A Comfy Guest Bed

When thinking about our guest room in the LV house, I found this suggestion on the web and thought it might have some merit since most of my friends are quilters? Not sure about the rest of the folks who might visit...maybe they'll have to stay at the Holiday Inn Guest Room or the Santa Fe Inn Guest Room rather than the Casa Levi Guest Room.

Why buy a whole piece of furniture for an occasional use? Just stack your fabric stash to create a guest bed when company comes to visit. If you have a guest who likes a firmer mattress, slap your rotary cutting mat on top. If they like a softer mattress, top it with some batting. It saves raw materials, and you don’t need an extra room to store the bed even when it’s not in use.

Thread, Thread and More Thread

Not only does the pot quilt require lots of different fabrics, it also needs LOTS of colors of thread for the stitching. I went to Joann's on Wednesday and got several spools of thread and am now starting to pull spools from my thread stash. I'm sure I'll have to go back to get more....and after this, may never have to buy thread again. Yeah, right! Anyway, got the first block stitched...the Zuni Black on White block. It only required satin stitching and three colors of thread (gray, white and black) so it was a good one to start with. Finally got the Bernina to play nice and got my settings worked out for the satin stitching. It looks good and I am admitting that all the points are not perfect!!

I talked with Betty Standiferd at Southwest Decoratives about quilting my project. She is the designer of the pattern and the long-arm expert at SWD so I figured she'd be the most logical one to do it. She quoted me a really fair price and also gave me some tips on the stitching and the sashing. We had a nice, long talk and I feel like I can actually finish this thing. She also told me she was designing 8 more pottery blocks...can't wait to see those... Also the designs have been digitized by another person and Betty can stitch them onto fabric that I could make pillows from. Like putting them on Ultrasuede and making pillows for a bench or couch in the great room. What a cool idea.

Why doesn't anyone ever have thread sales?

Done!! with the 1st Step

Yahooooooooooooo............... I finished all the blocks. The last one nearly drove me to cracking open a bottle of something! But I muddled thru and got 'er done! Now to start the stitching on each one. Satin stitching around most of the designs with some decorative stuff added in also. But that means another trip to the fabric store for some stabilizer to use when I stitch the outer edges of the pots.

They really do look great and i think the hardest part is done. Still don't really want to face the sashing/border blocks but like Scarlett "I'll think about that tomorrow" or the day after I finish the stitching.

Saturday Night Excitement

NOT! We must be getting old...went out for supper tonight at Charlestown with all the other old folks in town.... :) and ready for sleep at 9:00 although I did sit up and watch Miss America..even though Gene told me ahead of time who won! But it was still fun to watch - I remember sitting up and watching it with my mom back in "the day".. some of the talent was pretty interesting back then...trampoline, baton twirling, etc..and the gowns...oh my... like debutantes and virgins! Tee Hee... and definitely no bikinis.

Got one more block done today so there is one more to go. I started working on it but the fabric choices are not feeling right and I need to re-visit the tracings of the patterns. this one has got tiny little pieces and lots of colors - butterflies...and the cutest little green frog...of course I have the perfect fabric for that one. My eyes got too tired and I left it all for tomorrow. Am really looking forward to getting this last one done and then starting the stitching....

Got bad news last night that my sister in law, Carol, had a mastectomy and has to have chemo and radiation. Damn!!! I haven't talked with her, just with David. Will call her tomorrow .. unbelieveable... this means we won't be going down to visit them until later... she won't be having much company..I just want her to get well. Will be asking all my prayer warrior friends to put her on their lists. Both her and David as he tries to be a good nurse! He did say she's a lousy patient...they have an excellent cancer center in Mobile so she's in good hands. God will bless her, I know!!

Off to bed now so I can get up on time to get to church for choir warmup at 8:25. It's cold out and some flurries but here it just seems to be raining.. at least the burn ban has been lifted with this change in weather..

LMS

And blocks to go before I sleep....

Moving the slide show of blocks up to this post to keep it at the top of the blog... so glad I decided to document it.

