Reading in bed?

When I was putting Ryan to bed tonight, he wanted his "pad!" I think it takes reading in bed to a whole new level!!

And another thing.....

I'm not really a complainer, BUT, there's another thing that really annoys me!


Ever have trouble remembering your user name and password? OMG. WHY do they have to all require different configurations? Why won't ONE universal name and password work?


I can't tell you how many times I have tried and tried different variations on the same theme, hoping I'll be able to log onto some site or other.


I wish someone would invent some way to remember all that info...Someone will probably tell me, "there's an app for that!"... VBG 
Just saying'....


With that, I'm heading back to my bindings... only a couple more to go. UGH.


Thanks for everyone's comments. I must admit I don't care for basting much either. Was fun to read what everyone else dislikes!!


Have a great Tuesday.
Love to you all,
Randy

Bindings, bindings and more bindings

I am reluctant to admit that there is a part of quilting that I don't particularly care for. I can say it's my least favorite part.  That's doing bindings! UGH.


I'm getting my quilts ready to take to Oregon for the quilt show in Sisters on July 14th. I always try to sell something (helps pay for my fabric for a little while).  I had the quilts done plenty early this year. But the bindings?  Not exactly.


So I'm busy this week cutting bindings, sewing them end to end, sewing them on and then sewing them down. Remember I like to do it by machine? Well, that's still going on.

Is there a part of quilting that's your least favorite?? I'm curious to hear. Everyone has one aspect they don't like---and of course something they love best of all, but that's another blog post!


Love to you all,
Randy

VERY annoying...

Remember a while ago I told you that I often use "very annoying" to describe situations? Well, I have a story that was REALLY annoying!


I bought a machine on ebay just last week and was very excited about my purchase. Got a great price on an old Bernina.  I was very excited to receive it and planned to take it up to Sunriver for our little sewing fest. You can see where this is going, right?


The machine arrives 2 days ago and I wanted to savor the moment of opening it and setting the new darling on my sewing table in its proper place.


I opened it last night and initially was a little put off by the crack in the hard case and my inability to lift the machine by its handle.  The fact that the foot pedal was filthy was a little disconcerting but I figured I could clean that. When I tried to thread it and found that the thread was getting stuck all along the thread path was a little troubling. When I looked at the foot I still thought I could just oil it up and it'd be fine. What's a little rust?  WRONG!  


The darn thing does sew a few stitches. Then stops.  Then starts again.  And the bobbin holder had a large rust spot.


OMG... piece of garbage.


So I'm shipping it back to the seller, who is going to refund me my original shipping cost. I'm trying to get him to pay the return shipping as well. The guy only is giving me a p.o. box, which means I can't use fedex, which is half the price of the post office.


So, wouldn't you call this ANNOYING??
Ever get screwed on something from ebay? I'd love to hear other stories so I know I'm not the only sucker out there!!


Love to you all,
Randy

Third Wednesday in June -- Sow-A-Long Day

Happy Wednesday everyone. Are you all caught up? Ready to undertake 3 more blocks??  It's the third Wednesday of June and Sow-A-Long day!! WOOHOO!!!


Clay's Choice


Background:   cut (4) 2 x 3-1/2" rectangles


Background:  cut (4) 2-1/2" squares - you are making 8 hsts, 2" unf, 1-1/2" fin.
Dark:           cut (4) 2-1/2" squares

Anvil


Background:   cut (2) 2" squares (corners)


Background:  cut (5) 2-1/2" squares - you are making 10 hsts, 2" unf, 1-1/2" fin
Dark:           cut (5) 2-1/2" squares


Medium:      cut (1) 3-1/2" square (center)

Flock of Geese


Background:  cut (1) 4" square, making 2 hsts 3-1/2" unfin, 3" fin
Dark:           cut (1) 4" square


Background:  cut (4) 2-1/2" squares, making 8 hsts 2" unfin, 1-1/2" fin
Mediums:      cut (4) 2-1/2" squares


NOTE:  I made two blocks since I made my small hsts scrappy and used only one fabric pair for each block. In order to do that, you will need to make another pair of dark 3-1/2" hsts. 

I hope you have a great week!


Love to you all,
Randy

And the answer is...

What great guesses!! Thanks everyone for giving your thoughts.


The intended purpose of that gadget is as a seam ripper!! And I got plenty of use out of it this afternoon, having to rip out a seam 3 times. Ever happen to you? Keep sewing the same thing the wrong way? UGH.

