Apple core table topper

Forgot to post a picture of the finished Apple coretable topper.
Now the cutting out of the shapes hadn't been a problem at all and the piecing isn't really a problem either, but I really do not like pinning and with the concave and convex shapes there's no way around pinning the gejeebers out of the pieces in order for them to fit properly. So the topper is done, I can say been there, done that and I'll move on to more enjoyable projects.
I have so many other quilts in waiting that I can't see myself making a lap size or larger quilt with the apple core shape.
BTW, below is a picture of how I had to pin one of the Dj blocks and for the Apple Core pieces you would pin each piece in a similar way.

Dear Jane progress

This week I finished my 61st block on my DJ journey. I've also finally chosen the fabric I want to use as the sashing and for the unpieced triangle units in the border - a dark blue Moda Marble.
You can take a look below at the blocks that are finished so far.



The fabric below the blocks is what I'm planing on using as the sashing fabric.

Below are my most recent block finishes:

This is where I check off my blocks. Once as numbered and then as pictured in the layout.

Hamster time

Yesterday we were gifted two female Hamsters with cages from one of the members of the Freecycle group I run (Glendale AZ Freecycle). The kids absolutely love them, especially Michelle, who had been asking me for a hamster for the longest time.

Can you spot the difference between the two?
The one to the left is a Chinese dwarf (longer tail) and the one to the right is a Siberian dwarf.

How's Your Spelling?

Your Spelling is Perfect

You got 10/10 correct. Your spelling is excellent. You also have a great memory and eye for detail.

How's" Your Spelling?

Thank you for brightening my day!

Today I was teaching a hand quilting class at Bearly Stitchin, and three of my quilting friends from Trading Fabrics made a special trip to visit me briefly for my birthday. Unfortunately I wasn't able to do lunch with them, but it was still great to see and meet with all of them.

From left to right it's Fran, Susan, me and Moira.
The quilt in the background is my Shaded 4-patch quilt I'm teaching at Bearly Stitchin.

The mail brought two more beautiful cards, that are displayed on my livingroom wall-unit.
The card on the left is a hand painted card/ornament from Gail and the one on the right came all the way from Germany from Inge. Unfortunately the pictures don't show the sparkly part on each of the cards.

I've also gotten a bunch of birthday greetings by e-mail. I want to thank all of you for making my birthday brighter! The last few days I've been hitting a pretty bad low emotionally, but the moral support and prayers of so many of you are helping me to keep it together and not totally loose it. I'm doing better now, but I'll take the advise of my friends to seek professional help for depression. Thank you for being so honest with me - you know who you are! ;o)

Sunday doings

Today I finished the BOW of the Dear Jane list, I-13 Sweet Harmony. I edited the pattern slightly, but then it's my quilt, so I'm allowed to use creative freedom. lol
With this block I'm up to 56 blocks now and total 877 pieces.









This is the second postcard I received from the Stashbuster swap I'm in.
Pat L. sent this cute card to me. Thank you Pat.


Here's a Bucilla ornament kit I'm also working on. Patriotic felt ornaments. So far I've cut some of the pieces out and bagged them individually. I hope to have all ornaments done before Christmas.

So much for today. Hope you all had a great weekend!

More quilty things

On Monday, I was able to meet up with Barbara, one of my WASIQ friends from Washington State. We had lunch at the Olive Garden and then headed to Sun Valley Quilts (where I teach a Hawaiian applique and hand quilting class) to do a little shopping. I think we both behaved pretty well in the shop and didn't spend too much money. I did purchase someAngelina Fiber to use on some fabric postcards and a pattern, but no fabric for me this time around, because I signed up for a no-buy challenge for fabric on Stashbuster and so far I'm not having problems sticking to the rules. Barbara also brought the "green monster"as she calls it (a queen size Hawaiian quilt) to show me, which is fabulous! Unfortunately I didn't take a picture of it.
Here are some more of the quilted postcards I made for a swap and for friends. I didn't take pictures of all the postcards I made, because I was in a rush to get all of the cards ready to mail on Tuesday.

This one has red beads attached, but I don't think the picture shows it very well.

