Done

Side views showing (hopefully) the 3-D effect made by tight stippling and yoyos.

OK, quilting, binding, yoyo flower centers and hanging sleeve attached. I like it!

String-X adaptation

Although I promised I wouldn't post pictures of uncompleted projects, I am really stoked about this so I couldn't wait! I adapted this wall hanging pattern from one offered by Bonnie at http://www.quiltville.com/ and pieced the strings on phone book pages. I still need to add yoyos to the flower centers, but would like to use black buttons. Would you believe out of a quart jar of buttons I own I don't have 8 black buttons? Binding still needs to be done also, I'm thinking more nice bright to frame it. I really hope this gets me out of the brights on black color scheme rut I have been in lately. It was nice to use up scraps from retreat houses to make it!

2007 Projects, UFOs and resolutions

Listening to Johnny Cash I Walk the Line

The time of year has come that I find myself reflecting on this years projects and accomplishments and thinking about all the 2007 quilting I'm going to do. This year I spent a great deal of time on trying to finish a few things and of course starting a whole bunch of new projects which far out number those I completed.

I swap regularly, so I have a constant influx of new UFO's. I try to remain active on a few groups at Yahoogroups so naturally there are new potential projects all the time. I love belonging to the lists, such a creative bunch of people I have never known. Just when I decide to pass up one swap or event, someone proposes something new and irresistible. Of course I love to participate in charitable sewing also. It makes me feel useful to know that somewhere a child is benefiting from my time.

Blogging is such a great way of tracking progress and hopefully solidifying resolutions and plans. So I have outlined my 2007 expectations of myself.

New projects for 2007 (so far)

Midget Block Sampler http://www.sentimentalstitches.com/
State fair Sampler http://www.sentimentalstitches.com/
Debbie Mumm 2007 BOM http://www.debbiemumm.com/20th/images/2007blockofthemonth.jpg
Scrappy Sampler http://www.quiltedforest.com/shop.htm#pattern
What Have you Done to my UFO? Challenge at Mailblocks
Purple, purples! Row Robin at Mailblocks
Friendship Swap 2007 at Mailblocks
Wall hanging for Mr. Bradford
Something for Amy from choosen fabrics
Turkey quilt for Dad and Jean
Robes for my sons
Denim curtains for our garage windows
Freddies House Retreat Challenge

Current UFO projects
Black and White Amish Squares blocks
Pink and brown blocks
Box Quilt blocks
Susannah blocks
Flies in the Barn lotto blocks
Cabin in a Cabin blocks
Christmas wreath blocks
Christmas scrappy with applique
Night Sky Mystery twin size
Pieceful Pond BOM www.forgetmenotstudio.com wall hanging
Jar blocks
Variegated spools blocks
New York Beauty blocks
Bright Stars
Broken Stained Glass 2005 BOM www.planetpatchwork.com
Log Cabin Round Robin
DownHome Mystery BOM 2005 www.downhomequilting.com
Purple and mango cats
Spiral scraps with small flying geese
Cowboy Medallion
F8 Swap blocks
Pink Lemonade blocks
WWC Challenge
Laura's scrap strings
Quilted sweatshirt
I've Got the Blues Row Robin 2006
Interlocking Scrap squares blocks
Spiral Log Cabin
Wonky Houses www.quiltville.com


Resolutions

I will spend at least 15 minutes a day quilting in one form or another.

I will finish at least 20 of the 29 UFO's I have listed previously.

I need more organization in my sewing area, more shelves, better way of keeping fabric according to size, color, theme, etc.

I need to clean my sewing area on a regular basis, tidy up after each project.

I need to repair and/or give out things I make for others. I have gifty items that are still sitting around because I forgot a hanging sleeve or there are missed seams on bindings, etc. If something doesn't please me, I still need to give it away, a crooked binding or something that just didn't turn out to my satisfaction doesn't negate all the work and effort I put into it.

Use that machine and frame more often!

I will make at least 12 charity quilts for WAS this year.

Unconscious mutterings 12/24

1. Terrify :: scream


2. Month :: last


3. Throat :: neck


4. Invasion :: home


5. Nail :: on the head


6. 12 :: 34


7. Bicker :: piss and moan


8. Thomas :: the tank


9. Sibling :: rivalry


10. Delude :: illusion

that's how I roll

How You Life Your Life

You are honest and direct. You tell it like it is. You're laid back and chill, but sometimes you care too much about what others think. You're open to new people and friends, which makes you a pretty popular person. You tend to dream big, but you worry that your dreams aren't attainable.

How Do You Live Your Life?

Can't quilt when cookies are in oven!

