Friday, February 26, 2010
Happy Birthday, Tucson Aimee!
Hope you're having a great day and doing whatever you want to be doing.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
It's finished!
The table had a shelf attached to the front for book display. We decided to move the shelf to one end and add a piano hinge and folding legs. When I need additional space I can put the extension up and the lip on the edge will keep any large quilts from going over the edge. When that happens the weight of the quilt adds drag to the needle and then it's easy to end up with messy stitches.
Placing the machine so the needle is about 11 inches from the front edge of the table is great. My arms rest on the table and I think it will make quite a difference in comfort.
I have some appointments tomorrow so I won't be spending the WHOLE day in the studio but I'll definitely get some good time in there!
Placing the machine so the needle is about 11 inches from the front edge of the table is great. My arms rest on the table and I think it will make quite a difference in comfort.
I have some appointments tomorrow so I won't be spending the WHOLE day in the studio but I'll definitely get some good time in there!Saturday, February 20, 2010
A Great Sewing Table!
It's been a couple years since we turned the garage into a studio for me and it's a great place to hang out. I have room for my Gammill Longarm quilting machine with its 12-foot table as well as three other work tables--cutting, sewing, and "stuff". It's easy to find enough room when friends bring their sewing machines over and join in on playtime. Four of us have played in there at once and we weren't tripping over each other--well, not all the time.
One thing I've always wanted is a table that would allow me to drop in my sewing machine and have a large level work surface. Those tables are commercially available but I've had some ideas for making one of my own (with help from Bill, of course). Two years ago I ordered an acrylic insert that was made to fit around my Bernina. Last year a Borders bookstore was closing in Tempe in Casey's neighborhood and selling off its furniture and fixtures. I bought this very heavy oak table thinking it would be great as a sewing table.
Then...we went to Alaska for five months so no progress or need for the sewing table.
This week we started the sewing table project!
The machine and insert will be placed so the needle is about 11 inches from the front of the table. This will allow my arms to rest on the table and keep the tension out of my shoulders.
The oak is incredibly thick and I think we've gone through four blades on the saw getting this done! It took one of us a "spotter" and one of us as jigsaw operator to get the cuts finished. We took turns with that but it was mostly Bill as jigsaw operator with me telling him what to do--I do that part very well!
Bill used the part we cut out as the shelf for the machine.
This morning we added quarter round to the inside edges of the cutout and the acrylic insert will be placed on that. After a break for rain we went back and added a piano hinge to the book display shelf that was on one side of the machine. We'll add folding legs (or something) to this shelf and I'll be able to open it when I want an extended table.
One thing I've always wanted is a table that would allow me to drop in my sewing machine and have a large level work surface. Those tables are commercially available but I've had some ideas for making one of my own (with help from Bill, of course). Two years ago I ordered an acrylic insert that was made to fit around my Bernina. Last year a Borders bookstore was closing in Tempe in Casey's neighborhood and selling off its furniture and fixtures. I bought this very heavy oak table thinking it would be great as a sewing table.
Then...we went to Alaska for five months so no progress or need for the sewing table.
This week we started the sewing table project!
The machine and insert will be placed so the needle is about 11 inches from the front of the table. This will allow my arms to rest on the table and keep the tension out of my shoulders.
The oak is incredibly thick and I think we've gone through four blades on the saw getting this done! It took one of us a "spotter" and one of us as jigsaw operator to get the cuts finished. We took turns with that but it was mostly Bill as jigsaw operator with me telling him what to do--I do that part very well!
Bill used the part we cut out as the shelf for the machine.
This morning we added quarter round to the inside edges of the cutout and the acrylic insert will be placed on that. After a break for rain we went back and added a piano hinge to the book display shelf that was on one side of the machine. We'll add folding legs (or something) to this shelf and I'll be able to open it when I want an extended table.
The plan is to finish this project tomorrow, move it into the studio and ENJOY it.
It's just right! I love it!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Running washes
Don and I got to go wash running today.
He arrived Tuesday and leaves tomorrow, so today was for jeeping! We went north of Oracle and explored a wash that did, indeed, cut unobstructed through the mountains behind the old Tiger mine. I fully expected a fence or two to keep us out of mining property, but there was no fence. The tracks in the wash showed it to be a pretty popular short cut from Mammoth. The rocks in that area deserve further study. I don't even know what all they are. Then we followed a gas line north until we came to another wide flat wash. Don guided me over a 3 foot drop that is the only obstacle in that whole area. He also opened about a dozen gates. We got our wheels wet in the permanent water of Camp Grant Wash before heading up into the hills to come in behind an old lime quarry from the San Manuel days. The grass is greening up nicely all over the area and young cows are out on it. Two of them ran from us up a narrow part of one wash for half a mile before finally turning into the brush and letting us go by. The older cows just stare at us as we go by. We did see one llama-mule deer mix. It was a muley, but when she stopped to stare back at us with her ears straight up she looked a lot like a llama. We saw a lot of zone tailed hawks paired up, as well. And of course plenty of red tailed and unknown hawks. It was a glorious weather day.
