Quiet Quilter...

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T12:25:00.000-06:00

Nana and The Tootie Girls send you the warmest wishes for a Merry Christmas!

2011-12-16T16:02:00.000-06:00

I've been hand quilting this little quilt.

I've got a way to go.

Mommy planned another Tootie Girl project.

Here's Emily with her painting smock on!

And, Sarah doing her best work.

Here are the jolly fellows!

Quilt Organization

2011-12-08T08:40:00.000-06:00

I have added 12 labels to my quilts in the last few days! I thought you might like a little behind the scenes peek. I have a very simple way of keeping track of my quilts.

I have two notebooks...a small purple one, which is actually one of those old Plan Bee systems. I've taken most of the parts out and just use it for my Works In Progress List and my Finished Quilts list.

The Works In Progress system is very basic. I write down the name of the quilt and have columns on the right side labeled Start/Finish, Piecing, Borders, Backing, Quilt, Binding and Label. As I finish each step I check it off and add a date. When I finish a quilt I use the yellow highlighter to mark all the steps. I got this idea from an old friend a very long time ago. I am so glad I kept up with it all these years. A few times in the past I thought I would transfer it to a document on the computer but I really like my plain old graph paper and pencil!

The second part of the purple binder is the Finished Quilts List. Here, I note the number and name of the quilt as it is finished. I started this list a long time ago too. I remember trying so hard to remember the quilts I'd done and in what order. Back then, I'd only done about 20 quilts and I still had to think real hard! Now, my list is up to 120! I also note whether I have taken a picture of the quilt and if I have already made a label.

I have a large three ring binder with pictures and a write up about each quilt. This is still a work in progress. I include all kinds of things...size, materials, pattern, inspiration, who the quilt was made for and remembrances of the time I was working on the quilt.

I always tell new quilters about this system in hopes that they will keep up with their work too. Of course, I have instructed my daughter and son where to find all this information if something should happen to me! I've spent over 20 years of my life making all these quilts and I want to at least look like I had some sense of organization!

I hope you enjoyed seeing how I keep track of my quilts. I also hope it will inspire you to start keeping some kind of quilt journal. You don't have to start at the beginning...just open up a notebook and start writing!

More labels!

2011-12-06T14:29:00.000-06:00

Five new labels! I decided it was about time to get some labels on my quilts!

What's this?

2011-12-04T20:36:00.000-06:00

Emily has to wear a patch over her eye for three hours a day. She wasn't too eager to wear the scratchy black patch. So, we looked on the internet and found a tutorial on making a flower (eye) patch!

Well, Sarah had to have one too! So, Nana made her a patch to go over her sunglasses!

Bow Ties and Afternoon Tea

2011-12-03T16:40:00.000-06:00

Afternoon Tea

Big stitch quilting.

Label!

Tea Cup quilting...

Bow Ties

More big stitch quilting.

The back...

Another label!

Magic Tricks

2011-08-27T10:26:00.000-05:00

Now you see them...

Now you don't!

It's the Disappearing Nine Patch. I've always wanted to try this. The Pandora's Box I started last Saturday had some extra 2 1/2" squares so I thought I would try it.

Well, this is not a disappearing act...just two Tootie Girls hiding from a fly that got in the house. They are terrified of them!

A Projek

2011-08-23T09:21:00.000-05:00

Mommy found a cool project for us to do!

Some crayons, a canvas, glue and a hair dryer!

The Tootie Girls sorted the crayons into color groups.

And handed the crayons to Mommy so she could glue them on the canvas.

All done with that part...

Blowing the crayons witht the hair dryer...look what's happening!

Wow! That was fun!

On The Table Today

2011-08-21T12:43:00.000-05:00

On Saturday two of my quilting friends came over to sew.

I had a hard time thinking of a project I wanted to work on. Like I don't have 1000 UFOs in progress!

So I picked up one of my favorite books. Found a jelly roll (Rural Jardin, Moda's French General) and started cutting.

I'll admit this is not one of my favorite color schemes. Although I love the darker blue, tans and the reds. It's that spa blues and greens. We'll see how it progresses.

2011-08-19T09:42:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I had a chance to sew for a little while. I finished making this pillow from an applique block I had done earlier. The words are...Blackbird Sings At My Backdoor.

We had some pictures made at a local park. Can you believe the Tootie Girls are almost four?

I made their outfits.

And, finally, my daughter's latest painting.

2011-08-18T09:27:00.000-05:00

Oh, my goodness. Thank you, friends! All of your comments to yesterday's post were uplifting with love and support. Many of your blogs I've been reading for years and I feel like I know you well. I'm looking forward to getting to know the new bloggers too.

Being a military wife has taken me to many places. I've always felt that anywhere you go, if you are a quilter, you've got instant friends. It's the same way with the internet and blogging. Every morning I have coffee with friends...looking at new projects, working through trials and tribulations in our lives. I really hope that the trend of blogging lasts for a long time.

What special friends you all are.

What I Did Last Summer...

2011-08-17T10:04:00.000-05:00

Last summer was the worst summer of my entire life. My whole world fell apart the day my husband, of 35 years, told me he had someone else. He said he was unhappy and didn't want to live this way anymore. Seems a girlfriend from when he was 14 years old had contacted him on Facebook. That was the end of May. By the end of July, he had been to see her in Puerto Rico (telling me he was on a business trip to California) and made plans for her to come to Texas at the end of September! I found all the pictures, emails and even the tatoo (ugh, TMI!) stored on his computer. I was devastated.

He told me I would have to get an apartment and a job. Unless, of course, I wanted to stay there with them! Huh? My daughter came to my rescue letting me know in no uncertain terms would I be getting an apartment or a job. I was coming to live with her. So, I packed up all my antiques, treasures and quilts. Put everything but my bedroom and sewing room in storage and moved on.

Fast forward through all the painful events of the last year...losing someone I love and trusted completly, financial troubles and finally divorce. I'll spare you the details.

I'm telling you all this because so many times this last year I wanted to stop blogging. Stop showing you what I was working on, stop posting about the Tootie Girls and close my blog. I've hardly had anything to say. Not to mention almost losing my desire for quilting.

I'm better now. Not 100%, just better than I was. I'm going to keep blogging because it does inspire me. I just felt like I needed to tell you what was going on in my life.

Now, on to much happier thoughts!

Birdie Body Pillow

2011-08-17T09:27:00.000-05:00

Birdie Body Pillow...hand applique using leftovers from my stash.

Gotta Love It Designs

#0518

Cute!

It's Summer...

2011-07-04T18:17:00.000-05:00

..and you know what that means!

The Tootie Girls are swimming...

and eating ice cream!

It's too hot for Nana to go outside. I've been busy sewing and have lots of blocks ready for the design wall...

Loose Change from Miss Rosie's Quilt Co.

Done in Moda's Minnick & Simpson's Flag Day Farm fabrics.

And, finally, Happy 4th!

Camping Out In The Bathtub

2011-05-27T09:34:00.000-05:00

It's spring in Texas! That means flowers blooming and green grass. Unfortunately it also means rain, lightning, hail and tornados. The sirens sound when we are having bad weather. That means taking shelter in a safe place. How do you get two three year olds to take shelter without scaring them? Camping out in the bathtub!

We took our pillows and favorite quilt to protect us...I mean to camp out. Luckily there were no tornados in our area that night.

Tootie Girl fun!

Last Redwork Block!

2011-05-04T15:52:00.000-05:00

And giving a nod up the chimney he rose...

