One more row

OK, I've added another row to this and think I need another one on each side -- so 7 more blocks.

NYE Mystery revealed

OK, I finally have a charged battery. Not a great shot, but a fun quilt. Thanks, Ann for a wonderful mystery -- as always. I am excited. I have a couple of other pieces of fabric that will work great on this one.

This is the crib size and I am adding extra rows to see if I want to make it the full lap size or doing something else. This is the end of year gift for a teacher. so, I don't want it very small, but not overly big either.

NYE Mystery

Wow, I actually sewed today. My back is still not where I want it to be, but I am sewing and moving slowly.

As soon as I get the camera battery charged, I can post my photo. I love Ann's mysteries. I have the blocks for the crib size and want to make it larger, so I'm working on the larger version now. What a wonderful end of 2009.

But, I wanted to share the secret Santa gifts I received this year.

Aren't the bags wonderful?

This was sent for the Winter Solstice and was a RAK because I missed the deadline for signing up and I have not had the best of years. Thank you!

BOM projects

This site has a list of many BOM projects on the Internet that I found interesting. It is nice to have so many lists (yes, I like lists) in one spot.

Sunday update

Well, with Christmas and everything, nothing used. I did sew a little, but not anything finished.

Fabric usage goal (100 yards)--(45.19) yards to go
Fabric Added This Week -- 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date -- 63.25 yards
Fabric Used This Week --0.00 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date -- 106.53 yards
Fabric Used this month -- 17.72 yards
Net year to date: 54.81

Judy is having us do the check in again this year. Accountability is a good thing! Praying that 2010 is so much better.

Fabric usage

OK, I've not posted in so long because I've been out of things since surgery. but, I'm trying to get things done again, so here goes. I've added some to the stash and that has undone some of my goal. LOL But, it is pretty and needed for MY QUILT.

Fabric usage goal (100 yards)--(45.19) yards to go
Fabric Added This Week -- 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date -- 63.25 yards
Fabric Used This Week --17.72 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date -- 106.53 yards
Fabric Used this month -- 17.72 yards
Net year to date: 54.81

Judy is having us do the check in again this year. Accountability is a good thing!

This week has been a good one. I finished a flannel quilt for a Secret Santa gift. Not that I really like it, but it is done. I didn't even get a photo of it.

I made some Kleenex holders for my red hat group. Forgot to take a photo of them too.

I won a raffle from a school function and added 4 yards.

I made 3 notebook covers for my GS leaders.

I made an embroidered GS quilt. It actually was a UFO.

I finished a Quilt for a family member that used lots of scraps and took forever to accomplish.

I finished the quilting and binding on the Daisy wall hanging UFO.

I still have too many to count, but I'm working on things.

2 quilts done

OK, I finished the Girl Scout quilt in time. It was a fun one to do. I love the label. Caryl's favorite animal is a pig. I'll have to find that photo somewhere. We will miss her. They should be on their way to Hawaii today.

Then, the quilt that was a real pain to accomplish was this one. It was for a family member that I wanted to get done, but it just didn't want to be finished. I pray it gets to their home BEFORE Christmas. It is mailed and should be there Tuesday, but we shall see if it happens. I need to bring the tracking number to my computer. This one reminded me why I don't make quilts for money. I hate to disappoint, but my family is my most important focus and if anyone wants me to make a quilt for them for pay, they need to understand that.

I also have a Daisy quilt that was a mystery that I did for a friend, but I'm not sure she will use it because of changes in style. But, I should mail it off anyway.

3 down

3 towels down, 9 more to go.

The top for GS quilt is done and half loaded. I think it will be done today.

almost done

I've almost got the borders on the quilt I need for Thursday. Yes!!!

I've made 2 towels and ruined 2. Not a good start, but that's OK. They were towels I had here ready to embroider. I just need to figure this out and understand why it didn't work the way I thought it was going to. I think I need 12 towels all together.

It feels good to be doing something again.

Oh, I also am using the mystery I'm testing as the leader/enders on the projects I've worked on.

Quilting again

It seems like I quilt lots and then have to deal with life.

I had a friend over last night to do one of her quilts.

