Are you Ready?

25 days until Christmas. Yes I know it is fast approaching. I am getting there, but the final stretch is going to be busy.

My neighbor went and shopped yesterday and she got hers all done. Mine needs sewing machine time to get done. I am going today to buy batts and then it will be up to me to get the discipline to get it all done.

I have a few seams on the last top and then I need to get the backs pieced and sandwiching time will begin. The good thing is they will all use the same color of quilting thread. I bought a large spool and I will fill tons of bobbins and I will be off and running to the end.

The wrapping will be harder to accomplish. I need to find some large bags to wrap them in.

We have a new Dollar store that has opened and I think I will hit the place and see what they have available. Hope you are all ready. LOL Chris

Row top almost done

I bought about 3 yards of this fabric three years ago to make valances for my Grandson's bedroom at his dad's. As you can tell it never got made. It was a stripe and had the length of the stripe going the length of the yardage. I cut it all apart and resewed it back together after slicing and dicing the stripes. I added red and black to make it all come together into a quilt top. I still have a couple more borders and then it will be done. I did all this today. My back is screaming and my mind is a blur.
That isn't hard to do anymore. I think I have lost it along the way. LOL

Derek's Dad is a fireman and he is really into all that is about the Fire Service. Derek goes to training sessions my son has as an instructor. Derek sets up the props for training and the other Firemen can't believe he knows so much about fire fighting and he is only 10yrs old. He has gone with his Dad to training and even to a few structure fires and watched from the trucks. He has ridden with the Chicago Fire Station on the SW of Chicago more than once. Unless his course in life changes a lot I think he will be in the Fire Service as soon as he is old enough to join as a volunteer. Public Service and helping others is the name of the game in my Family. Chris

Monday Tip Leftovers

I had tons of leftovers. We have had sandwiches and used several up already. I had lots of sweet corn leftover and ham. I thought why not. Corn Chowder.

We like soup and this was easy. I had about 3 cups of corn that was buttered and in it's cooking juices. I added a small cut up onion and 2 large potatoes peeled and chunked up. I let that simmer until the potatoes were tender.

I then took out some of the ham and diced it up to bite sized pieces. I added some chicken bouillon and salt to taste. I then simmered all together and added some celery salt for more flavor. I would have used celery but used it all in my stuffing.

After letting it simmer for about 15 minutes I added some Wondera flour to thicken slightly. It is a good one pot meal with leftovers and not so filling like we have eaten for several days since Thanksgiving. Two more bowls out of the fridge. I am slowly making more room by downsizing containers and using up leftover. I think the rest of the turkey and ham will be frozen and used later in the month. Hope you enjoy. Chris

Another top done

This one is done another finish. The Wall Crawler quilt is a Christmas present for the five year old.

Brody is into all the action comic figures so Grandma will please with this one. The blue is used jean legs that I cut and pieced for a border and also for the sashing. The black is just cotton broadcloth. The back will be the Spidey flannel and I think the binding will be black. Hopefully he will stay warm with this one. Chris

Talking over the pie

My Mother and Mother in law. My Mother is 83 and my Mother in law is 96. They talked about cooking for their families and how they remember all the work to get it done. We had a great time. A lot of food and all had fun. The dishes are almost done and the table is cleared off. Grandkids go home tomorrow and the room gets put back to normal again until next month when Christmas comes again.
Hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving. Chris

Prep and Cleaning day

Not a pretty picture here. Very gray and cold right now. Suppose to be warmer than usual later today. My kitchen table is full of canned goods and also bread for all the things I need to prep for our dinner tomorrow.
I go and get the grndkids tonight so will have them on top of all the prep work. My oven is a normal size so the turkey will be done on the grill. Ham and stuffing in the oven. The rest will be prepared ahead of time or on top of the stove. The fridge space is at a premium. I plan on using my neighbors fridge in her garage if I need to. They are out of town and yes I cleared it with her.
Due to some family issues I am really stressed. Not sure who all will be here and what will transpire. As I said before holiday time is not my favorite time of year. Next year it maybe won't happen at my house. I guess it is time to pass it off to someone else and not have the stress. Hope everyone has a great day. Friends, family and great times together is very important. Happy Thanksgiving Chris

Happy Thanksgiving

MENU
Turkey
Spiral cut Honey Ham
Mashed potatoes and turkey gravy
Stuffing
Corn
Green Bean Casserole
Dinner rolls
Orange Jello Salad
Cranberry relish
Pumpkin Pie and Whipped cream
Pumpkin Carmel Pecan Pie
Blueberry Pie
Milk and sodas
Hope I have enough LOL

Monday tip

Yes I forgot last week. This week I am not to sure about what I have to give a tip about.
I have had a trying time the last few days and I guess my tip is to be forgiving without being judgemental. Many times things are said and yet they are not meant. Also things can be blow out of proportion. Decisions are made and maybe they are not your choice you can't judge what the other person is dealing with and how they handle things. Tip is be understanding and don't make an opinion out loud to hurt feelings. Chris

No I am not Ready!!!

