Good wishes for 2010

Ok, I have my bottled water, candles, extra can goods in the pantry, big bottle of propane, blankets...Remember that? Y2K? We thought all the computers were going to crash, there would be no lights, water, electricity, etc...Wow, 10 years passes quickly, doesn't it? Here's wishing everyone out in Blogland a safe, happy, healthy and prosperous 2010. Hugs!

House Blocks and orphan blocks

I built houses today...ok, I didn't build them, I sewed them but my houses are done. I only needed 4 but I made 8. No, I am not trying to be an over-achiever...I messed up the first four because the templates I used were too small and the roof did not fit. I re-drew my templates (made them bigger too) and re-sewed the correct size. I tried to find more fabric but guess what, it was not available. I only had fat quarters of two fabrics and since I cut the wrong size to begin with, I didn't have enough..I sewed the blue houses and they are for my exchange. I hated seeing blocks go to waste, so I just decided these blocks didn't need to be all the same color so, I made red roofs. I'll use these 4 blocks in something else. I'm thinking of doing a quilt (scrap quilt, of course) and just using orphan blocks. A friend of mine did that and hers turned out great. In fact, hers was so good, it was noticed and put in a magazine. So, this next year, I'm pulling out all my orphan blocks and going to be doing a quilt with them...I'll show you that later on in the year when I start it up. For now, here's a picture of the houses....Countdown to the new year has begun, only 5 1/2 hours until 2010. Are you ready?

2010 BOM from Amy

I am doing one exchange this year and you saw the beginnings of that. You remember, the 42 snowball blocks? That's the middle part to the exchange. It is the quilt off the cover of the Quilt Sampler. I will be doing a BOM with my small group and that will be all year. It should be fun. The chosen person each month tells us what block she wants us to do for her. She gives us the directions and fabric (or if she wants scrappy, we use our fabric)and we make her one block. I have signed up for the UFO challenge and will be doing that too but I have also decided to do Amy's BOM off the internet. Here's a link to her blog or click on the picture to the right and go there. She has some cute blocks. You get to choose from 3 different blocks per month. It is a 10 month BOM so you can end up with 30 blocks (if you do all three) or just 10 blocks or whatever....There is no applique in this one. Think about it, it looks like fun. Why don't you join us for that one? I'll be posting pics each month and so will Amy....maybe we can tempt you into it. Til next time....

I'm committed and ready - Let's start!

Ok, I've made my list and organized (found) my UFO's that I need to work on. Yes, that means with the directions too. I've put numbers on them and got everything together to start working on them (again). This time I am determined to finish each one. Ok, I am going to clarify this though because to some of you that means completely quilted. It does to me too but I won't be the one doing the quilting on all of them. I am going to quilt most of these myself but there are two on this list that I have decided I will let someone else quilt. I have already determined that they will be too big for me to handle and this is the year of no stress. I just want to see the finished products this year. Yes, I am a project quilter - not a product quilter. In other words, I like to do it and see it come together and yes, I like to see the finished quilt but I don't have to be the one to quilt it myself. I've given up on that since I almost killed myself quilting a king size quilt on my sewing machine. I decided I would not put myself through that agony again! Now that I have that off my chest, I will not feel guilty about it again....right? Right... Ok, I'm ready to start the new year and get alot (if not all) of my quilts finished. How about you? Feel up to the challenge? Why don't you join us in our quest. Look to the right and you will see the UFO, click on it and sign up. Come on, you know you want to....

Pictures of some of my latest projects

Ok,I promised you a look at the projects I'm working on. Here's some of them...

This one is the little BOM that I just finished up with. It took all year only because it was a BOM. This could have been done in a few days if you wanted to. The blocks were very easy and fun to do. They are 4 1/2" blocks and covered various techniques...Lots of fun. This one's mine, I might make another one to give away or I have thought about just doing 4 of the blocks and making a really small wallhanging to depict the seasons...we'll see.



Ok, here's the 21 snowball blocks. These are half of the center portion of the Reproduction Quilt I'm doing. It is the exchange quilt I was talking about earlier. 21 more to go....



Ah, here's the full center, all 42 snowballs...Doesn't this look great? Before I started working with reproduction fabrics, my first thought was dull, drab colors, boy, was I wrong? These colors are great and I just love the scrappy look.




Here's a closeup of 4 of the blocks.



