Merry Christmas to All!

I trust everyone is almost ready for Christmas --- except me!  I still have to do my shopping for my family, but otherwise, Christmas is over for me for the most part,  No one would ever believe all the fun I've had, even though October and November didn't have much fun for me.  (I can't believe I haven't posted a blog since early October!)  I haven't always taken time to comment on the blogs I've read, but I have been reading them, and many of you have posted some very interesting reads.

I definitely HAVE BEEN BUSY!

In October I began cleaning house to get ready for Christmas, Everything in my house, --- ceiling to floor, drapes, walls, carpet,  all glassware, --- got a good cleaning, and I must say it really needed it!  I didn't realize how much sheer filth could accumulate in a home!

Then on November 1, I closed down the sewing machine and  began dragging out all my Christmas decorations, and of course, that got everything messed up again,  After getting everything in place, I gave the house a lick and a promise to do better, and moved on to planning parties.

On December 1 when I was wiping off the the back of the refrigerator, my hand came out wet and covered with black rubbery stuff.  A hose was literally  disintegrating on my 28-year old refrigerator.  I thought it unwise to call for an expensive service call and repair, and decided to buy a new refrigerator. I couldn't risk a water problem with my party schedule!  While making that purchase, I remembered that my 30-year old electric range also needed a new oven heating element, and I saw a one on sale and bought a new stove too!  Both were delivered on December 3.  My GS was here and said my old brown vent-a-hood over the new white stove looked really bad, and he thought we should go back to the store and buy the microwave that mounts over the stove, so we did that too, and it was installed the next day!  So----Merry Christmas to all, right?!  *giggle*  I still haven't had time to read all the instruction manuals!

My first party in my home was December 6, and the fifth and last one was on December 18th, and in those 13 days, 80 people were at five sit-down dinners in my home.  (Twenty-two of my high school friends were here on Dec. 16; 6 or 7 of us had started first grade together, and believe me, that was a l-o-n-g time ago!  We always have loads of fun together!)  For all the parties, I prepared the meat, (turkey and dressing, ham, and pulled pork, as well as some of the veggies and other good things like red candied apples and cranberry salads, and some of the desserts,  Others brought lots of delicious foods too.  We had lots more than we could eat at all five parties!  And of course, I had the coffee table covered with my homemade candies, with more in the closet --- divinity, peanut butter balls, orange/coconut balls, fudge, and pralines, and that cereal TV trash,  Every person who attended any of my parties took home a can of candies of their own choosing, and some of the TV trash.  (I tell them that's really why they love to come here.  *wink*   I used about 70 pounds of sugar this year for all that candy! )

I played the piano and others sang a lot at two of the parties, and everyone seemed to have a great time at every party.  I figure the best way to determine whether a party was a success or not is how long the guests stay, and everyone stayed much longer at every party than I had ever anticipated. So I'd say each party was a success!   We did all have a good time! Several said theirs was the best they had ever attended.  I think I had more fun than anyone.  I do love having my friends in my home, especially at Christmas, and they all seem to love to come here.

While I was making divinity for the third party, my son called and said he had been involved in an auto accident; his car was destroyed, but he was not hurt, thank God!  I was upset when I went back to beating the divinity and somehow got my wooden spoon entangled in the beaters.  The mixer gears were ruined and I had to buy a new mixer in order to make candy for all the parties to come!  So almost all my kitchen appliances now are all  new.

I must admit five parties left me a bit tired, but I'll recover in a few days, in time for my family to be here Christmas Eve.   Without all the party fun, my December would have been a disaster, one after another!

I took very few pictures this year; I was really busy!  Most of my decorations are in the same place as in prior years, with only a few new additions.

I'm dreading having to pack up all of the Christmas stuff, but I can't quilt until that is done, so I'll probably be starting that on January 1.  Needless to say, it will take a while, but someday I"ll get to start something new.  No idea what will be first.

I do want to tell you I entered three quilts in a small nearby quilt show, and brought home a First Place ribbon on "'The Big If" cross quilt I had donated to our church youth auction a year or two ago.  I also won two Second place ribbons; one on my Underground Railroad quilt, and one on "My Mother's Flower Garden"  I think there were about 85 quilts at that show. in November.  I have never gotten the pictures loaded into my computer.  Once again, I say, "I've been really busy!?

