Saturday, January 23, 2016

[Post 1,510} Tumbling Along


It has been a long time since I've posted.  Most of you read my blog for the quilty content, so I'll show that first.  Here is the progress so far on my tumbler quilt.  88" x 90", with another 10 rows (20") to go on the top.  I have enough tumblers cut and sewn into strips of 4 for the rest of the rows.

I have realized that we don't have enough BIG quilts.  We have tons of throws.  I have weaned those down some recently.  I need some quilts for our two guest room beds.  I have all the pieces cut for this, just need some sewing time, which will be rare for the next 3 weeks.


I found this little gem while unpacking a long-neglected box into my sewing room.  A Twister ruler runner, with some of my favorite fabrics.  I will machine quilt and then bind it soon.





Why will it be rare, do you ask?  My son-iin-law (who lives in GA) was badly burned at a work accidet last Friday.  My husband and son drove the 3 hours over to bring these two monkeys back here.

My granddaugter turned one on Christmas Eve.  


This is my soon-to-be-3-year-old grandson.


I am doing this to help my daughter and her family.  She just started working full-time in the afternoons/evenings a short time ago.  Her husband has not been able to use his hands due to their burns since the accident.  He is on strong pain relievers that make him a little loopy.  He has frequent doctor's visits, and she changes his dressings every 3 hours.  It would be hard for the kids to be there, seeing him the way he is right now.  My daughter has expressed her thanks many times.  She has said she could not take care of them right now with her other responsibilities.  Their church has been so helpful.  Meals at least once a day have been delivered, several boxes of groceries have come in, men from the church have called to see if Emily needed any repairs or chores done around the house.  In an email she sent a couple days ago, she said "We have seen God's grace on every side, and I coldn't have a breakdown if I tried."  Yet, it is hard, and the healing will take a very long time.  I am exhausted most of the time, but I have a lot of years of practice doing just what I'm doing with the little nippers. I would appreciate your prayers for my SIL, and my sweet daughter.









Saturday, December 26, 2015

{Post 1,509} 1,860 Pieces Strong


This is pretty much what we have had all week. It didn't seem Christmas-y, but we had a lot of Christmas spirit at our house.  So busy that I didn't take many photos.


I have become friends with one of my blog readers.  She said she was going to send me a "few scraps" to add to my tumbler quilt.  Imagine my surprise when I opened the box below (and notice the promise inside the lid, which does NOT seem to be working).


I used some time this AM to add a few rows to the top of my tumbler quilt.  Here it is, 31 rows wide.  It now measures about 90" wide by 62" long.  I am shooting for around 108" long, so I am about 2/3 of the way there!


We are off this afternoon for a very quick turnaround of a vacation.  Even though we only have 2 children at home, one is a commuting full-time college student and the other is working 30 hours a week.  Today and tomorrow were the only days all 4 of us could go.  I am looking forward to some car sewing time and a wonderful trip.

Hope your Christmases were bright.  

Isaiah 9:6...For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Thursday, December 10, 2015

{Post 1,508} Keep Calm and Tumble On



Below is one of my favorite red Thimbleberries prints.  I came across 4 little scraps in my scrap box.  I pieced them together to get two tumblers for this quilt.  I only have threads of this left (bottom right corner of picture). 

You can see my ruler for cutting these in the picture as well.  I am using 2-1/2" tall pieces and chunks and cutting between the 5" and 2-1/2" lines for my tumblers.



This is a small section so you can see some of the prints close-up.  This quilt will be a little bit of everything.


Last, but not least.  Where I finished today...at 1,200 tumblers.  Twenty rows of 60 tumblers, measuring 40" x 90".  Nearly half way there. 





Monday, December 7, 2015

{Post 1,507} Nine HUNDRED Tumblers


The above picture is my wonderful husband and 900 tumblers.  Such an enormous number!  I am cutting down more scraps tonight.  They must multiply in my boxes.  I see one I am going to rip out and replace.  See it right near the center?  A brown one that should not be in the light position.  I can't stand it!

This piece of work is 30" wide by 90" long.  Last one I can take in this space, between my long-arm and my domestic machine.  

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

{Post 1,506} Tumblers Away

Got up to 8 rows in a hurry.  I have lots of these cut out.  I wanted to get to this point because I had a partial section of 4 short rows to add.


The section below is 16" wide by 90" long.  I am, really liking this.  This is 480 tumblers!


The following pictures are ornaments I have for auction on eBay.  My user name is whistlersmother10.  I thought the selvage ones would be especially cute for a quilting friend or a guild meeting.  The back fabrics are plain, so one could personalize them for gift tags or ornaments.



I got so much done today in my stitch den.  I cleared out a whole large drawer, tamed most of my shirts, and nearly got my cutting table cleaned off of things that have been marinating there for some time.  Whew--I feel good.





Saturday, November 28, 2015

{Post 1,505} Quilty Update


Here is the back of a customer quilt I have been working on.  It's a white-on-white fabric for the back.  I machine quilted free-motion wonky feathers on it.  

Now that I finally have finished it I can start on a quilt I promised I'd finish by Christmas as a gift.  I will be spending most of today on that.


Here is my current leader/ender a la Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville.com.  It is the tumbler.  Mine finish at 2" tall.  I am cutting up every scrap I can find, willy nilly.  Funny thing about scrap quilts...the more you add, the more looks right.  A close-up, then a view from the end of my quilt frame.  It is 98" wide.

Four rows strong, and lots of bits and pieces ready to add on:




{Post 1,504} Thanksgiving Day Happenings



I set up the sideboard for desserts.  Apple pie, pumpkin pie squares, and two kinds of cookies.


Here is our table, ready for people.  I didn't think to take pictures of the most important part of the day--the people.  I was too busy tending to things.  But they came, they ate, they came back for seconds.


One of my home-made candle holders.  Fun memories of going to stranger's yards and asking if I could have some of their leaves.  I had my youngest two children do this.  Ha ha!


We had a family of four from our church with us.  Their two little girls are in our Sunday school class (we teach 2-5 year-olds).  The girls brought me flowers.  How thoughtful!