Last 3 quilts tied for gifts

Here are the last 3 quilts that I tied to give for gifts. I liked how all of the Christmas quilts turned out. I can't wait to start some new ones. The Red and Black quilt is a Mystery that I did with the Quilts by Kos Yahoo group, designer was Tara Kos. The Carpenters Star is a Mystery Quilt called Tamara's Choice, I did this quilt with the Pocketful of Mystery's Yahoo group, this quilt was designed by Dorothy Young. And the last one is a quilt that I made the top for in 2002, after losing my Father the previous year, and breaking my leg in 2 places, and dislocating my ankle at the same time, the following year. I pieced this top with my cast on, and I named this quilt "Putting together the pieces", and I am giving this quilt to my youngest son Matthew, as he was a teenager at the time, and we were all putting together the pieces.

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2 Christmas quilts tied and bound

Well, I just finishe these 2 quilts for Christmas gifts. The blue one is the crumb quilt that I made for my grandson Kyle, and the other one is a Mystery Quilt that I made with the quiltvillechat yahoo group of Bonnie Hunters. This quilt is called "Orange Crush". It was the April fools mystery quilt this year. I am giving it to my oldest son John, as he was born on "April Fools" day, so I thought that it was only fittin that I give to him seams it was the April Fools Mystery. I only have 2 more quilts to bind, and they will be done, and just in time, as we are having our Christmas on Sunday. I am going to post pictures of the other 3, one of which is already finished, after I finish the last one.



I got another lovely pachage from my DJ Secret Pal yesterdy, her identity was revieled to me so "THANK YOU" Penny Jones, for being such a great Secret Pal. I hate to see the year end. Everything you sent this year was great. Well, time to get back to work on the quilts.

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DJ Secret Pal Gift

This is a little teapot pincushion, that I recieved from my Secret Pal. I just love it. It is probrobly my favorite gift from her yet, although it is hard to say for sure, as all of her gifts have been great, from the January Calendar, to the snails trail scrap quilt pattern, to the Angel paper piecing quilt pattern. Actually I can't choose which items are my favorite, as I love them all. She has been an absolutely great SP.



I am still working on my Christmas gift quilts, that I am tying. I think I will make it, but only time will tell. We went to our son's for Thanksgiving yesterday, after I got done with work. The dinner was delicious, and the company was great. I had a great time visiting with our Grand-daughter Lexi. She sure is full of energy, but most 2 year olds are. She knows all of her ABC's and can count to 20. She knows all of her shapes, including rectangles, triangles, and octagon's. She is a sweet heart. Time to go, and works on quilts.



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I haven't posted for a while. Life has been so hectic. This is a mystery quilt I made the top of last year. I made this with the Quilts by Kos, yahoo group. I had originally planned to machine quilt it, but never got to it, so I decided to tie it, and give it to my sister in law Sharee, as a Christmas gift. I hope she likes it.

Today is the first day of Deer season in our area, and there has been a lot of traffic the last few day's even if I do live on a dirt road. The weather is miserable and raining, so today there hasn't been a lot of anything going on.

DH and I just got back from Olean Joann's, and I got a new cutting mat, and also one of the rotating cutting mat's. I have been wanting one of the rotating ones, but they are quite pricey, in my book anyway, so when I got to Joann's to buy the regular cutting mat, and realized that they now carried the rotating ones, I couldn't resist with all cutting mat's being 50% of this week, with an additional 10% off your total order even sale prices.

I really want to get started on some siggie quilts, but I have a few more quilts to tie for Christmas gifts.

I had an inspection by the state yesterday at work, the inspection was to check my paper work and to be sure, I was keeping accurate records. When we were threw with that part of the inspection, until it was serving time I was taking a little break with the inspector, and as we were talking, I was nicely surprised to find out that she was also a quilter. She said she tries to stop at all of the little quilt shops in the area she is currently at, as she has to drive several hours to get to the area she is inspecting at for the week. She was telling me that her husband says Oh no, more fabric every time she comes home.

Til' next time,

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Crumby Sunday

Well, this was a crumby Sunday, in a quiltie sort of way. Here is a close up of the crumb quilt I am currently working on. This is my first crumb quilt but it definitely won't be my last. This is a good relaxation quilt, as it is a mindless sewing project that you really don't have to think much about. There are so many layout possibilities. I have another layout in mind already for my next one.

