Last Birthday Quilt of the year

Well, we've been through all of our birthday stitch days, so that must mean the end of the year is closing in on us fast.

This is today's efforts for Carol, who is seated in our group picture. Our dear friend, Ibby, wasn't able to join us today, but we still pieced all the blocks. You will notice that Carol was kind to us, and had half of them ready before she got here (the solid squares). The number bandied around was that each of us had about 25 blocks to do. I know I didn't do that many, so someone else picked up my burden, that's for sure.


The name of this pattern is Six Degrees, from Miss Rosie. Our groups group seems to like this company's patterns! It will finish around 77" square, but if I know Carol, it will be bigger than that when SHE is finished with it!

Born to Quilt

Yesterday was the big sale at Needle Nest. I hope I dressed appropriately.

If I leaned over just right as I was cutting fabric, you could see my entire "tattoo". It got a lot of laughs!

Today, I finished up one of the Gwen Marston retreat quilts. It ended up being 49" X 60" - far from the king size I had planned originally. I like the look of it, and I especially like the streak of lightening setting. I don't think I could have worked at it for an entire huge quilt, though. The colors are just not what makes my heart sing. This is destined for a lap throw in Hubby's office.

Time to Join

Every once in a while in my life's journey, I find some things that are just too good to pass by.

Take for instance, the Reader's Challenge blog. As most of you know, I am a voracious reader, reading into the wee hours of the morning; worrying more about what books I am taking on vacation than clothes, wondering if the 10 books by my bedside will be enough to get me through a holiday weekend with no stores open?

I usually read contemporary fiction, something with meat in it, lots of character development, and something that makes me think. Most of the time - which is not to say that I don't read pulp fiction. I do, but only if it is recommended by someone else I trust. I do read it, and mostly enjoy it, but sometimes I walk away thinking that I wasted time with the process. Just as I was going through these throes again, MsJan posted about the Readers Challenge. And of course, I went, I saw, I joined.

I am going to participate in the Pulitzer Project. The goal is to read all 81 Pulitzer award winning books. There's no time frame to read them all, but as you might guess, each year that goes by, there will be yet another to add to the list. What is surprising to me, is how many of them I have already read without even knowing it. In a few days, I am going to list them on Granny's Hands blog, so I can keep up with them. I will also list the 10 that I want to read in the next 10 months. Right now I am reading Gilead by Robinson and it was the prize winner in 2005.

I also joined the Paperback Book Swap Club, too. Free to join, and for only the cost of shipping you get a credit to use with anyone who has a book posted you want. Not only paperbacks, but hardbacks and CDs too. Pretty nice, I think. If you are interested, you can click through the link on my sidebar to check it out. Since I've joined, I've posted 39 books, shipped out 14, received 3 and have several more credits waiting for me to choose something. Of course, the somethings I will choose will be from the list I am going to make to read for the Reader's Challenge.

I also joined the Round Robin Bloggers. You can click through the logo that's on the right of my blog to see the 15 participants, if you'd like. I'll be one of 15 bloggers who will participate in a 15 month long round robin. The finished product will only be 9" X 13". Here's the results from another group who just completed this same type of round robin. I've chosen my theme - Garden Thyme, and I've made my block. Until it's safe to show it, I will wait to post it, but it will remind you of the surprise wind sculpture that hubby got for the garden last spring.

As promised in the last entry, here's my gift from Vicky (she's holding them). Aren't they perfect? The ice cream was tasty and the company inspiring as always!

And last, here's a unique way to use those antique buttons you have hiding in your stash. This is simply lining fabric constructed into a curved belt with a tab closure. All the buttons are sewn on, and voila! You are a fashion plate!

I'm Still Here!

My new car tag arrived, so I am now one "sweet granny!" LOL! I am still wondering where all the time has gone! I suffered from the same problem in my last entry, and I hope it will get better as time goes by!

