Happy New Year!!!

A new year and a new start. Doesn't it feel good to have a fresh start? I love making lists and plans for the new year, it gives me hope that I may actually accomplish more than I did in the previous year. In 2008 I set monthly goals and did better with them than I have in the past; I meet all but 2 of my goals. I've got them on the list for 2009! And they will get done. My goal for January is to finish the purple fan wallhanging I started many, many years ago. It's a hand quilting project, and I need lots of quilting practice!! I'm using it as practice before I start quilting the signature quilt next month.

Jaime (aka the mad knitter) was in during Christmas and was on a sock kick. She finished one pair and started the second even tho her allergies flared up big time. It's her own fault for kissing the dog. But who could resist that face?

back to blogging

The past few months have flown by! I've not gotten a lot of quilting done but I have been sewing. I made 4 more sail rigger bags for friends of my daughter but I forgot to take pictures. I made a professional tote that Jaime needed for her job, I think it turned out nice with lots of pockets and room. The fabrics are black and white.

Annie, Mary, and I went on a mini shop hop hitting 5 of the 12 shops on this year's Heart of KY hop. Mary had never been to the Gathering Room and loved it. I did damage at the Quilt Box buying lots of civil war fabrics. And wool! I found some beautiful wool at the Corner Quilt shop. I've been working on my wool block of the month and have made it to block 4! I'm also making a table topper that I got in Nashville from the Primitive Gatherings booth. I spent a lot of time and money there! Wool is wonderful to work with. I've also done some machine embroidery for work making shirts for the book club. And I spent time reading the Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer and got everyone hooked on the books. So I guess I have been busy. I fell behind on some of my goals; I didn't get the pumpkin quilt or Christmas quilts quilted. Sooo many projects, life is good.

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!