Here are the blocks for my tablerunner

It was nice to sit down and sew for a while last night. I have a bunch of my blocks done. I also have the pieces for 6 more star blocks that need to be sewn together.

My pile of pieces:


This is how they go together:


And sewn:


This is the completed 9-patch (I didn't take pictures before it was completed - I used the strip piecing method, so that went pretty quickly):


And because I couldn't resist, I put two of the rows together to see what it looks like (we're just supposed to have the blocks done for the next quilt class on June 1):


I think for borders, I'm going to do a small border of the blue, then use the red for a larger border and probably the binding. I need to see if I have enough fabric. I may have to use the off-white for the binding, I know I have plenty of that.


Todd's grandmother was put in a Nursing Home last night. She was not happy - was really looking forward to going home, but hopefully that will be an incentive for her to get well soon so she can go home.

My parents are coming NEXT FRIDAY!!! I can't wait! Still need to do a lot of cleaning, but I decided I'm taking Wednesday (my birthday) off and will be off until the next Tuesday. (I really wanted to take Tuesday off, but my boss said it would be a lot better for him if I work on Tuesday. I'm hardly ever gone and it's been a long time since I've taken that many days off in a row, so it's going to be hard for him to actually WORK on those days!) He'll still owe me one more day of vacation before June 1st, so I may take it on the 26th, the day after Labor Day and I'd have a four day weekend then.

Well, better get going for the morning. I skipped the gym the last couple days - can I use the "Swine Flu" as an excuse??????

Another new project - FINALLY!

Our quilt class at church didn't end with the quilts, we met again on Monday night and Jean has a new project for us. We're doing a table runner this time, so it won't take near as long.

This is what she made (she didn't have hand outs for us, so I took pictures w/ my cell phone so I had something to refer back to):


We need 10 blocks of the "stars"


and 11 9 patch blocks


I still had a lot of fabric left from when I made my quilt, so I'm using that for the table runner, too. Yes, it would be nice to have it out of something different, but since I have sooo much fabric there's really no use buying more. I did use ALL of the dark blue fabric on the quilt, so I just have a light blue so I'm using that for the stars, biege for the off-white parts on both blocks, and the 9 patches will have red. I'm not sure what I'll use for the boarder yet. And I may decide to do something different with the colors once I get a few put together. I worked on the half-squares for the stars last night, so I have enough of them to do the table runner. I'll try to take pictures tonight.

And no, I still don't have the quilt entirely done. Maybe after my parents visit I'll work on it more. Now that the weather is getting warmer, the last thing I want to do is sit with a huge quilt on my lap.

In other news, Todd's 97 year old grandmother is in the hospital again having problems with her heart. The report yesterday was better and they said she may be able to go home in a couple days. She had been in the hospital a couple weeks ago, too, so this time really scared us. Logic says she won't live forever, but it's still sad.

Pictures finally!!!

Todd's Grandma REALLY liked the last purse I made for her friend, and when we spoke to her Saturday she said she has another friend that really liked it, too, so could I make one for her? OF COURSE!!!! :D (She's my best customer!!)

I thought about sending her the other brown one (that has one handle), but she didn't know if her friend would like just one handle. So I had some more fabric left that I made my sister's purse out of and used that instead. I have a "vague" pattern that I use for this design ("Samantha"), but something is different about each bag. [I hate to harp on it, but please don't steal my designs!!]

Anyway, this is the finished bag - the flap for the snap is larger than Jerolyn's purse:

Inside:

Corner:

Opposite Corner:

I also decided to use different lining for the pockets:


I briefly thought about using the red fabric for the lining inside the purse, but I've found that when you have a light-colored lining, it's easier to find things in it, so decided to use the same lining as Jerolyn's purse.

This week I went shopping at http://www.kinseyinteriors.com/ and found some more fabric that will be great for lining purses. Soon I'll need to get some more fabric for the outsides......

In other news, our computer is acting up. Suddenly Monday morning I went to put in a CD to make a card and it no longer sees our CD Drive. We are trying to figure out if it can be fixed or if we need to get another one. If we get another one, I'm hoping it will be a laptop. I did go buy a USB Storage stick and put all 1254 photos on it so in case Todd totally trashes it, I'll still have my pictures.

