And a New Project

The charm squares were sent to me in a swap quite some time ago. I always knew I wanted to make a table runner out of them. Just wasn't sure the design. Can you believe out of all the fabric in my stash I couldn't find anything to use as backing or binding. I came close to using the muslin just to finish it today but couldn't bring myself to finish it that boring. I will pick up something this week to finish it.

I pinned two more rows on the denim blanket. That gave me enough forward progress that I didn't feel guilty about starting a new project.

Just a peek at some of the fabrics for the new project. 10 more fat quarters to cut. Not my typical fabrics which is making it all the more fun.

Done for the Day

Only one flop from the day of sewing. An embroidered pig with a really bad sunburn. He looked so bad he was embarassed to show his face. In the hoop coin purse from Embroidery Library. And the good news is this guy does fit in the 4x4 hoop.

I need to sew on a snap or velcro for the closure on the front flap otherwise it is completely embroidered and sewn in the hoop.

I have lots of excuses for not working on the denim blanket. I did get two more rows sewn on today. Only 7 more rows to go and then finish the vertical sewing. I am so over this blanket. I know I am going to love it when done but I just can't see an end in sight.

So I moved on to something I know I can finish over the weekend. Just a sneak peak. I should be able to finish it on Sunday.

Before Noon

David is on call this weekend. So we have to stick close to home. Oh darn, can you tell I am quite disappointed. Buttercup woke up early and I decided while I let her out I would just stay up and get started on my day. Four bobbins loaded and I am ready to roll.

Threads all layed out.

First project done. A towel for one of the ladies that works for me.

An in the hoop reindeer door hanger. Looks a little like Scoby Doo with antlers to me. Not too difficult to make. Although I doubt the center hole would fit on a standard door knob.

An in the hoop scissors case. This is all mine. Scissors already in it.

And a photo of the photo of the front. Someone gave me the pink lady bug button. I thought it fit just perfectly on these.

It isn't even quite noon yet. I need to go reload the bobbins and see how much more damage I can do before the end of the day.

Predictable

Some things just never change. Last September David and I had lunch at Bennihana's for my birthday. David's birthday was yesterday and where did we go... Bennihana's. Mason tagged along this time.

Besides Mason with us and David's beard a little more grey it is pretty much the same photo as last year. If nothing elese we are predictable.

If you are wondering where Kim is... home in bed sleeping. Oh the joys of raising an adopted kid with RAD.

Rice Pack

David's back has been hurting him the past few weeks. Bad enough he broke down and went to the chiropractor. He was told to alternate between hot and cold packs. Last year I made a few rice heat packs for family and friends. The kind you throw in the microwave to heat and apply to sore muscles.
So this is the new design of the rice packs. I needed something to go all the way across his lower back. Started with 11x44 inches of muslin. Folded in half with 1/2 inch seams, turned inside out. Then sewed 2 inch channels. Each channel has just under 1 cup of rice. With a real quick folded over hem on one end.

Then I made a little pillowcase out of some recycled fabric. I put it in the microwave for 2 minutes to heat it up and in the freezer for several hours to chill. I need to make him at least one more to leave in the freezer.

U of M

Mason is spending the night on campus at the University of Memphis. I will go back and pick up my baby tomorrow. Yes I know he is 18 but will always be my baby. We just need to squeeze in another surgery for him between now and the end of August when classes start.

I have yawned at least 10 times typing the above paragraph. I think I need to head to bed and rest for my next big day of being a Memphis Tiger parent.

Quick Update

Everyone that left a comment on the Flipped Out post is a winner.

nanaofnc I received your address
La Yen I received your address
lips
Virginia
Freda
michele Of course I know your address.

To everyone else if you haven't emailed me your address today you can do so by clicking on the View Profile in the upper right corner and then click on email.

Monkey Business

I can actually follow directions. Not sure why the shirring thing isn't working. Sure hope it is just the machine and not me.

A little monkey business embroidering instead of sewing. Another tissue holder. Not really the cold and flu season but I couldn't resist these little guys.

Shir Madness

I fought the shirring and the shirring won. I am giving up until I pull out my old sewing machine that has the front loaded bobbin. I have tried everything but can't get the tension to work right.

So back to the embroidery machine where I can actually accomplish something. In the hoop tissue holders. Recycled denim shirt. One in blue.

And one in pink for good measure.

Flipped Out

You could say I have totally flipped out today. Heat index 110 degrees. Ran some errands early and I refuse to leave the house the rest of the day.

As promised to those of you that hung around following my blog after the Sew Mama Sew giveaway. I have 9 flip flop chapstick key holders to give away. Just leave a comment and tell me which color is your favorite, you might get it. I will randomly select 9 comments on Wednesday 6/16. And a photo for my sister. She ordered different sized hoops for her embroidery machine. This is how I store mine. I put command adhesive hooks on the side of a book case and hang them there when I am not using them.

Mason and I went to see Karate Kid last night. I highly recommend it. You know it is good when the the audience forgets its a movie and starts clapping as if they were at a live karate tournament.

Basics

Everything I have touched this week just hasn't worked out. So I went back to the basics and got a towel embroidered for a swap partner. Feels good to finish something.

I have been trying to figure out shirring. Three tries and gave up. Just silly mistakes. I will pull it back out this weekend and see if I can make some progress. Heat index forecasted 110 degrees this weekend. Staying in the airconditioning seems like the only sensible option.

Less Shopping, More Sewing

I need to do less shopping.

And do more sewing. No plans for Sunday. I hope to dive into that stack of fabric and come up with a few projects completed by the end of the day.

Ants

My Mom suggested ants on the red napkins. Easiest embroidery I have done so far. One color, not very many stitches and I intentionally didn't want them straight or the same on each napkin, so it didn't matter how I put them in the hoop. Six napkins done in less than 15 minutes. Not bad at all.

The tension on my machine looks like it is a little off but no where near the problem I had before pulling out the stuck thread.

Sure am glad it is a show work week. Just need to work on a list for the weekend so I can prioritize what needs to get done.

Problem Solved

My embroidery machine had started giving me problems. Got worse at my Mom's house over the weekend, a design I have stitched 10 times before wouldn't come out correctly. When I got home I adjusted the upper thread tension but it still wouldn't stitch quite right. I refused to take it in for service, took out a couple of screws myself but couldn't get the machine apart. Probably was good that I couldn't. I ended up taking some thread and running it back and forth like dental floss. And look what came out of my machine. Problem solved.

Now I can get back to all the projects rolling around in my head.