Honey why is this quilt all ragged on the edges??

Huh? OMG!! This quilt has been sitting on the couch in my studio for the past 2 1/2 years!! I never realized that the binding wasn't sewn down until I heard that question from my husband.

Seriously, the binding was on...just not sewn down. How does that happen? Anyhoooo....I packed it up and it provided the perfect hand sewing this past two weeks while I was at our daughter's and I had a homemade quilt to sleep under every night. Doesn't get better than that does it. And now to celebrate this long overdue finish, I pulled some dotty fabric remnants from my stash and paired them with this Mary E. magnetic notepad as a Happy Mail Give-away for one of you. 

(THIS GIVE-AWAY IS CLOSED)

Just comment to share what your favorite Christmas Cookie is?

And speaking of cookies...next week this Blog Hop begins:

On Dec. 7th I'll be sharing our simple but oh so yummy version of the Girl Scouts Thin Mint Cookie.

I'll announce the winner of my Happy Mail Give-Away Monday, Dec. 11th.

I specialize in edge to edge pantographs with over 100 designs to choose from.

Check out my Long-Arm Quilting page for details.

I offer FREE Return Shipping on all quilts in the U.S.A.

Tuesday Archives #175: Cross Stitch

Welcome to the linky party that rejuvenates your old quilting/sewing posts! 

Please click here to read more about this linky party.  

This week's theme is: Cross Stitch

Hanging in our hallway is the one and only cross-stitch I've done. It was stitched during the summer I was pregnant with our oldest daughter some 27 years ago. I remember being assigned to bed rest and having nothing else to do, tried my hand at cross-stitch.

 This remains a sentimental piece of those long summer days as I awaited the birth of  our first born. Now a days, I prefer applique and wool stitching to cross stitch, but never the less, the comfort of hand stitching continues to be a constant in my life.

I specialize in edge to edge pantographs with over 100 designs to choose from.

Check out my Long-Arm Quilting page for details.

I offer FREE Return Shipping on all quilts in the U.S.A.

Spiderman Quilt Gifted

Sometimes I create a quilt without really thinking about the process. This one started with a sketch. I pieced it. Sewed it....and then found myself  a little worried when it came to the quilting. It's a crib size quilt and I really wanted the effect of that big web, but worried about the unquilted spaces.

All came out fine. For the first time ever, I bought a premade binding but that came out fine too.  

As soon as our grand guy opened it...he ran and put it on his bed....with his Spiderman pillow.

He has slept with it every night since!

He can even be caught wrapped up in it while watching TV. 

Sorry about no Tuesday Archives this week. The kids have been moving into their new home and they've had no internet until tonight. YEAH!! Can you imagine, moving into a new house the same time you have a new baby! ARG!!! Speaking of  new baby, he's our Thanksgiving blessing for sure.

He's a tiny guy and very precious. He NEVER cries. (Really!)

Anyhoo....thank you all for your wonderful comments. I've read them all on my phone in-between, well, life right now, and you encourage me and make me smile. THANK YOU for your bloggy friendship and support. I appreciate everyone one of you in this transition. 

I specialize in edge to edge pantographs with over 100 designs to choose from.

Check out my Long-Arm Quilting page for details.

I offer FREE Return Shipping on all quilts in the U.S.A.

Welcome Baby Jack!

Born 7lbs. 5 oz. 18.9 in. long.

He's been kept snug in homemade blankets by great grandma and

and his Name Quilt by Meme here. He's a quiet, sweet, little baby boy.

He's of course, a wonderful addition to our family and big brother L O V E S him!!!!

He holds him constantly and charmed us all as he rocked and sang to "his baby".  

He was determined to get me to buy baby brother his "first set of dinosaurs" and...

 ...he genuinely gives this whole "big bother" thing a BIG thumbs up!

He's already a great big brother and we are so very proud of him. I give our daughter a 

"Big Thumbs Up" as she certainly did a good job preparing him for this transition.

"LIFE IS GOOD"

Thanks for sharing this special moment with me. 

The kids are busy moving this weekend...so if by chance, I miss Tuesday Archives this coming week it's because I don't have internet service yet...but know I'll return with updates as soon as we do.

I specialize in edge to edge pantographs with over 100 designs to choose from.

Check out my Long-Arm Quilting page for details.

I offer FREE Return Shipping on all quilts in the U.S.A.

Tuesday Archives #174: Bow Tie Quilts

Welcome to the linky party that rejuvenates your old quilting/sewing posts! 

Please click here to read more about this linky party.  

This week's theme is: Bowtie Quilts

This week's highlight is a bowtie quilt made by our blogging friend Sharon who blogs at Vroomans Quilts. These bow ties were all made from her son's flannel shirts! I love that!

I've not yet tried a bow tie pattern but after seeing Sharon's quilt and watching tutorials on line, this looks like a quick and easy, scrap busting pattern.

