msjanquilts

Adios Sarah and Ramesh....

2012-01-11T10:56:00.000-08:00

Today, January 11th is a day that Mike and I refer to at "Billy/Willie Day."

Mike's dad, Bill Andrews passed away on this day in 1984. My mother Wilma Jones Brackett was born this day in 1920. We honor them by fixing a nice dinner and toasting them with a tasty adult beverage.

Well, today we have a new event for the 11th of January. Mike's daughter Sarah and her boyfriend Ramesh left San Francisco International Airport for Panama and the beginning of a year-long journey around the world. Sarah saved, paid off debt and planned this for two years, and today it came to fruition.
Sarah and Ramesh brought a van load of Rubbermaid tubs to store under our house and a lovely leather chair to store in our bedroom. We took them to breakfast yesterday morning and kissed her goodbye just after.

We will see Sarah and Ramesh in May, on Mike's birthday in Rome, which is the final day of our cruise. That's a good thing, because I'm having a hard time envisioning an entire year without her smiling face. Mike points out that we've done this before when she studied abroad in Leeds, UK, 1998-1999, but still. A year is a long darned time!

This trip has been brewing in her mind for a very long time, and at age 33, the time is now! I'm proud of her for following her dreams and I know she will have some great tales to tell.

You can follow their trip at:
http://www.rameshandsarahsexcellentadventure.com/

A Few Finishes in 2011

2012-01-08T10:17:00.000-08:00

While 2011 was consumed by a lot of quilt guild activities, I did manage a couple of finishes for some very-much-desired new babies. This quilt was made from a pattern I found on Moda Bake Shop and is for the baby daughter of my my son-in-law's cousin. She was born in December 2010. The adorable boys in the picture are, of course, Benjamin and Alex.

The second finish was made by my friend Kathy B. and I for the new granddaughter of our late friend Sand B. Sandy passed away in 2005, shortly after her oldest daughter, then 40 got married for the first time. Six years later, a baby arrived, and we know that Sandy would have been over-the-moon happy, so we had to make a quilt for this welcome addition. Since Kathy and I inherited much of Sandy's collection of 1930's reproductions, we decided to use some of them in our quilt for her granddaughter.

There was a third finish, but I seem to have neglected to snap a picture of it. The third quilt was for a special baby girl who was given a middle name that my daughter and I share--Aileen. Her mother became a friend of my daughter in grad school and we consider her a part of our extended clan.

I plan for many more finishes in 2012, and may actually touch my sewing machine today. I have 12 pillowcases prepped to sew up for the troops in Afghanistan. Broadway Quilts in Sonoma is collecting them for the hospitals in lieu of paper pillowcases. I think it's a great way to get reunited with my sweet Bernina, don't you?

The End

2012-01-04T18:09:00.000-08:00

I can't get the song "I'm Getting Married in the Morning" from My Fair Lady out of my head because tomorrow I will swear in my replacement and become a regular schmo at the guild. I'm so excited! I got my January newsletter done today, so I'm going to actually sew this week! I still do the monthly newsletter and keep up the database/roster, but I've been doing that for years and could do it in my sleep. I will get to knit or stitch during meetings, go to the loo whenever I please, chat, sip tea or coffee....the list goes on.

I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve.

PS: Don't get me wrong, it was fun, but enough is enough!

The Holidays are Over!

2012-01-03T10:37:00.000-08:00

Well, the kids are gone, the house will be un-decorated today and the exorcise (not a misspelling, my sister's name for it) program has been resumed in full. Life can go back to normal.

As I said before, I am so looking forward to 2012, for more quilting time and less responsibility. Also, 2012 is a milestone birthday for me--60--and we are celebrating by taking a cruise around Italy in the spring. Shortly after that, we will go to the annual Winemaker Magazine conference at Cornell University in New York. I've never been to New York, and given the choice of side-tripping to NYC or Niagara Falls was not really a decision for me. Niagara Falls is on my bucket list, and I can't wait to see it in person, and from the Canadian side.

In my absence from the blogging world, my grandson Benjamin, who will be 7 in February, has become a budding chef and is playing the piano. Alex is 4 1/2 and in preschool and is a very active little fellow. They are soooo fun. My stepson Scott got married on Halloween 2009 and he and wife Erin are doing well. My stepdaughter Sarah is realizing her dream of quitting her job of 12 years and travelling the world for a year. Her boyfriend Ramesh has decided to join her and surf around the world. They leave on the 11th and I can't imagine how a year without Sarah will be. My son Daniel moved into his own place after living with his best friends until their recent wedding. He's enjoying the simple life in his own place and is a wonderful uncle to Kate's two boys. Kate and Steve have been married 11 years this week, and life is good for them as the boys continue to grow up. My dogs Gator and Ace are 13 and 11 respectively and are doing fine for being so old, and they are definitely happy that the guests are gone.

Mike is good and is making some mighty good wine. We planted some Pinot Noir grapes in part of our yard previously unused and they will be producing in 2 more years. That keeps him on the run, for sure.

Last summer, Mike wanted to go to a pitch and putt golf course and play nine holes and I told him I'd go and walk with him. Well, that wasn't allowed, so we rented some clubs and a pull cart and I was going to just walk and pull the cart. Well, me being me, I decided that if I had to rent them, I was going to play, even though I'm left-handed and the clubs were rightys. So, I played that day and did OK. The next time, we rented the lefty clubs and I did better. Within 2 weeks, Mike had ordered me a basic set of clubs online and I was enrolled in lessons. Since then, we have enjoyed playing golf 2-3 times a week, and have introduced both of the girls to it. Our boys, who took lessons together 15 years ago both play regularly and we've had the pleasure of playing with both of them this month.

As Mrs. Goodneedle says, Life is Good!

Welcome 2012!

2012-01-01T20:30:00.001-08:00

Welcome 2012!I just finished up a two year stint as president of my quilt guild, a time-comsuming job that has seriously affected my time to quilt and my desire to work on my blog. Well that is about to change.This year, I plan to work on Fee Motion Quilting Challenge. My partner in crime is my new HandiQuilter Sweet 16, a lovely machine with a 16 inch throat that I can sit down to use. She's been sitting in my sewing room while I finished up my duties, patiently waiting for me.So, the word for 2012 is Mastery. I will master machine quilting in 2012.Want to join me? Just look up Sew Cal Gal on Facebook and join the fun@Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T20:07:00.001-08:00

Pets on Quilts!

2010-08-12T20:09:00.001-07:00

SewCalGal is hostessing a Pets on Quilts online quilt show through August 21st. Well, I love pets on quilts, so I had to enter it with an oldie but goodie of mine.
This quilt is entitled "There's a Schnauzer on My Quilt!" I started this quilt back in 2005 at a Billie Lauder workshop held by our guild and finished it in 2006. I modified Billie's pattern a bit to make it a Miniature Schnauzer complete with 3-D eyebrows and a long floppy tongue (just like my wee Gator, who loves to lick people's teeth).

I hand quilted this quilt and gave it to Michelle, my husband's ex-stepdaughter for the birth of her first son Arjuna. Back in the day, my hubby and Michelle's mom had a fabulous schnauzer, Cindi, a little darling and when I met her, it was love at first sight. Cindi's life was cut short by diabetes, but her memory lives on and on.

Borders: Long May They Wave

2010-08-08T12:53:00.000-07:00

Do you ever find yourself in a quilter's quandry?

Or maybe it isn't a quandry at all and you just fail to pay attention to what you "should" do and take the easy way out? You think: "Self: it won't matter just this one little time if you don't measure your project before adding the border. After all, the project is only 35 inches square." "The border isn't pieced, heck half of it is even straight grain of the fabric." "No problemo, dude."

WRONG.

I'm here to tell you that it doesn't pay to listen to the bad girl on your shoulder and take a shortcut. Having just added said border to a wall-hanging for my son, I can tell you that size doesn't matter. No matter the size of your top, measure it in three places (top, middle, bottom) horizontally and three places (left, middle, right) on the sides. Then you may average the three numbers for each dimension and arrive at the correct border size. You do not, I repeat do not just slap on a long piece of fabric. The time saved by not measuring will surely be spent bonding with your favorite seam ripper!

A Thing of Beauty is a Joy Forever

2010-08-04T20:20:00.000-07:00

And all that jazz.

Last week, I spent the week in Lompoc with my friends Becky and Kathy and Laurinda. We sewed, chatted, laughed, cooked and ate, not necessarily in that order. Becky was hard at work on a Debbie Caffrey "Three or More" quilt for a family member in Christmas colors. Nice.

Well, mostly. Did I mention that the recipient of this quilt is an Elvis fan? Did I mention that Becky found the most amazing Christmas fabric for an Elvis fan? Not the most beautiful, but certainly Elvis. Wait......maybe this IS the real E. Our personal favorite is the one at the center of the top of this piece of fabric, the picture affectionately nicknamed "Seizure Elvis." A closer look will reveal eyes kind of rolled upward and we thought the name more charitable than "Stoned Elvis."

Becky deliberated long and hard about putting this fabric on the front of the quilt as an outside border, but decided that it might be a bit over-the-top. Good call. BUT, Kathy and I pounded her mercilessly until she agreed to put just a wee piece of the King on the front. We thought she placed it perfectly, don't you?

Now I know you want a close up of that, don't you? Well here you go:

Priceless!

A Long Term Project

2010-08-01T19:07:00.001-07:00

You may remember the Mini-Round Robin that I joined several years ago after May Britt and her friends showed their projects off.

I decided to do something completely different this time, so I started with a heart that contained my Hubby's and my initials. I asked the participants to keep it pastel-ish with a Robyn Pandolph kind of look, and I think they went the distance, don't you?

This fun group decided to call it a day, but Kate is having a Stay-at-Home Round Robin for those who are interested. Not sure if I have time this year, but I have considered doing one for myself.

In the meantime, I did finish a quilt for a certain birthday person who will be celebrating later this month. No picture yet, but soon. I'm also working on a wall-hanging for my soon-to-be 30 year old son. I spent three days in Lompoc at my friend Becky's house, joined by friend Kathy and we sewed our hearts out. It was great therapy!

Win!

2010-07-21T21:08:00.000-07:00

One reason for not blogging much is the demonic, time-sucking Facebook. On the other hand, thanks to said demon, I won a book from Martingale for suggesting a name for the star block on their lunchroom floor. "Martingale Star" seemed pretty obvious to me, but apparently it was a winner, so lucky me! I have all three of Judy Hopkins "Around the Block" books, but it looks like this book has even more blocks and I do love her multiple size cutting information. Thanks to Martingale!

