Monochromatic Challenge

Our first challenge in Judy's Monochromatic Challenge is up...WooHoo!

I'm really excited to make a set of Monochromatic quilts for some reason.  I think they will mostly by donation quilts, but what a fun way to use up some stash and make donation quilts at the same time.

If you'd like more information about Monochromatic quilts, make sure you visit Judy's blog and also check out Crazy Mom Quilts.  She's started a series of monochromatic quilts and you can get lots of cool ideas there.

Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll Revealed...

...and Oh My Goodness, isn't it pretty?!?

I wish I were home working on it right now!  There's some bad weather between here and at home and the forecast for tomorrow doesn't look very good, either...

Map copied from The Weather Channel website

I'm not much of a traveler, so I'm ready to get home!

Our plan is to go to the planetarium today which I am really excited about.  I LOVE stargazing but, I just haven't taken the time to learn more about it.  I hope to learn a bunch today.

It might be a little too cold to stargaze at home, though...right now, the ambient temp is about -10° F and wind chill temp is -34°!

Anyway!  We'll see how things go.  Perhaps we'll try and make it to Minneapolis tomorrow and ride out the storm there.

More time away from home.  Yikes, I never realized I was such a homebody, lol!

Quilter's Accountability Report - December 29

Well, everyone.  How has your week been?

Mine has been a week away from home.

We spent several days in Kansas and now we're in Chicago.

I won't be home until Saturday night, but I have a whole list of things that I want to get done as soon as I get home because I have a surgery coming up and I don't know how good I'll feel after the surgery.

1. Finish a state block that I'm sending to a fellow quilter
2. Block 5 of Layer Cake Quilt Along
3. Get ready for first guild meeting
4. Quilting Bee block
5. Block Exchange block
6. A Dozen Quilter's project (finish pillowcases for December project)
7. Monochromatic Quilt
8. UFO challenge
9. Block Lotto blocks
10. Niblet Exchange

Good grief!  I'd better stop, lol.

Obviously, I need to go back over that list when I get a few moments and revise it.

Check out everyone else's plans at Bari's blog...and have a quilty day.

Day 1 of Our Chicago Adventure

Well, Day 1 is history.  Just a few more minutes of swimming, then it will be time to go up to the room, wash my little blondies' hair in lemon juice and settle in for the evening.

Today, we visited the Field Museum and The SkyDeck at the Willis Building.  Of my children, two were afraid to go on the SkyDeck, and two were not afraid at all, but they all did it.

The Girls: Sophia, Mariah, Tamera, and Olivia

I'm not one for sharing family vacation photos.  Other people's pictures bore me to death, so I don't like boring others with mine.

Tomorrow, I think we're going to the aquarium...or the planetarium...maybe some quilt shops...we'll see.

We're In Chicago!

We made it to Chicago and now we're relaxing in the room.

This city traffic is a little much for my North Dakota hubby and our country kiddos, lol.

We're in a lovely Country Inn and Suites and the kiddos are settling in.  We've been up since 3 am this morning, so an early bedtime is definitely in order.

We're ordering in Chinese and should be bedded down by 9 pm to get ready for a day of site-seeing in beautiful Chicago.

I'm hoping to be able to find at lease one quilt shop, but I guess I won't be too disappointed if I don't find one.

I think I'll head over to Judy's to see what everyone else is up to.

On to Chicago!

Well, it's early Monday morning and we're on to Chicago for the beginning of our family trip.  The kiddos are already up and around.  They're pretty excited, lol.

Obviously, nothing on my design wall this morning, but I'm looking forward to ogling everyone else's.

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and you're looking forward to a Happy New Year's.  I'm hoping to spend the time in the car thinking about my goals for the upcoming year and also listing my UFOs for the UFO challenge.

Hope you have a quilty day.

Stash Report - December 26

Well, no stash busting to report this week...just lots of fun with family.

My final report for the year:

Fabric in: 0 yards
Fabric out: 20.5 yards
Total fabric in: 40.08 yards
Total fabric out: 125.21 yards
Total fabric used: 85.13 yards

I'm really proud of myself for busting a tish over 85 yards this year.  I didn't actually report for the whole year and next year, I'm going to report a little differently because I have only been guesstimating after everything is finished.  I think I'll count fabric as I go because I have proved over this year that I'm motivated enough to finish projects up.

