Sunbonnet Sue dilemma solved

Thanks to all who gave me their input on what to do! I decided on the more simple advice - echo quilt around the doll one more time. It looks pretty good. I should take a picture of the back, and I will once I have it all done, because it looks really neat. There is a cornerstone that gave me some trouble since it's not pieced quite accurately so the fabric was not lying smoothly and I was getting a huge pucker. I just took out some stitches, folded the excess in towards a seam, quilted over that and I think it will be fine. This has been so much fun to work on. As usual, click on the picture to get a closer look.

In addition to quilting on the Sue quilt, last night I made 3 Super Sized Nine Patch baby quilt tops. Blame April! LOL She called and had me look at this pattern to see if I thought she'd be able to whip these up in no time. Well, it only took me an hour to cut and sew and now I have 3 quilt tops to sell or give away. I'd seen this pattern before, and had seen the lady demonstrate it on Simply Quilts and knew I'd have to try it someday. I want to get other, more contrasting juvenile fabric and try it again. I'm not sure how well you can see the patterns in this picture. So, April, go for it! LOL

I'm off to work. Early day today and I have some Scentsy calls to make after work.

Sunbonnet Sue dilemma

This is a client's top that her mother did and she has asked me to quilt it for her. I like the flowers I did in the sashing, and I outlined the Sue, but I'm wondering if I need more quilting around the doll. If so, what shall I do? Stippling? Large meandering? I'd really like to leave it as is, but if ya'll think it needs more, I'll do it. lol Help! My sister suggested the same flower in front of the doll. I thought that might work and I told her I could have the stem coming out of her sleeve since she has no hands. She thought that'd be kinda creepy. lol I'm thinking the flowers at the bottom will have to be a bit wider to fit the space better but, all in all, I'm liking the look. Any suggestions?

Interesting numbers

I clicked on the link, added my name and here's what I got..

HowManyOfMe.com

There are 28 people with my name in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

I've laid out the top I'm going to quilt for a client but haven't decided what to do yet. Actually, on the trip to Lubbock today, I may have come up with something during the drive. I'll have to work on it later tonight...if I'm not too tired.

I've also begun to cut another kaleidoscope. It's addicting! I'm not sure this fabric will yield as nice a collection of kaleidoscopes as the last one, but we'll see.

Summer is coming!

Ok, so it's still cold outside, but aren't these little flip flops cute? Thank you, Patty, for sharing your pattern with me. I'm not going to make as big a quilt as you did (you should see Patty's! oh my..) I'm just going to use 9 blocks for a wallhanging for a friend's daughter. Since I'm almost done with the DWR (that sounds good, doesn't it? lol) I will work on this off and on. After all, her birthday is not until June. I have a few more urgent projects that need my attention. I didn't realize, until I put the block up on the wall, that the background fabric looks a bit like sand. Don't you just love it when you do something right without even thinking?

Don't forget to move your clocks forward tonight!

I'm getting excited!!

Believe it or don't, the Double Wedding Ring is all quilted!! I made myself work on that baby until I finished it last night. Now I begin to concentrate on how to finish the edges. I'm thinkin' I'll cut with the curve of the rings and do a nice, curvy, bias binding. That's what I did on the DWR wallhanging last year and it was fairly easy and makes a nice ending. I hope Rob and April enjoy using this quilt as much as I've enjoyed working on it. As with many quilters, the excitement of beginning a new quilt sometimes dims as I am in the middle of the project, thinking, "why did I EVER start this!" But, as I was stitching the last few inches last night, I had a nice feeling start in the pit of my stomach. A feeling of accomplishment! I know, I still need the binding, but, in my book, it's nearly done! lol

I'm off to work..

April's 1st quilt!

Yes, she has made rag quilts in the last two months, but this is her first "real" quilt! She even designed it! I'm impressed! lol You done good, April! I'm glad I was able to help last night before you strangled Rob. lol Just 'cause he's lived in my house doesn't mean the boy knows how to join the binding ends! Silly girl..but, now you know how. Can't wait to see what you do next!

Birthday tablerunner

 This runner is for a very special client's birthday. Helen is a very sweet lady who has become a joy to have as a friend. Since I only had two days to do this, I thought I'd take some of the leftover kaleidoscope blocks and fix up a little tablerunner. I did some trapunto and then stippled around that. The k-scope blocks have some very simple quilting on the flowers.

