Getting Something Done

Got a few things to catch up so lets go back  WAY back to July. My local quilt club has it's annual quilt show, so I tried really hard to get  a few of my things done.  I had 6 quilts finished, that's the whole total for last year so yay , and then finishing one in August for the new grand baby I am way ahead. I have not started anything new this year other than the comfort quilts for co workers. It has been hard not starting something I am a starter, as you can see with all my UFO's on the side bar. Just as I say I have not started anything I am telling you a lie. Way back in early July we had a family reunion and the sisters wanted to do a Jelly Roll Race. I have to admit I didn't want to do this for I think they are boring quilts to look at. But when a big sis wants something you do it RIGHT. So I got my done first and tucked it away helping the others as needed. A high school classmate posted a couple of her jelly roll tops and I loved them and had to think long and hard on this. WHY?? I decided maybe if mine just had some borders it would be better. So I bought borders yesterday for it. BUT that is the only thing I have started this year without it being a comfort quilt to be finished and given away. Proud me but bored me.  So with the completion of my quilts I had a nice showing in the quilt show, nothing to win with but DONE quilts just the same.                                       

A friend Jeannie asked me to quilt her quilt well of course I'll do it and just so happens I have seen just the design too. Cardinals panto form my favorite panto maker  Judy of Meadowlyon. Her quilt was a row by row that she wanted to do but didn't. She was so afraid that she wouldn't measure up or she would get something really crappie. Yes that is a chance but so far I have gotten good to really nice and wonderful back. So far I have not been un happy with anything I have gotten back. So she picked out a pattern block that I had done on an earlier quilt the Split Nine Patch. But she decided not to make the small 6" blocks not the normal 12" like I did called Scrappy Diamond Plates. Hers was stunning she asked each rower to fussy cut something for the center most did a cardinal like her but going to a retreat with her she stated someone used other Christmas type things. So with a bunch of fabric on the dump table and knowing there was Christmas fabric on there and knowing I was on her row list, I asked her if there was anything there that would work. She picked out a cute fabric that had some dear and rabbits and quail all in Christmas attire. 

 So here is a couple pictures of her quilt and the quilting. She supplied the light background fabric. In these pictures it looks white but is really a beige color and I believe it is fairy frost. Yes it has a bit of shimmery shine. The red border fabric has metallic gold. So most people tried to fins another red with metallic gold in it. She asked that no one sew their rows together, that way she could arrange them the way she thought looked best. Her bestie friend was in rower group and she replaced the center block with a paper pieced cardinal. So in putting this top together the cardinal was set in the center thus crating this stunning quilt. The cardinal panto worked beautifully on this quilt. The outside green print border is of cardinal quilting also. So with all this said she struggled with whether or not to enter it into the quilt show. The show is just a viewers choice no judging but she still struggled with whether it was good enough or not. But she entered it and it showed spectacular, so spectacular, it won best in machine quilting and BEST of SHOW. Whoot whoot to know that I helped with it.

Here it is before the binding. Not the best pic but there it is. I did the top row. That center cardinal really sets it off. But to get to the best part, Jeannie calls me one day and asks if I can meet her up at the quilt shop. She then tells me and shows me she won as part of her Best Machine Quilt award a $25.00 gift certificate from this shop and she wanted me to have half. Wow most of the the time the quilter doesn't even know how the quilt does but for the owner to want to share the prize with the quilter was a first for me. I argued but knowing Jeannie I have argued with other things and they became a contest in one upping till someone gives up. So I knew that arguing was a moot point. It so happened that it was a Tuesday and the quilt shop has Fat Quarter Tuesday, 3 F4's for $5.00 . I picked out 6 F4's and told her no more or we would be back to playing our one up game. then I sent her a thank you card. Love that Lady she is special. She claims she still owes me but I told her NO and to quit thinking about it.

This  Kathy's quilt. We went on a retreat a couple of years ago that Bonnie Hunter was the guest. She did two classes there and this was one of them. No I have not finished wither of mine yet. Yes I will someday and seeing Kathys' makes me think I need to get mine out. This one I quilted with paisleys. Kathy loves paisleys so I had to put them on the quilt.

This is Carol S's. Her grand daughter picked out the fabrics and the setting is divine.

This is quilted with Riverflow from once again Meadowlyon. Yes I love Meadowlyon pantos. Love this quilt and love the colors Carol great job.














