HAND PIECING IN CAR

I don't claim to get as much quilting done as some people, but I have been asked how I do get so much done. As others have also said, I have "take it with me" projects. I have my Howdy Doody lunch box ready to go. We have a 35 minute drive to church, so I have been working piecing my tumbler table runner along the way. Note: pictures taken in driveway. Hee Hee!
I'm making it for our coffee table to go along with the tumbler wall hanging that I am hand quilting. They are both charm quilts made with mostly reproduction fabrics. I'm not on any timetable - they will be finished when they are finished!
I bought this book at the quilt show yesterday. I really like the projects in it and the applique looks pretty easy and can be done on the machine. I don't really think I'll do anything from it this year, but I really like the card holder on the right side of the front cover above.


Now I'm off to work on some BOMs. I need to get them going - I don't want to get too far behind on them!

MEETING "LOVE" AT A QUILT SHOW

Today I met "Love," a blogger from All People Quilt at a quilt show in Midlothian, TX. We both started blogging on that site over a year ago and had left comments on each others blogs, etc. We knew we lived somewhat near each other, so decided to meet at the quilt show this year. What fun to meet her in person. We had so much in common and really enjoyed viewing the quilts and shopping in the booths together! We even have a mutual friend!

Here are pictures of some of the excellent quilts that were featured at the show:

This first one is made by a Maryln Zelenz from Cedar Hill Quilt Guild (that I belong to). The Santa in the corner was part of the "decor" of the quilt show because the theme was "Christmas in July."

I love patriotic quilts.

Maryln also made this crazy quilt and she did the tatting herself. Another blue ribbon!



It's fun to get inspired by going to a quilt show!

A VISIT WITH ABIGAIL!

We had a wonderful visit with our son, daughter-in-law and 6 month old granddaughter!
The happy family!A serious conversation with Grandpa.
Grandma reading a book to Abigail.

Picking blueberries.
Abigail reading a book with Daddy.
Abigail at Pensacola Beach with Grandma & Grandpa.
I think this is enough blueberries!
I made 2 of these table runners - one for my DIL and one for a friend.
Now, it's back to work until December 18 - my retirement date! Woo Hoo!!!!!!!!

ON OUR WAY TO VISIT ABIGAIL!!!

Here is the little cutie who we are on our way to visit today! Isn't she sweet? It is about time her grandparents get to hold her in our arms, don't you think?

SHOPPING AND GIFT PRIZE RECEIVED

Saturday Common Threads Quilt Shop in Waxahachie, TX had a sale. I wanted to go get some reproduction fabric and this is what I got. The shop was mobbed with women looking for bargains!
I won a drawing from Humble Quilts and I just received my prize - these two appliqued blocks, one block just started with all the pieces cut out and the patterns for doing more. Since I am getting more interested in applique, I am going to try to get the third one finished. My needle turn applique skills need quite a bit of practice - if you know what I mean.

The weather has been reaching 100 degrees every day lately. I do NOT like hot weather.
End of the weekend again, but on Wednesday we leave for Florida, so it's only a two day work week for me!

MYSTERY QUILT BLOCKS

I finished the blocks for Bonnie Hunter's "Christmas Lights" mystery quilt Part 1, which is in the July/August 2009 issue of Quiltmaker magazine. I've never done a mystery quilt before and I have seen Bonnie's quilts before and love them, so thought I would try it.

Now, I can put that away for a couple months, till the next issue comes out. I have lots of other projects to finish.

We are finally going to Florida to see Abigail!!! DH is getting a lot better, so we made reservations. Can't wait!

I got the bedding finished for this doll bed.
I made a mattress and covered it with fabric printed like "ticking."
Then I made a sheet that the mattress slips into and put velcro as a closure. I did the same with the sheet for Abigail's doll bed, but ran out of velcro, so need to get some today.
Here's how the end closes. I think it will work. That way when the sheet gets dirty, it can be washed. DH is going to paint it white. He is the painter in the family. Hee Hee!!

Now I'm off to Common Threads Quilt Shop in Waxahachie, TX. They are having a sale today & I want to see if I can get some reproductions. They specialize in them.

I never did hear from Martha, so we drew again on Wednesday and Janet is the winner - see her blog here.

PROJECTS I'M WORKING ON

I'm taking a little break from quilting this weekend and working on a few other things. I read about Bonnie Hunter's article in "Quiltmaker" July/August 2009 issue, so I decided to start in on it. I have read about so many people making some of her other quilts and have wanted to do one. I'll be working on it at the same time I'm doing other things. I cut the squares for the HSTs today.
I'm caught up on 4 BOMs now and only have the "A Tisket A Tasket" to do and I'll be all up to date. I'll try to do that one this week.
These 2 Ohio star blocks are from a LQS and I'm participating in the pastel one and the bright one. I think I'm going a little nuts, but it's fun.
Also, this weekend I started making doll mattresses and sheets for the doll beds. I have two of them done and the bunk bed to do. That will be a little more work.

