Party!!

Monday night was my quilt guild's Christmas party.

We started the evening with a raffle drawing. We provided a quilt for Fisher's House to raffle off. I mentioned Fisher House in a past post but if you haven't heard of them, they are sort of Ronald McDonald Houses for the military. Places where family of injured military personnel can stay for free while their loved ones are hospitalized. The latest Fisher House to be dedicated was for the family of service members who have been killed in action. Frank said they sold 2100 tickets - most at 6 for $5 - so he figured they raised about $1,800. The quilt was won by a minister within our community.

Then we moved on to food! Most people's favorite part of any party. lol. It was a potluck and there were so many yummy items to choose from.

After that we had a brief business meeting - picked out the pattern for our raffle quilt for our next quilt show - Spring of 2012.

Then we moved on to the ornament exchange. This is the first year I've done the exchange - last year I had the flu and missed the party. I was a bit nervous because while I am a "comfortable" quilter (I'm a bit above novice but still have lots to learn) there are some ladies in my guild who make over the top gorgeous quilts and I was worried if my ornament would be good enough.

So here is my ornament:



It is not woven - some of the ladies saw it from a distance and thought it was. It's pieced with teeny tiny pieces. I don't think I'll be doing that again! Not that it was terribly hard, I just don't think I'd want to do it too often.

The way we exchanged ornaments was really cute. All were in plain brown paper bags and under a Christmas tree. Each of us picked a bag and then we stood in a circle. One lady who did not participate stood in the center. She asked questions - is your tree up and decorated? If so, you moved to the center of the circle and exchanged bags with someone else in the center. We did a few questions and mixed in there were times of pass your bag three times to the right, pass your bag five times to the left, etc. At the end each lady took out her ornament and showed it and said who made it.

There were a variety of methods used - cross stitch (a beautiful church in the trees), felted wool (a little elf), a snowman head made of a plain ornament with facial features drawn on and a hat added, embroidery. One lady brought in an ornament she had received in a similar exchange 27 years ago!

This is what I received:



It's not technically an ornament but it's very lovely - and filled with candy. I have been so good with no candy lately - these will go to the kids.

I've been making plans for the New Year. This can be rather dangerous. Last year I planned to make at least two quilts for my queen-size bed and I ended up needing to make almost a dozen baby quilts.

Next year I am hoping to make some quilts for our family. One for my bed - I'm doing the Project 360 BOM found here.

For over our fireplace, I'm hoping to do the Applewood Farms BOM series from this past year. You can still get these patterns for a small fee - info is here.

I do have a few UFOs I'd like to get finished. I have a Double Irish Chain and a fall applique top that need quilted. And I have a few blocks from some fabric I fell in love with and searched high and low for the perfect pattern for.

That should be enough to keep me busy for a while - at least until the 2011 BOMs start popping up all over the internet. lol.

Until next time, hugs and stitches. Jody

The "Two Hour" Bag

Did you ever buy one of those patterns that give a time frame for how long it should take to make it? Sort of like Eleanor Burns' Quilt In A Day projects?

I have been looking for a new bag for months. I found a free pattern for a Moda Bake Shop bag last year and made about a half dozen of them. A summery one, a fall one, a Halloween one, a Christmas one and a purple one (for my daughter). I made each one a little different. I have such trouble following a pattern. I can do it, I just don't want to. lol. None of the ones I made was actually exactly like the pattern. I love them, I was just ready for something new.

When Tasha and I went to Rockville in October for the quilt show, I stopped in the booth of Capital Quilts (I love this quilt shop and wish it was closer to home). They had a pattern for the cutest little bag and the perfect fabric to make it.

Because I every once in a while have a good idea - I made the first attempt at making the bag with fabric from my stash. Good thing too because I made a mistake that I can't seem to correct.

The second attempt, this one made with the Christmas fabric, turned out fabulous! The biggest thing was I found out when I made the first one that I would need to make a bigger size. There are four sizes and I thought the next to the smallest would be really good but it was a bit too small.

So here is the front:



and the back:



The pattern is The Two-Hour Tulip Purse - which took me about 4 hours. It's not complicated if you follow the directions. You can read more about it here.

