Progress

is being made.  I'm caught up on Bonnie Hunter's mystery Easy Street, the tree is up and the baking is done. I'm NOT doing any more!  Gifts are bought, and half of them are at their destinations.  Good enough!  Now DH wants to play Wii golf!

Twisted Tulips

DH bought me these gorgeous red tulips--well, they were gorgeous....now they're twisted and I think I like them better now!  (And that may be 'cuz I'm twisted!)

Friday Fun

After all that whining, guess what I did all day?!?  Clue # 3 is almost done--just have to do about 2/3 of the last block--adding the large turquoise half square triangle, pressing and trimming them.  It's too cold to be out splitting wood, and I can procrastinate the rest with the best of them!!  I am loving this mystery!!  So tomorrow they should be done, and them I MUST (read should!) do something Christmasy.

Unprecedented and Unheard of!!

I am caught up with Bonnie Hunter's mystery and awaiting clue # 3!  However, DH comes home tonight and we have much to do:  I haven't even THOUGHT about Christmas decorating (well, maybe a spark flew in and right back out of my brain), and we are almost out of split wood (did you see how cold it's been here??? 20 below!!) Christmas baking, shopping, cards to be addressed and mailed.  Did you notice how I've made excuses for not keeping up on the mystery?!?  Am I setting myself up for failure? or blaming DH.  Hmmm, I think I'll go with that one----he's used to it and I don't want him to feel neglected!

Wordless Wednesday

Monday threads

are happening on my dining room table--I am actually doing Bonnie Hunter's new mystery, Easy Street.  I usually wait til it's revealed, gather the fabric, print the pattern, and relegate it the the herd of swine.  But this time the colors appealed and I bit the bullet!!

I have one more side to bind on a baby quilt and Christmas baking to do, and.....

Birthday bouquet

DH was at work on my birthday, so I was working at the shop.  In walks Tammy's Flowers and Gifts with this gorgeous arrangement!  Sigh......

Quilt # 19

is done and at the shop.  It is the pattern Avalanche by Lisa Moore using the Little Black Dress line of fabric.  Very fast to make (though you would never guess by how long it hung on the design wall while nothing was being done!), this one will look so different in various fabrics.

Design Wall Monday

I know, I know...it's Wednesday, but I DID take this photo on Monday!!  (The blocks are now put together...next up: the borders!)

Better late than never

I've been AWOL--went to the quilt retreat in Homer on the 20th for a fun weekend and haven't done anything but work and laundry and laze around since then!!  Must get my hiney bogs in gear!  Here's a picture of the purse I started WAY back when--Barb and I finished it at the retreat.



 I also got a top done, an apron started that Jeri demo'd (very cute!) and another strip done on my braid top.  And , of course, a lot of laughing and visiting.

Quilt # 18

is ready for the wedding. The youngest son's best friend is getting married today and the quilt is wrapped and ready to go!

Wordless Wednesday

Design Wall Monday

I've been working on a Judy Neimeyer bed runner; have two more pieces to put on 32 more of the small quarters, then on to ALL the rest--lots of hours of work left, but it's not a race (I keep telling myself that!)

Quilt # 17

can now be shown--I gave it to my niece when in Minnesota.  It's her college grad gift.

I'm off

to see my sister, the wonderful sister of mine (sung to the tune off Off to see the Wizard!!)  My flight leaves from Anchorage tonite, so I'll be back in a couple of weeks unless I figure out how to do this on her computer--it could happen....:)

Monday Mystery

Bullwinkle

visited this evening, but he left Rocky at home. He came out of the woods on the south side of the house, and by the time I got the camera in DH's hands, he was in the pond behind our lot!

Busy, Busy

While I was doing this all day yesterday in a wonderful class taught by Barb Steckel:

My DH was catching dinner!

This lovely red salmon was steaked, teryaki'd and grilled to perfection!  (7 steaks were vaccuum packed and placed gently in the freezer--their bones are wicked sharp--don't want to puncture the bags!)

