Stashbushing Report

I started my Kwik Scrappy Log Cabin Quilt. I am going to use up about 60 fat quarters! Oh Yeah! I am going to make this for our daughter Kate! It will be a lot of fun..other than that nothing to report. I have not bought anything..and am hoping to keep it that way! I have not figured out what to use for a backing yet. I am keeping focused with the fabrics I have.

It will be a nice month of January; just logging in what fabrics I have left to work with. I really look forward to it!

Last Day of December 2007-It's A Marshmallow World Here!

This is it! Last day of 2007! As I sit here at 4:30 A.M. it is snowing again! We have so much snow here the meteorologist is saying we broke a record going back to the 1800's for the month of December! It is gorgeous outside but I wouldn't mind moving to Arizona right about now! This storm will wind down about noon and another storm is brewing for New Years Day!

I am setting some goals for 2008:
1. to use up my stash I will make sure I work some projects around the fabrics-I was fortunate enough to have friends send me fabrics over the years as gifts or fq's too, as well as buying some, so I want them to be part of what I make. I must say that over the past six months I was pretty good about doing that, and will continue! I have not had a huge amount like some of the girls do, thank God! I would have no where to store it!
2. I am determined to make some paper piecing blocks. I have a acquaintance in Maine who is going to work with me! Thank you Alison! I am always wanting to learn something new every year..this is one thing I have been putting off.
3. I am going to do more with embroidery in my quilts etc.
4. I am going to plan a wedding quilt as my son will be getting married in two and a half years! I will start building the stash now for that, sorry Judy, have to do that..
5. I am going to take it one day at a time, sewing is my savior, since I am in more due to my health. If I can't do something one day it will wait until the next. Patience is a virtue, possess it if you can I say to myself all the time.
I am working on a Kwik Scrappy Log Cabin Quilt! It is fun to make and seems like I can let my mind wander a little while doing it! For me that is good. I have fibromyalgia and sometimes with the pain I am not so focused. I pick things that I can be a little messy with at times and laugh about it! I am using my stash which is great too! I will post pictures when it is finished. With more snow expected on New Years Day who knows maybe the entire top will be done this week! I am anxious to get it done, it seems like a lot of fun to make.

To all my online friends and others, thank you for a great year of friendship! I am so glad I have met you and hope to continue to have fun in 2008! I wish all of you the best of health and happiness for you and your families!

Erin

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a very nice Christmas! Now with 2008 coming I wish you all the best in the year to come!

This Christmas was low key for my husband and I. It was very nice. I had fun making pillow cases and embroidering names of the grandchildren on them with glow in the dark thread! It was such fun filling them with presents and seeing the look on our daughters faces when they received them and the grandchildren had so much fun opening them up! A lot of the gifts this year were personal for the grandchildren; I made quilts, pillowcases, or bought them things they would need.

Christmas day we went to dinner in the afternoon with extended family! What a nice meal we had. It was more of a feast! Let's just say with the family being Italian there was such an array of food, and it was continuous! I love Italian food, and that mixed in with ham, potatoes, squash, spinach, broccoli casserole, pineapple stuffing, on and on..oh boy! The deserts were to die for! My husband raved about the cheesecakes and said the hostesses mother should go into business and sell them! I must admit they were so pleasing to the eye as well as mouth watering!

Now as I sit here I wonder what to work on next! I guess it is finishing up a couple of things left from this past year! I will post pictures of them when I am finished. Then onto some things I want to make. I am trying to use up the rest of the stash. Not much left which is great!

To everyone all the best in 2008!

Erin Bennett

Happy Birthday Christopher!

My only son turned 25 today! I cannot believe he is 25! He is the youngest! Where did the time go! 25 years ago I was done the Rocky Horse quilt and it was sitting in the crib waiting for him to be born! He was born at 6:55 P.M. I have been blessed with a great son! He loves guitar, is an awesome player. He is finishing up his bachelor's degree (has his associates degree), is leaving in January 2008 to go on tour with his band, who just signed a contract with a record company (we will miss him!) and will be home off and on, and also just became engaged to a wonderful girl! Her name is Holly! I love it! My husband and I couldn't be blessed with a better family than what we have! Great news is to be shared with great friends!

