Ninety DJ Blocks

My new numbers ar 90 blocks, 21 triangles, 3 corners and 2282 pieces! I have to make ten more blocks to reach the next benchmark and become a "Jubileer" on the DJ List. Today I will be making pumpkin and apple pies and choosing which project on the "to do"list that I can work on and perhaps finish for this week. The mystery swatch quilt is all sandwiched and ready to quilt, maybe I can work on that... The pies are for our after the home game party on Friday night. If the boys win the football game they will get to go to the playoffs. :)

Last week's progress and This Week's Commitment

I had trouble getting photos to post last week so my posts are a little behind :) Here are the DJ blocks that I finished last week :) my new numbers are 86 blocks,21 triangles, 3 corners, 2215 pieces.

my five things for my CTL this week are to
1)make my NJQS block (finished 10/23)
2)make four DJ Blocks: E-13, F-1,F-12 and F-13 (finished 10/24)
3)finish one of the quilting "to do's" that are on the list
4)Clean the carpets and keep the house clean for Friday's after-game party
5)Do my daily devotional reading ON TIME! and finish "Knit One, Kill Two" what a super book :) (finished KOKT on 10/22)

Day in the Country

Ice Cream Cake

Ice Cream Cake Recipe

One 9"x13" cake
Two boxes of ice cream
One can of frosting




Make your favorite cake in a 9"13" pan
(grease and flour the sides for easily removal from the pan)
Once cooled, place it in the center of your serving platter.
Make sure that you have space in your freezer!!!
Now is the time to make sure! Place the cake in the freezer
for a while till chilled.


Take the cake out of the freezer along wih a
box of your favorite ice cream and soften it slightly.
Any flavor will work it just needs to be in a box.
Cut the box of ice cream in half lengthwise so you
have two rectangles of ice cream. Place each half
of the ice cream on the cake. Trim the cake so the
sides are even with the ice cream and then place it
back in the freezer while you work on the next part...



Take another box of your favorite flavor ice cream
(just a plain one like chocolate, vanilla or strawberry-
no mixed in things like nuts, chips etc...) and put it in a
mixing bowl, a stand mixer works best. Whip the ice
cream until it is a nice frosting like spreading consistency.



Remove the cake from the freezer and pour and spread the
ice cream so it completely covers over the tops and sides and
is nice and smooth. Work quickly and then put the cake, again,
back in the freezer.







After a few hours you can remove the cake from the freezer and use a decorator tip and pipe the frosting around the edges of the cake as desired, then put it back in the freezer until 5-10 minutes before serving time.
slice and ENJOY!!!

The cake in the photo did not get its finished picture taken... I put some mini chocolate chips on top and ran to my sons football game! They won "Yay!" and our friends came over to celebrate afterwards and then...it was gone :)

Scarecrows

The Topsy Turvy Scarecrows are all finished! I had to stand way back in order to fit the quilt into a photo to show you. I have put all of the Bulls Eye blocks together now and I ordered my border and backing fabric so that I can finish it. Today I am working on my DJ BOW and I'll post more later. hugs, Keri

Fall Fun

Wait a minute... I think I see the great pumpkin! Over there, No, Over there, No....

A Commitment to Loveliness!

I just found Emma's blog because of Tamera's Blog, and I am so excited to begin Emma's weekly challenges...all we have to do is... "choose five things that you would like to work on or do during the week that will increase the loveliness in your life!"

I think that we are supposed to make the list on Sunday and then fulfill it during the week but I will start today! I have already been really challenged and blessed by Tilde's great Cinderella'ing tips (which must be restarted now!) and now I will try to work on Emma's as well.

1. HAIR

I think that first on the list will be my hair. I have very long straight hair and I found out yesterday that I will have to get glasses. I always wanted glasses but now that I actually have to get them and "wear them all the time" (Dr. said) I am thinking thoughts like...How does one wear glasses all the time? I wear my sunglasses alot, but my hair really bugs me and gets caught up in my lanyard and frames sometimes when I have my sunglasses on. I have untill the 13th to think about it...Well, not actually that long becuase I will have to make an appointment and have whatever I'm going to do done, yikes, what to do... perm it again? Cut it off? both????#1 is consider what to do, if anything, with my hair...

