Happy Thursday! My heart goes out the all of the people who are being affected by hurrican Isaac.  The weather report is saying we could have heavy rains here in Indiana this weekend due to Isaac.  We'll have to keep a watch out.

 It's been another busy week quilting.  I'm still trying to get all of the work-in quilts done as well as the regularly scheduled ones.  Whew!  I'm still smiling though.  And how could I not when I have been allowed to work on the beautiful quilts shown below.  Everything is coming up roses on the beautiful pink/black quilt with the bright pink backing.  And look at the smiles on the yellow/turquoise quilt (pictures 5 & 6).  The tan/purple/green quilt is a handsome looking quilt. (pictures  3 & 4)  All of these quilts were pieced by Sue G.  Sadly, I have to send these quilts back to Sue tomorrow.  It's time for them to go back home. 

No rest today though since I am working on a halloween themed quilt by Nancy J. which I'll post when it is finished.  I need to get the pattern for this quilt since you can use continuous pieces of fabric on either side of the six blocks.  I always have trouble cutting up some pieces of beautiful material.  The pattern calles for a 14" x  70" and a 30" x 70" piece of continuous material.  Stay tuned for pictures. 

Blessings to all.

Greetings everyone.  I'll be sending everyone in the southern states  prayers that hurrican Isaac settles down soon.

I had to post the picture of Nancy J's quilt which I completed today.  Simple quilt top pattern, but the quilting pattern I placed on it really made this quilt pop.  Unfortunately, the pictures don't do it justice.

Blessings to all.

Evening all from Monticello, Indiana, USA.  What a beautiful evening here, the sun has set, but you can still see boats moving about on Lake Freeman. 

The first three pictures are of a Thimbleberries quilt made by Bev P.  I was happy with the quilting patterns that were placed in each of the nine blocks and the borders were fun to enhance as well.  The back of the quilt really shows the beautiful quilt patterns.  These pattern were by Nancy Haacke as well as the pattern shown below. 

I am running a pattern by Nancy Haacke, www.digitizedquiltingpatterns.com called Pearls and Swirls.  What a great and intense pattern.  I am loving the look it is placing on the batik quilt made by Nancy J from Nancy J's quilt shop in Wabash, Indiana.  The quilt pattern I believe is called Split Rail Fence which is a simple pattern but the batiks are striking and the quilting pattern is really make this quilt standout.  I'll post pictures of the entire quilt when it is completed.  I can't wait to see this quilt completed.  Can you tell I'm excited?

Blessings to all.

Afternoon everyone on this absolutely beautiful August day.  Just to let you know four months from today is Christmas Eve. 

I just had to post a picture of a shirt I bought for Eli a.k.a. Boom-Boom.  Isn't it just the cutest?  I always thought girls' clothes were cuter than boys' until I saw this top at Kohl's.  Gary and I always give each of the grandchildren money to purchase school clothes.  So since the other four grandchildren had received their gift I just couldn't resist this little shirt for Eli.  He has to look cute too even though he's not in school yet.

Blessings to all. 

It's Done!!! and its gorgeous.  This is an absolutely beautiful quilt and I am happy with my quilting applications.  I can't wait for Bev to see her quilt.  When I am quilting a quilt I appreciate the workmaship each quilter uses to complete their quilt and I wonder what that quilter felt once they completed the quilt top.  I try my best to "read" the quilt so that I can enhance the pattern and material.  This quilt had been on my machine since Sunday evening so I feel like I've bonded with this quilt.  I am blessed to have been allowed to quilt this quilt.

Blessings to all.

Morning all.  Looks to be a beautiful day here in Monticello, Indiana, USA.  Temp is heading towards  82 perfect degrees which for me is a perfect temperature.

I'm still working on the sampler quilt by Bev P.    All I can say is what a beautiful quilt.  Bev said this quilt was a block of the month.  I'll post pictures when I have it completed.

Here is the verse I am keeping close to my heart today and each day.  " Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer." Romans 12:12. I have such a hard time of memorizing so I will have to make my little post it note sign(s).  This one will need several post it note signs to place around the house.

Blessings to all.

Happy Monday Everyone!!  There is a bit of a chill here in sunny Monticello, Indiana it is 58 chilly degrees.  Yes, I know atleast there isn't snow and ice on the ground.  The lake is so still right now but a boat pulling a skier just went by so the stillness has been interrupted.

