I can't believe it is Wednesday again! Time sure flys when you are happy and busy.

Today I am working on the first block for the Home Sweet Home quilt. I'm going "the long way around the barn" on this block! A few posts ago I reported that I was trying invisible machine applique. Actually two different ways. First I used mono filament thread and wasn't satisfied with the look(even though I love how it looks on others quilts). So, I took what I had done out! Then I tried using matching thread and a machine buttonhole stitch. I just wasn't liking that either so I took that out! Now I am hand appliqueing the block and I feel so much better about it. The reason I started machine appliqueing in the first place was because I didn't need another hand quilting project since I have two in the works right now and I'm pretty slow at hand quilting. See, I figure if I put all that hand work in appliqueing something I think it deserves to be hand quilted. Do you all feel the same? I love the way my friend Ty machine quilts my quilts and she would do a good job on an applique quilt but there is something stuck in my head about hand applique/hand quilt or machine piece or applique/machine quilt. I just don't know~

So, instead of a quilting picture today I am posting a few corners of my home. I don't know what order these will come out in so I'll tell you a little bit about each one in the order I hope they show up.

Last week my DD gave me some beautiful roses. As you know, there comes a time in a cut roses life that it just plain says goodbye! Not at my house! I always try to dry the spent flowers. Today I made a ring around the little box on my antique cake plate. Romantic and valentine-y!

Next are the cake plates I just bought on Monday. I love these two because I can change the ribbon for different occasions. Plus, I like them stacked up on the sideboard.

Finally, this is the amaryllis bulb I have in my kitchen window. This is the first time I've tried to grow one. I think it is beautiful. I also have two hyacinths, one pink and one purple, just about to bud. They will smell so wonderful!

Everyone have a great day. Try to fit some quilting time into your schedule. It will make you smile!

The Big Reveal!

No, it's not a pillow case, table runner or even a quillow! It's a shower curtain!

Sorry it took so long to reveal but we had a little trouble with the rod...I was going to paint it glossy white like the trim but when we opened the paint can it was a gloppy mess. So, my daughter glued fabric on the rod! Isn't it beautiful? LOL!

This is a UFO from several years ago. I don't know why I procrastinate so. Oh well, it's done now!

Wednesday WIP Sneak Peek

Guess what this is?

Thank you!

My daughter, Joanna, brought me these roses on Sunday. She wanted to thank me for helping her arrange her furniture in her new apartment. Thank you, Annie! I love them and they smell so good!

WIP Wednesday

I woke up to snow this morning. I usually am a late sleeper ~ I don't do mornings too well. I got up before 7:00 this morning! I went to the back door and there was a beautiful blanket of snow covering everything.

I've been working on one of my blocks of the month ~ Home Sweet Home from Blackbird Designs. I am doing this through Houston St. Mercantile, a quilt shop in Granbury, TX. I love the fabrics they chose. I wanted to do this BOM on the machine since I have two applique quilts to hand quilt this year. I have tried using monofilament thread and a small zig-zag like Kim Dhiel does in her books. I think I would like it better buttonhole stitched with matching thread. Oh, no, that means I'll have to rip out the monofilament!

I hope you all have a wonderful WIP Wednesday full of quilting time!

Big News!

I have finished the binding on the wholecloth quilt! Yeah for me!! I've got pictures too!!!The pictures are of the Vintage Valentine blocks that I promised you a few posts below. The other ones are of the finished Friendship's Garden top and the wholecloth quilt.

Plus, a little goodie that I made yesterday for my sewing machine. It's made from an antique dish towel, some old ticking and an old tablecloth. It's too big for the machine when it is in the cabinet but I like it anyway!

Sunday night I started another Vintage Valentine block. I've got to spend some time in my room upstairs to get caught up on some BOMs. Pieceful Nights is one of them and I think I have two or three months to do to catch up. I recieved the first Home Sweet Home block just the other day. I'm hoping to get Birds of a Feather in the mail soon. So, you see, I have four BOMs to do this year! (oh, I forgot the Flourishes BOM, it's a UFO)

I'm continuing on with my UFOs this year. I've gotten so many done the last two years. Since I don't machine quilt I have to wait to get them DONE. I'm sending three a month to Ty to longarm so I'm moving right along with those.

The pile that the wholecloth quilt was in has three things left in it and I plan on getting that pile done this year. They are two quilts that I will have to quilt on the machine since I am putting ric-rac on as I quilt them and a quilted shower curtain that is ridiculously close to being finished. I think I'll work on that when I get caught up on my BOMs.

Sorry I took so long between posts! My son came home from the Marines (for good!!!)and I have been spending time with him!

Bias Binding and The Scalloped Border

Sounds like the title of a mystery book! I have a completly hand quilted whole cloth quilt with no binding. Normally that's not really a big deal but I started quilting this quilt in the early 90's, I finished quilting this quilt in early 2000 and it has been sitting there with no binding for six years! I planned on putting a scalloped border on this quilt. I've been scared to even try. Tonight I said what the heck! I cut a large square of my binding fabric and used the method for continuous bias binding. That went well even though it was my first time to try that method. I've started sewing it on and I can't believe how easy it is! Good grief!

I've been busy again!

Since my last post, I've gotten a few things done! I finished the top for Friendship's Garden and two blocks for Vintage Valentine. I promise pictures soon. Plus, taken down all the Christmas decorations and put them back into storage. I've moved and organized the furniture in my sewing room, bedroom, living room and den! Everything fits! One of my New Year's Resolutions is to find a place for everything I own, organize it or get rid of it. I started by sorting through my Christmas decorations and tossing almost everything I didn't use this season. I do have one bin with sentimental things that I just couldn't part with.

I have big plans in store for a redesign of the living/dining/entryway but I have to wait until my Marine comes home so I can use his muscles to haul the furniture around. I have the most beautiful plaid moire for the drapes in those rooms. Right now the bolt is standing in a roll propped up in the corner but I will start looking for someone next week to sew it into my dream. By the way, my son is coming home on January 15th for good! That is only eight days away! I'm so excited for him to be able to return home and start the next phase of his life. He just turned 29 and has been a Marine for the last four years. He definitely got to see the world while serving. He went to Japan and then subsequently participated in the December 04 Tsumami, spent 7 months in Iraq and has been stationed in California, Washington, Virgina and North Carolina as a member of a FAST Co. (anti-terrorism). His last assignment was to help stand up (reform) the 9th Marines, the defunt Living Dead squadron from the Viet Nam era. Plus, he has made friends that he will have for life, brothers he never had. I'm so proud of him! Can you tell?

My daughter and son-in-law are moving to a bigger apartment this month. They have begun their journey through in vitro fertilization! My daughter has started the two sessions of birth control pills and soon we begin the hormones and many other medications. I say we because she will have three injections a day and has told me I might have to give them to her and I am dreading it. About the middle of next month she will have the implantation. Two weeks later we will know if all this has worked. Keep your fingers crossed for us. Since they have been married for eight years and have no children...well, you know how excited I am! Lots of baby quilts to dream of...