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season.  My FAVORITE holiday is coming up...New Year's Eve!

I LOVE New Year's.  I LOVE thinking about what I'm going to do in the coming year.  I love setting goals.

I figure if you set LOTS of goals and only achieve SOME of them, you're still ahead at the end of the year, so what's to lose.  I've read statistics that you're SO much more likely to achieve a goal if you write it down, so I try and write them all down.

AND, the more you read your goals, the more likely you are to achieve them, so I try and put them where I can read them often.  You'll see my goals for this year (as I come up with them) listed in my sidebar.

Make sure you visit Judy's blog and find out how everyone else is doing this week.

We Are In Kansas, Toto!

We're in Kansas and it's a balmy 27° here at 5:30 pm!

I've had so much fun visiting with my mom and my sister should be here later this evening.

Dana took the kids to the hotel to swim for a while and they're out having some supper.

Mom and I just finished making Divinity.  It took two tries, but we got 'er done!

Mom has been showing me all her wonderful quilt projects which I'm SO excited about and she also has her own sewing room.  It's AWESOME!

I hope you are all having fun in your pre-Christmas preparation.  I am so happy to be among my family this year.

Hope you're having a quilty day!

Can She Do It?

Okay, ladies and gentlemen...last minute push to finish everything before we leave for Kansas EARLY in the morning.

I'm SO exicted!

I went through everything last night and realized I had overlooked someone, so I have one more pillowcase to finish tonight.

PLUS, I haven't packed...but I never do until the last minute...DRIVES MY HUBBY NUTS!  He's had the kids and him packed for DAYS!

We have appointments in Bismarck today...The van is stuck in the driveway...Hmmmm....anything else you need to know?

I guess not, lol.

Just know that I'll be thinking about you all while we're rambling about the mid-west.  And, I'll be in touch.  I'll have my laptop.

Oh, and I'll be bringing you pictures from my mom's new sewing room!  My brother moved out of the house, so she took over his room.

My mom has always loved to sew, but she has only recently been bitten by the quilting bug.  She's more of an embroidery girl, so she's hoping for a fancy embroidery machine soon.

I can't WAIT to see her new sewing room and I'll be sure and post some pictures when we get there!

So, I'd best rouse the troops.  We have to get the van unstuck and be on the road by 8:30 as I have a 10:00 appointment.

I finally found a drop-in daycare at a church that we once attended in Bismarck.  It's nice to have a place for the kids to be safe and happy while I'm doing errands, appointments, lessons, etc in Bismarck.

Have a quilty day!  Tick-Tock!

(image copied from http://school.discoveryeducation.com)

The Fruit of My Labor

For today's Design Wall Monday, I'm showing a little of what I've been up to for Christmas!

Here are most of the pillowcases all "wrapped and ready."

And here are the last few little mug rugs that I'm working on.

And, of course, my sister's quilt...

And the wall hanging that I finished for my Mom.

I won't be starting any new projects this week.

We're going to Kansas for Christmas.  It's been several years since I've been able to have Christmas with my family, so we're pretty excited!

Then, we're going to Chicago for a family trip...Anyone know any good quilt shops in Chicago?????

Make sure you check out what everyone else is up to at Judy's.

Have a Merry Christmas, everyone!

Stash Report -- December 19

I had THREE finishes this week!  YEAH!

The first finish was my mom's wall hanging I started several years ago and finally finished for this Christmas...1.5 yards out of my stash.

The second finsih was my sister's quilt.  I'm not sure when Bonnie's Carolina Crossroads was released, but I started it way back then...another 10.5 yards.

The third finish is this 1930s quilt that I'm donating for my A Dozen Quilter's group...8.5 yards.

So, here are my numbers:

Fabric in: 0 yards
Fabric out: 20.5 yards
Total fabric in: 40.08 yards
Total fabric out: 125.21 yards
Total fabric used: 85.13 yards

I'm not going to make it to 100 net yards out, but I am happy, happy, happy with my results for this year!  I've cleaned out a lot of stuff and I'm looking forward to cleaning out a lot more in the New Year.

Make sure you check out Judy's blog and find out how everyone else did this week.

Another Finish

WooHoo!  Another finish!

