ABC Quilters, my other family

No quilting show and tell today. I want to tell you about an internet group called ABC Quilters which I have been in for quite some time. We started off as Quiltin Buddies but changed several years ago to the new name, ABC Quilters. There are usually about 20 of us, some come and some go, but the base stays pretty much the same. Once in a while though we get new members that fit right in, like Vicki and Wendy, who became part of the family right away.

2 of my sisters and I moderate the group, kinda. (It doesn't really need moderation.) Here's a picture of us. I refer to us as the fabulous Baker girls, lol. Left to right, Patty, Roma, and me.

Last year we had a retreat on Ohio. Most of us attended and we had a great time. We are planning on another next September and we all will be excited about it until the time comes. We now have 3 members from Scotland and hope that they can all come. 2 came last year, Betty and Robina, and we're hoping Wendy can come next time. We just sewed and ate, sewed and ate, lol. Here's a couple of pictures from that retreat, one of the group and one of 4 members who decided to dress alike, lol. Not really, just coincidence. The lady on the left, Eilleen, was one of our beloved members. She passed away last year due to cancer. We will always remember and miss her smiling face. I cry every time I think about her.

Lastly, here's a picture of all of us at the retreat. Such good memories. The first thing I do every morning is check my e-mail and read what they all have to say. What a great bunch of ladies. I think we will all stay together until we can't. Ya know? I love them all.

I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving. I know I will. My son and DIL are coming for a few days, and the food is always awesome. I hope I can walk afterward, lol.

Until next time. ( Only 172 working days til I retire)

Brrr. It's getting cold.

Finally a little bit of winter has come to western NC. No snow but the temps are getting way cooler, which means stay in the house and quilt!! Speaking of, I finished another monthly wallhanging from the Quilters Dozen book. All of these small quilts are just so cute. Dave thinks every month is the best one, lol. Here's the picture of November.

Isn't the scarecrow sweet? I had it pieced last week and did the quilting yesterday. I used this variegated thread for the applique pieces and biege for the background. I was so stupid when I changed thread and forgot to check my tension and after meandering all of the background, and thinking I was done, the back was just a whole slew of eyelashes, lol. I had to tear it all out and do it over. I won't forget to check the tension again!!!

I think we're going to go to the casino in Cherokee today. They sent us a notice about some drawings they are having, and also gave us each a voucher for $10.00 cash just to get us started, lol. We don't go often, maybe twice a year, and we don't spend too much, but it is always fun, and we have actually won a few times. Wish us luck.

Later,

WilmaNC

More Christmas stuff

I made this little wallhanging for a 12" Christmas block swap I am in with the ABC Quilters. I found the pattern in an old Debbie Mumm book I had and adapted it for the size I needed. I made the ornaments from preprinted Christmas fabrics and double sided timtex. I even made some extra ornaments for the tree. My husband wants one too, lol.

I am also in a REALLYsmall Christmas ornament swap with the ABC'ers. I made some little mittens that I really like.Unfortunately there are only 5 of us participating. And I just love ornament swaps. Oh well, Here's what I made.

It is finally getting cold here in the NC Mountains. We even had a little snow this morning. I like the chillier weather, especially when I don't have to go to work. I had a nice surprise this weekend at work. The holiday schedule came out and for the first time in my nursing career (30 years) I don't have to work any of the holidays!! I have always had to work either Christmas Day or Christmas Eve every year. And I'm off on Thanksgiving and New Years too!! I don't know what I did to get this (maybe because I work every weekend...), but I'm certainly not going to complain. It should be a great holiday time this year.

Until next time.

WilmaNC

Only 174 more working days til I retire!

An awesome election and another quilt top done.

First about the quilt top. If I'm not careful I will become a "topper" instead of a quilter, lol. Right now I have 4 quilt tops done that need to be quilted. I think next week I will get to it and load my super quilter and keep it humming all week. This is my most recent top that I have finished. I got the pattern from McCall's Quilting (Merry Go Round), but I just call it hexes. Such an easy method to do hexagons with no set in seams. I really like the result. This one will be a wall hanger for sure.

Now about the election. I am so happy about the results, and am hopeful about the future of our country. Barack Obama seems to be such a caring and honest man, which is what we need at this point . I was so inspired by his acceptance speech that I cried, as did my husband and mother-in-law. When he said these words, "And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too", I felt such a sense of a new start. Maybe he can be the one to end all this hatred between the D's and the R's. Nuff said. Let's all just try to think positive and do all we can to move forward.

Now I have to work the weekend before I can get to quilting!! Darned work!! But, I have broken down the time I have left into work days instead of months (25) or years (2 yrs and 1 month), so now I have 178 days to work until I retire!! Sounds much better!!

Later,

WilmaNC