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Post by choney2 on Jan 1, 2024 11:33:24 GMT
Good morning and Happy Monday!
All crafters are welcome here as we discuss crafting, life and our weight loss journey. Crafting includes actual hands on crafting, such as crochetting, knitting, sewing, quilting, needlepoint, painting, jewelry making, etc.....plus reading craft catalogs, craft blogs, watching craft you tubes or other crafting videos, chatting here about crafting,chatting with another person about crafting, playing a musical instrument,reading craft emails, thinking about crafting, organizing crafting supplies, going into craft stores or the craft aisle in a store ,researching a new quilt shop, attending craft fairs,or any other activity that inspires or directs your mind toward a crafting activity- even visiting us here to join in our posts!! There are plenty of days in which the closest we get to crafting is a visit here, so even if you have no time to craft, we would love to hear from you. And one of us is never going to buy a fat quarter bundle again! We welcome newcomers to our friendly discussion! So glad you are here!! Please feel free to stop in and say hello!!
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Post by choney2 on Jan 1, 2024 12:01:05 GMT
Happy New Year to all, and a warm welcome to those who have already stopped in to read the open for this week but did not say hello. (I walked away from the IPad for 5 minutes and we had 7 views?)
CJ-Hope that you are able to make greater progress setting up in your spare room- getting your supplies put away and organized. Are you waiting for a particular piece of furniture to be moved for your sewing machine?
Ruth, your description of the hat construction was perfect- I just wanted to make sure I understood the terminology…you speak “crochet” much more frequently and better than I do, that is for sure! Glad you are all set for the Christmas tree skirt with yarn. Red and white are perhaps the most challenging yarn colors to work with and match- so important to be sure that sufficient quantity is present to start and finish a project.
Football? Well, I do not think CJ is a fan….I turned off the Chiefs game and switched to my audio book. Too bad the chiefs won. But I did get back to trimming the quilt blocks and found that the tulip blocks are also consistently smaller than the size indicated on the pattern, so with regard to the law of cancelling errors, it should all work out. I hope. Perhaps the pattern has a mistake….
Cold day here….I will somehow get a walk in and after catching up with some news, get busy on the quilt.
Hope you can all get some crafting in!
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Post by cj59 on Jan 1, 2024 20:13:12 GMT
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!Hope you are both having a wonderful first day of January 2024 and that the year is a good one for you and your family Ginny - Hope you were able to get a walk in and do some quilting. I'm done with that moving company who twice failed to show up for appointments. I'll be calling another company tomorrow morning and hope to get an appointment with them for an estimate this week. Ruth - I'm glad you have some nice books to read and I know you always have a project going. It's a bit chilly here and cloudy, I'm happy not to have to go out today. Hope your weather is nice. I was able to get all the rest of my quilting supplies put away and have the things I need for my sewing machine and rotary cutting and ironing all in one place ready to set up once I start quilting again. The only thing I have left to do is organize and store my quilt tops and my quilted pieces. I'm going to take this chance to look through all of them and if there are ones that I really don't like or don't want to keep I can pull those out and not store them. I'm going to try to organize the quilt tops by size so that if I start doing some machine quilting, I'll start with the smaller ones first. Here are some pictures of my fabric stacked up before and then after it was put away on the rack, and also a look at all the batting I have (crazy!). I have no excuse for not quilting my quilt tops now I really thought I had a lot of fabric, but compared to pictures I've seen of other quilter's fabric I don't think mine is that much. But of course, I'm fortunate to have it and need to use it Take care and enjoy your day.
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Post by choney2 on Jan 1, 2024 23:41:54 GMT
CJ- wow!! How beautiful all your fabric looks folded nicely and stacked so neatly. I am so happy for you that you are not that well organized and can so easily see the contents of your stash! What an awesome accomplishment. Bet its going to feel great to sit down in your sewing room and with such ease access your pretty fabrics. Well done, it looks great. I do not envy you the task of going through all your quilt tops and trying to figure out those that you want to finish or donate. You make so many lovely quilt tops, I am sure each one brings a memory (either good or bad, if you were not so fond of a top or the fabrics) and It might be interesting to see which ones you choose to finish yourself. Like you, my weather here is chilly and cloudy. Think I might have had a few breaks of sun.
Ruth- Happy New Year to you ! Hope that your day was productive and that you got some quality crochet time in. Hoping that you have warmer temps in your area with no fear of pipes freexzing. I forget, were you able to finish reading that Patricia Cornwall book?
I did finish the book I was working on today, and got the layout done for the quilt. I had to rework some blocks, the ditzy diary blocks can make you crazy with their orientation…so I did have to correct a few. But I took a picture of the layout and the rows are all pinned now. Just need a quiet day to get the quilt top put together.
