New Year New Challenges

 A new laptop always aggravates me.  The registering, signing in, logging in, and trying to transfer all of the documents and photos.

I received one for Christmas and it came with a Microsoft 365 Personal premium for one year.  Well, I can't figure out how to activate it.  There were no instructions or product codes included.

I did manage to log into my Google account and get all of my favorite blogs accessed.

More researching and less stitchin is going to happen today.

BUT, on to some of the stitchin news.  I'm joining Gail for the PHD 2023 Challenge again this year.  I think this is my third year to participate.  I didn't do so good with it in 2022 but now retired, I should be able to do better.

Here is my template:

 

 

 

 

There are no pictures of the tree skirt or Happy Birds, sorry.

I know others can appreciate my need for accountability.  Thank you, Gail, for this continued challenge.

Wishing you more stitchin time than I will have.

Rose

Finally!!!

 Finally, the last box has been received.

I believe I may have offended the FedEx driver because even though I have this in my front yard.....

(there is a matching one in the neighbor's yard on the right), they delivered my last package to the neighbor on the left.  But none the less, it has arrived over 2 months after it was ordered!!!

It took a day and a half but it's done and his name is Leon.

Now maybe I can get back to quilting and piecing.  I still have a small amount of cleanup to do but it shouldn't take too long.

Wishing you more stitchin time than I will have.

Rose

So Far!!!

Week one of retirement is in the books.

I managed to get my Christmas tree up.  DH made the statement that this is the earliest we've ever put it up.

I completed block 10 of the Build A Quilt 2020-21 and started the finishing kit.

Then I finished the last 10 blocks of Scrap Dance Mystery Quilt from 2015.  I originally cut enough pieces to make a twin quilt.  They stayed in a shoe box size tub for several years.  Then I decided to use them for leader/enders.  That became too slow for me so I added it to the UFOs.  

I decided I really didn't need a twin so it shrunk to a throw.  Now it is another top waiting for the new quilt frame to be completed. (still missing one box).

The leftover squares 

and HSTs (LOTS of HSTs)

are now the leader/enders.  Looks like I need to recover the ironing board!

And this is the pattern I've decided on.

I am trying my best to whittle on the scraps.

The legs of the frame came yesterday so at least I can begin to put it together.  Probably won't be a whole lot of stitchin this week while I work on it.

Wishing you more stitchin time than I will have.

Rose

Linking with Peacock Party at Wendy's Quilts and More

PHD report for November

 There''s not been a lot of progress going on with the PHD challenge.  

I did quilt three quilts for a friend before selling the Gracie Queen Frame.

I still haven't received the legs to the new Grace Continuum II frame.  I feel like I have been more than patient with this purchase that originally took place on October 11th (I posted about it here).  But the patience are wearing real thin.

The original problem was with FedEx but the problem has shifted to Grace Frame Co.

I was told on November 14th that they would ship out the boxes that FedEx stated they had returned to the sender.  I was told that it is not unusual for them to ship before the original packages are received.  On November 30 the salesman called Grace Frame and they told him they would get them shipped.  WHAT!!!  What happened to shipping them on the 14th.  This week I will be required to make the second payment on something that I haven't even received yet.  UGH!

On a happy note, Friday, December 2nd was my last day to work.  Official retirement date is January 1st but I have enough vacation time to take the whole month of December.  YAY!  So, completing 9 quilts while working full time is satisfactory for me.

Saturday I sold the Gracie Queen wood frame that I have been using.  Another YAY!

OH, and I left this at work on my last day!!

Wishing you more stitchin time than I will have.  Wait, I'm gonna have more stitchin time.

Rose

Linking with Quilting Gail for November PHD report

Unofficial

 The unofficial QOV has been presented.

We got our vet to the celebration on the pretense that it was DH's birthday which was a few days earlier.

When he walked in and saw his number 2 son and his stepson he actually said in a low voice "well, that's weird".  But then he moved on.

