Over due postings

I have been a terrible blogger lately. Over a month since my last posting.

Today I went to a doctor appointment with my daughter-in-love and son....and we heard our precious baby's heartbeat. 13 weeks tomorrow. Dr said everything looks good and no reason for her not to have a healthy pregnancy.  Her ultrasound at 6 weeks showed two dots, but they won't do another ultrasound for two months..  I ask for prayers for a healthy pregnancy.

And quilting, my beach buddy quilt is complete and to be delivered to my beach buddy on Friday...Virginia Beach here we come... Aldo, I have completed my sisters quilt, Sisters Choice..

May Retreat & More

The May 2014 retreat has come and gone.   How fast time passes when we are having such a good time.  Thanks to everyone for everything that was done to help our retreat be a success.  Sharon J. "officially" opened the retreat with a touching invocation - it's good to have God's blessing on our gathering.  Congrats to Angela (winner of the Blue Hawaii Ocean strips) and Sammey (winner of the Charming Patches contest).  Penny won the miniature 1930s Butterfly Quilt.   Several completed their "Breeze" quilt tops using McCall's "Blue Breeze" Pattern.  Kudos to Penny for competing her "Folk Art" quilt top.  I know there were others who were able to get a lot of work done on their projects as well - good for you!  Angela & Sharon did a great job with the "Easy Angle" demo.  It was helpful to me to have Becky and Susan assist with the contests.  Sherry was a bell ringer/door prize distributor extraordinaire!   Sheila was "wonder woman" in the kitchen - Having her on board made a huge difference to me.  I didn't go home with achy swollen feet this time!
 
 I hope some of our missing Pickles will be back with us in the fall. It's nice to have new quilters but we do miss the old when they are unable to join us.  Our fall planned activities include a neutral "Layer Cake" fabric exchange (be sure to sign up by June 7th), a Mystery Quilt, and....a Paint Chip Challenge!   I think I know at least one of the fabrics I will use for my Mystery Quilt but will have to give the paint chip challenge a lot more thought.  I hope you all have fun with this.  I can hardly wait to see what everyone comes up with and how they use their paint chip colors.

It was so good that Peggy was able to join us for lunch Saturday and for a while after that.  This past Monday she returned to Baton Rouge to be with her daughter.  I do not have word yet as to when Debbie will begin treatments at M.D. Anderson in Houston.  I know Peggy will appreciate your continued prayers as they go through this difficult time.

Thanks to everyone for being a part of our Pickle Patch and for my special gift!

Happy Mother's Day

I just wanted to wish all of the Moms and Moms to be a Happy Mother's Day. 

I hope your day is filled with family and fun. And maybe a little sewing. 

May Retreat

As always we had a great retreat with wonderful food and fellowship and best of all friendship old and new. 

I only took a couple photos with my phone. I will post more once I upload my camera. 

This is Sharon's Pink Breeze

This is Susan's Patriotic Breeze. 

And Peggy's Quilt Shop Brick made by Annie Louise.  As you all know Peggy always has everything we have all forgotten to bring.  Thank you Peggy for always taking care of us. 

We missed some of our regulars this retreat but were very happy to meet some newbies. Glad y'all were able to come. 

Many of you may not know that Peggy's daughter has been very ill and will be going for treatments at MD Anderson. Please keep the family and Peggy in your prayers.  

It is a struggle when we are sick but much worse when it is our babies even if they are adults they are always our babies. 

Tell it to the stars: April

Another storm means another roof

Thursday night we a a pretty bad storm and was waken by a roar and vibration about 11:30-12:00. It was pouring rain and I am not sure if it wind or a small tornado, but I grabbed the dogs and cat put them in crates and stuck them in the bathroom.  The roar was gone so DH and I went to see what happened outside..  We saw the roof, well about 30 ft of it blown across the house to the front yard and it landed on the dog pen fence. Oh yea!  I had to block off so the dogs couldn't go outside and we were headed back it bed, nothing we could do at midnight in pouring rain, right...  I went to get back in bed and it was wet... Water dripping in at the seams of the ceiling tiles, so we move the bed..  Another attempt and here we go again, another spot dripping...move the bed again.. And of course it is only my side that is wet..lol.  Let the dogs and cat out of the crates and back to bed we go....

