Quilting with the librarygoddess24

I hope you all have a wonderful new year. I plan to take some chances and try some new things. One thing I plan to do is start Jimmy's t-shirt quilt. That will keep me busy! Now...I need some sleep! It's after midnight!

I finally got to a place that I can stop and tell what's what. We went to the Polynesian Cultural Center and had a most informative time. I understand more of the culture now and I really dig it! I found authentic Hawaiian fabric at the center and brought back goodies for the new babies we'll be having in February and July. But here are the pictures of the sewing I did on the way over and back. I know why Susan Linn does it. It is very addictive!

Jimmy and I are in Honolulu for the USM football game. It seems like a dream. I did get some sewing done on the plane tho. I am doing some hexagon English paper piecing and, once I got the hang of it, it's going pretty well. I was able to iron the pieces on in the hotel room while Jimy went running so the rest should be easier to do. I will post pictures later as my iPad is an iPad and not an iPad 2 (no camera). Honolulu is very commericialized. It's not what we expected. I hope we get to do a tour today. The Arizona is booked out so that's out but I hope the Dole Pineapple Plantation is a go.. Or an ecotour would be great! I hope to get to some quilting or fabric places too. I have scoped some out. Keeping my fingers crossed!!

I am so proud of me! I started a mystery item for our Just Needles Christmas Party and it is turning out very nice. The hardest part was picking out the fabrics I wanted to use! I will post pictures after the party. Every time I do a new project, I learn so much and it gives me more confidence. I think after I do all my Christmas sewing, I will attempt the t-shirt quilt for Jimmy. He is being so patient about it.

Marsha and I took Amanda (and James) to A & E Pharmacy/Fabrics yesterday. I wish I had taken her picture when she walked in and saw the store. lol..it was priceless! She found all the fabric she needed and James found a red animal print he was just determined to take home. Since it was 60% off, Amanda bought a yard, I think, of it. She said she will have to think of something to do with it....besides a pillow case. James was SO good and very entertaining. We went to Jo-Ann fabrics after that and found some more things to buy....lol. On our way home, we tried to find a bakery to get some dessert but no luck. However, we went to Joe Cain's Cafe in Mobile and had some delicious desserts. James ate a little of all of them. I had a chocolate dessert (of course), Marsha had a peachy cake thing and Amanda had strawberry cheesecake. It was so great and we went into the Hotel and saw the beautiful Christmas tree in the lobby. It's the place where the Moonpie drops. We are so adventu...

 This is what I came home with from the Trunk Show! The Fat quarter roll, bag of fat quarters and paper patterns were given to me. (below)  I bought a 'few' other things! We had an absolutely fabulous time at Block Therapy quilt store tonight. The Stonehenge fabric Trunk Show from Northcott was a real treat! Not only did we hear some of the history, see some of the NEW upcoming fabrics and patterns, but we received goodies: some free patterns and a bag of fat quarters. Then, at the end, I won a STONE Roll with 18 fat quarters. This fabric is beautiful and feels sooooooo good. Joan of Block Therapy is offering us something we've never had before. She had over 60 people at this Trunk show. It shows that we quilters and sewers WILL come out and support programs like this.

Just when I think I am going to catch up, life takes me on another wild ride...lol  I got back from Margaret's and started back to work the next day. It's been unstopping go go go from then on. I did get my towels all finished and mailed. They really turned out great and I learned so much from this. Then I heard from People to People ambassador programs and learned I am the primary leader and I will be going to Europe this summer: London, England, Normandy and Paris, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands! I will be escorting middle school student ambassadors. We have started the meetings for going. I am so busy that I am going nuts! My twelve towels that I sent out. Then Zonta yesterday. SEW POSSIBLE and MUD GIRL  The owners of the new company: SEW POSSIBLE  It was a great day for Lisa and Marsha. It was my first time to sell and I only sold one towel. That's ok. I know what I need to do now.

I am visiting Margaret and Jon. Margaret and I have been shopping fools! We are having a very nice visit. We went to Pentagon City shopping mall today. This is a 4-story mall. Huge and we walked the WHOLE thing. I found my new favorite clothes: J Jill. Some cards and shoes!!! Good day altogether!

I told Margaret tonight that I was taking a break for July. I may change my mind, but I am tired of towels! lol  I am waiting for mine to come this month. Should be here soon. On a happy note, the postal strike is over in Canada, so I can send my towels out for next month. I am finished with August! I am considering buying a small, lightweight sewing machine that I can take with me to sew, like for quilting classes or even on the bus for down time. I believe I know which one I would like but plan to do more research. I also have some more sewing room ideas. Change is my middle name. While I am visiting Margaret, Jimmy is going to paint and get the carpet in the bedroom. Then I can work on changing that around to what I would like. I am tired of my dresser and just want functional drawers and alot of them to hold my clothes. I don't need a mirror, since the vanity is right there. I am planning the room in shades of blues and tan/brown. It should turn out nicely.

I have been working on my applique towels and have caught up to June. May and June's towels were very cute if I do say  so myself. I am learning new tricks every time I embroider. I think back a year ago and know I have come a long way. I really enjoy making the towels for my daughter and daughters-in-law and hope they like them too. Latest pics:

I went with Jimmy to Panama City Beach, FL for his 1/2 Ironman. While he and Kay were plotting and stragegizying, I went to QUILTING BY THE BAY!!! Wow, that store is fabulous and I discovered it had been 2 years since I had been there but they still had me in their computer system. I got a little bid of this and a little bit of that! Came home loaded down with a lot of beach fabric (perfect for the August applique towels I am doing), some Dr. Seuss, and many other fabulous things.

