Crafty Maine Mom

Orca Bay - Overwhelmed

2012-01-16T11:44:00.001-08:00

This is my sewing area on Friday night. Orca Bay has taken over...i can't believe how many little pieces have to get sewn together to make the final quilt. I had step 1 completed on time and step 2 was done a few days late and then I didn't like one of the color combinations. I finally like these colors together and am buckling down to get it done.

Here is a test lay out to make sure I really like the colors.

Amazing. Now to sew 224 more flying geese blocks. Then find some more neutral. There is a small border before an amazing border with 96 more flying geese blocks. I hope to have it all pieced by late this evening. Wish me luck!

My Blogger Fat Quarter Bundle

2012-01-06T06:18:00.000-08:00

We all love pretty fat quarter bundles. This is the fat quarter bundle I would put together if I could. Quokka Quilts is having a contest or challenge ...well I know there is a linky party. Here is what I would put in my Designer Fat Quarter Bundle:

1. Backyard Baby Grey Bug Jars
2. Backyard Baby Aqua Birch
3.Backyard Baby Orange Snake Skin
4. Backyard Baby Windy Day
5. Backyard Baby Grey Ants
6. Bella Solid Amelia Apricot
7. Pajama Party Green Dot
8. Primativa Charcoal
9. Backyard Baby Samaras
10. Bella Solid Circa Celadon
11. Get Together Orange Birds
12. Backyard Baby Garden Party White
13. Crazy Daisy Turquoise
14. Get Together Green Hearts
15. Bella Solid Horizon

I had so much fun putting these fabrics together. Go check out the Linky party at Quokka Quilts and see the other "designers" choices.

UFO List for 2012

2011-12-22T06:41:00.001-08:00

Here is my UFO List (I'm only listing 12 of them) for 2012:

1. Roll Roll Cotton Boll - Still have 600 - 2" Half square triangles to sew
2. Stuffed Turtles - 4 to finish
3. Chart Your Course - Final Border and then Backing
4. Across the Sea - Finish piecing back
5. Red and White Block Lotto Blocks - Need more to complete a top

6. Crazy Mom Quilt - Add borders

7. International Round Robin - Fix and backing

8. Pink amd green with Mitered border - Fix final Border

9. Star Bumble Bee quilt - finish piecing add border

10. Chickens - Finish quilting

11. Postage Stamp Quilt

12. Diary of Hazel Ilene Quilt Along Quilt

I am hoping to finish one of these a month. I am sure that i will be creating new UFO's as the year progresses.

Friday - Saturday Sew In

2011-12-17T18:52:00.000-08:00

My list was long and I got a lot done but the list included going to see my daughter perform in a Christmas production. It was hilarious. When I got home I got to sewing. Here is what I got done. A back pack for my daughter. She saw this fabric and told me I had to make her a bag out of it. Then my son asked me for a bag for his drumsticks. The Junior High mascot is a Husky. He wanted a husky on the bag. Here is what I came up with....

I was still completing the paper-pieced husky this morning. The top still needs to be sewn and the straps put in. He has 4 sets of sticks and I put a pocket in for his music sheets. I hope he likes it.

Too many things to complete!!

2011-12-13T09:20:00.001-08:00

I can't believe that it is the 13th already. I did the Friday night Sew-In last friday but I was doing more of a knit in than a sew in. :) I got this far on this hat. (for my daughter's boyfriend) And i completed this infinity scarf. This is a pattern from Swan's Island and it is very long. The first two I made from the same pattern weren't quite long enough so I hope this is just right for her.

Saturday we all got up at the crack of dawn, swim meets, Holiday concerts, evening Christmas performances. Sunday was Church and more performances.

Here are the projects for this Friday night sew-in:

Complete the matching hat for my daughter

Finish the socks for my Mother

Sew drumstick bag for my son (he wants a paper-pieced husky on the front) (how am I going to do that?)

Make quilted bookcover for daughter

Make pillowcase for other daughter

Can i get this all done in one Friday night? No but I can try.!

Occupy Your Sewing Room

2011-12-06T10:52:00.001-08:00

I have a long list of projects which need to be completed for Christmas and recently I have been reading a lot of blogs that are doing the Occupy your Sewing Room challenge. Well a lot of my projects are knitting so right now I am Occupying my couch as I knit. I am working on a pair of sock. They have 5 braids running up the front and after I turn the heel they will be running up th eback too. I can only do this project when I am alert. So I have a second project which requires very little thinking, counting, or cable needles. This is a Scalloped Edged Infinity Scarf. The design is by Swans Island and I am using an alpaca yarn. It is so much fun. This is the third time I have made this pattern and this time I added 52 stitches so it is 273 stitches. This is a lot of stitches. :)

The worst part is that I had 9 rows completed when I realized that I had twisted the first row and I had to take it all the way out. It was a double twist so it really had to come out.

I really hope to get back to quilting soon. The Friday Night Sew In is this friday. I will be trying to finish Orca Bay step 2 and start Orca Bay step 3.

My son has asked for a "bag" to carry his drumsticks. He has 4 sets of drumsticks. I have looked at various tutorials and I think I may use this one or this one.

That's all! Go have fun and occupy your couch or sewing room.

Another Friday Night

2011-11-19T08:04:00.000-08:00

The first thing I did was get step #1 of Orca Bay finished. I am using a very deep green instead of black and my neutrals are on the white side. The next thing I did was sew together the rows of the Forest quilt along quilt. I like this quilt but it needs something more. my daughter says it needs a small brown border and then a wider Christmas print. I was thinking a little white border and then it's done.

I got most of the Backing for my Across the sea quilt done. It looks really big.

Then I laid the quilt top on it and remembered that I wanted to add a 4 inch white border on to the top and that is why i made the back so big.

That's it! I got alot accomplished and had fun. A great friday Night Sew In.

Friday Night Sew In Results

2011-10-22T08:23:00.001-07:00

Well the list went out the window when I remembered that I had my class with Susan Carlson on Saturday. I hadn't done any of my homework. So I spent most of the night finishing this beautiful sea turtle. I also started a toad. I was pretty tired by the time I got to this spotty thing so he did not get too far.

I started the night off by trying to organize my scrap bin but was overwhelmed with the sheer volume of scraps. I settle with pulling all the colors i thought I might need for these quilts.

All in all another successful Friday Night

Friday Night Sew In - October

2011-10-21T08:58:00.001-07:00

Well it is time for another Friday Night Sew In. I have lots more stuff on my To Do List. I have class on Satursay to work on my Sea Turtle so I should get the homework done...? This is a picture of a sea turtle at the Rochester Quilt Show. Isn't it beautiful? I am still working on my flippers and I haven't even thought of the background yet. I'll take a before and after picture. I have also been dreaming of a toad done in this style.

I have two bindings to hand sew and that is all I am going to try to get to this Friday night!! But... there is always the possibility I will get into my sewing room and have to start something new :)

Sister's Weekend

2011-10-20T10:43:00.000-07:00

This is where I spent my weekend. That is Mt Dessert Island and Cadillac Mountain. My sisters and I decided a couple years back that we needed to get together every year to celebrate our Birthdays (which land in Aug,Sept and Oct). So the three of us used to get together for just a day and explore a new place. The last two years we have been coming up to Lamoine to craft for a couple days. I brought this quilt which only needed a binding. All the squares came from a Block Lotto win. I put sashing around each square and mitered the corners.

Next I worked on bindings on two other quilts but didn't finish them or take pictures because I really wanted to move on to the next thing. Here is the border I put on to this quilt top. I think now this is complete.

What I really wanted to get to all weekend was the Crumb along blocks from Jo's Country Junction. I got the Flying Geese and the Star Blocks done.

This is what my sewing machine looked like. Lots of scraps to choose from.

I am definitely going to do the rest of the crumb along because I really need to use up some scraps. The time together ended to quickly but it was so much fun. I am planning for next year already.

Rochester NH Quilt Show

2011-10-19T12:15:00.001-07:00

My birthday is coming up so my Mom took me to the Quilt Show in Rochester New Hampshire. I am only showing you a couple of the quilts but they were great and there were a lot of them. Not as many as at Maine Quilts but still a lot.
I have been dreaming about making a Judy Niemeyer quilt, there were a couple of her patterns or patterns inspired by her. This quilt was pieced by Judey Clemons. She named it "Dancing Batiks"I loved how simple this pattern was and I might have to copy this. This quilt was pieced and quilted by Aimee Raymond.

