Taking a break from some housework-needed to wash curtains and windows in the guest room as we are having an Evergreen couple and a friend stay with us next week (one after the other).  The dust did not help my asthma-so I am sitting and breathing.  Today is my 44th anniversary.  That is an amazing concept.  Doesn't seem possible.  WE were going to do something today but Greg had a funeral to go to so, we went out for a very nice breakfast, hit some garage sales and I took the car to be washed and he left in it for the funeral.  Hence, I had time to clean the guestroom, pack 2 boxes for moving and move all the fabric from the guest room into my studio where it belongs.

Finished the top half of Aiming for Accuracy Thursday.  Totally caught up and it really is close to done. Going in the guest room in Medford along with Home Sweet Home.

All material was left over from Home Sweet Home except 2 yards black fabric-a first for me

These were the pink pinwheels that I really quite dispised-so glad I redid them.  In HSH that pink was only 1 small door to a house, so it was a nice little pop-this was a pink liquid explosion:) A real pain to take apart a redo but so worth it.

PS  I went to a sewin at the Crazy 9 Patch yesterday and got 8 circles done for my Pies and Tarts quilt that I put away for awhile but now need handwork and finished prep work for 5 Dear Jane blocks that I can work on at night.  That is why I am liking the A4A quilt - it is not a 2 year project.  I seem to like complicated things:)

Home Sweet Home

Home Sweet Home (pattern in a book called Home Sweet Home by Barb Adams and Alma Allen)  is sooo close to totally done!  Just need a binding and a few more buttons!  So glad to be over this hurdle.  I love it.  It has quite a few imperfections but It is lovely none the less.  I learned quite a bit on my first applique quilt.  I am using buttons that my grandmother cut off her old house dresses and saved "just because".  I have saved them for almost 40 years-nice to have a place to put them.

Top-it says 2012 because that is when I thought I would have it done.

yes, I know how to spell "willl"

Button detail-some blocks will only have 1 or 2

More buttons!

And a few more buttons!

Some of the San Diego fabric backing-quilt christened "San Diego Memories". 

I bought 4 yards of the beige San Diego Fabric which wasn't enough once I enlarged the quilt so, used the colored piece of SD fabric given to me 2 years ago by a precious friend and the middle panel of San Diego scenes was in the "goodie bag" I got for taking a class at the SD Quilt Show. Not showing is a row of 7.5 in squares top and bottom using fabric from top.

close-up of back

This will look a whole lot better in the Medford house with a black print skirt, matching Pillow Shams and no packing boxes in the background!  The addresses on the left are homes I lived in before I met Greg-ones on far side (hidden) are Greg's addresses growing up.  The ones on the foot of the bed are the 3 homes we have lived in in San Diego since we were married.  This will be our San Diego Quilt as we were both born here. A historical document in fabric!

I am taking a 2 day class with Cynthia England.  She is a great presenter with LOTS of energy but at the end of the day-my brain wanted to explode.  My sewing machine was not working -my faithful featherweight.  Then I remember that Greg was looking at it to see how it worked so he could see if he could fix the one I bought at a garage sale. Hmmm. Anyway, the shop had one so I was able to catch up. I am going back today so will post what I get done next week. 

Went to a Grace Errea workshop last Saturday at the San Diego Quilt Show.  I learned how to take a picture and draft a pattern from it.  I will post my days work next week as well.  I came up with something I can't wait to start on.  Today will be the last of my process workshops.  I think I can stop taking classes (except for the ones I get to go to for free this year because of being program chair) and start using the techniques I have learned.

My focal point for the last 3 weeks has been to get Home Sweet Home completed.  I have 4 swags to stitch and a back to finish piecing before tomorrow when I quilt it at Quilter's Paradise. I will leave my class a little early today so I can get it done.  That will be a huge load off my shoulder's.  I didn't want all that work to turn into a UFO.  I will post pics of that too next week:)

Home Sweet Home Progress

Setting up the embroidery machine, figuring out dimensions for multiple hoopings and changing the pattern on Home Sweet Home has caused me to put off doing the outside borders.  Today I resisted the urge to go take a nap and powered through 1 60 inch side border.  This is going to be our "Growing up San Diego" quilt so I embroidered one side with the 3 addresses where Greg grew up.  Got the swags glued on so now I have some evening hand work.  Took 6 hours to do the measuring and the embroidery.

