Pineapple Quilt is finished!

Woohoo........I'm happy dancing here in TX because I finished the top for my batik pineapple quilt tonite (well actually very early this morning). =) The pic to the right shows the top layed out on my queen sized bed. Finished size is roughly 98" by 108". It will go in the mail tomorrow morning to my friend Vicki after I pick up 108" wide backing fabric for it (I don't feel like trying to piece backing for this critter).......

Next I'm off to finish several other projects that are in progress. Once they are to the finished top stage I'll be able to start on a queen-sized quilt that I have here for Am Heroes and Christmas presents. Not to mention starting to step up my job search since the current contract ends the end of this year and talking with the powers that be at work about the possibility of the contract being extended into next yr.

Gratitudes -
1. I'm thankful for my large stash because it supplied all i needed for this quilt top without having to buy any fabric for it - a blessing in the midst of the continued job search. And am thankful that i won't have to quilt this one!
2. I'm thankful to have the current contract for another 2 1/2 months.
3. I'm thankful for the job possibilities that are being presented to me by various recruiters.

Pineapple Quilt

One of the projects I worked on at the retreat I went to two weeks ago was my batik/black pineapple quilt. I got the top together except for the borders and the tuck panel. I'm in the midst of getting those onto the top now. Meanwhile here is a picture of the top without the borders. There are 49 blocks, all different. When complete there will be more than 8 yds of black Kona, and about 7, maybe 8 yds of batiks in the top. And all fabrics came from my stash. =) The backing will take another 10 yds or so to make as well.



Gratitudes -

1. I owe loads of thanks to Jodi for volunteering to tear off all of the paper for me from this quilt.
2. I'm thankful that I won't be quilting it.

Cross-Stitch UFO's

Over the last few days I've been doing some house-cleaning in the sewing room. I'm making progress and have already gotten rid of two big piles of paper and a sack of stuff ready to go out in the trash. And I've also weeded through the kits I had stashed away and sorted out a big pile that I sent off to be given to female soldiers who are deployed. I can now actually close that tote!


As I have been going through stuff I've also been reminded that I have a number of UFO's that are various cross-stitch pieces. These keep getting stuffed in various places and not worked on, so I've decided that I'm going to pull these out and work on them when I have time so that I actually get them finished up along with all the quilting UFO's that I'm finishing.


For 5 or 6 yrs now I've been tracking what I get accomplished quilt-wise, along with my UFO's and what is going on with them. I've added a new page to my spreadsheet where I track things so that I can track how many cross-stitch kits I have and what is happening with them as well. This way maybe they won't end up "out of sight --- out of mind".

Here are pics of two of the projects I found while working thru things around here. Click on the pics to see larger versions of them. The snails are my design. The were designed from a card I'd seen once upon a time. I haven't got a clue what i'm going to use this in. The B&W Cats are from the "Kats by Kelly" series. Really cute designs that I love. I've got another one somewhere around here.....but can't remember if it is finished or still waiting to be done. Urk............ I'm thinking about how I want to display these pics and without framing a whole bunch of pics.








Gratitudes -
1. I'm thankful to have been able to bless some of the women that are deployed in the Middle East with the kits that I no longer was interested in making.
2. I'm thankful to have the ability and means to work on the various projects that I've started and yet to finish.

Raffle Quilts Finished

Dont'cha know that when I need time to get the raffle quilt tops done for one of the online quilt groups that I'm in, that's of course when work goes crazy. =P This particular group I'm in has an annual get-together, also know as a "Swarm". Thanks to having only working a part-time contract since March and unemployed before that, I wasn't able to attend this year. =( But making these quilt tops was my way of participating. Those that wanted a 'chance' to win the quilt made one or more blocks from fabric that I supplied. There were two focus fabrics this yr - a batik and an oriental print. The pics below show what the two tops turned out looking like.

Both quilts fit the full-size bed that I laid them out on. The first one is the one

with the oriental fabric. The second and third pics are of the one with is made with the batik fabric. Click on the pictures to make them larger.

Gratitudes -
1. Thanks to American Airlines I made it home when I was supposed to after the retreat I went on the first weekend of October.
2. For the cooler weather here in Tx.

Gratitude

Psalm 145:7 - They will celebrate your abundant goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness. (NIV)

A couple of weeks ago I was reading a blog that I linked to from another blog I had been reading. I don't remember what blog it was now, but I have to admit to being convicted when reading some of the posts by how the gal writing it always ended her posts with things she is grateful for.

With all the frustrations that I've been fighting in trying to get my house here in Tx sold (anyone want to buy a house here?) and in trying to find a FT, and preferably perm, job I all too often find myself complaining or whining about the circumstances I'm in. I forget about all that God has blessed me with and instead focus on the negatives - the opposite of what I should be focused on. It is soooooooooo easy to forget that even in the frustrating circumstances I have found myself in over the last 12+ months I am still far richer than the vast majority of people living in this world today.

So starting today, with each posting that I make to this blog my intent is to list at least two things that I'm grateful for so that my focus will remain on God and what he is doing in my life, instead of all that I can't control.

And my challenge to all that read this - is to consider what in your life you have to be grateful for. Who's up for the challenge?

Gratitudes -
1. Friends who always encourage me to keep my eyes focused on God while in the midst of all the stress and frustrations of daily life.
2. For all the blessings that God has given me.

Retreat is coming..........

The last couple of weeks have been crazier than normal because things at work are getting close to deadlines. And projects are competing for the same resources - myself and the gal I work with. Both of us will be glad when the end of the month arrives and it's back to the normal level of "insanity". Life has been so crazy with work that i haven't even been able to go to the gym like I want to. =(

I've been busy quilting and cross-stitching trying to cope with the stress. And among other things have been able to get several projects either finished or closer to being finished. The biggest one of these is I finished up the last of the blocks for my pineapple quilt yesterday, just in time for the quilt retreat I'm headed too this weekend. Getting the blocks put together and the borders on this quilt is the first project I am taking with me.

Also finished, well until I decide what to do with them at any rate, are these two little cross-stitch pieces. A friend gave me the kit for these last year, so I'm doing good to finish these off so quickly when compared to the umpteen kits that I've had for yrs and not done.

I've got 6 different projects that i'm taking with me this weekend, and i'm looking forward to getting some of them finished up. I'm going to have to work part of the time while I'm there, but that's life when you need the money. I'll just enjoy the time when I'm not working all the more. =) I'll post pics later of the projects that I'm taking to work on.

Gratitudes -

1. As stressful as it can be, I'm thankful for the part-time contract that I am working at this time.

2. For the opportunity to go away this weekend and spend time with quilting friends.