Life's a Happening

So it has been months since I have been on here. I stay really busy with day to day workings. Nine hours a day on the day job makes me tired. Then I try to get some quilting done. Posting on here has taken a back back seat for a couple, one is we lost our Internet service. We have our land line phone thru the Internet too and the modem for this went kaapluwie. It was so nice not hearing any ringing, not having any tele charity calls. Since we don't give out the cell phone numbers (I don't know why, I have unlimited everything) it was quiet. It probably took us near a week just to figure out we different have service then we had a bad storm come thru and knocked out cell service. Right before Internet went out I find out that all my USB ports are bad. Why I don't know. But I can't plug anything in and be recognized, I guess maybe that is why it took so long to figure it out that I had no service,just wasn't interested in being on knowing that computer was getting ready to take a dump, and this laptop! I have this laptop and it has a mind of it's own. The cursor is crazy. I can  be typing away and then the next thing I know my typing will just start somewhere else in the middle of a sentence way off from where I was. Very frustrating! So it has forced me to use the laptop so I can download pics.
For weeks now Hubby and I have been traveling back n forth to hospital to see his dad. It's been one thing after another and I can see the wear on the hubby. Then thoughts are how much can an 88 yr old take. So emotional draining.
But lets face it you don't come here to read about my crazy problems you really want to see some eye candy.

 This is Karen O.'s. While doing this I called it "Taking Flight" Of course I have no clue as to the real name but that is just what I called it. Such a pretty quilt and it was made for her Grand daughter. Lucky little girl!

This is a close up of Marilyn's quilt. This little baby quilt was hand embroidered 37 yrs ago. It was made for Marilyn's daughter by Marilyn's mother. But was never finished. Marilyn came to me and said she like to get this quilted like her mother wanted it done. Uh OH she was going to hand quilt it. She also stated that she had it marked out to hand quilt and she had individual blocks marked out. OK I can do that, if it's marked out I can do it. So sure!!!NOT she had washed the marking out, so I was on my own. Now I had to try to figure out what a woman would have done by hand 37 yrs ago and the what her daughter thought she would have done.  

 So here it is. I stressed over this little thing for weeks. I was so worried I wouldn't do what it deserved. I knew I had to please the owner or she would have felt I ruined her Moms quilt and that would irreplaceable. This top a one of a kind had to be done just right. Oh How I worried. But when she picked it up she gave me a hug. I think she liked and I did ok. Whewwwwwwww

This is a close up of a baby blanket by Rejena. She made two of these for twin baby girls. The panto used on this one is her favorite called "Bottoms Up"a Nicole Webb design.

And here is the full quilt. Isn't it so cute. And two of them. Such pretty quilts. Great job!

And here is another by Rejena. This is all out of Fairy Frost but the white background. This is the first quilt she started but hated it so it has taken her years to get back to it. Hey anyone else know this feeling. I still haven't finished the first one I started. When she gave this one to me to do she said 'make me love it.' Make me love it well that is no pressure. So each block has it's own individual quilting. I loved it when it was done and I think she did too, she still talks to me so she didn't hate it. lol

This is a close up of another of Rejena's quilts. She made this one for a friend out of his ties. He was a coach and most all of his ties had a sports theme to them. I used a panto from Meadowlyon. The panto has football soccer baseball basketball and volleyball represented.

 And here is the front of the quilt. Strings that's a lot of cutting of ties. OH MY. It turned out to be a beautiful quilt. I know how much time she put in on this and it was worth every minute she did.









It would be nice if I would post some pics of the ones of mine I finished, guess I need to get some pics of them. I have completed a couple of them. But it's time to get off here for now.

