I Did It!!

I sure did it! I blogged every day for the last 30 days, every single day in November! Woo Hoo!!
Ok enough celebrating, you came to see the photos of my finishes didn't you? First up is the reindeer table runner that I made for my Secret Santa Christmas Swap. I LOVE it!! It will be difficult to part with it.



Then I finished this wall hanging. It is the third one of them completely finished (thank you LTW and PTM). Here is the front and back.

See how the quilting makes a great "wing" on this one? I love how that happened! Also notice the great plaid I found for the binding on this one! I still need to take a photo of the one I am keeping, hey maybe tomorrow!!

It was darkish and raining and windy when I got home tonight so I had some trouble taking photos. GRRRR I should have done it yesterday. Oh well, here are the next FIVE tops I managed to finish too.

It's really amazing that 4 charm packs and a partial layer cake could turn into 8 great wall hangings isn't it? I think I'm pretty much tired of this pattern at this point. I was talking to PTM the other day and told her I was going to give it away and I guess I'll be giving it away to her!! LOL!! She really likes the pattern so she can have it and make a few for herself or for gifts. She has been doing all my binding, because it really hurts my hands and all the way up into my shoulder. How can you ask for a better BFF?? Answer: YOU CAN'T!! So I told her to choose one of those last 5 to keep for herself. It will be fun to see which one she will choose. I think I know which one but I'll keep you posted!

I still need to make the backs so I can send them to LTW for the quilting. If I wasn't so lazy I would do that tonight. Actually I think I will do just that, although I hear Rudolph on the TV in the other room and it is my favorite Christmas show, so we will see. I went to the gym, came home and made turkey pot pie, popped it into the oven and went to the church to drop off something then home, food and now blogging.

So, I need to get it in gear and see what I can do about those backs, (one continuous piece sounds good don't you think??) I need to put away dinner, clean up, and get the ribs ready for the crock pot so they can be started in the morning before I leave for work. Have a wonderful evening and remember you can do whatever you put your mind to (like blog every day!!)
XOP

One More Day

That's right, just one more day and I will have blogged for 30 days straight. I'm glad I did it but I think I may take a break. It's difficult to keep coming up with things to blog about that others might find interesting.

I went to the grocery store on the way home so when I got home it was too dark to take the photos I wanted to put up today so you all will have to wait until tomorrow. HA at least that ensures there will be some photos for tomorrows post.

I want a photo of the table runner I made for my swap partner before I put it in the mail so that won't actually get mailed out until Wed. I hope she will love it.

So I will leave you dreaming on like Jack here, about what you will get to see tomorrow! Have a good evening. XOP

Some Finishes

Even though I have been kind of slugish lately I did have some finishes today. DH really wanted me to spend time with him watching movies, so I have spent a lot of time on the couch. Today I managed to extricate myself long enough to finish the laundry, change the sheets and do some stitching. I worked really hard at finishing my cats in a basket embroidery. I need to design a little quilt around it now that I can quilt myself for a guild challenge. What do you think of it?

I'm thinking aqua and red something or other. Really simple though as I have to quilt and bind it myself for the challenge (EW)
While working on this I kept on seeing my real live cats in a basket (really a chair), Aiden and Mosen.

They pretty much stayed there while I was sewing all day today. Lazy beasts!!

I also got 5 more Cardinal wall hanging tops pieced!! Those are now done, I just need to put a back together and make the binding and they will be ready for gift giving. That will make 8 of those in total. Pretty good for 4 charm packs and part of a layer cake don't ya think? So 6 are dark and 2 are "Merry and Bright". Now here's the bad news, I got one of them back from PTM all bound and cute and all and do you think I can find it? I was cleaning for Thanksgiving and picking up the sewing room and now it is MIA. PTM thinks maybe I left it in my car. I looked in the car, twice! I know it will turn up but I hate being so absent minded!! I will have to offer a prayer to St. Anthony. "Tony, Tony turn around. Something's lost that must be found!"
EDITED TO ADD: I guess I must be losing my mind because as I was laying in bed thinking about the wall hanging my thoughts were being lead to remember that I wrote on it. I gave it to Yuki as her going away gift. Wow, thanks St. Anthony. Who says prayers aren't asnwered??
Now I can go off to bed!!

