Michelle's Quilts & Stuff

Cotton Club

2012-01-25T11:29:00.007-05:00

Wow...I've been a bad blogger! I can't believe how fast the time is flying. It's been almost three weeks since my last post! I did a bit of traveling this month and have been doing a lot of quilting for others, but I've not been working on much of my OWN stuff!

I did have an exciting day this past Saturday. The little quilting bee I belong to had a Saturday "Sew-in." The "Cotton Club Quilters" meet every Wednesday night...but it was exciting to have all day together to sit, sew, and chat. We had a bit of snow during the night, but that didn't keep anyone away.

I "borrowed" a few pictures from Facebook...that's me in the middle with Lauren on the left and Lisa on the right. Lauren makes the most awesome totebags and purses...she just whips those things out in no time!

A couple pics of some of the gals...

Something fun...I joined this group late last summer, but even before that I signed up for a new BOM...and guess what it's called? Cotton Club! Isn't that fun?

I decided to take the BOM to work on during our Sew In...I'm a couple of months behind, so I was hoping to get caught up. I was able to get a few more blocks completed, but I'm still about a month or so behind. :( Here are pics of the 14 blocks completed so far! They are 5" cuties!

Don't know what happened to this picture...it's not that wonky in real life. :P

I should have some fun quilting pictures to share with you soon!

Happy Quilting!

One more Orca Bay update...

2012-01-09T07:08:00.000-05:00

I thought today would be a link up day on Quiltville's blog...but now I'm not sure. Anyway, I'll still share an update with my Orca Bay mystery quilt. It's quilted!! I finished assembling it on Saturday and by Saturday evening, I just couldn't resist any longer. I loaded it up on the machine and got 'er done!

Here is the quilt straight off the machine about midnight. Smokey stayed up with me and even did a little inspection...but I know what he's really thinking. "Don't you think it's time for sleep?"

Sunday I added the binding...I'll stitch it down this week while watching TV. It's never easy maneuvering all that quilt on a little table...and this baby is HEAVY!

I quilted it with a simple design called "Quirky." I think swirls are my favorite.

All the fabric for the quilt top came out of my "stash." The only thing I bought specifically for this quilt, was the backing. I thought this fabric was appropriate for a quilt titled "Orca Bay." It reminds me of water, clouds, and the starry sky.

See that fabric used for the 1.5" inner border? That fabric is leftover backing fabric from my Roll Roll Cotton Boll...I love that both mysteries are tied together!

Thanks for following along with me on this mystery journey. I wish I was this driven to finish all my quilting projects so quickly! I have really enjoyed seeing everyone else's quilts too. Some of the color choices have been amazing. Thank you Bonnie for another great mystery. I love it!

Happy Quilting!

Mystery Monday Link Up!

2012-01-02T09:01:00.000-05:00

Woohoo! Did you see the final reveal of Bonnie's Mystery? Let me tell you, I was so relieved. LOL I really am not a big fan of mystery quilts...all that time and fabric invested, then what if you don't like the results? :P Bonnie's are always a pretty safe bet though, and again, she didn't disappoint!

First thing yesterday morning, I went right to work...sewing, and sewing, and sewing. Let me tell you, this is not a top that goes together quickly! And it doesn't help when you keep sewing the parts the wrong direction and have to "un-sew." I have half the top done though and I'll keep plugging along. If you want to see everyone else's progress, go check out the Monday Link Up page!!

I have to do a few other things today though...remember that little thing called "housework." Yeah, there are no housework elfs that come out just because you are working on a very important mystery project. Or laundry elfs for that matter. Also there is that job most of us dread...taking down the Christmas tree and decorations. It has to be done... But no matter, I will sneak in a few seams here and there and get 'er done!

Oh and Karen P, if you are reading this and I hope you are! You left a comment about my Saltbox Harvest quilt, but you are set as "no-reply" on your email, so I can't email you back! The pattern comes from this book...

I have a little linky thing on the sidebar of my blog...if you are a "no-reply" blogger and want to change that, go check it out. Most of us love comments and we love to reply back to you!

Happy Quilting...or cleaning, or laundry, or undecorating....whatever the day holds for you!

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T00:30:00.000-05:00

"May the God of Hope fill you with all the joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hop by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

The In Between Week

2011-12-30T15:06:00.000-05:00

It's almost the last day of 2011! I've been reading in blog-land about how people are feeling about this "in between week"...the week between Christmas and New Year. It seems to be a relaxing time for most. For me, there has been lots and lots of quilting going on...but that means no pictures that can be shared yet. After the quilts are received by their owners, I'll be able to share a few peeks.

Until then, here is one I can show! This one was done for my friend, Karen (no blog-yet!). She made it for a friend of hers struggling with cancer. I was happy to find this ribbon design for the quilting.

Each block had a saying about what cancer can't do...isn't that awesome?

She sent a few pictures after the binding was finished. Her pictures show the color much more accurately.

A close up of one of the blocks...

Great job Karen! Look carefully at the bottom left of the picture...she has a quilt inspector too! Now I know she NEEDS a blog. :)

Like I said, I've been busy, busy quilting this week...these are the bobbins I wound for one particular LARGE quilt I worked on this week. They are Size "M" bobbins for my Gammill, which are considerably bigger than what are used in domestic machines...so they hold a lot of thread. In case you were wondering...that wasn't enough! I had to wind a 5th one!

Oh and lookie here...I even whipped up a few blocks today from Step 7 of Bonnie's Mystery. Woohoo! She is publishing the final step and BIG reveal on New Year's Day! I know what I'll be doing that day. :)

Hope you have a safe and fun New Year's Eve!!

Happy Quilting!

Monday Link Up

2011-12-25T23:00:00.000-05:00

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas! We sure did...it was great to have Megan and Zach both home again this year.

I was lucky enough to have most of Friday with nothing left to do but sew, sew, sew! I worked like a maniac to finish Step 6 of the Ocra Bay mystery. Bonnie actually released the step a day early as a little Christmas surprise! You have no idea how excited I was to see this step was to make star blocks...Ohio stars to be more specific. I love star blocks and this is definitely one of my favorites!

Don't they look awesome lined up even just like this? I can't wait to see what she has in store for them.

I turned around to load the picture to the computer and this is what I saw when looked back at the blocks....Whiskers had adjusted a few of them for me. :) Don't you like how she's just looking at me..."Whattcha think of this?" she says.

Once again, I'm eagerly awaiting next Friday's clue...we are in the home stretch now with maybe only 2-3 more clues to go! Check out Bonnie's blog to see everyone else's progress too!

Happy Quilting!

Christmas Wishes

2011-12-24T23:11:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas from my family to yours! Hope your day is filled with lots of great memories, love, joy and laughter!

Luke 2:9-12
And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

I just can't resist...

2011-12-21T20:11:00.001-05:00

I'm joining a new quilt-along! This one is a 12" mini quilt each month from Lori Smith's Quilt Square patterns. I love minis anyway, so this sounds like a lot of fun to me. There's chances to win prizes too!

You can read more about the quilt along at Jo's Country Junction or by clicking the box below!

Orca Bay and other stuff....

2011-12-19T18:49:00.000-05:00

I can't seem to squeeze much blogging time in this month...but that's to be expected I guess. Lots of other stuff going on for everyone right now. I think I finally have -most- of my Christmas to-do list checked off and I think this week and next will be fairly relaxing. :)

I was able to get a few units from Step 5 of the Orca Bay mystery completed. I really liked Bonnie's tip of keeping the chain in tact while pressing. It gives just a little tension when ironing or something, but makes it easy to just pick up the corner and run the iron under it. After they are all ironed, I clip them apart.

I think I have about twice as many completed from what is shown in this picture...probably about 100. Still a long ways to go!!

For those of you wondering...I did finish step 4! Woohoo! I really enjoyed making the string blocks. I like how they look like a cross in this picture. :) It wasn't intentional...just the angle of the camera made the one side look longer. And the reds are much prettier in person...I couldn't get a picture that captured the red just right. Same with my ironing board cover in the pictures above. What is up with RED??

Whiskers was happy to keep my strings warm while I wasn't using them. Isn't she helpful? I love how Smokey is peeking inside..."Hey, how come she gets to sleep in there?"

Another project I accomplished last week were these candy gifts for my husband's coworkers. I found these cute little dishes on clearance at Michael's for under $2! I'm thinking they must have been leftover from last year or something...why were they already on clearance? For whatever reason...they were perfect for what I needed...

I filled each one with some homemade candy (buckeyes and noodle candy) and added a few kisses for color. :)

I had found small gift cellophane bags that were meant for baskets, but they worked perfect for these too. I added a glittery bow and voila!

Zach is home from school and we spent some time this weekend working on a Christmas puzzle. I've always loved puzzles, but there always seems to be an excuse for not getting one out and working on it...mainly space. We worked on this one on our dining room table, which isn't the most convenient, but it was worth it because of the time spent together.

Here is the reward for all our hard work...isn't it cute?

Until next time....Happy Quilting!

Monday Link Up -- Orca Bay Mystery Step 4

2011-12-12T08:04:00.003-05:00

I'm finally caught up with the mystery and can add my blog to Bonnie's link up post! :) I have half of the red strings done...64 triangles. These are fun and pretty easy to do. Perfect for sewing while watching sappy Hallmark Christmas movies over the weekend. :) I don't think I'll have any problem finishing the rest of them before the next clue is released on Friday!

No other pictures to share today...I've been busy with some other crafty projects, but I can't share pictures just yet. 'Tis the season!

Happy Quilting!

Just in time...

2011-12-09T08:15:00.004-05:00

I'm all caught up on the Orca Bay mystery! Just in the nick of time before today's clue was published. :) Bonnie always amazes me how she ends up tying all these random block parts together. I can't wait to see the end result!

I finished this Twister table runner this week too. I assembled the top at retreat last month and quilted it last week. I donated the runner to our spouses' club "Make it, Bake it, Grow it" event this week. The gal that won it seemed very pleased!

Here are a couple pictures of quilts I quilted for Christine this month too...the first one is quilted with Bountiful Feathers. I really love this design! The thread blended so well with the fabric, I couldn't get a close up of the design.

I quilted this one with a pattern called Arabesque.

I love it!

It seems I haven't been posting much...but I think it's unavoidable this time of year. Lots of Christmas preparations and decorating and special get-togethers as we celebrate this wonderful season! Spending time with family and counting our blessings is what it's all about right now!

Happy Quilting!

Well, Hello December!

2011-12-01T07:40:00.003-05:00

Whether we're ready or not, December is here! 2011 has just flown by too quickly! I really hope to slow down a bit in December and enjoy Christmas and time with my family. I.will.do.this.

Our trip to Florida over Thanksgiving was incredible...we all had a blast visiting Universal Studios and Disney World. It was definitely a whirlwind trip, but worth it 100 times over. We returned home late Sunday and spent Monday doing laundry, winterizing the camper, and all around getting things back to normal. Tuesday and Wednesday were consumed with quilting a couple of quilts for customers...it was nice to get back to my machine! I left her alone way too long. :P

With all the travels, I'm behind on the first two steps of Bonnie's Orca Bay mystery, but I finally had a chance to get started last night and I WILL catch up. :) I have 2 QSTs done....only 222 left to go!

Happy Quilting!

