A LITTLE TEASER

I’ve spent the evening working with my Chocolat charm squares (prints and plaids). I’ve already made thirty (30) 3 ½” nine patches. Oh, they are so cute! I’m showing you a picture of some of the itty bitty nine patches – in my new project I will only be using the ones with the dark corners so I’m tossing the others in a basket. A project for those will come along someday! Tomorrow I have to go out to meet with some clients so I plan to stop by my LQS to purchase more plaid charm squares (I only had one pack).

By the way – I’ve been making my itty bitty nine patches out of the charm squares following the tutorial here. (be sure to scroll down the page)

More tomorrow!

Another one bites the dust!

If you've read my blog on regular basis you know that I love to sing "Another One Bites the Dust" when I've completed a project. :-) Do you suppose that Freddy Mercury smiles when I do that? LOL

The past week has been incredibly stressful in my household so when I get stressed I sew! It's such a terrific destresser - I just get lost in the hum of my sewing machine. AHHHHH Thirty five 25 patches pieced and assembled - WooHoo. I used a fat quarter bundle called Spring Spring by Me and My Sister Designs for Moda

I got e-mail notification that my Picket Fences charm pack has been shipped so hopefully I get that project finished at the end of the week.

Wait till you see what I have planned for the next stack of charm packs. Chocolat prints and plaids - YUM!

Having Fun

I sewed and sewed and then came to a screeching halt. I need more 5” charm squares to make more 16 patches. So I’ve quickly placed an order and now will wait for Mr. Postman to bring my little package.

Here’s a sneak peek at my 16 patches with framed 4 patches – next week I’ll show you the finished quilt.

edit: the blocks are set on-point

Charm Square 4 Patches

Several have asked about my charm square four patches. Here's a quick tutorial.

Sew two different 5" squares (right sides together) a 1/4" on opposite sides.

Cut them apart - in the middle - you now have two 2 1/2" units.




Press them open and sew two units together; again right sides together a 1/4" seam allowance on opposite sides.






Now cut those units apart in the middle and you have two four patches per pair of 5" charm squares.


4" finished

I know this is not a new technique but it's a refresher; as so many of us are trying to figure what to do with those 5" charm packs. :-)

If my explanations are not clear please let me know and I'll be happy to answer your questions.

5” Charm squares = 16 Patches

Allow me to introduce you to my quilting project that caused me so much frustration! I made four patches and attempted to lay them out in a pattern on one of the design walls and it was ICKY. So, I set it aside and decided that I would think about it later! Late Saturday night as I was preparing for bed I had a "light bulb moment" – make 16 patches. So, I used two packs of 5” charm squares and now have 25 sixteen patches. Setting? Oh, I’m working on some ideas and hoping for another “light bulb moment”. But, aren’t they cute – it’s Moda’s Picket Fences line!

Drumroll Please!

28 left comments on my 101st posting – thank you! LeahS, baynesK, LisaD, Computerpeach Kim, Sweet Pea, Carolyn, Melzie, Sabine, Nadine, Carol, DoodlebugGail, Vicky, Carole, Paula, Beth, Mary, Swoozie/Suzette, Joyce, May Britt, Anne, Lappemore, The Calico Cat, TJ, Cynthia, McIrish Annie, Nicole Libby and Meredith. It’s been lots of fun to read all the comments to my silly game – thanks for playing!

I put all the names into a bowl and decided to draw two names.

The winners are:

Doodlebug Gail and Cynthia

Please send an e-mail to me with your full name and address and a surprise will make its way to you very soon!

Again, thanks for playing!

101

Yesterday’s posting was my 100th. I had a good laugh because later I was leaving a comment on someone’s blog and the verification letters were “iblab” – well obviously not because I’ve been blogging since June and I’ve just gotten to 100. LOL

I’ve seen numerous blogs where something special is done to celebrate the 100th post. So, after a little thought I decided it would be fun to do the same thing! I’ve had so much fun with my blog; lots of inspiration, lots of cyberfriends, etc. I appreciate that so many stop by to read about my "doings". So, if you leave a comment, for this posting, before I decide to post my 102nd post I’ll put your name in a drawing for a special little surprise! Are you game????

