Saturday, January 31, 2009

The Last Day of the Month...


wow, I can't believe where January went... before you know it, it will be Spring. We received some new fabrics at the shop where I work, and there was a striking floral that I really wanted a piece of. I am not a floral person, but I loved this one... and when I put it with a red batik and green - I knew I had a winning combination. I have been wanting a Valentine's type table runner for awhile, but didn't want to use the cutsey fabric I had - I thought these fabrics would be great... so I whipped this up last night... I am really pleased with it.... I may have to put it on display for a day or two... but eventually it will be on my coffee table.
Thought for the Day
If you want to be the Captain, you have to know more than the crew!
Unknown

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Mini Quilt....


I received this lovely little mini quilt in a swap - I just love it.... I saw a Moose this morning on my way into town... and saw two yesterday on my way into town... so, this little guy will look great on my wall! Once again, we have some warmer weather.... I am going to try snow-shoeing this weekend!
Hop on over to Wacky Pac Wannabees, and see my entry into the pincushion challenge. I had fun with this one!
Thought for the Day
"by craning backward,the moose can be seen on the moonlit macadam"
Elizabeth Bishop

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Mini Quilt






I don't usually make mini's but I joined a swap for quilts under 15" - This is the quilt that I will send to my partner.

Is there anyone who wants to participate in my Pay It Forward???? anyone????? I'll send you something if you do..... Please see this post if you are interested. It's fun!!!
I was the recipiant of a great little prize this week from Auntie Em. This is just the cutest little wallhanging... and I can't wait to get a jump start on Christmas, 2009. The pincushion is adorable too..... I'm behind in making my pincusion for a challenge (wacky packers, don't read this).... do you think I could use this one - LOL.
The cold has returned to our part of the world - great for staying inside and doing some quilting - which is what I will do tomorrow.
Thought for the Day
Again I reply to the triple winds
running chromatic fifths of derision
outside my window:
Play louder.
You will not succeed. I am
bound more to my sentences
the more you batter at me to
follow you. And the wind,
as before, fingers perfectly its derisive music.
William Carlos Williams



Sunday, January 18, 2009

I spent some time...







quilting today.... this is a king size quilt with lots of border feathers and block feathers. This will take a few days to finish, I am sure... but it is fun.............

Thought for the Day
What I know is, is that if you do work that you love, and the work fulfills you, the rest will come
Oprah Winfrey

Pay It Forward

I have joined Julie's Pay it Forword! The rules are simple....

Three people need to join in my PIF. I must send a hand made gift to the 3 people on my list within 365 days. In turn, the 3 people who have joined my PIF must also host their own and ask for 3 people to join. They then must send a handmade gift to each of their 3 players within 365 days. And on and on it goes, spreading the goodness around. There is no set time to send the gifts, so long as they are sent within 365 days of hosting your PIF.

So...... I need 3 people to join in.... post the logo and rules on your blog, and get three people to join their PIF..... any takers????? Keep in mind, that the hand made gift I send to you.... will probably be somehow sewing or quilting related - LOL.


Thought for The Day
What we call results are beginnings.
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Monday, January 12, 2009

Time Flies.......

when there are days and days of snow....LOL. We did have one or two days with above average temperature... but we are back to snow days. I haven't seen this amount of snow since I was a young girl (and that's getting to be awhile now!!!).

The other night we had the most beautiful full moon - and it showed up quite early, around 4:30 in the afternoon. I had to get a snap of it....





I had placed an order for some great sale fabrics at The Quilt Shoppe at the end of December, and they arrived today. All of these fabrics were 50% off, so I got some additions for my 2009 Christmas quilt, Frolic, and I purchased some pinks and an autumn piece for my stash. I thought the pinks would come in handy to go with a jelly roll that I have that has a lot of pinks in it.
That should be it for shopping for awhile!!, but you can hardly expect a quilter not to shop when there's a 50% off sale - LOL...












I also received my January block in a block swap that I am in. This is the start of a new year and I have chosen pinks and browns, in any style block. This should be a great sampler. I have 12 blocks from last year in civil war prints, in various blocks, that will make a great addition to my Kansas Spirit blocks. This is another UFO... that should get finished at the next quilt retreat I go to.
I am currently working on a miniature log cabin quilt - 5" blocks. Pics will follow.

Thought for the Day
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
Robert Frost

Monday, January 5, 2009

Swap Blocks....


I received two swap blocks in the mail today. One is for my civil war themed quilt (Kansas Spirit) - this is the last of these blocks. I can now get busy and get this together. The Christmas block is for a new swap I am participating in that will bring a different themed block for each month - at the end of the year we will have a "calendar" quilt. I am looking forward to receiving these blocks.

Warming up.....


It is warming up a bit and we are enjoying a few days of seasonal temperatures. I spent the morning catching up on a few things... blocks for swaps, etc. I made two little "doggie quilts" - rag quilts that are great for crates..... I hope the recipiant enjoys them! I made quite a few of these for Boston Rescue over the past little while..

Thought for the Day
God is not dead but alive and well and working on a much less ambitious project.
Anonymous

Thursday, January 1, 2009

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I can't believe it's the beginning of another year...... and we are experiencing extremely cold and snowy weather... just the right kind of weather to get lots of quilting done!! LOL... I will be updating my ufo list in the next few days.... I actually did get quite a bit done in 2008.... finished 5 of my quilting UFO's (this is just old stuff... not any new stuff that I pieced and quilted) and 10 of my pieicng UFO's (again, this is just old stuff, not any new stuff). I really must make a habit of adding to these lists to keep them up to date. I have two new block of the month programs that I am doing thru my guild, so that should keep quite busy this year, plus I have started taking University Accounting classes - so, I should have lots to keep me busy. I think if the snow keeps up I should be able to get a lot done.

I am also teaching a beginner quilting class on Shirley's Learning Fiber Arts group. The classes offered by this group are all free, so if you are looking to learn something new, that might be the place!
No resolutions for me!! Don't believe in them.
I will be having a one year "blogaversary" around the middle of this month... so stay tuned for that... I will be posting a giveaway.

Thought for the Day
We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.
Edith Lovejoy Pierce