39 Days and GO

My Sweet husband told me I was not allowed to stay off facebook so I thought I would give up healthy food and housework instead. Not that I do much housework these days. I have a girl that comes in 2-3 times a month. So far today I have been on fb at least 8-10 times. We have a fb wall for our farm and since my husband does not do things of computer I have been posting pictures and production records of some of our cows who had portrait pictures taken at out 2013 National Canadian Guernsey Show. Then, I have to keep checking back to see how many page views have come in and any comments made. Like someone from British Columbia wishes they could get cows like ours over there. They could but it  might cost several thousand for trucking since it is only 3400 km.   link
Now, I am  not even going to think about giving up my blog, at least not for more than 3-4 hours. I am having way too much fun writing, and checking for comments. About the no-reply blogger thing . . . I am  still not able to figure it out. Sorry. Also, my younger sister that laughed at me on fb and offered the "double dog dare you" has no intentions of staying of fb. I know. I chatted with her this morning.

Now, having said all that, the GO Real Fast Quilt is back on.
There are going to be 15 scallops altogether - 5 on each of 3 borders. The top border will be flowers and leaves from all the left over cut outs. I marked the 10 inch wide border strips by pressing them in quarters. Then calculated how far apart each one needs to be in order to lay balanced between the four 16 inch blocks. However, I had to factor in the seam allowance and connecting strips since I am machine quilting in sections. I measured 1 inch between each scallop which are 12 inches long.
I hope I am close.
After pressing them in place, I stitched down each one using a matching red thread with a small buttonhole stitch on the top of the swag and a blind stitch on the bottom side. This side will be covered over by the green scallops.

Since I have no instructions for this procedure, I am winging it. Looks like a slice of watermelon.
The crescent and the scallop were the first pieces I ran through the GO cutter since they were the largest pieces. After that, I ran the left-over fabric through for the leaves and the flowers. It was at this point that I got frustrated trying to cut out just lots of leaves that I got the idea to have a custom die made for just leaves. The leaves on my custom die are placed in such a way that I can lay  
fabric on it and cut a narrow strip or a full strip depending on what
I have. Does this make sense?

I actually used these left-over pieces as I was measuring my draft pattern. There is enough space between the leaves to lay a straight piece of pre-fused fabric and not waste so  much. The Rose dies have several sizes of leaves and flowers and circles nestled so close together that you cannot cut out just one size without wasting fabric and getting cut marks on the mat and wearing it out even though you are not actually cutting any shapes.

So, I am able to lay the mat on just the part that I am cutting and let one side  of the mat hang over the other side of the die. Good thing I have the large cutter to do this.
I am quite please with myself at this point.
Now if I could only get the raw edge applique stitching right I will be really happy.






Now back to check facebook to see if anyone wants to chat or buy a cow.
Blessings,
Chris

40 Days

So I have been suddenly and unexpectedly dared and double dared to take a 40 day (yes that is forty days) fast from facebook. Now I think I could do that because I do do things impulsively, but how do I know if my sister who issued the double dare will honour her part and stay off facebook? But then did she actually take up the challenge herself of just challenge me? HHmm? Facebook is how I keep in touch with family members who live in various parts of the world. And I just joined the Jane Stickle group and the Just Takes 2 group and the Applique group and the Di Ford mystery quilt group and the Di Ford Primarily Quilts group. . . .
Maybe it is time to take a break . . . like for 40 days but not forever . . .
But then, I might get some stitching done and maybe some homework. I just got the assignments for my next 2 courses. Prayers That Heal the Heart and Equipping Saints to Counsel. Lots of lectures to listen to and outline as well as exams and book reports.
Now if I just gave up playing computer games for 40 days, I might get both courses done and a quilt or 2. 
How many people actually give up something for Lent each year and how does it work for you? I have never really done that before . . . but then . . . I am known to be impulsive and I know how to go the distance . . . especially if someone has dared to tell me I cannot do that.
Blessings,
Chris

Di Ford's Mystery Quilt 2014

So this finally arrived into our area and I had to buy a bucket of chicken wings and a fruit tray before I found it at our local fancy grocery store. I usually shop at the discount grocery store because it is cheaper but the fun food is across the street.  I have been eagerly looking for this issue since I saw the promos for Di Ford's new mystery quilt back in November.

I have been seeing the center medallion on line since late November and joined the facebook group in December where I have been drooling over the progress of many quilters around the world who had the foresight to pre-order the kits when they were available.

Di Ford Mystery Quilt 2014

 
 I purchased some dutch Chintz last summer in hopes of using it in the Love Entwined 1790's wedding quilt that I have not yet started because I could not decide on colours so I am still collecting the free patterns.

 However, I did buy some of the border print from Sentimental Stitches before Christmas because I could.

Now to decide on the colours. I will have to look into my new fabric purchase stash from last summer. I think I have enough for everything except the blues for the swags. But then they do not have to be blue do they?
But first I have to finish a course for school and then there is patient Dear Jane waiting . . . waiting . . . I actually woke up this morning dreaming about making 4 1/2 inch blocks in a very bright colour . . . then woke from my afternoon nap dreaming about Broderie Perse  leaves . . . sigh
Blessings,
Chris

WOW !

Its been a whole six months since I started this blog 

and I have had over 5000 page views 

and none of them are mine 

since I figured how to turn that off. 

So, 

 thank you to all of you who have been reading my ramblings

and looking at my pictures

and especially to those of you who have returned again and again. 

I really, really appreciate every one of you.

Blessings,

Chris

Ben Biggs Block #3

Cherry Wreath

This is block #3 of the free BOM from Sentimental Stitches and Dear Jane that I dared to start this year. it is a 26 month project. each month one of the 25 blocks will be released for free. Last month's block goes into the online store to be purchased. So, it pays to stay current. I am still scratching my head wondering how I will get these stems done with the machine applique I have chosen to do for this quilt. I have 30 days to get it figured out before the next block is released. You can find the pattern here:
  http://www.dearjane.com/just_takes_2.htm

Blessings,
Chris