Sunday afternoon sewing

I got so much done yesterday afternoon.  I made backings for 6 things. 2 small quilt backings, 2 tablerunner backings and 2 wall hanging backings.  I also made a little Christmas wallhanging.  I cut it out, sewed it up, quilted and bound it and it's ready to be hung...It's not big or anything but it's finished. I had alot of fun doing this one too.  It was all from scraps.  I ran across this pattern last week when I was looking for something else.  I made this little wallhanging many years ago and gave it away as a gift. I never made me one until now....It's very simple but it was fun and I know I will enjoy it this year.

I wanted to show you this before and I forgot.  I learned a new way to hang small wallhangings (at retreat) and I used this method again on this little Joy wallhanging.  You take two squares, fold them in half diagonally and press. I used 4 inch squares for this step. Put them at the top on each corner of the wallhanging. Be sure and place the raw edges against the outside of each corner, the fold will be toward the body of the quilt. When you sew your binding on, you sew these at the same time.  Then hand stitch your binding down and your wallhanging has it's little hanging sleeve done at the same time.  It's only good for small things and wouldn't hold a big quilt but I love this method for wallhangings. It's so simple to do. I hope you can see it. I put a dark and a light so maybe you can see one of them....

Busy Week and weekend

This week has been really busy and I haven't sewn on anything. Tuesday was tatting night and I couldn't miss it.  I'm working on my tatted bag and I'll show you that soon.

Wednesday evening, I took my grandkids Trick or Treating in their town. The businesses shut down the main street and hand out candy and treats to the kids.  It was alot of fun.  I took the two oldest grandkids and my youngest in the stroller.  Everybody else was busy, so I got to do it this year.  It was alot of fun!  This little town really does it up right for their residents.  This is the second thing I've been to in the last month that they shut down the main street and all the businesses had something going for the residents.  I am impressed. I have a few pics:

The Ninja turtle is my oldest grandson, the cheerleader is my oldest granddaughter and the baby is my yougest granddaughter.  This was fun!

Up in a firetruck checking out all the bells and whistles.

Crowd pictures.

Loved these costumes, bacon and eggs...too cute.

Playing games for candy.

Lots of candy and prizes and we had a great time and so did they!

Thursday night and Friday night, I was glued to the TV watching the games. Boo hoo, my Rangers lost, but I am so proud of them.  What a series!  It was so stressful, I had to get up and walk out of the room at times.  I did enjoy the game though even though they lost. 

 I cleaned house yesterday all day until it was time to go over to my son and DIL's for a birthday party for my oldest grandson, Brandon.   He turned 8 years old yesterday.  Wow, time flies so quickly!  I can't believe he is already that old.  We had a  quick birthday party for him with family and friends...

then headed over to my friends, Ann and Glenn's for their wonderful Halloween party.  It was alot of fun, but it scared the bejeebers out of my grandkids.  Ann and Glenn decorate their whole house for Halloween like some people do for Christmas.  Halloween has always been Ann's favorite holiday and she does it up right every year.  Her party's are family oriented and I just knew my grandkids would have fun but...some of the decorations were a little too much for them.  They liked the food and the candy but left fairly quickly after they ate. They didn't stick around for the games.  My son said that Alayna didn't want to go into her room alone when she got home.  So, she ended up sleeping in Brandon's room with him!  Oh, I felt bad as I just knew they would have so much fun.

Ann dressed up as the Itsy Bitsy Spider

Glen was a chef, somewhere he lost his mustache....I hope it wasn't in the punch!

Good food and munchies.

This couple was putting on the ritz- Halloween style!

A few scary decorations that talk when you walk by....

Fun party!

I've had a very busy week but plan on getting up to the sewing room this afternoon. I've had so many things calling me to work on....I don't know what I'm going to work on first. I'll show you later.  til next time, have a great Sunday.

Some great thrifty finds...

Friday afternoon, I got off work a little early and decided to go the the little antique gallery/thrift store that I like.  I got to stroll through without rushing.  I found three things that I really like and just had to share them with you... I found this milk glass chicken.  My Grandmother had one just like it and when I saw it, I thought about her.  I'm going to put my pins in this one and keep it beside my sewing machine just like she did.

I then found this little ice crusher. I've been looking for one of these for a long time. I had one of these when my husband and I was first married and I loved it.  I don't know what happened to it. Over the years and a few moves, I guess it just went missing.  This one is in good shape and I'm going to try it out tonight.  I hope it works as good as my old one.  My refrigerator does crushed ice too but I wanted this one just because.  I'm not crazy about the color but it did remind me of the '70's and I know this is older than that. 

This Jim Shore figurine was the last thing I found.  I love her and was very excited when I saw her.  She is fairly big and stands about 12" tall.  I have three Jim Shore angels now.  I also have a Jim Shore nativity ornament and they are all beautiful.    She is also in my sewing room right now but only until I find a good place to display her and the other ones too. 

I really enjoyed shopping and plan on going again.  I don't always find things I want but I was very lucky this time.   

Friday night sewing with friends and FNSI with Heidi and Bobbi

I went over to the church to sew with some friends. It was alot of fun but I didn't get alot done.  I forgot one bag at home and didn't have all the things I needed to work on.  That's what happens when you get in a rush to go someplace, at least it does for me!  Anyway, I did get a few things done. Two changing pads for the youngest grand baby and  a red, white and blue block for another R/W/B quilt I'm working on. 

Here's the two changing pads:

Here's the block I made. It was easy and fun and will look good in the red, white and blue quilt I'm doing...

