Snowed in.....

................. at Ann's! When you are enjoying the company of friend's you tend to forget to watch the falling snow! Before I knew it, the roads were snow covered and icy, so I spent the night and we got to sew some more this forenoon! What a wonderful Monday and Tuesday of throwing ideas around and making progress on our projects and I even started a new one!

My new wall hanging in progress before any borders:

One more----

finished to be given as a gift! A while ago, Ryan stated that they "needed" another quilt as a sofa throw.....Monday I started digging throw my stack of blocks and found these---decided they would work for their "throw." Finished the quilting last night and into the washer/dryer it went. I am not overly thrilled with the quilting! Being "swapped" blocks, I found not all the fabrics used had been treated equally--ut oh! But I don't think it looks to bad since it's been washed and dried.

More progress.....

.........a jacket has been added to the finished list. The sleeves will be hemmed after "she" tries it on.

Progress..........

......another professional bag has been completed.

.....Making Gifts

Still working on Christmas gifts. This one was finished this weekend and will go to Shellz's teacher friend:

Finished!!!!!!

Finished hand quilting Stacy's Star Fling quilt early Monday...binding is on, it's washed/dried and ready to go out the door!

Am still working on the "block a week" Pick-n-Choose blocks with Ann, really like how my blocks are turning out altho they ar etotally scrappy!!!!

My design wall is empty right now so have been thinking about the next project. Just not sure what I want to do except it's got to use some of my stash! I do have tops here that I could quilt but need a break to let my fingers heal! Maybe I'll take a break until after the holidays---seriously doubt that tho!!!!

Irene

Still busy.....

Still working on a few projects:

Finished two rag quilts for christmas gifts~

Michelle wanted some bags made to give as gifts~

Still working on hand quilting the red "Star Fling." The end is in sight! Sore fingers or not, I want it finished before Christmas! Hopefully someday I will adjust to wearing thimbles!

irene

Beautiful Skies

As fall is seemingly leaving us and winter is approaching, we have witnessed some beautiful sunrises. Thanks to the kids on my high school routes, I am able to share some of the pictures they have taken for me......

Then one afternoon the elementary kids thought this was "way kewl."

Fleece blankets

......have been on the agenda for this week. Three of them going to "kids in need." Would like to find a pattern to make flannel sheets for them too. I know, I could buy them, but I have sooooooooo much flannel in that tub in there------->

Readjusting????

Seems it took me a long time to adjust to being at home by myself suring the week and sometimes all weekend too. I had finally gotten a routine set up and pretty adjusted......then whamooooo...Adin had an accident and has been home a lot.....I am sooo thankful he only has some bumps and bruises and no one was seriously hurt! His truck is pretty much totaled since the frame is bent so has been using a "day cab" and doing short runs until they get another truck for him to use. Packing him lunches to take along (at 4:30 in the morning) and planing evening meals daily is another adjustment now since I pretty much have been doing salads, etc. for myself. Wanna bet I get used to this schedule and then he's back to long-distance again???? Oh well, keeps life interesting!

Weekly Challenge

My friend, Ann, and I are doing a challenge together--one block a week for 25-30 weeks. Both of us are doing "scrappy." She is doing totally scrappy ( http://granfrysquiltingchaos.blogspot.com/2009/10/finelya-camera.html ) and I am doing Civil War scrappy. So far I have used only fabrics from her and my stashes altho I have a few FQ's I bought at the Woolen Willow (http://www.woolenwillow.com/) last weekend just in case........

...Hobo Bag.......

Shellz wants to give "homemade" gifts to some of her friends at college for Christmas. Since she is not a huge fan of sewing (altho she will help) and is carrying 18 credit hours this semester plus work, she asked if I would help her out.....

So far we have made two Hobo Bags. Not sure we will continue with this pattern or switch to another one as we only have a few weeks to get them all done and she doesn't plan on being home again until Thanksgiving break. They need to be finished so she can take them back with her on 11/29.

Ucky---

is the way I have felt the past few days...very upset tummy and just plain don't feel like doing much of anything! Feeling better today, so let's cross our fingers that whatever got me is gone!

Did start a "hobo" bag, but need to get the "rings" before I can finish...hope to do that tonight. Not much of anything else accomplished except bakes some cookies for the college kids (who are stopping in town tomorrow night--Yippee!

Now back to work......................

--Tomato Week---

Wonder why it seems that the work week is sooooo long when it actually was shorter? Only a 4 day work week but it seemed to drag on forever! Now, we are facing that strech of 4 1/2 weeks until another break----God give me the patience! Don't get me wrong, I still feel I have the best bunch of kids (THANKS 'rents!!), but spending around 6 hrs. a day in a school bus with over 130 kids???? Or maybe I am just geting older??? :(

Didn't get any sewing/quilting done this week---it was "tomato land" at our house! But, now we have fresh tomato juice, chili soup, and vegetable soup for the winter months. Am still trying to decide if I want to make salsa or not---

So today I am going to rest my aching legs/feet and not do much! Maybe sit at the hand quilting frame for awhile? Not sure yet, will see what Adin has in mind for the day before he leaves for Texas........

It's A Top!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Stacy wanted to try a Bargello---ummmm, not sure she was ready for it, but who am I to discourage quilting??????? Guess I should of????? All fabrics except for 1 FQ come from my stash (and yet, it doesn't seem like the shelves have gotten any emptier!)...

Anyway, Stacy started this one but got discouraged so it has been sitting in my studio for a few months.....I decided that this week it had to become at least a top! I NEED "my space" for other projects! I am very happy to say that today it became a top!!! No idea when I'll get it quilted, but at least now I can move on to another project.....

