Making Lemonade

For some reason which escapes me now, I made two of these tablerunners -- this one and another that had a blue with a little gold in it for the main fabric. It was truly ugly -- well it was pretty fabric, but it didn't belong with these sunflowers. So, it and this one, became ufo's because I didn't like them enough to finish them. Fast forward to this week. I pulled the other tablerunner out and decided to just quilt it and add it to the collection of ugly quilts. While looking for a backing, I found a fabric that was bought more recently (in the last year or so). So, I took the blue one apart, redesigned it, saving only the big sunflowers and just finished sewing the binding down. Here's the lemonade made from a lemon:


And that makes two finished ufo's for the month of May!

I did buy some fabric this month -- mostly backgrounds and a border fabric for the Tulips All Around, but also a couple of other blues that were in the running for borders, but lost out and are now added to stash.




Gratitudes:
1. Briana slipped on the monkey bars while at her mother's for the weekend, and now has 5 stitches in her chin/lip and two loose teeth. I'm grateful it wasn't any worse and she will get the stitches out on Friday.
2. Also grateful that she cried for her Daddy and he, of course, drove all the way to Milwaukee to be at the hospital with her and brought her home.
3. Managed to get "most" of the weeding done before the heat and humidity sent me inside.
4. Rain. And it cooled off enough that tomorrow I can finish the last flower bed (and start over again).
5. Sunflowers and quilts.

Another UFO bites the dust

I know why I have so many ufo's that are just waiting to be quilted -- they're ugly! This was a test quilt for a pattern I designed. By the time I perfected the pattern and finished about 6 of these, I was sick to death of the pattern! I had the flowered print for years -- I loved it, but didn't have a good fabric that went with any of the colors in the print. I was trying to use up stash, so managed to match the gold to the gold in the print -- but after I got it put together, the gold was just overpowering. That's how it got to the ufo pile -- my story and I'm sticking to it! The choice was either throw the whole thing out or quilt it quick and bind it. I hate throwing out quilts even if they're ugly! LOL Someone will love it, or the dog will!

I have two table runners to quilt and finish, too -- just as ugly, if not more! vbg

Tulips All Around is Finished

Pieced, quilted, bound and washed! I quilted tulips (what else?!) into the blocks and the borders. The two inner borders have little tulips quilted in them and the larger outer border has double feathers quilted in it -- was dying to use the stencil I bought a few months ago. ;-)
I also added the raw edge applique that the pattern called for -- the leaves and the centers of the pieced tulips. I wasn't going to, because I'm not that fond of the raw edge stuff, but the quilt really needed it.
Glad to have it done and have just pin basted an ufo to work on -- need to get at least one ufo done yet this month! It's a small one, so hope to have it finished tomorrow.

Gratitudes
1. The rain -- after 5 straight days of weeding I needed a break and the weather cooperated.
2. The hummingbirds at the feeders -- they buzzed me three times while I was planting impatiens for them to enjoy and weeding under the feeder in the front. A little impatient, I think.
3. JR's not fighting me too much when I give him his meds.
4. Lunch date planned with a friend -- gives me something to look forward to this week, and time to plan my week around it!

Tulips All Around

The top is done! Not real happy with the lighter green fabric I chose, but not changing it. The top is now sandwiched and even have the anchor stitching done so maybe tomorrow I can start on the freehand stuff. This was an enjoyable afternoon!

Gratitudes
1. JR has to take phenobarbital for his seizures, according to the vet on Friday, but so far he's taking them without much fight.
2. Dinner out at a nice restaurant tonight -- the stuffed shrimp were fabulous.
3. Bill used Roundup on the weeds in the lily bed and it has really made a difference.
4. A beautiful spring day today -- even spent some time outside in the flower beds.
5. Another talk with my daughter today.

I'm Quilting!

I finally sat down and sewed today! I'm doing a Thangles Buck a Block from a lqs and needed to piece the latest one I picked up a week ago. It felt so good, I pieced the quilt together -- well, as far as I could anyway -- still have 3 more months to go on the BOM. I'm doing a Christmas fabric one -- the main print is green holly with berries on a white background. The sashings are green and cornerstones red and the 5" wide border will be a gorgeous red Christmasy paisley. It's only a small quilt though -- about 50 x 60, I think.

