Rain-Snowmen-Buttons

   Ahhhhh..... it is so nice to be able to sit and blog this morning. I have to apologize for the lack of consistency with this blog. I am having some big time issues with my computer and being able to connect to the Internet and stay on. This has all been happening since my bank account and my computer were hacked into a month ago. Very frustrating to say the least. OK,enough of that- on the the good stuff!

   Well, the weather here has been very rainy and chilly. It has washed away all of the snow we had a few weeks back. I am not so much a snow lover, and I would rather it rain then snow. I especially would rather drive in rain then snow. That is what actually happened the other morning. I was signed up for a class at Creekside Quilting in Arcade. That is a very long drive for me. Most of it is all back roads through the country side. It is a very pretty drive when the weather is sunny and warm. I had prepared for the class the night before and even spoke to Rochelle ( our grand leader ) about the weather the next day. There were warnings of an ice storm that was to hit us. The only thing I could do was say my prayers and wait to see what the morning was. Thank you Creator, it was just a very rainy and gloomy looking day. I can handle that. My husband packed up the car for me and away I went.

    I love taking classes. I love learning new things and playing around with fabric and notions. I love sharing the time with like minded people. I love going to Creekside. I arrived an hour later and greeted by many smiley faces. All good! My spot was clear and waiting for me to set up. Some of the faces of the other ladies I knew--and the others are now familiar to me. That is another upside to going to class---you meet new people. I had to smile when I looked around at everyone's machines. We all brought a Viking Sewing machine to work on. They were all different models. Kinda cool.

   The class was from a project from Kim Diehl in her "Simple Christmas Tidings" book. I love this book. This is the second project that I have made from her. Love, love, love it! We made the "Button Blizzard Pillow". It is a pillow with an applique of a Snowman made from different wool pieces and surrounded by buttons acting as snow against a background of your choice. The picture is of black material-that is also what I choose to do. Let me tell you- this class was so much fun. I enjoyed myself so much. We broke for lunch and then continued on. The time flew. We talked, laughed, shared ideas and supplies and gave each other encouragement. It was awesome! To know me is to know that I love snowmen. Not the real ones---the crafty ones. I also love buttons! I have such a collection of them! This project was perfect for me. I was able to go through my assortment of buttons and just grab and use. Thank you Rochelle for showing my how my machine will sew on a button for me. It makes putting on buttons a breeze!

Here is our Fearless Leader to help with every step along the way- Thanks Rochelle!

This is Rochelle's pillow. She is showing it off during our lunch break.

Focused and hard at work

Everyone is working hard. We all learned new tricks. Look at these Viking machines hard at work!

The day really was such a treat for all of us. It was such a good feeling knowing that we were all going home with a finished project. And would you believe it----when we were all done, the sun decided to come out and grace us all.😎

Here they are!!!! Aren't they so darn adorable!!! Can you guess which one is mine? Mine is the only one with a bunch of buttons and red rick rack around the outside. I love how they are all different and unique.

I was so motivated after class that when I went home---I just had to make up this table runner from scraps. It was another convenient moment for me to use up more buttons.  I just love them!!!

