CWR Blocks Finished !!

Wow, the year has flown by!! All in all, I choose to remember the good things and put the bad things behind me. I can say that one of the best things for me has been meeting all you wonderful people in blog land!! I've been inspired, overwhelmed, encouraged, amazed, educated and most of all am glad I can call you friends!

Today was the last of the CWR blocks. I didn't start until about July, but it has been a wonderful journey for me. I learned so much about Civil War History, quilt block history, and my ability to make many different blocks.

#52 Christmas Star and #53 Union Shield

Since I used only these fabrics for all my blocks, my Christmas Star doesn't really look like the others, It isn't my favorite, but the points are good and I used up small pieces. The Union Shield is one of my favorites!

I've opted to set my blocks 7 X 8 with sashing and cornerstones and add a 6 inch border. So, in order to have enough blocks, I made 3 more to make 56.

 Swallow, Flock and a Fox and Geese Variation

Then I also made four 6" blocks for the corners of the border. Not sure when I'll assemble the top (I'm comprising my "2012 Quilt Schedule"), but I would like to finish it by next fall.

Happy New Year !!

Christmas Gifts

A few of you asked to see pictures of my sewing projects that I made for Christmas. For each of the girls I made an apron and three matching/coordinating potholders. I added a little something extra to each apron. For Mikkie - a button cover that was my mother's; for Mandie and Mollie - buttons from a fabric store in Valentine Nebraska (that's another whole story that I will tell later) and for Lyn - an "F" monogram pin that was Mike's mom. It was fun and I think they each liked them and the colors I chose. (The pictures are in the order that I named above)

Happy New Year  !!!!

Quilt Books Galore!!!!

These were Christmas gifts from my girls!!

Bet you can't guess what I've been doing the past couple of days  !!!   LOL !!!!!

Merry Christmas

Christmas Quilt Top

No, I didn't just finish it - I've been busy, but not that busy!!! LOL This is the top that I finished last year and just haven't gotten around to quilting it. I'm going to hand quilt it for myself. Maybe in 2012 I will get to it, so it can be on my bed next Christmas

Very, Very, Very Merry Christmas !!!!

Lyn's Christmas Stocking - Quilt Blocks

I've been busy sewing, but can't post what I'm working on until after Christmas. But I did finish a couple more blocks and the weekly CWR block. Plus Lyn's (future DIL) Christmas stocking.

CWR # 51 - New York

Christmas Blocks

Lyn's Stocking - notice the "bling bling" antlers and collar - Lyn is our girly, girl and she likes "bling"!!

Here's a picture of all the kid's stockings - there is a short story about the stockings. In 1999, right before Christmas we moved from Texas to Nebraska, so not only was it to a new house (the first move ever for the kids) but it was out of state. On the cover of the Eddie Bauer Christmas catalog were the cutest stockings, but not in my budget. But, I knew I could make something similar - so to commemorate our move, I made new Christmas Stockings for the whole family. As the family has grown with marriages, I've copied each child's stocking for their spouse with some small changes, so each couple has "matching" stockings at my house. 

and here are Mike's and my stockings (yes, we still get gifts from Santa!!)

Merry Christmas!!!!

Christmas Skates and Candy Canes

I thought I had ALL of my Christmas decorating done (except the tree which we cut on our ranch a few days before Christmas) but when my dear friend Rhonda posted a picture of an ice skate with stuffed candy canes, I just had to add the decor to my house. I was raised on the Wyoming/Colorado border, so I still had my skates that I had as a  girl. I think I got them from Santa when I was about 8 - they were too big, but with extra socks I was so happy!! I wore them for several years and we would skate up and down our creek for a couple of miles!! Oh the memories. Though the sled was not ours we had one just like it as kids. We very, very, very, very seldom get to sled in Texas, but the sled stays by our wood burning heater year round!! Nostalgia and Memories!!!

Blessed Merry Christmas to All

Fabric Bonaza!!!!

Wow, two posts in one week for me!!! But I did want to show off my recent fabrics. Some of you may remember that I won Maureen's fabric giveaway!! (I was so very excited!!) I received them last week and just wanted to show them off. As all of you know, photos really don't do the fabric justice, but they are truly lovely!!

I separated them into two groups, because this second group fits together with some other fabric I had.

Lovely Cheddars and Dark Navy and Black!!

Goes perfect with some fat quarters that my dear friend Janet sent me!! 

Thanks Bunches!!!

 With this fabric, I'm planning on making the following quilt (I'll keep adding to the fabric) without the center medallion, just the nine patch and Kentucky crossroads.