This is a true charm quilt and belongs to Anita H. Local club did a charm swap (no I did not participate). Their goal was to have them done for our quilt show in August. (I belong to two clubs so two quilt shows)  They could do any patch they wanted. Anita chose the thimble or sometimes called tumbler. I love how she color coordinated the angled rows. Such a charming quilt. Ha ha me made a funny.

And this is Jeans Charm quilt. She also did the charm swap and she used triangles. She cut her charms in half on diagonal and made two quilts. This one was random set. I love the scrappy love love love scrappy and this one is it.





This is Harriet's sampler. Isn't is lovely . (do you hear the Stevie Wonder music playing). Isn't is beautiful. I really like this and the blocks a wonderful. Wish I would have done this one. I'm sure it was a BOM at the local quilt shop.

Another month passes

Well it is really over a month since I last posted, and I have a lot of things to show you but figuring out the new camera is one of those that seem to be eluding me. I have taken pics and I downloaded them then lost them. Guess what I found some of them so here is a little eye candy for you.

This is Anita's and it is for a Grand daughter. I have seen this pattern before and it never really grabbed me, but these butterflies are gorgeous and it captured me. Well could it have been the bright purple frame out border?? So creative to put that there it really added some depth to it. Yes I likey this one! Great job as always Anita!

 This is Janet's and she did this one for her Mother's birthday. What a lovely lovely present. Her color selection is spot on! and as always her piecing is so flat and square. I really wanted to keep this one. Oh lets face it I want to keep them all. I just can't believe all the patterns out there and color combos. When they come into my door I fall in love and it is like I am giving away a baby when I have to return them to their owners. Janet as 2 more here at my house one is on the machine and the other well it is one of the pics I can't find. but luckily it is still here so I could take another pic if I can't find it. But it has to be somewhere doesn't it.?

This Turquoise and Brown beauty belongs to Rose. She made this for a charity auction. I can't believe she gave it away. OH yes I can Rose is very giving. In fact in her sewing room she has my name posted on her wall with a note telling her family to call me to deal with her sewing room in case of something horrible to her. Yes very giving! She's giving me her sewing room to do with what I want. Ohh what a dream! Rose I hope you live a very very long and frabicful life.

A Triple Irish Chain by Tammy. This is for her Aunt who loves roses and green. So the background fabric has little roses. How clever to unite the two this way. Another amazing job. See once again I just marvel at the creativity of others. Tammy lives a distance from me and found a quilter or quilters closer but recently called me to see if I would do her quilt. She stated that she felt I added a little pizzazz to the quilting. You know that does a heart proud!!!!  Of course she does such wonderful quilts that it is easy to put a little pizzazz to them. Keep it up Tammy love your work!

Now this quilt belongs to Patti, but was made by me and other co-workers. Patti a co-worker found out she had breast cancer again, but this time was going in for mastectomy. I wanted to make her a comfort quilt, then thought it would be nice if we all (co-workers) had a hand in it and signed our blocks, left little messages for her. I had to pick a simple block that even a beginner could do and something that would be easy to square up to all the same size. It came together so well, and she had no clue. We did all the meetings to talk about while she out to Dr appointments and then people would just walk by my area and drop their blocks off. She never noticed! Two other  co worker friends stopped by after work on day and we pressed, squared up and re sewed as needed. As one was pressing I was drafting a pattern. It all just happened.  I wanted it nice and soft so it has pink minkie on the back. We gave it to her the day before her surgery and her daughters sent us a pic of her in her hospital bed with it on her right before her surgery. Needless to say she came thru with flying colors and still cuddles with her quilt. She does need to get back to work , I'm having to cover for her and it's exhausting!!!

And finally this is mine. I call it Leftovers. It was just that pieces leftover from another quilt. (which is finished too but I may not have posted it. hmm need to check that) It is a wall hanging and will go in our bedroom. I have a wall quilt rack but nothing on it. So once I do the local quilt show with this it will go on my wall. Yay some color in the bedroom.

Block 1 of my Barn Quilt. last year I bought 3 different Barn quilt patterns, this is the first! don't know why but I love barn quilts!

Not a barn but a cute building! for an online building swap!!

These blocks are from a BOM from JoAnn's 2001. I bought a tote of yarn at an auction a year or so ago and just now went thru it. At the bottom I found months 6 thru 12 all together with the fabric and pattern. Block 3 -5 just had the pattern. I was talking with a friend and she thought she had the same one so we compared and she had pattern 2, I could use but neither has 1. Well I am sure I can get close to it by looking at the complete pattern pic. So patterns 1-5 will be of one fabric background and 6-12 out of another. I think it will look fine when all is said and done. We put a date of OCT 2014 of having these done and in the quilt show. I wonder if I can make it by then.

