WACKY PAC CRUISIN SHIRT

Finally finished my Wacky Cruisin Shirt. One more thing that I can mark "done" for our vacation cruise.

My Horoscope--Caden Loves Football!

My daily horoscope that is a widget on my blog--this has caused me to pay attention everyday to see how it ties to what is actually happening in my life. It is amazing the days that it actually truly fits--

Today, January 29th, is my grandson's birthday. The romantic part? Guess we will see--might be doubtful! LOL

During January 29 relationships with children are enriched, associated with the current phase of the lunar cycle. Romantic notions will also wash over you. Horoscope courtesy of Alison Moroney © 2007

Demo--stitching around lettering

I thought I would post pics of Kathy's Round Robin as I stitched the letters on. I used a thin paper for a stablizer. Matching black thread and a narrow zigzag--1.9 and .25--. I place my hand flat on the fabric on the bed of themachine, straddling the stitching field with my fingers. As I stitch, I rotate the fabric to follow the curve of the letters. When I stop, I stop with the needle down on the outside edge of the fabric. You can stitch a few stitches and then stop, pick up the pressure foot and turn the fabric a little, but I prefer to gently turn the fabric as I stitch and not have to stop nor raise the pressure foot.

To stitch the straight sides of the letters, stop needle down at the outside zag of the needle (edge of the fabric), pivot, and go again. I tried not stopping to cut threads between letters. You can see in the picture where I tried stitching all right straight sides and then I turned the piece and did the other vertical sides, then the horizonal straight sides. This did not work so well, as all the jump threads were a mess and took quite a while to trim out.

One more tip I want to share. I now put my embroidery thread on a stand behind the machine. the thread has a long way to unwind before it goes through the needle-- No breaking or raveling thread.

That's all--I know most of you already know most of this, but I do love to know how other people do things. Not that it is better, just different and something to try--possibly a lead to a better end product. I always experiment with my width of stitch until I get one I like. I also match thread. This ALWAYS leads to a neater piece. If you don't like the look of your corners/points?--use a permanent fine-tip marker and "make them look like you want them to look. Works like a charm.

Round Robin #5--Kathy Earley

Antother surprised face -- tears of surprise and ,"I can't believe it"!

Kathy's center was an applique piece that she received from Rhonda in a swap years ago. Rhonda placed the first round on--the red zigzag with cream background. The flag border by Melissa Picha has the pledge of Alligence embroidered on the flags--so creative. The third round with stars in the corners is the work of Cheryl McInnis. Next, Debbie Stanley placed more Stars and stripes. I knew that I wanted some blue in the last border and I knew I wanted to repeat Rhonds zigzag. What I didn't want to add a small border strip to make my border fit. So I opted for scrapy pieced corners so I could adjust the size. Scrappy so I could use all the beautiful blues and backgrounds that she had included in her box. This left empty centers---a perfect place for words. I have known Kathy for almost 30 years. Her son Josh and my oldest son, Clint went to school together and played to gether as children. I know how proud she is of Josh's military career. He is her hero. A few appliqued stars and ---------Wa La! The last quilt is finished.

I hated that we had neglected to honor Kathy's oldest son, Heath, who is a firefighter. Kathy plans to make a matching quilt for Heath and present them to her son's next Christmas. Such a great idea.

Round Robin Quilt #4--Rhonda's Quilt

When Rhonda's quilt got to me, it was already really large. Rhonda's center is the black background. Melissa's first round is the red background. Debbie Stanley's round is the outside twist. Cheryl had added the black background round and included the four patches on point. Since the quilt was already large, I opted to add applique to Cheryls round in the blank corners. As usual, this quilt stayed on my wall for a fairly long time until one day my youngest son caught me sewing away on another project when he visited. I ask him what he thought about Rhonda's quilt. His comment was that it looked like a deck of cards. I decided to go with that. My thought was that it needed a purpose--so--I put the heart, spade, diamond and club in the corners first. I had to back them with white to make the black on black show up. It needed more, so I scanned some playing cards and printed them on fabric. I used a fabric pen to go over some of print to make it darker. I placed them randomly and stitched around them.

