...this is a post about things for "me"!! (It'll be short I won't bore you with my own accolades LOL!!)
First - "Harmony" - a fun SAL from Lori. First SAL in which I have participated for quite some time (a BOW doesn't count in my book), and I even purchased a couple of reddish/browns from the Generals Wives collection just because my stash just didn't have enough of that for me. When I got it together, I just really liked it - ALOT - so I'm keeping it for me!! It coordinates well with my living room decor! I did machine quilt it with clam shells so I could practice FMQ and following lines - I figure my FMQ is more "humble" than my hand quilting!! LOL Thanks, Lori, for hosting another wonderful little SAL!!!!
Secondly - I recently made an order from Connecting Threads and if you have ordered from them, you know that it is free shipping if your order is $50 or more - well I was about $12 short, so I perused the clearance section and found a book on sale for $12.99! So really I only spent about $6 on the book because I saved shipping by buying the book!! Don't you just love my rationalization!! LOL But I LOVE this book!!! I'm already planning 3 quilts from it!!!
Lastly - a Gift just for "me" from my dear friend Janet O. I missed making Lori's "Abundance", but Janet made it and then sent it to me - just because!!! She knows that I love stars and we have such similar tastes in fabrics and quilts - and I LOVE it!! I haven't decided where to display it - for now it sits on my sewing desk so I can see it, and touch it and be so thankful for it and wonderful friends!! Thanks Janet!!
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
Stitching, Stitching, Stitching...
...but not too much on TWQ - boo hoo. What with garden to prepare/plant, seedlings to start, cattle to move, calves to mark, nanny goats to check as kidding is soon to start, Border Collies to work, cooking, cleaning, KEEPING GRACEN twice a week (woo hoo!!), all my other stitching projects took precedence over TWQ. But it is back on the front burner and I make time every day to hand quilt - my favorite kind of stitching, though it takes longer!
So here's my other stitching projects - some finishes and some WIPs:
1. I finished the flimsy for my Christmas Sampler Quilt - I call it "Joys of Christmas". It is 88" square and will fit a full bed nicely. Now, I need your input - how to quilt it? I would love to hear every opinion out there!
2. I made another "Spring has Sprung" small quilt. I made four 8" blocks this time instead of nine 6" blocks. This is for a door prize for guild. So many of the ladies liked it and one asked if I would donate the first one as a door prize, I decided to make another - just for them.
3. I'm all caught up on BB Grandmother's Choice blocks!! I've pictured the pieced blocks, but I also pieced an equal amount of chain blocks, too!
4. I've finished two more Stadium quilts for my booth at the market. The black/gold/white one is all FMQ!!! I'm really pleased with the "snail tails" in the diagonal blocks! I just straight line cross hatched the maroon/gray/white one.
5. Lyn, my dil, asked me to make a quilt for her for her mom's birthday. She ordered the fabric on-line, and shipped it to me. I knew she wanted a chevron pattern, so I thought, no problem. But when I opened the box I went - WOW how am I (Ms. traditional fabric girl going to every put these together!!!) But with the help from Mikkie, we laid it out and I think it turned out very well! Lyn loved it (she wondered the same thing when she first saw the fabric, too!! LOL) and she is sure that her mom with love it too! So fun to make something outside your comfort zone! I just FMQed a meander as I felt like the fabric needed to tell the story!
6. Susan over at Starwood Quilter is hosting a Quilter's book club. I'm doing redwork blocks to represent the books and I finished the first two. "The Persian Pickle Club" was our first book, and I didn't know that a Persian Pickle was a Paisley! Did you? Well, I found a pretty Paisley sketch on google images and used it for my first block. The second book - "A Single Thread" by Marie Bostwick, talks about friends helping to mend broken hearts - so I created a broken heart being stitched back together with a "single thread"!! I'm having fun with this, as it is relaxing to embroider small blocks (9") while I'm watching TV with Mike!
7. My leaders/enders project are 3" nine patches for another Christmas Quilt.
8. Have you seen Ruth's finished CWR quilt? Well, it is absolutely wonderful!!! She quilted "hooked" wreaths in her setting blocks, and I was so inspired by her and her tutorial, that I practiced! I'm thinking about doing the same for the setting blocks on "Joys of Christmas". What do you think?
Hope this finds each of you doing well!!
So here's my other stitching projects - some finishes and some WIPs:
1. I finished the flimsy for my Christmas Sampler Quilt - I call it "Joys of Christmas". It is 88" square and will fit a full bed nicely. Now, I need your input - how to quilt it? I would love to hear every opinion out there!
2. I made another "Spring has Sprung" small quilt. I made four 8" blocks this time instead of nine 6" blocks. This is for a door prize for guild. So many of the ladies liked it and one asked if I would donate the first one as a door prize, I decided to make another - just for them.
3. I'm all caught up on BB Grandmother's Choice blocks!! I've pictured the pieced blocks, but I also pieced an equal amount of chain blocks, too!
4. I've finished two more Stadium quilts for my booth at the market. The black/gold/white one is all FMQ!!! I'm really pleased with the "snail tails" in the diagonal blocks! I just straight line cross hatched the maroon/gray/white one.
5. Lyn, my dil, asked me to make a quilt for her for her mom's birthday. She ordered the fabric on-line, and shipped it to me. I knew she wanted a chevron pattern, so I thought, no problem. But when I opened the box I went - WOW how am I (Ms. traditional fabric girl going to every put these together!!!) But with the help from Mikkie, we laid it out and I think it turned out very well! Lyn loved it (she wondered the same thing when she first saw the fabric, too!! LOL) and she is sure that her mom with love it too! So fun to make something outside your comfort zone! I just FMQed a meander as I felt like the fabric needed to tell the story!
6. Susan over at Starwood Quilter is hosting a Quilter's book club. I'm doing redwork blocks to represent the books and I finished the first two. "The Persian Pickle Club" was our first book, and I didn't know that a Persian Pickle was a Paisley! Did you? Well, I found a pretty Paisley sketch on google images and used it for my first block. The second book - "A Single Thread" by Marie Bostwick, talks about friends helping to mend broken hearts - so I created a broken heart being stitched back together with a "single thread"!! I'm having fun with this, as it is relaxing to embroider small blocks (9") while I'm watching TV with Mike!
7. My leaders/enders project are 3" nine patches for another Christmas Quilt.
8. Have you seen Ruth's finished CWR quilt? Well, it is absolutely wonderful!!! She quilted "hooked" wreaths in her setting blocks, and I was so inspired by her and her tutorial, that I practiced! I'm thinking about doing the same for the setting blocks on "Joys of Christmas". What do you think?
Hope this finds each of you doing well!!
Friday, March 22, 2013
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!!!!
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!!!!
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
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!!!!!
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!!!!!
Friday, March 1, 2013
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.
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.
Wednesday, February 27, 2013
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!!
...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!!
Friday, February 22, 2013
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!!
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