ABCDEFG...

I had an alphabet swap about a year ago with some students and am finally getting around to getting my quilt done. Just in time for the next round of students! I had 4 corner blocks that looked so lonely and blank, I decided to embroider the blocks.
A close up of a few of the blocks...I found this cute fabric that had Shoo Fly blocks on it, perfect for the Q, N for nuts, and a cool ultrasuede zebra fabric.I got it quilted last night and now it just needs binding and a label!

Here is a little sneak peek of what other quilt top I started AND finished Monday. It's a quick and easy one. But it makes no sense right now. It needs to be quilted and embellished a little before you 'get it'. Hopefully,over the weekend I can get that done. My friend found the pattern and she and another friend were going to look for fabric and did I want any? Of course not, I have plenty of fabric! That is, until she showed up and let me what she got! I loved that black/red/plaid and the snowflake fabric in red and white! I had to have it, but alas, no time to get it before we all got together to make it. As luck would have it, they had enough between the 3 of them leftover that I got to make my own quilt and all I had to do was add a white on white! Yee haw! So, this quilt used 1/4 yard out of my stash! And then will use another 2 yards for backing and about 1/2 yard for binding. Not bad I say, not bad at all.


I

more from Vegas

I'm back now and can post a few pictures since I forgot my patch cord while I was gone! Being born in Denver, I love mountains. And what a difference a mountain range can be. Here is the view from our room. Desert mountains look a lot different and a bit barren. Now that I live in the Mid west..the mountains here (through Penn., WV and VA) are way different. The one thing that confuses me in Vegas, is that you are surrounded by mountains, in all directions! I become navigationally challenged here.

They are building a bridge over Hoover Dam...quite a sight to see! When I was at the quilt shop in Boulder City, I overheard them telling somone that it was a must see! Unfortunately, I didn't listen to their advice. Who wants to go see a bunch of construction! My hubby sent this to me right after we got back. Now I wish I would have gone the 6 more miles!

Here is fabric that I bought for a friend (and since she only needed 3/4 yard, I bought 1 and kept 1/4!) I loved it!

Another FQ bundle of Blacks and Whites. I'm always on the hunt for a variety and these fit the bill.

Another few pieces that were calling my name. I didn't get very much of them, 1/2 yard, but thinking a handbag of some type would look good.

I love to read but rarely take the time anymore. I'll go in spurts where I'll read a lot and then spend many months not reading a thing other than my Bible Study book. But I just finished this book........gave some food for thought. :)

hangin' out in Vegas

(Check out this sign..it was erected in 1959 and they had to finally build a little parking area for it because so many people were stopping to take their pictures in front of it. Read more here...)

Um, I mean, working hard while hubby is REALLY working hard! Kirt has to attend the AAPEX trade show, held in Las Vegas this time of year, and what's a wife to do, but go with him. Not to the show..that would be too much like work! AND it would be like me asking him to go with me to a Quilt Show! Not gonna happen! So, what am I doing while he works hard?

Doing my own quilt shop hop! I am not here in time for the Las Vegas Quilt Shop Hop (Nov. 13-16), but I can certainly do my own. So, after dropping Kirt off at the show, I headed to Henderson for quilt shop #1, Quiltique. It's one of my favorites...bright and spacious, friendly staff and lots of eye candy to take in. Oh, and it's featured in the latest issue of Quilt Sampler! (by the way, they do have a correction to their pattern..so check online for it--I just did http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/ and didn't seem to find it right away). I purchased quite a bit of fabric for a friend, who told me to just use my own judgement on buying for a pattern. So I did..and if she doesn't like it, I do and will keep it! LOL oops, did I just say that?

After almost 2 hours at Quiltique, I headed to Boulder City (close to Hoover Dam) to #2. Fiddlesticks. Not a very big shop in size, but in personality. Their darling little vignettes were fun to check out. Had a nice little sale as well, so indulged in a Black/White bundle, which I'm going to share with a few friends when I go home.

