Isn't She Wonderful-but she needs a name-Giveaway time.

I fell in love with her the first time I saw her and I knew we'd be BFF !  She was brought into Sawyers Sewing Center for a maintenance after this individual purchased her at an estate sale.  I was there when this gentlemen brought her in and well my heart skipped a beat, no, I probably had heart palpitations.   He intended to sell her on eBay after a quick tune-up but I knew I had to save her from that indignity. She's way too special for that and after a check-up and a new belt I made my offer and both parties came away extremely satisfied, mostly me.

So tomorrow I will take her for a little spin and we'll sew up a quilt block or two.  I must admit at one point today I had three sewing machines in my vehicle, a Bernina, Pfaff and this little Singer so I'm wondering do I need an intervention or what?  So here's the deal I think she needs a name so throw some out there and if I pick one of the names you suggest I 'll giveaway a charm pack but if there is a repeat name the one who made the first suggestion and I pick it wins the pack, so good luck.  I'm not sure how long to keep this giveaway open so let's say a week from now, Oct 30.  You don't have to follow just have some fun with this.  Life is a little crazy here so if this giveaway runs longer or shorter that's the way the Singer sews!

Accuquilt Baby Go put to work

I spent quite a bit of time going through my scraps yesterday and using my Accuquilt Baby Go cutting up this pile of small Hexies along with a few larger ones.

I wouldn't want to do all this cutting without this little beauty, it cut these out in no time flat but it sure does warp the cutting mat after several hundred hexies but I'll live with that.

Accuquilt Go machines are one of my best friends and I just love them.  Awhile ago I had a problem with my 5" and 3 1/2" square die, they were leaving a few threads uncut.  After a few phone calls back and forth with their customer service department they did send me two new dies to replace the defective ones, now that's customer service.  Thanks Accuquilt Go you stand behind your product and prove that you value your customer.

Now I have my container full of Hexies to take with me on our road trip back to the Prairies next week.   My Hubby's father and my Mom and brother are dealing with serious health issues and we need to be there so though this isn't going to be one of those celebratory visits it is never the less a trip we want to make.  

Christmas Quilt stitching

 Wow, hooping fabric in a quilt is no picnic but I took the plunge and am happy sew far with it.

Will this take longer than doing a stitch in a ditch, maybe, maybe not but this is a skill builder for sure.  Only twenty or more to go!

Giveaway Alert!

Check out this giveaway and go to Sew Fun Quilts for a chance to win!

What get's you excited?

For me it's a win!  From the Seams Like a Dream Quilt Designs blog I won this Spooky giveaway. They are scary cute for sure.

I've decided to listen to the tunes today for some exercise while I quilt.  Now how does that work you ask.  For me I sew, get up and press and on my way to and from the ironing board which is a few steps away from my sewing machine I do a little shimmy, shimmy , shake, shake to the tunes and if it's a great song I get a rockin' and that is part of my exercise routine today. Oh yes, there is some fancy steps going on for sure and only something I do by myself!   Just maybe I'll go for a walk in the rain too, now get quilting, or dancing or both!

Time to head over to Buttermilk Basin as they are having an Open House and everyone is invited.

No Turkey Here

Hope everyone in Canada is enjoying their Thanksgiving and with it brings leftovers which means no cooking and more time to quilt.  Our leftovers are Prime Rib so hot roast beef sandwiches for Dinner tonight but followed with the quintessential pumpkin pie, yummy and you know what, Safeway makes a great pumpkin pie and for only $2.99!  Who knew!  Yes, it's very small but then do I need a large pie, not likely but yesterday when I went to grab the fat free Cool Whip out of the fridge to garnish the pumpkin pie I lift the lid and there is some penicillin growing on it.  So you know I don't use that hardly ever but if I burnt myself taking the roast out of the oven I could have smeared it on the burn.
I did take some time to work on a Christmas quilt though yesterday and it is a class I took this past week.  Simple technique using a panel and I swore no more panel because they are printed so wonky but I've decided not to let the imperfection bother me anymore.  You just have to go with it right and let the beauty of the panel outweigh the printed flaws.

