I really need to get serious about weight loss. I haven't been trying, but the pants are a little looser. But I need to lose some serious weight. So tomorrow morning, rain, sun, sleet or snow, I am going to walk. I have a beautiful walking path down main street to a community park with a walking path, so there is no excuse. I just need to do it.


This week I am quilting a quilt for a client and I am using prewound bobbins of Bottom Line thread. I am having a lot of issues with the tension. It changes from bobbin to bobbin which it really shouldn't do. It is a very large quilt and there is just a small space beside it on the frame to test the bobbin tension on. The tension looks great till I start into a sharp curve and then the bobbin thread is pulling to the front. I took a minute, went to youtube and found a video on how to set the tension when you are having this particular problem, so I will try again tomorrow.


I am trying to stay home and work on my quilting and the new house instead of flipping around to everything that is going on in the quilting and motorcycle part of my world. It is really hard for me as I am a very social creature and always have been. Life is good and I count my blessings and realize just how good it is.


If I finish the quilt tomorrow, I will try and post pics tomorrow afternoon. It is turning out great. She wanted a panto and I would have preferred custom quilting, but I understand the reasoning behind the request.

I have really neglected my blog, but I have been sooooo busy with the house. I am working on the last moving boxes now and hope to have everything put up by the end of next week.


This past weekend, I spent 3 days in Virginia Beach, Virginia at Birds of a Feather long arm conference. It was fabulous and I learned so much and can't wait to apply my new knowledge to my next customers quilt which I will start tomorrow morning. We are waiting on ice and snow here in the south, so hopefully I will get a lot done in the next couple of days.


Stay warm

Well blogger finally gave up the ghost on google and I had to install Chrome. Hope it works OK.

Are you ready for Christmas? I have been dragging my feet and I guess I am ready. I started taking down the Christmas tree today. Guess the notion has come and gone of decorating the new house. Picked up my Christmas presents this morning. I give chocolate and it is received very well. This year I bought two boxes of sugar free. I will have to see how that does.

Baked sausage balls today, and ate one or two for every pan I baked. Quite full of them and don't think I want another one for a while. That is the end of my Christmas baking for this year. Maybe next year I will do something different.

Merry Christmas

Blogger is still doing strange things........the plumber is back and has starting installing the kitchen side hot water heater. This should be so neat. I have a huge (but not claw foot) tub on that side of the house and I can't wait to fill it with hot water. Once the tub is warm it keeps the water warm. I am also having him put a new shower head in there since I think the one in there is the original. The faucets on the sinks are the original and are impossible to replace (they don't make anything like them anymore) so that is where he will change out the washers to make them work better and not drip. I know this sounds like a lot of work, but I knew all of this coming in, so it is no surprise and I got such a great deal on the house that it is worth it.

I pulled out Christmas decorations and ended up putting up just one tree and I still haven't decorated it. I am going to wait till next year. I plan on going shopping after Christmas to buy some new decorations.

I also starting thinking about replacing the old shades with wood blinds. Shades never want to co-operate when you need them too. And of course, a 1940 era house needs curtains, but I think they are a ways off. All of the windows are odd sizes and I am pretty sure this will have to be a make it myself job and there is way too much to do now. I want light and airy.....

The long arm has been oiled this morning and I am enjoying my hot chocolate as the oil penetrates to where it needs to go. I am quilting a beautiful but very unique T-shirt quilt that my client has made. I believe it is her first one and she has done a great job.

I guess I better go to work now. Have a great day!

Plumbing issues

Blogger seems to be having issues this morning and keeps giving me errors. I may have to go visit Miss Frogquilter for a lesson.

The plumber finally showed up and all the expensive stuff under the house (that I was expecting to have to have him do) is done already. The water pressure is not what it should be coming from the street. But he will be putting in a lot of washers in fixtures to stop small leaks and to make it easier to cut the water off once you cut it on. He will also be installing new instant on hot water heaters, one for each side of the house. I currently have one 60 gallon gas hot water heater and one 40 gallon electric hot water heater. I am heating 100 gallons of water.......geez. I would never use that much water at one time or even during one day. This should drop my SCE&G bill dramatically.

