Well, It's Thursday. No quilting tonight... I'm at Disneyworld!! I did some quilting last night. Photos tomorow...

Blogger's Quilt Festival

This is my first Blogger's Quilt Festival.  Woo Hoo!!

For those of you coming from Amy's site and visiting for the first time, Welcome to my little humble blog.  I blog mostly about quilting, but a little about family and every Wednesday my blogging friends keep me accountable on my journey to get back in shape with my Wednesday Workout reports.

For those of you who follow this blog and don't know about the Quilt Festival, visit Amy's Creative Side (ther is a link at the bottom of this post) and have fun following all of the links.  You will also recognize this quilt as it has been a recent subject of my posts here.

The Quilt:

Jonathon's Quilt

The Process:

I took my 14 year old son, Jonathon, with me to a LQS and he almost refused to go in.  "Dad, Are you SERIOUS?  You want me to go in THERE with you!?"  I told him I was going to make a quilt for him, the shop was having an FQ Sale and I wanted him to pick out his own fabric.  He proceeded to pick out a bunch of very bright prints, as you can see.

I had him point out things he liked about quilts hanging in the shop and then I started designing, finding ways to incorporate the things he really liked into his quilt.  So, I don't know if I designed it, or he did, but it was a lot of fun to do this project for him.

The Process Photos:

Cut Strips and Rectangles

Assemble into partial blocks (Each block will
get one of each type of partial block)

All of the pieces stacked and ready to assemble
into blocks insuring that no block has two
of the same fabrics.

Finished Blocks

 

More Finished Blocks

Laying out blocks trying to keep like fabrics
apart from one another.  It wasn't until I took
this photo that I saw my mistake...

There it is... The bottom row.  Those two blocks on the left were
supposed to be on the right, so I moved them.
Thank Goodness for Seam Rippers!!

Thanks for stopping by, whether you are a regular visitor or a new visitor, I hope you come back!

Click the image below to go back to Amy's Blogger's Quilt Festival or to go there for the first time... If you are going for the first time, get into a comfy chair, and grab a Cup o' Joe, 'cuz you're gonna be there a while!!!

Thanks for coming!

Until Next Time,

Paul

Vacation Coming...

Well... I didn't get much quilting done last night.  In fact, it was Thursday Night Quilt Night, and I didn't do ANY quilting!  BUMMER!!

My evening started with my first board meeting for the choir my kids sing in (another activity where I am the only male in the room!)  I am the new Treasurer.  My first order of business was to convince them to change their meeting night (3rd Thursday) because that is the same night as the Columbus Modern Quilt Guild meetings.  There was some giggling when I explained why I proposed meeting the second Thursday, and I heard, "Are you SERIOUS?" from more than one of my fellow board members.  It made me feel good that my wife (she is also on the board) defended me before I had a chance to.  Thankfully, after all of the giggling subsided, they agreed to move the meeting to the 2nd Thursday of the month!

After the choir board meeting I had to run over the CMQG meeting to drop off my wonky stars for the Japanese Relief Quilt we did.  I also had to trade some fabric for a swap I participated in.  I got some very nice Kona Solids.  I'll post pics next time.  The meeting was pretty much over, but I got to say hello to a few stragglers.

When I finally got home, I had to help Jonathon with schoolwork.  You may or may not remember, but my 14 year old is home schooled and while my wife does an awesome job with everything she does, she prefers that I do his science experiments with him.  (Truth be told, I enjoy doing the experiments with Jonathon, in fact, I enjoy any excuse to spend some time with him...  Those of you with a 14 year old will understand.  For those of you with younger children, you will understand sooner than I care to tell you!)  Anyway, we have had to put off experiments on several occassions for several different reasons and last night became "Catch Up Night".

We sat at the kitchen table weighing things, measuring things, calculating things, dissolving some stuff in all different sorts of liquids... It was fun.  And I THINK he actually learned a few things.  We learned about DENSITY and MASS and we learned that the scale works much better with fresh batteries!

