Yellow Table Runner

Although I had planned on making a Yellow Quilt.  Time turned it into a Yellow Table Runner!  I enjoyed the process of deciding what pattern to choose, how I was going to lay it out, the changes I needed to make to take it from a quilt to a runner. 

This storm that is coming in has created a layer of ice on the roads that I considered too dangerous.  After talking to people that made it to work, I am glad that I stayed home.  Talk of all the wrecks they've seen along the way and the sliding that they did.  Whew.  I'll just keep throwing more wood into the furnace and staying warm!

Freckles did NOT want to go out to potty, I even had to help her down the step so she wouldn't fall and walk out to the trees so she would follow me and go.  I dread what tomorrow will bring.

Design Wall Monday January 31, 2011

Check out what others have on their wall at Judy's Blog:

  http://www.patchworktimes.com/2011/01/31/design-wall-monday-january-31-2011/

Is this the layout I want?

Lets Try Snowball blocks

Good to go!

Black for the points, too.

Design Wall

Stash Sunday - Week 5

Week 5 Stash Report
Used this Week:  0 (Still haven't FINISHED a project)
Used Year to Date - 0
Added This Week - 1 yards
Added Year to Date - 10 yards
Net Used 2011:  0

I bought 4 fat quarts of yellow to add to my yellow quilt.  This was before I truly realized how short a time I had left to get it done.  WOW, this month has flown by. 

 I've been busy working on the Yellow Table Runner (Formerly known as Yellow Quilt!!)  And I am pleased with my progress.

I am trying to decide how to lay out the Runner.

This is getting closer!

 Is it considered Anaerobic Exercise when you have to step over the dog just to get to the quilt pieces that you are going to sew next?  I think so, because I always pause, catch my breath (because I almost stepped on her, well not really.  I try to be aware of where she has plopped down.) and then high step over her, then Repeat when coming back to the sewing room!!   If you can  see the bedroom in the background, that is where they Runner is laid out.

Yellow Quilt

I need to get motivated again.  I probably won't get this Yellow Quilt done by the end of the month.  I think it will become the Yellow Table Runner!!  lol    I sewed another round on and am thinking black half sq. triangles and these blocks set on point should finish it up nicely.  :)  OMGoodness  I still need to quilt that other project. How did the end of the month sneak up on me so quickly.  :(

Putz Day

I'm very surprised that I wasn't sore today after the line dancing.  That is a good thing, right?  I worked on the house some more and played on the computer.  Shame on me.  Fixed dinner and well, that is that.

Line Dancing Thursday

About 3 weeks ago I joined a "Community Meltdown" group.  The idea is to loose weight  :)  yeah!   Line dancing was being offered on Thursday nights; but, due to snow they were canceled.  Tonight was the first night  :)   We did... Macarena (probably spelled wrong), Cupid Shuffle, Cha Cha Slide, Cotton-eyed Joe, of course YMCA and the chicken dance!  Now, if I can only remember how they go Next Week!!   It was a great work out.  Hopefully I won't be too sore tomorrow.  :)

Knitting and Cleaning

Clean bathroom

Clean Kitchen

    

Tired Helper!

Thanks Swooze  :)    I did find a few YouTube sites.  lol as I cleaned I also found the book!!  Double score! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LgOs91W9n4  ok, Triple score! lol  Linked up!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbxkKkHGgZA&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Knitting

I've pulled my knitting back out.  I really want to learn how.  I need to find a good cd that shows the view from the instructor shoulder.  As if what I was looking at was my own hands.  I am also knitting in the English Method/style.  This means that the yarn is held in my right hand and not my left (as in crochet).  It is not easy to find somebody that knits this way  :( .   So, if anyone can recommend a good CD that shows the English style of knitting, Pass it on!!!   Seriously, I would appreciate it.  I see lots of cd's out there, but they don't state what method.  That is about all for today.  Bye :)

Too Tired to Design Wall

Wore myself out at work, apparently, because I fell asleep in DH chair!  Glad that I had pre-cooked all that ground meat.  We had spaghetti for dinner and since the meat was already cooked, it was a breeze to fix up.  Not much else today.  Too tired, even though I had that nap.  My design wall hasn't changed.  I need to focus and quilt on Wednesday (my day off!)   If you want to see what is still looks like, go here :)  http://trishquilts.blogspot.com/2011/01/design-wall-monday-11711-yellow-quilt.html    I need to figure out how to make it a link.  Thank you Swooze for helping me!!

