Thursday Things

     Well, it's no school for me today  :)    Teacher's convention here in New Jersey so we are off today and tomorrow, which affords me 2 extra days for sleeping in, sewing etc.    I LOVE IT!
We did not have the convention last year due to Hurricane Sandy so I am thankful for no hurricane but 2 days off!

     I absolutely love this time of year regardless of the icky, rain we have here today.  I love the change of seasons because I love all the colorful leaves etc. that you get to see here on the east coast.
I've often thought that I could do without the change of seasons but I am convinced I need them.

     This has not been the most productive week in the sewing room but I can say, one project, my "Jamestown Landing" quilt, that's been like an OLD friend, has finally been completed and I found the perfect backing fabric for it in my stash!  AND, it's an extra wide backing so there was very little I had to do to prepare it to send for quilting.
I love when the planets align like that.
Now, to contact the quilter and see when I can send it to her.

        Here's the quilt folded with the backing on top.  I think it will look perfect quilted in a tan thread and bound in a blue!

     I've started a new project too this week.  It's  called "Round & Round". 
I did 1 block on Sunday so today I'm going to spend some time and get the remaining half square triangles made for the other 6 blocks.  I'll show some pictures after I make a little progress.

Peggy

Jamestown Landing Done

     Yes, it is done.  It only took me 3 years working on and off, but my "Jamestown Landing" quilt is finished.  I always loved it and didn't mind working on it but once the center was done I found that I just didn't want to work on it any more........but, I'm thrilled to death that I was challenged by both my BFF's and Jo. 

     Here is a picture of two corners where the borders meet

    

And let me tell you....there is a LOT of fabric in this top....here's me trying to push the borders thru the machine.....







 And here's what Bonnie's quilt looks like.  I don't have a single flat surface that I can lay mine out on to take a picture of it.

Now I need to look thru my bin of backing fabrics and see if I have the "perfect" backing fabric.....

                                                                                    

"Jamestown" Update

     Since Jo posted her challenge to finish an old Bonnie Hunter project BEFORE the new mystery starts, I've only had 2 days to work on my Jamestown quilt before hubby and I left for 5 days of vacation so I didn't get a lot done but I'm thrilled with what I did get done. 
This will finish to be 84 X 96 so I have a lot of piano key strips to connect....
I will say that I DID strip piece the units so that made the strips faster to do.  Since this quilt is on my Big 3 list as well this month I'm once and for all decided it's time to git er done!

Thankful

 

How true is that?

 

Like last night (Friday).  I was thankful for a safe flight home from Florida and able to sleep in my own bed  :)   

 

Peggy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    

We're on Vacation

     Yes, when we came in from work on Friday we each had the same comment "We're on Vacation!".  

     Hubby and I weren't sure we were going to do a vacation this year since we'd had the wedding back in April and then made the decision we wanted to redo our kitchen in January but all of a sudden one afternoon sitting at the kitchen table Sarah asked "Big Popi" if we were doing anything since she had a week's vacation left from work , so the conversations started...... 
The final decision was made and these guys won out.....

     It's been a few years since we've been to Disney and with the new Harry Potter rides available and other great rides to experience, it was an easy decision to make.   We're hoping that we've picked an "off" time at the park but just in case, we signed up for the

Magic Bands.  We've reserved some meals and rides with them with the hopes that if it's not an "off" time that we'll at least get on our favorite rides quickly and easily  :)    We'll be gone Monday-Friday, which will be just enough time away to relax and regroup.

I hope you all have a great week....


Peggy

Jo's Bonnie Challenge

     I've quickly become a Bonnie Hunter fan thanks to my BFF's who'd been fans forever.  I did last year's mystery and now I'm going to participate in the Celtic Solstice.   Well, Jo, at Jo's Country Junction http://www.joscountryjunction.com/bonnie-challenge-2013/ is having a challenge.  Finish up an old Bonnie project before you start the new mystery.  Do I have one?   You betcha!!!
I started her "Jamestown Landing" before it was even in her book.  I'd gotten the pattern from an Australian magazine. 
I have the entire center done...It needs a skinny border and then a piano key border.
Scrap bin here I come!!!!