Here's the other blocks I've done for this quilt...One or two of these are left over blocks from Amy's BOM from last year.  I've been doing a block here and there to add to it but I really need to get busy on this now.  I want to get it done before the end of the year to give as a gift.I think I'll do 20 different blocks with sashing.

Like I said, I didn't get a lot done but I sure had a great time with my friends.  I got to see a friend I haven't seen in about three years and she'll be here until Thanksgiving, so I might get to see her again.  It was so good to see her and visit with my other buddies too.  I was able to walk around and see what everyone was working on and nibble on snacks too.  It was pretty relaxed and was just what I needed.  I'm looking forward to going back in a few weeks but maybe I'll get more done next time.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Ok, I should have said this at the beginning of the month, but I didn't.  October is breast cancer awareness month and please remember to get your mammogram and do your self exams too. 

I'm sure you get tired of hearing about breast cancer and breast cancer awareness, but you do need to be aware of this awful disease. It affects 1 in 8 women.  1 in 8!   I couldn't believe it... and I was one of the ones...I was  lucky as I caught mine fairly early.  I had to have surgery and chemo and radiation but I am here and I'm alive and it's been 6 years!  So, please take a moment and call to schedule your check up and  mammogram and take care of yourself. You have people that love you and want you to be around as long as you can....

On my sidebar, you can click on the pink ribbons and  it will take you to the Breast Cancer site to click. It is free and if you click it, it will give someone a free mammogram.   Thanks for your support.

Friday Night Sew in with Heidi and Bobby

Friday night sew in....

This Friday is sewing night with Heidi and Bobby.   You have to sign up for this to be eligible for the prizes. Get your jammies on and sew or work on your crafts on Friday night.   Tell us what you did or blog about it and show pictures on Saturday, then  check back on Bobby's blog on Sunday to see if you win a prize.  She and her cousin Heidi host this every month.  Bobby will have some great prize drawings on Sunday. Check her blog and see if you win a prize.  Here's a link to take you over to her blog to sign up..I try to do this every month.  It's fun to sew with friends or work on my projects all the while thinking there are other sewers/crafters out there doing the same thing I am.  I usually get up on Saturday morning and check blogs that signed up to see what everybody worked on.  Of course, I try to set a timer so I don't sit at the computer forever and lose valuable sewing time!!!  I seem to forget myself when I get in front of a keyboard...This is October and Christmas is just right around the corner!  Do you believe this year has just flown by like this?  Anyway, I have a few Christmas projects to work on and I have to get busy....Now, go sign up and join in the fun.   Happy sewing.

A few pictures from retreat.

One thing I forgot to tell you about was this Christmas card holder/wallhanging.  I finished this one completely....This was a really fun project and I can't wait to use it this year....You cant tell it but in the green portion, there are two pockets to hold the Christmas cards.

Here's my beautiful One Block Wonder all together...

I added a few more rows to this little quilt...still more to go. These are small 5" squares and are so easy to make. I love doing these little squares. This is called a floating four patch.

And, this last one is a hidden four patch...this was the fun block I told you about earlier. 

I'll tell you how to make this one soon. I'm going to do alot of these to make another scrap quilt.  These are fun to make too. So, come back and I'll tell you how to make it.   Until next time, happy sewing.

Lots of fun and got lots done too!

Ok, it's Wednesday and I still haven't written anything down....oh my!  I went to retreat last Thursday and just sewed and sewed or should I say, ate and sewed and ate some more and just had the best time!  I got so much done and had a great time doing it too.  I went to the usual place that I love called Greenbriar Retreat in Eustace, Tx and it is just wonderful to go there.  Words just can't describe what a wonderful place this is to go to.  The atmosphere is wonderful and the food is divine.  I think I gained ten pounds just for the few days I was there.  Oh, I was wishing I could stay longer when it was time to go too but I had to face reality and come back home.... I got home and they were asking me to cook.  Wow, I got spoiled really quickly!  Anyway, I did get lots done and I'll show you my pics tonight when I load them on my computer at home.  I used to blog more because I could do it at lunch and post pictures but the work computer no longer likes blogger and it rejects anything I try to post....I'm also having trouble commenting on some blogs but that's another story.

I finished these tops at retreat...
My One Block Wonder is all together and ready to be quilted.
I put together another small scrappy purple quilt.
I put the third top together for Brown Bear. This was the last panel I had and I just put borders around it.
I made backs for all of the quilts above.
I made a quilters pillow. I'm not sure what to call it. It's a big pillow (looks like a big pincushion) and you put it in your lap to work on applique or tatting or hand-work.  I love it....
I made another Sock Monkey. 
I made several blocks for various projects in progress too. I didn't finish all the blocks but got further along on the projects...
I learned a new, fun block and I'll share that with you later too. Hmm, I don't know if I'm leaving anything out or not but when I post the pictures later, I'll try to remember.  Anyway, if you've never been on a retreat, you really need to try to go. It's a lot of fun, fellowship and food.  You get to visit with your friends longer and get to know others that you didn't know before. It's like a slumber party for adults and I love to go to these. My mind and my spirit gets refreshed too.  I recommend them highly...Well, I will continue this later and show you my projects...til next time, go sew! 

Kaleidoscope Blocks finished

Yay, I'm finished... I stayed at it until I finished these blocks.  I ended up with 26 blocks.  I wasn't sure how many blocks the fabric I was given would make.  She told me to make as many blocks as I could with the fabric....I made two sets to begin with and the two sets made 20 blocks.  I had enough fabric to make half a set and it made 6 blocks....Here they are set side by side.  

These blocks were fairly easy to do and I was pleasantly surprised.  This setting is 5 x 5 with 1 block leftover....I don't have to sew these together for her. She's going to be doing something with them and I'm not sure what but my part is finished.....