It was 25 years ago today....

that Jay and I were joined in Wedded Bliss! Happy Anniversary Honey!
I love you!

Here's a little quilty content that I haven't shown before....introducing Tachi Machi from Pinwheels. I don't think this block of the month is available anymore, but you can see a picture of some of the finished blocks if you go to their website.

All Diawabo fabrics (love them)
and it's a type of "quilt as you go" method. The block in the lower left is the only one quilted and bound and then you join them all together which is a bit different from how the LIB blocks join together. My sister and I are supposed to be working on this together from afar, but we're behind. I have been pulling out a block to sew up when I get in the mood to start a new quilt. They are so fun and fairly simple so maybe I'll make some real progress on this quilt now.
Well I'm off to Celebrate the day! ranette

I think Fall might be here!

Thank goodness, because I am really getting tired of 90 degree plus days! It's almost cold this morning (52 degrees) and I LOVE it. I enjoy having my windows open, except when the neighbors dog barks, which is right now and it's irritating me...lol

I finally had a Saturday that I didn't have to work and I determined that I was going to spend all day in my sewing room. I cleaned the house Friday afternoon and evening while my husband took his Mom to see the doctor in Oklahoma City, so I wouldn't even have to feel guilty about having a dirty house :o)

I really wanted to start a new project, but I decided I would set up my Juki and do a little machine quilting. Since it's not in the budget to send quilts out to be professionally quilted, I am trying to make myself do it. Here is the quilt that I quilted yesterday.

It wouldn't win any ribbons, of that I'm sure, but it's done and one less quilt top hanging in my closet. My daughter Kara actually made the quilt from a small packet of Flea Market Fancy fabric that was given to me by all of my daughters. I love the wonkyness of this quilt, although I would never be able to make it. I admire the people that can do their own thing, but that's just not me, I've tried.
I have been playing with the LIB blocks a little bit. I made up some of the squares and appliqued a couple of stitcheries on to see how I would like them and I do like them, do you? I think I am going to do the quilt as you go method with this quilt.

I also have my next two blocks from the Scandinavian Christmas quilt all prepped and ready to applique and embroider. I hope to be able to work on these while in the car next weekend. Oh I forgot to tell you...Jay and I are going to Paducah, KY for a couple of nights and then over to see my sister and her family in Nashville, TN for a couple of nights. We are taking a little "get away" time for ourselves in celebration of our 25th wedding anniversary, which is Tuesday!
Hopefully I'll get back in my sewing room again today and get something else done. Oh...am I the only quilter/blogger that hasn't won or had a giveaway for a GO Accu thingy? I'm not sure I would use one and I've seen strips cut with one and they were not even at all. Maybe some of the specialty pieces would be nice. I may be wrong, but it reminds me of the bobbin winder that was out a few years ago, only way more expensive. I've got a winder in a box that's never been used, but I just had to have it at the time....lol I'll be interested to see what happens after the big P.R. blitz dies down a bit to see if it's really something that gets used.
Have a good one! ranette

So I only thought I was done with the first block

of Scandinavian Christmas! How could I have missed these little cuties!

Aren't they sweet?! They are 3" finished and I want to make a big quilt out of itty bitty churn-dash blocks now!
Anyway here is the complete first block of Lynette Anderson's Scandinavian Christmas

I even made a couple of the hearts for the border of the quilt.

Looks like I need to work on the bottom of my heart a little bit...not very pointy, are they? LOL
Oh and one more LIB block stitched.

I have so much fun making these little cuties!
Now for something a little different from my normal, standard fare. When I sew with a large group I usually have a little trouble concentrating, so I try to take something easy peasy so I don't mess it up. I finally finished up this quilt that I started at the last silly sew at the local quilt shop.

It's made with a partial layer cake and although it's far from my favorite quilt I've ever made, my girls love it so it will make a good snuggle quilt for them.
Okay, time to get ready for work! ranette

Just popping in for quick update!

Well college football season has started and that takes over my life this time of year for the most part. Not because I like football, but because I sell cute Oklahoma State stuff to people who do like football...lol Also the birthday season continued through August because my baby turned 17! Sniff...cannot believe it. Allie, Kara and I celebrated with a girls day in Oklahoma City and we had a great time even though we were worn out! Allie also started her senior year at the high school, mildly traumatic for all of us... :o) Things have settled down now, thank goodness!

