And Another One

A few weeks back, I spent a day at Calico Mermaid, at their in-store retreat.  10 hours of sewing, and two delicious meals later, I came home with a finished applique and the blocks for another baby quilt.  Over the next week, I put the blocks into a top, and then quilted it.  Yesterday I finished, even the binding!  wow!  I hope to get it into the mail next week.

 I showed you some UFO blocks in my last post.  I waffled back and forth about borders, then decided to make a bold choice.  oh my!  This diagonal stripe was tricky, as I needed to cut it both length- and width-wise to get the effect I wanted.

 It completely changes the feel of the quilt, but I don't mind.  I kind of like it.  It's still a "winter" quilt, but it's not as "cold" as it felt before adding the drama.

Fall has come in earnest, to our little pocket of California.  The gingkos began dropping their leaves last week.  In anticipation of the rain on the horizon, I took Babykins over to the park for an impromptu photo shoot.

 Little Helper tried to put the lens cap back in place as I tried to get a picture.  When I set her down, off she ran, squealing all the way.  Too much fun.

 The next day the rain poured down, bringing with it more gingko leaves.  This is our front yard.  The beauty is fleeting, but it sure brightens a rainy day!!

Tomorrow is December, beginning the big tick tock until Christmas.  Time to get busy in the workshop and see if I can get a thing or two under the tree before the 25th.
Happy December and Happy Quilting, one and all!

Another Baby Quilt, Done

 The above baby quilt has been finished and delivered.  Hopefully baby Celeste has already been wrapped in it.  Baby Abby received hers (the pink one in the last post) and I'm sure she's already breaking it in.

I pulled some very old blocks out of my UFO bin and put them on the wall.  It was high time to do something with them, so I added corner stones and sashing.  It needs a border.  I should dig out my Christmas fabrics and see if I have something with white and poinsettias, or anything else that might work.

 The nights have been cold enough to turn the gingkoes into gold.  Fall is final here.  Can winter be far behind?

I trust you had a delightful Thanksgiving.  We did.  I forgot to bring out my camera.  I've been so busy being Grammie that I don't remember to take photographic evidence.  Hopefully I will remember to document this Christmas season.  There's not much that can beat the wonder in a young child's eyes as the tree goes up with the lights and ornaments and then the packages begin to gather beneath it.

Am I ready for Christmas?  Not yet.  Am I ready for the Christmas season?  Always!
And away we go!

Two Finishes

I completely finished two baby quilts on Sunday.  Well, all finished, except for labels.

 I also went back to the Tiara, and successfully quilted a third baby quilt.  It still needs binding.

When I went to this year's Completed Quilt/UFO list, I was quite surprised to see that I'd neglected to mark off several quilts.  wow!  I've done a better job posting on this blog than I have on my design wall paperwork, and yet, I see that I have another finish that I didn't get posted here.

What can I say?  Life.

Baby girl, or should I say Toddling Granddaughter will be here in 30 minutes.  She's one reason the paperwork has gone by the wayside.  I guess I'm just Grammie these days, and not Quilting Grammie.  Those days will come, eventually.

Block of the Month

Guild met on Thursday.  The response to the Monkey Wrench block for November was wonderful.

 For next month, we're doing Corn & Beans.  I'm hopeful that the response to this one will be great as well.

Other than writing patterns and sewing samples, I've quilted one baby quilt and attached the binding.  Once it's stitched down, I'll have a finish.  yay!!

Been Busy

huh.  I'm not sure what happened, but I just lost my post.

To recap, last week was our guild retreat.  We went to Wonder Valley, where we sewed up a storm.  I was happy with my work space, though I ended up labeled as an anti-social wall builder.  oh well.

 I was thankful that Wendy VB left early and left her Ott light behind.  I'd forgotten to bring mine, and I spent HOURS working on applique.

 I was making chairs.  This is one of my rejects - the color was all wrong for the quilt top.  oh well.  It will go into my UFO pile and perhaps became part of something else someday.

I was also able to get two baby quilts pieced together.  I basted them last night.

 I'm hopeful that I can quilt them sometime soon.

Guild meets tomorrow.  I need to get together the pattern and samples for Block of the Month.  Busy, busy, and it's just the start of busy season.

Happy Quilting!

Blocks of the Month

The last time I posted, I realized that I'd been remiss in sharing the past months' blocks of the month with you.  I am the Block of the Month chairman for Valley Oak Quilt Guild.  We've had excellent participation throughout the summer, which was unexpected.  Some of the blocks have been challenging, and yet, the guild members have been willing to give it a try.

Our block for July was an 8-pointed star.  I asked the members to make one for the drawing, and one for a Quilt of Honor, to be given to a veteran at the county fair.  The blocks were returned, but the turn-around time was too fast.  The quilt will be ready for 2019.  These were the blocks in the drawing:

 The block for August was Delectable Mountains, done in "mountain" colors.  Twenty eight blocks should be enough to make a quilt top.

 September's block was Sister's Choice.  It, too, was pretty popular.  Love the colors!