If you are still reading this saga, let me say to you "Merry Christmas", and I hope all of us have a safe and Happy New Year!

I also hope life will get back to normal for me soon, whatever that is!  And it will --- someday.


---"Love"

Finally Finished! I Can't Believe It!

Finally Finished!  My Underground Railroad Quilt!   Actually I finished September 30, 2014, but I didn't get the pictures made until October, and I just now noticed my camera dated them November for some reason!  Why?  Guess I better look into that!  My fault I guess.   Oh well, I'm not taking the pictures again!

 Here's the stats:
Piecing begun - May 23, 2011; Completed September 3, 2011
Machine Quilting begun 3 years later - September 6, 2014; Completed September 30, 2014
It remained an UFO almost as long as the Civil War lasted!  (Giggle, or Frown, if you wish).

Just think --- I still have all those Civil War Quilt blocks too, still in a box, not together yet!  They will still be in the box at least until 2015!

I did a lot of ditch stitching and some free motion, though that certainly is not perfect, so don't look too closely.  I decided I can live with it, and called it quits!   I still like it much better than I ever thought I would.

Here's a close-up our our church group's donation quilt finished recently.  We decided to make one this time that would be more appealing to the men.  All our good hand quilters have died, and the rest of us have arthritic hands, so we decided to have it machine quilted this time.    We named it "Deer Meadow".

Some friends and I have been to four quilt shows this summer --- Fort Worth Guild, Trinity Valley Guild held in Fort Worth, Parker County Guild at Weatherford, and the guild at Stephenville.  I took so many pictures at each show of all the beautiful quilts.  We agreed that the Stephenville show was the best over all, though we enjoyed every show.  We were all tired as dogs when we got home each time, but we had fun!

Of course, we had to also check out all the vendors, and then go to the shops too!  I didn't need and didn't buy any fabric, but I did buy a pretty oak wall quilt rack for my guest bedroom.  It has a little shelf on top, but I haven't gotten it loaded yet.

Here's a favorite from each show:

Fort Worth Guild Show

Trinity Valley Guild Show
One Block Wonder, 2nd Place, Hand Quilting, made by a friend of mine!
I'm hoping to try to make one of these in 2015!  I love this one!  My favorite colors!

Weatherford Show, Parker County,
This and other similar Texas panels have been very popular this year, with many different settings.
Just had to show you quilters who are not Texans! *smile*

Stephenville Show - Best of Show
This show was so very well arranged and managed, and every worker there was super friendly and helpful!
Lots of beautiful quilts there too!

(Just noted the date on this picture; I guess my camera just skipped the month of October!  The picture was taken October 3, 2014, one week after the Weatherford picture.  --- Strange happening!  I'm clueless!)

Also at the Stephenville show was Don Locke's "The Supper Quilt".  If you've never seen it, you may go here .  Do check it out when you have a block of time to check each section of his site.  The huge quilt is truly amazing!

I received the very nice prize from Marsha of Grandma's Quilts last week, and everything is so nice.  All my quilting buddies wanted to steal the cute spider pin cushion and the big handled ripper.  I'll enjoy the little note pad a lot, and as soon as I can decide on a pattern for the beautiful fat quarters, I'll show it.  I do have something in mind already.  Thanks so very much, Marsha, for the wonderful prize!

Now that I finished my big quilt, I guess it's time for me to begin concentrating on house cleaning to get ready for Christmas.  I probably will do very little quilting, and if any at all, they will be small.  Both my house and my yard need attention badly!   I'm going to try to get started tomorrow, and tomorrow morning will be coming very soon!

I'm looking forward to seeing what all of you will be doing in the coming days.  Have fun with it all!

---"Love"

Remember This Quilt? Probably Not!

You haven't seen it in three years, almost to the day!  Yes, it's that Underground Railroad top I finished in September, 2011.

