THERE IS JUST SOMETHING

about getting ready everyday that drives me crazy!!!

It has got to be the most mind numbing thing I do all day.

And that is  . . .blow drying my hair.

It's not like I could listen to the radio or stare at the TV because I can't hear anything over the noise of the motor in the dryer.  I can't read a book or a magazine because I would constantly be interrupted by checking where to aim the blower next.

I know I'm being nit-picky but those 2-4 minutes every time I wash my hair literally make me crazy.

Sorry about the rant~

Those of you with differing opinions are the lucky ones.

I finished the blocks for the birds in the air quilt.  I need to come up with another name for this.  It is made out of the shirts of my 22 yr. old nephew who passed away last June.  His mother asked me if I would make a quilt for her.

I cut out 2 1/2" squares for one of the borders.  I accidentally cut out 240 square which was twice as many as I really needed.  I have a habit of doing this and cutting out twice as much binding as I need.  I've got to figure out a way to stop the duplicity -ha!  I do check twice and sometimes 3 times but it's a flaw in my math skills I guess.

I put on the first inner border using a dark blue print by Kansas Troubles.

Then I sewed on half the a fore mentioned 2 1/2" square strip and another dark print border.  I don't normally work with plaids.  And I have to mention that I didn't really enjoy sewing this quilt top together.  But the plaids just SPARKLE in this quilt.  Maybe it's the block I chose to do.  They turned out so pretty.

I also hastily pieced a doll quilt from the leftover blocks and some of the leftover strip.  I'm going to quickly machine quilt it and then it will be ready for the next doll that comes over.  My granddaughters are more into stuffed animals and Barbie so it could be a while...............

These are the reds that I've picked out for the new Bonnie Hunter mystery.  They show up much brighter than they really are but I love them.  I 've decided I'm not putting anything in this quilt that I don't absolutely love.  I have a number of uglyish golds so it's going to be a challenge.  I have a French General piece that is mostly grey/beige with a red flower that I thought I might use instead of scrappy neutrals.  Still thinking about that.

In the meantime, looks at this absolutely gorgeous daffodil that thought it was spring and bloomed.  I have five clusters but this one is the biggest.  I had my DH cut them and bring them in because of the hard freeze last night.  I really think it must be a lily the way it perfumes the whole room.  It could be a bride's bouquet all by it'self.

Such a pretty day to spend in my sun-filled sewing room.  I better get down there before the day leaves me behind.
Robin

Getting it together

Pattern by Jan Patek

I finally remembered to get a picture  of this Country Paths quilt before I send it on it's way.  I'm going to miss it.

 
This is just a picture of the Baptist Fan quilting using the  by 'Around the Block' ruler by June Taylor that I purchased at Joann's. Sorry it's has so many shadows but that's the only way I could get the quilting to show up.

I've been busy doing genealogy for two days straight.  No quilting - nada!  Found some unusual names in our family tree like Selittie and Verlie.  But, our favorite is Ina Nicely.  Say it out loud  - So Sweet~

I'm trying to finish quilting my Bow Tie quilt and sewing the Birds in the Air quilt.  I just found out last night that I need to come up with a top (or two-gasp!) for  a project at the church where we will be tying them.

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat............
Robin

Hallowe'en 2015 is over and gone~

The quilty part of this post is toward the end so scroll down if you don't want to see the silly Halloween photos.

Yeah, that's my oldest son, the Sumo wrestler.    Not very convincing is he?

Here are the trick or treaters that  visited, ran around wildly in a sugar rush, left crumbs or wrappers everywhere, and gave a lot of hugs.  Notice Frankenstein (with a green face) in Cruella's arms.  He slept through the whole trick or treating experience.  In case you don't recognize the two in the back it's Ellie and Carl from Disney's movie "UP".

It's time to put all orange and black decorations in the Hallowe'en box and store them on the shelves downstairs.  No more creepy laugh from Dracula or guarding breakable items from little fingers.

Hallowe'en 1904 quilt is off my bed and the other wall hangings are off the walls and ready for their 11 month hibernation.  It seems kind of sad to only use something for a few weeks but each year when I get them out again it feels fresh and new and I am excited to see them again.

I don't have much for Thanksgiving and in a way it's cleansing to have the walls and some spaces bare for a little while before the Christmas embellishment in earnest begins.

This is the quilt I am currently working on.  It is made from the shirts of my recently deceased nephew.  It is coming along pretty fast but my desire is languishing so not much is getting done.  I need to perk myself up somehow.

I'd rather be doing this.  Sleigh Bells by Jan Patek

I went to the store yesterday to buy some blacks for the background on the big blocks of Sleigh Bells.  I'm always out of black because I buy it for a specific project and then use it all up.

But Bonnie Hunter is starting her new mystery on November 27th and she has just posted the intro.  Black in one of the colors that is necessary.  I would really like to participate this year.  So I will squirrel away the leftovers from cutting the black applique backgrounds and transfer them to the next mystery stash.

I had so much fun when I made "Roll, Roll, Cotton Boll" a few years ago.  I haven't been in a position to join the mystery since then.  You know how there is often something more important than quilting that demands your attention.  If you're like me you squeeze in time to quilt anyway.

Second from the right has silver metallic on it - it's pretty.

Gray is also a recommended color.  These are the only pieces of gray I have in my whole stash.  It just isn't a priority color.

 

I'm not really sure where this came from?  It's not marked on the border either so it's a mystery fabric for a mystery SAL.  

 This is the one I am leaning toward because it is a big piece and the mystery instructions recommend using the same fabric throughout.  It's also kind of funky and I like that. But, I'm wondering if it is too busy.  I'll have to think about it because one of the things I like about these mysteries is that you can use fabrics you already have including small scraps.  It's a way to use things up.  In spite of my lack of gray, I'm not going to go out and buy more just for this mystery, called "Allietare" (say it with an Italian accent).

I have plenty of gold and red for the mystery.  Those two colors will not be a problem.

I bought a column  pillar print by Andover yesterday.   It is so pretty.  I've wanted a column pillar print for a long time but they are hard to find.  The lady at the cutting table asked me what I was going to do with it.  I could tell she was NOT enamored with it.

I told her, "I'm just going to hang on to it till I find the right project."  And you know the right project will pop up.  I've seen old quilts that use column fabric as a border, as the center, as alternating blocks, in broderie perse, and even just cut up and used in the patchwork.  So it has a lot of potential

I noticed Blackbird Designs is coming out with a new line this month.  It is called Hyde Park.

Isn't it pretty?  You know you want some.   Actually I'm wanting one of the lilac colored pieces.  I always like a new line from Blackbird Designs or Jan Patek.  They just happen to know the words to my quilting song.
Robin