And Still Working on the Baby Quilt!

Hi! It's me again, and no, I didn't quite finish the baby quilt. Sigh...It's at the staring stage when you just stare at it, trying to figure out what to do next. (Ummm, if I would have kept it at simple blocks, it would have been finished at least 2 weeks ago!) I'm really loving it though. The twister tool is fast becoming a favorite, and I used my Accuquilt Go! to make the Rose of Sharon flowers and leaves. 

Look at my new goodies! I got them at Missouri Star Quilt Company . If you sign up for their newsletter, you'll get the daily deal which is always a steal! The Yuletide Magic pack was 99cents for the deal of the day. (The second one was $ 4.99) Still, not bad for 2 charm packs! The Misty Light charm packs were on sale for $5.99 each. Then I got the Kaufman Kona cotton solid in black to match both charm packs. Yep! I'm going to make some more Twister blocks! I'm so addicted!

And then there are my grandbabies! Addi and Aiden! Looking most very cute, on their way to the circus with their Auntie Susan! (Susu as they affectionately call her!) What a great Auntie to take them to the circus! They came back home with tales of highflying people on wires, an elephant that could stand on it's head, and clowns with big funny noses. We left at home enjoyed some peace and quiet!!!!

Nana's Flower Garden Quilt and Addi's Dress

We have a bout of illness running rampade through the house. I won't bore you with details, but I've been laid up for 2 days in bed, and am at that point where I'm sick of being sick. I don't feel up to doing much else, but I thought I'd update my blog with what I've been up to lately.

First of all, I've been cutting hexies with my Accuquilt Go!. Geez, this die cutter is so nice, and when you get spoiled to it, you'll wonder where it's been all your life! I've always wanted to do a Flower Garden Quilt, but was put off with cutting out the hexies. This is just too easy now! I cut the 1 1/2 inch hexies out of fabric, and the 1 inch hexies out of freezer paper. It's the perfect combo for English Paper peicing.

 See all my hexies! There is a bunch, and I still have a bunch more to cut out. I use the normal saline syringe tubs at work to organize my hexies. (They stack up perfectly, and it's recycling to boot!)

And here's the progress on my Nana's Flower Garden Quilt. (My grandkids call me Nana, so thus...)
I love this for a portable project, and it's just right for when you have  a bit of time to kill before work, but don't want to commit to anything extravagant.

Then I've been hair bow making.Gotta keep Addi in bows! Some match her outfits, like this one.

Addi't new bandana summer dress. Actually I've made her a few summer dress. The girl loves her dresses! I plan to enjoy this while I can as none of my DD's ever cared to be in dresses. Too much tomboy in them! Addi is all girly.

And lastly, here are the hairbows I've been making. Hows that for FuFu? I have more ribbon and plans for more too. I found a video on Youtube for Angry Bird Bow. When I feel better, I'll be tackling that one next!

PS- This is what I did with the half a bandana I had left from Addi's outfit. I made a matching bag! In all, the dress, bows and bag took 3 whole bandanas. Not bad! I have more bandanas too! I think the next dress will be patterned more after a pillow dress. I've seen those on pintrest, and they're cute!





Quilted Bag is Complete!

 Sorry I haven't blogged in a while. But I do have a finished bag to show!  My quilted bag has been done for a while, and I finally got around to posting some pics. It's no small bag!

 Here's my DD Angela modling the bag. It's plenty big to hold all my nursing stuff and a lunch sack too! I enjoyed the happy colors. The edges of the panels are all with 1/4 inch seam binding, and then I stitched the panels together by hand with a ladder stitch. It went by faster than you'd think. The fusable pellon I used in the side panels and bottom to stiffen it up made trying to stich the panels together tough. I couldn't get a clean finish. By binding all the edges, and ladder stitching by hand, it went together much easier, and I love the clean finish.

 Large back pocket for magazines, folders, etc... Button closure from my Momma's button jar that I've been carrying around for years. She'd have liked that!

 Custom pockets inside for all my goodies.I had a blast embroidering and appliqueing. I gave my new machine and my Accuquilt Go! die cutter a good work out. I felt the bag was a great place to showcare my work. I'll be smiling everytime I get into my bag. It's such a happy bag!

 Side pocket with a favorite saying. Bob Marley, you were so wise!

 And my Live,Love, Quilt! A motto to live by! Keeps you out of trouble!

And here is Addi modling her Hello Kitty sundress. Complete with matching bows. She's more fun than playing with a Barbie doll!

That's all I have for now. I'm going to finish the snail's trail quilt next. So I'll have some pics soon. I also started and Grandmother's flower garden. I can't wait to post about that!

Happily Tired, Taking it Easy!!!

Happily tired! What do I mean by this? It's the tired that comes from doing two days of satisfying work. Knowing you took care of your patients to the best of your ability, you did your job with relish. I felt love, and gave love in return. I feel my care improved the outcome of my patients, and I was able to convey to both them and their families that I genuinely care.