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Post by gramma15 on Jan 2, 2024 0:23:50 GMT
CJ, it sure looks like a lot more on the shelves than on the floor. I love how you have them arranged too!! It looks awesome. I thought when you put the fabric on the shelving that you meant all your fabric filled up just one shelf but I must have read it wrong. It filled the whole shelving unit. and yes, I'd say that you have a bit of batting Your quilting will be even easier now that you can just look at the shelves and see all the fabric and not have to rummage through boxes, bins and drawers. Ginny, sorry some of the blocks need to be done over. I guess that's part of quilting. I really don't like to have to rip out seams in sewing. Ripping out crochet projects is so much easier. I hope you were able to get in that walk. I don't know what the temp was here but it felt pretty warm esp for this time of year. And thank you for the good wishes on pipes not freezing. After the "January thaw" I'm sure it will get really cold I haven't done any crocheting yet today and here it is 5pm. Dh and I were doing a little decluttering by breaking down boxes that are from things we ordered online. Tomorrow is garbage pickup so it's all nicely in the bin and out of the house.I also threw away a lot of recipes that I either had more than one copy or that I know I'll never make and got some books together that I don't need. I also seem to have a lot of toys that I don't need since no little ones come here anymore.All the grands here are grown now and the only great grands that live near here don't come over. I'll keep a few just in case. My oldest grandson was going to come over here with his 7 year old son (who is a really cute little boy) when they were in town but then we ended up going over to dd's house where they were staying instead. I have a lot of little boy toys...hot wheels, etc.I've already packed up a bunch to take to dd's house and will soon get some others ready to mail to Indiana. And I have a bunch of stuffed animals and characters for the great grands also. Otherwise I pretty much have all my stuff sorted and donated and am waiting for dh to let go of some of his. My prayer for both of you is that you have a wonderful and blessed 2024.
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Post by choney2 on Jan 2, 2024 12:45:33 GMT
Ruth- seems like you and Dh are doing a great job of getting organized, getting rid of boxes and staging toys that you will most likely not use. Hot wheels are ageless and will be loved and used. I matter where they are. I did not have to rip put many blocks- think it was only 5 partial blocks. Now on to the sewing of the quilt top.
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Post by cj59 on Jan 2, 2024 19:19:24 GMT
Hello - Hope you are doing well today and having nice weather. It's sunny here and in the 40s. I haven't been out since Sunday, but today will be the first time I put out my trash at the new place, so I'll go out later and do that. Ruth - Hope you and your DH can get a lot of things out of the house. Decluttering can be so tiring, but it feels so good when it's all gone and you see empty space. Ginny - I'm glad you didn't have to rip out many blocks, hope you can get the top put together soon. I pulled out all my quilt tops and finished pieces this morning from where they had just been stacked on the floor and when I started going through them, I just didn't have the energy to decide on what to keep or to organize exactly by size. I did do a rough estimate of small, medium and large tops and stacked them that way on the wire racks I have in the closet. After I did that I took a picture (first picture) and was so pleased with myself, and thought I was done, but when I walked out into the room I saw the stack of all my finished pieces that I'd forgotten about So the second picture is with all of the finished and unfinished tops on the wire racks and some of the quilts I bought at quilt shows. There is one that is a pretty quilt in reds, browns and creams with a star pattern. The quilter already had it sandwiched and basted and had started hand quilting it but I guess she couldn't finish. I really would like to finish hand quilting that quilt - so maybe I'll get to that after I finish that Flying Dutchman quilt I'm big stitch quilting. It's funny to me that I want to work on someone else's quilt instead of my own. I seem to just enjoy the process of making the top more than anything else. I did feel a little bit sad thinking that I'll likely never see most of my tops made into quilts, but I just have to remember the fun of making the top. I was able to find a moving company that will meet with me this week, so I hope that goes well and I get an appointment for the furniture to be moved maybe by next week. I'll be glad to get everything put away. Take care
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Post by choney2 on Jan 2, 2024 23:39:24 GMT
CJ, I’m very glad to hear that you have been able to make contact with the mover who will take care of getting the remaining furniture items that you want to your new home. That’s quite a collection of quilt tops that you have or quilts that need to be quilted, I kind of understand why you would like to work on quilts that other people have made instead of yours. It’s a lot of fun making quilt tops, seeing how your fabrics all work together. But the process of putting them together can be time-consuming in a hassle, especially after you spent so much time cutting in piecing . I wonder if you’re also too critical of your own work and that becomes an issue for you, making it easier for you to work on a quilt someone else made. I don’t know just some thoughts that I had.
Kind of a busy day today as I babysat. I really struggled falling asleep asleep last night so I think I’ll be in bed early. Hoping I can find a nice break tomorrow and start putting together the tulip quilt.
Ruth how was your day?
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Post by gramma15 on Jan 3, 2024 0:34:04 GMT
Good evening,my Friends.
