done for now

these are the 9 quilts that I've finished quilting.  The tops are made by Mickey M. from Quilters for Comfort and will be donated to Safe Journey House.
It's been awhile since I've actually worked on a quilt top myself - hope to remedy that today :-)
  I've probably done more knitting that sewing lately.  I'm offered to help make caps and booties for a NICU.
This is what I've been making:

Yep, teeny tiny little things.  They don't take very long to construct and unfortunately, very needed.

So that's my update for today - I know I've been busy, but when I sit down to write a post on my blog I can't think of what would be of interest for anyone to read.....

Katie

what to do, what to do.......

Now that is a question or is that 'Now that is THE question????  Whatever......
I do know that today is finish binding day.  I gave myself til this evening to get all the quilt's bindings finished.  I machine bind, so shouldn't take all that long as they are smaller quilts.  I have a friend who is getting married in April and let's face it, at 50 years old and combining two households, do they  really need anything?  So, I'm thinking I should make a quilt but in all honesty the largest I've ever made was a 90 X 110.  I know that's not king sized and I'm just thinking that if I make a quilt for them, it should be king sized..... well, okay, I can make that, but quilting is another question.  My quilter is only capable of quilting a 90" quilt, so I'm wondering..... could I make the quilt in two halves?  then join the halves?  My thoughts are the borders looking sort of wonky.  I have added borders to a quilt after quilting the center and it worked out okay, but I've never attempted doing it on a large quilt...... How about a 'quilt as you go method'?  I've done small projects that way, but I just think it takes way too long... Oh, decisions, decisions.  Maybe I'll go buy a gift certificate :-)

Katie

one more to go

Getting 'er done!  I have one more quilt to get quilted from the stack I had, then I will become the 'binding queen'.  I did take some time to sew all the binding strips, but I will still need to press and fold the binding before actually binding the quilts.  I'm hoping I'll get the last quilt quilted today, along with getting all the binding completely ready to attach to the quilts.  Because I had so many quilts to get done, I wasn't real creative with my quilting.  They were mostly done with simple meander free motion.  I will do all the binding on the machine, I rarely hand bind......  So.... I'm seriously hoping to have this stack of quilts completed by Monday afternoon.  I would say by the end of the weekend but my Saturday will be spent in Tucson.  My 8 yr old grandson is playing his first flag football game and I wouldn't miss it for the world.  After that will be a little celebration for the start of the 'season', then hubby and I will get what shopping we need to do, done.  Living rural and with the price of gas ever climbing, we try to limit the number of trips we take.
Wishing all a very productive weekend and if you live where the weather has turned snowy, please stay safe.

Katie

Dump bags, etc....

These are dump bags that I will be making throughout the year.  Every December the local Elk's Lodge visits the VA hospital in Tucson and gives a Christmas party with gifts.  The ladies over on Quilters for Comfort will be helping me.  Several have come on board and will make a few each month and send to me in Dec. for donation to the VA Christmas party.  I'm hoping to have close to 200 to donate, but I appreciate whatever is sent. The quilts behind the bags are waiting for their bindings.  I've got several more to quilt, and will work on those and then spend a day (or two) binding.
I have started trying (note I said 'trying') to get my sewing room organized.  Just straightening it out a bit makes me feel better.  I did remove all the fabric from the shelves today and put them in a little better order.  Several months ago, I went through my scrap bin and actually threw away the really small pieces.  Now I'm thinking I need to get into the scrap bin and cut some strips and get some strip blocks done.  I love scrap quilts and I really like string block quilts, I just don't like sitting and sewing all those strips....... oh well, a little at a time and eventually I'll have enough to actually create something.

Katie

I started out ......

New Years day dawned sunny and warm.  Perfect for a nice ride in the desert with friends.  We stopped and cooked hot dogs for lunch (how's that for a New Year meal ?).  I had started the ride that morning with a case of the sniffles and about half way through our ride started a headache.  By the time we got home, my eyes were on fire, my head was splitting and I had enough sense by then to realize I had a full blown cold!  I have managed to get my Christmas projects completed, 2 quilts quilted and even took today to sort and organize all my stuff for tax preparation.  Thinking I really should listen to why my head is telling me and take some meds and lay down for a nap.


Katie  who really should write something more interesting :-)

The New Year is coming

Christmas is over and what a wonderful Christmas it was.  My son flew my daughter in from Ohio and surprised me.  She hasn't been home for Christmas in 20 years.  It was wonderful and I am so blessed with such thoughtful children.
I'm curious - did you finish all your Christmas/Holiday projects?  I'm still finishing some up.  I had to give a couple "to be completed" notes this year.  So.... I will be working on finishing things up so I can get back to quilting.  I have (I think) 11 quilts waiting to go on the frame and get completed.  Nope, I don't think I'll be bored in the New Year!
So how about New Year resolutions?  Do you make them?  I don't...I figure if it's something I really want, or need, to do, I need to just do it and not worry about it being a resolution.  I mean, seriously, how many times can someone resolve to lose weight?  I have so many times, I can't count - why set myself up for failure?!  It'll happen when I get good and ready!
Please have a very safe start to the New Year and may the year ahead bring you inspiration and creativity.

Katie

almost here

Christmas is almost here.  It'll be here whether I'm ready or not and at this point it will be 'or not'.
Yesterday as I was rushing to sew yarn into hair for a doll, I sewed my finger instead - it hurts like &*%#... but I did finish getting the bald doll some hair!  Now just have to get it dressed and it's good to go!  The stuffed cat still needs a neck dressing - we don't want a naked cat!  Today I managed to get snaps on all the jammies and camo outfits that were finished except for the snaps - but that wasn't without incident either.  Instead of just putting a small hole in the cuff of a shirt with the seam ripper, I ripped the entire cuff!  Thank goodness I had extra fabric, but still had to take the time to rip the torn cuff off and make a new one.  Did manage to get most of the gift wrapping done for the items that were bought or finished , so I guess that will save some time later.  I still have 3 sets of jammies to make and a quilt to finish, a doll to dress and at least 3 pair of slippers to knit and I'm also wanting to knit a pair of fingerless mitts - will I get it all done - ummm NO... at least not in time for Christmas.  As this will be my last post before Christmas, I want to wish you and yours a blessed day.  Please take a minute to think of those who are not able to be home for Christmas and think of those who don't even have a home for Christmas.

Katie