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Quilt Finished

I just finished Lexi's Christmas Quilt I think it came out quite nice. It was a mystery quilt that I did with the stash mystery group. I tied this quilt, and then used one of the decorative stitch patterns that were on my machine to stitch the binding down rather than doing the stiching down by hand. The thread has all of the focus fabric colors in it and was perfect for doing this. I chose the heart stitch, as I call Lexi my "Sweet Heart", so it seemed fitting to use this heart stitch on the binding. I am going to name this quilt quite simply "Sweet Heart", and it should look really sweet on her Dora the Explorer bed.

I got my Secret Pal Package yesterday, and I loved everything in it. It is always a surprise when it comes as for some reason I always forget about it until it shows up in my mail box. Yesterday was a double surprise, as I also received my fabric postage stamp swap pieces. I have been using these 1.5 inch pieces of fabric for my leader / ender project while I am sewing. For those of you who don't know about leader / enders you really should visit Bonnie Hunter's quiltville site. I have the pattern all picked out to use these tiny 4-patches in, and this is a quilt that I intend to keep for myself. It is now time work on couple of other quilts. One is my April Fool's Mystery called "Orange Crush" for my son John as a Christmas gift as he was born on April Fools Day, and the other is my Grandson Kyle's Crumb quilt.

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Case Forum Round Table Swap

I recently participated in a Round table type swap on the Case Collector Club forum that I belong to. It is a very active, and fun group, and it seems like there is always something going on. Anyway 2 of these knives, I received from our friend Greg, who got my name in the round table drawing. The first is a breast cancer awareness Rough Rider small stockman knife. and the second knife is a "County Doctor" limited addition Doctors knife by Case. I love them both and they have been added to my collection, and are considered 2 more of my prized possessions. The third knife, I received from our friend Lynn, he was the keeper of our round table, and he organized everything, and handled the drawing for everyone to send there knives to. I won this Red/Rose small stockman for guessing what he was thinking of to do next, and I guessed round table.

We just received our Collector Club Magazine from case which featured the Case appreciation weekend. We had a separate dinner for the forum members, and in the magazine my quilt that I made was shown, along with a case I made from memorabilia from the week-end. It all has been quite an honor, and I can't wait to see the quilt on display in the museum when they get it hung.

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Kyle's Day of Pride

Last Friday our Grandson Kyle was honored at school for his community pride. Last year all of the middle school students were asked to write and essay on community pride, and responsibility and what it means to them. Kyle's essay was chosen as the #1 essay, and a bronze life size statue of Kyle was made. As the statue depicts, Kyle wrote an essay about a young man who takes pride in his community by keeping it cleaned up, and how he would paint all the fire hydrants to keep the community looking nice.

When Kyle was asked how it felt to be immortalized in a bronze statue for all who pass threw our town to see, he blushed a little and said "Pretty Good" and he was beaming with pride. As you can see Kyle has grown a bit since this project was started. He is a good student, and is on the Honor Roll. Bill, and I are both very proud of him, and tell him so often.

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I'm Backkkk

Well, now that things have finally decided to settle down some, I have some time to do a little blogging. I have done a few of my SBS blocks, these are the 3 that I have done for this month challenge blocks on the SBS yahoo group. I really like where this quilt is going, and this is definitely a quilt for me to keep.

I can't wait to get started back on my DJ also. I have some winter projects to keep me busy that is for sure.

It is a very beautiful fall type day out, even though it is still officially summer on the calendar until next week. I have been thinking of doing a little bit of bargain shopping towards Christmas this year, for the kids, and grand kids. Every year I say that I am going to cut back, and every year it seems I don't. I love the fact that they all know what Christmas really is all about, and that they would not be disappointed no matter how much or how little they got. There favorite part of the holiday's is spending time with there family, and having a big dinner together. Anything else is just icing on the cake. Christmas is for celebrating the birth Jesus. And spending time together with family.

Well, I guess it is time to get busy on some more Christmas Siggie Signing, so I can get them in the mail later this week.

Til Later,

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Shopping Trip

I wanted to go to a new fabric shop, that I hadn't been to before, and DH and I went today. It wasn't a bad quilt shop, but it still isn't one of my favorites. A little more pricey than my favorite one, and no special deals. I'm not saying that I won't go again, but won't make a special trip either. I did see a stained glass angel wall hanging quilt, that I loved. I would really like to try making one, but not sure if I could handle it.

We also went to an Antique Shop, and also a Salvation Army Store, to look at everything, and also DH would like to get a display case for his knife collection, but we didn't find anything. I did see an old postage stamp quilt that was neat. Looking at all those little pieces makes me think that I must be crazy to want to make one of my own.

We didn't find much, but I had a great time shopping. DH and I always enjoy our time together.

