Checking in on a cold, dreary Sunday afternoon....

What a great day to be inside sewing! It's cold...really cold and gray today. No snow, so I guess that's a good thing. But it's warm and it smells really good in my house right now. Not only is the house clean...WooHoo...but I've got Honey Wheat Bread baking and my mouth is watering!

I have my next part done to Lori's Midnight Stars quilt-along and I even got carried away and worked ahead.

I love how this sweet little quilt is looking. I think I'm going to hand quilt it, so it may never get done...lol
I'd gladly piece somebody a little quilt like this if they would hand quilt mine...any takers????
I also did Barbara Brackman's Civil War block for the week, 4 Texas Tears.

Shhh...don't tell anyone, but I had to piece the center part twice. Sloppy piecing I guess! Here's all four blocks together.

Forgive the wonky photo. I had to basically hold the camera over my head to take this picture. Kara still has her quilt blocks laid out on the design wall and I have no space. That needs to change very soon...hint, hint. Anyway, they look pretty good together and I'm using up some of my Civil War reproduction fabric stash. Now all of the fabrics may not be reproductions, but I'm not a perfectionist.
Oh and thank you honey for all of your help with the house :0)
Uh oh, I hear the oven timer....see you later! ranette

I'm Alive!!!

WooHoo!!! There were moments that I didn't think that I would make it, but thank goodness I did...lol Thank you for all the sweet comments about my Peppermint Twist quilt. It really does mean a lot to me!
I didn't sew much this week because it's hard to run a machine or even a needle and thread with you are coughing, sneezing, whining, feverish, achy, etc....but I did get my Seven Sister's block done for the Civil War block of the week.

Don't look too closely at the points, I think I was starting to get sick as I was working on it. Also the background reads much more blue than in the photo.
Also got my flying geese units done for Lori's quilt along.

I think Lori will post the next step today! Yeah! You can get the links to both of the above mentioned blogs on my left sidebar.
Then the fever hit and I didn't do anything...which drives me crazy because I am always doing something! But I did eventually feel better and I worked on my little heart blocks for Scandinavian Christmas (see side bar).

These blocks make me smile and they are so quick. I also had some embroidery prepared and I pulled that out and stitched.

I don't know if I've shown it before, but it's a little red & white (of course!) Christmas quilt by HugsnKisses. Has anyone else had trouble with black and red variegated DMC floss? I've used lots of DMC floss and lots of variegated, but this stuff is awful. It knots and twists and frays like crazy. It came with the kit, but I don't think I'll buy that particular thread again.
Well I'm off to work for a little while today, but I hope to have some serious time for sewing this weekend. No bread was made last week :( and we all missed it, so I'll probably be making bread this weekend. Have a good day! ranette

I'm not feeling very well....

so I'm going to let the pictures speak for themselves....

Don't worry, I won't let it go to my head....lol....ranette...:0)

No I didn't see Barbara Brackman,

but I did come home and make the North Star block right away!

I also finished the 2nd part of Lori's Midnight Stars doll quilt, quilt-along.

Lori you need a blog button!
I think these two projects are satisfying a need to start something new in me right now. I don't want to get going on another big, long-term project until I finish one that's in progress, you all saw the pictures of my boxes...lol.

I have been re-acquainting myself with my Scandinavian Christmas blocks and the Life is Beautiful blocks. I'm working on both the applique and embroidery for both of these quilts. I didn't take pictures though...sorry!

Tomorrow I'm off to the Oklahoma City Winter Quilt show with Susan and I'm really looking forward to a day just immersed with seeing pretty quilts and looking at new fabric and notions and enjoying good company.

I've also been meaning to show you all the sweet gifts that arrived from Miriam on Christmas Eve. She is such a sweetie and a true friend. You should see the wonderful Morrell quilt top that she has just finished....it's AMAZING! Thank you friend for the gifts!

Oh and I did bake bread Sunday afternoon, 4 loaves....2 white and 2 whole wheat! Everyone around here loves it...so much better than the chemically tasting store bought stuff. This Sunday I'll be trying something different I think. It does take some time to bake every week. Don't you wonder how our Grandmother's did it???

Wow...I should have posted earlier in the week, so much to tell you all :)
We went to see True Grit while we were in Lawrence and I just have to say that loved it. I give it an A+ for entertainment value.

Okay, enough for now. I hope to be back soon with pictures of pretty quilts from the quilt show.

ranette

Catch me if you can block....

Barbara Brackman, who is a wonderful quilt historian has started a new blog to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War and will post a block to make, as well as a story from that time in history each week. I enjoy Barbara's regular blog, Barbara Brackman's Material Culture and I'm a big fan. I've even driven by her house in Lawrence, Kansas before (my oldest daughter, Emily lives there & it may or may not have been her house...lol) and I may even see Barbara in a quilt shop this weekend, if I'm lucky! Anyway, here's my block, Catch me if you can...

See this little pile of trimmings??? They make me happy because finally I am participating in Lori's from Humble Quilts Midnight Stars Doll quilt, quilt along!

All of my little half square triangles are made and I'm waiting patiently for the next step. Lori has an awesome blog, as I'm sure many of you already know and she is a very sweet lady!
I think I forgot to mention that through the months of November and December I was working on a cute, not so little Christmas quilt, that I knew I wouldn't finish in time this year, but it will be ready for 2011. Well last night I finished appliqueing the last circle on my Bauble Christmas Tree Quilt and today I put the borders on. The pattern is by Audrey and Maude and it's been a very fun project.

Jay and I are running up to Lawrence this weekend to take some stuff to Emily so I won't get to sew much, well except maybe in the car.
I hope everyone has a great weekend....ranette

Yummy!

I'm going to try to start making bread instead of buying it. Much healthier, plus it tastes better. This week I made white bread and it is delicious! Next week whole wheat. If anyone has any good recipes I would love to give them a try. Oh and I don't use a bread maker.

ranette

Starting the New Year off right!!!

Warning! Picture heavy post ahead....
My darling daughter Kara is an amazingly organized person and she volunteered to help me get my sewing room together. In the last few months I have been overwhelmed when I walk in the door instead of inspired and that's not a great feeling. So over the course of a couple of days we got this room together. Here is my sewing area.

On around to the fabric shelves and design wall.

That's Kara's latest quilt that she's been putting together on the wall.
Cutting area or extra sewing table.

That's Kara's sewing stuff under the table. I just love that my rulers and squares are all hanging neatly!!
On into my walk-in closet, where all of my finished tops are hanging.

Project boxes all nicely labeled with patterns inside.

And a cooler view of the same boxes.

Here's a sweet picture of some of my pincushion collection.

And if this wasn't enough, Kara is helping Allie to paint and beautify her bedroom right now! Thank you Kara for being such a help and a generally sweet person! Of course all of my girls are...lol...most of the time.
Oh and did you notice an overall improvement in the quality of the photos? Well that's because my hubby took them with his new camera that the girls and I got him for Christmas. Maybe if I'm lucky he'll teach me someday or just take my pictures for me! Time to get busy! ranette