UFO 's and other things......

Had to post my latest trial in longarming.I am showing it from the back, because the front was a rag basically, has rust spots left from old pins, and mildew where it sat exposed to the damp...for ... more years than I care to admit. I was trying out some free hand feathering...some small, some wonky ones. But lots of fun, and good practice. I will probably donate it to the Spca, or give it a tea staining.... and hang it on the porch! Then the crummy spots won't show. Hoping this will count as a UFO.... since it definitely wasn't finished. Will add some sort of binding...then it is done.!

Good practice for me though. Still waiting for some patterns to come to try pantos. Had to share more silly signage... recently went to Tennessee to see DD and the wee one, and of course passed many political signs. I don't know about you but who wouldn't vote for this guy..... don't know him...but he would win by default in my book. Who could vote agaist Roy Rogers? And whilst in Tennessee... had to drive by Austin Peay ( pronounced Pea) University...well they have outdone themselves.... in the strange sign department!!! And I won't tell you what the Frat boys came up with for a school slogan!!!! Will post the other two UFO's I am just about to finish up. Woo HOO! It feels so liberating to know that something is getting finished!!! Finally!!!! Need to sort through fabric. I can't beleive that I filled 4 plastic drawers... full of strips and bits. I really need to start something with them...but know I must keep up with Finn's blog. Need to organize to keep up with the new stuff that will be arriving ....holding thumbs...next week...from South Africa. I have been informed that they were going to schedule the truck for this week...but with the weather it was postponed. So maybe my SHIP really will be in next week. Then need to unpack that stuff...so need to get with it. And all I really want to do is sew at the moment! I have even put scrapbooking on back burner. LOTS of catching up to do there. Have a great couple of days. I am hoping to. Blessings to you all.

I have decided to take up the UFO challenge from Finn's blog http://finnleah.blogspot.com/ and this weekend decided to start on a few simple ones. The first was made from these little orphan pieces.... I did use the seaming accurate, http://reannalilydesigns.blogspot.com/2008/07/its-finally-here-seamingly-accurate.html and my accuracy has improved. I put it together...into a new configuration... and made this little quilt. Then of course that got loaded on my new longarm..and quilted. The front turned out great for free hand quilting. But not sorted the little pokies that come up... I did adjust a bit...and they finally went away. But still not feeling too confident about the back. Don't know if any of you have suggestions but I am open to trying them .Now this being the weekend, and I am married to a college boy, living in a college town, we decided to brave the Mississippi State Ball game! What a trip, I guess the last time I was at a college game, I was about the age of most of the college kids going there. That has changed the past 30 something years...but I sure don't remember the kids dressing the way they do now? Most of the girls were wearing little sundresses, and the boys, many of them were wearing dress shorts or trousers. They didn't sit down except when halftime came, and lots of cups of drink were thrown every time MSU scored. We deliberately sat at the back of the student section, (I actually had to sneak into that section since my ticket was non student!) in order to minimize being hit by the projectiles! Must admit...at 3.00 for water...and small soda, don't know how they could afford to throw drinks. Back in the Professor's undergrad days... they threw toilet paper, maybe that is too expensive now too!!! MSU had some very serious tailgating going on, before and during the game. They also had RULES for the game, as in no smoking, no coolers, no umbrellas, and NO ARTIFICIAL NOISEMAKERS! This certainly wasn't enforced, there were more cowbells than I could see...... and they sure made noise! We walked from our house to the game, about 3 miles I think...but it was worth it, not to have to fight the traffic leaving the parking areas. I was so tired when we got home.... I curled up to watch tv..and woke up about 6:30 AM, the professor did too. We are just too old for all that excitement I guess. It was a night game...so maybe that is why we were so tired. Hope you all had a great weekend. Will post pics of the latest ufo's. Have one more almost finished and bound. Good thing these are little UFO's. Not near so intimidating!!!!

Men really are just born that way........

