It is silent...

I got this just before the holidays!!
I was in a mini swap a while ago and there were problems with my swappee and sending my wonderful mini.. but she perservered and sent it again..I am so glad she is patient cause look what I opened my parcel too.. this adorable wall hanging..
I had to do some close ups cause all the stitching is by hand looke at the basked how she traced the patterns with her stitches and those tiny itty bitty circles..then there is the embroidery around the fabulous fabrics used to make these flowers..

Hand quilting throughout!! and to use a different color thread just added to the great dimensions of these beauties!! The maker doesn't have a blog but is a member of our on line group Quilters Last Resort

This blog is not to be written about my furbabies and I hope you don't get bored but sometimes pictures are just to hard to resist...as you can see below
our moments are peaceful at this time mother and daughter show me contentment. This was taken Christmas eve before I went to work. I hope that your world is at peace and that the New Year brings good cheer and health...and of course quilting

New and old...

I was in a wonderful Secret Santa Swap and we were not allowed to open our gifts till today...what a time trying not to open this gift since i know who it came from. PAWS from one of the sites I chat on sent me this adorable wall hanging mini..a great keepsake we have been friends for a couple of years now..so glad she got my name!! the cute little bows and buttons are a treasure..I even loved the wrapping paper and the cute card..thanks so much

I had "misplaced" my Aunt Millie's Garden blocks but found them and have been working on them. Got this one done and have started another one. They were on a roll and fell behind some material in my cupboard. Now they are all on the design wall and I just take one down and start workin' on it.. ain't lose'n them again!!

about half way done on my 3rd Love Letters block and am going to lay out 2 more...

and then look at this!! what did I do?? I joined a BOM with Stitchin Heaven Affairs from the Heart.. is this not adorable!! I haven't done the embroidery but have the applique of the first block done. This is a perfect choice for winters blues if people get them.. I don't I love winter and wish I could get snowed in for weeks!


Well Happy Holidays to all and a wonderful New Year...not sure when I will be posting again. All this applique is keeping my fingers busy and it is a slower process.. plus I have a quilt on the frame I have to get quilted!!

peek-a-boo I see you...

I could not resist starting with this face...she is so animated that I hope she has brought a smile to your morning as she has done mine..that silly little Nosey...LOL...our job is done if you started out with a smile.

Sandy came by during the week..she loves the Love Letters quilt as well and wanted to make one. She has not done alot of applique so I am showing her the ropes. Sandy has ordered her book through Sew Sisters and using fabric out of her stash..next time I will post what she brought.

Sandy also loved the mini I had pieced earlier in the year and that she had quilted so she has made her own version with these wonderful beiges remember these strips are cut 7/8ths of an inch!!...wait till you see the finish..I imagine it to be a spectacular. I will post the finish when she is done..but I couldn't wait to show you what she has done already

I didn't want to post until I got my next block done..so here is block one of my Love Letters BOM that I am getting from Stitchin Heaven

I don't know why but I started applique'n block 3 and now have that one done block 3 is below

And had a chance to start block 2 you can see at the bottom right of the screen.. I have blocks 4 and 5 as well but are not pinned and ready yet. After I finish 3 I will prep them to get going on.

Here is a picture with all 3 together.. massive!! just 3 blocks and they take up my whole design wall!

I have not been at machine very much due to the applique and prepping plus been having quilting friends over... they give you so much incentive!! I will get back to my Reaching for the Stars quilt in the next 2 weeks.. got some great FQ's to use for the fill in stars...
I thought I would leave you with another sweet and happy face not sure if you can see the big smile she has, you can sure see some of her mother in her..dearest sweet Molly

Also thought I would show you a little harvest of Hydrangea's that I have dried to view during the winter.. lots of beautiful color with different kinds. The kitties will nibble on this during the winter months as well..but really don't hurt anything

Back to working on block 3 thanks for the visit love what you are also doing and following along.

this was another quick post.. hope to dwell on everyone else the next post. Hope you were able to visit the post before this one. Lekaquilts is also working on Love Letters as well but from a different BOM

New friend with great Giveaway!!

