Centerpieces

Kind of went overboard this year with such beautiful Christmas fabric. I made several of these.  Like the way the middle fabric forms kind of a ring.

Church for Christmas

We went with red this year. It was a lovely site on Christmas eve. I will have to find out how to post more than one pic from my phone at a time.

Party too much

After his first encounter with my brother's cat, he is resting up. It did not go well for him. They decided to agree to disagree.

posting post Christmas

I love the Christmas season but am not sad to see the busi-ness over and followed by a quiet time.
This used to be the time for all the sales -13th month they used to call it.  Mother would give us money for Christmas and we would travel from Holly Springs to Raleigh to shop the sales and buy clothes.  I still remember a blue cloth suede vest and skirt I got that I loved.  Probably wore it too long after I should have and had a hard time giving it up.  Probably because it reminded me of the fun we had shopping.
Getting rid of things now is not as difficult.  I have been slowly purging my closets and will do more in the new year.  It is amazing what you have time for when you are retired.  I love January and
February for being time to reflect, regroup and reorganize.
Christmas was a good family time and that is good.

Win and LaVonne have sold their place at Hatteras.  It was a difficult decision but the right one for them.  Both boys live and will probably always live in Wilmington and it was getting to be unmanagable.  It was a lovely cottage and at the end of Hatteras, it was in a good location. We will 

all miss it.  I know the people who bought it will get a lot of joy being there. We did.

Now to get ready for a New Years Day mystery quilt workshop.  Beats watching football!!!

Thoughtful quilting.

Sally

early family thanksgiving

I had planned a short trip to Wilmington to check out Sew Happin's which is closing and to stop by Hampstead on the way home to drop off some quilt tops to be quilted.
I had contacted my nephew to see if he was going to be at his restaurant so maybe we could have lunch together.  That wasn't going to work for him but he said his dad, my brother, was coming and would have supper why not stay and spend night.  I made arrangements for Cecil and stayed.  It turned out my other nephew, his wife, their cousin and step brother came too and they planned for this to be our Thanksgiving as they would be in Cuba then. Great fun and watched "Hemmingway in Cuba" which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Anyway here is Lily, LaVonne and me.

When our mini bee met a suggestion was made that we needed to have a picture of each person actually sewing so here is mine!!!

I am making two strip sets and then will use 30degree ruler to cut out triangles to make a table runner.

Not that I don't already have 3 Christmas runners.  Oh well.

Now to do some quilting and get these projects finished.

chilly quilting.

Sally

Matthew, the hurricane

Seeing so many people having to relocate due to the oncoming hurricane made me think if I had to leave my house for a period of time what would I take and do to prepare including the possibility of the power going off.
1.  Wash clothes
2. Run the dishwasher
3. Get food for Cecil ready
4. Take a shower
Things I would take
some comfy clothes
passport, money, phone
meds
extra glasses
jewelery I would hate to lose, then why do I have all this other stuff?
address book
chargers for phone
I am sure I have forgotten something
No I don't think the sewing machine would make it if I had to leave in a hurry!!
It is something to think about.
Praying for safety for all in Matthew's path.
Sally

Cotton candy nearly

I have just finished the 80 center blocks for this BH quilt. Thank goodness. Now to sew them together and do the outer piano keys border. Would like to finish this year. I also got the binding on alliatare BH mystery quilt from last winter. Now to do the hand work. Yikes.
Lovely weather quilting. Stay away matthew.
Sally

Finished with borders.

If I could figure out how to put multiple pictures on one post I would not be in competition with bonnie hunter for number of postings!
Anyway. Like the borders. Working on BH cotton candy to finish blocks for center then will start on dresden binding...400 inches. Yikes.
Hot quilting.
Sally

Finally

I still need to put on a border but am so glad to get the blocks done. I love the design but am not sure I would do another one.  Except there are all those red, white and blue strips.... hmmmm.
Hot quilting.
Sally

Another halloweenie

Finished the binding on this table runner last night. Had a difficult time finding the right binding to go with front and back. Found it a joanns! Like the back to use for november.
Now to finish christmas runner.
Orange u glad to b quilting?
Sally

