tractor
At Plum Loco Ranch, Door County, WI.
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Sept fabric buys
Here's a quick look at my new stash additions to go along with this week's Stash Report.
Batik Dresden plate
Some progress was made this week on my son's Dresden plate quilt. The centers are in and most of the outer pieces are cut.
I will be going to a sew day that my guild is sponsoring next Saturday and I hope to get the blocks done then.
Have a great day!
Stash Report Week 39
I went to the big annual sale at one of my LQSs. When this shop has a sale, it has a sale! The shop is very small and when more room is needed, well, things need to go. And they go to the customers' advantage at incredibly reasonable prices. Some of the larger pieces had sizes marked on the bags but several did not. So, when I got home, I started measuring.
I came home with assorted scrap bags. Since there have been two batiks BOMs at the shop lately, there are lots of batiks here. There's just a tad over 9 yards of batik loveliness.
At this month's guild meeting I won a cute stack of Benartex squares as a door prize (approx. 2 yards). Then, quilty friend Joyce brought along some more of her scraps and, being the weakling that I am, more fabric came home with me (approx. 1.25 yds)! However, I did take the stringy strips and small cuts - trying to keep the numbers down.
Wish I could post pix for you but Blogger says I've reached my limit and the URLs to my Flickr account wouldn't work. Sorry! This is going to be one boring blog with no photos! Update -- here's a photo in another post. Maybe I wil figure this out, eventually.
Used this week: 0
Added year to date (inherited/gifted): 68
Please click over to Patchwork Times and see other stash reports.
I came home with assorted scrap bags. Since there have been two batiks BOMs at the shop lately, there are lots of batiks here. There's just a tad over 9 yards of batik loveliness.
At this month's guild meeting I won a cute stack of Benartex squares as a door prize (approx. 2 yards). Then, quilty friend Joyce brought along some more of her scraps and, being the weakling that I am, more fabric came home with me (approx. 1.25 yds)! However, I did take the stringy strips and small cuts - trying to keep the numbers down.
Wish I could post pix for you but Blogger says I've reached my limit and the URLs to my Flickr account wouldn't work. Sorry! This is going to be one boring blog with no photos! Update -- here's a photo in another post. Maybe I wil figure this out, eventually.
Used this week: 0
Used year to date: 28.525
Added this week (purchased/won): 19.5
Added this week (inherited/gifted): 1.25
Added year to date (purchased/won): 52.631
Added year to date (inherited/gifted): 68
Added year to date total: 120.181
Net used for 2012: -91.656
Please click over to Patchwork Times and see other stash reports.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
No Quilting Here
With our lovely fall temps dipping into the 50s nightly, I knew there would be no sewing. There are all kinds of chores to get the yard and flower beds "put to bed" for the upcoming winter months. In the spring I love getting out and doing the yard stuff, knowing that there will be beauty in the payoff. In the fall, it's a bit different. I still love getting out in weather that doesn't take my breath away after our nasty summers, but the payoff is a long way off. What I do now will help my plants in the spring.
First up was getting the house plants in. They can stay out until the temps dip below 50. The first ones in are the phalenopsis orchids. They always get new bark in the fall for two reasons: (1) they usually need it after hanging around our deck and (2) it gets rid of any little critters that might come in with them. Yes, I have had toads in the house who made their homes in a potted plant! Once upon a time I had about 20-25 orchids. They take a lot of care!
DH built a special table and we bought the grow lights and I got them to bloom here and there. Time and other interests, and a pest invasion that decimated several of the bright light lovers, won over and now there are 9 orchids on my table in the basement. They are all phals - the easiest. These are the ones seen most often at Lowe's, etc. They require less light than most other orchids and can tolerate drier and cooler indoor climates better then other varieties.
The large one is from Grandma's funeral. The blooming one is new. It was $3 on the clearance shelf at Lowes. It was in good shape - see those silvery green roots that look like worms - that's the sign of a healthy orchid. At first the roots freaked me out a little.
