Sometimes.....

Good Morning,

What an unusual, title right?
Daily I read the blogs that I subscribe to and they are all different. Some show pictures of what they are working on ( most do). Some show tutorials of what they have created or a different way to do a certain technique, and some just talk (write) with no pictures at all.

I have been analyzing/thinking a lot about my blog and what I really want to do with it. Obviously I don't piece quilts fast enough to get them posted on a regular weekly basis and that was the main purpose of putting this blog together was to show completed quilts.

Many times I take pictures of things I am working on with the intention of posting about them and then time slips away and I am onto another project without ever getting it posted.

 I have been working on various projects but today I am posting that sometimes I just feel like I don't do enough with my blog. To me it looks like I don't get anything made when I haven't posted about it and I feel I have let you, my readers down.

I have made a list of projects I have accomplished over the last few months just to refresh you and me.

In May I made those 5 rice bags for Mother's day gifts. (There are only 4 pictured, I use mine all the time).

  In June I made body pillow covers and small pillow covers with family names on them.

  In July I pieced the weekender quilt and will finish quilting it tonight.

              ( I pieced a baby quilt that will go on the quilt frame when I finish the weekender.) 

I showed my grand-daughter how to thread her mothers sewing machine and practiced stitching straight lines with her.

 We made a pillow using the sting pattern I showed in an earlier post. I am using this same pattern to make a quilt top out of my string scraps.

Sometimes I post about my family but I mostly post about the quilts or projects I am working on.
I think I put to much pressure on myself to be like other bloggers (those who post 2 or 3 times a week) but I am not them.
I am me plodding along in this life of quilting, family, trials and triumphs, occasionally putting it all out there but more often, not.
Thank you to those of you who continue to take the time to read my posts and thank you to those who take the time to post a comment.

I hope your week is off to a good start.
Thanks for stopping by.

God Bless,


Ps, I forgot to add - put the binding on my daughters baby quilt that she made for her son.

Happy Stitching.

Revamping my blog page

Hello,
I did some "revamping" of my blog page. I have been wanting to add buttons but was never for sure on how to do it. Well I found a great blog that posts a lot of very helpful tips and one of them is how to add a button. YAY!!
You can find it here at Sew Many Ways. I have really enjoyed her blog and wanted to add her button to my blog, so take some time and check out her blog. I think you will really enjoy it.

I then went through and "revamped" the layout of my labels, blog list and so on. I like it better but I am thinking of changing the background again.

I also found in another blog how to change and design my header so that will be my next job to tackle.

I hope you like the changes.
Thanks for stopping by and have a great week.

Small Projects

Good morning,

I didn't get anything posted last month for the small projects month with crazymomquilts but I did get 5 rice bags done last month. I made 4 for Mother's Day gifts and one for myself. I keep mine in the freezer and use it on my neck every night. I love it. I got the pattern here.

They were so easy to make that I am going to make more for gifts plus I need another one for the microwave. I used Lavender for the scent and the smell is wonderful. The bag that I made for myself , I didn't use the Velcro closure on the cover, I made an envelope back instead. I think I like that better for microwave use. I am also going to make one with beans instead of rice for the freezer to see if it will hold the cold longer.

My newest projects that I am working on this week are a pillow cover for a body pillow and a small embroidered pillow. These will be anniversary presents for my daughter and daughter-n-law. I got the pattern and idea here. Here is a picture. I thought it would go great with the quilts I have made for them. :)



The embroidery I am having done by In Stitches here in Marshalltown. I took in 2 large pieces of white muslin and they are embroidering each family's last name in black on each piece of muslin.They should be ready by Friday and then I will make pillow covers out of them to fit a 12x16 pillow form.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great week.


PS. I did get the pillow cover and small pillow made in time for my daughters 5 year wedding anniversary and she loved it. Now to get the one done for my daughter in law. Hope your having a great week

Small Projects Sew a long

Good Morning Everyone,

  Here is something fun that I am doing this month. What a great way to get some small projects done and feel like I actually got some sewing in. May is a hectic month, not to mention - IT IS ALREADY MAY!! Oh my, where is the time going. Does anyone else feel like this year is flying by?

Anyways, if you want to join the Small Projects Sew a long
you can read more about it here.




I have my list ready. 

Here goes:

1. Rice bags - I found a tutorial at sew mama sew > you can find it here. I think these would make wonderful gifts and with Mothers Day coming soon and Fathers Day not long after, what a perfect gift to whip up for Mom and Dad. Love it.

