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It's been awhile since I posted

9:22 PM, Thursday, September 6, 2007 .. 2 comments .. Link
Thursday, September 6, 2007 - It's been awhile since I posted
I just haven't felt good today...allergies. I ended up coming home from work because I was so sick to my stomach. I have wanted to quilt but my eyes are so swollen that I just can't. I talked to the allergist about a week ago and there is not much they can do for me except going on steroids. This just is not an option for me so I am miserable.

Last night I went to play poker at our LQS, Patched Works with Cindy and Jen. Jen's grandma came too. Prior to going to poker, we met at Bakers Square for dinner - yum...we knew we were coming back for pie later! We all have our favorites and tend to chose the same thing...maybe next month I will try something new...or not! I normally pick the French Silk Pie! Well anyways I came away with about 20 extra strips unlike last month where I lost BIG! It's all for the fun of it right. My eyes were bothering me last night but not as bad as today. I have tried the drops they give me and they work for a short amount of time so it's really not working well.

I did get the first border on my mother-in-law's quilt. As I have to fussy cut the next border I think I will wait on it until my eyes are better. I am just waiting for my husband to get home and I think we will go out to dinner...he will have to drive as my eyes are itching and burning and a bit blurry.

Hope everyone has a good night and I hope to be able to say that I am able to sew in the near future. I also have a Yellow Brick Road quilt to cut out for my brother-in-law ... it is out of all sorts of fabric with tools on them. He does a lot of woodworking (esp. for Christmas presents) for all of us so it seems appropriate.

Thursday, September 6, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
You poor thing! I sure hope you get to feeling better. Allergies can sure get a person down. I can't wait to see your quilts. They sound so pretty. Take a break and get to feeling better. Kristie

Thursday, September 6, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by maryann64
Hi hope you are feeling better soon. Go rest and then go quilt - enjoy life is short. Hugs Mary Ann


Wow...I didn't have too many posts to move
3:33 PM, Sunday, September 2, 2007 .. 0 comments .. Link
Sunday, September 2, 2007 - Wow...I didn't have too many posts to move
I have been working on moving all my posts and as I only had about 14 - I moved them all yesterday and today. I had a wonderful day yesterday...I got to meet Michelle and Louie (Michelle's husband) yesterday. We all went out to lunch with Jen and then she took us to two local quilt stores. I bought fabric at both...not that I needed anymore but I did. I bought some fun fabric with tools on it for my brother-in-law at Bits and Pieces. I am going to try and make him a quilt for Christmas. I also bought some of the fabric for a runaround purse for a friend.

At the other quilt store, Patched Works, I bought a panel to make a baby quilt. I don't have any friends who are pregnant right now to give it to but who know's it is always good to have around. I have to go out and buy a zipper to make the purse which I will try to do tomorrow before I go to my parents for a Labor Day picnic. My husband has to work tomorrow so I will miss him! It should be fun because a bunch of my cousins will be there as well as my brother and sister-in-law and my husband's brother and sister-in-law as well as his parents. Hopefully he will get off early and can come to the picnic.

Hope everyone has a fun and safe Labor Day!

Maureen


I'm Working on Moving Over
8:35 AM, Saturday, September 1, 2007 .. 1 comments .. Link
Well I decided to start moving everything over to this site. Don't know if I wil maintain two sites or not. I hope this one is easier to add pictures. I still haven't had time to sit down and figure out on the other site how to do it.
Well I should start thinking about starting my day soon. Was going to take a nap while the dryer is going because Emma woke me up really early today. Emma thinks when she is up the whole family should be up...not so in my world or maybe it is because I am sitting on the couch next to the dog...not in bed sleeping. Ohh Well! I am going to meet Michelle today. Jen is meeting her and going to some quilt shops, etc. so lucky me I was invited along!


I tried
8:20 AM, Saturday, September 1, 2007 .. 0 comments .. Link
Tuesday, August 28, 2007 - I tried
I tried to add a picture of Emma but it didn't work. I just copied a bunch of her pictures onto a CD from our main computer and now have them here on a CD in my laptop. Frustrating! I have some adorable pictures of Emma as a puppy, when she got her first English Springer Spaniel cut, and now that her Hunter's cut is growing out. She is a really pretty dog...sorry. Hopefully I will figure this out eventually. I have to so I can put pictures of the progress I am making on my quilts. For example when I get farther along with my Mother-in-law's quilt. I hope to work on it tomorrow night. Tonight I had a doctor's appointment and then I had some paperwork to do here at home. Then my husband and I went out to dinner to the Machine Shed. We both had Mushroom stuffed chicken breasts. Yum! Now it is late and I am ready for bed so no sewing tonight plus I just started a sneezing fit. Something is bothering my allergies.

On a positive note I did learn how to save things onto a CD...we have a rewritable disk drive on our main computer and this is the first time I saved anything to a CD. My friend, Becky's last day is tomorrow and I wanted to bring in a CD with the pictures of her dog on it. I took a really good picture of Bailey (her dog) and her husband wants to blow it up and frame it..it looks good enough to be on the front of Field and Stream or a hunting magazine.

Well I'm off to bed...hope you are all having a good night...esp. Cindy...Happy Birthday Cindy!

