February 2010

Paducah Quilt Show 2010

by Karen on February 16, 2010

in quilting links

I went to the Paducah Quilt Show once back in 2004 – 6 years ago!  Wow how time flies.  I enjoyed seeing the quilts and shopping the vendors – looking at the quilt museum which I have seen about 3 times over the years.  Mike finishes his contract job in the middle of March and I thought he might be ready for a road trip come April 22 – don’t you all think so!  He immediately agreed and got on line and found a campground only 14 miles from Paducah that had openings and I am going to the Paducah Quilt Show 2010!!!!

Now I don’t know if all of you are familiar with the show?  It is put on by the American Quilters Society of which I am a member for the last couple of years.  You do not of course need to be a member to go to the show but if you are you get a discount on admission (not a lot but with your membership you get six magazines a year and access to the sales on their books which can really amount to a bit).  The quilts are fabulous to see.  So many to look at and the vendors! I won’t even go there – I have no idea how many — OK I take that back I just now went to the web page to see if they have the vendors listed and they do – if I counted right it is around 200!!  Do you have any idea how long it takes to walk through all those vendors :)   I will be drooling.  (you do not know how many of us quilters who have no local quilt shops enjoy shows with vendors until you have been there – finally we get to see all of these items we go on line to see – but now we can actually see and feel the items!)

We are staying 3 nights and I will be wandering through the quilts on the Wednesday(23rd) and Thursday (24th) of the show I believe.  I told Mike that he can drop me off if I want to go back the second day to look some more, there is actually quite a few things in the area he can spend time seeing as he likes to take so many photographs he will be able to keep busy.  Believe it or not he really likes to look through the quilts too.  I think he likes to see the dumbstruck look on my face as I see some of the really fantastic creations some people come up with.  Or maybe he likes to come with me to control my spending?  LOL  I actually keep that under control pretty well myself.

Of course right there in the same town is the National Quilt Museum. I love that place.  It is another place to spend hours at drooling over the quilts. Normally by this time of year it is very hard to get a reservation as all of the motels in the town get booked up in advance.  Six years ago when I went with my daughter we planned only a month in advance – kind of a spur of the moment thing and I was lucky to find a motel 50 miles from the show.  This time though we have the motorhome – I was kind of surprised that the campground had spots available but I guess it is more women going with other women driving and/or flying in and staying in motels than women piling in a motorhome and taking off :)   I’m so glad Mike was able to find something so close – that 50 mile drive the last time was a bit much considering it is a 6 hour drive from home too!

Just wanted to share my news – anyone else going?

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Baking, reading, and Olympics

by Karen on February 15, 2010

in Baking/cooking, family, quilting links, quilts, weather

Today is a cold, dreary day.  We have had snow flakes spitting off and on all day.  It is the type of day where you really don’t go outside unless you are really and truly an outdoors person or if you need to run and errand – like go exercise (which I did).   Now though it is time to just sit back and enjoy the inside and hope tomorrow will be warmer.  I will tune in to the Olympics sometime today or this evening to see how it is going, I haven’t watched it today yet.

Yesterday we ran to Little Rock to meet up with daughter and her hubby to go to the Arts Center – the exhibit was nice but much smaller than I thought it would be and no gold and glitter among these Egyptian pieces.  All pieces were more of the ceramic and bead jewelry type of items and a couple of mummies.  Everything was great to look at although my husband and I both thought that the cards all of the information was written on could have been larger – is age creeping in here :) I hope not!

When we got done with the exhibit we left the kids (kids to me – not to them they are in their late mid-30′s) and headed over to Sam’s Wholesale and  Barnes and Nobles for a quick look before we left for home – wouldn’t believe the weather – snow flying everywhere – and it had been in the 50′s the day before – it was melting as fast as it was hitting the ground so no worries about travel.

