Houston Quilt Market....

Ricky Tims introducing his new fabric...

Jen Eskridge, of Reannalily Designs, with Colleen Eskridge and her mom, Karen Morello

 Deb Tucker, who has some fabulous quilt tools to sell

Dear Daughter treated me to Wicked last weekend... wow have I had fun lately.!

I won this pattern by Karen Combs at her School House... she taught at my guild 2 weeks ago... Love her stuff.

Alex Anderson sharing some of her new fabrics

Ok, I have just previewed the Houston International Quilt Show...during Houston Quilt Market, the place looks amazing.... and although right now the wholesale vendors are there.... with the retail shops taking their place in a few days. Fabulous things to be purchased. I am so happy to share that my daughter in law, Jen Eskridge, of Reanallilly Designs, has a booth there, #2048. She has had her first book, Deploy that Fabric, published, full of some wonderful, sewing and quilted things, which is available through C&T publishers, Booth 2144 at Market or directly from Jen at her design website. But she also has many wonderful quilt patterns, and purse patterns to sell as well. There is another book that will be coming out next year.... and it has some wonderful, fresh quilts in there. I got sneak peaks on them, as I quilted 8 of her projects. I loved every one of them, even if she weren't one of my favorite designers.... and may someday help to choose my....er.... "retirement community"! The booth is cute, and she deserves Kudos for getting this accomplished. Now one of my quilts is hanging in the booth..... so does that count as a "quilt hanging at Houston?" I am saying it kindof sortof does! I  did make and quilt  the green and brown circle quilt in the picture.... I do love that combo! But she has several other quilts that I hope to make over the next little bit.... I need to stretch my traditional quilt legs a bit I think.... and try something with some clean lines. It was fun attending School House... Alex Anderson, was one that I chose to attend, Ricky Tims, Karen Combs...love her new fabric coming out, it is wonderful!!!! I loved Pat Sloan's presentations... but no pics....and Deb Tuckers tools were new to me and absolutely to die for. I see my Christmas list growing by leaps and bounds! What trip to Texas would be complete without multiple meals of Tex Mex.... I had 3..... and on top of all this fun.... got to enjoy sample spree!!!! What girl doesn't love a good quilting fabric bargain???? Its a good thing that doesnt' happen very often. My feet are tired, purse is pretty empty, the quilts are amazing, unbeleivably intricate and inspiring, though we were able to view them, no ribbons are up...so we can only pick our own favorites. It was a trip that once again has inspired me to get back to doing something that I love to do anyway..... play with fabric! Hope y'all have a chance to play as well...and if you are at Houston Market.... go by and see my wonderful daughter in law's booth.

Autumn is here.......

Our scarecrows in the front yard... wearing the school colors of Mississippi State. 

My little "Spooky" Quilt on the porch bench

Our Scarecrow door greeter who stands on the old milk box...from my sisters front porch, see Birdie, I still use it !!!

And anyone who really knows me, knows this may be more true than not!!!! 

Well today I sent off a box with two quilts to DS2 and his family. Hope the Princess likes hers. I am still behind, have a baby quilt owing to a neice...whose little darling is almost 1. The time has gotten away from me. Fall has hit...the leaves are all falling, and today for the first time, it turned cold...enough to wear a sweatshirt and need one. It may not last very long, but I feel winter creeping up on us. I have loved visiting blogs with their fall quilts displayed...mine sadly are not done. I only have two Halloween quilts.... and one is on the front porch on the bench, the other is a wall hanging with no place to hang at the moment! I have been trying to get caught up on quilting for others...but am not there yet. I did get to do two wonderful raffle quilts.... of course I forgot to take a photo of either...but I have purchased opportunities on both. I hope you all are enjoying your Autumn splendor... we are so fortunate to see the changing seasons. And Fall is one of my favorite ones! Oooohhhhh and how excited am I, I am flying out to Houston next week to see the Houston quilt market and assist my favorite designer, Jen of Reannalily Designs in her booth, 2148 I think..... come see us if you are there.Later, off to work on another quilt.

LuLu in her tutu and customer quilts....

Little LuLu in her tutu..... this baby loves girly things... as does her adorable cousins, The Princess and Elisie-Pie. I was definitely a tomboy, and Dana was halfway in between.... so not sure how to respond????

A few more customer quilts to share.....

how was your summer vacation????

How in the world could I let this much time go by???? Life, I guess. The Professor is madly writing the last of his dissertation, and working full time here at Mississippi State.

I have recovered from the bone graft surgery on my collar bone, still battling with some

numbness and small issues, but much improved.

We have filled our free time with sdome home improvement projects, a new floor in out dining area, and a little deck under the big tree in our back yard. Bob even built a big flower bed for me to plant some flowers in. He did a really good job.

We have had all the kids here for "Camp Grandbob", did a few renovatoin projects, in preparation for getting our home on the market next spring.... post Job offer hopefully. I also have begun to pack up the unecessary items, or not frequently used items in the dining room and kitchen, as I know how long it takes me to pack things. I am also back to quilting with lots of breaks.

