Happy 80th Birthday to my Dad!

It has been a bit since the last post and not much stitching has gone on. Just wanted to wish my Dad a Very Happy 80th Birthday today! So glad he is down here with us to celebrate. We will be taking him out to dinner this evening before they fly home tomorrow to a very cold and wet (ice today) Vermont.

Don't you buckle in your bears when you have them in the car? Aidan did earlier this week.

I got a little hand stitching in while my parents were visiting with my uncle and aunt on Saturday before they went out for a birthday dinner. Gee, Dad sure is getting a lot of birthday dinners in this week!

Sophie under the tree - on a quilt of course!

Max hiding under the quilt rack checking out the tree. Can't wait to climb that.. thanks for bringing it inside!

This was my hand work in the car today while waiting on the kids. I took out one of the 1857 blocks and made a little progress. Back basted 4 of the peels so just need to trim and turn them later.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Just wanted to wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving. We are very blessed today to share the holiday with all the kids grandparents.  May you all enjoy your holiday and be safe if you are traveling.

Hand quilting.....on a Sunday.

I finally started hand quilting the little doll quilt. Leftover orange peels, leftover batting and some cotton flannel for a snuggly backing. Love seeing the stitches get smaller the more I hand quilt.

Linking up with the RSC Challenge as I made these peels during that challenge a few years ago, Slow Sunday stitching and Oh Scrap.

I hope to surf and comment on Tuesday... when the new charger for my mac arrives in the mail. After 6 years the other one finally stopped working so I'll be hand quilting while waiting for the new one to arrive =)

It's a trunk show!

After reading Joann's blog over at Canuckquilter.com and an encouraging e-mail from her I decided to join the fun over at WhimsandFancy.com and join in on the on-line trunk show!

It is a very difficult decision to pick out some favorite quilts..... so I asked my family.

Hubby chose his quilt =). He loves the earth tone colors and after collecting green and brown fabrics for this quilt while pregnant with our first child, silly me was thinking I could quickly sew this together in the last few months of my pregnancy and get it quilted while working full time! Yup, I was nuts. He got it before that child turned 1.....a year after I started it. (and 4 months before baby #2 arrived). This is from the Nickel Quilts book from Pat Speth.

He also likes Celtic Solstice - a Bonnie Hunter Mystery I made a few years ago. I think the colors just sparkle in this one.

I then asked my son his favorite. He chose this little wall hanging which was a scrap challenge sew along that I machine quilted with my walking foot. He said he loves the colors in this quilt.

My daughter Emily selected the quilt I knew she would. Her sailboat quilt. This one has to cover her first at night when we tuck her into bed. She loves the feel of it. These blocks were some that I won from my quilt guild up in Vermont when she was a baby.

Now my favorites. This is extremely difficult since I have been quilting since 1992 .... that is over 24 years of quilts... and I was quite productive for quite a few of those years!

I love this scrap basket quilt design by Kim Brackett I believe- another one where I won some of the blocks from my guild and then made a bunch more and put it together. I machine quilted this and just love it. It reminds me of some wonderful ladies in the guild up in Vermont.

My next choice is my Hugs and Kisses Quilt. I hand appliquéd the orange peels with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge a few years ago. I had a brainstorm on the name and how to set them half way through making them... one color a month. I guess you could say I designed this, as the setting and border I came up with as I went. I actually hand quilted this one and love the softness of it. This one resides on the back of the couch and I actually took a nap under it on Sunday afternoon.

Another favorite is a quilt I made as a mystery one just for me while I was pregnant with my daughter. She decided to be a week late and I was actually able to finish this one before she was born (the little stinker - she still has a mind of her own at age 7!) The colors are my favorites - blue, green, purple and yellow to add a nice sunny pop of color. The mystery was run from Yankee Pride Quilt Shop in Essex Jct, VT. My first time quilting with batiks.

