Still No Pictures :(

Well, darn. I still can't find the cord to my camera. I guess I'm going to have to go out and buy another one. Hopefully, it will be easier this time!!! The last time, I ended up ordering one off of the internet because I couldn't find one locally. UGH! What a pain!! If only I were more organized...

Anyway, Suzette sent an email asking us to post for WIP Wednesday. Since I can't do pictures, I'll give you a basic rundown of what I have going that needs to be done before Christmas:

Gage's Quilt ~ This was started for my nephew shortly after he was born (2 years ago!) and was meant to be a baby gift. It is based on a pattern called "Peek-a-Boo" from the Quick Quilts magazine and Let-Me-Tell-You...this quilt has been anything but quick!!!! It's a cute idea but for an anal retentive quilter like me who has to have everything *perfect*, it's been a nightmare. The reason it's still not done is I have to keep putting it away because it's been so frustrating!!! I remember that the last time I had it out, I came to the conclusion that I was going to go away from the pattern a little bit and make some of the blocks different so as not to have so many of the PIA blocks to do. That involves some frog quilting and I haven't gotten that far yet. My secondary goal was to have it done last year for Christmas...but since it's still on my WIP list, you know that didn't happen either :( SO...my FINAL goal is to have it done this year for Christmas. We'll see how that goes...

Gracie's Quilt ~ This is for the aforementioned's little sister who will be one year old on December 11. I have all of the fabrics purchased and know what I'm going to do, but haven't started yet. It really is simple so need to get that one put together and to the long-armer SOON.

Sharon's RR ~ Yet another frustrating project. I participated in this absolutely *wonderful* round robin with my small group and I still have my best friend's quilt. I was the last one to get hers and got frustrated with my round. She told me to put it away and come back to it. I have been working on it lately and just have some final embroidery to do. It should be an easy finish. Since she doesn't have a computer and can't read my blog ~ LOL ~ I can tell you that I've purchased her a gift certificate to our local long-armer as a thank you for waiting for it for SO long. I know she will love it but I feel so guilty!!!! (Or is that Quilty?!?!?!)

I have also been on a creativity HIGH lately ~ so went shopping three times last week. I purchased Nancy Halvorsen's new "Love Is" fabric calendar and the focus block fabric and coordinates to make wallhangings for my kids' rooms. There's even a weiner dog in one block! :)

I also found some really neat fabrics on clearance for 75% off and am going to make the girls' Christmas dresses. My husband laughed when I showed it to him and said maybe I should make them in *next year's* sizes because he bet that I would never get them done for this year's holiday celebrations!! LOL We'll see who wins out on that one...

There's a WHOLE other list of WIPs that are listed on the right side of my blog. I have my small group meeting all day tomorrow and hope to get lots accomplished! At the end of this month, I'm going on an all weekend quilt retreat (Friday noon to Sunday 10am) and then again on the weekend of the 8th of December. I have Hello Kitty flannel-backed satin to make both of the girls pajamas as well... I don't think I've done this much clothes sewing in a LONG time!!!

I really feel that 2008 is the YEAR OF THE WIP!!! I hope the rest of you will join me!

Where DOES the time go?

Of course, we all know that's a facetious statement. Time DOES march on...whether we want it to or not. Consider this: my "baby" is now almost 11 years old. Son #2 will be 7 this month (birthday party at the "vacation house" this weekend). Daughter number 1 is three and a half. Youngest daughter is now 15 months. Didn't I just give birth to these babies?!!?!

Ah, well...as such, it's been since September since I last posted. I never lack for anything to do, mind you, it's just that, well, for whatever reason, this blog has fallen to the bottom of the priority list. I think part of it is that I have lots of other blogs that I try to read on a weekly basis and those people ~ their LIVES ~ just seem so darned *interesting*!!!!! Mine just seems so hum-drum. Most days, it's wake-up, get the boys off to school, get the girls up and going, spend all day with the girls doing "girly-girl" stuff (mostly related to Hello Kitty, baby dolls and telephones), wait for the boys to come home from school, make dinner, get the kids ready for bed, fall into bed exhausted and still try to find some time to please the hubby :)! Add (on certain days), dance class for daughter #1 (I said I'd never do it!!!), 4-H for both of the boys, homework, preschool...you get it...I know you do :)

On the quilting front, I've been quite busy, although there are no pictures to show you today because I can't find the camera cord to connect it to the computer. :( But I'll tell you a bit about what's been going on.

On Pat Sloan's list, I've been participating in a 'gridded' Round Robin based on Pat's book, "It's Your Turn ~ Round Robin Fun". It's a great book and really neat concept if you're tired of the traditional "add-a-round" Round Robins. I haven't received mine back yet ~ seems as though everyone in my group is a little behind (including me!) but can't wait to get it back. I have a couple of pics of the ones I've been working on, but they're stuck on the camera right now...

Several members of my quilt group got together to make a friendship quilt for another member who hasn't been feeling up to par lately. The center block is based on Amy Bradley's "Spool Flowers" quilt and the rest is made up with cuddly chenille and plain blocks. I'll post a pic as soon as I get the camera situation resolved...

For ME...I think I've finally gathered all of the necessary materials for Verna Mosquera's "Vintage Valentine" quilt

and plan to start on that after the first of the year. Of course, that is only ONE of the many that are on my "TO-DO" list... I'm using alot of Robyn Pandolph's florals and am going to make some of the flowers (shown above in white) using Clover's new y0-yo maker to give it some dimension. I hope to post my progress on it as I get going...

Hubby and I flew to Houston at the end of October to attend International Quilt Market. While there, we met with Melanie Hurlston & Rosalie Quinlan from Australia (Melly & Me and Rosalie Quinlan Designs...see their patterns on my other website), Anni Downs from Hatched and Patched (hope to start carrying her things soon!), Pat Sloan, Mark Lipinski (from Quilter's Home magazine), Janell Cleveland and her sister from Lasting Treasures, Elaine Waldschmitt from The Quilted Closet, Judy Martin, Verna Mosquera from The Vintage Spool, Edyta Sitar from Laundry Basket Quilts, and a host of others...It was a great time (as usual) and there are SO many really neat things coming out SOON. Check your LQS for new products...the fabrics, notions and patterns are absolutely FABULOUS! :)

I'll have pics from Market to share soon...

Hope everyone's start to November is Fan-tab-u-lous! The holiday season is upon us (as evidenced by all of the Christmas stuff in the stores...even BEFORE Halloween! UGH!)...

Join in the happiness of the season and count your blessings!