JOURNEY OF A QUILTER

Please celebrate with me! :-)

I have finished my "Journey of a Quilter" by Leanne Beasley of Leanne's House. I am beyond excited. I've been dancing, twirling and skipping across the Surface of the Sun as I celebrate this completion. It's been a true labor of love and one that I have enjoyed immensely.

If you're responsible for inspiring me to start doing embroidery or responsible for introducing me to all the wonderful stitchery designers in Australia I can't thank you enough.

It's important to say thank you for all the inspiration that so many bloggers provide everyday!

In Friendship!

New Question :-)

Why do you quilt and how long have you been quilting?

I decided to take the plunge into quilting because I needed another outlet for my passion for a needle and thread. I'd been a x-stitcher for approximately 20 years. I've been quilting since October 1999 but had been a quilting wannabe for many, many years. There was a tiny quilt store in a cute cottage across the street from my corporate job and I used to spend many lunch hours browsing and dreaming. I'd look through books and patterns; pet and caress all the beautiful fabric but didn't believe it was something I could do. In the Fall of 1999 I visited every quilt store here on the Surface of the Sun and explained that I was a beginner and asked about classes, etc. Most just pointed me toward the classroom and told me that the samples were in there, except one store owner she took me by the hand and showed me the beginner quilt that was being taught. Then she showed me the other classes I could take to continue to enhance my skills.

I made the quilt in the picture sometime earlier this year with charms.

Thank you for visiting!

In Friendship!

Block #9

I know I said that you wouldn't see this project again until I had all the blocks sewn together! I couldn't help myself, really I couldn't - I had to share. :-) I've made a few changes along the way to make this my own; including adding my name! It had to be there! It's really difficult to express via the written word how excited I am that I'm seeing the end of this project. It's been so much fun to do.

I'll be back later with my Question du Jour. Teehee!

Thank you, thank you for popping by to visit. I always enjoy your comments so please leave one.

In Friendship!

What are you doing?

Yes, this a boring post - no pictures to share!

What's happening in your little corner of the world? What's keeping you busy?

I was inspired to pull out my Quilter's Journey blocks and get back to stitching. All the blocks are now pieced (that's a tedious process because I have a tendency to over think random scrappy - LOL) And, I'm trying very hard to get all the stitching finished! I just can't stitch fast enough. :-) My goal (probably a bit unrealistic) is to finish this project by the end of the week. I'm sure you're tired to seeing block after block after block so the next picture I post should be of the completed quilt top.

Are you tired of my silly questions? I have another one to post but don't want to bore you. Let me know!

Have a wonderful Monday and thanks for popping by!

In Friendship!

In The Land of Blog

Once upon a time in the Land of Blog a quilter named Sharon held a contest on her blog. The prize was a lovely little assortment of 30's prints (92 4 1/2" squares) and I was the lucky winner. It should be noted right now that I haven't won another thing on Sharon's blog :-( (OK, I'm over it and moving on with my story) I've had this little assortment sitting on my sewing table waiting for inspiration to strike.

In the meantime there was another quilter, Libby, who's been making some adorable doll quilts from a book called Prairie Children and Their Quilts. Her quilts are soooooo cute that everyone is wanting to join the doll quilt craze (aka Monkey See, Monkey Do - LOL). Yes, yes me too but so far I've only been dreaming about making one or two. During this craze a little bird told Carol that I was coveting that book so she surprised me and sent one to me. Lucky me :-)

I know another quilter in the Land of Blog who has been wanting to make some doll quilts just like Libby. This quilter has one of the most giving spirits I've ever encountered and I'm lucky to call her a friend. As you travel through the Land of Blog you might notice little treasures that she sends to fellow quilters. Remember I've been waiting for inspiration to strike so I could make something with my cute charms I won from Sharon and it finally happened this morning! :-)

The doll quilt in the picture is the result of my inspirational moment. I cut all the charms in half, threw that cutie together and still have enough to make one for another someone and one for me. I plan to quilt this very, very soon and pop it in the mail to surprise my friend in the Land of Blog!