Retreat #2 Recap

2011-11-22T19:55:00.005-05:00

It probably won't be any surprise to tell you I had a blast again at retreat. If you've never had an opportunity to attend a quilting retreat, I encourage you to go one day. It really is incredible fun. Spending so much time with like minded people is just good for the soul. :)

I was HORRIBLE about taking pictures, so I really don't have a lot to show....but the truth is, I have about 5 spare minutes to write this post. I had two days between returning from Indiana on Sunday until we get back in the car and drive to Florida for Thanksgiving. We leave at 0'dark-thirty in the morning. I'm as close to completely exhausted as I've ever been and truthfully, don't have a lot of energy or brain power to put together a witty blog post. But I really did want to share just a glimpse of the retreat...and to take a minute to reflect on the amazing time I spent with my quilty friends.

This is the sewing room. It's a great space with plenty of room to spread out...

I'm happy with how much I accomplished. I assembled my sister's choice blocks and now it's just waiting for borders. I'm still deciding what style of border I want to add....

This is a new project I started and got the top all assembled! It's a pattern by Moda called "Jovial" I bought my pattern in a quilt shop, but I found out you can download it for free here. If you can enlarge the pattern, you'll see the pinwheels are dimensional! Love it! The pattern is pretty simple to assemble, but I did come across a few issues....the biggest one being that if you buy exactly the amount of fabric called for in the directions, there isn't enough to make the quilt top as pictured on the pattern. I was able to make to make it work though by removing one row from the side of the quilt. The original layout is 6x6 rows of blocks, mine is only 5x6, but I'm fine with that. There is a green border attached, but it blends almost completely in to the carpet!

(Okay, this is annoying...I don't know why these words are underlined and I'm too tired to figure it out.) I started assembling my leaders and enders in to larger blocks. This pattern is Scrappy Irish Chain from Bonnie Hunter's book. I love it!! (okay, it's also annoying that this picture is sideways!! It looks fine on my computer until I load it here and it turns sideways...sigh. I think it's because it was taken with my iphone)

I also got all caught up on my new Block of the Month called Cotton Club. I didn't get a picture of those blocks, but I'll be sure to take one next time I work on them.

Here is a shot of our group all together. I miss them already! We have another retreat in May and as tired as I am today, I can't wait to go again! Thanks for all the fun, girls! And thanks to Angela for being our wonderful hostess! You can see a couple other recaps from this retreat on Milah's blog and Christine's blog.

In case you haven't heard, Bonnie's latest mystery quilt has started! I'm itching to get sewing on it, but it's going to have to wait until I return from Florida...I'll be two steps behind, but I'm determined I'll get caught up! If you want to check it out, head over to Quiltville.com.

I want to wish all of you a very Happy Thanksgiving! May God bless you and your family!

Happy Quilting!

Retreat #1 Recap

2011-11-15T17:23:00.005-05:00

Retreat #1 was a huge success! It was incredibly fun...loads of laughs and I accomplished a lot of sewing and that's always a good thing!

The retreat was held at a hotel in Lewes, Delaware. The hotel closes this same weekend for the season, so there usually isn't any other guests. There was one mother/daughter guest staying the weekend...the mom was sorry she didn't bring her sewing machine! :)

Here is our room...there were two of us in each room. I didn't spend much time here. :) Lots of late night sewing...

This is the view from our balcony...my intent in taking the picture was to capture the beautiful trees, so disregard the garbage bins and random old VW van. LOL The weather was beautiful the whole time we were there.

Here is my sewing spot....not a ton of room, but it worked! I was thankful I brought my side table and mini iron.

We were set up in the lobby of the hotel...it was one long room with doors to the outside on both ends. Lots of light....

View of the other side....my table was almost right in the middle of the two sides.

I assembled a charity top for Downy Quilts for Kids....

Completely finished my December Count on It banner. Yay! I made all 12 of these this year!

A twister runner made from "Reindeer Games" by Moda...dontcha love the hotel carpet in the background?

(sorry for the bad phone picture) another twister runner, this one is "Northern Cardinal" also by Moda.

I made lots of progress on my Sister's Choice blocks. I think I'll make 12 more blocks and then start assembling!

I wish I had a few more pictures....especially one of the quilt shop that was TWO DOORS DOWN!! Do you have any idea how tempting that is? I would say that everyone made at least two visits every day to the shop. One evening, the shop owner came over and taught us how to make a small project. I'm giving mine as a gift, so I'm not going to show a picture just yet. :)

The retreat was loads of fun and I'm so glad I was able to go. I really enjoyed getting to know these ladies a little better. I'll have a few more pictures to show in the weeks ahead. We assembled two QOV tops and I brought home one to quilt, so I'll share that one soon.

Believe it or not, I'm all packed up and ready to leave at o'dark thirty tomorrow morning for the 2nd retreat. I'll be back in a few days to share pictures!

Happy Quilting!

Not one, but two....

2011-11-10T14:34:00.004-05:00

...quilting retreats coming up! How lucky am I? Two retreats in two weeks! A local quilting group that I joined a couple of months ago had a drop out for their retreat, so I was lucky enough to be able to take the spot. It starts tomorrow! And no...I'm not packed yet!

I return from that one on Monday and leave on Wednesday for Indiana for a retreat with the BackPorch girls. We've retreated together for years, so I'm looking forward to seeing them again!

I return from the Indiana retreat the Sunday before Thanksgiving and then just two days later we head to Florida to spend the holiday here....

and here!!

The kids (ages 21 and 24, mind you!) are the super excited to go here while at Universal:

Needless to say, the next few weeks are going to be a whirlwind! I'll try to pop in and give updates on the retreats, but I may be out of the loop for a while. I'm looking forward to a nice, relaxing December. :)

Happy Quilting!

BFF Visit

2011-11-05T17:34:00.003-04:00

Today I was lucky enough to spend the day with my two of my quilting BFF's. Robin is from Long Island, and Peggy is from New Jersey, so we don't get to see each other as often as we like. Unfortunately, we forgot to take a picture of the three of us this year. This picture is from their visit last year.

Our day started with a trip to a large craft show at the Delaware state fairgrounds, where we each found a few goodies to buy. Then it was back to my house for some fun on the long arm!

Again, we didn't do a good job of taking pictures, but I remembered to get a shot of Peggy as she quilted one of TWO runners. She was a pro right from the start and went home with two quilted tablerunners!

Our day came to an end way to soon, but they both have a long drive home, so we had to say goodbye. It was a great day and I'm so happy they came for a visit! I'm definitely looking forward to the next time we can all get together. :)

Happy Quilting!

Happy November!

2011-11-01T06:00:00.001-04:00

Can you believe it? It's November already...

More Lil Twister

2011-10-31T08:42:00.000-04:00

I recently made a table topper with the Lil Twister templates. I had to wait to show you because it was a gift for my sister's birthday. I really loved this technique and I'm already planning my next project!

For my sister's runner, I used a charm pack called "Looking Back" by Moda. Love it! I actually have a second pack, I may just have to make another one for myself. :)

In case you've never seen how these templates are used, I took some step by step pictures to share. First thing, you sew all the squares together and add a border. It really could be called the "Twice Sewn" quilt, because you really are sewing it twice! It's all worth it in the end though,,,

Next...and this took a bit of courage....start cutting. The templates have nice, strong gripping feet on the four corners, so you don't have to worry much about slipping...

Keep cutting at each 4 corner intersection. There are lines on the template, which makes it super easy to know exactly what angle to place it...

Almost done...cutting the last row...

Look what's left after cutting all the squares. Never fear...we'll be finding a use for those left over scraps...

I didn't get a close up of a square cut with the template, but here are all the squares cut and lined back up. Love those pinwheels!!

A great feature...no seams to match!

and Voila!....in no time at all, they are all sewn up!

Add a second border, quilt, bind, and done! Love it! I love charm packs and doesn't this seem like a great way to showcase all those pretty fabrics?

Oh and remember that left over fabric? ...in true Bonnie style, I cut them all up in to 2" squares and added them to my leader/ender box. They will definitely be put to good use!

Have you made a project with the Lil Twister? I also bought the Twister ruler for using with layer cakes...hmmm, I think I see one of those in my future. :)

Happy Quilting!

Lil' Twister

2011-10-30T17:08:00.001-04:00

My friend Peggy ended up with a double set of these templates....if you're interested in buying them or possibly a trade, she'd be happy to make a deal! :)

Go check it out on her blog: Stitchin' With Peg

Happy Quilting!

Some quilting to show you...

2011-10-27T19:28:00.004-04:00

I realized I could share a couple pictures of some recent quilting projects I completed. These quilts belong to a couple fellow guild members and friends.

This first one wasn't actually pieced by the owner, she purchased the top already made. If you've ever made a top like this, you know that it can be very hard to keep the quilt "square." There was definitely a learning curve involved for me when quilting it. LOL I think it came out okay in the end though! I did an all-over swirl design.

Isn't this a beauty? It was a mystery quilt...

...it's quilted with a design called Hearts in Bloom.

This is another pretty quilt for Christmas...

....and it's quilted with a design called Holly Berries.

I have some projects of my own to share too...but they are gifts, so I have to wait until the receiver sees them first!

Would you believe there is snow in the forecast for our area? I'll believe it when I see it, but I think it's going to be a dreary, stormy weekend! Sounds like the perfect reason to stay in and quilt. :)

Happy Quilting!

Just had to share...

2011-10-24T08:09:00.005-04:00

After quilting for 20 years, I finally entered a quilt in a quilt show! Our local guild joined together with three other area guilds for their biennial quilt show this weekend. One night at guild meeting they said our guild was short on entries, so I thought...why not? I'll give it a shot.

You probably remember my "Busy Little Christmas Elves" quilt. This pattern is by Gail Pan Designs and is right up there in my list of favorite quilts ever!

Guess what? It won a second place ribbon!!

I was just tickled pink! :)

I also entered this lovely quilt, but it didn't win. That's okay though...I love love love this quilt and it's mine all mine! The judges gave me glowing comments, and I admit, it was nice to read what others thought of it too.

The quilt show was interesting and I'm happy I entered for the experience...but honestly, I'm not too concerned what a "judge" thinks of my quilts. I make the quilts that I make because I'm intrigued by a pattern, or more likely because I love the fabrics.... or simply because I.love.quilting. The only opinion that matters is mine and my only hope is the person receiving the quilt will love it too! :)

Happy Quilting!

An old UFO -- finished!

2011-10-17T15:38:00.004-04:00

Finally...this quilt is finished and off my UFO list for good! This a "Patchwork Party" quilt from 2007, if I remember correctly. 2007!! I made the blocks in a timely manner, but it then it sat for a few years. Patchwork Party is sort of an online shop hop....you buy one block from 12 different shops. I loved the fabric line from that year...it was called Prairie Paisley and it's one of my all time favorites. 'Course, that's probably because it's red, white, and blue!

This baby is BIG....it's been a while since I've done a big quilt. It's hard to get a nice picture too!

You should be able to click the images for a closer look at the pictures.

I even used up a bit of "scrap" for the backing....

I used a design called "Pretty Paisley" for the quilting....

This one is for me! Actually, I'd love to see it on our guest bed one day.

Happy Quilting!

Maine recap (warning....lotsa pictures!)

2011-10-10T20:18:00.008-04:00

We had a wonderful trip to Maine! It was (almost) perfect weather and just beautiful scenery. It was a surprise to us that we were -early- to see fall colors...according to the info we had, we were there during "peak" times, but I guess it's just a late year.

I took LOTS and LOTS of pictures, but I picked just a few to share here, so you wouldn't get bored. :P

The evening we arrived, this was the view from our campsite. Instant relaxation!

Our campsite...

