Joining Drop and Give Me Twenty 2015

This is a quick post to get in on the fun and get something done in the month of February. Find out more here.  And now for my pledge.

 I, Terry,  am joining Quilting Hottie Haven's third annual DaGMT event, and pledge to stitch, sew, quilt, or some related activity for at least 20 minutes every day of the month of February, 2015. In doing so I hope to get Grand Illusion to top status, the same for Nevada Skies (aka My Blue Heaven) and make headway on several other UFO's that have taken a back seat since I went back to work.  I found this through Purple Moose,  followed the link and I thank Beth Helfter for coming up with this concept and inspiring me to join." 

Joyfully stitching 20  minutes a day,
Terry

Celebrating a friend, Happy Birthday!

I promised my friend I would not put her name on my blog, but I never said I wouldn't write about her. Today is her birthday and I want it out in cyberspace that she is a wonderful friend.  Here is a little story of how it all started. 

Jean and Marie (names changed to protect the culprits) worked together in 1989.  Marie (that's me) invited Jean to a quilt show.  Jean accepted and away they went. Upon arrival Marie locked her keys in the car and Jean kindly called AAA while thinking "what have I gotten myself into."  Marie was thinking "Jean will never do anything with me again."  AAA came, keys were rescued, off to the show.  Jean seemed to have a good time and Marie wanted to make everything she saw.  Jean purchased Holiday Happenings which was signed by the author, Crystal Carter.  Ooh, how exciting, holiday pictures made out of log cabin blocks sewn together using 1" strips (yes, one inch). And Jean said we can share this book.  Marie was happy, it meant Jean would go to other quilt shows with her.  Marie told Jean she would love to make the pilgrim picture and Jean said take the book and get started (or something like that, so long ago who can remember the exact words.)  Marie and Jean had lunch, had a good time, went home inspired and went on to become fast friends.

Fast forward to 2012 (yes, 23 years later, whoa where did that time go) and Marie dug out the book and the squares already made.  Her 2012 resolution was to complete projects started years ago.  Who knew one would be from the last century.  In assessing what was done and what needed to be done and thinking about the intervening years, here are some thoughts:        

•  Never go anywhere without AAA, even if it isn't your membership
• When you borrow a book from a new friend don't wait 23 years to return it. 
• Pick you first quilt show companions carefully as they will become part of your life.  They will bring you joy, happiness, a much larger stash than you thought possible, more patterns and tools than you can possibly use, adventure, family, and many years of memories to cherish and the anticipation of memories yet to be made.

And now it's 2015, 3 more years have come and gone, we are many miles apart but iChat, email, and phone help.  And pictures sent of projects in the works or wonderfully completed  are always shared.  Here is her very own mini quilt show.  

And her current project is from Barbara Brackman's blog . Check it out by clicking Civil War Quilts

She is my best friend, the sister I didn't have and my very special sister in Christ.  She lifts me up, convicts me, makes me laugh, makes me cry, and is there for me even when I didn't think I needed her.  On this, her birthday, I hope you all have a friend like her in your life.  

Joyfully celebrating your life my dear friend,
Terry

Monday Mystery LinkUp a Day Later

Happy first Tuesday of 2015!  I was very excited to see the early release of Grand Illusion Quilt reveal.    I love the movement in the quilt and how it spins.  And I am glad I didn't finish every step.  In my last post I speculated about what we were going to do with the 80 HST's set aside from Part 1.  It was a good thing I went back and read all of Part 4 otherwise I would have had 80 extra HST's and may have run out of some fabric.

I made a small modification to my main block.  Here it is.

I may also do something with the aqua corner stones.  Maybe a yellow and aqua four patch.

I have set a goal to have this top completed by the end of January and to the quilter in February.  Even though today is only the 6th I better get going, time is already flying by.  I do have most of the parts ready for chain piecing so when I have a few minutes here or there I sew a few seams and before I know it another step is done.  

I love seeing other color combos and am amazed that so many already have the quilt tops done.  Wow, quilters are an industrious group of people.

Happy New Year to everyone! May God bless each and everyone one of you, and fill your life with joy!  You may click here to get back to Quiltville Mystery Monday link up.

Joyfully piecing,

Terry