contractors and remodeling

I spent the last weekend not working on a quilt but instead, I was tearing out the kitchen cabinets, sink and counter with my nephew. He loved the chance to break things and not get in trouble. Now all I have to do is get my flooring contractor to finish repairing most of my floors and installing new vinyl in two rooms to my satisfaction (not that I'm that picky) and I'll be a happy camper. Next weekend I am taking my neice and little miss M to grandma's house and make applesauce and apple butter and can some for apple pies.  Might even go clamming for dinner that night. Note to self; always tell dh when storing things in the oven. He just turned it on without looking inside and when the beeper told him it was up to temp. he opened it only to discover I had a metal mixing bowl full of apples inside. Had to throw out several apples. Live and learn.

sewing along

So far today I have completed eleven more blocks for ds quilt. I am now up to 19. The next time I sit down I will have completed 33 blocks. Since I am not working with a quilt from a book or magazine I really don't know how many blocks or worse yet how many pieces I need to cut. My lqs is loving me right now. looks like I will be going back for more fabric. I tried to buy it one yard at a time but I have run out.  An option might be to not use the same block throughout but I don't know what would work on this. Thoughts?? This was a great way to spend a somewhat cloudy day. I did finish (okay I still have to bind it) the last baby quilt that I made. This was for a girl and came together very fast. Some of the design on the purple stripped blocks look like bugs got on the quilt but that is not the case. They are actually rainbows.

Next weekend I am going to be putting three kids, four if you count the one I married, just kidding dear, to work. Plus one that will just be in the way. There is painting in two bedrooms and the hallway, tearing out the kitchen sink, counter and cabinets as well as bring in the appliances from the garage to be done. Then I get to pay for the work to the floors that was done. And arrange for him to come back and do more. Where is the lottery fairy when you need one?  Miss M gets her new brace Wednesday. This time the dr. better get it right!

Hello winter

Seems we don't get to have a fall this year. Skipped right into winter. Great time for quilting. I am still cutting away at my fabric. So it will be more of an anniversary present than a Christmas present.

I am getting excited about Bonnie Hunter's new mystery quilt. The fun begins next month. We got a little hint on her blog of how many colors will be needed. So it is time I get to looking thru my stash and see what colors I am going to choose.

DH decided to come home sick today. Of course it was the first full day of rain so someone had to do it. Hopefully M doesn't come down with it or worse yet me.

progress

You know how sometimes you just have to walk away? I had that with my sewing machine Saturday. Today I tried it again and found that it still wasn't going to work. Took me about 30 minutes to think about ripping the thread from the top and rethreading  the machine. I fired it up and Voila! Success. Don't know why I didn't think of that sooner. But, I immediately got my blocks out and started sewing. The pattern is coming together nicely. I was going to make it scrappy but I like the looks of the fabric so it will be back to my lqs tomorrow for more. Now all I have to do is figure out how much fabric I need and how many blocks it will take to make this a king sized quilt. Sounds like too much math for me.

antique tile block

Here is a block from the quilt I am making for ds and his wife. I really like how it looks. I am planning on alternating the red and black in the corners and see if I like it.