Mid-morning break

About 3.5 hours in this morning already. The top was finished by piecing on the final border.

After some contemplation over a cup of coffee and a bagel, I finally decided to use 20.5" squares pieced together with a smaller 4.5" border to trim out the backing. These measurements allow me about 2" excess on each side.....that should be easy to keep centered with the top while quilting (**crossing fingers**)

Then after an hour-long water-break {{for the garden, not me ;0)}}, I loaded the quilt onto the frame, lined up everything and took a few passes before taking a small mid-morning break.

My knees are tender today; I'm thinking it's due to my jog last night. So, I'm going to sit back for a bit before heading back downstairs. Cassie has softball tonight at 5:00; other than that, nothing else planned today.

Sleeping with windows open...

4:46 AM
Morning world!

Did you know..at the first shard of light, birds like to sing?

Coffee's brewing and my mind is already in full speed thinking about how to piece the backing of Hostess with Heart. I purchased the backing in two 2.5 yard pieces (different fabrics). The quilt top will roughly be 64"x84" (I haven't measured yet, just going with what the final project should be via the pattern's suggestion).

Originally, was going to use one whole piece (by length) down the center and split the other piece in half (lengthwise) to be attached to each side.
Here's my dilemma.......
I want to load this quilt lengthwise onto the frame. I COULD "do the math" to make sure those strips get as centered as possible.

OR

I could cut both fabrics into 10.5" squares for a checkerboard backing

OR

I could cut both fabrics into 20.5" squares for a larger checkerboard backing.....Ooooo....that may be the ticket! 20, 40, 60, 80. Drat......64" and 84" don't work out too nicely with that idea.....well.....suppose I could add some smaller (6") border strips to all sides ????

Guess I'll have to play with the fabrics in my hand a bit later.

Last night, I did end up lacing up my running shoes and my walk turned into an almost-2-mile jog. So MUGGY out even with the sun down. Today , things should hopefully cool off in the humidity department.

Hostess with Heart - Quilt center (almost)!

This is now officially Hostess with Heart (will be roughly 64"x84"), and the other quilt will be called With Heart unless inspired by a different name. In the past 2 hours, the center has been pieced; one set of borders attached; and four corner blocks pieced.

The final top/bottom border has been cut, but I just COULDN'T give myself another 15-20 minutes to finish it up. I'm kinda tuckered out, believe it or not.

So.....6 hours in and the quilt top is ALMOST pieced!!!! ;0) Knew I could do it. All you quilters out there can determine that this is a quick-n-easy pattern. Really! All squares and rectangles; yet simple elegance with the right fabrics.

I need the border fabric to grow on me; At the quilt shop I chose not to go "DEEP BURGUNDY" or "DARK BROWN", so Deb found this lovely light tan/creme that ties all the other fabrics together so nicely.

The sun is almost down; still HOT and MUGGY outside, but I'm thinking of heading outside with Cassie to throw the softball around and swing a few bats. Maybe even a walk after sitting all day!?!???? THAT could be the ticket :0)

Happy Tuesday night.
Day 2 of summer vacation......hhmmmmm......off to a GREAT start!!! :D)

Hostess with Heart - Take 2

Sharing a few emails here from the past 12 hours before getting to the "Take 2"...

Email #1: 6:00 PM

Amy
Wow! You are a fast worker! I just got home from Rice Lake... and actually received your phone call and email before I left, but I wanted time to think on the label.

First, the quilt is very nice (striking contrast... and I love the flowers) and I look forward to acquiring it, but I see pinks and greens as the primary colors rather than browns, cremes, reds and burgundys. So, Erica and I are wondering if we should give the quilt to my brother's soon to be wife for a wedding gift (I think she may be Irish) or my nephew and his soon to be wife, or... it would look lovely in my sun room. If we go with either of these options, it seems a better choice to change the label idea to read "With Heart" rather than Hostess with Heart. That way, I have options and you can keep working (like only you can do!).

In the meantime, I will keep trying to get a hold of the lady's daughter, who told us what colors to pick. Maybe the colors, pink and green, will match her living room too.