It hasn't been all work and no play for me though. Although I haven't been able to sew anything big, in the evenings I have been stitching and I finished up my first Scandinavian Christmas block by Lynette Anderson. I need to get busy sometime this weekend and prep a couple more blocks. This was so much fun to do and I may have said it before, but the instructions and keys are wonderful.

I also made a couple of JanieBright blocks on the new Featherweight...Fun!

Poor quality photos, but it was dark...sorry!
Here's another LIB block, though I think I've made several that I have no pictures for.

These little blocks are sweet and fairly quick, plus the sayings make me feel good. Can't wait to get started on the piecing part of this quilt.
Oh and I did join in on the excitement of Chookyblue's SSCS 2010 swap (it's closed now) so I've got to get busy and make my secret person something....what shall I make...hmmmm
Well that's it for now. I may not always leave a comment, but I do check in on all of my favorite blogs from time to time...keeps me going some days actually!
Have a great weekend!
ranette

I know, I know....

enough about my birthday already! LOL I just had to show you one more gift that I received and before you say or think it, I know that I am spoiled! My friend Sharon gave me a Singer Featherweight....see....

Isn't she pretty? Long story short, I had one once and sold it and regretted it ever since and Sharon, who cooks way more than she sews, gave me hers! Sharon is probably the most generous person I've ever known and is such a blessing to me and my family. Thank you girlfriend! p.s. the picture was taken with my new Iphone...thanks honey :o)

It's going to be a busy few days around these parts....Dear Jane support group is tonight and "sew silly" is Friday night at the Quilting Post here in Stillwater. Saturday is my Allie's 17th birthday! Can't believe my baby is that old....geez seems like just yesterday.......anyway, we've got a "girls day" scheduled so I'll tell you about all of that later.
Enjoy your day! ranette

Presents in the mail...woohoo!

I have been very Blessed by my friends, both blogging buddies and here in Stillwater for my birthday. Oh and my family too, but today I'm going to show you what my sweet friends Miriam and Dianne sent me for the big day. Can you see the cute little babushka peeking out from these packages that Miriam sent?

Look at all of the red and white loveliness, scissor fob, red silk thread and a cute little babushka needle keeper.

I love it all, thank you so much Miriam, you are such a sweetie!
Dianne sent this beautiful cake plate...I had commented on hers months back and she took note of how much I liked it.

Here is a top view.

It goes great with my dishes and since I love red and I love cake, it will be put to good use! Thank you so much Dianne!
I am so glad that I took the plunge a few years ago and started my blog. I've met some really awesome and talented people and I think I've been challenged in my quilting. Did you know that I didn't care for applique a few years ago and now I LOVE it.
Okay here's my Hexie quilt all finished and just out of the dryer. Please do not judge the machine quilting...I don't like doing it and I'm not very good at it, but I'm determined to get better.

Very fun little quilt to make....thanks Pam :o)
Well a "cold" front just moved into Oklahoma...Yeah! Wish I could stay home and sew, but not today. Did you all see my new button on the side? Yep I've started Scandinavian Christmas by Lynette Anderson. I worked on the embroidery on the first block last night and it's sooo darn cute. If you click on the button you can see a picture of the entire little quilt....love it!

Have a great Tuesday! ranette

And the kit goes to....

Linda D. The random number thingy picked #18...cool huh?! I couldn't get it to copy and paste on my blog, so you'll have to take my word for it....lol
Linda send me an email with all of your details and I'll get the Fig Tree kit out this week. Congratulations!

I'd like to thank all of my blog buddies for the sweet birthday wishes for me and my sister. It's like I was able to extend the celebration around the world! My friends and family came over for a steak and chicken fajita dinner, with homemade tortillas and several different kinds of cake. Everyone was too kind and I'll be showing you a couple of my awesome gifts in upcoming blog posts.

I've been sewing a little bit in the last few days and I managed to finish my Kaffe Fassett Diagonal Madness quilt...

Not a wonderful picture, but it's huge! I'm thinking about trying to "big stitch" quilt this myself, but I'm just not sure if I can even baste it. I spent several hours basting this little quilt earlier today and it just about wore me out...lol

If anyone has any ideas of how to hand quilt in the white area with the embroidery, I'd really appreciate it. I can figure out how to do the blocks, but I'm lost on the rest of it.
I did machine quilt my Hexie quilt that I made a few weeks ago and I'll show a picture when I'm done with the binding. Quilting my quilts myself really takes me out of my comfort zone. I much prefer to send them off to my favorite long arm quilter, but my husband still hasn't found a job, so I really need to quilt them myself.
I started a new project, but I'll wait for a different day to show that one!
ranette