Wa-la--#4 on it's way to Kathy Early.

The Third Round Robin Quilt--Merry Christmas, Cheryl

She looked truly surprised, didn't she??

Chery's quilt was the next one in line. The multicolored pinwheel round was done by Debbie Stanley. I decided to continue the Christmas scene for my round. I chose friendship stars for the blue sky. Trees on a snowy white background for the sides and applique snowmen for the bottom. The snowmen were really a delight to make. I enjoyed searching for just the right decorative stitch to represent the snowmen features.

The piano key border is the work of Kathy Earley. Merry Christmas to All and To All A Good Night, is the work of Rhonda Lawton. The last border was done by Melissa Picha. Each stocking has the name of a grandchild embroidered on it. Cheryl and her husband's names are in the center on the bottom. A great quilt, a really great quilt.

Round Robin Quilt #1

I did so want to post about each quilt as I placed my choice of round. The hardest part about this project was deciding what to do. The coices are endless. One thing I did learn--the person who does the first round really leads the direction that the quilt will continue to follow. I feel it is the most important round.

Debbie's quilt was the first one that I worked on. Her center was larger than any of the others and her quilt ended up the largest. Her center ended with the center applique and she ask that it be placed on point. I squared it up again with the dark border, 4 Churndash blocks and the next border. Kathy E. put the green narrow border and the checker board border. I think I have a picture of it when I fiished my round, but I cannot find it. Debbies Quilt was the one I enjoyed the most. For one reason, it was the first and when my enthuriasm was the hightest and another reasone, the style and color choice is of my preference. The next applique border was done by Rhonda Lawton. The sawtooth border was the choice of Melissa and a good one I must say. With the dark repeated, the last border which included all fabrics framed the piece to perfection. I like the term "piece". I had not heard that used until I met Mrs. Cheryl McInnis and was ask to join the "Round Robin 2007".

Round Robin #2--Melissa's Quilt

The next quilt was the one that scared me to death. Cheryl chose the first round for this quilt. The floating friendship start with the multicolored background. The turquoise blue point border was done by Debbie Stanley. I kept this top on my wall for the longest time trying to decide what to do with it. I eventually called on my Wacky Friends for some opinions. All I could see was more points repeating Debbies points then continuing to ?--whatever the next participant chose. So, I reached for a Strawberrie Wine Cooler and took the plunge.

This is what it looked like when I finished. The center was a little full, but my best friend, Kathy L who is a long arm quilter assured me that it would quilt fine. I was finished with Quilt #2.

THANK GOD! I MADE IT. AND IT DON'T LOOK HALF BAD--FOR A MELISSA QUILT.(No offense, M--we just have different tastes). I threatened to add a few reproduction fabrics to improve upon this quilt--------and Meslissa said a little purple and lime green would do alot for mine. OHH if we were all the same, wouldn't the world be a dull place.

Finished with Quilt #2.

HELP Question for Bloggers

I want to be able to "mark out" items on a list. I have seen this done on some blogs and I am wondering if this is exclusive to Wordpress (and other blogspots I know nothing about) or if there is some way to do it on Blogger that I have not figured out yet. If you have knowledge of this, please leave me a comment. HELP!

WHAT A SURPRISE!

SEE THE REST OF THE ROUND ROBIN QUILTS IN MY JANUARY 6 POST BELOW!

