New Year - Back to quilting???

Happy New Year! Welcome 2015!! 

It has been far too many YEARS since I have been here and blogging about my life and progress. I plan on retaking over ownership of my life and free time this year and get back to quilting and continue getting my house and life in order. 

A lot has happened in my life since my last blog but I will not go backwards but continue forward. This year I hope to focus on the positives in my life and not allow the negatives the overcome my happiness. Hoping to reconnect to my past blogger friends and make some new ones this year.

Sewing Room Pics

wanted to share a couple of pictures of my freshly painted sewing room, couldn't get the whole room in a shot so here are two pictures. Need to make the window toppers and this room will be completed for now ...

same room different view ....

National Quilting Day

What a wonderful sewing day I hope to have in honor of National Quilting Day!

Here are my goals that I hope to complete during the course of the day ...
1. Finish RR block challenge blocks ... DONE!! the top row is the one I completed this morning!

2. Finish Star BOM challenge block ... no progress made on this one but today is another day.

3. Finish Scrappy Star blocks for swap ... DONE!!! Finished this late last night after my company left but they were still finished yesterday!


4. Finish Mystery Block of the month ... progress made at least, cut out and made all sections of the block now to keep rearranging them until I find the block I like best. So far, found four different blocks to choose from. I am sure there are more but I'll let you know how many I find before I find the one I want to turn this into.

5. Start on UGRR top piecing ... blocks are finished, need to add sashing and border blocks - no progress ... bummer!

and what is everyone else up to on this quilty day?? please share


until next time ... happy quilting

so many projects ...

I have been painting in my sewing area and while moving things around in there I have found a multitude of projects, BOBs and UFOs that I have started and never finished. I gathered the most of the larger ones and put them into boxes and tried to labeled them so I can see them. I am hoping that by me seeing this tower of boxes that it might inspire me to start working on them and getting something completed and marked off the list. I am ashamed to show you this tower of boxes and tell you that this is not all of them either.


I am wondering though ... is this a quilters trait or is it just me? I'd love to hear back from you to know if I should seek help with this problem I seem to have.
until next time ... happy quilting

Working on some projects

Another Purple Star to add to my growing collection. This one is called Friend's Star from Quilter's Cache. I think there may be a couple more but here is the last picture I posted on that collection Purple Stars

On a quilting site that I am a part of we are doing a RR Block challenge, we will be making a set of blocks every two months and by the end of the year we will have enough blocks to make our own RR quilt. This was the first set of rows .. the block is the Next Door Neighbor from Quilter's Cache. Not the best picture but it does show I have them completed.

the second block is the Weathervane Block from Quilter's Cache. As you can see I just started these today but hope to have them done by the end of the week if not sooner. At least I can show some progress ;o)

Other than painting my kitchen and breakfast rooms this is all I have been working on lately. I hope to show my finished painted rooms soon too.

Until next time ... happy quilting!

Gosh! It's been awhile

Thanks Evelyn for the kick I needed to get back on my blog and update everyone.

I am sorry it has been so long since I have been on my blog and posted anything! Quick update ... This winter we have actually had a winter with lots of SNOW for us here in the south to enjoy.

I have recently become unemployed so I am in the process of job searching. I have been steadily going thru things at the house and organizing things and thinning things out still. That will always be a work in progress for me. I have started painting the kitchen to brighten it up in there. It's going to be a pale yellow. Need to find some sunflower prints for new curtains in there too.

I have not been sewing much until here lately. I have been using solely from my stash but have not been posting to show any usage on Judy's blog.

This one is called Stars Over My Barns, the blocks are from a swap I did. Need to figure out borders and get this one completed soon.

This is what I have been working on for the last couple days. My UGRR blocks now have the sashing and corner squares cut to get those into a top. I have been piecing the border blocks (for swapping and my border) from smaller pieces of my Civil War fabrics. I think I am going to try and piece the backing for this one too and use up the rest of that fabric.

Stash Busting Report

It has been such a long time since I posted my report I feel a bit lost. I have been busy this week but it has not been all sewing but more painting (redoing my bathroom - ugh! won't go there!)

Here are some blocks I made for some swaps I am a part of. Notice both are scrappy so I used from my STASH!!! YEAH!!!

Go to this site Judy's Stash Busting Challenge to see how everyone else is doing. Her's my report hope to do better next week!

Fabric usage report ....

Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards

Fabric Added Year to Date: 4 yards

Fabric Used this Week: .75 yard

Fabric gifted/sold this week: 0 yards

Fabric Out Year to Date: 47.25 yards

Thread usage report --I still have over 51 spools of thread on hand - I hope to use half of these this year.

Spools added this week: 0 spools

Spools used this week: 0 spools

Total Spools used to Date: 2 spools

Total Spools bought to Date: 2 spools

until next time ... happy quilting

Gosh! Has it been that long?!?

I am ashamed to say it has been since March since I have been here to post one blog post or view anyone's blog to see what everyone was up to.

Alot has been going on and I won't bore you with the long update. Let's just start from today and move forward with some life stories and UFO/quilty progress.

I have been slowly working on my crumb block for my UFO for the month of July and hope to show a completed top soon.

I have been working on my Start BOM Challenge and have made several more blocks ...
I have also been making some blocks for the Christmas BOM Challenge and here are my blocks to date ...

Fabric usage/Stash Reporting .... I have used some fabric/thread and bought some too, not sure how much thought. I will start again with my stash report on Sunday and go from there. It may not be 100% accurate but it is the best I can do ;o)

I hope that everyone has been able to find some time to fit in some sewing or something they enjoy weekly. Life is too short to not find some joy in it.

until next time ... happy quilting

Weekly Progress - Stash Usage Report

this month's Star Block

One block for this month's Christmas Quilt Along

Second block for this month's Christmas Quilt Along

I have been under the weather again this last week and haven't gotten much done. Here are some pictures of the blocks I have been working on and the totals for my stash usage for the Stash Busting Challenge On Judy's Site

Fabric usage report ....
Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 4 yards
Fabric Used this Week: .50 yard
Fabric gifted/sold this week: 0 yards
Fabric Out Year to Date: 46.75 yards

Thread usage report --I still have over 51 spools of thread on hand - I hope to use half of these this year.

Spools added this week: 0 spools
Spools used this week: 0 spools
Total Spools used to Date: 2 spools
Total Spools bought to Date: 2 spools

until next time ... happy quilting

Weekly Stash Report and Update

I have been under the weather the last week or so and haven't gotten much done and failed to do the last Stash Report too. So let me catch up with some pictures of the blocks I have been working on and my usage for the Stash Busting Challenge On Judy's Site


here is a block for a seasonal block swap. I decided just to make four smaller blocks that have a Summer theme and join them to make my larger block that was required. I like how it came out, need to make three more to finish that swap.


here is the MS block done in green and cream for a Friendship Swap I am a part of.


Here is a Star block done in black and white for a Friendship Swap I am part of.


Fabric usage report ....
Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 4 yards
Fabric Used this Week: .75 yard
Fabric gifted/sold this week: 0 yards
Fabric Out Year to Date: 46.25 yards


Thread usage report --I still have over 51 spools of thread on hand - I hope to use half of these this year.
Spools added this week: 0 spools
Spools used this week: 0 spools
Total Spools used to Date: 2 spools
Total Spools bought to Date: 2 spools
until next time ... happy quilting

Spring is in the Air

Lookie what I found hiding in my garden this weekend??? Aren't these purple crocus pretty?

and look at the garden gnome that has come to help with my gardening? Isn't he just too cute? I have always wanted one of these and splurged and got him. Doesn't he just cheer you right up? He does me ;o)

Hope you have a bright and cheery day!

until next time ... happy quilting

Weekly Stash Report

Kinda a slow week for sewing. I did get some blocks done and ready to mail out for a swap I am doing.

Fabric usage report ....

Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards

Fabric Added Year to Date: 4 yards

Fabric Used this Week: .25 yard

Fabric gifted/sold this week: 0 yards

Fabric Out Year to Date: 45.5 yards

Thread usage report --I still have over 51 spools of thread on hand - I hope to use half of these this year.

Spools added this week: 0 spools

Spools used this week: 0 spools

Total Spools used to Date: 2 spools

Total Spools bought to Date: 2 spools

until next time ... happy quilting

Weekly Stash Report

Didn't get to sew much this week. I made this tree block for the Year-long Christmas Sampler we are doing on a quilting site and I started some snowflake blocks that are due out next weekend.


