New to my Bookshelf

From two of my Favorite Authors!

I got these two books that officially come out today yesterday from Amazon. I knew I wouldn't get to either of their book signings this time around so I pre-ordered them to get them on release day.  They came a day early, Yippee!

I mailed out these postcards for her and got my Pin that goes with the book.  If anyone wants the pin and can't go to her Book signings - Books and Company in Oconomowoc, WI will have her there for a book signing November 1st @ 7pm and you can pre-order from them and get it autographed with a pin. I included the link for you to go directly to their page.

It's been a good couple of mail days lately.

A side note: My friend, Wendy made this quilt for "Quilts for Kids" and asked if I could help her get it quilted. Monday was the day. I was hesitant to try HELGA, but through a bit of trial and error, a changing of the needle, we finally let have HELGA her way and only stitched in one direction.  The thread kept breaking when we went backwards.

We used the grooved templates that came with my Quilting Table and used the WAVY lines in two sizes alternating the small and large waves. It took us about 4 hours to finish it. I hope it will warm the child who receives this cute quilt with the whales on it.

Design Wall Monday- October 29, 2012

Design Wall Monday and my E-Mail Mystery for Charity is on the wall again. This is Part 4 sewn and in two possible layouts.  Both are different from last week.  Heather asked us to post our thoughts on a layout for fun on Facebook.  There are prizes involved if we are right and the 1st or 2nd to post the correct layout.

Even if these layouts aren't correct they are pretty cool and I could easily make this quilt again.

Which one do you prefer?  Leave your choices in the comments, PLEASE.

If you want to see my entry in the Blogger's Quilt Festival Click HERE

I have a to share what came in the mail Saturday while I was gone to Boise.  When DH texted me that I had 2 Priority envelopes waiting I asked if they were from Quiltmaker. When he said yes, I got excited and DD #1 said I acted more excited about opening those envelopes than going to Boise.  Well, It's not every day I have my name in a Magazine and a Tester Quilt Too!   The Blog tour when I get to reveal my Tester Blocks is coming up November 5th-9th.  It goes through the 9th and I will be offering at least 2 of my Magazines to my lucky Followers.  This is my last time to TEST for Quiltmaker and I felt privileged to make a TESTER Quilt and have it published in the Magazine. More info will be coming when I begin to post the Tester Blocks I made. The Magazine isn't available on News stands yet.  The Info I've found in it excites me!  My Tester Quilt will be hanging in the Offices in Golden December 3, 2012- February 28th, 2013.  How cool it that?  My DD #2 lives about an hour away from Golden.  My head is spinning with thoughts of the opportunity to go and see it hanging in the Quilt maker offices and getting a picture of myself with it. Oh,and a visit with two of my grandsons and their Mom and Dad isn't a bad deal either. The best part is that they provided all of the fabrics & I get to keep it!  I was a Win-Win for me. 

Check back here on my Blog November 5th for more details on the Giveaway.

Click HERE to see more Design Walls.

I Had a "Grand" Day

BIG  Thanks to the Ransoms for taking me with them to the Boise LDS Temple Open House.  We saw all kinds of weather, snow, wind and rain.  I was  grateful the rain didn't come while we took these pictures.

They had this picture in the Cultural Hall with pins on the map where there are LDS Temples all over the world. When Paul and I got married there were only about 16 Temples- now there are 139 Operating Temples, 15 Under Construction, 14 Announced for a total of 168.  The Boise Temple was  #27. This was the 2nd time for it to be re-modeled. After the re-model, they re-dedicate it.  This Temple has some Special Memories for me.  My "Brown" Cousins invited my Sister and I to do some Family Endowment and Sealings here a few years ago for our Butterworth Family.

We asked about the Meridian Temple that is to be built nearby.  It hasn't had the groundbreaking yet.
 It was an early day but we got home in time to have dinner at 'Grandma's Kitchen'.  Mac & Cheese with my favorite Smoothies! They got to use my special bowls with the handles, too. NaDell requested a Grilled Cheese sandwich. She tells MORE of the Story HERE.

On the Needles (or OFF)! October 26, 2012

My lesson #2 is OFF my needles today. This one has a seed stitch for the outside border.  That was different  to do.   The pattern is called "Candelabra".  I think it looks like trees.  