2. EXCERCISE

The other thing is to make a commitment to excercise...something like "three times this week I will actually do something active and get my heart rate up"...I feel so much better after I excercise and I know this, really do!...But I find so many excuses not to "Just do it" so...should I just buy the treadmill or should I get the gym membership down the street? If I bought the treadmill then where would I put it? Would I actually go and excercise down the street if I bought the membership?

hmmm...my goal will be this week is #2 Decide what to do about my lack of excercise AND do something about it! how's that????

3 and 4. SEWING

sewing goals...I could easily make five sewing goals for the week but I will limit this area to one or two in order to appear like a balanced individual who isn't consumed by quilting and threads and fabrics of all colors, shades, patterns and styles and... ;) teehee

sewing projects for this week..... The beautiful bulls eyes from the swap are calling me from their plastic bags.... and the scarecrows are almost done! I will add Pat's corn cob block to this list and of course my DJ Bow and the NJQS Block too....ooops I think that is more than two but no one is counting right???

5 LITERATURE

I received the Jane Austen collection for my B-day and I haven't even cracked it open yet. I do so much reading during our home schooling time that I don't do a lot of reading just for myself other than my daily devotional time... I have loved the Praying the Names of Jesus book by Ann Spangler. Wow, it is a wonderful study. and..I signed up to read the October book with the Pat Sloan group and got it from the library...It is called "Knit One, Quilt Two", I love a great mystery :) so I will make that my final goal... #5 start the book!

Thanks again, when I think about it, the internet has been such a blessing to me, to be able to connect with so many wonderful ladies who are so willing to share their creativity and talent with those of us who, well, really desperately need their inspiration! LOL

hugs,

Keri

Do you EQ?

I love it when those "A-Ha" moments happen. I'll be the first to tell you, in case you haven't noticed that it takes me a bit sometimes to figure stuff out.

I love using EQ5 and EQ6 and I have been working on learning more about the programs using them for designing and TADA! (teehee) I finally figured out how to add those neat monthly fabric libraries to my personal fabric libraries on my EQ6...The instructions are super on the website but for me, sometimes, I have to read and re-read the directions to get them and YAY I followed them and it worked and I just wanted to share...if I can do it, you can too! The fabrics in the new libraries are wonderful... I think I need to go play with my EQ6 now!

hugs,

Keri

Fall Colors

Fall Colors, I am a bit crazy for all things fall at the moment and have been working on two projects this week.
The Scarecrows are from the "Topsy-Turvy Scarecrows" pattern and they are in the process of getting their mahine buttonhole stitch and then they will get their hay/yarn and quilting.
The Nine patch quilt is in the process of being appliqued. I am adding some flowers to the center star and th outside border and then it will be ready to move to the "To Be Quilted" list...
I added those lists to my Blog today. To see them written down inspires me to get moving on them nd I hope will help me keep track of my "TO DO's".
I also quilted a few blocks on the Jack's Chain last night. Just a few more blocks to go and it will come off the frame.
I'm still waiting for the Bulls Eye Blocks Swap to be returned. I am getting impatient LOL! If you haven't seen the tutorial yet it is really well done and you can see it at Busy Mama's Webshots Page (just click on the name to go there)
I am feeling like I am catching a cold today. The weather has turned really, really cold here and we all were wishing for long unds at the football game on Friday night...I am trying to fight it off so I probably will play hookey from church today. This week's study on Praying the Name of Jesus was wonderful! I hope that you will join us when we start a new study towards December. Have a great day,
hugs,
Keri

SBS chart update

What a difference now! I have seventy two blocks for my quilt so far. I decided to use a couple more of the bocks that I received in the Blue and white swap for this quilt. I will update my list as soon as I can as I want to have a label on the back to remember everyone by!
I also stitched about eight more blocks, I had so much fun stitching yesterday!
Today is house cleaning day and we are going to a football game tonight and invited some friends over for pie after the game... so I need to get baking and cleaning! have a wonderful day!
hugs,
Keri

SBS THANK YOU!!!!

