mug rug binding.........

I cleaned off my sewing cabinet to prepare for machine quilting but instead finished the bindings on another 5 mug rugs.

 Here are the backs of the latest batch.

I had some hot dog buns in the freezer that had freezer burn on them so I took them out and thawed them and threw them out for the squirrels and birds.  This little guy came back several times for a snack.

Binding.....

Last night 2 of the TV shows I regularly watch had new episodes so I sewed binding on 6 of the mug rugs while watching them.  I was making the 3rd one down for a friend and got it into an addressed envelope and sealed it before I remembered I hadn't taken a photo of it.  Maybe she will take a photo and email it to me when she gets it.

Borders, Blogger problem...........

To solve the Blogger problem of not being able to add a photo, I followed Jeanie's advice to go to the HTML tab to do it.  I hope they fix the problem in the "compose" mode because this added steps to the process.  I'll just put one photo on this morning and see if they fixed it tonight.  I got 2 borders sewn on this quilt yesterday in addition to cutting a lot of fabric for QOV quilts.  I also chose backings for 2 quilts that I need to finish and ship to NC later this month.  Today I will meet a friend for lunch and some quilty talk.

Borders, backing, and cutting......

Blogger isn't playing nice.  When I click on the add photo icon, there is no link to download photos from my computer so you will just have to believe me that I did the things in the title of this post.  I'll try again later.

Searching the internet, and playing........

Nothing exciting happening in my studio.  I spent a couple hours yesterday on the internet trying to find Season 2 of Downton Abbey but Masterpiece theater site said they had expired on that site.  Everywhere else wanted money to be able to view them.  I found one PBS site that gave a written synopsis of each of the episodes of series 2 so I read those.  I guess I'll have to go straight to Series 3 and catch 2 later when it is free.  Update:  I just checked with the local library and I will get a call back as soon as it is returned by another patron.

I cut several bindings for the mug rugs but never got around to sewing them on.  Instead I just played with a pile of squares that I had cut when I was trimming strips for the log cabin quilt.  I was just trying to see how many different looks I could get out of the same squares.  Obviously I need to cut more variety to make them pretty.

I counted my quilt tops waiting for quilting and there are 37 with 12 of them needing borders.  There are an additional 2 already basted and ready to quilt on my Pfaff.  I was hoping the number was under 40 and I just made it.  Selling the 15 quilt tops in October really helped to lighten my load.

I have 4 quilts in progress, just blocks and not sewn together so I need to quilt at least 4 before I sew them together to keep it under 40.

Back to business.........

A day when the post office and banks are closed always feels like a free day.  There isn't any business you can take care of.  Now on day 2 of 2013 it is time to get back into routines.  Yesterday on my free day I wound bobbins.  One spool the size and brand that is in the photo filled 15 and a third bobbins.  I don't get irritated when a bobbin runs out if I have a new one ready to pop in.

I found another box of Kaffe scraps, mostly strips so I sorted them into piles of different lengths and then returned them to the box.  I watched season 1 episodes of Downton Abbey while in the studio.  It doesn't look like Netfix has the second season available so I'll be searching other places for it today.

I also quilted a bunch of the mug rugs while I was glued to the TV.  This one is ditch quilted.

I grid quilted this one and it ended up being my least favorite style of quilting.

I did a square spiral on one of them with random spacing between the lines of stitching.

My favorite style ended up being the random straight lines like I did on the last 3 table runners.  I have 3 more to quilt and then I need to look for bindings.

I took this photo of the Amaryllis on Dec. 30.  It is about ready to have the flower stalks cut off now and I'll retire it to my heated garage.  It is about 60 degrees out there so it should be OK.

Today I need to get a couple backings sewn together and get a quilt loaded on my longarm machine.  Time to get to work!

 

 

Happy New Year!!!! and a review of 2012

2012 was a year of finishes for me.  January - May I finished 19 of them to go to my solo show at the Ciel Gallery in Charlotte NC.  In October through November 4 I finished 10 more (one not in the photo since I haven't finished the binding) as I worked through the stress of hearing that I had a tumor in my eye.  I had finished the flannel quilt early in January, the Christmas quilt and African Cobblestone quilt in December.  I also quilted 4 quilts for QOV, 2 of which I pieced the tops, plus I put together one more top quilted by someone else.  Then there were the 2 outdoors themed quilt tops I made for twin great-nephews and their mother is quilting them.

Here is the group I started but haven't finished.  A couple of them are waiting for borders, some are ready to quilt.  This is one of the few years when I finished more quilts than I started the same year.  Seven in the top collage were started and finished in the same year.

Then there is the small stuff.  I made 105 mug rugs and have another 14 started.  I finished a dozen Christmas pillowcases and a dozen travel size pillowcases for our service project at church in addition to cutting at least another 50 to sew at church.  There are 6 doll quilts, a ring bearer's pillow, 4 table runners, and 7 mini collage wall quilts.  It was a very good year of creating.  It was a year of quantity, but also of quality since I have high standards. 

The goal of the new year is to enjoy every minute each day, to look to the bright side, and to live as stress free as possible.  For those who have asked about my eye, my vision is normal, the incision from the radiation treatment is healed, and now I pray that the tumor will shrink and die.  The Dr. said it may be 6 months before we know if that is happening.  I thank all of you for holding me in your thoughts and prayers these last 3 months and helping me to stay positive and hopeful.  I wish all of us a happy and healthy new year, one with more smiles than frowns!