Thursday, March 28, 2013

My Gracie!

This week is spring break here, and my Gracie and her family came for a slumber party. Even though they live here in town, they come spend the night sometimes and we visit and have a big breakfast in the morning. After her parents and little sister left, Grace and I made bunnies. She was a little hesitant at first, but that pride of making something really kicked in and it didn't take long.

She'd say things like, "It's really great to be able to make your own stuffed animals!"  and many other cute comments.  I told her I thought she was a natural, and she said, "That's cause I've been watching you so much."  I kept her when she was a baby, and she would point to my machine and say "Play dat, Onnie"  and she would take my blocks and put them on the floor.  She'd move them around and stand back and look just like I did.  She also loved to go fabric shopping and had to feel every one I did.

We agonized over fabric and buttons for eyes which almost made me impatient until I realized I do the same thing.  I helped her make the pink one, and we were about halfway through when she wanted to make one for her sister.  She totally did the white one on her own.  I just sewed on the button and sewed the bottom shut.

We got the bunny pattern from a collection on Patchwork Posse.  We are now looking for a cat softie pattern as she has decided we need to make her cousin and best friend Riley (here, too!) a cat.

I am so blessed!  (Oh, she chose her blanket for the photo shoot.  We don't really have much leopard around here!)

Monday, March 25, 2013

Design Floor Monday

So this is spring break week for my grandkids and we were supposed to be in the Smokey Mountains on a camping trip, but when snow is forecast, I think it's a better time to stay home and sew.  There is some disappointment around, but it is what it is.  We'll have time later.

I am having a lot of fun doing lots of different things, which makes all the difference for me. I wake up thinking what I'll get done that day. Sometimes, I even get it done. First, I'm almost done with the April Comfort and Joy block. I brought this up to embroider while I listen to hubby's news shows. I almost never have to look up!
Here is my precious curly haired granddaughter who is my inspiration for doing Curly Top! I have sweeter pictures of my Ruby, but this one really shows that beautiful hair. This is from Christmas. 
And here are the 3 curly top blocks ironed down and partially appliqued.  I have bought a ton of the cutest buttons to embellish this quilt.  I think she's going to love it.
I enjoyed embroidering the snowman on the row quilt from Patchwork Posse so much, that I decided to find a pattern I liked.  I actually found some 'antique' ones of my mom's, but decided I'd like a spring one.  I found this bunny pattern at Erica's and it has been very enjoyable.  Another one of those projects while I listen to TV.  And I am very proud I am using up a lot of the pinks from my Valentine quilt.

And this is my Comfort and Joy for March.  I am embroidering her whatever the black stuff is that sticks down from her hair.  I'm not really liking her look.  I've been thinking about making is a crown or something instead.  I'll work on it more and decided.
I see that Judy has her links up for Design Wall and C&J.  They will have to link to the same post!!

I'd really enjoy a comment from you.  First, I can go see your stuff and we'll be friends!!!  And second, when I get over 150 looks and two comments, I think my stuff must suck! LOL!!

Haven't had time to look at everyone's projects.  I'm off to do that now!

Thursday, March 21, 2013

I'm back!

It wasn't my fault..really. That thing that we use to connect to the internet has been very squirrelly of late. Sometimes I could get online, sometimes I couldn't. But it seems to be healing itself because the company sure didn't help much! I guess my grateful for today should be that I'm married to a computer guy!!

This is what I've been doing lately....screwing up.  I was totally finished with this block and then I pressed it one last time....and BAM!!!  Glue on the iron.  So I did it over and was thankful that I had enjoyed it the first time!
 
The bad news was I didn't have anymore snowflake fabric left so I went with swirly stars that I hope will remind people of snowflakes.  And there is my quilt with 4 rows done.  I'm really enjoying the surprise I get when I see the row.  Next row is on Monday.