2. Pillow covers for the pillows on my couch. I found a string pattern that I posted about in an earlier blog that I think I want to use. I have a lot of scrap fabric that will work well with that pattern. 

3. A flirt skirt - not sure what it is but it's on Amanda's list so I thought it sounded like something fun to  make.

4. My applique wall hanging that I started last month at the class I took in Grinnell, Iowa at Cornerstone Quilts.

That is all I have so far, on my list of small projects to do. Come on and join me in this sew a long with Crazy mom quilts, and check out her blog she always has something fun going on. 

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Monday to You

Happy Monday,
 Hey! I have another quilt loaded on my long arm machine! YAY!! I got it loaded yesterday and started quilting on it right away. It is a customers quilt and it is quilting right along.

Also on the agenda this week is that Rag quilt. It seems as soon as I put it down, I stop. So on my breaks from the long arm, (gotta stretch my neck and back), I am going to work on it as well.  I am standing tall at the ironing board, pressing the binding and getting it ready to be attached. The chiropractor says I slouch. :-(   So Stand Tall!!!

I thought I would include the tutorial that I used to make this cute pillow top.

 This is the one I made at the retreat that matches the rag quilt I have been working on.
A scrappy quilt is on my list of quilts to do and this would be a great tutorial to use to make the blocks.

I hope your having a Happy Monday. It's always a good day when we get some sewing done.

Thanks for stopping by.

WINNER!

YAY!!! We have a winner and this was easy because she is the only who posted a comment. Michelle Hudak COME ON DOWN>>>>    :)  Michelle, I will shoot you an email to get your mailing address to get those fat quarters off to you ASAP.
Thanks for stopping by.

75th Blog post and Giveaway.

Hi Everyone,
  I hope your weekend was a good one in spite of the storms that blew across the Midwest. I had a really great quilting weekend.

I am sorry to post this so late. I wanted to get it out yesterday but was busy getting my taxes done. I know, talk about putting off until the last minute, right?

I went to a retreat this past weekend in Grinnell, Iowa at the Cornerstone Quilt shop. Here I am with the owner, Lee Plisch. She is an excellent quilter and hosted a wonderful retreat.

Thanks Lee for a great weekend.

The retreat was $20 a day which included lunch and snacks. You could stay in town at the motel for a reduced rate but I went home to take care of my dogs each night.
The room we were in was big. There was a lot of table space and good lighting. I didn't have to leave my machine for meals and if I did need a break I could stroll upstairs and shop to my hearts content. What more could this quilty girl ask for.

There were 2 break out sessions, one on Friday and one on Saturday. The Friday session was on how to make Cathedral Windows. They were very cute and the technique seemed very easy to do. The session on Saturday was on fabric painting. That was very interesting and looked like it would be a lot of fun to learn. The shop is offering a 4 hour class in May so I decided to signed up.

 Good food, new friends, beautiful fabric and quilts was exactly what this lagging quilter (and blogger) needed to get re-inspired.

Here are some pictures of what I finished up this weekend.

This is a rag quilt that a friend of mine asked me to put together for her. All that is left to do is the binding and clip all the seams.

I made this pillow top out of the scraps. The flash on my camera brightened it up.

I finally got one of my Quilt for Kids tops pieced and ready to be quilted. I have one more to do.

This is a pillow case I made which is more of a king sized case and I may have to cut it down a bit.

And now>>>> Drum roll please>>>>

I finally got my niece's quilt top done!!!! Boy oh Boy am I glad this is done. It is a Judy Martin pattern and I have learned that if you don't cut it out accurately you WILL have trouble. Needless to say, I don't think I cut it out right and had a lot of trouble getting it to go together. I may have to take a class on her technique. At least for now it is done and ready to be quilted.

YAY!!

Here was my sewing space and I sure was comfy.

Here is a quilt pattern by Moda that my daughter asked me to make for her. I picked up some fabric for it at Lee's shop. The reds on top are from a collection called "Apple of My Eye". 

 

I loved them so much that I purchased a fat quarter pack to give away in honor of my 75th blog. Aren't they pretty.

Post a comment to enter your name into the drawing for this lovely fat quarter pack. 

I will draw a name on Friday and post it on Saturday. 

I hope you have a blessed week and
Thanks for stopping by.