May Mayhem Roundup - Week 3

Pioneer Quilter Kelly, hostess of May Mayhem, mentioned the feeling of “stalling out” last week – I know what she means. I felt like I was going gang busters the first couple of weeks and last week, while I got a lot accomplished when I put it on paper, didn’t feel as productive. While things like moving the machine is a huge accomplishment, and making binding, prepping backings and tracing appliqué, which was most of what I accomplished, is definitely not as exciting as finishing a quilt top and that’s probably why I felt that way. But, all of those things need to get done.

Mon - Made binding for Beach Cottage - 1/2 hour

Tue - Traced applique for Lady Madonna; made Jelly Roll Sampler Block #6; stitched on Winter Wonderland block - 2 hrs

Wed - moved HQ16 upstairs - 6.5 hours!!! That was it for that day - (it took so long because both rooms had to be cleaned out) we went out for happy hour after-LOL, then I came home and crashed! Ooooh, my aching back!

Thu - Trace remainder of LM Applique; stitched on Winter Wonderland block - 45 mins (I was still REALLY tired from Wednesday o:) )

Fri - prepped backing and batting for Reveille - 1/2 hour

Sat - Cut out fabric for Madeline Schnibble; put Reveille on frame and starting quilting! - 3 hrs

Sun - Finished quilting Reveille; prep backing for Flying Cranes quilt and put on frame; make and sew on binding on Reveille; made one Madeline block - 3-1/2 hours

The monster has landed

What a week!  I still don't think I've recovered from the day long (really, it was over 6 hours) move of the HQ16 on Wednesday.  I took the day off work to accomplish this.  The moving of the machine wasn't THAT big a deal, but cleaning out and rearranging the room it was going into  (my daughter's old room - with a lot of her junk still in it) and unearthing the machine from it's old home downstairs took the better part of the day.  But, whew, it's DONE!  And it feels good!!  And best of all, we got the frame put together right, first try and the machine still sews-LOL!  After that, we went to happy hour at a local restaurant where I had a yummy half-price Cosmo and pizza to ease my aching bones.  I then went home and went to bed!

Here it is in all its glory...

Excuse the bright turquoise wall (the ceiling is lime green) - leftover from my daughter's teenagedom.  I really need to re-paint.  Maybe a soft sage green or something soothing.  Turquoise and lime green is NOT soothing.

I finally fired this baby up today.  I started off small and I haven't quilted in about 6 months.  The last quilt I did was my boss's Christmas gift - this batik Hunter's Star (which he loved - isn't it nice when you give someone a quilt and you can tell how much they appreciate it?)

So, today I popped on Reveille -

I'm starting off easy - I'm just doing a medium stipple in the colored fabric and leaving the white squares unquilted and stitch-in-the-ditch around the border.  I'll finish this up in the morning and then I'm putting on the Flying Cranes.  I wanted to do Beach Cottage next but that awesome backing fabric I mentioned - well, there isn't quite enough.  I'm so mad at myself - if I would just have gotten another 1/2 yard.  So, now I have to order more (which I don't mind but it's the shipping charges that get me - grrr.)  I would just piece borders on it, but it's a bit of a heavier weight than regular quilting cottons, so I'll spring for another piece.

I think I'll do something a little more intricate in the Cranes quilt.  My neighbor has asked me if I'd quilt a quilt for her.  I told her yes, but I need to get my "quilting chops" back a bit since it's been so long.  So, I figured I get a couple of my own done before I tell her to bring her quilt over.  I don't typically quilt for others - I'm usually too afraid of messing up someone's quilt!  I like to make a quilt start to finish, and then sell the finished product. But, since she's a friend and won't expect perfection I said I'd do it (I hope I don't regret it!).

It feels really good to be back in the saddle again!

Ps - my husband is sitting here as I type this post and wants me to tell everyone that he purchase two quilting magazines for me today during his Saturday morning "yard saling" (he always keeps his eye for quilty things).  From 1989 and 1990 - LOL!  They are very small - not full magazine size and not much color inside.  Did they even have rotary cutters then?  LOL!  These should be interesting....

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