Found fat quarters

I have to tell you - sometimes I am just lucky! My quilt guild has a spot for members to put items that they wish to give away. Sometimes it is fabric, sometimes patterns, sometimes orphan blocks or a few books; doesn't matter, if you want to get rid of it, put it on the 'free' table. Well, yesterday I happened to find 3 coordinating fat quarters and I knew I had some more fabric that might go with them at home and I could make a cute table runner with them. So, stay tuned and we'll see what I can come up with. Of course, I could always take a road trip just in case I can't find anything in my "resource center".

Only two more to go!

Woo hoo!! I got another one done for Project Linus! I have two more to go and then I will have all of the tops that I made this last winter quilted!! Wow, sure took me long enough, but I did have a few other things to do, you know. My Frayed Edges group made 75 neck coolers last week and I need to get them delivered tomorrow.



I have sent two bundles to Iraqi Bundles of Love in the last week. What a wonderful idea this is - sharing fabric and notions and yarn and needles with the women in Iraq. These women are living in conditions we can only imagine in our nightmares and I am honored to be able to help in some small way. You know, I have been involved in outreach programs here in the U. S. for years and it never occurred to me that I could help someone in a foreign country until I read about IBOL. I'm really happy to be a part of this effort.

Well, off to bed. See ya.

Project Linus quilts, finally

Man, it's about time I got some of these done. I brought them home from Florida in April and I'm finally getting them finished. So here they are (drum roll, please).

Back to blogging

Well, I guess I've been in a mid-summer funk and couldn't think of anything to share. All that is over!!! I want you to see some photos of my quilt guild and their community service project that we worked on today. We are making neck coolers to send to service personnel in Iraq and Afganistan. Today we made 48 in a couple of hours.

These are really easy to make and the troops seem to like receiving them. If you would like the directions for making them go to www.geocities.com/helmetliner You will also find instructions for various other items that can be made in support of our troops.

That's it for now. Semper fi!

Got the doors open!!!

Wow! A cold front came through and brought some mighty pleasant weather with it. I turned off the A/C, threw open the doors and windows and let this place air out. Midwest summers can mean endless days of heat, humidity and stale air conditioned air. What a change for a few days. Yay! Tonight I just might get to put a quilt on the bed.

I wanted you to see another of the quilts that I made during my Japanese phase. This one is called Shoji Screen. I saw the pattern in a magazine and fell in love with it. I gathered fabric from here to Washington State and had a great time doing it.

This is a wallhanging that I made after taking a class from Pat Sloan. She was just great. And funny, too.

I recently learned of a wonderful organization that provides homemade pillowcases to brighten the lives of sick children in hospitals. The name is ConKerr Cancer and their website is www.ConKerrCancer.org and they have chapters in the U.S. and worldwide. Today I made 18 pillowcases with more to come. I used my serger and it went really fast. Check out their site - you may just want to make a few, too.

Go Red For Women

Well, we took a little time off and went down to Lake Shelbyville and camped for a few days. We always enjoy getting away even if it means that there is catching up to do when we get back. My DH had to get the yard mowed and then went to his mother's to mow hers. I am getting the laundry caught up and took a break to do this blog thingy.

I made the above wallhanging for my husband's cardiologist. The Go Red for Women campaign is for heart disease awareness. Heart disease kills more women than all forms of cancer combined. The pattern is by Sindy Rodenmayer and you can find it at http://www.fatcatpatterns.com/. If you are an applique enthusiast you will love her website.

This photo is of the fall block exchange from my Frayed Edges group. What wonderful bunch of friends I have, and so talented, too!
My final photo is of mixing bowls!! How does this pertain to quilts, you ask? Well, at our family reunion we were reminiscing and I mentioned that I had always wanted a set of Fire King mixing bowls in the tulip pattern because Mom had them and I still miss her terribly. My wonderful sister-in-law went on e-Bay when she got home and found these, bought them and shipped them to me. I can't believe she did that, but here they are. Just because I made a quilt for them. I get teary-eyed every time I look at them.My brother sure picked a keeper.
Gotta go. The dryer just buzzed. Happy quilting.

Hunter's star

Gosh, this summer is going fast. Here it is, the 5th of July and I feel like I haven't gotten much done. Above is my Hunter's Star wallhanging that I made from a class given by my Frayed Edges buddy Erika Phillips. She is a terrific teacher and her technique for this was really easy.

I was also fortunate enough to be asked to help at Project Linus Expo this year. What an awesome experience - I helped demonstrate machine applique and was able to meet chapter coordinators from all over the country. Talk about a bunch of wonderful ladies (and spouses); these people are the best of the best.

I got my little Margaret sewing machine back from the repairman yesterday and I'm so happy to see her again. She is a 3/4 size clone of a Singer class 15-30 and just as cute as can be. He got her all cleaned up and she sews the nicest stitches. My husband likes her because we have less than $50 in her. Men!

Anyway, have a nice rest of the week. We're off to the campground tomorrow.