I'll take a picture later of how far I've gotten and post that.

Challenge on!

Are you jumping on the Bonnie Bandwagon?

     I know I don't "need" to add another project to my already large list of things to do but seriously, it's a Bonnie Hunter Mystery!   I'm not a veteran of the Bonnie mysteries, I've actually only done last year's "Easy Street", but I think that piqued my interest and hooked me right away. This year it's being called "Celtic Solstice"
So, while I prepared dinner last night I pulled blues, yellows and oranges from my downstairs sewing room and tonight while the spaghetti water was boiling I pulled more blues and oranges.  My only substitution to Bonnie's colorway is the black on white I'm using instead of the tan/neutrals.
So, without further ado, here are my picks:

 

My goal again this year is to only pull from my stash.  Last year I only bought the black on whites and I guess I overdid it just a teeny bit  :)  I may find more prints between now and the day after Thanksgiving when we start cutting, but for now I think I have a great start to the project.

 

I'm going to go to Bonnie's site now and upload her "Paddy" picture for my sidebar!

 

Are you jumping on Bonnie's bandwagon????

Yes, I'm Back

    2 Posts in 1 weekend?  Shocking I know!



    This afternoon I assembled my SWOON # 2 block.  I am really loving working with the large blocks!  I had this one all laid out on my design wall so all I had to do was turn around and grab the block parts.  I wasn't tired nor was I distracted but suffice it to say, my seam ripper got a workout today.  I don't know why, but the top left unit was ripped out at least 3 times (ugh).  I finally got it all done and pressed but by then it was almost time to start dinner so I had to stop.

Also, here is a picture of some flannel yardage I found on Friday at my local quilt shop "Quilting Possibilities" in Forked River, NJ.   The fabric is a Bonnie and Camille flannel and was in the "Sale Room" for $5.99 a yard.  To me I think that's a steal!   There was 6-3/4 yards on the bolt so I bought it all.  So, Debbie the owner has a program at the shop where you can put your name in a bucket if you don't take your purchase in a bag.  She's been doing this for years and almost every time I go in I put my name in but never win.  Well, surprise, surprise, last week I came home and found I'd won! 
So, my 6-3/4 yards of flannel minus the $20 I won in the bag program cost me $23.00.  That's a win /win in my book..........................AND, here's a fun story.  As I came out of the sale room a woman walked past me and said "Oh Peggy, I enjoy reading your blog".  I stopped short and looked at the woman (yes, I'm sorry, I can't remember your first name) and had to ask her how she knew me....
She said she recognized me from my blog!!!   I find it amazing when people can put a name with a blog! 

I saw her again as I was leaving with my flannel.  She was standing by Debbie's longarm machine watching her husband as he quilted a wedding quilt for her.  What fun to see her gorgeous quilt on the machine and also to see a man behind it!!!   

     And last but not least, there was some "mail call" this week. 

 

Back when Lori Holt did the row by row that's on the cover of her book I did a few rows then lost interest when one of my friends died.  Her and I were doing the rows together so I just didn't want to finish without her.  Over the summer I decided that I'd finish the rows "for Laura".  Now, where did those pattern instructions go?  Hmmm...  Aw heck, just order the book.  So I did and it came this week.   I also fell in love with The Blue and the Grey cover quilt so I ordered that one too.....
NOW, where's the time to do all these projects?   :)

Hope you have a good week!!!

Peggy

Designer Mystery BOM

     I'm finally back with a little bit of an update from the sewing room. 

     I'm trying very hard to keep up with the Designer Mystery BOM.  Some months it works and some it doesn't.  This month, I got the fabric kit on Thursday and here it is Saturday and I'm already done with it.
     We are on block #5, which is surprising to me since it feels like I just started.  To realize it's the 5th month already surprises me. 

