USA Flag

I am in the process of making a USA Flag quilt.  It is going to be scrappy reds and creams.  The top photo is only showing the lower half of the flag -- there are six more stripes to be attached to the blue.  The blue portion is a mottled blue.  Originally, I was going to embroidery the 50 stars on the blue but I chickened out!  SEW, I bought some ready-made applique stars.  I finally got the spacing of the stars calculated and iron on.  Now, as you can see (bottom pic), I am in the process of stitching them down.  I can't wait to finish it to see how it looks.  This quilt will be a gift for my son.   I have the backing purchased and ready to go.  I can't wait to get it finished.  Stay tuned.........

SEW, It's Been a While.....

......yes, it has! I've not posted on this here blog in a while. Here's a quick update!

I entered some items in our local county home economics show and won 5 1st place ribbons, one best of class and first in the Go Texan Quilting category -- so my quilt will advance to the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo competition. Pics to come......

This past weekend, I attend the Longarm Quilting Training Academy in Houston. It was AWESOME. I took LOTS of classes, met lots of neat quilters, learned lots of stuff, saw and touched lots of beautiful quilts and took LOTS of pictures. Now thats a LOT of stuff in one sentence. BUT, I have LOST ALL THOSE LOTS OF PICTURES! I'm not happy. When I turn on my camera it says "reformat card?" and it says the same thing when I put the memory card in the computer! If I reformat, I lose everything, but I still can't access those pics? Anyone out there have any remedies???

Stay tuned to my blog as I will be sharing more info soon.......TIME, that's what I need is TIME! LOL! Here's hoping you all have a blessed week......

.......MORE TO COME.

National Quilting Day

It is National Quilting Day.....OH MY! What will you do to celebrate?

Will you attend a quilt show with friends?

Will you go fabric shopping at your favorite quilt shop?

Will you fondle all your scraps?

Will just *THINK* about doing some cooking and then *THINK NOT*???

Will you relax and enjoy a nice glass of wine?

Will you act silly with your quilting buddies?

Will you enjoy some good ole coffee and not worry about the kitchen?

Will you make a pretty quilt?

Will you bee of quilting spirit?

Whatevah you choose to do, I hope you have a very, very special National Quilting Day!

Tyler Quilt Show

The following are some pictures from the Tyler Quilt Show.

This was the wearable arts section and I LOVED this top---made of vintage linens.

The following is Psalm 23; beautiful quilt.

I am not a big fan of the Turning 20 pattern, but check out this one: It is all about Texas with embroidery in the blocks. I really liked it.

Here is a close up of some of the blocks:

Loved this quilt. I've been fighting myself NOT to buy the pattern. Can you tell from these pictures, that I'm "really into" embroidery these days????

There were several Christmas quilts in the show.

Nice pink/brown in repro fabrics.

Handembroidered quilt "Angel of the Month: I was really nice.
If you are a fan of Leanne Beasley, you will like this quilt. The maker added more blocks to make the quilt larger.
Another Christmas quilt made from log cabin blocks with embroidery in the centers. I overhead a man in the crowd say "it needs more green". I think so too.

This story quilt about fishing caught my eye since my hubby is gone on a fishing trip.
Roosters, of course!

This fall quilt was really pretty with the use of the colors.

This qpplique quilt was made entirely of wool.
I liked this feather star with the delectable mountain blocks surrounding it.
This quilt is "Tulip Time" incorporating machine embroidery and piecing. I have started this same quilt, but nope it's not finished.

That's All Folks!

*Sigh* uuuurrrrrggggg! -- Venting

Well, I'm a bit frustrated from the weekend. Actually, just from Sunday. You see, I attend a retreat every January and January 2009 will be our 10th year of retreating together. Each year, we come up with some type of swap or exchange for the following year. This January, we are exchanging blocks for an "Our Town" quilt. We put the names of different buildings in a basket and each person drew for their building. I drew a fire station. This is ironic because my son is a Houston, TX, fireman. Well, here I go, get out the ole graph paper and start designing. That required me to use a pencil, ruler, and my BRAIN (scares someof you, I know). I come up with a block, make a prototype. Now, all I need is a fire truck. I plan to cut out a fire truck and applique it in front of the station. The fabric I have has a really realistic fire truck, but not enough to use for all 14 blocks. I have some fabric with retro fire trucks, but I really didn't like those. After searching the internet, I have found some fabric that I think will work. Now I'm waiting for the fabric. I would post a picture of the block but there are 2 reasons I won't. #1 -- I want to wait until the protype block is complete. #2 -- I can't find the battery charger to my camera!!!!!

