Last Post of 2013

As we are all reflecting on 2013 and what a wild year it was, I hope you take time to enjoy your loved ones - family and friends and fur or feather or scales babies! It's been a real roller coaster for my family and friends. We have joyful times and tearful goodbyes. There's been too much drama (I am NOT a drama queen and would be happy if there were no more drama E V E R!). There's been lots and lots of laughter - you can never have too much laughter! There's been quilts and fabric and thread and batting! That helps the drama go away - LOL!

I've set up my file for 2014 to record my quilting and find I didn't finish strong in 2013. You know what? That's okay! It's not like it's going to go away. I did not get that quilting fairy for birthday or Christmas so I'll have the joy to finish them myself over the next 12 months or longer. It doesn't seem fair that I have to count some things as UFO's - like Celtic Solstice or Merry Mayhem 136 since I don't have the instructions to finish them yet. In all reality, it doesn't mean I would finish them if I did. Here's where I will end 2013 and begin 2014. I don't have any thoughts that I would finish anymore this year.

2013 New Quilt Projects 49
2013 Completed 35

UFO’s 1/1/13 48
Still adding as I find them!
UFO’s Completed 2013 5

Total Square Yards Used 96.1

UFO's 1/1/14 57

My last finish is Ho Ho HO! Who wouldn't go? from Art to Heart. I just didn't add the words

I hope you have fun and joy and blessings enough in 2014 to drown out the things we have to face that aren't so pleasant in 2014. Wouldn't it be nice to end 2014 and think back and not remember anything sad or drama-filled? I realize we can't always have good times - we wouldn't appreciate life near as much, so I'm told. I'd like to have a year of only good times to see if that is really true!

Happy quilting!

Happy Veteran's Day

Thank you all for your service! We are able to do what we love to do because you fought for our freedom. I appreciate you GREATLY!

Featherweight to the Rescue!

The other title to this story could be The Shame of the Computerized Machine. But I like a rescue better. So what happened?

I was working hard on a mini bow tuck bag for my mom. My wonderfully wonderful computerized machine decided it was tired and didn’t want to sew through all those layers of handles and triple and quadruple batting and fabric. She’s done it before – we’ve made several mini bow tucks and several full size bow tucks with no issues. I guess she was just not feeling up to the tasks.

After much debate about how the heck was I going to finish this purse and changing to every type of needle and thread I have, I was about to give up when the light bulb went off. One of my sister-in-law’s had given – yes I said GIVEN – and we’ve been doing really well getting acquainted.

And it’s a 100 year anniversary machine!

I’ve been working on a Bonnie Hunter for my first quilt on it. Fitting, don’t you think? Anyway, I grab Petunia May and shoved Big Bertha to the back and Petunia said “This isn’t a challenge!” and zipped right through it.

While I let out a heavy sigh of relief, I ran out of bobbin thread – of course. Last 4 inches of sewing and I need to wind a new bobbin. Okay! Easy enough. When I pulled the bobbin out, there’s another color of thread on the bobbin. I had been sewing with black. Now there is gray.

Okay – let’s just get the seam ripper out and get all of this off the bobbin. There was red and white and more black and tan and more red and green! I was laughing! The green must have been no more than 12 inches and was the last color on the bobbin. Wonder why the previous owner didn’t just take it off? Probably was just too intent on sewing and just wound what she needed.

To end on a good note, Big Bertha did work wonderfully on two little purses for my niece and grandniece. This pattern is Ruby’s Party Bag from Moda Bake Shop. Cute little purses!

Happy quilting!!

Bonnie Hunter Finish Up

Reading on Michelle's Romantic Tangle - LOVE LOVE LOVE her blog, I found a Bonnie Hunter finish it challenge. It's on Jo's Country Junction, another blog worth visiting every day!

I have several in process and have completed her Happily Scrappily Irish Chain except for getting it quilted. I need to send it out for quilting but that probably won't happen until next year. I'd love to complete the other projects as all the blocks are made. Here's where they all are:

Split Nine Patch - center is complete. Add a second border and determine the look of the final border

Sister's Nine Patch - all blocks are made. Cut out setting blocks and triangles and have at it!

Rick Rack Nine Patch - all blocks are made. Cut out setting blocks and triangles and have at it! Should have just said ditto!

How about you?

Until later, Happy Quilting!

OOPS! Monday To - Do List - on Thursday

I forgot to do my to do list! Speaks to how well I'm organized lately! I'll blame work. It's been really challenging the last few weeks and is taking away from my sewing time. I suppose I can't complain because it does let me buy the fabrics I love!

1. Bind Double Hour Glass quilt
2. Make Mom's Mini-Bow Tuck purse
3. Make purses for grand-nieces
4. Figure out next border for Little Women's Scrap Quilt
5. Finish center of the Album quilt

I think this list will have to go for next week too! That is too much to get done by Monday now! Number 1 is done. Working on 2 and 4. 5 is frustrating. I pulled an old, old, old pattern out and the center calls for an 8" finished center BUT it should be a 7 1/2" finished center. Working on cutting it down then it's a breeze! Why not just go with it? Because it is the center of a feathered star and the sides don't fit. ****SIGH****

Life without challenges would be no fun at all and we'd never learn!

