Dreaming of Houston Festival

Oh, how I wish I could be in Houston for the Quilt Festival.  I was lucky enough to attend about 5 or 6 years ago and it was wonderful!  So I've been surfing blogs to see any glimpse pics of Market and now Festival.  Now I'm anxious for shops to start receiving the new things.  I've called a couple of my LQS's today to see if they have the new book by Blackbird Designs.   They have a new book out called Garden Club.  The Country Sampler has some pics of a few of the projects in the book and I want it now!!  Yes, I'm always impatient when it comes to the Blackbird Gals.  Also, Congratulations to Barb and Alma, for winning the Best Booth Award this year.  They do some amazing things!

I have had my follow up appt from my appendectomy and got the green light to do normal things again.  However, Brett was out of school one day sick.  Then I came down with a bad stomach bug.  I was feeling a bit better, but tonight, it feels like I'm trying to take a back set of it.  Either way, while I've had to take it easy, I've been working on Doug's Cardigan Sweater.  Today, I completed the back of the sweater and am really pleased with myself to get this far.  Now tomorrow, I'll CO for the front.

I can't believe it is November!  Time is going by so fast now, it's scary.  Here is what Thomas and I walked to school the other morning to.

You should have heard all of the noise as we walked out the door.  All of these birds were in a couple of trees, as we were half way to school, they all took off.  It made me think of the movie 'The Birds'.  Pretty cool to see though.

Tummy Ache and Hospital

Hi Gang,

It's been an interesting weekend.  I had a tummy ache on Friday and Saturday, so I laid around in bed.  At midnight Saturday night, I couldn't get comfortable at all.  From about 12:30 am Sunday morning til about 5:30 am, I was in constant pain and woke Doug up.  We ended up going to the emergency room and I wound up in surgery for an appendectomy.  I just got home today, as they kept me overnight, due to already having an infection from it.  It hadn't burst yet, but they said within another 24 hours, it would have.  So I'll be resting up this week.  I'm not aloud to lift anything or bend, squat, etc.  I have to take it easy and do a little walking each day.  I just took a pain pill, so think I'll drift off to la la land for a bit.

Happy Quilting

More Stash

After we left Germany, we took a detour to TN to visit family for a couple of weeks.  Of course, I had to hit the shops there.  I had to go to Double Cross (cross stitching shop), but found out that they have sold the shop.  Not to worry though, the new owner has put the cross stitching in her Antique Shop, 3 Sisters.  So I can go look at cross stitch and check out some wonderful antiques at the same time.  The owner was working on a needle punch project by Brenda Gervais of With Thy Needle & Thread.  So I had to buy it, as well as another one that I have had my eye on.  She was working on the Boo-tiful Bouquet and it was gorgeous!  The Feather Your Nest pattern has caught my eye for awhile, so I thought I'd get it.  Now I haven't done much in the way of punch needle, but when you check out Brenda's designs it will make you want to learn.

Another one of my favorites is Stacy Nash.  I love her primitive and simple style.  She has lots of cross stitch patterns to make necessaries, and pin cushions.  I found a few more of hers that I didn't have.

My Mom and I took a day to shop together.  I took her to the cross stitch shop, as I knew she would love to check out the antiques.  Then we hit a couple of yarn shops.  I was showing her the newest Namaste Bag and she surprised me with buying it for me.  Gotta love those Mom's.  This is the Monroe.  I also bought a skein of yummy Malabrigo Sock Yarn.

I also bought some quilt books and charm packs in TN.  Then we left for Kansas and I added more quilt books and charm packs, and other things.  Here in Wichita, I have a nice cross stitch shop.  It's been a long time since I've lived in an area with a cross stitch shop around.  So this is exciting for me.  Heart's Desire is a wonderful shop and the ladies are really nice there.  Their walls are covered in stitched models and that makes you want to buy more.  I added more to my stitching stash there.

