I Did It!

I got 72 of these little boogers put together today!

All 72 are laid out in position on a table.

With my Curvemaster foot, it was easy! 

I've had it for years; this is the first time I've used it!

I'm not sure when I'll get them sewed together.

They are 3.5" square, and I'm loving the layout,

which I'm keeping a secret for now. 

*Wink* 

---"Love"

What On Earth Will These Pieces Become?





Anyone have any ideas?

I spent last night cutting these pieces, and learned at least one thing: 

my 28 mm rotary cutter needs a new blade!

Many thanks to all of you for the nice comments about my hostessing.

Actually, I'm not a very good hostess,

 as in serving/waiting on people. 

As Ruth and Jennifer will learn Saturday,

I just turn everyone loose to wait on themselves! 

And they always do a great job!  And we always have fun!

The sun is shining beautifully this morning,

and I'm going to the sunroom to sew!

This one will be an entirely new experience for me!

---"Love"

I Survived, and I'm Ready to Get Busy Again!

I survived all the activity that was scheduled in my last blog, and I'm looking forward to getting back in the swing of things again.

There were 17 in my home April 16  all day for my cousins' reunion, from Arizona, Houston, San Marcos, and the DFW Metroplex.  We had a wonderful time together.  The weather was beautiful --- couldn't have been more perfect, and in fact, we ate on the patio, with all 17 at tables.  That was the first time I've had that many on the patio for anything, much less for a meal; usually we stay in the house.  We looked at old pictures, had a slide show from our 50's pictures, told stories, and just had a great day with too much good food!  And of course, I had a mini quilt show in the bedrooms! *grin*

I was worn to a frazzle and didn't do much the next week, but I've been making a little progress.  I got the binding on the Kaleidoscope quilt, and will put the label on today.

This morning I also have finished a baby quilt for a friend.  I've been wanting to start on another patriotic quilt, so I decided to go the easy way for the baby quilt rather than the "I Spy" I had intended.  I used a Winnie the Pooh printed panel, and just machine quilted it.  It turned out okay though not perfect.  (Why is it when the stitching is supposed to be curved, it comes out straight, and when it's supposed to be straight, it comes out curved???)  I doubt the baby will care; he's not due until June, but I wanted to finish it before I start the patriotic quilt, hopefully this week. (Insert pictures)



I'm looking forward to more company on Saturday.  Ruth of Country Log Cabins and Jennifer of PurpleHeart Ori"Jenn"als will be visiting me in my "family museum".  We are going to talk, and look at, quilts to our hearts' content.  They are bringing some of their quilts for show and tell also.  I can hardly wait!

NOTE:  Once you have posted a new article, don't EVER go back to add a picture!  I tried that just now, and somehow lost the above paragraph.  I hope I got it back like it was originally!  Since so many have said they have never seen one of my bird visitors, I tried to add a second picture!  What a screw-up!  But I got it done! *giggle*  Now back to my original blog!

I had another visitor this morning in my back yard.  In the 25 years I've lived here, I've seen only one Painted Bunting before, but she was here this morning.  The pictures are blurry because I had to zoom in and took the pictures through the sunroom window, but I wanted to share them.

Also, there's an update on Mr. Bushee!  SHE is feeding babies!  I got a close-up look at her when I went out to put corn in the feeder one day last week.  She must have been really hungry because she came right up to the feeder, and jumped in it as soon as I poured the corn in it.  I stood there and talked to her very softly, and now she rarely runs off when I go near the feeder.  

Our weather has been a little rough, really ever since the reunion, (rain, wind, and hail), and we were under a tornado warning today, but it went a few miles south of here.  I must tell you my area has not been hit nearly as hard as most of the rest of the country!  The storms here are predicted to be over by Friday so we should have beautiful weather for Saturday.

Have fun with your quilting!

---"Love"

Full Disclosure of Sneaky Peek by PurpleHeart Ori"jenn"al

Remember that sneak peek on April 1?  Well, I'm here to make a full disclosure; no more sneakiness!