CJ,I see completed quilts on the top of that shelving. From what I can see they are a very pretty. I'm so glad you were able to find a moving company to come and give you an estimate.I hope they give you a good price and are able to move your furniture soon.
Ginny,I'm sorry that you had to struggle so much to get to sleep.Not getting enough sleep really can interfere with your life.I hope you will be able to sleep well tonight. I haven't done much today other than a little cooking and baking then, of course,cleaning the kitchen.I plan on doing a bit of crocheting this evening and I also have a book I'm reading. It's just one of the cozy mysteries with the woman who crochets.
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Post by choney2 on Jan 3, 2024 12:33:50 GMT
Ruth, were you able to get some crochet time in last night? Hope you were able to get some reading time in? It’s so nice to have a good book to get wrapped up in.
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Post by cj59 on Jan 3, 2024 20:16:36 GMT
Hello - Hope you are doing well today. It's still in the 40s here, but sunny. They are talking about possible snow this weekend, but I'm hoping it stays to the north and west. Ruth - Hope you are enjoying your book and crocheting Ginny - Hope you slept better last night and that you were able to start putting your quilt together The moving company appointment had more problems today. First, they didn't contact me at the time they set for my appointment. By the time I finally managed to get the person who was doing my appointment on the phone it was about 45 minutes late! They wanted me to do a live walk through in the house, but since I don't have any wi-fi in the house now I couldn't get the live video to work. Finally we agreed that I would take pictures of all the furniture I want moved and email them to him. So I took all the pictures and then had to download them on my computer and then send them in emails once I got back to the rental house. (I don't use email on my phone) Technology is great, but some of this stuff is very irritating to me since I'm not that much into all the live/phone stuff. I guess I'm a dinosaur Hopefully I'll get an estimate from the mover's soon and I can set up the appointment to have it picked up and delivered. I'd sure like to get that done so I can move on to getting what is left out of the house if I have to. There are also some legal issues I need to take care of before I can sell the house so I'm working on them too. Hopefully one day it will all be done and I can relax a bit again. It's difficult for me to keep going to my old house, it makes me wish I didn't have to move and I just want to be back there, but I know this is the best thing to do so no one else in my family has to deal with selling my house. I'm still sad about it though The new Moda Blockheads 5 Part 2 started today, so I printed off the pattern, but I'm not sure when I can get to make it. I'm not feeling much like quilting, but maybe things will change. I was hoping to use some new fabric for this second half, but I was still undecided. Take care
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Post by choney2 on Jan 3, 2024 23:07:24 GMT
Hi CJ! (Hope Ruth checks in soon!). If I were in your shoes, I can imagine I would feel the same way, burdened by the fact that it was in your best interest to leave your family home, even though you did not really want to. (Glad you felt comfortable enough to share those feelings). For now, I hope it helps to focus on the good points of where you now live, no landscaping issues, snow removal, heating headaches, safety/noise/traffic, and air conditioning problems. Given time you will make new memories your new home. No one can take the wonderful memories that you have - no matter where you lived!!! i do pray that your moving company and legal woes are resolved quickly, which might allow you to emotionally move on. I hope that making new memories where you are now and being able to see family a bit more easily helps too. Think you hit the nail on the head, when you can relax a bit it will come more easily to you. Not going to burden the thread with this, but I well remember the extreme stress I went though selling my mom’s house, the house I grew up in till adulthood. No picnic at all… CJ- good idea that you printed out the new Moda blockheads pattern, and I figure at some point you will want to make that…just not now. Life seems too complicated. Did you check out the adorable quilting life block for January? Another cute star block. www.aquiltinglife.com/2024-quilt-block-of-the-month-january/My son had to help me with a software issue and the IPad.. CJ you are not alone in perhaps having some technological issues. Got a row actually sewn this morning before I had some errands to run and a neighbor who does not drive needed a ride. It went together easily, and I also located my flower pins (the flower head pins lie flat on a table facilitating putting a quilt top together. I did sleep better last night, and hope that I can get some decent sleep tonight. Me too….we are supposed to get snow over the weekend and it could be fairly significant. Guess I will get to the store in the next 2 days, I surely do NOT want to be anywhere near there on Saturday. I made chocolate banana bread today….which I have either not made before or hvae not made in a long time. It’s so very good….another nice way to use up those bananas that are way too ripe to eat by themselves. Ruth, how did your day go? I know you and Dh were going through some belongings in your house to see what you need and want to keep. Did you continue on that or hopefully get some crocheting time in?