I bought another from the clearance shelf and the blooms were so pretty (see them in the collage below?). However, I knew what I would find. To keep the plants from drying out, orchids in the stores are usually potted in moss in plastic pots. Well, that's fine if the plant truly dries out between waterings. If the orchid does not dry out, then the plant is overwatered and all that moisture from the moss and the plastic causes the roots to rot. Sure enough, it has no roots left. I removed the bloom spike and have been misting it's leaves, hoping to get it to generate some roots - we'll see.
However, the Christmas cactus are still out. They tolerate temps down to 40 and those cool nights help them develop buds so they will be pretty around Thanksgiving.
All the other plants either got top dressed with some new soil or completely new homes. It's always a challenge to find places for them. With all the stuff I've brought home from Grandma's house and the rearranging we've done, well, it's been fun this time around!
Then there's the outdoor plants. The poor butterfly bush was top heavy and the wind blew it over and sort of split it in two. It was leaning so I've tried moving it. It was hard to get lots of roots so I'll be doing lots of watering. I took off all the old and new blooms so it will concentrate on growing roots rather than reproducing.
The variegated liriope is divided and in two new spots. The ivy is trimmed. The weeds are pulled. The tomato plants are now over the back fence into the wooded ravine. Are you tired yet? Oh - and DH prepared the front and back yards (about 40 feet -lol!) and put down some grass seed.
I dug about 5 holes in our yard yesterday, a yard where you cannot dig more than one shovel full without hitting a %&^$ rock! Uggh - I so have dirt envy for those who do not live in the "armpit of the gardening world."
"Miller time!" (It wasn't Miller, but it was beer) And, we had Chinese food - yum!!
I have more pics and I finally learned how to do collages and guess what - Blogger says I'm out of storage space. Uggh - I dont earn money with this blog so I really don't want to pay for a place to keep pics. One more thing to think about, but like Scarlet O'Hara, I'll think about it tomorrow.
First up was getting the house plants in. They can stay out until the temps dip below 50. The first ones in are the phalenopsis orchids. They always get new bark in the fall for two reasons: (1) they usually need it after hanging around our deck and (2) it gets rid of any little critters that might come in with them. Yes, I have had toads in the house who made their homes in a potted plant! Once upon a time I had about 20-25 orchids. They take a lot of care!
DH built a special table and we bought the grow lights and I got them to bloom here and there. Time and other interests, and a pest invasion that decimated several of the bright light lovers, won over and now there are 9 orchids on my table in the basement. They are all phals - the easiest. These are the ones seen most often at Lowe's, etc. They require less light than most other orchids and can tolerate drier and cooler indoor climates better then other varieties.
The large one is from Grandma's funeral. The blooming one is new. It was $3 on the clearance shelf at Lowes. It was in good shape - see those silvery green roots that look like worms - that's the sign of a healthy orchid. At first the roots freaked me out a little.
I bought another from the clearance shelf and the blooms were so pretty (see them in the collage below?). However, I knew what I would find. To keep the plants from drying out, orchids in the stores are usually potted in moss in plastic pots. Well, that's fine if the plant truly dries out between waterings. If the orchid does not dry out, then the plant is overwatered and all that moisture from the moss and the plastic causes the roots to rot. Sure enough, it has no roots left. I removed the bloom spike and have been misting it's leaves, hoping to get it to generate some roots - we'll see.
However, the Christmas cactus are still out. They tolerate temps down to 40 and those cool nights help them develop buds so they will be pretty around Thanksgiving.
All the other plants either got top dressed with some new soil or completely new homes. It's always a challenge to find places for them. With all the stuff I've brought home from Grandma's house and the rearranging we've done, well, it's been fun this time around!
Then there's the outdoor plants. The poor butterfly bush was top heavy and the wind blew it over and sort of split it in two. It was leaning so I've tried moving it. It was hard to get lots of roots so I'll be doing lots of watering. I took off all the old and new blooms so it will concentrate on growing roots rather than reproducing.
