Has Time Flown By

Yes the last time I wrote it was way back in the Fall. I have been busy with this or that. If I can remember all that I have done. I know the most important thing was DGD-Zoey was born in December. We finished our Round Robins and had a nice party to show them all off. I have also made a Fair Quilt (on the right) for this years Lamoille Country Fair the end of the this month, I have quilted a few quilts on my long arm-some for me and a couple for my mom, the LWC-Lamoille Woman's Club-sewing group made 37 adult cover ups (large bibs), we have also been working on cool ties for the troops over seas. We Made the Chair Quilt for Bright Path (adult day-care) for their Sitting Pretty Auction---it was auctioned for $75.

I should have more to say but like I said I have been busy---selling tickets for the quilt, working with the CIP for the LWC, doing all the driving for DH and my mom, chasing after the cat when he gets out and today I fertilized the front and back lawns---we have over a 1/4 acre and probably did some of the golf course lawn also.

Well that is all I can think of right now.

HOT and HOT

Spring was here for such a short time people are saying they wish the snow was back---then they say just so that it will cool off. I am looking forward to fall but it will last a short time as our spring. We have had our problems with the swamp cooler not working to it fullest as it has 2 panels and only one was working at 1/2 of the pad. Then it got so hot the back lawn has started to burn and then they have us only watering 3 days a week---I do it about 5 nights a week and the house next door has the water running 3 times a day for very short times everyday. Why do we pick houses that water more than necessary. The other house we have here in Elko that my son and family are living in has had quite a bit of water in the laundry room which is in the basement---repairs are being made today. Then we are having a new dishwasher installed as my mom is getting tired of drying the dishes after we run the dishwasher. Hope the new one is as quiet. Have had DGD-Kayona here for almost 2 weeks, she goes home on Friday. She goes with us to our sewing group and asked if I would make her a quilt. So I had her pick a bunch of fabrics and cut 2 1/2-inch squares and have made a lap size for her----still needs the binding and label so will post photo when done. The LWC-Fair quilt brought in $1,938.00 before expenses---WOW is all I can say---took 2 drawings of tickets as the 1st one we couldn't get a hold of the person, so we drew again.

Well the day is getting hot and need to get a few things done before I start to melt.

Here it is the end of May

Well I have finally finished this wall hanging called American Spirit. I was given to me on Sept. 11, 2008, from a friend that I sew with at the sewing group. I embroidered the words by hand after I printed them out on the computer and window copied them on to the fabric. I have had it sewn together for 6 to 7 months and bought some fabric at a garage sale almost a year ago, think I got like 21 yards of fabric for $2.00---it was 4 large pieces---great for backings. Well I loaded it on the long arm and waited a few days to quilt it. Thought I was putting the backing on the machine right way up and wasn't till I was sewing the binding on I realized it was upside down---as it has words on the backing----no I didn't take the quilting out. Thought it was fitting to have finished it today---Memorial Day. I have been also hand quilting a table runner that is almost done. So that is 2 UFOs completed in a sort of short time. I was in a spring flower block swap and planning to work on it next.

We haven't seen very much spring here in Northern Nevada, as we had snow last week. We are lucky to get 2 days of sun and then the clouds come back. Yes every time I plant something the next day it snows, rains like a sun-of-a-gun or is so glumly. I did pull a few weeds yesterday and this morning---but there is more out there.

Computers are confusing

Where is my son when I need him---well he is in Las Vegas---but I figured it out.

I have spent the weekend sewing which I haven't done for awhile. I think we are all moved in, still need to put some stuff away here and there. Spring is trying to show up as the daffodils have already bloomed and the tulips are just starting with the bushes showing signs of new growth. So with most of the stuff done and the garage sale over I can get back to sewing. I wanted to make a wall hanging for our bedroom and went out over the weekend to a fabric store that is closing and bought what I needed plus extra for 30% off. Well in two afternoons I made a 9-block wall hanging with the Fractured Crystal's pattern by Linda Ballard. I am waiting to quilt it as I need to see the fair quilt for the LWC as I liked the quilting and want to try the same on mine. I have also finished the 3rd round of the Round Robin that I talked about in the last message---of course I can't show it as I don't know if any of the ladies look at my blog!

A New Adventure

I have taken on a new adventure in my sewing as I have never done a Round Robin. Well a few weeks back one of the ladies in our sewing group brought in a panel of fabric with pictures of fabric buying/stashing and such. There were 12 different pictures on this piece and so we each picked a piece. Now some were small and other are quite large---I picked out one on the small size. We have 2 groups of 6 ladies each and we are to add to our own by April 1st as we put them in brown bags and someone in our group will do the next round---we will not see our starting center until sometime in December. We will have 3 to 4 weeks in the beginning and then up to 5 to 6 weeks as they get bigger. So what did I do to mine well I added a colorful checked fabric and those corner blocks are 1 1/2" square to match the quilt on the chair behind the lady. Each piece of the blocks is only 1/2" and the blades of the stars are paper pieced---I got up one morning at 2 AM and drew 16-1/2" blocks on paper to make them. I have added a yard minus the inch stripe to make the blocks of the pink fabric to go with the block, they will have the option to use it. Oh yeah we have to write in a journal things about the block and in each that we work on.

