Special Gifts and a Throw Back Thursday Photo

Yesterday was Administrative Professionals Day.    I am an administrator for a PhD program at a major university.   I do a lot of paperwork, budgets, ordering, travel, meeting planning and hand holding for graduate students and research faculty. I love my job.   I do many different things and can basically choose to do something different every day.

I received this bouquet of flowers, and this beautiful card from a co-worker.   It made my day.   When I saw the card it made me think of a quilt (wall hanging) that I have been contemplating for years, that features birdhouses.    I told my co worker that, and she took it as the great complement that it is.

My boss while not as creative in his gift, also remembered me with a Thank You gift, and I am going to have to find something special to use it on.

I made some progress on the half log cabins, and will share some pictures when I get all of the blocks done. 

For a TBT (Throw Back Thursday), here is a picture of me with my sisters from 2006. 

I should have some quilty pictures for you tomorrow.  My sit-n-stitch group meets tonight and I will share what each person is working on tomorrow.

Works in Progress

Yesterday I told you about my new sit down long arm.   I was trying to figure out a name for her, and I think I have decided on Ruby, but if you have a better suggestion, send it to me as I am not totally set.

I have been playing around with a few things, trying to overcome the rustiness I feel.   I keep trying to remember that it is muscle memory and rhythm.  So I am working on that.   I had some tree skirt/table toppers already cut out in my UFO boxes.   I have a lot of UFOs.

 I have tried to get the rhythm for smooth curves on the swirls, but I have a long way to go.   I will bind this and it will become a present for one of my daughter-in-laws.   They say it takes 500 hours to get good at FMQ.  I believe it, but I am going to try.   I have a few table runners and 2 more of these table toppers to do, and then I am going to try a quilt.  Wish me luck.

I have started back with my 15 minutes of sewing per day challenge.   Most days I manage to get more time in than that, but I am trying for some consistency, so that I can get some things accomplished.   Currently under my needle are these half log cabin blocks.    

I got them all cut out on Tuesday morning.   I dropped a friend at the airport at 4:45am, and went back home.  It was too late to go back to sleep before work, so I used the time to get started on this project.   I should be able to get them done within a couple of days and then we will see what kind of layout is going to look best.

I have one more project that I am actively working on right now.  I love to have a hand project going for those long car rides, or during basketball season, football season, baseball season.  My husband loves sports, and spends a lot of time watching them.   Sometimes he likes me to be in the room, sitting in our twin recliners.   He watches sports and I stitch, or watch a movie on my iPhone, with my airpods on.  That way, he doesn't feel alone and I still get stuff done.   

The project is for a quilt called "To Grandmother's House We Go" by Crab-apple Hill.   They have numerous patterns that combine stitchery with piecing.  I just love this one.

 I am about half way done with the first embroidery panel, but have upped my time working on it and hopefully can get it done by the end of the year.   The hand work takes so much time, but I really enjoy the process, so it takes as long as it takes.

A New Start

I have been away from blogging for a long time, but I get a blog everyday by email, that makes me remember how much fun it is to keep track of life in words and pictures. 

So I am going to give it another try.   The hard part is making it a habit.   A few years ago, I posted everyday or at least 5 of 7 days of the week.   Looking back at my posts, I am reminded of great memories and how great looking back at my life events makes me feel.   So here goes:

So this happened.    I have wanted a long arm for a long time, but have no where to put a large frame.  While browsing FB market place, I saw this machine for sale, at a great price.   I asked my husband, not expecting a positive response, if we could get it.  Much to my surprise he agreed.  So then to buy it, haul it home and wait patiently(not) for my husband to put it back together again.  I was like a kid who was waiting on his father to pack the car for a fishing trip, who can't wait to christen his new rod and reel.  I was jumping up and down inside. 

When I told my husband I was jumping up and down inside, he said " I know" that is why we bought it.    I am a very blessed woman! 

I have begun practicing my free motion quilting and will share some pictures of my efforts soon.

So we get the new machine with its table and extension and my husband

James, says "It is not going to fit in that room."  I say " Yes it will I measured."  Then he asks, what do we have to move.    I say " Every item in the room." and begin to show him where everything goes.   It does fit, with just a few inches to spare, and now I have wall to wall quilting and storage spaces in my sewing room.  Have I mentioned that I am blessed?

I ordered and my huband hung for me some metal peg boards and I have organized most of my tools, but I still have some bins and boxes to go through, so the empty space will definitely get filled.

Tomorrow I will share some of the projects I am working on and some samples of my practice work on my Sweet Sixteen Handiquilter.   I need to come up with a name for her.   If you have any suggestions, give me a shout out.

Until next time.