Long Time Coming...

2011-04-28T16:14:00.000-05:00

Way back in 2001, I had just moved to Texas and met my friends Tyrena and Michelle. I had chatted with Ty online in the Fabric Stash chatroom. Ty and Mich worked together and Ty had recruited Mich over to the "dark side" (introduced her to quilting!).

We were about to attend my very first International Quilt Show in Houston, TX. I got very sick and was put in the hospital the day we were to leave. Ty scrambled a plane ticket down so she wouldn't miss a class and Michelle drove down the next day with all of their stuff.

While at the show, the two of them visited 12 different booths and picked up a block packet (fabric and directions) from each one. When they got home they gave them to me! Sweet!

I ordered the finishing kit and it has been sitting in a box ever since! Shame on me! Well, I got it out yesterday and cut out all twelve blocks. Today I put the first two together.

Honey's Choice On Point

Mexicali Rose

We have our annual retreat in June of this year. Do you think I can get the top together by then? Hope so...

Pieceful Nights

2011-04-26T15:17:00.000-05:00

Pieceful Nights: A Sampler Quilt

Pattern by Lori Smith of From My Heart To Your Hands.

Center block - Odd Fellows Chain Variation

Each block finishes at 10" x 10".

Baker's Dozen Variation

Odd Fellows Chain

Lighthouse

[

Domino and Square Variation

Uncle Sam's Hourglass Variation

Maine WoodsVariation

Bird's Nest

Lewis and Clark

China Doll

Milky Way

Tea Party Variation

Golden Royalty

2011-02-24T14:54:00.000-06:00

The latest redwork block for Twas The Night Before Christmas.

He spoke not a word but went straight to his work...

Here are my little Valentine Tooties with the card and flowers they gave me. Can you believe how big they are getting?

Farmhouse Blues

2011-01-27T16:26:00.000-06:00

I bought a quilt kit last summer at the Granbury Retreat. I couldn't pass it up since it is my favorite color.

I have twelve blocks to do. Each of those blocks has has two borders, then sashing, a solid border, a pieced border and another solid border. All blue and white!

I haven't done a sampler style quilt in a very long time. I'm enjoying putting one block at a time together. They are all different stars.

Farmhouse Blues...

2011-01-21T15:08:00.000-06:00

Look at this wonderful pincushion my friend, Ty, gave me for Christmas!

She made it! It's wool with beading.

All on top of an old clamp.

I love it so much! Thanks again Ty!

Twas The Night Before Christmas...

2011-01-19T11:46:00.000-06:00

I thought I would show you what I have been working on since Thanksgiving.

Happy Christmas to all and to all a good night!

It's called The Night Before Christmas, designed by Susan Garman. The original pattern was designed for applique. The pieces were so tiny I didn't enjoy working on it. I had put it away and one day when I was thinking about it I decided to do it in redwork!

His eyes how they twinkled! His dimples so merry!

Of course my pictures aren't the greatest. They are out of order too. So pardon me, please.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter...

But, enjoy the redwork anyway.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear...

It's a lot of work but I am so glad I took it on.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds...

I'll add some sashing and borders. I don't know how I will quilt it.

Not a creature was stirring...

Twas the night before Christmas...

Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound...

Lastly, one of my favorite Tootie Girl pictures from the past.

I still have four more stitcherys to do. I'll post pictures as I complete them.

2011-01-09T19:55:00.000-06:00

Well, what would you do on a snowy Texas day?

On the sewing table today...

2010-12-30T13:33:00.000-06:00

It's another Annie quilt done with crayons. The name of this one is Annie and Kitty's Days of the Week. Every day Annie and Kitty are doing something different.

I'm using some 2 1/2" squares of 1930's reproduction fabric to sash the squares. They were leftovers from another project. My 30's stash is almost gone!

Annie's Calendar

2010-12-27T10:19:00.000-06:00

Santa brought a new camera in my stocking! Sorry, I hope I'll get better at taking pictures...

This is Annie's Calendar.

I used crayons to color in the shapes.

Rubbed the coloring in.

Stitched all around.

I backed each stitchery with fusible interfacing so the stitches wouldn't show through from the back.

The pattern is from Plum Creek Collectibles.

I found it when I went to the Houston Quilt Show in 2009.

Love the flag!

I quilted it with crochet cotton in a big stitch.

I tied the sashing.

The pumpkins are cute!

Such fun to make!

Have a great New Year!

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T21:14:00.000-06:00

I hope your day was as great as ours!

The stocking were hung...

2010-12-06T08:18:00.000-06:00

We needed new stockings at the Tootie Girl's house. So, I made six new ones to match. There's a big jingle bell on the toe and our initials in gold at the top. I pieced the toes and heels from a charm pack of Hollywood and Vine...do you remember that line of fabric from years ago? I'd been saving that charm pack for something special and I finally found it!

Have a jolly time this holiday seson!

A little Christmas quilt and more...

2010-12-02T09:32:00.000-06:00

I added the binding to this little quilt made with scraps from a bigger quilt.

Of course when your Nana quilts, all the beds in the (doll) house have quilts!

Ok, they are just quilt blocks.

Woops! Missed two beds!

My daughter added another piece to my painting.

Too cute!

Hope your holidays are wonderful!

I've been busy!

2010-10-26T15:13:00.000-05:00

Since I last posted I've been busy!

I added the binding to a little Court House Steps. That's an old general store meat slicer holding some favorite cookbooks.

I made this tablerunner for my daughter. It was a kit I won at my retreat last June. The fabrics are Christmas, but it matches her decor so she is keeping it out!

Mommy said put your face by the table so I can take a picture...three year olds are quite literal.

I put the binding on this little Sunbonnet Sue I quilted last Spring.

I coverd the lampshade on the dresser and framed a stitchery. It's in a frame I found at Goodwill for $2.00!

A close up...

And, finally Emily is modeling Sunday Best, a Schnibble I just finished binding.

I'm back!!!

2010-10-03T09:44:00.000-05:00

It was a long and difficult summer for me. I'm settled in now and ready to get back to blogging!

I made a new sewing machine cover. I leave my sewing machine set up all the time and needed a cover to keep my little helpers, the Tootie Girls, from getting into trouble. A long time ago I made a huge bag with wooden handles that I never used. So, I took it apart and repurposed it!

To decorate my new room the Tootie Girl's Mommy painted a canvas especially for me...she's an artist, don't 'ya know.

Just in case you can't see the words...

Our Nana:
Gives us kisses and hugs.
Gives us marshmallows and pretzels for a snack!
She tells us stories that always have a happy endings.
She tells us we are cute and smart (and we are).
She NAPS!
She quilts and sews and cooks for us.
She sings to us and sometimes she dances.
She teaches us to be sweet.
She calls us Tootie Babies.
She takes us outside to play!
She lets us smell her coffee and drink her tea.
She loves us and we love her.

Isn't that wonderful?

Wish You Were Here!

2010-07-28T13:01:00.000-05:00

The Tootie Babies are having lots of fun this summer!

Painting...

Dancing...

Dressing up like princesses...

Pretty pink shoes and roses in their hair...

Take a bow please...

And let's not forget the ice cream cones...

Chocolate and strawberry...

Oh, yeah! We're having fun! Wish you were here!

New Little Quilt

2010-07-20T23:23:00.000-05:00

This is Sweet Sixteen, a pattern by Lori Smith. I used scraps from Blackbird Designs' Magic Garden. I had leftovers from a bigger quilt called Flies In The Barn, which is a pattern by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co.

