*High Five*.... Day 2 and 3 DONE !!!

Hi There!

VOILA!!!!

Prairie Moon Quilts
"2011 Final Countdown" Contest

Day 2 ... we were supposed to look around in our sewing space and find a UFO and work on it. This blouse was on the back of my sewing chair for over a week and I KNOW it would have been there for a month or more, if Shelly and her blog contest hadn't encouraged me!

*VBG*

Today, I repaired that seam that needed to be re-sewn and this evening, I sewed 2 missing buttons on it.

Ready to wear for work, next week!



Day 3....

We were to pull out ANOTHER UFO and fall in love with it, again... and work on it.

This birthday Siggie quilt was "quilted" in May.... This evening, thanks to Shelly, from Prairie Moon Quilts, I FINALLY decided to sew the label on this quilt. Good thing, too! My birthday's in February and I'd like to sleep underneath it, FINALLY!

Well, my last blog for this year.

Please come back, next year...

Rosa

New Year's Eve Status Update... (photo heavy)

Hi There!

In following Shelly's blog contest, this morning, I decided to dig out my white bins from our packed boxes. I needed these bins as that's how I organize my scraps.

2-1/-2 inch strips are put into a bin, according to color. If they're smaller, I cut them into 1-1/4 inch strips, for my "Lego Block" quilt blocks. They go into a zip lock bag. Smaller than that, they go in the garbage. *grin*

And... as they say, sometimes things have to get messy before they get tidied up!

I also cleared up my design wall. You an see that I've received quite a few Snow People, in our block swap. The tiny blue background one is a block that I had made, a couple years ago.



Looking tidy already!

Thanks Shelly!



Book shelf looks tidy, as well!

Remember this spot, with the pile of fabric straps, yesterday?!?!?

Well, with the previous pile of scrap, I was able to cut some into 2-1/2 inch strips, for my white bins...



And since I had small strips, I cut them into 1-1/4 inch .... more "blocks" for my Lego quilt!

And since Day 3, we were supposed to pull out a UFO and fall in love, again.... I found these 3 un-pieced 30's blocks and pieced them.... and, I then pieced some wonky blocks with the leftovers mini scraps from the Orca Bay Mystery Quilt.

These blocks will go into my future "Orphan Blocks" quilt.

And while I was cleaning (AKA playing), Gilbert was working on the "Cat Tree House".

Once again, Minou, decided that the carpet scraps, for now, are more comfortable.

*grin*



Here's where he's at, with his creation....

And remember how we're supposed to pull out a UFO, and love it, once again?

Well, I pulled out my "Birthday Siggie Quilt". Gilbert quilted it and I put the binding on it... and then, it languished on a shelf, in my studio.

A quilt's not finished, IMHO, unless it has it's label on the back. This afternoon, I finally got some muslin out and wrote what I wanted.

Why I didn't do it sooner - God only knows!
But tonight, I will be sewing it on.

(a close up picture of Gilbert's quilting)

I'll share a picture, tomorrow.

And since it's New Year's Eve, Gilbert and I decided to stay home and eat a nice meal with a great bottle of wine.



Gilbert took a picture of me, with his iPhone and used the "WordFoto" program.

And that's about it.

We're upstairs in our little office, watching TV and I'm blogging.

I'll be sewing new buttons on my lime green blouse and afterwards, adding that label on my quilt.

We'll "try" and stay awake until midnight...

Exciting, eh?!?!?

*grin*

HAPPY NEW YEAR ! ! !

Rosa

(warned you that there'd be lots of pictures!)

Oh YAH... I forgot to mention that a designer friend of mine, Gerri Richards, has an incredible blog contest.... you only need to become a follower and post a comment about your favorite Christmas gift...

Cool Cats and Quilts

Orca Bay - Take 6

Hi There!

Well, by late afternoon,
I finally assembled all of Part 6,
to the Orca Bay Mystery Quilt!

I managed to straighten out, a bit, my sewing room and will continue tomorrow.... in hopes to share pictures of a much improved Quilt Studio and finishing Step 1 to the Prairie Moon 2011 Final Countdown.

Step 2 - Is to finish off a UFO.

I have my favorite green lime blouse, downstairs, that needs new buttons and a seam that needs sewn. No, it's not a quilty thing but if if wasn't for this challenge, this blouse would probably STILL be languishing there, this time... next year!

