Through the year 2009 with the GREER'S

Yep, humor me with some pictures.

Make a Smilebox slideshow HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE !!!!

Christmas

Tis the night before Christmas and all through the house are
GRANDCHILDREN !!!!!!!

Yes, they have all been here and will be here again tomorrow.
I would like to take this time to wish you and your families a very MERRY CHRISTMAS. The weatherman says that it will start raining this evening and continue until early afternoon tomorrow. I know that this will not 'dampen' the day. My family will gather together for a dinner of massive proportions tomorrow, so I have been cooking all day.

I'll touch base later on this weekend, but, in the meantime enjoy the new widget on the right side of my blog. It plays Christmas music.

May God Bless you all,

Christmas Really is Coming

This is the way Rocky and Jake hang around while Dick and I are eating supper.

I think that Rocky really believes that he is hiding behind the chair. We have moved the chair away from the wall so that he will have room to play hide and seek.

Sometime they actually lay on the same side of the chair. Rocky usually gives Jake plenty of respect.

I have managed to finish decorating the 'medium' size tree for this year. Just for the record, there will not be a 'large' tree this year. The 'large' tree only goes up when Dick and I host the "Thompson Family Christmas" and that only happens every 4 years. This year we will be with Pam and Marty.


I spent part of the day wrapping some gifts. I also baked two loaf cakes for our "Pack the Bra " time tomorrow.

Yep, tomorrow we pack up the Artful Bras and ship them to their new owners. The Bras were auctioned on EBay with the proceeds going to the 'Best Chance Network'. We were a little dissappointed that all of the bras did not sell, but we still managed to make over $2000.00 on the sales. This has been an amazing journey and now it is really time for it to come to an end. The book is available through http://www.quiltersofsc.org/ and also Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc. However, if you order through QSC the charity makes more money.

I really hope that I can complete my Christmas wrapping and decorating tomorrow too. I don't think that I have much more to do. One of the major things is to make the labels for the Grandchildren's quilts, stitch them on, and then wrap them up. Imagine, I might be in a position to play next weekend, instead of stressing out over finishing Christmas gifts.

Hope that you have a wonderful week. The weather has turned cold and it has started raining. No ice or snow expected, but, I am already looking forward to spring.

Urgent BID

http://donations.ebay.com/charity/charity.jsp?NP_ID=34978

THIS IS THE SITE TO BID ON THE ARTFUL BRAS. PLEASE GO THERE RIGHT NOW AND BID ON YOUR PREFERRED BRA. ALL CONTRIBUTIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE SO BID HIGH ON ANY OF THE BRAS.


THANKS,

TODAY IS THE DAY !!!!!!!

YES !!! TODAY YOU CAN BEGIN BIDDING ON THE 'ARTFUL BRA'S' !!!!!






The Artful Bras Auction

The Artful Bras Auction begins Saturday, November 28th.
Place Your Bid Here! Once you click this area then type in Artful Bras in the search.
CLICK ON THE LINK AND IT WILL TAKE YOU TO THE EBAY SITE FOR YOU TO PLACE YOUR BID.

YOU CAN ALSO ACCESS THE SITE FROM HERE: http://www.quiltersofsc.org/ and while you are on this site order your books for Christmas.

THE AUCTION WILL RUN FOR 10 DAYS SO PAY ATTENTION AND START THE BIDDING!

Remember to type Artful Bras in the search line.

PROCEEDS FROM THE SALE OF THE BRAS WILL BENEFIT THE 'BEST CHANCE NETWORK' WHICH PAYS FOR MAMMOGRAMS AND PAP SMEARS FOR UNINSURED AND UNDER INSURED WOMEN.

GO!!!!!!!! BID !!!!!!!!!!! BID SOMEMORE!!!!!!!!!!!!! BID ON MORE THAN ONE BRA!!!!!!!

THANKS,

Make a Smilebox slideshow

We had a great time yesterday. Members of Devine Quilters gathered at Greenhill Baptist Church to work on our opportunity quilt for 2010. We worked all morning, ate lunch, and worked a few hours longer. So much was accomplished. One of the many things that I noticed was how well the group worked together. A few problems came up and they were solved quickly. We managed to complete one type of block completely. A second block was constructed and made ready for more applique. One or two more work days will have the top completed.

It was a great day.

Thanks to everyone who helped out.

This has been another wonderful weekend.

Updates

Sorry that I have been out of touch. My life has been really interesting since Retreat. Now is the time I will catch up.


This is Stephanie. She has made an AWESOME Halloween Quilt. I don't know how many different fabrics she used, but the final product is absolutely wonderful. I had to share this with you because she has inspired many of us to collect Halloween fabrics and sew a quilt of our own. How much fun!!!








Some of these pictures are a little distorted since blogger won't play nice tonight.

I have already started my collection. Just surfing the net and taking advantage so many of the sales have netted me many different fabrics.


I have also finished quilting Austin's Christmas Quilt. I completed the top while on Retreat and have since put it on the frame and finished the quilting.


