Wednesday Whine!

Many Wednesdays I read blogs titled "Wordless Wednesday" - well my Wednesday is Whiny!
Bear with me, I need to do this out loud for the world to read. LOL


I discovered a wonderful blog yesterday, Cath's Pennies and I'm quite smitten (I've been using that word quite a bit lately). I have fallen head over heels in love with these designs - HUGE SIGH!!! So, why am I whining? Well, because as much as I love the designs I can't make any of them - BIGGER SIGH - why(?) - I'm allergic to wool. It's not the wool fiber - it's actually the lanolin in the wool. Last Spring Kaaren from The Painted Quilt sent an adorable penny rug to me and I love it but I want more!!! LOL I want penny rugs and/or candlemats for every holiday or season.

Thank you for letting me WHINE. Sigh! LOL :-)
(walking away muttering "I wonder if I should just order a wool project and suffer with the rash & itchies?"

I hope you're finding time to play with your needle and thread - these are busy days with more ahead!

Thanks for visiting - come again very soon!

In Friendship!

A Week in Review!

(warning - very long post)

Monday - They Made Me Cry - tears of joy!!!
Started out a very hectic and stressful day but ended with me crying (actually sobbing) tears of joy.

I received a huge box full of treasures and gifts from friends in the Land of Blog. As you know my quilting mojo was missing (and I'm still struggling a bit) and I gave some very serious thought to deleting my blog (because if I'm not quilting then I have nothing to show so why keep the blog - this was my thought). Instead I chose to take a 'blogging hiatus' and did very little during that hiatus. While I was on my hiatus friends were busy making surprises for me - yes for ME! This was done in hopes that it would help me find that missing MOJO. Carol from Carol's Crafty Creations coordinated efforts with many blog friends. She collected churn dash blocks and fat quarters, assembled the large quilt, sent it to Mary at Quilt Hollow to have it secretly beautifully quilted. Carol from Brown Quilts 4 Me contributed backing fabric so the decision was made to send the fat quarters to me (love them!!!)

There was a sweet card and letter enclosed that explained everything - when I started reading I immediately started crying. And, then when I unfolded this beauty I had to sit down because I was sobbing. I couldn't believe that bloggy friends from all over the world had contributed blocks for a quilt for ME! I think these ladies know me very well - it's very ME. I was and still am very stunned. My goodness how do I thank everyone involved? I mean really - how do I thank them? But I WILL thank them!

Everyone involved sent a label so Carol sewed them together and made a BIG label. The ladies involved are: Carol (Carol's Crafty Creations), Mary (Quilt Hollow), Carol (Brown Quilts 4 Me), Nancy E (no blog but regular commenter), Kim (Creating by the Lake), Stephanie (Loft Creations), Stina (Kviltstina), Terry (Terry's Treasures), Karen (Quilts a Lot), Lori (Humble Quilts), Carrie (A Passion for Applique), Mary (Mary on Lake Pulaski), Paulette (Sweet P Quilting), Lisa (Salem Stitcher), Candace (Squash House Quilts), Wendy (Snippets of a Quilter), Cathi (Shakerwood Primitives), Kaaren (The Painted Quilt), Kim (Stillmeadow Quilting), Kelly (Charming Chatter), Michelle (Dresden Quilter), Kim (Magnolia Bay Quilts), Caryn (Pieceful Chaos), Kathy (Kathy Quilts), Karen (Log Cabin Quilter), Millie (Millie's Quilting), Katherine (Quilter Going Bananas), Jocelyn (Happy Cottage Quilter) & Sherri (A Quilting Life)

After I read all the names on the label I unfolded this cutie. I started laughing, crying & saying "oh my goodness it's a quilt for the Wabbit Daze Gang". Carol machine embroidered the wabbit laying on the carrots (can you say CUTE?)

Tuesday - I have decided to have a Christmas Ornament Exchange party later this month so I spent most of the day working on those plans. I'll share more later - cute invitation my sweet DH, Ron, made and party favors I'm working on.
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Wednesday - Veteran's Day

My DH is retired from the US Air Force and he's very involved in a veteran's association here in our community so we were both busily involved in a ceremony. I surveyed the attendees and totaled up the number of years served by vets and we have over 600 years served in our Armed Forces - isn't that awesome?
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Thursday - worked on getting my Christmas Swap package ready to go to Simone. This will be a second package - the first one never arrived. Ugh! (yes, I'm very late)
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Friday - More of the Christmas Swap package. Hopefully I'll have it in the mail by the end of the week.
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Saturday - Wide awake at 3:00 am!

