Inventory

of quilt tops that are stored and need quilting is in progress....

So far I have seven tops hanging here with the backings that need to be quilted. I am at the point of hiring someone to machine quilt them for me--nothing fancy, just get them done! Any suggestions?

I have also found three that I need to buy/make backings for. I am sure there are more since I haven't opened some totes yet! I won't even start with the half done/started tops as of yet! For some reason I am finding that I have become a "topper!" Is there a cure????????

"I Have A Notion"

is the first quilt I finished for me here at the new home! It hangs in my studio! Years ago I swapped "notion jar"blocks with some friends and now I have a nice wallhanging for my room!

On the Wall

right now is the beginnings of a very scrappy blues/tans/creams quilt. This so out of my element!!! I am trying really hard to stay true scrappy, but......

So far I have used 5 1/2 yards of fabric pieces for the blocks all from stash! Not sure what will be used for the borders, just may have to have some fabric retail theraphy for those!

Andy's Quilt

Mr. Miller's grandmother hand-pieced this quilt top for him but didn't get it quilted before she passed. I was asked to sandwich it and quilt it......Beautiful Trip-Around-The-World!

ummmm

time has gotten away from me! Not sure where the time has gone but I know I am behind in almost everything!! Work has been a challenge but slowly getting into the routine......But it's sad that we count the days from one break to another! This to shall pass! (at least I hope so or it's going to be a loooong year!)

Am loving the wonderful fall weather between the rain! But, let it rain because then it's not that white stuff!!! Slowly getting everything setup in my studio and the new home. Taking my time and still changing my mind alot! Also still sorting and purging all the "stuff!"

More in a bit......

School is in session

for the 2011-2012 year. Am having trouble readjusting to going to bed at 9:30 and getting up at 4:30! Would much rather stay up late (yes, I've always been a night owl) and then sleep in. It's hard when hubby stays up until 1-2 AM then sleeps until 9-10 AM, but that's been his sleep routine for about forty years!

Kids so far are wonderful. It's not always easy adjusting to new a new bus driver, getting up earlier, and a new school routine for the NINETEEN seventh graders I have! But they/we are working it out. New kindergardeners have been dry-eyed so far-pray it stays that way!

I have been slowing setting up my studio. Not everything is moved in yet, but come on, I HAVE to be able to sew/quilt between routes or I'll totally go insane! It's far from being the way I am envisioning it, but at least I can cut and sew!! Maybe over the holiday weekend i can get some of the kids to help finish the moving? Will see........

WHY?????

is it that almost everything is moved from the house BUT my sewing studio????? All I need help with is moving the cabinets and tables.....the rest I can do myself. BUT for some strange reason, I can't get the guys to help get this moved. Look out--if THIS Momma can't sew between bus routes, she's NOT gonna be very happy and then you won't be happy either--this I promise!!!

OK..now I have vented so I'll go play with the little bit of fabric I have here!

OH WOW!!!!!

I am so humbled by the generosity of my friend Elizabeth!!!! "Liz" and I met on-line a few years ago though an on-line quilting group. We met in person in 1998 and have stayed friends. Last week she told me she was getting rid of a "bunch" of her stash and wanted me to have it! Ok, what's the catch??? I had to travel to the Pittsburg, PA area to get it....... ummmmm...now, when????

After talking to Michelle, we decided we would do a "road trip" yet this week before I returned to work and she started fall classes--it worked out that she had yesterday off, so away we went!

I went to Canton on Wednesday night and stayed with Michelle overnight--we both got much needed hair cuts and had dinner at Ruby Tuesday's.....(and of course, Handel's ice cream for dessert!!!)

Thursday morning we hit the road around 8:00. Our first stop was at IKEA!!! Spent a few hours here then off to Golden Corral for some food! Stop number two was in Moon, PA--my friend's house. It was sooooooo wonderful seeing her again after thirteen years!!!! So, ok, we don't live THAT far apart, but both work and are/were involved in kids/family stuff, but I'm hoping now that our kids are older and mostly on thier own, we can connect more often??? Anyway, here are pictures of what she gave me! (and no the fabric won't stay on there sheveles, only there to air out the mothball smells)

I am still in awe! There just simply aren't words to describe my thanks!!!

