Look what I got for Christmas!  LOL, well I don't get to keep her, but she is here for a visit.  I finished 4 of the quilts and gave them as presents.  I didn't finish everything and I have a long list to work on after the new year.  My house is crazy full of people, but who can complain.  My oldest son is home for the first time in 2 years and all my children are together.  It's so nice to have them here.  They will have to leave way too soon. 

Sew Long for Now!

Two quilts totally finished and with labels, ready to be mailed this week!  Now back to my workbench!

Sew Long for Now!

I have been an elf here working hard on presents.  I finished quilting and putting the binding on this quilt. 

I really liked the striped material as the binding.  The colors are not very good in this photo, but it does match with the rest of the quilt and looks nice!

I am working on quilting the red/white/blue quilt now.  I need to mail these two so they are top priority.

Exciting news, our son arrived back in the U.S. from his deployment and finally met his daughter, who was born while he was away!  We are hoping they get to come home for Christmas and I will be able to see the whole family together!

Sew Long for Now!

 

Can you believe Thanksgiving is a week away?  Time is flying for me.  I finally finished the last 16 blocks of the cross quilt.  I put one row of it together.  So many other things have demanded my attention the past several weeks.  I really need to finish up the Christmas presents I have to mail!  Off to sew!

Sew Long for Now!

Twenty cross squares are now done.  They each have 73 pieces.  1460 pieces in all 20 squares together.  It took me longer than I thought, but I am so pleased with the outcome.

This is another picture with them on a white background.  The background color can make them look different.

The BOM is now done for October and the setting squares.  Two more months and I will have all the squares to put this quilt together!

I was ask to make a name tag for myself for a group I belong to and I put together this name tag.  I did the blanket stitch using my machine at first, but it was too light and didn't cover like I wanted so today I did it over by hand with embroidery floss.  It was really quick and easy to make.

Next week I hope to work on the 16 other blocks for the cross quilt.

I purchased backing for two of the Christmas quilts and I hope to soon start to machine quilt them.  As part of my birthday I ordered a hoop to use while doing free motion quilting and I hope it will make it go smoother for me.  Another nifty new gadget I had been asking for and received is an electric sharpener for rotatory cutting blades.  I was so happy that the first blade I sharpened with it is cutting really well.  I dislike waisting so many blades and wanted a way to be able to sharpen them and reuse them.  I have saved several blades and will try them all and see how it goes.

Sew Long for Now!

I finished the donation block for quilt guild.  They gave us the floral fabric and we had to make a block using it.  I was really happy how mine turned out.  I liked the colors and thought that would make a great spring summer quilt!  Maybe in the future.

Here is my father-in-laws finished quilt top.  I was real pleased how it turned out!  He is veteran and I thought he would love the red/white/blue theme.

Here is a closer view of the disappearing four patch.

I am almost finished with last part of the cross blocks.  I know I wanted to finish those before today, but it just didn't work out.

My goal for the next week is to get that last part done and put those cross blocks together.  If I can I also need to do the new BOM that I picked up this past Monday. 

Sew Long for Now!

I had big plans for accomplishing so much sewing in the last week.

Instead my husband and I took a romantic trip to the beach.  We had a wonderful restful time!

I did start on this quilt top before I left.  It's a disappearing 4 patch and it is coming together very quickly.  So, I am still shooting for finishing the same list as last week.

Sew Long for Now!

This picture shows a closer view of the block for Daddy's quilt with the orange sashing.

And here it is finished!  I love the look of it! 

I also finished the last row of the Memory Lane quilt.  With that one the next step is to put all the rows together with the sashing.

I also finished 160 half square green triangles.  I have to tell you about this.  I have been using a method to make half square triangles that makes 8 at once and then you have to trim them down.  Some one gave me this ruler for Christmas and I had never used it.  While watching Fons and Porter I saw them use this ruler.  They made it look so easy.  I thought well I will give that a try.  You know I don't know why it took me so long to use this ruler.  It made it alot easier and faster!  Tools really do make a difference!

 

So, I accomplished all I set out to do in the last week.  Over the next week I hope to finish the last part of the cross blocks so I can start putting those together, make the top for my father-in-laws quilt, and make the block for the donation for quilt guild.  I would like to say put the Memory Lane top together, but I think that may be stretching it a bit.

 

Sew Long for Now!

The September BOM is done!

These are two of the setting blocks to go along with it.

I found the best orange fabric to use as sashing around the blocks for my Dad's quilt.  It is actually 108 wide and for backing, but I just love the color and it matched so well.  I thought I bought enough to use with some pumpkin fabric for a wall hanging, but I think I will need to go back and get more.  I should have the sashing on and this top put together this week.

I thought I would have the last row of the Memory Lane quilt together, I had all eight blocks almost finished and when I looked I put half of each block together wrong!  I have ripped that part out and I think in the next week I can get it all put back right and finish up that row.  I also would like to get the 180 green and white blocks finished for the cross quilt in the next week.