Here's one of the tablerunners I just finished putting the finishing touches on the applique...I used to refer to applique as the A word. I've grown a little fonder of it but it's still slow for me...I just love this tablerunner and I'm going to hand quilt this one. I think it will be very pretty when finished completely.





Here's the quick tablerunner I did Monday. I'm going to machine quilt this one and bind it with a Moda Marble Dark Blue. It will be the first one on my kitchen table in January since it reminds me of ice... This is one of the blocks. The middle is fussy cut to show off the compass points...This was very quick and easy to make...






This is the little wallhanging for November showing the cute little pumpkins. I have 12 different small wallhangings from this year. Each month was very traditional and I will be working on these and getting these done quickly...I hope. January is snowmen, February is Hearts, etc...Fun, quick projects make me feel good and feel like I've accomplished something. A quick fix.



Here's my latest block for the BOM I'm working on. This is the Marti Michell quilt I am working on. This is block 9 of 12. Only 3 more to go and the main blocks will be finished. This quilt will be one of the ones on my list to complete in 2010. I want to have this one done so I can see it at least by Christmas....

You can see some of the other blocks and the finished quilt on my other blog...Thomas Quilt

Accepting the Challenge for 2010

Ok, I told you earlier I plan on doing alot of finishes next year. Well, lo and behold, there is a challenge out there in blogland and it is on Nancy's blog, the Patchwork Penguin...you list 10 UFO's and she picks a number. You look on your list and you work on that picked number until you finish. Then you post it on your blog. One more kick in the rear to finish up a project! Woo hoo, I'm pumped. If you want to and feel the need, click on the link below or to the sidebar and join us for some finishes. Let's get started....

Patchwork Penguin

Sewing Like Crazy and Goals for the New Year

I sewed for a little while on Friday and again on Saturday. Monday, I was able to sew all day except for fixing lunch and dinner for the family. I just can't get enough sewing time in lately. I don't even want to go to bed. I haven't felt this way in a long time and I'm sure glad the feeling is back. I guess I was burnt out for awhile but it sure is nice to want to sew again.

I'm trying to finish up some things. I finished a small wallhanging on Monday. It was a BOM from this year. (I almost said last year, oh my, can you tell I'm ready for 2009 to be over?) I will take some pics tonight. I made a table runner also. I have several more of these to make. I have accumulated several kits over the years and I'm going to finish every one of them in 2010. My goal for the year is to finish (quilting and label and binding---all the way) all of my kits, UFO's and all my flimsy's. That is one of my resolutions for the year. I want to see all of my quilts this next year so I can really enjoy them. I'm also going to load up my spare bed and change out the quilts every so often just to enjoy looking at them.

Ok, sorry, I got off the subject. I was supposed to go to tatting last night but the weather was iffy. It was snowing when I got off work and I just went home. I grabbed some Taco Casa on the way home to feed the family. I ate and went straight upstairs for some more bonding with my sewing machine. Oh yeah, I forgot to say I got my Bernina back and so far she's purring like a new machine. Oh my, I sure did miss her but we are getting along just fine now. I made my block for the Thomas quilt. (It's on my other blog-http://thomasquilt2009.blogspot.com/). It is a BOM and we are on block 9. It's a Marti Michell pattern and I'm loving this one. I put together 21 snowball blocks of another BOM I'm working on. This one is one of the 4 quilts I have going that are being made from reproduction fabrics. I have another 21 snowball blocks to put together tonight. I'll take a pic of this one too. I LOVE this one. It is an exchange quilt. I called it a BOM but it really isn't. Five of us ladies from my small group have gotten together and we are doing the quilt off the cover of the Quilt Sampler. I am also working on leaders and enders as I am working on these blocks. I did another small wallhanging last night that was for Fall. It is pumpkins and went together very quickly. I'll show you pics tonight. I'm very busy but I'm loving it. I have a list I'm working by and I'm not getting bored yet. I plan to sew every night this week. I don't even want to go to work but you know how that is...gotta make a living, right. Oh well, back to the grind for now. Til next time....