     So, our designer this month is Vanessa Christenson from www.VanessaChristenson.com and the pattern is called "Stargazing", which I think is a perfect name.      I absolutely love this fabric line and so far all of the patterns are awesome!!! 

Before I put the block away, I took the other 4 out and took a picture of all 5.  After the next block is done I can start assembling the first 2 rows.....

 

Earlier this week I finished a quilt that I did with a kit that's been in my stash probably 2 if not 3 years.  I took for granted that all the parts would be in the project bag when I opened it but it was missing the 2 borders  :(      I did call the shop but they wanted me to drive the kit out to them and since I knew they probably didn't have any more of the fabric AND it's an hour away, I just made do, pulled borders from my stash of flannels and moved on with the assembly.  It's all done now and off to the quilter.  This particular quilt is for a friend's mom who will be 90 in January.  I will show a picture when it does come back to me since I did forget to take one before I shipped it off.

 

After the above quilt was finished I was at a loss for what to do but I have been thinking (almost dreaming) about the "Swoon" pattern I got over the summer and wanting to start it so I pulled one of my Bonnie and Camille bundles down off the shelf, pulled enough fq's to make the blocks and got to cutting.  BUT, in true fashion for me, I had to stop the cutting and assemble the first block.  I just can't help myself :)

NOW, this block looks like it would be a quick one

to do, and it kind of was BUT, looks are deceiving.  This block measures 24-1/2 inches square!!!

I don't think I've ever made a single block this big.  I'm anxious to get back to making the final 8 blocks so stay tuned, I doubt you'll have to wait too long to see them.

 

Peggy

 

Hobby Lobby?

   Hobby Lobby?  Where?????????????

Yes, I had heard one was coming to New Jersey but I thought it was out by Philly.  Well, last week when my BFF Michelle was in hers and texted a picture of the pumpkins they had in the store it got me to thinking....where is ours?   Well, when I found out it was approximately 45-50 minutes away I KNEW I was taking a day off and going in search of it. 

So, here's the pumpkin that I was tempted with by Michelle.....

My oldest daughter just happens to be a fan of all animal print things so when I saw this I just KNEW she'd want one for her coffee table.
It was a little pricey for me but I'd gotten an email from Hobby Lobby over the weekend for 40% off so I used it on this...

I picked up quite a few items while I was there including some party favors for a "baby sprinkle" the girls and I are hosting here in November, some Kona Snow, some Halloween items and also a red button for my sewing room wall.
It looks a lot bigger than it really is sitting there in the shopping cart.  In reality it's about 7-71/4 inches....
You can see I had 2 in the cart but the one was cracked along the back side so I left it there. 

Now that I know how to get there, I'll be going back quite often!!!

Designer Mystery BOM 2013-2014

     Well. Good Sunday morning to you.....

     I've been Blog MIA for a while with updates on project progress but I'll start back with more pictures and info soon.  For today I have my Designer BOM block # 4 to show you.

     This block is called "Radiance" and it was designed by Bonnie & Camille.  They both design patterns and fabric at www.cottonway.com and www.thimbleblossoms.com.  I am a fan of both mother and daughter so it was such a joy to make this block. 
As I've mentioned before, I'm doing this with Fat Quarter Shop and again.....LOTS of left over fabric so I'm trying to decide on a project to incorporate these fabric leftovers and make myself 2 quilts at a time.  It's either going to be geese or hst 9 patch blocks....Stay Tuned!

     My Big 3 list for September was not totally completed but I am thrilled with how my month went.  I can sometimes be a little over ambitious when I assemble my list so if I get 2 of the 3 done and keep up with the 2-3 BOM's I'm doing, I'm a happy camper.

1.)   Binding on Gwen's quilt- DONE
2.)   Assemble "Picnic" quilt and send to quilter- DONE  (on it's way back to me too!)
3)    Decide on final border for "Jamestown"- I did make a decision but never got to working on it :)
4.)   Work on scrappy postage stamp quilt-  Doing this as a leader/ender so I did add some to the bin.

