2018 - book 59

Still loving this series. 

Did anyone else realize that Moses went up on the mountain three times and came down each time and shared a message to the Israelites and THEN went back up to get the ten commandments? Somehow I missed those first three trips. 

I also appreciated the reminder to keep the ten commandments in the context of everything else that God says around them in the chapters before and after. And I appreciated that they were given to people that were already redeemed and delivered. They aren't rules to earn our deliverance. God had already done that and he has already done that in our lives. That section was especially.good. 

2018 - book 52

Listened to the Jesus Storybook Bible twice through.
7 hours

I cried a few times. David Suchet does an incredible job of reading the stories.  I really appreciated the overarching message when I listened to the thing straight through (kind of like when I read larger chunks of the Bible and whole books of the Bible in one sitting).

Originally I borrowed it from Hoopla through the library, but we liked it so much that I bought it. So expect to see this show up a few times each year.

Quilt - 26 & 27

Quilt update
Step 1:
Blocks - FINISHED!!

Step 2:
Borders - FINISHED!!

Step 2.5:
Backing - FINISHED and sandwiched! 

Step 3:
Quilt: FINISHED!!!


Step 4:
Binding and signing. - FINISHED!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I spent about two hours yesterday and one and a half hours today finishing the binding. I like to take my time and enjoy putting the binding on. It is very relaxing. Though, I think subconsciously I realize I have to give it away soon and so I savor the last few moments with the quilt. Every part of it has become familiar to you by this point - I know where I spent extra time figuring out a block or seam ripping stitches or picking out fabrics. It is kind of like that feeling when you are holding a sleeping baby (or two year old) and you know you have to put them down because another child needs you, but you don't want that moment to end... That's how I feel when I finish a quilt. Part of me never wants to finish it and hold on to it forever. 

Now to wash it... Please don't bleed!!! 

Total hours: 54 hours 
(Plus Jared has put in about 5)

Pictures coming soon. 
Jared and I were talking about how none of the fabrics are our favorites (except the cream dots - I love the cream dots) and some of them are borderline ugly, but somehow it all comes together to be so pretty. 

Quilt - day 25

Look how close I made my stitches when I quilted. Great job me!
Not so great when you want to pick them out.
I found one more section that I missed. I ran into it while I was quilting and had to stop and pick it out. It took 45 minutes. Ugh. I don't know how I missed it.

But now that I have requilted it I can say it was worth it. It looks so.much better. 

So tired. As soon as it was finished I felt this wave of exhaustion hit me and for the boys' quiet time I passed out on the couch (that never happens). It felt so good to have nothing to do. Afterwards we did some schoolwork and read a bunch of books and made pizza. Then Jared watched the boys while I machine sewed the binding on (just the first side). And I had to see what it was going to look like finished so I hand sewed a bit of the binding on. But since I have four days left I'll take it slowly and enjoy it. It is my favorite part of quilting and can be very relaxing. 

Time totals for today (thanks to my parents for watching the boys for a few hours this morning so I could finish):
45 minutes of picking out more stitches that I somehow missed. That was so depressing. 
1 hour and 15 minutes of quilting.  
30 minutes of machine sewing the binding on one side. 
30 minutes of hand sewing the binding. 

Only 3-4 more hours of hand sewing the binding and signing it with embroidery thread.

Quilt update
Step 1:
Blocks - FINISHED!!

Step 2:Borders - FINISHED!!

Step 2.5:Backing - FINISHED and sandwiched! 

Step 3:Quilt: FINISHED!!!


Step 4:Binding and signing. 
About 1/6th finished. 

Goal: 2 days or 6 hours hand sewing


Total hours: 50.5 hours 
(Plus Jared has put in about 5)
That is a crazy number. 
I've never added it up before. I knew it was work, but wow. I'm glad I'm on this end of all those hours. 

Quilt - days 23 & 24

Yesterday I spent an hour and a half picking out most of the border that I didn't like.  And about an hour quilting.  I knew it would take longer than an hour to pick that border out, but I told myself an hour to just get myself started. Once an hour passed I was almost half finished and I figured I better just finish.

