Where have I been?

I have been sewing, sewing, sewing!!! First, thanks to Jennifer for nominating me for a Kreativ Blogger award, and I will respond when I have a little more time to think. Five of the six quilt tops are now complete, and two of the quilts are totally finished. Jimmy's Steeler quilt was the first done. I bought 5" precut squares from ebay, and put together nine-patches. (Photos to come soon) George's quilt is also done. He likes red and black, and I wanted something quick, simple and yet impressive. On Quilter's Cache (www.quilterscache.com) I found a pattern called Anvil. (Thanks to Mama Bear) Since it was basically Half-square triangles and Squares, it was quick. So, it's also completely finished. I have the tops for Mary and Kristin's finished and the backs are pieced, so now I have to layer them and get them quilted. I don't usually sandwich quilts, as most of you know, so I'm a little nervous about starting these. But as they say, nothing ventured -- nothing gained.

Pat Sloan has a way of putting binding on by machine (totally by machine) and although I've tried it in the past, I never really cared for it. But I have some of my greatest ideas in the middle of the night and this just came to me. I tried using my walking foot to apply the binding. The hole in my walking foot,(for lack of a better word) is wide enough for zigzag stitching, and so after pulling my binding to the front, I used decorative stitches on my sewing machine to sew down the binding. And, the mitred corners were always a problem for me because they didn't want to feed evenly. Well, this doofus finally figured out that I needed to fold the corners the opposite way from what I usually do, and voila!!! neat mitred corners. So, I have done that on both the quilts that are done, and it looks great. I may get these quilts done yet before Christmas. I'm hoping to get Mary and Kristin's done by the end of the weekend, and that just leaves the Twins' to go. Just for the record, these are just lap type quilts which measure about 45" x 58". Nothing earthshattering in size. Have a great quilty weekend.

What a Weekend!!!

It all started Wednesday evening when all the kids were here to help with Thanksgiving preparations. We ordered Pizza in and started to work. By the time everyone left, the pies were done, the dinner rolls were done, the eggs were boiled and into the beet juice (everyone argues about who gets to peel the eggs), and all I had to do before going to bed was to make the two kinds of dressing, and put the turkey in the oven. Thanksgiving morning, I peeled potatoes and did the cranberry casserole and the twins showed up early to fix the relish trays. I gave the girls their new aprons (Thanksgiving fabric on one side, and Christmas on the other) and they wore them for dinner. We had also gotten each one a Christmas music box and let each pick their choice. Even had some for the step grandkids who are 16 and 22. The three grandkids each got a nutcracker. I love to give presents on Thanksgiving because it shows them how thankful I am for their love and support all year long. For the guys I bought Rubik Electronic Cubes and believe me they are addicting. Everyone played with them after dinner and tried to beat each others high score.

I had Izzy on Friday because Kris and George both had to work. After they got home, we made a family trip to Kraynaks. http://www.kraynaks.com/ Check out the Santaland section for some photos. The kids just loved it, and doesn't Christmas make all of us kids again??? Even Great Grandma went along, and did some of her own Christmas shopping for the first time in a few years. It was just great!!

Saturday afternoon Rod and I went to the mall for a little Christmas shopping. I hadn't been there in a couple of years and it was gorgeous. People were kind and friendly, and I love shopping late afternoons. I also splurged on my first manicure -- see I do lead a sheltered life!! The guy cut them a little too short for my taste - they don't even come out past my fingertips. But they look nice and it made me feel a little special. We were supposed to go out to dinner, but I was tired and just wanted to go home. So my hubby, who spoils me greatly, stopped at the local butcher shop and bought Delmonico steaks and cooked dinner at home. Don't you just love a man who can cook??? More shopping yesterday AM. Rod bought me a new flat screen HD TV for my sewing room since the old, little TV had given up the ghost last week. See, I told you he spoils me!!!

But the biggest news of all is that I have 5 of the 6 quilt tops finished, and the last one is started. But the bad news is that they all still have to be quilted. Do you think I'll finish or will the quilter's elves have to show up one night to help???? Well, have a great week.