Yeah, it's upside down, and in the process of being sandwiched.  Then after basting a couple of days, it looked like this:  (Well, actually, I did pile it up a little on purpose, just for the picture!   I need sympathy! *giggle*)

And I'm supposed to be able to quilt that pile????  It's like wrestling a bear!  But I did make a lot of progress on it yesterday, and you would know, I was dog-tired last night!  All the sashings have been stitched in the ditch (when I didn't get out of the ruts!), and one side of the borders  are under control.  At least I now have it where it can travel only within each block.  Those are stabilized, so life should get easier now --- I hope!  It's been a lo-o-o-ong time since I've tried quilting anything 100" square!  I may ruin it, but I'm determined to do it myself!  You all might want to say a little prayer for me!

My DIL, her daughter, and her 2-yr. old GD all three had birthdays the last week of August.  She loved the blue and white quilt I made for her.

I figured the mother of the 2-yr. old would be needing some Christmas things very soon, so I actually free-motioned this panel for her, and I was pleased with how it turned out, even though the quilting hardly shows in the picture.  I used a really puffy poly batting, and it worked really well for this project.  They all loved it!.

 They had a big party of friends for the 2-yr. old little granddaughter, with way too many gifts for a 2-yr. old (my opinion!), so I went really easy for the little one.  I stitched up these two little books, and they turned out cute, and she loved looking at them.  I can't even recall how long I've had those panels!

The little one likes to watch fishing shows with my son, so I also made her a little fish with a magnet on its mouth, and on a string and crepe myrtle "pole", like you can see on Missouri Quilt Co. YouTube here:. Fabric fish .  She, and my son, loved that!  With the fish on the floor, when she gets the "hook" (magnet on the string) close to the fish's mouth, she catches the fish, and just laughs and laughs. I need to make another one and do a better job.  I made this one in about 30 minutes with just some scraps I found; it's pretty crude!

This quilt was hanging over the fireplace where the GD's BD party was held, and I couldn't keep my eyes off of it.  I didn't ask permission to post it, but I just can't resist.  It was made by a lady in their church.  Isn't it beautiful?  Have you ever seen one like it?  I certainly haven't!

The DIL of one of my friends had twins -- a boy and a girl.  I decided to make quilts for them, and in the pictures, I've just folded the bottom up to show the backing.  I thought the nursery rhyme backing would be sweet for the little girl, (double click the picture to see pics), but their dad is a cowboy, so the little boy will have to be a cowboy too.  Wild colors I know for new babies, but chevrons in bright colors seem to be the rage right now, so I hope the mother will like them.  They are 45" x 39".  I found cute big bags (with zippers yet) to gift them.  The blue one is a little off color, but the pink bag is exactly the same color! (Should have made a picture) ............And cheaper than gift boxes! Yea!!!

I guess I'll be taking down and packing away all my patriotic quilts on Sept. 12.  I'm going to miss them, but it's time for a change I guess.  From the temperatures (95 to 103), you'd never know that Fall is arriving soon.  I think I heard the weatherman say we may get some rain Thursday (I hope!), and temps in the low 60's by Sunday, for the early hours.  I'll believe it when it happens!

Got a couple of quilt shows coming up later this month.  Hope to see some beauties there!

Seems like everyone has been slacking up on posting blogs lately.  I guess we've all been busier than usual this summer.  I certainly have!  Thursday I'll be going to another funeral for a high school classmate (also started first grade with him) --- the seventh funeral I've been involved with (not all were classmates) over the past three weeks!  I think the message for me here is "Love, if all your classmates are dying, that must mean you are getting very old!"  I must say I'm feeling it too!

Happy quilting to all this week!

---"Love"

Has A Quilt Ever Spoken to your Heart, Really?

The past three weeks have gone by with lots of activity around here.  The past two Thursdays a couple of our church quilters spent the day here, with one helping the other learn to cut and piece a little table topper, and start on a patriotic throw (a little late for this year).  They have more room to work together in my sunroom, and I enjoy them being here, though I don't get much done.  I just try to be sure they are comfortable, have what they need, and get them fed.  We do have fun together!

My grandson was here for a week and got more done on his quilt, but still needs to do a little more quilting before his final showing.  He enjoyed being here with us old ladies one of those Thursdays they were here, and they enjoyed him too.  They kept him busy online looking for Texas A&M fabrics, etc., which he enjoyed, and indeed he found some that one of them went and bought somewhere in the DFW metroplex.

