Update on Maggie Mae's

Well I moved the quilt from the chair to the sofa and bam I got some photo's. Just had to share a couple. I think she's just adorable but then I'm prejudice.

Introducing " The Maggies"

A while back I think it was late summer I finished up a quilt kit that I had that was called Maggie Mae by Me and My Sister Designs. It's a nice bright quilt but I have to admit I made it because of it's name. I love the name Maggie Mae and I knew I had to have the quilt. As part of a present to me Jen quilts so many tops for me each year. I got it from her last week and sat down and finished off the binding.

As most of you know my puppies name is also Maggie Mae. Today I decided to take some scraps from the quilt and make her a patched works bandana. It turned out really cute. My next thought was to put the quilt on the chair, position the dog with her bandana on the chair and take a picture of all three Maggies. Not so much. I'd get her all set quickly step back and bammm off the chair she'd go. I think this photo shoot may have to be another day and with help. This is as close as I got. Check out the quilt on the chair you can atleast see her tail in the picture.

Use your imaginations and picture the dog sitting on the quilt, I tried......

Another block and the girls in my life.

I had a great weekend and I just wanted to share a few pictures as to the goings on in my world. On Friday night after dinner with some great quilting friends, Jen dropped me at home and came in to say hello to her little sister Maggie. Oh my Maggie was so thrilled to see her. She is such a happy puppie. They played for a couple of hours and most of the time it looked like Maggie was kicking Jen's butt.

Saturday night Jen and Holly came over to play with Miss Maggie. Again Maggie was thrilled to be able to play with her happy family. Maggie just always looks up to Holly and looks like she just worships the ground she walks on. A little snarling here and there but in a playful sort of way.

While the girls were playing Jen and I were watching the Olympics and picking out the next round of blocks for the barn block series. I got to pick out a bunch of blocks and I'm not sure in what order they are going to be in. One of my all time favorite quilt blocks is the BEARS PAW. I have always loved that block and never made it until now. I'm so happy with my results and now I can't wait to make another one. At some point they will be in the barn series.

Wisconsin Barn Blocks

I've joined up with a group of quilters who are doing the Wisconsin Barn Blocks that are put out weekly by my daughter Jen, Crea8tive Quilter. She's been going around and finding the Wisconsin barns and photographing them and then working them up in EQ. So far all the ones that I've done are paper pieced and I was a little afraid of it but not anymore. So here are my blocks that we've made so far. Please excuse my wonky looking design wall. I don't have room for one so I took a piece of batting and draped it over a quilt hanging in my livingroom. They don't hang the best and in places you can see the quilt behind them but it's that or the floor.

The top block is block 5 Churn Dash

The second block is block 6 Wild Goose Chase

The third block is block 4 Spinning Spools

The fourth block is block 3 Milky Way

The fifth block is block 2 Square in a Square

And last but not least is block 1 Log Cabin.

Like I said I've had fun doing these and look forward to each Wednesday when the next block comes out.

Valentine's Day Hexagon Table Runner

I can't believe that I finally got this runner finished in time for Valentine's Day. I got the kit as a Christmas gift and it's taken me this long to finish it. I can finally check this off of my list. Once they were all made then it was time to sew them all together. That was a job in itself. Then I wasn't sure what to do with them to finish them off so I laid the whole design on a piece of white on white and hand stitched the edges down. Next I was off to the machine to stitch a quarter of an inch on the inside of every couple of hexagons. It's not quite what I thought it would be but I am happy that it's done.

If you feed it she will grow.

It's amazing what a little love, food and water will do to a puppy. Maggie is now just shy of 4 months old and how the time is flying. Every day is a new adventure. I had this feeder that happened to be Murphy's. It's great because it hold a bag of dog food. When I first got Maggie she wasn't anywhere near as tall as the feeder. Well, that changed and this week she is now using the feeder and is extremely proud of herself that she can walk right up to it and eat.

She's sporting a great looking bandana that her sister Jen made for her for Valentine's Day. I have no idea what size she's going to end up being but that's half the fun. The other half is watching her grow and develope. This week she's really found her voice and we're working on how you don't need to be constantly barking at me I'm here, I see you. It looks like I have a great little watch dog here. The girl hears everything and misses nothing. She's letting the neighbors know that she's here and will protect all of us even if sometimes she has to stand behind me and bark.

The top picture shows her on what I've titled the Princess and the Pea. I keep stacking up quilts on the end of the couch and she just keeps climbing up no matter how high and that's her favorite napping spot.

Sylvia's Bridal Sampler, Month 1

I've been very busy sewing lately and always forgetting to blog about it. Anyway, a while back I decided to join a group at our local quilt shop The Patched Works, in a block of the month. Now this isn't just any ordinary BOM, this one is going to run for 3 years. We're doing the Sylvia's Bridal Sampler . The first Wednesday of each month you go in and they demonstrate and talk about the 4 blocks that you will make for the month. You get a challenge fat quarter that you can either use or not in your blocks and the patterns for your 4 blocks. I had been digging in my stash since I decided I didn't want to have to buy new fabric. I've pulled together alot of blues and yellows that I'll be using. This months challenge fabric was green. All but 1 of this months blocks were paper pieced. I have to admit I'm really enjoying that paper piecing of these blocks. I love the precision it give your blocks. So here is what I've accomplished for my first month.

Block 1 - Nine Patch (E1)

Block 4- Square and Star (D-5)

Block 3- Lady of the Lake (C-5)
Block 2- Bright Hopes (A-3)
I'm sorry they are out of order but I've been having a terrible time this morning with pictures. Now my question of the day. Since these are going to be sitting in a box for the next three years do I leave the paper on the back or is it better to remove it now?