This quilt was the first thing you saw as you walked in the door. What a precious face?

Here is a close up of the face. Amazing! This quilt is called "Dakota - Waiting for Papa to come Home" by Bette Jo Quinn.

We had a great day! I will definitely be back next year.

September Friday night Sew-In

2011-09-17T07:54:00.001-07:00

Well another productive Friday Night Sew In has happened at my house. I thought it was going to be unproductive because i am working on a UFO that is a postage stamp quilt (king size) and i am getting a sore back sitting at my sewing machine. I decided to get at some of the other UFO's in my box and so ... I combined a Breast Cancer pink and white block swap with my Boomerang Buddies swap from the Quilting Board. I had sent a pale green fabric with little pink flowers and asked for pink green and white blocks. Here is the first one.

These blocks were the ones that the colors just didn't go very well with the bright pink of the first quilts. I am going to have them quilted and then donate them to either the local hospice group or the hospital. i might add a border before I call them really done.

In other news I am taking a class today at Mariner's Compass in Bath with Susan Carlisle. We are making Sea turtles. I'm off...this is such a great sewing weekend :)

Dessert Plate Quilt Top

2011-09-08T20:35:00.000-07:00

I absolutely love this quilt. This is inspired by Modern Quilt Relish Dinner Plate Quilt Along. She is using a larger circle and has a fancy tool to stitch the circle into the square. I used the six minute circle tecnique. A little freezer paper, a glue stick, and some patience. The blocks aren't sewn together yet, but I think this quilt does not need a border and will go directly to my longarmer.

Across the Sea

2011-09-01T07:24:00.001-07:00

Last night I finally got the bug and worked on this Quilt along. Here are the fabrics I chose. This Kaffee print I have had for a while and really love. I picked up this fat quarter bundle at Maine Quilts 2010. It is a bundle of Hand Dyed cotton from Rainbow Dyes of Auburn Maine. I love these colors. The pattern and cutting was really easy and I put the blocks together quickly.

I think this is my final layout. Maybe i will move those two dark purple crosses farther away from each other.

One Finished and A little Irene

2011-08-29T17:42:00.000-07:00

My big goal for the weekend was to get the last border put on this quilt. I am in an International Round Robin and i had to put an 8" border on this. I put the orange border. I think it looks great. We drove my daughter to college on Saturday. Her and three of the kids from her class are going to the same college in massachussettes. We dropped off and drove quickly home to try and beat Tropical Storm Irene back to Maine. Mines the one on the left. She is saying "take the picture and go already Mom" Well they called us this morning and Irene knocked down too many trees around the college that power isn't going to be restored till Thursday. We were asked to come get our kids. She's home and a little bit bummed but the final straw was that she couldn't charge her cell phone and she can't live with out the cellphone.

What is on my Design Wall/floor

2011-08-21T17:33:00.000-07:00

I know that design walls are usually on Monday but I am thinking of it now and have taken the picture.
I recently took a class at Maine Quilts from Jan Krentz. This is the second quilt I designed from the class.

Quilt alongs - I want to do them all!!

2011-08-19T11:41:00.000-07:00

I have been bitten by the Quilt along Bug again! So I thought I would put together a post with all the great quilt alongs that are going on or will start real soon.

Oh, Fransson Billboard Quilt along
Happy Quilting Stars Quilt along
Diamoond Mountain Quilt along
Little Forest Quilt Along
Across the Sea Quilt Along.
Dinner Plates Quilt along

Now I will not admit to doing all of these quilt alongs but I will say that at least two of these have fabric purchased for them. I didn't join any quilt alongs this summer and am jumping with both feet now.

A little Sewing going on

2011-03-07T07:56:00.000-08:00

Well here is the reason I haven't gotten a lot of sewing done. My oldest daughter has mononucleosis and they called last night to say that the strep test that came back negative on the quick strep test was positive. She has a rare form of strep along with the mono. We finally got a diagnosis on Wednesday but she had been sick for about three days by then. I think we may be turning the corner today, she actually got some school work done this morning. I did find time to work on these Block Lotto blocks for the month of March. this is the first time in a couple months that I have been able to make the blocks. They were fun.

I had to drive #2 daughter to a swim meet in Orono yesterday. During the met I got one of the Birdie Stitches blocks done. No picture today but I will put the squares around the block and then I will take a picture.

It is raining here and melting all the snow. It is a bit ugly but I am so glad to see the ice and snow melt that I will deal with the little bit ugly. :)

Results of FNSI

2011-02-19T07:39:00.001-08:00

Here is what I got accomplished last night. For one of my bee's the December block was a paper pieced Harry Potter themed 8x8 block. We are supposed to make two blocks. This has taken me a very long time to finish. the second block is the Hogwarts express. It looks a little easier than this. If your not a big Harry Potter fan this is Hagrid's umbrella which we find out in one of the books has his wand hidden in it (or something like that) All of the patterns are available here. Some of them are really hard.

I did organize a bunch of my sewing room but that really isn't sewing. It sure will help me to get sewing quicker next time I get a chance.

Friday Night Sew In - February 2011

2011-02-18T19:41:00.000-08:00

Yeah! It is another Friday Night Sew In. I have a short list of things I want to do.I need to take a picture of the twelve blocks i have received from my Boomerang buddies.

(Here are the boomerang blocks I have received.)

Cut fabric for Paper Piecing of Hogwarts express

sew remaining two boomerang blocks

stitch some of tweet blocks

That should keep me up a awhile. :)

Another Friday Night has come and Gone

2011-01-22T06:59:00.001-08:00

I was really looking forward to Friday Night Sew In this week. I had a pile of projects that needed to be completed. Being the mom of three tends to mean that I don't get more than short periods of sewing time. Add to that the fact that the kids had a snow day. I was really busy feeding kids entertaining ten year olds. Cleaning up snow....and then it was FNSI time. Everyone was fed and my husband was designated taxi driver. This is what the pile looked like on my sewing table. You can see some completed blocksin that pile. I am a member of the Quilting board and I joined in on the Boomerang swap. I get 35 f8's of fabric from 35 different people, I make a block for each of them. I have sent out my fabric and they are making something for me.A couple people asked for Red White and Blue blocks. I have always wanted to try paper piecing a 5 point star so I tried it. It was a lot of fun.

Two people asked for Red, White and Black blocks. I saw a neat log cabin quilt in the Red White and Black scheme. So that is what I made for them. One of the blocks has chicken fabric in the center.

Well by the end of the night I have sewn 8 blocks. Before Friday night I had completed 11 blocks. i got all the blocks put in envelopes and ready to mail out.

I was kind of hoping that I would have time to work on my Roll Roll Cotton Boll quilt. I don't like the red that I chose and I am going to try a deep gold instead. Maybe I will get to it today.

This has been another successful Friday Night Sew In (FNSI)

A New Year and The List

2011-01-01T17:38:00.000-08:00

I know we all like to look at pictures of quilty fabric things, so I included a picture of the grocery bags that I made this year. These were all made with blocks that didn't have a project.

So here is "The List"

Quilty Things to get Accomplished in 2011

1) Roll Roll Cotton Boll by Bonnie Hunter at quiltville
2) Chunky Star Christmas quilt - this one is all graphed out and I have the fabric
3) Put binding on Pinwheel Sampler, Modify Tradition, and my son's quilt
4) Postage Stamp Quilt
5) Crazy Mom Quilt - (I can't get this to lie flat and am stopped at step 6)
6) Little Miss Shabby Block of the Month - involves embroidery but I am going to try
7) Join at least 2 Bees
8) Don't increase my stash by more than 20 yards

I think I can accomplish these and maybe some more.

Enjoy the new adventure of 2011.

Balinda

Friday Night To Do List

2010-12-10T13:46:00.000-08:00

The Friday night Sew In is tonight. I have made a beef stew and all my children are relatively happy (They are teenagers after all) I have made my list and checked it twice...

1) Quilt Candle Mat then Bind
2) Finish Step 3 of the Roll Roll Cotton Boll
3) Finish step 4 of the Roll Roll Cotton Boll (This looks really easy)
4) Quilt and bind my Nov/Dec doll quilt for the Quilting Board swap
5) quilt and bind one more seat cover for inlaws

I am going to start working on these as soon as the dinner dishes are done. Maybe my DH will decide to do this for me.

