The year is almost over

Where did it go? It sure has brought some life changes for the Streeter house hold.

Our son graduated college earning his second masters degree, this one was in education. In the same week, he was hired by a local school distract as a 3rd grade teacher. He loves his classroom and when he shares stories about his day, his face lights up with excitement. He seems to have finally found his calling. He re homed an older Cocker Spaniel named Hozoni, giving us a granddoggy. She is so darn cute, lol.

Our oldest daughter also graduate college earning her RNBSN, she had a name change and we gained a son in law. She started a new career at a local hospital Emergency Department and we now have a very furry grandkitty named Boo. It is so much fun watching these young adults live adult lives.

Our middle daughter graduated high school and was accepted to attend a local college. She is also earning her degree as an RNBSN. She became engaged to a very nice young man and the two are planning a long engagement. They both understand the importance of higher education and plan hold off marriage until they graduate college.

Our youngest daughter turned 16 this year. Holy cow! that was a shocker. I'm not sure I'm ready for her to grow up. You want to hold onto the youngest for as long as you can. LOL That won't work with this one. She has become very goal oriented and has excelled in school this year. She has started to explore career options and has investigated some colleges. I'm not sure how I will handle the whole "empty nest" thing, but I have 2 years before I find out. lol

Things were slow at Randy's plant this year. So, like many companies they had a huge layoff. But, he was spared and wasn't one of the over a hundred they let go. This is such a rural area that when the plants let workers go, it hits everyone hard.

I had vascular bypass done on my leg this year. They removed a vein from my right leg and transplanted it into my left leg. All I can say is Thank God for modern medicine. The surgery has changed my life! I still have limitation, but they are nothing like they were last year.

So, as you can see we have had a great year. As a family we can't wait to see what 2010 brings.
So, From our family to yours
We wish you all a happy and healthy New Year.
Penny

I am now a .com

That's right, My daughter and future son in law gave me a .com for Christmas. So, I invite you to be the first to check out

Penny's Patches on line at pennyspatches.com

I am thrilled. This is a work in progress, so ignore some of the test photos.

Check back often.

Penny

TAAA DAAA

The, "Turning Twenty" top is now a quilt. I made it through my first pantograph quilt pattern.

I don't like to work from the back side of the long arm, but if I really really had to I now know that I can.

From My Family to yours

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
We're wishing you a Christmas Full of laughter, love and light,

With delicious holiday foodsTo excite your appetite.
We're hoping you receive Delightful gifts to make you smile,

With family and friendsTo love you all the while.
We wish you a Merry Christmas;

May your Christmas dreams come true,

And when Christmas is over,

Happy New Year, too!
By Joanna Fuchs

Merry Christmas to our family and friends. God bless you and keep you safe.

Penny

It is now a quilt

I am in love with my long arm!!

My, "Wickedly Easy" top is now a quilt. I will put the binding on tomorrow.

I have my, "Turning 20" quilt top pinned on now. I will get it quilted over the next few days. I have to get my wrapping done for Christmas. LOL
Penny

WOW a busy Friday

I just took a lap quilt off Lola. It wasn't anything special, just made from scraps from another quilt. It and two others I will donate to the local personal care home.

This morning I pinned on my, "Wickedly Easy" quilt top. I had a variegated thread that matches the 30 reproduction prints perfect. I am doing just a stipple and loops but it sure is fun.

Enjoy the photos.

Penny

Meet Lola

After 5 years of waiting Lola, the long arm, is here. She is an APQS Utl II and runs like a dream.

As you can see in the photos, I still have to paint the walls and hang some curtains on the window, but that can wait. lol

strange friendship

1 large dog + one small kitten = best friends

The dog is a rescue the kitten was born here just 12 weeks ago. It is so sweet to see the two of them together.