My stash report for the week is not bad I guess but my usuage needs to be more each week instead of me selling/gifting it others. Check out Judy's Stash Busting Challenge for this year it will put you in the right direction to use what you have and keep you on track by posting with the rest of the bunch weekly like HERE

Fabric usage report ....
Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 4 yards
Fabric Used this Week: .25 yard
Fabric gifted/sold this week: 8 yards
Fabric Out Year to Date: 45.25 yards

Thread usage report --I still have over 51 spools of thread on hand - I hope to use half of these this year.
Spools added this week: 0 spools
Spools used this week: 0 spools
Total Spools used to Date: 2 spools
Total Spools bought to Date: 2 spools
until next time ... happy quilting

SNOW!!! and Snowmen

isn't it lovely! It has been snowing about two hours now and it's still coming down!! this is a treat for us in the south!

more photos of our snow day ... we played in the snow and had some fun. (We ended up with 3-4 inches of snow. It's raining now so ice is coming I'm sure.) Built some snowmen ... made snow angels and took lots of pictures. We also made snow cream and baked cookies. YUMMY! It's been a nice day indeed!

Stashbusting Report Week 6

This week's progress at a glance.

I got to do some sewing this weekend and I am happy to say I have a FINISH!!! Yep, I can mark one UFO off my list for the year. That makes me feel good I can tell you. Not the best picture as I finished the binding this morning about 1AM so it had to be spread out in the living room to get it all in the picture. See I even used from my stash to piece the backing. TIRANE did the quilting for me of course ;o) and it looks fabulous!

I got my February's Star Block block ... it was harder than it loooks but I have that task marked off my list for February.

I made one of February's Christmas Sampler blocks. If you haven't guessed this one is a wreath. :o)

My stash report for the week is not bad I guess but my usuage needs to be more each week instead of me selling/gifting it others. Check out Judy's Stash Busting Challenge for this year it will put you in the right direction to use what you have and keep you on track by posting with the rest of the bunch weekly like THE OTHERS - everyone is doing so good this year.

Fabric usage report ....

Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards

Fabric Added Year to Date: 4 yards

Fabric Used this Week: .5 yard

Fabric gifted/sold this week: 7 yards

Fabric Out Year to Date: 37 yards (not a bad start)

Thread usage report --I have over 51 spools of thread on hand - I hope to use half of these this year.

Spools added this week: 0 spools

Spools used this week: 0 spools
Total Spools used to Date: 2 spools

Total Spools bought to Date: 2 spools

until next time ... happy quilting

If Momma Ain't Happy ...

If Momma Ain't Happy ... Ain't Nobody Happy!!

I am slowly learning that this is so true. I have been dealing with alot of private things that have made me unhappy to say the least but learning to make myself happy again has been hard to figure out. By my being unhappy my kids have suffered in the process and that makes me even sadder. Dealing with life is hard enough as a kid without anything else being added to their plate.
I am taking steps to find a way to make me happy inside and out.
First I joined and have been receiving daily emails from DivorceCare and this is helping me by me starting each day with the reading of the email and listening to it's words and praying about my life. I won't say more I don't want to sound preachy or affend anyone.
Next ... I am learning to let some things go ... which means ... if I don't have enough time to do the dishes and the clothes each day it's okay! Time spent with the kids is more important. I find it hard to get everything done every day and have been stressing over it. Now ... I don't care if my house is spotless when company comes over. We live in a home and it's lived in and shows that we are enjoying life. Nothing wrong with it at all. For those who think I am wrong please don't come and smub your nose at me.
Next ... I am learning to enjoy the little good things in life so that the little bad things don't seem so bad. For instance for supper last night ... we went to Ruby Tuesday's and ate dessert ... just dessert and it was yummy! Think about it for a minute, most of the time when you go out to eat you eat your supper and then are so full you can't have dessert without being sick. I had told the kids the last time we were there that we'd come back and eat just dessert, so I surprised them last night and we did just that. My daughter said, "Where is my mother and what have you done with her?" Simple things like this may change alot in our relationship. In time, I hope they see that I am not just the mean mom that makes them eat their veggies, brush their teeth, go to bed on time and get up and go to school.
I know this is not my normal posting and I hope you don't mind my post today, I needed to write it so I can look back on it when I'm having a rough day and need a boost. Who knows someone else might have some tips out their to share or someone else might be going through the same thing and it will encourage them to take that first step to being happy about themselves and their life again. It is okay to be happy, we all deserve to be happy.