 This picture is in one of my all time favorite books

 

Now this last fabric photo was a gift to myself. I had gone to the LQS for some fabric for a Christmas project and of course what sane quilter would not look on the sale table. Found these two nice fabrics, went to the cutting table and Joanna gave me everything on each bolt for the sale price of one yard!!! Got 1 1/2 yds of the green and 2 1/2 yds of the cream!!! Merry Christmas to me!!!

Blessed Christmas to All!!!

CWR BOW - Christmas Greetings BOM - Baby Quilt - New Project

I LOVE this time of year!!! The colors, the smells, the memories, making new memories, decorations, baking, cooking, family time, sharing, giving - the whole deal!! 

I LOVE reading everyone's blog and seeing the things you are working on and your Christmas posts! I've been posting my photos of my decorations on my house blog (button in my side bar).

And I'm still working on quilt projects - you all keep me motivated and inspired!!!

CWR Block # 50 - Grapes of Wrath

Christmas Greetings BOM - Christmas Star

(57 pieces in a 6 inch block and I machined pieced it for a change!!)

Baby quilt for a friend. I started hand quilting  it today as we traveled to pick up supplies (150 mile round trip)

And finally,  my new project that I started. Really it is Laura's fault!!! She is posting daily, lovely Christmas quilts on her blog Pine Ridge Quilter and I thought wouldn't it be fun to a have a Christmas quilt for every bed in my house (that would be 5)! So, you got it, I've begun making blocks for bed size Christmas quilts!! I still had some fabric left from my Christmas small quilt projects. I loved a lot of the blocks that we made for the CWR BOW, so I started making some of those with the Christmas fabrics, plus a few other patterns as I think of them. No time limit on finishing, just going to sew until the fabric is gone!

Blessed Christmas to Each of You!!!

CWR Block #49 and I'm a Winner!!!

This week's CWR Block was Yankee Puzzle - a simple but very appropriate block! I loved making it and love looking at all the color combos out there!!

I also finished my yahoo group small quilt one on one swap, but don't want to post it until my partner gets it. Janene lives in Yackandandah Victoria Australia and I put it in the post today - she should have it within two weeks!! Then I'll post. So even though I don't have many pictures, I have been busy. As I was putting on the binding last night, Mike asked me, "How many of those are you going to make? It seems like you are always working on something!!!"  I fix him 2 meals a day - what more could a guy want!! LOL!!!


And imagine my surprise when I logged on and went to my dashboard and was scanning the blogs that I follow and my name - yes, MY NAME jumped out at me on Maureen's - Pursuit of Quilts blog that I was the winner of her anniversary giveaway!!! Thanks Maureen - I'm already planning something to make!!! How fun is that - an early Christmas present for me!!!!

Blessed Christmas to All!!!!

Sorta Quilt Related

So do you remember this?

My Great Grandmother's Pillow Sham that my future DIL had framed for me.

Well, go here to see their engagement pictures. A little added story, when you get to the pictures of an old pickup - that was my dad's and he took me to my wedding in it!

Blessed Holiday Season Ya'll

 

CWR Block - West Virginia

Can't really believe we only have 5 blocks left!! This has been such a fun journey for me. I was wondering what I would do next year? Find another BOW project in blog land? I really think I'm going to finish a couple of scrappy quilts that I have cut most of the pieces for. If  I sew a block a week I can finish 2 or 3!!! Now, let's see if I can keep to it.......

Blessings!!!!

Quilt update!!

Wow, what a wonderful Thanksgiving week we had!! Our youngest daughter surprised us and came home Monday evening. Her Tuesday and Wednesday classes had been canceled!! She stayed until Friday evening. Our son came home Wednesday evening and stayed until Friday late. Our oldest daughter and her husband were home for Thursday. Then Saturday morning we traveled to Weatherford to see them and our second daughter and her husband came from his parent's, so we were able to spend the weekend with them. Such rich times!!!! Didn't get to see our son's fiance' though. Her grandmother had recently passed away and her family spent time in Kansas City.

I did finish all the Christmas small quilts and the girls made their choices. I think they are all pleased, and will enjoy them. And the two left were my favorites!!! I got the Ohio Star from group 1 and the hour glass from group 2.

Group 1 Front and Back

Group 2 Front and Back

This was a very rewarding project for me!!! Still have a few Christmas scraps/pieces left, so will try to make some potholders!

Blessings

Absolutely lovely giveaway

Debbie at Love the Decor is having a wonderful holiday giveaway, plus she has a really neat blog and a wonderful attitude about life!! I so enjoyed visiting her blog for the first time today! So go on over and enjoy!!

