Happy 1st Anniversary to Us!

Today was our first anniversary. Last year it rained for a week straight before the wedding and on Thurs. we had major flooding, but the day of the wedding only a brief sprinkle. It's been raining since Fri. and let up a bit today, but was a rather cloudy gloomy day. I went to the quilt show. In the afternoon we went to the movie Night at the Museum, which was pretty good.
When we got home, his mom had fixed us salad, lasagna, french bread, and baked us a chocolate cherry cake. There was a tablecloth, purple candles, and roses! It was really special.

A close up of the two of us.

RWB Blocks Finished!

I hadn't intended to get any sewing done this weekend as it was the quilt show and our anniversary. Tonight after supper I went down to put away my quilt show purchases and clean up my sewing room a bit. I pulled out the RWB Blocks I had cut out at retreat and finished them up. They'll be on their way to Jen later this week.

Professional Tote Half Done

If you've ever taught a class, you know the best way to learn something is to teach it yourself. Mom and I have been teaching a class for the past two weeks on making the Professional Tote. We had 10 in the class and last week everyone got to where the outer part of the bag is made, so Wed. night I whipped this one up and didn't have to read the directions and had it ready to show at class last night. Then I showed everyone how to make their sides, and linings, and while they were busy, I finished up the outer part of the bag in half the time, no directions for me, and got the center pocket done. I still have the side pockets and lining to do, but I'm so pleased with how far I got. I think it's so much easier to do something after you've shown several people how to do it. They didn't get quite done, but far enough along to "admire" their outer bag. So here's a picture to admire of the outer part of the tote I'm making for Jen.

Mom and I are going to enjoy some of the quilt show festivities tonight and then if it's not too late I hope to get this finished up tonight and show it tomorrow at strip club. The girls in the class loved the colors and I know Jen will too, since she's only made 3 or 4 items out of the fabrics.
The Black Hills Quilt Show is this weekend at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. The shop has a booth there, so it's going to be a busy weekend and we're all going to the banquet together Sat. night.

Boxed Blessings finally done!

Boxed Blessings the "big" quilt retreat quilt I was planning to work on is finally done. I thought I could get it all pieced and in a top by the time I came home. I could have... if I hadn't waited to start until Sat night! I found too many other fun, quick projects and didn't quite get done with the blocks. I had them about 3/4 done, and shipped them home. Over the past month, I've had to make a number of bags, so this kept getting pushed to the back burner. I quilted it in about 5 days, and spent 6 hours ripping out three rows of quilting because of bad tension issues. I think I was rushing too fast to be done on Memorial Day weekend. I put the binding on last Fri night and have worked all week to get the binding hand sewn down. After I got home from class last night I finished the last side of binding up while I visited/watched TV with Paul. He starts his new job on Monday, so today's his last non-working day to stay at home and veg, so he stayed up late last night while I sewed. The back and the front of the quilt, with the cool binding. I have enough to make a pillowcase to go with it too. I'll get the quilt to the store today so it's there for strip club tomorrow.

This is the finished quilt

My First Waun-a-Finish Finish!

Tonight I really wanted to finish up my first UFO for the Waun-a-Finish competition. Since I want to show it at Strip Club this weekend, I had lots of motivation to get it done. I had it cut out, but that was it. Originally it was going to be black and white on the outside and blue/yellow on the inside, but I changed the plan and went black and white charms on the outside, black fairy frost in the inside and handles. The first two pictures are of the front and back, then the two sides. The sides show the true color, the others were taken late tonight in not the best lighting. Good thing I tested my pattern as it's a bit different than what I had written. Jill helped me come up with the name Charming Beau Purse.

Fishing for Dad's Birthday

This weekend we headed to my parents as our niece was being baptized Sat. night. After Mass we headed to the river as it was my dad's birthday and he wanted to go fishing. We fished until midnight.
Sunday morning we were up at 6AM! Way before it's healthy to get out of bed or care what one looks like. My little bro was having really good luck as he caught 40+ pounds of catfish. This was the biggest one he caught, 11 pounds! He stood it up next to our niece and it was bigger than she is.


I had a ton of nibbles, but this is the only one I caught. It was 5oz, so I threw it back. It was the smallest one we caught. Most were 2+ pounds, but averaged about 7 lbs. My other bro is going to smoke them, so we'll eat them later. This is they Cheyenne River in the background. My parents live about 10 miles from it, so go often when we are home at this time of year. When the cotton starts flying is when we have the best luck and it's just starting to fly.

I was headed to get more shrimp for bait. I'm standing next to the bank and it's about 10 foot down to the river. Mom was the official photographer, scale holder, pliers holder. She had a hat, so didn't get sunburned like I did. I'm toasty red.

