Welcome Miss Lizzie!!

This past weekend was the Tulsa Green Country Quilters Bi-Annual Quilt Show. I procrastinated and didn't get anything entered into the show. I talked about it, planned which ones I would enter and even took pictures but when Jeff got sicker in April I never the completed the process. Never you mind though I was totally excited for the show and couldn't wait to get there. Besides the beautiful quilts that I was anxious to see I had another mission. I was seriously looking and going to test drive mid-arm machines. I have been free motion quilting for years but would never go bigger than a lap quilt. Over the past few months I developed a serious fever to extend beyond my preset boundaries and move to a mid arm machine upon which I could do larger quilts with ease. I started early on Friday and after a couple of hours and several machines later I decided on the Tin Lizzie 18 Sitdown model. There was a show price which was good and I took the demo machine for an even better deal...and it was already assembled (table and machine) and I could get it immediately after the show on Saturday. I especially loved the sturdy feel of this machine, It was easy to get a steady consistent rhythm with the stitching, and the table extended to hold a large quilt. YEAH!!! Welcome Miss Lizzie!! I picked her up in my SUV after the show on Sat. The table was put together. I just had to tighten the screws and sit the machine into the slot in the table. I found a manual online (mine is being sent from the seller) and I threaded her and away we went. What Fun!!! I hope to learn a lot about more free motion designs and extend my comfort zone quickly. What a blessing to have this machine in my home now while we are so restricted because of Jeff's health. I am at the hospital now sitting beside him as he gets platelets and blood or I would snap a picture of "Miss Lizzie" and show you. I will have to do that later. 

Design Wall Monday

 

Instead of the design wall I decided to show you what is on my entry hall wall.

This a block of the month that I did last year and finished this past fall. It is done in 1800's reproduction fabrics. The title was "Starry, Starry Night". I choose an alternate setup that was provided by the instructor who supervised the BOM. Each month we made three block for a total of 36 blocks. The 12inch and 8inch blocks were the same pattern. The 6inch block was an adapted version for a smaller block. All the blocks were done in different reproduction fabrics.

This picture show the entire quilt hung in the entry along with the entryway light that was in the way.

I rotate quilts throughout the year depending on the season or my mood or what I have available waiting in the wings to be displayed.

I am still using my portable design wall. My larger design wall is waiting to be hung on the wall in my new sewing room annex. I am working on the "Holy Toledo" blocks....that I have been working on for two months. I don't get a lot of free time to sew these days. I am halfway done with those blocks about 40 more to go. Now I am playing with "Miss Lizzie" and actually finishing projects that have laid asleep in my closet for many months to years.

What a GREAT feeling...to be finishing stuff!!! Have a great day!!

This is the DAY the LORD has made....Rejoice and be glad in it!!

Psalm 118:24

Happy Trails,

Mtn Mama

 

Design Wall Monday

Baby Ella's Nursery

This past week has been rough and there has not been any sewing done in my house. Jeff was in the hospital for the past 10 days. He was discharged on Friday so the weekend at home was wonderful but it was a "catch up" game without any time for play. We are sitting in Same Day Services now as he gets Round 2 of his chemo, blood and platelets. We are praying for renewed stability and progress.

I decided to share a project today that really isn't on my design wall. It was a project that I worked to create several months ago. I had the pleasure of helping my daughter design the nursery for my first grandchild. Knowing it was going to be a girl she picked out beautiful pinks and browns in several different prints.

The creating process was so fun. Last July for my birthday my DH bought me a new Viking Huskylock Serger. The one I had was 23 years old. I had made all my girls clothes on it and it was well worn. Mechanical without differential feed I decided that it was time for a new one with the approaching birth of my first granddaughter. It worked beautifully as I sewed the nursery/crib decor.

The bumper pads were sewn with three complimentary fabrics.

The crib sheet was Fabric #4. We also used it to make the diaper stacker which was a request from my daughter's husband. I thought that was cute!! The completed crib was awesome!!

ONE of the quilts that I made "Baby Ella" was a folded bow tie that I set on point. I machine quilted it with my Viking Designer SE.

I made a scallop edge along the border with a bias binding that complimented the inner sashings and borders.

Crib complete with quilt ready for "Miss Ella" on her arrival.

Miss Ella arrived on Feb 6, 2012. I was blessed to get on a plane in Tulsa at 6 a.m. that morning and be at the bedside for her 11:20 a.m. birth. She has been such a gift from God especially in this very trying time with my DH's health (PAPA to Miss Ella). I hope you enjoyed seeing the nursery that my daughter and I created as much as I enjoyed making it for them.

As we approach this week with renewed hope and God given strength we are thankful for each and every day. I hope that "some" sewing occurs in my home this week. I did get the new floors laid in the new "sewing room annex". I have gotten some of it put back together. The design wall still needs hung. That will be our goal for next week's design wall Monday!!!

Happy Trails,

Mtn Mama