On Saturday, my buddies Kathleen and Molly and I went to our favorite quilt shop for a quick trip of shopping. I bought lots of different fabrics, but I can't take a picture (remember I misplaced the camera battery). BUT, go over to Molly's Place and you can read all about the trip.

Okay, I finished venting! I feel better and thank you for your time!

Solo Retreat Weekend

It's been a great weekend of sewing. I had a retreat all by my BIG SELF! DH was gone and I spent the past two days in my studio sewing away, watching old movies and making some progress. I had planned to work on the Spring Fling Round Robin II, but I need batik fabric. I don't have a lot of batiks in my stash and wouldn't you know it -- I didn't have the color I needed.

*************************************************************************************

Here is a picture of the quilt top for my DS & DIL. This quilt has 110 (yes, I said 110) 8-inch blocks plus two borders. It is the largest quilt I have ever made. I've been working on it for a LOOOOOONNNNNNGG time. I grew bored with making the same block over and over and would always find some other little project to squeeze in. Well, the top is ready, the backing pieced, quilting thread selected and ready to be quilted. I would have quilted it over the weekend but I didn't have a batting large enough -- the largest I had was a queen size.

Here is a picture of the backing (all pieced and ready to go) draped over the longarm.

*************************************************************************************

The very first quilting retreat I ever went on was nearly 10 years ago. In January, we will celebrate our 10th anniversary of retreating together. There are only 7 of the original quilters left out of 17. We still have about 15 retreaters though. We decided the 7 charter members would exchange churn dash blocks. The center was to be made from a grey fabric to look like tin, which is a symbol for a 10-year anniversary.

The block on the left back in August at a retreat at the Compass Centre. It just looks so washed out and I really didn't like it at all. The grey, pink and purple seemed to just blend together. SEW, I made new blocks this morning (the block on the right). The center looks like grey cat hair with the churn dash being a lime green and the other portion black with brightly colored paw prints. I still have to sign my name.

**************************************************************************************

A few posts back, I was soliciting ideas for organizing my fabric. When going thru all my fabric, I found these Christmas redwork blocks done on my Janome 10000 a few years back. I had forgotten all about making them -- what a pleasant surprise. They are stitched on a white fabric with snowflake motifs. I decided to put them together. I just went to the Christmas drawer (see, I got somewhat organized --LOL!), and found some fabrics that I thought would look good with the blocks.

I put a red "flipper" (my own personal quilting term) around each block before sashing with the green stripe and red polka dot cornerstones. I then put a red "stop border" around the blocks before adding the final border. I thought the border fabric that looks like old-fashion Christmas trees with toys was a good compliment to the red and green fabrics. It is ready to be quilted. I plan to use the red polka dot as the binding. Here are some pictures of the finished top.

T.G.I.F.

Thank God it is Friday! What a week it has been. I've been very busy at work and so ready for the weekend.

I hope everyone has a great weekend filled with lots of peace, love, and LOTS OF QUILTING! I'm hoping to get some quilting done this weekend -- but then I have started a really good book -- NO, NO, NO -- I can only read at night when I go to bed! I MUST QUILT -- LOL!

Have a good one! I hope to post some accomplishments!

Raining in Texas

Well, our part of Texas is getting some much needed rain -- YEA! I just wish that I was able to sit at home and sew and watch it rain out the window! Oh well, somebody's gotta work -- LOL!

I enjoyed my retreat this weekend. I feel like I got a number of things accomplished, but there is still sew much more to do! I'm looking forward to Labor Day Weekend -- I plan to get lots of sewing accomplished!

Well, ya'll all have a great day!