I have to show a picture of our daughter and son.  Aren't they cute?  This was a rare opportunity for me to snap a picture of the two of them together.  Kristen has a great smile and David, well that's the best I could get out of him.  He does not like to have his picture taken.  Can you tell?

I have a picture of one of the quilts I quilted last week.  This was a "big boy" quilt as I call them.  Beautiful piecing by Bev P. I chose patterns by Christy Dillon to quilt on this beautiful quilt.  Bev said this is a present for one of her family members. 

Well I've got to get moving on another "bigger boy quilt" that is on the machine right now.  It is a block of the month also pieced by Bev.  I'll post pictures when it is completed. 

Here's a verse I am keeping close to my heart today from Colossians 3:23,  "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord not for men" (NIV)

Blessings to all.

Happy Tuesday!  It is such a beautiful day here in Monticello, IN today.  The temp is just right upper 70's and low humidity.  Great day to have the windows open and enjoy God's gentle breeze.  I think my daughter Kristen is celebrating today . . . . . three of the five children are back in school today.  Can I hear a Yee HAA!  Carly will start back to pre-school after Labor Day and Eli aka Boom Boom will have to wait a few years.  I have a picture of him and Audrey Kate when they were at our house last night.  Audrey Kate says Eli gives her a great work-out by using him as a human barbell.  He does weight 38.6  pounds so he should give her arms a decent work out.

I've  posted a few pictures of some quilts I worked on this past weekend and yesterday.  I am on a mission for the next three weeks to get more of my work-in quilts completed and back to their owners.  The 30's Star block quilt was pieced my Virginia S.  I have always admired 30's fabric for its relaxing colors.  Virginia said she likes lots of quilting so I think this quilt is pretty well covered in quilting.  Nancy Haacke's patterns (www.digitizedquiltingpatterns.com) really made this quilt shine along with some freehand quilting. 

Bethany M. made this beautiful batik quilt in turquoise and brown for a male family member.  I chose a curlique pattern which I feel is a great quilt pattern for a more masculine touch.  But this pattern also lends itself for a feminine touch as well.  It's a great neutral pattern called Curlique #2357 by Tammy Finkler www.tkquilting.com  Enjoy your day.

Blessings to all.

Greetings all.  I've had a great week quilting and it was an honor for me to quilt two Quilts of Valor that Sharon B.  brought along with her quilt.  The Quilts of Valor quilts were made using the 1600 pattern and they are beautiful in their colors of red, white and blue. I used a pattern that has a star, a medal, the words respect, honor and Thank you along with an eagle.  I hope whoever receives this quilts knows it was made and quilted with respect and love.

 Sharon's quilt was made for her granddaughter who plans to take the quilt with her to college.  I placed a pattern called Shoe Fetish on this quilt and I love how this pattern quilted out.  Thanks Sharon for letting me quilt your quilts.

I've also posted two pictures of a new favorite sewing notion.  The wood handle was made by a woodworker and I think it is exquisite.  I can tell the  woodworker took great pride in his workmanship.  The wood handle is used to place a seam ripper in which for me makes it so much more comfortable on my hands when I have to remove stitching.  Not that I have to remove stitches very often, Ya right.  So if you want to make your seam ripper better ergonomically purposed try one of these little handles.  It really works and it makes it easier to find your seam ripper.  You probably don't need to use your seam ripper anyway, but in case you do .....  I found this wood handle at Threads of Time Quilt Shop and Retreat in Danville, Illinois.

Blessings to all.

Greetings all.  I had someone comment the other day and rather sarcastically that people who have blogs, "need to get a life."  I'm not sure if this person knew I had a blog or not, but it doesn't matter because I am finding I enjoy the blog world.  Blogging gives me the opportunity to show the beautiful quilts I am allowed to quilt for my clients, share stories of my beloved family and grandchildren and at times share my faith in my personal Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  So I do indeed "have a life" and I enjoy sharing it with others.  I also enjoy being allowed to connect to other blogs and to share the lives of friends and have made new friends through blogging.  To me blogging is like writing a diary only letting others read it.  Which then reminds me I used to have a pink diary as a child (gee I wonder whatever happened to my pink diary).  Gracious I even liked pink when I was eight years old. 

