Love To Quilt

Hot, hot, hot

2010-07-02T17:12:00.000-07:00

The temperature was 101 today. Suppose to get hotter yet tomorrow. I really miss winter. Winter is beautiful in the high desert.

Been busy sewing dresses for the little girls in the family, grandchildren, great nieces, etc. Just simple little things. I buy cute little tank tops or t's and cut them off at the waist and then sew twirly skirts onto them.

Got some boxes out of storage that contain quilt blocks. Decided sinced it is too hot to go out would check them out and get a quilt together. Been putting that off too long.

Everyone here is getting ready for the annual 4th of July picnic. That is always fun, made sure the misters were all working fine out on the patio. Hard to sit out there in this weather without the misting. Just enough to keep you cool.

My blog is doing strange things again. Still can't figure it all out so if you don't see anything on the page just click "show all posts" up at top of page.

Till later,

Carol

So, so sad..

2010-06-10T16:43:00.000-07:00

I was just reading the news on yahoo and came across this article about a picture which was found in an attic. These two little boys were slaves and the picture was taken around 1852 by a photographer that was famous at that time ( he took pics of Lincoln and also many freed slaves after they were set free).I looked at these little guys eyes and I started crying. I can imagine that they had very little in the way of a nice childhood and my heart just broke. They are so sweet looking yet soooo sad looking.

Carol

Summer Is Here!

2010-06-09T19:00:00.000-07:00

Definitely here. Yesterday it was 100 degrees and I was over in Bullhead City today and it must have been about 110. Sure felt like it. But had shopping to do so had no choice. The wind was coming off the Colorado River and it made it feel even hotter.

Have been looking around Ebay to see how sales are going and it seems very, very slow. Hardly any of my children's boutique clothing buddies are still around. All of a sudden our area just dried up. There are still a few new sellers but not much in the way of sales. They aren't getting much for their outfits which is a shame. Have been thinking about opening an Etsy store since Ebay's fees are outrageous now. They definitely need competition.

Been busy cleaning and doing maintenance on the sewing machines. Tomorrow will get to the serger. Been so busy this summer I haven't had much time to enjoy the new embroidery machine and I am really itching to get to that. And boy is that thread ever expensive. $6.00 for an 1100 yd. spool. At least it seems expensive to me. Got to buy that stuff on sale for sure.

Kat who is 13 yrs. old now has decided that when I turn the bedroom light off at night it is time to play. She finds all sorts of little things and brings them up in the bed and keeps pouncing on them. This goes on until about 1:30 am. Don't know what this stage is called but for me it is called "no sleep" until she winds down. Good thing I love her.

All for now so....

Till next time.

Carol

Blogger Blooper?

2010-06-07T10:14:00.000-07:00

I can't figure out why when I log on my blog keeps going to the post from a year ago. Have tried and tried to fix this (figure it out) but have no clue. Seems like there is no point in posting if it is going to not show new posts.

Now today I log in and it is showing a different post. What's up with that?

So I will keep searching for the answer for a fix and hopefully get back to blogging. I do miss my friends.

Till then,

Carol

It's Been Sooooo Long

2010-04-07T23:15:00.000-07:00

I have had a couple of major speed bumps in my life that have kept me from my blog for awhile. Not only my blog but other things I like to do such as quilting, playing with my embroidery machine, etc.

One of the hardest things I had to do was have our dog Maddi Li put to sleep. She was only 8 yrs. old but her diabetes could not be controlled and she was not having a quality life at all near the end. The insulin dosage kept increasing but still not doing what the vet had hoped for. I couldn't see her suffer any longer. For those of you who have had a pet for several years you will understand what I had to go through. Not only me but all of us.

We had her cremated and spread her ashes out at one of her favorite spots here in the desert. We miss her so much. I think it will be awhile before we get another dog. We have a Yorkie and I think she will be our one dog for awhile. Someday we will get another friend for her. I think she really misses Maddi Li.

We built another room onto the back of the house and when it rains we continue to have leaks around the french doors. So we have to have those re=installed before we can have the carpet installed. Even after the doors are done we want to be positively sure there will be no more leaks before finishing the flooring as I don't want to wake up some morning and find wet carpet and padding. So that has been a headache.

To top it all off there has been some sort of virus running rampant in our county. Seems like everyone I know has had it or is on the verge of getting it. Flu like symptons, allergies, ear infections, strep throat. You name it.

But on the brighter side the mommy bunnies are running around pregnant (too cute). So we are waiting to see all the little ones soon. And the quail eggs will be hatching soon. The birds are all starting to build their nests all over the place. The roadrunners are all back from where ever it is they go in the winter. And the little desert squirrels are running all over the backyard teasing my cats. They hop up on the window sills and just wish they could get outside to run after those squirrels.

Although I like the spring here in the high desert I really wish it would remain winter year round. It has its advantages.

Till later,

Carol

Tomorrow, Tomorrow..

