Willow Lake Stitches

Catching up and trying to be "Pinteresting"

2012-01-10T13:47:00.000-06:00

Well, here I am again with nothing but time for a few days while I get my other hip replaced... Pretty much a ditto of Jan 2010 so if you REALLY want to read about it you can go back in my archives...actually it is going better than the other hip did, or at least is, so far ! So I will think positive. Will be going home in a couple of days and get right back into quilting, because, I can stand at that "job", and that is much more fun than trying to sit on a rear end full of staples !

Rylind's first Christmas.... 7 months old

Now to catch you up on the new Grandson... Here is his Christmas picture... too, too cute, right ? He is so sweet. I ( and his parents, I'm sure ) would like to take credit for the photo idea, but we found it on PINTEREST.... I imagine you have heard of it by now.

I gotta say, I vainly thought I was clever, but man, if you really want to see clever, just spend some time on Pinterest. Be careful, it is addicting, but it is SO saving me TONS of paper. If I saw something I liked online, I would print it out. Sometimes it was a free pattern or recipe, or often just a picture as I am pretty good at figuring out how to make something crafty, or furniturey or quilty, just from a picture... after all, I am a draftsman.... but these people on Pinterest are genius ! I think I have a Pinterest button on my blog side, feel free to see what I have pinned, and follow me if you like my style, I would love to follow you too ! After all, if you are reading this blog, we must have similar tastes, right ? I think the first thing I saw and "pinned" and actually made was the sugar cookies that look like candy corn, and that was back in October. They were so good, easy and CUTE.... another favorite of mine... and please, if you have an idea of what I can put in there, please let me know.... but for some reason I think this is so cool... Did you know that the top of a Parmesean Cheese ( Kraft) container will fit on a regular Mason Jar ? I don't know why that makes my world go around, but it does. as you can see, it doesn't take much !!! Oh, and another thing I love... I don't know about you, but even though I have real chip clips, I usually don't have them where and when I want them. I buy lots of office binder clips and are always using them too... not just for chips ( we really don't have that many chip bags sitting around at our house, trust me....) but the office binder clips I just use for SO many things.... ok, I digress... HERE is the Pinterest tip.... when you get those plastic hangers at the store that have clips on them for slacks or whatever.... well, don't just leave them at the store, take them home and snip off the clips.. they are strong, and make great chip clips. Like I said, it don't take much to tickle me... but this hint did too !! I was to the point that I would just leave them at the store, but not any more !!!!

So... enjoy Pinteresting... but don't blame me.... lol...

Ok... I imagine I could find a pretty quilt picture to post here... I really do have lots to share, lets see what I can find. .....

oh boy here it is... and it is my favorite this season- but really, you would have to see it in person. Here it is before it is quilted. It belongs to my friend and customer Carrie. She brought it to me to be quilted, and we put it on black minkee, no batting, because she wanted it to be really soft and wrappy and cuddly. If you were to see these color up closely, it is just stunning. The black is so black and the reds and greens are SO vibrant. I quilted it with black thread, in a large overall poinsettia design. Actually the quilted poinsettias are about the size as the fabric ones. The back turned out so well, and the stitched poinsettias gave such texture to the minkee. We will have to get pictures of the finished quilt and post them later. The top was a kit from Keepsake quilting, I think Carrie used a different green fabric for the stop border. I loved this quilt so much that I found the fabric and hope to be making my own soon! and THANKS, Carrie for giving me your scraps...I'll never turn down a good scrap !!

ok...gotta go, the nurses want to have some time with me... they just took away my saline bag so now I am not "tied" to that anymore. This afternoon it will be walking in the hall... can't wait to get back home and to my quilting !!!

I LOVE MY CUSTOMERS.....

2011-10-04T10:54:00.003-05:00

for lots of reasons, here is just a couple of them ....... ! My customer came this morning to pick up her quilt, and brought me 2 boxes of homemade caramel rolls ... they were still warm..... well, there is only one box left now. I also can thank her for helping me get my calcium today, as there is nothing better with a warm, fresh, homemade caramel roll than a cold glass of milk ! Oh.... they were SO delicious !

Now for a peak at her quilt..... this is just one corner, but I think she had 20 cross-stitched blocks in this quilt. She wanted an all over quilting design, so that means one color of thread and that means a decision ! Well, this one was easy..... white thread, so it "goes away" and doesn't interfere with the cross-stitching, it just gives the backround some nice texture. Usually I like matching my quilting thread with the fabric color, but quilting white thread over the maroon sashing and borders and the dark green stop border all looked great, and really spread the white throughout the quilt and "tied" it all together. Who says you can't quilt over cross-stitching ? !

Let's give a big Hip Hip Hooray for Piecers and their Caramel Rolls !

Junkfest...

2011-09-28T11:23:00.002-05:00

Now, just because this is my second post of the day, don't think this will be a habit...

Junkfest ( one of my favorite events ! ) was a couple weeks ago... and 3 of us peeps went. I reviewed the some of the rules:

1. No heels ( there is a need to be comfortable AND swift... ! )

2. Large Vehicle ( you will probably need the space ! )

3. Only 3 peeps per vehicle ( more peeps - more vehicles - more room)

4. Leave by 7 am ( or 7 am-ish)

so here we are headed north for the 45 minute drive. Brenda on the left, Linda on the right. I'll be the backseat driver...

Made the first stop at the Junk 'n Java house by 8 am.... They have a very nice set up there and lots of neat things ! Between the 2 gray sheds ( which are full of great junk for sale...) is a firepit seating area, all fenced in, very cozy and cute. I should have taken a pic of that ! This year I bought a 3 gallon redwing crock here.

We are at the front of the line ( almost !) waiting to get in. Check out the additional vendors, all the quonsets on the left were full, and all the white tents and others out in the open. The Junk Fest girls are in a quonset to the right of this photo.

My son and DIL came too, and brought little Rylind. He seems pretty impressed by the whole affair ! It was chilly out that morning so he was glad to have his hat on, knitted by his auntie Ariel !

Here are some of the crowd waiting to get in. Glad I was at the front of the line....but with that comes pressure, you want to be quick so you don't get run over by the eager Junk-finders ! note the ratio of men to women ??

The inside happenings in the Junk Fest quonset. Rule # 1 here is: If you see something you like, you had probably better buy it, 'cause it won't be here when you come back for it ! Check out the porch post little seating area there.... I have 3 fully restored posts like this and have a plan for 2 of them. Any suggestions on what to do with the 3rd ?

My Junk Fest Peeps... Linda & Brenda. Ready to go again next year, girls ? I AM ! It was a blast !

Here is an old wood box that I would like to make sometime to my specifications.... I like the style, but would like to use it as a recycling center, and fit several kitchen sized trash bins inside for cans, bottles, etc.... below is another one I like...

That's Linda in front....get out of the way so I can see my bin ( just kidding......☺) I really like the color of this one. I was tempted, but better stick to my guns and build one to fit.

and here is what I ended up with.... my crock, a little nightstand/dresser, what I thought at first glance was a doll crib, but when I found out it really was a magazine rack, I still wanted it. It will match a black bookcase I bought here a few years ago ( see an earlier Junkfest post ) and... I am really excited about this.... the green foldable outdoor table. It folds up like a tv tray, but it is BIG ! well, not huge, but bigger than a tv tray ! I can just see it on a porch......

Ok... that's my documentary on Junk Fest... check them out http://www.junk-fest.com/ They are fun gals with great junk and ideas !

It's Almost October.....

2011-09-28T10:27:00.000-05:00

and here is a little early Halloween "candy" to look at: a new thing... this is a fireplace mantle quilt....

this is the left side of it, with the owls, cat and ghost sitting on a limb, and the bats hanging from it....

the middle, with a witch flying in front of the full moon,

and the end of the mantle quilt .. "Trick or Treat", Mr. Bones and of course & JACK !

This looks so cute on a fireplace mantle, but, I thought, I need to find more uses for these stitches ! So, I figured out a way to add a rod pocket to the top, and it can be a window valance. Also, with a little pattern manipulation I can make it into a table runner with scallops and designs on both sides.... I think I really need to make one of those for myself !

It's time to play Catch Up ! or is it Ketchup ?

2011-08-12T09:52:00.007-05:00

ok... I've been awol long enough, and probably like you, can't believe how fast this summer has been flying by. I've been busy with the usual.... family ( a new grandson was added ! ☺ ) and the old one ( 6 ! ) was here for over a month ...having fun with Grandma and Grandpa...taking swimming lessons, sailing with Grandpa..... quilting..... the band..... So now, I intend to get back to blogging, and will share some pics about our adventures.

You may have heard in the news... we have still been having flooding in North Dakota... seems every year now there is a problem, and not only has it been affecting Fargo, ( not so much Grand Forks anymore, because after the 1997 flood, they fixed that ! ) but now Minot and Bismarck, Valley City, not to mention many smaller towns, and Devils Lake, which just keeps rising and when it gets much higher, will find it's own outlet and be disasterous for much of the state. Anyway... this leads into a little event that we put on, our Not so annual USFEST. We have had a couple in the past, up at our other Money Pit ( at my old hometown) where we are fixing up an old 1917 home ( more blogging material......) . Well, in June, we have our annual Missoui River Bluegrass Festival on, where else..... Cross Ranch State Park on the Missouri River. You know, the one Lewis and Clark and .......was it Sea Bisquit ? the dog..... anyway, we are a big Lewis and Clark state... I digress. Well, the Missouri River, being one of the new areas of the state to flood now, was just reaching it's crest when the fesitval was to take place, so therefore, the festival had to be canceled. Well... what to do ? So many of us had taken time off of work to attend, so we still wanted to get together, and started looking around for a centrally located campsite that had openings and would let us jam all nite long. Well, there wasn't too many campgrounds around that weren't flooded, and of course all of them have a noise curfew, so I offered up our little place to have it. We just happen to have put up some full service campsites up there a couple years ago to accommodate all the wind generator workers ( we are now in the middle of a wind farm..... more blogging material for later....) so we had the perfect set up. About the noise ordinance ? Well there isn't one. There are only about 24 people in town and 26 when I and the DH are up there, well, that is an estimate... but we did double the population and made some pretty darn good music ! It was a great time and I hope we can do it again sometime ! !

