WIP/UFO/PhD progress. Wow!

I came  back from my 2 week hiatus ready to sew but work interfered as did a much needed trip to Paducah (more on that in a day or two.)

This weekend, I went to town. I finished week 8 of my pinwheel blocks for our quilt-along. 

Yesterday (Sat.) was week 9 and where we are to add sashing and piece it all together.  Here is a picture of my blocks, in no particular order, that I will be adding sashing to. I'm thinking about just using yellow for the sashing but then, I'm not sure I have enough.  I think green will be too dark and a combination will make it go from fun busy to crazy busy so I'm open to any suggestions you have for the sashing. In the same boat with the pink, I don't think I have enough of any of the other farbrics for sashing either except, possibly, the stripe.  So, any ideas?

Onto the heavy news, my 9th finish of the year. It's also my 5th finish of the WIP/UFO list I started with at the beginning of the year. I'm good with that. If I can, I'm going to knock out one more before I have to pack up my frame for my next move at the end of May.

This quilt was from last year's Old Red Barn's Quilt-along. I used my mom's old calicos from years ago. A stash she gladly passed to me when I started quilting. The colors are soft and floral. Here's front and back. My first attempt at a pieced back and I have to say, I really dislike it.

Totally not my style but the dog liked it! As usual, they got right on it when I laid it down to trim the edges.

That's okay, this one was full of experimental designs, meanders and a test method for binding. It's not really going to anyone so I think it will be a quilt for the dogs - I mean, couch. LOL

How's everyone else doing on their WIP/UFO/PhD progress?

Public Service Announcement. Yes, for you!

If you notice your machine is getting noisy. Sounds like loose metal clanging and you generally keep your machine clean,

TRY OILING IT!

I changed a bobbin on Ms. Midge yesterday and in the process tried to diagnose the noise I keep hearing. Usually, I only hear the tinging when the bobbin thread is low but this was happening without a bobbin altogether. 

So, I thought, what the heck, I'll oil down there and see what that does. HOLY CRAP... okay, I said the "S" word. NO noise.

I started sewing again and who knew, I actually have a quiet Ms. Midge.  She's only been loud b/c I haven't been paying attention.

So yea, oil your damn machines.

C-ya! Beck

My Husband... the hunter

DISCLAIMER: Some photos are of dead, hunted animals. Not gross, just don't go further if you don't want to see.  It's like a train wreck now, isn't it? You have to go on...

The hubs, as I often refer to him, is "Mike." Meet Mike.

Mike hunts. Deer, boar, elk, birds...

Mike fishes.

Mike has always wanted me to hunt but I was fine with him bringing home the good eats and sleeping in.

Mike would love it if I liked fishing but he should have picked a better place to introduce me to it than on a cold, wet and rainy day. (Granted, in his defense, it was the only day available in our Ireland vacation.)

Something changed.

She arrived.

She was too smart and needed a job. I thought, I could go out and spend time with the hubs during a hunt and have something else to do. I found a place to learn how to train her. Pick her out of the chain gang, can you? (okay the first red one.)

Now, I want to hunt. And I don't just want to go with the hubs while he hunts, I want to hunt birds. No deer, still not interested in any of that but I like the idea of birds.

Hunting with my girl.

The hubs went turkey hunting yesterday.

He got a turkey.

I'm jealous.

The hubs is happy.

I finally want to hunt. 

THE END

Giveaway - but really, you don't want to enter, do you?

-wink- I have been patiently waiting for Paducah before I buy some of this fabric line. I have a quilt in mind for a work collegue. I think it'd be a fun little addition for her in the office. Now, I if I can win it instead of purchasing... all the more money for some other fun thing at Paducah. hehe

Okay, okay, if you want to enter, do. I mean, really. If somewhere deep down inside I didn't want to give you the chance, then I wouldn't have posted about it now, would I?

To enter, click on the link below and follow this blogger's guidance. :)

Good luck! MAKE LIFE GIVEAWAY                         

 

HELLO AGAIN! Paducah anyone?

Alright, I'm back. I have officially spent 2 weeks working from my VA home, missing my children and doggies, packing up a 5 bedroom house, organizing utility turn off, garbage pick ups, goodwill pickups (that didn't happen), Uhaul pickups, supervising crappy movers packing the trucks and then a 650 mile drive from No. VA to Clarksville, TN in one of the said UHaul trucks on a day where I proceeded to be ill for about 1/2 the day. Made the trip about 2 hours longer than normal. BLAH!

I returned Friday. Spent some time with the family and the hubs who did a great job while I was gone dealing with my tasks AND having a clean home for me when I returned. He took kids to soccer, boyscouts, an ER visit for a broken finger, an orthopedic visit for said finger, 2 appts. for the dog with a leg injury, soccer games on the weekend, and other misc. items. He felt ill for a portion of it and we had another ill kid at the same time. So, we joked that God felt he should get a taste of everything in one fell swoop since more often than not over the years, the homefront has always been my domain. He was a champ, though. I had no doubt he'd manage and I'm very proud of him. :-) Good man.

Sat. he worked with movers to unload our trucks into storage for the time being. (We are currently in a fully furnished rental.) I took kids to soccer and a boyscout event.  Then, we chilled. Necessarily. Sunday, the same. Just chilled. I was going to post yesterday but decided I had to post something sewing related so I quickly sewed the 2 pinwheel blocks I missed in my quilt-along while I was gone. I still have 2 more to do but well, here are the first ones.

Now, about Paducah. I'm going. I'm taking Friday off of work and going. Is there anyone who will be there this week and on Friday? Maybe we can meet for some lunch or even dessert. There's a boyscout troop that sells the best strawberry shortcake. It's super refreshing! Anyone? I actually have some shopping plans this year. I have been waiting on restocking some supplies. Goodie, goodie! :-)

Cheers! Beck

If I were independently wealthy

...I'd quit my job.

...I'd purchase this home. Ferry Landing Home

...I'd purchase a large boat.

...I'd build a small kennel on this property.

...I'd hire someone to clean this home and the kennel.

...I'd hire a kick ass cook for the seasonal events I planned to hold at this home.

...I'd use this home to host dog training sessions for pointers and retrievers.

...finally, I'd use this home to host quilt retreats. If the men wanted to come, I'd get the husband to have a fish and tackle area for fishing on the Potomac. 

...I'd use the boat and hire someone to take the men fishing. The boat would also be used for a great dinner on the water and water cruise up to see DC.

If I were independently wealthy, I'd do all those things even in a smaller home, on a good piece of land, somewhere. If I were independently wealthy, I'd get along fine just doing what I love and opening my home for others to join in and stay awhile. 

Don't you wish I were independently weatlhy?

Cheers! Beck

MIA

Well, the time has come. I've been offline for about 4 days now and already feel I've missed so much with my blogland friends. I'll be peeking in to read but likely not commenting or posting much. I have 2 posts planned for the next 2 weeks since I won't have any real sewing happening. I've saved a tutorial for this occasion and I was given a blog award! I will be posting about both of those soon.

I hope you had a great weekend and the next two weeks fly by as quickly for you as I suspect they will for me since I'll be packing moving boxes, loading trailers and driving 11 hours back and forth a couple times.

Cheers! Beck

I love it!

Google name change!

And good for Topeka, KS... I mean Google, KS. A fun and unique way to have fun in the normal course of business. :)

In the spirit of things... I've rethought my own blog name and have changed it today to, "The Quiet, Shy, Embarrassed, and Unassuming Quilter."

Happy April Fools!