It's A Finish!

After a lot of practicing on paper, watching videos, practicing on vinyl and practicing on fabric, I have completed FMQ Gypsy Girl.  She is a finish!!  The size is 65" x 75" - so far  my largest quilt.

The key to good free motion quilt results is matching thread.  lol  I used a light pink from Connecting Threads.  After all the tension problems I had with the Sulky thread, this went perfectly.

I stippled in the main body of the quilt, circles in the small border and feathers in the 4" border.  I did a large loose stipple, because I wanted the quilt to be soft.  The feathers improved the more I did.  Corners were tricky and not perfect, but they will do.

I haven't washed it yet and it needs a label.    I was too excited to wait for washing!!   I had to show you!!  Now the fun of deciding the next project........................

 

A Little Surprise

We had a little surprise arrive this last Wednesday.  It was a busy morning.  DH had regular chores to do and we had 3 semi-trucks coming to haul our calves to the sale barn in Aberdeen.  The trucks had just gotten there and one of the drivers asked what was wrong with one of our llamas.  Sure enough, Lillian was having a baby.  The head and one long leg were out, but the other leg was back.  With a little assistance this little one was helped into the cold world.  It was only 14 degrees out.

 After the trucks left with the calves, DH and I loaded up mom and baby in the horse trailer.  We set up a pen in the heated shop for them.  (That sounds a lot easier than it was!!  Lillian was not very cooperative!!)

Lillian really didn't appreciate the help or the nicer accommodations.  Llamas don't bite, charge or run over you--thank goodness!!  BUT they do spit at you--nice big soggy hunks of yunky smelling partially digested hay.  We got the pair settled and then showered and headed for the sale.

They were just fine when we got home to check on them.  Baby is all legs and long neck.  She is light as a feather.  I'd rather carry her than a baby calf. lol

 

Michelle was home for a visit this week-end.  The baby is so fun.  She is curious and soft as a bunny.  She liked the sound of Michelle's voice. She bounces around and shows off too.  They are now in a suite in the old red barn.  Lillian wants to join the rest of the family.  It is suppose to warm up the end of this next week, so that will help.

 

 

 

I'm still practicing my FMQ.  I'm going to have a lot of "cat mats" when I'm done, because I need alot more practice!!

In Like A Lamb

March came in like a lamb here in South Dakota.  We will be looking for the lion at the end of the month--just in time for calving time.   This little March block was fun to make.  Green isn't one of my favorite colors, so I really had to dig through the stash to come up with some fun green fabrics.  DH is enjoying these cute little hangings.  He usually doesn't pay much attention to what I'm doing, but he seems to be looking forward to each month now.  lol

I've completed all of the quilting on Gypsy, but the last border.  I've been practicing my feathers.  I found  www.forestquilting.com this week.  If you click on the free patterns at the top, there are a bunch of quilting motifs.  I printed out some of the feather ones.   If my sample looks good, I'm going to quilt feathers around the border.

I had guys for dinner today.  It was a simple dinner of roast beef, mashed potatoes, gravy and corn.  We are planning on selling the calves this next week.  Today they are sorting off the bigger calves that are ready to go on to the feedlots.   We will keep feeding the little ones.  We will also keep back the best heifers for the new breeding season.   It is a gorgeous sunny day--seems like Spring is in the air. 

 

Fog and Frustration

It was a very foggy morning.  The frost covers everything and makes for a pretty, white fairy land.  It's so much prettier in person.   My pictures just don't do it justice.

The frost covers everything.  lol  End of  fog-- now for frustration.

I spent most of yesterday trying to free motion quilt.  I mostly quilted on fabric sandwiches.  I was trying to use some variegated Sulky thread.  I think the problem was that it was #12 weight.  I had cleaned my machine and put in a size 90 needle.  I kept getting big skipped stitches.  I adjusted and adjusted the tension.  I took things apart and rethreaded.  I sewed and sewed and sewed.  I finally gave up.

This afternoon I used plain pink #50 cotton thread from Connecting Thread and an 80 needle.  I adjusted and sewed and adjusted and sewed.  I took things apart and put them back together.  I sewed and sewed.  Finally I was ready to quilt Gypsy!

I still have a few skipped stitches, but they aren't large and are far and few between.  I am about one third done.  I can't wait to get to the binding part!!  I'm not guaranteeing this will be done by the end of February.  I hope this spool of thread last to the end!

Watching the Snow and Doodling

We had a "little" more snow over the week-end.  The wind blew too, so the road to the highway was blocked.  It was a good week-end for staying in the house.  I had planned to sew, but I spent the time FMQ practicing.  I always have to polish up my skills before I can quilt and it's been a while again since I have. 

Craftsy had a sale on their online classes over the week-end.  I had a weak moment and bought the Free Motion Quilting with Feathers class by Angela Walters.  I watched it.  I was some what disappointed that she used a long arm for some of the lessons.  She did use a plain sewing machine for some of the lessons.  I didn't reallly learn anything new, but I enjoyed the lessons and will watch them again.  I just need to do a lot more practicing!

I bought this book when Connecting Threads had their 40% off books sale.  I made some copies of the pages with my printer/copier.

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I used some vinyl to put over the top of the designs and traced with a dry erase marker to practice.

I use this square I crocheted of cotton yarn as an eraser.  It really works well on the vinyl and on my dry erase board.  I have three of them and they wash up nicely.  I should be ready to start FMQ on Gypsy Girl tomorrow. 

We went to town for feed and groceries this afternoon.  It was a sunny day, but very very cold.  There is another storm coming on Thursday, so we needed to stock up. 

