MYSTERY QUILT

I'm chain piecing Bonnie Hunter's "Christmas Lights" quilt from Quiltmaker magazine. I have admired Bonnie's scrap quilts for a while and decided to jump in and make this quilt. I had parts of the blocks made from the July/August '09 issue and I just found the September/October '09 issue at JoAnn's .
I have the 12 star blocks finished and now I'm working on the 20 red blocks. I wonder how they're going to go together!
Here's the last Christmas Wish BOM from Gail Pan. I have lost track of how many of these there will be. I guess I'll find out soon!
I made 4 of these bags out of charm squares. We are going to participate in a craft show in September, so I need to get some merchandise ready!!
I am eager for summer to be over. I'm very tired of 100 degree weather. If we're still in Texas next summer, I don't think I will plant any flowers. What's the use! It is just too hot!

I'll try to be better about blogging. I just needed a little time off of blogging, but I still spent time reading many blogs and I love seeing everyone's beautiful projects!

VISITING JONAH AND A WIN

We hadn't seen Jonah since December when he was 6 months old, so we made a weekend trip to see him and his Mommy, our DIL. He is 14 months old and has changed SO MUCH!!! What a cutie! His Daddy will be getting back from Iraq around the 20th of this month, so we will all be really happy when he is back home!
Jonah likes to read!
Here's block 7 of A Tisket A Tasket. I didn't sew on the buttons yet. I think I'll wait until after it is quilted. I'm going to wait until block 9 comes out and will do 8 & 9 at the same time. It seems easier to do 2 at once while I get out all the applique stuff.
This is the last stitchery from Willowberry Designs. I have really enjoyed doing these. Cheryl had a drawing and I won her pattern! It is so cute! Thanks, Cheryl for the special pattern! She is such a talented lady and I think she said she is going to have another BOM soon!
I love the BOMs, but maybe after this year, I will need to take some time off so I can get this year's put together! Hee Hee!

BOM REPORT

These are my monthly BOMs from the LQS - a bright and a pastel.

June's "A Tisket A Tasket" basket from Bunny Hill Designs. I'm almost finished with the July basket, but not quite.
Gail Pan's Christmas BOM.

Willowberry Designs "Verandah Views" BOM.

I decided to make the Heartfelt Table Runner for a shower gift for my niece. I have made 2 of them before and this is my third one. You can see a finished one here. I need to get it in the mail by Wednesday at the latest. Here I'm sewing the curved portion of the heart shapes that go around the edge.
We're shopping for a camper. We want to have it prepared for when I retire!

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!