NOW FOR SOME SEWING STUFF.....

I did some embroidery for fun! I bet you didn't know that I embroider! I will be posting more on that subject! When I do a lot of quilting I change over to embroidery or stitchery or something else once in a while! I like change. I am making some pillow cases for the grandchildren which I will post in the future. I am also having fun embroidering some towels for them! But here is a picture of the towel I started..I have to sew the ends of it! I just love redwork! The basket is on both ends.

SEW THAT IS IT FOR TODAY!!!! The good thing is I used fabric from

my stash!

More Snow! Oh Boy More Sew!

This is the view outside my living room sliders. It is gorgeous this morning!

It is just 15.4 degrees here! We are expecting 6-10 inches of snow beginning at midnight! It could change over to sleet/ice! I must say we will be building a family of snowmen! I feel bad though. Here in the northeast we expect this but do not like it. I am not going to complain though. There are areas in the Midwest that are without power still. I pray they get their power back asap! I would not know what to do with myself without power..well maybe I would. I have a headlamp I bought from LL Bean a couple of years ago come to think of it! I bought it because of power loss for a few days and wanted to hand sew! I had nothing to sit by to hand sew. SEW I had to be prepared for the future! I should get that out, make sure the batteries are new, and be prepared for the winter here! I am going to do some machine embroidery and put the squares I do into a quilt. I like to switch into a different mode once in a while. IT is still 'quilting' but a different aspect.

As I do I will look out my windows at this view and watch the snow just accumulate tomorrow! This is the view outside my sewing room windows! snow and more to come!

2 More Quilts Finished

My Christmas Quilt - Ribbon Candy - made with Holly Jolly fabrics is DONE! One more from my list crossed off..The lime green in this quilt pops. My daughter Keri thought it was stunning. She also thought the size and pattern was great for a baby quilt also.

My Flannel Flower Quilt I had designed myself last year is DONE!!! I wanted a fun, funky flower children's quilt..to do..and had fun doing it! It ended up being a king size..hehehe..my husband and I were laughing last night. We do not know a little girl who sleeps in a king size bed! Oh well...he said I got carried away as usual! Another from my list is crossed off!!! Phew....the stash is going down..down..down.. luckily I must say my grandaughter Hannah came over and loved the quilt so I took a picture of her with it. She will be four January 17th 2008! See how big this quilt is? The picture is not that good..it is really pretty up close..I am not good at taking pictures. I wanted you to get the effect of the size. It is really snowing quite a bit now so if we loose power we can cuddle in the flannel quilt, thats all.

I am thrilled Hannah is here! She has not been here in months! With my health not so good over the past few months this is super special for me..I am thanking God for this special time..I love to spend time with my family or friends, any time I can get! Thank you Keri (our daughter) for bringing her here. We have four grandchildren! We love them all..and don't get to see them all very often. Sewing is my savior. Unfortunately we do not live close to them.

Today, here in NH we are expecting 6-10 inches of snow, yes snow. It could be more. I hope we do not loose power. The forcaster says we can get ice too. Then on Saturday December 15th we can get an additional 1-2 feet of snow! That storm will end on Sunday the 16th. That is the day our youngest will turn 25! I guess we cannot celebrate if I cannot get out to see him or he cannot get here! We will have to pick another day! He just moved out of the house five months ago..sigh..it is tough when the last one goes..maybe that is why I sew sew much!

I Have Been Tagged!

I have been tagged by to tell you five random things about myself ! Random things..um..

#1- I love plain old tea in the morning with skim milk and one sugar, no coffee for me. I drink my tea and say my prayers.

#2- I do not watch TV much. I love music so that is what I prefer..I will watch some movies..love the re-runs of I Love Lucy, Hallmark Channel, do not like horror movies at all.

#3- My very first quilt I made was in December 1982 for my son Christopher and I still have it! He turns 25 December 16th! It is worn, as a nephew and grandchildren have used it! Chris asked that I hold it for him..until he wants it someday!

#4- I make lists..I am the sticky queen. I have post it notes everywhere..packages in the draws.

#5- I love white chocolate more than milk chocolate, but have to admit do like milk chocolate. also am not a soda drinker, I drink water..

