Pumpkin swap

There seems to be a blogger land interest in doing a pumpkin swap. How many of us would want to do something like that? Just leave a comment or drop me an email so we can count the interest level. If there is enough interest I will get another blog/site dedicated just for the pumpkins and future swaps. Yes we would not have a long time to actually do this, but it still would be fun.

New Guild/pumpkin blocks

Well I choose today to finishing stitching down the pumpkin blocks that I am doing for a swap. I actually did get them done and ready to go in the mail tomorrow. I did take some pictures before they went into the envelope. As one can see Reese wanted to help me get the blocks arranged for pictures. I managed to get her to move briefly so I could get the picture taken. Below is the pumpkins being sent into the swap.I went to check out a new quilt guild that is starting in my home town. Not only do I think I am going to join but I plan on doing the Christmas fabric challenge. There was a raffle for an item and I managed to pull my own name out of the basket.

Threads across Nebraksa

This is a fun way to increase femininity and beauty in our lives each week without even trying! All you have to do is choose five things that you would like to work on or do during the week that will increase the loveliness in your life!

Here is my list for this week. I got 3 of 6 done last week.

1. Quilt the wall hanging for the office "Pat's Butterfly Garden."

2. Stain quilt rack.

3. Finishing stitching the rest of the pumpkins for the pumpkin swap.

4. Do my tackle it Tuesday spot.

5. Get the small quilt for auction finished and quilted.

If you want to participate in A Commitment To Loveliness, just stop by Emma's blog and join in. It is a great way to set weekly goals for yourself.

Below are a few of the pictures I took at the quilt show. I will post some more in the next couple of days. Sorry about the clarity of these pictures. I am a short person and all the quilts were hung well over my head.

This quilts flowers were completley paper pieced. If I remeber correctly. This one is called purple pansies
This quilt was one passed from one state guild memeber to another getting another piece of the picture placed onto it. I like elephants and this one was so well designed and put together. It truly was traffic stopping detailed.

Quilt Show Saturday

I went to Threads across Nebraska state guild quilt show. There were a lot of great vendors there today, and some truly inspiring quilts. I was so busy I forgot to each lunch, I did not realize this until 5 tonight, boy was I one hungry person. But I was quilt and fabric satisfied.
I managed to keep up Pat Sloans Machine quilting book, and did see a vendors rendition of her Bluebirds of Happiness quilt.

One great new find and company is Fig Tree Quilts. I just could not resist this pattern. I left the fabric kit there, but made sure to get a phone number in case I changed my mind later.

Stay tuned till tomorrow for pictures of quilts from the show and some of my other great finds.

Invisible Applque class

I signed up today to take an invisible applique class that is being taught by Sandi McMillan. Sandi and her friend Laura Franchini made the Nebraska Rising Sun that was pictured on the cover of Quilters newletter July/Aug 2006 issue. This quilt was made as a raffle quilt for the Nebraska State Guild. So I jumped all over the chance to learn this technique from such a gifted woman. This class is being held October 27 in Fullerton, NE. I think this is a great way to celebrate getting older by taking a whole saturday away from my family to enhance my quilting database (brain).

I spent part of today trying to get a room cleaned out so that I can bring in two cabinets to help organize all the black garbage bags I aquired from a friend before she moves.

Tackle it Tuesday Sewing

My tackle it tuesday item was to make 33 blocks before guild meeting. 3 blocks per guild member. The picture is off the colors I took to guild. Then we did an exchange and I got 33 different blocks back. We will continue to do this for several more meetings, because the pattern we are making calls for 440 of these blocks. This is what the setting will look like when all the blocks are made. The pattern we are using came from McCall's quilting August 2007 called Trading Patches.

Pat Sloan posted the new Farmer's Market block for October and I got it also done in time to take to guild meeting.
Sew I decided that my Project for Tuesday was actually to reward myself at the same time of getting guild sewing done. And that is one more project done.

Count down to being older

Today is the first of October and my daughter has started the monthly countdown for birthdays. Her daddy's birthday is the 11th and her mommy's is the 29th. When did the feeling of excitement to have your birthday to hurry up and get here turn into almost dread for turning another year older. 35 seems like such a foreign number. I can distinctly remember when I was 20 that 35 was ancient now that I am approaching this milestone I wonder what ancient is. My grandma who's birthday was 3 days after mine lived to be 96 and you never could tell her age because she never slowed down. What a woman of faith and it never fails this time of year that her passing still leaves me missing my best friend. My mentor and the woman who inspired my love of quilting and creativity. So I guess with age comes the ability to understand ones connection to their past and have a sense of how to continue on putting your faith in the Almighty, because you witnessed first hand His hand in your grandma's life and without it life becomes a number that we dread. But if we look ahead we can see the future we have in store.