This is Mel from Canada. He plays some awesome mando, guitar and banjo ! And he has the nicest wife Sheila.

Here are some of my friends from around town. I think we made Bluegrass lovers out of them ! They're asking when the next USFEST will be......One of our small town sunsets...

kind of a dark picture, but here we are jammin' all night long ( gotta love a small town). We put up a canopy to keep the sprinkles out, and of course have to put up the icicle lights for ambiance !

John and Joe.... father and son banjo pickers ! Gotta have a bass player ! we were lucky and had 4 in attendance !

Here we are in the middle of a bluegrass song. I'm the one on the far left - kinda in the backround....to my left are Linda and Terry, members of our band, Spiritwood Creek. You can see the back of another member, Carrie, she's the blonde with the teal dress on... check out the next picture....

Carrie modeling an old dress we found in the house ( it was my parent's home ).. I think it may be my Grandma Johnson's... and is probably from the '40's or 50's. Let me tell you, it is in awesome condition and the style is really cute.. it could be worn to any formal function today and still look in style. I only wish it fit me ! Picture taken inside the house. I am not too attached to the paint color, so it won't be there much longer. The stairway will, however !

ok... that is enough for now... if you have time, do an internet search on the Minot flood, it is just devastating. Minot hometown boy Josh Duhamel ( Vegas, the Transformer movies ) is hosting a benefit there in Sept. It is a Black-eyed Peas concert- he is married to Fergie . Hope it raises LOTS of money for the flood victims !

well... I am off to a Bluegrass festival in Minnesota ( more blogging material ) this weekend.... don't you think that this is all I did this summer.... I had already quilted more quilts by May of this year than I did all of last year ...... and of course, that is more blogging material, yet to come !

have a great weekend everyone !

AMY BARICKMAN GIVEAWAY !

2011-01-31T11:38:00.003-06:00

Check out this great giveaway from Amy Barickman..... Don't you just love redwork? Check out her post here. LOVE LOVE LOVE these colors !

Rustic Log Quilt Ladder

2011-01-16T15:52:00.002-06:00

Fresh from the Mystical forests of Lake Country, Minnesota.........
Don't you just love my new quilt ladder ? My brother custom made it for me from wood on his own property. He has been busy building custom chairs, benches, swings, tables, kitchen island/buffet for people, and they are just beautiful !

As you can see, mine can hold alot of quilts/runners and has 4 rungs. He will build them to suit whatever size you need. so, in case anyone is interested.... contact me for more information !

Don't you just love brothers ! Soon I will post some special pictures of my other brother's creations !

The last day of 2010 !

2010-12-31T12:51:00.006-06:00

I can hardly believe it.... where did this year go? Busy year! What will next year bring? I guess we will see shortly !

Thought I'd post one last time this year, since I can now reach my keyboard with my mending shoulder! I think I will be starting PT next week, but am still wearing my little "strightjacket" !

In the meantime, I'll post a couple of pictures for the season.....

Above is a little table runner I made using the Easy Striped Table Runner pattern and a 60 degree ruler. I love this pattern and the first thing I usually look for when entering a quilt shop are and striped fabrics !

Here is the back, with the snowflakes I quilted on it. It's nice to have the table topper be reversible... I should work on something for Valentines day.......If you know of any cute Valentines stripe that I can use, send me the name of the fabrc, will you? Then I can start the hunt to see if I can find it. Sometimes the funnest part is the 'hunt' !

Next I want to show you a customer quilt that I just love..... I really like evergreen trees, and have a couple patterns that I want to make into quilts. I don't know the name of this quilt pattern, but if you do, please let me know !

Here's a little close up of the pinecone stitching........

Another pattern I found on my travels this weekend ( I'm in Minnesota for the New Years weekend....) is the Thimbleberries Trees by Starlight. It is the first pattern of their 2010 BOM. I had actually seen the block before, but hadn't seen it made into the quilt. I saw the quilt this weekend made up in Brainerd, Mn. and now want to do the full quilt sometime. Another wish for my wish list.

2011 should be a stash manicure year for me.... not sure if I am ready to commit yet.... I do, however need to get the stash organized. That is probably where I should start.

Well... I had best go now... we are heading out to a fun New Years weekend at the farm near the lake.... expecting another snowstorm...and a nice big bonfire tonite if the weather lets us.

Here's wishing you a safe and wonderful New Years !

Beth

It's gonna be a plain, simple Christmas this year....

2010-12-07T16:10:00.004-06:00

They say that if you want to exercise your brain, use your non-dominate hand more often. well, I will be exercising my brain alot . Family & friends, hope didn't have your hearts set on something quilty for Christmas. I did have some grand plans, but the only plan now is PLAN B.

I had been having some shoulder problems in my right shoulder, and after exams & xrays, it was determined that I could come in and have some minor surgery done, removing some irritating bone spurs. That was to be a 45 min. surgery. 2 hours later, they were done fixing my torn rotator cuff (which had been damaged for years, they noted), and I get to NOT USE my right arm for awhile! Not what I had been planning on, didn't have much ready for Christmas, no baking either.... but I did get the tree up before the surgery, so we will just scale back on the plans. I am in a couple Christmas Swaps, so hopefully they won't mind if they are a little late!

Other than that, I think I will take it easy on this arm and not worry what didn't get decorated, didn't get baked or didn't get made! I hope the rest of all you busy people out there don't overdo it, and enjoy your own little Christmas in your own way!

New Blog Hop

2010-11-02T16:58:00.003-05:00

In case you haven't heard, there is a new blog hop happening. . . and it looks like it's gonna be a fun one ! Head over here....... I think you will be glad you did !

Fall into Fall Update......

2010-10-28T10:58:00.002-05:00

I am a little slow ( read as busy. . . .) in updating, but I am happy to announce that the winner of my giveaway is Irina from Ireland ! I have mailed the goodies to her, and have enjoyed getting to know her through our emails. I sure hope she enjoys the prize ! Hopefully she will send me a picture if she makes something out of the panel and fabric that I sent.

Thank you all so much for entering the giveaway, I enjoyed all the comments and welcome to everyone who decided to follow my blog ! Thanks !

The Prizes. . . .

2010-10-15T19:31:00.002-05:00

Well, I hope the giveaway prize was worth all the wait. . . what I really wanted to do is whip up a table topper or runner and quilt it up, but I have had a custom quilt move onto my machine and I don't forsee me being done with it any time in the next few days ! I will just have to make something up and save it for the next giveaway. So, in the photo below is the prize, 2 patterns, one of which is by "ME".... now it calls out for the Moda Holly Taylor Lakeside panel and 2 charm packs, I did check on ebay and there are some there, but it also would work with any charm pack, with a few minor modifications. Next up is a couple local dip mixes ( delish ! ) and some lip balm - gotta promote the state you know. . .. Then is my favorite quilting notion. . . . flower pins ! Love those !!!! and to round out the selection, are 4 Halloween fat quarters and a Halloween panel from my LQS ! I hope the winner will like these, and as I will be out of town this weekend, we will do a random drawing when we get back, and will notify the winner here, and through email! There's still a few hours left to enter, so good luck to all of you, and THANKS, Debi for organizing it for us !

A LITTLE FALL EYE CANDY

2010-10-05T17:02:00.004-05:00

Hi. . .

Just thought I would pop in and tell you all that I am getting a KICK out of how you all are enjoying my "MYSTERY" giveaway. . . and to think it all started out with my not being organized enough to know what I would give away ! I fully intended to post a picture of the gift ( when I figured out what it would be. . .) but now, maybe I will have to play along with it and make it a mystery. Well, I promise you it will be a nice one, and I will post a picture towards the end of the contest.

In the meantime, I will post a picture of some fall eye candy. . . my friend Kathy's quilt ! I was thrilled to find a quilting pattern that complimented the pattern in the fabric, and it was alot of fun to quilt ! Enjoy ! p.s. don't confuse this with my giveaway prize, it will be nice, but it won't be THIS nice ! LOL.

FALL INTO FALL QUILTY GIVEAWAY !

2010-10-01T12:41:00.003-05:00

Welcome, and thanks for stopping by !
I'm excited about this giveaway and if you leave a comment, I will enter your name in the drawing, and if you are a follower, I will enter your name a second time! I am working on a fun prize for the winner. . . and will have it posted soon. Be sure you enter and then maybe check back if you have time, to see what prizes I find for you this weekend in my travels ! International visitors welcome !

Fall is here !

2010-09-23T22:13:00.005-05:00

I'm thinkin' Fall is my favorite time of year. . . and just to get things moving, I'm going to participate in Debi's FALL INTO FALL giveaway ! Watch for the scarecrow button. . . .

In the next few days I will figure out what I am giving away, and will post it on Oct. 1st. Come on back here and enter my contest and then click on the scarecrow button to find all the other bloggers that are participating, and then enter theirs too ! In the meantime, I'm heading to the Indian Summer Quilt show, and for sure will be looking for some good ideas for a fun, fall giveaway gift !

I really am here. . . .