I am going to have to remove the quilt I was playing with on the frame, so I can put a customers quilt on. But first I have to run to West Columbia to pick out a new kitchen faucet and shower head. Yeaaaa!

First Quilt Bee at the new house

I know it has been a while since I posted anything, but I have been really busy. I finally sold the other house. This was a huge leap of faith for me and I am so glad I did it. I love my new home with the largest bedroom to be dedicated as my quilting studio and the long narrow Florida type room with large windows that was made to set a long arm right in the middle of it. Unfortunately there are no lights in this room, so I have purchased two track lights to mount above it. For the studio I have friends coming tomorrow who are not only delivering bookcases for fabric storage, but are staying to help me put them together and fold fabric and start loading them up. This process should empty the living room. My only concern is where to put my project boxes. If I don't finish a project, I put it in a clear styrene box with all the pieces and pattern so that everything will be together when I start back to work on this project. My goal is to finish up some of those projects and not have so many things started at one time.

Tomorrow the Knight Bee is meeting here for the first time and it should be sooooo much fun to share my new space with them. I have an Amaretto cheese cake chilling and will be finishing up the rest of the refreshments tomorrow. Tomorrow will also be spent cleaning and maybe trying to put away some of those items that just can't seem to find a home here. I am thinking, if I haven't used or needed some things for over two months, do I really need them? We shall see........Next week I have a closet to unload and donate most of it, including quite a lot of shoes. Suddenly my feet seem to have grown.

I did sew something this week. I repaired 5 flags to be used in the Columbia Vet's Ride on December 8th. Please contribute to this great cause. You do not have to ride a motorcycle to help. This may be the only Christmas presents these veterans will receive at Dorn VA Hospital.

Sew something, anything.
Margaret

A good friend nudged and encouraged me to enter The Nimble Thimble quilt show in Fountain Inn that was held last week end. I entered 6 quilts and won 3 ribbons.

 

A Little Storm at Sea

 

Mama's Callie Lillie's

 

A Christmas Tree Skirt

 

 

 

All of these were done several years ago and quilted on my domestic machine. Entering the show and winning ribbons did inspire me this week. I finished quilting a child's charity quilt and will be putting a South Carolina Gamecock quilt on the machine today. Tomorrow I will be heading out to the Augusta Quilt show with a group of ladies. What fun! Since moving, the vendors are not getting much of my business. I think it has something to do with all of the boxes in the living room. Hopefully I will get the IKEA bookcases soon and get this stuff organized. 

 

I received an offer on the house yesterday that I accepted. The planned closing date is November 15th, so I guess I better get my address changed. As you are probably aware, they can back out at any time for any reason and only risk their Earnest money, so it's not sold till I have the check in hand.

 

Ride for Kids is this Sunday at Lexington High School at 2pm. If you ride come join us, if not, please go to the web site and donate to this cause. Ride for Kids supports the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation. There will be several of these kids there to thank you for your support.

I forgot to tell you I FOUND IT!. It being the computer dedicated to my long arm. So when I get home I will be starting my business back up this time with more emphasis on quilting quilts for other people vs making custom quilts for others. Making a custom quilt just takes too long for the price and I really don't make any money. See my pricing page for information. If you need that quilt by Christmas you need to get it to your long armmer now before everyone else does. I do ship quilts to other states. I will try and post some examples of my quilting and the prices associated with those designs.

Taking some time off for a short vacation. Riding the trike to Alabama to the Region Rally. I have a costume, but don't think I will wear it ....well.....maybe. The theme is Fiesta. 12 of us on 6 bikes leave tomorrow for Eufaula, Alabama. It is one of the most beautiful places I have been too. It is so serene and peaceful. Huge lakes out in the middle of nowhere and if you go into town they have those beautiful antebellum mansions. One of the largest has been turned into a museum and I plan on seeing it this year and maybe they might have a quilt shop in town this time. They do have some awesome restaurants. But whatever there is going to be fun with a few hundred of some of the nicest folks around. This will be my first time carrying a passenger this far. Most of the time I can hardly tell if someone is in the back seat. I have the trailer loaded with four people's stuff and it is packed. I probably could get some more stuff in it, but do we need it? I have cooler in there and I have to add ice in the morning. I did decide to attach the trailer to the bike in the morning vs doing it in the dark and to check my air pressure. Wish us well as we go the back roads to get there...