Oops...this is the next day. It rained....and rained....and rained...ALL DAY. It was miserable. The ground was so saturated, your feet just sank in to the mud. Miraculously, it was all dried up the next day....it was still muddy, but no puddles.

A view from Popham State Park...we were on the hunt for lighthouses...

This one is called Doubling Point, if I recall correctly. It felt like we were on private property, but the grounds are open to the public. While we were there, the caretaker showed up and gave us a tour of the inside. He had some great information to share about the history of this lighthouse.

Another pretty view....

This was about all the fall colors we saw...

'Course, we had to stop at L.L. Bean...

One of L.L. original sewing machines. He used this to sew boots. Can you imagine?

Well, maybe not THIS boot....

Of course, I hunted down a quilt shop or two. The folks in this shop were super friendly and they had a nice selection of fabrics and patterns.

Burkholder's Fabrics is actually in Pennsylvania....we stopped here on the trip home. If you are ever in this area, you must stop here. They have TONS of fabric and excellent prices.

My purchases from the two shops. :)

And for those of you wondering if I finished the binding on those three quilts? Yes!! I did!! Woohoo!! This first quilt is for Quilts of Valor....someone in our quilt guild pieced the top and I did the quilting and binding.

This quilt is an oldie, but goodie. Peggy, Robin and I swapped these box blocks a few years back and somewhere along the line, I put the top together. Just recently, I added the border and finally got it quilted. I quilted it with freehand flowers and swirls. I'm not sure who the recipient will be of this quilt....maybe me? :)

Just another view...it's very colorful!

And the third quilt is this tablerunner/wallhanging. I'm not sure what I want it to be! If it's on the wall, I can gaze at it fully.

But it fits my coffeetable nicely too....

Anybody still with me? That was a lot of pictures! LOL Hope you enjoyed them!

I'm doing some quilting this week, so stay tuned for those pictures too!

Happy Quilting!

Another project??

2011-10-06T06:00:00.000-04:00

I'm outta control...I DO NOT need another project. Seriously, I don't. So, why did I buy this? LOL 'Cause I'm weak....and it's so cute! The little pinwheels are dimensional! I found the pattern last weekend while shopping with Peggy and Robin. Then, when I was at a (sort of) local quilt shop here in Delaware, I discovered they had Christmas fabrics on sale. I still need to find a border fabric, but the six on the right are for the trees and pinwheels and on the left you see the background fabric and striped fabric for the binding.

I think it was Pat's quilt that put the idea for a Christmas quilt in my head. That's my story anyway. :P

Happy Quilting!

Christmas Pineapples

2011-10-04T06:00:00.001-04:00

Just had to show you this quilt I quilted for Pat. Isn't is neat? It's made with Gyleen Fitzgerald's pineapple template and was part of a "stash" challenge on Facebook. I think Pat did an amazing job making this top entirely from stash....even the backing!

You might remember I started a pineapple quilt with this ruler earlier this year. Seeing this top makes me want to pull that one out again and finish it up!

I love the bright, Christmas-y fabrics....there some oldies, but goodies in there that I know I have in my stash too! The quilting pattern is called "Curlz."

Makes me almost wishing it was Christmas-time....almost...

Happy Quilting,

Another binding vacation...

2011-10-02T22:42:00.001-04:00

We're heading out for a few days to the northeast. We're hoping to see some beautiful fall colors along the coast of Maine. Of course, I can't go project-less, and binding is always a good take along project. I have three quilts here to do....should keep me busy, I'm thinking!

I have a couple posts scheduled to publish while I'm gone. I had a few things to tell you about and didn't want to cram them all in to one post. See ya when we get back!

Happy Quilting!

Sister's Choice Workshop

2011-10-01T16:43:00.005-04:00

Our guild held a workshop today and we worked on Bonnie Hunter's quilt pattern called "Sister's Choice." It's a fun block with a 9 patch in the middle. Her pattern calls for using 2.5" strips/squares to make your 9 patch center that finishes 6". Well...I remembered I had this nice little stack of 9 patches in my stash. The only problem...the are made with 2" squares and the 9 patch finishes at 4.5".

No worries! I just realized if I adjusted her pattern to use 2" strips for the neutrals and the 2" squares for the star points, I was good to go! And look! This is what I made today at the workshop. Ok...so there was a lot more chatting going on at the workshop than sewing, but it's sure was a fun day. There were about 12 of us there today and it was nice to have the opportunity to get to know some of the ladies a little better.

Here is another look at my stack of 9 patches and the blocks I sewed today. The star points are the only constant...all reds, but each block has a different red. Bonnie used green for her star points.

Sooo...I just couldn't leave well enough alone. I also have this, even bigger stack, of 3" mini 9 patches! (Have I mentioned I love 9 patches?)

You know I had to see if I could adjust the pattern even more and make some mini blocks! I used 1.5" strips and squares in these little gems. The minis are by far my favorite. :)

Here is a look at the actual size block, according to Bonnie's directions, with my middle size and mini size. Fun, huh??

Oh and FYI, Bonnie is visiting our guild in April!!!! Woohooo!! This group is so excited...she is doing THREE workshops and a lecture/trunk show. I'm signed up for two of the workshops too! My goal is to have this quilt finished before her visit...think I can do it?

Happy Quilting!

A day with Peggy and Robin

2011-09-25T04:54:00.002-04:00

One of the benefits of living on this side of the country is getting to see Peggy and Robin a little more frequently. In case you didn't know, we met through a Yahoo quilting group years ago and I met them face to face at an annual retreat about 5 years ago. Until last year, we only saw each other once a year. Since I'm on the same coast now, we try to get together every couple of months.

Yesterday we met in Burlington, NJ, at a quilt shop called Olde City Quilts. If you happen to be in that area, you must stop in to this shop. I can't believe we didn't get any pictures. The shop is so inviting and they have samples galore...so inspiring and plenty of kits of those samples to tempt you! I'm actually going back on Friday for a class, so I'll try to remember to get pictures then.

After two hours of shopping (in just that shop), we walked a couple doors down to a yummy little Italian restaurant. Again...no pictures! I'm a bad blogger. :( After we finished eating, we drove about 20 minutes to J & O Fabrics. Wow! If you are looking for novelty fabric, this is the place to go! They also carry decorator and dress fabrics. It was one massive store!

After J & O, it was time for us to head home. Robin had a long drive back to Long Island. We have a plan to get together in November here at my place. There is a big craft show in town and the girls want to see my long arm!

I was able to give Peggy the two quilts I quilted for her...I didn't want to show them here until she had a chance to see them. This first one is soooo pretty. I love the fabrics she used...they are by Fig Tree, but I'm not sure what line.

I quilted it with a pattern called Petaline...I think it was a good choice and made the quilt look so pretty!

The second was this patriotic beauty. Isn't that going to be a great quilt for the summer holidays?

I quilted it with the Stars and Loops design.

I can't wait to see the girls again in November! I promise I'll take pictures then!

Happy Quilting!

Works in progress...

2011-09-22T15:32:00.004-04:00

It's beginning to cool off slightly and tomorrow is the first day of fall....that combination makes me instantly ready for pumpkin stuff! LOL I love pumpkins...they are my favorite part of fall. I bought this runner kit a couple years ago and unfortunately, sat untouched for a while. I finally assembled it last year, but never finished the applique stitching. I'm determined to finish it this year!!! I have it up on the longarm, and I'm working on it here and there when I get a few minutes. I think it's turning out nicely!

This is my Snow Days block of the month from Crabapple Hill. This was a 15 month program that started last May, I think. I kept up pretty well with this one! I'm still unsure how I will quilt it, but I'm also hoping to have this one done before Christmas. (forgive the wrinkles...I didn't feel like heating up the iron) :P

You should be able to click the picture for a closer view. I really enjoyed the embroidery on this project. This is by far the biggest embroidery project I've completed.

I needed this project like I need a hole in my head...but I couldn't resist this block of the month. It's the Cotton Club by Marcus Brothers. I'm receiving mine from Craft Town Fabrics. The fabrics are beautiful turkey reds and brown Civil War repros. Anyone else doing this BOM?

Did anyone see the kitty feet in the picture above? I'm forever sharing my cutting table with one of the kitties. :)

Happy Quilting!

Giveaway....

2011-09-22T09:17:00.002-04:00

The Rogue Quilter has an awesome giveaway...if you want a chance to win, go check it out:

Rogue Quilter

p.s. I plan to win that book. Just sayin.... :P

Better late than never. :)

2011-09-18T12:02:00.003-04:00

I finally made the September Count on It banner! I figure it's still September, so I'm really not late, right? I love these little banners and they really don't take much time.

And look! I also finished October's ahead of time! Yay me!! If you are familiar with this book, you'll see this is not the original design for October. The pattern in the book was black bats, and since I don't really decorate for halloween, I wanted something more fall-ish. My inspiration came from another pattern I own by Country Threads. Which reminds me...I really should finish that up for fall too.

This week I finally added the borders to my Patchwork Party quilt. Next, it's time to get it quilted....I'm a little nervous to tackle something like this! I'll keep you posted!

Happy Quilting!

Wednesday Stuff

2011-09-14T10:06:00.003-04:00

It's weigh in Wednesday and I'm happy to report I'm down 3 more pounds! I realized I didn't report in last week...I think the holiday on Monday threw me off and I lost track of days. So the 3lbs is over two weeks, but that's okay...I'll take it!

Not much in the quilty department to share, unfortunately...but I did get a couple of cute kitty pictures and they both involve my quilty stuff! What is it about fabric that draws these cats to it?

Galaxy is here visiting for a few days and she discovered the little bin with my leader/ender squares in it. Two draws here...the box and the fabric. She looks a little annoyed in this picture, but she was pretty content sitting there. :)

Last night, I was trying to finish up the binding on this donation quilt....I try to keep the cats off of any quilts I plan to give away, but Whiskers was just determined this time! She sat beside me on the couch and every time she nudged forward, I would put my arm up and say, "not this time, Whiskers." But before I knew it, she got through my defenses and immediately hunkered down. Before too long, she was completely relaxed and loving this quilt. She just purred and purred while she lay there. It's was so cute, I couldn't bring myself to disturb her. Which also meant I couldn't adjust the edges of the quilt to continue working on the binding! LOL You can see her eyes are open....she was just enjoying the warmth of the quilt. She stayed there for about an hour. :P

Just FYI...this quilt will be washed before sending it off for donation. :)

Happy Quilting!!

a little update...

2011-09-12T15:28:00.004-04:00

It seems I don't have a lot to blog about lately! Actually, I've done quite a bit of quilting on my longarm, but some of the quilts were for a friend, and I want her to see the quilting before I share it here. I quilted two things for myself too, but I thought I should finish the binding first! I should have pictures soon.

But, here is something I can share! This the monthly wool penny rug from Buttermilk Basin. This is "August." I'm not really sure why sheep for August, but oh well, I'll take it. :) At first, this one didn't thrill me 100%, but as it was coming together, it started to really grow on me! You should be able to click on it for a closer look.

Second, I thought I would share this delicious soup! It's called Mexican Chicken Corn Chowder. I might have actually already shared it on here, but I just can't help it, I have to share it again. It's sooo delicious and is definitely a favorite in our house. Whenever the temperature starts to cool down, I immediately start craving soups. I don't know what made me think the temperature was dropping, 'cause it's still a little steamy out there.

