Ruby Star Wrap Along

Have you seen the Ruby Star Wrap Along?  Sukie is putting it on over at her blog.  Go take a look.   There are a lot of unique wrapping projects.

I decided to do the Chinese Take out box this week.  It was a quick and easy project.  I have a little present that I will be putting in it for a friend's birthday gift and I think she'll be pleased.

I think this week I will be covering a cereal box with some Christmas fabric the Des Moines Modern Quilt Guild holiday swap gift. 

I did find out that I really need a hot glue gun.  I can't believe I don't have one! 

Jill

Christmas Planning Update

I have be a blog slacker lately and I apologize.

I do have an update for my Countdown to Christmas.

Des Moines Modern Quilt Guild Mug Rug Swap - done

The Mug Rug I received from Doris

Mug Rug given to Emily


• Moderista Swap - sent and received

Sent to SamKayDesigns






Back of the Kitchenaid Cover






Received from SamKayDesigns along with some potholders


• Pillow Talk Swap - ready to send tomorrow





I used the butterfly tutorial from Red Pepper Quilts






First time adding a zipper to the back



• Tote Bag - Started a Jane Tote last night and hope to have it finished this week.  I'm modifying this slightly and using this for my swap item for the Holiday Swap at the Des Moines Modern Quilt Guild meeting.
•  Zakka Style Breadbasket - need to start
•  Star Quilt - hope to finish but probably won't be quilted by Christmas
• Bee a {modern} swapper - it's my month - HURRAY!  I am getting Granny Square's from the group.  I also signed up for the year end swap and have an idea in mind so I'm half way there, right?

I have also decided to join the Ruby Star Wrap Along so you may find some posts about that very shortly.

In other life news we have been busy with a new grand niece.  She came a little early so her grandma and mom stayed at our house for a few days until she was released from NICU.    We saw her again this weekend and she is perfect.



Gracie

 Till next time.

Jill

Countdown to Christmas

It doesn't seem like it but Christmas if just around the corner.  Especially if you like to make items for friends and family.  No one is getting a big gift like a quilt or anything (except S, because he needs a queen size one for his new room). 

If I make a list of items I am a lot more likely to accomplish them so here goes:

• Des Moines Modern Quilt Guild Mug Rug Swap - due Oct. 18th
• Moderista Swap - mail by Oct. 28th                          

              hope to have it complete by Oct. 18th to take to the guild meeting



• 

  Start of my Modernista Swap

• Pillow Talk Swap - mail by Nov. 15th
• 2 wristlets or pouches - probably the Bella Pattern

• 2 Placemats for the in-laws
• Tote Bag
• Bee a {modern} swapper - my month is November - granny squares
• Star Christmas Quilt for us
• Zakka Style Breadbasket - I've been looking at these and NEED to make one soon.  I will probably make it a little bigger so I can put a paper pieced jelly jar on the front

Back to School

The last month of summer and the first month of school has been a blur.  We are finally getting back into a routine and I have been able to do some more sewing.  The Pretty Little Pouch Swap on flickr just ended and I was lucky enough to have Sarah as a partner.  Look at the adorable pouch that she sent me.  The little trailer is even cuter in person and the pouch is HUGE so it can fit lots of good stuff.

I also mailed to Sarah also.  She likes curves, applique and texture.  I think I covered all bases.  It seems kind of like a split personality with a little mild on the front and a little wild on the back.  

The pouch is the Bella pouch pattern from Pink Stitches.  I love it and actually made several additional pouches in this pattern.

D started playing the Cello so we have some relaxing music every evening in the house. 

I just started working on a project for the Moderista Swap on flickr.  I get to make one big item for the kitchen and a small item.  I am going to make a kitchen aid cover for the big item and the small item is still unknown at this time.  I will post about it shortly (promise)

Jill

Kaleidoscope Quilt

I have been working on this quilt for about 6 months.  Way behind the progress for the Kaleidoscope Quilt Along from Don't Call Me Betsy.  The quilt is going to the LeRoy Presbyterian church for their Harvest Festival and it will be raffled off.  I just need to finish the label and it'll be ready to deliver.

This is the church S grew up in and it's in a teeny tiny town so we help out quite a bit during the festival and auction.    This year we're in charge of the kids games so we're stepping it up a notch and renting a cotton candy machine and bounce house and will have some carnival games.  The cheerleaders from Mormon Trail High are volunteering to man the games and do face painting.  It should be a lot of fun.

