Crossing Ohio

is a beautiful quilt block that Ann introduced to me recently. I am NOT a fan of small pieces (and this one has a lot of 1.5 inch squares)! But I have decided to make the blocks different colors thus being able to strip piece some with the background in wow and the dark blue consistant through out.


I have one block sewn (not trimmed) and am working on cutting another 19 blocks. I think I'll "kit" this to take along to Ann's or retreats that are coming up. Ann and I are doing this together, her's a lot scrappier than mine, so that keeps me motivated! Not sure if we are doing a block a week or a block a month??? Don't remember if we decided! Still using from the stash bins--doesn't look like they are decreasing--ugh!

Check out Ann's block here: www.granfrysquiltingchaos.blogspot.com

Another project completed!

Having made a "Professional Bag" for myself, which I fell in love with and use all the time (love all the pockets!), I've had some requests to make more. Shellz wanted one for school so she could carry her laptop and books, etc all in one bag for the day instead of messing with a bag for each class. Made one for her for Christmas and it's working out great for her.



A teacher friend of ours also got one for a Christmas gift. Now her Mom wants to take it from her! Jodie is not about to give her's up, so asked if I would make one she could give to her Mom for a Mother's Day gift? Finished it this forenoon.

Computer updates...

...Had a very sick laptop. :( Thankfully I had another one I could use altho I don't espically like it! Yesterday I was pretty bored so ventured over to Ryan's for the afternoon. He informed me that a new neighbor of his could probably repair the laptop or at least tell us what was wrong! Needless to say, I hurried right back home and got it! A few hours later I had a new hard drive and a working computer! I did lose some pictures I hadn't transfered yet, but am not going to cry about it! Maybe I can get a few from some of the other ladies that were in TN last July with me? If not, I still have the memories!

So are any of you using Windows 7????? WOW, what a change! IMO it's so much better than XP or Vista altho it will take me some time to wade my way through everything! :)

Now, I best get something accomplished thoday....only a few more hours and Spring Break will be here! YEAH!

3Creative BOM update

I have also finished the next block for this BOM series plus a bonus block. I am so liking this one and using up some stash!

Block of the Month....

...for Ohio Quilter's has been finished for awhile. Just haven't gotten around to posting.

March Block:

Catching up~

is what I am trying to do! For a few weeks I spent quite a bit of time helping my parents..My Dad wasn't doing so well so tried to give Mom a break as much as I could. The following week I was attacked with the "spring sinus" infections--UGH! It's been a long time since I had the "crude" this bad! Sure glad it's over! Now hopefully winter is over and gone and spring has truly sprung!

I have been trying to go spend at least one day a week, between bus routes, with Ms. Ann. I sure enjoy our time together! It's so nice to have her back from her travels although she sure deserved every bit of the time away!

On the design wall.....

..............and I need ideas! These blocks come from a swap (I'll have 12 in all). I used some of my "geese" cut off and made some pinwheels that I would like to use as cornerstones, the problem I have is, what color(s) do I use for for setting strips???

Please leave comments with your suggestions!

Flannel............

At this time of the year, flannel quilts are so wonderfully warm! I've been swapping in a yearly flannel swap for close to ten years now.....This week I decided to dig out the last of the blocks I had and get them into a quilt top.(plus it helped keep me warm!) Trying to stick to my "no buy" challenge, I went into the flannel cupboard---found some yellows, so they were used. May have to break down and buy the backing, but I do have a nice bright piece of flannel, if only it's big enough!







Then for some simple sewing...I made a few "Wonder Wallets." I don't like taking my purse on the bus (plus there's not a lot of room to store it), so decided one of these is just what I needed! I can carry my license, a few dollars, etc. in it and tuck it into my coat or jean pocket!


Now, it's Friday so I must get a few household chores done. After hubby leaves again tomorrow (well, he's gotta get home this afternoon first!), I'll be free to dig out another UFO, work on my current challenges & BOM's, or maybe dive in and start a new project???




Happy Quilting!

Irene

Sometimes-----

---you just have to bite the bullet and do something you just hate! I absolutely hate mending! But, Hubby has a coat he wears all winter altho it's old and somewhat tattered, but it's warm. He busted the zipper and the pockets were torn so badly, anything put into them was lost. So, while out and about with "the college kids" yesterday, I finally bought a replacement zipper.

Today, after the snow was shoveled again and the kids left...I made new pockets and attacked them...AND.....I actually replaced that zipper! Now, when he gets back from Texas, he will have his coat again :).

As a reward I made block 6 of one oof the BOM's I doing. The lighting wasn't very good today so the purples look blue.

