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Thursday, November 19, 2015

Where has the time gone?

It seems it has been months since I have posted. I have been busy. New quilts and a new grandson.

Meet Paxton.


This was taken the day he was born.  


This was taken a couple of days ago. I just love this picture. He is getting so alert and makes lots of faces. He is also finding his voice.

Maybe I'll remember to go out and photograph some quilts tomorrow after.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting.

Sunday, August 16, 2015

The Reveal

I worked at least 3 hours last night and off and on all day today and finally got the last 13 blocks completed. I didn't add them to the rest of the blocks that I already had laid out on the floor.


This is a quilt pattern from Moda Bake Shop.  It is called Dancing in the Stars and was designed by Cindy Sharp whose blog is Tops to Treasures.  I really wanted my quilt to be in the same color scheme as the original. As you can see my background grays are much darker than the ones Cindy used. But I think that just makes the blues pop more.

I absolutely love the way it turned out and the only change I would make is not to use the dark, dark gray in the background.  It almost looks black but the quilt still looks great with the color included.

Hopefully, after I get the blocks sewed together and the borders added, I can get some good photos outside and you can really see how great it is.

Thanks Cindy and Moda Bake Shop for a great pattern that looks so very difficult but was so very easy.  I think I will call mine "Starry Night" and use it for a January bed quilt because it reminds me of snow and ice.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting.

Saturday, August 15, 2015

Quilt Update

Well, I was able to get my blocks sewn together today. I laid them out and decided I would make another row on the top and sides. So I cut out 13 more blocks and will hopefully get them sewn together tomorrow.



I think you will all be surprised when you see what the blocks look like all laid out in a flimsy.

Maybe tomorrow I'll get the other 13 blocks put together and you'll get to see.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting.

Friday, August 14, 2015

Reality

Reality has set in. We had open house at school last night. Of course, that means in a couple of days summer will be over and back to work I go.  I have a great group of students coming up and look forward to getting to know them.

I worked off and on on these two sections over the past couple of days.



I am totally amazed that this entire quilt is made from these 3 1/2 inch and 4 1/2 inch squares.


Hopefully, I'll remember to post tomorrow to show you the completed block.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting!


Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Where Has the Summer Gone?

Well, school starts back next Monday. I really planned to blog at least a couple times a week this summer. Unfortunately, that didn't happen. I'm not sure what I did all summer, but it flew by.

I finished getting my classroom ready early so I could take today and the rest of the week off to rest and relax before school starts.

I decided I wanted to spend the time working on a new quilt, so last Saturday, I purchased this fabric and cut many, many squares.


Today, I spent part of the day doing some piecing.


It was much cooler here today and I was able to spend part of the day outside reading on the patio.  I am so thankful to have so many choices of things to do for rest and relaxation.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting!

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Busy, busy, busy

I really have accomplished a lot since my last post. I am still working on the Tulips and Lace quilt.


I am now on the 2nd from the outer blue border. I am doing a scallop on each edge with a straight line through the middle. I plan to crosshatch in the wide outer border.


Meanwhile, I turned these fabrics


 into this top.


The pattern is from this book.



I made one of these quilts years ago for Craig. At the time, I was really frustrated with it because I didn't cut enough fabric to start with and then had to figure out how many more of each piece I needed. Anyway, I told Craig that he better appreciate it because I would never make another one of them. 

Fast forward 7 or 8 years, and here it is. I love the way it turned out except the shades of green fabrics. I wish I could have found darker shades of green.

I am pretty sure I will machine quilt this one since it is a busy quilt and the quilting will not stand out. I know it will still be beautiful when finished.

Two more days of school.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting.


Monday, April 6, 2015

The count down is on . . .

7 more weeks of school. Even though I love my job, most teachers look forward to summer.

As I walked through the house this morning, I realized that I have enough to keep me busy all summer. Windows need washed. closets and drawers need gone through and junk purged. Since I push mow, that keeps me busy an hour or two a day.

And . . .

ideas for quilts of course. Every night this week, I worked on something. I did not let myself sit and do nothing. Yippee.

I worked on the embroidery while I sat with my dad on Monday.


The rest of the week, I worked on hand quilting the Tulips and Lace applique quilt.


On Saturday,  I mowed quite a bit, roasted a turkey for our family get together tomorrow, made corn bread and bread crumbs for dressing that I will put together Sunday morning before Mass. I'll drop it by my dad's house and my sister will bake it for me.

Hope you had a great Easter and a Great Weekend.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting.

Sunday, March 29, 2015

Last day of Spring Break

and I am enjoying it. We thought about going to the movie matinee but decided to spend the day at home doing what we want and/or need to do.

The yellow and blue quilt I am getting ready to quilt is from this book . . .


I have made 2 or 3 quilts from this book already.  I really like all of them, so eventually, I may make all of them.

This one is called Tulips and Lace. I think the print I found was perfect for this quilt.


I did get it laid out on the kitchen floor and sandwiched.


