The Holidays Have Begun!

College is over for the fall semester. I am so glad...I made it thru with all A's. Gary said it was because I am a suck up.....I am very pleased with my first full-time semester. Soooo glad it is over. I have been so busy lately.I bet you all have been wondering what has Silly Woman been up to? Well I have had a busy few weeks. I got to go home for Thanksgiving, it had been 16 years since I was home. It was good.I did miss my youngest Daughter, She had to work.Here is a picture of my two oldest nephews. This was just to funny.....Here is the Dresden Bloom quilt. I got it quilted and took it to Sewingly Yours.I am very pleased with the way it turned out. It is one of my favorite quilts that I have made.

I have also quilted another quilt for a customer. It turned out great and the customer was happy with the way it turned out. That is all the sewing that has taken place in the last month. I do plan on sewing a lot in the next couple of weeks. I need to get 3 quilts finished for the shop. Well that is all for now...I have some shopping to do before the holidays.

Quilty Things Stuff From the Last 2Weeks

You may remember this quilt top from this summer. I finally added the borders.This is Dresden Bloom. I love this quilt, it is my first attempt at machine applique. I need to get it quilted.

This the BOM block that I got done. We only have 3 more blocks to go. I have to say this year has been more to my kind of blocks to do. I am not one to work on 1 block for 6 hours. That is how long it took me on last year's BOM.

This is the largest quilt that has been done on my quilt frame. It was 96x105. I told my customer that I wanted to keep it.LOL She loved it.I also quilted 2 pieces for pillow shams. This was her first quilt. I think she did an awesome job.

This is a close-up of the quilting. I enjoyed getting to do a little quilting,with all the school work I have very little time to quilt. I am getting better at getting to quilt a little more. College has been a big adjustment for me. I do have good grades,but it is with lots of hard work. The next few weeks will be tough,but I am ready .....as I will ever be..Lol

Panthers beat the Saints

We had such a great time at the game. We could not have had any better weather. Did I mention they WON!

Tanya striking a pose in my panthers' ears.

Even Jd had to wear them. I loved wearing them. Gary did not like them.

Gary and I enjoying the game. I'm not that big of a fan,but do enjoy going to at least one game a season.Last Thanksgiving weekend we went and watched the saints beat the panthers in cold,rainy weather. This was a much better game.

Where did October Go?

Jd, Joni and my older daughter Tanya. Stufins(Tanya's man) and I were there to, but I was taking pictures.

Tyler eating Gary's birthday sundae at Texas Roadhouse. White shirt is Stufins.

This is my youngest daughter Joni. We found someone in our family shorter than her,she was so excited.All of her cousins and sister are taller than her. We saw her a shirt yesterday that said, "I'm not short..I'm fun size" This was at the IP casino in Biloxi,Ms. while in town for the wedding.

This is newly weds and me. Hey I think I might finally look like I have lost weight!!!!!

This is the quilt I made for my brother and his new bride, Trish for their wedding. We went to Mississippi the first weekend of October for the wedding. We had such a good time even though it was just for the weekend. My girls and all my family were together for the wedding. It had been 10 years since we were all together.

Teresa's Quilt

This is a close-up of the quilting.Teresa is one of the owners of Sewingly Yours. She also took my class to make this quilt. It is Pickety Sticks. One of my favorite quilt patterns.

Close-up of back of the quilt.

I love the colors in this quilt. Teresa was my second customer.

Crazy Curves Class in September

These ladies took my Crazy Curves class in September. They each did a great job of picking out colors and sewing curves. We had a good time. I have not got much sewing done in the last 2 months, so I enjoyed teaching a class. This was a one day class. I am getting a little sewing time these days. I had to start sewing so that I could relax from all the stress of school. I am doing better at not being so stressed as it was making me sick.

Sometimes you have to say " I am not perfect and it is okay" School has been better since discovering this principle. Some times it is the letting go that helps.

I want to Say I'm Sorry to a Few Friends

I've been so busy with school that I have not sent e-mails to the friends who posted notes. I want you to know that I do thank you for your comments. Also I'm having trouble sending e-mails from my laptop. I will do better at responding. I hope to start blogging more often.

School in Your Forties

I'm still adjusting to my new life as a student. I'm posting because my Mom said " I look an you have not posted since August 18" So here I am letting those, who stop by know what's up. The first week was horrible to say the least. The second went much better. The third week I had a meltdown. I'm not much of a writer, my English class has a paper due every week.(stress!!!) The teacher informed us a last week "Write a paper and plan on a 7-10 minute presentation in front of class. This is 10% of your grade. 1 minute to long or short and it counts off" Can you feel my pain. I'll be doing mine Thursday will not know on what till Tuesday what it is about. I have come to grip with this!
I do need advice......in high school I was a good student with little effort. That is not the case at 42...suggestions on studying habits. I need to learn 300 drugs names, generics,class,and uses. Plus a million other terms. This is just one class,I have 6. I'm struggling with this,but not giving up.