We snookered him, his words

Thank you, Randy, for your service.

Wishing you more stitchin time than I will have.

Rose

Making progress

 We made it to and through closing of my MIL's house so the countdown to retirement has continued.  I'm at 58 calendar days and approximately 20 working days.  I'm taking my vacations days in December.

I have been busy in the sewing studio.  I have ordered a new longarm machine and frame and I'll need to take down the wooden Grace frame.  I plan to put the HQ Sweet Sixteen back in the table if I can rearrange to make room for it.  Then there's the fact that I have been using that table for my cutting table.  But none of this will happen before I quilt 3 quilts for a friend before Christmas.  I don't want to have to put together and get familiar with a new machine while having a deadline. 

In the midst of all of the traveling, working, consolidating and rearranging I have managed to do some stitchin. I finished the unofficial QOV for my daughter's FIL (just waiting for the label). Pattern courtesy of thecolorfulfabriholic.  The fabric used on the front was purchased while on a trip to DC with our shared granddaughter.  She was going to help me make it but that didn't pan out.

 

Front

Back

I finished "Bad Choices", and cut it in quarters for four 42" square charity quilts.

I also finished the BAQ 2021-22 for a coworker that is retiring the same day as myself.  The strange thing about this is, in the fall of last year when I was signing up for the BAQ I asked this coworker to make the colorway decision for me and I ordered the one she picked, not knowing that she was planning to retire.  I think she'll like it.

We spent a few days in Gulf Shores, Alabama with our Kansas family.  We ate good, including breakfast twice at Hazel's Nook.  They have a breakfast buffet and the guy in the background will make you a fresh omelet.

My PHDs are a little behind but progressing.

And then this happened.....Three of my 7 packages were delivered.  In this condition.

The rest of the packages were returned to the sender because they were DAMAGED!!!

And now I feel like I should open them to make sure all of the parts are there.  But not until I hear from the sender.

Wishing you more stitchin time than I will have.

Rose

Linking with Quilting Gail and Confessions of a Fabric Addict

Our first road trip

 We left home on August 31st, and traveled 3 days to get to my sister's. When I left home I had a couple things on the design wall.

Weave It Be

and

Block 9 of BAQ by Quilting is my Therapy.

Yes, there is a design change and it may not be corrected..  I have to show that I am human.

When we left Alabama the temperature was 95 degrees with 90% humidity.  Who would have thought that the day before Labor Day we would be like this.

And on Labor Day we would have 10 hours of this.  Not that I mind, I love a campfire.  Oh, BTW, roasted marshmallows dipped in Baileys are AWESOME!!!!

I have spent the week with my siblings.  We don't get together very often, my brother lives in Arizona, my sister in Michigan and me in Alabama.  But this has been the second summer in a row.  and I have enjoyed every minute of it.  

 

I had postponed the appointment with the retirement department at work because we haven't sold my mother-in-laws house.  We hadn't even made it out of the state when we received a call from the realtor that he had an offer which we accepted.  If we can make it to the closing table I will schedule that retirement meeting.

Let the countdown of days to retirement resume.

Not much stitching going on during this trip but there will be soon.

Wishing you more stitchin time than I will have.

Rose

10 days to spare

 I got it done!!!!

After I finished quilting the middle I rotated it and shifted to the right so I could quilt the edge.  Once I finished that, I shifted it to the left and quilted all the way to the other edge.  Then I rotated it 180 degrees and repeated the process to get the whole thing quilted.

But first, I was 2 blocks from having the middle done.  It was 5:00pm Thursday evening, it takes 14 minutes to complete a block.  I said I can be finished by 5:30 then I can rotate it tomorrow and finish it over the weekend.

Then this happened.  Out of thread.  The Aurifil was in the bobbin and the King Tut on the Handi Quilter.  Okay, running out of thread is no big deal, right? EXCEPT, I usually cut, tie, and pull the thread through.  But now I have to get the manual out to find out how to thread the machine.  5:30 came and went and I wasn't finished.  Oh well.