Maureen

Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by luv2quilt
You have a Machine Shed up there? I LOVE the Machine Shed!!!! We have one in Davenport, about 35 miles south of here. and that is one of the towns I go 'junkin' in, (thrift store shopping---there are lots of stores there). I think Davenport is the 'Original' Shed. My favorite thing to eat there is the Smoked Turkey Reuben Sandwich. I don't even need a menu...just give me that! I also love the Baked Potato Soup, but had to quit eating it, because it gives me a migraine, and I see spinning auras...must be the MSG. Oh well...it's an artery blocker anyway! Michelle

Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jillquilts
Keep working on the pictures! I can't wait to see Emma!! Jen has a post somewhere about using webshots to upload pics. That's how I do my pictures now.


Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by 51050
I can't wait to see your pictures of Emma. I'm a dog lover, too. Rhoda

Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
I sent you the link. If you need more help let me know! =)

Wednesday, August 29, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
You will figure it out, it took me a while too. I'm a little slow when it comes to computer stuff. Kristie

Too Tired
3:09 PM, Sunday, August 26, 2007 .. 0 comments .. Link
Sunday, August 26, 2007 - Too Tired
Okay the concert was great...I really liked Brad Paisley and his show is phenominal. He has one of the most inventive displays I have seen in a long time. He had three opening acts...Taylor Swift (who was great), John Ingram (who well I didn't enjoy that part of the show) and Kellie Pickler (she was okay). The friend I went with just couldn't wait for Brad Paisley and then she was just like a teenager again...she was soooo fun. If any of you have seen Brad Paisley's video Online that is how the concert started with the big doors opening and him coming out playing while the video informtion is streaming down all the displays. For one of the songs later in the show where it is him on guitar and the others playing there instruments, well he animated a cartoon to play during this section of the show. Wow is all I can say. I told my friend I would go again with her because he is so good. His guitar solos were awesome!

I did not get home until 2 AM there was a festival going on down at the Summerfest grounds by the lakefront and both the concert and Mexican Fiesta let out at the same time. It was a nightmare getting out of the ampitheater let alone the place where we parked. Jenna, my good friend, got out of her car and asked someone to let her in...I then had to get out and stop the crowd that kept walking past her car to stop so she could back out...it was very frustrating....a stream of people who would not let her back out they just wanted to get to their cars and wait in line. It took us half an hour to get from our approx. seventh parking place in out onto the street...that was three car lengths to get out. Okay so then we are on the street and this Saturn station wagon which is parked in a no parking zone hits the car in front of it. As it is on my side of the car I tell Jenna to watch out for this guy as he is from out of state (so he probably is unfamiliar with where he is going) and instead of backing up he hits the car in front of him by pulling into it...again I pointed out he is parked in a no parking zone...she let him in because we would rather have him in front of us than behind us possibly rearending us. It took us about an hour to get to Jenna's house which is at most a 20 minute ride...this is after sitting in the parking lot a half an hour. It didn't take me but a half an hour to get home so I was quite tired when I got home.

I think I got up finally at about 10:30 or 11:00AM so I got in the shower and then took Emma who has been very patient with me outstide. She is such a good dog, when she wants to be. When I got home last night she was soooo excited. I am worried how she will be when I go to a quilting camp in October and I am gone for 3 nights/4 days. She has seperation anxiety and it will be hard on my husband as she will be looking for me. When I go to Rosemont, IL in the spring for the Quilt festival in Chicago she is very anxious while I am gone.

My husband has to work today...poor guy he has been on 10 - 14 hour days all seven days this week. They have mandatory overtime. I think I am going to take a nap as I am starting a headache and then I will start laundry and my mother-in-law's quilt. Hopefully I get that accomplished when I wake up.

Hope you are all getting some quilting done.
Maureen

Sunday, August 26, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by luv2quilt
I'm beginning to think I am a winter quilter, because I sure don't seem be in the mood, nor can I get inspired enough to do anything lately. Hopefully, that will change soon.

Sunday, August 26, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
Glad you had such a great time. Brad Paisley's homeplace is not too far from here. We have seen him several times. He does alot of charity concerts for local groups. He is great, and very down to earth... Kristie

Sunday, August 26, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by lori
The traffic is always the worse part when you go to any kind of concert but thats part of the whole experience .Glad you had a great time .

Sunday, August 26, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by SewAndSnip
It sounds like you had a great time even though I have no idea who he is. Traffic down there is always bad when something lets out. That's why during Summerfest I always take the freeway fliers. Cindy

Monday, August 27, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
Sounds like you had an awesome time!!!!!

Dinner and laundry done
8:15 AM, Sunday, August 26, 2007 .. 0 comments .. Link
Sunday, August 26, 2007 - Dinner and laundry done
Well almost done. I have to put the one load in the dryer. I finished all the laundry. I am going to throw Emma's bed in the wash just because I cleaned up her area on Friday night. We gate her in the kitchen so she can not get into too much trouble. We also have a doggie fleece crate liner that she lays on during the day. Emma does not like her crate so she is penned in the kitchen and dining area. She is very mad at me right now as she had an incident and I had to give her a shower. It's easier to take her in the shower and wash her then to put her in the tub. It still takes two of us as one of us has to hold the shower stall closed. In the beginning Emma figured out how to open the door and escape from the shower so now one of us is on the inside bathing her and the other is on the outside holding the door closed. Her hair gets sooo curly when she gets a bath.

Needless to say this was not on the planned agenda for the evening...so now I will wait awhile until I try to lay out my quilt. Having a wet dog lay on the quilt just isn't the best thing in the world. She does smell like raspberries as that is the scent of her shampoo. My husband asked what if she doesn't like the scent. Well the sent isn't for Emma, it's for us. I still really like her puppy shampoo..it smelled like babies smell after a bath. She isn't a puppy anymore so it was time to get her adult dog shampoo. They had so many scents for dogs it was crazy.