Here is a picture of my first quilt. It is called the Rocky Horse Quilt! Made on a Singer machine..

Instead of naming five more bloggers, I think if you are reading this blog, maybe you could comment on what random interests you have! Or you can post on your blog your random interests and I will leave a comment there! How about it? Oh and Happy Blogging..

Santa

I finished my Thimbleberries Wall hanging! It is the Cover Story series. I love it! I am a sap for old fashioned Santa's anyway! This worked up pretty fast. This is a gift. I love making gifts.

My only hindrance was Woody sitting on the quilt as I was trying to quilt it! He has his own area to stay in. My ragdoll cat is not trained as well as Yvonne's ragdoll's --------------- ************ ( http://quiltingdownthestairs.blogspot.com/) --------------I guess..not yet anyway..but..I have to say he is not even 2 years old..so maybe his is just going to hit his terrible twos and then behave???? It did take a while for Yvonne to train her cats..so give me time I guess...right Yvonne? hehehe..

What I did Today

I had some extra fabrics left over from the HOllY JOLLY line after making my Ribbon Candy Quilt. I took the nine patche blocks and the stripe blocks, put in a few triangles, added a few quarter borders, essentially came up with a design I liked and one that would fit my kitchen table and made it! I was determined to finish it. I wanted some Jolly atmosphere in my kitchen!

I also made my husband another chocolate creme pie. He loves them. He goes back and forth with his requests from apple to chocolate creme and vice versa.

I think that is enough for today! Thanks for stopping by!!

It's Friday!

I think with the Holiday last week I got confused on which days of the week I was floating in this week! I say floating, notice that! I feel like I am not with it! I feel like I am My Favorite Martian who just dropped in this week to see if I can sew for a while hehehe. It was a battle with Woody every time I went into the sewing room to sew. For some reason he wanted to play with the fabric, even if I gave him scraps he still loved the Holly Jolly fabrics and took off with them. If I shut him out he cried and cried. What a pain in the butt! So I must say he did in fact help sew this quilt top. I gave up and said, what the heck! So there it is, another top done from a kit I had in my stash. Now I will quilt it, and get it off the list. It is not a good picture but you get the jest of it. I am glad it is put together. I love the holidays with the music playing! I can listen to Christmas music all year! Have a great day!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving Wishes to everyone! I hope everyone had a wonderful day! I wish you the best in the upcoming Holiday Season! I am grateful for getting to know all of you, for having such a loving family and friends, and knowing such a great group of online friends! I have a lot to be thankful for, and as we said grace today I realized how lucky I was to be sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner this year, as last year I was in the hospital! Last year I didn't even have a blog! How things change! Woody wasn't in our lives either!

Blessings!!
Erin

My List

I was speaking with Yvonne (Quilting Down the Stairs) a few minutes ago about what I had been doing! Just hanging..well, made two pies and a pie shell. I did have a hair cut for..drum roll..$16.95! The best haircut I ever had oh yeah! I had no idea it would be that cheap! I have not had a haircut in months. I also had a doctor's appointment. I guess I have been busy. My husband has been busy taking me where I needed to go and helping me. BUT he doesn't help me with the works in progress..a quilting term we all know. I love to do that myself..so here goes!



Let's see...I am almost done the Dolly's House quilt! I am just finishing up the binding. Then I will post a finished picture of it. I have the other bindings to put on as well as the other quilts you see on the right to do.



I am working on a redwork Christmas stocking! I love it! It is so simple yet makes a perfect addition to the decor I have.



I have a Monkey quilt ready to start..I love the sock Monkey's don't you? They make me laugh. I love to laugh. I am using Judy's book to make the quilt! I love nine patches!!!

I also have a Cowgirl quilt ready to start! Yes we have a cowgirl in the family, actually two! One is taking lessons! We have had a birthday party where two ponies actually had to be put into a two car garage under a colonial house because of bad weather! The ponies needed to be sheltered and the owner left the party! We didn't know what to do with the ponies so we put them in the garages with us! We love ponies and horses! We have a cowboy in the family too, as well as a fireman! These children are under 12!


I have updated my list on the right...and it will be updated every Wednesday and I will write a brief paragraph about it. That way I will stay FOCUSED...hehehe. Yeah we will see about that.

