Quilt tops I want to finish in the year... 2010

Picture 1 is me holding the retreat project from 2007. Peg Dunayer taught this class. She's great! Picture 2 is an applique butterfly quilt I stared maybe 3 years ago or more. It's all put together now, but needs a border and quilted. Picture 3 is the mystery from Retreat 08. I love the fall colors. I put a temporary backing on it to hang it in the museum for our guild show, but it's time to take it off and quilt it for real. Picture 4 is the Puzzler that we did at Sassy Seamers Bee in 2007, I think. Picture 5 is Gingerbread Joy that we started the beginning of 2008 and I finished it in December, 09. Joy comes in the Morning!

Plus, I have a Rooster Quilt that is ready to quilt, a sampler that just needs a block or two and will be ready to put together and quilt, and a bunch of crazy quilt blocks that I want to put together, but I haven't figure out the layout for it yet (can someone say backburner?).

Come on, now. I got a quilting machine 8 months ago and I've still got all of these and some charity quilts to get quilted. That's my goal for this year... besides all the projects I'll start! I still have a mystery from a class Jan taught to finish... barely started it. And of course that will go on my ... gotta get it quilted list, too. Plus... we're starting a new BOM in Sassy Seamers that I'm anxious to work on. 2010 is going to be SEW busy!

Been Too Long...

Since last post....

Finished up my UFO project, "Joy Comes in the Morning", the Gingerbread Joy pattern and other quilting and sewing projects.
















Worked with Christy for our church craft sale doing lots of machine embroidery designs to display with Christy's beautiful jewelry creations.









Helped Erin with AWANA projects, like her Thanksgiving costume. She was a pecan pie, including whipped cream on top!
Spent as much time as possible with Betsy Bear... wonderful!

Finished up homeschool co-op with Drama and Cake Decorating for Erin. Lots of fun!

Had wonderful planned visit from my brother, Charlie, and surprise visit at the same time from brother, Jim and Gail. It was an awesome visit and made me so happy!

Worked with our dear friends, Paul and Debbie, with the Love and Respect marriage class. We love working with them and enjoy the time with all the couples.

Lots of Christmas activities and enjoying family times.

Homeschooling, cooking, cleaning, crafting, enjoying my life.

The Light and the Glory by Peter Marshall and David Manuel

I can't say enough how much I have loved again reading this book. I recommend it to anyone who needs to see what God had in mind for our country from the archives and words of those who lived it. This is not history the way it's been reinterpreted. It is the truth of what was going on from the journals of our forefathers. Every day that I sit down with my daughter to read from this book, I am getting not only a history lesson, but a reminder of God's goodness and love, and of his chastisement of the children he loves. It has spurred my daughter and I to not only pray for our nation with more conviction, but to remember all the things we have to be thankful for.

October 24th -- Today, I am reminded to be thankful for times of rest.

Betsy is six weeks old!

Oh, she get's more and more adorable every day!

the beginnings of my logo for labels

Threadhead

Born to Quilt

My latest obsession...

BabyEll, my Babylock Ellure embroidery machine. I bought it used on a fluke and wow! am I ever having fun with it! You know, it's all Dianna's fault! I went to her house so she could help me make a project with her machine and what did she do? She taught me how to use it and love it! Well, I wasn't gonna actually buy a machine. They are out of my price range... but then... perusing Ebay one day... you know it... I found one that a lady was selling to upgrade to her newest Baby and what did my dear hubby say? Bid on it... So I did in the last few minutes and Voila! I got an embroidery machine. You know... it's not the machine itself that is expensive... well, yes they are... but... then ya' gotta buy all the threads in all the colors and then the stabilizers and the bobbins and the projects. Plus I got this cool set of drawers with a wood top to store it all away. I can slide it in the slot beside my computer cabine and then out any time I'm ready to 'stitch'!..... and then.... the patterns... oh, my goodness! Yes, Dianna and I are a lot alike... we look for all the freebies online and use them, but there are always those -- "ya just gotta have". So here we go... sewing, quilting, hand embroidery and machine embroidery. What will be next? I'm afraid to venture a guess!

