It's Been Awhile...

I've been meaning to post for awhile now...I don't know why I neglect my blog so. On second thought, yes I do.  I've always got a lot of things going on. On top of my full time job, each week I squeeze in the gym a few times a week, church, small group, softball practice, softball game,  grandson's football practice and game, etc. In the between time I work on quilting projects...and I think about writing on my blog. Today I chose to blog before I sew, so here it is!

Here are the projects I've finished over the last few  weeks.

This is for sale on my Etsy Shop

This adorable pattern is by Jera at +Quilting In The Rain!

After my base hit last night

There are 2 quilts I MUST make before I fly to Denver on May 22.  One for my niece who is graduating HS and one for a good friend. I've started a scrappy log cabin for my friend and am making another scrappy, inspired by this beauty, for my niece.

Until next time, Happy Quilting!


A Thread for Life
No scripture this time but lyrics to a song by Sidewalk Prophets that resembles my heart at this time.

Keep Making Me

Make me broken

So I can be healed

'Cause I'm so calloused

And now I can't feel

I want to run to You

With heart wide open

Make me broken

Make me empty

So I can be filled

'Cause I'm still holding

Onto my will

And I'm completed

When you are with me

Make me empty

'Til You are my one desire

'Til You are my one true love

'Til You are my breath, my everything

Lord, please keep making me

Make me lonely

So I can be Yours

'Til I want no one

More than You, Lord

'Cause in the darkness

I know You will hold me

Make me lonely

'Til You are my one desire

'Til You are my one true love

'Til You are my breath, my everything

Lord, please keep making,

I know You'll keep making

Lord, please keep making me

Fabric Fast Update and Other News

I started a Fabric Fast on Jan 1, 2014. The rules are I cannot make fabric purchases from Jan 1 - Jun 30, 2014. The idea is to use fabric from the stash I already have, instead of purchasing new fabric with money I shouldn't be spending.  It was a perfect solution for me because I am planning a trip to Canada and New York in May 2014 that I needed to save for.  I'm very proud to say that I have not purchased an inch of fabric AND my trip is just about fully funded! Yay Me!!!

Last week I volunteered and attended the AQG Quilt Show here in Mesa, AZ.  There were so many beautiful quilts. I left very inspired. I made the mistake of test driving a couple of Gammill Vision LongArm Quilting machines. OMG! They are awesome! I could totally do FMQ w/one of these babies!  I left there dreaming about owning one. I say dreaming because the cheapest machine is right around $10,000!!! Fortunately for me I have a marvelous and generous friend who says I can come over and use her longarm whenever I am ready! Yay Me again!!!

some pics from the show...

This was made by a QA Chapter member!!

I bought this pattern

And then to my delight, on Thursday night at our monthly QA meeting,  we had Obsessive Quilter - Ann L. Petersen as our guest speaker.  She won Best in Show at the  AQG!!

OMG her quilts are some of the most STUNNING creations I've ever laid my eyes on!!! It's no wonder she's a multi-award winner!  So her quilts are amazing but what's even more amazing is that they were all quilted on her regular sewing machine, which used to be a Bernina 150 and more recently I believe she said a Bernina 440.  If I was inspired after the quilt show, I was even more so after her trunk show!  And to make this night even sweeter, she was offering 50% off her online class Quilting BIG Projects on a small machine. Needless to say I quick hurried up and enrolled! Spending $20 on a class is much more feasible than $10,000 on a longarm! And I'm not saying I'll never get a longarm, but I'd like to be able to use and benefit from what I have right now.

And speaking of Bernina, they are currently having a Faceplate Face-Off.  By voting for your favorite faceplate you enter for a chance to win a 2015 Bernina 350 special edition machine (msrp $1899)!!! You can vote once a day until April 14th! I've been voting daily!

Now for my quilty news,  yesterday I basted these 2 quilts and started quilting the chevron.

Until next time, Happy Quilting! =)

A Thread for Life

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it. 1 Thes 5:23-24

My First Pattern Test!

One of my favorite things to do online is to check out other quilting blogs. I was reading a blog back in November where a girl was talking about being a pattern tester. What is a pattern tester?A pattern tester is a  person who test patterns!  Well I wanted to be one so I started looking online for peeps who needed one.  There were several options to choose from but I decided to go w/The Quilt Pattern Magazine and signed up to test the Sashing Surprise pattern. I had this cute big print fabric I got at Goodwill that was just sitting there looking cute...and now it had a purpose.

I call this quilt Full Steam Ahoy.  It is pictured in this months issue of The Quilt Pattern Magazine.

This one is for sale in My Etsy Shop!

A Thread for Life

So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

Hebrews 4:16 NLT