Two More Quilts Finished 

Filed under: Just Life, Quilting on Monday, November 28th, 2011 by Deanna Gottreu | No Comments

I went to bed last night at twelve thirty (that makes it this morning) and was still awake at eight this morning.  So I just gave up on sleep and got out of bed.  First I did my Bible study, ate breakfast, and then started quilting.  Since I was tired, but still not sleepy, I took several breaks during the day. Finished the two quilts about eight tonight.

Started from scratch with this one today.  It is just two pieces of fabric that are quilted in my version of meandering.  Each side is quilted separately and then the two are sewn together, turned, and then top stitched on the edge with a decorative stitch.

One of the children receiving quilts is a little girl who has heart problems and was asked to make a soft one for her.  Unfortunately I had no flannel in my stash but did not mind buying some.  I only buy fabric these days if I do not have what I need in my stash.  The alphabet fabric is the flannel.

I had hoped to do at least one more quilt today but I was just too tired and am happy that I got at least two finished.

My plan was to wrap the presents for the advent calendar for Bryce and Brody when I finished the quilts but I am just too tired.  Will be asleep by nine thirty.

Nine Quilts Finally Finished 

Filed under: Just Life, Quilting on Friday, November 25th, 2011 by Deanna Gottreu | No Comments

Today I finally finished the nine quilts.  To say I am tired and also tired of quilts is putting it mildly.  But it is nice to see results of my work.

I quilted the non Christmas side of this quilt years ago and now it is part of a Christmas quilt and will now have a home with a young child.

I made two quilts with identical panels for the front but each has a different back.

The two different backs for the flying Santa quilt above.  I only had to quilt the backs for the fronts were quilted last year.

I had four of this panel but only made three of them into quilts for I have the idea that maybe next year I will make the remaining one into a wall hanging for my own use.   Besides, only three had been quilted last year and I did not want to quilt another one.

Only had to quilt these three backs for the Christmas tree panels above since the fronts were already quilted.

Last year I sewed the three sections together but it did not get quilted until this year.  To say I am a procrastinator is putting it mildly.  However, I am not as bad as I used to be when I was much younger.

These sections were also sewn together last year and quilted this year.

Pieced together last year and like the other two was not quilted until this year.

And there you have the nine quilts that I finally finished up today.  This gives me a good feeling of accomplishment.  Took me long enough to accomplish.

Happy Thanksgiving, 2011 

Filed under: Just Life on Thursday, November 24th, 2011 by Deanna Gottreu | No Comments

Nine Quilts Almost Finished 

Filed under: Just Life, Quilting on Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011 by Deanna Gottreu | No Comments

Very few people were at church tonight but was not really surprised since many were already out of town visiting family and I am sure that many stayed home just to work on the meal for tomorrow.  The pastor brought a great sermon on worshiping God by thanking Him for our blessings.

Since Scott will not be home and Brian does not know when Christie will be back in Quitman tomorrow, I called him a few minutes ago and asked him if he would be upset if I did not have dinner with them.  He assured me that was fine but then he quickly asked me if I was all right with that decision.   Brian and Christie want to eat Chinese and I just cannot get interested in that even though I love Chinese food.  I am in the mood for a turkey dinner with all the trimmings so I am going to Ryan’s Restaurant tomorrow for my Thanksgiving dinner.  I have no problem with eating alone since most of my meals are eaten alone.  Besides I will have a good book to read while I am eating.  And the best part is that I will not have to cook and there will be no cleanup.  Of course there will be no leftovers but they are highly overrated.

The funny thing is that Brian and Christie may end up eating at Ryan’s also.  We both called the Chinese restaurant and the lady said they would be open.  But as Brian said, English is not her native language so she may not have understood what we were asking.

I have nine quilts draped over the ironing board all ready and waiting for me to do the decorative topstitching around the edges. I can stitch one in ten to fifteen minutes so I am hoping to get them finished tonight.  When those are completed I will have seventeen of the thirty-three finished.

Lunch at Burger King 

Filed under: Just Life on Tuesday, November 22nd, 2011 by Deanna Gottreu | No Comments

Had lunch with Ashley and the boys at Burger King.  Not our favorite restaurant but the price was right and the boys love playing in the play area.  Ashley and I had a great time just talking and visiting.  I was still awake this morning at six but I got up at ten thirty so that I would be at Burger King at eleven.

When I got home from Burger King, I decided to see if I could find my Christmas tree from last year.  I saw a box but it contained a small tree in a pot and another small tree with no stand.  I would love to have a seven and a half foot tree but really don’t have the room.  Well I have the room but when Scott comes home we will need to make the sofa into a bed and that would cause a problem with the tree.  So, I am just going to have two small trees, one on the buffet in the living/dining area and the other on a cabinet in the kitchen area.