See, I told you this is difficult..... I have to throw in one more that I finished off last year as a wedding present for my nephew. Another quilt I made with the Rainbow Scrap Challenge by just making blocks in one color per month for a year. This is my Birds in the Air quilt.  I picked the block because I wanted to stretch my skills and this one looked so hard to make! I am pretty darn good at them now..... and have almost enough of them made for a second quilt for me, only mine will be full size and hand quilted eventually! This one was machine quilted with squiggly lines on my domestic machine.

Ok, one more.... my apple wall hanging. Another one with the RSC on a red month. I used a coloring books the kids had for the apple and hand appliquéd them down in the car line while waiting to pick up the kids. The little squares got sewn together very scrappy for the alternate 9 patch block and I hand quilted this one. It hangs in the dining room for the months of August and September.

Well shoot.... how did I forget my Lori Smith quilt along? I finally finished this one a few months ago and will have it hanging officially in my home office by the end of next week. I made each of these blocks using some Kansas Troubles fabrics I got at VQF back when I lived in Vermont and I think before kids or right around when Aidan was a baby. Each 12 inch block was hand quilted (car lines again) and was my first attempt at quilt as you go this year. It was a great process once I got it started and can see making other quilts this way.

Darn it.... I sold this one this year and am kicking myself cause I miss it. Guess I'll just have to dump out all the blues and creams into piles and make another one soon - my scrappy and wonky log cabin. Just grab a piece of fabric (not cut to specifics) and sew it on until it reaches the size I wanted. Square it up and you get a very pretty quilt. I attempted my first machine quilted feathers in the cream sections.

I'd add more... but I have quite a few that are tops and not finished ... and this is a trunk show of finished quilts. Maybe I'll have them done for next year's show!

Head back to the link up and check out the other on-line trunk shows... but first grab a cup of your favorite drink as the eye candy will have you in awe.

Progress......

I  missed a Tiny Tuesday or Starry Wednesday post this week. Better late then never!

I seem to have been playing cookie jam in the car line and it is cutting into my stitching time! I did get the white onto 2 stars and will get the other one finished at bowling this morning.

I also got a little sewing and ironing time in this week (finally!) and have all the blocks sewn for the baby quilt. Just need to iron the yellow, orange and green and then play with setting them so I can get it into a top stage this weekend.

 A little ray of sunshine got picked this week - Aidan's sunflower. 

There is another in bloom in the garden and about 10 others that will bloom soon. We have been picking green beans, had some of Aidan's summer squash and Mom..... There are a couple of cucumbers almost ready to pick! Weeding is on tap for the afternoon since I got the house picked up and vacuumed yesterday. Outside work today.

I also have a post written for an on-line trunk show... but need to photograph a bunch of quilts for that post. Hopefully that will get done this afternoon and I can post it tomorrow!

Happy Thursday everyone!

Oh and if you are looking for something to sew..... there is a Scrap Dance Waltz Quilt along over at From my Carolina Home and of course the Bonnie Hunter Mystery starts the day after Thanksgiving. I could see a pretty blue and white quilt for the scrap dance waltz and love the colors of Bonnie's quilt this year - purple, green and yellow. Alas.... I have way too many in process things but will be saving off the steps for the future =).

Sunday.....

Kathy reminded us today to always try new things without fear. I think that is great advise and use that with my girl scouts to get them to try new things. I tell them you may or may not like something (food, activity, etc) and that is ok, but if you don't try you will never know!

It has been a busy time for me the last couple of days. We officially sold our store on Friday afternoon. Friday evening we did a family cub scout campout - first time in a tent overnight for Aidan. He stayed there for the day doing scouting things with his Dad - learning knots, crafts, badges, etc. Emily and I headed to her bowling, a quick lunch and then picked up the girl scout nut and candy orders for our troop. A quick trip home to unload that, try for a nap (foiled as the boys got home at 3 and interrupted my 1 hour nap) and then reload the car for Emily and my girl scout camp out at the drive in. We had a seasoned camper and her Mom (brothers in scouting) and another first time in a tent camper with us for the night. The girls had a great time watching Trolls, playing in the arcade, making s'mores, playing games with other girls scouts and watching ice age. After the wake up announcement, it was breakfast (they provided a great hot breakfast for us - eggs, sausage, biscuit and hash browns) then breaking camp. It was great to see the girls hang out together and enjoy their time together. They will all see each other at another of our troops birthday party in a couple of hours. 

