Random Ramblings

This post is brought to you by Tanya, complete with non edited pictures.  This computer doesn't have photo editing software. Please ignore the messy desk.

Last Friday, I was really getting fed up with our Singer Stylist sewing machine. Richard's Janome scares me at this point  (I am afraid I will break it and we need two machines, yes technically a third machine, since I don't like Rebecca's little mechanical one).   I told him we need to do something with this machine, so we looked up the warranty information and found out parts and labor were covered for a year. We bought the machine online, but took it back to a local store. After locating the box and the second trip to the store, they refunded our purchase price and we went and bought a new machine at a different store. They only carry sewing machines online. 

Ignore the messy desk. 

Yes it is the same model sewing  machine.  Richard figured if we were buying a new entry line machine, we may as well buy something I was familiar with and that the extension table we already have will fit.  It is amazing how much easier it it to sew with a non-wobbly sewing machine.

Over the weekend, Richard quilted the purple Double Churn/Rail Fence quilt for my Step Mother's Christmas gift.    It is ready to be bound, in fact the binding is already prepped.  Here is a picture of the back,  and a close up of one of the six butterflies. One of us will post about the finished quilt in a day or two.

Below is the partial top I am working on for my Sister in Law Megan.  She claims to be a girly girl, so hopefully she likes it and appreciates the not so perfect quilt top.  Yes, it is definitely the work of a beginner.  Stuff doesn't line up like I wanted it to. I have leaned tons while make this top, like how important it is to measure exactly, iron seams correctly and also to have a real plan instead of just making random blocks I saw in a book. Making the finished quilt block a size I had a square ruler to trim would have probably been helpful as well. I think it helps to have a non-broken machine too.

Richard finished the twin sized Batik top he has been working on.  It looks gorgeous.  It is going to be a pain to baste though.  I have a bit unusual way to baste quilts, but it works great for baby or lap quilts.  We have powerful magnets that we bought at quilting show and I hang the quilt sandwich on the wall after a few safety pins have been added and baste it while it is hanging up. 

To end this post here are a two cute pictures of Julia.  Disclaimer, before you think we are horrible parents, she grabbed the bag and liked the noise it made and I thought it would be a cute picture.  She was not eating the chips and was mad we took it away before she could eat the bag.

Link a Finish Friday #28

Today's Post comes to you from Richard

This last week the most popular link was from Seriously..I think it needs stitches.

I also managed to get yet another top done this week (Tanya also got a top done, but I am lacking pictures of hers)

Any way you know the drill link up your finishes.

Each link on LAFF enters you into a random drawing for 2 fat quarters each month. The winner will be picked the Thursday after the last Friday of each month.  The winner have their choice of 2 fat quarters from the 8 pictured.  These are from my stash, but have no current project with their name on them.  Some of them are items I got from the shop hop, others are items that came with materials we bought, but did not make it into a project.

Thanks again for visiting Richard and Tanya Quilts and supporting  our quilting adventures.

So for the rules.

1) Who likes rules. Toss them out.
2) Add a link to your finish blog or where ever you show off your finishes (Not limited to quilts but I like them the most).
3) Visit a few of the finishes and comment or encourage them on.
4) Monthly random winner picked from all of the months linkups to win 2 fat quarters.

Not Required but fun to do

1) Follow my blog.
2) Follow the blog of all those that link.
3) Link back to my blog.
4) No finish, go quilt and stop reading the web.

I need a good name any one have a good idea?

Today's post brought to you by Richard

When I first started this quilt I was really worried what I would do with all the area that is not Dresden.  But I came to the realization that it would be fun to quilt in circles around the Dresden plate going in rings going outward.  Then of course reality sunk in, my snake does not really circle out but throwing caution to the wind I decided it could kind of slither out.

I took some close up's to try and show off the quilting some.  I quilted 4 rows out from each of the three Dresden's on the quilt.  The only exception to this was those area's that did not have quilting (the edges and the bottom corner) I continued doing the rows outward following the lines but not crossing any like I did on the first 4 rows.

All in all I think that it turned out wonderful.  I was worried that I did not quilt inside the Dresden's them self's enough, but my wife came home from work (her lunch break or rather Julia's dinner break) and she said its done.

So the boss says its done, so it must be done.  Here is a close up of one of the full Dresden platters.  I cant wait to go show it off at guild meeting Thursday.  So the only real question is what should I call this quilt.  I really want to win the Dresden contest and I won't if I have a lame name so help me out.

Work In Progress Wed #23

Posted by Richard

This past week has been a good week with a lot of progress.  For Richard he has been working on his Dresden quilt that he wants to show of Thursday at guild meeting.

So far I have quilted around each of the 3 items on the quilt and am now working my way outwards.  I have well not got a full plan yet for what all I am quilting it with.  This is my first quilt that has not been pieced for the top (meaning that I have a single material with applique on them).  So filling in the other area's with enough quilting to make it look good is where I am now stuck.

Tanya this last week has been helping me baste quilts.  She also finished a top 

She has not yet taken a picture of the top yet, but it has these squares in it.  

Rebecca my daughter also spent some time this week working on her quilt 

Hum after some time searching I was unable to find a picture of her quilting on it.  I am sure I took one, but can't find it now so just picture her quilting away.

Last but not least, we have one week left until school starts and it will not go fast enough.  The kids are about to drive me crazy and its time to get them busy again.

Today is going to be a Work In Progress Wednesday.   I will be linking up with Freshly Pieced.  

Dresden Fun

Today's post brought to you by Richard

My wife Tanya makes me laugh.  We got done putting the Dresden's and the snake onto the front of my top for the baby blanket.   I was sitting there trying to decide how to applique down them.  When my wife hands me the above blocks and tells me I need "Practice" before I work on my quilt.  In other words, she did not want to try and figure out how to do her own applique and bummed the job off onto me, such love she has for me.

After I was done practicing I got serious and was able to finish sewing my Dresden's down.  We got the back cut out and the batting cut out and we plan to get the basting done Tuesday (We meaning Tanya, turn about is fair play)

Here is the back I have for the quilt.  I am getting excited about quilting this, I have a plan in mind and just can't wait to do it.