Recent activities...not quilting!

Where's Wanda?







Redwood National Park, CA

Another small section view

Not quite 6 hours of writing... but no looking back...progress is progress

Starting now...Will write 6 hours today...just to earn those 10 min. quilting breaks!!

Hope your Thanksgiving was great! Mine was spent serving a dinner for the community and spending times with our family and friends in Enid and at home. Friday morning while at friends and all kids asleep, enjoyed hand-quilting in the morning sunshine
on the baby quilt for guild. No other quilting but much family time and family games (Chicken Foot and Slap Uno). Later at home...some looking at quilting books. Now back to the schedule of writing...and a little extra since I took off on the holiday. Maybe I will post a photo tonight of what I get accomplished on quilting.... stay tuned :)

165 pieces...but it seems like a LOT more than that

Writing 6 hours today...Here I come! Can't wait for 10 min. quilting breaks rewards!

Ready to sew CURVED machine piecing...and a sample of the finished product below, approx. 3"x 2" actual size. Very fun!!

Flowers take form.... For your viewing pleasure

A little quilting and a little writing...

Love these colors! All but 5 pieces have been cut out and auditioned now. (Most done while at the workshop.) Have been piecing for 10 minutes at a time as my writing reward. I also have worked some in the evenings the brain is too tired and too scrambled to much else but trace patterns on each tiny template and pin pieces. Then they are ready to sew next time.

The Master Drawing from Design Class last week:

Thought I would post a gradual chronology of this quilt so that it will begin to emerge gradually on my blog - even though much of the work was done during Ruth McDowell workshop in late October. Since I am not able to work on it right now...at least I can show steps of progress to this point. This is installment #2. The Master drawing enlarged - outline of the quilt. It measures approx. 45" x 35" a good size my the wall in my office when finished.
Happy Quilting to All!

Fun in Massachuttes with Ruth, DJ & Coral!

Another choice........

wait........I have one more to choose from.......a favorite of mine !

Personally, I like them all.........don't ask ME to choose !

....Addendum 10.25.09...HA! I forgot that YOU can edit my posts too! Nice photo option.....but you cropped out my wonderful friend!....and stealth blog poster!

Profile pic Options for your viewing pleasure

Fun with Marsha

Although I took the Blended Quilts workshop, Marsha McCloskey is well known for her Feathered Star Quilts too. This shot is one of her and a feathered star she showed at the luncheon and "Trunk Show."
Fun weekend and inspiring!
Here is a picture of classmates work using Marsha's new line of fabrics.

Blended Quilts w/ Marsha McCloskey on Friday in Hennessy- Can't Wait!!!

Picture of Blended Therapy ..need to add an updated pic :)
Start of Picture of Blended blocks (March 2009) from days gone by (2008)

Missed August and Quilting

Here it is Sept. and I am back to school with everyone else. Seems it is off to a good start. Already finished teaching grad. nursing informatics compressed in Aug. Now for undergrad. community nursing students until December. There is no quilting in sight as I also get back to writing the "big" paper for IU. Wish me well...it is an uphill battle and very slow going...but I will be persistent.
(Photo inspiration from fall 2008 Shawnee quilt show old quilt that I would love to replicate!)

Blended Star #8

Well, now that the first 2 weeks of school are complete and basketball tournaments and band programs are over for the time being.... I am hoping that things slow down a little so I can sew again! Thanks to Supermom I have a nice design wall to audition fabric choices for more blended blocks. I also want to work on the homespun baby boy quilt, piecing the top so I can send to my fav sister-in-law to quilt and send on to baby cousin in Wisconsin. (est. date)

Baltimore Album Quilts...in Baltimore!

Back from a conference in Baltimore and took a few hours to hike up to the Maryland Historical Society Museum that has several Baltimore Album and other quilts in addition to a large array of paintings and historical pieces. They had several quilts on display. This pieced and appliqued one was my favorite (although not in the traditional Baltimore style). They have a very nice online gallery that includes more than what was on display as they rotate the display quilts for preservation purposes. Click the logo to visit take a quilt tour. Now back to the dreaded writing...
Wanda

No quilting: Back to reading and writing for many days now

Spring Mini-quilt Blog Swap - Received!

