Finished Chirstmas BOM...

..so it could be on the bed by Christmas. This is the Aubrey Rose BOM from Cotton Patch several (yes, several!) years ago that I finally got quilted. Truthfully, this is a landmark quilt for me - the first really large one I've successfully quilted on my frame. Perhaps this is a sign of what I can get done in the next year...

I can't believe she's 6

It seems like yesterday she was born, but here she is...6. This is her "home" cake and her picture with her decidedly younger friend, Kelsie. (Kelsie is a full 2 hours younger than Caroline...and they always have such fun celebrating together)

November Schnibbles

I've had this one done for a while, but hadn't posted yet. I'm really fond of it. I used left-over Aubrey Rose from a block-of-the-month I am finshing up. It's Christmasy (is that a word?) but I think I could use it into January.

Anniversaries

Yes, today is Sesame Steet's anniversary. As a parent, I love Sesame Street - clever, funny and educational - what more could you ask for?

But, I am reminded of an interview between Bill Moyers and Carol Spinney (Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch), which was one of the best I have ever seen. When asked, Carol Spinney gave the mission statement of all mission statements: "We were just a group of people who thought we could help kids learn to read. That never changed". Wow, what a purpose in life. He went on to talk of Jim Henson's death, and how when he was asked to perform the eulogy he couldn't, unless they let him do it as Big Bird. And there he was singing "It's not easy being green" with his voice crackling the whole time. It was so genuine - it was just so Big Bird. So, I honor the people who believed they could do this - and every day show children mixed together (multiethnic, disabled, etc) having fun, singing and learning. Good for them. Today, I will channel the wisdom of Sesame Street, and hope you do too.

Basket update

Here it is so far, without piano key borders. Not perfect, but I really like it. It's the "leftovers" from the Audrey Rose block-of-the-month quilt. Very holiday-ish...My mom wanted to see where mine was, for inspiration - so I hope this helps.

p.s. Eeeek...I didn't realize until I loaded this picture that I put all the green on one side - is it too noticable?

Baskets so far

Here are the baskets for the next Schnibbles so far...I went scrappier than the pattern called for because I wanted to include the stripe, but had trouble with the directional aspect when trying to use them in the smaller size.

Halloween Night

Lizzie found a great costume, although she did not (I repeat NOT) go trick-or-treating. She merely accompanied her sisters, dressed in costume, and carried a bucket in case there was extra candy to distribute. I think that's clear. I wish we would've found this dress (which she loves, more to come on that) a few weeks ago. I would've gotten her a staff and had her sisters dressed as lambs!

So, after returning home and settling into our role of candy distribution (Jerry was officially off-duty and free to watch the UO game as soon as we came back), we speculated what her dress was originally for. I said, "Probably Prom". Lizzie said, "Maybe wedding!" (Do you think brides really are that cruel to their friends? Do you think they had bonnets and carried sticks with bows????).

Hmmm...

It's Halloween

Here they are....oh, my.

Mom'a October

Here is my mom's Schnibbles...I love it!

Cindy Lou Who Schnibbles

Here is my October Schnibbles, Cindy Lou Who. This is a baby quilt. I quilted it with red thread...the back is the same as the border, which is fun.

Unfortunately, it's so dark and grey here I had to take it out to the porch before work, and still the pictures turned out dark....

This weekend

Here is my Schnibbles...I'm anxious to see it quilted, which hopefully I will do this week.

I made this cute little purse (kind of a wallet/purse...purset? wallurse?)...the one thing I learned about the pattern is that the strap isn't long enough - so I'll be fixing that before it actually gets used. I made it out of a recently purchased book, but ended up making a lot of changes.

So, just to vent a bit...FOX decided today to not show the Seahawks game due to other programming needs from the baseball schedule. Turns out it was POKER. Yes, watching a taped show of other people playing cards "trumped" (punny, huh?) an actual live sporting event...interesting scheduling decision.

Mission Mill quilt show

This year was sparse. There weren't many quilts and only a handful of vendors. But here are a few of the quilts Lizzie and I liked.

Finished blocks

Block of the Month for Lizzie and I - hers are the blue and pink.

October Schnibbles

Here it is. I bought fabric yesterday for the border, that I might try to incorporate inside the pattern. For me, this one is also going to be a baby quilt for someone at work. They're due in 2 weeks, I doubt I'll finish before the baby is here, but I shouldn't be too far behind this time. Specs:

Cindy Lou Who "PATTERN"
Cindy Lou Who - a Schnibbles Pattern from Miss Rosie's Quilt Co. Finished size: 33" x 33" Materials needed>
25 asst. light charm squares
15 asst. red charm squares
18 asst. green charm squares
14 asst. gold charm squares<1/4 yd for inner border
1/2 yd. outer border
1/2 yard binding
1-1/8 yard backing Pattern made using three charm packs and yardage.