One of my latest projects is a block of the month from ThimbleCreek, a quilt shop in Concord, CA. Those who know me, also know that I adore Halloween and have several fabulous Halloween quilts in progress. I plan to leave one for each of the kids when I can no longer enjoy them. This one is called Ichabod Hollow and was designed by Joe, one of the owners of ThimbleCreek. The applique portion is nearly done and I have the picket fence and star fabric waiting for my attentions. Next week is a quiltfest with Kathy B. and Becky in Lompoc, and I hope to make a bit of progress on this.

Having Fun With The Boys

2010-07-09T10:06:00.001-07:00

Benjamin and Alex and their parents came by over the long weekend going to and from Crescent City to visit friends, so I got to see them twice!

On Tuesday night we went to Rosso, a local wine and pizza place and were lucky to get the family booth at the back of the restaurant. Right behind the us was a sous-chef station where a very sweet young lady making flatbreads and salads chatted with the boys nonstop. They loved watching her prep the food and had to be coerced to take a snap with Nana (can you tell?). The boys were given a lump of dough to shape as they pleased and it was returned with a cup of red sauce for dipping. As you might imagine, it was the hit of the evening.

We are back to normal now, and today our handyman will finish our mini-renovation of the master bath. We removed our 10 gazillion gallon bathtub and are tiling in the space to use for storage of wines-in-progress and a cabinet for supplies for same. According to Dan the Handyman, it costs $20 in water to fill these tubs and I'll bet we'd not used ours in 5 years. Only the boys did, and they like to shower these days. Adios tub, hello wine room!!

Long Time No Blog

2010-07-03T19:29:00.000-07:00

It seems like forever since I blogged, and it pretty much has been. Sometimes your star points just don't match up.

In January, I became President of the quilt guild and within 10 weeks, we had to put together a tri-guild luncheon for the three local quilt guilds. The learning curve has been steep, dealing with the various and sundry personalities of different members pretty much tapped out my creative energy during the first half of the year. I have my "sea legs" now and have agreed to do a second year, with hopefully fewer hassles and stress. After all, we're supposed to be there to have fun, aren't we?

I'm also looking forward to more quilting time!

A Shout Out

2009-11-07T16:08:00.000-08:00

To the staff at the Fat Quarter Shop. I have no affiliation, I'm just a very satisfied customer.

Last year, I participated in the Designer Mystery BOM and I was so happy with the results (currently with my long-armer), that I decided to jump in and do this year's sampler too. I think I've mentioned before that each monthly kit includes a very generous amount of fabric in case of, well, you know, bad cuts. I'm the queen of bad cuts, so I know.

Recently, I joined a Holiday quilt swap with the Four Seasons Quilt Swap group and I used my leftover fabrics to make a mini-quilt to give my recipient. I wanted one particular fabric for my outer border, so I ordered a half yard and it was here in three days. Shout out number one.

When I went to cut the borders, I figured that I'd have to cut on the cross grain simply due to the length I needed, but not so. This half yard was actually TWENTY inches long! I was shocked! And not in that unhappy way I've been when I've measured half yards or fat quarters from some other online retailers. Shout out number two!

Is it any wonder that the Fat Quarter Shop is my number one go-to place for online fabrics?

I'm doing the Civil War Tribute BOM after the first of the year and I can't wait!

Thank you Fat Quarter Shop for going the extra inches that make quilters happy!

The Winemaker's Wife

2009-10-11T17:14:00.000-07:00

Has been busy helping with this year's harvest. Over the past few weeks, we've crushed and destemmed approximately 1000 pounds of grapes and pressed all but the last 300 pounds. It all started, as it always does, with the Pinot Noir and progressed to the Zinfandel, the homegrown Cabernet Franc and finally the Cabernet Sauvignon. We purchase most of the grapes from a broker who can get us premium grapes from nearly any grower in the Sonoma/Napa area or beyond. We have about 30 vines of Cab. Franc in our otherwise useless side yard, and this year, they yielded a bit over 200 pounds of great looking grapes. It keeps us busy, let me tell you.

In addition, the guild is doing a lot of administrative work re-tooling our new member handbook and making notebooks for new officers detailing their responsibilities. I'm doing a fair amount of graphic work on same, but I do love that. Then there is Time Waste Central, also known as Bejewelled on Facebook. It's addicting.

I have done some sewing work, though, and am eagerly anticipating my trip to PIQF next week. Pictured above is a block from the quilt I blogged about earlier, Bonnie Hunter's String X
quilt, made with linens, pinwale cord and the like. I have 3 blocks done and all of the foundations and set triangles cut and ready for the string piecing. In the meantime, I had to get a couple of quick things done, such as the Trick or Treat bags I made for the boys. Alex got a giraffe costume, so he got the giraffe bag made with a very edible looking leaf print and a baby giraffe on the pocket. Benjamin got a darling firefighter's costume and his mommy found cool rubber boots to go with it, so we used these great Alexander Henry prints for his bag. The bags are 9x9x3, so will be a good size after Halloween for toting books to and from the library.

Finally, though I'm not the organizer of the Sew-a-Row project this year, I am participating. This project is only 14 1/2 inches wide, started by Mitzi, a member of my mini-group who does the most amazing applique ever started it with the Dresden Plates. Phyllis, from my other mini-group added the Sunbonnet Sue and I did my old favorites, the 1930's dogs and cat. Two more rows to go and I definitely want to win this!

The Challenge

2009-09-27T09:45:00.000-07:00

Ever since she was a senior at Cal, my stepdaughter Sarah has worked for a couple who own a small clothing design business in Berekely. The wife designs all the clothes, upscale women's casual wear, and her husband manages this business and several other ventures. Sarah started as an office assistant in 2000 and now manages the business while they are on frequent trips. Last spring, she brought me two enormous sacks of trimmings from the sewing end of the business (done on site), and asked if I would make her employers a quilt for Christmas. The Asian women who sew don't like to throw anything away, so the fabrics are from last year's lines and mainly rayon weaves, linens, textured linens and pinwale cords among others. These bags weighed a TON, and the first thing I had to do was sort through and pick out the fabrics totally unsuitable for a quilt, which was almost half of it. I donated these pieces to the guild's various projects and a couple of ladies who sew for a living.

I was left with a pretty good amount of fabric that would work, but obviously, this stuff had to be sewed on a foundation....a fabric foundation. Here's a shot of the fabrics I'm getting ready to cut. The white strips are the remains of the patterns that are lightly glued to the fabric before cutting. Every raw edge of this fabric is serged because they buy plain greige goods from China and dye it themselves before making the garments. They may have garments of the same color, but different fabric type, so I will have strips like that as well.

So, I started cutting......and cutting.......and cutting. Strips, tons of them. Ala Bonnie Hunter. That would be because I'm using one of Bonnie's patterns, but you won't know which one until tomorrow. In the meantime, here's a pic of the strips. I have to say that I found this project pretty intimidating, because I am a traditional quilter, so I had to spend a couple of months looking at Bonnie and Tonya's blogs, as well as Gwen and Freddie's work to get my courage up.

I'm All Caught Up

2009-09-22T18:34:00.000-07:00

With my new Designer's Mystery BOM from the Fat Quarter Shop. I was three blocks behind when I started out (it took me a bit of time to decide to go for it), but I vowed to get caught up and stay caught up and I did.

This set of blocks promise to be just as great as last year's DMBOM, and I like the different setting of the finishing kit.

Also, last week I paid a visit on this guy:

And this one:

Dumbfounded

2009-09-17T14:57:00.000-07:00

That was me, today.

The third Thursday in September is always our Founders' Day Luncheon at the Santa Rosa Quilt Guild. Some of our charter members took quilting classes from Joyce Gross at Santa Rosa Junior College back in the 1970's, and founded a group that would last beyond the classroom. Well, did it ever! The guild is 33 years young this month and one of our founding member, Dotty Zagar, got up today and gave us some history. She hostessed the first meeting at her home in 1976. We are now 240 members strong and very, very busy ladies. We donate quilts to various local causes like the NICU at Sutter Hospital, the Valley of the Moon Children's Home, the local women's shelters, the Wounded Warriors at Camp Pendleton, and many more.

Another thing that happens on Founders' Day is awards. The guild gives an annual Merit Award to a member who has done exceptional work in a given field and this year member Glenda R. got the award for her constant schlepping of our opportunity quilt from venue to venue to make us a few bucks. Well deserved. Then the committee chair announced that there was an Honorary Life Membership award to be given this year and she started in about the winner's work on the newsletter (me), the membership roster (me again), and various committees like SewARow (me). I was in total shock, people. As Vice President, I'm on the Board--the same Board who votes on awards--and that sneaky bunch flew this one right by me.

I'm touched, happy, surprised and grateful. I'm grateful for this wonderful bunch of women and a couple of guys who work their collective fingers to the bone to make it all happen. I look forward every other Thursday to the meetings because the positive energy put out by my guild is the best.....and did I mention that they are very creative? If you check this link in the next day or two you'll see what I mean, and in the meantime, check the archives.

Embroidery Addict

2009-09-09T09:26:00.001-07:00

I've been working on this Halloween quilt from Crabapple Hill, a kit I bought at the Napa Quilt Show last year. It is part of my ongoing plan to make an heirloom Halloween quilt for each of our kids. Number one is in the hoop for quilting, but with the wool batting, it is a bit too warm to work on much. Santa Rosa summer is September and October, so I'll plug slowly away and wait for the colder weather when it will be good for snuggling uner.
This pattern is called Hocuspocusville and consists of 12 embroidered blocks, and I have 3 finished with on in-progress. It is the perfect thing for riding Amtrak to see the boys or on a car trip, when applique is too fussy and quilting is too hard to keep straight. I think I mentioned last year that I saw this quilt finished into a flimsy at PIQF with another of Crabapple's Stitcheries put in the middle instead of the nine patches (click links). The gal was a customer of Thimble Creek's, so I may contact them and see if they can put me in touch with her for tips on enlarging. Maybe.

In the meantime, I'm also working on getting caught up on my new Designer Mystery Block of the Month and have 2 of the 3 blocks done for that.

Progress!

Temptations and a Contest

2009-09-02T17:44:00.000-07:00

All in one!

Check out this amazing Block of the month at the Fat Quarter Shop. It is the Civil War Tribute Quilt, and I am oh-so-tempted to jump in on this one, even though the total cost is bit high. It is a big quilt when finished and would probably fit my California king sized bed if I add a border to the outside.

Here's the contest aspect of it--the Fat Quarter Shop is giving away a $100 gift certificate! Follow this link and visit the Fat Quarter Shop and enter a comment for an entry. Put a link on your blog for another chance to win! Sign up for the BOM and let them know on the blog for another 5 chances to win. No affiliation with the Fat Quarter Shop, just an extremely satisfied customer.

Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire

2009-08-26T16:58:00.000-07:00

Or, Oops, I did it again....

