Nancy Drew Clues 1-4 and 5-7!

Okee dokee!  I have no idea how this all going to work together....The big block is Clues 1-3 and the small one is clue #4.  Perhaps, you'll notice the use of batik fabrics???  Hopefully this will give the project a fresh, new and updated look.  Just like Nancy Drew!  How many times have the book covers and the story lines been updated over the years???

And...here are blocks 5,6, and 7 {but not in that order}.  I spent a ridiculous amount of time {at least 4 hours-should have only taken 1-2 hours} cuttin' and sewin' these blocks.  Unfortunately, I don't know where each block is suppose to go so I spent a lot of time cuting several color and fabric combinations...made a few sewing mistakes...and threw a few versions of the blocks away.  This is what I've ended up with, for now.  The Joy is in the Journey, right?!

New BOM

Okee Dokee, I think it's time for an update....just in case anybody is still out there and cares.  I pulled up the plants in the garden on Halloween {just in time for the hard frost an then the snow} and now I can start sewing again!  This next year I am working on a Nancy Drew Mystery Quilt!  Who doesn't love Nancy Drew???! 

What will the quilt look like?  Well, that is the mystery.  Here are some of the starting fabrics I selected.  My main fabric is the plaid up towards the top of the stack.  Every month I will get several clues that tell me what to sew.  Scary!

Also, here is a little wool project that I'm working on.  It comes in handy while sitting at YW volleyball games.....{truly, I'm not a very good sports spectator Mom, but at least I'm there?}

And....one last parting view of my sunflowers. 

Remind me next year to reinforce the fencing around my sunflower garden.  Who knew that horses find them delicious?

Scrappy Snowbball

Look what I did in just one day!  AND I bound a scalloped edge for the first time EVER!  Thanks to my quilt guild member, Aileen Carmgnani, for making up this pattern and sharing it with us. 

Hippity Hoppity

Now that you've seen my "finally finished" quilt, I want you to know that I have not been sitting idle.  Oh no! I have been working on a few little embroidery projects {that are not finished yet} and this wool pillow.  It was a project at last months quilt guild retreat.  He was lots of fun and quick to do.  Plus, he is quiet and doesn't shed...unlike a few dogs I know.

Sweet Satisfaction

Finally! I fell in love with this fabric over 2 years ago. Thanks to my sweetheart, I got the fabric as a birthday present and had the quilt top made in a couple days....you know me, I kinda get obsessed sometimes. My fabulous friend, Lori, and I were going to quilt it, but we had some isssues and technical difficulties with the quilting machine. So, the quilt sat at her house for a year...then it sat at my house for a year. Then one day last month I was feeling kinda sad, lonely, and picked on so I gathered up my quilt and begged my other friend, Karen (she's a professional-unlike me and Lori) to quilt it for me. Karen did a fabulous job! I picked up the quilt from her last Thursday. I spent the weekend rummaging around looking for the binding fabric and started binding it yesterday and just finished it moments ago! I suppose I should now work on quilting the B.O.M. quilt I did last year...you know, the one that I started this blog with...

A project, or two...

Once again, I should be thinking about making dinner, or cleaning up something, but who knows when I'll be on the computer again....So, here are couple of  projects that I have completed, lately.  One for me...

And, a little Valentine's Day Sentiment for my Sweetheart!

And a little parting thought..."What is most important always involves the people around us.  We assume that they must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know."  -Thomas S. Monson

P.S. I forgot one project.  I'm calling it a trivet.  It was really quick and easy.  I had so much fun using left over fabrics from a project I did a couple years ago.  AND, the heart shaped yo-yos are the cutest things, EVER!

XOXOXO

New Year's Resolutions...

 My new motto for 2011 is: 
 I can do small things.

One of those small things is to be happy with what I have. One thing that I have been unhappy with is my laptop computer. I mean, come on, just look at it. It's pretty pathetic. The monitor died, so we plugged it into a spare one. Then the keyboard died, so we plugged it into a spare one. I've been driving myself crazy looking for a shiny, new replacement. What I have has been working perfectly well. I should be happy and content that we have some unused equipment kicking around the house. Shouldn't I? Well, It just so happens that the day I took this picture, I shocked the mother board, again, and it all went up in a brilliant flash of light. So, without a working computer, I have had some extra time to get a few sewing projects completed! Yeah! I'm happy to say that the following projects were gifts for February birthdays and they were completed in January. No last minute rush for me! 

First off is the "triplet" birthday!  Yeah!  I made the same block for each of us, just finished them differently.  Because you know, we are the same...yet different.  So, "C" got the framed block and "D" requested the pillow.  I, however, have not finished my present (to myself) because my block  is going in a quilt, & I haven't had time to work on the other blocks. 

Next, is Grandma's block.  I think it turned out fabulously fabulous!!!  I am so please with it.  You know, sometimes (for me, most of the time) you have a vision and then it just doesn't seem to turn out the way you planned.  But this project did!  I think it looks sooo much better in person. 

It is hard for me to write my feelings and have them convey what I am truly feeling.  These homemade projects are the only way I know of to put my heart, soul, and love into a gift.  You may not know it by lookin at them, but this is how I say, "I love you!"  Hugs and kisses to everyone!

P.S. For some reason, when trying to publish this post, the pictures have changed order.  So sorry, but I think you can figure things out...

Catching up?

Well, since I'm catching up on old projects, I might as well show this one. They are soo much cuter in person...I made these little wool owls in October. I love working with wool and I love owls! The skinny brown owl currently watches over my computer and the fat green one has flown down to B's room. They watch over us and make sure we are using our time wisely...Comment on that!

Summer Project finished!

Surprise! I'm finally getting a little update to you. Here is a little project that I had mostly finished back in August. It's been hanging over the stair banister just patiently waiting to get quilted. I finally got it done the first week of November. I just love it! I used extra high loft batting and a scrumptious choclately flannel for the backing. It's perfect for snuggling under and watching a movie, especially when it's -6 degrees, like it is right now! I hope it will warm up so we can get more snow!