Any way we go, it is all good. You are amazing!
-Jody

Email #2: 7:19 pm

Oh Jody. I know you mean well, but my heart is saddened that the quilt isn't fitting the designated person. My "designer's control" stepped over her bounds. I don't mind setting this aside and getting busy on one that is more fitting. Nothing hurt at all; I make quilts all the time that get set aside or put up on Etsy for selling. HONESTLY! It's summer and I don't have many plans at all this week. You'd be surprised how fast I can work!!!! If you like this pattern, it IS a fast one! I could get it done rather quickly once the correct fabric colors are chosen. I'll play around with color placements with this design that are all in the browns, cremes, reds and burgundys and get back to you yet tonight. No harm done, really!!!!! If I purchase fabrics tomorrow I could still have this finished by Friday; no biggy really!!
-Amy

Email #3: 9:53 pm

Hi, Amy. You are sweet. Do you ever catch a breath? Your energy always leaves me smiling! I finally got through to the daughter and she was just sitting down to supper (at 9:00?). She said she would call me back. I am planning to have her look at the quilt. It is really pretty. (My sister from Bemidji said it is really beautiful.) Just waiting for Sarah to call me...
-Jody

Email #4: 10:20 pm

Okay....let me know if/when you hear anything. The quilt shop opens at 10:00 am and I plan to hit it if the quilt won't suit the living room of the true recipient :0) I took a gander at Walmart fabrics while I was there and purchased a couple, but their selection was pretty slim in browns. :0( Besides, quilt shop fabrics are much nicer AND Deb (owner) can help me put together some lovely choices.

Truth be told; all the fabrics in the quilt already started were taken from my own selections from my shelves, so I am not hurt at all; just upset with myself that I didn't hit the shop Saturday morning like I should have.
What exactly does your schedule look like on Friday? What about Thursday evening? (not promising anything there, but maybe....). I can only imagine your Friday is swamped, but let me know if there may be a time a could peek in to deliver the quilt in the event it gets finished. I truly want to finish it by the wedding for you; it'll have more meaning.
-Amy

Email #5: 10:43 pm

Amy-
O.K. Hostess' daughter, Sarah, is in Chicago and for some reason, my computer won't send my email with your blog link. (I never know why this happens, but it is all too frequent). So, if you really want to whip out another, I could purchase both :0) Then, the label(s) for the Hostess quilt could include "For Diane" & Hostess with Heart.

On Friday, I will likely be home until 11:45, at which time I am to go to the church to help decorate. Rehearsal dinner is at 6:00. I would feel funny asking you to drive all this way. I could send Michael up your way, possibly.

You are amazing!
-Jody

Email #6: 12:05 am

Amy-
Thought you might like to read Sarah's email. Really, Amy. I am good with whatever you decide. I can't imagine doing all you do in a day, or an hour for that matter.
-Jody

Begin forwarded message:
From: Sarah
Date: June 6, 2011 11:53:51 PM CDT
Hi Jody,
The quilt is beautiful. You're right--it's not in line with the color scheme originally planned, but it's still beautiful and I'm sure my mom would love it! So, if you have another use for a quilt, you could ask for a re-do on the colors. But if not, my mom won't ever know that the colors didn't go exactly as planned so don't worry. :)
I am still impressed with how quickly this woman works! Wow!
-Sarah

If you read through all these emails, I'm sure you've painted a picture in your mind of Jody! Isn't she JUST the sweetest?!?!?!?! I mean, REALLY! I'm not about to let my designer control ruin this quilt for her! I AIM to please!!!!!!!!

So, 10:02 AM found me strolling into the quilt shop with smiles greeting Deb (owner) who I haven't seen since last summer! By 11:00, we had all the fabrics selected. She's amazing at what she does!!!!!

11:20 AM, driving through McD's to pick up some quick lunch since the girls were EXTREMELY well behaved for the hour at the quilt shop. And, aw heck.....this way I didn't have to cook lunch once I got home.

By 11:50 AM, I was downstairs loading a new blade in the cutter. I am not ONE bit worried about not being able to finish this by Friday (and most likely even Thursday evening). It's SUMMER! I have most of my days available (outside of a few softball evenings here-n-there). Deb (shop owner) couldn't believe it when I said I was going to have this baby done by Friday. Psht!!!! It's all about finding shortcuts! Case-n-point.......cutting 48 1.75"x10.5" rectangles. LICKITY SPLIT if you load up the cutting board. Look!!!!! Four easy cuts, and ALLLLLL 48 DONE! ;0)

The First Four Hours

Hour 1: Cutting complete

Hour 2: Blocks started and a little Diet Mr. Dew break---it's HOT and HUMID again. Even being in the basement isn't all that helpful today :0(

Hour 3: More block work done

Hour 4: Blocks finished and time to take a break. Headed outside to water the garden and ate some cooling noodle salad as an early make-shift dinner

Block 1

Block 2

The colors are a smidge off. Caitlyn (sadly) dropped my camera last week, so I have been using Cassie's. It's better than nothing, so I am DEFINITELY not complaining.