I had hoped to get the embroidery work done for one I'm working on, but the machine and I were not working well together. I did get that working this morning and need to sew the rows together after the band concert.

Reversible binding

This reversible binding looks fun to do. I'd never have thought to do this, but would be great on a reversible quilt too.

Photos of quilt finishes

I finally brought the camera upstairs.

Here are 3 of the quilts I bound while DH was in the hospital.

The Laurel Birch baby quilt is not a normal baby quilt, but it will do. I had to get this one out of my house because of bad feelings about the quilt shop I took a class in.


These 2 are QOV #76 &
QOV #77.



I have the second baby quilt that I will get a photo of one of these days.


I'm now working on Ann's mystery and GS cushions.


If DS comes over today, I will get the Christmas Tree up and that will take time too.


Hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. We had our Thanksgiving dinner a day late. But we had all the family here.

Binding

Well, I finished the last of the QOV's at the hospital today. I have the quilt in the washer, so I don't have a photo tonight.
I don't have any more QOVs left, so I'll be waiting on them.
I even worked on the yoyos for the table running I was doing for the past few years. I don't care to do them, but worked to keep myself occupied while DH was being seen for kidney stones.

Ann's NYE fabric choices

I was asked to post my choices for the NYE mystery that Ann is doing for her groups.

So, here they are. I think I will like this fall quilt. I'm making the larger size and testing the pattern for Ann.

Baby quilt finished

I got the baby quilt bound, labeled (thank you, Vicki) and washed. I delivered it to the delivery point and it should be off to the new owner soon.

Panels are such fun to play with and a quick quilt to make.

Today I'm cleaning house for the arrival of DH tonight and then trying to play with Ann's mystery to figure out what I'm doing. I didn't have much time this week to do my enjoyable things.

Enjoy the thanksgiving holiday. I'm so thankful for all of you, my quilting buddies.

Small quilting group

Well, I was not sure I was going to get to go to my small group today. DS was going to watch DD today, but he had to work from 8-3. So, I asked my folks and they said they could watch her from 8-noon. So, I was going to go for half the day and that would be it.

When I got there, it was only Lana and me, so we picked DD up after lunch and she came back with us. She was bored some of the time, but overall, did well. DS came by around 3:15 and got her to take her to play with the cats. They ate out and Lana and I stayed until after 6. It was a really great day to be quilting all day long.
This panel was bought this year when I was at the Quilt Haus in New Braunfels. It was on sale. I was going to use blue on it, because it was for a boy, but the blue did not go at all. I like the yellow and green effect. I'm not sure what I'm going to bind it in, but I think there will be balloons quilted in the yellow border, if not all over it. This is from a class I took at Creative Sewing. I have hated this quilt because the owner had the gall to tell me I had my priorities wrong because I put my DD's big day ahead of Creative Sewing's stupid class. It made me so angry, and it was 2+ years ago that I put it away and every time I tried to work on it, it brought the memories up of this horrible quilt shop that had rude employees AND a rude owner. That's why I don't shop at that shop, unless it is for shop hop or I have to have a machine worked on. Wonderful selection, if you don't mind the treatment you get from the employees there. Not one I'd recommend.
Anyway, I had 5 blocks done and needed to figure out what else I wanted to do to make it larger. I ended up making duplicates of blocks and leaving the Dresden plate as the center piece. We couldn't figure out what color to use for the sashing. And, then Lana said what about black. I didn't have enough of one color of black, so I mixed it up some. The string blocks were the 5th block that I had made 4 of. I made others and decided to cut them in half and randomly place them around for the border. OOPS, I just noticed a mistake. Oh well, that is what handmade is all about. So, this will be for a special friend of DS.
I made another Eric Carle quilt and had a second panel given to me, so I had pulled it out when I was packing for today. I had the border fabrics and the circle fabric leftover. I decided to make it a small baby quilt and won't have to piece the backing. I don't have this one planned for anyone yet. I might not quilt it until I need it. Time will tell.
Lana was working on her quilt as you go quilt. This is the rows lined up waiting on her to put them together. It is a pretty pattern called Feathered Stars. It isn't what I think of as a feathered star, but when put together, there is a beautiful secondary pattern.

sewing today

We had the GS food drive and had 11 girls with us. What a great group of kids. They did wonderful during the entire morning.

