BLock-A-Palooza finish & more

Last week I finished quilting and binding my Block-A-Palooza quilt.  Although skeptical at first, I like the way it turned out.  It feels good to have a finish!

I like the back almost as much as the front!

And a few binding pictures...love it!

The quilting is an all over stippling.  

I also finished the flimsy of this quilt but no pictures yet. I need to sandwich and quilt it.  

In between sewing on quilts, I have a need to work on other projects whether it is stitching, knitting, crochet...These projects are hand projects that I can take in the car or relax and watch TV.  One of my latest is T-shirt yarn as mentioned in a previous post.  Here is the finished bath mat that I knitted for my D1's apartment. 

T-shirt yarn is fun to make knits up fast. Try it!

I hope everyone had a blessed Easter! I'll leave with a few pictures...

P.S. Just linked up to Charming Girls' Quilt Club over at Kelly's.  Hop over to see what everyone's been up too!

I feel so special...

when I get packages in the mail!  

Today the mailman delivered not 1 but 2 packages addresses to me!!!

First was a sweet package from my Pin Cushion Swap partner, Kelly!  I 'met' Kelly through the Charming Girls Quilt Club which she organizes and runs! I have so much respect for all she does. She pays attention to all the details...even wraps with fabric and pretty ribbons! 

Look at all the goodies she sent! I absolutely love, love, love the pin cushions! Beautiful fabrics and beautifully made! 

Kelly also sent 2 charms of Lovely by Sandy Gervais 

{I really love Sandy Gervais' fabric designs}, 

2 Schnibble patterns...Joy Luck and Jacks by the ever popular Miss Rosie's Quilt Company, 

and a bag of extra fine glass head pins! I will put these to very good use!  

Thank you so much Kelly!!! 

A thanks to Kris at Dandelion Quilts for organizing the swap 

{even if I didn't do such a good job at keeping the dates correctly in my head}.   

The second package of goodies came from Susan at Super Mom - No Cape!

On March 12th, she was celebrating her third blog anniversary with a give away and I won!  She made this lovely little gift bag and said that she would fill it with goodies! 

Oh boy! Did she ever! 

And she customized the goodies to things she found on my blog!

I had recently posted about my love of buttons...and she included a little fabric bag of lovely buttons! She took note that I enjoy stitchery and included several skeins of embroidery floss.  She made a lovely scissor and needle holder...with my Word for the Year...JOY! She also included a journal and matching magnetic pad of paper, and 2 boxes of chocolates {one with raspberries my all time favorite!}

 Thank you so much, Susan!

I do feel special today! 

Catching Up

I just haven't had time to post.  Ever feel that way? I have been trying to keep up reading most of my favorite blogging friends but to actually write a post...haven't found the time.  So grab a cup of coffee/tea as this might just be a long one.  

Yesterday was my 1 year anniversary of my very first post.  I haven't reached 100 posts yet, but I may put together a giveaway.  Check back to find out.  

In the meantime...first up...a surprise in the mail from Gran over at Knot-y Embroidery Lady.  What a wonderful Christmas gift!  Thanks Gran!

Here are some pictures of projects finished and just getting around to showing you.

I finished the fishing game [I showed previously here] with a little drawstring bag I made to keep everything together.  

And this cute necklace that I made for my daughters [only showing one].  The pattern was from here.  

Next up, over at Charming Chatter, the Charming Girl's Quilt Club new theme.  

We are to pick a word for the year.  As Kelly explains, "We're choosing a word the identifies what we'd like to see more of in our lives in 2011 - what we want to cultivate in our lives!  It's a word to reflect on throughout the year - and to help us "live our best life" as Oprah would say!"

I have been having a bit of trouble coming up with MY WORD! The first 2 words I wrote down were savor and perspective. I love the word savor but Polly is using that word.  Perspective just didn't feel right.  A couple more I tried on were contented and delight.  Both good words but not the right word.  So I waited for my word to come.  And it will be...

Joy is defined as

1. the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation.

2. a source or cause of keen pleasure or delight; something or someone greatly valued or appreciated.

3. the expression or display of glad feeling; festive gaiety.

4. a state of happiness or felicity.

It's not like I haven't had joy in my life but I really want to find the joy in every situation...even the hard ones...to look for the good.

I want to find joy in moments spent with my family and friends. 

This year we will celebrate the wedding of the first of our daughters to get married.  Although planning a wedding can be stressful, I want to enjoy the process, enjoy the day, and enjoy welcoming a son into our family.  