I figured I would be napping this afternoon but I actually got some sleep last night. Instead I will try and do a little  sewing  on the baby quilt and then prep this little one for hand quilting and start putting some hand stitches into it.

This is from leftover orange peels from the hugs and kisses quilt and will become a doll quilt for Emily. It is 24x27... just the right size for her Jessie doll. But first lets check and make sure it is big enough for her to snuggle.

I think it will work. Once this is done I should be able to pin the trip around the world quilt for hand quilting.

Head on over to Slow Sunday Stitching and see what other hand work is being relaxed with this weekend.

A finish....

I have a busy weekend on tap (sadly the weekend will be busy for next weekend too - but not this bad). We camped out as a family last night with the cub scouts. Happy to say Aidan spent all night in the tent... and it got chilly in the high 40's this morning here in Florida. He and Dad have a busy day today with scouts. Emily and I headed home for a nice hot shower (hey, that ground is hard!). We are headed to bowling this morning, then picking up girl scout nut and candy orders. Home to pack the car up for a campout at the Drive in tonight with over 200 girl scouts. It should be a fun night... and I am looking forward to my bed tomorrow night. First... there is a birthday party for a friend of Emily's at a bounce place tomorrow. Kind of crazy the parties they throw for their kids for birthdays.... but she really wants to go.  I'm sure she will crash after that as she was up till 11 watching Incredibles in the church last night.

I'm happy to report  a finish! I finished the hand quilting on this Fireworks quilt last week and finished the binding this week. All set for hanging up on the patriotic holidays here in the states. I think I made the blocks back with the RSC Challenge in one of the first years..... but now it is done!
Linking up with the RSC Challenge this Saturday morning.

Tiny Tuesday......

I know, I'm a day early but I may go back to posting the lemoyne stars on Tuesdays... since they are tiny - finishing at 4.5 inches.

After the computer issues of last week... I had to get my inklingo back so I could print some more. Got that done and then printed off lots of squares and triangles this morning. I also remembered to write the size and what it was on the freezer paper and put it on top of the printer with a sticky noting the page number I used for each. That really does help the next time you go to print things out!

Here is a shot of the completed and in process stars with their little baggie of prepped pieces. I just need to cut out the rest of the diamonds sometime before Friday's car trip. So nice to have things all prepped and ready for when you have a few minutes to stitch.

While I was out on the inklingo site... I took a look at the hexagons. I think the 1 inch pattern is close enough to my existing hexagons I was making a few years ago the old fashioned way (template made and traced and  cut out by hand). I got sick of marking them... and my template plastic got cut so I seem to have stopped. I need to add my black surround and start stitching them together and I think inklingo is going to be the answer to the solution of getting that project moving again next year. If you have never been over there - click on the link above and check it out. I will warn you, it becomes addicting when the prep work becomes really easy with your standard printer, washed fabric, an iron and some freezer paper. Yes, it is that easy! Hopefully these 160 flowers will someday turn into a quilt. I have fond memories of making these with the RSC Challenge a few years ago - once color a month and boy did they add up quickly.

It is election day here in the USA. I encourage you to go out and vote and have your voice heard. I voted this morning right after dropping the kids off to school. 

Design wall Monday....

I took a little time today and made and added the binding.  I plan to stitch this down later tonight after my girl scout troop meeting. So glad I went with the red.

Sunday binding....

I finished the hand quilting on my fireworks quilt on Thursday night. Just need to trim it up and make a binding for it today. That will be tonights project.... to make, attach and then start hand stitching it down to the back. I picked up this red dot fabric for the binding after work today.

