Merry Christmas!

And a very blessed New Year to bloggers everywhere (but especially the quilty/crafty ones!)

Check out this great giveaway!

Check out retromummy for a great giveaway!
http://retromummy.blogspot.com/2010/12/flower-sugar-giveaway.html

Being American when someone says mummy I think Egypt, sand, and pharoahs so my first thought was not of a mom LOL! BTW - how would you make a mummy look retro?

Where have I been?

It has been 2 months since my last post?!?!?!? Where was I?!?!?!

HMMM, lets see, first there was the revelation that I have now hit menopause, hot flashes, mood swings, and all. Then I got sick, then it was cram for final exams.  Oh yeah, a few holidays to be taken care of and a new dog thrown in for good measure. Okay, I guess since it is my blog and my life now resembles Mr. Toad's Wild Ride combined with The Tower of Terror, I won't get too down on myself. 

We did not get a dog, we got THE BEAST. I had some serious doubts at first but she is now coming along nicely. She has learned the house is NOT, I repeat NOT, the place to go potty and my quilty stuff may have pins in it and hurt when you try to chew on it.  I only lost a scarf I was knitting (Luckily the handmade needle case, which was yes, filled with needles, proved to be look more chewy than it actually was survived her. I think I have accounted for all the needles too.) Here she is..... all 50 lbs and 7 months old puppy of her.

What was I thinking?!?!?

Final exams have been taken - I won't know if I passed for a couple of weeks...sigh.

And I have been quilting some, with all that is going on I have to or go crazy!

These crazy log cabins were really fun to piece and the bright colors make me smile. It is a variation of the Opal quilt in Fons and Porter's Love of quilting from earlier this year.

And now I am going to enjoy the 2 week Christmas holiday, no really I am.

Just in time!

I made it! I finally got this block done in time for Design wall Monday - It was suppose to be up last week but the pink outer flowers just weren't working and I ended up removing them and starting over. So the pink block is #3 from Floribunda. I will be making my fabric selections for #4 this evening! yeah!

I may have to do some work on block #1(orange). After I did that one I decided to use black in the flowers and I really like it. I wanted to challenge myself a little, using the white on black and black on white fabrics will push my creativity a bit. I want to make my applique even more wild. I love the wild fabrics in applique but tend to be more conservative myself, so STEP #1 adding the black. Next Kaffe Fassett, maybe.

And the winner is.....

The winner of these lovely jelly rolls - thanks to an online random number generator is....... (drum roll, horns, confetti).....#184 Terry of Terry's Treasures - congratulations! What a fun 2 weeks it has been!  I think I checked out everyone's blogs and added lots to my Reader list. And I had alot of fun reading all the comments to this giveaway - A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who stopped by!

It has been a busy couple of weeks here getting ready for winter. Leaves have been raked, bushes trimmed and firewood stacked. Most of my quilt time has been prep work, or shop hopping - I bought the loveliest layer cake by Moda, Alliance (civil war reproductions) and a stack of what I refer to as "moderns", those wonderful wild stylistic prints.  I really think they should have their own name. I am drooling over the new Tula Pink line Plume- I want them all! They are just arriving in my LQS and I now realize I should have just bought some fat quarters online - then I could have been admiring them for the last several months right here, in my own little hannys, instead of constantly having to wipe the drool off by keyboard! And no, I still don't have them!  September was my birthday month and I went a little overboard (I know none of you can relate to that) and have imposed a little self control, not a lot mind you, but a little and am refraining from more purchases until 2 quilt tops are pieced, maybe. :>) I went to the NorthWest Quilt Expo and am sharing some favs -

I thought this quilt was way too cool. I love the way she made these shadow blocks in the corners, like smokey wisps of the design at the center. Here is a closeup...

And the quilting is just to die for!

This one is a perfect example of how the blocks and the quilting come together to make a whole design. I am trying to shift my thinking from quilts as blocks and fabric where quilting is something that is added later to one where the quilting is something that is integral to the design.  It is a thought process shift for me, good brain exercise!

Have a great quilty week all! And maybe if I get my fingers in gear I will have another post for Design Wall Monday...... Now where did I put my needle??????

It's Giveaway time!

Hurray It's time for a Giveaway

(Insert happy dance moves here)

I am giving away two mini jellyrolls, one in teal and the other in purple!  

One winner.... two prizes!

Just leave a comment here on anything you want 

and 

be sure to leave a way for me to contact you if you are the winner!

Don't forget to go to head over to http://fall-into-fall.blogspot.com/ and check out all of the other giveaways!

Fall into Fall Giveaway!

Yep, that's right it is giveaway time! I've never done one before but couldn't stand it and just HAD to join in on the fun. On October 1 I will be posting pics of my giveaway along with alot of other quilters and companies.

If you are interested in participating head on over to http://fall-into-fall.blogspot.com/ to check out the participants so far.