I'm also making progress on my Dear Jane. The BOW on the Dear Jane list really helps to keep me motivated to make at least one block per week. For last Sunday's deadline I finished two alternate blocks, because I had previously finished the BOW for that week.

Tomorrow I'll have to finish this week's BOW to stay on track. Finishing the swaps and traveling put me a little behind on getting this weeks block done, but tomorrow's another day and I've scheduled time in for sewing, so all is good.

These are the two blocks I made for last week's BOW.

Then I also made this little reversable table topper from 12"orphan blocks. This might turn into a small Christmas gift for Michelle's teacher.

Secret Santa's Christmas Stocking

Wednesday I finished the Christmas stocking for a Secret Santa exchange I signed up for on WASIQ. I freehanded the pattern, because the stocking has to be big enough, so all the goodies fit inside it. The picture doesn't show the stocking outline I drew for the pattern too well, but this is how I checked the size of the seminole center I used.

All the fabrics I used for the stocking are batiks and I think it turned out pretty well, if I might say so myself. lol

I hope the recipient will like it and the contents that all fit in the stocking.

The stocking will be mailed out on Monday.

Happy Thanksgiving!

OK, this post is two days late, but I went with the kids and pets to my inlaws in CA for Thanksgiving, which also happened to be our anniversary, so below are some pictures I took while we were there.

I hope you all had a happy Thanksgiving and were able to spend it with people you love and care about!

Natalie and Michelle were crafting. Kathy and Brandon were working on some foam Christmas trees and wreaths.
My father in-law.
My BIL, Anthony.

And my MIL.

Michelle and Aaron.

Happy Birthday Hubby!

Although you're half way around the world from us, our hearts and thoughts are with you on your birthday! Since you have tomorrow already, I'm posting this today, so my birthday wish to you is on time. Haha!

Love you!

I've got mail!

While loading up pictures for today's post, a DHL van pulled up in front of our house to deliver the beautiful roses from my hubby in Korea, for our 16th anniversary. Love you Honey!

I've been getting quite a bit of mail the last few days, so I'll share some of it with you below.

Yesterday was really weird! DH said he was going to send some packages for Christmas, so I thought one of his packages had already arrived when I opened up the lock to retrieve my package. When I pulled it out, I was wondering, why was the package was addressed to him and the next thought - hey, that's my handwriting. With me having just mailed a package of that size to him last week a little bit of panic set in and I was thinking, did I put our home address on the package in a haze? Nah! And then it hit me, looking at the date the package was stamped - this was the missing package I had sent while I was in Germany with the kids this summer to surprise my dad for his birthday. Wanna know the date it was sent? June 18th! Yeah! It finally made it, even if it took 5 months! LOL

Then I've also received a beautiful heart block for my dad's passing last month and a prepared kitty applique for Michelle for the death of her cat Mittens from Bert from WASIQ.

Since the cards and blocks have come in, I've taken them out frequently to read over the heartfelt messages and look at the blocks. Words can not describe how much those mean to me.

Here are the blocks I've gotten to this date:

This hand appliqued block and fabric is from Molly N.

Two hand appliqued blocks from Robin M. The block to the left is for my dad and the kitty/heart block is for Michelle.

This block is from Natishia (Tish) Ch.

Janice G.

Bert K.

Barbara Sh.

Julie B.

Sue B.

Larrianne S.

Thank you so much ladies!

For the Christmas card exchanges I signed up for, I've received one of two cards from the Stashbuster exchange from Dorothy W. and one card from the Trading Fabrics group from Moira M. Aren't those cards great?!

Last but not least, there was another package waiting for us, but the key for that specific box did not open the door, so I called the PO to find out how to get the package. Here I'm thinking, they have a general key and they open up the entire front to load the mail into all of the boxes so it really shouldn't be a big deal if they can get a hold of the delivery guy to come back and open up the unit, but the lady said they'll have to send a locksmith out to open the box, because if my key doesn't open it, they'll have to switch out the locks??? Still waiting on a call back from somebody/anybody, but so far nothing. If I get the package out today, I'll post about it later, if not, a post will unfortunately have to wait till I'm back from CA, because I'll be driving with the kids and pets to my inlaws to celebrate Thanksgiving and my anniversary with them.

So I'll end this post wishing all of you a blessed Thanksgiving!