by Karen on April 30, 2011
in quilts
With the machine quilting part of the baby quilt that is and it only took 3 out of the last 4 days to do it!! Overall I’m I pleased with it – kind of – but I didn’t find it as satisfying and relaxing as hand quilting for sure! I have the binding sewed on as well and that needs to be hand stitched in place and I also need to put some hand quilting in each fairy block as I didn’t want to ruin the blocks with an attempt at free motion or whatever as I haven’t a clue how to do that 
the binding is various left over strips from the jelly roll put together – I think I actually have about 5 strips left over to put in my scrap boxes. I really doubt after machine quilting this baby quilt that I will ever enjoy machine quilting. I might from time to time machine straight stitch a baby quilt but I doubt that it would become my normal way of quilting.
The machine quilting.
Now off and on today I will get back in here to the quilting frame and work on the end of this area and also go back and forth to the binding on the baby quilt. When I am done with the binding I will work on the fairy blocks.
I was amazed to get my book that I ordered already from Amazon – Debra Kemball’s “Beautiful Botanicals” – what I really love about her work is I find it amazing that I do some of my applique a lot like she does – she isn’t so strictly a by the book/rules kind of gal I think. She uses one size of Roxanne Between needles -size 9 -for her quilting and applique (needle turn) just as I do, we only use a different size needle -I use a size 11 for all my piecing/applique/and quilting. She too when doing circles leaves more than needed on the back to make the circles look puffed up more. One would think I have taken some of her classes! She is self taught as I am and doesn’t follow the rules either I think I have found a long lost quilting sister LOL I have put her blog on my Google reader and look forward to learning from her.
She includes a large pull out template for a beautiful quilt – I haven’t looked closely at it yet but I believe it is for a large wall hanging. That just might be my next intense challenging project! I’m sure I will continue to make non-challenging baby quilts in the meantime but I always like a really good applique challenge to work on and seeing as the Red and Green Applique is coming to an end this just might be it
by Karen on April 29, 2011
in quilts
I have four projects going but I am happy to say some of them are winding down!! The baby quilt is coming along really nicely – I am at least 3/4’s of the way done with the quilting. I am going to put a little hand quilting in the fairy blocks but not a lot. Hard to get a photo of it but I am up to the bottom two fairy blocks. Coming along nicely and so far – knock wood – no troubles with the sewing machine!
I will get back to work on it this weekend – I took today off and I got out my red and green applique – the center block that I started to work on ages ago and put aside for a little bit – it was easier to take that box with me with all the applique things in it instead of carting along the sewing machine and the baby quilt.
The Red and Green Block: This is the big center block for that quilt – the last block to make.
Other projects currently in the works – the quilting on Going In Circles – about almost done with rows 16 & 17 (out of 25) so it is moving along and I’m going to put in a little more quilting on it this evening.
The other project I am working on is my nieces, signature quilt – but it is on hold while I wait for her to get me the wedding photos to put in the quilt – she is kind of slow and forgetful about this and I think I will have to give her another nudge next week if she ever wants me to get done with it 
Of course there are actually more than 4 projects as I have 3 quilt tops waiting in line for hand quilting – but until they get on the frame I’m just not going to worry about them I will just be glad to get these done.
As soon as I finish the baby quilt I will probably get another one started – can’t keep a good quilter sitting at working on only 3 projects after all! I was talking about using the triangulations on that orangey color jelly roll that I have but you know I think I might just do a nine patch or 4 patch instead!! Something super easy just for fun.
The applique square might just continue to be a Friday morning project – or not – who can tell with as quickly as I change my mind.
The sun was shining again today and felt so good – more rain coming so I’m enjoying the sun while I can.
by Karen on April 28, 2011
in quilts
Although we are having a sunny day and I feel so good about that I feel so bad for the people southeast of us that had the horrendous tornadoes go through yesterday!! One of my nephews and his wife live on the northern edges of Birmingham Alabama. (that is about 7 1/2 hours from here) They were some of the lucky ones – they are without power for who knows how long before they have electricity back — but they had no damage! There is storm debris that flew into their neighborhood from destroyed areas so there is some clean up to do – but overall they lucked out. My nephew says the damage starts about 25 minutes from them – trees down, power lines down, houses destroyed. They all had it so much worse than those of us in Arkansas did.