I finished Marsha's birthday block. I don't do log cabins often, but I like the bright colors.

I finished Tammy's kid quilt yesterday evening. Just did loops and stars on this one.

I have another Birthday block to finish today.

It feels good to sew again.

Today I actually sewed some, and used a tiny bit of stash. YES!!

Sandy's quilt

Sandy made this quilt, and I did a leaf pattern to quilt it. I just love the colors and the way she put it all together. She brought her husband over to see the monster (the long arm).

I'm working on the kids quilt for Tammy tonight. I have 2 more passes to make and it will be done.

I'm not sure what I'll work on next. It might be one of the 2 QOVs I need to finish. I would love to sew, but I don't think I would be very accurate tonight. My eyes are really tired.

I have so many things I want to do. I need to do some GS stuff too. I have some cat litter buckets to cover with contact paper. Then, I need to buy some more fabric for the cushions. that needs to be done this month because we go camping 4-6 Dec.

I have cleaning to do too. Plus, most of the laundry is done, but some still needs finishing.

Long story

Wow, I had my long arm develop a problem -- it wouldn't run. So, i took it to Dallas last weekend and it came home yesterday.

I finished quilting the fall quilt for Sandy and then quickly quilted this charity quilt for Tammy. They are auctioning it off this weekend. i sent it Priority, so I hope she gets it early tomorrow. The machine runs quieter than ever before.

I'm hoping I can figure out how to handle all this stress and life. I still have loads of quilts to quilt and I am almost out of batting, so I need to get more.

Quilting

I spent today working on 2 quilts for Abbi Mays and it felt good.
I like the flowers the best and enjoyed quilting that one most.
Here is a close up view.


I decided to just do the meandering for the Christmas quilt.


I am also getting ready to do a fall quilt for Sandy, a neighbor. It is a large quilt and I don't have the batting that is large enough, so I am piecing the batting together now.


I did get my nails done and they have spiders painted on them. :) That is fun.

I did some cleaning and filing.

So, it was a productive day.

DD had trumpet lessons tonight and her teacher said she was doing a great job. She is reading music fairly well. I'm so proud of her.

It's been a good day.

Sunday sewing

Well, I finally took photos of some of the stuff from Quilt Market. Now to make the patterns and use the templates. Isn't that always the case?

This the the one I call Marianne's star. What fun this is going to be to play with.

I also sewed this evening. I did some embroidered hearts for the love quilt. This is the state it is in at this point. I want to make it longer and then add a larger border. I want to get this finished this week.

Birthday Block

I sewed a little tonight. I made the monthly Birthday block and got it done in time.

My friend Marianne sent me the templates for her block. I call it Marianne's star because I love the way she puts it together. Thank you, Marianne.

Quilt Market

Went to Quilt Market to represent Abbi May's quilt shop. What fun we had. Some of the fabrics were just spectacular. Tammy is my friend on the right that I went with.


I love this pattern. I could see these fabrics used with a dark brown. Lots of tote bag ideas. This poppy fabric was amazing.


I got to see Gina again. I really need to figure out how to embroider on clothing better.


This is a baby quilt I have to make. The 3D aspect with novelty inside it.


Met Mark Lipinski at Market too.

We stayed with Tammy's cousin and he had Candy, the parrot. Isn't she beautiful? She adopted me and made sure to let me know when I was not showing her enough attention. Seemed to want to eat everything I had too. LOL

A Machine Quilting Blog

A Machine Quilting Blog that is amazing to look at. She quilts the spaces more than I normally do, but it is amazing.

sewing Sunday

I actually sewed some this weekend.

I had two Birthday blocks to complete. One is a substitute for the block I couldn't get. I'm still going to try it, but....I am having trouble with that block.

The other was 7 blocks for Tammy. This was an easy pattern, so it went together VERY quickly.

I also did some cleaning. I also found out I can't find my SS card, my passport, birth certificate for DD and marriage license. Where is everything????