I had to share a picture of my new longarm..... So much fun to use these past few days. It is a NEWBORN ...after all, not even 4days here! I am suffering from "pokies" not sure exactly why, maybe I move the machine too fast???? Or maybe tension on bobbin...or the top. I will get it right. But it isn't stopping me from having a go. I did work on 2 UFO's.... just small quilts...one is only a Wee little wall hanging.... and the other is a top I tried to do using a Flynn frame....not too successfully I might add. Both were started at least 6 yrs. ago.... and have been in storage. They're both seen in the background of the machine being set up! The John Flynn frame is to the right of the delivery man. The "under the sea" ...or "finding nemo" is hanging on the left. But now....both are just waiting to be bound. We had company this past weekend...and DD jumped right into the machine.... she was doing stars and writing words and making faces. She was quite a bit more adventurous than I was. I am still a bit more intimidated.... though I can meander and do squiggles like a mad woman. I haven't researched pantographs yet...but definitely need some simple ones. Hope this machine will let me quilt some of my African flimsies, which have stacked up. A few more flat panels... and I think I will be ready to tackle at least one this next week. The Wee one came with his mom...and we discovered it really is genetic, men are born with the desire to handle remote controls!!!! We went for walks in between sewing ... and eating...and fighting over the remote! But it was a good family time. I hope you all have a great weekend. I am already sewing another baby quilt.... for a friend. Will hope to quilt Oh, just to clear up a misunderstanding...the blue and white quilt...was not mine...just one I greatly admired at the NASHVILLE QUILT SHOW. I love the fabric...and still am waiting for my ship to come in with my very own African schweschwe. Maybe someday soon. My South African friends couldn't believe it was made from their fabric. I don't think anyone I knew but me had used the stuff in a quilt. Hope that clears that up. Enjoy!

I have been a very naughty girl.......

Ok, first of all, not been blogging as much as I need to, but I have been very busy. I went to Nashville to the quilt show, and made a few contacts about purchasing my longarm machine. And after a lengthy, and somewhat scary drive to Snelville GA, ( didn't realize till too late I was driving all the way to Atlanta...to try out a very nice used machine) ..... I tried the machine, liked it, came home thought about it for a couple of days.... and have committed to buy it. Again, very scary... to think about the money part of it...but have so wanted one for ages. And to make a long story short.... it is coming on Sunday afternoon! I think they are trying to outrun Hurricane Gustav! So I will very soon be in possession of my very own quilt machine.... then I have to learn how to use it! Now, that said, I have been praying that this was the right thing for me to do...and don't you know... that yesterday a girl contacted me about quilting a quilt for her. YIKES!!!! NOW I really do have to learn how to use this machine! Then today, another lady gave me the name of a college boy who wants to impress his girlfriend with a throw quilt, and so I may be doing the quilt for him too! I am blessed. Just hope the learning curve won't be too long! Now, I did finish another HERO bag for me this time.... but not taken photos of it yet. But would love to share the Naughty side of me, I succumbed to the temptation of the civil war fabrics, and The Bonnie Blue quilt shop was so good, I think I could have lived in that booth! Truly, it felt like home should feel. Now this blue quilt brought tears to my eyes as it is made with South African Schweschwe. I love this fabric, and can't wait as I hope I still have some in my container items .....when they finally get here. They are in the US, customs inspected them...but still not heard when they will be parked in my driveway. Dont' you love those geometric designs. I can see them walking around the streets of Queenstown. They are produced by a company called DaGama fabrics. Now at this little quilt show, there were vendors MArula fabrics selling them...for about 7.95 a yard. But that was before washing. I don't know if I ever posted the picture of my maid washing my schweschwe...but the water was a vivid blue...after about 5 washings, it finally started to clear. She did it in my bathtub!!! Without her, I am n0t sure they would have ever come right! I do love the indigos of the schweschwe. I brought some to do a Dear Jane with.... which I may get to start someday.... when my ship finally comes in.......er......literally. HAve a great Labor day..... I am going to.

