Pincushions

You can see what I been doing lately. I have been making some pincushions and quilting. This summer when our homemaker group visited Neff's Country Loft I saw some Pincushions made from wool. Of course, it has been in the back of my mind to make some and I finally got around to starting them on Sunday. I have worked on them for a few days now and really enjoy working with wool. These are made from wool jackets bought from Goodwill stores. It is time consuming but I enjoy doing it. First, cut the jackets in pieces. I take them apart at the seams and wash them in very hot water and dry at very hot temperature. Next step is the applique and embroidery stitching. Which one is your favortie? Red or Cream?

And today I quilted a quilt for Barbara. I just love quilting these quilts and seeing ways each person puts them together. I've been told this lady always designs her own, so I don't know the name of this one.

Quilting Again

Martha made this top last year but just now getting it quilted. Also quilted a mystery quilt for Teresa.

Monica's Home Safely from NYC

Monica arrived home safely Friday night. Just a few pictures of her trip. Some were taken as she toured the city.

Some are beside the float.

EMT to take ride on float

EMT to take ride on float
By TIM PRESTON - The Independent


NEW YORK CITY November 25, 2009 08:42 pm

Monica Young will be one of the dozens of people who help guide a massive Ronald McDonald balloon through the streets of New York City during the annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade today.
Young, who was born and raised in Louisa and now works as an EMT for Boyd County EMS, says the task fits perfectly with her “Dream big and fly high” philosophy. Her role as a balloon escort actually began with a spontaneous decision to travel to New York City to experience New Year’s in Times Square.
“I had always wanted to experience the ball drop. I got off work at 8 a.m. on New Year’s Eve and was debating a spontaneous journey,” she recalled, explaining she didn’t want to look back at the opportunity with regret in 10 years. “I only had $25 to my name when I made the decision.”
A friend donated $100 for the trip and Young said she was thrilled to discover a co-worker had deposited her paycheck for her before she even arrived in the Big Apple. Friends in the city had invited her to visit and provided a place to stay, she said, explaining she was guided toward a parking spot in New Jersey and traveled into the city on the subway, emerging on 42nd Street with a view of the illuminated New Year’s ball.
While there, Young attended an open house hosted by a longtime balloon team handler, and asked what qualifications would be required to help handle a balloon in the famous parade. She was advised to apply and soon received a training DVD.
“Right now I’m in Queens and heading into Manhattan,” she said, explaining she wasn’t able to attend any of the preliminary events featuring the parade’s balloons and will be making her debut as a handler during the big event.
Her assignment is to help guide the clown made famous by McDonald’s advertising, and she will be wearing a costume with several layers of insulative clothing beneath as part of the show. Each rope ends with “the bone,” she said, explaining a “dog bone-shaped” handle is attached to the end of each security strand.
Each balloon requires 75 to 125 handlers in addition to two or three vehicles to make it through the 2.5 mile parade route, Young said. While the job is relatively straight-forward, Young said handlers must be aware of their environment.
“Weather, of course, is the main thing,” she said, noting wind is the enemy of every balloon in the parade.
“For no reason whatsoever do we stop at intersections due to the crosswinds,” she said, noting the city’s intersections tend to be a bit like valleys in the mountains, channeling strong air currents between each.
The experience will be one of many Young is pleased to have enjoyed.
“I am an adventure seeker,” she said. “I love to experience life. Even if I face adversity I say ‘Truck on.’ Doing this, I hope to make more friends and connections that could lead to something else. I mean, I came to New York to watch the ball drop and now I’m going to be in the parade. Who knows what might come from this?”

Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.
Daily Independent Ashland, Ky

Monica's in NYC

Took my daughter to the airport today. She is in NYC tonight preparing for the Macy's Day Parade. Well tonight and tomorrow she will be spending with some friends. Thanksgiving she will be in parade. Watch for her. She will be a balloon handler for Ronald McDonald.

Quilter's Garden

Just finished putting the binding on Quilter's Garden for Pat. Quilted it this morning, put binding on this afternoon. This is one I would like to make. Of course, I want to make a lot of the ones I see. This one has muslin on the back and it already feels so soft. I just love muslin. My grandmother always used it and I would ask her why she didn't get the bleached. Now I like the unbleached myself. Funny how a person changes their likes and dislikes as they get older.

Danny's Granddaughters (Twins) Quilts

Danny and I worked from 10:00am till 6:00 pm last night on the quilts for his granddaughters, which are twins and over a year old. They were born 3 months premature. I have posted about them before. They are so cute!!! We got these completed before we stopped. He brought a couple of his mothers house coats and we used them for tops and a pink massage blanket for the backing. I had the batting. He wanted to make them something from his mothers and fathers clothing. His father helped with the Boy Scouts for probably 30 years. He always cooked for them. Danny took one of his shirts and cut the emblem from it to make a pocket on the blanket cause we left a pocket on the other one from the house coat. I am sure the girls will be hiding things in those pockets. He made us one of the best Asian Salads you ever ate.

