"The Family Reunion"

      Back on Thursday when I decided to work on my Snow Days quilt I couldn't find one of the embroidery units so I had to search in my old sewing room downstairs.  I keep a lot of kits and extra fabric down there...  Well, I found the piece and then I happened to pull down one of those project boxes that wasn't labeled and could not believe what was in it.  There were some patterns and a pile of fabric. 

I'd just been talking to my friend Michelle about her "Hot Chocolate" BOM that she picked up again last week after a long time too.  I'd remarked that I thought maybe I "dreamed" that I'd done it and after a lot of searching thru my room I couldn't find it with other BOM's.....How it got on top of an old sewing machine is anyone's guess. 

      I was really excited thinking I could put my "Hot Chocolate" project together too....  I started texting Michelle pictures of the 2 blocks and we realized that I had a different snowman project called "The Family Reunion" and coincidentally, it was a Pearl Louise Design as well, and put out on the market around the same time as the Hot Chocolate.

      I collected up my fusible, found a nice blue/snow background fabric and started tracing today.  I'm going to redo the 2 I had done a few years ago because I think I like the background fabric I have now.

Here are the 3 blocks I've finished so far....

     

 

"Easy Street-Step 6"

I am enjoying this journey on "Easy Street" so much!  I don't think it's because the steps have been easy, but I think the colorway just grabbed me from the start. 

I had one of those sleepless nights last night so as I was sitting in my sewing room doing a little embroidery at 4AM I saw the post go up for Step 6 but I knew I wasn't starting any cutting then....I waited till I'd gotten a little sleep, had some breakfast and even a quick trip to the quilt shop before I pulled out the fabric and got to cutting.

I had a few WOF strips and some fat quarters so I cut all the WOF up and matched them up with the odds and ends pieces so I got a nice variety.  Of course I didn't get all 128 the first time...Oh no, I had to go back and cut 8 more units and with a lot of luck on my side, I got the remaining units with 1 to spare  :)

I'm looking forward to Monday's accelerated step 7......

Here are my 128 black and white units and my 5-1/2 inch squares cut and ready for assembly........

Looking for 2 Fabrics

Do you ever find a fabric or two that you just love and want to use it but you don't want it to run out?

Well, when I started this "Easy Street" journey I found these 2 fabrics on Etsy or somewhere and have cut into them and used them in every step of the mystery but now I'm noticing I don't have much left of either and my search online has not produced any  :(   

I want to do Bonnie's "Orca Bay" sometime in 2013 and want to use these in that too....

Anyone out there in blogland have any of either they'd like to sell or swap? 

I have a stash that is huge AKA Obscene  :)

The top is chickens with black dots and all I know is it's by Fabrictraditions.  The ottom one is little bistro tables and I think the designer is Jackii Jones.  The line was called "Paris...Now" I think but I'm not finding anything.....

HELP!

Peggy

"Snow Days"

No, we're not having snow YET but rumor has it we're going to get some in the next couple of days.....

Me, I could wait for the snow to come on Tuesday but that's just me.  You ask why Tuesday?  Well, I go back to school on Wednesday and could enjoy a couple extra days off...ya know?

Anyway....My 2013 UFO list is made and ready to post this weekend but I decided that I had to pull the "Snow Days" project out to work on.  It was #1 on my UFO list and although it's totally NOT me, I was almost paralyzed at the thought of pulling the pile of blocks, fabric and embroidery units out.    Did I mention that this is totally not like me to be so apprehensive?  Well, I was!

 I did get lucky though....One of the girls I did the BOM with had posted a picture of one of the troublesome areas "for me" to the yahoo site we'd set up to show each other our progress so I took it "One step at a time, small sections, not just the big picture" and guess what?  That worked!!!

So, it's up on the design wall and there's only 1 small opening so all I need to do is pull some small units that are already made out, connect them and then get crackin assembling the center. 