I will try to get a photo of them all tomorrow. Speaking of which, I have to go back to work tomorrow. It feels like I have been off for so long now! Also, in 2 more days I will have completed 30 days of blogging every day! I can't believe it, but I did it. Some days were more difficult than others, LOL. Sorry about the boring days, but those come with the more exciting ones, right? I hope you all had a great weekend.
XOP

The Post Thanksgiving Let Down

I was wondering if any of you are feeling a little let down too? It's always the same, isn't it? A rush to get something done and then a little tiny let down. I'm kind of feeling it today. I did manage to get some laundry done. I watched the MSU game and I finished 3 blocks. It's now dinner time and that isn't a lot to have accomplished in an entire day now is it??

Want to see my blocks? One is the second reindeer block I am doing for our Christmas get together with the Plymouth Piecemakers. I really love how it came out although it is difficult to see them in this photo, they now have eyes.


I am doing the 12 Days of Christmas BOM and I got the stocking block(s) done today too. One for me and one for LTW

I have a baby quilt to finish, the one with the plus symbols all over it. Then I have all those cardinal wall hangings to finish too. I need to transfer designs to some towels for Christmas gifts. My ultimate goal is to finish up the machine stuff and get my sewing room put away. I know I keep saying that but I am a little closer right now. I had DS carry 2 bins down the basement (those things are HEAVY!!) Well, off I go to make a turkey sandwich and maybe work on one of those wall hangings!! Have a wonderful evening, I'm planning on it.

XOP

Thanksgiving on Friday??

YESSSS, we are celebrating today. I hope you all had a wonderful and blessed day yesterday. More tomorrow...XOP

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you all had a wonderful turkey day and got to spend time with your family and friends. Our day went kind of awry. I got up early to bake the pies and DH went to the garage to get the turkey. Imagine our surprise to learn that it was still frozen! No turkey dinner for us today. It's OK though. DD2 wasn't here today as she was at her boyfriend's parents house. We made the decision that we will just make our dinner tomorrow. We all kind of sat around and watched movies and I got to do some sewing.

I thought I would work on my reindeer blocks. I guess I looked like I needed help so Autumn came to help.

I tried to distract her with a plastic bag but it didn't last too long.

I did manage to get one of the blocks finished tonight. I would have done them both but I realized that the buttons I had planned to use for the eyes were blue and not black. I will have to get some black ones to use on the block. I do like how this one came out though.

So that's all the excitement going on here. I am planning on some shopping tomorrow but I don't go out as early as some people do! We decided to downsize this Christmas so I just have a few things to look for. Wish me luck!!
XOP

Shipshewana Purchases

Well, what's a trip without a few purchases right? I finally got around to taking some photos today. Unfortunately a few of the fabrics I bought are already cut up and put into some projects so I don't have any left to show you! Here are the fabrics I got.

I got some more reds and aquas for a quilt that I am planning on making soon. More about that later. The Tidings, I just LOVE these fabrics. I have already cut up some of the lime green and intend to use some of the red, for bindings.

I showed you this quilt finished but I bought the pattern too. The WH was enlarged but this is the name of the pattern for anyone else that likes it as much as I did. It's by Laundry Basket Quilts, called Special Delivery.


The night I got home I went over to PTM's because we need to make a block (or 3) for our Plymouth Piecemaker's Christmas party. So I had bought some of the Winter Grafix line that had the swirls on it while in Shipshewana too. I thought it would make awesome background for the blocks PTM and I were going to make. So I used what I needed and she will be using the rest for her blocks. So some fabric in and right back out! I got the reindeer fused, now I need to stitch around them and then do the embellishments. Wanna see them? OK, but just remember that they are not finished yet, so you will probably see them again once they are finished.

Aren't they cute? Ok I'm off to work on them.

