UFO Finish And Other Things

I actually finished these a couple of weeks ago but, life (I'm thankful to say) just seems to get in the way of my blogging and quilting...so be it.

I wanted the blocks done in time for the grandkids visit.

This is Natalie...and yes, there is as much DRAMA with this one as the picture implies.

Wyatt is pretty easy going as far as three year olds go...however, he does scream bloody murder at the sight of a bug. This being Georgia, there are a lot of bugs and there was a lot of bug induced screaming (shrieking actually).

Quarter Log Cabin Blocks

With the help of my new presser foot, new thread and tips, my blocks are much more accurate. I'm finding the the blocks that are pressed toward the red center need a bit of sizing persuastion to lay down.


Here's a peek at more added on, although the two outside blocks may not get to stay since they are early blocks and I'm not real happy with their quality.


I have a rock stash too!

Rock Collecting Sunday

I was going to just dig this one quartz rock out of the back yard, wash it and add it to the collection. Then, I thought to myself...you might as well go over and gather up all the rocks that you picked out of the hill (they seem to have a mind of their own when rolling down hill).

This was my first rock project that I did and it grew from a few little rocks around the end of downspout to this big drain field.

Sometimes it rains really hard here and water shoots out of the downspout like it's a firehose, blasting away mulch and dirt (clay).

When I first started collecting rocks I would put them in a five gallon bucket. Then came the Gorilla cart, which was easier than the bucket, but still hard to pull uphill. After we picked up the quad, the light bulb went on and I started hooking the cart up behind the quad. What a life saver...now I wish I had bought the larger cart.

The rock in front of the quad rear wheel was so heavy Sweetie could hardly lift it into the cart. It's a good thing he's been lifting weights!

This started out with a clump of moss that I dug up in the woods and a couple of mossy rocks. A few days ago, I gathered up some more moss and added some more mossy rocks. I think I'll add some Chicks and Hens.....hopefully the deer won't eat them.

I'm adding a ridge of rocks down the upper drive, but right now I'm out of big rocks. I've gathered up all the rocks on our lot, so now we will have to hitch up the big trailor to the SUV and drive around picking up all the rocks that I have been making a mental note of.

My New Rotating Cutting Board

Didn't Sweetie do nice job on this!

The cutting mat is removable, so it can be used as a lazy susan on a table.

This is most of my current reading selection. My big print book, for on the treadmill, is in the car). I thing it's Tess Gerritsen's first novel that was written in 1993.

I just took two books back to the library and only thought of taking a picture when I was at the library (without camera), so...no picture. But I must recored them for my very short memory. They were...Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen and Don't Look Twice by Andrew Gross.

Retired And Easily Distracted

Here I am again. Like the title states...I'm retired and easily distracted...seriously! I've been busy reading other peoples blogs, working out (5-6 time a week), reading novels, doing very little quilting although I did finally make order in The Room, and collecting rocks (more on that in another post). I was so busy doing really nothing urgent, that I'm just now getting around to doing my taxes!
This my new quarter inch foot and it seams (get it) to help.

To get the free shipping from Amazon, I HAD to buy more...so I bought this quilt book since I wasn't lucky enough to win it during the author's blog tour.

Sweetie made this turn table for when we play card. Our group is usually eight or more people and it was a drag always trying to keep the deck of cards and the discard pile in all the players reach. It's 24" and works just great...Joe Cool holds the dimes from the losers.

I also bought this pink cutting mat which is 13" and the largest square cutting mat that I found on line. It works OK on this big turn table, but Sweetie made me a square turn table just for the mat...stay tune for a picture.

A little Reading And Very Little Quilting

This book came highly recommended by a member of my guild (on loan from her) and it was indeed quiet an enjoyable read.

I bought a spool of Aurifil thread, which Linda had recommended, and made another quarter log cabin block. Pat advised me to pay close attention to the width of my seams at the end of each seam, since many tend to veer off course at the end. Guilty!! Since all my pieces were already cut out, I wasn't able to use Astrid's suggestion to cut the outside pieces just a tad larger or Linda's suggestion to size my fabric before cutting to aid in piecing accuracy.

I did order a new piecing foot for my machine and it was selling for only $3.75. Now, I did have buy a few more things to get Amazon's free shipping, but hey, I had my eye on that quilt book and pink cutting mat already.

Why Is A Quarter Inch Seam So Elusive?

Uuuhhh!

Just getting ready to do some hand work...unfortunately it's deconstructing hand work. This is the most offensive to the quarter log cabin blocks that I have finished so far.

Why am I having so much trouble with this simple looking block? I've been having a tough time maintaining a quarter inch on my machine (Brother) and once I got that under control the block is still under sized...usually in one corner. I've now moved on to a scant quarter inch. I don't understand it...accurate seam allowance and accurate sized strip and still under sized...is it my thread or pressing?