Paducah Aftermath

Went to Paducah this year armed with a list! Yes, a list.

Usually I am a person that doesn't have a shopping plan unless it is for food or things I need for my house. I just go and let whatever guide me.

Well, not this year....Paducah had a list and limits were set.

I got the threads I wanted and the fabric I wanted.

A friend is having a baby so...a quilt is planned. Found the perfect border fabric...yipee. Now to decide on the pattern...hmmm. Didn't find one that I liked.
I also found fabric I needed for a wallhanging in the works.

I went to Hancock's of Paducah and spent....$71....that is it! WEll...not the total for the trip but that is all I spent at Hancock's.

Another item on my list was to test drive long arm machines. So far I like the Gammill Premiere Plus or the Classic Plus and the Tin Lizzie. I was really surprised about the Tin Lizzie LS really smooth...there was a big difference in price so I will not rush into a decision too fast. I will test drive the machines again before making a decision. The other machines I tested had a lot of vibrations that were hard on my hands. I have no problems with my hands or wrist...so I was surprised when I felt the discomfort.

Off to the gym....Paducah food it bad, but oh so good!!!
Will post photos of my goods!

Hugs and Blessings...off to the gym!

Traci

Stash Reduction Effort

Well, I didn't purchase any fabric this week...smile. Paducah is this week...I will have a lot to report after that.

I started the Quiltville Orange Crush Mystery as planned..all from stash!

I attend two workshops using all stash fabric...nothing new was purchased. I wanted something new and different...there are so many new and exciting floral prints now but I didn't purchase anything at all.

This week was a trying one...work, work and more work. The unit is gratefully not super busy but the other stuff that I must do simply drained me. It didn't help that I had the crud...I don't usually get sick so when I do it becomes a big production. It doesn't help that the valley is blooming! I have allergies...bad allergies. So the crud coupled with my allergies is something like having a quart of ice cream up your nose and cottage cheese stuck in your throat...all at the same time. My throat felt like a grater attacked me then someone poured gasoline on it then set it on fire. Misery!!

I am allergic to every grass known to man....spring, not my favorite time of year.

Just a reminder that summer another unpleasant time of the year is on the way....yuck!!!

On a good note...I feel much better!

Hugs,
Traci

Barbara Olson Workshop Continues

Barbara Olson Workshop Photos

Barbara Olson Visits The Guild

With great pleasure we hosted Barbara Olson at the guild on Thursday. Her lecture and quilts were an inspiration. Her use of color was outstanding.

I was fortunate to take two workshops with Barbara. Jump Start you Creativity and Cosmic Spirals. The spirals are interesting....foundation piecing. She uses Sulky Totally Stable as her foundation...hard initially to use but I like it a lot better than freezer paper or paper. The picture above is Cosmic Spirals by Barbara Olsen. It will be a long long time before my wall hanging is photographed. I did finish up the black and white spiral for the top block...only!

The above wallhanging is Barbara's Wild Thing. This is a machine appliqued project. She used glue stick and the blanket stitch. She uses Invisible Thread (smoke) Monopoly and Bottom Line in the bobbin.

If any of you have a Viking....my $6,000 sewing machine doesn't like glue stick. I love the control you have with the glue stick...but I wonder if I could use spray starch or something else instead. Exposing my machine to that much glue kind of makes me nervous. Barbara assured me that cleaning the needle with an alcohol swab and also cleaning it after each bobbin change would be enough...hmmm.

Hugs and Blessings!

Traci

And Another Thing!!

Tivo....is acting up. Well, not Tivo but the HDTV Cable box is acting up....I have no time for the cable people to come out, none!!!

Luckily I have another Tivo box...sad! So Sad!!!!

Can you hear me screaming!!!

I am Back...well sort of!

Spring has come to the valley! Unfortunately!! I have had a cold, allergy episode and/or sinus event...all while working!!! It has been awful.

My nose has been dripping, my throat feels like someone has been poking it with hot irons and my head feels like a elephant is sitting on it. Can you tell I don't feel good!!

WEll, there was no other options...I had to work. So I just worked the days I had too....and today I died! I don't have time to be sick...I have a meeting in the morning and a luncheon to attend. I also have to get ready for the Barbara Olson workshops this weekend , work on my Orange Crush Mystery and enjoy my one day off before starting again.

No stashbusting to report this week. I will use stash in the Barbara Olson workshops though...didn't have time to shop for anything new, smile!

Will post pictures of Step 1 and 2 of the Orange Crush Mystery hopefully Monday.