Soooooo, tomorrow, I don't need to go out and do errands. I will be...
a) cleaning out my studio and taking pictures.
b) fixing up my blouse
c) working on my Orca Bay Mystery blocks.

Oh.... here's what I've got done, so far...
(this is Part 6)



28 "black" blocks and
28 "white" blocks.

Hope you all have a Fantastic Friday!

Rosa

Prairie Moon's "2011 Final Countdown" Contest

Hi There!

My friend Shelly, over at Prairie Moon Quilts
has her annual "Final Countdown" contest.

Not only can you win a lovely surprise-prize..... Hey, maybe we should invent a new word, here, called "Sur-Prize" - but she also gets you to get off your butt and ACCOMPLISH something.

There's 3 parts to her contest and it started yesterday....

Check it out, here...

Well, yesterday I had to go to work, but once I got home, I started to work on my "Orca Bay Mystery" blocks.

Here's a picture of my design wall.



Some of you might remember that we thought we'd be moving by the end of November and it all fell through. Sooooo, even though I pulled out a quite a few things out of my boxes, I've still got a lot of quilty stuff all packed.

Here, I need to pull out that partially packed box, on the corner of my table and get rid of it!



See behind my chair? I have very little room to move! Boxes are stacked up and yes... I've lost a good part of my design wall, as well. I need to tackle this issue, as well.

And as I was working on my Orca Bay Mystery Quilt, I accumulated scraps and snips and orphan blocks. I truly need to get these organized before it grows into a monster!

And these 4 or 5 bags of scrap?

Yepper.... I need to pull these out and cut them into 2-1/2" strips, for future projects, or into 1-1/4" strips for that Lego Quilt that I had started. Strips that are smaller than that now gets tossed out.

Soooo.... it's now 9h25 a.m.

I will work on the Orca Bay blocks till noon.

After dinner - that's "lunch" for you other people - I will tackle these "issues", take pictures and then report back.

Thanks Shelly for this contest!

Rosa

Cat Tree Progress

Hi There!

I've been busy and have nothing (yet) to show for it.

Ever been that way?

I haven't blogged in AGES... or so it feels that way, anyhow.

Gilbert has decided to build a "Cat Tree", for our 3 cats.

We got a box of (free) carpet strips from a generous soul, on Freecycle.

Minou, our oldest cat, ONCE AGAIN, has decided that she not only needed to explore a cardboard box, but had taken up residence, for the night.... amongst the strips of green carpet.



And here's the beginning of our "Cat Tree".

I will try and post pictures,
as he progresses along.

Rosa

Frummie and Charlie's Quilt

Hi There!

Doesn't this look like a picture from a home decorating magazine?!??!

Last year, Frummie sent Gilbert and Bertha, our Longarm machine, their quilt to be quilted.

Once quilted, we returned the quilt to our friends and.... for various reasons, Frummie finally finished the binding on this beauty 2 weeks ago. She sent me this picture and said I could post it, if I wanted to share with you.



Yet another picture I've been meaning to share.

I've been busy working on my Snow People swap blocks. I'll post of picture in the following weeks.

I'm also trying to keep up with Bonnie Hunter's "Orca Bay Mystery Quilt".

Also, in my news, I'd like to share a new-to-me social media group that I am COMPLETELY enamored with!!!

It's called "Pinterest".

You create your own "bulletin" board and can name it whatever you wish. You "Pin" images from the web, or from other Pinterest members. I know it sounds silly but you would not BELIEVE the beautiful images I've seen, the crafty ideas, tips and tricks to help around the house and more!

It's addictive, it's educational, it's fun and also helpful.

Hope you give it a try. If you need an invitation, give me a hollar!

Rosa

I Have Been Busy...

Hi There!

Remember my Batik Quilt?

Well, I finally finished this quilt and in November, I sold it!

This quilt was bought and given away as a birthday gift to one of the Irving ladies.

What an honour!


And the buyer has asked that I make a bigger (similar) one, for her!
As I have a few irons in the fire right now, it will have to wait till February or March.

Off to bed...

Rosa

Orca Bay - Take 1

Hi There!

As usual, I like to share my quilting adventures with you.

*s*

Orca Bay Mystery 2011

Bonnie Hunter suggested that we purchase 2 rulers:

The Easy Angle and the Companion Angle rulers.