Sometimes when I look at my list of sewing to accomplish I get overwhelmed.  I think if I can just get chunks of things done and keep steady, I will at least finish Christmas presents this year!

Sew Long for Now!

This is some of the fabric I purchased to use to make my granddaughter a quilt.

Isn't is cute!

I have all 16 blocks together for my Dad's quilt.  Now to put sashing between them and that top will be finished.  I finally finished squaring up 180 blocks of the second cross quilt.  Lots more pieces to get together for that one. I have parts ready to put together the latest BOM.  Then there is a set block to do for that starting this month.  I have one more row of the Memory Lane quilt to do.  Besides all these I have three more quilts on my list.  I need to get busy to do all this!

Sew Long for Now!

I finished the BOM for August.  I did it right in time to pick up the new block for September!  Nothing like last minute here. 

I made a block for my Dad's quilt to see how it will look, now I am doing assembly line sewing of the segments for the next 15 blocks.  I really like doing this pattern.  I should probably branch out though and do something different in the future.

I still have the last row to do for the Memory Lane quilt and then put the sashing on it and put it together.  I need to work on my 2nd cross quilt.  I haven't even really looked again at the material for my granddaughter's quilt and I have a block for the quilt guild.  Oh yes, I also have a donation quilt to do for them. 

I have also been helping my daughter knit caps for children to donate to local area facilities.

Idle Hands are the Devils Workshop, got to keep mine busy!

Sew Long for Now! 

Wow!  Who knew that getting your house back to rights after company and getting ready for another school year could take up so much time.  I have finally completed the 8 blocks for the July row of the Memory Lane quilt.  I hope to get the row put together today.  Then on to my other umpteen projects. 

I have one last row to do for the Memory Lane quilt and then I will put the top together.  I have a BOM to get done because the next one is coming up.  I have to keep on top of things.  I just can't leave them and let them pile up.  I am still working on the next cross quilt and my Dad's Christmas quilt.  I bought some really cute 1930's type fabric with children's print to make my granddaughter a quilt.  I have a quilt block to do my quilt guild and one of my older brother's ask for a quilt.  I really need to quit my day job to get my sewing caught up...

Sew Long for Now

What do you sew when you have a house full of company for several weeks?  Yoyo's of course.  I have over 50 more in one color that I didn't take a picture of.  Such a nice item to work on while visiting with your company.  The only time I didn't work on them was when I was holding my granddaughter!

Sew Long for Now!

I completed July's BOM.  The pattern calls this water wheel, it looks like a pinwheel to me.  It went together so easy and I love the look of it.

June's row is almost finished.  Here is the basic row.  I have 22 yoyo's to do and add and it will be complete.  This row seems to have taken me the longest to complete.  On a side note, do you see the puff of brown at the bottom?  That is one of our poodles.  His name is Smith and he is the most curious dog.  He loves to get right up and watch everything you are doing.  He gets right in there even when my husband is using power tools.  Nothing scares him and he just watches like he is trying to learn what you are doing.  He wants right in on the action.

I tried to get a closer view of the row, you still can't see all the work of the applique.  I quess that means I really did a good job matching my thread to the color of each flower.

My beautiful daughter-in-law and sweet granddaughter are here with us for a visit.  My in-laws and sister-in-law are headed here for a visit also.  I may not get a lot of sewing done, but I will be cuddling my granddaughter and spoiling my daughter-in-law.

Sew Long for Now

What a busy week.  We had a new AC and furnace installed and touched up the trim paint in the livingroom and hall.  We had a new refrigerator delivered, and my husband put new insulation in our attic.  We also went to the lake one day and did a lot of shopping.  I still tried to get in some sewing.  Above is 160 1/2 square triangles for the next cross quilt. 

I found some great fabrics to go with the fish print for my Dad's Christmas present.  I started cutting out the pieces.

I went to Memory Lane club meeting this past week.  I got the new row material, still working on last month's row though as you can see.  I have the leaves to applique and then the yoyos to make.  Hopefully, I will get that done this week, then I can get a picture of the whole long row.

Summer can sometimes throw me off schedule with all the things to do, but I keep trudging along.

Sew Long for Now

I finished the top to my mother-in-law's Christmas present.  I am making all the tops for my Christmas presents and then I am going to machine quilt them. 

I have been working on the Memory Lane row for June.  It is very indepth.  I made 6 churn dash squares and then two more squares I appliqued flower pots on.  Then I appliqued 3 flowers in each pot and I had been working on appliqueing the vines across all 8 blocks.  I finished that and ironed on the other flowers and leaves.  So, I just need to do the applique stitching around 42 leaves and I don't know how many flowers and then make the yoyos for it.  No problem.  I need to do this by Tuesday....Let's just say that will not be the day it gets done.  The latest two rows have been so complicated.  I hope the last two are a little easier since I have so many projects going.