There are 4 quilt shops in Wichita, as well, as one in Derby.  Derby is just 15 minutes down the road.  So I have loads of quilt shops now.  After being in Germany for 4 years and not having any quilt shops around, this is wonderful!!!!  Not so much good for the ole' budget, but Doug knew that I would go a little crazy when we moved back to the States.

As you can see, I have lots to do now.  Not that I didn't have a thing to work with before.  But it's so much fun shopping in person again.

Kansas Shop Hop

Hi Everyone!  I've been MIA for a bit now with the move, but we are in Kansas and in the house.  We spent a month in billeting (on base) and after about 3 weeks to a month in the house, we finally got our final shipment on Tuesday.  That shipment was the things we had in storage from California.  There wasn't much that we couldn't do without in that shipment, except for my washer/dryer and the microwave.  I forgot what it was like to have to go to a laundromat, so I was getting very excited for this shipment to arrive.  Doug says that I've got to be the only woman to get excited over a washer and dryer.  LOL

We've got the boxes unpacked, but my sewing room still needs to be worked on.  I say sewing room, but it's in the unfinished basement.  There is lots of room though.  I still need to pull the sewing machine out and get it set up,  plus put a design wall up.

We got here in plenty of time for me to do the Central Kansas Quilt Shop Hop.  I took all 3 days to go to all 10 quilt shops.  After putting over 400 miles on my car and putting my Droid 2 to good use, I made it to all 10 shops.  I, also, found a couple of yarn shops along the way too.

Here is my stash for that 3 day weekend spree.  I was on the lookout for more Schnibbles patterns by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. plus Maggie Bonanomi's latest book Comfort Zone.  I picked up some layer cakes and some fabrics to go with the charm packs that I had bought before.  Those will go to make some Schnibbles patterns.  I also lucked up at one of the shops.  They had just received Jo Morton's latest fabric line, Annandale,  a couple of days before the Shop Hop.  They didn't have any bundles, so I just picked out fat quarters from what they had cut up already.  I love this line!   Can't wait to get back to my sewing room and start cutting into these fabrics.

I meant to post before now, but have been dealing with more fibromyalgia flare ups since our move here.    I have a dr's appt set up for next week to see if I need to change my meds.  I'm hoping we can get it figured out why I'm having more flare ups now and having more pain in general.  After doing the shop hop for 3 days, I was down all of last week.  There is a Yarn Shop Hop coming up at the end of the month, and I'm trying to decide if I want to tackle it or not, after seeing how the quilt shop hop took it out of me.

I have more things to share of my shopping experiences since being back in the States, but I'll save that for another post.  It's good to be back in the blogging world again.

Transition time

Hi everyone,  I know it's been awhile since I've blogged.   Blogging has been put on the back burner since we are moving.  We are in transition now and have left Germany.  Right now we are visiting family in TN, where it is very hot and humid!  Eek!  We've been here a week already and I'm still jet lagged.  Getting things done and the house cleaned, then turned back over to housing....the flight back to the States and having to sit at the airport for 4 hours after our flight waiting on our pets.  Then the drive from Atlanta to TN, has worn me out!  We leave on Sunday for the drive to Kansas, so not sure how long after that it will be before we have internet, or a house.  I'm sure I'll go into withdrawals with not internet, but hopefully, things will go smoothly and quickly.

I'm so ready to get back to my projects and can't wait for my sewing machine and stash to arrive.  It feels like it has been so long since I've done anything crafty and it's calling to me now.  I have done a little shopping here in TN.  Got some quilt books and some Moda charm packs.  I will have to take a pic of my new stash and post soon.  I've been looking for some more of the Schnibbles patterns here, but haven't had much luck...Maybe in Kansas.  I'll be back to blogging once we are settled.  Hope you all will join in with me again then.

We're off to Kansas!

I know I have been a bad blogger lately.  With a move coming up and time not slowing down, I've been otherwise, occupied.  We finally found out this morning where we are going to be moving to.  We will be moving to McConnell AFB, Kansas.  It is near Wichita, Kansas.  I haven't found out much about the base or the area yet, so if anyone lives near there, let me know.  I'm hoping for some quilting, stitching, rug hooking and knitting shops in the area.  You know, I don't need much, just those important places.  LOL  Like I don't have a shop with all of my stash, already.  But you know, it's nice to have shops to go to for inspiration.