The variegated liriope is divided and in two new spots. The ivy is trimmed. The weeds are pulled. The tomato plants are now over the back fence into the wooded ravine. Are you tired yet? Oh - and DH prepared the front and back yards (about 40 feet -lol!) and put down some grass seed.
I dug about 5 holes in our yard yesterday, a yard where you cannot dig more than one shovel full without hitting a %&^$ rock! Uggh - I so have dirt envy for those who do not live in the "armpit of the gardening world."
"Miller time!" (It wasn't Miller, but it was beer) And, we had Chinese food - yum!!
I have more pics and I finally learned how to do collages and guess what - Blogger says I'm out of storage space. Uggh - I dont earn money with this blog so I really don't want to pay for a place to keep pics. One more thing to think about, but like Scarlet O'Hara, I'll think about it tomorrow.
Stash Report Week 38
Howdy!
As predicted, I did little sewing. The fall weather is just too nice to spend it sitting in the house. This quilter likes to be active. Here's a link to what's been going on this week.
This pretty little Dresden plate got a bath. It came from Grandma's. I think Grandpa's first mother-in-law made it, a Mrs. Alexander. I will have to get her full name from the obituary index the next time I'm home. I could email the library, duh.
For some reason Grandma kept it draped over the back of a recliner in her living room for years. Everyone that sat in that recliner left a little something behind and it had some really dirty spots. Of course, I didn't think to take photos until it was soaking. It looks tons better!!
I used one sample pack of Vintage Textile Soak. It's a small quilt, cot size maybe, so it fit into my kitchen sink and stayed there overnight. I didn't think the water would ever run clear when I rinsed it yesterday morning.
We have a qualified quilt appraiser in our guild. I'm going to have her appraise this Dresden plate and this lovely Pickledish. Look at that binding!
Grandpa's mother made this (my step grandfather, that is). Her name was Mertie Zimmerman and all I know about her is that she was a young widow with two sons who always had a needle in her hand when she sat down. I know some of her grandchildren and need to ask them about her.
I still haven't purchased any fabric but plans are brewing. I don't how much longer I can hold out! However, I did get new stuff to play with this week. Leona sent me an envelope of batik scraps - yummy!
A few pieces have been pulled for an applique class I will take next month. There are some neutral scraps. It is so hard to find neutral batiks - at least at my LQSs. I haven't looked closely but my guess is there's a yard here. So my numbers change a little.
Used this week: 0
Added year to date (inherited/gifted): 66.75
Please click over to Patchwork Times and see other stash reports.
As predicted, I did little sewing. The fall weather is just too nice to spend it sitting in the house. This quilter likes to be active. Here's a link to what's been going on this week.
This pretty little Dresden plate got a bath. It came from Grandma's. I think Grandpa's first mother-in-law made it, a Mrs. Alexander. I will have to get her full name from the obituary index the next time I'm home. I could email the library, duh.
For some reason Grandma kept it draped over the back of a recliner in her living room for years. Everyone that sat in that recliner left a little something behind and it had some really dirty spots. Of course, I didn't think to take photos until it was soaking. It looks tons better!!
I used one sample pack of Vintage Textile Soak. It's a small quilt, cot size maybe, so it fit into my kitchen sink and stayed there overnight. I didn't think the water would ever run clear when I rinsed it yesterday morning.
We have a qualified quilt appraiser in our guild. I'm going to have her appraise this Dresden plate and this lovely Pickledish. Look at that binding!
Grandpa's mother made this (my step grandfather, that is). Her name was Mertie Zimmerman and all I know about her is that she was a young widow with two sons who always had a needle in her hand when she sat down. I know some of her grandchildren and need to ask them about her.
I still haven't purchased any fabric but plans are brewing. I don't how much longer I can hold out! However, I did get new stuff to play with this week. Leona sent me an envelope of batik scraps - yummy!
A few pieces have been pulled for an applique class I will take next month. There are some neutral scraps. It is so hard to find neutral batiks - at least at my LQSs. I haven't looked closely but my guess is there's a yard here. So my numbers change a little.
