Covered Porches and Wooden Screen Doors

Dyed Threads---

2012-02-07T19:37:00.000-06:00

Coffee is serious business in our house. It's not just the coffee taste...It's the quantity(we have a 14 cup pot that gets used mulitple time in a day) it's the flavored creme---- and it's the fact that it's our time together...
I was home alone and had a half a pot left. I had forgotten and made a full pot last Friday. Sitting there staring at the pot...not too impressed about wasting it I decided to try it. I pulled some DMC floss colors I didn't think I would use. I made sure I could show you before and after. I let the threads soak for about an hour. I left the paper on the skeins. I don't know that I would use these threads on something that will get washed over and over again, but I love the look. I even tested the threads as for as threading needles and gliding in fabric. The threads passed with flying colors.

So for those girls that can't make it to the store every time you need a color---get creative.

I try to get this finished for Christmas. Fail. I tried to finish it for out of town company the third week in January. Fail. The moral is that sometimes you just need to finish things for the love of finishing them. Do it for yourself and no one else.... Here's my finish. A free pattern to be framed.

In the Pink…..

2012-02-05T13:54:00.001-06:00

I’ve never posted a photo on my blog. It kind of ‘geeked’ me out….Pinterest really shot that down, posting my picture out there. Because today’s post is about my daughter and her 22nd birthday--- This is us…. A photo of us at my first ice fishing expedition two weeks ago.

This is us sledding the night before It was 9 degrees--- Sledding when you are over 30 should be considered an ’extreme sport’. All I kept thinking is, “I have to do this--- I may be too old to do it next time I have a chance!!!!” Yes—Chelsey is way too cool for a snow hat….

I finished her quilt. I did not have binding fabric. I considered ordering more and remembered my commitment to cut down on the ordering. I blundered through the quilt cabinet and found a leftover piece of Jo Morton fabric that works perfectly----

I’m calling it, “In the Pink…”. It got it’s name because I’ve quilted in words on the horizontal pink blocks of the quilt.

Smile
Have Faith
Love
Care
Have Hope
Share
Laugh
Be Kind
Believe
Be Brave
Effort
Courage
Wisdom
Honesty
Strength
Compassion
Happy Birthday
Chelsey

These are the words doodled somewhere among the stitches of the quilt for my daughter’s 22nd birthday.

I’ve always said the great part of quilting is making something that comforts someone and hangs around long after you’re gone….

Death and dying don’t really bother me any more—I’m at that point in my life and I have every intention on going to heaven for bigger and better things—I just really don’t want to hurt. I think my biggest fear is being forgotten--- I want to be remembered and leave a mark after I’m gone…..

Here’s a mark for Chelsey to remember--- the words written---

“In the Pink….”

Happy Birthday Chelsey…..

An Inspiration....

2012-02-04T08:27:00.000-06:00

It started with this post....I couldn't get it out of my head .... The wheels in my brain were just turning....for my Sunday school kids I made these--

I send them a letter every other week. They were easy and fun. The night before I left for Nebraska-- I pulled out my tea-dyed Walmart fabric

and cut out postcards---4 x 6. I pulled out those wool scraps I'm always preaching about saving and this is what I came up with.....Valentines....

I stitched all the way to Nebraska and back on the airplane. I got a hug from every stewardess. My Mom is getting the first one. She's having cataract surgery on February 8th. I know her sight will be better and all the pluses for her having it--- I just don't want her to be scared. Wish I was there-- she said positively not...Your prayers will be treasured.

My rubber stamp will hold the address- an old and well loved gift from my sister-in- law.

I've got to decide if I'm going to put a bead stitched in for the eye....I still see another snow bird project. A couple of journal covers with the little chickadee in the corner--- can you picture it....?

Hop to it Block Eleven----

2012-01-30T07:13:00.000-06:00

My humility block..... I don't know what I was thinking. I cut it out right after Christmas-- a little tired of the whole green/red thing I guess. I tried dressing it up with alternating thread colors(which were tough to find!!!) the light green leaves were supposed to be on top of the vine-- I realized after the fact. Well, no one ever accused me of being perfect I tromped out in deep snow for this picture. Oh-- and the block is going in the quilt regardless. It reminds me of all the above. Sometimes great colors just don't go together. Most of my quilts are displayed from a rack or my quilt ladder. I've been contemplating rearranging the blocks of this quilt that I'm doing with Sue and Mary--- This pretty much seals the deal. It's OK if everyone doesn't see this block.

I can still laugh at the snow in this photo...an this quilt block.....

Happy Monday Everyone....

My Weekend....

2012-01-29T19:16:00.001-06:00

I had a completely quilting weekend. Don was off on Friday and did the weekend chores. We slept in and did pretty much what ever we wanted. I went snowshoeing with the pups in the morning and evening. I finished my tablerunner.

It kind of looks like Valentine's Day only not so much. It's a closeout pattern I found at the quilt shop. I though the snowman was cute---maybe another year.

So I changed the stichery in the middle. I wanted an "anytime" table runner. It was fun and easy. I am no good with the triangle edges, so I made squares and then got my ruler and cut them to make the straight edge.

I smile because I pulled from the fabric cabinet. The solid squares are an old Thimbleberries print. The beige in the nine-patches are an old piece of Walmart fabric that I tea dyed last Saturday. Yes Folks--- My name is Melanie and I have been known to purchase pieces of fabric from Walmart. When you live in a small town and until a few years ago the nearest fabric store was 50 miles away-- you try to plan, but when you don't...there's walmart.

I've got a trip to Omaha this week, so I have two wool blocks cut out for airplane stitching. It should be a great week.

Binding--

2012-01-25T20:36:00.000-06:00

Almost a year after I started it---I have made and started binding the edges.

I'm going to have a Spring quilt to display before you know it....

Kicking around making a few lists-- Works in progress. Dreams in progress. Plans for spending, Plans for NOT spending...Truthfully it's a little intimidating...still just kicking it around.....

I do know that I want complete projects this year instead of having several things so close to being done that I could just taste it. I want to start a project and see it all the way to the end....

I stayed awayed from Pinterest for as long as I could---probably about six weeks--- but I am slowly building boards. It's inspiring.

There truly isn't enough hours in the day....

Keep stitching....

Project Pieces....

2012-01-24T19:35:00.000-06:00

I had planned on sewing tons tonight-- but my pups decided it wasn't in the game plan. So maybe we'll just write about it instead. Here is the project I'm working on :

Hopefully by this weekend it will be a table runner for my kitchen. Nine patches are relaxing. There's nothing new in this project-- I just pulled fabrics from the cabinet.

Well-- why haven't I been sewing-- aside from the usual, work, laundry,exercise rituals that we do for life... I went to the Packer playoff game ten days ago. You know you are having fun when they lose and you still consider it fun. My college kids brought friends home for the annual chinese family cooking one weekend. We had so much fun.

Last weekend we had Don's cousin from Florida-- who had never crossed the Mason Dixon Line--- Visited for 4 days. We gave him the Ultimate U.P. Experience--- hiking, snowshoeing, sledding, icefishing plus all the local foods.... Oh how we had fun. Sometimes you have to see your home through others eyes to renew your appreciation for it....

My First Finish--- Almost....

2012-01-07T10:48:00.000-06:00

For Chelsey... wishes for a Christmas gift....it's looking more like her birthday present. Not my colors or even my style--- but I just smile when I look at it because it is ---so----Chelsey. Made with a fabric line called 'Harmony', it fits my daughter's life for this brief window in time.

She dating a nice guy (I probably just jinxed it), her job is going great, her newspaper wants to pay her for writing, school is chugging along... Harmony....It may not last, but we have to bask in the moments.

It hasn't snowed all week. But if I grab my clothes pins and camera and sure enough it starts peppering down. You can see the tiny flakes...

We had my office Christmas party last night. I won a television for my sewing room... I was thrilled. I told everyone I planned on winning it--- they just didn't believe it...

Lesson to the story--- You have to believe........

Enjoy the football playoffs this weekend....

New Year's Day

2012-01-02T06:32:00.000-06:00

We were home before midnight-- as predicted. There was just something comforting about laying in bed listening to fireworks go off down the road. We went to church this morning. The afternoon was based on an afternoon nap, snowshoeing the pups, and football.

Yesterday we took the Christmas tree down and put away the decorations. Don always laughs and says we'll be sweeping evergreen needles until it's time to bring out the Easter grass.

I cut out my block of the month for January. Ready for a change--- there's no red or pinegreen in this one.

Fresh snow made snowshoeing fun. The winds are howling tonight. The electricity has even blinked a couple of times. Makes you feel glad you are tucked in at home. I've got the day off tomorrow. I'm knocking out the chores early so I can spend time in my sewing room.

A new year is a chance for new starts--- realizing however-- we truly get a new start every day. Believe in yourself. Mark today as the time you stop comparing yourself to others. There's no one quite like you...

Am I trying to convince you -- or myself.... maybe a little of both... Happy New Year.....

New Year's Eve 2011....

2011-12-31T09:34:00.001-06:00

Here is my December block for my Hop to it Quilt. It reminds me of Poinsettias. It was a tough block. With the holidays ---I count myself lucky to get it completed. I found clearance fabric to use on the borders. I can’t wait to get them started. We have two more blocks in this BOM project with Mary and Sue. I have gotten tons better at appliqué working through it. I have grown at choosing my own fabrics and colors. The biggest bonus is the friendship I have built with two great quilters.

I completed the binding on a piece last night. I have a quilt on my frame. I have blocks on the side of my sewing machine. So whether it’s handwork, piecing, or machine quilting, I’m set. With family close by for the holidays, I have done very little quilting. There will always be quilting--- having family close is a luxury.

We played this game with family over the Holidays. The more people the better--- I highly recommend it for laughter....
My Mom and Mother-in-law hooked with special quilting stuff for Christmas. I want to make every project in this book.

The tree is coming down today. We have an evening with friends planned for tonight, but I guarantee we will be home before midnight. In my book---there’s nothing better than being home at the stroke of midnight at the beginning of a brand new year.

We’re getting all settled in for winter--- but remembering we are gaining about one minute of daylight a day at this point in the season. Soups for supper, Mittens in your coat pockets, that blanket and flashlight stashed in the Jeep for emergencies (a couple of quilt patterns in your purse in case you get held up somewhere). Life is about living—it’s what you make it. Not everyone lives in sunny 70 degree weather… but that doesn’t mean you stop living.

Resolutions for the new year--- Keeping it simple. Hoping for Lifestyle changes, not trendy ones. Daily exercise, eating balanced, reading more—less computer time and television, and of course Quilting….

Here’s hoping everyone in the New year can find ways to be grateful in all things…..

Happy New Year---From My Covered Porch…..

Merry Christmas 2011

2011-12-25T06:28:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas from our family to yours.....

Christmas Eve 2011

2011-12-24T07:53:00.000-06:00

Both of my kids are home-- bliss.... We've been cramming 6 months' worth of fun in the past 48 hours.
Here's a snapshot of them coming in from ice fishing.....

Last minute sewing is complete. I didn't get half the projects complete that I dreamed over...but does a quilter ever really finish "it all"...

Sue sent me a surprise package-- a quilter's Christmas ornament.

That's a bird nest next to it. I have about a dozen of them on my tree.
Michigan Christmas' are definitely filled with the Snowmen from her as well:

Here is s snapshot of our Mantle this year. I made the wreath to fit on the window frame:

Mary knows the luxury of DMC floss and sent me a pin cushion and thread with the tiniest of stitches:

We're having our big Christmas dinner today -- Steak and Shrimp-- We're sharing the kids with Chelsey's boyfriend's family tomorrow (a growth moment for me)We've have church and and presents to open tonight...

Gratitudes:
Safe travel for Family
Having those I love close
Health and a Home with a warm fire
Snow falling for Christmas

College Christmas Gifts....

2011-12-18T19:51:00.002-06:00

It all started with this apron.. Chelsey is running with a group of girls that do Pinterest. When I saw the apron I decided to make them for Chelsey and three of her friends. I pictured a cute hawaiian print or a plaid--- Walmart was my first thought. At walmart the shirts were still $16.00 each--- for something I didn't even know that would turn out. So off to Good Will I marched. Not a ton of options, but I found these

Think about it.. a man's dress shirt really doesn't get worn out. They get rid of them most of the time.

Each shirt became an apron:

Then I added a cookie mix. Next trip to the store I found cookie cutters. Then I found a spatuala for each-- the same color as their aprons. Oh and recipe cards.... I had to get these wrapped and in the mail because I kept adding and adding... So much fun.

I did a sunday school craft that required mittens. I don't knit and couldn't find any mittens so I found a $3.00 American Eagle Sweater at Good Will .

I cutt out pieces.

And created mittens for little kids:

Our office has an all girl Christmas supper. You have to bring a ten dollar gift exchange. No chance to sew, but I stumbled across some great dishes.

They were INCREDIBLY hard to part with... But they went to someone that would appreciate them with a note : Share Christmas with a friend....

My College kids will be home on Thursday. The tree is up. The packages are wrapped and the stockings are full.

Bring on Christmas.....

Lesson for Quilters.....

2011-12-11T07:13:00.001-06:00

Ransom and Bruno posing for the Christmas card photo opp. We almost lost Bruno this fall. I look at this photo and think-- wow, he might not have been in this photo. Bruno is the pup Chelsey brought home. She was going through alot-- our whole family was and it was a "coping" thing for her-- for all of us. We nicknamed him "therapy" because he truly is just that. We laugh and say-- She could have brought home a baby-- it was just a pup...life goes on.

I was getting ready to go to my third class. I brought my suitcase up and Bruno tucked his tail and went and sat in his box. Ransom and he were going to the kennel-- doggie camp we call it. Ransom loves it so I know it's a good place. Bruno just doesn't like change. I called Chelsey and told her that her pup was spoiled just like she was. I laughed and continued packing.

Chelsey said, " No Mom, something is wrong -- I just know it. I'm coming home and I'll taking them to the kennel."

"Suit yourself. I have to go to class. Don's out of town. You can't have pups in your apartment."

I finished packing and headed to church.

When I got home, Chels was there. laughing--- saying , "Mom, maybe he is a little spoiled." We had lunch and I headed to Madison.

