Sick Singer

Well I just talked to my sewing machine repairman and the news is not encouraging. The first thing he asks is how much I am willing to spend on my 20 year old machine! Ouch. He said it's either a computer board or the motor and it will be around $150. (sigh) last year I had to replace a different computer board and that cost $300.
So I think this is it for the old girl, I really, really, really want a Bernina and I guess its time to start putting money aside for a new machine.
 My Singer was one of the first computerized machines back in 1980 and I justified spending $1200 ($3000 in todays dollars) because I sewed all my kids clothes, shirts for my husband and my dad, and I made quilts, lots and lots of quilts. The first sewing I did with it was to sew a wardrobe for my mom to wear on a trip to Florida.
So I have gotten my money's worth out of her but I think I should be realistic; she is not the best for machine quilting. The tension discs are probably worn because I cannot use monofilament thread and the lighting really is awful.... See how I am coming up with reasons for a new machine? Lol
I will probably get her back and she will sew fine for another 10 years.

Sore Finger

Making good progress on my block and hopefully I will be starting the next one sometime this week too. Boy is my finger sore though! My middle finger looks like a pin cushion from my evening applique session.

Yesterday I wanted to start a couple of different projects so I could have something to work on that is not applique (machine or hand) so I spent time looking through some quilt books and working on designs in EQ but before I knew it the day was gone and I spent zero hours in front of the sewing machine. The Featherweight anyway, my poor Singer is sitting by the front door waiting to go to the The Sewing Machine Doctor.
Don't you just hate it when you want to do several things but you just can't seem to get started or even make a decision?
Maybe if I pull fabrics for the projects I would like to make and put together a kit with the pattern or name of the book and page of the project; or if it's a EQ project file I could print the quilt out. At least some of the decisions would already be made and I could just begin. Maybe.
Be sure and stop later in the week, I promise I'll have something else to show you besides the block above! There.... now I will have to make a decision. Lol

Block Progress

Bouquet For A New Day block is progressing, I'll probably work on more leaves tonight while the football game is on. If you zoom in you'll see I appliqued two of the tiny circles. The larger one I tried using freezer paper, it came out too big though. The other small circle above the red flower bud, I used needle turn and that seemed to work a little better, so that is probably the process I will use. The other circles are larger and I will use my circles. If you have been following along it doesn't look like much changed but everything is stitched down now.

                                                                             Still working on the Feathered Star blocks by Kim Diehl. My foot pedal came on Friday  but it didn't fix my problem so I guess I'll be taking the Singer to the Sewing Machine Doctor on Monday. Very frustrating....

Sindy at Fat Cat Patterns has a new block of the month that I might make. Fiesta would sure look nice on my bed! She designed it for raw edge applique but you could make it anyway you prefer and she shows the quilt it several different colorways too.

Another pair of socks came off the needles last night! These are going to my sister-in-law. She had surgery last week, had some complications and had to have surgery again! Not fun at all.

Well the second game is about to start so I am going to grab my block and maybe some yarn and needles and  stitch and knit for awhile.

Hope you have a peacful weekend. I'll be back soon

Design Wall Monday January 10th, 2011

This is as far as I have gotten with my block, and it was all done on Sunday.

I like to get as much tacked down as I can, then I put together a to-go bag with my block, thread, needles, scissors, and thimble and any pieces that are not glued down yet. This block has some teeny, tiny circles. They are so small I don't have one in my circle set (Perfect Circles by Karen Kay Buckley).

Friday I went on a little shop hop with my friend Marie. We left about 9 AM and our first stop was at Golden Lane Fabrics; its a little shop in Himrod, NY. It's owned by a mennonite family  and it is stuffed with fabric. Thank goodness she is about 35 minutes away or I could get in some serious trouble. Our next stop was at an even tinier shop in Dundee, NY called The Fabric Shop, her inventory was low since they just finished the season at The Windwill where they set up shop from April till December. If you are ever in the Finger Lakes Region of New York State the Windmill is a great place to stop on a Saturday.
Our last shop was in Watkins Glen, NY at O'Susannah's Quilt Shop. It was a fun day and some new fabrics found their way into my stash.
Today I have to take my son to the train station in Syracuse, NY for a trip to New York City to visit a friend. There are several quilt shops nearby that I would like to check out but I think I better  behave (at least till Thursday, when I have to pick him up, hehe.)
Be sure and stop by Judy's blog and see what everyone else is up to today

Block of the Month

I finally finished the June block of my Bouquet For A New Day block of the month. It is a Sue Garmen quilt designed just for The Quilt Show members (2 years ago!).

