I've Been Busy Sewing

I have been keeping busy sewing, finally! I'm still waiting for a part replacement for my sewing machine and when it comes in, there's some other adjustments to be made. I'm not completely happy with Baby Lock's response to my problems, but I'm giving them a bit more time to see how this mess will turn out.
Still have lots and lots of sewing to do. I'm finally feeling well and sewing is a lot of fun for me.

I made these ID tags for Ian.
One for his gym bag, one for his backpack
and the last one for luggage or whatever he wants to use it on.

Debby and Ian are on spring break and are out of town until Sunday. I really miss them, but love the peace and quiet. It's just so nice and calm.
Bob took me to Essex Bagels and Deli for breakfast this morning. It's only been open for two weeks and is just down the road from us. The breakfast was wonderful. We've already fallen in love with their bagels! They make the best matzo ball soup, as good as mine! Also, their chopped liver is very good, too. My favorite sandwich is chopped liver on rye. Since no one else in the family will eat liver, I do without until I find a place that has it. The chopped liver HAS to taste homemade. I sometimes get the all you can eat liver and onions at Longhorn's. I might even go there tomorrow for some after I finish my water aerobics. I could use some more iron!

Here are some of the things I've been making - from bookmarks to an
embroidered shawl. They were all fun to do. The shawl is Robyn's. I started it months ago and finished it on Saturday, so Deb could take it to her. I embroidered the design on each of the four corners. I think it's stunning. Have several more to do for the girls.


My water aerobics class recently took our instructor Lynn lunch for her birthday. There were 20 or so of us at the lunch. I made the card for everyone to sign and we all gave her a surprise $ gift that was inside. I also made her a gift and another card with a birthday cake bookmark that I tied on to the gift bag. I was thrilled that she liked everything.
I bought the straw tote bag, which was a bit larger when I started. When I was trying to stitch on the pockets I couldn't get the bag under the needle because of those darn, but cute, bamboo handles! I had to "deconstruct" the bag and then sew the bag back together. I'm still pleased with it. I always like to put a small pocket inside the bag that serves as a label.

OLD FAMILY PHOTOS

Can't believe more than two weeks have gone by. No sewing pics this time, just some old ones of the family. The guess who above is this lovely lady when she was only three. This was taken in the Azores. The newer one was taken in Houston for her website www.robynjoneshomes.com. Yep, I'm a proud mommy.
Here's a picture of my older daughter and me in 1961 sitting on our front porch in Big Spring, TX. Bob was in pilot training at Webb AFB. Deb was born there, so she's a Texan, well, sort of!
The next picture is of Bob and Deb in Texas. Wow - Bob and I were really young - 21 and 22! Funny, I thought we were so old!
It's hard to believe that on June 7th of this year, Bob and I will be married for 50 years!
Don't you love the "pompadour" hair do that Bob's mom gave him? She did not want to cut his hair! I think he was really cute when he was little (and old!).
That's it for the old photos for today. Have to go back to "work" - I have to get the tax info done so I can file on time for the first time in years and years. Hopefully we won't have to pay anything. Could use that stimulus check - we get one this year, don't we?
Back to serious things now.

The Tiny Stitches Baby Quilt Is Finally Finished!

I think the quilt is amazing! Hopefully I'll know by Monday how much we made on the raffle. Everyone loved the finished quilt. The gals who did the quilting and binding did a fantastic job. I'm so happy with it.
Hopefully later today I will feel good enough to sew again. My head is swirling with all kinds of ideas. I've been using my machine embroidery software to come up with new designs. Now I'm ready to implement them.
My sewing room/office is a totally train wreck. I've worked on cleaning it a little each day this week, but at the rate I'm going, it may take me another five years! I just can't seem to get organized. It's overwhelming me.
Bob is playing in a golf tournament with his golfing buddy today. He left early and went to Waffle House for breakfast before he got to the golf course. Hoping he does well today. As long as he plays well, he'll enjoy himself and won't get frustrated.
I'm finally feeling human. No pneumonia, thank goodness, just the usual asthma, etc.

We Finally Got Snow!!!!