Two hours into the trip, Chelsey called, Hysterical.." Mom, there's something wrong with Bruno you have to come home. Bruno is crying when he has to poop..."

Great -- a constipated Chiwawa/terrier.

"Chelsey-- call the vet. It's Sunday. You'll have to leave an emergency message and they will call you back.You can do this."

"Mom, I hate you right now."

She called the vet. They thought she was as ridiculous as me, but agreed to meet her at the office.

They examined him and realized he had swallowed a thread and needle and it had gotten lodged in his rectum. Yep....They apologized to Chelsey for labelling her as overprotective and removed it and gave him antibiotics and paid meds. He could have died. It could have punctured his insides. She took Ransom to the kennel and smuggled Bruno to her apartment for 3 days until I got home.

I felt horrible. But honestly, I probably would not have reacted as quickly as she did.

Lessons for quilters: Count your needles - wow...

I had been doing the cellphone thing letting Don know what was going on.

"Mel, she knows not to spend 2000 dollars on the pup. I mean, we love Bruno and all, but there are limits, you know."

"Don, don't go there right now. Let me deal with it. It's not the time for that right now."

After everyone's blood pressure went down. I quietly asked Chelsey about the bill. I had told her to put it on the credit card. She said it was $262.00.

I decided texting it to Don was the best way to ease the "ouch" of the bill.

His response texted back to me:

" H e ' s c o m p l e t e l y w o r t h i t. . . "

I smiled.

Catch Up....

2011-12-10T19:17:00.000-06:00

Tucking away the fall decorations is complete. I always laugh. The table starts out with the quilt and candles. It seems like everytime I take the pups for a run I bring leaves back. Those aren't plastic. They're the real deal. By Thanksgiving you just about have to rake the table it's so full of leaves...but they are beautiful.

I've been out of pocket-- But I completed the last of my four classes in Madison. I am now certified in Supply Management and Procurement. Yeah, OK.. So what. But It's done and in my book, I had a blast touring quilt shops along the way. I met some great people--- I feel smarter just sitting at the table with some of them. And while I'm not a joiner or outgoing in any sense of the word--- I traveled and walked into those classrooms and didn't crumble...huge for me.

The pumpkin quilts are folded away until next year. I try not to wish time away, but I already look forward to harvest season next year.

Gratitudes:

1. My quilt cabinet

2. My glass of Iced Tea-- always in season, I'm from Louisiana.

3. Email photos from my kids.

Reading - Quilts

2011-11-19T17:26:00.001-06:00

In honor of our quilt block project Sue sent me this awesome book. It's Edyta Sitar's latest and she does a great job at getting to the heart of quilting. It even came with a CD of quilt patterns. Completely enjoyed it and I keep going back again and again to go over pages of the book. It's definitely not a "one time" read.

Before flying out to see my folks I had time for coffee at Barnes & Noble. I love that it's ok to read things before you purchase. I loaded up with books and magazines and narrowed down what I wanted to take on the airplane home to Louisiana. While I really don't buy into the Organic thing-- I loved this magazine. I don't hate me. I believe in taking care of the environment and eating right-- I just don't make my own compost. I love the pages and in November I love to read stories about what people feel about home. It's worth the purchase price to read about a home being priceless without costing a million bucks. What caught my eye was this article:

I've always said Quilting is not just something you do - it's something you are-- You find patterns in everyday life. You see color combinations in what ever you do. You find minutes --even seconds --to put needle and thread in your hand-- not necessarily hours. You know you're a quilter because when someone is happy or they're sad-- the first thing you think of is that they need a quilted something---- You may not have a chance to give it to them but you are positively convinced that a quilted object will capture the happiness for that person to hang onto or repair the sadness and loss that that person feels. I guess I read articles on the subject because I want someone to put on paper exactly what I feel. But realistically, it's something that everyone has to feel for themselves....

It's almost Sunday - Almost time for Packer Football - and Quilting.

Hop To It Block-- Each Block A Reminder

2011-11-19T13:41:00.000-06:00

This is my Block for October from Edyta Sitar's Hop to It Book. Hung from my Garden fence -- the rust leaves remind me of Fall. This was the hardest block to do far. Sue, Mary & I have been working on a block each month. Each block reminds me of my garden and reminds me of them.

I'm jumping the gun on November's block because the holidays are upon us. It's funny how the basket block falls on this month reminding us of the blessings we have and how thankful we should be. Without doubt---I am thankful for my faith, my family-- Don, Eric, and Chelsey. I am truly grateful for my home, my job, and my pups. This time also reminds me the gifts I have in my friends---for Sue and Mary doing this quilt with me. The gratitudes really stack up because I'm thankful for little things you don't consider everyday-- like walking, reading, and of course ---quilting.

A Soft Place to Land.....

2011-11-18T21:13:00.001-06:00

This is the photo that started it. I loved the quilt from the moment I saw it. It was a Rail Fence pattern--- only better. I had planned on making Chelsey a quilt for Christmas. I had even purchased pattern and fabric.

What at one time seemed like a federal offense is now pretty common with me. I changed my mind and decided this was the quilt Chelsey needed.

So here is the fabric---

Not what I would have chosen for myself, but the quilt is not for me. It's for a fearless twenty one year old-- Incredibly brave--- more than I ever would be.

The blocks have been made

It's going to be bigger than the pattern and I haven't decided on the borders.

Yards and yards of ruffles have been hemmed.

And now the fun part begins-- The ruffles.

Tons of chores to knock out tomorrow... but hopefully more ruffles will be made.

No Quilting Post......

2011-11-18T17:04:00.002-06:00

Yes - I am among the living... I've even quilted some. I just never have that camera around.

But tons of stuff has been going on.

First off--the photo. I haven't worn heels in probably about ten years. I completely lusted over these 3 inch heels. They have velvet ribbon and look spectacular on. After about 3 months of lusting I bought them. I bought them just because they were red and life would not be the same without these shoes.

We've had our first snow storm-- 6 heavy white stuff. I was home alone and after trudging home from work I quilted the night away despite the flickering of electricty.

I went to Louisiana. Vicki-- I ate my weight in Catfish and gumbo. My Mom is in better shape than I have EVER seen her. She probably is because she has been taking care of my dad. my Dad--- tough subject. He's 82 and Pride bigger than Dallas Texas. I walked lightly because more than anything else-- I knew that I didn't want him to dread me coming home and I didn't want him to remember me fussing about his health and what he needs to do to get better.

My MIL is coming Monday for thanksgiving. It's going to be wonderful having family for the holiday. More posts to come --- including quilt pictures.

Don't give up on me....I have really cool shoes....

Fall at my Home....

2011-10-24T19:59:00.001-05:00

I sat on the porch Sunday afternoon and tried to take in the last few days of Fall. We have a chance of snow tomorrow night. It won’t stick, but it will be the preview of things ‘yet to come’.
(Yes, those are twinkle lights on the tree branch-- We're not "Hicks"---They are awesome on Fall nights...Everyone should have twinkle lights...)

I went to a funeral on Saturday. I also had a friend at work that lost her brother at 43 years old. So it was kind of a weekend to remember the blessings in my own life. I shared these mugs with Renee. My heart really goes out to her. I love anything by Bob Timberlake.

I have been wanting to share my pumpkin.

I got it at the Farmer’s Market a few weeks back. I saw it and it was love at first sight. This farmer began telling me how to cook it and how good it tasted. All I kept thinking was, “Who Cares?!?!?!----This was a REALLY Super Cool Pumpkin.” It almost looked fake ----it was so perfect.

Acorns were scarce this Fall. There weren’t even enough for Sunday School Crafts. I found a few, but I think they were last year’s leftovers.

The deer started feasting on my hydrangeas so I cut them to save them for Christmas decorations for my tree.

Gratitudes Tonight:

Crunching leaves as I run the pups

Soup for Supper

Warm cup of coffee with Vanilla Creme

Because Babies are Blessings....

2011-10-23T17:35:00.001-05:00

Don works with a guy who’s family was having their 3rd baby. I didn’t really know them, but I decided to make a baby quilt for them. The clock kept ticking but so did the excuses not to make that quilt.

Don even asked, ”How’s the quilt coming…”

“It’s not. I don’t really know them. I don’t know if it’s a boy or a girl. I don’t have the time to invest in it. I’m going to just pick something up…”

“oh…well ok.. It’s up to you…”

Then I felt bad. It seemed like he actually wanted to give them a baby quilt. So I opened up the fabric cabinet and used two partial layer cakes, Pure by Sweetwater and Lily & Will by Bunny Hill Designs and clearance fabric I picked up at JJ Stitches.

The pattern is For Baby with Love by The Pattern Basket. I was a little timid at mixing the pink in with the blue but I was pleased with how it turned out. The family had a baby girl—so it paid off.

I loved making it. Completely fun. Machine quilting took about an hour and a half.

When in doubt---make the quilt……

More JJ Stitches...

2011-10-15T08:01:00.000-05:00

I want to remember everything-- so here are more pictures from my trip to JJ Stitches in Sun Prairie Wisconsin...

I showed this picture to a friend this photo-- He said, "looks like Halloween..." Yes, But it will look like Chrsitmas next, Spring, Summer, Independence day--A table and chairs in the middle of the shoppe is a WONDERFUL thing...." I don't think he got it.?.?.?

I loved the bed frame....

So many samples to look at--- and I don't remember one from my last trip.... I thin they change them often....

The 'Baby room' was also filled with thirties prints-- They get an A+ in presentation....

I loved the colors....

I took photos of baby quilts because I need reminding quilts don't have to be difficult to be beautiful. and there's just something about a hand made gift.

The greateset shops have candles and potpourri bins.

I don't know if we talked about it but fat quarters filled metal pans. Some asked about pricing. I don't get to go to quilt shops often. Yes, prices were a little more than on line but I guess I was willing to pay for the experience. And I know if I had trouble picking out fabric for a quilt they would help (great example-- next trip I'm bring my Hop to it blocks for sashing strip fabric).

They had a Christmas room filled with Samples patterns and the neatest red shutters...

There Christmas room had really beautiful fabrics....

Guys, It's not a huge shop, but it feels larger than life.

I have got projects to work on. We're kind of having a wind storm-- having woods filled with birch trees, I think the boys and I are staying out of them today. It just feel like the holiday season is coming. I need to start thinking about projects.....

JJ Stitches....

2011-10-13T18:03:00.001-05:00

I’m home from Madison…. I had a class at the University of Madison in Contract Negotiations. The basic premise of the class was ‘be a tough negotiator..Just be nice…’

No negotiating, No persuading needed. You will positively love this quilt shop in Sun Prairie Wisconsin.

“Can I take a couple of photos of your shop…I promise to only write good things??”
“Sure—take as many as you want..”

I’m quite certain if I get to go to heaven one day---this is what it will look like. Coupled with the “angels” behind the counter, it made the 4 and 1/2 hour drive home worth it. If the pictures are blurry, it’s only because I was just having so much fun ‘clicking’ away… If there’s something you are interested in Just give them a call.. you can even email them one of the photos. They have a website.

The stenciling on the wall said:' Once upon a time there was enough time..."

I loved how the wool pieces were all in wooden boxes.

There were little signs peppered through the shop.

I purchased the pattern and kit for this one. It spoke to me. If you are a quilter you understand.

I'll share more tomorrow....Both pups went to the Doggie Hotel so I had to bathe them when I got home from work today. They are both sacked out. I've got unpacking to do. I have been pulling winter clothes out a piece at a time. It's about time to put the summer things away and pull out the woolen sweaters.

Quilt some tonight....

It's Friday---

2011-10-07T18:35:00.000-05:00

An awesome week has ended... work went great...thanks for all the well wishes. What I learned this week-- I learned to laugh at myself. It's O.K. not to be perfect and I knew I never was. Second I learned if you get on a fit -- just say you're sorry and laugh about it......

Onto the quilt stuff---

I finished the binding-- and I'm so proud of this piece....I guess I'm like some tv commercial-- I did it myself.

Let's talk about it.

There are bats:

And spiderwebs...

Our Witches have Ruffles:

By the time I get home from work the lighting isn't good--- so I snuck out at lunch and shot these pictues-- the brush casts a shadow-- but if you look... there's a great pumpkin...(Remember Charlie Brown!!!)

Sailing among the stars-- this witch has a heart and pockets....

Everything I read about machine quilting says:Practice, practice. Even from the top of the quilt to the bottom, I feel my confidence growing.... On the bottom border-- if you look close you'll see "Boo!" in the threads.

We had warm days before. We've had Beautiful Fall days before. But to have a 79 degrees Fall day among the colors is a rare treat...

I took Bruno out one last time before bed last night. It was anything from quiet with the leaves falling... But even in the dark-- I wasn't scared.. it was almost comforting...

Well, I'm off to hang my quilt. Remember if I was a witch---I'd use my powers for good....most of the time...

Have a great weekend...

Hop to it Block #7

2011-09-30T18:26:00.001-05:00

Last night's wind storm knocked down a couple of trees in our woods -- so I used them to photograph my block for this month.

It's the 7th block in the series that I'm doing with Sue and Mary. Funny-- I just read Sue's posting with her block reminding her of the fall colors outside her window bright and brilliant.

And until I read her post--- my block reminded me of the fall colors outside my home. The Enchinea plants have faded from frost and days of sunlight.

The ferns have used up there days and are now in muted colors with the milkweed. I guess quilting can bring out the season's different perspectives.

The blue in the middle symbolizes my raining sprinklers that Don set up for my garden when the Good Lord doesn't see fit to water it for me.All of the wool pieces were scraps except for the blue.... showing the merits of saying scraps.

What am I doing this weekend? As little as possible... It's been a hard week at work. We've moved into our new building, but carrying on business and yet getting organized is not the easiest thing in the world for me... this too shall pass I guess.

Friday Night Doodling....

2011-09-24T07:36:00.000-05:00

We're moving into our new building on the river at work. Exhausted... it was pizza for supper. I ran the pups and chilled on the couch last night. I have Saturday housework to knock out where I can move onto the fun stuff...

Enjoy your weekend... The Beginning of Autumn 2011....