Time is still flying... my "College boy" is starting school tomorrow... :o)

HAve been sewing....but not my favorite kind. Just finished another "hero"bag... made from an old set of BDU's for a dear sister who is retired military. Started another one for my Dsonin laws MOM. Had to post that some sewing is going on although not much quilting. Found out that the Bernina I bought from an auction house back a month or so ago... the bobbin winder is broken. So guess I will be buying a sidewinder for a while. Have added a few photos of my little curtain projects. They were very simple but will work in a pinch...and the price...as in free was great. My DD in law gave me some of her sewing "trash" which worked for the sheers and the other pointed things were leftovers from a dining area we had 6 years ago..JUst cut them down. Have suffered a setback in STUDIO LAND, we thought we were going to be able to put in a new ceiling in the STUDIO, but when the young contractor quoted me over 1000 dollars to put up the beadboard paneling I had already bought and paid for.... I said no thanks. That was just too much at this time. Being the mother of invention..... I went to the 1.00 table at Walmart fabric dept. and bought all the white fabric they had on the table. So we will be installing a simple fabric ceiling. That way, no electrician has to come and drop lights... or lower the fan box.... and so hope to get that started next week or so. It is a SHED aka, STUDIO, but still a shed. And after the new roof....we are nearing the insurance value of this place. Besides,the ceiling was to help with dust from the rafters.... decided that fabric will catch it as well as the paneling. Other than a spot of sewing and a little organizing, had to post the more organized kitchen shelf, least used items at top...way up high in cupboard, does anyone know the name of the glasses on middle shelf.... think they are from the 60's maybe, they are covered in a plastic... with the white swirls for decoration. I love them...but the plastic does peel off...found that out with the Princess's dad...chewing the rim of glass and peeling off bits and pieces. Other than this, not too much going on in my world.I seem to catch the princess with the strangest faces. She is really a lovely little girl. But she does make me laugh!! Had to add a photo of the THREE STOOGES... who had fun with their glow necklaces on the 4th of July watching the fire works. Then the WEE ONE who is not so WEE anymore......They sure do change quickly.... it seems that I'll be making quilts for college any day now! Hope you all had a great week. I sure did. Off to Nashville next week to the quilt show. Hope I can find a longarm and get some good ideas.

The best plans always go out the window..... or into the yard...

We have been in the new house for just over a month... minus 5 or 6 days spent "ON the road again!" But I planned to use my workroom to put a long arm machine in...then found out the roof leaked. So.... we got a roofer in... and it has now been repaired...but I really hated the paint blob stained floor... so I decided that I would paint the concrete floor this coming week, when the professor starts orientation... and I love being with him...but feel like the mother of triplets counting down the days until school starts.... and I really am counting down the days until school starts for him. He hasn't ever had this much time off before and that is an adjustment. Especially when coupled with a new place... and unpacking...and all the stuff you find out is wrong with your house... AFTER you move in! At any rate lucky me, he decided to take charge yesterday, and did all the painting for me.... what a dear.You shold have sen the boxes...er... piles of things ... out in my yard. Thankfully no rain yesterday. So I have a painted floor... did I mention he hates to paint!!! There may be a few thin spots... but it is done. A huge improvement. Again, I am so lucky he did it...as it would have taken me several days...to move all the ...junk.... er .... stuff...that is already in that room. It is only a work shed.... that someone else will probably want to do woodworking in someday...but to me it is a STUDIO. A place where I can cut out my stuff...and walk away and shut the door. This is one time I am happy that the Professor stepped in. I felt like I had to share a few photos of Africa... I have been a bit nostalgic this week, missing the old...now that I am settling in with the new. But the pictures represent something I won't miss.... the queues at the Bank ATM's.... no drive thrus where we lived. The first photo is a pretty short line at one of the more remote ATM's...but the longer one..is taken at one of the local banks...and this is pretty typical of the queues in South AFrica. I also included a photo of the strip piecing blocks I made...then the photo of the almost finished quilt I made with them..still have to add bright borders... but since I scratched through my friends leftover crumb/stashes ...and they are all in South Africa...will have to go through mine to find some bright things to piece my borders out of. It was a lot more fun to do than I thought it would be. Since I don't use many brights... it was fun to use someone elses .... leftovers. Maybe when I get my room done... if someone wants to exchange leftovers... I found a drawer or tow of strips...from many projects. It will be fun to put them into something. NOW that I am attempting to get organized. Hope you all had a great weekend. I certainly did. Adn it seemed pretty productive...from a non-sewing point of view.

