Little presents and timeless treasures...

Look what beautiful blocks have come in the mail recently...

 

Look at this fabulous block would you?

Michelle from VA made this for me

for our Block Swap... 

I have never seen a star block like it

before! I know just where this one is going!

 

This beauty is from Lori...and she sent some

sweet little Valentine Extras...

She and her girls made the little hearts...

So precious!!!

 

I can't take my eyes off of them!

Love my Block Swap Adventure Partners too!

Such great work from both of my swap partners!

Are you in a swap? If so, which ones?

Post a link in your comments so we 

can see all your goodies!

My Very First Award!!!!

... for this blog.  

I am so excited to have received this. 

 I have been chosen by Patricia to receive a Liebster Award !!!

Thank you Patricia...you know you are very special to me... 

The award is for blogs with less than 200 followers, 

and the recipient should pass the award on to 5 more bloggers.  

I have to tell you how hard this was because 

so many of the blogs I follow have zillions of followers.  

I have really loved following these 5 blogs, 

as well as all the others I follow which are so inspirational,

 and one or two of them have become great friends 

and they all always totally entertain me 

though I don't always comment on their blogs 

(I read them at work everyday and am not able to comment...)

 I just wanted you all to know how much I love them.  

This list is absolutely in no particular order it just is...

SueMacSeeds

Peaceful Piecer: Who knew?

Peace by Piece

Jaytee's Patchwork Place

Always Sewing

Liebster Conventions:
*Thank your award presenter on your blog
*Link back to the blogger who presented you with the award
*Copy and paste the award to your blog -
*Present the Liebster Award to 5 blogs that have fewer then 200 followers that you think deserve to be recognized
*Let them know by leaving a comment on their blog

Thank you Patricia for always hanging in 

and for being such a sweet bloggy friend across the pond!

And to all of my nominees...may I say ... 
You all deserve this award!!!
I love your work and you all INSPIRE me!!!

Happy Valentine's Day...

I am finally on the home stretch on my gb's little quilt...

What's taking so long you ask?  I started over.

That's right. You heard me right...

I was almost done and it just wasn't coming together straight...

So, now I am finally to this point! YAY!

My sweet man and I have also been 

at the ranch on the weekends...working on this...

Hubby put up all that crown molding and window

trim...getting ready to put in our kitchen cabinets!

 That is the door to one of them...

Next weekend, we will be putting

those purdy doors up!!!

 And there is one of my new window sills...

I am so excited about those...

Next weekend, I will have countertops and maybe

even a permanent sink!!!

Bill surprised me with a few little cottage

touches just for me...

I love them!

Tomorrow I will show the contents of some

of the great blocks I have gotten in the last week!

I miss all of you...thank you to those of you 

that have hung in here with me...

AND

I hope you all had a wonderful Valentine's Day!!!

Figuring it all out as I go...

Ever have the feeling that you really don't know EVERYTHING?

yep...I am signing up for that one!

It's confusing when my brain sees one thing...

and my eyes see something else! 

 

 

All these 60 degree angles are killing me!!!!

But I am moving right along...

 

I will need some help here though..

 

My DD wanted a softer batting -

and I currently use a low batting

that is all natual cotton.

Her goal is to have a softer, puffy batting

for her soon-to-be baby boy.

Any suggestions on what I should buy?

 

 

Oh, and remember the brain / eye thing

and have mercy on me...

You might want to send me a link of the batting

 or at least a picture...LOL!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For grandbaby #2....

This is what my Sunday sewing has looked like...

A quilt for my soon-to-be next Grandson due in March...

Little Riggins...

My daughter saw a doll quilt 

and fell in love with it from

 sewtakeahike.typepad.com

and I did too!

I didn't have the book, just the photo, so

I am trying my best to match it...

Photo from Sew Take A Hike website

 
She picked all the fabrics:

~~ Lotta Jansdotter's "Echo"

~~ Kate Ward Thacker's line for JoAnn's Fabrics

~~ DS Quilts Collection

And the rest are fabrics all chosen from 

fat quarters at JoAnn's Fabrics.

I am using a 60 degree diamond template from 

Darlene Zimmerman - We found at JoAnn's Fabrics as well.

 Forgive the terrible photos...

I only had my camera phone 

with me today...

Isn't it something, when you are making a 

quilt for anyone, but especially for a new grand baby...

you find yourself dreaming of how their life will be...

or praying for them with each little hum 

of the sewing machine...

It's been a very good day.

Sew many pieces...

 Another block, another Block Swap Adventure Partner...

This one is for Cara in AK...

She asked for a postage stamp block in bright colors...

 A new venture for me...

This 12 1/2 in. postage stamp block has 144 squares in it.

The fabric is Moda's Flora charm pack.

This is the progress after 5 hours...

I know there is an easier way to make this block...

Well...I KNEW it after I was this far along... LOL!

Unbelievably, this block took three evenings to finish.

And I didn't mind a bit!

I wanted to send her a good block for her quilt...

Now...hindsight is always better, but if I get another request to make

another 1" postage stamp block square...

I will use less pieces and more smarts!

Strips baby! Strips!

LOL!

Cara, I hope you like and can use your new block! I can't wait to see 

your finished quilt!

Blocks and more..

If you've ever had the flu...and I mean a REAL FLU...you know that it takes some time to get over it...
Since before Christmas I have been sick...and now...FINALLY!  I think I am on the mend!
The worst thing about being sick this year was I missed seeing this little face...

But with my new energy...I have not only gotten to see my little gb again, I have been back in the swing of things!

Catching up has been a fun treat...
Here are some of the blocks that have been sent out this week to some lovely partners that have been so sweet....

These two log cabin blocks went to Penny in NC - I loved the illusion of the white picket fence at the bottom that the striped fabric gave them - it's almost like looking out a window at a garden...

This block went to Lori in WI - I have never made a pin wheel block...but this one was a fun learn!

And then, who could resist starting a new project in a new year....so this is also on the design board...
I am a HUGE Sweetwater Fabrics Fan...and am using my last little bits to create a quilt for my guest bedroom...the first quilt I have ever made for myself...

 

If you don't recognize the book, it is Sweetwater's Simple Home...

The entire book is WONDERFUL!

I have enjoyed being back in the studio...

 and catching up on all my favorite blogs...

All of you are already off and running on some GREAT projects!!!

Happy Weekend Everyone!

Lana

Let's Bee Together...and a finish!

Thank you to all the ladies 
that helped me 

get enough blocks together to 
finish this quilt in time

for Christmas for my FIL.

Here are some of  the 
blocks that were sent in...

 

There were five blocks sent in and I made two more...

and then made the filler blocks.

 If you look really close, you can see the two I made...

or mis-made as the case may be...

but it turned out like I planned it that way,

so I left them.

 I took the original blocks and 

quartered them and then 

rearranged them to look like 

what you see above.

 The real miracle of this quilt is that 

I had the flu the entire time I 

was finishing it...right up to Christmas Eve...

my sweet hubby did all my Christmas 

shopping so I could finish.

 And it was worth it...

As soon as I handed Papa the box the quilt was in,

He said, "I hope this is what I think it is..."

Silly me forgot to get a picture of it with him!!!!

Sew..if you still have blocks you are making for this project 

my sweet Let's Bee Together partners,

Never fear...I want to use your blocks for matching pillows!

Thank you so much ladies for helping me finish 

this in time for the sweetest man... My "Dad".

I promise you, he loves it!!!