Friends, Fun and Frustration!

Three of us loaded up sewing machines, suitcases, project overflowing totebags, birthday gifts and “stuff” and headed to a week end of sewing and fun! We arrived late Thursday afternoon and met four more friends! We selected bedrooms and set up our sewing spots. WooHoo – let the sewing begin! One picture shows the right side of the room with four sewing spots!

Thursday evening sewing was very frustrating for me – why? My project looked terrific in my mind’s eye but when I started laying it out on the design wall it was TERRIBLE! OK, scrap one project (for now) and pulled out my snowball blocks and made the needed nine patched and worked on my pink and brown project – finished it on Friday afternoon! (one person told me it was “boring” but I love it!) Now what???? I pulled out what I believed would be a very quick and simple project -Flora- this one took me till Saturday afternoon (grrrr). Not my normal style but I really like it. And then I pulled out my Spring Fling fat quarter bundle – no plan – what to do, what to do??? I decided to make 25 patches and managed to get 12 blocks made Saturday before I headed to bed (had to be in bed by midnight since I was driving on Sunday). I am super happy with these blocks and plan to make 13 more blocks. Up early Sunday morning (needed to make the most of the remaining hours) as I had a new plan in mind for my Thursday evening frustrating project. So I wanted to pull that project out and “played” a little. Oh, my new plan is going to work wonderfully but I had to stop and pack up to head back down the mountains. Sigh!

Lots of fun, laughter, sewing, chocolate brownies and 2 birthday celebrations and now we’re home; back to “life”!

Struggled with blogger and the lay out of the pictures - sorry!

Retreat to the Mountains!

It’s that time again! Time to retreat to the mountains with my quilting bee. Naturally, here it is the night before we’re to leave and I still have not settled on a project or two. I have a tendency to pack too many projects but this time I’ve resolved to just pack two. But, but, what if I finish those two – then what? Well, maybe one more – those cute four patches must go with me! LOL ;-)

The stuff is piled everywhere as I attempt to decide which project to take. I don’t have projects ready however my cutting tools are or will be “labeled”.

I’ll be back Sunday afternoon – miss me!!!!

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope that you all enjoy flowers, chocolates, and special gifts!

Thank you!

Thank you for all the wonderful anniversary wishes. We still can't believe that it's been 30 years. Whoa!

Thank you for leaving so many terrific comments on my blog. I try so hard to respond to all your comments but lately it's been overwhelming. I'm not ignoring "you" but I can't seem to keep up. I hope I don't hurt any feelings when I don't respond. I'm at a loss because I believe it would be polite to respond and maybe rude if I don't but I simply can't keep up. I do visit all your blogs and read about everything you do and while I don't always leave a comment please know that I do visit.

I love the inspiration that blogging has provided. I've forged a ton of friends and learned alot along the way!

So, my blogging friends consider yourself hugged!

Peaceful Weekend!!!

I had a terrific week end. Went to sew with friends on Friday evening – haven’t seen them since before Christmas so it was great to visit and laugh. I didn’t do any machine piecing, instead I chose to work on binding. Makes it easier to chat. LOL I had to work on Saturday, then I went to dinner with my Sweetie and then spent the evening watching TV and working on binding on a quilt for a friend. And, today I was invited to sew with a different group of ladies and had a wonderful time. This time I did do some piecing – made more four patches but I’m not sure what I’m going to do with them, so I’ll post pictures when I’ve made some decisions.

February 12, 1977 – 30 years ago!!!

That was the day my sweetie, Ron and I got married. I can’t believe that we’ve been married for 30 years – wow where did all the years go???? I have to share that many did not think our marriage would last – one family member even stood up and announced that “the wedding was a complete waste of time because this marriage will never last”. I believe we fooled her. LOL

Happy Anniversary, Ron, I love you!!!! XXXXX

The Need to Piece!

