christmas stocking block

I am supposed to make a christmas stocking block for the next Guild meeting, 9 1/2 square but I am just fresh out of ideas, anybody have a pattern for Christmas stockings, I was looking for maybe a vidtorian shoe or a victorian stocking , If anyone has any good ideas let me know please, I need it to be completed by Dec 12.
Hope everyone had a nice thanksgiving, mine was just perfect, eveything came out the way it was supposed to and on time too!

Fun Stuff

did you know that the safety pin was invented in 1849 by a man named walter Hunt?
it was originaly called a dress pin and was simply made of a piece of wire with a pointed tip and a twist in the middle which created a spring and a clasp that bent around the point, Walter Hunt sold the rights to the invention for a mere $400.00.

* I have been put on this earth to sew and finish a certain number of projects...I am so far behind now I surely will never die!

A great site for savings on craft supplies

I founwww.CreateForLess.com
d this site while looking for some do-dads for christmas stockings,

Crazy week

It's been a crazy week, I'm trying to catch up on all my sewing projects and at the same time get used to my new machine , which is the bernina 440 aurora with the stitch regulator, . And I have to tell you , that is awesome, I don't need the foot pedal, just move the fabric and it goes! When I stop moving the fabric it stops! It even threads the needle for me, just push the lever and it comes down and puts the thread in the eye for you, Amazing! But it takes some getting used too, it's pretty funny because I still push my foot down as if I was pushing down on the foot control, I don't know if I will get used to not using the foot pedal! So I guess it's really not a sewing machine as we all know it but rather it's a sewing computer.

Back in business

Well, I'm finally back in business, sewing that is, I decided to bite the bullet and just buy a new machine while my old one is being repaired, I bought the Bernina aurora 440 QE with the stitch regulator, so i will be catching up on all my projects, thank God! Sewing Machine withdrawls are terrible!

Sewing machine repair

Well, I just got the details on what it's going to take to repair my Bernina, it's the board so they have to get one from Switzerland! they don't make my machine anymore but they will make a new computer board for it, to a tune of $400.00, so I decided to buy a new one because they are having a sale, and get my old one fixed, I just can't make up my mind on whether to get the embroidery module with the new one or not. Does anyone here have sewing machines that do alot of embroidery, just not sure if I would use it that much.

Quilting Guild

I had such a great time at the guild meeting last night, it was so nice and everyone was chatting and sewing, one of the ladies was leaving for the Houston Quilt Show and everyone was really excited, she will be taking a class with Libby Leibman and of course one of our members is Mark Lipinski from Quilter's Home Magazine and everyone was talking about his new fabric line and what quilts will be at the Houston Show of his, so there was alot of exciting things going on,we all sewed labels on kid's quilts that will be going to The Quilts for Kids org in Yardley Pa. It was really fun to share, I have all these things to make before the next meeting in November and I stll don't have my machine repaired, they keep telling me in a few days, boy I am getting really upset not having my machine.

Basting Frame

I decided to invest in a basting/quilting frame, it's one you build yourself and it stores under the bed or anywhere when you are not using it, I only ordered the how to DVD today and I can't wait because I'm tired of quilting in my large hoop for quilts i want to hand quilt anyway. It's from Joe the quilter, (Joe Cunningham) www.joethequilter.com. I will post pictures of my progress once I start to build it,
Here's a good laugh: There was a big fight at Wal-mart the other day between the coke guy and the pepsi guy, apparently the pepsi guy punched the coke guy in the face and gave him a big black eye! It was a big to-do over it but luckily enough Dr. pepper was there!

Ruby Mckim patterns

Four things

I have been tagged, so here's about me:
Jobs;
Data Processing Manager
Job Site coordinator
Mom
wife

Favorite Movies
Dr. Zhivago
Ryan's Daughter
A Lion in Winter
Cars

Favorite TV Shows
CSI
Everybody loves Raymond
Miami Vice
Dallas

Places I've Lived
Always lived in Nj

Favorite Food
Pasta
Chocolate

Favorite Colors:
Fall Colors
do not like white or black though

Where I'd like to be now:
Ireland
on the beach in Winter
In Vermont in Fall

Check it out

Great new stuff,

Amazing new products at JoAnn.com!

