still around

Well, it's been a month since I posted! Time's flying by but I have been sewing. I finished my June goal on time. My snowmen are soooo cute! Now to find the perfect red to set them up. Let's see; I started them in 1999. Whoo hoo, I got them embroidered in under 10 years. Hope it doesn't take me that long to get them quilted!

I've also been working on the wool block of the month and almost have the first block done. The wool feels wonderful and the varigated pearl cotton is fantastic to work with. Perfect tv work.

And believe it or not I have July's goal met and it's only the 7th of the month!!!! The goal was to get the borders on the pumpkin quilt. Why didn't I finish this years ago? Like in 2001 when I started it? It only took 2 evenings to do the half square triangles and finish the borders. I'm gonna try to get it quilted this month but..... Jaime came in with 2 of her friends. And they want sail rigger bags. Now I have 6 to make. And I've been getting into a clothing mood. I picked up a couple of patterns when I was in Lexington and I have the perfect fabric to make them. And I could really use some new tops and pants. Oh, and I found a neat purse pattern that's quilted. Need to put that on the to do list too. There should be more hours in the day!

Mail!!!!

I got the kit for the first 3 blocks of the wool block of the month today, it's beautiful!!! I'm scared to cut into it, I'm afraid I'll mess it up. And I can't decide whether to use fusibles with it or not. Freezer paper was sent so I think I should use that to cut out the appliques but I don't want to use glue to position it because I won't be able to wash it out. Sure wish I could have gone to the class; I could use some hand holding. It's terrible living so far from a quilt shop!

I love the thread, I've never seen it before. It's varigated and will be fun to work with. Isn't it wonderful to have all the great fabrics, threads, and patterns that we have. So much to do and not enough time!

I fell off the wagon

Hello, my name is Cynthia and I have a pattern addiciton.
I've been working so hard to finish some ufo's this year and done pretty good at keeping up with my monthly goals. I've finished several things!!! And now I may have lost it. It all started when my friend Mary called to tell me about some new patterns she had. She works at a local gift shop and they had ordered some patterns, whoo hoo! The closest fabric or quilt shop is 2 hours away so learning that they were branching out into patterns was a thrill. And of course I need to support a local shop. The patterns were from http://www.crabapplehillstudio.com/

The first pattern is Twas the Night Before Christmas. Most of my Christmas decorations are in the theme of the Night Before Christmas so I just had to have this pattern. OK, another redwork pattern. Then I saw the patterns for Posy Pocket Handbags and the Wild Rose Sewing Wallet. I'm a sucker for purse patterns. Just 3 new patterns.

Well, I had almost forgotten that I had signed up for a wool block of the month from my favorite quilt shop. It started this month! With work I wasn't able to go to the first class so they are mailing me the kit. It's the Folk Art Album quilt from http://www.primitivegatherings.us/shop/ I love this quilt!! The kit should be here tomorrow and I can't wait to start it. Isn't it beautiful?!

While I was showing Primitive Gathering's website to a friend I saw their new book "Primitive Christmas" and had to order it; I received it yesterday. It has some wonderful projects. I also saw several other quilt patterns that I would like to get while I was surfing around but so far I've been able to resist, but I do feel myself weakening.

I did finish 2 Sail Rigger bags for Jaime this week, she picked out some great fabrics. And I'm on the September snowman, only 3 left. Thanks to everyone's comments I've decided to quilt it with crosshatching. I'll be going to Lexington next week so I will be able to get fabric to set them up with. And I'll try to keep blinders on when I visit the quilt shops!

redwork snowmen

I have 7 of my snowmen done! Only 5 more to finish by July!!! How do you quilt redwork? I hadn't thought of that before now and I've been wondering about it. I'm going to set the blocks together with one inch sashing, I have to find fabric so that means a road trip! I've been having quilt shop withdrawal; I feel the need to fondle fabric. I think I'll have to plan a trip for next week. Something to look forward too!!!

Guild and a finish!

Guild was this past week, it's always so much fun to get together with my quilting buddies. And Jaime got to see everyone! Show and tell was wonderful, Annie brought a pine tree block that she made for a retreat quilt she is doing with another group. Her block is 12 inches finished and will be the center of the quilt.

Betty brought her biblical quilt, I'm not sure of the pattern source, each block represents something from the Bible. She bought the fabric while we were in Nashville last year. I love it! The colors are awesome.

Mirta brought a lone star that she was given, a wonderful gift!

Sallie had finished the quilting on the babyquilt for her new grandson who could arrive anyday. It's her first attempt at hand quilting and she did a great job and discovered she loved quilting by hand.

I finished quilting the Christmas quilt for Jaime!!!! And I finished before my deadline! I'm so proud of myself for finishing some of my ufo's, it's such a good feeling. I found my redwork snowmen that are my project for June; they had been missing. I also found another wallhanging that I thought I had lost. I have so many projects that I want to finish and so many that I want to start. Isn't quilting wonderful!

catching up

I've started machine quilting Jaime's Christmas quilt, finished the first row on Santa's Coming, and pieced my two blocks for guild this week. A productive week!!!! Our guild is doing a block of the month; each person drew a month and must bring the pattern and instructions for a 6 inch and 12 inch block. That way we will learn piecing techniques, drafting different size blocks, and how the block should be made. I drew the first month! I picked a cakestand block and drew it in EQ. I like the smaller version best. I'm going to make both sizes so I will have two quilts when we are done, one in "my" colors and a smaller one in 30's.

I think Santa's Coming will be such a cute Christmas quilt; and it was so much fun doing the invisible machine applique. I love it because it's so fast and looks so good.

Jaime will be in tomorrow for the weekend so I'll lose my sewing room for a few days but it will be so wonderful to have her home. Happy Quilting!

another goal!

I met my April goal!!!! A week late but I finally made it. I did a lot of ripping on the quilt. It started with larger blocks but I decided to cut them down. So I ripped several blocks apart. Then I showed the blocks to Jaime and she thought it should be done with some of our old calico's. More ripping. Eventually with the help of Annie I got the border on, she is much more precise than I am. I really need to work on my machine piecing; even after watching Sally Collins's dvd I'm not a precision piecer. I want to hand quilt this for Jaime for Christmas, with traditional feathers in the border.

My goal for May is to finish a Christmas Turning Twenty for Jaime. I made one for my brother and gave it to him this past Christmas and I have a top pieced for me that I also want to finish by Christmas. They were made from fabrics my mother collected so the quilts will be special to us.

I will not be making any other Christmas gifts this year!