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Post by gramma15 on Jan 4, 2024 0:51:58 GMT
CJ, I'm a dinosaur also.. These things make me really nervous because I'm always having trouble with them plus I have no desire at all the do anything live on the computer or phone. My phone is especially problematic. I know that most people take pictures and immediately are able to send them to someone. I have no idea whatsoever of how to do that and have to go through multiple steps to be able to send a picture. About your moving...well what Ginny said was well put and I agree wholeheartedly. I remember when we moved here in late 89. I was so depressed with all the major changes.I hope that living closer to family will help with your feelings about the move.
Ginny, I'm glad you were able to sleep better last night and hope you will have a good night's sleep tonight. Yes I just saw on the Nat'l news that you might get up to 6 inches of snow but what they showed was a very large area so probably the higher amount of snow might just end up upstate.
I have been crocheting today then we had a grocery delivery. Dh got a half price deal on Walmart's version of Prime so they deliver free if you spend $35 or more and who buys groceries that end up under that amount....not these days even though we're careful and Dh is especially frugal...too frugal sometimes. In the crocheting I'm still working on that hat. It should have been done last week but, as I mentioned, that type hat is difficult for me not to mention slow. I plan on starting the tree skirt this evening. The lambs will have to wait until I feel like tackling another challenging project.
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Post by choney2 on Jan 4, 2024 15:05:29 GMT
Ruth- do you have the pattern for the lambs?I can imagine that if they are smaller it will be a challenge making little legs and ears, unless the lambs just have a head. An adorable project for sure, but I am sure not too easy. Were you able to start the tree skirt- and complete the hat? Love it that you were were able to get a deal on Walmart delivering your groceries. That is great….and I hope that they manage the orders well. I have on occasion done it here (only having them shop for me, never delivery) but used to order my mom’s groceries from my house, for delivery 40 miles away to hers (of course her local store did the order fulfillment and delivery). It’s a wonderful service when it works well and I hope it makes your life easier.
Speaking of moving…when I moved from the state I grew up in to where I am now I struggled for quite awhile. I think it’s normal to find changing where we live uncomfortable. I went to see DD#2 the other day and was happy to see that she is getting involved in decorating the house they bought. Think that part of the process, when. You can enter a living space and see that you have made it your own is important.
Snow?? Well I wish it would fall on Sunday night (to close schools). Looks like I am in the 6-9 inch accumulation area. From what I saw of the general area CJ lives in there is about an inch predicted, but the storm will finish with rain.
I have to go to a plumbing supply house, my countertop soap dispenser broke, and I have to replace that. Then a quick stop to the grocery store. I refuse to go there Saturday when I figure it will be a nightmare with those preparing for a snow storm. Hope that I can get to my machine to quilt later this afternoon.
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Post by cj59 on Jan 4, 2024 21:09:52 GMT
Hello - Hope you are having a good day and some nice weather. It's a bit cool here, and cloudy for awhile and then sunny. Guess the weather can't make up it's mind Ruth - I'm glad you are able to get grocery delivery, it's nice that you don't have to go out and do that shopping. I'm not that great with my phone either. I did figure out how to text and take pictures, but I rarely send them by my phone, I prefer to send them to my computer and send the picture via email. Ginny - I'm glad your DS helped you with your IPAD and I hope you were able to get the replacement at the plumbing supply house. I also hope you were able to get your groceries before the store gets crazy. Hope the snow isn't too bad for you. I did see that Sherri McConnell has her new block of the month January pattern out, but I have to pass on her quilt along this year. The Moda block this week is her pattern too. I appreciate that you both understand it's a bit depressing to move. I get sad every time I have to go back to my old house, and I figure I'll have to do that for the next few months. I'm actually trying not to get too comfortable at this rental house because it's possible they won't renew my lease and I'll have to move again later this year. I haven't heard back from the mover's at all. If I don't get something by tomorrow morning, I'll call. I'm really amazed that it's so difficult to find a moving company that is receptive. They must not be hurting for business. I made a tea loaf today and it baked really well in my new oven. It's a very dense English style loaf with lots of raisins. I'll probably freeze half of it so I don't eat it all. I made two versions of this week's Moda Blockheads block. I had pulled out these fabrics back in December so I wanted to see how I liked them. I'm really happy with the red, white and blue and while I like the floral with orange and green, I don't think I'd want to make a whole lot of Moda Blockheads blocks with that fabric. I think I would like it better if I could use a white print instead of all white fabric for the background. There are supposed to be 30 blocks in this second round, but I know some will be paper piecing and applique and I won't do those. So I think I'll stick with the red, white and blue and try the blocks with that fabric. I don't have a whole lot of the white/red polka dot so it may not last through the whole quilt along. I did change out the center in the red, white and blue block to show off the fabric more. Here's a link to the Moda page for this block: modafabrics.com/inspiration-resources/bh5-group-2-block-1-sherri-mcconnellI had actually started to feel like I could just quit quilting, which is funny considering all the fabric and supplies I have So I was glad that I enjoyed making the blocks today. Take care
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