Hey, Did you happen to see the most beautiful girl in the world?

Remember that song? Well, I've been singing that part of it a lot lately! I've been remiss not posting since I've got that durn facebook account! LOL But, life is been turned upside down in the last few weeks. Betsy Aliene Pohler (Betsy for her late grandmother, Aliene for my late mother's middle name) my granddaughter was born Aug. 9, 2009 at 12:57 a.m. She weighed 8 lbs., 9 oz. and is absolutely beautiful and perfect. She had a hard start because though Christy did everything she could to have a homebirth, the midwife determined she wasn't progressing and she had an emergency C-section at VBMC. They pumped them both full of antibiotics (just in case) and so she's had that to overcome. She had a difficult time with breast-feeding, latching on, but is overcoming that, too. They stayed with us for a week and a half and it was wonderful to take care of my baby as she took care of hers. Christy is the most wonderful mother. It fills my heart so full to see her nurture and love Betsy and with all the 'advice' on breastfeeding, has just followed her heart and found what works. I'm so blessed and so in love with that grandbaby. Thank you, Lord Jesus, for this precious gift into our lives.

My 20 Favorites~Join Me!

20 Of My Favorite Things

1. Color- bright green, at the moment
2. Dessert- fruit pie.... alamode
3. Smell- Apples, cinnamon and vanilla... what a combo
4. Flower- gardenia... can't grow 'em )-8
5. Animal- puppies
6. Month- November ... when the first cool front comes in
7. Beverage- hibiscus tea
8. Pair of shoes- my pink and green croc sandals
9. Snack- chocolate-covered pomegranites
10. Song- ... can't think of the name of it.... it's by Mercy Me.
11. Book-currently... The Widow of Larkspur Inn (Gresham Chronicles), but I love the Elm Creek Quilters series by Jennifer Chiviarrini (sp?) and books by Emily Richards
12. Fruit- Sweet watermelon
13. Hairstyle- pixie
14. Piece of clothing-currently...capris
15. Store to clothes shop-Wal-Mart
16. Season-Autumn
17. Hobby-quilting
18. Thing to collect-roosters
19. Movie- Quiet Man with John Wayne ... Great Movie!
20. Restaurant- I love vegies... my fav used to be Black-eye Pea, but there's not one around. Any suggestions? I do enjoy Golden Corral.

Join me in posting your favorites. Leave you blog address in the comments and I'd love to check our your favorites!

Wouldn't it be nice...

... to be young and have the summer to sleep in, have sleepovers with your BFF and play, play, play? Oh... I guess I do !!!! I can't wait to go to my BFF's house with my other BFF's for our 'As-Annual-As-We-Can-Make-It Summer Middle-Aged Sisterhood of Menoupausal, Hot Flashing Mommas! We walk down to the river proudly proclaiming, " Look at this celulite and spreading hips girls! This is your future before you!

Trip to Wimberley, Killeen and later Corpus Christi

Memorial Day we left home... Allen, Erin and I ... for Wimberley. We spent 4 days with my best bud ... as Allen calls her... Judy and family. What a wonderful time with her and doing odds and ends around her new home. It's SO beautiful and she's making it even more so with lots of flowers and special touches.

Thursday afternoon we left for Killeen and spent a couple of days with my brother Jim, Gail, Stacie and Chaela. My brother Charlie came down Thursday evening for a couple of hours and that was a treat. It was wonderful seeing my family.

We got home Saturday evening and then the next Thursday, Christy, Erin and I headed for a homeschool field trip to the Texas State Aquarium in Corpus Christi. Lots of fun!!!

An Era has Passed

Erin started playing soccer before she turned 5. She started on the U5 team, the Rubies. After a couple of years, the Rubies disbanded and she moved to the Texans with Coach Joe. This was her last game. After this, the players try out for a different league and Erin is not continuing soccer. She wants to pursue other things. But... it has been a great sport and she has been incredibly blessed with great coaches and wonderful friendships from team players.