I noticed that the colored finish is wearing off the tips of my needles too. Guess I knit pretty tight, but it looks loose to me.  I had to show the Yarn I'm using. It is made in Canada.  The top one made two Lessons worth and the bottom one will make 3. Next week is the Teacher's Showcase and I will get another Knitting Lesson to knit.    I'm having fun.

Click HERE to see what is Linked up for this "On the Needles" over at Judy L's Blog

Blogger's Quilt Festival- Fall 2012

Blogger's Quilt Festival Fall 2012

October 26th- November 9th 

Here is my Blue Christmas Lone Star Quilt 

 I am so glad to have it ready to go on my bed the day after Thanksgiving this year!  I started it the same year I made Christmas Quilts for all but one of the Married Children and delivered them at our Thanksgiving gathering.  The last one is still a UFO and that couple are not married anymore. I made them a Red, White and Blue Lone Star that got finished a lot quicker than this one. I wanted a Lone Star made with my Blue toned Christmas fabrics from when I worked at Hancock Fabrics.  We had a Quilt Group Class out at our Airport in October 2008. Eddie taught us how to strip piece and cut each of the sections with the lines on the cutting mat. Getting the points to match was a challenge. I had the very center star finished two week after the class.  It looked like this...

We had a Guild Sew in this year in April this year and since this was the 2nd year it was on my UFO list to get finished I took the Gold (Nancy Halvorsen) Fabric and got the Teacher, Eddie W (since she was also there), to help me remember how to cut the inset parts and make it fit.  What a difference the gold made in how it looked! The way that Eddie taught us we had enough extra of the strips to make the outside border.  

 I got it quilted on Lynn's Long arm just in time to enter it in our local County Fair. It took me longer to quilt it than I wanted but the final look is worth the 11 + hours I stood at the machine. The Superintendent at the Fair liked it better than the Judge did.  It only got a 2nd place Ribbon from the Judge. I was so surprised to see the BIG Green Ribbon in it when I went in to take pictures of the quilts I'd entered.  There are NO Premiums given out for the Open Class entries.  Only the Youth get $$$.

This is the backing fabric, the picture shows the quilting design. I used gold thread.

Quilt Stats

Finished quilt measures : 82″x 82″

Special techniques used : Strip pieceing, 60 degree Diamonds

Quilted by : Self on Quilt Buddy's APQS with Side Saddle ( Computer Driven)

Best Category : Group Category ( I never would have finished it without my Quilt Guild's Sew-ins and the help I got there.)

 I hope you like my quilt. . Feel free to nominate it and VOTE at the end next week.  I look forward to seeing all the Quilts entered in the Blogger's Quilt Festival. 

 Click the BQF Button on the sidebar or HERE to go to Amy's Creative Side. 

Slightly Distracted... Putting my Farmer's Wife Quilt off

I have had good intentions all week to get my Farmer's Wife Quilt on the Quilting Table and get it quilted.  INSTEAD...I have worked on my Bow Ties.  They are almost a top or at least it is ready to be sewn together. I watched Bonnie Hunter on her Quilt Cam a couple times this week and last week while she was sewing her blocks into 9's.  She made a LOT more than me (about 749).  And she added a scrappy border around it this week also.   Her Challenge was for using scraps and "cheddar" fabric.  I didn't have any Cheddar so I just went with the Scrappy.  DH says they look like 'Bubbles'. Hmmmmm... ideas forming on how to quilt this one.

 I stitched these 18 blocks out at Lynn's this week and put them up on the Wall to audition sashing fabrics.

I found this "cheddar" looking fabric in my stash and decided it would work pretty well. It is one of the Quilter's Shades from my Hancock Fabrics BOM days.  I bought all  the colors I  could when the store closed in 2006. I'll be very sad when my Stash of it is all gone. 

 Here is how all the blocks look on the floor upstairs.  It was too big for the space allowed on my Wall.  I have 1 extra block made and 6 more bow ties made that I can put in the backing somehow. I don't want to make enough for 5 more sets of 9. With the 2" sashing and adding a border I think it will be a good size cuddle quilt.  I may add some cornerstones just for fun and I have an idea for the Border.
Total Bow ties made = 393. 

