One more border.....

My patient has been so good that I was able to do some sewing yesterday and this morning (husband Jim had foot surgery on Monday). I am down to the last border on the Thangles quilt. It is a 9 inch batik purple. I really like these hand dyed fabrics.

Next Project - Thangles Quilt

I can't wait to put this one together. The 12 Thangles blocks will be put inside star blocks and then surrounded with some other beautiful batiks. I hope to get this one done over the holidays.

Christmas came early

Elijah and Katie were in for a short visit this weekend. Elijah is preaching in a church service tonight. I think 8 of the "preacher boys" are all speaking. They won't be back for Christmas so we exchanged gifts. It was so good to see them both! Don't they make such a cute couple??

Christmas Tree

Well, we finally got a tree. A new pre-lit artificial one. It has those new LED lights which are almost flourescent! It is up, but not decorated. This is the before pic; after the decorations (in a few days) I'll post an after pic. (sorry for the blurriness, I am a terrible photographer)

No Sewing Today

I can't believe I haven't done any sewing today. The reason is I was captivated by a book I was reading. I don't read that much, and today I remembered why. I get so engrossed in a book, I won't do other things. I was reading a Mary Higgins Clark mystery. I did cook some today, in between my reading. Jim and I got out and made a short trip to Lowe's and Walmart. But mostly, I read. And read. And read. And finished it. I just started it last night. Oh well, a day that could have been much more productive, but wasn't. I'll do better next weekend. Jim has his surgury on the 22nd and I hope to get some good sewing done while I am here with him recuperating.

Christmas Cards

We made our Christmas card photo today after church! We couldn't get both cats in it, but bribing Jake with treats was an easy way to ensure he was in the pic! Merry Christmas!!

Boxed Squares

I finished the quilting on this one last night. I am pleased with it, for my first real "free hand" quilting. I still have to bind it. I made two pillowcases for it. Not sure yet what I will do with this one.

Got the thread

I received the cone thread for my machine today, so even though it was late, I started the quilting on my boxed squares. This is my first real free hand quilting. I am learning as I go, but I think I am going to like it! I don't really know how you are supposed to start and stop on borders.

New Project

This is my latest project I am working on. I can't start quilting my boxed squares until I get a new cone of thread or the horizontal thread holder for my machine. It is loaded and ready. While I am waiting, I decided to start working on this blue and white kit.

Bird Watching

Jessie spied a couple of little birds in the top of our crepe myrtle bush outside the window..

Last night's progress

We finished Julia's other quilt last night. I used the "Fay Feathers" pantograph.

Julia's Cat Quilt

While my sister, Julia, is here for Thanksgiving, we are doing some quilting! This was a very cute quilt she made, and put fleece on the back. It is for a gift to keep someone warm. We did the pantograph, Happy Times, on it, and it turned out great. Jesse decided to check it out.

Friday

Busy, busy day. Didn't get to sew any yet today. Errands, groceries, house cleaning, cooking...My sister and her husband are coming here tomorrow for the week of Thanksgiving. It will be fun. She's a quilter also and is bringing a quilt to do on my machine! Today I purchased some track lighting for my quilt room. Can't wait to get it installed and take down the little ceiling fan light I currently have in the room. Jake is cozy and warm on this cold evening!

Pine Mountain Kentucky Quilt Retreat

For those of you, like me, who have never been to a quilt retreat, here is a peek. My friend and I were invited to visit Pine Mountain State Park Resort in Kentucky where a quilter's retreat was in progress. Even though, I tell everyone that I am not "social," after visiting, I did think that it is something I would enjoy. A huge room is set up with about 60 tables; one for each quilter. Each person brings projects to work on. You can work on your projects, check out what others are doing, hand stitch by the fireplace, eat in the restaurant with a georgeous view of the mountains, hang out in your room or cabin. It looked like a great place to meet other quilters, get new ideas, and be inspired! Thanks Betty and Linda for inviting us! Sign me up for the next one!!

What I am working on...

