Making scrap quilts is like seeing old friends again.

I have a clean trash can right beside my cutting table.  All slices of quilts that aren't good for much are slid off into the scrap trash can.

Now my scrap trash can runneth over and I'm making a friendship braid quilt out of the scraps.

This is a caveman quilt, you know the kind that uses one 5 inch by 2 inch piece of material cut at an angle.  I've chosen light and dark and am weaving my braid while watching American Idol and a variety of Netflex movies.

Almost every piece of material I can account for in a quilt, maybe a scrappy tote, or bag.

Quilters are great recyclers.  And, while I'm concentrating on stash busting this year, it's always nice to use what you have in whatever form it is in.

Don't Show Your Works in Progress To Your Kids!

Quilter family members may or may not know how blessed they are.  I bet it's far and few between amongst their friends that have beautiful quilts to adorn their beds.  I imagine they are even a little envious of our kids and family members that are recipients of the quilt legacy we leave.

Those of you that have experienced ichatting, know that you can talk to your kids in New Mexico or wherever and they see all of you and what is behind you.  I must be careful not to have a quilt on the wall that I have intended for my daughter that I ichat with, in New Mexico.  I am careful to do just that, but, it does not mean that if she's my work in progress wall while ichatting, she will make a request.

Right now I'm working on 3 quilts.  Two of them are baby quilts, one is a scrap friendship braid quilt, the other is an owl quilt.  Don't you know she wants the owl quilt.  I told her she'll have to wait, because I'm so far behind getting this baby quilt out to Nora.  She's 2 now and so it's time.  Plus, my focus is finishing my projects I've started and I've been working on this for 2 years, so it's in the cue.

The Snow Days pattern is also on the wall. It's for me.  My mom bought a pattern for me for my birthday.  It was the same pattern, so she's keeping it and making it herself.  Like mother like daughter.  I hope that's a good thing.  I hope my girls are like me in all the ways that are good and they take all the good things from their dad as well.  Life is pretty hard sometimes.  We get thrown a lot, so why shouldn't I pray they get only the best our genes have to offer.

Happy Birthday to Me!!

Quilters aren't all old.  We sometimes feel that way, though like all walks of life, the comes and goes and stitches that mend us, tends to wear on us.  But, life is pretty good for old quilters.  I'm lucky I didn't have to wait to retire before I learned to make quilts.  I was fortunate to live in Houston, Texas for 11 years.  Those in the quilt world probably all know about the Mecca that is the Houston Quilt Festival.  Make the trip if you haven't already.

The woman in charge of that event is unveiling a similar show in Cincinnati this March.  Yeah!  I hope all things fall into place and I get to go.  My mom and maybe my sister will attend with me, besides my lovely quilt group.

If you live in the Louisville area and would like to learn about quilting and quilt guilds, go to Quilters' Day Out on March 12th.  You can google it.

Better get back to my UFO's WISPS, or whatever term you choose to associate with the humble quilters urge to create, and darn if we just can't keep up!

Worked on 3 UFOs Today...Huzzah!

Yes, it's me the lone quilter at it again.  Hmmm...maybe that's a name for a blog, The Lone Quilter.  I'm not actually alone, with the internet, you can be in touch with about a million of you closest friends.  You know the ones that have a deal for you if you just send them your name and address and bank account.   Or the ones that tell you you've one a million dollars just click here.  Never click-doesn't that go without saying?

Quilters are generally a group of people with some common sense, except when it comes to looking ahead to new projects and moving toward that light when they know darn well, they will be zapped.  Maybe not soon, but, a quilter is gonna buy that next project, even if they have more than a few to finish.

Such is my life in quilting.  And now, I'm resolved to do something about it.  Julie's Little Quilt Shop is now open for me to take things from, so I won't be purchasing any new fabric.  Until I've finished at least 3 projects.  Then maybe I'll reward myself.

I Asked God

This is a beautiful poem sent to me by my would be friend on Facebook.  If she and I were on Facebook we would be friends.  What I mean is, she and I grew up together in a small town in Oklahoma, called Collinsville.  It seems everyone that went to school together is on Facebook and maybe some day I'll join the throngs.  But, for now she is my best friend from my youth.  We knew each other before we went to kindergarten and went through 12 years of school together.  Marriage and moving for the paycheck has kept up physically apart, but, the internet is good for keeping in touch over the expanse of life.

I Asked God

I asked God to take away my habit.
God said, "No.  It is not for me to take away; but, for you to give it up."

I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, "No.  His spirit is whole; his body is only temporary."

I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, "No. Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it isn't granted it is earned."

I asked God to give me happiness.
God said, "No. I give you blessings; happiness is up to you."

I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, "No. Suffering draws you apart from world cares and brings you closer to me."

I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, "No, I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things."

I asked God to help me LOVE others as much as He loves me.
God said, "Ahhh, finally you have the idea."

The Snow, The Snow, The Beautiful Snow-What's It Good For?

Why quilting of course!

Let the quilt marathon begin.  I'm working on 3 quilts at the moment and will give updates throughout my snow day at home.  Beside having snow on the ground it is blasted cold.  With the wind chill it's sub-zero here in Crestwood, Kentucky, USA.  I think I'd better put out some more bird seed to keep

The best thing about the snow when I'm at home, is the reflection from it makes it appear brighter inside, not so gray.

The worst thing is everyone is on the computer at once and a lot of my games I like to play are full.  Oh well, I need to clean around her anyway, YUK!

A New Baby Quilt for My Niece's Baby-Taya

I think I've pointed out my scrap fabric can that is a clean trash can.  I put it beside my cutting table and drop in smallish pieces.

This is a Friendship Braid quilt that I'm making for her using my scraps.

It's a lovely no brainer kind of quilt-a little cutting a little sewing and it goes pretty quickly.

A tip for making a successful scrap quilt out of a pile of fabrics is to sort them first into dusty colors and clear colors.  This is usually a better way to design a quilt, grouping like hues.