I cannot believe I just let it all go since July 2010!!!!

It's almost embarrasing!  

Oh well, I'm not gonna talk about it anymore, just get sewing and hopefully be done before I have to put it on the 2013 UFO list.....

Last Finish for 2012?

I'm thinking this MIGHT just be my final finish for 2012.....ALTHOUGH, after careful inspection of my calendar, I see there are 5 more full days of 2012 left so who knows!

I've had this bundle of Riley Blake fabric called "Pieces of Hope" since at least July but I did purchase them knowing I was going to assemble a quilt with them before December was over. 

This is a special bundle created especially for "Autism Awareness" which happens to fall around March or April every year.  I researched and found that it will be in April of 2013 so to raise some awareness and money for our newly created Autism program in the school I work in, I am assembling a quilt for them to raffle off.

I saw the bright quilt on the left in this picture below on Pinterest.  I searched all over looking for the pattern or even the person that created this quilt, to no avail.  I have the pattern shown on the right and KNEW I could adapt that pattern to look like the brigtly colored one so I cut, made the blocks and then it sat for 2 nights while we celebrated Christmas.  I came back to it today and I finished it. 

My blocks are each 6.5 inches unfinished.  I used 2.5 inch strips to create the alternating unit and came up with a quilt you might consider a lap quilt, it measures 42-1/2 X 55. 
I do have a red and orange from the bundle that I could add a 3-1/2 inch border around but was wondering if I need the border?

I have the white background with the large dots for the backing and one of the stripes for the binding......

Peggy

2013 UFO CHALLENGE

A few BFF's and I have decided that with the new year coming that we need to finish up some old UFO's.
Of course, if you go back to my December posts of previous years you'll see that I pretty much do this every year but I don't always manage to accomplish the goal  :)      HOWEVER, this year the word "Obscene" has cropped up in my conversations not only with my friends but in my head...you know those conversations "WOW, this has been sitting here since when?  2007?  Oh my....and you have how much red fabric?  WHAT? it fills a 10 gallon rubbermaid bin?  OH lordy!"  You know those kinds of conversations!
So, hence comes the 2013 UFO challenge to myself!

I pulled out the 2 bins of projects, pulled the 20 or so projects and put 9 on the list.  I had to be realistic and not pull out 1 for each month....I have a wedding shower to plan, my daughter's wedding on April 27th, hopefully a small vacation with hubby,  I have monthly BOM's and "want to do" projects (not only UFO's), and oh yeah, I have a full time job, kids to feed, laundry to do and sleep.  I know, I know, sleep is over rated but I seem to need a few hours each night  :)

Here's a UFO I found in the bin that is actually FINISHED as far as I'm concerned. It's a round robin that I did I swear in 2007-2008.  How bad is that that I can't even remember when I did it and I don't have any notes or emails of who or when I worked on it.

It measures 42-1/2 X 59 and I think it's a perfect size for a little girl and I don't think it needs a single thing added to it...NOTHING!!!  So, today I will go thru my backings and find something that will be nice with it and put it aside ready for quilting......

I'll be posting my UFO list on my sidebar and marking when each one gets done.  The list is in no particular order but I can tell you that # 1 will be my "Snow Days" project.  I've been talking about finishing it for weeks or has it been months?  WHATEVER...It's getting done 1st!  I will show pictures of the projects before and when it becomes a finished UFO....I'm keeping it real and keeping myself accountable!!!

I'll take a picture of my SNOW DAYS after I get my design wall cleaned off.  I'm working on a quilt right now that will be for the "2013 Autism Week" in school.  I donate one quilt a year in school that our multiply handicapped children walk around and sell tickets for one lucky recipient.  This year I bought the cute Autism fabric and I'm in the process of assembling the blocks for that.....Show and tell on that in a day or two.

