. It's great for scrap quilts or a pieced background, and piecing white on white greatly enhances the visual texture of a quilt.

Here's my future vintage quilt. I was really wanting to find some strawberries in a vintage print, struck out, but, I'm quite happy with this much anticipated work in progress. Here's a future great UFO...don't know yet, it just said buy me...what can I say, I was weak with hormone over run and lack of purchasing syndrome.

Now this is a future project for my husband.

When our girls were young we traveled to the Southwest-New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona, and we went to several pueblos and Mesa Verde. So here's another great quilt that's soon to be on my shelf.

And last, but not least, this fabric contains all the critters that we see in our back yard. The one they are missing is a skunk, but, I'm sure if I'm feeling this way again, maybe I'll be near skunk fabric and will buy more to sit on the shelf beside this fabric, soon to be another quilt that I'll complete with the help of my friends. Happy Quilting.

Easing in the border for the Bloomin' Rose

It's just my luck the blocks for the border sewn together almost fit. But, I'll still need to adjust and ease in the border. As you can see the border for this quilt is just a bit large. So, I'll need to go back over some seams and take a larger seam-instead of the usual 1/4 inch, in order to make this border fit, I'm going back over a couple of blocks and take about 1/2 to 5/8 inch seam then it'll ease in and fit!