Whoa there

 I done gone and finished this here top up today....

gest b'fore sun down.

  

New Stuff for the New Year

I mentioned I started making a goal list last week.  Well, something has me super excited about these new projects, and I've been working!  

 I got those charms made into a little quilt top.  I am going to add borders, the fabric arrived yesterday so I'll get to it this week.  But while I was waiting I started cutting up this fabric...

 I bought this YEARS ago, and I'm loving this easy fun pattern.  I have been watching a ton of Army Wives since the Hubs left and 60 episodes in I finally had to make a rail fence like the one in Roxy's living room. I love this pattern for large prints like this Michael Miller cowgirls fabric.  Its going to be 7x9 so I have almost half of the top on my 'design wall'.  If my husband knew about this hanging in the dining room he wouldn't be too pleased, but he ain't here now is he?  

I have a few other stacks of fabric that I really want to use this year.  I won't declare anything though because they never work.  Like this declaration....ahem....guess what my brain wants me to do again this year..... I'm not ready to say it out loud.

Yesterday was a special day.  The last day I was dreading during this deployment. Our tenth wedding anniversary.  I would loved to have been in Hawaii with the hubs, but I ran errands and put away the Christmas stuff instead. I'm really looking forward to him being home most of next year, for all of the major holidays,  for the evening dishes, and for everything else in between. 

2011 Quilts

Love Month

citrus

Snowlady Quilt

Ho Ho Tree Quilt

Ticker Tape

Road to Bliss

A friendly Foot of Snow

Ted-ee

Baby Drew's Quilt

My bed quilt

Haley's Hexagons

Melissa's quilt

Sea Bass

a wall hanging

Daddy Hugs Quilt

Barn Raising

a spring baby quilt

Under Par-pardon the junk on top of it, this is the only pic I have of this one. 

Dino-mite

2012 Goals

 Is it too soon to start making my list for 2012?  I am hopeful for this next year, it should be WAY smoother!  I don't think we will be moving this upcoming year, and my hubby should be home most of the year, so I think this new year should be a bit more productive and fun.  

 I made a list today and its not too overwhelming, just kinda exciting.  These charm packs have been bumping around in my head, along with that Ruby fat quarter bundle and that ding dang Halloween tumbler quilt that I still need to finish!!

Hopefully this fabric will finally get its turn this year!  And I declare I will get the sampler from heck quilted and done!

 I'm going to keep my eyes peeled for another mini sewing machine too.  I would like to find another this year!

A Friendly Foot of Snow

I'm linking up over at Amylouwho for Sew and Tell today!  Go over and check it out!

 While the monster and I were in Michigan my friend Bri was watching my place for me.  She watered my plants, made sure the place wasn't flooded, and if it were to snow she would come over and shovel for me.   I kept my fingers crossed that it wouldn't snow while I was gone.  But it did.  And not a little bit.  A LOT!  Like a foot of snow.  Her husband is deployed along with the hubs, and she has a two year old.  I really really didn't want her to have to come shovel.  But she did.  And I was very grateful.

( I won't bring up the ridiculous fine if you fail to have your driveway cleared within 24 hours after a snowfall, imposed by the new rental people that took over base housing.  However if you read our family blog I'm sure you already know how I feel about them, and bringing up the FIFTY dollar fine would only  get my Irish up, and that isn't pretty, so I won't)

So while shopping with my sister in law, I saw a bunch of cute Christmas fabrics that I decided to get and make into a thank you quilt for my friend Bri.  Shovel a foot of snow for me, I will make you a quilt! (this doesn't apply to the Hubs, that's his job!)

Honestly, I have never made a quilt with quite as many catastrophic issues.  Muddy paw prints on the white sashing, super wonky plaid, a directional backing that had to go in the wrong direction, a glob of stitches in the quilting that had to be redone, and a red binding that has turned 4 color catchers pink(so far).  I finally bought some of Grandma's Spot Remover, and the mud is gone, PTL!  The backing still looks okay, and I'll gift her a color catcher with this quilt to be safe.  I'm glad it turned out okay, because   it meant a lot to me to show my gratitude, and I wouldn't want to show it with a crappy quilt.  

