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Monday, August 20, 2012

Week 5 Tetris block

It took me a while, but Ta Da!


On this, the second half of the quilt -  I haven't even cut a white square!!! (Tooting my own horn -Tsk.) Everything is filling in quite nicely. I've been leaving openings for the pieces on next week's drop of shapes, so it isn't all sewn down yet. I'm having lots of fun with this challenge. How about you?

Hugs,
Terri

Friday, August 17, 2012

Recorded for Posterity

My sewing room... First round of pictures taken at eye level...

It's a pass through room to the last bedroom (which we call the "Way Back" room. It houses the considerable mess that is the art supply and rubber stamp hobby - we won't go there today... It would burn your eyes out). This is a pic of the left wall - the design wall, now empty - as you walk into the room. It has some cards, pics of the grands and small items pinned at the far end, and the back door with the makeshift curtain, to keep the sun off of my cutting mat. Any questions?  Yes, Mary? The reason the wall is empty is the quilt that was there is being quilted, and this condition didn't last long, as I now have the Tetris Challenge up on the wall. Helps me to figure out what the next pieces are... and I was cutting those while the pictures loaded.

This is the next wall with a door to the "Way Back" room, the cutting table (now covered in fabric and projects to be... the cork board leans on the table.

Left side is the cutting table and cork board again... next to that is the entertainment center that our son and girlfriend didn't want any more and it works out as shelving for this mess.

This is the window - facing west and trying to be cooled and shaded by 2 tangerines outside. Plants are on top of the shelving unit we got from a friend who used our garage for a while to make snowboards. (Most of the furniture in the room is rummage sale stuff.)

This is to the right of the window. Poster of a centennial quilt made by a guild in Carson City, NV. We just happened to find the quilt show there on the way home from Tahoe - a dozen years ago.
Book case above the sewing room (shows here on the right of the picture) is actually the window of the room that was cut in two - before we owned the house - to make a room and hallway to this sewing room and the afore mentioned "Way Back" room. Rather than cover it all over they used the sills to support the bookcase.

Here's the rest of the room at eye level. The bookcase ends at the doorway - which has no door, but you are looking out into my hallway of grandkid art, and the top of the very important $4 fan - more rummage sale. I've had it for a dozen years - works fine!

On the sewing machine right now is the I Spy. I'm sewing around the individual squares... UGH!
Now to the left of the sewing machine - which is in a cabinet and the lid is open all the time and it rests on a rummage sale table. The table also includes my boom box and tapes, CDs and the pink is pulled for the next palm which will be light pink and hot pink for the veins. The Cadbury box houses small sewing tools, the mister is for ironing and misting the plants to the left - shown later.
My crippled ironing board is set on boxes at the back and sticks out just under the sewing machine cabinet.... perfect to press a seam... no getting up, just twist in your chair. Saves loads of time.


Below the plants is the pink bin... the smallest one... full to the brim.

and below that is the collection of big enough pieces for most of a backing. See the roll of purple with peppers on it? That was to be the backing for a certain wedding quilt. The two didn't like the quilt on the wall, so it went to Sarah Craig's church group. I hated having it around. (You see I am Wiccan.)

Below - next to the pink

Below - my small purple collection.... (Did I mention these are candid shots. Nothing was upset by cleaning.  This is the raw truth, people... the true confession.)

Under more of the plants - working left...


Further left and on the TV stand...

In the space that held a TV... I Spy in a box, the Seasonal Fabrics are mostly Halloween and the Multicoloreds are fabrics I can't figure out where else to put. It's usually much more full, but right now I have a "tray" ( a box lid from Costco) full that I pulled for an unusual snowball quilt I'm hoping to get to make... soon.

Red and blue bins are both 78 Qt. plastic - actually the red one is bigger... but who is counting. When I pull fabrics it takes a while to get to see all the different pieces - I always go by color and value, and you know I'm usually paper piecing, so that's more important to the projects.



In another opening in the TV chest is my library of quilting books, and some felt.



This is the mess that has accumulated on the yellow and orange bin. It's some pinks that have been cut already for the palm fronds, the lid of pulled fabrics for the snowball adventure, my grandma's quilt that needs repair, and here on the left a new batting is bidding for attention. They hide out under the cutting table.

This is the mess on the cutting table. Tossed fabric that has been cut for the Tetris Challenge, and under that is the "tray" of fabrics I keep separate for Harry Potter paper piecing - an ongoing project.
I just love making them, and when I'm blue they help me feel better.
This is a "birthday and Mother's Day" gift from my Darling Daughter. She thought these pieces looked like Bird (making) fabrics... see below.
I'm pretty sure I haven't shown them before.


