It's talking to me!

Staying up late to finish the last of my setting blocks certainly seems worth it this morning. It was 11:40pm when I finished sewing block number 100. (Yes, 11:40 is late for me.) Consequently, 6:15am sucked this morning. However, I have to say after laying these blocks out I so so happy! This quilt is not just talking to me, it is singing! Quilting makes my skirt fly up! Woo-hoo! Now I'm off to start putting this thing together. Happy sewing!

A brand new day!

My, my, my, look what the audacity of hope can become! It is a great day to be an American. I have done a little sewing in between the Inauguration coverage. My little blocks that took days to cut out have come together quickly (more than 30 today.) Aren't they cute? It is indeed a wonderful day! I also want to add as the mother of a 6 (almost 7) year old girl, the Obama girls look adorable in their coats!

Cutting Triangles

How long does it take to cut 600 triangles from a bunch of different fabrics? It takes days! But hallaluia, its done! It is an easy little blocks that takes much longer to cut out than it does to piece it together. Tomorrow, I sew. Yeah! For now laundry call. Ick!

Making stars is addictive

Making stars is addictive! I haven't made these little stars for awhile and I had forgotten how much fun they are to make! Cut up some 45 degree diamonds and put them back together is scrappy sets of eight. They are so cute!

Work in Progress

The center background is together and I thought I'd show a picture of my initial layout. I still need some smaller star flowers to fill in. I love it when starts to "talk" to me. Happy quilting!

Flowers in progress

The holidays slowed down my progress on my dresden plate flowers. However, I feel like I am gaining my momentum back. They are looking cute.
I'd also like to say I'm thrilled to be included in the improvisational challenge that Jacqui at Tallgrass has come up with. I haven't started yet but I hope to have some blocks started at the end of the week. I am doing red and aqua. Yipee!

Getting going in the new year

I have been having trouble getting my routine back after the holidays. I also have been feeling guilty about not getting enough sewing done. Then I realized I have been busy doing "quilty" things, just not sewing. Last Tuesday I was the guest speaker at Chisholm Trail Quilt Guild. I took 30 quilts, starting with my first to my most recent and I spoke for about an hour about my journey into this obsession and passion of quilting. On Wednesday I taught a beginning machine quilting class to 14 students and had so much fun that I lost time. I did manage to get my children at school just in time. And the best part is I got paid to do something I would almost have paid them to let me do! (Notice I said almost.)
These are two of my "early" quilts. The green one is my first quilt made with poly batting and tied. Most of the ties came out of it the first time I washed it, but since I used the poly batting it didn't matter. My nine year old still sleeps with at the foot of his bed. In fact, when he went to the emergency room to get stitches he wanted me to go home and get his baby quilt (and his ds) for him, "to make him feel better." The blue and pink quilt with the ducks is my 3rd quilt and the first one I did my own pattern. It had been a while since I have seen it. (I borrowed it back from my girlfriend just for my program.) I forgotten how sweet it turned out.
Fortunately, I got some good sewing time in yesterday and if I can get a little more this morning, I'll have more pictures very soon. Gotta go piece!

It's a new year!

What a glorious day for a new year to begin. It is 68 degrees and just glorious here in Austin, Tx. A great day for counting my many blessings. My parents are here and we have had our black-eyed peas, so we are ready for 2009. My mother has brought me the second quilt I made and I have included the picture. Funny, how it has taken me a while to appreciate it. I have not felt that way about other of my earliest quilts. Also, I can't believe how small it is. What a great day!