What happened to Christmas?

What happened to Christmas? I was working on it for days, even weeks. I think it was here. I remember waking up and thinking it is finally Christmas today. But when was that? It seems so long ago. All those cookies I baked are gone. All those ornaments I stitched are gone. What happened? I think I have the post Christmas blues. I like the build up, but the afterwards is such a letdown. But, two bright spots on the horizon were the surprise packages I received in the mail. One was from Angie. It contained two wonderfully purple pot holders, and a darling purple pincushion. I saw some pincushions on her blog that she had made. I asked if she sold them, but she does not. I whined and pleaded and offered a swap for a pincushion. It came in the mail just before Christmas day (that is how come I can remember there really was a Christmas this year).

Yesterday I received a cute wonky star from Julie. I swapped her one of my ornaments for one of her wonky stars. Isn't it great? I can keep it up all year. I have met so many wonderful women through blogging. Thank you all for adding to the fun!

Since Christmas has come and gone, I feel safe in posting a picture of my SSCS that I sent to Jenny in Australia. I had so much fun making this quilt. Two other quilting buddies and I get together on Monday nights. This is one of the projects we did together.

Well, I finished all the dishes from my cookie frenzy. I cleaned out one of my dish cupboards. I have some dishes I am packing away to give to a charity. I am working on my exchange blocks for the exchange next month. DH put the new running boards on the Pilot. He said they were my Christmas present. I refuse to accept parts for a vehicle as a Christmas present, although I am very glad to have them (and installed so quickly). So, I guess I am getting ready for the new year. Hope you all have a great weekend.

Happy Quilting

New Grandpuppy - Honey is Her Name

This is our newest Grandpuppy, Honey. Our youngest son and his wife decided they needed a dog since they have moved into a house. She is so cute! We went by and met her last weekend. She was asleep the whole time we were there. When she is finished sleeping, I am told, she runs around the house, expends lots of energy, then falls asleep again. She has already pulled down their Christmas tree. She got a hold of the garland, pulled on it, and down came the tree! She certainly is cute when she is asleep, though!

Yes indeed, I finished all the mini quilts (aka ornaments) and gifted them to staff on Friday. I went to bed at 2:00 a.m., so I did get four hours sleep. The day was a fun day, giving and receiving gifts. One of the teachers always gives us some fudge from a shop in Alameda. She gave it to us on Thursday since she did not work on Friday. I had eaten all of mine before I went home on Friday! It was delicious. My co-worker also gave me some delicious fudge (she makes the best), and a Willie Nelson CD, Stardust. I had told her that I had the cassette, and that I wanted to find out if there was a CD. I like that album so much, and used to play it a lot when I had a cassette player. Now everything is disk oriented. The kids gave me a small CD player for Christmas a few years ago. I play my CDs all the time when I am in my sewing room. Well, she and her husband searched, and found, this CD. I love it!

A few of the staff came to me and thanked me for the ornaments. But I was quite astounded when one said, "Thank you for the pot holder." Never did I consider the fact that a non-quilter would look at the mini quilts and think of them as a pot holder. I said that they were not potholders since there was no thermal insulation in them, just regular quilt batting. If they used them as a potholder, they would probably get burned. It is interesting how different people perceive things, especially crafty things. If they are not crafters, they have no concept of the time and energy put into these items, nor the "giving from the heart" concept of a handmade item. But I enjoy the giving anyway.

I did get to my Friday night UFO party at the One Quilt at a Time quilt shop. We did a gift exchange. I came home with a darling teapot that is designed to look like an old sewing machine. I took a pair of Gingher stork scissors. It was a lively exchange, believe me. There were some items that were stolen many times. I actually stole my teapot from someone who had stolen it from the original recipient. We also had a potluck. DH made a pot of Firehouse Beans for me to take, and they were a big hit. All the ladies liked them. When I came home and told him, he was very pleased. That makes points for me, because then when I ask him again if he will make something for me, he will be more inclined to deliver!

Saturday I did get to LAFS. I worked on some binding on a quilt that needs finishing. I am already into my "finishing" year, I think. I believe it is a good omen to end the year and start the new year with a "finish".

Last night I finally sat down and wrote out my Christmas cards. I had sent a few cards, ones that were addressed for places far away. I hope they will be delivered by Christmas (I have faith in the US mail system).

Now that I am on break, maybe I can get some time to read some blogs. The last couple of weeks I have been so occupied with sewing my ornaments, I have not taken time to get on the computer other than to answer a couple of emails. My next effort is to bake my Christmas cookies, then on to sewing my 12 exchange blocks (which are actually more than just one block). Then there are all those books that I want to read! I must remember to squeeze in some time to rest.

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas, and a prosperous Happy New Year.

Happy quilting - Pam

Mini Quilts Everywhere!

There are mini quilts everywhere in my sewing room. I have finished about 10 of my ornaments. I think they are so cute. You might not be able to see it in the picture, but I am lightly quilting each little picture. I bought several panels of this snowman design. I have cut out as many of the individual pieces as I could. Unfortunately, some of the pictures were not usable because I had to cut seam allowance for each picture, and that took away from some of the other designs. But I managed to get about 20 pictures from each panel.

I am having so much fun with these ornaments. They are a little big for the tree, but they can be hung on a door knob or the wall. If I have one left, I am going to hang it on my potholder hook in the kitchen. My goal is to have them done by this Thursday since the last day of school is Friday. Then we have two weeks off for winter break. Whoopee!!!