I'm also working on a doll bed with a doll quilt for the auction.  I still need to paint the bed and make the mattress and pillows.

Have a great week!

Jill

Vacation Time

We went on a little family vacation.  It's hard to believe that school starts in 1 month.

First stop was Antique Archeology in LeClair, IA.  It's D's favoriteTV show and he even records it.   It was fun to look at their picks and D picked out a T-shirt and a license plate for his bedroom (he already chose a spot on the wall and it is hung up).  S had fun looking through the little pickers trunk and bargaining on a price for his item, he also picked up a little canvas backpack that he wore for the rest of the trip.

Then we stopped in Hannibal, MO.  The boys have been reading Tom Sawyers this summer and we finished the book on the way down.  We all went on a Cave Tour  at Mark Twain Cave and panned some rocks.  The boys both loved the Cave Tour.  The next morning we stopped by the Mark Twain house and the downtown area.  I was able to go into Hickory Sticks which is a really nice quilt shop.  I didn't buy anything because I didn't have time before the boys found me.  We did go down to the riverfront also and saw the Paddle Wheel boats.

St. Louis was the next stop.  We stopped for lunch in St. Charles and ate on a patio.  It was an amazing 83 degrees that day and we have been used to the high 90's and 100's so it was a nice change.  Then we drove downtown to our hotel and the boys went swimming for a little while.  We stayed at the Embassy Suites which is right next to the Rams Stadium and just a short walk from the baseball game.  The hotel was built last October in an old building.  Everyone was VERY friendly (and we stay in only Hilton hotels but they were friendlier than most).  We also walked to the arch.  The Cubs/Cardinals game was a fun night.  There were some really nice people sitting around us and they didn't even mind that we were rooting for the Cubs.

I have been doing a little quilting also.  I just finished the binding for a queen size charity quilt.  It will be sold in a raffle for the Harvest Festival at the LeRoy Presbyterian Church.   Glad to have that done.  So I made a little pillow for our house sitter.  I'm going to give it to her tomorrow at work (pretty sure she doesn't read the blog).  The popsicles are from the Super Penguin Quilt Along, not sure I will buy ever month but couldn't resist these.

Hope everyone else had a great weekend!  Happy sewing

Jill

40 to do before 40 update

1.  See the Mural by Jackson Pollock - on the agenda for my day off tomorrow
2. Go to brunch with my boys   Went to Mother's Day brunch at Johnny's Italian
3. Finish my granny square quilt (which means I need to start it) Half done, had to work on the charity quilt   for the Harvest Festival which is going to be a queen size

4. Have a picnic in the Sculpture Garden downtown
5. Have friends over for a BBQ
6. Plant my garden
7. Make Stawberry Rhubarb Jam
8. Go to the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting
9. Make homemade dim sum (or at least the sticky rice) -- yummy
10.  Order fabric online - who am I kidding this is done regularly anyways
11. Eat lunch at work with friends (not at my desk)
12.  Go on a date night with my hubby
13.  Eat good cheese   Going again tomorrow for yummy Mac & Cheese for lunch
14.  Get a pedicure
15.  Brew a batch of beer
16.  Go to a local brewery with friends
17.  Have a girls night out  (possibly combined with #14)
18.  Sew a house block from the Fat Quarterly issue

19.  Use my Flea Market Fancy

20.  Donate a baby quilt to charity It morphed into a queen size charity quilt but I am half done which definately qualifies as this goal being finished
21.  Read Huck Finn with my boys - book is purchased but was in the old time writing, purchased an updated kids version so it's actually readable by the kids
22.  Go to an Iowa Cubs game - have plans to go to 2 games next week
23.  Visit my baby sister in Minneapolis (just after my birthday but it'll be fun) - all packed and ready
24.  Join the YMCA
25.  Ride our bikes to lunch
26.  See my Mom (she's coming home from Arizona soon, yeah!!!)
27.  Take a 3 day weekend from work (please pray the weather stays nice and it's a possiblity)
28.  Drink champagne  - went a little crazy with this one last weekend
29.  Make pancakes and homemade bacon for breakfast for the boys
30.  Bake cookies with the boys
31.  Fondue
32.  Use chocolate mint in a recipe
33.  Volunteer for the Salvation Army
34.  Give Blood!!!
35.  Go to the mall (I'm not really a mall shopper so I have to be in the right mood)
36.  Sew a Wiksten tank  I made 2, I'll show the other one after the weekend

37.  Eat a Dutch Letter
38.  Go an entire day without the internet
39.  Eat all local foods for 1 day
40.  Go to La Mie for breakfast   bought it to go but that still counts

Boys Weekend Continued...