Now, I am going to work on the Double Wedding Ring!

Another Nativity

Some of you might remember the Nativity Scene I worked up in December. It was made with a pattern called "Window Panes". I've been toying with the idea that I could make it up using an actual Attic Window pattern. I ordered several more Nativity panels and this one was different from the others. I closed my eyes (well, not really) and just jumped right in and starting cutting and sewing. I wanted to do a perspective attic window but I have no pattern to go by and my head just hurt too much today to even try to figure it out. So, I did a traditional Attic Window, added borders and I like it. The wavy part of the border is just that I didn't smooth it out on the flannel design wall.

So, Jim asks me, "Are you looking in or out of this window?" I hadn't even thought about it! Upon further thought, I realized that you must be looking out of the window since you can see sky! LOL Oh, a side note...The blue border fabric was bought just last night as an impulse buy when I stopped by Hobby Lobby for fabric for the mini kaleidoscope. I saw this rolled up piece of fabric in the remnant bin and just picked it up. Works perfectly for this piece.

My headache is much better now so I think I'll have a bowl of cereal. We're listening to the wind blowing outstide bringing in some winter weather. Maybe I'll have to stay in tomorrow and sew!

A Quilt for me!

Check this out! I got home today to a large, squishy package sitting at my place at the bar. I couldn't figure out what it might be since I haven't ordered anything lately and I'm not participating in any swaps online right now. I opened it with great anticipation, especially after seeing that it was from my friend, Kate! That sweet lady made ME a quilt! If you can see the quilt up close, you can see that a lot of the "girls" are hairdressers! What a fun quilt and it's mine!! lol Thank you, thank you, thank you, Kate! I can't wait to take it to group and to the shop to show it off.

I'm still working on the DWR and the kaleidoscope. Well, the k-scope is ready for quilting, but will not be worked on until I'm done with the DWR, really... But, I'm also working on another window pane with a different Nativity panel. I can't wait to get cracking on this one 'cause I plan to do something a little different than the last one. Check back in a few days for pictures....

Don't forget to take a peek at my Scentsy,page. The new Spring and Summer line is here. Beautiful new warmers have been added as well as new scents.

Kaleidoscope

After spending the morning at Dad's I decided to come home and really work on this quilt top. I've got all the rows put together in three sections. I plan on quilting them ala Georgia Bonesteel. Her method has you quilt the sections then attach them totally different from the quilt-as-you-go method. I've made a few other quilts this way and am looking forward to doing this one. I had thought, at first, that I would send this one out to be quilted since it's going to be mine and my quilts tend to end up in the closet as "flimsies". lol So, instead of dreading the idea of paying to have it done, dreading having to quilt it myself because it will be so big...I will quilt it in sections. I still want to add a 4" border which I have yet to purchase.

The DWR is patiently waiting for me on the living room couch. lol I WILL finish it before I begin quilting the kaleidoscope. That's the plan...

Another little project I have underway deals with the points I cut off the aforementioned kaleidoscope triangles. I can't bear to throw them away especially since they're all stacked and ready to be worked with! I plan on arranging each little kaleidoscope, each piece butted up against each other, on fusible web. I will iron it on, cut off the corners (no, I won't keep those!) then fuse the piece onto a 6" or 7" square of fabric. The one you see here is my prototype :-) I satin stitched around the triangles. I'm not sure what I'll do to make sure the center stays attached, but I'm thinking that quilting with take care of that. I didn't want to sew these pieces because it would have made it way to small for my preference.

Time to check the roast..

Thursday morning

Just a quick note to show ya'll what I worked on last night. I know, I know! I should be working on the DWR and, I am, I just needed a little break. I found this pattern in an old magazine I was browsing and just had to try it. Judy and I ran to Hobby Lobby last night for some fabric and this is what I found. Amazing to me what a little careful placement and cutting can do! I'm having a little trouble lining up my centers, but it's so busy that I think I can get away with it.

I wish I could stay home and work on these as well as the DWR today, but I gotta run! Dad's doing well, thank you, Lord!