So I have a couple of nights off now. I've come home to my family, surrounded by love. I'm tired, but not to tired to make a big pot of Pho',(Vietnamese beef noodle soup). Supper is done. Our tummies are full, and I'm happily tired...content...satisfied! I feel surrounded by love.  I have hugged and loved on grandkids, spent time with DDs, and have retired to my little room, ready to relax and finish my bag.
(Yes, I am truly thankful to be so blessed!)

 I have the inside pockets complete, and one side panel embroidered with a patch pocket attached. One side to go, handles, bottom, and it will be complete. So I shall get off this computer, and go sew my little heart out!

Darling Friend!!!!

My darling friend, Ms Julie, gave me a present the other day! Ok, hold your breath!!! She gifted me with an Accuquilt Go! along with some choice dies!!! I've been doing the happy foot dance every since! How generous the gifts! Thank you Ms Julie!!! I love you girl! (sniff, sniff!)

 I'm making progress with the first embroidery from my new machine. I've decided to showcase it by making it the center of a new quilted bag. I have a couple of nights off to work on it. (Hurray!)

 Last, but by no means least....My grandbabies Addy and Aiden! Aiden said, "Hey, take my picture too, Nana!" So I got one of them both. They are growing up so fast! Don't you just want to kiss they're little faces? MuuuWahhhh! The little lights of my life!

Is it OCD????

Now why is it when your working on a project, not just necessarily quilting, that you feel the need to start another???? Is it OCD? Here I am, in the final stretch of the Snail's Trail quilt with only 3 sets of 3 blocks to go, and I find myself wanting to do something else!!! Craziness, simply crazy! At least it isn't a completely new project.

Back in 2004, I found a quilting shop that I loved, and joined a block of the month club. It was a Thimbleberries Hidden Stars quilt, and I was in love with the muted colors. I completed 2 blocks.
They are 12 1/2 inch blocks. It uses the Marti Michell templates, and was so easy to peice.Then, darn it, I moved! Too far to go the quilt shop anymore. I still have the templates, and have the kits for 3 more blocks.

The fabric was generous enough to make 2 or 3 blocks from one kit. And I was so enamoured by the muted colors, I had purchased some more coordinating peices in half yard increments.  So I am trying to figure out how I want to go about finishing the quilt. I've searched the internet, and can not find one picture of the Thimbleberries Hidden Stars quilt finished. UGH! So I will have to be creative here. I have the Marti Mitchell sample book, so I can find other blocks to match the star theme.

The blocks are kinda of sentimental. They've gone with me from Texas to Arizona and back. I have thought about making them into pot holders.(God forbid!) I have come close to throwing them out, but when I looked at them, I find I'm just in love with the muted colors all over again, and want to finish it out. Sigh...I have two appliqued blocks with the same story too! I think I'll save that one for the next post. Then there is the two complete quilt tops in my closet, begging to be quilted. My new year's resolution was to finish what I started. I plan to finish these things this year. (Let's not go into the knitting, Okay?)

So enough blogging, my Snail's Trail beckons...I think I will knock out the last 9 blocks by tommorow. I'm going to find me a netflix to watch, and sew the rest of the night away!

Today I shall break in my Accuquilt Go!Baby.

I have visions of quilting going through my head. I've finally decided on a design. I have my Accuquilt Go!Baby and all the dies I need to finish cutting out my quilt. I really love the Go!Baby fabric cutting system. It makes really precise cuts, and my triangles have never been truer. I'm looking forward to adding the hexagons, drunkard's path, diamonds, tumbler, and apple core to my collection. I also want to add more flowers, birds, and other applique shapes as well. The only downside is the fact the dies are a bit pricey.

Will I ever get the Accuquilt Go!, the big sister to the Go!Baby? Probably. I have my heart set on doing a Wedding Ring Quilt. It's always been on my bucket list, but cutting one out has always stopped me and Accuquilt has the Wedding Ring die for the Go! It has other hard to cut out classics too, like Robbing Peter to Pay Paul, Winding Ways, and the applique dies by Ricky Tims look intriquing. Reminds me of Hawaiin applique.

I started cutting out some of the3" triangles. Now I'll need to cut out the rest.I got the rest of the dies for the 12" mix and match block set except for the 2 that won't work with the Go!Baby. (The 6 1/2 " square and 6 1/2 " triangle.)  I have some flower dies and the cute dragonfly/bee/butterfly die as well. I was originally going to do a windmill pattern, but now I'm thinking a sampler quilt so I can incorporate some of the other dies. The Accuquilt site has free patterns for a lot of different combinations for the 12" die set. Here's a link to get the free download:

 http://www.accuquilt.com/patterns/bed-quilts-1/go-mix-match-quilt-block-free.html

I'm planning on using some of the block ideas, but I'm definitely goiing for my own tweeks. So I'm getting off this computer and I'm going to go make something!