Making good progress on the blocks but am getting really tired of the messy sewing room. But why clean when I am still cutting and pasting etc fabric and Steam a Seam and making a general mess out of my space!! I have a pretty good process down now, however, so hoping to get all the blocks appliqued by the end of the weekend. Been aiming for one a day.... the hardest ones are all at the end.... then I get to clean up the mess and go on to all the stitching on each block.

Still haven't decided what to do for the sashing... not terribly fond of the one that is in the pattern...especially since it has 130 little blocks to make AARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! Have to figure out something different me thinks.

The inaguration is over.... what a day! Can't imagine how tired they all must be... and what is must be like to live in the White House for the two little girls.

More Blocks....

Today is sunny and beautiful here in Seattle. I was determined to do at least one more block although I'm tired and just feel like doing nothing! Oh the life of a "sort of retired" person. Ha!! I have finished 4 blocks now and started the 5th one but am stymied since the picture of the block is not really clear and the directions give me colors that don't appear in the picture. I think it's because so many of the dark colors look black... so it's time to stop for the day and get a fresh start in the daylight tomorrow. Iv'e got #1, #4, #7 and #8 done (counting from left to right on row 1 and then going to row 2) and am starting on #3. The bird looks black but supposedly the body is "green mesh"...whatever that means...

Have to admit that I'm hooked on all the inagural coverage on tv... what a time to be alive. Just realized today that this really is an historic event... I mean, I know it's historic but really thought about it today and came to the realization that we all we've had are white guys for presidents...different backgrounds in life but still all white guys. And here we are with a man who is making us realize that there are many colors in this country and around the world and I just thought it must be great for those who aren't white to see this... hard to explain but he really does reach so many people on so many levels. I'm thrilled... felt that he would be President some day after his speech back in 2004 at the convention... I remember saying that to Gene. Just didn't think it would be this soon. What a heavy burden he is inheriting and certainly needs our prayers and good wishes. God Speed Mr President.

Bountiful Blessings (aka The Pot Quilt) Slideshow Started

Started a slideshow for the pot quilt and hope that as I add pictures to it it will update on this site. Have half of one pot done...need to cut out the rest of the designs for this one today and then start the next... not sure yet if I will do the stitching on each block as I get it done or wait and do them all at once. Probably best to do them as I get done... we'll see....the WIP.

Adobe Angels Video and other stuff

We now have our computer updated with Office 2007, lots of memory, new video card, new dual core processor, etc etc so it's fast and plays well with others!! And a new laptop so we both can be on the net at the same time. Now we still need to get the wireless set up and a couple of little things fixed but the balky old system has been given a transfusion!!

So I reinstalled Photoshop and made a slideshow of the Adobe Angels pictures...hopefully I can embed it in this post.




Started working on the pot quilt...one block half done but I do have all the block backgrounds done.. it's going to be an "interesting" process.... I may have more gray hair at the end of it... Had to make a run to the quilt shop this afternoon for some fabric...how can I not have the right color of brown????? But nothing I had really worked for the pot design so Levi and I went for a ride and I found the perfect brown plus a couple of others that will be great for the turtle block and one other that needed a dark peachy color. And then we went down to Alki and took a walk. It was quiet down there..some folks walking and a few kayaking but the best part was the sea lions that were out in the bay "talking" - could hear them as if they were right by the shore. It was magical to hear them.

Rain and Renters

OK - it's raining again.... better than snow? I'm not sure. But I wish it would stop for a few days.

Our potential renters have decided not to move to LV. Evidently he couldnt' handle the altitude so she turned down the job. What a bummer. But we made a little progress anyway...got all the locks keyed the same today and the electrician is going to fix the vent/fan in the back bathroom and Marylena has someone coming to hang the blinds in the bedroom windows. So those are good things. She's tracking down a couple of other leads on possible renters. We'll see. Like Scarlett O'Hara - I'll think about it tomorrow.

