As most of you know
I love spending time out in my barn.
Most of the day Friday & Sunday afternoon
I was out in the Art Barn
working on this quilt.
I'm making this quilt with the
"Quilt As You Go" method.
If you are curious about it, look here.
This video is how I learned to do this.
I did get a lot done on this quilt.
Maybe if I get another long day for sewing,
I might even get it done :)
It was wonderful having so much time to sew.
As you can see, my stitching isn't
all that perfect,
but that's okay.
I find that trying to be perfect
stresses me out & I'm here for the fun of it :)
While I was stitching,
Steve was smoking summer sausage.
He and our neighbor Jim made a batch
on Saturday.
So Sunday afternoon Steve put it into the smoker.
It will be great to serve with
cheese and crackers for holiday company.
I hope you all had a lovely weekend.
Until my next post please . . .
Keep Smiling!
Your blogging sister,
Connie :)
I don't sew very often but when I do I don't worry about perfect stitches either. Who has time to worry about that. The quilt is looking great. It's so wonderful to spend a day doing something creative. Glad you found the time.
ReplyDeletexx Beca
Good Morning Beca, thank you I'm delighted that I found the time, too. As women we always find the time for others, but seem to put ourselves on the back burner. This year has been a wake-up call for me . . . I never want to be someone that puts myself first, but I am learning to be that someone, that carves out some time for doing what I enjoy, too :)
DeleteThanks for your lovely comment, Connie - you are amazing too lol!!! Love the quilting, and as for smoking sausages at home, that's amazing.
ReplyDeleteShoshi
When you make your own sausage you can decide the ingredient. Some store bought sausage would make you barf if you read the ingredients. We do a 4 to 1 ratio mix of lean 85/15 ground beef and pork butt in our summer sausage. It is delicious :) I'm delighted that you like the start of my quilt :)
DeleteYour quilt is coming along nicely. I was gifted 4 fat quarters of western/cowboy themed fabric. If you would like it, send me your snail mail address. Lucky your for having a that summer sausage!
ReplyDeleteHi Sunny, that is so sweet of you. Think about it first and be sure that you wouldn't want to make a western quilt. It's a very generous offer.
DeleteSuch a lovely looking quilt, the fabrics are beautiful. I love the idea of smoking your own sausage, as you say a lovely addition for over the Christmas holiday. Take care.
ReplyDeleteThis is our first year to make it, but it has been fun and it is delicious . . . I think it will become a tradition. Christmas summer sausage, instead of Christmas fruit cake :)
DeleteThe quilt you are making looks fantabulous! And yum on the homemade and smoked sausage!
ReplyDelete❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉
*M*E*R*R*Y* *C*H*R*I*S*T*M*A*S*!*
❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉ ❉
Thank you so much :)
DeleteHi Connie, My spouse tells me that when she retires she wants to get into quilting. I like the one you are making and I can tell that you know what you are doing ... it looks great! That summer sausage sounds delicious. Thank you so much for your very kind comment on my blog today. I think they were getting the Polar Star ready for a trip up to Alaska and those northern waters. That is interesting about your experience growing up around Michigan City, Indiana, and the memories of ice on Lake Michigan. I would love to be aboard one of these big icebreakers when they are at work making way for other ships. I would probably have to join the Coast Guard to see that. :-) I always appreciate your kind comments. Thanks again Connie and have a good week ahead.
ReplyDeleteTaking it to Alaska makes a lot of sense, I was wondering why they needed it in Seattle. I guess I forgot about all the ship builders there. My husband's cousin captains a cargo ship, and once when it was in for repairs in Seattle, we went on board and took a tour. It was fascinating, those things are huge. Your wife is going to love quilting and you are going to love being cozied up in one of her warm quilts :) Happy Holidays.
DeleteI love the colors of this quilt...I'm wearing them today! heehee! And as much sewing as I've done, I've never learned to quilt. One of these days I will though! Holiday hugs my friend. Is it time for a snack or a sample yet?
ReplyDeleteI had a taste of this batch yesterday . . . yum. I wish there was a way to set out a sample tray for all my lovely blogging sisters and brothers to taste when they came to visit. If you got a taste each time you left a comment, I would be one popular blog, LOL.
DeleteOh how wonderful to have some long sewing days - you're making great progress - cant wait to see this western flavoured quilt finished :-)
ReplyDeleteI had a few hours yesterday afternoon and got some more done on it. It's coming along pretty fast . . . its all being done on the machine. I've always hemmed all my joining and binding by hand, but this time I'm using the machine for everything. Saves a lot of time :) I do miss the quietness of hand stitching though.
DeleteI like the looks of this quilt. I've always been curious about how the quilt as you go method works but have never looked it up.
ReplyDeleteTrying for perfection is very stressful and it sucks the fun right out of something enjoyable
I hope you take the time to check out this you tube video. I agree completely about the stress of perfection. Who needs it!
DeleteYour stitching looks perfect to me! I love your fabric choices. What fun!! My Hero used to love summer sausage. That is a staple here in WI. xo Diana
ReplyDeleteI'll just bet it is . . . cheese and summer sausage is a combo that can't be beat :)
DeleteYour quilt is beautiful and looks quite perfect to me. The sausage sounds lovely too. Yum!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
Hi Betsy and thank you so much. We got our first snow yesterday afternoon. How about you? I think that your area always gets a bit more snow than we do.