Design Wall Monday

This is what's on my wall---the Bali Pop strips for the large Bali Hobo Bag. (I am moving one of the strips to a new location--a photo is the best way I have found to check out color placement)

The class for this will be on Wednesday--I will be making a small bag using rainbow colors amd only 12 strips--the one above will be started--hopefully!!  There is some homework involved--the tubes must be made and I have been under the weather with a bad cold. (I never get sick!!!).  So we'll see if I get to the huge bag!

On that note, I'm off to the quilt cave.

Quilt # 16

I neglected to get a photo of this one before I took it to the shop, so you get to see it displayed!

Design Wall Monday

Urban Cabin in Red is ready for borders--they are striped, therefore must be mitered.  I love the look of striped borders!  This will be another shop sample, so must get going.....

New flower bed

is complete.

And the flowers on the deck are trying to survive drowning!!  We keep putting them under the eave, then out in the sun for a tad, then back under they go!

Quilt show entry

Quilt # 13 was one of my entries in the quilt show.  It didn't win anything, but I wanted to post a better picture of it!  The jacket I whined about and fought took third!!

Bella Nonna Apron

is done.  When Pat showed me this pattern she saw at Quilt market, I wanted to make it.  The pattern writer, Jayme, sent her first draft and asked me to make it, proofing the pattern as I did.  Is this not the cutest apron?!?  And the mistakes were minor, so no problem constructing it.  I love it!!!

Before

We did a lot of yard work--DH did the heavy stuff and I helped with the wimpy stuff.  Put in beds, 6 trollius, 2 peonies, lots of bark and a rock corner.  When it quits raining I will take "after" pictures.  It does look good.

Quilts #14 and 15

are finished!

Quilt #13

is done.  I photo'd it on my bed since it is a large queen and DH isn't here to help me.There are two more rows hanging off the sides!)  It is one of Brenda Clyde's mystery quilts and I love it so much I have 2 more as PIGS. DH likes this one, so no comments on the number of quilts needed for our bed!

Bouquet

from DH.  Today is our 29th anniversary and he's at work.  So he had these delivered today......think I'll keep him for at least 29 more!!

Jacket

is done!!  Here's the back....

and the front--don't ask me what happened to the hair--it looked good when I left the house---maybe it was me pulling it out  over this jacket!?!

Design Wall Monday

I finally remembered to take my camera out to the studio!

The top on the left is done, and backing is prepared.  Just need batting and to get it loaded on Henrietta.  The strip on the right is as far as I've gotten with this one--the leopard print is cornerstones, sashings and borders.

A Little Bull

laying outside my bedroom window.  He was munching away on dead lawn and cocked an eye toward me while I pushed the window open to take his picture.  He got up and went around the corner when I talked to him...see...he IS a male!!

Goofing around

I really did accomplish some quilting--2 tops were done and another started, but when I saw this hunk of fiber a friend was spinning, I immediately thought--WIG!!

I'm off

to a crafters retreat at our church camp.  I have 4 projects , sewing machine and assorted necessary stuff packed and ready to go.  Just have to fill the car with gas and get it washed (DH will be home Thursday night while I'm still retreating---I'll be there til Sat. noon).  The camp director is gonna fetch DH from the airport for me.  He has done that in the past.
Speaking of him---his 4 oldest children are the ones I just made quilts for and as a thank you, they took me to Coldstone for ice cream.  I have a new love----cake batter ice cream is to die for!!!
Better get moving---I am coming home at night to sleep in my own comfy bed (I live 3 miles from camp!) so will hopefully post some pictures---if I don't fall asleep!

Oh!! Look!!

YARD!!!!  Yesterday's rain and today's sun and balmy temperatures in the 50's have uncovered yard!  Caloo, Calay oh happy day for cabbages and Alaskans.....(too many syllables in that last word...oh,well...)