I am posting a great giveaway from a Blogger named LekaQuilts she is a new blogger to me (Crispy introduced us...thanks) but what makes me so very happy is I have finally found a quilter that is making Love Letters!! I am so thrilled and she is on the same block I am well she just finished it.. I am still working on 3 but only have a couple of stems to do.

So hurry over to her blog just click on her tags above or on her name or on her title you can win Piece of Cake's new book, or these darling change purses she made!! not only that I love her blog!! great quilt's she is working on.

"Sweet Nostaliga" block for November is posted by Dolores button to her is on the sidebar another great block!!

Freebie Friday's block has been posted you can see the link on the sidebar for her as well..it would make a wonderful Christmas gift for anyone!!

Burning the Midnight Oil has posted her instructions for fabric requirements. These you have to make sure you get or you will need to purchase her patterns after the month is up.

and I must say the list goes on. there is so much going on for BOM's a quilter can never get idle!!

I have to download my pics so hope to have some soon this is my week of meetings every night..hope I make it.. my throat is killling me today and my ears are itching been fighting this since Thursday went away and now coming back...but it is going around here so we'll see I am fighting it.. ain't going to get sick!! to much quilt'n to do

continuation of what's going on...

I was able to see the launching of a first quilt show by a group called the Twisted Sisters. there are only 40 members in the group and their show was plenty. I know a couple of photo's where posted on other blogs but I was lucky enough to talk to some of the members and makers on some of the quilts so I chose to upload these.. they had some special meaning and i thought you would like to know.

this one was made by many quilters... each made a block and then the blocks were put together in memory of a member that had passed in their sewing group. I thought it was well done with great fabric on the boarder which was from the member's own stash that had passed.

the one below is one of many wonderful quilts made from a challenge fabric that was picked. Their imagination was astounding!!
This was one of my fav's in that catagory

This one below a women's mother collected cat book markers and was pinning them to the wall. the daughter decided she was going to redecorate which meant painting the walls.. but what to do with all those book mark's ...look at the wonderful idea she come up with for her mom.. I thought this was a fantastic idea!!

Now this one I picked because I was lucky enough to buy the pattern a couple of years ago at our guild yard sale and then to see one made up and hanging at the quilt show just gave me so much incentive.. no I am not starting another project!! but it is waiting in the wings. I thought the maker did a wonderful job on the applique.. not easy patterns that is for sure!! and look at her boarder treatment!! You can click on these pics to get a closer look I am sure you will want to just like I did at the show..

Below is Jennifer with her poor broken arm visiting from Austrailia and her DIL which she was staying with in Toronto..then myself.. Rosemarie was the one holding the camera.. she also took us everywhere and made sure that Jennifer had a great quilty time here in Toronto. Then there is me at the end.. no sleep after a night shift and coasting the day away with friends and a quilt show...LOL a little rough looking I would say.

As for me I took advantage of a little sale that was going on at Stitchin Heaven they had buy 7fq get 6 for free..and look what else they sent a rubber ducky but PINK with the ribbon isn't he adorable!! when you purchase from them you also collect "points towards a purchase" so I collected enough to get this LED ear light for applique when the light is not spectacular. Also they always send these wonderful thank you cards great people one day I hope to visit their store
I had sent them a link to the Civil War Bride and said when you pic the fabric please keep this quilt in mind.. I think they did pretty great!! you can see that nice new icon on the right there.. that quilt is going to be my 2010 to start quilt and finish!! I love it so much!!

I could not resist this picture..when I am sewing I have the joy of looking at this beautiful face chatting at me to stop and sit in the big chair to pet him. This is Joey when my machine starts to roar he will get on his haunches and start to wave his paws up and down as if he were catching butterflies in the air.. sometimes I pretend that I don't notice at first then I burst out laughing cause it is so funny to watch.