Now let's get sewing :)

FNS Results

2010-11-19T21:19:00.001-08:00

Well the Friday Night Sew In was a success. First I finished te Sew Bee It Bee Blocks. We were asked to make a favorite block or two with some 1930's fabric. I have really enjoyed the Wonky Houses that I have seen on a bunch of blogs. My house did not get wonky but i like it. And I made a simple star block. Then I started the Fresh Comfort 2 Bee blocks. We were sent a bunch of strips of vintage sheets and told to make a string block using the Kona white for the center. These turned out pretty nice.

Next I worked on my Little A's block swap. September was a block that embodies the word "simple" and my partner requested teal as her color. I thought this block looked fairly simple eventhough it really wasn't.

For October the word was "spooky" and my swap partners color is Black. All I could think of was ghosts. So that is what I tried to make.

The last thing on my list was to finish the first clue in the Bonnie Hunter Mystery "Roll Roll cotton Boll" . There is sure a lot of pink in this picture but the first step is complete.

Now it is 12:33 and technically Saturday morning so I will try to get a couple hours sleep before my children get me up.

I hope everyone had a successful night I will be surfing blogs tommorrow to see how everyone did.

Friday Night Sew-In

2010-11-19T15:15:00.000-08:00

It's tonight. The Friday night Sew In. Here is the list of things I am hoping to get done:

1) My Fresh Comfort Bee Block
2)My Sew Bee It Bee Block
3)The first clue of the Roll Roll Cotton Boll Mystery
4)My Little A's Block swap (Sept Oct and Nov) I really need to get these done

This is a lot to get done but I may stay up really late and get it all done.

To those of you sewing along, enjoy. For those of you just blog hopping, enjoy. :)

Is October really over?

2010-11-05T07:03:00.000-07:00

The month started off great. This is the "doll quilt" that I received for the month of September It is huge(18 x 28). The swap guidelines say 24 x 24 at the largest. I love it. It is currently on my wall. Later in the month I got this doll quilt. I asked for something modern. She took some black and white fabrics and colored in small areas with fabric markers. It is such a great idea and I love it. it looks like a modern painting.

My sisters and i get together each year to celebrate our birthdays. this year we decided to have a craft weekend. We actually did it on a Thursday Friday so our husbands just had to get kids to school. I was organizing my projects for weeks before we got together. I didn't get as mouch done as i was hoping because I kept gabbing. I really hope we do it again next year.

Here is a picture of the "doll quilt" (candlemat) that I sent to my partner for September. I tried a paperpiecing pattern. The pieces were small and I really need to keep practicing.

Other things have been happening around here. My oldest turned 18 this month. I got one year older this month. My in-laws are settling in to their new home just two blocks from our house. It is a small transition but I love having them near so that we can check on them.

Christmas Craft Inspiration

2010-11-04T07:27:00.000-07:00

Has everyone seen this magazine?.... I have new inspiration for the Holidays. I don't know how to put the link on the picture so here is the link. I have already made a couple of the toilet paper roll elves and have pulled out my felt to make a garland with the younger kids in sunday school. Enjoy!

Seacoast Shop Hop

2010-10-01T18:33:00.001-07:00

My Mom and i did the Seacoast Shop Hop today. It was fun to spend the time with my mom and getting to look at fabric was great too. During this Shop Hop you get a charm when you pay for your "Passport"($14) and then as each shop stamps your "Passport" they give you a charm. At the last store (there were only 5 stores) they give you a bracelet. Isn't this great. I will wear it proudly. Blogger would not let me post all the pictures of my stuff but I did not get too much. The first shop we went to was Garrisin Hill Quilt Shop. They had a great variety of fabrics. Then we went to Little Lamb Quilt Shop. they had the Kona colors I needed. Then we went to Checkerberries. They had a lot of Civil war fabrics. i found a cute pattern. I will stitch it and then show it. Then we headed for Massachusettes to The quilted Acorn. This shop has mainly civil war fabrics and tole painting supplies. The final shop for the hop was Knight's Quilt shop in Cape Neddick Maine. i have been to Knight's before and saved it for last because i really liked it the last time i was there. They have a great selection a bunch of cutting tables and a couple of registers. I found a really cute giraffe print for a binding and some great novelty fat quarters. i usually check out their scrap bags but they only had one and it was all flannels. oh well I'll just have to come back again.

I had a really great day. I hope everyone has a great weekend.

Another Friday night Sew In

2010-09-18T07:52:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it is September 18th already. Last night I was having so much fun sewing i forgot to sign up on Handmade Heidi's blog. I got a lot of sewing done. First I finally put together some of my Boomerang blocks. It was hard to put together blocks that were made with many different colors but I think they look pretty good together. Then I have been trying to figure out a way to make my Modern Siggy Swap 2 blocks look like the quilt in my head. It finally came to me and I have pieced the top.

I love it. I used only fabric from my stash and made little 16 patches. I like the way the colors flow around the top.

I hope everyone had great successes last night I am off to check out all the blogs.

One great swap in and Three out

2010-09-02T17:54:00.001-07:00

Well Blogger loaded these backwards so it is three out: My International Round Robin center is heading off to Brazil to have a row added to it.

Here are my Wonky Log Cabin squares for the Fresh Comfort II Bee

And the third is a themed block swap this month the word was vacation. I live in Maine and we love to go to Acadia National Park.

That would make this the One Great in!!! Isn't my posy needle case beautiful. It came from Martine in the Netherlands. She also sent a matching hexagon pin cushion, a charm pack and the quilter's best friend...chocolate.

My son says the chocolate is the best part of my package. I love the posy case (it has cute little houses on it) and I absolutely adore the pin cushion. I am going to be copying this for sure.

Well that is the news for now I will post the back to school pictures of the kids. We are dealing with a heatwave in Maine right now and by Saturday we will either have had a hurricane or just have the rain storms but at least it will be cooler.

And the results are in...

2010-08-21T06:33:00.000-07:00

4 out of 6. I think that is pretty good. First I sewed the bottom row onto My son's quilt and it is now the right size. Then I worked on the log cabin blocks for the back of my sampler quilt but I think they look to good to put on the back of a quilt. Next I finished this paper pieced block for a swap that i am in. We were told to use yellow orange and black and any other colors. I hope this looks good with all thothers.

I recently joined an International Round Robin that starts in September. I am mailing my block to Brazil. We will have 6 rounds and I should get my block back next year at this time. I went with an I spy themed center. Everyone has novelty fabrics don't they? I am hoping to write some I spy lines on the backing for the kids to find.

I also got the seams ripped on my Crazy Mom Quilt along. My side strip should be 28 7/8 and I stretched it to 30 1/4. No wonder it was a little wavy along the edge.

Well the motivaton of the Friday Night Sew In has worked its magic and I have gotten a couple things off my to do lists. Thank You Heidi. I can't wait till September.

Friday Night Sew In - August

2010-08-20T18:41:00.000-07:00

Is it really August already? Here is the list I am working on tonight:

1) I am going to sew one more row on my son's quilt
2) I am going to sew all the log cabin blocks for the back of the Modify Tradition sampler quilt
3) I am going to sew together strips of Kaffee Fassett for the back of my siggy quilt.
4) Tear out strips from Crazy Mom's Quilt along figure out correct length, resew
5) sew all the rest of the strips onto the Crazy Mom Quilt along
6) Finish paper pieced block for April

That's about all I might be able to complete tonight.

Design Wall (floor) Monday

2010-08-09T13:44:00.001-07:00

Here is what's on my design floor today. These are the blocks for the Postage stamp Quilt along. The quilt along was a while ago but it has just moved to the top of my list. I will cut these blocks into 1.5 inch strips and then sew them back together. This is the other quilt that I am working on. Some of these scrappy blocks are from my bee month. Everyone made me at least two and some made me three blocks. This is a quilt for my son and he loves orange.

Well that's what I'm working on. Go check out what other's are doing on Judy's Blog.

I got it!

2010-08-09T13:40:00.001-07:00

This is the quilt I got from the ALQS swap #4. I love it. I don't ever work in black but it really makes the colors so much brighter. I love it.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this swap.

Busy Summer full of Fun

2010-08-04T12:17:00.000-07:00

The month is July began with a quick trip to Acadia National Park. This is a picture from our favorite beach, Little Hunter's Beach. If you are heading to Maine to go to this park email me and I will give you a couple great ideas of places to go. We go up every summer and the kids still love it. Next we started all of our summer programs, basketball, day camp, etc. I left for a week with my 15 year old to go to Presbyterian Youth Triennium in West Lafayette Indiana. It was very hot and humid and no airconditioning in the dorm at Purdue. We had a great time anyways.
Here is a our little group that represented Northern New England.