2010-08-24T14:43:00.004-05:00

Yes, I really am here, it's just been a busy summer ! That, in turn must mean I have plenty to blog about. . . so I will give it a try. I'll start with some of the special customer quilts that I quilted this summer. Enjoy Georgia's quilt, look at all the beautiful work she did, and just look at all the piecing in this quilt, isn't it fabulous !

Here is just a corner of the quilt. . . look at all the different teapots ! Notice all the teacups and ribbon in the border below:

Close up of the teacup border below: each teacup rec'd a flower motif, and in the border above the teacup, I quilted the steam that all those teacups generated ! In the blue with white dot border is row of quilted teacups. . .in the green, a row of flowers and leaves.

I couldn't resist quilting some special stitches on the seams of this crazy pieced teapot. Of all the pretty teapots, this one was my favorite !

Each teapot is cuter than the last !

I hope you enjoyed this little quilt tour. . .stay tuned for more !

Well, I finally did it. . .

2010-05-14T14:42:00.005-05:00

I checked off one more thing on my very own "bucket list". . . I designed a pattern ! I will post some pictures below. It was really fun to design, and since I use AutoCad in my real life job, it made writing the pattern fun, and easy to sketch with.

So, here is the pattern. . .

And here is another picture of the quilt. . it is made with a panel, 2 charm square packs and yardage. If you look closely, there are a couple pictures of outhouses in the quilt. . . I have a fondness for outhouses. . . so in the next picture, you can see my quilt label, which is an outhouse, and, yes the door has a little handle and opens ! and inside is my label. I also digitized the outhouse border quilting. That was also a line item on my "bucket list"- to digitize a quilting pattern. Thanks to my Statler Sibling Janice B. for some technical help on getting that to work, and it sewed out beautifully.

So. . . easy quilt, easy pattern, but it sure feels good to have accomplished a couple of my bucket list items !

Now. . . I need to kick it into gear this afternoon and pack. . . the band and I are heading out to Medora, ND for a gig. . . .. Bluegrass and Ribs. . .. Spiritwood Creek Bluegrass Band is heading WEST ! sounds like it might create something to blog about next time !

Ugly Betty Continued. . . . .

2010-05-03T15:56:00.004-05:00

Hi. . . well the saga continues. . . . The Ugly Betty Pillow shams are done

and the bazaar and quilt raffle are over. Isn't life interesting ????? Altho neither LaRae or I drew for the bazaar raffle, Ugly Betty the Quilt, was won by our friend Betty ( yes, really ) the quilt shop vendor. We were all at the same quilt retreat the weekend before the raffle and LaRae sold Betty a ticket. Life is funny sometimes ! So, we are so glad that our friend won this quilt. She deserves it, she has helped us out so much with our Quilts of Valor projects ! Will post about our quilt retreat soon. . . . . . .

UGLY BETTY

2010-04-13T15:35:00.005-05:00

Hi Everyone. . .

What can I say, I've been BUSY ! Trying to play catch up here, not sure if it is working ! But, since my friend, LaRae, already did most of the writing, I will just post this.

This is the story of Ugly Betty. LaRae called me ( she lives an hour and a half away from me ) and wanted me to quilt this quilt that she was piecing for her local church raffle. She said she disliked the colors strongly ( not really the way she put it but you get the drift. . .) and she was tired of the colors, tired of the stars, and could I just put a quick overall stitching on it and send it back ? "Well, of course!" I said, and the next I knew, Ugly Betty was on my doorstep. Well, now LaRae and I could almost be twins, because we normally ( well, perhaps normally really isn't in our vocabulary ) like the same things, right down to pulpy orange juice. If I show her a pattern, she's already got it. If she shows me fabric, I like it too. Well of only a couple things that are different about us and our likes and dislikes, is that she is a pink person, and altho I might admire pink on others, it does not feel good on me. So I was shocked when Ugly Betty came to visit and I opened up the box and brought her out, and I just loved her ! I loved the colors, loved the fabrics, and I thought UB needed a good old custom quilting "spa treatment" so. . . she got one. Below is what LaRae had to say about UB and some pictures. Hope you enjoy her too !

quote: "Had to share a story with my friends and relatives about Ugly Betty...........................

Once upon a time there was a quilter who wanted to help out a local church with their bazaar. She wanted to make a quilt for the Englevale church so she said, "What do you want and what colors do you want?" Well, one of the church ladies said she had a perfect pattern. So the quilter went to the store and bought the pattern and had the shop ladies pick out all the fabric for it. The quilter sewed and sewed and sewed...all 1833 pieces! But the quilter was very sad...the colors were not her. She was more of a bright pink, purple, green person and now she was sewing on down to earth colors of gold, rust, browns and blues and it made her blue to even sew on it. She forged on and got it done but was very upset with it and all along was calling it "Ugly Betty" It lacked luster and beauty. She decided to let her fairy Godmother, Beth Cole, the quilting lady, have a go at it. Well, Beth worked her magic and turned it into a beauty! Here is the result of waving her magic wand and applying beautiful quilting stitches! You should see it in person! There are pillow shams to match also.

The Good Shepherd Church Bazaar is April 26th and I believe the time is 7pm to start but I can find out for sure. Hope you can make it and buy a ticket or two. There will be lots of things to bid on and lots of home baked goodies.

LaRae"

That was such a nice letter that she wrote and sent out. . . No WONDER she was sad about the quilt, EIGHTEEN HUNDRED AND THIRTY THREE PIECES ? ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? well, let me tell you, LaRae did an absoutely BEAUTIFUL job of piecing this quilt, and I would be thrilled to be the owner ! I have some tickets to the raffle so I hope I win, and I really think we need to rename her. . . . .

Don't forget that you can click on the pictures ( or maybe just some of them ) to have a closer look !

2010-02-05T13:40:00.004-06:00

Oh my, it's Feb. 5th already, where did January go? I'm feeling better, esp. these last few days, finding it easier to get around, but still not enjoying any low seating ( like sofas ) so that makes it kinda hard to curl up with a good book or movie. I only used the walker for a couple days, never have used the cane in the house, but I do use it outside. Not ready for long walks yet, but am happy to walk out to the mailbox pain free for a change.

However, I have been quilting ! I don't have a big picture of Julia's quilt, but a couple small ones I will share. . . and maybe I can coax her to take a picture of the whole quilt and email it to me and I will post it later. She did a beautiful job of choosing the colors in this batik quilt, and her piecing was fabulous. I would say perfect, but she will not like that ( and guess what, Julia. . .I just got to "imply" that the piecing was perfect without getting into trouble ! ha ha ) You know how us longarmers like to look at a well pieced top, and how we REALLY love working with a top that lays flat ! ( just ask any longarmer ! )

Another Get Well gift !

2010-01-22T21:58:00.005-06:00

Here's a couple of my friends that visited me in the hospital last week with their "get Well " gift.

I have to admit, it is pretty handy, it has all these pockets that I load up with my cell phone, the house phone, the remote, a bottle of water, pain pills. . . . . . . . . . .( really, though, things are going pretty well ! ) Pretty clever friends, if you can click on the picture to enlarge, you can see what they had to do to alter this. You can also see what I get to put up with. . .

Gettin' a little stronger each day !

2010-01-19T19:05:00.006-06:00

Yes, I am getting a little stronger each day. . . been doing the steps ( and I have 3 flights of them ! - probably why, after 33 years of living here, that I needed a hip replacement ! ) and been finding the chairs in the house that I am able to sit on. I saved up a couple sit down projects, one of which was to finish my "Joyful Scraps" quilt binding and make and apply the label. It should have been in the mail yesterday, to arrive today, at the quilt show in Mandan, ND this weekend, but hopefully I will be granted a little leeway ! I would like to be taking more time with my labels and making them special, so I started with this one. I will definately have to plan ahead better if I want to get doing fancier labels ! So, the pics above are of "Joyful Scraps", hope you enjoy ! Sorry about the duplicate picture, now I can't figure out how to get it off of here !

Not Quilting or Bluegrass. . . . .but a little nostalgia

2010-01-13T11:55:00.004-06:00

Not quilting or bluegrass, but I had really better post this year ! I have a few quilting projects to post about, and maybe will get some time to do that, so check back. But as for now, I am getting ready to have hip replacement surgery tomorrow so am busy at home here today tieing up loose ends.

Not that I am THAT old ( as I need a new hip) , but I will show you this cute little picture of me and my friend, Debbie taken probably about 1958 or 59 ? Debbie is the dark haired little beauty, and this is taken at her grandparents home, Jim and Cora's. We were probably there because our parents and grandparents were having a card party. I always had a good time at these get-togethers because Cora had a minature kitchen set up in her basement for us kids to play with. It was set up next to her rug loom. She made the most beautiful rugs out of rags, and I still have some of them, which I treasure. Something else I remember about her home, her living room carpet was made completely the rugs she made, many of them stitched together to make a wall to wall carpet. Now, how cool is that ? If you look at the floor, you can see it, and also check out the sofa and the woven covers she had on that. She also had the most beautiful flower garden !

Now you can see that I had long hair back then. . . I guess I still owe a picture of the new short haircut, so when I get a good one, I will post it. I am afraid any pictures in the next few days won't be too flattering, so I will probably wait a bit ! You know, I really should talk to my Mother about my bangs back then. . . . .

Anyway, looking forward to a pain free future shortly. . .( finally ! ) and then I can get back to some more quilting, bluegrass, and the other little things that make life fun !

Maybe in time for NEXT Christmas !

2009-12-27T22:48:00.004-06:00

Well, it's December 27th, here's hoping you all had a blessed Christmas. Ours was a quiet one, with family all snowed in and not able to travel. They did get here on Saturday though, and had to leave again tonite. So, this blizzard we had is now being called the Christmas Blizzard of 2009. Lots of snow, although I haven't heard the total yet. Now that I found ( actually stole from my "flip" video camera ) some batteries, maybe I will snap some pics of our winter wonderland tomorrow.