Now it is in the frame ready for me to quilt and watch TV this evening.


I am really going to try to stay focused on the two hand projects I have going. But, I also know I'll get the itch to sew and machine quilt again. That is okay because I have 4 or 5 tops waiting to be quilted. So, it doesn't matter what I am working on as long as I am not spending hours on the computer or playing games on the tablet. They are great for small bits of time, but, I would often spend hours each evening. Not very productive.

I was able to spend some time out in the lounge, reading, and soaking up the sun today. I really needed that.

How was your Sunday? I hope it was as sunny and warm as mine.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting!

Update and A New Project

My goals for this weekend were to finish binding the star quilt and get the borders sewn on the blue and yellow quilt, get it sandwiched and put in the hand quilting stand.

I did not bind the star quilt. I don't have any fabric so I will need to purchase some.

Friday, it took me from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. to cut and sew the three borders on the quilt. It always takes me forever to do borders. I'm not sure why.


So today, I hope to get it sandwiched and ready to quilt.

I have found that I spend way too much time on the computer or on my table playing games so I am going to try to spend more time sewing, quilting, and working on hand work. So, I have been seeing all of the redwork, etc. that people are embroidering and decided to start on a quilt from a pattern I purchased years ago.

Over the River and Through the Woods Pattern

I am tracing it in small sections. I hope it works out all right. This is my first attempt at anything like this. But, I am moving right along.



It is a dreary day so I guess it is a good day to clean the house relax and do what I enjoy.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting! 

Thursday, March 26, 2015

Three more days and . . .

I have two projects that I need want to finish before I go back to school on Monday.

I need the binding on this quilt . . .


I have completed the hand quilting on it and only need to add the binding.

This quilt is special because it is the last quilt I have that my mom helped quilt.


She even taught my niece's husband how to quilt using it.

Then I want to get the last 3 or 4 borders on this quilt . . .


I then want to get it sandwiched and ready to hand quilt.  In the past, I have always hand quilted for a few months and then get tired of it and put it away. Any quilt I have hand quilted has taken me years.  I hope I break the mold on this one. Maybe I can get it completed before the end of the year. My brother says I am becoming my mom -- so maybe I'll have a renewed interest in hand quilting.

We'll see how I do on these goals.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting.

Spring Break . . .

No better time to finish a spring quilt.


This is one of those I have been working on for quite awhile.  It looks like I started it in April of last year. I tried my hand at echo quilting, which is new for me. I like how the design looks on the back, but I don't think I will quilt that densely again. I had trouble with the border being floppy because I didn't quilt it as densely. But, maybe after I wash it I can get it to lay down a little better. If not, oh well, mark it up to experience.

My grandson stayed with us last night for the first time. We were surprised he stayed because his mom and dad are about an hour away from us, so it's not a quick "I want to go home".


He was trying to teach Larry to play Minecraft.  Let's just say he is not the best teacher and Larry is not the best learner.  It was funny listening to their conversation.

 It was not a planned stay. I mentioned that I had to go to Fort Smith the next day, so he decided to stay and I could take him home.

So today I am off the Fort Smith. I went to Hancock's Fabric Store on Monday hoping to find some navy embroidery floss. They only had an off brand and not the color I was looking for. So today, I am going to try Hobby Lobby and Michael's to see if they have DMC because I know the exact color I want.

Spring break always flies by.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting.

Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Snow Day, Pioneer Woman, and Netflix

What a combination!

The Pioneer Woman, Season 1, is now on Netflix. I have been watching it and getting some very good meal ideas and recipes. Yesterday, I made her Beef and Bean Burritos from Episode 13.    They were very good. I used green enchila sauce with some tomato paste because I didn't have the sauce she used. I also used corn tortillas and love the flavor they gave it.  I also put my leftover hamburger meat filling on top just to use it all.

I plan to accomplish today  . . .

spend at least a couple of hours quilting
reading about gardening and hobby farms on my kindle
enjoy the beautiful few from the warmth of my den
package up some chicken breast that I had a friend get me from the Tyson chicken store
laundry

The only reason I am telling you this is that I hope if I write it down, I will actually do it.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting.


Monday, February 23, 2015

Half a Snow Day!

We got a little bit of snow on Sunday. But, we still made it to school this morning. I had a feeling it would be short lived.

Sure enough, by 11 o'clock, the decision was made to close school at 12 to get the children (and staff) home safely.

About an hour after I got home, the snow stopped, only to start heavily about 2 hours later.

So around 4, I got the idea to sit down, read a magazine, and sip on a cup of hot cocoa and enjoy the snowfall.


What a life! So relaxing.

I just got the phone call. No school tomorrow. I guess I can have another relaxing day of quilting, reading, and drinking hot cocoa.

I did take some time to quilt on this quilt . . .


It has been 10 months since my mother died. Each time I quilt or pressure can food, I think of her and so want to call her up.

Monday evenings are when I sit with my dad. This week and last week, we had snow so I couldn't make it. Hopefully, I can get out tomorrow evening and visit with him, then.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting.

