Here it is...another month almost here and I'm still working on Don's quilt trying to finish the quilting.  Criminy!!  That thing is just taking me forever and ever and ever to do! 
And it's looking like it will still be several more days before it's done.  Oh well.... I'm still plugging away and I guess that's OK.  At least it is with Don.  So if he doesn't care... who am I to worry and fret?  

So now Feb is rolling around and it's time for another UFO number.  Nancy has chosen #7.  That's good.  My list says #7 = Snow Business.  It's a mystery quilt (lap size) that I made about two years ago and should be easy enough to get quilted and finished.  I won't be doing anything fancy or difficult.  In fact a panto will probably be my choice. 

Since Sunday night TV is not my favorite programing....I think I'll spend the rest of the day (and night) and get back to my book.  

Don's been glued to the tube this afternoon and I thought about watching too..... but... this is what I've done instead. 
Block #3 (Exploding Star) from Shannon's BOM 
I must say I really love the blocks she's giving us.  They are pretty easy to put together...they look harder than they are... and with me using Fairy Frost the finished blocks just feel so sturdy and strong. 
Yeah I like these! 
I am still debating about the applique' and how I want to do it.  I'm leaning toward fusing it....but I'll ponder some more. 

I haven't been doing much of anything this last week.  Well...I have been "farming". 
I've done a bit of marking on Don's quilt...not much quilting on it yet though.  Thank goodness he's a very patient man.  LOL

And.... I did get a couple of these Elm Creek Quilt blocks completed.
Today I finished reading the first book of the series (The Quilters Apprentice).  And I now have listed the 12 blocks that Sylvia showed Sarah how to make.  It is Sarah's first Sampler.  I have these three done....9 more to go then I'll move on to the next book.   

One more block finished.  The more I work with these fabrics the more I like them.  Well....I'm not sure that is possible because I really really like them a lot.  LOL  But I am pleased with the way they look and the feel of the block when finished. 

Remember when I said that I was having problems with my machine on the frame when I loaded Don's quilt?  Well I figured out what was wrong.  I wanted to use black So Fine on top to quilt the black border.  Well ...  the machine got a bit temperamental this time and decided it didn't like that thread for some reason.   I know I've used it before and it worked fin.... but not this time.  So I switched back to King Tut and all is well.  
Sheesh!  Really no need for it to throw such a fit!!  

The other day I was reading through my Google Reader and stopped in on Shannon's (pieceful kwilter) blog.  She's putting up a BOM every 2nd Monday. 
I'm getting a slow start (this is month 3) but I like the pattern and the blocks she's making so I decided to follow her through this.  Her pattern plan will have a center applique' with assorted star blocks around it and will measure 80" square. 
I'm using black as my background and assorted Fairy Frost fabrics.  This was fun to put together today using her pressing tip to reduce bulk.  Check her sidebar - Block #1 and click on the picture of the back of the block for her tip about how she clips and presses.  I will definitely remember this.


It feels so good to not be aching from the cold. 
The sun is shining and temp is up to 45 degrees. 
And we had goldfinches at the feeder this morning. 
What is that about!  It seens much to early for them to be here in northern Kansas. 
But maybe that means that our cold cold is done and we can move on to spring.  Maybe! 

I started reading the The Quilter's Apprentice by Jennifer Chiaverini.  This is the first book in her Elm Creek Quilts Sampler series.  I also have the book of patterns for Sylvia's Bridal Sampler and my plan is to make the blocks as I read along with the book.

....The story so far (very condensed).... Sarah has agreed to help Sylvia get the maner cleaned and organized on the condition that Sylvia teach her to quilt.  So she cleaned and dusted and with the list that Sylvia gave her... off she went to the fabric store.  She has her pretty fabric and the first block Sylvia started her on was "Sawtooth Start".

.... Here is mine...(I don't know why it looks so wonky.  It really is square)  These blocks will finish at 6" and (for me) will be a very long work in progress. 
One I will most definitely enjoy since it will combine two of my loves.  Quilting and reading. 
I'll share my work as I read along and I hope you'll enjoy. 

OMGosh!!  I laghed till I cried.  This is hilarious!  And I so agree!!!

I found a cute free block of the month from Bunny Hill Designs  that I'm going to work on this year.  It's a bit of applique' and a bit of embroidery and a bit of piecing.
Should be cute when finished.
I have to dig around in my stash now and find the just right fabrics to set aside for it.
As if I didn't have enough things to make!!  :8-)
Anyone else going to be making these? 

I finally made it through that blasted pizza block for this month.  I do think it was the absolutely worst time I've ever had making a block.  There were no instructions.  A page of templets to cut and use.    Templates must be fine for hand piecing I think ... but I don't think they're so great for machine piecing.  (At least for me!!!)  I finally wound up paper-piecing it (kinda) and I still have one spot that just wouldn't join right.  I know I must have frogged every single seam twice!!  Grrrrrr
At least it's DONE! 

Our guild should have only one more month to go with these pizza box projects.  They have been fun and I'm anxious to see some of the completed quilts.    We have a new guild president this year so our meeting next Monday will be interesting.  I'm looking forward to see what new ideas a younger gal will come up with.

Criminy!!  Thanks Crispy for being my proof reader.  It's fixed now. 
I thought about leaving it and taking two years to get them done......  LOL

I was such a slug yesterday.  I pretty much spent the day playing games, reading blogs and tending to my crops in Farm Ville.  I am soooo addicted!!   
But I really think I was putting off making this months pizza box block.  There are no directions with this one and I'm flying by the seat of my pants.  And what I thought I wanted to do didn't work.  So today I'm turning off this black hole that sucks me into and getting back to sewing.
Yep!  That's exactly what I'll be doing. 
Have a great day everyone

2010 UFO Challenge

I've been lazing around this morning trying to get warm snuggling under a quilt while I'm checking blogs and waiting for my veggis to grow in Farm Ville.  Yeah I'm addicted.  Debbie warned me.  hahaha   
Ran across this new-to-me blog Patchwork Penguin and decided to join in her UFO Challenge this year.
I think I should be able to handle at least one a month.  
So I'll be getting my list together and added to my sidebar.

  

OK so I know a lot of New Year resolutions are being made .... but I've never been one to really take them seriously.   In the past I've fallen for that "resolution" trick and made my list of things I want to change .... then quickly left the list laying around somewhere! Forgotten!  LOL
So nope!  No life changing list-making for me this year.

Last year I did enjoy keeping track of the "Project a Month" .....even though I'm not really that productive.  I'm slow!!  But I sure do enjoy the process.  And that's what counts after all!  I think I'll continue marking monthly "finishes" for another year to see how I do. 
This month I am determined to get Don's quilt on the frame and quilted!!!  That's first on the list!!  Yep!  I might even get to that today.  ;o)

Oh and my books..... I'm so enjoying reading again.  In fact I have added two more books to my shelf since Christmas.   
#1... I finished Sarah Palin's "Going Rogue".  Really enjoyed it.  It was a light read but very informative and enjoyable.  I liked her before the book.... and now like her even more! 
#2 ... "Angels & Demons" by Dan Brown.  Thanks Deb!!  This book I couldn't put down.  And I didn't!  I started it Thursday around 4:30pm and finished at 1:30am.  Superb!!  (and I took a nap after watching the Parad)   I'm not sure what book I'm going to start on next.

I love this pic.  Grandpa & the Greats watching the blizzard.