SCRAPPY TRIPS AND TREASURES

Bonnie Hunter's invitation to join her working on Scrappy Bargello quilts this past weekend came at a time when I was ready to dive in. I actually made a few of these blocks while I was in Arizona over Christmas. I am making her Scrappy Trips version. Both are the same technique and directions are found on her Quiltville web site. I spent a couple hours on Saturday making little piles of strips for blocks. Now it is easy to sit down and sew strips together, press, cut, sew into blocks. Voila! I got several more blocks completed, and a number of blocks ready to go. And since prep time is usually the thing that holds me up, this will be great to work in whenever I need a no-brainer. Thanks Bonnie, for this quick method and all the inspiration! I have to note that my husband is not too pleased with this project. He needs things to be very organized. He tried to arrange the blocks to make sense to him. This project is so carefree! To me that is the charm of it.

This past week I changed a wall arrangement, and I thought I would give you a glimpse of it! My little brown churn dash quilt is called Table Scraps, as I was mostly using up lots of pieces off my cutting table. Such yummy little morsels that I wanted to sew them up into something!
You may recognize the sampler as one I did a while back from a Blackbird Design book, Fresh From the Garden. I found that little bird's nest smack in the middle of the hydrangia bush when I was trimming it back for winter. It is so precious! And the big platter was a wedding present to my great grandparents in 1888. That is one of my very special treasures!

Addendum: Paula at A Latte Quilts worked on the Bargello/Trips project Sunday also. Check out her blog!

I see Dawn at Quilts and Pieces is at it also! As is Tracey at Quilting in Connecticut! I am getting a kick out of see who all jumped in the fray, as it were! Joan at keeping You in Stitches actually has hers done and quilted! It's embarrassing. She did start a week early, but still...

Katie, In My Sandbox is making the Bargello also. Anybody else?

QUILTS AND QUESADIAS

Hey, I did it! I figured out how to load photos to my son's computer. He has an Apple, so it is different than my PC. The photo shows the afore mentioned Scrappy Trips from Bonnie's Quiltville site. I have about 10 blocks made, and they are so addicting, which suits me just fine with my OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder, in case you are the rare quilter that doesn't have it). This photo shows 4 blocks sewn together. Isn't it cool? Your eyes just race all over the lines and colors. This will be a great quilt for stash busting! Thanks Bonnie!

I went to lunch today with my Dad and my sister for my birthday. Well, that was our excuse, but we would have gone anyway! We went to a Mexican restaurant that I love! It is so darling inside and out! It was built a couple years ago and is in an old Mexico adobe style, with a courtyard in the front and lots of pots of flowers, etc. Inside the walls are Mexican colored picture tiles part way up the walls. I sat in our booth wishing I had my camera, because several of those painted tiles would have been beautiful quilt blocks. I almost always order the Glazed Shrimp Quesadia. It is the best! I never get enough good Mexican food! Love it!

Thanks so much to all who stopped by with good wishes. I even heard from some that I haven't met before. You all are the best! It's sad that I have to beg, but look at the great results I got! VBG!!!

HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY!

Happy New Year to blogging friends near and far. I am still in Arizona and enjoying time with my family. Christmas was great and so nice to have both my sons here, as well as my son's wife and the kids, my Dad, sister, aunts and uncles, etc. My daughters were both missing and were both missed. I sure love them all! It is difficult to get the whole family together in one place very often as we are so spread out across the country.

December 26 my husband and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. If I was home I would find an old picture of us when we were young and cute. I actually still think he is pretty cute! We are the epitome of the couple who has nothing in common except the kids. Somehow we have stuck together through all kinds of weather. He has actually become sweeter and more sentimental as time goes by. But I really think it is the laughter and the ability to not take things too seriously that has held us together. I always say it was the first twenty years that was the most difficult! LOL! He is already back home and going to work to pay for the lifestyle in which I have become so accustomed. What a gem!

January 2nd is my birthday. Another day that can go unnoticed, as far as I am concerned. I only mention it to see who reads my blog and wants to wish me happy birthday. It's amazing how many people who love me have to be reminded. (Seriously, I'm joking!)

I got my trusty old Bernina out the other day so I could mend a couple things for my Dad. Once out, it does not like to go back into the box too quickly, so I thought I would take it for a spin. I have been sewing strips together to make Bonnie's Scrappy Trips Around the World. Yes, I have a small stash here at my son's house so I can play. I love those blocks, by the way. They go together so quickly and I love the scrappy look they create. I really want to get on the Sunshine Band Wagon and do some serious stash busting this year. Judy L. has a plan. I don't quite have enough confidence in myself to sign up, but I want to at least make the effort to use more yardage than I buy.
I mentioned previously that my youngest son was bringing a girl home to meet the family. I am afraid to say anything about her for fear of jinxing the deal, but I want to say, "Can we keep her"? She is a real sweetheart and they seem to have a good connection. We all voted and she wins. Don't tell anyone though or I will be in trouble for opening my big mouth again. It's a problem I seem to have!
I may be able to add a picture or two tomorrow, until then --Happy New Year 2008! (Who knew I would live this long)?