What is the saying about March weather....

In like a lamb

(picture taken first week in March)

Out like a lion
(taken this morning)

I just have one word for the weather Gods.....

Enough Already!

(Okay, two words).

I've been very busy working on customer quilts.

I just can't seem to catch up.

I want to thank "my ladies" for being so understanding.

Things are looking up.

I have extra help with Aunt Polly 2 days a week now.

Two whole days to quilt uninterrupted.

Here's a little Quilt Show for you.

Chris entered her Red, White & Blue.

into the Sun Prairie Quilt Show.

"My patriotic quilt "Old Glory" got an honorable mention at the show.
I know there were at least 35 quilts

in the long arm category so that was great.
Thank you for doing such a good job". Chris
Congradulations Chris!

And here is Jan's machine embroidery quilt.
Isn't it beautiful?

Detail of the center motif.

And doesn't Sue's quilt look like summer?
I love the colors.

And check out her "piping hot" circles.

Wait to you see the darling
Cherries with ric-rack top I'm quilting now.
Yes Sharon, it's yours!

Our 2 youngest grandbabies came to visit on Friday.
It was such a joy to cuddle and play with them.

My DDIL is such a sweetie to drive down for the day.

Plus she brought my favorite.......

peanut butter/chocolate cheesecake

from the Cheesecake Factory!

Our 3 oldest babies are coming Easter weekend to visit.
I will have to bribe them
to have their pictures taken.
They're at that age you know.
Can't wait to have a "Grandma" weekend.

May you have a warm and safe week ahead.

Top o' the morning!
**************************************

Doesn't this picture make you wanta sit down and cut into that pie?

This is the photo on the back cover of.....

The Farm Chicks in the Kitchen!

It is such a beautiful book.
Not only wonderful recipes, but personal stories, tips, crafty projects.

Makes me want to put on my apron!

This was a birthday gift from my highschool friend, Shirley.

Yep, high school.

High school.....a million years ago.

Though we lived thousands of miles apart,

much of our adult lives, we have "kept in touch".

Sometimes it was months, even years, between our calls and visits.

But each time the phone rang and we started to chat

it was like no time had passed.

We have been thru boyfriends, breakups, weddings, husbands,

divorces, parents dying, child raising, and now the best part

grandbabies.

This isn't the most flattering picture of either of us.

But it was the only one I could find without

tearing thru old boxes.

I'm sure Shirley, on the right, is giving me some great advice.

I love ya girlfriend!

And thanks for the surprise package!

You also receive a one year subscription to Country Living magazine.

FREE!

Be sure and check it out!

Oh, it's that time of year again...

TAX SEASON!

I know I'm not the only one that feels this way.

While that's not me in the photo

(iStock image)

it's exactly how I feel.

Exhausted.

I finished 2 of the free BOM stitchery patterns from

Gail Pan designs.

She posted the third in the series, "Joy" this week.

Be sure and check it out.

A quick and easy project to stitch while watching

Dr. Mc Dreamy.

I've made some progress on my Dad's Christmas quilt.

Yep, I said Christmas.

Better late than never, right?

It's the Boxed Blessings pattern

from Ingrid Barlow.

I had a ton of black and white fat quarters in my stash

I wanted to use up.

Now I just need to get them off my design wall and

stitched together.

Love how the red pops.

Manly, yes?

Wow, have you missed me??

I can’t believe it’s been over a month since I’ve checked in.
Lordy, the time just flew by.

First off, my Aunt Polly is the same.
She spent a few days in the hospital,
giving Hubby & I a short, but much needed, break.
Thank You for your prayers.

I had a birthday in February.
Hard to believe I turned sixty. Yep, the big 6-0.
I can remember celebrating my Mom’s sixtieth birthday
and thinking how OLD that was.

Not now!
I’m sticking with Oprah…….
60 is the new 40 or was that 50?

Then, not long after that, my computer crashed.
Fried.

We had to replace our old Windows XP

with a new computer running Vista.
What a pain!

Are you aware that you can’t buy a new computer with Windows XP?
Your forced to use Vista.
Of course, most of my outdated software didn’t

want to play nice with Vista.

A big head ache, to say the least.

(Listen to me whin like an old lady)

And then to recover your backed up data…….
my taxes will be a little late Mr. President.

But on the bright side of February
I was able to finish the antique quilt I bought in Iowa last spring.
A very scrappy Steps to the Altar.
(Irish chain in my book).
The variety of fabrics is amazing.
A true 1930’s, hand stitched, quilt.
It measured 76” x 78”, that’s 5,928 one inch squares.
Almost 6,000 hand stitched pieces!

Unbelievable.
I wonder how many hours it took Mame to piece this?
After hand stitching the binding down,

I soaked it in Oxy Clean for a few hours.
Man, you should have seen the water!
D-I-R-I-T-Y!
Then I washed it again with Oxy Clean and detergent

and it came out so nice.
I used muslin for the backing and binding.

After drying, on low, in the dryer, it came out all wrinkled and soft.

Just like it had been around for years.

Before Quilting

AFTER

Notice the cheddar orange and green?
Soooo....1930's!

Each square measures 1 inch!

Wouldn't "Mame O'Neal" be thrilled to see her quilt finally finished
70 something years later.


SURPRISE! SURPRISE!

In yesterdays mail, came the latest issue of Country Woman magazine.
As I was soaking up all the pretty pictures and great recipes
I noticed a familiar looking quilt.
It took me a minute to realized that it was MY quilt!
Yep, my 1930’s Reproduction Butterfly Quilt is on page 46!!!!
Not a big picture mind you, but it’s there.
In print. With my name and city.
I’m disappointed you can’t see the quilting in the white areas.
It’s really what makes the quilt special.
Oh well…



I promise not to stay away so long. I miss all my blogging buds.
Will Spring and the grilling season ever get here??