The only thing vaguely close to an election post from me.

I'm not sure where this originated, so I can't give the appropriate credit, but I received it from 2 different people today via email.

More Circle Lord Swirls

Here is another one of Alice's quilts that I worked on last night. This one will make one of her grandchildren very happy, I'm sure. I used Fairfield 80/20 batting and Orchid Permacore thread. The Circle Lord Swirls template looks just right for this quilt.

Halloween at the National Group

Every year we have a carving contest and I've actually won 1st place a couple times. I haven't carved a pumpkin in a couple years, but I do have my yo-yo pumpkin on my desk. Here are this year entries......which one is your favorite?



The last year that I participated, I used the carve-able foam pumpkins so that I could keep them. I have a little battery operated light that goes into the cats head and he will be on watching things on our porch tonight.

Happy Halloween

Last weekend while the kids were enjoying the water park, I was sitting in a beach chair making yo-yos.....lots and lots of yo-yos. I finished this little guy yesterday, just in time to take him to show and tell at Rossville Quilts last night. Dan took him outside today to hang out in the bushes and got a couple great shots.

Speaking of Rossville Quilts, they are having a Halloween Party tomorrow night and here's all the details:

Friday, October 31, from 6 PM to 9 PM come into the shop dressed in some type of costume (must be SOME type of costume - not normal everyday clothes!) and receive a treat from us! You'll get 25% OFF YOUR ENTIRE PURCHASE OF REGULAR PRICED FABRIC, NOTIONS, BOOKS, PATTERNS, EMBROIDERY SUPPLIES, ISACORD, EMBROIDERY PACKS, HOOPS AND MORE!! Now is the time to come in for that book you've been wanting! Stock up on fabric before the price increase goes into effect! A $25 gift card will be awarded to the Best and/or Most Original costume worn. Must be over 18 to participate! You're never too old to dress up for Halloween!

For those of you too far away to come and play or who don't have a costume we haven't forgotten about you - any internet orders placed on Friday, October 31, will be charged at $6.50 per yard. Cut goods and fat quarter bundles ordered on Friday, October 31 will be at 20% off. Fat quarters will be $1.75 each. Most orders will probably not be filled and shipped until Monday, November 3. Minimum order of $20.00 to receive special pricing please! Click here

Hope you can come and play!

A Blast-From-the-Past Pantograph

Stars and Loops
I haven't used this one in a very long time. It was one of the first ones I tried when I got my Gammill. I think it works just great for this wonky squares quilt that Alice made. Signature Island Waters thread on top and Chambray PermaCore in the bobbin and Fairfield 80/20 batting. This is the first time I have used the signature thread and it worked like a dream.





And the back:

The Trip to Chicago

I had a wonderful time with the Matt and Jessica this weekend. They really are well behaved and it was a such a treat for me. We didn't leave quite as early as planned due to a flat tire on Julie's car. Better hers than mine, huh? The good thing is that Jason lives just a few blocks from me and he came back over to rescue his sister and change her tire, after just dropping Jessica off here. Finally, we were on our way and made it to the Museum of Science and Industry without too much trouble. The favorite part of it for the kids was the Flight Simulator. There's a video camera inside and we were able to see them during their ride. They enjoyed the airplane also. Here's Matt posing for a shot on the plane.



The trip from the museum to our hotel - 38 miles - took about 2 hours. Bumper to bumper traffic for all but the last 15 minutes or so. How many times did I hear, "Are we there yet?" I have no idea, but a lot. Finally, we arrived at the hotel, got checked in and went upstairs to get dressed for the water park. Oh-oh, Jessica didn't have her bathing suit. She thought she packed it! I called the front desk to inquire about shopping locally and was told they have swimwear in the gift shop downstairs. So, down we go, to buy her the most expensive swim suit she has ever owned. But, after that long drive, I was happy to not have to get in the car and drive, who knows how far, to find a store and then, hmmmm, how many stores have swimsuits on their racks at this time of the year in Chicago?

Saturday morning we headed over to LegoLand. A nice place to visit with a walking tour and also a train ride tour. Of course, lots of Legos to purchase also.



Then we headed up to Wisconsin to the Jelly Belly Factory and the Mars Cheese Castle. We came home with lots of Belly Flops (irregular Jelly Bellys) and Cheese Curds.

Back to the water park for more fun and even the hot tub and a glass of Merlot for me. Then dinner again from the Pizza Hut/A&W which is located right inside the park.

Sunday morning bright and early we were up and on our way back downtown to the skydeck of the Sears Tower. After that we walked to Garrett's Popcorn shop to get some special ordered carmel corn for Julie.