Woops! Looks like my first attempt using Picnik wasn't as successful as I thought it was!

2010-07-12T22:52:00.000-05:00

This is the left side of the bookcases. That is my quiting angel on the far left. I made her in a class. She has an old quilt for wings and an apron. I used old linens for her dress. She has a little crocheted pouch with a thimble in it.

A few more little sewing machines, some drawers and old bobbins.

Books and pincushions. Have you ever looked through the Great American Quilts series of books? There is some amazing inspiration inside.

More pincushions, books and a little house with quilted coasters inside.

I think that's all of my quilting room for now. Hope you enjoyed visiting my space. Next I have a few little quilts to show that I have just finished hand quilting.

2010-07-10T12:54:00.001-05:00

On the right side of the top of the book shelves is another little arrangement.

My Bigmama Palmertree's sewing basket filled with vintage notions, her old Singer and the drawers that came from her sewing machine cabinet. My Bigmama Landrum's hemming tool, she was a seamstress. (Just in case you are wondering...I called my grandmothers Bigmama. It's a southern thing.)

There's another child's sewing machine and a little quilting doll with her quilt in a hoop. The green tin used to be filled with Singer sewing machine oil.

The apothecary jar is full of wooden spools and old tomato pin cushions. You can see another little quilt hanging behind it all. That one is called Zig Zag Mini.

Don't Worry, Be Happy!

2010-07-09T14:24:00.000-05:00

This is my Worry Birds quilt, which is hung over the bookshelves in my quilt room. Aren't they cute?

It is a challenge quilt made with friends from Texas. The theme was What's Black and White and Red allover? In the border are the words to the song Don't Worry, Be Happy.

On the top of the bookcase are some old blue mason jars with buttons in them. There are two vintage child's sewing machines, some tile coasters with quilts on them and a little jar of tiny triangles leftover from cleaning up the backs of quilt blocks.

How Did He Do That?

2010-06-23T22:07:00.000-05:00

Several Christmas's ago my friend Ty gave me this spool. She said she watched while the guy whittled this from an old spool of thread. Yes, it's a little wooden spool with a smaller spool of thread all carved from one old spool! Amazing!

What Else Would I Collect?

2010-06-21T22:07:00.000-05:00

Today I would like to show my collection in the white cupboard. About ten years ago I started collecting things with a sewing theme.

There are a few teapots shaped like quilt shops.

Little boxes with a sewing theme and a mini tea set. Some are for Christmas and a couple have little sewing mice on them.

A sewing machine teapot that is a clock.

Some music boxes.

More sewing machine themed teapots.

Salt and pepper shakers with a sewing theme. There are even some iron and thimble shaped collectibles.

A tape dispenser shaped like a sewing machine!

Did you ever imagine there were so many sewing machine shaped teapots? Every once in a while I find a new one on Ebay or in a shop. I have to be careful because I have even bought some twice!

My Quilt Room

2010-06-20T19:26:00.000-05:00

I keep saying, "When my room is clean I'll take some pictures to put on my blog." Well, I'm afraid that's not going to happen...I mean my room being clean. So, you are seeing my room in working condition. Here we go...

I've finished my toothbrush rug. It's six feet around. I used a ton of old fabric from my stash to make it.

This is one corner where I store some curtain making fabric on long rolls. Also my quilting frame and some rug making supplies. You can see some stencils hanging on a cabinet door. My collection of magazines and that's my scrap bin!

My table by my chair. Essential stuff like the TV remote and my phone. I made a topper for my old laundry basket that holds my scraps. It is just a plywood round with a cover I made from an old table cloth.

Here's a better view...twenty years worth of scraps!

This is my cutting table. I have two long boards sitting on top of some Elfa units from the Container Store. They go across the whole wall under a design wall. Those three plastic bags are kits I bought at the quilt store while on retreat. Actually, the small one was a door prize.

This is the ironing side. I finally found a great iron, a Professional from Rowenta. It creates a lot of steam! I love it and will never go back to the cheap ones I used before. That is a Schnibble I worked on at the retreat.

Another pile...strips for toothbrush rugs, frames for little quilts and UFO boxes. There are 13 there but, believe me that's not all my UFOs!

Here's the books along the opposite wall. There is one more bookcase off to the left.

A wider view of the fabric drawers. The valances were made from an old cutter quilt. The cafes are blue ticking. I've hung my little quilts on the walls.

This is my sewing table, wall of rulers and the tv. The table has a leaf that folds out for machine quilting.

This cabinet holds thread and various notions. When I open the fold out leaf on the sewing table to the left it creates a huge table for machine quilting.

This is an old spool rack that a friend gave me. An old wooden ironing board is in the corner. Red bins hold blocks of the month. Also, my cupboard with the little sewing machine collection. Tomorrow I'll show you what is in it.

How I wish I could be neat and organized! But, that is not going to happen! I love my quilting room and it is set up to function for me and works very well. Hope you enjoyed this little tour.

May Baskets

2010-06-16T12:47:00.001-05:00

It seems like time is flying by...I just finished the month of May baskets!

Last weekend I went on the Granbury retreat. We had such a good time!

It's hot outside so I'm staying in and keeping cool. I've got plenty to keep me busy!

Blue Baskets

2010-05-18T20:09:00.000-05:00

These are my Trick or Treat baskets from January through April. There are 120 basket blocks. I am using all the blues in my stash. If the fabric has at least one dot of blue I'm using it! I am only half way through my fabric. So far, I haven't used any fabric twice.

This is my design wall in the hall next to my quilting room. I still need to put the flannel on the board. It is working out great for auditioning blocks before assembly.

I added a little embellishment to my challenge quilt. Yes, Teresa, those are my Sunbonnet Tooties! All this needs is a label to call it done.

Tonight I am working on my BOM Holly and Mistletoe. At this stage it's log cabin blocks so nothing to show.

A Challenge

2010-05-14T10:55:00.000-05:00

Last year my quilting friends and I went to Granbury, TX for a little retreat. We go there every year. This is the house we stay in. It's really cute inside too. There is a kitchen, great room, two bathrooms and three bedrooms filled with trundle beds.

We were told to bring a yard of our favorite fabric. During one of the door prize drawings each of us won a quilting book. Then, we got out our fabric and passed it to the right a couple of times...then to the left a couple of times. So, each of us had a different fabric than the one we brought. This is the fabric I ended up with. A challenge was issued...make a quilt from the book using the fabric.

The book I won was the same one that I made the Scrappy Garden Paths in the post below. This is the quilt I made. Here's a little close up of the two Sunbonnet Sues I appliqued in the middle. The book's quilt has one larger Sunbonnet Sue done in embroidery. I changed it up a little.

This is my challenge quilt. I used the challenge fabric in the background of the applique, pinwheels, backing and binding. The binding is the backing fabric brought around to the front and stitched by machine.

One thing I should mention is that my fabric was not cotton. I guess one of the new quilters brought it. Now I know why we don't use polyester in our quilts. It can't be ironed without melting, the lowest setting on my iron didn't generate enough heat to press it. Plus, the feel of it generally grossed me out! I wasn't even going to try to do the challenge but, I persevered and this is the outcome.

Not too bad...

2010-05-08T13:00:00.000-05:00

This is a very old chair...with a lot of unquilted tops on it! I don't even know how many are on there but most of them have been there for years. Some of them want to be hand quilted and the rest are waiting for my friend Ty to catch up. She quilts my quilts on her longarm. I could keep her busy forever!