And, the quilters all live happily ever after in the Land of Blog!

Do you think she'll like it and be surprised? I just hope it's not too big!

Thanks for visiting and reading my silly tale!

In Friendship!

DREAMIN'

I've been dreamin' about being in Norway with Hanne and May Britt taking classes from and listening to Leanne Beasley of Leanne's House. Can you imagine how much fun they are having? Sigh! :-)

I had BIG plans to do a ton of handwork prepping this week end and all I managed to prep was block #8 of my Journey of a Quilter project (this way I could pretend I was in Norway - LOL)

I think it would be so much fun to take a trip to Australia to spend time in a workshop or two with some of the incredibly talented stitchery designers. Yes, more dreaming! :-)

Wait, I did manage to get 20 3" 9 patches completed for my exchange with a fellow blogger. I was sewing away and kept thinking that something was wrong with my blocks but couldn't put my finger on it. Well, duh - they were suppose to be 3" finished and I was making them 4" finished. So, I had to put my trusty friend, Sir Seamripper to work. All is well - 20 blocks are done and will be in the mail TODAY.

Today I was suppose to be on the road heading to Fall Market in Houston but unfortunately life forced me to cancel at the last minute. Big Sigh!

Enjoy your Monday and thanks for stopping by to visit!

In Friendship!

Chapter 5 - Storage for Works in Progress (aka WIPs)

I'm back with a new question for my 'book'. Bet you've missed these! LOL!!!

How do you keep all your stuff together for your current Works in Progress (aka WIPs)? I'm asking about anything and everything that you are currently working on - not future projects or those you've stored away for awhile. Yes, this is very similar to a question Kim asked awhile back on her blog, but I need more information. :-) teehee!

What do you use to keep your current hand applique project ready to work on when you can sit for awhile to stitch. I keep all the blocks together on skirt or pants hangers (you know the ones with clips) so I just add the finished block to the hanger with the 'project du jour'.

Current stitchery and my English Paperpiecing projects are kept in baskets with everything I need for that particular project. I've decided I need to add a pair of scissors to every project basket.

Of course, if I'm not interested in a particular project for the moment then I use all types of plastic storage boxes and add them to the stack in my closet. :-)
I also use these types of boxes to store future projects and such!

So, what do you do? I'd love to hear about it.

Once again, thank you for indulging me with your answers to my questions and for stopping by!

In Friendship!!!

The NEW Look! :-)

Yes, my blog has been redecorated and has a new look! :-) My DH has been playing with the new banner for awhile now and then yesterday he said "so, what do you think?" I like it very much and especially love that those are my quilts hanging on the clothesline. teehee! He's having WAY too much fun with this but if it keeps him entertained and doing his best to keep me happy, who am I to question.

Today is prep day - applique, embroidery aka stitchery and hexagons for English paperpiecing (yes, I've pulled that project out again).

Thanks for your kind comments and compliments! I truly do appreciate that you stop by!

In Friendship!

Swell Strawberry Lemonade :-)

9" x 11" pieces of Moda's new line call Swell by Urban Chiks . It's has a 40's retro look to it - oh so sweet!

The fat quarter bundle is Strawberry Lemonade by my friends Me and My Sister Designs. It's quite whimsical and oh so yummy.

These sweet and yummy treasures now reside in my sewing room. WooHoo!

Thank you so much for answering my question regarding responding to comments left on blogs, etc. I got alot of great insight and have a new plan.

Whether you're a regular visitor or a first time visitor to my blog thank you so much for stopping by! Please come again.

In Friendship!

Catching Up :-)

(long winded this morning)

Look at these terrific Rocky Road to Kansas blocks I won and received from Elaine. I purposely flipped one over so you could see that she used telephone book pages as a foundation. Great idea! If you visit her blog you'll see that her quilt top is done and she's beautifully handquilting it.

Elaine, thank you so much for sending these to me - I love them and very soon I will use them to make a quilt.

Recently Connie presented me with this "You Make Me Smile Award" - thank you so much Connie.

