I won!

I participate in an online BOM swap. I have shown some of the monthly blocks during this past year. When you join, you must commit to participate for the full year. Each month a block is posted with instructions and fabric selection rules, you make two and send them to the swap coordinator. She picks two names from those participating. Everyone that participates eventually wins a months block, this was my time to win, and I am so glad, because I thought these jar blocks were so much fun. Here are a couple of photos showing my winnings. Not the best photos- they were spread out on my dining room table as there is something already on the design wall, but you will get an idea.

JudyL's Arkansas Crossroads challenge

I've been having fun with this block, here's one that I put together using EQ6. I was trying to be seasonal and non-symetrical (trying to stretch my comfort zone).

Moving right along...

Yesterday and today I made quite a bit of progress on my next Christmas gift quilt. I must admit to being a bit taken back that it took most of today to make all the HSTs needed, that slowed me down some. I used the program Triangulations by Brenda Henning which prints out a grid onto regular printer paper from your home computer. It will make grids for hsts and QST of an incredible variety of sizes. HSTs for example from 12" finished size to 7.5" finished size. It was easy to do, but I need quite a number of them, so cutting things apart was quite time consuming, as will be tearing off the paper and pressing. 330+ of anything made by any technique will take a while to do! I did finally get enough made all the way so that I could make just four of the blocks in which they are used. So, without further ado, here is a peek at what this top will look like, and a close up to show the fabrics used. The color in the close up is more accurate. Progress feels good!

New Quilt Supervisor

Things around here may be picking up, I certainly hope so! I haven't gotten to do any quilting for a bit as things were so hectic. My youngest DS came home from college to see the dentist for what he thought was an awful toothache. It turns out it was an extremely serious Staph infection and he was on IV antibiotics for several days. I can tell you that I nearly went thru the floor when the doctor used 'life-threatening' 'lead to menningitis' and a few other words in the same sentence! I thank God for the dentist who not only admitted that she wasn't sure what it was, but that she wasn't the one to handle it, and then made a series of phone calls to both our family doctor and then to a specialist and got us in to the specialist within an hour. He is now recovered and back trying to catch up on his classes.

Meanwhile, DH has been referred for Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy to better adapt to his degenerating coordination and mobility. This is a very good thing, he will be safer and perhaps less depressed about what he can no longer do as they show him alternative methods to accomplish daily tasks. Of course, taking him for these visits will give me less time in the sewing room, but thats ok as long as it helps.

This weekend I finally got to spend some time sewing. YIPPEE. So much inspiration at the quilt shop and not getting to turn on the machine was frustrating! Judy's last hour a day is still on the design wall, but I cut out and have about 25% of the blocks for a new quilt sewn. I have to get the tops done for my Christmas gift quilts. I still have 5 tops to do, so all those HAD quilts will have to wait. Of course, once they are sewn, I still have to quilt all of them......I'm beginning to feel overwhelmed here! LOL

However, I have a new assistant and quilt supervisor that keeps a close eye on me as I cut and sew, carefully inspecting any bits that fall to the floor. I'm sure if I drop something that might be suitable for the scrap pile, I shall be informed. Meet Casey, the newest member to our household. We adopted him about 3 weeks ago. He is 5 yrs old and a real snuggler. Nic, as you may figure from the photo, is not impressed by the cute factor, but is ok as long as no one tries to eat from his food dish!