I almost forgot!

Aunt Gertie and Cousin Martha have joined me with a blog of their own. Please pay them a visit!

What to do next?

My sewing machine has to go into the shop. The screen is acting up. When I turn on the machine it seems as though the contrast needs adjusting and after s little while the screen goes blank as though it had a screen saver...except it doesn't. So off to the shop it goes. I so need a back up machine but don't have one so the big question now is what to do next? I have all those projects that are in process but they cannot proceed without a machine. I may bring out my serger for the log cabin project. I guess I need to sort through my hand projects as well. The Halloween Baltimore Album block I started on my trip home for Christmas? Or the Mexican Rose project that has been my traveling project for the last 5 years? Or I can straighten up my scraps and plan a new quilt? I have options. I'm just not sure which way to turn.

So Many Projects...

We have all said it..."So may projects, so little time." I've been trying to finish up a few things that have been hanging around. I think I need to make a resolution this year to finish so many projects. I just have to decide what that number should be. What a question! I think I have just been too distracted this last year to finish anything but a few tote bags..ok maybe a table runner or two as well. So here is a potential list of projects that should be finished.

I finished my sister's wedding quilt, Red Lotus Wedding. This was a joint effort with one of my other sisters. It is only slightly overdue (We won't talk about when the wedding was). The finished quilt is king size. Thank goodness I had the long arm to quilt it with. My shoulders are no longer up to quilting a bed size quilt on my sewing machine. This one is finished, done an ready to be mailed!

Of course, I'm much better at starting things than finishing them. I needed something bright to cheer me up since the days have been a little gray. Gray by Florida standards that is, but it's as good an excuse as any. So I have been practicing my pineapple blocks and turning them into flowers while I dream of spring. In the end the quilt should be throw size. I just have to decide what I want to do for sashing. I have already put the blocks together and taken them apart again once. I guess that's how that UFO pile keeps growing.

I started a Christmas table centerpiece. This one has been moving right along. I am paper piecing the log cabin blocks because their finished size is 4". Nine blocks of nine. I have 6 blocks finished. I am using the Benartex Peppermint and Holly Berries fabric. So cute! This project does not take much concentration so it has been a good late night project. I am one of those morning people every one hates. I get up at 5 every day (yes, Saturday and Sunday too). Sorry, I can't help it. The downside is I am falling asleep on the couch at 9:00 at night. I need a low concentration project after dinner or I will just have to take it out again and start over.

At the other end of the spectrum I have another flame quilt I am working on. This one is a one-of-a-kind project for a good friend. The flames are pieced, not appliqued. This is a new technique for me. I have drawn out the flames, transferred them to freezer paper. Cut out all the little pieces and sewn them back together again. I have had some issues with the bias and the finished pieces. I believe it is a matter of how the pieces are cut out. I need to pay a little more attention to the grain direction of the fabric. You'd think I would know that by now.

Those are my short term goals. Of course there are many other little projects hanging around waiting for my attention. Maybe I'll alternate on old project, one new project. Or maybe not.

So many colors...So many choices.

Finally...We bought a house in Florida. I guess we are staying for a while. Honey said this is "the last house he will ever buy". I'm not so sure about that. I it is...I'm happy with it. The house sits on 2 acres on a little street outside of town. It is not in a neighborhood, although we do have neighbors. I'll have a sewing room and a longarm room. No more quilting in the basement.

My challenge has been paint colors. It's not easy picking colors or the entire house at one time. I thought I had everything chosen..and then.. I had forgotten the guest bath. All the colors were settled until I looked at the master bath again. We had originally though it would need to be re-tiled. After investigation it does not need re-tiling, just cleaning and sealing. That meant the new paint should go with the existing tile. So...the green that was going into my sewing room is now going into the master bath and bedroom. The blue from the master is now going into the guest bedroom. musical colors it seems. Oh and I forgot the guest bath again. Still no decision there.

Now I need new colors for my sewing room and long arm room. These are my creative rooms so the options are endless. I finally decided that I will stick with the green or the longarm room. I'm going to do the chair rail thing and put a darker green on the bottom and lighter on top. Then I'm going to paint the vines and flowers that in this wall hanging quilt I made. I'm thinking about a large quilt block for my sewing room.

Oh ...and the guest bath, I forgot to look at it again. Why is it such a problem? The tub is a cream and mauve color. The tile is grey and the grout is the mauve from the tub. I'd like a neutral color to bring it all together. I seem to have a color block when it comes to the bathroom.

They're back!!!

I know it's been a long time. This move to Florida has really gotten in to the way of my sewing. Finally we are settled for a while. We're still looking for that perfect house. you know..the last house we'll ever buy kind of house. no pressure! but at least we have a place to live until that magical house appears on the market.I ave not been doing much sewing during this time. There have been too many other things to think about; where to live, where the best grocery store is, how to get from point A to point B in a large city I'm not familiar with. Everything seems to take longer than it should. Now, don't think I'm complaining, just explaining.

During all this time, my ghosts have been quiet. I almost thought they forgot to move with me. For those who are not familiar with my ghosts, most of the time I am haunted by ideas or quilts. Check out the October issue of www.sewinggazette.com for a more detailed explanation. Well, no need for concern, my ghosts are active again. I had a flicker when looking at the spiky leaves of the palm trees and palmetto bushes here. It would be great to duplicate them in a New York Beauty block.

Honey and I took a drive down to St. Augustine, the oldest city in the country. The city was founded in 1565. A city that old and with a colorful history has many ghosts. We did not take the ghost tour this time, but I think the local spirits woke up my personal ghosts. My ghosts went from sleeping on my shoulder to swirling around my head again and we were there in the bright Florida sunshine. How powerful the local ethereal beings must be when the sun goes down. I know it is only February, but once again, I am being haunted by new ideas and images for quilts.