updates on spring to finish challenge

as part of tallgrass prairie's spring to finish challenge for the month of april, i've been working my fingers to the bone in attempts to complete items in my ufo stack. since i handquilt and do illustrations - it's all done with my hands and fingers. whew!

so here's my update with one day left to go. only one...i need more...

i put the finishing touches on elliott's quilt this evening after i pulled this adorable little quilt out of the dryer. i started working on it as soon as i heard my sister-in-law was pregnant. lucky for me (and elliott) the international quilt show was about a week later, so i picked up a bunch of great fat quarters there.



and here's a view of the backing fabric and label. i've had this turtle print for almost as long as my son's been alive, waiting to use it on the perfect thing. i also included the green striped border fabric and the background fabric (it has dragonflies on it in natural print) from my stash that have been used on multiple quilts. see!! not only did i get my bum in gear, but i used fabrics from my stash instead of just things i bought for a project only...




next is a 5 1/2" block for the "mini quilt in a bag swap" group's baggie bingo. i'm ready for it!

all fabrics on this one came from my stash - the black/white ones are going into the quilt i have **ahem** started and the red is from my 2nd QOV. i turned the red to the backside of the batik so it's not quite as bright. it's also my first unstructured and free-form block. yes...it's a log cabin and it's easy, but i haven't done something that's not straight and even lines before. i like it. so many of you out there have great "wonky" and liberated blocks and quilts and i want to attempt some of those. i'm probably too uptight to do it. i could never do too much modern or abstract art. i like my anal-retentiveness when it comes to that.

speaking of...jacquie got me moving in terms of finish projects. or at least hoping to finish. i'm not done with the drawing, but i'm a bit over half done. i was thinking of pushing myself to finish it before tomorrow night, but if i do that, it won't have the quality i want. i'll keep working on it, but considering i did the outline for it oh...about a year ago.... actually, i have a drawing that i want to finish that i started before i married my ex-husband. i started it in the mid-late 90's. it's a fantastic drawing, but i got stuck in a rut on a portion of it and unfortunately, it wasn't a place that i can just crop the paper on. poo.

that's all for me tonight. i'm putting my chicken soup in the fridge since it's cool now and heading to bed.

oh alex....

step-by-step

seriously...this man speaks to my heart. and so does robert kaufman. i stumbled across this fabric by alexander henry while shop-hopping before the end of the month. i neeeeeed this one. not really, but i really really want it. i have a black & white quilt started (and by started i mean the two sized squares are cut out and now it's sitting in a bag...it's paper piecing and i've never done it and it's circles for crying out loud). this one could be the backing. i have binding, but no backing yet. hmm...

i've been really good. ok - so sort of good. i have refrained from purchasing too much fabric this month and trying not to start projects, but finish them for the spring challenge. i've purchased some, but not as much as i wanted to. i put things in the virtual cart, but then leave.

happy arbor day and other thoughts

so, i may not plant a tree today (landlord....) but i can plant some herbs. i wish i could plant a tree - we have a gorgeous oak in the backyard that is not so gorgeous anymore. hurricane ike broke it apart and it's struggling to survive. half of it is missing.

my hubby was funny this morning. he was chatting with a relative and had this grave look on his face when he told me the relative's wife had headed back 'home' for the weekend and her shower. my gift quilt is almost done and he thought i was now late in getting it to them. good thing she's having two showers and i'm participating in spirit to the second one. on mother's day no less. i might have it finished this weekend. yes, i said that last week... but i mean it this time. plus, i'm cutting it too close to the shipping date. i was going to make a bunch of other things to go with my package, but i don't have enough days left to work on them.

plus, if i started something else, that would go against my "spring to finish" challenge, wouldn't it? i'm trying desperately not to start anything else until may 1. there are wonderful fabrics calling my name to be made into a skirt or dress. you know - something for me and not someone else for a change? oh my goodness!! what a novel idea!! :) 7 days left.... i won't have as many things as i hoped for, but i'm getting my stack of ufo's down. sort of.

here's a question: i'm going to do a dia de los muertos (day of the dead) quilt. i've been collecting fabrics for about 8 months now and all before i saw robert kaufman's small line of fabrics. i did buy one of the black ones for a border, but i've collected other skeleton/skull fabrics and lots of bright florals to make something. big and bold prints and colors. just like the celebration. so...after my rambling.... do any of you have a suggestion for a quilt pattern? i'm stumped.