During all those goings-on, I was working with some fabric a friend had talked me into buying for an attic window pattern.  She has a gorgeous mountain scene panel that she wants to cut up and use that pattern, but she wanted me to do one at the same time with her.  I didn't like my fabric from the get-go; it was not a panel, but rather yardage with a 9" repeat, both directions, on what really has only two scenes (which I didn't realize until I began trying to cut it).  Fussy cutting to get nine different "panes" was quite a challenge!  All the time I kept saying, "This is never going to work!  I don't even like the colors; I like pink and green!  Why did I buy this fabric?  I don't like it at all!  I should have known better!"  I just kept repeating those words with every cut, and every seam. I did the best I could with it, but kept saying it had been a waste of time, and that I'd never like it.  It finished at 40" square.  I did a not so good job of free motion quilting around  the blooms, fence, vase and wheel barrow, but when I got the frame around it and stood back and looked at it, the top spoke, almost audibly, to me!  I was in tears as I heard it say, "Look out at your Mother's flower garden!"  Oh my, what a feeling came over me!  Fond memories of Mother and her flowers came flooding over me.

"Look Out at My Mother's Flower Garden"

My mother loved flowers, and every year she overtook another row of Daddy's large vegetable garden and before he knew it, she had half of that corner block on the highway in flowers.  Everyone who came through our town saw her flower garden; it was truly lovely.  She walked among the many blooms of all kinds every morning and literally talked to them, telling them how pretty they were.

If you're still reading by now, I have a little more to tell and show.  Here, you can see the Faith, Hope, and Love quilt I gave to a friend in 2011.  She called about 10 days ago and asked if I could lengthen it so it would stay on the back of her recliner.  I decided it would be better to make another little quilt to cover the seat area so she could then drape the original quilt further over the back of the chair.  In my stash, I found just barely enough to do that and also to make some arm covers.  I had never made arm covers, and they certainly are not perfect, but she loves the final outcome of the group.  (I'll never do that again!)  Then she wanted me to fold and sew the sides of the original quilt to fit over the chair, sort of like an envelope!  I didn't like the idea at all, and I certainly will never do that again either, but hey, I had given her the quilt to use as she sees fit; it's hers!  She says when she's really down-hearted because of her sick husband's condition, those scriptures lift her up, and she wants them "under" her.  What more could I say or do?  She's pleased, and I'm glad she's pleased, but I'm not happy at all about what she wanted done with the quilt, and I doubt the seat cover will stay tucked straight like she thinks.  As you can see, it's already a mess!

Covering for chair seat area 

I'll never do this again!  But she loves it!

Today I made a matching pillow case for storing my DIL's blue and white quilt when not in use,  and a little neck pillow to match for her birthday in a few days.

Not sure what I'll work on next.  I think it will be something for me! --- Maybe!

Sorry this has been so long, but I needed to get all this off my tired mind!

---"Love"

If I Were 15-20 Years Younger -----

----, I'd be tempted to buy one of these !(A wonderful huge cutting table by Martelli, with rulers and templates---link removed sometime by Martelli, sorry!)   And NO, I'm not being paid to give out that link!  I watched a live demonstration for about 30 minutes at the quilt show below, and I must admit that while I loved the quilts, this piece of equipment is what I keep thinking about!  But NO again, I'm not buying one!  Just wishing I'd known about it years ago.

When you finish looking at the pictures below, do go back to that link and watch both of the videos.  I think you'll wish for one too!  The accompanying rulers and templates were also amazing, and included in the show sale price.

Now on to the real reason for this post!  (Got to clear my mind!  *giggle*)

I had the pleasure of going to the Ellis County (TX) Quilt Guild show last Friday with two others from my church quilting group, and we saw lots of beautiful quilts.  I regret that I can't give credit to the proper people, but if by chance any of the makers see their quilt here, they will know theirs was one of my favorites. Some of my camera settings were not good, but double click on these to see some fantastic quilting in addition to the piecing!

I'm sure you've seen a blue one similar to this recently. 

"Cutest" thing there, in my opinion.

If I live long enough, I'm going to make one of these someday!

Texas Flag, in case you don't know.

Really nice show, don't you think?

Now go back and watch those videos on that fancy work station!  (Lord, teach me not to covet!)

