My Library...well it is really the school's!

Since my family (siblings, father) live so far away and they don't get to see where I work, I thought I would post some pictures of where I spend so much of my time...the library at South Fremont High School. I really love my job. There are so many wonderful teenagers here that sometimes people don't realize all the good that is in them and what they do. This year we have around 450 students and they tied 30 quilts to help people in our community. They raise the money for every bit of the 30 quilts. It was awesome to see them out in the foyer working so hard. They probably spent about two weeks working on them, whenever they had a free moment from classes. Each year there are so many that graduate and move on with their lives. So many to miss. I do enjoy receiving the wedding announcement and reading about the ones that go on missions. Like I said, "So many really good ones!"

(above) The Check Out Desk

(above) Books and tables. We maintain around 10,000 books. We constantly weed and get rid of items that are no longer in use. We are curriculum driven so any item not checked out in 10 years that does not support the curriculum and is of no value to the school is discarded. It is a little more complicated than that but you get the picture. Most of our circulation is in fiction. We have a wonderful reading environment at our school. I am always being asked to hold books for students when they get returned. And they are always requesting that I buy the newest book in the series that they are reading. We maintain a blog listing the newest books in our collection at sfhslmc.blogspot.com and we are working on a blog to list the series that are in our collection at booksinaseries.blogspot.com.

(above) The mini lab (16 computers) At present I have over 40 Independent Study students. They spend their class period with me and work on classes that they can not fit in their schedule or we do not offer. I have had students take Mandarin Chinese, Dual Credit Psychology, AP Government, even Lifetime Fitness. I have tried to get someone to take Lifetime Fitness on the Wii. Wouldn't that be fun? This year we should be having 15-20 students get their CNA(Certified Nurses Aide). This is part of why I love my job. You probably thought that it was because I got to sit around and read books all day. Seeing these kids excel is the awesome part of my job.

My Door at School

Each year the school has a door contest. I always say that I am not doing it for the competition but for the fun of decorating the door. The competition only serves as a deadline to get it done. Who am I trying to kid? This is the third year that I have copied a Maxine cartoon for the door. The kids seem to like her sense of humor as do I.


It says, "Christmas is plain weird. What other holiday do you sit in front of a dead tree and eat candy out of your sock?"

It makes me want to re-evaluate what Christmas is all about!

December Towel

I finished the December towel. They have been so fun to use. If doing dishes and working in the kitchen can be called fun. Thanks again to Ellie for offering this cute BOM. Here is the link to her site: http://www.elliesquiltplace.com/EBOMCountryCalender.html

Partial Wall

This is a partial picture of the wall while the stockings are hung. The rest of the year the pegs hold pictures of each individual. These pictures are in need of updating. Hopefully this spring we will get that taken care of.

Christmas Stockings

In the 80s, Cross Stitch and Country Crafts Magazine started coming out with a Christmas Stocking each year. I thought why not do one a year, that shouldn't be too hard. So between 1983-1987, I completed Roger's, Travis', Blair's, Desirae's, and mine. Then in 2005, Travis married Tasha and Roger married Lynda in 2006. Adam was born in 2007, but he only gave me 5 months from his birth to Christmas because you can not count on them always turning out to be what the doctor says. Then, Desirae married Jacob in 2008.

I have told the kids that I would like three grand babies in 2010. When I hung the stockings this year I thought that maybe we should only hope for one a year. They were a lot of work but I sure love seeing them all hung on the wall.

I hope that I will be able to continue this tradition through all my grandchildren.

A Christmas Wish

I would like to thank Gail Pan for this wonderful quilt pattern. She offered it as a BOM. I only got started on it in early November, so I had quite a bit of catching up to do. It has been so much fun to pick up needle and thread again. This project along with Ellie's Country Calendar has reminded me how much I used to love to do embroidery. I think that counted cross stitch took over my floss addiction and embroidery went by the wayside. Here is her link:

http://gailpandesigns.typepad.com/my_weblog/

I think that I need to learn to use my camera better. My pictures are all coming out blurry.

Guest Room Quilt

This quilt was made for someone but they didn't quite like the colors. Instead of giving it to them, I decided to keep it for myself. I think it was called Spring Meadow and it was a pre-made kit from Porter's in Rexburg, ID. Fun thing about it was that there was enough left over to make a smaller quilt as well 50 X 50. I love it when you get something extra that you weren't expecting.

First Mystery Quilt

This is the first and only mystery quilt I have done up to now. It was a mystery offered by Bonnie Hunter at http://quiltville.com/. I started it so that I would have something to do with my sister who lives in South Carolina. It was fun to have something in common to visit about. I was supposed to use orange instead of the red but I like my colors.