I was so delighted with my finished top from last year's Fat Quarter Shop Designer Mystery Block of the Month that I jumped in and joined in for this year. I was a couple of months behind, but no worries, I got all three of the first blocks and finishing kit today. The project uses the Moda Glace collection and is just yummy.

The Fat Quarter Shop is a great place for many things, and they are very generous with the fabrics they send. I have never run short on one of their kits unless I was the one who messed things up. That said, it is always a very dangerous place, so watch your credit cards when you visit...things could get expensive.

Of course, dangerous places abound and Northern California and Southern Oregon are no exception. We took a short road trip because we needed to get away before the grapes are ready for the wine-making to begin in a few weeks. I found a few goodies, most notably, an out-of-print fabric to use on a Robot quilt for Alex. It is the same print as the large focus fabric in Benjamin's, but the background is navy instead of light blue. Yippee!!!!! This print was released in 2003 and Kate got the tail end of it in 2006, so I am lucky, lucky, lucky!

Getting Some Things Done!

2009-08-19T09:52:00.000-07:00

I just got a quilt back from my friend and long arm quilter Kat McCarty, proprietress of A Thread Runs Through It, but I don't want to reveal it. It is a wedding quilt for Scott and Erin.

Yesterday, I finished two, count them, two tops!

We had a sewfest at our Snooze You Lose mini-group and while sitting next to my friend Angie, I got the rest of my Fat Quarter Shop Designer Mystery Quilt together. I love this top so much that I'm thinking that I'll sign up for the 2009 version.

And, I got the dreaded scalloped border on my Verna Mosquera Happy Hauntings BOM finished! WooHoooooooo! I'm going to have this quilt basted by a long armer so I can take my sweet time and hand quilt it. I used Darlene Zimmerman's EZ Scallop tool and her instructions from The Quilter's Edge for appliqeing scalloped borders. I wasn't thrilled with Verna's scallops and I was shorted a bit on the inner border fabric, so I opted for the shallower and wider scallops using Darlene's method. I'm thinking that I may mirror the scallops for the outer edge, too. I'm loving this quilt!!!

We Interrupt this Quilting

2009-08-17T09:52:00.000-07:00

For a visit with my big sister and her hubby. I haven't seen her since 2005, so we had a great visit in between her jaunts to a family wedding on his side. She lives in New Orleans part of the year and Cayucos, CA part of the year.

It was so great to catch up with her and to love on her beautiful golden retrievers.

More Vintage Goodies

2009-08-09T14:32:00.000-07:00

I am the vintage goodie in this post!

This is a picture of me with the block I made at the workshop with Sally Collins in May. Sally spoke at our guild and gave a six hour workshop the next day. Her quilts were utterly amazing, and when I asked her how long it took to make one of her miniatures, she told me that it was pretty much the same amount of time as a full-scale version of the same quilt.

I learned some amazing things in the class, not the least of which was to measure, measure, measure. She had us measuring each piece as it was sewn in place to make sure it was correct before moving on. It was a light bulb moment for me....Duh....I've been quilting for over 35 years and did I ever do that? No. I'm here to tell you that it does make a difference.

If you ever have the chance to take a class with Sally, jump on it. Even if miniatures are not your thing, you will learn lessons you should have learned from the get-go.

More vintage goodness tomorrow,

More From the Magic Box

2009-08-06T16:43:00.000-07:00

One of the real treasures in the box was a catalog of quilt patterns available by mail order. I've only begun to examine this lovely little book, but a cursory exam revealed something peculiar and terrifying...... and that would be a pattern for an appliqued rat. A RAT. I ask you, who, in their right mind would applique a rat on a quilt? (Insert ex-husband jokes here.....)

Some possible quilt themes:

A quilt for the 650th anniversary of the black death
Sinking sailboats with rats deserting same
Delightful addition to childs ABC quilt
"Friendship" block for the guild troublemaker
Sofa pillow for the kitty

I can't even think about it because I hate rodents so much.

How would you use a rat block?

More Vintage Goodness

2009-08-04T16:36:00.000-07:00

More pictures of the goodies inside the mystery box. This is such a great time capsule of quilting in the old days when ladies would see a block they liked and make a sample to keep for reference and the quilts that the newspapers published every week.

Opening the lid provides a hint of things to come.

We must have pins to make a good block!Blocks: Devils Claw, Drunkard's Path, and Corn and Beans to name a few.

Mystery Box

2009-08-03T17:03:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago at a meeting of the Santa Rosa Quilt Guild, I found an interesting box on our silent auction table, looking a bit like an old board game. I thought I'd take a looky-lou at it because my Son-in-Law is a diehard gamer and collects same.

A couple of other members and I opened the box and I nearly fell over when I saw the contents.

This box was apparently some quilter's box of sample quilt blocks and patterns--most likely a quilter who is long gone. Included were several patterns purchased from the newspapers, pins, a worn thimble and even a lump of old beeswax. I went to the overseer of the silent auction, offered her a donation for the box and home we came. Over the next few days, I'll be posting some pictures of the goodies inside. Here's a little teaser, the thimble, posing on a quilt block.

This is my 300th post~stay tuned for some kind of giveaway soon!

Yeah, That's Me

2009-08-02T20:42:00.000-07:00

Yep. Guilty.

It has been six weeks since my last blog post. Blame Facebook. Blame live music. Blame family and friends. I've been busy.

I've taken quite a few pictures intending to post them, but I'm a slacker.

Reformation is coming.......tomorrow........I promise.

I'll Be Back

2009-06-12T10:09:00.000-07:00

After the weekend celebration.

The boys and their parents are coming as is Auntie Sarah and we are going to celebrate my birthday (Sunday) this weekend.

I'm coming up on my 300th post, so will probably have a wee bit of a giveaway next week. January through June is crazy-hectic in our family because EVERYONE save my SIL and DS have birthdays before mine on June 14th. We like birthdays in this family, so we've been celebrating and often that means either house guests or out-of-town travels. I'm thinking that more sewing will be done and blog posting as well now that the birthdays are pretty much done for now. Of course, there IS that wedding coming up in October....

Photo is from my 2nd birthday.......55 years ago!

But Wait, There's Even More Applique!

2009-05-27T09:15:00.000-07:00

I'm still busy and not getting a lot of machine time, but I have been doing more applique as you can see.

This is the third finished block for Pearl Pereira's Baltimore Halloween Block-of-the-Month. I have 2 more blocks in process and another will arrive next week, so I'm a bit behind on this one, but I'm getting there.

I am caught up on my Bunny Hill FREE BOM, the basket quilt and I just love how these sweet little blocks are turning out. It is so generous of Anne to share these with us. Every month, I'm digging through my Mom's old buttons to try and find a couple that work and this month I found a set of four square mother-of pearl buttons, so I used two and have two for another month.

Last Friday I was fortunate enough to take a class with Sally Collins and I'll tell you about that tomorrow. She is amazing!

Back to Quilting

2009-05-18T09:31:00.000-07:00

It has been a busy week with my MIL and FIL arriving on Mother's Day and staying through Thursday, and after a day's respite, my stepdaughter Sarah and friend Eddie arrived for another evening of celebration of hubby's birthday. Needless to say, we collapsed last night and will continue to do so today!

Two years ago, I participated in a round robin inspired by May Britt's group and we finished our projects just after the first of the year. We were so pleased by the results that we decided to play again this year. We had a few dropouts and added a few new faces, some gals I "knew" from other mini-quilt round robins or swaps. You can see them all by following the link on the sidebar for Round Robin Bloggers. I decided to have a soft "Be My Valentine" theme this year and present now, my starting block. Quite a switch from the last one, isn't it? The initials are for Jan Brackett (my maiden name) and Mike Andrews. Should be a cutie when finished because the gals in this swap are very, very creative. You won't be seeing it again until I get it back as a finished quiltlet in about 15 months because we've decided to keep the progress a secret again. Stay tuned.

And Yet More Applique

2009-05-03T10:37:00.000-07:00

I'm also working on Bunny Hill Designs (Anne Sutton) FREE Block of the Month and am now caught up!

At right is the block for February.

I just happened to have a yard of a great Nancy Halvorsen background for all of these blocks and the rest have come from the old scrap bin. The blocks are great because they use up tiny snippets of fabrics. Stash diving is such fun!

The second block is for March and features a couple of buttons from my Mom's old button box.

Finally, the April block is the chocolate bunny and I just love him. I'm not happy with the cheapie ribbon on the chick's neck and will be searching for something better.

Some April Applique

2009-05-01T11:45:00.000-07:00

As I said before, I have been appliqueing my little heart out.

This is block one of Pearl Pereira's new Baltimore Halloween BOM, the Owl. I tried using Pearl's method on this block, and have to say that for small concave and convex pieces, I really prefer my old standby, needle turn using a sharp toothpick from the Cracker Barrel Restaurant.

I did a few modifications to the block by adding the buttons and watch chain to the owl's rather plain vest.

Block two is a huge basket of fruit covered with a spider web and very complicated, so I'm working on it a bit more slowly and I jumped ahead to block three, Spiders and Bats.

This block was a complete disaster using the freezer paper on the back and fold the edges over method. So much that I had to redo the wings using my own fabrics. All in all, I think it turned out pretty cute. This particular kit gives "just enough" fabric for the appliques without a whole lot left over, so when I mess things up, I have to go stash-diving. So sad to have to fondle all of my fabrics.

Some Finishes for April

2009-04-30T09:32:00.000-07:00

My finishes for April are Alex's birthday card quilts for his first and second birthdays--caught up at last!

The quilt for his first birthday is kind of a play on words--the old saying "Baby Makes Three"--but because big brother Benjamin was a wee bit jealous as a two-year-old new big brother, Alex took a few hits early on.
"I didn't mean to hit baby," Benj would say with his big blue eyes wide. So Mommy and I used to joke that if Alex made it through his first year, he would be invincible. We second kids have to be tough, you know!

Well Alex (whose brother still often calls him "Baby"), turned out to be tougher than we imagined. He's a daredevil. Standing on chairs, climbing things, giving his mother heart failure, etc. So, I decided to commemorate that by having him dancing on a chair for his second birthday quilt.

And, any resemblance to Charlie Brown you might notice is purely intentional and Mommy finally found the shirt to prove it!

Pathetic!

2009-04-26T09:58:00.000-07:00

Or just busy and not in the mood to blog? Who knows?

I have been stitching, largely by hand these days and I'll post the pictures over the next few days.

I did go to Visalia and visit these characters:

While visiting we did a lot of this:

(He is having fun, in spite of the facial expression....he kept telling me: "Wing! Wing!"

We played Candyland and Benjamin beat Nana on his very first game.

And after all the sweaty yard play, we had to take several very splashy baths in the brand new tub! Thank heaven for Sham Wow.

