Making Cards

I now have five Christmas cards completed. 

I made the top three earlier this year. 

The bottom two were made today.

I don't think I will make anymore, at least not this year. I find the process of making the cards enjoyable, but I'm usually disappointed with the end result.

Since I wasn't sure if this would be something I would enjoy or stick with I didn't invest a lot into the products needed so that may be partly why my results are not as good as I would like them to be. Taking a class to learn how to correctly stamp would be helpful too. I did find some YouTube videos that were helpful and need to spend some more time watching them more.

I have several ink pads that appear to be different shades of a color, but look the same when stamped.

I stamped this card using the darker green, but as can be seen on the practice paper both ink pads stamp the same color. 

Sometimes the coverage of the ink isn't very good. I used this dark red ink. I loaded the stamp well and pressed the stamp to the card firmly, or so I thought. It is lighter than I expected. This is disappointing, especially since the ink seems to stain the stamp. I can't get it off, but it doesn't transfer later. 

I thought the fronts of these two cards turned out well. 

I sewed the one with the dark blue background fabric to the card front. For the light one I used Lite Steam-a-Seam 2 to attach the fabric to the card. I'm not sure I trust it to hold!

And, I discovered that if I hold the tablet so it is what I would call sideways (longer side to side) it positions the photo correctly. I am guessing there is a feature to rotate photos, I just haven't figured that out yet.

Still no word about the computer. I'm not sure what to do at this point. I know if I call I will be on hold for who knows how long. It's the weekend, close to Christmas, I'm sure they are busy. The computer has been shipped to the repair center and until they get back to the local store the local store can't help me. I know I can and I am figuring out the features on this tablet and how to use them, but I don't want to and shouldn't have to. 

I want my computer back. And, I want it in good working order!

Yay me!

I am working on a Christmas card this morning. The trunk and tree strips are 1/4 inch wide at varying lengths. The round ornaments are 3/8 inch. Tiny!

I have the fabric fused and am ready to stitch it to the card. But, I am going to wait a bit to do that.

Do you notice that sunbeam?

It shines right in my face this time of day when I am at the machine.

Soooo, I decided to try to figure out how to make a Word document and print - using the tablet. And, I did it!

I made a document for the Rainbow Stairsteps found at Julie's Quilts and Costumes at
quiltsandcostumes.blogspot.com. Then I printed it!

It is now filed with the fabric for when I am ready to work on it.

Still no word about the computer. Even though I am figuring out how to do more and more with the tablet I find I am doing less of the things I usually do. One reason is that I enjoy the bigger screen of the computer for those things. The second reason is it takes too long to figure out how to dothings with the tablet and that is frustrating. Another reason is that Husband is using the tablet more to look at the cattle sale sites and the videos posted and to check out Facebook. I think we both are experiencing withdrawal from the computer. But, I am thankful for the tablet.

Busy Morning

taking care of some mending and getting things put away and organized.

First up my son has two flags that are starting to fray on the corners. I don't know if this suppose to be done, but I do know a few other people who have mended their flags.

He has one with a red stripe to honor his friends who are volunteer fire fighters and one with a blue stripe to honor police officers. His uncle, my brother, was a police officer.

I then put away some fabric left from some other projects.

Funny how easy it is to just let things pile up.

Next, I went through some magazines to find a pattern for this layer cake.

I'm not usually interested in Christmas fabrics, but these are beautiful! I bought it last year with the intention of making a tree skirt for Son and GF. Then I decided they would like something less 'fancy'. So it will be a quilt. 

Then I filed the magazines and put them back in their designated spot.

Next, I gathered some fabrics for a new project. 

I saw this on a blog post at quiltsandcostumes.blogspot.com.

 

There are directions given for one block. I had some of the black/white fabrics and the jelly rolls. Even though I love batiks I think the more vibrant colors in the jellyroll on the left will work better. 
*Sorry for the side-ways photos. I got creative! I looked up the blog post on my phone and took photos of my phone with my tablet. Maybe I'll get this all figured out by the time the computer is repaired. Still haven't heard anything and it is well into evening as I write this. 

Finally, I took a good look at this project.

I tried to get all the elements in the photo so you can see what patterns I am using and look for them if you are interested. They're free. I enlarged the image for the sewing machine and pulled fabric.

Starting at the bottom - the black/gold is too glitzy, the paisley not subtle enough, the next two read too blueish.

This group is more the tone-on-tone look I am wanting. Any of them would work, but I am going with the one on the bottom.

It is more true to color in this photo than the previous one. 

I need 18 spool blocks. I have 11 made. I need four button blocks. None of them are made. I will chose a border fabric after I get it put together. Surely there will be something in my stash that will work. I will probably bind with the black I am using for the sewing machine, or solid black if there isn't enough of that. 

These projects are now organized, with notes made so I will know what needs to be done whenever I decide to pick them up again.

The plan for tomorrow is 
1) trim the butterfly top, cut the border and get it sewn on.
2) make some  Christmas cards

I will use this pattern for a mug rug from FatCat Patterns slightly reduced to fit the cards I have.

3) layout the Diamond Head quilt

And hopefully get some rows sewn together.

Good News/Bad News

Good news - my design wall and work area are clean.

 Bad news - it took 5 lint roller sheets to get it clean.

Good news - 48 blocks sewn which is the number needed. There are a few parts leftover, but better too many than not enough.

 Bad news- still don't like it. However, husband says it is looking better.

Good news - lessons learned. I bought this fabric as a 5 hard bundle and added a couple more fabrics. And, loved it, still love it. I just didn't get fabric with enough contrast. I also think I would have liked this pattern better had I used more fabrics for the strips instead of only six. I made notes in case I ever make this pattern again.

Bad news - I didn't plan well enough, or maybe I didn't read and understand the pattern well enough before starting. Again, lesson learned (I hope!)

Good news - I took photos of everything I have mentioned in today's post.
*EDIT - found the photos. But I had to add them differently than the last time I posted :(
Bad news - I can't find them. I used this tablet to take the pictures because I haven't figured out how to transfer photos from my phone to the tablet.

Good news - the computer is being repaired. I think.
Bad news - no one seems to know quite where the computer is. After many minutes on the phone, pressing numbers trying to track the computer, then on hold waiting for information, and a day of waiting for a call back that didn't happen I repeated it all again today only to be told that the computer HAS been sent to the repair center, but the trail ended there. I have been told it is being checked into and I should receive a call within 24 hours letting me know the status.

Good news - technology is good, mostly.
Bad news - technology isn't always good. Automated phone options are fine when a quick and easy answer is needed. But, when it is more complicated an option to talk to a real person would be nice. I was unable to get the info I needed from the website, which is what the 'on hold message' kept telling me to do. I ended up choosing an option that was not what I needed and the person who finally answered was not happy with me when I asked to be transferred to the right department, but I needed to talk to a real person. I am having this issue with every business number I call. I am really looking forward to getting the computer back. It is frustrating trying to do things on the tablet that I usually do - and know how to do - on the computer.

Good news - at least for now, FIL seems to be agreeable to staying at the nursing home. His second surgery for kidney stone removal should get scheduled soon.
Bad news - the man is a manipulative liar. He stirs the pot - tells Husband one thing, tells his daughter something else so they are both upset with each other all the time. He seems to get some kind of kick out it. I don't understand that kind of behavior. It's not new, he's always been this way.

I will end with good news - it is a sunny day with not much wind so husband is able to do some field work. And, I still have some time left in my day to work on something. I just have to decide what - cleaning, organizing, new project?? Hmm.