The postman delivered an envelope with a note that said "SURPRISE!! It's about time you had a mug rug of your own!  Enjoy!"  This cute mug rug was in the envelope with the note, signed on the back "To Love, from Jenn. 2011".  Doesn't it look great on my sunroom coffee table?  I love it!  Thank you so much, Jennifer!(Double click on the pictures.)



The "Friend" plate and mug were given to me by my BFF several years ago; I love those too!  If you look out the window, you will see my "Belinda's Dream" roses in full bloom!  Here's a close-up view.  It's my favorite of all my roses!  I hope it will still have some blooms opening on April 16!

Last year this yellow rose (I can't think of it's name) did do very well.  I threatened it and said I would replace it if it didn't do better this year.  I guess it took me seriously.   

The past two weeks have been grueling for me, and yet I've had so much fun and company, I can't complain!  I can't believe I haven't posted a blog since March 14;  I just flat have not had time!  While the rest of you were quilting, I've been been having fun with friends!  Two weeks ago I met with some "old" school friends, (I mean older than me, and whom I had not seen in many years!) and we had a wonderful time.  The one responsible for the gathering lives in Idaho, and was visiting in Texas for the first time in a long time, and he asked several of us to meet with him and his wife whom I had not met, but who just happens to be a great quilter!  You should see the pictures of her quilting room!  I thought mine was nice, but hers left me speechless!  Then they stopped by my house for a quick visit on Sunday so I could make them look at my quilts!  *grin*

Then the next day, Monday, a guy from my class who now lives in Mississippi was here in Texas for a relative's funeral, and I managed to get our class gang together (the Christmas party bunch!) for a quickie visit here in my home.  There were 17 of us all afternoon, and we had way too much fun and food!  Gosh, I love that gang!  We always have a good time, even on a minute's notice!

Next, my Walmart Friend (remember?) who moved to Missouri, called last Saturday and said she was in Texas and wanted to stop by for a visit last Monday morning.  She too is a quilter, and we had a really good visit, though brief.  That makes three out-of-state visitors in eight days! 

All the while of all this company, I've been trying to get my house in order for my cousins' reunion on April 16 at my home. (One of my cousins is from Arizona, so he will be the fourth out-of-state visitor!)   Man, I didn't realize my house was so dirty!  But I'm getting it all shined up; cleaning carpet, washing windows and curtains; you name it; I'm doing it, even to repainting lawn chairs, and planting flowers!  I've also made a bunch of little flags to give each cousin.  Here's the stack of them!  And yes, that's my writing!  You should recognize the words!

And then, again in the midst of all this activity, I've been asked to play the piano and provide the dinner music for a youth banquet Friday night.  It's a formal occasion, and I had to drag out a long dress from a son's wedding!  Believe it or not, it's really a little big, (big smile!) but comfortable to sit and play for about an hour and a half!  Can't let those teen-agers outdo me!  I may have to tell you more about it next week!  Maybe!  I just hope I can get through it; it's been a long time since I've played that much for a fancy occasion!  I was surprised, and flattered, that I was asked to do it!

Then I have another music thingy I'm working on for the cousins' reunion, if I can get it done!

Then on Monday, it's back to the finishing touches on the house, and then the cooking for the following Saturday! 

If I live to the second Sunday from now, I should be able to live forever!  Then on Monday I crash!  I feel I will have earned the right to stay in bed until at least 10 AM!!!

Oh, one more thing I almost forgot!  We church quilters got the Civil War quilt in the frame last Thursday and started handquilting it this morning!  I took this picture last Sunday; it's Eleanor Burns' Underground Railroad.  I took the picture from the wrong side, sorry; but the block that looks white is really the lower right corner, and is the story of the blocks, and copied from the book and printed onto fabric.  It turned out really well!  

 I'm still trying to get the binding on the Kaleidoscope quilt, and will show it when completed.  

I'm sure you are as tired of reading all this as I am with all I've been doing, and have yet to do!  Quite frankly, I'm exhausted!

I've been reading your blogs, and trying to comment on all of them, but the next week I may be pretty scarce!  So have fun; I'll catch up someday!

---"Love"