Peggy

Great Day

It's my birthday and I had a great package from one of my BFF's.....  Hubby ran right out to the Home Depot and bought me a curtain rod/quilt hanger and had it hanging within an hour.  I love the wall hanging and as you can see from the picture, it's right next to my computer, ironing station and sewing machine.  I will think of Michelle each and every time I walk into the room and see it  :)  

Step 5

I came into the sewing room around 7PM tonight not expecting I'd get much done. 
I started to draw lines on my little squares and kept thinking "geesh, will I ever accomplish anything?"  It took about an hour I'd estimate to make one block.  At this point  I realized that if I didn't  FOCUS that I'd never get anything done so I hunkered down with my 2 inch purple blocks and my 3-1/2 inch turquoise blocks and I sewed and pressed until I had all 64 blocks done......

Now, it's time to head to bed because tomorrow is another busy day.


Peggy

Christmas Quilts

   I've been on a roll lately with smaller quilts for little ones. 

  

   We had a small shower in school on Tuesday for one of our teachers who's leaving in January.  I'd promised her when I heard she was pregnant that I'd make a baby quilt for her.  I didn't ask her what she wanted, I just dug in my 30's bin and made a Bricks & Stepping Stones quilt from all different scraps. 

She absolutely loved it and told me afterwards that she actually has some feedsacks that she inherited when her mom passed away a few years ago.  I never know if these young mothers like the 30's or if they want something more modern but this time it worked out nicely. 

   AND.....at the shower while sitting with another teacher she was telling me how much her girls love the quilts I made for them when they were babies and another teacher kind of looked like "hmmmm my babies didn't get one".  I'd planned quilts for them, I really did, I even cut them out a year ago but never assembled them.  I always feel guilty when I see her and tell myself to come home and get them assembled.  Well, I went in to pull the kitted quilts out and realized I already had 2 alike quilts made, flannel backed and quilted.  All one needed was 2 short sides tacked down.  I got that done, wrapped them at 11PM last night and at 7am this morning as everyone was signing in I gave the quilts to the teacher....

I just grabbed this picture from the mama's facebook page.... Apparently the flannel backing is a hit and the girls love their new quilts.

I really enjoy making quilts and giving them away, so why do I procrastinate when it comes time to bind them?   GEESH.......

So, is everyone ready for Christmas?  I need 4 gift cards that I can get tomorrow, the dog needs a bath and I need to wrap Hubby's gifts, which won't take long, but other than that, I'm ready....bring on the 25th!!!!!

I'm off to work on Bonnie Hunter's part 5 pieces....anyone finished yet?  LOL

Easy Street- Part 4

I think that I've become "The Geese Queen".  Yes, this new Bonnie Mystery step called for 64 more geese with purple centers and turquoise/teal wings.  I got them done early this afternoon and then just before putting them away I realized Bonnie may have given us some advance assembly or cutting so I looked at the last page of instructions and there they were....assemble our 64 blue/purple geese with 64 of the white/purple geese from last week and voile......this is what you get  ----------------------->

So, now it's time to store this step away and settle in to do something else until Bonnie posts the next step on Friday.
And just in time.......Fat Quarter Shop hooked me up with my 7th Designer Mystery Block of the month.......Stay tuned for pictures of that.

Peggy

PS:  Is everyone done shopping?  I think I am!!!  I know it's hard to believe if you know me  :)    I'm usually shopping Christmas Eve.  I'm happy that I'm done and I'm all ready to wrap a couple of last gifts.

Starry Night

    Can you believe I've been doing this block of the month since 2011?  I know it's not been that long but when you're supposed to be doing a BLOCK A MONTH, I should have been finished back in September 2011....  BUT, I've made a promise to myself that I am taking 1 project off the shelf and not starting anything new until 1 old one is finished.  I'm giving myself 2 months per project to get blocks made, assembly done, quilted and bound....from start to finish!  I'm sure I could finish quicker but right now I'm doing 2 other projects that require attention...one is the Bonnie Hunter mystery, and I get those instructions on Fridays and the other is the Fat Quarter Designer Mystery BOM. 