I am so glad to finally finish it - especially since I'll have such a short time frame to actually use it. But I'm sure, as soon as I can find the time, I'll make another one to use after the holidays.

Thunder is not quite sure about the Christmas preparations around the house this year - he's spent most of his time hiding under my desk:



Until next time, hugs and stitches. Jody

Not A Moment Too Soon

I finally finished the quilt I was making for my first grandchild last weekend. I had given the top to Cassie at her shower and told her I would finish it before the baby was born.



I'm not thrilled with the quilting job I did on it. I'm still in the stages of straight line machine quilting. But it's done and the baby won't care.

And it wasn't a moment too soon because today our little sweetheart arrived.



Shianne Elizabeth arrived at 1 PM today. She's gorgeous and sure to change all our lives. Mom, baby and Dad are all tired but doing well. We have much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Until next time, hugs and stitches. Jody

A Sunday Surprise

So today we're sitting watching football and the front door opens and our oldest son comes in. A nice treat. So I loaded him up with things I picked up for the baby - who is now two weeks away from his/her anticipated debut.

One for his favorite football team:



And one just because I was at a quilt show and the focus fabric was just too cute to pass up:



I still have the horse quilt I gave Cassie at her shower - well the top I gave Cassie at her shower. And I have fabric to make a couple of quilts to keep here (because days that Cassie works that I don't, I will have the opportunity to watch the little darling).

So many quilts, so little time. sigh.

In case you'd like to come visit over the holidays, Thunder is waiting at the door for you - c'mon over.



Until next time, hugs and stitches. Jody

Baby Shower

Today Tasha and I went to a baby shower for my niece Tiffany. She's due a bit after Cassie so we'll be having two more babies added to the family in about a month or so.

Here's her quilt:



I didn't make this one specifically for her - it was just one of the ones I made when I found out there were going to be seven new babies that needed quilts this year. But it worked out beautifully because I saw a picture of her nursery set up and she was using Winnie the Pooh.

Thunder says Hi! - He figured since we had a party today, he should share the spirit.



Until next time, hugs and stitches. Jody

More Baby Quilts - and a Quilt Show

I'm finally finished with all the baby quilts except for the ones for my grandbaby coming in November.

This one is for our niece Amanda's little guy Caeden, who was born about a week ago.



This is the second one for the twins - who were born also about a week ago. Welcome Arianna and Jaylynn.



This morning Tasha and I packed up and headed towards DC for a quilt show. We went to the Nimble Fingers Quilters show in Rockville, Maryland.

Here are my picks for viewer's choice:

Small bed quilt:



I love the woven border on this one.

Large bed quilt:



Large wallhanging:



Small wallhanging:



This one won a ribbon in first time applique in the Hoffman Challenge and I think it's adorable:



And here are some of the others:














Until next time, Hugs and stitches. Jody

Baby Quilts

It seems that my quilting life lately has been spent on baby quilts. And the first ones are getting ready to fly out of my house.

The first one I have posted before but will show again in celebration of Lilliene Jade's arrival on Monday August 30th.



Congratulations to Jamie and Adrienne.

Today two more will leave. Baby has not arrived but the baby shower has.

The finished one:



And the top only:



I'll let the mom open it and then take it back with promises to have it quilted before baby's arrival in late November (should give me time to finish it. lol).

One more completed to show off now. This is for a young man I work with. He will become the father of twin girls before too much longer. This first one is finished - I have the second top done and just need to get it quilted.



Thunder would like to say his hello also before I leave:



It amazes me what this dog considers comfortable. lol.

Until next time, hugs and stitches. Jody

100 Posts!!

Woo Hoo! I have finally made it to 100 posts. Never thought it would happen. lol.

And I was beginning to think I'd never get anything done to post about. lol. The job has really kept me tired. I'm getting more hours which results in less time and energy to quilt. But we have to have a place to live and food to eat right?

There were a few accomplishments however. The first is the backing to the baby quilt I posted last time. I had forgotten to take pictures but here it is now.