I will post a completed picture once I get the binding on.

More later,

Progress is being made

This is the last step to the Devine Medallion. According to my notes, I started this project on Good Friday, April 10. 2009.

Now, once I finish these last few pieces, it will look like this. I am really excited to complete my assigned portion of this project.Gerri Smith has done some beautiful embroidery on this piece that really helps to tie everything together. Linda has planned a "sew-in" on Nov.21 to put the blocks together. We are shooting for the Spring QSC meeting at the Newberry Opra House for this quilt to be seen for the first time.

Back to work. Have a good week.

PS--6:17 PM Eastern time this date: IT IS COMPLETED !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It won't be long now and I can show you the completed top!!!!

Saturday

I spent today quilting a small top for Tori. She pieced this one several years ago and now she is going to give it to someone for Christmas.





Lucky person.

I used YLI varigated thread and warm and natural batting. The panograph is called Rain Drops and is the creation of Lisa Calle. I love this pattern and used it on my "Gallaxy Stars Quilt".

Did I mention "Gallaxy Stars"? I finished the binding yesterday and slept under it last night.

This slept pretty good too.

I have decided to do another one possibly using Christmas fabrics or maybe Halloween fabrics. Well, maybe I could use fall fabrics. That is the thing about this pattern, you could use any type of fabrics and have it turn out just great. Notice that I did use the pieced border option on this top. If I had some nice shams, I could just use this on my king size bed.

It was nice to escape into the studio today.

We had a real scare last weekend. Husband's Doctor detected a large mass in the right side of his chest and sent him for a CAT guided needle biopsy on Tuesday. He had known about this since the previous Thursday but did not want to tell me while I was dealing with Quilt Camp. He told me after I got home on Sunday. I thought that I was just going to collapse in front of him. This would be absolutely devastating, since he had his right lung removed 25 years ago due to lung cancer. Wellllllllllllllllll, we went to the hospital on Tuesday morning and the suugeon/radiologist ran the first CAT and after much consultation it was determined that what they/we were seeing was fluid. When the lung was removed the space was filled in with fluid and now has a few tiny calcified areas. He even went back and compared pictures from the past 25 years on the area. WHAT A RELIEF !!!! I can't tell you what a relief this was to both of us. So, we went to our favorite pasta resturant Tuesday and ate our favorites and had a wonderful bottle of wine. LIFE CAN BE GOOD, and some things are just not worth the the time it takes to deal with them.

Don't forget to order your 'Artful Bras' book from Quilters of SC. just click on the title and it will take you directly to the website order form.

If I do anything tomorrow, I'll let you know.

I'mmmmmmmm Back

Just returned from a great retreat weekend. I will post pictures and information later this week. In the mean time, don't forget to order your "Artful Bra" book. Click on the picture to the right and it will take you directly to the Quilters of South Carolina website so that you can order directly from them and all of the proceeds go to the 'Best Chance Network'.

Have a good week,

WEEKEND OF FUN !!!!

I spent my weekend with over 250 of my quilting sisters. We were attending Quilters of South Carolina's Pieceable Retreat. This happens every October and it is a fantastic experience.

This was the class that I took. Galaxy Stars is a pattern taught by Anita Bowen. We had a great group and it made for a wonderful weekend.

Those of us that participated in the 'Artful Bra' project also received a surprise. OUR BOOK WAS PRESENTED TO US !!!!!!!!


What a wonderful surprise !!! The books are beautiful. High quality paper and fantastic photography. You too can be the proud owner of one of these limited edition? books. Just go to http://www.pickledishstore.com/ and order your books. Once it is set up you can order them directly from Quilters of SC on their website at http://www.quiltersofsc.org/ . All profits from the sale of this book go to 'Best Chance Network' who provide mammograms and PAP smears for those who can't afford them.

Time to start getting ready for Quilt Camp. The website is not working properly, so if you need information contact me directly.

More later,

I am Woman !!!

The challenge this year for the Quilters of South Carolina is called Give Me Your Heart. This challenge is to bring awareness to Women's heart health. Heart Disease is number one when it comes to killing women. This is my entry:
























I found most of the image on the internet and then added some lines and images of my own. I am really pleased with the piece and my husband has named it "I AM WOMAN". Sounds like a song don't cha think?
I also finished quilting a piece for Tori this weekend. I don't have the binding seewn down yet, but a few hours in front of the TV and that will be done.























All this means, that I have finished my 2 challenge pieces--One for the Devine Guild (Sunflowers) and the One for QSC--still needs label and sleeve (no problem). I have also quilted
my second quilt on the longarm (still not named). Now, next weekend I can get back to the applique on the Devine Guild quilt. I need to add a few pieces of applique before I can pass it back to Linda. She is ready to begin the piecing of the center section of the quilt.

Just Stitchin' Fall Quilt Camp is just a few weeks away so that is also coming up on my to do list.

I have tried posting this 3 times and each time blogger posts it differently. Hope it looks OK this time.

