Monday Design Wall 5-31-10

It's Memorial Day as well as Design Wall Monday. My wall is pretty bare, since I finished my Mini Quilt on Saturday. So I put up the extra Block for the quilt Design Contest at Animas quilts. I still need to sew it. I didn't use the Roses Stripe fabric so it couldn't be among the Judged blocks. Today is the last day for the Blocks to be submitted so they are all up on the website. Viewers choice voting starts the 14th. I can hardly wait to find out which block wins. Below are the Two Blocks I submitted The Roses remind me of my Mother and how she loved the RED ROSES. Afterall today is Memorial Day. I'm grateful for all who have served our Country and who are now serving, far and near! Thank a Veteran today for your freedom. I'll re-post the link to Vote on the 14th. But you can comment on my Blocks now. Go check out the other Design Walls at Judy L's Blog

Mini Quilt Swap and Candy Kisses

I joined the Mini Quilt Swap on Quilting Gallery back in April. When I got my partner's name and address I was excited to see I got to send my mini quilt to Australia. Much to my surprise this week a "squishie" came in the mail. Inside was this cute little Mini Quilt from AUSTRALIA! I was overjoyed to see it all done in my favorite color PURPLE! It jogged my memory that I needed to get with it and finish mine to send. I checked and saw that I'd missed the deadline for mailing outside the US. Saturday was a day without much obligations so I got mine all done and here it is ready to mail out on Tuesday since Monday is a NO MAIL day. I used Venus Muslin for the stitchery. I searched high and low and finally had to go and buy the Floss to finish the stitchery. I used some scraps from NaDell's Blue and Brown Quilt (shown below)in the outside borders. Thanks NaDell, the colors just looked good to me. I spent the week working at Lynn's on some Hearts and Flowers Quilts for Guild. I made several Nine Patches and Hearts and Tulips last week. It is fun to see how the finished quilts work out on the design wall. I'm not Officially on the H & F committee, but get to help Lynn when she is working on them. Pictures will be shown on here next week after Guild where they will be shown. With rain outside, quilting is the best thing to take our minds off the weather...until it starts coming inside over the Longarm, then we panic. After much deliberation and scouring of the internet for patterns that would go on NaDell's Chocolate & Blueberries quilt... Here is the result. I quilted "Chocolate Kisses" on it and they turned out so CUTE! Thanks to Anne Bright's Digital pattern. This is from the pattern "Chocolate Covered Cherries" by Debi Trevino of Village Quiltworks. Debi taught a class in the Cottonwood Richland Ward and helped NaDell to make this quilt. She worked hard to match the points and place the blocks so the colors were pleasing. I'm so proud and happy that she made it. Thankfully this quilt didn't get rained on when the ceiling leaked. Where it was in the frame was safe. Now it just needs the binding tacked down. I will do that on our way to Moses Lake for Memorial Day. Then I can show it off at Guild next week.

Monday Design Wall 5-24-10

This is the Challenge quilt as far as I got it before the Krazy Horse quilt show. I couldn't decide what to fill the sky with until after the show and now I'm looking through my stash to find my balloon fabrics to applique on as a road trip project. This quilt will be another window covering in my home when it is finished. My daughter got curious when she was here and saw it on my ironing table as one of my UFO's I want to take on RETREAT next month. I figured since it hasn't been on the Design Wall Monday that today was a good day to show it. I even have the binding cut for this quilt from the Challenge fabric. The 3-D flower fabric was the challenge and using different techniques was encouraged so I did the Prairie points around the sun. We have a Show and tell and I need a few UFO's to work on during the time I'm there of course. My question for the Fellow Bloggers who leave comments is... how many balloons should I fill the sky with? And should I put a barn, house, grain silo or some type of structure in the lower left corner too? Don't forget to check out other design walls in your spare time. Just click on the LINK to Judy L's Blog Patchwork times. Judy's doing a Quilt-a long and a Memorial Day Challenge for Alycia's Red white and Blue Quilts of Valor project. Hope I get some good quilting days in this week... Thanks for all the nice comments on my Quilt Blogger's entry. The Links to the quilts will be up through the 28th of May for the Online quilt festival on Amy's Creative Side. I am overwhelmed, but happy you like my favorite quilt too.