Christmas 2009

I had a wonderful Christmas with my family - my youngest son, my older son, my DIL, the three grands, my MIL, and my sweet hubby. We had the traditional dinner here. My three grandchildren came in ready to have Santa the moment they came through the door. I told them we had to wait on Papa to come back from the store. Yes, I sent him to buy forgotten rolls! He came back empty handed as the stores were closed. (Brookshires, Krogers and Walmart) I was not disappointed. To tell you the truth, I was impressed. I'm so glad all the stores in our area closed their doors so all their employees could celebrate Christmas with their families. Anyway, while the ham and sweet potatoes were cooking, we went ahead and let the children open their gifts. It's so fun to have children in the house at Christmas. I am so thankful that my son and his family are back here in Texas now. They lived in Michigan for 6 years and I missed my son so much. But, when the babies started coming, I really missed all of them. The youngest grandchild is now a year old and he is a Texan. They have been back down here now for 2 years and I hope they never leave Texas again. (Unless, I go too) I gave Trent, the youngest, a quilt for Christmas. I started this sometime ago. I changed the colors about half way through because my DIL changed the colors in his bedroom. I showed the flimsy but here's a pic of the finished item...I think this one turned out pretty cute.



I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas and I wish you all a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year. Til next time....

Hectic week with parties and celebrations

The past two weeks have been very busy. I've gone to several parties, several dinners, open houses and we had our Christmas Special at Church. I have been cooking and baking but there has been little sewing time or tatting time. I have sure missed the little breathing time I get with these. I enjoy this time of year but it sure can be very stressful.

I have also missed my Bernina, OMG, I have been using my other machines here and there when I did get some sewing time in and I'm ready to get my baby back....They just called me and told me I can come get her so I'm off to get dressed and go pick her up. I will post more later today with pictures I've taken of various parties with quilting and tatting. But for now, gotta go...

Christmas open house

Yesterday, my MIL and I went to a quilter's open house. Sharon Wilhelm is a quilter/quilt teacher here in the Dallas area and she has this open house every year.If you take any of her classes during the year, you are invited to her house to celebrate Christmas. (I try to take one of her classes just so I'll be invited.) She decorates every room with her quilts and Christmas trees and makes some of the best cookies and candies I have ever tasted. Her punch is the best drink I have ever tasted. I limited myself to two glasses or I could have drunk the whole thing! She's sending me recipes and I can't wait! My MIL was so amazed at her house. Last year was the first time I had gone and I remember what I thought, so I know how she felt. Sharon does some amazing quilts and she's quilted since she was really young. She has accumulated some very nice quilts and decorations over the years and it is truly lovely. It is the hi-lite of the Christmas season for me to go here. She makes ornaments and gives them away to her guests and sends them in her Christmas cards and packages too. She made 350 little sleigh ornaments this year. Last year she made Christmas bulbs and they were cute too. She had 49 trees decorated throughout her house. Can you imagine that? It was lovely. Thank you Sharon for such a lovely treat at Christmas....

Christmas parties, Decorating and Survival

Woo hoo, today was so busy! I got up this morning and wrapped my gift to take to my Quilt Guild meeting. I decided to not bake and just buy some different breads at Costco. I was not disappointed. It was three different loaves, Pound Cake, Banana Nut Bread and Cinnamon Streudal. All were very good and it sure helped me not to have to take my time to bake. I went and picked up my BOM at the quilt store and listened to the monthly talk about the block then headed out for my Christmas party. We had a great lunch. Boy, do we have some good cooks in our guild! I think all quilters must know how to cook. Is it the nurturing gene or what? One of our guild members and her husband and friend entertained us with Christmas music while we ate. Thanks Donna and Mike. They wrote a very cute Christmas quilting song and we sang it to the tune of The 12 Days of Christmas...I'll see if it's ok to tell you their lyrics and if so, I'll write them out for you...I had a great time with good food, good friends and lots of laughter. This is why the holidays mean so much to me! I love the fellowship of friends.

Today was my fourth anniversary of being a Breast Cancer survivor. I'm doing great and had a great check up last week. I'm thankful for my health this season!

Today was also the anniversary of my sweet Mother's death many years ago. My Mom has been gone now 40 years today. Some days it seems like just yesterday. I sure miss you Mom and I now know how truly wise you really were.

After the party today, my grandkids came over and helped me decorate our tree. Finally! I have been after my husband since Thanksgiving to get our tree down so I could decorate. Now, it feels like Christmas! My grandkids are so cute too. They so enjoyed going through my box of Christmas ornaments and saying, Grammy, I like this one. Did you make this one? Can you make me one like this? Grammy, who's this? Is it really my Daddy in this picture? Ah, sweet, fun times. I love this. For all my friends out there, I wish you sweet times with your families this holiday season. Remember, Jesus is the reason for the season...Share him with someone you love.

