Gonna be mailing on Monday!

Sorry so of you have been having problems finding a way to email me. From my blogger profile page - click on my photo over on the right and from there there is a blue link that says Email.

Several have kept up with me from our current thread over on the HGTV broad and have let me know that they are already making blocks for the fall swap. Good to hear that you want to swap again – I am making note of it on my spreadsheet of the people who want to.

I’m planning to send out an official “invite” email to everyone after I get the current swap in the mail back to everyone. Also in that email will be the guideline/rules in an attachment. I've also been rethinking that 10/31 due date... depends on the size of the group I suppose. With over 30 swappers this time (plus life happening: David rolling over on my arm, him out of town, doctors appointments, potty boot camp, ant bites, did I mention David being out of town and my exhaustion from being single mom all week) it's been quite challenging on me to get everything all sorted and layed out to prepare for swapping.

My usual turn-around time for swapping is 7-10 days... and here I am on day 13! AAAk! So ***IF** there are a lot of swappers for the fall - I'm considering PUSHING up the Due Date to October 15th so that I can have them all swapped out and back to you before November rolls around.

November is a short month anyway since the kids are out of school for Thanksgiving and I know that I will be busy that 2nd week preparing for our family vacation trip home to Kentucky - so swapping or bagging envelopes is NOT something I need to be doing during that time.... however if we only have say 12-20 swappers we should be OK... just gonna have to wait and see after final sign ups...

…and speaking of mailing I plan to mail the current swap to all of you on MONDAY 8/16!!! Yeaaa! :) I got about a dozen envelopes packaged up last night before calling it quits for bedtime and will most likely finish up in just a short while when the twins go down for nap time today (they’re eating their Mac-N-Cheese lunch right now as I type) but I don’t’ know if I can make it to the PO today before they close – depending on how long they sleep.. and honestly with as much time as it takes and somewhat confusion of mailing all the packages and which to get delivery confirmation and the fact that there are over 30 to mail out… taking kids with me is something I REALLY want to AVOID!

Our PO is closed now on Saturdays… and I could take them all tomorrow out of town (which wouldn’t be a big deal much) ***IF*** David were going to be home to stay with the kids… but he leaves tonight for a trip to Austin, TX for Saturday. He and I both are not happy about it… this STINKIN ASSI Meeting he has to attend totally ruins the weekend for us and our family time. He just got back from his KY/TN trip on Wednesday this week.

But looking to the bright side of not mailing until Monday – which is also Nora’s first day of 1^st grade… David is planning on going with all of us for the first day assembly and prayers and to see her new classroom and such… he’ll go into work late… so before he does – and after we get Nora all set… we’ll plan to leave the school and then have him drop me off at the PO to do my swap mailing while he and the twins either wait in the van or go run get doughnuts or Micky D’s or something… yeah I like that 2^nd option better don’t you? ;)

So just hang tight – they’ll be to you soon and you will be playing with your “new to you” scrappy 4-patches by this time next week! ;) and about this time next week, I’ll be getting ready to MEET THE Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville!!! She’s the guest for our guild next Thursday and I’m taking her workshop on Saturday! Weee! ;)

Thanks to those of you who have left get well wishes for Paul Thomas (either on Facebook or our family blog) – yes there was an red ant hill up in the tree about a foot off the ground :( It's low to the ground and all the kids love to climb in when we go to the spray park.

Thankfully all the Thoughts & Prayers must be working b/c he he's been a real trooper thru it all - and so far no scratching... yet. Some of the blisters have popped already but still over 50 or more that look like they could burst by just looking at them.

Well I better run – the kids are done with their eating. All 3 plates CLEAN! So it’s time for our “happy dance” song we do :P

Happy Weekend & Love from Texas!

Wrapping up my own sets for the 4 patch swap

I will be sewing again tonight and tomorrow night as I wait on the last packages to arrive… I had thought I'd just quit where I was and be happy with swapping 10 sets... but then decided since I still have 2 more packages to arrive - I could go ahead and finish up this stack of noodles sewn together already and that would bring me to about 18 sets complete *if I get them done in time* ;)

It's gonna take me a day or so to clear off my table and get all the 30+ packages unloaded and onto the table and ready….. but maybe I'll clear off the guest bed upstairs instead...?

I took photos to post onto my blog to show what I'm working on .. but they will not show up when I email my blog post??? still trying to figure that out...

EDITED TO ADD PHOTOS ;)

but for now - all the packages that have arrived... have been sitting here mingling with each other getting to know one another.... I can NOT wait to see them all spread out together... it's gonna be fun - FUN- FUN!

and once I'm thru swapping these I'll email everyone about the fall "Round 2" swap (due date of 10/31) and take sign-ups thru email for a week before starting a new thread post here on the board.... so if you are interested and have not told me yet - send me a PM or email

Love from Texas!