Comfort quilt for friend

Robert calls this "Two Worlds". Joe calls it "Peppermint Squares". Jim calls it "Peppermint". I call it "A Hint of Mint". Judy and April just laugh at me. LOL Oh well... This is going to a friend's house. She is about to undergo some surgery and is having some difficult personal issues. Thanks to my QOR friends for making the blocks. I put it together, quilt-as-you-go style and tried the 3" sashings instead of the 1 3/4" front and 1 1/8" back sashings. I also added the cornerstones. It took a little longer to put together, but I like the results.

Now that this is done, I'd like to concentrate on working on Rob and April's DWR. I really would like to finish it before their first anniversary! LOL Time to go eat with Jim.

Quilting 201?

Here we are after a long afternoon of working on these quilt-as-you-go tablerunners. We started about 12 noon and finished about 8 p.m. These girls worked hard! I think they did a great job from choosing their fabrics to finishing up the runners. April even put buttons on her's! Judy hand stitched her binding while April put her's on with the machine. They learned a lot today and I am very proud of them. I think they were a bit leary at first because the pattern was a bit intimidating, especially when it looked for a minute there that I didn't know what the directions were trying to tell me! lol But, I'd made this pattern before so I knew it would work out.

While we worked, Rob and Jim played a round of golf. After they'd been home awhile, we decided we would like tacos for dinner. Rob and I ran to WalMart while the girls sewed their bindings on. Robert and Judy then proceeded to make tacos and Spanish rice. Yumm!! Thanks, guys!

Now the dining room and kitchen are back to normal and Jim and I are left wash dishes. That's ok. Most of us used paper plates. lol Rob ran a plate over to Dad. He's doing great. He and I go to Lubbock tomorrow for a checkup.

Round robin vest started

(Since I posted this last night, I have taken out the left strip of flying geese and repositioned it so it doesn't show the little bit of black next to the pink. Just in case anyone noticed. I know I did! LOL) This has been my week's project. Our local group is doing a round robin and we're constructing vests. Well, mine will hopefully become a jacket when it's all said and done. I'm not a vest person. Layering is just too much heat for me! I'll take this, along with fabric I want the ladies to use and instructions as to what I'm hoping can be done, to the meeting on Monday. I'll come home with someone else's vest that they have done the first round on. I think there are only 5 of us participating so we might be done in the next 4 months or so.

I've felt better this week so I've been able to work a little longer each day. I've been keeping busy with Scentsy,. If you haven't had a chance to look at the website, check it out! We are lovin' these warmers!!

Super Bowl Sew-In

We missed you, April! Judy and I got these two runners together in the time it took the Giants to win the game today. April had a party to attend, so she missed out on Quilting 201 today. Maybe we can catch her up next week.

The runner on the left is Judy's and mine is on the right, as they are facing you. The shiny things you see along the edges are binding clips. Thanks again, Vicky, for the clips! They sure keep my arms scratch-free unlike the pins do.

I slept until almost 9 a.m. today but I'm tired enough to go to bed right now. I think I'm still trying to get over whatever it was that hit me last week.

Customer inspired

When Vicky walked in with her Valentine runner today, I knew I had to come home and make another one myself. But, I didn't have enough of Valentine fabric, so I just pulled some of my pinks out. I'd forgotten how fast and easy these are to make.

I'm feeling better, but still get a little weak. Haven't been able to eat like I want to, (a blessing! lol) but I can tell the appetite is working it's way back.

Speaking of, I think I'll go get me a bowl of Shredded Wheat.

Feeling better - spent time in the sewing room...

I thought I'd better get the lotto blocks out of the way. We're doing this in our local group. February's blocks are hearts. I might make another one of the big heart since the four small hearts didn't line up exactly like I wanted them to.
This bib is for the new baby due in May. I wanted to continue the theme I have going with the sports quilt. I still need to put a velcro closure on it. The pattern I took this from had an Overall Bill applique on it. I substituted with the football.
The sports quilt still needs the borders sewn on and then quilted. I still have until April to finish it, but getting it done now will save me from rushing at the last minute.

It's not been a fun two days. I was sick, sick last night. Must've had a stomach bug. I went to work this morning, but left early. I didn't feel as bad today as I did yesterday, but now I'm beat. Time to go to bed.

Tissue holder site and new Scentsy!

I knew I should've posted the site for the Tissue holder,. So sorry about that. I just get lazy and forget how to do the linking, but thanks to
Linda, I can always go back and figure it out. Thanks, again, Linda! Except for that little comma...