Bonnie has a new mystery called "Carolina Christmas". You can get started by following the link above. Bonnie is famous for cutting up old shirts that she has acquired for thrift stores. What a way to go Green.

Sunflower Quilt for Des

Desirae had always wanted this quilt because she really likes sunflowers. So, after she graduated from high school and had been at BYU-I for a year we went and finally picked out the fabrics. As always, I buy way too much fabric. We made shams and pillows. It looks good on her sleigh bed. I did not quilt this one by hand, I had it machine quilted by Sheila Hope in Archer, ID.

November Table Runner

I just love this table runner. I spent quite a bit of time hunting for just the right wool for the pumpkins and leaves only to find that there wasn't much to be had in southeast Idaho. So I decided to use flannel instead and was very pleased with the results. The pattern for this runner came from Fons and Porter's Love of Quilting Magazine fall of '08. I think the only thing that made the flannel work was using a fusible web so that it did not fray. It will be interesting to see how it holds up in the years to come or after one washing.

Waiting patiently for December

I finished the last six towels...clockwise from the apples....September, May, March, June, April, and October. I am looking forward to seeing what December has to bring. Thanks again Ellie's Quilt Place for these appliques.

Ellie's Calendar Quilts...transposed!

I have had these 12 flour sack towels for well over a year now and I have wanted to find just the right patterns to put on them. The other day while browsing blogs I found Ellie's Quilt Place. She lives in the Netherlands. She has offered one applique pattern a month. They were perfect for my towels. Above are (clockwise from the top) January, February, July, August and November. I had wondered why November wasn't a turkey instead of a robin but dahhh she lives in the Netherlands not America where we associate turkeys with November. I really liked the robin the best of all so I am glad that it isn't a turkey.

I love to make Wooden Paper Dolls

I have subscribed to PCHugWare for years. They have the cutest graphics for everything. I use them a lot at school. But my favorite is that every month they come out with a new set of paper dolls. Mine begin as paper but then I mode podge them to masonite and laminate the clothes. The cloths stick to the wooden dolls with velcro. I am so OCD that I put the soft side on the girl clothes and the prickly side on the boys so that there are no cross dressers in the lot. I can handle the boy clothes on the girls but not the other way around. I have probably made about twenty of these little darlings. I do let the kids in the nursery at church play with them and they get as much joy playing with them as I do making them.

November 5, 2009

I have to have it all!

When we were first married, we couldn't afford very much in the line of hobbies. But I felt that counted cross stitch was not a real expensive hobby because at that time floss was 4/$1 and on sale for 5/$1. So I decided to collect floss so that whatever pattern I decided to stitch I wouldn't have to run out and buy the colors I would need. Well about 10 years ago I met my goal and my wonderful husband bought me this chest at Sam's Club for about $50 and it has been the best and most convienent storage case ever. I just love it.


So about a year ago, I caught the bug with Connecting Threads Essential thread sets...I had to have them all. Yes, I feel like Baruca Salts, I want it now! So for Christmas last I asked my dear husband to make me the thread cabinet. Was I ever surprised to get it.

The glass makes the picture blurry.

A Woman's Mind is Cleaner...

Because they are always changing it. I really need to stay off of Amazon.com and B&N.com because I am finding too many quilts that I want to make. I really do like to applique. I like being able to sit in my chair, watch a movie, and sew. So maybe once Baby Jane is all quilted, I will start on this one instead. The fabric requirements (14 yards for the top) seem more accurate than those listed in Sylvia's Bridal Sampler (over 20 yards just for the top). Well I guess it will be a while before I can start and I might just change my mind again unless I buy the fabric or why not start them both????

November 5, 2009

Calendar Quilt Numbers

These are the patterns I made to trace for my embroidery of the numbers for The Mosey Through the Year Calendar Quilt Mystery being offered by Caron Mosey. You are welcome to use them.

Calendar Quilt PDF

October 29, 2009

Sylvia's Bridal Sampler

I just love the soft colors in this quilt and being able to try on a small scale so many different blocks that I have been wanting to try, like...LeMoyne Star, Mariner's Compass, Dresdan Plate, Snail'sTrail, and Rocky Road to Dublin.

September 23, 2009

Baby Jane on the Frame

I am able to set this frame up at the back of our family room. It is situated so that I can watch television with the family without taking up the whole room. I love my fan style frame that my husband and I made last year.

October 13, 2009

Bubble Squares into Bubble Afghan

I turned this pattern from http://www.e-patternscentral.com/

to this...