So the next morning....here was what we found..  We lost about 20 trees around our place and they are laying north, south and east....

We had to pull this off the fence to keep the dogs in..

This one fell east

This one fell north and south...  It is hard to see but the clump of green to the left use to be taller than the tree standing in the center..

Before.....

After...

So a new roof is coming....what color do I want????  I'm leaning towards Hunter green...or tan???

The maing thing is we are safe.  I am thankful to have  DH that can fix this..  And our daughter needed firewood for next winter so they came to visit and do some cleanup..

Updated. FINISHED. beach buddy

Tell it to the Stars: March.

For my beach buddy

It has been 11 years since we have met up at the beach.  Way too long!  I am making this for my BFF Becky. She will be surprised. 

Retreat Drawing Near

It looks like we've all been too busy (and/or sick) to do much posting of late.   But a bit of Spring has finally arrived and that should perk us up and get us going again.   Our 7th Pickle Patch Retreat is less than 6 weeks away and we are all getting excited about that.  I haven't decided what I will take to work on but  I cut my "Blue Hawaii" strips for the "Guess How Many Strips" contest just last week and have my blocks ready for the "Charming 1-Patch" drawing.  I plan to go out to the campground today and measure the workroom (again) today.  I seem to have misplaced my floor plan sketch that showed where the electrical outlets are located so must make another one.  I will arrange the tables in a slightly different layout this time and need to know for sure where the outlets are located.  I don't want to have to tape any more electrical cords to the floor than necessary.  At my age, that's not an easy task!   Thank goodness for Peggy!   She is a huge help and it's a blessing to have our hubby's support and help as well.  Last week I made my usual "pre-shopping" price check trip to WalMart so I have a pretty good estimate of what our food costs will be.  Our cook, Sheila, is on board and was okay with the meal plan.   She plans to bring some homemade jam to go with our Saturday breakfast.   I have recruited 2 volunteers to take charge of the contests.  Preparations are going well.  Annie is happy!

Tell It To the Stars: February

Here are my blocks for February. I am liking these colors together. Should make a pretty quilt when we are done.

Sewing Saturday

I hope you are all enjoying this beautiful Saturday.  Lovin me some sunshine. 

I keep having to take breaks to sit outside. Lol

I have another baby quilt cut. Now to sew up some blocks.   I might have to cut more and make this bigger.  Only time will tell.   

Baby quilt blocks

This is what I got to make the baby a quilt.  Even tho we lost this baby I decided to make the quilt for when we do have one.  I'm thinking black sashing and borders.   But I'm open to suggestions.   

Pink horses

Yesterday on my day off I worked on horses for my niece Rylee.   She has an orange horse I made before she was born and she called me the other day wanting a Pink to go with Orange. 

So this Mimi got busy and make two.  

This one was a practice. I couldn't remember how the legs went together. 

And here are the ears for the fleece one. 

She will be happy.  

Here they are together. Excuse the mess behind them..lol

Super Bowl Sunday

Well I'm not a fan of football, unless if need a nap, so today after church and lunch I started to sew sashing on my RSC13.  I am pretty happy with how it has turned out with the paint drip sashing...  My hubby is calling it the Super Bowl Quilt....

Blessed beyond believe...

My husband went to Texas for work to move a family. They had items they no longer wanted. And the Mrs gave them to my hubby.   You aren't gonna believe this.  

This machine was taken off the table to bring inside. Check out the size of this spool. And the is a larger on in brown.  

He didn't even tell me about the dress form. What a surprise. 

Now I am going to church to praise our Lord for such wonderful gifts. 

I can't wait to PLAY.   We might have to move quilting to my house so everyone can play. My 10x11 sewing/office now is housing 5 machines.  I do t know where we would all sit but we can sew up a storm.  

Scrap Challenge:January

This is a quilt I put together as a scrap challenge at patchworktimes.com. She gave us a block and told us to create a project using our scraps. I had two blocks done and due to time issues, didn't know what I do with them. Then, due to circumstances beyond my control I found myself with a lot of time on my hands. So, I made 12 blocks and sashed it and made a cute little baby quilt. Ready for the next challenge so I can use up some more of these scraps!