This will be interesting as to how they will turn out. One thing was we can't talk/discuss what we are doing to anyone in our own group----as I said there are 2 groups and I am in Group "2"---so I can talk to only those in group "1" if I need suggestions. So in Nine months we will see what I get back.

Been a while

WOW 6 months have passed since I last wrote----to let you know it was a busy/stressful time as my mom was in the hospital for 6 weeks. Three days after I arrived in Calif., my Grandmother passed away at 102. DH and I handled all that went with that as my mom was still in ICU at the time and didn't know what was going on. I spent about 4 weeks with her after she got out of the convalescent hospital. Then to add to all that we moved into a larger house so my mom could be with us----so far things have gone well. Only trouble is deciding who's stuff to use as we combined 2 houses into one. Our move was very far---2.32 miles east---my mom was 492 miles east and into another state---but seems very happy with us.

So while at my moms I sewed on the LWC fair quilt and finished it---queen size. Tickets have gone on sale and the winning ticket will be picked June 27th at the close of the fair. I think it turned out beautiful.

The club has called it Nevada Crystals----It is Fractured Crystals from Linda Ballard. I have been working on a few other projects during this 6 month time also.

Hope to not be gone so long in between writings.

It's Been a While and Then Some

I really don't think I have finished up that much in the quilting way as I have been busy working on parts of many projects for the LWC. Right now I am doing a stack and whack star with 10 blocks completed. I did enter 3 items in the Elko County Fair this year and earned a 1st place, 2nd place and a merit ribbon. My Magic Ribbons designed by Dorothy Young was my Blue Ribbon winner.

I did get my treadle serviced, but now need to refinish the cabinet but I don't want to pay over $300.00 to do it so will be trying it myself----will be a good fall project.

Hope to be back sooner than I was!

Friend two Friend

A few weeks ago my Internet group, TQP, had a Homeboree Party as some were at the Jamboree up in Washington, anyway we had a quilting project offered to us. We could make any size we wanted from a small wall hanging, crib size or for a full size for a bed. I made the crib size. I used flannel for the front and back without batting as it has gone to Las Vegas for a friend's daughter's baby. As it is called Friend 2 Friend. It was designed by Liz, one of the members of our group. We also played games like Scavenger hunt where there was a sentence and we had to figure the name of the block, then we had make up a paragraph with as many quilt block names included, some posted recipes, and list our UFOs and how long they have been UFOs. Well I won for having the oldest UFO, which is my GFG that I started back in the early '70's. Those that signed up for the party received a quilt pattern book that was donated from ???? can't think of the company right now, and Sharen from Florida made book markers and cute crazy patch pins. I won the pattern called "Moose on the Loose" from Pat (?) and her mom's store B & B Creations----very cute.

Taking it easy this week

Yes I decided to take it easy for a few days and let the sewing machine have a break. After doing the 2 quilts with the Hawaiian dresses and this little wall hanging. Now this "Little" wall hanging came about because my mom's cousin was over and saw the one I made my mom and thought it was cute. So I was asked if I still had the pattern, which I did and asked my mom if she would like me to make one for her---so I did. This had some tiny-tiny pieces to it and after I finished it saw I pulled a seam out on one of the pieces---but you have to really look close for it. I used the border fabric for another quilt and just love the colors in it, so it was easy to pull colors to go with it. Now the cat was from some scraps that I found with help at the club house sewing day last week---I don't normally have browns in my stash. Next project is for the Homeboree Party over on the Quilt Pocket. You see I had planned to go to Renton, Washington, in 2 days, but with DH getting sick knocked the wind out of that sail. But I get to go to my DGS T-ball game on Saturday.

I have been busy

I can't believe I let so much time pass since writing here. But I have been busy. Just after the last post I got a call that DS#1's friend's mom was coming for a visit in April---she has arrived as of yesterday. Well DS gave me his DD's dresses that were given to them from this friend's mom who lives in Hawaii and yes they are baby Hawaiian dresses. DS gave them to me a year ago and I said I would make something from them. I hunted for something to do and they got put away until about a month ago when he said she was coming. We had planned to go to Las Vegas for DGD's birthday but DH was sick the weekend before and spent 3 nights in the hospital---doing fine now just had to get his sugar numbers in order. Anyway I got busy making these 2 wall hangings. I was given 8 dresses and found these two patterns on www.fatcatpatterns.com . The centers are just the shapes of the butterflies or angels since only having the 8 dresses. They are quilted/applique stitched by the block and then I sewed then together. The butterflies have just a single strip of green and then I used fancy stitches from my sewing machine to hold it down on each side. The angels I used the Cotton Theory (not sure if this is right as I borrowed a book from a friend) where I added the green---what looks like sashing---to each side of the block and then it is stitched down the middle and both sides of the green. Kind of clipped some angel wings as I didn't know I needed to make my blocks larger. Plus I have been working on projects for the LWC-sewing group each Thursday.