Josh Quilt

Here is a picture of the blocks that are going into Josh's quilt. You will see "Josh Quilt" on my list of things to do for the past several months. This is 50 of the 120 blocks that I have to make. I've got approximately 70 of the blocks made and continue to work on them. See -- I'm really working on it! LOL! I really want to get this finished soon so I can move on to other projects.

Sew, What's Up?

Sew, what's up with everyone? I've really been in a slump lately. It is the 10th day of July and I've not even touched my applique nor have I turned on the sewing machine!!! I usually do at least one of the two every day. I guess I'm just tired. We spent all last week at the lake. Then we come home on Sunday and Tuesday friends come in to stay with us so they can go to a funeral on Wednesday morning. My son, d-i-l, and grandkids also come in to stay as well for the funeral as well as a little league tournament.

The funeral was for the Fire Chief of Teague, TX, who was killed in the line of duty. This really hit home with me because my son is a firefighter with the Houston Fire Dept. I pray daily that he is safe.

My granddaughter was playing in a little league tournament so we went to that in the evening. It was SO HOT!! Her team is out of the tourney now so they will be returning home today.

I am so hoping to get my life back to normal and to get some sewing done!

Mr. Postman

Wow, what a day I had! The postman delivered me a box from DS#2 and DIL who live in Williamsburg, VA. I opened the box and there were two get well cards -- one even sang to me! Along with the cards were this beautiful collection of fabric -- by Windham -- The Williamsburg Christmas Collection -- 27 beautiful fat quarters!!!! Now talk about a great gift for a quilter!!! This sure did lift my spirits! I was sew excited! The fabrics came from Love 2 Quilt a great little shop in Williamsburg that I got to patronize while visiting Williamsburg in December.

I went out to my studio (separate from my house) to "piddle around". I heard a vehicle drive up (I live in the country so if you hear a car, they are coming to visit.) and looked out the window. There was the FedEx truck. Now, I was thinking "what has my hubby ordered now? Probably fishing stuff." Well, the guy gets out of the truck and it was a box FOR ME!!!! I hadn't ordered anything, so I was baffled. Lo and behold, it was another box from DS#2 and DIL!!! A Sew-EZ Table that I had been wanting. This was my birthday and Mother's Day gift! They had told me my gift would be a bit late, but when I got the fabrics I thought that was my gift!

This is a picture from the website. I'll have to post a pic of the "real thing with my machine" later as I have to get my hubby to put the table together. I can't because of my recent surgery, I can't lift anything over 5 lbs!

I'm Back!

Well, I've been AWAY for a while! May has been a wild month for me. First off, May is National Older Americans' Month. As the Director of our County Senior Services Program, I was very busy planning, decorating and hosting a luncheon for all senior citizens in the county. We had close to 300 people to attend!!!

Second, the following weekend, was the County Relay for Live Event. I was the Survivor Chairman so there was lots of work to do -- registering the survivors, planning survivor reception, sorting and distributing shirts, etc. We raised over $100,000 and still counting!

Then the following week, I went into the hospital for surgery!!!! I'm now on the road to recovery -- still sore and tire easily, but I think things are going to be okay! I will be returning to work soon :(

I have done a bit of applique today == yea! I feel so much better after doing a bit of sewing. Be sure to watch my blog for upcoming pictures! I hope to get some things posted to the blog and become more active during the month of June.

Wackies at the Deer Camp

The Wacky Pac Quilters got together this past weekend at the Fryer Deer Camp. Thanks to Molly and her hubby for allowing us the opportunity to retreat their during the off season.

There were six of us 'die-hard' Wackies who went on Thursday and stayed thru Sunday. Oh my gosh -- we had SEW MUCH FUN!

Several of us worked on our strip-block exchange that is currently in progress. There were strips EVERYWHERE! Then we had to audition several of the blocks on the design board to see how they would look. They were beautiful! There were Christmas, Western, Thimbleberries, Browns/Tans, Aunt Gracie, etc. Rhonda put them up on the design wall and as you can see from the picture, we were all oooo-ing and awww-ing over them. They look really good!

On Saturday evening, we cooked steaks outside on the veranda. That was anothere adventure, getting the fire going! Rhonda and Kathleen cooked the steaks and they were WONDERFUL!!!! There is one thing you can always count on when the Wacky Pac gets together -- lots of quilting and good food!