Blue and Yellow Quilt

Love the colors in this quilt. I'm partial to blues with yellows!

This pretty top is QUILTED with Swirls & Curls Meander (freehand)

Time marches through this bi-polar autumn we're having. Today we're supposed to be in the 50's & then plummet into the 20's for tomorrow's high temperature. See, Mother Nature is feeling a little moody!

How are you all faring with holiday preparations? Are you started yet? Dreading it or looking forward to it?

I'm so excited for the Christmas season. I'm thankful this year I should have the long weekend off after Thanksgiving (still keeping my fingers crossed on this one), so that I can jump start the Christmas preparations with a little decorating, a little baking, and a little shopping.  

Brown Rails Quilt

QUILTED with Swirls & Curls Meander (freehand)

... a quick shot of the backing turned up against the top:

Modern Quilt

This Modern Quilt Top is QUILTED with Swirls & Curls (freehand)

Has anyone else broken out the fans & shorts?? 

In other news, I'm just a mere 7 days away until I leave for Paducah. This is a dream trip come true, and I can't wait to tell you all about it! 

I'm nervous & excited... nervous because I'll be acting as our tour bus hostess, but I'm excited to do so & to meet all the fabulous people going along. Besides which there's the fact that I'm going to PADUCAH!! 

Labyrinth Quilt

This Labyrinth Top; was QUILTED with Swirls & Curls Meander (freehand)

I do believe Spring has finally sprung here in PA! Although we're still experiencing chilly temps in the morning for the dog walk (I kinda liking the brisk walking), the daytime temps are 50's & 60's for this week! Woohoo!! 

In other news, my birthday is in four days, and I leave for the AQS Paducah Quilt Show in fifteen  days!!! 

There are no magnificent b-day plans, but I'm thrilled I get to take the day off & do pretty much whatever I want. That's a true treat for me :) 

(My only requests have been for chocolate cake with peanut butter icing & not to have to cook dinner.)

As for the Paducah trip... anyone immersed in quilting has heard of it, and I've wanted to go for the better part of a decade. I'm going as the tour bus hostess, and I'M SOOOO EXCITED!!!!! 

I'll get to see a part of the country I've never visited & have two days drooling over quilts & various necessary & essential tools and/or notions. (More to come on this later)

Cat & Mouse Quilt

Be sure to scroll down to see how cute this entire quilt is showing cats & mice within a maze. So clever!

Cat & Mouse Top; QUILTED with Swirls & Curls (freehand)

Woodland Animal Quilt

Woodland Animal Top; QUILTED with Swirly Curl Meander (freehand)

Just had to step outside ~ it's raw & miserable out there! Our snowy scene has been replaced by a freezing rain. It feels like a good day to hunker down inside & get busy. I'm thankful on days like today that we homeschool & I work from home :)

Labyrinth Quilt

Labyrinth Top; QUILTED with Swirls & Curls (freehand)

(Sorry, my camera does NOT do this quilt justice!)

Harry Potter Quilt

Harry Potter Top; QUILTED Semi-Custom (hair/coat detail; individual block design; and swirls, curls & flames for the rest of the body)

I was scheduled to work in the quilt shop today but was given a snow day! (There's that giddiness again!) Instead I worked at home on a client quilt & did the usual household/mom stuff one does when one is home... even while one is still trying to get actual, paying, work done... I didn't even venture out to shovel the car out. There's always tomorrow (said by a true procrastinator!)

New Year with a New Look

My blog suffered at the hands of Blogger. 

The very important feature of linking my client quilt list with actual posted pictures has been done away with, and thus far, I've not figured out how to replicate it entirely without creating a whole new website. And I'm not willing to do that yet (but maybe next year.) 

I rebelled & thought ignoring my blog until this issue was "fixed" would be a good idea, and then days turned into weeks, I fretted, consulted trouble-shooting, but still it's not fixed. 

Now a new year is upon me & I feel like I've thrown away such an opportunity to show so many of the beautiful quilts that came my way for Christmas gifts. 

My goal is to just start blogging now & I'll include a "throw-back" quilt here & there as time allows. 

And the first quilt of the year:

Around the World Top; QUILTED with Swirls & Curls Freehand

I wish you a Happy New Year

full of prosperity & love.

Check back frequently as the creative sparks are a-flyin'! Or better yet, subscribe so that you receive updates automatically. Love hearing from you :)

Jumping into June

Just a few of the recents...

An Autumn Cross-stitch Top; QUILTED with Swirly Curl Freehand:

A Princess Top; QUILTED Custom (Freehand & SID)

Purple & Blue Rails Top; QUILTED Bubble Meander Freehand

Gold & Blue Cross-stitch Top; QUILTED with Swirls & Curls Freehand

During non-quilting hours I've been busy wrapping up the end of our homeschool year. The evaluation & portfolio for this year which just ended are done, and the paperwork is compiled to be notarized for the upcoming school year! I'll hand it all in this week & can begin planning the subjects for the upcoming 11th grade year. Hard to believe we're down to two more years of this homeschooling journey!

And though I've spent many hours already out at the pool, I've only ventured partway in once as the water is still too cold. Smokey the lab has gotten many hours of use though!

Talk to you soon!