Well, it's sure been a long summer for most of us, hasn't it? I was gone for a week to Austin for a wedding with my dad and his parents. My mil stayed with Todd and the girls. It was quite the vacation! Earlier the girls and I drove to a wedding in Iowa. Now Todd wants to go to his Mom's for Labor Day weekend. I haven't gotten much sewing done, although the Lord of the Rings swap is pretty much done. I should receive my blocks today or tomorrow. The participants that have gotten their blocks are already clamoring for the next swap, so I guess that's a good thing!

I am going to be making some itty bitty nine patches for a swap today. They finish at three inches, and this is the third time this group has made these. I can't figure out why they are so fun as I have no use whatsoever for them, but I'm doing a bunch of sets anyway. I should have them done today. I am also trying to keep up with my group's monthly block. I still need to do a Rosebud, and now a Double T. I am still doing them in Christmas fabrics for a sampler quilt, and I am still paper piecing them just to be a smarty. Eventually our fearless leader will choose a pattern that can't be done that way. Maybe the Double T. I haven't looked into converting it yet.

I finished tying a blanket for my cousin's new baby. I decided that she would be the kind of person to not appreciate a quilt, so I just did one side a big piece of Chief's fabric and the other side is fleece. It's all tied, and now I need to bind it.

What is everyone else up to? Has anyone sewn anything?

Me again! We need some more chatting in here, ladies. Even I have felt discouraged about talking to myself and haven't posted at all.

I finished the blanket I mentioned earlier. Now all I need is an address to send it to.

I also finished my little nine patches. Now all I need is an envelope to stuff them into.

I haven't done my blocks for my group yet. The network connection for our computers isn't working so I can't print right now. Todd says he'll look at it tonight.

I finished my Tolkein swap web site. You should really check it out as some of the blocks sent in were simply incredible. It's right here .

My quilt group is going to be coming to my house for a visit in September so Todd and I are getting ready to pull up the carpet this weekend. It's a terrible, stinky mess. We're going to replace it with tile. I know it's going to look awesome!

Tammy, how goes the move? Kathy, how's homeschooling? We started book work again this week and so far so good. I've been slack on teaching Emma to read, so that's the next thing I'm going to work on with her. What is everone else up to?

Hi Laura

There is a slight problem with the Tolkein link. Your's is missing the o between .c and m

The Tolkein blocks are quite impressive.

I've some ideas for your mini 9-patch but it's ...oh dear, nearly dawn... so will post later.

Ann, a newcomer

Ann, thanks for pointing that out. I've been dropping that "O" in just about every web address lately. I have no idea why.

I hope to get a lot more of the nine patches together before I start making stuff out of them. One suggestion has been a Jack's Chain quilt. I need to explore more nine patch designs. Oh, one fun thing would be to use them as centers for log cabin blocks.