MEXICAN CHICKEN CORN CHOWDER

3 T butter/marg.

4 chicken breast cut bite-sized

1 onion chopped

2 cloves garlic minced

2 cups half and half

2 cups shredded monterrey jack cheese

2 cans cream corn

2 cans chopped green chiles

1/2 t hot sauce (or more)

1/4 t salt (or to taste)

1/2-1 t cumin (I don't add this)

2 T chopped fresh cilantro (or this, not a cilantro fan)

*melt butter and add chicken/onion/garlic and saute

*stir in next 7 ingredients and cook over low heat, stirring often for 15 minutes

*stir cilantro in when soup is ready

*serve with extra cheese sprinkled on top

Happy Quilting!!

Never Forget

2011-09-11T11:44:00.000-04:00

God Bless America!

Winner!!

2011-09-06T18:52:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to #3...Shasta! You are the winner of the MyMemories Scrapbook software giveaway!!

For the rest of you...if you want to order the software, MyMemories is offering my readers a $10 coupon towards the price of the software AND another $10 towards additional purchases. Just use this coupon code at checkout: STMMMS55825

Also, if you are on Facebook...There is a $5 coupon on their page too!

Happy Quilting and Scrapbooking!!

more quilting....

2011-09-02T09:02:00.003-04:00

This is another top I quilted for Tammy. Isn't it cute? She made it for her grandson, Alexander. It's flannel and it's an activity quilt! That panel in the center is a scavenger hunt list and you can search through all the cute fabrics to find the things on the list. The pictures aren't the best, but I want to get it in the mail today and this was the best I could do!

I quilted it with freehand swirls. Again...a first. Thank you, Tammy, for letting me experiment on your quilt! LOL I hope you like it!

Can you believe this is the back? I'm not sure which side I like better!

I can tell already, this quilt is going to be comfy-cozy in the cold winter months. Zander will surely snuggle up with this one!

Hope you all have a wonderful Labor Day weekend!

Wednesday Stuff

2011-08-31T09:07:00.005-04:00

I think Irene blew my mojo up over the North Atlantic somewhere...anyone see it go by? I've been so unproductive this week so far! One thing I needed to do after returning home after the storm was to "un-hurricane-ize" my house. What a chore that was...for some reason, it was really hard to do and I had to force myself to get it done. I finally have everything back in place now though. My sewing machine and longarm are all back in place, lamps are plugged back in, sewing table cleaned and ready to go. Time to get back on track and focus on regular life!!

I do have some pictures from before the storm's interruption though! This first quilt belongs to my BFF in Idaho, Tammy. She's also my cousin by marriage, but she can still be a BFF, right? I think so! She's an avid quilter, like myself, so we are two peas in a pod.

The purples and pinks are so much prettier in real life. I don't know why they look so washed out in the picture!

I quilted it on my longarm using a pattern called Hearts in Bloom. I used a variegated purple thread. I am so pleased with the results! I think she'll love it too.

Remember the back of a quilt I showed last week? Here is the front my Stitchin' Time wall hanging. Like I said before, this is my first attempt at custom quilting...so it's far from perfect. (you can click the pic for a larger view) You might remember, I made another quilt just like this one a few weeks back. The kit was so generous, I had enough for two quilts, except for having to add some background fabric. That's my kind of kit!!

I just love the colors in this quilt!

Lastly, here is my grown up boy...I can't believe he's about to start his SENIOR year of college. Where does the time go?? This was the first time I'd seen him in his flight suit, so I begged for a picture. He knows he can't say no to his mama, so he obliged. :)

In this picture, he's asking, "This won't get posted on Facebook, will it?" I told him no....but I never said I wouldn't post it on my blog. heehee :) I love him.

Last but not least....Weigh in Wednesday. No change this week...but that means no gain either. I have to consider that a good thing after the events of this past week!!

Happy Quilting!

p.s. don't forget to enter my giveaway for MyMemories Scrapbook Software!

Giveaway!

2011-08-29T21:42:00.006-04:00

First off...thank you to everyone for their thoughts and prayers while I was evacuated during the hurricane. All is well and good and I'm home, safe and sound. There was no damage to our house, thankfully. Who would have thought we would have earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes all in one week in Delaware! I hope that is all the excitement for a good long while! Now, on to more exciting topics!

I know this is mainly a quilting blog....but my blog title is "Michelle's Quilts and Stuff," so I think it's okay to talk about some of my other hobbies, right? :)

I have loved scrapbooking for many, many years...I have lots of doodads, tools, stickers, papers, templates, cutters, etc. It's also been many years since I've pulled out all that -stuff- needed to scrapbook. Since our pictures are now all digital, I've seriously considered switching to a digital scrapbooking program....but I've always been torn, because the actual -doing- of the craft I think is what I enjoy...the cutting, the tactile feel of the paper and stickers...it's all part of the experience. Do you know what I mean?

In the meantime, the pictures sit in boxes or in a file on the computer, untouched. A couple years ago, I researched computer scrapbook software and MyMemories stuck out as one of the best reviewed. I decided that was the one I wanted to try, but again, I hesitated...then we moved and again, scrapbooking was put on hold.

A couple of weeks ago...MyMemories contacted me and asked me to review their scrapbook software and post the review on my blog! How crazy is that? It was the exact software I had wanted to try! I have followed them on Facebook for a couple of years too. Another great thing....I get to giveaway a copy of MyMemories scrapbook software to one of my lucky readers!! Woohoo!

I was so excited to try out the software...and I have to tell you, at first it was a bit overwhelming. I feel like I am fairly competent with the computer and most consumer software programs...I knew this software was pretty user friendly, so what was wrong? I was completely lost! Then I realized that there are loads of video tutorials on the MyMemories blog! Perfect! That was exactly what I needed! I watched a few videos and something finally clicked!

In no time at all, I had started putting together my first album! Here are a few pages from our Alaskan Cruise scrapbook! (click on images for a closer look)

It's simple to drag and drop the photos into a pre-made template. Or you can make pages "from scratch" if you like.

Even the pre-made templates can be edited....more pictures can be added, elements can be changed, text can be added.

I still have much to learn and explore....and I'm so excited at the thought that my pictures will actually get scrapbooked now!

Here are some pros and cons I've discovered so far:

Pros:

--easy drag and drop format

--pre-made, customizable templates

--easy to add or delete extra pages to your album

--pages can be saved into pdf format...those pdf's can be uploaded just like pictures for other products (mugs, mouse pads, calendars, tshirts, etc...great gift ideas!)

--spell checker/album check for errors

--albums can be uploaded and printed into hardbound books or printed as individual pages for a more traditional style scrapbook

--multiple size pages, 12" x 12", 8" x 10", 6" x 6", etc

Cons:

--initially, getting started for me wasn't super clear...maybe it was just me and my over-eagerness to get started. :P

--(maybe pro AND con) comes preloaded with a huge amount of album templates and embellishments, but the really cool templates and embellishments are available to purchase online. The prices are reasonable and probably cheaper than what you would spend on paper, stickers, etc. There are lots of freebies in their online store too.

This is a great introduction video...it's about 30 minutes. If you take the time to watch, it really has a great deal of information that I didn't cover here and will be well worth your time if you are seriously considering a digital software program.

So, now for the giveaway! You have the chance to win a copy of the MyMemories scrapbook software for yourself! I don't like super difficult blog giveaways, but I am going to ask you to do one thing. You only need to comment once for one entry, but I would like you to go to the MyMemories site and pick out your favorite album template and list it in your ONE comment. That's it! I will pick the winner with Random Number Generator on Tuesday, September 6th.

In addition to the giveaway, MyMemories has given all of you a $10 coupon toward the purchase of the MyMemories Scrapbook Software and also a $10 coupon for additional purchases in their store! A $20 value! It's that amazing?! Just add this coupon code at checkout: STMMMS55825

Don't forget to check out the MyMemories Blog for lots of ideas and tutorials! Also the MyMemories Facebook page is a great resource to see pictures of others' pages and shared ideas.

Now it's time for me to finish up my Alaska Scrapbook!

Good luck!!

Hurricane Irene

2011-08-27T09:06:00.002-04:00

Is anyone else already tired of talking and hearing about Irene? LOL It seems like it's been "coming" forever, but it's here now and I guess we need to take her seriously! My neighborhood has been evacuated. I actually left when it was "highly recommended," but now it's mandatory.

The housing area is in a tidal surge area, so they are concerned about flooding with the amount of rain this storm is bringing. We've had the wettest August on record too, so the ground is already saturated.

I'm a few hours northwest in Pennsylvania, so we'll be fine here. My husband had to stay back and work the emergency operational stuff that has to be done, but they are in a secure location, so I'm sure they will be okay, too.

At least with this kind of natural disaster, you have some time to prepare. In case it does flood, we moved everything we could think of to higher ground. Really, it's just pictures and photo albums that I worry about. Furniture can be replaced.

I'll check in when I'm home safe and sound...for now, me and the kitties and Buster, are just fine. Just waiting for Irene to leave town. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you who are also in the storm's path.

God Bless!

Weigh In Wednesday, earthquakes, and other stuff. :P

2011-08-24T11:18:00.003-04:00

It's Wednesday again and time to report my weight loss efforts! Only 1/2 a pound this week. Ugh. I can't say I'm too surprised...I don't think I exercised at all, but I did okay with food choices for the most part. I'll take it, but I know I have to to do better to DO better! You know what I mean?

Did you hear about the earthquake? LOL Who didn't? We felt it here in Delaware. Actually, I was in New Jersey with my friend Peggy....we were in a quilt shop too! The patterns and notions were a-swaying!! It was in an old "down town" kind of building, so you really could hear the wood creak too. I'm from California, but it's been a lot of years since I've lived there and felt an earthquake. The only thing I didn't like was having to drive over two bridges to get back to Delaware...I didn't see any "all clear" inspection signs! I survived though. :)

So back to my trip with Peggy. We met sort of in the middle between her house and mine and visited three quilt shops and went out to a lunch at a cute little diner. (they had the BEST homemade potato chips...see problem above!) LOL Here is a picture of my purchases for the day. A couple of backings, a stack of FQ's on sale (10/$15), and orange/blue fabrics for a new project I've been pondering....a quilt for someone that is a Univ of Florida Alum.

I also need to show you pictures of a recent project on the longarm. You might remember this quilt made with A Morris Tapestry fabric. I quilted it with a pattern called Halcyon. I love it!

I used a grey thread that blended perfectly....

I'm in the process of stitching the binding down now, but I just couldn't wait any longer to show you a picture.

Here is a sneak peak at another project...my first "freehand" work on the longarm. I definitely struggled a bit with this one, but I can see that I will improve with practice! You can click for a larger picture...but don't look too closely at my crooked lines! LOL It was so fun and even with all the stumbles, I'm very happy with it. The binding is finished on this one, so I'll be posting more pictures and you'll see the front of the quilt too!

I just took another quilt off the frame last night, so as soon as the grass dries (so I can take it outside, it's a biggie!), I'll get a picture posted.

Happy Quilting!

Pets on Quilts

2011-08-18T21:45:00.005-04:00

I've been seeing all the Pets on Quilts posts this week and decided my quilt inspectors couldn't be left out! I have two very dedicated, very well trained quilt inspectors and they take their jobs very seriously!

Inspector #1 is Whiskers. She will be 15 years old in October, but you'd never know it...she's healthy as a horse. :P She's the shy kitty of the bunch, but she is loyal and knows who her mama is!

Inspector #2 is Smokey....he is 5 years old and he's, um, well, he's a bit more robust than Whiskers. He's is our "cling-on" kitty...he's a bit needy and likes to cuddle. :P He requires many naps during his inspection duties, as you can see in this picture.