Thanks to all who have visited my site. Another link I'd like to add is my new Scentsy, site. These are flameless candles. Actually, they are warmers with a bulb in the bottom of the unit, a little bowl on top where you melt the Scentsy bars. And, oh, what marvelous scents we have! When Rob and April gave me this little treasure for Christmas, I KNEW I was going to have to sell them. I'm not a salesperson, so for me to tell you that this is absolutely one great product ~ well, let's just say that I don't usually go gaa-gaa over things, but Scentsy is different! Please drop me a line at vgoff@suddenlink.net for more information.

Back to quilting...

Sunday Morning musings

I've taken a little break from cutting scraps. A girl can't live on scraps, alone! lol So, Judy and I have begun thinking about baby shower quilts for our niece and will be working on those. Mine is going to be the rail fence quilt you see started here. There will be appliqued sports balls on it before it's done. It's going to be a boy!

I've also been asked to make more tissue holders. This is a picture of the tissue holder that one of my QOR sisters sent us a link for. It actually makes up a lot faster than the ones I made at Christmas, and, they have an extra little pocket (for mad money?) and a flap. Everyone that has seen them seem to think the flap needs some kind of velcro closure, but I think that when you need a tissue, you don't need to fumble with a clasp! lol

Before I forget, I need to thank Mary C. for bringing the quilt tops to me yesterday. I think, if it's alright with you, Mary, that I'll take them over to the Senior Center and let them work on them. They are way heavy! That's what happens when you make them out of the single and double knits. I would cut them in half and make four lap robes... Now, the other piece you brought me that had some quilting on it, I have decided to take the stitches out and use both pieces as backs for the comfort quilts. I can see why they decided not to continue quilting. You can't see the design from either the front or the back! Too much work not to be able to enjoy seeing the fruits of your labor, I think. But, the fabrics are wonderful and already pieced big enough for two quilt backs, or linings, as some would call them.

Now that I've taken a break from cutting scraps, it's time to cut a few more.

Scrap update

Just to keep me on my toes, I'm going to post my progress with my scraps. As you can see, the pile has diminished, somewhat from the previous post. I'm working on 3 piles of squares and rectangles that represent the 3 quilts Judy, April and I will make with these scraps. I only need 100 more squares in each pile and, Lord only knows how many more rectangles! LOL Probably about 200 each. Then, I need to cut a whole bunch (like 1144) of 2" squares along with (143) 3 1/2" squares of the cream colored fabric! That's per quilt! Judy and April will have to come help me cut those. I think I need to buy more of the cream-on-cream or cream-on-white fabric. Don't have much of that in the pile. I've enjoyed watching the pile disappear and become something usable.
It's nearly midnight so I will close for the night. Waiting to see if the weather turns as bad as they've said it will...

Another beautiful Sunday

Outstide, anyway! My sewing room is still a mess, but I have finally undertaken the job of weeding out my scraps. I've decided that my students (Judy and April) and I need to make this quilt. So, I will cut my medium to dark scraps into 5 1/2" squares and 5 1/2" x 3 1/2" strips. I'll need to buy the light fabric, unless I find I have enough scraps for that, too. I imagine I have enough scraps for each of us to make a quilt, and then some. I told them this will be our year-long project. It's not a hard pattern. I think the most time-consuming aspect of it will be the actual cutting of the scraps. But, now that I have a quilt in mind, I am psyched!

Here is one pile of scraps. I know, I know! What a mess. This pile doesn't look as bad right now since I've rearranged the scraps to be a little more controlled. lol yeah, right! This picture was taken a few months ago, so the pile is actually a bit taller now but not so scattered. But, remember, there are at least two more piles almost this big!
Alrighty! Here are the first piles of the scraps that have been cut. These two piles represent only about half of the amount of squares and strips needed for one quilt. If I come in here and cut for about 15 min. at a time, I should be able to get all the scraps, okay, most of them, cut in about a month. LOL Oh, I'm also cutting 2 1/2" strips because I really enjoy doing scrappy bindings. And, I've got a pile of 2" strips just in case I have a mind to work on some Log Cabins.

I've been doing all this while waiting for April to text me with news about how Rob is doing. He's been having some back pain, radiating to the front and it has affected his breathing a bit. They are at the ER and she wrote to tell me that they say he has pleurisy but he will be fine. He got a shot in the butt (he'll be glad to know that I've told the world! lol) and was sent home with meds and instructions to rest. Apparently, he should be well enough to go to work tomorrow. Thank you, April, for taking such good care of him!

