My friend Lori has an important birthday coming and she is planning a special quilt.  I celebrated that birthday a number of years ago but I am going to join her in making a jubilee quilt this year too.  I bought this pattern in Sisters last summer (my first face to face meeting with Lori).  Yesterday I went to a wonderful quilt shop with some friends and at the last minute I grabbed the pattern.  I was so happy that I did that because this shop is so full of fabrics that I love and I was having trouble figuring out what I would take home.  We had these wonderful coupons ($40 of fabric for $20) so I began to pull grey fabrics.  I was thinking this would be a good retreat quilt but that isn't until June.  (right now my quilting friends are laughing - I am not known for my patience!)  Then I thought of Lori and her birthday and decided this would be my jubilee quilt.  I made 6 blocks in no time at all this morning.  I am hoping to make enough for a queen size quilt.

storm work

Here is some of the work I got done last week - thanks to our January storm and snow days.

The first is another Jan Patek Bible Block.  This brings me to 5 out of 12 completed with hopes of finishing this one by the end of 2012

And the second one is a Kim Diehl quilt.  I only finished the applique on the upper left block last week.  The rest of the quilt has been done for - hmmm, years?  Now I can sew the center together and get to work on the borders.  This is the block I was hunting for when I made that big mess :) 

resurfacing

What a week!  We did lose power on Thursday and finally got it back late Friday night.  We just go our Internet back a bit ago so I feel a bit like I am resurfacing.  I also feel a bit shell shocked.  We stopped at Starbucks for a cup of coffee and people were so antsy and cranky.  I was so happy to be out and about - no complaints here! 
I found that I can knit by candlelight but the quilt blocks needed to wait until I could turn on my Ott light.  I worked a bit last night on one and have set myself a goal to finish that one and one other before the next weekend.  So stay tuned for a quilt progress update and if snow is coming your way - I hope you enjoy it :) 

day 5 - you really have to just laugh at this point

As the afternoon turned to evening, I began to wonder about a few quilt projects that are pretty close to completion.  I thought it might be a good way to use my time and to get a few finishes in for 2012.
It started when I pulled out a box marked "Applique Projects."  Inside were all the blocks but one for a little wall quilt and all the fabric to complete the border.  The only thing missing was that last block which I remember taking to retreat last June. 
I began digging through other boxes, pulling out bags, and making a huge mess.  In the end, I did find the block.  I also found two more projects that are just a block or two away from being done.  I pulled all those blocks together and took them downstairs, thinking I would work on them after dinner.
And then the power went out!  The snow has stopped but we are in an ice storm situation now.  The trees are heavy with ice and snow and they are coming down on the power lines.  We have power this morning but it has been flickering so I will head back upstairs and try to finish up with this mess, just in case.
I am taking all of this in stride.  We have plenty of food and a gas stove top to heat water and cook.  I have lots of books to read and I can quilt or knit by the light from outside.  And to be honest, this is the best vacation I have had in a very long time!

when life gives you a snow day . . .

make Pink Lemonade!

I had my center blocks done but wasn't sure when I would get a chance to sew again this month but guess what?  We are having another storm and school is cancelled again so I headed up to my sewing room and just a few hours later - I have a quilt top!

This was fun.  It is not the kind of piecing I would do on my own so I am grateful to Lori for putting this quilt along on her blog.

I am sure I have some fabric for backing and I know there is batting up there somewhere so, after lunch . . .

I thought we shoveled that driveway

When we left this morning, that driveway was cleared - I know because I helped to shovel.

In just a few short hours, all our work was covered up.

Back to the sewing room.

on a snowy day

I know it is a small pictue but you get the idea.  I have one panel done on the Birdsong quilt now. 
I was planning to baste the second panel tonight but, mother nature snuck up on us while I was out running errands and our world is now very white and cold.  So, I have more of the day to play and sew and maybe take a nap.