The last stop was, of course, Fair Oaks farm to get some ice cream. The line inside for cones stretched the length of the building, so we bought a couple pints and headed for home.



It was a great weekend for me and I hope we made some lasting memories and that Matt and Jessica enjoyed their Fall break.

Stashbusting Report - 10/27/08

Fabric Added This Week - 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date - 101.125 yards


Fabric Used This Week - 3.25 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date - 364.375 yards

YEAR TO DATE NET TOTAL: 263.25


Well, I didn't use very much, but I didn't add anything either.

Roasted Peppers

Dan loves his Jalapenos! Need I say any more? He's planted 4-8 plants every year in the garden for several years now and has been pickling them for as long. He learned the hard way that he must wear gloves when slicing them, well actually, we both learned the hard way!!

A few days ago while catching up on blogs, I read about Gina's peppers and showed Dan the recipe. While I was at guild on Tuesday evening, he made some and they are in the fridge waiting to be tasted. He used green and red bell peppers and jalapenos and he posted the recipe on Wazoogle so that his friends might enjoy the recipe also. Thanks Gina!

The Last of Carole's Kaffe Quilts

I finished up the quilting on this one tonight using Rhapsody Pantograph by Jodie Beamish, Warm & Natural Batting and PermaCore Old Gold Thread. I just love this festive looking pantograph and I hope Carole does also.







Now, I have to get busy packing for the big weekend trip with grandchildren Matt and Jessica, who are both 12 years old. We are leaving bright and early tomorrow morning for Chicago and will visit the Museum of Science and Industry, maybe the Shedd Aquarium and Navy Pier. The hotel we are staying in is attached to the CoCo Key Water Resort, so I better take plenty of hand sewing to do while they are enjoying the water.

A short drive up to Wisconsin will take us to the Jelly Belly Warehouse/Outlet store for a tour and some Hodge-Podge and the Mars Cheese Castle to pick up plenty of Wisconsin Cheese Curds to take home-YUMMY.

The hotel does have wireless internet and I'm taking the laptop, so I may be posting some photos during our trip (if I have any spare time).

See you soon!

Old Tippecanoe Quilt Guild & UFO Finish

Our guild meeting last night included show-n-tell and I just love to see all the wonderful projects everyone has to show. There were antique quilts, wall hangings, a happy birthday banner, some really big quilts, cute baby quilts, a retreat mystery quilt, just to name a few. I worked on hand stitching the binding on this quilt during the meeting and got 3 sides finished and the fourth about half done. I finished the remaining stitching at home watching a hockey game in overtime with Dan. Hockey is one of his passions and he played until just a few years ago. If we had a rink closer than 60 miles away, I'm sure he would still be playing every week.

This is another UFO started this year and is the leftovers from Andrew's 1st birthday quilt. I will donate it to a local hospital for their NICU unit. This is my 4th 2008 UFO to finish meaning I'm halfway to achieving my goal of 8 finishes by 2009.

Just a few blocks

Last night I loaded a strip quilt and did a couple passes of the pantograph and then decided I better get caught up on a couple BOMs. I did these 2 of JudyLs Star BOM in no time flat and I think this is going to be a beautiful quilt when finished. I still have one more to do to catch up.





Then I tried to do my Rossville Quilts BOM and ran into a bit of trouble. I have sent them an email and will finish it tonight.

Stashbusting Report - 10/20/08

Fabric Added This Week - 5.5 yards (4.5 for Wedding 4PSP & 1 yd for guild fabric swap)
Fabric Added Year to Date - 101.125 yards


Fabric Used This Week - 15.5 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date - 361.125 yards

YEAR TO DATE NET TOTAL: 260


This months fabric swap is Fall Flannels and I had none of those, so had to buy for this one. I used 2.75 yards of the 4PSP fabric for the blocks and the rest will be used for the borders.

I really didn't want to pass 100 yards purchased, but didn't have any hawaiian looking fabric in my stash.

Quiltathon

This weekend was a Quiltathon with JudyL and I got in quite a bit of stitching. Yesterday afternoon I put together 48 4-Patch Stacked Posie blocks for the Hawaiian wedding quilt. I haven't decided what to use for the block border or the sashing. Her favorite color is red, so I'm thinking maybe light green 1/2 inch borders and deep red sashing, or that might be too much red, so how about medium green borders and creamy light peach for the sashing.



While watching the Colts/Packers game (GO PACKERS!), I finished the binding on the Apple Core Quilt. That one is another finish for my New Years Challange, 3 down and 5 to go by 2009.