During those two weeks, I must get 12 exchange blocks sewn that are due in January. Actually, they were due last summer, and I was totally ready to get them done. Then the date was moved to this coming January, so I didn't start sewing them during the summer because I wasn't under a tight enough deadline! (It seems that I work better with a tight deadline!) Two days of that first week I will be baking my Christmas cookies, maybe Tuesday and Wednesday. Then there is Christmas. So maybe I will get going on the 26th of December. What better way to end the year than with an block exchange date looming on the horizon!

I think I am my own worst enemy when it comes to getting things done. My mother used to get so upset with me because I had so many things to do, but would never get them done ahead of time. She would say that I always waited until the last minute to do things, but I always would get them done. That is the part that would drive her crazy! She always did things in a more timely manner. I think I like the adrenaline rush that comes with the process. It's like cramming for an exam, or the final for your grade. You pull an all-nighter, and just get it done! Although, I am getting too old for pulling an all-nighter. Maybe I should call it a late-nighter. Since I have to work the next day, I must get some sleep. I remember one year I sewed until 4:30 a.m. Went to bed for an hour and a half, then got up at 6:00 a.m. and started getting ready for work. I was functional most of the day, but I started to wind down about 2:00 p.m. that afternoon. I was making Santa stars for my ornaments that year. They really turned out great. The staff really liked them.

Several staff members have told me this year that they have thought of me as they decorated their Christmas trees. They kept pulling out ornaments I had made and given to them. Ladies (and I say ladies, because I do not think any men are reading my blog), that is why I do this crazy thing. I like the idea that I am participating in their Christmas with them. They will remember me for years to come. OMG, does that mean I am becoming a legend, sort of? Maybe someone will write a book about me and I will be called, "The Ornament Office Manager, A Christmas Legend"! Oh dear, my heart is all a flutter! (I hope that doesn't mean something medical is about to happen!)

Well, back to reality. I need to return to my sewing machine, flutter or not. I have only 50 more to go, so I must find my speedy mode. Also, I want to take a quick trip to Oakland today to the Gift Gallery. I want to get a pair of "insect" earrings for my Secret Santa person. We are into our Secret Santa week at work, and my person wants something insect related. I know the Gift Gallery has lots of unique gifts, and I consider that something quite unique. I also want to bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies to take to a birthday party we are going to this evening. Then tomorrow I want to go to In Between Stitches in Livermore and get what I think is the last block of the month for my Mary Engelbreit dots quilt. Of course while we (DH and I) are there, we will have breakfast at our most favorite place, the Railroad Cafe, which is next door to the quilt shop. Convenient, huh?

Next week I have a doctor's appointment, Friday night is the UFO/Christmas party at One Quilt at a Time in Newark, then Saturday is LAFS (Ladies Academy Finishing School, or UFO night) at the church for Piecemakers Quilt Guild, three Secret Santa gifts to get ready, 50 more ornaments to finish, and five days of work. Seems like another busy week. Thank goodness winter break is coming soon! If you don't hear from me until next weekend, you will know why!

Have a great weekend ladies, and get those sewing machines humming. After all, there are only 11 days before Christmas!

Happy Quilting

A Wonderful Package Delivery

In today's mail delivery, I received a wonderful package from Australia. I participated in Chookyblue's Secret Santa Christmas Swap 2008. I sent my package off to my person before Thanksgiving. Today I received my SSCS package. My Secret Santa is Fiona who lives in Australia. Not only did I receive this beautiful tote bag, I also received a magazine, some purple fabric, a credit card holder, and two kits to make greeting cards. I could have waited until Christmas to open my package, but DH said he wanted to see what was inside. That was all the incentive I needed to rip that honey open. It was delightful! Such fun, opening packages. There is the most beautiful embroidery patch on the front. Fiona does such tiny, delicate stitches. Also inside is a beautiful card with a picture of the Big River Country, Murray River SA on the front.

I went to my tote bag class last night. I have a couple of seams to finish, and my tote bag will be complete. When it is done, I will get a picture and post it in my blog. I wish I would have had my SSCS bag last night to share at my class. The ladies drooled over the purple bag that I received earlier this year. Now, this beautiful embroidered bag will set them over the edge. Last month we did a Christmas bag with an embroidered front pocket. I have not finished mine yet, but I will post a picture when it is done as well. My embroidery is not as fine as Fiona's. Her embroidery stitches are so small and perfect. I am so thrilled to have received such a nice gift. Thank you Fiona.

I am still working on my ornaments. They are going to be so cute when they are finished. And the key word here is FINISHED! I have two more weeks to go. The countdown is near! Are you all working on your Christmas gifts? We haven't put up a Christmas tree yet. Maybe this weekend we can find the perfect one, or else a good substitute. I was reading Bonnie's Quiltville blog today and we have the same problem. No one else at our house helps decorate. When our children were home, we all decorated together. Now that they are gone, no one helps me with the decorations. Well, DH does put the lights up outside, that is if he cannot find someone else to do it for him! He says he does not help decorate the tree because he does not want to rob me of the enjoyment of decorating it!

It is getting late, and I have not done any sewing today, so I'd best get busy. Have a great weekend.

Happy Quilting

Is it late, or is it early?

This morning I finished the binding on my latest Halloween quilt. I had it quilted last summer, and thought that I would have it done in time for this Halloween, but other things needed to be done first, so it waited to be finished. I finally finished the last few inches of binding today. So, now my question is, is it late for last Halloween, or is it just really early for next Halloween?

I call it my Killer Tomato quilt. The fabric is from a line called Pumpkinville. But looking at the "pumpkin" fabric, it looks like tomatoes instead of pumpkins. Hence, I call them killer tomatoes instead of jack-o-lanterns. I have a few other pieces in this fabric line, and I like them all. They are very colorful and fun, but I really look at this one fabric as tomatoes instead of pumpkins. I am thinking of another pattern to make to use these other fabrics. So, there is another Halloween quilt in my future, but not today!