I made a really easy dinner tonight so that was good. I bought stir fry meat - beef and added onions and cooked it. When it was browned I added mushrooms and beef gravy from a jar. I served it over egg noodles. It was a fast and filling dinner. I should go throw Emma's bed in the wash. Hope everyone is having a quilty weekend and gets to work on a project a little this weekend.

Maureen

Sunday, August 26, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
You will have to post a photo of Emma, she sounds so sweet! Kristie

Sunday, August 26, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jillquilts
Yes, you need to show us Emma! Congrats on getting the laundry done! I always feel like I accomplish something when I can do that - and it's just laundry for me!

Sunday, August 26, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by SewAndSnip
You've been a busy little bee today. Give Emma a hug for me. Cindy

Monday, August 27, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by maryann64
Hi Maureen the dreaded bath my dog after 7 years will if I walk her up the stairs after her walk will actually get in the tub herself. But if I try to get her up any other way - no way not food nothing tempts her. Hope you had a good weekend do post a picture I think I will go now and post a picture of my Bosie. Hugs Mary Ann

Monday, August 27, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
I LOVE the new smells of dog shampoo. I get a kick out of it. Holly has some between bath sprays that you brush into their coat. Monday (Labor Day) from 5-8 there's a Doggy Dip at the Greenfield Park Pool (124th & Greenfield). I think it's like a $2 or $5 donation to the humane society. Holly and Murphy are going to go and they'd like Emma to join them. =)

Looking Longingly at the Sewing Machine
3:11 PM, Friday, August 24, 2007 .. 0 comments .. Link
Friday, August 24, 2007 - Looking Longingly at the Sewing Machine
I am sitting on my living room couch finally (8:30PM) but I am still going on my things to do list. As I sit here and type I can see my Janome 6600 out of the corner of my eye. Every once in a while it is a glance of longing. I really would rather be sewing than the other things I am doing. When I got off of work I went directly to the grocery store to buy the things I need to make Tuscan Turkey Sausage Stew...my husband and I really like it. With my husband working 10+ hours a day (today it's about 14 hours), I wanted to make him something yummy for dinner. This is a Weight Watchers recipe that I think I mentioned before. (don't know if I can post it because it is a WW recipe)

Well as I was getting dinner ready I decided I couldn't stand the kitchen floor...a lot of debris has been brought in with this weather...rain, rain and more rain so I vacuumed the kitchen, hallway and bathroom. Then I decided to wash the dishes...yes finally the dishes are washed...this has been three days of procrastination. After that I broke down our recyclables and went though our mail and threw out all the junk mail (recycle). I cleaned off some of the table and started a load of laundry...my husband needs socks for tomorrow. Once it's done I will throw it in the dryer. Cleaning is not my thing...but every so often I get a bug to get stuff done and then I feel like I make a big mess while I try to clean everything up. Ohh I forgot I cleaned the counters too...I want to make sure I have a complete list of what I have done.

I am sooo hungry. I am waiting for my husband to get home to eat with him. He should be home around 9 PM. Tomorrow is my weigh in day at Weight Watchers so I would have liked to eat earlier than now but I did eat a small side salad to tide me over.

From the time I got to work I kept hoping it would be 4:30 PM so I could come home and put my mother-in-law's quilt together. Well I hope I get to start on that but I am not so sure. Maybe Sunday. Tomorrow I will be running around in the morning and then in the evening I am going to the Brad Paisley concert. I just found out that Carrie Underwood will be playing too. Now I may not have known who Brad Paisley was but I do know who Carrie Underwood is and I like some of her music. Yeah...I will know a couple of the songs.

Well I should go pop the bread sticks in the oven so that dinner will be ready to be served when my husband gets home. Hope everyone has a great evening and weekend. Hopefully there will be some sewing in all of our weekend plans.

Maureen

Friday, August 24, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
You sound sooooo much like me! There are times that I will do anything to get out of cleaning. Then you just have to breakdown and do it...hmmm...life. Kristie

Friday, August 24, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by scissorhandscps
Boy, you sound like me. Run, run, run. And the house cleaning and then this and that and we are supposed to quilt when :0) LOL Oh yeah, when we retire, in between doctors appointments! LOL

Friday, August 24, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by SewAndSnip
Cleaning and working just seem to get in the way of all of the fun things like quilting. I can find so many other things to do than clean. Cindy

Friday, August 24, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
Maureen, I have a feeling your house is like mine! Only you've seen mine so you can be the judge. You actually saw it on a "good-ish" day.

Couldn't Post Yesterday...Power Outage
3:23 PM, Thursday, August 23, 2007 .. 0 comments .. Link
Thursday, August 23, 2007 - Couldn't Post Yesterday...Power Outage
Well yesterday we had some heavy storms here is Waukesha, WI, in fact we lost power from 5:45 PM to some time after 11 PM. Needless to say everything I wanted to do was put on hold. I couldn't work on my mother-in-laws quilt because I couldn't sew the rows together. I couldn't work on flower or heart yoyo's because ... well I would have had to go up into my mess of a quilt room and find the thread, needles, fabric, etc. that I needed. Needless to say it is not easy to find all of those things in the dark so then I sat as close to the window as I could and tried to read...no go. Well needless to say yesterday was a bust in regards to getting things done.

Now today you would think that I would be working on the quilt but I am reading all the e-mail's, blogs, etc. that I missed last night. I am already tired and it's only 6:20 PM I was going to go to the grocery store but came home to be with the dog...she was home all day by herself. As my husband still isn't home I don't know what I am going to do for dinner! Boy am I hungry...next I have to do the dishes and then depending on the time depends on if I will work on the quilt. I am hoping to get more stuff done tonight but I also would just like to go to sleep right now.