Stash Sunday

I did NOT want to go to work today.  P5's on rest of store.  Good news is that we went home at 12 noon.  :)  Yeah!!  Yep you guessed it, more cleaning today.  Bathroom looks great.  Obviously still more work to do, but ridding myself of alot of the clutter is helping.  Now I wish I had a car instead of a truck so I could load up alot of this stuff and get it out of the house.  Maybe I will take over a spot in the basement to Temporarily Keep this stuff that needs to leave my house! 
Week 4 Stash Report
Used this Week:  0
Used Year to Date - 0
Added This Week - 9 yards
Added Year to Date - 9 yards
Net Used 2011:  0 

Cleaning day

Cleaned some more.  I am really getting into this Flylady system.  Gotta go play some more Flylady bingo so that more work can get done.   I am focusing on the bathroom!   ewww... but it is going to shine after this!

Work day

Went to work.  Probably should have stayed home, but  made it in.  Went 40mph, even on the interstate.  Coming home was fine until I was almost to the house.  With the sun shining so bright on the snow it was hard to see where the tracks were.  Love nice clean snow, always hated the muddy snow, but I sure could have used a bit of dirty snow to tell me where the tracks were!  I worked around the house and am keeping my sink shiny! No quilting.  I need to get back the the Yellow Quilt

Snow day

Snowed in today.  :)   Lots to get done.  I have already browned and bagged 9 lbs of ground beef.  4 of it is deer.  Mixing it with the beef as it browns adds the extra fat to help the dryness of the meat.  I also have lots of grease to use for Freckles' food.  She will just love this!!  I wonder if i froze it in ice cube trays might be a good way to handle this much? 
Dinner is Lasagna.  I need to put the ingredients into the Bread Machine so we can have fresh bread tonight!
Darn it, I forgot the bread.  I got busy cleaning. Yes, you heard right.  Cleaning!

Lasagna is made.  I made two batches and froze one.  Laundry is going and the sewing room looks almost as organized/clean as when I first moved into it!  I am feeling awesome about what I have accomplished today!

Chicken Noodle Soup

Ok, Turkey Noodle Soup  :)    What to fix for dinner?  I found some leftover turkey, limited time, so soup sounded like a good idea.  Unfortunately I have limited supplies on hand for this.  So I hope this turns out edible!  Here are the list of characters:  Turkey, carrots, wide noodles and peas.  I had no chicken bouillon but I found a can of Cream of Chicken.. into the pot.  Seasonings:  Rosemary, parsley and garlic powder, salt and pepper.  I searched for some celery seed but I am out  :(    so I threw in some more parsley.   The peas were frozen garden peas.  Yep, from my own garden!!!  These should be great in the soup.  Wish me luck!  Results:  Delish!!!  I may freeze what is left and serve it again after I put some celery or celery seed in it.  Tom had 2 bowls!

Lunch w/ Friend

Lunch with Kathy B!  I just had a great lunch with my friend Kathy.  Day off, too  :)   Cleaning today and I have found this site.  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/flylady  and am listening to Flylady encouraging me to clean :0)
It's snowing outside!  Just as I pulled into Kathy's driveway the snow started coming down.  It has been constant all day now and it is looking like I will be staying home tomorrow.  Awww...  lol  won't hurt my feelings any to stay home.  I've gotten a lot cleaned up and want to get some more done!!

Off Day

Today I went shopping.  Used coupons and saved a lot!  Then I went to JoAnns.  Well, I spent what I had saved.  So did I really save anything?  I think so... lol ...  I spent about $4.00 more than I saved.  I call that rather good!!  Came home, put up items.  Fixed dinner, watch NCIS (love that show) and that is about all. I'm off tomorrow!!  I plan on getting a lot done. 

Design Wall Monday 1/17/11, Yellow Quilt

   DESIGN WALL MONDAY 

Trying to figure out what to do for the sashing. Black border or Gold?  These are the pieces left over from cutting for the blocks.  Or should be "piano key



Here are the strips as varied lengths.  This is what I had imagined.  Too busy? I wonder how a "ribbon" edge would look, using solid Green and Red?  I would have to buy fabric.  Any suggestions?   board" size? 






This is what I have done so far for the  Monochromatic Yellow Quilt.

Stash Report and Yellow Quilt

I woke up way Too Early this morning.  (3am)  On the bright side, I finished sewing this round on the Yellow Quilt!!  Have to go to work  :(    Yeah, work is over for the day, now, I need to cut some more strips to 4.5 length and get to sewing some more.  House is COLD  Brrrrrr.  Maybe I'd best throw some more wood in the furnace first!  :)

Week 3 Stash Report
Used this Week:  0
Used Year to Date - 0
Added This Week - 9 yards
Added Year to Date - 9 yards
Net Used 2011:  0

Looks bad.  But I will add the fabric that I have used when I finish a quilt.  So, I'd better get alot of quilts done this year!!

