a little something done

In between everything this week I pieced this little top. I did the 9patches as leaders/enders while doing step 4 of the OC. I bought a fat quarter of the yellow fabric last year at the quilt show and have been wanting to use it. I have a fear of blocks on the diagonal - but tried it anyway - and it wasn't so bad. Only problem is now it is a UFO so I have to finish it up fast. I tend to think that once the top is done I'm finished. That is exactly what gets me bogged down by UFO's. Sometimes it doesn't turn out the way I wanted, or the colors or pattern don't hold my interest. Another problem is that there is always a new, fun project to start. Anyone have any other theories on why we have UFOs?

jam done!

Strawberry jam making for the season is done! I still need to cut some up and freeze. But this is much less time consuming than making jam. I have done no sewing for a couple of days now. I did go to my sewing group though and work on a redwork block that I am doing. I'll post a picture of it here soon. Here's a picture of the jam jars. I love the color of the jam. Especially when the light hits the jar, it looks jewel-like, berry pretty!

more strawberries

I haven't had time for much sewing lately. I have finished OC step 4 and am ready to start cutting out step 5. I made 1 batch of jam and am going to start my second batch this afternoon. Maybe the kids will help me when they get home from school. No not really, they tend to disappear when the jars and strawberries come out. I have also been busy with school stuff for DD#1 who is graduating. I helped out with a terrific picnic for the seniors. My task was putting 900 hot dogs in buns, so now I'm cured of ever wanting to eat a hot dog again. It was a fun day though. DH is responding to the gas prices by riding his bike to work. He likes to eat a bowl of cereal when he gets there and put this on the back of his bike. I am proud of him for doing his part, but I was secretly hoping nobody who knows us sees him. I took this picture while driving to the farmers market to get more berries. I think they are lupines - very striking in person.

OC step 4 finally done!

As you can see from the title I am finished step #4 of the OC. I am not thrilled with the purple/green combination I used and working on it was a real chore. I see that step #5 is posted and I am looking forward to using my feature color (it will have to be a strawberry crush, as my fabric is pink). Speaking of strawberry crush -this is what I'll be working on tommorrow. Jam making begins tommorrow. I bought one flat - which is 6 quarts. I know this is not going to be enough so it looks like another trip back to the farmers market too. Maybe I'll get my OC step 5 begun to help celebrate jam making.

Another Star!

It's been a busy week around here. That time of year when the kids have things wrapping up at schools. I've been to some wonderful concerts, exciting baseball games and some senior activities. Last night's was especially nice. It was a beautiful evening and there my DD#1's senior night was held at a local college's ampitheater. I am still trying to finish OC #4 - I only have 4 more blocks to do. I'm having a problem concentrating on this step and keep procrastinating on it. I think it may be my distaste for my colors. Hopefully once I get to use the other colors I'll be more motivated. I did finish this star block from Crazy Mom Quilts. I really like the blue/white together.

Lucky Star

I've been busy the last few days and haven't gotten anything completed to show. I am still working on the OC #4 blocks (13 more to go). I did quite a bit of cutting scraps for my leader/enders. I thought I'd show a picture of something I finished before I started my blog. It's the Lucky Star Quilt (Atkinson). I really like the colors in this. It was a gift for DD#2's birthday.

Pretty girl/tired Mom - Prom night

The title says it all for today :)

No sewing today (so far). I had to buy a new dryer. A lesson for everyone out there: never run your dryer if you are not home or asleep. Mine caught fire yesterday. Fortunately I smelled it burning and was home at the time. I thought that I would share a photo of a segment of one of my walks. Pretty isn't it?

new star

Lesson #1 when the instruction say lay out, do it. I was making this block from Crazy Mom Quilts' blog and thinking "oh this is so easy" then I sewed it together wrong not once but twice. It was very early in the morning and I can't even blame interruptions from the kids - they were off at school. I am having fun with these blocks the directions are so clear and simple - if I actually take time and pay attention to what I'm doing.

Day 5 of OC part 4

I've been busy sewing OC step 4 - I have 20 more blocks to assemble. DS gave me this monkey cookie jar for Mothers Day. I could use it for cookies. But I like it in my sewing room to keep bits of fabric in. What a happy gift.

purple & green ?

Step 4 of the OC mystery quilt is coming along. I used my 1.5 yardage that I purchased for the mystery and now - well I'm not so sure. Purple and green together - hmmm. Oh well, I'm just going to go ahead with it and we'll see what happens at the end. I guess that's the exciting part of a mystery quilt.

Mother's Day

I am finished cutting out step 4 of the OC. Now just to sew it all together. This afternoon I had a treat with DD#2 and bought this pattern. I may take a little break from the OC and make some of these strawberries this week.

Mother's Day

Thought I would show a picture of this sampler in honor of Mother's Day tommorrow. Sadly, my mother passed away on Mother's Day 2 years ago. I have this sampler that I restored. My Aunt made it as a wedding present for my mother. It hung in her kitchen all of her since 1952 and she cherished it. My Mom was a great tea drinker and our kitchen table was where everyone sat and talked who visited (we were a talking bunch)
Happy Mother's Day!

OC step 3 done

Horray - I am all caught up on the OC. I am beginning to really like these bright colors. I sure don't tired of playing with them. This step was a little slow going and I did a few wrong ones, but as the instructions on Quiltville indicated I laid them out mirror image and then it was easy going.

quilt-along Block 2

Completed my 2nd star block today.
Finished my OC step 3 - I just have to press them open.
The Fed Ex guy brought me these beauties for Mothers Day (from my husband)

lots of cutting

With my "post a day in May" pledge I realized that guess what? I don't always have something finished. I did lots of cutting today and went to my Wednesday afternoon sewing group. I am almost finished step 3 of the OC. Saw these little guys today on my walk. Mama goose did NOT like Maggie (my happy dog) coming so close to her babies she hissed, and flew right at us. Maggie didn't seem to mind, but it scared me.

I never saw a purple cow, I hope to never see one....

I am having fun doing the Noah's Ark blocks from Lynette Anderson's site. I think too much fun. I worked as an aide in a Kindergarten classroom and would always feel bad for those children who got in trouble for drawing a blue horse or a pink polka- dot duck. I think that my own inner 5 year old did this one.

Lucky me

I have started organizing my scraps. I went through and ironed small pieces, cut them into 2 or 2 1/2 inch squares, or strips. I decided to make a leader/ender quilt using my scraps. Last month I mentioned while at a wool group I attend once a month that I didn't have enough scraps. Well, the other day a very nice woman who also attends brought me these scraps. They will be perfect and I love that light purple one on top with the flowers. Now I just have to keep from forgetting to sew leaders and enders - or this will take forever.

I have made 2 of these redwork squares. I think the pattern was intended for tea towels. I like them - but have no idea what to do with them now - maybe a table runner. Any ideas?

a star is born

It only took 1 hour to do. It only took 2 days to decide what colors to do. With summer coming up I decided to do a red, white and blue quilt. Next I'm going to work on my Noah's Ark block for this month from Lynette Anderson's blog. First it's off for ice cream with the family!

UFO's - 23 / Me - 2

I have many UFO's. I have many WIP's. I have many projects waiting to begin. I have pledged to finish 1 UFO a month. But here it is May 1st and I finished this months already! So I may need to finish another one for May also. Some UFO's are from my beginning attempts at quilting. Some just need a small thing - like this wool applique - it just needed a sleeve on the back. I also had to get someone with the correct drill bit to drill into the brick. This was my first wool applique - some of the earlier blocks are not as good as I'd do now. But I'm happy with it. Very happy - because it's done!