Sunday, August 28, 2011

Slow Sunday

I had a very pleasant Sunday, got Williams quilt binding pinned down and ready to start sewing.  Spent some time looking for the right green thread, couldn't find it so off to Joann's tomorrow. 

Sorted through all my projects in the sun room and started some cross stitch projects.  Just what I need another project.  The kids gave me a nice ottoman for my birthday that opens up with storage area so I was able to put my projects in there and get a big basket out of the sun room. 

George helped Mike mow his lawn, then went into Kathleen's and helped her clean up her yard.  He came home and had dinner then went down to Carolyn's house, 2 doors down from us) and coerced Tim Melish, Mike and Lou and Terri to help him cut down a dead tree in her yard He talked to his brother Bill tonight and Bill's feeling much better, the anti biotic is working and he's feeling better.

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Quick note

I have finished the binding on Katelyn's quilt, now to get a label done and attached.  Then on the William's John Deere quilt and then I will be ready to start finishing another UFO.  Don't know which one will be next.

George stopped by Kathleen's house this afternoon and as he was leaving he heard a loud noise and thought something a dropped off the bed of his truck.  Checked it out and all his tools were still there, as he was driving south on the street fire trucks were heading north so he decided to turn around and check with Kathleen.  It turned out to be the building across the street from her house, it was on fire.  When her dad left she heard the noise he  heard and went outside to see if he was OK and she heard more loud pops and glass breaking and she saw the fire.  No one was there, she went in and called 911 and they were there within minutes.  Lot of damage to the building  but the surrounding bldgs. OK and so is Kathleen's house.

That's all for now, it's time for me to head off to bed.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Lazy day today

Did sew a few inches of binding on Katie's quilt, took care of some paper work and paid bills then I went grocery shopping for a few odds and ends.  Came home and got everything put away then back to the sewing room to stitch a few more stitches around the binding.  If you're not a quilter you have no idea how long it takes to hand sew a quilt binding down on a 70" x 86" quilt.  Just have to keep plugging away at it, then start on Williams, same size.  I've tried doing a binding by machine but didn't like the way it looked at all.  No sense in making a mess of the final part of a quilt after all the time and effort that goes into  getting it to this point.

I'm going to set up the embroidery machine tomorrow to make the labels for both quilts rather than just write one with pigma pen.  Let the machine do the walking.  LOL  George will be working on the rehab project he's been helping with all summer. 

I'm going to swap some 10" sqs. with some friends, need to pick colors that represent the 70's, blues, turquoise, oranges, etc.  and start cutting them. 

Thursday, August 25, 2011

on the go today

William and Katelyn only had 1/2 day today so they took the school bus to Bill and Trudy's and I went there to pick them up.  I found out that Bill isn't doing so good again, he has a fever and kidney infection and fluid in his lungs.  Not a good scenario, he is on strong anti-biotic.  Will keep him in our prayers. 

After a short visit with Bill and Trudy we left to go to our favorite ice cream shop for lunch, shared a sampler appetizer then had ice cream.  Was very yummy.  We came home and started working on Katelyn's PJ's, we should finish them on Sat. and I'll be working on William's quilt for him so he can get it done on the weekends. Don't have grandma duty tomorrow, they are in school all day.  Tough adjustment for grandma, will be a long lonely day.

Tomorrow I will straighten up the sewing room and go back to working on my projects.  Will be watching that hurricane and praying for all those in it's path. 

Well it's time for bed so I'm toddling off and settling down for the night.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Whew

I got everyone delivered to their appropriate cross country practices, then waited for Mike and Robin down by the windmill along the river.  Beautiful spot, should have taken my camera, maybe tomorrow.  There was o goose that was nibbling bugs along the path and when she tried to walk she had a problem.  Looks like she may have had a broken leg but she was getting around.  We watched her for about 1/2 hr. then she slid into the river and swam away.  Katie and I made the infamous chicken casserole today and she wrote down the recipe while we made it.  Took enough over for their dinner and kept some from me and and grandpa.  William sewed some of his 2 sets of 4 patch sqs. together into another row so he now has 2 rows done.  I told him I would work on some of them while he's in school, then he can put the border on and quilt it.  Katie didn't get her pj's sewn, we had to go get her some tops for gym and shorts we forgot yesterday.  Got home in  time for a hot dog lunch, then we had to start the casseroles to be on time for the cross country at 3 pm.  Came back home and William and I packed up Katie's sewing machine and unfinished pj's, took them over to their house and picked Emily up so the two of them could get to ccpractice at the windmill after we stopped and got Emily a new pair of gym shoes.
My three munchkins, all of us in my little sewing room, each doing our own thing.  As you can tell we giggle and laugh a lot.  Work on our projects.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Good evening

