All Packed And Ready To Head Out

Its finally here.  After all the planning and anticipation tomorrow is the day I head off to Houston to reconnect with some of the best bunch of quilters that I have the privilege of calling my friends.

There is something in the air to try to keep me from going, but it hasn't worked.   A bad cold hit me on Friday but I have kicked that to the curb.  My debit card was compromised but there is always cash and travelers checks, an eye infection popped up this morning, but that is being controlled with medicine.

Tomorrow I'm jumping in the car with my friends Julie and Sharon headed to Chicago airport and up up and away we go.

The hardest part - what to pack - this time I have the luxury of taking a larger suitcase - 1st bag free -  Now this could be a good thing or a bad depending on how you look at it.

With a small bag you are limited to how many outfits you bring - with the larger I have choices and when I couldn't decide - it went in the bag I can figure it out when I get there.

Must must must leave some room for the return trip as there are purchases to be made - but then there is always shipping if I cant fit it all in hehehehehehehehe.

Cant say if I'm more excited this year than the last time, but as the minutes tick away I'm getting more and more anxious to hit the road.

Of course there will be many pictures to share with you - so hang in there until I return on the 3rd.

Some Really Cute Quilts And Frustration!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Catching up finished 2 for 1 customer and  1 of 3 for another

Really Cute John Deere,  Gus saw these and wanted them - had to hid them from him

Just a couple more - but they can wait until after I get back from Houston, unless I can squeeze them in before I leave.

Now for the grumbling part - stop reading if you don't want to hear me vent:


I purchased an IPhone.   I have been putting this off for years, thought the old flip top call and receive was enough and I just knew I would spend way too many hours getting it set up just the way I wanted.

I was RIGHT  -  Its not that its that hard using the phone but I wanted all the apps to match what I had on my Ipad -   You would think this an easy process right??????  Wrong.............  

Day 1 buy the phone and get a quick lesson from customer service.  He even loaded all my contacts onto the new phone,

Yay all set

Uh uh - to get my Ipad to sync to my IPhone - per instructions go home connect my Ipad to the lap top do a backup then connect my IPhone to laptop and do a restored backup -sounds simple.

Tried that - no go - still on day 1 called customer service - tried to walk me through it - and in doing so he reset my phone -   now you probably can guess whats coming.   Lost all contacts

Day 2 went to store with both phones and reinstalled my contacts.

Day 3 - tried the back up again, yes the Ipad backed up to my lap top - tried the IPhone restore back up no go.

Day 4 called customer service - if I do what I'm instructed I lose all contacts again.

Called Apple support - - suggestion - just download all the apps I want to my IPhone and forget the back up.

2 hrs later have the apps I want - with some minor difficulties, passwords reset passwords, no need to set passwords etc etc etc - gees

Now I you know why I kept the flip top - right

Oh My Goodness

Has it been THAT long since I last did a blog.

Oct 7th really?????

I can only say its all good things that have kept me from sitting here and writing to you.

Shopping, (as always not needed) but who can resist a 30 percent off going out of business sale at the Saving Thyme in Stoughton.

BTW my second trip there hehehehheheheheh.

Now I have no idea what I'm going to make with these but oh what colors and then the side stop at the shop that sells needle punch supplies - of course I had to stop there.  (my newest hobby and love)

My first attempt needle punch:

There was the RVQG quilt show on the 4-5 and I didn't even tell you about that.  I am remiss for certain.

Then on the 18th was the Edgerton quilt show.

My girlfriend Annette came to visit on the 17th and stayed the weekend.  Well you know what kind of weekend that was - 2 best friends shopping and a quilt show, not to mention I had a gathering here for her , with our quilting friends on Sunday. She was able to see as many people here without having to run around and not get to visit with anyone.

Scarf dyeing, well of course.   Customer quilts were quilted and my own.

The  Challenge Quilts for Loose Threads Strip Club -   same pattern different colors and quilting for these 3

Margie

Alice

Mine

These will all be hung again at Loose Threads the 24th-25th for public viewing and judging - along with the other members quilts.

Stop over check them out and put a vote in for your favorite

Next stop - Houston - leaving next Wed returning the following Monday -  thank goodness I have a dog/house sitter coming in or I would never be able to take all these great trips I've been taking this past year.

So you can see I have not been sitting and watching TV twiddling my thumbs.  I have too much to do than sit and twiddle.

There's A New Quilter In Town

For a few weeks I have been giving quilt piecing lessons in my home to this lady.

She has learned a lot and doing quite well - next step bindings.

But in the meantime I finished her baby quilt for her tonight.

She has a real eye for color - she chose all of her colors before coming to me.  Who would have thought to use these in a baby quilt, but then,......... Why Not  - its a beautiful quilt and she is doing a good job.

After lessons I would send her home with homework to complete what she had learned that day.

So pleased with the results.

Its always a pleasure to give lessons to a new quilter and after talking to her about fabrics and what she  wants to try, I had to give her the "look"  and tell her oh poor baby you are hooked.

She is fully aware of that fact.

Brrr Its To Early

Wow a few days ago 80 degrees and yikes yesterday and today brrrrrrr.

Its quilt weather for sure, hoping this is temporary and we get some more warmer days.  I have much yard work to do before the winter finally arrives.

Little time to get it all done before the end of month when I leave for Houston. Yeee haaaw!

You would think because I don't have a job away from home I could get plenty of work done around here.

Not so.  Between my real job quilting for others, my fun job of watching Gus, dyeing scarves, knitting, hand embroidery, sewing for myself and yard work I keep pretty darn busy.

There are days I feel like I'm running on a tread wheel.  No complaints though, seriously I like what I do - all of it.

This week alone I have completed 2 customer quilts.  Dyed 4 scarves (which doesn't just happen overnight) and some hand work.

Simple patchwork, Quilted with free motion leaves loops and meandering - pretty fall colors - love it - all flannel just perfect for winter.

That was the easy one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A huge 101x85 all blue jean quilt.  The quilter did an amazing job doing a log cabin pattern - this was a real challenge.  One I wont take on again.  Because of the bulk in the seams and not wanting to close pockets I did a semi custom - wiggle stitch - however, the quilt kept growing, bj fabric has a lot more stretch then you would think.   In the end the bottom border had to be puckered and pleated but she was not unhappy with the results.  We both agreed it was probably a mistake to try to Long Arm quilt this, she normally does hand tying and that is a good option to finish one of these.

I still give her tons of credit for doing such an amazing job putting it all together.