So, a quilty night it wasn't, but a FUN night it was.

The next two days will be crazy as we are leaving for Florida on Sunday for a week of Rest and Relaxation!  So I will be mowing the lawn, doing laundry, packing, changing the oil, etc.

We are very excited about this trip because we have been granted permission to take our soon to be daughter with us for this vacation.  We will be adopting Chyenne's biological sister, Mary, later this year (in the next few months actually), and we enjoy having her with us even though for now we have to take her back to her current home after her visits.  It should be a fun trip as neither of the girls have ever been to Orlando, or Daytona, and they have never swum in the ocean.

And I must say, I have the MOST AWESOME WIFE in the WHOLE WORLD!!  (Sorry Ladies, but my wife is the most awesome.  Her only "flaw" is that she doesn't quilt!)  She told me this week that I should bring my sewing machine, and a tub of fabric.... Need I say more?  (I wasn't even going to ask... But I am NOT going to pass on that offer!)

Anyhow, I don't know how much quilting I'll be doing next week, but I'll post something...

Thanks for stopping by.

Until Next Time,
Paul

Wednesday Workout Report # 2

Well, I didn't get off to the start I wanted.  I did not keep to my plan very well.  I failed to look at my calendar before assembling my plan, and I need to admit that I can not just go from nothing to 30 minutes 6 days per week.  BUT, at least I got off my BUTT and did something.  This week's plan is a little more realistic!

For an explanation of this post, please visit Wednesday Workout Report # 1

Plan for 5/11 - 5/17 - ACTUAL for 5/11 - 5/17
Wed - Treadmill - 30 Minutes - 31 Minutes on Treadmill
Thu - Lower Body - 30 Minutes - I obviously WAS NOT thinking.  THU is quilt night, NO time for working out!
Fri - Treadmill - 30 Minutes - 32 Minutes on Treadmill
Sat - Biking - 30 Minutes - Lower Body Workout - 30 Minutes
Sun - Day of Rest - Rested
Mon - Upper Body - 30 Minutes - 30 Minutes on Treadmill
Tue - Treadmill - 30 Minutes - Rested


Plan for 5/18 - 5/24
 
Wed - Treadmill - 30 Minutes
Thu - Quilt Night... NO workout
Fri - Treadmill - 30 Minutes
Sat - Biking - 30 Minutes
Sun - Day of Rest
Mon - Walk/Jog in Florida - 30 Minutes
Tue - Walk/Jog in Florida - 30 Minutes
 
Sunday we are leaving for Florida for a much needed vacation.  I will still plan to at least do some walking outdoors.

Next Wednesday, I'll report what I actually did, and post a new schedule for the following week...

Thanks Everyone,
Paul

Weekend Quilting Update...

Well, My oldest son Josh is in Nevada racing with my Father.  (I'll do a post on that when he gets back with photos!)  Trish took Jonathon and Mary to a concert and then took Mary home (2 hour drive there and back), and Chyenne went to bed.  Dinner was cooked, the kitchen cleaned and I was ready for Survivor Finale'... And I decided to sew while I watched TV.

I have been looking for three weeks for the right material to sash the "Stars and Stripes" quilt for my boss, and Friday I finally found it, so that top is now complete and ready to be quilted!! I really wanted a blue, but I am coming up on the deadline, and I settled for a red that I found with rows of Stars... I also found the perfect binding fabric for this quilt (but I forgot to take a photo of it).  Hopefully, I'll get this quilted and bound this week and then I'll post Finished photos.

Close Up showing rows of small stars

Stars and Stripes, Top Completed!!

I also whipped up a few Wonky Blocks for a Japanese Relief Charity Quilt being assembled by the Columbus Modern Quilt Guild. 

And I cut the fabric for the Japanese Fabric Swap.

 

While I was ironing Stars and Strips Sashing, it jumped at me, and attacked my feet.  I put the iron down and grabbed a camera, 'cuz I knew who it was... Yes, Frappe' once again getting in on the quilting action!!  That goofy kitten just can't resist the temptation...

