Decisions......

I am now trying to decide if I should add another border to this one, part of me wants to say it is finished! Maybe if I pick out what it will be bound with that will help to find closure, I ended up not using all 12 blocks so the other 3 are going into the box designated for a maverick quilt, another some day project.









Then here is a shot of the wonky rails with it's borders, I am pleased with the way this one came out and can't wait to get it quilted and washed.









And here we have a shot of the concrete, it is still amazing to see it and have to get a copy of what the rebar and all looked like prior to this stage. We are taking a break until mid-April on the construction so we are enjoying having the extra day at home!

Pin Cushions~Apple Dumplings

After seeing some posts of Gal's sharing their pin cushion collection it was time to gather mine
up, wow! I even surprised myself with what has been collected over the years. But like everything else they each have a purpose, the three on the right with the flower head and corsage pins are for the longarm and one is placed on each end of the table with another on the old ironing board behind the machine, I don't like to have to reach around or over anything when I am working.

Then the two front ones on clamps attach to the right of each machine that I piece on, and their main purpose is to hold the pins I do use, it isn't one of my favorite parts in quilting but sometimes there is just no other way to get things to match up the way they are suppose too!

The two on glass pedestals are basically just really cool looking and the one on the left is actually made from a cutter quilt so although it does hold a few pins they are just there in case I can't reach anything else. Then another 2 are also placed at the machines full of pins, why don't I just use the ones on clamps? Well then what purpose would the others have and then it would be pointed out that I really didn't need them and then all the justifying of needing them would be for not! That is my story and I'm sticking to it!!

Then the others are placed on the cutting table so I can stand and pin when I need to stretch, and that little pink one towards the middle front usually holds various needles, I do have one in blue around here somewhere that one of our dogs used for a chew toy on the wood part, not very pretty but still usable.









Then these have become a favorite real quick like in our house! They are the Apple Dumplings from Pioneer Woman Cooks, they are delicious! She also shared a salad recipe this past week that we made up, and what is nice about that one, it makes up a whole lot and we were able to enjoy it for a couple days with adding different things each time, like instead of the cashews we did almonds with some grilled chicken, then to that added some mandarin oranges and apples. Very good!

Busy~Busy

Before I could even think about trying to accomplish anything today I had to deal with this, it sure doesn't take long to pile up! And it never seems to go back nicely from where it got pulled originally.









Last week, I finished up the borders on one quilt and had a little help getting a bunch of denim and flannels cut up into squares for some rag quilts. They are just perfect for snuggling in and can take the multi washings that our quilts seem to go through. There is 28 3/4 yards cut up in these piles! I won't count them against the stash-busting tally until I get them put together but those numbers will be pretty!









Then here is my project for today, I didn't go full boar with the Quiltathon but I did get a lot accomplished! These blocks are from a BOM from Fiddlestick's Quilts in Boulder City NV, and they had just started them when we moved so I would drive in once a month to meet a friend and swap out, it got to where I just had my Husband stop and pick up the new ones towards the end and they just got tucked away, so I pulled them out and got busy, the bottom star is one of the last ones that needed to be made up to make the 12 different blocks.

Then I pulled a couple fabrics out to decided what would off set them the best, after taking a vote from anyone in the family who would give me a moment of their time it was decided to go with the red.









Now I just need to figure out how I want to set them, they are 9in blocks so am thinking it will be a nice table topper or wall hanging or baby blanket whenever a little one comes around!

Where the Time Went!

Phew! What a week it has been, since the Quiltathon I haven't touched my machine except to piece a backing and as I am thinking about it I may have made a mistake on it......uh-oh......... So here was my week in a nutshell:

Monday: Church workday, we worked our fingers (and toes) to the bones, it was time to lay all the rebar and mesh to prepare for the concrete and it had to be just so and the men got a kick out of comparing it to a cross-hatched quilt! What was funny is it did! I didn't have my camera for that shot but am going to get a copy from Pastor G, we worked extra hard because if we got what needed to be done then we would have Thursday off and that is when my Husband is home and now we can stay put for that day! The toes part was because we had to kick the mesh into place before it could be clipped, needless to say I won't be having sandal toes for awhile........

Tuesday: Went to visit the Tax Man in Vegas, it all went well and we are waiting to hear the final results. Made one stop to the Quilt Shop but the stop wasn't for me, did get a spool of thread and noticed some new Civil War Prints she had but just kept walking! Proud Moment!

Wednesday: Went to the morning Bee with my new Friend D, it isn't very easy for me to be social not because I don't want to but I always end up stuttering and saying something stupid so I just sat and listened and finished up the binding on the Stripes quilt, got home and washed it up and it came out very nice, need to get a complete shot of that as well. Got started on 1 of 4 quilts.

Thursday: Took a ride out to a Shop in Needles and showed some quilts to the owner and left some cards for her, she has a quaint little shop in an old house and it is named Quilter's Therapy-It's Cheaper than a Shrink! How cute is that? Also delivered 1 quilt and started on 2 of the 4.

