QUILTING ONCE AGAIN

I finally finished going through the closets, etc. and just need to make some time to price the yard sale items.
I got back to quilting and am excited to say I have pulled fabrics for about 10 children's quilts to donate.  I have 2 tops and backings ready for quilting and a third one is being worked on.  Once I get all 10 ready, I am going to try to load them onto the quilt frame and practice my FMQ, one right after another.  I think the repetitive action on loading them will help me to remember the steps without having to go back and forth with my notes all the time.  The designs aren't too fancy but it's a win-win situation where I can use up some of my fabrics and make a child happy.
I even finished up a wall hanging that just needed a few borders and quilted.  I will get photos but just didn't get there yet.

What a gorgeous day here in PA!  The breeze is blowing with no humidity and it screams for everyone to get outside and enjoy all that it offers.

TaDa for now - the birds are singing and calling for me to sit out there to enjoy.
Trish  

  

MIGHT NOT BE QUILTING BUT I AM GETTING THINGS DONE

I'm still not quilting yet this summer but have accomplished quite a bit since school let out.  I know I've put quilting first on the list but somehow I knew that it would come a bit later.  I am a list maker and have that need to cross things off as I go along.  Anyways, I am looking forward to a large yard sale later in July or August with piles of things I have gone through.  Most of the time it takes me longer to get through an area than I had planned.  I jotted down that the kitchen would only take me 2 days - ha! - about a week later I have cleaned out all the cupboards, china closet, tops of cupboards, etc.  I think there about 4 large boxes of stuff to sell.  The bedroom boxes take up another 4 or so boxes that has books, clothing, and this or that sitting around and that's just my stuff!  Hubby is going through his stuff before that yard sale happens.  Trash bags were also filled and put out.  Today I am finishing up going through the linen closet - pillowcases, sheets, blankets, shower curtains, beach towels - over the years they accumulate like little bunnies.   My daughter and I are also going through her accumulated things in the basement.  There will be enough to go through when I am gone that I don't need to add all this other stuff to their time of sorting and deciding what to do with it all. 
Oh dear - sounds like every closet is crammed and every room is full which is not the case.  When I add that I clean as I go - shampooing carpets, washing the windows, sewing new curtains - that all adds to the time I spend spiffing up the house. 

I have even added an extra day or two during the week that I go visit my Dad and help him with things, spent time outdoors helping hubby with the flower beds, sawing up an old boat, helping him build 2 new sets of steps to his large new strawberry planting area which has about 5 sections to it, and cleaned up a rather large area consisting of scrap metal and other junk he has removed from others properties.  He's not a junk man - but does help others when they ask him and seems to come home with a truck full when he says - oh, I can get rid of that for you.  So, you see, I do not have entire days where I can just get finished what I plan on finishing any day during the week.

Quilt Dreaming?  Yes, tomorrow I will quilt.  I need some time in my sanity room. 

TaDa,  Trish  

DAY ONE STARTS TOMORROW!

School's out and I have 86 days to get a lot accomplished before school starts up again.  I don't know how my last post was January - where did the winter and spring go?  I know I've said before I need to get off my duff and get more quilts made and some updating throughout the house, less computer time - etc. etc. but this time I am determined!
I have quilts to make, bedrooms to paint, things to go through, a computer desk to move out of a main area with the hope to not entice me to jump on.  I had to go back and put 'quilts to make' first - because that seems to happen after I get other things done.
Other news - son #2 graduated from college!  A 2nd interview for a job is today and looks promising which is good because he is looking at a home to purchase too.  Life is moving too fast.  Son #1 must be doing good because he hasn't moved back in yet which seems to be the case with many kids these days.  Daughter is moving on and making major changes in her life so whoever reads this, please say a prayer for her.  She still lives in North Carolina - too far from home - but thankfully keeps us in the loop as to her going-ons.
Stay tuned - I hope to have new photos of my new quilt projects soon!
TADA,
   Trish

CLOSING OUT 2015 WITH FINISHED PROJECTS

Lots of photos to show finally and time to work on posting them.  This is why:

 
23 inches and that's enough for awhile is all I can say.  School is closed tomorrow so I know where I will be - in The Cotton Patch (aka - the quilt room).  It seems the townships did a great job on the main roads but there are too many side roads that haven't been touched yet.  Works for me!!

Here is some eye candy from my recent projects.
         Jane's baby quilt made from a jelly roll

Since I had 3 more quilt tops made the same way and another baby girl (Zoe) I needed a quilt for, I took one of them and cut blocks out on the diagonal.  Forgot to take a photo of that whole quilt but I did get one of her name that I embroidered.  I stitched a different stitch between each fabric and it turned out really cool, even on the back.  See the lower left hand corner - that is where the design made a square in the center of 4 of the blocks put together.  Fortunately, the recipients mother is going to snap a photo for me for my quilt album.

Did I show this Star Squishy yet?  The blocks came from the mail from all over.

Here is a calendar towel pillow I made

(... and we are back to typing in the middle again)

15 different placemats for the local nursing home for one of our Guild projects,  They were all different and all came from panels I already had on hand. Here are a few of them.

