Ventilated Undies and a Finish!!

It started off as an ordinary day. I was getting ready for work and getting dressed and made the discovery that would make my mother turn over in her grave. I reached into my undies drawer. Grabbed a pair, started to put them on and found out that this pair was ventilated. Yup..you got it..big old hole in'em. Hmm..put them aside and pull out the next pair. Yup..the same. Took me forever to find a pair that I didn't have to worry about getting into a car accident in. How did almost every pair of undies I own end up with holes in them all at the same time?? I am pretty sure I haven't been walking around in holey undies. I think I might have noticed that. However, when I thought about it, I swear every so often I go through this. Go along fine as usual and then one day..WHAM..they all have holes. Same goes for my socks and my jammies. How can someone who considers herself kinda handy with a needle and thread have so many holey items?? This is why:

The only sewing I do lately is my quilting!! I finished handquilting my mini quilt!! Woohooo! This is the first project I have EVER finished hand quilting!! I know, I know..it is only 20" x 20", but it is a quilt, nonetheless!!
Here is a pic of the stitches and a quarter to show the size of the blocks:

Last but not least, a pic of the back:

I did these baptist fans free hand, and I wish I had chalked them on first, but it was a fun experiment. This quilt is going to be gifted to friends that we love having dinner with and discussing God with. Hope they like it!
So, another finish to cross of my list of things to get done. Now to add all those ventilated undies to the list!!

Calling it a night

Well, I got the borders on the Twisted 9 Patch:



I also worked on the Jitterbug quilt top via text with Shellie and we got step 2, the borders:



and step 3, the flying geese:


I think that is going to be it for tonight. Heading off to the bathtub with a glass of wine and Marie Bostwick's newest book, A Thread So Thin. It is soooooooo good I am only allowing myself 1 chapter a night to make it last!!!

Alright..time to get to WORK!!

I know everyone I have been talking to or reading their blogs seem to be in the same boat....lots going on and not much getting accomplished. I sure am right there among them! I am tired of being halfway through lots of things, so as of right now I am putting my foot down and getting some of this DONE! Here is my list of what I have going right now:

1)Part 2 of Jitterbug quilt done via texting with Shellie
2)finish handquilting my Moda mini quilt
3)behind 3 (maybe 4) weeks on my Pinwheel Party quilt blocks
4)finish piecing 2nd Moda mini quilt
5)piece Moda 9 patch
6)finish handwork on Christmas swap block top
7)borders on Twisted 9 patch
8)finishing piecing mystery #11 top
9)piece Tattered Pioneer block swap top
10)piece Broken Hearts Mending swap top
11)sandwich and quilt 5 tops
12)handquilt Giant Sunflower
13)finish working out and piecing a top of my own design

That is what I want to get done NOW. That has nothing to do with the BAGS and BAGS of scraps that need to be cut and organized or the other tops that are all flying around my head begging to get done. Hmm....guess I need some "get me moving" music going on. Let's see...I know...I will start with some Bruce Springsteen...throw in the soundtrack from The Big Chill and maybe some Aerosmith. Wish me luck!!!

A Couple of Vintage Gifts

Have I ever told you that I have the best sister in law EVER? We have known each other since we were 13...that would be 33 years now! She is my sister, through and through. Don't know how I would make it without Tammy. A couple of years ago her step mother in law passed away and more recently, her father in law. She found these tops that her step mom in law had hand stitched (and thinks there might be more) among their things and knew I was just the person for them. These are just tops, so I have some work to do on them, but in the mean time, I will just look at them and love them. She told me I could donate them with my own, or keep them. Hmmm..that is going to be a tough decision!! Here is the first:

Here are some pictures up close of some of these great old fabrics:


Here is the second quilt:





Aren't these great? I just love the fabrics..and the embroidery on the crazy quilt is just great. I can see it will be a loooooooong time, if ever, before I get tired of looking at these. Hope you enjoyed this show and tell!!

Twisted 9 patch

Here is my almost completed Twisted 9 patch quilt top. I still have to put the borders on it and will hopefully get that done either tonight or tomorrow. How can you look at this quilt and NOT smile? It is just a happy quilt:

Mary over at Mary Quilts designed this and I just had to stop making all my other tops to make this one as soon as I saw it! Go check out her site if you haven't been there before. You will love all her patterns as much as I do! Thanks, Mary, for all your hard work and for sharing these great quilt designs with us!!
This quilt is such a happy one that makes me smile so much that it reminded me comletely of one person in my life. This quilt will be for my Patrick..age 18, who has periventricular leukomlacia (PVL for short). This caused Patrick to have spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, he has a seizure disorder, is legally blind, is probably the happiest guy you will ever meet, is quite the ladies man, the best kiss blower in the world, has a wicked sense of humor and is my hero. Here is a pic of Patrick, his grandpa and his dad last Thanksgiving at the cabin in Allegany State Park:


See what I mean? He just makes ya smile, doesn't he??

It's a hit and run blogging!!

Wow..it has been awhile since I did any blogging. Hub and I ran off last weekend for an anniversary getaway into the woods of Allegany State Park. We had any absolutely wonderful time, just the two of us, enjoying the scenery and each other. Unfortunately, it did cut into my sewing time. It was a good trade off, though.
Then, more gardening this week and just catching up on the housework. Fun, huh? Now, it is spring break for the kids this coming week, so we are heading off to Kentucky to visit my dad. We will be heading out tomorrow morning, driving for 12 or 13 hours, visit for 2 days, then the return trip on Tuesday. Whew..I am tired already!!
I did get some sewing done tonight while waiting for the laundry to finish up. Remember my happy 9 patches? Here they are now:

I am making them into a Twisted 9 patch that I found over at Mary Quilts. Here is the layout:


Of course I had to try laying them out differently:

Now I am not sure which one I like better! What do you think? This will be my first project when I get back next week. I just love these happy little blocks!!
Last but not least, I wasn't sure what I wanted to work on while traveling, so I am bringing my goodies for my crocheted table cloth..pics when I get back and I also got my little quilt all basted so I could bring it along and do some handquilting:

So, this is my quickie hit and run blogging for the week. Until next week, be productive and happy!!!

Wow...we do things different here in New York!

Do you see this?? What is it you see?? Do you see the dog walking up the side of the tree?? Yup..uh huh...that is how we do things here in New York!! I'll just leave it like this for you to ponder for awhile.
No sewing yesterday. It was my son, Joe's, 17th birthday. We had a great family dinner and sat outside in the gorgeous weather with the whole family and had a great day. Today is cleaning the house (which looks like it threw up on itself) and then getting some gardening done. Hope everyone has a great weekend and a blessed Easter!!