It feels good to finally start sewing again! I even cut out a Kansas Troubles pattern called Tulips All Around -- a 40" square quilt I want to use on my kitchen table. Hope to start working on it tomorrow.

Tuesday

One more picture of AJ, then I'll try to get back to quilting! This was taken Sunday morning after his bath. We gave him the T-shirt that he's wearing and he loves it because it has cookies and milk on it. But it says, "What Happens At Grandma's, Stays at Grandma's". Yes, he's spoiled rotten, but he such a wonderful child!

Funny story about Saturday night. We came out of the restaurant we took Papa to for his birthday and I was putting him in his carseat (AJ, not Papa!). He passed a little gas twice and said, "'Scuse me, 'Scuse me -- I fart". I totally lost it all the way home. Such a polite child! vbg

Anyway -- on to more quilty things. I didn't actually do anything quilty today, but I did think about it! I was thumbing through magazines and trying to find inspiration, but my mind wandered to Bonnie's Quiltville site and I knew I didn't need any magazines for inspiration -- there's just tons on her site. Plus, Dawn posted a couple of pictures of the quilt she's working on and Lucy and Bonnie's versions the other day. Lots of inspiration and I'm starting to get "itchy" to get back into the sewing room. Won't be long now!

Gratitudes

1. Getting my haircut -- it grows so fast that 5 weeks is getting to be too long in between cuts!

2. May weather in the midwest -- rain, sun, rain, sun. Try to get the lawn mowed between rain drops!

3. A drop-in visit from old friends -- great to see them and catch up a little.

4. Getting the itch to stitch again.

Mother's Day and Beyond

So this is what I was doing all weekend: ;-) This is of course, AJ. He's two, but he lies to everyone that asks and says he's "tree" or "free"! He's a heartbreaker! Especially at 3:30 am when he's calling, "Gwama, gwama"!


Bill's Birthday and Mother's Day was a success. Boy, was I exhausted last night! Definitely got my exercise in playing with the boy! Got the cutest handmade picture frame with both Briana and AJ in the picture - real cuties, and a coffee mug with my favorite picture of AJ on it! Great Mother's Day gifts!
We did barbecued chicken on the grill and had broiled asparagus (was going to put them on the grill -- but broiling was faster). They were fabulous. If you like asparagus, drizzle with a little olive oil, salt and pepper, and place on a medium hot grill, turning often -- takes anywhere from 5 to 10 minutes -- excellent!
Back to the ole grind today -- even spent a couple of hours vacuuming the ceiling and beams in the kitchen, clutter room and small bath on the main floor. (We live in a log home -- I just need to vacuum occasionally -- never wash and paint walls! vbg)
Still haven't done any quilting -- this is the longest break I've had from it since I started quilting about 15 years ago! But I did buy some fabric last Thursday -- some backgrounds and some dark blues for borders and blocks for a Kansas Troubles quilt pattern I want to make soon -- just a 40" square for the kitchen table. Maybe Thursday or Friday I can start cutting!

Gratitudes

1. Having all the kids except for Kim, who spent the day with her mom, out to the house yesterday.
2. The basket of flowers from Steve & Kim: lots of summer annuals. It's too big to hang in the hanger all ready on the porch, so it's sitting on the table on the front porch.
3. Hummingbirds at the feeders in the front and the back.
4. The bluebirds are back.
5. Finishing up the leftovers from yesterday -- easy dinner.

May Showers and Flowers

This was the hand appliqued/hand quilted wedding quilt I made my daughter and son-in-law for their wedding July 2003. I even finished it in time for the wedding! The pattern was a book by Kathy Delaney. I put their wedding invitation on the back -- but can't find that picture right now!