Now for some "old business" . . .

Here is the picture of the table topper from the last post. It is laying on a reddish quilt, but what do you think? Red binding or Green ? Better let me know quick so I can finish it before NEXT Christmas !

"New Business" is. . . my DD was home for Christmas, and she is a stylist, and I finally did the plunge and had her cut my hair. It was once again almost to my waist, and is now the shortest that I have had it in the last 48 years. I don't remember how long my hair had been back then, but I do remember my Mom had it cut in a "pixie" style and I remember crying for days. Little did she know how much that would traumatize me and for how long. . . well, it is NOT as short as a Pixie, but pretty short for me. And how am I doing about it now ?. . . well, no tears, and so far no regrets. . .. . . . .

Storm Watch ( or Oyster Stew for Two on Christmas Eve )

2009-12-23T08:07:00.002-06:00

Big storm's a'comin' or so they say. . . so I'm thinking our Minneapolis family won't make it home for Christmas. That means that the grandson won't be staying the week between Christmas and New Year's either ! Big Disappointment, but I am not going to dwell on that, I am going to be thankful that we have weathermen and forecasts so we know when bad weather is coming and can plan accordingly. Our current forcast is for snow starting here at noon, snowing through Christmas morning, with 12" or more of snow, then the wind comes up and blows through Saturday ( translation: BLIZZARD ) .

So, today's plan is to make a grocery list and get to the grocery store for the big blizzard rush. . maybe a couple movies too. Then we should get some more wood in for the fireplace before it gets covered up with snow. . . Then we can hibernate for a couple days.

Now, just so this post will have a picture, I will post a 24" table topper that I made ( to keep ! ). Not sure what color binding to do, I think it will be a scrappy binding, but green or red ? What do you think ? I am guessing I will have time this Christmas to get it done !

oops. . . sorry, batteries are dead in the camera. . . guess I will have to put that on my shopping list, then come back here and edit ! See you later. . .

PAY IT FORWARD

2009-12-19T07:52:00.006-06:00

Good Morning all. . .

Well, I finished the last of my customer quilts due to be quilted by Christmas a couple days ago, so now I need to start on my projects, one of them being to catch up on posts !

You may remember the floods we had here in North Dakota this spring. Well we
( the North Dakota State Quilt Council ) were contacted by a group of quilters from Mountain Home, Idaho, that wanted to send quilting supplies to quilters that had been affected by the flood. Below is a picture of the quilters receiving the boxes of donated quilting supplies. In the picture are Doris, Rita, Pat, me, and Paulette. Doris ( Pat's MIL ) was totally flooded out and lost her home. She was displaced for 7 months and just moved into her new home on Dec 14th. Rita had water in her basement and her home is not even close to the river, Pat's home had 6" of water on the main floor, and the dikes surrounding their home held back 3' of water. They now have a permanent concrete dike between their home and the river. Their son and DIL also lost their home in the flood and are rebuilding. Paulette's home was not flooded, but they were displaced for 3 weeks because all the roads and bridges to their home were out.

It was so fun to see this group of quilters get down on the floor and open these boxes like it was Christmas ! They have shared the items with the rest of their quilting group, and plan on paying it forward by making a quilt and donating it to the Red Cross.

I found out a few weeks later, that when Pat was going through some quilting magazines that were included in the boxes that in a Quilters Newsletter Magazine from 2002, there was an article about a quilt that Pat's Mother had made for the Ft. Seward Wagon Train in 1993. A quilt is made every year for the Wagon Train and is auctioned off to raise funds. She didn't know who had won the auction for the quilt her Mom had made, but somehow, the quilt was published, and Pat never knew this until picking up that magazine. What a nice surprise for her ! and kind of a "woo woo" moment - insert some Twilight Zone music here - just think about it. . . a kind deed, a random magazine sent to a group in crisis, and it happens to contain an article about a quilt made 16 years previously by Mom, and if Pat hadn't rec'd or looked at the magazine, she would have never known that her Mom's quilt had been published ! I think another "WOO-WOO" is in order for that !

A BIG THANK YOU to the generous hearts in Mountain Home Idaho, and by paying it forward, these ND quilters will be keeping the goodness going forth.

Imagine what this world would be like if everyone "Payed it Forward" . . . .

If you would like to know more info about the NDSQC or the Fort Seward Wagon Train, or see the "woo-woo" quilt, be sure and click on the links. The quilt can be seen on the Wagon Train website.

2009-12-11T20:17:00.005-06:00

Hi. .

I thought I would take a little time out from the LIST ( my quilting list. . . only 5 more customer quilts/runners to do before Christmas, and barring any catastrophe, I do believe I will be done by the middle of this week with them all ! ) to post. I saw this tree skirt pattern in a magazine- and it was so nice to find one that I actually felt like making ! - and thought it was so cute. I made this for my DIL for her birthday. Sure hope she likes it. She has her whole house decorated PRIM, and boy, let me tell you, it could sure be on a tour of homes ! So, that is why I used the muted prim colors in this tree skirt. Now, I never can stand to make the same thing twice, if I do it is under great duress. .. . . but I really like this pattern and I think I might need one of these one day too. I had better mark that magazine and put it in a safe place. I am not up to making it this year, but I think it will go on my WISP list.

I quilted it using Nested Hearts, and am really happy with the way it turned out.

In other news, it has been bitterly cold up here in North Dakota ( like below ZERO), and just a couple weeks ago it was up in the 50's . I did not get my outside lights up yet - I hope to be able to motivate to get something up outside this weekend. Of course that all depends on how much quilting I can get done this weekend too !

Mr. Stitches has been good about keeping the wood stocked for the fire in the fireplace, and cooking the occasional suppper ( ok, he has been making most of the suppers around here , however I do have them organized so he knows what to make. . .) so I can quilt in the evenings, and go to practices and gigs with the band. We have been doing a few Christmas gigs lately, and let me tell you. . .. all those Christmas songs you THINK you know ? well just try putting chords to them and playing them right and singing ALL the words right. . . and figuring out which Christmas songs you can bluegrass up. . . . well. . . it just isn't so easy ! But it has been fun, and exhausting ! Soon enough we will be back to the usual bluegrass songs that we play all the rest of the year.

Ok. . . I have another couple table runners to quilt out tonite. . .

will try and post more later. I have some really cute quilty items to show you all !

I hope you are all taking time out to enjoy the season !

'Tis the Season

2009-11-30T20:33:00.005-06:00

I've been trying to hold out for December 1 to post this quilt, but I guess we are close enough now. Thanks, Georgeann for letting me quilt this ! She did a beautiful job of piecing, and appliqueing. If you click on the picture for a close up, you can see the white and off white log cabin blocks and if you look real close in the white blocks you can see the quilted holly and berries. She used many different white and off white fabrics for this quilt, and it really is so gorgeous. I'm thinking that someday, I would like to make one like this for our house !

This quilt sure put me in the Christmas mood.

Here's hoping all your Thanksgivings were happy, and that you all are getting in the Holiday Spirit !

Now I need to get a crackin' there's more Christmas quilts to be quilted !

Be Grateful

2009-11-09T13:16:00.003-06:00

Hi All,

I just finished quilting this quilt and thought it was a good time of year to add it to my blog as a reminder to be grateful for all that we have been given. My customer, Kathy did a beautiful job of piecing and applique-ing, and I can't wait to see it when she gets all the embellishments added to it. A special thanks, Kathy, for leaving the embellishment off until after I had it quilted !

A little "Be Patient" reminder for all of us. . . . . . . it is a virtue, you know ! If you look carefully, or enlarge, maybe you can see my new favorite quilting pattern. . . nested hearts. I will add a picture of the back of the quilt below that shows them better. . .

Here's a shot of the 4 borders.

Here is the back of the quilt showing the nested hearts. . . I just love this stitch. I see there is a little of the border showing at the bottom too. .. By the way, the backing is flannel. . .oh so warm and cozy !

On the homefront here. . . I have been busy "Being Grandma" with our 5 yr old grandson visiting for a little over a week. What a good little boy, and we have been thoroughly enjoying every precious moment with him. At the same time, we've been cleaning up the garden, getting ready for winter, having bluegrass band practices and jams, and now deer hunting has started ! No snow here yet, we are enjoying daytime temps in the 50's but I am sure that will soon change.

So, now, don't forget to "Be Patient" " Be Kind" " Be Trustworthy" " Be Grateful" and just " Be Good" ! And. . . enjoy this season of Thankfulness. . .

Fat Quarter Giveaway !

2009-10-21T23:50:00.003-05:00

Pumpkin Patch Primitives is having a GIVEAWAY ! Head over there and checkout the PPP blog and enter, tell them I sent you ! Aren't these fabrics yummy ? They are Pumpkin and Spice from Red Rooster. Thanks, Brenda, for the contest !

Pleasant Pheasant Pfabric - Pheasant Country

2009-10-09T14:56:00.006-05:00

Well, now, isn't this a perfect quilt for this area ! Pheasant Country. . . . We have pheasants all over up here, and MANY pheasant hunters !

and how about this pleasant pheasant phabric ? sorry, I have wanted to do that for so long, I just couldn't help myself !

This quilt piecing pattern was a free pattern found on the Quilting Treasures website and my customer Kathy did a fabulous job of piecing it up in these gorgeous fabrics. Now, I personally have over 3,000 quilting patterns and thousands more available to me. . . and do you think I could find one . . . . . . . . . just one that would do this quilt justice ? na. . . . . but. . . I can have one designed ! Look below at the Pheasant Country quilt back for the quilting pattern we came up with ! It took 3 of us, Kathy, me, and most of all Laurie Thomas, the designer. I used a color of thread that blended in with the top, so the quilting wouldn't overpower the beautiful fabrics in the top. A special thanks to Kathy, who used a quiet tone on tone fabric for the quilt backing so the quilting can shine.