But today is a sunny day here and now that I know Chris & Terri are alright I can enjoy the sunny day.
My tomatoes growing in the sun – two tiny tomatoes on this, one is hidden behind the other.
Potato plants – I was a little late planting these so they might be smaller than some others in the area but I think they will grow well – only 3 of them but I only have a small garden space here. This is a raised bed and my soil thought out the property is poor.
Two rose bushes on the end. I also have a bell pepper planted in here that has tiny peppers on it, and a row of green beans there on the edge. Other items planted that you can’t see well – one egg plant, cucumber plant, yellow squash, zucchini, and a couple tiny tomato plants in here too that I grew from seed. The ones in the hanging bags I bought because mine were so tiny. I have some more tomato plants scattered in flower beds and might transplant a couple more over here as I see how much space things take up.
Last night while working on the quilt. I learned from all of you machine quilters out there that an extra table comes in handy so dug out a small fold up table to put on the end to lay the quilt out on for the weight – even a baby quilt weighs a bit after awhile.
Today I did more this morning and I am almost half way done with it now. I am up to the center fairy block. I decided I am going to do a little hand quilting on the fairy blocks as I have little experience as it is with machine quilting and lets just say it will turn out better than way.
My machine quilting consist of these straight lines and that is it! (as straight as I can sew that is 
)
Just last week I posted a tutorial on how to use the triangulations that I was practicing. I had 24 half square triangles to make use of so I made a mug rug from them and practiced straight line machine quilting with it. I forgot to post it
Just the right size to add a small snack to it or to place a cup of tea on a saucer to catch spills – you don’t want to get it stained up too fast 
the great things about these mug rugs though is the size – so fast to put these little babies together. The lines aren’t perfectly straight but not too bad.
We had more rain today but not bad rain – only heavy a couple times and not as heavy as it had been. It is actually supposed to clear out in another hour and the sun come out for the next couple of days – I hope!!
The winners of the AQS quilt show in Paducah are posted. Go HERE to see the winning quilts. There are some really neat ones like usual. I really like the applique on this ONE by Deborah Kemball – I liked it enough that I search for a book by her and ordered one this morning more inspiration you know.
I am tired of these storms!! We were in the storm shelter two times last night – one around 6PM and then again around 8PM. Nothing touched down and we got tons more rain! The ground is so water logged – I brought the camera with me to the shelter and snapped off photos as we were on our way back to the house the first time – the second time it was getting too dark to get good photos. I would like to find out just how much rain we have had in the last 3 days.
In back of the workshop a little waterfall!
more water heading to the overflowing pond
Before the storms I got started on machine quilting the baby quilt! The sun was actually out and the windows open – about 66 degrees outside.
I will take some close ups when I work on it again. I am having to measure and draw lines on – the little thing that the walking foot thing attaches to broke – the plastic part where that little leg like thing is on if you know what I mean. No local store to buy one at, I will have to look for a new one next time I am out someplace that sells them or order one on line.
by Karen on April 26, 2011
in quilts
I took photos this morning of some of my plants growing – here are the yucca plants growing like crazy with the antique rose bush at the top of the mound. Lilies are growing all over in here as well.
Scattered leaves and things from the ditch washed out by the storm.
One of the peonies just starting to have their buds open so maybe I will have some pretty ones off of this bush later in the week.
I walked back into the woods a little bit and got this photo of the overflowing pond.
The water being released at the Lock and Dam Park called Old Post Road – this is the Arkansas River which begins back over in Colorado!
When there is way too much water up river water is released at the lock and dams to help prevent flooding. We do not see the water coming out of here like this very often. These steps go down to the river – normally there is a sandy “beach” area where the fisherman stand to go fishing. We have seen the water much higher than this – back in 1981 I believe it was the water got up to about 7 steps from the top.
Looking down river at the fast flow
Another park across the river on the Dardanelle side of the water.
I have my quilt top spray basted and let it dry while I wandered around getting these pictures earlier today – I’m now ready to get started after I take care of a little bit of laundry.