Pattern: Jelly Bargelly
"Black Cat Creations"

Black-n-Silver

Finally have a picture of the Black-n-Silver quilt I made back in April---was given to a friend as a birthday gift in May......Fabrics used: Kona Black and Silver Fairy Frost.

A busy week~

This past week was soooo busy! At times didn't know if I was coming or going!

~Went to orientation on Monday morning at 8:45. Also got what I hoped were my last new student transportation sheets (nope got more as the week went on)---ummmm this school bus is going to be FULL this year! After getting out of this meeting, I picked up Shellz and we headed towards Wooster to do what we hoped was the last of her school shopping---DETOUR!!!!!! Stacy called and said Kevin got hurt at work and she didn't know how bad, only that they were taking him to Aultman.....we turned around and went to the hospital with her.....We are thankful that Kevin didn't lose his right foot or was killed!!! A farm accident is always serious but Kevin won the fight again the "grain auger" that fell on him! Seven hours after we got to the hospital, surgery was over and Shell and I headed home--did stop at Walmart and got a few "things" but not all needed items. I got to bed very late considering I had to get up early Tuesday morning!

~Tuesday 4:30 AM---WHO set that alarm to go off at this hour??????? Oh, wait, school starts today, guess I better get up and moving (altho I really really want to sleep!) Shower wakes me up! I make my way to the bus garage--yeah, my bus is back from the repair shop! "Pop" the hood--gotta do the daily pre-trip---ummmmm why is my overflow reservoir dry??? Why is there no anti-freeze in it????? So off I go to find one of the mechanics....he adds 3 gallons of anti-freeze, I finish pre-trip and am on the road with the bus at 6:10 AM....good morning with 45 students grades 7-12.........drop them off at the Middle/High School and get to take a 15 minute break? Wait, the mechanics just asked me to recheck the fluid levels in the bus--UT-OH--anti-freeze gone again! Not good, the "leak" must not be fixed properly so #20 will go back to the repair shop and I switch to #18...... (***we have awesome mechanics, but the leak on bus 20 was not an "in house" repair job--had to be sent to "out").... By 9AM, I had picked up 68 students grades K-6 and dropped them off at the elementary school and my morning was done---

Some errands and time with Shell before I head back in at 2 PM..........Great afternoon, (except bus 18 overheating and I transferred once again this time to #15), good kids and day one is over and done!

~Wednesday--Routes went great--between routes Shell and I did laundry and started her school packing. In the evening we joined my brother, Steve, and his family for "$1 hamburger night" followed by some karaoke...woops stayed up a little late, but it was a fun night! (Kevin released from hospital--doing great!)

~Thursday--first day of kindergarten for the Tuesday/Thursday group....NO TEARS!!!!! Great routes today. Finished up Shell's packing and did some grocery shopping for her...just the two of us for a quiet dinner at home, went to visit my parents, then loaded Shell's car.....she will leave for college before I get home in the morning To bed early, I'm whipped!

~Friday--first day of kindergarten for the Monday/Wednesday group....NO TEARS!!!! Another great day on the routes! House very very quiet sice I'm back to being alone.....Stacy called and invited me to their place for dinner so after putting gas in Adin's car for him, I headed to Wooster.....nice relaxing evening!

~Saturday...Adin got in to late last night to get this truck unloaded, so I went with him to unload. Came home for a late lunch, then finished up the cleaning, mowing, etc.....Stacy & Kevin came for a corn roast in the evening. Relaxed by the campfire and listened to the band preview at Garaway........

So no sewing or quilting got done this week! Adin will leave again Monday morning and Shellz is back at Walsh...so its just me this week, maybe I will make it into the studio?????? Ummm, I HAVE to, am behind and the holiday orders are coming in!

But, if you want to meet for coffee/lunch/etc.....give me a shout, I always need a break! :)

"Grandma's Girl"

Last days of "no work"

The time has once again come to prepare for the school year to begin. Ack! I want to stay on vacation! Time has once again slipped away and I didn't get everything accomplished this summer that I wanted to, but that's ok. The summer has been so different for me. No kids at home has left me very lonely at times. Just when I think I have adjusted, a new wave hit me....but it's getting better.

Michelle comes home tomorrow from her summer job--yea!! But she will leave for college again next Friday--booo! Seems impossible that she will be a sophmore in college already---how time flies!

Most of the canning/freezing is done--making sweet pickles today, and want to make some tomoato juice yet sometime. Not overly worried if I don't get it done as I still have some from last year, but like to make some fresh each year. This is something I can do on my Saturday's.

I have been driving for some scrimages the last two weeks. Monday we have orientation and then on Tuesday we roll....can it really be time already?



As for quilting this week.....I am still working on hand quilting Stacy's Star Fling---about an hour a day is all my hands will allow. Am also working on finishing the piecing of her Jelly Bargello. Discovered we were short one fabric--6 cuts at 2 1/2" x 3". I searched and searched for a FQ of this fabric but just couldn't find more anywhere. I finally found a replacement FQ so have now unsewn and all the strips and replaced the 2 1/2 x 3 piece in each strip. I have the top section together and am almost done with section three....maybe I'll get back into the sewing room after dinner tonight?

So, now it's back to the kitchen and the pickles.....................................




Irene

Sorting~

I've been going through the fabric cupboards and drawers.....now what to do with

~25 nine patches (colors/white)
~33 nine patches (all colored)
~25 red/green/white blocks
~25 chuncky floral/muslin churn dash blocks
~10 black-n-white blocks (have an idea brewing)

These are just some of what I have found so far.......any ideas????



Irene