The Pack 2011-2012 Season

2011-09-22T06:28:00.000-05:00

To keep it a quilting post--- I have finished all twelve blocks on my Penny Garden BOW. I'm hoping to start borders-- of some kind-- this weekend. Looking at this snap shot...the blocks my look good framed in half square triangles.....just thinking....

I finished the last of the purple flowers and stems in the car on the Way to Green Bay....for the Season Opener of the NFL. We went to see the The Packers play the Saints...It was nothing short of awesome.

We tailgated...Amazing how putting on team colors makes friends out of strangers....

Growing up in Louisiana and cheering the Saints-- through the lean years-- made the game great. We texted back and forth with family back home....

Ok-- Be jealous for just a second-- we had box seats complete with drinks and buffet.....

Yes -- I'm a complete NFL junkie-- completely obnoxious I went to sleep watching Inside the NFL last night....

Lucky Finds....

2011-09-19T18:44:00.000-05:00

I opened the fridge on Saturday and glanced toward our front window....I just had to grab the camera. While it's not even a good photo, it's home to me--- in the Fall.

I worked today. When I got home, I ran the pups before supper. Chelsey says Bruno is putting on weight, so he's in training.Tonight I playing with my weekend finds.

Yep, It's an old window... a steal for five bucks. There was a matching one in black that I scooped up for Chelsey. It definitely needs a bath, but something I've wished for forever. I think it's going above the fireplace.

This is a old tool box that was just begging to be filled with quilt fabric....It came home with me as well.

I better get busy. It'll be bedtime before you know it..Who cares about laundry?!?!

Getting out of the Safety Zone....

2011-09-18T17:01:00.000-05:00

This is a sign from the snowmobile trail at the back of my property. A reminder to hunters as to which way to point their guns....But that's not what I'm talking about...

You have to know exactly what I'm talking about....You saved and purchased the right fabric for the quilt (that's getting more expensive all the time). You cut it out with care. You did the best job piecing it. You are soooo ready to display it. All that's left is the quilting part. You want to quilt it a different way to get out of the safety zone-- but you don't want to screw it up.

I worked out to this view daily for about two weeks---

I quilted it no less than one hundred times in my head...wanting to try something different and yet not wanting to "mess" it up. I made this chatting with a friend. She took hers to a machine quilter that did a wonderful job. There were bats and owls stitched in. Each witch had a different outfit-- wow. But I wanted to quilt mine myself.

I'm going to do it.

So I planned.

and found the backing material on sale--

The binding was made first. This may take forever...but I am working on it now.....

We'll keep you posted.....

Apple Watch 2011....

2011-09-17T14:56:00.001-05:00

We had our first freeze/frost -- a combination two for one---this week. But I harvested my first apple crop.

One is missing-- because I ate it. You have no idea how proud I am of these. Yes-- it's about $3.00 worth of apples. Yes, I could have gotten a bag of them at the grocery store. Yes- that bag is available any time of the year..... But not these. These were prayed over, protected from pests and deer. These came from my back yard.

How many times have I gotten that phone call.... 'Mom,email this recipe.' 'Mom, I'm in Wal-mart. Text me this recipe...' I laugh --- it's part of my job description. So when I had a meeting in Milwaukee this summer, we did a little shopping to kill time--- we were early. I saw this and couldn't resist.

It was four bucks. I bought us both one. I've sent her cook books, recipe cards, emails. She got a kick out of this recipe.

Knocking out chores where I can put the needle and thread in my hands.

Have a great weekend.

Keeping my Word.....

2011-09-12T19:01:00.000-05:00

OK-- I've always wanted to take a picture like this.... I've seen them on quilt book covers. No photoshopping, no filters.... But they are my quilts... Two of them are quilted and another on the frame.

The bindings are made for three quilts.. that's the most 'un-fun' part...

I had a helper outside as well.

It's the same deer I've protected my flowers from all summer. She looked interested in quilt pictures-- and hungry. I went into the garden and pulled out a handful of tomatoes... We have more than enough. She changing into her winter coat as most things are in the U.P. The high for the next few days is only in the 50's. It will warm up again some... but those days are getting fewer.......

End of Summer.....

2011-09-10T07:38:00.002-05:00

It's that time.... Don't forget to get your lotion for Fall from Bath & Body....

I'm stitching away on my last block for my Penny Garden Project from Primitive Gatherings.

I started the project not knowing what the finished quilt would look like. I trust Lisa Bongeans designs--- never met an ugly one. We were told we'd have different border packages at different prices to pick from.. So I dived in Head first..

Here is the border she designed...

It looks Happy... Like a County Fair.

But completed won't fit in my house. It wasn't what I pictured. But how sad if every quilter saw everything the same...... I researched my Quilt dream and here is my game plan---Inquiring quilters asked....

It's Northern Cardinals Fabric by Holly Taylor. It's not a good picture but colored in shades of brown. We'll keep you updated with pictures. I'm going to use my wool scraps and add some things in borders, I haven't got that part of the dream figured out yet.

Don's working today so I have a date in the garden and in my quiltroom. I plan on purchasing some mums for the picnic table.

Have a great weekend.

Labor Day Weekend----

2011-09-09T22:37:00.000-05:00

We made a road trip.... It was on my bucket list... Something I wanted to do. When friends called us up, We called Chelsey to watch the pups and threw some things in a bag and left.

There was quilting involved-- because I worked on this block while we drove and laughed.

I wanted to do the Labor Day walk across the Mackinac Bridge. It's a five mile stretch across Lake Michigan. It's in the record books now. I've done it. It was pretty chilly. Everyone laughed at me when I packed winter coats, but it was 47 degrees with wind gusts Labor Day morning when we started walking.

We first drove a couple of hours the night before so we wouldn't have so far to drive the next day. The bridge was only closed to traffic for 5 hours.

We spent the night on a quiet lake with Kayaks,Bonfire pits,and cabins. We laughed at the metal ice trays in the fridge and yet they had direct TV---what's wrong with this picture? We play cards until late.

I wanted to get a picture but didn't think of it until after dark. So first thing in the morning I took it.

But Here's the bridge --

And Lake Michigan under the bridge grates beneath our feet. I have always been afraid to drive on this bridge... not any more.

We met so many nice people. It started out really overcast, but by noon it was sunny. We went wine tasting in Mackinac City and headed home for the evening.

It was a great holiday and one of those times when I ask myself --- How come I've never done this before....

It's a constant reminder... I need to slow down..... Slowing down is nice.

J J Stitches......

2011-09-04T14:36:00.000-05:00

Monday started out rough. I knew I had my trip to Madison and the whole classroom scenario after 30 years terrified me. I had a 10 am meeting and I planned on getting on the road after that. Only when I got to work did I realize the meeting was in another town--- Rhinelander-- and hour and a half away....

I regrouped and made it through and drove down there. I sat through the meeting and Headed for another 3.5 hour drive to Madision. I arrived in Sun Prairie at 4:30 pm. I was not lost and I was alive-- Time to reward myself. I headed to JJ Stitches, a quilt shop that had been featured in the Quilt Sampler a few years ago.... I didn't had a camera--- But I will when I go back in 3 weeks--. The shop was wonderful with a small town look to it. Wooden floors and tall ceilings were lined with quilts. The only thing better was the lady that rang up my purchases.

The pocket book is made from a bendable ruler. I've studied the pattern. It doesn't look complicated. I'm hoping to find something easy to make as several Christmas gifts.

Needless to say the Quilt therapy helped me get it through the classes. I can't wait to go back....

I'm Home....

2011-09-03T07:23:00.000-05:00

From the Carol's mailbox to mine.... she sent me her penny squares to add to my collection from summer projects we need from Primitive Gatherings.

My 3-day weekend list is a mile long with things a want to accomplish. My Sunday School class starts a new season with all new kids so that takes the front seat this morning getting everythign ready.

For the record--- I love my U of WISC classes. I have to go back in three weeks. The pups survived without me. Work was chaotic yesterday....I just kept telling myself a had a three day weekend ahead.

I'll type more later. Thanks again Carol.....

Block Six....Hop to It

2011-08-30T17:38:00.000-05:00

Summer is winding down.... Tomatoes coming in daily... So here's my block of the month from Edyta Sitar's Quilt in her Hop to it Book. Half of the blocks ar enow completed. Made from wool, I see pieces of my garden in every block.

I'm typing from a hotel room-- yep..I've been in class today and had a ball. All the nerves, all the worries, all the "I'm too old for this" has passed. I just love it.....

I'm finishing this post early=== back to the books....

Gratitudes:

Don taking care of my pups, my garden, my flowers

My safety in travel-- talk about a country mouse in the city mouse's world.

2 quilt shops I visited along the way.... I'll post later.

The Pillowcase...

2011-08-24T18:19:00.001-05:00

Promises are important to me. I don’t take them lightly. I emailed Carol and wanted to participate in Jami’s pillowcase project. I put it on the back burner. She sent out a progress post last week and last night I made my pillowcase. There was machine quilting to work on--- I’m 2 quilts down-2 to go--- but you always have time for the things that matter the most. I hadn’t forgotten that email to Carol asking for the details to make a pillowcase. I wish it were a dozen…..It should be a dozen… But here’s mine…

The flag print came from San-- so it’s the gift that keeps on giving……

Michigan to Florida….my package left with three-day –select postage. Anyone has almost a week to get one made….

My favorite part...

2011-08-07T20:06:00.000-05:00

My favorite part of quilting………..I have thought about it a lot. There’s the choosing the pattern—I love… I study quilt photos constantly. It’s relaxing to me. Some people workout to the television, or music, I study quilt pictures. I like choosing the fabrics and cutting out the pieces. One of my favorite things to do is to total up the individual pieces for a total count of a quilt. Piecing and bring those individual squares ranks pretty high. I just love bringing it to life.

While I don’t love stretching a quilt—the machine quilting is the most challenging part for me and it’s something I want to work at getting better at. Bindings are addictive because you are just so close to being finished with the project. When a quilt is completed, I have put time and energy into it…. Most of the time I’m tired of it and I’m pretty hard on myself as to whether I did a ‘good enough’ job.

But I have spent time thinking about it this weekend—my very favorite part of quilting is taking that quilt out and covering a table, covering a bed, hanging it up—maybe throwing it over a ladder-back chair.

I have 4 quilts pieced…. Four of them not quilted. I’ve even blogged about getting them quilted and I put it off—I think it’s because stretching them onto the frame is the hardest part for me. I want to complete them so this afternoon I got one stretched and part of the way machine quilted. For those that don’t relish that “ladder-back chair” experience---to have the un-quilted projects on the shelf is no big deal… but it bothers me… and I’ve promised myself that I’m giving at least 30 minutes a night this week to work at getting these projects done. I’m working from easiest to hardest because I’m hoping to improve as I work at it.

This weekend Don ran 10.25 miles… he’s working toward a relay with Eric. I ran the pups twice on Saturday and a 4 mile workout this evening on the elliptical machine. I went to the farmer’s market and picked black-eyed susans from the roadside.

I played in the garden, knocked out the housework and got a nap after reading a few pages from my IPAD. This weekend was outstanding…. Boring to some, pretty much perfect to me.

I can deal with Monday…

Scraps and Four Blocks.....

2011-07-31T17:20:00.000-05:00

I prepped by four blocks for handwork this week. By leftovers are centered in the picture. Sometimes I stress over the accuracy of the orginial block photos as compared to mine, but then I remember the quilts will never be side by side and it's my quilt anyway.

I'm saving up for the border package for this quilt. I don't know what it will look like. I can't wait to see it.

Every once and a while something comes along that you want to tell someone about....

For late night cinnamon toast-- it's pretty good....

And lastly -- the first Snap Beans of the season...

Hop To It Block #5....

2011-07-30T15:19:00.000-05:00

While I may not have bunnies in my garden--- I caught birds playing in puddles after a good watering. I have to watch Ransom because he snitches the blueberries. My wool class with Lisa Bongean taught me to save even the smallest of scraps because you never know when you can use them. Everything but the bunny gray was made from left overs.

I went to a Thirty-One Bag party for a friend's daughter. I saw this-- and knew it really wasn't a laptop case but a quilt block bag. Comfortable enough at work now, that when we travel to inspect machine shops-- I bring along hand stitching to not waste time in the vehicle.

So last Saturday's mail comes. Don says--,"I checked it when I cut the grass-- nothing much... We can get it after church."...This is what was in the mail.

Obviously his definition of 'nothing much' and mine are completely different...

Gratitudes:
Chelsey checking in-- Busy with Summer life
Eric---Healthy and Running in the Warrior Run
Sleeping in on a Saturday.

Penny Garden...

2011-07-24T19:40:00.000-05:00

Five blocks down on my BOW quilt for this summer. Yep--- I'm about 2 blocks behind...but it's summer and summers are so short and it's not a race.

We had friends over for supper last night. Mary Ann brought cheesecake-- so pretty I took a picture:

Strawberries were fresh picked. It's strawberry season in the U.P.

Bicycling...Gardening....Porch-sitting....Grilling...oh and Ice Cream--anything with Chocolate.

Purple....

2011-06-29T20:56:00.001-05:00

I don't wear purple clothes....there's nothing purple in my house....My quilt cabinet has very, very little purple. Call it violet...lilac...plum...orchid...I don't know why it's not my color..Never disliked it...just never put it all together...

But in the summertime--- and my fourth block of My Garden Quilt designed by Edyta Sitar -- is Purple. It's purple because my Summer....my flowers and my garden is always filled with purple........

I had to purchase thread because my embroidery box didn't even hold the right color of purple.

My lilacs--

my Salvia..

My chives

My Orchids...

My petunias--

Purple fills my Summer...

The hand-dyed wool just brings the colors to life...

Thanks again Mary and Sue.... this is a memory that will last long after the quilt is finished....

Pressure....

2011-06-28T19:00:00.000-05:00

It seemed like it had rained forever.... While rainy days are typically the unusal--- they seemed more the norm than the sunny days. Saturday rolled around and we decided we didn't want to do housework...nor did we want to do yardwork. So we loaded up and took a drive to Green Bay.