At the end of nearly every season, the Texans have a party and awards. We usually have swimming, BBQ and lots of fun with the team and famlies. Saturday after this last game was no exception. Coach Joe and Susie opened their home for a great party.






Our friend, Lisa, is a decorator and made this wonderful cake to celebrate with.






Many thanks to Joe Lerma for making this team what it was and for providing fun, exercise and lessons of sportsmanship to our girls!

Food Storage

What happened to simplicity? My goal in life is to live a simple life and enjoy God's presence and all He has blessed me with. But sometimes the ball starts rolling on things and it's just not simple any more. Oh, well... take a breath. Re-prioritize and get back on the simple road.

Our Food purchasing co-op is getting ready to make an order and as much as I love to horde and stockpile, knowing what to purchase and trying to be wise and frugal can be a chore. I'm getting a little more grain. I still have a lot, but I believe in keeping some by in case it's needed. I'm getting some more dehydrated vegies because I just plain like to cook with them. Dehydrated tomato powder is wonderful. You can add a little to soups for the tomato-ness, make sauce or paste.mmm. It smells like Campbell's tomato soup and makes a great soup. I enjoy dried mushrooms and spinach flakes. They go great in soups and casseroles and pasta. I'm getting more apple chips and adding banana chips this time. I'm getting LOTS of granola. It costs half of what the store charges and it has lots of nuts in it. I can throw in some of the dried raisins I still have and it's GOOD STUFF. Walton Feed is the source of the food. My pantry is full. We don't know what is going to happen economically in our future. The country has its problems. I like having a full pantry and the ability to make my own bread and healthy meals. God has blessed us and we see His hand at work.

Bill Bailey finally came home!

Well, after a month of waiting my mid arm quilting machine arrived. It is a Bailey 15 and it has a lot of arm to quilt in! I unpacked it and got it set up, pinned on some old fabric (sheets that I salvaged some large areas from) and batting and quilted one section. I forwarded the 'quilt' and called it a night. I am SO very tired. That wore me out.

It has been a good incentive to get stuff done, though. Since I knew I'd want to 'play' with the quilter a lot I did a major grocery store trip and stocked up. I've cooked ahead and planned easy meals. It didn't hurt that our cooktop bit the dust and we had to order a new one. That means casseroles, crockpot meals and salads. So I made Calabasa con Pollo y Arroz, doubled up, so that's two days. I made taco salad today. I also got my laundry caught up. The time is great 'cause Erin is on spring break and is going to a church day camp, Mon - Fri, 8 - 5. I've had my days free to get stuff done. Now... I can quilt tomorrow!!!! At least, quilt until my shoulders and neck give out. I need to set a timer so I don't kill myself and be unable to do anything.

I also worked on some UFO projects... I finished a table runner, a wall hanging for my friend, bordered a quilt I've had all but the border done to be ready to quilt, finished up two machine appliqued butterfly blocks, stitched the 16 together and bordered them. Then I've got 24 of 25 blocks ready to put together, sash, border and quilt. The blocks were partly some orphans I picked up at a guild sale, partly my orphans and then some applique and embroidery that I did and didn't have plans for. So it will be my "Orphan Train" quilt. I have a pieced backing for the orphan quilt that belonged to my husband's grandmother that she never got to use. I feel really good that I've finished up these projects and now I can quilt them. I also have two others that are ready to quilt.

I know I've got to do a lot of practice before I'm going to put these quilts on the frame, but I got quite a few cheater panels and baby panels and some charity baby quilts that I can practice on before I do them.

Practice...

Well, I didn't take a picture, but I set up my Viking (short, short arm) on the frame and tried it out. I had some fabric with little apples on a ticking print for the top, batting, and then a navy back. I pinned it all on and started quilting. It went really well! I am please with how it turned out. Then I took it off, trimmed it up and turned it into tote bag. Maybe I'll put a pic on later.

Still waiting on Bill Bailey to come home....