Happy Halloween!

Forgive me.....but too funny to pass up :-) The kids will be doing the honors of passing out candy this year. What's in the witches cauldron this year? Kit Kats, Almond Joys, Lifesavers Gummies, Now and Laters, and Halloween pencils.

Unconscious mutterings 10/28

1. Inaugural :: address


2. Pledge :: of allegiance


3. String :: trimmer


4. Trot :: horse


5. Fitness :: center


6. Cinder :: black


7. Edge :: of a cliff


8. 31 :: days


9. Blue :: bayou


10. Leather :: English

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

Unconscious Mutterings 10/21

1. Las Vegas :: viva


2. Linus :: project


3. Struck :: in the head


4. Movie :: ticket


5. Anxious :: moment


6. Bandit :: mask


7. Picks :: sports


8. Lasso :: loop


9. Dinner :: diner


10. Bargain :: price

Another one down for Oct!

Still no machine, so no completed sewing. But I can at least mark another thing off my October To-Do list! This is my completed signature block for the exchange at Quilting in Indiana. I've made 30 so far, if we have more signups I'll make more then!

Plans altered

Is it my quilting he loves or the remaining heat from the dryer?

So the machine is in for repair again. More bobbin/race issues. They assured me they would put a new bobbin assembly and postioner in, no matter what they will make it right. So that has altered my October plans and goals. I did manage to get the row done for Quilting in IN, however it was the one that was due 10/15 so I dashed it off to the post office right after completion without taking a pic.

I did complete the framed four patches for a swap. I rather like them, I may make more, they're not due for another week and a half.

A Funny

From my buddy Janet :-)

Liz's Baglady

One more down on my October To-Do list! I actually had all the blocks pieced before starting, so all I had to do was put them together and add the borders.

This was a Bag Lady challenge from Quilting in Indiana, I received a gallon Ziploc bag of assorted fabrics and it was my task to put them together into hopefully something the original owner will like and send it back. Hope Liz likes it!

Cindy's seasons round robin

One of my to-dos for October is complete! Woo-hooo! This is Cindy's Seasons round robin from RowsandRobinsandMore Wow, completely in 30's prints, something that my stash seriously lacks. So I went shopping, a little charm pack picked up at the retreat, another auction for Pre-cut squares from eBay and last but not least a quick trip to the Quilt Shop. I knew I wanted plenty of variety for y round but was not ready to break the bank on a style of fabric that I'm just not that fond of.

I was going in so may directions for design ideas for this one. But I decided to continue with a floral theme since most of the 30's prints have some sort of floral in them. The green setting strip was also a bit of a challenge. I guess my innate desire for symmetry was completely thrown off by the addition of the dark green strips on only two sides, but I do like the addition of color contrast. The previous robin sent along extra green for me use in my row, but I was afraid of using too much of it in such a light colored quilt. So instead I only used it for my flower leaves and sent the rest on for the next person. I probably should have put a resting row of either green or white, but since I wasn't sure what the next person had in mind, I opted to send it like it was. I hope Cindy is pleased with my efforts.

Before

After

Unconscious mutterings 10/13

Illicit :: love affair
Go :: home
Jacket :: blue
Blow :: hard
Coach :: whistle
Effort :: earned
Leadership :: skills
Snore :: again
Fearless :: leader
Network :: of contacts

Some things stay the same

When I was in high school, I was fortunate enough to take a trip to Spain. We visited Granada, a city located in the southern part of Spain. I picked up some souvenir Taracea a form of marquetry that uses wood, bone and sometimes metal. When I returned home, I gave a plaque to both my mother and grandmother. In the past few years, they both have been given back to me. I have since expanded my collection. These are just a few I have hanging on my wall. (Please disregard the cobwebs hanging :-)





So is anyone else noticing the similarities between this type of inlay and some of the complex designs in quilts? I was intrigued with the intricate designs when I was 17 and happily, I still am at age 39.

So what made you start quilting anyway?

I have been asked that question so many times. I guess because my personality does not lend itself to that of a typical quilter. I have often asked back just what people think would be a hobby of mine. I have been told many things, from deer hunter to soldier of fortune to professional cage fighter. :-) I don't think of myself as such a hard ass, but apparently I come across that way. Honestly, I think I'm pretty boring. I try to be a good mom and a good wife, I work full time, I quilt, work in my garden, dream about and save my pennies to travel abroad (first stop England and Wales) and I read about medieval times and the history of the UK in general. Oh yeah...don't mess with this tough chick!

The first quilts I made were for my boys when I found out I was pregnant. My husband taught me, in the manner his grandmother had taught him, squares cut with the help of a cardboard template and scissors, batting, muslin backing, birth it and tie that sucker off! We were soooo fancy, actually went to a fabric store and bought cotton fabric rather than using salvaged leisure suits and house dresses like she did, But we did tie them off with her trademark red yarn! The most important lesson learned from making those two tiny quilts was that quilting was a pain in the butt and I never wanted to do it again.

So then jump forward ten years. I was home sick from work (honestly sick, laying on the couch watching TV...not just taking a mental health day) and Sewing With Nancy was on PBS and she had such cool tools and made everything look so easy! Not long after I was talking with an online friend who said she thought it would be neat to exchange quilt blocks. Well, that was all the incentive I needed to go out and get a rotary cutter and mat. I was sure I was going to cut my fool hand off with it so Gene did all the cutting for my first real, larger than crib sized quilt. It was sewn by hand and tied, but I was so proud, oh yeah, and hooked!

So now its your turn....what made you start quilting (or enter the hobby of your choice) anyway?

Unconscious mutterings 10/7

1. Cluster :: bomb


2. Announcement :: morning


3. Respect :: loss of


4. Incident :: accident


5. Accordion :: lessons


6. Drunk :: and disorderly


7. If :: when


8. Dexter :: dilbert


9. Wedding :: chapel


10. Gambling :: addiction

Goals for October

I have decided that its just too depressing to make long to do lists or even worse, UFO lists. So I am going to start challenging myself month by month. That way I can feel like I accomplished stuff!

October's Goals
1. Cindy's Seasons round robin 10/15 DONE 10/15
2. Teresa's Seasons round robin 11/1
3. Liz's Baglady 11/15 DONE 10/17
4. Hello Kitty Tote bag for Zoe
5. Signature blocks ready for Quilting in IN 11/1 DONE 10/25
6. Framed Four Patch blocks for Mailblocks 11/1 DONE 10/21
7. Hands of Friendship blocks for Mailblocks 11/1 Cancelled
8. Quilt and bind Bag Lady top from Liz
9. Quilt and bind Baglady Top from Judy
10. Row for Quilting in IN Row Robin 11/1 DONE 10/21

You know, by making this list out, it really highlights what has been my problem for the entire year. I sign up for far too many exchanges, swaps, challenges and robins. I dont have enough time to finish my existing UFOs yet I create more! So although this is only October, I am going to make a New Years resolution early, less is going to be more next year. I am only signing up for things that really excite me.

Mutterings 9/29

1. Crook :: of your arm


2. Career :: killer


3. Freckles :: cute


4. Scramble :: brains


5. Mistake :: oops


6. Telephone :: bill


7. Thank you :: letters


8. Obstruction :: bowel (eeew!)


9. 24/7 :: all


10. SciFi :: channel

New Steeler fan deserves a new blanket

Our friends Matt and Janelle had a beautiful little girl on September 11. Since we're all

staunch Steeler fans, I thought Little TJ deserved a new Steelers quilt!

I used just a cozy pink fleece for the backing and its finished at 50x64"

so she should be able to snuggle under it during games for a long time.