There are different communities in San Diego but I stuck with "San Diego" for the ones within the San Diego City Limit

This is the right side border-I can't wait to get this done.  My deadline is the 3rd Wed in Sept.  but want it done before.  Wasn't sure what color thread I wanted but this ended up being perfect.

Exciting Weekend and Beginning of Week Coming Up

Yesterday was cleanup and rest day after the 4th of July party. Greg was getting in a little nap with Lizzy after taking all the tables and fold up chairs out to the barn:

This was our 13th and last 4th of July party and we have had a great time over the years.  I usually give prizes to the winners of the croquet matches but this year I gave all my unused leftover packs of paper plates, napkins and plasticware in a cute red, white and blue bucket to Chris and Brad who have been there every year-should be some benefit for faithfulness!

Greg and I, our neighbors, Sam and Frances, friends Steve and Candy, Chris and Bill

Pat and Howard (Greg's cousins), Wally who was 88 on the 4th and his SIL, Jim and my Greg

Two games were in progress-Steve was playing croquet and Lizzy was playing Frisbee

Julie was never sure if it was her turn or not!

Every game needs a referee-and that is Howard's job

We had 17 people and had a great time as always.

Yesterday I didn't even get dressed.  I stayed in my nightie, watched Netflix and sewed.  The second block instructions had come out for the Quilt along I am participating in (see the Aiming for Accuracy button on my sidebar) so i finished that.  It was an easy block so it didn't take long and it came out a perfect 15.5x 16.5.
I have been using a tool I have had but had never got around to using-a Dragonfly 1/2 and 1/4 square triangle cutter.  It tells you what size square to cut to get the proper triangle and then gives you the ability to drawsewing lines rather than the line down the middle.  It says you don't have to trim after and it is true-they come out perfectly.  Wendy Mathison designed the Dragonfly.

#2

#1 and #2

Dragonfly tool by Wendy Mathison

After the square, I worked on the last of the swags for the Home Sweet Home quilt-getting all 24 finished. So, when I get my Babylock back, I can go ahead and embroider the addresses on the borders and add the swags-still have the 4 corners to do-am waiting to see about the spacing since I have changed the dimensions.

24 border swags-six coordinated reds

Lastly, I worked on Cow Greg's eyes.  Greg has beautiful hazel eyes which was part of my original attraction to my sweet husband-so, I wanted the cow's (bull) eyes to be green and I wanted to make the sun glasses transparent so you could see his eyes underneath.  Have no idea if it will work but-hey-this is MY vision so I can attempt it!

Original sketch with round glasses and no eyes showing

New eyes with glasses all cut-16 pieces in all

material for eyes ironed on-Elton John glasses in place

All fabrics ironed on-we'll see if the illusion works-not seeing it yet:)

All in All a productive day!   Today I need to pack for my trip to Costa Mesa and Camp Watch-a-Patcher tomorrow, so, I don't think I will get any sewing done.  There is a meet and greet at 2-4 on Sunday which I am not sure now why I signed up for it-I am not usually comfortable in those situations. But I am taking an "Out of the Box" class so I should get out of my box. I skipped the "meet the Teachers" at 7 because I don't know my way around up there and I don't want to try to find it in the dark.  I will meet Mary Lou in class.

Before I go to the college, I am going to go to the sale at M and L fabrics.  They are like a warehouse with tons of flats at 2-2.95 a yd and they are having a 20% off sale.  Need a few pieces for my Mary Lou Weidman class.  I am staying with an Evergreen couple in Long Beach for two nights-I love Evergreen-it made this class doable-10.00 a night includes breakfast and is only 12 miles from the school.

Will write again on Wednesday-have a great first of the week!

Starting scalloped and embroidered borders

Got 8 of the 24 red borders turned and ironed on Sat.  There will be 4 of six different reds that are already in the quilt. No sewing on Sunday-visited a friend from our support group who has been in the hospital a month waiting for a heart.  He is stir crazy-he also happens to be our insurance agent.  We were quite surprised when he walked into our support meeting a month ago.  I am anxious to get HSH done now that I am getting close.