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Birthday

I had a great birthday this year. I got a new Dell Laptop Computer from DH, and a whole box full of "Birthday Siggies" and a package from my DJ Secret Pal. I was such fun to leisurely open each individual envelope filled with siggies, and some cards, and notes. The siggies were from all over the world. I am going to post some siggie pictures later, when I have a chance to get more pictures. One of my siggie packages even had 4 siggies in it, and there were bikini bears in every possible situation. Thanks Rosa, they are great. I went shopping with some friends Friday, and we hit all of the major craft stores, and then some. They even told me about another quilt store that I didn't know about, that is even closer than the others. Guess where I'm going to go soon.. Problem is I have a ton of fabric already. Maybe I need to stay off from my new puter a little while and get some more sewing done. I'm thankful to everyone for the great Birthday, the siggies are great, computer even better, now I can keep in better contact with all of my cyber quilter friends.

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Burger Queen Mystery Quilt, Doctor

I had a Dr. appointment to get my AICD check, and things are going fairly well, all though they did tell me that my Defibrillator almost went off on August 2 but my heart rhythm straightened itself out just before it went off. Thank goodness, it would have scared the H*** out of me. It hasn't gone off before, as my meds have been taking care of the problem and keeping most things at an even keel, but you never know. Being at high risk for sudden death is a very scary thing, and when you find out something like this, it brings everything that almost happened before back. At 48 years young, sometimes it feels overwhelming, then you get busy with life, quilts, and siggies you tend to forget out it until something happens again.

This is the Burger Queen mystery quilt that I made with the stash mystery group. I put the final borders on last night. It will be Lexi's Christmas present. Her Mom saw it and loved it she said Lexi will love it also, as she loves bright colors. I only have 35 Christmas siggies left to make, plus the SIRS siggies, then I will be about caught up with swaps, and I am going to get to work on some other tops I have started as Christmas gifts. I want to give all of my family a quilt this year for Christmas we will see.

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Fabric Shopping Trip

After having a long week at work, and having to work 3 double shifts in a row, I decided to take a mental health day on Friday. Being lazy as I usually am when I take a day off DH decided to surprise me. He said lets go for a ride. So we went down town, and had breakfast out, and then he says let's drive down to Dansville so you can go to the quilt shop. It was a great day, I love it when he surprises me. I found a lot of fabric by the pound for my scrap quilting, as scrap quilts are my favorite. I also bought some more fabric for my SBS quilt, so now I really need to get to work on it. I also bought a piece of half price fabric, it was almost 3 yards. I'm not sure what I will use if for, but I liked it so I know that I will use it in something. Can you tell that I am a thrifty shopper. I think I need to buy everything on sale. Most all of my quilts are half price quilts, with the exception of my Dear Jane, and SBS. But then again when I go to this quilt shop, I get everything 15% off. I love a bargain. I don't have any real local quilt shops this one is the closest, and it is almost an hour away, but I love it. The other quilt shop that I like is in Arcade, NY, and I do get some deals there, although not as many. But, the Arcade shop has a different advantage, My Son, Daughter-in-law, and beautiful grand-daughter live there so I get the best of both world when I visit there.

I have nearly finished the Stash Mystery Quilt called "Burger Queen" have it your way, and it is very BRIGHT, I'm sure Lexi will love it for her Christmas gift from her Mammie. My Grandson Kyle will be getting a quilt also, but I'm not 100% sure which one. I think it is going to be a crumb quilt though, as he picked some fabric that he thought would look nice with it, and it is a mottled blue. Kyle is also a great young man, at 13, and I am proud of them both.

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Burger Queen Mystery

Well, I didn't get my Dear Jane TOW done, but I did finish the next clue in the Stash Mystery "Burger Queen" Have it your way mystery quilt finished. Withe these bright colors, I know Lexi, will love it. I also worked on my DJ Alternates Group Christmas Siggies. I am about half finished. I need to cut some more centers, as I had everything cut out but, I needed some center for my Birthday Siggies, so I "borrowed" some from my Christmas Siggie box. I still have one more individual swap to finish so maybe I will work on one of her blocks. I also can't wait to work on my SBS blocks some more.

I was reading on Micki from Ireland's, blog about a Irish Convict Project, and I am also thinking of checking into making a bonnet for this project. I don't have an embroidery machine, but think I may be able to come up with something. I really need to do find out more info ASAP, as what I have read really touched my heart. Well I think I will get some more work done, I really need to do some house cleaning, and sorting of unneeded items.