So, you see I did do good....AND I finished assembly of my Granny Squares quilt and assembled backing, did my Designer BOM block, bound 2 other small baby quilts and also assembled my Snowman block bom but didn't get the wool embroidery tacked down.
All in all a good September.

Onto October

HAPPY FALL,
Peggy

A thought for today......................................................

YARD SALE

   I am down to 3 items in my yard sale:

The Fons & Porter Kit---------SOLD

The Vintage Stitches BOM kit

The tumblers with the blue dot yardage


Thank you to all the people who visited my yard sale.

I will certainly be doing this again.....

It's Yard Sale Time!!!!

First item today is called "Vintage Stitches".  It was the 2006 Thimbleberries BOM.  I did it thru a quilt shop that cut all your pieces for you, all you had to do was assemble.  I remember being excited about doing it and then lost interest before I could drop out.  This package is yours for $40 and that includes shipping.












The 2nd item is called "Petite Baskets".  I'd seen it in a Fons & Porter Magazine so I ordered it from them.  The kit includes everything needed to complete the top plus the backing and buttons for the baskets.  I paid $38 plus the price of the magazine.  It's yours for $25 which includes S&H.

3rd item is called "Frolic & Butterflies".  It's a Moda Bake Shop project.  This kit can certainly be broken down and used for a purse or other small quilt.  This is $25.00 includes S&H.
SOLD!!!

4th item is some "Cotton Blossoms" fabric by Bonnie & Camille.  There is a charm pack, 1/2 yd of the cream print, 1 yard of the blue stripe, a fq + a couple inches of the blue dot, 2 yds of the other floral print and 4 yards of the blue print.  I think I was going to make a small quilt with it but never got around to it.  $ 30 including S&H.
It's an older line but still very pretty.

SOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!








5th item is a pile of  6-1/2 inch tumbler  blocks and 2 yards of "Little Things by Sarah Fielke.  $20.00 includes S&H.

 

# 6 is 5 fat quarters and 1 yard each of the large dot and stripe Riley Blake "All Star 2" $20 S&H included                                                             

SOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#7- Gallon size Ziploc bag of blue/gold fabrics.  Some is yardage and a few pieces are just random sizes.  Probably 5+ yards in here..  $10 S&H included.

SOLD!!!!!

#8- Ziploc bag of scraps from a recent quilt.  Most pieces are from a layer cake but there are some random larger and smaller pieces. Aneela Hooey line with girls riding scooters, puppies etc.  $10 includes S&H.

SOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

# 9 is 2 projects.  Both are free but a nominal $3.00 postal fee, and can be sent separate.  If you want one and not the other that's fine. The first is Thimbleberries "Hometown Christmas".  It's 4 booklets.  The other is the "2012 Designer Mystery BOM".  I did both of these projects this past year and enjoyed the process of doing both.

SOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

#10- a bag of quilt blocks.  There are 26 and they are all different blocks and all different brown on brown fabrics.  I always thought I'd make a big sampler quilt from them but I've just never done it so here's the chance for someone to assemble a quilt super quick because the biggest part of it is done.....$6.00 for the whole lot.  S&H included.   SOLD!!!

 

 

 

#11- Pink floral fat quarters.  Flower Sugar, Lecien, Tanya Whalen....They will play nicely with #12 as well since they are all from the same type of lines...all pretty florals.  $25 for the 2 or if you want to split them up, the pinks are $10 and the mixed pile is $15.  S&H included.

SOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

 

#13 is a Pat Sloan kit called "Black Eyed Susan".  You get the book with that and other projects in it and the fabric to make the front of the quilt.  I've already made 2 and am wondering why I have a 3rd kit?  $15.00 and S&H included.

SOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, be specific which project you want and I will need your email address to send your paypal notice to and your mailing address.  Please email me privately at paront1222@comcast.net

As I said in my original email, I will be sure your project leaves my home no later than 3pm on Wednesday unless I'm waiting on your check to arrive in New Jersey.  Otherwise, I have mailing envelopes, small boxes etc. all lined up and ready to go.  The kiddies come back to school on Thursday so I'll want this yard sale done and over with by Wednesday for sure.

