I have always loved sunflowers and had planned to make myself a sunflower
quilt for a long time. Finally got around to it after my regular couch
quilt h...
It is Pumpkin making day!!! Woohoo!! there also are 'options' since the
pattern I am making was exclusive to the jolly bar. I have other pattern
options an...
I'm always happy to help a friend out, especially when that friend is as
warm, generous, and gracious as Natalie Barnes of Beyond the Reef patterns.
So ...
Yay! we are into September which means fall is not far behind. I am so
tired of 90 degree weather here in North Carolina. We have a cold front
coming down...
Well we are in the middle of June and things are going well in the quilting world. Working on bindings for the last of Linus Quilts. I have one to deliver to a special patient tomorrow here at the new Wake Childrens Medical Center. He will be moved from ICU tomorrow to a step down room and should be able to receive gifts.
I will be focusing back on my quilt swaps.
Life has been pretty much a roller coaster the last few weeks but I am looking to get off that ride.
So I had my crazy quilt pieces all cut up for next months "anything goes" and wouldn't you know things got a little crazier- SOMEBODY came and shuffled my pieces around on the table and now they are a mess. I am gonna have to wait for my husband to come back into town so he can put it back together. The brain just doesn't work as good as it use too...lol
I think next time when I get the pieces all laid out- A) I will either finish it then or B) take a picture of the lay out.
Super super busy. Quilts of Valor- Mini Quilt Swaps- Quilt Group. Buzzz buzzz buzzing like a bee.
I miss blogging. I miss just setting my thoughts down.
I need to post some of my mini's that I have gotten and sent in the swap.
I think we are going to go on Summer Break for Quilt Group. People have so much on their plate for Summer time- it is hard to get together regular with such a small group. I am kinda bumming because we have really dropped in numbers. I don't know if it is something that I did or it is just that time of the year when people have other things to do?? It is just weird.
Anyhoo... if things don't pick up after Summer.. I am giving it up. I am not a wheel spinner and I can get on board with other things.
Got a puppy. That has been fun. She is UBER sweet. I guess I could post pictures of her too...lol
I hate not having my laptop.. it died.. I am on my husbands which doesn't have any pictures or things I need to share some stuff. Maybe the computer laptop fairy will come down from the clouds and leave on under my pillow... IT COULD HAPPEN..lol
I am going to be spending my Sunday trying to get organized for the many project that I have signed up for this month. I think I have 3 mini quilts that I have committed to. I am going to go and review all my emails to make sure. I am pretty sure I have 2 anything goes and one about the state I live in. I am very much looking forward to the one about my state. I love making themed quilts and I have a few ideas already for the NC quilt. We have so many great things to chose from that represent NC and I just need to get on with picking one.
I am still working on Quilts of Valor. However instead of giving them over to the QoV people - I think we are going to take them to some of the NC Military Hospitals and VA organizations. I just want to make sure that our local military are shown some love during these times.
Please be in prayer about my health. I have been very overwhelmed (I guess) cause my body has just totally turned against me the last few days and it is just getting worse and worse. I really didn't think I was stressed out more than usual, but my body always tells on me. So if you are a prayer person.. please pray for me.
Spring is upon us and I have been suffering from a cold. I have hardly anything done and time is running out. This next week I will be slammed trying to get all my task done. We are finishing up Linus- working on Quilts of Valor and the 2 swaps I joined have me running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I am definately chocking on all the stuff I bit off to chew on...lol. But isn't it always that way.
I am gonna take some tylenol- see if I can get this monkey off my back and get back to work.Hope everyone else's spring has sprung cause mine just bongggged.
One of the reasons we work on Quilts of Valor is so that we can be thankful for the soldiers that do make it home and lament over the ones that don't. This quilting mother lost her son. God Bless her son and God Bless her family!
I found a cute little set of squares that I forgot that I had and thought what a awesome little spring time mini quilt these will make.
I took a picture of the first block- will save the rest until it is finished. I need to learn how to set my camera up to take better pictures I guess, because the pictures didn't do the colors justice.
Well my Army mom quilter friend is making strong headway with donations for purchasing fabric for Quilts of Valor.
I put out a SOS to some Facebook Friends today and are getting some really touching stories and donation. It is humbling.. it really is to participate in such a project. I find myself very emotional over it. I will be sending out some more request tomorrow.
We have picked out some patterns for the quilts AND thanks to Jeff- who started this thought- he made his donation in his dads name who was a marine that passed last year from Alzheimer's. I think it will be great to put on the label of the quilts those dedication from fellow service families that made this project possible.
