I am thinking ….about DH’s birthday tomorrow.  A very low key celebration

I am thankful for ……a pair of great kids

I am wearing ….. pale blue loung-y shirt thing.  Hey, I’m all about comfort when I get home from work!

I am loving …. Pei Wei Mongolian Beef (lunch today)

I am stitching …. something cool

I am hoping …..the week speeds by…another quilt class on Friday!

I am drooling over …. the new JustNan Halloween designs

I am sorely tempted by …..Buggy Barn Quilt books (still from last week.  This Friday’s visit to the Quilt store will be VERY tempting)

I am hearing ……Whose Line is it Anyway? (Evidently another Monday night habit)

I am reading … Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane (almost done)

On my mind ….. a layout for a baby-size quilt using the big stars in my Witch Quilt.

From my picture journal… my next quilt WIP will be this kit I got in Houston last year:

Size is approx 36″ x 58″ 

The design showed a thicker border on the right, but I decided to do thinner borders around all four sides instead.  I am very pleased with the result and can’t wait to take it to the quilt shop on Friday to see about having it layered and quilted.  The quirkiness definitely helped hide some less-than-perfect bits.  I do need to work on how I manage the seams on the back, but for my first attempt at a pieced quilt top, I think I did alright

I now have a total of seven small squares (will be trimmed to 4″):

I cut/stitched ten larger stars (will be trimmed to 8″ squares):

And finished two of the four large sections.  I have the final pumpkin cut, but just ran out of steam after dinner to sew him up…

Next Sunday I’m hoping to finish the last pumpkin, trim all squares/panels and finish putting together the top (arrange squares/panels and add black borders).  We’ll see how far I get

I am thinking …. it’s a long time to the Houston Quilt Show in November

I am thankful for ……school back in session

I am wearing ….. pale blue nightgown (this must be the Monday wardrobe.. )

I am loving …. my Witchie-Poo quilt progress (all but one square complete)

I am stitching …. still can’t tell!  Exchange time.

I am hoping …..I am less cranky tomorrow than I was today

I am drooling over …. the new JustNan Halloween designs

I am sorely tempted by …..Buggy Barn Quilt books

I am hearing ……Whose Line is it Anyway?

I am reading … Unholy Ghosts by Stacia Kane

On my mind ….. tomorrow’s presentation – to my new VP

From my picture journal… maybe today I just needed a little more red in my day….

I loved the model and the class was cheap! $35 for a 6-hr class.  I did have to purchase the pattern and supplies separately, but even then, I had everything I needed (including class fee) for less than $100.

This is the model hanging in the shop:

I gathered up fabrics (mix of stash, online and local shop purchases) and the short list of supplies and got myself all organized on Friday night.

And I fretted.

Here I was, giving up a good chunk of my Saturday and I would definitely be the least experienced in the class.  I’ve never done a quilt class, never *pieced* a quilt before and my sewing machine is over 10 years old (and heavy).  But, I went on Saturday, figuring I could leave early if I wasn’t comfortable….

It was a blast!!

As I expected, I was the least experienced (and the youngest), but all the ladies were very nice and we were allowed to work at our own pace.  While the pattern book had some of the block patterns (witch and pumpkin), the instructor, Pat, had mixed in the stars from other Buggy Barn designs.  The pattern was VERY forgiving, which made it an excellent beginner experience.   I finished three blocks during the class:

The witch’s legs and feet swing freely… they aren’t pieced in the block.  The wacky outer edges are normal.  Once I have all the blocks done, I’ll square them off

And my lack of experience?  No issue!  I was the only one to actually finish my witch block

I’ll be making up more blocks today.  Goal will be to finish the top before my applique class in two weeks, so I can have it quilted by the shop

School is back in session (at least for one kid) and while the heat continues in Arizona, the end is in sight. 

For this month’s Ten on the Tenth, I’m going to expose ten dark secrets. (Only ten.  There are more.)

Yes, I’m posting ten long-suffering works-in-progress.  None of these pieces have seen the light of day for at least a year… most several.  Here we go….

1 – Stroke of Midnight by Teresa Wentzler

I probably have a few more hours in her than reflected here.  This design is what led me to the stitching community back in 2000.  And I still love it. 

Don’t let the snail’s pace progress fool you.

2 – Desiderata by Indigo Rose

This would definitely go faster if I worked on it now and then.  I can’t even remember the fabric this is on.  I do know it’s DMC.

3 – Brave Hearts by Little House Needleworks

Silk (1 over 2) on 40-ct fabric.  I really need to get a better light setup in my stitching corner….. yes, that’s an excuse and I’m sticking to it!.