On the quilty front I don't have much new to show, I am making Christmas gifts for my small quilt group Gone to Pieces so can't show finishes (they might see!). But instead will show some pictures from my Guild's quilt show this year......

Isn't this amazing!

This is a little too country for me but the applique is beautiful!

There are some really talented appliquers in the Guild....

and just look at the quilting!  (Drool, Drool wipe keyboard).  There are some incredibly talented people here! Man, I really wish I could quilt like that.

The lighting wasn't really good at our new location and these pics were all taken with my Iphone.  I need to get better at the whole picture taking thing but overall the pictures weren't bad. I hope you enjoyed the eye candy and check out the giveaway!

Design wall Monday on Tuesday

Yep, out here in the Wild West we make our own rules. (I was born and raised in Arizona and no matter where I go I have a prickly pear heart!)  It is Design wall Monday, on Tuesday. That whole Monday off thing really messes with my week so today is Monday for me, even though it is Tuesday.  And on my design wall I have the blocks started for a BOM called Floribunda. Block one is reds/orange and I notice one of the circles is a little off - I will have to fix that, and no I am not a perfectionist, I am a recovered perfectionist. Mostly. 

Block 2 is in the works, and I like the way it is coming along. Purple is not my favorite color and the one I least like to work with.

Not on the wall but in my machine is a machine applique block.  I wanted to make this quilt called Crows in the Corner but the center block just felt flat to me so I changed it to this. Then I didn't like the borders so those are out too. And now I realize, in the end, I will not have made the quilt I set out to make at all! It went a completely different direction.  That is how it often works out for me, I start with a pattern and go all Wild West - off on my own. I usually hand applique but decided to do some experimenting with my machine. It isn't new to me, I have had it for several years but have not done much with it besides piece and quilt.  I am really happy with the satin stitch it makes.

Overall, I have been really happy with this machine. (It is a Brother Pacesetter quilters version). Every once in a while I think about going back to a Pfaff because the dual feed dogs are really nice for piecing. But this machine just works! I can switch from piecing to machine quilting, change thread, you name it and I have never had a problem. Thread tension problems are a thing of the past. It has a built-in needle threader, which I use all the time, and little thread cutters everywhere - at the bobbin winder, on the side, in the bobbin case, and a built in push button when you come to the end of a stitch. I don't ever use scissors anymore to cut threads. It is great to "just sew". 

Well, enough ramblings - back to work and then the reward of quilting!

Pokin along

Hi all - It is a really good thing I joined Slow Poke quilters, cuz thing are moving slow here!  We had our last big summer todo - A 3 day weekend at the waterpark.  I think it took me 4 days to recover!
But the trip was very welcome, as rather unexpectedly, my little dog of 16+ years had 2 strokes and I had to put her to sleep.  It was all very peaceful and I held her as she went. The vet was great and even sent a card afterwards.  But the house is too silent now, there is no pitter patter of little paws, no soft brown eyes following my every move. I plan to get another dog but not just yet.  Until we met again Louisa.......

SlowPoke Quilters

Today I joined the Slow Poke quilters. I too love everything about the quilting process. I love it so much, my least favorite part is the binding, because once it is on the quilt is done.  After that the quilt frequently departs (sigh) but, on to the other quilts awaiting my attention!  Here is one such quilt.  Made for my niece Amanda upon her graduation.  (Sometimes I see the quilt in the background at her apartment when she posts about her friends or something on facebook - I am thrilled she likes it!)

Crows in the Corner

This is a quilt I have been wanting to do for a while.  It is called Crows in the corner but for some reason I keep calling it Crows in the corn!  Sometimes a thing just gets stuck in my brain and is difficult to dislodge. A most disconcerting situation as usually I can't get stuff to stay in!!!!  So here is my stack of 3 inch and 4 1/2 inch squares - all reproductions. And now for the sewing!

PS. The pattern is downloadable from Windham fabrics. 

Summer

Summer has finally reached that place of tranquility.  The running around is done and I can once again breath!  Only one more trip planned, so the swimming lessons have been signed up for and #1 son is very excited. We went and saw a movie with candy and popcorn, just he and I - the new Cats and Dogs.-Very cute. And I think I have finally caught up on my sleep!

I finished the Charming Guys and Girls quilt along and plan to donate it.  I am now working on an older pattern called Crows in the Corn with my reproduction stash. But the main reason for this post -

GIVEAWAY -GIVEAWAY-GIVEAWAY-

Head on over to jaybirdquilts.come for a great giveaway of the new Meadowsweet!

A whole month!!!!

AAACK! It has been a whole month since my last post!  In my defense, school ended 5/16, followed by 2 weeks away visiting family and then my child's birthday 7/5 which included a week long visit from his Grandpa (my Dad) who sleeps in my quilt room.  Which I think excuses my tardy blogging, maybe. 