School has only 7 more weeks to go here.   My oldest, Brett, has a band concert tomorrow night.  We just got the dog and cat fixed, and the dog has to go back to get his stitches out.  I just found out that my youngest, Thomas, needs another shot (haven't told him this yet).  He's a trooper though, with shots.  It seems like life is catching up to me at the moment without the move in the midst.

I'm, anxiously, awaiting for new things to come out at market.  I just saw Blackbird Designs new book, Country Inn,  for pre-order.  I have to have it and I've been waiting to see pics.  I can't wait to see what all of the other designers have coming out for us.  Like I need new projects.  Since I will be getting things ready for packing/moving, I'll have to live through you all for awhile.  I have the new Schnibbles book coming to me and can't wait for it to arrive.  I just got in some charm sets for some projects from the book.  Not sure I'll get to work on them before moving, but it's fun to dream about them.

I'm off to see if I can find out anything about Kansas, until next time, Happy Stitching, Quilting, Rug Hooking, and Knitting!

Does anyone hand applique anymore?

I used to do a lot of hand applique a few years ago.  That is about all that I did, as far as quilting goes.  I had a yahoo group for Primitive Folk Art Applique as well.  I really enjoyed having that group and sharing my love of applique with others.   I no longer have that group, as there were some problems in the background and I found that I couldn't deal with it anymore.  During the last year of owning the group, I also started doing machine applique, just to keep up with everyone.  After awhile, it just didn't bring me the joy that appliqueing used to.  I always enjoyed hand work and found it relaxing.  I think, now that I look back, that trying to get so many quilts done along with others, just isn't what I want to do.  I want to get back to the basics and enjoyment of the process of hand applique.  It might take me years to complete quilts, but I would enjoy making the quilt more.

I have some fabrics that I bought to do some projects from Blackbird Designs book, 'When the Cold Wind Blows'.  I've been trying to decide on whether to do it by hand or machine.  I think I've finally come to the conclusion that hand is the way to go for me.  Since we will be moving this year, I'm going to start cutting them out and getting them ready for hand work while sitting outside this summer and also for traveling.

The first pic is of Winter Garden.  I have the fabrics all ready to go for it.  It's a large quilt and each block is cut 28 1/2".  That is big!  If anyone has any tips for cutting out such a large background block, please let me know.  This next pic is of a wallhanging in the same book.  It's called Frost on the Ferns.

There is also another quilt in this book that I would love to do.  I don't have a pic of it taken yet, but I have pulled fabrics from my stash.  It's a Christmas quilt and it's called Holly and Mistletoe.  I realized this past Christmas that I don't have any quilts for Christmas, so I may have to start this one too.  It's got some applique blocks and lots of pieced blocks.

I haven't been able to do too much this past weekend, as I had a major flare up of Fibromyalgia.  It's still giving me problems today, but I'm hoping it will subside soon.  It's been in my fingers and hands a lot this weekend, so not doing any hand work.  Just taking it easy and watching 'Ghost Hunters' dvd.

Have I been away for a month?

I didn't realize it's been a month since I've posted.  This has been a stressful month for us here, so I haven't really felt like saying much.  We have been in the military for almost 22 years now and had planned on being in for 26 years.  It seems the military just made some changes and now we have to retire at 24 years.  So we now have a little over 2 years left in the service before we retire.  That still gives us some time to plan some more, but we had put in an extension to stay in Germany for another year.  With that extension in place, we would have had less than a year left when we leave Germany.  Unfortunately, the military won't move you, unless you have a year left.  So we've been worried that we would be here til we retire.  DH has been on the phone, trying to figure out what we can do with all of these changes that have been thrown on us.  Luckily, we just found out that we got our extension canceled and will be leaving here this year.  We have a weight lifted off our shoulders now that we have an idea of what's happening.  We still won't know where we will go next until probably in April.  We are hoping for SouthEast, as we are originally from TN and would like to be near home as we get closer to retirement.  