Another finish

The quilt from our shop hop this summer, quilted and bound. Whew...only like 30 more unfinished. E-gads.

Quilts of Valor block

Amanda Jean over at Crazy Mom Quilts put out a post asking for Wonky Stars (instructions here: http://thesillyboodilly.blogspot.com/2009/02/wonky-star-tutorial.html). They are so "outside the box" they are fun! I hope this fits in with the other blocks she receives. She asked for red/white/blue in any combination - I purposely put the "tie dye" in the center - we are from Oregon, you know.

Deepwood Antique Faire

A lovely estate, that is now a non-profit, hosted an antique car show and antique faire today. We headed down and here are some terrific pictures. Had the little "Besty Ross" sewing machine not been $35 it might have come home with me...the pressure foot even still lifted! She had also (unfortunately no pics) made old pedastal candy dish bottoms into pin cushions - quite a cute idea really! Deepwood is absolutely beautiful. I liked this 54 Buick Skylark - Jerry mentioned trading about half our house for it, so I think it's a bit out of the price range for me!

My Schnibble

This is a baby quilt for a co-worker who had a boy, Daniel, in June. I love the airplane fabric and did loops like an airplane. There is one section to be taken out because the machine skipped stitches - luckily it's only in about a 3 inch section so it should be (I love should be) easy to fix. Isn't it amazing how different a pattern can look? Sorry I can't expand my mom's pictures - they were in an e-mail rather than an attachment.

Teri's Schnibble

So, my mom and I both did the September Schnibble - it's hard to believe one small pattern could look so different! My mom's...

First Day of School and a Cat

Here are first day pics. Lizzie, of course, was not ready yet so she didn't make it in the picture.

The Cat is a whole other story. This cat has been hanging around and Jerry felt sorry for her and started feeding her. Of course now she's not leaving. We can't find her family, but she is clearly a family cat - I've never seen anything as friendly as this cat is (and kind of mouthy, too, but that's another story). We're going to take her to the vet, then.....because we're owned by a dog that would not co-exist with any other animals...maybe, just maybe she could live somewhere in which the kids could see her on holidays and trips to Grandmas????

Her own blog

I set up a blog just for the trailer. She doesn't have a name yet, but I thought it would be better to write about her overhaul on another site.

http://tincanham.blogspot.com/

Canned Ham?

Nope, not the spam stuff.

This is the latest (and biggest) project. A 1952 Crown Travel Trailer. Overall, it's in good condition (at 55+ years she's doing pretty well). Jerry is excited for the project. It could be used now, but there are ways to make it great. These are great when restored - this one has lots of original things (not the stove or frig, which were replaced...and need to be again). A few of the internal panels have been replaced, but Jerry can get the birch to easily replace those (right now they have this God awful bird scene). The woman who had it bought it last February from someone who had it for years.

Jerry loves to camp. The girls love to travel. This is the only way I'm going to join in. - with a few amenities.

There are some very cool retro ones out there - can't you just see this behind the bug????

Help!

In my quest to finish projects, this is next. It is a "Mystery Quilt" on the Greenbaum's website. I made it through the first few clues, then realized it was getting way too big. So, I added the small cream inside border then was going to put on these half square triangles (using up the charm pack). What do you think (they aren't sewn on yet) - too busy or just the right finish?

Also, what should I put on that vine? Applique flowers, circles? What about yo-yos?

that's what I get...

...for posting a picture of new fabric. Almost immediately my mother called with a request for the same (which I purchased the last of the blue background). So, here it is Mom!

Oh, oh, oh, it's here!~

So, I need to make a baby quilt anyway...so what do you think? I'm starting to suspect a giant conspiracy against me - I have all sorts of "girl" fabrics, but everyone around me is having boys! So, this is a print I bought today and am adding some fabrics I have...going to go scrappy with red and green, but use the blue and butterscotch dots consistently - and the red on white dot for the background...oh, ho ho...

Oak's Park

Although I hadn't been there for about 30 years, I was pleasantly surprised at Oak's Park. We took the girls today, not knowing really what to expect. Reviews on-line are mixed. But, overall I found the park to be clean and the staff great. The rides are what you'd find at a county fair - only cleaner. The girls had a great time - I think Sarah road everything she could in her height category. Both Sarah and Caroline were disappointed the truly high and fast rides were off limits for them - they think of themselves as taller than they are, which I think they get from their Grandma Teri.

Oaks Park still has the skating rink and dance pavilliion that I think were there when it originally opened in 1905, which is very cool. It has that old time amusement park feel.