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. I am so very thankful for being able to be with my family on Thanksgiving. Since all our children are grown, it is nice to be together with them all. That seems to happen mostly at holiday times, and when birthdays roll around.

I am thinking of making a trip today to Joann's to get some black felt and some buttons so that I can start on my ornaments for Christmas. This is the weekend that I really need to get serious about getting started. After all, there are only three weeks left before winter break! Oh my goodness!!!

Happy Quilting

Happy Thanksgiving

Thank you all for your birthday wishes. I did have a good day, even with my cough (which I have not gotten rid of yet). My wonderful husband bought for me my favorite German Chocolate Cake from Neldams Bakery in Oakland. It is so delicious! He even made some chicken noodle soup to help me recover from my illness. My co-worker gave me some of my favorite candy, See's Vanilla Nut Fudge (I know, it is not chocolate, but it is so good!). All in all, it was a pretty good birthday.

I have included a picture of a little wallhanging I made years ago when I was in my "Debbie Mumm" period. I love this little wallhanging. I drag it out every year at this time so that I can enjoy it all over again. My turkey is a little lopsided, but then, so am I!

Hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Happy Birrthday to Us

Today is my birthday, along with many other folks I know. This picture is of a quilt my Secret Pal made and gave to me back in 2001. I hang it up every birthday and enjoy it all over again.

Today we went over to some friends' house for an early Thanksgiving dinner. Good food and good friends were aplenty. Our daughter dropped by today to wish me a happy birthday. The married son and wife took us out to lunch and a movie yesterday. In fact, we went to the new mega movie theater downtown. Our city denied permits for the three movie theaters we had in town, and then built a new theater downtown. It is a nice theater, but I liked our old theaters.

Not much sewing being done lately since I have been sick. I am feeling better every day, but I cannot seem to get rid of this lingering cough. I went to the doctor and now it seems I have asthma. I have another new medicine to take, whoopie! The older I get, the more medicine I take!

I am finishing up my gift exchange for Chookyblue's SSCS and will have that in the mail next week. I finished sewing down the binding on Hungry Caterpillar #2. Next week I will start making my staff ornaments. I did go to my Friday night tote bag class last Friday. I did not have my embroidered pocket done, but I did go to class anyway. The tote bag class is always fun. Next month we are making a simple bag, in small, medium and large sizes which will be great for gift giving.

I must get busy. I have lots to get done before I go to bed tonight. Have a great week.

Happy Thanksgiving

Second post today with photos

Here are some more photos of our retreat. The first photo is from our Wild and Crazy Quilt class. This quilter has her top done. I still have only one block cut out! The second photo are the blocks I sewed for my One Block Wonder Quilt. The next picture is a long ago started UFO by one of the ladies, which is now finished (at least a finished top). There is one less UFO on her list. Hooray! The fourth picture is a darling seascape finished that weekend. The last picture is a garden theme quilt. This started out as a stack of friendship blocks. We witnessed the development of this quilt top throughout the weekend. The quilter placed her blocks on a design wall, and added a little of this, a little of that, and at the end of the weekend, she had sewn all the blocks together. What a wonderful treat it was for me to witness the birth of this quilt.

All in all, it was another wonderful retreat, with lots of fun and friendship for everyone.

Where have I been?

Where have I been? Here, there and everywhere. First of all, I went to a quilt retreat the weekend before Halloween. I have been so busy, I have not had time to post about it. But when I did take time to sit down at the computer, my mouse died. I bought another one yesterday (that I don't like - too small for my hand). So I am trying to catch up on my 45 emails and get a post done today. This is a little behind the times, but in this post you will see pictures of some of the projects that were done at our retreat. There were twelve of us, and we had a great time.

I finished the second and third Hungry Caterpillar quilt tops. I now have the first one quilted and the binding is nearly finished. The baby shower for #1 and #2 is this Wednesday. Nothing like a tight deadline to get things done! I also made some more One Block Wonder blocks. I cut and sewed another strip of the fabric. I think I have three more strips to go!

In the very first picture, the quilter wanted to make a quilt featuring the photo. She added borders until it became the size she wanted. There were many tote bags made like the one in the second picture. The orange/green/black quilt top was sewn by a legally blind quilter. She did a great job. The purple quilt top was done like a leader/ender project. I wanted this quilt. My friend finished the back on Sunday and handed this project over to another quilter who will do the machine quilting. This quilt is out of my reach, for the moment! The last photo is the beginning of someone's Christmas gift.

River City Quilt Show

Yesterday DH and I went to Sacramento to the River City Quilt Show. It is always a nice quilt show. There are great quilts and vendors. Because it is farther away from my immediate area, there are vendors that I do not usually see at the local quilt shows. There was a vendor there with some beautiful quilt related jewelry that was very nice. Also another vendor who sold wooden quilt hangers that were different than I had seen before.

The quilts were nicely displayed. The rows were far enough apart that you could actually step back and see the quilts. I really like that. At some quilt shows the rows of quilts are so close together that if you stop to look at a quilt, you are blocking the isle and no one else can get around you.

There were some beautiful applique quilts, and some wonderful One Block Wonder quilts. Kim has some pictures on her blog. Please check them out. I did not take my camera, again. When I take my camera, I am so engrossed in the quilts that I forget to take pictures! When I don't take my camera, I always find some quilts that I would love to photograph.

There was a row of leaf quilts. A group of ladies exchanged leaf blocks. Each quilt was very different in the design and the way the quilter used the blocks. Some quilts were medium sized wallhangings, and some were larger, almost bed size, quilts. One of the groups I exchange blocks with did a leaf exchange a while back. Mine are still blocks - they have not grown into a quilt yet. But after seeing these unique settings, I am inspired to get my blocks out and sew them together.