My husband and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary with a quiet walk on the beach and dinner at a seafood restaurant.

Then it was off to the Maine Quilt Show. i took a class on Saturday but went up for the preview of Thursday night. 873 quilts ...amazing.

I took the Carol Doak Paper Piecing Class. It was amazing. I have no qualms about doing a paper pieced project now, and I know how to estimate the amount of fabric I will need for the project. She is a wealth of information.

The on Aug 1st I drove my teenager to Tanglewood 4H camp for a three week leadership program. She will be hiking and then teaching the younger campers. My youngest will be going up for the last week of her time there and will get to be one of the younger campers that she works with.

Now if I can just get back to the sewing machine and get some quilting done I would be just a little happier.

My Computer had a Trojan

2010-07-14T11:16:00.000-07:00

That is what the Geek Squad guy told me. I couldn't even turn it on. It is so hard to be with out a computer. The good news is I had lots of time to sew. I got lots of small projects done but here is the one big project Which is almost done.
These are my Modify Tradiotion Sampler Blocks from Round #2. I really love the colors. I am putting a piano key border around the outside so it is taking a lot of sewing.

Friday Night Sew in is coming up and I hope I can complete the border then.

My 15 year old just got her permit so she wanted to drive me around today. She took a corner with out using her brakes which made me say "Use your brakes", then she stepped on her brakes everytime she got near the speed limit. "AAAArgh" I have too much gray hair already.

My 17 year old is away at a genetics study class, so the house has been really quiet. My 10 yr old is playing basketball and loving it.

Friday Night sew in

2010-06-19T11:36:00.000-07:00

I started the night working on one of my bees. The theme for this month was "eat". My partner for this month wants yellow in her blocks. This is what I made for her. Then I caught up on some of my cutting. This is all the cutting for the "Not a Quilt Along" . The finished top looks almost like a whirlygig. I am using 5 inch i spy squares for the charm pack.

Then I needed to get caught up with my "Crazy Mom Quilts" quilt along. I hadn't finished the cutting from week one.

Here is my center block. I really like how clean the quilt will look.

I am amazed that sometimes in quilting you do a lot of work but you can't really record it with a picture. That is the way i feel about sashing. I am working on sashing and squaring up the blocks for 2 quilt tops. When i am done sashing i can sew them together and then it will look like an accomplishment. This was a great Friday Night Sew in. Yeah!

Design Wall (or table) Monday

2010-06-07T07:18:00.000-07:00

Well here it is my design "wall". This is my cutting table. See that little yellow turtle. I bought the pattern at Alewives during the scavenger hunt that they sponsored a couple weekends ago.I had an odd charm pack and decided to make the turtle from charm squares. It worked really well so I decided to make 5 more. (just to use up the rest of the charm pack) They are in varying stages of being completed.

You can also see my modern siggy swap 2 squares all bagged and ready to be mailed to Jaybird. I really enjoy being a part of these siggy exchanges.

The other strips that you see are 1. black and white - for the reed blocks from the May Block lotto blog 2. ivory - for sashing for my Modify tradition blocks.

That's pretty much it I am really trying to push through all the projects that i have already started. The kids are getting out of school soon and this means lots of family time.

A Quilty Present from my MIL

2010-06-04T09:41:00.001-07:00

Well these pictures loaded backwards but here is an up close look at a couple of the log cabin squares on this really old quilt my MIL sent me. The label says that it was made in 1880. The quilt was later given to my MIL's mother when she married.

It also has a NJ Heritage Quilts label on it. I have refolded it because it has definite crease lines where it has been folded for so long. Now to find a darkish room where I can hang this up and enjoy it.

Spring to Finish Wrap up

2010-05-31T20:44:00.001-07:00

Wow! What a weekend! I have been cutting and sewing, and cutting and sewing.....
These are the Modify Tradition blocks. I replaced one block with the Churn dash block. I have 4 more blocks almost finished and then I can sash and border and finish this top. Next are the Jellyroll Sampler Quiltalong blocks. I did different blocks for 3 and 4 but am up to date with this quilt along.

I had one more swap to complete a Breast Cancer block swap. I was in for 2 sets. These are my blocks: Patchwork Heart and Memory Wreath

Besides these blocks I have the back for the Pinwheel Sampler almost complete. The other quilt I am working on is the Breast Cancer Quilt. I haven't finished the border yet.

Friday Night Sew In

2010-05-21T21:47:00.000-07:00

I began the night with a nap. I was feeling a little tired and thought if I take a quick nap I will get some energy and really be able to get things done tonight. Well it worked and I woke up ready to get some sewing done. Look what I found at my sewing machine. This is my middle daughter sewing. (inside I am thinking, yeah, she is sewing) but now I have to change my plans a little.

This is what she was working on an I spy quilt from all the squares I have been getting in my swaps.

I stood and did some cutting for these blocks. They are for the Block Lotto blog. Each month we have a different block. Everyone post the blocks that they have made and you get into a drawing to win enough to make a quilt top. I love these blocks.

Finally I worked on this doll quilt / wall hanging. I had some squares left from a charm pack and used the no waste flying geese method to sew the charm squares into flying geese.

Before I took my nap I was going to put a binding on a large quilt. I have it all pinned and ready to sew...maybe next month.

I am getting things Finished

2010-05-20T20:41:00.000-07:00

I am finally getting some quilts finished. by finished I mean tops complete, backings sewn and bagged to go to the long armer. Yes there are four bags there with tops that have been finished for a while but I never finished the backings. Yeah. The two tops you see just need a little sashing or a border and they will be finished. I have a backing for both so I hope to get 6 quilts to the quilter tommorrow. I am working on the Spring to the Finish challenge that is why I have been getting things done but look what I got in the mail the last couple days. I spy blocks... I was in a swap with fabrikate for 200 blocks a set (at the time I thought I'm really going to need two sets) so I sent enough fabric to get two sets. Then Project corner had a second swap and I just had to get in that one and of course I needed two sets. So now I have 800 - 4" I spy squares.

For those of you that have done these kind of swaps before you already know this but for anyone who hasn't done one of these swaps not all the fabric that you get is quilt quality. I pulled out a couple of flannel squares, fabric that was very seethrough, and some fabric that really wasn't Ispy. This leaves me with 788 squares. I can't start assembling any quilts until I finish 2 more projects.

1. the modify tradition quilt along (I have three more blocks)

2. the postage stamp quilt along ( I have 15 more blocks to make)

I am dreaming of a large cathedral window quilt with I spys in the windows, or an attic window quilt, or a quilt with flaps to lift and spy the squares underneath.

No more dreaming. I am going to finish these projects and then I will play with the I spy squares.

FInally some pictures of quilt blocks

2010-05-11T07:07:00.000-07:00

I have been trying to get things done. Here are two blocks for the Block Lotto blog. I don't think the green shows up very lime but it is. This was a fun learning experience but one of my reeds looks a little pregnant. :) Here are some 5 inch I spy squares. This is the third I spy swap I have joined. I have started 3 quilts and only completed one, but I love arranging and re arranging the blocks.

Finally I have completed these blocks for a swap over on the Quilting Board. It is called the Great Mini Block swap. Each of these blocks finishes at 4 1/2 inches. The patterns come from Sentimental Stitches. This is a really amazing pattern resource. I have printed all 92 and hope to do most of them. Maybe in modern fabrics though.

Spring to Finish - update?

2010-05-10T06:47:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I was supposed to post a list of the projects I wanted to complete by the end of May and I was too busy to post the list. I have created a list in Word and have been using that so I will let you know how I am doing.

1. Breast Cancer Quilts-I received the blocks back from my swap partners, I have laid them out and now I need to cut the sashing and sew the top together. I think I can finish this by the end of the month.

2. Pinwheel Sampler - I wasn't happy with the 4 block by 4 block layout and so I had to add 4 more blocks. I have completed all of the blocks now and all the little 2.5" pinwheel corner blocks and I should be able to sew this top together by the end of the month.

3. Jellyroll Quilt Along - I have only done the first three blocks so I need to catch up. I hope to be up to date on this quilt along by the end of the month.

4. Modify Tradition (quilt along)- I really like the fabrics I chose for this quilt along. I have made the first 4 blocks and I have 4 more to make.