Boxed Squares. This quilt is made from a jelly roll. I found the pattern on MaryQuilts blog. I am still working on the blocks (80 of them). Haven't decided yet if I will add another jelly roll and borders to make it a queen size quilt.

Fall colors and smells....

These pictures aren't that great, but imagine the smell of pecans, maple syrup, pie crust freshly baked.....yum, yum. I wanted to practice a bit for Thanksgiving, so for supper tonight with our fried chicken fingers, mashed potatoes and peas, we are having cranberry salad and pecan pie.

Imagine the sound of leaves falling to the ground, the bright yellow of the pansies. Fall is such a beautiful time of the year!

Bloggin'

I haven't had anything to post in a few days. I am working on a Christmas gift project. Today I gave the rustic 5-yard quilt to my coworker for his retirement and he loved it. I finished it last month. He collects quilts. He plans to open a wood working shop in his retirement, so when I retire he will make me something of wood! Another co-worker and I have worked up a deal. I am trading off some machine quilting for her, and she is going to make some embroidered quilt labels for me.

Quilted

I used the pantograph, "Floriana" by Lorien Quilting on this lap quilt.

Eleanor Burns' Log Cabin Pattern

This has to be one of the easiest quilt tops I have ever put together. It only took me about 4 hours to finish the top. It is a lap size kit I ordered from Eleanor Burn's "Quilt In A Day" webisite. I think some decorative quilting will make it look better. Also, I think using more prints in the fabrics would also enhance it. I think I am going to make one of these in deep red, gold, greens for my bedroom. Easy, easy, easy.

Weekend Projects

This is a Christmas tree skirt I finished last night. After it is quilted, you cut it to the center where you cut a 4 inch circle out; then bind all the edges including the cut seam and circle.

Quilting Practice

This is a pretty quilt I quilted for a friend.

By the way....

I used a pantograph called Fay Feathers SM by Lorien Quilting.

String Quilt Finished!

I just love this quilt. It is my 50th quilt and made from all my scraps, a few scraps from a friend, and about 3 fat quarters to add some yellow. I am almost embarrased to tell people I only started quilting 18 months ago. Of course of those 50, half were baby quilts, wall hangings and table runners. Yes, I know, I am kind of obessive about doing and finishing projects.

Quilting Practice

A friend let me quilt one of her charity quilts for practice. I need lots and lots of practice.

Another Pic

I am really facinated by these string quits. Here is another pic after I sewed them together. Really not much difference, and I'll probably post another once I get it quilted. Blogger readers, please have patience with my excitement over learning something new!!

Love the strings!

I finished all the blocks for the string quilt. I love it! I plan to do a 2 inch border in red and then about a 6 inch border either in teal, blue, or green. I sewed the blocks into rows but haven't done them all together yet.

String Storage

Pefect storage for various colors of scraps. I stacked three plastic shoe bins.

Finished the binding

Got this one completely done now.

Finished

I did the quilting on the woodsy quilt today. I did the log cabin pantograph and did some freehand leaves on the border. You can't really see the quilting on the topside, but it is visable on the back.

5 Yard Quilt

I finished this top tonight. It is a very easy pattern using 5 one yard cuts of fabric. It is a retirement gift for a friend. Now, I have to decide how to quilt it. I don't have my confidence up yet, to freehand quilt. I have a cute pantograph that is trees, bears, and log cabins. It would probably do well for this quilt if I can do it.

Furry friends

Jake is still getting used to little Jesse. Most of the time he acts like he doesn't want to be bothered but every once in a while he does seem to play a bit with him.

Scrap Quilt

I've been inspired by some of the websites I've seen to make a string quilt. I am not sure I've got the hang of it yet, but I started and of course I am only using my scrap bin. It really is a fun project. I think I will name this one, "My first 47 quilts".

Very productive holiday weekend

Labor day..... I guess you could say I've labored, but I've thoroughly enjoyed it. I just finished sewing on the binding of my 12 days of Christmas quilt. I used the pantograph, chantilly lace, on it. This completes the quilting on all of my tops. Now, I am ready to move on to another project. Of course, I still have to do the hand binding on the three tops. My plan was to get the quilting done and take them on our vacation in a couple of weeks to do the hand work.

