Japanese + and blocks

My oldest daughter says, "That's ugly!"  I have to agree but these babies are addictive!

Until next time!

Scrap Buster #3

As I cruise the blogs I've been seeing a lot of coin quilts and with my love for scraps thought I should try a scrappy coin quilt.  I decided to go with blue but didn't think I had enough for a quilt.  I asked 3 of my friends to trade me some of their blue scraps.  AFTER I asked for scraps, I sorted all of my scraps.  I had one grocery bag and 2 gallon zip log bags packed FULL of blue.  I guess I didn't need all their scraps but they sure added character to the quilt.  They all sent scraps but 2 of them wouldn't accept anything in exchange.  One box I got was pretty much cut into strips for me at 2.5" - How perfect!  And most of the fabrics in there were sooo my style!  I cut and I sewed and I ironed and I cut and I sewed and I ironed (refer to pics in last post) and Wa La!

Hopefully this gets off to the quilter this week.  I had a few leftovers from this and am already working on another layout!  Yay for scraps!

Until next time!

Back home and time to sew

We're back from Colorado!  My machine took a little trip to the spa while I was gone so I'm heading out to get her back. 

Before we left, I took a whole bunch of this:

And turned it into this

Which is now becoming this

Maybe by early next week I will have a coin quilt top done.

Here are some of my quilt along Japanese + and x bocks - not very pretty but we'll see how they turn out

and this is my bounty from last weeks shopping trip!  There's even some designer fabric in there.

Until next time friends!

It's time for a short vacation

I am having problems with my other computer so I can't share any pictures :(

I took the log cabin quilt to the quilter today and can't wait to get it back and to its new owner.

I joined another quilt-along at http://bumblebeansinc.blogspot.com/ - it's a real scrappy one so it should be lots of fun!

No quilt along blocks got done today but I managed to cut a whole bunch of blue strips for my coin quilt.  I hope to have time tomorrow to lay them out and see if I have enough.

My to do list (before vacation)
-manicure and pedicure (an absolute must!)
-laundry
-pack
-take sewing machine in to get serviced
-get house picked up

Enjoy your weekend - - - - Until next time!

Busy Little Bee

I really wanted to post some pics tonight but the computer I need for that is occupied by a teenager.  I had a very successful shopping trip yesterday.  I had to run to Omaha to get some airplane parts for the hubs and decided to make a day out of it.  Liam wasn't too impressed but we managed to stop at Country Sampler, The Quilted Moose and of course JoAnn's.  I ONLY purchased 24 yards of fabric, one charm pack and one book.

Today I added the last border to the log cabin quilt and pieced the back - it's off to the quilter tomorrow.  I made one complete quilt along block (woo hoo I now have a total of 4 done).  I did manage to start 5 others though, they just need pieced together.  Tonight I ironed for 30 minutes straight on some blue strips that I'll show you next time (stay tuned for another great and easy scrap buster).  My house is a disaster and I have company coming tomorrow - I'm hoping that since she's my bestie she'll understand that quilting comes before cleaning!

Do you remember the last post when I had that picture of Liam in his underwear?  Well I was outside today trying to take a picture of the Log Cabin quilt hanging from the fence.  He had just gotten done swimming and was running around naked (we're potty training and naked is the only way that has worked so far).  He came outside with an umbrella of all things, and wanted to pose - completely naked with an umbrella - in the picture of my quilt!  I talked him out of it but as he walked away I was able to snap a picture of an umbrella and a baby butt!  I would love to share but I think there are laws against that

I hate to post without pics soo. . .

This is a pic from last years trip to Vail, Co.  We go every year so Bill can do the annual inspection on an airplane owned by a friend.  They have a beautiful log cabin home and a bunkhouse over the garage (where we stay).  This stream runs behind the house and is the kids' favorite attraction.  We're headed there this weekend and while we're gone I plan to fix the binding on Aaron's graduation quilt - I must quilt everywhere I go!

Until next time!

A quilt top almost done and a creative little man!

I've been trying really hard to get my Log Cabin quilt finished and to the quilter this weekend but I'm about out of time.  My darker color choices were a little too dark but I like the secondary pattern they create!  I plan on putting on two borders and then taking it to my wonderful quilter.

I really need to plan a little better with my pictures and maybe pick up before taking the picture.  But. . . what fun would it be if you couldn't see how we really live?  Yep, it's usually a house full of  teenagers and a little guy in his underwear.  I'm just shocked my vacuum didn't make it into this picture cuz its sure in a lot of them.  Caitlyn didn't like the quilt when I showed it to her.  Then I showed her this picture and she got a whole different view of it and now likes it.  My husband really likes it and actually thought it was for us (its commissioned).  He was so sad that I decided to make us a Log Cabin quilt in the star burst layout.

I had planned on doing a scrappy blue coin quilt for our bed but I guess I'll go with the (much more difficult) Starburst one instead.  Oh the things we do for those we love!

Liam's new favorite thing is painting.  This week he painted a bird feeder and a small bird house (and the table, and his shirt, and himself, and anything else within 10 feet!).  He's quite the little artist.  I asked him what color these were and he said, "Every color" and indeed they are!  What a great little artist!

Tomorrow we have one softball game (so far we're 2-0 in this tournament!!!!) then I have a date with my sewing machine for the rest of the day. 

I want to do a sew-a-long with Laura .   The block she is using is the Japanese + and x block.  I'm not crazy about the block at all and almost thought about not doing it.  Instead I'm gonna forge on, use some of those scraps and try to make it a block I love!  I'll let you know how it goes.  I wanted to start yesterday but still haven't gotten to it.  I'll make a few blocks tomorrow and let you know what I think.

Until next time!