Boo already

I really don't get into Halloween but the fabric is so doggone cute! 
I had some 30° triangles left from a table runner and my peeps said just aka a semi circle. The runner used two strip sets and the original pattern I saw somewhere had a light fabric strip set and a dark fabric set.  Anyway this is my variation.
It will be great on the sofa table.
Scary quilting.
Sally

Blue plate special

Just picked up from quilter. It is stunning. Can't wait to see it on m's bed. Of course that means I have to sew binding on and label. Oh well.
Cooler quilting?
Sally

Chevrons

Just finished this donation top for our guild. Pieced the back this am and hope to quilt it soon in A will five me a second lesson on her quilter.
Enjoying the cooler weather.
Sally

Hot and muggy

Gave this baby quilt to olivia this week. What a sweet girl. Her mom, Karen, was next door for a short visit and olivia has grown.

Hot am muggy

This is the label. Cecil is her cousin. Haha.

Hot quilting

I am doing my third set of calendar quilt hangings. I just enjoy picking out the fabrics. Love the flip flop fabric and the flower. The tula pink border is perfect.
What fun and a break from piecing.
Trying to stay cool quilting.
Sally

Boo already!

I had purchased a hexagonal center piece for my table made for a craft sale. My friend, a long time seamstress but beginning quilter, was ready for her second project and had christmas gifts in mind. Specifically some  like my centerpiece. Oh dear. So not having made any my self today found me at j.a. looking through quilt magazines and I found this pattern for place mats. I bought some Halloween fabric because I did not have enough and this is what happened.
I think batting and will finish it.  It just took 6 -1.75 inch by wof  strips and a 60 degree ruler I had but never used. Yippee.
Fun quilting.
Sally

Pink and purple.

This the last of my purple hydrangeas and the first of the pink dahlias. Hope we get a little rain.
Great time in Boston last week. Went to a red sox game on sunday, to salem and the aquarium on monday, to plymouth, the "rock" on tuesday, the zoo and Cheers on wednesday, and home on Thursday.
Had a great time but as always glad to be home.
Time to get quilting.
Sally

Scrappy happy

This is the beginning of a table runner which J is making for her first foray into quilting. We will try to finish it Tuesday.
I love summer clouds and blue sky. I will however stop whining about no rain making it to my yard.
Muggy quilting.

UFO's

I am trying to finish some things from the last 4 years.  It is not a good idea to let some projects go that long especially those that come with multi-page directions as Judy Niemeyer's Japanese Fan.
Can't find a template for cutting the pieces for one of the two corner patterns.  LA is coming to my rescue.
My second nesting of bluebirds fledged without me on Wednesday of last week.  Just waiting to clean out the nest.  Have missed their toing and froing with the feedings.  It seems as if there is an atmospheric wall around wayne county to keep out the rain.  It has been over two weeks and with the wind and heat things are drying up.  I am careful not to wish for rain as so many people last week suffered flooding.
The morning (8am) sun on Sunday morning comes through the stained glass windows and throws beautiful watercolor-like images on the wall in the church.

The next picture is of a baby quilt for K's baby due next month.  just finished the binding and have to do label.  This is not the one I made but mine is similar.

My golf team!!! for Branch Pope Memorial Golf tournament.  We gave out two $1000 scholarships this year to two students from Rosewood who will be entering ECU in the fall.  It was a wonderful tournament with 19 teams.  We did not win but had a great day.

I have three quilts ready to put together and quilt.  Maybe can get one done before Thursday meeting.

Peaceful quilting.

Sally

Cool fans

Finally getting back to "Japanese fan" by Judy Neimeyer I began with Lucille Amos in ..2012 I think.
Just finished the fans (30) and have 10 more border sections and four corners.
This work is not hard just tedious. It is on my ufo list to get finished this year!
Hope my eyes hold out.
Clear quilting today.
Sally

Favorite things

This is a favorite time of the year for me. I give my gardenias until June 1 to start blooming or else... not that I could do anything about it. They don't last long on the bush or in the house but I pick a hand full each morning on the way back from walking my dog to replace the ones in the house.
I love the new line from Tula Pink, "chipper", and used the versitile "Greek cross" pattern from "quilters cache" for the table runner.
I am looking forward to some nicer weather this week.  Although, not loving hot weather, I say each rainy overcast day is a day not in the 90's.
Cooler quilting.
Sally

Bulls eye

Well it took all day but I finally got this quilted. Now for binding. This was a blind block exchange I think in 2011.yikes. just could not think how to quilt it and got help from m.q. P. M.Q. of course stands for master quilter. I like it and just did lines in border. Already too busy.
I am dedicated to clearing away some oooold projects. Unfortunately most involve getting them quilted.
Two more are ready to quilt. Maybe this week.
Windy quilting.