This is the second of two 1930s quilts that I pieced earlier this year from patterns that I found on MaryQuilts.com.

I just LOVE the backing.

And here's a close-up of the quilting.

The first one I gave to my daughter Sophia.

This one is for the December project at A Dozen Quilters.

I'll have a GREAT stash report on Sunday!

Judy's UFO Challenge

I'm joining Judy's UFO Challenge, so I'm going to start my list and add to it and add pictures when I get some time, he he he.  I'm SO impressed that I only have NINE!  I'll probably will find some while I'm poking around, lol.  (Addendum:  I've have found one since then, lol.)

1. Hummingbird Quilt - Piecing
2. Guild Twister Quilt - Finish quilting and bind
3. New Year's Eve Mystery Quilt - Piecing
4. Java Jive Quilt - Baste, quilt, and binding
5. Hazel's Diary Quilt - Piecing
6. Wonky Town Quilt - Piecing
7. Layer Cake Quilt Along - Piecing
8. January Table Topper for Nancy - Quilt and bind - would like to finish in January for her birthday
9. Pink Lemonade Quilt - Base, quilt, and bind
10. Shangri La D9P - Piecing

I am SO excited for 2011. I finished quite a few UFOs in 2010 and I'm looking forward to finishing more in 2011.

I'm also REALLY looking forward to her Monochromatic Challenge. That's going to be a blast, I think.

The weird thing is I was planning to do a series of monochromatic quilts in 2011 before Judy even mentioned it, so it will be fun to do it with a group. I got the idea from Crazy Mom Quilts. She has done three or four so far and they are SO cute!

So, make sure you check out Judy's blog and AmandaJean's blog and join us in the New Year to get those UFOs finished and get some stash busted!

Block 4

I finished Block 4 of the Layer Cake Quilt Along this morning.

I really want to stay up to date on this quilt along, so I'm making an extra effort.

Here are the first four blocks together.  I think they will make a cute quilt!

IT'S FINISHED!!!!!!

I finally finished my sister's quilt!  YEAH!

I can't believe it.

I also finished my mom's wall hanging except for sewing down the hanging sleeve.

I can't believe it!

YEAH ME!

Did I mention I can't believe it?!?!?!?!

Snow Day, Sew Day

Well, while part of the rest of the state is getting snow, I am going to be able to stay in and sew...sans a few kiddos.

My hubby is going to Bismarck today with the girls which means I can sew without so many interruptions.

Joey is staying home with Mommy, so the girls are getting a "Daddy's Day Out," and Joey is getting a "Mommy's Day In."

I LOVE it when my hubby can take the kids by himself.  They remember those kind of things...the times that they spend with him just doing normal things.

Since he works, they don't see him for long periods of time most days, though we're SO blessed that he comes home every day for lunch when they're home, too (since we homeschool).

Hope you all have a quilty day.  I'm doing bindings on THREE quilts!  Woo Hoo!

Quilter's Accountability Report - December 15

I seem to be running out of steam, guys!

1. Get the binding on Mom's Wall Hanging - got it cut and the hanging sleeve cut
2. Finish quilting and get the binding on Robin's quilt - Done with quilting, binding cut out
3. Finish the pillowcases that I have fabric for and figure out what I still need to buy - not done
4. Finish the mug mats that I'm going to make - not done
5. Finish quilting the 1930s Quilt and bind it - still working on the quilting
6. Finish Part 3 of Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll - started (just barely)...part 4 is up and I haven't even though about that!

I still have LOTS of stuff to do, but I'm not going to stress myself out...I'm just going to say, "Onward and upward!"

I don't think I'm going to make new goals for this week because a week from today, I'll be on the road to Kansas!  We're going to my mom's for Christmas.  I can't wait.  Hopefully the weather cooperates.

After Christmas, we're driving to Chicago for a family vacation.  Anybody know any cool quilt shops in Chicago?

How are all of you doing on your goals?  Make sure you check out Bari's blog and see how everyone else is doing!

Design Wall Monday, December 13

Well, this morning, I have a pictures of my sister's quilt that is JUST about finished.  This is the Carolina Crossroads quilt from a mystery by Bonnie Hunter.  The pattern is in one of her books (I'm not sure which...maybe one of you know), but I made it when it was an online mystery.