     Here is the 12th block that I did tonight -------------------->
I absolutely love the fabric in this block!

     I see now that I need to assemble 13 Pieced Pinwheel Star Alternate Blocks!   That ought to keep me busy for a while  :)

    
Here are the 12 blocks....off to start cutting some pinwheel stars.....


Peggy

DONE

I'm obsessed I guess......

Yes, I'm done with step 3 of Bonnie's Mystery.
I had a nice selection of purples in my stash and an even larger
selection of the black on whites. 
I would have loved a little more of an advance step other than just 2 3 inch green squares but I'll settle for that.  I didn't cut them in half yet like Bonnie suggested.  I'll just wait and do that when it's time.

I guess now I have the remainder of the weekend to work on other projects  :)

Hope everyone has a great weekend.....

Peggy

Easy Street Part 3

No, I'm not done yet  :)  

I did see the instructions mighty early this morning but couldn't start cutting until I got home from work this afteroon.  I don't know about the rest of you doing this mystery, but I for one LOVE the colors Bonnie chose.  I can't wait to cut into my green's.

Here's all my parts cut out ............................


I also decided that before I went too far that I needed to make 1 block to be sure I got the size correct. 
Bonnie calls for an "Easy Angle" ruler but not being one to buy rulers other than your usual straight ones, I just cut mine the old fashioned way.  I like to know I have the right size before I go and make all 64!

Here's 1 made up...

Dontcha love it??????????????

Off to make the others now.....

Peggy

Easy Street Part 2

Was anyone else as crazy as me on Friday morning knowing we were getting step 2 of Bonnie's mystery?

I normally don't turn the computer on until later in the day, like 3:00 when I get home from work but here I am at 5:45 in the morning turning it on and printing off the instructions  :)   

I am normally making breakfast so I can get to work at 7am, but I gave up breakfast to get my step 2  :)

I didn't have much time to sew yesterday so I got the majority done today and am ready for linking up.....

(sure is a lotta black and white in this picture!!!)

Bonnie's Mystery Part I Finished

Here is a picture of my 192 3-1/2 inch 4 patch blocks for the first step of the mystery.  This was a fun and easy step.....I'm hoping all of them are the same way  :) 
My grey is a little lighter than the suggested by Bonnie but I was limited in my selection at my local shop and I didn't want to order online for fear the grey would not be what I wanted to use.  I do like it though and I KNOW it's going to look perfect in this project.  This picture is from my cell phone so the coloring is a little off.

I was accused by one of my BFF's Laura No Blog yesterday of having help catching up to her and the others in our group.  She thought that my little friend Pedro the Preying Mantis (see previous post) helped do some cutting and sewing since I was able to catch up after a day out of state....She then thought that my daughter's puppy Luna may have even helped....REALLY Laura?  Luna would have preferred EATING the rotary cutter to cutting with it.....

Little does Laura No Blog know, but I have a sweat shop going in my basement and we have a team of praying mantis's down there pressing fabric, cutting strips and doing some sewing for me when I'm too tired after a hard day at work  :)

Easy Street-Part 1

     I have been waiting it feels like MONTHS for Easy Street to start and don't you know, the day it starts I'm in my car heading to Maryland for the day!  Luckily for me it was just for a haircut and color and lunch with my favorite hairstylist, then home by dinnertime.  We ordered some chinese and off to my sewing room to start cutting 2 inch strips.  I really love the variety of black on white fabrics I had in my stash, and I even picked up about 5-6 small pieces in the last week or two, just to add some variety. 

I cut and then sewed strips and even got them pressed and subcut, and in true "Peggy Fashion" I made my first 10 4 patch blocks so I could see how they looked  :)    Just an FYI, I tried Bonnie's twist turn for pressing the 4 patches flat and what a HUGE difference in how nicely they lay....check out her part 1 instructions for the link to those directions....

