Halloween Blocks

These are photos of two of the Amy Bradley Halloween Blocks our group is exchanging. Since there are fewer quilters in this exchange, we each chose two blocks to make and exchange. I chose Pumpkinhead and Boo Kitty. We might be exchanging the blocks this coming weekend.

We originally had planned to exchange the blocks in the month of September, but not all of us (including me) had them finished. Our goal was to have the blocks done and exchanged in time to put them together for this Halloween. Since Halloween is tomorrow, it is evident we did not meet that goal for this year. But there is always next year. I think Lizzie will appreciate it more next year. I participated in this exchange because (1) the backgrounds were purple, and (2) with the thought that the grandbabies would enjoy this quilt at Halloween time. Lucas is only 5 weeks old, so it might be a couple more Halloweens before he really knows all about Trick or Treating, etc. but Lizzie should get a good idea about that this year.

In this picture of Lizzie she is wearing the outfit I bought for her a couple of weeks ago. I think she is too cute! She wore this all day and did not fuss with the orange tutu skirt.

DH likes to go to Five Guys Burgers. There is one in Fremont (a town near us). Two doors down from the burger place is a Carters store. What an opportunity for me! Every time we go to Five Guys, I always stoll down to Carters. Believe me, there is NEVER a time that I walk in there that I don't find at least five outfits in front of me that I want to buy, and that is barely getting through the doorway. Don't let me get to the back of the store! OMG!!! Now I have Lucas to shop for and that is double the trouble! LOL!

Now that I have all my exchange blocks completed, I can start on my UFOs. I pulled one down from a box after I finished my last Halloween block. I have all the parts cut for this UFO, and a few blocks sewn already. I think it will be quick to get done since all the strips are cut and ready. Elaine, this will be a kaleidoscope quilt. I started it after I saw a couple of yours posted in your blog.

My idea is to sew up at least one UFO before I start a new project. I don't know if I can stick to that plan since I love starting new projects more than I like finishing old ones, but I am going to give it a try. I have too many quilts "in progress", and that isn't taking into account the block sets from exchanges that I want to sew into quilts. If I stop and think about all the UFOs and exchanges that I have, it is overwhelming. So my thought is to take one project at a time and finish it. Hopefully I won't start more projects than I finish. I would like to be in the minus column instead of always in the plus column. I want to diminish my UFOs and hopefully I will not give in to my base desires of starting more new projects. If I don't sign up for anymore new quilt classes I might make it (and I really love taking quilt classes). We shall see.

If you celebrate Halloween, have a happy day tomorrow. When our kids were younger, we knew all the other kids in the neighborhood. At that time, we would have between 150-200 kids knock on our door on Halloween. Last year we had maybe 20-30. We also have adults (grown up kids) with their kids who stop by now. It is fun when I realize the adult is one of the kids who used to Trick or Treat here years ago. This is when I realize I am getting older! LOL!

Happy Halloween Haunting/Quilting

Quilt show

Yesterday my husband and I picked up my aunt and the three of us went to a quilt show near my aunt's home. It is one of my favorite shows. It is held at the county fair grounds in the city near my aunt's house. The guild members there are always very friendly and helpful.

The picture I have posted is a One Block Wonder quilt made by Sally Swalley. I encountered her at the show and she gave me permission to post this picture of her quilt. Of course the first thing that drew me to the quilt was that it was PURPLE, and that it was a One Block Wonder. There were a few quilts with this design that were exhibited. I especially like these quilts. Two people can use the same fabric to make this quilt, but each quilt will be different. I love taking classes like this because everyone's quilt is so diverse even though all participants use the very same pattern. I have a One Block Wonder in progress. Seeing these quilts yesterday, and especially this purple one, makes me want to pull mine out and finish it. BTW, it is on my list of quilts "To Be Done" (aka UFOs).

All the quilts at the show were great. Jill Schumacher was the featured quilter. Several of her quilts were exhibited. Her quilting on these quilts was stunning, to say the least.

After we left the show we went on an adventure. My husband saw a feature on a television program about a diner he wanted to go to in the same town as the quilt show. I pulled up information on the diner from the internet, printed a map provided on the diner website and we set off to find Lumpy's Diner. Well, the small map provided on the website was totally inadequate. My aunt knew the town fairly well, but had not heard of this diner. We continued to drive and drive and drive. At last we found the diner. We parked in front and went in. The place was packed. This was at 2:30 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon, and the place was absolutely packed. Fortunately someone left as we entered so there was one empty table. The diner closed at 3:00 p.m. so we just made it in time.

After viewing the menu we ordered our food. Our meals were okay, but not as good as my husband had expected from the feature he saw on television. The diner looked a lot bigger, and was much quieter on the television. When we sat down and ordered our meal, we could barely hear the waitress when she asked us questions about our orders. It was a fun place, but we decided we would not drive that far again in order to eat their fare.

After we took my aunt home, we drove back to our house, waited for 30 minutes, then we were off again to pick up our daughter, #1 son, and his girlfriend, to take them to dinner at Johnny Garlics in Dublin. It is a new place where Hubby and I wanted to eat, so that is where we took the kids for our son's birthday dinner. It was a much quieter place. The food was good. The garlic fries were great!

All in all, yesterday was a busy day for us! Taking in a quilt show, getting to two new food places, and driving over 200 miles to get all this accomplished made for a whiz bang day. The only thing that would have made it better is if #2 son and his family could have joined us. Since they have a new baby, they are not going out in public just yet.

No sewing done yesterday, but I did think about all the great quilts that I saw at the show which brought to mind the quilts I have that I want to finish, and new ones that I want to start. Every time I attend a quilt show it makes me want to get home and sew a new quilt.

Yesterday I heard one of the guild members say that she had five quilts exhibited in the show. She said they were all UFOs that she had finished since the last show. Our guild is holding a quilt show in 2012. I wonder if I can get five UFOs finished by then? You never know, anything is possible. I'd better get busy sewing!

Happy Quilting