Weekend Project will be binding

I thought I better make Pumpkin Boy before it is too late to really be excited to use him! Christmas will be here and Pumpkin Boy will take a back seat to the Holiday decorations! So I decided to make a quilt for the couch rather than a wallhanging out of Pumpkin Boy. It worked up pretty fast. I just have to bind it which I will do Friday. This is one of the the Thimbleberries designs.

Another Thimbleberries design was this Sangria tablerunner that I finished and needed to quilt! Now I just have to bind this! I do have the Sangria full size quilt kit also. That is something I can make up. It is cheery and bright! That will be fun to make and help me twiddle down my stash.

Does anyone remember the Country Flag? Well I stippled that too! Binding that will be on my list now too! I loved making this flag. It has the antique, primitive look.

Here is the Look and Learn Quilt also stippled too! Now you all know what I will be doing this weekend. Binding these projects..I am excited..then onto something new! I will look into my stash again and see what I can get into!!!

For me stippling was a fast easy way to get them quilted and out of the UFO piles. They look nice and are done.

I just made some chicken soup! Yummy for a nice brisk day! We might have some rainy weather tomorrow too so I thought my hubby might enjoy it! I have to admit I did give Woody some broth and chicken breast..He is the shrimp monster but maybe I can spoil him a little and compete with my hubby! Gary has this thing going with Woody, he and Woody eat a little Shrimp together, yep, best buddies!!! They ate it during the Red Sox playoffs. Now well...I won't even touch shrimp! So this is Woody today..sigh..I am not good at fixing red-eye so oh well he has gorgeous blue eyes! He has his Boston cap on..just hanging out.....

Thanks for stopping by..have a nice day!!!

Pumpkins out of My Patch!

The pumpkins are ready to be squared up and sent off to Brenda! Whew what a job! I loved doing them! They took my mind off of things to come with my medical issues. I will get them ready for mailing tomorrow! I will miss them sigh..they are everywhere! kidding...but will do it again sometime I am sure.. :) I was able to use up some of my stash.

It was rainy today here! But boy was it humid! I wanted to change something about me, I was tired of being sick all the time! I read that book "The Secret" and keep the positive images in my mind. I really do! Has anyone read that book? It is a great book! I just keep thinking OK, it is just in the genes..so put it in God's hands..so what can I change? OH the color of my hair? SO YES! I did it! My husband will be shocked when he comes home! I have been blonde all my life...now I am well...drum roll...............
the box says...... well I figure summer blonde goodbye and I will go with... autumn or amber brown! Do I look Irish now? Oh boy I do! It makes my eyes look real blue now! what a shocker! Even Woody looked at me and ran into the sewing room and has been in there for three hours! I prodded him out by giving him shrimp! Yes and I wouldn't touch them, I took them out of the bag with a pair of scissors! So I can control the color of my hair so I will do that. Now I feel like I can handle something. Will it be the same color in the winter? I do not know. Maybe it will be hmmmm.... Winter Blue??? kidding....

I did my hair red for the Red Sox! Nah! I am not that crazy or am I?

Hey if it takes my mind off the things I don't want to think about it helps!

My next projects are a quilt for the two grand boys and I must say I received Judy Laquidara's new book Nine-Patch Extravaganza (http://judylaquidara.blogspot.com/) and the quilts will come from that book; a couple wall hangings; and to quilt what I have made. I ordered my book on Amazon.com. There are many size quilts in the book. It is well worth buying.

I need to also do my needle punch projects I started. Anyone out there like needle punch? If so do you add material around as a border? I like it like that, then frame it. I like a primitive look. Oh and a good book to read, just another thought, The Wednesday Letters. What a great story about commitments, morals and family values.

Beautiful Fall Day!

As I sit here and write this blog I am so fortunate to have a great view of the fall foliage. IT is breathtaking here in NH. The sun is glistening through the leaves, the chipmunks are running around trying to gather their nuts for the winter, the squirrels are fending them off so they can keep their finds, and leaves are falling so delicately to the ground! It is quiet and the breeze is so gentle right now. It is so nice and relaxing. You really cannot get the full effect of the colors because the sun is playing "peek-a-boo"!