Saturday fun...

A former Sister Missionary got married to a man from Walla Walla. It was so fun to get to attend their reception/Open house. NaDell and her family came to go with us. Grandpa took the kids to Pioneer Park. Check out the Ransom BLOG to see pictures at Pioneer park. The kids call it Grandpa's Park. I saw the road sign for Ransom Rd as we went to the open house and remembered that I wanted to take a picture with the kids. So after we'd eaten at KFC G-pa and I took Elizabeth and Olivia there to get a picture before it got too dark. Paul even took my picture with the girls. Olivia is doing her ballerina pose. After we got home G-pa was resting and watching the Mariner game and the kids all jumped up into our bed giggling. Definately a KODAK moment. Note Elizabeth's toothless grin...

"Blogger's Quilt Festival"

It's the day to post our Favorite quilt for the Blogger's Quilt Festival. I'm sure nobody who follows my BLOG will be surprised to see the quilt I have chosen as my favorite this time. Since last summer when Lynn and I started our Sylvia's Bridal Sampler, I've blogged about it about every other week. The stats on this quilt to me tell a real interesting story. I've followed the Block of the week on the Sylvia's Bridal list for a few years and saved the patterns. I've read ALL of the Elm Creek Quilt books that have been written. I am a HUGE FAN of Jennifer. I bought the SBS pattern Book in April when it came out, but didn't start making the quilt until Lynn bought her own book and we challenged each other as we made the blocks. We joined the Yahoo Group SBS offline Quilters and worked on their monthly challenges making the blocks as fast as we could and posting them to the Albums on the Group site. We participated in a couple Block Swaps too. I can honestly say that I never would have finished this quilt without my Quilt Buddy, LYNN. I really disliked making the Paper-pieced blocks and the blocks with Y seams. There are 44 of the 140 blocks that are paper-pieced and 12 with 'Y' seams. My quilt would have been very small. It measures 85"x 113" and looks very nice on my queen-sized guest bed. It is a Quilt show nightmare because it is so long. It debuted at the Krazy Horse Quilt show May 1-2 and was not hung as nice as I hoped so I could get a good picture of it. This picture was taken at our Guild meeting in May. I hope to show it in more shows but will make sure that they have the means to hang it properly before I enter it again. A fellow Guild member kindly made the label for me with her Embroidery machine. I used fabrics from my stash of Robyn Pandolph, and some fabrics from Red Rooster. I checked today and counted how many of Jennifer's fabrics are actually in the quilt. I have 1- Sylvia's Bridal collection, 3- Cross Country Quilter's Collection, 2- Circle of Quilters Collection, 1- New Year's Quilt Collection. I used several different background fabrics. Choosing fabrics for the borders was the hardest part, and took the most amount of time. Lynn and I also swapped a piece of each others fabric to use in each others quilt, and is found in the New Mexico Block. I still need to sign her block and she signed mine. Her fabrics are from Nancy Halvorsen Christmas lines and some Northcott. The high-light of our process was of course in April of this year when we were privileged to meet Jennifer and have her sign our Quilts on the Diamond Friendship Square. I love my quilt and feel great accomplishment in it. I can truly say "I did it all myself" because I even did the long arm machine quilting on it. That took 22 1/2 hours, each of the 140 6.5" blocks was individually quilted. I was afraid to do it and even thought of hiring it out to be done by a professional Long Arm quilter. Click on the Button below to see the other quilts in the Blogger Quilt Festival.

Monday Design Wall 5-17-10

My wall from last week is still the same. I have all the parts and pieces sewn and need to just put them all together into the top. Lynn and I worked most of the week on our DESIGN Challenge for Jackie Robinson's Animas Quilts. The deadline is May 31st to enter. Jackie left town and our package arrived just in time to be posted before she left. The last Block has an error, I hurried too fast to get it done. We will send in another, corrected block and it should be posted at the end of May. I have 3 blocks and quilt designs entered. Click HERE to see the entries. 2 are my originals and one is in collaboration with Lynn. The challenge fabric is beautiful roses. The voting will begin June 14th. If you want to leave a comment on which block you think should win, I'd love your feedback. The quilt designs aren't being voted on by the viewers, only the Block designs. Two of my grand-daughters chose the appliqued heart block of the two I submitted myself. Check out other Design walls at Judy's Blog.