Hugs and Blessings!

Traci

Resting

Work this week has been beyond bad! I have been there every single day this week including today!

So.....the rest of my day was spent trying to renew myself. I went to the gym, I took a nap and finally we went out to dinner...I will hopefully climb into bed with a book really soon and fall blissfully asleep...oh joy!

Haven't started on the Orange Crush mystery yet or any of the other items on my to do list...hopefully that will happen tomorrow afternoon.

Sleep well everyone..."see" you soon.

Hugs,
T.

Fabric Reduction Effort

Hello,

This week was a great one...! I must confess that I did purchase fabric.... but pulled from my stash for an upcoming mystery project. I pulled 15 yards of fabric to be used for Bonnie's mystery and also for another quilt.....same colors, smile. I am making a quilt for my sister-in-law Abbi. The mystery quilt is mine!

I purchased a kit for a BOM...that came this week that was 4.5 yards that I must count for this week's tally....but it does have a purpose, smile. Not counting my fat quarter tower until it arrives..hehe. I still have time to get rid of some fabric...smile.

Paducah is approaching and I have to do something fast! Maybe I won't buy anything...right!!!

So...here are my totals.

Fabric In: 34.5 yds

Fabric Out: 76 yds

Net Fabric to Busted to Date: 41.5 yds used or given away!

Hugs,

Traci

Little Under the Weather Today

Had a great time last night. Maybe too much fun... because now I am in my jammies with a dull yucky feeling in my gut and stomach. No violent action..if you get my drift just a yucky feeling.

So no dinner out for me.... Had to force feed myself lunch. Will put a load of laundry in the wash and maybe take a nap.

I pray I don't have a stomach virus....so sad. Wanted to finish up the Carolina Crossroads blocks today..found the perfect border fabric.

Hugs,

Traci

Orange Crush Quiltville Mystery Fabric Selection

Okay...here are my fabrics I will be using for Bonnie's mystery starting April 1st....border too!Good or bad...let me know!

Hugs,

Traci

Flavin Glover

Flavin Glover was the guest speaker at our guild on Thursday. She is the "Queen of the Log Cabin" Quilt....and she really is. Absolutely amazing!!! The above is not a great picture of her....her eyes were closed and I didn't know it until I uploaded the picture...darn it!

I fell in love with her sheep quilt...so cute and I love sheep.

She is extremely organized and very talented. She had examples of all her pieced quilts, old and new.....for each quilt!!! She gets inspired from commercial ads, photographs etc....just an extreme talent.

If Flavin comes to visit your area I highly encourage you to attend her lecture. Unfortunately, I couldn't attend the classes....darn it.

Hugs,

T.

Sunday---What is on Your Design Wall????

Cajun Cooking Quilt...if it ever gets done.

Two blocks from my Carolina Crossroads...still under construction.

WEll, there was a huge list of things I wanted to get done today..like grocery shopping, laundry, put down new runner carpets...some general cleaning in the kitchen. I did clean two bathrooms and there is laundry in the washer right now. Everything else...didn't get done.

Oh well...I did however, unsew many, many blocks.

I above I have posted some pictures of my Carolina blocks and also what else is on my design wall.

Hugs,

Traci

Happy National Quilting Day

Happy National Quilting Day...or should I say Weekend.

I know several groups are getting together and sewing this weekend. Working on various projects and finishing up UFOs.

I sewed on yesterday...worked on my Carolina Crossroads blocks which are looking fantastic...love my color combination. It is really sad that I don't get much sewing time. I was talking to Betty on yesterday and she said that she gets to sew 8 hours a day when her husband is traveling which is almost every week!!! So envious of that!

I am lucky I get 8 hours a month...maybe 8 hours in three months, if truth be told.

Well..I must confess to a big huge mistake. I was sewing on my little Janome Platinum yesterday.....and forgot to set my stitch width to 3.5. Instead it was set at 3.0!!! Yuck, Yuck and double yuck. So all the blocks I did get together on yesterday...I will be unsewing today while watching basketball.

I will update later with the stash report.

Stashbusting Update:

Fabric In to Date: 30 yards

Fabric Out to Date: 61 yards

Net Year to Date: 31 yards busted!

Hugs and Blessings!!!

Traci

Fabric Reduction Effort

Okay...I know I have a problem , you know I have a problem..smile.

I was in the sewing room for maybe...2 hours on Friday and that is it! Enough to do my Pass the Box Block and my two BOMs...can't start the other BOM because the kits are back ordered...so can't count fabric that hasn't crossed my doorstep yet...hehe!