I've also finished the binding on the last Cow-oh-boy quilt I made last year. 'Bout time! I'd forgotten all about it. It was in a sack, by the door, full of other fabrics. I have also quilted 12 lotto blocks in preparation to put them together for a deserving person in our list.

Kids quilts almost done

Here's the second of the quilts I'm getting ready for the kids in the Christmas Day fire. I'd like to get them sent off this week. The big squares quilt needs binding. I'm taking them to group tomorrow for show and tell and the fish quilt with the brown and red back will be part of my class sample. I've got the program tomorrow and I'll be demonstrating "quilt-as-you-go". That's why two of the sides are not yet quilted. I want to show how to apply the borders after the body is quilted without having to use the sashing strips.
This is the front of this quilt.

Rob and April came by last night to visit and Rob stood at the entrance to my sewing room and asked, "How would you feel if I came in and just got rid of all your little piles in this room?" LOL I didn't know how to answer at first but he nailed it when he said he figured I'd be mad but glad at the same time! I don't know why it's been such an ordeal for me to get even one corner of this room straightened out! I keep saying, "As soon as I finish THIS quilt, I'll clean the room!" Hasn't happened yet and I'm getting awfully antsy about it. I think my creativity is beginning to suffer from all this chaos. It used to be "organized chaos", but, no more! See, instead of sitting here, griping about it, I should be up and doing it! lol I think I'll go take a nap before I have to go check on Dad.
This is the back of the fish front.

"Lunch of the Penguins"

Today is April's birthday and I finished her penguin quilt just in time. She and Rob are on their way over to collect it and her b'day cards. When I saw this pattern in the new "Quilter's World" magazine, I knew I had to make it for her since she had a "penguin-thing" for Christmas this past year. It's a very simple pattern and the skill level is "beginner". Worked up fast and the quilting was very simple. I used a homespun plaid for the border. Happy Birthday, April!

Is she happy, or what?

 Here's April with her first quilt. I say first, because she already has fabric for two more! She had a little trouble with this one because she, or maybe Rob, or both! got a little "snip-happy" and there were a few holes that needed patching up after washing and drying. But, it was nothing we couldn't fix. And, it only took her 2 days! A few more days because we had to fix the holes, but 2 days, start to finish! Am I a good teacher, or what!? LOL Great job, April! Thanks to Robert for helping her 'cause I KNOW he did some snipping. He's helped me do that before.

I have spent the evening working on April's birthday present. I am bound and determined to have it done in time for her birthday, tomorrow. With Dad in the hospital, I didn't think I was going to finish it, but I'm getting there.

Speaking of Dad, he's doing ok. He just needed some blood since he's been losing some due to some bleeding. They will do a colonoscopy soon. Please pray that there is nothing serious going on.

Time for bed since I need to be at the hospital by 7 a.m. and work by 9:30.

Quilting 101

Here are my students! LOL We had a great time on Saturday afternoon until about 7:30. Judy, April, Robert, (yes, we dragged Rob to the fabric store) and I shopped for sewing notions and fabric so April can make her first quilt. She (we) decided on a rag quilt since it's a relatively easy one to make as a first quilt. We came home, cut all the fabric and batting, pulled out the Bernina machine that Deborah has so good-naturedly let me "store" for her, and we went to town! Rob and Judy shopped for dinner and so we ate hurriedly on Albertson's chicken, potato salad and beans.
Of course, Judy is my Quilting 102 student and was a very good assistant. As soon as April has her first quilt finished, I'll post a picture.

Time to change clothes to get to the gym. My Jim here at home is not feeling too well since his back has been giving him fits the last few days. Joe came over and gave him a massage and now he's taken some meds. I hope he begins to feel better, soon! I don't like him sickly.. lol

I'll be back to comment on Susan's "Make my day" award. Thanks, Susan!

One down, two to go

Here's the first of the quilts for the kids that were in a house fire on Christmas Day. My sister said, "You didn't quilt-as-you-go?!" I had thought about it, but I really wanted the blocks to butt up against each other instead of using a sashing strip. I think in this case, quilting it in one pieice went a lot faster than quilt-as-you-go. Now to bind it. I have lots of 2 1/2" strips left after the first round of strips so that's what I'll use.