And finally, when the fun-meters got pegged out, we had a minor meltdown. He is wearing his official "I'm two and there's nothing you can do about it" shirt, so we'll give him a pass on this one. Mom has obviously been here before, ya think?

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T09:33:00.001-07:00

This and That

2009-03-29T09:35:00.001-07:00

I can't believe it's been a month since I last wrote something! March came in like the proverbial lion with a birthday celebration in Lake Tahoe for son Scott's 30th birthday and a "Meet the Parents" with his fiancee's folks. The day we got back, my in-laws arrived for a long weekend and the next day, FIL's daughter and family from Maryland come over. After a weekend of wine-tasting and noshing (fun!), we collapsed--sort of. Hubby got picked for a civil case jury and has been doing that every day since and I've been keeping the home front nailed down.

In the midst of all that, I presented my beloved Father-in-Law Ed with a quilt to commemorate his 80th birthday next month, since we won't be seeing him on the big day. (He likes to fly those birthdays under the radar).

You may recognize these blocks as I've pictured them as they arrived from my FQ pals and also the ones I made myself. I bought the set kit from the Fat Quarter Shop after Kathy B. bought me the fabric line for Christmas in 2007. My friend Kat who owns A Thread Runs Through It did the quilting with a lovely wool batting and the quilt is gorgeous.

I also (very, very belatedly) finished my grandson Alex's Birth Quilt. Bad Nana. Birthdays number one and two are under construction and will be done in time and will also be my April finishes. Benjamin's birth quilt is a pale blue with stars because he was born at 12:02 p.m. Alex's is a blue sky because he was born at 12:01 a.m.

Final Friday in February Finish

2009-02-27T09:19:00.000-08:00

Say that three times fast!

I finished this quilt last night for our step-daughter Michelle's son Broden and it's only a few months (like 9 months) late.

It was made entirely from stash a couple of years ago at a guild meeting. One of our talented members, Melissa, does an annual "Mystery Quilt" after a meeting and I finished the top right away and it lay languishing in my closet. Now it is a finished project and one more UFO off the list.

Next up: Borders on the Verna Mosquera Halloween quilt.

Happy February, Happy Friday!

I've Been A.W.O.L.

2009-02-18T09:08:00.000-08:00

But I have excuses, a million of 'em.

The first part of the year is busy for me with quilt guild activities. I'm the newsletter publisher, so each year I have to "break-in" the new committee members who write reports for me to publish. I also help the membership gals by keeping the database and prepping the printed roster for them and that is another first-of-the-year activity as well. With all that and traveling, I've been a busy gal who isn't sewing much.

My first finish for February can now be revealed, my grandson Benjamin's annual birthday quiltlet. I decided to do these quilts for his birth and annually until he is five, so this is the next-to-last. We visited them last week and Kate had the quilts all hung on the special hanger I bought last year and they were very cute if I do say so myself. I present this years' addition, a celebration of the fact that my boy started preschool last month and is loving it. Kate reports that he loves the peek-a-boo door on the quilt this year, so maybe I can think of something 3-D for next year.

It is hard for me to believe that this little guy is four years old already! Kate, Benjamin and I had a wonderful time making Valentines for his classmates while Alex was napping.

Mrs. Goodneedle is right--life is good!

A Tisket A Tasket

2009-01-31T17:28:00.000-08:00

I finished January's basket!

In the nick of time for the challenge, I finished block one of Bunny Hill designs free block of the month for January. The buttons are tacked on for pictures and storage, but will be removed before I quilt and sewn back on later. Isn't he cute??

15 Little Quiltlets

2009-01-29T00:37:00.000-08:00

All of our little Round Robins have been received and posted and you can see them at Quiltgranny's blog. This was a great project and many of us are going to do it again. Now to think of a theme. My quilt is El Dia de los Muertos, the third one down.

Thanks again ladies!

And, just because I really need another UFO/WIP, I've decided to do the 12 Months of Baskets, a free BOM from Anne Sutton of Bunny Hill Designs. It is just too cute, and how often can you get a FREE set of designs from such a great designer?

Home Again

2009-01-23T16:37:00.000-08:00

And all shopped out!

I left on the 14th to meet up with Kathy, Kat and Becky at Road to California and we had a wonderful time, but I forgot to take any pictures of us doing so.

We got home today from three days in Mendocino and our last stop was Sew n' Sew Fabrics in Fort Bragg, CA. If you are ever in Mendocino or vicinity, I highly recommend a trip into this shop. It looks like an old feed store building, but trust me, you will not be disappointed. She has darn near something for everyone in there and I found a pattern and template set by Terry Atkinson that I'd not seen at the entire show and five quilt shops in the Los Angeles area. This in a town of about 8,000 people! (This picture, from Terry's website does not do the pattern pictures justice.)

I'm definitely ready to sew and hope to post something quilty in a day or so.

Do You Love Quiltville?

2009-01-11T09:50:00.000-08:00

Then go visit ForestJane Designs and grab her great little sidebar button to promote Bonnie Hunter's site. She also has one with a white background for pages with colored backgrounds.

Thanks ForestJane!!

First Finishes

2009-01-10T19:19:00.000-08:00

In keeping with May Britt's challenge for 2009, I am posting my first finishes of the month. They aren't huge projects, just a couple of panel quilts for baby girls born to my daughter's friends. I bought the panels and flannel backings at M & L fabrics when I visited in July, so they were technically UFO's, and at least they aren't sitting on my cutting table anymore!

Since I'm leaving for Road to California on Wednesday, followed by two days at my MIL's in Carmel, CA (straight from the airport), a brief pitstop at home and then up to Mendocino with my love to celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary, I thought I better finish my monthly goal early. I'll be gone for 9 days!

Another of my goals is to get more comfortable with machine quilting. It is one of those things I can do, but I'm not very good at it and I dread it. I'm working on a table runner today and tomorrow, and will hopefully be able to post that tomorrow.

Round Robin Received!!

2009-01-06T10:07:00.000-08:00

And nobody is luckier than me. Nobody.

As you may recall, we started this project in the fall of 2007, using an idea we got from MayBritt at Abyquilt in Norway. Because it was autumn and I love Halloween and its Latino cousin El Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), I chose that as my theme with a starter block you can see here.

I received my finished quilt yesterday and color me happy--I can't imagine it having turned out any more perfect than this.

Thank you Round Robin Bloggers so very much--you absolutely hit it out of the ballpark for me!

PS: I already have an idea for Round Robin II and am ready when you ladies are!

As requested, here is the fabulous back of the RR quilt.

And yes, it is on top of the assembled top of my Verna Mosquera BOM.

I just need to add the borders and applique them and I'm nervous about the scallops and procrastinating.

Stashbusting With Judy

2009-01-04T14:04:00.000-08:00

OK, I took the pledge--New Year's Resolution #1: I'm stashbusting for 2009 with Judy.

I started yesterday by tackling one side of the fabric storage closet. I took all of the fabric pictured at right out of the large plastic container that you can barely see at the bottom of the picture. It now contains a quilt that is in the process of being machine quilted by me. I'm avoiding it because I'm a serious novice at machine quilting.

The other items are:

A. Several flimsies and their backings. The two you can see are a 1930's Christmas quilt from a kit I bought in Maine in 2007. The other is a "Just Can't Cut It" made from the most gorgeous Autumn fabric with rusts and blacks. I'm going to see if my Sistah Becky wants to have them on hand to quilt at her leisure. That way they are outta here.

B. Stack-O-Fabric. Since my husband reads this blog, I can tell you that it represents my entire stash (multiply as desired)....LOL.

C. Is a beautiful line called Scarlet Night that my Sistah Kathy and I both bought after we went to Linda Ballard's retreat in Trinidad in 2007. Linda made our mystery quilt out of this fabric and we had to have it. Perhaps she and I need to challenge each other this year to finish the tops?

While we're making resolutions, I've also joined May Britt and Kris's challenge to finish one project a month in 2009. Sounds do-able and will help clear those UFO's out!

Why don't you visit their blogs and check it out and join the fun--all you have to lose is your stash and UFOs.

Ten days until I fly to Ontario to meet my Sistahs for Road to California, so I need to fondle the fabrics big time to prevent my feeling the need to buy more. Especially since we will be visiting M & L fabrics again.

Yikes!

OK, OK, I Get It!

2009-01-02T09:18:00.000-08:00

Leader/Ender......what the heck? My longtime internet pal Bonnie Hunter has been extolling the virtues of leader/ender for years and I had the hardest time understanding this concept, much less putting it into use. Since much of my piecing is one-project-at-a-time ( which is not to say that I don't have many, many UFOs, PIGs, WISPs, etc), I couldn't get why leader/ender sewing was of any use to me.

Enter Pepper Cory and the class I took from her at Quilt Festival in Long Beach last summer. The Swartz Creek Quilt (scroll down to near the bottom), with its endless numbers of half square triangles and four patches seemed like the perfect way to try this technique. So, sitting beside my machine are stacks of 3" squares for the HSTs and 2 1/2 " squares for the 4 patches. As I was putting together the flimsy from the previous post, I used the heck out of my stacks and was amazed at how much easier it is to not have to clip endless pieces of thread!!!!!

Yesterday, to celebrate the New Year, I watched my favorite chick flick of all time, Bridget Jones's Diary and cut a ton of squares from the $1.00 fat quarters I got at PIQF to add to the project. What a great way to start the year!

The image is a shameless plug for Bonnie's article in the new issue of Quiltmaker--check it out!!

Year End Flimsy

2008-12-29T18:04:00.000-08:00

I hustled and got a flimsy completed so I can send it to Kat for quilting later this week. Several months ago, I was the lucky lotto person for my online mini-group and I sent them all different blocks using some Civil War fabrics I'd received for Christmas last year from my friend Kathy.

I love how this quilt turned out! Kathy and I, using the same fabrics (we split a fat quarter pack), both made samplers using a finishing kit from one of the participants in a designer sampler from an online shop. We both used blocks from Marsha McCloskey's Block Party and I was lucky enough to get many of my blocks made by pals in the group.

Now Kat will work her magic on it and I'll bind it in time to deliver to a special someone who will remain anonymous for now.

I also completed stitching on the first block for my latest Halloween endeavor, "Hocuspocusville" by Crabapple Hill. I found the kit at the Napa Quilt Show at Thimble Creek's booth and had to have it!

Is it possible to have too many Halloween quilts?

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-24T09:37:00.000-08:00

Best wishes to one and all for a Merry Christmas and Happy Hannukah. I hope you enjoy your celebrations with family and friends as I am. Be back in a few days!

Why Quilters Do What We Do

2008-12-21T10:05:00.000-08:00

This picture is totally staged, but I love it just the same. Benjamin loves all of his quilts and that is all one needs to do to ensure a continuing supply, isn't it?

