Gee I've been Absent from here

Didn't realize it had been that long since I posted to this site, need to try to come back more often. Seems I have my plate full and running over with projects, and life in general. Which is good it does keep me busy for very full days and most before I know it, it is past bedtime.

I have been working on organization, arrangement and then redoing trying to get a pleasing grouping of furniture and an organization of my craft/sewing items that is workable. In a house that is fantastic, except for it's lack of storage area the later hasn't been easy. I hope in the near future to add a room for sewing, move my washer/dryer and hot water heater into a large room that will also include a second bathroom/mud room and pantry. AND if funds will allow I'd like to push a wall over and enlarge the kitchen by about 4', add double ovens and change free standing stove to a cook top with more burners, and add a warming unit. But then dreams, dreams, dreams all are limited to $$$$$$ available.

So far in 2010 I've done a bit of sewing - not as much as I'd like but have accomplished a bit. I've been involved in a block RR where there were 3 groups of 5 ladies. Each made a block and sent to the lady just below herself in the group she was in. Then we each added a border and sent to the lady just below us. As the block continued when the 4th border was added the small quilt top comes home to the person making the beginning block. I'm participating in 2 of the groups and have made 2 blocks and sent on their way and added borders to 4, I have the last two here and need to finish those and get them mailed. I have one of my 2 home. I chose a theme as I have a small table in my living room to which I plan to add 4 chairs in the near future and will use it for additional seating when I have a large family group. It will also be used to work jigsaw puzzles or can be used to play games on, when grandchildren are here for a visit. I hope to make a number of small quilt table toppers to change by the seasons or holidays. For my blocks I chose the Valentine and 4th of July for themes. I have my Valentine one home and it is beautiful red and white. I started with a pieced background of two fabrics alternating red/white design and appliqued red and white hearts to that. I have borders added with red/white fabric, pieced border and one of red/white heart fabric. I need to sandwich and quilt so that it will be ready to use next Feb 14th - or probably the month of Feb. My 4th of July isn't home yet, but should be soon. It is done with a attic window pattern using red and blue window frame and a flag print fabric. I have a lot of ideas on file for other small quilt table toppers for this small table.

I've made (or I should say almost made) 3 quilt tops. I have one pin-wheel that has smaller blocks and larger blocks of the same fabrics. It is made of a white fabric and flag print. I've joined the larger into a block of 6 blocks and will set together using 3 strips of red/white stars, blue/white stars and white fabric, using the smaller pin-wheel block as a corner stone. I'm anxious to see this one together.

The second is a scrappy quilt made of a huge variety of 4" squares. I've joined in rows of 22 squares and need to add a few more rows and it will be finished. I ran out of squares and had to order a few more to finish it. So far it is really looking great.

The third is a 9 patch I choose all the 4" squares that were predominately yellow, purple, red, pink, blue, and green. I then set them together using light and darker values either 5 darker and 4 lighter or vice-versa. I will then set them together all the colors in the first row then offset the color by one in the next row so I have diagonal rows of each color.

I finished a small lap quilt and gave it to my friend for a donation to the school where her twin sons are seniors. The school has one major funding event each year. Each class gathers items or money for a larger item to donate, and they get other donations to auction from individuals and local businesses. The quilt was included in a very large, very nice basket of picnic and gourmet meal items and brought $800 at auction. My friend treated me to the bar-b-que dinner and auction. I was impressed that in this economy that all the items in both the live and silent auction went for more then their retail value.

On my agenda for this year is to finish at least 4 pieced quilts (1 each for my 4 children) I also have 4 art quilts to make for them. Since I don't have all the kits for the art quilts yet those will probably get finished next year. I have the older two children's pieced quilts cut out, just have to sew them. Have the material for my youngest son's but need to cut it out and then sew. The youngest daughter is waiting for her to tell me the colors she wants. The older two are done to go with the color's of thier bedrooms but the youngest daughter is planning to change her colors. So if she doesn't decide soon, I'll pick something in a color family I know she likes and get it done. I want to give them the quilts when all 4 are finished, to prevent any comments of favoritism. I could start with oldest and go down, but think it better to give all four at same time. Then I will work on the 11 for grandchildren (some of these I've already started and have a number of blocks made). Again I'm still gathering kits (block of the month) for one. These are mostly either art quilts or applique, all are more involved than a pieced quilt would be. Some of the applique are done by hand and others will be done on the machine. I hope to be able to concentrate on these 19 quilts more towards the end of this year and all of next year and to get them all finished. 4 at least by Christmas 2010 and hopefully the balance by Christmas 2011. Then I will begin the great grandchildren's quilts I've thought pieced because they are all still very young and haven't yet shown an interest that I can select a theme for. But by then some will be older and the number may no longer be 7 so the quilt I make for each may change.