New Year--New Beginnings

I woke up this morning thinking, maybe I will try this blogging thing one more time. I am not very good at doing this and I think my problem is that I love to see pictures on blogs but not good about posting them myself. I think I am technically challenged. Anyway, I can worry about that later.

I have heard that what you do on the first day of the year is what you will be doing a lot of during the year. That being said, I decided I would do something sewing related. I never really sewed but I did load my son's quilt top on my Innova and after tinkering with the tension for awhile, got it to the point I can actually quilt...I think. I am now too tired to do anything else now and have to go back to work tomorrow. Maybe tomorrow night I can really get started. I had my friend Deanna come over and we had a girl's sewing day. Fun! I love having my friends come over and do this with me.

Made a pot of chili and a pan of cornbread. Yum!

Hoping the next year brings lots of good things. Mostly I hope my DH can get a job. Being out of work for several years now is putting a lot of stress on us. So tired of being the only bread winner in our family. I know it is hard on him as well though. Ok, enough whining for one night! Back to work tomorrow.!

Wednesday Evening

Hope everyone is having a nice Wednesday evening. I had good intentions of writing last night while DH was at class but I did not feel well so pretty much spent the evening lying on the couch. I had such good intentions  of going down to my playroom and either quilting or sewing. I am trying to teach myself to do pantographs on my longarm. I really think I like freemotion quilting better. Below is a picture of a table runner for Halloween. Don't think I will get it completed in time. Oh, well-I will have it for next year. I am actually making two of them so probably some lucky friend or daughter will end up getting it. I don't think my son would care for it.

I also finished a quilt top on Monday using some French General layer cake fabrics. It was fun but really not my style. I may either give it away once it is done or sell it.

Tomorrow is a busy day. I have to go to St. Louis for a work appointment and then try and get back home in time for my last basket making class at 6 p.m. I hope I make it. Here are some pictures of the last two I have made.

And last but not least, ...a picture of my little red maple in my front yard. We planted this tree about 4 years ago in honor of my brother who died of cancer. It was just a little bitty thing and I had doubts it would make it but for the first time, it is shining in all of its autumn glory this year. Glad I took the picture as it is raining tonight and probably a lot of the leaves will be gone by tomorrow.

Pleasant dreams!

Dream House/Wish List

Hope your weekend has been as laid back and as relaxed as mine has been. I spent the morning cleaning my house and then took a well deserved nap. Then because the day was so beautiful, DH and I went to a local winery and sat on their porch swing enjoying a glass of wine and watched the sunset. Then went home and while hubby kept me updated periodically on how the Cardinals/Rangers were doing, I finished sewing up my latest quilt top. Tomorrow I will try and take pictures of it although they never look as good as tops as they do once they are quilted.

Yesterday on our little drive, we stopped and looked at a house we love about 20 miles south of us. It is a small community of homes around a small lake. The lake used to be the local town's lake where there was a beach, park etc. Now there are homes all around the lake ranging from small vacation cottages or pretty nice homes. This house is my ideal. We have even had a real estate agent take us through it a few weeks ago. It is smaller that I would like though and with my longarm and sewing room stuff, we would be pretty cramped but I could make it work. Our life is kind of in limbo though as my DH is finishing up his bachelor's degree and we may end up having to move if he can find a job position that fits him. Anyway, it is my dream home. The kitchen and eat in dining area looks out on the lake. So do the bedrooms and the master bedroom has a private balcony looking out over the lake. What a place to drink your morning cup of coffee! Here are a few  pictures just to show you. Also included a few ducks and geese which I would love to have too.

I am taking another vacation day tomorrow! Plan to sew a lot tomorrow if possible!

Day out with Hubby

I had very good intentions to clean the house today and then sew the rest of the day but changed my mind when I saw how beautiful the day was. October is my very favorite month of the year. DH was not due back from his business trip until today but came back last night instead. Therefore, we could spend the whole day together and decided to go to some antique shops a few miles from where we live specifically to look for a bookcase for me. DH took over my two bookcases for all of his photography books etc and I need a replacement. Well I could not ago in an antique store without looking at some of the quilts displayed now could I? Here are a few of them that I saw. Wish I could take them home! Never did find that bookcase but ate pizza at our favorite pizza place and then went home. Now watching the World Series! Go Cardinals!

Back to work again...

Since I am new to this blogging thing and feeling my way around a bit, I thought I would start off posting pictures of the quilts I have finished this year. One at a time. Until I get a bit more proficient with loading pictures from my camera. I spent the last day of my 3 day vacation just sewing, crocheting, watching movies and just plain piddling. Felt so relaxed that it was murder getting up to go to work this morning. Going to a basket making class tonight. This is #3 class out of 4 classes I am taking during the month of October. I finished one basket already and should get the second one done tonight and hopefully start the third and last tonight. I will post a picture of them when I get them done. Probably should just stick with quilting. Anyway, for the first quilt picture, here is one I finished for my DB who loves civil war history. This is a nine patch variation that is done with all civil war reproductions. I love it so much, I may make another one for myself. Everyone have a great day!

Vacation Days!

I have been on vacation for a few days this week and am having a blast. Have I went anywhere fun? The answer is yes... to my sewing room! For the first time in several years, I have taken off work for a few days and instead of going anywhere, have decided to stay home and just do what I want. I never feel I get enough time to do what I like so this has been pure bliss. On top of that, my DH has taken a few days to go out of state to a job fair so I have been alone except for small periods of time when my stepdaughter comes by to hang out for awhile. So what have I accomplished so far? Not as much as I like but I did get a quilt top completed, all except for the borders. I also quilted a couple of baby quilts on my Innova. They are nothing fancy, just panels of material with teddy bears on them. One is blue striped and the other pink striped. They are for a friend of my daughter who is expecting twins in a few months. Gives me some much needed practice on my machine. The rest of my evening? Plan to sit back and crochet an afghan and watch "The Walking Dead" on Netflix. Probably not the wisest choice for someone who is alone in the house. LOL!

Miss Kitty

I have been playing around with this blog site for months but have never done anything with it as I don't have a clue to what I am doing. If this works today, I will be back later! I have been reading quilt blogs for several years now but never did this for myself. I doubt anyone will want to read what goes on in my life but this might be a good way to post pictures of my creations (if I can get any good with my little camera). I am a little technically challenged! Anyway this is my sweet calico kitty and her name is "Miss Kitty". Best little cat I have ever had. Such a helper in my sewing room.