Wow, Sunday and almost time for the Viking game so I will make this quick, maybe. This is another of the blocks from the Garden Gatherings book. This past week, I have prepared another of these blocks, and another of the Christmas ones I am working on and also a new applique project I picked up in Wisconsin in Oct. My friend Debbie was here for quilt camp on Fri and Sat and did we have fun. Or as my friend Deb says "How fun is that?" We talked and laughed and sewed and even called Hester in California to bug her a little. She really has no sense of humor. All we asked of her was to hop a plane on Fri and join us. She refused, can you imagine that. When do you get to spent time with two great people like Deb and I? She is probable feeling sorry for herself as I type. I will try to load a few more pictures of our projects later today. Right now it is time to listen to the TV and stitch on some more on my applique blocks.

The color is not true on these pictures because I had to take them with the existing light so that you could see the quilting. Hope the quilting will show up when I put this up for publication.

Hi all, it has been a long time since I have added anything to this blog. I have been busy. That's my story and I'm sticking with it.

I don't know how well this picture will show up as I had to have it taken with my cell phone. I entered this Venezuela quilt and 5 others in the St Cloud Heritage Quilts Show this weekend. And, surprise, this one won Viewers Choice 3rd place.

I worked on the applique on this quilt in 1999 and 2000 when we were in Venezuela doing mission work. I did some of each block while there and some of the fabric is even purchased there. I have had it done for quite a while but didn't know what to do about the quilting. In February I took this to Kathy Crabtree to quilt and she returned it in August. What a beautiful job she did.

I got talked into joining the St Cloud Group and then to enter something in the show. I didn't even have a picture of this one before I entered it. I will try to get a good close up of the quilting to post here next. When I got the quilts back tonight, Norb wanted to have it on display with the ribbon so he helped me hang it on my Venezuela quilt rack in the family room. So, now I can't get a photo of it all as I had to fold it to fit on the rack. And that is about 8 feet from the floor. I am not going to get the ladder again and take it down and then put it back up.

On Saturday my friends Hester and Debbie can to visit for the day. We talked and caught up on all of our latest episodes and sewed while we talked. Hester came from California so she did not bring anything to work on. Well, not to worry, Debbie kept her busy. Debbie was working on some applique by hand and she got Hester to finish the binding on a quilt. Then she had her unsew the flying geese borders on a quilt she was making.

I worked on my first Inklingo project. It is so new to me however, I have hand pieced quite a bite so that was not so new. This block is one of two that I got finished on Saturday. I really like this method and would like to get everyone to try it some time.

This is block one of a quilt that I started at conference. It is out of the Garden Gatherings book and I really like it. I used pearl cotton for the vines and the berries and cotton fabric for all the applique. There are twelve blocks in the quilt and each is a different flower in the center of this oval with the jagged edge.

Last week on Tues. I went to Project Linus Conference. We were there until Sunday morning and then drove home. We had classes on Weds that were a real treat. I took two classes useing the X-tool ruler. It was so easy and sooo much fun. We had another class on Thurs. I took a crazy quilt that was fun. Then we could spend time at the expo. There at the expo, they had mini workshops. You could learn more about quilting, crochetting, card making, and blogging. I learned a few new things for my blog. Like the new header and new background I have. Above is a picture of Fawn and I with Linus at the banquet on Sat night. We also had a banquet on Fri night. All in all, it was a good trip. Minus a couple of things. Don't ask.

On Saturday, we went to the ordination of Father Omar. He is a young man we met in 1999 on our first trip to Venezuela. He traveled from Maracay to Caracus to the airport with Jonathon and I. He said he needed to practice his English. I have prayed for him ever since. He had left the seminary there and eventually came to the US to study. After graduating from St Cloud State Universery he told me he would be going back to the seminary here in the US and be a St Cloud diocese priest.

