Sore Butt.

I have been working hard on staying in my quilting shack this weekend and getting a lot of sewing done. I am working on Bonnie Hunter's latest mystery that we started this weekend. I have completed step one and two and anxiously waiting for the next step. It seems as though I never work at this pace when it is a regular quilt pattern. I am having so much fun! Most of you reading this know what I mean. Family on the other hand, is glad I have something to do that I like so much. They are even the recipient of a handy work once in a while.

The instructions are really well done, and easy to follow.

This is step one: 192 two patches, and 104 HST(half square triangles).
This is step two: Take those HST and make these thingies. There are 4 blocks here. I liked how they looked in this arrangement.


While waiting for the next installment I decided to cut 2 inch squares to use as a leader/ender project.
I had company while I sewed and watched the trilogy of Pirates of the Caribbean. The DC(Dear Children) came and went but mostly they entertained themselves playing Monopoly.....Together. The game we have has been trampled and pieces lost. For their sisters birthday they pooled their money and wanted to get her a new game. Do you know how many editions on Monopoly they have now? Well we got this one. No railroads, but airports. Property costs millions.

We celebrated Alea's birthday at the Black Oak Casino and Family Fun Center(Bowling alley arcade). Her Birthday is not until the 4th of December but I will be out of town at a continuing education requirement. Don't feel too sorry for me. I get to go San Francisco and spend a weekend with 2 very good friends. The days will be spent in a hotel conference room with excellent food and done at 5.

Alea is 2nd from the left.

Crumb Love

My chat group has been talking about crumb blocks and I thought I would give them a try. I am in love! They are so fun to make while mindless sewing. These crumbs are from shirts used making my cactus patch quilt which I am almost done with.
Each year my DSIL makes a family calendar. Here are the photos requested. DH and DS#2 have birthdays in June. One of DH and I to celebrate our anniversary in may. I was just wondering if a casual photo at the pizza parlor over a pitcher of beer is acceptable.

This or That?

Bonnie Hunter is at it again. She is going to start another mystery quilt the day after Thanksgiving. It is called Carolina Christmas. I have already made the announcement to DH and the DC that I will be sewing that day. He put it on our calendar.

Bonnie's colors suggestions are red and green, cream and gold for Christmas. I can't decide if I want to go with those or Blue and gold, cream and deep red/brown. Either would be fine. I don't have a red and green quilt yet so it might be the right time. However I am drawn to blue like the sea and sky. Which DH reminded me I recently finished this quilt with those colors in it.

So Which should it be? This one....or...

This one?
Well which ever one I decide on I would like to finish the cactus patch (Bonnie Hunter again) first.

Getting Caught Up

I have been spending bits of time in my quilt shack. I have managed to put my blocks together of Bonnie Hunter's Cactus Patch. This pattern is in her book Scraps & Shirttails. It is going to go on my bed when completed. I think a nice wall of periwinkle or maybe burnt orange will be the right accent.

Down Under

I recently went on a trip. Two friends and I went to Sydney Australia. Yea, that's right, I left the hubby and kids behind. A friend got an invitation to teach at the Chiropractic Pediatric Diplomat Program in Sydney and invited me and another friend to go along. A 15 hour flight and 4 nights stay.

This is me at the beautiful and unique Sydney Opera Hall. Shaped like sails. Did you know that if you took apart the pieces of the building you could put them back together as a perfect sphere.
Looking left from here you see the Sydney Harbor Bridge. We went on a twilight bridge climb and saw the harbor at sunset. WOW that was fantastic.
This is not us but it could have been. There were only 4 of us. It was spectacular.



This is Darling Harbor where we took a Ferry to Manly Beach
We took a bus trip around Sydney and saw the sites. This is Bondi beach.
We spent some time in Paddy's market.
Shopping.
The Queen Victoria Building for more shopping. Great floor, hu?

We tried to get to a quilting shop but did not have the transportation. There was a Lindcraft in the shopping mall but nothing special in the way of Australian fabric.
It was a great and a super opportunity to see a part of the world I may never had the chance.