Full Moon

I noticed the beautiful full moon when I was taking Ethan to the school bus stop on Wednesday, so I just had to grab my camera and take a picture when I returned back home.

It was so pretty and big!!!

I had some help the other night in my sewing room.

I was pinning a little wall hanging in preparation for some hand quilting and Kyson seen my gloves that I use when I do free-motion on my Bernina 630. (Which I don't do much of since I now have my SuzyQ!) He just had to put them on and pretend he was helping. Look at that smile!

I made this for Kristy from the same tutorial that I used for mine. Although I did change mine up a bit. Her's is exactly like the one that Kim made for the tutorial. Thanks again for sharing this fun pattern Kim!

These are so nice for just a little spot of St. Patty's Day fun!

Our sweet little Kaden (grandson) turned 4 years old yesterday. I think he was afraid that he was going to drop the cake. Happy Birthday precious boy! How grateful we are to have you in our family!

Hugs&Stitches, Jul♥a

Yummy Autumn Food

I made this yummy Tomato Basil Pie today for lunch. I got the recipe from Libby. Go to her Sept. 15the post and get this recipe! It is soooo good!! Randy and I both loved it. I took the leftovers over to my Mom and Dad, they really liked it too! I used basil and tomatoes from our garden. Yummo!!! Thanks for sharing this recipe, Libby!



On Tuesday the 16th, Randy and I celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary!
Randy loves homemade apple pie. Well, I do too! We are lucky enough to have an apple orchard real close to us. I stopped there yesterday, bought some apples and made this Anniversary Apple Pie today! Topped with a little vanilla ice cream, pure bliss!!! :~)That was the extent of our celebration. lol Randy is working nights this week, so we had a nice romantic lunch. Just the two of us! Kinda pathetic, huh? Yes, romance is still alive in our house! LOL Oh well, he did buy me the HQ, who needs romance! ;~)

I loaded another quick quilt on SuzyQ (HQ16, yes, I named it!) today. I used some of that cheater type quilt fabric, you know the kind that looks like it has been pieced. I added a couple of borders and Viola! a fast quilt. I still want to do some more practicing before I load a "real" quilt and I can't stand the idea of wasting time and supplies with just muslin. So I figure I can make a couple of these quick easy tops and I will donate them to charity. This one went on a lot easier. I still feel a little wobbly following the pantos. But, with practcie, practice, practice, I will get smoother. I hope! I am having lots of fun anyway!!!

I am going to a Kim Diehl class tomorrow. I'm really excited and a little nervous. This is my first real quilt class. I will take my camera and share with you all later.

Hugs&Stitches, Julia

Table Topper

When I was moving the furniture in my sewing room and doing some cleaning I found a little project that I started a year or so ago. I was going to make an entire lap quilt using a little Tumbler template. I must have been insane! Now, making quilts from little, tiny, 1 inch pieces may be alright for some of you, but not for me! I had some of them pieced together already, added a border and some applique and Voila!!!!

A cute little doll quilt was born. It is now adorning the end table next to our couch. I do want to make a tumbler quilt, but it will be with a bigger template. The tiny template was just to darn cute to resist though. :~)

I also discovered that my string/scrap bin was totally full. I have vowed that I will not quit making string/crumb blocks until it is empty. I have pieced one top, another is almost done and I have about 1/2 of the blocks pieced for another one. I think that I still have enough scraps and old, not so cute, fabric left to make two more. I have a big pot of potato soup cooking in the crock pot, so I should be free to keep at it today.

Hug&Stitches, Julia

New Project, Disappearing Nine Patch

I had heard about the Disappearing Nine Patch pattern from another quilter and of course I have to try it. I am pulling all of my purple and green scraps, cutting them all into 4 inch squares. Here is my first block, this is a lot of fun.
The blocks will finish up about 10 inches. I am not sure how big it will be or where it will find a home, but I just need to use up some of my scraps. This is a good way to get some experience, as I have only been quilting a little over a year now.

I have 3 other projects in the works also. When I started quilting I swore that I would start and finish "1" project at a time. Well that vow went right out the window in a quick hurry. I am doing a couple of BOM's and another group project. I will post picture's and info about those at a later time.

