Missy's 50 !!!

Hi Everyone....as some of you know I had started a quilt several months ago to give my sister-in-law, Missy, who turned 50 in January 2009. She only told me that she wanted blue and yellow and I tried and tried to figure out a pattern. I decided to try a mixture of embroidery and quilting as several people had done this in my quilt class and I really liked the "look". I finally decided on a Triple Irish Chain quilt that had big enough center blocks that I could embroider on. Craig and I went through the Bible and picked out several meaningful words to place on the blocks. I deliberately placed the word LOVE in the center block because that's what this quilt symbolizes for me. LOVE....the love between and brother and a sister, the love between a mother and a daughter, and the love between sister-in-laws who became "sisters".

You probably can't see all the words here, and I hate to say I don't have them written down, but I used a varigated shiny blue thread that just made each word absolutely gorgeous. Now that the quilt top was made, I had to quilt it, which I did all on Bernie and it had to have "curly-Q's", because that's what Missy likes about my quilts are the "curly-Q's" or "stippling". Anyway, I did a mixture of straight stitching on the chain and curly-Q's in the border. Once the quilt was done I had to wait......and wait.....and wait...for her birthday !

Well, leave it to Missy, she didn't have a "normal" surprise 50th birthday party ! She did something else, true to her personality. She had a "girlfriend" party to celebrate all her girlfriends. It was truly a special day with special people ! She had her harp teacher there playing as we all arrived and a lady doing caricatures of all the ladies !!! It was really neat. I didn't want to arrive with the gift in my hand because that would have given it away so I had my mother-in-law take the gift home, wrap it and bring it to the party for me. However, it was like pulling teeth to get Missy to open up her gifts. As people were starting to leave, I kept asking Nicole (my niece) to make her mom open up her gifts. She finally sat down to do so....FINALLY!!! She was so surprised to actually see the quilt and thought that I had too much on my plate to make her one, which actually I do but I made this several months ago so I could have it ready for her big day. I'm so happy she likes it ....it's for you, Sis !

Now on to the next project, Cheryl's 60th. However, I have a few YEARS to get that one made....ha,ha,ha.

Love to all my family and friends,

Karene

A Mix of Everything

Hi Everyone, Well I got sucked into trying the BOM (block of the month) that my good friends, Joy & Yvette, are doing called "A Tisket A Tasket". Theirs are so much better than mine and I realized that I don't like appliquing small pieces.





Anyway, here is my attempt at this really cute BOM. This is a free design from Bunny Hill Designs.




http://bunnyhill.blogspot.com/2009/01/free-block-of-month.html



My other BOM is Home is Where the Heart Is. This is February's block. I have not blanket stitched around anything yet, but it is fused. I love this BOM, but again there are some teeny, tiny pieces that need to be appliqued...UGH !!! Check out Joy's blog to see pictures of our day together and our special surprise.


http://joy-denise.blogspot.com/




















I'm currently making a quilt for my hair dresser, Debbie, who has been cutting my hair (dare I say for over 25 years now), but since Craig has been sick she's been doing my hair for free. So, I'm going to give her this as a thank you. She only wanted beiges and creams, but I just had to throw a bit of color in there. I really hope she likes it.

Anyway, when I grow up I want to be like Yvette. Check out all the projects she is doing and her gorgeous BOMs. She's INSANE.....tee hee!!!

http://fitquilter.blogspot.com/

Love you, my friends

Karene

Home is Where the Heart Is - Block of the Month

Well, it's time for some fun stuff. On January 1st, my good friends, Joy & Yvette, and I got together at Joy's house to start our new block of the month quilt, called Home is Where the Heart Is. We saw this block of the month when we all went to the Long Beach Quilt Show and loved the pattern.

We all brought our stashes and scraps to make the "January block". Needless to say I screwed up getting my pattern traced on Steam-A-Seam on the wrong side and had to re-trace approximately 30 pieces of appliques. However, we finally got the pieces onto the fabrics that we picked out and then I came home and fused them onto the background piece.

After fusing the applique pieces, then you go around each and every one of them with the "dance"....I used the blanket stitch because I like the look of it.

Here is a close up of the house with some of the fabrics that Yvette let me use for the house and roof.

and here is my attempt at some hand embroidery.....I tried, Ms. Janet, I really tried. Anyway, the eyes are french knots and the snowman's mouth and fishing line are made with a stem stitch.

Anyway, now I'm up to speed with Joy and Yvette since they have had theirs finished for at least a week. On to next month's block....February ! I hope to do better as the months go on.

