Christmas in Texas

Family time is the best time of all. Here are all the grand kids and seeing them is a real treasure. Everyone of us had a wonderful Christmas and enjoyed our time together. My son and family headed back to their home for Santa to come for the boys. Here David is cooking Christmas dinner now and we will be ending the day with a feast. My daughter has been sick for a couple of days with a terrible cold, but is feeling some better. John is counting the hours till he can lie in his own bed and alleviate some of his back pain. I'm totally having a ball looking at quilting blogs and dreaming of my quilts to be done. All in all a really great time of the year.

On the Wall

In the process of cleaning my sewing room to prepare for arrival of new cutting table, I've been cutting scraps, and I even cut out my quilt of blue and gold pattern. I decided also that I want to sew for me, so I started on kit I have which needs tons of 3.5 in. half square triangles. I'm using my scarpes for that and the kit came with sashing and border. I'm excited about working on both of these. Meanwhile still making progress on Emily's quilt. The string blocks are coming along also.

I've been busy today

In my effort to start cleaning my disastrous sewing room, I took some fabrics down and washed dried and folded them. For fun I thought I'd figure out approximately how much material just this bit was. We have 71 fat quarters, 18 3/4 yds. 5 1/2 half yd. cuts and about 6-8 yds of yardage. That's a lot of fabric. It took up just a little space, amazing

Then I thought well, it would be nice to work on some wimm's (works in my mind) and found this magazine with a quilt called Granny Squares I've been thinking of and my book that I've really wanted to make a few things from. Time to cut and box so I can work on them.

On The Wall

Today I did work some on cleaning up the sewing room. I figure I have a couple of weeks or more before my new sewing table comes. But I do so much then I got to sew. I finished up my name tag for the guild. I have been wanting to try big stitch quilting and thought this would be a good chance to try it. As I worked I thought it needed more and added the cut wool that I had cut for a pin cushion I decided I would never do. It turned out neat I thought.

The teal and purple quilt is made up of freebie half square triangles left from finishing the row by row quilt I needed to do for Happy Scrappers. It occurred to me that I finally had all my obligations done for the year and I could do what I wanted to do. So, I made me a small quilt. I like it so much although these aren't really my colors. It was just so much fun to do what I wanted to do for a change.

Quilting really should be fun, and I plan to make sure I don't overload myself this year and do what is fun too.

A Big Finish!

The Slightly Bias Bee Christmas party was yesterday and I was able to give Cheryl Hutchins her quilt. The rules were to get 6 fat quarters from the person, no names revealed, and make that person a completed quilty item, your choice. I did chose to make this quilt and it did turn out fine. Joan, my friend allowed me to stand and watch while she quilted it on her long arm machine. Thanks to her it got completed.

My quilt came from Vonda Wright one of the

of the shop and a member of our bee. She is

know for her needle turn appliqué and I was so

pleased to get this quilt. As John said, it's so me.

I decided to hang it and enjoy it for a while.

Success at last

As I look at these pictures I see my design wall needs some work This comes from not knowing what I'm doing at the time. Anyway picture one is the name tag I made, but haven't finished for the new Contraband Quilters Guild. Picture two is the block I made for the same group as a swap I think. Anyway, this is for first Mon. in Dec. and I'm almost there.

Third picture is what is on the wall. The retreat in Palestine yielded this new technique for cutting stripped fabric. I need to play with the setting before I sew it together. Later on that.

I finally am having success getting onto my blog last night. Made a post last night and today managed to post a picture of an Autumn quilt I put out for the season. Found the new background too. I may be over doing the Autumn theme, but oh well.

Anyway, here's to say I may get into my sewing room today. Will do the two bindings in the wings, that I need to get done before going to Belzoni on Monday to visit the family for Thanksgiving. I will try again to put up a picture or two. Later.

Checking In

So far I haven't been able to get my blog to work in Mozella. I learned tonight about the ability to download more than one operating system at a time on your computer. I downloaded Google Chrome. Facebook still doesn't want to work right, but the only way to get to my blog, short of being on John's computer is to try this. I realize that this is not about quilting, but until I get this worked out, I can't tell you about my quilting.

Today a friend let me come and she quilted my Slightly Bias Christmas quilt on her Staler Stitcher quilting machine. It was fascinating to see how she used the computer to set up the design and then her machine did the work. The quilt turned out beautifully and all I need to do now is put on the binding. I am going to post a picture soon.