About 11 the fish quit biting, so we went back to my parents and the guys cleaned the fish and the girls cooked lunch. Then it was nap time. It's exhausting going fishing! Mom helped me lay out my One Block Wonder and I got it all cut out before we headed home.

May Quilting Accomplishments

I feel like I got a lot done in May and yet I don't feel like it's as much as I thought I could get done. I spent a lot of time quilting the Boxed Blessings/Pop Parade Quilt.

Charm Pack Tote - Done
Clownin' Around Baby Quilt - Border, Quilt, Bind - Done
Leslie's Quilt - Done
Finish Boxed Blessings - Blocks, Quilt, Bind - Binding needs to be sewn down
Thangles BOM - HST made
Make Signature Quilt with Rosie - Top, Quilt, Bind
Courier Bag - Cut Out

While I completed 4 items off my list, there were a few that didn't get done. In addition I also whipped up two pairs of pants and 4 pillowcases.
Pants & Pillowcases

I'm starting the Waun-a-Finish Quilting competition starting today and going through this summer, so I'm working on a list of all of my UFO's. I know ... don't die of heart attack, but I have way too many UFO's for my liking and I need to get a handle on them, so I'm going to finish them up this summer so I can start quilting season in September with fresh new projects.

In June I'll be working on the most pressing UFO's..

Boxed Blessings - Binding hand sewn down
Califon Charm Purse - Cut out (For Bag Ladies next week!)
Jen's Pink/Brown Professional Tote - Cut Out
RWB Signature Quilt - Cut out, Part of the Blocks Made
Chez Moi Happy Hour Quilt - Cut Out

I have lots of other projects I plan to work on, but these are the ones I hope to finish.

Waun-a-Finish Out of Control UFO's!

When I started writing down my projects I realized they've gotten out of control! The more I look at my fabric, I realized the more I have planned to do. So this summer I'm going to be finishing up those projects. I'll be participating in the Waun-a-Finish quilting competition. Do you Waun-a-Finish your UFO's too?? Join the fun and see how much you can finish this summer.

June Finishing Goals:
1. Boxed Blessings - Binding hand sewn down
2. Califon Charm Purse - Cut out
3. Jen's Pink/Brown Professional Tote - Cut Out
4. RWB Signature Quilt - Cut out, Part of the Blocks Made
5. Chez Moi Happy Hour Quilt - Cut Out

This summer I hope to finish:

6. Paul's Wolf Applique - All applique pieces cut out, needs to be put together
7. Leslie's Curtains - Cut Out
8. Leslie's Pillowcases - Cut Out
9. Objects of Desire Tablerunner - Cut Out
10. Mocha Merigue Wonder Blocks - Cut Out
11. Turquoise/Brown Wonder Blocks Quilt - Cut Out
12. Peach Koi One Block Wonder - Cut Out
13. Thangles BOM - HST made
14. Deer Quilt - Partially Cut Out
15. Courier Bag - Cut Out
16. Runaround Bags - 2 Cut Out
17. Clownin Around Changing Mat - Needs borders and quilting
18. Flannel Animal Bibs/Burp Cloths - Cut Out
19. RWB Blocks
20. Pop Parade Pillowcases

The ones I'm struggling with finishing the most!

21. Crown Royal Quilt I - Few Blocks made, others cut out
22. Crown Royal Quilt II - Few Blocks made, others cut out

23. Carol Doak BOM - Blocks made, needs to be finished

My other possible Projects to Start (The Black Hills Quilters Guild Show is this weekend, so I reserve the right to add new projects!)


1. Zoo Parade Baby Quilt - Panel
2. Storm at Sea - OH,KY,IN quilt
3. Tools Baby Quilt - Panel
4. Black Jacket
5. Sleepy Acres
6. Matching Quilted Sweatshirt Jackets for mom & I
7. Hot Cowboy PJ Pants

40th Quilt, Quilted!

In the 10 months I've had my quilt frame, I've learned a lot! This past weekend I quilted my 40th quilt on the frame. I feel like I am still not where I would like to be with my tension, but I'm doing better and each quilt is getting better. I look back at some of my first quilts and shake my head, but that's how you learn. I have several quilts cut out now and I'm ready to start making them up, so I think I'll give the frame a rest for a while.

My quilt frame has really helped me produce more quilts and I enjoy quilting them now. I also have taken on way more than I thought possible. I counted up my UFO's recently and they were over 20! This is so unlike me, that my co-workers at the shop said I was finally starting to act like a quilter. Although they did give me a hard time about throwing too big of scraps in the puppy pillow planter. My current projects... those I'm working on right now are a Professional Tote, Happy Hour quilt, Wonder Blocks' quilt, binding Pop Parade, and designing a charm purse for June Bag Ladies. I don't know what I'll do first, but I won't have much time this weekend as we are heading out to the ranch.

