More squares and Lexi

Here are some more blocks for the Mariner's Compass Quilt.

Had to put a picture of Lexi at her first dentist appointment.  Have birthday pictures on my camera but can't download them till I get home. I hope you enjoy the video. 

Mariner's Compas Squares

Here's the original 1st block.

Here's the original second block with a center circle.  Here's where I had trouble with the placement of the light fabrics.  The book does not help at all with value placement.  It's all trial and error.

Still having trouble with value.  I miss my design wall!

Here's my favorite.

I'm not sure how many more to make at least 6 maybe more.  There are at least 9 blocks with 2 variations for each block.  I don't really want to make 18 blocks.  They will take me till December to finish.  Taking a few days off to help Serena tile her floor.

A little help needed here!

I am working on a new quilt to teach and would like your opinion on the first two squares.  I'm particularly interested in what you think of the background.  Of course, my picture didn't come out like I wanted but maybe you can help anyways.  I sent a few text messages and asked for help on Facebook and have gotten no response.  Please help me here.  I know a plain black background would have been the obvious choose but I was going for something different.  Was it a mistake?

I thought I would post a picture of Lexi doing an art project as I sew at her house in Virginia.

The weather here is great and we are having a great time but I missed the first snow at our house in Acton, Ca.  I can't believe it.

I'm going to teach again!

Bolts in the Bathtub in Lancaster asked me to teach next month.  This is called The Roll of the Dice and is from the Stack the Deck Revisited.  I hope I have students.  I had to whip this out in just a few days and had Linda Matthews quilt it for me before I leave for Virginia on Monday.  I dropped it off on Friday and brought my Vintage Moments to show and they are setting classes up for that.  I'm so excited.

Here is what is really taking my time up!

This is the before of our bedroom.  We spent last weekend painting.  We also had a french door put in since the pool is just off the bedroom.

I still need a headboard, which we decided will be either old shutters or doors, and some end tables by the bed.  I also have more decorating to do.  The problem is I don't have anything to decorate with because this house is so different.  I'm having a hard time "accessorizing".

We painted the kitchen today but still need some pictures and accessories.  Hope to show you soon!

Finally!

I am back! As most of you know we moved the week before Christmas and it has been absolutely crazy. All the kids were able to be here, at least for a few days, and we had a fantastic Christmas amongst all the boxes and with out a couch. We ate well (too well!) and laughed and just had a great time. Here are the little ones in our new front yard.

Lexi, Daniel, Ephram, Keira, Becky and Ephram's dog Pretzel.

I did get to go to Road to Ca a few weeks ago and took a class called "Lets Make Waves".  Here's my piece made from silks I received from my sister, which I have been hoarding for three years.  It needs some more work and beads!  I thought I would have time to work on it when I came back but I spent time on the Whisper Challenge I am involved with and quilted two charity quilts.

Here are some pictures of my art group wearing the scarves I gave them for Christmas.  Aren't they cute!

Here are by birthday mini quilts from Loose Threads.  Each one made two, one for each month of the year.  Two months are missing but are promised to come soon.

Here is a quilt I finally finished.  I started this years ago and had Jeremy quilt it for me.  I just finished the binding on it.  This is in my new quilt studio but you will have to wait for the next post.  We have the slowest Internet and I am having a hard time downloading the pictures.

We have been busy trying to fix up the house.  Every room needs to be painted.  Notice the lace curtains.  The whole house is full of them.  Just not my style.  This is the family room and we painted this room first and got a new couch.  My original plan was for the walls to be more grey than blue but they didn't come out that way.  It looks good with all the oak trim.  Sometimes you just have to work with what you have.  I also just finished painting the hall way two shades lighter.  We have a ranch style house.  The hall is very long with lots of doors so painting the hall wasn't any fun!

I did get my sewing room painted which is the only room upstairs.  It once was a game room. But I think I will keep you in suspence.