One thing to note about visiting Boulder City, IF you want something good to eat, i.e., a good salad or something healthy? DON'T stay in town! All they had to offer were the usual chain fast food places and a couple of local diners, with fried foods, etc. Which I resorted to eating because I was hungry. Someone recommended one place had good burgers and I was thinking it was going to be like Red Robin burger, which are to die for by the way and you can get an awesome side salad instead of fries. They are so good, you can eat them without the bun (which I do--saves on those carbs!). So, I went to this Pit Stop. Hamburgers? Mickey D's are better! And side salad? a few pieces of iceberg lettuce, two little chunks of tomatoes and a sprinkling of cheddar cheese. And fries were nothing special. BUT since I was hungry, I ate it. And paid the price for it!! My sugar went sky high and had to come back to the hotel and work out for 45 minute to bring it down. Hmphh...next time I'll know better!

After lunch, I thought about just heading back to the hotel and skipping the rest of the shops but remembered that although they don't always carry my type of fabric, The Christmas Goose is another inspiring place to go. I stayed in Rt. 215, which skirted the southern part of the city and headed to the far west end. Quick and easy drive. And I'm so glad I did. They again, did not disappoint me. I ended up with a new line of fabric for Christmas (after going through my Christmas tubs, I NEEDed new fabric!) Return to Romance by WillowBerry Lane for Maywood Studio. I also found a couple of patterns for purses (my downfall.) One is darling and has an unusual component. I'll make one up and share later.

At this point, I checked my sugar (my eyes were getting blurry--and a clue to high sugar), so I thought I better head back to the hotel to work out. I didn't get to Nancy's Quilt Shop or Fabric Boutique. But I'll be back!

We had dinner at the MonAmi at the Paris hotel last night and was fortunate to get a table outside, directly across from the Bellagio and it's famous water show. Beautiful weather and a great dinner with my hubby. Life just can't get better!

more SITP blocks and a litte side tracked!

First, I am working on my SITP blocks...slow but sure. I'm loving it. A little unusual for me since they aren't bright colors. But I am loving all the scrappy pieces coming together.

Last week someone was renting Khloe, andI like to stick close by in case they need me. I would rather have been sewing, but thought I should tackle cleaning my 'supply closet' since I could only open the door. I couldn't even step into it! Mona............where are you? LOL I should have taken a 'before' picture. I had a big box on the floor full of upholstery samples (mostly microfiber stuff and velour type stuff). There were all kinds of wonderful samples, but most not big enough to make anything. I pulled the box out to pitch it and then picked one up. Hey--I could get a 5 1/2" square out of them, if I didn't mind a little glued on paper on the back stating the type of upholstery fabric it was and color. (picture shown is AFTER I cut the samples off...I didn't think to take a picture before because I was really supposed to be CLEANING and not CREATING!)

So, I spent the next 3 hours cutting all the pieces off the header and cutting them into squares. I thought they would have made a beautiful jacket, although it would have been a bit heavy. Then I thought...what about a color block purse? So, leaving the piles of stuff sitting out.......I headed the sewing machine and sewed (2) 9 patch pieces. They will be the front and back of the purse. Gotta think about a lining and handles.......stay tuned!

Oh, guess what else I dug up? My Dear Jane project...so sadly neglected. I really need to get it out and finish it! Some poor soul finding it when I've passed away probably wouldn't want to finish it. It's my 'Lifetime Acheivement' quilt because if I finish it in MY lifetime, it will certainly be an achievement! So, I did another block to get me back in the mood.

A Simple Woman's Daybook Oct. 26

Surfing the web over the weekend and stumbled over this blog. The Simple Woman's Daybook is done each Monday. Check it out......

FOR TODAY October 26, 2009 from Karen's Daybook...

Outside my window...God's beautiful fall colors at it's best! The trees are at it's peak in yellows, reds, greens

I am thinking...how nice it is to be a 'Nana' to 5 beautiful grandkids

I am thankful for...my hubby's safe return from his trip to China

From the learning rooms...I am thinking that this is for the homeschoolers..but hey, I'm STILL learning! Now am trying to learn how to make my own blog button.