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day weekend to everyone! I love the start of the summer season. Working at Mt. Rushmore every summer I was in college, I always enjoyed Memorial Day weekend because there was always that first big rush of summer tourist traffic.
This weekend was unlike most for us. We usually go home for the family branding, but since we're going to my parents next weekend we stayed home and I worked both Sat. and Sun. My quilting was severly hampered by working, but I did get quite a bit of quilting done.
Friday night I loaded Pop Parade on the frame and quilted swirls on it. If I had known how long swirls would take, I never would have done it. I quilted a couple hours Friday night, a couple hours Sat. night, and Sun. night I finally finished up. I was exhausted, only to pull it off the frame and realize the last three rows had bad tension issues, so I spent an hour Sun. night, two hours today, and still have a good foot left to take out before I put it back on the frame to finish quilting it. I was so mad, but I want it to look nice, so it's worth it.

Here's a close up of the quilting on it.

Jill and I had been discussing doing a One Block Wonder together. I had a grand idea to use our cowgirls fabric, but figured for my first one I should try something off the sale rack. I found this peach Koi fabric and I know my MIL loves it, so I'm going to make the first one for her. It matches the blue pillowcase and pants I made for her last week.

Today we had grand plans of going fishing since I was off. Paul had me up at the crack of dawn. We went to Wall Lake and New Underwood Lake, but it was pretty windy, so no luck. Paul says it's called fishing, not catching for a reason.
We got home in time for naps and to watch the postponed Nascar race. They were talking about the Indy car race and I thought of Jennifer and her well planned family vacation.
I had planned to go to Hancock's for their big sale today, so I headed out mid afternoon. I picked up several zippers and magnetic snaps for a professional tote I'm making. Elastic for more pants. Leather thimbles, a new flex light (for good lighting for ripping), button pins for working on OBW, and some new scissors like Jen had a retreat. They are a lot lighter than the ones I normally use, so aren't as weighty on my neck. Ran in to some co-workers so ended up spending time visiting too. I went to Lowe's for plants, Best Buy for headphones, and Shopko just to look. It was a nice (but windy) afternoon and it was so great just to look. My MP3 player was taken at the airport on my way to retreat in OH, so last week I got a new one... 8 GB and FM Tuner... Paul is so jealous. He tried to convince me I could have his 4GB one and he'd use the new one. Not gonna happen! I love my new player and have already filled it about half full. I hated the headphones that came with it, so I picked up some new ones.


This week is the first class for the professional tote bag class mom and I are teaching. I am making one for a friend, so I planned to get it all cut out this weekend. That didn't happen, but I did get the fabric. The dots will be on the outside, the brown is the contrast, and the one on the right is the lining. I think it will turn out great.

I worked on cutting out a Wonder Blocks quilt out of the Mocha Meringue fabric this weekend, but didn't get it all done, so tomorrow I'm taking it to work and will do it at lunch. Jill made me this awesome Tool Caddy to take with me to work, so I'm taking it along with my rotating mat and hopefully I'll get it all cut out.

I love the little mat, rulers, and rotary cutter, which I didn't have. I so wish we had a Joann fabrics around here, but we don't so I get what I can at Hancock's when they have 50% off notions like they did today.

Bag Ladies - Miranda & Mini Miranda

Tuesday night was the final night of our May Bag Ladies Club. We made either the Mini or the regular sized Miranda Bag. There were 5 ladies in the class for May. Lu & Diane also made Mini ones as well, but I missed taking a picture of them. The ladies all went home with a finished bag after two night of class. I love teaching classes with my mom and this one was fun since it was a bag I knew how to make very well.
Laurie with her Miranda.

Linda with her Miranda

Wendy's Mini Miranda

Boxed Blessings/ Pop Parade Quilt Top Done

Tonight my goal was get the blocks finished for the Boxed Blessings quilt done. I had them done by the time Dancing came on, so while I was watching that I put them all out on the bed and played with them. I talked to Jill for a while and then went and sewed the blocks. I was so excited to get the opt done. Now I'll just have to quilt it. I don't think I'll end up putting borders on it. It doesn't call for them. I'll decide tomorrow when I'm at class and have some opinions.

Here's a close up. I'm very happy with how my corners matched up, even though I didn't have a very consistant 1/4". I didn't square them up, but they went together well. I'm using the lime green check on the back and the same lime/purple stripe in the block centers as the binding.

