2013 Quilt List Wrap-up

My goal was to finish a project a month...I came really close.  Eleven finishes from the list a couple more on the side!  So here is the result...

2014 Guild Donation Quilt - Anniversary Party in the Garden. Piece of Cake design.  This was worked on by about 35 members of the guild and will raise money for Camp Rainbow, a summer camp for children with cancer.  Quilted by Judy Rich, another member of our guild .

 1930's Traveling Scrapbag - I used Bonnie Hunter's Scrappy Trip around the World pattern and my stash of 1930's fabrics to make this twin size quilt.

 Orca Bay/Comic Strips - the 2011 Bonnie Hunter Mystery was finally finished in time to send to my sister in New Mexico for Christmas!  Quilted by Judy Lockhart.

 Bermuda Seaglass - Original design...king size..Quilted by Judi Lockhart.

Glass chips - small wall hanging that I experimented with machine quilting.

Smith Mountain/Ribbon Candy - this was from another Bonnie Hunter workshop!  I used four colorways instead of two (leave it to me to really make it complicated!)  This went to a special girl this Christmas.  Quilted by Joyce Greer.

Material Obsession - Pattern from a book of that name.  This was a really fun quilt to make.  Got to use lots of 2-1/2 inch squares from my stash.  Double bed size.

Caffiene Jitters - used Bonnie's jumping 9-patch and made it even a bit scrappier!

Carnival Corn - My interpretation of a vintage South Carolina quilt-top in my collection.  Quilted by Joyce Greer at One Loose Thread.

Halloween Mixer - result of a quilt bee project using an interesting cutting process of this arrowhead block.  Quilted by Maggie Hunt.

Crayon Challenge - no photos!

As I went through photos there were also some finishes that were not on the list...how did that happen!

Like many of you I slip in a pillow or tablerunner when I have the need to finish something!

Next up...the list for 2014!

Clean up in post holiday aisle...

Today I am in serious post holiday clean-up!  By the end of the day all traces of cookie marathon will be banished from the kitchen...

Christmas fabric will be back in the closet...(ok so I made a bunch of Christmas projects which theoretically should have reduced the stash...then came to holiday fabric sales...duh!  Just have to accept there will always be a large, full Christmas fabric bin in my sewing room!)

I am going to take another run at clearing the cutting table so I'll have a clean start to the New Year...It may just take me until the 1st before I see a clean surface!

One of the Christmas items that will stay out for awhile is my Christmas Sampler.  I can't believe it is now ten years old!  I remember making a road trip to Mary Jo's with Tonya to find a plaid border (and scored the Santa fabric for the back in the bargain bin!)  This was also the first quilt that Bonnie Hunter quilted for me (this was back when she did long arm quilting!)

Lots of memories stitched into this quilt!

Christmas Eve Day...

Yesterday I did my "last dash for all things Christmas."

A quick run to the post office, pack-up and deliver some Christmas cookies, and do a whole lot of grocery shopping (we were away for 8 days so the refrigerator was bare!)

Luckily I still had cookie boxes left over from last year...I'll replenish the shelves at this year's after Christmas sales again!

Bronwie...the self appointed cookie tin guardian!

Merry Christmas all!

I'm back...

I know I've been off the grid for a bit...a mixture of travel and MS had me out of touch but I'm back now ...

This may be the longest I've been away from my blog.  My apologies.

Earlier this month I went to a Susan Edmonson class and a trunk-show.  She is a very talented artist and a lot of fun.

Her style is a bit wilder than mine but it is always good to try new things.  As usual I haven't finished my project but I so plan to get back to it after the holidays.

I was looking at my list for 2013.  I did pretty well on finishes this year.  I still am a bit overwhelmed by my pile of UFO's and am determined to stick with my rule of only starting a new project if I've finished one.  I at least can keep the crew for "Hoarders" at bay that way....

Happy Thanksgiving!

Things are going a bit slowly preparing for the holiday.

I've been down with an MS episode and Brownie has an infected paw....we've both spent a lot of time on the couch!

Which by the way has my favorite comfy-quilt...wool and corduroy made in 1950.

This will keep your warm no matter how cold it gets outside!  That is important since it is rainy and cold outside....

Brownie is having her paw operated on today...hoping it will heal now...

I'm going through recipes for the holidays.  It is fun to remember where each of them came from...pumpkin pie from my hairdresser in Atlanta, Pecan pie from the Quincy Antique show, New Orleans dressing from my Maintenance NCOIC, and Stollen from my neighbors in Berlin.  Most of these are from the 1980's!  A good way to remember friends...

Slipping by!

This hasn't been a good month for posting for me...October just sort of wore me out!

Also having to deal with lots of med changes so day to day having trouble figuring out just what and how much I can do...grrrr.

On the up side the weather in Georgia is beautiful so I can enjoy sitting out on the deck and doing a bit of stitching!  We took a weekend trip up to Sapphire Valley in N.C. (which is where the photos above were taken.)  Nice and cool out up there!