From the kitchen...a new recipe for Peanut Butter Bran Choc. Chip muffins that do NOT make my sugar soar!!

I am wearing...my old pj's, a scraggly old sweater and big socks..I may look scruffy, but I'm warm!

I am creating...a new quilt for our bed in blacks and tans and am loving it (Shakespeare in the Park)

I am going...to Las Vegas at the end of the week with my hubby

I am reading..."Don't Waste Your Life" by John Piper (for my Bible Study)

I am hoping...for great weather on Friday for Sheleah's BD party

I am listening to.... "Glorius" by Chris Tomlin....a new song for us at church and I love it!

Around the house...White pumpkins and fall flowers. I don't do Halloween stuff, just pretty fall things and quilts!

One of my favorite things... bonfires on chilly fall nights

A few plans for the rest of the week: shopping for Sheleah's birthday, teaching 5 quilt classes, decide on what to make for my Christmas cards and get started!

Here is picture I am sharing...........a fall quilt..........

I think I've been adopted!

I opened my door last Friday morning and ALMOST peed my pants! There was a big dog sitting inside my garage by the door! I thought I heard something Thurs. night, but didn't see anything outside. That's because he was INSIDE the garage. I felt bad because I was leaving, so gave him some turkey and milk. Well?? I haven't had a dog for 8 years and had nothing else. I left for the day and when I came home 12 hours later. He was still there! So I went and bought more food and then next morning before my classes, I went to the newest neighbors in our area and he didn't seem to belong to anyone. Which made me highly suspect he was a drop off. I live in the country and there are about a dozen homes close and then nothing but farms. Too far away to run away and then want to come into MY house. Oh yeah, he's definitely an indoor dog. He whines all day wanting in.

See his one blue eye and the other brown? Kind of creepy looking at first...

Of course the dog warden isn't in on the weekends, so I took him to get a bath (and where I discovered that he really is a he and not a 'she' like I first thought!). Then I could let him in the house. Well, he sticks to me like glue. The grandkids decided they like the name Maverick. So, that's what he'll be for the time being.

I called the dog warden on Monday morning, and no reports of a lost dog to that description! I suspected as much. No, I told her, don't come and get him yet. I want to see if I post a few signs, if I get a response. Nothing yet. IN the meantime, he's getting pretty used to being here. I allowed him to stay in the house last night and guess what? I woke up with a big black dog sleeping right next to me---in MY bed!! I started laughing because his head was almost on my pillow. I wish I would have had a camera. So, what's a girl to do? Friends think that God sent him to me to keep my company while hubby is away (he's in China for 10 days).

If only we didn't travel so much. I don't know what we'll do. But I hate to turn him in because I know what they do if no one claims them after a few days.

On another note.. took the kids to the park and talked them into taking a hike with me. Sneaky way to get my exercise in!

Alia had her 2nd birthday--what a big girl she is becoming.

Whew! It's been a busy few weeks...as usual. More later................

SITP progress and some charity finishes

I'm plugging away on my SITP blocks. I seem to be doing them out of order with the rest of the group. Oh well, as long as I'm working on them. I got all my light stars with my dark backgrounds cut out (for the 28 small stars--of which 8 of them will be inside a larger star) and only 3 done, 25 more to go in the variation. And then to repeat it all in dark stars/light backgrounds! I'm afraid I'm going to run out of fabric--and am thinking that maybe I better start introducing more fabrics now so they won't stand out later? I used 40 FQ's so far with just a tiny bit left.

I've been training more people how to use Khloe (my new--well used to be new) long arm machine. I put quilt tops on there they can practice on and then I bind them and send them off to charity.