Listening to Rolling Stones Wild Horses

I love Christmas cookies! I must have eaten three dozen cookies since yesterday afternoon! Maybe that's why I never make them too much in advance anymore, if I bake early in December we'll go through hundreds of cookies, thawed and frozen, and have none for Christmas. So yesterday was cookie day! I knew I needed to get moving because as my son Gene said, "Christmas cookies made after the holiday become just cookies, which still taste good but they're not Christmas cookies!"

So, what did I make?

Holiday Icebox Cookies
Serves/Makes: 4 dozen
Difficulty Level: 3
Ready In: 2-5 hrs

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup red and green cherries, chopped
1 cup walnuts or pecans, toasted, chopped

Directions:Heat oven to 375. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add vanilla. Stir in flour and mix well. Add cherries and nuts and mix until blended. Shape into 4 rolls measuring about 6" X 1-1/2". Wrap well in heavy plastic wrap, and refrigerate until firm. When ready to bake, remove from fridge and cut into 1/4" slices. Bake on parchment lined cookie sheets for 10 minutes or until lightly golden


Ginger Snaps

3/4 cup Crisco
1 egg
2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon ginger
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup molasses
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

Refrigerate 1 hour before rolling into 1 inch balls.
Roll balls in 1 cup sugar before baking.
Bake at 375 degrees 8-10 minutes.
Use ungreased baking sheet.



Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 1/2 cups margarine, softened
4 large eggs
3 cups brown sugar, firmly packed
2 teaspoons vanilla
5 cups rolled oats
3 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup flour
4 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons salt
1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Beat together the butter or margarine, eggs, brown sugar and vanilla.
Add oats, flours, baking soda, salt and chocolate chips.
Bake at 325°F (170°C) for 10-12 minutes.


Pizzelles

6 eggs
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup margarine, melted (do not use more or substitute oil)
2 tablespoons vanilla or anise or lemon or almond extract
3 1/2 cups flour
4 teaspoons baking powder

Beat eggs, adding sugar gradually.
Beat until smooth.
Add cooled margarine and vanilla or anise.
Sift flour and baking powder.
Blend into egg mixture until smooth.
Dough will be sticky enough to be dropped by spoon (use standard kitchen teaspoon, not a measuring spoon).
Bake in a Pizzelle baker, 20-30 seconds; baking time will vary depending on consistency of dough, size of pizzelles and your preference for browning.

Unconscious Mutterings 12/17

1. Hardball :: baseball


2. Sleepless :: nights


3. Graduation :: gift


4. Presents :: show


5. Toe :: jam


6. Lotion :: potion


7. Snicker :: doodle


8. Eve :: christmas


9. Investment :: banker


10. Pain :: agggrivation

To play along: http://subliminal.lunanina.com/

North Webster retreat 2007 project blocks

Freddie's house blocks are finally done for the North Webster September 2007 retreat group project!!!!

We're to make 20 bright blocks, send to Judy in OR, she will return to us 20 blocks, each from another member and we're to assemble them into a finsihed quilt the surprise part will be how we choose to finish our quilts off. This was completely out of my comfort zone, although I like brights on black, I wasnt too sure about how it would all come together. We shall see!

Unconscious mutterings 12/10/2006

1. Research :: assistant


2. Chuck :: roast


3. Insert :: here


4. Bang :: buck


5. Lousy :: haircut


6. Rehearsal :: dinner


7. Critics :: corner


8. Memory :: game


9. Squid :: octupus


10. Remove :: spot

Play along at: http://subliminal.lunanina.com

Not a whole lot quilty, well actually....

Its not that I dont want to quilt, but getting dsl and now being able to surf really fast has been wonderful. Take for instance this site, www.quiltiger.homeip.net

With dial up I tried to visit a couple of times and soon gave up because it was just such an intensive site and my poor little ole' connection couldnt handle it. There are tons of free patterns there, with instructions for different size blocks and some with different layouts shown. And I had been missing it all!

Oh my, having www.Quilterscache.com pop up instantly! I have bookmarked different patterns that have been available for years but my experience was such that I was intimidated by those patterns or maybe I just hadnt seen them because I grew weary of waiting with dial up. And the inspiration pages at QC, what a joy to be able to see completed projects of the patterns I'm looking at.


And years of glorious antique quilts located at www.quiltindex.org Just a little over 1800 antique quilts to be drooled over.

Looking at upcoming classes available at www.quiltuniversity.com, I needed to see some finished projects to determine if that class is for me. How quilckly I rolled through the pages of student work!

Yep, not a whole lot quilty going on around here at all.....

Unconscious Mutterings 12/3

1. Hello :: Goodbye


2. Flinstone :: vitamin


3. Corn :: cob


4. Interview ::reporter


5. Deviant :: sexual


6. Concept :: idea


7. Bridge :: London


8. Karen :: Edwards


9. Encounter :: Close


10. Biological :: clock

remember, to play along, visit: http://subliminal. lunanina.com