Non Smoking Quilt

The Quilted Treasure Quilt Guild was asked to put together a quilt to promote NON SMOKING. Each lady was assigned a block to make. Sandy and her mom put this together. They did the sashing, the tree of life, the path around the border, plus some of the blocks. I finished quilting it last night.

UK Quilt for Tammie

Finished quilting a UK quilt for Tammie. I am thinking about making one to sell tickets for a fundraiser for County Homemakers. I was pleased with the end results. I used the loop-de-loop quilt pattern. Well, really it is just a free hand quilting, no pattern. I enjoy doing this stitch but it takes longer to quilt and takes a lot more thread.

Basket Class

The Extension service had a Basket Class last Saturday. They were about 10 took the class. We had a great time maing the Shaker Tote Basket. It has a cloth handle but if you want to stain it you have to do that first before attaching the handle. I am going to stain mine. The teach was from Pikeville.

Hardwood Floor

Last couple of days been getting hardwood floor installed. I just love it! Lot of difference in it and the carpet.

Also finished quilting Mystery Quilt 3 and got binding on it.

Quilts n Things

Martha and I visited a quilt shop in South Point, Ohio today. I had never been there before. Martha had been there few years ago. They have lots of pretty fabric. Only thing I bought was a book, Civil War Love Letter. I am hoping to collect fabric for this quilt and learn paper piecing. I finished quilting the mystery quilt and got the binding on it. I also forgot to put a sleeve on it and now comes the hard job. Never have got a chance to take a picture of it yet but will get to it soon. We are having hardwood floors put down next two days in living room and hallway. Probably won't get much done the rest of this week.

Completed 2 Today

Put the binding on Debbies crazy patch quilt this morning and took it to her when I went to town.

And later this evening got the label embroideried on Melissa's Baby Quilt and quilted it. Also got the binding put on it.

No Longer a Mystery

Lawrence County Quilted Treasures Quilt Guild is making our annual Mystery Quilt. This is the third one we have done. I finished the first one, which was the Halloween Ghost, the second one was the Bug Quilt which I still need to put the border on it, and now the third one, which I just finished mitering the corners. It is good to have completed it. I kept telling Sandy, our instructor, that I knew all along that I knew what it was, but had no clue. I think she bought it. I now have a quilt on the frame and after finishing it maybe I can quilt this one. This one measures 52 X 66.

When It Rains It Pours

I don't know how much more is going to happen. First quilting machines tension is off, then computer crashes. Got up this morning and computer was trying to restart. Windows would not load. Took it to be repaired and hopefully get it back soon. I hope files can be saved. I guess it is a good way to clean computer. I had some things backed up but it had been a while since backed up my embroidery files and quilt patterns I have saved. Could not find my pictures either on the hard drive. I know the Lord is in control. All things, good or bad, happen for a reason. Didn't even think about it till it crashed. I don't have another computer with a flash drive so I can take pictures of my camera. I really miss that. Today it was raining and I looked out the window and saw 12 grown turkeys standing in the road across from our house. The road was full. Each one looked to weigh 20 lbs each.

Wool Ornaments

Just finished the last wool ornament that I started at Camp this year. I have enjoyed making these. Next I want to make a couple of wall hangings. Having problem finding yellow or orange wool jackets. Been gathering colors needed from Goodwill each time I go. I think maybe I will use a piece of orange corduroy that I have, after all it is just a wall hanging.

Felting

A few weeks ago at Camp, I took a class doing Wool Ornaments and of course, I wanted to do some more things with wool. I had a long wool coat that will be just perfect for felting. I also bought a few more at Goodwill. I have been felting all day. I have navy blue, black with a stripe, maroon, green, tan, and red. I was wanting to find an orange jacket for a pumpkin or yellow for a fadder shock. My goal is to get the colors I need for a wall hanging. I have enjoyed working with this today. On the internet it said to cut the jackets up first before washing them but I didn't. I started tearing one apart and to time consuming. I washed all but one and going to cut them and press them after washed and dried.

I also crocheted about 3 necklaces today. I got some different yarn at Big Lots and a roll at Goodwill. It is not the ladder yarn like the girls had at camp but they look alright. I like to keep numerous projects going at one time. I don't get bored that way. LOL

Backing to Small

I have always been concerned about running out of backing while quilting, especially someone elses quilt. Well, I experienced that tonight. You can see in photo that the batting was about 8 inches to small also, backing was about 2 1/2 to 3 inches but after it was finished it was only half that amount.

First I had to take pins out of the backing and the top. Then I sewed a strip all along the end of the quilt.

Next I got the iron and pressed the seam. I didn't want it to get twisted and make a wrinkle on the back of the quilt. After all that I rolled it back up and pinned the backing to the leader cloth. I didn't bother with pinning the top. I just smoothed it out and was careful when quilting it. I also laid batting under it and all this worked out just fine. It wasn't as much trouble as I had always thought it would be, just very time consuming.

