Happy thanksgivibg

Such a great time with family. My brother, sister-in-law, and me.

Breaking down

I think cold weather is the time for things to break down or wear out.  R came over to light my gas logs for the first time this season.  He could not get them going.  I had just had the tank filled so it was not lack of fuel.  The logs are over 20 years old and probably half worn out and half rusted out.
OUch.  Then my printer started eating my paper.  It was only 2.5 years old but that is old in printer years I am told so it has been replaced.  Of course the cartridges I had bought recently don't fit the new printer. :-(
I have finished the dresden plate top for M except for finding some dark blue batik for the border.  It is already 90 by 108!!Yikes.  There will be plenty to tuck under the pillows.  We tried it on her bed and it looks beautiful.  Can't wait to see it finished.  The is a picture of how I had to lay out the blocks to sew it together so this is on my bed.  Hmmmmm kind of like the look.

The next picture is of the mystery quilt we did at the retreat in Virginia in September.  Have finished the top and just have to get it to quilter.  Well it seems as if it will have to stay sideways.  I have put on a red inner border and a different outer border but it blends well.

Finally but not least is a picture Ashlie took of me when I was allowed to hold Dallas and believe my he is a lapful.  Of course he is sweet and precious.

I am going through my stash to get ready for the first clue in BH mystery.  Yes I know but it is a challenge and I love doing it./  I need a fall quilt.!!!haha.

I like the grey but there is not enough.  Think I found a couple I like one on weresewcreative.com

so we will see.

Well I have spent enough time on this for tonight.  Time to watch Scorpion and Castle.

Chilly quilting.

Sally

What happened to October?

I have always been interested in the weather.  Probably the control part of me that says if I know what the weather is going to be, I can adjust with clothing, trips to town etc.  Anyway I am glad to see the sun and cool weather.  If I can stop making appointments at 8am then Cecil and I can stay in bed under the quilts longer.
Julia Child has always been a favorite personality of mine.  My sister worked for a tv station that carried her show I guess in the early 70's? and she wound up with a notebook of Julia's recipes.  The only one I make more than once is the Boeuf Bourguignon.  This is to say the following is a picture of flowers I had for a sharing supper with friends of the BB.  Pearls were optional.

The next picture is the quilt I made for my great nephew Dallas Pope.  This will be his first Christmas and he of course is so precious.  I hope he likes the animals.  This was a panel I got in Greenville at Hancock's about 3 or 4 years ago and did not think I would have a chance to give it to any one in the family.  Thanks Will and Ashley. The animals are all three dimensional and soft flannel.  Cute.

Speaking of Christmas.  If Starbucks which I love wants to disavow the religious side of the holiday why not make the cups blue? Why red? because of the bottom line.  I think they just want to walk the line.  Enuf said.

Happy sunny quilting.

Sally

waterlogged

I have not really minded the cooler rainy days except for the mayhem the soggy ground is causing and the traffic problems.  Having to stay in is like throwing that rabbit into the briar patch.
I had to replace my Samsung Note 3 and the worst thing is getting all the phone numbers etc in addition to losing all my pictures of Africa.  Also the replacement does not have capacity for sending pictures to my email as well as the camera is not as good.  Oh well.

I really like this picture from my back yard last fall.  Not sure if there will be color since so many leaves fell with rain.  I am worried about some of my trees.  Will try to get in touch with Mr. Custer.

Just love the looks of this quilt.  Maybe Pat can help me with the pattern for the setting blocks.  

Will try to keep this up better.  Cousin Art comes next weekend, we have bee to make up all the BOM patriotic quilts from the year on Saturday.  Busy time of year.

Rainy day quilting.

Sally

Cecil

It was with great sadness to hear about the death of Cecil the lion in Zimbabwe.  He and Jerico walked past our jeeps in the road on one of our safaris in May 2015.

The top picture is of Jerico and the bottom one of Cecil.  Our guides told us that Jerico was taking over the pride and had allowed Cecil to stay because of his age.  

I think the world has gone mad.

On a happier note, our guild sponsored a learn to quilt workshop for some middle school girls last week and they made two pillow cases and a small tied quilt.  We met at St Andrews Episcopal Church in Goldsboro from 1-4 for four days.  It was great fun and I hope we can do it again next summer.

Finally took my sewing machine for a check up and of course had to leave it so went to Southern Season.  It is a good thing I only go there once every two years!!! That place is dangerous to my bank account.  Did do some Christmas shopping.  That is my excuse and I am sticking to it.

Also stopped at Wish Upon a Quilt to redeem a coupon and pick up some Kaffe fabrics I had ordered.

I know it is not like I don't have enough of those.  Batiks were on sale for 7.99 and I had to resist those.

Guild last night was good.  Three new members and one returning to the fold.  Some beautiful quilts.

V and J told about their 5 day trip to see the shops on the Row by Row list from West Virginia to Tennessee to Virginia and North Carolina.  They went to over 45 shops.  What a wonderful time they had. V  won the prize for turning in her quilt to Bernina on Glenwood.  She had ten rows.  It was lovely. Marla did a demonstration on making a sewing apron.  It is nice with no open seams and a ruffle.  Will have to try that.

Time to get on with the day.

Summer quilting

Sally

quilting at home

It is so wonderful to be at home.  I am having a clear out and a sew up.  Trying to get rid of things I have not needed or used in 30 years and trying to finish projects.
One of the things I want to try to sell is this pie safe.

Another project is to get rid of the last few things in the upright freezer and defrost it and call Habitat.

It is usually less than half full and I can do without it.  Going to miss the ice cream.  

I just finished this quilt top for my brother for Christmas. It was a block of the month and I really liked the way the blues made the secondary pattern so I decided to make the whole quilt.

It will be on the way to Heather.  I am really getting frustrated with my phone camera or the program in windows which will not save pictures after I turn them.  Oh well.

I did finish two large quilts this winter.  The first is Bonnie Hunter's Smith Mountain Morning and the second is her mystery quilt "Grand Illusion" or as P says "Grand Delusion."

I love the Smith Mountain Morning.  I believe it is my favorite of all.  Grand Illusion is prettier hanging vertically than on the bed.  You just don't get the pattern when it is horizontal.

The next two pictures are the BOM for guild in red white and blue and the exchange block is in purple for the main color.

I am working on a dresden plate with irish chain in batiks for my friend M. I really like the blues.

Surprise.

I had better stop and get to work.  Cecil and I just went for a walk and he is sleeping it off.

Warm quilting.

Sally

Happy Freedom Day, and Happy Independence Day

This morning was beautiful, clear blue sky (at least for a while), breezy and cool.  Well that is at 6am.
I don't think I have had so many projects going at one time before.  I am starting my 6th year quilting and it is getting busier!!! So many projects, so much fabric and time just goes away.

This is a picture taken over half way through the golf tournament we have in Branch's memory to provide for scholarships for students at Rosewood who attend ECU.  It was hot. With me are my nephew Luke and his wife Joy.  We had fun. Did I mention it was hot?

I decided yesterday to get to work on our Fall exchange blocks and try to put them together.

I am constantly made aware of my shortcomings concerning technology but this just drives me crazy.
I have tried to fix this but it is the only way it wants to be.  It is what it is.
I am also working on a quilt for M.
This is the latest iteration.

Sorry you have to see the messy work area but I was afraid to try to make changes.

At least it is oriented correctly.

Well on to try to take stuff to Habitat Store.  Trying to clear out what does not bring me joy.

Of course that means the sewing rooms are off limits.!!

Independence quilting

Sally