May "Ohio Quilters" Retreat

The first weekend of May brought the Ohio Quilter's to Holmes County again--what a blast! ..As always, the time spent together went to fast...

Made a "Charm" Tote:

A "Raggy Jacket" out of my stash flannels:

and have finally finished the 'Vera Bradley' style bag:

"Turning 20" in Parkersburg~

Spent a few days with friends in Parkersburg, WVA for a mini retreat in April. Make my first "Turning Twenty" quilt blocks.....made enough blocks for two kids quilts:

Star Fling~

I only bought one fabric for this quilt--the rest came from Lesa and my stash and I pieced it during spring break, quilted it last week.

Stacy used the same pattern to make a quilt--ALL her fabrics came out of my stash. We put this one in the hand quilting frame and will get started on it this week:

Ut-OH

The screen on my laptop took a dump! It shattered and most of my pictures are on there! Hoping to finally hear from the repairman this week on a replacement??

I have been busy and will add some updates as soon as I can get the pictures!

Irene

Spring break

This week is Spring Break for the school district I work for--YEEEHAAWWWW!! What a wonderful time to rest and relax after pushing myself to go to work when not feeling well!

My dear friend, Lesa, invited me to spend a few days at her house close to Dayton So Friday night I headed southwest...I got here about 8:30 and have been pampered ever since!

Saturday we went visited a little quilt shop in Willington--National Quilting day--buy one get one at half off---ooooo baby! Did find a few fabrics I just had to have??? Also just had to stop at the Fabric Shack! :) Then back to the house and some time was spent sewing....

Made some "bags" (purses) for the girls and myself...

more later............................

Catching up?

At least I'm trying to! Sent a few days in bed last week with the "crud." Not my idea of fun!! Anyway, am better and trying to get caught up....many basketball games going on this week, Final Four in Columbus for our girls team, and the guys are in Regionals. I can't make it to all of the games, but sure wish them the best of luck..... GO HAWKS!!! This also messes up the work schedule with a 3 PM game two hours away!!! Not sure sometimes if I'm coming or going!

Also start spring break at 5 PM on Friday---AYEEE!!! Plans are to be out of town a few days---wonder who would dare to mess those plans up for me???? Have to decide what I am taking with me as time will be spent sewing/quilting---UNINTERRUPTED!!!! Is it Friday yet?????

Haven't sewn much, played around with some designs tho.......interesting. Am working on "spring" cleaning the house.....temperatures are warmer and the suns been shining so want to get this all done before I leave......am leaving the yard to Adin!!! (well, I can dream right?)

So have a good week and I'll check in from Lesa's!




Irene

Stacy's finishes another one...

Helped Stacy finish another quilt this past week.......gotta get her to start quilting them too so I can work on my projects!

Rylee

..........came to help us celebrate Grandpa's birthday!

Busy busy busy...

Been busy around here, not sure doing what, but time slips away from me!

I am still working on the black and silver quilt....so tired of making 9-patches, but they need to be made! Also helping Stacy.....she definately is "into" piecing quilt tops! She raided my stash again and pulled fabrics for a "Jelly Bargelly." She was home again yesterday and we got the strips all cut and she started sewing them together.....will be intersting to see the final outcome! I also have basted Stacy's third quilt top and hope to start quilting that later this week--oh wait, I have field trip tomorrow, so may have to wait until next week......

Mic is home on spring break, so spend as much time with her and her S.O. as I can......seems we just get involved in a project and I have to go back to work . But, I am thnakful I have a job to go to!

We've also been baking a lot of cookies! Am sure if ther are an left on Sunday, Mic will take them back to school with her! Some days I feel like all I do is cook and clean! Am ok with that too as there are so many days when everyone is gone that I spend alone (and no, I don't like that one bit!)

So for now, I back to the kitchen, another batch of cookies waiting to be baked!

Stacy's first quilt---

Finally picked up the thread and finished quilting Stacy's first pieced quilt.......

T-Shirts

So many t-shirts! Michelle had drawers full! She selected some of her "milestone" ones and we made this quilt: (most of the others were donated--finally!)

(As you can tell, the kitty wanted to play hide-n-seek!)

She's so precious-

Catnap

Mommy has that camera again!

Unwrapping all those gifts has made me tired!

