Checking out some model homes yesterday :)

Al and I were out nosing around some model homes yesterday. We took a drive to see Tucson and decided to check out a few new subdivisions out there. He would love to have a home here for the winter (well, ALL year even)... I would rather rent so that we could go somewhere different every year.

I took some pictures in this house because I thought it looked like my youngest daughters style. I KNOW she would love the colors and decorating. BUT I also thought some of the art would make great inspiration for quilts. The colors they put together would make a great RETRO quilt.

Saw my first Coyote!

Today I saw my first coyote... I hear them in Michigan every so often but they never come close to the house. We saw this pair hunting rabbits this morning near the house.

Got a picture of the pair just walking down the street... amazing!

IT'S DONE!!!!!

This is the quilt I made for Al's brother Joe. He lets us stay in his home down here in Apache Junction, Arizona. I really think he's going to love this... it fits in perfectly with his decor. I spent about a week quilting it then I put off doing the binding... I was just tired of working on it. Finished up the last stitch on it last night!!








These are a couple of close ups of the stitches I used. It took me a while to decide how to quilt this. I decided that the soft beige area looked like sand. There are two shades of beige crackle fabric so I did pebble quilting in one area and kind of a back and forth blown sand look in the other. Then I put stipple around the "mountains" and another back and forth "wood" look on the brown fabric that is under the mountains.

I did about 5 different quilting designs thoughout this quilt.

I just SO HAPPY that it's finished. It's a huge weight off my back. Joe will be down here for Easter and we are leaving in about a week. He knows this is here waiting for him but he hasn't seen it yet.

MARK another project off the TO-DO list!!! YEAH!!!

At the library today... Don't you just love the cactus out here? These were some smaller one! Al and I are feeling MUCH better now. We went to North Scottsdale last night and found a wonderful shopping area. It didn't have much in the way of fabrics but plenty of home furnishing stores like Crate and Barrel (my favorite). Found a Mac store also and picked out my new computer... It's a 27" monitor! AMAZING! It would be perfect to have in the sewing room for chatting and looking up quilts and patterns. I pulled up google images of quilts and WOW!.. the color was so nice. I definately NEED this computer... LOL. I was planning on getting a laptop for myself but this would be so much nicer :) Do I sound like a MAC comercial? ...I do love them!

Shopping Today

Al and I went shopping in Scottsdale today... in the old town area. He's still coughing and blowing his nose.. but you just can't get that guy to lay down or sit still. I told him to stay home BUT NO! LOL... I took him to dinner to make him feel better. We went to a brick oven pizza place that was REALLY good. Had a couple of nice salads.
Then we went shopping for a gift for my mother's 75th birthday. I just love sterling silver slides in Native American designs. I have a few and I was looking for one for mom... found the perfect one.. a cross with an opal in the center. I think she'll like it. Also got her a box of SEE's chocolates. We can't get these back home. My uncle from CA sends us some once in a while and Al and I love them. Not sure if Mom has ever tried them. We bought her dark chocolate nut and carmels. Hope they make it back to Michigan without freezing on the way.

Finished the Ugly Challenge Quilt Top!

I finished the quilt top that I made for the UGLY fabric challenge on Quilt and Needle. The fabric is in the center of each star. I started out really hating this fabric and then it grew on me. Now I like it. I picked all the colors for the quilt from the ugly. It had a pretty blue gray, teal, dusty gold, rust, black, brown and white. The blue gray, teal, rust and olive greens are surrounding each center, then I added black points on the stars. The plaid is black and dusty gold. It's hard to see the border but I surrounded the quilt with brown. As soon as JoAnns has the batting on sale, I'll start quilting this. I'm going to bind it with black.

Working on my Seven Sisters Stars

I've been working on my Seven Sisters quilt as Al and I travel. We went to California for a funeral and to visit with Al family. It was a rushed trip.. just overnight and back to Arizona, but on the road I was able to get some hand sewing done. I've been using a lot of the strips I've been receiving in the mail. That 30's strip swap sure came in handy. How do you like my portable sewing center..LOL. I have about 3 of these cardboard boxes with different projects in them. Easy to grab on as I head out the door. I keep the thread, needles, fabric, templates and anything else I need, in the box.

A New Round Robin

I finished up the first border of our new round robin for QUILT and NEEDLE. This is AJ's medallion. She wanted black and white and allowed us to add any other color if we wanted. This buttercup yellow was calling out to me. I just love black, white and soft yellow together.