SNOW- and more snow!

   I am sorry about the lag in posts- I got hit with the darn flu (or a bad cold) last week and boy it did me in! I did not get a darn thing done/sewed!  They were predicting quite a bit of snow here (nothing like back east however) so I was looking forward to hunkering down in my sewing room all weekend but NOOOOO- I laid on the couch all weekend and didn’t do shit! The dogs loved me, though. They are such little slugs!

    I did, however make it to a little job interview Monday night and I now have a part time job making dog collar covers for a dear woman I met through a friend. I have to make 100 of these little things before mid March- so I know where I will be this weekend! I think I can get them done Saturday, which leaves Sunday to play.

  I have been drooling over this Quilt A Long quilt in the most recent American Patchwork and Quilting magazine.

http://modalissa.blogspot.com/2015/01/apq-quiltalong-go-four-it.html

  I just love this quilt. It just seems to speak to me- maybe because it is so bright and cheery.

 

   Of course I have several things I really should be doing instead- piecing my Bear Paw BOM, starting the graduation quilt for a very special great nephew, and of course there is the pile of 4,000 unfinished damn quilt tops I have started. Oh well- that is what retreat is for!

   My first retreat of the year will be here before I know it- it is at the end of March. I have to start to try to figure out what to take. Last year I had everything prepped, cut and bagged beforehand along with the thread and any special notions I would need. It worked wonderfully- I got a ton of stuff done and there was no digging around for anything.

   I hope this year is a tad better for me - last year my dumbass brother ended up in the hospital right when I left and I was worried about his stupid ass all weekend. Love ya Brookie!  We have very spotty cell phone service at the retreat which made it even more difficult to get updates. Of course he ended up being fine- dipshit- but it was enough to put a damper on my fun trip. TO BROOKE- your ass better not be going near any hospitals at the end of this month- DO YOU HEAR ME NOW????

 

   A few years ago when I went there was major stuff happening at home- I almost did not go, but at the insistence of my daughter I went. I did end up having beergaritas at 10am that Saturday morning- but it was 5 o’clock somewhere! Lucky for us one of our stipulations where we hold our retreats is that they must allow alcohol. One year I called ahead and asked how big their freezer was and how much ice it could hold. The gal on the other end of the line was probably wondering what kind of quilters exactly were coming? She got awful quiet. (turned out they have their own ice machine- and it did keep up with the margarita making).

 

  It is because of the support and love from these peeps of mine that I am not in the looney bin typing this, but instead am at my office desk in a nice, warm environment not wearing a straight jacket. They are always there for me- and I love them all dearly.  HUGS to you all-past and present retreaters- you know who you are! Thank you for putting up with my crap- you will all be included in the book- I promise!

 

                                     A heart filled weekend-

   Hello all! I hope every one of you had a nice weekend. We had some beautiful weather Saturday- in the 60’s here in Denver. Saturday found us out and about. Bob and I had a nice lunch, went to the Denver Dog Show then splurged on red velvet milk shakes at LIKS.

 

     I got a 4 mile walk in after the milk shakes- in a t-shirt only! (well, I did have pants on as well- contrary to what some people believe, I am NOT an exhibitionist!) We then went out to dinner- fried oysters for me! The good thing about loving tiny places with good food is that they aren’t that busy on Valentines’ Day- we got right in!  Of Course we got up Sunday and it was 30 degrees. And then it snowed. Gotta love it!

 

   I did get another of my bear paw blocks done, so I am caught up! There are only 3 more blocks left, I believe. But, the big news is I finally got done sewing my Bionic Gear Bag! I have been working on it for a few weeks. The only reason it took so long is because instead of going into my sewing room when I get home from work, I plop my ass down in the chair, the dogs jump up on me and we cuddle the rest of the night. (plus I have been re-reading Fifty Shades of Grey- for the third time, teehee)

   All I had to finish on the bag was sewing the binding and zipper on to the top of the bag. And I finally did it! And, wait for it- it looks good for once! All of us quilters know how tricky sewing binding on by machine can be. When I fold the binding over, and try to stitch in the ditch, it always seems like the top stitching on the other side is crapola when I am done. This time, my friends, I kicked the bindings’ ass! And, for you my friends, I will tell you I think I have finally figured out the tricks to a good looking binding. I know, I know. I have only made 4,000 fricking bags with machine stitched binding. Some things come slow to me- DUMBASS.

    The first thing I did this time was slow the hell down. I am usually a fast sewer. It drives my friends crazy.  Just ask them. I also pinned that first seam- a LOT. These 2 things, along with making sure that I sewed that first seam very straight did the trick! This way, when I turn the binding over to the other side, if my seam is straight to begin with, the same amount of binding will be folded over the whole way across the bag. Also, as I am sewing in the ditch from the back side, the ditch is actually straight, also making this seam look good. I also used a LOT of pins when sewing in the ditch. I did hold my breath as I was turning the bag over to look at the first side of the stitching- holy crap- did I actually sew that? I was amazed- then proceeded to do the other side. Success!