And finally I did get this top together at retreat. I wish I would have done my stripes different so I am going to add to it so the yellow isn't so...... I mean I don't even have words for it. But it was so fun to do this, just make a large Churn Dash block and cut it into 4 quarters and twist the pieces to make the zig zags. Yes fun and easy!

That's it for now, Sew on

So is this monthly or what

Thought my summer was going so good and that is why I haven't been posting or maybe it was because it was so hectic! Or is it I am lazy! Well whatever the reason I have had a lot happen all summer. I haven't been home many weekends at all. I went home for the 4th of July and we had a family reunion, or somewhat of one. It is so hard to get everyone together, so we were missing a few. I took a cousin down with me and it was a fun time. We went to Hornet MO and looked (you really just sit and wait, in late night hours to wee early morning) out on a country road in hopes that this mysterious light appears. When I lived down in that area I had always heard about it but just knew that it was some B S. But let me tell you we saw something and it could not be recreated with automobile lights. I remember this had been featured on some unexplained TV show back in the 80"s (?). I don't know how to explain it but 5 of the 6 saw it. http://www.prairieghosts.com/devprom.html gives some info on this. Yep I am a believer now. So after returning back to IN for the week I turned right around and went back to Erie KS for my High School reunion. 35 years you hear me 35 years since I have been to school and it was great to see my old friends. Some of them have not changed a bit and some you had to hit me with a brick to make me believe who they were. So then I went managed to stay in IN for three weeks before I went back to KS again. This time Parsons, and went to my Army Reserve reunion. Wow talk about some people changing. Of course when I was in the Reserves I was so young and I remember my fellow buddies really being older and like my dads keeping me out of trouble. Or were they getting me into trouble.All in all I put 6,000 miles on my new car in 5 weeks. But the orange sonic made it and was quite pleased with her performance and comfort for the journeys.
So during this time I am quilting or am I. Oh who knows what I was doing but ....

But here is a quilt by ReJena that she made for her babies graduation. I remember when Cara picked this quilt out ReJena calls me and tells me that her daughter has picked out the most  awful quilt and she just can't make it. What is she going to do. I remember telling her if that is  what she wants make it. It will be her quilt not yours. So ReJena has ate her words a few times on this one. She now claims it is one of her favorites. Moral don't judge a quilt by the colors of the pattern. It can be better. So now my question is, are you one that sees a pattern and has to make it just like the cover pattern, or do you venture off in your own aisle and do your own thing? Do you instantly see it in other color pathways?
As always Rejena did a wonderful job on piecing this top and I am so glad she made it. such a happy quilt. Lucky Cara! And speaking of ReJena look at this baby quilt.

You know when ReJena gets an idea in her head that it should look like this, that is what it has to be and you know I am glad she sticks to her guns, her quilts always turn out to be so cute.  Such a fun quilt and such a lucky little boy.

Here I am with my youngest son and my cousin in Coffeyville, KS. The history in this town is really embraced and was nice to share with family. Yes those are the tie- dyed shirts from our family reunion.

This pattern is called Tangled. I'm sorry but I am not for sure on designer but I know LQS featured this pattern and then ran a challenge with it. I have quilted 3 of these now and really like this pattern but will I ever make it? Just  another one on the list. Which brings me to, why doesn't this list ever get smaller. I know I complete things and move to the next. Do I spend to much time looking and dreaming and not enough time sewing and making. I guess I dream more than I sew and I have to STOP.
So anyway this is Anita's and aren't these colors so soft and pretty together. I just want to cuddle with this one.

This was a Row x Row we did in my local club, and this one belongs  to Barb. She was new to RxR's and was very nervous to join in. She stressed for a long time before picking certain fabrics for her top. She bought fabrics and sent them along and you matched them. I think it turned out beautiful and I hope that she is happy with it and would join in again.

Here is a QOV that Judy sent me.  I believe her niece made this for her dad. Every QOV is special and dear.















Well enough for now I have a row to finish and I want to start something else. I do have lots more to say but will have to wait til tomorrow or the next day or the next. but I will try to get on before a month
Sew on

Well oh Well oh Well

This quilt was appliuqed by Paul. He is a hand stitcher and usually does a whole cloth. I had given him this kit a couple years back and when he found himself in rehab he found that all he could do was applique, so this kit was done and then he gave it to me to quilt. I thought for sure he would had quilt it, just goes to show you I shouldn't think. It is a stunner. I was given three of these old applique kits and I kept one and my mother got the other one. I told my Mom that Paul had done his so she got hers out and I am sure that she has it close to being done by now. Mine well..............................................someday. someday.

