My new obsession!

Well, now that I'm back on track with the Glacier Star project, I only allow myself time to drink, eat, and sleep.  Speaking of drinking, I had a drink last night - a peach daiquiri (only because there was a large freakin bat in the garage and that's where my Pepsi was, so I had to hit the bottle pouch).  I still cannot believe that these pouches are only $1.99.  I'm a cheap drunk, it only takes one pouch to give me a buzz!  I digress . . . back to Glacier Star. 



Thursday night I began working on the flying geese units that will circle the outer edge of the quilt and was not happy with my fabric choice. So first thing yesterday morning, I emailed the designer, Judy Niemeyer, for her opinion and a couple hours later, she emailed me back with a suggestion - change the background fabric! I was so surprised, impressed and excited that I immediately got in the car and drove to the LQS to pick up a lighter background. I am so happy now with the results!

 
Here is my total progress so far:


Glacier Star Progress

I have been working away everyday since Monday on my Judy Niemeyer Glacier Star! Here is a bit of my progress so far . . .


I am struggling with the outer flying gees though, I am concerned that there is not enough contrast.  Of course I have the fabric for all 192 flying geese already cut out . . . I am going to email my instructor a picture of the flying geese unit for her opinion - I let you know the verdict! 

Design Wall Monday

It's been a couple of months since we  moved and things have finally taken enough shape in my Quilting Cave that I am able to sit down and sew, especially since I finally located the power cord to my Bernina!  It's going to be a good week I hope because when I came down to the cave this morning, there were no mice in any of the traps and none of them had been sprung either!  On my Design Wall this morning, I have pieces of my Glacier Star that hasn't been touched since like Easter - it's a shame because I really enjoy working on it.  My goal this week is to get as much done on this project as I can . . .  
Check out what everyone has on their Design Walls today at JudyL's Patchwork Times!

New Friends

Well, as if the bats weren't enough, now we have mice.  About a week ago I saw one in the garage, and since I will not be able to unpack all of the crap stuff in there in this lifetime, I wasn't too worried until last night!  I thought I saw something from the corner of my eye, turned and saw a mouse run from the laundry room straight into my quilt room.  First thing this morning I was at the store buying mouse traps.  I keep waiting to hear the unmistakable "snap", but it hasn't happened yet.  I baited the traps with peanut butter, a tiny piece of a Hershey's bar and then some more peanut butter on top of that.  I hope they like that more than my quilt fabric and batting.

My close personal friends . . .

Here is a picture of one of my many close personal friends . . . a BAT! This was taken the last day we were at the old house. I was not at all sad to leave them behind at our old place, but unfortunately, they have followed us the 1.8 miles to our new home. The other night I went out to the garage to get some ice cream and when I turned on the light and opened the door, two of them were flying laps around the garage. Needless to say, I did not have a bedtime snack!

Where is Kare?

I have MIA for a little over a month now because . . . we purchased a new home and moved! We are slowly unpacking and getting acclimated.  This new house has central air and a pool in the backyard and with the heatwave we've been experiencing this past month it's been a sweet reprieve.  As soon as I locate the cable to my camera, I will post pictures, but for now, this is from my phone! 

Design Wall Monday

I have been longarming like a fiend for the past few weeks.  My friends have been keeping me busy, but I did have a chance to slip one of my own in there!

We traveled to Dallas this past week and I was amazed at the number of quilt shops in that area that have been in Quilt Sampler magazine.  I visited 10 shops and I think that at least 6 of them had been featured at some point in time!  My favorite shop was Quilt Country.  I spent 2 hours in there, there were tons of samples and the ladies were very helpful and nice!  I knew I would love this shop before I even got there, because they advertise "Lime Green - the New Neutral".  They had 3 APQS longarms and they were all going, one lady was loading while another lady quilted freehand and there was a large picture window so you could watch them in action.  As the one lady finished quilting, she moved to the next machine which the other woman had loaded and started on that quilt!  The woman who loaded, now began to unload the quilt she'd just finished.  It was awesome.