While in Sacramento, DH wanted to go to an eatery that he saw on Diners, Drive Ins and Dives. It was close to the location of the quilt show, so we drove there from the show. We arrived just in time to place an order to go. They were closing shortly after we arrived. We were glad we were able to find the place and actually get a taste of some of their food.

The drive to Sacramento was very nice. The weather was beautiful. Not too much traffic. We took a different route home and saw some of the country we had not seen in many years. Everything was built up so much since the last time we had driven through that area.

I went to bed late this morning. I made the mistake of picking up one of the books I bought at the quilt show and started reading it. I have been looking for this book for a while. It is the first in a series. I was only going to read a few pages so that I could get a flavor of what the book was about. But, I was hooked after those few pages. I read until about 2:00 a.m. this morning. My eyes finally quite focusing, so I thought I should head to bed. Of course, I slept in late, and then I began a late start to the day that I had planned so fully. In case you are curious, my book is These is My Words, A Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901 by Nancy E. Turner. Her next book is Sarah's Quilt, and the third book is The Star Garden. These are all novels of the life of Sarah Agnes Prine. The first book is written in a daily journal form. That style is not my favorite type of reading, but this book has me captivated. I cannot wait to see what happens to Sarah.

I also bought Rami Kim's book pictured above. Full of lots of ideas on how to manipulate fabric like origami paper folding. You will also see a picture of the license plate frame that I purchased yesterday that will go on my new Pilot.

Today I have been busy cleaning, baking banana bread, dishes and laundry. I wanted to get this post done before I go into my sewing room because I do not plan to come out until bedtime.

Hope you all had a good weekend. I snatched this little thought from SuBee: My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance!

Happy Quilting

A PIF Arrived

There is the most wonderful quilt in my sewing room. It is a gift from Julie that arrived in the mail. I have been waiting to post a picture of it until Marlene received her PIF. I did not want to spoil the surprise. Julie made us both beautiful nine patch quilts for our Pay It Forward gifts. Please go to Julie's blog for a much better picture of my quilt. It is so special. I love it!!! Julie did a great job piecing and quilting the quilts. Of course, mine is purple (surprised?). Julie showed a preview of my quilt back in her blog a few days ago. The back has a beautiful fall fabric (with purple of course). It is very appropriate for this time of year. I am trying to talk DH into hanging it in the dining area. I am hoping it will fit in that space. I have enjoyed my PIFs so much. Now I must get busy and get my PIF gifts completed and sent on their way to their new homes. I truly enjoy making gifts for others, but I sure enjoy receiving them, too!

It has been a very busy week. Work has been exceptionally difficult this week for some reason that I cannot explain. Wednesday I had to leave my school and go to the district for a training in a new student data system that is coming our way in January 2009. It will be great once we have it and can use it. We will be training way ahead of the time we actually can use the new system. I am a hands-on learner. The trainings are good, but when I cannot go back to my site and practice what I learned, I lose some of my new found knowledge. These trainings days will take me away from my school site, which I abhor. I do not like to be away from my site for any reason during working time. My co-worker will be away for trainings also. That leaves one person in the office when the other is training, which is difficult at best. There are not enough substitutes for all our school sites when we are gone. These days ahead will be stressful.

Tomorrow night is my October tote bag class. I am looking forward to it. Each bag I have made so far has been a gift and has been received by the giftees. Each person likes her tote bag, which makes me feel good. I may keep tomorrow night's tote bag since it is a bag I really can use. It is a casserole tote bag. It is huge compared to our other bags. It would make a great gift, also.

Dinner is on the table, so I will close for now. Remember: keep a smile on your face (even if it sometimes looks like a grimace)!

Happy Quilting

Super Class - One Block Wonders

Yesterday I went to our guild's monthly quilt class. Diane Steele (http://www.dianesteelequilts.blogspot.com/) taught a class on One Block Wonders. It was a great class. I did get 19 blocks sewn in class, and I have sewn a few more today. I was able to get 19 blocks from a strip, and I have four more strips. I took a 60 degree ruler (which was required for class) yesterday, but it was not the correct type. So, DH and I went shop hopping after breakfast. I found the correct ruler at Cotton Patch in Lafayette, CA, today. I bought the ruler and also the book. Yesterday I borrowed a ruler from my table partner. Today, I cut a strip into triangles, and have sewn about half the strip. I wanted to get enough on my design wall to make a good picture. It is really addictive sewing.

It is much like the stack and whack process. You cut up strips, then sub cut the strips into triangles, then sew them back together into kaleidoscope type blocks. You never quite know how the triangles will look when they are sewn together until they are finished. It is so much fun seeing the design that is made when they are put together. That is where the addiction comes in. You want to keep sewing so that you can see all the possibilities.

These hexagons are pinned in the center, not sewn. You place them on your design wall. When they are all finished, you will move them around until the design is pleasing to you, or until you are tired of playing with them. Then you unpin the hexagons, and sew them in a line/column. After each of the columns are sewn together from top to bottom in a line, then you sew the lines/columns together to make the quilt top. It is frustrating not sewing the center seam of each hexagon. I want to see the finished design, but that will be the last step in the process. These are kaleidoscope blocks. I just cannot get away from kaleidoscopes! I love the kaleidoscope blocks.

These blocks are pinned together in the center, and pinned up on my design wall. I was afraid they would fall to the floor so I pinned them in various places for the picture. If you make the picture bigger, you will wonder what those little white things are all over the blocks! They are my pins. I am hoping all these blocks will play well with each other when I get ready to sew them together.

