Something Quilty

I Thought I would show you what I have been working on lately. The scrappy strip foundation squares are ongoing and these are just a few of the completed ones. I have about 30 done now. Just need to sew into rows. The blue and yellow is so pretty! It is from two charm packs of Sunshine by Moda The colors are just wonderful and soft! I haven't decided it I am going to keep it or give it away. The 30" grandmother's fan is a mini with blocks being only 6" square, just needs borders sewn on and they are pinned right there on the quilt. HAHA. The red heart quilt has a story behind it. I was in an Internet swap group years ago and we swapped blocks for every holiday, every birthday, you name it, we swapped for it. It was fun, but I had all these blocks and no ideas to put them together. So the other day, I dug in my 2 1/2" strip drawer and pulled out all the pinks and reds and used those as sashings and borders. I had the batting and the backing is a cute purple print with red hearts on it! It is quilted as of yesterday and it needs binding. I plan to give this one to Amber, my daughter, who is my heart.

Amber finally got an apartment and is now offically on her own after about a year of bouncing from friend to friend. She feels so good about this and I know she will do well. The heart quilt will be a nice gift for her new apartment.

I also finished a little quilt that I used a sampler for quilting pratice on Easy Quilter. I bought this at Houston qult show on a whimm. Not a good investment for me. I could not get the hang of it. I did better with free motion. So if anyone is interested, I have an Easy quilter for sale.

Sunday Somethings

Well, hello all! I thought I had better catch up on a few things today. One being my blog. I have posted a few photos today. One is of Eddie and I when we recently went out to dinner! Don't we look cute together? The next is a photo of Eddie and his daughter, Jenny. She is in the Army National Guard and this was taken when we went to South Padre to visit with her. The one of the dogs is so cute. Skooter, the one in the red bandana, just can't stand it if Happy has her dress on and he doesn't have his bandana. Also posted a picture of the BIG FISH Eddie caught today. That fish gave Eddie a big fight for about 15 minutes. It was huge and I had to net him to bring the fish on board.He threw it back in as it was over size, but posed for a photo before he chunked him back in.

Sunshine and Saturday's

It was just a beautiful day here in South Texas. I started the day out sewing and had every intention of completing at least one project. I layered a scrappy heart quilt for my daughter and I pieced together a couch throw made out of two charm packs of Sunshine by Moda. It is so pretty, really soft blues, greens and yellows. I just need to add a border and layer it. Anyway the sunshine was calling me, so i went goofing around. Ending up calling a realtor and she was more than happy to get out of the office for awhile. We looked at 7 or 8 houses in the area we want to live. Only 3 or 4 are actually in the running. But it was fun to look at the houses and get ideas for remodeling and decorating. The realtor was so sweet and she really didn't want to go back to work so we drove around and she took me to a house that her dad and brother are remodeling. It was so pretty and the kitchen was to die for. Loads of cabinets and roomy, really bright! Oh, to win the lottery!

I will post a picture of my January red work block. I started on the February block. I have posted the website below of the designer. I just love the primitive designs. I tea dyed the muslin for the blocks and it has the most charming antique look.

My daughter called and finally got herself an apartment. Yea! She has been without her own place for awhile now. I am sure it will feel good to put some roots down for awhile. She loves all my quilts and thinks she will get them all when I kick the bucket! I need to designate who gets what. Has anyone done that with their quilts?

Wednesday Wanderings

Well, I have cleaned and sorted 3 more boxes that were just thrown into the sewing closet, by someone other than me. I found in there seven baby quilt panels and backings, a box of computer stuff that really goes in the file cabinet, and a bag of panels that I donated. So I purged 3 boxes down to one. I also designated my Mckeena Ryan wallhangings to be thrown to a fellow stashbuster when we finish up the 2 1/2" strip swap. She loves batiks and will be surprised! I really haven't got the batik bug yet. I like them but I am more of a traditional, 30's Aunt Grace kid of quilter. I decided to put the Project that I was in search of fabric for, back in the bag and let it age some more. Who knows when that fabric will shop up!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LINDA! We went to a birthday party last night for a dear friend. We ate the most wonderful seafood at Crab Inn, near Rockport. Linda has accepted me with open arms into their loving family. There was a time for several months when I lived down here by myself with no family or friends, except Linda and John. And believe me, it was pretty rough at times!They are true angels in my book. They are actually friends of Eddie's and he knows them because they own the hotel that Eddie used to stay at 3 or 4 times a year when he came down for fishing. Now we live here, so we can still be friends and enjoy their company.

Oh, almost forgot! There is a quilt show in Victoria this Friday and Saturday. I had planned on being in Victoria anyway on Friday, so I guess I will hit the quilt show and get a punch of energy!

Does anyone every give projects away before they are completed? Just wondering!

In search of this fabric

Okay, I have started a PIZ (project in a zip lock bag). This project was purchased and cut over two years ago. I know i bought only quilt store quality for this project as it was supposed to be a gift to a dear friend. This friend has since passed away and I just feel the need to finish this project. But guess what? Yep, you got it! Somehow I did not purchase enough of one of the background fabrics. And I have already started on some of the blocks.

Anyway, the pattern is called Stars over the Prairie, from the book Wilderness Adventure by Gathering Friends. http://www.gatheringfriendsquiltshop.com/store/product_info.php/cPath/1/products_id/31 You can click on the small photos to enlarge. I decided to use a darker feel for the quilt since it was going to be for a male. And the major background is the fabric I am about 2-3 yards short of. I checked all my scraps for any clue to the manufacture. The picture does not reveal the fabric as being more orangey, not rust colored. If any of you have a piece of this fabric or if you can help identify, please contact me.

Wow!! Time Flies

I just looked at the last date that i posted on my blog and it was 14 days ago. Wow! I know the first week in March was the busiest week of the year for me with my work. I came home Friday and said take me to dinner, anywhere is fine. I spent most of Saturday in bed with a good book, reminds me, need to update my booklist. Then this week has been spring break around here. You have never seen so many kids or familes around the beaches. It is crazy! So I have been working from home most of this week. I did get a little sewing in. I finished 30 string blocks, still need to trim them. It made a small dent in the string box. I also sorted a box of scraps and cut squares or strips in the bigger pieces.

I did have two finishes this week! Yippee! I got the binding on the doggie quilt and the binding on the yellow and ladybug irish chain. Both of those are gifts for friends. i am glad they are finished. I hand stitched those on a drove to South Padre to visit Eddie's daughter who is Army National guard and they had a recruiting station set up on the beach for the spring breakers. Now how many kids do you know will go to the beach to party, tan and swim and oh, by the way, I think I will join the Army National Guard. Thought it was a little strange but at least we got to have a nice visit with her.

Goals for tomorrow include at least one more finish. I haven't decided what yet and to work a little more on my redwork. I am really enjoying doing that.

Hope to go fishing this weekend! Will keep you posted!

Legal Fabric Purchase

I had to stop at Joann's yesterday and buy a new large cutting mat. They had Friskar's mats on sale 40% off, so I will try it. The nice thing about this mat is it is grided on both sides. Then i browsed a bit and ran across some polar fleece with large snowflakes. I can use in my work that next season, which actually starts in August. It will be hard to find snowflakes in August in South Texas. Our company has a seasonal decorating theme and we know in advance for the next season so we can prepare and not be so rushed when the season begins. SO, I considered that a legal purchase since it was for work. I will use to drape on a table, or across boxes to create a little color and excitement.