Above the TV section of the TV storage unit is a "tray" of  special fabrics saved for Scot's quilt. I have some biiiiiiiig plans for that one, and that is why it isn't made yet. I'm a bit intimidated by my own plans. I'm quite afraid of failure, so I put it off.  Does that ever happen to you?
On the design wall is the green bin...also a 78 Qt. full and open with a project tray with the palm leaves. See the calendar next to it? It got taken off the wall by the quilt being quilted... what a naughty boy!
In front of the door a cart of quilt mags and assorted stuff.  I have alot of asst. stuff.

Under the cutting table - more magazines. These are only the ones that are marked for projects I'd like to make someday. The other collection of quilt magazines is in the way back room....
In front of the window, my orchids. (Notice that is pronounced or kids.) There is also a white Christmas cactus on the right.
A Crown of Thorns and an Easter Cactus behind it... It's blooming out of season - see the red on the bottom right. They like alot of water, and will bloom all year if you keep them supplied.

Here's a pile of UFOs on top of the entertainment center.... and a bunch of projects to do. I'll show them to you some time.
 Above shows the mess by the sewing basket. The Nilla box is for recycling, the bag is for snippets big enough for 2 seams, there is a yellow bag that rigs up to the front of the machine for tiny snippets, and the waste basket. Beyond is a bedside table (we got for free from a neighbor) that holds quilting thread in a drawer, and all kinds of iron on stuff in the bottom drawer... I've never tried that.  The top is storing scissors, etc.
Lastly here is the box of fabrics saved back for HP paper piecing.  Fabric that looks magical to me.
See there is a cutting mat under there!

Anyway, that's my room - you've seen it before, but it is messier now, I think.
I know where everything is - so it is organized. Isn't that more important than pretty?

I am going to link up to the Moda Bake Shop stash link party - they are having a show off your stash event. Sheila said I should, so I'm gonna.

Hugs to you all!!!!
Terri

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Weeeeee 're Back

Hello from home again,
Sight seeing, eating out, walking alot - but not as much as desired, shopped for fabric at two new (to me) stores, napped cause I didn't bring a book or any sewing or anything to draw on.  We went because it was our anniversary last week, and because Harvey's in South Lake Tahoe gave us a free room for two days during the work week.

Here are the pics:

This little store is jam packed with fabric I love... I could have sold my house and purchased it all! If you go to South Lake Tahoe, look up this store. (Below is the markee on the Hwy 50 that tells what is in this little mall. ) I'm not affiliated or getting anything for advertising this store. I just want her to stay in business until I can buy again.

Tahoe Keys Center (see Quilting Tahoe listed?) the address is
2264 Lake Tahoe Blvd, #7
South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150
Penny Burroughs
Phone number (530) 544-9797 or toll free (800) 476-9065


Above and below a few pics from our room showing the mountains around.... 7000+ ft above sea level. The city of South Lake Tahoe is more than a mile high... Ha Ha Denver!

It rained while we were there, but that felt great to us. It was cooler by 40 degrees F than at our house, and the humidity felt great. (We've been having over 100 degree days for a week so this was Heavenly - read on for the pun.)

 That patch of no trees on the mt. at the left is Heavenly Ski Area. We went up in the gondola once years ago for an anniversary. I was scared stiff.


Fabric from Quilt Tahoe.  See what I mean? There really wasn't a bolt in that store that I didn't want to possess... well maybe a couple. I really did use alot of restraint to keep my purchase to this little batch.
This I bought at the other store in So. Lake Tahoe, but I was less impressed with that store. More of the newer kinds of fabric, and clothing types all seemed to be mish mashed into the same areas. I do like the two here... blue turned out quite close to the coloring of the fabric, but the red is a bit darker than reality. 
One day we went to Carson City, Nevada. I knew he wanted to take me to another fabric store, but I told him NO... (What a good wife!  We just can't afford all that.)  So we stopped for gas, and the man I married came to life, (It hasn't happened in a long time... gave me a twinge... you know the kind.) and helped an old man from Oregon. Oregon law requires a station attendant to pump your gas, and the old man was totally bewildered with our ways here in the "pump your own" states. My Hobby went over and helped the old man, who thought he was the attendant.

All in all a nice anniversary trip. We drove around the lake - didn't take any pictures though. We've been there a bunch of times.  You will have to go, shop, and see for yourself.

