I am on fire!!

...With projects that is. Someone get a bucket of water for me!!! OK, now I am being silly. I guess that is what happens when I am on vacation.

I finished my Mom's tote bag today. I started one for me this afternoon. It has textured contrasting color and some other little modifications to the pattern (out of necessity due to a little fabric shortage). I have to quilt the pieces and assemble. My modifications took a lot of time this afternoon. I want to finish it before I return to work on Monday. So, after making four bags, I think I will not make a bag for a while.

I made this CWDQ block this evening. I am getting more confident and ready to try some of the more complicated patterns. I hope to do several of these blocks a week.

Welcome 2010, I am ready to put 2009 to bed. Looking forward to next year, Happy New Year to all.

Civil War Diary Quilt

Today was the beginning of my Civil War Diary Quilt or CWDQ. My goal is to have it pieced in 2010. I love the 6" block size. I learned the basics of paper piecing in a pineapple class this fall. I was afraid to start but it went well. I also used EQ6 to assist me in organizing the blocks and print the patterns on the CD I bought last spring. I need to learn more with EQ6 but it is a learning curve. I am doing more each day using it. LOVE IT!!

I chose 2 easy blocks. I thought I would only get one done this week and I did 2 blocks this morning! 10-1 is the first block and 8-11 is the second block. I am proud of my fussy cut flag in the center of 10-1. Tomorrow I am going to try the block that is Chinese Coins. After I do each block I want to read the the diary entry in the book that inspired each block. Makes history more personal, doesn't it?

I also had to go to something easier so this afternoon I started another curved tote bag for my Mom. Then tomorrow, I am going to make one for me with the Texture magic I have left from my class. So both classes have paid off in learning things I have been using over and over again on my little vacation this week. I feel that I made a good investment. I need to check the class schedule for January to see what else I can learn at the quilt shop.

Next stop, the yarn shop!!

y lo

I wish everyday were as productive as this....

I am freezing cold. It was a high of about 20 degrees and I walked around the indoor hockey rink today. I have had cold feet since then!!

I have been sewing. I couldn't wait to show the photos. They turned out so cute. I decided the pockets were decorative and not useful, besides a pain to put on the bag. The polka dot one is for my daughter and the blue one is for my friend SP.

I had so much fun, I thought I need to make more. I have the rest of the week off. I think I may make one for EVERYONE, without pockets, thank you.

I am going to try to paper piece tomorrow. Wish me luck. I am not very confident about it.

This photo is the progress on my prayer shawl. I want to make another one of these too. Hmm, working really gets in the way of my fun!!

The last photo is for my daughter, see I put matching rings on the new shower curtain, looks so much better. Tomorrow I will try to get a photo of my flatironed hair. Very different from the big hair of days gone by.

Staycation continues...

And I am enjoying it, too. Today was a stormy, snowy blustery day with 25 mile/hour wind gusts. I sewed on a tote bag for my DD. I will have a finished pic tomorrow. I just need to line it. I want to make a few of these. The bags are fun and relatively good for instant gratification. They also will use up my stash of fabrics. The pattern for this particular bag is in a magazine I bought but I found it also on their web site http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/. It is the blue tote from the latest magazine called Curve Appeal.

Pictures shown are of a light display at a local golf course we went to on Saturday. Then we went to the town's park with "old school" displays that I enjoyed too. I think that everyone had fun over the week of Christmas, I know I did. I hated for it to end. Soooooo...

I started to clean up the house. Then I started my diet and exercise program. Well as much as a diet as I can do with all the goodies around. Then.....

I bought a flat iron for my hair. It really did work to make my hair straight and not frizzy. New year coming so I thought I would get a head start. I was getting a little sick of the "memory lane" trips that my MIL was taking over the weekend so I thought looking ahead is good. 2009 wasn't a bad year but I am looking forward to next year. I am not getting into the year in review TV shows either. I think I will watch College football bowl games instead!!

A Lovely Christmas

A lovely day was had by all. DH made a fabulous meal of prime rib. I made a pie. I washed the dishes!! Our parents were over and visted. Gifts were exchanged and family was home. My DD came last week and her husband beat the storm in on Christmas Eve. DS was very excited and had a great time.

I must have been good this year because I recieved EQ6 from DH. It was such a surprise. Now to learn how to use it!! The time has come to start the Civil War Diary quilt.

I have been crocheting, and I finished my little rug. I am working on a my cross stitch project. To alleviate the tedious cross stitch, I started to knit a shawl. It is fun. The cross stitch project is was started in 1992 and I want to finish it!!

I watched "It's a Wonderful Life today." I love that movie. I baked some cookies. A nice way to spend a vacation day.

Stash Report

No sewing this week. I did purchase any fabric either. Lots of shopping for Christmas!

I did work on my old cross stitch project. I am slowly seeing the end of the Vintage Santas. I have been crocheting a rug. I want to make a prayer shawl and then I want to sew a tote bag. My goal for the next 2 weeks because I am on a Staycation!!! Yea me!!!

I have the visitors and we are enjoying the holiday season with shopping, looking at vintage train sets yesterday and a light show this week.
What are you doing?