Julie and Julia

I just got through watching Julie and Julia. What a delightful movie. I now know why there was a surge in Julia Child's book sales after watching this movie. I want to go out and buy it too and I'm not that crazy about cooking! It really brought back memories of watching her on TV growing up. I know the PBS station has started running her show again and I've been watching that lately too. What fun.

I really liked Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci together as a couple. I think he is great. I liked hime in The Devil Wears Prada and they were together in that too. He's one of those sexy bald men, you know, like Sean Connery and Patrick Stewart. I never thought bald was attractive until these men came along...Oh well, I didn't mean to get off on that but the movie was really good. It's definitely worth watching again...til next time.

New crosses

I'm still not feeling good but I'm feeling well enough to tat a few items. I've been making crosses the last couple of weeks getting ready for Christmas....Here's two new crosses I enjoyed making...

Wendy Durell has a new cross out called the Split Ring cross and here is my version of her cross. Thanks, Wendy for the pattern, it tatted up real quickly.





This other pattern is from Gina Butler is Oklahoma City...it is her pattern called the Basic Ring-Chain Cross Bookmark. Her pattern comes with a spiral chain on the bottom of the cross. I chose to leave it off. This pattern is a variation of her other cross pattern I have been making...

ASG Christmas

I had a great time today at my ASG Annual Christmas party. It was alot of fun getting together with my sewing friends. We got to the Barn (it's a sewing barn) around 10:30 for coffee, donuts and catching up...We all chatted and looked around the barn to see what our hostess was working on. Lana is a recently retired person and is now pursuing Long Arm Quilting...She's been doing this for a while on the side and now can do it full time. However, you know how it is when you retire. Everybody calls and comes by because you have all the time in the world now that you don't work, right? She has a few quilts to work on now and a lovely work room(barn) to do it in. Her daughter came over and decorated for our function. We decided to play the Wright game with fat quarters. We then ate a wonderful lunch and exchanged gifts. We did the chinese Christmas game and several lovely items were stolen from me (Mary, you know what I wanted.) I ended up with a very nice Christmas gift. I got an Omnigrid Foldaway cutting board and pressing station...Not bad, huh? I needed a new one so, this will come in very handy for retreats! We played LCR (Left, Center, Right) for quarters. I didn't win anything but it was fun to learn this quick game...Before the party was over, I started getting a headache and came home and had to lay down. I was supposed to babysit for my grandkids but they were sick...I got up but was running fever and upset stomach..Oh well, I'm hoping it's not bad. I don't have time to get sick. I have too much to do before Christmas....til next time....

My Bernina

Well, my machine still isn't ready. The repairman called and said it was still acting up and he's got to order some parts or do more research on it. He will call me when it's ready...Oh my.

I guess I'll just keep sewing on my Pfaff a little longer and be patient.

Crosses, Stumpy and Spinning Wheel Tatting

I haven't posted in a long time. I just haven't been in the mood. I've been busy tatting and sewing and visiting with family and friends. Too much to do and not enough time for everything. I love the holidays but it sure is stressful at times. I have been really busy tatting away. I'm making crosses to give as gifts.

I'm also sewing to catch up on all my projects for the year. I have wanted to sew so much and I have really enjoyed it lately. I was busy sewing away and my Bernina just stopped. The screen froze up and the foot feed would not work. I turned it off to reset and it wouldn't come up all the way...I took it in to get repaired and it's been in there for about two weeks now. I am working on my Pfaff now and waiting for my Bernina to get out of the shop. I just found out today I can pick it up Saturday. Woo hoo, I can't wait. I have 6 machines and my Bernina is my favorite. I will take some pictures later of what all I have been sewing. For now, here's some pictures of my latest tatting. I haven't blocked any of these but wanted to show you these for now....

I have been tatting Crosses. So far I have 10 small crosses and 1 larger cross. The larger cross is for me. I'm going to make more but it will be later. I'm making the smaller crosses for friends at work and some of my quilting friends. I have alot more to make. The small crosses are off the Georgia Seitz website and is a Gina Butler pattern from 2002. It is a great pattern. It's easy and fairly quick to tat. I can tat this cross in about 2 hours now and don't need the pattern. The two other little bookmarks are Stumpy's by Kersti. I enjoy making this little bookmark and I've made several of these and given them as gifts. It's easy and quick to make too.



I really like this cross. The pattern is out of the book Tatting by Cathy Bryant. I love the colors. I have no idea what it's called. The thread was given to me by one of my tatting friends. She was tired of size 10 thread and gave it to me. I made the cross and of course, I had to make a Spinning Wheel Glass mat out of it...The Spinning Wheel mat is one of my all time favorite patterns and so far, this one is definitely my favorite.

