At least it is still February!

Well, so much for blogging more frequently!  Let's just say that the ol' New Years Resolutions have died a quick death and be done with it all, ok?!  LOL

BUT, least you think that I have been slacking here's some of what I have been up to:

I am still working on the hand quilting on this HUGE quilt!  I think I have been working on it, on and off, for almost 5 years (and it could be even longer ago than that, I'm not real good at quilt related record keeping).

On the bright side. . . . all of the center blocks are completed.  Now I am just working on the blocks on the outer edge of the quilt.  So, it is entirely possible that this beast will be completed this year!  YAY!

Here's a closer look as to how I am quilting the green centered blocks.  The design is a little different on the pink centered blocks.

This year I am also participating in the Stash Bee (member of Hive 2).  Here is the block that was requested from our February Queen.  It is a block that she designed herself.

The colors requested were orange, red, coral and white.  These are colors that are not exactly in my wheel house (or my stash) so some visits to quilt stores was needed.  BUT, I was good and only purchased a little more than the fabrics needed for just one block.

But wait til you see what I do with the "extras"!  HA!

 I have some other irons in the fire. . . .oh wait. . . . I have to show you the snow that we got!

These are pictures from the storm of January 23-24th.  Mr. Books and I were supposed to be going away for the weekend to celebrate a milestone. . . . but we cancelled the trip on Thursday after listening to the storm predictions.

This shows our Casey after Mr. Books made a pathway for the fur kids to run.

Here's a view from our yard across the street to the woods.

And here is one side of my car cleared. . . . that was a LOT of snow to move!

I don't think we will be getting any more snow storms like this in the near future . . . . now I hope that I did not jinx myself!

Ok, gotta run. . . . . .


In peace and pieces,
 

 This content was originally posted on the quilt blog Books, Hooks, Sticks, etc. (www.bookshookssticksetc.blogspot.com). If you are reading this on any site other than the original or quilterblogs.com it is WITHOUT my permission and the content has been stolen.

First posting of the New Year. . . . .here's what I've been doing!

A belated HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone!





It seems that I must work a bit harder to keep this blog updated. . . . not just for myself but for whomever else might be reading.

That is one of my new year's resolutions.  But, as you see, it's not working very well!  LOL

But, I have been busy!

I have a Secret Sister from a Facebook group . . . and I made her something, but I can't show you because she might be reading here.

I also am in a fabric square swap (again on Facebook) for 10" squares.  It is based on your birth month. . . so January have 4 people in it.  Those were sent out.  I did not take pictures of the squares; I'll try to remember to do that for February.

On a quilting group on Delphi Forums I'm involved in another birthday swap. . . . and I sent out a book this month:



And, this year, I finally took the plunge and signed up for Stash Bee.  I have been tempted several years and finally decided that 2016 was going to be my year to do it.

I have already sent out my first block:

It should be reaching it's home by Saturday (unless this snow storm we are expecting throws a "monkey wrench" in the works).

This was a nice, large block (16") and it was a fun one to piece.  It gave me a great opportunity to hunt through my fabrics to find different fabrics in each of the eight colors (blue, purple, green, teal, pink, red, yellow and orange).

I had such a good time with this block I may make a quilt for myself using the same pattern!

I have some secret sewing to get done over the weekend. . . . so even if we get all the snow that they are predicting I will have more than enough to keep me busy.

Well, that about sums up my January so I will be getting on with things. . . . . have a great day!

In peace and pieces,
 

 This content was originally posted on the quilt blog Books, Hooks, Sticks, etc. (www.bookshookssticksetc.blogspot.com). If you are reading this on any site other than the original or quilterblogs.com it is WITHOUT my permission and the content has been stolen.

Oh boy. . . . I almost missed another month

I don't know why I can't find the time to blog on a more regular basis.  There have been things that I wanted to say (and show) but getting the computer out and set up and waiting for the modem just doesn't work with the way my life goes.

Well, I have lots to tell. . . . .so I will have to make sure I get those posts up later today (once I get my pictures taken).

So, keep a watch. . . . there will be more posts from me later.


In peace and pieces,
 


This content was originally posted on the quilt blog Books, Hooks, Sticks, etc. (www.bookshookssticksetc.blogspot.com). If you are reading this on any site other than the original or quilterblogs.com it is WITHOUT my permission and the content has been stolen.

Did not want to miss another month!

I hope Thanksgiving was a good one for anyone that might be reading this post.

Our "turkey day" was uneventful. . . . and, except for the newspaper, it was a "no commerce" day which I am hoping will be the new normal for me.

Black Friday was also a pretty low key event. . . . Mr. Books and I went to Shady Maple Smorgasbord in Pennsylvania for breakfast and then went to Green Dragon Flea Market in Ephrata, PA (it is only open on Fridays).

We were supposed to meet up with some camping buddies but we kept missing each other. . . . but it was a nice day. . . the weather was gorgeous and the crowds were not what they were last year so we actually got to see a lot of the vendors.