Off To the quilter

I just love my quilting friend. :) She has agreed to take on yet another one of my projects. She has, "Mary's Rose Garden" it will be my mothers. I am also sending her "Feathered PinWheel". This top was done 2 years ago. I marked it and even started some quilting. BUT! I hate the hand quilting part. So, Elle said she would take it on and finish it for me. LOL I am going to owe her my first born, lol wonder what Amanda's husband would say about that. LOL

The sewing machine has been put away

That's right! LOL I have put the sewing machine away. She was ready for some much needed time off. LOL I have TWO! hand quilting projects I want to get finished. So, today I pulled out my Feathered Star. I have most of the white background quilted and will start the stars when that's done. I still have to decide what color quilting thread to use on them. I have decided to put more quilting on the white. I want this quilt to be a "show worthy" quilt and that means, when a quarter is dropped on the quilt it must touch quilting. I have to many open spots. This is my winter project. I'm looking forward to some down time.

This one is a KEEPER!!!

OH MY GOSH!! I love, love, LOVE this quilt. I am so proud of myself. The only pattern I had was for the center star, the rest was just done by measure, cut, measure, sew. The top is 90 inches by 108 inches. It will go on our bed after it's hand quilted.

So far So good

Well, even with the interuptions I was able to sew some.

This is what I have done on my Amish Lone Star so far:

Sew Sunday

I am going to work on this Lone Star quilt I started a few weeks ago.

I saw the quilt on the internet and I'm working on my own version using Eleanor Burns's "Radiant Star Quilt" book and amish colored Kona cottons. My background isn't as cream colored as I would like so I am planning on Tea Staining the entire quilt top when it's finished. I'll keep you posted as to how much I get done today.

Finished it today

An online friend showed me this quilt pattern, It is called "wickedly Easy" by Annette L. Unrein. The pattern url is, http://www.byannie.com/images/wickedly_easy_quilts_patterns.pdf

Here is my Wickedly Easy top made from 1930 reproduction prints.

Brought out of hiding

OK, I have been working on this project for years now. Today, I have brought it out of hiding. It's from this great book that I just love.

The project is a pineapple quilt. I need 60 ten inch blocks.

I have 37 done and my goal is to do get 3 done a day until they are finished.

Churn Dash quilt

I'm a member of a Yahoo quilt group that loves the 1930 reproduction prints. Last year we had a churn dash swap. I received some of the 12 inch, 9 inch and the 6 inch churn dash blocks you see in this quilt top. I wanted to set them together in a nontraditional manner. SO, this is what I came up with.


The center blocks are only 3 inches square and set on point. Then the set triangels to set it square again. Then I put a boarder of 6 inch blocks around that.

Next, I put a boarder then set 9 inch blocks on point again. Followed by set triangles a boarder and an outside boarder of 12 inch blocks. It's rather large but leaves nice open spaces for really neat quilting.

A special friendship

My big dog, Chloe and the kitten we call Harley, (she's a girl) have a very special friendship. Chloe cleans the kittens ears and the kitten licks Chloe's feet. They are often found sleeping together. Ignore the date stamp on the photo's I had to recharge my batteries and have not reset the stupid thing. These photos were taken this week.

Apple Day at school.

Wed was "APPLE" day in my Son's 3rd grade class room. (he's the Teacher) So, mom to the rescue I made Apple Crips, Apple Sauce, and Apple Sauce cookies. He brought the Cider. LOL the kids were puzzled as to why the apple sauce was pink. lol It was a lot of fun and he has a great group of childern. Randy was up set he couldn't have any of the apple crips so, I made him "Apple Dumplings" Thursday.


That was a lot of fun and the dumplings didn't say to long.

I am so Blessed

The past two days I have been able to ride my horse with friends and not suffer much pain. Something I wouldn't have been able to do a few months ago. And, even though the Dr.s say no more working I am so blessed. Today I was able to walk up to the pasture and get Bear, walk back to the barn. We rode for 2 hours, and I was able to walk him back to the pasture. Thank God for leading us to the Dr who did the bypass surgery on my leg. Without him, I wouldn't be enjoying these pleasure. Even though I won't be able to walk 2 miles at a time again, at least I can walk short distances without pain. I am Blessed.

My family has been so supportive. They have been by my side threw everything. The good, the bad, and yes the ugly. The scars I now have are pretty ugly. lol

They have held my hand, wiped my tears, listened to me scream and encouraged me along the way. Randy had to become Mr. Mom, work full time and become care giver to his wife. The children had to grow up faster then most, but I never heard them complain. I am Blessed.