---"Love"

This One Needs a Name, but It's Finished!

Back in January I started this quilt for my DIL, and laid it aside when I couldn't decide how to quilt it.  I finally decided on a simple plan and got started.  This morning I finished tying and tucking the last threads!  It is finished except for a label.  It is 74.5" x 55". Now I can't decide what to name it.  The original design by Emily Herrick was named "French Tile".  My fabrics are very similar but not the same (as explained in my January post).  Any suggestions for a name?   It will be for her September birthday.

The back is the same navy as in the top, and at first I had a little difficulty with tension.  I was using a light thread on top, and navy on the back.  I had to do a little "un-sewing"; I didn't like that light thread on the back!  I finally got the problem solved, and I'm pleased for the most part on how my Janome handled it.  It was much easier, of course, when I put navy thread in the needle too when I used the little curvy stitch in the navy border, which I probably should not have done.  But it just seemed lots easier than more straight stitching all the way around.  Don't forget; I'm still trying to get brave enough to do more free motion.  I did manage to FM stitch the little pointy thing around the bouquet in all the blocks, without turning the quilt!  Again, not perfect, but I tried!

My grandson spent a couple of days here last week and did a little work on his quilt. I think he will be back next week for a few days, and maybe he will have something more to show.

The gals and I are going to a quilt show on Friday; really looking forward to it.

Summer is definitely here, but I'm staying cool.  Hope all of you are too.

---"Love"

"America is Like A Quilt"

A few days ago a friend gave me Sandy Bonsib's book "Americana Quilts" by That Patchwork Place; she knows how I love patriotic quilts.  It has several interesting quilts, but the thing that first grabbed my attention was a quotation.  When I first read it, I knew I wanted to incorporate it into a wall hanging for July 4, but I had no idea about a pattern.  However, I just couldn't get the quotation out of my mind.

"America is not like a blanket --- one piece of unbroken cloth, the same texture, the same size.  

America is more like a quilt --- many patches, many pieces, many colors, many sizes, 

all woven and held together by a common thread."  

--- Henry M. Jackson

While looking through some really old magazines for a simple pattern for a new quilter, I came upon a pattern I could not get out of my mind any more than I could forget the quotation.  The pattern is called "Scrappy Fans" by Christine Carlson, published in June 2000 Quick and Easy Quilting magazine.  (See, I told you it is an old magazine!)  Of course, some revision would be necessary to accommodate the quotation.

Here's a picture of the pattern in the magazine:  (It's paper piecing, which I've done only once and said I'd never do it again, ---- but I changed my mind.)

Don't ask how I could envision my idea; I don't know; but here's how I saw it in my mind's eye:

 Here's a closer look at the quotation.  My work is unimportant, but I think the quote speaks volumes!

The original designer used all colors and hers was about 10", but I wanted mine in reds, whites, and blues, and mine is 17" square. I did not use the sashings shown in the original, nor the borders.  I wrote out the quote and machine appliqued it and the border over the center of the quilt, and then, of course, realized I'd have to unsew and cut out the center triangles because the seams showed under the quotation fabric, but I got it done. That step would not have been necessary if I had just thought to put a batting under the square before I appliqued it to the original.  (Again, flying by the seat of my pants, as usual!)  I had dug in my patriotic fabrics and found a different fabric for each wedge of the paper piecing.  Then I decided to use different stitches from my Janome, repeating on the opposite side, for the quilting.

I got it finished and hung in the sunroom last night, and I'm very pleased with it, even though it is not perfect. It was a fun project, and was quite a challenge for me, in spite of the fact that it really is pretty simple.  I may try paper piecing again someday.

Yesterday from 9:30 AM to 6 PM, two friends were here, one teaching the other to piece a table topper.  They did get the top together, and will have to get together again for the quilting.  They wanted to make use of my sunroom for the day, and I really enjoyed them being here.  We had a good lunch, and at the end of the day, we were all tired, but felt we had a productive day.

I put out my "Freedom Stars and Flag" quilts yesterday.  I figure I might enjoy them this week of July 4. Probably if anyone got in my house, they would realize that I'm proud to be an American.  Lots of red, white and blue everywhere!    I do love this land of the free and home of the brave.  I pray it will always be that way, and that it will continue to be held together by that "common thread", which in my mind is the Constitution.  I pray that God will continue to bless America, sometimes even in spite of ourselves.