What's been going on

The biggest thing is computer problems and have't been able to make posts. I'm on John's computer and can't post pictures, but I have been sewing in among the frustrating episodes with my computer.

I've also worked on finishing up swaps and on the log cabin for Emily. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel with that one. My daughter is going to let her use the quilt I made for her king size bed. The point is to give Emily some idea how big a quilt she wants. Orginally she wanted a quilt 110 by 130. Then I need to decide on what pattern to place the logs in.


I've made two backs for quilts plus the bindings. One is the project for the Slightly Bias group. Tomorrow I go out a a friend who is going to help me quilt it. She has a long arm machine. I've never worked on one of those before. Guess I can learn.


I have the row by row to do next for the Happy Scrappers group. Hopefully, after Christmas I can work on things like dear Jane. I've gotten totally stopped on that project.
Well enough for now. Hope I can get my own computer working soon.

More About Houston Quilt Show.

It really was a great trip to Houston. I had a really good time. The ladies I was with; Sharie, Joan and Angel were wonderful company and all of us liked Mexican food so we easier agreed on where to eat. We stayed at a good hotel that was a block and a half from the George Brown Center. The weather was cold the first two days, but was beautiful coming home.

I only bought about 3 yards total at the show, but we also stopped at Painted Pony and Quilts in LePorte coming home and I found some fabric I had to have there. My big purchase was my new cutting table from Tracey's table. It should arrive before Christmas. Now I have no excuse for not cleaning up my room.

I'm still tinkling about dates fro the retreat from IQA raffle. I should be getting in touch with them soon to try and set that up. I think my feet finally have touched the ground.

Houston Internaional Quilt show

Do I have a story to tell. These are the friends I went to the Houston Quilt show with. There are, (from left to right) Sharie, Joan , myself and Angel. Angel had us go to the IQA Quiltapollussa Thrusday night. As Part of the program you could buy 3 raffle tickets for $5. Angel told us she didn't gamble but we should get these tickets. Well, there were 3 quilt retreats for prizes. One in Calf., one in Colorado and one in LaGrange, Tx. Since you have to get yourself there, we decided to put our tickets all in the one for LeGrange. Guess who won!!! Yes, me. The prize includes a weekend for 12 of us free. The details are fabulous and my friends and I are all so excited.

Lastest project on the Wall

I started with 6 fat quarters, I added an accent and the dark. This is turning out much bigger than I originally thought it would. It's due the first of Dec. quilted and bound. I'm thinking I won't be engaging in this kind of swap again. In fact, with all the swaps I'm trying to do, I don't seem to be doing much I want to do. Solution is to stop all but the most interesting swaps and limit it to a very few. Trouble is I'm a sucker for a scrappy swap. Later, on that.

Retreat in Palestine

One of the prettiest places I've been retreating lately. Good company with lots of projects going on and lots of talking. Also took a day trip and visited 3 quilt shops. I worked on lots of swaps and didn't feel I accomplished a lot, but I did make progress.
Biggest project I did involved working on a quilt for Slightly Bias group. I need to have a quilt made and quilted by first of Dec. Made a good bit of progress on it, but still have a ways to go.

Retreat in Lewisville Comes to an end

Here we are, up late quilting. Ashleigh had me working! It was wonderful fun though to have her quilting with me. I do believe she may become a quilter some day. She is an expert clipper and kept me going. As a result 50 partially finished log cabin blocks are finished. These are for Emily's quilt and I need more than 144. The others are at home so I'm not sure how many I have done, but we made great strides. After Leigh set up her scrapbooking on Friday night, it was really special, a real family affair.

Andrew's Alphabet quilt, Day 2 of retreat and babysitting

Here's the back to Andrew's quilt. It will be two sided, sorta. Now to make the binding and get my friend to quilt it. Other than this I've been working on Log Cabin scrap blocks. A little tired today, usually the day after my drive up I'm tired. Should be able to quilt tomorrow too. Maybe I'll even work on Sylvia's Bridal Sampler. We shall see. Sure having fun though.

Babysitting and retreating

I'm here in Lewisville to help with my granddaughter and quilt retreating. I took Ashleigh to school today and had all day until 5:00 to pick her up. During the day I set up my machine on my wonderful Sew EZE table and have been working on finishing my youngest grandson's alphabet quilt. This is the fourth one to make. Anyway, I had it about half finished. I needed to put blocks into rows, rows into the top and borders on the quilt. So, here is the result.

