My worst enemy is ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I get ahead of myself...then I drag myself down.

I do not remember which clue the 3 1/2" string blocks were. And I love making string blocks.

So today I was up early planning on getting the entire Orca Bay quilt assembled. I was chugging along. Everything is fitting and I have the assembly clear in my brain. But for some reason I was short of the blue string blocks. Hummmmm...what is up???
I open the PENCIL BOX that has the gray string blocks and had originally housed the blue strings. And there I solved my problem. I had a post it note attached to the lid showing I had only made 48 blocks NOT the required 72. ( and only 36 of the gray are made )

OK...now I know why the blocks are short. But then I am wondering why I did not make the required amount. Thinking back to the early days of the Orca Bay Mystery were also the days of my DH's kidney surgery. I must have thought to make a much smaller quilt than the original size. Less pressure on me at the time I guess. I did have the papers already cut though! HA!

 So here they are...all done and trimmed. Just need to remove the papers.
But having to stop and make string blocks stopped my assembly buzzzzzzzzzzzz....

The basket still had all the blue strings and the cut papers. Oh well...my needle was getting dull anyway. I used it up making some more string blocks. I always clean the lint after every two bobbins. And using black thread makes a black "mist" in the machine. If you keep your machine clean it works so much better. I usually take the Janome 6600P in twice a year for some R&R. But it has been over a year since I have taken it to the shop. I am afraid if I go there I will come home with a new sewing machine. HA! They love me there!
XOXOXOOX Subee

Orca Bay Clue #2-blue strings

I had so much fun sorting my strings. I was amazed that I had so many blue strings. And I did not even open my Pineapple block container that has a few pounds of strings!
These blocks are so tiny and sweet!
I press my strings before sewing them to the foundation paper. Then a good finger pressing is all that is needed before trimming. The paper is still on these blocks.

 My Sony Wega TV died last week. It did not go quietly. It was very scary. I am glad I was in the room when it happened. Electricity and I do not mix well. I have a very healthy respect for it's dangers.

Hubby did some searching for me and he found a 46" Sony Bravia LCD on clearance! I went and bought it immediately. Not only is it 10" larger than the old TV. It is 30 pounds lighter and is nearly totally flat. It fits so nice on my corner stand.
There is now a ledge for my TV watching MaggieMae to sit on. She used to have to watch it from the end table.

 She knows there will be a flash and always shuts her eyes. Smart kitty!

 She is watching her favorite channel. Animal planet of course. I also have a DVD called "A Cat Sitter". All kinds of little creatures making small sounds and moving around so she can chase them across the screen. The only issue I have is that her little body does block the remote control's signal.
My cats are not spoiled at all! HA!

 I love sewing with Presencia thread. I use 50 weight on top and the 60 weight for bobbins. I have matching colors in both weights. They do make a 40 weight but I am in love with King Tut for the top quilting thread. I have emptied one of the 50 weight cones. That is a lot of thread! This thread is 100% cotton and there is almost no lint.
I had been using SO FINE! by John Flynn for bobbin threads. But I have been having issues with it. It sews wonderfully and is great for piecing until I noticed that if I use a good hot iron (and who doesn't) it MELTS AWAY!  It is a polyester thread. The seams then open like a zipper. So I will only use it for quilting now not for piecing. Bummer!

I have all my reds cut up for the Quiltvilleswap exchange. I could not resist making a few red string blocks. But then I decided I had better stop making them as we do not know the size for the Orca Bay red string blocks yet!