To everyone that sent hugs and prayers on my blue funk -- thanks, I needed that! I'm over it now -- don't have time for such nonsense! vbg

We just got back from Branson -- had a nice time, saw old friends and a few shows. Spent a lot of time in the car. Did manage to visit Quilts & Quilts Country Store and bought 3 books -- like I really needed them or something. Don't remember the exact titles right now, but one was on Longarm Quilting by Linda V. Taylor -- it is excellent. I am absorbing every word of knowledge and by the time (a few years yet) I actually buy a longarm, I should be just brilliant! {-)!
The second was the Dutch Treat book -- 196 reverse appliqued 4" blocks -- along with my Baby Jane, this should put me right into the nuthouse. And the third is Gwen Marston's new book (I believe it's her new book) -- and I have to admit that normally I'm not fond enough of her work to buy a book -- there, I've said it! -- but, I'm really impressed with this book -- lots of applique/embroidery type work in it. I will actually use this book.

Observations from vacation:
1. I've been reading a lot about the obesity epidemic in children the past year or so -- I have now seen it for myself. We rode the Branson Belle paddlewheeler for a dinner and show on Saturday night. There was a high school prom onboard and also a couple of groups of teenagers for a school outing. It was absolutely amazing how many overweight teenagers there were. I don't know if the answer is more activity or less fast food and high calorie drinks, or both, but there definitely is an obesity epidemic in our children.
2. We spent 9 hours in the car to drive there, 10 hours in the car to drive back (we dropped a couple at the airport). We spent 3 days there getting minimal exercise and eating out for every meal. It rained one day and was chilly/cloudy one day. I did not sleep well the entire time we were gone and I gained a pound and a half! I proved to myself that I need to walk at least a half an hour a day, and do resistance training 2 or three days a week to lose weight, and maintain any fitness I have managed to gain. And, I sleep a whole lot better at night when I get sufficient exercise during the day. I will no longer fight myself about exercising!

Gratitudes:
1. Bill will be 80 years old on Saturday.
2. As a special "gift" for "Dad's birthday and Mother's Day", we get AJ from Saturday morning til Sunday afternoon! I still have to get the house cleaned and the food ready for a cookout on Sunday, but that's okay -- we'll be blessed with AJ!
3. Briana has been calling Stephanie (her step-mother), "Mommie"! This child is definitely a blessing!
4. We really had a good time with the Navy group in Branson.
5. JR and Pita -- I missed them both while we were gone and they were very happy to see us when we picked them up!

End of April

I'm pretty sure I've posted this picture before, but I needed to look at it again -- it's still my favorite!

I've been in a bit of a blue funk lately and not sure exactly why. Haven't been sewing much --- reached the point of being caught up with "have-to" projects and have worked on lots of ufo's this year and quite a few scrappy quilts, and just haven't been in the mood to sew much for the past few weeks -- and that is really odd for me -- usually after a week, my hands are itchin' to stitch.

Maybe it's the fact that Bill's 80th birthday is coming up soon and I didn't plan a big celebration. We're leaving this week for Branson and when we get back I'll only have about 5 days to get something together. We will celebrate with our family, of course, along with Mother's Day and our DDIL's birthday, but nothing really special for Bill.

Maybe it's because the kids are going to court for full custody of our dear granddaughter, Briana, who lives with them and her "mother" is having a conniption fit -- even though she has never complied with the original parental agreement in order to claim custody of this child. I know we have to leave it in the hands of a judge who hopefully will look at the benefits for the child, but it's still on the mind and in the heart until he rules -- and the first court date isn't til June.

Maybe it's the strange weather we've been having, still. Although, I should certainly be used to the changes in the midwestern weather -- I've lived here all my life! And spring has arrived -- the tulips are blooming now and most of the trees are at least budding. The redbud is in bloom -- and the redbud is my favorite tree! We got an inch and a half of rain last night -- and enough wind to steal the Windy City title from Chicago.

Well, I know for one thing, if I don't bring any applique project with me on our trip, for sure the stitchin' itch will be back! We're going to Branson to meet up with a group of Navy guys, and their wives, that all served in the same squadron during WWII in the South Pacific (and Bill is the youngest vet there!). This really is an amazing group -- we try to get together twice a year and go different places (last spring was San Antonio, last fall was Las Vegas). I have trouble keeping up with them and some of these people are well into their 90's! They have everything planned for this trip, but I'm pretty sure I can squeeze in a trip to the quilt shop!