5. Too many swaps - Here is a list of all the swaps I have completed in the last two weeks: Summer Sadie's building block swap, a mini block swap, a couple I spy swaps, Fresh Comfort 2 Bee, Sew Bee It Bee, and I am part of a Boomerang swap I have completed 31- 12" blocks for that swap.

6. Double Delight - I have worked this quilt all the way to step #4. I just have the assembling part to do. I am kind of stalled because I realized that I didn't get enough fabric for finishing the edge. Why that has stopped me from completing the top I don't know but... oh well.

7. Postage stamp quilt - I have barely started this quilt. I have all the strips cut and a few sewn together. I did not like the way the fabrics repeated in a pattern so I am still trying to figure out how I can put the fabrics together to eliminate this problem.

8. A Little more I spy Quilt - This one just needs sashing around the blocks and then assembly. Hopefully this can be completed.

Do I really only have 20 days till the end of the month. I am pretty sure that I can get 6 of these 8 things done before the end of the month. If I can then I may just go and by that fabric I have been eyeing for a quilt for myself.

College Touring - Not a quilt shop visited

2010-04-23T06:29:00.000-07:00

Well I am back from doing the college tour thing with my Junior and my other daughter who is a freshman. First we went to Muhlenberg in Allentown PA, then Dickinson in Carlisle, PA. This is a picture of one of the buildings on the Dickinson Campus. The nest day we toured Bryn Mawr (an all girls school near Philadelphia, PA),

then we drove through Haverford and toured Swathmore in Swathmore, PA. After we left Swarthmore we drove through Villanova. This is a picture from Swarthmore.

The next day we toured Quinnipiac in Hamden, CT. This is a beautiful campus. The only drawback is that they are moving most of the housing off campus.

That same day we went to Connecticut College for a tour but we missed the tour and the next was in an hour. My daughter didn't want to wait so we did a self guided tour and left.

They were all beautiful schools but after that many days in a car with a teenager that really just wants to hang out with friends i was very glad to get home.

The amazing story behind all this college touring is that we had my in-laws come up to help my husband while I was gone with my son. They arrived the day begore I left but something was wrong with my MIL. She had a mini stroke. We admitted her to the hospital. I left (there was plenty of other family around my husband had really just wanted to see his parents) and she came home the next day. We are now trying to get her to take the medicine that should prevent any new strokes from happening.

Design Wall Monday

2010-04-05T11:14:00.001-07:00

Well I finally remembered to put some of the quilts I am working on up on the design wall. I am working on a "Double Delight" quilt the pattern is from Bonnie Hunter at Quiltville. I changed the colors around and i think I might like it. The pinwheels are for the ps i quilt sampler. The tiny pinwheels are because I oopsed and cu the squares the wrong size but decided to put the block together anyways. Here is a picture of my sewing machine. This is all the stuff I have ready to be sewn. I ran out of bobbin thread and decided that I needed to sleep.

Sometimes when I am really in the quilting zone time just flies by. That is what happened last night. I hope to finish the double delight quilt this week (I may run in to a problem with the border but we will see). Happy quilting!

April Showers bring ... treats

2010-04-02T13:25:00.001-07:00

Well there have been no real showers in April so far, but there were plenty in March. The water drainage got clogged right near our house and our basement flooded. We have flooded before about twice before in 14 years so we had almost everything up. I had just moved my sewing room down to the basement so some fabric that I was playing with on the rug got wet but it was all washable. After all that rain we have had beautiful sun and today I got this giveaway in the mail. Beth over at The Quilt Ladies sent me these seven fatquarters and one of her books. I love the fabrics and have started reading the book already. The other great thing that happened yesterday is that the Maine Shop Hop started. Because the shops are so far a part and really can't be hopped in a weekend, we have the entire month of April to get to all 32 shops. I started at my local quilt shop, Mariner's Compass. I love the people here they are great. She has expanded her clearance area. I picked up these charm packs for 50% off.

I have been dreaming of a whirlygig quilt or a pinwheel quilt now I could do both. :)

Well hopefully this weekend I can get to at least 6 more shops. I really need a new machine and I am hoping to win one of the two machines. Wish me luck! ;)

Crazy 9 Patch pieced and "Home"

2010-03-28T18:34:00.000-07:00

What a busy weekend. My son and i were invited by his friend and his mother to go to their cabin for the weekend. The cabin was beautiful. It had a view of the Bigelow Mountains in Maine that was awe inspiring. It didn't get above 20 degrees the whole time we were there but the sun was out and there was very little wind. We spent a little bit of time outdoors but mostly in.
When I got home I couldn't wait to finish this quilt that was up on my design wall. It is the "Crazy Nine Patch" by Oh Franson. The tutorial on her blog looked so neat I had to try it. There is no waste with this quilt. I love it.
Now I have to decide what fabric to use for the backing and the binding. The shop hop in Maine starts on April 1st and runs through the whole month of April. I am putting together a list of all the things I am hoping to find at all the different quilt shops around Maine. There are 32 shops in Maine but I am definitely not making it to at least 2 of them. (They are 6 hours from me in different directions)

This block is for a block swap I am in. We were given the word "Home" as our inspiration for a block and asked to make a 10.5 inch block. In our house, home is centered around the fireplace. it is the warmest spot in the house .

I spy Swap, Design Wall, and a finished top

2010-03-22T09:29:00.000-07:00

Well I have joined another I spy swap. Katie at fabrikatesdesigns is hosting this one. I have signed up for two sets. Here is set one: And here is set two:

I got all of these at different LQS (I have three in my area) and one at Joann's but it is so cute.

Here is what is on my design wall. I showed this during the Friday Sew In. I chose the sashing and border fabric. I haven't chosen a ninth block but I will. It has been fun looking on Quilter's Cache for all the possibilities.

And finally the Red White and Blue No Sew Swap blocks. This top is finished I have pieced the back and it will be heading to the quilters soon. Yeah!

Birthday Party and Friday Night Sew In

2010-03-20T06:06:00.001-07:00

Well here he is the Birthday boy. He is now in double digits. 10 years old. His party was yesterday and the weather cooperated. He wanted to have a kickball game with a bunch of his friends and then just run around and play. A perfect birthday for a 10 year old.I was so tired after the cleaning, planning and hosting of a birthday party that I almost forgot that it was the Friday Night Sew In. I enjoyed spending a couple hours cutting and sewing. Here is the fabric for a swap that I am in. It is a red/aqua swap of 3.5 by 6.5 bricks. So I cut my bricks from this fabric.

My favorite is the little hedgehogs.
Next I pulled out the bags from a No Sew Swap that I had done. I was in a pink green white group. I haven't sewn them together yet because everyone had a different idea of pink green and even white. I put them on my design wall and replaced colors till I had blocks I liked.

I broke a needle and was half done with one. I only have 8 right now, I will either put a sashing and a border around these eight or I will come up with a ninth.

And last but not least I sewed on the binding of this quilt. One more too the finish pile as soon as I decide on a name and put it on the label.

Well as I look back I really did get a lot done.

Getting Blocks Done

2010-03-16T07:30:00.000-07:00

I have been completing blocks. Fresh Comfort Blocks for Rachel. Ticker tape blocks.

Pinwheel Sampler Quilt along Blocks. Love them

And finally the Jellyroll Sampler block.

Block Lotto and Modify Tradition

2010-03-08T10:32:00.000-08:00

I made 4 pairs of March blocks for the Block Lotto site. They were fun to make but I realized that I do not own much cool fabric. Even my blues are to the warm side of blue. I also finished my Modify Tradition block of the week. This one was simple and easy. I loved that there were no points to match at seams.

The family had a busy weekend. Bowdoin College was the host to the regional hockey championship. They made it to the finals but lost to Middlebury. My son and husband spent alot of time waiting for tickets and watching the game. I on the other hand was driving the two daughters to the YMCA state swim competition. It was in Bangor this year (a 2 hour drive) both girls have boyfriends who swim for the Y so we had to stay and watch them swim. I left the house at 8am yesterday and rolled back in at 10:30pm. I was exhausted. I tried to do hand work during the meet but I made two mistakes and decided I was too distracted.

Quilts and a Sick Kid

2010-03-04T08:36:00.000-08:00

Well I haven't posted for a while because I have had a sick kid. My 15 year old has labrynthitis, basically an inner ear infection due to a virus. No quick fix with an antibiotic. Every time she moves she gets sick to her stomach. Of course at 15 she thinks she can tough it out and suffers for a day before she tells me she isn't feeling well. She's able to move around a little better but today she woke up and can't hear out of her left ear. A little scary but hopefully it all works out.

