Some Kitchen Progress and Playing in the Sewing Room

Quick Update: Everything on the first floor of the house is now covered with a fine layer of drywall dust, but we have walls again in the kitchen! Barring any unforeseen circumstances, flooring installation commences today, (only a week late) so keep your fingers crossed.

It hasn't been too bad though, Bob has an outlet in the garage for his welder that accommodates the stove, so we have been able to whip up a few simple meals to mix in with the take out :)

While Bob worked on the kitchen, I changed out the hard drive in our pc and worked on installing software and files all day (it literally took all day). So, in the midst of the craziness this weekend, and while the computer was thinking, I took refuge in front of the sewing machine. Along with finishing the last of my Christmas gifts, and working on a customer quilt, I worked on my Buffalo Ridge blocks for a block exchange.

I'm making three of each block and exchanging with a couple of friends. Now I'm working on a gaggle of Flying Geese to exchange with the blocks.

While sewing, I fired up the embroidery machine and whipped up these little guys. (I was really multitasking!)

They'll end up in a quilt someday. I just think they're fun.

I'm not so sure about Santa with a blond beard, I think I'll have to re-stitch him?

This little guy I put on a kitchen dish towel. I have a bunch of these towels that I picked up on sale, so I may do more of them with different characters, they made me smile.

So today is another computer day, so I'll have to see what else I can get done too :)

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

My New Wool Obsession

Lately I've been getting some knitted projects finished for the holidays. I've been making scarves. I won't say who they are for, just in case they happen to drop by my blog.

The wool for the first one was just beautiful, I loved working with it and seeing how it knitted out with the color changes.

This one is knitted in the same pattern as the first, but with the solid color you see the zig zag pattern much more distinctly.

This one is so soft, made with a blend of Marino wool and cashmere. I'm getting quite a stash of yarns, and I'm finding that half the fun of knitting is experimenting with the different colors and fibers and being thrilled with the outcome.

I get to stay home today, and can hopefully "hide" all day in my sewing room and bring a few sewing projects to completion :)

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

Happy Thanksgiving!

Enjoy this day!
~ Dawn

Yet Another Holiday Inn Quilt

Well this weekend I've had quite an adventure with our computers. First, for no apparent reason, our hard drive died on our desktop PC, then today my Mac laptop decided to have some kind of flashy multicolored psychotic episode. After spending an hour on the phone with a very nice lady in India, we decided that the HP hard drive couldn't be saved and it was in fact under warranty, so they are mailing us a new hard drive. Then, later today a visit to the Apple store did result in a fix for the Mac thank goodness, and it did not have to be institutionalized. But as a result of all of these electronic eccentricities, I've decided to just pop on with this quick little post, and then spend the rest of the evening with needle and thread, and nothing that does any computing what so ever!

So for your viewing pleasure, above is a Patriotic version of Jo Morton's Holiday Inn quilt made by Chrys Rose. I just love Patriotic themed quilts, and this one blew me away. Chrys was kind enough to let me share it with you, along with her great blog called Paper Roses where she does some beautiful paper art. You can view her complete post with the Patriotic Holiday Inn by clicking here.

Enjoy your evening!
~ Dawn

Amazing Jo Morton Progress and Finishes

Our Jo Morton Club met last night and everyone had a treat to show and tell. More Warm Wishes components are coming through ~ the above hand appliqued center is Peggy Schaum's, I love the Crimson and Clover line that she through in.

And the Warm Wishes blocks are coming together. I think these were Denise Erdle's (I've lost track, I know Peggy had her red blocks there too).

This beauty is from Sheri Thompson. It was from Jo's Little Women Club 7 (I think it was called Somerset). Sheri quilted it with a beautiful allover feathery design.

If that was not enough, Denise brought in her finished Holiday Inn quilt from JLW Club 8. It was quilted by Jean McDonald of A Touch of Class Quilting in Topeka KS. We all scrutinized it for ideas on quilting our Holiday Inn tops :)

It was just stunning!

Then we got to enjoy some baskets. This little one was also from JLW Club 8. Dawn Burchet machine quilted this one, and added the feathered wreaths with her embroidery machine.

These basket buttons that Dawn found are just adorable on this little quilt.

Val Sanford shared this beautiful basket quilt that she made from a Fig Tree Quilts pattern and fabric line.

It just made you say, "Ahh" when she opened it up!

And finally Barbara Lanore brought in this adorable Eye Spy baby quilt that she made for a new addition to her family in Ireland. We had fun picking our favorites of all of the different fabrics in this little one :)

Our Jo Club won't meet in December, but will be gearing up to start Club 9 in January!

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

Thimbleberries Club ~ Friends & Quilts

Our Thimbleberrie's Club meeting was last Thursday, and I'm just now getting the pictures uploaded to my computer ~ wow, life is moving too fast, can someone slow the ride down a little?

We had a great turn out for the meeting, lots of friendship, laughter and some beautiful goodies to share. Mitzen brought in her completed October block and I'm pleased to say that most people seem to be keeping up with this block of the month :)

Sheri Thompson of Pieceful Completion Quilting brought in some of the quilts that she has recently quilted on her long arm for us to ooh and ahh over (and we did).

The all over design on this yellow and blue quilt was just gorgeous, but unfortunately it doesn't show up well in my photograph, so you'll have to just take my word for it.

And there was this past Christmas project that we think was a Thimbleberries pattern ~ I haven't had the time to research it in my Thimbleberries library, but it sure has that comfy Thimbleberries feel.

Jan Thomas brought in her House quilt from Thimbleberries Club 2007 just back from the quilter. Many of us in the group still have this one as a PiP (project in progress), so it was a real treat to see it all finished.