Hugs to you all,
Terri

Monday, August 13, 2012

We're off...

but you knew that!
We're going to South Lake Tahoe for a few days of a different view, and for our anniversary last week. Plants all watered, windows and doors all locked. But I wanted to show you the lovely jelly roll I got as winnings in the Tetris Challenge - see the side bar for a link. It arrived on Saturday. It's by Moda.


There are three or four of each strip. I think I'll cut some in half the long wise and make some dolly quilts in the jelly roll race style.
Right now on the sewing machine I've got the I Spy being quilted. New grandson due in 10 days. How you holding up Sarah?

See you when we get back.   Hugs,
                                                       Terri

Friday, August 10, 2012

A Gift from the Houseelf Herself

Hi Friends,

Melanie was celebrating her 100th post a while ago, and sent all her followers a gift... no signing up - you already were. Such a generous lady!   Here's what I got, besides hours of entertainment from her blog.


The candies have all been devoured, the licorice tea drunk, the lavender pouch is beside my bed... supposed to be calming... I did sleep well. The tissues with the designer cover will go in my purse. The cloth is being used as a breakfast table runner. It's a cheery piece. Thank you so much Melanie.


It looks good on the table. That's a new plant I bought cause it'll be something new for the trick or treaters. I'll make a bunch of littler plants off of it.

It's our 44th wedding anniversary today. WOW! I never thought forever would be so long!

Hugs,
Terri

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Tetris block and purple palms

Week 4 of the Tetris Quilt Along... I won a jelly roll last week!
I have two squares to add into the next block - green and purple, and two spaces on the right that I can maybe fill next week with a piece that will fit in that canyon. Wish me luck...

I'm linking up to the Tetris headquarters at Happy Quilting. You can see the Christmas jelly roll there if you're curious.

Here are the two purples... very rich and regal, I love they way they turned out. Below, they are pictured with their cousins.

I kind of like them next to their fraternal twin.

As you can see I have done no work on the I Spy... Gotta get to that tomorrow.

Hugs
Terri

Monday, August 6, 2012

Weekend Work

I promised you red... I have a lot of "jewel tones" and not a lot of tints.  I do like how these came out.


I'm using mostly "crumbs"  or leftover strips. I'm surprised how much of that there is in my stash.

This time I pinned them to the design wall which is now holding the backing of the I Spy and the batting is hanging out the wrinkles for a few days. Makes a nice muted background for photos, don't you think so?

Did I show you both of the greens?  Well, if I didn't - here they are. Quite Christmassy. I tried for different prints in different places and each has a different stem color. Still no plan for a quilt, but I started the purples last night before "Longmire".  Love that show.

Wait til you see the purples...

So today, probably right now, Chrissy is undergoing the next procedure. Please, keep happy thoughts for her. Pray your hardest and best.

Hugs,
Terri

Saturday, August 4, 2012

Chrissy needs your prayers again!!!!

No pictures this time... just a plea for more prayers. It's not good. She's been going to chemo all this time, and still the cancer is growing all over her liver... metastasized from her breasts. My poor baby...  I hate to bother you with this... I know we all want to be happy and worry free here in blogland, but I need your help. This time the treatment is injecting chemo beads into her liver. It is done in the hospital, it's very strong poison, so because of that some stay over for weeks because they can't stop throwing up. Pray your hardest and best prayers, please.

(For you new followers who don't know about my youngest and only daughter... She is not 40 yet and has had chemo, a double mastectomy, radiation, half of her liver removed, and now more and heavier chemo (and a shot that is very painful every few weeks to try to keep her immune system up so she can have more chemo) and still the cancer is advancing. She is a married lady, has 4 kids ages 18 to 10, loves to help others, but can't anymore.  She used to volunteer at the Food Bank, at the schools, and at the local nursing home. She is loved in her family and community.  I mean she is a keeper! Please pray for my Chrissy.)

Hugs,
Terri

Tetris blocks, new palm blocks


Latest Tetris block is the top 6 rows here. I've sewn the 3 blocks together. I'm now ready for the rest of the 3 blocks. Game On!




I made a new palm block - greener blues. Do you think they are blue? Trouble with the blues, at my house, is that they look blue, until you look at them next to the bluer blues... see below>
so I'm counting the one on the right as a turquoise/aqua block for the rainbow challenge, until I can make the rail fence one.

 And I made a GREEN palm, too. It is definitely green... no way to think it is any other color. I like that!


Next up... RED - my fav color!  (Sorry all these pics are so tipped, but I had to take the pics on the hall wall - the design wall is taken over to baste the I Spy for the 2B Grandson... coming soon!

Hugs,
Terri