Where Did That Month Go?

Wow! I can't believe it's been almost a month since I posted anything here! I apologize to anyone who has wasted their time checking in here and finding nothing new.

Early in September I had a busy, fun-filled visit from two friends I made on the Quilting Passion Forum. I so appreciate the great effort they made to come all the way to St. Louis. It was wonderful!

Shortly after they had to go home, my mother-in-law and her cat came to stay for two weeks. We are trying to persuade her to sell her home and move here, because she is 87 and lives 400 miles away. We aren't making any progress there. She just wants to go back and sit in her own house--too much change to think about.

I don't seem to get much done when she is here as far as housekeeping goes, but I do spend time in my sewing room! I finished these two quilts to deliver to the Pediatrics Department at the hospital where I volunteer. (We don't have a Project Linus chapter here any more, so I just keep taking them myself.) I have two more finished and in the washer and am sewing down the binding on a third. I'll try to post them soon.

The Cowboy pattern is from Sindy Rodenmayer at http://www.fatcatpatterns.com/

Spiral Roses quilt top

I finished this top today. This is a true scrapquilter project! Nothing was used that was any bigger than a fat quarter (except a long scrap I used for the border), and nothing was purchased to make it. I had cut out the blocks just to have around when I was between projects. Well, darn, the applique all got finished and I had to put the top together! I'll hang it in the closet with my other tops that are ready to quilt.

I'm cleaning out my sewing room because I'm having guests next week, and Debi is going to sleep in that room. She should have sweet dreams in there with my fabric, books, and magazines--that is if the UFOs don't haunt her at night!

Finished SuzGuz block 8

Here's my block 8 from the Susan Guzman series. I'm not crazy about this one--can't quite figure out why! Somehow it looks like an inkblot test to me. Whatever! It'll go in the quilt with the prettier ones.

My hands have been busy here making gifts. I'm also working on a seaside themed quilt for Project Linus.

There's a little bit of fall in the air here, which always invigorates me. I guess I worked in the public schools and then the university for so long that my inner calendar kicks into overdrive at the beginning of the school year. Just hearing the school buses running gets me keyed up!

Addison's Quilt

Baby Addison's quilt is finished! I used a center medallion like I did with Avery's quilt but had to get a little funky with the lettering because the name is a little longer. I just need to sew on the label, and then it'll be hers forever. I wish I had something that either of my grandmothers had made, but I don't think either one of them sewed very much. (Neither of them drove a car, either!)

My next project is in full swing--a totally pieced quilt (gasp!) that I made from a book of patterns for jelly roll strips. I used bright noodles from a swap on the Quilting Passion forum, and it is very wild!

Who Doesn't Love Elmo?

We visited our kids for a few hours today. We got to hold tiny Addison and play with Avery in her new playhouse (which was a present from Addison! I bet that helps sibling relationships.)

I also got to deliver this little top to Avery, try it on her, and get the straps adjusted. When she saw it, she said, "Mine!" It has an elasticized casing in the back and fits really cute. Wish I looked that cute in a little top and a pair of jean shorts.

Welcome to the world, Addison Rose!

This grandmother is very proud to announce the birth of our new granddaughter, Addison Rose, who was born early this morning! Mother and baby are doing well, and we can't wait to meet our new angel, as well as to see the reaction of her big sister, Avery. I need to finish her quilt!

Another Guzman Applique Block

Here's block 7 from Susan Guzman's BOM. (I am determined to finish this one, since I fizzled out on the last two BOMs I started!) I decided to incorporate some of my black dot print, since I realized from the picture of the first six blocks that I had only used black in one block. I'll be using it again in the next 3 or 4 blocks so it'll be distributed throughout the quilt and I'll have the option of using black in the sashing. This quilt is going to need a calming influence!

It's gotten really hot here, darn it, and even in the air-conditioned house I only want to work on applique now. Quilting or binding sounds suffocating! The one thing that will get me going, though, is working on the baby quilt for our new granddaughter #2! She is due to be born in the next week. I can hardly wait to meet her.

It's an Applique Day

I continue to be delighted by the free block of the month designed by Susan Guzman. She even sends you an email when the new pattern is ready! I'm having a lot of fun using my dotted fabrics. I have one terrific fabric that provides several different sized dots. It has dots printed inside other dots! For instance, in the small picture of block 6, the center square is cut from this fabric, as well as the blue circles and the "flower" circles. Great stuff!

The second picture shows the January through June blocks. There will be 6 more, and she says she's designing a center medallion and scalloped border, too, that we can buy. I may be so sick of appliqueing circles that I decide to call it quits with the 12 blocks!

I Spy Quilt

This "I Spy" quilt was really fun to make! I chose novelty fabrics that would be of interest to a boy, since the Project Linus people say that they always need quilts for boys. I can imagine a boy who has to remain in bed at the hospital playing a game with his parents using this quilt. I'd ask him, "How many blocks show something you can eat?" "How many blocks show underwater pictures?" "How many blocks show animals that you could have for pets?" "How many blocks show things that can fly?" "How many blocks show sports?" "How many blocks show something you can drive?" Hopefully, it will keep someone warm and busy!

My Beautiful Gift Quilt

Look at the beautiful quilt I was given by the members of the Quilting Passion Forum! I am so honored to have this quilt, knowing the love, work, and expense that went into it. It will always be a cherished possession, and I can't wait for cold weather so I can take some naps under it!!! My deepest thanks to all who had a part in it.

Peggy organized this project and assembled the quilt top. She sent it to Debi, who quilted and bound it. Val designed and printed the label.

Here is a close shot of Debi's beautiful quilting.

Last, but not least, is a beautiful throw pillow, made from an extra block. It was made by Mara Del, a dear friend of forum member, Dorothy. Dorothy mailed it to me. (I was fortunate to meet both of them when we all visited Dallas last fall.)

Little Dresses are for Twirling!

Garment sewing is just not my thing! I made my clothes for years, and the results never truly satisfied me. (Maybe it's the fact that my short body doesn't look like the drawings on the pattern envelopes!) Since I caught the quilting bug (and my case is terminal), I haven't made any garments at all.

But....God blessed me with a beautiful granddaughter who is now 2 years 4 months old. Her little sister will be born in the next few weeks. Nothing else could lure me back into garment sewing than little granddaughters!

I bought this fabric and pattern a couple of months ago, and they sat on my cutting table all that time. I became the queen of procrastination! However, when we had a request to babysit last Friday, I knew that would be my impetus to "git 'er done"! I finished the dress Thursday night, and she was twirling in it on Friday morning! What girl doesn't want to hear that she looks pretty? We loved hearing her talk about her "pwetty dwess".

Cuddly Bunny Went to the Hospital Today

This guy went from a medallion to a finished quilt yesterday. I actually machine quilted it, and it wasn't too bad. The pattern is another by Sindy Rodenmayer at Fat Cat Patterns. (It may be boring to keep reading that in so many posts, but I always want to give her credit for the great patterns.) I'm glad I got it done because it's heating up here again, and my "treehouse" sewing room isn't so comfortable for sewing any more, even with the air conditioning on.

I received the yellow fabric as a donation. I know you can't tell, but the print has rabbits all over it. There was plenty of it, so I used it for the back, too, and almost used it all up. There is a lot left in the donation bag, which makes me feel pressured! I feel like I have to use it, although none of it "turns me on" the way it would if I chose it myself. Still...you can't beat free.

Bunny went to St. John's today, and the staff said he'd be on a bed this weekend. Go, bunny--make someone smile!