Whiskers finds the best places to be on the lookout and she loves boxes...especially ones that have "Fat Quarter Shop" on the side. :P In this picture, she is helping me find that book I need for my next quilt project...

I know this is "Pets ON Quilts," but how about Pets UNDER Quilts? Smokey loves to get between the quilt and the other blankets...whenever I see a big lump in the bed, I know Smokey is taking another nap.

Whiskers likes to observe while I'm sewing....the sewing machine table makes for a nice back-rest, don'tcha know?

Pincushions make nice pillows too...just sayin'....

In this picture, Smokey is still a bit of a kitten and you can see Whiskers in the background observing, making sure Smokey is inspecting the quilt properly...

New fabric is so nice for napping....especially when it's under the "heat lamp."

Lastly, I'd like to introduce you to our temp-inspector, Galaxy. She lived with us for a few months along with our daughter. She learned the job of quilt inspector in no time flat and became quite proficient. Galaxy and her mama have their own apartment now, but she comes down for visits occasionally.

I picked this quilt top up off the floor to keep the kitties off of it, but that didn't stop Galaxy...she just thought I moved it so she'd have a better look at the bird feeder.

Isn't she pretty? I like the contrast of her black fur next to the colorful array of fabrics in this quilt.

I hope you enjoyed seeing the pictures of our fur-babies. It was hard to just pic a few! If you want to see more pictures of quilters and their pets, head on over to SewCalGal and check it out!

Weigh In Wednesday

2011-08-17T09:29:00.004-04:00

Down 3.5lbs today!! Yay!! I even exercised too! We have a great gym on base and a wonderful walking path that goes around the perimeter of the housing area and is about 3 miles.

Thanks for all the supportive messages! I did struggle this week, but it definitely helped to know that I was going to have to write this post today. I will do this...I must do this!! :)

Farmer's Wife and Bowties

2011-08-15T20:40:00.004-04:00

I finished the 5th installment of Marti Michell's Farmer's Wife blocks. I'm up to 52 blocks now! Woohoo! I think I need to get serious about finding setting and cornerstone fabric...soon! I received one suggestion of making the cornerstones with a cheddar fabric! Do I dare?? That would be way out of my comfort zone, but I think I like it!! :) What do you think about adding another color to the cornerstone/sashing? Or do I stick with the neutrals/blues?

So, I'm following Marti Michell's installments for assembling these blocks...she sends a newsletter every two weeks with conversions for using her templates. She will start the program again in September, if you want to sign up! Just send an email to cservice@frommarti.com and put "Farmer's Wife List 2" in the subject line.

After all that, I will admit, I only have two sets of her tempates (Set A & C). She also uses B, D, K, & S (I think). I do love using the templates and they make the blocks incredibly accurate, I just couldn't justify spending $80+ on them right now.

I did find this site that has the paper templates broken down by block....so instead of printing one template per sheet with the CD that comes with the book (that would be 111 pieces of paper!), you can print one page with all the templates needed for a particular block. Since templates aren't needed for some of the simpler blocks, I've only had to print 3-4 sheets so far! Pretty good, I think!

I'm also still plugging along on the Summer Bowtie Facebook Challenge. I've been using them as my leader/enders during the last couple of sewing projects. I have sixty 3" blocks so far...I'm not sure how many more I'll make. Maybe just 12 more and make it a table runner? That would make it 18"x 36".

It seems that summer is wrapping up...lots of kids have started school already, fall/halloween decorations are in the stores...where did the time go? I'm always ready for cooler temperatures, but I'm still waiting for the slower pace of summer to get here. I think I missed it.

Happy Quilting!!

Weigh In Wednesday

2011-08-10T06:30:00.001-04:00

Over the years, I've seen "Weigh In Wednesdays" many times, but never really participated. I decided it was time to jump on the bandwagon and have my own Weigh In Wednesday.

I need to lose some serious weight! My biggest motivator is just knowing that I'll feel better if I weighed less. I'd also like my clothes to fit better! :) I have found that I do better when I have some accountability...whether that's a work out buddy or a friend that goes to Weight Watchers with me, etc, I just do better knowing someone else will know whether or not I stayed on plan. Right now I don't have anyone locally that fills that role. So, I'm hoping all my buddies in blogland will help me stay accountable. If I know you all are expecting me to report my weight loss results every Wednesday, then maybe I'll stay on track! If not, I give you permission to smack me upside the head and tell me to get with it! (just don't scream at me like Jillian Michaels...she's scary!! I'll take Bob any day.)

I don't think I'm ready to announce my current weight and have it out there in public (yikes!) LOL, but I will report pounds lost, give an exercise report, and share any recipes that I discover. I will generally be following Weight Watchers, as I know that program works if I let it. If any of you have any tips, recipes, or suggestions, I'd love to hear them!

Thanks in advance for the support and I'm hoping to return the favor and we can encourage each other!! I'll be back next week with my first week results!

Snow Days

2011-08-06T18:10:00.004-04:00

It's been a while since I've shared any progress pictures of my Snow Days BOM. The pattern is from Crabapple Hill. Hopefully, you can click on it for a closer look. :)

You can see I'm almost done! I have a little bit of "overlap" stitching where some of the blocks connect together and I have one last piece to embroider that will fill that spot on the upper left side. This has been an incredibly enjoyable project! I received the last kit in July, so I'm proud of myself for keeping up with this one.

So, that brings me to a question. How does one quilt this thing? I'd appreciate any thoughts or suggestions. I'm thinking I'll have to stitch over the embroidery in some way because it's just too large of area to keep unquilted. What do you think?

Happy Quilting!

Farmer's Wife Progress

2011-08-05T14:27:00.005-04:00

I finished the 4th installment of Marti Michell's Farmer's Wife bi-monthly BOM. All of these blocks were made using templates from Marti's template Set A. The templates sure make things easier! The blocks go together perfectly.

I have 42 blocks completed and I'm one installment behind. Once I get caught up on the 5th installment, I'll be halfway done! I think we're due to receive the 6th installment any day now! I better keep working!

Happy Quilting!

Did I do it?

2011-08-02T10:00:00.006-04:00

We had a wonderful mini vacation to Lake Erie. Our campsite was right on the lake (a little foliage separated us from the water), so we had a great view of seemingly endless water! We saw a couple barges/shipping boats out in the distance, but for the most part the lake was calm. There were a couple of jet skis zooming around too and that was fun to watch...especially when they were pulling those water tubes behind them. We spent one day out on the lake in a different area. We rented a boat and zoomed around the water for a few hours and had lunch out on the boat. I didn't take my camera though because I was worried about it getting wet. I'm telling you...our little boat got jostled around in the wake of some bigger boats. Later in the afternoon when the wind picked up, we hit a few waves too. All of us were feeling a little "blah" by the time we got back on land. It was fun though!

Look at this beautiful sunset we enjoyed every night. Our campsite was so peaceful and cool enough to have a campfire at night.

Sunday we ventured up to Niagara Falls...we actually visited both the US and Canadian sides. I've been once before, back in '92, but never to the Canadian side. Here is Zach looking out from the American side.

There is just so much water and it's moving so rapidly. Where is all that water coming from...and where is it going? LOL These are questions I ponder....guess I should have paid better attention in geography class. :P

This is the view of Horseshoe Falls from the Canadian side. I have to say, I think this is a better view!

More of the American Falls...

It was a gorgeous day!

This sign made me giggle....

Okay....I won't keep you in suspense any longer! Yes!! I did get all my bindings finished! Yay me!

Happy quilting!!

Binding Vacation

2011-07-28T00:04:00.004-04:00

We're headed out for a few days of camping. We're going to northern PA and camping on the shores of Lake Erie...we're hoping for some cooler temperatures and a little relaxation! We'll probably take a little side trip to Niagra Falls too!

Of course a quilter never goes anywhere without taking a project or two to work on, right? I'm making this a binding vacation! I have THREE quilts to bind and my goal is to finish them while I'm away. Think I can do it? I think so....I hope so!

And yep...that is another quilt you see there on the left. It's the I Spy DNP that I made a few weeks ago. It's going to a sweet baby boy that was born on Sunday. I did an all over meander with grey thread.

Those are my goals for a long weekend getaway....what do you have planned for the weekend?

Happy Quilting!

Longarm update....

2011-07-22T18:02:00.007-04:00

Some of you have been wondering how I've been doing with my new longarm. One thing for sure...I'm having a great time!! I thought I'd share a few pictures to show you my progress. I was tempted to wait until I had binding on the things I quilted, but I just won't have the time to do the handsewing part of the binding for another week or two and I didn't want to wait that long to show you what I've been up to!

This was my first attempt at a pantograph or edge to edge pattern. I can definitely see some bobbles and I stumbled quite bit, but I think some little boy or girl will love it just the same.

Here's a close up...the pattern is Stars and Loops.

The second quilt I finished is this wallhanging called "Stitchin' Time" by Patchalot Patterns. You might remember this post where I mentioned I bought the kit from Millstone Quilts when my friend and Irene and I went on a road trip. I actually made it to give to Irene as a going away present. She's been my quilting buddy for the last year...but the Air Force called and they are on their way to their next adventure. :(

I quilted this one with a freehand meander. Oh and the best part? The kit was so generous, I have enough fabric to make a second quilt!! I'll just have to add some additional fabric for the background of the pinwheel blocks. I plan to make one for myself to commemorate the "Stitchin' Time" Irene and I had together. :)

For my next project, I decided to hang with the big boys and just go for it! It was time for a "real" quilt. This is a quilt top I finished sometime in the last year or so and it seemed perfect for me to try my hand at another edge to edge pattern. This one measures 65"x 82".

The quilting pattern is called Bountiful Feathers and I feel like I did a much better job on this one, if I do say so myself. :)

Here is a better picture of the quilting. I used a thread color called "Maple" and it's just so perfect for these Thimbleberries fabrics. In fact ALL THREE of these quilts were quilted with Maple!! I happened to pick it up at the shop when I was there for my class...and who would have thought it was just the perfect color? I've already used about 1/2 of it, so I think I better order another spool!

Hmmm....what to try next??? Before my machine arrived, I spent quite a bit of time assembling tops and preparing backings. But guess what I didn't think about? THREAD! I've acquired a couple of spools that I picked up here and there and a couple came with my machine, but I'm really limited with the colors. It didn't take long for me to find a good online source to order some!

Hope you all are finding a way to stay cool in this crazy heat!! Today our "feels like" temperature is 118!! I'll leave you with this picture....this is what happens to your camera when you walk outside into what feels like 100% humidity. LOL

A new member of the family!

2011-07-18T07:23:00.005-04:00

We have a new family member...Isn't she cute?? :) She weighs in at 70 some-odd pounds and is 30" in length. teehee... Seriously...this baby is a dream come true! I've dreamt of owning a longarm for many years and in the "grand plan" we always talked about getting one after retiring from the military. A few weeks ago, my wonderful hubby said he didn't want me to wait any longer. :) When is he going to retire anyway? LOL

Here is the room before set up...it's not a huge space, but it will do for now! This was my sewing room and I've had to disperse my shelves and cabinets to other parts of the house. I do still have my regular sewing machine in here...it's just off to the right in the picture, you can see just a corner of the table.

It really is at least a two person job....

It's coming together!

There she is! She likes her new home. :)

A few more adjustments....

And we have lights!!