Well I hope the weather and electricity are better at your home than mine was last night!

Thursday, August 23, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
Sounds like another great night for frozen pizzas!! I hate power outages!! When it goes out here, it is out for a LONG while. It is just us back here so they just take their time. Kristie

Thursday, August 23, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jillquilts
YEAH!!!! FROZEN PIZZAAAA!!!! I love frozen pizza! Sorry about the power outage. That stinks!

Thursday, August 23, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
Ahhh, so you live in that area of Waukesha that always has the power go out!! LOL. It's sad when you know areas by who is without power and when.

Pizza, pizza, pizza
3:13 PM, Thursday, August 23, 2007 .. 0 comments .. Link
Thursday, August 23, 2007 - Pizza, pizza, pizza
Well I didn't get the dishes done again....ohh well there is always tomorrow night. We did have pizza...not frozen pizza as I had first thought about...I went to Papa Murphy's which is "Take and Bake" pizza. I picked up the Speciality of the House which has mushrooms, sausage, black olives, lots of cheese and a herb spice mix on top. It was quite good and with a coupon it was reasonable. I also picked up a salad to go along with the pizza. I am sure the salad was a Weight Watchers approved thing but the pizza...ohh my with all that cheese...ohh the points are flashing before my very eyes. LOL. My husband loved the pizza which is good because he works outside and he needed something tasty and filling to eat. He doesn't eat a lot in the summer because of the heat and being outside all day. He does like pizza a lot! He works for the local phone company.

Emma (our two year old English Springer Spaniel) is giving me hints that it is bedtime. She is laying down by the stairs going up to our bedroom and the other bedroom is the quilt room. I know she wants to get in the quilt room but until everything is put away...no quilt room for Emma. She loves fabric and will carry it around. She also shakes it up just for fun. After I have gotten the piece of fabric back and assessed the damage, then I can sit back and have a good laugh. If there is damage to really pretty, drop dead gorgeous fabric well she is in trouble until she gives me those big sad eyes. She knows how to play the puppy dog eyes game.

I just posted my first posting on Lazy Girls Yahoo group. I am a member and I finally made my first post and wrote an introduction. Sitting down and writing on this blog has really gotten me to go ahead an comment on the Yahoo groups that I am on and on some of your blog sites. I am getting better at it. I am not always sure what to write. Everybody seems to be so much more interesting than I am. Also others seem to be getting more quilting done than I am. Anyways about the Lazy Girls Yahoo site...I posted my intro and no one commented on it. Normally someone says hello so I was a little surprised. I also commented about making a needle case by Lazy Girl Designs...well that was a very $#*)#$% day. Jen was there as was Cindy. I think the air was blue when I was finally finished. I have thought about making a wonder wallet but I don't think I will for awhile...it looks too much like the Needle Case!

Well I guess it is now 9:15 PM and I just know that my husband is outside and it sounds like he is shoveling snow...which I know he isn't because we don't have any...wonder what he's doing out there. I am staying inside in the air conditioning while he plays outside in the heat.

Well no sewing tonight...I'm going to go check out some other blog sites and maybe post a comment or two. Who knows, maybe I will be able to add to my friends listing. So far I have been keeping up with what others are writing on their blogs as I have seven friends. I think I have come a long way since I first started blogging about a week and a half ago. Hope you are all enjoying my posts...have a good evening.

Maureen

Thursday, August 23, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by lori
oh my pizza I can taste it LOL .1 1/2 more pounds to lose ,can you tell I am drooling LOL, Glad your enjoying the blogs I often feel like that myself ,every one else seems to have way more going on in there life then I do .Thats why I enjoy the post .

Thursday, August 23, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
The wonder wallet is way easier than the needle case. I guarantee it. Honest. Bring a fat quarter on the 8th and I'll walk you through one. Do you think you'll have your MIL's quilt done by saturday? We could go to frank's and baste it. You know, I HATE talking on the phone but I've been thinking latley I should just call you to chat...now, anyone who really knows me knows that this is not normal for me!

Thursday, August 23, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
I so enjoy reading your posts! I have come to realize in the past few days that you don't have to sew everyday...to be a quilter. And I am a housewife and I still don't get as much done as alot of these ladies. But it is still fun to hear about everyone elses adventures. Oh, and I am drooling over your pizza...do you know how long it has been since I actually ate something solid...you would think with me not being able to eat because of my mouth problems, that I would loose some weight, but oh no not me!!!! I think I just store FAT :o) Kristie

Thursday, August 23, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by luv2quilt
I love Papa Murphy's pizza's! I also love the cinnamon rings. Can you believe they are only $3? Problem is, I could eat the whole ring by myself!!!! I didn't get much done tonight either. I did my usual nap in the chair for an hour or so, then watched a movie on tv 'The Pacifier'. I loved it!!! After that, I emptied the dishwasher, vacuumed, and threw one load of laundry in the washing machine. I think it can stay there until tomorrow morning. Now I just need to force myself to go to bed. I am tired, but I hate going to bed. I might miss someone's blog, but I won't mention any names (Jen!). Hee hee!