DeleteSo pretty Connie! Love the colors of the quilt...so cozy. The quilt as you go method sounds fun. Enjoy crafting this week!
ReplyDeleteHugs, Vicky
Hi Vicky, thank you. I have stocked up on fabric, batting and thread, so I'm ready for winter quilting. We got our first snow yesterday afternoon :)
DeleteThe quilt you're working on now is looking very good. It must be so peaceful to go to your barn and work on something you obviously enjoy a lot.
ReplyDeleteIt truly is . . . and the best part is that I can leave everything out, until I'm finished. It's a blessing being able to shut the door on the mess, I couldn't do that when I sewed in the house. :)
DeleteBeautiful!! I cannot sew a straight line so I envy anyone who can:)
ReplyDeleteWell, thank you, I appreciate the fact that you like my quilt. Sewing it's for everyone . . . some sisters crochet beautiful blankets. I love the one you posted a few blogs back. The colors are so cheery. I am a fan of the granny square and would love to remember how to make them. You do beautiful work.
DeleteI so love your posts! I feel like I've had a cuppa with a friend! Thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteOh no, Thank you :)
DeleteConnie, who would notice a tiny imperfect little stitch in all the beautiful quilts and things that you make. You are amazing! Your comment on my blog meant so much to me. Thank you. You would be (and are) a very special friend.
ReplyDeleteYour comment warms my heart, thank you :)
DeleteLove your quilt, Connie. QAYG is something I've been wanting to try, so I'll watch the video. Thanks for sharing. My late husband's grandmother used to make her own summer sausage. It sure was good! Thanks for stopping by my blog. :)
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Nancy, it is great to hear from you. I was delighted to see that you are blogging again, you have been missed. Your fabric collage work is marvelous; I enjoyed going through the post with all the photos of your work. QAYG is a great method for anyone that doesn't have one of those big quilting machines, a long arm machine, or a quilting frame. I love this method and have been using it more and more :) I hope you like the video.
DeleteThis quit is going to be so neat! I love cowboy prints and love the old vintage photo in it. I went to that YouTube video and I subscribe to the Gourmet Quilter. I love her! I like her method of quilt as you go. I've seen also where you sew all the quilted squares together first, and then run a long strip over the top and bottom seams, rather than joined each square separately. But.. I can see how hard it would be to put the big quilt into a regular machine.. or you'd have to sew those strips on by hand! I think all in all, I like the sew each square method like you are doing! Makes me want to do one. I have so many things on my "want to make" list that I get overwhelmed sometimes (well.. all the time!). I see you got snow. We are having some little skiffs today but tonight it may get serious! Marilyn
ReplyDeleteHi Marilyn, yes, we got our first snow late Monday afternoon. It was very cold last night and it looks like we are in for a long cold spell. Last weekend we got the last of our outside water faucets wrapped with heat tape and covered for winter . . . just in time! I have a suggestion; this is what I do when I'm overwhelmed. Sit down and make a list of all the things that you want to do. I find that if I have them on paper, I am more able to start getting to them with the desire of checking them off. They look more manageable on paper than they seem to be while dancing around in our heads, LOL.
DeleteI am delighted that you liked the video . . . she is a good teacher.
HI Connie, I love your quilting! I have to confess my quilting bug is laying low at the moment; I love looking at quilts still but have no inclination to get my fabric out and get cutting and stitching. I'm heavily into crochet at the moment. But it's all about colour and texture for me… whether quilts, or yarn, or mosaic, or paint…..
ReplyDeleteAnd I love the idea of smoking your own sausage too! What an enterprising couple you are! xxxx
I personally love all the color and texture that you put into your work. The pieces that you create are so unique and so full of individuality . . . there very special. Not many people are willing to put in the time that you do with your stitches. Believe me when I say that your work shines. As for crocheting, I wish that I would have paid more attention when my Mama was teaching me. A few months ago I was going through some boxes and I found a crocheted shawl that Mama had made for herself. I slipped in on and it felt like a hug. I'm actually wearing it right now and have been putting it on most evening while watching TV. I'm sure Steve looks at me and sees my Mama sitting there . . . LOL . . . I look like her more and more everyday :)
DeleteSounds like you two had a busy weekend, your quilt is just gorgeous, love the antique feel to it and I think your stitching is just perfect, I too have quit worrying about my quilts being perfect and just enjoy the experience!
ReplyDeleteWe just can't allow ourselves to get caught up in the trap of perfection . . . it can easily steal away our joy. When someone wraps themselves up in one of our quilts they are thinking about the warm, the coziness, the love that went into making it, and the fabric and not in whether our stitches and corners all come together in a perfect manner. We need to give ourselves a break . . . these our blankets of love :)
DeleteYour quilting is fabulous! What are you going to do with this quilt - is it for you? Will you use it on a bed, couch, as a wall hanging?
ReplyDeleteHi Melanie, you know I have no idea. I'm just making it, to be making it. It is nice having a few extra around the house to cuddle up in on cold nights and for when we have overnight company. I enjoy the process of putting it all together and seeing the results. No two ever alike. :)
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