Are you a piecer or a quilter?

See the date on this picture ... 2005!! and it is still not finished .. it sits in the cabinet waiting to be finished. I often wonder if I have turned into a piecer and I am not a true quilter. When I first started quilting I started and finished a project before even thinking of doing another one. Now I think I have Quilter's ADHD. I have gotten into the habit of starting a project ... piecing the blocks and maybe getting them into a top, if it is that lucky, then it sits and sits while I start another and yet another project. I have a wonderful friend Tirane who is a long arm quilter and does my quilting for me now that I turned into the piecer that I am. Yet I haven't been able to get myself into gear and get those UFOs/BOBs turned into real quilts. I am ashamed at the number of UFOs/BOBs I have in my sewing area. They are over running the place and yet I want to start new projects instead of finishing these. What is wrong with this picture? Am I just a piecer that is destined to have a ton of UFOs/BOBs forever haunting me? Is this a trait of a true quilter to have a large number of UFOs/BOBs sitting in their sewing rooms?
I have my 2010 goals listed and show only SIX little UFOs to finish of my upteen UFOs that I have in there. January is almost over and I have one UFO at Tirane's being quilted but haven't touched another one. I caved in and joined a couple swaps instead. I created a new UFO and added blocks to a couple old UFOs in the progress. Is it just me or do you feel guilty for not finishing your UFOs/BOBs and wanting to start a new project instead?
I was talking to a quilty friend last night and she does QOV quilts and will accept any tops I want to send her. I think this might be the answer to my prayers. Finishing tops and getting rid of UFOs/BOBs to free me from the guilt of starting new projects. This might be the way for me to get things thinned down in there. Part of the problem is that over time my taste in quilts has changed, my taste in fabrics has changed, my quilting skills have improved and my need to use what I have has taken over.
I hope someone else out there is in the same boat as me and can cheer me on and I them to make 2010 the year to finish those UFOs/BOBs and use up that stash too. Helping me to remove the guilt from my shoulders for wanting to start that cute paper piecing wall hanging instead of finishing my crumb top.
until next time ... happy quilting!!

Week 4 - Stash Report

I think all quilters at some point look at their stashes and think ... oh my goodness, where did all that fabric come from and what in the world am I going to do with it all. Well ... I got to that point last year and joined Judy's Stash Busting Challenge and I am participating in Judy's Stash Busting Challenge for this year too. I have so many UFOs on my shelves and enough fabric to make lots and lots of finished project. This year is going to be another good year to complete UFOs and bust some stash. If you are in the same mindset - come join in and see how well you do this year. CHECK-OUT how the rest of the stash busters are doing.
This was another good week, any amount busted is a good week right? I sold/swapped out some fabric and also made some swap blocks like these .... and working on some others (will post photos later maybe)


Fabric usage report ....
Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 4 yards
Fabric Used this Week: 1 yards
Fabric gifted/sold this week: 10 yards
Fabric Out Year to Date: 29.5 yards (woohoo ... we are rolling now!)

Thread usage report --I have over 51 spools of thread on hand - I hope to use half of these this year. I know I will have to add white and beige here and there to do certain blocks but plan on using those oddies for piecing backing and my string and crumb blocks.
Spools added this week: 0 spools
Spools used this week: 1 spool
Total Spools used to Date: 2 spools
Total Spools bought to Date: 2 spools

until next time ... happy quilting

Stash Report Week 3

I'm am focusing this year on simplifing things and reducing the amount of 'things' around my house and that means in my sewing room too. I am choosing to do Judy's Stash Busting Challenge for 2010 .. come join in and see how well you do this year. HERE is a link to see how the rest of those in the challenge are doing.

This week, I think I did pretty good all things considered. I made a few blocks and sold some fabric.

Fabric usage report ....
Fabric Added this Week: 0 yards
Fabric Added Year to Date: 4 yards
Fabric Used this Week: .5 yards
Fabric gifted/sold this week: 8 yards
Fabric Out Year to Date: 18.5 yards (not a bad start)

Thread usage report --I have over 51 spools of thread on hand - I hope to use half of these this year. So I'm keeping track to see if I can. Bought beige and white this week.
Spools added this week: 2 spools
Spools used this week: 1 spool
Total Spools used to Date: 1 spools
Total Spools bought to Date: 2 spools

until next time ... happy quilting

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 ...