Where did I put that?

Seems like every time I turn around lately I have lost something I just had in my hand. What's up with that?  I think I just have too much on my mind. Yep that is my story and I am sticking to it! LOL

We are having free demo day every other Wednesday at the shop this summer. It is way fun. I am doing two of the demos so I have been super busy trying to make step by step pieces for the demos as well as finished projects. ( Or at least tops). The topics are not published ahead of time so I can't tell you more just yet.

I have been trying to get some small quilts quilted on the frame. I have a little pile to finish up. They are quilted but not trimmed or bound yet. I will get to those soon and take some pictures.

I did finish this wool project. I know, not summery, but I will be ready for fall. LOL.

I think that I mentioned that I am doing a BOM at a LQS, (not the one I work at) it is wool applique on a cotton. Here is the first block. From here on out we will be doing 2 blocks a month. I have the next two cut out and ready to fuse and stitch.

More later...happy stitching

Book Review

     Set during the depression, this story gives you a look at life from the perspective of two high school girls from completely different backgrounds.  A classic coming of age story complicated by the challenges of life in depression era America.
    
     I would give this book two thumbs up. This is not the genre that I normally read. I enjoyed the characters in the story because they were both products of their environment, but they were also able to grow and change. The point of view switches back and forth smoothly between the girls' perspectives. As the story progressed I found it harder and harder to put  down.
     In addition to learning about the lives of these two girls, I learned, thru the story more about the realities of the depression era. 
     In some parts of the story, I felt that the relationships of the girls and their families was over simplified.

I got this book for free from Bethany House Publishers in return for reviewing the book. If you are interested in reviewing a book check them out http://www.bethanyhouse.com/

I'm baaacck

Time really got away from me this time. Since I last posted, my DD#2 graduated from University of Illinois. She chose to go the the ceremony for her department rather than the large convocation for the whole school. The graduation was in a small auditorium and it was really a nice ceremony. I was so proud of my baby. She is at home working at her the ice cream store. (She has been working there since the end of her Senior year of high school). She plans to move to Los Angeles with a friend in the fall.

I wish I had lots to show since it has been so long since I last posted, but I haven't been very productive. I did get some needle work pieces framed. A needle punch rabbit for spring.

A needle punch house.

A cross stitch Victorian house. ( I have a thing for houses).

I did just finish this top as well. This is Hop To It in flannel and wool. I did the same BOM in batiks and some other fabrics mixed in at the shop where I work. Just as soon I started it at work, my friend emailed me the BOM from Primitive Gatherings. I just had to do the wool version too. I am not sure what I will do with two of them.... but the tops are done.

I started Physical Therapy on my neck this week, so I hope that I get some pain relief. I need more time at my sewing machine!

See you later and happy stitching

Playing catch up

Happy Mother's Day to all. This morning the Assisted living home where my Mom lives was having a brunch. My Dad, my sister, and my niece and I went over and we had a nice meal and a chance to be together, I took my Mom some pink roses and she loved them.

I  have been trying to get some projects done that need to be mailed out. ( A couple of them a while ago).
Does your family seem to have babies in bunches? My cousin had another son. Another cousin has a new grandson. The newest baby was born in Feb., another grandson for a different cousin. My DD#1 asked me if I was going to make a quilt for her friend' new baby.   Sure. Why not?   Next up another baby, bridal showers, and a wedding. I am never going to catch up.

I slowly got these bound: This one is going to California. It is a cute panel just bordered and quilted with a meander.

This one is for my daughters friend. I made it from a Pure charm pack and a bit of yardage. JoAnn Fabrics had a sale on the minkee-like stuff and this one and the next one have that on the back.

This one is for the newest arrival. He is about 8 weeks now.

I still have one ready to quilt, but I had to search the stash for something to use on the back.

I finished this block. It is the pattern that I won from Humble quilts. I am doing it as a block of the month.

I was able to resist the block of the month that we are doing at the shop this year. I have way to many things in topsville waiting to be quilted. I am trying to work on UFOs and getting my tops quilted. I really like the colors that the boss is using for the BOM though...... so hard to resist.  I am starting a BOM next week with a friend at a different shop. I will show you the pattern when I pick it up.

I better get quilting. ;)
Have a great week.

