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!