T-Shirt Quilt

Starting to sew the t-shirts together. This is one of my favorite parts of the process.  The hard part (designing) is complete and you can start to see it come together.

A little hard to see but you get the picture.

An Almost Completed Project

Started this rag quilt a few months ago.  Feels good to have it almost done.

Next up on the docket, a tshirt quilt for one of the girls at work.

These are really fun to make!

Happy Spring

I know you've all been through the lack of motivation stage.  Mine has hit me pretty hard.  Work has been top of mind lately - mainly looking for a new job.  I'm still looking but things have settled somewhat and sewing and blogging relax me so here I am!

My amaryllis is in bloom -

all of them.  So excited!

My mom and dad stopped for a visit on their way to ClauseFest 2014 in Gatlinburg.  This is her birthday dinner at one of my favorite restaurants - Clarks Fish Camp.  

I'm working on some more projects and will have something to show you next week.  Until then, have a wonderful Easter and great weekend everyone!

Busy, Busy, Busy

Wow, it's been a whirlwind few months.  We've been doing a lot of this (I'm on the right with my Jaguars peeps):

Even though it was a busy time, I managed to get some sewing/embroidery done for gifts this year.

These little mug rugs from Five Star Fonts were easy and quick and people loved them.

I'm looking forward to another short week next week for my birthday and New Year's.   I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe New Year and Happy 2014!

Talk to you later,

Tracey 

Cover Colorado: News from the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum

Passing on this link from Bonnie Hunter's blog about the Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum collecting quilts for the flood victims.  Winter is coming, if you can help, please do.

T.

Finished!

The commissioned baby quilt is finally finished.  I absolutely love how it turned out and I hope the new mom and dad love it as well.  I'm dropping it off tomorrow but had to get some pictures first.

Here's a full shot:

And, the back:

Thanks to my wonderful husband for holding it for me.

I'm not getting a lot done lately.  I've been battling bronchitis again, but thankfully, not as bad as last year!  The new job is going well.  I'm finally settling in and my probation is up the first of October so I'm pretty happy about that.

Had happy hour with my Jaguars peeps on Thursday.  Love these girls!

and got to celebrate my friend, Carolyn's, retirement (she's on the right, my friend, Ginny, is on the left).  So happy for her and just a little jealous.  We've been friends since we worked together back in the early '90s.  Goofy girls!

Ok, more later!

T.

A Little Halloween

For some reason, Labor Day always triggers a Fall state of mind.  At this point, I really feel like decorating for Halloween!  This is a cute 10 minute table runner kit I bought last weekend at the retreat.  There are several sites online for making it, but it's incredibly easy (just google 10 minute table runner).

Happy Early Halloween - Oh, and Happy Labor Day!

Baby Signature Quilt

It's been a busy month.  Started a new job and I'm now learning all about board and committee meetings, not to mention a whole new world of the hospital system.  Seems so far from my football world - but everyone has been very nice and easy to work with.

Cinnamon's had a Fall quilt retreat this weekend and I was able to get this little baby (ha! get it?) finished.  It's a commission quilt for one of our former ROAR members, Laurie.  She's having a little boy.  I really love how it turned out.  Now to get the backing and have it quilted.

More later!

Tracey

Quilting Videos

I don't know about you but I learn better from videos.  While I was searching the internet today for a binding tutorial, I found this great YouTube channel from The Crafty Gemini.  Vanessa has a lot of videos ranging from quilting to cooking to gardening.   She also has a blog.

I was very impressed with her presence on camera.  Some quilting videos leave a LOT to be desired both in quality and teaching.  However, she was very professional and I could see exactly what she was doing.  I ended up watching both the binding tutorial as well as how to make a mini ironing board.

Ok, I'm off to finish the binding on a quilt or maybe even make a mini ironing board.  ;-)

More later,

Tracey

A Quilt Finish

I got this one done a little while ago but needed to take pictures.  I used a Dilly Dally Jelly Roll by Me and My Sister Designs.

And the back:

I love making this pattern.  It's known as the Jelly Roll Race quilt.  It's so easy and quick and makes a great quilt to give as a gift.

More later,

Tracey

A Day For Good-Bye

My last day at the Jaguars:

My friends (Alisa, Teresa and Kitty) ordered a beautiful basket for me.  I love those girls!