Back to School

Today was the first day of school. I have a heavy schedule. I have to get in the groove of the school thing. I have mixed feelings of excitement and pure fear. I 'm wanting to learn things from my Expository Writing class but I'm afraid I'll struggle with this class.My girls say I'm just stressing over nothing. I think I'll be find once I figure out a schedule to do my online classes and all my homework. Sorry this had been an I I I post. Just thought if I said it out loud it would be easier to deal with..........I think sewing will be my drug of choice for stress reliever.....LOL

My Moma's Quilts

These are the quilts that I helped my Mom finish.The first one is a quilt for my nephew Aaron. He loves Mississippi State. She had top made,I helped her cut the backing and she stitched in the ditch. This one is from her first quilt class.It belongs to my niece Tannah. My Mom has always sewed but didn't quilt until me and my sister,Laura, started quilting. We got her hooked. She still mainly embroiders.That's her favorite thing to do. We still all sew purses,that is how we all started quilting.I saw an Amy Butler purse pattern and my sister got hers at a quilt store in Mississippi. She said I needed to go look at these quilts. I went to a local quilt shop here and before we knew what was happening we were quilters.

Here's the girls with my parents,we are waiting to eat at our favorite restaurant.

I gave my Mom one of my treadle machine while she was visiting. I made the cutest video of her treadling,but she didn't want me to put it on my blog.

Trip to Asheville

While in Asheville, I went to 4 quilt shops. I love going to quilt shops when traveling. Bought several new patterns and books( you know I needed those) Went to so many antique shops that I lost count.

This is downtown Black mountain.Went to 1 quilt shop and several antique shops. It was a very charming town.

This was in Black Mountain,it was so cute. I've never seen so many old quilts. I didn't find a singer 301. I did find a quilt at Goodwill. It only has one stain on the back and it is hand quilted. I believe it was used as a bedspread for a twin bed,because the part that you can't see in picture is 2 blocks and 2 half triangle blocks. It is beautiful.
I went to Biltmore while in Asheville. This was the only picture I took,it is the most beautiful sunflowers growing on the outside of a corn field. My parents went with me. We had the most fun.If you've never been you should plan a trip.
I believe that sums up my trip to Asheville. I hope to go there again. The people were very nice.I spent alot of my time in Hendersonville.There are lots of towns around Asheville.

Look at My New quilt Top

The name of this one is Dresdan Bloom I have to say I'm loving this one.It's my first applique quilt. I still need to add a pieced 2 1/2 " and 6 1/2" border. I will not be working on it for a few days,on a trip to Asheville,N.C.

Did Not Make Sewing Goal

I didn't make it to 40 hours.......I did sew 22 hours. I've not been sewing much lately with going to school. I had no idea how much time I would need to dedicate to it the last 2 weeks. It was worth it.(got a good grade)

I've already got to sew about 12 hours the last 2 days. I went to the lock in at Sewingly Yours on Friday.I worked on a new quilt. I'll post pics tomorrow. I've worked on it today also.Have to say I'm loving it. My first applique quilt.Here's a few pic from last nite.It was so much fun.We sew,play games,eat and win all kinds of prizes. We had 25 people plus Wannita,Teresa,and Sue. We also got to shop.

My First Customer's Quilts

This is the first one that I did for her.It went well no problems ....... Here's the back.It was stippled with a variegated YLI thread........
Pickety Sticks was quilted with a design with no name. It was quited with a red YLI thread. It was the hardest quilt I've done so far.......thread breaks every 12 inches or so. It took me 10 hours to quilt, but it was worth it.

This is the back,Brenda, pieced it .She based it on the back of my Picture This quilt.You may recognize her second quilt ....she took my class. Brenda is an awesome applique quilter.She loved my work,but she will start quilting her own .....she got her new LA yesterday.

Celebrating Passed Algebra

Passed my test on Thursday. Spent Friday shopping with Tyler.We ate lunch before going to the mall.I bet you have no idea where we ate!!! Didn't buy much just lots of looking.

Did stop by Sew Much Fun while out.I bought a cute fall panel and a purse pattern.I plan on sewing tomorrow.I have a customer's quilt to do,then I'm not sure what project I'll work on first.

Tyler is leaving tonite,catching the train home.I'll miss him.It has been a busy summer with 3 of our nephews visiting,one at a time.Boys are very hungry(lol)I'm the strick Aunt and Gary is he cool Uncle.Better get off here so we can leave.