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

Time presses on

Whether you want it to or not time keeps slipping right through our fingers.  I just don't know where time has went.When I last posted I was talking about winning, the FNSI and a door prize at a local quilt show. Well I went off to retreat and as I headed out the door I grabbed a package that came in the mail. It was the wonderful book that I won off the FNSI. I shared the book with all the retreaters and they sure loved looking at it. So go check it out yourself.
Here is a quilt I did for Rejena

I don't think I ever posted a picture of it. Rejena is expecting her first grand baby and this is her quilt. Of course if you can't tell her first grand child is going to be a little girl, and she should be arriving any day now.

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 has flown by with my eyes wide shut!

I can't believe that it is the 22. I last blogged on the ......9th. I knew I probably wouldn't make every day but I thought for sure I could do atleast 2 or 3 times a week. Well boy was I wrong. But I have been working.

This is Rejena's. She loves this pattern and has done it on another quilt or two. Can't you see why!Such a striking quilt for such a simple design. This was her first works with Homespuns and I have to say she did great with them. I now know when I need assistance with those stretchy Homespuns who I can turn to. Once again Rejena great job.

This next quilt is Melissa M's , her and I bartered for this quilting. She had a bunch of old Feed Sacks and I have long arm. Well you now know who owns some of those feed sacks don't you.  She is making  a series of quilts of the 4 seasons. These hang in the entry room of her home. She has Summer hanging still, so this is her Fall. I hope she gets it bound in time. Or I guess I hope she has Winter started.   

Well now I just need to find the rest of my photos. hmmmm wonder where I put them

Trying to catch up and a Give Away

Ok this summer has been a wild one. First I want to post a couple pics of eye candy. This first quilt belongs to Neva. I had to get this one done before the parents came. You may remember my ribbon quilt and one that ReJena did. We all did them at the same retreat.

The while getting the room ready for the parents I managed to get these two done

This is Jean's. She won the fans at her Local Quilt Clubs raffle. Lucky Jean! She made a wonderful choice in how to set them. I was honored that she brought it to me to quilt to do.

This one is Kathy's. If I am not mistaken this one is for a friends daughter. They were leaving to go on a missions trip in just a few days so I had to rush rush on this one so she could get the binding on it in time.

The summer then brought my parents, they are from SW Missouri, and I was happy to see them. Even tho getting them a bedroom downstairs forced me to clean out the junk room and totally exhausted me for weeks I was happy to do it for them. We had a wonderful time. I do hope they did too.Now I know it was trying for my hubby and a bit boring for my Dad. Dad being a carpenter all his life likes to still dabble in and is always doing something around their house. He just built them a garage and a front parch in the past couple of years. So for him taking a vacation is almost like a punishment. Well he found a wall in his room that wasn't finished so that became his project. I will get a pic of it sometime, but for now it is done, and he seemed to enjoy his stay l little better with something to do. The last weekend that my folks were here my sisters, 2 from SW MO and one from SE KS all came up then we met my sister that is in VT at a lake in SW MI. We (including mom) ( no guys allowed)stayed in a nice (big) lake cottage of my BIL  at a small lake just inland from lake MI . It had been a long time, (actually never) since we had all gotten together and done something like this. We had a great time. Well I did and they seemed to too. I think we are going to try to do this every year. NOTE spend as much time with your family as you can.  The hubby and I took the parents back home to SW MO. I decided it was time for him to see where I grew up Erie, KS. Now there is not much to see but at least now he knows where my love for old houses comes in. I took him by our old place and it still looks a regal as I remember. Mind you in is not a grand old house just an old big house. Some one was walking in the door she saw me gawking and I should have just jumped out and talked with her. Maybe I could have seen the inside again.   AAAHHHHHHHHH the memories it would have held.We then got together with a couple of high school classmates of mine. Love ya Sheryl and Melody, so glad to have seen you after all these years.Hubby and I then jumped over to Pittsburgh KS. We had seen the food war  on TV's travel channel about the two chicken places their. I had eaten at one or maybe both growing up and I thought it would be great for him to try it. BUT they were closed due to being the 4th of July. Shucks! We did stay at a wonderful Bed and Breakfast called the Himmel House

the people that own this beauty should be proud. They are delightful and very helpful. Will stay there again if they let us. No I really didn't cause any problems. Beautiful place can't say enough nice things for that overnight stay. We sat in their 'garden patio' and watched the cities fireworks display through the trees. this was after walking the neighborhood and drooling over the other beautiful homes, and watching the locals shoot off fireworks just above our heads. What a 4th to remember. So back home to Indiana. Computer had crashed while we were gone. Still don't have everything back as it was but am thankful that I got the puter back. I don't know what happened but the computer was blown up while gone then hooked the laptop to the router and it went out on us. So it was not the best homecoming but life goes on.