I finished the quilting and I've trimmed the edges and now I'm going to put on the binding today.

I'll post a picture when it's all finished.

I also have a picture of a little quilt that I'm going to start using as a Leader-Ender project.  I would REALLY like to get this little one done.

It's called the Hummingbird Quilt from a pattern by Darlene Zimmerman.  I was able to attend a class with her earlier this year.  It was a blast! and I really want to finish the quilt to remember the class.

So, that's what's on my "design wall."  Make sure you check out Judy's blog and see what everyone else is up to this week...I'll be it will have something to do with a certain holiday that's coming up F-A-S-T!

Have a quilty day!

Stash Report -- December 12

GRRRR!

Numbers are the same!

BUT...I finished quilting my sister's quilt yesterday!  YEAH!!!!!!

That's the last big project for my Christmas list.

Now, all I have to do is the binding for her quilt and for my mom's wall hanging, and those are done and I can take off that fabric.  I can't wait!

My mom's wall hanging was from a kit, so I won't count that, but my sister's quilt is all from stash, and its a biggy.

I also want everyone to know that having to 'fess up has kept me from buying fabric for the last several weeks.  I have been SORELY tempted, but I just keep saying to myself, "If I buy this fabric, I'll have to put in in my stash report and I WANT to get to 100 yards busted!"  So, I keep resisting the temptation.

So, here are my numbers.

Fabric in: 0 yards
Fabric out: .5 yards
Total fabric in: 40.08 yards
Total fabric out: 104.71 yards
Total fabric used: 64.43 yards

Getting close to that 100 yards, but I won't make it this year.

There's always next year, though!

Hope you have a quilty day!

If I get the binding done on those two quilts, I think I'll add it to this post!

Make sure you visit Judy to find out who's been naughty and who's been nice, he he he.

Staying Home

Well, as soon as it's light outside, I'll get some pics...but for right now, I'm going to hunker down and sew.

There's snow on the ground and still falling, so we're not going anywhere today.

I think I can get two quilts finished...Won't that be great for my Stash Report?!?!?!?!

Hope you're all going to have a quilty week end, too.  So much to do!

When Does 36 Degrees Feel Like A Heatwave?

When you've spent the last week with highs in the upper teens and lower 20s, lol.

I went out this afternoon, and I feel like I could walk around without a coat!

Of course, it's going to get colder over the week end (highs in the single digits), and we're supposed to get snow tonight, lol.

How's the weather where you are?

Quilter's Accountability Report - December 8

OK, here are my goals from last week:

1. Finish Block 3 of Layer Cake Quilt Along - DONE
2. Clue 2 for Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll - Done
3. Finish Mom's wall hanging - Bought the binding yesterday
4. Start quilting Robin's quilt - Started
5. Finish pillowcases that I have fabric for - Didn't do
6. Finish quilting 1930's quilt...maybe bind it? - Worked on, but didn't finish quilting

I did get some things accomplished, but life got in the way a bit, lol. That happens a lot this time of year, doesn't it?

So, I'll need to clean up some things this week because Christmas is coming quickly...Like gravity, time passes whether I believe in it or not and we're leaving for Kansas in two weeks!

This week, my goals are...

1. Get the binding on Mom's Wall Hanging
2. Finish quilting and get the binding on Robin's quilt
3. Finish the pillowcases that I have fabric for and figure out what I still need to buy
4. Finish the mug mats that I'm going to make
5. Finish quilting the 1930s Quilt and bind it
6. Finish Part 3 or Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll

Goodness!  If I get all that done, you guys are going to be SO impressed, lol.

Make sure you check out Bari's blog to see what everyone else has accomplished last week and see what they're planning for this week.

Also, make sure that you take a few minutes every day to remember what this season is for.  It's so easy to forget when we're so busy.

Hope you have a quilty day!

Design Wall Monday - December 6

On my design wall this morning is a little dab of this and a little dab of that.

There are a few blocks from Part 3 of Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll and my first three blocks from the Layer Cake Quilt Along.

So, after the eye candy, I wanted to ask you all...how many of you have joined online quilting bees or groups?

I am part of an online group that is focused on charities this year, A Dozen Quilters.  I also belong to Block Lotto, and the Niblets Exchange.  All three groups are great to belong to, but I didn't think that I had enough to do (since I'm also starting a local quilt groups, he he he), so I joined a few more groups and we're needing a few more members.