Just a few pictures of the end of Boys Weekend for the family.  I didn't accomplish any sewing this weekend.  I did take along an embroidery project but it didn't even get taken out of the bag ; )  The boys had a great time riding the dirt bike in the pasture.  Joe had mowed part of it so it was like a race track.  Sean thought the terraced parts were fun to jump off (I'm in trouble if he figures out there's more than 1st gear).

Dare Devil S on the dirt bike

D on the dirt bike

We went to a friend's farm pond.  I thought I would be able to sit on the bench but the boys were having great luck catching fish.  We must have caught at least 5 Blue Gill.  I was busy baiting the hooks and unhooking and throwing back fish.

Blue Gill

Even more Blue Gill

I think we will try to go down again next weekend to see Grandpa and Grandma and spend some more boy time at the farm.  Hopefully I will accomplish some sewing next weekend also.  I am committed to completing a quilt for an action at the church in Le Roy for their annual fall festival.  One of the church members asked me if I would have it done in July so they can show it off when they are selling tickets.  That put a little more pressure to complete it.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Jill

Boys Weekend

I have dubbed this weekend as the Boys Weekend.  We started Saturday morning by driving the boys to Swim Lessons at the YMCA.  They get finished with lessons at 12:00 and we were all hungry so we decided to go to Smitty's.  I heard they have the best tenderloin sandwiches in town (disclaimer - S thinks the best are in Valley Junction at The Longest Yard)  we had never been there because it's on the other side of town.   S and I enjoyed tenderloin sandwiches and the boys ate off the kids menu and were very happy.  They got a Butterfinger shake also because they did so well in their swim lessons.  

After we finished with lunch we went home and loaded up the 1967 Honda CL90 Scrambler and headed out to DeSoto.  My FIL bought this motorcycle brand new and S has inherited it.  We have decided to restore it and took it to Moto-Cycle Parts, Inc..  Craig was very nice and explained what needed to be done.  Hopefully by fall we will have the motorcycle back and we can buzz all around the neighborhood.  I need to get my motorcycle license but have been practicing on the boys dirt bike.  S said if I pass the test I can get a pink helmet and put a flower sticker on it.  I have a black Harley helmet right now but it wouldn't look right on this motorcycle.  Here it is before we dropped it off

Tomorrow the Boys weekend will continue with a trip to Grandpa and Grandma's.  A BBQ lunch, trip to a farm pond to go fishing and some dirt bike riding.  I wanted to take my embroidery along but S bought me a new fishing pole so it looks like I will be catching fish also.  Wish me luck not hooking myself!

Hope you are having a great weekend!

Jill

I know I've been hiding out a little but work has been crazy and I haven't had a lot of time to sew lately.  I did manage to finish a bee block for the Bee a {modern} swapper



Ode to Triangles, block 1 of 2 for Fiber of All Sorts

 I finished the binding on this baby quilt and sent it to MN to my sister could take it to a baby shower.

The duck pattern is from Patchwork Patterns 318.  I enlarged it so that it's about 12 inches tall.  I used a variety of yellows with a Kona Coal and Kona orange.  It turned out to be a small baby quilt at 34 x 28 but I hope it comes in useful.  I backed it with Minky because I love using it on baby quilts.

I have also finished about 7 of the Granny Square blocks and can't wait to make more.  I hope to make 20 to make a good lap size quilt.

As I was driving to meet S for lunch yesterday I saw a sign saying Morel Mushrooms and a guy sitting with a cooler in his pickup.  Of course I had to stop.  We haven't had time to go mushroom hunting ourselves and haven't had any to eat in a few years.  Brought a pound home and stuffed several with a crab meat stuffing last night.  Yummy!  S is going to fry some up tonight either in flour or cracker crumbs for dinner.  Even the kids will eat these.

Until next time!

Jill

Finish It Up Friday

It didn't take me long to find another bee to join.  My friends had started the Bee a {modern} Swapper on Flickr earlier this year and I didn't join at the time because of other commitments.  Well they had someone drop out and I was able to join.  I just finished the March blocks for this crafty fox and will be sending them this weekend. 