Yet Another Applique Quilt

I think I need drugs!! Why? I started another quilt and this one is hand applique... aacckkkkk. Not sure why I am doing this but figured I needed something to take with me when I go...wherever. So I started this folk art quilt which I think I posted about before. Anyway, I've got the black blocks cut out and the first block started...I'm starting with #11 (middle of bottom row) as the pieces are fairly big so I can get used to this handwork again.

Today I sent the rental agreement off to Marylena for our new renters in LV. Will be really glad when they move in and we can rest easy knowing someone is living in the house and watching over it till we move. They wanted it for 6 months so now looks like we'll move early August.

Being very domestic today and making scalloped potatoes and ham for dinner....best go and see if it's done!! Windy and rainy here in Seattle today. I had a good time down at Alki photographing the waves crashing over the bulkheads.... will miss the water but looking forward to more sunshine.

Make a Smilebox greeting

Too Much of a Good Thing is Wonderful

I think Mae West said that... doubt that she was talking about adding crystals to a quilt but why not. Jean W and I played with the Bejeweler today and added about 50 sparkly crystals to the Adobe Angels quilt. It is now done and they are perfect. What fun. I had a 50% off coupon from Michael's so got my Bejeweler for $5.98!! Course the crystals were another expense but this was such a cool idea Jean had. And afterwards we celebrated by taking ourselves to lunch and to Baskin-Robbins for ice cream. Now I have to make the Las Vegas Chick and really make her "sparkle"!!

The quilt before and after bling:

Christmas in Seattle

Yup! We had to cancel our trip to Mobile. NWA cancelled the flight on Monday 22nd and the earliest they could get us out of Seattle was Saturday 27th. Just didn't make sense to book that and hope we could get out... so we cancelled. What a depressing day Monday was. Not only were we bummed, but so were David and Carol. I think I shed more tears that day than the day I got laid off! But the snow keep falling and we kept shoveling and on Tuesday managed to get thru the ice and snow to pick up Levi. Sure hated to cancel his little vacation as it meant the gals that take care of him had to give up some income. But they were very nice about it. So all three of us spent Christmas in Seattle. Went to Steve and Mike's for drinks and hors doeuvres on Christmas Eve and then to Judy and Dick's for dinner on Christmas day. So nice of our friends to rescue our Christmas and us. We will certainly remember what is supposed to be our last Seattle Christmas.

The city has done an absolutely awful job of clearing streets...they refuse to use salt and the plows actually have rubber blades. It was horrid. But now the warm-up has come and all the snow is gone. Yesterday (Saturday) I finally got my car out of our garage and I got to go shopping. Had to get the oil changed and to the fabric store. Today I must go to the grocery store.

Good things about the snow storm...some pretty pictures, a warm house, 4-wheel drive Rodeo, and not being stuck at the airport. It could have been so much worse.

So I've been working on the Adobe Angels wall hanging. Am ready to quilt it and then on Tuesday I'm going to Jean's to add some bling to it and see her quilt that she finished. And then we are taking ourselves out to lunch!!

Also found some great recipe software in my surfing the net and installed that last night. I might finally actually really get all my recipes off 4x6 cards and into the computer. It's called BigOven and is rated the highest of all the recipe software out there. And developed right here in little ole Seattle by an ex-Microsoftie. Am so excited as I was disillusioned with MasterCook. Even got all my recipes that were on MC imported to BigOven files. Now if I could just find some software that would organize my sewing room I'd be in great shape.

So that's all for now..We are feeling better, the sun is shining off and on today, the Vikings won the division and the roads are clear. We spent Christmas with some wonderful people who I am calling "God's Plan B" and are truly blessed. Looking forward to more adventures to come. Proably Mardi Gras in Mobile end of Feb and a week or so with Skip and Sara in Perdido Key.

