Got a little distracted this week...

I managed to get a few projects updated and... start a few new projects.  Couldn't help myself!

Ok, for the updates:

FARMER'S WIFE QAL:  not so much

PINEAPPLE SURPRISE QAL:  uhmmm, nope didn't touch this one either

CHRISTMAS QUILT:  1/4 of the way done.

Only 3 more blocks like this and then the quilt top will be finished!

CRISS CROSS QUILT:  2 rows completed only 3 more to go.

I'm loving the colors on this one!

Sure hope Aunt Janice does too. ♥

NEW PROJECTS!!!!

Every year, I make Emma a quilt for Christmas... okay, so she's only 2 and I just started this last year, BUT, I'm starting a tradition!  Here's the one I made her last year:

I found this adorable toddler quilt pattern on Moda and decided it was a *must make*.  Here is the fabric I'm using for THIS year's quilt:



Can you guess the theme for her new *big girl* room???

If you guessed "totally obsessed with ladybugs" ---  you are correct!

NEXT PROJECT:  this one only took me an evening to sew together.

Again, perusing the wonderful Moda Bake shop website, I saw this cute little car organizer.  Determined it was also a *must make*.

Poor picture quality because it's night time and garage lighting isn't exactly ideal for great photography.  However, I wanted to show it off!!!

better lighting inside

and the back



Story behind NEXT project:

A blogging friend of mine, Marilyn, was hosting a quilt show

After a little convincing, I managed to get my husband to go with me!!!  It's about an hour and a half drive to Long Beach from our house and I didn't want to spend 3 hours in the car in Los Angeles traffic by myself... misery loves company! ♥

Oh was it WORTH it!  We were not allowed to take photos inside because of the location, but if you could have seen what I saw, you would be just as amazed!  These quilters are so creative and talented!

Plus I got to meet Miss Marilyn for the first time!  What a wonderful lady she is, so kind and funny and just a joy to be around!  I could have hung out with her all afternoon!

So this is where my new project comes in, whilst walking around checking out each vendor booth, I noticed this woman making a *rag rug*.  Oh the pull was too much, I couldn't resist!  I quickly grabbed my wallet and bought the pattern/kit.  Here's what I've managed to make out of just my scraps so far:

As you can imagine,

• a 2 year old
• a football fanatic
• and a quilt show

 on a Sunday, just don't go well together.

So we headed to Shoreline Dr to eat at Bubba Gumps and check out the marina.

Oh how I love SoCal!

After our tummies were filled, we took a nice little walk...

... is this not the most precious photo ever!

Oh the memories we are making with this little one...

My heart belongs to each of them.

~ * ♥ * ~

"Memories are like a patchwork quilt... each section is sewn together, to be wrapped around us for comfort an warmth in the years to come."

Author Unknown

~ * ♥ * ~





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

~ * ♥ * ~