Lots of table runners made for gifts.  Made 3 of the tree looking ones with the star in the middle.

and 4 Rag Quilts.  The 4th one was made from that snuggle flannel from Joann's and was not happy with how un-soft it was but since they were my one of my sisters favorite colors, she loved it and so it's hers. The first 3  were for one of my son's friends that he is close to.  

There you have it, what I have been busy with the past 2 months.  Thought you would like some eye candy.  

Think I will head downstairs tonight to decide what my 2016 projects will be. 

TaDa,  Trish 

PROJECTS GETTING COMPLETED

Autumn in full swing and soon Christmas will be here along with the winter snows.  Certainly, there are many places enjoying the warm days before we know what's coming eventually.

I am not making quilty gifts for Christmas this year which cuts down on 'what to make and for whom and what color, will they like it?'  I already have my work gifts bought, wrapped, and sitting under my desk so there is no chance of me having to carry them in if we get lots of snow in December.  I like to be prepared.  

I am almost finished with a baby quilt for a new little girl in the family.  I was happy when I got 4 small quilt tops made from 2 jelly rolls using the jelly roll race pattern where you just sew the strips together.  The first baby quilt I made, I just left the strips sewn side by side.  The other 3 tops sit there looking at me telling me to do something different with them.  The 2nd quilt top, I took my square ruler and cut 9 1/2" blocks out with the stripes at a diagonal.  Sewed all the blocks together with no sashing, put a pretty purple border on it and it's ready to quilt.  

I also am working on a Christmas quilt for a BFF.  Not a clue what to get her for her birthday and I have a wonderful snowman panel all ready just waiting for me to layer and quilt it.  I think I can have it finished within the next 2 weeks.

I got the 15 Autumn themed placemats finished for the local nursing home and I hope they enjoy them as much as I did while making them.  

I'll have photos next time I post here.  With a few days off at Thanksgiving, it gives me more time to play with that.  

Today I am off to clean up more leaves from my Dad's and I hope it's the last time I have to get the leaf sucker-upper out of the shed until next year. I know it's good exercise and good to get fresh air but I do enjoy some Sundays where I don't have to get all that good stuff going on for me.  

Off for the day.  
TaDa,     Trish  

A FIRE NEEDS TO BE LIT WITHIN ME

I've said it before - admiring others work isn't getting me anywhere.  And, yet, here I sit admiring. Where is that fire that is lit within others?  To create, to put mundane things aside to attend to doing what I do love to do.  I don't have a fear of failure, it's just material.  Really.  Where that came from, there is always more.  I do have quite a bit of it along with a beautiful room that my husband created to house it all in.  What good is it going to do sitting there until it gets sold or given away to others. Certainly, they won't feel the same way I did about it when I purchased it.  I take great pride in telling myself "I made that whole quilt from my stash, I didn't have to buy a thing".  Until I remind myself that I did buy it all previously and there it sits to use up.
I give myself pep speeches while at work that I WILL go to my room and sew that evening.  Before I know it, it is time to call it a day and get some rest for the next day - another day of the same with me not going to my room.
There are charity quilts to be made, mug rugs for Christmas, small birthday gifts, placemats for the seniors for Thanksgiving, an umpteen number of projects that include redwork, embroidery, crochet,   quilting.  There they sit.
I think I need to concentrate on one thing.  One idea.  There are too many peas in the pot.  Not knowing which to choose, I end up working on something with a deadline and then not enjoying the project as much as I should.  I am a list maker and it seems the list never diminishes which can be discouraging.  The list seems to grow because there are so many new patterns and ideas out there.
If I were talking to myself about me trying to find my 'fire', I have all kinds of advice.  I remind myself how blessed I am to have no health problems to hinder my attempts at getting things done. Also, everything I need is all in one room.  Perhaps if I just go and start, before I know it, a project will be finished.  So I really don't need a pep talk or advice.
In typing this out, it looks like I have been making excuses.  Which is ridiculous because I know that won't get me anywhere.   OH!  But, that's it!  They are excuses.  It's time for me to shake, rattle, and roll.  I know, I've said all that before.  But it really is, because life really is too short and once a day is gone, we can never get it back.  If I want to make a difference, I just need to keep on with the projects on the lists and perhaps, once the sparks begin to fly, I will find that something special that lights the fire.
Tada ~ Trish

WHAT WAS THAT? YOU WANT MORE PHOTOS?

Beautiful flowers in the front yard.  These are so soft, the cats are frequently found right inside the middle of them.

Lightening is the gray and white - 14 years old.

Jelly Bean is the darker calico - just about 3 years old.

Wallace is 11 and think he is king of the house. 

One of the long flower beds we tend.

Teyla is 6 and is a Daddy's girl.

A winter snowman quilted wall hanging.

My family.

My Dad (89) and us 3 girls.  Oh boy, do we ever have fun when we get together. My younger sister is at the top left.  There is me at the top right.  That leaves my older sister at the bottom right. 

That's if for today.  See ya soon!

Tada,   Trish