So Much for Stashbusting

Okay...I am supposed to be busting my fabric stash right...well, that is and was the plan.

So why did I purchase....uggh!!! Nearly $500 worth of books and fabric???? I am a stress shopper and eater. I am trying to drop 10 pounds ....so eating was out of the question, so shopping it had to be.

My mother had a biopsy today...I wasn't worried originally but then I thought...I need to be there. I really need to be there. Instead of traveling the 3,000 miles back to the West Coast I went shopping for a quilt class later this month.....and apparently for a lot of other projects as well.

I decided to stop by Judy's Blog and see what I needed to gather for the Quilt an Hour project and was shocked that someone had the nerve to complain about Judy.

Called her selfish!!!??? What! She gives free patterns to everyone....we are currently doing a Star BOM...she provides two patterns FREE!! every month. She has designed a Quilt for an Hour project...once again FREEE!!! Perhaps whoever you are....you need to get out your dictionary and look up the meaning of SELFISH because it just may be you!

Disappointment

Hello All!

Twice this week I had a change of plans....the most disappointing change was the cancellation of a retreat....a week long retreat. Yes, I had taken off work...yes, I had projects planned...but it is okay.

Now I will have a modified retreat....at home.

Pictures to follow.

Hugs and Blessings.

Me

GiveAway!!! GiveAway!!

Hi Everyone!

Here is a link to a fabulous fabric giveaway from one of my favorite bloggers.
http://sugarshop.typepad.com/sugar_shop/2008/08/guess-what-ive.html

Please stop by and tell them Traci sent you...hehe!

Football is here!!! Yipee! Go Trojans!!!

The Ladies At Night...smile!

Well, Thursday...we all got together for drinks, dinner and fun. Here is a picture of some of us.

It was Shana's Birthday....Happy Birthday Shana!! Happy Birthday to you!

No Nashville For Me

No Nashville for me. I so wanted to attend the last AQS show in Nashville...plans had been made and I was on my way tonight returning home tomorrow evening. Then life took over.

My co-worker's son was diagnosed Monday with a brain tumor. He had surgery on yesterday and is now recovering. There is no word yet on whether or not the tumor was malignant or not but Caleb is talking and interacting with his family. There is some facial paralysis and weakness which hopefully is a result of the surgery and will not be permanent.

I am a shopaholic..I know it and all my friends know it. It is sort of like a hobby for me..smile.

I have decided to give my co-worker the money I would have spent on my quilt show trip.

I need nothing and have been blessed so much in my life.

Please pray for Caleb and his family.


Hugs and Blessings to All!

Traci

Star BOM #2

I received my new ruler today and decided to tackle Star BOM #2. Success!!! All is well.

I will redo Star BOM #1 at a later date....it is Olympics time!

Thanks to everyone who sent messages...I truly appreciate all of your encouraging words and suggestions.

I will be using the "coping" strips around the blocks to bring them up to the 12 1/2 inch size...actually this one measured out to be a little larger than 12 1/2 inches.

Have a great weekend all! Thanks so much Judy!

Hugs and Blessings!

Traci

Wow...Exciting Giveaway!!!

Okay...I found this amazing blog. You must go check this one out and while you are there enter in the drawing for several prizes....amazing!!!!

Ah...Houston, We Have A Problem....

More Like Traci you have a problem....with your ruler!!!

Here are my fabrics I will be using for Star BOM...all batiks, all from stash. I will be adding some pinks as well.

Here is my completed Block # 1...major problems. I thought I measured so carefully!!! Not!

Well, more like Traci....you have a serious measuring problem.





I can't be the only one that is having problems with the 16th measurements....yuck. Maybe if I had a ruler with the 16th marks! I know...it is me, just me. I have always been measuring challenged...smile, actually smiling through my tears. I so wanted this BOM to be a success for me. No, I haven't given up...but I am very disappointed.


Hugs and Blessings....Suggestions always welcomed!!!

Traci

Whew....Is Fall Here Yet!??

Hi All!

I finally see the light at the end of the tunnel!! Summer is coming to an end...thank goodness.

This summer has been one for the records for me...work has exploded, I will be changing positions soon and life is ever changing all around me.

Not much to show in regards to quilting...just a huge and ever growing fabric collection. I was so trying to reduce my stash this year...but I am so far in the fabric hole there is no climbing out for me.

