What a Fun Day Last Saturday Was!

As reported by Country Log Cabin Quilter Ruth, Jenn of PurpleHeart Orijennals and I met her at a wonderful quilt shop in Arlington, Texas, for a little shopping. Then Jenn drove us to a great little soup/salad buffet where we enjoyed a leisurely visit and got to know more about each other. We agreed to meet again, and indeed, I suggested we meet at my home if we can work it out. (Oh dear! That means I'll have to clean house!) I told them I figure if I can live in my house, surely they can visit for a while. *grin* I think it was Ruth who said that when quilters get together, there's no lack of things to talk about --- quilts, methods, gadgets, and yes, families. What a fun time we had together!

Of course, we all had to have a little fabric. Since my church group is working on the Underground Railroad quilt, and also since I've been paying a lot of attention to Ruth's Civil War quilts/blocks, I've been bitten by that bug! Those fabrics are so out of my box that Ruth and Jenn had to help me make my choices. Here's what came home with me. (The background piece under the greens came from another shop on the way home.)

I won't allow myself to even wash those fabrics until I get enough 6.5" log cabin blocks to finish a throw. Here the first layout of the first 40 blocks, not really arranged; just placed as I picked them up. I have ten more blocks about half finished, and will have to make more. This layout will change probably at least 10 times before it is final!

I was asked to make another block for the church quilt also, so here's the three I've made. I think we will make some decisions on the setting on Thursday.

I have a feeling flower beds, yard work, and taxes are going to cut into quilting time at some point this week! But I'm getting anxious to get on with some new ideas! I'm also hoping my quilter calls this week that my Kaleidoscope quilt is finished!

Thanks again to Jennifer and Ruth for a Fun Day last Saturday! I'm looking forward to next time!

---"Love"

Log Cabins, Civil War, and Meeting Friends

I'm still making 6.5" log cabin blocks!  I have been getting a little work done most days, but not nearly enough!   (How 'bout that post title??? *giggle*)

 I think maybe I mentioned a few months ago that one of our church quilters had died after a long illness.  She was an excellent, and much loved quilter.  Before her health got so bad, she bought the book and fabric kit for Eleanor Burns' Underground Railroad quilt, but she never got it started.  When she realized she was imminently terminal, she donated all that fabric and the book to our church quilters' group.  All the fabrics are beautiful.  Our leader cut and bagged separately the fabric needed for each block and carefully labeled each piece.  I missed the first meeting on the new project, but I've learned not to do that again!

All those there the first time chose a packet with all the fabrics for a specific block that they would make.  Most of the ladies brought their completed block last Thursday, but there were two packets nobody wanted to make:  the "Flying Geese" block, and "Birds in the Air".  I figured the geese would be no problem for me, but someone suggested I take the birds, and before I knew it, both packets came home with me!  I got both of them made Friday, and here they are.     I've made lots of geese before, but this was my first try at Birds in the Air.  Actually it was not as difficult as I had expected.  --- Learned something new too!                    

This is the first time I've worked with Civil War type fabrics.  The fabrics are all beautiful, but I'm not crazy about the color combination in the geese, but that's what was in the packet.  Anyway, I think all the blocks will be completed and returned next Thursday, and we will then get started on putting the top together.  It will be a beautiful quilt that will be raffled off to raise money for the youth ski trip at Christmas.

Friday it was 80 degrees and sunny here, but I stayed in the sunroom working on log cabin blocks and those blocks.  Saturday it was cloudy and about 65 or 70 degrees, and windy!  Even so, I pruned 14 rose bushes!  When I say pruned, I mean it!  I don't think there is a leaf left, but there are lots of little new leaves beginning to sprout out, so they will be green in a few days.  I've had the water running on them this afternoon since rain is not to come before Thursday.  I was afraid the severe pruning might do the bushes in without water that long!  I can hardly wait for them to start blooming!  Ah, Spring is on the way!

Hope all of you have a great week of quilting!  I guess I'll go back to log cabins! 