Brandon's Birthday

My grandson is going to be six years old on the 29th. We are having a big Trunk or Treat thing at the church on the 31st, so my DIL decided to have his birthday party this weekend. Brandon wanted a hunting birthday party. My son has gotten interested in hunting and has been talking about it so....my little grandson thought it would be cool to have a hunting party where everybody dressed in camoflage...yeah, right. I bought him a fishing pole and a t-shirt that said: Future Fisherman on it but I don't look good in camo gear so I drew the line...My DIL made a birthday cake with camoflage colors and put a deer laying down and another standing up and pigs. (My son wants to hunt wild pigs.)

Happy Birthday Brandon.

Brandon and his cake


His deer target..



Brandon and his friends:

Annual ASG Luncheon

I went to our annual ASG (American Sewing Guild) Luncheon yesterday in Arlington. Our group was well represented. I think we have 18 people in our group and 11 of us went. To say the least, we were the loudest group there.You can't shup up women when they are talking about sewing and eating!!! We had a good lunch followed by our meeting, annual election of officers, door prizes and a wonderful trunk show. The trunk show was put on by Vivian Luster and her sidekick Bonnie, from the Sewing World of Grapevine. Vivian is the owner of this wonderful store that sells Babylock, Brother, and Janome sewing machines and they must have a great craft and sewing club (I wished I lived closer!!!) there because they sure showed some cute things from the club....Quilts, purses, tablerunners, bags, wine bottle covers, pillows, jackets and so much more. I go to this luncheon every year and this year was the best one I've been to. The food was good, the location was good (we went to the Hilton Hotel in Arlington) and the prizes were great. I won a great door prize, the John Flynn Quilting Frame. Nice prize, huh? Anyway, we all had a wonderful time and I'm looking forward to another year of sewing with this group. Here's a few pictures from the event....

Here's a cute Jelly Roll Quilt



This bag was made with 1 yard of fabric...cute, huh? It looks smaller in the picture than it actually is. This is turned sideways but the bag is actually quite big and roomy.



This is a lunchbag...check out the buttons on this one.



This pillow was made by one of the ASG members. I love Dresden plates so I just had to take a picture of this one...


This last picture is also made by one of the members. It is a sweatshirt jacket made with scraps of fabric.

New Sidebar showing some of the pictures from Houston

Ok, I'm new to this one. I added a slideshow to the right hand side of the blog showing some pictures from Houston. I'll add more later. If you click on them, they'll get bigger and you can see more of them. I have lot's more to show, I just have to figure this out first. Anyone familiar with FlickR? til next time....

Ahhh, I loved the Houston Quilt Show.

Yes, I went to Houston and saw all the quilts. Wow, what an experience. My first time to the Houston Quilt Show, but it won't be my last...The quilts were so lovely. I was amazed with the wonderful quilts. OMG, I have never seen such wonderful work before. And all the vendors, OMG, I have never seen so many vendors in one place. Wow! I almost got whiplash! Running from one vendor to another and looking this way and that. I just had to ooh and ahh at so many things... It was alot of fun but boy, was I tired. My feet and legs still hurt from walking so much. I bought my share of goodies and had to really stop myself from buying more. I could have spent alot more money but I would have been in alot of trouble when I got back home. I laid awake Saturday night thinking I should have bought this or should have bought that. But, I'm going to have trouble doing what I bought now and I can always go back and get more from the internet or locally...I got onto myself for being so greedy!

I sure had a good time with the ladies I went with. We had show and tell when we got back to our hotel and each one of us said: "I didn't see that. Where was that? I want that, or I wish I had bought that." It was so much fun. I'm ready to go back.
I saw Ricky Tims, Alex Anderson, Sandy Jenkins,and Eleanor Burns. I looked for Marti Michell but never saw her. I saw two of her quilts and liked them but couldn't find her anywhere. I saw her booth but didn't see her little white head anywhere...I ran into two ladies from Dallas and Austin that I knew too. I took alot of pictures and I'll post some of those later. Ah, good times. I'm going to guild tonight and see what ghostly things are in store for us. We're having a Halloween Trunk Show. That sounds like fun too, doesn't it? I'll take some pics of that too and post later. More to follow....