Since I wasn't able to sit at the sewing machine as much as I wanted to....I have been doing a lot, and I do mean....a lot of shopping. Everyplace I went if there was a quilt shop within 100 miles I was there. The Internet has always been a friend to me but we are even closer now...smile!!

Hopefully as summer comes to an end...I will be able to spent less time Internet shopping and more time at the sewing machine.

Last night I attended a big fund raising event for work The Miracle Bash. Lots of good food, drink and dancing. Standing 4 hours in 4 inch heels was a mistake....my feet were throbbing as I was walking to the car after the event. How nice that I had my feet rubbed that night....sad that I fell asleep right after...hehe!

Hugs and Blessings!!

Traci ( ohhh...soccer is on)

Where Has Time Gone??

My life is one big blurry mess. At least this year is! Work has been so busy...I have been working overtime. That word "overtime" is really night in my vocabulary. I don't like it and my body doesn't like it. My social life and sewing have taken really big hits due to working so much. The extra money is great but what happens when you are too tired to spend it?

I have so enjoyed visiting blogs and staying connected with sewing and quilting. I look at my sewing room (still in total disarray) and promise myself that one day I will return to my now second favorite room....my bedroom is now my favorite.

I do plan on participating in Judy's BOM. I love stars and have fabric that I want to use for it. I am now trying to decide what background I want to use, I will be using a collection of batik fat quarters(1895 Hoffman Batiks..I have a yard of all of them) for the stars and a golden orange batik for the star points. Should I bust some stash for the background fabric or should I splurge and purchase something new???? I have a navy blue batik that would work great and there is always my my favorite black batik...hmmm. No idea which direction I will go.

I have made a list of projects I want to start just from visiting my favorite blogs..hehe! One is the Run Around Bag from Lazy Girl Designs. I also want to start two patriot quilts. A simple red, white and blue Jewel Box or another simple pattern. Another patriotic quilt from this Cozy Quilt Pattern...and perhaps a third one, smile. I also need to get busy, purchase some Christmas fabric for two Christmas quilts....how did I get talked into that!!

I need to make a list of my UFOs...and start to work on them weekly or at least monthly. I am so jealous of people who can sew daily....wow!

My next dream is for a clean and organized house. My mom is coming to visit soon...can't wait.


Until next time!

Me!

Busy As a Bumblebee

Life here has been super busy. Work has exploded and the house...too has exploded in a not so pleasing way...if you get my drift.

I promise to update you on my Paducah outing etc. I know....I am so so late with pictures. I decided to put the Orange Crush mystery on the back burner....simply because I have no time.

I have been stitching...or trying too. I am not very good but I am trying daily to get better. Really how hard can it be right.. smile!

Hugs and Blessings!

Traci

So Sorry

I have been across the country and back! May was (since there are only hours left) a really busy month for me. Graduations, surprise visits, family get togthers...work.. too much. I now have one month with nothing planned..that is that requires traveling more than 2 hours from home.

There is so much more I wanted to accomplish this month but never got around to it...cleaning, planting my tomato plants ( my Topsy Turvey planter was recalled by QVC), giving Izzy a summer hair cut and organizing my closets. It seems my entire wardrobe is in three suitcases or in the laundry room. I need a few more outfits to complete my summer wardrobe....but I am not in a hurry to find them, smile.

Blogging and sewing have both taken a back seat....I promised that June will bring more of both.

Hugs and Blessings!

Traci

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day Everyone!!!

This has been a "flying"month for me. My sister-in -law's graduation in Minnesota and finally my surprise for my mother on yesterday...me, for Mother's Day! I flew in to surprise her....boy was she shocked! Hehe!

Needless to say...I however am exhausted! I would not recommend flying this much and working this much to anyone. I am so happy that I don't have to routinely travel with my current job. I always pack the wrong things and this trip was no different. I was expecting warm balmy temps...no, it is serious sweatshirt weather here! I did bring some jeans but no long sleeves. My best friend remembered that she did pick me up a sweatshirt on one of her shopping trips a few months ago , I now have one lightweight jacket and a sweatshirt.

Tomorrow, I am walking/running...Kim says we are walking...in the Entertainment Industry Foundation Revlon Run/Walk for Women. This aids the fight against all Women's Cancers. Pictures to follow.

Happy Mother's Day!!

Love and Kisses!

Traci

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.