Happy Birthday to ME!

It is a few weeks early but here it is. A nearly new Pfaff 122SE. There are no scratches on the work surface which means it hasn't been used much even though it is probably over 30 years old. I haven't had a chance to sew with it yet since the grandson is here visiting for a few days but I hope to sew something in the next couple of days. It has a few differences from my other 1222s, most noticeably the two tone paint job. Also, this model came with snap-on interchangeable feet instead of all the various feet that my others originally came with.

Our Thanksgiving travels took us past Fabric Depot down in Portland so I stopped and stocked up on white-on-whites. I picked up a piece of one white-on-white for my internet quilt-y friend, Jennifer, that has little crabs on it. I used some in a block I made for her and she wanted some for her stash. I also got 3 yards of 108" muslin to use for a project I have coming up. I hope to get it laid out after I take the boy back home to his parents.

November's blocks

Here are the five blocks I made for November's QBE. I have already received a couple from other members of the group and I am liking my choice of black and white with a splash of bright color. I am looking forward to putting them together one of these days.

There will be no sewing today though as I will be heading out as soon as I take my shower for the other side of the state. I get to spend the evening with my grandkids and tomorrow morning and then I will pick up my son from college and bring him home. Hopefully I will have a picture of my granddaughter in her little dress - whether it fits her or not!

sewing, but not quilting

Since the denim quilt tops got finished I haven't done anymore quilty kind of sewing but I did make this cute little dress for my granddaughter, Clara. She is 16 months old but is a bit shrimpy so I think the dress will be a bit big but it is somewhere to start. I have more fabrics to use for more dresses and the good news is that she might grow into this one before summer comes again! I am holding off on the elastic in the sleeves so I put the right length in when it fits her. I hope to get a picture of her in the dress next week when I am at their house.
I finally got around to taking pictures of these three blocks I received in the Quilt Block Exchange. The first two are from October and the one on the right is my first one for November.I hope to get started on my November blocks tomorrow.

Today I helped out tying quilts for Lutheran World Relief at our church. Several of the usual ladies were out of town so I got a call to help. We got the usual 10 quilts tied this morning so I am glad it worked in my schedule this time. After stopping at the store for ingredients, I spent the rest of the afternoon making lasagna for my husband for his continuing birthday celebration (we went out to dinner last night) and an apple coffee cake for 'bruncheon' tomorrow at church. Now I am pooped and need to get off my feet.

The rain continues...

which means I have no excuse for not getting a lot of sewing done! I have managed to finish two denim quilt tops. The first one was supposed to be for my great niece but...
...I wasn't satisfied with the results for her so I made this one instead.

I have also started ripping some more jeans so I can get more cut up so I can sew more tops.

Last week at Joann's I bought four pieces of fabric to use for little dresses for my granddaughter. Three are corduroy and one is denim. I have them prewashed and ironed so I can get started on the first one as soon as I get her measurements. I plan to have the first one done so I can take it over on the 20th when I go over to pick up our son for Thanksgiving break. Then, if I get time I will get the others done before Thanksgiving when we will be seeing them again.

The Reveal

This past weekend I spent with my sister and her family. On Saturday we had the reveal for our Quilt Block Exchange. Nine of the twelve involved were able to be there. Lots of fun! All the blocks turned out great though we all struggled to remember which ones we made! You can see everyone else's blocks here. We will be starting another round soon.

If you are interested in being a part of a round robin block exchange there will be starting one after the holidays over on flickr.

I haven't gotten too much done in the sewing room recently what with working and traveling. This week is full of appointments: oil change, haircut, helping my husband pick out his first pair of glasses, picking up a friend from a Dr. appointment, etc. On top of that it hasn't been raining so I have gotten some leaves raked, blown, vacuumed, mowed - just in time for a storm to come in tomorrow and knock more leaves down! Maybe I can do a little sewing tomorrow afternoon while the rain falls.