Busy, busy, busy

As the magician in Frosty the Snowman said, that's just what I've been. I've been working on the quilts I'm giving for Christmas. I have 3 quilt tops finished, one nearly finished, one started, and one planned. Not bad, huh.

The other night our PBS station showed a documentary on the artwork of Dale Chihuly. I've always love glass, and have a collection of Fenton baskets. But the work of this talented man just leaves me breathless. Check out some of his work at http://www.chihuly.com/glass.html. The colors and shapes are just incredible. He has a team of blowers, and does little glass blowing himself, but the designs are just amazing. I think I'll bookmark this site for times when I need some inspiration. Have a great weekend.

Monday, Monday - Again

This weekend Rod and I were to leave Saturday AM for a night away for our 34th anniversary. I was so looking forward to it, but on Friday afternoon, Rod called and said find us a room for tonight and pack your undies -- I told the Bossman I'm leaving for my anniversary weekend early. I'll be home at 3:30. What a great surprise. We left the house at about 4:00, and made a quick stop at our favorite bakery to pick up a few goodies for the trip. Soon it was dark and very rainy, and we missed a turn. The trip which usually takes 2-1/2 hours took 4-1/2 hours, but we laughed and had a good time. Our trip was awesome, we visited stores we don't usually go into. Had a lot of good food, and a very relaxing weekend. And of course, I visited a fabric outlet. After all, what's a trip without a fabric purchase????

Yesterday we took down the Halloween decorations and put up some turkey things. Thanksgiving is Rod's favorite holiday. After all, he says, what's better than a weekend of family, good food, and football!!! And, of course, we throw in a little Black Friday shopping. We aren't the early birds since I don't like crowds. Last year we left at 4:00 pm, still found the bargains we wanted and no crowds. Guess everyone else was shopped out. How do you spend Thanksgiving weekend? We put up the turkey quilts, and today my sewing room looks like a tornado went through. So, now I'm off to put things away and try to find the half finished project that is my next victim. Have a great week.

Friday

It's another Friday and with each one that passes, we are closer to Christmas and I feel more pressure to get things done. This morning I've been trying out a Bear Paws block for DSL George's quilt. I love the block but I think it's too complicated for the time I have left, so I may just go with a Log Cabin in homespun plaids.



Finally got a picture of the Lion King Quilt. Doesn't look too bad, does it? Well, Bubby is calling me from the living room -- probably to watch Blue's Big Musical for the fifth time in the last two days. Good thing it's Friday!!! Have a great weekend.

Election Day and Gratitude Tuesday

Wow, it's finally election day, and I'm so thankful. Hopefully tomorrow will end the bombardment of political ads, phone calls, and opinion polls. What will all these people do when this is all over??? Will you be going to vote??? Please DO..

Well, they're here -- photos of the grandpuppies in their costumes. Do you think they look positively humiliated?




I've started putting Kristin's quilt together -- cutting sashings and squaring up the blocks. Looks pretty good so far. This Saturday will be our 34th wedding anniversary, so Rod and I are planning a night away to celebrate. Hope to get another hand-pieced block cut to take along. We're going to Amish Country Ohio, and everything there closes as 5 pm, so I'll want something to work on. I guess this weekend is their holiday open house so I'm looking forward to that.

Another Monday -- New Month

Wowser!! It's November already. And I still have 4 quilts to go before Christmas!!! Better get a wiggle on, as my granny used to say. We had trick or treat night here on Friday. All the kids left together from here with the grandkids and grandpuppies. I don't have pictures of the puppies, but the black lab went as Darth Vader and the chocolate lab went as Yoda. They looked as though they were totally humiliated!! I do however have photos of the grandkids.



Krissy's birthday party was Saturday evening, and she loved the quilt. I didn't honestly think I would get it done, but I did. Slow and Steady -- that's my motto. It really turned out well, and I'm pleased. Now I'm making some 9-patches for a quilt for Jimmy and I need a break from all the thinking on those character quilts. I'll post a picture of Krissy's quilt as soon as Mary gets one to me. Have a great Monday.