Little Halloween Project

Here is a Halloween Project I have been working with.  This is just a basic, 36 pieces from a layer cake, sewn together, then cut apart using the Twister.Quilt Pattern.  The fabric is the "Pumpkins Gone Wild" collection from Moda.  Now what to do for borders???

I know it is hard to see, but there are lots of good pumpkin fabric there.

Time to spend Time Posting

Fall has Fallen here on the plains, and I am not liking it too much. Still warm during the day which is nice, but nippy in the mornings. I will have to light the furnace if this keeps up, which I am sure it will. I did yesterday get out all my winter cloths, they are in bins, now to get them aired out and in the closet to replace shorts and short sleeved shirts. I also took the goose down comforter to the clothsline to spend the afternoon in the breeze, and it was oh so nice snuggling under it.


The Summer was a hot one here, but it is history now.  It would be nice if a person could bottle up the warmth from summer and use it all winter long.   I am working on a table topper made using Moda's Pumpkin Layer Cake and the Twister.  This should look nice on may round oak dining room table.  I have an idea for a baby quilt so wanted to test out my cutting the twister out first on something that I would be keeping.

Stressed Fabtic

This is a day I want to spend in my shop doing just what I have to do personally, Here the first of December is upon me and I am not finished with my Christmas Swap. Shame on me! But today is the day for that, and for working on my Paint Chip Challenge for Quilt Group. The colors I drew were two yellows and a pretty blue. Since I organized the challenge I guess I had better do something special and different, which I have started.

I just finished a quilt for a customer, which for me was somewhat of a challenge. She had taken a Jelly Roll Class from the County Extension Office. This was her first quilt, and so it is special to her. She finished the base of the quilt, put on one border, but needed someone to finish it, so she called on me. Well when I got the bag I though "No Big Deal". But and I have never seen this before, all the fabric had been purchased in lenghts of 2-3 yards. Then the Extension Lady had had them rip, yes tear it the lenght of fabric. Wow what a waste of good fabric. I honestly did not realize people did sashings and borders like that. Needless to say, the fabric suffered from the stress. anyway it is done and I will deliver it this morning, but I was surprised to say the least. Has anyone else done a quilt like that??

Happy Thanksgiving to all!!

We are headed to my sisters for dinner today, which will be fun.  My nephew, his wife and three children should be there and we have not seen them for several years.  Time does seem to be getting away from us.
Life has been good, Bud worked for a guy during harvest, enjoying his time just driving a tractor.
I have been taking a class from Marilyn Belford on Quilt University, Realistic Fabric Portrait Quilts.  I have done art quilts before, but this class has been quite a challenge, but it is coming together quite nicely now.  I had to learn that I do things a bit different from others, so no big deal.  Here is a photo of my model, will post the finished quilt when it is finally done!

This is a painting a friend of mine did from a photo she was allowed to use that had been taken by her college professor.  Long story short, the photo was taken in the early 80's, she painted "Rosita" in 83-84.  I was able to find the photographer/professor, what a delightful man to visit with.  He gave his okay, so "Rosita" will be a quilt soon, I pray.

Fun Times

The group in Connecting Threads - Love of Art Quilts is having a challenge.  Our hostess too a photo, broke it into 12 pieces and each of us made a block out of what we saw from the bit of the photo.  Mine is off in the mail, to Becky Ray, and boy was it fun.  Here is what my portion of the block looked like, first the photo then the piece I did.

We are off to an Exotic animal auction today, which in hick terms just means, lots of Chickens, Pea Fowl, Ducks, and Geese, maybe a few pigeons, thrown in for good measure. I have my camera packed, as this is a new experience for DH and I. We will drive up to the Sandhills, about a hundred miles for the auction. We would have liked to take the RV and stayed for the exotic hooved animals (goats and such) tomorrow, but DH is on vacation from Church, so we want to visit some friends churches. He is really looking forward to sitting in the pew for a couple of weeks. The ole RV will, we hope be heading to the lake Sunday afternoon, that is if this weather straightens up, it has been way too cold for my blood.

I have signed up to follow a blog, http://sewfunquilts-sewmeow.blogspot.com/2011/04/i-never-promised-you-rose-gardenjust.html, she has a contest going now with the prize being 200 - 2" blocks for a watercolor quilt. Now I have made two already, but with 200 blocks, I could make yet another beauty.

Here is a photo of my very first watercolor quilt, called Watercolor Crosses. Then if you look down just a bit you can see her brother, Dear John.

Crashing down.

Have you every had times when things just seem to come crashing down?

First I had to prepare for a retreat, that stretched me in a new and different direction. I love people and I love the Lord, but it is hard for me to delegate, so God put me in that position and I had to literly let go and let God handle the rest. Lesson learned!!

For months I had been praying, as I had been asked in October if I would work the next Emmaus weekend in the conference room, and give a talk. Now my talk the "Priesthood of All Believers", an easy one, but boy did God put his foot down. We had a formation (day of preparation) so I gave my talk, boy that was an understatement. It was MY talk, not guided by Christ. I felt and knew that I had not shown Him respect, not had I followed His direction. So the day before the second and final formation, I rewrote the entire talk. Much different when I let God lead and I follow.

In between all of this, I broke my kneecap, right in two. Now it happened on city owned property, so of course that is an issue. I am still not to bear weight on that leg and have to wear a brace 24/7 which is hard and painful, not to mention slows me down way too much.

Many lessons to learn, when we feel like life is crashing down.

I am happy to report that my "Dear John" quilt sold to a good home, I have no idea what they paid and do not care, I am just happy that it went to a good Christian family.

I am off to quilt today, that is always good for my soul. I have been able to sit on my three legged roller stool and quilt from there, which is wonderful, since I am way behind.