Just for fun....

I have been way to busy with work to post about much of anything. Can anyone spell "drowning?" That's how I have felt lately. It doesn't help that I've had the cold from hell along with the regular workload. So for a change of pace here's a great YouTube video I saw posted online.

Unfortunately I don't really know how to embed a YouTube video onto blogger. I'm sure it is a simple matter, so for those who want to find it on the "official" site, the title is Jason Mraz - The Joker/Everything I Own (Happy Feet). It brought a smile to my face after a long day and I hope it does the same for you.

Enjoy!

Blue Ribbon quilts

Here are a few pictures of two quilts I entered in the fair and one quilt top that just needs some applique on it to finish it up. This one is called "Ode to a Tree" and is quite entailed. It turned out very nicely and I earned a Blue Ribbon on it at the fair. To be honest, I thought it deserved a Champion or Reserve Champion...every point is precise and I felt my color selections really added to the quilt. Oh well...ya never know what the judges are looking for. Below are a few closeups of the quilt. I sent it to a long-arm quilter but feel it still needs a little more quilting with a stitch-in-the-ditch around the tree and in the narrow burgandy border. It was entered in the fair to only be judged on the piecing not the quilting since it had been professionally quilted.

The quilt below was just a quick 'couch quilt' that went together quick and easily, but it was fun to make. The colors go back to my favorities of anything turquoise. I didn't do anything fancy with the machine quilting, just going with the tried and true stitch-in-the-ditch. It also earned a Blue Ribbon.

This is the top of a quilt that I am just finishing up. It's made of the Timeless Treasures batiks and the pattern is from one of the quilt magazines. I originally was going to use yellow (Don't ya just love how blues/yellows/whites look together?) as the narrow border and for the circle (or maybe squares) that still need to be appliqued in the center of each block, but since I decided this would look nice on my couch in the family room I switched over to the red. I'm pleased with the overall look and think I'll quilt it in swirls. The pattern called for appliqued squares but I'm leaning toward circles.

I also entered my black/white convergence quilt and the blue/beige one that I posted pictures of earlier this year. They both earned blue ribbons too. :) The walls sure looked barren without them while they were shown at the fair.

Oh my, we have a beautiful full moon rising tonight...just love those harvest moons after a beautiful warm fall day....

We interrupt the quilting and beach pictures...

The other Bitches might not agree with me but here's a post I think all American's should read from a friend of Oh, The Joys.

http://othejoys.blogspot.com/2008/09/i-come-from-family-of-heroes.html

If you don't agree with me, that's fine. I respect other's opinions and will defend your right to state them as well as defend my right to state mine. My own husband and I often "agree to disagree" when it comes to politics in general. We have different issues that are important to each of us. For me they are education, children and women's issues. For him, it's gun control. Yet, we still talk to each other. :)

Tell ya what...I have some quilt pictures I'll post tomorrow and go back to the normal trivial crap that takes up space here at The Stitchin' Bitches.

Ocean beaches

Wow...has it really be early August since my last post? I am really a slacker these days. Here are a few pictures I took while on vacation to the Washington coast last week. The driftwood was in between our condo's front door and the top of the dune between us and the beach. I always love the way a photo can be framed through grasses and had fun with the two sunset pictures. Overall it was a nice vacation and I always enjoy getting away. Believe it or not I quilted on my vacation...took my little Featherweight and on the wet and dreary day and a few other cool mornings I managed to make a complete top. I just need to add the final border and it will be done. I have a goal of completing the binding of another quilt this weekend and hopefully entering it in the local county fair. It has been awhile since I've entered and this is a project I am proud of and will enjoy showing off.

Quilt top and a dolly quilt

Here's the quilt top I finished up this week. Using the Kansas Troubles line of muted colors is a real change for me. I prefer brighter colors, but at least it had a bit of blue and the brick red in it for a bit of cheeriness. To me, the muted colors are dull and dreary, so without the addition of the brighter colors I wouldn't have even considered this pattern/kit. It's called Navaho Rose and if I make it again I'll probably make my stars all the same color instead of a mix of eight different patterns. I always like a quilt with sashing and corner blocks. I'm such a traditional quilter and they just have such appeal to me.
This closeup gives you an idea of how each of the blocks turns out. This kind of a quilt is also a step out of my usual routine because I'm not much for scrappy style quilts. The fewer colors in a quilt to me, the better.
This is a picture of a dolly quilt I made from the left over scraps from the quilt I made and showed above. I love www.quiltville.com and this is from one of her projects that is called "maverick stars." I love anything to do with stars but this was so sweet to be able to just slap on a scrap of fabric onto a square, sew, press, trim, and add another star point. None of the points are perfect...some are long and skinny, others are short and fat, but it makes for a quick and easy star and I thought it was a nice change from always being so precise and perfect.

The star blocks are only 6" finished and as I was sewing them together with no specific project in mind, it dawned on my our little neighbor girl would probably like to have a little quilt for her dolly. It turned out the perfect size and the grin on her face was precious. Someday maybe I'll have a little granddaughter to make dolly quilts for, but until then I guess little neighbor girls will benefit from my quilting. I actually ended up liking the little scrap dolly quilt better than the twin-sized Navaho Rose design. Go figure!

Unfortunately summer is sneaking away from us and before long it'll be fall. I hope it will be a mild one this year so I can continue to enjoy the outdoors and fresh air.

SB#3

Southwestern Quilt

This California King sized quilt top has been finished for quite a few years...I finally sent it to a long arm quilter for quilting. All I had to do to finish it was sew on the binding. I'm old school and prefer to hand sew the binding on my quilts and so it took quite a bit of time to get that done. Overall I'm pleased with how it turned out. This is a closeup shot of the quilt.
Here's a picture of it on the bed. It is a nice change from the old quilt I had on the bed. It was pretty but sure didn't match the new color scheme of sage green on the walls.
It is always nice to get a quilt done, especially one that has been sitting in a box for many years. It gives you a real sense of satisfaction.

Table runner and placemats -- wedding gift

I have a wedding to go to this weekend for a former student. What to get as a gift? Well, I decided to make a set of placemats and a table runner for her. I often hesitate to make gifts like this for young people since I know not everyone treasures a handmade gift, but I think this bride will appreciate that I took the time to make this special for her and her groom. Below is a closeup of the table runner. I just love that background fabric with it's mix of blues, beige, and brown coupled with delicate circles. It's one of those fabric pieces I picked up on a whim thinking that something would come to me down the line...well, it did. :)
Of course, a post wouldn't be complete without a picture of the new grandson. He's sure a sweet little guy. Grandma is actually babysitting big brother today to give Mommy a chance to get caught up around the house and he's taking a nice snooze himself right now. Why, I even managed to sew together some quilt blocks for another project during the nap, but wouldn't ya know it, I need to cut some more pieces of the block and the fabric is lying on a table in the room where he's sleeping...I don't think I'll take the chance of waking him up early from his nap.