I checked back in with my daughter earlier today to find out if they had their electricity back and yes they do – it was luckily out only for a couple hours in the night after the storm.
by Karen on April 26, 2011
in quilts
Some of you may have heard of the really bad storms that went through my state of Arkansas once again yesterday afternoon and last night. I had my tote bag ready to make a run to the storm shelter if needed around 4 PM but once again it all went by us – thank heavens – but were on their way to the Little Rock metro area – where our oldest daughter lives.
The storm was slow moving which meant we were getting rain – lots of it – and the local tv stations were covering weather for over 5 hours straight. I was keeping on an eye on the tv all night waiting to find out if the storm would pass North Little Rock and my daughter – she was in between two of the tornados that hit the area – the small town of Vilonia was hit hard by a tornado a bit north of her and the Jacksonville Air Force Base was also hit by a tornado with lesser damage. My daughter said she, her husband and their dog spent about 15 minutes in the closet with the tornado sirens blasting – they are without electricity but luckily the tornados did not hit their neighborhood.
North West Arkansas where most of my family lives is having a lot of trouble with too much rain, flooding is a big problem up there, bridges are out and some roads are closed. All the family is ok though.
We are in for more storms later today although I think the worst of it will be south of us. Our land is water logged and we have standing water in places but most of our land slants downhill so most of it runs off – which explains to you why we have little grass growing in our front yard. Over the years we have lost a lot of top soil and grass doesn’t grow well in that area – one day we might put sod down but never seem to get around to it. This was from yesterday – some of this water is still standing.
water running through a small ditch.
more water standing – the water rushes though this area and ends up in a pond at the end of our land which then overflows and heads downhill from there into the woods and goes who knows where.
Yesterday I did finish the baby quilt top!! Now sometime today I am going to see if I have enough batting to use the heat press tape on to get enough pieces together to get rid of some of these scraps of batting that I have. I will go ahead and practice machine quilting on it – don’t know how long that will take, but simple straight line won’t take long, I just want to make sure I don’t sit too long and get a stiff neck as I have been having some problems with my neck right now as it – so it might take me a week or two.
I am going to run around with my camera later today and go see what everything looks like in our neighborhood by that I mean countryside up to 10 miles from us and on into the next town ending up at the fitness center to get a little exercise then back home to get started on the quilt 
I’ll post photos.
I do hope the Paducah area will be ok in Kentucky for the quilt show – but I’m afraid it will be a mess. The river is close to cresting and there will be evacuations. So many hotel rooms are already booked for the show and now local people will be forced into evacuations from flooding that I wonder where they will go – needless to say all the extra people in town for the show will not make the situation any easier – I’m glad I wasn’t going to it this year. Last year with all the rain had then was a bit of a mess at times.
by Karen on April 25, 2011
in quilts
For any of you going to Paducah this year for the AQS Quilt Show which begins on Wednesday . Due to heavy rain the city is preparing for flooding and venues for the show are being moved all over the place. I am not going this year but happened to see an article so thought I would pass it on to the rest of you in case you have not heard.
I hope the city will not be hit too hard by the flooding but it doesn’t sound good for the people who live there. Good that they have flood gates.
The link to the article below
“Weather Prompts Changes to Quilt Show Sites
By Donna Groves
PADUCAH, KY – The floodgates are going in, but the AQS Quilt show must go on, organizers and city leaders say. So several changes have been announced in scheduled events.
Quilt Show Coordinator Bonnie Browning says it was a daunting task but they’ve managed to change all the logistics at the last minute. “So we’re moving the people that were in the Expo Center and they’re now going to be in the Pavilion. The people that were in the Convention Center are going to go out to Circuit City. The people that were in the Pavilion are going to go to Office Max out at the mall. We’ve changed bus routes. We’ve moved the food tent over to the Farmer’s Market behind the (Quilt) Museum. Our exhibits are having to be moved to all of these different facilities. We’ve had to change literally every employee’s task during the show. It’s in new location so we’ve had a busy fourteen-fifteen hours.”
