Quilty Hug Text Pictures

Looks like my I-Spy quilt...

...is becoming someone's favorite nap time, go-to, blanket!

Love receiving phone "texts" like these!

Am I the only one who thinks grandchildren grow way too fast!??

Ugh! Bobbins!

Seriously!! Whether I'm on the long-arm or piecing, THIS has been happening A LOT lately: I'm within inches of being done sewing binding on, piecing or at the end of a pantograph on the long-arm and yes, I run out of bobbin thread! No April Fools joke here! UGH!!! What's even worse,I don't even notice I'm out of bobbin thread until, like 12 inches later! Talk about letting your mind wander! 

Anyhooo....I wrapped up my stay-cation with bobbin maintenance! Between the long-arm and my domestic sewing machine, I spent atleast an hour cleaning my bobbin cartridges. I felt like an awesome machanic! And no, I did NOT take a picture! (I thought about it...but was too emabarressed by my collected lint pile!)

Something I'm learning is...that a clean bobbin case makes your machine hum. Second thing I'm learning, is thread makes a BIG difference! I love unsng King Tut and So Fine! on the long-arm. But when it comes to my domestic machine and piecing I haven't bought quality thread. I didn't realize the difference thread makes until I tested a spool of  Aurifil thread I had won against the current thread I'm using, I could not believe the difference!!! I even had my hubby "feel" the difference in the stitching! (I know he is such a good sport!) 

With that said, I already have a business account with Superior Threads and have always been very pleased with their thread and service. So I'm curious what thread and color would you recommend to use when machine piecing? Superior Threads catelog has a Masterpiece thread they recommend for piecing?? Anyone familiar with it? Thanks so much for your help! 

Tuesday Archives #56: Panels

Welcome to the linky party that rejuvenates your old quilting/sewing posts! 

Please click here to read more about this linky party.  

This week's theme is: Panels 

Have you made panels into quilts, pillows, or something? Are there some in your archives that need rejuvinating? Or maybe you have some in your stash that need some "dusting off"? Well, all's I can tell ya is, after seeing this panel quilt at Sue Daurio's Quilting Adventures blog last year, I have never looked at panels the same way! Sue's quilting is always inspiring. The variety of details she used made this panel come alive don't ya think! 

Stay-cation Day 9: Jackson's Post!

This very moment in November of 2009, was the first time I met Jackson and fell in love with him immedietely. We have alway had dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters (Yuck...hamsters) All of them being rescue/adopted pets.  

 This was our very first time, not only "picking" out a dog, but having a puppy!  

Don't we look like proud new parents!!

 Well, our new quiet, empty nest of a home did not stay that way very long.

 Before we knew it there were naughty messes to clean up. 

   

Toys were all over the house again.

Suddenly, someone needed naps again...

...and help getting up the stairs.

Now almost 5 1/2 years later, come Winter:

 Spring... 

Summer... 

or Fall...

...he is my constant companion. 

Today we visited his breeder for his Spring grooming. This is always a wonderful treat for him as he  gets to run and play with his dad and other JRT as they explore the countryside.

He's quite the happy boy!

Quite the tired one too!

Like so many us, he's always glad to be home where his toys are his own...

 There are no puppies climbing all over him as he basks in the sun.

 And, he can get back to the business of chasing squierrels!

So it's kinda easy to see why he's in so many quilty pictures. Sometimes we just get the "right" pet and it makes all the difference in the world doesn't it! Thanks for keeping us company with your comments and drop ins this week during my Spring Stay-cation. It was fun, relaxing and rejuvinating.  I even find myself looking forward to getting back to work.

Stay-cation Day 8: Little Letters Finish

From the design wall to being quilted...
I'm nearing the end of my little stay-cation with another WIP done!

My version of the Temecula Quilt Co. QAL is a little different since I didn't use sashing or cornerstones. I like that is was a stash buster (I have soooo much 30's fabrics). It will make an adorable crib quilt measuring a nice 42"x 56". 

 

I couldn't resist quilted it using my ABC/123 pantograph:

So what's left on the ol' stay-cation list?? A few things...but that is a-okay with me. I got some WIP done. My walking mileage is built back up (Tomorrow I'll have 18 miles walked this week!) I puttered and relaxed. Best of all, I have some slow stitching to look forward to as I enjoy sewing this Little Letters binding down right here in my favorite afternoon spot:

BTW...what ya think of the purple backing? I haven't used a lot of purple. But since the recipient of this quilt is unknown, I wanted to make sure it was unisex. My mom uses lavender often when knitting baby blankets, so I followed her lead and thought it was the perfect compliment to this scrappy finish. (And the yellow binding coordinates perfectly with its little flowers.) 

Tonight will find us winding down with friends coming over for dinner, wine and a little card playing. Then tomorrow, Jackson and I are off for a country drive to his breeder. He'll get his playday, spring grooming and be such a good looking boy afterwards!  I'll share his day with ya tomorrow after we get home, especially because so many of you enjoy his presence here on the ol' blog and are pet lovers yourself.

Until then, thanks for stopping by. Hope your weekend is going well.