More Adventures with Free Motion Quilting

It's a Shannon thing.

I've always known that my success with free motion quilting would be all about my ability to let go.  My ability to experiment and not be too fussy with my results.

My ability to be just good enough in the beginning to want to practice more and my ability to be just good enough for as long as it will be....maybe forever.

To understand that quilting will always be a challenging thing.  Basting a quilt with safety pins or basting spray isn't fun, but it has to be done.  My sewing space isn't very accomodating.  I'm not very artistic and I can't draw worth a darn.  Quilt doodling is still drawing of a sort.

To work with the tools I have.....

The ability to be okay that my quilting will never be like the results I would get from a computerized longarm job.

To love the CHARM of my quilting.

All this is a lot to ask of myself.

I'm not discounting that one needs the right tools to machine quilt or to at least ease the struggle.  Quilting can be done on any old machine and without any of the specialty quilting tools available these days, but those tools make free motion quilting easier.

The Water Soluble Stabilizer Method of Machine Quilting

I favorite everything, but didn't do this one.  I finally found it again.

Stop Proving Me Right

I hate it when my kids prove me right.  S is mad at me because I won't go buy her a Moxie Girl that she saw at the store yesterday, but I declined to buy.  Forget that I took her to the movies yesterday with popcorn and a drink, bought school supplies, a treat at McDonalds and Target, bought bagels this morning and......  It's my own fault because I said I'd think about it yesterday.

It's never enough!  I get so worn down as a mom from this behavior.

Enough of that.

I've been trying to decide once again whether or not to quilt a quilt myself.  Bella's T-shirt Quilt top is finished.  It needs to be quilted.

I've talked about my lack of skill, confidence, and patience when it comes to the actual quilting part of a quilt.

Every time I've tried, I've been unhappy with the results.  My main problem is not producing even stitches--I know I can gett better at that.  The biggest trouble I have is the design part.  I don't doodle in real life so it goes to say that I would have trouble doodling on a quilt top with my machine.

I can't even meander well.

I decided to try a method I found online that I just happened upon.  The quilter drew the design on washaway stabilizer, attached it to the top, and quilted away with pretty good results.

I tried it this afternoon with so-so results.  I need to practice which is another thing I don't much like to do.  I did find that I did better when I wasn't trying to stay on the drawn line, but more "echoed" the line.  I quilted with more confidence having a pattern to follow.

The other thing I tried differently was using silk thread with a 70/10 sharp needle.  I liked the way the quilting looked with that thread.

I need to think some more about what I want to do.

The Day that Will Be

I woke up with a banger of a headache this morning at 4:57.  Ugh....  I got up, slammed some Advil, grabbed my pillows, and headed out to the couch.

The last disc of Season 2 True Blood came yesterday while I was out.  I didn't get to watch it last night because M was watching Pearl Harbor--he loves his war movies, even the questionably acted ones.  I headed to my room to work on drafting some pp patterns.  I tried again and failed at drafting the Twilight book cover hands.

Since I was up, I watched the last two episodes of the the season.  I'll have to wait until next summer to see Season 3 when it's released on DVD.

I was a nice mom and got a bucket of bagels from Einstein Bagels.  This is our favorite place for bagels.

Then, it was off to WalMart again.  I needed wash soap and dryer sheets for all the laundry I'm going to get done today since I was such a slacker yesterday out shopping all day.  I also got more school supplies.  We're still battling A's stool holding problem and I got him some gummy fiber....yes, there is such a thing.  Sometimes I think I should just sign over my check to WalMart as soon as I get it.

I hope to get some work done around the house today.  I'm going down into the dungeon basement and work with my fabric stash.  It's on my list of things to do for my bucket list.

I hope everyone has a nice Sunday!

Shopping is Still Shopping

Payday yesterday, broke a day later....

The book club with S and her friend kind of fizzled.  I get so disheartened that many people in my life don't make a greater effort to foster friendships by making time for meetings, outings, and such.  (I'm not speaking in generalities and I do have those that do make an effort--you know who you are!)  Yes, maintaining friendships requires effort and time.  An endeavor such as this one does require effort.  Oh, well.....