Whoo-hoo I'm done with one more top

Yes, yes, yes, it's at least a top now! It seems I've been work on little hexie's for a while now. I am very pleased with the results. It made a cute border for this block swap. The pictures aren't great, but you get the idea.

On the Wall, Andrew's quilt

Last Sunday I got to cutting on the quilt for Andrew. Then it percolated in my brain all last week about exactly how I wanted to make this. The LQS had 3 complimentary fabrics to go with this line, Alphabet Zoo. I got all 3 and decided to use the green and blue to border the letters and will be using the white with letters for the border. I also have a panel which will be part of the back. Andrew's name at the bottom will be in blue and I'm not sure how I will be handling the last few letters. I think I'm over thinking this whole thing. All this thinking also spurred planning for other projects. I did decide how I want to make another quilt I need to do for Slightly Bias bee, which I will start soon. So, need to get off this computer and go sew...

Productive day

When you have a sewing day it amazing what little things that get done. I started cutting out Andrew's alphabet quilt. He has started Mother's Day out and I guess I should have finished this before now, but couldn't get started on it. Amazing what you can get done when you get cracking!

These small blocks are a swap with Barbara in Happy Scrappers. These little rails will finished 3 in. when finished. It's easy to get a number of repeats. Good thing there is a swap going on.

Our next swap in Apple Crisper's is due next month. I had done half the blocks and got the other half cut and sewn. The pattern is great, but you can get confused if you're watching TV while you sew.

Sylvia's Bridal Sampler

These are the latest two blocks finished. Look at the first one, those sections unfinished 2 inches and there are 16 of them. I'm still amazed at the blocks being only 6 1/2 inches. I didn't speed through this block by any means. I cut on Tuesday, but so far haven't sewed any more blocks. I really need to finish some other things up.

Got it done!

I have this project, a row by row, that we are to add a row 6 1/2 inches on top and bottom. This gal started with the baskets in the center and I'm the 4Th person to add to this quilt. I stared with the spool blocks, but wasn't happy with two rows of that, and then I thought about the shaded nine patches I'd been making as leaders and enders when I tire of log cabin blocks. I like the two combined. The 9 patch add more color, which I liked and the shape mimics the baskets. Since the owner lives in Kansas I thought it'd be okay to post this one. Kinda makes me want to do a similar scrappy quilt. Just what I need, another project...NOT.

On the Wall

I saw a blog yesterday that had a "on my design wall segment" . I liked it so much I'm adding one to my blog.

I am presently working on a row challenge and have been in a quandary about what to put on this quilt I' m working on. I need to add a row above and a row below. But as I've tried a spool block, which I like, there seems to be something missing. So I tried adding some other blocks I've been making as "leaders and enders". I like the two different blocks so far, and that also would put me almost finished, which I like a lot.

My favorite setting is the first picture. This uses both blocks and best of all it uses my stash of 2 1/2 strips and squares. All in all very satisfying.

Block Swap

I'm having issues getting the formatting to work like I want. This should be under the other photos. This is a baby quilt made from the remainder of the blocks and I'll be glad to donate it to someone who needs it.

I'm thinking these blocks were a swap from two years ago. Some are not acutally Aunt Grace reproductions like they should have been, but hey it's together. I made the border from 1/2 inch hexagons. Then decided it needed a some leaves. The small green leaves seem to set off the flowers. I'm half way finsihed, had to stop to make a few more hexie flowers. Do love to make them, but very time consuming as with many things in quilting.

Trial Block

This was a complicated block. Won' t be making a quilt of this block. It's a large block, with lots of pieces. This is actually going in a quilt for a friend. A group of us made blocks for her quilt. Since she loves these fabrics, she should love it. Hope I haven't tipped her off.

Sylvia's Bridal Sampler, Slow but Steady

This block used templates. I truly do not know know how the pioneer women did it. What courage it took to suffer through making quilts with templates. Anyway, that's why there is just one. I have been steady cutting out blocks at the shop on Wed. with the group. Kitsey told us we had one more week of the papers for paper piecing. We all decided we wanted to keep meeting. Personally, I need the inspiration to continue considering how much it takes to make some of these blocks such as this Blazing Star.

Latest Sylvia's Blocks

These are the latest blocks I finished. There is a lag between when I make these and when they get finished.

I really love the leaf. I did pick a couple of easy ones to take a break from the heavy sewing.

Today I'm finishing another, then got to get on Caroly'n's swap that is due this month.

Making progress and happy quilting!