Quilt Story September Paper Pieced Block

So here is my block for September.  I love paper piecing.

Fussy Cut Block for Quilt Story

Here is my fussy cut block for the August Quilt Story -  I think my blocks will make a nice Christmas quilt.

Now to find a paper pieced block pattern for September!  I love paper piecing so that one should be fun.  Just have to figure out what I want to do.

The Upcoming Postage Stamp Charm Swap & Challenge

Can hardly wait to sign up for the next Charm Swap & Challenge!  July 6th is only a few days away.  I participated in the April Swap & have sewn those together.  Need more to finish my quilt.  I have my Charms sorted & packaged ready to exchange.  Just waiting for the word.  You should check it out.

My Quilt Story Spiderweb Block for July 2012

Here is my Spiderweb Block for July 2012!  I liked doing this one.  

Now I'm back home & back to sewing

I had a wonderful visit with Kiri, Chris & Cora and the wedding was beautiful.  I loved spending time with Cora while Kiri was at work for 2 days!  She is such a great baby for 5 months old.  My sisters and niece, Vanessa all came (Sheila's husband, Jerry was also there.)  It was great that they all made the trip from Texas to Pittsburgh, PA for the wedding & to see Cora for the first time.  My ex-sister-in-law, Carolyn was also there.  My kids are amazed that their Dad & Nancy (stepmom) are civil to each other.  It was nice meeting Courtney's parents & family.   Will & Courtney make a beautiful couple.   The pictures from the wedding are spectacular.  

It took about a week for me to be able to get back to sewing.  I had to catch up on the  2 BOMs for Gone Quilting.  I finally finished my Flying Geese block using my Christmas fabric for the Quilt Story BOM.  I was a little off on some of the triangles, but I still like the block.  I also completed the July Spider Web block for this BOM.  I completed the Compass Block - Kaleidescope for that BOM.   I need to complete my Mystery Quilt 6 and finish quilting Cora's special quilt that I was working on before I left for Maryland. The needle kept breaking & in frustration I decided to put it away.  I haven't had any problem with the needle breaking so far, so maybe later on this week I'll try finishing the quilt!  I also need to figure out what I'm going to do with my fabric for the Ugly Fabric Quilt and work on my 2" squares quilt.  

We are in the process of working on finishing the addition.  Monday we spent the day painting the siding and trim.  Tomorrow I'll do the touch up and put the paint away.  We bought doors, door knobs & locks, lights and electrical stuff today.  Pat is going to call his friend, Raul to see if he will do the electric for us.  It will be great once the room is finished.  We'll have a finished laundry room, half bath & my sewing/sitting room.  I'll post our progress!  

Joyful Thursday!

Well today I'm attempting FreeMotionQuilting (FMQ) for the first time on my new granddaughter's quilt.  So far it looks pretty good.  I have 1/2 of it completed so will work on the 2nd half later this evening or tomorrow.  Doing mostly free form circles and lines.  Sure does use a lot of thread.  I'm using variegated thread with pinks, purples & yellows that match the fabric.   I want to finish this so I can take it to Maryland when I go on Monday (5/21).  (I'll post a picture once I'm finished with it.)


I can hardly wait to see my girls (my daughter, Kiri & new granddaughter, Cora) and Chris (Kiri's husband).  Will be a nice visit since I will have Cora all to myself for several days while Kiri is at work & Chris is on his business trip.  I love this little girl so much.  It was wonderful that I was there for her birth and so I think we have an even more special bond as a result.  Kiri & Chris are great about posting pictures & videos on a regular basis so I can see how she is growing.  Pretty red hair & blue eyed girl!  She really does look like both of her parents.  


We are having such wonderful weather here at Medina Lake (Lakehills, TX).  It is nice & cool in the mornings & late afternoons although we still have the warm (90's) temperatures the rest of the time.  We do need more rain because we continue to be in a drought here & need the lake to fill back up, but really love this weather more.  The lake is down so low that it is sad looking although it is beautiful in the places that still have water.   Maybe we won't have as hot a summer this year as we did last year.  It was tooooo hot all last summer that my garden died too early (in July) instead of producing until October like it did the previous year.  We need water!  


5:00pm so I better go finish up my sewing before time to figure out what is for dinner.  I'm thankful that I'm retired and not having to fight the traffic home now!  

My 2nd attempt at posting - my joys

So I posted my first comment to the "In the Bag - Ugly Fabric Quilt Challenge" today.  Doing my own blog is very new to me, but I will attempt to improve at it.  I have so many things I'm thankful for:  my health, my family, my friends & my abilities are but a few.  I"m thankful that I live in the United States where we have so many freedoms. I love retirement and being able to do the things I love:  sewing, quilting, painting, gardening and the list goes on.  


A beautiful day today in the Hill Country at Medina Lake.  I early voted this morning and now with that out of the way I'll work out in the garden and also do some quilting.