I just find myself drawn more and more to the quiet, tone on tones now, just to let the quilting tell it's own story.

2009-10-08T07:28:00.003-05:00

It's Andrea's birthday over at Junkfest and they are having a birthday giveaway ! Head over there and wish her a HAPPY BIRTHDAY and be sure and read about their fabulous JUNKFEST they just had and see what they still have for sale ! You should just see what these gals can do with junk ( ahem, I mean cool stuff ! )

Don't you just love T-Shirt quilts ?

2009-10-07T10:17:00.005-05:00

Here's a picture of our nephew and his then girlfriend ( now wife ) on their graduation day with the t-shirt quilt that I made him. Actually, in full disclosure, this was before I purchased my longarm, so I pieced this quilt, and then had it quilted. This probably was the catalyst for me to get my own machine, though ! Now, my niece-in-law has asked me to make her a t-shirt quilt too ( no hurry she said. . . . ha ha . . . she doesn't know HOW LONG my project list is ! and my project list even includes a t-shirt quilt for me. . . anyway, she made it on the list. ) OOPS I probably just spilled the beans, because my niece also wants a t-shirt quilt, but she has a sewing machine and is just starting to learn to quilt. I told her that I would be very happy to show her how to piece one of these and then would quilt it for her, but that she would have to make the top ! Her quilt is for her son who is graduating this school year.

Don't forget you can click on the picture to see an enlargement, and look near my N-I-L's wrist, we put a picture of our nephew on photofabric of him singing in a concert in the quilt too !

Anyway, the quilt in the picture turned out so nice, and the backing is flannel, and we all know how cozy that feels to wrap up in !

Back from a BUSY SUMMER !

2009-09-15T10:02:00.007-05:00

Oh I have been a bad girl and have not been posting. What can I say. . . it has been a really busy summer ! Then it gets to be awhile and you feel like you need something REALLY good to post about. Well, I am ready to break the ice with my Haunted Table Runner. It is a wholecloth, stitched with orange thread that glows in blacklight, and bound in a cute candy corn binding. This was so much fun to put together, I think I need to do another one for a gift !

Will Quilt for Musical Instruments

2009-05-21T07:39:00.010-05:00

Or so it seems !

I recently received a mystery package in the mail . . . . quite an oddly shaped package, lots of brown wrapping paper, lots and lots of tape. . .lots of work to UNwrap it. . . . . . . .

It came from my friend Jenny in Arizona. Pretty creative use of boxes there Jenny, how many boxes and rolls of tape did it take to wrap this up ?

Underneath all the paper and boxes were a bolt of fabric and a canvas case . . . . . ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

And inside the case was a beautiful log cabin quilt top and wrapped inside the quilt top, was a beautiful Mountain Dulcimer !

What a fun package to receive in the mail and open !

I am excited to quilt up your quilt for you Jenny, and hope you will be as happy with the results as I am with the dulcimer ! and. . . Jenny said to use the BOLT of fabric for the back, and donate the REMAINDER to Quilts of Valor ! Thank You Jenny ! That fabric should make several backs for Quilts of Valor quilts ! What a generous donation !

By the way, did you all know that MAY is BLUEGRASS MONTH ?

Still here !

2009-05-21T07:21:00.004-05:00

Hello !

Yes I am still here. . .been busy quilting graduation and wedding quilts ( 'tis the season, you know ! ) Went to my first ( and hopefully not last ) quilt retreat . . . great fun, new friends. . . finished BIRTHDAY WEEK (always fun, but exhausting ). . . Happy Birthday to Everyone, I have 6 relatives and 5 friends who's birthdays are all in a span of less than 2 weeks, and to top it off we have been in a flood area for almost 2 months here. The rivers in town are all diked up, we are on water rationing to decrease the water flowing through our sewer systems which are overloaded, we are an odd numbered house, so we can only only wash clothes on odd numbered days, and am even thankful for that, the town next to us lost their sewer system, and most evacuated, and ended up not being able to use their sewer system at all, and having porta potties set up outside all over town. I hear we are dangerously close to that. . . so we are careful how much water we are using. Very Careful. We have National Guardsmen in town patroling the dikes, and helicoptors flying over head all monitoring the dikes and dams. Needless to say, it has been very "interesting" around here. THANK YOU, NATIONAL GUARD !

It's Virtual QUILT FESTIVAL Time !

2009-04-19T09:57:00.013-05:00

TURN UP THE MUSIC !

Here is my entry into the QUILT FESTIVAL. The name of the quilt is Bluegrass Stars. It was designed and pieced by Barb in Bismarck, and quilted by me. This quilt will be raffled off to raise funds for the B.A.N.D. (Bluegrass Association of North Dakota) . The funds will be used to help promote Bluegrass music in the state with jams, festivals, concerts and classes.

Next is a close -up of the quilt and the last picture is of the quilt back. Bluegrass instruments featured on the quilt are guitar, banjo, fiddle, mandolin, dobro and bass. My apologies to any bluegrass instruments not represented on the quilt. . . we love you too ! For more information on North Dakota Bluegrass check out the North Dakota Bluegrass Forum . For information on tickets for the Bluegrass Stars quilt, contact me.

To see more quilts in the QUILT FESTIVAL, click on the link to the left. . . enjoy !

Lots of catchin' up to do !

2009-04-15T23:41:00.006-05:00

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter ! We took a short trip to Minnesota, played with the rellies and had a great time. It even felt a bit like spring there. . . When we left, there was a pile of snow as high as my shoulder next to the driveway. . by the time I got back it was only knee high. Today it's only ankle high, so we are making progress. Unfortunately, as the snow melts, the rivers rise and there has been alot of sandbagging going on here in town and in surrounding towns and farms. Here in town we are waiting to see how high the river will crest. . .

Time for some quilting pictures. . . here is a quilt I made because I liked the quilting stitch. . .I named the quilt "Candy Kisses". Before I bought my longarm machine, I was usually inspired either by the fabric or the pattern, now I get inspired by the quilting stitch which then leads me to the fabric and pattern. A little backwards, but. . . . it works for me. "Candy Kisses" is for my daughter and was mostly pieced last spring, and I finally finished the border, quilted and bound it in February of this year. It turned out to be a pretty appropriate time to finish it what with all the valentines candy in the fabric. Not, however, probably the best time to post this. . Valentines would have been better, but, well, there isn't an Easter quilt to post about right now so I need to take what I can get.

Anyway, about the title of the post. . .First I was working like crazy to get enough done so I could take a few days off without guilt. . . now, I am working like crazy to catch up after being gone. I did end up feeling some guilt, but it was so nice to get away too. Even had my own little shop hop ! I got to go to 4 Minnesota quilt shops thanks to my SIL for 2 stops and DH for 2 stops on the way home! It is always SO interesting checking out different shops. Thankfully, Mr. Willow Lake Stitches doesn't mind stopping, and even comes in sometimes and checks out the fabric - wait - maybe he is checking on me !

Check out these new patterns !

2009-04-02T23:40:00.002-05:00

Here's a pretty blog for you to check out. She is starting a pattern line and is having a giveaway. So. . . take a quick trip to Sweden and visit Helena !

The JUNK GIRLS COME TO TOWN !

2009-04-02T14:27:00.005-05:00

Yep, the posse paid me a little visit this afternoon. . . they were on their way through town to a top secret location to pick up a stash of JUNK to bring back home to their workshops. They are working hard to get ready for this year's JUNK-FEST in September. We just got 19" of snow a couple of days ago, and these fearless gals ( yes, I said nineteen inches of snow, and it's WET, HEAVY snow ! ) are pulling a huge trailer halfway across the state on these icy, snow filled roads to bring treasures home for Junk-Fest . They stopped to drop off some quilt tops to keep me busy for awhile. Since they were here, I put them to work, and had them draw the winner for my St. Patty's Day GREEN giveaway!

And the winner. . . . is. . .. . AMY from Learning to be an Oak Tree and here is what she said

"Hi Beth - I want to enter! One going green thing I've done is change my dishwashing detergent and laundry detergent to the eco-friendly and phosphate free. I also use eco-friendly cleaning supplies. I find they work just as well! :) Amy "

Go visit her blog and check out what she is up to. Soon, she will have a quilted grocery bag kit to sew up !

Thank you, Junk Fest Girls for the visit, and for drawing the winner. I hope you have a GREAT time today on your junk quest !

Now, for some more fabulous recycling tips, head over to the JUNKFEST blog and take a look at what they do !

These gals really know how to recycle too !

Welcome to my SNOW GLOBE !

2009-03-31T14:38:00.004-05:00

Hi. . . you may think that I took this picture last month, but. . .it, and all the snow is just fresh from a few minutes ago today, the last day of MARCH, 2009. It has been snowing steadily here now for 2 days, and I feel like I am in the middle of a snowglobe. What you can't see in the picture are the big fat snowflakes coming down. However, SPRING is here. . . it really is. . . so God can stop shaking my snow globe anytime now.

Send good thoughts and prayers for all our friends battling the floods all over this state. .. . . now we are starting to sandbag here in town too, and are expecting a couple more weeks of possible flooding. My Mom says " never complain if it gets too wet in North Dakota ". . . . which I am sure she learned from the "dirty 30's" dust bowl years. Well, if you are listening to the news, you can hear that we aren't complaining. We are putting up a good fight though.

St. Patrick's Day Contest !

2009-03-17T12:44:00.003-05:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day !