I am still opening boxes, but I found this beautiful swag light on Ebay and it is perfect for the back hall.

I also found the food processor base this morning on a shelf in the garage. Don't ask me how it got there, I sure don't know, but it gives me hope in finding the long arm computer (I have a replacement, but it just bothers me that I can't find it). I have about 3 small boxes left in the living room (although the floor is covered with stuff that I have no idea where to put any of it). I have started opening the boxes in the dining room. My goal now is to empty all the boxes (even if I don't put the stuff in them anywhere but on the floor). This way I can get rid of all the empties and at least feel like I have accomplished something. I watched a couple of episodes of Hoarders today and started making stacks of stuff to get rid of. I have quilting magazines from the 90s........seriously. And some of my books are for beginners and need to find a new home.

I have good friends who have his grandmother's kitchen table which is stored in their garage. You remember the chrome legs and it has a yellow top with matching vinyl chairs. It is the little one too, in great condition, which is exactly what I need and the right color. I am swapping my wooden table and chairs for it that is about 35 years old. I will post a photo after we make the exchange.

Started my walking regime back this morning. There is a park at the end of Main Street with a walking track, so I walked down there and around the track 3 times and back. Then I put shelves together for the laundry room. I then cleaned off the kitchen counters (put the coffee maker, toaster and toaster oven on the shelves). Now to open some more boxes........It was ~70° when I did my walking. Fabulous morning.

It has been a while since my last post, but a lot has been accomplished. I have moved and the other house is EMPTY, the carpets have been cleaned and it looks so much better. Now to find a buyer.

The new house is a wreck, there are boxes everywhere. I am trying to organize as I unpack and it is much harder than it sounds. If I think I will need it again, it is piled on the coffee table. So this week, I have decided to clean the area I am living in and to put things away and file papers where they should be filed. I shall NEVER move again unless it is to the nursing home or the grave........

Have a great day and sew something...

Margaret

Two men and a Truck are coming tomorrow and boy am I NOT ready. Today I have to take the long arm apart and get it ready to go. It is really weird, the more I take out of cabinets, the more stuff I find. I think everyone should move at least every 20 years just to get rid of their crap........

I am so nervous, I sign the papers this morning for the new "old" house. And of course something had to happen at the current house and it would be the air conditioner going out. It was 87° in my bedroom last night so of course I did not sleep well. I was going to start moving today, but will now be waiting on the air conditioner technician. Hopefully it is something that the warranty covers, but I doubt it. It never is.

Yesterday I went looking for moving boxes, not going to happen. Everyone keeps their cardboard these days. BI-LO did say if I could call tonight, they might could give me a few. I am waiting on Two Men & A Truck to see what kind of fees they charge.

I decided to put the Ireland photos on their own page, so they would all be together. Enjoy!

Ireland Photos

 

Blue Knights at Blarney Castle

 

Cassidy's hall to our room

 

Liz going through the door. It's a new camera, so I was seeing what it would do.

 

Downtown Dublin and the double decker tour bus.

 

Liz enjoying an Irish beer on our first day.

 

With her fish chowder. I am surprised she didn't come home with gills.

 

She said it was great.

 

My carrot and coriander soup. Yummy!

I haven't posted for two weeks, because I was in Ireland with Bonnie Hunter and a bus load of wonderful quilters. We attended the Irish International Quilt Festival and toured Ireland and Northern Ireland. Ireland is a beautiful country and was at the top of my "bucket" list. I will be posting photos later.

I had to do some fast yard work before I left and of course I got a poison ivy rash on my arms, even though I was wearing long sleeves and gloves. Thank goodness it was a very mild case and did not ruin my vacation. I have very bad allergies and am always surprised that the poison ivy rash is usually mild. I did have to change seats once on the bus due to perfume. It wasn't that heavy, but enough to bring on a breathing issue reaction (I did not take an inhaler duhhhhhh). I was pleasantly surprised that I did not have a problem on either flight with perfume.