Until next time, keeps those seams at 1/4"

Bonnie's New Mystery Quilt

Do you think Lowes and Home Depot and other paint stores are wondering why women are staring at the paint chips and not buying paint?!?!

IT'S ON!!

Celtic Solstice

I didn't do last year but am ready and pumped to go this year!

Monday To-Do List

Well, I didn't complete everything I had on my list but some done and some projects just jumped ahead of others. Here's what I was supposed to do:
1. Complete the center of Bonnie Hunter’s Summer Sew Along - DONE
2. Layer and quilt Soldier’s Cot Quilt - DONE
3. Bind Soldier’s Cot Quilt - DONE
4. Layer and quilt Half Scrap Log Cabin
5. Bind Half Scrap Log Cabin


So this week, I have to start out with the leftovers:

1. Layer and quilt Scrap Half Log Cabin
2. Bind Scrap Half Log Cabin
3. Layer and quilt Double Hour Glass quilt
4. Bind Double Hour Glass quilt
5. Make Mom's Mini-Bow Tuck purse
6. Make purses for grand-nieces


Notice I change the name of the quilt on the first 2 things to complete. That's because I had it wrong last week!

My center of the Bonnie Hunter Split Nine Patch:

Keep Stitching Away! And Smile!!

Little Women - October Meeting Pictures

Second post for our Little Women group. Marie's work deserved its own post. The slide show is the quilts and other work by our group. We are working out of Kathleen Tracy's Civil War Sewing Circle book. The group was also asked to bring their Halloween or Fall quilts and their counted cross stitch to share as we are celebrating the fall season. As always, the group came through!

Customize your own slideshow

I could not let Joy's witch quilt go without a full picture:

Until next time, Happy Quilting!

Jo Jo's Little Women - Special Treat - Marie Driskill

The second Saturday of the month, we have a group that meets at Jo Jo's Quilt Shop in Chesterfield, VA. The group is Little Women. We had a guest who came to see if she wants to join us in 2014 - Marie Driskill. Marie is a delightful woman. She owns Blackberry Lane Designs. This is a counted cross stitch place of uncommon beauty! With her permission, we took pictures - lots and lots and lots - of her trunk show she had just received back from a shop in Waynesboro. Please enjoy!

The captions under the pictures are mine - I don't know the official names of any of the patterns. I'm sure you can find them on her website - which is have some work done so be patient if a link doesn't work properly!

Customize your own free slideshow

Split 9 Patch

It was wonderfully rainy and windy here today. After work, I started putting together my Split 9 Patch. It's going to be so cute! The fabric is from 2008 - 2010; somewhere in there! It's Happy Howlidays. Very fun!

Now to finish piecing and determine what kind of border it gets.

Happy quilting!

Make-A-List Monday Link Up

I told my friend, Mary, I would join her in organizing my quilting with my Monday quilting to-do list. I realize it's Sunday as I post this but I like to plan a day ahead. So here's what I want to get accomplished this week:

1. Complete the center of Bonnie Hunter’s Summer Sew Along
2. Layer and quilt Soldier’s Cot Quilt
3. Bind Soldier’s Cot Quilt
4. Layer and quilt Half Scrap Log Cabin
5. Bind Half Scrap Log Cabin

Linking with Confessions of a Fabric Addict!
Stay tuned for design wall Monday to get your first look at my Split Nine Patch. I should have a picture posted tomorrow.

Happy Quilting!

Status of 2013 Quilting

I've been busy this year but just now getting back into my blog. Here's where I am with my projects:

2013 New Quilt Projects - 41
2013 Completed - 27

UFO’s 1/1/13 - 48 - Still adding as I find them!
UFO’s Completed 2013 - 5

Total Square Yards Used - 77.9

I need to get some pictures of my latest projects and my design wall.

More to come!

Happy Quilters - Sept 2013 Retreat

Here is the slide show from our weekend quilt retreat. I didn't get pictures of everyone's work - I thought I did but I didn't. I didn't even get my own work! I can post that later. Enjoy!

This free slideshow design generated with Smilebox

Little Women Sew Day - 08/24/2013

I am catching up on things that should have already been out here but life does get in the way. These pictures are from a sewing day for the Little Women group. Charlotte, Celestia, Linda and I had a great time together!
First is a wonderfully bright quilt Celestia was laying out. I love her colors!

Next is Linda working hard on a quilt for her son and daughter-in-law. I hope I got that right! I did not capture the fabric but is was lovely!

Charlotte was hand quilting her Shoo-Fly Doll Patch quilt. She does a wonderful job on her handwork.

Celestia and Charlotte swapping block around

I was working on my Bonnie Hunter quilt, Sisters Nine Patch.

We missed a lot of people because it was end of summer and we moved the date around a couple of times. We've learned to book this time 3 months out so we don't have time to confuse ourselves again!