Used this week: 0
Used year to date: 28.525
Added this week (purchased/won): 0
Added this week (inherited/gifted): 1
Added year to date (purchased/won): 33.131
Added year to date (inherited/gifted): 66.75
Added year to date total: 99.881
Net used for 2012: -71.356
Please click over to Patchwork Times and see other stash reports.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Stash Report Week 37
Howdy!
I missed last week's report due to my own laziness. Blogging just didn't fit into my day. It was the first Sunday full of NFL games and DH had to call DirectTV and order the Sunday Ticket. He was so funny. See, he told me a few weeks ago that he cancelled the Ticket and I was stunned. I mean, he's in two fantasy football leagues. The whole reason we have DirectTV is because no other provider has the Ticket. Needless to say, his ordering it an hour before the first game started was not surprising!
All of my quilt-related work the last two weeks has been getting two large tops ready for quilting. I debated whether to have them basted by my long armer or to once again use Marti Michell's book Machine Quilting in Sections. Marti won for two reasons: (1) money, which wouldn't be much, but saving is saving, and (2) did I want to actually quilt one huge quilt or handle smalle pieces.
When I got out the 8-9 yards of flannel for one back - I had my decision! I was not about to wrestle around a 90x100 quilt sandwich that was backed with all that flannel. Man - that was heavy!!
So, I have no expectations of getting these quilted, pieced back together, borders added, and binding on any time soon. It's fall, the weather here is awesome and my poor yard and flower beds need lots of work.
Plus, for the first time I have signed up for activities with my guild in October. Most of the guild's workshops fall on a week day afternoon and I have childcare issues. This time there is a hand applique workshop on a Saturday and also a Saturday day retreat.
My numbers have not changed one single bit!
Used this week: 0
Added year to date (inherited/gifted): 65.75
Please click over to Patchwork Times and see other stash reports.
I missed last week's report due to my own laziness. Blogging just didn't fit into my day. It was the first Sunday full of NFL games and DH had to call DirectTV and order the Sunday Ticket. He was so funny. See, he told me a few weeks ago that he cancelled the Ticket and I was stunned. I mean, he's in two fantasy football leagues. The whole reason we have DirectTV is because no other provider has the Ticket. Needless to say, his ordering it an hour before the first game started was not surprising!
When I got out the 8-9 yards of flannel for one back - I had my decision! I was not about to wrestle around a 90x100 quilt sandwich that was backed with all that flannel. Man - that was heavy!!
Plus, for the first time I have signed up for activities with my guild in October. Most of the guild's workshops fall on a week day afternoon and I have childcare issues. This time there is a hand applique workshop on a Saturday and also a Saturday day retreat.
My numbers have not changed one single bit!
Used this week: 0
Used year to date: 28.525
Added this week (purchased/won): 0
Added this week (inherited/gifted): 0
Added year to date (purchased/won): 33.131
Added year to date (inherited/gifted): 65.75
Added year to date total: 98.881
Net used for 2012: -70.356
Please click over to Patchwork Times and see other stash reports.
Friday, September 7, 2012
Quilty Friends are Great and a "New" Iron.
"Congratulations on owning this fine quality product...
Its many modern features will make your every day more pleasant and enjoyable."
Quilty friend Cheri got on the case to find me a new, old iron. She started using vintage irons a few years ago and is making converts of many quilters in our area.
See, lots of us know Cheri because she is a long arm quilter and taught for many years in one of our several area LQSs. Cheri often brought a homemade snack for her students, to keep their strength up.
This one is a cute GE travel iron with a nice pointy tip. Perfect for retreats, etc.
Cheri warned me that it would get hot. Whewwee! I had to turn it down to the wool setting to use on my cotton strips. Unlike my other irons set to dry, this one pressed out the wrinkles and they stayed!
The little red lever under the handle switches between 120v and 230 volts.
However, if I need a little steam, check this out. It's an attachment.
Fill it with water and screw it onto the iron! Ha - loving the novelty of this little iron.
The instructions say that there was another cap that would allow for spraying, too. That cap and the international travel plugs are gone, but that's ok - "it's cute as a button." The receipt in the instruction booklet from a Famous Barr department store is dated 13 August 1968.