Friday: We went down to see the second half of the concrete being poured at the Church, it looks so nice! We are very proud to be part of this project and to imagine that one day my kids will be getting married in a building they helped put together! Amazing! Then finished 2 of the 4 and started on #3.

Saturday: Got around to taking care of some housework and finished up #3 quilt and delivered it and then did the backing for the 4Th and got it loaded and few rows stitched but by 8:30 I was dog tired and went to bed!

Sunday: We had our normal Church Services then enjoyed a lunch with Scott who was home for the weekend from the Academy. Then had to be back early as the Youth Group Teens were going to be in charge of the evening services so we had to be there a half hour early so they had plenty of time to do everything! It was an awesome night and they all did fantastic! It is exciting to see some of our next generation serving! Then finished the quilt up late that night so it could be delivered Monday morning.

And what a feeling to get them all accomplished, it was a favor for a friend who needed some help and I was so glad to be able to do it, they all came out just great and I am going to get permission to post some shots of them because the quilt patterns are just gorgeous!

So now it is time to get back to getting busy with some more of these UFOs and other stuff that needs to get accomplished, like the washing, and dusting, vacuuming..........sigh

What Happened to Today?

Well, I had every intention of working on the borders but once we got home and had lunch I set my head down for just a minute and the next thing I know it was time to get ready to leave, I had an errand and a date with the fuel station before getting to Church and once getting back home Levia made some more of those Apple Dumplings while I layed out a quilt that will get loaded in the morning, and that was it! They put a show on and I zoned out with them and now it is time for bed again!

So the two and half hours that I planned to finish things up I slept, but that is OK, I figure I actually started a couple days early with wanting to get the quilting on the Bows done and the binding on it, and I did! Plus worked more on the binding of the Stripes and although it isn't done it just has one side left. I am very pleased with these accomplishments!

And on a funnier note, if you look at the picture of the quilt you will notice that all the zig's don't zag, didn't catch it until I seen the picture. We had started to watch Gone Baby Gone a few days ago on the big TV that I haven't signed up with the TV Guardian , well the language was a little to much for my taste so turned it off.

The Guardian is up and running on the studio TV, so we decided to put it on while I was sewing. That was a big mistake because we basically had to watch the TV to see what was going on because the language was so horrid it was silent most of the movie!! Hence, my not being totally focused on making sure all the blocks were facing the correct way. It is OK though, I am still pleased as punch with it!

And I am looking forward to the next Quiltathon that is scheduled for the 18th!

Final Eve's Report

Every time I get up to do something this little cuss takes my chair! It has been so nice out that we haven't lit a fire for a few days so I think he is looking for any bit of warmth he can find! He is so spoiled!

And here is the top, I was going to just go with a plain black border but I think it is wanting a little more than that! I haven't measured it yet but it isn't as big as it seems in the picture. But it is really much prettier than I had imagined! It is going to receive the Baptist Fan for the quilting not only because it is one of my favorites but it is also still set up and ready to go!

I will continue the Quiltathon tomorrow afternoon after we get home from Church, Miso Soup will go into the Crockpot so it will be ready when we arrive and I can get busy again! Another thanks to Judy for spurring everyone along, it has been neat to see what everyone has accomplished! And one Gal incorporated a Shop Hop into the day and still got a lot of piecing done tonight! How cool is that?!

Evening Report

Wow! The time seems to be flying and even with getting a late start things are coming together in a timely manner! I did have to cut more black strips, 6 to be exact and the pile on the top is what will make all the blocks. On the next is a little bit of everything going on, a pile ready to be ironed, one with the blocks all set up to just grab and chain piece through and then a sample block so I knew what went where!

In the background that can't be seen is my plate that held dinner! Courtney did the pork chops on George (Foreman Grill) and Donnie made home made fries to go along with. We would have had some apple dumplings that Levia made last night but they ended up being my power snack this afternoon!

I wish I would have taken a picture but they came out just like the picture here from Pioneer Woman Cooks, she has some delicious recipes and her blog is one of my favorites!

Quiltathon Noon Report

I am off and running! I didn't get to start bright and early like I originally planned, we were up a little on the late side since it was
my Husbands last night at home, he left for work about and hour
and a half ago so I was on the machine while he was putting his
boots on!

The last few months I have taken a great liking to quilts using
black as the background and I am doing another one of Mary's
quilts that I believe she made for one of her sons. There is the
link to the actual picture that inspired mine and here is the link
to the pattern that she shared on one of her sites. It is the one called Two Rail Fence.

I am using Black Marble Moda and a bunch of the 2.5 in solid
strips that I have been cutting up. The top photo shows them
already to just grab and strip sew! While the next shows a good
bunch already through the machine, I may need to cut more
black but am going to go with what I have already and see where
it falls!

Now they are all ironed up and ready to be subcut, I did a couple
to see how they were going to look and am very pleased with
it so far!

So now I am off to get them all cut and start putting the blocks
together! I can't believe how much I have already got done in
such a short amount of time!

Thanks to Judy for encouraging and organizing this event!