November Begins

This was my morning chore today.

  I retied and bundled all the quilts that Pat J. brought to my house on Saturday.  Then I moved them all to one of the bedrooms.    

We have 48 quilts, 30 pillowcases and several bags of magazines to take to the VA Hospital next week. 

We  have a big family party planned for this weekend to celebrate all the fall birthdays.

  I'm making enchiladas, New Mexico style!  One of my dearest friends, Vera Campbell, was from Gallup and I always use her recipe.  The whole family loves them.

They will provide everything else.

We had our first frost early Monday morning.  So I coved my porch plants - still out on the lawn - but we are expecting two more nights in the 20's before the weekend so I may have take them out to the man cave for the winter.  Or I may chance the weather to enjoy them out here awhile longer.

This pepper plant is so handsome I may try to save seeds from it.  I took some cuttings from my favorite begonia too.  I keep telling myself it's time for them to have their winter rest but......

Now it's up to the Sasanquas to hold down the fort for awhile.

Crafty Halloween Thursday

 I bought some Indian corn a few weeks ago before I went on vacation.

  I went to Joanns on Tuesday and got a wreath and a new glue gun because I have no idea where mine is.

Today - Looks like I need more Indian corn - hope they still have some at the grocery store where I got mine.

Making progress 

Well that looks pretty blah - so back on the table to try adding flowers (no),

leaves (no), greenery (no)!  I have crow somewhere that I got at my sister's that I think would be good  - but alas - I can't find it.  

This calls for a trip to Michaels  -  most of the fall decor is long gone but they do have a shelf with 70% off items.  I found a painted pumpkin sign.  Ran into a friend and asked her advice. She suggested the initial idea - thanks Elaine.

I like it too!

 Brought it inside for tonight as it is quilts windy and we may have storms later in the evening.

Happy Halloween!

Churn Dash Finished - - - almost!

Started it back in February 2016.  And after many indecisions and changes it is good to call it almost finished.  I got it back from the quilter (Carol Gates - Running Stitches) a couple of weeks ago.  I trimmed it and sewed on the binding Thursday.  It is 90 by 90" and now all I have to do is make a label and sew down the binding.  Not my forte - but I'm calling it done - almost.

I showed it at the Bee on Saturday

the back

the quilting

We had a very nice Bee Meeting today - what a lot of show and tell - lots of inspiring quilts! 
 Two new talented visitors and one members grand daughters came by for a bit to show us the sewing they had been doing this summer with their grand mother. Lots of quilt talk - food and fun. 

Variegated Double Nine Patch

The variegated double nine patch blocks (all 121 of them) are completely sewn together into a top and pressed.  It is 99 by 99".  And it's hard to believe but I resisted using red as a major color in this quilt.  It was hard for me as red is my go to color.

I am leaving it on the top of one of the spare beds until I come back from vacation and have time to make a backing.  It is hard to get a good picture of the design - it shows up better at a distance,

I have the aqua/turquoise and plum/red violet blocks arranged in diamonds.

 

So so hot and dry lately - keeping the porch plants happy is a daily watering chore.

 But they say thanks with greetings of cheery blossoms now and again!

Cat Collage Quilt Finished

I took a collage class at Ladybug in March 2018. 

 I used this Laura Heine pattern kit that I purchased online. 

The kit did include a background fabric which I really didn't care for.  

I had planned all along to use a light turquoise background but then I was inspired by the background appliqués to use blacks and whites.

  It will be fitting for the future owner as she is a sewing gal.

  

Had trouble with the layers and layers when I was quilting. 

 Gummed up needles - even though I used steam a seam lite. 

 Plus I'm pretty rusty quilting on the DMS.  It's 32 by 34" and after I finished the binding and label - I'll gift it to someone who just bought their first home.

Catching up - September

Double Nine Patch blocks that I sewed back in June 2018 are in the process of being sewn into  a large quilt top.  They are nine inch blocks and I don't know why I made so many - I guess it's like potato chips - you can't stop.  Anyway 121 blocks - 99 by 99".  A few more rows to finish.

When I was down in Wilmington - I sewed on these little "H" blocks.  When I got back home I wanted to see where I was with this.  54 x 54"

A Pinterest Block - 18"

And Cowboy Candy -

 A recipe I've seen allover You Tube. 

I haven't made pickled anything in a few years.

Kathy and I sampled last Sunday - HOT!!!!

That's it - caught up. 

 I truly do not know how vloggers manage to crank out videos every day or two.

I think I need a glass of liquid refreshment 

and now that they say it keeps alzheimer's at bay  - all the more reason. 

 Cheers!

Catching Up - August

 Most of my August sewing was concentrated on things for our craft booth  for our church's Community Day.  We had a successful day and lots of work and fun too.  

All the money we raised was dedicated to be turned back to good causes in our local community.  

I was fortunate to be able to attend my great niece's wedding  in Reno, NV  in late August.

We had a wonderful time there.  Lots of John's family that I hadn't seen in awhile.

In was held outside in the late afternoon, on the Elm Estate. Lots of parties and family fun.

John's sister, Joyce and I were escorted and seated as honored guests.

We spent lots of our unscheduled time hanging out at one of the pools at the Peppermill or

eating breakfast of ice cream on waffles (me)

crazy big Mexican-omelet  things (Vince)

or something kinda - healthy like avocado toast (Shelly)

Katie and Mark are married - and we are all so happy for them and wish them nothing but the best!

Really, Truly finished

After 11 years it should be!  Even though I had to force myself to watch more episodes of Yellowstone - instead of going out in the rain to do errands yesterday, I finished the binding and it even has a label.

I have mixed feelings about Yellowstone ( I know - it's my choice that I'm watching it) The amount of violence bothers me  - and it is a tv drama - but I really enjoy the cowboy characters

I think I used five different fabrics on the back.  

I must have been in one of my use up what you have modes at the time. 

Need to switch back to sewing on my projects for our Community Day Craft sale at church.

I have about 40 more dog bandanas to finish up.  We have a work night scheduled this week, so it's sew, sew, sew for me!

Indian Beads Finished

So glad to have this finished and ready to be gifted.

As usual, I found some leftover blocks to add to the back.

Will store it on this bed until I it get ready to go to it's new home!

Quilting X 3

The following are three donation quilts that I quilted and bound this week.  They will go to Pine Tree Quilters for their use in September.   

 I made all the blocks for the quilt above.

I won these blocks in the block party group last fall.

The block is called cotton candy.

  

I won most of the blocks for this quilt also - I made a couple extra so that each quilt would be 

48 x48" I varied the setting a bit in this one.

Finally a picture of my begonia that I over wintered, almost did in and then revived to a beautiful plant that greets me each time I open my side door.  I had it on the back porch last year.  It's a little messy there as the blossoms shedd a lot.  

Double Nine Patch

 Started in 2009 - I finished quilting this quilt.  I will trim it and hopefully find the avocado Kona fabric that matches the inner border.  I plan to use it for the binding.  I keep my solid fabrics together( fingers crossed)

I have noticed this truck behind the old country store/gas station/ATM machine.  I stop there now and then to use the ATM.  It is at a very busy crossroads.

As I was coming home from visiting a friend the other evening, I pulled into their back drive to get a picture.  They have planted flowers in the back end also a sweet potato vine under the hood.

The store is known as Barnes Store - so I guess by the writing on the door that this truck served the store at one time. 

Always makes me happy to see something like this,