 I asked tonight about when the LINKY would be up for us to show the results of our Bow Tie Quilts. She said it would be for a couple weeks at least since she is travelling to teach workshops.  She thanked me for the reminder.  The 2012 Mystery will be starting the day after Thanksgiving with the Fabric Requirements being posted on  Halloween.  Just what I need another project to start...LOL.  I'm not making her challenge of 3" spools this year, very tempting, but NO way I want to make more 3" blocks.  I have a couple more commissioned quilts to fit in before Christmas.  There is a bunch of Homemade gifts that I can't show on here that are in the works too!

Only 61 days left until Christmas... 

47 days until Jeff leaves Cuba.

Design Wall Monday- October 22, 2012

My Birthday Pillowcases are ALL DONE!  The last of them should have arrived last Friday in Wyoming.

I made his name too long, so I had to put it in the length of the pillowcase. Thanks, Tina for taking a picture and e-mailing it to me. Love the smiles!

I drove up on Thursday to deliver this one with the Horses on it.  Coy was happy his Birthday finally came.  Every time his siblings got their pillowcase, he reminded me he wanted 'horses' on his.  Grandma was happy to oblige.  I found the fabric on the Shop Hop in Joseph, Oregon.

 This is the 1-3 steps of the Mystery Quilt.  I just put them up to see a possible arrangement for them.  This is only half of the blocks I have made.  I hope I have enough fabric to finish all the clues.  We have 2-3 more to go. The blue dot fabric is the one I hope isn't needed for the rest of the clues.

The Strips on the right side are the last Friday's Clue. They look like the sashing part. Now to wait for Friday again and the next Clue.

Click over HERE to see more Design Wall Monday Postings.

Surprise for my "cub scout"

 Paul, my DH, doesn't get much extra attention on the ol' Blog.  Sunday night I invited his local (1 hour away) family to come and honor him when he received his "Wood Badge Beads".  He did the Wood Badge Training last year and had a lot of fun being just one of the boys in the troop again.  His Troop was the "owl patrol".  He has had a love of Scouting since before he earned his Eagle and was a great support to all of the boys in the Wards we've lived in.  He has served with the Young Men most of our married life.

 Here are the 3 generations of Scouts in my family minus one.  Colby is the newest Cub scout and he didn't get to come. I lovingly call Paul a 'Cub scout'.  If you have ever seen one at a Pack mtg you know what I mean.  When the time comes for the refreshments, they take one of each treat, right? My Paul does enjoy treats.  I love to see my 'boys' in uniform. Thanks to Milton and Christen bringing their boys dressed in uniform.  Merit badge/patch sewing isn't my favorite but I have done a LOT of it.

And there can't be a gathering without a Group picture. Thanks to our friend Steve for taking the picture with NaDell's fancy camera.  NaDell Blogged about it HERE.

On my Needles- October 19, 2012

I am late posting today.  I have made a bunch of these since I am just doing the lessons as I go.  I am on Lesson 2 technically. The first lesson had two directions for the pattern to go.  It's fun to re-learn and make these.  It is much easier to see the pattern on the solid yarn ones.
We are getting ready for a Teacher's Showcase with the Walla Walla Lacey Lacers on the 20th of October so I can show what I've been making there. Practicing making them more perfect, but the mistakes will wash dishes just fine too.

Click over to Judy's Blog HERE and see what is on the Needles in Blogland.

Farmer's Wife- ready to quilt

I got the borders on and figured out how to get a straight on picture outside today.  I made it LARGE so you can all see it.  The sun was a little bright, I'm not complaining! I'm so glad I can take pictures now without waiting for someone to hold up my quilts and quilt tops now. My Farmer's Wife Quilt is about 10" too long for a good picture without it dragging the ground.  I put a 6" border all around.  Something easy- BLOG- O- Border so I can do feathers there.  I am thinking of a simple Baptist fan for the center part. Gotta hold all those little pieces together.