I had a wonderful time visiting Margaret and Jon. I just wanted to show some of what I was able to find there. 2 magazines, fabric, and a new ruler! Fun fun fun Of course, I had some help picking out some of the fabric (cupcakes, dinosaurs) but it just goes to show, she does have taste! haha I loved the St. Patrick's day fabric and it was 60% off!! and was already marked down to 5.99 a yard. So I got a whole yard! The Easter fabric was just cute and so I had to get it.

We have had a really good time here. Did D.C. on Monday, rested on Tuesday morning. worked out in the p.m. @ the base gym with Margaret. Then, last night, we went to Joann fabrics. This was a good sized one. Larger than Mobile but smaller than Pensacola. Found some adorable dinosaur flannel to add to 'Margaret's collection'. Also, some St. Patricks day fabric that was 60% off, some cute Easter fabric, some cupcake fabric ( again Margaret), and some thread. They were having good sales. I was able to take some good pics of the beautiful trees here too. AND : got a shot of where a groundhog lives. Haven't seen him yet, but I can hope! Got Jimmy a hat at the golf course and something for brother Mark too. Plus, a magnet for me!!

I am at Margaret and Jon's for a few days. Jimmy got here today after his successful Mulletman run. Tomorrow, we go into D.C. To look around at the sights. We are supposed to go gawk at Charm City Cakes on Thursday...well, I will. I know Jimmy won't...lol When I get home, I will work on my challenge block. I have some ideas about it.

I sent my pincushion to Brazil! I am really happy how it turned out. I hope Dulce likes it as it is thE first one I have made...small but I liked the idea oa a four season cushion. I sent her some goodies too. I hooe she gets it before Easter..so cool...she speaks Portuguese. I got to use the translator for her mail. She probably speaks 3 or 4 languages as Americans are language deficient. I was in such a hurry to mail it, I forgot to take a picture of it! Ah, well. I will try to remember next time.

I just signed up for a Pincushion exchange. It sounds really neat and I do need a new pincushion. If you are interested, click on the link: http://geckoboxes.blogspot.com/2011/03/hilde-hilde-pincushion-swap-2011.html I emailed Hilde (Brazil) and she will email me back. I found this on the Quilting Gallery. Quilting Gallery is awesome in its awesomeness! I am glad I found it. It's great that there is a clearinghouse for fiber arts people.

I received my mug rugs from my fabulous friend. I will post more tomorrow and have pictures of them too.! I am so excited!

Sent my mug rugs off to British Columbia, Canada. Hope she's got them, as I posted them on Feb. 11. Hmm. Guess I will have to email her and ask. Pictures above. I am so tickled! My darling Grace, my 6-yr. old granddaughter, is wanting to make a quilt for her teacher who is expecting in the summer. She is having a girl and Grace wants to do a PINK quilt for the baby. I suggested a flannel ragged quilt and I will do some embroidery with her for the panels. James (3yr.old grandson) is a card. He was eating tacos with us for supper tonight, making a mess on the floor. Jimmy (Pawpaw) said that he guessed he was leaving something for the little mouse on the floor. James thought about that, looked at the floor, and exclaimed, "Oh, I see him. There he goes!" We just cracked up!

Got my information and am ready to start. This will be a challenge as my buddy prefers colors I have the least of...but I am ready for the task. Pulled out some idea fabrics and believe I have a winner for my first one. Now. About that second one.

I hope I am not being paranoid. I said that the towels I found at Target were 16" x 23" not the required size. I never said I got them for the towel exchange. I did get some for Margaret, Amanda, and Joann's embriodery I am doing but they didn't have the color I wanted. I think that since I am new to this, the quilting pirate does not realize that I pride myself on a quality product. I do not like to give something that is 'almost' there. My embroidery work is excellent, if I do say so myself, and the towels I have done for the girls have come out beautifully. I learn more each time I do one. Anyway, if we have a problem with the 18" x 28" towels, I guess I'll be returning them to Ana's Linens and going online. It's hard to find a towel with those measurements! (19" x 29") Well, Lacy from the group got my message. So....maybe all is well!

I had the most fun yesterday making Mug Rugs. I found a tutorial by Ryan Walsh for Dresden Wedges mug rugs but I decided to do rectangles since I was experimenting. I also didn't have the Dresden ruler and was too lazy to download one he had. But anyway, I had MODA on hand from when Marsha and I went to Quilting by the Bay. I knew I had saved that fabric for a reason. Anyway, I had a pack of the 5" squares in BUTTERFLY FLING and a yard of matching fabric. I cut them apart to make my 2-1/2 " by 5" material and played with them on my new design wall until I got it right. I sewed them up, put the border around them and quilted them with my walking foot, which worked GREAT, and left it there. Our class at our monthly guild meeting is on binding. I plan to use these to learn how to bind correctly. I plan to make more of these. Thank you Ryan Walsh for this fabulous tutorial. My pictures show how easy it is!

I can't believe it's been so many months since I've posted. Life is busy! To catch up: I finished both of the twins quilts, went to Ireland in June with Marsha, started a Quilt Guild, found out I can't retire for 7 more years, had my daughter move to Maryland, have a son getting married in February (that's 2 February weddings in 2 years...I don't know what it is....), am putting my sewing room together, and have made a resolution that I will only do things that I really WANT to do, not what people (or what I think people) think I should do. Whew!