This morning DH and I went to breakfast at our favorite Livermore eatery, the Railroad Cafe. It just happens to be located next door to the quilt store, In Between Stitches. Isn't that convenient? I looked there for my 60 degree ruler. The only one they had was combined with a 45 degree ruler, which was not what I wanted.

I also looked for some more fabric for my Hungry Caterpillar quilts. I thought I bought lots of fabric, enough for my baby (I mean children's) quilts. But I do not have enough for the backs without piecing some different fabrics together. This first quilt is too wide for one width of fabric, which is usually what I can do with my baby quilts. Of course, they did not have the fabrics that I wanted, but they did have some of the fabric line left. I bought another yard of one fabric. I will have to make do with what I have even if I must piece a back. I hope I can make the next two quilts small enough to use the width of the fabric that I originally purchased.

This weekend has been filled with fun quilty things. But it is after 8:00 p.m. and I am just getting my wash done. I must go and get things ready for the next work week, so I will leave you with this thought: do some sewing every day, even if it is only for 15 minutes. It will make you feel so much better!

Happy Quilting

The Pencil Worked

Brenda, you are a life saver! I clicked on the pencil and it allowed me to edit my blog! I am so excited! My computer literate son came by tonight and worked on my computer. I had signed up for two of the same program somehow and he fixed that for me. He also looked at my email and reinstalled it since he could not figure out what I had accidentally done to it. I was writing in my notebook, and it slipped off the table and hit my keyboard and my monitor went bonkers. After that, I could not get my emails to appear on the monitor to read them. I could click the reply button and see the email, then reply to it. I could delete it, but I could not pull up an email to read only! Honestly, there is so much about this computer that I do not know (and to tell you the truth, I do not really want to know). Thank you again, Brenda, for your advice. It solved at least one problem. Next I will tackle another problem. I have so many to choose from, I don't know which one is first! Hooray!!! Until next time.....Happy Computing! P.S. Maybe I can get my paragraph spacing back again! P.P.S. My highlights are back, too. Whatever my son did to my computer really helped my blog problems. Double Hooray!!!

Typo on last post

I just found a typo in my last post. I cannot edit anything once it is posted for some odd reason, so I am writing an apology to Didi McElroy. She was not the featured "quiter" at yesterday's show, but the featured "quilter". Didi is not a quiter, I am sure. She is a wonderful artist who happens to do beautiful applique and hand quilting. FYI: I cannot use Spell Check either, thus my typos. I cannot navigate away from this screen in any way except to add pictures. And, I can only add pictures at the top of each post, not anywhere else now days. I am not sure what I did to my blog set up, but that is how it is. So, I apologize in advance, and again to Didi, for any typos in my posts. I try to find them all before I post, but sometimes they get past me, like this last one! As I sit here with egg on my face, I will close with... Happy Typing

Another great weekend

This has been another great weekend. Yesterday my husband and I drove to Valley Springs (in my new Honda Pilot) to attend their 4th annual quilt show. This is a small town about 120 miles north of us in the foothills. They have approximately 70 members in their guild. The show was small, but a good sampling of quilts. Didi McElroy was the featured quilter. She does beautiful applique and hand quilting. One of the ladies there said she was having a sale at her quilt shop. She gave us directions to her shop. We drove there and found the address, a home in a housing neighborhood. She has a small shop in her garage. She also does machine quilting I assume since there was a huge long arm machine in there as well. She had some fabric, some notions, and some used books and patterns from a member who had passed away. I had taken classes from this lady who had passed away, but I did not realize she lived up that way. I found a book I did not have, so that was my big purchase besides a pin. Then we went back to town and had lunch at a little Mexican restaurant. It was very good with reasonable prices. If it wasn't so far away, we would go back there often.

This guild had a beautiful opportunity quilt. It was a pictoral quilt of the history of the area. It was very well done. I bought some tickets, of course. It would be wonderful if I would win that quilt. But then, it would be wonderful if I would win ANY quilt. Have any of you won an opportunity quilt, or a quilt from a guild or a quilt show? I know someone wins these quilts. Once in a while I will see one displayed at a quilt show. The info card on the quilt indicates it was won at last year's show, or some other previous event. I always buy tickets at shows and events because I know this money supports the guilds.

Today is my day to wash, clean and do other things. I am trying to finish the binding on the crumb quilt I have been working on for a couple of years. I want to finish it so that I can donate it to Community Quilts at our guild meeting on Tuesday night. It is one of the pictures I have with this post.

The other picture is very fuzzy, I apologize. I have discovered my wonderful digital camera does not take close up pictures. So, I guess I need to upgrade my camera if I want close ups. Wanda at Exuberant Color has a great camera for close ups. She has some beautiful pictures of purple flowers and butterflies on her blog right now. Anyway, the second picture is of two quilt pins that I purchased at the last two quilt shows we have attended. The red spool is from the quilt guild from yesterday's show, the Loose Threads Quilt Guild (I love that name). The tree is from the Sonora Quilt Guild. I try to get a guild pin at the shows when they are available. That is the main reason I wanted to go to the shop in the quilter's garage. She had them for sale there. I will add these to my collection.

Until next time.....Happy Quilting

Bags and Caterpillars

We have been so busy here since I returned to work. Our weekends have been full, actually too full. Last week I was so tired. On Wednesday, my body told me, "Enough". It sort of shut down. I went home from work and vegged all evening. I kept looking at the clock to see if it was time to go to bed. I was really ready for bed at 6:30 p.m. but finally, at 8:30 p.m. I decided I had waited long enough. Off to bed I went. I slept mostly through the night. Since having children, I never sleep through the night. Then menopause (the "pause") hit, and I absolutely do not sleep through any night, ever!

