March is almost gone!

Oh, I can't believe I almost let March slip away without a mention! What the heck have I been doing that has kept me away from this blog? My darling husband, David, was gone for two weeks; that was supposed to give me lots of free time, right? Wrong! I filled that time with so much activity! I spent some of the days driving to Texas to visit my Mother. She always enjoys those times when I make that trip alone. She knows that she will get my undivided attention while there. We visited her quilting group, played around with fabrics in her sewing room and just enjoyed each other. I spent the last day there cleaning her house. I needed to get home to rest! lol





Once home, it was nice to enjoy the quiet and do whatever or nothing. March 8 was my birthday. My dear friend treated me to a visit at the Crescent City Coffee Cafe where we enjoyed Cappucino and Chocolate Khalua cake while having the most wonderful 2 hour visit. The next day my dearest friend and cousin, Yvonne, drove up from Texas to spend time with me. We always have such fun together but with no husbands, it was like a girlfest! We shopped on Monday then she treated me to lunch for my birthday. That night was my regular Bunko night and she was able to accompany me and play. And she is the one who won!!!! She paid a price for coming to visit during this week because I had prior committments; but she agreed to help with them. We prepared lunch for my ladies church group on Tuesday and helped serve lunch to college kids at our church on Wednesday. Of course, we didn't work the entire days, we still had time to play in my sewing room. We were working on projects for a quilt retreat we will attend together in July. Then on Thursday, we went to my regular quilt group which is always fun. By Friday, she had to return home and David was on his way home. What a whirlwind two weeks that turned out to be! Isn't that always the way when you are having lots of fun?





I have consistantly been working on my Afternoon Tea in the Garden applique quilt and will soon be ready to assemble the center blocks so I can start the applique process on the borders. Pictures will come later.





On my birthday, I started a new wall hanging. I made a spool quilt several years from a kit. It is truly one of my favorite quilts; I love the fabrics sooooo much. I have a book that Chrissie gave me for my birthday last year that had a cute little quilt that I like. I decided to use the scraps from the Spool quilt and make that wall hanging. It has turned out so cute.



Because of internet problems, I was able to post to my blog. Here it is already almost a week into April. I have the Roses and Vine quilt finished and hanging on the wall. I have the Afternoon Tea in the Garden assembled and ready for borders. I also have my round complete on Kristy's RoundRobin Center.

When I can get this crazy Internet Explorer straightened out, I will post the pictures.

What a week! What do I have to show for my time? Not much, I am sad to say. As far as accomplishments, there is one that I am quite excited about. I received my first Round Robin box last Saturday. I knew what the center looked like because Sherry had posted a picture on the QOR site but until reading her instructions and seeing her fabric selections, had no idea what I would add. Those of you who know me, know that I don't let myself work on hobbies or fun things until I have my work done...........and my mother is not even here watching over me either. LOL I just seem to enjoy my hobbies more knowing that the housework is done! Not only that, I had Bunko last Monday night and a casserole to prepare for a family with a new baby. We have a program at our church called Stork Bites where we bring a hot meal and several frozen meals with dessert to the family when they get home with their new baby. So while preparing the meal, I decided to go ahead and make a few loaves of fruit bread for the freezer. I will use it next month for my Women's Guild luncheon.

Once I had all that done, I hurried to my sewing room to create!

I am really pleased with the outcome. I had seen the magazine which gave the directions for the center that Sherry chose at quilting a few weeks ago and fell in love with it. Wow, was I ever surprised to see that Sherry had chosen that same design for her Round Robin project. It will be hard for me to box it up and send it on to the next participant. lol I had already made a pattern for myself from my friend's magazine for later when I have time. I want to make a wall hanging using that design.

Since completing my round on Sherry's center, I have just spent my spare time hand quilting on my 2005 QOR Retreat Swap Blocks. I now have one 12 block and the borders to quilt before it will be ready for binding. It will be really good to have another UFO complete.

Unbelievable!

I knew that I needed to update my blog but just kept putting off taking the time. Today, I have a little while and thought I might as well write a few lines. Upon arriving at my blog, I was totally surprised to see that it had, indeed, been too long since my last update. Has it really been since November? or is there a blog thief on the loose?

Things got pretty busy during the month of December. Besides the usual holiday parties, preparations and shopping, our neighborhood association sponsored a mailbox decorating project and cookie swap. The mailboxes were decorated with wooden cut outs of trumpet playing angels, fresh evergreens and large red flocked bows. It was really beautiful! The cookie swap was a great way to get the neighbors to visit and share recipes and goodies. I put many of the cookies I brought home into the freezer in air tight containers and enjoyed them for many weeks.

After celebrating Christmas in Ruston with Chris, Lori and Jordon, we hit the road driving to Arizona to celebrate with Aimee, David, Alex, and Caitie. It was a wonderful adventure for David and I to spend time together. By the time we found our way back to Louisiana, 2008 had rolled into play.

January took us on business trips to Little Rock, Arkansas and Dallas, Texas. Good greif, Janaury sure seemed short!

February is always a time of busy work getting ready for the big Gumbo fundraiser at church. I spent days making roux, 6 batches in fact. That means six 5lb. bags of flour and 3 gallons of oil. That is only what I made. We use a total of 20 batches making that many pots of gumbo. Each pot makes 52 quarts of Chicken and Shrimp Gumbo. We make and sell 1040 quarts total. Since it is our Women's Guild's one and only money making endeavor for the year, we have good participation. We just completed the cooking and selling process this week in time to relax and enjoy Valentine's Day.

Each evening after a tiring day of either chopping vegetables, cooking, etc., I came home to a relaxing bubble bath and spent my evening on the sofa hand quilting. My project stays ready and waiting for me each day. It is my swap blocks from the 2005 Quilts On Review retreat held in chicago. All the blocks are some shade of green, each block different.

On Thursdays at my weekly sewing group, I work on my Afternoon Tea in the Garden applique quilt. I have two blocks to complete and will them have to prepare the borders which also have vines and flowers to applique.

I still think about getting back to work on my Dear jane quilt. but since the QOR Round Robin has begun, all my creative juices will be needed for those quilts.

I did get a new pin cushion made this month. It is from the book,

"Pin Cushions for Every Occasion". I used corduroy that I had received

in an unusual fabric swap. The corduroy raveled more than I liked but

the end result was what I wanted; that is all that mattered. I save labels

from ready to wear, etc. to use on crazy quilt projects. I used two on this dress form pin cushion. Now that I have made this one, I can't wait to

make another one from the book.

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.