After much contemplation, I thought I could try and create a word document and paste in my photos and be able to see my Sylvia's Bridal Quilt as it progresses. I scanned all the swap blocks that I want to use for my "Sylvia's colors Bridal Quilt" with the blocks that I have made on my own and put them on the chart, so now I actually can get an idea where I am in the process and what blocks I have left to make! Cool huh????
Here are the names of the ladies and the blocks that they contributed to the quilt through the first SBS swap:

A-3 Shannon Shaw

A-5 May Irene Bjornemyr

A-9 Sandra McLay

B-1 May-Irene Bjornemyr

B-2 May-Irene Bjornemyr

B-5 Dot Colna

B-9 Trisha Lee Chubbs

C-1 Contrary Husband

C-8 Valerie Langue

C-9 Dot Colna

C-10 Donna Farley

D-2 Karen Hallman

D-10 Donna Farley

E-7 Sandra McLay

E-8 Donna Farley

F-7 Sandi Harrah

F-8 Donna Farley

F-10 Donna Farley

G-7 Debbie Frey

G-10 Yvonne Bagnell

H-9 Debbie Frey

J-1 Wendy Jones

J-4 Katherine Hannan

J-5 Yvonne Bagnell

J-6 Trisha Lee Chubbs

J-8 Yvonne Bagnell

J-9 lost the tag ! Please let me know if you recognize your block

K-2 Melissa Maloof

K-7 Bridgette Hardy]

K-8 Shelley Stevens

K-9 May Irene Bjornemyr

L-6 Yvonne Bagnell

L-10 Katherine Hannan

M-4 Pamela Bruner

M-5Bridgette Hardy

N-1 Wendy Jones

N-2 Yvonne Bagnell

N-5 Jennifer Chiaverini

N-10 Katherine Hannan

Here are the names of the ladies whose blocks I will use in my Blue/Cream quilt:

Katherine Hallman C-6 Crossed Canoes

Simone de Haan M-10 Key West Beauty

Joey Brede E-10 Hunter’s Star

Joan Sheridan E-8 Lincoln’s Platform

Susy Parrott I-1 True Lovers Knot

Florine Miller A-7 Cats and Mice

Carol Huddy L-9 Rolling Stone

Dorien Schaap B-7 Swamp Patch

Francisca Reit K-1 Road to Oklahoma

Yvonne Bagnell L-8 Kansas Troubles

Fran Threewit K-7 Sickle

Carolyn Bierworth L-6 Steps to the Altar

Shannon Shaw M-8 Dogtooth Violet

Tanya Anderson G-3 Bear’s Paw

Anne Ida Rokeness N-7 Duck and Ducklings

Bridgette Hardy I-4 Anvil

Linda Egge M-5 Ohio Star

Asa Holmer H-2 Wedding Ring

Caroline VanMaele D-10 Boy’s Nonsense

Nicki Bauer D-4 Rambler

Valerie Langue F-10 Aunt Sukey’s Choice

Sandi Harrah H-4 Dove in the Window

Anneliies Van den Bergh F-2 Ladies’ Aid Album/D-9 Orange Peel

Janet Elia H-5 Sylvia’s Shooting Star

Rebecca Abney B-7 Swamp Patch

Kathy Oppelt A-3 Bright Hopes

Linda Diaz A-9 Chinese Coin

Mary Ayres C-4 Sisters Choice

Sandra McLay G-3 Bear’s Paw

Trisha Lee Chubbs H-3 Sarah’s Favorite

Kathy Hardy F-3 Bow Tie

Beth Arenburg I-4 Anvil

Katherine Hannan C-5 Lady of the Lake

Gladys Thompson G-7 Sarah’s Favorite

Donna Farley I-3 Dutchman’s Puzzle

Shelley Stevens K-2 The Friendship Quilt

Lou Jane Gatford L-10 Contrary Wife

Anne K. Moore I-8 Birds in the Air

Elise Fare L-4 Brides Bouquet

Karen Hallman G-1 Love in a Mist

Dorthy Colna M-4 Jack in the Box

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, so much for all the beautiful blocks. They are treasures to me! I can hardly wait to stitch the quilts!

hugs,

Keri

Diamond Jane and SBS Swap Blocks

Here is the picture of my Diamond Jane and the SBS blocks that I received in the Blue and White swap. I am working on cinderalla'ing today: challenge #18 is organizing stray quilt blocks. I have almost uploaded all my SBS blocks and then I will post a photo of my chart progress. Have a lovely day,
Keri

Pumpkin Swap Blocks

The blocks for the Pumpkin Swap are all finished. I made seven blocks. I will send in six to be swapped and pick one to keep. They are all a little bit different. I like them all!