I better get moving here and decide what to do with a quilt that is on the machine now.  I love my job.

I will close with this from John 15:17 - "This is my command: LOVE ONE ANOTHER,

Blessings to all.

Peaceful blessings everyone.  I was awakened at 4:30 a.m. this morning to some loud and clashing thunder.  I was told when you see the flash of lightening start counting one-one thousand etc. and when you hear the thunder that is how far away the lightening is in miles.  I got to six so I estimated the lightening to be six miles away.  Good thing because the storm seemed to be pretty intense.  But out of all of this noise we picked up an inch of rain.  Thank you Heavenly Father for this much needed rain.

I did not longarm quilt today but kept thinking I should have loaded a quilt.  I did resist the temptation though and just enjoyed the beautiful weather today.  At one point today I gave Gary a hair cut, something I have done for the past 40 years or so.  This habit was started all of those years ago and I regularly tell Gary just think how much money I have saved you by cutting your hair all of these years.  His response is usually, "Yes, dear."  But today was a special hair cut day out on the deck.  We were entertained by sailboats out on the lake today.  I love to watch sailboats with their crisp white sails as they are carried along by the wind.  I've never been on a sailboat, but I do think it would be fun to be moved along by the wind.

Blessings to all.

Woo Hoo!! It just rained here, well it was just a little shower, but something is better than nothing.  I have been LAZY today as far as quilting.  I decided since I quilted seven quilts last week that I deserved to take the weekend off.  I am enjoying sitting underneath a quilt right now and watching the Hallmark Channel.  It may be 98 outside, but my Illusion quilt feels so wonderful to the touch. 

I visited the farmstand across the road from us this week and met a wonderful young farmer named Frank.  Frank must be all of six, but he is quite knowledgable of the farm fresh produce he and his parents are selling.  So I bought some sweet corn and a watermelon from Frank.  I had my choice of three different watermelons so I chose the light green with dark stripes.  I love fresh ripe red watermelon.  I've posted a picture below of half of the watermelon.  Imagine my surprise when I cut into the watermelon and it was this beautiful shade of "yellow".  I couldn't believe it, yellow really?  I didnt even know yellow watermelons existed.  I know I need to get out more often.  The yellow watermelon had a great taste so Gary and I were not disappoited with our first yellow watermelon.  Actually, the yellow would be beautiful to use in a fruit salad with blueberries, strawberries etc.

I have posted a few more pictures of some of the quilts I did this week.  I will confess I didn't get pictures of all of this weeks quilts but I did have a great time quilting.  I hope you enjoy the pictures of Bobbi K's and Celeste D's quilts shown below.  The paper pieced star quilt was still on the machine when I took a quick picture.  This quilt is stunning and Meg F did a fabulous job as she always does.  Thanks ladies for allowing me to quilt your quilts.

Blessings to all.

Well it's hump day (Wednesday) for all of you people who are looking forward to the weekend.  I love summertime, but I do not like a sunburn.  Would you believe in my haste to enjoy floating on Lake Freeman on Sunday I never gave it a thought to put sunscreen on my legs.  In particular on my legs from the hips to my knees.  Ouch!! You guessed it I have the prettiest shade of red on my legs.  All I can say is to remind everyone to use sunscreen.  Okay, I'll get off my soapbox for now.

I have been  busy quilting this week. I've posted a few pictures of two of the quilts I was working on.  Just to remind everyone you are never too old to quilt.  Hence the picture of the sunbonnet Sue and Sam made by a 78 years young lady.  Her niece had me quilt the quilt and will finish the quilt and present the quilt to her aunt at a family reunion.  What memories this quilt already has attached to it.

I've also posted a picture of a pinwheel quilt made by Lynn.  This quilt is beautifully pieced and the colors are vibrant.  I chose an allover pinwheel pattern.  Lynn said she purchased this material from Connecting Threads.  Nice job,  Lynn.

I am still praying for rain for every area that needs it.  It breaks my heart to see how destroyed the corn crop is in our area.  I appreciate how hard farmers work to plant their crops only to have them taken from them.  I pray that rain will come soon to atleast save the soybean crops, gardens and water supplies. 

Blessings to all.