From Toes In the Sand to Storm At Sea

Here is row one of the Toes In the Sand quilt. I went with the light gray instead of white in the background. Now that I have a row together, I realize the quilt reminds me more of a stormy gray sea, so I think I'll rename my quilt to Storm At Sea.

This first row went together quickly, so I don't think I'll have a problem finishing the top up this morning. I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon, then I may have to go into the hospital for a few days, which is a bummer since I'm SO in the mood to sew!

I'll post a pic if I'm able to before I have to go to Bismarck.

I think it's going to be a beauty when I finish!

Have a quilty day!

Design Wall Monday, December 16, 2013

On my design wall this morning are some of the blocks from my Toes In the Sand quilt.

They are in no particular order, I just wanted to see them up.

But, here is the layout that I think I'll go with for quilt 1.

I was able to make at least one, usually two extra blocks with each month's fabric, so I have several extra blocks and still two months to go for the BOM (block of the month). So, I think I'll have enough blocks to make two of these quilts: keep one, and donate one.

The next decision is what to put for the setting triangles. Should I use white or light gray?

I won't really have a lot of time this week, so I don't anticipate getting much done. Make sure you check out what everyone else is up to at Judy's blog.

Have a quilty day!

What To Do For Entertainment On a Friday Night

When you live in rural North Dakota, there's not so much to do on a Friday night unless you want to travel a bit. But, we find our own things to do.

Usually, that means Olivia holed up in her bedroom on Pinterest or Instagram, the other kiddos playing with toys, Dana watching TV, and me hanging out on the computer, or sewing.

This Friday, though, my hubby had an idea to work on a puzzle...and it was a hit.

A rare spontaneous smile from my 13 year old.

Caesar and Joey watching.

Blocks Finished For Toes in the Sand

I've finished a few more blocks for my Toes In the Sand quilt. They're coming along fairly quickly.

I'm about halfway through with the blocks.

What have you been working on? I have to get a move-on because I have surgery next week and I may not be able to sew for a few days after I get home.

Hope you all have a quilty day!

Toes in the Sand

Last night I decided to resume working on a BOM (block of the month) that I began this year and hadn't worked on since Month 2.

The quilt is called Toes in the Sand, and it's SO pretty! I am into triangles for some reason, and this quilt is full of triangles.

When I first got the book, I actually finished the blocks out of my own stash. I used purple and orange batiks. I'll find those today and try to get some pictures up. I'm having a hard time finding a background that I like.

The quilt I'm working on now will look almost exactly like the picture.

I have to take the kiddos to Bismarck this afternoon to see the orthodontist. It's SO cold out there, but it's supposed to be warming up. Here's hoping!

I should be able to work on Block 3 a little this morning while the kids are working on school. I'm working on helping them to become more independent.

Hope you have a quilty day!

Design Wall - December 9, 2013

On my design wall this morning is the Festive Frostings flimsy before the borders.

I'm pretty excited. I knew that it would go quickly once the blocks were finished, and it did.

Now, there are three borders and I'll have the flimsy finished. I hope to have that done by later this week. I am in Bismarck today and also tomorrow afternoon.

It's still bitterly cold here, and I worry about getting stranded on the road with the kiddos, but I know that God is my co-pilot, so I know we'll be OK.

Make sure that you check out Judy's blog to see what everyone else is up to.

Have a quilty day!

Confession and Tutorial

Well, ladies. I confess that I've been adding to my stash like mad. I haven't been keeping track, but to give you an idea, I went to a shop close-out and my good friend, Kari had a half-price sale on November 30th. Naughty, naughty!

But, I am looking forward to next year as I have dozens of quilts planned from my stash.

So, I guess I'll just share something with you that you probably know, but maybe beginners wouldn't.

It all started with these nasty spots from my nasty starch covered ironing board. :-(

First step is to rip out a portion of that row.

Next, you will rip out the nasty spot block.

Sew the new block onto the second rip out.

Then, sew the first line you ripped out.

Now, you have a new block in place of the nasty spotted one.

Make sure that you check out Judy's blog to see how everyone else is using up (or adding to) their stash.

Little Stars Are SO Cute!

I finished one of the little stars. I just couldn't go to sleep without doing it.

Isn't it cute? Only 11 more to go.

Big Stars Finished!

The big stars are finished!

Tomorrow morning is my 4-H group. They are SO fun, I can't wait. We weren't able to meet last month because of some health problems, but tomorrow, we're golden. It's just going to be cold, Cold, COLD!

I'm going to start the small stars this evening and hopefully finish them up tomorrow.

Another Post!

Just letting you know I'm still here! It's BITTERLY cold outside. The ambient temperature is below zero and any wind drives the chill factor far, far below zero. My hubby is working in the shop and trying to stay out of the cold, but the cows don't want to be out in it, either and they're making a beline for any shelter they can find, so they have to be chased back to where they belong.

I'm still working on Festive Frostings. It's coming along.

I wish you could see the fabric. It is SO beautiful. Gold on gold and silver on silver with a metallic sheen.

I'm hoping to get these large stars done today and start working on the small stars. Then, I'll be able to put them all together and I think the quilt will go together pretty quickly from that point.

My kiddos finished school this morning, and now their at grandma's making reindeer cookies. It's nice to have grandparents near. I wish my mom was closer! I MISS her!

Hope you're all having a quilty day! Stay warm if it's cold where you are!

The Prodigal Blogger Returns?

Well, we'll see, I guess. I have every intention of returning for good. I've been busy; periods of piecing and quilting and long periods of dryness. I've been homeschooling and also I've had some health problems.

