Baby quilts are done!

It's been a while since I posted anything, but I have been busy with lots of "stuff".  We finally got all of the tree trimmings cut up and gone in the garbage.  I have tomatoes planted, strawberries are looking better for their second year.  We may get some to eat this year.  Last spring we bought two of the upside down gizmo's, one for tomatoes, one for strawberries.  The tomatoes did OK last year, but nothing like I expected.  The planter looks like it may last through this season but it will have to be tossed in the fall.  The sun and wind is so intense out here that the tomato planter is starting to fall apart.  Last years strawberries didn't produce either, but that is common for their first year.  They have lots of berries on them this year, I just hope they hold up to the dry weather, wind and sun so we can have some to eat.  The first berry was so cute, really red and nice but not quite ripe so I left it on the vine to ripen a little more.  A day or two later it was dry and withered.  It may be a challenge to get some good berries.  The strawberry planter is holding up much better than the one for tomatoes, no deterioration that I can find yet.  The flowers I planted last spring are coming back very well.  I planted some seeds for more flowers today.  I'll try to remember to take some pictures later in the summer.

I have the quilts for the little ones done.  First is an "I Spy" quilt for big brother:

I just did a simple grid layout with fabrics I hope will be interesting for the boys.  I used six different colors in the cornerstones so he can learn colors.  I love the border fabric, it just looks like a party is going on big time!  I figure both boys can use it as they get older.  Jack will be two in a couple of months and Mason is due any day now.

Here is the back:

If they get tired of playing "I Spy" on the front, they can drive their little cars around on the back.  I found this fabric at my LQS.  It has all kinds of little places for them to stop and "shop" as they play.  I'm hoping they will get lots of good learning and play time with this quilt.

Next Mason's quilt:

I mentioned finding this kit and pattern in an earlier post.  I love the way it turned out and it will be perfect for the nursery.   

Here are a few close ups of the applique and embroidery detail:

I hand quilted this one using Pearl Cotton #8 and stitched around the inside of the border squares.  The center of the quilt is just a diagonal stitch through the blocks.  The ones that have a picture of a "creature" in the center has the diagonal stitches with a box around the little bird or animal.  You might be able to see that in the first picture if you enlarge it.  I had a lot of fun doing this one.  The pearl cotton was a little tough on the fingers when quilting, but I love the look so it was worth the extra work.

On other projects, the Scout  "rag" is all done but still waiting to be washed.  I'll take pictures when it has raveled a bit.  The "Snowbound" BOM from Bunny Hill is still waiting to be finished.  The baby quilts had to be ready to go first.  Then, the other "Snowbound" quilt designed by Jan Patek is just waiting for a border.  I finished all of the applique on it right before I started on the kids quilts.  I love the way it looks, too.  Now that the kids quilts are finished I can get back to working on the projects for ME!

We took a quick trip to Arkansas to visit SIL's and BIL's a couple of weeks ago (during the floods).  We left on a Thursday after watching their weather reports.  During the 72 hours before we left, they had 15 inches of rain and another 4 inches came down while we were there.  They live in the NW corner of the state, there was some flood damage nearby but their homes were safe.  The gravel road was washed out in spots but still passable.  We did visit some of their friends who have a campground in town.  They had lots of flash flood damage because people had been dumping junk into an area above where the campground lies.  The junk had plugged up a culvert, when the pressure built up what was lodged in the culvert broke free and a wall of water washed through the peoples house and the campground.  The force of the water tore up their deck, pushed the air conditioning unit under the deck and water rose to a couple of feet inside the house.  Everything was covered in mud and debris, it was a huge mess.  There were several big camping rigs in the repair shop area behind the house that were pushed together and flooded.  I don't know who's insurance is responsible for that damage, the rig owners or the repair shop.  It was a mess.  We saw other areas that had been under water, too.  Most of the water had receeded by the time we saw the area but it will be a job for people to clean up.  Unfortunately the east side of the state was hit much harder.  We were able to load up the desk we went to pick up before the rain started again and even though it was cool and damp, we got to do some shopping and sightseeing before it was time to leave for home.  Living in a high semi-arrid desert area, I do miss rain and humidity sometimes, but that was way more than I needed.  Anyway, new desk is in it's place and the old desk is stored away to take to my step daughter in Florida in the fall. 

I was excited to find a gift in the mail, too.  I sent 14 star blocks to the "Just One Block" project a couple of months ago.  I got a nice "Thank You" in the mail from them:

The little 2.5 inch fabric squares are from the Moda line Pom Pom De Paris and they are so cute.  There are 42 squares in the little bundle so I will have to find a project to use them in.  Any suggestions?  I would love to see pictures of some of the quilts the Moda group is making with all of the star blocks that were sent to them.

I was also very excited to find out I won a giveaway from Ann Hermes for a APQ 2011 calendar.  It arrived a couple of days ago and it has some beautiful quilts in it.  It came with all the patterns for the quilts in the calendar, too.  Ann even autographed her quilt page for me!  I am so happy with this win.

Guess that is about it for now.  My next project is to do some small things so I can practice free motion quilting and learning to use my new machine to it's fullest.  I have the two "Snowbound" quilts to finish, too.  Oh, can't forget the "Henrietta Whiskers" BOM from Bunny Hill for this year.  I have the first five blocks finished except for adding the eyes to the squirrels and crows.  I am having as much fun with this one as I did with the little snowmen last year.

I have been keeping up with every one's blogs even though I have been lax about posting what I've been up to.  I will try to post more regularly now that I don't have any more deadlines to make.  Keep on quilting!