We're having a snowy afternoon along with some wind and occasional snowthunder! It's definitely a hot chocolate day!
My grandson got home from a weekend trip to the mountains. Can't believe that he left his jacket in his backpack, which he left in someone's car. Guess that's typical for 13 year olds. He's home now and went straight to his computer.
Debby is making homemade rolls for dinner tonight. They're for the burgers she's making for dinner. Her rolls are light and absolutely delicious. Promises to be a great dinner.
Still haven't done any sewing. Just haven't felt like it. I'm definitely going to do some next week. I'm way, way behind on my projects.
I finally downloaded the photos of the Tiny Stitches quilt top that will be raffled off this week at the quilt show. I think it turned out to be adorable! Our meeting is tomorrow, so I get to see the finished project. It should look really good.
I've got several baby quilts to make for gifts. I have to finished Robyn's Pashmina wraps. I'm embroidering several and have started only one. I also have a rag quilt to finish for Ian. I'm terrible - I have been working on it for several years!
Just looked out the window and the snow is falling fast and heavy with huge flakes. Hope it's okay tomorrow. If the roads are bad and Tiny Stitches is still meeting, Bob will take me. I no longer drive in snow or ice. I don't mind being chauffeured!

Alive and "Well" in Georgia

Well, haven't written in a few weeks. Have been feeling miserable and been in bed for nearly a week. Not fun. The antibiotics made me feel worse than my asthma, ear and sinus infections, etc., etc., etc. Bob said he knew I was sick when I didn't want to sew with my newly repaired sewing machine. Bob picked it up on Wednesday from my sewing machine store. Almost all the insides are replaced, basically it's a new machine.

My desktop computer broke and Bob took it to Microsoft for repair. Cost almost as much as a refurbished computer, which the broken one was. I decided to just stick to the laptop. Bob's going to show me how to connect the large monitor and cordless keyboard and mouse.
I keep thinking about peanut butter and peanut products and it makes me realize how uncaring and selfish some people are. I heard recently that a plant in Texas (same company) is responsible for at least 8 cases of salmonella in Colorado. Of course, the company is filing bankruptcy so no one can sue. Frankly everyone from the top down who covered this up needs to go to jail for a very, very long time. I don't understand how the food inspectors let this happen. It's been a huge cover up and took multiple deaths for it to be uncovered. Come on, guys, this isn't China, it's the US and we can do better than this.

I borrowed a sewing machine to finish the Tiny Stitches charity quilt top. Another member is quilting it and a third is doing the binding. I took pictures and it is so cute. I love it. It's bright and cheerful and turned out just like I wanted it to. When I figure out how to download the pictures to my laptop, I'll post them.
Talk about pictures - here are two which I think are funny. Robyn was showing a client a farm and got stuck in the mud. Range Rovers are nothing but junk! Her comments are - "I thought I could just "rock" out of it, so I ended up shredding two tires and killed the balance. The worst part was the "thump, thump, thump" all the way home as mud flew everywhere from the tires and under the car and everyone on the freeway stared at me driving 4 miles an hour trying to keep the car driving straight! Next time I'm driving a tractor." The car had to be wenched out of the muck. Hope she didn't loose the client!
Bob wasn't at all sympathetic. He told her "That's not a car it's a Range Rover for g-d's sake. It is reputed to handle the African Velt and the snows of Kilimanjaro. Must be driver error."
Her old Landcruiser wouldn't have done this!

_

Can't Believe Another Week Has Gone By

Hard to believe a week has gone by. I have started to piece the top for my charity raffle quilt. I think it's going to be so cute. I've borrowed a sewing machine from someone since my is still sick and far away from me. I MISS MY SEWING MACHING!
Had family over for lunch today. Debby cooked and it was incredible!
Bob went to play golf after everyone left. Can't believe it's only February and it's 61 degrees out. It feels like springtime.
We found an old internal jazz drive, but unfortunately the technology was antique. Bob found someone who for $100 recovered 18 jazz discs that had lots and lots of photos on it. Here are two of my favorite - they are my grandson Kennon's early artwork when he was about 2 1/2 or 3 years old. Papa added the descriptions! He's 13 now and does draw a lot better and he can also write his own descriptions!
Watching "Psych" on DVR. Thank goodness for DVRs - so much better than taping. Just finished "Monk". We seldom watch tv in real time, unless it's news or the "Today" show.
Hopefully, I'll have more sewing projects to post when I get my sewing machine back. Trying to think of something original to do. Hope I can come up with something.