Delays, no school, snow , any quilting?

Another week of messed up schedules! With a delayed start on Monday, I simply didn't get anything done at home! Another snow storm kept us home Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday so I really tried to accomplish something besides shoveling snow!

I managed to get Stacy's very bright Bargello quilted and the binding on! (all but one FQ came out of the stash--yes!)

I also got my 5th block made in the 3Creative Studio Series (http://threecreativestudios.com/bom.htm)

Off to see if anything will get accomplished this week?

Snow Storm Hits

The weatherman predicted a snowstorm for our area....no way did we expect the 17 iches of snow with winds! I was all set to spend today in the sewing studio but those plans changed! There was no way I could let Hubby do all the snow shoveling alone! He started by digging out the back sidewalk as I got a pot of chili simmering.....following our lunch I ventured out to help him shovel. Now I need to relax before I even think about quilting! A nice cup of hot tea with a piece of freshly baked carrot cake and and I'll be ready to head into the studio--at least I hope so!

.......Main Street is where?

.......and the sidewalk is here?

.......Hubby's car is snowed in

.......finally found the driveway

Ohio Quilter BOM-February Block

Ummmmm.not happy with my block--ya see the center of one block just doesn't come to a point. :( I do believe this block will see some frog-stitchin' and a section remade!

Delft Blue~

My friend, Char, is hosting a "Delft Blue-n-White" Swap.......now how could I say no to this since these are some of my favorite colors??? She sure knows how to entice me! So I need one block per swapper by March 30th.....think I'll get them done before March 29th???? You know me, wait until the last minute then stress! I made my sample block and found I had to adjust either the cutting of the fabric or the seam allowance...the second block looks a lot better! So far there are only ten swappers and I already know I'll want at least twelve blocks.....I went digging in the stash and came up with fabric to made a different pattern to add to my "swapped" blocks once they return. Now to find another set of fabrics and pattern. I want all twelve blocks to be a different pattern.....

block I will be making to swap after I make adjustments (this is the sample block--not swap worthy!)

Block I made to add to the collection:

Clean-up Progress

...Did get some of the clean up done tonight after a relaxing dinner at Park Street Pizza!

I also took the time to "bag" on-going projects( BOM's/Pick-n-Choose/30's Wall Quilt/Pink-Green paper piecing/etc.)....so now hopefully I can find them when I want to work on them! More later on the "new" project I started too I just couldn't resist! :)

Frustration has set in......

Nothing, and I mean NOTHING seems to be going right! Not only in sewing/quilting, but life in general....Deep down in, I know if I can get over this "bump," all will be ok, but, man-------

Taking a look at my mess in my studio, it's no wonder I get frustrated when I walk in the door instead of finding the calmness I am used to! This is supposed to be my place to go to regroup/calm down/chillout---you get the idea. Well, I don't think this is doing the trick right now~

Sooooo I have decided I need to stay home tonight (well, once I get home from work) and clean up this clutter! {would much rather go watch the girls basketball game} Hopefully the pieces will all fall into place and my sewing adventures will all come together tomorrow as planned?

~New Ride~

Haven't been in the studio since Monday altho I feel the "itch!" I've been pretty busy doing our taxes and at work--moving my "stuff" from bus #20 into bus #8 and test driving #8. It will take a few "runs" to be completely comfortable driving the new bus, but so far I really like it!

On the road for the first offical run at 2:40 pm this afternoon!

Ohio Quilter's BOM

Here is my January "Star" block....again, no fabric purchased--gotta reduce the stash!

....Block 3

..of the BOM Challenge is completed.

"BOM" Stash Buster

I am trying so hard to use up some of my stash! There are fabrics in there that I have no idea why in the world I bought them to begin with--ugh! So while surfing the other day, I came across this website for a Block of the Month (BOM). The colors caught my eye, and I realized I had a lot of these in my stash, sooooo another UFO birthed! I am going to see exactly how many of the blocks in the series I can make without spending a penny.......

Block 1:

Block 2:

I am sure I have enough of the "yellows" for all the blocks (and then some) but the purples, teals, and blacks will change as I go. I do want to keep all the blacks a "white on black" fabric.

Care to join me? Challenge is at least one block a week until I'm caught up, then one block a month.

Irene

Blue-n-White Swap:

Ohio Quilters (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OhioQuilters/) is hosting a 10.5" Blue and White block swap.....Now, this is not my favorite size of block to make, but I decided I needed to try, so into the stash of blues I went digging thinking this is a great way to use up some of the smaller pieces of fabric...... I need 3 sets of 6 blocks. I am sure I will be adding more of my own once I receive the "swapped" blocks back.