I have been stuck at the house watching her and so I have gotten a lot of quilt piecing done. Here are a couple. These are the blocks fron the No Sew Block Swap. I was in the Red White and Blue Group #1. I switched a couple of the fabrics around but here they are. After I stitched them I took the left over fabric and made 3 more squares. As I'm looking at these pictures I am noticing two mistakes. I guess I'm going home and fixing a couple blocks.

The other fun thing I did was get all my I spy blocks from a swap laid out. I really love some of this fabric. I am not using all the squares (there were 200).

I am using the leftover squares and some from another swap to make another I spy but that Hasn't come together yet.

I have to go check on the daughter. Looking forward to spring and summer.

I won a giveaway. Yeah!

2010-02-25T09:48:00.000-08:00

Look what I got in the mail. Shelley at Red Quilts had a giveaway on her one month anniversary of blogging. This is the prize. Thank You Shelley There was supposed to be a pattern in the envelope but it was open when I got it I am asking around at my post office but I am not keeping my fingers crossed

The day is rather gloomy and this is my car pool day. My church is having a discussion about the local fishing economy and what we can do as consumers to help the fishing industry. I am really looking forward to this.

ps i quilt Pinwheel Sampler

2010-02-24T07:44:00.001-08:00

Hi everyone, I need help. I can't decide which set of pinwheels to do. This is how I first put them together before I sewed anything but then when I had finished ironing. I put them out like this.

I kind of like the contrasting outer pinwheel. Which should I use?

Block for Matt

2010-02-22T07:23:00.000-08:00

I was surfing the blogs this weekend and came acroos Mama Spark's World. I just had to make a block for Matt.
She asked me to make one of the dark blue and red squares. I wrote my note to Matt on the back so he will always have it with him.

It's Over

2010-02-19T23:55:00.001-08:00

I think the Friday Night Sew in was a success. Of the four things on my list I did not complete one of them but I made progress. Here is a picture of my Breast Cancer block. It is going to be "arbor Window" after I got it this far I realized that I had miscounted and will need to cut more HST. But the big success of the night is the Road to Spring. It is really coming along. I am making it in a queen size so I have 324 rectangles and 324 squares. I want the colors to look random but I didn't like the look of just pulling a random square from the bag and sewing it so I have laid them all out and am designing each row.

I hope to have all the rows sewn together by Sunday. What progress I made on this quilt top tonight. I hope everyone has had a great night.

Friday Night Sew In

2010-02-19T18:32:00.000-08:00

OK I am starting a little late because my husband was feeling a little neglected and he offered to take me out to dinner. Well I'm home now and ready to sew. Here is the list I'm working on:
1. Breast cancer swap block need 12 for swap
2. Block of the month (Amy's Passion) Block 5 and 6
3. Road to Spring complete top

I have a couple more things to do but I don't think there are enough hours in this night.

Good Luck

Some great Stuff in the mail

2010-02-19T10:12:00.000-08:00

First I am finally up to date on my Diary of Hazel Ilene quilt along (well except for today) This block may have to be fixed see the upper right hand block but I was too tired last night. Okay here is one of the packages I got in the mail yesterday. Isn't this great. It came from Tia at "camp followers bags" I really love all the scraps i am thinking about a couple doll quilts. The camo bag has disappearred to my son but I know where it is... Besides the fabric she also included some needles, a spool of varigated thread, and a Dear Jane edge Block template. Thank You Tia I feel prepared for camp now.

And finally I am in a pincushion swap. I sent a pincushion to my partner in California and included some stuff from Maine. This is what I got from her. My pincushion is looking pretty plain compared to these but wow aren't they great. I think I love the jars with the pincushions on top the best but the lady bug pincushion runs a close second. I am going to try out the pincushion necklace tonight I hope I don't stab myself by mistake. :)

I hope everyone has a great weekend I will be doing the Friday Night Sew In. I hope to accomplish at least half of the things on my list. I will post an update with list after work.

Winter time Mini Quilt Swap and Inspiration

2010-02-12T09:06:00.000-08:00

Hi Everyone. I have been working really hard on this wintertime mini quilt. I was inspired by a mini quilt that I can't seem to find now. I made a wonky star/sun and pieced the whirling fabric into the starry fabric. I made some wonky trees and a bright colored house. I have almost finished quilting. I hope I can get the binding on and wash it this weekend then I can get it in the mail next week. (I love getting things done early) It is due March 1st. I really am not sure if the person getting it is into wonky stuff but I hope she loves it. I just finished opening my "seven days of Inspiration" swap stuff. This was so much fun. The only thing not pictured here is a great pin cushion which I have been using since I opened it. The kids are trying to convince me that I should share the candy with them. I think I'll make them wait a little longer. :)

Well the opening ceremonies for the Winter Olympics are tonight. There are all kinds of challenges going on during the Olympics and I am not joining any of them. I am trying desperately to complete my TO DO list. My list currently has about 30 things on it. It will be a feat of Olympic proportion if I can complete the List by the end of the Olympics.

Well I hope everyone has lots of crafts to keep them busy during the long hours of television watching. Go Team USA :)

Fabric and a Block of the Month

2010-02-09T07:21:00.000-08:00

Well my LQS (Mariner's Compass in Bath ME) had a big once a year sale. If you bought 25 fat quaters they would cost you $25. You had to buy them in groups of 25 and they had to be already cut but those were the only rules. I have been thinking about doing the postage stamp quilt along and I have wanted to do it in 1930's prints. So This is what I got....
Aren't they beautiful. I am not sure about using the solids. I might have to get a couple more purple, blue, green prints. So if you are counting that is 37 fat quarters. I needed 13 more.

Here are some I spy fabrics for a quilt. I am in an I spy swap and will be getting my 200 4inch blocks real soon. The swap coordinator has been showing us the blocks all along, so I have been planning the quilt in my head. I hope these will finish the quilt off really nicely.

And finally, Modify Traditions is having a block of the month. Last month it was the Broken Dish. Here are my two blocks. I am making two of each block so I will have a good sized quilt at the end of 12 months.

Other than this I am almost finished with my larger Magic Trick Mystery Quilt. A mystery quilt for during the Superbowl. I will post pictures tommorrow.

It is beautiful and relatively warm today (33 degrees) no wind and the sun finally came out so I am happy.

Have a great day everyone.

Magic Trick Mystery Quilt Finished

2010-02-07T17:13:00.000-08:00

Quiltbug is having a mystery quilt pattern. It is only available on Sunday. I had church all morning but I finally completed it. This was fun. I don't think I ever would have made this quilt but I really love it.

Off to finish a couple more projects. Enjoy your Super Bowl sewing time.

Weekend TO DO list

2010-02-05T11:00:00.001-08:00

So this weekend is very busy in our household. Tonight is the high school kids big dance. They call it "Snogard". Which is Dragons spelled backwards. Our high schools mascot is the Dragon.
Both girls are going. First they are going to swim practice and then off to the dance. They aren't staying out to late because Saturday is KVAC's.
I'm not sure what the letters mean but it means the regional swim meet before the states. Both my girls love to swim and I will be cheering them on from the bleachers. I have a number of hand projects to keep me busy when they are not swimming.
When I'm not watching them swim pr helping them get ready I am going to be working on my BOM. This is the Amy's passion block. I am really excited about geting these done for February. They look really challenging. I am also going to work on the mystery quilt at quiltbug.

And finally if I have time I will work on Sadie's Building Block. Does it look like a General store? I still have to put doors on the Ice box but other than that I think I am done. Now I have to make 7 more for the swap.

I should be busy. Oh did I forget to mention the football game? No I won't be watching but the family will and that just means more sewing alone time. Yeah!

What I'm working on

2010-02-01T08:21:00.000-08:00

I have been reading a lot of blogs that create a monthly to do list. It is fun to read about the projects they hope to accomplish and it is even more fun to tune in at the end of the month and see if they got anything done. I think a to do list would be a great way of keeping me on task. It may also cause me to rethink entering anymore swaps.