From there we traveled to Grove City and hit the outlet shops--ummmm, no further comments needed on this stop!! lol Grabbed dinner at a drive-tho on the way home. Met up with some rain showers and construction, but made good time..

Has a wonderful and fun day, altho, me thinks me is getting to old for this much in one day!!!! I was sooooo tired!!

Thanks again Liz for your generosity and thanks Michelle for a fun day shopping!!

Cosmic Jewels

August 10, 2011 I was privilaged to travel to Fairborn, Ohio and take workshop by Debbie Maddy (http://www.calicocarriage.com/). Oh how wonderful! Had a great time! My top isn't finished as I need to add the borders, but this was so much fun!!!

Moving Days

have arrived! Will be so happy to be able to walk without dodging boxes!

See you next week!

Retreat time:

Once again I was able to attena a quilting retreat this past weekend in Torch, Ohio. (hey, didn't wash all those busses for nothing!) Was winderful to get away from all the "mess" at home for a few days!

Sure didn't get everything accomplished I wanted to, but enjoyed myself--

New SCRAPY (gasp!!) project started:

And I made another purse/bag (not that I needed one!)

Also made a block to add to the "comfort quilt" that is being made for a fellow quilter diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Thoughts and prayers go with Sherry.

Not what I had planned

on doing today!!

I wanted to keep working on my snowball blocks between loads of laundry, etc. But, while runnning a few errands this morning, Hubby and I decided to stop at the local produce stand. Seeing all the green beans she had, reminded me that I needed to order some to can and stock the shelves for winter......was very surprised to find out she had extra today and I came home with a bushel of green beans! Hubby helped clean and snap them or I'd still be at it! So, three families will have beans to eat this winter if nothing else!

Now, next week I can sew?????

Snowball Blocks...........

is what I worked on today....didn't feel like packing/sorting so I got a start on my swap blocks.

Stash Enhancement

was on the agenda yesterday and today!!! It felt soooooo good to be able to add to the collection!

Quilt shops visited were: Mrs. Miller's in Charm, Pine Tree in Kidron, Somewheresewing west of Millersburg, and Lone Star in Mt. Hope. Also made a stop at Pat Catan's! Had so much fun with Pat and Becky!!

Jars

Finally I have put my "Sewing Jars" into a top!! I am hoping to use this as a wall hanging in my studio after we move......

Fun Times

with an unplanned visit from friends! Got a phone call asking if they could visit for a few days??? DUH!! My house is a mess with packing boxes/newspapers/stacked boxes/etc.....but if you can deal with it, come on!!!

Today we visited two quilt shops and a craft store--lunch on the go and then pizza/salads for dinner.

Due to Amber having a flat tire, we got to see the son, Ryan, DIL, Amber and MS. Rylee to! I think this is the first Rylee actually saw me sewing. I walked away to press my project and this is what I found when I returned: (thankfully I had turn the machine off!!)

Moving.................

is what we will be doing Aug. 6th so my time has been spent sorting though our "stuff." What to keep? discard? Where did all this stuff come from????

Did a little sewing with friends last week, but not near enough!! Have a few new ideas just waiting to be started, but until I am in the new studio, it's just not gonna happen.

So, until I have something exciting to update---I'll just take breaks and read your blogs.........

Spinning Black and White

Altho I still don't remember who all swapped with me in this swap, the top is done. Another one added to the "to be quilted" pile. Would be nice if these tops just magically quilted themselves!!!

Looking for

the ladies that swapped in this Pinwheel swap with me? Were you one of them??? Please contact me if you were! The blocks are all done in black/white/wob/bow.

Using scraps......

So many scraps! Time to "get-a-grip" on them! I was intrigued with Bonnie Hunter's pattern (http://quiltville.com/outonastring.shtml) Out on a String. Pat had two 6' diamond rulers so I changed my stars from 3" to 6". I am also using one fabric as the center for each star--I know, controlled scrappy again, but it's a start!!! Not sure how many stars I will make yet....