What will you be hand stitching today? Head on over to the Slow Sunday Stitching linkup and see what projects are slowly being worked.

RSC November.....

It is time to start wrapping things up with the RSC Challenge. We have 2 months this year to finish things off... maybe Angela is taking pity on us knowing November and December are usually very busy months?

I figured I'd finish off some birds in the air in yellow this week. I still have to make about 16 in black, brown and bright/light greens but at least the yellow are almost crossed off the list!

I think I'll concentrate now on finishing the last row of the row along quilt and see about sewing that one together. Heck, maybe I can finish one quilt this year?

My houses need some attention. They need their wonky surround and maybe some trees to liven up the neighborhood.

I think these will get some attention after the row by row quilt is a top and maybe even quilted... so these are waiting for December because......


Another thing that got added to the list - A baby quilt. I have a nephew (well, his wife!) is expecting a little one in December. Yup, I don't have a quilt ready for that event yet. I am planning on making this   pretty quilt Stair steps designed by my friend Joanne over at canuckquilter. Everything is cut and I have started to make the blocks.

So many projects, so little time! First, I need to take off some numbers from Aidan's boy scout uniform and add his new troop numbers before their meeting this morning. (That got done and a few patches sewn on - tiger, wolf, bear). Emily and I will go with him and find out all about his first campout next Friday. We'll see if he actually will sleep in a tent but he is excited and willing to try since the whole family will be there. A big step for him. Then a visit with Grandpa - who's eye surgery went well and he will be driving over for a visit this afternoon.  Check - that happened and he got his kid fix for the week. Then I'll bring the kids to an event at Barnes and Noble where they will learn about making robots and 3 D printing. I hope it is fun! The guinea pig cage just got cleaned and the piggies are being put back into their cage from the play area. Silly Grandma was planning to take Emily for a sleepover... but Emily asked if Aidan could as well and she said yes. I'll make a drive to drop them both off for a sleepover after our robot event this afternoon. A night alone with the hubby. Whatever will we do with a peaceful house? Too bad I have to work tomorrow... it would be a wonderful day to sew.

Head on over and see how others are planning to finish things up this month with the RSC Challenge.

Computer issues....

Well, I did an update on my computer late Sunday night.... and have been down since! It appears my Mac did not finish the install well and I could not get anything to work. Handy to have a hubby who understands computers (heck, I can just program the little buggers!). He got the last part working for me last night. Part of the issue... I needed more room to load a new version of the operating system. Yup - lots of pictures looked at and moved off to a storage area. I seem to take lots of pictures in progress  and never delete them! It was a nice trip down memory lane going through photo's. I found these two from this summer - can't wait to see Mom and Dad in person later this month!

Mom and me summer 2016

Dad summer 2016

I am nearly done with the hand quilting on my fireworks quilt. I snapped a picture of my quilt at the end of practice.... nearly connected to the starting point! That was the last corner to turn. The next decision will be binding in blue, red or white? I'm leaning toward red if I can find one in the stash I like. I'm thinking polka dots... just don't know if I have enough of the one I am thinking of. Hmmm there is a Joann's near the bowling alley... and next to the store tomorrow =). I seem to have found a gift card laying around with some $ still on it that might be put to use.

Sunset at soccer practice 11/1/16

We did a little pumpkin carving on Monday night - after dentist appointments (no cavities!). 

Tuesday was soccer practice and Wednesday was early release at school. I'm happy to say the living room is completely cleaned (don't ask about the rest of the house!) . The kids rooms got picked up and the kids went bowling. Emily needed to prebowl since I can't be in 2 places at once on Saturday  morning. We will do boy scouts with Aidan this week. We did bowling with Emily last week.  After that we splurged and went to Applebees for an early birthday dinner for me. I'm headed off to the bowling alley for my league this morning with the ladies. Hmmm do I take the hand quilting, applique or pieces to make some stars? So nice to have options.