More from both sides of the Atlantic!

Ok, My very clever DD in law, is offering a free download of her invention, Seamingly Accurate. A wonderful tool to assist with consistent seams for any type of sewing...but designed specifically for her quilt patterns. Click the link and download...and what a gift. I have always been challenged... with consistency in seams... and this little gismo is great. She wanted to have it produced in a clear cling to stick to your machine... but the companies wanted a bit too much to produce.... but hey.... free to me is great. Hope you all try it and give her website a look. I already downloaded mine...and am about to put it on my machine.

This is a picture of our gardener in South Africa, wearing an OKLAHOMA STATE shirt we gave him, its the Professor's and DD's alma mater. I took the photo and forgot about posting it. My husband says I have forgotten, we don't have Majuba anymore...as we went to the store the other day to get the last of a few bedding plants...not much to pick from...and I brought them home...and laid them out on the flower bed...and left them! He said , I guess we'll get Majuba to put them in? I couldn't speak Xhosa, Majuba's language...and he didn't speak English...so we put things out and did lots of pointing! I have also included a little shot of my little side garden...and you may notice the infra red beam( black) box... we had installed to ward off nightime visitors! *S* They also have exposed plumbing pipes outside their homes...no idea why. It doesn't get cold enough to cause problems I guess...but it sure seemed cold to me when it was below freezing. The black burglar bars... just seem to slow down a determined criminal...as they kicked through them twice when breaking in. I think the burglar got such good stuff the first time, he HAD to come back a second time. After the burglar system was installed...we had no more break ins...just sirens in the middle of the night... cause they didn't know about the beam. I have almost finished my unpacking, of course I keep saying that...but it seems to be true! I had to add this picture of Charmagne, a wonderful street vendor, I shopped at her little sidewalk stall all the time. I miss her smiling face, and seeing what new stuff she might have out. This stall was on my way to the fabric store...so I saw her quite often. The next photo is the rest of my lounge, I adore my Korean quilt rack and the screen I bought there. Just need to get my South African paintings, another pillow or two...and hang a quilt and it will be done. This is an old 60's house... and I do like the neutral feel you get in them. Someone remarked on the Pottery Barn feel...no...just lots of garage sales and flea markets. I do love the old junk. Even the sofa came from a yard sale. Since the professor put me on a budget...and I didn't keep much furniture...it was what we found... just wish I could have been here for their big ...FREE trash day. They say you can really pick up some cool stuff by the roadside....and I do have a pickup!!!! Have a great day...and check out that seamingly accurate freebie.

Maybe Forrest Gumps' MOM was right?

