Where did the week go??

I can't believe this week went so fast, and yet I did get some stuff done, just not enough.

I was able to get the most of the purple flowers done. I'm now working on the echoing around the flowers. This shouldn't take long, but you know how things go when you plan something and it doesn't work out.

Over the last week, I did get a set of patterns from my son's girlfriend in cross stitch to help proof read. So, I'm supposed to do the pattern to make sure I know what she is saying. So far so good. Trouble is - that's one more thing I need to do. They are easy and quick, so I just need to sit down and do them. And of course, my brain is say - "Aww, I want to do that --- pattern!," "Oh, that should be easy, I can do it in no time," and "I really want to do that." Of course, that doesn't help me get done with what I already started! So, I'm holding my own and trying really hard not to do that "awww" project for awhile. I really do want to do another Lavender & Lace cross stitch pattern. I must have a good 20 patterns by now. Just where my brain needs to go!

I missed my group meeting this week because we were trying to get our cell phones upgraded and get the new plan. Man oh man, what an ordeal! Anyway, we finally got the phones on Thursday (our meeting) and got the plan going okay. What a pain. But now I'm learning how to use the smart phone and so far fell in love with it. 

So, as of today, this is were I am with the one corner of my quilt. Hopefully I can get this quilted this week. I'm behind on laundry and crafts. lol 

Hoping this week goes better then last, and still Happy Quilting......

Not as far as I thought

This last week, I figured out I'm not as far along as I thought. UGH

Sorry, should have edited before I put it on here. LOL This is the funky chicken I did for Kathy Wagner's friendship quilt block. Turned out better than I thought, but I do agree with my son, I should have made the spatchula a different color. 

On Monday I went downstairs to find a mess! - Guess quilters tend to do that more than usual.   

Please take note! - the boxes under the table are gone. Thanks to my hubby, we went through each one and ended up putting two boxes out in the garage, the rest were gone through, divided up among family and are slowly going to my family members they belong to.

As you can see, I had plenty of stuff waiting for me on the table. I did get it cleaned up and at the same time decided to try and finish a few things.

Unfortunately this was not one of them. I need to finish putting this bag together! That day is coming!

In the mean time - this is my wall of shame. Shame on me for not getting anything done to finish both of these quilts. BUT WAIT - I got some more to add to it.

I put together half of the Carolina Lilly block! This is what I started on when I decided I better take a photo. Then I forgot to take a photo of what I did get done. The flower blocks (3) are done. The stem is what you see. I want to try and do the applique work on the leaves before I put the blocks together to finish off the Carolina Lilly block. The orange one is on the Wall of Shame. I need to add some more applique to the block and then they will be fished. Not sure what the next block will be.

This is where I was after I wrote on my blog last week. As you can see, I was able to get more done than I thought. I actually finished this area of the quilt. Then I realized I was not as far with the quilting as I thought. I pulled the quilt out and laid it on the floor. I figured out, I'm about 1/2 done quilting it. I'm almost 2/3's done. It's hard to say because of the way the pattern lays on the quilt.

Once I finished the quilting on the echoing above, I started quilting in the purple areas in the corner. My corners are more complicated than they look. Trying to keep everything lined up right and bulled snug is harder than it looks. I try to keep the quilted area in the hoop as I changed to bottom area to quilt. So far, I'm doing great, but I did have to take some quilting out to get rid of puckers.

So, while I was getting supper ready and put the quilt on the chair, the cat magnet showed up. The next thing I knew - Charlie found her place to sleep for the day. This area showing is quilted. One can see I do have a lot of quilting in the quilt.

I've finally finished quilting the purple flower area. I have started the echoing in this area so I can start echoing in a circle again. Once I get to the white area, I can get moving on the quilting a lot faster than when I'm quilting in the purple. If I can get the corner done, then I can say I'm 3/4's finished with the quilt. Should be fun! I have put my timeline on and NEED to have this done for the TAS Retreat in Seabeck in April. I have 2 months to get this done! So, now I'm ready to get moving! I've been doing more quilting in the last few days then I have in the past month. If I had done the quilting in the traditional Hawaiian quilting - it would have been done by now. NOT thinking about that! lol

So, I have been busy, and working hard at getting this done. I was not able to do any quilting in the last 2 days.

