Back from Florida

DD and I got back from our annual Florida vacation yesterday. We had a great time.

We left Wisconsin on December 18th and drove (ok, so I did all of the driving) to Port Charlotte (south of Sarasota), arriving on Saturday evening the 19th. My dad is in PC and we were there about 9 days. The weather wasn't as warm as in past years, so we only got one day at the beach and about 4 days at the pool. Plenty of running around and shopping for Christmas presents.

Here's DD playing on the beach. She always finds a little friend to play with and this year was no exception. They played in the sand digging holes that kept filling up with water.

Christmas morning at my Dad's house. He doesn't have room for a Christmas tree, so we just pile the presents in front of the TV. I don't know where she picked out this outfit from, but it was very colorful. DD was very excited to receive (as a family) a Wii.

After Christmas weekend, we drove up to my Mom's place in Homosassa (about a hour north of Tampa). We had a great time playing dominos and mom made DD a new nightie. DD has been very interested in clothing design and I wanted her to get a feel for garment construction. My mom is a great seamstress, so I knew that she had both the skill and the temperment to give those lessons.

Here's DD with my mom and step-dad.

Tomorrow its back to school and work for the two of us. Neither of us is really ready, but what can you do? We still have today and we're going to see Avatar and I'll work on a quilt (what else!).

THE Wedding Quilt

This quilt is for my best friend's youngest son's wedding that is later this month. I bought the fabric back in June and started the quilt in September at a quilter's retreat. About half way through the quilt, I realized that I didn't have enough of the white background fabric. I went to 3 different shops within an hours drive of the retreat and didn't have any luck. So I started to work on something else until I could get back to the same store I bought the fabric at originally and get more.

I had this professionally quilted by Judy's Longarm Quilting in Mt Calvary, WI. She did an awesome job. I put the binding on just last weekend and now its all boxed up ready to give away. I worked so hard on this one and its really hard to give it away.

Jacob's Ladder Quilt

I started working on this when my dad said he wanted a "blanket" to cover up with when he lays on the couch watching TV. Of couse, I said, "Blanket? You've got a daughter who makes quilts!" He just laughed.

So I went out and bought the fabric with him in mind, Benartex's Apple Cider Mill Road in greens and reds. Its a little Christmasy, which wasn't the plan, but these are also the colors in his couch, so it matches. It took me about 4 weeks, but I was able to get it done and give it to him for Christmas (which we celebrated on Thanksgiving since Dad goes to FL for the winter). Its a very generous lap/couch quilt.

I love it and will make one of my own one day.

Happy Halloween!

Ok, so its been quite a while since I blogged anything. I can only blame it on my lack of desire to sit in front of my home computer and upload pictures. The old gal (the computer, not me) is getting on in age and it takes forever to upload pictures from my camera. But Thursday I took pictures of my latest finish and wanted to show them to you.

About eleven months ago, my best friend asked me if I would make a Christmas tree skirt for one of her daughters who is newly married. I said yes, but not for this year (I was leaving for my vacation in like 10 days and had things of my own to finish). I told her I would be glad to make it in time for next year (now). We haven't talked about it since, but I kept it in the back of my mind and earlier this fall I saw a great sample of a tree skirt on Jen's blog (www.cre8tivequilter.blogspot.com) and was determined to make this one like that. Last weekend I was at my Dad's (tending him after he got out of the hospital from surgery) and made it.

It was easier than I thought. I had to order the 9 degree ruler off of Ebay because my LQS didn't have it in stock (where Jen works). But I'm really happy with the way it turned out. I'll see my best friend (and her daughter) next weekend and will give it to her then.

A few weeks ago DD and I were invited to go to a Green Bay Packer game. I'm not a Packer fan (I cheer for the Bears), but the tickets were for sky box tickets (inside, no cold bleacher seats, and lots of free food and drinks). So we went and had a great time. Even though we got slightly lost in Green Bay after the game -- they make a bunch of the streets one-way -- the wrong way for us -- after the game.

I took two quilt tops to my (new) long arm quilter last week. Yes, I know, I didn't post pictures before hand. I didn't even take pictures. Since I don't have anyone to hold up the quilts for me and they are both too big for the living room floor, I decided to wait until I get them back and then will take pictures when they're all done. I took "the wedding quilt" (quilt for son of best friend who is getting married in December) and my Sisters Choice quilt from my first workshop with Bonnie Hunter.

So I have been doing alot of quilting, just not taking pictures and posting them. I know, I'm a tease, but you'll just have to wait.

Happy Halloween!

I'm Baaaaccckkk!

Okay, so I know I've been gone a long time. My only real excuse (other than the fact that DD and I went on vacation for a week) is that my computer is giving me headaches and I hate uploading my photos. Otherwise, I'd jump onto my blog while at work (during lunch, of course) and keep you all updated.

So, DD and I went on a great vacation in August. We drove from WI to Virginia. We spent 2 days in the Shenandoah Valley (highlight was tubbing down the Shenandoah River and having my tube spring a leak), 2 days in Virginia Beach, and 2 days at Williamsburg. It was a wonderful vacation. See some pix below.

Here we are at one of the scenic overlooks on Skyline Drive.