I made the stole for him as an ordination gift. I got the pattern by going to our church and borrowing one and making a pattern from that. He was going to wear it on Sun for his Sunday mass. We also got to the first mass he said on Saturday evening. What a thrill this has been. In August we are going back to Venezuela again for some visiting and hopefully Fr. Omar will be able to join us and say has first Mass at San Bartholome church where we have done mission work before.

Well, if this is what pink eye looks to you, you have it exactly right according to the doc I say yesterday. I am here to tell you, this is not fun. I got up during the night and could not open my eyes. I did find my way to the bathroom, my age, you know. This morning I had to soak them for a few minutes so that I could get them open.

I suppose you know that this will not get that album done that I have to work. Nor will it get any sewing done.

I finished my Birchwood Lane applique blocks before this happened. Now have to assemble that quilt. All the things are cut and sewn except the borders. And to put the rows and blocks together. That will be on hold as well.

I have a skirt and a jacket part way done as well. Think I can work on that?

Debbie asked if I quilted the circle quilt on a longarm and I have to say, "No". I did that with my old Bernina. I had a Bernina 200 that I traded in on a new machine last week. No, don't anyone panic, it was not for the great big new 830. That did not thrill me. I actually traded down. I got a 630. It has the old hook system on it which is great for stitch quality but, also has the BSR. I really liked that. With the 200, I quilted that circle quilt with the walking foot and the BSR.

This is a one block wonder quilt that I finished yesterday. I had all the blocks sewn and the center put together for a long time. Like maybe 6 or 8 months. Last month, I finally got the borders on it and took it to Eileen to long arm quilt. I got it back about two weeks ago and put the binding on but didn't get to the hand work on the binding until yesterday. It will go to the lake with us today to be put on the bed out there.

Norb and I went golfing today. That was my 4th round of 9 holes since I started. Norb gave me golf clubs for Mother's day and today was my first par. So far, I am in love with the game. In a little while we will be taking Gavin fishing. We were going to go after Norb's nap, but hadn't thought of taking the Grandson. But, his daddy came over and asked if we would watch him while he and his ex-wife go out for dinner. Soooo, we get to take him fishing. Wish us luck.

This is a quilt I call the circle quilt. I started it in Sept of 08 at Green Lake Retreat. I finished about a week ago but hadn't gotten to post it. I will give it to my son Rick for his bed now. It is made with all batiks, which I love and I really love working with them.

It is a queen size quilt and I did the machine quilting myself.

It's been a while since I posted but I've been busy. I have lost a total of 22 pounds so far and now have another problem. My clothes don't fit very well. I have the Wild Ginger software for patterns so have been busy getting slopers made and tried on. I think we are on the right track. I made a pair of clam diggers on Mon and Tues. I did a little machine embroidery on the legs and wore them on Tues night for a meeting. They fit pretty good and looked pretty good as well.

I also finished up Rick's circle quilt so will have to get a picture to post soon. The one block wonder I had soooo much fun putting together has come home from the long arm quilter and the binding is on. I got one side blind stitched on the back but went to work on those clothes instead of sitting and finishing that. I have two blocks for my Birchwood lane quilt to finish also. The piecing is all done, but two more need to have applique on them. Then I have to put it together. I am working on each block and then will put them into rows and finally the whole top. I think I have to cut the borders as well.

Hi all, I saw a table runner made by my friend Fawn that was made with this pattern and decided to give it a try. I have quite a few charm packs and this was one that someone must have given me as I do not remember buying it. It was also 6 inch squares so I got a 43" square quilt by adding a half yard of fabric from the stash. It got put aside again so I could work on the circle quilt for Rick.

We will be leaving for jail again tomorrow so won't get much done this weekend. But next week I will be back to work on the circle thing and then maybe lay out and sew up the other charm packs.

Oh, my, what a weekend. Norb and I were in Benton County Jail. Noooo, just trying to bring Jesus to the inmates. Today I can hardly walk I am so sore in the knees, legs and hips. Too much swaying I think. But, it was a great weekend. We got home about 9 last night which is early for a REC weekend.