I want to find joy in quilting/sewing/creating and not feel guilty or pressured into getting this done or trying this or that.  If I want to try something, great!  There is so much inspiration that I can guilt myself into trying/doing everything. I refuse to let that happen.  I want to stitch with joy!  I joined! 

And finally, I want to find joy in rest/relaxation.  Rest is Kelly's word and I love what she has to say about it.  She defines it as a calmness of spirit, a peacefulness soul that pervades all that I say and do!  

I have a hard time not always moving and doing, keeping my hands busy. There is always so much to do/accomplish!  I need to give myself permission to just relax. 

To find joy in resting.   

So there it...

I'll leave you with some pictures of a joyful winter time, spent with friends and family!

And a little saying I found [don't remember where]...

Create Joy and Satisfaction - Feeling good is good for you, so have a laugh, find a hobby or just kick back.

If you want to read other Charming Girl's Words check here.

Reflections of 2010!

I can hardly believe that last year at this time

I was not a blogger!

I didn't have any idea that a wonderful community of quilters and other creative and talented crafters existed out in cyber land.

Then in early January, we watched the movie Julie & Julia. 

Her idea of blogging her progress as she cooked through Julia Child's cookbook prompted me to start my blog to document my progress on the Mariner's Compass quilt that I started for my husband. 

I quickly discovered the vast pool of talent from all over the world.  The first blog that I came upon was Kviltstina over in Sweden.  I was amazed at Stina's talent and how she incorporated stitchery into her quilts.  I joined her Valentine 2010 block giveaway and started stitching!  

I hopped through several of the blogs on Stina's blog list discovering so many more talented quilters.  

I started following and reading blogs and I was inspired! 

In March, I joined my first Friday Night Sew-In over at Handmade by Heidi and Crafty Vegas Mom.  Heidi and Bobbi co-sponsor this monthly sew-in and I have joined them every month.  I finished many projects by dedicating this night to sewing.  

I kept reading and discovering new blogs. 

  I followed a quilt along over at As Sweet As Cinnamon and another at Charming Chatter.  I joined a swap over at quilting gallery.  I joined the Charming Girl's Quilt Club and sew much more!

So here is a college of most of the quilts I made over this first year of blogging.  

There are so many other projects that I have finished over this year including totes, mini bags, wristlets, pincushions, needlecases, and toys.  I have knit baby blankets, an assortment of headbands, chemo caps, and coffee cozies.  I even tried some crochet.  

Many of the projects were found through the blogging community.

So a BIG THANKS to the blogging quilt community. I have been awed and inspired.

There are sew many more, I couldn't mention everyone by name.  Hope you understand.

Here's to a prosperous New Year!

  

Where has the time gone?

Well it is already into November and I'm just finding time to post about the new theme for the Charming Girl's Club.  Check it out!

This is one of my favorite times of year because it is full of family, friends and traditions!  

Thanksgiving [which is quickly approaching] is a time to reflect on all the blessings in our lives.  We get together for the traditional Thanksgiving feast - turkey with dressing, mashed potatoes, corn, cranberries, rolls and of coarse pumpkin pie!  My grandmother used to make the pumpkin pies for the holidays and she passed down her recipe to me.  I am now the family pumpkin pie baker.  I do love pumpkin pie!

Once Thanksgiving is celebrated, Christmas is right around the corner.  Although the stores think Christmas starts in October, I really start my Christmas shopping on Black Friday.  I am not one to get up at 4:00 am to run out to the stores and stand in line for one item and then head to the next store (although I have been out shopping early on occasion). I tend to look thru the ads and determine if there are items that are on my shopping lists.  If not, I stay at home and enjoy the time with family.  Do you go out early shopping on Black Friday?

We love getting together with friends [that we don't see often] to celebrate Christmas.  One of the events is what we call the Troll Stroll.  This is a progressive dinner with some of our Norwegian friends.  We have 3 stops - appetizers, dinner and dessert.  It is nice to visit their houses to see how they decorate for the holiday.  We also have a crazy tradition of the 'Nisse Lady'.  She is the bearer of gifts to the children. 

Dressed in traditional clothing, she come knocking on the door bringing gifts. 

We also set a date to attend the Julebord with some more Norwegians friends.  Again, we have delicious traditional food like herring, flatbread, salmon, cheeses, and of coarse desserts.  