I ran out of three colors I have been needing for my Penny Garden Block of the Week. It was going to be a quick "in & out" of the quilt shop. Thread and that's it...honest. Blame on the cute display and the clearance Section for fat quarters. I ended up with the new Pumpkin Threads book and 6 fat quarters for a buck fifty each. I did make it in and out for DMC Floss at Hobby Lobby.

Work is sending me back to school this fall so I have four trips to the University of WI at Madison. I picked up new luggage. I can't believe I'm about to do that.... but I think it's now or never....

It's kind of a holiday at our house.... I think that every day there's a reason to celebrate.... you just have to find it.

Quilt Blocks for Kaaren..

2011-06-27T20:25:00.001-05:00

I've always considered quilters some of the strongest people I know. So when one may have weak knees--- it's up to others to hold them up and steady their pace.

Allie is collecting quilt blocks for Kaaren at the The Painted Quilt. Kaaren has given her time and talents over and over again to others. I didn't have the right pen for marking, but I wasn't about to let that stop me from making three blocks for Kaaren. Click on her website and get the details..

Dr. Seuss Completed

2011-06-19T07:46:00.000-05:00

At 6:30am yesterday I was stitching the binding down, but the baby quilt made it to the shower. I think at about 10 pm friday night I finally decided I liked the quilt. My machine got on a fit of thread continously breaking. Don gave her a good cleaning and I was back in business.

I used black material in the binding and I think it framed it really well.

I also included a copy of the Sneetches-- my favorite Dr. Seuss Book. If you get throught the rhyming and whimsical nonsense of the story... there's a really good message behond the story. Google it. I think the poem is on-line.

I could tell you that everything was planned and thought out... but truthfully I forgot the wrapping paper and card thing. Some leftover ribbon and a copier helped out--- plus I probably saved about 8 bucks.... And the colors were too bright to be hidden in a box anyway.....

Thunderstorms today. We have church and maybe a movie this afternoon.....

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers in our lives......

The Real Reason...

2011-06-15T06:24:00.000-05:00

The Real Reason I'm struggling with any project right now--- aside from it being summer----is this...

It's Lisa Bongean from Primitive Gatherings block of the week for Summer. I signed up and treated myself. She throws in freebies every week. Last week was that penny star. So for twenty minutes each day I sit on the porch with a needle in my hands. It's small and easy to work with. Doesn't matter what is going on....the world stops for twenty minutes. It's my present to myself. A committment to slow down for a few minutes each day. I'm having so much fun. And I love getting mail....

The Rumors are true... the furnace was running last week in our house. No frost , but it did get down to 38 one night. It would be different if we maybe got warmer days on the back end of Summer, but it just doesn't work that way. Yesterday was beautiful-- in the low 70's. We slept with the windows open. I heard crickets---comforting. Remember, we only hear them a few months a year up here.

Guess it's another example of life being a perspective-- annoying to some--- music to others....

Gratitudes:

Chelsey weed-eating around the trees

Those crickets

Watermelon for lunch

All in One Piece...

2011-06-14T19:40:00.000-05:00

Ok - It's off the clothes line and onto the quilting frame. There's still a ton of work to be done. I think this baby is going to get a simple all over stipple design. It's growing on me ....a little. I called the Grandma-to-be last night and told her that the quilt was a disaster and she needed to practice the oohs and ahhs cause the idea was a flop. She told me about the baby's mom and the baby's room and I think it may all come together after all....

Think Dr. Seuss... Think Cat in the Hat... I'm going to put a tab on the back and include a cup hook. Maybe she can drape in on the wall or even over the rocking chair....

I'm not giving up.....

Blocks for a Baby....

2011-06-13T19:20:00.001-05:00

While I'm not freaking out... I am a little concerned. I hope I'm not creating a monster... On top of the five day deadline....we're going to be in a mess if the quilt turns out to be just that.... a mess....

Fifty blocks into it I'm pretty committed. Off to the sewing machine......

A Baby Quilt....

2011-06-11T19:15:00.000-05:00

I’ve stared at this fabric for a couple of weeks. Chelsey saw it and said, “Mom—that’s soooo not your colors…”

There’s never been a truer statement. I have a good friend in town--- who’s a quilter expecting her first grandbaby. The quilt will be for the baby shower gift a week from today. Her daughter can best be described as ‘non-traditonal’. The sex of the baby is a surprise. The baby’s room is being done in the ‘Cat in the Hat’ theme….

Being the grandbaby of a quilter--- Grandma as already purchased the Cat in the Hat fabric--- So I had to think outside the proverbial box and come up with a baby quilt. Emilia (the mom-to-be)….chooses things very different—never the baby pink or baby blue….Definitely the brights. I'm calling these Cat in the Hat Colors...

With the fabrics I’ve chosen and I making a quilt from Thimbleblossoms Jelly Bean Pattern. I’m so far out of my comfort zone--- but it’s not for me And Don says I'm guilty of making things I like ..…. I'm adding a tab on the back and including a hook to hang in on the wall...The quilt is bigger than baby size so I'm thinking the baby won't outgrow it ....... Next post we'll show the blocks.

Block of the Month - May

2011-05-30T18:56:00.000-05:00

The last day of May will come early in the morning so I’m jumping the gun and posting my Hop-to-It Block for May.

From my Garden---- this is the block to remind me of my Blueberry Bushes. When I pulled the wool pieces I kept grabbing a red and a pink… But I kept putting them back….It’s about the blueberries.

My new blueberry plants added to the garden.

The difference one month can make. My garden is planted. A row of perennials has been added. I still have to gather stones to line the edges.

The front flower bed is almost full of impatients . Maybe tomorrow evening after work it will be completed.

The Bleeding hearts seem to tell me that winter has been put on hold for a while.

I found this old chair at a junk store--- five bucks. It’s going to hold a basket a flowers real soon.

Something to Talk about…..

2011-05-28T13:57:00.001-05:00

Don’s home. He’s been out of town for three weeks. I’m not a whiner, but that’s a long time. The Garden is not planted, but it’s not his fault. The weather has been horrendous. We’ve even had three deep freeze warnings. The Old timers always tell you not to plant until after Memorial day--- I see why this year.

I’ve bought flower baskets for the front and back porch--- which I have continued to haul in at night religiously to protect “my investment”. When I was potting geraniums into pots I looked at the front door and knew it needed something.

I remembered a project I had purchased on a whim because Mary told me I needed the year’s worth of coupons and the free projects that went with “Any Purchase”. So--- with the longer daylight hours I sat on the porch with fabric and scissors at the table and put my welcome sign together. It’s from the Summer Gatherings Book by Lisa Bongean. I bought it in the dead of winter--- confident there would be a season of flowers again.

A three day weekend ahead…. Maybe that garden will finally get planted. We’ve got a grad party to go to and three days of sleeping in.

Garden Watch 2011

2011-05-14T07:29:00.001-05:00

I have had all week to be downstairs in my sewing room quilting up a storm and I just haven’t. We’ve been plagued with thunderstorms that have knocked out power two separate days. Growing up in Louisiana this was a normal occasion, but it’s been twenty years since power has been lost due to rain around here.

Sunday evenings are spent rounding up some hand sewing to work on in the evenings. The days are longer and the pups keep the screen door banging as they bounce from outside to in. My garden quilt is pieced and my Hop to It block is done. I decided to pull out an old project.

My Primitive Garden project was designed by Lisa Bongean. All the blocks are completed. I’m not great at needle-turn appliqué. I exhaled after the blocks were complete ---but got completely discouraged with the border packages came in.

A few month ago Chelsey and I were playing downstairs and she pulled it out, “Mom, you really need to finish this….” Well, Sunday night I pull it out and prepped a border. I’ve been stealing moments working on it here and there this week. It’s not as hard as it was a few years ago. This may be the summer to finish it.

Garden watch 2011 continues.

She’s been tilled. I think next week may be the week to get her rowed up and planted. We have two days of freezing nightly temps but later in the week it’s supposed to be gorgeous. After a week of rain, I’m ready.

Last week I really needed something to babysit. Tired of winter, I found these perennials on sale. Yes, I’m toting them in and out and watering them—But it keeps me from planting that garden too early.

Last Monday I purchased vegetable seeds… I just have to be patient. I did the Wal-mart run yesterday evening – so after a run with the pups…. The rest of the day is for fun.

Gratitudes:
my new love Vege-pizza
Hostas faithfully returning after winter
A New Apple Pie Candle

Mother's Day

2011-05-08T19:00:00.000-05:00

It's Mother's Day--- My first Mother's Day without my kids. A funny feeling. I turned down three dinner invitations... not out of melancholy moods... just because I wanted to have a day to reflect on all the Mothers' Days in the past.

I had kicked around going to Appleton for the day, but this is truly one of my favorite holidays teaching Sunday School. We plant flowers for our moms in terracotta pots-- trying to get more dirt in the pots than ourselves. We discuss in great detail the wonderful things about our mothers and why they are such a gift to each of us. This year's comments ranged from-'She makes me macaroni and cheese' to ' she reaches for things I can't get to..." I wouldn't want to miss it.

Here's my mother's day gift to myself:

I had two clay pots left over from church along with a handful of petunias.

I've been running the pups in the woods early in the mornings because it's been below forty degrees and it keeps the wood ticks at bay. I ran them this morning and came home with four hitchhikers crawling on me. I swear I have felt bugs all day. So needless to day-- for about the next ten weeks we'll be walking the side of our winding road. I did a practice run this evening and laughed at how we've had 3 days about sixty degrees and the snow blowers have been tucked away and the tillers for the gardens have come out of storage.--- Yep - My garden got tilled as well, but we've got a week's forecast full of rain. Maybe in a couple of weeks we'll be able to plant.

I'm off to set up some hand sewing for the week and read my books. Enjoy was is left of the day.

Gratitudes:

Telephones that link us close to our Moms---- and kids.

The furnace is off and the screen door open.

A pot of vegetable soup simmer for this week's lunches

Hop to it Block Two

2011-04-30T13:00:00.000-05:00

I’m running behind….story of my life. Here’s my block for April that is for our Hop to it Project.

Mary and Sue’s blocks turned out great. I’ve had mine complete for about three weeks--- yet I’m the last to post. The yellow buds represent my perennials in my garden. The original blocks from Edyta Sitar’s quilt has them in blue. I want each block to represent something in garden so mine varied to yellow. One of the great things about using the hand-dyed wool for this project is the variations in the colors of the leaves.

We doubled our snowfall data in the month of April. And yet 4 days after the last snowstorm bits of green showed up. My journal logs the snow in the garden.

These snapshots were taken early this morning--- the last day of April. Last Sunday I got out in the garden for the first time to check the herbs and see if my blueberry bushes made it. The chives are about 2 inches tall. And this is a photo of new growth on my blue berries--- they survived the winter.

The Bleeding- Hearts are popping up and the Enchinea and Saliva have green sprouting leaves. I know some places already have ripe strawberries and tomatoes, but where I live I’m thrill over any sign of green.

My dad fell and broke his hip last Saturday afternoon. I’m the daughter that lives too far away to go home. I’ve called about a million times and sent cards and letters, but felt lousy that I couldn’t be there. I don’t know whether I’m trying to convince you or myself that it’s ok that I’m not there… but in the end—it’s not about me, it’s about him and he’s ok and getting better every day.

The Day Before Easter....

2011-04-23T17:41:00.000-05:00

My spring and summer clothes are still tucked away. Winter is hanging on as long as it possibly can.

My college kids are home for Easter. I’ve enjoyed them so much. They both have to leave early in the morning so we had our Easter Feast on Good Friday. Everyone was responsible for part of the meal. We had more fun over laughing as 4 adults cooking at the same time in my kitchen.--- Chelsey caved and said--, “I’ll use the grill….” …

My quilting is as close to gardening as I’ve gotten this year--- the yard isn’t even raked out yet. We keep getting snow showers--- but that’s life in the U.P.

Quilting….I completed the vines and leaves on My Garden Quilt….Emptying and entire ball of Valdani Thread.

The quilt had a kit that could be purchased, but I just used colors I already had and DMC floss.

The cornerstones are cut out and glued into place.

Two out of four are completed. I can’t wait to get this on the quilting frame.

I’ve been practicing feathers—I’m trying to get up the courage to attempt machine quilting some on this new quilt…

As Easter approaches – and every day—remember to count your blessings. There’s so much to be thankful for.

Happy Easter….

Just One Star----

2011-04-12T18:31:00.001-05:00

They were made from my scrap box and took about an hour for two from finding the fabrics to the last thread being cut. The details of the project are at The Cutting Table. It doesn't take long and there's people out there that deserve quilt blocks...

We've had 3 days at 60 degrees. It's awesome. I ran the pups and started the grill. The furnace is off during the day. The robins are returning. There's plenty of time for more snow but we're at least pretending it's over.

I'm off to sew and read a book...Life is better than good---It's great.

Keep Life Simple....

2011-04-05T19:21:00.000-05:00

That's the name of this quilt by Rabbit Haven. Of course it's done in pastels and rough edged applique. I made it my own because I had to embrace the Northwoods colors and hold onto my faithful needle turn applique. It still needs flower centers and tons of embroidery work on the bunnies and leaves. I tell myself not to rush --- just enjoy every stitch...But I've had this pattern for two Springs and I just might get this piece this season. I'll keep posting the progress.

I have 2 pieces in progress---juggling each of them. I keep thinking if I focused on just one--- I might actually have a completion...but what fun is that?

We've had a sunny day today. I'm back to toting the GPS when I run the pups in the woods as the snow trails are gone. I'm still looking for some sign of green... I bought flower seeds in the grocery store Sunday amidst sleet, rain, and snow, just what the doctor ordered.

Work Rocks--- no more, no less.... We're going to be in our new building this summer. There are glass walls overlooking the Menominee River. It could be a cave and I wouldn't care--- I'm just glad I work there. I'm living proof-- to never lose faith.

Gratitudes:

I-books for free

My Scrap Box of fabric

Gumbo for Supper

From My Garden Block One

2011-03-31T05:00:00.005-05:00

I started to write that it all began with a quilt pattern by Edyta Sitar--but truthfully it began with two friends that I have never met. Swapping comments, emails, and fabrics-- a 'kid' story or two, we became friends. I guess our faith, our weather, and our quilting are what we have in common. So Mary, Sue and I began our project this month and agreed to show how we create each block from our own fabrics on the last day of each month.