On to quilty stuff - I joined the Between Friends quilt along and here is my nearly completed quilt:

This little quilt is so cute - Thank you Charming Girls and Guys club! This was my first quilt along and it was so fun!  So much fun in fact, that when the CG&GC opened up for new members I signed up!  I just hope I am in time and the club isn't full.  In the event it isn't full and I am among the lucky members, we are challenged to post goals so here goes: 

July/Aug goals

1. Complete my online Medical transcription course by July 30th.
2. Take number 1 son to the zoo and sign up for swim lessons.
3. Finish: Scrappy log cabin (currently a WIP), string quilt, and begin my BOM Floribunda.
4. Sleep.

We are also challenged to do some self care. Well, I passed the big 40 a couple of years back and recently was told I have hypertension, so I am on a big kick to get healthy. I researched every natural thing I could do to address hypertension (banana daily, green tea, apple cider vineger, red wine and yoga) did them all and am happy to say my BP is consistently 110/70 WOOOHOOO! Now I am pressing on to lose some weight by doing palates and removing pop and desserts from the diet. Tally Hoo! Onward to success! And remember, if at first you don't succeed, eat a cookie! ( a very tiny one)

Design wall Monday

On my design wall this week is a quilt called opal variation. The original is called Opals, from a Fons and Porter. The name will probably change but Opal variation will do for now.  It is made of scrappy log cabins, set together with sashing strips and cornerstones.

Mine will have the center on point with a border of white triangles, followed by the border of scrappy log cabins.  Since I am designing this as I go I will have to see about the border.  I may have to make the triangles bigger so the center diamond "floats" or maybe make the border log cabins a bit bigger, or increase the size of the sashing in the border to make this fit.  We will just have to see when we get there!

On the design wall...

The Primitive stars applique blocks are complete.  Here they are up on the design wall.  One row isn't lining up sashing wise so I will need to take it apart and redo.  Then it is on to the borders!  I am not to sure about what to do yet - It is already rather large so I think the borders will be simple before this quilt grows any bigger.

BTW - I did get the friendship blocks quilt done and will post it soon.

I am visiting Stash Manicure today...

I was invited to be a guest blogger for Stash Manicure (http://stashmanicure.blogspot.com) so the bulk of my post is over there It is a great and inspiring blog and I was thrilled to post!

PS - I got the friendship blocks up on the wall:

This quilt is getting really exciting!

Friendship block comin' out!

We were going to move, but then the situation changed and now we are not. But when we were, one of the small groups I am a part of made me blocks and even though I didn't move they gave them to me anyway. Here are a few waiting to go on the design wall...Aren't they awesome! I've got to add some sashing, black with yellow cornerstones I think.  This is my next quilt in my get the works in progress to tops personal challenge.  This will make number 6 for the year woohoo! I am on a roll!

Small group challenge

My small group meets weekly at various member's homes.  We quilt, knit, embroidery, shop hop, eat and gab. We frequently challenge ourselves and this year the challenge is to finish, finish, finish!  We all have a lot of WIPs (works in progress) and we want to finish them up.  A WIP is any project where fabric has been cut. Patterns, fabric, or ideas don't qualify, you have to have actually cut fabric.  So here is my list of WIPs:

1. Arizona Beauty - needs border
2. Turquoise and brown batiks - fabric cut
3. Koi and lotus - needs border
4. Triple 9 patch - needs border
5. Floribunda baskets - applique blocks
6. Primitive stars - applique blocks
7. Friendship blocks - sashing and border 
8. Brown Paisley - fabric cut

For me, I have decided to finish them to the top stage for 2 reasons.  I have a limited mount of room to store quilts and, since many of these don't have a home yet, I am going to wait to complete them until they have a destination. And 2: Time; I don't like constantly switching from piecing to quilting on the same machine - I want to sit down and piece, or quilt without all the adjusting. So these will wait until I have a dedicated quilting machine or until I save the funds to have them long arm quilted. So to get got up, here are the first 3 done for the year.....

Teal and brown batik - I have been collecting these beauties for several years and had the Hip to Be Square pattern all picked out. I will have to practice my picture taking!

This has been in the works for years. I paper pieced the flowers and then got stuck on the border. I want to quilt koi swimming behind the flowers, in pink thread so they really stand out. Unfortunately, my machine quilting  isn't good enough yet to create what I see in my head - I will be doing a lot of practicing before I quilt this. I plan to quilt the koi out into the borders and bind in the same pink and black floral that is in the blocks.

This is a New York beauty pattern from Valorie Wells. I made it a little bigger and opted for a simple border. The original has a plaid border but everything I tried just made the quilt seem too busy to me. I decided to go ahead and quilt this one soon so it will get posted again when it is truly done.

A new beginning.

I had a blog some time ago and it just wasn't working for me. So I took some time, looked at blogs, read some how to stuff and now I am back with my quilt journal Mother's Day 2010.  My goal is to post bi-monthly, posting pics of my WIP and Semi-finished projects, and flag ideas. I am trying to look at this as my quilt scrapbook, rather than a blog.  So I begin.....