Be Still My Heart...

This is my quilt...all done!

I made it for the Old Red Barn Quiltalong.

I am sooooo in love with it!

I want to wrap it around me and keep it close to me.

I want to touch it and feel those crinkles and smile all day long!

I love it so much, I think I'll have to marry it.

I am in love.

Totally and completely!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When I got home from the LQS today,

I had a few more things in my bag than when I left...

There were a few other things...

but they are for gifts,

so I cannot show you.

Yet.

Sorry.

Johnny Depp

Some of you may remember in March 2008, I posted a little snippet of entertainment news...Johnny Depp was in the area filming a movie. That movie, "Public Enemies" is coming out July 1st! Here's a photo of Johnny Depp on location in Columbus, about 45 minutes from my house.

He was on David Letterman tonight...ohman, he is just way too cute! Kinda shy, too, don't you think? He is...just cute...that's all I can say.

Go here, scroll down the left side, and you'll find a bunch of links to what went on here in Wisconsin with Johnny Depp & the filming of the movie.

Ohhhhhhh My...

GOSH!!! This fabric is beautiful! Cathy over at Quilting On Turtle Hill was having a giveaway and...I won! Pinwheel blocks and coordinating fabric. It arrived today and I am ecstatic! The pinwheels are perfect and this fabric...WOW! Thank you so much, Cathy! Soft colors & pinks are not usually my first choice, but when I saw them, I thought they were absolutely scrumptious! And, they are even more so in person! I cannot wait to make them all into a quilt!

Okay, all you quilters...any ideas on what to do? Feel free to chime in.

The pinwheel blocks are 8 1/2 inches, and there are 24 of them. I could make 4 square blocks with the other fabrics. 48 blocks would yield a very nice lap quilt...48x64 inches. Or, I could make more pinwheels...would need to buy some white fabric. Decisions, decisions. How fun and exciting this is for me!!! Entirely different and new! A few projects to finish up first...but then this just may be the next in line!

RED ALERT...BRIGHT COLORS AHEAD!!!!

You may need sunglasses!

(Kelley, shield those prim eyes!)

Here's a sneak peek at my Old Red Barn Co. quiltalong quilt.

I finished the quilting tonight and

machine stitched the binding on.

Now to handsew it.

Almost done!

Before I go, I need to point you to Rachel's blog...

she has a little tutorial on making fabric necklaces...

how fun is that for summertime fashion!!!

BOM 5

I finally put together the May block for the Pioneer Sampler Block of the Month club I belong to. I've had the fabric/instructions since the end of May...just now got to it. Thought I had best get it done because we meet this Saturday. Hey, at least I didn't wait until Friday night...been there/done that. This block is called Rocky Mountain Puzzle. It went together very easily and I am very happy with it. That's all I have for tonight.

It's Nine O'Clock On a Saturday...

oh. It's past 9 o'clock...and it's Sunday, not Saturday. huh. How does the weekend go by so fast???


Here's my newest mini...again, made with scraps from the quiltalong quilt. I finished handsewing the binding on last night and washed/dried it this morning. About 23 inches square, I think.


I am in love. Again. Just can't help myself.






I thought I was on the verge of making a major decision concerning my sewing/hooking projects. Had been thinking about how it must sometimes be difficult for you all to come up with different flattering words to describe my sewing/hooking pieces. I wondered if, perhaps, I should show them only when they are finished. Then you wouldn't need to comment 3 times on the same thing...when I show the fabric/pattern/whatever, when I show it partially done, and again when it's completely finished.

But. Then. I thought...what would I blog about if I did that??

So. Instead, I thought that perhaps it would be helpful for you to have a list of words to choose from each time you comment on something that
1. I am going to work on
2. I am working on
3. I have finished.

oh, no thanks is necessary...I'm happy to help out. After all, what are friends for?

Here you go (in no particular order)...
beautiful
splendiferous
beauteous
gorgeous
amazing
awesome
stunning
lovely
pretty
glorious
resplendent

There are several more favorable adjectives you could use, and please, feel free! I just grabbed these off the top of my head.

(for those of you who don't know me well, the above was typed with tongue firmly in cheek)
I really need to work on putting my sandwich together (quilt top/batting/backing) to stay on track for the quiltalong. ohyeah...and quilt it! Instead, or should I say, in addition to, I may work a bit on another project I started yesterday. I am excited about it. Alas, I cannot show you this one.

