Can't Get Enough/Borders

I can't get over the things my Janome 11000 can do or the fact that it can communicate with my computer. My grandfather would have loved this technology! Anyway, I ordered, downloaded, extracted then uploaded the "Hands on Bible" design. Within an hour and a half (actual time 53 minutes but I was busy elsewhere) the design was stitched out and volia.....5 1/2" X 7" Finally, I got the borders to this little quilt put on. If you'll remember, I finished putting the blocks together at a recent retreat....weeks later.....all done. Hooray! 41" X 42 1/2"

Am I?

"Am I my mother and grandmother?" I asked myself just recently. I hope not but there is some evidence to prove me wrong. Although we were all teachers and mom and I both taught the same subject, science. This did not alarm me. It is our temperament and mannerisms that are so much alike. We say some of the same things as if speaking to a child.....scary. We are sometimes impatient and short when things heat up....frightening. When I get up in the mornings, I find myself clearing my throat the exact same way as she does and grandma did....... this is freaky! Mom and I even sound alike on the phone, so I've been told. And we all expected and expect results quick, fast and in a hurry.....Oh my gosh....I think I'm becoming my mother and grandma....eeeeeek! This is not good. I'm myself, I keep reminding me of that. Am I going crazy? Don't answer that, I say to myself. I am me, I am me, I am me....don't you agree! Don't let my calm exterior fool you. I'm worried, really! How hear me out, my mother is a wonderful person and grandma was the best grandma in the world. They both raised me to be an independent woman and self-sufficient, which I am. So why am I complaining? I really don't know the answer to that. I guess I'm having a panic attack or a middle-age crisis or something. So maybe disregard this post..........I'm just babbling away here.......LOL

Postcards Delivered

Vicki sent me a wonderful postcard with a schoolhouse with a tiny bell on it. "Cute" I love the thread tree. Great job...........Holly sent me a "sunshine" card to brighten up my day, whith colorful butterflies fluttering about and sequins glittering in the light. Hey, I think that poetic.......Thanks ladies. Be sure to visit their blogs, just scroll down my sidebar to the Postcard section to get there.

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Some of my blogging friends were curious to know what book I got the pattern for the Spinning Stars quilt, so I'm posting the cover. I love this book because the patterns are easy and fast, fast, fast!

Blow By Blow Update #5

Finished the Country wall hanging.......I added two more blocks before I was satisfied with it......just have to add borders......LATER!

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This is an interesting quilt that one lady was working on. The picture isn't that good of a quality but the quilt itself is great.

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We had a Fat Quarter swap and these are the fabrics I picked. This is probably the last post I'll do before I get home tomorrow. It's been fun reporting all of our progress, misshaps, a fun times to all my blogger friends. Take care and sew, sew, sew.

Blow By Blow Update #4

Good morning to all my blogger friends. It's alittle foggy here in Mount Calm but cool.

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A last evening some of the ladies took a tutorial on Deco Christmas Ornaments using ribbon, pins and Styrofoam.

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Didn't they turn out just beautiful. It amazing what you can do with ribbon.

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Here's another "Spinning Star" quilt. The darker red fabric was a gift from my good friend Monica.

Blow By Blow Update #3

This is block #88 from "Quick & Easy Block Tool.......The block appears in our Fisher House quilt. QuiltingPirate was concerned about the marathon thingy going on. Well, this is my second thing to get done......so no worries there......LOL........Paula and Laura stopped by to say hello and to see what we are up to. I am having a blast just visiting with everyone and working on my blog. I feel like the "Town Crier" and I love it......BTW....Please drop by everyone's blogs and leave them a little comment.

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These ladies are our best pals....in no certain order: Linda, Martha, Sue and Nancy

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Don't worry, Martha isn't imitating Michael Jackson. She doing stippling using these gloves to aid her. The picture doesn't do these block justice. When it's finished, the quilt will look like an optical illusion.