Back to the point, I finally felt somewhat rested yesterday. I actually was up at 7:00 a.m. (very early for a Saturday), I showered, dressed, ate breakfast, started my wash, swept the grass cuttings out front (left from DH's attempt to mow the front yard on Friday), and then sat down to sew. Wow, did I sew! I finished a tote bag from my class from the previous week, and I cut and sewed a quilt top. It started out as a baby quilt (I am trying to get ahead with the baby quilt obligations), but it finished as a child's quilt. It really is not a baby quilt. I found The Very Hungry Caterpillar panels (and coordinating fabrics). This is a very popular children's book. I thought it would be great for teachers' baby quilts. Little did I realize that when sewn together, it is much bigger than a "normal" baby size quilt. My finished size is more of a lap quilt. But I think it is really cute. The baby will grow into it (and out of it) before long.

Looking at the panel, I tried to decide how I could get all the pictures into the quilt top. They are printed stacked on top of each other just the way you see it in the picture of my quilt. I have seen pictures of finished quilts with this panel, but I did not take into consideration the quilt size. Fons and Porter has one on their website that is a single bed size quilt. I thought I could use maybe two of the pictures, but I could not decide which two. All three are parts of the story leading to the end result of the butterfly. Isn't that butterfly great? Well, two more quilts to go(taking into consideration no more teachers become pregnant this school year). One of the expectant teachers occasionally reads my blog. Monica, if you are reading this, please act surprised when you open your package!

The tote bag is intended as a gift. I have thoroughly enjoyed my monthly tote bag class. When I signed up for this ongoing class, I was not sure why I did it. I really like the ladies at this quilt store, so I thought I might make a bag or two and that would be that. But I am totally hooked on these bags. Next month's bag is a type of carryall bag for casserole dishes. It is quite large. It will carry a 9"x13" size casserole dish. I think it would make a great wedding shower gift.

Bag Swap

Isn't this a wonderful purple bag? I participated in a bucket/bag swap organized by Linda (http://all-stitched-up.blogspot.com/). I was right down to the last minute in getting the bag I made sent to a lady in Australia. The bag sent to me arrived last weekend. I waited to open it until after the bag I made was in the mail. When I opened my box, what a wonderful surprise! Kathryn (http://ourshabbycottage.blogspot.com/) made my gorgeous purple bag and sent it to me from Australia.

Not only did Kathryn send me the bag, but there were goddies inside. There was this darling little koala bear gripping the handle. Also inside was ribbon, floss, beads, a darling needlecase, and fabric, all in PURPLE! My bag has pockets inside and outside all around. I have taken it for show and tell already and everyone really likes it. Several ladies have tried to persuade me to give it to them, but no way! I stuffed it full of fabric and things and took it to a friend's house to sew on Monday evening. It carried everything I needed for my project, except for my sewing machine, of course!

This is the first online swap in which I have participated. What fun! It is not so much fun trying to decide what to make, but it sure is fun in opening that box and discovering a wonderful surprise! I have also signed up for Chooky Blue's Christmas swap, so I am furiously trying to decide what to make for that one. There are so many choices. But not knowing the giftee personally, it is so difficult for me to decide what I think this person might like. It is lots of fun meeting new online crafters from around the world. If you get a chance to participate in a swap, go for it! It is FUN, FUN, FUN!

Wild and Crazy Class

Last Saturday our quilt guild held a class with Cathie Hoover, from Mo-o-o-o-o-odesto. She is the self proclaimed Queen of Rick Rack. She has this wonderful Wild and Crazy Quilt. She taught us her method for sewing together her wild and crazy quilt block. She provided curved templates for the block at class. It was so much fun seeing everyone's fabrics, and how they were putting them together in this block. I want to do the 16 blocks for a quilt, with embellishments. I purchased some wonderful large rickrack in anticipation of this class. Cathie also brought some rickrack we could purchase, of which I did (of course). I have a few other trims and ribbons, but it is the rickrack that I adore. My pictures are of my one block (in parts), and Cathie's Wild and Crazy Quilt that she had hanging at class. She was also our program presenter at our September guild meeting. That was a great meeting, too, by the way. Cathie is teaching this class in January, 2009, at the Road to California Quilt Conference in So. California.

Cathie is also a breast cancer survivor. She has designed a darling cow quilt block (pictured above). You can get a copy of this block from her by sending her a check for $5 which she will then donate to the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer research. To find out more about Cathie, visit her website, http://www.cathiehooverstudios.com/. She has some wonderful cow themed quilts that are whimsical and colorful. I think red is her neutral color!

Exchange Blocks

Aren't these wonderful PURPLE blocks? Yesterday we exchanged our blocks. All the blocks were great, even the beige ones. I really liked the orange person's blocks, and the orange and purple ones, too. But I especially like my purple/blue/burgundy (cool colors) blocks. Above are pictures of some of my blocks. I am thinking of making some more, but not right now. I must get through the first month of school, then I can think about making some more. I still need to make my own two blocks. I decided to wait until I received all my other blocks before I made mine. I thought that I might need some certain colors to balance them out. What I have are more medium to dark colors. I have a couple of lighter color blocks, so I might make a couple more of those to help balance the light and dark.

Since we are quite a lively bunch it made for such a fun time yesterday. After we exchange our blocks, and before we leave, we decide on the guidelines for our next block exchange. There were lots of ideas being thrown around; lots of noise and energy. We sounded like a bunch of cackling hens at a hen party! Everyone was talking at once. But eventually, someone starts writing down ideas, and we eliminate some until we are down to one or two. From there we come up with our guidelines for the next exchange. I think we are exchanging fall blocks, but I will know for sure when I receive the guidelines.

