Good News!

I always have so many! I am glad 4 out of my 7 grandkids were here for a fun Easter lunch and egg hunts.  Fun was had!

I am happy that the birds have finally found the feeders and we have found a way to keep them from hitting the windows but can still watch them.

But, most of all, I am glad that I am over the horrible stomach virus I got Sunday night that just about killed me!!!  OMG.  That's all I'll say about that.  The older I get, the longer it takes to recover my strength, so I am happy that I finally felt like doing a little handwork yesterday.  I got my hexies ready to sew for my row quilt.

Hope you have lots of blessings in your life.

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!)

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!

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.

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!

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.

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!)

New Goals

I guess I don't set goals very well!!!!  For February goals were as follows:


1.  Keep up with my row quilt.  (See side button.) Done.  I even did the redwork which was a lot of fun.  I hadn't done embroidery of any kind in years.

2.  Do the snowman block of Comfort and Joy.  Done.  So much fun picking out fabrics and making the picture.

3.  Get moving on the hexie quilt, even if that just means organizing rows.  Done, but all I did was organize some rows and organize a container with everything in it.

4.  Pull out a quilt that Holly and I worked on last year and figure out what it needs to get finished and finish it if I have time.  Well, I did figure out that it only needs borders, but still didn't get them on.  

Goals for March:

1.  Keep up with row quilt

2.  Do the angel block for Comfort and Joy

3.  I dunno' what else I feel like doing.  I like not having pressure!  But goals are to push, so maybe I am not meant for this in quilting!!!  Maybe I'll work ahead in Comfort and Joy.  Right now I'm thinking about the stars in the angel block.  I'm out of my comfort zone!!!

Design Floor Monday

I have decided that I don't like making the same block over and over, so what I am working on now is perfect for me.  I have been working on the row quilt (button on right)  and the Comfort and Joy.  Both are letting me have a great time.

On my floor are just a couple of things.  I got behind on my row quilt because we went to Mardis Gras (see below) so I am still scrambling to get last weeks row done.  These fabrics are auditioning for the row released today by Robin.  I'm trying to match what is already in and figure out what is coming next.

This is the row quilt.  That big hole in the snowflakes is just waiting for a piece of redwork.  If it doesn't go well, I'll just add some more flakes!

I've also been working on the angel for Comfort and Joy.  I'm am having a lot of fun with that.  My machine has been making 'bobbiny' noises, so I investigated and cleaned a bunch of thread that got wrapped around somehow.  No clue what I did!!  Can't wait to see what you all are working on!

Comfort and Joy, Part 2

I finished up this afternoon, and decided to go ahead and post it. I am doing the applique in fits and starts, as I wait until I have several things the same color. I am having a lot of fun working on this! It's like putting together a puzzle! I hope more folks are catching up this month. I love seeing everyone's fabric choices

I'm trying to catch up on my Row quilt. Since we were out of town and the printer wouldn't work, I'm really behind. I got my daughter to print the redwork, and I'll see what I think!

Throw me something, Mister!!

No sewing has been going on around here for the last couple of weeks because we headed off to Mardi Gras. Last year we went to New Orleans so we tried another one and went to Mobile this year. We had a great time, and then went off to visit family and friends and are home now....and glad of it. Since I had no quilting things to share, I thought you might like to see the beautiful trains and costumes of the queens and kings of the Mardi Gras. The are simply amazing. All are done by hand and are absolutely breath-taking.  All of these are in the Mardi Gras Museum in downtown Mobile.  It's not to be missed!

I kept trying to pick a favorite, which was really impossible, but I think this one below may have won.  The dress was beaded and I loved the dramatic train.

Here are my husband and I on a float replica at the museum.  Anyone want some beads.  We have a ton, but plan on getting rid of a lot to schools and grandkids.  So I'm back and ready to work on the 2nd row of the row quilt, and after I get finished washing that is just what I'll do!

 

What I'm Reading

I love this day, too.  I've been reading too much and sewing too little.  I finished The Paris Wife, which I really enjoyed.  4 stars.