It is a beautiful day here, cooler than it had been, but bright and sunny. My kind of day. But then again living in Western New York, you get a little of everything, and get to see the beauty of all of the seasons.

Time to get busy.
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I just finished another SBS Challenge block. It is called Irish Chain. I think it turned out great. I need to get to work on my DJ again soon. I think I just needed a little break. I haven't done the TOW yet, so maybe I will do that tomorrow. I need to work on somemore of my Christmas Siggies also. I have so many UFO to finish that I should work on some of them. So many projects so little time. Well time for bed got to get up early, early.

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Antique Mall

Bill and I just got back from the Antique Mall in Salamanca, NY, and the Case / Zippo Visitors Center in Bradford, PA. I didn't buy any quilts, or knives but I did get some ideas for quilts to make. I have learned to look at even the quilts I don't want to get ideas for new ones. I found one two color quilt with a simple block pattern, but I still need to look up the name, that alternated with a plain block to make it look like chains, but it wasn't Irish chain I have seen it before but can't remember the name of the block. Both the pieced block, and alternate plain blocks were 5" finished, simple but very nice. The other one was a 12" bears paw, with alternate 16 patch blocks it was done in plaid, and would make a nice quilt for a man. I also saw a Double wedding ring quilt top that I almost purchased to finish made with pink background, and 30's fabrics probably from the 30's the top had some stains, that I wasn't sure would come out so I decided to pass on it. It was only a twin size or I may have gotten it anyway.

We both had a great time, and it was quite relaxing.

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SBS First Block

I have just finished doing a Sylvia's Bridal sampler block. I am having a little trouble getting it square not sure why. I have done it twice now. Oh well maybe it is because I'm used to doing the DJ blocks and this one is an inch and a half bigger. I will get the hang of it though. I do like this fairy frost fabric.

I am starting to get excited about opening my Birthday siggies from the DJ Alternates Birthday Siggie swap I got a mailbox full today. Oh well, in 29 days I'll have a ton of them to open.

Our kids were here for a visit today, Lexi Rose was so excited to see us that see ran to me for a hug. It is so hard to believe that she is 2.5 already. My beatiful red headed grand-daughter.

Busy Busy

I've been extremely busy since we got back from the CCC Appreciation weekend. This is a display with some of my momentos from the weekend. What a great time.

Since we've been home. I have sent out many of the Birthday Siggies, and also finished Rosa's swap blocks, and have worked on my Stash mystery quilt. I have also bought, and pre-washed some fabric to start making the Sylvia's Bridal Sampler quilt. I can't wait to see what it is going to look like.

While in Bradford, I went to a quaint little out of the way quilt shop. It was called "Little Fabric Garden", and it was a very nice, with a friendly cozy feeling. I also went to "Material Rewards" in Dansville, this week to get a little fabric to start the SBS this shop is by far my favorite.

I had better get busy now. Times a waisting.

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Home and CCC finished quilt

We are home from our Mini Vacation. We had a great time meeting all the CCC members, and especially the CCC forum members that we have been chatting with, and were finally able to put faces with names. The comrodery was great, so many people from different walks of life, all enjoying the same hobby, many new friendships were formed. This is the signature quilt I was working on for a while now to be signed by all the forum members who were present at the forum dinner, along with there guest. At the end of the dinner, this quilt with all of the signatures on it was presented to the President of Case Thom Arrowsmith, Case Historian Shirley Boser, and events coordinator for Case Lisa Boser-Miller. The quilt was excepted by these 3 people, and the president said that it will be hung in a prominent place in the Case/Zippo museum in Bradford, PA for all to see. It was quite an honor.

I also won a one of a kind prototype knife in the 200 club drawing, as well as receiving other memorabilia from this great event. I enjoy knife collecting as a hobby with my DH, and it comes second, only to my quilting for enjoyment. I will post some other photo's later.

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Productive Day

I feel like I have had a very productive day today. It is amazing how much work can interfere with my fun. I finished the CCC quilt, and will post a picture Sunday. Hand sewing the binding down seemed like it took forever, but it did turn out quilt well.

This afternoon, after my company left, I was able to add the borders to my scrappy bargello quilt, that I made with the Quiltville chat group, on Superbowl weekend. We called the cyber get together Bargello Bowl. Bonnie Hunter owner of the quiltville.com website wrote the pattern, and it is on the quiltville web site. Scrappy quilts are my favorite, and she has the best patterns. Well I think I will get busy and do alittle work on the border of my 2007 DJ siggie quilt.