I am working on an applique project that I can't post photos of yet.  I am also working hard to clear a path in my sewing room.  Thinking of rearranging quite a bit of the house over the next couple of months...too much "stuff!"  I need to stop pretending I don't need two rooms for all my sewing/quilting and antique quilts.  I am finally formally taking over half of the library (which really should have been called the book storage room!)  I'm not sure how Goldie, my cat,  is handling the changes...she just manages to be in the middle of every pile I find!

Also we started work on the next Guild donation quilt.  It is applique (of course) with some piecing.

The colors are a bit like French country (think if Vera Bradley made an applique quilt....)  This red fabric from Moda is the "inspiration" fabric.  Proceeds from the quilt go to Camp Rainbow, a camp for children with cancer.  About half of the blocks have been kitted up and this week I'll draw the borders.  Lots of folks working on this quilt and we need to get the kits into their hands in January...in good shape on this one!

New addition...

Today we added another sewing machine to the family...

found this 1950 singer at an estate sale.  The cabinet is in good shape and I really liked the decals.  Hardly any wear and it has this neat "badge" about Singer and 100 years of sewing.

Anyway, we saw it Friday but it was too pricey and I really don't "need" another machine.  But I was still thinking about it this morning so we dropped by on the way to the supermarket and it was still there...and 50% off.  (Of course my DH got them to take off a few more since by now the power-cord had gone missing...it was there on Friday!)  My logic...I don't have a singer in a cabinet...and that knee control looks like fun...that is my story and I'm sticking to it....

So now the machine is all cleaned up, the cabinet oiled, and the stool that comes with it stripped of it's old coverings.  Next step...figure out where to get a power cord (hints and advice appreciated) and recover the chair.  The serial number on this is AJ766685...

Also,  need to find a place in the house for it!  Do you think my DH would notice if I moved his treadmill out into the garage?  Ya...probably would....

Just post...

So now that it is post-quilt show and post Halloween I finally have time to write a blog post.

New to me economy block quilt...turn of the century...

To be honest the show and the holiday and all that goes with it sort of wore me out.  Now I have a couple of weeks to reshuffle the sewing room and the house to get ready for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  First however I'm taking some time to sit a spell!

While all of this was happening my husband went to an estate sale without me.  He called me and said there was a quilt...maybe 1930's...he could get it for $25....So why not!  Well he came home with two bookcases (badly needed) and this turn of the century quilt.  Maybe I'll let him go by himself more often!

This leads into what I need to do the next week (while I am resting!) First, I need to reorganize my antique and vintage quilts.  Maybe not do the actual reorganization but to plan it!  Second, decide on what quilts I'm going to work on next.  Right now I have so many UFO's in my sightline that I am not working on any of them!   This year I did pretty well finishing things...I don't know if I'll be quite so ambitious in 2014!

So like Dobby...I'm going to take a few days to rest and perhaps plan for the next burst of quilting energy!

Halloween "Wicked" Blog Hop

Welcome Wicked hoppers!

Like so many of you I love Halloween.  It is one of the few holidays that I love to use bright fabrics around the house.  Guess I like the dress up part of Halloween more than the spooky part!

This year I finished this arrowhead quilt using Halloween novelty fabrics.  My cat Goldie has claimed it but hopefully I can get it back so it can spend Halloween night by the front door. (It will be hanging so no little feet can trip on it!)

Novelty fabrics also are the focal point of this quick and easy (my favorite kind of project) table runner.

It is a disappearing 9-patch.  Goes together in an afternoon!  (in there is still time to make one for Halloween!)  The novelty fabrics just go on the four outside corners, black in the center block and brights on the others.  The toughest part is picking out the fabrics...if playing in fabric can ever be called tough!  A quick project..

That is if you don't have a cat helping to make it!

Brownie loves all quilting but Halloween is best!

And my final quilt-y Halloween decoration is my Witch's hat from Crabapple designs...they used it as a pillow but I really wanted it as a hat.  Gave me a chance to use lots of embroidery stitches that I hadn't tried since Girl Scouts plus use some of my bead stash...

  (And yes I wear it when I give out candy at Halloween!

And from me to you...my favorite Halloween Pumpkin recipe...

 Pumpkin Squares
crust:
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 cup sugar
1 cup quick oats
1 cup flour

Grease a 9x13 pan.  Beat butter and 1/2 cup sugar together.  Stir together the oats and flour then add to the butter mixture and combine.  Press mixture into the pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes.  Allow to cool.

Topping:
2 (8 ounce) bars cream cheese, softened
1 cup of sugar
4 eggs
1/2 cup light Karo syrup
1/4 cup maple syrup (optional)
1 (16 ounce) can pumpkin
1  tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (or add a second tsp of cinnamon)
1 Tablespoon of grated lemon peel

Beat cream cheese and sugar in a medium size bowl.  When well mixed, beat in eggs and remaining ingredients.  Pour mixture onto cools crust.  Bake at 250 degrees for 45 minutes.  Serve at room temp or chilled.  Great when topped with spiced whipped cream...

Other blogs on today's hop...enjoy!

October 25^th

Marjorie’s Busy Corner

The Raspberry Rabbits

Freemotion by the River

Kwilty Pleasures

Feathered Nest Studio

Sew Peace to Peace

Marla's Crafts

Jane's Quilting

Quilt n Queen

Colorpoint Quilter