I have missed the creative side of quilting for my buddies. Many girls have been p

atiently waiting for their quilt to come up in the queu. After Camp Grandbob was over, we drove the 3 oldest grands up to Pennsylvania to meet their other cousins, swim and enjoy the Whalen Family Reunion.

They had a ball...and what trip to Sharon would be complete,

without a trip to Daffin's Candy Store.... and see the chocolate room full of huge animals?

Then on to Pymatuming Dam to Linesville and the fish hatchery, the kids, including the Professor, were blown away.

We also couldn't pass up stopping at the Kids Mills Covered Bridge on the way home!! I think the bridge was a hit too. Aunt Birdie, my younger sister went with us, and we really enjoyed the day. Just wish we could have had a little more time to spend in PA. I so enjoy being around my brothers and sisters. Good times with family! Always a plus!

The kids at the "Punch Bowl", Linesville fish hatchery

Latest news.....the blues are gone!

I haven't had the opportunity to blog much lately, been trying to catch up on home things and quilting. I had to have surgery on my broken collar bone, as it had never healed. The Dr. had to do a bone graft, by taking a piece from my hip to fit between the broken ends, then attach a plate and screws. I am most hopeful that this will make me better than new. I didn't get all the customer quilts finished, but the majority of them. We have painted the sheds, no more blue in our yard, just a pretty soft khaki. We also painted the built on addition white... so no more blue, and I painted the little computer room, a soft grey. No more hot pink!!! STill have slip covers to make for my chaise lounge, and some curtains for the bedrooms. But it will get done as soon as I am able to sit in front of the sewing machine. As usual I have managed to misplace my camera, probably with the paint brushes....or as the Professor says, in the oven! Why I can't keep up with some things, I may never know. But at least I have made some progress on the house. If all goes well, it will be on the market in a year, and we can enjoy the changes in the meantime.

The professor has sent out all survey materials for his dissertation, and has received about 25 % back thus far. His goal is about 100 more. So whilst I was in the surgery room, he was stuffing envelopes full of survey for the second mailing. This is very exciting as it means we are almost done, and can begin thinking about moving on with our lives. I believe it is time. These four quilts were made by my friend Judy Stokes, of Columbus MS, she is the president elect for the state guild and I had the privilege of quilting them for her.I adore scrappy quilts, and these were not only pretty, but well pieced also. I adore the balloon quilt made by Martha Dubard, it is so pretty. There are many more to share, if I can ever find my camera? Have a great day, I plan to... as long as the meds hold out. :o)

Some of our Holiday adventures.... and more

It seems to be time to return to quilting. I have been piecing a simple turning twenty for DD, which has just been quilted on the frame and delivered. and working on a stack a posie, and another sister quilt. The professor and I have actually gone to see True Grit, the scene in the cave scared me to death.... I had to cover my eyes! Our son sent us a couple of games for Birthday and Anniversary gifts, so we have been playing those as well. He has just successfully defended his dissertation proposal....so now is officially a Doctoral candidate. Woo Hoo!. Its crazy to think that we have lived in Mississippi for about 2 1/2 years now. We had a very cold spell here, snow and all, no photos... but the kids here sure enjoyed the snow day, and making all those snowmen. I had a valve go bad in my studio...and water began spewing from under the sink, but luckily, I had just gone out there when it started, no damage, I called my hero to come home and help...and stood in the doorway sweeping the water out. I had fabric to throw on the floor to create a mote, and very little water didn't go outside. He managed to shut off the main water valve, then get the defective part repaired. So thankful. I guess all those days under freezing was just too much for the shut off valve to handle. My most exciting news is that I just finished quilting a small quilt designed by DD in LAW1 for a magazine, I believe it will be in the August issue of Quilters World, along with the larger version which I also quilted.Can't share photos until the issue is printed. But very fresh and fun quilt. My DDIL has a quilt in this months Quick Quilt magazine, I didn't quilt that one. And in the April issue of Quilter's World she will have a bag or tote. She is so busy. jEN, our Resident designer...also has a book coming out soon. Can't wait to get my very own autographed copy! Life has given me so many blessings, I adore my wonderful family, and my Grandchildren are divine! We had so much fun with them over the holidays. In Fayetteville, AR we went to see Christmas lights with the Princess and little True, they even rode in the Cinderella coach on the square. The lights were so much fun, we had cotton candy, and it being DS2's Birthday, ate a decadent mud slide dessert at the Market Street restaurant. Yum, I could go for one right now!Then on to Oklahoma for a visit with my mom in law. That was fun as well. We then headed up to Kansas to see another set of Grands, and they being a little older, its a whole different set of things to do. We did a Cookie house, and Elisie Pie made cookies for Santa, there w

ere games every night, and silly hats!!!! Even Grandbob gets into that act. And our sweet little Wee One and new little LuLu, we went to see them recently. Their dad has just deployed, the Wee One is missing his daddy, so DD ordered him a Daddy Doll, made from a photo of his Dad in his uniform.

He loves taking Daddy with him as you can see.

I also have several customer quilts done, these are a few custom ones I have just finished. I love them . I do enjoy seeing these wonderful creations, knowing I would never be able to piece them, but get to work on them just the same. Somethings in life to be truly thankful for, Health, loved ones and getting to do something I love. Thanks for sharing with me.