Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Time sure flies by . . .

when one is having fun. I can't believe I've not posted since Saturday! I know I've been busy - other than one morning when I wasted time playing computer games. I can't help but get mad at myself when I do that - I really don't want to spend precious time that way!

Sophie's birthday party was delightful. When we saw her just over a week before she was walking fairly confidently. Now she is running. I'm sure she is leading Jeremy and Chelsea on a merry chase these days. She sure doesn't take after her grandma when it comes to having a sweet tooth - she loves vegetables but didn't seem at all interested in eating any of her cake. Much better for her in the long run! She didn't like the birthday hat at all but we managed to snap a few pictures before she ripped it off her head.
One more Crumb Chaos quilt is finished - hooray! This one is a snuggly couch quilt for Fred, who always curls up on the couch under a quilt when he watches TV. Between having a flannel back and soft 100% wool batting it's about as snuggly as they come. I used a new panto to me - Splash by Jodi Beamish. I love how it turned out.

I've not posted Civil War blocks for a few days either, but I've been hard at work on them. Making them is like eating chocolates - I want to do another, and another and another. Since we are doing only simple blocks so far they make up very quickly - 10 to 20 minutes apiece for most of them. It's so much fun pulling from the stash for these! I have sixteen made so far, and am now waiting for Dawn to choose next week's blocks. Today's blocks are Splendid Victory, John Morgan, Abomination of Desolation and Bitter Enemy.
You may have noticed a new ring code on my sidebar - Sew Many Blocks. The Bloggers who are doing the Civil War Diaries blocks have joined this new ring so readers can easily move from blog to blog to see how we are all progressing. It's so much fun to compare fabric choices for the same blocks. There are quite a few quilters who have jumped on this band wagon with us - so make your way around the ring and come along for the ride!

Today I'm hoping to get started on quilting the Crumb Chaos quilt for our bed. I put a bright orange border on this one - Fred thought that was a strange choice but I love it. That color will look great against our navy blue bed skirt - once I get around to make it. I've had the fabric for years - ever since we finished our remodeling. It's about time I got it out of the closet, don't you think? There is enough there for curtains too. Speaking of curtains - I need to get the curtains for Joseph's room finished this next week also.

The huge customer quilt that I need to do - which was delayed a week or two later than I expected - needs to go on the longarm as soon as I finish our bed quilt. The quilter delivered it back to me yesterday afternoon, and I know she's really eager to get it back. It's beautifully pieced of orientals - way out of my comfort zone! - and is one of the biggest quilts I've ever quilted - 113" x 125". It's all custom work, so that will be taking much of my time in the next couple weeks. It's a good thing I'm ahead on my Civil War Diaries blocks!

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Gratitudes:
1. Tiny "Cutie" oranges
2. The first strawberries of the season
3. Upcoming quilting retreats
4. Purple crocuses along our front walk
5. My favorite baggy sweatshirt

16 comments:

Judy said...

CW blocks look fabulous! I've never thought to do so much piecing on the back, but it works perfectly and is a great use of the fabrics left overs! I'll have to try it.

Quilts And Pieces said...

Oh Sophie is so adorable! Aren't these blocks fun! I cut out for some blocks last night and pulled fabric for most of your weeks! I am adicted! And I got my cd's ordered today!

mereth said...

Sophie's probably still wondering what the heck That was all about! Next year will be even better....

The civil war blocks look like fun, but I can't be taking on anything more now. And that big top mightn't even fit on our machine, we've only got a 12' table. It doesn't sound like much fun to me, hope it all goes smoothly for you!

Carol said...

OMG Sophie is so darn cute...Hampton didn't like the birthday hat either and really wasn't too excited about cake...but he sure had a fun day and I can tell Sophie had a wonderful day. Love your CW blocks...they are so fun to do. I got my CWDiary book today so I can get going on some of those blocks now. I've been working on the Love Letters book. Fred's quilt is awesome!

Libby said...

Sounds like a good time was had by all at Sophie's party . . . gosh - one year old and running, too. How time slips past us.

Mary Johnson said...

Wow, you're getting so much done between the civil war blocks and the crumb quilts. I love the mini crumb quilt too.

Kristie said...

You really have been busy! She is so cute!!! My oldest son will be 15 on Sunday and he was never big on sweets, he would cry for "TREES" it took me awhile to figure out what he wanted and one day we were in the grocery store and he pointed at broccoli and said "trees"

Love how you pieced you backing, looks very nice! Great way to use fabrics. I LOVE anything to do witht the Civil War, I so need to buy that book! I would LOVE to do that quilt.
Kristie

Lily Mulholland said...

Boy Patti! Retirement sure sounds busy :)

Anonymous said...

I haven't checked on you in a while. You seem to be "suffering" an embarrassment of riches! Congratulations all 'round.

Greenmare said...

Sophie is adorable! and that couch quilt sounds sooooooooo heavenly!

~Bren~ said...

Your CWDQ blocks are ALL wonderful! I am looking forward to making them!

Sara said...

Patti:
I love visiting your blog frequently--for one thing you have inspired me with your Crumb Chaos" blocks.
I'm tagging you for the 7 wierd/random things about myself list. Hope to learn more about you.

Sara

Shelina said...

Sophie has such cute pink cheeks - adorable! I am so impressed that you are whipping out so many chaos quilts. Each is wonderful.

Marilyn Robertson said...

Your CWDQ blocks look wonderful! I joined in today and ordered my book. Now to be patient until my book arrives!

Lynda said...

The Crumb Chaos is gorgeous, and with a flannel backing will be perfect to snuggle under and reaaly USE, just like quilts should be!

atet said...

I love those crumb block quilts you've been working on as well as the civil war blocks. Lovely. Happy beltated b-day to Miss Sophie and how wonderful that she's going to be a big sister!