In preparation for the fabric kit arrival and my other purchases...I have given away......37 yards of fabric!!!

So...

Fabric In: 0 Yards

Fabric Out: 37 Yards


Traci

Blog Break

Taking a blog break...will be back probably by the weekend.

Need to get somethings done around the house...yuck!

Hugs and Keep Warm!

Traci

Stash Busting and Best Laid Plans

Okay...those of you who know me from my "work" life know that I have been really busy lately.

I haven't sewed any in a long, long time...actually I haven't been in the sewing room since the retreat..other than looking for my watch...which is still missing!!

I made a list of things I wanted to accomplish yesterday....didn't do anything on the list.

I was a "social butterfly" (that is what my mother calls me) instead of sewing and doing what I was supposed to do. Went out for brunch..went to the movies...went shopping....did cook dinner and then watched the Tennessee basketball game...great! Made homemade nachos for snacking during the game....I am so good!

Okay...stashbusting confession time. No fabric in this week and no fabric out. I did however order some fabric today....sigh....but it hasn't gotten here yet.

I am doing this BOM...so I purchased a kit. The plan is I must get rid of 6 1/2 yards of fabric this week to break even, smile...that is my plan and I am sticking to it!


Fabric In: 0 yards
Fabric Out: 0 yards

Hugs,
Traci

To Do List!! Help!

Okay...work and more work has had me unable to sew at all. So today I am panic sewing...well, maybe not panic but the deadline for projects are fast approaching and I haven't started on anything just yet.

List:

1. Pass the Box Block---not started, haven't thought about what I am going to do . Really need to do this first.

2. Blocks of the Month....hmmm, why oh why did I sign up for this block of the month...or should I say..these two blocks of the month. Simple sewing so this won't take long at all.

3. Carolina Crossroads--segments are still in there plastic bags. Need to work on this quilt. I need to finish it before the next mystery starts...hehe!

4. Shakespeare in the Park---found the "theme" fabric I want to use. Could only find 1.5 yards...wouldn't you know it! Did find something similar however so here I go again. Can you believe I am using browns and blues...hehe! I know...you are using brown???? In a quilt?? Yes!!! Me...I love the brown and turquoise combo...love it!

Now the above list goes along with the usual household things like laundry, cooking and grocery shopping. I have to cook this weekend. WE have been eating out for a month now because I have been so busy . Did you notice there was no mention of cleaning on the list...smile!!!

Hugs...and time for me to start!

Traci

Stash Reduction Effort

Well, nothing new to report...literally!! I didn't purchase one single piece of extra fabric....yipppeee!!!
I wanted to....but I didn't.

I plan to start a Shakespeare In the Park quilt soon so I will be purchasing for that one. My plan of purchasing and giving away is going to work...smile.

Fabric Purchased: 0 Yards
Fabric Used: 0 Yards

Hugs!

Traci

Saturday Yucky Ramble

Hello All!

Nothing new to report on the quilting front. I did open the door of the sewing room this week to look for my watch....didn't find it!

I thought today I would get some work done...unfortunately, I decided to be a little under the weather. Not sick with a cold/flu...thankfully. But everyone around me is sick....co-workers, friends, personal trainer, doctor...everyone...even the mailperson was sick this week!

Well today I slept soundly until 9 AM....nothing new on that front. But didn't move from the bed for 1 hour.....now that is not right for me at least....I was tired! I am never tired when I wake up. Of course, the morning call from my mother I told her I was tired and wasn't feeling 100%....worry!!! Everyone worries when I don't feel 100%.

I watched some TV, fed the furry beast, made out a grocery list and just plain lazed around....just didn't want to do anything.

At 1:30 PM decided to take a nap. WEll woke up at 5 PM....not a nap but did feel better. Did I mention that I am hormonal as well...not good.

WEll, after a fast food dinner....not good but I did have something good. 1/2 of a grilled chicken sandwich on a wheat bun and a spinach salad...yummy. A glass of sugar free lemon aid...my favorite.

Now I am supine on the couch...under a quilt watching the Slam Dunk contest on television....not really watching, just trying to be nice.....but I do have some quilting books and magazines that I find much more interesting.

Hugs and Blessings Everyone...tomorrow will be a better day!

T.

Birth Verse

Needing a little inspiration today. This helped so much.

Hugs and Blessings,

T



James 1:12 NIVBlessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

You are a child of God, His treasured possession. He created you in His own image. He chose the day for you to be born. He has a plan and a purpose for your life.