Have a happy and safe July 4!

---"Love"

Patriotic Points Again

I  finally finished my patriotic table topper for July 4, 2014.  The pattern is available at allpeoplequilt.com.  You may recall that I made this previously, but didn't keep it; it was shown in my April 2, 2013, post.   I liked it so much I decided to make it again, and I think I like this second one better actually.  It is 49" square.  Again, my quilting doesn't show very well.  I always seem to take pictures at the wrong time of day!

It will be on the table in the sunroom for most of this summer, probably until Labor Day.

I'm not sure what will be next for me.  I need to finish quilting the DIL's quilt!  There are a few other things running through my mind too.

We are still getting rain each day.  Sunday my yard got 3.6", Monday - 0.75", and today only 0.20.  But the surrounding areas got some serious flooding today, right at rush hour traffic time!  More is expected tomorrow, and even on Thursday.  Lake levels are rising, which is wonderful for cities' water, and for fishermen too.  I'm truly grateful for the rain, and that my area has not had storms or hail!

Have fun quilting this week!

---"Love"

My Latest Quilt Purchase - An Incredible Yo-Yo Quilt!

Friday morning I was moving rather slowly; "Arthur-itus" has been visiting for a few days.  I slept in late and was just having my first cup of coffee when the phone rang.  A church quilting buddy called and said she was at a garage sale in town, and I needed to get over there quickly!  Yeah, right, I thought.  She insisted, and told me they had a Yo-Yo quilt, and she didn't want it, but she thought I might.  So I called another quilting buddy to go with me, even though I really didn't feel like going.  She asked the lady to hold the quilt for 30 minutes and gave her my name, and then left to go on to another sale somewhere.  As I "cripped" up the drive-way, I heard the lady say, "Here comes (my name)".  She got the quilt, and her helper and she held it up for me to see.  Before I even got up to it, I knew I wanted it!  (Heart pounding by now!) I asked the price and almost fainted when she said $50.  She obviously had no idea what she had, and of course, I didn't tell her!  I just said, "I think I'll take it" and pretended to check it a little closer.  My money and her quilt changed hands, and I hobbled back to the car.  My friend was in awe too.

I came home and immediately spread it out on my back bedroom bed.  I still cannot believe it!  I almost felt like a thief!

I've seen a few Yo-Yo quilts in my life, but never one like this!  Each 8.5" hexagon center has thirty-seven (yes, 37) hand-stitched yo-yos that are consistently 1.5", and the path around and between has 24 more white 1.5" yo-yos.  I have yet to get an accurate count of the rows and hexies, but I think it is 1l x 11 rows, and is about 109" square or maybe more, with the scalloped edge.  (I guess I could do the math, but haven't.)  I'll have to have help to get it measured accurately.  Anyway, it hangs the same on both sides of my bed (full size), and has a deep overhang at the foot, and also a pillow tuck of one block!  In the last picture, you can see tiny specks of blue peeking through; that's my bedspread, so you can see how closely they are put together.  Every stitch is by hand!  Again, I still cannot believe I got it!  It can be seen from the entry into my den, and just looks lovely to me!   On just a rough calculation, I figure there are more than 4,000 yo-yos!  Just making those would have put me in the grave, and then the maker figured out her design, and then another big job of connecting them all together on four sides!  I haven't gone over it row by row yet, but will soon.  For the most part, it is very secure, and there are about 8 or 10 yo-yos that need a bit of repair, which won't take long.  I asked for the name of the maker, but the lady didn't know; said a friend had put it in her sale.  (I still cannot believe it!)