The backing is pretty, its just horizontal instead of vertical.  Not the end of the world.  

I'm happy to have finished another quilt this year. It may be my last.  But I have a few fun things coming up, so I'm sure you'll be hearing from me :)

Elaine's Quilty Shop

While I was visiting family in Michigan, my Aunt Susan mentioned a few times a shop she found in a town called Hadley.  Now I had heard of 'Hadley'  but I had no clue there was a town.  Growing up we would often go to a lake at the Metamora-Hadley Recreation Area, but everyone just thought it was in Metamora, I had no clue why they added the 'hadley' in there.

The monster a few years ago at Metamora-Hadley swimming in Lake Minnewann.

So I'm driving to Hadley with my Aunt, and I see this sign

I'm confused by the sign, but really confused that there was a little town there this whole time! 

So we went in.  

 Right inside the door is a big selection of Kona and Moda solids!  WHAT?!  I start scanning everything.  I got a little dizzy. I saw panels I recognized from the Pearl Louise shop in Rapid City.  

My Aunt Susan

I entered the main part of Elaine's Quilty Shop as I came to find out it is called, and low and behold it is full of Moda fabrics!  They stock tons of precuts too!  Like the most precuts I have seen in a real life store!

I can't remember a lot, I know my mind was racing, and my allowance money was spent.  My aunt was so calm.  I didn't feel calm.  I couldn't believe that in a little town 20 minutes from where I grew up there was one of the best quilt stores I have ever been in!  

I scored a few fun things.  

A couple pretty charm packs for a friend.

A Buttercup layer cake for ME

And some super cute fabrics.

I am planning to make an apron with these using this pattern I picked up in September.  I've been itching to make it.  

 So there you go if your every in that neck of the woods, hit up Elaine's, you'll be glad you did!

Elaine's Quilty Shop 

4600 Pratt Road, Hadley, MI

Quilt School in the Mitten

 While I was visiting family in Michigan I taught my sister in law how to make her first quilt!  She was a super awesome student!  She never got stuck, and did really well working her way through issues.  I gave her homework a lot and she banged it out like a champ every time.   

 And she would bring my oh so sweet niece over.  This little girl is so happy and fun.(And today happens to be her 1st birthday!  Happy Birthday K!)  She spent a good amount of time sitting at her mom's feet, but sometime she would go climb all over the monster, and it was super fun to spend time with both of these ladies.

Last I heard she is getting the binding put on now.  I'm super proud of her!  

A finish

I'm home!  It was a nice long visit.  But I always love coming home, even if it was a little sad to not have the hubs here....Anyhow.

A FINISHED QUILT!

This one is for my little nephew Drew for Christmas.  We draw names in my side of the family, and the monster got Drew's name.  Its sort of a big deal because Drew is 6 months old, and the only other boy... but there are eight girls!  Eight nieces and one nephew!  We were waiting for a boy cousin for a LONG time!

I like the simplicity of this one.  The backing is fun.   I almost always pick a medium or large print for the backing, then go pick the fabric for the front.  It makes it easier for me I think.  

I think I will have one last finished quilt this year... but that's if I can overcome the clean sewing area syndrome

acquired

 Last week my mom started pulling old stuff out of her hope chest.  This old quilt came out.  I asked if I could have it and she said sure.  How easy was that?!  My great grandma used it as a mattress pad!  The binding obviously needs to be replaced.  It seems to be totally gone.  But the rest of the top is in pretty good shape.  

 And its hand quilted and crinkly and heavy and soft.  

 Why is it so hard for me to acquire quilts?  I seem to give a lot away, but we never get any.  The monster has a quilt that was gifted to him a few years ago from my cousin.  I have the quilt my great grandma made me when I was little.  And now this one makes three quilts that I didn't make out of the dozens that we own.