Cheri and I met for lunch and when she gave me the iron it was in this cute iron caddy that she made. That's Cheri!!
Thank you, Cheri, I love it!!
Its many modern features will make your every day more pleasant and enjoyable."
Quilty friend Cheri got on the case to find me a new, old iron. She started using vintage irons a few years ago and is making converts of many quilters in our area.
See, lots of us know Cheri because she is a long arm quilter and taught for many years in one of our several area LQSs. Cheri often brought a homemade snack for her students, to keep their strength up.
This one is a cute GE travel iron with a nice pointy tip. Perfect for retreats, etc.
Cheri warned me that it would get hot. Whewwee! I had to turn it down to the wool setting to use on my cotton strips. Unlike my other irons set to dry, this one pressed out the wrinkles and they stayed!
The little red lever under the handle switches between 120v and 230 volts.
However, if I need a little steam, check this out. It's an attachment.
The instructions say that there was another cap that would allow for spraying, too. That cap and the international travel plugs are gone, but that's ok - "it's cute as a button." The receipt in the instruction booklet from a Famous Barr department store is dated 13 August 1968.
Cheri and I met for lunch and when she gave me the iron it was in this cute iron caddy that she made. That's Cheri!!
Thank you, Cheri, I love it!!
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Stash Report Week 35
Howdy!
Looking back on my week I started to say, disappointedly, that I didn't get much done. However, I did some more work on my scraps.
In fact, I spent about 8 hours total cutting scraps into strips and squares (when there's not enough for a strip). Wish I had taken a few pics along the way. Last year I decided cutting my leftovers into strip sounded like a good idea but I hadn't decided on sizes so I cut to whatever was available on the leftover, be it 1.5" or 2.25" or 2.75". Well, now that I've listened to Bonnie Hunter and decided to standardize (I am an archivist with a library degree, standardization is my blood), I needed to go through these scraps one more time.
No, all of my scraps are not cut. The ones that I generated in my own projects are cut but I still have loads from my grandma and from my friend, Beth, to cut.
It also gave me the opportunity to make things more tidy and free up two slightly larger plastic bins. I started keeping scraps in whatever plastic containers I saved from our recycling bin and then kept those in a larger tub. These shoes boxes are much easier and there are now two boxes completely full of 2.5 strips that I have cut. That doesn't include the two bali pops and three jelly rolls sitting around my sewing corner. I may bookmark this post - I'll read it whenever I'm tempted to buy more fabric!
It was a funny coincidence that most of the cutting and organizing happened on the day of my guild meeting with a speaker, whom I had forgotten about, who talked to us about using up our scraps. And boy! did she bring the quilts to show. She was local and I think she brought about 6 tubs of quilts! Her name is Tea Mahone and she had scrappy patterns to sell but she doesn't have her website set up for selling them - shoot! I woud've bought at least one if I hadn't spent all my cash on the applique workshop that the guild has scheduled for October. Check our her Exploding Star quilt - love it and she has directions for 3 sizes.
But, I didn't leave empty-handed - oh no! You see, a member brought all kinds of stuff to give away and it is hard to pass that up! - patterns (all kinds not just quilting), magazines, a few books, and some muslin. Well, I resisted everything before the meeting, even the muslin, and we all know one can never have enough neutrals. When it was still sitting there and our intermission was almost over, well, I just couldn't control myself. I took the lightest muslin piece (2.5 yds) there and the light gray fabric (1.25 yds).
Another, more experienced, member who was looking through the patterns said I got the best piece there. The other pieces were unbleached and a tad heavy. The gray is just an old solid, about 50" wide that will come in handy someday.
So, my stash increased again. I'm putting this in the "purchased/won" column. If I subtract my inherited fabric, and only look at the purchased/won year to date, I'm not doing too badly. However, it's all that inherited fabric that reminds me not to buy more fabric. Funny how that works, huh?