Here is my This is What I'm Working on List:

1.Put Binding on Humble quilt in Yellow and Purple.
2.Put Binding on Carolina Christmas (picture at bottom of Blog)
3.Sew, quilt and bind Distant Pickle's Disappearing 9 patch quilt along
4.Complete Step 2 on Double Delight Mystery Quilt free downloas over at quiltville
5.Get up to date on Diary of Hazel Ilene quiltalong
6.Complete Block of the Months for Amy's Passion and Quilt Ladies
7.Complete all 8 Building Blocks for Sadie's Block swap (not due till May 1)
8. Complete Mini quilt for Winter Time Quilt Swap (Due March 2)
9.Work on blocks for the Big Mini Block Swap (due April 30) Use the link to see the block patterns. They are all 4.5 inch blocks.
10. Work on i have to say's Road to Spring Quilt-Along
11. Work on p.s. i quilt's Pinwheel Quilt-along (this hasn't really started yet)
12. I also saw a postage stamp quilt along just recently that I am thinking of doing. Well I already have the fabric so shouldn't I.

Swaps that I have completed my part but am looking for the swaps to come back to me:

1. No Sew Block Swap with Welcome to My World She has a running tally on the side of her blog and I check it a lot.
2. Modern Siggy Swap with ps i quilt I found a pattern to use on these once I get them back.
3. I Spy Block Swap with The Project Corner

Fabric fabric and more fabric

2010-01-29T08:35:00.000-08:00

I have been really busy working on my Seven Days of Inspiration swap. I can't show you any pictures till after she opens the seven days.

But I can show you some pictures of the quilt alongs and mysteryies I am working on:

This is the rectangles all cut for Mrs. Moen's Mystery. I used only scraps. As much as I don't like these fabrics anymore I think I might like them after Mrs' Moen works her magic.
Next are the fabrics I selected for i have to says quilt a long. I am really thinking of spring as you can see.

These fabric don't have a specific project yet but I had two in my stash and I saw two at my LQS a couple weeks back and then I was out yesterday and added the other two. I am going to have to put these together in a quilt sometime.

Well there I have my fabric guilt off my chest now. Here is an update on the family. The girls have there final swim meet of the season tonight then it is on to the State competitions. I am in charge of the programs for their meets so I have been photgraphing at practices trying to get some good pictures for the program.

My son is playing Basketball this season. He has two more Saturday games. Last week he came home really happy saying "Mom today we only lost by 6 points". His team has a lot of first time players. But the coach is fantastic and the kids really enjoy it.

Photographic Evidence

2010-01-22T11:33:00.001-08:00

I love when I see the term fabric porn because sometimes that is what it feels like. I love to look at fabric. These are the two layer cakes that I ordered. I am going to do the pinwheel quilt along with Rachel at ps i quilt. I ordered a bunch of Kona cotton from Joann's (it was 50% off) I haven't deided what the background color is going to be yet (white, pink, or red)

Here are my I spy block packets. I organized them into 10 squares in each packet so the coordinator has an easier time of sorting them. I can't wait to get my 200 I spy blocks back.

Here is another block swap I am involved with. It is a building block swap. I chose a General Store. I am going to put an ICE freezer on the front porch and a barrel maybe a mail box and perhaps a rocking chair.

Well I am off to a high school swim meet. I always walk around with an extra layer on compared to everyone else but at the meet I finally get warmed up and shed a couple layers. It's great. Enjoy your Friday everyone.

Technically It is still Sunday

2010-01-17T20:31:00.001-08:00

So here it is......Cheddar and Crackers (that's the pattern name but I have to get a better name for it) I really love this. it was really hard to make sure all the colors came out correctly but it was worth it.

My quiltathon was successful. I am tired and I am now going to bed. I will probably be dreaming about backings and borders maybe even quilting.

A fat quarters give away

2010-01-17T15:30:00.000-08:00

I finally got some time to catch up on my blogs. I came across this blog Suzanne's Great Big Giveaway. She is closing down her storefront "Knots and Bolts". I'm dreaming about winning some fat quarters.

Quiltathon

2010-01-17T13:49:00.000-08:00

Well I had a list of what I wanted to get done this weekend. It went like this: 1. Cheddar and Crackers by Hunble Quilter (all squares are cut just need to sew) 2. Diary of Hazel steps (3 days) 3. Bonnie Hunter's Double Delight (most of this is cut at least parts 1 and 2) 4. Finish hand sewing the binding on my daughters christmas quilt 5. Make a couple pillowcases for 1 million pillowcases

Such a small list so easy to do. Not.. I got a little of the Cheddar and Crackers quilt completed. I am staying up late tonight and I will finish this top. I will post pictures later.

Friday Night Sew In

2010-01-16T06:02:00.000-08:00

Well the night started off really well. I finished my blocks for the Fresh Comfort II Bee. They turned out great now to get to the post office and mail them to Margaret. Next I wanted to make the block of the month from the Quilt Ladies.

Done. I'm on a roll. The next thing on the list is the Amy's passion Blocks of the month. I tried making these once before but I really didn't like the fabrics. I got new fabric and here are the new blocks.

I think they look great. Ok what is next. Distant pickle just added the next step in her quilt along. So I will do the next step.

They were just 9 patches and now they are disappearing 9 patches. So now it is 2am and I am really tired. I tried to finish my Cheddar and crackers quilt but I realized I didn't have one of the fabrics I needed. I decided to sit and finish the binding on my daughters quilt.

I got really tired and couldn't finish. So I went to bed.

What a great Friday Night Sew In.

Another Swap

2010-01-15T10:46:00.000-08:00

I know. I know. I am involved in too much. (this is my conscience speaking to me)

But I couldn't resist. This I-SPy block swap looks so easy. All I have to do is find 10 fabrics and cut 20 4" squares out of each then mail it to her and I will get 200 4" squares back. Some of mine and 190 from others. So I signed up. I stopped by my local quilt shop and got 4 fabrics. Aren't the owls great. Now I just have to find 6 more. Easy peasy :)

Getting ready for the weekend

2010-01-14T08:45:00.001-08:00

I finally chose my fabrics for the Bonnie Hunter Double Delight Mystery quilt. This is one of the things I am going to work on this weekend. I have been making lists and getting things done. I have one more night to get the family list done so that I can spend the Friday Night Sew In just sewing.

I have one crockpot meal (chicken stew with dumplings) that my family loves and I am headed to the grocery store to get Taco fixings. That is always a hit.

I have been the major laundry queen the last couple days and I think I will only have a sheets and towels load to get through this weekend.

So as I am contemplating all this I stumble upon the 1 million pillowcase challenge and I am thinking that I have to fit in a couple pillowcases to my weekend. They are fast and I have stash. We have a local homeless shelter and I'm sure they would be appreciated.

So in order to finish everything I want to finish I would need my weekend to last for about 14 days and in that 14 days I would probably come up with a couple more things to make.

I just need to stay away from the quilting blogs and quilting stores until I finish the projects in front of me.

Well back to work at my real job.

Pictures of My projects

2010-01-12T07:44:00.000-08:00

I think I may have figured out how to get more than one picture into my blog. Yeah

Cheddar Cheese with Humble Quilter Block of the Month with Amy's Passion

Fresh Comfort Blocks for February

Siggy Swap blocks all signed and ready to go.

Two of the 9 patches for the Distant Pickle Quilt Along

Quilt Alongs (I think I may be doing too many)

2010-01-12T07:27:00.000-08:00

So I have been really busy. I have been taking pictures but I have not been getting on the computer. Here is a look at what my Hazel's Diary Quilt looks like so far. I am enjoying feeling up to date on it. Sometimes I take a couple days and then do a couple days at one time.

I am working on a whole bunch of other quilt alongs. I can't figure out how to get pictures in two different places on this blog post so I will have to tell you about them and show you on a seperate post.

I have finished piecing all my 9 patches for the Distant pickle quilt along.

I was one of the lucky 100 to get into the siggy swap with Rachel. I have finished those blocks and they are waiting to get shipped out.

I am part of a block swap quilting bee Fresh Comfort II. Margaret has February and chose a teal and brown wonky log cabin. We were only supposed to make two squares but I'm an overachiever and had lots of great fabrics. She can chose her two favorites and maybe put one on the back.

I am also getting ready to sew for the Friday Night Sew a quiltathon of sewing. I have been getting every WIP cut out so that I can just sew sew sew Friday and hopefully most of Saturday. I hope I figure out how to post two pictures at once by then so I can show lots of pictures.

Balinda

Sewing for a Baby

2010-01-06T06:51:00.000-08:00

I had so much fun making these snugglers. It is such an easy pattern.

I blew it up on the photcopier at work. My baby is turning 10 soon and so I had fun shopping for baby fabrics.