Christmas Meme

2008-12-14T16:39:00.000-08:00

Here's a fun one from Diane at Going to Pieces

Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot chocolate, but only the real deal. The occasional egg nog is OK too, but the calories....oy vey!

Does Santa wrap presents or set them under the tree? Santa always wraps presents. Lately, though, Santa has been making reusable fabric bags in an effort to go green.

Colored lights on tree or white? We change from year to year, but usually colored. This year we bought a live potted tree that we hope will stay small enough to bring in for a few years.

When do you put your decorations up? The first week of December if I'm "on it."

What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? It has to be the stuffing. Mom's recipe using Mrs. Cubbison's seasoned dressing (NOT cornbread) and adding chestnuts.

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? To borrow a quote from Francis P. Church, Yes, VIRGINIA, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. You can read the entire text here.

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? When the kids were small, I adopted a tradition shared with us by our neighbors on Kate's first Christmas. New P.J.'s were given and opened on Christmas Eve so the morning photos would be sweeter.

How do you decorate your Christmas tree? I have ornaments I've collected for years, but since I'm now using a small, live tree the branches won't hold the weight of the heavier ornaments. I'm using some lovely blown glass old-fashioned ornaments my daughter gave me. They are light and they remind me of the few old ornaments my Mom had from her childhood. I also use some tin icicles a friend sent me from Amish country as part of a Secret Santa exchange years ago. This year the tree is on a tabletop with part of my Christmas village around it.

Snow! Love it or Dread it? I love snow, but mostly when I don't have to go out in it too much. Learning to drive in the snow when living in Ft. Collins, Colorado and Reno, Nevada was not too much fun. A good book or some hand quilting and a cup of hot tea in front of a snowy window is nice.

Can you ice skate? What, are you kidding? I'm too klutzy.

Do you remember your favorite gift? A Kitchen-Aid mixer.

What’s the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Taking time to see family and shopping for gifts for the kids on the Salvation Army tree. One year we bought for a whole family and that was a blast.

What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? My husband's fudge--there is none better--except his Mom's, but it is her recipe. Oh wait, my (step)Daughter Sarah makes Rocky Road that has addictive properties once likened to crack cocaine. Either/or is good.

What is your favorite tradition? When I was a little girl (and up to my teens) we would have hot chocolate and home-made doughnuts after the annual Christmas parade. The parade was always held on the Monday night after Thanksgiving and we always observed the tradition. When I moved back to Visalia with my two children, we observed it too but with bakery doughnuts. Then, they started letting everyone and his cousin be inthe parade and it wasn't done until after bedtime on a school night!

Which do you prefer, Giving or Receiving? Giving, definitely. Occasionally, someone will surprise me with something great and unexpected (size and cost unimportant), but I'd much rather be on the other end of it.

What is your favorite Christmas Song? "I'll Be Home For Christmas."

Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? Neutral, but I do like peppermint.

Ever recycled a Christmas present? Never.

Christmas Quilts For My Boys

2008-12-10T09:12:00.000-08:00

Unlike their mother, who had to wait 18 years for her Christmas quilt to be finished, my little boys will have their Christmas quilts tomorrow.

My "Sistah" Becky started it all by giving me a Sandy Gervais "Holly Jolly" Jelly Roll for my birthday last year. As I was trolling that very dangerous website The Fat Quarter Shop, I saw this pattern, so I ordered it and another Jelly Roll and was off to the races. Last January at Becky's winter sewing retreat, I got all the blocks made and during the ensuing months, I did the applique of the boy's names and put the tops together. I did modify the original pattern by deleting the top row and adding their names. I also made matching pillowcases with their names for use during the holidays and then for storage of the quilts in the off season.

I bought backing in LA at Quilt Festival and gave all to Becky over the summer and she quilted them up on her HQ16 and got them back to me at PIQF. Now they are bound and will be dropped off by the UPS guy tomorrow.

I also included in the package, a little something for Mommy, a tiny quilt made in the Snooze-You-Lose Mini-Group. The stockings are fabrics I saved from Kate's original Christmas quilt started in 1979. This mini-quilt is cool because it sits over a plastic 8 x 10 self-standing frames and can be removed for other seasonal quiltlets. This picture is Kate "helping" me quilt it in 1980. No wonder I didn't get it finished until 1997!!

Nothing New Here

2008-12-07T20:00:00.000-08:00

Since the kids left, I've been getting my decorating done and a wee bit of quilting. I have done a whole lot of work on my other love, the garden. I decided that I needed to flip my compost heap before the rains came and sogged it up and made it too heavy to sift and turn. (Because in spite of the season to date, we will be getting the rain we need.)

We compost all of our yard prunings, grass clippings and leaves except the thorny stems of bougainvillea and roses as well as all of our vegetable kitchen waste. Since I watched a video from The Slow Cook's blog, I'm going to add my dryer lint too. Twice a year, our compost pile yields a considerable amount of black gold. When added to my flower beds and container vegetable garden. Wednesday was a beautiful day, cool and foggy and the perfect weather for playing with my compost.

Hanging out with my boys

2008-12-01T09:39:00.000-08:00

The boys came to visit Nana and Pop for Thanksgiving, so we were very busy chasing kids.

I presented their Christmas quilts, so photos will follow tomorrow.

I hope your Thanksgiving found you happy and healthy and in the company of those who matter most to you.

Baby Quilt Received!

2008-11-24T18:05:00.000-08:00

I'm a member of the Round Robin Bloggers, a project we started about a year ago that was inspired by MayBritt's projects last year.

This year, a member of our Round Robins, Amy The Calico Cat, started another project--her first baby--and that baby is due in just a couple of days. The bloggers did what we quilters do and started a quilt for Amy's baby. Sharon (Quiltgranny's Shoe) assembled it, Beth (Beth's Quilty Blog) quilted it and I did the binding and label. I do owe Julie (Floribunda) an apology for omitting her name from the label. I'm so sorry Julie!!

Now to sit back and wait to see whether the baby is a girl or a boy!

Cool Give-Away!

2008-11-24T17:44:00.001-08:00

Little Blue Cottage is having a giveaway of Denyse Schmidt fabrics.

Check it out here!

In a Bind

2008-11-16T10:17:00.001-08:00

I'm working like crazy trying to get the binding sewed down on a couple of quilts I need to finish before our guild meeting on Thursday, so nothing exciting to show yet.

I did get another DMBOM from The Fat Quarter Shop and completed it. I think this is my favorite block so far.

Note: This block is messed up! The side pieces are reversed! New kit is here and repairs will be made. Oy--when the ADD types sew and watch TV at the same time!

A Little Engagement Gift

2008-11-10T20:40:00.000-08:00

Last weekend I whipped up a kit given to my by my dear friend Nancy, NP. I selfishly wanted to keep it, but since Scott and Erin announced their engagement on Halloween and as of this writing, intend to marry next Halloween, I felt a little seasonal gift was in order.

Nancy sent me this darling kit from The Fat Quarter Shop that included a pattern, some backing and binding, rick-rack and a charm pack for the line "Pumpkins Gone Wild." Sandy Gervais designed this line, and I just love her funky, happy fabrics.

The kit worked up quickly and I liked that, so I may order another charm pack and make one for me!

YES WE DID!!!!!!

2008-11-04T23:19:00.000-08:00

Feeling relieved and at peace this election day Presidentially speaking.

I'm sorry about the expected passage of Proposition 8. Marriage is marriage, regardless of gender. I've been married three times, twice to men who didn't seem to grasp the concept. In my not-so-humble opinion, if a same-sex couple can find the happiness that I finally found this time around, well, more power to 'em.

I Did, Did You?

2008-11-04T13:18:00.001-08:00

Sew-A-Row Season

2008-11-03T16:24:00.000-08:00

Well, it's that time of year again, and the Sew-A-Rows are rolling in. Here are a few that I just photographed that were late (and two of them were mine!), along with the starter rows.

This project was started by Pat and finished by me (top row). Pat donated some lovely Hmong reverse applique bands to go with her squares and though I was able to use a long piece, there is still one more for the other end if desired.

Pat also contributed these lovely pieces of Southeast Asian cross stitch and Veline, Marguerite, Diana and I all added other bits of imported textiles from Guatemala and South America.

Finally, Joyce started this Christmas fabric Log Cabin and was joined by Earlene, Elizabeth, Genie and Meri Kay to make this darling Christmas wallhanging. The embroidery on the lower set of birds is done by hand and this picture does not do justice to this piece.

As always, my fellow guild members continue to amaze me with their creativity. The Sew-A-Rows will be starting a bit later this year so I can hopefully get some really creative starter rows without the pressure of getting them turned in before the holidays. They better look out because I'm going to start bugging them this week.

Stay tuned for more pictures!

The Best Treat!

2008-10-31T21:07:00.000-07:00

Son Scott just called and after several months of teeth-gnashing and worry, he popped the question to his longtime girlfriend Erin and she said YES.

WooHoo! Color us excited!

Note to "Anonymous":
Yes, as a matter of fact, they do lean left, and proudly so,

Trick or Treat

2008-10-31T16:33:00.000-07:00

Best wishes of the day. Must go get ready for the influx of goblins. It rained off and on today and while we need the moisture, I hope it doesn't keep the kiddies home. I love Halloween!

Something Wicked This Way Comes

2008-10-28T09:46:00.000-07:00

Which, by the way, is an excellent book by Ray Bradbury, but also a great description of my sewing room these days.

Yesterday, I accomplished most of the top assembly of the Verna Mosquera BOM. The bottom row is not attached yet because I have a wee bit of embellishing to do as well as appliqueing down some of the small areas that overlap after the blocks are sewn together. My goal was to finish the main part of the top by Halloween and I've done it! The borders are applique as well and those will be next.

Here is my progress on the kit I bought at PIQF, a Day of the Dead quilt. Cutting out all of these little spaces from the white fabric after bonding the Steam-a-Seam II was tedious, but it's done! This quilt will not be finished for this year, but I've managed to make a pretty good start on it.

As a reward to myself, I signed up for another Halloween BOM, this one Baltimore Halloween by Pearl Pereira and Amidon Quiltworks. This one is a bit more complicated, but I'm up for it.

The question is, how many Halloween quilts can you make before you have too many? Is it possible?

I'm Not Lazy, I'm Busy!

2008-10-25T15:24:00.000-07:00

It has been a busy week with the Snooze-You-Lose mini group and The Lunch Bunch getting together (isn't having quilty pals the best?), but really people, I haven't even unpacked most of my PIQF booty except for one thing. Oh, and the sleep study follow-up. Maybe once I get the breathing machine (CPAP), I'll get enough sleep at night to give up naps which will equal more sewing time!

Sadly, I didn't sew as much at PIQF as I'd hoped, but I did manage to start a NEW project that I purchased while I was there. I think I'm more of a handwork person when it comes to travel on short trips, so will plan accordingly next time.