Yesterday, through the newspaper, I found out one of my mother's best friends passed away. She was not told on Sat or Sun about her passing on Saturday. She found out when the rest of us read it in the newspaper. LouAnn White was a person that was liked by few and good friends with the ones she became good friends with. She would do anything for those she considered her friend. My mother knew her for over 30 years. Why her daughter didn't tell my mother, no one will know, unless she tells why. Chances are she won't. LouAnn will be missed by those that knew her as a kind person who was very out spoken. She is in a better place, and I believe she wanted it that way. She was the type that would not want people to feel sorry for her. After her stroke she wasn't able to do what she loved most, baking, canning and quilting. May she rest n peace.

In the meantime, I will be heading to mom's this week to work on more needle cases. In the meantime, I'm hoping to get more work done on the quilt and be Happy Quilting.....

Keeping Busy

Things are good! I'm actually getting a few things done. I'm about a week behind in posting but here's what I've been up to.

I got this much done on my quilt last week. I actually got started on all the echoing and I'm having fun!  The more I go around, the more excited I get about getting this done.

I also got my son to help me with the funky chicken pattern. He designed the cook apron, spachila (sp) and some of the colors. I was surprised at how much fun it was getting going on it. I kept putting it off. Once I got started, I was able to finish it last night. (no photo but will try and post it next time).

Miss Charlie was letting me know she wanted me to sit down so she could join me. You can see a little bit of the funky chicken on the quilt.

So, last night and most of the nights, I was able to sit and quilt some more. I'm happy with how it's turning out.

I need to give a bigger spread between rows. I'm having fun though! Guess you can tell, I do love to quilt.

So in the mean time, I'm Happy Quilting.........

Good Year so far!

This is getting to be a good year so far! I'm happy to say a few things are getting done!

I took the fabric out of the box and put a square together for my friends quilt. I just need to do 2 more and then I can put the quilt top together. I took out the pieces to see what I had done and how much is needed to finish up the last two blocks.

I then went through my fabrics to pick out colors that will work for the Funky Chicken pattern I need t do. This quilt block is for one of our group ladies. She asked for the Funky Chicken block from all of us. I had my son work on a "cook" for my funky chicken. He did the pattern for me, and I'm ready to go. Just need to get started. The spatula is done in 2 colors, so picked out the above and will applique the first spatula on to the second one first, then cut it out and applique it to the bird.

Went over to my parents house on Wednesday, as mom had some fabrics she ironed. They were the fabrics that we got at the Tacoma quilt show. The one bag was full of pieces of dyed fabric. The other bag had small pieces, and mom was saying she wouldn't be able to use them. I remember telling her that at the time, but she wanted them anyway. lol So, while I was there, she gave me the fabrics and 2 of her completed needle cases she made. We are making 6 a piece to give out at TAS's quilt retreat this year. I asked her to cut the fabric for more and I would do those as well. I don't know what happened but she did the pattern wrong. I haven't taken the 2 she did out, but I'm trying to figure out what to do with them. 

I sewed up the ones she didn't do, but cut the fabric for. Anyone that knows me, knows I do not care to sew on the machine, but will if I have to.

Once the "case" was done, then I went and sewed the felt on.

This is the finished design. It is quick and easy. For me, that is WONDERFUL!!

I also got some quilting in. This flower, I had to take out ALL my quilting, and HOPE I didn't have to take out more. I was lucky in that regard, once the flower quilting was removed, I could go back and quilt it without the buckling I had when I quilted it the first time.

Now I'm getting along fine. The echoing is starting up for this area. Once I get that area going around, it won't take long at all. It's a big area, but at least I'm closer than I was. I believe this is the corner area, but not sure. After awhile it seems like I'm working on the same area and the quilting disappeared on me. lol

I updated my journal on the Baltimore Liberty quilt that I'm working on. I bought gray fabric for the bell while we were in Las Vegas, so I'm ready to get moving on this quilt. I need to finish the funky chicken this week because I really don't want to get behind with more than one quilt block at a time.....Wish me luck.

Need to get back in the mood to work on the funky chicken and finish a few more blocks.