Quilting and Cleaning

My daughter was home for Christmas break and she helped me declutter my bedroom. She streamlined the sorting by making piles of "next" levels of clothes. (we had to sort into 2 levels). Yes I am trying to loose weight. And have lots of outside help to encourage me. :)
This morning I was playing at the computer, started feeling grumpy and realized that I hadn't "officially" started my day. I had not Shined my sink. And I wasn't even dressed yet. :( I must have been thinking last night, because I sorted thru the next level of pants and had put them in the bathroom, so this morning I tried them on... TADA!! they all fit. Alright, Flinging the old work pants, because I have 2 new pair that fit!!!!! And, I am flinging 4 old pair and only bringing out 2 new pair!! While working in the bedroom, we made enough room on the shelves to spread out my husbands gym clothes. No more piling them into one HUGE and TALL stack for him from now on! Thank you so much, I am looking forward to continued success with Flylady!!


I still haven't worked on my #6. table runner.  I need to focus on that when I sit down on the couch.  Hmmm maybe that will be my next cleaning spot!  I also need to trim up the centers of my yellow quilt.  Kitchen is all clean.  Now Tom says he is going be turning off the water to work on bathtub.   So, I found 'a few' jugs to fill with water!!  Might as well as them all full.  You never know what might happen.  And it never fails, as soon as I hear "No Water" I get very, very thirsty!
Working on Yellow Quilt!  I have the next segments for the blocks cut and mostly sewn on.  Need to get dinner and work on #6 tonight, so the rest of the sewing will have to wait.

Putz Day

Today is just a Putz Day.  Nothing really exciting going on.  Made Dinner, petted/fed Freckles, surfed the web.  That is about all for the day.  Felt good not to HAVE TO accomplish anything today.  Does anyone else have Putz Days?

Yellow Quilt

I've been able to work a little bit on the Yellow Quilt!! I was able to sew only a few blocks, because we are going out to dinner! Yeah. This doesn't happen often so it is a reason to enjoy it completely!
I need to go get ready. :) So far I've written every day. Can you tell I am happy with that fact! See ya.

Tired Day

Not much going on here. Went to work, came home, surfed web. This is all I've accomplished today. I hate days like this. Maybe I need to go clean something up in the kitchen. Then I will at least feel like I've accomplished something!

Yellow Quilt

Stayed home from work today. Snowed in. My yard stick says 7-8" fell. Not sure what official measure is. Bad for work, but good for me because I plan on working on the Yellow Quilt today!

The first was my thought for the Yellow Quilt but the cute center gets lost :( And this is what happens when I put a black center. Definitely better! But, I started with a 4.5" cut square and 2.5" cut strips. Which makes a 12" finished block. rather LARGE for the baby quilt that I thought to do. So, I can either keep going and make it a larger quilt (I definitely have enough fabric to do this) OR recut strips and make it all smaller. Decisions, decisions.
I know. I'm going to go eat lunch!!
This is the changed version. The strips are cut at 1.5". Tiny, tiny pieces! I spent most of the time cutting strips. I have enough sewn for 8 blocks. But lots more tiny pieces if I need to sew more.

Design Wall Monday 1/10/11

My Design wall Looks like this: I have the 'middle' of the top done. I want to add a black border and then I don't know if I will do piano keys, scrappy rectangles, ribbon. Thinkinig the scrappy rectagles. That would make it go faster. Not sure how the ribbons would look. Or how to do them. Need to check Judy's blog and see if she has directions on there.
Suggestions welcome :)

Jump to Judy's to see what others are doing! http://www.patchworktimes.com/

This is what I see first thing this morning at 4:30 a.m. Now I have to finish up and head to work.

Christmas Quilt and Pressure Cooker and Weekend Goals

Week 2 Stash Report
Used this week - 0
Used Year to Date - 0
Added this Week - 0
Added Year to Date - 0
Net Used 2011 - 0

I am moving right along on the quilt! The blocks are all sewn into rows and Almost all the rows are joined together!! We've had snow this morning. Not alot, thank goodness! But, the evening is yet to come. Weather report is saying between 3-6 inches of snow tonight and Monday lots of snow blowing around due to winds. :( ewwwww. (maybe I'll have to stay home!)

