A Cover for Damon's Art Journal

Damon left his Art Journal here last summer & someone (ok, that would be me) forgot to send it to him. A couple of days ago he asked how long I planned to keep it! So to make up for holding it hostage all these months, I made a cover for it. I used some clipart he found online & digitized the embroidery. Hope you like it Damon... Here's 1 of his pictures drawn when he was about 12 or13. A little strange but good. He's 17 now & learning to draw real people & horses.

Gilbert's Comfort Quilt

This is the 2nd quilt this year that I've made for a friend diagnosed with cancer. Gilbert lives in a very small mountain town in the middle of nowhere Montana. We lived there 12 years & Gilbert & his family became our family. He started Chemo last week & we just found out a few days ago, so I chose a quick & easy Rail Fence pattern in the colors of the mountains that surround his home. I got the top pieced this afternoon & I'll get it pin basted & machine quilted next week. I plan to back it with flannel & bind it in the darker brown color. We love you Gib...

Operation Pillowcase, my 1st box ready to go!

This is some major stash busting!! I pulled out the serger that my Mom left me & I finally figured out how it works. Yes, I worked at a Bernina dealer for several years & never really used them. I was the sewing & embroidery machine person. Well, I'm hooked. I can stitch up a pillowcase in the same time it takes to cut them out! In about 4 hours, I cut & sewed these + 1 for the husband & 6 for the grandkids!! That's 32 yards of fabric busted!! And most of it 1 yd. or less pieces. And I finally used up the 3 Stooges fabric...

Making Quilts with Leftovers

My daughter has a friend that was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer before Christmas. She will be starting Chemo soon so we wanted to get a lap quilt done ASAP. She likes very soothing colors with everything matching, not scrappy looking at all so I pulled a stack of 1/2 sq. triangles leftover from a sampler quilt I made many years ago. And even found a lot of the coordinating fabrics. I don't consider this a UFO because to original quilt was finished... Just leftovers!

Lifting Spirits with Operation Pillowcase

Have you thought about what type of projects you might want to do to help others. There are lot's out there. All very good causes. I've been watching & reading, waiting for that one to catch my eye. I would love to help more but physically & economically I know I can't, so I wait to decide until one really grabs me. Many of you know my son & nephew are Marines & my daughter & son in law are Navy. Also my dad & 1 brother in law were Army & 2 brothers & 2 brothers in law were Air Force. I think I almost have all the different branches covered. So when I read Debra's blog this morning I thought that's the one! For the last hour, I've been pulling fabric & I'll be making pillow cases for the next several weeks! These guy's & gal's really have a tough job, terrible weather extremes, missing friends & family. It only takes about 15 minutes to make a simple pillowcase & if it will lift their spirits & let them know someone cares, I'll do it gladly! So if you have a few minutes & a yard of fabric let someone know you care...
Here is a link to the blog Debra started this morning... Operation Pillowcase

This picture is of my son Travis in Babylon, during his 1st of 2 deployments to Iraq. He will be heading to Afghanistan in late summer or early fall.

My Quilting Goals for 2010 & UFO Pic's

In 2009 I made a list of goals I hoped to accomplish. Well I think I did pretty good.
*I finished all my Mom's UFO's, the last 3 are at the quilters.
*I used over 200 yards of fabric from my stash.
*My machine embroidery files are about 90% organized.
* Finished a quilt for each of my Grand kids
* Finished 6 of my UFO's
* Made 4 Tops for Charity + donated several almost finished tops & fabric
* I haven't made a 2nd wedding quilt for daughter # 1 but the pattern has been chosen.
* And I was still sewing for Christmas 2 days before. Not sure I'll ever make this goal. I just can't seem to get motivated before Dec 1st!

Now on to 2010
#1. Complete the unfinished 2009 goals!
#2. Finish 6 more of my UFO's
#3. Make a Flannel quilt for my bed
#4. Finish all the Quilt Unv. EQ6 classes
#5. Donate several tops, quilts or pillowcases & fabric
#6. Enjoy Life
Bonus Goal: Use another 200+ yards of fabric from my stash!!

This morning I went through boxes & totes hunting up all the unfinished projects I have left. I'm getting down there! Only 12 to go, TWELVE!!
The 1st picture is almost finished tops:
1 Black Stained Glass needs borders (finish for daughter#2) 2000-
2 Bears Paw needs borders (will be donated to someone) 1996-
3 Baskets needs a little more Button Hole stitch & quilted 2000-
4 Thimblesberries "Safe Haven" needs quilted ?
5 Batik Lone Star needs quilted 2000-
6 Machine Embroidered Bears of the Month, need to make 4 more blocks 2005-



2nd Picture starting top left:
7 Quilters Flower Garden needs borders 2003-
8 Scottie Dogs needs 2 more blocks & pieced together 2000-
9 Starburst, Finish piecing 2006-
10 Lower left, Thimbleberries Got to find the rest of the fabric 1998-
11 Bernina Christmas Pillows finish 2006-
12 Bow Tie started for my husband in 1958 by his Grandmother
That's it, all 12 UFO's That's all I could find. :) Happy Quilting

December Quilty & Crafty Finishes!

Well, here are my December quilt & craft finishes. Nothing like waiting to the last minute! I collaged the pictures to save space & me from having to load them separately. All told I made 24 ornaments & bought 2. Many were duplicates of these shown. Several that went to Virginia I remember taking pics, just can't find them. So I probably Thought I took them. Some of them are white lace so are hard to see. And here's 3 of the 4 pillowcases. I also finished my version of Judy Laquidara's "Bears in the Farm House". Let 2010 begin!
Have a wonderful New Years & stay safe!

Happy New Years & gift pictures!

I had planned to blog several times & share photos of our home & family at Christmas! But once my 3 youngest grand babies got here it all flew out the window. I was blessed to have them home for Christmas for the first time! Cissie is 7, Mary, 3 & Joey, 5. So it got a little wild at times. But so enjoyable. It took 5 tries to get a picture of us in front of the tree. Pictured left to right, Cissie, Grandpa, Mary, Me, my middle daughter, my son & Joey. Missing & enjoying Christmas in Virginia are my oldest daughter, son in law & 2 oldest Grand kids. My son took to kids home to their Mom this morning & the house is so quiet it almost echo's.
I gave a lot of gift cards as that seemed to be what was needed most.
But I did get some sewing & embroidery finished:
24 ornaments for family & friends
3 Pillowcases for the 3 grand babies
2 grocery totes for daughter # 2
embroidered 3 sets of towels for grand babies
& 1 Cowboy Santa pillowcase for hubby.
I'll add some pictures later today or tomorrow.
And a few Thank you are in order;
Jill at Apple Ave. Quilts made me the cutest snowman wall hanging & Teresa L. for the wonderful ornament & card from the Xmas ornament swap. Jill has some really great pictures on her blog of her holiday sewing. And here is my Snowman, ornament & card.

May you all have a happy quilt filled New Years!!