GARY'S PRIDE AND JOY!

No, it's not a fast car or fancy boat! It's his backyard full of rosebushes! Every spare minute Gary has, he spends in the backyard. It is finally back to the way it looked before Hurricane Katrina. The bushes really took a hard hit from the storm even though we didn't flood. This is just one of our recent "picks"!! And yes, I still use handmade crochet doilies!

DECISIONS, DECISIONS, DECISIONS!

I have been putting off making a baby quilt for one of DD's best friends who is due in June. I talked to DD last night and had a couple of ideas, one being a "snowball I spy" a

nd the other done with Dick and Jane fabrics. BUT when I got into the sewing room today, I really wanted to make something fast and easy and use my stash, so this is what I came up with in just a couple of hours!! The pattern is from American Patchwork and Quilting (June 2006) and is called "B is for Baby". (That's because the original pattern has a fancy "B" done in script lettering, which I will not do for a boy!!) I will probably do a block "S" applique for the baby's last name! I am hoping to get this quilted soon. Will post again when it is done!

Cheryl's Birthday Block

Wow, I think Cheryl is gonna have one great quilt! She requested the "Int

erwoven Diamond" pattern from Quilter's Cache and wanted the blocks to be done as scrappy as possible with Asian fabrics. She didn't want these 6" blocks to be sewn together so she could work with them as is, instead of a 12" finished block. I sure hope it won't be in her UFO pile for very long. This was first time working with all Asian fabric. Now I have a little stash, which I'm looking forward to adding to. LOL!

MARCH BIRTHDAY BLOCKS And One Late one from February :-(

Ok, I think I will start with the late block! This was for Wendi-the February BD girl. She asked for buildings for her "town" quilt, which, "Nell" was eager to name "Wendiville". And the name has stuck!! This is my take on our local Post Office. I'm still not 100% satisfied with it, but Wendi was happy to have it to add to her town. She has received so many wonderful buildings, a library, mall, and a quilt shop, just to name a few. I can't wait to see the finished quilt!

My first March block was for Lisa. I had made her block months ago. I always have a project to work on while I "watch" TV and this is one of them. Lisa wanted us to think "Hawaiian". So what else would I make but an Hawaiian appliqued pineapple block!




Next on my list was Paula's basket. She wanted it scrappy, on point, and done in Civil War reproduction fabrics and shirtings.

I think I hit the mark with this one. I have never used Civil War repro's before this swap. They are starting to grow on me! Their tones are so deep, I might
start collecting a few to do a scappy sort of quilt. Oh, wait a minute, I promised myself to use up some of my stash before I buy more fabric. I'll let you know what happens!!

The last block I did was for Kristen. I just finished it on Sunday and it's not in the mail yet! She will be getting this a little late, for which I am sorry for. I hope to get back on track with April's blocks! I don't like being late for anything! Kristen requested bright modern fabric using flying geese pattern. When I bought the fabric in July I didn't remember about the "bright" part of her request!! So I'm really hoping with will do!

CATCHING UP

It's been awhile since my last post. As most of you know, we had a death in the family. Gary's niece/goddaughter lost her dear husband of 20 years a few weeks ago after a long battle with cancer.

Rohn was a loving husband and wonderful father to their girls. He will be missed by so many people. I will be making quilts for the girls from some of his clothes that I hope with help to always keep their father close to them.