Halloween Give-Away

Head over to my friend Brenda's blog The Quilting Cowgirl to enter her Halloween in July Give-away. She has some "spooky" fabric and books that just might find their way to your home. Good luck!

Facebook and Luck

Like many folks, I have a Facebook page. I'm a bit reluctant to post on my Wall, but I do read and connect with family and friends that way. Last week, I received an e-mail from my friend Gretch with the subject line "You Lucky Dog..." Grechen had discovered before I did that I had won a gift certificate from the Fat Quarter Shop on their Facebook page. How cool is that!!! In this contest, the folks at FQS were trying to get over 3,000 Likes for their page. Of course, I clicked the "like" button. I do read their posts regularly. Lady Luck stepped in and I won a gift certificate for $50.00 in this contest. I was stunned. Definitely surprised!

Once a week, there is a special on the FQS Facebook page just for Facebook fans. Last week, the entire Wrapped in Paisley collection by Kansas Trouble was on sale for 50% off. It was a one day special. I quickly pressed the buttons and ordered the fat quarter collection of Wrapped in Paisley using my "lucky" gift certificate. My parcel arrived by UPS on Wednesday.

This Moda fabric line is luscious. I wanted to purchase some yardage on our trip in June to the quilt shop in Blue Ridge, but remembered my fabric budget and resisted.

This fabric is "speaking to me." I'm dreaming of a new project. Thank you Kimberly and Jocelyn from Fat Quarter Shop!!! What a generous give-away! What luck!

Between Charming Friends Quilt Along

Hi dear blogging friends! What a busy summer it has been! In all honesty, life has been busier than usual since March. I have lots of pictures and ideas to share with you, but one thing or the other has prevented me from connecting with you. I'm hoping to improve in this area:)

Last week, I did complete the quilt top for the Between Charming Friends Quilt Along sponsored by Kelly at Charming Chatter.  My two charm packs were Rural du Jardin from French General. The background fabric was from Rouenneries from French General. My version is a bit more blended than the original version by Kelly and Darlene's inspiration. I've had to put the top aside for now. I'm hoping to quilt it myself, but that will have to wait for another time. Thanks Kelly and Darlene for a wonderful quilt along! It was a great experience.

Charming Girls' Quilt Club

A year ago, Kelly from the blog Charming Chatter began an online club, The Charming Girls' Quilt Club. The online club appealed to me, but it wasn't realistic for me to add something to my schedule at that time. Kelly has announced a new year for the club, included with the sewing goals are personal growth goals. A year makes a big difference in life. I'm in a transition stage from working full-time as an elementary school librarian/media specialist to full-time retired educator :) I'm exploring lots of POSSIBILITIES. I love lists (especially crossing off completed items) and setting goals so the CGQ Club is a good fit at this time for me.The club members post their goals for a two month period. I like that flexibility. The July/August Club Goal is 

Here are my goals for July/August

1. At the top of the list is MOVEMENT. I have inherited my Dad's arthritis and joint problems. Sitting for too long a time period is a big problem. My goal is to WALK  outdoors or Ride my stationary bike for a minimum of 20 minutes a day. The stationary bike is great for the summer heat. It's inside in the air-conditioning:) I can do it anytime of the day. I love walking in our neighborhood. My Walking Parter, Rusty, needs to move too. He's put on a pound or two in the last year and that's not good for his back.

We've already hit the streets of our neghborhood a couple of times this week. When we get home our tails and tongues are dragging:)

I did order some new walking shoes. 

They are turquoise blue and wonderfully comfortable. Pink on my walking socks helps sorting laundry in my mostly male household. Walking is also good because it gives me time to think, reflect, and pray.


2. I've had some scheduling problems with my yearly mammogram. The center canceled on me and I canceled on them a time or two. I need to get it on my schedule again and show up this time. I did see my Primary Care Physician for an annual physical in June. That's a big check DONE on my list.

3. Explore POSSIBILITIES for life after the time that "Teachers Go Back To School" in early August. This is when I will begin to feel what retirement will mean for me. I don't want to commit to activities and responsibilities too soon. I want to explore activities (water movement classes)  trips (Houston Quilt Festival) and volunteer opportunities (book fairs, church, guild, neighborhood) It's been since my college days that I had any flexibility in my schedule.


4. Blog more frequently. I love blogging, have many ideas and photos, but haven't developed a consistent habit.

5. Clean one drawer or closet daily

7. Read books on dementia and take notes for my brothers and SILs. Our dad has advanced stage dementia. We thought some of his actions were because he could always be a bit stubborn. We are learning that his behavior is classic for the type of dementia he has. I'm doing the research to share with my family.