Eagle wall hanging

A friend needed a small wall hanging for her son's Eagle Scout presentation. So, this is what I came up with.

Hope they like it. If not....guess I'll start over.

It was good to sew some tonight. Still need to do the binding.

slowly

Still not much sewing going on. Two big projects going on at GS and PTC, so my time is limited. DH came home for 10 days and we will be doing more family things away from the house, so that limits my time too. But it is a good limit.

I am using some of my fabric for DD's Bronze award for Girl Scouts. She made some pet beds. Still need to figure out the yardage for that and she is making dog tug of war tows by braiding fabric. So, I'll have some use, but not really any sewing.

I received the fabric for the Eagle award wall hanging and am excited about getting that started. I will need to add in that fabric and then delete it when the wall hanging is done. What fun.

Hope everyone has a wonderful and safe weekend.

embroidery

Still not doing much on the quilting, but I did get to embroider some yesterday. I'm making a small wall hanging for an Eagle Scout.

My problem now is my eagle is more than the 6.5" I wanted it to be. Just a fraction over, but.... So, I need to figure out what I'm doing with the center and if I still want to make a star from it. Time will tell.

I have 2 birthday blocks I need to work on and hope to do some this week.

I just have too much Girl Scout and PTC Fundraiser things going on. But, hoping to get some time soon.

Slowly getting back to sewing

I had 2 birthday blocks to make in Jul and 1 in Aug. I got the material early, but life got in the way and I didn't get them completed. So, I finally finished the second one. The last one is the hardest and I'm going to tackle it today.

I've been using DHs 9 patches as my starter/enders. I need to focus and get it finished too.

I logged in all the magazines I had sitting around and the kids have filed them for me -- or most of them. LOL That is nice to be able to find the ones I'm looking for. I think I'll be going through them to see if I want to sell some off.

My desk is cleaned off with a list of things to do. Maybe I can take one off the list each day and life will be good.

I'm looking forward to getting back to sewing.

Oh, we have a new addition to the house. Chris, the parakeet. DD loves him and I think she likes to handle him lots. Hoping to train him to do some tricks. He got on my finger this morning, so that is working better. It is nice to have a pet in the house.

Recovering

Well, I went through the operations and came out after 5 hours of surgery. Things went well. Recovery is slow, but the pain is manageable. I just am now impatient with not doing what I want. Notice the webkinz in bed with me? DD sent 2 with me to the hospital. They made nice neck rests. LOL

I did sew a BDB that I should have completed prior to the surgery. I have 2 more to finish. Don't' know if I have the energy to do a block from start to finish, but I'm sewing a little at a time. It's nice to be back.

Upcoming surgery

I'll be going in for surgery on Friday. I am supposed to be back home on Saturday or Sunday, but time will tell on that.

I doubt I'll be sewing much the first couple of weeks, and don't know how much time I'll spend on the computer.

DH was in the ER in CA yesterday, but checked himself out and is on his way home (to TX) as I type. Hope he is well enough to take care of me.

Keep the prayers coming for both of us.

This is DD at her 4th grade graduation with her 2 teachers.

She's 5' 3.5" tall.

Fabric usage goal (100 yards)-(82.26) yards to go
Fabric Added This Week - 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date - 58.75 yards
Fabric Used This Week -.05 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date - 65.79 yards
Fabric Used this month - .05 yards
Net year to date: 17.74

Judy is having us do the check in again this year. Accountability is a good thing!

Well, not much in the finish department this week, but I was sewing. I have the mystery top completed, but I can't show you. It is not quilted, so I can't count it.

I completed a label for a surprise project, so I can't show a photo of that one either.

I did have the family over for the 4th and this is us all together. It was a good day. Today was a day for the circus and Mexican food and a play area. What a fun day for DD.

Sewing a bit

Not finishing anything yet, but I'm sewing and cleaning.
We went horseback riding today and it hit 104 by the time Ashley was done. Yuck. We need rain!!!
I am sewing on Ann's mystery. Ladies and Gents, this is a wonderful pattern so far. It is going together very easily, and looks like fun so far. IF you are thinking of doing this, please do. It is wonderful. Can't show you any photo at this time. :)
I'm glad I'm sewing again.

