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!!!

Shop Hop...

Since I will be attending the AQS show in Des Moines in just a couple of weeks, I can not justify any current fabric purchases, unless it is to finish something or...(exceptions, can always be made! after all, I consider myself to be a flexible gal). Anyhow, I thought to get the creative juices flowing without putting on too many extra miles and hours. 

 I will be lurking here... (hope I linked this correctly!)

Friday Night Sew In Results!

Well, prince charming did show up and swept me away...
 But, not before I was able to get some sewing time in. 

The project that was begging to be picked up was the "Charm Pack Quilt Along" that was hosted by Kerrie Lynn over @ Freckled Whimsy.  Some quick details of the quilt along; were that it took 3 of the same charm packs and yardage.  We would make the same block using just half square triangles and four patches.  She offered 6 different possible layouts, using the finished blocks or of course you could create your own.  The  actual quilt along is done(however, directions are still on her sight with a link to a "flicker show & tell").  Many are still working to finish, which includes me!  The little time I did spend last night was productive.             

             I was able to finish the 175 HST and 75 four patches.

Now for the fun part... start laying out the blocks.  I have been accused of being a control freak so I decided in order to get a "true scrappy" look I would separate both block types and remix them in bags...
reach in and layout the block with whatever I drew out of the bags...

See...  I can be random

 I mentioned, earlier my production would be determined by when prince charming arrived home.  Well, I am happy to say I was able to get a few blocks done.  Now I can get a feel for how this is going to come together.

Ohhh, by the way... prince charming whisked me off to "MY BIG FAT GREEK FESTIVAL."  Where we enjoyed a beautiful evening outside under the stars feasting on Greek food and enjoying the people watching, which involved lots of children and adults taking part in the evening activities, including traditional Greek dancing.

Woke up to rain this morning so my plans for Farmer's Market are out...guess, I will have to sew!!!

HOME ALONE!!!

I am "HOME ALONE" early on a Friday... What's a girl to do???
I have no idea when SO will be home.  So, or is that sew, I am off to my sewing room to play!  The projects in progress are plentiful.  I will have to see which one tickles my fancy first.  I will do my best to keep you posted and if I don't return, you will know prince charming came home early!

Dual post... GOALS... left behind & going forward...

I have not been looking forward to this post.  You see, I did not succeed in the goal department.  I set goals for July/August and with disgust I can say I didn't do well completing them.  Partly due to me and partly due to life interrupts!  I DID complete my entry into the Schnibble Times Two Contest.  I DID get two small quilt tops for charity made, however they still need to be quilted.  I also, started another project: charm pack quilt along, this was not on my goals list. Like I need to add to my projects list!

Sooo, now I need to set my September/October goals and it is the middle of September!  SO, wants to get in some more motorcycle riding while the weather is good and this really cuts into my sewing time.  I will also be going to the AQS show in Des Moines the first week of October AND if that wasn't exciting enough, my DD is going to also meet up with us later in the week and then return back home with me for an extended visit!  Accompanying her will be my grandson, Logan who turns 2 in November.  She and I do have a couple things we would like to work on but when little ones are involved it takes a back seat and besides he and I have some major playing to catch up on!

Here are my "SOFT GOALS" **meaning I am going to remain flexible and nothing is set in stone.**

     -     Make "match game" for Logan.

     -     Finish the two charity quilts.

     -     Quilt Halloween Table topper.

     -     Work on the "charm pack quilt along."

     -     Work on "fall projects" with DD.

     -     Enjoy fall and the time that will be spent with friends at the AQS show!!!