At Barnes and Noble I always look through the quilt magazines to see what is new.  Now and then they will have an overseas magazine and I always look through them to see what is going on in the quilting world away from the states.  I found a great one from New Zealand — and the best – it had a quilt border in it that I love and I think I will use that one for the Little Brown Bird quilt instead of the one that comes with it as it is one of the main parts of the quilt that I thought was just a bit too fussy for my taste. (saying that I should actually mention although I love the quilt I find a lot of it a bit too fussy for my taste and I intend to change it a lot – when I get done it most likely won’t even look that much the same as the original as I am planning on substituting some blocks for others that I have found and making some of my own design also).    The magazine I found is simply “New Zealand Quilter”.

this issue has such a simple quilt on the front of it I was surprised - most magazines tend to put something a bit flashier on the cover. I'm glad I opened it up to look at it and found the border inside.

this issue has such a simple quilt on the front of it I was surprised - most magazines tend to put something a bit flashier on the cover. I'm glad I opened it up to look at it and found the border inside.

The is the border I liked. It is from an award winning quilt by Margaret Matthews (2007) called "Roses for Me" and in the magazine it was the final of a 10 part series. I'm so glad I happened to pick this issue up, it has the pattern pull out included.

The is the border I liked. It is from an award winning quilt by Margaret Matthews (2007) called "Roses for Me" and in the magazine it was the final of a 10 part series. I'm so glad I happened to pick this issue up, it has the pattern pull out included.

So that is news on the quilting part of my day (yes I have been busy with my applique border and I have 1 1/2 borders left to do).  Today was a baking day also.

Blueberry, Banana, Walnut Muffins

1 cup of quick oats
1/3 cup oil (I use canola)
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 small carton of vanilla yogurt (6 oz)
1/2 cup milk
1 mashed banana
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons ground flax seed
1 cup blueberries

Mix all ingredients together except the blueberries.  Stir them in after all is mixed.  Bake for about 25 minutes at 350 degrees.  Makes about 21 small muffins (this depends on the size of your containers).

some of the muffins - as you can see I use a variety of containers, the ones in the back are the aluminum foil toss away and the red ones are microwave/oven proof silicon rubbery things :) I found these awhile back and wanted to give them a try and they work great. You kind of just pop the muffins out. I had six more baking when I took this picture and they are in a muffin tin.

some of the muffins - as you can see I use a variety of containers, the ones in the back are the aluminum foil toss away and the red ones are microwave/oven proof silicon rubbery things :) I found these awhile back and wanted to give them a try and they work great. You kind of just pop the muffins out. I had six more baking when I took this picture and they are in a muffin tin. I have very large blueberries frozen from my little brother's berry farm as you can see in the photo - a couple berries and you have enough in each muffin! I have only about a cup of frozen berries left from the crop in June.

my afternoon snack - my very nutrious blueberry muffin and a cappuncino - of course and went and spoiled he nutrious part by having some chocolate afterwards :) can't be perfect LOL

my afternoon snack - my very nutritious blueberry muffin and a cappuccino - of course I went and spoiled the nutritious part by having some chocolate afterward :) can't be perfect LOL after all I was hungry I had gotten in an hour of exercise after lunch!

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Olympics

by Karen on February 13, 2010

in quilts

I have been so wrapped up in the Olympics that I didn’t get around to posting today.  I have no photos.  I have been working on my applique border in between watching races.  Tomorrow we are spending part of the day in Little Rock visiting with our daughter and son-in-law.   We are going out to lunch and then over to the Arts Center with them to see the Egyptian Exhibit that is going to be there for the next several months.  It should be great to see.  I have no idea if I can take photos but I will stick my little camera in my purse and find out.

Would you believe we have a chance of snow again tomorrow!!  I’m not all that concerned about it though the roads are warm so it shouldn’t be sticking I wouldn’t think and the forecast for Little Rock is rain and snow flurries.  I don’t think it really really be all that much but I sure will be glad when winter is over!  We had a lot of snow melt today.

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Star Crazy

by Karen on February 12, 2010

in animals, Interesting Links, Star Crazy

Well after several ups and downs with this months blocks for the “Star Crazy” quilt I have them finished.  This morning I was half way done with one of the star blocks when I realized that I had accidentally bumped the needle position and I was not making a 1/4 inch seam but a bit larger!  I had to get the seam ripper in action and that delayed finishing that block.  I managed to get all finished this afternoon though!  February’s assignment is done and now I can get back to work on my circle applique border on the “Going in Circles” quilt which is coming along nicely, I am working on the second side right now and about half way done with that one.