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Sometimes . . .

the oddest things happen. When I sandwich a quilt, I usually use the kitchen floor. It is a large enough area and has tile floors so I can tape the backing on the floor. Today,  I laid out a queen size sheet to sandwich my Grand Illusion quilt. I laid the batting on top and smoothed it out. Then added the flimsy; but . . .


My first thought was to pick it all up go he get a new sheet. But, I went to a lot of work taping the sheet to to the floor and then getting the batting laid out straight. So what to do? What to do?


I just decided to use a different top.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting!


Cold, dreary Day . . .

but, I feel better when there is pretty ice or snow to look at out the window.



A wood stove is going so we are warm, plenty of food, so no worries.

Yesterday, Becca came to sew with me. She was working on this quilt top



She purchased a bag of retro fabric, (that's what we call it) and had some more given to her. I think she said she only had one block that was repeated. And this is not all of them. She is making a king size quilt. She asked me to quilt it. I told her she could. I think we decided we would quilt it together. Unless her grandma decides to hand quilt it for her. But, I think it will be too big for her quilt frame.

I just finished the flimsy of Bonnie Hunter's Mystery Quilt.


I am too lazy to lay it out for a picture. I'll try to remember to get one when I sandwich it to quilt it.

I have decided to get out this quilt  . . .



and get the borders appliqued. So that is what I am working on today.


Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting!

Sunday, January 4, 2015

Oh goodness . . .

at least I noticed it before I put the borders on and quilted it.



I took out the two pieces that were not in correctly. Sewed one back in. Everything is good.  Started sewing in the second one and noticed something wasn't right. Took a good look and realized the four corner blocks were not in correctly either. I sewed the opposite strips to each side of the center strip.

So, I decided it was late. Put it down and hopefully will fix it tomorrow night and finish sewing the last row on. That will be about it probably because I keep my dad company on Monday nights.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting.

Still chugging away . . .

on the Bonnie Hunter Mystery Grand Illusion quilt.  I have all of the blocks sewed together and am working on getting the rows sewed together. I haven't sewed a lot today. I am enjoying my last day of before heading back to work tomorrow. It is always hard to go back but easy after the first day and I am back in the swing of things.


I still have a border strip and then a pieced border to add after the rows are sewed together. But, the pieced border blocks are all complete. At least I hope they are. I discovered I was short one block when I started sewing the rows together. Luckily, I have all the pieces cut that I needed except one piece. I thought all of the extra ones were just that extra. But, apparently not. I guess I miscounted. There were a lot of individual pieces to that quilt. But so enjoyable to cut and piece.

I am sitting watching a Netflix movie, Jack Ryan, Shadow Recruit. We saw it at the movie theater, but decided to watch it again.

I guess I need to get back to this quilt.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting.

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Not moving along very quickly . . .

I seriously thought that by today the Grand Illusion top would be completed. But, no! As I sat down to put all of the units together, I realized something was not right. I had not pieced these units together.


So, in between watching Hallmark Movies, playing Candy Crush, looking over facebook entries, and running errands, I finally got these pieced together and pressed neatly.

And wee into the evening I was able to get units sewn together to hopefully whip out the blocks in a couple of hours this morning.


Then assemblying the quilt top will take awhile. The sashing is pieced and they are all completed but I still need to cut the corner squares that connect them. Then the border is also pieced. They are made but take a little longer than strips. So, I now change my goal to finish by tomorrow evening, if I spend a lot of time on it today and tomorrow.

It has been so dreary here since the New Year began. Rainy and cold again today. But, at least we did not get the ice that was predicted all throughout our area. I really need the sunshine and to be able to get out and walk. I have a treadmill but don't use it because it is downstairs and I don't go down there. I may have to rearrange the den to see if I can fit it in and both of us need to use it.

Until later, Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting.

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Happy New Year to all!

 http://i.123g.us/c/ejan_ny_happy/card/109529.gif

I quickly checked back to my post a year ago to see if I made any New Year resolutions. I didn't post anything and I guess that is a good thing because I couldn't remember so that was probably the best sign that I wasn't able to keep them.

We spent the evening last night at my Dad's house with some of the family. Craig and Becca were with us and that is always a blessing. Kelsey was working, Aiden was visiting his biological mother, and I'm guessing Zak was home playing video games. We sure did miss them.

Today is going to be a lazy day, watching for sleet and ice. Sewing, cooking for one of us (hint, hint Larry) and a lot of relaxing.

I worked on Grand Illusion yesterday in between cooking pinto beans and ham and making this Artichoke and Spinach dip. It was delicious.



I thought I only had one more step to do on the Grand Illusion quilt to get caught up --Part 3. I skipped ahead and did 4. Then I realized I hadn't completed Part 5 yet. Then when I looked this morning I see she added the Grand Finale.



So, if I hustle I may get to start putting it together today. I am so excited. I may lay out the pieces and see if I can guess what it will look like before I actually peek at the completed quilt.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting.

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