Friday, August 24, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jillquilts
I enjoy your blog! I enjoy everyone's blog on here! But I feel the same way that, since I ramble so much, I will end up broing everyone to tears! Fortunately, it seems like everyone has enjoyed hearing about my bad dates! And I don't sew as often as some of the other ladies either. Maybe once a week (or 2-3 times if I am in the middle of a class). I always feel like I should really make a concerted effort to sew more, but life gets in the way. :)

Friday, August 24, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by maryann64
Hi I enjoy every one of the blogs and find everyone is so friendly. I'm retired and still don't get to sew every day. Pizza yes the calories but last nite I purchased a thin crust frozen pizza and enjoyed eating it. LOL. Enjoy your weekend. Hugs Mary Ann

Creativity - 89%
3:22 PM, Tuesday, August 21, 2007 .. 0 comments .. Link
Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - Creativity - 89%
Wow I was on Jen's website this morning and couldn't help myself...I had to take the creativity test. I am 89% Creative. I'm not sure this is right. I thought this morning when I was doing this test it was 87%,

You Are 89% Creative
You are an incredibly creative person. For you, there are no bounds or limits to your creativity.Your next creation could be something very great... Or at least very cool!

Try the quiz at http://www.blogthings.com/howcreativeareyouquiz/

Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by 51050
well then. We expect to see great, creative things from you! a few art qults, performing at the Met, who knows! Rhoda

Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by luv2quilt
I was surprised...I was only 61% creative. Maybe that's why I am having trouble getting jump started!

Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by maryann64
Hi you beat me only 81% you go girl. Hugs Mary Ann

Tuesday, August 21, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
I took it a 2nd time and now I'm 84%

What do Frozen Pizza, Slice & Dice Nine Patch & Brad Paisley have in common
3:21 PM, Sunday, August 19, 2007 .. 0 comments .. Link
Sunday, August 19, 2007 - What do Frozen Pizza, Slice & Dice Nine Patch & Brad Paisley have in common
What do all these things have in common? ME! Okay, because I am working on my Mother-in-law's quilt and I am making frozen pizza for dinner (I wish it was something more exciting but it isn't) and I am going to the Brad Paisley concert next weekend.

Slice and Dice Nine Patch is what I am using for my Mother-in-law's quilt and all the rows for the nine patches are cut out & sewn together!!!! I actually have one nine patch sewn together and I really like it so far. Jen & Cindy helped me pick out some of the fabrics for this quilt and it is turning out GREAT!!! I hope to have all the nine patches sewn together before I go to bed. Even better would be if I got them cut apart but if I don't there is always tomorrow! I even have the two end strips cut out and sewn together. I just have to decide what I am going to use for the border between the sashing and the final border. I can't believe how far I have gotten today with this quilt. Jen & Cindy told me to just start it and it would go fast!!!

Okay I had to pause in typing to put the Frozen Pizza in the oven. Emma ( my dog ) followed me into the kitchen to see what I was doing. She had to follow me back into the living room where I have both my laptop and my sewing machine set up. She jumped right onto the couch next to me and sat on my feet. She has to be touching whoever she is sitting next to.

Now for Brad Paisley...I knew nothing about him before yesterday. My sister-in-law and good friend called me last night and asked me to go to a concert with her. Her husband does not want to go. Well how could I say no to a good friend???? So I told her I had never heard of him and she told me to look him up on the internet and listen to some of his songs. Well I found Ticks, World and Online...it is not the normal music I listen to although I am very eclectic when it comes to music...I listen to some country but I had never heard of Brad Paisley. Anyone else heard of him? Have you gone to one of his concerts? I thought Online was funny, World was good and Ticks....well Ticks was different esp. the video where they have ticks on the screen behind him (just the outline and all blacked in - not an actual tick). Living in Wisconsin, Ticks are something you just don't want to find esp. on yourself or your pet or family member or friend so the song was weird. Enough already about Ticks. (I love the smiley faces!)

I am also reading a book called The Alibi Man by Tami Hoag. I am about halfway through and I like it so far. I also received my September/October Fons & Porter Love of Quilting magazine. I didn't find anything in it that I had to make. Normally in my magazines I find at least one thing I want to make. Ohh well I have enough WIP's/UFO's to tide me over anyways.

Just finished dinner...took another break from typing and Emma wants Pizza. She helped herself to some pizza on two prior occasions...once for me when it was a piece and I just turned my back and she took the piece and ran. Well with my husband he had over a half a pizza left and he just had to run outside for a minute (probably longer but who knows) and when he came back in the paper plate was spinning on the floor and there was no pizza left on the plate. Needless to say our dog now has a hankering for pizza when we have it. Well I should get back to sewing and laundry. I also have a ton of dishes to do but we will see what gets done. My husband and I are planning to take Emma for a walk this evening. We better get that in before it starts raining again - it has also really cooled off here over this weekend. By next Wednesday we are supposed to have temperatures around 87. I would also like to go out for custard...we'll see what Mark thinks. Normally we have ice cream once in awhile as I am on Weight Watchers but I am not doing so well today and lately so I think tomorrow starts a new day and I will start tracking again! Keep your fingers crossed I can do it.


Sunday, August 19, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
Good luck with your diet tomorrow , a few of us are doing the same thing so feel free to comment on it .Your quilt sounds great is this the one where you stack the squares a certain way then cut them ? I have the pattern but have never gotten around to it .Our dog used to do the same thing so a trainer told us to put some pennies in a empty pop can and attach a string to the can and to the food ,every time the dog tries to takes the food the can would fall and make noise ,it took a few times but it did worked .