There are a few I haven't shown yet. I'll dig them out sometime and tell you about them.

Sneak Peek

2010-05-06T20:18:00.000-05:00

Alrighty, here is a peek at Scrappy Garden Path...

I really like it!

Scrappy Garden Path

2010-05-05T19:42:00.000-05:00

This quilt is sewn into rows. No blocks. Twenty-three rows. One thousand eight hundred and twelve pieces. Yes, that's 1,812 pieces! Now you know why I called this project ambitious.

This is the book the pattern is in. The pattern calls for 1and 1/2 inch squares but I had a lot of 2 and 1/2 inch squares already cut so I used that measurement instead of the smaller one. This quilt is a STASH BUSTER.

Tomorrow I'll give you a sneak peek as I have been sewing a few rows together this afternoon. As a matter of fact, I am about to unsew one of the rows sewn onto the wrong end!

Road To St. Louis

2010-05-04T21:54:00.000-05:00

Road To St. Louis, a great stashbuster. This is a quilt from an older book by Trudi Hughes. It uses 2 and 1/2" squares.

It's quilted in a Baptist Fan design.

I'm still piecing every night on the 1930's quilt. As soon as it takes shape I'll post a picture.

Rick Rack In The Binding

2010-05-03T13:08:00.000-05:00

I put the binding on this quilt last week. Big squares of brushed cottons, nice and warm!

I added some rick rack in the binding.

It wasn't hard to do and it turned out so cute!

1930's Reproduction Reduction

2010-05-02T19:58:00.001-05:00

Last week I wanted a new project that was a quickie. I always turn to my stash of Lori Smith patterns when this happens.

Isn't this just the cutest?

So, while I was digging around in my 1930's drawer I decided to start a really ambitious project. I'll show that to you later in the week. This is my drawer after cutting for the new quilt. Sorry, I don't have a before picture but it was overflowing with fabric and this is what's left! Love it because some of those fabrics were twenty years old.

And, don't you know pancakes and bananas taste better with a rooster hanging from your neck!

A Giveaway!

2010-04-21T23:00:00.001-05:00

Linen Closet Quilts is having a drawing for her new pattern, French Wrens! Be sure to visit and leave a commentfor a chance to win!

New Quilt Hook

2010-04-18T11:18:00.000-05:00

I ordered this quilt hook from Carly's Cottage.

This quilt is Split Decision from The Teacher's Pet. It's a jelly roll pattern.

Have a great Sunday!

A Day At Nana's House

2010-04-14T20:58:00.000-05:00

This is what we do in the morning while Mommy is at work...

Wear Nana's house shoes.

While watching Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

Climb in a big basket.

Sit on a bag of marshmallows.

And, have lunch!

I thought you might like to see what I've been working on. It's a toothbrush rug. I've used up tons of ugly fabric, scraps and extra binding strips. It's 48" now. I'm going for 72". It is a rug for my quilt room.

Roundabout

2010-03-25T12:57:00.000-05:00

My Schnibble is done for March.

The Tootie Babies loved the new "quill".

Here is Sarah posing while naming the colors of the buttons.

And, Emily taking a little break this morning to watch a show. Her new favorite is Dora, the Explorer.

2010-03-21T21:52:00.000-05:00

It's going to be a pretty litte quilt.

National Quilt Day

2010-03-20T20:11:00.000-05:00

Yes, today is National Quilt Day! It's also the first day of Spring! Guess what Texas' weather is like today? Yep, SNOWING!

Well, my machine is fixed and home. Look what followed us...

It's a big box...with lots of stuff in it.

Well, looky-here...

It's not my old Bernina...

It's my new Bernina!

I Broke My Sewing Machine...

2010-03-07T11:31:00.000-06:00

Yep, did it all by myself too! Who knew that part wasn't supposed to come out? Anyway, it's being fixed to the tune of $145.00. Good grief, that was an expensive home cleaning.

So, what am I doing while I can't piece on the machine? Why do I want to machine piece so badly when I usually would only sew by hand? Applique, of course!

Thrifty, block #8 of Celebration of American Life, a Blackbird Design book.

I'm still making a basket a day. January, February and March.

Five blocks completed out of nine for Holly and Berries. This is a quilt in Small Favorites for All Seasons also by Blackbird Designs. I have four blocks to go.

This is month one and two of Holly and Mistletoe, a block of the month from Homestead Hearth. Ok, the log cabins are machine pieced but I did them way back in January. I love this quilt! It comes from When The Cold Wind Blows by Blackbird Designs.

I'm busy and getting lots of things accomplished just like I normally would. I even borrowed my daughter's machine and still it sits unused. Go figure!

Three Little Schnibbles

2010-02-27T15:05:00.000-06:00

Sunday's Best

A quilt kit from Quilt Taffy. Red polka dot backing and binding too. That is my new floor!

Madeline

Minnick and Simpson's Bar Harbor

Blue paisley backing and binding.

Cindy Lou Who

April Cornell's Spring Magic

A beautiful pink floral for backing and binding.

The Tootie Babies with the snowman Graddy built for them. Nothing like charcoal eyes, carrot nose, weed eater line mouth and some sprinkler pvc for a pipe! Oh, and Graddy's yard hat and sticks for arms. Yes, he has quite a lean going on. His head accidentally fell off and nearly scared the Tooties to death!

The Tooties Love Snow!

2010-02-21T11:16:00.000-06:00

The weather report says more snow next week! Hello, this is Texas people!

The Tooties played in the snow last time. This is Sarah, who loves her gloves but doesn't know what to do when she has them on. Mostly, she just holds her hands out straight in front of her!

Emily is all bundled up! They cried when they had to go inside.

So Mommy brought some inside to play with. That Mommy, she sure is smart.

They had a great time until Emily threw snow at Sarah and it went under the stove...their attention then turned to finding out where the snow went.

Hopefully, this next snow won't be the "Blizzard of 2010" like it was last time!

There is no quilting going on upstairs in the quilting room. The floors are done (beautiful) and the rooms are painted (smelly). Today we'll try to get some things organized in there so I can get back to normal!

Birds Of A Feather

2010-02-12T11:11:00.000-06:00

Wow! Look at this! The top has been finished for a while but I just found this post draft that was never published. So, now, I present...Birds of a Feather!

It's from a book by the same name by Blackbird Designs.

Solitary Birds

American Kestrel

Bird Feeder Surprise

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

The Sky on His Back

Bluebird

This is Clear Melodic Song

Cardinal

Uh, oh. Blurry picture...sorry.

The Weaver

Baltimore Oriole

True Sign of Spring

Martin

Winter Visitor

Junco

Sings Their Heart Out

Mockingbird

Wild Canary

American Goldfinch

Prairie Song

Western Meadowlark

Shock Absorbers Needed

Downy Woodpecker

Border with prarie points and year completed. I have since added my initials to the top border.

I can't seem to find the picture for Our Smallest Bird - Hummingbird. On the big quilt it is the two litte birds on the pears.

It's a beautiful day outside today. The snow has stopped falling from the sky. However, big clumps are plopping to the ground out of the trees. The mailboxes look like they have caps on.

Today I'll be working on packing up my sewing room. Next week we are having the floors and painting done upstairs. I'm not looking forward to the mess!

Kansas City Star 2010 Block Of The Month

2010-02-11T22:34:00.002-06:00

The Kansas City Star has started a new Block Of The Month. On the third Tuesday of each month a new block will be offered on the website. It looks like fun!