Block Swap Adventure and Let's Bee Together.  Both groups are moderated by the ambitious and energetic Linda Gilli and we need a few more participants to round things out.  Check out the links and if you're interested, contact her for more information or to sign up.

I know that you're all focused on Christmas and everything, but take a moment if you would to focus on what happens after Christmas (and recovery from Christmas) when you're really going to get motivated to try some new quilty things and make some new quilty friends.

I can't WAIT!

Online Quilting Bees, I think, are a great way to improve your piecing skills because you're naturally going to do your best when you're sending your block off to someone else.  We're all people pleasers to a certain extent, aren't we?  Sometimes, you can make that work for you!

Make sure you scoot on over to Judy's and find out what everyone else is up to.

Have a great day...off to the County Health Nurse today for flu shots (for me, my hubby and four kiddos...THAT should be fun, lol), then 4-H and Tae Kwon Do.  I don't know how you guys do it all!  If I have more than one or two outside activities a week, I just about lose my mind!  My had is definitely off to you soccer moms!)

Have a quilty day!

Stash Report -- December 5

Not a very exciting stash report.

I have used about ½ yard in my Layer Cake Quilt Along block, but that's about it.

Here's block 3.

The good news is, I have a large project that is just about finished, so I should be able to count it for next week!

So, here are my numbers:

Fabric in: 0 yards
Fabric out: .5 yards
Total fabric in: 40.08 yards
Total fabric out: 104.71 yards
Total fabric used: 64.43 yards

I don't think I'll make my goal of 100 yards net out of my stash, but that's okay. I'm proud of myself for slowing down the influx of fabric into my stash and for using up all the fabric that I don't LOVE. Those are good things to have accomplished, I think.

Make sure you check out Judy's blog to find out how everyone else did this week. We're getting close to the end of the year!

And the Snow Goes On...

Well, we have about 6" of snow on the ground from today, and it looks like we're in for several more hours of snow to come.

The little kiddos are with Daddy and the two older girls have finished with school.  One is out riding the four wheeler and the other one is dreaming of horses!  In fact, she's making up songs about how much she thinks of horses.  It's SO cute and irritating at the same time, lol.

I'm working on Part 3 of Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll.

Let me start by apologizing if I offend anyone.  This is my blog and the opinions expressed here are mine alone.

Oh My Gosh, I HATE using the paper backing to do these blocks.

Part 3 is making 8½" string blocks, and Bonnie suggests cutting pages from phone books to use as a foundation.  (I used paper piecing paper because my husband has this incredibly weird aversion to cutting up phone books.  I SWARE, we have phone books that are as old as our marriage!)

I have tried this method a couple of times and I hated it then, but I thought, "I'm going to follow the instructions.  Maybe there's something to this that I don't get yet."  But, there's not.  Using a paper foundation is just not for me.

After trying a couple, I just started making the blocks without the foundation and it's working better.

I'm using lots of starch (thanks to Harriet, he he he).

Is anyone else working in Part 3?  How's it going for you?

Clue 2 Is Finished!

YEAH!

Finished with Clue 2 of Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll.

The next clue is due to be posted on Friday.

Next, I'm going to do Block 3 of Layer Cake Quilt Along.

Another Goal Accomplished

Another of my 2010 goals has been accomplished!  I am SO excited!

Today, I secured a meeting place for a local beginner's quilt guild!

Our first meeting will be January 5th.

I started out with a goal to teach a beginner's quilt class, and then hoping to start a new beginner's group and this group has sprung from the beginner's class.

I cannot wait for the first meeting!

I've also accomplished a couple other goals recently.

I furnished my sewing area.  (I still struggle with keeping it organized, but I'm working in it.)

I got rid of all the fabric that I don't LOVE.

Of course, I didn't get all my UFOs finished, lol.  I wouldn't know how to act if I had no UFOs.

But, I've decided to start thinking of UFOs a little differently and start calling them WIP (works in progress).

I am planning to take pictures of all my WIP so I can actually get a handle on how many I have.

I have, though, finished quite a few started projects and I have two or three more that I will be finishing within the next week or so.

I am SO excited for the New Year.  It's my very favorite holiday.