In honor of today, I would like to have a little fun, so I am going to host a " GO GREEN" giveaway. I will send a "GREEN GROCERY BAG KIT" to the winner. The kit makes into a generous size bag, it will be quilted as shown, with lots of vegetables, and stars and will include the lining and the directions for you to sew it all together. Contents are not included as the food will probably be eaten by the time this contest is over ! All you have to do to enter is to leave a comment on this post with a good recycling or "going green" tip. If you mention this giveaway and include a link on your blog and if you comment back here, letting me know you have done this, you will be entered a second time. Contest will end at midnight, March 31, 2009 and the winner will be notified shortly thereafter. If you don't have a blog, be sure and leave me your email address, so I can get in touch with you if you win.

Good Luck, and I'm looking forward to all the GREEN tips !

NQR

2009-03-12T10:13:00.006-05:00

NQR

Not Quilt Related. Standard slang on the quilting boards. . . . . . for when you need to talk about some of the other things going on in life. Remember the previous post ? ( which was also NQR ! ) I was telling you how the first weekend in March has usually been a storm and we are usually driving in it ? Well we missed it this year. Had a great time and I hopefully will post about it later, if my buddy took pictures and sends them to me. Anyway, I digress. . . the driving weather and roads were BEAUTIFUL all weekend, we got home Sunday nite, and by Monday morning it started to snow, snow, snow, and blow, blow, blow! Now we had lost about half our winter's snow up until last weekend, but now with the new snow, I think we have more than before. Here is a picture of the snow in my front yard, along with my yardstick I use for quilting ( well, I guess this is now a quilt related post ! ) I think we must have gotten around 10" of new snow, but of course you are seeing it all piled up here. . problem is, that everyone is running out of places to pile the snow. As for me. . . part of me is ready for spring, however the part that doesn't have all my inside winter projects done is still content with winter - and there is only 8 days of winter left !

On the Road AGAIN !

2009-03-04T21:56:00.004-06:00

Well I've been busy this week not only with my real world job, but with customer quilts, so I can take off this weekend for our annual WINTER BLUEGRASS weekend in Minnesota ! Time to pack up the ol' instruments and head on over for 3 days of bands, jammin' and sleepless nites ( cause we are up jammin' for most of the nite ! ) We can usually count on a storm, as past history has proven for bad weather and icy roads. . . so we will pack our winter survival gear and take it easy, but we are going ! Here is a picture of a couple of us jammin' away. . . I hope to return with some more pictures from this weekend, and will clean some quilt pictures out of the camera too. Unfortunately, I probably won't be able to convince the rest of the gang to stop at any quilt stores along the way. . . and there are some really NICE ones too ! . . so that will probably cause me to go into withdrawals. . . I will have to take some quilt magazines along for the ride I guess ! See ya Monday !

Cowboy Country

2009-03-02T22:10:00.005-06:00

Yes, right now we are the land of snow and ice, but it is still cowboy country up here, and when I received this customer quilt I knew just what to quilt on it. . In the middle is a cute over-all design of cowboy boots, hats, horseshoes and such to match the focus fabric, and barbed wire was just the thing for the plaid sashing and the outer border got a line dance of cowboy boots and hats ! This was such a fun quilt to quilt, and it's great when the fabrics really tell me what they want quilted. . . yes, they really do talk ! You just have to listen carefully.

Don't forget, you can

double click for a close-up !

I WAS A WHIRL INTO WINTER WINNER !

2009-03-01T17:05:00.007-06:00

Happy 1st day of MARCH ! Can spring be too far behind ? Well, we are still into winter here in North Dakota ( it was 1 degree below zero here this morning which is much warmer than it has been lately ! ), and it is time for me to finish some winter business. Back in January, MANY of us bloggers participated into a WHIRL INTO WINTER giveaway. It was alot of fun ( see post dated 1/1/09) and I sure hope we do it again. Well, after a computer outage here, and a quilt show and a bad bad cold, I am finally back posting and in the picture shows the goodies I won from 2 different blogs in the WHIRL INTO WINTER giveaway. First, from Paula at A Latte Quilts I won a pack of 6 homespun fat quarters ( she must know I really am a primitive quilter at heart ), 2 Dove bars ( and she knows about me and chocolate ) and a yummy hot chocolate mix ( she knows I've been freezin' all winter) and a whole latte' scraps which I just love, and really need for my calendar quilt ! THANK YOU so much Paula !
I was also lucky enough to win 2 cute wildlife panels from Cathy at Cathy~Originals . I just love the colors and the scenes on them and can't wait to find just the right projects to use them in.

Thanks everyone, this has all been a whole latte' fun !

Happy Valentines Day

2009-02-14T17:58:00.003-06:00

I have been so BUSY today working on a couple of my quilts ( that I already sent the entry forms in for next weekend's quilt show ! ) I finished quilting one, and have binding to do on that one and on my wholecloth quilt. Next time I enter a show, I am going to have these entrys done, BEFORE I send in the paperwork.. Both these quilts need to be in the mail on Monday. . . oops. . . trouble. . . I am thinking that there is NO mail on Monday. . .President's Day. .. Well, Tuesday will have to do ! Anyway, I forgot to wish you all a HAPPY VALENTINES DAY ! so, in honor of this day, here is a picture of some sweet quilting. . . and I hope you are all able to be with the ones you love today.

SCRAPPIES !

2009-02-14T11:20:00.013-06:00

OK. .. just how small does a scrap have to be before it is to little to keep? How small do you save? I recently helped a friend of mine start her first quilt. It was a Turning 20, and after cutting it out ( OH what a fast quilt to cut out ! ) there were these very tempting scraps left. . .and she didn't want them !

Well I did ! I had been having this little project floating around in my head for awhile. . so time to cut them up some more. . . and put 'em back together. .. . . . .

is this gonna be worth the effort? these squares aren't very big. . .but they are pretty fun to string together. . . I really like looking at them. . .ok, bordering on the compulsive here. . . . . .

time to put them together with some narrow, strips. . . . . .and now we are almost getting somewhere. . . .

Don't you just love these Kansas Troubles fabrics ( at least I think most of them are K.T.) I am also doing my LQS BOM out of Kansas Troubles, so I look forward to having LOTSA KT scraps. .

anyway. .. . almost done,

and HERE it is !

and what does it do ?

Why, all these little scraps grew into a SCRAP BAG to hold all the littler scraps and threads !

Wait ! On second thought, maybe that little red print that I am putting into the scrap bag is too big to go there yet ! or is that TOO obsessive ?

FULL CREDIT for this little project goes to another blogger, and as soon as I find the post I would like to GIVE her full credit for her great tutorial, and a link. It was one that I found when I first started reading blogs and really didn't know what I was doing yet, so couldn't save it or anything. If any of you know where this tutorial came from, or if it is yours, please let me know and I will post proper credit, and a BIG THANK YOU ! It is a perfect scrap bag for my DSM and I would like to make another ( larger one ! ) for my longarm machine.

2009-02-06T13:55:00.003-06:00

Happy Friday everyone . .

Just a quick post to let you know about another great blog and a creative bunch of gals. I wasn't aware they had a blog, but one of them found my blog and then sent me an email, so I got the chance to check them out. Now I would like to share ! They are the JUNKFEST girls and they really are only about 45 miles north of me. . and their JUNKFEST in September is the funnest event to go to ! Go check them out. . . www.junk-fest.blogspot.com enjoy ! Dream ! and make plans for a North Dakota trip next September ! Until then, go look at YOUR junk and see if you can bring it back to a useful life !

Now, for me to finish out the work week, and then I can think about some new things to post for the weekend. . .

Introducing a couple of new bloggers. . . .

2009-02-01T23:05:00.005-06:00

OK, it has been so interesting getting this blog going, exploring others' blogs and generally finding out that I can learn how to do new things, that I talked 2 of my friends into starting blogs. Now, THESE 2 gals are REALLY talented in their crafts, and they both know how to write a fun post ! They are just starting out, so would you mind going over and "make wisit" ? Yes, make W I S I T . . . a little term from around the area here. . . make VISIT. . . or just go over and visit. . . and while you are there, would you tell them I sent you ? That would be great. . . I don't think I will get a prize or anything, or that you will either ( yet . . . altho I will be making wisit with them soon on how much fun it is to host a giveaway. . .).
So, in alphabetical order. . . check out " Life Is What You Make It ", with my QOV buddy, master of all crafts, quilting, scrapbooking, etc, and an organized craft room to die for on top of it ! I have only known her for about 14 months, and we have found that we are alike except for 3 things . . but I can't tell you what they are. . . by the way, she has a fabric stash to die for so that is another reason I am nice to her HA ! The next blog is "Princess Dixie", my book club buddy. . . and talk about another talented scrapbooker ! She makes the cutest mini-albums and also has a scrapbook stash to die for. She only has one fault. . . she doesn't quilt, but I am working on it. I figure if she wants a Dorothy and the Yellow Brick Road quilt bad enough she will find her sewing machine, and if she does, I have some fabulous tornadoes and ruby red slippers to quilt on it for her ! Both of these gals are just getting started blogging and already have a knack for writing an interesting post, so hopefully you will want to write them an encouraging comment - don't forget to tell them I sent you !
Hope everyone had a good weekend. . . I will be getting my camera out soonly and will post what I have been up to ( and what I just got in the mail ! . . . remember the Whirl into Winter Giveaway ???? )

Hey, look at me, I figured out how to insert a link ! Now THAT wasn't hard at all !

Until later,

We All Have Our Hobbies. . .

2009-01-22T09:03:00.005-06:00

You pretty much know most of my hobbies, quilting, bluegrass music, reading, gardening, etc, etc. . .and the DH has his also! One of which is classic cars. Driving his '55 Ford, fixing it, planning the redo of his '51 panel van, getting parts for the '51, going to car shows, looking at others' cars, getting parts for the '51, helping with his car club, did I mention getting parts for his '51 ? Oh yes, and building a shop to work on his '51.