Hopefully by next week, I'll have the funky chicken done, and more quilting on the Hawaiian. I seriously need to get moving on the Hawaiian as we will be at the retreat in April. I need it finished by there......in the mean time, I'll be Happy Quilting.....

Happy New Year!

Wow, where has the time gone?! I'm sitting here thinking I need to write in my post, and realized I haven't been on it since around Christmas time. At yet it's the 11th of January already.

Just around Christmas time, I was able to get some quilting done on the quilt.  And of course it had to snow just before we leave on the plane at Portland, OR.

As I was pulling out the quilt, knowing I hadn't worked on it since Thanksgiving, I found I had one more center point that needed to be done. I went and quilted in the center with white quilting thread. The purple quilting thread was not touched while I completed this area.

As time came around for us to leave for Las Vegas, I decided I would take something easy to work on. I wasn't sure how much work I would be able to get done, so I took along three blocks and some fabric. On the flight I played games with my DS.

Now you have to hear this, as it's now become a family joke. My dear sweet brother, who is 4 years my junior, and who is also named Patrick, bought the tickets for all of us. When I say all of us, that would be my parents, my husband and myself. The day before we were to leave - New Years Day - my husband, Patrick, told me my brother put my ticket in my maiden name. Okay, now what?! He then calls the airline we are to fly out on and they told him to bring our marriage license and we will be fine.

The next morning we get down to Portland, give all the information to the counter personnel, he said, "Looks good," and directs us to the gate we need to be at. The TSA line was long, so we are patient. After about 10 mins, we are at the lead TSA guy. He looks at my license, my marriage license (copy), and proceeds to call "code 1" in his collar. He stands there, not really knowing what to do, so I took my stuff and backed over to the side. Told Patrick and my parents to go ahead and go through. Course, mother being mother, had to ask them how long it would take. I'm waiting about 10 more mins for someone to come, as the guy at the check out area has called "Code 1" about 3 x's before a lady comes up and asks if there is any problems. He informs her he has been calling "Code 1" for some time and no one has showed up, and at the next counter another "Code 1" as accrued. Lucky me. I will say at this point, growing up in the military and flying all over the world did have me prepared for what was going to happen. So, surprisingly enough, I was patient. I normally would be going crazy, but since I know all about the problems of getting on a plane after all these years, it really hasn't changed. Thanks, dad. After telling her I was going to my brothers (the Col.)'s retirement and he bought the tickets, the gal pulls me over to another counter, looks at both licenses and say, "You've been married how long?"  Now this is where you smile and say, 30 years. The gal then looks at me and says, "How well do you know your brother?" and "Doesn't he know you have been married 30 some years?" That's when I say, yes, he does and believe it or not, he's also a Col. in the Air Force. She gets on the phone to call the "No Fly List" and talks to the person on the other ends. She explains my position, and I hear her say, "Yea you would wonder, wouldn't you?" Not good. I passed the no fly list. She then says, "follow me." I follow her passed everyone in the line to the x-ray machines, and told to take my jacket, watch, shoes, etc., off. I put them in the bucket she is holding for me. Then she put a cone in front and behind my bucket, telling the people behind the machine, "this is Code 1." I ended up passing a lady in a wheel chair to get through the body machine. Told to hold my hands up for a sec. I thought it would be more polite to let the lady in the wheel chair go, but NOPE, I had to go first. After that, I was taken over to another counter where another gal was "pure." She was really clean, nice and proceeded to tell me I was going to get a "Pat Down." Great, been there before too. As she was telling me all the areas she will be touching, I'm say, "Okay, no problem, that's okay, no problem, let's get on with this." She told me, "I have to tell you what I'm doing." Okay, great, more time wasted, since I've been there, done that. I got the full pat down. Then she takes her gloves and runs a roller over them, onto a strip. The strip goes into the machine, "Okay, that's good, you pass." She tells me I can now go, Oh, but wait, I need to check your shoes. Go for it. She looks over my stuff in the box, then pulls out my shoes, and runs another piece of tape on them, puts them in the machine. "Okay, you passed, your good to go." "Wait, don't you have a cell phone or something?" My reply was, "Yes, but I gave them to my husband when he went through ahead of me." Okay now I can go.

