He Loves Me...

I've been playing with blocks for the last week and it's been such fun! (Although I now remember why I've only made one true sampler quilt...it takes forever to decide on the blocks, find the patterns, choose the fabrics, cut them individually...) I've made two more blocks since this picture was taken and have ten more to go. I'm going to keep them set on the diagonal, have the darker blue as sashing and a light blue with daisies from the same line as setting triangles. I'm thinking a light yellow narrow border, then the daisy fabric again as a wider border. Any leftover fabric will go on the back...I don't want to add any of this to my stash!

In spite of what the thermometer says, fall really is approaching. I'm ready! I'm itching to use my jelly roll of Harvest Boutique fabrics and I've found the perfect pattern for it...Bonnie's Playing With Jacks quilt. It's all made with 2.5" strips and I think it will look great with the fall fabrics. Thanks, Bonnie for sharing your talents with us!

I'm still trying to decide on a BOM...I've been looking around my sewing room wondering why I think I need another project! Maybe it's time to concentrate on some others. I'm waiting for the bug guy to show up for our annual termite inspection, so maybe I'll try my hand at the longarm...I haven't touched it since before my surgery! I'm definitely going through withdrawal...especially since it's one of MY quilts on there! :o)

Monday, Monday...

It's another beautiful day here in NJ...we've had quite a stretch of them lately! Although fall has arrived, we'll be having a stretch of Indian Summer this week. Temperatures back up near the 90's and higher humidity. And I thought we were done with the air conditioning for this year!I spent some time doing my favorite things this weekend. I finished my Irish Hiking Scarf (click the link for the pattern!) and I love how it turned out. Now my DH is asking for one for himself. The color is a little more true in the first picture, but you can see the cables in the second.

I've been working on blocks for my "He Loves Me" quilt...I hadn't worked on it for awhile as I was playing around with changes in the design. This will be an ongoing project, I guess!

I also made more journal covers for my Etsy store. I loved this pink and green fabric...so cheerful!

My big dilemma is that I'm really wanting to start something new! I've been considering joining a Block of the Month from one of the online quilt stores. What stores have you done BOMs with? I'd love some input. The one I'm seriously looking at is the Moda University Mystery Quilt at The Fat Quarter Shop. I'm just hesitant to sign up for something that I can't see! I do love the block they show on the website, but I really wish I had a clue what the finished quilt would look like before I invest that amount of money! As long as I'm asking questions, for those of you who subscribe to BOMs, do you actually do the blocks when you receive them? I have visions of piles of block kits on my table and no actual blocks made!

I'll have to keep thinking about it...

Etsy Stores

I've been hearing a lot about Etsy and seeing the success that people are having with selling there, so today I took the plunge and opened an Etsy store! I don't have much in there yet...I've made some journal covers and thought I'd test the waters with them. I hope to make other quilted items...and maybe even some quilts...to list there.

Do any of you have experiences on Etsy to share? I'd love to know what you think of it! Thanks...and you can visit my site by clicking the link to the right or going to my store!

Ebay listings

I've decided to clear out a few longarm quilting videos that I no longer watch. If you're interested, here are links to the listings...each is listed at $5.00 to start. They were incredibly helpful to me when I started machine quilting since I knew absolutely nothing. I remember having to watch the Donita Reeves video every time I loaded a quilt, just to make sure I did it right! They are still useful for ideas and instruction...happy shopping! Just click on the title of the video to go to the listing.

Commercial Machine Quilting - Introduction to Custom Quilting by Marcia Stevens

Tips and Techniques for Long Arm Machine Quilting with Donita ReeveCreative Machine Quilting by Marcia Stevens

Chilly Monday

Fall is in the air! It's quite chilly this morning...a perfect time to think about what I'd like to make with the beautiful jelly roll of fall fabrics that I received on Saturday from the Fat Quarter Shop! Thank you so much! You can visit their blog at The Fat Quarter Shop's Jolly Jabber...tell them I said hi!

My roses are putting forth their final bloom of the season. This looks like it will be the last of my Old English roses, although the hybrid teas are going crazy! I just love the Old English roses...the blooms are gorgeous and the smell is heavenly.

Thank you for all of your comments on my quilt and recovery...you are all the best!

Borders are on...

I got the borders on my Keepsake Squares quilt today. I had a hard time choosing colors...my first thought was a red outer border and yellow inner border, but I couldn't find fabrics that I liked. Then I went to a light orange inner border and yellow outer border. I got the orange on, but didn't like the yellow. So, off came the orange and I pulled out the yellow and blue. Now I love it! When I'm back to work, I'll be quilting this one.

I had a follow up visit with the doctor on Tuesday. All of the pathology on my tumor and cysts came back benign! I finally could breathe a sigh of relief...and say a prayer of thanksgiving. I didn't realize how much it was weighing on me until I got the good news.

And more good news....I found out yesterday that I had won a contest over at the Fat Quarter Shop's Jolly Jabber. I'm very excited...I'll post pictures when my prize arrives! Thanks to all the folks at the Fat Quarter shop...I've never shopped there, looks like I'll be starting!

Monday Morning...

And I'm still keeping busy! I finished this log cabin quilt before my surgery, but didn't take a picture until yesterday. It has been donated to my church for their service auction to be held on September 29th. I hope they make some money with it!











I've also made a few heartstrings blocks...



















I made a scarf for my daughter from some yarn we had laying around the house. It's simple garter stitch and until I finished it and took a picture, I didn't see the pattern in it!

I also did something that I guess could be considered an orphan quilt. :o) A few years ago I joined the Keepsake Quilting Club and received two boxes of die cut squares...samples of all the fabric that I could order from them. Even though they weren't quite square, I decided to make the best of it and sew them all together, totally randomly. I made them into four patches, then sewed them all together...that's 576 little squares there. I'm trying to decide on borders...I'm thinking they'll need to be pretty plain since the center just screams, "look at me!!!"

Nothing....

says get well like a chocolate cake...and that's exactly what my neighbor brought over yesterday. Isn't it adorable? Tastes amazing too!

Keeping Busy

I've never had to spend a long amount of time housebound, at least not since I had little kids. I've been trying to keep busy.

I knitted a dishcloth.















I did some hand quilting...















I crocheted a prayer shawl...



















I've just cast on a simple garter knit scarf for some mindless knitting. I tried working on a sock and the knit 2, purl 2 ribbing was just more than I could handle. I don't seem to have much of an attention span for knitting!

The girls go back to school this week and I'm out on medical leave until October 22nd. I'm thinking I'll be spending some time in my sewing room once they're in school...can't wait!