Super Bowl Day

Well, today is the big day - Super Bowl. Since the Falcons aren't playing, we're going for the under dog - the Cardinals. I'm not a football fan, but I love the commercials and half time. Deb got us the 3-D glasses yesterday, so we can watch the Disney commercial.
I called about my sewing machine yesterday. The bad news is that it took over a week to get back to the factory in Missouri. I think it was all the ice and snow that held it up. I'm sure it'll be at least two weeks more before I get it back. I've been concerned about the Tiny Stitches quilt. For you sewers, I've decided not to borrow a machine and instead, serge the quilt top. I'll pick up the remaining squares at our meeting tomorrow.
Want to share pictures of my grandpuppies, Taffy and Tank together and Sadie chewing on her toy.
Having fun connecting with extended family, most of whom I've never met. Definitely getting addicted to Facebook. It's amazing to this old gal, that cousins that are distantly related look like my grandmother, grandfather and uncles. My mother's side of the family has some really strong genes!

No more loose screws! And Happy Valentine's Day!

It's been more than a week since surgery. So happy it's over. Wow, those were long, fat screws.
Well, my sewing machine has been in the shop for awhile now. It's back at the factory in Missouri. No telling when I'll get it back. Made arrangements for a few other members of Tiny Stitches to finish the embroidered blocks and I'll put the top together.
Did get some projects finished before my machine broke. This first set of pictures are a birthday present for my sister-in-law's sister-in-law. We consider ourselves sisters, though. She was really happy with her gift!
I finished up some coasters for a swap that I did with one of my online groups. I winged them, no pattern and absolutely no idea of what it was going to be like. Good thing I liked them.
Tomorrow's is my daughter's birthday. Nothing special planned for tomorrow. Maybe lunch out on Saturday or Sunday.

Loose Screws

Tomorrow, my two loose screws will be removed. Hopefully will be home from the surgical center by noon or one pm. Will feel great not worrying about the screws backing out and breaking the skin!
My sewing machine is back in the shop. Hopefully Barry, the tech, can figure out, along with Baby Lock what is going on. Same problem for months and months and months. Probably won't feel like sewing the first few days after my surgery anyhow. Hope the Tiny Stitches charity quilt will be done on time. So far, I've embroidered 15 squares out of 30. It's going to be so cute. Can't wait to see it finished.
Went to see a fantastic film today with Bob. We saw the new Clint Eastwood movie - "Gran Torina" - wow, comedy, violence, action, caring, love and sadness all in one film. Eastwood carried it off in spectacular style. I'll definitely see it again when it's On Demand.

Busy, busy, happy days

Can't believe how busy the last few days have been. On Monday, I attended a meeting for "Tiny Stitches", which is a non-profit organization that makes complete baby layettes for indigent families in North Georgia. Everything is handmade like the little receiving blankets that I make and embroider. I've made more than I can count! Here's four of them. We put enough in the diaper bag for the infant to have clothes and other items for the first three months. At the meeting I somehow, not sure how, volunteered to make a baby quilt to be raffled off at the Original Sewing and Quilting Expo in Atlanta (Duluth). I thought I had until the first of April to finish the quilt top, but it turns out the Expo is the first week of March, not May. So hustle I will and somehow manage to finish the quilt top in the next couple of weeks.
Tuesday found Bob and me at his orthopedic oncologist, Dr. David Monson. Bob is another year free of cancer. The benchmark year is ten years and Bob has reached his 101/2 year mark. He was given a new sarcoma survivor t-shirt. A support group has been formed this year for sarcoma patients and their families. Dr. Monson wants Bob to go to give other patients with sarcoma hope that one can survive sarcoma cancer, and not only survive, but go on to live a normal and active life. It's always an amazing moment for me when Dr. Monson says you're good, Bob and I'll see you next year. Dr. Monson and his group has received funding to do research into sarcoma cancer. Naturally, I volunteered to do a baby quilt and some other items for a silent auction. I am a little crazy, I think - no wonder I have two loose screws!
Having surgery next week to remove my loose screws, not by a neurosurgeon, but by my orthopedic surgeon!! I'll keep the loose ones in my head!!!!!!!
Have been sewing all week and will have to sew like crazy in the next few weeks to finish all my projects!
Plan on relaxing this evening with Bob and Debby. See y'all later.