Today I was off to our local school to do my volunteer job and then back this afternoon to talk to our students in 3rd and 4th grade about prayer and choices. I love their questions about jail and the whole program we do.

Ok, the only way I can figure this out is to just put it in a letter. My address to Webshots is:
http://community.webshots.com/user/lofi297

I hope if you click on that it will take you to that site.

These are pictures of my favorite most recent quilt. The center fabric came from New Zealand. The feathers I did with the embroidery unit on my sewing machine. This little table topper and 5 others were made for the challange project of my Becker Quilt Guild.

I also made 8 table runners or toppers from the Minnesota Shop Hop fabric that I purchased last summer. Those I have placed on my Webshots. If I can figure it out, I will put a link on this blog for you to follow. If I can't figure it out, I may be asking my friend, Debbie, to help me.

No pictures yet, but, I have got 7 more small quilts ready to hand sew the back of the binding on them. They are not great shakes, however, I am having fun and things are getting done. I have two table runners done all the way so far this week and am off to watch the Twins on TV and sew on the binding. Some of them were from kits I purchased during the Minnesota Shop Hop last August. I had a week not too long ago when I cut out all of these and then have been slowly sewing them up.

Tomorrow I have feather weight club and don't have anything cut but think I will take the unfinished ones there and sew by hand instead of with the feather weight. We also have a service project to do and maybe a bag so I will take the machine just in case. And my bag of quilts.

Yipee, I finished the top today. I took it over to Rick's and layer over his bed and it is perfect size. Now I have to pick up a wool batt to put in it and I think I will quilt it myself. I was going to take it to a longarm quilter but decided I could do it myself.

I have a bunch of stuff to sandwich and get quilted so as long as I am doing that, may as well do this one also.

Hope you enjoy it.

Just a little sign in to let you know I am not missing. I have one full border on the circle quilt and half of another.

Today I spent doing some embroidery for a friend that is a message therapist. I digitized her logo and embroider it on shirts for her to wear for work. She had eight shirts, two robes and a jacket for me to do.

Yesterday I spent cleaning up my hard drive on the computer. It still needs an update but I have just not gotten it to the computer doc.

I joined the health club and have walked there the last three days also. So, what is retirement all about? I have no idea.

Greeting from the home place. What a stinky day, weather wise. Snow and wet. Yuk!!!!!!!!! Anyway, I had a great day otherwise. Went to lunch with Fawn at Olive Garden.

Supper was with Rick and Gavin and Norb at Keith's Kettle in Clearwater. Free dinner for me as the birthday girl. Then Norb went bowling and I came home with the young boys. Gavin brought me the neatest picture frame with a picture of him and me. The frame says Grandma and me.

I have some computer clean up to do this evening and maybe early to bed. Debbie wore me out on Mon and Tues.

Check out her blog under my followers and see her finished block and an aweful picture of me.

Well, well, I got it together tonight. Debbie left a little after 5 and I went straight to the stitching hole to get these blocks together. We had decided on the layout before she left and I just needed to do the stitching.

I am sooooo glad this is done this far. But, then, I have only been working on this for a little over a month.

Quilting with a friend

This is a picture of my Indian Blanket block for my Wildflowers quilt. These are such beautiful blocks. The flowers are appliqued on the embroidery machine and then the borders, etc are added.

Debbie with her block

Here is a picture of my friend Debbie with her finished block of applique. We have both accomplished a lot of things these past two days. What a fun thing to quilt with a friend!!

Just had a great day today. Deb and I sewed all day. I finished up 2 mini quilts and put the borders on 12 of the Wildflower blocks. We just came out of the hot tub and are heading to bed. Tomorrow Deb will teach me to put a picture up on this blog.

My friend Debbie is here and we are having a mini quilt retreat. She is helping me get my first blog. What fun.