Darn it!

Just when I was quilting and going along so good and BAM! my machine decides to break or something, I can't believe it, I have so much to do and to get done this month, 2 quilts to quilt, blocks to piece and i am so mad! I have to travel really far to repair my Bernina and I have never had anything wrong in seven years, I guess these things happen.

Kona cotton

Wow! I just bought ten yards of white Kona Cotton for $2.19 a yard on what else but Ebay, I got free shipping too! What a deal, I love a bargain!

quilt guild

Well I decided to join my local hometown quilt guild. I have never belonged to a guild before and I fiqure it's about time I did. They are the Common Threads Quilters and the first meeting I go to is this Wednesday and I am really excited about going, plus we already have something in common , they are thinking of becoming part of the quilts for kids organazation which I have been a part of for awhile now. It should be fun and a new adventure!

How to know if you're a real quilter

1. There's more fabric in the house than food
2. "Fat Quarter" is not the heaviest part of your body
3. Your ironing board is always set up but you never iron clothes
4. you think your job as an interruption of your quilting time
5. You pet fabric
6. people are always picking threads off of you
7. You can measure a scant 1/4 inch by eye
8. "Featherweight" doesn't mean a boxer
9. Your UFO's are not from outer space
10. You clean up your sewing room and your family thinks that you are leaving home.

Quilting Conversations

Eavesdrop on a telephone conversation with Ricky Tims october 16th 2007 and look for Alex Anderson in December!

8) Eavesdrop on a Telephone Conversation – October 16 – Ricky Tims
Ricky Tims successfully blends two diverse passions into one very unique and interesting career. Thousands who have heard his music affirm his skills as a pianist, composer, and producer. His success as a quilter is equally significant. Eavesdrop on a Telephone Conversation with quilter and musician Ricky Tims - October 16

He is known in the international world of quilting as an enthusiastic and encouraging teacher, an award-winning quilter, and a talented and spellbinding speaker.

His quilts have been displayed worldwide, and are highly regarded as excellent examples of contemporary quilts with traditional appeal.

He is currently the co-host of The Quilt Show, an internet-based show for quilters that also features Alex Anderson, C&T Publishing author and former host of HGTV's Simply Quilts

We look forward to hearing Ricky on October 16, when he will share his inspiration for creating interesting and fun contemporary quilts. He will also be talking about his latest – Rhapsody Quilts.


Eavesdrop on a Telephone Conversation

My Sewing Room

Thought I would show you how I get to my sewing room so here's some photos of where I quilt.

Pinwheel quilt

Well I have been busy trying to make some Quilts for the Quilts for Kids the fabric was donated by a leading fabric manufacturer and then they cut everything into kits, I got two kits to see what it was like, you just mail the postage for sending you the kits, I was at first a little timid because the fabric was more like decorator fabric and quite thicker than what I'm used to quilting with and colors , not exactly matching but in less than 3 hours I had one top done, (it's only crib size) so tomorrow i will take some photos and let everyone see what they are like, it's alot of fun. It's a pinwheel quilt using 6 inch blocks so fairly easy and fast.

Quilting Day!

Well, finally got to quilt with my sister in law on Friday and I was so excited because she has a new bernina with the BSR, I couldn't wait to try it out. I can't tell you how dissapointing it was, first just getting the attachment on the machine and the right settings took three of us, and the BSR is supposed to regulate the stitches and they are supposed to be even no matter if you move your hands too fast or too slow , NOT! It took the same amount of effort and control as if you didn't have the BSR, needless to say we switched over to the walking foot and quilted away! I honestly felt dissapointed that the BSR was not all it's cracked up to be, but we had so much fun and got one quilt almost entirely done by 3:00 in the afternoon and Natalie was just so happy!