Today I spent another two hours picking out the rest of that troublesome border and two blocks that I didn't like either (I used too dark of a thread on them). I quilted for an hour too. I finished all the blocks and the middle section I have two borders left to quilt and then it is on to the binding. I hope to finish tomorrow. That will leave me just enough time for the binding and washing it (all these blues next to creams are starting to worry me - please don't bleed. Please don't bleed. I'm using ten color catchers when I wash it. Please don't bleed).

Total time: 47.5

2018 - book 58

Pages: 196

I’m still loving this series.  I really appreciated the sections on forgiveness vs. reconciliation. What does it look like to forgive people that don’t ever acknowledge they have hurt you? Lots to think about and apply.

Quilt -day 22

I quilted for almost four hours last night and went to bed SO sore. I'm not sure I like some of the quilting on one of the borders, so I might be picking some of that out today... It is going to take forever. So I have to figure out if I hate it or if I just don't like it and can live with it. I'm leaning towards the hating it side. It is at least an hour of seam ripping carefully at tiny little stitches. Sigh. 

Yesterday I bought a couple of these old peach crates to use around the house to store things. Also, I've been wanting to replace the old shelves in the kitchen. The bottom holds books that the boys and I read at meals and the top is my only alive plant in the kitchen right now. The kitchen doesn't get enough sun! The goal is to add a window when we redo the kitchen.

Total time: 42 hours

Quilt - day 21

Quilting often looks like this. It is the boating of the craft world.

It is surprising that this is the first time a problem with the machine came up. It has been a smooth project so far. Other than the hobby lobby fabric problem, everything else has been smooth sailing.

This is the machine I use for quilting only. I piece on my newer (computerized, few quirks, easier to thread) machine. But when it comes to quilting, a heavy machine does a better job. The poor machine hasn't been used in over a year. And when it was started up...it didn't start up. I plugged it in. The motor spun. But the handwheel wouldn't move more then a few centimeters in either direction (meaning the needle only moved up and down a little bit). Thankfully the machine is all mechanical and I speak mechanical. I took the whole thing apart and oiled everything (new machines don't need oil) and put it back together and then realized that bobbin casing wasn't it properly. That was it. I snapped it back together. Problem solved. And my machine was all nicely oiled and dusted out. There is so much lint that builds up inside the machine from hours of use.

By the time that was all finished I called it a night on Saturday night. Sunday was a rest day. I hope to quilt tonight.

Total hours:
38.5 (1.5 quilting straight lines with the new machine and 1 hour fixing my old machine so I can start quilting the curved stuff)

None Like Him

One of the top ten books I’ve read this year. 

I’m not sure I’ll finish it by the end of December because I’m doing a few pages at a time. But it will show up either this year or next year of my book list. :) 

Quilt- day 20

Not a quilt picture. Testing out a Jeep seat cover in my car. They aren’t the same size...

My brother sent me a picture of a Mexican blanket and a website that explained how to make seat covers and asked if I would make him seat covers for his Jeep for Christmas. He traces all the seams and sides of the seats on plastic bags and mailed them to me. It took about two hours to do this first one. Working with Mexican blankets is a challenge. They unravel so quickly if they are moved around too much. So it took some planning ahead and lots of slow and gentle movements when sewing (instead of just jamming everything through the machine). 

Quilt update
Step 1:
Blocks - FINISHED!!


Step 2:Borders - FINISHED!!


Step 2.5:Backing - FINISHED and sandwiched! 
The lady at Hobby Lobby cut me only 3.5 yards. Grrrr. I really don’t like buying fabric there. I’ve had several problems. Plus the fabric just isn’t as quality.  It is stiffer and bleeds more when washed.  I would much rather pay more for nicer fabric at a quilt store. But we don’t have any more left in my town. :(  I was spoiled when we had three to choose from. It was so close to not being enough. I had a scrap that was 2” x 8” left over. I wish I had a picture of it so show you how crazy and nerve wracking it was. It was really really close to not being enough. I had to do a bunch of extra cutting and sewing to make it work. Which is why I logged so many hours yesterday working on it. And in the end I wish I had just picked one fabric, I decided to mix two together and I like them both, but the blue one is definitely my favorite (which is funny because the green fabric is dots). 

