A Good Reason to have UFOs

Thanks to everyone for the good thoughts on our anniversary. Unfortunately, my hubby picked up a cold somewhere and on Monday he was sick as a dog. Coughing, sneezing and generally miserable. He was out of work til Thursday. Tried to go in Thursday morning to be promptly sent home by his boss and told to stay there til Monday. By the time our anniversary arrived on the 2oth, I had been sleeping in the guest room for several nights. He was feeling better by Saturday and we did go out for an early dinner but then headed home. I actually slept in the guest room on our anniversary!! Oh well, I know there will be other anniversaries cause I'm not trading him in.

And on the quilting front, my machine was NOT ready as anticipated so the lap quilt waits patiently on the frame. I also hit a snafu with the Underground RR quilt. I lost the directions for finishing the sashings so I've got a "shout out" to my guild gals for the book. And here is where having lots of UFOs is a blessing. I just put the 200 Flying Geese to one side and dug back into the "Poke" for something else to work on. I was sorely tempted to start a new project but cooler heads prevailed and I pulled this one out. It was started in the fall but I quickly became bored with the piecing. So I pulled it out again, turned on Project Runway and had another crack at it. This is about half done. This will be king size and there will be over 500 rectangles in it when its finished. The long blue pieces are supposed to have buttons on them but I'm going for some fancy quilting instead.

But I wanted the world to know that I AM QUILTING just really slowly and in spurts. Let's put it this way - I won't win any gold medals for speediest quilter in the quilting Olympics!

The Best Laid Plans

As you saw in my last post, I was all set to get that lap quilt done over the weekend. I got up early Saturday morning and was rearing to go. But my machine had other plans. I'd start, the thread would break, I tried several times, rethreaded no luck. I thought I would change the needle. but I was out of needles. So I went to the shop to get more needles. While I was there, I discussed my problem with tension as well. The shop owner suggested a couple of things and I returned home ready to go again ANNNND, found out I had the wrong needles. I trusted that the shop owner who sold me the machine would give me the right ones, nope, he gave me the ones for a different model. Sewwww, I' decided since I had to go 20 minutes back to exchange the needles I wouldl take the machine in for a checkup. She hasn't had one in over a year and my free service agreement runs out in May so now is a good time.

But I did not ditch the quilting completely. I pulled another pig from the poke and worked on 200 Flying Geese units. Yes 200! They are part of the pieced sashing for my Underground RR quilt. Now I know why it ended up in the UFO container!! But the units are done and I am ready to join them together. I have also been knitting. Finished a hat for my DH that finally meets his approval and I am now knitting together bits of yarn that are left over in strips to be put together eventually into an afghan while I wait for my new circular needles for a shawl kit I bought and for my instruction book on socks. Yes, I am going to take the plunge and try socks.

My machines will be picked up tomorrow and hopefully that lap quilt will get finished! I have also ordered a new machine, a 16" mid arm which will arrive in about 8 weeks. It fits on my existing fram and I'm excited to have more space to quilt!

Our 27th anniversary is Saturday. Doesn't feel like we've been together that long. I guess that's a good sign. LOL!! We will spend this one quietly. Dinner and a movie.

Hope everyone has a great weekend. I promise pics of my URR progress after the weekend.!

this and that and another thing

Well, here it is Friday again! I just seem to be in perpetual motion and a half step behind lately. I didn't get the pics posted as promised last weekend so here they are !

First, the 5 cases I made for Operation Pillowcase. Ladies, if you have time go over to the blog Debra set up and make a pillowcase or two. They are fun and easy and for a great cause!

The other project I promised was the top I finished for my greatniece, Bella's 2nd birthday in May. I will put this on the frame next month and get it done ahead of schedule. That will be a first!

Here is the top!

And here is Bella! This picture was taken last week. She is such a cutie and that's not just an Auntie bragging!

Finally, here are the three hats I've knitted for Warmth for Warriors. They haven't been blocked yet but once that's done they are headed to the soldiers in Afganistan as helmet liners. The pattern is on their website and this one is ADDICTING! Not only have I made these three but one for my son which is on its way to Colorado and I'm just about done with another one for my hubby. Super simple and fun to do on circular needles when you are watching TV.

And speaking of TV, I am now in the thick of my TV watching season. I've always been a fan of Project Runway and have started watching the episodes on my Tivo (so far, so good) and have added Models of the Runway but I think I'm going to drop this one. They are just not that interesting. Hmm, go figure!

In addition, my trainer has me watching the Biggest Loser. I never understood why people watched it but now I've been sucked into it. It's a good one to watch while chain-piecing.

BUT I'm super excited because Survivor Heroes v. Villains will be starting next week and the Amazing Race is about to begin. Of course, add to that, Medium, The Good Wife, Brothers & Sisters, The Middle, Modern Family, CSI, Leverage and 24. Wheww! I may have to give up sleeping. Well, I am not a big fan of Winter as you all know so this is when I hibernate, watch TV, quilt and knit.

Lastly, my weekend project. This is the Fall lap quilt I made for my DH two years ago. It's one of the Pigs from the Poke and it will be quilted this weekend. I used a flannel backing so it will keep him toasty warm.

Hope you all have great weekend plans!