This Crafty Fox requested blocks for a picnic blanket.  I just had to make the fox and used some flower embroidery underneath.  And the gnome and mushroom I thought was very fitting also. 

 Hubby and I took a drive last Sunday to his cousins house to plan the family reunion for this summer.  He lives near Winterset so I drove to one of the covered bridges of Madison County before the get together.  Not a great picture but it was about to rain so I didn't have a lot of time.

My monkeys wanted to have their picture taken at the Y after we went to open swimming on Saturday.  It was a great way to spend an afternoon.

Have a great weekend!  Hopefully you will be able to accomplish at much as you wish.

Linking up to Finish It Up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts

Jill



Busy Weekend

First an update on my list from 40 before I'm 40.  9 down which isn't too bad. 

1.  See the Mural by Jackson Pollock
2. Go to brunch with my boys
3. Finish my granny square quilt (which means I need to start it)
4. Have a picnic in the Sculpture Garden downtown
5. Have friends over for a BBQ
6. Plant my garden
7. Make Stawberry Rhubarb Jam
8. Go to the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting
9. Make homemade dim sum (or at least the sticky rice) -- yummy
10.  Order fabric online - who am I kidding this is done regularly anyways
11. Eat lunch at work with friends (not at my desk)
12.  Go on a date night with my hubby
13.  Eat good cheese 
14.  Get a pedicure
15.  Brew a batch of beer
16.  Go to a local brewery with friends
17.  Have a girls night out
18.  Sew a house block from the Fat Quarterly issue

19.  Use my Flea Market Fancy
20.  Donate a baby quilt to charity
21.  Read Huck Finn with my boys
22.  Go to an Iowa Cubs game
23.  Visit my baby sister in Minneapolis (just after my birthday but it'll be fun)
24.  Join the YMCA

25.  Ride our bikes to lunch
26.  See my Mom (she's coming home from Arizona soon, yeah!!!)
27.  Take a 3 day weekend from work (please pray the weather stays nice and it's a possiblity)
28.  Drink champagne
29.  Make pancakes and homemade bacon for breakfast for the boys
30.  Bake cookies with the boys
31.  Fondue
32.  Use chocolate mint in a recipe
33.  Volunteer for the Salvation Army
34.  Give Blood!!!
35.  Go to the mall (I'm not really a mall shopper so I have to be in the right mood)
36.  Sew a Wiksten tank

37.  Eat a Dutch Letter
38.  Go an entire day without the internet
39.  Eat all local foods for 1 day
40.  Go to La Mie for breakfast

31 to go but I have a little while.   Hope everyone has a great week!

Jill

Happy Little Sewing House - Pillow Swap

This is my last commitment for at least a month.  Although I just signed up for another bee that is a bee/swap so everyother month you are committed to making 2 blocks and the other months are a swap.  It should be fun. 

I used the pattern from the Fat Quarterly paper piecing edition and fussy cut some scissors for the front door and a little button for the chimney so it's a Happy Little Sewing House.  I love the bright colors and the roof fabric.  I would be happy to keep this on my sofa because it looks really good there but it will be going with me tonight to the Des Moines Modern Quilt Guild meeting to be given to it's new owner.

Since I have no sewing commitments for a month I started on my Kaleidoscope Quilt for a church auction this fall.  All the pieces are cut and I'm using the pattern from a sew along last year from Don't Call Me Betsy.  I'll post some photos once I have more blocks pieced together.  It's going to be Queen Sized so it may take a while to finish.

I've seen all the Wiksten patterns popping up on Flickr and love the Tova and the Tank.  I decided to start with the Tank since it's now offered as a PDF and the weather is getting nicer.  It was super easy to sew and is nice and flowy because I used some gauze fabric from Joann's.  I think I will be making some more of these for the summer but have to make some adjustments for the size.  I was going to cut an xl but after reading some reviews decided to cut a large.  It may look a little better if it wasn't so large so I'll make a Medium next time and see how that works.  It's almost finished just have to make the binding for the arms and neck.

Linking up to Finish it up Friday at Crazy Mom Quilts

Have a great weekend!