We will have our first group meeting on April 6th and will work on this through June. So- you all know me- that means pictures, pictures, pictures and lots of talking about this project!
If you would like to make a donation- please send me an email.
Well, April starts Cary Quilters Quilts of Valor Project. We will be working on the project through April and May 2010. It is my personal goal to get as many great quality quilts out as I can so that as many soldiers as possible coming home injured can have something- anything to comfort them. It is the least, we at Cary Quilters, think we can do to say thank you for everything done for us.
This is Al Lind, a WWII vet who expressed what it would have meant to him to receive a handmade quilt. I think he is an inspiration.
I was talking to a friend today who son has served 2 tours of duty and going back again in a few months. She told two stories- one of how he was treated badly going through an airport on his travels. People going out of their way not to make eye contact or speak. Then the other story of a man who noticed that his young son stood in awe of this young man wearing a soldiers uniform. The father took time out of his busy day to take his son over and explain what this uniform meant and what it meant to wear one, in a time such as these, in a way that a little boy could understand. After they were done talking.. the little boy saluted the soldier and the soldier saluted back and both young men walked away a little taller and a little prouder that day!
One thankful and one grateful- you figure out who was who :)
Bravo to the father that showed he was proud to be an American and who took time out to say thank you to a soldier!
We will be saying thank you in our way by making Quilts of Valor. Please visit their website for more information on how you or your group can help!
So I am working on my pinwheel mini...and I have a little knot in the middle where the 8 points meet. So I am ironing with my mini iron and I am just so in thought over this bump that I take my hand to give more pressure to my mini iron.. well we all know you just can't do that without repercussion's. Like a nice burn all the way across the palm of your hand. Sooooo I am giving it up for the night with a nice burn and a screaming headache.
Yep- I even have the Clover with the safety guard...lol
I hope the luck of my Irish decent is with me today. I am working on a mini quilt for the AAIQ project Cary Quilters will be doing on August. I am kinda getting a jump start.
No using "green" just because it is St. Patty's Day. I am going with some fall/earth tones in a pinwheel pattern- using paper foundation pieces. I hope I have enough of the fabric that I picked out. When I get a block done- I will post a picture here. They are 3.5 inch blocks- not super mini. I think once I get into the grove- I will pull the size down a bit further.
Ok.. well my birds are really being loud today. I really wish they had their own room..lol
The National Quilting Association has designed this free pattern (click on image below) for your group or guild as you celebrate National Quilting Day, March 20, 2010. Let's not forget the tradition to use up what we have on hand. So with this in mind, gather up your scraps, grab all those funky yellows, bits of brown and pieces of anything. Use what you have, even if it means making a purple tree with yellow bows! Be creative!
So I did some testing today on posting comments. It did let my daughter post a comment but we had to push the publish comment button a couple of times. I don't know if this is an issue on my end or on Bloggers end. The comments don't show in the page but on a pop-out window. I am going to have figure out the HTML to change that back. It has been a while since I did that kind of work and it gives me a headache just thinking about it...lol
Ok.. The recital went well! Brittany played beautifully and I am going to post some pictures and video later!
So... Started a blog for my daughter today. She plays piano. Has been for the last few years now and I would like for her to have an online portfolio of sorts.
We are going to be adding images and videos and some cute little wiggets over the next few days as we can. She has a performance tomorrow and she is very nervous.
I am hoping that she will get more encouraged with herself as she starts to blog and chart her progress.
That's all for day.
I did iron some fabric but I didn't sew anything - Been in a mood of sorts.
Just got back from an evening of making huggables! Tonight Cary Quilters hosted a huggables party. What are huggabes you ask?? Here is what one of Cary Quilters /Jaycee member Diane Upshaw says:
"WakeMed hands these out to the children so they can have something to hold on to while they're in the emergency room,"
I brought some of the patterns home tonight and will be making a few tomorrow. Ducks! I love ducks and are lucky enough to have lots of cute yellow fabric... here is what they look like..
Look for ways to get involved in your community. It will not only be a blessing to others but to yourself as well!
It looks like I am going to have to get it together and get to sewing and photos and blogging! I have 4 followers! Thank you new friends for joining me in my journey of quilting.
RESEARCH The Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative is about to fund its third research grant, this time for $30,000. I should be able to give you more details in the next Update. This is why we do what we do, to fund research that will bring us closer to a cure. We are the only quilter-powered, all volunteer charity trying to end Alzheimer's. We can be so proud of the difference we are making. Thank you all for being a part of our success. We are all in this together!