February's assignment - 2 star blocks, 2 Irish chain blocks and 36 half square triangles. I had two left over last month for some reason and I saved them for this months work.

February's assignment - 2 star blocks, 2 Irish chain blocks and 36 half square triangles. I had two left over last month for some reason and I saved them for this months work they are down there on the bottom.

last months blocks and this months blocks.

last months blocks and this months blocks.

two months of half square triangles. I don't remember how many we need for this quilt -- too many!

two months of half square triangles. I don't remember how many we need for this quilt -- too many!

My girlfriend Regina’s daughter Sara is in the wildlife department in the Arkansas Fish and Game Program at Arkansas Tech University and I wanted to share a link of her releasing a trumpeter swan the other day with others from that department, the story is at this link along with other photos. http://focus.arkansasonline.com/photos/index.php?id=2582928 Although I have never met Sara I have heard about her for 3 years now and I feel as though I know her – way to go Sara!!  I envy you being able to pick up that bird and then release it.  Most of us will never come that close to a trumpeter swan much less say that we had held one!

On the weather front our snow is beginning to melt quickly all of a sudden, it is up to 40 degrees today and will be in that range though out the weekend – we just might be snow free by Monday.

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Scraps and Star Crazy

by Karen on February 11, 2010

in life in general, Star Crazy

I was going to try to get done with my Star Crazy blocks today but I just didn’t get them all finished.  I will finish tomorrow for sure.  I have all of the half square triangles finished after a mild panic attack when I thought “oh no I made them the wrong size“!! that kind of panic attack.  I started to divide the blocks up looking to see what I had and looking to see if I had enough to make the stars and it was like “huh” ok I have the ones for the stars so what’s up with the extras.  Then I looked at all the directions again, all the papers – and I realized all was ok, I needed to make 2 inch hst’s to be finished at 1 1/2 inches.  I just looked at the sizes wrong or something and thought they were too small for some reason.  So all is well that ends well – it just gave me a mild head ache :) and I decided to quit for the evening!!  I will post a photo tomorrow of the February blocks after I get the two star blocks done.  Everything is cut out and ready to go.

I am making this quilt a scrappy quilt — what else with all these scraps of mine.  Here is a look at my scraps:

This is what is in one box. Lot's of pieces some really small some reasonable size. Some of them are very, very long strips folded up that came off the ends of quilts when I was getting ready to put binding on so they are very long. Some are the size of maybe 6 x 8 inches and some are about 1 1/2 inch square! Useable considering the star crazy quilt has Irish Chain blocks in them too and they call for 1 1/2 inch squares!!!

This is what is in one box. Lot's of pieces some really small some reasonable size. Some of them are very, very long strips folded up that came off the ends of quilts when I was getting ready to put binding on so they are very long. Some are the size of maybe 6 x 8 inches and some are about 1 1/2 inch square! Use able considering the star crazy quilt has Irish Chain blocks in them too and they call for 1 1/2 inch squares!!! When I packed all my scraps in the boxes I pressed them all and trimmed the edges on some to make squares or rectangles. I tried to get them in some kind of order. Before the boxes I had them all over flowing two baskets and I couldn't seem to find anything and had no idea what I had. Now I can open a box and lift things out and kind of see what I have better than I did before. (kind of :) LOL )

I am not sure how all those pieces got in one box when I tried to repack it I couldn’t get it all to fit and had to take them out and try again and the lid is still not sitting on it tight!!  All of these boxes are full:

Seven boxes counting the one that was on the table when I took this photo. One day I need to reorganize the boxes as there is room for a label on the front of the box. I want to divide by color and label the boxes so I will know what is in each box. One day I need to get more boxes too so these won't be crammed so tight and of course because I am always getting more scraps. Of course then I will need to find more space to stack them which will mean rearranging the shelves again.

Seven boxes counting the one that was on the table when I took this photo. One day I need to reorganize the boxes as there is room for a label on the front of the box. I want to divide by color and label the boxes so I will know what is in each box. I need to get more boxes too so these won't be crammed so tight and of course because I am always getting more scraps. Of course then I will need to find more space to stack them which will mean rearranging the shelves again.