He arrived Tuesday and leaves tomorrow, so today was for jeeping! We went north of Oracle and explored a wash that did, indeed, cut unobstructed through the mountains behind the old Tiger mine. I fully expected a fence or two to keep us out of mining property, but there was no fence. The tracks in the wash showed it to be a pretty popular short cut from Mammoth. The rocks in that area deserve further study. I don't even know what all they are. Then we followed a gas line north until we came to another wide flat wash. Don guided me over a 3 foot drop that is the only obstacle in that whole area. He also opened about a dozen gates. We got our wheels wet in the permanent water of Camp Grant Wash before heading up into the hills to come in behind an old lime quarry from the San Manuel days. The grass is greening up nicely all over the area and young cows are out on it. Two of them ran from us up a narrow part of one wash for half a mile before finally turning into the brush and letting us go by. The older cows just stare at us as we go by. We did see one llama-mule deer mix. It was a muley, but when she stopped to stare back at us with her ears straight up she looked a lot like a llama. We saw a lot of zone tailed hawks paired up, as well. And of course plenty of red tailed and unknown hawks. It was a glorious weather day.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Happy Birthday, Arizona
Our lovely state turned 98 yesterday. We celebrated by taking the scenic route home from Cottonwood. For those who don't know, that means taking hwy 260 which climbs onto the rim from Camp Verde to Strawberry, the snow was more than a foot deep over the ground up there, which for us, adds to the beauty of the breathtaking long distance views. The route continues on hwy 87 to Payson and dropping back down to 88 across Roosevelt Lake to Globe, then 77 on into Tucson via Winkleman and Oracle. It is 30 miles and two hours longer than I-17 and I-10, and 100 times prettier.
My mother is doing much better than we have any right to expect, though her lousy heart keeps her tired all the time. She gets herself in and out of bed, to the bathroom, and into the living part of the house. She still spends her time reading and watching TV like she always did, but no longer works puzzles. She has fallen more often, but so far no broken bones or other injuries.
The weather is finally taking a long enough break for Don to come west. He will spend a day here so we can go jeeping before heading to Cottonwood for two weeks.
We won't hear from Peggie for a while. She has too many quilting projects going. I will toss food into the studio several times a day and pass on messages when she inevitably emerges for bathroom breaks. If you see dark clouds hanging over our house it will be because thread is breaking, or needles are breaking, or she is 3 inches short on that fabric, or......
That's all for now. I have to get started on my own busy day. Right after I sip another cup of coffee.
My mother is doing much better than we have any right to expect, though her lousy heart keeps her tired all the time. She gets herself in and out of bed, to the bathroom, and into the living part of the house. She still spends her time reading and watching TV like she always did, but no longer works puzzles. She has fallen more often, but so far no broken bones or other injuries.
The weather is finally taking a long enough break for Don to come west. He will spend a day here so we can go jeeping before heading to Cottonwood for two weeks.
We won't hear from Peggie for a while. She has too many quilting projects going. I will toss food into the studio several times a day and pass on messages when she inevitably emerges for bathroom breaks. If you see dark clouds hanging over our house it will be because thread is breaking, or needles are breaking, or she is 3 inches short on that fabric, or......
That's all for now. I have to get started on my own busy day. Right after I sip another cup of coffee.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
the other shoe...
I went to Cottonwood to see Mom. I had planned to go play with Don, but bad weather has been preventing him from coming, and his jeep isn't fixed yet anyway. Mom is doing great. She is as strong and alert as any time I've seen her in the last several months. The heart attack left no apparent damage.
Margie is very upbeat after being laid off. She has several irons in the fire and expects to have a job before she gets too used to the easy life. We got in one day of jeeping on House Mountain with no "adventure." I had dinner with Weldens and their friend Susan, who dropped in on Peggie at the quilt shop last summer. I had to return to Tucson for two days of subbing. Now I will wait for Don to arrive before I go back again.
Today was the first Friday of the month so it was coffee at AJ's for retirees. Since I was subbing, I couldn't go. So Peggie entertained the group by talking about ME. According to her, she presented me in a positive light. I intend to check with others to see for sure. Or maybe there will come a day when I can go and SHE can't....
Margie is very upbeat after being laid off. She has several irons in the fire and expects to have a job before she gets too used to the easy life. We got in one day of jeeping on House Mountain with no "adventure." I had dinner with Weldens and their friend Susan, who dropped in on Peggie at the quilt shop last summer. I had to return to Tucson for two days of subbing. Now I will wait for Don to arrive before I go back again.
Today was the first Friday of the month so it was coffee at AJ's for retirees. Since I was subbing, I couldn't go. So Peggie entertained the group by talking about ME. According to her, she presented me in a positive light. I intend to check with others to see for sure. Or maybe there will come a day when I can go and SHE can't....
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