Alright.....5:10 PM right now. One more hour and maybe this top center will be together......we'll see :0)

Happy Tuesday!

Design wall - Hopscotch and some more Hostess

While waiting to hear from Jody about her suggestion for the applique heart for Hostess with Heart, I decided to tackle my Hopscotch blocks. I left off having completed all the blocks and just starting playing around with cutting sashing ((April 10th post). Pictured, the final quilt center is pieced and awaits border treatments. I haven't even thought that far ahead yet, so I'll have to look around to see what fabrics I have and whether I'll use a pieced border.

Since that was finished, I still needed something more to play around with, so I figured I'd at least prep the borders for Hostess with Heart so that I can jump to it tomorrow after hearing from Jody. I didn't want to put a quilt on the frame since I hope to have Hostess reading for quilting tomorrow.

Throughout all this activity, I've managed a few loads of clothes, some lunch, dishes, and watering the garden. My GOSH!!!! It's HOT HOT HOT out there! I absolutely FEEL for Paul today having to work out in this heat and humidity! UGH UGH!!! Cassie has a softball game tonight at 5:15, and although the sun won't be at its highest, it'll STILL be blasted HOT out there!

Oh, AND....Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! Blogger isn't sending comments to my email again! Rotten luck! Here I had thought that all my followers had left me after such a dry-blogging-spell ;0)........ but.....nope! You've commented! I just wasn't seeing them in email.

Hostess with Heart quilt center

Another beautiful morning here in Northern Wisconsin. Paul needed to wake at 5:10, and being the good wife that I am, I joined him with a cup of morning coffee. I think I caught up with all recent blog posts and a few posts from the past months. Candace woke at 6:45, so she snuggled in with me for about 15 minutes before I headed downstairs at 7:00.

The blocks of Hostess with Heart were finished and sewn into rows. This quilt is coming together very quickly. And thankfully, it's growing on me; I was VERY nervous making this by request for a customer since I didn't use browns at all. I sure hope the "flowered" fabric (also being planned for the border) will give Jody the look she was requesting. Besides, those of you who know me know that I'm a sucker for the "irish chain" style patterns. Love those diagonals. At this point, I will await information from Jody about how she would like me to progress.

The forecast for today is HOT and HUMID, so I really don't care to spend much time outside or even upstairs today. So, my plan will be to spend as much time as possible down in my cool basement quilting room :0)

The garden tour; I love "Country living"

I LOVE the relaxed "no-schedule" days of summer. I have been waking anywhere between 5:00 am and 5:30 am for the past month; today was a bit of the same. The DIFFERENCE.....I got UP today at that time instead of tossing and turning in bed until the alarm goes off at 6:00 HOPING that I would get some final ZZZ's before needing to start my day. It's a-MAZING what all can be accomplished in a day when the day starts that early instead of waiting until 10:00 am. HOW did I ever sleep that late as a teenager???

So, after reading blogs and enjoying a cup of coffee, I was downstairs by 6:30 sewing away. And by 10:00, when DH headed outside to work on the gardening/planting some more.....I JOINED him :0) Afterall, the blocks are nearly finished....I SHOULD be able to get this finished and delivered on Thursday (**crossing fingers Jody!!!**)

Gardening: 10:00 - 2:30;
snack & "rest-out-of-the-sun" break: 2:30-4:00
Dinner: 4:00-5:00
More gardening: 5:00-7:00 {{Paul is still outside as I type}}

The final results......Here's the tour of our "gardens"....

Apple trees in the distance taking up the corner spot of our land. In the foreground is the new pig-pen (left) and a new patch of raspberry bushes (right).

The left side of the "lower garden"; housing the spreading plants of pumpkins, watermelon, squash, gourdes.

The right side of the "lower garden"; housing 143 potato plants, some carrots & onions, and three "mini-gardens" that the girls will be taking care of this summer. The space between the left and right (pictured here) will be 8-10 rows of sweet corn that yet has to be planted. SOON!

