Sew many updates!

Oh sleeplessness nights...

Having lupus is funny sometimes.

• Your body is so confused.
• It's tired. Wants to sleep.
• Can barely function. 

And yet, sleep does not come to you. 

• Your mind goes off into a million directions.
• Your joints start to stiffen and ache because they are not in motion.
• Your medication has the effect of either hallucinations or restlessness/anxiety, therefore making it difficult to relax.

Sleep, I miss you.  I lay down at midnight and sleep does not happen till about 5:30 to 6:00 in the morning... then up again at 8:30 to 9:00 with the little one...

I can not keep going on merely 3 hours of sleep for much longer.

So until you come back to me, I will continue to crank out these little nuggest of quilting treasures.  My how they are coming along.

FARMER'S WIFE QAL:

#99 - WCTU

#100 - Weathervane

47 blocks completed
64 blocks to go

I saw someone on the Flickr group using this layout so I thought I'd give it a try.  I REALLY love it!  I think I'm going to stick with it.  Not sure how it will end up, because I still have 64 more blocks to make... but I like the way it looks.

Also, with the help of my quilting friend Marilyn, I changed the sashing and background color to this teal and dk blue polka dot fabric.  I think it's really pretty.  Thanks Marilyn!

PINEAPPLE SURPRISE QAL:

Cranked out 4 more of these blocks. 

12 blocks completed
8 blocks to go

CHRISTMAS QUILT:  all my individual drunkard's path blocks are sewn!!

144 blocks completed
0 blocks to go!

Now it's time to start assembling this quilt!



And since I'm up anyways, I started 3 other quilts.

CRISS CROSS QUILT:  found this pattern from Moda Bake Shop

Took me forever to get the *look* I wanted for that scrappy look.  Don't mind the plaid sheet underneath, just using it to keep the fabric off the floor.

I am using Prayer Flag by April Cornell as the fabric for this quilt.

Soooo pretty!  This one is for my Aunt Janice.  She has been patiently waiting for me to start/finish this quilt.  ♥

MILITARY MEMORY QUILT:
My brother is in the US Army and has kindly given me his old uniforms that he no longer wears.  I've been working on a design to incorporate his first 9 - 10 years in the military.

What do you think? 

The photos along the bottom are of the following: 

• fabric from the boots he wore during his deployment,
• a boonie hat, also worn on deployment,
• and socks (ewww gross - I KNOW! but that's what he wanted :D - they are washed of course!)  

I plan to applique those items as well as the 2 hats along the sides down.  And the fabric panel in the middle was an idea my cousin Lori had.  I will embroider a star over all the locations he's been stationed or deployed.  Cool huh?

2011 END of the YEAR SCRAPPY quilt:
Last year I did this and really loved how it turned out.  Here check out last year's scrappy:

So this year, keeping with the "Irish Chain" theme, I'm using this pattern:

Already cut up my scraps:

... and started sewing a few together.  I use them as leaders and enders in between sewing my other blocks.  Great way to save on thread!

I think it's going to be great!

Well that's about all I've got for you this week.  Hope you enjoyed the update.

~ * ♥ * ~

A bed without a quilt is like a sky without stars.

author unknown
~ * ♥ * ~

FW, Pineapple Surprise, and a Finish!

FARMER'S WIFE QAL - 2 more blocks completed!

69 - Practical Orchard

70 - Prairie Queen

45 blocks completed
66 blocks to go

I'm not loving this gray sashing... does anyone have any good suggestions for a sashing color?

PINEAPPLE SURPRISE QAL - 2 more blocks completed!

8 blocks completed
12 blocks to go

CHRISTMAS QUILT - 40 more drunkard path blocks completed

87 blocks completed
57 blocks to go

*** cute little wallet for me ***

and a FINISH!!! 

My little flyboy shall be getting his quilt soon!

Quilt #39 - Fly boy
37" x 50"

LOVE the free motion quilting on this one!

 I quilted the little boy's name and birthday and a few airplanes into this big squares!  I think this adds so much to the precious little quilt! 

Really having fun experimenting with all the possibilities of free-motion quilting!

This is your captain speaking, signing off for this evening!  Hope you enjoyed the update!

~ * ♥ * ~

"May your bobbin always be full."

author unknown

~ * ♥ * ~

Farmer's Wife and other Quilt-A-Longs

Farmer's Wife Quilt-a-Long
I think the Farmer thought I'd given up on him...

Decided to get back on the wagon now that our lupus walk is over. 

Oh how I've missed making these little cuties! 

After looking over the blocks I'd already made, I decided I needed to add brighter colors.  Something to make it PoP!  So don't be too alarmed when you see some of the new blocks, wait till you see them all together at the end... I think it really helped wake up this drab looking quilt.

3 - Basket

4 - Basket Weave

5 - Bat Wing

6 - Big Dipper

105 - Wild Goose Chase

107 - Windblown Square

108 - Windmill

109 - Window

And all together now:

43 blocks completed
68 blocks to go

 Pineapple Surprise Quilt-a-Long

6 blocks completed
14 blocks to go

I chose Deb Strain's fabric line, "Coming Home"
I'm participating in this QaL with some gals from my
hometown in Illinois so I thought it was a perfect choice.
Plus, I really like the rich colors!

And what to do with all those scraps? 
Make it into a scrappy binding to match my quilt! 
Thanks for the idea Geta, her blog is really quite something. 
Head on over there and take a peek, but please come back. :D

Christmas quilt:
Brian's sweet Aunt Carol asked me if I'd make her mom, Brian's grandma, a quilt for Christmas.  What a great idea!  Why didn't I think of that?!!?  So we agreed on this pattern, it's a variation of the Drunkard's path.  I think it's beautiful!

Bought this quilt kit from Quilt Kits & Quarters

47 blocks completed
93 blocks to go

 I've been working on these blocks as my starters and enders between sewing my other projects.  Makes this project go really fast and I don't have to ever cut my thread!  I just chain piece everything!

I found this great tutorial on how to sew these little boogers without even pinning them!  That's right, sewing curves without pinning!

Check out this neat little tutorial:


NO pins!  I'm whipping right through these!

What would I do without the internet! 


One last photo to share.  I finished this quilt top this week and just love it!  It's for an adorable little 5 month old, whose room will soon be decorated with all things airplane related!

It's all basted, just have to get it quilted and put the binding on.

Well I think that's about all I've got for "Show & Tell" this evening. 

If you haven't checked out my cousin Lori's, blog, you should head on over there!  Super cute stuff, very talented lady!  Her blog is called, Closet Creations.

~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~
"When life gives you scraps, make a quilt!"