Finished Quilt

I'm cheating............but I really did help finish this quilt.  Our group got together and did the binding on our love quilt last week.

A lot of this fabric is still from our member who passed away two years ago today from cancer.  Love  you, Gloria.  I believe the actual pattern for this was in an American Patchwork magazine.  It lends itself to a scrappy quilt very well.  The navy blue background of the stars is the cohesive part of the design.  I missed the night that they tied it.  It didn't take us long to get the binding on with two people on each side.  Someone suggested we start binding all our quilts together.  lol  I really don't mind the binding part of quilting.   It's a large, cuddly quilt.  The last two quilts that we made were given to families who had house fires.  We aren't wishing a house fire on anyone soon.  I'm sure a special time will come for someone needing some extra love and a blanket.  

This is about half of the wonderful women I call quilt friends.  We have so much fun together.   Last year we made 45 pillow cases for the local Healthcare Center.  The pillow cases have been such a blessing to the residents there.  They have asked us to make some more.  We'll be working on those next time.  There is something about homemade items that carry love from one to another.

Catching Up

First:  The winner of the book  Threading the Needle by Marie Bostwick is number 14.

James-LindaJan 30, 2012 08:52 AM

FMQ IS COMING ALONG NICELY!
THIS LOOKS LIKE A NEAT BOOK!
THANKS FOR SHARING!

 I'll get the book in the mail this week.  I hope you enjoy it, Linda.

One of the things I enjoy about deciding to blog is the friends I've made.  I have connected with quilters I would have never met.   I received a belated birthday gift from one of those special friends.  It was such a nice surprise.

She even wrapped it!!  So pretty............

Maria of Life on the Block is a very special lady and blogging friend.  Isn't this mini wall hanging the sweetest thing.  I love redwork.  (Sometimes I think I like it, because I don't have to decide or change colors--just enjoy the embroidery process.)  Red is one of my two favorite colors--purple is the other fav.  I really like the border fabrics that Marie chose.   It's a beautiful piece of work and I'm enjoying it so much!

And she also sent me goodies:   I like Lynette Anderson's designs, but I've never been in a shop that carried them.  This pattern is so nice--embroidery and sewing combination, but quilt related too.   I'm definitely making this set.  You couldn't have picked a nicer pattern to send me.  She included 3 quilt labels for future projects too.   A lovely note and card finished up my surprise.  Thank you so much, Marie!!  The gift of your friendship means a lot to me. 

You can find Maria's blog on my blog list.  I love her cute Wednesday flowers--so creative.  Her projects are always bright and happy.  She does a variety of things.  It's fun to know that our seasons are opposite and so are our time zones.  It's summer there/ winter here and morning here/evening there.  No matter what our differences we share the love of the outdoors, family and fabric.

I've been working on my valentine swap project.  I put the accessory bag in the mail last Friday.  I can't wait to show you what I made.   These little projects have jump-started by creativity.  I'm ready to sew again!

2012 Free Motion Challenge for January

The give away is closed 1/31/2012 at 11:59 PM.

I signed up for the Free Motion Quilting Challenge at Sew Cal Gal's.  I finally took the time to attempt the leaf motif for this month.  Not the greatest sample, but it got me started!  There are some really nice samples in the flickr group.   I'm going to keep working on this and the new February tutorial will be out very soon.

My camera is taking fuzzy pictures lately.  I'm not sure if it's me or the camera.  I free motion quilted this fabric sandwich for something I'm making.  (Can't show you yet.)  I quilted around the flowers and went over the stems and leaves.  This really was good practice.  It gave me a pattern to follow and I really enjoyed it.  I didn't have to decide where to go next.

I had planned a longer post today, but DH just called with other plans for me.  I'm off to the shower.

If you read this far---

I finished reading Threading the Needle by Marie Bostwick.  If you would like to read it, leave me a comment with the word book in it.  I'll be choosing someone next Wednesday, February 1st. 

Later gator!  : )

What is it about a box?

A cat just can't resist a box.

The cats loved having the dishwasher box in the kitchen, while we were waiting for a good day to do the installing.   They took turns laying on top of it.  DH loves his pets.  I'm stuck with the dishwasher box for a little longer--only now it's in the living room.  Puss was the first one in. 

