Happy Thanksgiving

For so much to be thankful for, family, friends, good health, a good job and all the wonders that God has put before us I wish you all a truly wonderful Thanksgiving:

For each new morning with its light,

For rest and shelter of the night,

For health and food, for love and friends,

For everything Thy goodness sends.

For flowers that bloom about our feet;

For tender grass, so fresh, so sweet;

For song of bird, and hum of bee;

For all things fair we hear or see,

Father in heaven, we thank Thee!

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

UT is 10-0 and ready for the Championship...

and my quilt is almost ready. This is planned to be a Christmas present but it's possible I might have to give it early if we pull out the Big 12 championship.All it needs is a label, a good bath and a nice hot dryer to scrunch it up and it's another finished project.

and here's the back

The Warmth of Aster Manor

I  love how soothing this fabric line is and couldn't resist another easy quilt top. The inside squares are part of the line so it was already complete and all I did was add a couple of borders and it will have simple pink floral back. I really loved working with this fabric and can't wait to get this finished. It will be living on my living room couch.

Finally a finished project....

For some reason I start on these tops and never seem to find the time to pull it all together. This was an easy Happy Hour quilt top that I managed to complicate but adding appliqued circles to the back and it had just drug on forever but it's a Thanksgiving gift so I had to finish it this weekend.

After it is was all complete I realized there was a small flaw in the fabric so one of the circles got this little runaway snowflake that I actually sort of like after I got over my initial shock.

Fabric Stash

I ended up in a quilt store on Saturday trying to help a friend pick out some back grounds for a quilt she is working and had no plans to buy anything since I have so many things started and have to finish things before Christmas. Well one look at these two fabrics and that was all she wrote. The first one is called "through the woods" by Maywood Studios and it's a really nice black on white and there is a coordinating snowflake fabric. I don't have any ideas yet what I'll do with it but it was too cool to leave it alone in a cold quilt store.

The second set is a line called French Country Roosters by Clothworks and it just has such a rich rust color I couldn't resist it and think I might try and make some place mats with this. Both of these will have to go on the 2010 list but gives me something to look forward to for next year.

Fall Houses

I was inspired awhile back by a quilt made by Stephanie at   http://makeitawonderfullife.blogspot.com/ that she called Trick or Treat and made in all fall colors. I absolutely love fall, love fall colors and couldn't resist making one of my own. Between her inspiration and the pattern by Sandy Bonsib, it didn't take me long to fall in love with these "nine-patch" house. So I finally have all the houses done and I'm working on setting them apart with a dark border and will decide from there where they go but I am positive it will have either a brushed homespun or flannel back.

It's beginning to feel alot like Autumn....

We don't get a lot of change of scenery here in Central Texas but a few years back I planted a maple tree in hopes of having some fall outside my sewing room. I looked up yesterday and low and behold it didn't let me down. Now I wish I had planted a few more.

Christmas Door Hanger WIP

With all sorts of projects in the works I couldn't resist starting on a Christmas project. It's all pieced and the applique is just laid out approximate and hopefully I'll find time during the week to sit at the machine and do some sewing and get this one knocked out early. It came together pretty quickly and might make a nice gift this year.

Round 3 - Quilt Along

Against my better judgement I have decided to jump in again and join round 3 of the Old Red Barn Co. quilt along. You can follow the progress of all the quilters on the flickr group at www.flickr.com/groups/oldredbarncoquiltalong2009 but the latest updates for the wonky blocks are being posted at http://www.quiltdad.com/ . I am using a Riley Blake fabric "Just Dreamy" and while I love the fabric once it's all sewn together it is much brighter than I had originally thought. Looks like a quilt I should make for a sick child to brighten their day. Any ideas or who might need a quilt to brighten up their lives at the moment? 

UT quilt in progress

Well I missed kickoff for the first game of the year but am still hoping to have this complete by the first "cold" weather kick off. Lucky for me we don't get cold weather in Austin any time soon. I am still playing around with the blocks and need a few more but overall not unhappy with it at this point.

We can almost see the finish line.....

If you have been following all the excitement on the "Iraqi Bundles of Love" website, facebook or twitter you know that we are getting very close to the finish line. The deadline for sending bundles is Tuesday, Sept 8th so if you haven't sent your bundle or still have more "fabric stash" in your closet you still have time to be a part of the fun. You can go to http://www.ibol.wordpress.com/ to follow along and see the lastest going on and how many bundles have arrived; you'll be amazed at how many bundles are there already!

Some other good news Mr. IBOL has proclaimed Sept. 6th as IBOL Sundae, so get yourself a nice bowl of ice cream with plenty of toppings, post a picture for history and enjoy with no guilt, you've earned it.

So go now and rummage through that closet, or spend some money to buy some new and help the America economy and build yourself a "bundle of love" and you'll feel the warmth all the way from Iraq to your heart.The women of Iraq are going to feel the love of the American quilters, sewers, knitters, crafters very shortly :)