Creative wheels are turning...

It's too bad that there are so many road blocks. My machine is sick again. The kids keep getting sick, which means I keep getting sick. And even though I have my next pattern completely designed and written up, the fabric that I MUST have isn't available in the stores yet. I also have another pattern spinning round and round, but I really want to do the other one first.



Now, in my hurry to post the Autumn Dance pattern, I completely forgot to mention that at least half of the amazing fabrics used in the cover quilt were loving hand-dyed by Jill Eugena of Color Me Wyrd. All of her fabrics are one-of-a-kind works of art!



While I am anxious to get moving on those other patterns, I do have plenty going on to keep myself busy. I'm participating in a mystery quilt at my guild...15 light FQs and 15 med to dark half-yards. I just now have my fabrics picked out. It was especially difficult for me, as I was determined to only use stuff from my stash. Now, I'm a bit behind as I haven't cut the fabrics yet and we are already into the first stage of sewing.



Shelby Sue, the new puppy, is also keeping me on my toes. Yes, she has a middle name. She is into so much mischief that a middle name was warranted.



I also haven't posted my center block from my Ostrich Challenge, so here it is. I have an idea of what I want to do for the first round, but it is going to be difficult. So, I'm procrastinating on it. The thing is, if I make a mistake, there will be not be any way to fix it.



Need to go now...the Halloween decorations are calling my name...

Holidays are coming...

I'm definitely feeling the euphoric effects of the approaching holidays! I'm singing holiday songs, planning out Christmas presents, pondering new Thanksgiving recipes. The temperatures are cooling down and oh, how I love that! I even added a Holiday Gift Set at my Etsy store.

My Quick Christmas Quilt is coming along so very slowly. However, I must admit that I'm sewing on it and several others simultaneously. I guess you could say that I'm having a bit of trouble prioritizing them. Also, the Christmas one has to be pressed after each individual seam, so I'm using the other projects as my "leaders and enders" in an effort to be more efficient. I'm not sure it is working but I'm having fun all the same.

So, did that last Mystery Clue stump anyone? Here is an update on the clues so far...

Holidays and Mystery Clue #5

Well, I know that I was promised I could finish the Christmas top from the workshop in a day, but I didn't even come close! Now, granted, I did leave a few hours early, as I wasn't feeling very well. Even if I had stayed I wouldn't have finished even half of it. I'm soooo slow and I am big in pinning everything! Not to mention I was having a serious OCD moment when it came to where I was going to put each and every fabric. So, as you can see from the picture, I have a long way to go. LOL!

In order to make myself feel a little more productive and to please my son, who was begging me to do this, I made a little mini quilt for Thanksgiving.

Okay, time for Clue #5.

Happy November!

I really can't believe we are this far along in the year...practically on top of Thanksgiving already! I do love Autumn though and hope that Winter doesn't come to quickly, though I'd love some cooler temps. In the meantime, I'm enjoying this time of year. The kids had a great Halloween and you can imagine how pleased I was when they both said they wanted to wear last year's costumes...and they still fit!

I took some "regular" costume pics, but they also wanted to have "scary" pics too. LOL!

They drew out their pictures on to the pumpkins and hubby carved them out. You can really see their creative differences.

I also decided to try my favorite pumpkin cookie recipe in a mini-loaf form...yummy!

Oh, and a dear friend of mine, Jayn, made this great picture for me. She is so creative!

After Halloween, came the elections. I know that there were just so many different opinions on this one and that each of us chose whom we thought would be the best. In my household, we couldn't be more thrilled with the outcome. But I'm still saddened that things became so negative, especially with all of the false emails being forwarded left and right, without people bothering to check them out beforehand. It really doesn't take but a minute to go to Snopes, for example, and find the facts. I'm also saddened that people quit respecting that we have the "right to choose" and that is part of what makes our country so great. We don't have to have the same opinions, but we should respect each other either way. I am just so glad it is over. I really saw the "ugly" in a lot of people.

As for quilty things...I'm going to a workshop on Saturday. It is for a quick Christmas Quilt. Our instructor has been promising that we will leave with a finished top! Now, I'm pretty slow, but if it is even mostly finished that would be great! If anyone in the area is interested, it is only $20 and from 9:00 to 4:00. Just let me know and I'll give you more details.

I've started work on my next pattern. I have the design done, but I'll still have to piece it together, quilt, photograph and write up the pattern. But I can give you a little hint... I'm using the new Bistro line by Deb Strain from Moda. I'm a big coffee lover so I couldn't help but be drawn to it! Another hint...this pattern will use one layer cake and one jelly roll.

Speaking of hints, here's the 4th Mystery Clue...

I know that some of you have already made your guesses and I can't tell you if you are right or wrong yet...as it isn't time for the reveal. So, feel free to keep guessing. ;)

Mystery Clue #3

Well, sadly, I haven't had a chance to do any sewing at all. It is all because of "the mystery". I miss it dearly and I'm so going to try and do some today.

In the meantime, here is Clue #3...

Quilting and Clue #2

It looks like I might actually have a chance to do some piecing today. I think I'd like to work on a UFO fitting of the season. I have several, I'm ashamed to admit, but I might work on the Twin Autumn Sassy Sixteen. I made the first for my sister and I'm going to have one just like it. I worked a tiny bit on it at the retreat. Doesn't it look a mess?

Or, I might work on my Halloween Candy now that I have the border colors picked out. However, I don't recall where I put the fabrics...oops. LOL!

Oh, and before I forget... Clue #2 is pictured below.

An Honor, a Printer and a Mystery

Let's start with the honor...the Fat Quarter Shop asked me to post on their blog, The Jolly Jabber. In the post, I give a little insight to the name of one of my patterns. Be sure to stop by and take a peek.


As for the printer. I had to get a new one this week. It's a shame as I loved the one I had. Then again, I guess that was the problem. I can easily estimate that I printed at least 12 thousands sheets on that tiny little thing!


Now, let's move on to the "Mystery". I mentioned previously that I had some news but that it wasn't the right time to share it, and well, it still isn't. But I'm excited and figured I could share little bits here and there. So, that's exactly what I plan to do. And, anyone who guesses the mystery will received any one of my patterns that they like. The first Clue is "Periwinkle".