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Step 2 Stash Mystery

Here is step 2 of the stash mystery. I can't wait to see what this mystery looks like. I think this may be for Lexi Rose. The colors look like something a little girl would like.

I finished all but he binding of CCC quilt. Still working on that, but hoping to get it finished tonight.

I am enjoying this vacation very much. When we leave for Bradford, I am going to take some applique, and swap blocks to finish in the room if I have time. I can't wait.

Time to get busy, and finish that binding.

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Log Cabin Quilt

This is a log cabin quilt top that I just put together. I started it last year, and thought I should just take a minute and finish putting it together. I'm not sure how I willl do the border. I am thinking maybe I'll put either a pioneer braid, or a piano key border. I'm not sure as a plain border would make it stand out also.

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Stash Mystery etc

Here are the fabrics that I have chosen for the Stash Mystery quilt. I can't wait to see how this quilt turns out. I finished piecing, layering, and pinning the CCC Forum Member quilt this weekend. I think it turned out well. I have also been working on finishing my Blue / Cream Log cabin quilt, I think it looks nicer each time I work on it.

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CCC Quilt

Well I just got the embroidery for the CCC quilt back. It turned out very nice. I can't wait to see how the quilt turns out but, I will have to work hard at it as our get together is in 2 weeks. I'm going to take a picture of it shortly, as I want to journal the completion of it.

Today would have been my Dad's birthday. It is hard to believe he has been gone almost 7 yrs. He was a great father.

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Stash Mystery etc.

I have been thinking about doing another mystery quilt, with an online group that is doing a stash use only mystery, the group is called very appropriatly "Stash Mystery". The challenge is to only use you stash if possible. The background piece has to be 3 yrds, and that is a real challenge for me as most of my background fabric is less than 3 yards. I found a piece that is about 3 1/2 yards green mottle that I haven't been able to decide what to use it for, so I think that this may just be the project to use it in. I 'll have to wait and see what the focus fabrics need to be to decide for sure.

I am also trying to do another quilt, that needs to be finished in 2 weeks, but the letters need to be embroidered, and the lady doing it had her machine break down. She said that she will have them done by tomorrow, and I really hope she is right as I only have 2 weeks to have this quilt assembled, and machine quilted. Somehow work always gets in the way of my hobbies. This quilt is for the Case Collector Club, forum members get together. It is going to be a signature quilt for everyone to sign. I really hope it turns out nice.

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Party

We just got back from the Grad. party. Everyone loved the cake. My Aunt, Uncle, and there kids came up. It was a great party. Everyone had fun. It was nice seeing them again. I have to get back to sorting my 1 1/2" blocks again to mail for the swap. I think the postage stamp quilt I will make to keep for myself, I usually give every quilt I make to someone else but I think it is my turn now.

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Best Friends

I just finished decorating my Great Nephews Kindergarten Graduation Cake the picture makes it look wavy but it's not. He is so much bigger than his best friend, but they are the same age. Makes me think of my oldest son when he was in kindergarten. His best friends Mom and Dad were telling me that thier son told them my son was his best friend, and they said Oh yea, and he said yea. He's the biggest kid in our class and I'm the smallest, so I figured if he was my best friend he could protect me. Now as an adult my son is still probably the biggest one in his class height wise any ways. At 28 years old he is 6'5" and I dout anyone in his class is any taller.

I worked on somemore siggies today. I'm about caught up now.

Wilma

Nephew, & Quilting

I just sent a picture to John, we always called him Little John, because he was the youngest, of 5 John's in the family. It is really hard having him in Kuwait, and then Iraq in 2 weeks, but I'm sure it is even harder for him. I have a quilt picked out and have been pulling RW&B scraps to make for him. I printed the pattern, the day he left, and have started sewing it. I got the pattern from one of my favorite sites Quiltville.com, and Bonnie Hunter is a wonderful scrap quilt designer, and this pattern is perfect for this quilt. I am going to put the last stitch in the binding the day he comes home. I will be giving it to him the first time I see him when he gets back. We are all so proud of him.

I can't believe that I signed up for another siggie swap but I did. It is called the Special Irish Rose Siggie Swap, and being Irish decent I couldn't resist. It has been a long week, and I think I will go relax and do some sewing.

Wilma

I have been cutting 1 1/2" square for a postage stamp swap with other online quilting friends from the Postage Stamp Quilters Yahoo Group. This should prove interesting as these pieces will finish at 1". But no surprise here as I love making small quilt blocks. This is why I am so fascinated with the Dear Jane Quilt. I am going to be working on finishing some other swap blocks also. When I get a chance I will post some pictures of some of my quilt progress.