Oh why oh why

Do I get sick at Christmas? Seems to happen every other year. Had all of my kids and their significant others home for Christmas. Where am I the day after Christmas? In my bed under 4 blankets freezing. Then I'd get scorching hot and strip all the covers off. Just love the multiple trips to the bathroom that went with it. So hope your Christmas was better.

Busy busy busy

Honest I haven't forgotten how to type. My hands have just been really busy sewing since my last post. Camera is down right now, so I can't post any pictures at the moment. Perhaps Santa will take pity on me and get me a new one this year (hint hint). I will for sure post pictures of the completed quilts before they're given away for Christmas.

This is always such a busy time of year for many folks, including me. I keep promising myself that I won't plan on making quilts for Christmas, but somehow it just keeps happening. Need to get 6 finished before Christmas.

Wonder if I should go shopping instead and plan on giving them next Christmas instead?....hmmm, sounding better each day it gets closer to Christmas.

Take Care my friends.

Patty

Happy Thanksgiving

Sorry I haven't posted in awhile. Decided my time would be better spent actually quilting instead of talking about quilting :)

Have gotten two tops completed, one top is nearly finished and have 4 more to get done before Christmas.

I will post pictures soon I promise.

Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving !!!

Design Wall Monday

Worked on cutting patches yesterday. Really like how this is going. Not too sure of all the reds in the one row though, will probably change on the one on the left.

Sure wish my design wall was wider. But it's better than my old one (the floor).

Have a great week and take a peek at Judy's blog (Patchwork Times) for other design wall photos

Peaceful

I am so excited, it appears that I may actually have the entire day to quilt. Yippeeee!!

Got hubby off this morning (at 3:00am...Uggh) for his trip to Iowa.

Now it's just me and the cat, home alone.

When I was younger, couldn't stand to be alone. After growing up in a large family (8 kids), being alone was way too quiet. It felt awkward and lonely.

Now I really enjoy being alone. After years of taking care of everyone else (full-time job, 3 kids and 1 hubby), it's nice to only have to take care of myself.

I'm pretty easy to please, just a cold diet Pepsi, soft music in the background with an occasional snack and I'm good to go for hours.

So here's what I'm working on now (sorry for the lengthwise view, but my design wall is too narrow to place them across the top)

It's a throw quilt for DD#1's boyfriend. They are pretty serious, so it's time to make him a quilt for Christmas. He's in the Coast Guard and is a gun enthusiast. We found some fabric with guns in it (Buffalo Bill line by Wyndham fabrics) and one by Kaufman that has military sayings on it. Of course, DD#1 also included a fabric with hearts to remind him of her.

I'm currently auditioning fabrics. The earlier versions were all to similar, needed to go lighter for more contrast. I'm not used to using these colors. I tend to lean towards brights and happy colors (hot pinks, neon greens, etc). Not used to these earthy type tones at all. It has required shopping for fabric (oh isn't that just awful...grin).

Well, better close for now so I can actually get something done besides dreamining about it.

Have a great week....Patty

Fun Fun Fun

When was the last time you had to go to the DMV office? Just got back from spending over 3 hours at the DMV with my DD#1 (darling daughter #1). She's finally getting her permit. We actually bought her a car 6 months ago hoping that would kick start her into finally getting a driver's license. She has managed to avoid it for over 12 years. Her friends always had cars, then her roommates so she has never really needed a license. She lives only a block from downtown Alameda so she has plenty of restaurants, shops and grocery stores nearby. Her work is only 3 blocks from her apartment.

Why now? Her new fiance is in the Coast Guard and they plan on driving to his next assignment after they get married. Since that will most likely be in South Carolina, it will mean taking turns driving. Who knew that it would take love to get the job done :)

Hopefully I won't need to go to the DMV office anytime soon. Not my idea of a fun time that's for sure. Would have rather spent the time at the cute little quilt shop only a couple of blocks away instead.

Can't wait for Halloween tomorrow. Love all the little ones, but I get a little crankly when giving out candy to people taller than myself. Am I the only one that feels this way?

Design Wall Monday

Well, no need for a new photo this week. It's the same as last week's photo. Two rows were added to the bottom.

We had a busy weekend. Babysat for my precious 5 month old great nephew. My sister graciously shares her grandson with me as my kids are waiting on having any kids of their own.

Did get to go the the Pacific International Quilt Festival in Santa Clara on Sunday. So many beautiful quilts to see. Lots of new vendor stuff too.

In my humble opinion, many of the quilts were overquilted. I realize that stippling is the rage in quilting right now, but just because we can, doesn't mean we should on every quilt. Some quilts were so heavily stippled they wouldn't bend when the white glove ladies tried to flip the corners to view the back. These were bedsize quilts, not wall hangings.

Hope you have a great week.

Design Wall Monday

One of six planned quilts for Christmas. Disappearing Nine Patch. Love how easy but ends up looking complicated.

Time---Where does it go?

My plan for this weekend had been to work on several quilt projects. I need to get 6 lap quilts done for Christmas gifts.
Now at 6:00PM on Sunday night, ask me how much time was spent over the last two days quilting?
Well, if you count the 15 minute dash into the quilt store while DH was waiting out in the car, I'd guess around an hour at the most. (Sigh).
It is so hard when you have to work fulltime and have a needy husband. Problem is that he travels alot so when he's home, he likes my undivided attention. That's ok for a day or two, but after that.....I start to get a little cranky (grin). When I try to slip away into my sewing room for a few minutes, he pouts. After 20-30 minutes the "Are you done yet? How much longer?" stuff starts.
That or he suddenly has a mountain of paperwork which requires my help on the computer (which is in my sewing room). When he's out of town I figure, ok I'll quilt at least an hour each night after work. Works for Monday night, maybe Tuesday night but after that.......too tired and make way too many mistakes. The weekends seem to get eaten up by errands and other non-quilting stuff.
I've tried getting up earlier, but just can't get my rearend out of the nice warm bed one moment before the absolute last second. I just do not possess that kind of willpower at 5:00am.
Maybe if I take a couple of days vacation and not tell anyone (including DH), I could just hole up in my sewing room and get them done. Now that would be fun!
Have a great week and if you have any suggestions, please feel free to post a comment.

Patty

Friday, Friday, Friday

Yipeee! The weekends nearly here. Our little town is having a cheese and wine festival this weekend. Fun to see all the street fair booths and great foods (corn dogs, kettle corn, etc). Hate to see the traffic snarls though, makes it hard to get around town. Now if only the wine tasting ticket wasn't $30. Will have to skip that part this year. Oh well, maybe next time. Hope you all have a great weekend.

I owe, I owe, so off to work I go

Remember that old song? Sigh, how true even today. Like most folks I know, I live for the weekends. Then the darn things fly by so fast!! Will I ever have enough time to complete all of the projects I have started? Can't wait for retirement. I realize though, I will not likely have enough time even then to get them all done (LOL).

So off to work I go, continuing to dream about the coming weekend.

Patty

This is my first post, still getting the hang of being a blogger. Please bear with me as I learn this new fangled stuff!

Judy challenged us to show photos of our stash. I spent several months this year organizing my stash. Still have a couple of tubs to go, but am nearly finished. Hated the process but love the results.