Needles and Pens

I have a darling little 2-year-old grandson who loves tractors, especially green tractors. In fact, to him the color green is synonymous with tractors, and if you ask him what color this is... ... he'll tell you, "tractor." (Don't worry, we're working on that. lol) So, even though I really didn't need another project to do, when I saw this adorable John Deere panel at work the other day, I had to buy it for Aaron. And when I saw the equally adorable coordinating print, of course I had to have that for the back. Unfortunately, such an impulse purchase often comes without much thought, and I failed to notice that the direction of the print required extra fabric to lay the right way on the quilt back. So today I was considering buying a larger piece, when my awesome mother-in-law took one look at it and suggested I just add a border to my backing. (Duh... why didn't I think of that??) After she left, I immediately went to my sewing room to look ...

Two more blocks finished for the Blogger's Block-a-Palooza . Block nine is the "Lemonade Stand" block, designed by Scott Hansen of Blue Nickel Studios ( Of course, my lemonade is the PINK variety ): And block ten, "Turned Geese," designed by Amy Ellis at Amy's Creative Side : Six more blocks to go. So far, so good. Just one question... is it spring yet?

This month's goal for the Patchwork Times UFO Challenge was one of the sewing projects I used to fill in for the (unbelieveable!) lack of unfinished quilts that I have left to work on. (It also provided a much-needed break after finishing my crazy-intense January project !) Lucky number 10 -- Tim's Fleece Vest -- last appeared here as a pattern, a zipper and a bunch of yellow fleece in a pile in my sewing room: All chosen by my 12-year-old son, who wanted fleece vests in his favorite color combo, yellow and black. I finished the black one right away, but then the holidays were upon us, and the yellow was put on the back burner while I focused on other projects. (Sewing clothing is not my favorite thing, so any excuse to procrastinate will do!) He seemed very happy with Vest #1. However, in the three months that followed, I never once saw him wear it. So I made a slight change in the plans and decided to go with a different pattern. This pattern is adult sized, ...

Finished Block-a-Palooza blocks seven and eight this week, the "Orange You Glad I Chose a Nine-Patch" block, designed by Heather Bostic of House of A La Mode , and the appliqued "Basket of Geese" block, designed by Angela Yosten of Moda Home Mom , Having made it to the halfway point, I decided to put together a little compilation of all of my blocks so far. I thought it might be a bit much at first, but the more blocks I finish, the more I'm liking all this pink goodness. Bring on the next block!

Playing catch up today on the Blogger's Block-a-Palooza blocks, and now I have two more finished... Block Five -- Geesey-McNinePatch, designed by Kaye Prince of Miss Print Block Six -- You Are Here, designed by Monica Solorio-Snow of Happy Zombie Still have block seven to finish, and block eight will be announced tomorrow. It seems I'm always one behind. But I hear there will be a midway prize drawing after block eight -- for those who have posted pictures of all eight blocks. More incentive for me to keep up! And if I get off the computer now, I might just have enough time to finish block seven tonight...

This week I finished my February GED (Get 'er Done) Challenge project, the Papa Bear & Baby Bear panel: That's one less fabric panel taking space up in my closet, but what to do with these little bears? It just so happened that I had the perfect place to send them... In January, I heard about the latest Craft Hope charity project, making "safe delivery kits" for Konbit Sante Cap-Haitien Health Partnership , a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the healthcare system in Haiti. (Konbit is Haitian Creole for "working together" and Sante means "health.") The safe delivery kits contain the basic necessities for a safe and sanitary childbirth (plastic sheeting, latex gloves, hand sanitizer, etc.), plus a receiving blanket and stuffed toy, all packaged up in a hand-crafted tote bag. I thought it sounded like a wonderful use for some of my excess stash. My first real attempt at making a tote bag, I made a very simple one out of pre-q...

Despite some really painful and annoying back/neck/shoulder issues this week, I've finished another two blocks for the Blogger's Block-a-Palooza Quilt Along . Block #3 is Shoofly Geese, designed by Amanda Sasikirana of sasikirana handmade . Block #4 is the Gingham Pinwheel (or in my case, the PINK Pinwheel), designed by Cherri House of Cherry House Quilts Block #6 will be announced tomorrow over at Quilt Dad's . Guess I'd better get going on number five...

I have now officially visited all 114 links to the finished January UFOs in the Patchwork Times UFO Challenge (and with dial-up internet, that was a challenge in itself! lol) I don't know if I'll have the stamina to do so every month, but it was nice to at least once visit all of my co-challengees. What a lot of gorgeous quilts and projects, and seeing so many things being accomplished is incredibly inspiring! (If you happened to miss my own January finish, you can find it here .) Now it's on to February... and I'm having a bit of a slow start this month. Since finishing the baby quilt that I needed to do right off the bat, I've had a return of the insidious pinched nerve in my back that stopped me in my tracks a year and a half or so ago. I've gone to the chiropractor religiously since then, so I have no idea how I managed to aggravate it so badly, seemingly overnight. Could have something to do with the marathon stitching and quilting of January's UFO?...

Yesterday I attended a baby shower for one of my daughter's school friends, and as I looked around this room full of kids (who are no longer kids), I couldn't help thinking... where does the time go? I remember so many of them as giggling little girls not so long ago, and yet here they are, all grown up, working, going to college, starting families... They say that time marches on -- but sometimes it seems more like a sprint. Mommy-and-Daddy-to-be Pinwheel Quilt for Baby (who is coming in March!) Best wishes, Katie! I cannot wait to see your little boy. He will be such a blessing to you, and though there will be good days and bad days, he will bring you more joy than you could ever imagine. ;o)