Bonnie Hunter's Easy Street Step 2

I pressed  my four patches yesterday evening in time for step 2 this morning.  It's purple day and I am in the process of cutting out the flying geese blocks. I have had my Easy angle and companion ruler for years but I am ashamed to say I have never used them.  I watched Bonnie's video this morning.  Bonnie did a very good job in explaining these two rulers.  It just so happens I had the fabric colors in my stash except for the gray.  I know I could have substituted the gray for something else, but I have never used gray and wanted to try it. So off I go to finish cutting and sew the flying geese together.

superquilter

Get Ready--Go

Well Bonnie has started her mystery quilt on Quiltville.  I am still working on the 4 patches and tried the linky thing.  My only problem is my camera broke and I may have to borrow my son's for a while.  I know I will use his on my cruise the end of January.  I am excited about doing this mystery and it should be lots of fun. So stay tuned I may get some pictures done. 

superquilter

Once Again

Once again it has been quite a while since I last posted.  The last time was the end of July and August, September, October went somewhere.  Now Thanksgiving has come and gone.  Not sure where it all went.  I have been making quilts and trying to get projects done. I made my son and daughter-in-law a round Christmas topper for their round dining room table and a Christmas wall hanging. Went on a quilt retreat in August and a machine embroidery retreat in October.  I have decided that in 2013 will be my year for scrappy quilts and quilt my quilt tops already on my sewing machine. I have been following Bonnie Hunter from quiltville.com.  I am going to follow her mystery quilt she just started.  She is getting me inspired working with scraps.  Like most quilters I have a lot of projects going, so off I go to the sewing room.

      superquilter
      where quilting is my therapy

Venturing out

This morning I drove myself to church.  For me, it's 15 miles one-way.  I have been out of church since my knee went out on June 1st.  It felt so good to get out and especially going to church.  Now I feel I am on my way to recovery.  It was hard to sit and when I got up my knee was a little stiff.  But I loved being there even when I could not get up and down.  That will come in time.  So I thank God for my blessings and watching over me.

Superquilter

Progress

My 5th week of physical therapy brought more progress with me driving my car for the 1st time since my knee surgery.  My PT, Caleb, was excited about it.  It gave me a feeling of being independent again. A couple of exercises were added to my exercise routine.  So I say to all this "onward"  to more progress.

Superquilter

Knee Surgery

It is now one month since my knee replacement.  It has not been easy, but progress is being made.  I will be starting my 5th week of physical therapy on Monday.  The therapists are very good and manage to get my knee moving (of course there is pain).  I have progressed from the walker to the cane.  I have slept more than I ever have and I find my focus is not there to work on my quilts.  However, I will be going on the Renegade Quilter's Retreat in a couple of weeks.  Maybe the retreat is what I need to get motivated again.  So I wish all happy quilting and enjoy your summer.

superquilter

It's Been Awhile

It's been a while since I last posted.  I am due to have a total knee replacement on Tuesday.  My hips and knees will then be totally replaced.  I look forward to getting it over with and on to physical therapy.  Then I can concentrate on making my quilts.  I also have places to go, such as a retreat in August and one in October.  The big thing is a cruise in January with 3 of my best friends.  So I have a lot of work to do to get ready for my future plans.  I have not stopped quilting, just slowed down a lot.  I have finished a fabric challenge due at the August Retreat.  I wanted to get it done, so I could concentrate on my physical therapy. Happy quilting everyone.

superquilter

Winter Quilt Wall Hanging

It was one year ago this past October, when my friends and I had an embroidery retreat. It was at the same place we hold our quilt retreats. We all love Camp Canyon and it is an easy hour's drive from home. We did the same project. I finally got my pieced together yesterday. At first I was going to make it into a banner, but decided I wanted to finish it, so it became a wall hanging. One of my friends helped me choose the sashing and border. That fabric adds to the color of the blocks. I really like and I hope others will enjoy looking at it.

Renegade's Retreat Weekend

The Renegade Quilters are leaving tomorrow for a weekend full of quilting,eating and very little sleeping. We have 8 gals going and each will bring a kit with them. Every one's kit is to be put in the same looking brown bag. And we will pick a bag and that is the kit you will be working on. We may swap bags after all kits are drawn. It's going to be such fun. I always look forward to our retreats. So I am getting some laundry done and loading up the car tonight. It is supposed to rain while we are there, but who cares. That's not going to stop us from having fun.

the Joys Of My Life

This free photo slideshow made with Smilebox

I have not posted in a while so I thought would use "Smilebox" to help me.  I made a collage of my "Joys In Life".  The collage should bring up each picture larger to view it easier.  The Joys In My Life also refers to my 2 year old boxer and her name is (guess what it is)--Joy.  The orchid came from my son a few years and it just blooms  bigger and better each time.  And last my gadget holder I made.  A friend taught it to us at our quilt guild..  I just love it.

Bobbin Lace And Orchid

It's a very windy day here in Oklahoma, in fact too much as far as I am concerned.  It did get in the high 60 degrees though and I like it.  I have finish my outside edge of my bobbin lace Easter egg.  It's pictured here:

Also pictured is my orchid blooming again.  My son, Clyle, gave it to me about 3 years ago.  I guess it likes my kitchen window that faces west.  And to be sure, I love it.  I have really enjoyed it.

Bobbin Lace

I have picked up another hobby (like I really needed another hobby) LOL.  Anyway, I  have become interested in working bobbin lace.  Mind you, I am very much a beginner and like my other hobbies, it takes practice, practice.  It started when four of us went to the Paducah Quilt Show last April.  One friend, Vickie, took us to a lace show while we were there.  Well, to make a long story short, the four of us bought the supplies we needed to start our new hobby.  But, when we got home we had to find someone locally to teach us.  We did and we have also used each other in our process of learning.  I am currently working on an Easter egg (shown here)  and I am not sure if I am doing it right.  My pattern stitches are consistent.  The main thing is I enjoy it.  It can be frustrating at times because most of the time we only have the pattern with no instructions on which stitch to do.  I am going to get there though and not give up.    I am not giving up my quilting (that is my first love), just trying to expand some new learning techniques.

National Lace Day

Here are a couple of pictures of Vickie, myself and Carol at the National Lace Day event held in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. It was not planned what we were wearing, it just happened that way. So we named ourselves the two pumpkins and the vine. We had a great time. Shopped some and participated in some demos such as shuttle tatting, paper bobbins for bobbin lace and how to make paper beads. Oh yeah, did I mention we went there to brush up on our bobbin lace. Did not get quite there. We were too busy learning everything else. After all we needed more hobbies. We already are quilters,knitters,crochet, beading, bobbin lace, machine embroidery. I guess we are working on our bucket list. We still have thread painting to do and I am sure we will find other things to learn and do. Inside joke--"what about it" and "hey, why are my covers all on your side of the bed and on the floor too" We have so much fun.

Renegade Quilter's Fabric Challenge

Last weekend my small quilters group had a retreat. Nine of us attended where we pieced 2 twin quilts and one queen size for the lodge. It was work but we managed to get done and now they are off to the longarm quilters. At our last retreat we were given fabric as a challenge. We do this each time and the ladies come up with some creative ideas. I came up with "Queenie" my soft sculptured doll. Her clothes are the fabric we were to use. Now I am thinking about what to do with our next fabric challenge. I have to have it done by next March which gives me plenty of time or not. I did not get "Queenie" done until 2 weeks before our retreat date. Decisions, decisions.