Backing....

and more backing!!  This piece that desperately needed to be ironed is 108x126.  That's a lot of ironing!  But it is done and ready to be loaded.  So I'm sitting at the computer trying to psych myself up....think I'll play a computer game instead!

Progress

is being made on two fronts.  A mystery quilt top is done (the class was in April 2010--it's only been a year!) and will be loaded on Henrietta as soon as I iron the backing.  The jacket is......progressing.

Ripping and Kit Cutting

is what happened here today, so no photos :(  I ripped for 3 and 1/2 hours while watching mindless chick flicks, but the DJ Spring Fling blocks are ready to be resashed as soon as I get out of the dentist office tomorrow and over to the shop for some quilt quality cream fabric.  And three kits  are ready to take to a quilt retreat.  I just have to get the cream cut and in the bag to make 4.  That should be enough!
I am taking a 3 part class to make a cute jacket, and am not getting my homework done---I HATE to make clothing, but this jacket is so cute, and Becca is not here for me to whine and try to coerce, so since I want it badly, I'll see how things go!  If and when it gets done I"ll show it to you.

Quilt #12

is finished and delivered to the shop to be displayed.
The Lenten challenge quilt is not going to be finished in time--I am going to reverse stitch the sashing I did and replace the fabric--the muslin I was using is just too yucky and cheap---I'm not putting hours into something that won't hold up.  That bolt is good for nothing but foundations!  So there!  Consequently, it won't be done, but I am determined the blocks Will Not go back to being BOBs!!!  We will see......

Senior ....

week, month, year?!?

Here is the photo of my awesome gift from Becca--Isn't it Cute??  (Ignore the mess on my cutting table)

Quilt #11

is done.  This one is 60 x 85.  I think I will do more binding cut at 2 inches--I really like the look.
I have the top done from Pat's class, but can't find the thread I want to use--maybe I just dreamed I had it!! (I do dream of pretty cones of thread as well as pretty bolts of fabric!)
Am working this weekend, so will Try to limit my fabric acquisition to only NEEDED fabric--which gives me free rein!  Oh, well.

Design Wall Monday

3 rows are now put together--the goal is to have this one done by Easter.  We shall see....

Tonight is part 2 of Pat's class.  The goal is to get the blocks put together and the borders on.  We shall see....

Sunday Stitches

I have parked my hiney boggs on the couch for a marathon of binding---I cut it at 2 inches instead of 2 1/4, so the stitches will have to be smaller so there will be no gaping!!  Therefore, it will take longer--good thing I love that part of quilting!

Kelli at thatlookslikeitneedsstitches.blogspot.com has a great giveaway going on---fat quarters!  Check it out.

Happy kids

The four children I just made quilts for love them..  Their mom sent me a video she took of them pulling the quilts out of the bag and each child grabbed the one made for them.  Score!!  And they snuggled in on the couch all afternoon.  And that's why I make and give quilts away.  (No snickering or "told you so"s, Becca!!!)

My sister loves me

She says she's craft impaired, but I checked out the back of this embroidered dish towel and she is good!
And she knows I love pink flamingos and the beach---the kind that has hot sand, not the beaches around here with cold rocks and ice chunks!!

Playing

The pig has been slaughtered and half the blocks are made.

Design wall Monday

Oops! Deleted the photo of the blocks I had on the wall ( Making Out with Bob challenge on a quilt list) and they are now down, pinned in order, ready to be sashed.  My bad.
 Tonight I will be in a quilt class taught by my wonderful boss lady, so a PIG (Project In Grocery bag) will be slaughtered and added to the WIP (Works In Progress) group.
The sun is shining and it was 0 degrees this morning....Oh, Joy!!  I love global warming!

Quilt #10

This  is for Dakota--guess what? He likes wolves!  So I took a panel and some wolf fabric and created this.  A designer I am not, but the kid will love it......or else!!

Alien???

or long-legged moose?  I thought these tracks coming out of the woods looked great.  The snow is only about 3 feet deep!

#8 Quilt

is done!  (I really DO have a life besides quilting!)