This is for the bookkeeper at my office. She had a really bad infection last year and was on antibiotics for a really long time and surprise her birth control pills didn't work. She is having a boy and is due any day now.

I have been working on the Amy's passion Block of the month (started dec 29, 2009)and I really hate the color combination in the block. I really like the pink with the cute flowers but not the other fabric. I think I am thinking winter and dark. I am going to look for a pale green and a yellowy brown maybe. Or maybe I should think pale pink and a darker pink.

Hazel Ilene Quilt along

2010-01-05T10:55:00.000-08:00

Well here is a picture of the fabrics I'm using.

I really like the flower fabric. I just saw that I get to cut a square of it today. I have to decide if I am going to fussy cut the square or not.

The other thing I'm working on is the block of the month. I just made up the 3" block version.

Other than that life is wild, kids are back in school, and I'm supposed to be working. I look like I'm working but I am still on a sugar high from the holidays.

Lots of Quilts, lots of projects

2010-01-04T06:10:00.000-08:00

Well I hope everyone is having a great new year. I have been working on many projects. I just thought I would show fabrics and some works in progress.

Here is the list of things I am working on or thinking about working on:

Carolina Christmas- I found this mystery quilt online after all the clues were out. I really liked it but didn't want it quite so large. I shunk it to a lap quilt size and used a moda jelly roll I got for Christmas with some other fabrics mixed in. Here is the top so far.

No Sew Block swap - I thought this was a great idea. I joined both groups. I really enjoyed going through quilter's cache to find a 12" block. I can't believe how many quilt patterns are in quilter's cache.

Hazel Ilene Quilt Along - I came across this and thought it would be fun. I had a couple fabrics and purchased the two that I needed. I have done all the cutting so far.

Distant Pickle is having a fun quilt along. A simple 9 patch design called "disappearing 9 patch" I had a bunch of fun fabrics and have cut all these squares. I just read today that we are to sew the 9 patches. That will be tonights project.

The Quilt Ladies has a block of the month project she has a 3", 6" and 12" block for each month. I have chosen scraps for the 3" blocks and am searching for fabrics for the other sizes. This may just be a fun way to learn new blocks each month. I completed the 3" block. It was fun working that small.

Cheddar cheese doll quilt - this is a quilt along. The pattern looks really interesting. I have not sewn this one yet. I want to get a better fabric for the Cheddar cheese :).

Quilted Hen has a Raid the Stash block of the week project. I would really like to do this but I just don't like any of the fabric combinations I have chosen for this project yet.

Amy's Passion has a 3 blocks a month project. In the end we will have 12 blocks and it quilted and bound by Christmas 2010 (If we keep to the schedule). This sounds promising. I have pulled fabrics and just need one more to make the project complete.

Camera Working Yeah

2009-12-29T12:30:00.000-08:00

Well I finally got the camera working. I had to borrow my daughters. My husbands ran out of battery power. Here is the pictures of stuff from Christmas.

I have been enjoying the encyclopedia of classic quilt patterns. I think I found the pattern for my quilting bee month. I have already opened the Moda jelly roll to enjoy the colors and paterns. Now to create something that makes me or someone else happy.

I am trying to add a picture of the knitting project that I am working on right now but it won't uplaod. Maybe in the next post.

I have to go drive kids to swim practice.

Christmas is over

2009-12-28T08:22:00.000-08:00

Well the holidays went well. I got a Moda jelly roll, three quilting books, some yarn and a knitting book. I have already started the first knitting project, "Knitting two socks at once". I'll post a picture tommorrow.

I finished one of my quilts but not the other one. The tension on my machine went and every time I thought I had it fixed it would lose tension. I was sick of ripping and just called it quits. I need a new machine. I am going to watch the local Uncle Henry's for a used sewing machine and I will be garage saling this spring.

Here is a picture of the crowd at my house for aChristmas celebration. They are all getting older and a simple yankee swap was the gift exchange. This year the theme was food. I think next year it will be games. Every kid chose candy except one set of homemade cookies. The cookies looked the best to me but the candy seemed to be the biggest hit.

I am thinking about posting a top ten craft project found on others websites in 2009 the only problem is I am having a hard time limiting it to ten. I'll post it soon.

It's Christmas Eve Eve

2009-12-23T07:55:00.000-08:00

What a busy weekend...my family was up for a Christmas celebration at our house. Everything went really well. I didn't stress about making it perfect and it wasn't perfect but it sure was a happy get together. Sunday was the Christmas pageant at church. My son was a magi for the fourth year in a row. We discussed what each character was ahead of time. The magi were smart men that were curious about something and traveled to discover the truth.

We all had a great time. The name of the pageant was "Will you play your part?" The kids had a great time.

I finished one quilt last night after my daughters' swim meet. No pictures because it is a Christmas present. I am quilting the second one but I just realized that the backing has a small fold in it. I am going to become friends with the seam ripper and fix it.

More Christmas Projects

2009-12-18T06:18:00.000-08:00

I am very aware of the limited number of days till Christmas. I have been trying to figure out how to add hours to the day. I was up till 1 am last night trying to finish my son's mittens. Here's what they looked like....

I put them next to each other for this picture and realized that the Star sits up higher than the mushroom. I don't think I am going to tear anything out.

As soon as this is done I can move on to socks.

My side of the family is coming to my house tommorrow to celebrate Christmas. I am going to turn on the Christmas music, wrap some presents, and bake some cookies. That should be fun.

2009-12-17T07:23:00.000-08:00

Just a picture to say Merry Christmas All!

Well here we are. I had everyone wear their Christmas shirts. Liz is hiding hers behind her brother . My husband hates to have his picture taken and my oldest daughter has that same smile on in all 10 pictures. The family is coming to our house this weekend to celebrate so I have to put quilting on hold. (I quilt in the main family room, so I can keep an eye on everyone.) They are a beautiful bunch especially when they are laughing.

11 Days till Christmas

2009-12-14T06:52:00.000-08:00

Here is the list of things I have to get done before Christmas:

1. Oldest daughters Quilt (It is a sandwich and just needs to be quilted)
2. Middle daughters Quilt (It also is a sandwich. I started machine quilting it and the tension was off. I have to tear out and requilt.)
3. Son's mittens (A special order from him with Mario symbols on them. I have the yarn but have not started knitting)
4. Gift for 16 year old girl done the street whose mother got shipped to Afghanistan a month ago. She loves squirrels and I am half way through a flap hat with a squirrel on the side.
5. Socks for me. I have 1 1/2 of these but I seem to have put myself on the back burner.
6. Christmas table runner. The family is coming to my house on Saturday and I want a simple splash of color for the table. I have the fabric and the rick-rack.
7. Pillow cases - I have the supplies to make the kids each two pillow cases. (this may be an after Christmas project)

Well now that I have gotten the guilt of having too many projects to do off my chest. I am going to try and woork for a couple hours so I can earn money to buy more projects :)

It's a never ending cycle and I really do love it. I would not be happy if I didn't have at least two projects going at the same time.

One more top done

2009-12-11T09:26:00.000-08:00

Well my husband has been away for a couple days and eventhough I have a lot of carpool duty, I have gotten a lot of sewing done.

This is my oldest daughters quilt top. I just put the sandwich together last night and am hoping I can spend a couple hours quilting it tonight.

I have been looking at a lot of blogs lately. Check out the In Stitches Holly Jolly Blog Bingo game.

I just picked my 25 words.

15 Days till Christmas

2009-12-10T08:38:00.000-08:00

Well everyone is back in school. I was up late last night working on a quilt sandwich. I ran out of pins. I can't decide if I have misplaced a lot of pins or do I have too many unfinished quilt sandwiches.

This quilt is for my daughter for Christmas. She told me the colors she wanted and I went shopping. She didn't liek some of the fabrics but wouldn't go fabric shopping with me.

I went shopping one more time and told her she doesn't get to complain. Now that it is together she says that she loves it. I even used some of the fabrics that she said she didn't like.

Now all I have to do is quilt it by Christmas.

No School Day

2009-12-09T10:28:00.000-08:00

The kids are happy today. They all heard the phone ring early this morning telling us that we did not have school today. The snow is beautiful but not fun to drive in. Of course I still need to get work done so they are playing in the snow and I am sitting trying to get some work done.

I have started this blog to show some of my craft projects and hopefully have some motivation to get them done.

I will take pictures of the two quilts I am working on, the socks I have half knitted and the many other projects that I enjoy.