You can also check out Joy's and Yvette's blocks and see how we all make them different and the same:

http://joy-denise.blogspot.com/

http://fitquilter.blogspot.com/

Love ya

Karene

Snoopy

Newest Edition

Hi Everyone,

Just a quick entry to introduce the newest edition to our family.....Snoopy !!!! He's an eight-week old beagle puppy. Actually, this was Matt's graduation gift (instead of a car....whew!). We drove out to Moreno Valley to check out the little guy after looking for breeders, with the only other one in our price range out in Lucerne Valley. I'm like no way am I driving 100 miles to buy a dog. Anyway, Matt did all the research and I called this guy. He had eight puppies to choose from, 3 males & 5 females. NO WAY WAS I BUYING A GIRL !!! So, tad dah.....here he is enjoying his new bed and toy. He did pretty well in the car ride home too.....no accidents.







Guess Matt's not too happy!!! We went to Joy's house (you guessed it, she snapped the pictures) and she loaned me one of her crates to put him in. Snoopy has settled in pretty quickly in the house and is not crying anymore. He cried in the crate a couple of times, but has settled down nicely so far. Of course, tomorrow is another day. We'll see how he does to night !

Thanks, bestest buddy, for all the puppy advice. It's been a long time since I had to train a dog.

Woof,woof !!!

Karene

Sat Sampler Almost Finished

Hi everyone....well, I can't believe I did it. I finally finished my Saturday Sampler quilt top. My other two amigos, Joy and Yvette, finished theirs last week and the week before so I was feeling a bit depressed because we all started together but they were already done. It's really funny how all three of us made the original nine sampler blocks and then Yvette and I bought the additional three blocks. Joy not only bought the additional three blocks, she actually came up with four more that she had to "make up" using the Marti Michelle templates.....WOW ! Anyway, they came out great. Check out the other two amigos blogs for pictures of their Saturday Sampler quilts:

http://joy-denise.blogspot.com/


http://fitquilter.blogspot.com/


We all picked different sashing and border material. It's funny how we all finished them differently. Anyway, here is the quilt with the sashing added.

I wasn't quite sure how I wanted to finish mine and I kept thinking and thinking.....hmmmm, how would it look with corner stones?????

Actually, I think the corner stones added a lot and it also helped to break up the business of the border fabric. Here is a closeup of the corners !!! I think Ms. Janet would be proud of me. I remembered with Craig's charity quilt that to add the corner stones I had to measure the inside seams to allow for the seam allowance......she's a wonderful teacher !!!! Love you Ms. Janet ! All that's left is making my backing and then pinning it so it can be quilted !

Anyway, enjoy my friends....it's Monday and I have to go watch Dancing with the Stars with Craig !!!

Love to all,

Karene

Sue & Sam

Hi everyone,


Well, it's been a long, long, long time since I actually had an ENTIRE weekend to do what I wanted to do. There wasn't any work for me Friday afternoon so all I had to do Saturday morning was go to Saturday Sampler and pick up Block 8 and then finish my x-rays. Then, my mom and I had lunch and I was able to sew the rest of the day. On Sept 29th, my bestest buddy, Joy, and I took a class at Cozy Cottage in Brea where our exceptional teacher, Ms. Janet, thought she could get away from us and teach a Sunbonnet Sue class....but WE FOUND HER. Anyway, Joy and I had the best time "playing with our dolls". This is the one I actually made in class....my first one.









Joy brought the lace and I ran with it. I wish we would have had more time to play, but the class was only three hours. But it took three hours just to make one...so keep that in mind.



Anyway, I wanted to embellish mine even further than just with lace and ribbon. I wanted to try a mixture of applique and embroidery. Here was my first attempt at an embroidered and appliqued Sue. I made the butterfly first and I was upset at the way it looked so I thought I was just going to have to toss this piece of fabric into the trash, but then I thought why not embroider some other designs just for size and placement.









so I tried a flower. After the flower was embroidered, I thought the size was great and I placed my Sue pieces around.....hmmmmmm, not as bad as I originally thought, so I ironed them in place. Then I "did the dance"....the applique dance all around Sue.







Wanting to make all my Sues different and this was so much fun I then decided not to put lace on her bonnet but use a decorative stitch on my sewing machine. Pretty cute !!! I just had to take this to class with me today and show Ms. Janet. She, Judy, Ellen, and Jenny (poor Jenny who was miserable having her wisdom teeth out and all bruised).....all loved her. I was pleased and oh so motivated. I had the BUG.....the APPLIQUE BUG ....so I came home after quilt class and played with "Sam".







Again, using decorative stitches on my machine and applique, I made Sam flying a kite. He turned out just adorable....so now I have a total of two Sues and one Sam. The quilt is supposed to only be 12 but I may have to make the twin size, because I just can't get enough of "playing with these dolls."
















Stay tuned !!!

Ya Gotta Believe We Can Strike'em Out for a Cure

Hi Everyone, Wow, what can I possibly say !!! The first annual Strike'em Out for a Cure held on Saturday, September 27, 2008, was a tremendous success !!


