National Quilting Day

Last weekend, the boss and I took a drive to Wheaton Village for the Garden Patch Quilters show. Here are a few pictures of quilts that I liked...I didn't take note of the quilters' names so if one of these is yours, please let me know so I can give you credit!

My husband is the best...

The boss is in Toronto on business this week and had some free time this morning.  So what did he do?  He found Lettuce Knit and stopped in to pick up some Canadian yarn for me.  I knew there was a reason I love him!

This and That...

Thought I should see what pictures were on the camera...sadly none of them were quilting!  We had a fun weekend...

Andrew and Max were here from Vermont...two of his college friends were married on Friday and he came down  for the wedding.  While he was here we went to the Library II to celebrate the boss's birthday...

along with Ellen and her friend Ryan...

And Grace and her friend Matt...

On Sunday Grace celebrated Pi Day...

with a chocolate cream pie...why did I give up chocolate for Lent?

Some sewing has been done...more on that later.  Unfortunately for me, Miley has spent more time sitting in my sewing chair than I have!

March Goals

I have a lot of goals for March, but will try to be realistic about what I have time to accomplish.  So,

1.  I'm going to try to do something with these blocks...just got in some fabric for the alternate blocks, I hope it works with them!

2.  I'm going to make my second Aunt Millie's Garden block.

and

3.  I'm going to try to come up with something to make with this...

I hope I get at least one thing finished!

February Goals...

Here are the results from my February goals...

#1.  Finish the 3 blocks I was behind for my Heartland Heritage BOM...turns out another came in after I posted and I was able to finish all 4 blocks this month!

#2.  Finish the January block for my Aunt Millie's Garden Quilt...I've already posted a pic, but here it is again!

#3.  Applique the AMG block for February.  Yeah.  This one didn't happen.  So I'll just make March's block next!

In the next day or two I'll post my goals for March, once I decide what they are!

Spring Sewing Party!

9:20 PM Update

Had dinner, watched Canada win the gold in curling and finished the first sleeve for my sweater!  I haven't knit a sweater for over 20 years (and that was a baby sweater).  It's obvious...apparently a few times during the lacy portion of the sleeve, I messed up and the pattern is off.  Good thing I'm not a perfectionist...I don't think it will be a glaring error once the sweater is done.  If it it, I'll reknit the sleeve.  I'm going to check out all the blogs and see what everyone else has been up to.  I'll leave the cutting of my second block for tomorrow...I'm a little too tired to use the rotary cutter! Can't wait to see what everyone has been creating all day!

6:00 PM - Second Update

Block #1 is finished!  Dinner and curling, then hopefully I'll still be awake to do block 2.  :o) 

4:30 PM - First Check In...

The plan was to be ready to go, with dinner in the Crockpot by 10am.  I was ready, dinner was set...but due to circumstances beyond my control, my plans were changed and I didn't set foot into my sewing room until 3:30 this afternoon. I was going to make the two blocks for my Heartland Heritage BOM as my first project...looks like I'll be lucky to get both of them done as my only project!

The first block is now cut and the sewing has begun...

And I"ll be taking a break to watch the Gold Medal Curling match at 6...it probably will be my last chance to see curling until the next Winter Olympics! 

I haven't been near my sewing machine in over a week and it's time.  Guess where I'll be this weekend?  Yep, Kelly and Joan are the hostesses for the Charming Girls and Guys Spring Sewing Party.  I'll be working on my February projects...see you on Saturday!

Aunt Millie's Garden Quilt

My January block is finished...now on to February!

Surviving the Storm...

On Saturday we had this storm...

So Grace decided to have a little treat...

Yesterday we had this storm...

And with this one we lost power...and heat.  Miley had the right idea!!!

Now I hear that there will be another storm on Monday...we've already broken records for the snowiest winter ever.  Any chance we can send this storm to Andrew? After all, we've had more snow than he has, and he lives in Vermont!  Good thing I like winter...

Angels Needed!

Chemo Angels is a non profit organization,which supports those who are going through chemotherapy for cancer.  I've been a volunteer for them for about a year, as a Card Angel.  I was assigned a patient and until she "graduated" from the program (she completed her treatment and was declared cancer free!) I sent her a card of encouragement with a little note each week.  For an investment of about $1.50 a week, I was able to support and encourage a person who needed that little boost in her time of need.  I've since been assigned a new patient and have started sending her cards as well.

My point?  I received this email last week...

Due to the tricky economic times as well as the recent holiday season, quite

a few Angels have had to resign during the past few months. We are in

serious need of new volunteers. Please help us spread the word! Tell your

friends, relatives, neighbors, co-workers --- anyone you feel would make a

great volunteer. We need Chemo Angels, Card Angels and Senior Angels. Send

interested parties to our website, www.chemoangels.com or .net to apply.

Thank you so much!

Chemo Angels Administration

If you can find it in your heart to volunteer as a Chemo Angel, please visit their website at Chemo Angels.  Also, if you know of someone who could use support during cancer treatment, visit their website and sign them up.  It's a fabulous organization, check them out!

