A few UFO's no more.......

I am sure I am not alone, but I have a container full of quilt tops and blocks from many wonderful bees and swaps I have been in and I am slowly trying get some of these projects completed. So, I have a few I have been able to get done the last few months.

These blocks are from an aqua and red plus block swap. Some of these blocks I made and others were made by swap buddies. I squared them all up and put them together. I just love the maple tree outside our home, great for hanging throw size quilts in!

 This quilt is absolutely one of my favorite quilts and patterns to make. It is so improvy and fun and I LOVE how freeing it is to make these blocks. This is my "Modern Mosaic" Quilt. I have enough blocks left to make another one just this size, but I think I'll add a few more blocks to make the next one bigger, just because.

This next quilt, is mine! I love coffee and I made this one to have a retro feel from the 70's. I pulled the colors also from the coffee fabrics. I can't wait to wash it and snuggle underneath it this fall!!

This quilt is one I made from a Jelly Roll. It's called the Jelly Roll Race. The fabric line is High Tea by Jera Brandvig for Lecien fabrics. It's a great way to have a coordinating, large throw quilt and it doesn't take forever to get it done. My mom doesn't know it, but I will be giving her this quilt in the next week as her birthday present. She is a Missionary to Thailand and Burma and always tells me I don't make her anything. She sneaks away on her trips always a day or two before her birthday. I have made her table runners and different bags, but it's time for a quilt she can cat nap under when she's hanging on her leather sofa. These fabrics are so my mother too, not to mention we are both crazy about tea of all kinds!

I hope to have a few more quilts to share in the next month or two, one's that are just waiting for their finishing steps.

I am also just getting ready to work on a quilt club challenge for my Wabasha quilt group. We all received the same exact fabrics and embellishments. We can add one fabric and have to use a little bit of everything. Here's the entourage of what we have to work with....

I promise to show the finished product. I do have one of 2 ideas for it. It is due by the beginning of October. I hope I am creative enough to accomplish what I have in mind.. Blessings till next time.

Esther turns 2!!!!!

Our precious grand daughter Esther turned two on July 12th. We gathered here at the Traun home to celebrate the wondrous occasion on the 15th! Here Esther is getting ready to blow out her candles, but she's not sure what she should really do. 

I went to IKEA and and she fell in love with this little cart, so I couldn't resist getting it for her. She uses it all of the time, putting different things in there and scooting around the house when she is here at Mimi's house.  

• Here she is wearing some of her birthday jewelry. She sure liked the big beads!

• This girl absolutely loves chocolate!! She HAD to have chocolate cake and ice cream. This girl went through 4 single scoops of ice cream!!! You can tell what her favorites are!! 

• I just love this sweet girl with all of my heart. She is kind and sensitive, listens very well and is very eager to learn. She loves her Mimi and I treasure every second I can spend with her and teach her and love on her. Happy Birthday Esther!!! Mimi LOVES you!

Spring is in the air!

I don't know where the time goes! I love my job, but it does take a lot of my time as well as my free time. Paperwork can definitely be overwhelming. I have put in so much extra time lately, never to recoup it of course, but I feel like I just need to play a little bit. Today I have been trying.....I made some blocks for a charity quilt and made my stash bee quilt block. I'm hive 2 this hear. I enjoy the low pressure and enjoyable experience of being in the stash bee, nice group of ladies.

So these are the blocks I made today

Brenda in my Hive 2 Stash Bee asked for this bird block with batik wings. I hope she likes it. :

  These blocks are going in a charity quilt for Hands2help. My Coast to Coasst quilt bee mate asked if we would be willing to help make some blocks. These are wonky blocks, fun and easy to make. She wanted true blues and crisp white I think these will work great for her.

  These blocks were for last month in Hive 2. Assorted shades of aqua with low volume with one side more greenish aquas then the other side. I have a lot of aquas, but don't tell my hubby. :)

 I found this really fun cofee fabric. It sure gave me a feel of the 70s so I went and found greens and oranges to compliment the coffee fabric. This top is completely pieced now, I just need to quilt it. I am still trying to figure out my backing.

  These are february bee blocks for the Stash Bee. The beloved granny square block. I love these. I have a quilt's worth waiting to be made into a quilt.

 These tumbler blocks were ones that I participated in a swap for We all sent in fabrics and the swap mama cut them into these tumblers and sent back an assortment we all share. It was time to get these pieced. I was amazed how easily the tumblers went together. This one just needs quilting too.

 For my secret pal in my River City quilt guild I made my secret pal a table runner/wall hanging. How ever she wishes to sue this. I really like how it turned out and hopefully will make one for my self for this coming Christmas season.

 This was a block I made for someone who wanted autumn colors. I am always happy to see how things finish up.

Our sweet grand daughter Esther continues to grow and amaze us how well she is learning. She has a great temperament and she loves her Mimi. Her Mimi loves her like crazy too! Here she is modeling the socks I knitted for her mama.

 Easter Sunday at Mimi's house. Esther is toodling around on her John Deere tractor. She seems to have a lot of fun with it! She also discovered she loves Poppy Seed Cake.

 I think this girl is going to get a balance bike for her birthday this summer!! She had so much fun playing on this as we were checking out some equipment my husband needs for his rehab following knee surgery and a knee infection. He has a long way to go......not as easy at all as any of us hoped it would be.

 '

Mom and Dad went to Las Vegas and we were blessed to have Esther spend 4 nights at Mimi's house and she did just great!! Here is breakfast.

Esther hanging with her Mimi. She just woke up from a nap. I love her so!!

Happy Spring!! The grass is green and the birds are singing!