Rows are all sewn together! I thinking about putting a first border of black and then the piano key border last, OR odd size rectangles sewn lengthwise for the last border. I think I really need EQ7!! lol Why didn't I think of that for my Christmas list??? This looks square, but it isn't. It is 5X7 blocks. What do you think?

I have found a recipe and started the Pot Roast cooking in the Pressure Cooker. Wish me luck, this is the first time doing this. I found the recipe here: http://www.food.com/recipe/savory-pot-roast-a-la-pressure-cooker-44990


So far the most confusing part is No Dial to watch, No juggle sound to hear, so I keep watching the amount of steam. Found a site that said "a Whisper of steam is all you need to see". Ok. But there is little bubbles of water "erupting" every so often and a gentle sound going on at the same time. is this ok? So far it hasn't blown up, so I guess that is a good sign. There is a little bit of moisture at the base of the thingy where the steam comes out. No mention of that happening in the directions. Guess we will wait and see. Only 18 minutes left on the timer and then the cool down time. :) I am HUNGRY. Apparently I forgot to eat lunch.

Can you see the little bubbling at the base where the steam comes out? I guess you can see a little bit of white, where the steam has dried. Next picture is the whole cooker with the red pressure thing up, showing that it is all pressurized :)




Here is the end result. Delicious! Gravy is in the Cooker.
Definitely will be making this again!

Saturday

Good thing I gave myself Saturday AND Sunday! I spent a lot of time surfing the web this morning and am finally cracking down on my list! I have sewn two Rows of the Christmas Easy Quilt :) I don't want to stop, but I had better so I can tackle another item on my list. We will have leftovers for dinner, Fridge is FULL. So I can concentrate on De-cluttering now. bbl Never thought cleaning would be "exciting". Organized alot of stuff (non-quilting) and found some gifts for people from Christmas' past (yes, more than one Christmas). Good news is that I will be passing them out tomorrow! Now, I give myself permission to work on my quilt some more. I think I will wait on the yellow. This other is telling me to finish 'me' first. lol Darn it. I just realized. Yellow quilt has to be FINISHED by the end of the month. This means quilted and bound. Ok, have to re-think this one.

Saturday Goals

These are the things that I want to accomplish on Saturday and/or Sunday:

• Pressure Cook Dinner
• Work on Christmas Easy Quilt
  
• Quilt on Table Top
• Start cutting Yellow Fabric
  
• De-clutter some more!
  

Last Christmas Party

Tonight is my Hubbies Office Christmas Party. This will be great! But, we have to leave at 5pm. Here is it, 2:30, just home from work. Gotta get some stuff done. Well. Maybe. Maybe just kick back and get ready :)

Christmas Quilt and Dinner

I have been able to work on the Christmas Quilt some today. I hope to work on it again this evening. I am re-discovering that slow and steady is better for me. When I rush, I make mistakes :( and then, because I am rushing, I rush past the mistakes and keep going. Not good. This time I am trimming the 9-patch to the same size as the 'solid' square. Maybe this will keep the quilt from "growing".

Dinner is Turkey Pot Pie. Recipe found here. It sure looks good! http://www.bettycrocker.com/recipes/turkey-biscuit-pot-pie/216ada3e-0fc5-4eaa-aeec-fb0512cea2a5?p=1
Next time, I need to make more biscuit mix, or make the blobs of dough smaller :)

Resolutions and Resolve

Still going strong on my resolutions! Today I purchased these plastic things that I needed to put some shelves together. They went together so smoothly! Then I went to all (well, ok, some) of the places that I have stashed/stored items and pulled alot of them together. Nope, not fabric, but food, cleaning, and misc. stuff. I knew I had lots of Laundry Soap, but I didn't realize I had THAT much (10 bottles). Nor do I need to buy Kleenex for quite awhile. (Maybe even all winter) I still have lots to sort thru, but I need to remember to do it a bit at a time, then I won't burn out (at least I hope this is the result). I really, really want to accomplish these resolutions.
One plan/thought was to do a bit on everything each day. Obviously that was unrealistic. After working on the sorting, making dinner, recording in blog and I still need to check mail and other sites, it will be time to head to bed.

Meal: Steak, Baked Potatoes, Watergate Salad, Cookies (oreos)

Ready, Set, Goals!?

Jocelyn left to go back to college, Sniff, sniff, miss her already! And I had to go back to work. Boo hoo for me. I have all kinds of ideas/goals and things I want to accomplish. How on earth to keep them all straight? Use lots of notebooks? Keep spreadsheets? My brain is going to explode!