The staff presented this helmet to me that they had all signed.  I will treasure it.

I only cried a little (like every time I said good-bye to someone).  :-)

Anyway, on to bigger and better things.

Quilt pics coming this weekend, I promise.

Beautiful Idyllwild

We just returned from Idyllwild, CA and helping our friends build a new deck on their mountain house.

The beginning:

The almost finished product.

The very tired but proud, builders:

We were just there to help with the framing.  The rest will be done after we leave.  Can't wait to see the finished product.  It should also be noted that this house sits at an elevation of 6,000 ft.  The air was pretty thin.

In between the construction, our friend, Rick and I took a little hike to the back of their property.  This is what they call a Technical Hill:

It's hard to tell from the pictures, but this is basically straight up.

It was worth it, though:

And one more picture.  The house with the deck:

Thank you Rick and Peggy for the hospitality and friendship!  Let's do it again next year - oh, except without the deck building.  :-)

Embroidery - Let's Try This Again

Ahhh, that's better!  Right side up.

I made this for my friend, Teresa.  She's part of the local Red Hatter group. 

Had one of my good-bye lunches today with some of the girls that are going on vacation and won't be here when I leave.  Lots of fun but a  little sad as well.  But change is good!

More later,

Tracey

Embroidery

I was so happy at the way this was turning out - until I realized - yes, I have the koozie upside down.  Ugh!!  It was my first time using the koozies and I think they stitch out beautifully.  Well, if the design is right side up that is!  You can find them here.  I think I paid $1.09.  This one is for a water bottle.

It has been a crazy month.  After 11 years with the Jaguars I'm leaving to take a job with the Baptist Health Foundation here in town.  I'm very excited about this opportunity but very sad about leaving my team.  However, when opportunity knocks, you have to answer.

More later.  I actually got another quilt done can you believe it?

Let Us Never Forget

A New Baby Rag Quilt

I finally dug myself out from under the paperwork from the Draft and travel for 50 guys.  I finished this just in time for my friend, Nikki.  She's having a C-Section tomorrow.

I love this fabric!  It's called Oink-A-Doodl-Moo from Moda.  Perfect for a little boy don't you think?

A Good Weekend

My husband and I went to a wedding in Flowery Branch, GA this weekend.  On our way back to Jacksonville yesterday we decided to stop here:

 

 

It's a beautiful place and the Savannah Ogeechee Canal Society has done a wonderful job. 

My husband's Great, Great, Great (we think that's how far back he goes) Grandfather was one of the lead engineers on this project.  It was cool to think that 185 years ago, he walked on this same land.  Can you imagine a barge being pulled through this?  This is Lock No. 5.

 

Ogeechee River

 

 

I think I'm going to have him print these out for me to hang.  It's so peaceful. 

 

If you live near there, seriously, go visit. 

Bronchitis - Blech!

Just a few days after my last post, I came down with a bad case of bronchitis.  I'm on Day 11 and finally starting to feel better - but boy, did it kick my butt!

I did manage to get the binding on this quilt:

This was the quilt I started at the Holly Jolly retreat in November.  I really like how it came out and even went a little out of my comfort zone and did a two tone border and scrappy binding.  I'll try and have a couple more pictures when I can get outside.

Hasn't this Spring been something?  Here in Florida we got down to 38 last night!  My friend is here with her family from Illniois on Spring Break.  I feel really bad that the weather is so chilly.  Although, I guess it beats the snowstorm in the midwest!

That's about all I have for now. More later!

Tracey

A Day With Eleanor

I was fortunate to be able to take a class with Eleanor Burns on Friday.  

We made this awesome little table runner - Oriental Fan.

She's a great teacher and we had such a fun day.  Most of us were able to finish our table runner tops in a day!

Eleanor was very accommodating to everyone.  She walked around the room saying hello, signing autographs and at the end of class she took pictures with everyone.

Hope everyone had a great weekend!  Talk to you soon.

Tracey

Hopscotch Quilt - Done!

UPDATE:  Just looked back at my previous post on this quilt and realized I had named it Octothorpe because that is the name of the # symbol. 

Well, this only took me 2 years!

I finished the binding on Monday.  Not sure where this is going yet. 

The original quilt didn't have borders, but I like the size with them.