I greatly dislike having to sew them all together in the end. So by altering the pattern a little, I was able to crochet it in one piece, what a breeze.

Scanned for Posterity

Isn't she beautiful? Now to add the sashings between the blocks and sew them together. I would very much like to be able to work on the quilting during Harvest Break coming up in two weeks. I will just have to put my shoulder to the wheel.

September 13, 2009

Baby Jane update!

I have finished all the triangles but haven't had time to scan them. Hopefully I will be piecing all the blocks together next week. I have been busy making a fondant wedding cake for a friend. The wedding is this weekend so I should have more time soon. I always say that when I am working on a project that I will have more time when I am done. Who am I kidding?

2nds & 12ths

LS12 - Button Hook

BR12 - Jessie's Stained Glass

LS2 - Barb's Diamond

BR2 - Leigh's Woods

RS2 - Cherokee Lee

RS12 - Linda's Church in the Valley

TR12 - Jane's Oak

TR2 - Australian Pines

3s & 11s

I have had these done for awhile but haven't had the time to scan them. We have been working on getting a bathroom downstairs installed and finally finished it so I should have more time. Oh, I forgot, school starts next week, more time where?

RS3 - Epicenter


LS11 - Kathy's Cake


TR3 - Checker Board


RS11 - Hills of Jerusalem


BR11 - Tartan


BR3 - Attic Window

LS3 - Connie's Brownies

TR11 - Phoenix

4ths and 10ths Complete

RS4 Dutch Apron

BR4 Candy Dish

LS10 Megan's Cathedral

BR10 Nicholas' Diamond

RS10 Grandma Nan's Bodice

LS4 Virginia's Kite

TR10 Precious Gems

TR4 Bennington Cross

All 5ths and 9ths Triangles Complete

As of June 29, 2009

LS5 Olympic Torch

LS9 Kiwi

RS5 Geisha Girl

RS9 Danish Delight

BR5 Gay's Glory

TR9 Needle's Point

BR9 Sue's Garden

Favorite Quilt Sites

I have started a new blog for all of my favorite quilt sites (cyber and terrafirma). I have placed a link in the upper left of the screen for convenience.

Moving Right Along

T5 Michigan Dunes

I only cut out two patterns for this one. The small triangle for the top and the bigger one for the bottom. The side pieces are straight pieces of sashing cut larger than the ones called for. After assembling the triangle pieces and adding the sides, I cut the whole triangle down to the proper size. Easy, peasy.

Back to Baby Jane

LS-8 Northern Lights
The software pattern differed from the drawn version in the book. I used a little of both.

BR-8 Thunderhead
This one was a little monster. Maybe I am out of practice, it has been awhile since I have worked on this project.

BR-6 Frank's Rickrack
Another little monster. The top part of this had me thinking about it and how I was going to tackle it as I worked around the house. Mine is put together a little differently than either the book or the software.

7 Bears for Adam

I am presently making this quilt for my grandson. I have altered the pattern a bit by adding 3 more bears and having them all face the same way to fit a toddler bed. ConnectingThreads.com had this very reasonably priced kit and there was enough yardage left over to increase the size of the quilt without buying any extra. What a bargain! It is almost finished being quilted by me by hand and should come off the frame tonight. I am so excited to give it to him. It will look like this...

I guess I wasn't the first to think of it...

I have changed the name of my blog because I didn't realize that someone else was using it for their pattern company that makes the cutest purses and a girl can never have too many purses. I really like her ladybug purse. Check out her site at sewspoiled.blogspot.com.

How about in Black????

Just a thought, maybe black is the better sashing? Decisions, decisions. Why didn't I just buy a kit?

Baby Jane Chart

All my little blocks put together in one beautiful quilt. I wanted to see what it was going to look like with the sashing between the blocks and the corner squares. I love it already and can't wait to see it all finished. Hopefully this summer.

Click on the quilt to see an enlarged view of my little baby.

Triangles, Triangles everywhere...

Fedelia's Hearts RS7

Sally's Steeple LS7 and Norway's Fjord TR7

Love Forever RS8 and Brigadoon TR8

Ugly Bunnies???

My lovely daughter calls this table runner "Ugly". I have to agree that it is probably not my most favorite that I have made to date, but ugly might be a little too strong. "Garish" might be a better word, not "ugly".

Colored Pencils in a Roll

Fun way to organize my colored pencils. I couldn't believe that I had some of each color in my stash.