Missy (Craig's sister) did a fantastic job in addition to her husband, Bob, who kept everything on track for the silent auction. We had donations from all over. Three golfing events, one valued at over $700, which everyone was vying for, at my last look was bid at $185 dollars. We had a two-night stay at the Anaheim Sheraton Hotel, Anaheim Sparks tickets to a game, Clipper tickets, Universal Studio tickets, Silpada bracelet and necklace set, three oil paintings by Craig's mom, hand painted ceramic angel baby and bears made by my mom and her friend Sharon, hand painted Christmas ornaments, gift baskets of every kind, candles, a CD player with CDs, portrait gift certificates valued a $3000.00, etc, and of course the quilt raffle.
(Look at the slideshow at the bottom of this post for a peak at all the donation items)

















It was just amazing!!! About 50 people showed up with open hearts and opened their wallets to support the Tug McGraw Foundation for brain cancer research in honor of Craig.



There was a magician there, the same one from Bob's 50th birthday party, who entertained us all with his mystifying tricks....the best one being the disappearing ring trick.

















Missy made an announcement during the silent auction stating the purpose of the event and the Tug McGraw Foundation's motto..."Ya Gotta Believe", which Missy turned into our motto..."Ya Gotta Believe We Can Strike'em Out for a Cure." It was so poignant when Craig got up to speak to the crowd to thank his sister and Bob for all their hard work organizing this event as well as all the people who attended and gave so much for him. I don't think there was a dry eye in the house.

















There are just way too many people to possibly thank all of them, but I personally cannot thank my quilt instructor, Janet Salcido, enough for all her love and encouragement as well as everyone at Leah's Quilt Shop in Orange, all of the wonderful terrific friends in my quilt class (Ellen, Jenny, Ann, Nancy, Judy) and my bestest buddies, Joy & Yvette. You are my strength and hold me together every day ! I love you one and all, and of course my sister-in-law, Missy who is one terrific, generous lady.



and now for what you all have been waiting for....due to the generosity of everyone we raised over $4,232.00, yes, that is FOUR THOUSAND, TWO HUNDRED, THIRTY-TWO dollars!! In addition, Sharon Lamp won the quilt raffle. She had not seen the quilt until last night and purchased her tickets the day of the event. It was so amazing and everyone got goose bumps when Craig pulled her name. Sharon had already left the event and was not there when her name was read. Sharon's mother and grandmother both passed away due to cancer and even though all of these generous donations are going to the Tug McGraw Foundation, they are for everyone who has been touched by cancer. Here is Sharon (in glasses) with daughter Janette, and her granddaughter. Congrats!!!

















Thanks again one and all for making this first event so successful !!!

Hugs,

Karene and Craig

First Annual Strike Em Out for a Cure

Bits & Pieces of Everything !

Hi Everyone....well I've been getting a lot of flak from my good friends because I have not updated my blog is quite some time. As you know, I took a huge loss to my income when we had to fire an account for nonpayment, but Joy has been wonderful to try to make up some of what I lost. The only problem is it's all straight typing and takes me much longer to get my work done. But enough of that, this is my happy place like my Sunday quilt class with Teacher Extraordinnaire, Ms. Janet. I love her and the wonderful friends I have made in that class (namely: Ellen, Jenny, Ann, Nancy, & Judy). They keep me laughing and allow me to keep my sanity. (LOVE YOU GUYS !)

Here are a few things I have been working on lately and one secret one to be revealed at a later date. The first one is a quilt I'm making for Craig. I got a charm piece of the jazz material when Joy, Yvette, and I went on our first Quilter's Run last year and Joy was able to fine the exact material on E-bay for me so I bought several yards of it. Then I found this great pattern that really shows off focus fabrics called BQ2, and I new that it was the right pattern for that particular fabric. This is such an easy pattern, a snap to cut out and piece with hardly any seams to match...no borders either, although I think a border would have looked nice on it. Anyway, I'm making this for Christmas for Craig as it's going to be a bit tight for us this year.



Speaking of Christmas, can you believe it's only a couple of months away...YIKES !!! I made the next two quilts for my niece Tricia's boys, Andrew and Benjamin. They are four years old now and Tricia is redoing their bedroom in a sports theme so I picked up several different sports fabrics and made two "identical" quilts, the only difference is Andrew's is the blue one and Benjamin's is red. They turned out really, really cute and I quilted them entirely by myself. Since I made the Bambi quilt for their baby sister, Kate, for her baby shower, which also matched her room, I just had to make quilts for the boys too. I wanted these to be a surprise for Tricia to see, but grandma kept begging me to post pictures so others could see them.

