Went searching at Walmart for a stand for the one small tree but they only had the very large stands for real trees.  Will come up with some way to keep it upright.  While there I bought a bunch of things for the advent calendar for Bryce and Brody.  Have to have those ready a week from tomorrow.

Since I had so little sleep last night I am going to bed tonight at nine.  Did not get one stitch of sewing done today.  I must sew tomorrow for time is running out and there is still a large pile of fabric and batting waiting to be made into quilts.

What A BORING Day 

Filed under: Just Life on Saturday, November 19th, 2011 by Deanna Gottreu | No Comments

Left home at five this morning and was back home tonight just before eight thirty.  Oh it was a LONG and BORING day.  There was only one thing on the ballot and that was an amendment.  There were twenty-two commissioners working and in all that long day we only had forty-four people come it to vote.  The lady and I that were working together had NO voters.  Two other tables also had no voters.

As I did last time, I took the book that is to be discussed at the Book Club later this month and read it completely.  Had another book but was a little tired of reading so sat and talked with the lady at my table.

I had thought that I might do some sewing when I got home but I was just too tired.  Tired from boredom I think.  So I just studied my Sunday School lesson, read all my emails, checked Facebook, and now I am off to bed.

Ready For Exciting Day Tomorrow 

Filed under: Just Life, Quilting on Friday, November 18th, 2011 by Deanna Gottreu | No Comments

Today I quilted two quilts and then tonight I have seven pinned and ready to sew together and then turn and topstitch.  No sewing at all tomorrow for I will leave home at five in the morning and will not get home tomorrow night until a little before nine.  I will be working as a commissioner at the voting polls.  It is a very long day and is not hard but mainly boring.  I hope we have more voters turn our tomorrow than did for the primary in October.  I am going prepared for I have two books in my purse.  Last time I read an entire book that tells how busy we were.

I decided that I would completely make my food for tomorrow before I go to bed tonight and that way I can sleep an extra half hour.  Not taking as much food as I did last time for did not eat it all and just had to cart it back home.

Eight Quilts Now Complete 

Filed under: Just Life, Quilting on Wednesday, November 16th, 2011 by Deanna Gottreu | No Comments

In two days I have completed two more quilts.  The plan was one a day but that was if I started on the first of November.  Eight are now finished but that means there are still twenty-five to make.  I better get down to business and make two or three a day or I will disappoint myself again this year.

Santa and angels, what a combination.

More angels with Santa.  My fabric stash probably has as many angle fabrics as Santa fabrics.

Wonderful Birthday Dinner 

Filed under: Just Life on Tuesday, November 15th, 2011 by Deanna Gottreu | No Comments

Tonight Ashley and the boys took me to Ronin Japanese Hibachi Steak House & Sushi House in Ruston for my birthday.  Wow, the food was so delicious and watching the chef cook was delightful.  Bryce covered his eyes before the guy set the oil on fire for he said that it scared him but Brody sat there watching every move with his eyes shining with delight.  I had soup, salad, chicken, vegetables, and fried rice.  The clear soup and fried rice are different than Chinese and I think that I prefer the Japanese version best.  Wish that I could get the recipes from the chef.

On the way to Ruston Ashley was telling me her plans for Bryce’s birthday party and invited me but I will not be able to go since I will be at the voting polls from five thirty in the morning until eight thirty at night.  The party would be a lot more fun but working will get me a nice chunk of change, which I can definitely use.

Best Laid Plans 

Filed under: Just Life, Quilting on Monday, November 14th, 2011 by Deanna Gottreu | No Comments

The plan for completing thirty-three quilts for the Christmas boxes at church seemed simple enough.  Originally I planned to start working on the quilts in September but other things kept coming up.  I decided that if I started on the first of November and make at least one quilt each day, except for Sunday, I would have them all completed by the twelfth of December.  Well it is now the fourteenth of November and only two quilts have been completed.  The fronts were quilted last year so I only had to quilt the backs, sew them together, and do the decorative stitching around the edges.  I think I delayed starting to work on the quilts for I kept thinking about the four that were completed years ago and also I had several tops quilted and only had to quilt the backs.  I just kept procrastinating thinking that I had plenty of time.  I better get to quilting or I will not get them all finished.

I bought this panel years ago and was going to make a very fancy wall hanging.  Needless to say that never happened so now it is the front of a quilt for a deserving child.

A quilt full of Santas for a little boy or girl.