Busy! Busy! Busy!

Since my last post on Sunday, Jan 6th, it's been busy around here.  Monday night, Khristina and I went to my little quilt guild's monthly meeting.  Khristina posted about our 'snack' we had after the meeting here.  We had a great meeting.  One out of country guest, one out of state guest, and a new member!  Woohoo!  I love my little guild because it is so relaxed, more like a 'bee'. 

Tuesday (in the wee hours of the morning) Khristina and Glenn flew off to California.  I loaded up and went to the Quilts of Valor monthly sew-in.  I worked on 'string' blocks.  Someone had donated tons of the ends of fabrics that she uses to make jelly rolls (she sells them online).  I'll be working on these blocks more on Thursday, at my weekly Thursday sew-in.  I'll show pictures of them, then.

On Wednesday, I was gifted a new (to me) Kenmore sewing machine. 

vintage Kenmore model 1941 Zig Zag machine

I still need to clean this little lady up, but, she will be fun to sew on.  She came with the manual and the buttonhole set.  I only have one foot for her, but, I should be able to get feet for her pretty easily.  Now to think up a project to make on her.

On Thursday, I went to the weekly sew-in at my LQS.  We were full!  I love that so many great ladies show up each week.  Just a few years ago, there were usually just 3 of us that showed up regularly.  With so many ladies, we can always get help with whatever we need, to finish our projects.  There is a wealth of knowledge in that room each week.  While I was there, I went shopping at the LQS for some yummy blue fat quarters for a new project with my little guild. 

26 fat quarters and 2 half yard cuts of blues

I want to make the Star Struck quilt that I saw over at Prairie Shop Quilts in Batavia while I was at the Quilts of Valor sew-in on Tuesday.  You can see the quilt top here.

I want to make my quilt in blues and whites.  My blocks will be different stars, but, the layout will be the same as in the picture.  I got the idea of the blue and white blocks from Sue, here. 

I called PSQ to see about purchasing this quilt pattern, but, they are only teaching different blocks, and there isn't a 'pattern' to purchase.  The teacher told me that I could just find different star blocks online, and make them in the proper sizes (12", 6" & 3").  I will make most of the blocks myself, but, members from my little guild will also be making some of the blocks for me.  This will be part of our 'Quilt exchange' that we are starting in February. 

When I got home on Thursday, this was waiting for me in the mail.

winnings from NewFO

 Barbara, over at Cat Patches hosts the NewFO linky parties each month.  I won for December's NewFO's.  Barbara is hosting a new NewFO challenge for 2013 here.

On Saturday, my large guild had our bi-monthly sew-in.  I worked on the lovely pinwheels for my nieces quilt. Remember these pinwheels in the making?

mini pinwheels, ready to be sewn together

Well, I got these sewn together, and, on Saturday, I put this together.

Sarah's quilt in progress

I still have to add borders, but, the end is in sight, thank goodness.  Here are a few pictures of our sew-in.

left side of the gym/sewing area

right side of the gym/sewing area

The sew-ins are from 9am to 9pm.  Ladies come and go all day long.  We bring food to share, and have a great time encouraging each other in their projects.

On Sunday, the same guild had it's Holiday Party.  Our Holiday party is always in January instead of December.  We had the party in the same gym area as we have our meetings and the sew-ins.  We had a great turnout this year.  Ladies brought either a salad/side item, or a dessert.  Oh My!  There was so much yummy food!  There were donations to the local food pantry (this is a regular feature of the party and guild meetings).

food pantry donations

If you brought a fat quarter (we chose red, yellow or blue this year) or a spool of thread, then you got a ticket for the drawing.  There were 4 winners, 3 fat quarter winners and one for the thread.  (nope, I didn't win).  I did win a great zipper bag, and also came home with a lovely bookmark.

zipper bag I won

bookmark in gift bag

PoP Holiday Party!

The 'grand prize' of the evening was 12 lovely blocks, ready to be put into a quilt.  These blocks were made by the Holiday party committee, Marilyn, Jo and Mary. 

 Oops!  I forgot to turn these pictures before I started this post.  It won't let me turn them at this part.  Oh well.  They look the same from any angle.  Aren't they lovely!?!

This was the prize table before they started drawing.

Prize table

 There were quilt books, calendars, block rolls, zipper pouches, and a few other things that the ladies made.  One table of ladies won gift certificates for winning the 'scavenger hunt'.  We had so much fun! 

It was a busy week, but, sew much fun!  This week will be quieter, quilting wise.  I only have a Quilts of Valor presentation on Wednesday evening, sew-in on Thursday, and guild meeting Thursday night.  What do you have planned for this week?