Impromptu Family reunion

My Brother, Derlyn called me and woke me up this week and said, "You want to buy me dinner?" I asked when and where, we'll be there. I didn't buy dinner but we did get together as many as could. We arranged to meet at the Golden Corral in Moses Lake. Sadly we were missing our brother who finally is in Moses Lake, not across the state, we thought he'd be able to make it. He didn't! It wasn't easy for us either. Paul had to work until 4:40pm so we couldn't even get there until after 6:30. Moses Lake seems farther away. I'm happy we went, it was a good visit. This is a picture of our Eldest Brother, Allan. He has had a very tough road lately. He had the same Stomach Cancer surgery that our mother had in 1977 that ultimately took her from us. He has not only survived but has lost a lot of weight and is here to tell the story. It's been way too long since we saw each other. The last picture I have of the 5 of us was in Nampa, Idaho when our Grandma Waite died. That was in 1997. I have to say we look a little older but hopefully better. I love them even though we live far apart. At least we are all still in the same state. My Mom's worst fears have come to pass. It is very sad to me. I see it happening in my own family and it hurts! Missouri, Idaho and Ohio are too far away. Can I say it now...all I want for Christmas is EVERYBODY home!

Things to make me smile... LONG!

The grandchildren sitting on the Pew with Grandpa makes me smile! And even if Lydia didn't like it she endured sitting on my lap for a picture. I had a good Mother's Day, quiet, except for the wake up time. Thanks 3-J's for the wake up... Paul got me my white corsage this year and Chocolate. No one was home after Church so I had to take my own picture before my nap.We had pulled Pork sandwiches and French silk Pie for dinner. The pork cooked all night in the crock pot, YUMMY!!! Most of the gifting was on Saturday. Milton, Christen and family joined us for the Balloon nite glow. They brought "The Love Boat" season 1 DVD and goodies to munch while we watch it.Grandpa said to let the kids go down the BIG slide, some big kids went too! Here we are waiting for Nite Glow to start, up in the "nosebleed" section. Janessa Jes and Jackson were down on the horse track, up close to watch. We had a great view. Joe, Kori & boys gave me the softest towel ever and Peppermint spa kit at the T-Ball game. Nothing brings back memories like going back to the Pasco Little League fields... we spent many a Saturday there watching boys play baseball. Joe reminded me it was Brant and Jeff we watched. I was glad I could go and see the next generation there. On his 2nd time up to bat, Colby got on base. He got to run to all the bases and scored. I know they don't keep score in T-Ball. Andy, NaDell and family gave me my gift when I went to watch the kids so they could attend Andy's Aunt's wedding. It was a BIG "Symphony" and a 'Grandma' locket with heart earrings. Vincent napped the whole time and I watched "Shark Boy and Lava Girl" with Elizabeth and Olivia, I wont' tell how many times... Brant, Tina and boys' giftie arrived in the mail Monday, a freshwater pearl necklace with a flower card on a popcycle stick. I'll wear their necklace this week. Brant & Jeffery both sent an e-card to me. Thanks boys! Brant's made me laugh! MUD CAKE, huh? Jes, Janessa and Jackson brought a card and she invited me to go get a pedicure. Got a Purple "french" treatment on the tootsies. Now I can say I have been pampered. She stopped for orange cream Italian sodas on the way there. See, I do Blog about other things than "quilting" Brant! Thanks everyone for making me feel special. I am grateful!

"Blogger's Quilt Festival" coming up soon!

Amy from amyscreativeside.com is hosting the Bloggers Quilt Festival again. I participated in this Bloggers show last year and plan to this year as well. I have a very special Quilt to share this year. Click on the button at the top of this post, choose a quilt and tell the story on your Blog during the week of May 21-28. I love to hear the stories behind the quilts.