It always inspires me to get another one of my tops done. I chose this one because it is for fall and we are right smack dab in the middle of it--although it feels a lot closer to winter! BRRRR! I've been freezing for 2 weeks now. What's going to happen in January? This quilt was made from leftovers from another quilt made with my friend Marilyn. I had to come up with a simple class for beginners and this was it. It's the size it is because that's what I had left of the strips. I've noticed that a lot of my design decisions are based on what I have left or what's sitting close by! LOL

5 year old trumpet player

This little guy is just amazing....gives me chills to see a young person with so much God given talent!



http://www.trumpetherald.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=84937



I thought I knew how to embed a You tube video, but I guess I don't! Oh well, click on the link and you'll go to it.

Bodyguard? Snails trails and exciting news!

Kirt went on a business trip to Mexico last week. The Ohio Commission set up appts. for him to sell his product in trying to help out Ohio businesses. AND they hired a body guard to go with him. Is that scary or what? The good thing...his name (well, one of his names out of 7) was Jesus--so we figured if Jesus is with him in Spirit and in the flesh, he should be okay! It's just really a bad time for Americans to go to Mexico with the kidnappings, etc. I wasn't thrilled with him going. But he is home safe and said he had some great appointments. I just hope he doesn't have to go back. At one of the hotels, he wasn't allowed to go anywhere except the hotel lobby and the Starbucks within the hotel. 4 businessmen (on separate occasions) were kidnapped the week before in front of that same hotel! When the bodyguard picked him up he had to sprint to the car as he was told. They are targeting businessmen and are demanding such a relatively modest ransom that can be wired within a few hours, so they are getting what they want without resistance. Over 1000 were kidnapped in Mexico City last month alone! Too many for their police to handle. He said he didn't think there were many killed. I guess they don't need to when they are only asking for $1000's of dollars instead of millions or some outrageous sum. Scary anyway.

My friend's sister, who is a new quilter is flew up from Florida last week and along with a few other friends, had our own private little retreat! 3 days and 3 nights of nothing but sewing! It was great to have some concentrated time to sew--on something for me! I'm working on my SITP (Shakespeare in the Park),and got all my Snail's Trails blocks done. See the little spark of red now and then? Well, it's a little more on the burgundy side.

I finished my last dress of embroidered 50's dresses. By the way, it is now available as a pattern at the Bobby Sox Company. I just need to decide on sashing and borders. It's funny, the minute I got the last dress done, my mind has gone on to the next quilt! I wonder if that's why I have so many UFO's? I'm always jumping ahead to the next neat project. But I am going to miss doing the embroidery. There is still nothing to quiet your soul than a little handwork. It forces you to slow down.

Miss Alia--what a little sweetie you are! And so SMART! She'll be two in a few more weeks and is just so sharp and is such a cutie with her sweet little voice. But don't let her angelic looks deceive you, she is into everything! And eats and drinks everything she sees, so we are constantly putting things up. She crawled up the side of her other G'ma's car into the open window and got into her purse today. Fortunately she decided to clean her hands with the whole bottle of hand sanitizer instead of drinking it! Man, do they have their hands full. And guess what? She is going to be a big sister!! Yep, T & M are expecting baby #4! A little surprise for them as they thought things were taken care of, but they fell into that 1% failure rate. I guess God had other plans for them. We are all thrilled and when they got over the initial shock, they are excited as well. Or so they say..heehee

Grandkid fix and New quilts started

This little guy, Mr. Liam, is now in preschool and wants to go everyday.

And Miss Alia, NEEDS to go every day--or so her stay at home Dad would like! She is the most inquisitive, daring one they have. And the other two were quite the adventurers. And who couldn't resist a puddle?

I've been busy making a rag quilt for a friend's wedding, purging closets and I started two NEW quilts! What on earth possess' me sometimes?

The rag quilt is one of fall colors and I forgot to take a photo of it when it was finished, but here it is, without the borders (I put a folded edge border to avoid having 'raggy' edges) and before it was clipped. I love these quilts, they are always the warmest ones in the house. I've made so many of them and I vow that I won't make any more, but then when you need a gift, it just seems so perfect.

