2009 is nearing an end!

Christmas is all most here, and once again it is time to reflect on the passing year and remember old friends. It has been a very good year for our family, we have been blessed with good health and much happiness. My mom turned 80 in November and we had a party for her with over 75 friends and family. What a happy time it was. My Mom does not drive any more and it is difficult for her to get out, so to see the happiness on her face was the best gift to me.

I have been busy quilting for many months, quilting mostly for others. But I do make time every little while to do what I want to do. I made a photo memory quilt for Mom. The hardest part of that quilt was to decide on what pictures. I wanted to use soooooo many. I mailed blocks all over the country for friends to sign to give it from all the family. The blocks that were vacant were left for friends to sign at the party. This will be a treasure for my Mom. I just love making memory quilts. I think, when a person is all by themselves and lonely, having their friends and family to wrap around them is comforting. This is a fun and exciting project to do. You may want to try it some time..




I normally print each photo separate and makes separate blocks of them. But this time I made like scrapbook pages, printed every 8.5" X 11" sheet of fabric full and sewed the strips together to make a scrapbook strip. I chose fall colors since that is my Mom's favorite colors and made Maple leaf blocks since Maple trees are plentiful where she lives. (if you are a good quilter) you will notice I forgot to put the stems to my maple leaves so some will call it a bear paw block. Any way it was fun to do.

Christmas it now just 4 days away and I have been trying to share some Christmas cooking with my Grand kids. I will post some of those pictures later.

Happy Quilting to all.... and a Very Merry Christmas.

Tube Quilting

I tried an exciting new block this week.
While reading one of the quilt groups I belong to, someone mentioned this technique and provided the link. I watched it, and was on to another challenge.
It was so fun and easy I pieced this quilt in one afternoon. My grandson's "Tiny Mite" Football team needed to raise money, so I quilted it and gave it to them for a raffle. Click on the "Tube Quilting" title at the top and give it a try.
One warning I would give, is to remember when your blocks are complete you are dealing 100% with bias edges. That means you have stretchy edges. I was in a hurry to do this quilt so when I added my borders I just cut strips and add them.... Now... I know better than that. I think all of the blocks finished to 10 1/2" I should have calculated the exact length and made them fit. Well..... I paid the price with wavy borders when I started to quilt it. I ended up having to take the quilt off the frame and remove the borders and do it the right way. It pays to do things correctly from the start and not try to rush and do it wrong. LESSON LEARNED!!!!
I did like that this was a fast an easy block to do. With I think a more complicated look when it's finished.
I have been very busy lately quilting for others with my Bailey 15" quilter. I am constantly seeing and learning new things. Talking of "Wavy Borders" I do run across a lot of them when quilting for others. I try to stay aware of it and work them along a little at a time so I don't end up with a pleat toward the bottom. There are many small tricks to work them in. I finished a group of 7 quilts yesterday from one person and they were the BEST pieced tops I have ever done. All of them were PERFECT! This person must have taken a lot of time to cut all her blocks square and of the same size.. and measure all of her borders. I never turn away any one's work. And will look it over and kindly explain what I see and what I can do. I get of people who know nothing of quilting that have old pieced tops from family members that they want quilted. I love to work and help others so I do my best and make them a quilt they will be proud of. But even doing my own work. I have NEVER had them quilt as smoothly as the ones I just finished. HATS OFF the Faye.
This year I have branched off a lot with my quilting and met many new friends. I have enjoyed quilting for all of them I learn a lot, see new blocks I want to try, and am so amazed at some color combinations. I think I am beginning to believe there is no such thing as an UGLY fabric. I have seen color combinations I would have been afraid to attempt, but they are absolutely beautiful when mixed together. Well here I am rambling...
This week I have to get busy. I will going to visit my Mother and help her celebrate her 80th birthday in 10 days. I have been working on making a picture quilt for her. I have gathered many old picture and have printed them on fabric. Many family members have signed blocks to her and they will put them around the border. I plan to leave many blank blocks around the edge. We are having a party for her and each person that attend will be encouraged to sign a block while they are there. I hope it will be fun.
That's it for today. Happy quilting to all...

Quilt Show

I went to the Red River Quilt Show yesterday, located on the Red River in Shreveport, La. There were definitely some beautiful quilts to see. Just imagine the many many hours that were put into such beautiful quilts. My Husband went with me. He really enjoys looking. He talked to every person that would listen to him. He wanted to know why I never entered any quilts... And all is I could say is. I make quilts to used... Not just to hang and look pretty.