Sunday update

It has been a crazy busy week this week. I worked Tuesday and Wednesday and Saturday. I normally only work 1 day a week, but the boss was on vacation so I had extra hours. On Thursday and Friday I took the raffle quilt from guild to two different shops to display it and sell tickets. It is always fun to see new shops and I had  never been to either of them before. Needless to say, I didn't get much sewing done.

I did finally finish this...it is the lovely block that Liri sent me with my APQ swap blocks. I had the purple in my stash and used a bit of it the frame the block. I even had the pillow form in my bin of left over batting. So a little bit of time and it was done. I like it.

Speaking of the APQ block swap, this is where mine is right now. Still need to hand stitch the applique. and I am still pondering the border.

I did sit for a while last week end and quilt this . I have had this project sitting around first as a kit for a year. I think it has been fused for two years and just got moved around the sewing room. It just needs to be bound now and It will finally be finished.

Last on my list is a project you saw a bit of before. The mini Hawaiian shirts. I have been hand quilting both of them. I am happy to report that they are both finished and the bindings are completed on one of them. In the photo the quilting is not quite done yet. Another project off the UFO list.

That's all for now. Happy sewing everyone!

Before my neck got completely out of whack I was sewing, honestly.  One project that I am trying to work on each month is a UFO that I started several years ago. It is called  Alphabet Quilt  by American Jane. A few years back my friend and quilt mentor decided to have a weekly sew day during the summer and everyone who wanted to could work on this quilt. They met during the day, during the week. I had to work. The rest of the group were all teachers that were on summer break.  So I wasn't going to make this quilt.

One Monday I had off for some reason so I took some sewing and went over to join my quilt buddies. I saw their quilts in progress and I was a goner. In short order I had pulled fabrics and traced tons of pieces onto miles of fusible web. I quickly cut out backgrounds and got everything fused. Then my first stall out. All that hand blanket stitching. I stitched some for a while and got about half of the blocks finished. Then I would look at it every once in a while and stitch a bit then put it away. A couple of years back I had a burst of activity on the quilt and got all the blanket stitching done and  a small section of the quilt together. I was so excited! Then it went back on the shelf.  While sorting thru my UFOs  last fall I decided that this project must get done! So I am working it like a BOM.

You are probably wondering why this is taking so long ( the story and the quilt). Well you see in addition to the applique blocks there are also about 40 tumbling blocks that have lots of  Y seams. And more Y seams to set those blocks. Since I am not good with the Y seam, I have been hand piecing those blocks. Then some of the applique blocks have some framing strips around one or more sides.

Last week when I was sewing I made a record number of mistakes on this section. First I sewed the oatmeal onto the mittens, upside down. Ripped it and flipped it and restitched it. Then I realized when it didn't fit with the piece it needed to go next to, that I had cut the strip between the oatmeal and mittens the wrong size. More ripping more cutting more sewing. I also noticed that the strip that went under the large tumbling blocks was on top  by mistake. Of course it was already sewn to the block above and the blocks on the left . So more ripping and sewing back up. I finally got this section together. sigh  More of this quilt will be showing up as the year flies by.

After having to do so much ripping I decided to knit for a while. I finished a cowl that I saw in a magazine. I didn't know that we were going to get snow right after I finished. I am over the snow. But I like the cowl.

I have had some small wool mats cut for a long while all ready to be stitched together. While holding my arms up at the machine was limited by my pain, I could hand stitch a little at a time. I finally finished my fall and winter wool mats.

Here is my stack of tops that I got quilted. (Mostly all last month). Now they are in line waiting for bindings. All of the bindings were cut but not stitched and pressed. Yesterday while I was listening to Pat Sloan on her live chat radio show I stitched all the strips together. Over the course of the evening I got them all pressed. Now if they would just jump onto the quilts I would be done. LOL

Better get to binding! And minis for the guild auction. Oh the list goes on and on.
Happy stitching

Not too much quilty going on here lately. I have been having a constant neck and headache for weeks. It seems to be getting worse instead of better. I thought I would show you some of the Easter quilts that I made in the past.
From Fons and Porter some bunnies

A table runner (more bunnies)

A wooly bunny

Lastly a carrot to feed the bunnies.

More later. Happy stitching.