I LOVE the idea of starting with a new year, a clean slate, a second chance (or a third or fourth, or fortieth).

Have you been thinking about the New Year yet?

How Cute Is This???

Oh my gosh, guys, you HAVE to see this.

Besides the cute baby, the quilt is ADORABLE...especially for all you iPhone junkies out there.

Quilter's Accountability Report - December 1

Here are my goals for last week.

1. Finish the pillowcases that I have fabric for - didn't get finished
2. Begin working on the wall hanging for my Mom's Christmas present - quilting finished...just need to find the binding I cut two years ago, lol (good luck with that, lol!)
3. Begin quilting my sister's quilt - not done
4. Clue 1 of Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll - DONE
5. Block 2 of Layer Cake Quilt Along - DONE

I had another pretty good week.

Lots of exciting things happened...the MOST exciting was that I got my new laptop! I'm lovin' it. Even the transition time (you know, that time that it takes for you to get your old reliable stuff loaded on and transfer over your files that you use all the time, etc) hasn't been too bad.

I also joined a couple of online groups.

The first one is Block Swap Adventure and the other group is Let's Bee Together.

I already belong to a couple of online groups and I am also trying to get a local group started, so it should be interesting in the New Year, lol.  I hope I don't get in over my head.

I'm feeling very ready for Christmas.  This is the first year in a long time that I have been looking forward to Christmas, so it feels good!

Anyway, I should make some goals for next week.

1. Finish Block 3 of Layer Cake Quilt Along
2. Clue 2 for Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll
3. Finish Mom's wall hanging
4. Start quilting Robin's quilt
5. Finish pillowcases that I have fabric for
6. Finish quilting 1930's quilt...maybe bind it?

I think that should be enough, right?  Make sure you visit Bari and see what everyone else is up to this week.  Join us!  We'd love to have you!

Clue 2

I'm working on clue 2 of Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll.  It calls for 120 HST (half square triangles) made in groups of four, so I decided to use this method that I found on Missouri Star Quilt Company's website.

This is such an easy, cool way to make HST!

Basically, the method is this...

Cut two squares, place them right sides together, sew a quarter inch seam all the way around the outside.

Cut the unit on the diagonals.

Finger press the HST open.

Press open...carefully.  I finger press, press, then spritz with a dab of starch and press again.

Yes, they are on the bias, but I haven't found a problem with it...even before I was using starch.  As long as you're careful with them, there's no problem.

Next, they need to be trimmed down.

Once you've trimmed, you have a perfect 3 1/2" HST.

I did some experimenting to find out just how big to cut the squares and I found that the perfect size is 5¾". If you cut the squares at 5½", it's just too small, and if you cut the squares at 6", you waste a lot of fabric when you trim the squares.

Here's the trimmings left over if you use  5¾" squares.

I hope this helps those of you who are working on clue 2.  Clue 3 is coming this Friday!

Design Wall Monday - November 29

On my design wall cutting table this morning is the pile of pillowcases that I've been working on for the last several weeks.

I've been busy with lots of small projects including this one.

I've determined to make all my Christmas presents this year since I have the rare opportunity to spend Christmas with my family in Kansas, so most of them will be getting flannel pillowcases with a few mug mats thrown in for good measure.  My mom will be getting her wall hanging that I started for her several years ago (I just finished quilting it yesterday) and my sister is getting her quilt that I still have to quilt and bind.

Also, my hubby bought me a new laptop yesterday.  YEAH HUBBY!  My old laptop has been on its last leg for a while.  I'm so glad I have Carbonite so I won't have to worry about losing my files from the old laptop!

What have you all been up to?  Make sure and visit Judy to find out what everyone else has on their design wall this fine snowy morning.

Stash Report -- November 28

Well, I'm still using up stash, but most of it doesn't count because the quilt isn't finished, or I'm using stash that I bought for a specific purpose (like for all my pillowcases).

I finished a pillowcase and gave it to my hubby, plus I finished a couple others as well.  Most of the people on my Christmas list are getting nice fuzzy warm flannel pillowcases and I'm getting quite a pile.

I used up a bit of stash on Block 2 of the Layer Cake Quilt Along.  There's still time to join us if you like!

I used up QUITE a bit in the first clue of Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll, but I haven't been counting stash as out of my stash until the quilt is bound.  (I think I'm going to change that next year, lol.)

