Five Witches on a Swing

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.....

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…..

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.....

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......

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

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

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

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

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.....

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

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

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

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

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

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.