 

I am hoping this is not my last yard sale as I've been collecting, hoarding  fabric and kits for YEARS!!!   I've lost interest in some of these projects or have just outgrown my love for the fabric line etc.

 

All fabric comes from a smoke free home.........

 

Peggy in New Jersey

Challenging Yourself

     Do you challenge yourself during the month?  Even if it's to make 1 small quilt block, bind a top or even try to make a final decision on a border?   I do.  Myself and 2 of my BFF's do it.  Recently it's been just 2 of us since the 3rd was moving but I've kept up with mine and have found that it really helps.

     This month I am not making "huge" challenges with my list because school reopens on Thursday (ugh) and there a few other things going on with life so I'm not picking complicated or hard things....

First in the picture above is a small postage stamp quilt that I started early in August.  I'd like to get some more parts made.
Second is an Aneela Hooey pinwheel quilt that I need for September 15th.  It just needs binding.
Third is a quilt called "Picnic".  It needs rows made and to be sent to the quilter.  It's been hanging around for too long, and we all know what happens with that, it gets set aside and never done.....
The fourth project is called "Jamestown" from Bonnie Hunter.  The entire top is done but it needs a border.  Bonnie did a piano key border but I'm questioning that.  I'm not sure I have enough blues and tans left from the top assembly to actually make that type of border.  So, the project is to figure it out and send it for quilting.

Those are my Top 4 September "must do's".

My BFF Robin will send me her list later this weekend and we'll keep one another on track  :) 


                       Peggy in New Jersey

Yard Sale

   




 Yeah, I'm going to jump on Bonnie Hunter's "Yard Sale" band wagon Monday......
I was just saying to my 2 BFF's this week that I needed to purge and was wondering if Bonnie was going to have one.   So sooner did I say it than Michelle emailed and said "Ask and you shall receive".

     I have a 13 lots so far....and I'll only tell you that my prices are going to be dirt cheap...some stuff will be free but you pay postage, some things will be postage plus ridiculous prices like $20.....
Yeah, I'm almost giving this stuff away!!!    I'm thinking of making up some 1 gallon Ziploc bags of scraps and doing them for free too.......

     I have 2 sewing rooms and as they say "something's gotta give"  We can't keep up with this stuff.....  So, check back on Monday morning and I'm just gonna say, first come first serve.  I'll take Paypal and personal checks..  Paypal items will go out by Wednesday at the latest, personal checks I'll have to wait for the check to come in and clear. 

     So, check back Monday if you want some great deals!!!

WHAT HAPPENED?

I don't know what's up with the post I did this morning.....didn't touch any font or size buttons but I'm getting 2 sized fonts and bold/not bold.  I've attempted to fix this but it's not working....so it is what it is on a Friday morning that finds me with too many things to do to fuss with the post  :)

Hope everyone has some fun this Labor Day weekend.....I hope to find some rest and sewing time.
I go back to my "Last" School Opening on Thursday the 5th which I'm looking forward to but it also makes me sad to be leaving so many friends I've made over the last 18-1/2 years....but I'm sooooo looking forward to January when I will have "Peggy Time" every day.

Happy Labor Day.



Peggy in New Jersey

Sewing Room Re-Do

     I have always felt very lucky that I had a husband that "got" my sewing addiction so when we built our house 20 years ago he made sure I had a sewing room....it was only 9 x 12 but still a sewing room.  I loved that little room and spent MANY hours in it sewing.  It was right off the living room so I could watch the tv, the kids would sit outside the room and sometimes inside (underfoot) so I was never unreachable. 
Many nights I'd be laying blocks out on the living room floor and both hubby and the kids would be jumping over them to come and see me.  
     A little over a year ago we decided that the empty bedroom upstairs was a bigger, better fit for my sewing so we emptied all the junk out  that had accumulated in it , painted it a nice buttercup yellow and hubby ordered me a cutting table with the matching sewing machine table and quilting chair!!!  Here's the wall with the cutting table on it.............. 