 October's block was a bit over-the-top challenging, with the Wild Goose Chase. And yet, the results are wonderful!  I'm sure the winner was over the moon with delight.

After such a time-consuming block last month, the block for November is something simple.  What could be easier than a Monkey Wrench?  Hmmm  I thought I had a picture of the sample blocks, but I don't seem to be able to easily access them.  Maybe next time.

Hope you enjoyed the show.  I know I've had a lot of fun choosing blocks each month.  It's always great to choose one that is a hit with the members.  Now, hmmm.  What to choose for December...

whew!

Last week was a whirlwind of setting up and taking down.  Our house at the walnut orchard was transformed into a wedding venue.  It was fabulous.  Just look at it!  (This picture was taken the night before, during the rehearsal dinner.)

 Four of the seven women in the wedding party are expecting.  wow!

 The pictures were taken before the ceremony.  Here they are setting up for the professional.

 Don't they look wonderful?

I took 100+ photos, and the photographer took another 200.  I think the bride and groom were smiling in every one!

 Above are all of our sons, together in one frame.  That doesn't happen very often.  And below are our two granddaughters, together as flower girls.  That doesn't happen often either!

It was a lovely evening, filled with love and friendship and excellent food.  The tents went up on Friday, and came down on Sunday, all done by family and friends.  Very good friends.  I hope that I speak truth when I say a good time was had by all.  I know I had a wonderful day.  It is good to see one's child so very very happy.  :)

And sometime during the week, I was able to send off a birthday card.  whew!

I plan to sew tomorrow.  We'll see what happens.  Goals are good!

Busy Month

Last week, I gave a trunk show at Valley Oak Quilt Guild.  The following day, I taught a class.  I called it "Freeform Seascapes."  I think it went really well, though there were only five students.  It was a lot of fun, and each seemed pretty happy with their results.  They were all quilting by the time the class ended, and one student even had the binding on her quilt!

Here are the student projects:

 The next day, our son and daughter-in-law arrived from Missouri.  They're here for the wedding on Saturday.  Our last son is getting married.  woohoo!

I put off making the flower girl dress until this past weekend.  You know how children are.  They grow so quickly and unexpectedly.  I wanted to be sure I only had to make one dress.  :)

 whew!!  It fits!  yay!!

So, yes.  I've been quite busy.  Next week everything should calm down a bit.  I cleared out my Sewing Annex.  I removed the twin bed and replaced it with a queen.  Did I tell you that I went to the Common Threads boutique?  I did.  And I came away with a quilt, made by The Pointless Quilter.  Isn't it perfect?

The kids say the room is quite comfortable.  yay!!  It's taken me years to put a second queen bed in my house, but now that I've done it?  I wonder why I didn't do it long ago.  oh well.  Oh, and it's a Casper mattress, which my boys all say is the best bed ever.

Hopefully I'll get a chance to check in next week with some pictures from the wedding.  Goals are good!

I'm Working on Something...

I've pulled the fabrics.  Today is set aside for cutting and sewing.

 A few days ago, our little granddaughter had her first birthday.  Time has wings!!

 In honor of her party, our other granddaughter was in town.  See what I mean about time flying?  How did she get to be so big?!!

And that's all I've got for now.  Hope you're also working on something wonderful.  :)

And A Finish!

Finished the binding yesterday.  woohoo!

A Bit o This, A Bit o That

The Tulare County Fair is long gone, but I have a few favors to remember it by.

 This week we're having the floors replaced out at our walnut ranch.  There's going to be a wedding there next month.  We are definitely looking forward to it!

The nuts are ripe, and were harvested last week, on the same day that they began work on the floors.

Our granddaughter turns one on Friday.  That year has gone quickly!!  She's walking everywhere.  Here she is with Raggedy Andy.  I made him for my daughter 35 years ago.  I think Little A likes him better than my daughter ever did.  

And that's about it for now.  There is a bit of stitching going on right now, but not much.  My quilts came back safely from PNQE.  I have a different quilt packed and ready to ship to PIQF.  Other than that?  I got nuthin'.

County Fair

The Tulare County Fair is currently open, and will be through Sunday.  I was pleased to spot "Harvest Barns" front and center, wearing a BOS, Professional rosette.  The quilt below it, with the pincushion, was made by my friend Wendy VB.  Her rosette reads Best of Division.  Fun, fun, fun!!

 I spent a few hours on each of the past few days helping with the handquilting on our 2019 opportunity quilt.  The red, white, and blue quilt hanging behind the frame is our 2018 opportunity quilt.  It sports a blue ribbon, a Best of Division rosette, and Best of Show.  woohoo!!  Good job, Valley Oak Quilt Guild!!

I may not have been spending much time creating quilts, but this year?  I'm making an effort to enter the quilts that I have been able to finish.  whew!!  Goals are good!!

P.S.  I also have two quilts hanging at PNQE in Oaks, PA this weekend.  A third quilt has been accepted to PIQF in October.  yay!