And Jan also had her completed Butterfly Kisses Quilt, which was a block of the month that we did last year at our shop. It's so nice to see some of these past shop projects become quilts to be loved and cherished :)

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

Happy Birthday Quilt Finished in the Nick of Time

My hubby's birthday was yesterday and I wanted to have this quilt (that I've been working on forever) all quilted up for him. I quilted on it all week, and got it finished by Friday.

I planned to get it bound on Friday and Saturday night after Bob turned in to bed, but he stayed up watching TV with me each night ~ totally out of character, he's usually an early bird and I'm more of a night owl. So I gave it to him yesterday with the promise to finish the binding this week :)
The quilting doesn't show up much on the front, but on the back it can be seen better.

I used this grey flannel from Jo Morton's Star Gazing flannels collection for the backing to make it a nice cuddly throw. Of course I am finding that every dog hair in our living room clings to it ~ maybe that will make it even warmer??

So yesterday Bob took the day off of work and we spent a wonderful day working on our kitchen, spending more money on the kitchen, and going out to lunch to celebrate another birthday. It was a good day :)

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

A Working Weekend

This is what we worked on this weekend. The wallboard was removed to add more outlets and move the phone and cable hookups.

New lighting is being installed. Next we move on to reinstalling the wall and patching holes. Pretty ugly, but definite progress is being made!

And on the business side of things, today I was featured on the Quilt Patterns 4 Sale Blog! Click here to see Pam's kind words about some of my patterns :) She has a new website that she's started QuiltPatterns4Sale.com, and I'm on it along with some other talented ladies. It made my day!

Enjoy!
~ Dawn

Quilt Shopping and Better Yet ~ A Sale!

The Quiltsy Team on Etsy is having a special team promotion November 13 - 20th and all participating shops are having at least 10% off. Quilted items in my store are 20% off this week! (These are a few of my items).

Shopping these Etsy stores is like enjoying a quilt show. There are beautiful finished quilts, and then some shops have fabric for sale!

This is a great time to pick up some Holiday decor or gifts! Below are links to other talented Quiltsy Team members participating in the sale this week, or you can go to Etsy's home page and search under "Handmade" with the keyword "QuiltsySale". Then sit back and enjoy the eye candy :)

DebiDesigns SewingGranny QuiltingCorner SuzyQ ClubAloha Warmnfuzzies Postcardlady QuiltedHearts5 QuiltSewPieceful UniquelyNancy Whimbrella MiniMade BungalowQuilts QuiltingFrenzy RiverEdgeDesign 3StitchCreations KimsCraftyApple MoranArtandQuilts KarolsVintageArt QuiltedBabe WithHugsnStitches CreationsByNoraMarie SarahsQuiltsnCrafts ForQuiltsSake SieberDesigns GuthDesigns BonbonsandMore PamelaQuilts PawandPurrs lmkQuilts Fabricalacarte FrillsandFluff DragonflyStitches MagpieKnits BerryBlueCreations QuiltsByBarb QuiltPetaler SFOQuilter RedandCompany QuiltingCafe FrostCottage QuiltArtFabric CyndesPlace SewUpScale

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

Friday Finds

Have you heard of Leah Day of Day Style Designs yet? I found her blog called 365 Days of Free Motion Quilting Filler Designs and it's fantastic!

Every day she shares tutorials on how to do a different free motion design on a regular sit down sewing machine using great photos and videos. On the blog you can sign up for her free newsletter with updates on the quilting designs featured for that week.

This link on her website has a cornucopia of quilting articles and video demonstrations, and just her Frequently asked Questions page is worth the cost of admission :) Check it all out, it is well worth the time.

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

Santa's Workshop in Full Swing

I have been busy sewing lately, but unfortunately can't show any of it because I've been finishing up some Christmas gifts, and Santa wouldn't be happy with me if I blew the surprises. But since tonight is Thimbleberries Club, and I'm in the Chirstmas Spirit, I made this little quilted gift bag from a Thimbleberries free pattern...just for fun.

I've had the pattern for some time, and am unfortunately unable to find it again online, but check out the Thimbleberries website for some other great Free project patterns. Lynette Jensen also sends out a great email newsletter called Catching Up with Thimbleberries that you can sign up for on her website :)

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn

Thanks to Their Sacrifice...

Amendment I
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Amendment II
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
Amendment III
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Amendment IV
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Amendment V
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Amendment VI
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defense.
Amendment VII
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
Amendment VIII
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
Amendment IX
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

Amendment 11-27

Say thank you to a Veteran or someone currently serving, and enjoy your freedoms today!

~ Dawn

We Pause this Busy Life for What's Really Important...

This weekend we played in the "weebs". The weather was beautiful, and there was a lot of raking to do...

So outside we went for a little fun in the sun.

Everyone wanted to pitch in, but some of the tools were not quite right.

But Mommy remembered an old kid sized rake we had buried in the shed...

So the real worked commenced.

The whole yard got raked clean,

Major world issues were potentially solved :)

Even the dogs got tuckered out.

Then back inside, Elsie decided that one of my packed up bins of kitchen items looked comfy.

It was time to chill for some, while Lisa made us all grilled cheese for lunch. (That leg standing on the chair in the background was me ~ I got the old wallpaper border completely pulled down, so some work got done inside on the kitchen project too.)

When all of the work was done, it was time for some silliness and some pretend napping. This picture of Elsie illustrates exactly how I felt all weekend having them all around. I hope you are taking some time this Autumn to play a little in the weebs too :)

Enjoy the day!
~ Dawn