Hair appointment at 4, going to Sam's to get new tires for DD2's car then home to bake pumpkin pies! Hope you all have a Happy Thanksgiving tomorrow, those of you that celebrate!!
XOP

Shipshewana with my DH

Lest you think I had enough time with my DH or enough time shopping, you would be wrong! We decided to go to Shipshewana for the day. We heard that it was supposed to be a warm day so we made a plan. When we got up it was pouring, not just raining. We went anyway. As it turns out, the day was warm, the rain went away and all the people were not there. Seriously, it was like we had the place to ourselves. We got a little Christmas shopping done and it was fun just to walk around and spend the day together.

I bought a couple of FQ's here, at Lolly's sale place.

Then we went to JoJo's Pretzel's. I was out of their amazing mustard. Thankfully, I am now fully stocked up. I went to Lolly's while DH spent some quality time on the porch.

I only bought a little bit and I have not taken any photos yet. Maybe tomorrow. Look at this adorable truck.

I fell in love and bought the pattern. They glued crystals all over the branches. They also enlarged the original pattern. LOVE IT!!
Went to another shop with all these amazing dolls. Sharon, these RA's are for you! And that bee, just too cute!

I took this one for PTM as I know she loves snowmen, and I had never seen a "tin man" snow man.

Next up Rebecca Haarrer's and her amazing ornaments. I bought a caboose, to remind DH of the night we spent in the caboose!

As we were walking I saw this on my path. Amazing new quilt pattern? Hey, you better back off, it's my idea!!

We went to E & S Sales (bulk food) and we bought a LOT of great stuff at a reasonable price. You need to understand that my DH is a total popcorn addict. Ho LOVES the popcorn we get here, not the same as the popcorn in MI. Here he is with his favorite purchase! 25 pounds of popcorn!!!

I bet you think the only thing I bought was fabric right? Well you would be wrong. I got these most adorable shoes.

Although DH told me I have to wait until Christmas before I can have them. How is that any fun?? Photos forthcoming of my purchases tomorrow, I promise.

I am so tired. I did a class this morning with PTM at the gym for an hour. Then I did 2 more classes tonight. My poor body is in agony! Thank goodness DH cooked tonight. We had pork loin, homemade apple sauce, homemade spatsle, homemade bread and my contribution, home made soda. I probably forgot to mention that we bought a machine to make our own soda. Soda Stream. Love it! Anyway I have lots more to tell but I am in desperate need of some rest. I hope you all had a good day too.
XOP

Now I'm Irritated

Do you see that I had 2 posts listed for Saturday? I began the second one on Sat but actually posted on Sunday morning. I have no idea why Blogger posted it on Saturday too. I mean I slept in, got up and realized that I had not posted it on Saturday. I hope the post every day people will realize this is what happened and still count it. Stupid Blogger! I was so thrilled that I alredy had a post written I posted it and never even thought to check the post date. UGH!!

DH and I went to Frankenmuth on Saturday. First we went to the outlet mall at Birch Run. We managed to get some great Christmas presents. I got some cast iron pots for DH, some things I can't mention but trust me they are great. Look at these great reindeer.

Then I found this awesome Jim Shore plate for just $5!!! Amazing right?

We had a great time but it was very, very crowded. Neither of us like shopping like that. I'll catch you up on our adventures today when I have tome tomorrow. I hope you all had a great weekend too.
XOP

Shopping With My BFF

I know you are all waiting to hear about my trip to Frankenmuth but first I know you all want to hear about my shopping trip with PTM right?? We left early in the am on Friday to go to Checker. We had placed a pre order so we were going to pick that up but you know that we will also get a few "must have" items. So I will take you through my purchases.
My first pre order is a Kona Color card!!!! I am so excited about this purchase!

Right? Who wouldn't love this? I also got these amazing patterns as well as the piping tool.

There are also sample cards and I got a few. They had some with my favorite peacock line by Allison Jane Smith. I am so in love with this line!!

I got some samples of Anna Maria Horner's violes too. SWEET!

Then there was this Lincoln fabric. Not really my style but my last name is Lincoln so I bought the sample cards so I could make a log cabin quilt some day for my DH. I would call it Lincoln Logs!! OK, SOMEDAY!! Don't hold me to that for awhile.