I went home for Thanksgiving, it was great to see the family, or at least what I got to see of them. It is so hard to see everyone when you have such limited time and each family was celebrating individually. For those that don't know I am from  SW MO area but raised in SE KS. All that area is 'home' to me. I don't get to go  back as often as I would like and when I do it is always a struggle to see everyone.
 I took quilts down to Joplin for the tornado victims from my local club here in IN. I had informed my sister that lives there what I was bringing so she hooked me up with some of her past co-workers that had lost their homes in the tornado, so we passed some of the quilts out to them. I then left the remaider with her and my Mom to pass out as they wished. They went down one street and handed them out to people who had rebuilt and moved back in as welcome home quilts. Wish I could have went with them, but once again that time thing.

This is Anita's cute wallhanging, loved making it into Buttflies in the Garden. The lovely floral just screamed garden to me and what better to have but butterflies fluttering in the garden. She seemed to be thrilled with it!

This is a bay quilt made by Rejena. Now I have to say that my camera has been acting up and sometimes it would take pics and then other times NOT. Like when I went to Joplin none of my Thanksgiving pics turned out.  So I tried using my hubby's camera. Why is it we get used to something and can't seem to adjust to something new. Well I am not please with the quality of the pics with his camera, everything seems orangie. I guess what I am trying to say is this quilt is more vibrant than what this shows. Once again great job Rejena!

This is Sherry's for some reason I am thinking I may have posted this one. But oh well it deserves a 2nd look.  This is a pattern I have always wanted to try but cutting by templates scare me to death.  When Sherry dropped it off for me to do she said if I had any problems just call her. So of course you know I had to let her know that a problem had arisen "I couldn't pry it out of my hands" Oh how I love it. So you know I have added it to my list to do. I wonder if I will ever get my list done or even make a dent in it.

So much more to say, like my 12 goals for 2012 but getting late and my eyes are heavy so better get off for now. Tomorrow I will come back with more.

Time Flies

Ok I know it has been weeks! Believe it or not I have been busy. I still have my Trunkshow photos to go through and share them with you. But for now I have quilts and more quilts.

This is Karen H's, the color is messed up with my camera on this one. Believe me it is a beautiful quilt and more green than the yellow. I quilted the feather meander on it and it turned out great, I hope she loves it as much as I do.

This is Anita H's string pieced pinwheels. I believe she said she started this almost 10 years ago. A UFO almost done and out of her way. I know that will make her happy, this is quilted with swirls.

I went to a retreat the first weekend of NOV and I spent the time teaching classes and bordering tops I have had for years. This is the mystery that I did. I had saw this quilt on some web site and wanted it. So I drafted my own pattern. I have no clue as to the real name of the top but I call it weaving ribbons. (the red looks like a ribbon weaving in and out). No that is not me in the pic. That is Janet a gal from club she was seated there and with the room set up there is no good place to show quilts without some one in the pic so Janet is it in all my pics from that night.

This quilt is a row by row that I did on the Yahoo group Quilting in Indiana. I call this Pinwheels Across Indiana. I love the bright! Thanks ladies I can't wait to quilt this one. Janet again gracing the pic.

This top was a demo I did on Stacking the Deck. Yep some book by someone can't remember who, and not going to go dig for it. This was simple and really turned out neat.

This was a mystery that I did at retreat a couple of years ago. Take a scrappy 9-Patch and triangles and arrange them in different patterns to get a different look. These two are the same block just set different.Yep Janet again taking center stage.

The top row is blocks I started at the retreat when I got bored of bordering. The bottom row is the row by row that I am doing for club and belongs to Anita.

I have another quilt done but it is still on the machine so maybe tomorrow I can get a pic of it andposted.

See I have been busy. I had one of the grandkids yesterday and he spent the night. Yes I woke up tired. I don't know why but I never sleep good when one of the kids are around. They are not babies but I still worry. What if? What if? Grandpa went and got cereal for breakfast and I started feeding Kyler the Halloween candy that was left. Yep he was pretty wound up by the time his daddy come and got him. Well isn't that my job as grandma? Really he was a good boy stayed on Nick junior playing games, or chasing the dog. It was great to spend time with him.

Ok enough for now. Guess I will go get that other quilt off the machine.