A New Purse!

Since I needed a break from hand quilting for a little bit, I decided to work on a new purse pattern that I found at the quilt store--it came as a kit with Lakehouse fabric and I thought it was so cute. Well, after making it I've decided it's still cute, but I'll only be making just this one of this purse!! The directions weren't that clear--especially for the parts to put the binding on---and it was just by pure luck that I got the zippers going the right way (there are 2 of them!) The pattern is called BB Bags by Mickey Beebe of Brookshier Design Studio (no web site.) But it's just the right size to wear around your neck to a quilt show!

I also finished the binding on another Project Linus quilt called Green Strings and it goes in the pile with the rest to go to Tyler Project Linus when we make the trip to deliver them.

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

NQA Quilt Show Pictures

The NQA (National Quilting Association) Show was great this year. It was held in Columbus Ohio, so I got to go with my daughter and my husband--we spend the entire day on Saturday looking at everything --we saw all of the vendors (we counted 120!) but I don't think we got to see all the quilts! Here are a few pictures of the wonderful quilts that were there. I just picked a few at random!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Vacation at the Quilt Show and Grandkids!

We had such a fun time with the grandgirls this last long week-end--how much they have grown and Ilena (2 years old) is talking up a storm! Such fun to hear that sweet little voice. Isabel (5 years old) has lots of things to tell us about, too! I had made them both a "Craft Jar" by filling plastic sun tea jars with all kinds of craft items----paints, markers, glue stick, crayons, ribbons, googly eyes, stickers, notepads, pom-poms, and everything else crafty I could think of. Boy, were those ever a hit--we had lots of fun with those and made all kinds of things.

While we were in Columbus, we also went to the NQA National Quilt Show--what a great time we had there. The third picture shows some of the things I bought--couldn't show it all because some of it is for gifts! Don't want to give away the surprise! I got some lovely Lakehouse 1/2 yard pieces which I'll turn into a Yellow Brick Road for Ilena for her toddler bed, which she will be going into soon. Some patterns and a book about jelly rolls and my DH got me one of the new flowered Olfa rotary cutters. It was a wonderful show with many, many vendors and all kinds of wonderful quilts to see. We spent the whole day Saturday there and still didn't see everything!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

On the Road Again!

Off we go on another trip--this time to Columbus, Ohio to see the grandgirls (and their parents!) AND to the Columbus, Ohio Quilt Show--this looks to be quite a quilt show! I'll bring back pictures and details next week when we return--plus a report on those wonderful girls!!! In the meantime, you all keep quilting!!!!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Anniversary Surprise!

My dear husband surprised me with an early anniversary (date is really June 15) present--a 1951 Singer Featherweight sewing machine. I've wanted one for the longest time, but it came as a total surprise to me! What a nice guy--after 40 years, I'd say that he is a keeper!!! It is the dearest little thing--I just love it! Of course I had to try it out right away--it sews like a dream and is so smooth and quiet. So today I plan to make a Yellow Brick Road for Project Linus.

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

I've Been Tagged!

Sheryl tagged me today with an interesting tag containing 5 questions about myself to answer, so I will give it a try!

Here are the rules: Each player answers the questions about themselves. At the end of the post, the player then tags 5-6 people and posts their names, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment, letting them know they’ve been tagged and asking them to read your blog. Let the person who tagged you know when you’ve posted your answer.

Now to the questions:

1. What was I doing 10 years ago? In 1998, I was still working at the nursing home as the medical records person. I really liked my job and kept very busy with lots of paperwork!

2. What are 5 things on my list to do today? 1. Pick up gift for Father's Day for husband. 2. Clean bathrooms. 3. Quilt on Heirloom Romance quilt. 4. Cook supper. 5. Take a nap!!!

3.What snacks do I enjoy? Little snack size bars of Mint 3 Musketeers candy, oatmeal raisin cookies, and crunchy cheese doodles.

4. What would I do if I was a billionaire?First I'd set up an investment fund to live off of for the rest of our lives carefree. Then I would make sure I did the same for my children. Then I would give money to Project Linus to have lots of fabric to make lots of blankets.

5.Where have I lived?I was born in Iowa and have lived in the following states: Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, Iowa (again) Kentucky, Indiana, and Texas.

Now to tag some other people: Karen, Jill, Michele, and Andrea . Have fun!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Plantation Girls with Puppy

These are Redwork Plantation Girls with a Puppy. I like them because the puppy reminds me so much of my lately departed bichon friche, Cleo. I have 2 more to go and will have the set of 7 finished. Not quite sure yet how I will set them--7 is a strange number!

We made it there and back on our trip to Michigan for our sister-in-laws funeral despite delays and cancellations of flights. It is always good to see relatives that you don't get to see very often, but hard under the circumstances of a funeral. Thank you for all your kind comments and well wishes. I appreciate each one of you!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan

Boxy Stars and Pink Kitties--OH MY!

I finished the Boxy Stars and they are very scrappy--lots of fun to do! They are from Bonnie's Quiltville site--a great site! She has many wonderful patterns for scrappy quilts that use even the tiniest of scraps--I don't use the small, small ones like she does, but I do like scrappy !

The second picture shows another Project Linus quilt that goes in the pile for a trip to Stitch' Heaven sometime --maybe this month? The stack has 11 quilts in it now! I called this one Pink Kitties, even though the kitties don't show too well in the picture, they are there......this is the Yellow Brick Road pattern.

Ending on a sad note..today our dear Sister-in-Law, Sandy died. She was only 67 years old. She had been ill for the last 6 months and now she is no longer suffering. I will sure miss her--we had such good times together! So often we would sew the same dress patterns or buy the same glasses frames without the other knowing it--we seemed to have a certain mental telepathy with each other. Our families have many good memories of happy times together. Thanks Sandy, I'm so glad we were in the same family!

Let quilting help you make someone smile!

Jan