Judy and I went to WalMart today and that's about all I did. Rob and April stopped by for a visit. So nice to have both my boys in town! The other boy, Joe, stayed home at Dad's and cooked a turkey! He's my Jack of all trades.

I didn't get to Dad's since I'm not feeling the best. Can't really pinpoint what's wrong, but I almost feel as though I'm coming down with the flu and/or a throat problem. Think I'll get to bed early tonight.

A view from my chair

As I look up from my Bernina, here's what I'm seeing on my design wall now. I saw a pattern in one of my books for a very simple setting. They used hand-dyed fabrics and in the center block, they stamped a big flower. So, I thought, "why not just use a focus fabric, kids' designs in this case, and build around it. Works great. The blocks are 18" square and I think I'll make two lap-size quilts with the twelve blocks I'll end up with. I will probably border them with a 4 or 5" border. Haven't decided what to use, yet. I'd like these quilts to go to children who were in a fire near Albuquerque. Their home burned down on Christmas morning and one of the girls is badly burned. I'll probably need to contact the TV station to find out where to send these to. There were three children involved so I have another top that someone bought at a garage sale so I'll get that one quilted, too.

Jim and I had a nice dinner at Chili's last night. Although, the salmon was overly seasoned, I thought. I'm not much for using salt, and it was pretty salty. But, the rest of the meal was good. Time to run to WalMart for the traditional Slim Fast purchase for New Year's! LOL

Coloring quilt blocks top

Okay, I admit it..my name is Veronica and I'm a Quilt-a-holic! LOL I found a picture of some coloring block quilts and I couldn't stop until I got it together. I may not quilt it for a while, but the top's done. Since it wasn't very busy at work today, I came home around noon, worked on the quilt for a little while, went back to Dad's, (he's doing well), then came home to fix dinner and finish the top. Judy came by for me to run to WalMart because I needed the rickrack. I've got four more blocks ready for Brittany to color tomorrow.

Colors for Christmas Day

After having our lasagne dinner, Brittany, Judy, April and I sat down and colored these blocks. I traced the pictures onto muslin just before I left for Dad's in hopes that we'd have time to color them. We did and I brought them home, ironed them to remove the excess wax, and now I can't wait to put them together in a quilt. The blocks depict the 4 Seasons - Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. Notice that Brittany even put rosy cheeks on her sledders! We all signed our blocks except for April because she left before I thought about doing that. I'll get her to sign it next time she's here.

The wind is picking up outside and we are threatened with a winter weather advisory tonight and part of tomorrow. We'll see how that affects my going to work at 9 a.m. I pray that everyone had a joyous, peaceful Christmas and looking forward to a wonderful New Year!

Christmas Morning

Merry Christmas! We had very nice Christmas Eve with Dad, Judy, Joe and Brit, Robert and April.
Here's Dad with his gift from a friend. It's a pretty neat little door draft-stopper. The snowman's legs extend to fit along the bottom of the door.

Mr. Goff sure surprised me! Thank goodness I looked at my stocking last night and wondered why it was hanging a bit crooked. As I reached over to straighten it, I realized there was something in it! I didn't think we were going to do stockings this year since none of the kids were going to be here, so I turned to my daughter-in-law and said, "I need to go to Allsups!" LOL First, I found the smallest, wrapped gift I had for Jim and put it in the stocking. When we went to Judy's to bring back the gifts and posole, we stopped at Allsups and I stocked up on a few goodies. Sheesh! I should've known better. Jim is nothing if not a traditionalist. He misses Santa's visit now that there are no kids in the house. He had filled my stocking with all kinds of sewing notions. How's that for a thoughtful gift? After almost 25 years, the man continues to surprise me.

I woke up with a headache today. Actually, I woke up at 4 a.m. with one so I got up and took some meds. Obviously, it didn't help. I think there's some weather moving in. I need to fix breakfast and take more drugs so I can get over to Dad's. The nurse will be over today to change the dressing on his leg.