I'm going to be spending some time working on the house and getting rid of things that we don't want to take with us.  Plus start doing some of the cleaning, etc.  Sort of like a Spring Cleaning.  I've got loads of quilt books and things that I want to list to sell and lots of things that we don't want to take with us.  Sort of like, if you don't love it and it doesn't bring you happiness, lose it.  *S*  

I've also been thinking about my projects and what I might want to work on this year.  I will post about that in another post, hopefully, with pics too.  I just wanted to let everyone know what's been up with me.  

A Finish, A Start and A UFO

Finally, a finish!  Yea!  Those are few and far between for me.  I always seem to have trouble doing the finishing on any project that I start.  I can get the quilt tops done, but not quilted.  Once they are quilted (I have 3 quilted tops that my friend Mary of Quilt Hollow quilted), I have trouble getting the binding sewn on.  I have multiple cross stitched pieces ready to frame and rugs to be bound.  How do you get to that last little thing to get them completed?  This I have to work on.  So I completed my snowman hooked rug.  I got my yarn out and whipped the binding edge and it's done.

I've been seeing so many blogs with Schibbles patterns by Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. and they look like so much fun.  My friend, Mary, sent me one of the patterns to get me started.  I had some charm sqaures already and found a set that I had double of.  So I started the Hot Cross Buns Schnibbles pattern.  It's been fun!  

Above, I have them laid out ready to sew the blocks together for the center.  I've been working on it this morning and have my center sewn together now.  Just started cutting out the borders now.  One tip, don't bother with washing those charms.  I've had these charms for so long and I made the mistake of washing them when I first got them.  Now I'm scrambling with some of them to make sure that I can get what I need out of them since they shrank a bit.  Lesson Learned!  I can't wait to get some more Schnibbles patterns and some more charms.  This is quick and fun!

As for my UFO, since I was cutting strips out of stash, I pulled a tote down that had some cut already.  This happened to be pieces that I had cut for a scrap basket quilt out of one of Blackbird Designs books. So I started sewing them together.  I have the 4 patches done, which are a start of the basket block.  I'll share more of them as they grown.

Just look at those scissors with my 4 patches.  I just got those in and love them!  I've seen them on lots of cross stitch patterns by Stacy Nash and always wanted a pair.  I was searching around on primitive websites and came across these.  I just had to order right away.  Aren't they adorable!

Happy Quilting!

New Year, New Stash, New Printer

Happy New Year!  I can't believe we are already in 2010!  Time just seems to be flying these days.  Well, I hope to get more things done this year than I did last year.  I don't have much to show for this past year, as I was in a slump with my hobbies.  Now that I'm back in the saddle again, I've been playing in my sewing room a bit.  I had to organize it again and get things out of it, as it became a catch all this past year.  I've got my cutting table all cleared off and started cutting strips.  I pulled a book out by Kim Diehl and decided on what size strips to cut.  So my drawers are almost full with strips.  I started out cleaning out my scrap basket and then went to my stash.  I decided to take the smaller pieces and some that had been in my stash for awhile and cut into strips.

Since it's been so long since I have had any new fabric stash, I ordered some.  It's here and it's gorgeous! It's Jo Morton fabric.  I pulled out some UFO's and one of them is a Jo Morton pattern.  I almost cut some of my Jo Morton fabric up for strips, but then realized that I needed some of it for a UFO that I had started.  Well, I didn't pull the fabrics that I had used so far out and put with it, so now I'm a bit low a couple of colors.  That is what the reds are in this pic, but not sure if they will be the right color of reds to go with the older Jo Morton fabric that I used.  I may just take the one applique block that I have done and make it into a wall hanging.

Another new thing I got is a new printer.  I've been wanting a wireless printer for awhile now and I decided it was time.  I loved my other printer, but can't find the ink on base here.  I found it downtown, but with the Euro to Dollar exchange rate, it was too much.  I just got it set up and printed some things out today.