done with class

Class is over, but of course the project is not. We managed to get two sides of binding sewn to the front of the table runner and one mitred corner, which was the tough part of the final class, but I still want to quilt more of the big blue triangles and then finish the binding. It may end up slightly less than true at the end of the day, but I think I want to quilt more and hey! It's my first project, it's allowed to be less than optimal.

I would go do it now, but I'm sick. Damn co-workers, bringing in some nasty sore throat virus. You suck!

it always happens

Ran out of freakin' thread during quilting. Have to run out tomorrow and purchase more.

My quilt-in-the-ditch skills need improvement. Big time. I'm all over the shop. I thought I'd do better with a clear foot - the guide didn't seem to be helping, but the clear foot sewing was much worse. So I put the guide foot back on. Still all over the place. It screams beginner quilter. Oh well. It's not like I'm going to enter it into competition or something...

Did take a picture of it, but am too lazy to go downstairs and get the camera and load it onto my PC, so we will have to wait for another day.

I managed to pop all but two of my knots, I managed to break the threads off of those ones. One I think I managed an improvised solution, but the other was screwed so I just cut it short and prayed for rain.

More quilting tomorrow night for me then. Still need to finish the last baby gift too. Just need to reconfirm the actual birthday of the little one (how embarrassing would that be, to get it wrong?)

shaping up nicely

The table runner project is indeed shaping up nicely. I like it a lot better now that there is more of the dark (blue) fabric on it - when it was just the light (cream) and medium (green), I was very iffy on the look - not enough contrast, I think. Dana pointed out that it looked better further away, which was definitely true. Most of the seams match up, I didn't float any of my points (yeah!) even though I didn't pay a ton of attention while I was sewing them. A few are slightly cut off, but not so much that you would really notice if you didn't lean down and scrutinize it. Not too bad for a first quilt project at all.

Should really take a picture of the damn thing. :-)

Today's task is to pin the backing, batting and top together and quilt-in-the-ditch and then echo the paw and triangles. Tie off the stitching by 'popping our knots' although that is not what dirty Dr. Dana said in class. ;-) Next week, we bind and finish. And that's the last class. Overall, I give it two thumbs up - learned a lot and had fun doing it. I'll be keeping my eye out for when Dana comes back to guest-teach.

On other sewing fronts, I gave the finished girly baby blankets to my friend who had the twin daughters the other night at Girls' Night Out. Much alcohol was consumed, although not by me - I only had two Shiners, since my stomach was hurting me. It appeared the blankets survived the boozy evening. Must finish my cow-orkers baby gift and give it to him, then the duckie set and then (maybe) start a memory quilt for the Three Day. We shall see. It may be a bit much for a beginner to take on...

Done, and done

The Susan G. Komen DFW Breast Cancer Three Day is done.

I walked a lot of miles. I got a few blisters. I got a little sunburned. I got a killer heat rash on my legs and look like a leper. I did not get a lot of sleep. I did not get transported to the hospital (thankfully). I had to hobble the last three miles in pain from a cramped foot arch. I did have a fun time. I do not want to do this again in June. April yes - June no.

I personally raised $2275.00. My team of 17 raised $59,931.65. The entire walk raised over $4 million.

My team won the Team Spirit Award. Cheri, one of my team members, won Most Spirited Walker and was the top fundraiser for the whole DFW walk with $13,165.00. We met a lot of really neat people along the way. We saw areas of the Metroplex I dare say we'll probably never go back to. We camped in Las Colinas and got rained on. We camped at White Rock Lake and didn't. We laughed. We cried. Sometimes at the same time. We used the Port-a-Potties and the truck showers. We complained a bit. We tried not to. I already miss training with my team, although I won't miss the 5 a.m. alarm on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

And... last night I put the finishing touches on my Bear's Paw, but may redo one seam because the internal seams don't quite line up, and quilting class is cancelled for tonight since the store has lost their A/C and half the lights.

Baby projects are done. I may take pictures. When I recover.

half a Bear's Paw

So the Bear's Paw block got about halfway to completion last night. I steamed ahead of most of the other women because I'm impatient and hate messing around. Thankfully I had the sense to double check before I started the cutting out bit. :-) Not sure my medium and my light fabrics have enough contrast to pop, but it's early days on the table runner.