I was reading blogs and e-mail very early this morning (4:30am). I love the quiet of the early morning hours. So peaceful; very little noise and then POOF the day begins and the quiet is gone! (and my solitude is gone, too)

Patti posted a picture of Hot Apple Pie by Kim of Water Pail Designs and I thought “HMMMMM”. I had one charm pack of Four Seasons by Moda – made quick four patches (you know, sew the sides, etc, etc). Sewed 8 blocks by 8 rows, an inner border and outer border. I might have to quilt this one soon as I think it would be a darling table cover in my kitchen. I got caught up in the Charm Pack frenzy so I have a drawer full – this project was quick and easy so I might have to make something much larger with other charm packs.

Now, I’m going to get back to my pink and brown project that sits waiting for me!

Bunnies!!!

Saturday afternoon, the Hallmark Channel (great chick flicks), my needle and thread and my favorite spot in the living room = Finished chocolate bunnies.

I have completed the appliqué; need to finish some tiny finishing touches and then I can start assembling the blocks. Yahoo! Soon I will start the appliquéd scallop border so hopefully this project will be done by the end of February! By the way, this project is “Rabbits Prefer Chocolate” by Anne Sutton of www.bunnyhilldesigns.com.

Thank you all so much for wonderful comments regarding my stack of flimsies. That stack does provide a lot to think about. Several suggested that I buy a cabinet to put my finished quilts in – well, I do have a very tall red cabinet with glass doors that currently houses 50 finished quilts. There’s a picture in my June ‘06 archives (sorry I don’t know how to link it). My daughter and I discussed that I need two more cabinets like the red one; one cabinet full of quilts for her, one for her oldest son, Seth and one for her youngest son, Eli. This way they will all inherit my quilts. LOL (actually, it’s not a bad idea)

Another Bunny

One more chocolate bunny done!

Ponderings

I’ve been thinking a lot about my piles of “flimsies”. Yesterday Patti and I had a discussion, via e-mail, about whether or not I should quilt all of those “flimsies”. We pondered whether or not I still like them all; should I consider weeding through them and donating some? This discussion has caused me to do some thinking about this dilemma. I believe that I do like all of my quilts and quilt tops – I only make something if I truly love the pattern or fabric. I have a tendency to bond with my quilts when I’m sewing. All of my quilts and quilt tops have some sort of memory – maybe it was a trip I took and bought the little bundle of fabrics; maybe it was sewing with friends; maybe it was a special pattern; maybe it was a purchase I made at a quilt store that I may or may not get to visit again; maybe it was that I saw a sample in a quilt store, on the web, in a book, in a magazine, etc; maybe it was a class; lots and lots of maybes. I know that all of my quilts are not superstars but like the fabrics they all can’t be superstars – I do need a few to be supporting cast members. Some don’t look pretty when they are spread out however they will look wonderful folded in a cabinet or piled on a table or draped on the back of a chair.

So, will I quilt and keep them all? I truly don’t know at this point as there are still a lot to be quilted – I’ll make that decision as I go through them but I don’t believe I can part with any them.

Final thought!!! I don't believe I've ever met a quilt I didn't like! :-)

Flimsies, Quilting and Bindings, OH MY!

I’m sharing the pictures of my “flimsies” that need to be quilted – one picture is those with backings and the other is those without backings. Sigh! When I took the pictures there was a total of 94 to be quilted and then I added three more – grand total 97. Bigger Sigh! LOL (yes, I’m a processor). Now, one of my goals for 2007 is to get busy quilting most of those and hopefully others that I make through the year.

I quilted one before I left on my trip to Texas and this week I’ve quilted two more. One is Lucky Stars by Atkinson Designs with Kaffe Fasset fabrics (not my usual taste but had to make at least one quilt with his fabrics) and the other is a very simple Yellow Brick Road, also, by Atkinson Designs. Once again I don’t remember when I made these but it has to be at least three years ago.

When I finish a “flimsy”, I will make my binding and piece my backing fabric. Sometimes I don’t have the backing but might have the binding, etc. So, the last picture is one box of bindings ready to go on all those “flimsies” when they grow up and become actual quilts.

By the way, “flimsy” is a word that Norma uses for quilt tops and I’ve adopted it, too. I like it better than UFO. Norma, I hope you don’t mind!?!?!?!?!?

I’m almost finished with another chocolate bunny – will post that picture tomorrow!

One More Bunny & Piecing

Another bunny block has been completed – three to go! I’ve really enjoyed this project.