Still Snowing - Enough Already

OK - it's Sunday night about 9 pm and I am TIRED OF THE SNOW ALREADY!!! All we want to do is get to the airport in the morning and have our flight be on time. With NWA who knows. They canceled the flight this morning that we are going on tomorrow (hope that makes sense)... maybe they didn't have a plane to take out of here. .
We have had - just guessing - about 10 inches of snow.... have shoveled about 8 times...not as windy as they had predicted but we have gotten our love HA HA HA of snow shoveling over with. Bring on the sunshine. Even the window facing east was all frosted over this morning (outside) so we know it was windy and cold.... Gene managed to get both of our cars down the hill thru the snow and around the corners and hills and up the alley into the garage where they will spend the week in comfort and if, by a miracle, the plow ever came up this street, our parking area is clear. Course if a plow did clear this hill it would be a first. Never in 16 years have we had the city plow this hill. But don't get me started on the state of the roads in this city. Sure, they could plow all the streets by the stadium today so the football game could go on, but city streets? HA!

We have a town car coming to pick us up at 10 a.m. for our 12:35 flight...will check in the morning, early, and see what the flight status is. If it's canceled, well, we'll figure out something to get us to the south. Maybe fly to ATL and drive to Mobile? Nope, I'm thinking positive thoughts and some of the prayer warriors are doing their bit too to get us out of here for some sunshine.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

It's Still Winter

Well, it's still winter here in the great Northwest.... no snow yet today but "they" are predicting a big storm - hopefully Seattle will be spared. Supposed to be over by noonish Sunday. I just want us to be able to get to the airport and out of here on Monday.

Levi is at DogECentral now for the holidays. He didn't even look when we left him...having too much fun running around the yard in the snow! I'm so glad we found that place. Costs a bit to keep him there but they provide all the food and lots of love and safety so we're OK with it.

Started another quilt project - the Adobe Angels. Got all the appliques on and now have to stitch them down... it really turned out cute and was fun to pull all the fabrics, except the background, from my stash. Gene loves it and says it surprised him since it doesn't look like anything else I've done. Am trying to widen my horizons!!

Snow is a Four Letter Word

Yes, it is and we are tired of it. Got about 6 inches of snow this morning and now it's turned colder so everything is getting icy. Roads all over the area are in terrible shape...up near the border they got about 25 inches.. schools closed - choir practice canceled for tonight and rescheduled for Friday night. I'm not singing since I've had this lousy cold. Then there is a dress rehearsal with orchestra Saturday morning. I wonder what Scott's "Plan B" is.... we have to take Levi the Magnificent to Dog E Central on Saturday morning as he will stay there while we are on vacation. Hopefully the DOT crews will be able to clear the roads for us! Pictures of the totem pole and snow and my car under the blanket of snow and one from my sewing room window. Got a good start on the Adobe Angels quilt today.. working on the appliques.. I feel like I'm falling behind on my schedule to get ready to go south but oh well, if I don't have it I can buy it there. !!

Quilt Update!!

This picture is of McKenna and her quilt. Isn't she a cutie? And from all reports she loves her quilt and sleeps with it every night. So nice to get the quilt and the recipient in one picture.

Drugs, Fabric and Snow Update

So today the Seattle schools are closed - huh????? Yup, no snow and no ice...sun breaks, a little wind... but they closed the schools because we "might" get some snow. Folks are peeved.... it's the strangest place to live.... put some chains on the buses, ice/salt on the parking lots and get the kiddies to school. OK - there is snow up north and south of the city but nothing here.... what a pain for folks who have to find day care for their kids while they go to work, or else have to take a day off from work to care for them. Weather forecast - we should get some snow tonight...

I don't really care because I got my car back, it purrs like a kitten and all is well. I've gone to get my drugs from the doctor for my cold, stopped at the quilt shop (of course it was on the way home from the doctor's office - in a round-about way - Seattle - Ballard - West Seattle) and got fabric for the backgrounds for a quilt and a wall hanging and am now home. One is a folk art applique that will have a black background and then I will use batiks for the appliques I think - the other has a dark blue background and who knows what the applique will be... why am I doing applique? I have no idea.... cabin fever maybe!!