I need to do grocery shopping and I hate doing it just before a holiday. I need cranberries, potatoes,celery, onions, radishes, carrots, pie filling, nuts. Bread for stuffing and chicken stock. Did I forget something?? Eggs, Jello, Butter, time to get something done. Can you buy a slot of time for a good price?
I need to make 4 pies, should make dinner rolls, but I think I will buy brown and serve kind. I know not a good thing. I didn't tell you yet I have a turkey and a spiral cut ham already.
I found out yesterday my MIL who is 96 is coming also. Now I really have to clean in the corners. She use the white glove test and I know I don't pass ever, but I think I really have to make an effort.
I am pulling my hair out and sweating all the small things and for what. This isn't my first rodeo. I have cooked for several before this. So we will have 11 people for dinner and I only have one oven. The grill is coming out to do the turkey so I can cook the stuffing and the ham in the house. If you plan on coming by call and bring a bottle. I might need it. Chris

Are you Ready????

The Turkey is in the freezer the ham is also. The pies need to be made and the stuffing prepared. I love that my family gets together, but the history of Thanksgiving at my house hasn't always been a fun time. Families that are blended are difficult when the holidays come around. This one can't be here at the same time the others can be.
Children don't understand and the parents are to set in their ways to compromise.

I plan on trying to make the best of what is going on. This week I plan on cleaning getting ready for the event. When we live just the two of us we let things slide and get to it when we are up to it. I need to set my sewing aside and try and get a handle on the confusion that will be here on the 25th.

We are trying to get the kids and their kids together and the 25th is the earliest time. No it isn't Thanksgiving, but we will be together the next day.

Hopefully we can all have a good time and the day doesn't matter. I hope you all have a great Thanksgiving and your time with family and friends is pleasant. Chris

Wall Crawler Quilt

This is a different quilt for a little 5 year old. He loves Spidey! This is a flannel I found and I used old jeans for the sashing. I have enough of the flannel for the backing also. I think I will have to add borders for the top, but plenty of denim and I also have a bright blue flannel so it will be big enough.

I think that I will quilt a spider web in the middle of each block with red thread
It will add to the finish of the quilt. Thought about black thread but I think it will get lost in the printed spiderwebs of the fabric print. I will take more pics as I go. Chris

Been Busy Quilting

Another one done. I started this a week ago on Friday and finished today. It was a kit, but I changed it up some and added borders. Bright and colorful and big blocks. Not normally what I do, but it isn't for me. It is for Christmas.

The black border needed something so I stitched an inch away from both sides for some contrast I used a silver colored thread.

Now I have to hide it. Granddaughter is coming this next weekend and she is nosey. If there is a gift in the house she finds it. I have seen her fake a surprise more than once. LOL Chris

The latest wood project

This is scraps yes scraps leftover from making the entertainment center. He had end boards and he likes to use everything he can. I have one of these boxes from several years ago that has a double hinged top on it. His friend saw it and wanted a single top so he made him one and the second one is in the works.

He made it so he can store a pistol in it. The top has a chain on it so it won't over open and the bottom is lined in velveteen.

I used a piece of thin tag board and glued the velveteen to the board and turned the edges under so it wouldn't fray. I think the box turned out well.

It snowed here yesterday and we had over an inch of wet snow. Which didn't last, but the sky has been really gray to black today. This tree is called Autumn Glory it is a Maple tree which is a graft tree, but very colorful.

The picture doesn't do it justice because it is really neon orange right now. Against the gray sky it really stands out. When the sun hits it it's really beautiful. I am sure it will loose it's leaves soon. Have to find a bright spot someplace with all this gray skies out there. Chris

Thinking

This is a post I found on the internet from another blogger. Click on the image and it will increase in size so you can read it. We all find the negative in a issue we are facing. Sometimes it is all in the attitude we approach it with. I like to find a place to feel good about an issue and yet somedays things feel overwhelming. I think this will add some prospective to your thoughts for the day. I guess we all need to own our issues and try and find the bright spot in our outlook on life.
http://heidiclaire.blogspot.com/2010/08/wisdom-of-soul.html This is the site I snagged this post from. Hope this helps in your day today. Chris

A Twin Top Done

Got the last border on a few minutes ago. This is all she wanted as she described to me. Plaid, Blue, Green, Dark and Bright. Lots of wants filled with this quilt. It is a twin size top. so I need to rummage for a batt for it. I think I have one in the closet.

Sure is a lot brighter than I have sewn together before. I hope she likes it. Off to look in the closet to see if I need to make a trip to the store before I go any farther.

