#1 Son is Back

He and Buck are on their way to the Merced Sun-Star as I write this to subscribe to the newspaper. Gotta have those crossword puzzles.......

Bootsie Is Back!

Actually, Bootsie never left, but we did not know that.

We noticed she was missing Sunday night. I was not feeling very well earlier this week (bad head cold). Most mornings it was foggy, so I stayed in the house. Buck went looking for her, but no Bootsie. We kept calling for her morning, noon and night, but no Bootsie.  Finally, Buck came to the conclusion that either the big dog on the other side of the back fence or the guy a few doors down who raises chickens got her.

Wednesday, it was a beautiful day and I went out back to pick some oranges. Buck and I talked again about how we wish we knew what happened to Bootsie and how much we were going to miss her.

On my way to put a sack of oranges in my studio (aka junk room), I happened to look at the window facing the patio. Lo and behold, I saw Bootsie whining anxiously to get out. I ran, had to fight to get the door open because she had practically torn up the carpet trying to get out, and picked her up. Buck came running and took her from me. She was ready for food, water and potty, and not necessarily in that order. For the rest of the day, she asked to go in and out of the house about 30 or 40 times, just to be sure she was no longer trapped and could come and go as she pleased.

The only thing I can think of is that when the sun came out on Sunday, and I walked into the studio just long enough to put a box on the desk, she must have sneaked in without me seeing her. She's bad about that. Next time she goes missing, I know the first place I am going to go to look for her.

O, Kitty, Where Are You Now?

Bootsie - File Kitty

Archie - Hose Reel Kitty

It never ceases to amaze me the places these cats will find and claim as their spot -- at least for a few weeks. Forget about trying to dislodge them. They will leave and find a new spot when they feel like it and not before.

Bootsie - Tidy Bowl Kitty

Tonka - Sew Kitty

Precious - Sink Kitty

Archie - Headboard Kitty

Bootsie - Box Kitty

Archie - Printer Kitty

And then there are the Sew Helpful kitties.....

Bootsie liked it so well on the sewing table that Precious decided today to join her.

Archie - Tummy Kitty

Last, but not least....

This is still Tonka's all-time favorite napping spot

 

My Brother's Been Framed

The quilt frame arrived several days ago, but I was not ready to set it up. First I needed to clean out a hole in my studio (aka junk room). I started by unloading two large shelf units and stacking all the keeper stuff on top of my desk. Then the shelf units went outside so I had room to maneuver while I straightened, consolidated and put things away. What was left filled half the garbage can except for the two big boxes that went inside to be burned. My craft table joined the camping equipment in the shop. My desk is now my craft table.

At last, "the hole".

I could actually see more than three square feet of floor. Buck had helped my stack the two plastic units next to the china hutch (aka book case, junk-catcher). Next project was to take the two former medical file cabinets I use for fabric storage and move them to face the quilt frame.

By today, the fabric cabinets have been turned to form a false wall, the storage shelves had been returned to the building and "the hole" is even bigger. The jury is still out whether or not the file cabinet will remain where it is, but Buck and I began to assemble the quilt frame.

This is the second quilt frame he has helped me put together in the last three years. (I still have my wooden hand-quilting frame.) Please don't bring that up around him, though, because that is kind of a sore subject with him.

I ended up being the Allen wrench turner. Halfway through he got tired of waiting for me to use the hand tools. He brought in his power impact. Zip-zip! Done!

We left the cardboard and styrofoam trash outside. Trust me, there was plenty of it.

Three hours hours later, my Brother sewing machine was framed. Now I need to get busy and finish sewing the blocks for my next quilt.

New Sewing-Quilting Machine

Yep! I did it. Since I was not really thrilled with my Singer "quilting" machine when it comes right down to quilting, I have been looking for quite some for something better. But, I needed something that would not cost more than I paid for my car. I finally decided on a Brother PQ 1500S.

 To appreciate how much bigger the space between the needle and the motor housing is, you have to compare the two machines. When you take into consideration that the Singer 7469Q has a bigger opening than many sewing machines, the comparison picture say quite a lot.

So, thank you, Paypal for your six-months, interest-free program. And, please do not mind me while I rub my palms together in anticipation of the arrival of my new quilt frame designed to hold my new Brother.

The Year of the Pillowcase

Sewing Epiphany

Yup! I had one of those a couple of days ago -- an absolute insight!

It all started a couple of months ago when I got my sewing machine serviced. Just about the time I was ready to pay and leave, the repair guy fixed me with an accusatory glare and asked, "You aren't using one of those plastic tables with fold-down legs for your sewing table, are you?" Well, yes, I was. Or, more to the point, Yeah! It's a nice big work surface and is a lot more stable than my card table or a t.v. tray. "Get a sturdier table," he advised me. "Otherwise, the vibration on the table will knock your machine out of adjustment in no time at all."

That is all well and good, but where did I have a sturdy table floating around that would be the right height? The sewing cabinet with fold-out leaves I had purchased several years ago has a support bar across the bottom that does not allow my task chair to get close enough to the table surface. It does not take me long to develop severe back pain when I sit leaning forward at a 45 degree angle while sewing. That cabinet was quickly converted into a storage cabinet for my fat quarters and U.F.Os (unfinished fabric objects). My office desk was not available.

I decided a handcrafted computer desk we acquired would work. Very sturdy, a large work area, and some shelving for supplies and -- more U.F.Os. It took a major reorganizing my sewing area, but Buck and I got it in place.

There I have it, my sewing area, complete with obligatory sleeping cat and everything covered to keep the fur and dander off current projects so the area only needs a minor clean, not a major clean, anytime I want to sew. The only problem is that shelf hits me in the knees when the rest of me is about six inches away from the table. Buck is going to cut four inches out the shelf on the right, but until that happens, I find myself still leaning forward while I sew.

Where is the epiphany? I realized, after hours of pain from rolling my back that one of the reasons I could not sit up straight while stitching was not because I could not get my body close enough to the table. I could not see.

I have bifocals, but could use trifocals. I prefer to use an old pair of readers for my middle "focal". I need to lean forward to get my face mere inches above the presser foot for a clear view out of the close-up part of the lens. On the other hand, if I sit up straight, I cannot not see the detail clearly with the distant part of the lens.

I shoved my bifocals on top of my head, put on the old readers I usually use for computer work, and -- instant-presto! Problem solved.