This weekend is their annual Winter Wheels Car Show. The car club members put in so much work for this show and it is always a success. It is always the same weekend in January, which is taking quite a chance with this North Dakota weather, but we have found that if it is nice, we get alot of people not only from town, but also from out of town and if the weather is bad, we may not get the extra people from out of town, but we sure do get more local people. I guess people want to just be able to get out ! You know there is a bit of a thrill to be able to get out and about in a blizzard. It isn't a very safe thing to do out in the country, but in town we sure do ( until we get stuck in a snowfilled street) !

Here is a few of us girls' contribution to the Winter Wheels Raffle. I found these classic and antique car fabrics on ebay, we first fussy cut them and we tried to focus on a different car in each block and sewed them up in a simple quilt pattern. Then I quilted it using an all-over antique car pattern. If you click on the picture you can almost see the car pattern in the stitching. The fabric is a bit too busy to see it well in the picture though.

I think it would look pretty good in my DH's classic car, or even on my couch. . . I think I might have to buy a few tickets !

And the Winner is. . . .

2009-01-16T08:24:00.005-06:00

And the winner of the Willow Lake Stitches Whirl into Winter giveaway is. . . . . Kathy of Thankful Threads http://thankfulthreads.blogspot.com/ ! The winner was picked by my son who recently returned home from his 2nd tour in Iraq. I asked him to pick a number between 1 and 177 and he said. . . . roll 2 dice, add them together, take that number times a certain number and divide it by this other number and that is your winner ! Well. . . I don't know if that is an Army thing or what. . . but it found me a winner !

Here is Kathy's comment: Happy New Year, Beth! I think a flannel wall or part wall would definitely be the ticket. Thank you for your participation in the giveaway. Kathy

So congratulations, Kathy, I just emailed you about emailing me your snail mail address, and when I have that I will send out your prize.

Thank you, everyone for all your thoughtful comments and helpful suggestions for my future quilting studio. I appreciate all the good advice, and when we get started with this project, will keep you updated with how we are doing !

This was a fun giveaway, and I am already thinking about what I can give away next time !

BEFORE IT GETS PUT AWAY FOR NEXT YEAR. . .

2009-01-06T10:47:00.004-06:00

Here is a picture of a tree skirt I started a few days before Christmas, now I need to decide if I should trim and bind it so it is all done for next year, and I could use it for my Challenge this month too. . . or if I put it away till next fall, and then finish it, because then it would be HALF DONE and be a snap to finish ! I could use it for, like, say, the November Challenge. . not sure what I will do, altho I do know what I SHOULD do ( finish it now ! ) wait. . . I think I hear a new project calling me ! ( Shouldn't these New Year's Resolutions last longer than 6 days ? ) You can click on the picture for a closer view. . . . What would you do. . . finish it now or for next year ?

For those of you looking for where to enter the WHIRL INTO WINTER giveaway, scroll down a couple posts to January 1, 2009. ENTER and join the fun !

One Project A Month Challenge

2009-01-03T18:09:00.005-06:00

Ok. . . I'm going out on a limb now. . . and joining the One Project a Month Challenge. Sounds like just the motivation I need! If you are interested, head over to http://www.abyquilt.bogspot.com/ to check it out. Now for my first step in that direction. . . I need to figure out what January's project will be !

I have also been enjoying all the interesting comments from all the entries in our current contest below. Thanks to all who have entered! I hope to soon start entering everybody else's giveaway, really look forward to checking out all the blogs !

Here's hoping everyone is having a great start to their New Years. So far in 2009 I have participated in 2 bluegrass jams. . . that is doing pretty good for the first 3 days of the year !

WHIRL INTO WINTER Bloggers GIVEAWAY !

2009-01-01T00:41:00.004-06:00

Winter is surely here, and so is this fun giveaway ! Click on the SNOWFLAKE icon to visit more blogs participating in the Whirl into Winter Quilt Blog Giveaway .

If you would like to enter to have a chance to win this Gooseberry Patch Every Day Calendar, and the LAST quilty item that I made in 2008, please leave a comment, and your name, and for fun, and to help me do some planning. . . please let me know . . . " If you were going to design yourself a new sewing room or quilting studio, what is the one thing that it would have to have ? " Hopefully you noticed that the Snowman in the Woods table runner is really a too-fer. . . . one side has cute snowmen and all their woodland friends, and on the otherside has quilted snowflakes ! I know you have seen the snowflakes before in an earlier post. . but these snowmen wanted me to quilt them here too ! and YES it is ANOTHER Easy Striped Table Runner ! ( Who has time to piece ? ) If you do not have a blog, please leave me an email address too, in case you are the winner . Don't forget, you can click on the picture to see a close up ( just to be sure if you want to enter or not ! )

Good Luck, and I look forward to your suggestions !

a n d HAPPY NEW YEAR 2009 !

Another Blanket of SNOW !

2008-12-30T14:12:00.005-06:00

More snow for us ! Another several inches dropped last nite and this morning, and here is what my front yard looks like ! I was able to grab this next picture just before the snowplow came down the street, in fact, if you look closely, you can see his headlights . I haven't heard how much we have, just that there has been more snow in December than we have had in the last 80 years! With all this new snow, I am in the mood to rearrange my quilting room/office and get organized ! First, though, I have 2 Quilts of Valor to quilt . . . . . . . .

Here's hoping that where ever you are, that you are all nice and snug and warm and safe ! p.s. as usual. . . I can't seem to get the pictures in order, but you can figure it out. If you REALLY want to see the snowplow, just click on the top picture to enlarge it, then look for the headlights !

Merry Christmas !

2008-12-21T17:28:00.000-06:00

Just a little holiday post to wish you all a Merry Christmas.

This is a little wall hanging that I made a few years ago, B.A. ( before longarm ) so is not quilted. I would like to make more, and have a few ideas rolling around in my head, but I need to get all the pictures and other embellishments together. For any future ones, I think I will try to embellish more, but I do like how this turned out. This is just a little montage of some family pictures. I am the youngest, so I don't show up on ALL of them ! I am only on the 2 pictures in the lower right. I especially like the one of my brother holding his BB gun that he got for Christmas. . . it really reminds me of the movie "The Christmas Story" I wasn't around at that Christmas, but I just love this picture ! Anyway, I thought this would make a nice little Christmas "card" for you.

I hope you all have completed your Christmas projects and that you can share some peaceful blessings of the season with your families and friends !

Merry Christmas, Beth

MORE ! Easy Striped Table Runner ! !

2008-12-14T12:53:00.000-06:00

Here is the newest Easy Striped Table Runner. I gave this one away at a Christmas party last Tuesday nite. Last Sunday I had 3 of my quilting friends over and they all did some of these too, and one was out of this same fabric, so I will be quilting snowflakes on hers, like I did on this one. I like it so much, I might just make one for myself !

Another Easy Striped Table Runner

2008-12-01T08:35:00.000-06:00

I realized that I never shared the DIL's table runner. . . here it is, still on my quilting machine. . .and before it was trimmed and bound. It looks much better now on her table ! This is made from the same fabric as her quilt in the previous post. Click on the picture to check out the primitive stitchin' ! OOPS ! I see after checking out the close up, that this picture is before I quilted it ! Well, it has the same quilting as the border of the quilt in the last post. Next time I am at the DIL's I will try to remember to take a picture of the finished runner and post it.

I just love these snowmen though ! ! !

Birthday Quilt

2008-12-01T07:58:00.000-06:00

Hope you all had a wonderful and safe Holiday with the ones you love, we did, except for missing our son who is still in NY on base, but home from Iraq and we are thankful for that ! We expect him to be home for good, sometime next week.

I thought you might like to see a couple pictures of the quilt I made for his wife, for her November birthday. She loves primitives too, and when I saw this fabric I knew she would love it. I don't have much time to piece, especially at this time of year, so there is a one yard panel in the middle with 3 borders. Click on a picture to see the cute snowmen that I stitched in the border and in the middle of the quilt. My friend and I liked this so much that I have one to make for myself in the red colorway and hers is just like my DIL's. So I can plan on stitching this out at least 2 more times ! I backed DIL's quilt with a warm, cozy flannel. She was happy with her gift, and it goes perfectly in her primitive decorated home. It also matches the Easy Striped Table Runner that I made her last month.

I'm busy now thinking of Christmas decorating, we got some of the outside lights up before our little snow, and now I am taking count of the inside trees that need tree skirts and I will soon post on a little tree skirt project! Till then. . . .enjoy the holidays. . . .

Enjoy the View Along the Way

2008-11-17T11:09:00.001-06:00

Happy Monday !

The sun is trying to shine here, and it always makes me look at things on the bright side.

Here is a picture of a customer quilt on which I quilted an overall pattern in the log cabin blocks and the phrase " Enjoy the View Along the Way" in the inner border. The piano key border got it's own coordinating border stitching, which compliments the quilt center. If you would like a CLOSE UP, just click on the picture !

The colors she used in this quilt were so varied, and it just reminded me of things I see when taking a long walk outside in the Spring, Summer, Fall AND Winter , so I felt that the black inner border was a perfect spot to remind one to " Enjoy the View Along the Way" !

Here's hoping your view this week is an enjoyable one !

Quilts of Valor Report !

2008-11-15T08:37:00.000-06:00

Hi,

I just got the pictures from the QOV presentation and thought you might like to see them. I will see if I can get the text lined up with the right pictures, otherwise you might have to figure it out !

