Halloween and other SCARY Things!!

Halloween is finally here the kids say! Last night we carved pumpkins and this piece of art was done by Aaron. His first attempt at going beyond just a scary face and he was so proud and did such a good job I think!

In reference to "other" scary things....I just completed a tablerunner using the Big Easy pattern. I loved the fabric and intended it for my kitchen (however, I know I'm nuts as in this stage of life it is never seen!) but am so unhappy with the finished result. I had just watched a DVD on machine quilting and was excited to try to put little loops in the strips...so excited I didn't think about the light thread I was using on the dark red and about allowing room for the binding! Oh, well....a lesson learned and at least it was a small project and not a huge quilt I had invested tons of money on!!

Hope everyone has a delightfully frightful Halloween! I'm taking out the younger kids with a friend so it will be double the fun!!

Rinne's Quilt

This quilt was a project I did spring of 2008. It was a gift for an exchange student from Japan who spent the year with some friends of ours. I paper pieced squares and snuck around the school getting signatures of her friends, classmates and the 1st grade class, where she was a helper for one of her class periods. She was so surprised when I gave it to her!! It was my first attempt at mitered corners and my first attempt at quilting with a pantograph.

Latest Projects

Last week was productive in the quilting department! I used up some leftover fabric to make this baby blanket for a co-worker of my dh. It was a major learning experience as I decided that some nice soft fleece I found would make a wonderful backing...yes, but I guess I was too inexperienced with my frame yet to attempt something that stretchy! It was quite difficult to get quilted!! Plus when I took it off the frame all the stretch made it quite puckered! A wash and hot dry helped some and I decided to give it even though it wasn't the "perfect" blanket I had hoped for. Hopefully it will be dragged on the floor, spit up on and used!!

I made the tablerunners from the Cobblestone pattern by Lehman. It's one of my favorite patterns as it goes together quick and easy, yet looks good (at least I think so!) I gave one to my mom for her birthday and I think I'm going to consign the other one at a store in my town.

Apples, Apples and more Apples!!!

Yesterday my dad and I spent the day at my husband's family farm picking apples. It was a fun day that will be a treasured memory! Dad was having so much fun...I would say I think we have enough and he would say ...this is fun and keep right on picking! The photo only shows my half of what we picked!! I'm not sure how my mom is going to feel about getting her half!! Since the "best" apples were on top, dad got out our Bobcat loader and I rode the bucket to the top of the tree. I guess I will be busy for awhile! The kids love dried apples and the yellow ones are so sweet they end up being almost like candy. The dehydrator will be running for a LONG time! I will be able to make a lot of apple butter this year too! It usually doesn't last long, so the kids will be happy about that too!

Photos of my Hinterberg Stretch frame and Voyager 17. I guess I need to move the crooked picture behind the frame! Below is an old entertainment center that I had my dad cut in half so I would have storage under the frame. It's been a fun challenge learning how to quilt on a frame.

A UFO That Multiplied!

A UFO (unfinished object) finally finished and it multiplied! I bought the kit for this wallhanging (the one on top) two years ago, started it and fall was over before I got very far and I put it away. Fast forward 2 years I dug it out again and I discovered the pattern made enough flying geese (the triangles) to make 2 borders, so I decided to complete a second one for an upcoming benefit for a young lady that lives down our block who is on the waiting list for a kidney and pancreas transplant. I did a little bit of everything to finish these...hand sewing, my regular machine and my V-17. It was my first "real" project on my new V-17 set-up and I did the trillium leaves and somes loops and meandering. Learned a lot, ripped out a lot and decided I need to stick to some larger projects for awhile!!

Dressing up a plain dish towel. I did this a couple weeks ago for a friend's birthday present. Today I helped my mom at the fall senior citizen fundraiser. She's senior services coordinator for two counties. I was in charge of the door prize table...not as easy as it sounds...I'm told the elderly like to sneak in more than one registration and will cast stones at anyone who wins more than one prize so it had to be done with care!!

My kids

My kids are the most important part of my life. Sean a senior this year, Miles a freshman, Aaron in 4th grade and Anna in 1st. It is a hard year for me watching Sean spread out his wings and prepare to go out on his own. I pray he stays the awesome person he is. This photo is from the first day of school...Sean wasn't impressed at still having to take 1st day of school pictures!

Baby blanket for Kelby Jo

I used flannel, minkee and a longer type of furry fabric to make this blanket for our nephew's new baby girl, Kelby Jo. It was an easy project but caused me a lot of stress as I cut some of the squares 1/2" too long on 1 side and then the grey chaco liner I used to mark for quilting decided it was going to be difficult to remove. Hopefully she will love it!