The Quilting Ninja

Through quilting I've met some wonderful people.  One of which you will often hear me refer to master, she calls me grass hopper.  If your my age or a lil older you know what that reference means.  Do you remember?  If you do please post the answer in my comments.

I also call her the quilt ninja.  Linda can cut fabric and sew them together faster than anyone I've ever know in my life.  While I sewing along on one block Linda cut out and sewed together step one of Bonnie Hunters "Grand Illusion" mystery quilt.

Here is a picture of her "Broken Dishes" 200 of them to be exact.  Plus the extra 80 half square triangles.  

A month or so ago Donna (another quilt buddy) posted a photo of a scrappy star quilt block that I fell in love with and just had to try.  I got it in my head that I wanted this particular block to become the starting block for a "Round Robin" I will be participating in.  There was one problem I had no idea how to make it the size I needed it to be.  This is where the Master comes in and taught me how to graph and create this desired size I needed.  I just can't believe how easy it was to do this and wow does it ever open up some doors for me.  I so need to make a trip to the office max and get me a table of large graph paper.  Below is a photo of our graph.

Who would have thought it could be that simple and fun even if math can make my head hurt.  LOL!

WOW what a mess I can make!!!  

And here is the results of that mess...  I'm not sure who originally created this block but thank you for the inspiration you gave me.  This block combines two of my favorite quilt style one its scrappy and the other its a star.  I've got a lot to learn and I'm so very fortunate to have a super awsome ninja master to teach me.  Thank you Linda you so rock my friend!

And although I'm no ninja I felt very good with that fact that I not only got my star block done but I also sewed together 280 half square triangles need for step one.  I do need to square them up and cut off the lil dog ears.  I wish I could stay up and sew the blocks together to create my broken dishes blocks but I have to work tomorrow so I best get to bed. 

Oh by the way if your interested in Bonnies mystery quilt go here

Happy Crafting!

tina

Christmas eve tradition

I guess you can tell by now I post thing a Lil late but hey at least I'm getting more constant on blogging. So I'll work on that too.  Most days there is just not enough hours in a day. I'm sure you feel the same way.... most days!

My dad and mom started this year's ago and those if us who are lucky enough to be off work on Christmas Eve try and continue  the family tradition. We start Christmas Eve out at Cracker Barrel for breakfeast.  This year it was Alexandria, Caleb, myself, and Kevin was able to get off work to meet with us.  Some years there is more of us and some just a few but we always try. 

Caleb and Lexy playing a game while I shopped a bit

Me and my mini me... Alexandria!  Isn't she a cutie pie!

My nephew Caleb joined us even though his momma (my sissy) had to work he still went with us!

I bet you know why I'm smiling and where I was heading...

Yep picking up a starbucks before I head home to get our Christmas dinner ready.

will post more about my christmas another day!

Have a crafty evening!

tina

Some defragging going on

I decided today that I get way too many emails and Facebook posts from people, groups, businesses and so on that I decided to Defrag a bit.  Off and on today I've un-subscribed to a ton of emails I get a day that I don't even open half the time I just delete till I get to the good stuff that's interest me.  Also I had a ton of groups and people I don't know and some how friend ed at some point and time but decide to un friend them today.  A lot of times I've had people ask me if I'd seen their post and I've found that I've missed a lot of good stuff from close friends and family because such an such group had someone pissed off and they posted a million times about it.  I get tired of missing out on the events of those close to me because I get so many thing on my page that I don't have the time to scroll though it all.  So I've really cleaned house so to speaking keeping family and close friends and even a few groups of things that really interests me.

OK enough about all that.  I can not be leave that Christmas is here already.  I've truly enjoyed all the party's and good times I've had this year with friends and family and my quilt groups.  

We'll I most likely won't post again until after Christmas and wanted to wish you all a very merry Christmas

Tee

19 years ago "Somewhere"

19 years ago today my bestest buddy asked me to become his wife. I would without a doubt say "yes" again! We went to the Christmas Walk at Metamora and he tried all evening to find the perfect place to ask me. The evening was almost over and it was time for us to meet the kids in our youth group back at the bus. When he asked me to walk down one of the little roads that lead to a little "Old Chapel Church." There was a bench outside with a little Christmas lights around it, a very beautiful Christmas Scene. He got down on his knee and asked me right there to marry him. I started to cry but said yes over and over. Like any couple we had a hard time adjusting to life together, a good relationship is work but its so worth it when you meet and love a person who loves you back and you never doubt that love.