I'm getting excited about the Houston Quilt Show

I'm going to the Houston Quilt Show this week and I'm so excited. I'm going with Cathy and Marie from my tatting group. They are also quilters and we are heading out Friday to do some serious shopping. Should I tell you now? I have never been to the Houston Quilt Show. You say, what???? Never been? That's right. I have never been to the Houston show. I have been quilting since 1992 and really never wanted to go.... Why? Different reasons. Work, lack of money, lack of time, too sick, too tired, didn't want to go, didn't want to go with the people that asked me, didn't want to go by myself, etc, etc. etc. Well, this year, two of my tatting friends talked me into it. I just happened to have vacation time left over and the desire was there. I don't have all the money saved up that I wanted to but whoever has enough money? Well, I'm going and am preparing myself to be on overload so I won't be so overwhelmed when I get there. I'm going to try not to take 1000 pictures but I do remember things better when I take pictures. When I went to the fair, I took a picture of where my car was parked so I could remember...I deleted that one but it sure helped. I'm getting more excited every day. I told my friends that I had never gone and they couldn't believe it. Cathy said she was thinking about making me wear a tiara. Yeah, right, that will happen! Anyway, I'm looking forward to the trip and a few days with the girls. I'm hoping the weather improves before we go. Of course, we will see the quilts but I can't wait to see all the new gadgets, gizmos and gotta haves! Three more days and we'll be on our way....Maybe I'll see you there...

Tatting at the fair and Oprah

I went back to the fair again on Sunday to do the tatting demos...We had alot of interest and saw alot of people. The building was packed. We talked to alot of people and invited them to come to our meeting. It was alot of fun. I knew something was up though when about 12 policemen came into the building and were standing around talking about what to do. As it turned out, Oprah was judging a food contest in the back of the room that we were in. I got some pictures but they weren't very good. The police were there to keep everyone back. They shut the building down for an hour while she was there. Once she exited, everything returned to normal....It was a fun day with the girls but it was rainy and cold and I didn't get to walk around very much afterwards. I'm trying to decide if I want to go back again. I still didn't see everything I wanted to. I know if I do go back, I will not be taking the train again. It took us 2 1/2 hours to go by train. OMG, what an ordeal!


These aren't great pictures but it's the best I could do. I couldn't get close. I couldn't even see the shot I was taking. I had to hold my camera up above my head and just shoot in the direction she was. I was lucky I even got her in the picture.

(click on the pictures and you'll get a closer view)






Nancy took this one, she snuck in somewhere to take this one!

Shopping and some new treasures

I went to pick up my BOM this morning and I just couldn't come back home without making a pit stop at Joann's. They are having a big sale on books and notions. I bought a plastic container that was 50% off. I'm going to use this to carry my projects back and forth each month for my BOM. We have to complete the block and bring it in each month to show that we actually did the block. We then receive the next month's block free. If we don't make the block or we don't make it into the shop at the designated time, we pay $5.00 for the next month's block. Believe me, that is an incentive to get to the meeting or class to pick up your block. I know it's just $5.00 but that's another $5.00 added to your quilt top that you could have used for other fabric, a new notion or a Starbuck's... We get the next month's block and any tips or tricks too, plus we get to see each other and that makes it worth the trip. This group is a fun bunch of women and we get free donuts and coffee too...Let's not forget the shopping too! Oh well, sorry, I got off track! I picked up my block, visited with the ladies, took some pictures, bought a few pieces of fabric that told me they wanted to come home with me and went to Joann's....Now, back to Joann's...I bought my plastic container and a new quilt book that was also on sale for 40% off. This is the first book like this I have seen and I am really anxious to try it out. Have you seen this or used this book? It's called Quilting Dot to Dot by Cheryl Barnes. It is a book with patterns for the machine quilter (sewing machine) not long arm machine....I thought it looked very interesting..Give me your feedback on this book if you've read it or used it. I'll let you know what I think too. Here's my project box with some of the goodies I bought today.





Here's the book I bought

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

As you are aware, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Please take a minute and click on the pink button to the right of the screen. It takes you to the Breast Cancer site and you can click it to give a free mammogram to someone that cannot afford one. I keep this on my blog every day and click on it. It is the least I can do.

I am a breast cancer survivor of almost 4 years now! I am having good check ups and feeling good too. To all my fellow survivors, I wish you good health and full recoveries. To all the ladies out there, go have your mammogram and do your self checks frequently. Your life is worth it! Take time to take care of yourself...

