This morning I got to play with my machine :)

I hadn't used my quilting machine since before Thanksgiving and tops have been piling up. I put this one on last weekend, but had a busy week and had to ignore it *sob*

So, today I quilted the quilt...not that it was hard! In fact I am already done and it is in the washing machine (I like to block them before binding). I might be able to start a second one this afternoon after I get off the computer.

I used my old standby freemotion design ...swirls. I think I could do this design in my sleep! I used a variegated purple thread.

Yes, I have a Voyager 17 by Hinterberg. I do not have a stitch regulator or any other bells and whistles. So I have to control the stitch length all by my lonesome. That is OK with me for now. When I test drove machines a few years back, I always felt that the stitch regulators were holding me back. It was a weird feeling that I didn't feel I needed to pay extra for.

Someday, I will trade up and I will most likely go with a stitch regulator at that time. I do see how it would be a handy bell (or is it a whistle?) to have on my machine.

What will I upgrade to? I have no clue. Most likely it will be another smaller machine in the 18-20" range as I don't want to take up too much more room that I already am taking up! The frames are definitely space hogs.

I will test drive various machines when I go to Paducah in April for the AQS show. I'll make sure I don't drool on any of them in case you follow behind me :P

My favorite tool (aside from my machine and rotary cutter)

I love my sewing machine. I have a 930 Record Bernina that is a dream to sew on. And I couldn't live without a rotary cutter (or three).

My next favorite tool is the June Tailor Shape Cut. I use it for every quilt and even some non-quilty projects. Any time I need to cut parallel lines, I use this tool. I wish the big ones had a 1/4" available, but I do survive with my little Quarter Cut when needed.

Yesterday I cut a bunch of strips and then subcut them for a project. It goes WAY faster to use the Shape Cut than to keep adjusting the ruler for every cut. You don't have to adjust for every cut (unless you are cutting 12" strips) so you can get your project cut out so much faster.

I *need* to buy a new 12" Shape Cut as mine is in sad shape. It is the best size for traveling along with me and thus it gets harder use...and is snapped through to the outside edge in a couple of places. Tape just isn't keeping it together for me. Do you think my dh would notice if I spent money one a new one?

What tools do you find that you can't live without?

old photos

while looking for a baby picture, I stumbled across some old photos. What a hoot they can be!

This is the Peanut when she was about 7. I played with it a bit so hopefully she won't be too embarrassed. She had swim goggles AND a nose plug while wearing pink...the Boybarian was sure it couldn't be his sister as she is wearing PINK.

What is on my design wall this Monday?

after the weekend quiltathon, I have these blocks on my design wall. They are for a block swap that my guild is holding on Wednesday.

For more design wall inspiration go to: Patchwork Times

I didn't get started on quilting the quilt on my machine...That doesn't have a deadline, while these blocks do. I also have a block to make up for our raffle quilt...so I'm working on things with deadlines for the next day or so.

And waiting (impatiently) for back ordered fabrics from Keepsake Quilting. I have my design all drawn up for the Create a Bali Keepsake Challenge, finally had the money for the extra fabric I needed and they are out *sigh* I may have to totally re-work my design if the fabric takes too long!

Quiltathon Saturday

I slept in this morning and while eating breakfast, started feeling guilty for not paying bills yesterday, so I sat down and paid them. I knew they would fester in my brain all day if I didn't :)

And then I disappeared into the sewing dungeon.

I got two more units done for my mystery quilt and trimmed a ton of HSTs. The ones you see above are for a block swap with my guild next week. I sewed 72 HST units and trimmed 120 (some were sewn another day)while watching the move Up this evening.

I also cut out twelve blocks for a puzzle swap. The *puzzle* part is that the swappers don't know what block the pieces are for, so they have to figure it out and then sew them together. There are 8 in our group, but I want 12 blocks, so I will be sewing 5 of them together. I have the other 7 all packaged up and ready to take to the PO on Tuesday (Monday being a Federal Holiday and the PO is closed).

Dh is my hero. He set up my quilting frame in the Peanut's bedroom this afternoon and even put my machine on the frame (it is a Voyager, they are heavy!!!). I have a quilt loaded on the frame already. Tomorrow I hope to start QUILTING on it (in between church and Awana).

It felt almost like a quilt retreat today. The boybarian is off at a weekend Scout camping trip, Dh did his thing (and set up my frame *love*) and Princess Sunshine did her thing. I barely heard any noise because I had my MP3 player and some headphones on. The headphones deaden so much more noise than those tiny things that come with the players (and kill my ears). It was like I was in a bubble, a lovely quilting bubble.

The other thing I did today was pray. While my hands were busy with repetitive things, my brain could dwell on other things. I prayed for the people suffering from the devastating earthquake in Haiti, I prayed for my friend Beth who has terminal brain cancer, I prayed for Snow Camp at WOLBI, for my family and many other things as they were brought to mind.

I love bookstores

we don't have a bookstore in town. The closest mall has a Waldenbooks that is closing this month...so we went to Borders in Erie. I had a gift card from Princess Sunshine, a coupon and dh had the day off so he came along...though he spent plenty of time on the phone dealing with Army issues :(

I bought a cookbook for me :) I have the Hungry Girl 2oo Under 200 book already, so this one spoke to me from the shelf. I am finding many of her recipes are great for my lunch. Easy to make, delicious, low calorie, satisfying AND one serving sized. I don't make too much and I don't eat the leftovers (there aren't any!). In the 200 under 200 cookbook, my favorite recipe is Choco-Monkey Oatmeal...had some this morning - YUM!

If you are worried about my kids, the children are old enough to get food for themselves, use the microwave or even the stove if they need to. So I don't have to worry about whether or not they like what I'm having. And I don't have to like what they are having (good thing some days!).

I bought a craft book that has some lovely pictures, was in the budget books and will provide inspiration for future projects. Since I'm one of the ones that tries to come up with ideas for the crafting ladies at church, this will be good :)

I also bought a Language Arts workbook for the boybarian since he has lost the one he started last fall. I know, boring, but necessary. He was a bit weak in LA when he tested last spring *sigh*

I spent the afternoon in the sewing dungeon, cutting fabrics for my mystery quilt and guiding children in their quilting.

The boybarian...didn't want to be there. He was too cold, ran upstairs and put on his winter coat, I sent him back upstairs to put on a long sleeved shirt that wasn't bulky, he was thirsty, so he went upstairs to get a water bottle, he had to go to the bathroom...get the picture? He got his first borders cut out and only sewn on two sides before I sent him away. I was afraid I might hurt him if he stayed any longer!!!!

Princess Sunshine got two star block units done :) She has 18 more to go and then she can move on to the next step, but I don't want to overwhelm her too quickly. Two blocks was enough!

Plus, I was ready to spend some quality time with my machine! I got one set of units done for the mystery quilt and I'm loving the color combo. I need to sneak back down to the sewing dungeon and sew up a few more pieces to be ready for the next step.