At the same time I am praying for the people out in California as well as those in New Orleans. I am sure everyone has heard about the wild fires in California and more flooding in New Orleans. It makes you realize how much Mother Nature has control over us. In the end we have to put our faith in the lord and pray that everyone will be ok.

Now for better news I was very fortunate to receive a phone call from Cheryl Cohorn at http://www.fatquartershop.com/ who informed me that I won a Madeira jelly roll! I am so lucky!

If you have not done so, sign up for their newsletter The Jolly Jabber at http://fatquartershop.blogspot.com/

They have all sorts of informative things on fabrics, etc., along with recipes, and contests and maybe you too can win! Most of all they are an awesome shop, have great customer service and wonderful to work with! Their shipping is fast too!

Off to sew some pumpkins and wait for a call from my cardiologist. Let's hope that whatever the problem is, it will be a blip for now, as too many blips have caused a huge blob..hehehe it seems the more tests they do the more they find..

Oh anyone do any rug hooking? Just wondering if anyone has any input? need info..like pointers..? advice?

22 Pumpkins made..20 more to go..phew

Since I joined the Primitive Pumpkins swap I have been trying to sew the pumpkins. They have to be done and sent to Brenda by the 31st of October. I joined in late and do not want to be late in sending them. What a nice time of year to make Primitive Pumpkins! The leaves are all changed to their fullest fall colors now! They are gorgeous here where I live! We are fortunate enough to have a warmer fall too. I am not going to complain!
I want to get them done though so I can start on my fall wallhanging kit from the Fat Quarter Shop! If I don't get it done fall will be over and sigh..I do not want to wait til next year do I? NO! I have a list in my head of things I want to do..that is where it stays..in my head. Until these pumpkins are done...I am determined nothing else is getting done. Then I can move on. I guess I am to anal...one thing on my mind and I cannot put it aside and then go back to it. I hope when I am 70 or older I am not a royal bit%$ if you get my drift...then shoot me...

Ideas needed

I found these fabrics above at a local quilt shop. the center one is the black background with white, the others are white with black. They are for card players I think! I saw them and thought of my sister in law. She has been asking me to make something, even small, for her, to bring her luck! She is an avid bridge player. Her screen name for IM is Sevenhearts2U! Thus the heart fabric you see too! Now I have to decide what to make. Of course I can add on with other fabrics and make a small quilt, or wall hanging. I can make a quilted chair pad, or what? Any ideas? I do not play cards or know anyone who plays bridge. Linda plays bridge weekly, goes to tournaments, and is quite involved. I have other fabrics in my stash if needed, blacks and whites. I will ponder some more until either I get the right idea or someone has it. I guess I will start Kate's quilt and continue making those 'pumpkins' hehehe....on number 5....and counting.

I am now making stuffed peppers! That will be our dinner tonight.

IT is rainy, dark, windy, BUT, the leaves are just gorgeous! The palate is perfect. Nature knows how to match colors to make a perfect leaf quilt for the birds!

Primitive Pumpkins

I am making pumpkins for a pumpkin swap! It is fun! I have to make 36 Primitive Pumpkins! I have two done, 34 more to go. I was assigned creme colored pumpkins with either a tan or beige background. I chose Buggy Barn fabrics. I also chose a green stem with Perle' Cotton 8 Color 783 (orange/gold) to do the stem stitch and blanket stitch and I did it by hand. That is what I worked on this weekend. I also had to wash and dry the fabrics. I used Lite Steam a Seam 2 by The Warm Company to fuse the creme fabric onto the beige fabric. While doing the pumpkins Gary and I watched Knocked UP, the movie! It was hilarious! We really enjoyed it! It was something we would not really have picked but our son mentioned we should watch it. We were glad we did.

This past Saturday Gary and I went to the Topsfield Fair in Topsfield Massachusetts! We saw the World Record Giant Pumpkin! 1,689 lbs! Talk about huge! I cannot imagine growing that and transporting that. The day was gorgeous, the crowds were in awe looking at this pumpkin!

We also saw a beautiful sand sculpture, some gorgeous flower arrangements, the rides and lots of food. There were numerous quilts to see also.