Magic squares

Just finished this top. I had put most of the squares together a few months ago.
Easter and other events intruded but I am determined to finish up some projects.
Will try a new pattern P suggested for a quilt tomorrow. I am planning on being home all day. Cecil will be glad.
Rainy quilting.
Sally

Withdrawal

I did not realize how much having a working computer was a part of my daily routine.  I am addicted to free cell and checking blogs.  When my server@$#%&* said I was eligible for a new modem enabling me to access the faster speed in my area I said yes because my computer had been sooooooslow.  That was a week ago and just yesterday thanks to my neighbor I was able to get on my computer again.  That was after numerous hours on the phone (at times my cell because the house line was with the server and down also).  Anyway I could use my cell but doing any amount of typing on the cell was not for ff (fat fingers).
Anyway today the sky is blue the sun is out it was cold for our walk and God is good.
We are giving K and S a baby shower this afternoon and all is ready.
Just went outside and the cardinals are eating the sunflower seeds, the blue jay is squawking, and the momma and poppa blue birds are feeding the three babies in the nest.  If they keep on the babies won't be able to get out.  I keep watching hoping to see them fly! I am also watching for the resident hawks flying high above.  It is indeed a wonderful world.
The picture below was taken last week when the rhododendron was in full bloom.
Time to work.
not quilting
Sally

Withdrawal

Getting ready for the shower.

Spring

Spring has been so beautiful this year. The pansies have weathered the cold and my clematis let me arrange it around some support to get it off the ground. I just live the two colors together.

Spring

And my rhododendron  (thank goodness for auto correct on hard words) is blooming again after early buds were caught in the last morning frost/freeze.
I want to keep these days longer with the cool mornings and warm evenings because I know summer is coming.
I want to get some quilts finished so... yes so I can start some new ones. Well that is why we buy fabric. Ordered some of the new chipper collection from Tula Pink and it is gorgeous.
Pink and purple quilting
Sally

Third one

This is the third quilt made from squares from the "good fortune" jelly roll.
Now to get these quilted.
Windy quilting.

Before the freeze

The azaleas were so beautiful. I am sorry the freeze cut short their time of blooming.
Flowering quilting.

4 rows done

I decided to make 5 of the row by row patterns from last year to use as a summer hanging quilt. I just finished the 5th one but don't like the elephant one with the others so I will have to make up one. I have enjoyed doing the kits.
Just got some of tula pinks new line "chipper" and it is beautiful. The stripes are soft but colorful  and the flame pattern in purples is stunning. Quilt home had a 20%off until yestetday.  Now to find a pattern.
Windy quilting.
Sally

After Easter quiet time

There is no better time to be alive than experiencing Easter and Spring in the same week.  With the beautiful weather the flowering trees and bushes make everything beautiful.  I have a loropetalum bush in front of my sewing room window and it looks like a pink angora sweater on steroids.  The big five (azalea, camellia, gardenia, crape myrtle, and dogwood) have three of them blooming in the bed in the front yard and I even have a few marshmallow blooms on my japanese cherry tree.  The weather has just cooperated so well.
Yesterday worked on trimming half-square triangles for "Cotton Candy" quilt by Bonnie Hunter.  I have a few more string blocks to do then can begin putting the block together. Oh boy pinks, purples, and creams.  Pretty pretty.

The first picture is of the tulips in the new garth at church.  They were splendid. The next is the dogwood in front of the church.  The last is the tulip tree in my neighbor's yard.

All glorious.

Flowering quilting.