Now, while I was going through all this, my mother, being my mother, goes and asks how long it will take. On top of that, as I turn around while the gal is on the phone, there is my husband and parents, stand on the other side waving at me! Mom is then sign language (as much as she can) to me asking what is going on. I gave her the phone sign and she continues to smile and wave. Lucky me!

My brother's retirement wasn't due till the 4th, so we go over to their house in Las Vegas. Decorated to the 9's with Christmas stuff. It was wonderful. Told brother Patrick the story, and he loved it! The next day we headed to my Aunt and Uncle's in Fort Mahovy AZ. We stayed there for two nights. It's was a lot of fun and a lot of game playing.

So, between the two places, I was able to work on my blocks.

My Affairs of the Heart block #32. I had the one heart already set and ready to applique, so that one is almost complete.

This is the Baltimore Album quilt block I started before we left and

This is how much I got done. I did redo the center red flowers, as I didn't make them long enough or the leaves to cover. The more I get done, the more I like it. The skinny stems are pretty easy with the back basting method.

This is the Liberty bell one, and I'm ready to do the bell itself. I found some gray fabric in Las Vegas at a quilt shop. If you ever get the chance in Las Vegas, go to the Fabric Boutique. It's at 4465 W. Charleston Ave, Las Vegas, NV. They also have a website: www.fabricboutique.com. Check them out!

Okay back to finishing stuff (or trying to).

As you can see, I did finish around the inside of the center point. Now I'm going around the design in purple and will start to echo again as soon as I have the center outline done - where I need it.

You can see, I'm not quite done yet, but it is coming along. This is the areas that I need to finish.

The whole time I was gone, I believe Charlie (my adopted cat) missed me. She hasn't left my side since I've been back. When I quilt on the quilt, she is right there on my legs with the quilt under her. She keeps an eye on my computer and me. Like right now shes leaning as close to my arm as she can get.

Okay, my brother retired on the 4th of January. It was an awesome ceremony.

He's retirement box, after 25 years of service. Our family couldn't be any more proud of him!

His awesome shadow box.

Checking out his new plane. He will be piloting this plane for a company in Les Vegas. He is joining a good friend of his from the military who also loves to fly. They flew together and work great together. This is my brother, Patrick, and myself. (Should have dressed better, but owe well.)

We wish him the best, and know the Lord blesses him.

Okay, it's a New Year, and I need to finish more. I'm finding myself wanting to do more things! I only finished 4 things and have already started 2 projects. I need to finish 2 more before I can start another one!! But boy do I have things that look good and wanting me to start them.

If I could just quit playing games all day and be Happy Quilting.....I would get my rear going and finish a few things. I'm getting there. I've told myself, if I get 2 hrs in a day, I'm doing good. This is a weekend, so I'm going to go downstairs and turn the stove on, and try to be Happy Quilting......

Happy New Year!!

As I sit and write this, I'm catching up on some Christmas movies I missed earlier. The funny part is - it's snowing. We didn't get snow for Christmas, but we are getting it now.

I have been quilting on my Hawaiian quilt the past 3 nights, and it's coming along great. I will post photos when I get back from Las Vegas (another story to tell). I've had to rethink where to quilt, because I was getting ahead of myself. So, I'm back on track and things are going great.

I have been working on the Baltimore Liberty quilt blocks as well. I have learned a lot with the back basting technique and find I am liking it!  It seems to make the stems go so much faster. It does take time to baste it, but with small pieces it does help a lot. I am taking photos as I go, so will post those after the first of the year.

Okay, I will be gone till the 8th. My son will be here, so no worries, and wonderful neighbors that know what is going on in the neighborhood.

I am going to see my brother and his family. We are going to celebrate his retirement from the Air Force. He spent at least 22 years in the Air Force. He will also be starting a new job as a pilot - his love of flying. We are all proud and wish him all our love.

We will be spending time with my parents, as they are going with us. We will also be with my Uncle and Aunt. Should be wonderful.

I'm hoping to hit a few quilt shops and will let you know what I end up with! lol

One of my quilts it at the Vashion Island Art Museum with  few of the TAS quilters quilts. If you ever get the chance to go - please do and let me know how it goes.

In the meantime....I'm Happy Quilting.....

