Rambling Rose Layout

From Quilted with Love

This pattern is driving me nuts. The written directions aren't making sense on the rose bud blocks nor is the diagram. You are supposed to have "extension" strips which I've added. But when I went to sew the sections, they don't fit. I'm going to email Pam Bono and see where I've messed up. Once I get the center together, the rest of the quilt will go together fairly quickly.

My Topaz was throwing tantrums again this morning so I pulled out my Sapphire from the basement and used it. It sews so amazingly well. In the 4 or so months I've had it, I've never had any problems with it unthreading. I wonder why the Topaz does as it's the same thing as the Sapphire.

I checked the settings on both machines. They are the same. I sewed on both. The Sapphire has more of a "growl" to it with less give on the feed dogs. The Topaz has a smoother feed but seems "loose" compared to the Sapphire. Since I had both machines up I used the Sapphire to do the detailed work and the Topaz to do the piecing. The Topaz behaved itself until about an hour ago which was really nice. Competition for attention between both machines? LOL. Too bad I can't keep both machines upstairs. My family doesn't need the kitchen table. It's always covered with quilting projects anyway. It would be nice to have the Topaz set up for machine embroidery and the Sapphire set up for piecing/quilting.

The construction guys came today with TWO cement trucks and did my driveway. I can't use it for another week though. My car has only been sitting out in the field across the street for two weeks now. But it looks wonderful!

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Then the guys asked if they knew what paint color the cinderblocks were as they wanted to match the new cinderblocks to it. If I didn't know, they'd paint the entire front a different color. They went with the tan of the siding. I can't believe the difference a color makes.  The cinderblocks were the same color as the garage door.

From Quilted with Love

After 7 years of being in this house, it's starting to really feel like it's mine.  We've added siding and windows a few years ago.  We replaced the gutters over a year ago.  Last year we replaced the water and sewer lines to the street.  

My poor front yard.  It keeps getting dug up.

Hand Embroidery, Roses, And My Topaz Case

I feel a little better after whining about retreats.  

I got my package for the hand embroidery today!  Wow!  I can't wait to get started.  Those beads are so LITTLE.  I have visions of accidentally spilling them all over and watching them vanish into my carpet.  Do I wait until I get all the rose bud blocks done or just start?  I have 3 done.   

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Here's the mess with the rosebud blocks.  It's really more organized than it looks.

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This is where I could really use any reader input:

I haven't done any machine embroidery because it's such a pain to get out the embroidery unit.  It sits in this box behind the machine.  It's not heavy, just awkward as all the weight is on one side.  I knocked over my entire machine embroidery thread collection on the wall pulling it out one time.  I had to give up and put all the thread in a bin instead of on the wall.  

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Here's the embroidery unit in the box:

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Viking doesn't make a specific case for the Topaz embroidery unit.  I think they make a case set for the Diamond but I don't know if they can sell just the embroidery unit case.  The styrofoam case is 22.5 x23 inches.  The dealer on the Viking Topaz Yahoo! Group suggested making your own or finding a suitcase of sorts.  The suitcase would work if I could figure out padding to secure the unit. 

I still run into the problem of storing it.  Here's my sewing area:

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You aren't imagining it.  It's the kitchen.  You can see pulling the box in/out behind the sewing table isn't easy and I can't leave it out for everyone to trip over.  I really don't want to haul it up/down the basement stairs and through the garage to use it.  I wish I could just lay it flat instead of vertical.  Pulling it out would be much easier.      

So..  Any ideas?  I'll call the dealer in the morning and see if I can order the Diamond Case.  I just see mega dollar signs. 

Rambling Rose Bud And Cross Stitch Designs

I have one rose bud block done.  Woo Hoo!  15 more to go!  I didn't think about the directional print when I bought the background fabric.  I spent most of the afternoon readjusting the cutting directions so that the directional fabric works right.  

