Yeah!!!!! I received all these disappearing 9 patch squares from my first swap to participate in. I am so excited. Now I get to dream up what I may do with them. I already know that I want to piece with white sashing. Should be lots of fun, especially as I get to see how the other people who joined in do with theirs. I probably won't get to start for a few weeks due to the up coming holidays and other projects that I just have to finish up first, but, as soon as I do, you will be the first to see! See ya!

Here is the finish Brrrrr Snowman quilt hanging that I started with my Sister Laura's quilt day when I was visiting Pennsylvania in Sept. I had only pieced the top with plans on finishing it here at home. This will be quilt #43! Plus, I can count this as one of my finished UFO's for the Joy in the New Year challenge I joined. Yea!!!!!

Lisa came to Arizona for my son Chase's wedding and we were able to quilt our projects during our relax time. It is always fun to share craft time with sisters. Just wish we didn't live so far away from each other. I hope that maybe I can have opportunities with my other sister Kristin, and all the sister in laws in Utah, Texas. Maybe some day.

Okay, Here is the biggest reason for the time delay on blogging a post for you. My 5th child - Chase married his sweetheart Courtney last Friday. This is just one photo of all my children, minus my Navy son, and Courtney. We didn't get the best of photos from the camera phone and hopefully I will be adding a more suitable picture of the whole family. It was a beautiful day.

Here are just a few photos of my daughter in law Anne making a surprise quilt for her husband for Christmas and of how my sewing room looks like. I thought I downloaded a photo of the UFOs hanging on hangers but you can see tips of them behind the door frame. I store a lot of the scraps that have been cut in these containers which really make it handy when looking for that particular size. Looking at the photo makes me realize that I really need to organize that closet. You can barely walk in there and you can imagine what it looks like now with all the moving around for wedding preparations

Here's whats happening at my house. Not much crafting on my part, but a craft it is. These guys are from church and are helping me with the labor for this desperately needed roof. Its very much appreciated in helping me keep the cost down. Thank you, thank you and thank you

The other project I have at my home is this new raised garden bed that my one son is helping me with. It still needs the capstones put on the top and then I'll be ready for the dirt. I look forward to gardening again. I just couldn't get up and down anymore so this will make it much easier. Yeah!!!

When I do a lot of cutting out fabrics I usually throw the usable scraps in a basket for sorting out later. When the basket is full, its time for me to sort, cut and divide the scraps for later scrappy quilting. It occurred to me that maybe I should have a scrappy quilt that I want to do and then cut out for that as I go. Put the rest in divided categories as I usually do and then I would have a project ready to go already cut. Well, this is the box full of the pieces cut and stack just perfectly and

this is the pattern that I am working from. 70 Scrappy stars total

This is the first of those stars ready to go. I figure that this will be one of those projects that I work on here and there, in between other projects.

Okay everyone. I am celebrating! this is the last of 25 blocks on my hand pieced project.Its almost completed! Its been fun especially after each square is completed. Now I look forward to putting it together with some plain squares, sandwiching the quilt and Yes, I plan on hand quilting it. I hope it will be awesome!

The past couple of days I have been sick with a horrendous head cold, so with that and that conference was on t.v., I've managed to hand piece a couple more of these blocks that I have been working on for the last 1-1/2 years. I only have a couple more blocks to go out of 25 and then I will be able to piece them with plain blocks for my quilt. The goal is to have this quilt finished by Oct. next year for the Arizona State Fair. It has taken me a lot more time then I originally planned due to all the weddings my family has blessed me with.

As I go back and review some of the 1st ones finished I see remarkable improvement. The decision to tear them out and redo them is still a decision I am battling with.

I was also very excited to find Gail Pans free BOM for Christmas embroidery blocks. I originally over sized the blocks because I was afraid of tightening up the fabric with the stitches. I need to cut them down to 5 inch squares and then do the quilt work. Another WIP. Hopefully I'll finished before the Christmas season

I am still learning all the ins and outs with blogging and I wish that I could "click here" on the site for you, but you can find here at gailpandesigns.typepad.com If you go there, you will be able to see what other people are doing with their's. Its a very easy project to do and needless to say, it has excited me into doing other embroidery quilts.

Any suggestions for where to go to learn how to manage my blogsite?