Tardy Blogger

I'm not sure if there is hope for me as a blogger! I didn't even post once in 2011, and this is the first for 2012. I really should try harder. Today's post is a result of frustration because I can't access my email account! What's a girl to do? I should take out my frustration on a project in my sewing room! On the brighter side, the weather is definitely spring-like the last few days. I just returned from our Guild's annual Quilt Retreat, and although I didn't complete anything, I did make progress. I pieced 50 split ninepatch blocks, finished an applique block I've been working on, and hand pieced another block for my Hidden Circles quilt top. I have 28 blocks finished, and only 4 more full blocks to do, as well as 14 part blocks. I should be done in another few years, lol.

Cheers for now.

Better Late Than Never

I can't believe I haven't posted anything since JULY. I was never very successful at keeping a journal either, but you know the old saying "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again"!

The first picture is the BOM we did last year at my quilt guild. My granddaughter Lauren claimed it. I love scrappy quilts, and she loves to get in my sewing room and picking out her favourite fabrics so it's not surprising that she loves it. It is called 'Simple Scrappy Treasures' and the pattern is by Claudia's Quilt Shoppe.

The second quilt is 'Quilt Block Bingo'. The block pattern was in a Fons and Porter Love of Quilting Magazine from 2006, and everyone at guild was encouraged to make a block and bring it to our December luncheon, where we played Quilt Guild Bingo with them...you know, under Red, stripes, under Blue, plaid etc. Afterwards, the blocks were handed in, and put together. It was hand quilted by guild members, and I put the binding and label on it. Now we are selling tickets on it to pay for our rental space for next year.

See you soon.

Judy

Tatting

I've taken up my tatting shuttle again. It's been awhile since I've done any, so thought I should so I wouldn't lose my touch. I had taken some to a Rug Hooking Party where we were asked to bring something for show and tell that wasn't hooking. One of the ladies expressed a desire for a pincushion, so that was all I needed to get started. She hasn't seen the pincushion yet, and I hope she likes it. I taught myself to tat many years ago after I had not been able to find anyone to teach me. My technique has improved since then, thanks in part to the computer, and all the available resources on the Internet. I wish it had been around when I was trying to maneuver the shuttle in the beginning. The pincushion is sitting on one of my quilts in case you noticed the feathers in the background of that picture. I love quilting feathers.

I'm frustrated because I can't figure out why the pictures rotate in the uploading process. They aren't situated like that on my computer.

Cheers for now.

Time to Blog

I can't believe I haven't posted anything to my blog since April! My excuse is my picture taking habit needs to be developed...I know, punny, punny. I don't remember to take pictures, and pictures make the entries more interesting. I have been busy stitching, though. I finished putting together the BOM quilt top offered at Guild this year, and it is immense...89x106. Now I need to put it in the quilt frame and quilt it! I'll take a picture of it when it's done. It is promised to my grandaughter, Lauren. I also finished quilting a crib sized quilt started at Guild by members who wanted to learn to hand quilt. Funny thing was, I donated the top to the Guild so I wouldn't have to deal with it anymore. Go figure! You'll see the picture. Actually, some child will probably love it. I'm not sure what the pattern is called. It was a mystery quilt, and I'm not very good at picking fabrics for something that is obscure.

Now the picture is added, I'm not sure why it rotates when I upload it, but you get the idea. I'll add the tatting pictures later.

Cheers for now.

Our Covered Bridge

This is a picture of the Covered Bridge that spans the Kennebecasis River, not far from our house. We walk to it almost every day with our dog. Earlier in the month, the river spilled over its banks and the road you see in the picture was about a foot under water, enough that I wouldn't drive through it with my car.

When my children were young we used to take them to the bridge to swim on hot days. We have a picture of our little grandaughter at the water's edge fishing for the first time.

I'm still thinking about using a picture of this bridge and doing the 4 Season Challenge that Shirley has encouraged us to do. It's such a large part of our daily life.

Cheers,

Judy

Charity Quilt

Where does the time go? It's almost a month since I've posted anything. I must try to be more faithful. I just got back from our quilt guild's annual retreat, and we all had a wonderful time. I took some applique and some handpiecing to do, and made some progress. Mostly I had fun visiting with the other ladies. It was just such a treat to have no meals to plan, no cooking to do, and no cleaning up afterwards!

I haven't done any thread painting for awhile, or landscapes. I've missed it! I have been getting caught up with our guild's BOM. Also, our guild makes cuddle quilts for the local women's shelter every year, so I finished one of those. The pattern is Attic Windows, and it is pieced with scraps, and machine quilted.

Hopefully I will be able to play with some projects from the Learningfa group this week.

Cheers for now,

Judy

Regan's Book

My grandaughter Regan had her second birthday on March 19th. She loves books, and since I had signed up for a Small Book class offered by Janet on Learningfa, I thought I would make her one for her birthday. It took longer than I thought! I had never worked with Peltex before, but I like the way it made the pages so sturdy, but not too stiff. I did the picture on the front from a photo of her. My rendition makes her look older than she is. It is free motion stitched on my trusty Bernina. I outlined with black thread and used coloured pencils, then free motion stitched on top with threads to coordinate. I think it makes it look like a coloring book picture. I put a plastic pocket on the back cover so she could slip in a real photo. Isn't she a cutie?