Gallery of my noodling for the last month...

Well Julia, you asked for it! This is what I have been up to. I think I'll need to add a seperate post after this to complete the list of quilty things I've been doing. Blogger will only allow so many pictures per post i suppose. The denim quilt is for my son, John. I have made ones for all the boys- except Abe. I have a stash of old jeans just for that purpose. I'm doing a big ole meander on this one and so I hope to finish it, today.

Been playing with some batik and a folded pattern. Made a nice little table runner.

This is another little wallhanging- my second one using the same design, only this one is batik and bright where the other one was very traditional. I think it will be going to my friend Pami.

This is a challenge quilt between Sandy and I. The blocks measure 3 1/2" so the peicing was tiny. Just traditional piecing, not paper. Love the colors and I think it'll go very well in my bedroom. Not sure how I'll quilt it. I even did the applique by hand.

Whew! Is that bright or what? The hearts were leftovers from a small quilt I made while working at the quiltshop. I am going to use this as a backdrop behind my old birdhouses for Valentines.

Redwork by Sandy and then I just threw a lot of colors in with them. It was also a backdrop for birdhouses during the holidays. I am starting a trend in seasonal quilts back there! It only takes a 24" quilt, so it's a simple task.

Doilies I've finished. One is a repeat, in a different color thread. I am putting them aside to use as impromptu gifts.

Here's my holiday quilt that I finished last month. It was a panel which I cut apart and then added the log cabin borders. It is still hanging over my piano. Need to switch it out.

Here's sweet William and a helper getting some drywalling done. Trying to keep that frigid wind out. A tough job here on the prairie!

A few more projects...

I have been making sampler blocks from my hand dyed fabrics. Planning on making a big quilt from them. It is so much fun to just get that box out and my "Around the Block" book and make a block or two.

Block of the month. Sandy has organized a block of the month with her sewing group. She has let me join, doing two blocks each month. I did mine in batiks, of course. They finish at 12". A big relief after doing the 3" blocks!

Table runner and table topper for Betty. I still need to get the binding on- it's made, but I have no cream colored thread. Bummer.

This is another repeat. I made one for me and one for Sarah. Yes, I need to bind it but I have already been whining about the lack of thread.

Dan's Feast...

Sorry I didn't get this posted sooner. Blogger wasn't allowing me to post pictures and this picture was just too cute to miss!

Daniel is 17y. He is a great guy. Full of fun, as you can tell. He is a hard worker and a good student, very disciplined. He is the life of the party and has tons of friends. He is very caring and interested in other people. He reminds me a lot of my Dad- even looks a lot like him. Daniel can be counted on to get the job done- no matter what the job. He is wanting to be a gospel preacher and I think he will be a great one.

His feast was last- but certainly not least! The table was simply set with a few candles. He had barbeque pulled pork which was deliscious! Along with that, he had cole slaw and home made onion rings- wow, were they good! He served apple crisp and ice cream for dessert and IBC rootbeer for his drink. He bought the kids their own little suncatchers and they painted them the next day. We had a great time and now the feast season is over. Bill and I decided to have our feasts randomly over the next couple months- just something impromptu to cheer the kids up during the cold winter here on the prairie.

Thanks Darcie!!!!!!!!!

Everyone loves the hats you gave us! That was so sweet of you to go to all that work of making 7 beanies and 3 cowl collars! That's just like you!! Love you sooo much my sweet and generous and thoughtful friend!

Abe's feast...

This is our youngest, Abe. He is 5. And he is a nut! Just a lot of fun to be around. He usually is found vocalizing his own soundtrack- da da da daaaaaduuuuh- ala spidey or superman, as he is running around the house, practicing his slick moves. He loves dinosaurs and cars and isn't too much of a purest to play with them seperately- he has been known to set up many a godzilla scene with the cars and the dinos. He loves the gingerbread men on the tree, but prefers them in his tummy. He takes special delight in amputating one limb at a time. He is a ball of energy. And he is getting bigger every day. sniff.

Abe's feast was false started several times because he was just so excited. He kept lining the kids up only to realize he hadn't set the table yet... or fixed his appetizer... or set out the gifts...You get the picture. I'd have to reign him back in. Just like a 5 year old. He had lunch at the mexican restaurant where they rolled their silverware up in the napkin- he thought that was grand! We always just plunk the napkin down on the plate. So, he very carefully wound up his napkins around the silverware for his feast! He had scrambled eggs rolled up in tortillas for his appetizer. He had orange juice to drink. Abe's main dish was fettucini alfredo and chicken fingers. His dessert was orange creamsicles. He had these little sticky plastic bugs that, "stick to the window!" He must have said that all seven times-at the top of his lungs- when the other kids would come into the kitchen and wouldn't you know it? Every one of the boys had to try it out. The girls took his word for it. There is a difference between boys and girls.

More is more...

7 random facts for Julie:

1. I love gummy bears, but gummy worms? ick, they make me gag.
2. Hot, cold, pickled or plain, I love beets.
3. St Jude Hospital commercials always make me cry.
4. I love having my hair brushed- but that makes it spring out of control. Curly hair and brushing, not a good combination.
5. I sew everyday except Sundays.
6. I love sunshine- I could sit on the window ledge like a cat all day, as long as the sun is shining.
7. I have too much stuff! Anybody want some?

This quilt was made by my Aunt Isobel. I love it because it reminds me of something my Grandma- and great grandma- would do. She made the top out of wools, corderoy(sp?), suiting and denim. I found a very nice wool blanket at the thrift shop for $3 so that is the batting and an old- but still very functional- sheet for the backing. The binding is leftovers from another quilt and I even used up all my little extra bits of bobbin thread . I meadered in candy apple red and it turned out so pretty with the extra push(loft) the wool blanket gave it. It does weigh a ton, but ds Daniel is always cold so he grabbed it right up when I suggested he could have it. A very thrifty utility quilt- that is too pretty for it's own good.

Paul's Feast...

If you've been following "feast days" you might have counted them and realized I was a few short of 8. We have had a few delays and so we are running over into January- no problem. Plenty of dull weather here to still be able to enjoy a few festivities!

*

This is Paul and he is 14. My middle boy. Paul is sweet, generous. He is always spending his money on his little brothers and sisters. He takes things very seriously and worries about people. When we pass a newly opened restaurant, he worries they won't make it and asks if we can help them by eating there- we have such a big family, we could keep a restaurant from going under! He tends to be a man of few words and I am working with him on articulating more than just the occasional grunt. Paul holds a very dear spot in my heart as he has volunteered to be my dish-washer man. No big job overwhelms him- in fact, I think he enjoys the challenge. He is a real book worm and is often seen lugging around Strong's Strongest- just for some light reading!

*

His meal was a blast! He had each of his guests scream when they came into the kitchen- just to keep the other kids guessing! His appetizer were tiny little bite-sized cherry pies. He made them, himself, in a mini cupcake pan. Well, that must have got him to thinking... he had an entire meal of nothing but appetizers! He had pizza rolls, BBQ smokies, french fries, BBQ and hot wings, little pigs in a blanket, fried ravioli, potstickers, fruit salad... I'm sure I'm forgetting something. His dessert was the blizzard of your choice. And he had pop in bottles. The little ones got some playdough for his gift and the older ones shared some funky round magnets that are so strong that they "sizzle" when you get them close together. Paul is always concerned that there won't be enough food- and there is always so much left over that the next day's lunch is taken care of! That's Paul, just making sure everyone is getting taken care of.