ALMOST FULL

Tonite the moon was almost full, not quite, maybe tomorrow nite. IT was the color of my big guy though. Last nite I finished his embroidery work and I think he's developed his own personality, what a charmer ;-0

Wed nite is my sewing nite. The local adult ed offers quilting classes for a mere $10 a quarter. The 'classes' are held at the senior center. It's a real nice group of ladies. I always bring my handwork, sit 'n stitch and listen to all the gossip. There are teachers there if you need any help? and every once in awhile they have a group project. There are two ladies that like to applique the same patterns that I do and it gives me something to look forward to every mid week. I love seeing what they are up to. One of the ladies bought the kit for this quilt and it was interesting to see what the kit had to offer. I'm never trusting enough to let someone else pick out my fabrics for me. I guess it's a control thing and fabric shopping is my favorite thing and hey! it's the thrill of the hunt!! Right?

Thank you all for your comments, compliments and making me feel so welcome.

As the Needle Turns

I've mentioned that I love applique, I always need to have a project to take to my Wednesday nite group (more of that maybe on Wednesday). My method of choice is needle turn. I admire those who use other methods, but haven't really tried any of them. I keep telling myself that I should but ... Someone told me that the starch method would be faster... the back basting method looks interesting... So many methods, so little time. My BGF Vicky http://laquilter.blogspot.com/encourged me to do needle turn, she can just plop down a piece and turn it and VOYLA!!! it's gorgeous. I had a little bit of a problem doing that. I'm not as free spirited (I think she got that from Robyn Pandolph). Another BGF, Cheryl also does beautiful needle turn, she showed me how to use the overlay method and taught me to finger press the turn marks. Once I learned those tricks, it was suddenly more controlled and easier for me to handle. I haven't stopped since and the list of quilts to make will keep me busy forever. (and yikes! it keeps growing!) The Piece o'Cake Bicentennial pattern was my first attempt. (I need to take a picture of it). Then I moved on to Anne Sutton's Rabbits Prefer Chocolate. Her patterns are so easy and fun, I love them all. I sent Anne a picture and she posted it on her blog! http://bunnyhill.blogspot.com/2007/01/its-not-all-about-me.html Of course neither are quilted (I have a problem with that too). My current project is Happy Hauntings by Verna Mosquera. This pattern is a joy! It's coming along pretty quickly, I can't stop. I've got about six blocks done so far. In fact, I'm gonna go sit and stitch while I still have a little time. Nite Nite ! (oh could someone lead me to any good tutorials on blogging? I'm havin a problem with that too)

Good Monday Morn

Time to start a fresh new week. Wish I could sit blog or applique, but that will have to wait till I get home from work. Looking forward to the long holiday weekend. This posting will be a quick experiment (to see how to post a pic). Here are the three years of pincushions

Have a fantastic week!!

Ahh the Magic of the Blogland.... comments

they are sweet chocolate kisses that feed my heart oh wait...I'm trying to diet... They are golden nuggets that enrich my day. Sweet Dreams Blogland... so far so good!

Pincushions you ask?

Yep, that is about 80 pincushions over there. I've made 80 pincushions each year, for the past 3 years for a quilt retreat. Those are last years. At the moment I'm working on the 4th set of 10 for this year (almost half way done!) The retreat is in November so I have plenty of time. Plenty of time.... Plenty of time I say? HA! Unfortunately I have to work for a living, so I put myself on schedule to do at least 10 every two weeks so that I have time to do other projects too. By the time I'm down to the 80th pincushion I've had enough. So I figure I'm half way to enough :-) It's a darn good thing that the retreat is only once a year!

And so it begins

This is the first of what I hope will be a continuum of my quilting diaries and daily happenings. I've been reading blogs for a while now and thought I should try my own. Questions as to whether I'll be read or if I was creative enough have kept me at bay, but I've decided I don't really care. I've realized that this could be a useful tool to communicate with my family and those who care. I'll tell you flat out in this very first post that I don't have much of an imagination. I can create from others' ideas, but unfortunately I'm not unique. I'm just a Plain Jane quilter that has too many quilts that I want to make and not enough time to make them all. I mostly love traditional patterns mixed with applique and reproduction fabrics. I'm not limited to those, but I have to say that I will never make an art quilt, it's just not in me. I guess this is enough for a first time blogger.... let the bloggin begin.... Hello Blogland, I hope you will welcome me.