4 – Fortunate Traveler by Teresa Wentzler

Isn’t that pretty?  Yeah, I think so, too. 

5 - Skeleton Crew by Cricket Collection

Given my avowed love of all things Halloween, one would think this would be further along.  It’s just all that white…..

6 – Lilac Pixie by Mirabilia

Poor lilac was a victim of the Mirabilia Round Robin.  I was Mira-ed out   I’m sure she’ll come back after Summer is done, though.

7 – Toy Shop Bead and Buttons from Mill Hill

Now that I know Missy Ann’s beading trick, this one will probably get done before Christmas

8 – Egyptian Garden by Chatelaine

I love love love this design.  Not  a fan of printing each chart, but I’ll work thru that.  I just haven’t found the magic system yet….

9  – Rosemarkie by Long Dog Samplers

I think fear is keeping me from stitching on this.  I’m using a lovely Needle Necessities overdye.  You know, the *discontinued* thread people?  I have at least five skeins, so running out is a relatively small risk….but still….  to get all that way and run out… [shiver]

10 – Noah’s Ark by Teresa Wentzler

Probably a *little* further along.  I would have sworn I had most of the ark done.  Funnily enough, the animals aren’t that scary any more.  I guess after starting (and finishing) pieces on 40-ct, 25-ct over 1 is cake.  The light issue….that’s still a kicker, though.

Just digging up the pictures makes me want to pull them all out and give them some love.

I’m sure the feeling will pass.

I am thinking …. tomorrow is going to be a long day (work seminar to attend)

I am thankful for ……my family’s continued good health

I am wearing ….. pale blue nightgown

I am loving …. my Kindle 2

I am stitching …. shhh…can’t tell.  Will be done for next week’s journal.

I am hoping …..DH hears good news from his Friday interview

I am drooling over …. Greek Mandala by Chatelaine

I am sorely tempted by …… popcorn with parmesan and truffle oil

I am hearing ……one dog getting a drink of water… who could it be?  Greta!

I am reading … Psych: A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Read

On my mind ….. remembering to get stuff together for Saturday’s quilt class.

From my picture journal… my red highlights from last year.  Maybe it’s time to do them again?  They’ve mostly grown out

This month’s jar is full thanks to three small knit projects this past week   Can’t show results quite yet…so just imagine that lovely orange, yellow and red in three..umm…things.  The blue/white/brown bit is actually a swatch for a new pair of socks (progress pic coming).  The floss is from Summer Queen.

Wonder what next month’s will look like?

Outside my window ….. the breeze is picking up and clouds are coming in.  An evening storm brewing?

I am thinking ….and planning for a slew of little projects in the next couple months….shhhhh! 

I am thankful for …… my children home safely from their summer vacations in Georgia/Tennessee

I am wearing …..”Queen of Unfinished Projects” t-shirt and shorts

I am loving ….the rainy weather in Arizona

I am stitching …. Winter Queen by Mirabilia

I am hoping ….for good results with DH’s *two* interviews this week.

I am drooling over …. Autumn Stitches by Sue Hillis

I am sorely tempted by ……new Stitches fabric by Lynette Anderson.  Wouldn’t it be *perfect* for finishing the Autumn Stitches design?

I am hearing ……the end of tonight’s Braves game…. we win!

I am reading …..Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan

On my mind …..school starting…how did I get a seventh grader and college sophomore+?  Where did the time go?  Wasn’t *I* just in college?

From my picture journal ……my kids meet a Tennessee creek last week (click…biggify…you know the drill):

It’s almost too hot to think here in Arizona.  We’re in our annual monsoon season and after living in the southwest, more or less, for the past almost-30 years, any increase in humidity is very noticeable to me.  Here in Phoenix, we suffer through July and August to fully appreciate and enjoy the rest of the year

A couple of inquiries regarding the new scissor holder from my last post.  Here are a few more details:

• I found it at a small antique shop in Prescott. 
• It is ceramic.  Two pieces – the top is circular with 13 holes (12 around the outside and one in the center).  The bottom is simply a large “cup” with a lip around the inside for the top to settle in.
• There is a maker’s mark on the bottom but I’ve not been able to find any info.  It says “JL Collection”

In between bouts of PuzzleQuest 2, I have managed a few x’s here and there.  Here’s my Mirabilia Summer Queen:

Click to biggify….

This is essentially everything on the “back” of the chart.  I’d estimate she’s about 60% complete.  Here’s the full pic from the Mirabilia site: Summer Queen