Sorry I went missing

I have a lot of personal things going on right now but I will be back at some point and come back strong. Life has a way of changing and I am making the biggest change now. So stay with me, I hope to post more soon. Hugs to all.

Screen bugs

I just happened to go out the back door and saw my bugs on the screened in porch. I had forgotten about them. Instead of coming in and getting the camera to take a picture, I found one when I first made them several years ago. I sold quite a few. They are happy bugs that brighten up a drab area. They are made of glass flat marbles and copper foil with solder like stained glass.

Rainy Day

I have been awful busy to have such a free day. It rained all day and I cut fabric for the new double wedding ring. I put together 1 block and I am wondering how in the world I did the other one so long ago. It is a bit nerve racking. I am not sure now if I like the colors. It is still scraps with matching corners, only I wish I used one more matching end piece.. it has too much purple. Oh well.. I will work on it. I had son make me templates and still it is so hard to get it right and make it lay flat. Thank goodness for my Rowenta..it helps everything lay smooth. I have to go back to work once again tomorrow night so little will get done once again for about a week. take care and happy quilting. Sallie Gayle

Double sad trouble

Well, this quilt top was a mishap from the beginning. The top I did about 10 years ago, and it was so off, I just held onto it for some reason. When I decided I would quilt it, I took great pains in marking it because I thought the least I could do would be to do my best quilting ever to make up for the unmatched seams and puckers. Well, 2 hrs of marking, pinning and getting it all ready to start the next morning and the marks disappeared. It was like I had never done anything. SO I just free handed (sewed) a design and hoped for the best. I washed it and prayed it would shrink to hide the awful seams but it did not. Some of the middle squares were not even close to matching and one set of squares are the wrong colors matched. Anyway, here is my Double Wedding ring quilt.

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

I hope everyone enjoys their day!! Let me share what I did today. I met my best friend from high school at a little restaurant close by. We have not seen each other in about 35 years but who is counting. We had lots of catching up to do.!! We lost touch for the last 15 years or so and we had lots to talk about. We shared pictures stories and more. We both have red kitchens, yellow living rooms, collect black/white cows, roosters and both drive white cars. Wow.. I missed her. But like she said, we are gold friends. We have shared so many similar experiences and then so different too. Hope we can get together again soon. Here is a great picture that the waitress took of us. I am on the left. Life is so short, keep in touch with your friends . We are not here for long.

Snowplay at Southwick

Here is the first Christtmas quilt in 2009 and it is only February. I used a jelly roll called It's Snowing by Moda,4 fat quarters, border and backing and a pattern called Strip Twist from Quiltville.com I love these colors. I think it turned out great. Love it!

Busy Monday

Today was strange. Early morning I took hubby to have some test done as an outpatient. Got him settled. Picked up grandson at High school and there was a fight there. It was on the news even. 6 people arrested, 4 boys, 2 girls and 3 warrents issued for ones that fled the scene. That is just so scary. No wonder he hates school and has very few friends. When I was in high school, we were into love not fighting. There was a dance after every home game and it was so cool. You felt grown up and important. Later, I learned yesterday a friend passed away. What was to be an easy gall bladder surgery turned into stage3 cancer that had already spread to her liver and a stage 4. Within 25 days she was gone. She was a dear friend and she taught me to do counted cross stitch in the 70's. She worked at the local phone company and made wonderful decorative cakes on the side. She was a very sweet lady who will be missed. I have been quilting on another quilt and will get it posted in a day or two. It is bed time for now.

Basket Quilt

I finally finished my basket quilt. It turned out a lot better than I thought. I was discouraged by the quilting until I washed it and it krinkled. Nothing is better than a warm quilt from the dryer. I love this quilt.!! The picture does not do it justice. The baskets are quilted in the ditch . The large squares have hearts in a circle and the larger triangles have a fancy feather type heart. The four patches have an x. The white fabric is tone on tone and really gives it diminsion. Hope you like it. I forgot to add, that is my son behind the quilt. Isn't he handsome. LOL

A work in progress

Wanted to share what I am working on. I really need a better set up for quilting. I am thinking of ways to move around my sewing room to make a table out in front and down the side of my machine. I thought of using the dinning room table but I dont thing I could get used to the machine being up off of the table. Anyway, here is a sneak peak. Hopefully in the next few days I can get finished. I plan on finishing up a couple of tops I made a while back.

Twist and shout Block

Here is the tutorial I promised. Hope I can figure this out. First you need 3 colors of fabric. Cut from Main color 5" square Cut from other 2 colors 2"x8" strips next you sew the 2x8 strips right side together using 1/4 inch seams. Turn right side out and press. Now, just sew the strip tube onto block as shown using 1/4 inch seams. Note the placement how it is turned the the main color to outside and 1/4 inch in from the edge. you could place these opposite directions for movement or all in one direction. Babies would like these to feel of especially if one side of the strip was satin. Enjoy

Give Away!!

Check out this site. http://greenfairyquilts.blogspot.com/ She is holding her first give-a-way. I love the bag. It would really work for me to carry to work for hand work etc.

Happy February!!