I did, however, run into a blogging pal from Down Under! Tara, aka Tazzie, was visiting the US on vacation and was hanging out on preview night with my old buddy from way back, Marilyn! I knew she was going to be there, but didn't dream I'd get to meet her in all the hubub that is PIQF. We are pictured here right near the Bonnie Blue Quilts booth where a bit of damage was done by one and all. It was great to finally meet Tazzie as I'm using a cute sewing mat I bought from her under my travel machine whenever I use it. She's a sweetheart, just like you'd think from reading her blog.

I've finished all but the final block for the 1800's sampler and most of the lattice stars are done as well. I'll be putting them up on the design wall tomorrow (maybe) and asking your opinion on arrangements. The next installment of the Designers Mystery Block of the Month is done as well.

I got a couple of quilts back from my Sistah Becky that she'd worked some magic with and now have them to bind before Thanksgiving. Because they are a semi-secret project, I won't post pictures until they are delivered.

Applique Skeleton Update: 2 ribs left and then the dentition!! (It has been suggested by my Sistah Kathy that one tooth is just enough and I'm thinking she may be right!)

Donate and Win!

2008-10-14T16:59:00.000-07:00

Via Malagueta's blog. She was my recipient for last winter's Four Seasons Quilt Swap, so I check her blog as it updates. For a $10 donation you can win a "Yes We Can" quilt by renowned quilt artist and designer Denyse Schmidt. And even if you don't win the quilt, you can still support a winner!

A description from the Obama website:

Renowned contemporary American quilt artist Denyse Schmidt and friends have created a quilt inspired by Barack Obama’s message of hope and change. Long before women had the vote, they created quilts with political and commemorative themes. We are proud to participate in this honorable tradition.

Help us support Barack Obama’s campaign! Make a $10 donation and you will be entered into a drawing to own this historical heirloom. Contribute any amount in increments of ten to increase your odds of winning (in more ways than one). For instance, donate $50 and you name will be entered into the drawing five times.

The 50” x 52” quilt is 100% cotton, hand-appliquéd and machine-quilted.

Make donations now through midnight on election day November 4th. One lucky winner will be drawn randomly from the pool of supporters.

Time is short and the stakes are high. A donation to Barack Obama is an investment in our future.

Spread the word – the world will thank you for it!

Heading out tomorrow for PIQF to hang out with Kathy B. and Becky. Back Saturday.

I Have Been Sewing

2008-10-10T09:37:00.000-07:00

It was newsletter week for the S.R. Quilt Guild and a bit of my time was taken up with that endeavor, so machine time has suffered. I have been hand-sewing a lot on a secret project that cannot be divulged at this time. I'm going to photograph it today so I can post pictures after it has been sent away.

In the meantime, I received this wonderful block from my pal Kathy B--her second for this project. She did a wonderful job on Judy's Star, didn't she?

I made a couple myself this week, Peaceful Hours, a block I'd sent to Moira for the swap, but the copies I sent of the templates were wonky and she made 3--count them 3--trial blocks without success. I was able to make the block by tracing exactly the templates in the book, and even then, I had to remake one star point section. I certainly appreciate Moira's above and beyond efforts and the replacement she sent.

Finally, here is today's block, named Ohio Trail by Marsha McCloskey. I likt the little four patches in the corners and how they completely change this otherwise plain old Ohio Star.

I now have 14 blocks with one still out, so I'll be making about 4 more. Looking at my blocks, I just realized that Molly made this block as well--d'oh--but with the colorways being pretty different, it won't be easy to tell. Sheesh, all the record-keeping on who-got-what color and patternwise was a real effective system, wasn't it???

Scratching head in Santa Rosa,

Halloween Season

2008-10-04T14:20:00.000-07:00

I may possibly have mentioned that I love Halloween. Just a little.

Now, its October and the countdown is on. I took my Halloween quilts out of the closet and have to figure out where to hand them this year.

This is the first Halloween quilt I ever made, back in 1998. I used the old bug jar pattern with Spooky fabrics and because I was pretty pissed off about the Clinton impeachment hearings, I took a picture from Time magazine of Ken Starr looking like he'd sucked a lemon and made it into "Starr in a Jar " (next to last block, top row). I took various pictures of Newt Gingrich and made and "Eyes of Newt" jar as well (second block, second row). Finally, I added a quilter in the last jar of the bottom row. I used a wood-textured black tone on tone and call the quilt "Dracula's Pantry" and if you enlarge the picture you can see the "D" I quilted at the top.

Now, to go finish machine quilting some sweet, pink, baby girl quilts!

Seasonally yours,

Gettin' Down to the Carpals, Tarsals and Phalanges

2008-09-26T10:05:00.000-07:00

And the metatarsals and metacarpals and let us not forget the ribs, incisors and canines. In other words, the skeleton is the last man standing as it were. I finished the embellishments on the shoe full of candy last night and did a few more ribs and metatarsals (toes).

Here's a sneak peek at the skeleton so far. I need to re-size the lower tombstone and make it a bit smaller before I can applique it down. The cauldron needs some embellishment and instead of the plain bubbles I'm using the new Clover yo-yo maker to make 3/4" yo-yos. (yes, we are missing a phalange on one foot and need to cut another)

Also on deck are some quick panel baby quilts backed in flannel for baby girls born in the San Joaquin Valley during August. Babies in that region don't need their quilts right away if born in the summer, but time is coming soon when they will. Daughter Kate's friends keep this Nana very busy!

Another Wonderful Block

2008-09-24T17:05:00.000-07:00

Arrived today from my friend Karrin. I now have only 2 blocks yet to arrive, but Sistah Kathy B. has informed me that her top is done with 9-inch blocks, 13 total, and that I need to do 5 more to make the top bigger. She wouldn't lie to me and has already told me that she is making one additional block, so I guess I need to get with the program, eh?

Here is a peek at all 10 blocks I have to date.

And, I got the 4th block of the Designers Mystery Block of the Month from The Fat Quarter Shop and it is now history. I also finished my SR Quilt Guild Challenge just in the nick of time for the meeting last week. The theme was "Vote 2008" and those words had to appear on the quilt. Mine was a fairly minimalist effort and done at the last minute even though I'd beeen percolating the idea ever since the challenge was announced in February. Photo tomorrow.

Leave Town, Make a Quilt

2008-09-19T18:10:00.000-07:00

We just got back from a week at Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii, enjoying the fun and sun, but not the humidity. Being a lifelong Californian and living in a pretty dry climate, I didn't do too well with the heat and humidity. I did love swimming in the ocean and actually not freezing to death. Oh, and the fresh pineapple and Kona coffee. Delicious!

While I was gone, I got some more Lotto blocks from my girlfriends, and that was almost as good as sewing them myself! Sunday, my friend Sandi and I will go to the Napa Quilt Show where we will meet up with our friend Kathy B. Good Times!

Measure Twice, Cut Once

2008-09-06T16:37:00.000-07:00

I have the lattice for the lotto blocks all cut out now that the replacement fabric has arrived. Seems I, in my infinite wisdom, managed to cut the WOF pieces 9 inches instead of 9 1/2. Brilliant! Luckily, I was able to order an additional 2/3 yard online and was a bit more careful with the second go-round.

I have been embroidering on the redwork Quilter's Blessings so generously shared with everyone by Bea at Capricorn Quilts- BOM. Thanks Bea!

Here's a shot of my design wall with the Pepper Cory blocks to date, Bea's redwork, my lotto blocks and some paper pieced (from EQ6) letters.

I have a few redwork blocks prepared and the skeleton applique ready to go because on Tuesday morning we are flying to Hawaii! I doubt if I'll be blogging again before we leave, so have a nice week and I'll see you later.

Yet Another Fabulous Block

2008-08-24T10:49:00.000-07:00

This one from Carolyn in Iowa. I love it!

More Love in the Mailbox

2008-08-22T16:10:00.000-07:00

From my Sistah Kathy B. in Woodland, the one who got me started on this whole sampler enterprise, I present the block Beacon Lights. I love this block and had I needed to do one for the quilt, this is the one I'd have made.

I've been appliqueing like a fiend at night while watching Deadwood again, but you wouldn't know it by my progress. I'm facing the demon skeleton and working this dude is a slow-go. In the past few days, I've managed to finish most of the carpals and metacarpals on this, his left hand. I'm also treating myself to occasional breaks from hands and fingers to work on the clavicles and ribs.

I've found with these small pieces it is much easier to mark them all in proper position on a larger piece of fabric and then baste them down only in the places that are the actual applique. When I'm ready to tackle a new piece, I simply trim around it to separate it from the rest and I'm good to go. You can probably see through the rib-piece that I've already appliqued the sternum, so I'll just cut around that when I'm ready. He will have more teeth....maybe. I'm kind of getting used to him with only one!

Blocks, Blocks and More Blocks

2008-08-19T09:51:00.001-07:00

Another Lotto block arrived over the weekend from my friend Marilyn and I love this one so much!

I really wanted this block, but I hate flying geese and I happen to know that Marilyn is a pro at them, so she got this one and if you will notice, her points are perfect. That's Marilyn for you, a pro.

I'm also caught up on my DMBOM with blocks two and three finished and up on the design wall.

On deck: a few machine applique blocks for a Sew-A-Row with a Christmas theme. I'm a couple of weeks late on this one, but since the next rotation is the final one and I built some "fluff time" into the schedule, we'll be fine. The most recent American Quilter Magazine (from AQS) has two great articles on machine applique, both satin stitch and buttonhole and well worth looking for.

One 2008 Sew-A-Row is already complete, worked on by speed demons (not me for sure) and I'll show you a picture of that one tomorrow.

Another Lotto Block Arrives

2008-08-15T16:56:00.000-07:00

From my pal Molly in Sacramento.

Is this quilt going to rock my world? You betcha! It is going to be hard to give away, except that the recipient is pretty danged deserving. Whoever it is.

Happy Friday all, I'm off to sew some more Designers Mystery BOM blocks just for me.....actually, I have a recipient in mind for them as well.

The silly little siggy is not working today, so I'll sign off myself,

peace.......ms jan

First Lotto Block Arrives!

2008-08-14T17:42:00.000-07:00

Every month, my online group of longtime friends the Fat Quarters has a lotto for those who wish to participate. We used operate more like a real lotto, having the prior month's winner send out fabric to everyone and then draw lots for a new winner. Last year, we decided to change things a bit and work it like another swap we all used to do, the Favorite Fabric Swap. In the FF swap, each member would send out her favorite fabric and the others would make a specific block they'd signed up for at the beginning. Blending the best of both worlds, each member signs up for a month and on her month she sends fabric and pattern to the others, with or without go-withs depending on what she wants.

