Time Warp

Something strange is going on around here. Do these little guys look like they are turning 15 and 16??? Braeden will be 15 on Tues. and Troy will be 16 on Thurs. I can't believe how fast the time has went. I miss them being little. If the next 16 years go as fast as these I will never get all the quilts in my head made.

A little tidbit about me. I love bags/totes. Love to make them, buy them, WIN them. Judi, at Green Fairy Quilts is giving away a quilted bag. Click on the link in my sidebar and check her out. If you leave a comment on her blog you can be in the running to win a bag. Cool huh?

Two Posts in One Day

I wouldn't normally do two posts on the same day but, I just got my quilts and projects from my book back today. My new header is a photo of the quilt and pincushions . This is another peak of the main quilt from Geese in the Rose Garden. It is very exciting to see it all come together. There is less than 2 months til the ship date. Woo Hoo

Distractions

I was sitting in my living room trying to do some handwork. Unfortunately the state of my house kept distracting me. I noticed the need to do some dusting and vacuuming. Later, I noticed the kitchen floor needed some attention. So, I did what any good quilter would do....I picked up my handwork and headed down to my sewing room where I couldn't see it!

When my Grandma passed away a couple of years ago I inherited some UFOs, orphan blocks and such. In with those were a set of embroidery blocks. They were baby blocks, old and very yellow and stained. I have no idea when she made these but it was long ago. I put them away and figured some day I would find their purpose.

When the youngest of my cousins had his first child I knew what they were intended for. (Sorry I don't know how to rotate the photo). I bought some Whitener and Brightner from Rit and soaked the blocks. They turned out even better than I had hoped. Bright, white and the floss didn't bleed.

I came up with a simple layout. I mixed some feedsacks from my stash with some American Jane fabrics. I think it looks good and now the newest member of the family will have a quilt from Granny.

I should have had it finished long before now but you know how that goes.

I wouldn't normally hand quilt a baby quilt but I couldn't bring myself to machine those old blocks. My aunt is coming up in about a week and half and I intend to have it ready for her to take it home.

My week

This has been a week of doing a little here and a little there. I finished quilting my sample for the applique class. Finally. I am a great starter and a so- so finisher. I made two applique blocks for my book proposal, several more of the Fresh Air blocks and worked out some details on a new pattern I had in the works. I can't show you the pattern but I thought you might like to see the fabric I will be using.

All the fabric are from Fig Tree Quilts (Moda). I love them and can't wait to get started. Remember, I am a great starter. They are not all from the same line. There are actually about 5 lines in all, but I think flow well.

I got so many great comments about my DJ quilt that I kept it out and pulled out the other blocks I have finished for it. I plan to work it in here and there. I have 23 blocks here. One is still in the works and one needs some tweaking. Maybe I will be able to add row I by next week.

Appletree Quilting Center, my local quilt shop is starting a Jo's Little Women group. I am so excited as I love Jo Morton. I will be helping with the group. We had a meeting today and I picked up my fabric and pattern to make the applique portion of the sample. I plan to get going on that this evening. (You know, great starter)

Dear Jane, I have deadlines

I belong to a Dear Jane group. I love the group,we have lots of fun and great conversation. We meet once a month and today is our meeting. I don't know if I am going to go today or not.It has been so long since I worked on the quilt that I am almost ashamed. I was doing well and then I had to buckle down and concentrate on the projects and writing for my book. Now I feel a little out of the loop.I only have 5 more rows to go and I have several of the blocks made for those rows. I am not going to sew the triangles on the outer border. I am going to make an applique border instead. If I were to get busy I could really finish the quilt in a decent amount of time.

However....I am still addicted to making the little blocks from the Fresh Air fabric. They are so fast to make and I love working with the fabric. It is a change from my usual choices. And in my defense they are for one of the quilts for a new book proposal.

I have been doing well at working only on things for my book proposal and class samples. That in itself is a minor miracle. I always seem to have another idea that needs to be started. I think I may a little ADD among other things. It's a good thing I have deadlines to keep me focused.

And as for the Dear Jane group today, I will probably go and take something besides my DJ quilt to work on. I can't hardly stand to miss out on the socializing,even if I am working on something else.

What I should be doing..

What I should be doing and what I actually get done today may be two very different things. I have new applique classes coming up. The first is a beginning hand applique class. I designed this pillow for the class sample and it is ready to go. The second class is an advanced applique class and as you can see I have yet to finish quilting the sample. All I have left to do is quilt the border and put on the binding. You would think being that close to finishing would inspire me to get to work.....however I have started piecing the new pattern with the Fresh Air fabrics and let's just say I don't want to do anything else.

I really love hand applique. You can create so many things you couldn't with piecing alone.I also love the portability, I can work on my projects anywhere. On the other hand there is something to be said about the instant gratification of quickly piecing these cute little blocks on my machine. I originally thought I would need 399-4" blocks, but I think I am going to have to refigure and make a few more than I thought. So, we'll see what I get done today. A nap would be nice also.

Groundhog's Day

Happy Groundhog's Day. Phil saw his shadow this morning so it looks like 6 more weeks of winter. I figure it would be that regardless if he saw his shadow or not. Anyway...

I am still very excited from the Super Bowl yesterday. Not the actual Super Bowl game but the sales in the quilt shops! My friends Darlene and Ann and I took a little road trip to Mexico Mo. yesterday and did we ever have a great day. We found some awesome deals and let me tell you fabric is like a drug to me. After coming home and looking through what I bought I realized all my fabric is Moda. I love Moda but I usually have a little of other lines thrown in too.

I had looked at the purple and sage fabrics before but didn't have a pattern in mind. Yesterday they were on sale for 40% off and I took this as a sign that I should have them.
The fun dotty prints are Fresh Air from Chez Moi, Moda. I have a pattern I am working on and they will be perfect for it.


I can never resist anything from 3 sisters, so these beauties also came home with me. I don't know what I am going to make from them but they make me very happy anyway. This is the Portebello Market line and it is lovely. I adore paisley and big florals and this line has it all.

So, I am off to start cutting. I hope to have some sneak peaks for you in the next day or two.