Happy Quilting

Crayon Quilt

I finished the binding on the crayon quilt this morning. I tried to work on it last week, but could not keep my eyes focused on the black fabric. Too tired I guess! I want to hang this in my office at school, but I am not sure I have a space big enough. I guess I will find that out when I take it in to school.

Last week was a wing-dinger! Yesterday I stayed until almost 9:00 p.m. to get the classlists done and posted. Since I started at 7:00 a.m., it was a long day. School does not start for us until Tuesday, but the teachers have an inservice on Monday, so the students return on Tuesday. That makes for a three day weekend for me as I do not work on teacher inservice days. Six days of work and I am wasted! I am really getting too old for this stuff! Next week will be very busy for everyone. The first couple of weeks of school are super busy for the office staff.

Tomorrow is the block exchange for our crazy quilt style blocks. I am so excited to see all the blocks. They are really going to be great! This weekend I want to finish a tote bag I am making for a swap. I also have a Community Quilt to finish. I would like to have it done by the guild meeting next Tuesday. It needs binding and the ties cut and knotted.

I would also like to make some more string pieced blocks (Heartstrings and crumbs). I am enthralled with random piecing lately. It is a no brainer kind of sewing. Since I do not have much of a brain right now, it might be the best therapy for me at the moment. *LOL*

I should be cutting up some of my scraps to put into my bins for my scrap piecing. It takes time to organize it, but when it is done, I am sure it will be great. I purchased this cute plastic basket (with purple handles) for collecting scraps from my sewing table. If I cut up those scraps in that basket, then pull some more out of a bag underneath my sewing table, eventually I will get those bags emptied. Soon I will have full bins of usable pieces. My theory is that if I do a little at a time, it will all be done sometime, right? But my problem is that I seem to put more into my little basket than I take out. So how am I ever going to get to those bags under my table? And my working time definitely gets in the way of my sewing time!

BTW, does anyone make dish rags? I want to crotchet some, but I do not know what is the best yarn to use. I have a couple of patterns, but I am not sure what yarn will work best. It must be durable and withstand many trips into the dish pan. No, I do not have an automatic dishwasher. Yes, unfortunately, I am the dishwasher! I want some durable dish rags. The ones I buy at the store fall apart very quickly.

I need to get my next load of clothes into the wash machine, so I must go for now.

Happy Quilting

Back to Work!!!

Last Friday was my first day back to work this school year. My computer was not working, there was a new phone system I did not know how to use, and my principal was not in all day. These were a few of the challenges that I had to conquer that day! But, the floors were cleaned and shiny.

On a better note, Saturday I went to our guild's monthly LAFS meeting at the church. We meet once a month to work on our own projects, and sometimes we tie a quilt for Community Quilts. A couple of years ago there was a demo done at each meeting which we called Quilting 101. I wanted to revise this activity (which had not been done for a year or two). On Saturday, I did a class/lecture on scrap quilts, especially strips and strings. I brought some 10 inch foundation squares, and some donated fabric, and demonstrated how to sew a Heartstrings block (not difficult at all). We talked about scrap quilts. We also talked about what we want to have as a subject for our Quilting 101 meetings. The ladies mentioned some things they would like to see done, so we have some ideas for future meetings.

All of us had a good time that day. There was lots of laughter, and I received 12 completed Heartstrings blocks for a Community Quilt. That is one of the pictures I am posting.

The other picture is a logo for an award that was given to me by Julie (Through the Barn Door). I am supposed to pass it on naming 7 bloggers who have inspired me. It is difficult to limit the number to seven for me. Every blogger whose name is on my side bar has inspired me. So I pass this award on to ALL of you listed there.

The first quilt blog that I began to read was Bonnie K. Hunter of Quiltville. I had read her website and blog for a few months. She inspired me so much that I began to write my own quilting blog. All the bloggers on my side bar have been very encouraging and supportive. I have enjoyed reading their blogs, along with many others. I wish I had time to read them all on a daily basis.

Since I have returned to work, my time is much more limited for "play". I spent so much time reading blogs this summer that I did not get as much quilting done as I wanted. But I enjoyed all my time with all the quilt bloggers. This blogging thing is so awesome. I have made blogging friends around the world. I have learned much, and I am constantly being inspired by each and everyone.

Again, thank you Julie.

Happy Quilting

Exchange Blocks Done

They are done. My exchange blocks are done, at least the ones that I will give away. This is a picture of a few of the blocks. We were doing a crazy quilt type block. They turned out very colorful, except for the beige/tan/off white ones. Those are very muted and soft. I like the all purple ones. Does that surprise you?

There is another exchange that I must work on. The deadline for those blocks was postponed, so of course I have postponed getting them done. But I like this feeling of "finished". So I shall start on those tomorrow, I think. I also want to get some samples done for a workshop I am leading for our guild. I want to make some Heartstring type blocks (string pieced). They are so easy and fun to do, and use up lots of scraps.

Speaking of scraps, I went to work with the Community Quilts group yesterday. They were making crumb blocks with scraps, and tying quilts. There were six ladies sewing in the room I was in, and two other ladies pressing and cutting the sewn parts.

I went in after lunch, and worked on finishing my 10+ year old community quilt. I had the last side of the binding to sew down. I like to sew the binding on the back by hand. I finished my binding, and rang the bell (you ring the bell when you finish a block, or a quilt). I played a tune on that bell being so excited that I finally finished the quilt that I started so long ago. It is the one I posted about that has pink in it. My thought was to make a quilt for a man since we make so many feminine type quilts, and children's quilts. So, I decided that blue would be a good "manly" color. I am not sure how the pink worked into that quilt, but somehow it did.