I think Forrest's mother was right.You just never do know what you are going to get???? I have been so excited about my workroom..... that is until today.... when it began to rain ..... heavy!!!Yes, I have a stinking leak in my room...not too bad...but all along the edge. Now I can't think of a worse place...for fabric (thankfully all now safe in clear plastic tubs) and scrapbook papers... not in tubs! But safely covered with a blue tarp at the moment. The professor will have to sort.... something before I buy that longarm machine???!!! SHAME as they say in South Africa!!!!! It wasn't a terrible leak...just in corners... but that is enough. And it was raining very hard... for a long time. I was out there putting things on the shelf, and heard the first plop!!! But I will say...that not too much fell....just a tiny puddle...and rather know now than after I had put a machine out there. Maybe I can swap out the spare bedroom.... put the bed ...way far away from the leak... then I 'd only clean out the spiders when we have company, and put the machine in the spare bedroom????? It might work just fine. Don't think the professor will let me spread into another room.... I am too ashamed to take photos of my stash at this point... but what was I thinking? I did find about ....hmmmm..... 8 quilt projects in progress....sad to admit the oldest UFO was from 1991, when my children were still in high school! This stack is in the spare room at the moment and represents the quilt tops and flimsies I finished while in South AFrica. The room still needs paintings that are still stranded with the South African ship....somewhere beyond New York!!! There were three more...that I forgot were on the bed in Master, and hanging up in other parts of the house. I wonder if anyone has a UFO older than 17 years???? I do have an unquilted flimsy..that I hand pieced.... back in 1986 or so. I never quite got round to it. I did SAY I HAD HAND PIECED that top... about a double I think. THat is how I thought it needed to be done back then. Was I crazy!!!!????? Now SWEET P over on her blog... made a challenge about organizing your self. I have always been organizationally challenged... but finally have improved a bit. I took the challenge. I don't have any before photos as she asked...since we ARE moving in just now...but I did manage a few shots of my little kitchen. I still have too much stuff, but weeded out quite a bit, and the first shot is of my everyday dishes, I dont' know why I always felt that I needed to have all umpteen place settings out, especially since the kids all live days journey away now, so I decided to only have half of them out. With the rest safely put up on a shelf( in a box) in the Utility room. It gave me a bit more room for sure. Then I stole DD 's way of storing all those stinking tupperware lids...by putting them all in a basket in the DEAD ZONE of the cupboard.I only have to pull out the stack of bowls..which I have out anyway to grab the right bowl. SHE is as organized as I am scattered. I did steal SWEET P's idea of the drawer...that only holds what you are using( you have 6 months to use a utensil..then its OUT!!) This is the tiny drawer that I have. My kitchen is tiny...but attached to a huge dining room. We are trying to get a contractor to give us a quote to build an island between them to give the kitchen larger feel. My little patriots live on an Air Force base...and everyday on the base they play the National Anthem, well the kids were on the slip and slide...and they all stood up... and
put hands to their hearts.I had to grab the camera of course. So their pic is here...and can't leave out the others. The Princess was caught in the act....found another priceless one of her!



Then our youngest, the wee one... giving his HONEY a big smile. What lucky grandparents we are. Have a great weekend. It can only get better for me!

Not homeless.... and furniture too!!!!HOw lucky can we be????

Ok, we are not homeless anymore...but even better...we have some furniture. I had not saved much.... but did get this great stepchest when visiting South Korea last year.... or at least put my order in for it. Love these things. And on the left side of doorway you can see the cool quilt rack I got there at the same time. Please notice the Professors zebra skin...he is so proud of it. I hate the oddly placed light...which will get replaced...when I can find someone to change it out for me...or show me how. Surely it can't be that difficult????? The professor hates electricity....and painting!!! So it will have to do for now. He has also been enjoying his new little toys.... and since we had Majuba a gardener in South Africa, he is pushing himself to get some yard work done. HAd to include these shots of him "playing"!

The large blue building is my new work room..... complete with lots of ...yuk... spiders at the moment....but about to be sprayed by the real professionals.... very soon...as soon as I finish going through boxes of stashed ....er..... treasures!!! Still have to get the french drain put in... at the back of the house....but so enjoying pulling clothes out of drawers and not suitcases. I have to share the funniest face I have seen in quite a while. Our little princess.... .... no idea how I caught this expression...but way too cute.

I wish I was sewing... but can't do it until I get through with the boxes in the work room. It is pretty rough in there..... but I am so "chuffed" (happy in South Africa) at the space...I don't mind a concrete floor and old white paint. It will just look more homey to me! Hope you all have a lovely week.

We are not homeless anymore!!!!!