Isn't this lovely! My swap partner, Ana from Portugal sent it and I am just now getting a photo posted. What a fun experience to participate in this project. You might want to try it! Michele Foster (aka Mishka) is the fabulous host of the Quilting Gallery where you will find the swap projects and LOTS of other interesting stuff. It is a great way to get blogging! She is so organized and creative! I have become a big fan in just a few months. Go and visit! and while you are at it consider challenging yourself to do a Summer mini-quilt swap and meet other lovely quilters from around the world!! Here is the link to summer swap.
Don't forget to go by and see my swap partner - Ana's blog in Portugal...and tell her what a nice job she did on this Spring min-quilt swap!
Happy Quilting to all!

My FINISHED Spring Mini-Quilt

I can hardly believe it myself...I finished a quilt! ...and in only 6 weeks...of course it helps that is was only 15 " square! LOL But, I did it all by myself without even binding help from Dot...She should be so proud. I really enjoyed using Ruth McDowell's technique and flower design from her book (see my bookshelf). It is machine pieced and machine quilted in the ditch then hand quilted leaves in the border. I used fire opal crystals in the flower center to give an extra sparkle. I had to pull out the books to review binding techniques...and I did a few boo-boos (quilting on one leaf extends into the binding) but hopefully made up for them with extra touches :) I am so happy that my swap partner in Washington, USA likes it a lot! It turned out great! (Thanks to swap partner for the photo!) Stop by her blog "fiberbabble" and say Hi"

Spring Mini Quilt Swap

This is before quilted and bound but last photo I have before dd took camera to camp then I sent to swap pal and have no finished photo. She will send me a photo soon. Happy quilting everyone...now back to writing...

Another OPH fundraiser quilt in progress

This is a photo (taken 2-3 weeks ago) of the first OPH fundraiser quilt that I started. It is all pieced and backing pieced and sewn and binding cut and pressed but needs some time and attention for basting and quilting....that's the hold up. (It really is flat and has top and bottom matching borders too...but not a good photo).
I met a new quilting friend...only in cyberspace so far (Hi Coral)... and claimed that I am not a "stack and whack" quilter but a process quilt-maker and hand appliquer and quilter. HA! Have you see my blog lately?...all that I've been doing for months are 9 patches and squares! Not too convincing...but that is all I can do in 5-10 minute increments between study/writing and at least it is something! The rest will have to wait :)..except for my Spring Mini-Quilt Swap, it is more intricate and hand quilted (mostly) but I can't show it yet...gotta HURRY and work on it to finish!...but where is the time???

More work on Spring Mini-Quilt Swap...

...need to hurry and finish! Snapped this photo quickly this weekend before the camera was taken away again....to dear daughter's next camp! What do ya think?

Froggies

Daughter dear is back so I snapped a quick photo of the froggies with my camera.
Not a lot of contrast but cute fabrics. You can see 9-patches in progress using 2" cut squares.

A little quilting :)

Quilting...10 minutes at a time as a writing reward...(and 45 min. as I listened to an online conference yesterday while cutting out a baby quilt for OPH guild fundraiser. It is BRIGHT green 9 patches with light blue background froggy alternate blocks (and alternative squares in the 9 patches). Froggies are the same bright green and do they have personality! But no photo...
...daughter dear is at Super Summer Youth Christian leadership camp this week and has my camera!....Also, on the drive to Missouri for a wedding this weekend, began quilting on the Spring Mini-Quilt Swap!

Have not met writing goals but not for lack of time sitting here at computer and reading and thinking and scratching out a few words... I just have to keep going...

No quilting :(

Lots of reading and typing instead...but it will be a good thing in the long run. Just need to be more productive so I can do other things in the evening instead of still being on computer at 10pm.

Another day....

Lots of graduations and end of semester activities!
Then summer officially begins after Sat. graduation.
Daughter has school "graduation" tomorrow...
Son will be leaving Tues. to go to Dallas for the summer for an internship.My summer job is writing in the daytime (at the library). transporting daughter around to her activities and quilting (I hope) in the evenings or working in the yard...before it gets too hot
The yard is looking good (better) and I have SO many comments on the window flower boxes that I bought in Minnesota last summer and installed this spring (they are mounted so they can be easily taken down in winter and I was able to put them up myself...a little tricky...after planting them this spring! Planted the second to last tree tonight after work and after shopping with daughter and after dinner, it was still light at 8pm...but did not finish until almost 9pm ...and not before being devoured by mosquitoes!

Here is a snapshot (what an archaic sounding term!) of one window box taken about 2 weeks ago....it has grown more since then.

Thinkin' about my friend in TN....Peace to you :) ...you know who you are...hang in there!

