Tonic Sol Fa

Paul and I jam packed this weekend with lots of fun and friends. Friday night we went to his company Christmas party. It was a great meal, fun games, and lots of laughs. There were several prizes given away and the wives each got a nice ornament. I got to meet several of the guys he works with and talks about all the time, so now I have a face to go with a name.

Saturday morning we were up early and headed to Sioux Falls. We did a bit of shopping and had lunch before heading out to our friends Nich and Jon's house. Our other friends Cory and Angie met us there and we all went out to eat in Sioux Falls at Grille 26. It was phenomenal! We had some time to spare, so we went to see the lights at Falls Park. Then we all went to the Tonic Sol Fa concert at the Pavillion. It was a great concert and we all enjoyed it. We had seen them in concert before, so it was fun to get together and go again. Angie, Nich, and I used to go each year when they were anywhere close to Brookings.

Sunday morning we visited for a couple hours before leaving. It was wonderful to visit with friends and spend time just relaxing. We got to play with Mason, Jon & Nich's son, a bit too. It was a nice, enjoyable, relaxing weekend. We arrived home about 6:30, so not real late compared to the last few weeks.

This week I'm working on custom quilts for Christmas gifts. I got the first baby quilt done last night and have been working on the hand work today. They are coming together nicely. The customer I'm making them for will be back home the 18th, so I'm trying to have them done by then. I cut out a Christmas quilt too last night, but don't know that I'll get it done before Christmas. We'll have to see how much time I have. I'm teaching Lickity Split baby quilt tonight, unless the weather gets worse. So far it's just snowing and if you slow down it's not bad. Too many people were driving too fast today and there were several in the ditch.

100 Blocks 100 Days ~ 221 Blocks/ Day 86

September Quilting Accomplishments

My September Goals Included:
Carters Speedway quilt - Quilt & Bind
Hannah's Barnyard Quilt - Quilt & Bind
Mason's Animal Wall hanging - Quilt & Bind
Zoo Animals baby quilt - Piece, Quilt & Bind

I didn't do so well on my goals. I did get the embroidery done on Carter and Hannah's quilts, but still need to quilt and bind them. My quilting machine was serviced this month, so I should be able to get them done soon. I won't say I'll get them done in Oct, because I have a lot going on! I did finish Mason's wall hanging and sent it to Nich this week. The zoo baby quilt didn't go anywhere, so I'll have to do that later.
I did accomplish a lot of things, they just weren't on my goals list.

Made Darlene's Vest
Finished Mason's Animals Wall Hanging
Embroidered Names on Hannah & Carter's quilt tops
Pattern Tested for a NEW book coming out in a few weeks - All in Pinks
All 85 blocks for a Koi One Block Wonder for my MIL in 4 days!
Designed pattern for Crown Royal quilts & started making blocks - my OLDEST UFO!
Made a Purse/Wonder Wallet/Checkbook cover for my MIL
Quilted my mom's 5 yard quilt

Also in September:

Congrats to my friend Amy and Joe on the birth of Jacob Paul!

Won two rulers 6x24 & 6x12 from C&T Publishing
Finished up Waun-a-Finish Summer Challenge 18 UFO's Completed 25 Start to Finish Projects
Attended the Hill City Outdoor Quilt Show - Lots of awesome vendors!
Started 100 Blocks in 100 Days in Prolific Online Quilters Group - 110 blocks in 17 days so far!
Found out I am going to Disney World October 27-31 for work! We are doing the leadership training at Disney Institute!
We bought a new CAR!

My October goals are slim because of my work trip:
Professional Tote for my trip
New purse/wonder wallet for trip
Thanksgiving Gobble Gobble wall hanging
Crown Royal Quilt - 1 top
One Block Wonder - top

I've made it to 600 posts! I love blogging and can't believe it's been almost 5 years ago that I started blogging. I was teaching high school and I had my students do it too. I don't think any continued, but at that time it was a really new medium to express yourself. I've learned so much and found some great friends. As in everything there are always some bad apples, but for the last 4 years I can't believe how many awesome people I've met on the internet. I have really enjoyed documenting my quilting and seeing how I've grown over the years.
Thanks to all my blog followers/friends! You are AWESOME!



100 Blocks 100 Days ~ 110 Blocks/ Day 17

Baby Animals Wall Hanging

Last week I worked on a wall hanging for baby Mason. It will match the baby quilt I made earlier for him. I got the applique finished up and quilted it Thurs night. I put the binding on it and did the hand sewing on Friday. It's ready to be sent off to Mason and his parent later this week.