Ok, it has been way too long...and I won't even go into all the details...but we have moved...and traveled over 8000 miles since late April.... so gas may be going up because of me!!???? I still have boxes to unpack...more than I care to think about, but at least I can see floor..and we only brought the bulk of our things here on Sunday! I feel like I have gone to heaven... or at least a little part of it! I am not sure just how everything worked out for me to get in the place I am in, but know that the Lord was looking out for me! The first day we "closed " on the house and set up the bed in our family room...as we had painting and a little fixing to do for a couple of days....several neighbors stopped by...to say"hey". One of them was a quilter...one other was another quilters husband! (Bless him) And the next day another neighbor brought us over a lunch snack. I am not sure that I have ever had watermelon or pimento cheese spread with crackers be so welcome. Then we left to go to Oklahoma and Texas to get the bulk of our things, when we returned....more neighbors, and even a lemon pie!YUM! Now the unpacking in the house...after 4 long days is just about complete...but there is more heaven in my world. I have a huge workroom behind the house...with all MY STUFF.... the good stuff.... fabric and sewing machines in it! I may be very sad to leave this place in a couple of years! Will have to post photos.... when I get around to taking them. I do hope you all are having a great week..... I so AM!!!!! And we got this wonderful fast internet today!!!!!! AHHHHH SIMPLE PLEASURES!!!!

Things that shift when ....they really shouldn't!

A very quick hello....been traveling.... have been to Arkansas...to visit our dear "little Princess"...DS and wife's darling girl. Hate not to post a photo...but can't find the stinking camera cord.... as traveling again...to Pennsylvania...and cursing the price of gas... under my breath at least! I feel like I have done not much else but drive lately.... Maybe I am the reason gas is going up at the pumps??? At any rate, most of my brothers and sisters came to meet this daughter in law, she took it all in stride, even though a visit to my mom's is almost equal to a trip to the Haunted house! Very old Victorian structure.... not in best of shape, actually we have a rule ..or had a rule with my children for the last 20 yrs or so...that if they heard a rumbling noise coming from inside the house, to run outside quickly as it meant the house was finally slipping over the cliff edge!Not one bit funny, but totally true!Mom's house is on a cliff like hill....very steep...and slowly the hill has eroded....but also the condition of the house has gotten worse as well, we can't seem to coax her into consider selling the house...to get a much easier on the knees one floor home, and it is her right to live where she wants.She raised her children .....etc. in that house. So she'll probably remain until it falls down around her ears...or really does slip over the edge! It once was a stunning old house, 4 fireplaces, stained glass windows,lead glass china cabinets built in to the walls, 11 foot ceilings, pocket doors... front hall steps...and of course servants stairs and a maids room in the attic. A really pretty home... but old homes need plumbing, wiring, ..... dare I suggest paint at least once in 20 yrs? I was never raised there, as I had married by the time the parents moved in, so I am the least sentimental about the homestead, and far too critical about what needs to be done also. That said, I have planned a quilt ....loosely based on the stained glass window in the hall foyer, and would like to incorporate a quilt sketch of the house...surrounded by the white picket fence border...with all the descendents names printed on each picket! I think that might be a treasure to pass down. And lets face it, by the time I get the quilt finished there will be well over 100 descendents..... now that is amazing!DD and I are here visiting, we have a wedding...( so another descendent is being added to the mix!) on SAturday, I am helping decor for the hall...then it is off back to TENNESSEE, and my husband is arriving from South Africa next weekend. What a time we are going to have. It is so exciting to think about house hunting, and packing/unpacking things that have been stored...for over 5 years! It will be like Christmas!!!! REALLY CHRISTMAS!!!!! Now of course being reunited with "the professor" will be the highlight...but it will be fun, to start sorting out...er .... scratching through some of our STUFF. I CAN HARDLY WAIT... to start sorting!!!!! HAve a great weekend, I plan to!

a new adventure is about to begin......

OK, Just back from a quick trip to Starkville, MISSISSIPPI, where the professor is going to be going shortly.DD, the wee one and myself went for a road trip to check out housing.Housing prices were a bit of a shock...but it is a college town...after all. But the campus is so pretty, and since the professor SAYS he reads my blog...thought I would post a few pics for him. Didn't get great photos...but since no quilting had to include a pic of one I made DD for her college graduation.It incorporated messages from many family members...then was put together in this way. I am off to see DS and daughter in law...and baby.... our little princess. So will be gone for a couple of days, hope you all have a great weekend. I am going to!