Taking a look back over this month: I managed to only buy background fabrics this month and didn't do too bad on that. I finished another ufo (Argyle Sox) and gave it to my friend for her birthday yesterday (Happy Birthday, Deb!) I even managed to finish Tulip Farm top -- but not the quilt yet. I started yet another diet, but this time I really feel motivated, so maybe I can accomplish it -- 1 pound a week is the goal.

Gratitudes

1. I'm grateful for that sweet baby AJ in the picture. I haven't seen him or his sister since her birthday party almost two weeks ago and miss them terribly.

2. The rain we got last night, with more to come.

3. The wind -- the newly leaved trees are dancing in the wind today like they are showing off their new spring finery.

4. JR, who warms my lap every evening, and stole a place on the bed last night during the storm!

5. Long phone conversations with my daughter.

A Saturday in Spring

I've been among the missing this week -- had the tough job of playing with the grandson on Easter, then on Tuesday we had a birthday party for his big sister (8) at Chuck E. Cheese's. Let me tell you how fast you learn how old you really are when you spend a couple hours with all those kids at Chuck E. Cheese's! vbg
And I bought myself a laptop on Tuesday afternoon, so spent the rest of the week here and there trying to get it filled up! I think I'm about there now. First things after MS Office was EQ, of course!



Here's a couple more pictures of the tulips that just popped open yesterday and some more of the different daffodils that are blooming now. We've really had beautiful weather here this week.
And, now that I am caught up on all the "have to" quilts, I've taken a couple of weeks off to do some spring cleaning and just relaxing -- needed to regroup! And, it felt good to not do any sewing for awhile -- sometimes we just need to take a break! So, now I've had my break and I started a project I've had kitted and bagged, just waiting for hand applique. Finished the first block today: This pattern is from Fons and Porter, called, simply "Oak Leaf". I collected tons of brushed cotton fqs for a long time before I finally cut into them. This project is another ufo and stash duster!

Gratitudes

1. The trees are beginning to leaf out.

2. Freshly mowed grass (today for the first time this season).

3. Fresh cut and home grown asparagus - fabulous!

4. Grandchildren.

Happy Easter

More Daffodils

Here's our view from the front porch! It is so nice to look out the front windows and see their bright shining faces! The next two pictures are of one of the patches of the tiny daffodils, next to the larger ones!














Oh, and last night we had golf ball size hail -- honest -- and it didn't hurt the daffy's at all! Yesterday and today we've had temps in the 80's! It's supposed to be back in the 70's and 60's next week though.
I haven't been doing any quilting at all -- but I have been doing some much needed cleaning projects -- windows and screens today!

Daffodils

Different views of the same bed of daffodils. They started blooming Monday, this picture was taken Tuesday and today they are a riot of blooms. This bed is in our front yard. I love daffodils!

This is the same bed, but the opposite end. That's JR doing guard duty while I snapped the pictures -- just in case he had to protect me from anything! The daffodils above that haven't opened yet are tiny ones -- both white and yellow. They'll be opening soon. There's also daylilies and brownberry lilies in this bed along with early tulips, Virginia Bluebells and some wood violets and some ferns I dug up from the woods and transplanted, among other things!

Gratitudes

1. Daffodils - I love their bright flowers early in the spring - such a promise they bring.
2. JR - if I'm outside, he stays by my side instead of off with Bill.
3. 70° temps finally!
4. The phoebes are back picking the site for their new nest -- looks like the same spot over the thermometer on the back porch, right in front of the kitchen window so we get to watch the progress of the babies.

Relaxing Time

I made three more of the lighter background blocks and hung them up with the darker background blocks -- much easier to see this way. I like them both, but I'm going to stay with the lighter backgrounds -- I think it'll be a brighter quilt. This will be a leaders and enders quilt. I have plenty of colored squares cut, and will just add a few more cream colored background fabrics when I add them to my stash -- I have plenty of the whites already.

