Applique paperweight?

I haven't heard from "gayleb", so I will move on to another follower for the 300th post gift. "Sarah Star" please contact me!

At the Bee meeting last night I received this gorgeous round box and paperweight from my Secret Sister. It looks to me like a fantastic applique pattern. I'm going to enjoy it just as it is however, since applique and I do not mix.

I spent most of this day trying to get an audio recording device that is compatible with my new iMac. I had no idea this would be so complicated. Turns out I not only need a very specific device, but also a very special (additional) set of earphones. I visited three different stores--each of them TWICE. Made two returns, and finally at 4:30 started home with a pair of items that WILL work. Now I just have to learn the procedure to make it happen while I am in the crunch place between two pieces of music at Women's Chorus rehearsal.

[Now why can't I use the font I like best in Blogger? Is this another Apple problem?]

I need to get a UFOI finished this week...Ooops, that's only one more day!

Sara

Gratitudes:

Charlie's night to make dinner, so I could recuperate from my trips

Slowly the music is getting into my head

Three quilts went to Catherine for quilting

UFO backings

One of the things that slows down my completion of UFOs is -- finding or making the back! I am so relieved when the top is finished that I DON'T want to spend any more time with it. Hmm, this means it is really not completed.

Today I was sewing a back a la Bonnie Hunter, out of 10.5" squares. But as you can see, I was lazier than Bonnie is. I cut whole strips that are 10.5". And I don't therefore have to match all the corners that Bonnie has to match.

I was happy to find that sometime previously I had sewn quite a few of these pieces into long strips. I only had to add a few more blocks to make them up to the right length. They are now the right length and I am in the process of sewing the long strips together.

I hope to have two quilts, with their necessary backs, to give to my LA quilter tomorrow at our bee meeting.

Sara

Gratitudes:

Dentist smoothed off my ragged front tooth in just 30 minutes

Chili and corn for supper

Made some progress on learning music at tonight's bass sectional

Eyes improved, and computer

[This view of my eyes is caused by my untrained use of the "red-eye" elimination button on my new computer. Now I can't reverse those raccoon eyes!]

My every-four-week-checkup with the eye specialist was this afternoon. Good news! My sight stayed improved and so I had NO injection for this appointment. Now I am to be "hyper-vigilant" about any changes to my vision for the next four weeks. Meanwhile...couldn't focus my eyes for six hours because of the dilation drops.

Also I have not been doing any quilting because of the arrival of said new computer.

I am "transitioning" to an iMac, desktop from a regular PC, so I'm finding that I don't know how to do some of the things I used to know how to do. For instance, at this moment the printer won't print because it is "offline". I don't know how to make it be "online".

Otherwise I am trying to memorize the Macedonian words to one of the songs our Grand Rapids Women's Chorus has scheduled for our Winter concert next month. Hmm...some things do NOT get easier with age.

AND....This is my 300th blog post. So I am drawing a name from my "Followers" to received the little quilt pictured in the last post. The winner is "gayleb". Please send me your snail mail address so I can get it out to you!

Sara

Gratitudes:

Breakfast with friends

eye improvement

Charlie able to be my driver

Second UFO

Four blocks left from the Strip Twist made the middle of this medallion. Two borders make it about 26" square.

I tried to "freehand" the quilting--"branches" in the colorful part, "pebbles" in the pebbled part, and wavy lines in the ocean part.

What on earth is it good for? This is an odd size--just what they call a "table topper", I guess.

Well, it COULD be a prize for someone for my 300th blog post. If you want your name in the drawing for whatever the give-away is, sign up to be a "Follower" of my blog, over tothe right someplace.

Meanwhile, I am going off the air for a day or two while my computer files are transitioned over to my new iMac. [Hope this all works as easily as they claim!]

Sara

Gratitudes:

Still able to get through the hour of exercise class

Found birthday present for grandson

OUT to dinner tonight

First UFO finished in Countdown

Bound, washed, dried and on the table for dinner tonight, a Flying Geese "double" placemat. We sat opposite each other and enjoyed the setting for tilapia, red chard, and homemade bread. And we even had dessert: Key Lime CAKE by Pepperidge Farm.