I still haven't heard from Martha! Maybe she forgot where she entered the drawing. I'll draw again on Wednesday if I haven't heard from her.

WHERE IS MARTHA?

I held my drawing on Wednesday and announced that Martha (no blog) was the winner. As of today, I haven't heard from her. I wasn't able to email her.

Please, Martha, email me as soon as possible. I will wait until Wednesday, June 24 at 8:00 PM and if I haven't heard from you, I will draw again. I have left all the names in the basket just in case.

JUNE 27, 2009

I never heard from Martha, so on June 24 we drew another name and it was Janet in Australia. I have her package ready to send. Please go to her blog here and visit. I'm sure you will enjoy it!

WE HAVE A WINNER!!!

All the names were put into the chicken shaped wire egg basket.
An impartial party drew out the winning ticket (DH)! Martha (no blog) is the lucky winner. Please send me your snail mail address so I can send you your prize!
In the mean time, I am working on machine quilting the Polka Dot Girls quilt. I'm doing it by free motion and I don't know if I'm going to like it or not. I'm not much of an expert at this, but I guess this is part of the learning process, so here goes!
Thanks to everyone who entered the contest! I am amazed at all the comments I got and I do appreciate them all!

FINISHED DOLL QUILT AND GARAGE SALE LUCK

I finished the "A Little Star Struck" quilt which was in June, 2009 issue of American Patchwork and Quilting (designed by Ann Hermes). I love this quilt! I'm making another one.

Saturday, I went to some garage sales and hit the jackpot at one of hem! I found 3 doll beds at one sale!!!!
This is one of them that I got for $5 and I couldn't resist putting Abigail's doll and doll quilt in it. It fit perfectly, so this one will be for Abigail! She's just 6 months old, so she's too little now, but I wanted to get a bed for the doll I made for her. I'm very happy now!
I couldn't believe it when I saw this bunk doll bed for $5 also! I need to make mattresses for it and get it set up.
This little one only cost $1!! and the cute doll quilt was at another sale for $1. We're going to paint this one white. Then I'll make a mattress for it and get it set up with a doll quilt and pillow.

Don't forget to leave a comment on my previous post to get in on the drawing. You have 2 more days to enter. Good Luck!

100TH POST AND GIVEAWAY DRAWING

This my 100th post!!! It took me a while because I usually only post once a week, sometimes twice a week. It has been a lot of fun and I have met so many wonderful bloggers on line! I have also learned so much from everyone! I have really been amazed at the sharing and caring shown by so many.

I don't have any rules. Just leave a comment and I will add you to the drawing, which will be held on June 17 at 8:00 PM central time. I will also ship anywhere. Please let others know about the drawing.
I am giving away one Moda charm pack, 3 fat quarters (Anna Griffin for Windham Fabrics - Eliza collection), a pin magnet, and a really cute "Quilts" sign.

Good luck!

STARS AND A BOM

When I saw the "A Little Starstruck" quilt pattern by Ann Hermes in the June issue of American Patchwork and Quilting, I knew I had to make it into a doll quilt. I hunted through my reproduction fabrics and added another row of stars to it. Even though I have plenty of quilting to do - both hand and machine - I wanted to start some of these star blocks. I love these blocks and I see them in so many patterns, I've used them in quilts before, but I wanted to use them again. They are so basic and I love basic!
I made enough for two quilts!!
I finished my "A Tisket A Tasket" BOM just in time for the new one to come out!! At least I'm not falling behind!

This is my 99th post and for my 100th post I'm going to have a gift drawing. Be sure to check back! I don't know when I will post it, but I will give bloggers about a week to comment.

TABLE RUNNER & HAND QUILTING

I need a break from cleaning bathrooms, so I thought I would do a post. I finished this table runner this week. It is the same as the one I made for my desk, only I added a blue border to make it a little bigger. This can be my patriotic table runner for the summer. I love the inner red border with the little airplanes on it. I got it because DS#3 is a pilot in the USAF. I want to make Jonah something out of the fabric - maybe a bib. I don't know what else I could make for him with what I have left over.

Last night I started the hand quilting on my tumbler quilt. I decided to try fan quilting and I think I like it. This will be my TV watching project for a while with other projects in between.
You can see the backing fabric in the lower left corner. It's not the prettiest, but it looks like reproduction and it was cheap (I think it was $2/yd!!!). This will probably be a wall hanging, so it won't show anyway.

I am marking as I go, kind of. I am following Tonya's tutorial for fan quilting. I am using round canning seal for marking the smallest curve and then using my little finger measurement to roughly mark the following curves as Tonya suggests in her tutorial. I like it that she says it doesn't have to be perfect! Hee Hee! I'm not very good at perfect! I'm using brown quilting thread. I debated using beige or gold, but the brown looked best.

Don't do too much cleaning over the weekend!! I won't, I'm sure!

MEMORIAL DAY

Remembering those who have died in the service of our country and for freedom.
Thinking about our son serving in the middle east right now and praying for his safe return. He just missed his baby's first birthday.
Hoping that all the others who are serving will be safely returned home as well.