Quilts & Kitties

Life just gets in the way and next thing you know days pass and you wonder what have you been doing? I had been so busy focusing on work that life was passing me by. I’m taking a little time off to do some fun stuff. I have a couple work projects coming up but before I get swept up into it, I’m going to have some fun.

I just took my first quilt off the long arm frame and it is soooo cute, even if I do say so myself. I just love pink! I got this big print from JoAnns, didn't want to use my good fabric. I just outline quilted the hell out of it. It was so much fun, once I got the machine threaded correctly.

They talk about tension how important it is and it is. Well, I kept sewing and crawling under the machine to look underneath and kept swearing at all those loops. Where did they come from? I kept adjusting the tension and finally it was a tight as it would go and I still had loops. I was really swearing then. I looked at the machine and looked at the diagram and everything looked fine. So I took the thread off the machine to check out the spool and realized that the thread had not gone through the tension disks. I couldn't believe it. I felt like a silly fool! Anyway, once I got it threaded, set the tension correctly, everything was just fine.

Another thing, "they" talk about, is how you need a good extra 4 inches of fabric all the way around for the border. I always thought that a waste of good fabric. Anyway, as I was sewing along one edge or trying to, I realized that the clamps holding the background fabric taut were getting in the way. That's why you need the extra 4 inches....duh!!

I ended up with a bit of distortion on the side where the clamps got in the way and had to pick out those stitches. I just thought, I'll quilt that part and the sides on my regular home machine. I stitched one flower and it took forever and thought, this is too hard. I'll put it back on the long arm and quilt it downstairs. So after I sewed all around the edges and squared up the quilt a bit, I put it back on the long arm and was done in just a few minutes. Since I had sewn around the edges, I didn't need the clamps to hold the backing taut.

So now I am spoiled. I'll never machine quilt anything on my home machine. Looking back, I think about all those quilts that I spent hours quilting on that thing. Never again. I know a lady who has a long arm in her living room and one in her dining room. Now I know why. She said they weren’t using it anyway. Hhhmmm I can’t remember the last time I used my living room.

I'm very happy with the way my little quilt turned out. It will make a nice baby quilt. I'm cheating on the binding. I didn't feel like spending time making bias tape, so I got store bought. Am I bad or what!! I'm just itching to quilt the next quilt. LOL

Here’s a picture of the quilting on the back. It’s not real clear but it looks good for a baby quilt that will get lots of washings. There is no way that thing is coming apart. From an artist’s point of view, I wish I had used pink variegated thread. That would really look cute on the back. Those flowers would really pop. I could use green on the leaves and it would be really stunning.

Well, I can’t have a posting without my kitties. A couple nights ago, I was cleaning this pink container and left it in the bathtub to dry out. What is it about boxes and kitties? Simba & Snowflake were fascinated by it. Snowflake was way too big to get into and Simba insisted that he was going to try it out. He spent an hour scratching at it, inside and; out, I’m guessing to try to make it bigger. He even tried digging under it. You can see how small that container is compared to him.

He got tired and eventually gave up. The tub is his favorite summer time place to sleep.

Last night, he made it into the container. He is the cutest little guy.


ttfn  :)  Yuki

This is what I've been up to

A while back I said that I was going to start shutting my office door at 6pm. Workaholic habits are hard to break. Anyway, in my effort to not work as much. I bought this.
Here I am putting the frame together. Boy, was that a job!! There must have been a million screws and doo dads. Things I had never seen or heard of!
Simba supervised. He's my shadow.

I really enjoy quilting, so I think this machine will provide me with many hours of enjoyment. Hopefully, I'll make some additional income to help pay for it. That would be nice, too. Can you imagine? Getting paid to do something that you really love and enjoy? Eventually, I would like to do machine quilting for other folks, maybe even lease out the machine by the hour. As a quilter, I love the satisfaction of doing the whole thing myself. Unfortunately, hand quilting takes a long, long time, so quilting machines have become a necessity.

I've ordered a 65" square whole cloth quilt pattern. I can't wait to get it. I'm thinking that by the time I finish it, I'll be an expert machine quilter. LOL

ttfn :) Yuki

Happy Mother's Day!

I'm enjoying the day catching up on my photos. I'm finishing up the binding on my pastel quilt and hopefully it will be on my bed soon.

