Lighthouse Stars

The Ithaca Modern Quilt Guild is working on a beach themed quilt to donate to charity.  The only specifications are that the block must be 10 1/2" unfinished and contain beach colors.  I decided to use the Lighthouse Stars pattern with a blue print and solid white for my block.  I can't wait to see what kind of blocks everyone else makes! 

On The Needles

It's been awhile since I've had anything on the needles, so I dug out this beautiful green yarn that I got for my birthday awhile back and cast on a sock using the Firefly Cabled Socks pattern.  I love how fast they are knitting up with the worsted weight yarn and if you think you can't knit cables, think again...they are easy!

Silent Sunday

Mmmm...Hershey!

This morning I'm hopping a bus with a bunch of other excited quilters and heading to the Quilt Odyssey Quilt Show in Hershey, PA!  I don't know how much chocolate I will see while I'm there, but there's no doubt in my mind that I'll be seeing a lot of beautiful quilts and doing some major shopping at all the vendors booths!

What We Are Doing On Our Summer Vacation

Our youngest son will be getting out of the Marine Corps soon and has purchased a project house in our hometown!  The whole family is thrilled that he and his family are going to be back home again, so everyone is pitching in and doing whatever they can to get the house ready before moving day.  The demolition phase is going quickly, but something tells me it will take a bit longer to make it look all shiny and new.  Hopefully we can get it all done before fall! 

Back In The Sewing Room

I'm back in the sewing room briefly today to label a pile of new clothes for my mother-in-law.  Alzheimer's is taking its toll and she seems to be in a steady decline.  Because of that decline, we made the decision to move her to a nursing home closer to our home, so that we can visit more frequently.  As I was getting her settled into her new room I realized that she was missing quite a few outfits.  Rather than trying to track down the missing clothes I thought it would probably be easier to just buy new. (Besides, she was due for some new clothes anyway.)  These will all need to be labeled with her name, so they don't get lost in the laundry.  The easiest way to do that is to print out labels on fusible fabric sheets, cut them apart, and iron them into the inside of the clothes.

Silent Sunday

Busy As A Bee!

Life gets busy sometimes and quilting and blogging have to take a backseat to work and family matters...not to mention that it's just been too stinkin' hot to do anything more than I absolutely have to do!  At least next week promises to be a tad bit cooler, but I'm not sure it will be any less busy.  Hopefully, I will be back in my sewing room and blogging on a more regular schedule soon.

Starry Night Update

Here is the Ithaca Modern Quilt Guild's Starry Night quilt project all finished!  Not bad, considering the only instructions were to replicate a piece of a poster in fabric using the method of your choice.  The guild decided that we should show our work of art off a bit, so it will be making an appearance in the Quilts, Vines, & Finger Lakes Wines Quilt Show on August 24th in Watkins Glen, NY.  Stop by and see it in person, if you are in the area!

Silent Sunday

Half Square Triangles

A couple months ago I sewed a couple of charm packs together into a bunch of half square triangles.  80 half square triangles to be exact.  I had a lot of fun playing with different layouts for quite awhile, but figured that I had better decide on a final design and sew the top together before the blocks raveled away from all the handling!  I don't know if it's the design, fabric patterns, colors, or the combination of them all, but I absolutely love this little quilt now that it's finished!

For The Tiny Babies

I'm ashamed to admit that these little preemie quilts were among my UFO's.  Normally I finish the quilts that have a place to go right away and only add tops that don't have homes to the UFO pile.  I'm not quite sure how it happened that they didn't get finished, but they are done now and ready to go to some tiny babies.

Charm Squares Baby Quilt

Isn't this the sweetest little baby quilt?  The pattern is Charm Squares Baby Quilt by Oh, Fransson...and it's free!  It simply takes one charm pack, a yard of sashing fabric, and an afternoon to put this top together.  Perfect for a last minute shower gift or even a charity quilt!

Silent Sunday

Raffle Quilt Time!

It's that time again!  Yes, it's time to get started on another guild raffle quilt!  The Mountain Laurel Quilt Guild's next raffle quilt promises to be nothing short of amazing.  Assorted basket blocks, set on point, with alternating Pennsylvania blocks, all surrounded by a beautiful hand appliqued border!  All of the members pitch in and make a few blocks, so this is truly a group project.  These Pennsylvania blocks are my contribution to the quilt and I can hardly wait to see them sewn together with all of the other blocks! 

Independence Day

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup peanut butter
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup flour
1 cup quick cooking oats
3/4 teaspoon baking soda

white sugar for rolling

In a mixing bowl, cream the shortening and peanut butter.  Add the brown sugar, egg, and vanilla; mix well.
Stir in flour, baking soda, and oats.  Shape mixture into 3/4-inch balls and roll in sugar; place on baking sheets. Flatten each cookie with the tines of a fork in a criss-cross pattern. Bake cookies at 350° for about 10 to 12 minutes.

PA And NY Row By Row Shop Hop

Today starts the Pennsylvania and New York Row by Row Shop Hop!  There are 60+ shops in Pennsylvania and 70+ shops in New York participating in this unique shop hop. It's the easiest shop hop ever! Just visit any of the participating quilt shops throughout the summer. Each shop is giving away a pattern for one row.  Mix and match rows to create a fun and one of a kind quilt. No passports and no fees!  Seeing how I live on the border I'll be collecting rows from shops in both states.  I have a feeling that I'm going to be spending the rest of the summer visiting all of my favorite quilt shops and maybe I'll even find a few new favorites along my way!