I absolutely adore Connie and would love to get to know her better! She's truly a kind soul.

I'm suppose to nominate someone but I've decided to nominate anyone that reads my blog!

keep reading.................................... LOL

And, last but not least, May Britt tagged me for the 4 Things About Me-Me!

4 jobs I've had

String Maker

Key Punch Operator
Secretary

Director of Human Resources

4 films I could watch over and over:

Dirty Dancing (love the music)

An American President

You've Got Mail

Pretty Woman

4 TV shows I watch

Criminal Minds

Law & Order (all of them)

CSI - New York

Cold Case

4 Places I've lived

Texas

Okinawa

Germany

Arizona

4 Favorite foods

Hamburgers

Steaks

Lobster

Shrimp

4 Favorite colors

blue

red

blue

red

4 Places I would love to be right now

I'm a homebody so I'd love to just be home doing anything I want and be stressfree

4 Names I love but would/could not use on my children

Brian (never had a boy)

Rolf (DH's middle name I would have used if I'd had a boy)

Shelby (wanted another girl)

Darlene (my name I should have used for my one and only DD)

4 People I'd love to Tag

Libby

Wendy

Carole

Nan

Yes, I still have more to say - LOL! I'm a bit chatty this morning! teehee! Aw come on keep reading!!!

When I first started blogging I used to respond to every comment left on my blog and in the last couple of months I've been very remiss in doing that. So, now a question for you my readers and commentors of my blog. When you leave a comment on a blog do you expect a response to your comment? Please be honest because my guilt is really getting the best of me! :-)

And, last but not least thank you for popping by to read about the happenings in my world. I appreciate it so much!

In Friendship!

#4 - Done

I have completed the fourth and final block of my Country Whig Rose wallhanging (Simple Blessing, Kim Diehl). Now I need to sew all four blocks together, add borders and do the applique on the final borders. I'm quite proud of myself because I managed to pull all the pieces parts from my stash and I'm hoping to do the same for the borders and such.

I'm off to Jury Duty selection today!

Enjoy your day and remember to be kind to each other!

Thanks for stopping by - hope to 'see' you again soon!

In Friendship!

FINALLY! :-)

I'm baaaaaccccckkkkkk! Did ya miss me? LOL

It was a beautiful week end in the mountains of AZ - cooler temps and such! It started out a very mellow and relaxing week end and Friday morning we had a situation that put a huge pall over the rest of the week end. Rather than relaxing I found myself very tense and stressed. I felt like I was walking on cracked eggs all week end. I accomplished absolutely nothing and wouldn't mind if I felt that I'd rested and relaxed but.... OK enough said! :-) It felt really good to get home. :-)

I did come home to a wonderful surprise - my Fall Swap Quilt arrived. Sadly, my swap partner, Alicia, had to make a second quilt because the first one she mailed well over a month ago has never arrived. :-( This one is darling and will look adorable any place I put it in my home. I went back and looked through Alicia's blog and saw pictures of the first one and it's adorable, too. Thank you, Alicia and I'm so sorry you had to make a second one!

I'll take some time later today to read all your blogs - I'm sure you've all been very, very busy.

Thanks for missing me and remember to be kind to those around you!

In Friendship!!

Taking a little break!

I'm headed to the cool mountain pines for a few days! I'll be back Sunday!

Miss me!

In Friendship!!!!!

Done, Done, Done!!!!! WooHoo!!!!

Another very late birthday gift is done! This is done with a Sweet Romance Jelly Roll by Moda (April Cornell) and the pattern is Zig Zag by Elizabeth/Late Bloomer Quilts. I discovered Elizabeth's patterns about a year ago and fell in love with everything she does but especially this pattern. I'm not kidding when I tell you that this pattern has been on the floor by my bed since I ordered it from Elizabeth oh so long ago. LOL When I was digging through my patterns and books for a pattern to make this birthday quilt I couldn't settle on anything. There were lots of very deep sighs in my household as I agonized about it. And, then I remembered Zig Zag. The pattern calls for 2" strips and I wanted to use a Jelly Roll - hmmmm do I cut down the 2 1/2" strips or just adjust the measurements in the pattern. It was much easier to adjust the measures - LOL Then I added a narrow white inner border and outer border in a coordinating print.