This one is going to take a little while to do But I need some hand work to do till my machine is working better.

I had to order a new foot pedal for my machine because its being crazy! I don't know why they did it, but my foot pedal is air operated and lately it either doesn't go when I step on it or it goes wide open! Not good for stitching around appliques. If that doesn't fix the problem I guess its off to the Singer people to figure it out. Of course it doesn't do it all the time so....you know what I mean if you have ever described a noise in your car to your mechanic! A noise that only happens when you are driving.

Birthday Time!

Thursday December 23rd was my birthday. My husbands is Decemebr 28th. Today January 3rd is my son Ian's birthday. January 19th is my middle daughter's and February 3rd is my oldest daughter's birthday. When they were all at home they only wanted chocolate cake for their special day. I have to say that by the time February came around I was a little tired of chocolate cake. LOL.
But if you love chocolate you should try this cake. Its not hard to make at all, just follow the directions and use the right size pans ( I put parchment paper in the bottom of mine so the cake doesn't stick) and you'll get "perfect" chocolate cake.

McCalls Perfect Chocolate Cake


So chocolaty, moist and delicious. Follow recipe exactly for best results.
• CAKE:

1 cup unsifted unsweetened cocoa

2 cups boiling water

2 3/4 cups sifted all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup butter or regular margarine, softened

2 1/2 cups granulated sugar

4 eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

FROSTING:

1 pkg (6 oz.) semisweet chocolate pieces

1/2 cup light cream

1 cup butter or regular margarine

2 1/2 cups unsifted confectioner's sugar

FILLING:

1 cup heavy cream, chilled

1/4 cup unsifted confectioners' sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

In medium bowl, combine cocoa with boiling water, mixing with wire whisk until smooth. Cool completely. Sift flour with soda, salt, and baking powder. Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease well and lightly flour three 9 by 1 1/2 inch layer cake pans.



In large bowl of electric mixer at high speed beat butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla, scraping bowl occasionally, until light--about 5 minutes. At low speed, beat in flour mixture (in fourths), alternately with cocoa mixture (in thirds), beginning and ending with flour mixture. Do not overbeat. Divide evenly into pans; smooth top. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until surface springs back when gently pressed with fingertip. Cool in pans 10 minutes. Carefully loosen sides with spatula; remove from pans; cool on racks.



Frosting: In medium saucepan, combine chocolate pieces, cream, butter; stir over medium heat until smooth. Remove from heat. With whisk, blend in 2 1/2 cups confectioners; sugar. In bowl set over ice, beat until it holds shape.



Filling: Whip cream with sugar and vanilla; refrigerate.



To assemble cake: On plate, place a layer, top side down; spread with half of cream. Place second layer, top side down; spread with rest of cream. Place third layer, top side up.



To frost: With spatula, frost sides first, covering whipped cream; use rest of frosting on top, swirling decoratively. Refrigerate at least 1 hour before serving. To cut, use a thin edged sharp knife; slice with a sawing motion. Serves 10-12. ( Not at my house !!! Lol )

Design Wall Monday January 3rd, 2011

Happy New Year!

On my design wall today are some of the blocks for my Kim Diehl wallhanging "Feathered Stars" I still have to baste the center block. It will be nice to get back to doing some applique after the simple nap quilts for my grandkids. I'll show them when the machine quilting gets finished.

I have several UFO's I definitely want to finish this year, this quilt being one of them. Over the next week I will update the blog to show my projects and progress. I would like to have a separate page for each so you can click on the project and see my progress or lack of! 

 I do hope to accomplish a lot more than I did last year, including finishing Ian's Trail to Eagle quilt.

 Be sure to check out everyone's design walls over at Judy's blog, thats where I'll be when I'm not in the sewing room.