THE NICHE OF A QUILTER, READER, PET LOVER, AND GARDNER

Wednesday, June 28, 2006

Folk Star Top

I have finished the Folk Star scrap quilt top. I am so proud of myself for finishing up the blocks. Years ago when I started I gave up because I thought there were too many pieces to each star. I guess I have grown as a quilter, then again, there are no more kiddos wanting my attention. ************** Gratitudes 1. Time to do my quilting. 2. Grocery store that's five minutes away. 3. Understanding friends 4. The Internet. I'm amazed everyday at how much info is at our fingertips.

Saturday, June 24, 2006

Mom's Last Quilt

Mom was a quilter herself and only a stash quilter at that. She always hoped I would some day have a daughter so she pieced this crib sized top especially for a girl. It three years after she passed on for me to be able to quilt it. It will patiently await the arrival of any girls my sons might one day have.

Thursday, June 22, 2006

So True

Sewing Area

This is my sewing area. It's a guestroom/sewing room. I really need to get another table. I'm afraid one of the ones I have in the opposite side of my sewing machine will collapse at any moment with all the quilting books and jewelry supplies I have on it. I turned a walk in closet into a fabric closet and there still wasn't enough room for all my fabric. What you see here is just a drop in the bucket. I still have another cabinet and chest full in the laundry room and thank goodness that's a big room, and that's not counting the bag fulls I have in another closet.

Wednesday, June 21, 2006

Land & Sea Quilt

My son Chris will be moving to Arizona this summer to go to Graduate school and I don't know if it's a good idea for him to take the quilt I made for him when he graduated from college, since he'll be living in a hotel type dorm. He really liked this quilt and would hate for it to just disappear. I remember finishing it up the day before graduation. ****************** Gratitudes 1. Take out Pizza 2. Sonic burgers 3. Hubby helping with the vacuuming while I bathed dogs 4. Central Air!

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Seven Year Old UFO

I thought I'd share a picture of a quilt top I had stashed for seven years. When my mom came to live with me and my family I put all my quilting projects away, and it wasn't until a couple of years after she passed that I finally felt like quilting again. I just finished it two months ago. I started when my youngest was still young . He will be 18 next month but he dosesn't care if it has teddy bear fabric he still wants it. I used a lot of scraps for this one.

Baby Heart Top UFO

These are blocks I got from a swap. I chose a heart theme and was so pleased with what the other swappers did. I will be making a baby quilt for any grand daughter I may have in the future. I'm crazy about red hearts. I'll probably just add a couple of more heart blocks and borders.

Grape Quilt

Now that I'm done with the baby quilt, I will put the Grape quilt top on the frame and start quilting . I certainly don't look forward to basting it though. I'm begining to dread that part. I will be giving this quilt to my sister in law who has been very nice to me for the past 31 years. We get along great and I actually met her before I met my hubby, her brother. She is crazy about grapes and has the grape theme going on in every room in her house. *************** Gratitudes 1. Heavenly rain. 2. Ice Tea 3. Central Air 4. My neighbor who quilts

Monday, June 19, 2006

Baby Quilt

I'm all done and I'm very pleased with this baby quilt. Now, I'll box it up and sent it on it's way to Illinois. I'm going to have to make some baby quilts for my future grandbabies. ******************* GRATITUDES 1. Morning rain. 2. My son stopping for groceries on the way home. 3. Hubby washing dishes last night so I could finish the quilt. 4. Cooler weather due to rain especially here in Texas.

Saturday, June 17, 2006

Good Karma

Believe that the best is yet to be Do the right thing even when someone else doesn't Follow your bliss Empty your mind of emotions that serve no purpose Never seek vengeance Laugh at yourself Have good manners If you love someone tell them Read everyday Live life to it's fullest Finish what you start Spread joy to others Put a windchime next to your bedroom window Donate quilts to a children's hospital Hug someone tight Life is too short take nothing for granted Learn to enjoy your own company Hug your grandparents Be a child's cheerleader Give your mate a book of love poems Avoid things that hurt your body Send someone cookies Become someone else's good memory Love with all your heart Be polite and patient with the elderly

Folk Star Blocks

When ever I have some spare time I work on some star blocks I started years ago. The only reason I can think of not finishing is because I was younger, was raising three boys, and didn't have enough patience to piece 11 piece star blocks. Now, my boys are raised, and we all know that with age comes patience,so I'm enjoying making these blocks now. This will be a quilt for my oldest son in CA.

Project Spectrum(Blue)

I just finished a domino necklace in blue. I think that will do for the June, blue project.

Baby Quilt

Today, I will finish sewing the binding on a baby quilt that will make it's way to Illinois. I have a cousin there who wanted to learn how to make quilts so I suggested I would cut the squares for her due to her disability. She pieced the top,sent it to me to quilt and now I'll sent it back finished. It turned out to be such a cute little quilt. I am now on her case about starting another one. She didn't want too much quilting on it so it was a piece of cake for me.

Trusty Iron

My friend and I were discussing irons the other day. I have had so many irons and I love my Rowenta, but when I need a steamless iron I use my mom's old iron. That iron is heavy and I love the metal stand it has. It feels great using the things my mom used,especially now that she's no longer here.

Rose Fabric

I have been collecting rose fabric for quite a while. I plan on making a rose quilt and have been searching for the perfect pattern. I have seen many that I like and the more I see the harder it is to decide. I was thinking on making the Turning 20 pattern because I wouldn't have to make many cuts in the rose designs of the fabrics. I have tons of books with great patterns. I especially like the Blended Wall Quilts from In The Beginning. I love those quilts. We will see.

New Quilt Books

Yesterday, I went to JoAnn's to use my 40% off coupon before it expired. The first thing I went for were a couple of bags of cotton batting which I am totally hooked on. I got a pattern I had been eyeing for a while and the fabric I need for it, got some thread which was 50% off. Well, then I noticed the quilting books were also 50% off and that I don't think those have ever gone on sale, so what do I do, I put the batting back and get four books and two magazines instead. I have to watch what I buy this summer. ************** GRATITUDES 1. My son doing the lawn without complaining. 2. My hubby washing dishes this morning. 3. The rain we had today,my roses were so thirsty. 4. The Cardinal that flew by our van while we were driving.