Sally

Lions and monkeys

Just finished the borders for this quilt for great nephew Dallas whose birthday is soon. Just love the hsppy brights and I think I have enough of focus fabric for a pillow.
What a glorious day to be alive. Did take some things to habitat and pull some vines from a hydrangea bush in the back yard.
Had to put seeds out for "red" the cardinal who calls to me in the mornings. Now to clean the hummer feeder. I know it will be time for them. I went to Lowe's for seeds for Goldfinch e's which is not cheap but they only had seeds in a sock! I have tried that with no success but will try it again.
This is rest time before the business of Easter week.
Faithful sewing.
Sally

On retreat

Just got started on this, another quilters cache block slightly altered. Had to cut fabric and it was getting late. Will save for another bee time. We had a great time. Stayed in the "bridge" suite at north myrtle Beach towers. There were 23 of us. Good food and good sewing.
Sunny sewing today.

On retreat

Another row by row from sew happy in clayton. Love the water fabric. Have to put in frame for aquarium before the little boy gets eaten.

On retreat

I love the elephants row by row 2015 from cary quilting. They are so creative. Just have to do embroidery for tails and legs.

On retreat

I had cut out pieces before leaving for retreat with quilt group from Sneads ferry so this was an easy put together. Love the sailboats.

Greek cross

This is a quilt using "quilters cache pattern Greek cross. If you rearrange the 9patch squares you get churn dash. I like the center square fabrics but not easy to match for borders and binding. Will try to get binding done tonight.
Sunset quilting.
Sally

Guild meeting.

The attendance was sparse last night. And it wasn't snowing or anything! These are Sudies dear Jane blocks. She said she is learning a lot. Terry and Ann are doing penny rugs and other woolie things. Makes me feel guilty for things bought and not done so I'm taking two kits of the patterns for row by row that I bought last year. Now I want to get out the wool ones.
Too much fabric not enoughtime.
Think I'll fix a chicken sandwich.
Hungry quilting.
S

Eggcelent breakfast

I will try to post this. Phone says it is looking for location
Annoying.  If I had known it was going to work I would have written more.  I just discovered the soft boiled egg with toast sticks for breakfast.  What fun.  The egg is truly wonderful.  It is its own bowl and trash can.  

change

I think in about 10 years if I am still on this earth and breathing I will not be able to turn on the computer.  I hate change for change sake or because 5 out of 50000 people would like to be able to do this or that on a computer.  I accepted Windows 10 but now I am getting messages that I have to register my windows in 17 days.,  Or what??? well it seems as if my programs will not be supported.
Maybe register is not the right word.  Things that worked last week don't work now.  It is past annoying.  I used to be able to post on my blog from my phone thanks to  my niece who helped me set it up at Thanksgiving.  I click on a picture send to blog and write then it is published.
Well that doesn't work now.  I used to make calendars to use for appointments monthly and put current pictures on them from my documents.  Well that doesn't work now.
I used to be able to send pictures from my phone to my computer.  You guessed it that does not work now.  And forget the help wizards.
I guess this just frees me up to quilt more.
Nothing wrong with that.
Had a good time shopping and eating in Raleigh and Chapel Hill today.
Scrappy quilting.
S

Alleitare

I just laid the blocks out at church. I don't have the room at home especially when they are set on point. I really like the colors.

Pics

Fronts

Not sure how to put two pics on same post so we will see. Sometimes the program will do it??
This is the front of the two bags. They are fun to do.

New projects

I saw this project on quilting arts and loved the idea. Bought some zippers and tried to get directions from Q.A. website but not happening. So just trial and error.  I  added a lining and I think since my strips were a little wider than those she used I would maybe fuse them first. Anyway I like them. I did not know what size hers were but I started with 7 inch squares. It took about 3 hours to make each one but I am slow.

Have finished the squares for BH and the pieced setting triangles. Was at the church on saturday so I could lay out the blocks. Found two with mistakes. What else is new?
Chilly quilting

Finally

I have just finished with clue 5 and could not resist putting together the two blocks
I really like the design and the colors. Can't wait to see it together.

On the way

I really love these blocks.  And they go together  so quickly.
Think I'll take a nap. Got some stuff out of attic for habitat and am exhausted.
Sunny quilting.