What I've been up to...

I have been trying to get some sewing done.  With a wedding and birthdays coming up it's time to get sewing.  First was a few 3 inch variable star blocks for the Charm and Daughters of Charm quilt for the silent auction at the Capitol City Quilt Guild show coming up in May here in Lansing.  These were the one's I made

Next came my exchange block for December that I needed to give at our January meeting of the Variable Stars.  That block was Pam's block made with 30's reproductions.  This is her block..

Saturday this past weekend was terribly cold, 10 degrees or lower.  So I wasn't about to go to water aerobics.  So I just stayed home, turned on the heater in the basement and started sewing components for a queen size quilt I need to get done.  The blocks are made of 1/4 sections like this one

of which I made at least 35 on Saturday.  They will then be used to make these blocks

By my figures I need to make 80 of these blocks.  I'm glad we have a quilting retreat coming up in a couple of weeks.  I'm hoping to get them all done before the end of the weekend.

Between the holidays I went through my box of quilt tops to see about getting some to Wendy for quilting.  I hadn't realized how many of them need borders.  So I need to start picking borders and getting them on.  I figure I can do that during our Wednesday craft day at work.

Well more to follow

Loss of a Friend

This morning I received an email that a very good friend has passed away.  I had known Marge probably for at least 15 years.  She was a member of our Variable Star quilt group.  Marge was a wonderful woman.  She had many interests but number one in them was her family. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 18 months ago and had fought valiantly to have time with her family.  She has shared her thoughts all through her illness and has been an inspiration to many.

I'm glad she had this extra time to make lasting memories with her family.  She will be greatly missed but will serve as a continuing inspiration.

Happy New Year

As starts go for the new year mine was just a little rough.  The Monday after Christmas I came down with the intestinal flu that had made it's way through most of my family since Thanksgiving.  Guess that is what I get for getting cocky and thinking I had avoided it.  Must admit though that it helped me to get rid of a few of the pounds that I put on over the holiday.  Now I'm ready to get back to eating healthier and getting back to my work outs.  Today I made one of my favorites, tuna patties, for lunch.  My recipe makes four so I could have one for lunch and now have some for tuna pattie sandwiches this week.  I've also got a turkey meatloaf in the oven.  Mmmmmm, meatloaf.  I could eat it 6 days a week.

I have started machine quilting Jack's heavy equipment quilt.  I got most of the straight line quilting done. Now just need to do the borders and some more quilting in each of the blocks.  I really don't have a good set up for machine quilting so it is a little slow going.  I also need to work on my block exchange block for January.

Vacation in 2010 was a trip to London and Paris, complicated by the volcano last spring.  This year I'm going to do something I have thought about for about 3 or 4 years.  I'm going to go out to Wyoming and go on a 3 day wagon train excursion into the Tetons.   It is kinda in honor of my dad as he did quite a bit of his growing up in South Dakota.  The last time I drove he and mom out west for a Lei reunion we saw a wagon train just outside Belle Fourche and dad seemed to be intrigued by the idea.  I saw an article about a ranch that runs the 4 day trips so I have contacted them for more information.  I feel confident enough in the progress I have made and will continue to make in my health that I want to do this.  I have always been intrigued with the West and so why not go.  I went out a couple of days ago and bought a pair of hiking shoe/boot so that I can get them broken in before the trip.  The other think I have to do is to brush up my riding skills.  Not sure if I will contact a friend who has horses or just go out to someplace like Sundance.

Well, enough lallygagging, back to sewing.

Best wishes for a happy and prosperous new year.