HAPPINESS IS:

Happiness is being able to cross something off of your "to do list".    Even better, I did it on my birthday yesterday.  I just completed one of three of my tasks for a September deadline!!!!!

Our on line SQG is having a 6 1/2" flying geese signature swap........ I have completed the 60 blocks of this swap.  I still have to sign and date all of them, but I do have until the end of August:)

All of my uncooperative geese are being filed away to be used later as my signature blocks on the back of my future quilts.  I will probably tear them apart (again) and get them to where I can look at them and not "squint".  

It doesn't look like 60........... but there really are 60 of them........... 10 in a row:)

Okay, I haven't been able to check this one off of my to do list yet.......... it is done, ready to be hung on my living room wall............got to find a large enough hanger/husband needs to make me a hanger!  Also, I have not been able to figure out how to get this picture updated on my blog............... but I am working on it.  My blogger helper still has 2 1/2 more weeks before she retires.............. then I'll see if I can get her over here to get me updated:)  Char?????????

Gotta go check out my next project.........  Hope to see you soon.

Sharon

It's Been A Busy Week!

My daughter and grandchildren from San Antonio, TX arrived late Monday evening......... Whoopee!!  It has been a non-stop whirl wind ever since.  Gennevieve turned 10 yesterday.  We celebrated with her favorite dinner that her mom made; macaroni type shells stuffed w/taco meat & cheese, and regular tacos.  Both her Aunts and Uncle and cousins were here for dinner.  Then, off to the movies to see Despicable 3.......... very cute movie!!  Back to Gramma's for ice cream cake.  This Gramma slept very well last night:)

But, I have been able to dedicate a few hours every day to my sewing projects, that have a September deadline.  I have been able to quietly organize my sewing every morning in my craft room.  I love my craft room, it's not huge, but it has everything I need.

Today will be pool day with all 6 grandchildren..........time sure does have a way of moving fast when your busy..........to fast at my age!!!

So long for now..........

Sharon 

My "Flying Geese" Experience!!

Our on line Small Quilt Group is having two signature block swaps, to be completed by September.  One is a 4 1/2" x 4 1/2 " Snowball block, and the other one is a 6 1/2 "x 6 1/2 "Flying Geese Block. 60 blocks of the Snow Ball and 60 of the Flying Geese.  Yes, I opt to be in both block swaps.  I didn't want to miss out on any of the ladies' blocks that are going to be in the swap.  Not all are in both swaps.  They have become quilting friends over such a short time that I have been involved with the group.  I look forward to my e-mails and "quilt talk"........... I am retired and this is my time to enjoy what I enjoy most, besides being with my family:)

So, here is my flying geese experience........... First I tried making the size of the flying geese the "old way"; using a rectangle of one fabric and two squares of a contrasting fabric.  You mark a diagonal line on the wrong side of each square then align the square to one end of the rectangle. After putting in many hours, it seemed like many hours, I didn't like what I had and it took "forever".

Then.....finding U-tube videos to make 4 flying geese at one time.......more math....... Another day of not really liking the finished product.........I didn't have that perfect square in the middle of my signature block, it "bothered" me.

After reading many e-mails from the group, a few were saying they were using the Eleanor Burns' flying geese ruler; I thought, this is the way to go.  So, off I go to Joann's Fabric Store to purchase one of these.  Of course, I am not as organized as I like to think I am............I buy the wrong size.  DAH!!  Back to Joann's.....

Can't wait to try out my ruler.......... read the instructions, watched more U-tube videos, I had it down pat.  Not pat enough.  Another day of sewing..........still not a good finished product. What the heck was I doing wrong?

Many e-mails later, and a lot of helpful hints......still not clicking with me............ Then one late evening....it finally came to me out of no where.......... what the heck was I thinking..........I wasn't trimming one edge of my flying geese......which when you put it in your seam.......it doesn't come out even.  Another DAH moment. I was trying to give myself some wiggle room to make perfect 6 1/2 inch blocks.........it doesn't work that way.......

So here is my take on Eleanor Burns' great flying geese ruler........with her instructions...

You have to start with an assortment of snacks....Swedish Fish & M&M's, just in case you can't get out of your craft room! (This is from me)

I am using the ruler size to make a finished size of 2" x 3" 1/2 geese.  So, you start with a 6" square and a 4 1/2" square.  Place the smaller square right sides together and centered on the larger square...Press

Draw a diagonal line across the squares and a 1/4" line on each side of the middle line.

Sew a scant 1/4 " on these lines.  Which means one thread width from seam.

Cut on your middle drawn line.  Go ahead, it will be fine:)
It's a little blurry.. but you'll get the "picture":)

See!  Looking Good!

Now... Press seam allowance to larger triangle.

Place squares right sides together so that opposite fabrics match....

Match up the outside edges...Notice that there is a gap between the seams...  The seams do not lock.