My buddy Jen had a lot of hassle with her machine, since it was a Janome and not a Pfaff, I couldn't really help her. We also found out that Dana is moving away, which I was very sorry to hear, because she's a neat lady and I like her laid-back instruction. She did say she would be back as a guest instructor from time to time, so I should pay more attention to Judy's calendar in future.

We have a homework assignment for this week - finish the Bear's Paw block and have it ready to go next week, because she wants to teach us quilting and binding and we're already halfway through the class. Don't know when I'll get a chance - either tonight after the Walmart shopping trip my DH and I have planned, or on Monday while I'm nursing my blisters and heat rash.

ready or not, here I come

Quilt class #2 is tonight. Hopefully I won't screw up as bad as I did last week, although I wouldn't be surprised if I do.

Embroidery is done for now. Finished both baby blankets and both bibs on Sunday, so I just need to wash them and give them out. So that would put me at only TWO unfinished projects - the originial duckie set, which no longer has a targeted recipient, and the master closet window sheers that I' m currently screwing up. May have to ditch and buy ones that already have the rod pocket, and just cut them off and hem the bottom edge. Yes, may have to do that.

Quilting report likely for tomorrow, not tonight. If last week is anything to go by, I'll be home by 10 p.m. And I need sleep this week.

another hot Sunday in Texas

There was sewing yesterday, as DH was not back until dinnertime. I managed to embroider two of the pink-and-fleecey baby blankets as gifts for Kimberly and her newborn twin daughters. Later this evening will be bibs for my cow-orker's new baby, Seth, starting as soon as I finish mucking about on the computer. I may even finish up the baby blanket, mitt, bib and booties set that I started, although I don't really have anyone to give them to at the moment. It's a bit late for the other baby on my gift list, given she's already about six weeks old, I assume her parents already have these things for her. :-) Perhaps a set of soft blocks - those buy me a little time.

Watched the Rangers game - they won again today, thanks to Kenny Rogers. Now fingers crossed that Kate's Sox win too, and they'll be answering the phone in Arlington, "Home of the first place Texas Rangers." Now we just need them to be able to say that in September, and we'll be good to go.

It's 93 degrees here. I'm very worried about roasting during the Three Day. It was overcast and muggy for the Komen yesterday, which was nice, but I still wound up with that weird heat rash on my legs. Ugh. Last time I did the Three Day, I looked like a leper for a few days afterward. Big red splotches all over my legs, but they didn't hurt or itch, weren't raised and I felt fine. Odd.

delivery

Took advantage of the 10,000 emails I get from Nancy's Notions and ordered a bunch of blanks for embroidery. Fleecey baby blankets and some cotton bibs. Now I just need witty sayings to put on them and I'll be good to go. HA. Anyway, UPS was kind enough to deliver most of my order today, but the one item I was really interested in was, of course, backordered.

Since DH has gone to Athens, TX for scuba diving instruction and Divemaster certification testing, I'm on my own for tonight and tomorrow. There may yet be some sewing.

sleeves

Since I ventured into the sewing room tonight, I figured I'd write about it too. I grabbed a seam ripper and tore the sleeves off of my team T-shirt for the Three Day. Need ventilation. May die otherwise.

Glad to see I'm not the only one with a recent sewing mishap. Nice elephant pants, Kate. :-)

Quilt Class, Take 1

So let's count how many times Penny can screw up cutting her pieces for the Bear's Paw quilt block then? First I cut the wrong color. Then I cut the wrong size. Then I cut into the fabric, totally screwing it up for the next block. Ugh! If you learn from your mistakes, I must be a genius after that first class.

Class looks to be good - a few ringers in there (no surprise) and one Annoying Lady (there's always one) and it's larger than I first thought (9 rather than 6) but Dana is quite the character and I suspect I will enjoy learning from her. Her art quilts are breathtaking.

I may have to cheat and do a practice Bear's Paw this week... yeah, right. Who am I kidding? I'll never motivate. Besides, I just stocked up on all those lovely new books that are calling my name now.

And Heather? AFLAC!