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Carol in Sweden asked me if we had to prepare our own meals........Girlfriend.........no we don't. This is the kitchen staff who happily prepare and keep us fed the entire retreat. Melissa, the owner is pictured in red.

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Well, that's it for today. Stop by tomorrow and I'm sure you'll find more wild and wonderful stuff going on at the Compass Center which is located in Monut Calm, Texas.

Blow By Blow Update #2

Good Morning blogger pals. I was up bright and early this morning (7AM) and not so ready to go. Hey, I'm on retreat not a marathon. I'm entitled to relax, relate, release.

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Well, I finally got something done right after breakfast and before lunch. I went with the checkerboard border and I think I'll add another border of a neutral color and do some embroidered vines and leaves or maybe applique.......we'll see.

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Melissa, our hostess, is working on something very crazy and wild......that's her style.....something for a newborn, actually. Poor baby won't be able to go to sleep at night......LOL

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Another lady is working on a Sampler. I really love what she's doing.

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Stay tuned, more coming as the day wears on.

Blow By Blow Update #1

I arrived around 11:30ish and to my surprise......everyone that was there for the previous retreat had left so I didn't get to use my "evil eye" on them.,,,,LOL

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My space.....looks real organized doesn't it!

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My friend Jerri with her name on her chin.....just for fun.

Blow By Blow Reporting

Hi there blogger friends! Well I decided that I couldn't wait to get to the Compass Center and start the retreat......so I'm off and running. I've finally gotten everything in the Jeep and I do mean everything......(no need for a pic)trust me, it's ugly. I've taken my meds, eaten a bite and decided to post this little message before I go. We are suppose to check in by 12 noon. The Center is about 45 minutes away, so what if I'm early....I'll just sit in the parking lot and stare at the ladies leaving hoping to convey the necessity for them to HURRY UP and LEAVE!.....Is that tacky????????? LOL...........Sorry, I'm okay now but I'm still leaving in a few minutes. Reports to come throughout the day.

Postcard From the Edge

Lookie what I got. A postcard from Brenda. We are really getting into this swap. I'm already planning on my next two grouping of postcards. To visit some of our swap members' blogs, browse my sidebar for "Postcard Swap Group" Thanks Brenda, I love the card especially the little bumblebee. He looks like he's about to get into trouble. BTW....It's time for another retreat. I'll be off to the Compass Center pretty soon for lots of sewing and laughter. I will be taking my computer and Janome so I'll be able to post and embroidery at the same time.....LOL.......expect pics.

Fruit and Wine Anyone?

Added another block.

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Well I was playing with some new designs from EMBL that I purchased the other day. Of course, it took by all day to stitch them out. Basically it was because I couldn't make up my mind about the thread choices.....I know, I know.....the Janome gives you the choices......duh! But I didn't want to follow them all the time, thus the all day thingy. I started the project with 3 designs and some wonderful fabric from Benartex Inc. It's 100% Cotton Screen Prints fabric and I love the graduating shades of it. I tried to make sure that part of each fruit rested half and half.....alittle on the light portion and alittle on the darker side. I'm not sure how I want to set the blocks together. Maybe all my blogger friends can give me some suggestions. I'd love to hear from you. Please leave a "Kind Word" and I will definitely consider each response.

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Today was also a very special day for me and a wacky friend of mine, Kathy. We received letters announcing that our blocks have been chosen as part of the "Toast a Rising Star" contest which celebrates the numerous wineries and wines in our great state. A quilt is being made and will be revealed at the State Fair in Dallas, TX in September. We have been invited to the viewing. I am so happy and honored to even be considered. If you're in town, stop by the State Fair and take a gander at the quilt.