     I have a "family to be" baby shower today at 3:00....my daughter's future sister in law, so I'll try and slip an hour at the machine before I leave and then when I get home later.  I'd love to get all the 4 patches made tonight and then focus on other things tomorrow, but we will see.....

GOBBLE GOBBLE

Happy Thanksgiving....

Taking a walk down Easy Street

As previously posted, I am participating in Bonnie Hunter's mystery "Easy Street".  I took a picture today of the fabrics I am using and in true form, I'm doing the mystery in the exact colorway Bonnie suggested.
I figured that way, if she says "green" I won't grab orange, in case I changed it up a little.....
I had everything in my stash except for the "constant" fabric, which is a grey, and I did order some black on whites to add to what I have already, but they haven't come yet.  I think the mail being re-routed because of Hurricane Sandy is holding my new stuff up, but I have plenty as you will see, to start the mystery.

The first step is being posted Friday.  I will be away most of the day but I'll print it off and may even get to start it.  Saturday is a baby shower, so I won't get much done then either....but Sunday is MINE so I'll be sure to get to cutting.
I think the colorway is AWESOME and can't wait to get started!

Are you doing the mystery?  What colorway are you doing?

Peggy

Thanksgiving Eve

  We had a 1/2 day of school today, then hubby picked me up at 12 and took me to lunch, Surf Taco!  YUM  Now I'm home and I'm thinking I need to straighten up the house, maybe do a load or two of wash and then possibly sew.  I'm not having a lot of company tomorrow so it will be a nice quiet, low key kind of day.    I mentioned the other day that I'm thankful for mine and my family's health and good fortune throughout this month but I'd like to mention also that I have a couple of BFF's who I can almost consider "family".  I've laughed with them, I've cried with them, I've traveled with them and spent a lot of nice time sewing and shopping with them.  I don't get to see these girls often but when we do get together I feel like I've just seen them yesterday.....SISTERS is the word I'd use to describe them! 

   I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving tomorrow.......GOBBLE GOBBLE!!!

Thankful

With Thanksgiving coming up and some friends doing a Thankful Daily post I decided that I should do one as well. 
I'm thankful for many things this year because as you all know, NJ was hit hard with Hurricane Sandy and a Noreaster.  I am minutes away from the large towns that you see on the news, Seaside Heights, Bricktown, Ortley Beach etc....but our little town lost a lot too.  I have co-workers that lost their homes and everything they own including their cars, we have kids in school that have nothing and are living with friends and family in other towns and when I see the devastation in my own town I have to be thankful for only having lost my power for 20 hours during the hurricane and 13 hours when the noreaster hit.  The principal of our school lost his car and power for 10 or 11 days.  He would come to school as if nothing happened and be smiling and understanding to the children and staff....yet, he'd run home to power up the generator so his elderly mother would have heat and lights during the day and then again at the end of the day.  Our school is doing food and clothing drives for the children, we have staff on hand  letting the kids talk it out and we are attempting to collect $$ and such for the staff that need to get back too some semblance of normal life.
So, you say I'm thankful ?  Yes, I have no loss of property or damage to my home, our health is good (yeah, yeah, I have a bum knee and bad shoulder but.....) we have our jobs and my kids all made it thru this with I think with a better understanding of "hard times".  My family is in the food industry and at one point the lobby of one of the stores was a hang out of sorts for people who needed to power up their cell phones etc.
The store provided tables and chairs in the foods to go area, coffee and donuts, lots of extension cords for powering up computers and phones and heaters were placed around to give warmth.  My kids had never seen this and came home with a gained introspect on what others go thru.
So, I know this is longwinded but I needed to put it out there that I am THANKFUL this year for many things.

Now, to move onto the holiday at hand, then our Christmas celebration and then once the New Year comes we'll have our daughter's wedding on April 27th.   THAT is going to be the highlight of 2013...I can't wait.  Jen and Tim are so perfect together and I can't wait for that celebration.  Here's a picture they had taken soon after the engagement. 

