Goodbye to 2010...

Been busy finishing these tops before tomorrow so I don't have to put them on my goals list for 2011! The rail fence is out of my stash and the Home of the Brave pattern is for the Quilting for Christ group I meet with twice a month.

I have 12 projects I want to make in 2011 and 12 tops that need quilting. One of each every month should be doable, right? We'll see.....

Sweets from Daughter #1

Yum!

Group Photo

Robert did a great job setting up this photo and jumping in before the camera flashed. Just wish we hadn't been missing two - if I knew how I'd photoshop them in.

Christmas at Turner Falls, Oklahoma

Gift for a friend....

This little selvage tote finally made it to its new home last night. I've been trying to catch up with my friend, Sheri, for a couple of months but kept missing her. Consequently, I had plenty of time to remake this bag twice. The first time it had a green lining but I really didn't like it. This was the second time with the orange lining - didn't like it either. So, I ripped again and lined it in black. Much better.

Sheri & I have had a running joke going about orange for a couple of years so I just had to make her an orange tote! I think I'm out of orange selvages now!

Commissioned Selvage tote bag

Here's another bag I made to sell. Someone in Arlington saw the bag I made for the TVQG show's boutique and tracked me down. I still need to make one for me!

Making their lists....

Studying the toy catalogs is a tradition when we gather for Thanksgiving. This was serious business!

Buttons for Peru

Amy and I spent some time today sorting the buttons that were donated by quilt guild for her mission trip to Peru Dec. 26th. Even got a bag in the mail today - thanks Mary Beth!

Rake ball

A rousing game of rake ball......

An early Thanksgiving

Camden and Cullen had fun playing in the leaves today.

Happy Birthday, Daughter #1

Fun time at dinner tonight at Cowboy Chow in Roanoke - celebrating Jennifer's birthday. Isn't she beautiful!

More from HOUSTON 2010

A few more: Jill's Geranium by Jean K. Smith,

Tea With Miss D by Sandra Leichner - a $5,000 winner,

Color Comes to Back of Beyond by Janice Munzberg and friends,

Butterfly Dance by Anna Faustino.

HOUSTON 2010

A few of my favorite quilts from festival: Port of Cassis by Lenore Crawford, Mission Impeccable by Kumiko Frydl (awesome miniature), Autumn Birches by Susan Gilgen. Had a wonderful 4 days with my bud, Sherrill. I'm inspired again!

Postage stamp mini

I've had a cold and haven't quilted much lately but did finally get this miniature together. The scissors are for Maureen so she'll have something to relate to, size-wise. Blocks are 1/2 inch finished which is very difficult to line up seams and have everything match. It was just a fun thing to do after seeing a speaker at guild with amazing miniatures.

Visiting the ducks

Barbara and I went to Memphis last week to check out the ducks at the Peabody Hotel. Here's the palace where the ducks live and the Duck Master who leads them down to the fountain every morning. That's one more thing to mark off my bucket list!

Dear Jane Club welcomes Dot!

Dot wins the prize for coming the most distance to attend a Dear Jane Club meeting. She came all the way from England! It was wonderful to see her again and spend some time with her. Maybe we'll see her again in a couple of years. Will Barb have a finished DJ quilt by then? Will Sherrill have her jane quilted? Will I still be plugging along on my red, white & blue? Check back in a couple of years and I'll let you know.

Awesome miniature!

Bettie Hammock, our speaker last night at BCQG had some awesome quilts but her miniatures were the best. This little beauty has 1/2 inch finished blocks. Note the thumbs holding the quilt for the photo. I'm inspired to see how small I can go for my next project.

Goodbye lunch for Kathy Gale

Great time today with Wannabees - saying goodbye to Kathy. We'll miss you, girlfriend!

Random Retreat Photos

Lots of fun working on our projects, eating, visiting, eating, shopping and did I mention eating? I didn't get pics of our trip to the quilt shop in Clifton or the estate sale we found. I'd never had an omelet made in a ziploc baggie - delicious and a fun thing to make for breakfast.

Thanks, Charlotte, for sharing your wonderful house with us.

My retreat project

This looks a bit shaggy now since none of the blocks have been sewn together but I was very pleased that I managed to make all of the nine patch setting blocks this weekend. This is the Quilter's Dream Block of the Month for 2009. I love the batiks with the black background.

Retreat with QFC

Sugie Hill, Charlotte's vacation home near Hillsborough, where we had a wonderful retreat last weekend.

Plaid applique project

Here's one quarter of a quilt I've been working on lately. It's a Kim Diehl pattern from an old American Patchwork & Quilting magazine. I've finally made time for it and I'm really enjoying hand applique again. Tried some machine applique but wasn't pleased with the way it looked. There's just something about applique by hand....

Fall Friendship Star

Saw this quilt on Stash Manicure and couldn't wait to make it. Manicured most of my fall fabric stash! Now to get it quilted so I can nap under it this fall.

Gifts from Peru....

Amy & Robert came back from Peru bearing gifts. Ron has already tried the coffee and said it was very good. I'll have to wait for the temps. to drop a bit before I can wear my alpaca. Thanks, Amy & Robert!

Happy Birthday, Papa!

Celebrated Papa's birthday with the whole gang last night. Aunt Jennifer and the kids entertained us with a cute play. Here's wishing my man another great year!