The Last Week Of January???

We had a wonderful weekend this way! Three days of having our girl home, plus the parents to be visiting, made for very happy times.

My Christmas runner is done.....well, not the quilting. It's hard to tell by the picture, but there are yo yo's in the center of each of the dimensional pinwheels. I really like the ticking border (which doesn't show well either)! Problem, I can't figure out how to quilt it and I really want to finish it up by the end of January for my monthly Christmas project. Hmmmmm, any ideas on how to quilt this?

Last night I was looking through my quilting closet to find a pattern for a friend, when I came across a box that has a quilt I started probably about 8 years ago. The top section is all pieced and the next five rows

are labeled and ready to go, but for whatever reason that's where I stopped. The box has all the rest of the 4 patches done and all the blocks are cut. I guess I just forgot about it. So tonight while I'm pondering

the quilting on the Christmas runner, think I will get back to piecing this scrappy quilt.

Hope every one's week got off to a good start and lots of quilting is happening out there this last week of January........wasn't it just Christmas yesterday?? :-)!

Way to go Nan!

Yesterday in the mail I got the most wonderful surprise. Nan, who is launching her own online business, sent me two patterns to preview. They are cute as cute can be, and having a new grand baby on the way, well, I'll just have to make one or two or three!!! Tonight is our monthly late night sew, so I think I will be picking out some fabrics and get going on this project right away. Way to go Nan!!!!

Since it is late night sewing, the world famous ball of cheese is already made and in the frig! Tonight I will be working on a Christmas runner because I am on a quest to make a Christmas project a month......following Nan's lead! I am determined to make my monthly quota. If there is time I also need to work on a project for my Valentine swap partner, but think I will keep that top secret :-)!

I finally feel caught up on my sleep after Road, and actually have had a productive couple of days. Here's a quilt that I put the binding on for a customer...... love this quilt and the way Jan did the borders. Last night I dug through my reds and starting making a stack. Another quilt to make someday! Katie is home now and will be here till Sunday. Can't wait to spend some quality time with her and catch up on all her goings on. Sunday all three kids will be here and I think we have decided to barbecue, even though rain is in the forecast! Hope everyone is having a great Friday.

Whewwwwwwww!

We are back and unpacked and pretty much everything is put away. Donna, Linda and myself spent Monday getting things back in order. As the kits sold out at Road, Donna brought them back to the shop each evening and then Wendy, (who held down the fort while we were away along with Susan), would rehang quilts. The shop looks so wonderful with all the new quilts hanging up. I plan to take some pictures today.

It was so nice to meet some bloggers at Road. Sharon brought Carol by and I have been hearing of their adventures!!! Met Mar and got to chat for a minute, and then Kris from Cozy Cottage...what fun. I can't wait to visit her at her shop. Also got to meet lots of lurkers!!!

We definitely have a routine down for going to Road, the pre stuff, the packing to go, Donna, Jim, the sisters and Nurse Carol setting up, the show itself and then the after stuff, but one of our very favorite parts is our annual visit from the girls from Arizona. Angie, Mary and Denise!! We love you guys. They stop by the booth during the show and then always come by Monday morning on their way home to Arizona. Road would not be complete without their visit. We all wished they lived closer so we could play with them! See you next year girls!

Well enough for this morning. Back to work, but I will try to get back to posting on a regular basis. Hope everyone is having a good week. See you later alligators!

Pictures from Road to California

I haven't been able to post for a while because I have been doing some serious binding on quilts that were going to Road To California!!! Today was day one of the quilt show and it was so much fun. We all had the best time working, seeing old friends and making some new ones. There were quite a few bloggers that came by to say hi also :-)!!

All the months Donna had all of us working on cutting, kitting and making quilts really paid off...the booth looked wonderful. Here's some pictures.

and here we are....Donna and all the worker bees, Karen, Linda Chris and myself!! Happy Friday to everyone, and hope to meet some more bloggers at the quilt show in the next few days! Now off to bed to rest my tootsies so I can be ready to be at my station bright and early :-)!!!

This has been a fast week!

What a fast week this has been. Lots going on here. We are all busy at the shop getting ready for Road. This time next week we will be there. I can't wait. Working the show is something I look forward to every year. Fun to catch up with people you only see once a year as well as the many friends that have been made through the shop over the years. Wait till you see all the wonderful quilts and kits we have. Look for some pictures next Thursday!

My quilt is back from being quilted, now for the hand work. The quilting just brings the quilt alive, and yep it will be ready for Road!

Nan wrote me about working on a Christmas project a month so she will be ahead by Christmas next year. I had the same idea last year and my friend Carol was on board for the ride...only problem was I only made it to February. Well according to her January:-), so I wasn't very successful. Now I think I'm ready to give it another whirl, so Nan here I go. This is a kit that I got in Houston when I went with Carol....an Xmas Pinwheel Table Runner. Think this is something that should be able to get finished by the end of January----Ok Carol, we'll see :-)!!

Another project in the works is this Block of the Month I got from The Country Loft. Just love the fabrics, and the blocks are cute as can be. It will be fun to do some applique again, it's been a while.

It has been fun decorating for Valentines day. I completely forgot about this little raggy heart quilt...and this pink and brown log cabin quilt is one of my all time favorite quilts. My friend Deb coaxed me in to making it with her. A very good memory.

Lastly, I would like to leave you with another one of my favorite things ......NECCO WAFERS!! Love them!

Tomorrow I'm meeting Sharon. for some fabric shopping and lunch.....I'm sure I'll have some stories to tell!!!! Wishing everyone a happy weekend with some time for quilting and crafting thrown in! See you later alligators!

Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!

Happy New Year blogging friends. Yep, a little bit late with the wish, but I have been on a mission. I needed to finish my quilt that is going to be in the booth at Road to California so it can get quilted and I can get the binding on it. Nothing like waiting till the last minute...but here it is finished!! The second part of my mission was to get all the Christmas decorations down and put away. This closet is under our stairs and goes way back...I know it looks like chaos----well, I guess it is chaos, but very organized chaos:-), and that's my Thanksgiving Annie right in front!

On Christmas I won a drawing for a beautiful red and cream toile pillow from Angela at Cottage Magpie. Earlier in the day I started decorating with some of my Valentines things, and it looks great on the entry bench. Talk about eye candy..Angela's site is beautiful! You can spend hours looking at all the wonderful pictures. Thanks Angela!

Here's my new favorite quiltie thing...Mary Ellen's Best Press. I love this stuff. In comes in different scents and even an unscented one! It is great for using on your blocks when you are piecing. Leaves no residue on your iron or ironing board! I'm even using it to iron John's shirts. Can't wait to try it on an applique project.

Best wishes to everyone for a very healthy and happy 2008 with lots of blogging adventures ahead!