This is the wallhanging for the bathroom. I did a bit of embellishment with sead beads. I love the look of beads on a quilt.



Another baby quilt finished. I have so many to make this year that I've just been working on them without any specific baby in mind. Except for this one. This one is for a young man I work with. Jamie and his girlfriend Adrienne will be blessed with a girl in about two months. I knew when I started this one it would be for Jamie's little girl.



And this final one was also made with a specific baby in mind - although I'm not revealing which one.



Now a return of Thunder. He's been absent for a while simply because I didn't have any new pictures of him but we had a bit of a cook-in for the 4th of July and I caught him begging for rib bones.



Until next time, hugs and stitches. Jody

Finally!!

Yes I finally finished something. And not just one something but two somethings.

At last count I think I'm up to needing quilts for eight babies. I have a number of tops finished and actually got two of them quilted this past week.

I have to say right off the top I couldn't have done these quilts without my dear friend Julie. When I said I needed half a dozen or so baby quilts she sent me a HUGE box of fabrics. Thanks Julie! Here is the first one I finished:



And this is the second. This quilt is soooo not me. I'm not big on bright colors but I have to say that as I was making this one I kept wondering if I had enough fabric that I could make it bigger and keep it for myself.



I completely forgot to take a picture of the back - I pieced it too. I guess that'll be for next time.

Two down, six more to go.

Until next time, hugs and stitches. Jody

A Charming Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day!

I did manage to do a bit of sewing today. The first thing I did was the president's block for my guild's outgoing president - and none too soon. I have to take it to the meeting tomorrow night - nothing like waiting until the last minute. lol. We were supposed to use a bright citrusy fabric so this is what I came up with:



The kit they handed out included some Thangles. I'm probably the last quilter on the face of the earth to use Thangles. They are wonderful! I'm sure I'm going to be using these again.

I almost finished my diningroom wallhanging. I still need to put a hanging sleeve on it.



Mother's Day is a hard holiday for me. My mom has been gone almost ten years. I can manage her birthday, Christmas and all the other holidays okay but Mother's Day frequently finds me falling apart. Mom was not big on jewelry. She mainly wore her wedding ring and that was all. For special occasions she had a charm bracelet. I have a charm necklace. Each charm represents something in my life. It's getting rather heavy so I don't wear it too often but I love it dearly. I can take it out and look at the charms and remember special times and special people.



These charms will be added today.

Last year we went to National Zoo in DC. One of the things we all were thrilled to see was an orangutan that was loose in the zoo. It played on the wires above the trees. It was such a lot of fun to watch.



Years and years ago Rodger and I used to play cards every weekend. We started here in PA with our best friends and my in-laws - Spades, May I and Pinochle were the favored games. We continued when we moved to NY where we mostly played Spades although we threw in some games of May I now and then.



And this one is a birthstone ring.



All in all - it's been a good day.

Hugs and stitches. Jody

A Trunk Show and A Quilt Show

Unfortunately most of the quilting in my life lately has been limited to looking at someone else's quilts. But beautiful quilts they were.

First was the trunk show. My quilt guild hosted Sue Paul. I can't remember laughing so hard in a long time. The quilts were beautiful and Sue has a wonderful sense of humor. She specializes in scrap quilts. I am not a scrap quilt lover. But she does a lot of what I call controlled scrappy - fabrics within a color family or a limited amount of different fabrics. I loved many of the quilts she brought. And I took lots of pictures. Too many to post here but here are a couple of my favorites:




The rest of the pictures I took can be seen on my webshots account by clicking here

This was a great week for my quilt guild. First the trunk show and then this weekend was our bi-annual quilt show. We had well over 200 quilts entered in the show and there were some really lovely quilts. Again, too many to show here but this was my pick for Viewer's Choice in the wallhanging category:



And my pick for Viewer's Choice in the full-size category:



The remainder of the pictures I took can be found here

I've been advised that I will need more baby quilts. I think now we have one in August, one in September (which I have learned will be a girl), two in October and two in November. I have two tops done so I'm well on the way.

Until next time, hugs and stitches. Jody