The Ole Bag Swap

Remember the Ole Bag Swap that our Wacky Pac Quilters were doing? I finally finished making my blocks and putting them together. I have made a table runner. Now I just have to decide whether to put borders on it or just quilt it and bind it. What do you think -- borders or not?????

Scrapbooking Layout

In addition to being addicted to quilting, I'm also addicted to scrapbooking!!! I am currently working on (when not quilting) a scrapbook called "All About Me" which will include things about me in my lifetime. This picture is the 2-page layout that I did of my Mother. I will be adding additional pages about her with more current pictures. This layout is done with pictures of her in her younger days.

I decided to do this scrapbook to record things about my life that my children may not know -- my dreams as a little girl, childhood memories, etc. I ofter wonder about stuff like that about my Mama and it would have been really neat for me to have found something like this when going through her things. I just hope I get it finished -- I have so many projects going! LOL

Ode to the 1930's -- Again

In a previous post, I told you I was doing the "Ode to the 1930's" BOM by Homestead Hearth. Here is a picture of some of the completed blocks. I've not done much work with the 30's fabrics so this is fun for me. I think it is going to be a really pretty quilt when it is finished.

Sewing with Mammy

My 7-yr. old granddaughter decided she was ready to learn to sew. She decided to make a little quilt for her little baby doll. We looked through my basket of nickle squares and guess what colors she picked? Pink and Purple, of course! We arranged them on the table to her liking and then the sewing lessons began! She was so excited and quite the good student. After explaining how to work my featherweight, I sew a couple of blocks together and then she got busy. She was really concentrating matching right sides and sewing straight seams. She was learning to not only sew the blocks together, but to chain-piece as well. Once she sewed blocks together, she then cut the blocks apart with such precision!

She learned out to set the seam with the iron, finger press, and press with the iron. I was very proud of her as she was being ever so careful! Every step she did, she would stop, clap her hands and say "Mammy, I'm sewing! I'm just like you!" She then asked me, "can I have that little black sewing machine of yours?" LOL!

Of course, this grandmother or "Mammy" as they call me, was beaming from ear-to-ear. Why, that child couldn't do anything wrong that afternoon. We didn't get finished with the project as we had to go meet her Mom so she could go home, but we will get it finished and I'll post a picture of the final product.

Posting

Well here I am 'finally' posting to my blog. I really, really have good intentions and then I don't do it because I want to add a picture. I'm on a dial-up connection at home so I tend to try to upload my photos from work. Well, I keep forgetting to bring my flashdrive with my pictures! SEW, I decided I better post "something" before I get kicked out of all the rings! LOL!

I have started a new applique project and I will post pictures soon. I have gotten several blocks made in the "Ode to the 1930's" BOM that I have started.

Keep watching -- I'll have pictures soon!

Remembering Mama

Today would have been my Mama’s 80th birthday. Mama passed away on December 9, 2002, in Houston Texas. She was a great lady, a great mother, and a great quilter! She talked about quilting up until the last couple of days of her life while in ICU.

Up until the latter years of her life, she made her quilts by hand. When she started machine-piecing, she thought she was in Heaven. She made each one of her children and grandchildren a quilt. We all got to pick out the colors and “most of the time” the pattern.

Mama didn’t teach me to quilt. Even though I would watch her all the time, I took classes at the local quilt shop – in fact, she took them with me! My niece, Kim (over at Peach Quilting), lived with my Mama when her husband was overseas (he is in the service), and Mama taught her to quilt. She is now an avid quilter too so Mama’s legacy lives on.

I always got tickled at her because she called the Sun Bonnet Sue quilt pattern “Sue Bonnet Sue”. In fact when going through her quilting things, I found some “Sue Bonnet Sue” blocks that she had made. My niece, Kim, was expecting her first little girl so I sent them to her to make the baby a quilt.

When she passed away, I spent a week at her home (I lived approximately 150 miles away) to take care of final arrangements, etc. My comfort was to go sit in her sewing chair in her sewing room. I would sit in that chair and just look around and cry and remember so many fond memories.

I miss my Mama greatly. There is hardly a day that passes that I don’t think about her. So many times, I have physically picked up the phone to call her and had to put the phone down because I realized she was not there. But, I know she is in Heaven just quilting away, enjoying a hobby that she loved so that is comfort to me!

Ode to the 1930's

Why, Why, Why???? I've gone and got myself involved in a BOM -- Ode to the 1930's. The picture is not real good but it is a beautiful quilt and involves both piecing and applique. Now why in the world do I do this? Do you have any idea how many BOMs, and projects that I've not even started???? Well, guess what -- I don't either -- LOL! I guess I need to count those. But maybe not -- it may be too much!