Fish Quilt

I used a pantograph called "cotton candy" on the fish quilt. It is one that came with the machine and it reminded me of swirling water. If you look at the quilt in the other direction it looks like trees and swirling wind....

Lap quilt top finished

The name of this pattern is "My son wants a quilt." Peculiar name if you ask me. I decided to call mine "Twelve days of Christmas" since I used Christmas colors and there are 12 different blocks. This was difficult and I didn't do a good job. I hope all the puffs "quilt out".

Finished

Machine is fixed

The Gammill dealers came by last night and fixed the timing on my machine. They gave me some helpful hints on trouble shooting and I watched him adjust the timing. I hope I can do it myself, when it happens again. The sewing machine is really a wonderful invention. I did about 6 rows on my pantograph tonight and it is really looking good. I am hoping to finish it tomorrow and then load my fish quilt.

Longarm quilters? Advice Needed

I've had a time tonight with my quilting machine. The thread kept breaking. After doing all the things to try to fix it, I finally realized that as I was changing the needle (one of the things to do when the thread breaks) I put it in wrong. I fixed that and thought well, maybe, it is going to work. Nope. After only about 6 inches of quilting, it started skipping stitches. The book suggests adjusting the timing. Hummm....not something I want to start on my own without at least some advice. Anyone?? I did write my dealer and even sent her a picture of what the stitching looked like. Maybe she will respond in a day or two.

I met a celebrity!

At the AQS show in Nashville, I got to meet Eleanor Burns!! I told my fishing fanatic husband this was like him meeting Bill Dance! I added to my Eleanor Burns book collection by purchasing another from her booth today and she autographed it for me. She was great; exactly like she is on her shows, website, and portrayed in her books.

New Project

I started a new project today. It will be a lap quilt. I chose the identical colors my friend is using in the same quilt. I don't think she will mind. They are Christmas colors but not particularly Christmas prints. The 12 blocks are identical, except you change where you put each color, so they all look different.

First pantograph done!

I completed my first machine quilted pantograph design tonight! I am very happy with the results. I still have a few hours work to hand stitch the binding, but then it will be totally finished.

Learning....

I am attempting to do a pantograph pattern on this quilt. I've completed three rows. Seems to be going good.

Finished "schooling fish"

This was a pretty difficult quilt to make with all the little triangle squares. I finally finished the top today. I am very pleased with how it turned out. Not sure who will be the recipient. I now have three tops ready to quilt. Guess I need to take the plunge and learn how to operate the machine and get going.

Today's Project

I put together a table runner as a gift for a big UT fan. Since it was pretty small, I didn't put it on my new machine to quilt. Just did it on the little one.

First quilt on machine

Experience is the best teacher. I attempted to machine quilt my copy cat quilt and boy did I mess up. I watched the DVD on how to load the quilt once. The DVD player is downstairs, the machine upstairs. So, I took the instruction manual and attempted it feeling unsure most of the time. There were many things I did wrong and didn't know it. I moved the DVD player up and attached it to my little TV in the quilt studio and watched "loading the quilt" this evening. I feel so much better, I now know why I had puckers in the quilting! I did several things wrong. I had decided it would go anonymously to some charity. Now, when I look at it. It isn't THAT bad. Anyway, I think my next one will go much better. My plan now is to watch the whole DVD at least three times before I do ANYTHING on the machine, and have it on so I can refer to it while I am loading, quilting, or doing anything that is covered in the DVD.

Recipient of Baby Quilt

I don't often get to make a picture of the recipient of my quilts. I was able to do that tonight at a baby shower our work group gave to a co-worker and his wife to help them prepare for their new baby girl.

Still Fishing

I had hoped to get this done before my quilt machine comes on Friday, but I don't think I'll make it. This evening I found Jake lounging sound asleep on the blocks laying in the floor. Normally he would lay in the chair or on the bed, guess he knew they were fish and was hoping for a snack!