There are so many more traditions during this time of year.  

A real tree! 

Kransekaker!

I will be share more later...goals to come too!

Charming Girl's Club Aspirations for Sept and Oct

Somehow with all the time away from home recently, I missed the announcement of the Charming Girl's Club new theme and setting of new goals.  Not sure how that happened as I tried to keep up as best I could.  So here is the Charming Theme:

We are to share how we quilt our quilts, tips and tricks we use, books to recommend, and pictures to show.   I can't wait to hear what my charming friends have to say.  I'll just have to think on this one a bit more.  

My July/August goals were just about completed.  Our vacation/family times were wonderful!  I finished all my quilting goals with the exception of Happy Camper 2 quilt.  This was intentionally put on the 'back burner' due to the 3 wedding and a new baby announcements we received over the summer.  My stitchery quilt layout was designed but I will not be putting it together yet [for the same reasons].  

My reading goals were surpassed as mentioned here.  I also finished reading The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks, read 3 books in the Cedar Cove series by Debbie Macomber and I'm currently reading The Help by Kathryn Stockett.  That's 9 books finished and one on the way!

My aspirations for Sept/Aug are:

Reading: continue reading although the pace will slow as I'm back in school.

Exercise: I joined a local health club and my goal is to get there 4-5 times a week.  I actually joined with my D1 so she could push me there, literally.  But she got a job teaching [yay!] and needed to move closer to school.  I am on my own to get there unless she is visiting.  She is still encouraging me as she has given me pep talks on the phone!

Quilting: ~ I have joined a Free Motion QAL.  I hope to practice my free motion quilting so I can feel more confident in my quilting.  

~ I have begun the piecing for my D2's wedding quilt.  I need to continue piecing the blocks.

~ Plan and prepare wedding quilts for close friend's daughter's wedding and nephew's wedding.

~ Plan and prepare baby quilt for another nephew's first baby.

~ Continue Frosty Flakes BOM and making hexies from my scraps box when I am away from my machine.

Family and Friends: ~ assist D2 in wedding plans as needed.

~ learn to Skype to make communication easier with daughters.

~ clean and organize newly spare bedrooms

~ time with hubby and friends: local HS football games, camping one last time over Columbus Day

I really like setting goals and working to get those check marks ~ DONE! Seems to be a great motivator for me...let's hope it continues as the weather cools off and fall begins.  [hint: I am a warm weather gal!] 

Another great motivator is Friday Night Sew-In!  The September FNSI is on September 17th.  If you would like to join us, hop over to Heidi's blog and sign right up!  It is a lot of fun!

I'm off to read some Charming Friends goals and quilting ideas then off to the gym!

Christmas Sew Party

The Charming Girls' Quilt Club will be sewing tomorrow at the Christmas in August Sewing Party.  I have decided to make some snowflake blocks.  They are part of the Frosty Flakes BOM  from Dawn Hay over at As Sweet As Cinnamon.  I haven't been able to start these yet and there are already 4 blocks!  They are very little hexi  (1/2") snowflakes.  I have picked out fabrics from my stash (scraps from my Christmas A-Z sampler), cut out my hexi templates and downloaded the patterns.

I'll update with pictures tomorrow! See you then!

UPDATE:

I got started this morning on block one of Frosty Flakes. Here this the fabric I choose and my supplies ready to go!

Look at those tiny hexis!

After cutting out seven red hexagons, I started hand stitching them until they were all together like a flower.  I then appliqued the flower to the center of my 6 1/2" block.

And finally added stitchery and beads! The first block is finished 3 to go!

Very cute!

[Sorry for the not so good picture.]  

UPDATE 2: So after lunch, [my hubby was still at his bee job and daughters away], I continued with Frosty Flake Block 2.  Here are some pictures.

And the finished block!  This one is quite fancy!

And a better picture of Block 1.

I'm going to prepare the next 2 blocks for our trip to take our D3 back to school tomorrow.                   By the way, I've heard...these hexis are addicting!                        Yep, I can see why!!

I'm back!

Well this post is well over due but somehow when you get back from vacation, it takes awhile to get caught up! 

First, let me show you what was waiting for me when I arrived home.  A package with these lovelies inside!

I won this give away from Dawn over at The Straw Needle.  Two quilted heart potholders and a charm pack of Aster Manor for Moda!  Thank you Dawn!