These boxes are a good size for storage on the shelves and decorative too.  The boxes are 11 x 8 inches and are 4 1/2 inches deep.  I find them at Hobby Lobby over towards the scrap book section but not quite with those things.  I think these boxes were meant to keep photos in them.

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Snowmen

by Karen on February 10, 2010

in life in general, Star Crazy, weather

Ok I haven’t made any snowmen even though we have enough snow to do so.    It would have made a good one a couple days ago but now it is starting to get kind of crunchy.  On my way home though I snapped this photo from the car – I was only a mile or so from the house but I had several cars coming up behind me and no safe place to pull out because of the snow so this one isn’t as great as it could be.  This photo of snowmen though will show you that we had plenty of snow available to make them!  I wish I had thought quicker to zoom in.

so unique - so tall and skinny, I don't think any children live at this house - maybe visiting grandchildren? or maybe the older couple that live there got out and had some fun?

so unique - so tall and skinny, I don't think any children live at this house - maybe visiting grandchildren? or maybe the older couple that live there got out and had some fun?

We still have plenty of snow, it has been cold and although it melted off of the roads it is still on the trees and grass.  Luckily we did not have to even think of shoveling out our driveway.  It is not all that long of a drive and we kind of just crunch it down with the vehicles and wait for it to melt.  I do shovel off a little path in the middle of the day though off of the decking so it won’t get slippery.  I say “I” because Mike is working long hours right now and we are only talking of a little bit of snow and a small area.

This afternoon I hope to start cutting out pieces for the Star Crazy February blocks.  I have everything printed out and ready to go.  Late start though as I had an eye doctor appointment earlier and then the fitness center so just got home a short while ago.  Did you all know that as you age it is not uncommon for your distance vision to improve but of course your close up vision gets worse!  I have been wearing glasses for almost 40 years and this is the first time he has ever seen any improvement in my distance vision and said that occasionally happens as we age.  Of course he needs to make the bifocal part stronger – can’t have it perfect!  I will pick up new glasses in about 10 days.  A little bit of a new style but not drastic.  Maybe I will be able to see my applique stitches better!

Oh well I am getting ready to go through fabric for the star crazy blocks I hope to have photos tomorrow.

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One border done

by Karen on February 9, 2010

in life in general

I managed to get a lot of  applique done yesterday while I was home from the snowy day and then this evening finished up one of the four borders.  It is coming along nicely.  Of course I didn’t work on any other projects other than 45 minutes of quilting on the Christmas Quilt last night.  Today was a boring day, nothing happening here :)   I cleaned house, cleaned the snow off of the car (that took awhile as soon as I would clean part of it of snow a wind would come up and blow snow off of the trees and back on the car!).  I went to the fitness center and the grocery store.  I came back home and worked on the applique.

It was an average day in my life!  Nothing new to report – it was just one of those days.  No photos today.  We did not get any more accumulation of snow yesterday and ended with close to 6 inches.  I will try to remember to take my camera with me tomorrow and maybe get some snow shots before it melts – which will be this weekend I guess.  The next couple nights are to be very cold but by the weekend back to the mid-40′s and melting begins once again.

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More Snow

by Karen on February 8, 2010

in weather

What a winter we are having.  The weather forecast said we would get some snow last night but it sounded like it would be just rain mixed with some snow and then turning to snow by late today.  Instead we woke up to 3 1/2 inches of very wet heavy snow.  It stopped but the news says it will start again in the afternoon and through the night.  I wonder how much we will get?  We briefly lost our power this morning so I hope it won’t be a lot more to make trees and power lines heavy.  What we have now is the heavy wet stuff.  I thought I would do a blog post this morning in case we loose power later.  We do have the generator but hubby is working today and I don’t know if I would be able to get it started – it has a pull cord on it and I am not good at those!

The last time I measured the snow I used one of my sewing rulers that is a little confusing and not clear and concise. I pulled out a different one (wavy edge) and it has the numbers marked really well. Just a tad over 3 1/2 inches right now.