What is this, you might wonder? It's a 3/4" hole punch used for scrapbooking. I don't do scrapbooking but...

I do have to cut out lots of little berries for my applique. 179 to be exact! This little tool sure made quick work of that.

And, this is what a snowy evening in Texas looks like. Can you believe it snowed all day? We got nine inches! That is a record snowfall for our area.

Marines Motto Quilt

2010-01-24T22:43:00.000-06:00

In October of 2009, right before my son, Robert, came home from Iraq, I made him a quilt with some of his motto (motivation) t-shirts.

I included pockets from his fatigues.

Even the tag from the inside of one of the shirts.

I used a fabric I had found at Mary Jo's when we went to see him come home from Iraq the first time. It's the one with the skulls and cross bones. I used his fatigues which were in greens and tans.

My friend Ty quilted it on her longarm. She used a star quilting pattern.

The backing is a Marines fabric.

He really likes his quilt!

True Blue

2010-01-21T10:40:00.000-06:00

True Blue, pattern by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co.

I bought this as a kit at the Dallas quilt show in 2009 from the Olde Green Cupboard booth. I love the dark blues and tans.

I found the perfect piece for the background at Hobby Lobby. Now it's ready to go to Ty for quilting!

Sweet Tea

2010-01-20T18:30:00.000-06:00

Oh, this is a cute quilt! Sweet Tea by The Quilt Company. This was a block of the month from 2009. I have the blocks pieced together and now I will put on two plain borders and a border of tea cups. Then a final plain border.

Five different tea pots, some piecing and some fusible applique with machine buttonhole stitching with varigated thread.

There are four of these blocks. The yellow solid and the green solid is a flange inserted before the first border is put on the blocks. After quilting I'll embellish with some beads and yo-yos. Too cute!!!

Better get back to work!

2010-01-18T21:56:00.000-06:00

The Holly Basket in the previous post is in this book.

Last summer I decided to work on fall projects until December and then make some Christmas things. I don't know why but I was not in the mood to work on red and green. So, I started this...

It is called Summer Flags Flying and you can find the pattern in this book. I still have the pieced border to do. Then I'll hand quilt it.

This is Sarah checking out her fabulous self! Actually, the mirror has been and invaluable tool for overcoming her delayed speech. Which, wasn't really delayed but when compared to Emily (who is advanced in her speech) we thought she was way behind.

And, this is Emily's favorite spot...an old oak highchair. She climbs up there all by herself and can climb back down. This makes Mommy very nervous!

2010-01-17T22:33:00.000-06:00

I've made a basket a day...

Started working on a BOM from last year called Sweet Tea...

And, almost finished appliqueing Holly Basket!

First Finish of 2010!

2010-01-05T18:48:00.003-06:00

Well, really, I just had the binding to do. This little quilt is from a Lori Smith pattern called Fit To Frame: Set 6. It's called Grandmother's Garden. It is hand appliqued and hand quilted. Here are a few close ups:

What's this? It's my new stash reducer...I love blue, and I have the fabrics to prove it! This is Trick Or Treat from When The Cold Wind Blows by Blackbird Designs. There are 291 baskets! I plan on using a different fabric for each of the backgrounds and baskets. I'll bet I have that many different blues. But, if I don't I'm not afraid to buy more!

I've made a basket a day so far. That's my plan...one basket a day!

Quilting Accomplishments and What Lies Ahead...

2010-01-01T10:23:00.005-06:00

I've tallied up the quilting accomplishments for 2009...13 little quilts, 6 large quilts and 1 really big pillow. That's a lot! I did quite a few red work stitchery's too.

I'm not making any resolutions this year. I'm just going to have fun and do whatever I want! Lately, I've been starting some projects that I have always wanted to do and I'm so glad I finally did.

I used to fret over how many 'UFOs' I had but now that I realize they are all really 'WIPs' I don't care how many quilts I have started! This year I finally reached the 100 quilts finished goal. Of course, I have nearly that many that need to be worked on. Oh, well.

This year I decided to label all my quilts. I have labeled quite a few oldies but goodies and all my new quilts. That is one accomplishment that feels really good.

Every year I hope to finish at least 12 quilts...big or little, it doesn't matter. For several years I have been doing Blocks of the Month. I usually don't work on them monthly I just collect the little packages every month and save them up to do all at once. I have actually finished a few of them!

Just for fun, I like to keep track of how much fabric I purchase during the year. Last year I bought 145 yards, a kit and a fat quarter bundle. I know that sounds like a lot but I bet if you added up your purchases you'd be surprised at the total. Some of that yardage was in the form of charm packs and jelly rolls. Did you know that a jelly roll has 2 1/4 yards and a charm pack has 1 1/3 yards? Gifts and backing were a big part of the total too.

I hope the new year brings you all that you've hoped for. I hope your bobbin stays full and your needle is always threaded. Oh, and hopefully your seam ripper has cobwebs on it!

P.S.- The images in this post are some decorating ideas I have used in the past. Just thought you would enjoy them!

Tuffets!

2009-12-29T21:38:00.002-06:00

I made four tuffets from Miss Rosie's Quilt Company. I used an older charm pack from Fig Tree Quilts called A Yuletide Blessing. I sewed some trim around the rectangular one and put some buttons and ribbon on the other three. It was fun making these!

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T20:00:00.003-06:00

This is our house on Christmas Eve. Yes, that is snow! (I know...it's Texas!) It was beautiful!

Our tree in the living room. I never got around to putting the beads and ribbons on it. It is beautiful anyway!

The dining room table being set for Christmas dinner.

Santa came!

At Nana's house too!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. Our family certainly did!

Lucille

2009-12-10T17:54:00.002-06:00

I forgot that I had made another large Christmas quilt. This is a quilt I made for my daughter. Her house is decorated in red, green and black. I used Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. pattern, Lucille. The fabric is Christmas Presence by Moda. The colors fit her decorating perfectly. Even though it is a Christmas quilt she leaves it hanging all year!

There's only one bad thing about giving a quilt away...now, I have to make one for myself!

Christmas Quilts/Some Tootie Time

2009-12-09T11:11:00.004-06:00

This is the only large Christmas quilt I've made. It is from a pattern called Toulouse by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. and made with a Maison De Noel (Three Sisters/Moda) fat quarter bundle.

My friend Ty did a beautiful job on the quilting.

Now for some Tootie Time!

Watching the parades on Thanksgiving Day...Gotta have my Howdy Partner hat on. It's Texas, you know. Emily calls her cowboy hat Howdy Partner (LOL) she takes it off and swings it around yelling Yee Haw!!!

Close up of Emily!

Close up of Sarah!

This is a shot of the the whole Tootie family...my daughter and son-in-law with the Tootie Babies. Those two little wiggle worms can't stay still for one second!

I Spy Swap

2009-12-08T12:44:00.003-06:00

I participated in an I Spy Swap hosted by Karen at http://sewmanyways.blogspot.com/. Look at these wonderful squares I got in the mail the other day.

More...

Even more...

And more! Karen included a chatelaine she made. The little pillow is a pincushion with a pocket for scissors. On the other end of the ribbon is an eye bolt with a nut. This is to hold thread! Karen does a Tool Time Tuesday post every week. She has a very inventive mind and shows how she uses unconventional items to make quilting tools and other gadgets.

I can't wait to start on the I Spy Quilts I have planned for the Tootie Babies. Thank you Karen for all your hard work. It was a great swap.

