Two Finishes

I've had a great weekend.  We came to Maryland on Wednesday to volunteer at the 200-mile relay in which our son ran.  It was a lot of fun and I met lots of nice people.


I brought my small Janome and finished sewing on the binding for a snowman quilt I made for my daughter-in-law.  She bought the fabric a year ago last Thanksgiving and I worked on it during my bee retreat in March.  Then I really got started and sewed down the binding for two quilts - hers and my April UFO!  I am so excited to finish my UFO - I started it in the mid-90's.  It was a block of the month from Quakertown Quilts in Friendswood, TX.  I had to complete the last block in 1999 because there were no zeros or twos on the instructions.  :)  If you look closely you can see that the bottom left hand block is dated 1999. I have looked at it for a long time trying to figure out how to quilt it.  I finally decided that stitch in the ditch was the best so I dove in.  I am very pleased with the results and delighted that it is one more project off my  To Do List.

I was also a good grandma while I was here.  I mended three pairs of pants (for the adults) and repaired Bunny and sewed a wheel back on a car that is loved.  I figure I earned my keep.  :)

Bonnie Hunter's Yard Sale

Bonnie Hunter is having a yard sale today and we can link to it.

I am selling this set of patterns that make up a wonderful lighthouse quilt as shown below.

Patterns: "Pieceful Harbor" by The Quilt Company (8 patterns) (#8 is not in the picture but I have it)

The price is $30.00 plus $5.00 shipping by USPS Priority Mail.

Here is a picture of the finished quilt:

Be sure to go to Bonnie's blog (http://quiltville.blogspot.com/) and check out the other bargains.

Contest

Hi All,

I have entered my snowman quilt (Farewell Carol Victory) in a contest that is conducted every week.  I would really appreciate your vote for my quilt.  Right now I am only 15 votes out of first place!  It would also be great it you would pass this along to your friends.

Here is the link:

http://quiltinggallery.com/2012/02/03/snowy-friends-quilt-contest/?utm_source=MadMimi&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Studio+Organization+and+Vote+for+Snowy+Friends&utm_campaign=Studio+Organization+and+Vote+for+Snowy+Friends&utm_term=Click+here+to+vote_21

The contest closes at midnight tonight.  Sorry for the late notice.  I will try to do better the next time as I have a heart quilt that I will be entering in a couple of weeks.

Thanks a lot.

\

2012 UFO Challenge

Can you believe that it is February already?!?!?!  Where does the time go?  Also where has winter gone?  I don't need a blizzard but it certainly would be nice to have some snow that lasts more than a day.  It was 60 degrees today - much too warm for January - but I'm keeping my fingers crossed for this weekend.

OK - on to the important stuff.  I finished my January UFO.  This year I decided to try to complete a bunch of smaller projects that I keep putting aside because "they won't take too long" and then they never get done.  Here is a picture of Santa (at least I'm ready for next Christmas which will probably be here before we know it!!):

Hop on over to Judy's blog Patchwork Times to see some of the other finishes.

2012 UFO Challenge

Well, I decided to join this year's UFO Challenge that is sponsored by Judy Laquidara http://www.patchworktimes.com/2011/12/20/2012-ufo-challenge-participants-list-of-projects/

I have chosen mostly smaller projects that often get postponed when I am working on larger projects.  I hope that I can work them in in between quilting, knitting and cross stitch projects.

I have finished two projects so far this year and am going to try to get a third one done tonight or tomorrow and then I will post pictures.  I really enjoy knitting and cross stitching as much as I like to quilt so it is often hard to make time for all three.  And, besides, I still haven't taken down my Christmas decorations.  The tree was so pretty this year I hate to dismantle it but I will this week I think.

Wish me luck.  I'll try to post on a more regular basis this year.

2011 is over already!!

I can't believe that 2011 is over and we are already two days into 2012.  I have taken a few minutes to look over my lists from last year.  Overall, I am pleased.  I listed 13 projects on Judy Laquidara's (www.patchworktimes.com) UFO Challenge and I completed 9. Between the quilt show in the end of October and three major events at home (dinner for the quilt show committee, Christmas lunch for my bee and an open house the week before Christmas) I didn't have a lot of time to sew.  I did finish a few projects for Christmas though.  Of course, I forgot to take pictures - I'm hoping that the recipients will help me.