Let me tell you why this particular birthday gift is very late (it was suppose to be a gift for Sept '06). Over the last 3 years I've been making quilts for the girls in my sewing group for at least one of their birthdays. They don't have any say over the fabric or pattern I choose. Nor do they know which birthday they will finally receive a quilt from me. I don't think I've ever given them a completed quilt on their actual birthday just the fabric and/or partially completed top with big promises that I will finish it very soon. Well, last year I gave my friend a gift bag with some cute novelty prints and a background fabric with promises that she would have a quilt very soon. She was very disappointed in my fabric selection and didn't fail to let me know how unhappy she was. I chose what reminded ME of her but she just didn't like any of it and when we started discussing the size of the quilt she didn't hide her disappointment when I told her that it would be a throw size (like everyone else got). Needless to say now I was unhappy and certainly have not felt like working on her quilt. Guess what???? Another birthday came along in September and I still had not worked on her quilt from last year. Sigh! I finally decided that I needed to go Plan B - forget the plan to use the novelty prints and I bought the Sweet Romance Jelly Roll and got busy yesterday afternoon. I need to quilt it, bind it and call it DONE!!!!

By the way, the Fresh Air quilt I showed you on Sunday was also an overdue birthday gift for another friend in the same quilt group.

Two very late birthday quilts DONE!!!!

While I've been trying to get these obligations out of the way I've also been helping some friends get ready for Fall Quilt Market at the end of the month. Whew - it's been a busy October and it's only the 9th.

I looked in my mailbox and I have 482 e-mails that need attention. If you're waiting for a response from me please be patient with me for a bit longer I'm going as fast as I can.

Thanks for visiting - come again!

In Friendship!

HMMMMM!

I've spent all day sewing....Sigh.... it's been awhile since I've done any actual piecing at my machine.

This is made with a Fresh Air Jelly Roll by Moda using a pattern called Fields of Flowers by Pieces From My Heart (Sandy Gervais). It's a birthday gift for a friend. I'm not sure about it but I believe that she'll like it.

Thanks for visiting my little blog!

In Friendship!

I'm Here!

Have ya missed me??? :-) I'm not sure what has happened to the week however I have been super busy! I've read about everyone's doings and happenings and leaving an occasional comment but for the most part staying under the radar and just lurking! Thank you Wendy, Carole, Nadine, Yvonne, Judy and Sharon for the sweet "are you OK?" e-mails. I'm just fine! :-)

I signed up for the Chocolate Swap on Sharon's blog - that should be lots of FUN! And, I won Elaine's wedges that she had up for grabs. :-) WooHoo!!! Thank you, Elaine!

I wish I could say that I've been sewing lots of beautiful and/or cute things but I haven't. :-( I am almost finished with block #4 of my Country Whig Rose project. :-)

Late last week I mailed my Fall Four Seasons Swap quilt and hope that it arrives at its destination soon. My swap quilt was mailed to me over four weeks ago but has not arrived. :-( I haven't given up hope though but I do have to admit that I don't understand our mail system.

Thanks for popping in to check on me! Stop by again soon - I promise to have some pictures soon. :-)

In Friendship!

Chapter 4 - Do you applique?

Yesterday I took some time to tidy up my sewing room and while it still needs a little more attention, it does look much better. I have too many irons in the fire and I hate it when I do that to myself. grrrrr! :-)

When I was finished I took time to pull out fabric for block #2 of my Country Whig Rose project (this is in Simple Blessings by Kim Diehl). It's prepped and I managed a handful of stitches last night while watching TV.

This leads me to my next question for you. Have you missed my questions? teehee!!! :-)

Do you applique? If so - do you - hand or machine applique and what is your preferred prepping and stitching method and why?

I hope you're having a wonderful Friday and I thank you for popping by to visit my blog. You know I love it when you do!