I've been working Saturdays at the Needle Nest, and I also made them a blog spot, along with a monthly newsletter blog. I think this will work well for them, since their webmaster was so slow in getting things done for them. This is their anniversary sale week, and I expect Saturday to be a busy, busy, busy day!

My little basket quilt is next on board for finishing, as well as a Round Robin (that I can't show here) that is due to be finished at the end of the month, if not before. I managed to get the flip circles bordered AND quilted, but no picture. I'll try to add that soon.

Just so I can show you more great quilt pictures, here are some of the Amazing Quilt Babes at our last stitch Saturday. First is Ibby with her new quilt top completed in her new bedroom colors. She always chooses the most mellow colors. I love this one!

Next is Vicky and her soon-to-be grandson's quilt. I guess you know what the baby's name is, huh? I love this one, too!

And this last one is our group in front of Vicky's birthday quilt that we helped put together. Since no one was here to take the picture, I am the photographer and not in the picture! The Dresden plates were the ones shared from Ibby's birthday quilt that we all took home and made tops from, too. I think almost everyone is done, now - except Ibby's! LOL!

This Thursday night, we all have a date to exchange our summer gifts to each other. The rules were that we were to make something, and it shouldn't take more than 5 hours. We'll put them in a pile and draw a number for which one we get to choose - they will be wrapped so it won't be so easy. I'll show what I made and then what I received on Friday. The hardest thing about this? Our meeting is going to be the private room at Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Parlour!

Now, some pictures!

Thank you Blogger for allowing me to post some pictures!

I had a nice afternoon with my friend yesterday at a High Tea. This is the organization for whom we made the basket quilt last summer. It was auctioned off for $300.00, with a matching cash donation. Terrific! It was a lovely tea, despite the rain, rain, and more rain all afternoon.

Here's my new car! Isn't it a beauty? I've only driven it twice with the top up, but with the weather changing to rain, I think that practice will be stopping soon! LOL! It's also the first time that I've ever driven with the audio system on in any car I've owned and LOUD, too!!


This is the sweatshirt jacket I've made for the LQS where I teach and play sometimes. I love these jackets. Fran Morgan from Fabric Cafe has a really nice booklet out to help you make them a little nicer finished, and not so....welll...sweatshirt like!


And what's a picture from my home without some extra wildlife? If you drive south of my house about 1/4 mile, there are some small horse ranches/farms. Recently, we've seen more cattle on the grounds, and if you drive west about 1/2 mile, there are long horn steer there. Hmmmmm, wonder why? Our taxes are quite high, here, and in order to save tax money, these folks have gotten smart! If you graze cattle, then your property is agricultural! So here are the smallest of the ones that are out there. Another day, maybe the big bulls with the 5' horn span will be closer for a portrait!

Whew!

Where have I been?

Everywhere! I tell you everywhere!

First, I created a new blog for the LQS that I sometimes play (work) at, and that led to creating a calendar, and then setting up a second blog for their newsletter. It still needs work, but I think it's a good start!

While at the shop, one of the customers came in wanting to make a baby quilt for a teacher. She wanted 14 kindergarteners to help. This is what we designed - she completed, and will be gifted this next week. Isn't it great! Way to go Jeanette!


Then, I've gotten a new car. Or should I say that hubby got me a new car. Since I got it, I've driven everywhere with the top down, and I've put over 1,000 miles on it in about a month. For someone who doesn't really enjoy driving, this says a lot!

I've been working on some samples for classes at the shop, which include a "sophisticated" sweatshirt jacket from the Sensational Sweatshirt Secrets booklet from Fran Morgan (Fabric Cafe), and another flipped circles lap quilt. But, since blogger doesn't seem to want me to add any more pictures tonight, I'll have to add more tomorrow.

In the meantime, I am back at working on some charity quilts, and then this weekend, my friend and my basket quilt will be auctioned at a high tea.

Sorry it's been so long since the last blog. I really miss posting, and I know it won't take so long the next time!