We followed through with our plan at least to go see Ramona and Beezus.  We liked it!  I cried during parts.  I thought it was a good adaptation.  You have to remember that the books are at least 50 years old.  The little actress that played the part of Ramona was very cute and totally sold the character.

We had errands to run after the movie.  Money was buring a hole in my pocket.  I had school supplies to buy and shopping is shopping for me even if it's for school supplies.  I complain every year about the expense, but it's not been as bad last year and this because our school district is very conservative in their demands.  (I remember when the kids where in Douglas County schools having to buy bandaids, cotton balls one year, and copy paper.)  I took care of half of the supplies today.  I wasn't going to since the kids don't need their supplies until next payday, but I was afraid that things would sell out and I wanted to take advantage of the great prices:  $1 markers, $.25 glue sticks, etc.  I have no idea what C is going to need.  I remember using binders and spirals for my classes so I'm hoping she won't need more than that at her high school.

My MIL was wonderful in sending x4 $10 Kohls' cash to be used by today in the Kid's Department.  C got a pair of Levis, Z a T-shirt, and S got two pairs of shorts.  I would have preferred that she get some jeans or something, but she insisted on the shorts and I'm easy.  We did very well with our free money.  I only paid $12 out of pocket and "saved" between sales and the certificates over $80.

We did our shopping over in my mom's neighborhood.  There was a consignment store I've been wanting to check out.  (I'm not dumb enough to NOT know that "better" neighborhoods have "better" used goods at consignment stores and Goodwill.)  C found another pair of "designer" jeans for $12.  We'll definitely shop this store again!

I'm pretty tired from being out all day.  Shopping is tiring work!

When one is spending money, it's at least nice to feel like one is spending wisely and "saving" money.

Mid-Life Crisis, et al

Did you know that I'm 40?  Yes, I had this birthday in February.

In addition to all the other things I stress think about routinely, I also think about my life being at least half over.  Lord nows I haven't taken care of myself, I don't take care of myself now, and I have family health history that will certainly affect this equation.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not sitting around pondering my death and worrying unecessarily over it.  But, in my down time, I think about stuff I'd like to do and accomplish....

Too morbid, well stop reading now because it only gets better.

I've been thinking about my bucket list.

The list doesn't contain anything life altering because I'm just too lazy.  It also doesn't contain anything that will make me a better person or help me get into heaven.  It's mostly selfish stuff.

I don't desire to be a world traveler....much.  I don't want to change careers...unless a quilt shop job falls into my lap.  I'm not seeking to change the world with charitable pursuits.

I have a lot of quilting-related things on my list.  Quilts I've always wanted to make.  Quilting trips I'd like to take, including visiting local regional shops.  Skills I'd like to learn.

Don't Blink

The kids start back to school in a couple of weeks.  I feel like the summer has been long enough, but I'm always sad to see it go.  I love it when it's warm and the days are longer.  Life seems easier in the summer.

We received letters from S and A's school with teacher assignments.  S is in a different class than her BFF.  I'm hoping it works out for the better.  I don't have any idea about A's teacher since last year is the first year the kids were at this school.  9:00 a.m. starts on Mondays still and I like that!  Their assigned appointments for assessments are on 8/11.  The first day is 8/16. 

The day to complete Z's registration and pay fees, etc is 8/4.  He seems to be eager to go back.

C goes to high school this year.  She keeps changing her mind about Cross Country.  One of her friends is participating and is pressuring her to be on the team, too.  Everything in her life has social considerations!

They'll all play rec soccer this year.  Four kids, practices, and games is going to be interesting!  S will have a different coach since last year's coach isn't coaching after the hullabaloo with the tournament that ended last season.  It really divided the team.  I'm one of the bad parents.  I don't think S's BFF is going to play and we relied a lot on her parents to take S to conflicting practices and games.

Next up, schedule doctor's visits for three of the four kids.  Spend a fortune in school supplies.....  Work out schedules with the grandparents for pick-ups and afternoon daycare.

Whew!