So Friday after work I finished the 2 blocks and took the rest of the evening off.  Saturday morning I took it off the frame and rotated it, pinned it back to the leaders and continued.  By 10:00 am I was here.  One more shift and 3 half blocks to finish.

Got it done!!!  Hoo rah!!!!

I took it to the LQS to get help with the binding decision.  I knew Emily would help.  Was I going to use the backing (plaid) and do a biased binding or was I going to use the reds from the top and do a scrappy binding (my norm).  Emily chose scrappy so that's what I went with.

So Saturday afternoon I added the binding.

Sunday, labeled and washed and dried and crinkled.

I had a couple of ladies from Thursday stitching hold it for the picture.  Now I can put it on the bed in the motorhome.

I packed up my featherweight from stitching to take on our trip.  We leave on Wednesday and I can't wait.  We have arranged for a friend to stay at the house and look after the dogs. 

I'm not doing too good with my PHDs but I'll get there.

Wishing you more stitchin time than I will have.

Rose

Can I do it?

Fri. 8/5  I went to Stitch and Pray Thursday.  The project I took with me is the one for the motorhome.  I started it on June 11, 2022.

It's the Metro Rings pattern by Sew Kind of Wonderful.  I made the comment I was determined to get this quilt finished before our first road trip.  One of the ladies asked "when is your trip?"  I said the 31st.  She said "of December?"  They don't really know me yet.  I had all the blocks in different stages and I believe I completed 60 of the 81 blocks that day.  

Now all the blocks are ready to be sewn together.

Sat. 8/6 Top is complete.

Bad Choices is on the frame.  This quilt will become 4 charity quilts.  I am half way finished quilting it.  I will spend tomorrow trying to finish it. If I don't complete it tomorrow it will have to come off the frame until I complete Metro Rings for the motorhome.

Sun 8/7 I was going to finish Bad Choices, but when I ran out of bobbin thread I told myself that was my cue.  Take it off and load the MH quilt.  So I did.  The machine is 2 inches shy of reaching the edge on either side.  So when I finish the middle I will rotate it and then I will finish the corners on my DSM.  And because of that I will be pushing my deadline. Ugh!!

We'll see.

Wishing you more stitchin time than I will have

Rose

Censored by Facebook!?!

 Well, I've been censored by Facebook.😲😅 

Some friends went on a trip to Louisiana and road on an air boat.  During their ride they saw and captured pictures of several alligators.  I posted a comment that said simply "Shoot em Lizbeth".  I was mocking Troy on Swamp People.  That was what he always said to his hunting partner when they snagged a gator.  Facebook didn't like it and deleted my comment.  Oh well😏😏😏

On the quilting front, my PHD chart isn't making much progress.

I made a t-shirt quilt for a coworker to take to his family reunion (made from reunion t-shirts) and have everyone autograph.  It's not very big and I didn't get a good picture but he was pleased.

I joined a local quilt guild earlier in the year. It has about 30 members.  We had a lesson on making pin cushions out of salt cellars.  I found these at the local antique store.  They are so tiny.  I haven't made my pin cushion yet but I will, one day.

They are also going to do a sew along with Jen Kingwell's Happy Birds.  I already have her Gypsy Wife book and thought I would do it instead.  They seem to be obsessed with her designs, they were telling about the last SAL they had and it was one of hers also.  I told my friend I haven't decided if I'm going to participate even though I have purchased the book and have all the 160 hexies basted.  Nothing but scraps and stash.  I will only buy backing.

Ten or so of them sew together every Thursday.  So I rearranged my schedule so I could join them.  We have our little stations all set up and we don't have to move everything every week.  It's helping me figure out what I need to pack to take in the motorhome.

Speaking of the motorhome, our first road trip is the end of this month.  We are traveling to North Michigan. I am looking forward to that.

I am going to try my best to do a better job of posting.

Rose

Linking with Quilting Gail for PHD report