Today at noon, I have to meet my real estate agent and a group of inspectors at the new house. We were due to close on the 29th of June, but the current owner asked if he could have an extra week to have an estate sale on the rest of the contents in the house. I agreed, as long as I get first choice. I have so much stuff of my own, I really don't need anything else that is there. There are two large rugs, one in the dining room and one in the living room (red & white). They need cleaning and when I researched the cost, I can buy new ones in a more neutral color for not a whole lot more. There is a treadle machine base with a marble top I would like to have and there was a long chest (similar to a cedar chest, but about 6+ feet long) that I would love to have had to store quilts in, but he got rid of it already. But now that I have seen it, I may have one made. I am taking room and window measurements today and will take some photos.

Have a great Monday and enjoy your day no matter what you choose to do.

New house or I have lost my mind

Wow, what a week it has been. I made a huge decision of buying a house before mine sold. I am retired, I can't afford two houses, two water bills, two power bills........ Mine is up for sale and I figured out how many payments I can make out of my savings before I have a problem. I forgot about all the fees they charge to buy and sell a house geeez! But the house of my dreams, that I first saw at the age of 18, came on the market and I just know it is the house for me. But I do have to keep telling myself "deep breath, deep breath". I had a contingency contract that would have allowed me to sell my house first but another couple decided to place a contract on it, knowing I had a contract on it, and I had to counter offer by removing the contingency. On the bright side, I will be able to move at my leisure and with the help of my friends. The cost of the fees would have probably been used for professional movers (I am moving a whopping 13 miles) as I would have had to move within a 24 hour period.

The new house has a Florida room that is long and narrow and will be the perfect place for my longarm machine. There is a huge back bedroom with no closets or connected bathroom and will make the perfect sewing room. It has 4 bathrooms which means 4 toilets to clean ;o(. It has a large garage and two buildings for great storage. It was built in 1948 and has the original cast iron enamel double sink and metal cabinets that look new. It is awesome. The best thing about it is that it is a block away from my church and family. I am so blessed and hopefully my house will sell, if not I can always go back to work ;o(

I did it, I signed the papers to sell my home. My husband did all the plans for this house and had it finalized while I was finishing my training in France. He faxed me the house plans over and over with this layout always there, so I finally said yes. I have an 8X11 tool room beside the garage ........and he loved wood, so my house has all the stained moldings in it.

He passed away after we had barely been here four years. It is with mixed emotions that I try and sell this house (trying not to count my chickens before they hatch). I am looking at the house a little differently since I am painting and decluttering....that tool room would hold all of my stash. It currently only has junk that I should have sent to a fundraiser yard sale last Saturday. I think I will call and see if they are planning another one....It is strange that you look at stuff everyday and it doesn't register that it shouldn't be there and you need to move it. Keep your fingers and toes crossed for me and a little prayer wouldn't hurt.

Well, I might be about to "step in it" as my Granny used to say. I have put a contingency on an older home (not many folks want to move from a 16 year old house to a 65 year old house), but it is awesome. The perfect home for a quilter. When my husband and I were dating, we drove by this house and I told him that is where I want to live. He just looked at me. He was raised in an older home as was I, but he didn't think it was charming, the lack of hot water, the lack of more than one bathroom etc. He would have liked this house as it has 4 bathrooms with 1 being off the back porch (did you see the movie "The Help"?). It also has a huge garage and the walls are peg board. I am putting my house up for sale on Monday, so keep you fingers and toes crossed and a little prayer wouldn't hurt.

My friend Sara Miller has lost 100 pounds. The following were her weight loss rules:

1. Every day, do at least 45 minutes of exercise (preferably 60 min)
2. No processed sugars or sweets (fruits OK).
3. Low Carbs (carbs in most veggies OK, but no breads, pastas or heavy starches
4. No sodas (diet and regular both out)

I don't know how to set up a link to her blog, but you might can find it by googling Shenyang Team Miller to see her amazing story. I am starting this today and yes I had donuts for breakfast. Going out to walk now for 45 minutes for today. Giving up diet coke is going to be MY biggest challenge. I swear I am addicted. Many thanks to Sara for her inspiration.