BID, BID, BID
The small format online quilt auction ends tonight at 10pm EST. Your generous bids are so needed and so appreciated! Thank you, and please tell your friends! All profits fund research.
For this quilt use 1/4 yd. of 18 different kids prints fabrics or 72 nine inch squares. In order to create a visually exciting quilt, use no more than four 9 inch squares of a particular fabric.
Cut fabric into 9 inch squares. Large squares such as 12 inches or 16 inches could be used but you will be working with longer bias edges; therefore, 9 inch blocks seem to work better.
Make eight stacks of nine different prints, stacking the squares neatly. Randomly slash through each stack.
1st Cut
8 neat stacks -- each of 9 different fabrics
Using a sharp rotary cutter, cut through each stack.
Note: It is easiest to work with one stack of 9 squares at time. Do steps 3, 4 and 5 for a one stack of squares, then go on to the next stack and repeat.
You now have 2 piles of pieces from one stack of squares. On one pile, move the bottom piece of fabric to the top. Then match the top piece from each pile and sew together. Continue in this manner, making sure that you do not use the same fabric in any one set. If you intend to slash the stack more than twice, press the seams open to reduce the bulk when you quilt. If you are going to slash twice, the seams can be pressed to one side.
Stack the squares again and slash in another direction. Sew in random pairs and press. If you prefer you can slash them a third time but then it is preferable to press the seams open as mentioned above. The more you slash the smaller your block becomes due to the additional seam allowances. Check to make sure the same fabric is not butting up against itself in the block.
After the slashing and sewing is complete, square up the smallest block and measure it to determine the size the remaining blocks should be cut. Square up remaining blocks and sew together eight blocks across and nine blocks down.
Select and add border and backing. Sandwich the fabrics, quilt the top, and bind. The result a crazy quilt with a minimum of effort. If each block has only been slashed twice, some fancy embroidery stitches over the seams add interest. Enjoy your quilt!
I am getting so frustrated with work! I want to be quilting :( Has anyone ever had something standing in your way of just hanging out in the craft room and playing around?
The good news is - when I am done with this work project I am going to be able to buy my Cricut. I can't wait. I am a huge gadget lover and I tell you I made a huge mistake seeing that infomercial the other night. I am in love. I had visions of applique floating through my head the whole time I was watching the show. I wonder if spending 300.00 is stupid to make applique patterns- Has anyone else found and additional use for the Cricut where QUILTING is concerned. I have seen plenty of potential in other area's of crafting through YouTube.
I bought some fun stuff the other day. Work has been keeping me from quilting and it is driving me crazy! BUT I did get to buy a few goodies that I needed.
We are doing a Crayon Quilt Challenge in March and I can't wait to get started on that! I hope I can get this work project done FAST.. I need a research fairy!
So I bought- a mini iron, some square cutting templates, a six pack of fat quarters and heat-n-bond. It was a fun day!
Heading off to to uses some coupons tomorrow for my valentines gift money tomorrow. Working on project Linus and thought I could use some extra goodies!
Sitting here in Statesville in a great hotel room- So comfy and clean with a HUGE FLAT SCREEN TV...lol. Waiting for tomorrows show at the convention center. The weather is calling for about 6" of snow where we are. I checked the Raleigh weather and it doesn't seem to be calling for that much but about half. So at least on the way home we will be heading towards better weather.
I am so like a kid- I am so excited about the snow! More excited about that than the show. I plan on getting a rotary cutter sharpener. They had one in Sanford that is awesome and I can't wait. I will save so much money on rotary blades with this sharpener. It is gonna be thirty bucks but I think it would be worth it.
I don't plan on buying any fabric. I got what I needed in Sanford. I do plan on working on Brittany's wall hanging while I am here and I hope to have it done before we get home. I hope I brought enough batting. Then I brought some mini's to work on. Knowing me we likely won't sew a thing.
Debbie is ripping seams and we got the HGTV on.
Ok.. that is it for the "what are you doing today" Hope to take some good pictures tomorrow and I can post them here tomorrow.
Project Linus is a non-profit organization with a two-fold mission.
First, it is our mission to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.”
Second, it is our mission to provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.
Cut fabric into 9 inch squares. Large squares such as 12 inches or 16 inches could be used but you will be working with longer bias edges; therefore, 9 inch blocks seem to work better. 
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