Have a great week.

THE ARTFUL BRA'S CAN BE IN YOUR HOME VERY SOON!

https://www.pickledishstore.com/productDetail.php?PID=1144

PRE-ORDER!
https://www.pickledishstore.com/productDetail.php?PID=1144

PRE-ORDER!
https://www.pickledishstore.com/productDetail.php?PID=1144


THE "BRA" BOOK IS READY FOR PRE -ORDERS !!!!

https://www.pickledishstore.com/productDetail.php?PID=1144

Artful Bras: Hooters, Melons and Boobs, Oh My! A Quilt Guild's Fight Against Breast Cancer

**Pre-Order**
In an effort to promote breast cancer awareness, this book celebrates the Artful Bra challenge of the Quilters of South Carolina quilt guild. Each participant took a padded underwire bra and covered it entirely, with everything from fabric to feather to fringe.

The result was the Artful Bra exhibit that traveled to various places in South Carolina, raising money for the Best Chance Network, a program that offers free mammograms to uninsured women. The impact was huge, however, with the help of the Internet. Emails with photos of the bras were forwarded all over the world – a success for the guild in spreading awareness about the disease.

Inside, you’ll find photographs of each of the 50 decorated bras with fun names such as “Hooters,” “Two Cans,” “Support Your Favorite Boob” and “Look At Them Ther’ Watermelons.” You’ll also read the designers’ stories about the inspiration behind the designs, and how they made them.

Proceeds from the book will be donated to the Best Chance Network.

Just thought you might like to know. I did add a few links in case you needed to pre-order all of your Christmas Presents.

Intervention

Thanks to Liz (Frog Quilter) I was finally able to get my brain around piecing the backing to this quilt. I know you won't believe me, but it did take a good 12 hours of working,thinking,working,thinking to get it on the frame.

I think that we tend to forget that there are somethings that we forget. I had not pieced a backing for at least 2 years. Most of the stuff I do is miniature or at least no bigger that 36x48".

Where do beginning quilters learn how to piece a backing? I don't think that I ever took a beginner class, so I don't know if most teachers include this aspect or not.

Until I got this new toy, I really didn't know that the seams in the backing should go in a particular direction if a longarm quilter was to quilt the top. Did you?

Once I had it loaded--that took about and hour--which is not to bad for a beginner, I ran my pantograph 6 times over the quilt top and it was quilted!!!!












That took me about 2 hours since I did other "stuff" in between the rows.













I took it off the frame last night and made the binding for it. I am now in the process of sewing it down. I will take it to Guild tomorrow night and hope to get a full picture sometime next week. Then I will post the finished photo. I can't believe that this is actually the first finished quilt from my new toy!!!!!!!!!!! Yes!!!!!!!!!

This will be a Christmas Present for a very special little girl. When she saw it on my design wall she immediately asked for it. I will put a special label on it for her so that she will know that it was the first quilt that grandmommie quilted on her new machine in 2009.

Have a great week!!

BACKING INTERVENTION

No pictures today. I have spent all day getting ready to put a 'Real' quilt on the longarm (not yet named). It is unbelieveable how difficult it is for me to figure backing. I know, I have been working in miniature for a long time, but, you would think that I could figure backing and stitch it together and get it on the frame. NOT !!!! I spent 4 hours today trying to get this on the frame to no avail. So, I need a remedial course in backing. I need to know how to compute the yardage and how to sew it all together.

HELP !!!

Catching up.

I hope that you enjoy the birthday, we certainly did. I think that Piper celebrated all week. Soon I will have pictures of her first day of school.

Then, as soon as I get them the pictures of Austin and Alexis' first days of school will follow.

Now for effect:

Isn't she beautiful !!!! I have lots of pictures of this process, so check back for more on this later. Have a great week.

Making Room for New Toy!

FOR SALE !!!

REALLY QUIET-RUNS BEAUTIFULLY

I really did list this on Craig's List today for Columbia, SC . Have a look and help me out.

What do you think I should name my new toy? It will be purple, would have preferred orange, but it was not available. Not sure if male or female. Suggestions thus far: Fox or Foxy and Pandora. I am leaning toward Pandora, because I may be opening a box of trouble. I am open to suggestions. Now, back to cleaning out studio and moving my library. Anyone want to come and catalog my library?

Have a great week.

A Devine Mystery

OK, the top for my mystery is finished.

One of my guilds, Devine Quilters, has conducted a mystery this year and this is the result. Alexis saw the fabric and asked for the 'orange' quilt, so I guess that she will just have to get it for Christmas. You won't believe the outlandish fabric that I bought for the back. I just thought that I might just as well carry this loud theme to the back also. It's a good thing that Alexis can sleep well or this quilt would certainly keep her awake! The lighting here in the studio is doing nothing to help this top. Really it does look better and brighter that this.

This will be one of my 'practice quilts' when my new toy arrives.

What? You have not heard about my new toy? Listen closely, I'll tell you more about that later.

Have a good Friday,