Anyway, in this program, I receive several blocks per month. I am on the last block for August (the applique block) and just received the September blocks on Saturday. It is a fun project and I can't wait to get to put all the blocks together -- they are all different sizes and it will be fun to put together. I'll post some pictures of the blocks as I don't think this picture does it justice.

The Quilt

I've posted this picture before in a prevous post, but now I just HAD to post it again! You see our Wacky Pack Quilters made this quilt and donated it to Freestone County Relay for Life last May. The group decided to make the quilt in blues as that is the color for colon cancer and they made it in honor of "me" because I am a colon cancer survivor!!! I was so honored. I was even more excited when we auctioned the quilt at the Relay for Life event. The winning bidder was a man that is also a colon cancer survivor, and he was someone I had worked with for over 20 years!!! I was so proud that he got the quilt -- in fact more proud he won the bid than that the quilt was made in my honor.

That was back in May. Well, here I was sitting in my office working at my computer and a lady came in and said "I'm bringing this back to you." I looked up and it was the wife of the man who won the quilt. All I could think was "what's wrong?" I told her that was her husband's quilt and she said "no, Kathy, that quilt was made with lots of love for you, and we want you to have the quilt. It belongs in your home, not ours." I just burst into tears and jumped up and hugged her. She also had tears in her eyes and turned and just said "I've got to get out of here."

I couldn't belive it -- these wonderful people felt that this quilt should be mine! My dear Wacky quilting sisters made it so it is full of so much love. I am in such awe that the quilt was given to to me. It instantly became one of my most cherished possessions. All I can say is "thank you" to my friends -- the quiltmakers and the wonderful couple who wanted me to have this quilt -- what selflessness!!!!

It Came and It Left!!!!

Yeee Haaawwww as we say in Texas! The class catalog came for the Quilting Cruise that I am taking in February. I was so excited that I could hardly open the envelope. I've picked my first and second choices of classes and that registration form has already left to go back to Houston to Quilters Emporium!!!

I signed up for classes with Paula Barnes, Robyn Pandolph, and Linda Everhart. It was really hard to decide which classes to take. I will be taking classes on piecing, applique, bindings, etc. I can hardly wait!!!

The Wacky Pack Quilters have had the phone lines buzzin' talking about what classes we are going to take. Between the eight of us going on the cruise, we are probably going to hit (not literally!) every teacher. This will be great because then we can share with each other everything we learn.

I wish all of you out there were going with us!

Wacky Pack Swap

If you have been reading any of the Wacky Pack Girls' blogs, then you know that we are doing a monthly swap. Each member choose a block and everyone makes a block for that person during that month.

Here is a picture of the block I made for Kay. Her choice was Texas Christmas. We have a very creative group and I felt like Kay would get a number of really cool applique' blocks (and she did), so I chose to make her a pieced block.

The next person I made a block for was Annale. She chose Texas as her theme. Once again, I decided to do a pieced block. You cannot have a Texas quilt without bluebonnets, so here you go -- bluebonnets.

We have so much fun with our swaps. We have one more member to get her blocks and that is Jerri. She chose 6-1/2 inch blocks made from repro fabrics. I've got to get busy and her her blocks made before October!

The Wacky group then has to decide what swap to do next. One suggestion is a string block....If you have any ideas for our group, please post them.

Product Review

I have found a new product! It is Mary Ellen's Best Press, an alternative to starch. I used it this weekend for the first time and I love it!!!!! It is non-aerosol and smells' great. It comes in three different fragrances -- lavender (which is what I have), caribbean beach and citrus grove. It doesn't flake, clog or or anything and doesn't leave a residue like the can spray starch does. Give it a try -- most quilt shops have it or you can order it on-line. I love it and when you iron over it, the aroma is wonderful!!! Go Mary Ellen!!!!!!

Ole Bag Blocks

As promised, here is a picture of the "broken dishes" blocks that I am making out of my friends scraps and the Wacky Pack "Ole Bag Swap". I have several more blocks cut, but they haven't been sewn yet.

It's Been A While!

I can't believe that it has been so long since I have posted to my blog. I started a new job the first of July and that has been taking a lot of my time. I haven't gotten much sewing done, but I'm ready for September!!!!!