The first block is a Heart. It fits with the grapevine heart that hangs next to my garden gate.

I've also wanted to journal the pieces of a quilt, so this is my chance. I'm saving swatches of each block, why I chose pieces of fabric, cataloguing life that month, My Garden for the next twelve months.

Winter is trying to let go. We had a winter storm that came with warnings 3 days in advance. It made me a little skittish---but it's just snow... and in the end we got about 4 inches of the stuff. I guess I need to relax.

Life is Good....

My Birthday....

2011-03-17T18:48:00.000-05:00

Tuesday was my birthday.... A great day---a great week. I've said before... In our house we have birth festivals lasting an entire week, not just a birth day. This a a birthday card from a friend, pretty appropriate and all with the covered porch--- a friend since I was in the fourth grade. Phones calls, Letters and emails have filled the week. Birthdays are a really big deal where I work now, lots of fun. My birthday money didn't burn a hole in my pocket, I used it to purchase backing material for My Garden Quilt. I also got free fat quarters for my birthday.

The Spring quilt is progressing--- don't give up on it, more pictures to come.

Here's the view from the porch of the snow as it fell last Saturday. A reminder that winter is still trying to hang on. Today It got up to 57--- in defiance, I refused to wear a jacket. On the docket for this weekend, Friends over for dinner and a ton of quilting....

Gratitudes

My I-Pad from Don

A fireplace mantel full of Birthday cards

Red Hots

Finishing Touches...

2011-03-11T06:39:00.001-06:00

The routine is pretty much the same--- Work all day, Come home to a few chores, Run my pups through the woods, Supper, Exhale to my sewing or a good book. The Quilt is progressing. You can see what the corner blocks will look like in the snapshot.

I tucked away all the snowman quilts, dishes, and winter decorations last night event though we just got a fresh 6 inches of the whote stuff Wednesday. Thursday and today it's supposed to be in the 40's. AMAZING how warm that feels after a cold winter.

Chelsey's coming home for the weekend--- We'll have fun....I'm journalling a quilt so I need to scrapbook the pieces ... She's great at that.

Spring fever is setting in. Something to hope for. I tried to pick out my favorite season-- there are great quilts for all of them..

Gratitudes:
Longer days-- time change on the way.
Seed catalogs in the mail
Handful of DMC embroidery Thread

Sewing Machine Cover

2011-03-07T19:22:00.000-06:00

Made from Orphan Blocks.... Here my new sewing machine cover. Chelsey laughed at me---
"Why do you need to cover it---Mom you are always using it????"

I like it and it gave a chance to practice swirls in machine quilting.

I worked a regular day--- thank goodness. I came home and took the pups on a long run even thow it was lightly snowing. They are predicting heavy snow for Wednesday so we have to double up while we can. You put on a hat and head outside.... it just brushes off anyway.

I have the another piece stretched on the quilt frame, and the leaves cut out to go on the vines of My Garden Quilt...This time of year I get in more good quilting.....

Gratitudes:
The oldies station on the radio-- brings back memories
Seed catalogs in the mail
The Apple Scented Candle on the counter.

Borders Attached

2011-03-06T16:24:00.000-06:00

I'm still talking myself into liking this piece.

An Oxymoron --maybe--a garden quilt in the snow....but it was a beautiful Sunday.

It's still below freezing so the snow just brushes off. When a friend and I signed up for this block of the month we had not seen what the finished product would loook like. It really has a "Northwoods twist" to it and I pretty pleased with it. It's just not what I pictured it looking like all completed. I still have wool vines and flowers to go on the border.

Every time I worry about Ransom being cold outside he does something like this:

We've been putting in extra hours at work ---better too busy than not busy enough....

Gratitudes:

dark chocolate cream for my coffee

that new spool of thread

Puppy prints in the snow....You're never alone.

The Last Block

2011-03-02T07:12:00.000-06:00

Finishing up the last stitches on the last block of the My Garden Quilt. Every time a worked on a block I was convinced I wouldn’t love the next block as much.

I was wrong each time. I have had such fun. I received the borders this weekend…

I’m really nervous about them. I don’t think I would have ever picked them out myself, but I’ve never seen an ugly quilt from Primitive Gatherings so I’ll keep you posted.

I’m auditioning fabrics for my friendship project for the coming year. I’ve admired the blocks from Linda, The Quilted Pineapple. I read about Edyta Sitar and wanted to make the quilt.

I didn’t think I could tackle the quilt on my own, so a couple of friends and I are getting together for encouragement. Anyone who wants to join in, we’d love to have you.

The Hop to it book – I found on Amazon and took it to the office supply store and had the spirals put in it. Edyta has great photos in the book along with lesson in fabric choice and techniques. The book itself is great therapy for anyone.

I couldn’t spring for a Quilt kit –plus the spirit of the project is how each of us see the quilt…one block at a time. I purchased a couple of homespun fat quarters, but I’m going to the stash for the rest. We’re going to do one block a month so we have time to do other things and if we’re pressured, we’ve decided it wouldn’t be fun.

I’m taking the homespun-woolen approach to the pattern. I’m using DMC floss unless I happen to have pearl cottons. After working all day, I love pulling the basket out for handwork.

It was the warmest day of the year--- so far. A whopping 48 degrees.

Spring Quilts - A Break from Winter

2011-02-21T20:00:00.000-06:00

OK - It may not look like it -- but this is going to be a Spring wall hanging for my kitchen. I got off of work-- ran home-- grabbed my snowboots and camera for this photo. we didn't get a flake of snow over the weekend. Despite the bulletins and warnings-- not a flake. North, South, East and West of us got dumped on...

I stitched on the borders tonight. We'll update tomorrow.

I'm a list maker. Everything but a little handstitching has been checked off today.

Gratitudes:
Email from A Quilting friend. She wasn't lost-- just had a broken PC.
A new Muffin Pan
Gumbo for Supper

The End of February....

2011-02-20T13:45:00.002-06:00

I’m so ready for spring…..But living in the U.P. I know I have six to eight weeks left despite what the Groundhog said about four weeks ago.

Here’s my Applejack Quilt ready for quilting. I really like it, but for my home--- it’s going to be lightly tea dyed in just a little while. Country Threads calls the border-- a ‘lipstick‘ border. To me, I love it because it looks like a picket fence.

Chelsey and I picked up the spring time bunny sign yesterday in Green Bay. The most fun part of shopping with Chelsey yesterday is that we had so much fun and never entered a shopping mall. We stopped at stores tucked away that we normally over look. We were definitely looking for the deals and bargains.

The stars, our jobs, the dog kennel lined up and we went home for a week to see my folks. It was good to have my mom’s cooking, and family all around. We even put a new wood floor down in My mother-in-law’s home. The weather was 71 degrees when we landed, but when we travelled home we got caught in the Southern Ice storm. I think people in Louisiana have had more snow days than we have. It’s good to be back home, but I wish we could visit more often.

I sewed up osnaburg fabric for dish towels for my sunday school kids to stamp on for Valentines Day. We had a lot of fun.

Valentine’s Day was special. We went to a church Valentine’s Day banquet and Don was held hostage as he had to watch Janette Oke’s ‘Love Comes Softly.’ Just goes to show, it doesn’t matter what you do if you’re together.

My Candle on my table is filled with Red Hots – one of my favorite candies.

My February dishes are out.

I finished my last three blocks of My Garden. I just have the border left. I’m already planning my next project with friends.

I found these while I was away --- Wonky Hearts. To some they’re cookie cutters. But the trained eye realizes they are quilting stencils, Sunday school play dough tools, Christmas ornament patterns, oh and ….. cookie cutters.

Life is good. Our company just landed another 8 million $$ contract. The kids are getting over bronchitis stuff. It’s tough when they’re away at school… at least on mommas.

We’re expecting 3 to 5 inches of snow tonight…. Yep, spring is still a ways away.

My Own Room...

2011-01-27T19:43:00.000-06:00

So this is the view from the new doorway Don built.

I'm never alone because of the bunnies on top of the chest. The chests are matching, One without doors and one with doors that never close.

The doors that should be on the cabinet kind of lean against the wall and hold the project in progress.

While it may look like junk to some, they're treasures to me. Boxes of thread, fabric that was a gift last Christmas, Cloth napkins, placemats, napkin rings, and quilts.

Spool racks from my son. I'd like to tell you I only use the best of thread. But truthfully, I use what is available in town. Bobbins, Spools, Trinkets on the bottom row. A gingham paper napkin, gift tags from friends, a patchwork heart., a necklace Don gave me in High School, a card of buttons all have their spot.

Here's where I cut fabric. It's a second hand kitchen counter top. Behind the curtains are shelves for storage.

At the other end of the counter, are pictures from Chelsey's baby's room that I couldn't pack away. A cross-stitched birth sampler and a framed birthday card from my mom. If you drew a caricature of Chelsey-- that would be the picture. The gray bunny is a project Chelsey and I did together. It's filled with rice. Chelsey made a brown one. The only way she would learn is to do it herself. I'd so a piece of mine, and she'd copy it making her own.

Proof that this is still Chelsey's room. This is her Bulletin Board-- With Quilt blocks she's made and a blue jean pocket from her dad's jeans.

I have a bulletin board-- Gifts, patterns, empty flower seeds packets and special birthday cards...

There you have it.

Gratitudes:

Bulletin Boards

snow boots

macaroni & cheese

Works in Progress...

2011-01-19T18:46:00.001-06:00

Life continues to be a Juggling act...but that's what life is and there was a time in my life when it would have meant complaining... but age and hopefully wisdom now tells me it's just life. Life is busy --- no more--- no less.

I wanted to post. This started out as a journal of quilting projects, but it's also a "catch up" with friends. I miss it when I can't log in and see the works of others.

This first photo is my latest block in the My Garden Quilt wool BOM project. I love the purple.

In cleaning out the fabric cabinet I found piece of old blocks from a quilt I made about three years ago. I want to make a sewing machine cover, so I cut more fabric squares and stitched all the scattered patchwork together as one. I'm going to quilt it and sew it to fit my sewing machine similar to this pattern on Moda Bake shop.

I have a Pfaff sewing machine that just does straight stitches for machine quilting and I want to make a cover for it as well. I received ScrapBasket Surprises for Christmas. So, as a compromise I stitched these blocks together from my scrap box fabrics (tons of old Thimbleberries) and I'm going to quilt it and turn it into a cover as well. I recommend the book to everyone... Really easy to read.

Last of all -- Personal shopping. My daughter rounded up embroidery threads for me since there is no where to purchase them in our town. College daughters do come in handy.

Gratitudes--It's not what you don't have... it's what you do....
Football Sass from Email Friends
French Toast
Ransom and Bruno

Early Birthday Gifts

2011-01-13T21:13:00.002-06:00

How do you know you are a quilter? You find sign of fabric in everyday life. I received an early birthday day gift yesterday. My mother-in-law hooked me up. It was an after Christmas sale that I just couldn’t really justify purchasing just because….

I wanted the boxes as much as the fabric. Plaid --- no labels, no logos. Inside the boxes were these mugs. Lang Christmas mugs and I now own a set of 8.

I told my husband that starting next November – He’ll drink out of nothing else. I’m completed charmed with these mugs. Flash forward about ten years… I’ll be the most awesome Gramma with these great mugs…. I remember special cups, special plates, and special bowls that I ate out of every time I went to my Grandparents as a kid. Good Memories.

The posts haven’t been as frequent as I like---work is about work. I have had quilting time. Pictures will soon come—promise. Don's helped out a lot around the house, so I have time for the fun stuff.

Last weekend my sewing room went under construction. I have a cubby hole corner for my sewing area in our basement. It was carpeted and really nice – I’m not complaining, there’s many out there that don’t have a place to keep their sewing machine up all the time. Then there’s a small room with a door next to it with a kitchen counter top and my ironing board. There’s a table it in too. We call it the scrap book room because Chelsey has her bulletin board stuff and all her scrapbook stuff in it. I sew a seam in one room and cut out and iron it the other—in and out in and out. You get the idea. Well, this weekend Don cut a hole in the wall and opened it up and framed it in oak and added some electrical outlets and now I have—are you ready—my own studio…. Chelsey’s craft stuff is still all over the walls, but it would break her heart --- and mine---to take it down. I figure when she graduates from college would be a good time. But I feel pretty special. I’ve been re-organizing fabric. I found Ziploc bags of orphan blocks that I’m reworking into a sewing machine cover. I feel just like a kid. Pictures will be taken this weekend.

Gratitudes:
Mother-in-laws that understand wants/needs
Cinnamon rolls
Quilt friends that email
An organized quilt cabinet

Choices -- A New Year 2011

2011-01-01T19:46:00.000-06:00

It’s A New Year- 2011. No great resolutions. Maybe just making more of time. Everyone is granted the same twenty four hours. Though we wish it were more, we’re blessed to have that. Someone asked me to choose one word to symbolize this year. There were a lot of words out there. After a lot of thought --- I chose the word “Choices”. I make choices every day. I just want to make the right ones. I’ve heard it over and over again….Integrity is what you do when no one is looking. Again I want to make the right choices. Someone once told me, “It’s OK to waste a day if you CHOOSE to waste it. Just be aware you made that choice to do so…” Again I want to make the right choice. Eating or not to, Exercise or not to, Studying my Bible…My focus on Prayer… a lot choices I want to have control over. I want to make the most of them… So 2011 – what’s your word going to be???????

Quilting Progress --- My Garden Block of the Month is coming along. I have four blocks left and the borders. It’s wool on cotton and came from Primitive Gatherings. I’ve loved every block of it.

Eric and I snow-shoed daily when he was home. How do you know you’re a quilter? You find quilting and fabric in everything. Here’s a snapshot I made Eric take of the snow looking like ribbon wrapped around a branch.

My Sunday School class loaded pinecones with suet and bird seed and made feeders for the birds for Christmas. A Friend gave me the recipe.

I’m normally at work when the birds feed, but over the holidays I had four days off (With pay for a change) and watched chickadees, sparrows and even a woodpecker feast on the seeds. My Mom is sending huge Louisiana Pinecones and I plan on doing this again….

