My least favorite part of hand quilting is...........

getting the quilt ready for basting.  Not the basting part itself......I find that part a little relaxing and can catch up on a soap opera or listen to the tv while basting.  It's that "before" part:  getting the cotton batting just right on the backing, trying not to lose my temper and throw needles and scissors into the hereafter while doing this part.  The tugging and the pulling and the stretching and do I admit to a swear word now and then?

O my gosh............calm down, count to ten, yada, yada, yada.

So I prepared myself yesterday to start putting together two tops that are needing to be hand quilted.  I got myself in the right frame of mind to begin.  Actually, the first one went rather well and I was able to
put the basting stitches in nicely.  And the second top is all pinned and awaiting for me to add the big
bastings but I needed a blog break before starting that part.  The enjoyable part is ready for quilt top #2
and my temper is fine thru it all. So far! Here is my progress that I hope to finish tomorrow.

What is your least favorite part of quilting?????

You know those times when you just need to start a new project?

Yes?  It was time for me to get away from applique for awhile and just do some simple sewing.  You know the kind of sewing where you just start feeding pieces thru your machine........no matchy, matchy
colors, no planning.............the kind of sewing where you end up with two blues next to each other
and it's no big deal in the scheme of your quilting life?  Aaahhh, mindless devil-may-care
chain stitching would be perfect.  While thinking of what pattern would fit my needs, I remembered
a rail fence pattern from a few months ago and I was even able to find the magazine....wow!  The pattern I am working on is from the August 2011 issue of American Patchwork and Quilting and
is designed by blogger Kathie.  "Weaving the Rails" is the quilt's name on page 45.

So this week I have been cutting 5 /12" pieces from my hoard of 1 1/2" strips.  Some of these
scrappy strips are very old.........from the 1980's and 1990's...........and I am remembering past
projects fondly while using these fabrics in my blocks.  A trip down memory lane for sure.

If you need a quick project for this time of year, this is a simple, fast and easy one for you to
pick up.  Making these blocks has been very enjoyable and since it is a scrap quilt, it takes
no planning..............just pick up the next piece and stitch it on.

I need to only make 25 more and that will take no time to do since this is a speedy block.  I'm
having so much fun and with my unending pile of scrappy strips, who knows how big this quilt
will end up being.  Fun!

Missie Carpenter of Hallbrook Designs

About ten or eleven years ago, Missie Carpenter passed around a paper in our local quilt guild requesting anyone interested in starting an applique group with her to please sign up.  I was one of the lucky ones to sign the paper.  Our small gathering began and it was a fun group because we just worked on our
own applique projects and had show and tell......no committees, no rules, just getting together.  Years
went by and Missie had to move to Iowa because hubby got a job transfer.  During our gatherings she
would talk about patterns and dreaming of making her own, and she did do a few.  Since moving away,
she created a webbie and added some new patterns to her quilting life.

How fun was it to get an email from Homestead Hearth after Christmas mentioning their new BOM
programs and reading Missie's name and seeing one of her quilt designs will be featured as an offering!  How great is that for her!  And I knew her before she was famous!!!  Here is her Life in the Midwest.

To introduce you to Missie and her work, I am inviting you to take a look at her website.  She has
a new pattern listed, In the Orange Grove and I am sure you will be seeing more patterns from her in the
future.  Good luck, Missie, in your  pattern adventures!

Oooooo, love those blue and whites

I love blue and white quilts all year long but especially in January. Maybe it is because of the white snow on the ground? Add in a pop of old blue in an antique (or new) quilt and I just shiver............and not from the cold. Me loves a blue and white quilt. The snowmen are residing on this old Irish chain till Valentine's Day. It's worn but in good enough shape. It
features one on my favorite old prints, the tiny stars. But if the camera pans out a little further, you see the problem. Someone at one time got very careless with a bleach bottle.

But I love it all the same. And it is so soft. How many times has this one been washed in its life? My newer quilts that I have washed many, many times do not get as soft as some of these oldies do. I want to know the secret! Here is another oldie that is hanging on a quilt hanger that has seen better days. What a wonderful shade of blue from all the wear and tear. The best part of this one is also showing off. There are many tears and worn holes underneath but she is still a mature beauty, too.

A couple bloggers have been showing blue and whites in their posts this month so I am joining in. Hopefully I can get a few more photos posted soon.

I have missed my needle............

Now that Christmas and New Year's has come and gone and the kids and grand blessings are back in their own cities and states, it is time to get back to stitching. Oooo, how I have missed my needle! But how to find it in the cluttered mess of the stitching cave..........no problem, I have more than one! Applique time has been scarce, but that will change tonight. Plans are to pick up needle and thread and work on the third block of the blue willow project.
Here is the progress so far.

Mary Christmas!

A Mary Christmas to you from me. Here is a picture from last Christmas taken when grandson

#4 was 2 1/2 months old. We wrapped him in a blankie, laid him in my old trencher bowl on a quilt to look like Baby Jesus for this Christmas. Quilting can wait a few days, it is time for family. Blessings.

Blue Willow

Most of last summer, the ladies over at Good Wives were working on an applique willow pattern that they were inspired to work on from a photo of an antique quilt. I knew when I first saw their work that I would be buying their pattern to make one. I needed a handwork project and this would be the perfect one. Last week I started my first of four blocks thinking I would stitch a few stitches here and there. That didn't happen. I was addicted right off and finished
my first big block, about 20" square, yesterday. Today I am lecturing myself to put that second block down and to work on Christmas decorating and sewing gifts. Time will only tell if I listen to my lecture. The ladies at Good Wives are making theirs in red and green and they are lovely. I chose to make mine a blue willow on a teadyed colored brown background. Yesterday I sent this progress photo to my sister who emailed me back a little surprised. When she opened the attatchment, she wondered why I was sending her a picture of ribs. O my! Not knowingwhat to expect, I can see where she may have been confused wondering why I was going to applique dinosaur ribs. (ok, disclaimer here: she works second shift and comes home very tired, hence the confusion....maybe?) See what you think:

Ooo, that photo is way too bright............blue ribs? Hmmmm............

Good Wives Co is a wonderful quilt shop in Marion, Ohio. If you like reproduction and civil war'ish type fabrics then this is the place for you. The shop ladies are always friendly and ready to talk about what you are working on. Lots of shop samples and some decorating items for you to purchase. Search the internet for them. It's my favorite quilt shop and worth the ride over anytime I need inspiration.