Rug, 1st 100 Feet

I started out the other day making a coaster, then it was going to be a bowl and now I've decided it's going to be a small rug. I'm going to keep going until I run out of the three fabrics that I'm using. So here are some pictures of the first 100 feet of rope and it comes out to 18.25 inches of rug and growing. I really enjoy these projects because you can sit and mindlessly sew. The most time consuming part is the wrapping of the fabric on the rope. It seems to take forever to wrap a strip that is 45 inches long and then it takes probably 20 seconds and you're done sewing that strip. I like the colors and I'm hoping to get it somewhat bigger to either use by the front door or in the kitchen by the sink. Right now I figure I'll get another 100 feet on it if my fabric holds out.

Quiet Sunday and some sewing

Today has been a very quiet Sunday in my world. I'm still recovering from all the packing and moving so not much got done today. I slept late which felt fantastic. Did some cleaning and a little laundry and watched meaningless TV. Tonight I've been doing some sewing. It's wonderful to sit at my machine that has now been recessed into my new sewing table. Yesterday Michelle and Louie came from Iowa and Louie was gracious and recessed my machine for me. There is no possible way to thank him for all he's done for me and somehow just saying thank you doesn't seem enough. I so deeply appreciate this. Anyway Jen and Michelle have posted pictures of the whole process so all I'm going to add is a picture of my latest work in process on the machine that is now a joy to sew on. It started out a coaster and then I thought maybe a bowl and now I'm leaning towards a small rug. Who knows what it really will be but all I know is it's fun to sit at my machine and sew. May we have many happy years of sewing together.

Last I wanted to share a picture of my family with all of you. My sister Kitty is on the left and Mom is in the middle and of course I'm the one on the right. We're all looking a little tired but hey that's life.

The big move is over

Friday was the end of the big move. My sister and I worked later on Thursday night finishing up all kinds of little odds and ends. Kit got their early on Friday to let the movers in. This was one of our best ideas we've ever had. She said it took them only 3 hours to move Mom out of her apartment. We had everything boxed and when they came in they bubble wrapped all of the furniture then covered it with moving blankets and out it all went. Now it goes into storage and they will crate everything and put it up until we call to say she can get in her new apartment. I'm so glad that phase is done. I think it gives a whole new meaning to my a-- is dragging. I'm still trying to recoop from a solid week of packing. I have a few things in my car yet to get out but not much. Friday night we went out to eat and Jen joined us to celebrate. It's going to take a while for my back and knees to recoop but it was for a good cause. We'll be all rested up by the time she moves into the new place and we're hoping for July 1.

Packing update

Today was the second day of our marathon packing of my Mom's apartment. It went really well. First thing this morning even though I was a little late I went to our BOM to pick up Jen's and my pattern. Then I met up with two great friends Sherry and Maureen and we went out for breakfast. It didn't matter to me that I had already had anEgg McMuffin on the way to BOM I was still able to eat three pancakes at Perkins. Next a stop at WalMart to pick up some more packing supplies like packing tape, bubble wrap and a wide tipped marker. Off to my Mom's I went to meet up with two of my sisters who were already fast at work. We got so much done today it was fantastic. One sister has all of the kitchen cabinets wiped out and the other one has the bathroom packed up, scrubbed down and ready for inspection. Then she moved on to the bedroom. Mean while I was on the living room floor wrapping all off the items in the curio cabinet. Three rolls of bubble wrap later all the breakables were wrapped and packed in two boxes with FRAGILE and do not drop and if you do run for your life written on the boxes. Tomorrow is another day of packing but we're really in great shape and will meet our April 30 deadline no problem. It still looks like a big mess but you know how that goes. Once we move all of the houseplants to my sisters and pack up the clothes we're taking to Mom it will look 100% better. Keep your fingers crossed for us.

Tonight I completely straightened out my spare room that I use for storage because I'm going to be bringing some boxes here from Mom's that we don't want in storage. This room hasn't looked this good in months and it only took me about an hour to do. HMMMMM once this move is done and Jen is moved I think my closet and my garage are getting a face lift........

Have you seen this quilt pattern?

A couple of weeks ago Jen and I were at a local quilt show and we saw this quilt. I fell in love with this one and I can't for the life of me find the pattern anywhere. I'd love to make this for my niece who's expecting her first baby this fall. Has anyone seen this pattern anywhere and know where I can find it? I'd appreciate all the help I can get. Please don't tell me to just draw it because I can't even draw a straight line when I have a ruler.

I couldn't resist either

Well I just couldn't resist and here's my slogan.


Cindy, live the pleasure........... Oh I really like it

This and that

Sorry, no pictures today but I wanted to stop in and tell all of you that I talked to Jen on my way home from work today and she's having a great time at Jill's. So far they spent the day going from quilt shop to quilt shop and it sounds like they were laughing all the way. Tomorrow they head to the quilt retreat. They were both laughing and talking at the same time so I know they have hit it off.

OK I'm off to start packing up my Mom's apartment. We found out today even though we gave notice that she was going to move she has to be out by April 30. My sister and I are going into super packing mode and hopefully by Sunday night we'll be done. Then her things will just have to be in storage until she can get into her new apartment.

bowls from washline

Some of you had asked me to post a picture of the washline that I used to make the fabric bowls and coasters that I've been making lately. I've had a hard time finding washline but I was finally able to find some at WalMart. It's hard to see the label in the pictures but what it says is " mainstays home, Cotton Clothesline, 3/16"X100'/5mm.x30.5m. WalMart also had the best price of anywhere. We did find some at a hardware store but it was almost $9 for 100 feet. This is very easy to sew through by just using a little bit wider zig zag stitch.

Pillows

It's been a long time since I've posted so here I am again. Things have just been moving along so quickly that I can't keep track of time. We had another stop in the ER with my Mom. It's been a week since she was there and I can say she's on the mend. She fell in her apartment and has to compressed vertebra. She's in a back brace and staying with one of my sisters. In the next couple of weeks we'll be packing her up and moving her out of her old apartment and then soon into her new one. Times are exciting but tiring.

I've been trying to do a little sewing but these last couple of days nothing has been happening. Last weekend we celebrated my best friends birthday and I made her a couple of pillows. If any of you remember I tried making her pillows for Christmas but they just didn't turn out. It turned out it wasn't me but a mistake on the pattern. I bought a pattern at a quilt show and the pillows turned out great. I have learned something about pillow forms though, when you put them into your pillow case they don't fill out the corners. Next ones I make I'll stuff batting in the corners first and then put the form in.

Happy Mothers Day, early

I got the most fantastic early Mothers Day present this week from Jen. She ordered me a great sewing table and it was delivered. I was looking at the book in my livingroom for a couple of days reading and rereading my instructions. Last night first off Jen and Mike brought me dinner. Mike had cooked out and we had great pork chops and some wonderful rice. Then we started to watch the movie Alvin and the Chipmonks at which point Mike went home. That left Jen and I and out came the table pieces. It's always easier with someone else to put something together and in no time flat Jen had the table assembled. It's beautiful. I've been sewing for the past two years on one of those smaller white hard plastic folding tables and it did work fine but it was high. Now in a couple of weeks our friends Michelle and Louie are going to come and Louie the sweetie he is will recess my machine down into my new table. For the first time ever I'll be able to use my knee lift. So here's a few pictures of what we did last night. I even had to try out the new table so I made a small coiled bowl to set my free standing thread holder in so as not to scratch the surface. That went together in under and hour.

I hope you're not bored with all my pictures but I'm so excited............