I made the blocks for that quilt from a pattern booklet by Sharon Craig. It was the first time I cut strips and sewed blocks from the strips. I cut so many strips. I don't know what I was thinking at the time. I made enough blocks to make two quilts, almost. I have several blocks left over, and lots of strips left over. I know the strips can go into my strip bins, but I must do something with those left over blocks. I want to take the tote bag they are in out from under my sewing table (and make room for another one!).

I have so many projects that I can work on that are stashed under my sewing table. There is so much stuff under my table that I can hardly fit my feet under the table when I am sewing! I also have my Singer Featherweight machines under there as well.

What started this activity was that I was looking for some black fabric for a project today, and I started moving everything that is in front of the closet door in my sewing room so that I could get into the closet to look for the fabric. I have a bolt of black fabric that I have not cut yet, and I thought that it was in the closet. Actually, I found it in front of the door, but since I had started on a quest to get into the closet, I continued moving everything.

When I finally did get into the closet (after watching a Perry Mason episode, and a Georgia Bonsteel quilt show - remember, I am still on vacation and I can still do those things), I found all kinds of treasures that I forgot about. I found a complete set of patterns (with fabric) for an applique cat quilt, a darling Santa quilt (including fabric for each pattern), and (among other things) my box of Baltimore Album blocks. I found four more blocks in that box that I had set up to be appliqued. I think I will have enough to make a 25 block quilt when those blocks are finished. In that same box are a bunch of blocks (with a heart theme) of various sizes and colors. There are enough to make a quilt, for sure.

Also in the closet (and mind you, I have not gone through the whole closet, yet), I found all the patterns for a Mama Said applique quilt. I know one member from our group who has actually finished her Mama Said quilt (I'm so envious). Then there is a complete set of the monster patterns for a quilt that I did as samples for a quilt store as an applique BOM. Lots of other things are in the closet that I do not have the interest in discovering today. Although, some of those bags and boxes have piked my interest!

I had thoughts of organizing this closet at the beginning of my summer break. Unfortunately I did not get around to that project, again. I had that same goal last summer, too.

My sewing room is a mess (more than usual) since I have all that wonderful stuff all over everywhere in there. Now I cannot even get to the bolt of black fabric to cut some for my project! I may close the door and revisit it tomorrow. In the meantime.....

Happy Quilting

FYI: DH found an article in today's newspaper. A little baby girl was born in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, on 08-08-08 at 8:08 in the morning weighing 8 pounds and 8 ounces! Ya gotta love it!

You know it is 08-08-08, right?

You do realize that today's date is (numerilogically - big word, probably spelled wrong, too) the eighth day of the eighth month of the eighth year, 08-08-08? No, you did not? Well, it is! So, please write a note to someone with today's date, or write a check, or write a blog with today's date. We will not have this numerical sequence again for another century. And eight is a lucky number, right? I wonder how many babies will be born today? I wonder how many folks have August 8 as their birthday, and are celebrating today? I feel like celebrating, even though it is not my birthday. Happy Celebration and Happy Quilting

Collaborative Quilting

When visiting my aunt last week, we stopped at a quilt shop in the town where she lives. I found this wonderful book, Collaborative Quilting, by Freddy Moran (a local quilter) and Gwen Marston. It is so great! It was only $19.95 with 256 pages. The book is filled with wonderful color photographs of Freddy and Gwen's studios, quilts, and their homes. This is such an informative book. If you can, get a copy and cruise through the pages. Once you look at it, I am sure you will be hooked. If you like the quilting style of Gwen or Freddy (both very colorful quilters), you will love this book. There are directions, and patterns, for different quilts. Also included are directions for doing certain styles, like their liberated flying geese blocks, and different border treatments.

This is such a fun book. It is a delight just to read through the pages and learn about these two phenominal women. Putting both of them together, a collaboration, is earth shattering. Give yourself a treat and read this book.

Well, I am still working on my exchange blocks. I want to post a picture when I get some more color combinations done. Our date for the actual exchange has been postponed, so I do not have such a tight deadline, but I do want them finished before I go back to work (which is in one more week - eek!).

This summer has been different than I expected. We had travelled to visit with my husband's mother and stepfather at the end of June. His mother seemed a little more tired than usual, but was not complaining much about her health. The week after we returned home, we received a call from his stepfather. His mother had gone to the doctor after we had left. The doctor told them she had cancer, and had a limited time left. She passed away just 21 days later.

I have not posted much the last few weeks because I just could not get connected with my quilting in the way that I wanted. So, I have not finished what I had planned this summer because I seem to have lost my energy somewhat. Life goes on, and I must get it together since I need to return to work next week.

Finding that Collaborative Quilting book made me feel so much better. While reading that book, I found a smile, and a renewal of energy. I do not know why, or exactly what it was that made me smile, but it did. As I said, life goes on, and so must we.

I hope you all have a smile today.

Happy Quilting

Pay It Forward

I have received the nicest little secretary/notebook from Marlene (Stitchin By The Lake). I agreed to Pay It Forward with her. This is an exchange based on the concept of the movie "Pay It Forward" where acts or deeds of kindness are done without expecting something in return, just passing it on, with hope that the recipients of the acts of kindness are passed on. So here is how it works: I will make and send a handmade gift to the first 3 people who leave a comment to this post on my blog requesting to join this PIF exchange with me. I do not know what that gift will be yet, but it will be sent within the next six months. What you need to do in return, then, is Pay It Forward by making the same commitment on your blog. Please remember I will need an email address to correspond with you.

I enjoy making gifts for friends, and just think, it could be purple! So, be BRAVE, be my FRIEND, and PAY IT FORWARD with me.