After a little computer time, one cup of coffee, and my morning walk I decided to sew! WooHoo!!! I sewed practically non-stop. This was a "Quilt du Jour". LOL

I saw a sample of this quilt on Jocelyn's (Happy Cottage Quilter) blog a couple of weeks ago and knew it was a must do! This was one I cut during my cutting frenzy awhile back :-) It's "I Can't Believe It's a Beginner" by The Pattern Basket. It's made with 90% Jo Morton fabrics and a few others thrown in. It doesn't fit on my design wall very well so please excuse the wrinkles and such.

I hope that you've had a wonderful week - thank you for stopping by! Please come again and come often.
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In Friendship!
(i'll be back tomorrow to do all the links)

"Between Friends"

Do you remember this quilt - it's my own pattern and came about completely by accident a couple of years ago. I had numerous people ask me for the pattern but there was no pattern - I made this up as I went along. :-)


My friend, Carol at Brown Quilts 4 Me asked for some basic instructions. So, with instructions that were probably 'clear as mud' she created the quilt and was thrilled with it (says it's one of her favorites). She basically tested my rough instructions. LOL Lizzie asked for the pattern as well and she was able to make not one but two beautiful quilts with very basic information. Check out her blog to see pictures of "Darlene's 16 Patch".

In the meantime I've had numerous people ask me to please write the pattern. So, after many promises it's done - I made the quilt again with "Simple Abundance" by Moda and yes with lots of help from my sweet DH, Ron I have written the pattern

"Darlene's 16 Patch" is now called "Between Friends" and I am dedicating it to Carol Crago at Brown Quilts 4 Me because she was very instrumental in getting this pattern written. She tested my rough instructions and then proofed the final pattern. Carol - thank you so much for your encouragement. I need to thank Lizzie, as well, she's been incredibly encouraging. Ladies, YOU ROCK!!!

One of the first things you'll notice about the pattern is that it's Fat Quarter, Jelly Roll, Layer Cake and Charm Square friendly. I'm a huge fan of Moda fabrics and have often referred to myself as the Poster Girl for Moda LOL Do you think the Movers & Shakers at Moda will notice that my pattern can be made with so many of their precuts? I'm just a little fish in a big pond so it would surprise me if anyone notices. Big Sigh! :-)

The free pattern for "Between Friends" is available here
If the link doesn't work please send me an e-mail and I'll forward the pdf directly to you. The pattern is FREE however I hope that you'll give me credit when you use it. Thank you!
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Disclaimer: I'm not a pattern designer so please bear with me if you happen across an error in the pattern. Be gentle we tried!
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I appreciate your visits - please let me know whether or not you've opted to download our pattern. And, I'd love to see a picture when you finish the quilt.
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In Friendship!

Got Scraps?!?!?!?!

My "MOJO" is back and it's back with a vengeance :-)

When my "mojo " disappeared a designer said she might be able to help me find it - would I be interested in working on a sample or two for her. Absolutely! On Thursday I worked with "Snippets" on a sample and now I'm just waiting on border fabrics. I have to admit that I sewed and sewed and I didn't stop until I had the quilt top assembled. I was having so much fun! WooHoo!!!!

I've also worked on a project that I'll reveal later this week - a little teaser with Simple Abundance. I hope you'll be excited. :-)

Using the 100+ two inch strips that I cut during my cutting frenzy; these sweet little piles are lined up waiting to become scrappy four patches.

Scrappy 4 patches + fabulous Jo Morton red = "Moose Munch" by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co (Carrie Nelson). You won't find this pattern on Miss Rosie's web site; presently it's only available as a download from All People Quilt as a class download. I have it on very good authority (Carrie told me - teehee) that the pattern will be available in "Miss Rosie's Spice of Life" by Leisure Arts due to be released in April '10. Carrie's new book "Schnibbles Times Two" from That Patchwork Place (aka Martingale) is also due to be released in April '10 (you can preorder at Amazon)

I've been very, very bad and have not responded to your comments :-( I promise you'll hear from me very soon - I've been sewing!!! :-)

Your visits are important to me - thank you! I hope you'll visit again and often.

In Friendship!

The Journey!

I was chatting with a friend earlier this week about quilting - specifically about why we quilt. It was a short conversation and one we've had before but always enjoyable. :-)

After our chat I was quietly reflecting about the fact that we agreed that we're very passionate about quilting. Yes, it's definitely a true passion. And, it occurred to me that I took my first quilting class in October 1999 - has it really been 10 years?

I'd been a 'quilting wannabee' for years! During my Corporate America days there was a small quilt shop across the street from my office building. I remember strolling over there during many lunch hours looking and wishing I could quilt. I'd fondle fabric, leaf through books, stare at finished quilts - wishing I could quilt. I lacked the self confidence to try.