Winter comes and goes

Looks like I can post photos again. lol

Winter hit yesterday and the day before for a short time. Now it's raining and good weather for quilting and other stuff.

The last week I have been trying to decide whether it was worth paying $2 a month for photos. I actually decided I would. Then just now I was able to post photos. Go figure.

Okay the last week, I have been working on the afghan that was originally started for my daughter's ex-fiance. I couldn't think of anyone to give it to, until I was thinking of my father. My father is a sweet heart, the best out there. He would do anything for anyone. Since he moved out of the house on 10 acres and gave up his Black Angus cows, it's getting harder to figure out what to give him for Christmas. He is half Norwegian and loves to eat (and it shows), so decided food was out. He doesn't farm anymore, so tools are out. He doesn't use gift cards because he forgets he has them and they go to waste. So, the more I thought, the more complicated it got. As I was working on this afghan I decided it would work for him. He can keep warm when he sits in front of the TV or just wants to relax.

 
The 10 single crochet stitches were "hooked" together. It gave it a knit stitch look. I did this to all the chain stitches to finish up the afghan. It really turned out great. I will take a photo of it later, as it is completed.

In the meantime, I had to put the Hawaiian quilt on hold. At least I finished another project, and that is one more out of the way.

I did get closer to working on the corner of the quilt -

Each step gets me closer to being done, and I REALLY want to have it done by April when we have our TAS retreat.

I've been working on the Baltimore Liberty quilt top. I've also been pretty good about keeping up in the journal as well. I have been known to go back a couple days and update the journal though.

This block is the fireworks block from P3's Baltimore Liberty. I have been doing the back basting and find it works great for small pieces. I am going to replace the read in the block because I cut them off too close to the seam, plus I found I really don't like the red I used. I need a better read.

This block is the liberty bell block and shouldn't take long at all. I've got more of the firecrackers done too. I still haven't found the right "bell" brown yet. I'm still looking. I did buy some green for the stems and leaves, as you can never have too much green.

I'm worrying about my son as well. He's still unemployed. He has been thinking about changing his career and being a police officer. That's okay, but I just pray he gets a job. He's trying so hard, and so far nothing....I do remember those days and it's the pits. You get your hopes up and then they get dashed, then you try again and again nothing. I know there is a reason and I know things will happen that are meant to be, but dang.

Okay, we are going to Las Vegas for my brother's retirement celebration. So for a week from the 1st to the 8th, I'll be taking my applique with me for something to do on those "down times." I'm actually looking forward to being with my brother the first of the year.

Hopefully I'll have more photos and get a few more things done - and try not to play so much on the computer - then I can post them here in the next week.

In the meantime - I'll try and get quilting in to be Happy Quilting...

If I don't post before Christmas - MERRY CHRISTMAS - and may you be Happy Quilting....

Holiday season

Well, it's the holiday season and I'm happy to say, for the first time in years, I've actually made a few gifts this year.

This week I decided I needed to finish the afghan I was making for my daughter's ex-fiance. I'm going to try and get it done before Christmas.Who knows who will get it, but I don't need another unfinished project to add to all my UFO's. (Unfinished Objects)

We had our first Christmas Party with Myron's Girls quilt group. I was the first one to pick a gift and was able to wait to see what everyone else had. THAT WAS A FIRST FOR ME. I'm usually the second or third and then I see what everyone else has. I came home with a cute sewing basket that fits in your hand.

I'm trying to figure out why I can't post photos on here. It tells me I have 0% used of the 1GB in photos. But then it wants me to buy more space. ugh. I may yet.

I did get a few more stitches in on all three blocks I'm working on. I need to place more pieces on all three blocks. I'm going to work on putting them on the blocks so I can work on them some more. The firecracker block for the Baltimore Liberty quilt is getting about half done. I'm hoping to finish that one by the end of the month.

Haven't Missed a Stitch group is going to be having their Christmas Party/Potluck on the 13th, and I'm looking forward to that. We have a lot of gifts to give out. We should be getting ready for a free years subscription to give out as well. Looking forward to my Thursday group. Thinking I'm gong to give Myron's Girls a break. Getting tired of catering to them so mom can sew too.