What's acceptable for black white 4-patch swap due 10-31-10

I know there have been several people who asked - what do I mean by the sub catagory for ROUND 2 when we swap Scrappy 4-patch blocks agian in the fall... do I mean fabrics that are black and white?

no. I actually vision 4 patch blocks that are made up using white on white fabrics (WOW) and then the black part of the 4 patch, to use a BLACK fabric. I prefer them to have some small tonal designs on them...

So for the visual people who need examples take a look. The top row are fabrics that I'm looking for in the black/white 4 patch swap if you'd like to participate. Those paired up with any WOW fabrics to make your blocks.

Thanks for the questions - you guys keep me on my toes :) I hope the photo you can click on to see larger to see that there are some print designs on those blacks at the top...

Also I would very much like for the same matching blacks to be used within the same unit. So a total of 10 identical blocks like the one above would = 1 set. Limit 10 sets per swapper. Hope this helps.

NOTE: my above example was used with paint software - the WOW tonal fabric doesn't show up very well... please use a WOW. thanks.

Hey Kelly @ IHAN - Aren't you proud of me for not opening my EQ6 software that has been here for right at a month now... I'm being very patient for my birthday to roll around before I open it... only 6 more days :)

Love from Texas!

Not even close

Bummer. I've been working on my 1930's Jewel Box swap blocks -and have then all joined together into a top.. only it's not large enough. My Jewel Box needs at least another row in both directions before adding my fancy border I found to add. Guess I'll keep on, keepin on with these.... I sure hope I don't run out of 30's scraps!

Looking on the bright side - at least I found a boarder that is different than the usual - most photos I searched on flickr. Most Jewel Box Quilts had piano key borders... but not this one! take a look!

Jewelbox quilt border pic from flickr user marode

The above is how I always name my photos that I save in my "Inspiration" folder, so that I can always remember who or where I found it... I like to give credit where credit is due ;) So I printed out a photo and marked it up - like a road map planning my next adventure. I think I'll use HSTs to create the turn on the diagonals out into the white area.

I will have to make another row both for the top/bottom and the side... to make it large enough before adding my border. I really like this plan... I just wonder how long it will take for me to get there?? :/

Love from Texas!

Design Wall Monday

Little by little, I'm getting these sewn into a quilt top. They are a group of 1930's swap blocks "Jewel Box" pattern that I exchanged a few years back with my HGTV friends.

I'm not too sure how big it will be yet - I'm thinking I want to use it on the queen sized guest bed upstairs - but I do know I do not what a typical piano key border.

So I've been searching and searching for something different and I think I've found IT! ;)

It will help that I have several swapped units to use to get started on this pieced border!! Now all I need is to get the rest of the rows together and then take up to the bed and see if what I have is going to be large enough.

Love from Texas!

1930's units

I promise I'm getting these done and in the mailbox today!!! This summer I did a Jewel Box blocks swap and loved everything I received as did everyone else in the swap... but there were a few of us who wanted a few more units to swap and maybe use in putting together either more blocks for a larger quilt - or maybe use them to make borders?? and of COURSE I had to get me some more too! :) Can't wait to see what pretty HSTs and 4-patches I get back in a variety of 1930's fabrics!

Love from Texas!

Soccer Mom - What about a Ballet Mom too?

Yep, this is me - a "soccer/ballet mom" :P That's what I am! :)

This year has been a big year for Nora - lots of new beginnings. Kindergarten, first time playing soccer and also first time to take ballet lessons... She has also began RE = Religious Education on Wednesday nights at church so we sure are on the go a lot these days. Here's a look at our week:

• Monday
  
• Tuesday = soccer practice
  
• Wednesday = CCD Religious Education
• Thursday = ballet class
• Friday
• Saturday = soccer games
  

Here are a couple photos I took of her today in her new ballet dress...

The Dance studio owners name is Rose and so all of the girls have a rose embroidered on their bodysuits. Aren't they pretty?

and what about those swap blocks Bonnie??? Well I decided I wanted my top to be a little larger than the 24 blocks I swapped so I signed up for a continuation where we are all swapping just the units with one another ;) 4 patches and HSTs and we can use for more blocks, borders, what ever. So until then here they are sitting under the design wall ;) After the October swap I'll work on getting them into a top.