SBS Swap Blocks

SBS Swap Blocks are here! The photo is a little dark...I'll try to take another one tomorrow....

Finishes

I finished the quilt for my grandfather for his Birthday. I stitched an Idaho Beauty quilt for him from the "More Nickel Quilts" book by Pat Speth.

I also finished my Calendar Quilt. This was such a fun project... and I stitched two more DJ blocks. My new numbers are 70,21.3.1886. I'm eager to get to the next benchmark which is 75 blocks. I went through all my blocks the other day and found two that absolutely must be restitched. I have learned so much with this project it is still an appropriate name that I gave my baby Jane..."In Leornian Tide" (In Learning Time)

I am making Apple Butter today~! The recipe is at http://patsloan.typepad.com/ if you want to make some with me!

Have a lovely day!

Quilty stuff

I finished a few more DJ blocks and took a photo. I love these little blocks! My new numbers are 68,21,3,1846 (blocks,triangles, corners, pieces)

I also took a photo of my "Farmers Market" quilt blocks that I am stitching along with Pat Sloan at her website. She offers the patterns for free on her website at: http://www.quiltershome.com/farmers.htm

I just finished the pie block. I love these they are so quick and fun to sew! I am getting a little better at the buttonhole stitch, adding buttons and ribbon and making "donut fusible s"!

Swaps, Swaps, Swaps

I have been stitching Bull's Eye Blocks to practice my circling skills for the swap blocks that I am hoping to stitch and get finished before they are due in a few weeks. I'll add these blocks in to the quilt when I get my swap blocks back...
The Sylvia's Bridal Swap blocks are going to be exchanged on Saturday so they will be arriving soon and I signed up for a pumpkin swap in October....Lots to look forward too! VBG...quilts and swaps do go together... Not sure who said that originally...

More D J Blocks

Still making DJ blocks like a mad woman (teehee) My new numbers are 62,21,3,1711

Janiac Maniac

I'm currently going crazy sewing blocks for my Dear Jane quilt. I've finished at least one every day for the last....ummm. four...five days? I love these little blocks. I am also saving them on a block chart...Here is how it looks now:I guess I should have edited the image but it gives you an idea. I think I will work on my NJQS block for the week and another DJ block today. Have a lovely Tuesday!

hugs,

Keri

Pat Sloan Quilts

Pat Sloan's Farmer's Market Quilt

Tomatoes BlockJammie Jars

Calendar Quilt Top

I'm not sure if I should call this a memory quilt or a calendar quilt. The fabrics and patches are all filled with memories.

Some of the pieced blocks are extras blocks from projects that I have made or projects that are in the process of being finished....Extra swap blocks, Extra blocks from Wally's, our friend with Alzheimer's, quilt, Extra blocks from my Mom's Christmas table quilt.

I made anothr Lighthouse block for July and appliqued a pumpkin for October and a heart for Valentine's Day...

It was so much fun to organize the colors and fabric themes for the monthly groups. Ice blue for January. Lavendar for February. Green for March, flowers for June, etc...

Now it just needs to be quilted...

Friday...Finishes, Frustrations, Finality and the Future

Busy, Busy week...

I missed your Birthday Meg, I'm sorry :^(

I wish that I could do it all and do it better, but alas, it doesn't happen that way all the time does it... No question mark needed for that statement (teehee)

I did get three and a half things finished... The watercolor heart, it does look like a heart don't you think?

I regret some of the color placement but that is o.k....It is my first try at a watercolor quilt so I'll just be happy and chalk it up to lessons learned and try to think happy thoughts...