Okay, I'm going to work on the photo issue for this blog. Hope everyone is doing well, and you have a Merry Christmas, if I don't post before then.

Happy Holiday's and Happy Quilting.....

Slowing down

Okay, I'm slowing down, but not because I'm slow, but because I've been busy.

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We did, my nephew and his wife came to visit for Thanksgiving and we had a great meal. My son went to his girlfriends families gathering. We decided not to do that, as Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. So, I had more fun decorating and prepping for Thanksgiving.

Guess I can't show you photos since I seem to have used up the amount I'm allowed.  Hoping it will fix itself!

I've been working on the Baltimore Liberty quilt. I worked on the blocks, got one half of the leaves done on one, and basted more on. I'm hoping to finish the block soon. I did work on the second block as well, and I've got the leaves, some of the crackers, and stems done so far. This block should be quick and easy. I just need a really nice brown fabric to use for the bell.

Last night - after a week and a half - I finally pulled the quilt out and started quilting on the Hawaiian quilt again. I' hoping to get a lot done today.

I also got 2 more grocery bags done. At least I'm getting a few Christmas gifts done as well. Just can't post them on here because that would give it away. lol

So, with no photos to show till they fix the problem, I'll be Happy Quilting.......

A Quiilter's Mind - beware!

Okay, here's what a quilter thinks about when they are working on a "mindless project." What is a "mindless project," you ask. Well, here we go.

I've come up with more bright ideas for projects. Like I really need another project. Oh, well, here we go...

On Thursday at our quilt group meeting, we talked about the back basting and how it works. We also talked about ideas that would work of us with the back basting - and ways to make it easier to do.

So, it's Sunday, and what am I doing?? Another project - will explain about that in the end of this blog.  I'm marking my fabric for back basting. WOO HOO - or so I thought. After three days of getting EVERYTHING I needed or thought I needed to get going on this, I finally had the chance to mark my blocks - yes, 2. Why? How knows, it's me remember. Anyway, I' have one block done, - front and back - and was thinking (yes I do think at times), why not put what I'm thinking in my blog. So, here are some of the tings I've been running through my mind - remember - mindless job -

1) Is my mother treating my patterns like NEW and hopefully going to return them NEW or are they going to look USED. - Hate the Used look. Collected too many books to care fro people that don't take care of things.

2) Oops, missed that spot. That's okay, can't be perfect all the time, hope no one notices. Oh, heck the only one that will will be the quilter that made this same one. Oh - wo cares, it's just for the family and if they don't like it tough. Blah blah blah

3) Patrick seems to be getting a lot done outside, maybe I should help - nah. I really want to get this done, and I really don't want to go out in the cold because I'm cold already. I could ask him if he needs help, he usually says no, but today may be the day he says yes....

4) Okay, second block, why don't they mark the middle? Cross stitch patterns do....

5)  Oh how cool is that? We have a humingbird still. Guess I better feed it through the winter. I'm so thrilled to see hummingbirds stay around. I'll have to how Patrick he was wrong about the hummingbirds leaving around winter time.

6) Don't forget to update the journal on what I did the past tow days with this quilt.

7) Dang - laundry is done.

8) Too bad I don't have a lot of money. I would run for office. Not sure which, but then it wouldn't matter, I'm not rich enough to run. I'd show them how to balance a check book, without having to raise taxes. Now our taxes are going up because of the  A**hole going in as governor Thank you King County. Wish there was a way the state could vote and throw out all of King County ballets. Talk about "no fair."

9) Hope this pen works out. .First time using a FriXion pen. It's supposed to be the best thing out there. As long as it's not the like the other pen we have had out there for years, that leaves marks. Could never use those.

10) Wonder if Kathleen started working on that quilt idea I thought about.

11) Funny how people copy others and make their own designs. I can't believe anyone can take a pattern, change it just enough and then turn around and claim it as their design. Go figure. And yet people believe it and buy it. Patterns that are over a hundred years old are now being marked" copywrites apply" and I'll even bet some of those patterns where done from some of my ancestors. Because they didn't sign and date their quilts, the patterns get coped and made for patterns.