I’ve been wanting to make a pink and brown quilt for ages. I have a fat quarter bundle called In The Pink by The Buggy Barn and today I got inspired to start piecing a new project. I knew I was going to need a background fabric for my snowball blocks and thought I’d have to run to the quilt store. And, then I had a light bulb moment – I remembered that I had a great Marsha McCloskey background print from her “Staples” line. It’s over three yards of an off-white with a tan/mocha star (actually it’s a tiny asterisk) that will be great for my pink and brown project. I made a small stack of snowball blocks this evening as a start. I’m loving the way the “staples” print is working in that snowball block. I'm especially glad to know that it'll be out of the drawer! It's been living there for a few years!

Bear in mind that I have a huge tote full of assorted pink and brown prints so there’s another pink and brown quilt in my future.

Bunny Update, Piecing and Stuff

Here are 7 of the blocks from my Rabbits Prefer Chocolate hand appliqué project. Obviously there are still some finishing touches I need to do to most of the blocks i.e. laces, ribbons, buttons, etc. I have 4 more blocks to do – I managed to prep all the appliqué pieces while at my mom’s but now I need to sew the background blocks together and then glue the pieces down for hand sewing. By the way, Rabbits Prefer Chocolate is by Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs - I'm a HUGE fan of her things.

I haven’t done any real piecing on my sewing machine since I made the quilt for Nadine (it's a terrible picture, I threw it on the floor long enough to get a picture before I boxed it up to ship. I'm sorry) You might recall the slump I experienced for a few months. Well, I have the urge to do some machine piecing. (whispered woohoo so I don’t want to break the spell – LOL). I don’t know what I want to work on but I have been thinking about it. HMMMM what to do, what to do??????

I didn't get to do much sewing while at my Mom's as it was more important for her to sew and relieve some stress. She was having a great time pulling out planned projects, patterns, fabric for show and tell, etc. LOL I had fun just watching her share with me!


Whew - this morning I spent time visiting and leaving a "Hi" comment on every blog in the Stash Quilts Ring; sadly I've never done that before. What an incredible and talented group of women - I'm in awe!

I’m Home! WooHoo

I was able to fly out of San Antonio in the wee hours of the morning yesterday (Thursday) and then spent the afternoon taking a very needed long nap in my own bed with my own pillow and blankee. :-) Again, I sincerely appreciate everyone’s supportive and kind comments. I needed to be there to help my mom with a very stressful situation and hopefully I achieved that goal.

I’ll be back later today with a quilting related post as I’m very ready to get back to my regularly scheduled projects and such!

STILL IN TEXAS! (sigh) As the saying goes - "you can pick your friends, but you can't pick your family". I was suppose to go home today but my mom asked me stay a few more days so I'm scheduled to leave on Thursday, January 25th. I can hardly wait to get home to my wonderfully supportive DH, my pillow, my bed, my blanket, my computer, my sewing room - well you get the picture! :-) Last week I arrived just in time to experience a major ice storm - what a mess! Stuck in the house for four days - rain, sleet, rain, sleet, ice on EVERYTHING - snow would have been nice but that's truly rare in south Texas. LOL Thank you so much for all the kind, sweet and wonderful comments so many of you left after I left home! "See" you soon!

Texas Bound (please don’t forget me!)

I have an urgent family matter in Texas, so I’m having to hop on a jet plane tomorrow. I anticipate that I’ll be home Sunday, January 21 but that depends on how everything is at that time.

It’s been a stressful week as I’ve had to get some work done before I could make my plans however before I got the call I did manage to get one of my quilt tops quilted (1 down 96 to go). I made this quilt so long ago I can’t tell you much about it – it was a pattern in a magazine, probably American Patchwork & Quilting and I used a Kansas Troubles (Moda) fat quarter bundle). Needless, to say I do love it.

Now, I’m packing and preparing some handwork to take with me. Decisions, decisions!
My mom is a quilter, too, so maybe we can spend a little time sewing together. I wonder if she’d enjoy that?

I’m hoping that I’ll get on my sister’s computer while I’m there but I’m not sure!

MOST of Celebrate January and More Chocolate Bunnies

I’ve been busy sewing my chubby little fingers to the bone. My current hand applique projects and I are getting along really, really well.