Gene dropped me off at Elliott Tire to get my car and then went to Southcenter Mall to do some shopping for new slacks. His are all too big. Dang guy has lost like 30 lbs or so - I will do better, I will do better. Then he's going to the "Y" so I may run out again and get some groceries....can't be getting stuck inside the house without food in case of snow ! HA!

Levi is waiting to go for a walk but it's too windy and cold to do that... well, maybe I'll go for a short walk with my throat all wrapped up in the new scarf Gene brought me from Ireland... Yeah, that'll work...

Musings on a Cold Day

Tuesday - still cold but not as bad and the sun was out for the second day in a row! Hoooooray. Our hill is clear but the turn at the bottom still has some ice. I know that because after calling AAA to come and start my car (dead battery) I drove off to charge it. However, the "check engine" light was on so I just drove over to Elliott Tire and asked them to fix the dang thing. I turned off the car there and then tried to restart it and of course ended up leaving it there with them to fix. They just called and I need a new battery - why don't they last longer than 5 years!! and also a new belt that drives all that stuff....the old one has some cracks in it. Hey, it's only money. So $200 later, or about that, I'll have my car back at 6:00 tonight. Guess it could have been worse. They were very nice and helpful and Gene came to pick me up and pulled out a business card with a free oil/lube change on it they had given him awhile back. We always used to take our cars there and then they changed management and the new guys were gouging everyone. When Gene had to pay an exorbitant amount of money to get his car fixed there, he complained and of course they couldn't do much about it (this is the new management) but he did have this free oil/lube so they'll do that also. I just love cars! But it all turned out ok and I will get to my hair appointment on time!! Priorities!!

Was going to go down to the water and take some pictures afterwards but it's too late so if the sun comes out tomorrow I'm going to head down there and see what I can find.

Still cleaning the sewing room... pulled out all the fabric for the pot quilt and all the batiks I have... lots of nice batiks waiting to be used. Maybe tomorrow I'll head to The Quilting Loft in Ballard and get the background fabric for the folk art quilt so I can get some appliques ready to take to Alabama with me. Or not.......


Enough musings... haven't accomplished a lot......feeling a whole lot better.........dropped out of choir for the Christmas season.......should start thinking about clothes to take......etc

Winter Cold(s)

Yes, winter colds....the temperature kind outside and the coughing kind inside. I have been suffering with this cold for about 3 days and am feeling better but really need to get it under control before we head to Mobile. My brother has leukemia (in remission) and I don't want to take any germs down there. Pretty sure I'll be fine as the drugs seem to be working. But we have our big choir Music through Worship on Sunday 21st and I am thinking that if I don't feel good enough by Thursday morning this week, I will call Scott and tell him I'm not going to sing. We have rehearsal Thursday night and then Saturday (dress with orchestra) and two full services on Sunday which, if I'm not in great shape, will probably just tire me out and bring the cough back. So I'll get extra sleep and take my meds and hope all works out. Right now I don't hold out much hope.

And the outside cold? Yeah, snow in Seattle and cold temps. Icy hills and road and about 2-3 inches of snow. It's really pretty but treacherous. Did we go anywhere today? Not I....Gene went to the "Y" but that's about it. Supposed to be this way all week.

So the kids have all rec'd their quilts and loved them. Waiting for Carey to post some pics on her blog of the twins. I cleaned off the big table downstairs and moved all my stuff back up to the sewing room and now have to figure out what is next. Some sort of applique quilt perhaps?

Yes, the "pot" quilt for Gene. Machine applique but very involved...Southwest Pots for our house in LV. I got the fabric for the background on the blocks from Southwest Decoratives in Albuquerque where Gene bought the pattern. The appliques will be done in Cherrywood hand-dyed fabrics (awesome) and not sure yet what else. No fabric yet for sashing and borders...that'll come after the blocks are done... why am I doing all this applique!! AACCKKKKK... oh well...at least on this one it's by machine.

OK off to bed now with some more Nyquil. A friend's husband suggested to just take a swig of whiskey and some ibuprofen and forget the Nyquil. I think he may be right.