Did you notice the pink belly?? from day one when he came here he has taken all the hair off his belly sometimes the others will do it too.. but they will have it grow back not him it is always pink... i have tried all kinds of food but now i think I have found one that works the only trouble is the other 3 don' t like it... so I am now mixing 2 foods together.. and slowly I am now starting to see peach fuzz coming in.. he does love when I rub his bare belly though...

so I am off to get a new thimble that has come out and also to drop off Rosemarie's camera.. she came by for a bit yesturday.. we looked at quilting books and sewed a little but talked alot!! next month it will be my turn to go to her place.. I didn't pull out much show and share with her.. mostly we drooled over books and patterns... it was an excellent time and it flew by very fast.

I am always trying to catch up!!

there is always so much to tell!! I wish I could snap my fingers and these pictures would upload in a flash.. some bloggers are using that Windows live I have to take a minute and try to work with it... maybe it won't take as much time to upload the pics and then I can load more than only 4 pics at a time!!

I have to show you my mug hug and rug... another group I belong to Quilters Last resort had their own swap of mug hugs and rugs. I have a wonderful set that can be reversible from Fiberbabble lovely machine quilting now this was a couple of weeks ago so I am very behind!!

the button to hold the hug on my mug was from her great Gramma's button jar.. how cool is that!! I have some of her history!! So FiberBabble and her Gram's is hugging me very morning. I have it wrapped around a pottery cup I had made for me long ago from a friend I worked with she did pottery if fits perfect!! so Thanks a million Fiberbabble it will be cherished.

Next look what Jennifer brought when she came all the way from Australia...luscious fabric, and a wonderful quilt calendar for 2010 she knows the makers of the quilts in here... and of course quilters staple.. chocolate..notice it didn't make it into the picture.. but I saved the box!! " Haigh's Chocolates...Jennifer is back in Australia but not without a mishap shortly after she got here she broke her arm!! and she has hair down to her waist!! her DH soon learned how to "plait" her hair.. (braid..in Canadian terms) I also had to take a picture of the wrapping paper look at those adorable blue birds are they not the sweetest. I couldn't rip the paper.. no problem eating the chocolate though go figure

I meet Jennifer through blogging and am so glad she took the time to see me and Rosemarie
You can read some of the things that she did with Jennifer on her visit.. Rosemarie was a wonderful hostess and they went to many quilt related events!! so glad that she showed Jennifer what we can do in Ontario for quilting fun... Thanks Rosemarie.. you are a very good friend

Now ask me what kinda trouble am I getting myself into?? is this another large quilt?? this quilt is an adaption I saw browsing in quilt in a day book with Eleanor Burns.. she used the Single wedding ring pattern to create this wonderful "Rose quilt"... this looks like roses in a drift of snow. I just finished piecing it and now will be quilting it. I have been practicing my machine quilting...ugh fooooooorget it.. I will be hand quilting this one!! I need more practice!!

I think I fooled you all though this is another mini quilt!! the blocks are 4 1/4in each the squares are 1in each!! but it sure looks like a big quilt doesn't it!! I love how crisp it looks!!

Here it is beside the ruler...so I wasn't fibbing was I?? I am going to start another one and when Rosemarie comes to quilt with me on Friday I will quilt them up.. yes by hand I am starting a Burygone mini...in Civil wars to make it look very authentic...my fingers are itching to start so I will leave you.. thanks for all your great comments your comments are wonderful and very much appreciated...

will be back shortly to post more pics of other great adventures... I mean I did go to a quilt show too.. ya know but I am on a deadline.. you know what those are right?? 8-)

Something Wicked this Way comes...

these are the blocks I had started about 10 years ago and thought they would be appropriate to share the hollow's eve...

This was a quilt that was featured in one of the Quilt that was featured in Quilters Newsletter on the back and it gave an address where to send for it..I loved the quilt and wanted to do Hawiian Applique.. these patterns made it fun and unique

the book is the title of the post and the designers are Carolyn Lynch and Pat Gallagher (1920-1998) I feel very fortunate to receive the works of these 2 ladies as this book was designed by the both of them and this is dedicated to Pat.