I am finally getting back to our Round Robin Reveal. This is my quilt. I have never been more delighted. My quilt is exactly what I wanted although I didn't know I wanted it--LOL I know that makes no sense, but I went into this with no expectation as I did not want to be disappointed, but this quilt met every non-expectation I ever had! Round one, the flying geese was done by Kathy Earley, Round 2, the southwestern design was done by Rhonda Lawton, the 3rd round, the embroidery, was done by Melissa Pica, and the next round, Delectable Mountain, was by Cheryl McInnis, and the last was done by Debbie Stanley--a plain border but very necessary to finish it up. Great Job Girls--it's a treasure.
The quilts were put up on the wall one at a time and the owner was brought out with her eyes closed. I have a video short of my reaction--I am famous for crying--can cry on demand and that is exactly what i did. I even made everyone else cry too. I will post some close-ups later. I aim to drag this out as long as possible LOL. Come back for more--

Nana Visited My Blog and Started a New Group Project

Several ladies have commented to me about this "String Thing" Swap that is the Wacky Pac 2008 project. Nana gave a group a challenge to make some Christmas blocks. You will find some results on her blog. I thought I would post these blocks which are examples from another group working on a similar project swap. Again, each participant chose a different color combination. They are really neat and easy. Be sure and visit Nana's blog.

Chicken Gumbo for Dinner Anyone?

I tried a recipe today that was really good and I thought I would share it. Some of you just may be needing an idea for dinner tonight. The recipe is from http://www.allrecipes.com/ I didn't change a thing except the spices. Instead of Thyme and Bay Leaf I used a tablespoon of Tony Chachere's Original Seasoning. OPPS--I did add one thing --a can of tomatoes.

CHICKEN GUMBO
This easy-to-make main dish helps to increase the amount of vegetables you eat and can be made all in one pot.Makes 8 servings

1 tsp vegetable oil

1/4 cup flour

3 cups low-sodium chicken broth

1 1/2 lbs chicken breast, skinless and boneless, cut into 1-inch strips

1 cup white potatoes (1/2 lb), cubed

1 cup onions, chopped

1 cup carrots (1/2 lb), coarsely chopped

1/4 cup celery, chopped

1/2 medium carrot, grated

4 cloves garlic, finely minced

2 stalks scallion, chopped

1 whole bay leaf

1/2 tsp thyme

1/2 tsp black pepper, ground

2 tsps hot (or jalapeño) pepper

1 cup okra (1/2 lb), sliced into 1/2-inch pieces

1. Add oil to a large pot.

2. Heat pot over medium flame.

3. Stir in flour.

4. Cook, stirring constantly, until flour begins to turn golden brown.

5. Slowly stir in all the broth using a wire whisk and cook for 2 minutes. The mixture should not be lumpy.

6. Add all ingredients except okra. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and let simmer for 20 to 30 minutes.

7. Add okra and let cook for 15 to 20 more minutes.

8. Remove bay leaf.9. Serve hot in a bowl or over rice.

Serving size: 3/4 cup--Calories 165--Fat 4 g--Saturated fat 1 g--Cholesterol 51 mg

Sodium 81 mg

National Institutes of Health - www.nih.gov/Special thanks to Goulda A. Downer, Ph.D., R.D., for sharing her collection of African American recipes, and the General Clinical Research Center in the Irving Center for Clinical Research, Columbia University, New York, for testing the recipes.

ROUND ROBIN REVEAL

Cheryl McInnis's Christmas Quilt.
Just realized that I had saved this as a draft. SORRY These are all the Round Robin Quilts except mine.

Kathy Earley's Red White and Blue in honor of her son, Josh.
This is Debbie Stanleys beautiful Applique Nine Patch. I failed to get Debbie in the picture, but I will later.

This is Rhondas "Deck of Cards" quilt.
Melissa's Compass Centre Quilt--it's a hotty like her!

HAPPY NEW YEAR, MY BLOGGING FRIENDS!

Happy Happy New Year, all you out there! I hope that you all had an enjoyable beginning of 2008--no hangovers or headaches. I am afraid that my DH and I have come to an age where we enjoy NOT going anywhere or doing anything. Isn't that pitiful?

My DH worked today and I spent my day alone which was fine with me. I decided to spend it doing what I wanted to be doing all year
1. I embroidered some Wacky Pac emblems for friends.

2. I worked on my "Old Bag Swap" quilt.

3. I exercised

4. Spent time packing for a retreat!

I plan on attending many of these this year.