veggies

i visit farmer's markets around town when i can. lately, it's been several times a month and sometimes i'll visit 2 of the markets before i go home. recently, i bought some veggies from a different farmer at the 2nd market.

i went to cook up my cauliflower from one of the farmers. partway through a section, i saw the neatest aqua color. wasn't sure what it was. upon closer inspection, it was moving. i have never seen an aqua worm before, especially on my veggies.

then i got paranoid. i threw away that section. i started looking really close at my cauliflower for more worms. didn't see any. mind you - i washed the head and pulled sections apart to get the dirt off before i cut. i put more cauliflower in my pot (that included homemade chicken stock for soup already)...then i found part of another worm. i went over to the pot. there were several taking shelter on 'islands' of cauliflower so they didn't steam.

i had to toss everything that i started cooking for soup.

b.a.m.

my b.a.m. aka big assed mug from luling icehouse pottery. this is NOT the small one shown in the dinnerware collection... mine is much bigger. so big, it holds an entire french press of coffee, with cream (as you can see from the photo). charlie is a fantastic potter and a great person to chat with. next time i venture up there, i have to tell him it holds a glorious amount of caffine. i'm drinking a cappucino as i type from it, but not one that fills the mug to the brim.

i was about halfway through when my oldest and dearest friend called in attempt of coordinating a trip to the intergem show. she said i sounded hyper. me? hyper? never..... :) it was just an attempt to ward off my migraine while relaxing instead of cleaning and running around. it started with reading a few chapters from my current library book, then i watched the jane austen book club via netflix instant - a fantastic invention to use my hubby's xbox 360 for...that and tetris...

of course, the glorious relaxation ended and i stupidly headed out for the grocery store in the torrential downpour of rain. it had eased up when i left, but the heavens opened 2 minutes into my drive. i vowed to limit myself to 2 bags worth so i could carry them under the umbrella. then, the streets flooded. we had thunderstorm warnings, but no flash flood warnings. hmm....

came home and pondered the last petal i drew on my current orchid illustration. i'm still not liking it. i'm trying to add this to the spring to finish challenge list. i NEED to finish it. i have 2 more in the series and i haven't started their compositions yet.

will i venture out to the gem show today before boo comes home? we shall see. and i'll show you my goodies if i go.

qov #2 and my spring to finish update

qov #2 - anchors-a-swirl

happy friday folks! last night, i finished up the final border on the QOV #2. i requested the longarmmer on tuesday and am still waiting for my assigned person to send it to. i LOVE this one, don't you? if you can click on the picture to see it bigger, i suggest doing that so you can see the fabrics closer. the backing will be a solid fire engine red. i'm thinking of doing the binding in the same navy star fabric as the border when it comes back from the quilter, but we'll see. maybe a nice white to brighten it up more? that's snappy hiding behind it...he wants to keep the quilt.

the completion of the QOV quilt top goes on my list for the spring to finish challenge. i know it's not "complete" complete, but it's as far as i can go for now and this one took a while to do. all the strips and triangles and turning each square in a different way to get the pattern...

list so far for the challenge:

• QOV #1
• QOV #2 quilt top

i'm almost done with the gift quilt - 2 sides of the border to quilt and then bind and label. maybe i could finish it this weekend? maybe...depends on if i get to drawing a bit instead for some "me time." i haven't completed a drawing in a while now and this one was started months and months ago but neglected for quilts instead. if i got cracking on it, i could add this drawing to my "spring to finish" list. it's the first of three for a series that i want to do.

qov #1 is finished!!

detail of the stitching

the labels

i finished my first quilt of valor today - the label on the right was the last thing to do (other than finishing the presentation case that is sitting on my drafting table...). the quilt will be shipped off tomorrow to washington, d.c. to prepare for cdr. lebel's arrival and their taking it to her. i wish i could be there to see it and give it to her myself. maybe one day i will have the opportunity to present one in person.

my longarm quilter did a fantastic job and it's all swirly/wavy. it's perfect.

my hubby wasn't home and my 6-yr old is too short, so once again...the quilt is spread out and i can't get the entire thing in one shot. i need to rig up a clothesline in the yard so i can hang them. but today was cloudy and overcast, so the light wasn't good anyways.