I need to prep the tree that’s missing in Celebrate January (by Lori Smith) and a few other little tidbits. It really has a squillion pieces – whew!

Two more Rabbits Prefer Chocolate (by Anne Sutton, Bunny Hill Designs) blocks either done or almost done.

I still have not started my Applique Delights challenge project that I’m suppose to be doing with Nadine, May Britt, Angie and Hanne. Why? Well, I prepped one block and didn’t like my selection of fabric so it’s back to the “drawing board”. I don’t know why this has caused me so much indecision. grrrrrrrr
And, I have another appliqué project that my friend, Jo has asked me do with her. Need to prep the first block and I’ll post a picture – very soon!

Just Fun

A person should not be allowed to have so much fun! Teehee! On New Year’s Eve in past years I’ve started a new project (new year, new project) in whatever I was doing then i.e. quilting or x-stitch, as I was usually alone. My DH used to work in the medical field and was usually working on New Year’s Eve. (for the first time in over 20 years my DH and I were able to go out to celebrate on New Year’s Eve.) Anyway, this year I spent New Year’s Eve day prepping three “Rabbits Prefer Chocolate” blocks and then last night I started sewing them down. These blocks are so much fun to work on – I find myself smiling while I’m working. I absolutely adore bunnies!

Happy New Year

2007 a new chapter, a new beginning, etc. In 2005, my DH and I decided it was time to “downsize and simplify” (those were my buzz words for that year) – we eliminated a lot of physical and mental clutter. In 2006 my DH decided to retire and start enjoying life on a daily basis without physical and mental stress. The decisions we made in 2005 and 2006 were huge and were THE right decisions for us. I’m looking forward to this new year – how much better can it get? It’s all about attitude, isn’t it?

My life is in a good place, so now I need to focus on myself. I spent most of December 31 contemplating and thinking about the things that I enjoy doing and why. It’s very obvious to me that I’ve been spending too much time just doing and failing to enjoy the process. It simply wasn’t fun anymore. What???? Oh, I could go on and on but I won’t bore you with my brattle. With a happy heart I am looking forward to new goals and plans for projects in 2007. I have a long list of projects and such but I’m going to work on making it a more realistic list – I don’t want to set myself up to fail.

And, on a final note, deciding to enter Blogland was such a significant decision in 2006 – I’ve made so many wonderful friends and found a ton of inspiration. It was a good decision – thank you so much for accepting me and providing me with hours of enjoyment.

According to my friend, Nadine in Belgium they say "A Happy Ending, A Wonderful Beginning" (need I say more?)

Whew! Finally :-)
I’ve practically been stalking my postman! Why? Well, Nadine – Friendship Threads sent a package on December 11 and it had not arrived. Needless to say, we were starting to worry. Poor Nadine was beside herself and my DH was chatting with the postman on a daily basis. Where’s the box? Well, the box finally has arrived and my goodness it was worth the wait. What a delightful package with so many wonderful goodies! A beautiful needle book, a small zippered bag for my handwork necessities, a beautiful red scarf (oh no I forgot to include it in the picture) and Nadine’s adorable first stitchery project. Wait, I almost forgot the wonderful box of chocolates for my DH and I - YUMMY!!!!! I can’t tell you how much I’m enjoying Nadine’s friendship and I hope that we will be long distance friends for many, many years!

Sluggish Days

I'm finally starting to feel a bit human - this nasty cold has just hung on a bit too long. Haven't felt like doing much - sleeping, watching TV and a bit of handapplique. I've been visiting blogs but sadly have not left many comments. I have a long list of e-mails to respond to and will get to those today. If I owe you a response please bear with me :-) I hope that everyone had a wonderful Christmas and that your days have been full of comfort and joy. We had a very nice Christmas Eve with my daughter and her family - it's so much fun to watch the faces of my grandsons, Seth and Eli, as they tear into their packages. Of course, I had fun tearing into mine, too. My wonderful daughter gave us a four Fiestaware placesettings, and a set of adorable salt and pepper shakers to match; my SIL gave me a "touch can-opener" (he and I have a thing about can openers LOL) and my wonderful DH gave me a Tutto bag to use to take my sewing machine when I go sewing with my friends. We had a wonderful prime rib dinner with friends on Christmas Day. All in all great days! And, since then I've truly been a SLUG! I had prepped quite a bit of "Celebrate January" by Lori Smith and you see the results of my hand applique in the picture! And, I've been contemplating my quilty plans for 2007 - trying to settle on realistic goals and projects.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!
I hope that you and yours have a wonderful holiday season.