Amber quilts:

Having quilting friends in from different areas of Ohio for some fun, inspired my daughter-in-law Amber! Here's the crib quilt she made (it was really hard to get a good picture showing the colors!) in pink, lavender, green, and blue.... I think she did a great job! Now to get her to start the next one-

Some ice and snow--Jan. '09

Just ice for now: Then the snow came:

Winter storm quilting time:

We had another snow and ice storm in January. Kids got stranded at our house so we had fun sewing and quilting. I got a chance to finish up a few projects (yeah! Now I don't have to feel so guilty starting new ones!)


Bargello: A class I took a while ago taught by Lesa Bame (http://www.lesabame.blogspot.com/)
is now completed and hanging on the wall!

A collection of "rail" flannel blocks are now a quilt and on the bed in the guest room:

My "BellaBella" is finally done and on the wall in the family room! (my first BIG paper-piecing project)

Stacy pieces---

This is the 2nd quilt Stacy pieced.....Good job girl! It was a gift to me and hangs in my sewing room.

Black n Silver

Another new project on the table......

A request for a black and silver quilt, so we're off and running! Five of 20 blocks made...

Rylee-

At two weeks:

and at 5 weeks:

(more as soon as I get them off the camera!)

Quilting 1:

I am currently working on finishing some quilts, but also making blocks for a swap (yeah, I know, I'm not supposed to start new projects, but.....). At least I AM using fabric from my scrap bins!

Here are a few of my swap blocks:

Welcome my new granddaughter!

On November 22, 2008 we welcome our first grandchild into the family! Rylee nicole was born at 7:08 AM........

Back...............

well, kind of! So much has happened it will take me awhile to get caught up and I will work on that over the next few days!

I am pretty much adjusted to being alone a lot and am keeping busy. Still have a few "things" to work through, but god has brought us thus far and I am confident He will see us through the rest!

Mic comes home tomorrow for the winter break so will be busy helping her with some "stuff" but hope to get you all caught up on here too!

Stay tuned!

UT-OH

Nothing much going on as far as quilting.....so sad. I did make Mic a pair of lounging pants out of Nascar fabric this past week before my world fell apart. Due to some "life crisis" I am taking a leave of absence. Hopefully after school's back in session everything will get back on track. I don't enjoy the situation I'm in, but am positive with time it will get better.

back soon, I hope.



Irene

Still quilting.......

Even with all the doctor appointments, school planning, movingrooms around and sweet corn, I still found time to quilt! About time! We decided we couldn't make a quilt for "T" and not his sister, so here's what we came up with:


Irene

Tired.....

Been a busy week. Cleaning and moving rooms around here at home....was going to finish up today but a phone call changed my plans.

My Mom called at 8 this morning and informed me that Dad had taken a turn for the worse, he's been sick since Tuesday. In fact she was in the process of calling 911......I of course dropped everything and dove the five miles to their house. Got there before the "squad" and found a very pale, clammy, man sitting in his lift chair. Took his b/p and checked his sugar level immediately and they were ok........did find out he was having dizziness again and felt like passing out-----not exactly what I wanted to hear! He's already fallen 14 times since Jan. 1st!

A ride to ER in the squad for him and Mom and I followed in the car. Tests were run, again, and about all they can find is an inner ear infection and soe dehydration. Since he already has a lot of health roblems, it was decided he would stay in the hospital for a few days for observation. I fneally left there around 5:30 . Nine hours at the hospital was NOT how I had planned on spending my day alone! I WAS going toget my sewing room cleaned up and everything in place so I could sew and quilt again next week----oh well, my dad will be 76 on Wednesday, so time spent with him is pretty precious right now!

So now I am going to try to get some sleep and will check in later this week....

Irene

Painting & Moving........

I haven't touched my sewing machine lately! Believe me, I look at it longingly daily, but just have been to busy with other "things."

Ry and Amber found a 3 bedroom mobile home last Monday to rent, getting them ut of thier small one bedroom apartment. BUT, all the walls were a ucky gray/black, so we started painting. Primer was put on Tuesday and Wednesday and we started the final coats on Thursday. All repainted except the "office" by noon on Saturday and the moving began. Had everything moved by 6 but not unpacked.......they will take their time unpacking this week after work.

I also attended my 35th class reunion Saturday evening---what a joy to see some classmates I haven't seen in awhile (some 37 years!). Had a wondeful time.

Yesterday I decided it was time to finally empty out the storage room and turn it into the guest bedroom it is supposed to be! Mic wasn't to thrilled with me as she had the day off and had to help! But, there is actually "moving" room in there now. Two trips to the Goodwill box, a few bags into the trash, everthing sorted and put back into place.....looks pretty good if I say so myself! Now if only the other two rooms I want to change around were done! Maybe if I ask nicely, Stac will come home and help me? Mic has to work everyday now until she leaves for college so my "helper" is gone during the day.........we shall see.

