FLYING...

...February - did it only fly by for me?!!!!!

...UFOs - time for the monthly update!

...Finish - I did have a finish this month!! Chocolate Covered Cherries is now on the back of the love seat and I cuddle up with it when I watch TV!!! Plus, Gracen uses it for naps!!!

...Geese - one of my February goals was to assemble all the Christmas FG units into strips!! Yeah! another accomplishment!! Not sure if I will get it assembled this next month or not. I originally wanted to do striped fabric, but I would have to purchase it. I was gifted some yardage of a really pretty red/green/tan plaid so I might use it it there is enough. Just glad to get the "GEESE" in line!!!

...Needle - the sewing machine has been humming and the needle flying! I got completely caught up on the BB Grandmother's Choice blocks! YEAH!!! (Another February UFO goal!!) I am liking this project more and more as I get it assembled! At first I wasn't sure if I liked the red I was throwing in, but I find that I try to put some in almost every block!! And I really like the chain block setting! (Thanks Janet, for inspiring me to use this setting!)

...Hand quilting on TWQ - okay, maybe the needle isn't really flying here, but I have been getting in a lot more time and I'm seeing progress! I had to adjust some of my quilting design and now that I have that all figured out - I'm more excited than ever to get it completed! Here's a sneak peak of TWQ!

I will be linking up over at Carrie's, so you might want to hop over there and see what other's have checked off their UFO list!!

This has been a very, very busy sewing month for me and I have more to show, but that is for another post!!

A Friday Funny!

CAR KEYS

Several days ago, as I left a meeting at a hotel; I desperately gave myself a personal TSA pat down.

I was looking for my keys. They were not in my pockets. A quick search in the meeting room revealed nothing.

Suddenly I realized I must have left them in the car. Frantically, I headed for the parking lot.

My husband has scolded me many times for leaving the keys in the ignition. My theory is the ignition is the best place not to lose them.
His theory is that the car will be stolen.As I burst through the door, I came to a terrifying conclusion. His theory was right. The parking lot was empty.

I immediately called the police. I gave them my location, confessed that I had left my keys in the car, and that it had been stolen.

Then I made the most difficult call of all, "Honey," I stammered. ( I always call him "honey" in times like these.)

"I left my keys in the car and it's been stolen."

There was a period of silence. I thought the call had been dropped, but then I heard his voice."Are you kidding' me", he barked, "I dropped you off"!!!!!!!

Now it was my time to be silent. Embarrassed, I said, "Well, come and get me."

He retorted, "I will, as soon as I convince this cop I didn't steal your car."

Yep it's the golden years................

  

Not me, but a great story to make us all smile!!

Woo Hoo!! A Finish for Me!!

I've been stitching, stitching, stitching - and really loving it most of the time. Last week was a little trying for me - wondered if I bit off more than I can chew kind of thing. But, I was piecing and pressing backings for 3 quilts and when I ironed the backing for my Chocolate Covered Cherries, such a peace came over me. I call it my "JOYFUL FABRIC". (photo to come later) So, I have purposed to "enjoy" the process and let God take care of the results!

So...presenting Chocolate Covered Cherries:

Notice the little "wonky" flower on the red center of the star? (Might have to enlarge the photo) Well, that is what I chose for a quilting design. I call it "meandering wonky flowers". This was a quilt where I felt like I could practice my FMQ and still have a finished UFO! I'm very happy with the results. This is the very first "cover up" quilt I have ever made for myself. All other quilts were designed and made for some one else in mind. Hence, the pretty floral background! I've noticed I sure am drawn to large floral designs lately. I love all flowers in nature, so enjoy them on fabric, too!

A New Venture...

...and I could get a whole lot more done if I didn't need to sleep! Got the same day job - Mike's right hand "woman", but wanted to make a little money to support my "dog" habit. I've got a super nice pup - Pete - that I'm training and my goal is to qualify for the 2014 USBCHA Nationals in the Nursery class. They will be held in Carbondale, CO, so it will be like going home - and what better way than with a dog!

Enough of that - my new venture:

Stadium Quilts: lap quilts (~56" X 68") in local school and colleges' colors. So quite a bit of my computer time has been "shopping" for fabric (what a fun deal - but you know - my eyes got tired!! LOL) Hence, not as much time to comment on blogs and visit with all my blogger friends - sorry about that.

My first fabric purchase for the venture:

35 Yards - yikes - What is the largest one invoice purchase of fabric for you? If you leave me a comment, the highest will receive a prize from me - not sure what yet - but I'll send you something - probably a gift card from an on-line fabric store! How does that sound?!!!

Many stitching hours later - and a couple more smaller fabric purchases - I opened my booth at a local market. I only had three completed, but felt like that was a good start because my booth is only 3' x 4', so not much room to display. (I forgot to take photos at the market - next time I'm in town - I will!!)

My first three quilts!

A very, very, talented and dear friend made custom labels for me!!

I took them in on Tuesday afternoon, and this afternoon (2 days later!!) a friend that works there called and said that the red, black, & white one sold today!!! Yeah!!!!!

I was soooooooo surprised and soooooooo very excited!

Now back to stitching!!

Slow Sunday Stitching!

I've haven't posted about any hand work for several weeks. But I took a break from another project and sat down and watched a little of the Super Bowl and finished up the last binding on 5 little 36 patch quilts. Just what I needed - soothing hand work and a "finish"!!!! Several months ago, I bought myself a couple charm packs of some French General fabrics. I cut the Rouenneries into 2 1/2" squares and then stitched 4 patches. I really didn't know what I was going to do with them - but then I thought they'd make cute little Valentine quilts for the girls!

I know that there are only 3 in the photo - I sent two of them home last weekend when our son and dil visited - she took one to our youngest daughter. You can go here to see Mollie's.

UFOs for February

I don't know about ya'll, but January flew right by me!!! I didn't get as far on my January UFOs so...yep, they are now February UFOs. My dad used to say on June 21 every year - well, my spring work is all done, now the summer work has begun!

I did finish up the Chocolate Covered Cherries flimsy - but for a true finish, Carrie said it had to be usable - so that is my UFO #1 - quilt and bind CCC! The flimsy  was made from scraps and stash - but I did purchase the backing (I'll show it in the finish pic!!)

My Leader/Ender project was to assembly Christmas FG units. Well I got all done but 2!! Yeah!!! That makes 429 FG units! So my February Leader/Ender project is to assemble all the units into strips.

Third UFO: I did get some hand quilting done on TWQ. Maureen has been such an encouragement for me!! Thanks!!!
(Sorry, no pic yet as it is still a surprise for the recipients!) I really hope to finish up quilting on it this month.

My fourth UFO is to catch up on the Barrister blocks that I haven't finished and assemble the top.

And Number 5 - catch up on the Grandmother's Choice blocks - I'm about 4 weeks behind.