I'm excited to have started on my Christmas quilt projects and this is an easy finish for Christmas, right.....

I'm off to play and will turn on my computer and listen to an audio book from our local library while I add the strips.  I was on the waiting list for Hunger Games and finally my name came up.  I have the movie but haven't watched it wanting to listen to the book first.  With the great weather we are experiencing there'll be a Nordixx walk thrown in the mix today sometime, so lets enjoy!

Nordixx Pole Walking

Well my birthday has come and gone and yes, some days I feel 55 but not today!  Sometimes I need to switch things up a bit and as I mature .... I think trying a new way to keep the body moving helps with the maturing phase!  So I tried Nordixx Pole Walking and because I walk everyday for exercise this is a new way to keep things interesting and myself motivated.
http://nordixx.com/.
http://youtu.be/gAW9lB6qS

A Feast For Your Eyes

And what a meal we had at Quilt Club this past Tuesday at The Cloth Castle, my appetite was appeased.   Each month I eagerly wait to see what all those talented ladies will share with us and I'm never disappointed so sit awhile and let the pictures do the talking.

You can never have too many hand knit scarves

 Another jelly roll put to great use with Marilyn's usual creative twist.  Look at the placement of those squares.

 Grace made an Autumn table runner and did some extra stitching down the middle for added interest and the next picture is the back of the runner using Halloween fabric, double duty for sure.

 This is a Fashionista wall hanging and all I can say is Oh-La-La!

I know these Trees and Stars remind one of Christmas but guess what, it'll be here before you know it.

 The monkeys, they are a multiplying but my aren't they cute

 Love the look of this 1600 Jelly Roll quilt done in Black and White and the lady with her head to the back of this picture is the same lady who pieced this beauty, well done Doreen.

 

 Another great pattern for placemats and they are very attractive done in Blue Batiks.

 And you thought all pumpkins were orange, look at this trio but alas no pumpkin pie from this patch.

The checkerboard boarder just bumped this quilt up a notch.  

 Some little one is going to fall in love with this sweater for sure.

 This one is nearly finished and a real stunner, see we can knit as well as quilt!

 Carol made this for her Grand daughter and this panel was taken to the next level also by the applique she added, yes there was some thought put into that fairy.

 I thought this was a great idea for a placemat, look closer and you'll see there is a pocket that is keeping a napkin handy.  Love it!

 The back of the placemat shows the machine embroidery .

 Don't you think this is a quilt that will make some lady feel special, I know it would for me.

 Another gift for some lucky baby, oh so cuddly!

This color combination is one of my favorites.

An old school chenille vest.

Purple Mabel stopped by for a visit.

 Sweet P (Paulette) brought her Autumn wool beauty and yes, it took our breath away.  OK it's time to start a wool club here.  Lets make a list of wannabees!   Here follows some close-ups of Sweet P's work, be still my heart.

 Blurry but there is another example of Sweet P's house building via Japanese fabrics and oh yes handwork too!

 What's with the blurry pictures?  Just from the excitement I guess!  Well done Paulette and your own framing too.

 Kitty potholders from a dog lover, hmm...

 This was a machine Embroidery class.

Yes, the monkeys are still finding there way into Quilt Club.

 Another example of what an Embroidery machine can do, another Christmas project completed.

 Diane also did this, a strip tube quilt which she configured for her needs and also completed with here own Machine quilting via here Embroidery machine, well done.

 OK, so my monkeys also made an appearance at Club, strictly for comedic purposes!

 Blurry pumpkin wall hanging which I embroidered by hand.

 This is a project that Natasha has refined for her quilty followers.  Take four panels, layer them exactly one on top of another sewing them together with a diagonal line in equal strips through out the square.  Cut the top three panels in between the sewn strips (don't cut the bottom one).

 The chenille effect is achieved once it has been washed and dried but make sure it is dried with something like a towel to cause friction to create the chenille look.  Please add the backing and border first though.

Well you'll have to wait another month for more ideas but you know it is worth the wait.