ASG Meeting -Halloween and Block 6

I didn't go to my tatting meeting last night and I sure missed meeting with my tatting friends. I had an ASG meeting to go to and it was a tough choice. Since the weather was so bad, I decided I didn't want to drive in the rain too much so I just went to one meeting...This meeting we had a demo by one of our ladies and she showed us how to make a halloween bag for the kiddos...Here's a picture of mine that I did tonight. It was quick and fun to do. I'm going to have to do another one since I have two grandkids big enough for trick or treating and I don't want any fighting...



I also made this other bag. It is Debbie Mumm fabric and the fabric was given to me. I still have to put a handle on it but I'll do that tomorrow night. This fabric was a panel. It has a small witch panel for a wallhanging, some small 5-6" pieces to make hotpads and it had this to make a bag out of...I plan on making the wallhanging and using to decorate for halloween and I'll show you that one when it's done....Here's the cute little bag. One side is Frankenstein and the other is the witch.



The last thing I did tonight was to make block 6 of my Block of the month...This block is called Tempest in a Teapot. I love that name, it congers up all kinds of thoughts for me. I guess it's the romantic in me but, what can I say? Halfway done with these blocks, I can't wait for this quilt to be finished, it is a beautiful quilt...here's the block.




Gotta go for now, time for bed and I'm tired. til next time.....

This looks like it should

Talk about not seeing the forest for the trees....

Ok, here it is - the corrected setting. I had to unsew the middle flying geese block and rotate it to be correct. Now you can see the pattern. Gee, it looks alot better now. Thanks, J, for your help.

Trent's quilt

Well, duh! Do I feel dumb. The middle flying geese blocks should be turned 90 degrees so the blocks look like a square in a square. I'll have to do unsewing to correct this error. When I took the picture and posted it, I didn't even see it. See, it pays to post pictures to your blog so your friends can help you find your mistakes before it's too late.

Trent's quilt and a needle case

I worked on this little quilt and finished putting it together. I think it turned out really cute. I'm going to take it to my friend, Judy, this week and have her quilt it for me. I want to get it quilted quickly and finished so Trent can have it for his room. I'm only about 10 months late on this....no big deal, right? I embroidered the blocks and never could decide how to set them together. I finally saw a pattern that I liked and did some changes to it. Here's some pictures. I really did press it first, I laid it on the back of the chair and then my husband sat against it. I didn't want to walk back upstairs to iron it again tonight...I'll show it again when it's quilted. I took some close up pictures of the individual cars.


















I also made this little needlecase. I made it with my favorite fabric and I really like it. I only have a little bit of this fabric left and I'll probably make a small quilt with it. We'll see...I'm looking for a pattern now. When I bought this fabric, I bought all of it that was on the bolt. I wish I could find some more. I put one of my little tatted butterflies on it too.

Fun and Tatting at the State Fair

I went to the fair Friday to do tatting demos or maybe I should say, I went to sit and tat all day....Three of us from our tatting group are scheduled to be at the fair on Friday, Saturday and Sunday of each week of the fair. We are in the Creative Arts Building. We went and had a great time. There were so many people that stopped by, visited and even voiced an interest in tatting. Alot of them said that their Moms, Grandmoms, Great Grandmoms or Aunts did tatting and they remembered it. Alot of people didn't know it was still around. Some said they had never heard of it and one guy (yes, just one) said he wondered if it would be tattoos...Some stayed for a while and watched. We passed out cards telling where we met and hopefully, some of these ladies will come learn. All in all, we had a great day, we got to visit and tat and meet new people. We had more interest than we thought we would and that was a good thing!

Name Tag, Kaleidoscope and Stumpy

Here are my last three tatting projects. The name tag was a free pattern off the web. Here's the link.... I'll be wearing this one at the fair when I do the tatting demos....






Kaleidoscope from Pam Palmer's book, Tatting Treats...
I was given the Lizbeth thread Jewel's as a birthday present...I really like it.





This is Stumpy....it's from Kersti from Intatters. It's a free pattern too. Here's the link to Stumpy.... It was so much fun to do. I sat in a meeting and worked on this one. I used Lizbeth thread with this one (Size 20) but I like it with size 10 thread too. I plan on doing this one in size 10 and do several as gifts. My friend Nancy did hers in size 10 and it's a great size...