I have finally caught up on all the things I "needed" to finish, so now I can work on what I want when I want -- I will probably do some hand applique for awhile because my fingers have been itching to do it! I have plenty of projects waiting in line to pick from.

It's a glorious day here today, so I'm off to enjoy the rest of it (and cheer Freddie Couples on to win the Masters again!).

I'm baack!

Dinner was steak and baked potato and salad -- excellent!

Anyway -- here's the Depression Blocks I made yesterday -- four of them and when put together, they form a negative (or opposite) block in the center. I really like that. The colors are lighter than they really are, I think -- I used a lot of tans/beiges as my backgrounds.














So today as I was doing the borders on Tulip Farm, I made hst's as leaders and enders. Only, I used WOW's for the background fabrics. So, here's one of each of the blocks side by side. Which do you like better?
I'm a dark, country fabric usually, folk art, primitive. But more and more I seem to be gravitating towards the lighter/whites as backgrounds in my scrappy quilts. I think they are more universally liked. I think my kids would all pick the lighter backgrounds in quilts.
I'm going to have to replenish my supplies of off-white/cream colors in my stash. I have a lot more white on whites and tans. I'm going to make more of the lighter blocks for now -- I'll probably end up with a quilt of each!










Gratitudes
1. Steak for dinner -- it's a treat and I love having it at home more than at a restaurant!
2. My daffodils are almost ready to bloom.
3. Actually accomplishing something in the sewing room today.
4. JR curled up at my feet no matter where I am.

Tulip Farm is bordered!

Here she is in all her glory! Put the 1½" inner border and the 6" outer pieced borders on today. Feels good to have the top done and I really like this quilt, so want to get it quilted sometime in the next couple of months!


Also finished the binding on the Argyle Sox quilt. This is from a pattern by Kansas Troubles Quilters. The little squares in the center are flannel and top stitched a 1/4" from the edge, so when it is washed, the edges will curl. I really like this quilt too -- think it's the colors!












Note to Jane: the Nickel Pinwheels are called that because the pattern was from the "Nickel Squares" book by Pat Speth. Nickel refers to the 5" squares that are used to make the blocks.

Also: "Buck a Block" is a Block Of the Month (BOM) from a local quilt store. The blocks are made using Thangles, which is a paper piecing tool for making half square triangles. Each month you pay a buck for a block, you put it together as per instructions, bring it back to the store next month to show you've finished it, and buy the next block. This is my finished block for April: (All of mine are using these Christmas fabrics -- which are also supplied with the instructions each month).


Gotta go start dinner! I'll be back later with a couple more pictures!

Catchin' up

The Nickel Pinwheels Quilt is finished (and has been for a week!). The second picture is the back of the quilt and the closeup shows a little of the quilting I did on the pinwheel blocks (just a flower loop on the short part and a double flower loop on the longer leg). I had started quilting this on the Handiquilter and didn't like what I was doing, so took it off, frog stitched the whole thing, sammiched and basted and did the quilting on my Bernina. Wasn't too bad -- just did ditch quilting on the sashes and free hand on the pinwheels themselves.

Today I played.....pulled a bunch of scraps, cut 3-7/8" squares and made a bunch of half square triangles, then put 4 of the Depression Blocks Finn was doing earlier in the week together. I love how the 4 blocks together make a negative block. (I'll take pictures tomorrow). Then I spent another hour cutting more scrap fabrics into squares, so I can make hst's whenever I sit down at the machine and in between other projects. This one is definitely a winner in my book and I don't think it'll be too long before I have a completed top - they are 12" finished blocks!

I also spent a little time hand sewing the binding on another ufo -- that should be finished tomorrow also -- I'll need to recharge the camera's batteries! vbg

I also hope to get my Buck A Block made tomorrow and hopefully put the borders on Tulip Farm -- I did pull the fabrics for those today -- just need to cut, piece and attach!

All in all -- starting today, this is going to be a quilty weekend! I decided against going to the International Quilt Festival in Rosemont this year, so I'll spend the days sewing instead!