Color, color, color doesn't lack for it. Chris

Borders

I have one more border to sew on this top. This is a kit that was given to me. I wanted to make it larger than what it was so I started adding borders to make it larger. I used a solid black for a dramatic frame around the busy blocks. This framed it and I cut the remaining pieces into 3X3 squares and sewed them together to make another border. I am thinking of adding another narrow black border then a bright green that blends well with the greens in the blocks. It will end up twin sized.

If you don't have a lot of brights in your stash do as I did and get a kit to make the initial top and add borders. This is for my Granddaughter. She wanted blue, green and plaid plus black, but bright. I think this covers all the requests. Chris

Monday Tip

As we all know the cutting tools we use are not cheap. I go through blades for the rotary cutter quite fast. With scrappy quilting and my style of blocks there are tons of pieces. I contemplated getting a blade sharpening tool and decided others have tried this trick.

I got online to Harbor Freight and purchased their carpet cutting blades. At the time I got them for 2 for $1.99. I ordered 20 blades and shared with my Mother. They do have stores and they can be purchased online. Different, somewhat. They have a round hole in the center of the blade. The Other name brand blades have a notched hole. They still work well. Each package comes with two blades. I was concerned if they were sharp enough for carpet would they cut up the mat and I can say they don't. Do they last longer? Well I think they are about the same as the name brand. When I get closer to using all of the ones I have I will order again.

Here is the website for the company. http://www.harborfreight.com/ In the search box type carpet blades. It will show several styles but only one round blade.

Chris

Big blocks for me

This was a kit I was given. I thought well how would I use it. All was cut out and they provided a pattern sheet with many different designs for the pieces. My Granddaughter wanted a bright,blue, green, plaid and black quilt. This has many other colors but all of those things in it. She is 12 and thinks things have to be bright but dark. What is up with that? Kids!

These are 10 1/2 inch blocks and they went together fast, but I am not use to the progress of fast. So I now have to decided how to get borders on and I have a lot of the pieces left over so one will be the 3 inch pieces sewn together for a border.

Hopefully she will like this one. Chris

Done, Done, Done!

Seems like I worked on this one for ever. I started a long time ago and yet I set it aside for a long time also. It is about 87X92 inches. I think it will fit a double bed. He only has a twin right now, but hopes to get a new bed soon.

I now have 5 more to quilt and finish before Christmas. I have one in the works on piecing and one to be cut out and the rest are flimsies, but need to be sandwiched and quilted. Ho Ho Ho. Chris

In the house and in place

It took some muscle, but it is in the house and we got this all set in place. This makes such a nice addition to the living room. The color of the wood and the fact it is designed and made by my husband makes it even more special.

All of the parts to the stereo and the speakers are all withe the TV now. When we get a flat screen it will fit on this cabinet also. What was a pile of wood is now something very useful. Chris

Last of the color

This tree is on my back yard. It has finally turned color. This year the color isn't as vivid as other years. Also the day was very gray because rain was on it's way.

The leaves turned funny this year. Very deep red and orangy yellow. Is that a color??

Yet when you stand back it looks more orange.

This is the tree in the front yard. It is growing a lot. It was a twig when we got it.

This is almost completed. The quilting will take a couple hours and then the binding.

It will be used a lot. It is for our 13 year old Step Grandson. He loves quilts and needed one for his room. Not as happy with the quilting. I am using a different machine to quilt and once I started decided to finish it with this machine. Chris

Pictures of the new TV Cabinet

Currently we have still an analog TV. It is big and heavy, but it still works great. Good picture and great sound and color. The TV stand it was on was a man killer to move. I had to have three guys move it to clean behind it or even to move to another part of the room. It was cast iron legs on it. We were given a stack of old aged pine boards that had no nails or screws in them. They were aged looking and yet they were in really great shape. We got them on Sunday and today the finish is going on this TV stand. Jeff pieced it all together and made shelves for the TV components. The color difference is Tung Oil. We used it on the trunk we did a week ago. This gives it a rich look and yet doesn't take away from the character of the old pine.

This time he is brushing it on. It is thin and several coats make it look all the more rich in color and tone.

Mr Handy didn't want his picture taken, but I took it anyway. It will sit next to the fireplace and I think it will fit in with my eclectic decorating scheme. Can't wait until the weekend to get it in the house and get the TV in it's new home. Chris

November 1st OMGosh where has this year gone??

No pictures today. I am frantic I realized I have procrastinated to long. I am on a mission to get things done now. I mowed for the last time yesterday and today I have a little outside work to finish and then the Winter storms can come and I am ready for them. HaHaHa.....
I have to run to pay a couple bills today and then I am home to work on things in the sewing room. Jeff is making a new TV stand for me so I am going to get that ready for it to come in the house by the weekend.
I will take pictures. He is so handy. I have three shelves I want him to make and he is putting that off. I think the choice in wood is the problem. I said pine and he wants oak.
Well I am off to the sewing room to get a few more lines of quilting in before the sun comes up. Have a Great Day. Chris