I need to finish this quilt now that I have pulled it out I wonder why I put it away and then remembered it is to try to pick the great fabrics to make it as fabulous as these ladies did...Again I thank the designers in our quilting world you make my life so very exciting with your imagination.
I think I have the stash to accomplish this and think this will be on my UFO list to finish..starting for my 2010 year..
I am almost finished my 3rd Love Letters Block and my 5th Aunt Millies Garden will post pics soon downloading the pics takes some time. I also have a few gifts that I need to show you. I am waiting for one more mini to arrive and then I will show you
Don't forget tomorrow night is the night for the big draw for Pumpkin Patch I hope everyone went and posted on her blog...
Happy Hollow's Eve bloggers!!

finders keepers...

losers weepers.. do you remember that saying? Well many moooons ago I found this wonderful table on the side of the road in the pouring down rain I mean it was pouring!!..this was before I was to go for a quilting class.. thank goodness I have the sence to drive a Dodge Caravan.. if fit in there like a charm. I love this table and am so glad that someones junk became my treasure. I find wonderful things that people just put at the road side believe me!!


The reason I am mentioning this is my wonderful mini that I rec'd last week from Kari Ramsay it is just perfect for this table!! as you can see. I love it she made it out of a line called "Elleny" which was designed by Barbara Jones (a friend of hers) for Marcus brothers fabrics. It is just perfect with Indian summer colors which are my colors anyways.. I think it is just perfect!!


Here is a better picture of her wonderful mini and the petals she added to the center she even covered her own button!!


... but that is not all folks I got 3 not just 1 but 3 of her patterns as well!! and they are perfect for what I need them for...I have a scrap barrell that said hey I can see me in those patterns very easily...now that won't be till the new year but they are on my short list. Take a look at her site you may see something you like



I have been working on my AMG if you go to Megan's blog you can see a deliciously chocolate background for Aunt Millies Garden.. she did wonderful work on her applique and fabric choices.

I am still working on my Love Letter Blocks as well for applique night a the Doodle JoAnne was nice to take a pic of what we did on Friday and also the show and share go take a look at her blog you will see a better pic of my kitty quilt there... I have other pics but only had time for this little bit for now.. it seems I can never keep up with my life!! will post soon... thanks so much for visiting...
I know with the season approaching and the quilters list of "make me this and that" getting longer it is hard to divide our time...

STOP right there and read great giveaway

You must go to this link and post say that I sent ya.. if they get 250 posts there will be 2 winners of 27 whimsical fat quarters but if there are 350 posts there is also a 100 dollar gift certificate..
http://pumpkinpatchprimitivequiltshoppe.blogspot.com/2009/10/its-happy-halloween-giveaway.html

If you post the link above you will have your name in the draw... give yourself a treat and go quickly closes Oct 31 on All Hollow's Eve... just think you can use the fabric for Kaaren's next Freebie Friday!! or Dorothy's Sweet Nostalgia blocks!!

The link is also the title should lead you right to the post for the giveaway!!!!

Boot scoot and boogie

over to Molly's place she is giving away a great years subscription to Mccall's quilting magazine..what quilter would not want that!! she has some wonderful ol' time country music to listen to while your browse what projects she is on...

I also found a blog that is posting other broken stars check out Lori's blog she has some stunning broken stars to show you...

Dorothy had asked what I had done on my applique adventure and I didn't post it.. so I will show you..now it may not look like alot but it was really..these pieces are big..big..big!! It's not like I was doing alot of talking and eating homemade cookies or anything...


I also wanted to show you some of those wonderful little brown bird blocks from that night that Virginia had hidden in her box of applique treasures.
Some people had used a pigma pen to draw all the stems but if you click on the picture you will see she embroidered it all







I will leave you with dreamy eyes as you enjoy these blocks..she had more but I don't want to overwhelm you.. Virginia is the one that was doing the dancing bears.
I had to take a picture of her little needle case and goodie bag as well..glad I did cause you can see these are not big boxes..