But, enough about me. There's no way to catch you up, so I'll just start from where I am.

And right now, I'm working on a quilt called Festive Frostings.

You can't really tell from this photo, but the quilt is STUNNING in real life.

Here are a couple of the blocks that I have finished.

I hope to put in some photos of the quilts that I've been working on, so stay tuned. It's nice to be back (I hope!).

First Post From iPad

I didn't know that I could publish from my iPad! I use it all the time now. The only thing is, the photos.

It's been a LONG time since I've written. Sorry!

I have been busy. I hope to catch you up a bit.

Design Wall Monday, April 8, 2013

My design wall has a strip on it. It's for my Starlit Evening quilt and it's for the final border. It's going to take a while to get enough for the border. It goes on three sides for the queen size.

One of the reasons I haven't finished the stripe is because I am quilting the quilt for my nephew who was married over the summer.

I actually had two nephews that were married over the summer about a year apart...both belonging to my sister, Robin.

I'm using my old faithful "Svanes Swirl" pattern, lol.

Make sure and stop by to see what everyone else is up to.

Hope you're having a quilty day!

Progress on Starlit Evening

I have had several people ask how this quilt goes together.

It goes together in rows.

I especially love where the blocks come together and make a hexie with three different fabrics.

And here's a picture with the quilt on my new design wall that I hope to show you in a future post. It was easy to construct and VERY inexpensive. Also, it's very portable.

Now, I just need to get the borders on. There's a couple of white borders and a pieced border utilizing the fabrics from the quilt. LOVE it!

Hope you have a quilty day!

Kiddos In the Morning

I thought I would give you an idea of what it's like at my house in the morning.

Here are my four kiddos waking up.

Olivia goes to public school, so she's headed out on the bus, but the other kids are homeschooled and so they get to wake up a little slower.

Mariah wrapped in her quilt I made her.

Sophi coming up the steps

Heading out for the bus

My son waking up

How do your kiddos wake up?

Design Wall Monday, April 1, 2013

Happy April Fools Day!!!

On my design wall this morning is my Starlit Evening quilt. I'm about half finished piecing the middle!

I'll still have the borders to finish when I'm done here.

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

Have a quilty day!

Get It Done - April 2013

I didn't make goals for March, but I want to make some goals for April.

My four goals for this month are:

1. Labels on all finished donation quilts and GET THEM DONATED!
2. Bind Pink Lemonade Quilt
3. Binding on Todd's Quilt
4. Baste and quilt Brock's Quilt

That should keep me busy!

A Good Start on Starlit Evening

I have a good start on my Starlit Evening quilt. I think it will be the quilt that my hubby and I FINALLY share, lol. We both sleep under our own bedding right now. He has a down comforter, and I sleep under my old faithful first quilt (well, the one that I count as my first quilt).

Here it is laid out on the floor. Please excuse the icky carpet and all the stuff on the floor, lol.

I just have a few more blocks to go and then I'll rearrange them all so the red is distributed around evenly.

I REALLY like the way it's turning out.

What I'm Working On

I haven't blogged in SO long and I've been busy, busy, busy!

I went to two weekend quilting getaways since January.

The first one was in beautiful Medora, and the second one, a few weeks ago, was in Minot.

I took classes from a wonderful local teacher and also a national teacher, Pat Speth of Nickel Quilts fame. She does ALL her quilts from 5" squares. It's amazing what she can do with a 5" square!!

Here's the quilt I started at her class and then finished to the floppy stage.

This is a quilt called Labor Day Stars and it was pretty fun!

And here's a picture of the quilt that I'm working on now from Heather Anka's book, Living Large 2. There are some wonderful quilts in there, and this is the one I'm working on now.

I hope to finish the half-sections today and maybe start putting it together this evening at Stitchin' Sisters.

Can't wait!

Studio Confessions

My studio is a mess! I'm a really messy person by nature, so it's not surprising.

I would like to show you what a mess my studio is and I hope it will motivate me to get it organized.

Should I make this a regular post?

How can you even concentrate????

I need to dedicate one day a week to organizing my studio. Don't you think?

Anyone have any suggestions?

A Finish and a Floppy

I had a finish yesterday! WooHoo!


This quilt is one I'm doing for my Quilted Table Yahoo Group. If you would like to join a group that has a monthly challenge, you're welcome. We do lots of table toppers, banners, place-mats, etc.

Obviously, this is a Valentine table topper, but I'm going to give it to my MIL. Her birthday is Valentine's Day and also, she and my FIL are allowing the Stitchin' Sisters to use the hunting lodge for our retreat this week end.

Oh my gosh, I'm SOOOOOO excited! I hope that I get a lot accomplished!

This morning, I also put together this floppy. As you can see, London felt the need to "inspect" my work.

She then felt the need to "inspect" it more closely and vigorously.

I also did a test block for that triangle quilt that I'm wanting to start.

So pretty!

How are you all doing in the New Year? I'm feeling really productive so far!

Design Wall Monday, January 14, 2013

On my design wall this morning is a block that I made out of smaller Butterfly Blocks I'm making for a swap.

I think the block turned out cute. This block will be added to a WHOLE LOT of other 1930s orphan blocks to make an orphan block quilt for donation. Can't wait to get working on that one!

I also cut out some triangles last night from some hand-dyed fabrics that I've had FOREVER. It feels so good to use up pretty fabric that you've had for a long time in your stash.

The triangles are for this quilt that I saw in a magazine.

I can't wait to get it done. Maybe I'll work on it at retreat this weekend.

Make sure that you check out what everyone else is up to at Judy's and Have a Quilty Day!