I'm on to the next UFO, another small one. I had earlier put together four leftover blocks from the batik Strip Twist, so I have a central medallion. Now I'm framing it with two borders.

Now a little knitting of another SECOND sock while watching the World Series. Come on, Phillies!

Sara

Gratitudes:

I have enough money to buy shampoo for the homeless
Good book for study group: The Known World
New Apple desktop computer delivered today

Til the End of the Year. ....

Time to get cracking on finishing some UFOs!

Jacquie at Tall Grass Prairie Studio is inviting/challenging all crafters to make space for "Joy in The New Year" by clearing out UFOs. That will make the New Year free-er and more creative.
I am committing myself to completing one per week, that is NINE.
Click here if you want to join in
http://tallgrassprairiestudio.blogspot.com/2009/11/joy-in-new-year.html

So here's the one I'm working on right now:

The strip of Flying Geese and the strips of red squares have been hanging on the back of the sewingroom room divider for months and months. Suddenly I saw that they could go together to make a "double" placemat for Charlie and me. We usually sit across from each other at the diningroom table, across the width of the table. I think this can lie from his side to my side, and we will each have a placemat out of it. And spcae in the middle for salt & pepper, etc.

I am at the point of quilting it now. A great advantage of these smaller items, such as the doll quilts, is that I can quilt them myself on my own machine.

AND in four more posts I'll be at #300, so a little give-away [one of the finished UFO's, of course] is being planned. It will go to one of my "followers" on Blogger. Sign up if you want a chance!

Sara

Gratitudes:

Charlie home from trip to St. Louis

He bought me a new Apple desktop computer, soon to be delivered

Finally got the scilla bulbs planted under the Bur Oak

14 it is!

My local discount/grocery store had fleece throws on sale for $4.99. Hmm, thought I, that is cheaper than a crib sized batting. Why not buy one of those and cut it into four doll quilts' back/batting?

Here is the result: a pink strips top welded to an aqua fleece backing. Pretty cozy for a doll.
Note: some strips are made of left-over cuttings.

Sara

Gratitudes:

Nap instead of exercise class
Spaghetti for dinner = comfort food

Doll Quilt #13

One more doll quilt finished that is made up of pink strips. I decided to NOT stitch in the ditch, but instead to quilt curving lines down the middle of the strips.

One more in the works, and then I need to pick out a UFO on which to spend some time!

Sara

Gratitudes:

Breakfast with friends
Groceries purchased for the week and put away
Did my "citizen's duty" by attending Township Board meeting, not bad!

Doll quilt #12

The latest doll quilt I think is my favorite.

The blocks are Rail Fence with bright orange and pink dominating.

The back is pink polka dots.

So I have now made twelve doll quilts for the Guild collection in November, They are stacked on the commode cabinet in the livingroom.

I am now working on enough quieter pink strips to make two more tops. But then I think I need to put some time in on some UFO or other before the end of the month.

Sara

Gratitudes:

Escapist literature
Tasks completed
Out for pizza

Lake and Crazy #11

We are still having gray skies, but down the hill to the lake a Kousa dogwood has turned a bright color.


And meanwhile I have gone rather crazy with doll quilt #11. This is just four log cabin blocks that have the strips set so they form a Greek key or maybe a labyrinth. I chose VERY bright colors, and now I think that I should have put a wider border to contain the impression more. Too late, it's done! Hope there is a mod and crazy little girld somewhere who will love it.


Last night I went to a concert by Holly Near. Loved her informality and her social action music!
Today she had a workshop for our Women's Chorus (we sing something by her every year) and the women's chorus in Lansing. She talked about some of the things we need to "practice" for social change, such as being allies rather than antagonists. And she also listened to us sing, and then had us all sing some simple songs without music on a page. Says we need to have some songs like this ready for a possible opportunity. Good teaching and good fun!


Sara

Gratitudes:

Gaining a little energy around budgeting
Time with Lynne (DDIL) in the car to and froom Lansing
Conversation with Chorus members at lunch