August is my month and I opted to send out sampler blocks using Marsha McKloskey's Block Party and Judie Rothermel's Civil War Classics line. The fabrics were offered as an online Block of the Month, but since my friend Kathy gave me fat eighths of the entire line, I opted to buy a finishing kit and do the rest on my own. Kathy joined me in this project and her quilt is nearly done.

My first block arrived today from my friend Nancy, Near Philadelphia and she did a bang-up job, as I knew she would. Nancy also sent me a wonderful quilt kit from the aforementioned Fat Quarter Shop in lieu of a Pirate's Booty Swap quilt back when her Joe was sick --in spite of being told not-to-worry, but she didn't have her listening ears on. Nancy knows how I feel about Halloween and Sandy Gervais fabrics. Sweet.

On the topic of Halloween, I'm one block closer to finishing the Verna Mosquera BOM. Mr. Jack O'Lantern has joined the others in the finished box. Now the boot full of candy and yes, the skeleton.

You can run, but you can't hide!

Another Block of the Month

2008-08-12T15:19:00.000-07:00

Last spring I signed up for a Block of the Month at one of my favorite online shops The Fat Quarter Shop. If you've never been there, go. Now. You will spend money, I guarantee it. Of course if you are in a no-fabric-buying-mode you can always just look, but don't drool on your keyboard, it makes them cranky.

Anyhoo, Kim started a BOM Designers Mystery using the Peace On Earth line by 3 Sisters for Moda, which I just love. The mystery blocks started arriving in June and I got a little behind what with all the travelling in July, so I decided to start catching up today with Block One, a modification of an old one-patch type quilt I've always known as Kansas Dugout, near and dear to me because I hand pieced one for my second baby, Daniel born in 1980. The block went together well and had impeccable pressing instructions that would have enabled me to match my corners perfectly had I followed them. The story of my life--can't follow directions!

No Sew Weekend

2008-08-10T18:03:00.000-07:00

Saturdays are so busy and during the summer our weather is so beautiful that we don't spend a lot of time indoors, so not much sewing gets done. This was one of those weekends.

I have another block almost finished on the Halloween applique and will post tomorrow. That leaves one block to prepare while I'm dodging the finishing of the skeleton. Sooner or later, it will catch up with me...

Here is a picture of the blocks I made in the Pepper Cory workshop at Quilt Festival a couple of weeks ago. The solid block fabric is the one Pepper loved so I gave her a fat quarter. I'm liking how this looks so far, very scrappy and sweet.

Yes, I Am Sewing

2008-08-05T18:07:00.000-07:00

I'm finally sewing a bit and last night while watching a bit of television, I finished work on another block of the Halloween BOM. While at Quilt Festival I got to meet the designer, Verna Mosquera, and had fun chatting with her about how much I loved the quilt. When I told her about being behind on the skeleton she told me to use wool, but I'm too far into it to change now.
This block (three blocks actually) worked up more quickly than you might imagine. I made the spiderweb as I would have if I'd been doing reverse applique. All of the rings were marked on the same fabric and I cut away each line as I appliqued it down, and then I placed the center and "arms" over the top and appliqued it down.

All I have left is a shoe full of candy and a Jack-O-Lanter and of course, the rest of the skeleton. I had to unstitch an ulna, femur and hip socket last night because I'd placed them a bit wonky and if allowed to stay, the poor dude would have had rather stretched ankles and wrists. Bad enough to be a skeleton, one needn't be deformed!

Also, today I was able to make a pillowcase for my daughter's brother-in-law and got Benjamin and Alexander's names ironed down (and Benjamin's appliqued) for their Christmas quilts. FINALLY, some progress.

Sunday Report

2008-08-03T10:16:00.000-07:00

I've had a busy week getting things back to normal at home and really haven't sewed much. I pulled out a quilt top made several years ago and am quilting it up for daughter Kate's hubby's grandparents who both have cancer. Grandma is always cold, so I'm doing some quick quilting to get this one to her fast. Anyone who lives in the Central Valley of California and is cold in July really needs a quilt!

Quilt Festival

2008-07-30T09:19:00.000-07:00

I'm back after a week away and like I always say, "There's no place like home."

I had a wonderful time with Becky and Kathy and all the quilts and vendors at Quilt Festival, but we all decided that it was just too much and that we are just as happy with smaller, regional shows like Pacific International Quilt Festival and Road to California. The show had over 500 vendors and supposedly 1000 quilts, but many were small journal quilts the size of a piece of typing paper with artist statements the same length and quite honestly, had meaning only to the maker.

We took a class, "Scrap Quilts from Antique Quilts" with Pepper Cory and had a good time with that. We are pictured with her in front of the antique quilt (above left-right) Becky, Kathy, Pepper, and MsJan. Pepper was a charming lady and her sample quilt was gorgeous. I got a few rows done and it will be a great project to keep by the machine for those times when I want to sew without thinking too much.

One of the highlights of our trip was a visit to M & L fabrics in Anaheim, a gi-normous warehouse of fabrics from $7.98-$1.98/yard depending on how close to the front door you are....literally! The place was mind-boggling. The back area was filled with row after row of very neatly stacked flat folds. Here is a picture of Kathy and Becky among the flat folds and if you can figure out how to pull one from a stack you are smarter than we are. We just stared in awe and moved on to the $2.98 fabrics figuring it was worth a buck a yard to not have to pull one of these out.

This is a view of the store from the front of the flat fold area. Mind boggling to say the least. We all picked up some quilt backs and a little bit of this and that and Becky got some gorgeous boucle woven for a jacket in just her color and I got a hunk of Robert Kauffman tropical rayon blend for a sarong to wear in Hawaii in September (at $2.98/yard).

I got a little bit more done on the boy's Christmas quilts and need to add the last row for Becky to commence the quilting for me. More on that later.

Gone Quiltin'

2008-07-22T16:29:00.000-07:00

I'm not slackin' again, I'm actually being quite productive with my pal Becky in Lompoc. Greyhair and I traveled south and stayed Saturday in Cayucos, CA, a tiny beach town where both of our families spent summer vacations and where my parents and tow sisters eventually retired. I'd been shunned from a family wedding in Visalia (long story), so I decided to go visit my old home-away-from-home while the "cats were away."

Greyhair dropped me off with Becky on Monday and we've been sewing and chatting up a storm. I'm working on the applique technique using fusible thread and have discovered a new trick which I will share as a tutorial next week when I get back.

We pick Kathy B. up in Santa Barbara tomorrow and then its down to Long Beach for the first International Quilt Festival on the west coast. Festival starts Friday and we have a class on Saturday, so on Thursday we thought we might see the Queen Mary or do something else touristy.

Are we excited? You betcha!

Spells

2008-07-14T17:17:00.000-07:00

I finished another block of my Verna Mosquera Block-of-the-Month from Thimble Creek. Yahoo! I now have another in progress that is acutally three blocks sewed together with three bats and a spiderweb. The shoe full of candy and jack-o-lantern are ready to do the prep work and of course the skeleton is ongoing.

I have to say that I'm really enjoying being home in the cooler temperatures, even though I miss my little boy buddies.

Roasting in Fresno

2008-07-08T20:54:00.000-07:00

I'm not really slacking, I'm just visiting with daughter Kate and the grand-boys Benjamin and Alex in hotter-than-hot Fresno. We were scheduled to go to UC Irvine for a second laser treatment on Benjamin's facial hemangioma, but he got a little bit of a cold, so we had to stay home and play with Legos. Back home and quilting tomorrow.

Another Friendship Block

2008-07-01T14:06:00.000-07:00

This is for Kathy H. in my quilt guild and I'll be handing it off to her on Thursday. Kathy is the organizer of our block of the month this year and the girl loves star blocks, so she themed her blocks "Oh My Stars!" and asked for star blocks on dark backgrounds from 4" to 12" finished.

I went to my go-to book for star blocks and swap blocks in general-- Judy Martin's Knockout Blocks and Sampler Quilts--for this block, named Fiery Star.

I love Judy's books and have gone so far as to purchase some out-of-print titles from Ebay and Half.com. This book is my absolute favorite and I go to it again and again and again. She has a ton of star blocks in all sizes and a gazillion layouts for them that you can mix and match.

I used it to design the memorial quilt we made for our guild member Norma when she lost her son in Iraq.

As I said, a go-to book.

A New Endeavor

2008-06-27T17:19:00.000-07:00

I decided that this blog was getting a bit unwieldy with my reading obsession, so I've created yet another blog for keeping track of that good stuff. You can check it out here:

The Sweet Serenity of Books

I named it for a quote I once saw on a Mary Engelbreit calendar page (Greyhair--stop your gagging) with the following quote:

"The love of learning, the sequestered nooks, and all the sweet serenity of books."

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I can't remember a time in my life without books and reading.

When I was too young to read for myself, my parents did it for me. Dad was a journalism major and first Managing Editor and then Publisher of the daily paper in the town where we lived. Mom was an English major in college and a devoted reader--both of them were. The library was one of my favorite places and as I talk about books, I'll also talk about library trips and book memories.

I hope you'll join me.

Giveaway at Fresh Squeezed Fabrics

2008-06-26T16:48:00.000-07:00

Randi has opened an online shop and is featuring a giveaway to celebrate. Hurry, hurry, hurry, there's only an hour left!

Go to her blog: i have to say and register for something wonderful!

Sewing Again

2008-06-26T16:15:00.000-07:00

I have been sewing quite a bit this week and actually getting things accomplished, which makes me very happy.

Since finishing the Spring Fling Round Robin and the Miniature Booty Swap as well as some Friendship Blocks for guild and these Lotto Blocks for Marilyn. My pal Kathy B. got the block after deciding to try applique and then decided that it might be a bit much for a first-timer, so she asked me if I would help her out. I told her I'd do it for her if she would do the two Dutchman's Puzzle blocks I owed Sharon. No problemo either way for us and that's one of the many things I love about my friend Kathy. She didn't mind doing the 16 flying geese units for the blocks and I'd have bitched and moaned my way through each and every one of them.

So here are my Cowgirl Sue's for Marilyn. I tried something different for me and used monofilament thread to do the applique by machine. It was no problem, but I'm not sure I like the look. These blocks reinforced for me how much I hate the stiffness that fusible web (I used Steam a Seam II) gives the finished project. Not to mention that it is darned near impossible to do hand embroidery on top of the appliques. I think I may have to investigate further the method I tried on the Valentine's Day Sew-a-Row.

I've also assembled some Jelly Roll blocks that I made when visiting my pal Becky in January. One top is nearly finished and I'll start the in a little while. Pictures to follow.

peace...........msjan

Finished, In the Nick of Time!

2008-06-24T08:51:00.000-07:00

I finished the Book Awards Reading Challenge last night, and just a week ahead of the deadline. The challenge involved reading 12 books in the 12 months from July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008.