Very Blessed Thanksgiving to All!!!!

Dixie Tea

Another very interesting history lesson from Barbara Brackman's Civil War Remembrance BOW. I have so enjoyed sewing these blocks and am looking forward to setting them and finishing up the quilt next year! This week's was fairly simple, but I really like it!

I've not gotten much else done as I was out of town for a three day weekend, and it takes a day to get over being gone!!! LOL Go here to see how my weekend went!

Have a Very, Very, Happy Thanksgiving!!!!!

Flimsy Finish and the LAST Trade Days Quilt

Hope this finds each of you with many blessings for which to be thankful!! I know I do - even in the hard times that many of us face each day!

This is a flimsy that I finished a couple of weeks ago. I had bought the completed embroidered blocks on ebay about a year ago. I had red strips left from the crazy quilt backing and had bought the black/red fabric for the binding for the crazy quilt, but didn't like the effect. So just put the flimsy together with the "leftovers". It measures about 4' by 5' so will make a nice lap quilt. Not sure for whom, so no plans for quilting just yet.

This is the last quilt that I photographed at Canton Trade Days in October. I nearly bought this quilt, as the vendor made a reasonable offer. I love album quilts with signatures!!! What sweet fabrics and great memories!

But I didn't buy this quilt. Instead I bought this table!! When Mike and I first married, we lived in a ranch house that had a small drop leaf table in our kitchen where he and I would eat or play cards when ever we didn't have the hands in for a meal. The memories of that time are precious. I've been looking for a drop leaf table and when I saw this one I knew it was the one!!!

May Your Day Be Filling With Many Blessings!!

Civil War Remebrance - The Apple Tree

This week's block from Barbara Blackman's Civil War Quilts was an easier block, but the best part was the history lesson. It was something I did not know, so found it very interesting. I love anything to do with apples, so loved this block. Since my fabric selection does not have green, I filled my Apple Tree with just apples!

Let us all be Thankful!!!

Finished blocks and another Trade Days Quilt

Now that I am caught up on the Civil War Remembrance blocks, it seems I don't have as much to show, but I'm always busy. These are the current finishes: CWR block #45, Christmas Greetings BOM "Christmas Eve" and three blocks for the Brownwood Quilter's guild BOM. They are made with batik's which I have never used, so I made three just playing with the colors. The greens and yellow I had won in a drawing, and all I had to do is add the purple and teal for the BOM requirements. Not really my color palette, but I was pleased with them..

The pictures of this quilt really don't show how cute it was, but I just loved it! You know how I love stars!! And the backing was darling. But alas, I didn't buy this one either!

Blessings to Ya'll

 

Giving Thanks Challenge

Leah at South Breeze Farm is sponsoring a Giving Thanks Challenge and thought it was a good idea. I think every day is a good day to be thankful for things. We just have to remind ourselves of that occasionally.

Blessings to All !!!!

And The Winner Is.....

Junk Loving Girl is the winner of my first giveaway!! 

Email me with your address and and whether you want tea or coffee. I'll get it in the mail hopefully this week!!

Thanks to all who participated and to all who view my blogs! Blessings to you!!!

2011 Fall Quilt Festival

I had just become a blogger, when I saw all the lovely quilts in Amy's 2011 Spring Quilt Festival , but I wasn't ready to show much of my work. But now, I'm more comfortable and I love seeing all the wonderful quilts, so I decided to enter one of my own.

This queen size crazy quilt was the wedding quilt that I made for my second daughter and her husband. My first love is traditional pieced quilts, but I try to "expand my horizons" when I make wedding quilts and make something new. My son-in-law loves red and white and I toyed with making a redwork quilt, but it just didn't seem to fit Mandie and what I wanted to do for her. I was looking through a magazine and came across a quilt much like what I made and I "knew" that was the one for her. She is very, very artistic and loves things "outside" "my" norm! It took me about a year to make it. It is all hand embroidered and hand feather stitched. There are approximately 130 "blocks", and the quilt is personalized and I chose items to embroider that reflected their interests. The last week or so that I worked on it, I was worried that they wouldn't like it, because it wasn't red & white (I'd given them the impression that it would be). Mandie had come to visit us one weekend, and I had put it on her bed, so she saw it without me giving it to her (I think I was chicken). But her first words to me were - "Mom, you are so AMAZING!!! It's perfect. I'm so glad that it's not just red & white!!"

So, I guess what I learned is to always follow my heart when making a quilt with love - because that's what quilting is to me - stitching up love and memories for the ones I love!!

Enjoy the Quilt Festival!!