Boxed Blessings/ Pop Parade Quilt

My main project for Quilt Retreat with my peeps was the Boxed Blessings pattern by Ingrid Barlow. Mom had bought the pattern in Sioux Falls because that's the one thing I really wanted her to pick up on her trip. We had just gotten in the Pop Parade line, so I thought it would make the perfect line to make these blocks.
I only got about 3/4 done at retreat, because let's face it I got distracted with other fun and easy projects. I left this one till late Sat. night and all day Sun. and I couldn't concentrate, knowing the time with my peeps was almost over. I had the main stack on the left done by the time I left, and all the matching pieces (the ones in the middle of this picture) sewn together. They just needed to be attached to the main part. Last night I started attaching them. I got about 1/2 done with attaching one side.

This is how each block will look when I get them put together. Hopefully I'll get all the blocks done tonight. We were watching the Survivor finale when I was trying to do these, so not as much done as I would have liked. With Dancing with the Stars and Bachelorette on tomorrow night, I know I could be easily distracted. My second and final night of Bag Ladies is Tues. night, so it's going to be a busy week.

Charm Purse

I had this vision for a charm purse in my head so I started designing it on Sat. night. I put the squares together and sewed them the way I wanted. Then I made a lining to match. Sun. morning I got up early and put the snap in, quilted the front and back, and made the outer part and the lining. Then it was off to work. Everyone thought it was super cute. After work I put the ties on, made the handles, and attached it all together. I was happy with how it turned out, but I have another pack I'll make another sample out of. For this one I used the Moda Line, Objects of Desire.

Sewing Exhilaration

Last night I was on a sewing high and decided to make a new pair of pants for myself, since I had figured out what would fit. I usually buy 2.5 yards to make a long pair of pants and 2 yards to make capri's. These are capri's. I love how they fit and I can't wait to make another pair. I whipped these up in an hour. I use a McCall's pattern, but I don't follow the directions, I just cut out the two pieces, the front, the back, and if the print is directional make sure it is going the right way. I've made them for all sized people, up to a 4X, so I find it really easy. I do the inseam legs, the crotch seam, the two side seams, then serge the top and legs, fold in and sew with my regular machine for both the hems and casing, and then insert the elastic. I love the quilting fabrics as they are such high quality and so comfy.

After I got the pants done, I squared up and put the binding on the quilt for Leslie. It's now done and on her bed and she's super proud of it. I'm so glad it's done and I can move on to my retreat projects. I was on such an exhilarated hig from finishing both projects, that I started a new purse. Since I had to get my other machine out to quilt, I quit for the night.

Productive Pants & Pillowcases Night

Since I'd been quilting a quilt for my MIL for the past week, I hadn't done anything else or finished anything. I was getting restless and didn't know what I was going to work on next. I made a list of all the projects I have started, all the projects I have everything bought for, and a list of what I want to get done in the next few weeks. Tonight I decide it was time to pull out all the fabrics for pants and pillowcases. I had plenty of this fabric leftover from the backing of a quilt I helped my MIL make, so I made her a pair of capri pants. I wanted to make sure they would fit me as well, since the last pair was a bit tight and I couldn't remember which pattern I used since I have about 8 different ones. They fit great and are the perfect size. She loves them.


I still had plenty left, so I made her a pillowcase to match the pants/quilt. That's the last of the fabric. This is so NOT my style of fabric. I just don't care for asian fabrics, but she loves them. As a practical joke at work for Christmas the person who had my name, gave me 15 yards of this fabric in the peach colorway. Not only do I not like the color, peach is not one of my favorite colors either. I was really nice until the started all laughing. I'll always remember the joke and how hard we all laughed.

Then I made Paul a pillowcase to match the shorts I made him back in November.

Then I made a pillowcase out of the fabric I picked up at Fabric Shack when I was in OH. It's International/ Farmall which is very popular in my family, so it's going to a family member for his birthday.

Then I made a pillowcase for myself. It's out of the Buggy Barn. I made a quilt out of the same fabrics for a sample for my Happy Hour class. Since the class is over and we're out of the fabrics, it's time to bring my quilt home and now I have a pillowcase to match. I have enough of the fabric from the main part of the pillowcase to make a pair of PJ pants for myself now too. I'll probably do that tomorrow night before I put the serger away.

I don't use my serger all that often, but when I do I absolutely love it and can't imagine what I would do without it. I have a couple more pillowcases and curtains to make for my MIL to match her new quilt, but they will wait until I get the binding on the quilt and the curtains made. Now that I have the fabrics out of the fabric closet, I can work on other projects. I reorganized a bit and now I can start on some blocks I need to make and not feel guilty. I feel like I accomplished so much in such a short time.