In case you are wondering I bought a piece of metal conduit for $2 and used some large open hooks and drapery clips to hang my quilt top. I had to cut 8" off the end of the conduit with a hacksaw. Paul wasn't home and the neighbors wondered what I was doing.  They were leaving when I was out trying to figure it out and when they came home a bit later I was done.   TM said I used my Pioneer Spirit. I see that I might need to buy another pack of the clips. 10 wasn't enough. I got the clips at Ace Hardware with my rewards card, I had $5 to spend.  So they were almost FREE.

Design Wall Monday- October 15, 2012

Mystery Quilt for Charity-by Email

My friend, Heather Spence that I met at Trends back in September asked me if I wanted to do a Mystery Quilt.  I signed up and have 2 clues already to sew, when I get fabric chosen  I saw Kathy from Canada posting about it Friday morning on her BLOG. It reminded me that I needed to check out the first clues. It just started last Friday.  Since I have basically finished my Farmer's Wife it's ok to start something new, right?  It looks fun so far - I've seen some of the finished clues on Facebook and on Kathy's BLOG..
The pattern is called "Jack of Hearts". Named after the little Boy who will benefit from the proceeds of the Mystery Quilt. You can read more about it HERE.

 I think I have some Blue rose fabrics calling to me.  My MIL needs a new Sofa Cuddle quilt.

What do you think?  All from my stash!

Clue #1 and #2 DONE.  Next Clue is not until this Friday, the 19th.  I might need to get a Darker Dark...

Go over to Judy L's Patchworktimes for more DWM postings HERE

Family is What it's All About!

Saturday was a Special Day for our Grandson Colby. His Father Baptized him into

"The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter-Day Saints".  

We were happy to share in the Joyful day.

 Aunt Diana asked for a 4 Generation Picture.  I handed my Camera to her Daughter.

 Not to be left out Colby's younger brother stood just off to the side.  Aren't they Cute in their Bow ties and Corduroy jackets?  We were so glad that Uncle Jed didn't give Great-Grandpa a choice whether to come or stay at the Assisted Living home.

Colby is our Fifth Grandchild, fourth Grandson to be Baptized.  We are so proud of his Choice to become a Full-Fledged Member of the Church.  Tomorrow he will be Confirmed by his Father.  We had a nice lunch of Homemade Tacos at their home afterward, then went to visit with Great-Grandma and Grandpa Crowther.

BLOCKbase QAL- Link- up

I started the BLOCKbase Quilt Along tonight.  I already own the program.  I used it when I did the Barbara Brackman Civil War Block of the week last year. Today is the day to LINK-up our first Block  #1336, called SEESAW.  My block is 9" and I used fabrics that were given to me by my Secret Pal at Guild.  She keeps giving me cute stuff and I need to use it for something fun.   It worked up quick and I liked using the stripe and placing it just right so all the stripes go up and down. Nothing like the last minute. You know what they say, "If it wasn't for the last minute, nothing would get done."
Here's my Block, the next block is selected on Monday the 15th.

"SEE SAW"

I'm linking up HERE.  There are prizes involved, I could win more scraps to play with. LOL

Testing out my Knitting skills

While I watched the Vice-Presidential Debates and our State Gubernatorial Debates tonight I finished my first Knitting Lesson.  I joined a new Group called the "Walla Walla Lacey Lacers".  I had quite a time learning how to make it turn out right and stay in line like it was supposed to.  I think after pulling it out twice last night I have it figured out.  Yea, I'll have something to Show and Tell at our next meeting. I can join in on the Linky Party of "On My Needles" that several of my Blogging friends are participating in with Judy L, of course. I first learned to knit when I was very young and have never learned to follow a pattern right or do the Yarn overs and stuff. I think it was when I had the measles that my mother stayed home with me and taught me to knit slippers. I haven't knit anything successfully or finished a project for a long time. I tried to knit some socks when I worked at Hancocks and made some knitted scarfs with BIG needles.I might even attempt socks again.

 I should have gone down town to pick up my Shop Hop Store Challenge on Tuesday.  I realized too late to go on the day. I would have had something to show at Quilt Guild if I had. Oh Well...
When I went in Terri was busy talking to a customer so I just went back and found my Mini quilt.  As I was leaving she handed me this calendar and $10 Certificate for entering their Shop Challenge.   Very Nice of them to be so generous.  The calendar has a new Quilt pattern for every Month.   Thanks Sew-N- Vac.