I just finished Wild by Cheryl Strayed.  I give it 4 stars.  I love books about hiking the Appalachian Trail and this was about hiking the Pacific Coast Trail.  Seems to me that Cheryl was a very damaged young woman.  She healed and grieved by walking the trail.  I enjoyed it and read it in about 4 days which is fast for me since I read only at night.

I have just begun reading Unbroken, which I've heard so much about.  I am on about page 3 so I have no opinion.  This is written by the author of Seabiscuit.

Now off to find out what you are reading.


EDITED:  Never mind!!  I'm not reading Unbroken.  I was playing on the ipad and going to our library, so I got The Tiger's Wife and decided to read it.  I only have it 7 days, so it's first!

Design Floor Monday

This is my favorite day of the week for blog browsing, but I don't get much done if I do too much of it! I've already found a new fun applique quilt at Ewesquilting.com that I want to do. Hope my printer gets hooked up soon. Our network is being contrary. Anyway, here is what has been going on.

This row of Delectable Mountains is the first row in the quilt along that has a button on the right.  I accidentally made double what I needed.  Is this a sign for two quilts or more for the orphan blocks?

I finished this block of Comfort and Joy on the 31st.  Only 4 of us posted on the page.  I am disappointed because I love to see what fabric everyone chooses!

Yesterday I did the flag at the bottom, and today I hope to work on the snowman.  I've decided that I really enjoy these one-of-a-kind projects.  I really don't enjoy doing the same thing over and over.

One of my Feb. goals is to finish this top.  It's all sewn together, but needs 3 borders to be complete.  This was a mystery called "The Squares In the Middle"  and I think it was by Katedid.  I'm sorry, but I can't remember the spelling and don't want to walk back downstairs.  (Knees!!!)  My daughter and I worked on this one day mystery, but it took longer than one day for us.  She cut  and I sewed and then she pressed.  It could have been more than one day because she had 3 kids under 5!!  This is supposed to be the throw quilt in her living room.  I'd like to get it finished this winter.

Back to seeing what you have been doing!  Happy quilting!

It's still January, isn't it????

I made it under the wire. I don't know if I'll be able to make it by the 24th next month! I'm already worrying about what color to make the snowman. Surely he shouldn't be yellow!!!

PS.  I wish we could have had a prep month.  It would have been great to have made all the filler things, like the geese, 9 patches, and triangles first.  Then we could really concentrate on the applique.  Mine is just ironed down, and truly not finished.  I just have to tell the truth!

January Wrap Up February Get It Done

So it's the last day of the month.  Time to look back on what I hoped to accomplish.

1.  Finish piecing Christmas quilt.  Done!

2.  Work on piecing Valentine blocks.  Done.  In fact the whole top is done.  I really wanted to have it quilted, but I'm still mulling over how to do the backing.

3.  Work on hand quilting son's quilt.  Sigh.  No.  It's out on the dining table, though.  Does that count?

4.   Do Comfort and Joy quilt a long.  I think I will be finished with this block today.  All I need is to pick fabric and prepare the flag, change the front door, and then I'll be ready to iron it on and finish the sew up.  I didn't get to start on time because I ordered late.  I also wish we'd had a month to work on the patchwork parts.  It's taken me a lot of time to find appropriate fabric and get it cut.  And I've had to order (such a chore!!)  some fat quarters, so there was a lot of time I couldn't work on this one.  I love this quilt, though, and I'm glad I'm trying!

How did you do this month?  I'm anxious to find out!

Now for February!!


This month is going to be a little wacky since we have some stuff planned that will take me away from the sewing room.

1.  Keep up with my row quilt.  (See side button.)

2.  Do the snowman block of Comfort and Joy.

3.  Get moving on the hexie quilt, even if that just means organizing rows.

4.  Pull out a quilt that Holly and I worked on last year and figure out what it needs to get finished and finish it if I have time.

That's quite a bit, actually.  And it's even a short month!!

