Quilting and Such

It's been ten days since I've been on my own blog! Shame on me! Just haven't had anything to blog about. The quilting slump continues however I finally have some plans. And, I have to say that I'm really excited about these plans. I have decided that in 2007 I will concentrate on the following:

1. Quilt the pile of 97 quilt tops
2. Work on handapplique (I have a long list of projects & more to buy LOL)
3. Work on stitchery
4. Hopefully learn how to handquilt.
5. Piece only when the mood strikes and not fret if I don't sit at my machine

So, over the course of the next few days and weeks I'm going to organize and make a list of all the applique projects that I have. Find some stitchery projects that speak to me and then let the chips fall where they may. I'm really excited about my plans and believe that I will be content, as I love handwork.

The quilt in the picture was a birthday gift from two of my friends year before last. I believe it's Matchstick Marimba by Terry Atkinson Designs (just a little something quilty to share)

So stay tuned for updates on my future projects. LOL

Again, I want to say thank you for all the kind and encouraging words so many of you have left via a comment here on my blog or e-mail. I appreciate it very much!

Guardian (Guarding) Angel from an Angel

Do you enjoy surprises? I love them, so you can imagine my surprise when I received this absolutely adorable Guardian (Guarding) Angel from an Angel in Belgium (Nadine). The adorable angel was accompanied by a beautiful card and cute piece of fabric. Nadine and I have been exchanging e-mails on a fairly regularly basis establishing a warm and wonderful friendship. Just goes to show that distance does not matter when it comes to good friends! Last week Nadine asked me for my address, saying she had a little surprise for me. I couldn't refuse because she provided hers when I asked for it awhile back. And, by the way I haven't been feeling very well the past couple of days (dealing with a mild cold) so this came at the right time.

Nadine, thank you, thank you so much for the wonderful surprise gift. I will find a special spot in my sewing room to hang my Angel and cherish her for many, many years.

More 9 Patches

I was playing the other night and came up with an idea for another "fly by the seat of my pants" 9 patch quilt. I've only done these two blocks so bear with me and I'll share more soon!

The sweet 30's 9 patch quilt is done to the flimsy stage. WooHoo! I ran by a nearby quilt store yesterday afternoon and found some adorable backing fabric. Soon it'll be quilted and, hopefully, enjoyed by my friend. I'm especially hoping that my friend will be surprised. Bear in mind that she's admired my quilts but never asked me for a quilt. I'm so excited I can hardly stand it. LOL

The quilting slump is not completely gone but I'm trying really hard to push through it. Obviously I'm not spending much time at my sewing machine but a little is better than none. :-) Thank you all for your wonderful comments and encouragement.

Borders and More

I've been stumped for the past few days with border decisions on the nine patch quilt I've been working on for my friend. Last night I went to sew with some friends at a local quilt store and it was the perfect opportunity to look for "the" border fabric(s). I love what I found and will hopefully finish it later today. My friend has no idea that this quilt is for her - she's never asked me to make a quilt for her so I'm really excited about finishing it and giving it to her. I hope that she loves it as much as I do :-)

While my quilting slump is not completely gone, this sweet quilt has helped me at least get my quilting motor revved up again. It's just sputtering for now but at least it's started. LOL I've been contemplating my next project because I'm afraid if I don't have a "plan" the slump will return. Ugh! Should I prep applique? Should I cut a new project? Should I quilt one of the tops in the pile? Those are all questions bouncing around in my head. LOL

Veteran's Day

On this Veteran's Day 2006, please take a few minutes to say a prayer for our soldiers away fighting a war and a prayer for those that have served our country so proudly. I'm proud to say that my hubby served our country for 25 years.

On Point

Those 9 patches have been sitting in my sewing room calling my name! After contemplating a setting - "on point" or "straight" - "on-point" won! I need to say thank you to those that helped me make that decision :-) So....here's the upper left hand corner of the quilt. As I'm assembling my rows, etc I'm also contemplating the borders. Not sure what I'm going to do but I do have a few ideas rolling around in my head. I'm really hoping that my friend loves this quilt as much as I do.

76 Nine Patches - DONE!

I did a little more sewing during the week end and got all 76 nine patches finished. I've been contemplating a setting and I think I finally have a plan. I can't say much because the recipient reads my blog. (don't want to ruin the surprise) So, as the week progresses I'm planning to assemble these cuties into, hopefully, a sweet quilt. I'm not sewing ALOT but at least I'm doing a bit - babysteps - LOL

Thought for today: Worry can be paralyzing (why do we allow ourselves to let worry consume us?)

Sewing a Bit :-)

Last night I was digging for something not quilting related and I came across a ziplock bag with 19 different 2" 30's strips. Goodness only knows what they were going to be and at this point it doesn't matter! LOL I had a BIG lightbulb moment - these would make really cute 9 patches. All I had to do was find some white yardage - cut a handful of strips and get busy. I can get four 9 patches from each strip so when I finish I'll have 76 9 patches. I don't have a plan but this was something I didn't have to think about - I could just sew. I managed to sew for a bit last night and it sure felt good - AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!! Now, I'm hoping that I'll be in the mood again later today. I'm wanting to made a surprise quilt for a friend so this might fit the bill. Something to think about.

Thought for today: "I get by with a little help from my friends" The Beatles

Something Quilty

This is my Country Cousins block #3 that I finished while on my retreat in early October. I'm hoping that if I blog about it that I might be motivated to work on another block. Or at least motivated to work on something that involves fiber! ;-)

Thought for today: "Friends are the sunshine of life"