Boy am I tired tonight, we didn't get any sewing done today, not a stitch.  Started out the morning with a really bad storm, power went out for about 5 min., then I went over a picked up the 3 grand kids.  We went to the Polar shoe store for William's new running shoes and guess what all made in China.  Bought him a pair, the store didn't have any made in USA and it wasn't a big box store.  Then we went to Target where I got a few groceries and the kids picked up some extra school folders and supplies plus some clothes.  Then on to Office Depot for  printer ink, copy paper and more odds and ends.  Then we had Chinese for lunch, oh it was so good, the kids brought the leftovers home for dinner tonight.  Then back to the kids house so they could change into their running clothes and took them all to Katies practice.  During all this it was either pouring rain and/or with thunder and lightening.  We stopped at Hobby Lobby, no I didn't buy any fabric, we bought a little "learn to knit" kit for William to try and make a collar of Patsie the Westie. 

We took Katie to her practice at 3 pm, it was still storming but the coach said they were still going to have practice so we decided to stay with her until Robin got there at 4:30.   All of a sudden about 4pm the rain stopped and the sun came out.  So Robin came and picked up all 3 to take them to their other practice and I came home to fix dinner.  Fixed a pot of beef stew from leftover beef and gravy.

Now I'm calling it a day, Emily starts her sophomore year of high school tomorrow and William and Katelyn start school on Thurs.   It will be so quiet around here, I'll miss the fun.  I have a cute photo of the 3 of them that I'll post tomorrow.  They are fun characters.

test picture add

Thanks Nan, this is a picture of a block that one a bom in June.  The blocks I won I had sent to Ley in California who was having a b'day shortly and really wanted these blocks.  Lord knows I didn't need any more orphan blocks.

Monday, August 22, 2011

Busy day

Had a really busy day working with all 3 grand kids on their summer projects.  William started sewing his 4 patches into rows and boy was he impressed.  LOL  Emily worked on her lasagna quilt borders, made a cookie/fresh fruit pizza and also learned how to make homemade sloppy Joe's.  They love my recipe, I think all they've ever had at home is from the can.  Tomorrow Emily wants to learn how to make my creamed chicken casserole.  I don't have a recipe, I just make it and add a little bit of this and a little bit of that.  Whatever I have handy.  LOL  So tomorrow we do a recipe.  She is such a big help, she got my web cam hooked up today and got me on Skype, now to learn how to use it.  Katie got a pair of Capri pj bottoms cut out and ready to sew tomorrow.  Instead of an elastic waist we are going to put a draw string in a casing around her skinny waist.  She is pencil thin and a fast runner.  

They ran in a cross country race during Elburn days, William came in first for his age group, Katie came in first in her age group and Emily came in second.  Their dad finished.  LOL  Well he did help pace the kids.  They run a race almost every weekend, Emily is going to run a 1/2 marathon at the Dells in Oct.  I think grandpa and I will try to go to that one. 

That's been my day today and my little sewers will be bright and early tomorrow morning to see what we can finish.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Sunny Sunday

What a glorious day, Sunny, cool a little humid but lovely day to sew, but then what day isn't a good day to sew.  I have almost finished sewing down the binding on Katie's quilt, should finish it today.  I did find a seam that didn't get sewn down before it was quilted so have to do some damage control before I can call it done.  This being one eyed causes some unexpected challenges but nothing I can't fix.  Then I just need to do the label so 100 yrs. from now all will know who made it, who it was for and when it was made. 

I have decided that we aren't going to sash Williams 4 patches, just sew them together randomly and put a border on to frame the sqs.  I think he'll like it that way, I designed an example in EQ quilt design program for him to see what the finished quilt will look like. 

Robin and Mike called last night, they were at the Lions Park with Kate and William and wanted us to come in too.  It's the "end of summer Elburn days", parade, animals on display, rides, food and fun.  They have this every year the week before school starts.  We went in and played bingo, I haven't played bingo in over 30 yrs., had fun.  Robin won, the rest of us donated.  It was fun, they are going to have bingo games every Fri. night at the park starting in Sept., Robin wants to go and take me with.   It will be fun. 

