Winner Winner!

I. AM. SO. FAR. BEHIND. 

Please accept my apologies for not posting on the 20th. To be truthful, I was, as my grandmother would say, having a bad day at Black Rock. We were at the Doctor's on Thursday. He is not happy with the progress of the healing of the incision, despite the use of the wound vac for the last two and half weeks. My husband is off the IV and now taking oral antibiotics. That made him so happy to get rid of the additional tubing. Gets so frustrated getting tangled up with all the tubing, especially in bed. 
Going back to the Doctor on Wednesday to see if we have to do the next step which is surgery to remove the knee implant parts and put in an antibiotic block and glue this and that part together. After that responds/heals, then back to surgery to remove the block and redo the knee replacement. This is weeks of recovery for these two steps. I feel so bad for my husband. He is not the type to sit around. 

Without further ado, the winner is Siouxzq64. Please email me (nutz4redwork at gmail) with your mailing address and I will mail out your pattern and material.  

Siouxzq64@September 12, 2019 at 7:06 AM

I will keep you and your hubby in my prayers that he gets better. Love your flower now I need the circles. Love bees, we need them for pollination, flowers, fruit, veggies. Not a fan of wasps, yellow jackets, or hornets though. I live in Michigan.

Many, Many thanks for all the comments and the well wishes. You just don't know how comforting it was to read them. Have a wonderful day everyone!!

My Favorite Quilt Blog Hop

I have been doing some type of embroidery or needlepoint since I was a little girl. Any block that I can incorporate some type of embroidery is my favorite. Imagine my excitement when I came across the Block of the Month at the Hive Quilt Shop in Vista, CA. It not only includes embroidery, but applique and the lovely Dresden! I was in bee heaven! I had bought the Perfect Circles years ago and I am finally able to use them. The largest circle I had to use freezer paper and am glad that I used three layers. Much easier to iron down the edge of the fabric. Was confused on how to use the Perfect Circles when I first bought them. Similar to making yoyo’s. You just pull the basting thread to fit snugly around the circle and carefully press the edge down.

Press the edge with the tip of the iron (a few seconds),
 just long enough to crease the fabric.

Remove the Perfect Circle
 before you press the whole circle 
with the hot iron to get a nice sharp edge.

If you leave it in, you will have a hot, melted piece of plastic!

Block 2

Block 1

I just plain ran out of time to finish the blocks. I still need to add the bee’s.

My husband got his left knee replaced on August 12th and was doing great. Was walking without a cane within two weeks. Everything went south when he developed a staph infection in the knee joint over the Labor Day Weekend. Had to go back into surgery to clean the infected area and now we are dealing with three visiting nurses (infusion nurse for the IV, nurse for the wound vac and a physical therapist) and on top of every thing else, I had to learn how to change his IV, which is changed every 24 hours. I am also busy running our business, cleaning the house, cooking, etc. I am just plumb worn out. I am praying that the antibiotic’s do their job and that we won’t have to go in for another surgery to remove the new knee parts, install a block and then he'll be put in a cast. Please send good thoughts and prayers our way.

I have been enjoying visiting all the quilters that are in the “My Favorite Quilt Block” Blog Hop. A happy diversion to be sure! So much talent.  Be sure to visit the rest of the participants blog’s today.

Thursday, September 12th

Websterquilt

Cynthia's Creating Ark

Nutz 4 Redwork (you are here)
Quiltsbyjoanne
Ms P Designs USA
Pampered Pettit
Hill Valley Quilter

Many thanks to Carla for doing an awesome job of hosting this blog hop.

For those of you that made it this far, leave a comment on what you do when you see a bee. and where do you live? So much fun to see where every one lives.  I've been known to run to the next county in record time when I see a bee! I received two Block Two's (flower with bee). I stopped by the shop to return it and they told me to keep it, as it was their error. I asked if they minded if I shared it with a fellow quilter on this blog hop. They thought that was a cool idea. We will pick a winner on the 20th and will post winning comment on this blog. So check back on the 20th. Maybe I'll have the little bee's appliqued on the blocks by then.

Have a wonderful day!!

Color Me Happy!

A few years ago, I taught a class coloring with crayons on fabric and then adding embroidery. 

First, we traced the design, colored and then embroidered. 