2009-07-21T23:23:00.000-07:00

Always tomorrow. Tomorrow I plan to complete a little dress for a darling little girl. Just a simple little thing, cut off bottom of knit shirt and sew a skirt onto it. They look so cute on little girls.

Have to sandwich a quilt also and hopefully will get time to bind it. Not quilting this one just going to tie it. In a hurry to get it done. Got to get new batteries for the camera and get some pictures up here.

Was sitting out on the front porch swing tonight and wanted to get a pic of the beautiful sunset and no batteries. We have some of the most beautiful sunsets here in Arizona. However so many things that I can't get pictures of like the little bunnies that come by every night at 6:45 to get a drink of water when the sprinklers come on. But they run away very fast whenever I open the front door to go out. Then there is the roadrunner that lives under a palm tree. He takes off same as the bunnies.

So tomorrow I will be busy. But enjoying it all.

Till later,

Carol

Been Gone So Long..

2009-07-19T18:01:00.000-07:00

Wow, I didn't realize how long it has been since I posted. It has been such a busy summer around here. Vacations, birthdays, family visits, etc.

We are still in our monsoon season and every few days or nights we get high winds and rain. When that happens the pool is a mess and the dog usually tries to hide since she doesn't like the sound of the wind. Looks like we are in for more wind tonight, hopefully not as bad as last night.

I have also been busy learning how to use my embroidery machine. It has been a learning curve for me since I have been having lots of interuptions. But I love visiting with our families so it is worth it for now. But wait till winter comes, I am not leaving it. I think I will sleep beside it so I can just get up and do more and more embroidery. So far it is fun, what little I know how to do.

Have been trying to follow some of my favorite blogs when time permits. Hope all of you are having a great summer filled with fun.

Till later,

Carol

Decisions, Decisions

2009-04-26T18:40:00.000-07:00

I have been wanting an embroidery machine for quite awhile now and think I have found one that is affordable and hopefully dependable. The more I read about them I am beginning to think that I may be too dumb to operate one of these. So much to learn.

So far the one I am seriously considering is the Brother PE700II. However, I read someplace that it was not compatible with Vista for downloads. I have been searching for information on that statement but haven't come up with anything. Does anyone know about this??

If it is not compatible then I can't use it. Will have to look into other models. I liked everything I read about the Brother except for that one statement. I know Walmart has cheaper embroidery machines however I was told that they don't last very long. Something to do with stitches all being used up too quickly (whatever that means).

Hopefully, some of you know about this machine and can give me some advice here.

Thanks in advance.

Till later,

Carol

Sunshine, Hooray

2009-04-18T14:32:00.000-07:00

We have sunshine today even though it is still windy and chilly. So nice to see the sun.

I have been busy making little girl outfits for summer. Very similar to the St. Patrick's outfits below but with short sleeves or tank tops for the top of the outfits. Lots of pinks since that is their favorite color. Nice to work with Spring colors as they cheer me up.

I have been itching to try a pattern called Jared Takes A Wife for some time now and keep putting it off because there is always something else to do. Someday soon maybe.

Back to sewing for now.

Till later,

Carol

When It Rains It Pours

2009-04-13T13:23:00.000-07:00

This has to be the strangest Spring I can remember here. More wind, more rain, more power outages. Crazy! Today I am weeding since it is easier to get the roots out while the ground is wet. However, looks like it will pour down again soon.

Thank goodness my stove and the furnace are gas. At least I can still cook a good meal even if by candel light and that is a bit romantic. My youngest dd is back at the university in Flagstaff and called last night to say that there was some snow up that way recently. Still by the side of the road and she says it feels like winter.

So back to the weeding for now.

Till later,

Carol

Really Bad Pictures

2009-04-06T10:09:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I'm telling you up front before you look at them, they are terrible. Too much wind to take outside pictures so tried (keyword here is "tried") to get some halfway decent ones inside. But it didn't work.

Anyway, here is the latest quilt I am working on. Need to sandwich now and decide whether to tie or quilt. For some reason it says "tie". Since it is what I call jungle prints I thought the strings hanging from the tieing would look sort of cute, like little tails from animals. The darker stripe print is of zebras and the other prints are of spots of animals (in my mind). The dark border is a cute print with giraffes on it.

Also, with everything that is going on I forgot to post pics of two dresses I made for the little girls in the family. They looked too darn cute on St. Patricks day wearing these. My granddaughter is 5 and my grand niece is 2 and I just love making clothes for them. I took these with my dd's camera and wasn't quite sure how to use it. Should have taken pics of the outfits on the girls, they would have probably come out better since I would have been using my camera then.

These are soooo easy to make. I just applique a design onto a white shirt and cut off part of the hem of the shirt and sew on a twirly skirt which I make. Since I found the ruffler part of my Baby Lock it makes it so much easier to make the twirly skirts. Then I make a sash that ties into a big bow in the back. They always look so cute on the younger girls I think.

I have to go out to Sam's Club and buy some re-chargeable batteries. Mine are several years old now and don't seem to be holding a charge anymore.