Until Next Time,
Paul

Thursday's Quilting Night # 10

Well, I didn't get to quilt over the weekend like I wanted to, but I got back to my routine of quilting on Thursday night.

I started the evening off by ripping out my mistake from last week.

This camera angle really distorts the shape of my hand!!
Luckily, I only had one 12" seam to rip, so it took me
almost as long to pause and take this photo as it did to
complete the ripping apart!!

Then I was off and running to complete Jonathon's quilt.  My goal last night was to complete everything but the quilting and binding on his quilt.  (Since I rent a long arm, this will be quilted next time I can get on it for a few hours.  Probably in the next few weeks.)

That's Jonathon.  I had to share my sewing table so he
could get his homework done... He loves his quilt, but
wasn't thrilled that it "kept coming to visit him".

Unfortunately, Once again, I got caught up in sewing, and measuring and cutting and I forgot to take a bunch of "In Process" photos, but here is the completed top...

Jonathon's completed quilt top.

Somebody PLEASE tell me that I am not the only person who has determined to complete a project only to find that the fabric you were SURE was in your stash just isn't there...  I was certain I had about 4 yards of a nice black with a grey swirl in it that I thought would be perfect for the back of this quilt.  I had planned to do a colorful strip up the center from the FQ remainders used on the top, and that nice dark black on either side, but alas, I could not for the life of me find that black fabric.

Considering I am already over my budget for fabric purchases for the month, I decided to just piece a back out of what I had.  I am disappointed only in the fact that I KNOW what I wanted to do, and I think it would look SO much better, but if I am honest, it's not that bad for a back...

Piecing a back out of scraps...

The Completed Back.  It still has the colorful stripe,
so I guess ALL is not lost...

Jonathon had an art project due this week.  He is studying Indian culture and art, and he learning about textiles.  He had to design and make a shirt out of burlap.  His mother told him "Pretty soon, You'll be asking Dad to teach you to use the sewing machine!"  He mumbled something about "not thinking so..."  But his shirt turned out pretty nice I thought...

 

The weather here has finally broken and it's nice outside.  The cats are loving to hear the birds chirp.  Frappe' likes to search for the bugs in the garden.  I don't know what she will do if she ever actually catches one, but she finds them and watches them like a hawk.

Frappe' spots a bug

And Mocha stalks birds, until she is interrupted by a camera toting person...

Really!?  MUST you take my picture NOW??  I was TRYING to stalk
that bird that you just scared away coming over here to take my picture.
Be gone with you while I finish what I started...

Last, but not least... Do you actually USE your mug rugs?  Or do you stash them away to keep them pretty?

I like to actually use mine.  I don't usually have a drink on the table while I am sewing, but at this point I was actually doing a bunch of ironing, so I placed my Iced Tea close by...

As always, I thank you for Stopping By...

Until Next Time,

Paul

Wednesday Workout Report #1

If you come for quilting stuff, please forgive me, but I have decided to post once per week what I have been up to in the area of Personal Fitness.  I used to be a nutcase about personal fitness.  I had two workout partners and we kept each other accountable.  We ran together twice per week, we biked every other weekend together, and we regularly questioned each other about our strength workouts which we did independently at home.  About two years ago one of them moved away, and the other changed jobs.  Suddenly I was all alone, and I quickly realized I wasn't such a nutcase afterall... My friends were, and they rubbed off on me.  I participated because I knew they were going to be there with me.  I knew they were going to ask me about my strength workouts and I didn't want to lie.

After our little group broke up, I "kept the faith" for about three months, but then I stopped.  There were many reasons for stopping, and as all habits do, my stopping was gradual, not sudden.  I have decided that I need to get back on the horse and get myself back into shape.  I have put on more weight than I care to admit, and my bike is collecting dust, as are the treadmill and the workout gym in my basement.