I have always wanted to go a step further, but had no idea what to do next.  Inktense pencils came across my radar. Did some research on them via YouTube and yes, I wanted to learn how to do that technique! These are NOT cheap pencils, so had to save my nickels and dimes and with coupon in hand, I went to purchase the pencils. And then,because life got in the way, totally forgot about the pencils.

We are very lucky to have Lois Mulcahey, who sends out Quilterz Nooz emails to the quilting community in our area.  One of the guilds advertised a class with Desiree Habicht in February called Color Me Quilts – Art Applique Table Runner. Luckily I didn't waste time to enroll, as the class sold out! 

 Finally, my chance to learn from a pro how to use those pencils!

Desiree showing us how to get started. 

Aren't these roses beautiful? 

We had a choice of a sunflower or a rose.

So guess what I picked? 

You got it, the sunflower. 

Lots of talent!!

Be sure to check out Desiree's website to see all the wonderful projects that you, too, can do!

Show Your Wings Blog Hop

Hello. My name is Heide.

I am a quilter and have bad habits!

I do NOT press my blocks, I iron them

I do Not Service my sewing machine 

in a timely manner

(to name a few)

Ironing vs Pressing

My mother taught me how to iron clothes at a young age. Did such a great job, it became my permanent job growing up. Fast forward 30 some years, I am still ironing . . . Sigh. Clothes, quilt blocks, etc. You get the picture.

My life changed for the better when I watched Karen’s video from Just Get It Done Quilts. Finally, something that I could relate to and it works! I encourage you to take a couple of minutes and watch the video.  

Three easy steps:

Press the seam

Open and finger press

Press

That’s it. 

Been pressing Karen’s way all week and have experienced a huge difference in my blocks!

Now, for the sewing machine…poor thing. I have had my Elna since the late 90’s. 

Never a minute’s trouble until a few months ago. Took it in for service and got the following:

Saleslady: “Ahhh, do you know how long it’s been since you got this machine serviced?“

Me: “No, I don’t.”

Saleslady, after she cleared her throat: “That would be 2003”.

Me, while I was crawling under the carpet: “No way!” Weakly I said in my defense, “Well, I haven’t been sewing since 2011”. That sure didn’t earn me any sympathy. And then the saleslady preceded to lecture me on why sewing machines need to be serviced, blah, blah, blah and then she says I hope we can fix it.  Yikes.

And THEN the service tech calls. If I’m not mistaken, he is a retired school teacher and in his best teacher voice talking to a naughty student, preceded to tell me that that was the worst machine he had seen full of dust, lint and that I have been pulling material through which wears certain parts out, etc. (and I am thinking, how does he know I yank my material through).  He said it would cost $135 to service the machine. Wow, that’s all its going to cost? Please, yes, fix it. I got lucky, I seriously thought I was going to have to buy another machine the way he was going on & on. I put myself on time out and contemplated my bad habits. Got the call that the machine was ready for pick up. Brought her home and she is sewing like a dream again.

To address the dust issue, I decided to make a sewing machine cover, as obviously, I wasn't using the clunky, plastic cover that came with the machine. I found this adorable pattern for a sewing machine cover at Flamingo Toes.

Bev’s flamingo is so darn cute (and has wings), but I decided to do a Fairy with Wings on my sewing machine cover. Since the fairy is in purple, I am calling this "purple work". Used  the stem stitch for this project. The Iris is one of my favorite flowers, so was able to finally use this fabric that has been in the stash for years. 

Can you see the fairy sprinkling the fairy dust? 

I finished the cover last week and am happy to report I am using it every day. There are pockets on the side and one of these days I’ll figure out what to put in them.

Many thanks to Carol, from Just Let Me Quilt, for hosting the Show Your Wings Blog Hop. I can’t wait to see what everyone comes up with whether it would be birds, angels, fairies, planes or butterflies.

Check out all the amazing bloggers

who will be participating---

February 18

What About Rheema?