My Work for the Week

Yes I have been busy this last week. First the apron is for one of the lady's in the LWC. We are making aprons for us as the LWC used to be call the Lamoille Homemaker's Club, and this will be the 90th year for the group. I already have an apron but some of the ladies do not sew, so the sewing group is helping and making them for others. As is I am working on another one today.

Now the bright colored quilt is for a Cancer center in Washington for when I go the end of April---this will be the 2nd one I have finished. The Hopscotch pattern is so easy each block needs 18" each of a background and print, then is cut into 4.5" pieces and sewn together in a pinwheel block. Everything for the top was pulled from my stash---I only had to buy the 3 yards for backing. It is on the puffy side as it has polyester batting, I normally use an 80/20 as I like them a bit thinner.

The quilt in the middle is only 10" x 15" and will be a doll quilt for DGD-Kayona's birthday as it is coming up next month.

Then another project I have for this week is to make curtains for my new-DIL's apartment as she wants apple curtains to match the place mats I made her for Christmas---well need to go and buy the fabric first.

Two out of 19 done

Yes since the contest the end of January, that a LQS had for the most unquilted tops---I didn't win, I have quilted 2 of my quilts. The black and white is from a BOM back in 2005. We were to pick a color and then use 4 hues of that color. My mom had just finished making a black and white quilt from a retreat and suggested I try those colors. It is quilted with a verigated red and black thread.

The Flower Trellis is from one of the ladies in my sewing group. She saw a quilt a few years back and when she got home she wrote up her own directions. So when I started with the sewing group some of them were just getting started on theirs --- so I had some 8-inch fabric squares from a swap from about 2 years ago that I used some of them and added some from fabric I had. The white is from fabric that I had asked for on my Christmas list in 2007. The only thing I bought for it was the border and thread to use on the top.

I have 2 more lined up to quilt in the next few weeks. I load the quilt on the LA and then have to wait a day to get my nerve up to start quilting. The flower Trellis was the 1st quilt that had no problems in the quilting.

Still around

Yes I am still around. Quilting was put on hold as one of the LQS had a contest for un-quilted tops---I took in 19 but didn't win as the top three winners had 30, 29 and 28. They took photos of our tops and ooohed and aaahed over them, they also asked about the patterns. Then about a week later we got copies of our quilt tops and I got a 20% off coupon to use in their store. I did finish up 2 more tops before the contest---one was a king size log cabin that my mom bought a kit back in 1982 from Woman's Day magazine----like I needed them as I had 4 that weren't large enough as they had a minimum size requirement. I also made the Gkids Valentine pillow cases. So I have stayed busy. Now I want to start getting some of them quilted.

Christmas Mystery Done

Yes I have finished my Christmas Mystery. Only took about 6 days from cutting to stitching the label on. Well it is only about 34" square, but I didn't work on it the whole 6 days. It is a Dorothy Young Design that she put up from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day. We had the choice of about 4 sizes and I did the small size. I don't have large pieces of fabric in my stash so when I came across the card fabric I decided to make a wall hanging. It may go to DH's buddy's place that they play cards at when we get to Beatty.

Another one completed

Yes I have completed another quilt----even quilted it. The pattern is from Quilter's Cache' but it listed as a 12" block, I reduced the block to 9". I ordered my fabric on line and had enough for the butterflies but the background was a bit tight to get all the blocks made. I had planned to use the background for the border but ran short. So a trip to the LQS to get border and fabric to bind it also. I machine quilted butterfly wings in the HST blocks and smaller butterfly's in the open spaces. This quilt will be going to a women's cancer center near Renton, WA after April of next year, 1st it has to make a few rounds of friends and a trip to Calif. to show it off to my Mom and Nanna. I know that there isn't much of the background but it is from the Hoffman collection----mind went blank on it's name---but I knew it would be the backing on this quilt. This didn't make my tops list come down any as this one took about 2 months to make, only about 3 hours to quilt---couldn't believe how fast I quilted it, once I got it loaded on the frame.

Finished Quilt

It seems as soon as I get one quilt quilted I have added to the tops lists with at least one or two more. Yes I completed my Scrappy Trails quilt from the Cabin Fever Retreat this pass March, but I have also finished another quilt top---well it is waiting for borders.

This retreat was put on by the Silver Sage Quilt Guild. They have decided to shut down their guild after 17 years. Well they had a lot of $$$ to spend and made it possible for quilters from all over to attend at a very reasonable price. Saw the play Quilts that was done back in 1992 I think---was very cute. We had wonderful food from the Cafe X at the Great Basin College. We also had a performance at the museum. I met new friends at the retreat and am still meeting with them. This retreat was different from others I have been to because it was not just sewing on the mystery quilt.