I have a regular hand-pieced and hand-quilted Grandmother's Flower Garden quilt, with a green diamond path that was made by my aunt, and it is beautiful, but when I saw this yo-yo one, I had to have it too!  (Did I tell you I'm so glad I got it?  ---- Yeah, I think I told you! *giggle*)

When I got home with the quilt, there was a message on my phone from the friend who had called to tell me about the quilt.  Her voice seemed a little stressed, and she asked if I had bought the quilt, and quickly said if I was planning on keeping it (are you kidding???!!), she was okay with it, but if I was going to give it to a friend, or sell it, she wanted it.  She said she realized she had made a bad mistake, but she had already insisted I go look at it, and she had already left the place.  So --- again, here came another guilt trip!  I felt bad that she wanted it, but she agreed that she had passed it.  I said if it would alter our friendship, she could have it (and I held my breath until she said she had no problem with me keeping it!).  I'm sure it will not be a problem for either of us, but I did tell her that if I ever decide to get rid of it, she can have it.  I asked her why she did not buy it at first sight, and she said she just hated to spend the money.  Well, duh!  (She and her husband had bought out the leavings of another quilter's estate sale a couple of weeks ago.)

Today I almost finished quilting my new July 4 table topper, and the binding is on, ready to whip down.  Maybe I'll calm down enough tomorrow to get it finished.

Have a restful Sunday, everyone.  Think I'll go take one more look at it, and then hit the sack!

---"Love"

July 4 Will Be Here Before We Know It!

Seems like every year I get in a rush for July 4, almost as much as I do for Christmas!  I haven't begun my own addition for this year, but I have finished the 'replacement' wall hanging for my BFF.  I will get it to her next week.  I think she will like it; hope so, anyway.  I didn't want to spend a lot of time on it, so I made it pretty simple, but I did do a little free motion quilting on the stars, and I machine appliqued the flag --- first time I had used that stitch on my new machine.  Of course, you would know I wrote the pledge myself.  (Well, that doesn't sound quite right, does it?  --- No, I didn't 'word' the pledge; I 'wrote' --- 'penned' (?) it.  Oh, you know what I mean!)  *giggle*  It is 24.75" square.

Just had to show you the label too.

In my last post, I mentioned that I had made a couple of star blocks.  I decided to turn them into 6" mug rugs to send with the wall hanging.  (This table mat is one I made and hand quilted on July 4, 2003.)

Now I need to get started on a new table topper for myself!

Rains have come as needed, with no storms so far, but the forecast sounds a little scary for Thursday.

Happy quilting to all.

---"Love"

Two Weeks Later, and Finally Finished - Son's Childhood Dream Quilt

Last night I finally finished quilting the panel wall hanging for my son, and I hope he will like it.  When my sons were children, we made our annual summer trek to Colorado, and Son #2 fell in love with the area.  All his life he has wanted to move there, but I guess has given up now that he is nearing 50.  (Oh dear me!  That makes me really old, doesn't it?  And indeed, I am!)  Anyway, about three years ago, he went to Colorado, bought several loads of trees, had them shipped to Texas, and had a log house built on the side of a little mountain (?) about 50 miles from me.  There is not a piece of sheet rock anywhere in the house; the stairway and  interior walls are all logs. He is so proud of it, and I have to say it is quite lovely --- and so HIM!

When I came across the panel below, by Timeless Treasures, at a quilt show, I just had to have it for him. My quilting certainly is not perfect, and indeed, hardly shows up in the picture, but I free motion outlined most of the trees, deer, and log cabins, etc.  I think he will be pleasantly surprised when I get it to him.  It is 39" x 30".  I labeled it "(his name)'s Dream Since Childhood".

I should have finished it two weeks ago, but again, I've either been chasing around the country with quilting friends or high school classmates, or having quilting buddies over for all-day "quilt-ins".  I'm still battling with the new computer a bit too.  Busy, busy, all the time, it seems.  Tomorrow is church quilting again, and boy, do I need to pull weeds and mow the grass!

I did make a couple of  patriotic blocks today to start a wall hanging for a friend.  She thinks she packed the one I gave her last summer with her Christmas decorations and doesn't want to have to dig it out of storage.  So I told her I'd make something simple and quick to hang in her entry hall soon.  Hope it doesn't take as long as the son's dream quilt took to finish!

We are still getting a little slow rain almost every day.  Since Sunday, my yard has received about 2.5", and more is expected by Friday.  We really do need it, and I'm grateful for every drop!

Stay safe, everyone, and have fun quilting, or whatever!

---"Love"

I'm Still Trying!

