Sugar ‘n Spice

I am very excited about the Christmas Tree Skirt I am working on for the Festival of Trees donation.  I could have used a pattern, but that would have been too easy.  I decided used a jelly roll and made the skirt based on a quilt pattern.  It has been evolving into something interesting. Yes, we are decorating a Christmas Tree for those of you who’ve been asking.  And yes, I would like help.  Come and see me if you want some ideas or fabrics to make ornaments.  I will be decorating the tree November, 27th the day after Thanksgiving. See the tree skirt in process below.Look at the beautiful show-n-tell from the block of the month class-

Phyllis' Purplework Quilt

Phyllis Freeman's Treadle Sewing Block Exchange

 This quilt was made using blocks from a treadle sewing machine block exchange Phyllis joined.  All the blocks were made either with a treadle or hand-crank sewing machine and are from all over the world.  Phyllis also machine quilted it on her industrial treadle machine.  It  is just  amazing and outstanding!!!

Block of the Month Quilts in process:

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Thanks for sharing ladies!

Today’s Beauties…block of the month show-n-tell

Brandy's Heart Quilt

Yes, the house is painted and we have most of the electrical wired .  Last night we worked on setting   in the kitchen.  Tonight we will cut the counter top for the bathroom vanity. 

Saturday Sarah brought in her HUGE Thimbleberries quilt she made for her husband’s friend.  The quilt is gorgeous and very large.  It was difficult to get a picture of it.  Her daughter Kendra and husband Mike stood on chairs to hold up the quilt. 

Sarah's Quilt

Arlene's Quilt

Arlene and Maxine met at Sugar ‘n Spice this morning to bring me show-n-tell, get quilt ideas and try to pick a back for Maxine’s quilt.  We were mostly successful; we’re still looking for a back for the quilt.  Arlene brought in a couple of the blocks for this quilt a few weeks ago.  The pattern is out of an older Fons & Porter’s Love of Quilting Magazine and one that I’ve had my eye on.  I think it is very cute.  Maybe someday I’ll make it.  Well, that is if I can find the pattern.  I know Arlene has it.

Miranda's Quilt

Yesterday, Miranda brought in her quilt that she designed and quilted.  It is very cute and has some unique design features.  She has little fabric tabs (labels she had with her scrap booking stuff)down the right side some ribbon bows and a couple of buttons.  I sure have some talented quilters.

Later today a couple of my ladies brought in their blue and yellow challenge quilts.  One is finished one is in blocks. This is terrible… I don’t know their names, but here are the pictures.  As I understand it, they gathered these blue and yellow fabrics during 2008 shop hop and then shared the fabrics they bought and challenged each other to make a quilt.  They are very cool.  What fun!!!

Be sure to check out Joey’s page.

Thanks for sharing with me ladies.

My DH, Tom, has taken 2 more days off work to get our house finished.  We have found that it takes more that 4 months of weekends and after work hours to build a house and we are surprised.  We both have high expectations of ourselves.  We were sure we would be living in our house by now and we at least 3 weeks from move-in.  We’ve had a lot of help from family and friends, but there is so much to do when building a house.  Our lastest setback: We chose an off-white paint to paint walls and ceiling throughout the house so we could use a paint sprayer.  Tom painted Monday night. We don’t have great lighting ,yet, so it was difficult to see that the paint coverage was streaky. So last night he painted again and it is still streaky. Both nights I was busy (dentist one night, picking up appliances the other) and could not be there to help him with lighting or a clogging paint sprayer.  He will not paint it again, he says.  I will be painting it.  I will use a roller.

On a happier note, I am working on a quilt for our new bedroom.  Hummm, maybe if the quilt is so gorgeous no one will notice the streaky walls.

Say hello to Abby.  She is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Puppy who belongs to our Project Linus Coordinator, Theresa.  Abby is a very well-behaved puppy.  She sat, mostly quietly, while her mom sewed on bindings and such.  Joey seems to like her just fine, too.  She is sooo cute.

At the house we are painting inside.  We tried out a paint sprayer on the inside without much success.  We have some streaks.  I guess it was plugged.  Now we have more painting to do.  I just can’t wait till we can move in.

One of my quilter friends, Maxine, made her daughter, Shelley, a gorgeous double wedding ring quilt—she just finished the binding.  Here is a picture of Maxine on the right and Shelley peering over the top.  Amazing isn’t it?

The Lily Pad in my pond is blooming.  It always looks so cool, but doesn’t last long. I’ll share it you, too.

On the left is a cookie my quilter friend, Kaz,   broought back from her trip to visit family in Japan. Not only are the cookies cool looking, but they taste good, too.

If it seems like my blog is a bit disjointed today, it is because today as been a bit that way. It’s been a good day.  It’s a little too hot.  I logged onto to my email (from a company here in Morton) and their temperature was 113.2 degrees.  We’re off to the river to cool off in 10 minutes.  Yes, it 4:50PM.  After the dip in the river we MUST do more drywall mud.  Oh, well, I get to go cool off first.