Crazy Christmas Quilt

2009-12-07T15:08:00.004-06:00

This was one of those stack and slice quilts. I cut out large squares of Christmas fabrics, stacked them up, sliced through the stack twice vertically/twice horizontally and then moved the cut pieces around so that there were no repeats in the block. It was just that simple!

The machine quilting, done by my friend Ty, is mittens. Really cute and so appropriate for a Christmas quilt!

Check back tomorrow for another Christmas quilt.

My block of the months for 2009 have all been sent to me by the quilt shops sponsoring them. I just ordered two more from Homestead Hearth Quilt Shop for 2010...Halloween 1904 by Blackbird Designs and Holly and Mistletoe from Blackbird's book Let The Cold Wind Blow.

I saw this quilt in Houston and it is gorgeous!

Meet Uncle Santa!

2009-12-06T20:18:00.004-06:00

This is a pattern by Country Threads called Uncle Santa. I made this quilt in the early 90s. The Friendship Stars on the top row are embellished with buttons from my Girl Scout uniform. The flag is not pieced, it's a real miniature flag. I machine pieced and hand quilted this piece. I also used a form of utility quilting on Santa's beard called Chicken Scratch. This stitch looks like a V with a small holding stitch at the point.

Virtual Christmas Quilt Show

2009-12-05T22:38:00.004-06:00

I've entered my Rick Rack Christmas Trees quilt in SewCalGal's Virtual Christmas Quilt Show! Do you have a favorite Christmas quilt you'd like to show? Check out http://sewcalgal.blogspot.com/2009/12/virtual-christmas-quilt-show.html to see how you can join this fun show and tell!

I love Christmas quilts. I have several finished and several more in the works! One day I hope to have a Christmas quilt for each bed in my house. I'd love to put the quilts on the beds on Thanksgiving evening and keep them on through the holidays.

Hope to see your Christmas quilt in the show!

Christmas Jewel Box

2009-12-04T13:17:00.002-06:00

I thought I would show you another Christmas Quilt. This is the jewel box pattern done in reds and greens. I didn't use any "Christmas " fabrics just homespuns and tone on tone prints. It is lap size. Actually, the pattern is a mystery quilt from Judy Hopkins.

My friend, Ty, quilted this on her long arm. If you look closely at the quilting you'll see pine boughs and pine cones. Perfect for a Christmas quilt.

Tomorrow I'll show you another quilt from my Christmas collection.

Rick Rack Christmas Trees

2009-12-01T22:44:00.004-06:00

This was a fun quilt to make! I used several different greens for the trees, a white on white for the background and a gold with a little glitter for the stars. The red fabric is my favorite because it has little multi-colored Christmas lights sprinkled all over. It made the perfect trim for the trees.

My friend Stephanie gave me this pattern quite a while ago. My friend Ty quilted this for me on her longarm. If you click on the picture you can see a bigger version which shows the quilting close up. Also, I used the gold for piping in the binding.

Several people asked for information on the pattern for this quilt. It is designed by Marjorie Rhine of Northwest Quilt Designs. Her website is www.QuiltDesignNW.com. I haven't been to the site so I hope it works for you!

Thanks for all the compliments on my November Schnibble.

Just In Time!

2009-11-30T21:59:00.002-06:00

Ok, I just sewed the last border on the November Schnibble, Picnic! I really enjoyed this pattern. From the ingenious method for half square triangles to the perfect fitting piano key border it was all so easy. I used Moda's Wiscasett by Minick and Simpson because I love their fabric.

I can't wait until tomorrow to see what our December Schnibble is!

2009-11-26T22:39:00.003-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

A New Quilt

2009-11-24T22:30:00.002-06:00

I broke out a jelly roll for a quick quilt. I love this book! Jelly Roll Quilts by Pam and Nicky Lintot. I want to make every quilt in this book! Actually, I have made one top already and have another planned.

Each quilt is a generous lap size. You only need the jelly roll, some border, backing and binding fabric.

This is the French Braid quilt from the cover. I'm using American Primer by Minnick and Simpson. It worked out perfectly because there were 20 lights and 20 darks. It's simple to sew together and I've been putting one row together a day. I have five done and it takes 8.

That is my design wall. Actually, I have another design wall in the hall outside my sewing room that I use to audition blocks before I sew them into rows. This wall in my sewing room has everything I am working on pinned to it. My friend says I have layers...and she's right. I like to have everything in plain sight, that way I don't forget about something!

Oh, yeah. I am working on my A Year of Schnibbles quilt. Had to stop and order some more charm packs. My design idea got a little out of hand. Hopefully I will be able to show something other than bits of blocks before too long.

Before The Feast

2009-11-22T10:16:00.004-06:00

The dishes are ready...

Piled up everywhere...

I'd like to show you my Thanksgiving dishes. The pattern is called His Majesty. They are made by Wedgewood which bought out the original maker, Johnson Brothers. The dishes used to be made in England but are now made in China. I love the turkey and the little bits of pink and green are just perfect for my colors in the living room and dining room.

Stay tuned...I'll show you the table set for Thanksgiving soon!

Locker Hook Rug

2009-11-22T10:08:00.004-06:00

I finished another locker hook rug. This time in pink and green for my guest bedroom. This is such a great way to use up some of that stash you're tired of. The pattern of the fabric doesn't really show, just the color.

All you need is a rug canvas, cotton string and a locker hook. The locker hook looks like a crotchet hook with a large eye on the opposite end.

I put this at the end of the bed in front of the dresser in my guest room. Now I'm working on rugs for the sides of the bed. Cheap, easy and cute!

Olivia

2009-11-22T09:41:00.003-06:00

Olivia's birth announcement quilt is completed. I used hand applique, hand embroidery and machine quilting. The center of the flowers are buttons. Her room is decorated in pink and brown so I think this will be perfect!

Her quilt top is done too. The backing and binding are ready...

I think it turned out so cute!

Here are pictures of the hand embroidery.

It's ready to go to the quilter.

After: Living Room and Dining Room

2009-11-07T08:13:00.003-06:00

It was a long haul but, finally it's done!

It's funny to me how different things look in a picture compared to real life. I never noticed the pictures are crooked and the quilts are all sideways!

I'd like to tell you about some of my things. The double porch rocker (with all the pillows and yo-yo quilt) belonged to my grandmother. I used to sit with her on the front porch and call the whippoorwills. When she passed away I was fortunate enough to get it.

Many years ago my Mom gave me the secretary. She has given me so many things. Once, when my sister visited she said to my Mom, " Now I know where all your furniture is."

The coffee table was the first antique I ever bought. It was a library table and my husband used it to study when he was in college. After a few moves we cut the legs down to coffee table height. I've always loved it cut down. There is a drawer in the front that we use to hide remotes and Christmas Cd's (and candy). LOL~

The framed doily was made by my great-grandmother. I have two more framed pieces that she made.

The two (lime) green chairs were also my grandmothers. I would love to recover them but my daughter really loves the way they are right now. So, I'll leave them as they are for awhile.

The mirror over the couch belonged to my Mom. When my daughter was little it was hanging over her crib and she loved to look at herself. A friend from Florida made the floral swag with branches from a curly willow tree that was cut from a tree in my Mom's backyard. She also made the wreath in the dining room.

The bow front china cabinet and the victrola and music stand are antiques I purchased. I never bought my antiques outright, I always put them on layaway. Everywhere we moved (in the Air Force) there would be a little antique shop that was my favorite and I would pick things up here and there.