Start with one. Ok. Moved Quilt #6 out to the couch. Have thread and needle and thim..oops. brb thimble ready so I can work on this tonight while we watch tv :)
Two. Yellow Quilt. ok need to get yellow fabric pulled. brb Got it :) Yeah!! Here's a pic. Pattern? Yep, picked out. Ok. going well so far :)
Three. ??? ut oh. Brain shut down :( I know. I found an interesting site: http://www.bemorewithless.com/ I know I do the complete minimalist thing, but there is lots of good advice. I also need to keep up with Flylady.

Design Wall Monday 1/3/11

My design wall looks like this! Yes, same as yesterday. I will blame dd, she 'made' me clean my room!! lol I hope to get some more work done on it today, especially since I have to go to work again, tomorrow. 4 days off in a row sure has been great!

DD and I worked in my Bedroom again. WOW. It looks great! Went thru bookshelf (huge mess) and the dress drawers. Now when I find things in another part of the house, I can put them right where they belong. I just want to keep this up! We worked on the desk in the kitchen too. ewww. big mess there.

Ideas for the monochromatic quilts: Strips (on half square & other triangle either black or off white) Square, thin rectangle/w small square at corners 2-3 rows out, RR tie/4sq & HStriangle alternates)

Today is Jocelyn's last day home. She heads out tomorrow. I'll sure miss her!!

January 's Number and Color & Stash Report

Judy has chosen a number for the UFO Challenge and it is #6. Yeah or Boo? Not sure which, lol. This is my Red/yellow Table Top. and I believe the quickest project to finish. I need to put it in the livingroom so I can have it in site at all times. I need to finish hand quilting it and bind it. That is "all". Ok, Trish, let's start the New Year right!

Oh yes. Color. The color for January's Monochromatic Quilt is YELLOW. I wonder how much yellow I have? I wonder what are we to do if we don't have enough Yellow to make anything?? That is probably a moot point, as I am sure that I have yellow. I just need to go and check. Judy's addy is: http://www.patchworktimes.com/ Go check it out!

Week 1 Stash Report:

Used this Week: 0
Used year to Date: 0
Added this Week: 0
Added Year to Date: 0
Net Used for 2011: 0

Ok, I looks bad. But I have cut the fabric for the quilt pictured below. But I have decided to wait until the top is finished before counting the fabric.

I was busy yesterday working on the Christmas Quick Quilt and have gotten a lot done. Wish I didn't have to keep stopping and starting. But here is a picture of the progress so far.

The empty spots, well, the corner two are on the ironing board and the other is still in the sewing machine. Scared myself a few times! I thought I had lost squares, only to realize that they were still "in" the sewing machine.

Caffeine. Sugar. I need more of one and less of the other. Solution? Hot Chocolate with coffee in it? I don't like the tase of coffee. I don't like the smell of coffee. Disguising it in Hot chocolate may be the answer. Made my own Hot Chocolate from recipe. Add Instant Coffee. This may work. Cheaper than the International coffee that I've been buying. I am drinking a cup now. too much coffee. Should I add sugar? No. Need less sugar *sigh*

Decluttering has begun!! Jocelyn is helping me start in the Bedroom. She has been such a big help. I get bogged down, or my brain shuts down, and she finds a way to get me going again!!

I have MAJOR problems finishing quilts. This is one reason I have so many UFOs. I have devised a plan for me :) When I am Surfing the web stores, I will "shop", but at the end I will try to ONLY actually BUY virtually. Write down the total. Put that amount aside. And when I have enough to pay for a quilt to be quilted, HAVE IT DONE!!
Wish me luck!!

Meals:
Sunday - Eat at Chester's!
Monday - Turkey, corn, Rolls,
Tuesday - King Crab
Wednesday - Steak, Potatoes, Watergate Salad, Oreos
Thursday - Turkey Pot Pie
Friday - Steak, Potatoes, Salad
Saturday - Roast (try the Pressure Cooker), Carrots, Potatoes

Resolutions

I have not been a big one on "Making A Resolution List". But I feel like everything in my life is out of control. Maybe a list would help. I am going to try to have this list up on the side of the blog so that I can see it daily. This will be a general list as I don't want to overwhelm myself because if that happens, I won't attempt to do it. (I do know myself..at least a little!)
1. Declutter
2. Clothes
3. Bedroom
4. Books
5. Kitchen Stuff
6. Pantry
Ok, I'm now feeling overwhelmed. :( Time to stop and I know I can always add to it.. well, I hope I can add to it! lol I still have to figure out how to make this list show up at the side!