Sewing Fun at Creekside Quilting in Arcade

I have to admit---it has taken me some time to post these pictures. I was hoping to have been able to work on my table topper (from the newest Kim Diehl book ), finish it and then display it in all of it's glory. The truth of the matter is that I have been so busy, that this project has been on hold. As I was going through all of my pictures, I came across these and said---oh heck, let me post these now and then when I do work on my project- I will post those.  I know, I know-- the ole" WIP" line. I am guilty as charged.  I do plan on working on it some more- Scouts honor, I promise. Any way, I do want to say that this was a very fun day. I rode up with my friend Sandy. What a girl-she is so much fun, easy to talk to and we have so much in common. The drive to Creekside went by quickly. It was so cold and windy that day. There is a window near us in the shop and I kept looking up and watching the bushes swing back and forth. So glad we were indoors enjoying ourselves. There were only 3 of us students for the class, so we were able to spread out---I do love having elbow room. This is the first class that I took that Rochelle did since she joined Creekside. I am so glad she did. Doesn't she look happy in the picture?! I am sure I could have done this pattern on my own--but having Rochelle there with her humor and guidance--everything went by so much more smoothly and fun. Everyone one of us girls reached the same point by the end of the class--we each completed one tree---wow, that was a lot of piecing! Small piecing to be exact. I can't wait to see it completed.  Did you notice something in the pictures??...... Sandy and I brought out our vintage machines. I love it! Nothing like sewing with these sweet machines. She brought her Singer 221 with a really neat seam guide that matches her machine. I brought my green Singer 185J. I named this machine-- Joey ( G.I. Joe ), I bought this machine around the time my youngest started college. The color green reminds me of those toy army men that my Joey played with. So, in honor and thoughts of him--- It is so rightly named. I love to sew on it. Perfect size to bring to sewing dates with friends and classes. I have to admit though- looking across at Sandy sewing with her FW--- it made me think of mine. I need to get her out and play with her for a day.

 

Here is our Teacher for the class-Rochelle!Look at her smiling face-she is the Best! Look at the concentration going on with Sandy!

Just love this window with the pretty flowers. Look at the sewing space we had for our class

Sandy and I brought out our vintage babes to play with

Time for confession......... after class, Sandy and I did some shopping. Surprise- Surprise! In the book that this table topper directions are in- are a few other really cute patterns. We told Rochelle we wanted to make them. She is currently putting together a class for us on a snow man pillow. Well..... we had to get the supplies for that didn't we..???? Hahahaha.... Good excuse. I am looking forward to making that project. I love making pillows. Will show pictures of that when the class comes. For now, I need to start my day and work some more on those WIP's!

Luminess Lights

Lights! I have lights!!! I am so happy and thrilled with my new lighting system. I have been struggling with poor lighting in my sewing studio for years. I have a huge studio with over 20 feet high ceilings. I have 4 large 8ft long sky lights in my room, but still the lighting is poor. I have used floor standing Ott lights, reading lamps, all kinds of things......but it never did the job that I needed. Well one day recently I walked into Creekside Quilt shop in Arcade. There before me-straddling a smaller version of my long arm was a vision of loveliness to me. It was a  free standing lighting system. I could not believe how much light was coming from it. I was in awe. I spoke with Sandy about it. I went home later and spoke with my husband about this. Two weeks later, I called them and told them to order me the 10 feet lights with the 2 foot extension. I have a 12 foot frame now.  I could not wait for it to come in. With it being fall, the days are getting shorter. I find that around 3:30, the natural lighting in the room is starting to decline. It makes it very difficult to continue to sew on the longarm. As luck would have it, I was taking a class at Creekside this past Saturday. What a lovely day we had. I was told before I arrived that my lights were in. Oh man-----I just could not wait to get them! I called my handy friend to see if she could help me set it up. It was not difficult and the directions were easy to follow. My husband came home in time to help us move it over the Longarm into position. Wow oh wow is all I can say- the moment I turned the light switch on, I knew my lighting issues were solved!!!! These lights are called "Luminess", a free standing light station made by the Grace Company. I would easily recommend them to anyone. It does come in varying sizes to accommodate everyone's needs. Well, I am off to go sew. I can guarantee you that I will be sewing all day and into the night! Oh happy happy me!

love my new lighting system!!!