Kids that are here tonight are watching a ball game and on thier laptops, so maybe I'll go sew for a little while? Altho a nap sounds wonderful!

Irene

Done!

"T"s quilt is done! My week didn't exactly go as planned so I finished his quilt! Now I've started one for his sister.....am hoping to finish it within a week! Guess I have my work cut out for me, don't I?

New Quilt in progress

We have had a young gentleman here off and on over the past few weeks. He remarked about all the quilts in the house and Mic told him that that's mom's hobby.


She then asked him, "If you could have your very own quilt, what color would it be?"

Without missing a beat he replied, "ORANGE!"

After being informed that it usually takes more than one color, he also said, "dark blue."


Mic went raiding my stash! Here is the top she asked me to make for T-Jay. I am hoping to get it quilted tomorrow and the binding on before Tuesday when he returns for a few days again.






Irene

Day to Day

Last week was a really hard week for me! I am so used to having people around me all the time and all of a sudden I found myself totally alone!!! I will admit I had a breakdown one day, but through the thoughts & prayers of friends, I made it through! Now, I guess I know what I'm in for when Mic leaves for college next month?? But then I will also be back to work, so may be able to deal with it better?

Anyway, I did get to work on the quilt I started for "T." Thought I was done with the top until I laid it out to match up the backing---whoa! The top wasn't "square" like it should of been so now I am redoing all the borders. Have the last round to add yet. Need to finish it up today as I have an appointment with a machine quilter on Thursday to quilt it.

Stac was home one day and looking at a quilt book Carolyn (http://ohioquilter.blogspot.com/)sent me. She saw a quilt pictured in there she really liked so went on a hunt for fabric in "stash." She found a few larger pieces she liked and ask if I thought she could make the top? Well, yeah, you can sew and you can learn how to piece quilts too! She left for home with one block completed, the fabric, the book, one of my cutting mats, a cutter, an 18" ruler and a square ruler! Oh, she also grabbed the back-up sewing machine. I get a few calls a day when she runs into snags, but she is progressing well. I can't wait to see the top! I am thrilled that at least one of my girls is starting to share my love of quilting!

Mic is working again now that she's home from Chicago (she went there with the youth group last week). She also is playing some soccer and softball. Keeps me busy in the evevnings. Last night she played soccer in Wooster at 7. We found out earlier in the day that a gal we met in Hawaii was playing at 6, so we ventured up early to watch Makenzie play. They then stayed for Mic's game and we all went to Applebee's for dinner. Was wonderful seeing our new friends from Mansfield again!

I hope to do a little better keeping my blog updated. Would love if you'd leave a note telling me if anyone actually reads this!

Now, on to face the beutiful sunny day god has given us!

Irene

Sunsets

I love sunsets!! Two of the sunsets we saw in Hawaii...totally awesome!

Meet the Mr. & Mrs.

We finally got the pictures from the photographer!


Ryan & Amber
May 17, 2008

Busy, busy, busy.....

We've been very busy! Time is flying by and soon I will have to thik about going back to work-ugh!

Anyway, June 17th, Mic and I flew to Hawaii! She had been selected to play on the "Ohio Softball Team" in the "2008 King Kamehameha Softball Classic." There was also a baseball tournament held at the same time, so we traveled with some of the "guys" too. A long flight but oh so much fun! We stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort on Waikiki Beach. On Wednesday we did some site-seeing and shopped at the Aloha Flea Market at Aloha Stadium. Thursday Mic went snorkling and then in the afternoon all of 2000 of us went to Paradise Cove for a Polynesian Show and Dinner. Frida we went sailing and did some shopping and more touring, laid on the beach and sunbathed by one of the 5 pools. Saturday-Sunday were spent at the ball fields for some intense ball games. Mic started at third base, moved to catcher, from there to right field and ended up at first base! Not many gals could/can play this many positions and do a good job but she managed! :) Monday morning we visited Pearl Harbor...........very touching.

We made many new friends, some which will last a life time! All to soon the 10:30 PM flight on 6/23 rolled around! We got home about 9 pm on 6/24, tired but happy. The six hour time difference was a big adjustment when we came home, but we survived! We are ready to go again!


A few of my favorite pictures (we have close to 500 of them!)
travel mates:

Josh, Jeremy, Mic, Joe, Kira


Hilton Hawaiian Village:



Site-seeing shots:
















Will post more next post.....................