My Design Wall 10-29-12

The only thing on my design wall was posted on September 9.  It's still there.  But I have been working on some projects.  I am making a couple more boy scout vests for my grandson's pak.  I attended MQX West and took some classes.  Here are some of the designs I have been practicing on my longarm.

Not all of them but a few.  I'm thinking some of these will become my favorites.

I also took some time on Sunday to put in a new zipper on a favorite jacket.  Then discovered that my new (month-old) purse had a hole in it.  I had to fix it becuase that was where I put my keys.  What a disaster that would be.

We had some homemade meals this weekend.  Chicken Pot Pie and Chili with cornbread.  Something about fall that makes me want comfort food. 

Thanks for visiting and please visit Judy's blog and Homestead Revival's Barn Hop this week.

This is being posted on Judy's Design Wall and Homestead Revival Barn Hop__

MQX

I have proof that I was at MQX.  See me on the left.  I was taking Angela Walter's “Techniques for Quilting Negative Space”

This was a great class.  You CAN quilt on a domestic sewing machine.  

I spent Wednesday, Thursday and Friday taking classes.  Boy that was a lot.  All I could do was fall into bed each night.  Friday was the Banquet.  Kimmy Brunner was the guest speaker.  She talked about all the quilters in her family in Michigan growing up.  She was interesting and funny.  If you ever get to take a class from either Angela or Kimmy, do it.

MQX Check it out!

MQX West

I am spending some time at the Quilt Show!  I took a couple of classes Wed, and again today.  Friday is filled with classes and the Banquet.  I love this show.  And, of course, the vendors.  They open today.  I have my cash in hand.  I'll take some pictures of the quilts and post them later.  Stop by if you are in the area.

Design Wall 10-8-2012

This quilt is off the longarm and onto my lap.  I'm binding it.  This was a UFO project labelled "Jan's quilt".  It also is a BOM.  I finished the top a couple of years ago and just never finished it.  I guess I wasn't crazy about the colors.  I like it, but not for me.  It uses a lot of my stash, which I'm glad for.  Judy hasn't called this UFO yet.  When she does, I'll be done.  Then I can catch up on the ones she has called.

I quilted this top with a Baptist Fan panto.  I think it looks good.

I'll finish the binding in the evenings while we are watching tv.  I've also started on the back for my son's quilt.  He wanted the back to be made out of Crown Royal purple flannel bags. I took a Craftsy class by Angela Walters a while back on designing backs.  I think I may do something different for his back.  She's also going to be here next week for MQX West.  I'm taking a couple of classes from her.  I can hardly wait.  I haven't been to a single quilt show this year.  I'm saving my money and time for MQX West.

This post is being linked to Judy's Patchwork Times Design Wall

Chick Experiement

We've had some trials and tribulations with broody hens.  We've had four go broody this spring and only one had a successful hatch, she had 7 eggs and 4 hatched.  That's not great odds.  One had 8 eggs and none hatched, and one had 4 eggs with 1 hatching but only living for 2 days.  The other was too flighty and her's didn't hatch either.

Two of the same hens went broody again (Zorro and Minnie Mouse), so since they were selling chicks at the farm store we decided to try to set some chicks under both of them and see if they would take and the hens end their broodiness.

We got 8 deciding to put 4 under each hen.  We got 2 golden lace wyandotte, 2 RIR, 2 speckled sussex, and 2 silver lace wyandotte.   We were told they are 5 days old.  We picked the smallest ones, thinking from our experience, we would have a better chance of them being female.  The guy at the farm store said they were 95% female.  We'll see.

So we brought them in the house, gave them water and feed and waited until dark. The Spice Girls, Tilly's Nest (in an email message) and Kathy from the Chicken Chick said to place them after dark.  We took them out about 8:30 after everyone settled down.  We took the golf balls out from underneath Zorro and started placing the chicks.  Doug placed them near her rear and each one scooted right under her for warmth.  It was getting a little chilly last night.  Since Minne Mouse was doing her flighty thing, we put all 8 under Zorro.  Zorro's sounds changed dramatically from "keep away" to more soothing  sounds.  Once they were all placed, we stood there for about 10 minutes and waited.  All was quiet.

We went out there this moring to place feed and water for the chicks and everything was still quiet.  We'll get home right after work tonight and check in on them.  I'll keep you posted.

My Design Wall 9-10-12

For the past couple of weeks I've had company.  My daughter and her family came to visit.  They hadn't been here for ten years, since they moved in 2000.  I always go and visit them in Montana but this was especially nice to have them at my home.  We had a great time.

My design wall contains all the finished blocks for Nicole's sofa quilt that Judy at Patchwork Times conducted.  I need to sew the blocks together then add the binding.

Craftsy had a free lesson promotion Saturday.  I signed up for the Creative Quilt Backs put on by Elizabeth Hartman.  I think I may need to incorporate this less on my quilt.

We heard the weather forecast for Monday was rain, so we gathered all our onions and set them on the tables to continue their drying.  I'll need to get them off soon because my tomatoes will be ripening next.  I trimmed back all the unimportant leaves and stems so the romas would start to ripen.  I can't believe I don't have a single ripened tomato yet.

Zorro our black austrathorpe is broody again.  It just so happens our farm store is selling chicks.  I think we are going to get some and see if she'll accept them.  The Chicken Chick has tried it so I think we will also.  I'll keep you updated.  Has anyone tried this?  What's your experience?  Any recommendations?

This post is being linked to Judy's Patchwork Times, Design Wall and Homestead Revival Barn Hop #78

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