I finished a little quilt top that Cherie helped me name "Pink Lemonade."  That was for my Quilter's Academy adventure.  :-)  Again, it's only the top, so I'm not counting that yet.

I'll just have to wait for some finishes, but they'll come soon enough.

The only fabric that I'll count out this week is the fabric from the blocks I made for the families of the miners in New Zealand.

Shirley Goodwin from dyeing2design is collecting heart blocks to put into quilts for the families of the miners who were killed in New Zealand.

I don't know about you, but I always feel so helpless when a tragedy occurs, and this is a way for me to feel useful, so if you have a few extra minutes, please visit her site and think about whether you could make one or more blocks to send "down under."

So, here are my numbers:

Fabric in: 0 yards
Fabric out: .33 yards
Total fabric in: 40.08 yards
Total fabric out: 104.21 yards
Total fabric used: 64.13 yards

How did you do this week?  Make sure and visit Judy to find out how everyone else did.

Affair of the Heart

I'm sure that you have heard on the news of the miners that were killed in New Zealand.  I don't know about you, but when I hear things that that, I feel so powerless to do anything.

BUT...

I have recently had three people that I have gifted quilts to thank me...thank me for doing something that is such a pleasure to me and such a blessing to them; a comfort, a knowledge that someone is thinking of them and that someone cares about them.

There is a lady in New Zealand who is collecting 6" heart blocks to put into quilts to present to the families.

So, if you have some time, take a few minutes this holiday season and give to total strangers.

Here is the link to her blog with her address.

And here are the blocks that I did this morning when I got up.

Finished Block Two

I finished the second block in the Layer Cake Quilt Along.

This is from the Botany line by Lauren and Jessi Jung and it's WAY out of my comfort zone...BUT, one of my goals for this year was to make a quilt with fabric out of my comfort zone, so I'm fulfilling a goal.

Here are the first two blocks finished.

You should join!  You'd only have to finish two blocks to catch up and the new instructions are posted every two weeks, so it moves a little faster than one a month, but not SO fast as one a week, lol.

One more thing checked off my QA (quilter's accountability) list!  WooHoo!

Thanksgiving 2010 Is History

I'm not much for decorating...Martha Stuart I am NOT!  My daughters are more into all this domestic stuff, so that's nice.

But, I do like to have a nice table for special meals.

This is how our table looked for Thanksgiving this year...not as special as a lot of peoples', but pretty special for us.

We had a beautiful dinner with wonderful company (my hubby and my four kiddos).  Here's a picture that Liv took of the three younger kids (from l. to r.):  Mariah, Sophia, and Josiah.

Hope you all had a wonderful day spent with people you love!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to all my blog friends!  I really appreciate your visits and especially your comments.  I also appreciate your visits and comments to my daughters' blogs.  Olivia and Sophia really love your visits (hint, hint).

I also enjoy visiting all your blogs...the eye candy inspires me to think outside the box and try new things.

My family and I are SO blessed, and I am blessed with friends locally and through the internet.

Thanks so much!

I know this is a family day, but I hope that some of you are able to get to your quilting room today as well, or maybe just snuggle up under a quilt you've already finished.  After all, a day without quilting.......




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Cooking Day

I suppose everyone is cooking today, or cleaning in anticipation of family coming.

Me...I do have some cooking to do, but not a whole lot of cleaning because it's just us, lol.  na-na-na-na-bo-bo

There are a few things that we're going to get ready for tomorrow, but mostly, we'll do the cooking tomorrow.  I was smart and bought a roaster so I won't have to use up the oven with just the turkey!  My mom uses one, and she loves hers, so I hope it will work like I think it should.

We may cook some pies this evening and we'll cook the pasta for the frog eye salad since it's supposed to marinate overnight in the lemony stuff.

Can't wait.

So, today, I am doing some sewing.  I'm working on Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll.  Cherie (at Quilted Jonquil) dared me to do it, he he he!

Addendum:  Step 1 is DONE!  Woo Hoo!  One hundred seventy-two (plus a few extra) 2" strip sets.

Did anyone else get some quilting done today?

Quilter's Accountability Report - November 24

Here are my goals from last week.