Just for your info, Eleanor Burn's, Quilt in a Day site is having a sale, 37 pages of fabric at $3.00 a yard. Of course I just had to see if I could melt my credit card, LOL. You might want to check it out.

Happy Quilting, Julia

Gratitudes for today,
1- Dh home today, he can help look after our 6 year old son, so that I can sew!!!!
2- A little cooler today!!
3- Quilt fabric sale!!!

Vintage Rick Rack & Baseball

This wonderful little pile of vintage goodness, came from my Mother. My Mom and Dad live right next door to us. Their basement was packed with stuff in storage. My Mom always said that she didn't want us to go through any of it until she was gone. Well, life happens and plans need to be changed. Their basement was flooded Saturday so we had to do a major clean up down there. Hence, we had to sort through everything. I found this old rick rack stored in an old shoe box. It smells a little musty, but other than that it is in great shape. I think that my Mom saved everything that she has ever purchased in her 76 years on this earth. :) She was a very accomplished crocheter, her doilies are works of art. I did manage to get a couple of those too. But anyway, I think that she had about 200 balls of crochet cotton. Some of them brand new with the wrappers still on them. I saved several of those too. I just might try my hand at making a doily or two myself.

We have been spending a lot of time at the ball fields watching this darling little man of ours play ball. This is his first year and he looks so cute out there. I LOVE baseball so this is lots of fun for me.

Today is the last day for signing up for my give-away, leave a comment on the give-away post below. The drawing for the winner will be tomorrow.

Hugs & Stitches, Julia

The Winner Is------------

Drum roll please!!!!!!!

Oh wait, before I announce the winner, let me just say, I am astounded at the amount of comments! Some of you said that you were new to my blog and others were lurkers. I had no idea that there was that many of you out there. I am honored and touched to have so many people interested in what I have to say. I am blushing! :~) I am glad that I decided to do this, now I have met some fun new friends. I have tried to respond to each comment but, I might not have gotten to all of you yet.

Okay back to the announcement!


Here is my cute little snowman bag, with all of the names inside.

Ethan was the impartial, official name drawer. (is that a real word?)


So without further adieu the winner is Teresa over at Stitchin Friends, Congratulations!!! Email me with your snail mail address and I will get your goodies sent to you!

Thanks to all of you for participating! Now that you have either found me or come out of lurkdom, I would love to hear from you in the future!

Hugs&Stitches, Julia

The Witch is In!!!

I finished this little witch last night. Isn't she just the cutest!
This is my kind of Halloween stuff. I don't like all of the gross, creepy Halloween stuff. With only 10 days to Halloween, I finally have all of my decorating done. I don't do that much for this holiday. Just enough to look cute without going crazy.


I also finished up my first month's blocks from the Simply Sophisticated BOM from Fat Quarter Shop. If you have this one or want to join in, Vicky is having a monthly drawing for a $25 gift certificate from the Fat Quarter Shop. read about it here. This might keep me on task and not get so far behind. I also signed up for the Designer Mystery BOM and I haven't made one of them yet. :~( I am setting myself a goal to get them all made before the next one is due.

Hugs&Stitches, Julia

Last weeks walking report isn't so good. Only 6 miles for the week. Trying to do better this week, 2 3/4 miles yesterday.

Trunk Show

These are a few of the beautiful quilts that Roma Lambson shared with my quilt guild at the trunk show on Thursday.This one has 10,000 one inch squares!

This one traveled with the Hoffman challenge for a year. That is gold lame'! Beautiful work!
I have lots more to share, but I will split them up into a couple of different posts.

Hugs&Stitches, Julia

Trunk Show Part 2

Here are some more quilts from the trunk show.

I love this one! Stars are one of my favorite designs.

These tiny ones are amazing!
The double wedding ring is part hand pieced and part applique. She appliqued the curved pieces.

The Irish Chain is all machine pieced.
The leaves on this one are all reverse appliqued by hand. She won a best of show for this one. As you can see the ribbon is almost bigger than it! :~)



Hugs&Stitches, Julia

I forgot to give my walking report for last week. 3 days totaling 7.9 miles. Now if I could just quit eating those *&%^$@$&()__*& little candy bars that they push this time of year for Halloween treats!