Jo Jo's Little Women Group - 9/14/2013

We had a really good time at our meeting in September. Our Little Women's group meets at Jo Jo's Quilt Shop in Chesterfield, VA. We have a great group of women. I was substituting for our fearless leader, Mary. Her DH has not been at his best and we need to keep him and Mary in our prayers. Things are improving and the Lord is with them. God is good!

Here is Vickie's Union Star quilt. It's quilted and ready for binding! Gorgeous!

Charlotte had her Shoo-Fly Doll quilt - in Purple! Loved it!

And the start of her One Patch Doll Quilt. I'm waiting to see this one finished.

Anne was our over-achiever! Here is her enlarged Pink Patches Doll quilt - which was very nice!

And a sweet baby quilt she is working on. She is appliqueing the baby's name in the center.

That's my Soldier's Cot quilt in the background.
And here is Anne's Union Star. Loved this one too. The colors played so well together.

And last, but certainly not least is Becky's spool block for our sampler quilt. Her quilt is in Christmas colors and is just going to be beautiful when it is all together.

We've been working out of Kathleen Tracy's Civil War Sewing Circle this year. I am happy to announce here that we will be working from Lori Smith's Fat Quarter Quilting next year. Mary and I have started a couple of quilts to get a head start. They are just so cute. It will be fun to show them.
Until next time, be safe and happy quilting!

UFO - PHD - WIP Progress

I had a lovely day with the Wayward Girls yesterday. I didn't take any pictures. We didn't work hard on sewing, to be truthful. We were all very casual and not real driven. It was nice! I don't mean to sound like we put any pressure on ourselves, we don't! We were just having a good time!

I haven't been doing much other than the bear quilt but I do have a little bit to report.

2013 New Quilt Projects 11
2013 Completed 7

UFO’s 1/1/13 47
Still adding as I find them!
UFO’s Completed 2013 3
Total Square Yards Used 33.1

Two of the new projects for 2013 are longer term - a mystery quilt and a sampler that is given as a block a month. I feel good to only have 1 project that is ready to be layered for quilting for 2013! The other is a class I took last weekend and I'm waiting on some thread to get back on it. I have been trying to not buy anything but absolutely necessary to make the quilt or for backing. I love my craft but just need to reduce my stash - like so many of us!

Take time to relax and enjoy your sewing! No stress should be our goal!

Where Have I Been? With the Bears!

I've been gone from blogging longer than usual because I have been working feverishly on these little bears! The quilt is for a good friend at work - well, for her new grandson. I would have loved to do this whole quilt by hand but there just wasn't time. So this is machine applique and machine quilted. I had so much fun picking out the fabric for each of the blocks. I actually did not have to buy anything but the pattern. It was all in my stash.

This is from the pattern Bearly A Month from Spring Creek Needleart
Don't you just love them?!?

Quilt Log - Star Date 2/8/13

Really, what is a star date?

Here is my latest posting to track my quilting!
2013 New Quilt Projects: 5
2013 Completed: 2
UFO’s 1/1/13: 47 - Still adding as I find them!
UFO’s Completed 2013: 3
Total Square Yards Used: 23.5

I have a retreat at the beach, Nags Head, NC, starting tomorrow! I can't wait! It's always a good time with a good group of ladies. We're there for a full week to sew and gab to our heart's content.

For those of you who know me and wonder why my activity is a little less on the scale of quilts, I finally bought a Kindle. I've been playing with it and skipping the sewing room. I should be balancing that out soon!

The Last 10 Days

It's been a very fun last 10 days. We had an in-town quilt retreat the 25th through the 27th of January. It was a WONDERFUL time. There was a group of maybe 20-24 of us. I didn't count and can't remember what anyone told me about the numbers. The retreat was at the subdivision club house of a couple of the ladies in our group. It was a great space!

We had lovely quilts made. I'm running short of time (it is Super Bowl Sunday) to post everyone's so just showing the one project I completed. This is a Hearth and Home BOM pattern started in some year starting with a 2. We think maybe 2008 or 2007 - no one was sure!

And I did complete before the retreat my version of Jelly Maker's Cabin. I'll post my progress once I gather all my measurements for the completed projects!

Happy Quilting!

Quilt Activity

I will be posting my quilting activity this year. I really hope to have all quilts started in 2013 completed in 2013. I almost made it in 2012 with that goal. I hope to post at least once a month on this. Here we go!

Quilt Log

2013 New Quilt 2
2013 Completed 1

UFO’s 1/1/13 47
Still adding as I find them!
UFO’s Completed 2013 1

Total Square Yards Used 7.8

Finished are Decadent Victorian from who-knows-what year and Three of Hearts started and completed in 2013.

I am working on quilting a rendition of Jelly Maker's Cabin. I saw a picture in the Australian Patchwork magazine and came up with my own version. Other projects are in an "active" state but that's the one I have on my radar to finish first.

Jo Jo's Little Women

We started our new session of Jo Jo's Little Women. I won't post much on it because Mary did a really good job on her blog. But I did get a good panoramic picture of the group. I'm excited about the group - again! It's such a fun group of people. We have a lot of new people. I am horrible with names but 4-5 people are named "Linda" so I have a good chance of getting the names right for the new people!

These are the 3 ladies with their backs to me in the picture.