Draw a diagonal line across the seams....pin.  Sew 1/4" from both sides of the drawn line.  Press to set seam.

Cut on the drawn line.

Clip the seam allowance to the vertical seam on each piece.  I made a cut on the "sky" piece on each half, pressed to opposite sides......lays flat. Turn to right sides and press good points on "geese"....

Line up the dotted line with the peak of the triangle for the 1/4" seam allowance.  Cut the block in half to separate the two patches.

Turn ruler around and trim other side.

Now this is where I made my initial mistake.  I did not trim the bottom of my geese!  DAH MOMENT!

HERE IS MY HAPPY GEESE....GOOSE?

I really have enjoyed making these little guys.  I also found, that if I did them in blocks of 10 geese at a time, I could chain piece them...... and it seems to go quicker this way.  I still have to finish adding the rest of the block around these guys.......... but I have quite a few weeks to get that done............ You know, The Texas Invasion is going to take up a little of my time.........but I will be able to retreat to my sewing room.....

Until next time........

Sharon

TEXAS INVASION.....THEY HAVE ARRIVED!

My darling daughter and grandchildren have arrived from Texas, late last night.  Gennevieve (10) had flown since she was an infant.  Izabela (6), her first plane trip was to South Korea and back when her dad was deployed there. Andrew (4), this was his first plane trip ever.  He said he liked the lights he could see on the ground.

I guess the trip had it's moments.........the stewardess made an announcement when the first leg of the journey landed at Dallas Airport........"if everyone could let the Cleveland passengers off first.".........they were only going to have 10 minutes to make their connecting flight........which they had to literally run for 20 some Gates to make their plane.  Seconds to spare......door shut after they got on......the Pilot was at the Cockpit door and saw Andrew and let him look inside:)  

Weather was bad, on the ground and in the air.  My daughter said the lightening was something in the air.  My husband, who has a hard time driving at night anyway, left for the airport in a driving rain storm.  He said that was a harrowing experience on  the road.  At times he couldn't see the road at all.  But, all ended well, excited grandchildren arrived, all wanting to talk at once...........

Snack time and an hour later they were ready to crawl into bed.

It's coffee time for me now this morning while everyone is still sleeping.  I usually give up my craft room as an extra bedroom, but not this time.  I have a place that I can come and play......... They still can use my room to watch TV and color at my craft tables..........but I have my computer for morning "work too".....

Until next time.......which will be soon........I will show you what I have been working on for the last week!

Sharon

My Sewing Mo Jo is Back!

I am back in the swing of sewing again!  I have been working on "working on" current projects, but just haven't been in the mood to really get involved in them.  Until yesterday.  Something just finally clicked, and I started one of my SQG's swap blocks. I played around on Saturday, trying to get the block to come out, needed to pay more attention to what I was doing............only took me 3 hours to do almost everything wrong......... then come Sunday morning..... I was on a roll.

I finally figured out how to use Eleanor Burns' flying geese template.  DAH!!  We have a 6" x 6" signature swap, the pattern is in Kathy's Tracey's book "The Civil War Sewing Circle".  The name of the block is "Friendship Album Quilt".  It is a beautiful quilt. We need to make like 60 of these blocks by September, so having a template to make them quickly is the answer!

Well, I have made one perfect square..........let's see how my luck holds out on the other 59!

We also have another block swap going on at the same time.  I first signed up for this block.....  It will also be a signature quilt block, 4 1/2" x 4 1/2", again, around 60 blocks.  But, I just couldn't get the other block out of my mind, so, crazy me, I ended signing up for both of them.  Like I said.............. not due until September!

This seems simple enough, until I start sewing it:)

But, these two projects weren't enough for me.  No, I have to make sure I am really crazy by the end of summer!  I had taken on a project before the two signature swaps.  Also, due in September.  This is the Valor Quilt I said I would contribute to Veteran's Center.  Gee, I have a couple of the blocks cut.  Oh, I also  made a "few" cutting errors on this one too.  That was in my, hurry, do not read correctly moment..........

Now mixed into the next few weeks of sewing...........I am expecting my daughter and three grandchildren from Texas in the next week.  Which, I am very excited about........ They will be with us for 5 weeks..... I promised that we will be busy and have a lot of fun activities.

Now, to keep some of my sanity, I have kept my craft room as my craft room for their visit.  Usually, I rearrange things so I can set it up as an x-tra bedroom.  But, my grandson, who is now 4, said he wants to sleep downstairs in the family room with his sisters!  If he changes his mind, he can always sleep on the couch upstairs or curl up with his mother in the spare bedroom.  It's summer, routine more relaxed, so where ever the sleeping arrangements are made........... it will all work out.  And Gramma has her room when she needs to get some sewing done.

Speaking of that............... it is now time to get myself on track, and get some more blocks done!  Check back to see how I am keeping up.  LOL

Sharon L.