DD and a new friend playing in the surf at Virginia Beach. This was a couple of days before they closed the beach due to Hurricane Bill.

Here's DD at Williamsburg. We rented a costume (long white dress with a purple sash), and bought the hat. She's so cute!

The week after our vacation we continued to be very busy. On Weds we went to the Milwaukee Brewers game.

DD got a new T-shirt at the game. Of course, they lost to the Reds. I don't think they've ever won a game we went to.

Then that Saturday night 3 of my friends and I went to the Jimmy Buffet concert! I had bought the tickets back last FEBRUARY and even though I jumped on the phone the minute the tickets went on sale, all I could get were lawn seats. As the day grew closer, I fretted over what to wear and finally on the day before, went to the local Goodwill and found a men's Hawaii shirt for dirt cheap. I planned on layering it over a t-shirt as it had been a little cool lately (late August). When we got to the venue, it was cold and spitting rain. Temperature must have been in the 50's and when the stage lights lit up the audience, you could see the rain coming down at a 60 degree angle. Some people had been partying for HOURS, but we weren't that dedicated of Parrot Heads, so we only tailgated about an hour. But we had a great time in spite of the weather and in spite of getting carded at the liquor counter (did we have our ID's? -- No, of course not, who would have thought that these 4 women in age from 40-58 would get carded!).

No, that's not snow in the picture, just rain. But it felt like snow! So much for finding a Hawaiian shirt!

Then in September, DD started 5th grade. In our small town, 5th grade is the beginning of middle school (5 - 8th). So DD is now in middle school and sometimes wants to dress up like a diva in the mornings and sometimes just wants to hang out in comfortable clothes. Very interesting.

Here's DD on her first day of 5th grade.

Over Labor Day weekend, I attended Bonnie Hunter's class in Auburn, IN for her Boxy Stars pattern. Once again, we had a great time. I got 9 blocks done, just need 3 more.

Ever since I got back from Bonnie's class, I've been working on my Mini Summer Quilt Swap item. I finally got it all pieced and sandwiched last night. Tonight I hope to get it all quilted so that tomorrow night I can put on the binding.

Today I received this wonderful quilt from the lady who had my name.

It came from Marian in SPAIN! Wow! It is so cool and will look great in my entryway. She also sent a bunch of fabric and notions. Very cool gift. It really is inspiring me to get my items completed. Marian's blog is http://www.quiltandpatch.blogspot.com/. Check it out.

I'll try to post more often. Of course, I say that and I'm already planning to be out of town this weekend. But I'll post the picture of my outgoing Summer Quilt Swap quilt before I mail it.

Have a great weekend!

Look What I Won!

I was so excited earlier this week to find out that I was the winner of Collaborate Again by Gwen Marston & Freddy Moran over at Michele's blog http://with-heart-and-hands.blogspot.com. The book arrived in the mail and I opened it when I got home late last night. It is really a beautiful book and very inspiring. I think this is exactly what I need to stretch and grow as a quilter. I've already thumbed through the book and have found several new ideas.

I've been working on my Sister's Choice from my Bonnie Hunter workshop I took in June. I finally got all my 9 patches done - 70 in all. Here they are. The blocks are all in the purple and teal colors -- two of my favorites. For the past week I've been working on the star points. I think I have about 60 done, which is only enough for 15 blocks. I ran out of yellow for my star points and have bought some more, but it doesn't match. So I guess this will be more scrappy than I expected!

A few weeks ago, we got the call that blueberries are in season in Michigan (where both of my parents grew up). So Dad put in our order and a few days later 30 pounds of blue berries were delivered to IL. I cleaned them and bagged them all up for freezing.

That same weekend was my Dad's 75th b-day. I gave him the Florida Shell quilt that I made last winter. He really seems to like it and has it packed in his stuff that will go south with him in November.

That's what's been going on in my life for the past few weeks. DD was at church camp last week. I quilted a few evenings, but didn't get nearly as far as I would have liked. Later this week we leave for our vacation in VA! We're both really excited about that.

I'm Back!!!!!!!!!

Well, my computer is back to life so I guess I'll get back into the blogging groove. I've been pretty busy over the past couple of weeks, but I'll just give you the highlights.

At the end of June is DD's birthday and instead of having a big (expensive) party, I took her and two of her friends to the Milwaukee Zoo. The girls all had a great time and I managed not to break the bank.

For the 4th of July the family went out to Waukegan Harbor for their annual fireworks display. We had access to the docks and set up our picnic and chairs out there. The day was a little overcast and cool, but the fireworks were great. Here's my dad and my two brothers.

Last weekend we went camping over at Crystal Lake Campground. I did visit the quilt shop in town :) and then took DD and her friend to visit a winery. This winery is over 150 years old, and one of the oldest wineries in America. The grounds were gorgeous. We went on the tour (only $3.50 for me and the girls were free) which included a tasting.

This last week DD was at Girl Scout camp. Here she is in front of her cabin when I dropped her off.

On the quilting front, I haven't done too much. My mom sent some squares to put together into a flimsy for a baby quilt for Haiti and I did that one afternoon. I also completed another charm square bag. Today I'm getting back to the Sisters Choice quilt I started with Bonnie Hunter.

Summer seems to be going by way too fast.