I learned to sew on my grandmother's treadle sewing machine when I very young; took home ec classes while in junior high (aka middle school); got my first Kenmore sewing machine in 1975 after the birth of my daughter Kris; took Stretch & Sew classes in the mid 70's making tons and tons of adorable outfits for said daughter and yet I didn't think I could quilt. Wishing I could quilt for many years and then in 1999 I decided it was time to learn - I was ready to take the plunge. LOL Little did I know it would be such an incredible journey!!!

It's definitely been a journey - one with many memories. :-)

Cabinets and baskets full of 100's of finished quilts.
The pile of over 100 flimsies (waiting to be quilted)
All the fabric I had to have stuffed in drawers and such (teehee)
Purchasing a couple of new sewing machines
Purchasing a Centennial edition Singer Featherweight
A trip with a friend to the Sister's Quilt Show
A trip with a friend to visit 21 quilt shops in Iowa, Minnesota & Wisconsin
A trip with a friend to the International Quilt Festival in Chicago
A trip to the quilt show in Paducah
Lots and lots of quilt classes
Quilting retreats with friends

Lots and lots of wonderful memories and a few not so wonderful. ;-)

I've asked myself over and over in recent months why I continue to quilt and could not come up with an answer..........................guess what? I've decided that it doesn't matter how many unfinished projects I have or how many flimsies are piled and waiting to be quilted or how much fabric I own - no it doesn't matter! I now have a very definite answer to my question

I quilt because it's my passion!

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Thank you for letting me share! I appreciate your visits and hope that you'll continue to visit and enjoy my journey with me.

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In Friendship!

I'm Ready!

Saturday morning I was blog stalking and tripped across a couple of quilt patterns that really spoke to me. And, I mean they spoke LOUD!!!!! :-)

I hit the road Saturday afternoon - a very long trip across town (needed a change of scenery) to do some shopping. I'll tell you about that trip in my next post - I had too much fun.

I spent ALL day Sunday cutting out four quilt tops - now I'm Ready to sew when the mood strikes. Now let's hope the mood strikes very soon. :-)

1. Remember when I told you about "Kitchen Sink" in the book Scrap Basket Surprises? I put that project aside but Sunday I finished cutting 168 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" different dark rectangles and 220 2 1/2" x 3 1/2" light rectangles.

2. A project inspired by a fellow blogger. 40 different Civil War prints
3. 100 different 2" x 21" strips - Civil War prints for a Miss Rosie pattern :-)

4. 100 different 2" x 21" strips - 30's prints for another Miss Rosie pattern. :-)

Thank you so much for sharing some of your "Quilting Mojo".

I really appreciate your visit - please again soon!

In Friendship!

Five Long Weeks!

Hello - have you missed me as much as I've missed you?

It's definitely been a very long five weeks.

During this period I've gotten quite a few e-mails from so many of you to let me know that you've been missing me - thank you, thank you, thank you! I've visited a few blogs and left a comment here and there but sadly I have not done a good job. Forgive me!

I'd love to tell you that I've been super productive but sadly that's not been the case - huge sigh! The quilting mojo is still missing in action - although there is something in the works that will hopefully help jump start it.

I wasn't completely unproductive - I did do a little stitching! This is "Homespun Santa" by Bird Brain Designs. Definitely kept me smiling. :-)


A few weeks ago I had an overwhelming desire to do some x-stitching (it was a true passion for 20 years before the quilting bug bit) I did a little digging and discovered that I'd stitched three of the shown designs but hadn't stitched the one relating to Autumn. With a happy heart I visited a local x-stitch store to pick up the needed overdyed threads. These are designs by Homespun Elegance and are called "Delivering Winter", "Delivering Spring", "Delivering Summer" and "Delivering Autumn" (this is the one I worked on). Bear in mind that I still need to attach the wooden buttons (the wheels on the carts) and a charm or two on each.

I wish I could get back to quilting but sadly the desire is simply gone! I've asked myself over and over what it would take to get back on track but can't find the answer. So many have provided some terrific suggestions but nothing has worked. BIG, BIG Sigh!!!! My sweet, incredibly supportive hubby has assured me that it will return - we'll see - it's been gone for quite awhile now. Enough said! :-)

During this time I received a sweet package from a dear blogging friend - I'll be back very, very soon to show and share! You might recall that I had some RAK's to send to friends - well I did manage to mail one but the others are still waiting. I'll try very hard to get them in the mail in a day or two.

Thank you so much for stopping by to visit with me - are you willing to send some of your quilting MOJO? Please do! LOL

In Friendship!