Here it is 6:30 PM and I completely forgot about the Quilting Accountability Report that Bari is encouraging us to do. Perhaps if I spent yesterday evening working on either the SBS block due Sunday or my Texas Braid quilt I wouldn’t have fallen off the ladder while cleaning the gutters out. Nothing broken, but I twisted my ankle — the same one I twisted in March.

Two tasks last week — work on my DWR and finish my Texas Braid. Let’s just say life got in the way.

As for next week’s goals just any piecing/quilting will be good, as I really need to keep my foot propped up for a few days.

Somehow, this is fitting. I bought my Husqvarna Quilt Designer 8 years ago today. I still love it as much now as I did when I bought it.

Today, I pulled out the manual to look something up. Page 6 is titled Accessory Tray / Sewing Surface. Huh? Turns out that piece attached to the lid of my the accessory tray extends the bed of the sewing machine by 1 3/4″.  Who knew?

I wonder what else I’d find new about my machine if I were to sit and read the manual cover to cover?

A year ago I ventured into blogging about my quilting to participate in Judy’s Stash Busting Reports over at Patchwork Times. Not knowing anything about blogging, I picked Blogger. It was easy to use right off the bat.

However, I’ve occasionally wanted to post a pattern in PDF format and I like the idea of pages – neither of which I’ve been able to figure out how to do on Blogger. Then earlier this month while working on my husband’s web page (www.tedavara.com) I discovered that WordPress supported both of these things. So here I am.

I’ve imported all of the Blogger entries, but the links still point back to the original post on Blogger. I’ve thought about editing the posts, but I’d rather simply move forward. This is still a work in progress, but let me know what you think. I had followers on Blogger and I hope they follow me over here to my new home.

Now back to quilting!

Half of the inner borders are now on Autumn Splendor.

See what others are up to by checking out the links over at Judy’s blog.

Well, not really. I had a day of PTO (paid time off) today. The plans I made last week included sewing all day and perhaps going down to Heritage to get the backing for my DWR. Then over the weekend I got an e-mail from Quilter’s Quarters in Leavenworth, Kansas saying that Earlene Fowler, who writes the Bennie Harper Mysteries would be in the store for an informal book signing. So my plans changed to include the drive up to Leavenworth.

By the morning my plans had changed again. #1 I still don’t have the DWR finished and #2 it was rainy and overcast all morning. Since the DWR still isn’t finished, I don’t have the finished dimensions, so I don’t know how much backing I’ll need. And with the rain, I didn’t want to drive for an hour to the book signing. So, instead I spent the morning working on my 6″ Arizona block, ripping out various pieces because I kept sewing my HST facing the wrong direction.

By noon I think I had had it. Even listening to Voyager by Diana Gabaldon wasn’t soothing me (Jamie and Claire are preparing to sail to the West Indies). So, my DH decided I needed to get out of the house and do something besides go to the grocery store. (Not getting out of the house can become one of the pitfalls of working from home if you are not careful).

So, off we went in the drizzle to Leavenworth. I got to meet Earlene Fowler, she signed my copy of Bennie Harper’s Quilt Album (my husband gave it to me the Christmas after it came out), and while I was in the store I picked up a FQ purple to try with my SBS blocks (it’s too dark) and the Little Gripper.

On our way out of town we stopped at The Bargain Factory – a closeout/liquidation store – because I saw a sign that said “fabric”. Didn’t bring home any fabric (didn’t really think I would), but DH got a couple of pieces of music and a new lunch box.

Even with the rain (it poured on the way home) it turned out to be a great break and just what I needed.

Pumpkin Patch Primitves Quilt Shoppe is having a giveaway. A FQ Bundle of Red Rooster’s Pumpkins & Spice Fabrics. There is a picture in the linked blog listing, and this looks like a cool collection. Check it out.

Piwacket is having an anniversary giveaway. Here’s a link to The Quilting Cat and the giveaway.

Burton over at Quilting Literati ran a contest for finishing UFOs. I was one of two winners. She sent me this pincushion and Halloween panel.

Thanks Burton!

It seems like that’s my refrain for the past few weeks.

No picture yet, but I have finished the quilting on the Poinsetta quilt, squared it up and cut my binding. I’m stalled at the moment since I’m not certain how/where I want to hang the quilt. I’d like to put the hanging sleeve on the quilt as I bind it.

I’m considering the “No See Ums” by The Hang-Ups Company. The Poinsetta quilt will measure 52″ square when it’s done. That’s about as large of a quilt as the space can handle. I’ve got other quilts ranging in size from 18″ across to 45″. The smaller ones (less than 20″ square) I sew rings to the corners and then hang on a 3M Command type hook. What can I say, I painted the walls this summer and don’t want nail holes.

I’m on call this weekend. Maybe work won’t call and I can get some quilting done while I’m waiting for the phone to ring.

This past week had the potential for lots of quilting. I was off from work Monday and Tuesday and DH went to convention Thursday and will be home until later today.

Monday and Tuesday I cut up some scraps into squares, blocks and strips following the Scrap User’s System After:

Then Tuesday I popped down to Heritage Fine Fabrics and picked up fabric for the border to the black and white Strip Twist and backing and binding for my Poinsetta quilt.

I’ve got to quilt in the holly leaves on two of the borders, then add the stem all the way around. Then I’m going to add some sort of red “berry” between the leaves and in the corners.

Well, here’s the report

Fabric Added this Week: 5.5 yards
Fabric Added to Date: 50.25 yards

Fabric Used this Week: 2.125 yards
Fabric Used to Date: 21.33 yards

Net Stash: +28.92 yards

Pam