More Spring! (yard & quilt)

This is the progress in the Spring Mini Quilt swap...it is a teaser as I am showing the colors but hiding the design (or trying to).
A quick snapshot of the yard reveals that it is still cool (and WET) enough for pansies to survive....but summer will be coming soon and school is out in a week!

There is much more going on but this is just a quick update. Soon I will share other things I have been working on...just a little at a time over many days is accomplishing a lot. Plus the college student who has been coming over for a few hours to help with spring cleaning in the past few weeks has made my life so wonderful! No more dust or guilt for not dusting :)

Happy Quilting to all!

Sping Mini Quilt Swap

...I have a partner!!! (in Washington) Now the fun begins...
Hint...Spring flowers need leaves....
Hope this is not too much information!

The flower takes form....

Worked all day on this but can't show it until it's time.
It has 38 pieces and none are the same. Some are quite small as you can see from the 1" grid mat. .... Now to figure out borders and a quilting design. WOW, I am determined to do this and I will finish! (I think I have until June?)

Spring Flower Exchange

Can't wait to hear about my exchange partner and hoping she/he will like the bright fresh look of Ruth McDowell's art style quilt. Here is the color palette. This exchange is giving me the opportunity to try out some of the techniques that I am studying in her book "Pieced Flowers"(see my book shelf). This is a very simple beginning but a new advernture!
It's such a dreary rainy day that this will brighten things up!

How has Maleldil made you older today?

...yes I am reading Peralandra by C.S. Lewis. If you have read it you know what I mean. If not, you can find out by checking out a copy at your local library (hard copy, audio book or book on tape). It starts out slow but requires a clear setting to get to the point(s) and they are profound ones!

Flower Inspiration!

Flower pic. ideas for Ruth McDowell's workshop this fall. Shot along the highway in Oklahoma growing wild: Indian paintbrush.

Azaleas at Honor Park Muskogee, Oklahoma

Red and White Progress

Progress on the Red and White has come along gradually. All circles have been appliqued on. (Very fun and good handwork at daughter's Volleyball matches!...I'm ready to do more circles!) I am now working on the squares. (Not fun and I rarely work on them. Only when watching TV at the same time to minimize disgust with these impossible to match "stack and wack"...that I even fussy cut to try and make it work better! The overall product in the end will look good but the details escape me :(

Art Quilting....Here I come!

I am absolutely thrilled that I made it from the waiting list into Ruth McDowell's "Designing from Nature" Workshop in October in Massachusetts! WOW, it doesn't get much better than that. As I cruise through old blog posts I see this was a distant dream back in July 2008 when I ran across her work and started studying her techniques. Fun Fun! Plus, after surfing for some nature photo ideas, I ran across a beautiful budding tree photo shot by Daya in Republic of Moldova who has graciously agreed to let me adapt is as a possible design idea for the workshop. Take a look and see what you think...

Also, I have found the perfect backing to the Blended therapy quilt. Now I just need to get back to Quilter's Corner in OKC before it is all sold! (too bad they did not have a website or I would link it here)....Nothing like planning the backing before the front is finished!

Happy Quilting to All!

It must be Spring Break! (what other explanation for posting 3 times in 3 days!)

Progress on "Blended Therapy"

It is coming along well! I can just stare and bask in the soothing colors. No sewing yet, just mock-up on "design wall" (AKA "You mean your big piece of cardboard covered with flannel" - teenage daughter dear)

And...Dot's back, YEA!

Center Fabric for Blended Therapy (9 1/2" square)...finally a photo

More about life less about quilting again today

I miss my quilt buddy who has great quilt advice and a listening ear to the irritations of things like my previous post. But, I am doing a little quilt therapy beginning something to divert my attention. Another blended design....starting something new and beautiful and thinking of possibilities challenges me to dig in the stash, pet the fabric and see what I can create with exactly what I have on hand....which I must admit is quite a lot (hehe)

Red & White project

No time for photos but here is the link to the project (Ascot kit) ..although OF COURSE I modify it to suit me..can't actually follow another person's pattern but have my own version of it :)

The down side:
Very Scrap UNhappy today...nothing to do with quilting but with my life and dealings with very unreasonable people and my struggle to do the right thing when things aren't right! I am happy to have the mental diversion of quilting projects awaiting work and ones I can continue in the future...... when things settle down.

Quilt Camp is here!

Red and White for Valentines Day is my theme.
Photo to follow!