   The bag I sewed is the Bionic Gear Bag. It has 4 zippered pockets inside, plus a fabric tray at the front where you can place more stuff! Take note of the way the stripes are laid out on the pockets- total accident, but a happy one at that!

 I did make the matching little fabric bowl so I had a place to put my Wonder Clips.

   It is a really slick pattern- very easy to follow. She includes lots of pictures and tons of instructions. You can find the pattern here-

http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/sewing/accessory/winner-bionic-gear-bag-notions-tote/93596

     I really like the bag. I also love the fabric I picked. I machine quilted around all of the little flowers, and put just a little bling in the center of a few flowers.

   I will definitely make another one- I might have enough fabric left to make a matching 2^nd one. If not, I may have a few pieces of fabric in my stash I can use-haha!

   Update- on Gracie- she is doing well at her new home. The vet said she is approx. 8 weeks old, and is a doxie/terrier or doxie/schnauzer mix. She is a healthy, happy little girl!

 

    Thank you for reading this my peeps!  Have a good week!

 

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

 

 

And welcome to our new blog readers from Hungary and Italy!!



                                   Productive weekend-kind of
 

    On Saturday, I got to hang out with 2 of my favorite peeps- Terry and Lexie. I was Miss Daisy as Terry drove my ass all over Denver. The first stop was Holly’s Quilt cabin, a super quilt shop at the south end of town.

   I had been down a week earlier and was drooling over the new fabric line from Fig Tree called Somerset. While this fabric line is stunning, the large floral is not a fabric I am normally drawn to. I think it is the peach/salmon /green combo.

 My awesome boss bought me a gift certificate to Missouri Quilt Company for my birthday and it has been burning a hole in my pocket ever since. Then, on Wednesday I jumped on the Stitchery Dickery Dock blog and she has a new pattern out using a layer cake. OMG. You can find the pattern here-

http://shop.stitcherydickorydock.com/collections/patterns/products/triple-barnstar-quilt-pattern

  Well, as you all know I am quite the enabler so I talked Terry into making this quilt as well (to be honest it didn’t take much convincing and actually I think it was her idea). So, I figured what the hell and used my gift card and ordered a layer cake and my binding fabric. On Saturday, I bought a bit of yardage of the line so I could replace any of the layer cake squares I may not want to use. I also found my background fabric- it is so nice when you have friends that have a great eye for color to help with that!

 

 Then, we decided to do lunch. I had eaten at a little dive called Granny Annie’s Peachy Pie a year or so ago and decided we should go there. It was fricking closed! So, we headed up Federal and found agreat Mexican place and chowed down. We needed nourishment to continue shopping!

  After our bellies were full, we headed to most amazing stitching shop called- The Stitching Shop. They had thousands of threads, patterns, etc. They specialize in Brazilian Embroidery- which has nothing to do with a Brazilian bikini wax, although I think I did see Terry’s eyes roll back in her head several times when we were in there. They have the only certified teacher of Brazilian Embroidery in the state working there- and she also owns the shop- so you know they know their stuff! I think Terry and I will be taking some classes in the near future. Here is their website

http://www.stitchingshop.com/

    After we quit drooling there we dropped Lexie off and headed to another great shop called Wooden Spools. They carry fabric and the most beautiful yarn! I did find a yard of a white dot fabric that I loved- and I actually have a plan for it. Imagine that!

   That was our last stop, so Terry dropped Miss Daisy off at home. I was pooped!

    On Sunday, I woke up to 4 inches of snow- which was NOT predicted! So, I finished a quilt for my neighbor, and then traded four thousand emails and pdf’s with my pattern editor who shall remain nameless.  I am such a dumbass- she would send me a revision, then I would catch something else I missed. God love her for being so patient with me. But, after all that I now have 4 patterns for sale on Craftsy! I had them for sale through Jazz Cat- Irene rocks- and then decided to put them on Craftsy. So, I had my trusty editor change a few things and off I went. We shall see what happens! I have come up with a few new pattern ideas, now I just need time to draw the shit! You can find my patterns here-

 
http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/quilting/other/colorado-sunflower/130045

  I am not really into the Super Bowl this year, so I am typing this as the game is on. I am even missing the commercials- the best part! Oh well-I will watch them on You Tube tomorrow!

Hope you all had a lovely week!

IT'S HERE!!!!!

 

Chip and Dale Designs are now official Craftsy pattern designers. Check out our Sunflower pattern on Craftsy!!

http://www.craftsy.com/pattern/quilting/other/colorado-sunflower/130045