Back from Texas!

I flew home this past Tuesday. Mary Beth and Barrett drove me to the airport. Baby was very good.

He loves his bath! I think he is going to grow up to love the water as much as his Granny.

What would a trip to Texas be if it did not include a trip to some quilt shops. I picked up a few Texas items at the Flying Needle Shop in Stephenville. All but the pillowcase kit where off the clearance table.

My daffy ducks were glad to see me return. They were laying under the tree in the front yard waiting for me to throw some corn to them.

New Grandson

Off to Texas to help out...

Oh No!

I finally put everything together -

I have a new foot for my mega quilter, new leaders, read lots and lots, did some practicing,
loaded Mary Beth's quilt,

quilted two rows perfectly!

And then, my mega quilter went out of service. AJ helped me take it over to Delaware Sewing Center where Mr. Reed promises to fix it up.

Knitting for Baby Barrett Steven Marks

Tiny tube socks!

Baby Quilt

Monday - President's Day - I went to Peggy's quilt shop for UFO day. I decided I better start a quilt for my new grandson. His birth date is March 9th. I am doing a trip around the world - quilt in a day.

The fabric is an old Thimbleberries line - Kids Under Cover. I was so organized, I even had a paste-up sheet.
Here is what I have finished so far. I really want to hand quilt this one.

My Tips for the Farmer's Wife Sampler Quilt

I started to make these 61/2" blocks last November. They are addictive!. I bought the book with a 40% coupon at the JoAnn store in 7 Corners VA. I bought 3 sets of Marti Michel templates on eBay (don't bother with these). I pulled out a container of scraps and decided to make the blocks with all the same background (less decisions that way).
First, I printed out a set of templates that I found in the files of a yahoo group. Then I went through the book and photocopied all the easy blocks. I try to match my fabric with the colors in the photos. So if the picture shows background, brown and blue, I pull fabric that is brown & blue from my stash. Again, this makes for less decisions.

I use three rulers: Fons&Porter Half and Quarter, an Omnigrid 3" x 9", and a 61/2" square ruler.

I find the templates that are used in the block in my printed template master. I measure the width strip I need with my ruler. Then I cut the # pieces I need.

So far this method has worked for 30 blocks!

Valentine Gifts

What I mailed out --

I made potholders, appliqued heart towels, and I knitted dishcloths using the Martha Stewart pattern on the Lion Brand yarn site.