Tell It To The Stars: Block 1

My first two blocks for the new mystery at Patchworktimes.com. I love the colors I chose for this one. Was afraid that teal was too bright but it looks real nice. I am excited for the next clue on February 1.

Maybe I'm a WIMP!

I hate to miss any Tuesday night bee but I really don't want to get out in the cold tonight!  So, I'm going to be a wimp and stay home tonight.  I'm tired of cold weather but know it's part of God's seasons.   I guess I'll just work on hand quilting my butterfly mini-quilt.

I'm excited about getting new vinyl flooring in kitchen and downstairs bath.   It's scheduled to be installed on Friday.   I'll be especially glad to get rid of the old green floor in the kitchen.   Now I can go back to my blue and white with some red accents here & there.   The red will mostly come from small "Ladybug" items and a somewhat large painting of the Purinia Feed store that my daddy-in-law built and owned many years ago. My mother-in-law painted the picture using an old black & white photo of the feed store as inspiration.   Some of the blue & white will come from a few vintage dishes with bluebirds on them and some gingham valances over the 2 windows.   I love eastern bluebirds!

This weather makes me want to do nothing but quilt.   Maybe this is the day I'll get my Pink Breeze basted.

Quilting is the thread that holds us together.

My heart is heavy as I write this post...

I once again ask for your prayers as my son and daughter-in-love have suffered a third miscarriage.  It is more difficult after hearing that prescious heartbeat last month. 

Thank you for you love and support. 

Angela

BUTTERFLY MINI BLOCKS

I had a good time at our Tuesday night get together last night.   This is the first time we met since before Christmas and it seemed like a really long time had passed since our last meeting.  Sharon's quilt looks even more beautiful in real.   Susan's radiant star is now quilted and it too is lovely.   Some are working on mystery blocks and of course they are going to make a great quilt - makes me wish I had participated.   Marilyn's mother (age 97) passed away last Sunday and Marilyn was getting ready to go to Colorado for the burial.  I know we all extend our sympathy to Marilyn and family.

I've started working on a miniature 1930's Butterfly quilt.   I love this pattern.  The butterflies measure about 1 1/8" X 1 1/8" including the antenna.   I'm planning to use solid yellow for sashing and set the blocks side by side and will probably include cornerstone posts.  I haven't planned the border(s) yet but have some curves in the back of my mind  -  maybe some gentle scallops or just curved corners.   Time will tell.

My wish for everyone's new year is "Time" - there's never enough of it.   If you have a good time-saver tip, please share it with us.   My tip is to set aside one day per month to cook extra and freeze in recipe size portions - Start with 5# of ground beef  & onions & tomatoes & bell pepper.  Brown beef & slightly cook veggies.  Add canned tomatoes (or sauce) and freeze in 1# portions.  Later you can thaw and add the proper seasoning for Italian, Mexican, Sloppy Joes, Beef & Beans or whatever.   The night you use it can be your designated "quilting night" or the night you have more time for family or yourself.   Next month, boil chicken and freeze in broth for future meals - Chicken spaghetti, King ranch chicken, Chicken pot pie, etc.

Looks like we may be in for another cold spell with some ice.   So please drive carefully if you have to be out and about.    P.S.  I have a small design board with black flannel.   It's nice for blocks with light backgrounds.

And I couldn't resist these

Baby quilt

Here are baby quilt fabrics

Quilting tomorrow..yeah!

Even though we are meeting tomorrow I have no idea what I want to work on...  I have been doing a little crocheting in preparation for spring retreat door prizes.. But I haven't sewn much of anything.  I somehow hurt my wrist and couldn't. But I did finally get my sewing room/office cleaned. And made a very small attempt of organizing for taxes.. Of course, this is probably what hurt my wrist..

Even though I have not sewn much I am looking forward to seeing everyone's projects...ladies remember to bring your mystery quilts....  I need some motivation...

I have purchased some fabric for a quilt for my new grand baby that is due in August.  We do not know the gender but my kiddos are country so I'm good with my fabric choice no matter what.

Stay warm........