Simply Quilts

Wow, Simply quilts is back! I had really missed that show and even though it's re runs of shows I have seen already , I never get bored watching them again! Today's show was about the hidden block quilts- using two blocks and wow the number of combinations you could make many many quilts and each would still be different from the other, simply fascinating! I think at one point they said you could make 450 quilts using 10 different two block combinations, Endless possibilities! The Book was called "Hidden Block Quilts" by lerlene Nevali.

My first quilt

I remember my first quilt I ever made like it was yesterday. I bought a dresden plate kit from Hearthside quilts in the summer of 1979, I did not own a sewing machine at the time nor did I even have a clue on how to make a quilt, I just knew I had to make one. I was doing fairly well at it and I stored all the pieces and fabric in the window seat box under my bedroom window in the corner. Little did I know that our hot water heating pipe also ran thru that window seat! As luck would have it one day I came into the bedroom and I noticed steam and lots of it coming from the window seat, I opened it and it was filled to the top with water! and all my pieces were floating in this very hot water, Well, that should have been enough to make anybody quit and throw everything away, not me! I hung every piece on the clothesline to dry and even though they shrunk like hell I made that quilt! I still have it , of course it's wonky and not quilted very well and I didn't know what binding a quilt was at that time so the back was just folded over to the front . But it is my inspiration for days when I am frustrated with my quilting projects and I remember the determination that got me to where I am today! Love every stitch!

Ready for quilting

Here's a quilt I am working on, It's ready to quilt and actually by the time this photo is here the quilt is in the frame, this was my local quilt shop's Block of the month quilt for 2006, however It is not exactly like the others, I redesigned it for some reason I just didn't like the shop's intended layout so I did it my way, so to speak. Reminder: September is National Sewing Month!

My favortie time of year

This is the time of year I look forward to the most, cool nites, leaves start changing, time to do fall cleaning, but this is the time of year I do most of my quilting, for some reason I get more inspired this time of year than any other, and Halloween is coming!!

So Proud of myself

Well, I am almost finished my swap blocks which are due the 30th of this month and got my fabric listed on ebay, I decided to dress up my listings with using a pretty sewing template , so I bought the template for $2.69 and really didn't have a clue on what to do with it once the seller downloaded to me, but she really helped with insructions and I felt a little dumb after I realized how simple it was! but I got it to work and felt really good that I was able to fiqure out everything, but I 'll tell you what happened to the days when you just sat down with a needle and thread and didn't have all this computer stuff to fiqure out? I find myself constantly trying to keep up, thank God my sewing machine likes me cause I swear sometimes my computer has a hidden agenda to aggravate me all day long ! Love every stitch, T.

Quilts For Kids Foundation

If there is one thing I am very passionate about in my life it's this--There is a wonderful organazation that brings quilts to sick and needy children, they have 50 plus chapters in 29 US States and the carribbean. Quilts for kids accepts monetary donations, postage donations ( always in need of postage) as well as gifts of quilt blocks, quilt tops (which
you can buy the kits for tops for the cost of postage ) the quilts once finished are gifted to the sick and abused children . Visit the Quilts for Kids Foundation website at http://www.quiltsforkids.org/
You can also join the Yahoo group Quilted with love and find many ways to participate in helping to make quilts for kids. Visit today and see how you can make a difference!


Click to join Quilted_With_Love

Quilting fabric

I always use 100% cotton fabric for quilting and I always prewash my fabric. I find that I mostly use Moda Fabrics. I like using Kona Cotton for my backings, and I use number 12 betweens needles and YLI thread for hand quilting and machine piecing. I find alot of great Moda fabrics and great deals on

First post

I love to hand quilt! I have been quilting for over 28 years and i am amazed to see so many quilters out there!