Not much time to sew this week,

but I do try to surround myself with pretties that keep me inspired. Here's a jar of fabric yoyo's and it makes me feel good just to look at it. It also reminds me that I have another unfinished project...lol

After one particularly stressful day last week I just had to sew something and so I whipped up this little cutie.

Which one is the the pincushion???

The stress melted right away and all was right with the world for a little while. The pumpkin pincushion pattern is from Fig Tree and it was very quick and easy...just my kind of project this week.
Finally, finally the weather seems to be cooling down here in Oklahoma. I love a nice, cool Fall day and we've had mainly summer for the last month. After this weekend, which will be 80 degrees for the high, both days, uggg, the weather should get it's chill on! That means fires in the fireplace at night and snuggling...my favorite!
Enjoy your weekend friends! ranette

Two posts in one week....WHAT?!!!!

Yes I'm back....I wanted to show you what I've been working on, which really isn't much, but oh well it helps keep me motivated if I can show them to you! Here are a few more Tachi Machi blocks from Pinwheels.

I enjoy working with these fabrics so much. Someday I'll get around to quilting each one and putting them together, I hope.
I also started Allie's 18th birthday quilt, which is a batik sampler (I made one for my sister-in-law a few years ago) and my girls loved it. Kara has made her own which is going off to the quilter next week and I believe Emily even started one. Allie picked it for me to make, so I figure if I make a few blocks each week, it should be done by August 2011.

I've also made a couple of these simple, but effective table runners from Moda Bake Shop. My plan is to quilt them myself and give them for gifts.

I'm still working on my Scandinavian Christmas blocks. All of the applique is done on two of them and I have started the embroidery. My LIB blocks have not seen the light of day in a couple of weeks and I miss them, but they'll come out again soon.
Jay and I also had such a good time with my sister and her family who live just outside of Nashville. We stayed with my niece Caylee, her hubby Steven and their 3 funny cats in their pretty townhouse and they were such wonderful hosts. My Kaffe Fassett fabric stash grew considerably as Pamela shared with me!

Cool huh?! And look at this sweet little cabinet.

That's my Christmas gift from my sister. I love it!!! Thank you again Pam!!! I wish I had taken pictures of her new sewing room....very cute!
And lastly...would you look at what came in the mail last week???? Great book, as always.

Time to get myself ready for a big 3 days...it's Homecoming in Cowboy country and that means busy times at work. ranette

Never fear....I'm still here!!!

What a quick two weeks! I can't believe that it's been so long since I last updated my blog. I've been to Paducah, Kentucy and Nashville, Tennessee and I've even spent a little bit of time in my sewing room.

Many of my fellow bloggers have been to Paducah, but I took some pictures for those of you that haven't. Here is a picture of the river that runs next to downtown...actually it's two rivers that meet up there, I think.

The flood wall is covered with murals and I thought this one was very interesting because it showed how it used to be.

You can't tell from the pictures, but the day started out warm and sunny and then a cold front came through and the temperature dropped and it became much more Fall like....I LOVED it!
Here's a couple of pictures of the inside of Hancocks-Paducah.

It's not very fancy, is it??? It is huge and they have lots and lots of fabric! My husband said he looked at every bolt, at least once....lol!

A signed copy of that book came home with me :) The man that checked me out told me that every time they put a bolt of Kaffe fabric on sale that all of you Australians buy it all up before the Americans can even get a chance at it....LOL This lovely fabric came home with me too, at my wonderful husband's insistence...isn't he sweet?!!!!

We also went to the National Quilt Museum
which doesn't allow photos. It's not a big museum, but it is a wonderful place. I was almost brought to tears when we walked in. I'm not sure what I will do when I get to see the Jane Stickle quilt in person. Also here's a link to the Dear Jane site. Anyway I'll probably have a small breakdown...lol...seriously!
Okay long enough for today. I'll be back shortly to show what I've been working on...some of it is secret though and I can't show you that (SSCS 10).
Oh and guess what?!!! My Nearly Insane went to the long arm quilter's today....I am soooo excited! ranette

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