 Trunk show in Ohio and class to teach. Boy I think I may have scheduled them a little to close together but they got done and I think everyone had fun. I had Mom's quilts to do then. She left a couple of them for me to do and since I was going back down in a couple weeks I wanted to get them done so to save on shipping.                                                               

She had made this quilt from a pattern she had gotten from me a couple of years earlier when they were here. The book I remember I got a Christmas present at my Local Quilt Club. Fat Quarter Quilt Blocks, published by House of White Birches here in Berne, IN. So I guess that is one Christmas present that I can say has now been used.

Now this second quilt was left over batiks from the first one. I love scrappies so both of these are just right up my alley.

I then went back to Kansas the first of AUG for (I know this will shock some of you) my Army Reserve Reunion. Yes I was in the Army Reserves. I wish I had never gotten out but at the time I thought it was best for my family if I did. These are some of the people I love the most, think the world of, cherish highly, honor to no end, and just generally glad to have met, are the men and women I served with. I have pics of that too,

There weren't many of us here this year, I think that they heard that I was coming and stayed home. Last year they had over 30, this year 14. Two are missing from photo. I think that the heat, yes it was over 100 and very humid that weekend, kept alot of them home and in the air conditioning.

I took my sister that lives there and had her be my photographer. Another great weekend except the hotel pool was closed. So no swimming but then I don't know when I would have found the time. I met up with high school classmates (different than those the month before) and spent small amounts of time with each. My sister and I decided to go back to Pittsburgh to eat,what else but Chicken. Oh the hubby will be mad. But as the meal went on I decided that I could take chicken home from both places for him. My room had the lil fridge. So left overs and a to go order. We both picked Chicken Annie's, even tho Mary's won on the Show but we still think that the chicken we had in Miche Tavern in VA was the best. Sorry Annie's and Mary's.

So life has slowed down now and pretty much back to normal. The computer is back out of the hospital even tho I lost a bunch of stuff, I am sure I can live with out it. The mystery that I wanted to do on here is gone, but maybe someday I will get the directions wrote back up. That is if I can remember what all the notes and marking on the rough draft mean. So to make it up to my faithful followers that were looking forward to this mystery, I am going to do a give away. I have two leaflets Quilting Toppers for Every Table. Has 7 seasonal Table Runners NICE!  Second is Quilting Bold and Bright Kids' Quilts features 3-D Designs

The rules are leave a comment to this post and gain one entry. Either state that you are a follower or become a follower and get 3 entries. If you blog and you link to this post (and not a follower) than that is 3 entries also. If you blog and are a follower and you link then that is 5 entries. I will have a random drawing on the 1st of SEP. Good luck and hope every ones Summer has been as hectic and wonderful as mine!!!

Catchin' Up

With everything goin' on I have fallen behind on my quilting and my posting. Guess I will try to catch up.

This is ReJena's Ribbon Quilt. A couple of us did this at a retreat last fall. Mine is at the bottom of this post.. But I want to show her back. She chose a plain muslin and just a simple panto. Great quilt!

This turned out beautiful. Now I have to make another one of this pattern for me. I mean when you get to mine you will see why I have to do another one.

This is Deb's. She didn't care what went on it! Oh I love that, freedom to create what the quilt tells me. And this quilt toalked. I have had some quilts that I just couldn't figure out what to put on them. Not this one, I knew instantly how I wanted this one.