Gratitudes:
New socks
Popcorn
New Coffee Mug.

Scraps

2010-12-28T19:31:00.000-06:00

Remember these blocks?

Well I made the half square triangles by drawing a diagonal line halfing the square. I stitched on the line. then cut away the excess and pressed. I tossed the scraps in the trash.

I got this magazine for Christmas. It goes with me just about everywhere these days-- memorizing the pages. I kept thinking about the pieces I threw in the trash. I couldn't deal with it. With the price of fabric these days, I dug them out of the trash.

then I stitched them up. It literally took five minutes to do the chain piecing. It took more time to dig them out of the trash, honestly.

After pressing I have an entire set of baby half-square triangle blocks.

I don't know what they'll turn into ...But I can tell you it'll be better than just trash in a basket.

Hearts are Always in Season....

2010-12-27T18:52:00.000-06:00

Chelsey was practical this holiday. She asked for a vacuum, pots and pans, and corningware. I still wanted her to have the special stuff "just because" that's what Moms do. This is a pattern from Stina and I turned it to a Candle Cozy for her patchwork apartment up North.

The kids are all tucked back in their Homes away from Home and I went back to work today. It was quiet-- an easy way to get back focused on work.

We've been snowshoeing--- pictures to follow soon.

Football is about to come on so I better go down into the sewing room for a bit. Just trying to cram a 36 hour day into 24---

Gratitudes:
My Kids' safe travel
A new Quilt Book for Christmas
Brand New Gloves

Merry Christmas....

2010-12-24T22:26:00.000-06:00

Here's hoping your Christmas is all you wish it to be.... Keep your Family Close and your Faith even closer to your heart....

Photo: Ransom's Paw Print Stocking... Don and My Mouse Stockings--- made in 1982 from a college dorm room. Bruno's Bone Stocking and the Kid's Cross-stitch ones.... Matching stockings are really great, but I just couldn't part with these......

Random Thoughts...

2010-12-23T15:26:00.000-06:00

We’ re enjoying the holidays. Eric and I went for eye appointments this morning….I’m getting older—so are my eyes. But thanks to Rene Descartes I just upgrade the contact lenses.

I haven’t updated lately. Here is my ironing board cover I made. I returned about three different ones. I never found one that fit my ironing board, so I made it myself. The blue and white checks go great with my yellow and blue sewing room.

I wanted to sew last night. I didn’t want to spend hours picking out the fabric or days studying the pattern. I had a ribbon-tied kit from about a year ago. I just wanted to cut and sew.

Chelsey asked, “Who’s this for?”

My response,” Me… just me…”

“It’s not your colors..”

“So, I’ll tea-dye it…”

Sometimes you just need to treat yourself. When I bought it, the colors looked like ice cream, or jelly beans… I’m showing off the back—because I’m bragging, plain and simple. Truthfully the backs of my quilt Very seldom look like this so ‘one has to bask in the moments’.

When my folks came for a visit this summer, my Mom brought me a grocery bag full of bird’s nests.

I save them—poor birds hide their homes from me. I’ve decorated my tree with them, raffia and pinecones.

A bird’s nest is one of the purest forms of art. Made by a creature without hands--- Silly to some… but I marvel at them.

Both kids are home—as a Mom, I’m in heaven.

Gratitudes:
Homemade Fried Chicken—Family kitchen cooking
Ribbons
Snowmen CoffeeMugs

Christmas Gifts.....

2010-12-11T08:04:00.000-06:00

I realized it still has the chalk marks but I wanted to share a Christmas gift for my Mom. It was super easy. We're tucked in for the weekend. A snowstorm is brewing outside with possibilities of fifteen inches of snow. Feels good. The Christmas lights a twinkling and there's coffee in the cups.

My Office Girls Christmas party was so much fun. I really nice girl got my gift. Good friends, Good Food, Good Company.... Chelsey is through with finals and Eric is gearing up for them.

We've invited friends over for supper tonight. Snow is a fact of life in the U.P., so barring electrical outages, I'm hoping we still get together. Plans for today--- a date with the treadmill...I have this bucket list thing about running in ONE 5k run in my lifetime... So Don has me in training. Wrapping presents and cleaning my sewing room. Oh -- and I'm kicking around making an ironing board cover. I'll take before and after photos.......

Free "XM" radio sort of... go to http://www.klove.com/ and click on the Christmas link.... It's echos through our house pretty much the entire time we're home. I just love the sounds of this season.

Chelsey goes to school right on Lake Superior so is Incredibly snowed in with lake effect snow...

But it does feel like Christmas......

Gratitudes:
Christmas Candles
Mittens
Plaid Napkins ... the little things....

Always have ... Hope

2010-12-05T21:34:00.000-06:00

Here’s my project for the weekend. I have a Ladies Christmas Party Thursday night. All of the girls in the office are getting together for a meal and a $10.00 gift exchange. I went to the scrap box and found this drawn out on fabric. I just had to stitch. Scraps from the box made up the rest of the bag.

It is going to hold Chocolate mints and this dessert plate and cup I found for $3.00 each. With my thing for dishes, I really fell for the cup.

I’m making gift tags this year. Don has learned to never throw out the tea or coffee. I’m dying these manilla tags.

We had my office Christmas dinner in town this Friday night. I won a blue-ray dvd player. I was pretty surprised. Saturday night we had the church Christmas dinner. Lots of music and delicious food. It felt like a holiday.

I’ve been dreaming about work, so I guess I’m getting into the routine. I’m almost finished with my Christmas sewing. It’s nice not having to rush.

We’re still low on snow--- no complaints. We’ve had daily flurries for about a week, but still very little accumulations. It’ll happen anyday….I’m not worried.

Gratitudes:

Eggnog Quick Bread (Pretty much all of my holiday baking)
Phone calls with my Mom
Plaid ribbons for package wrapping

The End of November

2010-11-30T19:21:00.000-06:00

One last photo of this project. It’s at its new home with Eric. Definitely the hardest piece I ever completed. Eric loved it so he’ll have it for years to come. I sent a care package back with him to bring the holidays to him and his two roommates.

They are all pharmacy students living far away from families. He called and they bought a Christmas tree. He called it a Charlie Brown tree, but he said it had “a lot of potential”.

It was his first trip home in almost 6 months. Study loads and distance combine with jobs and no holiday time off kept him from coming home sooner. He must have commented on quilts and “pumpkin stuff” ten times. He said it felt like home. He said –“ You don’t realize what a difference it makes”. I guess I type this out because I wanted to remember it……..

Here are my stockings finished. We got our Christmas tree put up – all ten foot of it, a Frazier fir and it’s gorgeous. So much different than the chaos of last year. Contentment is the word of the season.

If you didn’t live where you do now--- where would you live?…I always pretend it would be on the east coast somewhere….definitely close to water. I wish over cottages like the ones Jane Coslick talks about.

I won a copy of Cottages in a drawing she had. I curled up on the couch the day it came and got lost in the pages. What a treat. Coupled with a pot of coffee, warm socks, and quilt--I'm good.

The kids will both be home in three weeks for the holiday. We've had two days of rain so our snow is gone, but there's a chance for more the remainder of the week. Most of my christmas shopping is done. I did it on-line this year. I knew what I wanted to purchase and took advantage of the free shipping deals out there. I've been making a couple of gifts, but if they don't get finished it will be alright. Some times the best gifts are gifts given "Just because...". I'm ready to kick back and enjoy the season-- the colors, the music, and all its meaning....

Gratitudes:
My laptop
Breakfast for supper tonight
An envelope of DMC Thread

In Every Thing Give Thanks....

2010-11-25T16:26:00.000-06:00

Last Friday night we had 14 people over for a casual Thanksgiving dinner. I found these paper plates and Chelsey stamped up the napkin rings. The dinner just kept growing so I decided friendships meant more than China and "the more the Merrier". We had so much fun. On top of it, I worked until after 4 pm. with everyone coming over at 6.---- In other words--"I am woman, here me roar.." Truthfully Don and Chelsey rocked and we were a machine getting last minute details done. Completely fun.

I've been stitching away on my stockings. I'm realistic enough to know I won't feel like much sewing during the week so on weekends I get projects ready.

I made this stitchery a couple of years ago. I made a patchwork heart for the center piece. I took the patchwork off, because I now can needlepunch so last night I finished the heart. You'll get one more look at it-- hopefully it will be framed tonight.

I wanted to document this pumpkin. About 10 days ago I finally cleaned the garden signs out of the garden. I noticed a pile of leaves with shadows of oranges. Brushing things away this pumpkin sat there waiting for me... I don't believe in coincidences it was definitely a good sign.

I'm sitting on the couch with my laptop -- listening to sounds around the house. Don and Eric are laughing downstairs, the pups are playing toys, the football team I picked just scored. I couldn't wipe the smile off my face if I tried. All four of us have jobs we love, a warm house, all the contentment in the world. Contentment - that's the word in our house. We've really been working at recognizing our blessings and being grateful. It's always fun reaching for the stars. But sometimes it's fun not feeling the pressure to have to. Oh sure-- I could make a list of everything I don't have that I'd like to...but I can always hold a matching list of all the things I do have.

A prayer request-- my daughter's best friend is stationed with her husband in South Korea. Communication is tough, and her safety is a concern. Remember them and our service people away in foreign places today.

Tomorrow - I'm off too-- a paid holiday- go figure - The pumpkins will be replaced with holly, maybe a little shopping, and the Christmas music will be dusted off. The last three months are positively my favorite times of the year.

Gratitudes:
Quilting Friends throughout the world
Cornbread Dressing
Louisiana Phone Calls

For Lillian Hope....

2010-11-17T20:20:00.000-06:00

I got a layer cake of Lily and Will by Bunny Hill Designs and used half to make a baby gift for a friend. I had plans for a really detailed, complicated pattern, but Chelsey showed me this Patchwork Pottery Design and we each made one. It was easy and fun--- and sometimes easy and fun is good. It's even great.

We had our first official snow on Sunday evening. We took the pups running in the woods. The flakes were the size of quarters. It was way too pretty to stay inside. This snapshot was taken as I pulled out of the driveway on Money morning about 7am. I wanted to remember that sight.

That photo reminds me why I work....and what I have to come home to.....

Gratitudes:

Eric coming home this weekend
Chelsey feeling better from the flu
Our icemaker---remember those old metal ice trays?!?!?

The Stockings were....

2010-11-02T07:01:00.000-05:00

Well, the stockings aren’t hung, but they are cut out anyway. These are little Primitive Gatherings Patterns. I end up shipping most family gifts south, so this year I’m tying these to packages with the gift tags inside the stockings. Words like Joy, Believe, All Hearts Come Home At Christmas, and Love will be embroidered on each.

I knew I’d be tired at the end of the day this week. When I sew on my machine like that, the mistakes seem to snowball. But this will be relaxing at night. I won’t be using Valdani threads, I have a plastic tote of DMC floss. Sunday evening I piled my wool pieces around me—I keep them in a wicker basket instead of my sewing cabinet—and cut away. In the Wool class I took from Lisa Bongean, she taught us to save all scraps because you never know when you’ll need a toe for a stocking or a flower center or a heart for a crow to hold onto.

We have a chance of snow Thursday and Friday. It’s that time of Year. I need to get my Pilgrim stuff out and tuck away the black cats.

Gratitudes:

My Pellet Stove purring in the background.

Chelsey forgetting her laptop this weekend(It gave her a chance to pop in for an unexpected visit)

Leftovers for supper(less cooking)

Almost a Finish...

2010-10-30T16:57:00.000-05:00

The days tick by faster than I would like…My Google Reader has 900 entries to catch up on. I’m afraid it may not happen. I’m working hard during the day, but I really love it. I’ve decided I’ve got the same 24 hours that everyone else has. It’s my choice how I carve it up and use the time. I pieces just vary day to day.

I finally got that quilt of Eric’s machine quilted. Oh, it was tough. The layers with all of the half square triangles had thread breaking right and left. If the quilt had been for anyone but Eric, I would have drop-kicked it in the yard. I made the binding this afternoon. I feel the need for an evening of “chick flicks” and needle and thread to get the binding finished.

I came home exhausted Wednesday, but rallied early Thursday morning and played in my sewing room an hour before I went to work.

I completed my BOM projects out of wool. I love the pink on the bunny block. Again, I’m a season behind as this is not gardening season. But with life really being a perspective, I keep telling myself I’m ahead of the game and will love this piece come spring.

If I can get this binding done, I’m starting on Christmas projects. I kicked around a shopping trip, but decided I could either shop for quilting or ACTUALLY do some quilting. I’ve really enjoyed my Saturday.

No snow yet, but the leaves are down and the trees are bare. The temps are steady in the forties. Hunting season is almost upon us so the pups and I have to stay out of the woods for safety reasons. The porch has the hammock packed away along with the porch stools.

Something to think about… I read this week that fear –worrying over things you can’t help or control---is a lack of faith. You never need to lose faith…. You may miss out on things because you worry over situations that may or may not happen-- those things you have no control over. You have to trust that when the time comes you can handle it and dread will not make it any easier. And you just might miss out on something incredible if you sit around contemplating scenarios that probably won't happen. I think as women and mothers we always just seem to always exercise so much caution....
I'm working on letting go....

Gratitudes:
Phone calls from my kids
Pumpkin Candles
Saturday Afternoons….

October Sewing...

2010-10-22T21:36:00.000-05:00

I guess for a little while my sewing will be measured by the moments versus the minutes. It’s Friday night and Chelsey came home from school for the weekend. The sewing machine is humming because she’s making a baby quilt for a donation project… Funny, huh?!?!

I told her to be careful, she could be turning into her mom....Home on a friday night quilting... I'm pretty smug about it....

Work is going so well. I’m learning so much. A totally different environment than I'm used to. I know I'm still honeymooning at the office and sooner or later it will turn into "work" but I am really liking ti so far.

I have been sewing. I don’t have a lot of time for writing in my journal. I just seem to have so many things I want to do in a day. I DVR shows but TV is really off the list except for Sunday football (does that count???) . I’ve been reading, running the pups in the woods, because the Fall has been gorgeous. I’ve been staying on top of the housework and working through a couple of devotions-Simple Abundance and Mothers of the Bible.