Sunday, August 19, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
Brad Paisley!!! My oldest son loves his music. He is from WV, only about 1hr away from me, so in this part of the country he is very popular. You dog eats everything like my Old Mule, Jim. Of course, he eats his horse feed, but everyday for a snack, I take him out cereal, either Fruit Loops or Honeycombs! People laugh at me, be he loves it! Kristie

Sunday, August 19, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by 51050
I grew up outside Wausau, Wis. and clearly remember my mom checking my head for ticks every time we played in the woods. We have them now and again here in Michigan, but not as plentifully. Rhoda

Sunday, August 19, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jillquilts
I'm glad the quilt is coming together so well. I can't wait to see the pics!

Monday, August 20, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
I think I like Brad Paisley. I have a feeling he's one of those that I listen to and like just couldn't tell you off the top of my head what he sings!! You're going to have sooo much fun!


Another Rainy Day in WI
3:20 PM, Sunday, August 19, 2007 .. 0 comments .. Link
Sunday, August 19, 2007 - Another Rainy Day in WI
Well it's Sunday and I have only done one thing quilting related so far this weekend and that is to go to Frank's Sewing Center (a store in Downtown Waukesha, WI) and buy a new ruler. It is an Omingrid 8 1/2" by 24". I now have the tool I read about in one of my books for perfectly folding fabric. Who knew a ruler was all it took. Anyways in this book I read that you are to take a yard or more of fabric...wrap it around the ruler and then pull it off half way and fold it in half. Then take it off and it is perfectly folded. Now let's see if it works as good as they say it does.

Yesterday I took Emma to the dog park with a freind of mine from work. She also has a liver and white English Springer Spaniel. Bailey (Emma's new friend) is much smaller than Emma. My liver and white English Spring Spaniel is very tall and long for her type of dog. That's okay because we like her just the way she is. Emma likes people better than other dogs and so does Bailey so they got along really well. I tried to take pictures of Emma flushing birds or something out of the brush yesterday but she did not want her picture taken. Bailey posed for me and I have several pictures to send to her mom.

My husband is installing another Malibu light outside. It has been raining today so I guess he is going to do it between rain showers. It has been cooler here this weekend so my allergies haven't been as bad as normal. The only thing with it being gray out is that all I want to do is sleep.

Well I am going to go and start cutting out my mother-in-law's quilt so I can start on it this evening. Let's hope I can stay on task and get it done. I'll let you know if I pull it get it done or not.

Any tips on posting a picture?

Sunday, August 19, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
Picture tips??? Ask Jen, she is the wiz. Let us know if the ruller really works that well on folding the fabric. Maybe something that I need to invest in...Hmmm....a new ruler... Kristie

Sunday, August 19, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by luv2quilt
Hi Maureen! I missed your first blog, so I just want to say Welcome. A lot of times, I miss a lot of blogs, because when they get past the end of the page, they are gone, and my email won't send me messages of new entries. Anyway, I am so jealous that you are so close to Jen and Cindy! I met them last weekend, and they are WONDERFUL! I miss them so bad already! Shoot! You should have come to Waunakee with them and I could have met you too! Anyway, as usual, I'm not getting anything done today either. I got my new 'Old' hand crank sewing machine today, and it is really pretty. I will take a picture of it later, then decide where I am going to put it. I'm thinking I need a Goodwill truck to back up into my driveway so I can start throwing 'stuff' into the back to make more room. It is gray and cloudy here today too.(Maquoketa Iowa). My husband is out in the garage working on his nephew's motorcycle, and all I'm doing is watching HGTV and playing at my computer. Oh well....that's what weekends are for, right? Back to work tomorrow. Welcome! Michelle

Sunday, August 19, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by cowgirl4ever
I'm going to have to try the ruler trick. I'm always up for new ways to better organize. After all the more organized you are the more fabric you can have. Smiles Heather

Monday, August 20, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
Maureen, Check out my blog. Under Links there is one titled Blog Tips. THose are all the tips that I've typed up so far to act as "Help Files." You'll have to let me know the next time you go to the Dog Park. I'd like Holly & Emma to meet. Murphy too!! Don't forget on the 22nd of september is that Wag Fest for the ELm Grove Humane Society. We've done it the last two years. This year it falls on Murphy's birthday so we're using that as his party. Holly will probbably have hers at Petlicious.

Too Tired
3:18 PM, Friday, August 17, 2007 .. 0 comments .. Link
Friday, August 17, 2007 - Too Tired
I am just too tired to quilt or work on my quilt room tonight. Today at work I was the receptionist and although it is not a hard job it is very wearing. Whenever I fill in out there I am always tired.

I am almost done sorting about a ton of fabric and I need to fold it all neatly. Then comes the WIP's (Works In Progress). I normally put them in a plastic bag with the fabric that I am using but that isn't working anymore...they are sliding all over the place. Apparently I have too many WIP's. I am going to try to count them when I work on the quilt room but after I take Emma to the dog park tomorrow I am coming home and cutting out my mother-in-law's quilt. The last two nights I have just gotten busy and the next thing you know is it is bedtime. How annoying!

Well I just wanted to check on how others handle their WIP's (aka UFO's). Thanks for any advice you can give me.

Friday, August 17, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jillquilts
For my WIP's, I have them laying on my hope chest which is right behind my sewing table. I have everything on the hope chest that I need to finish the project. Usually, when I finish 1, I add 2, but I am trying not to do that anymore! I do have some things in plastic totes, but those are either not started or just not on my radar at the moment. They are definitely the things that I want to work on next so that they don't spend too much time in the plastic totes.