That's all for now! I hope you like the new purse!!! Feek free to leave comments! :D

December 16, 1915

This is a photo of my grandparents (Mom's parents), Abraham Lincoln Troyer and Emma Barbara Eichelberger on their wedding day - December 16, 1915 (or maybe December 15, 1915 - I've seen both and am not sure of the correct date. The family calendar that was made for 2000 says 16th, but the little bulletin for Grandma's Memorial Service says the 15th).



Wow, just a few minutes after I posted my blog entry this morning, we had a car pull up in front of the office (yes, I was blogging while at work). Nebraska license plate, 34-(something). For those of you unfamiliar with license plates in Nebraska, most counties are assigned numbers for their license plates, so if you know the number assigned to each county, you know where they are from. (I believe the Omaha and Lincoln areas are now too big to have numbers assigned to them, that changed after we left Nebraska so I'm not sure how they work.) Anyway, I've seen MANY 34-county plates and knew it was from Filmore county, which is where my grandparents (above) lived. When I was young, we made many trips on Sunday afternoons to go see them and seeing that plate today just bought back a flood of memories. The people came into our office and I had lots of fun talking to them and of course had to tell them that I'm a native Nebraskan who had family that lived in Shickley (they live in Geneva). They didn't know any of my relatives, but I still enjoyed talking to them. It's funny how seeing that plate just made me happy. Right after they left I went to lunch and really got to thinking about family. So I called Mom to tell her, we always laugh about how it's such a small world. She had told me a while ago that when she was working at the shop in Seward they had a mom and daughter come in from Texas and this is how the conversation went:



Mom: Where do you live in Texas?

Them: Austin

Mom: Oh, I have a daughter who lives in Georgetown

Them: Well, we live in Georgetown, but always just say Austin because no one knows where Georgetown is.

Me: FUNNY!





Anyway, while I was at home and thinking about family, I went to look through some old photos I have and found the picture posted above. I just think it's neat and wanted to post it so everyone could see it.





I also found this one:


EEEEEKKKKKKKK!!!!!!!! I wish I could remember for sure when this was taken, but I'm guessing 1993 or 1994. The little boy Mom is holding is my nephew, Josh, who was born in 1992, that's what my guess is based on. Mom, Brian or Jerolyn, do you know exactly when it was taken? If so, email me or put a comment on this post and I'll write it on the back of the picture.

So to find out correct dates, I had to pull out my copy of the family calendar that I keep important family stuff in it. Mostly it's full of obituaries. My dad's parents were both deceased before I was born, so I never was lucky enough to know them. I do remember Mom's parents and going to see them on Sundays. I remember always taking a little baggie full of pennies because Grandpa collected them. I don't know what he did with them after I gave them to him though. I also remember him being VERY TALL. My older brother and some of my cousins inherited his height, I didn't. He died on August 27, 1971; he was 81. (I was thinking it was later than that because I thought my younger brother had been born before he died, but I guess not. Barry was born in 1972.) Grandma died on October 11, 1989; she was 96. They were married for 56 years and had 12 kids (Mom is second to youngest). When grandma died in 1989, she had 39 Grandchildren and 58 Great Grandchildren. I wonder what the count is now, 20 years later, in 2009. My kids were3 and 4 when she died and now they have kids of their own (Todd and I have four grandchildren.)

And in two days, Todd's grandmother turns 97. I wish we could be there to celebrate with her, but it didn't work out. At least we got to see her at Christmas.

And tomorrow is Samantha and Jason's anniversary. I think this will be their 3rd. I have a card at home for them, so we'll have to get with them soon.

I guess I've rambled on enough for this afternoon.

Have a wonderful day, everyone!!!!! :D

One more "Samantha" Purse

This one is going to Illinois, to my husband's 96 yr old grandmother. She heard I was making purses and wanted one. This is some of the upholstery fabric I purchased and it worked out really well.

Front - the tab has a magnetic snap:


The inside has five pockets:


Each side has a pocket on it. The long pockets have velcro for a closure:


I hope she likes it!