Well, they didn't land in the right spot but on the first picture is Connie from Bismarck, me, 2nd Lt. Nitschke and Sgt Aarhus. Sgt. Aarhus was wounded in Iraq in 2003. I am holding the quilt that he picked out. The second picture is some of the 40 quilts we ( Quilts of Valor ) gave to the ND National Guard which will be given out to Purple Heart recipients from the War on Terror.

It was such an honor to be able to present these quilts, and to personally be able to thank this hero.

I would encourage everyone to thank a Veteran and find a way to help out your local Quilts of Valor organization.

www.qovf-um.org

still at war. . . still quilting. . .

After the Quilt Show Post

2008-11-02T20:26:00.000-06:00

Just got back from the ND Capitol Quilter's Quilt Show in Bismarck. Great show, and some awesome things happened too. I had the honor of presenting a QUILT of VALOR to an injured National Guard Veteran from Iraq. It was so wonderful to meet him and present his quilt and the 39 others that will be given to injured Iraq war vets. I am anxious to post pictures, but will wait until some get emailed to me. More soon.....

Not Just for Quilts part 2

2008-10-30T15:13:00.000-05:00

Here is another garment project of mine. I really like this, except I think I might want to do something different with the collar. This does look good with a turtleneck underneath, tho, so I guess the jury is still out. I want to add buttons ( when I find the right ones. .. ) and patch pockets. This is a strip pieced ( with 2 1/2" strips) flannel on a sweatshirt, and oh boy! is it ever warm. Double click on the picture for a peek at the leaf quilting. If you would like to know how to do this, drop me a line and I will find the link.

Beth

Not Just for Quilts !

2008-10-30T15:06:00.001-05:00

In the near future, I hope to be able to post some non-quilt quilting projects of mine. Here is my Jammin' vest, it was alot of fun to make, and to wear. Hopefully you can see all the little guitars I quilted into the fabric. The hardest part of this was picking out the vest and lining fabric ! Double click on the picture to see a close up. Do you like it?

Beth

alright, one more thing to show you. . .

2008-10-29T10:13:00.001-05:00

Thought I would show you the front and the back of this customer quilt. . .It was pieced by an over 80 grandmother for her colorblind grandson, but he CAN see the colors orange and green. The print in the fabric on the top had stars in it, so I quilted in Stars & Loops, in orange thread, and the thread even glows under black light ! This quilt turned out so very nice, Grandma was happy, and I am sure that Grandson will think it is pretty cool too !

A Bit of Halloween. . .

2008-10-29T09:53:00.001-05:00

T
The 2 pictures above are of the table topper I pieced last year and quilted, I did get it bound this year in hopes of enjoying it on my Halloween table, but it is currently residing where the table runner below is. . . . . This table topper is another easy piecing pattern, made from a panel. I used plain black for the backing so the pumpkin stitching shows up ! I just love these pumpkins !

Here is my table runner that I made for myself. If you look closely you can see the spiderwebs I quilted on it. Since this picture was taken, I actually put binding on it ( ! ) and instead of residing on my table, it is currently on display at a 3 week quilt show at a local bank. The last day of the show is Friday, Oct 31st ! So. . . either I leave my Halloween decorations up for a few days, or save it for next year ! The pattern is a free pattern on the internet, from http://www.ttfabrics.com/ and is called the Easy Striped table runner. Now when I enter a quilt store I head straight for the stripes ! Since I am the quilter, I don't get too much time for piecing, so I love it when I find a fun easy piecing pattern ! oops. . . I just checked the website, and it WAS the right website, but they must have retired the pattern. If anyone wants to know how to do this, just let me know, and I will try my best to explain it to you.

Happy Halloween everybody ! May your all your quilting projects finish for the correct holiday !

Beth

QOV

2008-10-29T09:41:00.001-05:00

Now for some Quilts of Valor. . . these 3 were made by my friend, the "quilting warrior" Marge. Aren't they beautiful ? She does such a nice job. I know they will be a great comfort to a wounded soldier, and will be on their way ( with several others ) to Bismarck this weekend for distribution. She had made MANY QOV's. Some she has me quilt, others, she quilts herself on her DSM. Notice that Marge even does scalloped edges on some of her QOV's !

I have also posted a picture of our Quilts of Valor display. Our SEW DAY last Saturday was a HUGE success ! We made 23 quilt tops, with pillowcases, backing & batting, and I even was able to find a couple of longarmers to help! I do so appreciate all of the piecers and quilters. THANK YOU - THANK YOU !

Beth

Catching up on Business. .

2008-10-29T09:24:00.001-05:00

I had better finish up about an earlier post, I mentioned that we went to JunkFest, what a great time. DIL,DH and I went and had a great time. DIL found a few things, the best among them was a large primitive blanket chest that fits perfectly in her entry. She has the best eye for primitive decorating.

I found a cute little bookshelf, it is oak, and stained black ( not necessarily my preference, the black stain, but it is growing on me) but a perfect size for neatening ( a new word ? but it works! ) my magazine problem ! here it is. . . . I have 3 spots, the women's magazines I need to catch up on, on the top left, below that are just the fall quilting magazines from this year and from some other years , the bottom right are recipe magazines and the top right are DH magazines and a dictionary. Now that I have the magazines tamed, I need to get them read ! I really like the size of this bookshelf, in fact, it sat empty for about a month while I considered the best place for it, it would have worked well as a nightstand, it almost had a place in my sewing room upstairs, or my quilting room downstairs. . . but for now is holding down the end of the couch in the living room. We will see how it behaves there, for now. Who knows where it might end up ! It certainally is a versitile piece of furniture, and is deceptively heavy !

Beth

Another Beautiful Fall Day !

2008-10-29T09:04:00.000-05:00

We're having fabulous weather here, sunny, calm, and the colors are truely beautiful. Here is my bright spot of color still hanging in there even though our temps have been below freezing at night. Don't you just love the color of these mums ?

I sure hope they can hang around for awhile longer. Maybe I had better start covering them at night !

Beth

Time to Type !

2008-10-17T17:34:00.000-05:00

Let's see. . . there is lots to catch up on, as it has been a super busy month ! Most notably and happily to report, is that our son, is back in the good old USA after his 2nd Iraq tour. He came back last week, and instead of taking his leave, coming home for a visit then flying back to New York to his Army base to begin processing out, he decided to stay there and "get 'er done". His wife flew out for a few days, and as for me, I am just thrilled and content knowing he is "home" and I can pick up the phone and call any old time I want. E.D.T.A. ( estimated date of TRUE arrival home ) is early December. After waiting and worrying all this time, that is good enough for me.

Also have been busy with fall yard and garden work, DH has been canning salsa, pickles, carrots, etc. while I have been quilting. I am getting ready for a QOV sew day in Fargo this weekend, and we are hosting our own QOV Sew day in our town on Sat. Oct 25th. So many things to think of and organize, and difficult because we have no idea how many quilters will be coming ! But the basics are done, have a location, have helpers, the notice is out to the papers and radio, and next week it will be time to iron out the fine details ! That is a guarantee that next week will go fast also !

Check out our QOV website: www.qovf-um.org

Did I tell you that I belong to the funnest bookclub in town ? ( Maybe I did. . .) anyway, we took a girl's weekend and went to Duluth. . . had a great time. . . scenery was beautiful. . .. . they even let me go to a quilt store ( right on the shores of Lake Superior) ! It was a great time and it would be a good idea for me to post some pictures. . . . but for now, I gotta go, there is some sewing I have to do yet before I leave for Fargo tomorrow !

Beth

just a little closer. . .

2008-09-23T18:59:00.000-05:00

Here is a little closer view, but I see that it still isn't showing up very well. It is still on my quilting machine here, when I get the pics from the quilt show downloaded from DH's camera, I will post them.

ANYWAY, I am still practicing posting pictures. . .

After the show. . .

2008-09-23T18:53:00.000-05:00

The weekend travels went well, had lots of fun and I will post about the JUNKFEST later, when I add the picture of my purchase !

The quilt show was alot of fun, saw lots of friends, and I have to admit, didn't get to see ALL of the quilts in the show, although not for lack of trying ! to the left is a picture of a customers beautiful wall hanging/ table topper, shown unquilted. I will post a quilted picture of it later.

( This is actually an excercise for me to learn how to post pictures and blog. . . how am I doing ? )

Things to look forward to. . .

2008-09-19T12:46:00.001-05:00

It's going to be one of those beautiful fall weekends, and I, DH and DDIL are heading out bright and early tomorrow morning to a local JUNKFEST ( 45 minutes away ) for the morning. I hope I don't see anything I HAVE to get, I hope I only see items that will spark my imagination and get me motivated ! Anyway, I always enjoy this kind of outing, on this kind of day. . . it should be great fun ! I will put fresh batteries in my camera and start making it a habit of taking pictures for the express purpose of posting them in this blog !

Hope to be back in town around noon. . . because THEN DH and I are heading to Fargo for the Indian Summer Quilt show for the rest of the weekend. . . and you know what I will be looking at there ! And YES, he does go to the quilt show too, and he does enjoy it ! ( Aren't I lucky ? ) I need to remember to take some of my special chokecherry syrup and DH's super salsa with to share with our "innkeepers" ( my nephew, wife and their daughter ). . . where, by the news reports today, they have a wayward MOOSE strolling through their housing development. . .
wonder if he will still be around by the time I get there with my camera? Now, wouldn't that make a good post ?

later,

Beth

First Attempt

2008-09-19T12:46:00.000-05:00

First Blog. . .

This will be new territory for me, but something is urging me on to get started with this, so here goes. Let's hope that I will improve with practice ! I really enjoy reading other blogs, and I hope this will be of interest to other quilters !

For now, I will just have to get started, and get this blog set up !

Beth