I've got the fabric to make the curtains for these two rooms and the rods are already up. Somehow, quilting always takes priority!

This is the dining room. See the cradle? It's full of albums filled with Tootie Babies pictures. Imagine that!

The large cabinet is a display cabinet from a department store. I have my teapot collection displayed in it. We moved it from the other side of the room and I like it so much better where it is now.

The table has two huge leaves and they pull out to make a very long table. We've had many family dinners around this table. Lots of memories...

The buffet was a gift from my Mom as well as the sewing rocker. Sometimes it is called a nursing rocker but I can't imagine that with no arms for support! That is my grandmother's silver tea and coffee service on the tea cart.

I know that these days the decorating style I have is outdated. Pink and blue went out long ago but I still love it. Oak has fallen out of favor too. I wouldn't give up my turn of the century golden oak furniture for anything.

The walls are much darker than they appear in these pictures. I love the new floors! I'm so glad that it is over but, we still have to do the upstairs...

2009-11-06T16:56:00.000-06:00

Now that we've caught up on the Tootie Babie's events for October I'll tell you what I've been up to.

I went to the International Quilt Festival in Houston! Oh my, I supported the economy! I also met so many 'famous' quilters. Alex Anderson, the Country Threads girls, Lori Smith, Eleanor Burns, John Flynn, Ami Simms...those are just a few! Wow! I saw some great quilts. Most were in group exhibits and a lot were art quilts but, there were some traditional hand quilted ones too. Those were my favorite!

In late August I decided I would concentrate on finishing some fall quilts. I finished a pillow~

a Schnibble~

Unfortunately, since I supported the economy so well at Houston, I didn't have any money leftover to make October's Schnibble. At least, I felt too guilty to order anything online (at least for a little while).

Leftover Log Cabin~

The Great Pumpkin~

Thirteen Lucky Cats~

Big Stitch quilting.

And, a label!

By the end of October I was over the fall stuff! I'm ready for some Christmas now.

First , I have to finish a baby quilt for my new great niece, Olivia, who was born on Tuesday of this week!

Remember what a mess I was in during August with my new flooring and paint? Tomorrow I'll show you how it looks all put back together!

Tootie Babies turn TWO!!

2009-11-03T17:40:00.007-06:00

It was the party of the century! A pink and green explosion!

What? You missed it? There were party hats and balloons! Presents and cake!

Singing birthday cards!

Sarah loved her cake! She ate all the polka dots first!

Emily just dove in and took a big bite!

Then Sarah ate all of Emily's polka dots! Yummy!

New baby dolls!

And, a big, huge swingset! That is Daddy working hard to put it together.

Sliding...

Climbing...

Come on Graddy, go down the slide!

What a great second birthday! We're 'big girls' now!

A Lot Of Catching Up To Do!

2009-11-02T21:01:00.007-06:00

Saturday was a big day for Emily and Sarah! First, they visited the pumpkin patch and picked out a huge pumpkin to put on the front porch.

Mommy painted our faces to look like kitties.

We were so cute!

When Emily looked at Sarah she said, "Scary".

Sarah looked at Emily and started to cry!

So, that was the end of the face painting. Mommy washed it off as quick as she could.

Trick or treating was fun. Emily got a red sucker and Sarah got a green one. After a few switches back and forth Emily ate hers and was a sticky mess! Sarah just held hers for posterity.

We decorated our wagon and Mommy, Daddy and Nana walked around the neighborhood with us giving out candy to everyone we saw!

Then we had to go home and have a bath to get the stickiness off our hands and out of our hair. It was a good day!

It's A Schnibble...and a little bit more!

2009-10-01T15:44:00.005-05:00

I'm participating in a group called A Year Of Schnibbles. Each month we make a Schnibble (a small quilt) from a pattern by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. Then on the first of the month we all show our little quilts to each other!

This month our pattern was Winter White. I used Moda's Deb Strain's Pumpkin and Spice fabrics since I needed a fall table square for our Thanksgiving table scape.

Flying South For The Winter

Look! A label~

Remember those leftovers? Well, this is what I did with them! I'm hand quilting it right now...I'll show you a picture when I'm done!

Now I'm off to see all the other Schnibbles...

He's Home!

2009-09-28T21:48:00.004-05:00

I can't begin to tell you how happy I am to have my son home! He has been honorably discharged from the United States Marines. Home safe and sound! Semper Fi!

A Year Of Schnibbles Day 2, 3, 4 and 5!

2009-09-26T21:30:00.003-05:00

Day 2: The flying geese are coming together. The round white dots are numbered, keeping things organized.

Day 3: The blocks are coming together!

Day 4: I don't really want to talk about what happened today. LOL! Let's just say I had a couple of words with the geese and neither of us were happy campers...

Day 5: Ta Da!

Hopefully tomorrow I will get some time to machine quilt this top and get the binding and label on so I can display it on my table. I'm thinking of calling it Flying South For The Winter, what do you think?

September Schnibbles Day One

2009-09-22T20:36:00.003-05:00

Today the fabric and pattern came that I ordered for September's A Year Of Schnibbles. I need a table topper for our Thanksgiving tablescape so I looked for something Fall-ish.

Miss Rosie's Quilt Co.'s Winter White Schnibbles pattern.

2 Charm Packs of (Moda) Deb Strain's Pumpkin and Spice.

3 yds of matching fabric for the background, borders, backing and binding.

After I looked at the pattern and fondled my new fabric for a while I started cutting! This is what it looked like afterwards. Woops! I forgot to cut my outer border. Oh, well. I'll show that to you tomorrow!

A little trash...

And, lots of leftovers!

It took me a few minutes to figure out the instructions for the flying geese. I had never made them that way before. Brilliant! I wonder who thought this technique up? It is pure genius!

Trimmed my flying geese and stopped for the night. Tomorrow I'll get back to it after the Tootie Babies go home.

Did you know that you can right click on your picture in Compose mode and drag it to wherever you want it? You can also crop your picture by right clicking! Wow, I just figured that out!

The Great Pumpkin

2009-09-17T11:18:00.004-05:00

I started this last fall and just finished the hand quilting and binding. This is a pattern from Country Threads. I used big stitch quilting and it went FAST!

The Great Pumpkin even has a label!

My son is back on US soil! He is at Camp Lejune, NC outprocessing. He should be home with us in a week or so! Semper Fi!

Home Sweet Home

2009-09-08T22:45:00.004-05:00

My house is a mess! Well, at least the downstairs is. All the rooms are torn apart, furniture in the middle of the room and walls half painted! Last week we had oak laminate flooring installed in the living room, dining room, master bedroom and master closet. This week the walls are being painted in the living room dining room, entry, kitchen, master bedroom and closet! Oh, how I long for order!

This is the dining room with half painted walls. The darker color is the new paint.

This is the living room. No paint, just chaos...

Oh, I need a blindfold! The red is being covered with the same color as in the other rooms. Do you see the Tootie Babies art work on the fridge? I really hate things hanging on the front of my fridge but who can resist those little scribbles.

Stuff from the living room and dining room stretches as far as the eye can see.

Master bedroom (Tootie nap room). I'm not even going to show you the vast wasteland I call my bathroom. There is nothing in there. Not one thing.

There is good news and bad news. The good news is this weekend everything will be back to normal. The bad news...the upstairs is next!

The best news of all though is that my son is on an airplane right now headed from Iraq to the USA! I think next week he'll be back home with us!

