Thursday, March 31, 2011

Thursday Update

No pics today, sorry!

I still owe you pics of my new carry on bag and my March table runner.
I'll try to take some soon, its been rainy and dreary here,
so the light stinks to take pics.

Today, I finished Nick's quilt top!
This was a UFO that I started sometime last  year,
so I am excited to cross it off the to do list.

This weekend, I hope to get it layered and pinned,
maybe quilt it next week?

Shhhh, I am making dh a surprise.
I've been wanting to try a mug rug and today I came across a great tute
for it. Erin, over at Two More Seconds,
has been hosting a Mug Rug Madness blog around and today's
was my fave, I think. Since today was opening day
of baseball, I did it in Met's colors. Tomorrow, I need to find and print
a Met logo and I'm going to applique that on and then give it to him for his office.
So, pics of that coming up too!

Also, on this weekend's to do list is to start and finish (at least the top!)
my spring/Easter table runner. I have fabric, but not the slightest idea
of what I want to do with it.

I guess that's all that is really going on here.
I am trying to decide what to work on next. I need to redo
my quilt list and add all the new projects that I have bought fabric for.
I have 2 projects in the works...I really should focus on at least one of those,
preferably the king size for my bed that will have to be sent out to be quilted.
But I also need to finish the Block A Palooza quilt I started in Jan.
But then there's that other one.
Ohhh, and that one!
And don't forget that one!
Ahhhhh, you know what I mean!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Third of 11 in '11

It feels so good to finally get all
these quilt's up to be seen!
This one might be my very favorite of them all.

Presenting....
A Very Hungry Caterpillar
The perfect quilt for a little boy!
I enjoyed making this one so much and couldn't
wait to deliver it to my new nephew.
So, without further ado....
Aiden Thomas
Isn't he just precious?
I'm just a *tad* bit proud of him!

So, 3 months into 2011 and I have 3 quilts done :)
Yeah!!!
#4 is in blocks that are being sewn into rows, so
I hope to have a complete quilt top by tomorrow.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Second of 11 in '11

Some very dear friends of ours are
having a baby in June.
But they moved away last month :(

When I found out they were moving, I hurried
and made this baby quilt for them.
And then I got sick.
AGAIN!
It didn't get done in time to give to them
before they moved.
But I'm sure we'll see them again soon.
And, if not, then I'll mail it.

But I did show it to them, it just wasn't
finished.
But now it is.




Actually, one corner of that darn green border needs resewn.
Maybe I'll do that today.

I love this quilt.
The colors. The design. Even the border.
But I will never make that border again! What a nightmare!

Boy? Girl? No one knows, but
I'm sure this quilt will make either one happy :)

Monday, March 28, 2011

First of 11 in '11

This was the first of 2 quilts I made for my brother's new baby.
You know.
The one I've been talking about for months!

He was born March 19, 2011.
7 pounds, 5 ounces.


You'd think he was my own, I'm so proud!

I made this quilt out of all flannel.
Definitely a learning curve while quilting it,
but well worth it.
It is incredibly soft and warm!

Welcome to the world baby Aiden!



Sunday, March 27, 2011

Family Update

I just rechecked the last post to this blog.
March 15.

Yikes! My intentions of posting
are always good.
The follow through is often not there.
Sorry about that!

This time, I had a really good excuse.
Life altering in fact.

Last Wednesday my mom let me know that
my grandfather was checking himself out of the
hospital under hospice care. I think we
all know what that means.

And as soon I got that news, I got other news
that my sister in law was in labor.
Such is the ebb and flow of life.

I haven't seen my grandfather in almost 3 years.
Not for lack of want to see him, but he lives over 1000 miles away
and with a family of 6, that is not an easy distance to cover.

So, dh and I made the decision that I needed to go see him.
Luckily, dh's parent's were able to fly into town to stay
with our munchkin's and he came with me. It was an emotional trip.
One I am still recovering from.

The good news is, my grandfather is doing better. The bad news (or, not, depending on how you look at it) is that  its really just a matter of time for him. But it was so good to see him.
And I know he appreciated our presence.
I still fight tears when I think of him.

The awesome news is that I am now the proud aunt of another nephew.
He was born on Saturday, March 19, 2011.
And he is the most beautiful baby I think I have ever seen.
Dark, dark blue eyes.
My brother's italian skin tone.
Long fingers, light hair.
Precious and healthy, all we can ever ask for.
I spent every moment that I could, holding him.
Luckily his mama and daddy let me, as I live so far away.

We got back late last night.
It was a whirlwind trip and its going to take me a while to
recover from it. It was wonderful to see my family.
It was heartbreaking to see my grandpa.
I've always admired my grandmother. But never more so then now,
when I watch her stand by his side, knowing what is coming.
60+ years of marriage and they are still so in love.
They got married when she was 16.
I don't know what she is going to do without him.

Such is my tale of woe.

Tomorrow, I'll get restarted on my blog.
I have 3 quilts that need shown off and posted.
A table runner.
A new carry on bag.
Maybe even a pic of my new machine.

I had new fabric come in.
I have finished my "time line" things.
Now I can focus on what I want to work on.

The list is long. The desire is strong.
The timing.....ugh.
We'll be home now for 3 weeks.
Then the kids get spring break.
Dh and I moved up our trip home from June to April.
I want my kids to see their great grandfather one more time.
So I have to get ready for that.
Plus, it'll be Nick's birthday, Easter and then
Sam's birthday. April is always a bit crazy without the addition
of this trip. But its something I have to do.

So, please forgive me, the few followers that I have.
I promise to try to be a better blogger!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

March Madness

My goodness! I looked at my last blog post and it was in February! Nothing like a little March Madness to get in the way of blogging!

The truth is, I haven't been quilting! Sad, I know.

But worth it! My daughter's drama play heated up to full boil the last two weeks, culminating in a 4 day show that ended on Sunday. Being a "drama mama" meant I was at each rehersal the past 2 weeks getting them ready on go on stage.  It also meant my quilting got mostly ignored.

Its still dark out, but I'll take some pics later and get them posted.

I do have the second quilt for my brother's new baby just about finished. Its needs a touch more quilting, then bind and wash and we'll be all set!

My biggest news is that I bought a new sewing machine! I had bought a Singer Quilting Confidence back over the fall and thought I liked it. But then I had some bad things happen with it :(  Singer's quality has gone downhill over the years and I'm not sure I'll buy from them again.  Makes me sad as I love my old Singer, its a workhorse.

So (sew! haha!), I bought a Brother NX 800, Limited Edition Laura Ashley. I got it from a LQS.  So far all I've done is play with it, but I'm sure I'm going to love it.

Let's see, what else. I'm behind on the Bloggers Quilt Along. By like 7 blocks! Ugh. My March table square is half quilted, but I'm not sure I love it, so I don't know what I'll do with it. My March runner is pieced but needs quilted....I think that is on my to do list today.

OHHHH! And! I'm converting the downstairs bedroom into a sewing room! It used to belong to my youngest daughter, but she got lonely being the only one in the basement so she moved upstairs into her brother's room last spring. So, now it occasionally get's used for guest's, but that is it. Now its a sewing room :) Again, I'll take pics later!

My goal for the week is to quilt that March table runner, finish quilting the 2nd baby quilt, and get that bound and washed, and do so more work straightening my new sewing room.  It'll happen. At least some of it!