DSCF3965

DSCF3965, a photo by sjjjsjsj on Flickr.

Enjoy!

True Lover's Knot--14"
This turned out great and it wasn't as hard as it looks :)

Chevron--9"

I like the fabric contrast in this one...a really easy one!

Mosaic--8"

Not my favorite altho I think it might be better with a different fabric.

Mountain Homespun--9"

This was definately hard and to make matters worse I mismeasured the white stripes and had to do a lot of frogging to even get it close to right (the matching is all wrong) but it still looks pretty good.

Texas Treasure--12"
I truly hate this one AND it was sooooo hard!!

Cherry Tree--7 1/2"

This one is really cute in person and it so small, involved but not hard

Washington's Elm--16"

I didn't think I would like this, but I really do....it is so impressive and would make a great center block on a family tree quilt...hmmm

Martha Washington Star--8"

Well I messed this one up and was too lazy to fix it when I realized it....so I made my own block pattern and it kind of looks okay, I think.  The two middle points are going the wrong direction so it doesn't make a star ( did I mention how spatially challenged I am...lol)

Dolley Madison's Star--9"

This one was a whole lot easier than it looks, or else I'm learning something and getting better...probably not lol.  I like the way it turned out too.

Barbara Frietchie Star--12"

I don't know who Barbare Frietchie is, but I like her star.   When I first took a pic of it, I thought I had the wrong block with the wrong page of the calendar....it's looks different, but sure enough it's an optical illusion.   I will have to try it later with different values of fabrics to see how different it can look.

Clay's Choice--8"

Pretty straight forward, lots of possibilities with different fabrics.  Simple, but I like it.

So I'm all caught up except for today's block which I might do tonight.  Yesterday's had a template which I don't do.  I love doing all the different kinds of blocks, but they loose their specialness when I have so much catching up to do.  I like it better when I only do one or two a day and can enjoy their individualness.  But my stack of blocks is sure piling up and I am loving it.  I know I will need more fabric soon, which just feeds into my other love.....love of shopping!!!

Ain't life grand?!?!

checking back

Well a lot has happened since my last post....some good and some terrible, but I am still here.

I finished quilting all 30 blocks for my quilt and got the walking foot off my machine so I can resume my block a day.  But I have about 10 blocks to do to get caught up :)  I did 3 blocks last night...no pics yet and today it is snowing so I probably will do a few more blocks.  The February blocks that are remaining are intricate so it will take me awhile.  March I am going to California for 2 weeks, but the blocks are mostly template blocks (which I skip) so I won't get terribly behind.  Maybe tonight I will be able to take pics and get a bunch loaded for you to take a gander at.

Some of the highlights of the last two weeks.... a couple of birthdays, I got my hair cut, talked to all my kids, did a lot of family history work, more puppies were born, and I sewed a LOT.  Oh, I found an aunt and cousin on my dad's side that nobody even knew about.  My uncle  Mack died young in the war and my aunt Ida Lea that gave me all the info on my dad's side didn't know that he married and had a child....at least that's what his death certificate says.  All my aunts and uncles on that side are gone so I can't ask questions, but I can go by official documents and he had a wife and a child!  That's so surprising and exciting!  Anyway I must get back to sewing if I'm ever going to catch up.....

Underground Railroad--12", Rail Fence--12", Log Cabin Heart--4 1/4", Watercolor Heart--6"

Haven't done much sewing since Saturday, but I caught up today... and here are my 4 blocks (minus Feb 14 which has a template)....I'm liking them.  Maybe I've got my spark back on doing the blocks, just needed a few days off. 

Hope you had a great Valentine's day, I sure did.  Sarah made up a scavenger hunt with clues and candy...lots of fun and the final clue was my Family is Love frame with UPDATED photos of all the family....woohoo!  That is...all except Shannon's fam and Jacob's fam...hint, hint.  This summer we'll get newer photos though.

Lots of family news (aka gossip) so if you haven't talked to me in the last week, call me and I will fill you in :)

I've been trying to get up the courage to start the machine quilting on my quilt, but when I do I have to change the foot on my machine and won't be able to do daily blocks so will prob. do all the week's blocks in one day and change the foot back out...but that should only be for a couple weeks. 

Love to you all....

Kansas Troubles--16" and Lincoln's Platform--10 1/2"

Kansas Troubles reminds me of saw blades...it was easier than I thought it would be....I guess it depends where my head is whether or not I can get the points all going the right way.  I really like Lincoln's Platform.  I was so pleased when I got the middle done and then I saw the outside blocks and went oops, but it still came together well.  Today's block ( Feb 10) needs a template so I'm skipping it.  Hopefully I can keep up :)

Lots has happened since I last blogged...Wed was CQN meeting and I got all my blocks trimmed, my backing blocks cut, and my batting cut so I can get the quilting done on the secondary quilt I've been working on.  It was a long day, but successful...and at the meeting we learned how to use paint sticks to design our own fabric.  It was cool.

Thursday, I went to the Temple with Judy and as always, that was a great experience.  Then in the evening, I babysat for Linda's grandchild again.  Today Sarah had another procedure done and I watched the boys.  She goes into the doctor's to discuss further next Thursday.  Today was Gwen's birthday and she is now a whopping 14 years old....where has the time gone?!?  We had a nice conversation and she is having an overnighter party with some friends tonight so she is excited.
Talked to Jordan today as well...he got his phone back, same number as before...and he is liking his new job and got his first paycheck.  Jeremy got a new job as a cabdriver....yeah, a cabdriver!!  I told him he drives like one....LOL!  Anyway he is happy.  Busy weekend ahead....hope everyone stays well and safe....

Best Friend--14", Next Door Nieghbor--8", Chimneys and Cornerstones--8"

Did I mention that I am spatialy challenged?!?  Well, I am and it sure showed on this first block....I had to take everything apart SEVERAL times :(  I just couldn't get the points going in the right direction, but finally I got it done....it only took all morning!!!

The easiest of the three blocks was the next door neighbor which I put together on point...who would've thought?  I like the blocks better when I see them in picture....they take on a different look, I can really see the value in taking pics of your blocks to see how fabrics play together.

Tomorrow is my CQN meeting and so I will probably not do any blocks, my plan is to finish the last 4 blocks of my other quilt tonight and work on getting the batting and backing prepared tomorrow so I can start machine quilting it when I'm not working on my block-a-days.  But if there's one thing I've learned at my age...plans change!  So we will see.

Sarah has not been doing well and she went to the drs yesterday and confronted him on the next step so he would know that living like this is not acceptable.  He has scheduled another test for Friday with a follow up for next Thursday.  Basically this is the last step before surgery, but I just hope  he can find answers, surgery or not.  If it gets to surgery, it will be done out of town with specialists.   Something has to be done, prayers are welcome.....

Album-9", Album Patch--15"

Two more blocks finished!!  I was about to tear my hair out doing the second block...those little 9 patches were a huge challenge.  I couldn't get the pieced together little blocks to match the plain blocks and ended up re-cutting and re-sewing and also a little frogging!!  Beautiful results tho...I can see this block with just the middle and solid sashing between the blocks.  It definetely is challenging doing these blocks with no instructions.  I did do the nine patches by rotary cutting strips, but still took a lot of effort keeping things even.

I also got more of the other quilt blocks...yesterday I went to Ross and got a sheet set for the backing and am excited about starting the quilt as you go process on that quilt.  And of course, that means I can start planning the next quilt in my head (okay, I've already been thinking about it :)

I do love quilting and I am trying sooo hard to get better at it....it's a good thing I have lots of family that love my practice quilts :)