My completed reads:

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (Pulitzer 2003)
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison (Nobel Laureate, also Banned Books Challenge)
Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier (National Book Award 1997)
The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls (Alex Award 2006)
The Magnificent Ambersons by Booth Tarkington (Pulitzer 1919)
The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman (Carnegie 1995)
His Family by Ernest Poole (Pulitzer 1918)
The Road by Cormac McCarthy (Pulitzer 2007)
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon (Costa/Whitbread 2003)
The Able McLaughlins by Margaret Wilson (Pulitzer 1924)
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (Pulitzer 1961)
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon (Pulitzer 2001)

I have to say that I really enjoyed all of these books and for very different reasons. His Family, the first winner of the prize in 1918 is a rambling tale of an upper class white family in New York City and the changes they all go through as life changes during the early 20th century. Their world is almost a different planet away from The Road, a post-apocalyptic tale of a man and his son traveling through a wasted USA. These books could not be more different, yet each captured my attention and held it throughout. I've never enjoyed writing book reports, so I'll leave it at that.

On to the next challenge!

Lucky Me!

2008-06-16T15:53:00.001-07:00

My beloved husband Greyhair was right---I am living right. While we were gone, I got my Spring Fling Round Robin and I so love this quilt!! When I received the center from Kate in Surrey, UK back in March, I was at a loss as to what to do with it, so I played around with EQ6 and came up with a border. I was a little disappointed with it because I envisioned the brown stripes being smaller and why I failed to notice on the papers I printed for piecing, I can't tell you. I sent it to Nicole who added the fabulous shiny border and then Jeanette in Finland quilted it and sent it back to me. I absolutely love that this swap was international and that I got a quilt that had crossed the Atlantic twice. It makes the world feel small, connected, and good which is a rare thing in this day and age.

Good/bad news on the Miniature Booty Swap hosted by Toni. Bad news: I sent my quilt out by the deadline and because I always use Priority mail in the US (automatically includes tracking) I knew the recipient received her quilt. A week goes by and no response--was this person born in a barn? Finally, I get a perfunctory "thank you." Good news: several days ago, I got a post from Margaret, the organizer of our fabulous Spring Fling Round Robin, who was supposed to get a quilt from my recipient, but it never arrived (and wasn't going to). Toni, the hostess asked my recipient to send the quilt I made for her to Margaret and she did. I'm going to send Margaret a new label for her quilt, and I'm pretty happy because I know my quilt is in a good home and I'm glad my recipient did the right thing in passing the quilt on so Margaret wouldn't get "skunked."

Lesson for today: If you sign up to participate in a swap, do your darnedest to honor that commitment, but if you can't be gracious enough to contact your hostess quickly so she can work things out for everyone else. Capisce?

Vintage Girl Gets Vintage Quilt

2008-06-16T10:19:00.000-07:00

We had a lovely weekend celebrating both my birthday and Father's Day. On Friday, we drove to Sutter Creek in California's Gold Country and drove to Ironstone Vineyards for a Sheryl Crow concert. The concert was beyond wonderful and Greyhair will probably be blogging about it today with pictures here. On Saturday, we trolled around the area and did some wine-tasting and antique shopping. I wandered into a shop called The Victorian Closet and was bowled over by the huge number of antique quilts.

I spotted at least a half dozen that I'd like to have brought home, but alas, I didn't want to take out a second mortgage on the house.... I did find this lovely baby quilt made in double pink and browns and it came home with me. Sweet. I'll give you a little eye candy of some of her other quilts, so have a great day!

I Love Compaq

2008-06-11T10:02:00.000-07:00

My husband Greyhair says I must be living right.

Last night, I headed downstairs like I do every evening and I placed my Compaq laptop in my sewing basket, like I always do. Unfortunately, the laptop didn't sit well in the basket and......end-over-end, it tumbled down the stairs.

I'm sure you can imagine the "Oh darn!" moment...LOL.

The battery flew out as did a cover for an external network card and the hard drive hatch loosened up and I was ready to bury her. Greyhair and I held our respective breaths as I attempted to power her on.....and up she went!!!!

Today I'll backing up the few things that aren't already on my backup hard drive. Just in case.

Your tip for the day: If you have something really important on your computer, invest a little cash in a detachable hard drive and back-up, back-up, back-up. As the technician who just replaced my laptop keyboard said, "I hate the look on the faces of people whose hard drive just died when they haven't backed up, its very sad."

Indeed.

Feeling very lucky at La Dolce Vita today,

Spring Fling

2008-06-09T14:53:00.000-07:00

Spring has flung, and summer is definitely here at La Dolce Vita. I finally finished my Spring Fling Round Robin and got it in the mail to the recipient.

In my 35 years of quilting, I've only had two or three quilts where the corners of the binding gave me fits and this was one of them. Not my best work, but I just could not make them behave and I had to know when to say "finished is better than perfect." I love how this turned out with the bright colors and all of the ladies at guild who saw me hand quilting it on Thursday loved it too.

Something new for me was free quilting without a frame ala Tonya. I did mark the designs or use masking tape--I'm not as brave as she is yet. I enjoyed the freedom, but will need to learn to endure having a thimble on my pushing finger because baby, it is one sore puppy today!

As always, I love this type of project for the learning experience it provides, forcing me out of my comfort zone and making me grow as a quilter.

Moonlight Quilters Show

2008-06-08T18:24:00.000-07:00

The weekend show Wine Country Quilts was a success, at least as far as I could see. I took over 300 pictures and I'm now in the process of cleaning, cropping and correcting so I can put them in my Picasa album. Stay tuned in a few days for that.

In the meantime, I'll share a lovely Baltimore Album quilt made by Mitzi, a gal in my Snooze-U-Lose minigroup. Bear in mind, this quilt is only about 36" square.

Did I mention that Mitzi does amazing work?

Tomorrow, I'll post the final picture of the Spring Fling Round Robin before I mail it to the recipient.

Under the Gun

2008-06-06T17:00:00.000-07:00

Thursday was Sew-A-Row transition day and as the "Organizer" (I use the term loosely), I didn't feel that I could be a slacker and not transition mine. Well, I could, but it certainly would look bad, wouldn't it?

At left is a darling embroidery done by a guild member. I'd printed out some sewing notions from EQ6 to applique, but just didn't get to it, so I corralled my bright sewing-themed fabrics and made some nine patches on point. This project got derailed when someone signed up for round 2 and then turned it in undone, so hopefully we will get it caught up before December.

The project at the right started with Sandy's "Boo," a block she did for this year after its smashing success last year. Linda added the somewhat sinister cats and I added the spider webs and spiders to the barn. You can't really tell from this picture, but the spider's legs are three dimensional. Using the same floss, I split the strands and braided them with knots at the end.

Also in the pipeline is my Spring Fling Round Robin. Due date for mailing was yesterday, and I missed that too because I'm hand quilting and that is taking some time. That project will be in the mail on Monday, and then I'm swearing off swaps for a while. I've accomplished exactly zero on my own projects this year.

Tomorrow and Sunday is Wine Country Quilts, the annual show put on by the Moonlight Quilters of Sonoma County. If you are near Sonoma County think about coming over for the show, it is ALWAYS a great show with great vendors!

The Way Back Machine

2008-06-03T16:56:00.000-07:00

I'm quilting away on my Spring Fling Round Robin and will post when it is done, and in the meantime I offer a picture of this, my first quilt.

In 1975, I met Leah Curling at a Newcomers Club meeting in Fort Collins, Colorado. I'd always wanted to learn to quilt, and there she was hand piecing. Well I was on her like the proverbial duck on a Junebug and the rest is history. She mentored me and pointed me in the direction of Beth Gutcheon's Perfect Patchwork Primer, still a great book for anyone who wants to learn to quilt the old fashioned way.

This pattern is called Time and Tide and came from an issue of Quilters' Newsletter Magazine. I ordered the fabric from Sears Roebuck in order to get 100% cotton. The two prints are just different colorways of the same fabric and I think the fabric was about $1.50 a yard or less. I had pieced this quilt and hand quilted it in a frame built by my husband's co-worker.

I wish I could say that I loved this quilt, but I'm really not wild about the colors and fabrics. I do love the labor I put into this quilt. Being hand pieced just the way Grandma did, I traced templates of each and every piece and cut them out individually. My quilting template for the border was also good-old-style cardboard.

Perhaps tomorrow, a picture of my last Sew-a-Row or the Spring Fling....

Sistahs!

2008-06-01T11:09:00.000-07:00

My friend and chosen sister Kathy B. came down last night and took me to see Crosby, Stills and Nash's kickoff concert at the Wells Fargo Center. Kathy is my concert pal. I took her to see The Moody Blues in March for her birthday and she treated me to CSN for my b-day. Yeah, we like geriatric rock and roll, but we also like the newer stuff and will be getting together Dutch-treat to see Chris Isaak at the end of July.

We ate Chinese food before the concert and had a giggle over some crazy email pictures sent by my Aunt Blanche, and just had a great time together as always. We even stopped by Quilted Vin e and contributed to the Sonoma County economy. Kathy and I brokered a trade on some friendship blocks for our Fat Quarters (no comments please) online group. I'll do her Sunbonnet Sue applique for Marilyn and she'll do my Dutchman's Puzzle blocks for Sharon. Win-win!!

We get to see each other again next weekend for the Moonlight Quilters of Sonoma County's annual show, and our pal Becky may even get to join us.....BONUS!

1930's Sew-A-Row Done

2008-05-29T15:45:00.000-07:00

Two down, two to go!

I finished the 1930's Sew-A-R0w today and only have two to go before the June 5th meeting.

I added the bottom row to this one--the vintage puppies and kitten I found in an old pattern leaflet I picked up off the silent auction table at guild. I used them as the models for the embroidery on Alexander's baby quilt last year and love them so much that I just had to use them again.

In March I tried a new technique for machine applique on another Sew-A-Row and Angie suggested that I try using the basting spray that is used on quilt layers to compare efficiency, so I did. I have to say that the spray-basted parts did not "stick" as well as the ones I did using the fusible thread. In fact, they were so loose that I ended up using that Bo Nash 007 Bonding powder so I wouln't have to cut new pieces. I did have to cut a new cat because I ruined that one, so I just used Steam-a-Seam II to fuse that one.

My final opinion? I liked the method using the fusible thread in spite of its labor intensity because it left the applique shapes soft and supple and they'd have been easy to embroider over had I needed to do that. The SASII and Bo-Nash both left the pieces stiff hard to needle.

I'm really glad that Angie gave me the idea to try another method, because a quilter can never have too many ways get 'er done.

Quilting Bloggers

2008-05-28T16:16:00.000-07:00

Mishka at Quilting Gallery has a new feature on her site called Quilting Bloggers and I urge you to check it out and get yourself listed!