Winding Ways Book Cover

Saturday when we were shop hopping I found the Winding Ways fabric line by Jennifer Chiaverini. Since I had seen it in OH, I had wanted it. I picked up a half yard not knowing what I was going to do with it. Tonight I opened my fabric cupboard to pull out a fun fabric to make a book cover for the current book I'm reading. I take it back and forth to work and it's a paperback, so I wanted to protect it. This fabric just seemed right, so I quickly made up a book cover and bookmarker while the manicotti I made for supper was cooking. I didn't have a pattern, just measured the book and kind of winged it. I started with a piece the was 1" taller than the book and 6" longer than the outside of the books. In this case it was 9"x17 1/2" x 2 pieces and each side had a layer of decor bond on it.

After supper I worked on the applique for a baby wall hanging I'm making. I got an email from the mom today about how much Mr. Mason loves the baby quilt, so I want to get the wall hanging done too. I got about half finished before calling it a night. I have some quilting to do tomorrow night, so maybe I can get it quilted too.

Prolific Online Quilters Meet

A couple weeks ago Michele B. from Maryland emailed me with a few questions about things to do in the area. We emailed back and forth and I gave her some suggestions. This weekend she arrived in the Black Hills with her family. Daughter Laura saved the day by helping Michele find the shop. It was pouring rain when they arrived, but they were able to spend some time at the shop looking around. It was great to meet Michele for the first time. We are both members of the Prolific Online Quilters group. I hope she has lots of fun on her vacation in the Hills as there is plenty to do.

When I got home I was exhausted and didn't have much quilting mojo. I just was kind of at a loss for what to work on and I had a huge mess in my studio. Too many things to do and too little time! Finally I settled on working on this wall hanging for Mason's room. I got all the applique pieces put on before calling it a night. I have to pick up thread before I can do the applique stitching.

When I got home from work last night, Paul gave me this pink rose in the beautiful swan. It's absolutely gorgeous and made my day. He also grilled ribs, made tuscany veggies, and Grieme potatos for supper. It was nice to have a homecooked meal I didn't have to cook.

See the purple in the picture? It's my new purple rotary cutting mat, to match my new purple tutto for my travel machine. I'm loving the new purple accessories, since Jen made me a bunch of purple bags to go with it all.
After supper I cleaned out my fabric closet. Grandpa made each of us kids a small cabinet which we each still use. In college mine was a food pantry, but now it's my fabric cabinet. I cleaned out all the fabric and put in the newest fabric for projects, as well ast the projects I'm working on. I put all the old fabric that I'm not using in my fabric drawers in the closet. Now I feel like I have my quilting fabrics/projects organized and not stuffed in an overflowing cabinet.
I pulled out the sweatshirts for jackets and plan to work on them this week. I need to pick up some thread and I'll be good to go with the quilting.
I'm hoping to have a great quilting week since I won't be able to do much next week during the fair. A bunch of us girls at the shop all have tickets for every night! Chris Cagle, Heidi Newfield, Rodney Atkins, Dustin Evans, Blake Shelton, three nights of rodeos, and demo derby. I'm skipping the Stix Concert I think.
Happy Quilting!

MN Vacation - Friday

This year we had planned to take a vacation to MN to visit my mom's cousin and family. Since Paul started his new job, he couldn't take time off. I rode with mom and dad as we headed East on Thurs. afternoon. We stopped at my college friend Nichole's and visited with her, her husband Jon, son Mason, and mom Cheri.

I took lots of pictures of Mason, but this one has him laying on the baby quilt I made and delivered to him. He's 4 months old.
We continued on, getting a motel room for the night and then visiting at the home of my other college friend Angie and son Carter. Her hubby was working. Angie made us an awesome lunch and we visited. Carter was all for taking pictures. His baby quilt is in the back right corner of the picture, but it's time I made him a big boy quilt.

Friday afternoon we arrived at cousin Sue & Al's house. Jen met up with us there. We visited with their family and had supper there before going to the Twins game.

The game was lots of fun and we really enjoyed riding the light rail to the game. After the game we visited at Sue & Al's before Jen and I went to Tyler & Molly's to spend the night. Jen and I talked until 3AM, catching up on all the happening of our lives.