1. Block Lotto blocks - DONE
2. Niblet exchange - didn't get this started
3. Finish stocking for A Dozen Quilters - DONE
4. Block 2 of Layer Cake Quilt Along - didn't get this started
5. Finish the pillowcases I bought fabric for - DONE
6. Make stockings for my kiddos - started, but not finished
7. Continue to work on Quilter's Academy and practice FMQ (free motion quilting) - finished a quilt top and also quilted a small quilt for practic
8. Continue to work on sewing area remodel - DONE

I did pretty well, I think, but I don't think I'm going to make a bunch of goals for this week.  I think I will get some sewing done, but with Thanksgiving, I'm not sure what I'll work on.  Here are just a few things that I plan to finish this week.

1. Finish the pillowcases that I have fabric for
2. Begin working on the wall hanging for my Mom's Christmas present
3. Begin quilting my sister's quilt
4. Clue 1 of Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll
5. Block 2 of Layer Cake Quilt Along

We're supposed to get a major winter storm, so I'll be tucked in warm and safe cooking Thanksgiving dinner, watching football, and sewing.

Should be fun.

Make sure you stop by to visit Bari and see how everyone else is doing on their goals for this week.

Design Wall Monday, November 22

On my design wall this morning is a little quilt top that I finished yesterday.

It's a project from the Quilter's Academy, Volume 1 and I wrote all about my adventures with this quilt here.

Make sure you visit Judy and find out what everyone else has on their design wall.

Addendum: Cherie just suggested a GREAT name for this quilt...Pink Lemonade!  I think it's perfect!  Thanks, Cherie.

Stash Report -- November 21

Oh, ladies and gentlemen!  I have had some significant movement of fabric out of ye olde stash!

I used around 2.45 yards on my Christmas Tree Skirt.

I used up about 8.5 yards on these two finishes.

I finished about eight or nine pillowcases this week, but I'm not going to count them because I bought fabric for them specifically and then used the majority of it up.

I also used about 1/2 yard for these three Block Lotto blocks and another 1/2 yard on this Christmas stocking for my A Dozen Quilters Project.

And finally, my girlfriend went shopping in my stash and she bought 6 yards!

Ask me how much fabric I bought..........Do ya give up????????  NONE!  WooHoo!

So, here are my numbers:

Fabric in: 0 yards
Fabric out: 17.95 yards
Total fabric in: 40.08 yards
Total fabric out: 103.88 yards
Fabric used: 63.8 yards

If I keep this up, I might get my net 100 yards out this year!

Make sure you mosey on over to Judy's to find out how everyone else did this week!

Recital Day

Well, Liv and I had our recital today.

It was fun.  Olivia did really well and I did okay, too.

Here's a picture I took since they were all dressed up.

When I got home, I got to work on some more pillowcases.  These things are addicting!

I'm not sure what tomorrow will bring.  It's snowing out right now, but I don't think we'll get that much.

What are you all up to this week end?

Christmas Stocking

I finished a Christmas Stocking.

It's this month's project for A Dozen Quilters.

I think it turned out okay.  I used a YouTube tutorial except I quilted the front of it.

I'm thinking about doing a tutorial.  Would you guys like one?

November Block Lotto

I finished three blocks for Block Lotto.  I think that's all I'll get to this month, but I wanted to get a few done.

The block this month was Quilter's Choice and the middle part was to be purple and white 8" finished block.  Then we were to add strips and cut the block to 12" finished.

It was fun.

I used HH (Harriet Hargrave) techniques to do the middle blocks and they were very precises, lol.  Read all about it here if you'd like.

This is how they turned out.

I'm hoping to work on stockings today.

Olivia and Sophia have stockings that they made in sewing class, but I need to make one for the two little ones.

Also, I need to make a stocking for my A Dozen Quilters project.  I'm really looking forward to that.

Tomorrow, Olivia and I have a recital and I need to pick up more fabric for pillowcases.  I finished the pillowcases that I had fabric for.

Because I'm making them out of flannel, I'm not able to use from my stash.  I just haven't bought flannel, so I don't have it in my stash.

What are your plans for today?

Addendum:  I just realized that the middle was supposed to be set on point, lol.  I guess I'll have to take the strips off and redo them.  BUMMER!  :-)

OK...Here are the blocks the way they are supposed to be done, lol.