Let Us Never Forget!

May God Bless America!!

Mom's Quilt

I made this quilt for my Mom. I started making it last spring and I ran out of the fabric for the setting triangles. After a frantic internet search, I was able to find some. But, I put it aside, hoping Randy would buy me the HQ. :~) As you know, he did buy it for me and this was my first "real" quilt that I did on it. I finished it just in time for her to use the day she had to have some medical tests, she snuggled under it the rest of the day while she was resting. I love the panto that I used. It is called "Fantasia". My quilting in not perfect, but I feel that I am improving. Now if I could just get brave enough to try something freehand besides stippling. :~)

Thanks for all of your suggestions on a name for the fall quilt. I think that I am going to go with "Autumn Breeze". Libby gave me the idea for it. I knew that I could count on all of you! :~) I was just reading this post by Bonnie , about quilters and the bond that we share. Wonderful how a common thread (pun intended-hehe) links us all, despite the miles, circumstances, and different walks of life that separate us. A true sisterhood! One that I am very thankful to be a part of.

Hugs&Stitches, Julia

ShopHop

Did anyone do the Oct FabShopHop? This is the first one that I have participated in. My DS helped to find all of the bunnies, I think that there were about 130 or so, I can't remember. But I did find them all. It was kind of fun and I did find a couple of online shops that I like. Not that I really needed any place else to shop. LOL But I only have one, so-so, LQS close to me, so I do most of my shopping online. Here are some of my purchases.
These fabrics are for an ISPY quilt that I will be making for my DGD. When she seen the one that I was making for DS, she looked at me with those beautiful, big, brown eyes and said, "Grammee, will you make me one too?" Well, what Grammee could resist that. I hope to have it done for her for Christmas.

I also purchased these two patterns from this same shop.
Quick shipping and very reasonable prices. Here is the link, Heart of Dixie Quilt Shop.

I also bought this pattern from Tammy Tad Designs.


It was kind of fun, but it did take quite a bit of time. Not sure that I will do it again.

I do have a question for all of you, how do you all do your quilt labels?

Happy Easter and Pay it Forward Gift

I hope that you all had a Happy Easter weekend with family and friends. This is one of the most joyful holidays!! I am grateful to my Savior for all that he has done and still does for me!

I have a question though, does anyone know how the whole Easter Bunny thing came about? I was just wondering what that had to do with the Glory of the Resurrection?

I received my Pay it Forward gift from Pat on Saturday.

I love it!!! It is now hanging in my living room.
The jelly beans and the cute little chocolate bumble bee are in the bellies of my youngest son and my 3 grandchildren. ;)

I love these Cadbury eggs and they have been sold out locally for a week or so. I was so excited when I opened the wonderful, crunchy, chocolatey goodness, that I kissed the package. LOL
I won't be sharing these with anyone. hehe The purse pattern is one that I have been wanting to buy!!!
Thanks so much Pat!!!

What wonderful fun friends you all are. I love cyber space!!!!!

The little table runner under the surprises, is one that I just finished. It is from a Thimbleberries book.

Not much has been going on in my sewing room, since I last posted. All three of us, DH, Ethan and myself have been sick with either bronchitis or the flu. We all went to the doctor and have been taking medication. Thanks to the marvels of modern medicine we are all now feeling much better. Ethan is out of school this week on Spring Break. He and I are headed out for a fun Mother and Son day, just the 2 of us. Not sure yet what we will do, but it will be great to spend the day with my baby boy!! (who thinks that he is a big boy because he is almost 8 years old, so let's not tell him that I will always consider him my baby boy)

Hug & Stitches, Julia

Summer Swap - Rummage Sale

My Summer Swap quilt is on it's way to it's new owner. I will share a picture after she receives it.

I am having a little summer yard sell via cyber space! :)

I have been doing some cleaning in my sewing room and I have a few things that I would like to sell. If any of you are interested leave me a comment or email me and I will figure out the actual shipping for you.

