Just where does the time go?

I wish I could say that I have been so busy creating lots of wonderful things and that is why I haven't written for almost two weeks. My whirlwind trip to Texas was fun. All of the aprons sold as well as the pecan pies. I love divinity but never make it so i was able to buy some there and thoroughly enjoyed it. Once home again, I have been busy with everyday life. I started hand quilting my Fractions quilt. The nice thing about having a portable project is that I can work on it for small increments of time when not in the mood to machine sew or get a bunch of stuff out. I spent one day last week make Stick Pins as you can see in the photo. It was fun but time consuming. I guess if I would concentrate on working to finish the quilts I already have started instead of starting new things like making pin cushions and stick pins, I could complete a quilt! lol

I remember back when I didn't really have anything particular I collected. Now I am collecting thimbles, old needle packs, pin cushions, etc. And my sewing room just keeps getting smaller and smaller...................as I keep adding more stuff!

It will soon be Thanksgiving, a time to enjoy good food and fellowship with family. Why don't we ever think about having turkey and dressing any other time of the year? And then in a flash it will be Christmas, wait, I haven't even started decorating yet. Oh fiddle dee dee, I will think about that tomorrow!

It's just me again!

Yea, I know it is really November 6! Time is flying by fast enough without me rushing it more. lol

I wish I had kept account of all the aprons I have made for the Gift Shop through the years. A few years ago, I made 50 for that one sale! I got really carried away, I know. But it is so much fun choosing apron fabric and then matching up fabric for the bias trim. The hardest part of the project is making the bias trim but it makes them so "one of a kind". Although quilting is my first love, I just can't help myself when it comes to fabric shopping. The first thing I think of is aprons and what would look good!

Autumn At Last!

Well, here it is November 7 and finally we are experiencing a little autumn splendor! Trees changing colors, cool breezes, pleasant sunshine; what could be better? So many things have kept me busy, not complaining because I really like being busy! I have spent today making Cornbread Dressing for the Dollar Lunch Program at church tomorrow. We prepare hot meals for the Louisiana Tech students every Wednesday. Students pay one dollar while adults pay two. Tomorrow being the Thanksgiving feast which they look forward to with much appreciation. Once the dishes are done, I will pack the car and head to Orange to my Mom's house. We will be attending the church Gumbo and Craft Sale. I have spent several months making aprons to sell and just today made mini pies - Toasted Coconut Chocolate Pecan, for their bake shop. Of course, being vigilant about quality control, DH and I sampled them. Oh yea, they are good!

I have not started any of the Dear Jane border blocks yet. Staying busy with little projects, traveling, and household chores keep getting in the way. I did make a little purse using that plastic mesh that is used for pet carriers.

Dear jane blocks

There are so many of these blocks that i find truly interesting and might consider making again, just bigger! lol There are also several that I would not attempt for all the tea in China!

The one above is called Snow Crystal. The one to the right is called On Target.

A few Dear Jane blocks

This is the last block I made. I was so excited to get it finished; it was a real challenge but turned out beautifully.

It is called Chieko's Calla Lily.

October 22

If I weren't so tired I would be doing a happy dance right now! I just finished stitching all those 4.5" Dear Jane blocks together - 169, to be exact! They were NOT all perfectly the same size so that may the process SO much fun! As I stitched them together, I was reminded of all those who had made blocks. There were more who dropped from the group than I had remembered. Unfortunately, I discarded all the background on it and can't remember the core group. I will probably take a short break from this project before starting on the 56 border/corner triangles. It is just so exciting to see the light at the end of the tunnel on this project. I can't even remember exactly what year this project was started. Six ladies from the Quilts On Review started this as a swap. I took someone's place several months into it. I just know that I have been working several years and would like to see a finished quilt before I am too old to enjoy it!

The Mosaic project is done!

OK. I applied the grout to the mosaic tray project yesterday afternoon. It is finished; I am so excited. I love the way it turned out and can't wait to make something else.

Where has the time gone?

Here it is already into the second week of October and t0day is the first day I have taken to post. Since we have been busy working on the landscaping, keeping up with the regular laundry and other household chores, and doing all the regular church and community activities, I have been quite busy. Well, not too busy to work on a few sewing projects though. Today I prepared a quilt top and backing to baste tomorrow at regular sewing group, I made 4 water bottle carriers, and 2 Dear Jane blocks! Whew! But it sure does feel good to get so much done. And besides that, I started a broken dish mosaic on a silver tray today! I bought an old tarnished silver tray at a flea market during the summer. I have been saving various broken dishes and pottery vases that got broke throughout the past few years with this idea in mind. I got the pieces positioned and stuck down. Once enough time has passed, I can clean it up and apply the grout.

I am so excited! I only have 10 more 4.5" blocks to make for the Dear Jane. I am seriously thinking about adding the 1/2" sashing and joining the blocks together before starting the border triangles. But then again, who knows what other projects will need to be done before then. I guess time will tell!

Hopefully, I will not wait so long before adding another installment.

Quiet Sunday Afternoon Sewing

What a day! I have had the whole day to work ,almost uninterrupted, in my sewing room. I decided earlier in the week to get back to work on my Dear Jane quilt blocks. I have been able to get 15 more made this week. I still have 24 of the center blocks to make and all of the border triangles. I am really enjoying the process since each block is different design, different fabrics and different stitching techniques. I am sure before I get to the border triangles, something else will catch my attention and draw me away. But for now, I will just enjoy the moment and plod along.

One of these days, I will get creative and post somthing really interesting and even include a few pictures. But for now, I will just end this boring little story and call it a day!

What the heck was I thinking?

I have never been a person to keep a diary. I know that I have frequent musings throughout the day but never felt the urge to write them down. My idea of a diary is making jottings on my calendar of things I want to remember. But now as I meander through life, I am seeing how I wish I had been compelled to write down more of my thoughts and feelings.

I don't know how often I will feel the need to document my thoughts but now I have a specific place to do that.