Trents quilt and the state fair

I have been busy this past week and haven't taken the time to blog. I have been working on a quilt for my youngest grandson and I finally got all the pieces finished. It is laid out on my floor in my sewing room ready to be stitched together. I embroidered six blocks (cars) and am just doing a simple layout of 4 patches and flying geese to hi lite the blocks. Nothing fancy....I have been looking for car fabric to use as a border for this quilt but I have given up. I have decided to use a fabric of woven colors that I just had to have. I bought about 10 yards of this fabric at the time and it has been in my stash since last year. I will use up some for the border and I will also do the backing with this. The colors aren't perfect but they are so close....I just wanted something a little more fun but this will do ok....I want Trent to have this quilt now that it's getting cooler weather. I also want him to have it before his 1st birthday...Yes, I am slow. I meant to have this quilt done for his room but oh well, what can I say?

I was going to sew the quilt up yesterday but we decided to go to the fair. I was too tired to sew when we got home so I'll do it this week and take some pictures...

We had a great time at the fair. We saw the new cars...I love the Toyota Prius! I'm going to Houston (the quilt show, of course) in one of these this year...We saw the Killdares play (a Celtic Rock band) we loved them! Good music. They even have a bag pipe player...We saw the pig races. What fun. They had one pig called Forest Run and now you know we had to holler, Run, Forest Run....Then we saw the displays for the quilts, knitting, crocheting, tatting, dolls, etc, etc...You have got to go the fair and see these wonderful crafts! The workers at the fair do such a lovely job of arranging or dressing the window displays. It's a treat just to look at everything.
I would like to see all the crochet together, the tatting together, the knitting together, etc just to be able to see the different winners works but I don't think it would be as nicely displayed as they have it now.

I bought a cook book too! I can't wait to cook some of the great recipes. The cook book is a collection of all the winners from the fair the previous year. Next year, this year's winners will make up the cook book...The cost of the cook book is $25.00 and that includes taxes.

I so enjoyed the Glue a shoe display...Check that out. You can take any shoe and make a work of art out of it. Very interesting and everything was so original. Everyone was so creative in this contest. Every entry was so different! Fun to see. This is displayed at the back of the Creative Arts Building. Go take a look at it. I didn't get to eat everything I wanted to but I kept some tickets and when I go back Friday I'll get my turkey leg! Friday, Oct 2nd, I will be at the fair in the Creative Arts building doing tatting demos. Several of us from the Tuesday Tatting Group are going to be there during the fair. So, please drop by and see us there. I'll tell you more later. Back to work...

Mother Goose

Okay, my picture isn't very good but here it is...I finished the top tonight for this little Mother Goose Quilt. I think it turned out really cute. I love the little prairie points on this but I know it's going to be a little difficult to quilt...Oh well, they are worth the trouble. I think they really make the quilt. I'm probably going to quilt this myself and I'm excited about it. I'll show it again when it's quilted.

Blocks for our group leaders and Mother Goose Quilt

I spent a lazy Sunday working on a little quilt called Mother Goose. It is made up of 4 1/2" star blocks and a Mother Goose panel. I started putting the 4 1/2" star blocks together a few weeks ago and had to order one more piece of fabric to go along with this quilt. I got the fabric and was able to finish the stars and start putting the quilt together. I've worked on it nearly all day but I'm still not finished. It has not been a very user friendly quilt mostly because of the small star blocks and the white on white fabric I chose to use. The fabric I chose doesn't have a good weave to it and I didn't really notice it until I was almost done with the blocks. I chose to keep going since this will be a quilt I keep around my house for the grandkids. If I was going to give this as a gift, I would have to rethink some of this. Anyway, I do like the little Mother Goose fabrics and panel and as soon as I get it put together I'll take a picture and show you....Hopefully, I'll get it done this week. I had to stop and work on two blocks for our group leaders. My small group has two leaders each year. We make blocks as "Thank You" gifts to give to them. This year the blocks could be 12 1/2" inch blocks or 2 blocks at 6 1/2", our choice of block. One of our leaders loves patriotic quilts so I made her a red, white and blue block and the other is into pastels. I used the same block for both but they certainly look so different with the different colors. I used a block from Quilter's Cache called On the Oregon Trail. Go check out Marcia Hohn's site if you haven't been there. She has so many free patterns and I love this site...Great inspiration! Here's a link to it to get there quicker. Quilters Cache

Here's my pictures of the blocks.
I don't know why it looks orange but it's really a lovely shade of rose. It's a beautiful color, I just wish you could tell...







By the way, for all you wonderful Grandparents out there, Happy Grandparents Day!!!