The last time I measured the snow I used one of my sewing rulers that is a little confusing and not clear and concise. I pulled out a different one (wavy edge) and it has the numbers marked really well. Just a tad over 3 1/2 inches right now.

Our winter wonderland

Our winter wonderland

and another view

and another view

Of course this isn’t anything like what everyone out on the east coast got on Saturday.  One of my sisters and one brother live in Northern Maryland about 15 miles apart.  They had a whopping 30 to 36 inches.  Saturday was my sister Vicki’s birthday – here she is in the snow in front of their house.

Luckily a neighbor has a snowplow and cleared their driveway and here it is all piled up in the front yard!

Luckily a neighbor has a snowplow and cleared their driveway and here it is all piled up in the front yard! A birthday to remember! (Vicki in front of her house)

Thank you all for your comments on the border of my quilt that I posted yesterday. I have gotten started on the applique and though it will take awhile to complete I am having fun doing it.  I will need to make time this month to get busy on this months assignment for the Star Crazy quilt.  I have my instructions printed out and now to figure out what colors from my scraps to use and get busy making what they say needs to be done this month.

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It’s ready to applique

by Karen on February 7, 2010

in weather

After making more circles last night and earlier today the top is ready for the applique stitches.  I will be working for the next several week on this border to get it done.  I couldn’t lay it all out for you to see as I don’t have enough floor room so I had to fold it a little.

better than nothing but I wish I had room to lay it out totally flat.

better than nothing but I wish I had room to lay it out totally flat.

Here it is folded in half

Here it is folded in half

To work on it neatly and have it not end up a wrinkled up mess I fold it so that the border is on top.

To work on it neatly and have it not end up a wrinkled up mess I fold it so that the border is on top.

then I fold it in half again. This is an easy size to work with. As I get the applique finished I keep refolding it so that the border is always on atop.

then I fold it in half again and again. This is an easy size to work with. As I get the applique finished I keep refolding it so that the border is always on top. I have found from past experience that it works out best folding it like this - other wise you tend to start tripping over it when you get up to move and also it gets very wrinkled this way it stays nice and neat.

I periodically will bring it back to the sewing room to match up threads as closely as I can. Now you can see why I say this thread cabinet was one of my best quilting investments. I can't always find a thread to match but most of the time I can. When I do not have a thread that matches closely I use a beige color silk thread that usually doesn't show up with the tiny stitches that I use.

I periodically will bring it back to the sewing room to match up threads as closely as I can. Now you can see why I say this thread cabinet was one of my best quilting investments. I can't always find a thread to match but most of the time I can. When I do not have a thread that matches closely I use a beige color silk thread that usually doesn't show up with the tiny stitches that I use. I will probably match up thread for about 6 to 10 circles at a time and then I put the threads back in the cabinet and match up more. It will be time to refold it about then anyhow.

I tend to do more of my applique work in the living room while watching tv and I have a lamp that extends out over my work so I am comfortable and have a well lite area.

I might have a new photo to take of the daffodils tomorrow – they might be in the snow!  Yes they say winter is back tonight and we might be getting a little snow during the night and all day tomorrow.  I don’t think they expect we will get a lot though, most of that will be north of us.  I guess it will be a good day to make progress on the applique.

Our snow fall will not be anything like what one of my sisters and one of my brothers had – they both live in northern Maryland and they had about 30 to 36 inches of the white stuff the other day!!

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Going in Circles and Spring is coming!!

by Karen on February 6, 2010

in gardening, quilts, weather

First I will explain the “spring is coming” comment on the top.  I know a lot of you are under snow and getting more as I write – I’m talking about all of you out east – I know you are in the midst of a strong winter storm I imagine others of you in the northern areas are too.  But here – in north central Arkansas look what I discovered today when I went to get the mail out of the mailbox!  I think the groundhog of the south (located in Georgia) is right – spring is in the air (even if it feels like winter :) at times )

the earliest variety of our daffoldil bulbs are budding out. This always happens in February it seems, sometimes we have them popping open with snow around them. You always know that spring is really on its way when we see these.

the earliest variety of our daffodil bulbs are budding out. This always happens in February it seems, sometimes we have them popping open with snow around them. You always know that spring is really on its way when we see these.