Finally she was all ready to go! Believe me when I say I jumped right in and got her up and running! I loaded some muslin and zoomed right off! Please don't look too closely! I need lots and lots of practice!

After a couple of days of practicing on muslin...I decided it was just time to jump in and get my feet wet with a "real" quilt. This is a charity top you might remember from an earlier post. By now you might have realized why I was assembling all those tops over the last few weeks...I was getting ready for my big arrival!! I quilted this one with a stars and loops edge to edge pattern and I'm actually really pleased with it!

I'm so happy with my new toy and so excited to be able to quilt my own quilts and eventually quilt for others too!

Summer adventures....

2011-07-14T09:17:00.008-04:00

One of my favorite things to do is hunt down new quilt shops! I've done a lot of driving across the country, either because of our military reassignments, or because we are traveling to see friends and family. Anytime we go somewhere new, I do a "google search" for quilt shops along the way. My husband is very accommodating and never complains about driving off the route in order for me to stop at a quilt shop (he usually uses that time for a nap). :)

This week, a friend (no blog) and I traveled to Richmond, Virginia, for a class, so of course I had to scope out local shops. I found three that seemed worthy of a stop, based on their location and the time we had available. The first two were just okay...nothing really notable. But the last shop we stopped at was INCREDIBLE!! It is Millstone Quilts in Mechanicsville, VA. In fact, this shop will be in the September 2011 issue of Quilt Sampler Magazine! If you aren't familiar with that magazine, twice a year they publish 10 "must see" shops from around the country.

I wish I would have taken some better pictures....the outside was soooo beautiful. The setting was so quaint...this shop is out in the middle of nowhere. LOL There are a few more pictures on their website. Of course, Miles had to sneak into the pic. :)

I wish I had taken more pictures of the inside too! I thought I did...but I guess I was too busy drooling to realize I wasn't taking pictures. :) The pics are taken with my phone, so they aren't the best quality.

The shop had an entire room of Civil War type fabrics....their displays and kits were just amazing!

Their displays were awesome, incorporating antiques and old wood workings from the mill that used to exist on the property.

I did come home with a small purchase....a kit for Patchalot Patterns "Stitchin Time" pattern. I love Marcie's patterns, so when I saw this kit, I knew I had to have it! I picked up two extra FQ's to add to the kit too. :)

If you are ever in the Richmond, VA, area, you MUST stop at this shop. :)

Happy Quilting!

p.s. stay tuned in the next couple of days for some exciting news at Michelle's Quilts & Stuff!!!

Wool Candle Mats (and charm winner!)

2011-07-07T13:07:00.006-04:00

True Random Number GeneratorMin: Max:
Result:4

Congratulations to "Needled Mom"....she is the winner of the charms!

Needled Mom said...

I was reading this and thinking that that tapestry quilt would look awesome using some of the charm squares. I.d love to give that a try with the charms.

I posted before about a new monthly program I joined for candle mats or Penny Rugs as they are called. Each month I receive a kit with the wool and a pattern designed by Buttermilk Basin. These are awesome! And so quick and easy to assemble. This is July...it's not extremely summer-y, but the pennies look a little like sunflower colors. Some of the months are definitely seasonal or have a holiday theme. This one could stay out all year!

yummy....

Here is the mat for June. I am in love with this one...I just have to pet it every time I walk by. :P The wools are just soooo nice.

I love the detail on these little projects...easy and simple, but just the right touch.

I don't remember what the theme/design is for August. I could look ahead on the website, but I think I'll wait and just be surprised when the kit arrives in the mail. :)

Happy Quilting!

Got tops?

2011-07-06T07:53:00.005-04:00

Quilt tops that is! I have more than my fair share, that's for sure. I'm adding a few more after the last week or so of sewing too! I wanted to take the pictures on the grass, but it's sooo humid outside this morning, the grass is too WET! My camera lens kept fogging up too...so the pictures seem a little cloudy to me. :/

The first one is a layer cake kit called "A Morris Tapestry." It was quick and easy to sew together, with nice results!

I also made a couple of baby/charity tops. I bought this Sock Monkey fabric a few months ago and have been wanting to try it with a pattern that didn't cut up the monkeys too much. I found this Quick Strippie pattern on MaryQuilts. I'll definitely be using this one again! I'll bind this one in brown too which I think will finish it off nicely.

Aren't those monkeys the cutest!!

The blocks for this patriotic star came from a birthday swap a couple years ago...I received just enough blocks back to make a good size toddler quilt.

The last one is a DNP made with I Spy charms...these charms also came from swaps years ago! I've made 3-4 quilts so far with these and still have a stack of charms. I used a black polka dot in the center square of the 9patch, but it doesn't stand out as much as I was hoping it would.

Speaking of those charms...this is what I have left and honestly, I'm done with them! LOL I'm going to do a quickie giveaway and if you've read this far, you are lucky enough to enter to win these! Disclaimer....I've picked through these for 3-4 quilts, which means I think I've taken the best ones out. :) What's left is the bottom of the barrel so to speak....but if you still want them, just leave a comment on this post and I'll pick a name later tonight. That stack of rectangles will be thrown in too! Good luck!

Happy Quilting!

Happy Independence Day!

2011-07-04T10:16:00.000-04:00

Farmer's Wife

2011-06-28T10:52:00.004-04:00

Are you tired of seeing these? :P I'm loving them...they have been so fun to make! I finished the 3rd installment of the bi-weekly BOM. I've really made a dent in my "blue" stash of fabrics too. I think I'm going to need to pick up a few medium blues, though.

Instead of posting individual pictures, I thought I'd just share a slideshow.

Happy Quilting!

More Farmer's Wife blocks....

2011-06-23T14:06:00.000-04:00

I'm all caught up with my Farmer's Wife block of the...um, every other week. LOL Every two weeks, Marti Michell sends out the template instructions for 10-11 blocks. These have been fun to make so far! I admit, she had us start with some of the easier blocks...but that's okay, just one seam at a time. :)

First up...#103 Whirlwind

#31 Evening Star

#34 Flock

#51 Hovering Birds

#52 Hovering Hawks

#61 Northern Lights

#2 Autumn Tints

#6 Big Dipper

#10 Bowtie

#15 Buzzard's Roost

#29 Economy

I'm still trying to figure out Picasa. This isn't exactly what I was going for, but it's pretty cool!

Happy Quilting!

Are you up for a summertime challenge?

2011-06-21T19:23:00.004-04:00

Starting a new project is the LAST thing I need to do...but what can I say? I must be a glutton for punishment.

Some of you may remember the "9 Patch Project" from last summer? This summer the challenge is to make Bow Tie blocks. For those of you unfamiliar...the goal is to make one block a day from the first day of summer to the first day of fall. At the end you'll have 95 blocks!! In case you didn't hear...TODAY is the first day of Summer! Woohoo!!

You can go to Anna Lena Land for more details and cutting instructions...for 6" or 3" blocks. She also has a Facebook page.

Even up until this morning, I was going to stay away from this project. But I made my first block and that was the end of my resolve. :/ I'm doing 3" scrappy blocks.

I prepped a few block kits for about the next 20 days or so...it was easy since I raided my leader/ender bin for some 2" squares too! That little block for the "tie" of the bow tie is 1"!!!

So, what do you say? Are you in??!!!

Farmer's Wife

2011-06-20T21:24:00.006-04:00

There has been a lot of chatter in blogland about the Farmer's Wife book lately, hasn't there?

A few weeks ago in early May, I received Marti Michell's email newsletter and in it she explained that she had converted all but a few of the blocks from the book to use her templates. That is a great time saver from using the paper templates that can be printed using the CD that comes with the book. She was offering a bi-weekly FREE "BOM" for the conversion charts via email. I've had the book for a while and had it on my "someday" list and this was just the push I needed to get moving...so I signed up!

I have received the first and second installments of her conversion charts, which covers about 20 blocks or so. She is not going in numerical order, but rather doing blocks that use the same templates. The first installment was 10 fairly simple blocks that are made of mostly 2" HST and 2" squares.

I own two sets of her templates and she uses a total of 6 different sets for this project. I do love the accuracy of using the templates and have made a couple of quilts using the sets I own. But the truth is, I haven't been able to bring myself to buy the other 4 sets as that would be about $80. I keep thinking of other ways I can spend that $80 these days!! I'm going to press forward without the templates and see how I do. I know there are some more difficult blocks coming up...so I may just have to print off some paper templates if I get stumped. Also, my friend Peggy had the great idea of referring to her "Around the Block" quilt pattern book...it's a great resource for blocks of all sizes and patterns.

Here are the 10 blocks from the first installment! You can see I'm attempting to do a two-color quilt with blues and neutrals. I'm loving the blocks so far!!

#9 - Box (why Box? it looks like a pinwheel. LOL)

#16 Calico Puzzle

#21 Contrary Wife

#23 - Country Farm (my fave so far!)

#41 - Friendship Star

#69 - Practical Orchard

#70 - Prairie Queen

#72 - Railroad

#81 - Snowball

#84 - Spool

I was playing in Picasa...trying to set up a slideshow, but I don't quite have it yet. LOL

Now on to the 2nd installment...gotta finish before the next one arrives, which should be anyday! :P

Happy Quilting!

TWO more finishes!

2011-06-16T08:00:00.001-04:00

FINALLY...the Hooty Hoot quilt is finished! And with no time to spare, either. The baby was born on June 13th, so I need to get this baby packaged up and ready to mail!

I am so pleased with how this quilt turned out. I just think it's incredibly cute and huggable...if I do say so myself! The disappearing 9-patch is so quick and easy!

Can you see that striped binding? I love it!! I have a thing for striped binding right now...

I also LOVE using up extra fabric for the backing!

I'm usually stumped for ideas for making a cute label, but this idea popped into my head and I jumped on it. :) I found the little clip art owl online and traced it onto the label fabric. Cute!!

The second finish is the -still-unnamed-leader-ender-quilt. Just doesn't seem right to keep calling it my leader-ender quilt. LOL

Again....striped binding (click twice for a closer look). I told you I had a thing going, me and stripes. :P

And again...my other favorite thing to do. I used up 9 yards of fabric from my stash for the back of this baby! Woohoo!!

Happy Quilting!!

Book Review

2011-06-15T06:58:00.004-04:00

I love historical fiction novels...and this was no exception. Hidden Affections is set in 1830's Philadelphia and begins with the heroine, Annabelle Tyler, attempting to start a new life after her scoundrel husband divorces her and steals the modest inheritance she received from her deceased parents. Carrying the stigma of being a divorced woman, she knows her options will be limited.

Suddenly she finds herself handcuffed to the handsome, wealthy, and elusive bachelor, Harrison Graymoor, and forced into another marriage neither of them want! She is promised a quick annulment, but quickly realizes that isn't going to be as easy as either of them hoped. In the meantime, Harrison attempts to hide her away until the marriage is legally ended...but the rumors spread quickly among high society and in order to preserve their reputations, they must play the role as a happily married couple. Annabelle and Harrison both have skeletons from their pasts that quickly come to the forefront and threaten to destroy their facade.

The story moves fairly quickly, but the characters and secondary characters are developed nicely and I found myself wrapped up in their lives, anxious to learn how things turn out for this unlikely couple. Although the story takes places in extreme winter weather conditions, this is a great summertime page turner!

Obligatory disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House to review and give my honest opinion, positive or negative!

Do you like to see the process?

2011-06-08T11:38:00.007-04:00

Do you like to see pictures of projects in process? I came across a blog recently that brought up the topic of blogging about the process of quilting as opposed to just posting pictures of the finished product.

