I've Got Your Back

Quilt back that is . . .

Hate is a strong word so I won't use it.  But I really, really, dislike piecing quilt backs. If I want to do piecing I'll make a quilt top. I love quilts that have pieced backs and love the way they look but I'm too impatient to do it for my quilts.  When that top is finished I want to load it on the frame and quilt it. Now.

   The LQS sells extra wide fabric (108") so that's what I've been using since I discovered that section of the store.  But I couldn't find a back that would work for this quilt.  The only ones that would work color-wise had flowers all over them.  This quilt is for Adam so flowers won't do. 

So I had to stop whining and piece a back. Well, I didn't really stop whining, but I did do the piecing.  It was nice to use up the scraps and the oops pieces.  I had set them aside thinking they would come in handy for some project some day. And I like the way it turned out.

And here is the top . . .

Now I can get it all loaded on the frame.  Hopefully I can ship it to Adam this week so it will keep his back warm while he's got our backs.

When I Dream About Quilting . . .

. . . does that mean I'm quilting too much or I'm not quilting enough?

How much quilting time is taking care of myself, and how much is indulgence?

Randi's Bright Batiks Quilt . . . Quilted!

This was the last of Randi's quilts.  Done.  All three quilts will be in the mail tomorrow on their way back.  For this particular quilt I auditioned at least a dozen thread colors.  I was totally surprised by the color that I thought looked the best.  I sure hope Randi agrees.  I wonder what color others would have chosen.

This one was a lot of fun to quilt.  Usually there's a least a little problem to work out.  But this one was smooth sailing from start to finish. Fun. Fun. Fun.

A Family Weekend

Not this weekend, but last weekend, Jim, Mike and Mom all came to visit.  Jim was in town from CA for just the weekend and he drove all the way down here for one of the days!  And Mom said it was a long, long drive.  Mike was the driver in his spiffy new car.  So what did I do when they got here?  I put them to work - shame on me.  First we had coffee and I had bought some sweet rolls to soften them up.  But Mike brought bakery sweet rolls so we had his instead.  We sat and talked awhile and then I sprang it on them.  "As long as you're here do you think you guys could help me move something into the basement?"  Silly boys said yes without looking to see the something.  It was a big two piece sideboard / hutch thingy. Nice heavy wood.  It's been taking up room in the sunroom as it just doesn't go in the dining / family room.  I realized last week that it would be perfect in my sewing room for fabric.  I'd been trying to figure out how to move it myself if I couldn't wait until one of my boys came to visit. I'm pretty sure if I put it on a dolly and headed downstairs it would've been a wreck.  Heck, just getting the top piece down and on the dolly would've been a wreck. So, Mom visited with Scott and I put my other guests to work. And I love it down there.  I haven't filled it yet (busy quilting) but it's just right.  THANKS GUYS!!!! 

And while they were in the basement looking around (this was their first visit since we moved from the farm to town) one thing led to another and they were replacing our back-up sump pump.   That I did NOT mean to happen, but they wouldn't let us wiggle out of it. I think Jimmy was the mastermind and Mike was the backup.  We so appreciate it.  Nothing like peace of mind.

Hamburgers and salads for lunch, but by then I was wishing I had bbq'd some steaks!



Then Sunday we all met at you know where for breakfast . . .

Jack was pressed into service as the morning's photographer. Thanks Jack!

He brought his Grandma Penny.

We were gathered to visit with Jim since he was in for a quick visit (and it's been a while!).

But we were also celebrating Mike's big birthday (did I mention he is my older brother - I just hadn't realized how much older).

Trish . . .

and Kevin hosted and treated everyone.

My favorite younger sister was there with Alyssa.

Donald was there.

That was Terry earlier giving everyone "bunny ears".  He works so hard that when he gets a day off he has to cram in as much fun as he can.

After breakfast it was back to Mom's for more conversation, laughs and sweets.

A good weekend.

Randi's Rainbow Progression Quilt Quilted!

Hmmm.  I wonder what color binding Randi will use on this quilt.  I don't want to give it up but I'm anxious for her to see it in person. 

Sarah held it up for me to take a pic but her arms weren't long enough! It's a big quilt.

I can't imagine the work that went into creating this top.  My head starts spinning when I think of trying to keep all the colors organized for each block.  It's a beautiful quilt Randi.  Thanks for trusting me to quilt it.

Randi's Rainbow Progression Quilt

The quilting thread for this one is called Sandstone. It seems to blend in just a bit with most of the colors but not so much that it disappears. Just enough to know it's there without overshadowing, or taking away from, the quilt top.

 I know it's not fancy or anything but I just love a meandering quilting . . . and it is so fun to do.

Thank You

Thank you to all veterans.

Especially to my father,

my brothers,

my nephews,

and my sons.

Randi's One Block Wonder . . . Quilted!

I didn't used to be a fan of pink, but this is the second quilt in less than a month that I quilted with pink thread and I'm really liking it!  It looks pretty darn good in the yellowy green sections and great in the yummy dark brown inner border fabric. 

The quilt is hanging a bit funny and that's why the border looks crooked - it's really not!


Don't you just love the feel of a quilted quilt? 

On the the next quilt!

There's A Whole Lot Of Quilting Going On

Randi is taking advantage of my half-price quilting offer and has sent me three quilts to quilt! Each one is vibrant. She is a big fan of color! The first one I'm working on is a "One Block Wonder" with pinks and yellowy greens and a beautiful rich brown. We decided on a soft pink thread and it's looking so pretty. Here's a sneak peak - posted with Randi's permission, of course.

On Point BOM - 2 More Blocks

Month 5 Block 1

"Aunt Nancy's Favorite"

Month 6 - Block 2

"Cross and Crown"

That's 11 blocks done and only 3 to go.

On Point BOM Month 5 Block 2

I'm not going in order.  This makes nine finished blocks. Five to go.

I'm getting a bit discouraged that most of the blocks have puckers and some of the blocks have lots of puckers.  The bias edges are not getting treated with the care and respect they require. Sigh. But it's not going to stop me.  By gum, by golly, I'm going to FINISH this quilt.

I Am Grateful . . .

for these two people . . .

My computer became critically ill last week.  I didn't think it was going to make it.  And, of course, I was going to back up everything next week.  I've been saying that for so long.  Scott has been reminding me for longer. I thought we lost everything.  But Chuck to the rescue!!!  It's healed!  And because of the scare and because of Chuck's gentle nudges and him telling me our DVD drive thingy is a great one (it's been unused for a LONG time) we now have all of the photos backed up!  Now to get the data files backed up.  hmmm, I wonder if those might be more important than photos.  But I know losing the photos would hurt more.  Plus Chuck fixed an older computer for us and did some extra stuff that I have to read about again a few more times to really understand enough to thank him for it.

THANKS CHUCK! YOU ARE AWESOME!

And sweet niece Karen . . . when Sarah was in labor two weeks ago (was it really only two weeks ago?) but not yet ready to go to the hospital, Karen drove to Sarah and John's and checked on her. Sarah and I both thought it was kind of neat that Karen's mom was with me when I was in labor with Sarah, and here her daughter was with my daughter (insert warm mushy feeling here).

Then Karen went to visit the new mom and new baby and big brother a couple days later and brought dinner and played with Cooper (lots of outside fresh air for Cooper so he went right down easy for his nap) and snuggled the baby.  And little reassuring tips for the new again nursing mom.

THANKS KAREN! YOU ARE AWESOME!