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

This and that today

Been busy getting things sorted out in the sewing room and I can get back in there now.  Thanks to Emily who came over and helped tote stuff downstairs and to the spare bedroom.  I still have to sort through some of the bins but at least there's room to move in there now.  Then William spent a whole day sewing his Sq's. together.  He's going to have a nice little lap quilt when it's done.  Emily's lasagna quilt is put together except for the borders, I guess I'm going to have to help get them done, school starts next week. 

I have 2 quilts that need the bindings sewn down, been too hot to even clip them down.  Maybe tomorrow will be a "me" day and I can at least get the clipping done so I can start hand sewing them down and make the labels and attach them. 

I've also been putting some glassware, candles, silk flowers and other stuff in boxes for the girls garage sale in the fall.  If they don't have a sale then off to Good Will   Getting rid of some clutter.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Beautiful day

Saturday afternoon we went to a neighbors to celebrate their sons high school graduation.  The young man had to overcome some pretty tough obstacles but he persevered and made it.  So very proud of him.  While we were there the rains came and came and came.  At least it cooled off and is gorgeous today. 

I haven't done much in the sewing room this weekend, too much going on, have to  do all those danged house blessings aka chores.  They are almost done so might cut some fabric sqs. to send to a friend of mine who makes quilts for an orphanage in Honduras. 

George is over at the house he is helping to rehab, don't know when he is going to be home today. 

Went grocery shopping this morning, wow was Meijer's crowded, I guess everybody decided to shop as long as it was so cool out.  Wll have to go now, bottom of the ninth, Cubs beating Atlanta and now they walk the first batter and he steals 2nd.  I hate these nerve racking games!!!  Whew Cubs win 6 to 5!!!

Friday, August 12, 2011

Good day

Yesterday was a really good day, spent it with the grand kids.  Went to Barnes and Nobel in the morning, got some books and magazines, had smoothies (coffee for me) and some treats then on to 5 below for some cheap treats then to Honey Jam for lunch.  Really good lunch, had the best fresh strawberry Crepes I've ever had.  Will go back there again and again I'm sure.  We all liked it.  Came home and went through my stash to find borders for Emily's quilt, we finally found something we both liked.  Then I got out the juicer machine I haven't used in years and we made apple juice from some apples I had.  Boy did the kids like that stuff, I hope they don't get tummy aches from too much of it.  Then we juiced up some carrots and tomatoes I had and made a big batch of spaghetti sauce, with gr. beef and cooked up thin spaghetti pasta.  Sent a big casserole of it home with the kids for their dinner after running.  Cleaned up the kitchen, dropped the casserole off and took the kids to running practice.  Home for dinner and to collapse.

Today Emily is coming over and we are going to dig into this sewing room and get things reorganized.  Wish us luck.  Going to take a lot of my old quilting magazines downstairs and empty off some shelves.  Will stack fabric on the empty shelves and get rid of some of the big roller bins to give us more room to move around.  Have to do this because George won't knock the wall out to the living room or the guest bedroom for my sewing room.  The bins are a nice storage but takes a while to dig through them to find a fabric I'm looking for.  Sow we'll see if it works better with them stacked by color on shelves.  Always enjoy these little challenges in life. 

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Sunny Tuesday

Well I am without wheels today and maybe tomorrow.  Kathleen's car is in the shop so she's using my car to get to work.  I have 2 quilts that have the binding sewn on and ready to be stitched down and they will be finished.  I still need to make the labels.  The quilts are for Katelyn and William.   I'll post a photo when I have them all done.  I'm going to try and find the flat surfaces in the sewing room, no bare spots showing.  Why do I do that.?  I am still going through all my UFO projects to decide what to finish next.  I have a couple of tops that just need to be layered with a backing  and batting to finish the quilting on.  I think they are pieces I was trying to decide if I wanted to make them bigger and add more borders so it's time to cut bate and finish them.  My machine is running like a champ, had to take it back to the shop last week, something that was supposed to be fixed when I had it in for the annual check up didn't get done so the machine quit on me.  They finished fixing it and didn't charge me for it. 

The Dermatologist had to do another treatment on the skin cancer spot on my cheek last Thurs. and I have an irritating scab on it that I keep rubbing and I shouldn't.  My bad!!!!  It doesn't hurt, it's just there and I can't let it be.

We're getting veggies from the garden, tomatoes, green peppers, zucchini, corn and green beans.  Yummy!!!

Well enough with my ramblings for today and get back to work on the sewing room clutter.  It's going to be fun to see what I find.  LOL