I think I'm somewhere in the middle. Occasionally I'm intrigued when a blogger shares how a project came about from beginning to end...but sometimes I enjoy seeing just the finished product. I especially like seeing process pictures if it includes a technique or a product that is new to me.

I think I blog about the same way...sometimes I share a few pictures of the process along the way, but most times I just take a picture of the finished product and blog about it after it's done.

Which do you prefer?

Today, you are getting some "in process" pictures. :)

I recently joined a new BOM program for Buttermilk Basin's wool candle mats. (I guess it's not really a BOM, but a CMOM..candle mat of the month :-P ) I'm receiving my kits from Primitive Gatherings...no association, just a happy customer.

The first month received was for June. Here is a picture of the pattern cover...isn't it cute!

In the kit each month, I receive the pattern and all the wool for the mat. The wool is just scrumptious!! My favorite way to cut out the pieces is to trace them onto freezer paper and lightly iron the pieces to the wool. Don't iron too long or it sticks a bit too much to the wool and pulls some of the fibers out.

Now I have all my little units cut out...I pull the freezer paper off and throw them away. Sometimes I might reuse the paper pieces, but I actually find it easier to cut the wool when I have a line on the freezer paper to cut on instead of cutting around an old template.

Of course I have to lay everything out to see how it looks!

But I actually stitch in layers...from the bottom up. So in this case I did the strawberries first, and then the green pieces, and last the flowers. My BFF, Robin, recently shared this little tip...using 505 Temporary Adhesive spray to hold the wool pieces in place while you stitch. It works great! Sometimes I'll also hand baste the pieces in place.

Time for stitchin'!

Happy Quilting!

FriendSheep BOM

2011-06-07T08:27:00.004-04:00

Surprise, Surprise...I didn't get the Hooty Hoot top quilted this weekend! The weather was just so beautiful, we decided to get out and enjoy it while we could. On Saturday, we took the ferry to Cape May, New Jersey. It was a great day...and Cape May is be beautiful town and hopefully we'll go again!

I did make some great progress on my Friendsheep BOM. At times I wonder, "What am I going to do with this project when it's done?" But then I see all these blocks developing and I am beginning to see how cute they are all when they are together. :)

I had three to catch up on...so here is April. Don't you just love those fluffy ears?

May....

and June....

Aren't they cute!! I want to decide soon how I am going to set them...I'm not overly impressed with the original pattern design, so I'm trying to come up with something else.

Happy Quilting!!

Hooty Hoot

2011-06-02T16:29:00.005-04:00

Remember a couple of months ago I went on a hunt for Hooty Hoot fabric? I am FINALLY taking the time to make the quilt! The truth is, I found out about 5-6 weeks ago that the mom-to-be changed her mind as is actually NOT using the Hooty Hoot for her nursery after all. I was a little torn at first about making the quilt with the fabric I had, but then just finally decided that I was going to run with it.

I'm sure she'll love it and who cares if it doesn't match the baby's room. I hope she'll use it in every other area AWAY from the nursery anyway...the stroller, the living room floor, etc. It's a gift that is meant to be used...not just displayed in a crib.

The baby is due THIS MONTH....so I have to keep moving on this baby. My plan is to have it quilted and bound before the weekend is over. :)

Happy Quilting!

A little sightseeing and a little sewing....

2011-06-01T17:28:00.005-04:00

Once again we had house guests this week, so we did a bit of sight-seeing. We spent Memorial Day at the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. It was a gorgeous day...and very warm! It really is an amazing monument and I hope that all of you get a chance to see it in person at some point in your life!

This flag was displayed on the back of the ferry boat and blowing in the wind. I happened to glance back as we were leaving Liberty Island and saw this image. The sight of the American flag is always poignant, but seeing it with Lady Liberty like this was pretty cool!

I did skip out on some of the sight-seeing trips, and that gave me some extra time to sew. I'm working on this quilt, called Hometown Christmas by Thimbleberries. I have three of the four of the pattern booklets completed. The sections that are missing are in the fourth booklet, along with sashing and border stirps. With any luck, I just might have this on our bed by Christmas!

Happy Quilting!!

Count On It

2011-05-25T09:39:00.003-04:00

I finished the banners for June and July. I think these are my favorite so far. :) Actually it would be hard to pick. I love them all! These are so fun.

Don't the flip flops just make you want to be at the pool or the beach?

I'm hoping this works...but here's a slideshow of all the banners so far.

Count On It Banners

Happy Quilting!

Whew...time flies...

2011-05-24T12:34:00.003-04:00

I'm always amazed at how fast time flies. I realized I haven't blogged since before retreat, so I have a bit of catching up to do! The month of May just whizzed by...between a trip to California and the quilting retreat, I just don't know where the days went! :)

First off...here is my traveling buddy, Miles. He has traveled the "miles" with me in the car since leaving Idaho a year ago and he's finally lost a little of his shyness and agreed to be photographed. :P (More photos of Miles will follow in another post.) We left at O-Dark-30 to start our journey towards Indiana (actually earlier...it was 3am!!). We had to take a little detour and head to New Jersey to pick up Peggy and Robin.

Retreat was so much fun, as usual! We did a little shopping, a good amount of sewing/quilting, and tons of laughing! These ladies have such a special place in my heart and I so look forward to seeing them each May.

I'm happy with what I accomplished at retreat and have a couple of pictures to share. I started the Points of Pride quilt and I love love LOVE these blocks.

I also completed the flying geese border of my Patchwork Party quilt. I'm debating about adding the last border or not...the pattern as written is not big enough for a queen bed. I do not have enough of the original fabric to make the last border(s) big enough for a queen. My daughter loves it and said, "It's big enough right now for my twin bed!" LOL So maybe there is my answer...just stop now, quilt and bind it and give it to her for her apartment.

Look at this little cutie! Robin gifted me with this adorable pincushion kit from "Just Another Button Company." I just had to make it right away. Isn't it just the cutest thing! Speaking of gifts, I was totally spoiled by Robin AND Peggy...they are just the most generous people in the world!

This was a quickie birthday gift I made when I came home from retreat. It's for a friend that loves pumpkins...so even though it's not pumpkin season, I know she'll appreciate it in the fall. :)

Whew....I think that's all the pictures for now. I have a few others I'd like to share, but they deserve to be in their own post. :)

We are finally feeling a touch of summer here and I'm loving it! I have flowers planted and they are thriving and growing nicely. I hope wherever you are, you are enjoying a bit of sunshine!

Happy Quilting!

Secret Retreat Projects....Revealed!

2011-05-14T08:23:00.001-04:00

If all goes as planned, this post will publish while I'm away at retreat. I've been working on a few secret projects for retreat and now I can finally share pictures with you!! :)

First up...I made a couple of Amigurumi dolls. Do you crochet? I think I'm hooked on making these! I'll definitely be making more!

The first one is an "Angry Bird" for Robin. For those of you that are familiar with the App, you'll know what this is. LOL

Next is a cute little owl for Peggy! I just love him....

The third one is a cute little frog for my Secret Sister, Nancy.

Here are all three of them...all lined up!

Woolfelt ornaments for the ornament exchange....

A sewing caddy for Nancy....(she likes frogs, can you tell?!) LOL

Strawberry pincushions for a pincushion exchange...

Schnibbles pincushions...one for each retreater! Set one....

Set two....

So you can see...I've been busy!! I hope everyone enjoys their gifts!

Road trip!!

2011-05-09T07:50:00.004-04:00

A couple of them actually! I just returned from a week long trip to the west coast for a mini family reunion in Nevada and California. It was a great time and went by much to quickly!

Me and my sister...

With just three days between trips to unpack, do laundry and repack...I leave for my quilting retreat tomorrow! Yay!! I'm so excited!

Needless to say, I am way behind reading my favorite blogs...I have almost 300 unread posts in Google Reader. I'll be back after the 15th, so hopefully I will catch up then! I should also have lots of fun pictures to share from retreat!

Happy Quilting!!

Countdown to Retreat!!

2011-04-24T10:20:00.005-04:00

I freely admit, I am blessed, lucky, and even just a little spoiled to be able to participate in a quilting retreat in Indiana every year in May. It's 4 days of incredible fun, fellowship, and quilting!! The retreat is hosted by Angela, and all the ladies have become amazing friends. Most of us only see each other once a year, but when we get together at retreat, it's like we just got together last week! :) The conversations just pick up where we left off.... We all belong to a yahoo group and that helps us to stay connected throughout the year. Of course, a few of the ladies also have blogs now.

You may recognize a few fellow retreaters from their blogs: Conni, Peggy, Robin, Laura, Vickie, Christie, Penny, and of course, Angela.

Retreat is just a little over two weeks away and the anticipation is almost too much to handle!! :) I've been working on a few retreat projects that are top secret, so no pictures for now. I decided I could show you pictures of what I think I will take to work on. The list keeps changing though! There is no way I'll be able to accomplish all the projects I'm packing, but I like to take a few options...just so I don't get bored. :P Yeah...right.

First up...a project called Points of Pride. It was in the AP&Q magazine last summer and I knew the second I saw the cover that I was going to make that quilt. I've been collecting fabrics ever since...this is just a sampling of my fabrics. It won't surprise you that Robin and Peggy jumped on board as well and they are bringing the same project. :) This isn't a "Quilt in a Day" quilt project, so I'll be happy just getting started and making some progress on this one.

Next up...an OLD, OLD ufo from 2008!! This is one of those Patchwork Party quilts...did you ever do one of those? Kind of an online shop hop...you visited 12 shops and bought a block kit from each and then chose a setting kit from one of the 12 shops. I made the 12 blocks in a timely manner and I think I did that 9 patch sashing at retreat a couple years ago. LOL Now it's heading back to Indiana!

Don't you love the outdoor picture??? It's finally a sunny day and the grass has turned a beautiful green. I just had to get out there and snap a picture. :)

The layout I chose is Geese on the Prairie...nice twist on the fabric line "Prairie Paisley." Oh how I loved that fabric...I have a table runner made from a charm pack of it too! Anyhoo...see that geese border? 128 of those buggers! Can you see why I packed it away? LOL I can do it! I'm precutting some of the units ahead of time, so I can just zip them together at retreat.

Next project in the queue is a baby quilt from this Hooty Hoot fabric. Remember I was on the hunt for it a few weeks back? Well, a couple of blogger friends came to the rescue and Pat hooked me up with Sherry who had some to share! The best part is Pat and Sherry also live in Delaware! In addition to acquiring the needed fabric, we met for lunch and I made a new friend! Thanks Sherry!!

This project is a "if I run out of anything else to do" project. Missouri Star Quilt Company had a Daily Deal too good to pass up and I am now the proud owner of this layer cake. :)

Okay...now I'm really dreaming and maybe I can get it done if I don't waste any time on sleep at retreat...but I love this quilt too! Called "Chain of Faith," it was recently on Moda Bake Shop and I had the two jelly rolls in my stash, so it was a perfect match!

Lastly, I am taking my pineapple blocks and 1.5" strip bin. I promised a few of the girls I'd demo the pineapple ruler, and I also just want to keep moving on this project. Maybe I can add a few blocks to my stack.

Whew!!! That is quite the list of projects for retreat! Who knows how much I'll get done, but I'm going to give it my best shot!! At least I know I have options and there will be no possible way to be bored! :P

Hope you all have a wonderful Easter Sunday.