These are books 1,2, 4, 5, & 6 of Jennifer Chiaverini's series. I will sell them individually or as a group. Either $3.00 each or $12.00 for all of them. SOLD!!!!!!This is new and hasn't been used, but the packaging is gone. I think that there is 15 feet here. It has some sticky tape down the sides to hold it in place while you quilt. $5.00
This cute little stitchery pattern is perfect for the 4th of July. It has the instructions for the quilted wallhanging as well as the stitchery. It measures 25"x25".$5.00
This one measures 13"x16" $4.00

My book shelves are overflowing. $8.00 each for either of these.

I have some more pattern books that I will be selling next week. So come to my yard sale again!

I will leave you all with this cute picture of Uncle Ethan being attacked by his two little nephews. They are just toooooo cute!!!
Boys will be boys!!!!! :)

Hugs & Stitches, Julia

Swamped with Life!

I have been really busy lately. Getting the yard and the house ready for the cold winter months. I have been washing my windows, (not my favorite chore). Have two left, will finish those up today.

It seems that we have been raking leaves for months now. :~) We finished that up last Saturday. I finished cleaning up my flower gardens yesterday.

I have been doing some quilting. I will show pictures later. I just took a quilt off of SuzyQ. Now onto the binding. Then the best part of the whole process, although I love most every part of the process, but, when it comes out of the dryer with all of it's crinkly, wrinkly goodness, it is just the best!! Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside! :~)

No pictures today. I thought that I had better let you all know I am okay, just Swamped with Life!
Looking forward to the long, cold, winter days. They are the best for quilting!

Hugs&Stitches, Julia

Karlee's Quilt

I have two of the borders done on Karlee's quilt. I am trying to do most of the applique before I sew the borders to the quilt. That way I don't have to deal with the whole thing as I stitch it down. I am once again using the Kim Diehl method of doing the applique. I am really enjoying this process. There will more applique quilts in my future! :~)

Back to prepping some more flowers, leaves and butterflies!

Hugs&Stitches, Jul♥a

Happy Independence Day!

I hope that you all have a wonderful and safe 4th of July!


Long may our beautiful flag wave and long may the Divinely inspired Constitution stand!
How grateful I am for those who have fought, and are presently fighting, to keep this wonderful country free. My heart and prayers go out to them and their families. May God Bless you all! My prayer is that we may all remember what this country was founded on and the price that has been paid for our freedoms! :~)

Hugs&Stitches, Jul♥a

Busy!!

I have been busy with t-ball practice and games. Our youngest is in t-ball for the first time this year. Oh my, what a laugh to watch 5 and 6 year olds try to play baseball. The whole team runs for the ball and then one of them falls on it and it becomes a game of keep away. All of this is going on while the coach and parents are shouting words of advice to get the ball to first base. Then there is my son who already has the arm of a much older player, he throws it so hard. His problem is he is not real accurate as to where it is going to go at the end of it's long flight through the air. During the last game he was supposed to be throwing it to the catcher, well it went behind the back stop and hit a child on the head. Everything was fine, but DH will have to work on accuracy with him when they play catch.

I started my summer walking program this week. I try to walk 2 1/2 - 3 miles, 6 days a week, early in the mornings. I just wish that I would keep up the program on the "trudgemill" in the winter time.

been on a trip

 I just finished cutting the last of the 100 scrappy charms and it was like a trip down memory lane of a lot of past quilting projects. What I made and who I made it for; easy pattern or not; wish I had bought more of this fabric; man! ... I will never make that again....
Now I know I said I would post a winner this morning, and I have not forgotten; however I have been so busy getting ready for not just one quilt retreat, but 2 of them; back to back! Poor me eh...
Not only that but Mr. O has gone away so he can't make my draw. What I am going to do is take the names with  me to retreat and get someone there to make the draw. When I get back I will post the name of the winner. I may not be able to take photos because Mr. O has taken my digital camera. You see he has gone to Australia on business for 2 weeks.  Again I apologize for the delay in posting a winner, but when I get back I promise to post the winner.

Now what is a post without a photo? Borrring! So I will leave you with a vacation photo or 2.

Mr. O and I at Stone Henge.