I have finished 3 quilts this past week. The first one I just call a quilt of many colors. It is just made out of reproduction fabrics. I made that for my cousin that is going through a hard time just now battling cancer. I hope it will comfort her as fights the disease back. The quilt design was once again the "Angel wings pattern. My favorite.

The Next one is called Pink country rose. I think the fabric is just beautiful. and the quilt design on that on is the Angel wings.

The Next on is a Christmas Poinsettia design and the quilt pattern is Poinsettia & Holly that blended so well together. I tried to do them a little fancier with the scalloped borders. I have offered the quilts for donation and raffle. Hopefully the organizations getting them will will be able to make some cash for their upcoming adventures..

The weekend is late. I better get on. Have a wonderful week and Happy Quilting.
Holly

October is here!

Fall is in the air. It feels so good to have the windows open and listen to the cool breeze blow through. I have been very busy quilting. This week I have quilted 4 quilts and will post them as I get the binding on them. This quilt is for a friend up north. I used a vintage baby fabric I had and I just love it. I tried to make it look very dainty for a little girl. The back is flannel so it will be so comfy. I quilted using the "Angel Wings" pattern. Most people think it is butterflies, but it is called Angel Wings. I like to think in using this pattern that the angels will watch over this little person. I am trying to be a little more detailed with the borders, so I did a scalloped border on this one. I have two more I am currently binding and I have used the scalloped border on both of these also.
I have one ready to border that I am going to try the prairie points on... So wish me luck...

Thank you for dropping by.
Happy Quilting

The year is passing sooooo fast

Hello friends. Seems like every time I get time to do a post the days have passed toooooo fast... The years have went by in a flash. My HB and I recently celebrated our 38th anniversary. It has been fantastic passing the days with my best friend. We seem to share almost all of the same interests, and respect the differences we do have. I have learned... Life is easiest with compromise.
Our children took us to the Tokyo Restaurant in our area and we enjoyed trying different foods with our DIL interpreting everything that was presented. It was such fun. You can see our beautiful grandchildren in the picture. Kim is 11??? I think and Trey is 8... Now someone will read this and say I am wrong. But facts like that seem to slip out of my mind.
I have been very busy the past month or so quilting, quilting, and more quilting for my customers. I have uploaded a number of pictures to my webshots photo album. You are welcome to look here.
http://community.webshots.com/user/beansnana
I have also pieced and quilted a number of quilts for friends and family. One I did for my mom as a gift to a young couple that collects everything "M &M" they like the little characters. When mom asked if I could make one I said Oh Yes!!! No problem. It was after those words that I learned M & M novelty fabric is out of production. So I had to hunt on e bay and pay over $25. per yard. That was a lesson learned. But I was happy to do it for the couple I have know for years.

That is me on in my quilt room. I spend many an hour in there. I just love to escape to my quilt space.
I wish all of you Happy Quilting. Come by and visit again.

July is gone...

I hate to say it, but I am so thankful July is gone. It brought so much sadness this year. I pray the rest of the year will be better. Now that things have calmed down here my emotions are on edge. I am helping now with Jason's dog. He is a beautiful basset hound. I am not really a dog person, but I can see Jason in him. Toby seems so sad and lonely now. Hopefully the grandkids here will help to get him on track. He is a wonderful dog.

I have fallen so far behind on my quilting, and I don't seem to have the get up and go, to get up and get moving. I am still working a little every day, but very slow. I have my SIL coming next week for a week of sewing, so I have snap out of it and get moving. Please keep checking my photo album from time to time. I try to post the pictures of all the beautiful quilts I quilt for others. There are many fantastic quilters out there today, and I am thrilled to be able to quilt for them.

Well, it's late so I need to get to bed...

Tell the person closest to you you love them today... You never know when it will be your last chance.

Happy quilting to all....

July is flying by...

July is flying by and I still have lots to do. We got past the 2 funerals this month just to have another. Our youngest friends died this time and his girlfriend. Lots to that story... but I will just say we are so sad. We called Jason our 3rd son... Funeral will be monday, so I am busy quilting today trying to keep my mind off all the sadness. These are the worst set of tragidies I have every seen. Thank God for being there to give us comfort and guidance.

This is the front and back on one quilt. I used the all over meander in a rossette style. Just my way of doing things.
I tried to add another photo, but will have to add it later. I am still learning how this works. check out my Photo Album at; http://community.webshots.com/user/beansnana

Happy quilting...