Step 3:QuiltGoal: 3 days or 9 hours


Step 4:Binding.
Goal: 2 days or 6 hours hand sewing


Total hours: 36
(Plus Jared has put in about 5)

Quilt -day 19

We have a finished quilt top!!!

I had a minor meltdown, freeze-up on this last part. See, the cream colored dots are one of my favorite fabrics (ever - they are one of the best background fabrics ever and they are dots - but not annoying polka dots, the best cream colored, blending dots) and I have been hoarding this big piece for a while. I didn’t quite realize how much of it I would have to use for the background... until last night and almost all of it had to be cut up. Ahhhh. I had to get Jared to cut the last 7 strips of fabric for me. Once they were cut I had to use them, but I just couldn’t bring myself to cut them off. In the end I am glad that they are used up on a project for someone I love. They probably would have sat on my shelf for 50 years and wasted away.

Anyhow, I have fabric hoarding problems. Which probably makes me a real quilter because that is what I hear from most quilters. Books and fabrics are my downfall. :) And a good dark chocolate (speaking of dark chocolate - the orange and the mint dark chocolate bars at Aldis are my favorites).

And look at that scrap pile. Now that I have wood floors in my sewing room, I just throw everything off the side of my desk while I am cutting. In the end I’ll gather it all up and use it for stuffing for something.

Quilt updateStep 1:
Blocks - FINISHED!!

Step 2:
Borders - FINISHED!!

Step 2.5:
Backing
Going to buy 4 yards tonight.

Step 3:
Quilt
Goal: 3 days or 9 hours
Maybe I’ll start tomorrow! Jared had Christmas cantata practice all morning (boo). It is one of those practices that doesn’t have an end time. (Reminder to myself: set meetings with start and end times and stick to them.) Maybe after quiet time tomorrow.

Step 4:
Binding.
The binding is made. Jared cut it and sewed it for me the other night. It is all curled up and waiting to be attached to finished quilt.
Goal: 2 days or 6 hours hand sewing

Total hours: 32
I’ve never tracked my time before on a quilt. This is very interesting.  I can see why people charge thousands of dollars for handmade quilts. The fabric, batting, and thread for this quilt would have cost about $150-$200.

Quilt - day 17&18

I spent three hours last night sewing all the blocks together and the last three middle borders. 

Today I finished putting the top together all but the last outside border. And I cut out two of the outside borders because it makes the quilt too big. They might have made it look better, but I have to be able to quilt this thing. 

Quilt update
Step 1:
Blocks - FINISHED!!

Step 2:

Borders

Goal: 7

Finished: 6

I have the last one cut and ready to sew tomorrow. 

Step 2.5:

Backing

I am going to have to go buy something for the back. I don’t have 4 yards of anything that matches just sitting around my quilt room. 

Step 3:

Quilt

Goal: 3 days or 9 hours

Step 4: 

Binding. 

Goal: 2 days or 6 hours hand sewing

Total hours: 31

2018 - book 57

I read Closer Than a Sister by Christina Fox again for my Sunday school class. 

Same opinions as last time. 

Quilt - day 16

Earlier I quickly finished the fourth inside border. It looks amazing. 

I spent 2 hours tonight squaring up my 18 outer blocks. Wow. That took forever. But now it is ready to sew tomorrow! 

Total time: 27 hours

Quilt - day 15 and Memes

No pictures today of the quilt. It was a snow day. We played outside all morning until quiet time.
Memes is a Daredevil.

I'm so thankful for our little hill. When they said we'd have to have a mound system as a septic field Jared wasn't so sure about it, the first thing I thought was, "that will be amazing for sledding and bike riding!"

Quilt update
Step 1:
Blocks - FINISHED!!

Step 2:

Borders

Goal: 9

Finished: 3

Step 2.5:

Backing

Step 3:

Quilt

Goal: 3 days or 12 hours

Step 4: 

Binding. 