Peanut was patient about waiting her turn for box fun.  I really think she is telling me "It's my turn.  Make her get out".  Puss has taken up residence.

Here she is checking to see if Puss is still in the box.  Sorry for the fuzzy picture.  :(

Puss took her time playing in the box.   Some how a mouse and a ball got inside the box for some extra excitement.  Aren't pets fun?  LOL

I spent most of yesterday morning completing the under the sink clean out.  I ended up with a garbage bag full and a box for the Thrift store.  I'm finally parting with 15 flower vases that haven't seen flowers for years and years.  I'm keeping 6 of my favorites, but they got moved to a top closet shelf--maybe when that closet gets cleaned I'll be able to part with some of them.  The glass mayonnaise jars (they don't even make those any more), plastic ketchup bottles and other assorted precious items went to the dump. 

Am I a hoarder?  I know I hoard fabric, but I don't think I'm a hoarder.  I have the genes of settlers from years past that had nothing and re-used everything.  When I watch those hoarding shows I do recognize how I associate feelings with things.  Scary, huh.  DH doesn't think there is any one else in the world who has their Mom's prom dress and wedding dress in her closet.  There has to be someone else out there that does.  How could I possibly throw those away?  I am thinking of calling the local historical society tho.  Our house seems to get smaller and smaller every year--besides I need more room for fabric in that closet.

Wordless Wednesday

Traveling and Choring

We have been doing some traveling the last few weeks.  After having not been to North Dakota for years and years, we have been there twice in a two week period.   DH has been combine shopping for sometime.  He wants to be able to combine on his own schedule and not have to wait his turn.  A combine is a big investment, but he believes it will pay for itself in time.  We made a day trip to LaMoure to Green Iron Implement.  They delivered "the machine" last week.  It has some fixing needed, but DH has until next fall to get that done.

Only a few days later the feed wagon brokedown.  They make the wagons in Jamestown, ND.  After calling all the local places, we made a road trip to Midwestern Machine for the necessary parts.  The feed wagon is vital to feeding all the cattle in the mornings and needs to be functioning every morning.  The weather has been cooperative for traveling, unlike other Januarys.

Our weather has caught cold here.  It was - 11 degrees F this morning while we were feeding.  The calves had frosty whiskers and snow on their backs.  It snowed a couple inches overnight.   The ice on the water tanks was thicker than usual.   I usually put out warm water for the cats to drink, but these guys must like it icy.

DH and I installed our first dishwasher yesterday.  Our dishwasher lasted 12 years.  I had never had a dishwasher until this last one.  I've been washing dishes for about 6 months and we decided to put in a replacement.  DH was sure he could install it instead of paying someone to.  Why don't men read instruction booklets?  Do they just make them for the wives to read?  Of course, we needed to make a trip to town for extra fittings that they didn't tell us about at the store.  So after 7 hours we have a working dishwasher and one small drip under the sink.  DH fixed the drip this morning.  I have to be honest--I hate projects like this.  I know I will appreciate the dishwasher tho when calving starts.  I can put my feet up quicker.

Do you like Swaps?

There are so many fun things happening on the quilting blogs.   Quilt Alongs, BOMs and Swaps are all starting.  Have you had good experiences with swaps?  The only swap I ever signed up for was a disappointment.  I was so pumped up and nervous for my first swap.  Would my partner like what I made?  Would I get it done in time?  Should I send extra stuff?  I made a wonderful friend, Maria.  Maria will always be special to me, because she was my first swap partner.   She was a very appreciative partner.   It was my last swap, because I never received a wall hanging from my other partner.  This was one of those swaps where everyone sent to someone different, not an exchange of items.  Perhaps something came up for that person, but letting me know would have been helpful.  Silence doesn't make things easier.

I'm always careful about signing up for things.  I want to be sure to fulfill my obligations, so I don't disappoint anyone.  This time of year I will have time to make something to swap.

It's a new year!  I'm ready to try swapping again.   How about you?  In fact, I signed up for two swaps!

If you want to join the fun, follow the badges posted on the right side of my blog to sign up!  Maybe you will even be my new partner.  Or I'll make a new friend!  I'm looking forward to a new year of blogging fun and activities.  I think this will jump-start my sewing again.