Next up is a follow up on my Charming Girls' Quilt Club.  As mentioned before, this month's theme is Self-Care.  When I first posted about this topic, I mentioned that I was going to treat myself to a pedicure!  And I DID!

It was wonderful to pamper myself and have pretty feet before heading off for vacation! 

Love the red!

This past Monday (the day after we got home), I completely finished by Between Charming Friends QAL quilt.  I needed to bind it since I couldn't do that without my machine.  Here is the finished 'A Little Gem!'

And finally an update on my goals!  

Quilting ~ finished by QAL

~put the borders on my Red & White, need to get backing material

~finished my Applique Posy Needle Case (and a little extra surprise) for my swap partner and sent it.  Will post pictures once it's received. 

~have worked on a design layout for my stitchery, but it isn't finalized.

~second Happy Camper quilt may have to be put on the back burner due to other priorities coming to up.

Reading ~ while on vacation, we listen to 3 books on tape.  Does that count?  I would think so since I couldn't really be reading while listening.  These included:

Airborn by Kenneth Oppel

Smiles to Go by Jerry Spinelli

and My Antonia by Willa Cather

I also finished 2 books.  

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

and Free Range Knitter by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee 

I'm currently reading The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks!

Vacation ~ I will share Part 1 of our vacation now! We had a wonderful time with our daughter, Kirsten and future SIL, Mike (and his family) in South Dakota. Take a look! Hope you enjoy it!

Digital slideshow generated with Smilebox

Will need to post about Vacation Part 2 later!  Be back soon!

What's up!

It has been a while since I have posted and I do have so much to share.  First up, I would like to say a BIG thanks to those who voted for my Mariner's Compass quilt.  The response was awesome and my quilt won!! The sponsor for the week was Around the Block Quilters Shop and I won a $30.00 gift certificate to use in the shop.  I already picked out and received my prize!  I chose 3 - 1/2 yards of Woodland Bloom by Lila Tueller for Moda, 2 charm packs and 2 - 1/2 yards of Frolic by Sandy Gervais for Moda.  They are so pretty!  Thank you Christine !

Next up is an update on the Charming Friends QAL.  I am in the process of hand quilting my quilt.  Kelly has given us free range on how to quilt our quilt.  I have never hand quilted an entire quilt before so I thought I would give it a try.  May take me awhile!  

Kelly also opened up the Charming Girls' Quilt Club to new members!  Yes, I went along and joined.  Kelly's QAL was so much fun I couldn't resist.   I hope I can keep up with it.  We are to post goals every 2 months and each month there will be a theme.  July's theme is 

Here are my thoughts on the subject....

Moms (myself included) generally have a hard time with this subject.  It is a part of us to be the caregivers to others, especially our children.  When our children are small, they need us - we drive them to their activities, wait for them, help them, nurse them, feed them, clean up after them, encourage them, cry with them, etc.  You get the picture - there is not much left for ourselves.  Our needs are happily sacrificed. Our identity becomes tied to our children.  

Have you ever been known as [insert your child's name] mom? 

But our children do grow-up and their need for us becomes smaller.  When this happens, our role changes.  Yes, I will always be their mom but the time invested decreases and now there is more time available for me. I tend to find it hard to allow myself 'me time' [other than quilting].  I need to learn to allow myself to relax, enjoy life, be thankful and feel pampered.    

To start, I think I'll get a pedicure this week!

GOALS!

My goals for July and August will include some quilting but I will be away from my machine for a good part of July.  

Vacation - Week 1 - really enjoy our visit with our daughter, Kirsten.  Make it quality time! See and experience her new life out in South Dakota! Visit Badlands, Mt. Rushmore, caves, some quilt stores and more!

                       - Week 2 - hubby and I head to Colorado for some alone time.  Relax and enjoy each other in the beautiful mountains atmosphere.  Outdoor activities may include hiking, biking, hot springs, sightseeing.  

Reading - Summer reading is really lagging behind my usual goal.  Pick up the pace and read at least 2-3 books during July and August.  

Quilting - Finish QAL - hand quilting

              - Red and White - add borders, sandwich and quilt

              - Applique Needle Case Swap

              - Stitchery Quilt - design layout

              - Happy Camper 2 - recut and piece top

Lastly, I wanted to mention that I did have another finish for June.  It is my Happy Camper quilt that I have previously mentioned and gave peeks of here.  I finished the last stitches in the binding and labeled it on June 30th!  I can't show you yet as it hasn't been received by the special recipient.  Pictures soon!