March TO DO List (incl. CWC BOM March notes)

It's the beginning of March and I've been "out of commission" for the past 10 days or so due to flu, so since I'm beginning to feel better, it's time to get busy!

Here's what I have in mind to accomplish this month:

1.  Civil War Chronicles March BOM (4) and putting sewing the first three months' together - no special instructions for AccuQuilt this month - just put the square together in four parts, making your HST just like the ones from February with the AccuQuilt cutter.  There are no special flying geese like there were for February.  I plan on making four top left squares, four top right squares, four bottom left squares and four bottom right squares, sewing them all together into four separate blocks as below and then will sew the first nine blocks all together into a mini quilt top.  The fabrics are directional, so keep an eye especially on the larger pieces of fabric (the blue reserved from January and the large diagonal, so that they will be running the same direction in all four March blocks.  The large, three-piece diagonal running from bottom left through the block up to the bottom of the top right will have to be fussy cut to ensure that the pieces are running the correct direction throughout the block.

P.S.  I would just LOVE to have no seams running through that long diagonal, but am not quite sure....
maybe I'll have to "play" with that and create a template from paper before cutting that fabric out...let me know what your ideas are....

2.  Pillow case for my nine year old son from this cute football-themed fabric:

3.  Pillow case for my 17 year old daughter to match her graduation quilt:

4.  Complete purse from Feb. Embroidery Retreat

5.  Finish Carrie's Cowboy Corral quilt top

6.  Begin the next "Quilter's Academy Vol. 1 Freshman Year" chapter

Harriet's Triple Rail Fence

with the following holiday fabric:

7.  On March 11th, I will send off the Apron Swap package to Donna! 

(this is a total secret, so sorry, no pics!!)

Oh, I just have to give you at least a 'sneak' peek!!

Here you are:

8.  ?? and this may have to wait for April, but since I picked up embroidery machine supplies at last weekend's Joan Friedrich's embroidery machine retreat, I'm going to complete a T-shirt for my youngest grandson Aaron using my Babylock Ellageo embroidery machine:

The monkey is cute, but I want to put words on it, too...

maybe

"Ten little monkeys jumping on the bed.

One fell off and bumped his head..."

or 

"Grandma goes ape for Aaron"

or...

any ideas for me??

PLUS:  Today in the March/April 2011 of McCall's Quilting magazine, I found these absolutely ADORABLE place mats/napkins by designer Stephanie Sims called "Cafe Espresso" which is right up my alley...yes, I admit it:  I am addicted (at least a bit) to Starbuck's!

Happy creating!

Apron Swap!

I would like to introduce you to Donna from www.tealovinglady.blogspot.com!  She and I will be creating each other an apron and exchanging our favorite recipes...please check back here around April 1st (no fooling!) :-) to see what Donna sends!!!  I have never participated in an exchange before and am really looking forward to it.  Thank you, Donna!

Aren't aprons fun?  They can be feminine and frilly:

or help you out in the BBQ grill department (once spring rolls around!)

or they can have pockets galore so you can run around stylishly to do a chore...

or there's even "haute coutre"!

But the country girl in me really appreciates something simple and something straight:

...but spring-time flowers are also great!

but to receive a surprise apron gift you made is something I will certainly appreciate!!

Thank you, Donna!

International Quilt Study Quilt of the Month, March 2011

http://www.quiltstudy.org/collections/quilt_of_the_month

French quilt circa 1700-1720
from the free Quilt Study online monthly newsletter

What incredibly beautiful handwork - I don't believe I've ever seen this style before, have you?

I WON!!!!!!!!!!

$300 gift basket of lovely quilting supplies
from J&$ Vacuum and Sewing
Bismarck, ND

THANK YOU SEW MUCH, J&R VACUUM AND SEWING FROM BISMARCK, ND!!!!!

I WON A $300 GIFT BASKET OF QUILTING SUPPLIES!!!!!  A DREAM COME TRUE!!!!!

THANK YOU - THANK YOU - THANK YOU - THANK YOU - THANK YOU!!!!!!!

Yes, I'm a "little" excited!  How often do I win things?  Maybe once every couple of years - I'm SO grateful!

I WON $300 worth of quilting goodies from J&R Vacuum & Sewing Center located at 222 E Main in Bismarck, North Dakota.

I won the  "Just Dessert" fat squares from Clothworks, a Madeira 18 pack of thread, a Pfaff 8" scissors, an "All Through the Night" quilting kit that includes directions and fabric, a Ladybug Cutter set, a Yo-Yo Maker, a Needle & Thread selection guide, and two books including "Quilting:  the Complete Guide" and "Fat Quarter Quilts", eight sets of needles and a blue pins & needles tomato.  

Thank you for calling and making my day, Cindy!

Being at home sick with the flu looks a little brighter now :-)

I'll be right in when I'm feeling better!!

I'm sure they would love to have you stop in in person and register to win their prize for March 2011!

Stop in to visit with Cindy or Julie at

J&R Vacuum & Sewing