What I Have Collecting Dust in Basement

I need to get back to machine embroidery.  These came to our home in 2005 after I closed the store front.  I did alot in the past...like 2000 till 2011.  Then life took a twist.  I had a dear nephew pass, my Mom went into assisted living, hospital, Hospice till 2013 when she went to her heavenly home..  In meantime my father in law had declining health and I was taken with his health issues, he passed in 2012.  I than was taken with a house my Mom had and my twin sister did everything to get it ready for sale, 2013 February till September.  In 2013, August, I had a hip replacement.  November 2014, my mother in law passed.  OK. 2014 will be better.  2014 was sad year, I loss my twin sister in May and I had a Knee replacement in June.  So there the machine sat along with another machine like it...yes, two of these monsters.

Lord, I pray I get back to enjoying them again.  Just a little.  I did lots with them before, but I know I can't at the scale and rate before, physically I just can not bend or stand like I did in the past.

Days are flying by to fast 

Yes, today is the 23rd of December.  I let the 19th, 20th, 21 and 22nd go by without posting.  I just have been in a funk.  This is the first Christmas without my twin sister.  I have been doing so, so;  but all of sudden I could not sleep, get to sleep or rest.  Just constantly running, not able to settle down.  Yes, I have done a few quilting things but mostly cleaning and organizing.  I a getting to old to be disorganized.  I am getting my act together slowly and my husband loves it!  I get dinner on time, take the dog for walks often, cuddle the kitties and enjoy a simple life.  I avoid the shopping malls and stores as much as possible.  I just can not face them this year.  I do love shopping and being with people but this year I am kicking back and just enjoying church, the people and Christmas Music.  I just want to cook, have my husband happy and enjoy the time.  Last Christmas, was my first Christmas without my Mom.  I thought it was a very hard time, but little did I know this Christmas is so much more a hard Holiday season.   I know I am not alone, my thoughts and prayers go to those who have lost love ones.  Life goes on, it stops for no one but it so hard to go on.

Thursday is coming to a close.  It is 11:04 and still so much to do.

I had fun today with so many talented ladies from the local quilt guild.  I will give more details later.

Do you wash your fabric before quilting?  I do, especially reds and blacks.

See the photos with Ivory liquid dish soap, but I use for fine washables and my quilt fabric.  I wash by hand in warm water....let it soak a bit swish and rinse with cold water.  OK.  Look at the photos.  Amazing how these fat quarters bleed....sad if it happened with a beautiful pieced and quilted quilt.

I can not believe it is Thursday already.

I have been cleaning, no knitting nor quilting.  I need to do more.  First things first.

Today I am driving North to my favorite quilt shop Quilted Memories.  I better get going
cause this morning has been no fun.  Yes, it is all that paper work you have to keep up with
in the day to day life things.  OK.  Now a break.

I will check back and give you the fun I had.  Enjoy this Thursday.  Today is a special day, it is your day, enjoy! Hugs

Monday, Monday
I did not let you know that I did make a purchase at the quilt shop.  I purchased two fat quarters.  What are fat quarters?

Definition:  A fat quarter is a one-fourth yard cut of fabric that usually measures 18" x 22" instead of the typical 9" x 42" quarter-yard cut.

I know, only two fat quarters is not much but I needed to get back on the road, so I will come back!  I am using these for the Mystery Quilt Grand Illusion by Bonnie Hunter aka Quiltville.  Please see the right side bar to go see this amazing mystery quilt in progress.

Saturday Fun

Was able to get out and about today, went to Ann Arbor.  I went to one quilt shop in Lake Odessa.  I love this town.  True downtown.  Next to quilt shop was a bakery.  Heaven.  I did not go to the bakery since I don't need any goodies right now after Thanksgiving and a Holiday party last week.  I did go to the quilt shop  We arrived at 2:45pm, the shop closed at 3:00pm.  The shop was in a very old building with wood floors, beautiful displays.  I was in and out in a hurry, we were picking up a special lady at UofM, who is a freshman this year.  I had my nephew as a travel companion, I could not have made the trip without him.

Lake Odessa Quilt Shop

Friends Quilting Basket

1001 Fourth Ave., Suite 2

Lake Odessa, MI 48849

Friends Quilting Basket

I was in and out in a flash, purchased two fat quarters.  I could have spend much time here, but we were on a mission to to UofM and get back home.  As I turned around the corner to get back on the road, this is what I saw.

Very large and truly Wow!  This is a true farming community.  I am coming back to spend time and enjoy!

To Bed Early, totally tired

Now working on four hours of sleep.  It is only 8pm but this lady is headed for bed.  I am totally exhausted.  Much cleaning today.

What about the table runner?  I need to quilt and put binding on.  I may have to wait, I will be out of town.  I hopefully have a driver that will stop at quilt shops and/or knit shops along the way.  If not, no big deal, Lord knows I have everything for quilting/knitting that I could ever need.

Nighty Night.  Get a good nights sleep.

Can not sleep, what do you do?

I have had many things on my mind.  The Quilting and Knitting in my life helps me keep calm and at rest.  Does it for you?  I can not thank God enough for letting me have these interests.  It is 2:00am, can not sleep but I am working on many fun things that makes my head spin and my heart filled with happiness.  I know this a passion many enjoy.  Why?  The world is getting faster, the technology is changing quickly and life is flying by.  We need joy, we need happiness.  

I am working on a table runner right now.  It is from a local quilt shop. Quilted Memories.   Actually it is a 20 mile drive from my house, in the same county but at the opposite end.  Yes, a 40 mile round trip.  When the weather is bad as it is here in Michigan during the winter months I usually do not drive.  The roads are icy, no fun. These last few days it has been different, maybe I will head that way later today..