Fortunately it was a short seam.
But, I'll tell ya, that thing really vibrates!  It would probably be very useful for a larger seam when its speed would come in handy. But for a short little seam, I'll probably stick to my favorite Clover seam ripper!  


I hope everyone had a great weekend and that your husbands/fathers/sons got to enjoy their day!


Sow-A-Long blocks coming on Wednesday, by the way! GET READY!!


Love to you all,
Randy

Can you guess its use??

When I was in Kansas City at Quilt Market, we found so many gadgets we had to have. This one, in particular, was extremely useful.

Any ideas what it does??

Hope everyone has a great weekend. Aren't we grateful for our fathers/husbands/sons? Give them a big hug!!

Love to you all,

Randy

Al fresco dining

We live close enough to the ocean (about 5-6 miles, as the crow flies) that we enjoy cool fog in the evenings.  Tonight, Mark and I were alone for dinner and rather than go out to eat, we picked up some cheese and crackers and set up our little table in the back with some wine.


Doesn't this look divine? Even romantic?? (my 24 yr old went to a Giants baseball game tonight!! vbg).

Still trying to get back to some serious sewing!!
Love to you all,
Randy

Catching up, unpacking and missing you-know-who

We are back from our family's trip to Hawaii and, aside from some serious airline screw ups coming back, we had a fabulous trip.  All 3 of our grown kids came along, with Rachel and her husband and their darling boy, Ryan.  I just wanted to send you a sampling:


Here is Ryan being elated sitting on bridge number 1 (there were 2).

Here's another one, this one with me, Ryan and my son Ben (24) --hope you don't mind the half-nakedness!!:

There are many other priceless ones I will show you within the next day. First I need to reacquaint myself with my fabric and projects in the sewing room!


Can't wait to be back sewing again. 


Love to you all,
Randy

First Wednesday of June...Sow-A-Long Day

Can you believe it's June already? Time sure is going by fast this year. Well, it's the first Wednesday of June and it's therefore Sow-A-Long day! WOOHOO.
However, as I told you, because I'll be gone all week on a family vacation and I'm a bit disorganized, we are doing only TWO blocks this week.  But don't get lazy on me: when I get back, we're going to make up the missing block!!


XQuisite:


Background:  Cut (9) 2-1/2" squares, different fabrics
Med/Dark:     cut (18) 1-1/2" squares, from 9 diff prints

Can you tell that you are sewing on the diagonal across the 9 diff prints on the corners of the backgrounds? Each unit is 2" fin (2-1/2" unfin).




Flutter Wheel:


Medium:   Cut (4) 2-1/2" squares (my gold)


Background:  Cut (1) 2 x 4" rectangle, making 4 hsts, 1" fin
Medium:       cut (1) 2 x 4" rectangle
You are making 5 different sets of 4 hsts. The unit is 2" fin (2-1/2" unfin)

That's it for this week!
Love to you all,
Randy

Bug Eyes

Bonnie is to blame for this acquisition!  I have my new Kindle; I'm trying to listen to my book while I sew. But I don't really have the right equipment for it. So I checked in with my friend, who knows about all the latest and best gadgets, when I saw this at Bed Bath and Beyond. YUP, it's the right guy.

So he's tethered to my Kindle Touch while I'm sewing, giving me the stink eye! isn't this hysterical? His mouth gets blue when he's turned on. VBG


Love to you all,
Randy

Not a lot of sewing going on BUT...

There's no sewing going on here in Hawaii but I'm still having a fabulous time with all our kids here as well as our darling grandson.  The kids are in a separate condo than we are; and we get Ryan with us!


Here are 2 pictures I had to share:
the first is him sitting outside the condo (the one in the back left) enjoying the breezes, in between playing with the balls on the little hill.

And here he is just outside, on the lanai, walking in his dad's s flip-flops.

The weather is gorgeous, in the low 80s and mostly sunny! Paradise, really.


Lest you think I forgot about you, the Sow-A-Long blocks are scheduled for posting early on Wednesday. BE READY!!


Hope everyone is having a great week.
Love to you all,
Randy

Who doesn't like a nice cold one?

I'm not really a big drinker but I do enjoy a beer on a warm day. When we were in Oregon last weekend (where it wasn't warm), we stopped at the Deschutes Brewery for lunch and a beer.  It's a lot of fun to visit the various breweries in the area, as that is becoming quite the thing. In fact, you can bring an empty bottle ("growler") and get the thing filled for about $12!

Even if you're not much of a beer drinker, you must admit these look good. And look at all the taps in the background. So many choices...


I barely finished mine, by the way. But it was fun nonetheless.


Love to you all,
Randy