Just in time...

I am happy to say I have a finish, just in time to get into the mail and off to my youngest grandson, Lane who is 18 months old.  I had this pieced last year and when I went to quilt it, my machine copped an attitude and it did not get finished so, it was put away in a drawer and almost forgotten. 

 I am pleased with this happy little quilt. It is bright and cheery and full of texture. I used flannel, minke, velveteen, and a very soft fuzzy white. I experimented with the backing... I bought a micro fleece blanket at a discount store and did not use batting. This blanket is soft and flimsie and sure to be a petting delight!

There is only one thing wrong...  I won't be able to snuggle and rock with him. 

I think this blanket will do a good job keeping him warm, he lives in Minnesota.

A gift from my Secret Santa...

 This lovely table runner arrived in my mailbox last week, it is from my Secret Santa.  My secret Santa was Sunny, her blog is Quilting Dreams.  It is a nice big size that fits my table(which is currently hidden under a pile of packages, getting ready to ship!).  I love the rich colors of cream, green, and red she used.   Her quilting was just right to compliment the piece!  I took a couple pictures to show more detail.

I love the striped binding!!!

 and this little diddy was also in the box! Aren't those snowmen faces adorable. 
I scored big when it came to getting a great Secret Santa!!!  Thank you so much Sunny, for the special gifts you made me.   I will treasure them for years to come! To my fellow Charming Girls... I hope your Secret Santa was as good to you as mine was to me!!!

Secret Santa Project...FINISHED!!!

For my Secret Santa...

 The Snowman Trio...

I am, done with my Secret Santa project.  It seems like ages, since I have had a "good finish" and this was no exception.  Perhaps that is because I have been working on three of them at the same time.  The other two need buttons and the binding tacked down and they will be done.  One for me, one for my DD, and of course the other is for my Secret Santa.

My Secret Santa turned out to be a "real secret" for me.  A couple months ago, I received the blog address of my Secret Santa (who I have been spying on).  A couple weeks later I received their mailing address.  Well, last night as I was preparing my package I noticed the name on the address and the name of the persons blog were two totally different names, different states, etc.  I sent off an email to Joan and this afternoon she confirmed,  I had two different people!   My Secret Santa was the person who's address I had.  Not, the blog address person,  I had thought.  So, my gift will be going to someone  I didn't "know of"  until today.  The surprise was on me!!!  I think my Secret Santa gift is neutral enough that any quilter would enjoy it... so I am hoping!

If feels good to have a finish and perhaps it will keep me motivate to keep on, keeping on!

Umm... I would like to buy a vowel, please!!!

Perhaps, it would help me with the puzzle of life.  There are times in my life, when I feel in control and on top of things.  Right now, not so much.  I feel, as though I am spinning my wheels and getting no where.  In other words, I have too many irons in the fire!!!

I have LOTS to do and can't seem to get things finished!  I am on the verge of finishing a few projects and working on prioritizing.  Soon, I will have things to share.  Here is a sneak peek!

If your still there... thanks!!!

THE MIGRATION...

Okay... I feel my attempts at sewing and blogging have been meek lately.  I am working on yet, another NEW project!!! I am looking for quick gratification and I do believe this project fulfills that need.   This one is quick and fun and I am in LOVE with the rich fall colors.  You, ask what does MIGRATION have to do with this??? 

 Well, my flying geese are preparing for their migration south and here is a teaser of what is to come!  I use to live in the "migration flyway" while raising my children in North Dakota and every year I was in awe of this flight of nature.  How hundreds of thousands of water fowl birds would make the trip (actually twice a year).  On their way to nesting grounds up North in Canada and then make the same trip to winter down south.  It was truly a sign that the seasons were changing and an awesome sight.

 I still stop in my tracks when I see a flock of geese move across the sky.

So here, I share with you my migration of geese...

Stay tuned to see the formation these flying geese make...

SLOW...progress

DD and I started this project last fall when she came to visit.  Keep in mind this is our first applique project.  Well, here we are a year later and just now, putting it together.  I am happy to say everything is in it's place!  NOW...it needs to be finished, quilted, etc.   We took it to a local long-arm "custom quilter" for her thoughts.  She, is truly an artist and her recommendations were: to use metallic threads, and add some other bling, etc.  I could see on my DD face this was not what she wanted, so we thanked her for her time and took the piece with us.  My DD had a great analogy:  "you don't hire an artist to paint your room red!"  WOW...  she nailed that one right on the head!!!   So, with that being said I am giving thought to finishing the piece myself.  I am petrified, to say the least!  Does anyone have advice for tackling this project?  We feel the piece needs to be kept somewhat simple.  It has a LOT of color and want to do it justice.  I would appreciate any input, advice, or recommendations you have.  Ohhh, by the way we also have another one in the making.  We each wanted one! 

Come & Gone... but, not without REGRETS!!!

The AQS show in Des Moines has come and gone...  It was a good time had by all!  Pictures you say, well I did not take my camera into the show as I was told pictures were not allowed by most vendors, etc and I figured it was just another thing to carry.  I can respect that, so no camera in hand (regret that now!).  More often then not the vendors asked that you not take pictures but, some exceptions were made, for instance if you were buying the pattern/kit.   I did take a few pictures of us "hanging out" in the hotel in the evenings, more often than not with a project in hand.  Those pictures are on my DD camera, including the picture of me and the girls from Idaho.  These girls know how to turn out the projects, their combined knowledge is deep and I LOVED playing 20 questions with them!!!  We shopped , ate, and roamed the show for 3 days.  It was great;  lots of quilts admired,  many ideas gathered, and plenty of future projects bought.  Thank you to Lynn, Marilyn, & Julie for coming all that way and especially for sharing your expertise with DD, who started her first wool project with their guidance.  She has finished it and looks forward to another!!!