Beautiful Blocks aren't they? so simple yet so majestic! (simple as in two color!Piecing wise Woohooo)

This is Christine's T-shirt quilt for her son. These are his college shirts and she promised this quilt to him 4 years ago. She had made one other T-Shirt quilt and tied it so she thought this one was so late that she would get it quilted as a special, I 'm sorry so late. I love quilting T-Shirt quilts, looking at all the different shirts and their sayings. In fact I have another one sitting here to do. Oh I wonder what lovely shirts I will find on it.

Ok this is my Ribbon Quilt. I call it Dem Bones. 5 maybe 6 years ago I made quilts for all the kids. Ok all but my youngest son. I just couldn't figure out what to do for him. The step daughter loves animal prints so that was an easy one. My oldest son loves and collects dragons, and wolf  stuff. So a dragon quilt was in order for him. The step son was graduating so I made him a memory album quilt. But Nathan, oh my Nathan, into really nothing, likes wearing dark shirts with those skull transfers on them. One day a few years after I had the other ones done I spotted this skull and cross bone fabric. Got some of it but now what. It took me a couple of years to find the bones fabric and then what pattern. This is it. At this point Nathan doesn't really ever think that I will finish this so I am sure he will love it not matter what. Ane hey he just got his own place and has moved out so I need to get this done and surprise hime with it. here is the back (Yes the sun is shining through)

  I found this skull and crossbone panto and just love it. I really hope this quilt isn't to girlie for the boy (Man he is 27)

This is Simple Girl, I call it Simple Girl cuz it is a simple block made by stackin the deck method and the pretty girlie colors just call out. Thus Simple Girl. I loved playing on this top.  I love feathers and I got to practice the circle feather wreath. I did a new meander in the center (new for me, I had never done  one like this before).  I just loved creating the quilting.                     

Heat and quilting

Ok so the furnace is sort of fixed. It is at least working right now but they can not guarantee how long it will work. We kind of knew this when we bought the house but.... we always want things to last longer than they really do. This house had been neglected so we knew that everything and I mean everything needed updated or new. Our plans are to put a gas fireplace in the living room, not only will it make it look nice it will help with the heating.

I am planning on going to another retreat and need to get my money in so I thought I better get another quilt done to help cover the cost. So here it is. 

 A beautiful little baby quilt. It belongs to Rejena and I have to say she does wonderful work. Her quilts lay so nice and flat. I sure wish I could get mine that square. I know she says it is her pressing, and claims to be the  pressing queen. It is more than her pressing it is eye for detail in her piecing. Nope I don't think I will ever be that detailed oreintated in my piecing. Can't wait Rejena to see what is next from you.

I have one of my own tops on the machine now. Great, just means when it is quilted I have binding to do. Not my favorite thing to do. I did go out and find these leather finger thimbles and I think once I get used to it I might like them. They come in a pack of three, and they are joined in the back with elastic so the thimble can fit on any size of finger. With that I am wearing one on the thumb and one on the middle finger to sew my bindings on. So far so good but it is slowwwwwwwwwwwww  learning. As you can tell I am not a hand quilter. I am doing a baby top with needle turn applique and yes I am using those leather thimbles for that too.  Maybe I will learn to love hand work. 

I'm still here

I know that you all thought I fell off the earth. Well not really, just seems that way, I have been real busy. I still have the Christmas photos to post and 3 row by rows that I have been doing. Two are close to being done and are ready to be passed on Thrus night at club meeting and the 3rd is a new start from an internet group. I went to a retreat this past weekend and tried to sew up a storm but get this it was so hot I could hardly work. Now mind you it was 15 outside but (it felt to me) like 100 inside. I found myself wondering the front rooms supervising layouts of blocks instead of in there sewing my own. Still had a great time and did get some things done. I wish I would have brought hand stuff to do but oh well hind sight.....

Here are some quilts that ReJena has made. She does wonderful work!!