I created a Project List for 2011 and made some good progress on it also.  I didn't get quite as much knitting done as I had hoped but I made several things - again no pictures.  I will try to get better at is this year.

I think I am going to join Judy's 2012 UFO Challenge if for no other reason than to spur on myself to complete some small projects.

My bee is going to have a PIGS Challenge (Projects in Grocery Sacks).  We will all put in $3 each quarter (the equivalent of a fat quarter) and Jack or Jenna will draw a number (1-4) each quarter. At the end of the quarter everyone who has completed her project will have her name put in the hat and one lucky person will win the $$$.  I have been giving lots of thought about which projects I will list.  I keep sorting through my bins - I have more than enough to qualify.

I hope all of you had a productive year and will make good progress this year.

Happy New Year!


Carol

Wow! It's November already

I can't believe that it is November!  It doesn't seem like two years ago that we started planning our guild's quilt show.  It was last weekend and it was, I say modestly since I was the chair, a great success.  My committee was wonderful and worked very hard.  The quilts were just stunning as usual.  The Small Quilt Auction and Silent Auction were very profitable.  The Peony Shop (items made and/or donated by our members) was very popular.  Isn't it funny how you work and plan for something for a long time (Christmas, a party, etc.) and all of a sudden you are looking back on it?

My  friend Aljean (we've known each other since her youngest and my oldest were in preschool and they are both turning 40 this year!) came last week and worked her tail off.  Her flights were delayed and she didn't get here in time to watch the judging but she did get to help with setup, hanging, white gloving and takedown.  I told her I would work her if she came.  Boy was she surprised!  I don't think anyone realizes how much work it is to plan and carry out a quilt show until you actually take part in it.  She left on Friday to go visit her sister in California and to get some much needed rest.


Actually while she was here we did get quite a bit accomplished.  She finished a jelly roll quilt top that is quite stunning.  She left it for Jennifer to quilt.  She also made the back for a top she brought with her and we got that over to Paul to quilt.  Her grandaughter who is living in Indy for the next three years while her husband is in law school will bind both of them for her when they are quilted.  I finished quilting my Debbie Bowles quilt and sewed on binding and sleeve.  No time to stitch down the binding but I hope to do that this week.  It was my October UFO for Judy Laquidara's UFO Challenge so my finish will be close.  

I have also been knitting - I have finished one scarf for Special Olympics and am working on the second one. The color in the picture isn't great - it is red and blue. Here is the link for the patterns in case anyone is interested in making one or two (http://www.scarvesforspecialolympics.org/).  They are easy patterns and go very quickly.  I also bought more yarn (just what I need!!!) yesterday when Jen and the kids and I went to Threads of Time Quilt Shop and Retreat Center in Danville, IL.  It is a dangerous place for me as they have a yarn store in the middle of the shop.  Jenna picked out some pink yarn for a hat which shouldn't take me too long.


On Wednesday, Aljean and I went to stitch group.  I finally got to work on Jen and Mike's wedding announcement (I should finish it soon as they were married 11 years yesterday) again.  I had put it aside for the last couple of weeks while working on the show.  While at Needle Fever

I picked up a quickie project that I did one day since I had forgotten my huge bag of floss (talk about a senior moment!) and wanted something to work on.  Karen framed it for me and did a great job.


I plan to get into my sewing room today and get packed up for our bee workday tomorrow.  We are going to do a jelly roll challenge.  I sewed my strips together when I had my weekly sewing day with Kathy and Kay on Thursday so I am ready to go.  Can't wait to see how it turns out.

Last weekend was the Shipshewanna retreat.  Jen, Kathy, Loralei and I went last year and had a great time.  We sewed with Judy Laquidara and made some new friends and really enjoyed ourselves.  We had to miss this year because of the quilt show but have already printed out our forms for next year.  Can't wait to go back to Lolly's again - their bargain basement is larger than a lot of quilt shops I have been in.


In addition to everything else that has been going on I have been keeping my boss's dog Yukon for the last week and a half while she and her husband have been at Quilt Market (Whimiscals)

and then on a cruise to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary.  He is a lot of fun and Jenna has absolutely fallen in love with him.  Next Wednesday morning will be a sad day when she gets her in the morning before school and he is gone.  She knows he will be going home but I know how much she will miss him.

Can you tell that I finally figured out how to link websites to my blog?  Amazing for an old lady!  Hope you have a good week and gets lots accomplished!