Since I have this forum I have decided to use it as my "motivator".  One day per week, I am going to post my planned workout schedule for the coming week and an actual schedule for the past week.  If I know I am going to have to post what I've been doing, I am more likely to do it.  I hope you don't mind, and I give every one of you permission to grill me about how I am doing.  You don't have to join me, just keep me accountable.

That said, here is my plan for the upcoming week:

Wed - Treadmill - 30 Minutes
Thu - Lower Body - 30 Minutes
Fri - Treadmill - 30 Minutes
Sat - Biking - 30 Minutes
Sun - Day of Rest
Mon - Upper Body - 30 Minutes
Tue - Treadmill - 30 Minutes

Next Wednesday, I'll report what I actually did, and post a new schedule for the following week...

Thanks Everyone,
Paul

Thursday's Quilting Night # 9

Well, after a one week hiatus, I got back to Thursday Quilt Night.  The weather tried to rob me of my joy, but it did not succeed...  You see, here in Central Ohio it has been raining almost constantly for the past three weeks.  My lawn had grown to a rather ugly length, but I couldn't cut it because it has been so wet.  But today, the sky was painted a beautiful light blue with scattered puffy clouds and that orb that shines and warms us was visible all day.  So, as soon as I got home I mowed the lawn.

It looks so much better now...

Then I finally got to sewing.  I was so excited to actually break out the sewing machine that I forgot to take many pictures, but here is what I worked on tonight...  This is Jonathon's quilt.  Jonathon is my 14 year old, and he picked out all of the fabrics used in this quilt.  We talked a little and he showed me quilts he liked and I designed this based on his likes and dislikes...

Jonathon's Quilt Center Row Missing
Do you see my mistake?

I

It is ironic that I was just emailing with Melissa Corry from Happy Quilting about making mistakes and having to rip out stitches, so tonight as I began to feel a little tired and thought about quitting... I pushed aside the thought and pressed on because I wanted to finish.  Not five minutes later, I did it.  I sewed a section on the wrong end and upside down...

I decided to quit for the night.  I don't want to make anymore mistakes... One seam to rip isn't too big a deal, but I'd rather stop while I'm ahead.  I'll fix it tomorrow.  Right now, I need to listen to that voice and go to bed!  (But of course, I must blog first!)

See the bottom row?  Over there on the left with the black stripe on top?
Those two blocks are supposed to be on the right side with
the black stripe on the bottom.

That is the top half, Below is the bottom half.  The middle is going to be different, it is going to have three blocks instead of five...

I don't know why this got rotated... It is horizontal on my PC...
I would welcome any advice on how to fix this!

Over there on the right hand side bar is a link to AnneMarie's Japanese Fabric Swap.  I received my fabric today... I still need to cut it up, but that will happen tomorrow when I am a little more "with it"!!

I ordered two yards of this fabric.  I only need one for the swap, and I intend to use some of it to make an iPad cover for a friend of ours.

Until Next Time, or maybe sooner...
Paul

Back to Quilting soon...

Well, as I suspected when I posted last, I didn't get much sewing done over the weekend.  In fact, I didn't get any sewing done over the weekend.

I did however get to see Jonathon's choir perform their Spring concert. 

This choir started seven years ago, and each year as Seniors perform in their final concert, they are highlighted in a song.  One of the young men in the choir, Kyle, is an extremely talented musician and when asked if he would do a Senior Highlight, he agreed.  But, he did not want to sing, he wanted to play.  His highlight is in the video below... Before you click play, it is impressive to know that Kyle not only plays the accompaniment to the choir's piece, but he wrote it.

Kyle will be studying music at the University of Cincinnati next year.

Thank You Kyle for sharing your musical talent with us...

Back to Quilting tomorrow!

And on a completely different note... I did it!!

My first presentable Pony Tail!!

My wife had to take my son to the orthodontist so I had to get Chyenne off to school.  Normally I would just have her wear a hair band to keep her hair out of her eyes, but it's raining and she really wanted a pony tail.  So, I tried and WOO HOO... It worked!!

Next comes braiding...

Hopefully, I'll get to sew something tonight...
Until Next Time,

Paul