Speaking of Grandma.....here is my mom. She took a jacket class at Ginger's Quilt Shop in Claremont last Saturday and made this jacket. We went to M&L's in Anaheim and found the material for only $12.00. This jacket has all the seams on the outside and then you cut them into fringe. Apparently it was so easy that my mom made another jacket in blue material last Friday...ALL BY HERSELF !! It was great, but not quite finished yet. She's thinking of making these for Christmas gifts for people....Although I would love a jacket....I don't even wear the one I made because I'm so HOT ALL THE TIME from hot flashes.....LOL !!!















Finally, Craig's charity event, Strike'Em Out for a Cure is rapidly approaching.....this Saturday, Sept 27th. We are all so excited and thankful for the love and support we have received from all our family, friends, coworkers, Leah's Quilt Shop in Orange who let me hang the quilt there for three weeks, all of Leah's employees and manager Charlene, Ginger's Quilt Shop who also allowed the quilt to be hung, Ms. Janet Salcido for all her wonderful efforts in promoting this charity event, all the people who provided silent auction donations, food donations, and bought quilt raffle tickets. But most of all Erin, my sister-in-law, who managed to put all this together and is really the reason this event is even happening....love you "Sis". So, next week, we will announce the winner of the quilt and I'll post pictures of the night of the event on my blog after that.

So, take care for now to all my family and friends ....We love you so much !
Karene

A Little of This, a little of that

Hi Everyone, Well, here is the latest block for my Saturday sampler quilt. This is block 5 and I was lucky enough to get it made before this coming Saturday where I get block 6 for free. I really love working with these templates and Joy, Yvette, and myself (the three amigos) get a kick out of comparing what we have done !!!




















The three amigos, plus Joy's daughter Karen, (guess we are now the four muskeeters) had the pleasure of attending the International Quilt Show at the Long Beach Convention Center last Saturday. It was so overwhelming !!! SENSORY OVERLOAD is more like it. There was SEW much to see !!! We all want to make this an annual event.
















We were fortunate to meet and get a picture with Ms. Eleanor Burns of Quilt-in-a-Day fame and Joy even got her autograph!!! Ms. Burns also gave each of us purple boas....ha, ha, ha !!!

Another favorite of mine is Ms. Marty Michelle. She designed the wonderful templates we are using to make our Saturday Sampler blocks with. These are great and it was so much fun to finally put a face with a name.














While at the quilt show, we also ran into Jenny & Ellen, as well as Ann from our Sunday quilt class. We all enjoyed lunch together and met a few other quilt-a-holics....All in all it was a wonderful time spending the day with wonderful friends.

Love to all
Karene

Strike 'em Out for a Cure

Hi Everyone, well I finally finished the quilt to be raffled off for Craig's Charity Event, which will be held on Sept. 27th. Erin came up with a slogan and logo, taking into account Craig's love of baseball and Tug McGraw being a major league relief pitcher...(see below)

We will be sending out invitations shortly for the event with all the details. The quilt will be raffled at that time. The proceeds will go to the Tug McGraw Foundation, http://www.tugmcgraw.org/home.asp , and a link to our event should be on the event page within the next few days. This is really exciting !!! Right now, raffle tickets are available through me but you can get them at the event as well. You do not have to be present to win. We have approval from the Tug McGraw Foundation to use their name and tax ID number so now checks can be made out directly to the Tug McGraw Foundation instead of to Erin. Anyway, there will be more information to follow on this. I'll keep everyone posted as we get closer to it. If you have any questions, just call me or e-mail me.

Love to all my family and friends,
Karene

Charity Quilt - Almost Done

Well, today was a free sew day at Leah's and Joy snagged the room. A little while after I got to the shop, Ms. Janet, teacher extraordinnaire, opened the door and handed me Craig's Charity Quilt. OH MY GOODNESS !!! She did the most gorgeous job quilting it, which is exactly why I wanted her to do it for me.....SHE'S TOTALLY AWESOME !!!




















When I gave Janet the quilt she asked me how I wanted it quilted and I told her it was totally up to her. If she just wanted to stipple it that would be fine. Thank goodness I left it in her capable hands. She told me she made an "executive decision" when quilting it, and I love what she did !


She did a tiny stipple (meander) around all of the flowers and ribbon of the center piece and around the flowers on the corner squares. Then she "stitched in the ditch" along the inner border and piano key border. So, BEAUTIFUL !!








Here is the center part of the quilt.














Here is a close up of the quilting.

and here is the back of the quilt....



















All that's left now is the binding and the quilt will be completely finished and ready to sell raffle tickets. These pictures really don't even do justice to the quilt. You must see it in person to appreciate all of Janet's hard work. Thank you, thank you, thank you, Janet !!! You are truly AMAZING!!!


All my love,
Karene