Have a great day!

Hot and Humid...

which is making it hard to work on anything today. I have several things I am trying to get done (sewing as well as all the usual household chores). I work a bit on one thing and then take a break and work on something else and take a break...well, you get the idea. Would be much better if I would turn on the central air, but I'm trying to resist. Maybe tomorrow.

I just finished quilting my 2nd mini quilt. Will get the binding done later. Wanted to try something different for the quilting, but my machine is too dang fussy. I like this, though.

Here are some more photos from last weekend.

This is my niece/godchild, Michelle.

We visited her at the pizza place she works at...

My Great-Aunt Florence. She's 94...love her to pieces.

My Aunt (& godmother) Bev & Uncle Babe sitting on their garden bench...

Here they are with me Mum and Ray...
Watching "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" in small pieces. Likin' it.

Reading "Sacred Chaos"...have lots to say about this book...

for another time, though.

Hope you're enjoying your weekend!

Another FRESH one...

Here's the second mini-quilt using leftovers

from my quiltalong quilt fabric.

It's 24 1/2 inches square.

I am lovin' it.

Not sure how I'll quilt it...
guess that will be a surprise to all of us!

Just For Something to Do...

I'm working on another mini-quilt...with still more of the leftover fabrics from my quiltalong quilt. It's different than the first one...& I see that it's put together wrong. ha! That's okay.

So far, it measures about 17+ inches. I think I'll add a small bit of white around what's there and then a tiny border. Time will tell. I'm done for tonight.

Have a good evening.

Kelley's Coasters...

Kelley of With Hook and Needle made fun of Bren's and my quiltalong quilts cuz of their brightness. She is all about drab/prim...and we love her dearly...know she was just giving us a bad time. (And, yes, Kelley, we do really know that brights are not for you.) It was done all in good fun...and I thought I was going to fall off my chair laughing!


Kelley left this comment on Bren's blog..."I'm going to go rest my head and add a cold compress, maybe hang on to the phone in case I need to call 911 since those colors are giving me chest pains...ummmm, they coordinate nicely and your piecing and pressing look great...and uh, glad you're happy with it...(rolling eyes and giggling - you know me and color)"


And, on mine..."just when I was getting over the shock of seeing Bren's quilt...thud..."


So, just to shut her up help her get over the shock to her system (ya know, the brightness of our quiltalong quilts), I made two coasters...even put binding on them like I do on my quilts!


Kelley has the coasters, so I can show you...they measure ~4" square...

Janer's House...

I love it...

always have...

eclectic...

this and that...

everywhere there is something...

just everywhere.

Here is Janer's cat, Wilson...about 1 year old.

I WON something!

Erin from Miss Erin Crafts had a giveaway and I won!!!

The giveaway gift was the book, "Strip Lovers"

...Erin mentioned that she might even throw in a little bit of fabric.

Well, HOLY SCHMOLY...

look what 'little bit of fabric' she threw in!

Can you believe it?

The package arrived while I was gone on vacation...

how fun to have this to open when I got home!

I am so excited...not sure what I'll do with it, yet

...but it'll be used soon, I am sure!!!

Thank you so very much, Erin!

Home Again, Home Again, Jiggety Jog...

I'm home! After 4 days of travel/fun to see my sister, Jill (in Wausau), and me Mum and BFF's Janer and Cindy (in Eau Claire), I am back home!!! Much as I love seeing my family/friends, it is good to be home!

I have much to share...a ton of photos, exciting things...will probably do this in a few different posts...don't want you to get all tired out!

I consider this to be the most important thing that occurred while I was on vacation...I've been thinking of donating baby quilts and/or coverlets to the neo-natal unit in a hospital close by, but wanted to do it on my own...not through a guild. I have procrastinated and not talked with anyone. Then, one day, me Mum was talking about the stocking caps she knits for the newborns at Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire (I was born there) and I asked her to talk with her volunteer leader about what I wanted to do. She did and set up a meeting for us. On Friday, I met with Jaci, who was immensely pleased to meet me and to hear what I had to offer. I took my mini-quilt to show as an example of my work...and Jaci kept it! ~grin~ So, that's cool, hey?