I've ordered them from our local quilt store but one of them isn't in, yet.

Anyhow, for the first part, she said that we could do regular 1/2 square triangles, smack 'em together to make the "Hour Glass" block... or.... if you prefer, a Quarter Square Block.

She gave us a couple links but I found THIS video, to help me make my blocks.

Unfortunately, I wasn't too sure on what size I should cut my fabric....




Some didn't make it - they were too small.

I ended up with 24 blocks.... so far.



My incredibly warm and kind and generous friend, Frummie, gave me my early Christmas gift!

She got me the Half and Quarter square triangle pattern, from Inklingo!!!

Printed out a sheet of whitish fabric and a sheet of blackish fabric this evening. Will play with these, right after work tomorrow!!!!

Have a Marvelous Monday!

Rosa

James' Graduation

Hi There!

I took yesterday off from work,
as my youngest son, James,
graduated from College!

Let me introduce to you, James...
(pleased as punch, with his diploma)



My two boys - James and Adam.

Me in the middle.

I often wonder how, short me,
could have produced 2 giants!

LOL

Today, we've got our Saturday morning errands to do,
hurry back home and "bind" a quilt for a quilty friend
and then, work on Bonnie Hunter's new Mystery Quilt -
Orca Bay Mystery 2011.

First time I've EVER made a Mystery Quilt...



Should be fun!
Care to join me?

This Mystery Quilt is almost
guaranteed to use up all your scraps...

Bonnie Hunter is, in MY opinion,
the Queen of Scraps!

*VBG*

Have a Wonderful Weekend!

Rosa

Two Weeks - That's All !!!

Hi There!

I have a secret to share...

We've had our home on the market, to sell since September or October.

At the beginning of November, we had an offer on our home - which we joyfully accepted - and everything was supposed to close on the 25th of November!

Talk about panicking and starting to pack, seriously!!!

Unfortunately, after many, MANY boxes were packed and down to the last minute on the deadline, the deal fell through.

:-(

I had even packed all my fabric and sewing machine, thinking that I would only be 3 weeks of non-quilting.

This past Tuesday, I flipped!

Who KNOWS when our home would sell!??!?!

I needed to start sewing, once again!!!!

Since all of packed boxes were numbered and itemized on our note pad, I knew EXACTLY which boxes I needed!!!

I had only lasted 2 weeks without any sewing!!!

Gosh, but I'm addicted!!!

LOL

I pulled out April Cornell's "Victorian Decadence", that my friend Elaine had sent me a while back.



And, I decided to do the "Easy Peasy" pattern, from Gerri Richards!
(strips are cut and waiting for the next step in her directions)


(see the packed boxes?!?!?)

And tonight, I started to sew some of the blocks.... I'm always too curious to finish each step completely!

LOL

It's gonna look GORGEOUS!

And, of course, I'll be adding more to that pattern - stay tuned...

Don't all quilters do that? Follow a pattern but somehow or somewhere, they need to add their own little touch.

Hope you have a nice Friday!

Me?
I have tomorrow off.

My youngest son is graduating from College and I will be there, taking pictures!

*VBG*

Rosa

Making Friends... Easy Peasy!

Hi there!

Gilbert and I went out to our local Quilt Shop
and picked up a cone of
variegated thread, called "Sea Moss".

And I decided to treat myself to 2 patterns
from a local quilt designer,
Gerri Richards, of Cool Cat Designs!

Gerri also has an Etsy Shop, as well...

"Making Friends"
This pattern finishes at 13-1/2 X 15-1/2 inches
but I have a plan.
*tapping the side of her head with her forefinger*

Remember the Snow People swap that I'm doing?
Well, these 2 will be right smack dab in the center!

How cool is that, eh?

And the title that Gerri put on her pattern?
Well, that's just what I call Karma!

It was meant to be!
*VBG*



Gerri Richards ALSO teaches
quilting and sewing(?) classes,
in my city.

"Easy Peasy"

And since this spring, we've had
at least 5 quilty friends
bring their "Easy Peasy" quilts to us.

I just LOVE quilts that look complicated
but are really easy to make.
I can't WAIT to make this quilt!!!



This quilt can be made in various sizes -
from Baby to King size!

How neat is that, eh?