I spent this morning in the kitchen. DH and DS were occupied and DH cleaned the kitchen a bit by doing a few dishes so I could cook. Can't cook in an untidy kitchen! So, by noon the house smelled of bacon and spinach quiche, a double batch of tomato sauce for lasagna, and one pan of smores bread pudding.
And, I'm done today. The sun is out and the Isaac rain has moved one - the rainy days didn't bother me at all! We may even hit the St. Louis Zoo tomorrow morning. Hope you're all enjoying your holiday weekend!
Used this week: 0
Added year to date (inherited/gifted): 65.75
Please click over to Patchwork Times and see other stash reports.
Looking back on my week I started to say, disappointedly, that I didn't get much done. However, I did some more work on my scraps.
In fact, I spent about 8 hours total cutting scraps into strips and squares (when there's not enough for a strip). Wish I had taken a few pics along the way. Last year I decided cutting my leftovers into strip sounded like a good idea but I hadn't decided on sizes so I cut to whatever was available on the leftover, be it 1.5" or 2.25" or 2.75". Well, now that I've listened to Bonnie Hunter and decided to standardize (I am an archivist with a library degree, standardization is my blood), I needed to go through these scraps one more time.
No, all of my scraps are not cut. The ones that I generated in my own projects are cut but I still have loads from my grandma and from my friend, Beth, to cut.
It also gave me the opportunity to make things more tidy and free up two slightly larger plastic bins. I started keeping scraps in whatever plastic containers I saved from our recycling bin and then kept those in a larger tub. These shoes boxes are much easier and there are now two boxes completely full of 2.5 strips that I have cut. That doesn't include the two bali pops and three jelly rolls sitting around my sewing corner. I may bookmark this post - I'll read it whenever I'm tempted to buy more fabric!
It was a funny coincidence that most of the cutting and organizing happened on the day of my guild meeting with a speaker, whom I had forgotten about, who talked to us about using up our scraps. And boy! did she bring the quilts to show. She was local and I think she brought about 6 tubs of quilts! Her name is Tea Mahone and she had scrappy patterns to sell but she doesn't have her website set up for selling them - shoot! I woud've bought at least one if I hadn't spent all my cash on the applique workshop that the guild has scheduled for October. Check our her Exploding Star quilt - love it and she has directions for 3 sizes.
But, I didn't leave empty-handed - oh no! You see, a member brought all kinds of stuff to give away and it is hard to pass that up! - patterns (all kinds not just quilting), magazines, a few books, and some muslin. Well, I resisted everything before the meeting, even the muslin, and we all know one can never have enough neutrals. When it was still sitting there and our intermission was almost over, well, I just couldn't control myself. I took the lightest muslin piece (2.5 yds) there and the light gray fabric (1.25 yds).
Another, more experienced, member who was looking through the patterns said I got the best piece there. The other pieces were unbleached and a tad heavy. The gray is just an old solid, about 50" wide that will come in handy someday.
So, my stash increased again. I'm putting this in the "purchased/won" column. If I subtract my inherited fabric, and only look at the purchased/won year to date, I'm not doing too badly. However, it's all that inherited fabric that reminds me not to buy more fabric. Funny how that works, huh?
 |
| from the recipe's URL, not mine |
I spent this morning in the kitchen. DH and DS were occupied and DH cleaned the kitchen a bit by doing a few dishes so I could cook. Can't cook in an untidy kitchen! So, by noon the house smelled of bacon and spinach quiche, a double batch of tomato sauce for lasagna, and one pan of smores bread pudding.
And, I'm done today. The sun is out and the Isaac rain has moved one - the rainy days didn't bother me at all! We may even hit the St. Louis Zoo tomorrow morning. Hope you're all enjoying your holiday weekend!
Used this week: 0
Used year to date: 28.525
Added this week (purchased/won): 3.75
Added this week (inherited/gifted): 0
Added year to date (purchased/won): 33.131
Added year to date (inherited/gifted): 65.75
Added year to date total: 98.881
Net used for 2012: -70.356
Please click over to Patchwork Times and see other stash reports.
Have a great week!
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