I want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving....

What are you thankful for?

Peggy

Veterans Day

Today, like the other 364 days of the year I am thankful for all veterans that have served our country!

I've been blessed to have family members serve in almost all the branches of the military, one of my best friend's husband and son are both active Air Force members and I work with 2 men who are presently deployed for the Air National Guard.
Without these men AND women our country would not be what it is today.

Thank you!

Easy Street

Are you a Bonnie Hunter fan?  I follow her blog and have even been dragged kicking and screaming into her way of thinking with the "scrap" idea AND I have one of her quilts that will be out in her next book already started.  YES, I purchased a magazine from overseas somewhere and they'd had advance production on the pattern so I started it....but never finished it YET. 

Anyhow, Bonnie does a mystery every year and I follow my BFF's Robin and Michelle as they venture into the unknown with her and have loved their finished quilts.  I think my absolute favorite so far was Michelle's Orca Bay because of the colors.  I'm partial to blue and black as opposed to the pinks and greens Bonnie suggested using. 

This morning Bonnie posted "Easy Street" and is stating that it won't be as INTENSE as in years past.  I'm thinking I might have to jump on the bandwagon.....the colors are so "PEG". 

Are you going to Easy Street this year?

Sewing Room

Have I ever shared pictures of where I sew?  It's not a huge room but it's better than the 9 x 11 room (closet) I used to sew in before my daughter moved to Maryland  :)

Hubby bought me a really nice Horn of America cabinet for my cutting area and also a new sewing machine cabinet.  They weigh a ton (literally) and it took hubby and son HOURS to get up the stairs to the sewing room.  Yesterday I had an oopsie with an open basket of 2 inch squares.  Literally HUNDREDS of 2 inch squares were everywhere.  I decided that I could not spend hours again picking them up, sorting them by color and then putting them away so this morning at 7am when hubby was going to Shop Rite for some emergency food and stuff he ran into Walmart for me and brought back 4 bins for various size scraps.  I have them sorted by 5 inch, 3 inch, 2-1/2 and 2 inch.  I know my BFF's are proud of me for doing this since they've been so diligent at keeping their scraps at bay  :)   

Only problem with buying more bins is I didn't have a clue where to store them.....so, I looked in the cutting cabinet door and lo an behold, a whole spot that was being taken up by skinny little shelves that I presume are supposed to hold thread and bobbins.  I don't need those types of things because I have wall hanging spool holders.  Out they came, in went the bins and BANG!  a neat and orderly scrap cabinet!

It's the little things in my sewing room that make me happy.....

100 Quilts

NO...that's not how many quilts I've made, at least I don't think so, but I did send it to my BFF Michelle for her to work her magic on it and I was her #100!   Michelle has had her machine now for a little over a year and I don't know about you, but I think that's a wonderful accomplishment!
I did benefit from this being her 100th quilt too, she presented me with a copy of the "Sweet Celebrations with the Moda Bake Shop Chefs" book.  I found quite a few really nice projects in the book!

I love Churn Dash quilts and when I saw this one on Amy Smart's blog back last October or November, I knew I wanted to make it and even used some of her fabric line.
I met up with Michelle on Tuesday morning for a Sit N Sew with some of the girls in her guild and she presented it to me in the parking lot of the church where we sew.

I found a nice teal fabric that will make the blue fabrics show up more so sometime this weekend I'll make the binding and get it on.

PS:  This was the 17th quilt Michelle quilted for me this year!

Binding

Once the baby quilt was done, backing assembled and pressed and set aside I asked myself "what's next?"

Well, it didn't take long to see that the 2 quilts I had quilted back this summer needed binding on them so I started with a red and white sampler.  Pulled out a nice red and white candy cane stripe, cut the strips and started attaching.  Got it all done and then decided that before I put the next quilt binding on that I should make a hanging sleeve for my elves quilt.  That's when I realized.......I need a 10 step program!