Well fairs are nice, crowds are not for me. I do love the fried dough though, or the fresh air, see the children go on the rides, painted faces, people just enjoying life. It creates nice memories.

An October Thursday

I have not written much due to a very bad sinus infection. Now I am on meds, for three weeks, YUK! Sinus surgery is next, just finished knee arthroscopy. My bloodwork is not where it should be so once it is they will schedule sinus surgery. The doctor said it will not do any harm, but might help; if I do not have it done, I risk more pneumonia and hospitalization this winter; I have asthma and he wants me to have the surgery. I put it off for three years. Now it is time.

DOLLY'S HOUSE QUILT TOP IS DONE! NOW TO QUILT IT!

I just finished the top "Dolly's House" by Michelle Crawford of Flower Box Quilts. I loved making this. It is for our grandaughter, Shelby, who is 2. NowI have to stipple it and bind it. The fabric is by Red Rooster and was great to work with. Michelle was great to work with also when I had some questions regarding the pattern. The pattern was fantastic, the questions were just me needing to find out some things. I highly recommend her site. Michelle's designs were just featured in "The Quilter Magazine", her pattern Autumn Interlude was on the cover, other designs in the magazine, November 2007. See below!

There are some other patterns in this issue I love too. I am glad I purchased this magazine. I like to have some quick patterns around. Just in case I need a quick fix...if you know what I mean. I am not a tv watcher, cannot drive much, so sewing is my therapy.

I went to a new quilt shop near me a while back and bought some black and white fabrics to make a different kind of quilt. The pattern is Kwik Scrappy Log Cabin. I have never done an abstract sort of quilt. Our daughter Kate, who has a graphic design degree, loves black and white. I think since she is artsy, if that is a word, and she loves abstract designs, this will be perfect for her. A lot of photos in her home are black and white! OH I am throwing in a couple of fq's with chinese lettering in red just to give it a 'kick' but Kate has a little tatoo on her back with chinese lettering. I thought the quilt would have a little 'tatoo'..cool huh?

I did get involved in a Primitive Pumpkin exchange thanks to Yvonne from Quilting Down the Stairs! I am looking forward to that. PumpkinPatchPrimitives.com is sponsoring the exchange, you can go on their site, look at the newsletter, and get the info if you are interested. Brenda is wonderful to work with! You can buy the book for the quilt pattern if you want to but no purchase is necessary! I must say the purchase of the book is well worth it. Brenda can get it for you for a great price. I can use some of my stash for the background which is wonderful.

It is just gorgeous today 71 degrees, leaves are changing and sun is out!
Woody is sleeping so I can sneak in the sewing room and snoop around without him getting into things! Have a good one!

Happy Saturday

Last day of summer! I cannot believe it!

We had moved this summer, I had surgery, and let's just say it was not a good summer. This week my husband insisted on taking me to the beach to look at the ocean, relax a little and it was well worth it. I enjoyed the fresh ocean air! It is inspiring. The last time I had been to the beach was probably two or three years ago! Sad I must say. I have bad knees and it is very difficult to walk in the sand. My favorite place to be is the beach. I always have said that if I could I would live at the beach. The seagulls were plenty, looking for food. They are not shy at all! We only brought apples, water and books to read. When we were done with our apples believe it or not they ate our apple cores! I did find some seagull feathers! Those feathers reminded me of Forest Gump sitting on the park bench and a feather falling from the sky! Remember that? You never know what kind of chocolate you are going to get when take one from a box of chocolates? you bite into a chocolate and what kind is it? That got me to thinking about quilting. Then I thought I never know what I am going to sew next, quilt next, until I walk into a quilt store and look at fabrics, patterns, you never know what kind of quilt you are going to make. Then one thing kept going back and forth in my mind.... Forest Gump:Judy Laquidara.. http://judylaquidara.blogspot.com/ I want to make one of her nine patches..funny how the mind works... see what the beach did for me? those seagulls....the beach....just that little time on the beach... I needed a little down time and now am ready to LOL?

Oh well it is Saturday..the 22nd of September, my dad would have been 70 today, I miss him so much. He had a great sense of family, a great sense of humor, always wanted to just be happy, go with the flow, loved to talk, hard worker, took good care of my mother, and loved to play ball with my brothers..he passed away suddenly at 68. He will always be missed and never forgotten.