Friday, August 17, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by maryann64
Hi well whether you call them WIP's or UFO's every once in a while I feel guilty about how many I have but I pin the completed blocks on a coat hanger and put the fabric etc in a plastic bag and hang it over the coat hanger. The project is all together and I can see it. I do the same for my embroidery UFO's I have plenty of both. Have a happy weekend Mary Ann

Friday, August 17, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by SewAndSnip
My UFO's are in a basket in the spare room. They are what I call my someday projects. If they stay in there long enough they actually become ugly UFO's. Cut out the quilt and start the new project. Peony

Saturday, August 18, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
Have fun folding all of that fabric! Right now I don't have alot of storage space, so I have all of mine UFO's in a LARGE tote. I have soooooo many! I will have to drag them out sometime and take a photo of them. Kristie

Monday, August 20, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
I can't wait to see how your fabric looks all folded and pretty!! I keep my WIP in 2 gallon zip lock bags and then tossed into a 18 gallon rubbermaid tub. That is for the ones that are just waiting to be quilted or I'm tired of looking at for the time being. The rest are in drawers in a specific iris cart that I have.

No Sewing or Cutting Tonight
3:17 PM, Tuesday, August 14, 2007 .. 0 comments .. Link
Tuesday, August 14, 2007 - No Sewing or Cutting Tonight
I had the best laid plans tonight...I was going to start cutting my mother-in-law's quilt. This was my intention. Well made a list of what I wanted to get accomplished and the only thing I did not do that I wanted to do tonight was cut out the quilt - everything else is done.

I came home and was going to make Tuscan Turkey Sausage Stew (It's a modified Weight Watcher's recipe - I used turkey sausage instead of chicken sausage). One of the main ingredients is mushrooms and yesterday I bought sliced mushrooms for the recipe. I came home and opened the mushrooms and they were soft and wet and sticky and well a little moldy. I threw them down the garbage disposal. As I was driving to the grocery store I thought to myself this is nuts I bought three packages (8 oz each) and all three are bad. That's not right esp. when I bought them last night. I talked to the customer service person and she said that there was nothing they could do as I threw the product away (down the garbage disposal). Well I have gone to this store for a couple of years and was rather surprised. I went over to the produce area and there were mushrooms on the shelf that were disgusting. I asked to speak to the produce manager but he had gone home. I then asked to speak to the store manager. I had seen him before in the store and he had helped me locate a product on one occasion. Well I explained that I understood that he had spoken to the customer service rep. and there was nothing they could do. I went on to explain that I was no longer going to shop at that store which is unfortunate as it is so close to my house. I showed him some of the gross product and suggested they take it off the shelf. He agreed and he said if I had the cartons I should bring them back and then he could refund my money. Fair enough he needs something to return and I feel like they are helping me out...guess I will continue to shop there. So off I head home to get the containers and then back I go to get a refund and whole mushrooms (which looked and were just fine) for the recipe. After I get home I have to clean them and slice them up for the recipe. This took longer as I have been using the presliced lately. So needless to say next thing I know it's almost 10:30 PM and I'm writing on my blog.

Maybe tomorrow will be a better night to cut up the fabric.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
Don't you just hate days like that? I hope tomorrow goes alot better. Kristie

Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by lori
Good for you I hate getting home and half the raspberries in the contain have mold on them. .I used to be shy about returning things but after this happened a few times you soon learn you have to speak up for yourself .

Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jillquilts
Ugh!! I hate it when I buy produce and it is nasty within a day or so! Good for you for getting the cartons and taking them back!

Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by MoneikQuilts
I just hate it when that happens. I had good intentions last night and it was 11 and I couldn't believe I didn't get all done that I wanted to do. I know just how you feel!

Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - Food Shopping
Posted by maryann64
Afternoon I love shopping at the outdoor markets in the summer when the farmers come in and everything is so fresh and it even smells like food. Grocery stores can be nasty places. My son (trevor and DIL Sasky) are coming for dinner tonite and taking me shopping. I hope my experience is better lol. Hugs Mary Ann

Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by 51050
Yuck! I hate it when you think you have the bases covered and are thrown a curveball. That's life, however. I'm glad you got a refund. Rhoda

Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - mushroom mold
Posted by LavenderHeron
Good for you for taking the time to take it back, you saved others the problem. I would love to see your recipe for the Turkey dish you were making.......hope it turned out to be extra special since you had to go to the extra trouble for it.
Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
Hey, you DID get a lot done...now tonight cut that quilt out and get it over with. =)

Wednesday, August 15, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by SewAndSnip
You go girl. Don't you just hate it when things just don't go right though? Cindy

2nd Entry - I'm on a roll
3:16 PM, Monday, August 13, 2007 .. 0 comments .. Link
Monday, August 13, 2007 - 2nd Entry - I'm on a roll
Some of the things I did not tell you yesterday is that I did not think I would ever buy a yoyo maker...then Jen and Cindy showed me the new ones they bought...a small heart and a small flower. Yesterday while I was over at Cindy's meeting both Murphy (Cindy's dog) and Holly (Jen's dog) I tried out both yoyo makers. The first time I made a flower well I don't know how it happened I ended up with a knot where there should not be a knot. Needless to say the first flower was a flop. The second one turned out okay. Now the heart yoyo marker on the other hand was a success. I made four of those puppies in no time. They turned out really cute. I don't know what I will use them for but who knows. I might make a garland for my sister-in-law's little skinny tree. She decorates it for all seasons - she decorates it for Valentine's day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Halloween, Christmas, etc. Maybe I should make some heart garland for her...ohh the possibilities.