Wow, I can not believe it is February already!!! Time is flying by . Well one more night to go. Then maybe I can do a little sewing. What a surprise to come here and find I have a new follower. I am so pleased to find someone shows interest in what I like.!! Thanks to all 3 of you!! Time for bed. I will check in a little later and be planning on something good for tomorrow. Hugs

Good Morning

It is a cloudy cool day here today. I see plenty of people are viewing my site. Please come over and leave a message. Show me something new you have made or just say hello.I hope to add some tutorials very soon. Probably on Wednesday or Thursday. The 1st will be a quilt block the next will be something totally different. You ladies have a great day! I am just in after a 12 hr shift, the first of 4 so I will be heading for bed now. See ya later.

Change in plans

Today, I was planning to get lots of sewing done. My last day off for a couple weeks. Oh well Hubby was sick and had to go to the Dr. He has severe acid reflux. He has a ulcer and Hiatal hernia..anyway, had to get meds, get him settled and then pick up Grandson from school. I did get started on some more Cathedral windows. So hopefully I will attatch to the first little bit and then post another picture. We will see.. I do have to watch American Idol tonight. LOL Have a good evening!!

Cathedral Window blocks

I have finally for the first time done a trial of Cathedral Windows. I have always loved the look but it just seemed like it would take forever. Thanks to the tutorial by http://hyena-in-petticoats.blogspot.com/2007/08/cathedral-window-quilt-tutorial.html I finally gave it a go. I absolutely love it. I love the idea of adding batting to it as well.. You are all finished quilted and ready to use in the end. What a great way to use up scraps. Now, I have to find some more white. I bet it would look good with black too. Hmmmm Or maybe Navy. I love scrappy quilts and easy no think piecing but this cool too. I did sew the windows in with the machine because my thumbs are not bothered with flat sewing as with hand sewing having to bend the thumb. Anyways, I am sure I could make it neater but now I know how. Thanks again to Hyena in Petticoats.( What a cute name). Any comments are welcome or suggestions or whatever.

BOM finished

Here you go.. This is my version well, my two versions of the BOM pattern from http://bunnyhill.blogspot.com/2009/01/free-block-of-month.html I love fat little snowmen and I could not resist. So I am anxious for February to get here to see the next one. I hope I can continue to do 2 of each block and then someone will get the extra quilt. Hope you like it.

BOM

This evening I just put the finishing touches on the BOM from Bunny Hill. I will post tomorrow when the lighting is better. Not only did I do 1 but 2 of those blocks. I thought as long as I am doing 1, I should do an extra for maybe my daughter. I have had a long day and am turning in early .

Mom's Memory

My Mom died when I was 5. I have a worn out dry-rotted quilt that I remember lying under on snow days on my bed hoping we did not have to go to school while listening to a transister radio. Those days were after I moved in with an aunt who took my sisters and I in. I got some Aunt Gracie fabrics one day and tried to copy the quilt. The only difference is the print should have been the stars and solids were on the outer part. Anyway, I used some of the same colors and the same green for the backing. I was not thrilled with green but I wanted it to be like hers. This is just a small quilt I will use for wall hanging. This pattern I found out later was published in the newspaper and is a Kansas city Star quilt. I would love to have a modern fabric one someday. I did figure out how to do it on the machine. The original was made by hand. I dont think I could ever do a big quilt by hand. My mother accomplished a lot by the time she was 38 when she died. So, this quilt is called Mom's memory.

baby quilt back

Baby quilt

All that is left is to sew down the binding and wash to make it crinkley and soft. The center bigger block says OH Boy and the green has little dots with the cream with frogs on it and the other blue has stars. You can get the idea with the fabric shown below. Hope she likes it.

Oh Boy! Oh Boy!

That lucious chocolate just wasn't doing it for me yesterday. I ran back to the good ole Whistle Stop Quilt Shop and got a quilt kit that I had seen the day before. Oh Boy. The pattern was simple enough so I got the little kit and came home. Almost ready to quilt it. I will post it as soon as I am done. What fun I have had sewing .

Wool blanket

I have been saving this wool blanket since 1989. I remember having this on my bed as a child. I tried to felt it but I am not so sure it worked. I washed it in hot water and rinsed in cold then dried it in the dryer. I had tons of lint and I do mean tons. It does not feel felted though. I am thinking of making stockings for Christmas like shabby chic or something. Any ideas?

Coach Yow

Coach Kay Yow died this morning after a long battle with breast cancer. She was a remarkable woman who made a positive impact on so many lives. She was the NC State University's girls basketball coach. A sad day for NC.

Dreary Day

Today is very gloomy. I think I even heard of maybe a little snow tomorrow night. I hope not. I love snow but hate it when I have to be stranded at the hospital to work. I had a serious accident about 12 years ago in the snow and I have been terrified ever since.

Hubs has a broken strut in his car so will be thinking of when and where to get that fixed. Getting ready to make the last payment. Isn't that the way it is with everything.

Today I hope to start a baby quilt for a dear friend. I have not decided on the pattern but did pick up a few fabrics.. so we will see what happens. Here is a sneak peak of the fabric.

Christmas Quilt

As I have been following blogs, I have seen lots of string quilts that I loved. I usually stick to calm colors and this was all bright Christmas fabrics with white center strip. I loved doing this. I plan on using up all of my scraps in 09. I don't think that is possible. I have 6 unfinished tops to do as well... If things go as planned I will have alots to keep me busy.

Hello

This is my first post. Hopefully I will be able to post at least once a day. I hope to share things I have made and am making in the future. This is a new experience for me. I love to read others blogs for some time now and am looking forward to joing the blogger world. I feel I don't have enough to do. yeah right.