Quilting Galaxies today at Quilter's Paradise-yay!

Rested, Renewed, Repieced

Why don't I pack the motorhome and take the 20 mile trek to Julian 3 or 4 times a year instead of once?  I always come back in much better shape than when I leave.  I have time to sit and listen instead of go, go, go.  I have started an inductive study of the book of James.  I decided to make my own study sheets which means typing out the whole book.  What a blessing just typing the word of God.  He spoke to me so powerfully.  At the Women's retreat I was doing a devotional that I finished in Julian. I ran across a phrase 4x while doing the devotional about relying on strong horses.  I said, "God, what does that mean for me?" The next day I pulled out my day 4 of my Names of God devotional by Kay Arthur.  God is amazing-it referred to a verse that had a "relying on strong horses" phrase and Kay goes on to explain what that phrase means-which is relying on ourselves or anything else that isn't God.

Theme: Defending the faith

Mari, Penny and ?

Sarah (worship leader), Mari (pastor's wife) Gail Mays (speaker)

Adrienne and Sarina

I got it, Lord.  I have been trying so hard to get us moved closer to our granddaughters that it has caused some stress between my husband and I.  When I came home and told him what God had showed me, he opened up and we had a good talk about moving.  It ended with him going to look for blankets at garage sales.  I am always amazed when God knows me better than I do-I shouldn't be but I am.  What a good daddy I have!  I know we are going to move-I just need to get out of the way, pray more and speak less:)

I got the top of HSH done and the borders drafted.  Been working on it for over a year.  I recut and pieced the stars in the middle block and didn't hardly lose a point this time-my skill level has improved exponentially. Now I can start on the swag borders and know what I am doing.

Motorhome workspace

A perfect studio on wheels

Beautiful weather and campground: William Heise Park in Julian

Home Sweet Home middle of quilt-it will have addresses of all our SD residences embroidered around the edge and then beautiful red swags appliqued under the embroidery-it is getting close!

I also took apart the checked borders on Beauty and Check and restitched them.  Now that quilt is square.  Feels so good to have gotten all that done!

On Monday a special friend left us to continue eternity with Jesus in heaven.  No more sorrow, no more bad health days.  She was eating popcorn the week before, got dizzy, threw her hands up and her heart stopped. A week later they took out the tube that was keeping her alive and with her family surrounding her, she left us.  I will so miss her. She had very little in worldly goods, but she had a heart you could park a semi in. She loved me, prayed for me and made me laugh everytime I talked to her.  She was a street person for 30 years until she gave her heart to Jesus.  For the last 12 years she shared what He had given her-joy, love, herself.  I hugged her a couple of weeks ago and said, "Carole, what would I ever do without you?". I am going to miss her so much.  She was only 61-reminded me to keep short accounts, hold Jesus close, make sure I tell those I love how much they mean to me.

Glad to be back home, missed my hubby and our puppy.  She turned 1 on the 4th.

Lizzy LOVES frisbee-she will be a good camper.

Current projects

At this moment in time I am working on several large quilts in progress.  "Home Sweet Home" is about 2/3 done.  All but one block is appliqued and I need to do the appliqued borders which will have the addresses of all my husband and my residences in San Diego, both singularly and collectively.  I bought San Diego Fabric for the backing and this will be our "San Diego Living" quilt.

I am also working on a batik quilt that has a  pattern called "Pies and Tarts".  It is an English paper piecing pattern that I am doing with an applique process using starch and a hot iron instead of sewing the material onto the pieces.  Then the pieces are stitched together in the traditional way. The border will either be appliqued vine with small English pieced tarts or piano tiles.  Just want to finish the 100 large and 100 small circles-42 finished as of today.  My goal is to have this done by June.  I have 2 circles that are off but I am leaving them!

"Dear Jane" is the third quilt that I work on regularly.  I do not expect to be done with that one until 2014.  I have approx. 20 out of 200+ blocks done-oh, my.  However, I am learning a lot and my piecing is improving tremendously working on 4.5 in. finished blocks. No current pics.