Time gets away from us, doesn't it?

I've been so involved in other aspects of my life that I haven't been posting nearly as often as I used to. I'm sure those of you who have been reading my blog for years have noticed. I still love my blog, but find it a bit more difficult to think of interesting things to write about. I've also fallen off the photography bandwagon for awhile. I haven't used my good camera in many months and that is something I want to rectify... I miss it!

I have managed to finish another UFO (well, technically I still have one side of the binding to sew down by hand, but I'm counting it as finished since that will happen today). I'm still somewhat surprised at myself for sticking with my goal of working on as many of my UFOs as I can. I seem to have developed a very short attention span over the years. I thought for sure that I would want to start something new by now, but it hasn't happened. This is my 4th finish for the year.

I started this Scrappy Trips Around the World in 2014 - only 2 years ago!!. :) And, I used random fabrics - meaning I just grabbed them out of a basket and sewed them together. I did make sure that I used the darkest fabric for the middle row so the design would work out, but other than that there are some really ugly fabrics in this quilt.  Turns out that I love it!!! I'm going to keep this one (unless someone offers me some good $$ and begs with me to part with it) because it's so cheerful and happy. It's fairly large too.

I quilted it horizontally using wavy lines, which left it soft and cuddly. I seem to gravitate towards the simple quilting styles these days.

It rained Friday and yesterday and it was forecast for today, but so far the clouds have just blown over. Isn't that wonderful? I mean about us getting rain. The landscape is green and lovely right now and the roses are prolific! I don't know if I'm just appreciating them more because of our drought situation or they really are more spectacular than usual, but they are gorgeous!!

Ok... off topic but, I'm wondering why this bill was defeated last week?

Hope you're all having a wonderful weekend... I am!!

Take care,

So much beautiful work...

I'm just amazed (I don't know why) at the creativity of my small Tuesday group of women. There are only seven of us and yet the work that comes out of the group is astounding. Truly. I know I've said it before, but I'm saying it again, "I'm so blessed and grateful to be a part of it."

Here's what was going on this week...

Pat A was working on a Scrappy Many Trips Around the World and look at that color!! This is totally out of character for Pat, but it's a gift and she's been having fun making it. I love it and can't wait to see it all together.

Karen was working on another embroidery panel quilt. She is so fast and does such exquisite work. This photo really does not do it justice. This panel is on my "to do" list.

Katie got her baby quilt back from the quilter and shared it with us. Isn't it adorable and so colorful. Such cute fabric!

here's the back...

Pat P is almost to the point in her Modern Wedge quilt where she can sew her blocks together. Yeah Pat!

And lastly, I wanted to show your our little mascot in our Thursday quilting group. His name is Teddy and he is the best behaved little pooch. He's so cute. He sits directly across the table from me and he occasionally turned in my direction to see what was going on. It's kinda funny.

Take care,

Planning ahead...

I'm going to be very busy for the next couple of weeks because my sis is coming to visit the last week of September. I'm using her visit as impetus to get a lot of things done around the house that I've been wanting to do, but haven't made the time/had the motivation. These things won't matter to her in the least, but it will make me feel good to get them done.

My dining room is a total mess and has become a "dumping spot" since we don't use it for just the two of us. I've also got two 6 foot tables set up in there so I can baste my quilts on them.

I've got three quilt tops (this is the first) that are ready for quilting so my plan is to get them basted in the next couple of days so I can put the tables back into the garage and get that dining room cleaned and set up to be used! :)

Take care,

Late to the party!!

The Blogger's Quilt Festival sponsored by Amy started Friday and I'm just a little late to the party.  I really wanted to show you my finished "Scrappy String," but I just didn't have time to get it finished. Instead, I'm going to show you a Trip Around the World quilt that I finished this year. I love this quilt and I love how well the fabrics blended when it was finished. The not knowing what it will look like when finished is really the fun part of this quilt.

I used 2 1/2 strips and 24 different fabrics.

These two fabrics were my inspiration...

I started it in January of 2011 and finished it in January of 2012.





As you can see from the variation in the photos, I've had a terrible time getting some good shots of this quilt. I've been trying since I finished it in February...I've been carrying it around in the car looking for good locations and lighting...and I just haven't been able to get any that I really like.

I hope you've enjoyed seeing my quilt. If you haven't made a "Trip" yet, I encourage you to try it. It's a great learning quilt for color and combining fabrics and it's just a lot of FUN!!

Take care,

Wanna do a little shopping?

I'm participating in Bonnie's Saturday Yard Sale today and I thought you, too, might be interested in seeing what I've got listed to sell. I'm using my Quilternity Too/Two site to do it and if you go here you'll see lots of goodies!!

I don't know what it is...

about me and this quilt. I've been carrying it around forever in the back of my car and I've tried and tried to get a good photo of it. So far, this is the best I've done. I had to take this one pretty fast as the goats in the field were all converging on me! :)

It's still in the back of my car so if I find another good place to shoot, you can bet I'll be taking more photos of it. I don't really have a good location at or within my house to shoot large quilts.

I love the way this quilt turned out and would love to have some good photos of it. I'm not giving up! :)

Take care,

Still working....

I took some time over the weekend to sew.  I'm still working on my Trip Around the World, but I'm half-way there. I'm making a king-size quilt - don't ask me why because I said I would never make another one, especially a "Trip."

 At least I won't be quilting it myself, but still....look at all the sewing/piecing required for a king-sized quilt.

I know....I'm nuts!!  Happy Monday all!

Trip Around the World ... Yippee!

Imagine my surprise when I googled for Trip Around the World instructions and this link came up! I had long thought that this book was out-of-print (for a time it was). This is the book I use for my "Trip" quilts and it is absolutely wonderful. Easy to read and follow with great illustrations along the way as well as many photographs of quilts. Sizes included range from Wallhanging, Baby, Lap, Twin, Queen and King in traditional as well as the colorwash method. It's a GREAT book, in my opinion!

I encourage those of you who want to make one of these quilts to go ahead and do it. It's so much fun and I don't think I've ever seen a finished quilt that wasn't gorgeous! It will test your ability to combine fabrics in new and different ways and you will hone skills you didn't know you possessed. And, it's fun - did I mention that?

I went through many fabrics and many interations of the fabrics I eventually chose before I settled down and decided I was ready to start cutting and sewing. Even then, I wasn't sure about a couple of the fabrics. I can already tell it doesn't even matter. As I start putting the quilt together it is turning out to be even better that I thought it would be. I'm not being immodest here - just truthful! :)

I just want to add here and now - I use steam when I iron. Always. I know. Many quilters gasp when I tell them, but look how flat that quilt is lieing. I'm just saying...