    I didn't do a lot of decorating in the room at first since I was not sure how I wanted the room to look so I just shelved the fabric, threw bins in different corners and basically just lived in the room for a year or so. 
Back in early spring I found a cute battenburg lace valance to put on the double window, just to have "pretty".
I didn't want curtains or anything blocking all the natural light and the semi view of my backyard...just a little something to put over the blinds to finish the windows off.


I finally started to mention that I NEEDED something on the wall over the cutting table.  I'd had pegboard on the wall in the downstairs room and that worked for me so my friend Vic the builder was called, plans were hatched and our household list of "things to do" was handed to him on Monday and voile...shed doors and front replaced, ceiling lights in the upstairs hallway replaced and shelving in my sewing room hung....
This is what the room looked like on Thursday at 3:20 when I came in from work. 
You can imagine my giddiness on finding all that space for pincushions, books, baskets, and all my "chochkies".  Oh yeah, that priority box....not from Vic, but from someone else...Vic just brought it in for me :)

I sat in my sewing chair and looked at the shelves for a bit and thought about what I wanted to put on them but for sure, I knew hooks on the pegboard for scissor hanging!!! 
I brought goodies up, loaded the shelves and after dinner gave it a once over, was fairly happy with placement and then took this picture................................

YES.....I'm definitely happy with seeing all my toys again and I love how the scissors are accessible on the pegboard.  I have more scissors, but then don't all quilters have a bevy of scissors? LOL   But, the ones I have out are the ones I use all the time. 

I'm sure that I'll change things up a bit as I find something that needs to be displayed, but for now, this is perfect.......

 

Yes folks, Peggy is a happy girl (for now).  And yes, I'm already hatching a plan for kitchen remodeling once I retire in January.  I already talked to Vic, drew the layout for cabinets etc....Stay tuned for more fun remodeling  :)

 

Peggy in New Jersey 

 

2013 Designer Mystery Block of the Month

     Yes, it's been a while and there's no excuse but I'm here now and that's all that matters. 

     I got my Designer Mystery BOM kit the other day and it's been #1 on my list of things to get done this week but I'd started a baby quilt over the weekend and needed to finish that and prep the backing before I could start on the block.  I did get it cut and assembled earlier tonight and I'm thrilled with how nice it came out. 


The block is called "Wildflower Bouquet" and it was designed by Edyta Sitar of Laundry Basket Quilts.   

 

   I know I've said it before but FQ Shop is very generous with their cuts for this BOM and the Fig Tree Quilts fabric line is gorgeous!!!

     I have the first 3 blocks done and you will notice that there is a pattern going on this year  :)   It looks like we might be making a basket quilt....something I've wanted to do for a while now and never did so this is a perfect time to get one made.

     Here in New Jersey the schools don't open till after Labor Day, Thursday that week to be exact for the school I work in.  This will be a time of "lasts" for me.  I will be retiring from the guidance office of my school after 18-1/2 years working in the district so this is my "last first day" with quite a few "lasts" to follow.  I'm looking forward to spending more time in my sewing room and hopefully USING UP some of the fabric I've been hoarding  :)

     Hope everyone has a great day...

Peggy

Saturday Update

    I should have more to report on but for some reason I just don't.  I got 3 baby quilts assembled but need to get the backings prepped.  Seems that there are a lot of new babies coming this year and I'm always getting requests for more from family members so I feel like it never hurts to have a few ready to go at any time  :)

     With that said, this pattern

has been sitting on a shelf in my sewing room for quite a while....maybe even 2 years. I don't know why it's been sitting, it's a cute pattern AND it was already kitted!!!   You would think that having the kit it would move me to assemble it quicker but it didn't. 

I did however decide that today was the day to get it cut and get the assembly started.  It calls for 182 half square triangles so today I did the cutting and line drawing so I'm on my way......  Anyone out there ever make this quilt?