What I'm Reading

I'm excited about Judy's choice of a Tuesday link. I love to read and have books stacked everywhere around here.  Can't wait to see what everyone else is reading for some good ideas.  I mainly read at night in bed since I'm busy doing other things the rest of the day....cleaning, sewing, and mostly playing on this computer!!!

 I'm reading The Paris Wife by Paula McClain.  It's about Ernest Hemingway's life in Paris told from the point of view of his first wife.  I'm really enjoying it! Anyone else read it?

Design Floor Monday

Well, I feel like I've done very little and have very little on my plate. I think it is because I took the weekend off, as I tend to do. We are lucky enough to be close enough that we see the kids and grandkids quite often on the weekends, and that is what happened this weekend. Here is my 2nd almost finish of 2013. I am still thinking how I want to handle the back to add some interest. I like how it turned out. I'm going to try to get this one done on the machine, but we'll see.

These half square triangles are going to magically turn into Delectable Mountains, if all goes well.  I've decided not to do that sew-along I described below, and instead do a quilt with different rows.  I won't be behind on this one.  I believe new rows come out the 2nd and 4th Monday.  The button is over to the right if you are interested.

I got a nice box from the Fat Quarter Quilt Shop today.  I bought some pretty Christmas fabrics for Comfort and Joy.  The 3rd try at a background for Comfort and Joy flopped, so I'm back to choice 2.  I will have to get going on this tomorrow if I am going to get it done this month.  I also bought a beautiful jelly roll called Sakura.  I have wanted to try one of these quick quilts, and I think my oldest granddaughter, Gracie, will like these colors.

I've about decided not to post on Mondays anymore, as I really feel outclassed.  I'm just an ordinary person who basically taught herself to sew after watching my Mom and aunts quilt.  I'm not fancy in any way, shape, or form!  It stresses me out to see how much people accomplish, too!  Much to think about!!

Late to the Party!

So I'm late to the party, as usual. I found this wonderful quilt with great big blocks and it was beautiful. It's by Melissa Corry and it's a sew-along. If you are interested, the link is on the right of the blog. I decided to use this Laurel Burch butterfly fabric that was purchased many, many years ago. I figure the pretty colors will really show up. I hope Melissa will hop over here and critique my fabrics, which are in the washing machine even as I type!  The background is a white on white butterfly fabric.

And  I got my hexie quilt from Fabricworm .  It took awhile for the kit to get here.  I ordered it on the 7th, paid the required express shipping and then didn't get it until yesterday.  They forgot me.  Really.  Anyway this is all Robin's  fault.  And that is all I'm saying about that.  I'm going to try to organize all the beautiful hexes into rows before we go on any trips.  Then maybe I can accomplish a little of it while we are gone.

I decided I'd better get to work on those hearts if i were. going to get to use this quilt during February.  It seems like I can only work about an hour and a half before I just get too tired and start making dumb mistakes.  I'm a little discouraged.  I remember sewing all day long making a mystery a time or two.  Just can't do it anymore.

PS I've ordered my 3rd background for Comfort and Joy.  This quilt is costing a fortune!!!!

Design Floor/Bed Monday

So I've gotten quite a bit done this week. I think I have made all the blocks I'm going to on the hearts. I love the fabrics in these. They are bright and pretty. Since I have about a bazillion 2.5 inch blocks left, the border will have some in it for sure!

These hearts were sent to me when my mom died several years ago.  I think I'm going to use them on the back somehow.  No use letting them just sit and they a nice memory of a horrible time.

I've been working on Comfort and Joy as well.  It is taking forever because it's hard to pick the fabric I want and then cut it to size.  Right now I'm picking out and cutting the 3.5 inch squares for half squares.  That folder to the right is some of my receipts.  I'm going to try to keep track of fabric in/fabric out!

Thinking through the applique part.

And remember that neat picture of my closet?  This is it today! Hmmmmmm.

I'm having fun looking at your projects!  Such inspiration.  And I've already signed up to do a new sew along.  I'm doomed!