One might wonder why organizers didn’t just throw in the towel, or quilts. “We did think about cancelling it,” said AQS President Meredith Shroeder. “The main reason we did not is because we had so many people coming from out of town. They had airline (tickets); they had nonrefundable hotel rooms. And so they would have lost all of that and so we determined that we believe this is workable, we can do this. Everybody jumped in.”
Events that normally take place at the Paducah/McCracken County Expo and Julian Carroll Convention Center are being moved. These include Category winners, Best in Show, and Bed Quilts. These will be moved to the pavilion at the corner of 4th Street and Executive Boulevard. The Live Auction will held at the Quilt Museum.
Classes and lectures will be at First Baptist Church. “
by Karen on April 25, 2011
in quilts
What is on your design wall today? Check out the Patch Work Times and see what everyone else is working on. I have been getting a lot done with the fairy quilt. I should actually finish the top today – then I decide if am I going to practice simple straight line machine quilting or get it ready to hand quilt. I am leaning towards practicing the machine quilting and save my fingers for the quilting on “Going In Circles”.
Here is where the Fairy Quilt is now – down to the last blocks to decorate.
The whole top. It will never be a favorite of mine but it will be finished 
– and someone will like it. I might go ahead and donate this one as I have two others that I like more sitting in a small stack waiting for a home as well.
“Going In Circles” is progressing as well. We had such rainy weather yesterday that I made more progress – most of the squares and circles you see here were done yesterday.
The weather is to continue with storms again today and is raining as I type so the fairy quilt top will get done today and I bet more quilting will get done on the big quilt.
We have rain running in a small “stream” on the far side of our land away from the house it all runs downhill from here so no flooding at my house. We have puddles, small and large all over the place – I have lost track of how many days last week it rained and it is to continue on and off all week. Yesterday we were in tornado warning 2 times and very near to a 3rd time but we had been closely watching the weather and knew that even though we could hear the sirens in the distance the storm was moving east and it was 10 miles south of us so we were in the clear. I heard of no tornados touching down in a radius of about 30 miles around us – I don’t know about other areas. This is one rainy spring for sure and any drought that we had should surely be gone by now!! I see from this photo that I have another small tree branch down laying there on the edge of the photo in my flower bed.
On the plus side my green beans are about 4 inches tall, my potato plants are 8 inches tall about, I already have tiny tomatoes and green peppers growing – the roses are blooming too – now if it would just clear up so I could a few of those stems to bring in the house!!
All this water will disappear within a day or so after it quits raining and it is actually finally letting up a little bit right now and the sky and is getting a little brighter – BUT – it will rain more later today and tonight 
by Karen on April 24, 2011
in quilts
I tell you I am getting tired of rain – every day, off and on rain, sometimes more than other days. Yesterday we drove to NW Arkansas for a family gathering that had been planned to be outside and we ended up in the very large workshop with tables and chairs all over the place to do our visiting in there as the house wasn’t large enough for all!
This is one rainy spring and it sounds like we are in for bad storms all this week. I guess it will be a good time to stay in the house and get some of this quilting done.
As I was writing this we went into tornado warning! It wasn’t cloudy, raining or dark at at that moment – we get notified by phone call from the Little Rock Weather Call. For a very small yearly fee you give them your telephone numbers with your address and when you go into tornado warning for your specific area they call you and let you know. I put the tv on immediately to see where it is – they are so accurate now that normally they have it mapped out and let you know how close it is to you. Didn’t look at all like it was in our area. This is what it looked like outside – sure didn’t look like a tornado heading our way! (yes I take the camera with me too – if I have time!) this area is looking out over by our workshop.
We went to the storm shelter anyhow – I bring my computer and phone – my phone is my internet connection – I can follow the storm on my computer as long as I have a signal. After 15 minutes we knew it was north of us. We came back into the house
Now it is dark as can be outside – thunderstorm coming for sure now! Now it looks like this – 30 minutes later!
Thought I would use the zoom lens and get a photo of the roses in the wild garden area – it is a way from the house but with the zoom I got this without being near them and still only a few feet from the storm shelter for if I had to dash into it 
They might get knocked to shreds in this week of storms so thought I needed to get a photo of them now. That big brush pile is actually across a dirt side rode that is bordering our property – it sure looks like it is in our yard but it isn’t.