I made postcards to send Chelsey. To fit her college apartment, I made the colors match. I completely forgot to photograph them so the photo is from her.

Again I completely forgot to photograph the journal I made for a bridal shower gift. I grab a quick snapshot right before putting it on the gift table.

Lastly Chelsey went to an A-B-C party last weekend….Anything but cloth. People made clothes out of garbage bags, wrapping paper, duct tape.

Chelsey found play money at the dollar store and I made a
paper sheath and we attached the dollar bills to it. She made jewelry from play coins. It turned out real cute.

I've been keeping up with my block of the month project. I'll photograph it maybe tomorrow.

Gratitudes:
Chick Flicks with Chelsey
Flying Geese-- the real ones heading South for the winter
Vanilla Creme for my coffee

Nine Patches

2010-10-03T20:41:00.000-05:00

It’s Sunday evening. It’s been one of those weekends where you think Monday has got to get here where you can rest. It’s fun every once and a while.

I pulled four fat quarters and began cutting them up.

Next weekend I have a wedding shower. It’s another gift card shower. The third one I have been to recently. I’ll be the first to admit that the idea of gift cards is practical for these young couples. They are leaving the area… not many of these young adults stay in our hometown--- there’s nothing to keep them there. They can get to their new homes, no unpacking, and purchase needed items--- all perfectly matching to their own personal tastes. But there is that sentimental side of that still has the rolling pin my mother in law gave me..( It’s marble and we passed it around a wedding shower laughing about how good it would be for keeping Don in line!!!). I have the pewter bread plate from Nina O’Quin with all the memories attached.

So I have this young girl a gift card and I’m making a quilted journal for a keepsake for recipes, bible verses, lists, and memories.

Those fat quarters have turned into nine patches on the way to this project found in the December Issue of American Patchwork and Quilting.

I’ve been slicing and drying the apples from yesterday’s post. The house smells so good.

It was 28 degrees this morning.

Last night we went to a party with 8 other couples. We had an adult “Scavenger Hunt”. We dvided up into teams of four and scoured the town for two hours with our lists of tasks. Examples were getting a photograph of a team member pumping a stranger’s gasoline. Get a doctor’s signature. Find a coaster with a beer logo on it. There were 41 items. My team lost despite getting a photo of a policeman in uniform, and someone in a concert tee shirt. Don’s team won and received this bottle of holiday wine from Door County. The bottle will probably never be opened but it looks like Halloween.

Gratitudes:

My Sunday School Class

York Peppermint Patties

My favorite Pair of Levis

Fall Blessings...

2010-10-02T11:40:00.000-05:00

Hey—I’m still here. Thanks for emails, thanks for caring. I hope everyone guessed it--- I got a job. We could spend paragraph after paragraph bad mouthing old jobs but it would be a waste of time and typing. Business Models change. The economy changes. It’s as simple as that. My old job gave me the gift of a paid summer off and the tenacity to look for a new job. Now my family has paid medical & dental insurance, a 401K with a match, a raise, and a bright future. I’m living proof that life goes on. It turns on a dime…. Never take it for granted.

I think I’ve got the “groove thing” worked out. I have different hours than before, plus I’ve cut wayyyy back on television so my attitude feels good.

I friend brought over apples for my Sunday school class. I love the bright colors. You can see it’s raining leaves here today. While everyone in the U.P. loves the colors --- it’s a healthy reminder for the winter ahead. The old people look at the squirrels, deer, and mice and predict a rough winter ahead. Me….they’re all kind of rough. Quilting weather I say.

I get a break daily at work and have decided to take it. I never did before. Wandering through a second- hand shop I found an old wooden box and some scraps of wool. Looks like perfect Christmas stockings. What is it about wooden boxes? Chelsey and I both gravitate to them.

I’ve made a lot of changes. My old job was a chore. This job is a challenge and a gift. Sunday evenings I spend getting my clothes ready for the week. I round up sewing for the week. I get my kids Sunday school letters made. The coffee pot is made the night before. It sounds like I’m overcompensating for something. But truth be told--- the less I have to think about first thing in the morning the better. And walking away from the television (I still DVR shows in case I need them!) all the things I thought I missed sitting behind a desk seem to be getting done.

Yeah, I know. I’m still “honeymooning” on this adventure. Sooner or later it will turn into work. But sometimes you have to lose something to appreciate it when you get it back.

Gratitudes:

A Pot of soup on the stove

Yankee Harvest Candles

Crunching leaves in the Woods

Summer's End

2010-09-12T21:43:00.000-05:00

A quick post to start the week. My folks came up for a few days last week. It was a nice visit. Families aren’t always easy. I guess the best part is that you love each other regardless--- because you’re family...enough said.

I completed another wool block and have another prepped for applique hand sewing at night.

I had a few friends--- yes, I actually made friends this summer---for lunch as a summer finale. It was fun and unexpectedly we ended up in my sewing area---the one room I hadn’t cleaned. But we were so focused on the quilting, I wasn’t even embarrassed….And it was truly a disaster.

I have a super busy week ahead… a lot of changes for me, but I have the support of my team at home. We’ll discuss more later.

I played in my sewing room a little this evening, finishing up these post cards to pop in the mail.

The scrabble pieces are part of a 35 cent purchase at a second hand store in town.

Hey folks--- good things are just around the corner.

Gratitudes-

Fall leaves sprinkling down.

Chelsey’s visit

My Sunday School Class’ new season…

If the Hat Fits

2010-08-24T16:59:00.000-05:00

If the Hat Fits, A Buggy Barn Quilt is finished.

I still have to quilt it, but I need to piece backing fabric and complete the wool applique. I am going to machine quilt it myself. I have a good friend that whipped this same quilt up and carted it to the long arm quilter. I’ve seen it—the quilter did a beautiful job. Honestly, I’m completely envious, but I’m battling. There were pumpkins, acorns, leaves, bats…. The free hand motion work was just perfect. I’m not whining—please don’t think that. I think the real reason I’m posting about it is to show others out there I have “those” moments just like everyone else. I want THAT quilting--- my machine quilting is pretty much the meandering stitch. I do one heck of a meandering stitch, but that’s about it. I’m kicking around stars and a little meandering and maybe some Moons stitched with echoes. The witches are going to have their dresses with details stitched either scallops or stars or even just squiggly lines. The brooms will have zigzags on them. I’m going to give it a shot. I can tell you all the song and dances about “Making it my own”, still truthfully I can’t justify the bucks for such a short seasonal quilt. It’s not even about the funds---the designs are worth every dollar But hey- I’m not throwing in the towel--- I’ll let you know how it comes out.

The days are getting shorter.

I saw this butterfly---has to be a movie star butterfly because he loved getting his picture taken.

Gratitudes:
Gospel Group last night
Coffee with friends
The Ironing board is empty---All caught up.

Five Witches on a Swing

2010-08-19T16:10:00.001-05:00

Five witches sewn together....I really like how the project is turning out. I wasn't a fan on the fabrics in the kit, But sewn together they really mesh well together. I need three more for the quilt, and I think I'm going to create three additional ones for a table runner. The colors really fit my home. I have a friend that put the same project together and the greens were brighter---but these fit my home perfectly.

I went to Green Bay yesterday with Chelsey. She had a doctor's appointment. We did the mother -daughter thing as a last hoorah before school starts. I don't think I've laughed so much in a long time. Good memories to hold onto for a while. We picked up Chinese takeout to go and ate the eggrolls on the drive home.

Zinnas planted from seeds in my garden. They always remind me of my Mom. She always planted them when I was a kid--- and still does.....During the summer we always had cut flowers for the kitchen table.

Gratitudes:
Friends---I actually have time to make some....
Pups for comfort in a thunderstorm
Vanilla Ice Cream--- With Chocolate swirls-Swirls are the best.

Witch Legs.....

2010-08-16T18:42:00.000-05:00

Eight Pair of Stocking feet paired with ankle boots have been created. I've got the blocks all cut out. Now we start piecing them back together. The quilt is from the book in the picture--- Frightfully Crazy by Buggy Barn Quilts.

It was 53 degrees when I got up this morning on it's way to 73 degrees...It's not Fall yet, but reality is setting in that it's on its way. You'll find spots of leaves in the trees starting to turn.

We can't blame it on lack of rain, or frost, lack of warm temps....it's just that time....

Here's Pumpkin Progress:

I feel just like the Farmer in the Dell.....

A cup of coffee and a good book are calling my name....

We'll chat later....

Learning About Myself…..

2010-08-15T15:50:00.000-05:00

Here’s the project I’ve been studying. After this post, I’m heading down to my sewing corner and dive into it. I want to make something fun. The temps have dropped twenty degrees. It kind of feels like fall.

Friday I went to the grocery store at about 4:30 pm. Probably not a good idea. Checking out my purchases, every line had 3 or 4 buggys ahead of me. As my turn approached, the lady in front of me would put one item at a time on the moving belt until the cashier scanned it. She would pause for a coupon and move to the next item. She had no less than thirty items. Normally I would have huffed, mumbled under my breath and been angry. This time I just told myself, “ It’s OK--- you have tomorrow.”.

Saturday morning I called the vet. Ransom has been getting stiff at night and in the mornings, I wanted to get him in. They were booked, but said I could come in as a walk in. Chelsey was home and I wasn’t sure I could cope if something was REALLY wrong with the dog on my own, so I went in. I wait 2 hours, saw the vet, received arthritis medication and went home. Here’s what I didn’t do…. Throw a fit because of the wait. Yell, because no one explained “walk in” meant an hour and a half wait for a 15 minute appointment. There was no slamming of magazines, or eyeball rolling either. I was grateful for getting Ransom fixed, I had tomorrow for other things.

My daughter borrowed my Jeep--- fluky coincidence but the window doesn’t work now--- tomorrow, I’m getting it repaired. But I didn’t yell at her, I didn’t throw my purse down. So what if it takes the morning away….I have the afternoon….. and tomorrow.

I miss my paycheck incredibly, but I’m realizing, along with that paycheck came several major character flaws. I’m looking for another job. But not having one is not life threatening either. The neat thing about “tomorrows” and second chances is that you get to do it better the second time around.

I know I will…..

Perspectives.....

2010-08-13T15:52:00.000-05:00

OK--- it’s not as bad as it looks…. Or maybe it’s as awesome as it seems… I always say life is a perspective. Yesterday’s doctor’s appointment and Primitive Gatherings Experience were outstanding. Needless to say the Coke bottle money has vanished (along with egg money, lottery money, laundry money and any other kind of stash money I squeak out). But it was worth it. They only thing I paid full price for was the frame. I purchased it so that Don would have a pattern for other frames in the future….a very worthy investment.

The backing for Eric’s quilt was 20% off. I toyed with some REALLY cheap pieces, but I’m telling Eric it’s his heirloom and I didn’t think 10 bucks one way or the other was going to make a difference. This quilt really means a lot to me. Now, if I haven’t found a job in six months, I might regret my decision, but right now it stands.

The 3 strand floss balls are Valdani--- I purchased at fifty cents each. The fat quarters, I think were a buck. The quilt book is the only Lisa Bongean’s one I didn’t have and while I’ll probably never make the quilt it has some great appliqué patterns for all sorts of things---$5 bucks. I want to collect all of her books because she’s probably the closest thing to a quilt celebrity I’ll ever meet. The ruler was clearance at $4.50---Flying geese are one of my favorite quilt blocks and I’m taking steps to make them perfect. The pattern was a $4.00 fate purchase because I’ve ached over Libby’s quilt ever since she made it.

Now the warehouse sale was a little aggressive. There were some pretty passionate quilters. We got there fifteen minutes after the sale started. But the staff and the other customers were really friendly. There were no fist fights over wool, but there were plenty of “Excuse me”s in the aisle as quilters were staking their claims on the great values. As my friend and I contemplated our purchases--- at any point I could ask the opinion of the total stranger next to me and with confidence that quilter would assure me of my purchase and tell me why.

I’d love a “do over” just to people watch. Oh we had fun.

P.S. Clean bill of health, I’m out to ride my bicycle for the first time all summer…..

Drum Roll Please......

2010-08-11T08:17:00.000-05:00

I grabbed the camera and the quilt the minute there was plenty of day light to take a photo.We’re supposed to get rain all day. Full of thread pieces and in need of a good ironing, I still couldn’t be more pleased. It’s Scrappy Stars, a Miss Rosie’s quilt pattern.

I used up about 15 years of Thimbleberries red and black fabrics. At one time we had a small quilt shop in town that specialized in those fabrics. Back in the early 90’s there wasn’t a lot of quality colors to pick from. We’re covered in gray and white outside so much of the year that I was a real fan. I still needed more fabric so there are some Kansas Trouble pieces as well.

This wasn’t a tough quilt, it’s just real labor intensive. I pressed the seams open, at the advice of a couple of friends. Hopefully it will make it easier to quilt. I’m heading to Appleton tomorrow to get backing material. By the time I got to the outer red border I forgot about the pattern instructions, just sewed the scraps together and went with it.

Confession----- My grandmother did it…. My Mom did it…. Now add me to the list…. I sewed my pinkie finger. Yep--- we’ll spare you the gaudy pictures, but the needle went right through. Thank goodness my machine has the auto-up feature on the needle, so I wasn’t just suspended in pain. In true quilter form, I immediately protected the fabric from any dripping blood--- a bad omen for the quilt----then in true “Melanie-fashion” the tears poured. But the bone wasn’t hurt, the fingernail wasn’t touched. It just went clean through to the other side in the fatty part of my finger. I’ll live and the tetanus vaccine is up to date. I feel pretty stupid, so I guess I’m glad I was alone when it happened.

Chelsey came home over the weekend. We raided the garden for vegetables for her to take back. We loaded all leftovers in the fridge too. She cut flowers from the garden and I lost a vase in the process. No big deal.

On the docket for the day--- a sewing room cleaning session and letters to my Sunday School kids.