Here is Paul cultivating and mulching the new blueberry patch. In the background is another plot of sweet corn. Yum.

Our four pear trees in front of Paul's truck here were just planted last spring. Two cherry trees in the foreground, but sadly the one of the left is mostly dead. Not too sure how these will fair now.

And here is the upper "main" garden that I will be spending my time with this summer. Just ignore that patch of weeds in front of the fence. Sadly, it's not just a patch of weeds---there are strawberry plants in full bloom buried in there, trying to breathe.

Our house with a nice deck for entertaining.....NOT that we ever really have anyone over enjoying the view, though. I was standing on the deck taking pictures of all the lower plots.

Since I had my camera, as I headed back in I got a shot of the lilacs that are just reaching full bloom right now.

So....there's the "Skattebo Ranch". ......ummmmm....."Skattebo Farm"?

And so it begins...with a new quilt and a whole lot of gardening

Yesterday marked the last day of school. I am extremely saddened that my phone battery died JUST as I was saving the picture of the final bus ride, so.....no "last day of school" pics this year :0(

And it didn't take me long to lunge right into a new quilt. Actually, I have been asked to make a quilt for a coworker's daughter's bridal party hostess (.... follow that one?....). A coworker (and my assistant volleyball coach last year) asked me to make a quilt a couple of weeks ago for a lady who hosted her daughter's bridal shower, and I was thrilled to get some motivation again! I did request to wait until school was finished. I simply couldn't get out of the end-of-year slump with the crew of students I had :0(

But now, after my first day of summer vacation.....

Oh yeah BABY!!! I'm remembering what this was like last summer! And what's more.....I actually HAVE a summer this year (unlike last year where I essentially had only 2 weeks "off" for the entire summer)

Anyway, so yeah....pictured above is the pattern I felt would suit the request. She requested a unique heart applique with "Hostess with Heart" along an edge or corner, so I still need to work that in as I near the borders......

These are the fabrics I will be using. Burgundies, Browns, Creams were requested (a "flowery" motif). I feel the greens fit the collection as well, so I hope these colors are okay once the quilt is finished. She did say she enjoyed the "prettiness" of Dolly's Moondance quilt I made last summer.

I was able to get most of the pieces cut this morning before heading outside for the day to plant the garden with Paul and the girls.

We've had a garden for the past six years (I think), and every year, the organization gets better and better. This year.....Paul has gone all out!

He's setting posts and trellis for the peas to scurry up....

We are trying something new with the cucumbers this year as well......more trellis to direct the cucumbers on once they start growing.... (I think the girls were confusing the new items for a jungle gym)


And of course, we have our "milk carton" rows that worked WONDERS for the tomatoes last year (Lovely helper Candace ready with the watering hose). Since we plant our own from seed (rather than spending a fortune on pre-grown plants), the plants aren't super large once they make their way into the garden. So these domed milk jugs act beautifully as a mini-greenhouse for another few weeks.

Caitlyn kept me on my toes by bringing the plants to me as the previous tray emptied....

Cassie's math skills weren't allowed to take summer vacation yet since I had her divide the bean seeds into equal piles to make sure we had enough for the 7 rows I readied. Psht....we had plenty! I can't WAIT for the beans to grow, grow, grow! My favorite canned item over the winter was our green beans. I just BUMMED we didn't have enough canned to last very long. Ha, ha, ha....verrrrry different THIS year! I hope enough beans have been planted.....7 rows with 40 plants in each. Naturally, SOME of them may not break ground (always so sad....), but I think we should still be sitting good :0)

So, I'm kinda tuckered out after a GORGEOUS day in the sun! Mid-80's. Slight breeze. Not a cloud in the sky. Shoulders and legs feeling the sun DESPITE having sunscreen on. (I suppose 6 hours'll do that though, huh?)


Okay...so....
tomorrow, Paul has to plant the 2nd garden (most potatoes and sweet corn, with a few minglings of watermelon, pumpkins, squash....).
*I* on the other hand plan to spend the day working on the quilt for Jody. OH YEAH! I forgot to say above.....the wedding is next weekend, and even though Jody said "a month will be fine," I simply chuckled and said that I'd make a push to get it done by the weekend so she can gift it when it has the most meaning :0)

Happy Saturday!