Going to a quilt guild meeting tonight so not working on broken star quilt hopefully tomorrow

Stash Play!!

I thought I would post what I have been up to inbetween sleeping and going to work this weekend. I have been on a mission to try to finish some "UFO's" I got the kitty quilt done as you saw earlier.. but now this Star quilt.. it was alot more than I thought I had to finish it.. now don't get excited!! I don't have it done yet..but thought you would like to see how far I got.. I think now I on the home stretch that's cause I can do these "Y" seams in my sleep!!

Under it all are the big, big "petals" or diamonds then on top are the many medium diamonds, then to the side are the Leymone stars..plus the pile of squares and then some of the leymone's still going through the machine

Below is a little auditioning but I think I will see if I can borrow Cock-a Doodle's design board when I want to put the whole thing together.. they have a huge design board!

here are the 4 medium stars, I have the 1/2 stars done too.. but didn't put them all up.. just thought you would like to know all this fabric is from my stash...All of it...I love now that I can creak open my cupboards and see all this glorious fabric to play with!! I love to play in my stash...time to cut into yours...

Below is my great winnings from Dorothy Baker.. look at all the wonderful goodies!! How very generous.. I have already broke open the "blue marker" to mark a design that I am putting together for a mug hug. My friend "Gimpy Cat" on line but her real name is Helen.. designed the precious hugs for me cause I was having such a mental block on what to make.

I got those wonder fat quarters from Dorothy and 4 different size embroiderie needles with the embroiderie hoop.. awesome!!

I also noticed that the kitties are on the design wall and the Single Irish Chain mini I was making.. this is called "Brown Eyed Susan".

It is always weird looking at your sewing room from the other side...LOL

See the light table underneath my Dad made that for me isn't he awesome.. he made a hole on the side big enough for me to slip my Ott light underneath. It is big enough for my love letter blocks!!

Last I thought I would post a little fall color this is a bit of my Alice Oak Leaf Hydrangea..I just love how this changes it's color every year...

Well I hope to have the big picture all done by the end of next week.. meaning my Reaching for the stars quilt... I know that Minick and Simpson would love to see it too.. they pieced this thing by hand!! and used 3 cans of starch.. I will go through what I did at the end when it is complete.. it is piecing all these big pieces together that will be the challenge..

Well it is Monday start of the work week...don't worry the week will fly by and it will be the weekend again..

"Y" seam break!! please

Took a little break you will see why at the end..but wanted to tell you about a blog that is doing really cool blocks paper piecing of different shoes and her patterns are great. Christine's blog is great to read go take a boo..here

Do you remember the cat blocks well I have the top all pieced together the boarder fabric is kitty prints and then the corner stones are different kitties in different a different poise!

The wind is blowing outside so I couldn't hang it on the line so it is on DH bed.. mine is full of cat hair..his ends up being the "display bed" I love how they turned out.

Now look at this crazy boarder.. when I had my applique session I saw this fabric they were cutting up for kits at Cock a doodle quilts I asked if they used it all they said yes...then I got an email a couple of days later and they had enough for me to make this boarder.. some fussy cutting and it looks like I have 2 boarders on there.. and see all the different kitties on this too.. it was just to adorable to pass up!! wait till you see the backing.. more kitties!! it is the cats meow this quilt.

I am now onto the "Reaching for the Stars" quilt from Minick and Simpson that I had been working on long ago and put away.. now I remember why.. I need'd a "Y" seam break.. this quilt is full of "Y" seams so it is not for the impatient quilter. I am just finishing putting the triangles on the lemoyne stars taking a breath and then cutting the squares to put on. I am hoping to get alot of this done this weekend

The quilt is going to be a king and you can see this is only one of the corner stones of the quilt. I know this will be my favorite the Broken star or whatever you would like to call it this blocks has so many names is a favorite pattern of mine...

I will have to take a little time to learn the writer program it is very frustrating when you can only load 4 pictures at a time.. I have alot to show you still!!

back to the "Y" seams will post probably more later..