I also got a Birthday Pillowcase done today. I will try and deliver it this week-end.   I have just one more to make and send off for an October Birthday.  WHEW, 17 Birthday Pillowcases in 10 months DONE!  Now I have to think of something to make for next year's B-day gifts. NaDell suggested I make them Quilts again.  That would be a good idea if I didn't have 17 of them to do.

Linked to Judy Ll's On My needles Blog Post today. Click HERE

1/2 day late - Farmer's Wife Flimsy

 At Guild last night- I was pretty Lucky.  I bought one ticket for this Basket and WON.  Dummy me, didn't write my name on the back and when they pulled the blank ticket out, I remembered I'd forgotten. LOL They gave it to me anyway.  A MOVIE night in Basket.  Now I get to fill the basket for next month.

 

Gifts from my Secret Pal- she wrote on the card- Scarey Mary.  I have called myself that before. More 30's type fabrics to make a new project. Maybe the Row-Along Lori Holt has going.  She posted row 4 today.

This is how my Blocks looked after Monday nights long sewing session. Auditioning the Dark Brown Setting Triangles on two sides.  It still seems dark but it frames the block ok. Some sashings are already on and rows connected here.

I used the Row marker pins I won from Kathy in Canada a few months ago.  

I had to un-sew the Blue part of this block and fix it. The block right next to it had the same blue in it.  TOO close to leave it in.  I found a couple more blocks that have similar fabrics in them that are close to each other in the quilt, but they are staying the way they are.  The blocks that are turned differently than the book diagram are staying that way too! I've stayed up until the wee hours the past two nights.  I had about 5 long seams left to sew when I had to leave for my guild meeting.

 I had to take a Picture of the quilt just before I sewed those last few seams.  Paul came home in time for me to sew that last seam.  He had a migraine coming on...he's stretching out.

Here is the FLIMSY Farmer's Wife 

I won't have to put it on the Design wall/floor ever again. I will add another border, to be chosen later.

I thought I'd take a picture from the back to show all of the Paper that needs to be removed before quilting. I can hardly believe I'm DONE with it. I can hope to have it quilted in time to use it this year on my bed.  

Mama said: "Be careful what you wish for." I swore my whole teenage years that I would not want to marry a farmer, but 36 years ago I became a Farmer's Wife in November of 1976.  He's not a Farmer now, it only took 10 years to get him off the farm...This quilt is MINE!

Hurray! The Dreaded Blocks are DONE!

Monday was my day to host Daughters of Utah Pioneers.  I made two kinds of soup.  Potato,corn, ham and cheese chowder, ABC Tomato.  This is the end of our Tomato crop.  The chili sauce is in the jars and the plants have been pulled out.  I am not excited for the Fall season.  I want a longer Summer.

I had to finish the Farmer's Wife Blocks before I went to bed.  Judy D and Janet O both encouraged me to just get them sewn and quit putting it off.  They were as bad as I anticipated, I must say!

 

All the rows are sewn together. I only need to sew on the sashing strips with cornerstones between the rows and setting triangles.   I'm ahead of the rest of the Farmer's Wife Group that will meet next week.  YEA, ME!

Design Wall Monday- October 8, 2012

I hope that I don't have this same Quilt on my Wall next week.  I have those two final Paper-pieced blocks to make, but I wanted to make my Setting Triangles decision.  In the book it looks like they are the same fabric as the cornerstones so this is what they would look like. This is the upper right corner. On the left are the next two rows to add to it.  This wall isn't big enough to spread it all out. Guild is tomorrow and I'm still hoping to have it to the Flimsy stage in time to show it there. The brown is a bit dark to me.  

 Judy L chose the UFO for October- # 6. Unlike last month, I thought I could at least get it out of the tote.
I counted the Friendship stars =7, and Christmas Stars= 20. I'll have to use the name squares somehow too.  I hope to play with them in EQ7 this month and use the Tutorial that Marlene (kissed quilts) shared last week to import the pictures of them. Wish me luck.

 Click HERE to see more Design Walls in Blogland.