Gratitudes

1. Getting a new satellite dish service - I can get Simply Quilts and the Food Network now!
2. Chocolate bunnies.
3. Garlic and herb shrimp for dinner.
4. Making up with Bill after yesterday's silly spat.
5. Spending the day sewing.

The end of the month

Ah - the end of March. Windy, a little rainy, a little sunny this morning -- guess March is going out like a lion -- it did come in like a lamb in these whereabouts if I remember correctly.

Resolution update: I think I did fairly well on the purchase of fabric -- mostly I bought background fabrics, with a few fqs or half yard pieces for specific quilts.

I have managed to make the backings and bindings and labels of the new quilts I made. Still have to deal with ufo's that don't have the backings or bindings or labels made ahead of time!

UFO's: I actually finished two because the blue/green baby quilt was a kit I had made up last year (and I was thanking myself profusely for doing this when I needed a baby boy quilt and really didn't feel like making one -- so nice to just pull it out of the drawer and put it together!). I also finished the Nickel Pinwheel Quilt -- and I found the original label I had made for it back in January (it was hidden among the book/magazine mess I had in DD's old room! - Amazing what you find when you clean things out!). Still need to get a picture taken!

Looking ahead, I started quilting another ufo today, so it will be finished in April - ahead of the game for that month!

Went back to the library today to take back the Sandra Brown book I didn't like, and Catch 22 -- I listened to 3 discs of that one and I found myself completely annoyed with the writing and with the reader -- the voices he was using for each of the characters was truly annoying. If I'd been reading it myself, I think I would have still put it aside -- did not really enjoy it at all.
So, picked up 3 today -- two Danielle Steel books, and Ernest Hemingway's The Old Man and the Sea. Listened to the first two tapes of Johnny Angel today while quilting (and can't wait to hear the ending!).

Gratitudes

1. Starting the day with sunshine after a rain last night.
2. The grass is starting to green up and we have one tree that has leaf buds on it.
3. Making a bridge date for tomorrow night - even though it'll be at our house so I won't have time to quilt tomorrow!

More progress

I finally got the baby quilt pressed now that I have a new iron (it's a $20 Black and Decker, Dona! that I actually got for $16!). Anyway -- this quilt was done scrappy, but some of the fabrics that I picked kinda bleed into the other ones - not enough contrast in those areas. But done is good! I traced some bunny, chick and duck cookie cutter shapes in the center of the green squares and quilted those (by machine). I hope the new mom will like it for her baby boy.

Today I had a doctor's appointment and then lunch with a friend - Olive Garden soup, salad and breadsticks -- that's our diet plan! Then came home and put the label on the Nickel pinwheel quilt that is finally finished. Forgot to take a picture, so that'll have to wait til tomorrow. And then, I managed to stitch some backing together, cut some batting, press, and pin baste my next project, which is another ufo, this one called "Argyle Sox" by Kansas Troubles. Hope to get that one finished in the next week or so.

Gratitudes

1. Lunch with Deb -- we can't always get together, so it always makes our lunches more special.

2. Accomplishing more than I had planned.

3. Leftovers for dinner -- no thinking.

4. It was an absolutely beautiful midwestern 65° spring day today.

Spring has Sprung!

We're supposed to be in the high 50's, low 60's this week -- yay! Also supposed to get some more rain -- I'll believe that when I see it! But at least with the warmer air, I could be rockin' on the porch watching the daffodils grow!
Today's quilt that will be given to one of my kids was another mystery quilt (see a trend here? -- I used to do a lot of mystery quilts a few years back!). This one was designed by Beth Ferrier. I like it, but I've had it around long enough now -- so think maybe the kids would like it.

Gratitudes:

1. Flannel Sheets -- even though it'll be in the 50's, it's still in the 30's at night!

2. Finding a cheap iron at Bed, Bath & Beyond and getting another 20% off!

3. Sleeping in this morning.

4. Bill made dinner today (Bean & Ham soup), and he cleaned up his mess afterwards! Plus, we have two containers in the freezer because he made lots!