Packages

It has been a weird week. I've been depressed. I've only cleaned and sat and watched TV. Everyone is trying to get me out of the house, but I really needed to just veg and work through my thoughts and feelings about DH moving.

Good news is he is in San Pedro, CA and has his place. He is watching some of what he eats and is feeling better. Sounds like he needs to figure out some of the tests and get that started soon. His furniture should be arriving this morning. He will need to put everything away and be ready for work on Monday.

I did get 2 packages in the mail. I forgot to open the summer solstice package on Monday. My mind was just not in it. Isn't this a great package? Maura, thank you so much I love all that you sent.

1. MY summer treat recipe is the Three Bean Salad with the white kidney beans. This is a recipe in the #7 book. :)

2. The dollar store item is "The Girls" shopping girls sugar free fresh mints. The tin is sooooo cute.

3. I have a blue mouse pincushion for the handmade item. It's soooo cute.

4. I will have nice and soft feet with the Papaya & Orange Blossom lotion.

5.There is the cute cappuccino note pad and pen from a sale she couldn't pass up. Of course, DD is about ready to steal it from me. LOL

6. The quilty notion is the Quilter's Silver Marking Pencil. One of my favorites. Thank you!

7. My reading material is the Quilter's Kitchen. Some of these recipes sound delicious.

8. The summertime FQ is beautiful flowers in blues and purples. I am collecting for DD's quilt, so this will work perfectly!

Maura, thank you again for the wonderful package and I'm sorry I didn't get to it until today.

Kim sent me this package. Some was for my birthday and some was just fun things.The Eric Carle panel is wonderful. I was amazed that DD wanted me to make it up NOW!! LOL Guess she loved that book so much.

The purse handles are things I'll use as I'm getting back into sewing and making gifts for Christmas I'll even use the Quilted bag book to come up with ideas. Thank you.

The Menopaws book is so funny. That was a trip to read.

I love the blue and lime green blocks. I'm sure they will find a nice home in a future quilt.

I think the blue came from Kim's ocean waves quilt???

I'm sure my Girl Scout troop will enjoy the gazzillion beads. LOL

Ashley's been walking around with the compass, so I KNOW it will be used.

I appreciate the extra Janome feet. I ruin the quarter inch foot regularly, so that will come in handy.

The Quilter's Catalog seems to be one of those books with everything in it. I've not been able to go through the entire book yet. Can't read it at night because it keeps me awake. :)

I've put the Warm vanilla sugar hand gel in my purse to help me keep this pink eye at bay. I'll carry the lotion too, because my hands are getting dry from all this washing and cleansing.

I've put the Brownstone pin on my quilter's ribbon.

Thanks for the God's love heart.

Love the lime green emery board.

Kim, thanks for the perfect timing of these fun gifts.

Sunday update

Everything still the same. Moving DH is not allowing me to sew like I'd like. Then, I got pink eye and that makes sewing interesting, along with getting on the computer rather strange.

I won't get his quilt done in time for him to take with him, but maybe by the time I have surgery?

making progress

Well, I am working away on this quilt. I decided that I couldn't do the whole width of it on the design wall, so I decided to work on 1/4 of it at a time. This is the upper left corner. I'm wishing I could have done this quicker. One step at a time.

DH's quilt

It seems I must like 9-patches. I'm actually very tired of doing them, but that is what most of DH's quilt is made of.

I've made a few of the stars, and working on the 9-patches. I think this is about half of what I really need -- at least when I get this matrix of this filled in. I'm not sure I like the way the stars fit in this one, but it is what he wants, so I'm working on it. I don't think I will have it done in time for his departure (22 Jun 09). I really wanted it to be done.

Saturady sewing session

I went to sew with my small group and only 2 of us were able to be there.

But, we had a new sewer join us too. Joee loves to make pillowcases, and I love her colors.

Lana made her pillowcase out of Texas A&M fabric and then started working on her table runner.

I am working on red and white 9-patches and blue and white 9-patches. I didn't get many put together, but I made lots of pieces. I ran out of the red fabrics I'd cut, but the blue was enough for what I needed.