Stop Smoking

Had a guild meeting yesterday. Our guild is making a wall hanging for UK to promote Stop Smoking. It will be hung in the Health Department. It will have 8 blocks representing something about stop smoking, 4 on each side with the middle block having a tree appliqued in the middle. A path around the outside with Log Cabin blocks for corner blocks.

Block for Quilt Trail

Our hometown has another quilt block to add to the Quilt Trail. It is located on the Route 23 quilt trail in Louisa at the Exon Station. This is a signature block made by Country Music Singer Larry Cordle's grandmother years ago. To read the story click Here.

First Day at Camp Caleb

Today was our first day at Camp Caleb. Each year our Homemakers can go to camp for three days and take classes. This year a three of my friends and I took a class making wool ornements. We completed one this evening. The teacher gave us 4 but we only had time to make one. We greatly enjoyed this class. We are blessed with some of the best teachers.

Some other friends and the extension agent took a class making baskets and one did some water color.

Some of the ladies from Boyd county were selling crocheted necklaces for fundraiser for ovarian cancer. I bought a couple of them and think I might try my hand at making some later on.

Binding Cherith's Quilt

This evening I got the binding on Cheirth's quilt. I quilted this for her when I first got my machine and frame. She never did get around to putting the binding on and decided she would bring it to me to do. It is a very soft quilt. She got Dream Cotton batting and the material feels so soft.

Curtain Today

Today I made Monica a curtain for her kitchen window. I have had the material for a year or so and just never got around to finding the pattern and making it

I also finished putting the last border around Debbie's crazy patch panel. I have worked on this from time to time this week as I quilted the other quilts. When I need a break from standing and quilting I will sit and sew. Don't want to waste any time.

I was about to forget about the baby quilt for Melissa. I finished it yesterday.

I quilted this one for Cherith's friend. It is a baby quilt. It had hand embroidery on the lace and put blue fabric behind it, then batting, and backing. I had never seen one done like that. I was a little nervous about getting wrinkles in the top but all went well.

Two Quilted for Jenny

This is two just finished quilting for Jenny. The first one is called Sweetheart Roses and the second one is called Winter Seranade.

Dear Jane Panel

This is the Dear Jane Panel I got when our Homemaker group went to Country Loft Quilt Shop. I had so much fun quilting this. I just played around trying to follow lines. I sure didn't do good at all, it is a mess on the back. I put muslin on the back as I usually do and you can see each mistake and they are to numerous to count. Took me a couple of weeks to put the binding on it. I have been working on others in the meantime. I am taking this one to church for a cover when I get cold from air conditioning and/or in winter.

Been Quilting

I can't believe I am so far behind on posting. Been really busy this summer. This quilt was finished about 3 weeks ago. It is a preprinted pannel with a couple of borders. I made it to have in the car.

Cancer Quilt

This quilt was made by Melissa for her co-worker that is having surgery tomorrow.

Block Completed

Our Quilt Guild is making a quilt to encourage people to stop smoking. We will be making 8 blocks to go beside a center block with an appliqued tree in the center. It will also have a path around it for the border. Each was assigned a block to do. Martha came up today and we made our blocks. I would rather not say how long it took us to do these simple blocks. The directions were not very clear, now figure. I made one as a practice block before cutting the material I had that matches the other blocks in the quilt. Which of these blocks are your favorite, the top or bottom one? I forgot to take a picture of Martha's block before she went home.

Bed Scarf

I quilted a bed scarf for Jenny today and got another one just like it to quilt. She is smart by starting to get her Christmas quilting done so early. This has gotten me to wanting to make one.

What Kind of Berry?

Would anyone know what kind of berries these are?

Dennis Green Valley Daycation

Here is some pictures of Dennis Green Valley Daycation (some of the girls called it Daycation instead of Vacation) to Blennerhassett Island. We left Extension office at 6:00am. First stop around 10:00am, was at Neff's Country Loft which is a country craft and quilt store. We saw all kinds of primitive crafts and the quilt shop had a huge selection of quilt supplies and beautiful material.

Next we had lunch at Hardee's before going for a 30 minute fiery ride over to the island.

Next we enjoyed a covered wagon ride around the estate before touring the Blennerhassett Mansion.

We then boarded the boat going back across the Ohio River. The sternwheeler departed from Civitan Park in Belpre, Ohio due to the riverfront development in Parkersburg, WV.

Next stop was to the Museum. Most interesting thing for me at the museum was a Double Wedding Ring quilt. It was different because the middle of the ring was square and another thing was fasinating the quilting wasn't 1/8 inch apart and some of it even closer. We even went back to the Country Loft a second time before leaving town.

Some of the girls had bought flowers from a greenhouse next door to the Country Loft giving us good excuss to go back. I got a package of Quilt Patis, the green fabric and ordered a stileto first time. Next time I got a cheater panel, and two other pieces of fabric. Also, I just couldn't leave without two patterns.

We stopped in Mineral Wells and ate at Cracker Barrel before coming home. We arrived back at Extension office around 11:00pm. All had a great time! Thanks to Debbie for planning this trip for us.