I have such wonderful friends, quilters and non-quilters. I have become so close to the owners of the barn where I board my horse we are an extended family. This past year we have ridden together, cried together and prayed together often. Their friendship and support have meant so much to me. Then there is my Thursday riding buddy. Amazing how God brings people together. She and I met that first month I brought Bear to the barn and we became good friends. She and I have been threw the sorrow of loosing her mare, the excitement of finding her gelding and the fear of me not being able to ride again. There isn't anything we haven't talked about while lost in the wood. LOL I am Blessed.

Of course I still have my quilts. Quilting has saved my life in so many ways. There were times, when the pain was at it's worse, that I could only sew for an hour at a time, it still gave me something to keep my mind busy. It's pretty hard to feel sorry for yourself when your using a rotary cutter. LOL There is something that happens to me when I sit behind a sewing machine. Concentrating on following a pattern, getting the seams right, making sure your fabric is in the right place, that keeps your mind so busy you don't have time to think about anything else. Maybe this is something only another quilter would understand. I am Blessed
So, today has been a wonderful day, it's been a long time coming. I wanted to share how good I feel. I AM BLESSED! I AM BLESSED. Thanks to God I AM BLESSED.

Penny

Two more Ufo's done

I am in this strange, for me, finish them up mode. I have started to pull works in progress from the famous quilt cupboard. I have a bad habit of starting a project, then get board with the project, place it in a labeled shoe box with the pattern and then put the shoe box with the others in my cupboard. Even I knew it was time to get them turned into tops.

So, here are two more that have gone from shoe box to quilt top.
The fabric for this quilt was purchased in Delaware back in June. I snuck away one day while we were in Ocean City and hit the quilt shop. LOL I started the top back in June then put it away to go onto something else.

This tops was started around Feb. of this year. It is made from fabrics that were left over from another project and I wanted to work on something that didn't need much brain power. Nine Patch blocks are so simple. I added the applique to give the quilt just a little punch. It got the seal of approval from my Chloe, my big dog. lol

I will pull two more from the cupboard tomorrow so check back in a few days to see what I'm working on.

Penny

Moving day

LOL that's right. We are moving furniture today. Switching couches.
What a job.
Penny

House Smells sooo GOOD

I just took an apple pie out of the oven.
If your coming over for some, please bring the Ice Cream.
LOL
Penny

Onto the next ufo

I am in this FINISH them up mode. I have this full size top that I made from Nine Patch blocks back in May. I made some applique flowers and butterflies to put on the outside border. Before I could put the appliques on I move onto another project. So, I have pulled it out again and I am going to work on it over the next couple of days. It really won't take long to finish, just have to stick with it.

Sure is bright isn't it? This will be pretty when done.

Check back in a few days to see the finished top.

Penny

Doing the Happy Dance

My Foolish Goose Tracks Top is DONE!!!! DONE !!! DONE!!!!

I love it, love it, love it,

My Quilt tops

Someone asked to see my 35+ tops. LOL so, this was the easiest way to show them.

In the pile on the left there are 22 queen/king size. The center pile has just 2 tops in it, they are queen size and will be hand quilted. The pile on the right has 13 twin/full size tops. There are 4 tops on hangers that didn't make it in the photo.

I guess I have my work cut out for me. I really should stop sewing and start quilting. LOL
Penny

Going to finish my BOM

I hope to finish my Foolish Goose Tracks bom today. Also, been working on my Christmas list for my DH. LOL I have a pretty nice gift coming, more on that later, but there are a few gizmos I would like. I will post a photo of the BOM when I get it done.
Have a wonderful day
Penny

Huge News!!!

Our daughter Samantha became engaged today!!!

Her husband to be, Josh, is a wonderful young man. They are going to wait until Samantha graduates for college. So, we are looking at a summer 2012 wedding.

kittens are ready for new homes

Heather has done it again......new BOM

Heather from Burning the Midnight Oil has announced her new Block of the Month.

You can join in on the fun too, http://burningthemidnightoilquilts.com/block-of-the-month-quilt

or join the yahoo group, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BOMchatMidnightoil/