Gift revealed

Leota and I have exchanged gifts at Christmas every year since we started working together. That was almost 24 years ago, I think. During the aftermath of the tornado that demolished her trailer this past year, the red rag quilt I made her a while back was used to cover her tenant who had been blown around with the mobile home. She has not received it back as of this date, so I decided she needed another one. I didn't take a picture of the label, but in one corner, I embroidered, "Return to Leota". LOL She said, "I won't be loaning this one out!"
After stating that I was taking a break from the sewing machine last night, I was thumbing through another quilt magazine. I really need to stop doing that. lol I found the pattern for this grab bag and thought it might make up really nice as a little gift for Brittany. Judy said, "She can carry a lot of stuff in that one!" It's really not too big, only about 16" x 11" and 8" of the 16 is handle. Two little strips of fabric on the inside to make a few little pockets and a tissue cover, with tissue, to start her off right.
Almost done with the redwork block I was working on last night. It's another candy cane, Susan. A little bear is holding it. Okay, I'm off to get dressed and head on over to Dad's to fix breakfast.

Redwork play

Now that I seem to have slowed down with the Christmas gift sewing, I have decided to give myself a break from the sewing machine. Not that I don't have a lot of things I could be doing, but I have been thinking about these blocks the last few days. To tell you the truth, I cannot remember exactly when I began stitching on these blocks. It might've been last year, or the year before, or the year before that. lol There have been many times in the past few years that I've felt the need for handwork to get me through a trying time and I think one of those times is when I started the blocks. The fifth one is underway and I'm working on that tonight. I plan on using these in a red and white quilt. My goal is to have it finished by next Christmas. I'm thinking that I found the transfers in some papers that Mom had in a sewing basket. In fact, I remember seeing the patterns while I was growing up. Now, don't yell at me...I don't know what I've done with the patterns! I know they're in my sewing room, somewhere. I'll find them, eventually. They're probably in a drawer.

Did not have a busy day at work considering it's the last day to get anything done to your hair before Christmas. That is, unless you can find a hairdresser that works on Monday. Of course, it was a fairly busy week.

My son, Joe, left for OKC to pick up my granddaughter, Brittany. The weather got a little tough right around Amarillo, so he had to stop there for the night. I hope the roads are easier to navigate tomorrow. I won't rest until he and Brit are home safely.

Last minute Christmas gift

The baby in mind for this quilt won't be born until May. But, he/she is referred to as "Baby Fields" so I decided to work up a little something for him/her. We won't know the gender until January. Baby Journey, Baby Field's cousin, is getting a Christmas gift from her Great-Aunt Veronica, so Baby Fields is, too. lol I used my embroidery machine to embroider the quilt designs on each block and the words "Baby Fields". I also used quilt-as-you-go but I added 2 1/2" sashings between the blocks.

Instead of using a label on the back of the quilt, I wrote my name and the year on the binding with my new Janome. Looks good to me!

Most of my shopping is done and under wraps. I still need to buy for Brittany, but I will wait until Joe brings her home for the week. Hard to buy for a child when you don't see her very often. I don't even know what an 8 year old is wanting these days.

Time for bed. Had a bit of trouble getting into Blogger, but I reset my password and got in.

A Christmas stocking, or three!

Instead of going to bed early last night like I'd planned, I made Joe a stocking. He says his is in Oklahoma and I'm not sure it's going to make it's way back here this year. I couldn't let Christmas come and Joe not have a stocking! We thought I might have to make Robert another one since we couldn't find it last night. The boys and April came over to help me set up the tree. Turns out we had to run to WalMart to buy a 6.5', lighted tree. Anyway, Rob's stocking was in the piano bench! Now, how did it get in there? I've edited this post to include two more stockings I made today. April is into penguins this year and so I made them matching, sorta, stockings.

Back to Joe's stocking...I had this border panel left from something else I'd made and I knew it'd come in handy someday. I thought the gingerbread men are perfect for Joe since they're so dapper-looking, just like Joe likes to be. I don't think I've ever seen him wear a bow-tie, though. lol And, I couldn't wait to use my embroidery machine again to "write" his name on the cuff. I think it's time to make new stockings for Robert and Jim and certainly one for April. Maybe Judy needs one, too? Mine is new since I made it last year.

Talked to Dad a few minutes ago. He and Joe were up early and had their breakfast. He sounds wonderful. He's waiting for the "Catholic Church lady" to come by with Communion.

Time to get breakfast. I'm feeling a little better than yesterday. I was afraid I was really coming down with a bad cold. I drank EmergenC and had to take some Benadryl allergy meds. Maybe it is just allergies... I thought cold weather was supposed to get rid of those allergens that made you sneeze and have watery eyes.