Then back to Mabel to finish another Kaffe quilt of Carole's. I used my Circle Lord Featherz template for the blocks, did lots of SID, and beadboard in the outer borders.

Circle Lord Fan-Clam Template

Until last night I hadn't used the clam part of my Fan-Clam template. Carole's Very Hungry Caterpillar quilt for her grandson was the perfect one to try it on. I LOVE how it turned out and if you look at the clams on the diagonal, they kind of look like a caterpillar to me. I didn't time myself, but this one went very fast. Each advance included going left, right, left and right. I used Warm & Natural batting and Permacore White thread.





It went so quick that I decided to load a NICU sock monkey quilt. This one has Hobbs 80/20 and Permacore White thread.



And then I loaded this beautifully pieced pineapple baby quilt belonging to Katherine. A simple meander on this one and the news was on and it was time to turn in for the night. This also has Hobbs 80/20 and Permacore White thread.

Winter Pines

The workshop today with Kay Capps-Cross was terrific. I had a great time, although I got my pins taken away by Kay, and got caught cutting my strips with a rotary cutter and ruler instead of ripping them (-rebel that I am!). It sure seems like it hurts some of the fabric when you rip. If I have to cut off a 1/2 or even a 1/4" before I use it, then what's the purpose of ripping. I have been known to rip extra wide backing, when the ripped edge is going on the sides of the longarm.

Please leave me a comment and tell me: Do you rip?

Anyway, back to the workshop.....I finished 4 blocks and part of another one while there, and finished that 5th one when I got home from the gym tonight.



Not my best shot, but they wanted a photo of me with all my strips. That's how I sew so fast, I keep my strips handy.



More photos of todays workshop are here.

Kay Capps-Cross

Tonight our guild speaker was Kay Capps-Cross of CrossCuts, and did she have some yummy looking quilts. She makes them in color and then uses the same pattern to make them in black and white, which gives them a totally different look.

Tomorrow there is a workshop which I will be attending. We will be making the Winter Pines pattern with lots of black and white fabrics. I can't wait, as black and white is one of my favorite combinations.

Turning Twenty Photo Quilt

I forgot to show this one:


This one was finished and picked up on Sunday. I think maybe I used too many different purple families from my stash for my liking, however, a half hour after she picked it up the customer called to order another one, in black and whites, so I think she really liked it.

The Road Trip

Saturday's trip to the Valparaiso Quilt Show included a stop in Crown Point at Bits 'n Pieces. If you haven't been there and are in the area, it is a wonderful shop. They have the friendliest staff I've ever encountered.

Then we hit the Hobby Lobby in Merrilville and then on to the quilt show. It was a very nice show with some outstanding quilts. The next stop was Red Robin. I was good and had a salad, while the others enjoyed delicious looking burgers and steak fries. I did have a couple of those yummy onion rings from the tower.


Driving down I-65, I casually asked if anyone was interested in an ice cream or coffee. Yes's were heard from all seats and we made the stop at Fair Oaks Dairy. Here's the group after our ice cream.


While driving to my house from Tammy's, we were behind this little VW bug that had a windup thing on the back, that moved with the wind. CUTE AS CAN BE!

Stashbusting Report - 10/13/08

Fabric Added This Week - 2 yards (4 FQs for Row-by-Row & 2 remnants for I-Spy)
Fabric Added Year to Date - 95.625 yards


Fabric Used This Week - 9.625 yards
Fabric Used Year to Date - 345.625 yards

YEAR TO DATE NET TOTAL: 250

EDIT: Oops, I forgot to add a scrap bag I bought at Bits 'n Pieces in Crown Point. I have no idea how much is in there. I will have to open it and look

More Day Camp Finished

Here are all my Christmas cottages ready to be shipped out. I finished the last six at day camp. Wouldn't it be fun to do Easter cottages, too?



I also finished the last 4 of the stockings for soldiers, so I have 19 of these to send to Fran.



My daughter Julie and Andrew (along with Andrew's little brother or sister who will be here in January) came to visit me at day camp and he really liked the socks quilt. The lighting in the church was not camera friendly at all.

Day Camp and WOW---Exciting News!

Day camp was great today. I got a lot accomplished, including assembling my lost socks blocks.



The BIG news can be described by looking at these photos:
My son proposed last night to his girlfriend, Dané.
She said YES, and I couldn't be happier for them

Off to Day Camp

I'm all packed and ready to head out the door to a guild day camp for the day.


I'll leave you with a couple of photos of the loopy meander with butterflies I quilted on the Turning Twenty Photos Quilt last night.