You Are My Shining Star

2009-09-02T20:04:00.002-05:00

Another little quilt from the series of Lori Smith's Fit To Frame patterns. I have had this one competed for a while, I just forgot to show you. It's machine pieced and machine quilted. And it has a label!

Detail of quilting.

I hope you had a quilty day. I'm almost through big stitching The Great Pumpkin. I ran out of thread so I'll have to go to the store tomorrow!

An Experiment

2009-09-01T15:18:00.002-05:00

There were some excellent ideas in the comments for the Labels, Labels, Labels post! Sew Create It Jane mentioned she has a hard time coming up with names for her quilts. I have a trick I'd like to share with you!

First, pick up a magazine (not quilt related), get a pencil and some paper. Next, flip through the pages of the magazine jotting down any ideas for names you see. That could be titles of articles, words from advertisements, names of places or even recipe titles. Don't stop to think about this step...just write!

I'm using a Better Homes and Gardens magazine. This is my list:

Trail Blazer (this is from an ad for a car!)
Celebration (the name of a town in Florida)
Choosing Sides (the title of an article about side dishes)
Making Memories (an article about making holiday cards)
Lullaby Baby (name of a flower)
Black Eyed Stella (also a flower)
Starstruck (a flower too!)
Cookies and Cocoa (what else?)

Now, think about quilts that could go with the names.

Trailblazer could be a quilt with Drunkard's Path or Snail's Trail blocks.

Celebration might fit with a Christmas quilt or for a birthday gift. Also use this name for patriotic red, white and blue quilts.

Choosing Sides would be a good name for a Night and Noon or a Log Cabin quilt. Or maybe a black and white quilt.

Making Memories sounds like it goes with a photo quilt or an album block with signitures.

Of course, Lullaby Baby is for a baby quilt.

Black Eyed Stella would be great with bright fabrics and a black background or maybe a quilt with Sunflower blocks.

How about Starstruck for a Sawtooth Star quilt? Or, a quilt with star themed fabrics.

Cookies and Cocoa would be a good name for a predominently brown and beige quilt made with homespun plaids.

I'm sure you can see where I am going with this little experiment. It's really not hard to name your quilts. Book titles, chapters, names of plants or flowers, songs, recipes or favorite sayings can give you great ideas!

Now I keep a little notebook to write down inspiring names whenever I see them. I also collect special quotes that might relate to quilting. Try it and have fun!

Labels, Labels, Labels!!!

2009-08-31T20:41:00.003-05:00

I've been quilting for almost 20 years! I've finished almost 100 quilts! None of them are labeled! Oh, that last one wasn't something to celebrate. I'm doing something about it though...here you will see my latest batch of labels. I'm going to put a label on every quilt I can!

The labels are simple. Just the number, name, my name and the date. Sometimes I'll add where I made the quilt. If there is something else that's important, I'll add that too.

Are you good about labeling your quilts? I'd like to know what you put on your labels. Are they fancy or plain like mine?

Sandy Spends A Lot - Fabric Collector

2009-08-28T10:13:00.002-05:00

A Lori Smith pattern, Fit To Frame: Set One.

A detail of the quilting.

And, another.

I even put a label on it! Have a great quilty day!

Little Quilt Stand

2009-08-25T21:43:00.002-05:00

Isn't this cute? I found it in an antique store this summer while shopping with my Mom. Actually, it's not an antique, it's meant to hold hand towels in the bathroom!

I just love it! Or as Emily says, "I yub it!"

Birds on a Wire

2009-08-24T08:54:00.002-05:00

Block three of Primitive Garden. If you see the pattern you will soon realize things are a little off. Even after all these years I still can't get it right...tracing onto fusible applique! Oh, well.

Halloween Harvest Pillow

2009-08-21T21:24:00.006-05:00

A Halloween project completed! This is a pillow I made from a very old pattern by Pieces From My Heart called Halloween Harvest. The original pattern shows 2 little wall hangings and a pillow. But, I sewed them all together into one great big pillow. The pillow is about 18"x36". I used lots of homespun plaids, checks and stripes and used hand applique.

A crow on a pumpkin. I used a big stitch to hand quilt the pillow top.

The angel pumpkin says...I scatter the seeds over the pumpkin patch that the children may have pumpkins for jack-o-lanterns in all shapes and sizes. I think the angel (or punkin head, as my DH calls her) needs a face. What do you think?

Another pumpkin. Pom pom fringe sewn into the edge of the pillow.

And another! This picture shows the black rick rack sewn on the border.

This is the back of the pillow. I'm not satisfied with the closing. I'm going to have to work on it. Those are HUGE orange buttons. I love them!

I have dug out some UFOs with Fall in mind...13 Lucky Cats, Pieceful Nights, Birds of a Feather and Primitive Garden. I'm anxious to get some work done on each of them while I anticipate the arrival of cooler weather!

Mosaic

2009-08-08T13:36:00.004-05:00

Mosaic, another quilt from Lori Smith. The pattern is called Fat Quarter Quilting:Cherries, Chocolate and Cream. I machine pieced and quilted it (using a red variegated thread). It's a little wonky...this was the first little quilt in the series, so I hadn't had any practice working with all those tiny blocks.

I added a blue button to the four patch squares. There are nine quilts in this pattern. I have made seven, quilted four and working on one right now. I'm hanging these over the shelves in my quilt room. When I get them all up there I'll take a picture. Maybe there will be a sneak peek soon!

What's this? Grandaddy and Emily are putting something together!

Oh! It's our new table and chairs. Well, actually benches. We love it and have already had a tea party!

The Tootie Babies having fun. Nana's house looks like Toyland!

Another surprise! A label! Will wonders never cease? I am trying to label as many quilts as I can. You can see that this is #91. I can't believe I've finished that many quilts! There is a pile to be quilted that probably has half that number in it. I guess after 19 years of quilting anyone would amass that amount.

I hope you have a great day. Try to squeeze in a little quilting, you'll be glad you did!

Busy Summer

2009-08-06T15:10:00.006-05:00

We have had a busy summer! My parent's came to stay and visit with the girls. First my Mom came for three weeks, then my Dad and sister came for a week. My sister left my Dad and Mom here for another few weeks. At the end of their visit my great nephew, Colin who is 12, came for a week on his way home from spending the summer in Oklahoma. I miss all of them!

I've been keeping busy trying to clean up my quilt room and working on UFOs. This is a little quilt from the Lori Smith pattern Fat Quarter Quilts: Chocolate Cherries and Cream. It was a block of the month through Homestead Hearth called Blueberries, Cherries and Cream. The fabrics were blue, red and cream. There are nine quilts in the pattern. This one is called Puss In the Corner.

I machine pieced and quilted it. I used a variegated thread and embellished it with little red buttons. I really like how it turned out!

Emily and Sarah have been busy too! They have been swimming, playing and coloring. They have even been to the playground at McDonald's!

One day we taped some paper to the table and colored while we had our snack.

Emily had to take a bite of her yellow crayon.

Sarah tried to figure out how to take the crayon out of the holder. Then she gave up and had a bite of the blue crayon.

Having lunch with Grandaddy at the big table. (You can see Granddaddy's big bowl of spaghetti on the bottom left!)

One afternoon we had a visitor. We think it was a Road Runner. He flew in and positioned himself near the pool.

Then he spread his wings...I think he was in love with the basketball goal!

He stayed for a long time. Grandaddy got the camera and took his picture. Then suddenly he flew away. How exciting!

Good news! My son, a Marine serving in Iraq, will be home a month early!