In the midst of all the hassles of life --- and computers! --- I have taken a little time to work on the little printed panel I had gotten at the last quilt show.  I still have a way to go, but at least it is underway.  Here's just a glimpse of a portion; I hope to finish the quilting tomorrow.  It is another one that I'll probably ruin before I get it quilted, but I'm still trying on free motion.  I'm not giving up yet!  (Then again, maybe I should!)

Last Friday I spent the day shopping in Fort Worth with three quilters; I didn't need anything --- I really just went along for the ride.  While they went to the Berry Patch buying fabric, I went next door to the SAS shoe store.  Can you believe it?!!  I bought a pair of very comfortable shoes that I needed much more than fabric. Just like a kid, I told the sales lady I wanted to wear them, so she put my old shoes in the box.  My feet didn't hurt a bit when I got home.

Then we went to JoAnn's, and I did almost as well there.  I bought the border and backing fabrics for the panel above, one package of machine needles, and then made the steal of the day.

This picture shows my Viking machine and its hard cover.  It does have a handle, but it is really heavy for this old lady to carry.

For under $30, with coupons, of course, I got this nice rolling case, which will make it much easier for me to get my machine to the church on quilting day.

The Viking and its hard cover fit perfectly, with room to spare for storage at home.  Of course, when I take it to the church, I'll remove the hard cover, and will have even more room for other necessities.  I had never thought I needed such a case, but I simply could not pass a deal like that!

I am so thankful for the rain the Lord sent our way.  Last week my yard got 1.9", and yesterday, it got another 2.25", with maybe more to come later today.  Right now the sun is shining, but it is a little cool --- not even up to 60 degrees at almost noon.

I guess I'll go struggle a little more with the new computer; still haven't gotten it linked up all the way with the old one so I can get to my files from either computer, but I am enjoying it.  I can't believe how much faster the fiber optics connection is than DSL.  Truly amazing!  I definitely need to get the Dummies book for Windows 7!

Wish me luck!

---"Love"---

 

The Birdhouse Is Hanging!

I finally got the birdhouse quilt finished and hung in the sunroom!  It can be seen immediately by everyone who enters my front door.  You may recognize the framed embroidered rose sent to me by Liri several months ago.

The panel is "Heaven's Breath Wall Panel, Wild Wings", by Susan Bourdet, and I love it!  If you could look out the window in the picture, you would see many of the big white-winged dove I feed everyday, along with redbirds, blue jays, robins, and other birds pictured on and around the birdhouse in the panel.  Several of my friends say the panel is the perfect addition to my sunroom, and I agree.

I did free motion quilting around all the flowers, birds, and birdhouse, not as well as I would have liked, but as I always say, it's good enough for who it's for --- ME!  I've had the panel a couple of years, and finally got brave enough to try it.  It finished at 44" x 37".  You will see some threads waiting to be tied and tucked, and the binding isn't finished, but maybe you can see the quilting a little better.  Maybe someday I'll be able to do better.

Last week was a busy but fun week!  I had the pleasure of meeting up with APQ Blogger Ruth of Country Log Cabin Quilter, at Common Threads Quilt Shop in Waxahachie, TX.  I did well; I bought just two half-yards and a pair of machingers.   Then we went across the street to Seldom Seen Quilting shop that Ruth blogged about recently; it seems like a fun place for long arm quilters.  Then we had lunch at the Dove's Nest and visited a couple of antique stores.  I had to hold my hands tightly together --- I have never seen a piece of glass I didn't want! *giggle*  It's almost as bad as going to a quilt fabric store with no money!  I truly enjoyed the few hours Ruth and I shared last Wednesday.

Then on Friday, I and five other quilters from our church group went to the quilt show in Arlington for another fun day.  There were lots of beautiful quilts and more of them than usual.  Also there were more vendors to tempt everyone.  I managed to get out of there with only one panel with a log cabin/mountain scene, and an unusual picture for a gift.  I think all six of us had a wonderful time together.

Next week will have its own set of new things --- installation of new phone and internet service, learning Windows 7 and a new laptop to get up and running.  That should be enough, but I'm sure something else will crop up at some point.  I doubt there will be much time for quilting or blogging for a few days.

But I'll play catch-up as soon as possible!  In the meantime, all of you have fun quilting!

---"Love"