My Topaz keeps unthreading through the take-up lever while piecing.  It does fine and then starts hiccuping.  I haven't quite figured out the problem.  My understanding is that it's the thread not sitting in the tension discs right causing this.  I've also heard Viking machines have problems with the take-up levers.  My Sapphire never had a problem, but it's in a box in the basement.  I'd love to have both machines out.  The Sapphire for piecing/quilting and the Topaz for embroidery.  I'd need a new house for that.  LOL.

While doing a google search for Dovo scissors, I came across this site:  Anita Little Stitches

I'm not into hand embroidery as I can't count to save my life or use a needle safely, but I fell in love with her designs.  I just had to buy a kit.    

I bought a set called "Mini Quaker Flowers Collection".  Here's a picture of part of the collection.  I think it's called an emery.  The collection has an emery,  a biscornu, a pincushion, and a scissor fob.  I love that the design looks like a LaMoyne star block and the thread colors are to die for. 

I've never done beading but for this project I'm going to try.  I can't wait until the kit arrives. I've only done cross stitch with ada? fabric not linen, so this will be new as well.  

I'll have several boxes coming next week. 

I've Died And Gone To Scissor Heaven

I have some of the mirror image roses done.   This is the center of the quilt.  I'm sick of piecing roses..LOL.    Even while chain piecing, these blocks take forever.  I still have 16 rose bud blocks to do and the lace edging of at least 100+ pieces.  I'm SO glad I didn't decide to do the queen size quilt.

The scissor thing is still driving me nuts.  Mine work despite the flaws in them hence feeling guilty for wanting some new ones.  I've had to use them to trim down blocks and the "dead zones" aren't helping.  I try to run my stuff into the ground before buying again.  I finally broke down and bought a gift set of Kai scissors to compare to the Gingher.  I'd also like a pair of serrated Clover patchwork scissors but finding them online has been a joke.  The sites that do carry them want outrageous shipping prices.  

*Falls Over Backwards while checking an online site  Ouch* 

 OMGoodness!!!  They have MY FAVORITE PAIR of scissors on this site !!!

I had the craft pair of this brand for ragging but lost them last year.  They were starting to dull after 5 years, but I loved them.  I just couldn't remember the name of the manufacturer.  *Hey!* They have different kinds of scissors!!!  

 Sold.  One pair of Elan 5" applique scissors.  Please.  Please.  Please be as nice as the craft scissors.   I've died and gone to scissor heaven.  I'll still give the Kai scissors a chance.  The set was a good price.  

   

Horses And Roses

My package came today!! Kristie, you are going to die over this quilt:


The pattern is called "Spring Storm" from Bigfork Bay Cotton Company. I fell in love with the pattern even though horses aren't my thing. This kit will keep me motivated to finish up some previous projects even though I want to start right now.

I'm slowly getting these roses done for my "Rambling Rose" quilt.  It's not that it's hard, it's just time consuming working with a zillion little pieces.  I need 6 of one direction and 6 going the other direction.  Here are 4 of them.  5 and 6 are being worked on:

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 Does anyone else's quilting area look like this while working on a project?

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Stacks of papers?  Boxes of stuff?  Fabric everywhere?  I really do have a method to my madness in there.  Maybe.  This quilt has made a HUGE mess with all the bags of labeled pieces and strips of fabric.  I still have about 200 pieces more to cut out with all the extra strips.

The next 6 roses will be fairly easy now that I know where all the pieces go.  The worst is going to be the lace border. 

"Rambling Rose" Block 1 Done

I've gone through 2 rotary blades cutting out this quilt and I'm still not done.  I still have 300 plus more to go!  But I do have the first of 12 rose blocks done!  Now that I know how to put it together it will be a piece of cake.  I'm SO glad I didn't decide to make the larger quilt.  

I'm now going to chain sew the pieces.  Ie, all the 1 and 1a's together so I can get these done.  

From Quilted with Love