Table Runner

You will see in the above photo how I had to piece a certain fabric together to complete the project.  The whole project was going along fine until I discovered I cut it wrong.  It was a kit, I know Quilted Memories cuts are good and everything Jill does is excellent.  I was fussy and cut to much off to straighten the fabric to cut into strips, that in turn made things a itzy bitzy short.  Can you see how I pieced the to corners above.  OK, you can not see unless you know.  I know.

I am looking forward to putting on the batting, backing and binding.  I am going to do it today.  Did I say I started this a year ago...yes a year ago.  I was so fed up with the mistake, I put it into a project box and did not want to see it again.  Maybe, now in the light of day, we can enjoy a Christmas Looking table.

Santa aka UPS

Today Santa brought my gift a bunch of plastic and two dies for my Accucut Studio Machine.  I am blessed in having this cause I bought the machine 40% off in October and the dies I have were also 40% off.  I have awful eyes, bad arthuritc hands plus the old hip, knee and back.  I am broken down, but I still like to quilt once in a while, yes, can not do it in long runs but I still can enjoy!

I even have kitty in the photo, she loves boxes.

I now have the 2-1/2 inch strip die, 2 strip inch die, 1-1/2 inch strip die, 6" strip die, a 10" square, plus a

 8-1/2 square dies.   I love applique and have a few but right now I am concentrating on piecing.  I am making more jelly rolls, Layer Cakes and other fun things for the Etsy Shop.

Happy Days.

Yes, amazing, days I go there is nothing. I have not found a machine for months. One had needle in backwards and it is cheap but I got it for $5.00 cause it was sitting there so long. Several no foot pedals but they are foo pedals/controllers you can find. I mainly give to hurch quilting groups and my nieces, all like me on limited income.

All this sewing stuff, are you knitting, yes.  will put up a post on the knitting.  Mainly hats, love knitting Hats.  Hats here in Michigan are so much fun to wear cause you need to keep warm.

Up early, many things to do today. Health issues have slowed me down but I still need to enjoy life! I worked on cleaning yesterday, yes cleaning plus organizing. I finally had a ah ha moment, the more organized you are the more time you have to do what you love. I am loving this new way of life. Simple, in order and just enjoying. Yes, Simple, the world is getting to crazy and it is a sad place, need to have joy in my life after the past few years of losing love ones and major health issues.

 You will not believe last year knee replacement, this year hip replacement on opposite side. I could not knit nor sew, I was in a very dark place. I than was dealing with the loss of my Mom (Januaary 2013) but the hardest loss, my twin sister (May 2014), my dear twin was always a person I could turn too, life seems empty without her. We both loved to sew. I could not go into a fabric or quilt shop without thinking of her.

 I could not knit, she loved that I could knit, she bought me books from thrift stores and gave me them as Christmas presents; the greatest gifts I will treasure.

 OK. I am rambling, today I want to share something fun for quilters. I am working on a mystery quilt, it is called the Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt by Bonnie Hunter. I am a Bonnie Hunter aka Quiltville. If you would like to check out her blog please do so for a special treat. The Mystery quilt can be found there under Grand Illusion Mystery. The mystery is now on clue two. I am still on clue one but this is not a race, you go at your own speed. I started this because the Grand Illusion Mystery is a quilt with inspiration from Mackinaw Island, actually the Grand Hotel located in Michigan on a special Island that I have always dreamed of visiting, I have lived in Michigan all my life, I am in my mid 50's and have never been there. I dream of creating this quilt and visiting the Grand Hotel and having a photo taken on the front steps! Tonight, Bonnie will have Quilt Cam, it is a special time. The Quilt Cam is only done every so often, not set times but about once a week, you can find the times at her blog. I know you may think, this is time consuming, yes, but it is so fun and so much better than just sitting watching television and without nothing to show for your time. These are Aquas, part of the mystery, this is the color at the hotel under the porch outside, the worlds largest porch.

The yellow awning is a constant color in the quilt. Yes, this is fun!!

Busy Weekend of Fun

I have not been out and about in a long time. This weekend was an annual event for Lighthouse Quilters Quilt Guild Winter Blow Out..fun, fun, fun. The best part is not the quilting, it is the people. The ladies all different talents and likes, willing to share and help everyone. It Started Friday and went through Sunday Afternoon. Located on the shores of Lake Michigan in a lovely wooded area surrounded by dunes. We quilted till Midnight, some till 3am in the morning. The photo above is Suzanne, who came from California to quilt with her twin Sister, Betty. The center is Pat, who is a beautiful quilter plus longarm owner who does quilting you would want on your quilt. OK, Far Right is me with a smile and feeling good to be at a happy joyful place. Beautiful Lake Michigan, Grand Haven, Michigan I love the purses we made I will clue you on more later, off to finish table runner and work on Mystery Quilt going on at Quiltville with Bonnie Hunter

Blogging Again

Life happens. I have had so many ups and downs, it would make your head spin. 2011- Lost my Nephew Christopher 2012- Lost My father in law, my special cousin Chuck 2013- Lost my Mom in January, My Mother in law in December 2014- The ultimate life changing event, lost my Twin Sister, Mary in May This is why I knit, this is why I quilt. I love to center myself, be calm, have joy. I am now quilting again and knitting again, pure joy. Pure Happiness.

This is a fiber trends pattern. I love it. It comes in worsted, bulky and super bulky. It is a great warm hat knitted in wool...can not say enough I am also back to quilting, I am doing the MQ mystery quilt with Quiltville aka Bonnie Hunter. I am going slow. Next time I will get a photo up. If interested go to http://www.quiltville.com and you will enjoy quilting bliss.