Pillowcases for ConKerr Cancer!

A friend on the APQs forum asked for help in making pillowcases for children with incurable diseases and life-threatening illnesses. How could I reuse!

Read ConKerr Cancer to find out more.

Well, I cut into various fabrics that were left over from past projects and in about 2 hours…had 12 pillowcases ready to be sewn! Taylor took to the sewing machine, pinned and sewed and pinned some more and even learned how to do a French Seam! She did great and felt good knowing she was doing something to help other kids!

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You did AWESOME Sweetheart, I am so proud of you. ;0) Mom

Half Square Triangles (HSTs)…what do you do with them?

I pulled an old project from the bin and decided I needed to put the final border on it. Not remembering what I had finished to date on this particular top…and assuming I was just going to add a solid single piece border to finish it…I unfolded the top and voila…out fell a baggie full of untrimmed, pressed HSTs. Well, of course, I decided to start trimming these little fellows…down to 1-3/4” I might add.

2 hours later…and still motivated to sew…I started to turn them into 77 tiny little pinwheels! That was as far as I got last night…as I became tired and went to bed. Can you blame a gal for sewing into the late night and then needing sleep?!

I still need to put them together into some arrangement and get the final border done…but that will happen another day. I have the layout in my head…just need to make it materialize into a border!

Oh, by the way, I am NOT going to show the quilt top these belong to…until it gets completely finished. This is on my UFO list to finish this year…and I still have 2 months left!  Happy quilting  ;0) k

My APQS Mini Quilt Swap Partner received her quilt!

And she seemed to really like it. YAY!

The quilt is 18” square and done in reproduction fabrics. The quilting is to scale as is the tiny binding. I am sure glad that Kathy loved it. I did stress about it…just a little!

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All in all though, I would certainly participate in another mini swap. It was loads of fun!

I should say too…that I made her 4 coffee cozies and a wool pincushion. They were the little gifties that make opening the package extra special.

2009 Fall Swap Blocks…NOW a Top!

Yep…you read that right…these blocks were from a swap from one year ago! Yikes…where did the time go?

Well, the blocks are finally set into a top complete with borders! Now…to find the time to quilt it. I have a few in line before I can get this one on the frame! That is fine though…it gives me time to think about HOW to quilt it!

Autumn…

My favorite time of year! The gorgeous colors, the smell of rain and snow…and the views outside my window!

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Isn’t it beautiful! It has been below freezing here at night for a month or so now. Might be a cold long winter. I just love living here! Really, I do!  ;0)

Sven’s Bike!

About one month ago, Sven stripped his bike of all it’s parts, and sanded it down to bare metal. He then primed it and repainted it. He asked Dad to help with the reassembly and voila…a new bike!

We are so proud of him. He tackled a huge project and took it to completion. Too bad the weather is bad today…thunderstorms all around. He sooo badly wanted to go for a ride and show off his hard work! 

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Colors of the High Desert in Autumn!

We went scouting this morning for mule deer buck. Even though we didn’t see any…we certainly had a great time. Please look at the photo album below to see all the many colors of the desert in the wonderful season of Autumn. Know wonder this is my favorite time of year. It was a whopping 36 degrees this morning at 6:00 am…and quite refreshing to be out in God’s country! What a way to start out the week!

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High Desert Mystery First Border!

Mystery Solved! This is the final clue. I hope everyone enjoyed it and loves their quilt top!
First Border

High Desert Mystery Clue #11

Good morning. This is the second clue of the day for those of you just waking up!

Clue #11

High Desert Mystery Clue #10

Welcome back everybody to a new day of sewing! At the end of today…you should have a completed quilt top that will fit a large bed! YAY. Give yourselves a pat on the back for a job well done!

Without further ado…

Clue #10

Looking for a quilt piecing book...

Does anyone have a copy of this...that they would be willing to part with? 


Thanks in advance. 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month!

My boys want to remind everyone how important it is to get regular checks for Breast Cancer! Early detection is best! 


Mamas and sisters are important...at every age!


I lost a dear quilting friend to this disease a couple of years ago...let's not let this disease win without a fight!


click here to give free mammograms!

Quiltazoid Long Template Board Adapter!

I love working from the front of the quilt. This way you can tell when you have run out of bobbin thread, or need to make adjustments to the quilt top as you are quilting it! 


Yes, sometimes, puckers do happen when working from the back of the machine...but you can ease them out if you are at the front! I like to keep one hand on a quilt top at all times...smoothing and easing when necessary. 


Long continuous templates are not my favorite to use...I much prefer freehand...but sometimes a quilt just looks great with a pantograph or e2e (edge-to-edge) design. A template/stylus can help you achieve these desired results. 


I have the Quiltazoid...and Linda and Adam have come out with a new adapter for using a continuous template/design board from the front of the machine. 


Let me just say...once you figure out where to start/stop on the template to make the design continuous with just the one board...before moving the adapter unit along the roller bars...IT IS FABULOUS! I love this new tool! 


I am not sure that my kids would be able to use it from the front, at least not for a while, as they are a little young. They may still be using designs boards from the back...but at least I have the option to get out in front and quilt like I like! 


I can see another added benefit too...COST! Only needing to purchase one template instead of multiples to make the design go across the quilt. This can result in a huge savings. 


Thank you two for a terrific new product!

An RnS Interlocking Squares design template is sitting on the board base. I used clamps to give added assurance that the board would not move while quilting.

The quilt top is a beautiful snails trail and stars pattern. The quilting is not overpowering and definitely gives great texture to a quilt that will undoubtably get used! 


I sure hope the owner of the quilt likes it as much as I do! More details on this particular quilt when I finish it! It has a fun story behind it! 

How many...are sewing along with High Desert Mystery?

I would love to know just how many quilters have joined in for the fun! 


Please leave me a comment and tell me you are sewing along and what you think so far! shhh...don't tell...but, you just might win something after the mystery is solved!


Saturday, the 9th...I will post the final clues. Mark your calendar! ;0)

High Desert Mystery Clue #9

We are at the last clue for the day. For those of you who have not been able to sew along today…no fear…you will have a week to catch up. Just don’t peek ahead of whichever clue you are on! There is no fun in reading the end of the book first. You must read one chapter at a time…and then let the end surprise you!
Clue #9
Please tune in next Saturday for the final clues to solve the mystery!

High Desert Mystery Clue #8

I hope you are still playing along!
Clue #8
If you have been taking pictures of your progress…and do not have a blog…please add your pictures to the gallery at HDM Quilt Pics.

High Desert Mystery Clue #7

You have completed what I think is the trickiest part of the entire mystery! Give yourself a pat on the back! ;0)

Clue #7

High Desert Mystery Clue #6

Sounds like most of you have been busily sewing this past week on your first 5 clues. From what I have seen…the quilts are going to look great!

Let’s get back to the business at hand…I will give you four sets of clues today…then we will finish up the tops with the last set of clues next week!

Clue #6

Tadpole Buddies!

I couldn't resist posting this picture of my kids! 


This duo gets along really well. Even though they are brother and sister...and just over 3 years apart...they always seem to enjoy each other's company. 


Today, Grandpa took them out to the hills...and they found lots to do! They climbed, hiked, viewed the landscape and enjoyed being together! These two are seldom bored! 


                  I love them both...bunches.