 

First off, it's another red and white project, the border on both was a red and white scrappy piano key, and the binding was the exact same red and white fabric....  Yes, I need help.  Is there a program out there for girls like me that pick the same thing over and over again?   ----------> sampler border and binding.

And don't you know, I was browsing on a blog or Pinterest this week and what do you think I found?  Yes, a red and white snowball quilt....and I want to make that now....

Another Finish

My daughter is marrying into a family in April that will bring her 2 sister in laws and 3 brother in laws as well as a new baby with one of the sister in law's, Amy and her husband Eric.  Amy's colors for the baby's room is very classic looking.  As previously reported I found a great pattern for the quilt she wants and even better, found a great fabric line that was perfect for it so I got right to it so it will be done, quilted, and bound before Thanksgiving when Amy and Eric will visit from Washington State.

I took advantage of today being a gorgeous 66 degree day with a nice breeze to go outside and take 2 pictures of the quilt with the quilt hanging on the clothes line.....I love how my shadow showed up in the corner of the picture.....

2012 Designer Mystery BOM

Month #5 and I'm keeping up with my vow to complete my block within the week of receiving the kit. 

This block is called "Cherry Sundae" and it was designed by Barb Adams and Alma Allen of Blackbird Designs.  Again....great fabrics and a fun block to sew up 

Looking

I'm looking for an embroidery pattern with the letters of the alphabet but I would like it to show something that goes with the letter like Z and it's attached to a Zebra...both in the design.  I'd seen on someone's blog they did an entire quilt from little alphabet blocks and I just loved the idea.....Anyone out there have a pattern or know where I can get one?
I have seen the Crabapple Hill pattern and it's not quite what I'm looking for.  I want childish and easy....

Ritzy Bitzy Babies

I've had a request from my daughter for a special baby quilt for her future sister & brother in law.

She wanted something along the lines of Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn.

I've had this pattern with the "girl" fabrics for at least a year but of course the baby is going to be a boy so I had to do a little searching online for the "boy" colorway.   

The fabrics are "Puttin on the Ritz" by Bunny Hill Designs and the pattern is by Kimberly Jolly for www.ItsSewEmma.com. 

I think they will fit the bill but I'll reserve cutting into them until after I see her on Monday and get the okie dokie.....

Basket of Flowers

   I swear this project was one of those "record" finishes.  Started the hst assembly on Friday and by Sunday I had the quilt top assembled and quilted with the binding on.  I spent a couple of nights in front of the TV tacking down the binding so by Wednesday I had it done and then washed, dried and stored away awaiting a baby in need of a quilt. 

I've never mastered the allover quilting so I just did some straight line stitching along the line of the half square triangles.

Since at this point it was October, I made my Big 3 list and chose some projects that I could get done without stressing myself out. 

#1 was getting the binding on my Elves quilt.  That was an easy one....got that on last night and even tacked 1 long side down.

I've also decided that I need to make at least 6 Great Granny blocks this month.  In the past 2 nights alone I made 3 so I think I can probably get 6 done

One of my other goals is to keep up with Terry's Scrappy Star challenge.  I absolutely love working with all my scraps....who'd have thunk I'd ever say that  LOL

Here's a picture of my 2 blocks.

I do have to admit that I didn't only make these 2 blocks, I got carried away with my scraps and actually made 11 of them  :)

I'm good to go until February I think.....

Monday (10/8) is a holiday from work...YAY!

I'm taking a road trip with my youngest daughter to Baltimore to meet up with oldest daughter for our first and hopefully only bridal shop dress shopping  :)

She's got an idea what type of dress she wants to wear so with luck the shop has "the perfect dress".

Hope you're all enjoying this heat (YUCK) 

Please bring on the cooler weather.....PLEASE!