I'm Still Alive

My new Dell laptop arrived Friday before last. I had ordered it about 3 or 4 weeks ago. I was unable to to get Internet up and going till Sunday nite.(after long time on phone with wireless router people).Then on Monday it decided to quit working.Spent 2 hours on phone this time and no Internet.It took guy 5 minutes on Tuesday afternoon to get it to work.Why can't they just come out to begin with. This my new sewing machine.I went last week and got it,it is a gently loved machine.Lots of people are getting the new Diamond and trading in their old machines.Lucky me!!!!!
I finally got to sew on it tonite.
School has been taking all my time. I have finals on Thursday.I have an 88 average so today the college accepted me in to the Pharmacy Tech Program. I will get diploma in May.I plan to go on and get the 2 year degree. Pray I pass my finals or I can't start in 3 weeks. I'm sure I will make good on my test.I will be studying till Thursday.

I did get one of my customers quilts done.Hope to get the other one done on Friday.I better get off here and start studying,

Test Score

I got my test score.....93.....Gotta love it.Now I have to make it thru 2 more test and the final.Plus lots of homework. Sewing is going to be my calm down drug.LOL ...I'm a little behind on the homework will catch that up tomorrow and get ready for my test on Monday.
I didn't get to sew the last 2 days,but I've been doing quilty things.B.O.M. was yesterday and today was teachers meeting.I'll get caught up on Friday and the weekend.

Getting in Gear

Today I went back to school after missing 2 days for funeral.I had missed a test,I went ahead and took it today. I think I did ok. Today was Tyler's bday( my nephew visiting)We went out to eat and I baked him a cake this morning. Weight Watchers like he needs that,but I do.....
I did sew tonite,block of the month,due tomorrow.Why do it ahead of time!!!LOL...I've decided to set a goal for my sewing,not as large as some,but with school I just don't have as much time.


Goal is 40 Hours For July!!!!!!!!
Considering I have 2 test and a final in the next 3 weeks.This will be a commitment,Plus I want to take a few days for vacation the last week of July. Not sure if my Eclise Quilt Class is going to make,will know on Wednesday.
My first job quilting for someone else....Pick up 2 quilts tomorrow. i guess I had better go to bed lots to do tomorrow.

My Family

With our Mom

With our parents

Me,Kenneth,Laura and Renee
These are pictures of my family.Not often we are all together,somebody is always missing. They all live in Mississippi.I live in North Carolina. Not a happy time,but I do love this bunch.

Aunt Barbara

My Aunt Barbara passed away on Saturday.She was my Mom's older sister.I have great memories of her.She was very different from my Moma,she didn't make sure you had your shoes on, hair brushed, etc.....I'm sure that was because she had 7 kids as we say in the south "she had door steps"Also I was younger than all of her kids so let's just say she spoiled me. I always remember her doing things with my Mom,you know how sisters are let's dye each other's hair......Let's go to yard sales on Saturday.........Can you keep my kids(my Mom was in trouble she didn't have as many).........My Aunt Barbara was very kind, She didn't have much,but she would give what she had if she thought you needed it. She also was the queen of Yard Sales......she could find something for some body's collection.I don't remember her buying for herself.
My Aunt Gayle is the older sister of my Mom and Aunt Barbara......talk about a threesome.....at all family get together,they would talk for hours.Growing up I thought it was so me and my cousins could clean the kitchen .Now I know it was a special time for them.
My Aunt has been sick for sometime now,so I believe she is in a better place.Please keep my family in your prayers,family will be traveling from NC,La,Ms and Ohio to Florida.

Swing Bag

This is an Amy Butler Pattern,it has a bow that I chose not to use.It was a quick pattern.I have another one cut out ....just need to sew it. It looks very plain in pic,but it is really cute.

Can You Say Stupid

I feel so stupid,I've spent an hour and a half messing with a new pic for my header. Kept having trouble with my photo program......kept doing it over and over again.......finally got it to work,so I thought.In all the redoing I misspelled my own blog name and couldn't save the picture. So I started over. I do like this pic of Pickety Sticks,but I also liked the pic of the irises. Oh well life is tough sometimes.

Baby Reagan comes home!!!!!!

This is the happy Nana and Mom.She came home to a baby shower given by Family and friends.I'm so happy she is home,she is a little miracle.She is so tiny,but she now weighs 5.15.I believe that is what Nana said.

Test Score

I made an 88 on my test. I'm happy with that. I have a test on Wednesday.....Gotta love that!!!I need to pass this class,so that in the fall I'll be on track for my degree.Pray for me.

White Water Rafting

Last Saturday we went white water rafting,I have to admit I had a good time. I'm afraid of the water,actually the idea of going under it. The trip was a 5 mile ride down the Pigeon River.Joni and Zack waiting for the big ride.The only thing about it is the fishy smell of the water.We wore old clothes and tennis shoes.