Monday Design Wall 5-10-10 BOM

On my Design Wall Monday this week I have added the setting strips and squares with the sashing stars. The fabric I bought at the Quilt show really didn't play with the pinks in the blocks so Lynn and I auditioned other fabrics last week and I got them all cut. This week I get to sew them all together and maybe have the top ready for Guild on Tuesday evening. I wanted to make sure this is what I want. Taking a picture and looking through the camera's eye I can see if these fabrics appeal to me and play well together. I like the way the green striped sashings with the pink stars brings the colors out in the paisley I used as the main color in the blocks. It's a little brighter than I thought but the other green just didn't show off the stars as well. Posting the picture on my Blog means I'm committed to sew them together. It's kind of like being a mother. When everything is right with the world the Children play nice, right? What do you think? Are my fabrics playing nice this week? Thanks Marti Michell for the templates that made the cutting so easy... Check out other Design Walls at Judy L's Blog patchworktimes

Balloons & Mother's Day -Walla Walla

Here is the view I get by looking outside on an Early Friday Morning here in Walla Walla. I looked outside and saw none first thing this Morning. I saw a bunch of Balloons in the clear blue sky, after I got dressed. I drove up Clinton to Lower Waitsburg Road, then down to the LDS Church Parking Lot, Tieton Park and back to Lower Waitsburg Road. At Tieton Park I got up as close as I dared. Wished I had a little child with me that could go for a ride. I don't have that on my 'bucket list'. The nice people in the Green and Yellow Balloon, "John Deere" were giving little Children rides in the Park. YEA, for living in Wonderful Walla Walla. Remembering the crazy, fun last year, having 10 of the grandchildren here to see the Balloons. The Balloon race is Saturday and Sunday- weather permitting. You have to get up way early to be able to see them. They will Launch from Garrison Middle School by the Fairgrounds Saturday Morning for the RACE. Then there are lots of vendors at the Fairgrounds and to end the evening "Night Glow" where they are tethered all around the arena. Theme for 2010 "Lighting up the Skies". My Mother's Day will be a quiet one compared to last year when I had 4 handsome boys on the pew beside me. My Primary Class will be taught by two of the men in the Ward so I can attend Relief Society. I will await the weekly phone call from the far away children who check in on Sundays. And I will remember the Missionary phone calls from years gone by as the Elders who live with us make their calls. Happy Mother's Day to all the Mother's in my life. I'm grateful for the Daughters who love and care for my Grandchildren. Some of those daughters I got the easy way - by Love.

Monday Design Wall 5-3-10

I spent most of my time last week quilting and getting my Sylvia's Bridal Sampler ready to show. I had a Squishie come in the mail so the Heart Signature Swap Blocks from the ACQ (Anacortes Creative Quilters) group are on part of my wall for this week. I joined this group to make a "Christmas Song" Round Robin. So far I haven't gotten it very far. I had a really hard time choosing a favorite Christmas Song to use as inspiration. There are too many Favorites... It should be on a future wall since the ladies in ACQ are finishing theirs now. At the Quilt show, I found the perfect fabric for the setting squares in my BOM from Design Wall Monday last week. YEA! I can get that one to the 'flimsy' stage soon. My Black, White and Red SBS Swap Blocks are going in the mail later today. They aren't on the Wall until I get my blocks back, no peeking for the group I send them to. So that only leaves the project for guild next week and a Design Challenge to be worked on and I'm pretty caught up with my commitments. I need EQ7, but don't have EQ6 yet. Who knows when I'll get that installed. I need it to figure it out to send in the paperwork for the Design Challenge. My Design Wizard is working but the fabrics aren't from the line I'm using to make the Block. Judy has a new quilt she designed with EQ6 on her wall this week, so Check the design Walls out at Patchworktimes and leave comments, please!!!

Krazy Horse Quilt Show

Here I am with my SBS at the Krazy Horse Quilt Show. It was hard to get a really good picture of them with the rows so close together. Here's Lynn's SBS. It was so big they put it over the railing above the Pendleton Quilt shops booth. I had several quilts in the show, below are only a couple pictures of them... mine are the 'purple' ones. Many pretty quilts to see. My camera batteries were being dumb, so I didn't take as many pictures as usual. I got the Challenge fabric and will be sure to NOT wait until the month of the show to work on the Challenge quilt. I wish that they had the show on Friday so I could go 2 days and see who wins the awards and prizes. I'll have to ask when I pick the quilts up on Monday. Prize or not, I am happy that I've completed my SBS and will wait to show it again in September before it goes on the Bed at home. It's fun for me to see people stand and be amazed at 140 Blocks, all different.