My oldest Finished project for the year.....

Well, because I didnt' travel to Pennsylvania this past weekend..... I did get more sewing in. I actually finished up a couple of quilts for sisters. As my goal this year is to gift all of my sisters a quilt...then start with the brothers. So far 3 of my siblings have a quilt from me...... Now this one was that had been a PIG (Project in Grocery Sack) since 1988, the fabric is a dead giveaway. Rust calico... and royal blue. The center was not very well done..the basket part. So it went into a sack, I took it out... found some similar shade of Kona cotton in the blue, then found some more fabric that would coordinate with it....and quilted the daylights out of it. If my sister hates the front.... the back will be a white on white quilt...and its fine. I have several customer quilts to share as well..... this lovely blue and yellow one... is so pretty, then this darling pink and green applique...that a wonderful grandma made for her grandaughter. I also just finished this french braid quilt.... It is so pretty in person. I can't wait for my next one.... it s gorgeous little custom number.... with a Geisha panel in the center..... Not sure where it is going to take me...but can't wait to get going on it. Hope you all have a great day..... I am going to watch the super bowl with the professor...and eat blue bell ice cream... the perfect end to a great day!

My mother's Birthday....via the internet!!!!

Today my huge family...all my brothers and sisters celebrated my mother 's 75th Birthday..... unfortunately for me since they are all up in Pennsylvania, and I am in Mississippi, and I was to fly into Pittsburg today, via Baltimore...and we all know how that went. So I didn't make it in...much to my chagrin. I have to admit I cried.... I was upset when I got the call on Thursday evening telling me that my flight had been canceled...but my neice posted video of the birthday song and a few clips...as everyone else celebrated...so it was bittersweet...but almost as good as being there. Love you mom...... and am so glad that I was lucky enough to be born into a wonderful...large, never dull family! HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!

This photo was taken I believe in 1984 or so.

doesn't she look great...she had alreadydelivered 15 children.... she is an amazing woman!

Very Quick Post...... And Happy Birthday Lovey!

The weather has turned warmer...and I am trying to get stuck into some quilts that need finishing. It is the Professors birthday today... and our Anniversary. Hard to believe we have been married for 36 years today! I don't have a lot of early photos, we were way too poor..but this is a blast from the past. I had to photograph it as I can't quite figure out this scanner. The Professor has always made me laugh.... more than cry.... and put up with all my evil ways. Thanks "lovey"! Hope we have another 36 years together. This was taken several years into our marriage..about 4, I think. The Professor was still in college...and we loved Stillwater, OK. If I am not mistaken we went to the Cowboy Mall across from campus and ate Pizza. What a splurge!Good times. Funny, but we still like takeout for this special day! Tonight is Chinese!

Now I did also work on a couple of little quilts this week, have been using my time to work on last years buc a block project...and this is how far I have been able to get to....the blocks...and I designed some star blocks to fit into the sashing to create another little interest block. I still have to add borders...but it is getting there.

I also am finishing up a little quilt made by my DD in law, the ever creative Jen. I quilted it and am doing the much hated binding for her. So that it can be sent onto Florida to a new niece.Jen wanted the feathers to follow the Zig Zag, I think that was a good idea...it worked out well.

I also did this adorable fairy quilt for a lovely Mississippi gal. It needs to be finished before they leave for the Carolinas. I love the feathers on this one...And it was fun to do too.You may notice the little roll up on the quilt, we made these yesterday at quilt guild. To roll up projects...like applique or redwork. I love the fact that it was quick to make and practical too. Our President keeps her DearJane blocks in it to take along. I am so behind on DJ at the moment. But loved this roll up. This last picture is it opened...carrying another mighty old UFO, it may be recognized by some of the Pampa Texas quilt gals...My Friendship blocks from 1999! Shame on me. But they are all now....sewed into blocks finally and about to become a Masterpiece!Until next time! Have a great day!

How we spent our Christmas vacation........

Just a quick share. We had so much fun visiting our Children this past month. And saw a few fun things along the way. The trip began in Mississippi, Lousiana, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, then back to Mississippi. Now..... we got to have fun with the grands, baking cookies, watching movies, and even bowling. The kids got into all of it of course.Some, more than others. We also decided to give the bigger kids money... as part of their Christmas....now since cash is cash... we also had been saving our change for the past year..... and it just made sense to give them the whole jar..... let them count it all out..and then divide it three ways. They had almost as much fun counting it out as anything they could spend it on. And after much deliberation, it was decided to buy wood, to make a fort out of. Fun for a long time, I am sure. I also felt like I had to share this picture. As we were driving in Kansas, we spotted a neon signed Hippie van...advertising Chimineas... now , not a one was in sight..but they also seemed to be peddling another product!!!! The sign on the back of the van gave me a chuckle...but maybe it has something to do with growing up in the 60's! Then it was on to see the Princess and her baby brother. Here she is all dressed up...with no place in particular to go! Finally, have just a few quick quilts to share. Sorry for the quality of the photos...but cameras and I are just not on speaking terms. I quilted all of these and thought them all quite nice.

Snuggy's and good times.....

We are with the grands... and made them all snuggy fleece blankets. They were a hit as you can imagine. We made cookies today...hope to frost and put sprinkles on later tonight. I am enjoying the games...... we have played more board games... and laughed so much. Always fun times. Hope you all are keeping warm. I was so happy when I finished my very last quilt for a customer two days before we left to come to Kansas. And the College "ball wars" are going well. Oklahoma State is at the top of the tree as we speak. We 'll have to see who is the winner on Christmas morning. More good times.