The pheasants are out enjoying the sun and picking up any corn that was dropped by the feed wagon.  They are so pretty and fun to watch.  Judy might have her chickens.  I have my pheasants. lol
 

February Calendar Block

Thank you so much bloggers for your prayers and support after my last post.  The better I feel physically the better I'm feeling overall.  I knew that some fabric therapy would really help too. 

 I love all things Valentines, so I really wanted to make the February calendar block from
Count On It.  It was fun to go through the stash and choose the colors for this project.  You know how I love to touch and feel my fabric.   I like how it turned out and I learned from my January block to make better color choices so my letters showed up better.   I got out my red and white table runner to complete my February decor.

Jen and Ryan drove to South Dakota from Florida to spend a few days with us and attend the memorial service for Kay.  It was nice to have them here-even tho it feels like just a blur in time.  We had snow while they were here and DH put our Mississippi SIL to work clearing snow with the tractor and the dozer.  I think that was probably the highlight of his trip.  We also treated them to some below zero temperatures.  

I plan to get Gypsy Girl out today.  I had to roll her up to make room for the overnight guests.  I need to choose thread and decide on a quilting design.  Goal:  Finish this month!

After the week-end blizzard and sub-zero temps we are enjoying some more temperate weather.  DH looked out on the deck and commented, " the cats think they are in Hawaii today".  lol  I wish I could make friends with this pretty blue-eyed beauty.  He is just so timid.   I'm linking up with Sarah for Feline Friday.

Have a good week-end!  I hope to have a quilting week-end here.  :)

Blogging and Sharing

I started blogging because I wanted to join the fun in the quilting community.  Quilt alongs and give aways were the attraction.  I've gotten to know so many nice people.  Bloggers have become my friends.   Initially I thought I would only share my quilting, recipes and farm life, but real life sometimes doesn't leave a lot of time for just those activities.

I started January out thinking I was going to get so organized and get so much done.  I wanted to spend less time on the internet, eat healthier and sew, sew, sew.  SO where have I been for the last month--almost a month without a blog post.  I've been living life and not really very pleasantly.  Because you are my friends, I'll share with you:

On January 17th my older sister called to let me know that she hadn't been feeling well the last couple weeks and had been to the clinic.  They were treating her for a bladder infection, but after a couple days she was feeling worse.  The blood panel they did showed alarming things going on in her blood.  On Friday a friend took her to Omaha NE and on Saturday morning they did a bone marrow test. My healthy, vibrant 68 year old sister, Kay was diagnosed with Acute myeloid leukemia AML.   She passed away the following Wednesday night, January 23rd. 

I'm so thankful that we had two weddings, a birthday celebration picnic and a sister trip last year.  Kay came for both weddings and the picnic.  Since our parents are no longer living, we siblings don't get together very often.  My older brother died four years ago and we've been reluctant to take a picture of just the four of us.  It just didn't feel right.

Last year we took pictures.  I'm so glad we did, even if little brother had to be persuaded to take the time at his son's wedding.

It's always comforting to have old pictures to look at too.

 

The three girls on "old" Pepper. 

 

 

Easter in my grandparents back yard.

 

 

This is Kay with her three sons - the loves of her life.  She married a dairy farmer and worked very, very hard and never had much luxury in her life.   Her marriage ended in divorce and it took years of pain, patience and strength to build a life for herself and relationships with her boys.  The last few years she had made a move.   She loved her job at an assisted living facility,  her cute little house and her church family.  She liked to garden, can and bake.  She never visited her boys without bringing homemade jelly and baked goods.  She sewed many of her own clothes in her early life, including her wedding dress.  The boys' shirts in this picture were made by her.  She had just started quilting in recent years.  She liked to travel.   She had taken a trip to Branson, MO, a river boat trip and a Fall colors bus trip.  We had such a fun sister trip to Arkansas to see my aunt.  We were planning another girl trip this year to the beach in Florida.  

 

She was the healthiest and happiest I've know her to be the last few years.   She was probably the most health conscious of all of us.  She exercised and watched what she ate.  "I have to take good care of myself, because I have no one to take care of me." she would often say.   She had come to a time in her life where she didn't have to work so hard and could take time to do some fun things.   It's been a shock to lose her so quickly.  I went to Omaha on Sunday and spent her last days and nights on this earth with her.  I still can't believe my beautiful and loving sister is gone.   I'm thankful that she didn't suffer.  It was a special time and I'm thankful that I could be there with her.   I so admire her faith and strength.    We will all miss her.

 

Of course, I came home and immediately came down with the "crud".  I was unable to attend the memorial service in Nebraska, but did go to the one in our home town.  The combination of exhaustion, "crud" and grief have kept me in a very dark place the last couple weeks.  I'm feeling better physically now and I know that the mental will improve with time.   It always amazes me and sometimes makes me angry how life just seems to go on.   I'm working my way through the black hole and the gray time and I know the sun will shine again in my life.  I selfishly want my sister and she has gone on ahead to be with my parents and two of my brothers.  We will all be together again some day. 

 

My desk top computer died this last week.  It's going no where, but the dump probably.  It has my email account on it, addresses and tons and tons of quilting ideas and patterns.  (yes, I do have backup)  I need to decide if I'm going to replace it.  I haven't heard anything good about Windows 8.   I miss not having the printer available, but I could probably install that on my lap top.   Decisions, decisions--not very important problems at least. 

 

I hope to get back to my 2013 goals.  I've done well with less time on the internet.  I can't believe February is half over!!  Happy Valentine's Day by the way.  I made DH chocolate chip cookies yesterday.  See I am feeling better.  Thank you dear friends for reading this long post and sharing my ramblings.  I've missed you and will be back.  Hugs...................