Last but certainly not least I bought 2 bolts of fabric. One is Kona medium gray and the other is a Denyse Schmidt Hope Valley print. I plan to use some on the back of a quilt I have swirling around in my head using those prints. I will probably sell the rest in ETSY or trade some to PTM. I think she bought 4 bolts. I really need to take you on a tour of her basement. She could literally open a shop! It's amazing. I love her basement!!

So much for my being a good girl right? Oh well, we had fun and I will use both colors. I'm off to do some cleaning and laundry and hopefully get some sewing done today as well. Have a wonderful Sunday.
XOP

FNSI

First I apologize in advance for the brevity of this post. DH and I are getting ready to go to Frankenmuth and the outlets at Birch Run this morning and I have too much to say about my shopping extravaganza with my BFF PTM to write it all down right now. This means you will have to settle for a quick post about the only thing I got done last night. I know I was supposed to sew all night but DH ended up home rather than away and so since he had been gone all week I kind of felt like I needed to spend some time in the same room as he was. I did manage to put my JRQAL block 2 together though and although it is a little busy I really love it. I clearly need to re-press the center square but you get the idea.

So what do you think??

I have to run and go and dry my hair. DH is making us some eggs and stuff for breakfast so I'll talk to you later. Have a wonderful Saturday and GO STATE!!
XOP

Layer Cake Quilt Along

My Wednesday night quilting group is participating in the Layer Cake Quilt Along going on over at Moose on the Porch. I thought I would share some of their first blocks with you.

Aren't these great? I love that there are so many different layer cakes being used here too.

I did manage to finish my second block but I made a few changes. Soiree doesn't really have a lot of "lights" so I used white. I really like how this block came out. I haven't done the Jelly Roll second block but am planning on trying to get it done this weekend. It had a plain center so I embroidered a little something in the center. I couldn't put it together without having that finished.

PTM and I had a little excursion today and I will tell you about that tomorrow. Time for a little quality time with my DH right now.
XOP

I Really HATE Goodbye, so Instead I'll Say " See You Soon!"

I knew the day would arrive some day when I would have to say good bye to my Japanese sister, Yuki. Who knew that 4 years would pass so quickly? Not me and not her either. When Yuki first arrived in the US she came as a recent new bride. Her husband, Hiro, sat next to me at work. He was unsure of his English skills but speaks so well now! Of course he sat by me and I made him talk all the time, LOL, poor guy. I became the walking dictionary in my isle containing, besides me and Hiro, a man from China and a woman from Brazil. One day Hiro tells me that his wife would like to learn how to quilt and did I know anyone that could help her learn. HAHAHAHA, um...YES...ME!! That was the beginning of a wonderful friendship. Yuki and I have had a lot of fun together. I sure will miss her when she leaves to go back to Japan on Monday. Hiro is staying for a little longer but he will leave in December. Yuki is taking her beautiful baby boy back home when she leaves.

Yesterday my friend, Robin and I took lunch over to Yuki's apartment. I made a small gift for her to remember me by too. The little cardinal wall hanging! You want to see some pictures?
Me and Yuki and then Robin and Yuki

See that beautiful baby boy? He is so darned cute and oh, there is his equally adorable mom! Hi Yuki!!

We sure have done a lot of quilts in the time you have been here. I will always have fond memories of our trip to Paducah, our classes, our shopping, making the Big Ten quilt every year, lacrosse games and just hanging out. Now I guess I will have to plan a trip to visit you and Hiro in Japan some day.

Just so you guys know, she had made something for me as well. One of the first quilts she ever made was one of my favorites too. Well she made one for me. She called it "Winter in Ann Arbor." Ah, Yuki, I don't deserve you! I teared up but managed not to outright cry. Although a few tears are sliding down my face as I type this (shhh don't tell her).

Some day, when I grow up, I want to do hand work as well as Yuki does. Her satin stitch in the word winter is amazing!

So have a safe trip home my dear friend. I will miss you. You are loved. Thank goodness for Skype, right?? I wish for you and your family a wonderful life. You will always have an American sister and if you ever need anything don't hesitate to let me know.
XOXOXOXOXOXO