Quilt #2

Quilt top #2 is done!!!!  So far, I have not basted or quilted #1 since I am in need of batting.  A's truck was in the shop and he has been using The Dr's truck, which means that The Dr was using my car.  Of course not having a car could be the reason that I am doing these quickly.

Top one was fairly easy to quilt and having a Sizzix cut the strips and squares made it even easier.   I used 2.5 inch squares.  The square die was used to cut from smaller scraps and the strip from larger ones.  Easy peasy.  I did get the design from this website.  Her's is a little more scrappy and my technique is a little different.  She made a 9patch and I made the center row a solid strip.   I also used the same fabric for each cross.

I was able to do 3 rows a day.  That included cutting and sewing, and housework and dinner making thrown in.  Here is the progress

Here are the two sample blocks that I did to make sure that the design was pleasing to the eye.

Then I made my first row.  I did send each of these pictures to my mom for her "approval"...gotta have mom tell you it looks beautiful!!!

Then the 3rd row.  I think this was the point where I decided that I really liked it....

It was at this point that I wasn't so sure about giving it away... it is a gift and I really think I want to keep it..LOL


Here it is with the last row on, and I am considering making another...

I haven't decided on a border yet, but I think I like the grey.  It's enough to frame it without blending in or overpowering it.

And because I think she is cute, here is a little blond haired, blue eyed farm girl (with a slight attitude)

Almost done with Quilt 1..AKA: The Orange Peel Quilt

Well, I didn't get this one done as fast as I wanted to but,  with one kid in school, the other having football practice, but no school and the oldest working I felt like I was pulled here and there.  BUT....  I finally finished the center of this quilt.  I am still not sure what I want to do for a border (s) and I am seriously considering adding circles to the centers of the peels.  I am trying to use just what was given to me for the whole top.  I will have to buy fabric for the back or I may just piece the back...   So, here it is... please forgive the lighting, it was getting dark outside and I really wanted to get it photographed.

Accountability...and an Update

I need accountability in my life.  I have a ton of fabric that was given to me and I must do something with it.   Some of it is going toward my English Paper Piecing hexagon swap quilt.  But I don't plan on making that big of a quilt.  I spent a few days dividing it into like colors and ironing and folding all of it...  a lot of ironing!!

I have several scrappy quilts that I want to make and I am going to keep my progress here. Hopefully I can get more done if I know that people are waiting with baited breath for me to finish...LOL


First an update on our family.  Aaron graduated... Praise Jesus!!!! He is on the waiting list for mechanics school.  We decided that it would be best if he attended the one that is the same distance away but in a small town that we frequent more often.  It is smaller and he may have to wait until January, but it is a better fit for him with a smaller class size.   So, he needed a job to keep him busy.  Well, God provided.  He stopped in at a car lot to look at a truck that he liked and the owner came out and started talking to him.  He asked Aaron if he needed a job and offered him a job.  He will be detailing the cars, and running errands.  It's not much, but hopefully he will make connections. And driving different cars makes it exciting.   He also met his birth mom and her family.  It was a sweet time and I am happy that we were able to keep in touch through the years and make the visits that he had special.  He is loved!!

As you can see here... Zane is sneaking in a hug... Aaron is letting him.....LOL

Aaron's birth mom and her mom and step dad. This family has blessed us so much and we are happy to know them and consider them part of our family...  The Dr didn't get the "wear blue" memo....

 Zane is entering his Jr year of high school at FCA and loving every minute of it.  He is still playing football and is so happy with the coach and staff.  I can't wait for our first Friday night!!  We have a scrimmage this Friday.  He is hoping to get back into drama and singing.  He also got his license and his first truck.  It is an 84 Dodge D100 pick up and fits him to a T..  He and The Dr have been tinkering with it to get it just right. But, it is finally road worthy and he is happy.

Lydia is going into 10th grade and is turning into a typical teenager..LOL  That is good and bad....  Her art is amazing and I wish we could send her to an art school.  Her little school has one art class and she will be taking it this year.  Hopefully the teacher can make connections for her.

The Dr is still teaching and we are settling into life with 3 teenagers... counting down the years until Lydia graduates and starting to prep our "empty" nest. It's going to be good...  We know, because we had 9 years practice when we were first married...LOL

I am still canning, although this year I didn't do as much as I have in the past. We did have our first grape harvest and I made jelly...we are big PBJ fans here, so grape jelly is a must.  We didn't get many grapes, but out of our 3 vines 2 were old enough to produce and it was their first year...Out of my meager harvest I did manage 17 half pints of jelly..  not too shabby.

Well...hopefully I can update you all with a few quilt pictures and keep this blog active...