Sadie Rose

I decided to use English paper piecing to complete this block. Instead of cutting out 31 pieces, I only needed to cut 11 pieces (10 octagons and 1 corner). It still took quite a while to put together but it was so simple.

Sarah Jane

This is the Bottom Right Corner--Sarah Jane. It is the signature block. I will stitch "In Bishopric Time, 2009" in my corner if I finish it this year. My goal is to finish it before summer and spend the summer quilting it by hand. They say 'a goal not written down is only a wish' so maybe this is my way of making finishing a goal and not just a wish.

The petals are appliqued and the star is reverse applique.

Two Corners and a Triangle

I finally finished some of the outside border for my Baby Jane. I first had to make sure in my mind that I would be able to make them the right size and that I had enough of each of my fabric to complete my desired scheme. I am not as obsessive compulsive as I used to be but I did have to have everything mapped out.

BLC Goshen

TRC Longwood

BR7 Cheryl's Clown

My little babies...

I have also been puzzling over the sashing between my center blocks. I have googled how big it should be and decided that I should cut them one inch by five inches with corner squares one inch square.

Double Irish Chain

My table runner for St. Patrick's Day. I may yet get it done. I need to work on getting my corners to match but all in all I think it turned out pretty cool.

I have always felt a close relationship with the Irish. My mother was a McKenna, her grandfather having come from Drogheda, Ireland.

Hugs and Kisses

Surfing the web one weekend I came across a wonderful quilt site, http://www.allpeoplequilt.com/. It is wonderful because it has tons of free patterns for some of the cutest quilts. I just finished quilting this one and now it just needs to be bound. It is called, "Hugs and Kisses". I just love the curly cue hugs and the X kisses. I haven't figured out yet what I am going to do with it, but it was fun to make.

Cathedral Window

My first attempt at a Cathedral Window block. The fabric is from Wal-Mart, one of their more expensive pieces. I say that tongue in cheek as none of their fabric is very costly but this one had a real good feel to it. I had thought to make a skirt from the piece but when I bought the book "Cathedral Window Quilts" by Lynne Edwards I thought that it was perfect for my sample pincushion block. Intense to make but the instructions are easy to follow. An entire quilt from this pattern would be fabulous. Maybe when Baby Jane is completed.

~Christine

Many Thanks to a Student Teacher

We had an accident earlier this school year which involved one of our English teachers. She and her friend were struck by a car while in a crosswalk. The kids at school were in need of a teacher for a very long time to come. We hunted for a sub, thought we had one only to be looking again. After several attempts I finally told the principal that it might be easier to get a sub in the library than in the English classroom and that I would do it. Well after wondering what was I thinking and being in the classroom for two days another teacher suggested a former student who was doing her student teaching. We investigated and the other school gave up their student teacher and BYUI allowed her to be transferred to us. I spent the next couple of weeks making sure all was great and she took off. I was able to go back to my library.

It was hoped that our injured teacher would be back with us by late January. But she was going to take a lot more time than that to come back to us healthy and strong. So our first student teacher, Heidi, could only stay until the end of January because she was due to have her first child...a little girl. So we applied for another student teacher to start the beginning of January. Heidi got Kari going in the classroom and we have been blessed with two of the best young women in the world.

Thank you Heidi...

The quilt is a pattern from Cotton Way called "Sugar N' Spice and Everything Nice"




~Christine

The Center is Finished

It is hard to believe that the center of my "Baby Jane" only took 6 months to complete. It will probably take 6 months to complete the outside triangles and corner pieces. I am going to scan the finished blocks and take them down from the wall. Then I will begin to piece them together.

This is the block (M-7) that was the most difficult to me. I ended up using reverse applique on all the pieces because the corners were so sharp. It was probably a good thing that I left this one to the very last or I may not have ever finished this project.

~Christine

Two Left, but who is counting!!!!!

Only two blocks left.....it is almost sad to be this close to finishing the center. At this point I hope I have the courage to press on and do the outside triangles.

Only Four Left to Finish

I have been wanting to start a blog with my "Dear Jane" quilt but the longer I waited the closer I got to being finished with the center. I am now just four blocks from finishing the center.

I have been reading the other blogs that are posted on "That Quilt" blog and have enjoyed and been inspired by what others have accomplished. Hopefully my stitching will inspire others. I think that this will be a fun way to show my work without boring those who are not interested. A sort of bragging forum that is appreciated by others.

My "Baby Jane" is done in black, red, and white. It follows the "trip" pattern in rows around the center. I have not yet decided how I will alternate the triangles around the outside. I guess that that will depend on how much of each fabric I have left of the eleven different fabrics I have used so far.