And another clump - we still have a little bit of last weeks snow on the ground in places in the shade. I would not be surprised though to see a little more snow come our way before spring is actually here though.

And another clump - we still have a little bit of last weeks snow on the ground in places in the shade. I would not be surprised though to see a little more snow come our way before spring is actually here though.

I told you all I was going to be working on the border of my circles and four patch quilt which I am now naming “Going in Circles” I think it is appropriate.  I have been taking some photos as I go along with it to show how I do it.  I do not follow any particular rules this is just design as I go.

The first most important step in my opinion is protect your work surface especially if this is your dining table like mine is. I have a large cutting mat 30 x 36 and I use that for the protection.

The first most important step in my opinion is protect your work surface especially if this is your new dining table! I have a large cutting mat 30 x 36 and I use that for the protection. The table is being protected from any glue leaking through.

I start in a corner so that is what I lay in place first.

I start in a corner so that is what I lay in place first.

The supplies - the circles, vines, glue, scissors, and a photo of the border that I am using for inspiration.

The supplies - the circles, the nine patches, vines, glue, scissors, and a photo of the border that I am using for inspiration.

I forgot to take a photo of my first corner as I was doing it so this is a photo of the second corner - put your corner segments in place first - one corner is fine.

I forgot to take a photo of my first corner as I was doing it so this is a photo of the second corner - put your corner segments in place first - one corner at a time is best but you can do all corner first then go to the sides, up to you. These are glue basted in place.

put glue dots on circles as you are ready for them. I put about 2 feet of the vine out with glue dots on the back, press them in place with your fingers, curve them as you desire. Then I put a circle on each side of the vine, I wasn't going to measure but then I decided I needed to as some were to far apart (they peel up well if the glue is still damp), I am putting the circles about 3 1/2 inches apart on each side of the vine.

put glue dots on circles as you are ready for them. I put about 2 feet of the vine down first with glue dots on the back, press them in place with your fingers, curve them as you desire. Then I put a circle on each side of the vine, I wasn't going to measure but then I decided I needed to as some were to far apart (they peel up well if the glue is still damp), I am putting the circles about 3 1/2 inches apart on each side of the vine.

getting ready to lay out more of the vine - the vine is all in one piece on each side of the quilt border.

getting ready to lay out more of the vine - the vine is all in one piece on each side of the quilt border.

When I got about 2 feet from the end of the border I layed the next corner pieces in place and glue basted them down. This is so I know where I want my vine to meander. Then I cut the vine to the right length. I glue baste this portion of the vine in place and tuck the end under the 9 patch. The 9 patches also will be needle turned appliqued in place. Using the glue is an easy way to baste also if you need to make adjustments you can gently tug a piece up and reposition as you are working.

When I got about 2 to 3 feet from the end of the border I laid the next corner pieces in place and glue basted them down. This is so I know where I want my vine to meander and end. Then I cut the vine to the right length ( I will trim a little more off when I get it all basted in place. I glue baste this portion of the vine in place and tuck the end under the 9 patch. The 9 patches also will be needle turned appliqued in place. Using the glue is an easy way to baste also if you need to make adjustments you can gently tug a piece up and reposition as you are working.

One side of the border is done and the second is almost done. Enough done so I can take this photo so you can see what it will look like. Now back to making more circles - I thought I had plenty! LOL I ran out before I finished the second border!! I had at first done some circles in two different sizes but the larger size was too big I felt so I am going to cut those smaller to begin with and make them into the smaller size circles. That will let me finishe the second border but then I will be back to making more circles. Maybe I will get this done late tomorrow or Monday instead of today!

One side of the border is done and the second is almost done. Enough done so I can take this photo so you can see what it will look like. Now back to making more circles - I thought I had plenty! LOL I ran out before I finished the second side - talk about not judging correctly!! I had at first done some circles in two different sizes but the larger size was too big I felt so I am going to cut those smaller to begin with and use them to make more of the smaller size circles. That will let me finish the second side of the border but then I will be back to making more circles. Maybe I will get this done late tomorrow or Monday instead of today!

This sure adds a colorful finish to the borders doesn’t it!

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