I think most of you know that I belong to the Wacky Pack quilting group. We are currently in an 'ole bag' swap. This is where we each provide a large gallon-size baggie full of scraps. We rotate the bags around, making blocks out of each bag. Once we complete rotating the bags, we will have blocks for a truly scrappy quilt. This picture is just one of the bags that I have had the fun with. I will post a picture of the "broken dishes" blocks that I am making

It's Here!!!!

I was a lucky winnre over at Leanne's House and won her pattern. Not only did she send me the pattern but fat quarters and a great handmade card!!!!!! Take a peek! I'm so honored!

I'm a WINNER!

Oh my gosh! I have won a "Making Memories Quilt" pattern! I'm SEW EXCITED. It will be a perfect quilt to make to take on my upcoming cruise. Everyone does know I'm going on a cruise with the Wacky Pac, don't ya????? Check out the pattern and picture of the quilt oover at www.leanneshouse.typepad.com. I would do a "link thing" but I don't know how!!!! She is such a talented lady and I love reading her blog!

Happy Birthday America!

Happy July 4th everyone! Here I am sitting at Lake Limestone playing with the computer. We have three couples here from North Carolina, my brother and sister-in-law, their twins and their granddaughters. My son and daughter-in-law are here too. We are having a great time! I hope all of you spend the day with family and friends as you celebrate our independence. Be Safe!

Family Reunion

Yesterday was the Earley family reunion. We met in Conroe at my husband's brother's house. We had a great group even though not everyone was able to attend. Aunt and Uncle and cousins from Tyler were there. Both my boys were there, my brother and two of his daughters, all my husband's siblings, and a couple of friends were able to attend. The food was catered by McKenzie's BBQ and it was great. The kids (and some adults) enjoyed time in the swimming pool while the rest of us visited and caught up with each other. My sister-in-law, Billie, and I planned a little skit! We dressed up like frumpy old women -- complete with sponge rollers, rolled down knee-high stockings, and even threw in a cigarette just for grins --neither of us smoke! Here's a picture of us looking silly. We always have so much fun when we are together. Neither of us had a sister so we have claimed each other as 'sisters' not just 'in-laws" Enjoy!

Charleston, SC, Firefighters

I would like to publicly give my condolences to the family, friends community of the nine Charleston, SC, firefighters who lost their lives on 6/19. What a tragedy! It is a great loss to the firefighting community, Charleston, SC, and to our country.

As the mother of a firefighter, it really brings home the dangerous job these men and women have each day protecting us.

Please pray for God's peace and comfort to this community and the families as well as pray for protection and safety of all of our Nation's firefighters and other public servants..

It's Been a While!

It's been a while since I've posted. Lots going on in my life. My youngest son and daughter-in-law have come in from Germany and will be home for about 5 weeks. It was so good to see them as we haven't seen them in 2 years. They are moving back to the U.S. to Virginia! YEA! A lot closer and I can pick up the phone can call anytime without thinking about those expensive calls to Germany.

Since the last post, I've decided to go on a QUILTING CRUISE with 7 of my Wacky Friends! I am SEW EXCITED! When my friend, Molly, suggested it, I wasn't too excited. You see I started a job last September and don't have a lot of vacation. A cruise is on my "list of things to do before I die" and my husband encouraged me to go (as he will never go on a cruise). SEW, after a little thought, I decided I'M GOING!!!!! I just think about it all the time. It's 8 months away, which seems like FOREVER! I can't wait to get the information on the classes so I can make my choices and order my kits. I've bought me a new digital camera and case for the trip, and already thinking about what clothes to take. Am I crazy or what???? Hey, don't answer that! LOL.

I did get to do some sewing yesterday -- made two swap blocks for the Wacky Monthly Swap. Tonight after work, I plan to work on the Wacky Pack emblem that was developed by Rhonda and Annale. It is sew cool. I want to "audition" several colors/fabrics and choose which I like best for a shirt. I envision this logo on EVERYTHING as we go crusin' in the Carribbean!

Wacky Swap for 2007

If you have read any of my earlier posts or been over at "Molly's Place", then you know that our Wacky Quilting group does a swap every year. I didn't take pics of the blocks at first, but now I've gotten smarter ;) -- gotta stay thinking about the blog. Anyway, the picture to the right is the block for my wacky friend, Rhonda -- her theme was anything Texas. I thought she needed a bluebonnet.

Now, Wacky friend, Kathleen chose lighthouses as her theme. I looked and looked, and I came upon this lighthouse fabric by Jim Shore. I loved it and had to have it! The picture to the left is the block I made for Kathleen. I sure hope she likes it!