"Crazy"

Two posts in one day..... sorry but this couldn't wait..........Remember the Patsy Cline song "Crazy"......I know that this is going to sound strange but try to stay with me on this because there is a point. This morning I went outside to through out some scraps of bread to the birds but I didn't quite make it. I fell just outside my back door. Mostly my pride was hurt but I did manage to scrape my knee pretty good. I just stumbled and there I was on the ground examining the ants and grasshoppers. As I was cleaning myself up in the bathroom, I began to sing the "Crazy" song but I substituted "Stumbled" instead.........Now sing along with me using the "Crazy" tune......."Stumbled....... just fell on my face in the cool grass......Stumbled.......skinned up my knee and it hurts so bad.........Stumbled...over my own feet, I tripped...........Stumbled and fell....Stumbled and fell.....Stumbled and fell on my %@~ !.........Thank you, thank you very much.....Oh by the way, my point is, at 53 my brain thinks I'm 35 but my body told me this morning to slow down, watch where you're going and pick up your feet, girlfriend.......I'm as young as I feel within limits!

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On a brighter note: Postcards from the Edge Round2 are on there way. Brenda has informed me that we have a new member Vicki from Arizona.....Welcome! Each of my postcard buddies is getting an embroidered card with their every own initials. Boy, was it a learning experience on this little project. LOL.....you don't want to know, believe me. I did these right after my little "Stumbling" incident.

Belated Birthday

Saturday Armando called me in a panic. You see, he had forgotten my birthday. He and Angie have moved back locally and were busy getting moved in their new home. Now, mind you, I wasn't the least bit worried or offended that he hadn't called or dropped a card in the mail but he was really torn up about it. So he sang the Happy Birthday song to me over the phone and we scheduled at time when I'd be home so they could come over and visit......You all know how busy I am these days learning my new embroidery machine and that wonderful EQ6..~@%#^$#*(@&!~......LOL.....Anyway they came over yesterday with this. Armando baked me a cake. He doesn't want anyone to know that he can do this little thing. He swore me to secrecy. Please don't think that Angie had anything to do with it. She doesn't like to even think about cake right now.......her pregnancy has done crazy things to her appetite and she didn't talk him through the process. I am very proud of him for making the effort and the cake was very good..... two flavors...lemon and strawberry.....YUMMY!

Duh, Girlfriend

OK, I'll admit that the problem with my new EQ6 was totally my fault. If you don't know......long story short, I didn't read part on FAQ which would have solved my loading problem early last week.....but oh no, I wanted to do this on my own. When I finally gave up and read the FAQ, within 2 minutes, I was viewing and playing around with the EQ6 design area. D....U.....H!

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I can't get over the way my Janome just seems to spit...(sorry about the verb usage).....out these designs. Sometime I catch myself watching the needle go up and down, round and round, loop to loop..... instead of sewing blocks together on my other machine. I'm thinking of moving across the room so I won't be tempted....hehehehehehehe........what do you think?

It's My Birthday

Well bloggers, I made it to the sweet age of 53. Boy does it feel great. I really mean it. Life if good, retirement is really working out and I can sew and embroidery to my little heart's content. So "Happy Birthday" to me!

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To celebrate my birthday, I called up a few of my wacky friends to go with me to Waxahachie, Texas. (Molly, Annie and Jerri) There we visited one of our favorite quilt shops....Common Threads. Once inside we each split up to do our own thing. My technique is to circle the floor area like a buzzard then dive in for the kill or carcass.......LOL........this is the beginning of the diving.

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On to the Fat Quarters. A few years ago, I was not a fan of FQ's for this reason. I'd get started with a project and run out of that certain FQ. But recently, I've discovered applique, embroidery and sample blocks that only need alittle bit. So I dove in with both feet. The results was that I always try to buy a good amount of FQ's everywhere I go.........LOL

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I know some of you are wondering what's with the Aunt Gracie's.......well remember I told you that I'm going to be a "GoGo" (Grandma) in November.....so I'm making Angie a rug to go in front of her changing table. Surely I can have that done by November! Wish me luck, will you? I think I'll need it.