Happy WIP Halloween

Happy Halloween, Everyone!

I can't believe that it has been almost 2 weeks since I have posted but it has been a whirlwind around here!
I set out and was gone to San Antonio (fabulous place!) for the Annual AVA (association of vascular access) Scientific Meeting and then was back at work a couple of days before I set out for Little Rock for my Dad to have surgery (it went fine, Thanks!) And, then we had 2 gatherings at our house last weekend and work this week! Eeek! I just need a vacation for everything!

But, I have been working on a few projects.
I baked about 20 little loaves of bread as party favors for one of the gatherings this last weekend. Yummo! I wish I had some left!

I also planned it just right that I would have my fall wreath on the door and presentable before everyone arrived, I just forgot to snap a picture of it finished! O well, its too dark now to get one but I'll include a picture next time! It ended up being really cute. Please excuse my work mess!

This week I have been kicking it in high gear, I wanted to get my Momma's quilt completed for her for Christmas, but I am hoping to get it over and done with before Thanksgiving now. I have kinda been torn about finishing it. It is beautiful, but a beast too. Some of my units have been wonky and I have yet to figure out the problem. It was the Bonnie Hunter, Quiltville mystery from last year. I named it Momma's Sunshine. Its kickin' my ass.

I included a couple of shots of it as I was laying it out and a pic of my workstation making the Ohio Star blocks that are part of it. I really need to finish this- hopefully I will this week. I decided not to do the full-size quilt but to just do a throw size and to add my own borders but I haven't decided those either. Maybe I can utilize some of the wonky units.

The next big issue to tackle is that I need to make my DH, My Sweet Honey, his quilt. He's been my support and anchor through so much. But, I still haven't managed to work him in a quilt. Bless his heart! But, this week I also started working on his! My DH is a pilot and if any of you know any pilots, you know you can't go wrong with airplanes! For ANY occasion. Especially Christmas.

I only snapped one picture of the first 2 blocks, hopefully there will be more next week!

I am really prompted and compelled to finish Momma's quilt this week and the next and slowly work on the DH's. I would like to have his finished to give him for Christmas, but we'll see! I also really want them all done so that I can focus on the next Quiltville Mystery "East Street" that the intro post was made on today! It definitely promises to be interesting!

 

I am linking up with Lee at freshlypieced.

 



AVA 26th annual Scientific Meeting

This week, I am being a Nurse.
No sewing.
A bit of yarning in the evenings....
Not very exciting till tomorrow.
I miss my Sweet Honey.
Happy  Anniversary!!!

Happy Anniversary!

There once was this girl...

And she loved this really sweet guy...

And then one night...he sent her this text:

 She said, Forever! Yes!

And, they got hitched 2 years ago tomorrow!

And, I just want him to know:
I love you.
You complete my life.
You are my anchor, hunter, gatherer.
My lover, comedian, serious thinker.
My strong wind & calm sea.
My sunshine & rain.
I am spoiled senseless with your love, everyday & I know it.

The last couple of years have been the best years yet & I know it will get better, yet!
I truly love & appreciate everything you do for me and I know that at times I fall short.
But, I hope you know you have my heart & soul, even when I have nothing left to give.

I love you, Russell. Happy Anniversary.

 

I am linking up at freshlypieced because marriage is ALWAYS a work in progress!

Randomness

Its Thursday. I have to go back to work today!
Its also really randow Thursday and I am linkin' up at  Live a Colorful Life.
Today I'm missing these faces! I need a good snuggle and my little 1/2 pint poochie, Scooter- just ain't cuttin' it~ he  squirms way too much!

 

 I also need to start busting my bootie to finish this up because the next one is coming out shortly- and my Momma probably wants her quilt, already.
I really need some motivation on this! Like  being grounded! or something.
 

These crazy pieces. I have stacks of these boogers. I gotta figure out what to do with them. They just havent played well with anything. This is why I have sworn off charm packs- I do not buy them anymore!

 

Here is a family portrait of our Llamas. Fred, Patsy and Lennie Llama, that reside at Rusty Nail Farm.
Lennie is over a year old now, so I guess its time he make an appearance. Too stinkin' cute, I know I'm biased.

Here is The Sweet Honey & myself, in the Hill country... Cant wait to make a repeat of this trip! We had such a blast.
What you cant see, is the fact that he single-handedly saved me from falling on my head moments before the camera snapped! Eek!







Have a great, Random Thursday!
jess

Sailboat and Window Works

I have been SICK.
Like, 103.7f temp sick the last few days. Sicker than a dog! (I've never understood that.)
But this little buddy has been my constant companion and helped me through. Forever grateful.

 Just look at that face! I love it. He is so sweet.
He is definitely telling me how horrible marvelous his sweater is! I have a couple more to showcase, but they don't fit him well right now.
 