I purchased a ruler while in Dallas and have begun to cut strips already for that project! I found the ruler at Quilters Connection in Dallas, and they had a sample made into a tree skirt and I just fell in love with it! Here is a picture of theirs as my sewing cave is a pit right now . . .

Check out what everyone else has on their Design Wall at JudyL's Patchwork Times!

A few finishes!

Well I haven't had any UFO finishes since the two I completed in January, and then I fell off the UFO wagon and was lost in space until this month - I finished one!  It's the Pineberry Trail.  I got it quilted a couple of weeks ago and got the binding on, but it needed to be tacked to the back and I saved that for all the traveling we were doing the past 2 weeks.  I had it in the trunk of the rental car and my husband had a container of Windex in there and it leaked on the quilt and the maroon bled . . . as soon as we returned home, I laundered it with a Color Catcher and you would not believe how dark that sheet came out!  The area where it bled is still stained, but I am not worried about it because it's going to be a quilt for us to cover up with in the living room!

I also finished the binding on my friend Jean's quilt!  That quilt was in the trunk with the Windex, but thankfully it was my quilt that soaked it all up!

I finished a smaller memory quilt for a friend and now have her king size Maple Leaves + Log Cabin on the frame .  I am quilting it with a meandering maple leave + loops, cute, cute, cute!

Design Wall Monday

Finally finished the top for the fruit + veggie table runner.  I hope to get it quilted this week as we are going on a road trip this weekend to a family wedding and I would like to have some handwork to take along in the car and to work on in the hotel! 

I also have a quilt top of my own that I loaded on the frame last night.  I really wanted to back this quilt with flannel, but I don't have any, and I just want to get something done . . . another UFO may soon bite the dust - yippee!

Check out what others have on their Design Wall today at JudyL's Patchwork Times.

Stash Report - Week 29

Nothing in this week and I want you all to know that I was in a Quilt Shop not once, but twice this past week - such restraint!  I did count the fabric out for my fruit + veggie table runner because it's ready to be sandwiched and quilted!
 

Used this Week: 3 yards

Used year to Date: 77 yards

Added this Week: 0 yards

Added Year to Date: 38 yards

Net Used Year to Date: 39 yards

Check out how everyone else is doing with their stash busting at JudyL's Patchwork Times!

Design Wall Monday

Thank goodness it's Design Wall Monday as I finished my Fast Forward top and am allowing myself to start another project!  This is a Veggie Table Runner made with a Double Diamond Ruler.  I saw a sample of this in a Mennonite Quilt Shop several weeks ago and was smitten! I cannot wait to have more progress to show you on this project . . .  

Just so I don't get bored, I have a large quilt of Jean's on the longarm, and if I get bored or even better yet, finished with her quilt, I can move on to 3 more of Linda's quilts that are waiting in the wings!

I did mention that I finished my Fast Forward quilt top - here is a picture of mine (black background) and my BFF Joanne's (light background).




Check out what everyone has on their Design Walls at JudyL's Patchwork Times!

Stash Report - Weeks 27 + 28

We were in DC for Olive's 1st Birthday last weekend, so I have some catching up to do . . .
I didn't buy any quilt fabric while there, but I did get some scrumptious sock yarn though!
I finished the Fast Forward top, but loaned my pattern to someone, so I am just guessing at the yardage used, so I may need to change the amount used at a later date.  The picture is my top on the left and my friend Joanne's on the right!  Joanne used a batik jelly roll for hers while mine was just scraps from the "Rubbermaid Tub"

Used this Week: 5 yards

Used year to Date: 74 yards

Added this Week: 0 yards

Added Year to Date: 38 yards

Net Used Year to Date: 36 yards

Check out how everyone else is coming along with their stash busting efforts at JudyL's Patchwork Times!



Here is Olive, our Birthday girl!