Well, these evening, Gilbert and I
got a WHOLE bunch of my quilts ready and packed.
We're going to a local fair, called:

"Holiday Extravaganza"

Hopefully, we'll get to sell a couple quilts, eh?

Have a great weekend!

Rosa

Teddy Bears

Hi There!

Got this from Face Book...



And I just LOVE Teddy Bears!

Now I know why...

Rosa

We Remember

Hi There!

Sometimes a picture just says it all....



Gilbert and I designed and painted this sign.
We usually hang it up, outside,
for the whole month of November.

Picture taken on this wet and windy
11th of November '11.

Rosa

Mr. SnowMen Reveal Themselves...

Hi There!

I'm off to bed but I thought I'd show you my progress...



Pat's SnowMan is on my design wall, as well!

Have a great week!!!

Rosa

Black Light + Fluorescent Thread = Cool Video

Hi There!

Gilbert had a bright, colorful quilt on his Longarm, yesterday and our quilty friend had selected some bright orange, almost fluorescent thread.

He decided to attach our video cam onto his Gammill Vision and filmed himself!

Of course, it helped that he used the black light, on his Vision...

(click on image to view video)

Have a great weekend!

Rosa

13 Fuzzy Mr. SnowMen

Hi There!

Well, I worked on my Mr. SnowMen, this evening and took a picture of my design wall.



Thought this might put my project more into "perspective"...

Yes, the picture is purposely fuzzy, in hopes that it will still keep you all guessing!

LOL

Might be awhile before I show some more pictures....

Have a great week!

Rosa

The First Shovel of Snow.

Hi There!

I started assembling my Mr. SnowMan today.

I wanted to complete MY block 'cause I wanted to see the final product and I also wanted to see if it would pass MY inspection.

You see, I had HOPED to do the majority of the assembly with my sewing machine.

This was not meant to be.

(See picture below)

Unfortunately, the majority of Mr. SnowMan will now have to be hand appliquéd.

:-(

Thankfully, I'm not fussy and MY block will play nicely with the other blocks!



This body part was hand appliquéd - no problemo.

And this body part was sewn with my sewing machine. And, in MY humble opinion, it went together nicely.

Therefore, all of THESE (red) body parts will be done by machine.



All of the other "parts" will have to be hand appliquéd.

And here's the beginning of my 13 Mr. SnowMan blocks...

I've been cutting them (approx.) 13 inches square. I figure the recipient can always square it up to 12-1/2 inch square.

Sooooo, there's goes my ceremonial First Shovel of Snow.

My Snow People Swap Block has officially started!

*grin*

This is where I got my Mr. SnowMan block.
I've modified it a wee bit from the original pattern.

I just LOVE this book!

It's good for clothing, purse/tote, table decorations, quilting - table tops, mini quilts or bed size quilts and most of the patterns can be easily converted into hook rugs.

Hope you have a GREAT week!

Rosa

Mr. SnowMan - Some Assembly Required

Hi There!

I've been busy this week - prepping my Mr. SnowMen blocks for the swap that I started.

YES, 14 appliqued blocks are time consuming but oh so relaxing.

Here's some of Mr. SnowMan's appliqués....



Are you still perplexed and saying to yourself, "Huh?!?!?"



Well, as I start "assembling" them, I'll be sharing pictures.

Have no fear - I think he will look ADORABLE, once finished.

Different, but adorable!

*grin*

Tomorrow, Gilbert and I have a few errands. I need to pick up some more "background" fabric, for my Mr. SnowMan's. That should be fun!

Hope you all have a wickedly wild and wonderful weekend!

Rosa

14 is Better Than 12!!!

Hi There!

Well, I finally finished adding the staggered blocks to my lap quilt, consulted my friend Elaine who advised me to add a darker border and call it quits, after that.

I've never done mitered corners and plan on doing some You Tube research, to find out the best and easiest way to do mitered corners.

Wish me luck!



In the meantime, I've started up a "Snow People Block Swap". We were only supposed to be 12 and then, a 2nd group of 12 would sign up.

Well, unfortunately, only 2 people signed up with the 2nd group. Soooo, we invited them to join up with us.

Fourteen is MUCH better than twelve, right?!??

*VBG*

And without any further ado, let me introduce to you

Mr. Snowman.....
times 14 !!!!

I'm so excited about this snow people swap! And YES! I'll be posting pictures on their progress!

Have a Wonderful Wednesday!

Rosa