11) Why in the world would I pay $100 or more for a pattern? I'm not that crazy. If you want me to advertise your patterns, then you need to make it easy to purchase. This is not a "who's richer" field of quilters. Quilters ha always been kind, considerate, and passionate about their quilts and others. Quilters make patterns readily available for all and try to make them cheap enough for every quilter to be able to buy them. Now we have quilters who think they are better than the rest, and ask for high priced patterns. Yes, they do beautiful work, yes, they should get paid for their work, but NO hey should not get $25 a pattern or $130 for all the patterns to a quilt. I'm sorry, your work isn't that great.

Okay, rambling on is over, blocks are marked. Now I need to get the colors together.

Now, what got me to this point this morning?? -You ask.

Then here we go. Thursday, as I said earlier, was the quilt group - Haven't Missed a Stitch - at Quilter's Junction. I worked on block #33 of the Affairs of the Heart quilt I'm working on. And yes, I'm still working on them. I didn't get much done but two petals. Guess I was too interested in everyone else's projects and chatting that I didn't get much done. Plus I forgot my scissors. Hate having to ask others for scissors.

Friday was Myron's Girl's quilt group. This group does what this group does. Can't say any more. So, I sat and worked on the block from Affairs of the Heart. At least I had two blocks to work with if I ran into trouble. Thankfully I didn't. But this is where I "got off." As I was driving home on Thursday and driving to mom's on Friday, I decided since I can't work on my Baltimore Christmas quilt BOM, I would take mom's Baltimore Liberty BOM and work on it. She started one block and had a hard time. This I can't see, as she does better work then most of us. Anyway, she sad she had trouble. So, I asked for her patterns and brought them home. She was surprised I wanted them after she showed me the problem she was having. Decided I would work on them anyway, and try to get it done. She's not getting them back till I do. lol So, three guesses where I went on the way home! Nope! Yep, I went to Quilter's Junction to buy the 4 1/2 yards of fabric I needed for the quilt. (more money gone this month)

Brought the fabric home, thought about doing the blocks....tried to mark the block with pencil - not wouldn't work....have to get the pens.....no, not yet......Patrick bowling on Sunday, need to get a block ready to work on while he bowls......no such luck, ended up getting the pens after he bowled in a tournament on Sunday. Now, everything thing is set, oops, guess not, went to a moving (two this weekend). Got home and it was dark outside. Try using the ass door and mark a block when it's black outside. Ugh....waited till this morning and finally afater three days, got the blocks marked.

Now if that hasn't bored you yet, then I don't know what to tell you. I am going to try and work on the blocks today. You know how this goes.....what color do I want, awww I like that one, dang, guess not, that wont work, how about this, aww that's better....etc.

I did work on the afghan last night, since I picked up the quilt and put it in the other room. I need to drag it back out so I'll work on it, but since its not in the living room, it's going to be fun to see how long it takes for me to drag it out again....

Okay, in the mean time, will try and post an update when I have time this week. Headed to Rose's on Wednesday to cut out more bag patterns. Gave one bag away to a gal that game me er serger.

In the meantime, I hope to be Happy Quilting......

Woo Hooo

Thought that might get your attention! lol

This past week has been pretty good. I did get a few things done which means I'm on top of it. OR at least I hope I am.

On Wednesday last week, I help mom decorate some brownies for her church "Truck or Treat." They turned out pretty good. It's been awhile since I decorated cakes. Miss that. I used to do that for my kids as they were growing up.

We tried to make them look like pumpkins.

Here's mom decorating some. She really had fun. We both laughed at how long it's been that either one of us has done decorating. She took a class when I was in High School. We had a lot of really cool cakes back then. She even made a couple "sexy" cakes. I took classes when my kids were younger.

The finished product.

AND of course, we had to make graham crackers with frosting fillings and decorate. lol

Thursday and Friday, well, they are a blur. Not real sure what I did those days. I know I've been a little worried about my son, since he was layed off on Monday. I'm bias and think they made a mistake letting him go, but then I wasn't there. I know my son, and I know he puts his heart in his job. I also know he speaks his mind and can be a little "sharp" with the tongue, but what person in that generation isn't? I also know when women my age get around "kids" his age, we don't want to hear their ideas or their easy way of doing things.

