Learning curve

Some days the learning curve is steeper than others.  Today I learned not to leave random paper napkins laying about on my sewing tables.  

 At least it's pretty easy to rip out.

The bag back is done.  Lots of fun and some frustration.  Mostly with the linty thread.  Time to experiment with other threads!  Not bad for a first try though.  I think I've finally conquered pebbles.  Feathers I have no problem with, or paisley.  Bear claws not so much.  Also the flowers.  I have to study the books more.  This is also helping me get a better idea of scale and how designs can work together....or not.

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard are regular visitors now.  They waddle up the yard when they see the car pull in, hoping for a handout of cracked corn, which The Viking is very keen to provide.  This evening The Tramp and I were outside replacing a windshield wiper on my car, and when we turned around we found we had not only ducks, but a rabbit too.  All very nonchalant about our presence and the dogs barking behind the front door.  The four adult geese and three goslings are always very much present as well these days.  Our own little wild kingdom.  Heh.

Wild Quilting

Back to typing with my ergonomic keyboard today.  Yay!  The poor Tramp unplugged, replugged, restarted, rebooted, removed and replaced batteries all multiple times and somehow when it was all done it worked.  Phew.

Today I got a start on quilting a couple of tote bags.  One is for a guild swap and the practice one is for me.  I had a bee in my bonnet that I wanted to quilt on denim.  To that end I got out some of my quilting books, browsed my Pinterest quilting design photos and the ones on my computer, and fired up and watched a Craftsy class again.  Wild Quilting with Christina Cameli.  I need lots of practice to compete with her.  Wow.

Yesterday I cut and interfaced denim and linings.  Today I rewatched some of the Craftsy class and then I put on my big girl panties and started quilting.  ;-)  That first stitch is always the hardest.  Sigh.

All the front pieces for the practice tote are done.  And now I'm planning on a good night's sleep before I move on to the larger back piece.  :-)

Hi!  Here I am.

Oh good grief!  I finally get around to this and my keyboard quits.  Sigh.

Ok.  I'm back.  Struggling with a non ergonomic keyboard.  Technology has not been my friend lately.  The phone had to be replaced (thank you Apple Care!), the new headphones died too, then the mouse, and now the keyboard.  Sheesh.  Mercury Retrograde is over!  We won't mention the other things currently wrong with my computer.  Send The Tramp a sympathy card.

Ok.  What's been happening.  Sewing has been good.  That kind of tech has been working....thank goodness.  I had a deadline to finish my round robin quilt before the North Carolina Quilt Symposium last week.  I decided I "needed" a suspension system for managing the bulk of my quilts while quilting. Some PVC pipe, bungee cords, clamps and a handy hubby made it happen.....not that either of us really knew "how" to make one.

How high to make it was the first question.  Why the height of the handy shelf of course.  :-)  I've since bought more components to add to it, which is one of tomorrow's projects.

It turned out to be quite a marathon, but I did get the quilting finished, and blocked, bound and labeled the quilt just in time for the entry deadline.  Oh, and got additional labels and hanging sleeves on the three other entries as well.

And it made it to the quilt show.

Here are the four of us Quilting Babes with our round robin quilts.

I made the second border (the Carolina lilies) on Dawn's quilt.  I love how she wore a shirt to match her quilt.  lol

I also entered my Chain Reaction quilt.

And it was so nice to see En Provence hung!  It's too big to get a decent photo at home.

 I did get an honorable mention for the Random Roses table runner.

I made the blue and green ribbon border on Anne's quilt.  Her quilting was wonderful and she got a ribbon. :-)

I added the colorful outer border to Kathie's quilt.  Just as colorful as she is.  :-)  It was a fun challenge.  We have a new challenge planned for next year.  Stay tuned.

I took a Foundation-less New York Beauty quilt class with Jane Godshall.  Now I understand the technique I can't wait to make some more blocks.

I had a class with Vickie Clontz making wool bead earrings.  So much fun!

They matched my apron!

I also had a fun class with Laura Wasilowski making embroidered landscapes, but I have nothing to show yet.

The challenge for this week was getting this quilt top together so Mom can applique the stars on the border.  It's in her hands for now.  This is the third "eagle quilt."  You can see quilt number one in the photo above hanging on my fireplace.  Quilt number two was donated.

I'm still having fun with the boy.  On this day I had bought a balsa wood glider for him.  We discussed the concept of gliders vs powered airplanes in the car on the way home.  At home I dragged a chair over so he could examine the spectacular photo on our dining room wall of one of The Tramp's friends piloting a glider in New Zealand.  With glider in hand, The Viking examined it very closely trying to see the face of the pilot.  A sweet moment.  :-)