Whew Saturday and What a Day!

Where do I begin? Yesterday Hannah, my 3 1/2 year old grandaughter came to stay overnight! Oh yeah! I showed her the finished top of the Dick and Jane quilt. She insisted on me taking her outside to get a picture of her with it even though it is not quilted and finished yet! Of course I said yes, I cannot say no! Then we played with sidewalk chalk! I have not done that since I was in grade school! Of course Hanni did the drawing and I encouraged her! Nice grammy huh!

Last night was fun, Hannah developed a fever, sniffles and my husband had to run out to buy childrens IB and Triaminic cough and cold per my daughter. Hannah had a temp that needed to come down. It felt like years ago, when my children were small. Oh boy, those years!

Today was ok, Hannah is feeling better, still a fever, not so high, and her mom is coming to pick her up. Her parents wanted to come right up last night to get her, we said NO! We want to take care of her! We cuddled her up with quilts, grammy's quilts! She loved it!

To top it off so far today I took four blood pressure pills instead of topomax that I am on! YUP! Accidently! Now the doctor had to be called. He said no driving for the next couple days, no heavy lifting, doing much of anything to put a strain on my heart, I will be very tired, do not get up fast, etc. but I will be ok. I want to sew! Will I be too tired? :)

Oh well trials and tribulations of my life.....oh and Happy Birthday to Luke and Tim! Yvonne's son and husband, hope they are having a great little getaway!

Erin

I will have to start quilting my finished tops..I guess

I have been working on the Dick and Jane Quilt Kit by Michael Miller. I purchased it from http://www.fatquartershop.com/. I am almost done. I have two more borders to put on. I am a little slow. It is fun to do. It brought back memories of when I was in school many moons ago. We learned to read slowly one word at a time. Look! Look Sally! See Spot! So this quilt is certainly a lot of fun to do. Do you think years from now there will be an Apple Computer Quilt Kit? hmmm...never know! Or a Microsoft Quilt Kit? One showing pictures of computer screens with mouse pads, cursors, etc. How technology has changed our world. That is something to think about.

I also made the Country Flag by Eleanor Burns of http://www.quiltinaday.com/. That is ready to be quilted. I enjoyed making that. I didn't use the basic red, white and blues. I went with a more primitive selection. Another project that is ready to be quilted is the Sangria Tablerunner by Thimbleberries. I am excited to get that done. I have new dishes and the colors will fit in just nicely.

Another project I am excited to start is called Dolly's House Quilt by Michelle Crawford of http://www.flowerboxquilts.com/. I have ordered from her before. I love her designs. I believe that is what I will finish next. That is what I have been trying to do this month so far. It has been slow because of recouping from surgery. I have not been feeling that well. Quilting, or piecing is my therapy!

I guess some of you girls are doing some stitchery. I have been doing some needle punch. I love it. My love for hand work is phenomenal. I also have been doing some Hawaiian Applique. Oh and my grandson's Christmas Stocking, that is needlepoint! I pray I get it done in time for Christmas this year. The hands can only take so much. I feel like all of this quilting, fabric, needlework, etc. is like being in a candy store, too much and you just don't know what you want to do, and staying focused is tough! Is that why there are UFO'S? hehehe.....

LL Bean Home Catalog Came Today

I just love looking through catalogs! I love the inspirations I get from looking! Then I throw them away! YUP! This time though my husband was looking at the LL Bean Home Catalog! Why? He was commenting on their quilts! He even knew the names of them! Hey look honey he says, they have a flying geese quilt in here! I cannot believe he remembered last year when I was doing the border on the Thimbleberries quilt. He was asking me about the borders and what the squares were called! He does remember things! I guess my quilting is making an impression on him. I am doing good.