Simple Christmas Tidings

I know, I know, I know...... Christmas stuff already???!!!! Yep, and so it begins. I bet there are a few people surprised that I am going to sew something that doesn't have to do with Halloween. Ha---in a way, me too! Don't get me wrong-I do love Christmas. I love the reason for the season. I just do not like all of the commercialism. Christmas is a joyful time and also a difficult time for me. Christmas is all about family. Unfortunately for me, my parents have dropped their earthly cloaks and have gone back to Creator. My children are all scattered around the USA and it is difficult for them to come home with their work schedules. So....... I never really feel like decorating or doing much because it just is not the same without family. But---this cute book caught my eye one day when I was at Creekside Quilting. I just had to buy it. It not only has wonderful quilty items in it to make, but it also has delicious recipes in it. I could not resist. I also love the fabric line that is show cased in the book. Wonderful-simply wonderful!!!!!  All of my warm fall/winter colors. I don't care to much for bright colored fabric, so these were perfect for me. As luck would have it, I am told that there will be a class on one of the projects in this book. It will be on the "Twinkle Trees Table Topper". I know that I can make this on my own, but sitting with other like minded people with machines humming all around me, does sound very inviting. Why not I ask myself?! I was with a friend of mine that day, we both decided to sign up. So glad that we did. Because of the distance, I had Creekside mail me the kit. They are really sweet about doing that. I spent a good couple of hours ironing, and cutting all the fabric up per the directions. It was not difficult-just time consuming. I have the stripology ruler from Creative Grids. It was such a help. I would recommend this ruler to anyone. Yes- I do have the Accuquilt cutter system. They do not currently have a 1 1/2 square inch die cut, that is why I love my stripology ruler. Now I am already for my class this Saturday. I am excited and looking forward to making this project. It will make me smile when I see it all completed and on my dining room table. It will be a bright spot for a not to happy time for me. Quilting does help heal the heart.

All of the cut pieces and left overs

The so delicious book!

Longarm shopping at Creekside Quilting- new goodies

I did not think that this day would get here. But--It did! I have been in contact with Creekside Quilting in Arcade NY for a couple of months in regards to my longarm. In case you did not know this- I love this Quilt shop. They are so friendly and so helpful, no matter if I come in or call them on the phone. Rain or shine---they are wonderful to deal with. Well.....I have had my longarm for sometime now. When I bought it, it came delivered with a 10 foot frame. Most people would say-"Wow! That is so big!"  To be truthful, it is. What I have realized is that many quilters are making really BIG quilts. This I have come to find out soon after I bought my lovely Crown Jewell. With that being said- I have been thinking long and hard about getting an extension for my frame and make it 12 feet long. I think that would help out a great deal, because then I will be able to do a quilt top that is up to 120 inches wide. That would meet the needs of many customers. I was excited the day I called the shop and said to Cheryl---"This is the day- please order my extension and new leader cloths!" Friendly as always----she responded "Sure!" As the days went by waiting to hear if it arrived yet--I thought about it often. I thought about attaching it and loading up a big quilt with ease. The best way to wait for something is to keep busy-so I did. Then-I come home the other day to a message on my phone: " Nadine, this is Creekside, It's here!" Oh joy- oh joy. I could not wait to jump in the car and drive up. I grabbed a friend of mine who is a fellow quilter and away we went. The day was warm and sunny. But with me being inpatient, the universe was having fun with me. We were stuck behind s-l-o-w drivers, large semi's going up hill, and of course, I can't get this vision out of my head...... a truck filled with Port a Potties. Finally the hour drive ended and we reached our destination. With a hop in my step I entered the building and was instantly at ease. There in front of me were my packages. At that time, Sandy (the owner) and Cheryl (trusty longarm advisor) came around the corner and greeted me. Oh so nice of them. I couldn't wait to load it up in the car-but-of course, to me I feel like I am in a candy store. I did what any other all American quilter would do- I shopped. Love it! The whole way home I was on cloud nine. As it is- I currently have a customer quilt on the frame, so attaching the extension will have to wait until I am finished.Thank you Creekside for all of your help-you have made me a happy woman. Now, I need to get busy on that quilt top.

The sign that always catches my eye

Ahhhh- Creekside Quilting- I have arrived!

There you are my pretty- I have been waiting for you to come.