I met Jen and Cindy though our Block of the Month Club. Well the first day I met Cindy she bought Maggie (her Janome 6600). She told us her machine's name and I knew I would get along with her right away. Jen was so outgoing and nice that I couldn't wait to talk to her...Wendy had told me about Jen prior to the Block of the Month Club meeting. Jen's sense of humor and mine are quite similar. I do not have as exciting of stories as Jen does but we will see as time goes on. I am not as prolific of a quilter as Jen is. I love fabric...in fact I am a fabric junkie. Jen ended up joining the Batik Club because I really wanted to but I didn't want to be the only one to join...so she joined and so did Cindy...now that is quilting friendship. We also go to strip poker at Patched Works (our local quilt store) and last month I was the biggest loser...I lost about 50 strips...I think Cindy won most of them. Ohh well...it is quite fun and over the weekend I cut 120 strips, rolled them and rubber banded them so that I am ready for next month. The also encouraged me to buy Sophia (my Janome 6600). This was a birthday present as my old Janome died...Brad at the local sewing store, Frank's Sewing Center said that he was surprised that the machine lasted as long as it did as I worked it too hard. He said I needed a bigger machine.

Well even though it is dead I am keeping it. I made all of my bridesmaid's quilts on that machine. I learned to quilt at the community college WCTC (Waukesha County Technical College) and less than a year later I was married and I made all 4 of my bridesmaid's quilts and one for my junior bridesmaid. That is how come it is easy for me to figure out how long I have been quilting...I add a year to the number of years I have been married.

I have some more questions regarding sorting and storing fabric...as I said I am a fabric junkie...I need to sort through what I have and right now I put them in boxes by color. Next I plan to uniformly fold all of the fabric and then I need to find something to store them in. How do others store their UFO's? Do you cut your scraps down into sizes or do you sort them by colors? So many questions as I am in the midst of organizing my quilting studio.


Monday, August 13, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by SewAndSnip
See I told you that you would take to blogging like a duck to water. Peony

Monday, August 13, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
Haven't tried any of the yo-yo makers. I have made tons of the regular ones the old fashioned way, but I would love to try the flower and the heart. I don't have a big fancy machine, I just have a Brother, I've had it for almost 6 yrs. So far it has held up great. Kristie

Monday, August 13, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by MoneikQuilts
I'm sure you will love your 6600! I know I have put mine to the test and it has pulled through every time. Wow, I never thought of giving bridesmaids quilts. i will definately have to consider that when I get married! Maybe I should start now??

Tuesday, August 14, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Cre8tiveQuilter
Ok now, have you cut your quilt out yet?? =)

Hello
3:15 PM, Sunday, August 12, 2007 .. 0 comments .. Link
Sunday, August 12, 2007 - Hello
Hi!

My name is Maureen and I am very new to blogging. I have read Jen's and Cindy's blog sites. I am married and our only "child" is an English Springer Spaniel named Emma. She is two years old and quite a handful. She is currently cuddled up next to me as I was gone most of the day. I went out with Jen and Cindy to one of our local quilt shops, Patched Works. It is here in Elm Grove, WI and a very nice place to go. I am working on a quilt for my mother-in-law and I needed more fabric for this particular quilt. It is going to turn out very nice. Once I finish it I will post a picture of it. I will need help from Jen I am sure.

The fabric for my mother-in-law's quilt was mostly from Quilt for a Cure. It has hydrengias on the fabric. I added some additional colors and we picked out fabric with flowers on it. As the fabric is lovely, I decided to use a large square of fabric. A friend of our's, Wendy, designed a really gorgeous quilt and it is very simple.

I don't know really what to write. I am currently working on organizing my quilt room which has taken me almost a year to start. It is quite a task and I am planning on organizing the fabric by color. That is also how I organized my scraps. How do others organize their scraps?

Well thanks for any advice for a newbie to blogging!

Maureen

Sunday, August 12, 2007 - WELCOME
Posted by maryann64
Hi nice to meet you I'm a old hand at quilting and still it seems my quilt and needlework room is always in need of organization. I try to keep my scraps in plastic bags by colour and if I'm really ambitious and good I will cut them in different width strips 2", 2.5" etc. Welcome again I look forward to getting to know you.

Sunday, August 12, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by jillquilts
Welcome to the site! It's great to see new people join and their projects and ideas! I don't have much of a stash yet, so not a lot of scraps to organize. I would like to see how others handle their scraps.

Sunday, August 12, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by SewAndSnip
Hi Maureen, welcome to the wonderful world of quilt. blogging. Thanks again for spending the day with Jen and me. We certainly did have a lot of fun. Oh I did finish the runaround purse for my sister and it's really cute. Watch for a picture in the next couple of days Cindy ( Peony the House Elf)

Sunday, August 12, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by CountryQuilter
It is nice to meet you, I have heard so much about you. All good! Can't wait to see the quilt that you are working on. And as far as scraps go...right now I don't have alot of storage space, so I just throw them in a tote and when I need smaller pieces, I then dig through and iron what I need. Someday I will be more organized. Kristie

Monday, August 13, 2007 - Welcome
Posted by born2quilt
You will indeed enjoy this site. I think it is so cool to share just about anything and get feedback from everyone. You will have fun. Nice to meet you! Stephanie

Monday, August 13, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by cowgirl4ever
HI Welcome to blogging. I haven't been at it verylong myself but its always nice to see new people join the group. Organizing.. well fortunately I haven't gotten to do a lot of that if my scraps ar fat quarters or close I fold them and put them in a bin (almost like a bread loaf container.. they fit pretty well in there) and then the smaller ones get tossed in a basket. Can't wait to see your quilt. Heather