We had a great trip to Utah where I delivered Cattitudes to my sister in law. She loved it! Now to finish up some Christmas projects. I just sent this Advent Calendar off to my granddaughter in Seattle. It should be there by tomorrow in time to start on the 1st. I glued pockets on the back of each character in the advent to hold a quarter (she is only 2 1/2 so a quarter is a big deal:)). I loved this design. The top of the angel is pretty heavily quilted. The bottom has the buttons and some outline quilting to hold it together.

Cattitudes

I think this might be the nicest quilt I have made so far. It is for my sweet sister in law's B'day and retirement and I am taking it to her at Thanksgiving. It was a Buggy Barn pattern that is cut out like a puzzle 12 layers deep. Then the top 3 layers are shuffled and you pray the colors will coordinate correctly. It was quite a process and took awhile to put together. I embroidered

"Cats show us God's love towards us in that while we were yet like them, prideful, willful, and arrogant, Christ died for us". I hope she likes it as well as I do.

Retreat Results

Besides the omelets in a bag and the potato bar at lunch which was yummy and relaxing, the rest of the day was busy busy busy! I got the baby quilt for The Door of Hope sandwiched and binding cut, the stocking for Friendship quilters done, 4 place mats for Ramona Senior Center completed and table topper pieced (top and back) for my nephew and his wife. I would not have gotten as much done at home. The company is grand and the food always fabulous. Great day!

Prep Day

Tomorrow is a 9 hour retreat with "The Comforters". Our group of 7 or 8 have such a good time when we have our mini retreats. I have packed 2table toppers, 1baby quilt, a Christmas stocking, 4 place mats, and pillowcases. I will post what I get done tomorrow. To bed early tonight.

First baby quilt finished and delivered!

I had dinner with two of my favorite young women tonight and was able to handoff the quilt for Elsie who was born on Halloween.  I really like the fuzzy binding-it is so soft.  The back is pieced-thus using more of my scraps.  This is my favorite of the 3.  It makes me smile:) Mark 10:27-"for with God, all things are possible". 

Niece Kristen's wedding quilt

Kristen and Tucker's wedding quilt.

My niece got married in October.  I asked her if she would like a quilt and if so, what colors, contemporary or traditional and, to my surprise she chose her wedding invitation colors, grey and yellow in a traditional design.  Had a hard time finding the fabrics-maybe because I don't necessarily like greys and I don't do too much in muted colors.  That being said, the quilt came out nicely and I hope they enjoy it.  The scripture in the middle is Jeremiah 29:11.

I need to take them in better light as the quilt looks better than the pic.  My two quilting buds, Jan and Patsy and I took it to Quilter's Paradise in San Marcos and quilted it on their longarm machine in stars and ribbons.
I am going to my room to finish the string baby quilt that needs to be given tomorrow!!!!

Rob Appell Workshop

Last month I volunteered to help Debra, the nice lady who is in charge of programs at Friendship Quilters Guild in Poway.  I joined last June and wanted to get more involved. She asked me if I could be the helper for Rob who does seascapes.  I ended up taking the class and loved the results.

My kids will get this for Christmas.  It is all ironed down, the backing and bindings chosen and I bought the thread today.  I want to give the illusion of the sun shining above the surface of the water and hope to do it while quilting with white, yellow and light blue top/middle melding into medium and dark blues at the bottom-we'll see.  I really like this first attempt and think the kids will too.  we'll see again.

Visited a new quilt shop in San Marcos today named after a Shelti name Annie.  It may become my 2nd or 3rd favorite in SD County.  Bright vibrant fabrics and patterns.  I picked up 2 kits for under 40.00 for Christmas Celtic table toppers.  One for me and one for my nephew, Dallas and his wife. I will post pics after Saturday which is my sewing group's mini retreat and I hope to finish the table topper for Dallas.  Have to get all the Utah presents done by Nov 19th.  Yikes!  With God, ALL things are possible-even Christmas presents by mid November.

Getting to Work!

I finished "The Cat's Meow" and renamed it "Cattitudes".  It goes to Utah to my sister in law who is an uber cat lover.  She puts out little igloos made out of styrofoam coolers wrapped with insulation and padded with blankies for the homeless cats that move in for the winter as well as food and water.  She also has a group of garage only cats and her own house cats.  Only she could keep them all straight.

I haven't got much sewing done other than my Tuesday night "The Comforters" group which is a prayer quilt ministry in our church.  I hope to finish a never-ending turtle quilt tomorrow night.  Our new puppy, Lizzy has taken quantum time and is just now being trusted in the sewing room-only because I am allowing her to eat the inexpensive looped rug and pulling it apart string by string keeps her busy.   also I spent a week in Seattle helping our kids move from south to a north Seattle community.  A great visit and a tour of Martingale Publishing with a trip to their seconds bookshop which brought me 12 count them, 12 wonderful quilt books for 5.00 a piece.  So this last weekend I shut the door, gave dog duty to my sweet husband and knocked out 3 baby quilts from stash and scaps-didn't buy a thing and have all bindings and backs out of stash as well.  One was a string quilt which I have been wanting to try, one was squares I had cut out for something I don't even remember and one was a combo of squares and a border print.

One goes to a former boss that I really respect, one to my next door neighbor and one to The Door of Hope in SD.  All of them will have scriptures attached because God's word NEVER returns void.  There are some borders and some embroidery to do but they are close and my pink flannel drawer is almost empty.

The Lord whispered in my ear "stop dreaming, planning, and buying and get busy".  He knows his daughter.  After I was done I realized I had not used a pattern.  i let the scraps dictate the designs.  My soul is happy.