Sewing Goals
1. Finish the secret sewing project. Otherwise known as the SS Project. Also know as Mud, Stones, Men's Suit. :)

2. Sew White Chocolate rows into a completed quilt top.

3. Complete my Rural Jardin Between Charming Friends Quilt

4. Finish Imagine, my new Scnibbles

5. Finish cutting the black and white baby quilt

6. Finish cutting the red, white and blue quilt from my stash for a project in the book 40 Fabulous Quick Cut Quilts

Probably more goals than I can accomplish, but I've found that somehow things get done when I have a plan in mind.

Thank you, Kelly for this wonderful challenge. I'm looking forward to a year in the Charming Girls Quilt Club.

Jelly Roll Sampler Quilt Along - Block 10

I totally forgot that Block 10 directions would be posted this Monday for The Jelly Roll Sampler Quilt Along. I stumbled on the directions when reading blogs this morning. This is the first time that I've been able to sew the block the same day that the directions were posted. This block was fun to sew. I followed the picture on the design. It is different than the sample block that the designer Kari Ramsay sewed. I can always change it later if I don't like how it looks with the other blocks.

Monday Book Give-Away

Jan who blogs at Prytz Family is celebrating her birthday and her 2,000 post. Yes, 2,000 blog posts. Way to go, Jan! I've followed Jan's blog for several months. On Mondays, she reviews a book and then it is available for a give-away. I've been fortunate to win one of Jan's books.  I especially enjoy her reviews. I discover new titles  from  her blog. Her give-away this week to celebrate her birthday and blog milestone includes some great titles, like the quilt book City Quilts, Oogy (for all of us dog lovers), Room, Sh*t My Dad Says, and two  Pocket Posh Puzzle books. I keep a list of blog ideas. Informing you about Jan's blog was already on my list. After reading about her celebration give-away, I knew it was time to share this wonderful blog with you. Congratulations, Jan!

Design Wall Monday

On my to do list  for the holiday weekend was to take the blocks for my version of the  Between Charming Friends Quilt Along and get them arranged on my design wall. Check this off the list :) Visit JudyL's blog to view other design wall creations.

A Day of Sewing

Yahoo! I spent most of the day in my sewing room. I don't remember the last time that a had a completely free day. My sewing room is in bad shape. It's all my fault :) As I was sewing today, I did straighten and clean some. That helps tremendously! I started the morning by making a list of sewing goals. I wasn't sure if anything would be accomplished so the list was brief.

First, on the list was to finish sewing the last two dark rounds on White Chocolate. To keep the blocks scrappy, additional strips had to be cut. Once the blocks were all finished, I gathered them up and placed them on top of our king-size bed. The quilt top is too big for my design wall.

I experimented with different log cabin settings and decided on Streak of Lightning. At one point while sewing the blocks, I was disappointed in some of my fabric choices. I was trying to only use neutral fabrics from my neutral stash. I am super pleased how the blocks look now that they are finished. The rows are all pinned together and labeled. This is a good project for group sewing time, Thimbles or our up-coming Summer Stitch-in.  The blocks are neatly put away in a project container to be sewn together at one of those events.

I was a bit behind on the Jelly Roll Sampler Quilt Along blocks. I had two blocks to sew and a new one will be posted on Monday. Block 8 was a bit involved. It took quite a bit of time to complete, but I like the final result.

Block 9 came together quickly.

On Monday, I purchased sashing and inner border fabric for this project. It needed something darker than I originally planned to use. Kristie and Brenda helped me select a brown fabric with some green tints.

I'm beginning to see clear spaces in the sewing room. All the neutral fabric is put away, the Portabello Market jelly roll strips and other fabric is folded and put away. The blocks are still on the design wall.

I'm taking a break at the moment. It's a bit cooler today. Cooler than it's been most of June in "Hotlanta." DH and I are sitting on our screened-in porch enjoying the cooler temps.

 If I can get Blogger to upload photos I'll post this tonight. I'm debating the next project on my list. I think I'll pull out Between Charming Friends and put the top together. If I feel like cutting, I have two, no three projects that I need to finish cutting. I love cutting fabric:)

Schnibbles Times Two

Count me in! I may not make the deadline at the end of the month, but I couldn't resist participating in the Schnibbles Times Two Quilt Along sponsored by Kelly from Charming Chatter.  I already had the book. I received a gift certificate to my favorite quilt store, Sweet Home, from two dear friends at my retirement party. I used the gift certificate to purchase the newest French General layer cake, Maison de Garance. I really want to make a small Plan C quilt, but think that the fabrics in the layer cake will better suit  the small Imagine. I purchased some of the Luminere de Noel by French General for the background fabric. Yardage for Maison de Garance is not yet available, but all the French General lines coordinate nicely. It's time to sew!