Shakespeare in the Park is a quilt by Judy Martin and a year or so ago, a group on Stashbuster's talked about doing it. So we broke off and formed a group and then went nowhere. I missed all the initial talk about getting it going again, but suddenly everyone is talking about doing it again. It's been on my list for quite some time, and decided it's now or never! So, I chose 40 fabrics (20 in creams/tans and 20 in blacks and ONE lone burgundy for a bit of spark) from my stash. I JUST got done cutting all the pieces for the Snail's Trails, and now to start on the star blocks. Sure takes a lot longer to cut from a variety of fabrics, rather than one or two. But it looks SO much better with a bigger variety of fabric. It gives depth and movement that just a few fabrics just can't give. I made a test block before I started cutting the massive stack of fabric. I was going to only cut a little, sew a little. But I tend to like it better to get most of my cutting done first, then I can concentrate on just sewing. My friend is just the opposite, she can't stand 'production' type sewing. To each his own.

The second quilt I started came out of nowhere. I was searching for something (and that thought is LONG gone! hahaha) and stumbled upon Lynne's blog and her quilt. It's a Celtic Knot quilt with 3 strands and she referenced a verse in Ecclesiates about God being the 3rd strand interwoven into our lives. It was neat. She didn't design the quilt, but she posted it online (with permission) as a mystery. It took me ALL night long to write down the block 'formulas'. I originally thought I'd make it similar to hers, but my greens and pinks were calling out to me, begging me to be in a quilt again. But geez, pulling out bits of fabric, pressing them so you can cut a 2" square, is a bear. This is block #1. There are 25 blocks with most of them having 81 squares per block. Only the last row is 9 across and 7 down, so only 63 squares per block. I have some cuttin' to do!! I love the look of scrap quilts, but the only problem is cutting. Nothing can be cut quickly or efficiently. I often thought I'd take my box of scraps and cut them up into a usable size, like Bonnie does. But then so often I need a piece that's bigger, longer or whatever. And if I've cut everything up, it wouldn't work. But I need to do something, My scrap bins are overflowing! Especially the bright colors one. I wonder how long I could just sew out of that bin alone? Kind of scary.

ball tournaments and grabbing some quilting time

My big quilt show was 2 weekends ago and then my husbands big SB tournaments were last weekend. There is just NO rest for the weary! hahaha I had to make 24 dozen brownies and load all the things needed to prepare food for coaches, etc. 400 miles away. A couple of things while I was gone....my car turned 50,000 miles. Is that exciting to anyone else? Having your car turn a milestone number? I don't know why it fascinates me--I remember growing up and our car was about to turn 100,000 miles, but it didn't go to 6 digits, so it was like starting over. And we kids watched for miles in anticipation for it turning over. Silly, silly things like that stick in my memory bank. Wonder why?

I also find time one morning to run to Mary Jo's in Gastonia, NC (we were at nearby Winthrop University). And all I came out with was enough pretty flannels to make a rag quilt for a wedding gift. I saw lots of pretty fabric, but knowing full well that I have a closet of pretties kept me from buying. Plus, you have to be prepared in a place like that..how much backing do I need for this quilt? Or how much would I need for this one..or that one. It's just as well, I didn't need to add to the guilt of having too much as it is!

After the weekend, we headed to our place in Pawley's Island for a little R&R, slept til 9 AM the first morning! We haven't done that in ages! Felt pretty good actually. Then I hand sewed the binding on a quilt that I was trying to get done for my quilt show and just didn't get done. I could have done it by machine, but I never like it as much as I do by hand. And it seems a shame sometimes to hurry that last step, just to get it done. Plus, I like how relaxing it is to do a little handwork at the end. It's just not as fun under a time crunch!

And I finished dress #11 of my 50's embroidered dress series and am working on #12, the last one. Then I'll finally be able to make a nice sized wallhanging. But I'll miss the pick up and go handwork. Guess I'll have to find something else to pick up and go project.