Gratitudes:

The sound of crickets in the evening

Popcorn

Emails of Encouragement

120 Blocks

2010-08-05T14:51:00.000-05:00

Lazy days of summer… I have more free time than I’m use to. But I’m staying busy. Being a list maker, I have to account for my day. I never want a day wasted. My Garden Shoes:

Yesterday I pulled a project out of my quilt cabinet. Resurrecting it from last year, I’m completing it for Eric. I have 120 blocks completely finished. While the blocks separately don’t give a picture, placed together you get an idea where the Miss Rosie’s Scrappy Stars Quilt is growing to. It has not one but two pieced borders after the blocks are placed together.

I think about why it got placed in the back of the cabinet. I got it cut out and the half square triangles made. But there’s many steps and things needed to be kept in order at a time when my life seemed to really be in disarray.

Hope fully next post you’ll see the progress. I have a chance to go to a quilt shop next week, but on a tight budget now---- I can really justify backings on sale.

Post over…. The remaining lines are reminders to myself that I’m not Wasting my time even though there is not a dollar figure associated with the minutes of my day. Sounds stupid, but when you’ve worked outside the home for years your mind can play tricks on you.

1. I’m studying on autism. There a child at church that We don’t want to fall through the cracks. I’ve never had the time to do the research to reach out a special needs kid and now I do.

2. Friends with surgery recovery….I’ve had a chance to visit weekly and have never really invested in relationships until now.

3. When you have the time to economize you really can.

4. With all the fresh produce coming in----I have the time and energy to cook and enjoy it like never before.

5. Focus on my bible---Reminds me of the good things.

6. Next week I can get back to exercising.

My Garden Blocks

2010-08-03T14:54:00.000-05:00

Checking in. I’ve been playing in the garden. We had plenty of rainy days so the humidity is up. The Black Eyed Susan’s are blooming everywhere. Tomatoes, Cucumbers, and beans are being picked every day. What is it about peeling cucumbers, getting out the salt shaker and eating a cucumber like a banana that just makes summer great???

A friend and I have been sewing together. Yep…… never got to do that when I worked 7-4 everyday.

We’re working through the My Garden BOM designed by Heart to Hand. It’s wool applique on cotton fabric. She purchased a Valdani thread kit. I opted for using my DMC floss.

On the small details it gives me more freedom to use thinner threads. It’s a lot of fun to have someone to compare with and bounce ideas with.

Until now, I’ve pretty much been a quilt “Loner”.

I had a couple extra blocks left over from a quilt I made for Chelsey. A friend of mine is the mother of 3 really active boys.

I went and visited her last week for lunch. Boys love their Mom---and she thrives on being a good Mom. She was just having a tough day, so I decided every girl needs some pink in her life… so I stitched up a journal for her. Bottom line cost---33 cents of ribbon.

I’ve had a couple of panic attacks over the job thing, but Don says don’t worry about it and I love being at home… it’s just different.

Gratitudes:

Fabric Scraps

Vegetable Soup

Corn off the Cob:)

Verity’s Quilt

2010-07-23T08:11:00.001-05:00

I’ve always wondered what it would be like. Never had the chance. It was announced on Sunday that there would be an after-church luncheon in honor of our church secretary’s first grandbaby. Quilting is almost always a plotted process for me. I knew I wanted to make a baby quilt. I went home--- ten minutes later I had the pattern, A Moda Bake Shop Ruffle Quilt. Fabric was the next item on the list. I had won ten jelly roll strips a while ago.

I kept seeing pink and brown, but the fabric cabinet kept saying something else. I threw in 4 fat quarters from Faded Memories line and we had enough for a top. The backing--- leftovers from a quilt from Chelsey. In a couple of hours I had the top made.

I don’t have a serger, so I pulled this out.

A ruffler…. It sat on the kitchen counter all of Sunday night. I asked Don—“You remember this..” He laughed--- how could he forget. The last time it was used was 22 years ago when I made curtains for Eric’s baby’s room. It was memorable…because I cried the entire time. It was not a fun process. The premise of the ruffler was great--- but actually using it was horrible for me. Don even tried to help to stop the tears. Yep—my guy was sewing… or at least trying to.

But 22 years later, I’m older, more mature, a better seamstress—and definitely not pregnant. It would be a no brainer, or so I thought.

The next morning I hemmed strips for ruffles. They were pieced and peachy—four similar fat quarters, but I really liked the look. I attached the ruffler and went to town….for about twelve inches. Floods of bad memories came pouring back all at once.

The only difference is that I’m older and wiser now--- and I didn’t cry. I just laughed. I disassembled the ruffler, put back on the sewing foot--- and sewed. I just started pushing and pleating the fabric as it went under the needle. They are a little wonky, but I think it made a great look.

I machine quilted the piece, and then attached the ruffles—finished.

A minor hiccup came when the quilting thread kept breaking. I went to town and purchase a new thread I have never used before. I loved it—no lint and the strength I needed.

The last baby quilt I made I spent about $50.00 in fabric. It took two weeks to piece. The pattern came from a quilt book that I paid $24.00 for. I still love the book, so I guess it doesn’t count.

The point is that quilting doesn’t have to cost a fortune, and maybe it’s a lot more fun when you don’t try so hard. I studied fabric choices for two weeks on the other quilt. The conquest of having the fabric already and fate taking over that the fabrics had been predestined for this quilt kind of appeals to me.

On the summer side of things….my blueberry bushes that weren’t suppose to produce blueberries for two years yielded enough blueberries for Blueberry pancakes for two last weekend. In my book it was a great harvest.

We’ve been tubing down lazy rivers this summer. The ratio of weeds to garden plants is low as the pups and I spent tons of time out there. The windows are open as the temps have stayed in the low 80’s.

I took some vacation time off of work. But seven days into it I was laid off indefinitely from my job. It happened last year, but this year it’s not the travesty it once seemed. Things happen for reasons we don’t know. Last year it was for two weeks, this year it could be permanent. I refuse to dwell on things I can’t help. No sympathies please---if I’m not sorry, you shouldn’t be either. Chin up…

Our church has a coffeehouse that is opened on weekends. We’re the hosts tonight. I’m bringing hand sewing just in case it’s quiet.

Gratitudes:

Watermelon---no seeds
Windfalls
A brand new spool thread.

A Summer Day in July

2010-07-09T16:07:00.001-05:00

I completed my last two quilt tops and they have been binded and put out for use. The Harvest Home Quilt made fro the confeffti cake pattern with my own border. I pieced this quilt while I was going through a tough time so everytime I look at the finish product it makes me know I'm tougher than I think.....

My Baskets of Life Quilt was finished this afternoon. It was quilted with a meandering stitch all over even in the stitchery blocks.

Summer is in full swing. The herbs are beautiful. I guess we have just the right mix of sun and rain. They seem to be thriving this year.

Here's a snapshot of the first pumpkin in the pumpkin patch....I guess every thing starts out small.

We've had a couple of 'hiccups' at our house. But I realize they are just hiccups and when I look at the "big" picture I know all things happen for a reason. Even though we may not know what it is right now, I do know that they'll work out for good.

I use to think we had issues or problems.. but now I kinda think we just have " Life". Just like every one else.

Keep Quilting.....

Three Down One to Go.....

2010-07-02T17:10:00.000-05:00

On June 1st, I had 4 full size quilts pieced but not quilted…as of July 2nd, I’m down to one….. I’ve been pretty focused. Two and ¾ are binded and ready for use. The last quilt will hopefully go on the frame tonight. I have a three day weekend and then it will mean I’m back to work.

One of the quilts that I quilted I did some line quilting that I was coached on by Linda. The lines are not evenly spaced, nor are they straight and parallel with one another.

It was fun to quilt together though I did go through two spools of thread. I did some loops around the flowers in the corner.

I still pretty much meander most quilts but it was fun to try something a little different.

A friend sent me fabric for my journalist daughter. Newspaper pieces splashed around will make a cute desk topper or journal cover for Chelsey. The Christmas pattern came with it. I just love holly and berries so I had a wonderful day at the mailbox. Thanks Again....

Gratitudes

My pups for company

Lunch with friends twice this week

Sparklers – My favorite fireworks….

The Weekend

2010-06-26T11:56:00.000-05:00

Saturday morning I left the guys at home and ran errands. They did the housework, laundry, and yard work. No—this is not heaven, but it kind of feels like it. They were treating me and I wasn’t going to complain. It’s cloudy now, but it’s supposed to fair off and be a beautiful day.

I made pillows for the porch last week. We had dreams of new porch furniture, but after pricing it, I made the adult decision to paint what we had. I had spent 12 bucks on Walmart fabric—cheap and durable-- to make pillows in the colors I pictured the porch being in this summer Reds and Khaki. I purchased paint –‘oops paint’ or custom paint that someone decided not to purchase. When getting ‘oops’ paint you have to recognize your color choices are extremely limited…the paint choices were a blue-gray and sand.

I already purchased the fabric. I didn’t want to waste. I refused to admit a mistake had been made. So back to Walmart I went and $3.00 later I found the blue fabric I was going to use to pull all things together---porch, paint, and fabric.

Here are the finished products. Eight pillows were made for the hammock, swing, and chairs. I had wished over a Pottery Barn ad and knew I wasn’t going to let go of any kind of money for pillows.

Somehow I think the blue fabric just fits.

I finished quilting a quilt and have binding to hand stitch this afternoon. I've got naptime waiting on me.

Have a good weekend.

The First Week of Summer

2010-06-24T06:59:00.002-05:00

All kinds of stuff going on this week. First off, I was driving by a garage sale and saw a table that would be perfect for my daughter’s scrapbooking table in her apartment. I rolled down the window (not even getting out of the car)to asked for the selling price and the lady told me 5 bucks. “Sold!” I started digging in my purse – and while I had a fat quarter, a quilt pattern and a spool of thread, I only had 3 bucks to my name. She walked over to the car and said the garage sale was over and the table had a piece missing on the edge and she’d give it to me free of charge. What a deal!! It’s solid oak with a leaf in the middle. Don sanded it and fixed the edge. It’s already whitewashed a little and I love the spindled legs… It just goes to show you timing is everything…..

More timing… I went by our local version of a Goodwill Store. I’ve fallen in love with quilting with wool and scanned the wool blazers and got lucky. I found these. I took them all apart and washed and dried them. I now have them folded up for projects….

There was a drawing over at Shakerwood Quilts and I was the second place winner and received the most beautiful hand-dyed wool. Looks like I ready for a project.

Here are the two patterns I’m kicking around with my winnings. The photos don’t do them justice. I can just picture the stockings—9 inches long, tied to Christmas packages.

Graitudes:
Strawberries – fresh picked ones from Pellegrinis
Tomato plants from a friend
Quilting Time

Addison's Bag

2010-06-15T13:51:00.001-05:00

I've got everything ready for the baby... the baby just has to get here. The Birdie Scraps made a cute bag. The quilt is going to be rolled and tied with ric rac and bound over to its new home.

If the pictures have seemed a little dark lately--- it's because they are. I love outside pictures. Everyday for a week it's been cloudy and rainy. We've really needed the rain, but a compromise of rainy nights is definitely in order.

Chelsey and her sweetie parted ways last week. Both are great kids-- sometimes things just don't work out. Like I told Chelsey, "He's just not the one..." Doesn't softened the tears though. I guess I need to be this constructive parent and point out the faults on both sides, but there is nothing to be gained from doing that. She just needs to find her smile again. Doing the right thing isn't always easy. Her brother will be up this weekend. He's taking a class at the hospital in the town she lives in. They will be the dynamic duo for a month. It be good for both of them.

Gratitudes:

1. Home by Michael Buble

2. Emails from friends

3. I survived the yearly Mammogram--you gotta do it.

Birdie Baby Quilt

2010-06-11T06:29:00.001-05:00

It became "affectionately known" as the Ugly Baby Quilt at our house. I have a wonderful friend who has a daughter expecting a baby girl any day. I've known for 8 months. This will definitely be an "uptown" baby, so I saved my quilting allowance for the perfect fabric. I studied patterns and chose a schibble pattern from Rosie's Quilt Co. and then added an extra border. At one point in the game, my daughter even questioned on whether to give the quilt or not. But geesh-- I had followed the pattern. I had used charm packs from the Birdie line from Moda. There was a sizeable amount of funds in the project. Somehow every thing just didn't mesh together. But there was tons of heart in the piece so I quilted it and after I sewed the last stitch of binding I decided I liked it.

I'm adding a fat quarter and scraps to make a bag to go with it. Funny how the smaller the baby the more "junk" they need. This will be just a small bag for a quick trip or extra diapers.

These are sale fabrics to stash away for Chelsey "just because gifts". I love fabric with words on it. I figured these could keep her inspired with her writing. These aren't even my first picks. But playing the "sale" game it's a chance you take.

Napkins I found recently to go with my yellow dishes.

A friend gave me this wonderful salad bowl for my Green Kitchen. I'm completely in love with it.

We've been in the middle of a drought, but this week we've had daily showers. I know we desparately need it. I just wish it would do it at night. I've been catching up on reading and sewing. I finished "The Nest". I just have to frame it. This has been a great summer.

Gratitudes:

Friends stopping by for visits.

Embroidery Threads

Sprinklers for the garden

Wool Quilting

2010-06-03T14:38:00.001-05:00

A few weeks ago I took a beginners wool quilting class with Lisa Bongean at Primitive Gatherings Quilt shop. It was three hours of fun. There were four of us in the class—one lady travelling from Nebraska, a gift from her husband. Here is the penny rug that we made in the class.

I went with a friend that has only been quilting for about three years. I learned a Quilter’s Knot. She looked at me, “you didn’t know that?” No, I didn’t, everything I’d learned about quilting I had read and taught myself.

Lisa taught us about different kinds of wool, techniques on transferring your patterns to fabric pieces and showed us different kinds of perle cotton threads. The backing of the penny rug was a brush cotton.

I’d take the class weekly if I could. I really enjoyed myself.

In addition to the lesson material, Lisa shared her plans for quilt market, her plans for the shop in the coming year, and how she picks what to put in her shop.

I came home--- finished my class project--- and prepped by first solo wool project. While the photo doesn’t do it justice, it just seemed fitting to put it on a tree branch. It’s called ‘Nest’, from Lisa’s Summer Gatherings Book. Perfect to carry along or sit outside and work on.