Labor Day Weekend Upon Us

Summertime? Beach balls, sand, sun, rain showers, Popsicles and laughter are all reminiscence of fun in the summer. Families getting together for barbecues, talking about old memories, sharing new ones, speaking silently of hopes and dreams and missing members gone by. July 4Th is a time for Celebration of the birthday of our country and our freedom. It was so nice for me to make a quilted flag because I realized how hard it was for someone to actually design the flag and make it all by hand. Years ago it took a lot of time to sit down, find fabrics, work it, and finish it. I , and everyone else of course, am so lucky to have everything I need to make my life so much easier to just whiz through making things (not that fast but compared to hundreds of years ago!) so it is exciting to do! I realized that if I was Betsy Ross I would have given up. I would have had no motivation! I would have been a girl on a farm just grooming the horses. I would have loved the dogs, horses, and that would have been it for me! BUT since I live in this era, give me the sewing machine girls! Sewing and Quilting is what I love now!!! So the summer of 2007 is when I learned that I am not a "Betsy Ross" girl.....

Absolutely Gorgeous Day

The sun is just touching the tips of the leaves as I sit here. The temp is 70, the air is dry and blue skies are going forever. I am listening to Journey play Lights. They came out with that song in the early 80's. My daughter Keri sang it when she was two! It was her favorite! That was until Jack and Diane came out on 45's and that was her first 45 I bought her, she was 4! Now she is 28, happily married, has a 3 1/2 year old and a 1 year old. Time goes by. Songs still play though. Quilt patterns remain the same too. Fabrics change and we change. We know what we love, don't like, and learn a lot. I know today is beautiful, and just because I didn't sleep last night I am not going to get down, I am going to enjoy the day somehow! Woody will enjoy it too! Time to cut out the Sangria table runner. I can do that sitting down. See ya!

August 1st Time to get ready for Fall?

Can you believe it is August already? Where is the year going? I am done my flag. I have to take a picture for you to see. Woody did help by attacking the binding as I was sewing it on!

I went to my favorite quilt shop yesterday. Pine Tree Quilt Shop in Salem NH is just perfect. I am excited to make a tablerunner for my kitchen. I purchased the pattern and fabrics called Sangria Splash by Thimbleberries. When you go to Pine Tree you are in awe. Have you seen the new mini irons that are out now? I did get a pink one. It will come in handy for me. Trying to manipulate a larger iron at times is difficult for me. Check them out!

Happy sewing! Erin and Woody

USA

I am finishing up a flag, a quilted flag. I have to bind it. Then I have to figure out where I am going to put it. I have been delaying finishing it. It is a bargello flag. I first saw it at Pine Tree Quilt Shop in Salem NH. Then Yvonne was making one, and of course I just had to do it. well it was bigger than I remembered the sample being in Pine Tree. I will post a picture when it is done. I take my time doing things because the fibro can just exhaust me. Pain is unbearable at times.

Woody is helping me right now make the binding. He is waiting patiently for me, well, NOT! He is running around with it so I had better go. All the best, Erin and Woody.

Dick and Jane

Has anyone seen the new lunchbox and kit that is available for the quilt kit Dick and Jane by Michael Miller Fabrics? It is adorable! Of course it brings me back to my childhood and remembering how to learn how to read. Maybe that is why I love animals so much. That is it, I have convinced myself of it. Once I saw Spot, that was it! Well anyway I am going to make that quilt one day. Memories as Katie would say. Good "Karma"! I am staying positive and enjoying life. Anyone want to make it with me, if so let me know.

Of course Woody (A/K/A Spot) will be by my side!
All the best, Erin

Hi there!

I am just finishing unpacking after moving from our house of fifteen years to a small apartment fifteen miles away. What a change. The sewing and quilting is what will keep me somewhat happy and having a new addition to our family, Woody! Gary and I took him in, he is a year old. He will be my quilting buddy. Yvonne is and has been very kind to me, giving me her sewing and quilting things that she didn't need since she got her new $5,000 quilting machine named Fiona! So I can now quilt better and enjoy it more! She is giving me her stitch regulator, what a friend! I am so fortunate! It is still going to be a while before I can work on projects without feeling cramped in here. I am only able to work a couple hours before I get exhausted and have to rest. I try my best and do what I can. But knowing it is there if I want to sit and dream about it is all worth it.
My mom gave me her car also which I am very thankful. I can go back to my hometown and see her when I can drive and am up to it too. It is very appreciative. Gary and I are very lucky. Every day I thank them in my prayers and pray that they have a good day and are happy.
Pray for our troops please. All the best, Erin and Woody.