Lost but found... How we spent our Thanksgiving vacation.....

I thought I had lost my digital camera...but lo and behold....this AM as I tried to do a quick clean between quilts...there it was under some trimmed batting. Maybe that is where my other lost things can be found???? May need to do a deep clean as soon as I finish up my Christmas rush. Almost caught up with that .Thanksgiving was a quick trip up to Tennessee for time with DD and the Wee One. He kept Grandbob and Honey busy, and of course we had to peruse every sale ad to see if we had to venture out in the wee hours of the morning. DD and I didn't get up until 6...then we went to a few places but not any place that was terribly crazy. I splurged on some new rubber mats for beneath my machine. They are so great on the feet. The very vintage quilt and the wonderful young vet student holding it...is such a wonderful story...I felt I had to share. Her very dearest friend' mother passed away when she was quite young...and she is having difficulty adjusting to her father's new person in his life. So this darling girl bought a vintage quilt, and had me quilt it for her, then she has added photos of her friend with her mother in theplain blocks. Hoping that this will assist her friend with her grief. I acutally cried when she told me the story. What a thoughtful friend Jenny is. I wish I had a photo of the "After" the photos had been added. But I am certain it will be cherished. I have been busy, since just before Thanksgiving, finished a Christmas table topper for my sister, and a Bargello for my friend. Then I put on this UFO.... for the third time.... to finally finish up the white sections. It seemed that every time I put in on my machine, I would get several quilts that needed to be done right away. So it would come back off.I wanted to try something new.

But the nice thing is that I can see some improvement on my quilting. The white sections...are just a practice of a non marked ...meandering kind of formal feathering. I really enjoyed doing it.... very freeing. I also did a few more customer quilts...love this Block of the month that I had the pleasure of doing. I also did two sweet little ones... that I feel like i had to share.

the last little one is a donation quilt for the Sheriff's dept. We provide them to ride along in the Sheriff's cars, so that if a child needs something for comfort, they can wrap up in something. I loved the Moda fabric my friend used. I wish you could see the quilting.... it is a swirl vine.... then feather bumps in the border.

Finally two finishes....

I just finished....sort of ...piecing my x block quilt.... woo hoo! And I did finish a Thanksgiving topper.... but have already given it away...and forgot to take a photo. Maybe the girl I gave it to ...can send me a photo.

Here is the x block quilt. I am hoping to get it quilted before Christmas. We'll see.

Computer woes....and the x block.....

This is my latest project in progress, I only have to get it quilted. It is called the x block. I really liked doing this one. No idea where it will go...but it used all scraps except for the blacks which I did purchase. I am so glad with the scrappiness of it. I have been stuck into quilting more than piecing...trying to get finished with my promised Christmas quilts. I am experiencing computer difficulties...so this post is quick.

Special thanks to all our Veterans...

Just a quick aside. How thankful and appreciative I am of all the Veterans, current and past and their families who share in the service of our Country. We are so fortunate that they are prepared to serve for us. It isn't easy for the Veteran or their families with seperations and training, but I am so thankful they do it with honor and dignity. Thank you to each of them. About this time a few

years ago...myself and some Rotary Anns ( The ladies Auxiliary for Rotary) hosted some local elderly folks for a tea. The funny part was that some of the Rotary Ann volunteers were older than those being hosted for the tea. Such a lovely group of ladies..... I still think of them often. These are a few photos of the tea held in the Rotary Hall. These lovely little children dressed in their Indian costumes danced for part of the entertainment. They were well received as you can imagine.

Then these darling little school children who accompanied their teachers on pay day to the grocery store. They loved getting their picture taken.

The Noxubee refuge...latest works in Progess...

This is the Noxubee refuge.... the Professor and I drove down to see the changes fall brings down there. It is such a tranquil place... sad to see the pretty trees almost bare but the place on the water was nice. And we just enjoyed a bag of peanuts and sitting in the sunshine. I loved being able to walk out over the water and Then back to the quilting machine and my latest customer quilts

, this pretty pink one, coming along nicely. and My friend Barbara did this wonderful baby quilt for her new grandson. Love it!

This Ohio State

quilt was made by a neighbor, Norma for her grandson who loves those Buckeyes. Another great quilt.

Another wonderful quilt made by my friend Gloria, it was so peaceful to work on this with the wonderfully soft colors. Reminds me of Robyn Pandolph colorations. Here it is finished up. I am on another one at the moment...with a music theme. I am so "chuffed" as they say in South Africa...to get to work on these wonderful quilts. All so different and the best part is I don't have to piece them! Happy sewing .

Misplaced camera..... and exciting news.....

Somewhere in all this past week.... I have misplaced my camera. So can only add what is already on the computer. First off, what is wrong with this picture...dont' you always tell the old price if it was more???? I won this wonderful little panel and other fall goodies from Ellen's blog.... what a fun thing. Loved the little bag....and the goodies inside. I have used it every time I go to a quilt demo..... so it has come in handy so much. Look at this wonderful quilt made by Polly Yoder of Deleware.... and I believe it hung in Paducah. She and her two other sisters did a trunk show at our Mississippi Quilt Association's Fall gathering . The Wee One and his family sent us this wonderful photo.....notice the EPT test in the foreground. I missed it to the first time ........ So we are going to be blessed with grandchild number 7. Always good news! Hope you all have a great next couple of days. I have quilt guild in the morning...then the DJ club meets Tuesday. Can't wait.