~~ The greatest man, named Jesus, had no servants, yet they called him Master, had no degree, had no medicines, yet they called him Healer. Jesus had no army, yet kings feared Him. He won no military battles, yet he conquered the world. , Yet he was crucified. He was buried in a tomb, yet He lives today. He is Risen!! ~~

Another giveaway...

2011-04-21T14:31:00.001-04:00

Check it out!

Little Bluebell

Awesome Giveaway!

2011-04-18T20:47:00.001-04:00

Just FYI...a great giveaway to enter:

http://www.jaybirdquilts.com/2011/04/giveaway-off-rail-pattern-fabric.html

But I'm going to win...just sayin'!

out and about....

2011-04-17T09:40:00.007-04:00

Warning: This post has a lot of pictures!! :)

We had family come for a visit this week and wowsers, did we take them on a sightseeing whirlwind while they were here! Unfortunately, the weather wasn't the best, but we pressed on and did the best we could! We all had a fun time and when we weren't driving to all these destinations, we were home playing games and laughing at memories from the past.

Our first stop...Washington DC. Here is the Capitol Building (the day after the budget crisis...looked pretty quiet that day!)

Jefferson Memorial...

We were just at the tail end of the cherry blossom season....

There were a few lingering blooms....

Washington monument...

Aunt Sue's brother died in Vietnam, this was her first time seeing the memorial....

None of us expected the emotions that came after seeing his name on the wall. Michael James Mooney...he was 18 years old.

Lincoln Memorial... unbeknownst to us, President Obama had been here just an hour or so before we arrived (speaking about the budget agreement).

On the steps of the memorial...Travis, Tammy and Cheryl (Travis' cousins) and their mom, Sue.

The White House....

The next day was Philadelphia....

Independence Hall (under construction)...

Day three....the beaches of Cape Henlopen and Rehobeth, Delaware. It was a gorgeous day that day...

Day 4, NYC! The Statue of Liberty (maybe you can see how cold and WET we were!!)....

And "Wicked" on Broadway!!

a little time in Times Square.....

And of course a tour of the base, with a C-5 flyover timed just perfectly....

The sun is shining in these pictures, but don't let that fool you...it was windy and COLD!

We also took a trip to the Lancaster area, but it was raining so hard, I didn't get many pictures at all. Tammy is also a quilter, so you can bet we made time for a couple Amish quilt stores!! I found a few more fabrics for a project I plan to start soon....

All in all, it was a fun visit...I hope they enjoyed all the sights and experiences! They left to go home yesterday and Travis and I came home from dropping them at the airport and took a nice long nap on the couch. :)

Happy Quilting!!

This quilt needs a name....

2011-04-06T07:36:00.003-04:00

I finished the borders for my leader/ender quilt last night...I am so pleased with this one! It's my first leader/ender project and I'm still amazed at how this quilt came together with what seems like no effort at all. (I guess I've blacked out all the hours of cutting scraps to acquire all those pieces, right?) I'm truly hooked on this idea of leaders and enders and can't imagine I'll ever stop sewing them!

Not the best picture because it was taken at midnight...but as you can see, Smokey, was burning the midnight oil right along with me. I laid the quilt out and before I turned around to pick up the camera, there he was, inspecting.

I'm sending this one off to the quilter, but first I have to piece the backing, which will also be from my stash. I also have to decide on a binding....should it be scrappy or one color? I've also been thinking about using a multi color stripe, and I've been keeping my eye out, but so far I haven't found just the right one.

Also, I need a name for this quilt! I keep calling it the "leader/ender quilt." Blah. I am not creative when it comes to stuff like that. The original idea came from Bonnie Hunter's book "Adventures in Leaders & Enders" and her quilt is called Blue Ridge Beauty. The first obvious thing...mine is not blue and I pieced my blocks "wrong" so I wasn't able to achieve the same layout design she has. That really wasn't a problem for me as I'm happy with this layout. I just don't think I can keep calling it Blue Ridge Beauty! The 6" block unit is a buckeye beauty, and when four of them are together, they make a jewel box block. Can any of you creative geniuses out there think of a name for me? There may just be a little prize in it for you if I choose the name you come up with. :)

Happy Quilting!

It's that time of year again....

2011-04-02T10:37:00.006-04:00

Every year, in May, I attend a quilting retreat in Indiana. It's 5-6 days of incredible fun, friendship, laughter, shopping, and of course, quilting! A couple of the highlights are the exchanges that we do...this year we are swapping pincushions and Christmas ornaments, along with a "Secret Sister" exchange. Needless to say, I'm working busy like a bee on these top secret projects. But that makes for a very boring blog because I can't show you pictures of what I'm working on! :P Rest assured, I'll share pictures as soon as I am able. :)

In the meantime, have you ever come across a project you just knew you had to do? That happened to me this week.

Jo at Jo's Country Junction was featured over at Moda Bake Shop with this quilt, called Chain of Faith. I immediately fell in love with it! I love the scrappy look, I love the design of the "chain" running through the blocks, I love the red! I just love it! The pattern calls for two jelly rolls plus a little extra yardage for the chain and border.

(this pictured is borrowed from Jo and Moda Bake shop!)

As further proof that I -need- to make this quilt...I've had these two jelly rolls in my stash for 3-4 years, but never really knew what I wanted to do with them. Talk about perfect! I will need to find the extra yardage, but after a quick look around online, I don't think that will be a problem. :) With the price of fabric increasing, it's always nice to find a way to use what you already have in "the stash!"

I plan to hold off starting this until retreat, but I'll share progress pictures!

Happy Quilting!

UFO and BOM progress

2011-03-24T12:43:00.003-04:00

***Thank you all for commenting on my post looking for the Hooty Hoot fabric. I think I may have found some! Quilters are the best! ***

I think I'm caught up on all my monthly projects for March. Yay! First up is the Village Square block of the month. These are the first 6 blocks all assembled and appliqued.

I finally decided on an applique stitch. Once again, I copied my idol, Robin, who is also doing this BOM. It's simply a mini zig zag, but it's just the perfect touch! It adds just a touch of whimsy, I think. (you should be able to click on the pictures for a closer look)

Next is my Snow Days embroidery. The first picture are the blocks 8 & 9 from February, but I was a little late in finishing them....

And here is block 10 for March....again click for a closer look! :)

The April "Count on It" banner. Sorry for the lousy pictures....it's so dark and cloudy outside and makes my house too dark for good pictures!!

and also for May! We have lots of company and travel coming up in April, so I didn't want to get behind.

And finally, another UFO finished! Remember I showed you the quilting in this post? I finally finished stitching the binding. I'm really pleased with this quilt. It's sort of a "leftover" quilt, made with blocks leftover from various swaps, or blocks that weren't enough for a quilt on their own. It was just amazing how they all came together and worked so nicely in this quilt. Peggy gave me the "tree" blocks that make up the outer border. Can you believe there was almost exactly enough blocks for the entire border? I only made ONE extra tree block. Amazing!

Fabric Search

2011-03-24T07:34:00.002-04:00

I am on a hunt for fabric from the Hooty Hoot line by Riley Blake! A special friend is having a baby and she is using this line for her nursery. I'd love to make a quilt for her and it seems to be sold out everywhere!

If any of you have anything you'd be willing to sell or trade, I'd be ever so grateful! Just shoot me an email and we'll work out a good deal!

Happy Quilting!

Quilting Day Project

2011-03-20T10:30:00.005-04:00

I worked at a snail's pace, but this is what I worked on for National Quilting Day:

This is my first leader/ender project. Originally, the idea came from Bonnie's "Blue Ridge Beauty" quilt from her book "Adventures in Leaders & Enders," but when I started sewing units together, I didn't put them together according to her directions and didn't realize it until I had too many to take apart. :P So my blocks are Buckeye Beauty (6") or Jewel Box (12"). Either way, I'm happy with it and love it! I love that it is completely made from scraps and sewn as I was working on other projects. I wish I knew the exact date, but I truly think it was almost exactly a year ago that I started doing leaders/enders. I still want to add another border of some kind...any suggestions? It measures 75.5" x 87.5" now, and I'm hoping to add a border large enough to make it fit a queen bed, probably a 6" piano key border.

And of course, the obligatory quilt inspector picture....

Happy Quilting!

Are you quilting today?

2011-03-19T09:44:00.000-04:00

I am!! :)

Christmas Wish

2011-03-16T16:28:00.004-04:00

I finally finished the Christmas Wish quilt from 2009 (?)! Better late than never...and now it's ready for NEXT Christmas. :) I loved doing this BOM from Gail Pan. It was a freebie and is actually still available on her website. I could probably even make this one again...I love the blocks!

I realized recently that I'm pretty thread ignorant. I tend to use the same thread for all my piecing (Aurifil), and another thread (Robinson-Anton 50 wt Cotton) for quilting and machine applique. I think I'm just comfortable with what I know looks good and will work nicely in my machine. A few months ago, I started the Village Square block of the month and one of the things I like about it is that it uses fabrics I wouldn't normally choose. But when it was time to do the applique, I realized I'd have to branch out a little and try something different when it came to the thread I chose.

Once again, I turned to one of my BFFs for guidance. Robin rocks when it comes to her knowledge of different threads and needles! I'm always picking her brain...and I'm sure she's tired of repeating the same things every year or so. LOL Thanks Robin! She's doing the same BOM and mentioned that she was using Sulky Rayon for the applique, so I figured I'd jump in and copy her, er...I mean try the same thing. LOL Lucky me, JoAnn's has Sulky on sale right now!

I'm so looking forward to the warmer temps that we've been promised for later this week. Bring on the sunshine!!

Happy Quilting!

quilting

2011-03-10T14:19:00.004-05:00

A few of you noticed and asked about the scrappy quilt blocks from this post. Can't get anything past you guys, can I?? LOL Well, I thought I'd give you just another peek...

Yesterday, I rented a quilting machine at a LQS and quilted it myself! It was sooo much fun! The machine they have in the shop is a HandiQuilter 18 Avante. I'm really impressed with this machine and table....it quilts beautifully and the table is very stable.

I just did freehand loops...I am comfortable with this design, but I need to start challenging myself and trying other things. :P I used a variegated thread, but it blended so well, you can hardly see it!

I'm sewing the binding on today, so maybe I'll have a picture of the finished quilt before too long! (no promises though...the Christmas Wish quilt is still waiting for the binding to be finished.)

Happy Quilting!

I'm still here!

2011-03-06T19:07:00.004-05:00

Not a lot to share lately...the last couple of weeks haven't been very productive. I have been accomplishing a few things, but nothing really to share. Some are work in progress things, some are top secret things for an upcoming retreat.

A week or so ago, I pulled out my "Christmas Wish" BOM from a couple years back. I wasn't really happy with how I had set the embroidery blocks, but Robin helped me with a border idea (even though what I ended up with wasn't what she envisioned. LOL). In the end, though, I'm much happier with it now and I have it all quilted and the binding sewn to the front. Just have to do the hand sewing part of the binding and add the hanging sleeve and it'll be done!

Of course, I had to share this picture of one of our quilt inspectors hard at work. They always work so diligently! They take their jobs seriously and are willing to work anytime I lay something out on the floor. LOL I could barely get these blocks all laid out before she was sniffing what I had in my hands. :)

Hopefully this week I'll have something more to share! I'm feeling it...this is going to be a good week! :)

Happy Quilting!

2011-03-01T18:14:00.001-05:00

Head on over to Pleasant Home for a chance to win a Accuquilt Go! Baby...I plan to win, though. Just sayin'. :)