February Goals

I think I'll take it easy on myself in February and only have a few goals!

#1.   Complete the 3 Heartland Heritage blocks that I am behind on...

#2.  Finish January's block for my Aunt Millie's Garden Quilt.

#3.  And finish February's Aunt Millie's Garden block as well...which I can't post a picture of because I haven't started it!  :o)

Also on my list of goals is to quilt 3 customer quilts and to sell a house.  We'll see how I do with those!

January Finishes...

January was a busy month...I started a new job, working with Keller Williams Realty and continued working both of my old jobs, Weight Watchers and my quilting business.  I still found time to get a few things done, both things on my list and things that weren't. From my list, I finished Ellen's Maine Morning Mitts...

And I quilted and bound Andrew's quilt...

Things that weren't on my list include another pair of Mitts which I gave as a birthday gift to a friend...

I also quilted two customer quilts...

Another finish not on my list was the Rachel's Reel quilt in the last post.  I've ordered backing fabric for that and hope to have it quilted soon.

The only thing on my list which wasn't completed was the first block for my Aunt Millie's Garden quilt, which is over half finished.  I have to admit, I was afraid to cut into the fabric and if I'd started the block BEFORE last week, it would have been done.  I don't know what it is about cutting into new fabric...something always holds me back.  Once I start I'm fine, but that first snip is so hard!  That one will be done in the next few days.  I'm looking forward to tomorrow night...Meredith from Quilt Threads is coming over and we're going to do a little stitching.

So, that's January...now to figure out what I'll be working on in February!

Valentine Party Day 2 Update

Please excuse the quality of this picture...it's night and my pictures and brain just aren't working too well! After a few unexpected, but very enjoyable interruptions (a visit from my sister, a nice long conversation with my son, and some hanging out time with my daughters) I was able to get back to work. I think this is the LAST time I will make a sawtooth border on a quilt, that was a lot of work! I love how this quilt turned out and look forward to getting it on the longarm. That will have to wait until I do a few customer quilts though! Thanks Kelly, for suggesting this sewing party...it was great fun!

Valentine's Party - Day 2

The little block from last night has joined its friends and has become this quilt center...borders are next!

Valentine Party!

Update # 2

I took a break after finishing the customer quilt to go to church and have dinner, then was back at it last night.  I finished this little applique block, which is the last one for my Rachel's Reel quilt.  Since I didn't have a lot of time yesterday, I've decided to extend the Valentine Party through today...is anyone else with me?  I'll post today's progress in a new post!

Update # 1

Customer quilt is quilted!

Kelly over at Charming Chatter is having a Valentine Sewing Party today.  Although I'm not sewing Valentine quilts, I AM working on a few things.  I'm loading a customer quilt and plan to have that quilted today and will be spending time in my sewing room later.  I'll post pictures as soon as I have some!

Haiti

There are so many in need right now.  Please click on the photo if you can find it in your heart to donate to this worthy cause.

Meet...

our new family member.  Yesterday her name was going to be Persephone, but today that may be changing...that's an awfully big name for a tiny little kitty!  I've been calling her Boo...but since she's my daughter's kitten, I don't get to name her!

January Goals

Project1...Finish Ellen's Maine Morning Mitts....

Project 2...get Andrew's quilt loaded, quilted and bound...

Project 3...make my first block for Aunt Millie's Garden along with the yahoo group I joined.  I'm using a chocolate brown as a background.  It's a Kona and is so soft...should needle beautifully!

It should be a productive month!

Happy New Year!

Wishing you peace and happiness in the new year...

Home again...

Arrived home safely on Sunday evening after spending a wonderful few days in Vermont with the kids.  We had our Christmas tree...

which the Fox in Sox kept a close watch over.  I remember how the kids used to open gifts and beg to have their pictures taken...not this year!

Max was happy to have HIS picture taken, with his new penguin! 

We had more snow in NJ than we did in Vermont, but it was just so pretty up there.  I was fascinated with the frost on the trees as we would drive through the higher elevations!  I guess that's why Andrew calls me a "Flatlander".

When I arrived home there were some wonderful gifts waiting for me.  First was this incredible pair of Evangeline mitts from Amy at abc creations.  They're gorgeous and I absolutely love them!

And second was this beautiful package from my Charming Girls Secret Santa Swap partner, Kate.  She sent a tissue box holder in a gorgeous Christmas fabric (I need to go buy tissues to fit it!), along with a little chicken pincushion, a 2" Omnigrid ruler with a ribbon on it (I hung it on my tree!) and a fat quarter of fabric.  Thank you so much Kate, I love everything!

I got back to real life today...worked a Weight Watchers meeting, then ran to the quilt store to drop my Pfaff off for service.  Tomorrow is my first day at the real estate agency where I'll be working...I can't wait!  The new year holds a lot of promise and I'm looking forward to seeing where it leads me!  I hope that the new year brings you wondrous journeys as well!