Goal: 2 days or 6 hours hand sewing

Quilt - day 14

Here they are! The last three!!

Step 1: FINISHED!!

Goal: 20 blocks

Finished: 20!!!!!

Step 2:

Let's talk boarders now. 

Most likely there will be five internal boarders ( if you count the sashing around those middle stars) and four external boarders. 

Goal: 9

Finished: 1

Step 2.5:

Backing - if I'm short on time I'll make this solid. If I have a bit of extra time, I might add some blocks to make it interesting. I found the cutest block the other day... 

Step 3:

Quilt

With all these boarders it is going to take a while to do the quilting. I'm starting to sketch ideas. It will take a few days. 

Step 4: 

Binding. 

Most likely I'll do a scrappy binding, but it all depends on the time. I have most of it cut because I was using a lot of scraps for this quilt, as pieces became around 2.5" I would shape them up and stick them in a pile. 

Quilt - day 12 & 13 ( And a total update)

I had originally planned to just use 4 nine patches. I only got a picture of the of them before they were cut up. The colors looked nice, however, I thought they would look better as Scrappy nine patches. 

Jared helped me cut them up and mix them around. I only finished setting one into its final shape. The others I will finish later today and then I'll be finished all the squares!! 

I did start on some borders last night too. I really liked that navy boarder (top right), but not the inside. The yellow didn't make the cut either. But the boarder gave me fits because I had to work backwards to figure out how big the middle should be (left picture - yes, I mixed decimals and fractions). Maybe that's why I enjoy quilting - it involves quite a bit of math, especially when you design your own quilts. It seems simple, but when you add in the seam allowances - you lose 1/4" from each piece of fabric each time you sew it to something else - it becomes a little crazy. I did my math about ten different times and in about three different ways just to make sure it was correct before I started sewing.  

So there you have it.  Almost two weeks in and it is shaping up into one of my favorite quilts (and one of the most time consuming . 

Step 1: 

Goal: 20 blocks

Finished: 17 (and almost the last three) - I'm so close. 

Step 2:

Let's talk boarders now. 

Most likely there will be five internal boarders ( if you count the sashing around those middle stars) and four external boarders. 

Goal: 9

Finished: 1

Step 2.5:

Backing - if I'm short on time I'll make this solid. If I have a bit of extra time, I might add some blocks to make it interesting. I found the cutest block the other day... 

Step 3:

Quilt

With all these boarders it is going to take a while to do the quilting. I'm starting to sketch ideas. It will take a few days. 

Step 4: 

Binding. 

Most likely I'll do a scrappy binding, but it all depends on the time. I have most of it cut because I was using a lot of scraps for this quilt, as pieces became around 2.5" I would shape them up and stick them in a pile. 

Quilt - day 11

Everything is so yellow at night. It really doesn’t look like this in person. 

I’ve fallen a bit behind my goal to get these finished. The last weekend and this week has been crazy. The ESL Christmas party is this week, we spent a few hours this week buying gifts and putting them together and setting up, friends of ours finalized their adoption this week and had a party, Georgia played in the SEC championship game, it was our last week of Sunday school, friends of ours came over and taught us a new game, we hosted like 30 people from church at our house, and I’m helping with the Christmas children’s program at church. 
Lots of extra stuff. 

Goal: 20 blocks
Finished: 16

Four more to go!! And I set them all out tonight and I’m loving the way it is turning out. 

Do you think I can finish by THIS weekend?

2018 - book 56

Pages 164

I am loving this commentary series!

2018 - Book 51

Pages 145

I read this to the boys for school in October. I cut out the bad language and summarized the lamb birthing scenes. Otherwise, they are cute stories and the few illustrations are beautiful.

Quilt - day 10

Yesterday I had cut out the fabric for four squares but only finished sewing one. So today was pretty quick (in quilting time - only about 45 minutes for all three).

Goal: 20 squares
Finished: 14

6 squares to go. I've been putting them off because they are the most challenging in terms of picking out and coordinating fabric. We will see what happens. It might be a bit slower on the next six. But then I'll be finished! And then on to boarders and quilting and (my favorite) hand sewing the binding!!