In the meantime, here are some photos of Simba. He's such a cutie.

Look at this sleepy boy on my desk. Here he is trying to fetch my bathing implements.I've been letting the kitties play in the garage to keep the mice out. I don't know what he's doing sitting on top of my car. This guy has no respect!ttfn :) Yuki

Yay Spring

It's been a while but I'm Still Quilting

Do you remember this quilt? It was so white, not quite what I had in mind.I kept looking at it and thinking, this is going to end up being another UFO, so I took all those blocks apart.
It took FOREVER!! Here are all the pieces. I tried to organize them by color but you know what they say about good intentions.

Finally, after many hours, the top is almost done. I'm still thinking about what I want to do about borders but the worst part is over.

Here's a close up of some of the blocks.

It's been a too busy time at work so I have not done much reading. I feel like I've been trying to read the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo forever, I saw the movie which starts about halfway into the book. The movie was good, but there were scenes in the movie that did not make sense unless you read the book.

I've been slaving away to support my kitties, keeping them in the lifestyle to which they have become accustomed. LOL

Here is a rare picture of Silas & Snowflake together enjoying the sunshine.

Boy, to have the life of a cat.

ttfn :) Yuki

Beaded bracelets

Well, I'm finally getting around to posting pictures of my beaded bracelets. They need to be finished off but I just love the mix of colors. Aren't these colors great!

I hosted Stitch and Bitch today. What fun! I prepared a buffet like salad for everyone since it was much too hot to cook. Then ice cream for dessert. Yum

We have been meeting for 20 years. I found some old pictures of one of our early members. She is married now with a family of her own in Florida. I should look her up and give her a ring.

Yesterday, when I took inventory of the frig, which was pretty bare, Simba climbed in. I guess he wanted to get away from the heat.

Not much new here. I did manage to get some polish on my toes. What do you think? I just wanted something a little bit different. I've really gotten some compliments at work.

Kona Bay is having their 6 yard bolt sale. Check them out http://konabaygifts.com/quiltworks-nw-fabric-sale.html I placed an order for 2 pieces, not that I need any more fabric and lo and behold they were on my door step 3 days later. What service! These fabrics are beautiful. I almost wish I had gotten more.

Snowflake approves.

Here is a picture of Lori's quilt. This was a long time UFO. I was very happy to help her with this quilt. This quilt is just beautiful up close. The colors are just wonderful. I can't wait to see it completed.

I recently read 'The Help'. It takes place in Mississippi during the 60's. It centers around the maids and the families for whom they work. It was fascinating reading. I highly recommend it.

I also read 'The Beach Street Kniting Society and Yarn Club'. If you read the 'Friday Night Knitting Club', 'Beach Street' is similar except it takes place in England. Fun reading.

Until Next time,

ttfn :) Yuki

Great Reading

As some of you folks know, I'm an avid reader. I so enjoyed The Collectors by David Balducci, that I bought the remaining 2 books of the Camel Club series, Stone Cold and Divine Justice.

If you are looking for a great read this summer, I'd thoroughly recommend these books. I heard that there is a fifth book in this series coming out this fall.

I just finished reading The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls. I thought I had a rather stifled childhood. This book is an autobiographical account of her life growing up, "a searing memoir of growing up poor, hungry and sometimes homeless". It was stunning. It was amazing that someone survived that kind of upbringing and still managed to be a productive member of society. This book also brought to light the existence of people who choose to be homeless through their actions or lack there of. There is an interview of Jeannette Walls online from 2005 if you are interesting in hearing more. It was very interesting to hear her talk about her life. She shows no bitterness towards her mother, who is shown at the end of the interview. Her mother seems excited to be able show the interviewer her paintings.

My friend Valerie came up for a long weekend visit this past weekend. We drove to Pennsylvania to visit a friend. We stayed in Lancaster, not realizing that fabric shops are closed on Sundays. oh well Maybe we can fabric shop next time. We had a makeup day at mall and then it was time for her to go home to Charleston. You know what they say, the road between good friends is never long.

I haven't done much sewing lately but have done a lot of beading. I made a handful of glass bead bracelets. They aren't as colorful as stuff I usually do, mostly blues and greens. Maybe I'm in a blue period. I just bought a blue hand bag. Anyway, I'll try to get some photos up soon.

ttfn :) Yuki