Pieces of my heart blocks

... after the emotional week I've had this week. Piecing these blocks seemed fitting.
I won't go into details but I lost a good friend of almost 25 years. It's hard to imagine him not here anymore. Please take some time to reconnect with friends who mean alot to you ... call if you can, write an email if you can't or send a text. Sometimes just a note can mean so much - who knows it might make their day a bit better and brighter.
Sorry it's been really rough ... loosing my friend and another friend's sister all at once is just alot on a person. Makes one have a heavy heart.
until next time ...

Snow and Sewing

This week I've been up early each morning so I got a chance to work on some blocks for swaps that I am a part of ...

I reworked this one for the Star BOM we are doing this year .. the points are now going the right directions.

These are Depression Blocks for a fellow swapper for the Friendship Swap. These were made using some of my precut 4Inch squares.

These are Pineapple Blossom blocks for another swappers in the Friendship Swap. These were made using precut 3.5 inch squares and 2" strips.

We got some snow on Thursday ... not alot but enough to call it snow. It is still on the ground. The kiddos had two days off school due to the icy backroads around the area. They had fun while they were off. The little puppy just showed up at our house and now he won't leave. He is so full of energy and little man loves playing with him.

Early Thursday Morning ... the snow is just starting. It almost looks fake in the pictures.
time to get busy with some cleaning and maybe more sewing this afternoon.
until next time ... happy quilting!

been busy swapping

I've had a busy couple weeks and thought I'd share what I have been working on other than the large amount of leaves in my yard.

As you know if you have been viewing my blog that on a quilting site I am a part of we did a blocks into tops swap (HERE is the one I did). I sent my swap mate a BOB and this is what she made me isn't it so pretty? I am going to hopefully complete it for a gift for my mother soon. And ... this will help me complete another UFO when I do so. Gotta love swaps to help you complete those stack of UFOs/BOBs we all have.

here are a couple set of blocks I made for two swappers for a friendship swap

This swapper wanted any Christmas fabric and white. I use the same green and red fabrics in both blocks cause I just love it. These are the blocks I made for her.

This swapper wanted dark green and mauve so these are the blocks I made for her.

I have also been working on the Christmas Wreath tablerunner that I posted a photo of the pattern of. I am almost done with that - just need to do the binding and then I'll snap a photo.

until next time ... happy quilting

enlarging patterns

I found this great pattern in a magazine and pulled the pattern and I went to enlarge it to 200% just like it said to do then I start to piece those copied sections to make the whole block pattern. This is what I have ... how do you get the sections to stay together so you can piece the quilt block? In the past I used regular old tape but when you press it of course it melts. So ... any tips here .... can I use school glue sticks to hold the puzzle pieces in place? I just need to make this one block.

until next time ... happy quilting

Sunday's Sewing

I didn't finish my post from yesterday due to unforeseen circumstances so I will begin today with yesterday's end.
I work on my split nine patches and got to the rows stages of my blocks. I went from this mess to ...

these row sections pieced ...

Today I hope to press and complete those blocks.

until next time ... happy quilting

Pieced Pumpkins

Here's what I have been sewing on today .... cute pieced pumpkins.
until next time .. happy quilting

September UFO list

I am on an online quilting site and have decided to join a UFO busting challenge game ... each day the hostess will draw a UFO for us to work on from our list of three, there is a day that she may let us choose any one from our list too. This should be a fun way to work on our UFO list. Would be wonderful to complete the three on my list for this month but we shall see. You have seen how poorly I have kept to sticking to my monthly goals ;o)

1. crumb blocks

2. string blocks

3. red split nine patch blocks

until next time ... happy quilting!

30s Ohio Stars

here is a sample of some Ohio Stars done in 30s prints for a swap I am a part of. I can now mark that off my list of 'to dos' and get back to working on my August UFO - the Black, Red, White RR for my friend. I have apples to put up this afternoon after church and then I am going to at least put on the thin black border that is supposed to come next. Might try and start cutting for the last border set too.

until next time ... happy quilting

Churn Dash Block into a top

Here are some blocks I was sent by a friend to make a quilt outta ....

and here is what I decided to do with them. The colors are not exact but I like the way it turned out and hope that she will too.

This is what I was able to work on so far this weekend quilty wise. The rest of the weekend has not gone to plan but ... life is funny that way.

until next time .. happy quilting

Blocks pieced

Here is what I was able to get done yesterday morning before the kiddos got up ... well ... I pieced them into three square sections and pinned them and then this morning I joined the rows together and pressed them. I made up eighteen blocks (but the picture only shows 16) all from my scrap bins. These will help me finish up a UFO on my list. (((HAPPY DANCE!!!)))

Brenda asked for the pattern and here is where I got it form ... http://www.quilterscache.com/S/SplitNinePatchBlock.html is the pattern I used for these - I grouped four together to form the larger block. Love this simple block. I also have blocks in scrappy and beige/white to post later on.
until next time ... happy quilting

Another Sewing Session on Saturday

I am going to get those TN blocks done today. I pulled all the charms I needed for the HSTs and the squares too. The picture shows all of my 5 inch charms but I won't use all of them to make these blocks. I had them all cut and waiting since I cut these in advance while sorting and doing other projects. I am going to make up sixteen of these. I need twelve for a swap I am doing and the others will be added to the stack to make a nicer size quilt.

here are the TN blocks I made today using those charms and squares I pulled. I have all but used up my 4.5 inch stack of squares so I need to start cutting some more squares from my scraps soon.

I still have other stuff I need to get done today and run to the grocery store so let's hope I get to everything on my list before company comes tonight. (My Sister's changed her plans and is coming in tonight.)

until next time ... happy quilting

Block Swap Top Progress

I added the inner border to the block-block swap project I am working on for Babs. I have to work on the parts of the outter border to finish this one up. I hope to complete it today but we will see. I will post an updated photo at the end of the day.
until next time ...

Life has been crazy lately

sorry I haven't posted anything new to my blog this past week. Life is really kinda crazy here and stressful. I am hoping that will everything that is being changed and all those helping me pray for change, then things will turn themselves around for us.
I plan on quilting this weekend. It is too cold here to do anything else. It is only 23 degrees here now and temps will be only back up to 46 for Saturday. Nice day to stay inside and sew. I have some errands I am planning on doing tonight and then I won't have to go into town tomorrow and waste any time I could be sewing.
I have a swap project I need to work on. We are swapping out blocks with a partner and then we create our partner a quilt top outta the blocks and whatever fabrics we'd like to add. I am hoping that this will stretch my creative mind's eye a bit and she will like the end result.
Just got settled down after my errands. It's is a bit after midnight. I have the fabrics pulled and in the wash for the project I am going to tackle in the morning. I have all my running around done until Sunday so I can stay home and sew and clean and do whatever I'd like to. The kids are with the dad this weekend and I need to fill in the time by staying busy. I miss them already.
until next time ....