 Our song was a Barbra Streisand song "Somewhere."

 

Life was so busy for us between work and Church and raising "our" daughters (I say "ours" because he loved them just as much as any natural dad loves their children even though they were from my previous marriage) that at times it was hard for us to find time for just us. So we always said that "Somewhere" there would be time for us. After almost 19 years I feel like we've have recently found that time. We've learned to "make" that time, to take off for long rides either by car or on our bikes, long walks on the trail or curled up on the couch watching t.v, work on the house together or the yard or hanging out with our family or friends.  We have recently really begin to enjoy life more then ever with each other.  Life is too short to sit back and wait for your "Somewhere" or sometime to happen.  I really love where our "Somewhere" has gone lately, we spend more time then ever together and I am loving every minute of our life together.

Kevin,  I LOVE YOU MORE!  

Grand Illusion Update

I finally got all of step 1 of Bonnie Hunters quilt cut out.  I've also got a few of the broken dishes blocks done.  Gonna have to play around and adjust my seam allowance a bit they are a lil off.  But will now set that aside and start on step two.  Bonnie suggests for us slower working quilters to do a few of each step at least to keep up with the group so that's what I've had to do.  Just not enough hours in a day.  With work and life going on.  But I do what I can when I can.  If your interested in doing Bonnie's free mystery quilt you can follow here...Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt

Here is my first lil block it's called Broken Dishes.  Can't wait to see what we are going to be doing with all 100 of these, 4 down and 96 to go on this one.

I will store each step on a cookie sheet till I can get back to it.  

I love doing this even if I am slow and not so perfect of a quilter.  But I'm learning and enjoy every step.   Last night I started cutting out step 2 and got 200 2.5 by 4.5 rectangles cut and 110 pink squares this morning.  I've decided since I am out of ink anyway to do step 3 of the 3 she choices she gave us to do.  Plus I love the idea of having the extra half square triangles to play with later.

Happy Quilting!

tina

YEP some more Christmas Decor!

Are you getting tired of my Christmas Decor posts yet?  Hope not cause they gonna keep on coming.  Above is my lil Green tinsel tree with Purple ornaments on it.  Its just a lil 4 foot one I put in the family room so we can have a lil Christmas in that room too.  

Last year me and my sis made these lil glass light boxes.  They are very easy super fun to make.  I may have to make a few more this year if i get time.

 As I drove up last night and saw our tree from the window it warmed my heart and felt to homey and cheery to me.  I love to pull in and see this after working all day!

I'm not sure if you remember but Kevin's work had a pumpkin contest at Halloween and a friend of his had this one made for fun.  I asked Kevin if he thought it was time to get rid of it and he said no and put this santa hat on it. LOL!  Merry Christmas!

Sunday Night we were invited to a ugly sweater party.  We had a blast.   Below is me and Kevin in our snowman get up.  Not sure this past for ugly but it was fun and Kevin was a trooper and put up with me doing this to him.

Our Friend Andy!

And the D.J. for the night Bruce and he made it really fun with his "Name that Tune" game.  

Memories:

I was at work the other day and saw we had some really cute puzzles and it reminded me of my dad and mom sitting up the card table every winter to work on puzzles.  We all took turns finding and placing the peices.  I thought it would be fun for me and Kevin to do one this year.  In memory of them.  So I picked up this one.  It may be after Christmas before we get to it but I'm looking forward to making the time to do this with my sweet hubby!

More On Antiquing

I wanted to share some more about my trip to the Antique mall!  You will be shocked to hear this but I have a love for quilts there its out there.  LOL!  I know you that read this know I love quilts I was just being a silly.  Guess its later then I thought!!!

Ok back to the quilts and antiquing.  I sure saw some really pretty one some in very poor condition but still beautiful to me.


This first one I hope to try to make some day.  Yep it's on my quilt bucket list.  The three below were my favorite ones that I saw.

I saw a lot of neat antiques and hope to go back again soon.  Of course while I was there i saw some of my new love "Flow Blue China"  I also saw some Blue Willow dishes that I hope to add to my set to complete it someday.  

 So I bet by now you are wondering if I bought anything?  OH YEAH Baby some flow blue found it's way home with me.  Three did in fact one of which is hard to come by and that was the ladle.  LOVE THEM!

Well I need to get busy and get some sewing done!  What's on your craft table right now?

Happy Crafting!

tina