July Wrap up

The month is over, I have made such progress on my quilting projects. I finished a baby quilt that I started in the spring of 2001, I hand quilted it. My early stitches were so big and uneven. my finishing stitches look pretty good. I am getting the hang of this hand quilting stuff. I also finished several tops to the basted stage. Pictures are in my earlier posts.

I started the month off at Quiltville for the July 4th holiday. Believe it or not I haven't pieced a thing since returning home. I have been busy quilting by hand and machine, and basting up a storm. My friend, Dawn and I got 3 of my bigger projects basted one Saturday. I have finished the machine quilting on my stained glass hearts and will have the binding finished if it kills me by August 1, That is tomorrow.

I also had a birthday this month. Birthdays sure have a way of making you take stock of your life. I know many have done what I did this month. I took a look at all my stash, yarn included and realized that I have enough to stay busy without buying anything for a long while. I do mean any thing. Not thread, batting, fabric or even patterns, thanks to Bonnie Hunter @ Quiltville and a big supply of quilting magazines and books plus all my internet friends that are so gracious to share free patterns and inspiration on Stashbusters, Quilt talk and Marcia Hohn at Quilter's Cache, my E Q and block base oh my I could go on forever naming. I sound like I am practicing for an award.
I ran across a phrase that came out of the depression. "use it up, wear it out, make it do , or do without" Eleanor Burns put it in her new book Victory Quilts 1940's Sampler Quilts. I have decided to try to live that motto for a while at least until I can see some floor space in a few closets and shelf space in the bookcase that I have yardage and yarn in. I don't want to try to keep track of what is used. I want to measure it by all the things made.
OK so now that I have board everyone to tears I will say Good night and I hope to post some pics in the very near future
Charlotte

Here is one of the reasons I get up every morning, Her name is Avory, she is 10 months old. Not walking yet. She has a big sister that just turned 2 in May. I was in my quilting habitat piecing when they came over and of course Avory wanted her Nana, she reached for some fabric, it is in her right hand and that is a ruler in her left. Both wound up in her mouth.

I haven't posted for several weeks, My 4th of July weekend at Quiltville was wonderful. Here is a picture of Bonnie hard at work on one of her customer's quilts. She posed for this one but I really wanted to get one of her working. She quilted 3 quilts for that customer that weekend.

I love her DJ behind her. She has more talent in her pinkie than I will every have in my whole body. She is too generous with her talent and fabric. She picked boarders from her stash for 2 of my quilts. Insisted it was my birthday presents. I have since gotten them basted and ready for quilting. I really had a wonderful quilting retreat. They, Bonnie and her husband, Dave taught my husband Jerry and I a card game that is really fun. It is called hand and foot. Oh Bonnie, I was sorry for the scorch on your ironing board.Then you posted that is was a new one and I really felt bad. You are a trooper. Thanks for not making me pack up my stuff and head back to Columbia. Instead she hands me a sharpie and ask me to sign it. I took a picture of it too but haven't loaded it on my computer. You my see the autographed ironing board cover on Bonnie's blog. She has also posted about the great fun at Prissy Polly's BBQ.

Time for bed. PS I did have my 52 birthday this week. The Birthday Block swap that I am in is another whole post. I am waiting for a few more blocks to come in.

Charlotte