I've been laying low for the past three days while fighting a nasty cold - coughing and blowing my nose is not my idea of a fun Christmas! Ugh! We're planning to spend Christmas Eve with my daughter and her family and then a quiet Christmas Day at home.

Moved to "Beta" Blogger. Looks like everything has moved OK. I'll be back later to attempt to add pictures and a much longer post!

FRUSTRATION!!!!!!

I'm so frustrated this morning! Sigh! If you've left a comment on my blog and I haven't responded, it's because it's coming to me as "anonymous"- I'm sorry! And, now this morning I've found that if you've switched to the BETA (aka TEST) version of blogger then I can't leave a comment on your blog. I'm a bit concerned about switching to that version cuz I keep reading pros and cons. So, please know that I do read most and all blogs on both rings I belong to however I can't always leave a comment!

Projects, Projects, Projects!

I'm making a list and checking it twice. Gonna find out who's naughty....wait, wait, wait...wrong list!

Actually I'm working on my list(s) of projects for 2007. Last night I went to sew with my friends, like we do a couple of times a month, and came away feeling very, very uninspired. And, we were sewing at one of the local quilt stores. Sigh!!!! As you well know I have not done much sewing in a couple of months - just don't have the urge. This is incredibly strange for me but rather than fight it I'm just hoping it'll pass soon. I did decide a couple of weeks ago that in 2007 I'd like to work on hand projects i.e. hand applique, stitchery, etc.

Nadine and I have been commiserating about future projects. She has been inspired by May Britt to work on "Applique Delights" by Faye Anderson; so she has challenged me to work on it with them. The challenge is to make one block a week in 2007 and by this time next year we will hopefully have all the blocks completed. I believe that May Britt has 11 blocks done and Nadine already has one done. I got my book last week and have been thinking about my color scheme and I believe I have finally decided. So, I need to start getting prepared so I can meet this challenge. LOL Actually I'm very excited about working on this project with Nadine and May Britt - should be lot of fun!

Next on the long list! I've been collecting "A Quilt of the Month Series" by Lori Smith - there's a project for every month (Celebrate January is pictured). These monthly projects are 28" by 36" and are really calling my name. It's time to prep Celebrate January and get busy - can I keep this monthly project going throughout 2007?? We'll see. LOL

I've been collecting applique patterns and projects for a couple of years and if you read my blog you know that I started doing hand applique with a vengence last June and then came to a "dead stop". It's time to pull out all those projects and start the prepping.

I've got to get back to Country Cousins Meets Baltimore Album and I have the following on the list, too:

Snowman Country by Bunny Hill Designs(Anne Sutton); Rabbits Prefer Chocolate by Bunny Hill Designs (Anne Sutton); Vintage Valentine by The Vintage Spool (Verna Mosquera). And, others that I need to go revisit and think about pulling out to work on. Sigh!

It's time to get busy and stop fretting about no desire to piece on my sewing machine and enjoy a ton of handwork!!! Wouldn't you agree??????? :-)

"The Civil War Diary Quilt"

One of the girls I sew with gave me a gift certificate for my birthday in July and I used it to buy this cute book. I love the small blocks but I have been especially enjoying the stories. It's just a sweet book to have in my library of quilt books and such. Someday I might be inspired to work on the blocks.

Now it's time to get busy. I hope to have something to show at the end of this day. Wish me luck!

Edit: Susan says that I say I'm uninspired and yet I've listed a plethora of projects. My first love in quilting is to sit and piece for hours at my machine - my friends refer to me as a "power piecer" - however in recent months I've had very little inspiration for machine piecing. I have always enjoyed hand work so, even though I have not felt like doing that either I've decided to push myself to at least work on hand projects rather than push myself to work on my machine. I hope this makes better sense!

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"