What happened next, though, took my breath away...she asked me if I would be willing to sew kimono/bonnet sets for the stillborns. I tried really hard to not burst into tears, and said, "yes, I would love to." How sad. But. How gratifying. I'm not sure if the kimono/bonnet sets will be used as burial gowns, or just to put on the babies so their families are able to hold them and say their goodbyes. Jaci will find out what exactly is needed, the sizing, etc. and will send me a packet. I am so excited to be able to use my skills in this way, I just cannot even begin to explain. Apparently, this is a much-needed service that no one is providing...I will be honored. Once again, I am reminded of how God leads us in the direction He has planned for us.

I got to spend a few hours with some fantastic dogs...Collies! Allegra's breeder has been a very good friend of mine since Allegra came to live with me...but I don't see Cindy often. While in Eau Claire, I took time to visit her. Janer went with...and I think she might have been a bit overwhelmed with all the dogs...but, we had a GREAT time! 2 puppies, several adults. I didn't get photos of all the adult girls, but here are some of the photos that I did get during our time there...

Janer and I visited The Calico Shoppe...you guessed it, a quilt shop. ohman...so glad I had just a limited amount of money to spend. I saw so many fabrics I've not seen before! Picked up a few patterns for future gift-giving ideas and this charm pack...

Okay, this is taking a long time. Will continue later...and just wait til you see what I got in the mail!!! woohoo!!!!

Out of Town.

Just a quick note to let you all know that I am going out of town. I've been on vacation all week and will end it with visiting my sister, Jill...my Mom, and my BFF, Janer. I'll take photos. Nothing too exciting, I'm sure, but will be a good weekend.

I'll leave you with this photo of Kaylynn at the WI Deer Park...

And, Here's the Backing!

(Which is big enough in case I decide to add back in the 6th row of blocks.)

Quilt Top All Done!

YAY!!! Got this done. I decided to make this quilt square...60x60 inches. I am really liking this fabric...and the pattern. Easy Peasy! With resizing this quilt, I have more than enough fabric left over to make another one. One with lots of white, I'm thinking.

I have several pieces to put together for the backing. That will make it kind of fun, methinks.

QuiltAlong...

About a month ago, I joined a quiltalong organized by Dana of Old Red Barn Co.. We are now in week 4...time to sew our blocks together. Here's what I've got. This is a photo of the quilt from the side...it's 5 blocks wide by 6 blocks long.




It took a bit of doing to arrange the blocks so the colors were (somewhat) evenly distributed and so that there were no same blocks next to each other.

I had my design consultants helping me...yeah, Allegra and Tag. They both thought I was putting these pieces down for them to lay on...walk on...drool on...lick on. Criminey!!!! ~grin~ Good thing this isn't a swap quilt...and that it will be washed when it's all put together.

I've got the blocks sewn into rows...now to sew the rows together.

Week 5 & 6 will be getting the backing ready, then putting it all together and do the quilting. I am going to do the wavy line quilting like I did on my mini...and with that same variegated thread. I think it'll be exactly right.

Week 7, I'm guessing, will be to sew the binding on. Then...DONE!

The fabrics I'm using are from the FRESH collection by Deb Strain. I love it. Working outside of my box...really outside!
Bren did the same thing...chose really bright and fun fabrics.

One More Thing...

(mostly, I just sat around and read)...but here's what else I did.

I made this headband to match Kaylynn's summer dress.

It's even reversible (to match something else I have yet to sew for her)...

easy peasy!

I got the instructions here...headband tutorial.

FRESH Mini Quilt

All done!

Washed/dried...all crinkly and sooooo soft!

I have to say...I am in love.

~grin~

Less than 24 hours from start to finish...

so not quite instant gratification.

But, close!

I can see why quilters do swaps with these.

It measures 16 3/4 x 18 1/2 inches.

(Just another example of how one cannot be

brilliant in all areas...

apparently, I cannot measure accurately.

Would have liked it to be square. ha! )

Now, what to do with it???

Can't Help It...

I am just pleased as punch over how this is turning out.

Here are closeups of the quilting I did...

wavy lines with a variegated cotton thread.

I was inspired by Linda's work.

I am more in love with this than I thought I would be...

sorry, I cannot help myself.

Remember, I am new to all of this and

it makes me feel so good to have something turn

out the way I think (hope) it will!

Anyway. Here is the front...

and the back...

All I need to do is sew on the binding.

Then, of course, you will be treated to a photo of the entire mini quilt.

Good grief...I may break my arm patting myself on the back...

don't you think? ~grin~