Till later,

Carol

I Am So Ready For Spring

2009-04-04T19:39:00.000-07:00

Last evening we had a major storm come rolling over the mountains into the valley. Power went out for awhile and the wind is still howling. I am so tired of the weather I can't wait until Spring gets here. Yes I know the "first day of Spring" has past but you would never know it here.

Today went down to Wickenburg to pick up two totem poles that were being carved and it was cold and windy all the way. However, a stop at the trading post to buy some silver jewelry perked me up. lol Then came home and went to a little two year olds birthday party. She is so darned cute. So I am very tired at this point and just about ready for bed. Boy I must be getting old.

Hopefully tomorrow I can get back to the quilt I am so anxious to complete.

Till later,

Carol

Wind, Wind Go Away

2009-03-30T14:15:00.000-07:00

Is it "March comes in like a lamb and goes out like a lion" or vice versa??? Here in the valley it is definitely going out like a lion. We have had such terrible wind this last week. Keeps one awake most of the night. It calmed a bit this morning and I was going to try to get some pics of my latest quilt but there was just enough that the quilt kept moving. Inside I can't get good enough lighting to get quality pics.

I'm just hoping the new roof doesn't blow away. So far no tiles have come loose so that is a plus. This wind is almost as bad as the monsoon winds were. The desert looks so ugly with all the plastic bags hanging onto the cactus plants. I bought a bunch of the "green" bags from the supermarkets and use those now instead of bringing plastic home. They are also great for storing yarn and other items in. As soon as I unload groceries I stick those bags right back in the car so I will have them next time.

Last night a baby cottontail was on our patio. He/she looked so small to be away from mommy. Such a little cutie and so much fun to watch. It was checking out the inside of the house through the sliders. If it were up to me I would gather all the bunnies and quail up and bring them home. But what would I do with them all?

That's about all for now.

Carol

Just A Word or Two

2009-03-26T11:36:00.000-07:00

Frequently when I try to sign in to my blog I get kicked offline. I'm on dial up unfortunately so that may have something to do with it.

Decided not to change my background as I wasn't crazy about the other templates on blogger and didn't feel like getting into the sites that offer free blog backgrounds. So this will do.

Have been busy working on a new quilt which is very simple, it is blocks of boxes in what I call jungle prints. Will get pics soon and post as I am quite pleased with how it came out. Really liking it the more I work on it.

In the meantime just to have some pics on this new blog am posting some of my bags, quilts and yes a couple of ufo's. I am sooooo guilt ridden about those two ufo's. Long story so won't bore you with it.

So far blogger hasn't answered any of my emails. They say they can retrieve a lost blog even if it has been deleted but I am beginning to wonder.

This is a wall hanging I did a few years ago. Colors look much better in person than in my pic.

Another ufo that is sandwiched now and just needs the border and the eyes. Then it will be done and hang over the piano. I had a pattern I found in a graphics book enlarged (the two cranes) and appliqued them to the background and then did some fancy zig-zag to make the feathers. I decided to place bamboo stalks on this even though it is the panda that likes bamboo and not cranes but I think it came out looking great.

The basket quilt is a pattern of Eleanor Burns. Took 8 yrs for me to complete it. All of the flowers are stuffed with batting and the quilt is stippled. I'm not a big fan of applique but I do like how this turned out.

The kimona wallhanging was done for a friend. The kimonas are actual kimona fabrics.

Here are just a few of the tote bags I have made. I love tote bags. You can fit so much into them.

Sorry the pics are so small but they were scaled down for ebay and can't make them larger again or if there is a way to do it I don't know anything about it. Never said I was all that computer literate. lol

Another wall hanging. It has small accents of gold lame and is hand quilted.

The quilt below is my big boo-boo. You can't help but notice that my pattern is all wrong here. I has roofers on the roof pounding and stomping and gardners in both front and back yards cleaning up with every noisy piece of equipment they owned and I was trying to put this all together. Not a good time to do something like that with all the noise. But it was after out monsoon season where half the roof disappeared and the yards were the biggest mess ever.

Another ufo. This will eventually get finished but everytime I try to something goes wrong. It is various colors of bias binding I made and formed into some kind of Celtic pattern with a log cabin center of hand dyed fabrics.

Well, I think I have bored you enough for one day. So back to my sewing.

Till later,

Carol

On My Own

2009-03-18T21:42:00.000-07:00

I guess I will be on my own since I have yet to hear back from Blogger. How my entire blog could disappear is beyond me. I must be to blame here since everyone else still has their blogs up and running and only mine has disappeared.

So I will have to get my pics together and everything else that I can remember was on my blog and start over. This is rather depressing but then again it will give me the chance to make some cosmetic changes to my blog that I had been wanting to do.

To work I go. Think I will change my background first. Hmmmm, what to choose?

Carol

2009-03-10T13:34:00.000-07:00

Still waiting for Blogger's help on this.

Lost Blog Trying to Find and Fix

2009-03-06T17:42:00.000-08:00

Hope to be up and running again soon