a smile

A smile increases face value.
- sign in a London shop

a stitch in time -(updated) -

Since my original post on this topic, I have met with my quilting friends and have a few other Mid Mad quilts to show. This one above was done up in Kaffe Fassett fabrics by our very own teacher.

I am sorry I did not get them to hold this one up.. it is a gorgeous quilt! This one is also made using the Mid Mad quilt pattern, I still don't know the real name for this pattern, but plan to get it! This one was made by Anne, another lovely lady in our quilting group.

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A few of the beauties that I have completed this past year...

These next 3 quilts including the one up above were made using the pattern that we were introduced to at our annual 'Midnight Madness' which was held our teachers home. I do not remember the name of this pattern, but it is like a square in a square. I love this quilt. As you can see it was an easy one to make as I have made a total of 4 of these. A couple of the ones I made using this pattern are baby size quilts and a couple toddler size. The one up above was the one I started the night of Midnight Madness, it is one of my favorites.

This one was done in the Aunt Grace fabric's and has been finished and currently hangs on one of our quilt racks here at home. One day it may go to granddaughter or it may end up with us forever just being snuggled under by the grands when they visit. OH, I can dream can't I!

The blue beauty... I finished this one and gifted a sweet friend with it for their newest addition to their family.

Doesn't this one look delicious, like you could just eat it! As I neared finishing this quilt, my BFF asked me who it was for and I told her some one's baby. I didn't have a recipient in mind just yet, it was just a sweet finished baby quilt. She informed me that she NEVER had a baby quilt, so guess who this went out to? There is no way she could continue on in life without ever having received a baby quilt.

This year we made several quilts using some of Deb Tucker's rulers. These two are both made using her Hunter's Star Ruler. Many of the ladies in our class made this very quilt. Deb also has a petite Hunters Star Ruler, which is just beautiful as well. You can find more information out about Deb Tucker by clicking HERE. The quilt above was finished and given to my sons principal this past summer.

I completed this one May a year ago, for my father-in-love. This is backed in flannel and has a great masculine feel to it. This was made using Deb Tucker's Hunter Star Ruler as well.

This past year has been one of the most productive "quilting" years to date. I have had times when sewing came with much ease and then other times in the past year where I had to seek out the time for sewing. I know I have sung her praises before, but I am so grateful for my quilting teacher and her willingness to continue teaching a bit longer, thanks again Wendie!

I am currently working on a charm pack quilt, which I shouldn't have started since I have so many other fires going. The other "fires" include two kaleidoscope quilts that desperately need my attention so they can get finished. Hmmm lets see, Oh, then I have 4 quilt tops that need to be set in and quilted. I do hope this sounds like a familiar story to you fellow quilters.

I hope you enjoy looking at my interpretation of colors in each of my quilts. I have been sitting in my sewing room a bit the past few days but cannot seem to get myself motivated to sew, it sure isn't for the lack of things to do.

the eleventh hour

Here I am starting to applique the basket in the center of the block. I love my Janome 6600!

Pretty! Now for the leaves...

To put the final touch on, I will hand stitch two yo's yo's on as flowers near the leaves.

Eleventh hour = Latest possible hour that you can do something

(by the way.. did you know this "saying" comes from the book of Matthew 20: 2-16)

The eleventh hour, that would be when I finished a project that has to be ready by early morning. The quilt group that I belong to does not meet on a regular weekly basis in the summer and fall months but rather once a month through November. Our August monthly meeting is tomorrow morning (Thursday). Our class starts to meet regularly in January, so last summer we started what we call "Pass The Bag Quilt". Get a peek of what I was working on at the eleventh hour and stay tuned for how the "Pass The Bag Quilt" project has worked in our group.

cowboy quilt round up!

Aren't these fabric choices just darling? This quilt was made by a lovely mother for her little cowboy. She did a great job picking out fun fabrics with a cowboy theme and feel. I was commissioned to set in and machine quilt this project for her. She chose a pattern similar to the "Turning Twenty" and I thought stitch-in-the-ditch quilting (SITD) would work well with this pattern. So I selected a decorative stitch and finally got busy.
I picked up the finished top sometime in mid-May knowing that it would be some time before I could get to it. Due to some unplanned travels I have gotten a bit behind my planned finish date, but I am almost ready to cross the finish line! The young lady who I am doing the work for is anxious to get this back so she can put the finishing touches on her little boys room.

snow in august?

As I sat near the window with a chill on this morning, I took these beautiful pictures of last nights snow fall! OK, so I didn't take them this morning and I didn't have a chill. Last night when I was looking at pictures that were taken over this past year these just made me long for some cooler weather. On a hot day like today, I whole heartily welcome a snow covered lawn! Surely as the sun shines the cooler days of fall will be upon us.

Speaking of the fall, yesterday I took a trip out to a great little shop, Just Country NC that always has something desirous to claim as my own. I say a trip, because it is quite a drive from home but well worth it. I have to use some self control and remember that I need to um.. pay the mortgage, and buy groceries and various other things. When I do have some extra spending money, this is one of my favorite places to visit. I know they will always have a delicious scent or two for my tart burner and possibly a sprig of this or that with a fall twist for one of my fall vases. Enjoy the rest of your summer!

happy birthday dear mother-in-love

Today is my husbands' mother's birthday!

Happy Birthday to you, Mom!

You know, I have always been a bit bothered by the term used to identify your family members by marriage (by law), in-laws or perhaps it is really the negative connotations that usually come with the identifier -"in laws". I do understand that one becomes family by law , but they also become family members because of love. With this in mind, I call my "in-laws", "in-loves". My mother-in-love has really always been a gift to me। From the beginning I was welcomed with open arms and a heart full of love - before she really even knew me. This always really amazed me. It isn't as if I wasn't worthy of love or even that I did things to repel her love, but it just always came unconditionally and still does. She is one of those mothers who fully gave their son away on his wedding day. I am so grateful that she trusted God in that, I was good enough for her son. Far too many folks are suffering with pain due to mothers not being able to let go of their sons upon their marriage. I have been married to her son for 23 years now and as one can imagine our relationship has had some ups and downs, but so has my marriage. That is part of developing a relationship isn't it? Over the years we have had some really great times together and I pray I have been as much a blessing to her as she has been to me. Happy Birthday Mom! I love you.