Stitching Away...

I know all of you have been super productive - I've seen such absolutely beautiful quilting projects in blog land!!! So very inspiring!!

I have finished 3 quilts and thought I would share!

My first commissioned quilt was a baby quilt (about 42" x 56"). The quilt was for a little boy with the colors  teal, gray, and white, and I could choose any pattern I wanted.  A couple of years ago, I purchased a collection of embroidered blocks, so I chose three dog blocks and added the pinwheels. I machine quilted it by straight line quilting around the dog blocks and then FMQ a finial design in the big teal triangles, clouds in the gray triangle, meandering in the pinwheel area and "loop de loop" in the sashing.

I also finished up another stadium quilt. This pattern was a D9P (so Freda, I finally got one done!!) I just FMQ an all over meander and I thought it turned out nicely. I have found that I really enjoy "freestyle" FMQ rather than following traced patterns! I like making up patterns as I go! I NEVER thought that would be me!!! I'm such a symmetrical, geometric math person!

I had the BOM presentation for guild this month and I opted for a simple traditional block - Jewel Box - done in scrappy greens and white/off whites.  I made a small quilt using 6 inch blocks (for guild we will make 12" blocks) to see if I liked how my fabric choices went together. It measures about 20" square and I've named it:

"Spring has Sprung"!!!!

The guild members really liked it and many wanted the 6" cutting instructions along with the 12"! so I guess it was a hit! I just straight line cross hatched it with FMQ scallops in the border. It now sits on my coffee table reminding me that "something" is green, even though it is pretty much "brown" outside! Sure praying for rain!

Blessed Joyful Stitching to Ya'll!!!!

Non UFOS, Winners & "Abundance"

I know that my last few posts have primarily been about my UFO projects, but really that isn't all that I have been doing. One of the reasons that the UFOs got caught up is that I used them for leaders/enders for other projects.

Mikkie (oldest daughter) needed a baby shower gift and asked me to "help" her make a baby quilt. She helped - bought the fabric and cut out the pieces!!! Oh yeah, she delivered the quilt!! LOL But it was such a joy to work together on a project. She is such a blessing in my life and continues to encourage me in my quilt endeavors. But alas, she's not really gotten the bug yet - but maybe because I'm still here making them!!

I also finished another Stadium Quilt for my booth. I haven't sold any more yet, but I am not discouraged and still enjoying the process. I also have 2 other flimsys ready for quilting and blocks are being pieced for a third. I'll post pictures of those when finished!

Speaking of Stadium Quilts - when I posted about my new venture I also mentioned a "contest"! (go here if you need to refresh your memory). Well, I hadn't forgotten about it, just put it on the back burner. There wasn't a clear winner, so I chose two. Karen over at Log Cabin Quilter had an invoice of $350 and in my book that was a lot of yardage!! The other winner is Denise at Count it All Joy (love the name of that blog!!) bought 60 yards at one wack!!! So, ladies if you will send me your choice of email addresses, I will get an on-line gift cert sent your way!! Thank you so much for being such faithful followers and kind friends!!

Now to the "Abundance" that God showered upon me this past month. Mandie (2nd daughter) and Bobby made a trip to Seattle Washington. I always ask my kids to get me a souvenir thimble from their travels. So, of course she did, but being the sweet, sweet thoughtful person she is, she also found some vintage fabric from an "antique" store.!!! It is just so lovely, and I'm contemplating the projects!! Be sure and click on the first picture to see the detail of the little flowers and stripes!! It is a just so pretty!

Now to the amazing part of the "Abundance" - A friend of a friend (of course they are all quilters!) sold her house in town, but didn't want to move her quilting "room" so she donated all of items (fabric, tools, tables, etc.) to my friend who also being the very generous person insisted that all of her quilting friends come by and "shop" her dining room table. I was unable to go for a couple of weeks, but she sent me an email stating that she "needed her dining room table back" and would I like to come and "shop". So, I made the arrangements and went by. When she answered the door, she said, "I'll only let you in if you promise to take everything on the table!" Well, of course I said yes!!! But much to my surprise is was covered!!!! She insisted that I was the very last "shopper" and that she was definitely glad for me to take it all!! I don't know the exact yardage - much of it was FQ, many remnants, and several pieces of yardages, but I would guess that it is some where around 50 yards!!!! God is amazing!!!

So, because of that generosity, I did start on another project. Susan at Starwood Quilter is hosting a "Quilter's Book Club" where participants read a book a month and then make a block that represents the book. The blocks are our choice, but Susan does a superb job of researching out the books and many possible block choices, with links for free patterns. She will also host a discussion on her blog at the end of each book. I've done several "sampler" block quilts in the past couple of years, so wanted to participate but do something different. So, I have opted to do "Redwork" blocks, and use this gorgeous rose floral fabric and wonderful red gingham (some of my favorite) for the setting blocks. It will be a nice project to stitch while I'm watching TV with Mike and only doing one a month won't be so daunting! There is plenty of these two fabrics (even for the backing) to make an nice lap size quilt.

Joyful Stitching!!!!!

March UFO Goals

Time for me to link up over at Carrie's as she is the host for the UFOs in 2013.

I had to really think about what UFOs I was going to list for the month, as Carrie suggests that we list 3.

Number One:

My main goal this month is to FINISH (yes, I said FINISH) quilting TWQ!!!!!

I'll start like this:

But I may look more like this by the end of the month!!!

Number Two:


Assemble this:

into a flimsy.


Number Three:

Keep caught up on my Grandmother's Choice Blocks.

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!!