 
 
 
Ok, so while in my sick bed, I have been working on the Cathedral Window quilt: Follow  the Yellow Brick Road! It is definitely challenging. Some of the issues I am having are centered around the size it is getting. It is just getting harder to manage. I think what I need to do is just start a bunch of sections and then connect them all when I think its big enough.



 
 

      

     Also on my plate for this week: My dad a quilt. I have another quilt in the works but I just don't think I can share that one just yet. Its for my Sweet Honey- I still have not ever made him his own quilt. I think he needs one- or he might just cut off my fabric allowance, ya know? He is such a wonderful provider!

     Ok, so about my Dad, He is getting older and it scares me to think about it. He is going to have surgery on the 24th of the month and I am going to Little Rock to make sure everything gets done like it should and that he behaves with his nurses. He is definitely one of those "crotchety old men."    

     My Dad has his dream for retirement: Sailboat! He wants to sail around the world. He plans to sell everything and sail off into the sunset. Lord, Help me. So, thats what I am going with on his quilt. I have been researching sailboat blocks and I have found some, some are very childish, others too complex. I really want him to use his quilt, so an art-style quilt is really out. So far, I have decided to do a basic value-based diamond layout, taking out sections and replacing them with sailboat blocks. Does that make sense? Maybe some pictures will help. Maybe.

 So after some matching of various blues and reds to neutrals, mostly in sailing, sailboat, beach themed fabric and many many 1/2 sq triangles made and trimmed.
All this trimming has been hard for me while running a temp, my mind just doesn't want to work right all the time.
 
 
 
 

 I ended up with these. And, those transformed into this-->
 
Ya'll are just going to have to excuse the stuff under the quilt, that stuff is what is generally on my guestroom bed and that is where I tried this layout. My design wall is FULL. yep, with CAPS.
And, then transformed in to the picture below:

 
Its not really anything to brag about yet, but I hope it will be when I am done. I like it so far. I just have to figure out something to go in the center spot or change the layout of the sailboat blocks some. I will work it out.
 
I am linking up with Lee at freshlypieced.
See ya later!
jess

 





Sweet things! All around!

First Block- no window panes yet.

Its been a busy week around our Humble Abode. Last weekend was our SCRC Texas State reunion event. We had a blast. And, I didn't come home with my quilt :( but its ok, I can always make another, better, one. But, it did fetch some money for St. Judes! 250ish dollars I think- I am really not sure. The quilt that fetched the most brought in a whopping $1650!!! I am so proud to be a part of a group that does so much good. And, the best part: The lady who made the quilt that brought in the most- she bought MY quilt!!! 

First window pane, ever!

And, honestly, I haven't really had much time on my hands to sew since we got back. And, I started something new! And, completely different!
 
I had it set in my mind that I would never be able to do the dramatic Cathedral Window quilt pattern- but I am! I am very pleased with the results too! It is coming together a lot easier than I expected. I feel like I am cheating because I am using the machine to do it but I did try the handwork on it and it hurt my hands so much. There are so many layers and I am using good cotton and not just muslin to do it. I think I will call it "Follow the Yellow Brick Road!" I have someone in mind for this quilt already. I know they will love it!  I was over joyed when I added the first window pane! It looked so pretty- I almost cried.

This is the second block that I finished with all four window panes in place. I wish I had thought about the colors more while I was doing this block- I just grabbed odds and ends to do it with but thats ok. I can always adjust my "pattern" to fit it. I plan to use a LOT more purple and of course YELLOW throughout the quilt. Does everyone know that purple is the color in support of Lupus? My good friend is dying of Lupus. It is so devastating! She is under 40 and is already almost completely deaf and blind. It hurts my heart to see her suffer- but she is a fighter! Lately she has started a new medication that is supposed to help her- but it causes her much grief for a while after she gets it.

 





The picture above is of the 2 Cathedral Window blocks I have completed with the joining window panes added. I love it.
I am planning today to have a mini-quilt-a-thon here at home. I have many projects that I want to work on. I was blessed this morning to wake up to a perfectly CLEAN house. And, so, there is NO excuse whatsoever to not sew the day away.
Although there is one little thing I wanted to share with ya'll! My heart was so warmed by the kind gesture from the sweetest little boy! Yesterday when I got home from work, I checked the mail. All that was there (I thought) was the weekly sales ads, but when I pulled those out- We had received this sweet little parcel from our neighbor's son:

 
Too stinkin' cute!
 
 
 
I was almost in tears- thinking that he was thinking about us and his buddy (the Sweet Honey) having to go back to work! So, I had to quickly whip something up to put in the "mail" for him! I whipped up a fabric "postcard" and stuck it in their mailbox this morning! In this world today it is hard to think about kids actually being sweet- but this little boy is!