The Cape Blanco Lighthouse quilt:

I do like how this one came out. My first attempt at "double stick fusible web" applique....Yes, I had to look at the packaging because I couldn't remember what it was called :)

After I fused the pieces on to the background fabric, I put on the borders and then I went over them with monofilament thread with my free motion quilting foot. This quilt is for my boys who are currently fascinated with all things having to do with the Ocean...ie, pirates, ships, lighthouses, shells and fish and sharks...etc...

The Star, My leading August ogre thing. I made up the pattern on EQ5 and it sat in the box since I pieced it in March. I was hoping to give it as a gift to one of the couples in our small bible study group, but I'm not sure that it is good enough or not....

The stripes really bugged me and that is why it ended up in the box and not finished right away. I should have used the paisley fabric in the inside squares instead of repeating the stripes...But to end on an optimistic note, I am learning a lot with each project that I do! Think happy thoughts, think happy thoughts...

The jack's chain quilt is almost done too. I think that I told you that I had moved it to the living room behind the couch but I had to move it back into the sewing room after I kicked it and broke my toe two days ago...You might have heard me yell...No, I promise not to show you any pictures of my toe! On the happy thought note: I am still stitching at least one thread a day on it and now all that is left is the very top row of nine patches!!!

I am also working on finishing the calendar quilt (Pat Sloan). I still have a few more apliques that I want to fuse on there and once that is altogether it will be quilted and the DJ siggie quilt (on my sewing room wall) and the quilting the psalms quilt are next on the quilting list too!

So, I'm glad to have a few finishes and a few things that are in line to be finished too. I love what you said, Martha, about PPD, (post project depression) I realize now that maybe I keep a few in line so that I won't have to worry that the last thing I finished will be the last thing I finish. I need to have something to look forward to and I need to believe that there IS something to look forward too...I need...many, even if they are little, happy project thoughts...

My quilt project to-do list:

Quilting: Calendar quilt, DJ siggie quilt, Psalms quilt

Setting: Spring Fling quilt, Dick and Jane swap quilt, Nine Patch Swap quilt

Piecing: NJQS blocks, SBS blocks, DJ blocks,

Have a very Happy Friday, and many HPT's (Happy Project Thoughts) to you and yours!

hugs,

Keri

August Ogres and stuff

August "Ogres" is the theme for the month. Clean up, finish it, or throw it away. So, for the last two days I have been finishing, or almost finishing, quilt projects. I have four now to finish sewing the binding on to! I finished a row of the "Pat Sloan Calendar quilt" I've been working on also so it has changed from being little strips of odd fabric to a whole row! I love how it is coming out. I'll post pics later.
Have a lovely saturday!
hugs,
Keri

August Activities

Wow, I can't believe that it has been two months since I last posted. We went to the Oregon Coast and visited my family and we went up to MT and visited Lorilylee! ( Hi Lorilylee!) and we have been enjoying summer visits with friends, swim lessons for the kids, BBQ's and Potlucks and other summery stuff...

I am working on a few projects: I finished my quilting the Psalms top, although I am considering adding a white outside border to it. I have almost finished the Inklingo star struck swap quilt top. I'm on the last row of the Jack's Chain quilting. It seems like a long row looming ahead of me. I have been sewing weekly blocks for the Praying the Names of Jesus study, and I pieced a heart watercolor top from Carol Honderich.

The Jack's Chain has been so overwhelming at times. When I expressed my frustration to my friend, she told me "that is why they have quilting bees" Oh, I can understand much better now . We have been having craft nites at church a few times a month and it has been bringing together ladies of all ages to chat, have some tea and cake, and work on a hand craft project. The social time is what I look forward to but there are always threads that get done in my Inklingo top too and that is encouraging.

Cross and Crown Swap Block

I made the first of the Cross and Crown Block for the SBS swap. Just four more to go and I will be able to send off the blocks to Jennifer. I am feeling relieved to be finishing up early. They are not due until the end of August...but with all the summer activities coming, I was hoping to get ahead :0)

Sylvia's Bridal Swap Blocks

Anne put her blocks out all together and I was inspired to see how mine would look all spread out on the floor!
They are being swapped in sets of five. I have just one more set to make, the Cross and Crown Block.
I have made a few extra blocks, some to keep and a few to send to our hostess, Jennifer.

Spring Photos

Easter Cherry Blossoms

A Little House quilt for my neice!