In Friendship!

Blessings!

I feel a strong need to share a few things with you - I hope you'll indulge me and keep reading. :-)

I've been doing something free of charge for a couple of quilt pattern designer friends as they are preparing to show their wares at the Houston Quilt Market next month. I don't want to tell you who they are or what I'm doing because I don't want to embarass them. Anyway, last week I was chatting with a local quilt store owner and one of the employees about what I've been doing (they guessed I was doing it free of charge) and they both told me that I would be repaid in so many ways for helping my friends. I don't expect repayment - I'm just doing it because I want to (that's who I am). A few days later I received an adorable card with a gift card for Chili's from my designer friends just to say thank you and that they love me. I felt loved and appreciated!

A few months ago I pieced, quilted and wrote a pattern for a store sample for the same local quilt store owner using fabric she provided. This sample helped her more than we thought it would. As Martha would said "that's a good thing". A simple thank you was enough for me however today she gave me the quilt. Needless to say my eyes were brimming with tears.

Last week I received an e-mail from Carol in Florida telling me that a little bird told her that I'd been coveting the book "Prairie Children and Their Quilts" so she put a book in the mail for me. The book arrived and she'd included a sweet note on the inside front page. I'm not sure what I did to deserve this special treat from Carol but I appreciate her thoughtfulness very much!

Today a package arrived from Carole in Upstate NY and I couldn't believe what I found when I tore open the package. Inside was the cutest Halloween tabletopper - oh my goodness I was shocked. Again, I'm not sure what I did to deserve this special treat from Carole but I appreciate her thoughtfulness, as well.

The pumpkin pillow I showed you in an earlier post came from Wendy recently! Just because she wanted to send it. Another appreciated special treat.

I won some squares on Sharon's blog in July and when she sent them to me she also included a birthday gift. Yet another appreciated special treat.

Bren was bagophobic like I am and she sent an adorable bag, beautifully made by her, just for me. Another appreciated special treat.

Since I started blogging there have been many other surprises at my door and in my mailbox and I do hope that I've been kind and publicly acknowledged every little treasure. If I haven't mentioned you here today please know that I appreciate you, too.

Blessings are not necessarily things that you can feel and touch - they are sweet e-mails, they are offers to help with learning how to do something. Like Vicky and Patti inspiring me to learn how to do hand applique. Linda and others doing exquisite stitchery projects that inspired me to jump into doing stitchery when I thought I'd forgotten how. Linda and Kim making sure I received a coveted publication!

When the special surprises and treats arrive I struggle with whether or not I should publicly thank you on my blog or just send a thank you via e-mail. I hope I've done it the right way every time!

I don't know what I've done to receive so many blessings however I want to say thank you to each and every one of you for your special friendship! I hope that I've been a friend, as well.

Of course, I must say thank you for indulging me and reading this!

In Friendship!

Fall Decorating

This is the extent of my Fall decor!

As you enter my home my Fall string quilt and other treasures will greet one and all. And the red cabinet is in my kitchen.

I don't have much in the way of seasonal type quilted items. I've got to put my thinking cap on and hopefully I can remedy this very soon.

This adorable pillow was included in a package from a dear friend recently. Isn't is cute? You've got to love the rusty bells in the upper left hand corner - perfect accent. I'll have ask her about this pattern because I must make more to go with it. Thank you, my friend, I'll treasure and enjoy it.


Thank you for visiting my blog and I hope that you'll stop by again!

In Friendship!

Block #3 - Check!

I've completed another Vintage Charm block from the Simply Vintage book - WooHoo! :-) I'm a little unhappy with my work on this one but it'll have to do. I'll prep #4 in the next day or so. And, I need to prep a second Country Whig Rose block, too.

When I stop to think about how much I've been enjoying hand applique again I have to also stop and thank Vicky and Patti. They know why! Ladies I will forever be thankful to you. :-)

And, it's important to also thank all of you for stopping by to read my blog and for leaving a comment. I hope you stop by often!

In Friendship!