I love the basket in the photo above.. I use it with my 9.5" ruler in my lap some nights while watching TV to do the finger pressing swirl thingy.. I forget if I ever shared the link with my readers or not - but take a look to see how easy it is to Press 4-patches. Linda Warren shows us an easy way to avoid bulk in the center where the seams all meet up.

as I sew my 4 patches I place in the basket and when it's full I use the ruler on top of the basket as a little lap desk. What do you do while watching TV??

Love from Texas!

1930s blocks are back

actually they've been back for quite some time now - since the end of August... but after I took these photos then my laptop crashed... and went without a laptop for about 4 weeks... so I'm just now getting them saved off the camera card.

Take a peek to see what was inside my swap envelope ;) These 1930's Jewel Box Blocks were swapped out by our lovely hostess Crazy'boutquilts.

I made and sent in the maxium number of sets (3 sets of 8 blocks) Since the dining room was completely empty form the work we had done last month it made for the perfect photo spot ;)

and here are some more My Blue Heaven Blocks that Crazy and I are making and swapping just between us :) I had mailed her a set of them when I mailed in my swap blocks. We love to double up on the packaging and save on shipping throughout the year.

and of course Nora enjoyed helping me... isn't this a cute one of her standing back admiring the blocks? and yes that is a toddler bed in there... just like the one she has upstairs in her room. A friend from church offered it to us free! :) but I'm not quite ready for it for the twins...

Ta-Da! :)

Nora: "Momma can I use your camera?"

Me: bribing her - "If you give me a good smile I'll let you take a few..'

love it - and the ones she took too... of her piggys :)

Mailbox full of squishies

It's been forever since I've had a redwork show-n-tell but here's one for ya! ;) Who doesn't love a mailbox full of squishies!??! ;)

and take a look at what arrived in my mailbox today.... this package was LOADED from jamauk - actually most of you know her as Jessica from Jessica's Quilting Corner

Remember the CYOC string swap I participated in last year...? 30's around a cut 2" white center.... well I recently missed the sign up deadline for the current CYOC swap that is now underway... (which is probably for the best since I've been busy with several other things)

Anyway - look what extras she included??? Just for me - just because! :) Isn't that awesome!? She knows that I plan to make 2 matching twin size quilts for my girls for when they one day share a bedroom ;) and although I'm not exactly sure how many I "need" I just know I need a lot of them ;)

and look in the pic above the blocks.... she sent me some extra of that brown fabric I commented on a while back! la,la,love it!!! Thanks Jessica! And below are larger 9.5" strings around red that she sent in for the Heartstrings donation from our Sunshine Quilter's group... ;)

Also in the mail box today were these scrappy 4-patches from gracie/ohio ;) That makes

and although my Quiltmaker didn't arrive.... I did get something else quilt related... My Joann's flyer... and take a look at the insert.

I doubt I'll be buying $66 wort to earn the $10 gift card... but I thought it was super cool that inside the insert they have DMC floss buy 3 get 1 free. ;) I've searched all of the flyers each time they have come and this is the first time I've seen the DMC floss on sale since I started my collection.

oh and for those of you participating in the "Christmas Lights Mystery" in Quiltmaker.... have you seen this??? Only look if you don't mind the surprise being spoiled for part 2 - I know I'm not the only one who can't wait for their magazine to arrive! This is what I will be working on tomorrow during the twins' nap time!

Love from Texas!

Whew - Mail Call at last!

I was so glad to see these show up today! I was starting to get a little worried... there are still several packages "out" and the due date is quickly approaching (8/1)
These beautiful scrappy 4-patches from iquiltalot!

I was starting to get worried when nothing was in my mailbox yesterday (Mon)..... but when I was walking back in form the mailbox today, I noticed something...
now how am I suppose to notice anything on that grill!??!? Guess you can tell we don't cook out often ea? and I know it's no one's fault but mine that things get piled up around here....

but I didn't see those two packages on the grill's handle... guess they were delivered yesterday?!... one is a box of DVDs and VHS shows that SavedSinnr gifted to my kids for the price of shipping - isn't that generous!?
and the other package had...... scrappy 4-patches in it from everythingquilts and this was her 2nd attempt to ship to me b/c the first time she put them in the SASE to herself!
whoo hoo! that makes a total of 5 swappers Rec'd and waiting on the other 7 Should be a lot like Christmas the next few days with packages on the way!
Other NEWS - Everyone keep an eye on your mailbox for the Sept/Oct issue that includes Part 2 of "Christmas Lights" as I read today on the quiltvillechat yahoo group where about a dozen members received their issue in today's mail!
I can't wait for my mail lady tomorrow... for more my copy and also more packages from my swappers of course!!


Love from Texas!