I have been working on my second cross quilt.  This week things happened that caused me to fall off my resolve to get back to sewing a little everyday, but I am determined to get back into my schedule.  It really helped me accomplish a lot this spring and see visible results.

Sew Long for Now

I have been sewing for a long time and I went on my 1st shop hop this past week.  It was so fun and I learned somethings.  One is go with friends, it makes it even better.  Second save all you can for a year before you go...they have great deals.  Third is take vacation from work during the time.  I didn't make it to all 7 locations, but I did make it to 4, next year I want to go to all 7!  This shop hop was called the Dogwood Days and there was a special fabric sold exclusively by the shops just for this hop.  Each shop did an item with the fabric and you got the pattern free and then you could purchase the fabric or kits made up with the fabric for the project.  This one is an example from Sew Biz in Radford.  They also had door prizes, etc.  I got some of all twelve colors and then I got two kits.  One from my local shop in Roanoke and one from the Lynchburg shop Quilted Expressions.

I want to make one of these.  I saw these at Sew What Fabrics & Batiks in Wytheville.  What a great store with a wonderful staff.

This was their quilt for the hop.  I forgot my camera the second day and have the other two shops' items on my phone camera...now to figure out how to download them.

I have actually got some sewing done this week too.  I am on the applique part of the next row of the Memory Lane.  I put the sashing around my mother-in-law's quilt, so I did do some actual sewing.

Sew Long For Now 

Happy 4th!  It has been an interesting week to say the least.  Friday night my husband and I were outside looking at the garden when the wind picked up and it was really strong.  We heard loud cracking noises and walked around to our front yard about the time the transformer across the street blew up and we watched trees in the neighborhood bend and break.  We didn't loose power, but the next morning we lost internet, phone, and cable.  I work from home using the internet and phone.  I got an impromtu vacation which I spent trying to do a lot of sewing and housework.  I got the eight blocks done for the May Memory Lane that I was behind.  I also started the June eight.

I layed out all the row I have done so far to get a look at what the quilt is looking like so far.  I have the June row cut out and will be putting it together this week.  Two more rows after that and then I can do the sashing and put the top together.  I am liking the look so far.

I still have other things to catch up on and I will be working hard in July to get caught up.

Sew Long for Now

 No sewing done lately.  I spent a week looking at this view.  It's Mount Rainier in Washington state.

And playing with this sweet thing!  Sadly her mother wouldn't let me bring her home as my souvenir from the trip.

Sew Long for Now

I finished the June Color Me Happy block.  I still have not done the May Memory Lane row yet.  I am trying to get caught up.  I am going on my trip and the day after I come back is the next Memory Lane meeting.  I so hate to be behind, but I may not get it done before I leave because I have to do a lot to get our youngest ready for encampment.  He is leaving while I am gone and the list of things to purchase and the patches to sew on his uniform are long.

 

I finished my sister's quilt.  I tried to take a good picture, but it was overcast and it just doesn't do it justice.

So, I tried taking a closer shot of it with the backing showing so yo could get a better look.  I mailed it yesterday and hopefully today or tomorrow she will receive it.

On my sewing table is the May row for the Memory Lane quilt, two blogger BOM's, my MIL quilt, and cutting out my second cross quilt.

Sew Long for Now

My sewing was interrupted this week by the birth of my first grandchild!  Isn't she adorable?  I did get my sister's quilt finished machine quilted.  I am so far behind on things though and I have a week then I am flying to the west coast to meet my granddaughter.  I have to get the binding put on my sister's quilt and mail it...it's a week late and she is going on a trip next week also.  Maybe after my trip I will get caught up on things before my summer guest arrive in August.  I do need to check and find some quilt shops to visit in the Seattle area while I am out there, I have heard great things about the northwestern coast.

Sew Long for Now

It is finished.  This is the green quilt that I did by hand and it took me forever to finish.  The cute cuddly little guy in the right lower corner is Smith our chocolate poodle.

Sew Long for Now

This week I spent some time with my family slinging, straining and jarring honey.  We started keeping bees 3 years ago.  It hasn't been an easy journey, but finally we were able to get some honey.  Actually we got 2 1/2 gallons off one small super.  It looks like we will probably get more this summer.  In a week since we took the frames with the honey and replaced them with empty frames they have already drawn them out.  These are some hard working bees.  We had Russian bees and Italian bees and they didn't work out.  These bees are local Virginia bees. 

The bees seem to have worked some tulip poplars, that is one thing known to make the honey darker and it is in our area.

On the sewing front I am now machine quilting my sister's quilt.  I found this gorgeous batik 106 inches wide and am using it for the backing.  I was going to frame the front in it, but decided not to.  I am going to use it as the binding also.

Of course I have lots of other projects waiting on the sideline.  I am finishing sewing the binding on the green quilt and it is about 3/4 of the way done.  When it is finished I will get a picture to share.

Sew Long for Now