I'm looking forward to Saturday when I'll get to meet Jennifer of "PurpleHeart Ori-jenn-als" when we meet up with Ruth of "Country Log Cabin Quilter" for lunch and a bit of shopping at a great quilt store!  That should be a fun day!

---"Love" 

 



More Liebster Blog Awards!

I was so surprised to find that Liri had honored me with the Liebster Blog Award, but I must admit it was a most pleasant surprise!  Thank you, Liri; you made my day!  I can't believe you chose me, with all the foolishness I put out there!  I'm not sure I deserve the award, but I do appreciate it.

With the award came the responsibility of choosing three blogs that I love to follow, but I received no instruction on narrowing the choices to only three!  Lately I've been reading a lot of blogs, and choosing three favorites is a really hard decision.  There are so many that are so inspiring and beautiful, with so much helpful information and instruction.  Of course, I tend to favor those in our little APQ group, and choosing from even that small group requires lots of decisions.  I think I've made my final decisions if I must limit to three, but not a day goes by that I don't check on all of our little gang.

So here are my choices:



Ann of A Good Yarn -   This lady from Australia was one of the first to welcome me when I submitted my first APQ blog, and she has continued to encourage me with her comments.  Her quilting and stitcheries never cease to amaze, and yes, amuse me.  Recently it seems life events have been interrupting her blogging, (I hope not her quilting!), but I know you will enjoy following her blog.  She will be back from time to time I'm sure. Watch for her next post!

Alice of B C Quilter -   This gal from British Columbia can share more information in a blog than almost anyone!  If there's something that goes through her mind that she doesn't know how to do, she studies everything available on the subject and then goes to work on it, and turns out very nice projects!  She is a great resource for tutorials!  Lately life seems to have been taking lots of her blogging time too, but she too pops in with something new to share quite often.  I appreciate her determination to conquer new techniques, and to share about them.  She too has been a great encourager to me!  Be sure to watch for her new posts.

Katie of Katiemaytoo - This gal never ceases to amaze me!  She can get more piecing and quilting done in a short time than almost anyone!  And it all is beautiful.  She truly is a dedicated quilter!  She recently acquired a nice quilting machine, and I love reading about her experiences as she is learning to do that, very well and quickly, I might add.  Her blog is a delight to read.  Check it out!

One of the things I enjoy everyday is reading all our APQ bloggers' posts, and then clicking on other blogs that you follow, or others who are following you.  There is sooooooo much out there that is so good!  I guess I should confess that doing all that tracking is probably what's keeping me from getting more quilting done!

Maybe I'll make more log cabin blocks tomorrow...........???  *wink* 

One quick weather report for Texas:  The sun was shining brightly all day, and we got to 34 degrees here.  It's crazy I know, but we may be up to 70 degrees by Sunday!  Hey, that's Texas!  (Thank God for small favors!)

All of you, have a great weekend and get lots of quilting done!

---"Love"

A February Start

There's a new project underway at my home.  I have 25 little log cabin blocks in progress, for a little quilt for a friend.  These blocks will grow some more, so I'm not sure how many more blocks I will need to make, and I haven't decided for sure how I will lay them out, but at least I have a February start!  I'm using left-over fabrics from my previous cowboy quilts.  Here's how it is looking so far.
 
I've been in awe this past week or two at the number of projects many of you have completed or are currently working on at the same time.  I haven't figured out yet how you do that!  It's obvious you are more organized than I am.  All of you have been turning out some beautiful things.  Keep up the good work; it inspires me to do better. 

Seems like for two months I've been a cripple since the foot incident, or I've been sputtering with the crud!  I'm hoping for some sunny and warmer weather soon.  Yet I feel almost guilty as I watch the weather news from areas where many of you live, and as I look at the incredible snow pictures you have posted.  I don't know how you do what you do; I'd simply have to move!  One thing for sure --- you've got spunk!

Hope all of you stay warm, well, and safe!  Happy Quilting!

---"Love"

Edit:  Right now the blocks are 4 1/2", with two more strips to go on each side. 
         My foot is healed for the most part, but will probably be discolored somewhat for a while longer.