Saturday, we went to the casino and let the casino have some money. Not worried, they gave us $35 to play with, so not complaining too much. I did get to quilt every night - at least 2 hours a night. I have also been working on the letter I need to post on Letters from the Past. I have a lot of those to do. My husband can never figure out what I'm up to.

He told me the other day that I tend to get things done, but it takes time. I either quilt till I get tired of it, then I work on family history till I get tired of it, move to cross stitch or whatever. At least I get things done, but it takes time. I can't seem to stay with one thing and get it done.

Trouble is - that's true. I can't seem to stay with one thing at a time. Wish I could, but for some reason I find myself wanting to do too many things, and the only way to do them is a little here and a little there. One of these days, I will try and get one thing done at a time. I haven't even thought about getting moving on the blocks from the Affairs of the Heart quilt. Mom is giving hers to my sister-in-law.

Speaking of mom - she was telling me all about the Baltimore Christmas quilt she's doing - with my patterns. I ordered the BOM for that quilt. Got everything, and didn't even get the chance to do the first block before my mother took my patterns. She ordered the Baltimore Liberty BOM, and ONLY did one block before she took my patterns. Now, I don't have my patterns or my fabric to even get started on that quilt. She'll have them both done before I even get started. I'm a little ticked she had to take my patterns and do my quilt first, but OH, WELL, life goes on.

Since the last time I posted what I've been up to, the above photos are where I last started.

Since then I got this area done. I'm happy to say, it's coming along great. I've been pretty lucky at the way things have been going.

That was where I was by Saturday. Then on Sunday, we went downstairs, turned the fireplace on, and sat to watch the football games.

As you can tell, that part of "we" is Patrick and Charlie, as well as myself. Charlie loves to sleep at the end of my quilt frame when I'm quilting or working on sewing stuff. I serged some rags for Patrick and then sat down to quilt on the butterfly quilt.

This was what I had before I started quilting on it. As you can tell, I have threads, thimbles, and scissors close by. I ended up spending a good 15 mins or more trying to figure out what happened to my electric pencil sharpener as I use that for my marking pencils. I have been looking for it at least 6 months. I asked Patrick what the heck happened to it, looked in every nook and cranny in the house. Then decided to text my daughter to see if she had any clue where I could have put it. She texted back and said she had it, and that her dad told her she could take it with her. Patrick denied that, but oh well. So, now I'm pencil sharpener short, and had to go get my other marking pencils that are mechanical. Ugh. Once I figured that out, I could sit down and quilt.

I had some trouble with the batting buckling - partly my fault because I didn't tighten the frame up. So, I tried to see what I could do to get it easier to quilt, since a good part of the quilt had already been quilted. I was able to get to it, but had to remove Charlie to get what I needed to do. She wasn't thrilled but she didn't mind being put on the couch with her quilt. Once I did that, I was able to tighten up the quilt. This is the half way point for this quilt as well.

As you can see, it's not easy to figure out a quilt design for this quilt. The quilt top was put together by my quilt group that I was president of back in 2002 and 2003. (Something like that). Anyway, it was paper pieced, and there are a lot of thick seams. On top of that, some of the blocks where pieced with dark thread when the background was white or off-white. So, when I'm quilting this, I found a lot of dark stitches on the lighter fabrics. It's been hard trying to figure out what to quilt on it, but I have been doing butterfly "patterns" on the white part. The patterns are the path a butterfly takes when flying. So, it's a lot of swirls and stuff. It's been interested and fun to quilt.

So, after coming upstairs last night and 8 pm arriving to watch "Columbo" on TV, I was able to get the Hawaiian quilt at the half way point. That's good news for me! I'm thrilled at how this is coming along. It's a lot prettier then I expected. I can't wait to see the end result!

Which puts me at this point. Going to a corner area to start quilting in the purple area again. I'm happy with how it's coming along.

Hope that fills you in on what I've been up to. I'm going to be quilting again on Thursday and Friday. Can't wait for the weeks to go back to Thursday one week and Friday the next. I will be going to JoAnn Fabrics on Wednesday with my friend. That means I better enjoy tomorrow by myself before I get back to being busy again....

In the meantime, I hope to keep quilting and get a little further with both quilts. In the mean time I hope you are Happy Quilting as well!

Best wishes!