Jill

40 things to do before I'm 40

I don't have a lot of time left so it's going to be a fairly easy list.  In no particular order:

1.  See the Mural by Jackson Pollock
2. Go to brunch with my boys
3. Finish my granny square quilt (which means I need to start it)
4. Have a picnic in the Sculpture Garden downtown
5. Have friends over for a BBQ
6. Plant my garden
7. Make Stawberry Rhubarb Jam
8. Go to the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting
9. Make homemade dim sum (or at least the sticky rice) -- yummy
10.  Order fabric online - who am I kidding this is done regularly anyways
11. Eat lunch at work with friends (not at my desk)
12.  Go on a date night with my hubby
13.  Eat good cheese 
14.  Get a pedicure
15.  Brew a batch of beer
16.  Go to a local brewery with friends
17.  Have a girls night out  (possibly combined with #14)
18.  Sew a house block from the Fat Quarterly issue
19.  Use my Flea Market Fancy
20.  Donate a baby quilt to charity
21.  Read Huck Finn with my boys
22.  Go to an Iowa Cubs game
23.  Visit my baby sister in Minneapolis (just after my birthday but it'll be fun)
24.  Join the YMCA
25.  Ride our bikes to lunch
26.  See my Mom (she's coming home from Arizona soon, yeah!!!)
27.  Take a 3 day weekend from work (please pray the weather stays nice and it's a possiblity)
28.  Drink champagne
29.  Make pancakes and homemade bacon for breakfast for the boys
30.  Bake cookies with the boys
31.  Fondue
32.  Use chocolate mint in a recipe
33.  Volunteer for the Salvation Army
34.  Give Blood!!!
35.  Go to the mall (I'm not really a mall shopper so I have to be in the right mood)
36.  Sew a Wiksten tank
37.  Eat a Dutch Letter
38.  Go an entire day without the internet
39.  Eat all local foods for 1 day
40.  Go to La Mie for breakfast

Ok, so that's a LOT to do in the short amount of time I have remaining in my 30's but I think it's doable.

I will have a giveaway on my blog for my birthday to celebrate.

Have a great weekend!

Jill

Pretty {Little} Pouch Swap

This was my first time participating in the Pretty {little} Pouch Swap and it's been a lot of fun.  This gorgeous pouch came to me from Katy (LethargicLass). It is perfect for me.  I love the echino with the linen and look at all the handles.  S chose the handle that's on it right now because that's his favorite.  D even said it was a cool pouch.

from LethargicLass

Unfortunately they don't think the pouch I made is quite as cool but I'm happy with it and it's even done a week early.  It will be mailed tomorrow once I have some time to put a few extra's in it.

Keyka Lou Inset Zip Pouch Pattern

Inset zipper



This is my second time using the pattern and I made the clutch size this time.  It actually goes together really quickly once you cut the pieces out.  It took a little longer to do the pieced center but I like how it turned out with the Flea Market Fancy band on the top. 

We have other big news around here also.  The boys got their first motorcycle.  It's a Yamaha TTR50 and it has the big boy kit on it so Dad can ride it also if he wants.  They took it to Grandpa and Grandma's house for Easter and rode around in the backyard and then took it to the farm for some riding.  No major spills (yet) but they haven't gotten it out of first gear.

Also this lovely package of Flea Market Fancy arrived.  I didn't preorder and it was selling out quickly so I'm glad I was able to get it from Fabric.com and some from Intrepidthread.com.  I have some plans but they will have to wait just a little while longer until I finish the Pillow Swap for the Des Moines Modern Quilt Guild.

Have a great weekend everyone. It's supposed to rain so that's great quilting weather.

Jill

4X5 Swap - Done

I finished all of my 4X5 Bee Blocks.  I made one for myself also but I put it away and can't find it right now to take a photo.  Oh well!  These will be mailed out tomorrow when I have time to go to the post office.  I think I'm going to take a little break from the 4x5 swap for the 2nd quarter so I can concentrate on some projects that need to be finished and I have proscrastinated on.  It has been a lot of fun though.

Circle of Geese

for Bijoux Baby

Diane {from blank pages...}

jenjohnston

mpfox223







for Mama Missa

My next swap project is for the Pretty {little} Pouch Swap on Flickr.  I've mentioned this swap before and I am using the Keyka Lou Inset Zip Pouch pattern but I have been stumped about what to put into the center portion.  Now that I have my Circle of Geese blocks finished I pieced these blocks on point.  I haven't sewn it together yet because I just want to make sure my partner will like it so I want to think it over for a day.  I hope to finish this weekend to be able to mail it out.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter/Passover weekend

Linking up to Crazy Mom Quilts Finish It Up Friday

Jill