Hill Valley Quilter

Nutz For Redwork

Kathy's Kwilts and More

Melva Loves Scraps

Creative Blonde

Keepsake Moments

Whims And Fancies

Quilt n Party

Seams To Be Sew

February 19

Patchouli Moon Studio

Vroomans Quilts

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

Songbird Designs

Quilts Fabric and Thread Tales

Kathleen McMusing

Life in the Scrapatch

DesertSky Quilting

Clever Chameleon Quilting

February 20

Creatin' in the Sticks

MooseStashQuilting

The Joyful Quilter

Home Sewn By Us

Selina Quilts

Websterquilt

Beaquilter

Cynthia's Creating Ark

Ms P Designs USA

Bumbleberry Stitches

Mageez Room

February 21

Just Let Me Quilt

Sew Incredibly Crazy

Sew Fresh Quilts

Quilt Fabrication

Words & Stitches

All Thingz Sewn

Kathy’s Quilts

For The Love Of Geese

Two Maker Chicks

madeNcorrea

That Fabric Feeling

Thank you for visiting and I hope that you all enjoyed what I learned that life is easier when you press those blocks correctly and service the sewing machine regularly.  

Hand Embroidery Enthusiasts. Can you stitch for 30 minutes a day?

For all of you that like to hand embroider, I found this challenge. Who is going to participate?

I copied & pasted the info below in case you were interested (I sure hope they don’t mind). They have a neat prize if you follow all the steps below and stitch at least 30 minutes a day for the month of February.

Donnett says:

We all need motivation to stitch sometimes. I know from personal experience that getting or staying motivated to stitch can sometime be a very real struggle. No matter how much you love stitching, it can be hard to “find the time” or maybe there is just some chaos in your life that is interfering with your stitching mojo. So what better way than a challenge to get us back to loving to stitch!!

Join the Embroidery.com 2019 Love to Stitch Challenge

Starts February 1^st and goes through February 28^th

Requirements:

• You must stitch at least 30 minutes EVERY DAY.
• To stay accountable to stitch every day, you will post a picture of yesterday & today’s (starting & ending)  WIP every day to our Embroidery.com Cross Stitch & Hand Embroidery Facebook Group.  If you are not on Facebook, you will email the pictures to donnett@embroidery.com.
• You can work on one or several projects. As long as you stitch the 30 Minutes and post your WIP Photo. 
• Type of needlework that qualify are ... Cross Stitch, Basic Embroidery, Needlepoint, Hardanger, Stampled Embroidery and Dimensional Embroidery.   
• Comment or Post "I Love to Stitch" (#ILovetoStich) to your personal page or on our Embroidery.com Cross Stitch & Hand Embroidery Facebook Group.  Or email "I Love to Stitch" to donnett@embroidery.com.

At the completion of the challenge, not only will you have your stitching bug all revved up for 2019, but you will have won yourself a customized EZ Stitch Scroll Set with Embroidery.com 2019 Love to Stitch Challenge engraved into the sidebars.

How motivating will it be to not only meet this challenge but to see your trophy and stay motivated by using your Love to Stitch EZ Stitch Scroll Frame every time you stitch. You will be be able to choose your favorite scroll rod type between the EZ Stitch Webbing or the EZ Stitch Tape versions.

So go shout to the world "I Love to Stitch" and let's all get our stitching mojo all pumped up for 2019!!

Happy Stitching – Donnett

2015?

Really? 2015. That's the last time I posted? Where has the time gone?

After taking years off from quilting, I'm back!! And the fact that I am aging faster than I want, I really needed to start whittling away at the "stash". My daughter reminds me on a regular basis that she DOES NOT WANT TO HAVE TO CLEAR OUT THE SEWING ROOM after I pass. It will all go into the trash! Horrors!!

I have been quilting off and on, but my heart just wasn't in to it. Was busy at our local Moose Lodge, the Salvation Army and running our business. I have decided to step back from volunteering and now we help out at the Courage to Call Food Distribution, in San Diego, twice a month. They hand out food to Active Duty and Veterans. It is heart warming to be able to lend a helping hand.

Where to start? Over the years, I have been following several quilters and various Facebook "Quilter's" pages. So many beautiful projects out there. So I decided to start with a new project - Enchanted Garden by Jason Yenter. When it comes to applique, I prefer the freezer paper method. Yikes. When I got the first block of the month, I thought, I can't do this with freezer paper. Too many small pieces. So got on You Tube and learned how to do raw edge applique.

Got the block ready, now I had to decide how to finish off the raw edges. I decided to go with a straight stitch. I found it to be so relaxing. Anxious to do the next two blocks (before the 3rd on arrives in the mail). The colors are so pretty!

UFO's. We all have them. Again, applique, but with the freezer paper method. This is from the Checkerboard Flowers BOM. I won't tell you how long this has been sitting around. . . 

Lots more to share, but it will have to wait. 

Until later,
Heide