I specialize in edge to edge pantographs with over 100 designs to choose from.

Check out my Long-Arm Quilting page for details.

I offer FREE Return Shipping on all quilts in the U.S.A.

A peek at some quilting...

I got both of these quilts finished this past weekend:

Spiderman is all "webbed". Arg....what was I thinking when I layered flannel, batting annndddd a thick fleece. Oh this will most likely become our grand-guys "new" favorite quilt...but I had a lot of thread breaks quilting this one....but I finally got him done.

After spidey was done, I ran my dinosaur pantograph to finish our soon-to-be-born little guys quilt.
I love that it coordinates with his big brother's dinosaur quilt.

I did machine stitch the binding onto both of them for a quick finish and they are now wrapped and 

awaiting to be gifted later this week. At which time I'll be sure to share them finished and in the hands of my grand guys. (That's so wierd to write....grand "guys!"). As you can imaigine, I start this week with butterflies of anticipation and excitement in my stomach as we await the upcoming delivery later this week. Stay tuned! And, thanks for  your well wishes and for stopping by.

I specialize in edge to edge pantographs with over 100 designs to choose from.

Check out my Long-Arm Quilting page for details.

I offer FREE Return Shipping on all quilts in the U.S.A.

Happy Veterans Day!

Thank you to all our Veterans today for their service to our country!.
As I revewed "Why we have Veterans Day" with my Second Graders,
we discussed what it means to be: brave, courageous, and patriotic.

I found it enduring that so many of my students genuinely expressed interest in
wanting to join a branch of the military when they grow up:

5 Branches of the Military:

Army - 14 students 
Marine - 1 student

Navy - 2 students
Air Force - 4 students

Coast Guard - 2 students

With respect, honor and gratitude, we salute you!

I specialize in edge to edge pantographs with over 100 designs to choose from.

Check out my Long-Arm Quilting page for details.

I offer FREE Return Shipping on all quilts in the U.S.A.

My Weekend List

I awake this morning to a quiet house and a three day weekend ahead. My first, true, three day weekend since the school year has started that I can look forward to just being home and in my sewing studio. I don't even know where to begin, but a list is sure to help illiminate me walking in circles trying to figure that out. I not only need to get some quilting finished, but I need to pack for being at my daughter's for two weeks. So here I go:

Quilting:

1. Quilt Spiderman quilt

2. Quilt Jack's baby quilt

3. Sew binding onto both of these quilts.
4. Prep another of my wool BOM.

5. Go through my stash and put together a new sewing project...
or two for the two week's I'll be at my daughters.

6. Pack my sewing machine and projects.

Home:

1.Saturday: Final mow/leaf pick-up
2. Catch up on laundry

3. Organize bill pay
4. Pack "basement" things into truck
5. Monday: Vacume and Dust
6. Tuesday: Change sheets and Clean Baths
7. Pack: Decorative Roosters to give to Jen
8. Pack dog food and beds
9. Print pictures for calendar
10. Tea-dye duvet 
11 Prepare birthday presents

Me:
 Pack clothes for two weeks away.
Click  HERE  to read about the five benefits of List Making.

I specialize in edge to edge pantographs with over 100 designs to choose from.

Check out my Long-Arm Quilting page for details.

I offer FREE Return Shipping on all quilts in the U.S.A.

A Fall Morning...

The kids were all lined up, ready to start their day with me.

Yet, as I looked out towards their playground, I was struck by the serenity of this moment.

I love the transition of life that occurs in the Fall. It's such a season of contrasts. Trees put on a vibrant show...then just as quick, go dormant for the winter. Many of us replace mowing with raking leaves...and soon, snow shoveling. We turn our clocks back to grab just one more hour of sunshine in the morning ...yet it also welcomes our nightly trek towards those long dark winter nights. In the home, cotton sheets are replaced with flannel and down comforters are an added layer under homemade quilts.  Cold dinner salads are exchanged for warm, soothing soups and crock pot meals. 

So now I'm kinda curious what seasonal transitions do you have?? Please do share...

I specialize in edge to edge pantographs with over 100 designs to choose from.

Check out my Long-Arm Quilting page for details.

I offer FREE Return Shipping on all quilts in the U.S.A.

Tuesday Archives #173: Baby Bibs

Welcome to the linky party that rejuvenates your old quilting/sewing posts! 

Please click here to read more about this linky party.  

This week's theme is: Baby Bibs 

Bernie, who blogs at Needle and Foot became a grandma for the first time earlier this year and made these adorable bibs for her new grand-daughter. It's always so fun to make useful home-made gifts.

I specialize in edge to edge pantographs with over 100 designs to choose from.

Check out my Long-Arm Quilting page for details.

I offer FREE Return Shipping on all quilts in the U.S.A.