I am hoping to have some eye candy for you later in the week. . . . but this post will be boring with no pictures.

Have a great day,



In peace and pieces,
 

 This content was originally posted on the quilt blog Books, Hooks, Sticks, etc. (www.bookshookssticksetc.blogspot.com). If you are reading this on any site other than the original or quilterblogs.com it is WITHOUT my permission and the content has been stolen.

Sewing from Sunday

Mr. Books and I spent most of Sunday home. . . . so between housework and all the ordinary things done when we are home I was able to get some stitching done.

The first two blocks are for a block swap that I have been in since May. . . . each of us picked a color scheme or block design that we wanted.

This is for a gal in Wales that wanted black, white, gray and red.

This is for a gal in Australia that wanted blocks of flowers.

This block is for a lottery type block exchange.  Those that signed up were given a piece of the print fabric and the only requirement was that the block had to be a 12" block.

I love the challenge fabric and if I did not have enough stash to fill a quilt shop I would try to find this.  I think it would make a great Stack & Whack or 4 Patch Posy type quilt.

Our quilt guild held an all day sew-in at Historic Walnford and there is another link to information here on Saturday. . . . . and I was able to get the rest of the center of a scrappy bargello quilt done.  I did not have my camera so I did not get a picture of that yet. . . . but I'm thinking I may wait on taking a picture until I have decided on the borders and get them on.

I have started a new project that is going to be a gift for Mr. Books. . . . but since I have only done 2 seams it didn't seem to be ready for "it's close-up". . . . but pictures will be coming of that as well.

In peace and pieces,
 


This content was originally posted on the quilt blog Books, Hooks, Sticks, etc. (www.bookshookssticksetc.blogspot.com). If you are reading this on any site other than the original or quilterblogs.com it is WITHOUT my permission and the content has been stolen.

Teal Mini Swap Blog Hop

Today is my day for the blog hop to talk about this wonderful program that Beth (the designer for EvaPaige Designs) has run for the past three years.

Teal is the color for Ovarian Cancer Awareness. . .  .and October is the month.

Beth's program involves a payment for a piece of teal fabric AND a donation towards ovarian cancer research.

The blog posting for this years swap is located on Beth's Quilting Hottie Haven blog if you are interested in getting all of the details so that you can plan on taking part next year.

I have been in 2 of the 3 swaps (I was not able to participate in last years swap) and have been very pleased with the swaps that I have received.

Here is a picture of the swap that I received this year from Regina:

Unfortunately I did not take a picture of the mini quilt that I sent to Regina. . . . I was a little late in mailing it out and I could not locate my camera quickly so I felt it more important to get it mailed.

This is the mug rug that I received in the swap from 2013.

I could not find a picture of the mug rug that I sent out. . . . and checking back through my blog posts it seems that my camera was MIA then too!

Here is the listing of the other members of the blog hop. . . . have fun visiting them!

October 12 - Twelo Quilting and One Quilting Circle
October 13 - Susan Brehm and Books Hooks Sticks Etc (you are here!)
October 14 - Teachpany and Bobbin's Lullaby
October 15 - Splitting Stitches and Purple Leaf Quilts
October 16 - Blue Ribbon Sewing and Quilt Art by Megan

In peace and pieces,
 

This content was originally posted on the quilt blog Books, Hooks, Sticks, etc. (www.bookshookssticksetc.blogspot.com). If you are reading this on any site other than the original or quilterblogs.com it is WITHOUT my permission and the content has been stolen.

Secret Sewing that I have been doing. . . . . .

As I have mentioned previously. . . I have done some pattern testing for several people over the past couple of years.

I don't show what I have been doing until I either get the ok from the designer or see that they have posted my pictures of their designs on social media.  I do that because I don't want to have any question as to who the designer was or where the pattern came from.

My last pattern testing was done for Eva Paige Designs .  I saw that Beth posted pictures from her testers on Facebook yesterday so I am going to show the pictures of my quilt top here:

This first picture is as much of the top as I could get. . . . .Mr. Books was not around to hold the quilt so I put it on our bed.  We have a full sized bed so that you get a better idea of how large the quilt is.

This is a picture to show how the borders were handled.  The design you see is only on opposite corners.  The remaining 2 corners are just the border fabric meeting.

Beth has not yet published the pattern but if you would like a quilt that has a lot of "wow" factor be on the look-out for this one. . . . . since she has not yet settled on a name for the pattern you may just want to stalk her site (link above and here).

If you like reading blogs that take a "slightly skewed" view of situations. . . and that make you laugh out loud. . . you may want to check out Beth's blog Quilting Hottie Haven and be sure to tell her that I sent you over.

There has been other secret sewing going on . . . . but I can't reveal those items just yet so you will have to wait.

Have a wonderful Tuesday,

In peace and pieces,
 


 This content was originally posted on the quilt blog Books, Hooks, Sticks, etc. (www.bookshookssticksetc.blogspot.com). If you are reading this on any site other than the original or quilterblogs.com it is WITHOUT my permission and the content has been stolen.