So my grateful post starts here..... I have a charmed life, I swear. I'm the luckiest woman ever! I have a wonderful husband who loves me even though the years have not been kind (especially in the weight department!). I have 4 children who seem to like us still and enjoy spending time with us. Our sons and daughters-in-law are wonderful people and great parents and we have 7 beautiful and gifted grandchildren! Ha! We have our beautiful new dream house. We are basically healthy and have enough money to get along just fine and travel every now and then. I can sleep late and drink coffee while I watch Morning Joe and stay in my gown as long as I want. I can sew and read and do other things I enjoy so much! I'm almost afraid to post this for fear it will jinx me!

 I am so grateful.

Monday, March 11, 2013

Empty Design Wall!!

Well, not really, but still.... We had a house full of grandkids and family all weekend so nothing got done except in my mind. Last week I spent a lot of time planning the Curly Top quilt and shopping for fabric and buttons. I'm waiting on a shipment from the Fat Quarter Shop that is supposed to be here tomorrow, and I'll start that! Yea!

So most of last week I did a lot of machine applique, trying to get the hang of it.  I'm getting better, but it sure makes me tired quickly!  And how in the heck am I supposed to do those skinny arms!  I've been working on all 3 big blocks I have done, and have started working on April's C&J!

Then today was row quilt day. I love the new row, but boy those snowflakes about drove me nuts. When I was complaining about messing them up while cutting out my snowflakes, my husband (sweetest guy ever) says that the beauty of the quilt is that it's not machine made, but each should be different. Isn't that nice of him?? It's probably a self-preservation tool, but I still appreciate it.
I'm auditioning fabrics to surround the snowflake to tie it in to the rest of the quilt.  don't know if I'll leave the green, but it was in the preceding row.

Now here is the guy who caused the problem.  I was adding a piece and appliqueing away when I needed black thread.  Now I know I've got black thread.  I used it to sew a quilt for my son and I know there's some left.  Looked everywhere!!!  So I got to his hat and had to stop.
This sent me on a search for the black thread, though.  Everything I found made me wish I read closer to the Cyberquilter conversation about storing thread!  Anyway, I found the tin below.  It was my momma's!
And this bag, too! All filled with thread and a lot on wooden spools, so you know how old they are.
I decided I'd give a spool a try since I was desperate.  It felt very sturdy, but I knew I had a problem when the bobbin was done in barely a heartbeat!  This thread is so thick I couldn't thread the needle.  But I loved finding all the old thread and having nice memories of my mom.
So tomorrow I will try to find my way to a store with thread!  So frustrating!
I've already been looking at everyone's work.  Such beautiful quilts are up this week!

Tuesday, March 05, 2013

What I'm Reading

I am reading Unbroken and it's very good, although it's unsettling. It's about a great runner, Louie Zamperini, and his life. He ended up a Japanese POW, and the descriptions of his treatment while there are enough to keep me up at night. Literally! I read until about midnight, and I was still up at 3:00 this morning. Very good book, but I just don't know how he lived through it. I've finally have the war over and he is home, but you can imagine the problems a man who had been tortured would have.

I have figured out about my library finally and how their Kindle downloads work, so I got Unbroken from them, and next up is The Twelve.  I enjoyed The Passage, so I think I will like this one when I get Louie Zamperini settled!

I was certainly lazy today.  I've been on the computer and then ran around with my grandsons this afternoon.  Nothing in the quilt department accomplished, but I did buy some buttons to embellish the Curly Top quilt when I get it going.

Sunday, March 03, 2013

Design Floor Monday

Right now I'm at a stopping place. This is the first 3 rows of the row quilt at Patchwork Posse.  I'm really enjoying it.  I've never made any of the blocks before, and I'd never done redwork.  So I'm stretching which is what it's all about.  I on't get a new row until the 11th.  I'm worried that I'm going to run out of the color of scraps I want to use.  Oh no! Another excuse to buy fabric!

I'm almost finished with the angel on Comfort and  Joy, but I haven't taken a picture of it.  And I have decided I want to do Curly Top from Ewe's Quilting.  I have a 2 year old brunette curly top of my own to love, and I am hoping to start it this week.  I could do a UFO, but this would be more fun!!!

Can't wait to see what you all are doing.  I'd love to hear from you.  Leave a comment!

PS  Here's where I am on C&J.  Those pieced stars were a booger!! I'd never done any kind of template before.  I'm learning a lot on my projects (which was the point!)