so... this is #1 in my spring to finish challenge. next up - finish the gift. then it's QOV #2 piecing and send it to the longarmmer. and start handquilting boo's dr. seuss quilt. MAYBE i'll have a chance to sew a skirt or dress for myself. the easter dress wasn't started...oops.

so long dear friend

pascal 1997-2009

goodbye my dear friend. you will be missed by everyone in the family and we love you. sleep peacefully.

a great honor bestowed

i have a contact with the navy's safe harbor program and we've been talking about the QOV's i'm making. she is finding recipients for my navy-themed quilts and i'm grateful for her assistance. last week, i thought the quilt was going to go to a sailor in san diego. today, that changed.

i spoke to A. this afternoon and she asked me if i would be okay with them designating my QOV to a hospital corpsman in afghanistan and she proceeded to tell me a short version of what happened. cdr kim lebel is the surviving member of a group who was purposely gunned down last week. the chaplain and the captain from washington, d.c. will travel to afghanistan and present my quilt to her. (this is where i have to finish that binding - STAT!) they will take photos and send them to me later.

could there be another way to feel so honored and humbled by the request i've been given? i don't think so.

update - 4/8: i got word that the chaplain and the captain will actually be taking my quilt to bethesda, not afghanistan. i am almost finished with the binding...i brought it to work with me today.

i got to play...and i'm in love...

yesterday, i went out with oldest and dearest friend and my hubby to a couple shops near my parent's house. we stopped at quilt n sew just to take a look, even though i was there last week and knew i didn't need anything from there. but...by the front entrance, they have this set up. i played. and i'm in love. i'm a handquilter and have been confused and dumbfounded by machine quilting. mainly...on a regular type machine and not a longarm. i still haven't tried machine quilting on my machine before and i know it can handle it.

but one minute on the baby lock and i want one. all $10,000 of it. sigh... snappy has been telling me for a while that i need one and then i won't have to work, just quilt. honestly, i'd still have to work to pay off the machine! the rush. the speed. the FUN!

and i have to get back to quilting frogs into a border now. with my sore fingers.

i was sent this last year before i went in for some medical tests.... this week has been one of those weeks where it just won't end and this brings a smile to my face. i hope it brings one to yours too. :)

AMAZING SIMPLE HOME REMEDIES

1. IF YOU'RE CHOKING ON AN ICE CUBE, SIMPLY POUR A CUP OF BOILING WATER DOWN YOUR THROAT. PRESTO! THE BLOCKAGE WILL INSTANTLY REMOVE ITSELF.

2. AVOID CUTTING YOURSELF WHEN SLICING VEGETABLES BY GETTING SOMEONE ELSE TO HOLD THE VEGETABLES WHILE YOU CHOP.

3. AVOID ARGUMENTS WITH THE FEMALES ABOUT LIFTING THE TOILET SEAT BY USING THE SINK.

4. FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE SUFFERERS ~ SIMPLY CUT YOURSELF AND BLEED FOR A FEW MINUTES, THUS REDUCING THE PRESSURE ON YOUR VEINS. REMEMBER TO USE A TIMER.

5. A MOUSE TRAP PLACED ON TOP OF YOUR ALARM CLOCK WILL PREVENT YOU FROM ROLLING OVER AND GOING BACK TO SLEEP AFTER YOU HIT THE SNOOZE BUTTON.

6. IF YOU HAVE A BAD COUGH, TAKE A LARGE DOSE OF LAXATIVES. THEN YOU'LL BE AFRAID TO COUGH.

7. YOU ONLY NEED TWO TOOLS IN LIFE - WD-40 AND DUCT TAPE. IF IT DOESN'T MOVE AND SHOULD, USE THE WD-40. IF IT SHOULDN'T MOVE AND DOES, USE THE DUCT TAPE.

8. REMEMBER - EVERYONE SEEMS NORMAL UNTIL YOU GET TO KNOW THEM.

9. IF YOU CAN'T FIX IT WITH A HAMMER, YOU'VE GOT AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM.

DAILY THOUGHT: SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE SLINKIES - NOT REALLY GOOD FOR ANYTHING BUT THEY BRING A SMILE TO YOUR FACE WHEN PUSHED DOWN THE STAIRS.