Happy Easter....

Happy Easter.....

Yesterday was a day filled with rain followed by a six inch snowfall. 

The photo is living proof that every morning we get another shot at it--- 

This one is filled with Sunshine....

Patchwork....

It's the 23rd of March.  Back in January I set myself up with 3 UFO's to complete.  Well, they didn't get complete in January, nor February.  But after this weekend I think I'll be finished with the last one.  Here is the binding.  I was disappointed at first, but thinking about it now-- and the fact that quilting is my

 'part-time- gig' --- I'm OK with it.  

I want to list my next  UFO- I have 4 left, but first... I want to start a new project. I want to start a new one and work on  it until completion.

The project above is a quilt for a bed.  It's full of scraps and is intended to keep my bed warm.

I quilted it myself --swirly curls all over.

This weekend I'm knocking out the chores--- snowshoeing my pups and quilting the rest of the weekend away......I was like a little kid when 4:00 got here yesterday--- freedom....Except for church, I 'm not getting in my car the entire weekend..

Burlap...

Rough day at work--- Garage door is stuck... Ripley tore up a pine straw wreath-- Hurry up weekend.


I loved burlap table runners from the moment I saw them.  I finally made myself one.  There's all kinds of printed burlap out there at fabric stores, but alas I have.... Walmart. Here's my spring time table.

Muslin ruffles really don't work for me so this is my choice.

and a close up of the fabrics. 

I really like them.... Onto the weekend.

It's Spring.....

It's early.  I'm here with my mug of coffee (in my new mug) and my keyboard. I've got a few minutes before heading out the door to work.

I've been working on UFOs, but I took time out to make this to help chase winter of my house. 

It's from the book Simply Charming.  Easy, fun, and completely made from leftovers in the scrap box.

I'm a Dark chocolate junkie. I know winter is almost over -- but we've really got  a  l  o  t    of snow.

I Turned 50....

with Grace...I think.

I was spoiled at work and at home....  The Birthday lasted throughout the weekend.

The day started with...

My favorite cinnamon rolls.  The rule at my office is that when it's your birthday-- you bring the treats.  I brought cinnamon rolls, only after Don and I sampled them.

The office had pictures of me 29 years earlier.  Yep - Don and Chelsey had sent photos of me at 21 years old. They were on the doors the walls, the desks.

I had balloons surrounding my desk and a bouquet of prunes.

Don took me to Green Bay for shopping.  He took me to Primitive Gatherings for:

It's my new favorite mug--- it's never empty...

and this  baby doll tee ---

Meals cooked for me, birthday cake, tons of cards, emails and phone calls.  I was queen for a weekend.

I've been quilting - just never  sat down long enough to type.

More later ---I have to save something to type about tomorrow.

Heart and Home....

What did I do with the Quilt?

  It's hung in my breakfast room  on the quilt shelf Don built and quilters along with my kids have filled  it with memories.  Sand from Lake Michigan from my daughter, A starfish from my son's trip to the Gulf and Lake Superior stones Don and I picked together.  There are Gingham forks from  my Mom and a Quilter's Angel holding a thimble made by a friend and fellow quilter.  I love Ransom being on the quilt instead of the cat the pattern called for. It makes for good memories of a pet. I even love my wonky feathers. 

 I'm chasing Winter out of my house.....

Spa Day---

The conversation went something like this:

" I don't want him shaved -- I just want ...him..polished...a little.."

"Do you want him to look like a lab?"

"No, I want him to look like Ripley,,,just a little enhanced..."

" Oh, OK, We'll  give him the 'Spa Treatment...'"

So Here's before:

And Here's after:

Ripley --  8.5 months....

Valentine's Day-- Gifts from Traverse City

We Went to Traverse City a week ago to visit Eric.  Don and Eric took me to the Quilt-n-Bee Quilt Shop.  I gave them the complete quilt shop tour and they were patient and now could probably give tours as well.

I had coupons for free fat quarters.  I show the guys Field Notes, the newest line from Blackbird designs.  They learned about the luxury of having a fat quarter from an entire line of fabric and how fabrics have designers.  They learned about different sewing machines and threads and stay completely focused the entire time.  They insisted once that I get the Field Notes and I wasn't about to talk them out of it....

I got my Mom and I matching spatulas-- just because.....They were cute, no more no less. We marveled at the Meijer store this came from. Eric didn't get it,Even worried a little,  but it was different that stores at home...

We had so much fun there I continue to say that's where I want to retire one day.  But Don reminds me it's because we vacation there.  If you lived there every day-- it would be different.  It is an expensive place to live.

Every day should be a vacation day, right?!?!? Oh well, Off to work-- Happy Monday.

My First Feathers......

While they aren't perfect... they aren't too shabby either.... And I know with practice they will get better.  And they're mine.... I created them myself.  It took about two years of doodling on paper, but I finally committed.  I figure one day I may look back and think how pitiful they are...But right now I'm real proud.  

It's four below zero--- I want an outdoor photo of the finished quilt.... It's got to warm up first.

February...

Life is about living--- and it's busy.  Never quilting as much as I want, never completing that 'to do' list but I write lists of projects down, I read about them, a doodle in the margins during meetings of each block.
There was a time when I grew discouraged, but I realize now there is a time and a place for quilting...even if it is just in the margins loose leaf paper....

February - The Christmas decorations are gone and Hearts are sprinkled around the house...

Last weekend we ventured to Traverse City Michigan to spend the weekend with Eric.  My birthday is about four weeks away - so I receive an early present.  We walked in with a card and picture frame.  The card stated " that even if we were together to look at this print-- it's my present that was too big to mail and know that on the wall in his home he has the same one....''

Here is my framed print---

It's all the quilts I have made him...
Then he open the door and pulled out my painted sign for my sewing room---

Covered Porch Quilts....


Yeah -- He's a keeper....

Sunday Evening...

Twenty four degrees feels incredibly warm after last week with sub-zero weather.  Here are some snapshots taken as I ran the pups in the woods this afternoon.

Here is a  table piece I finished up for the Woodcarver that made the quilter's angel for me this Christmas.  The four center blocks were from a row of the month piece that I knew just wasn't 'meant to be'.   I found coordinating fabrics and added a border or two.  It's quilted  and off to it's new home.

There is beauty everywhere - even in the dead of winter... all you have to do is find it...

Have a good week.

A Gift....

Sometimes even staged photography can't help... well it helps a little....

I had studied the Pinterest photo for days.  It was the small piece I wanted to make for a friend who had lost her Mother-in-law recently.  I picked out fabrics I loved -- that favored her home.  I started working on it evenings after work a week ago-- coming down with that cold. Big Mistake, but I really had planned well, 

When it came time to connect the blocks I couldn't assemble them.  Things just didn't fit. I had no more fabric like this.

 I even brought Don in on it.  Finally we compromised and this is what we came up with:

" Mel, she can put a basket or a bowl of something in the middle.  It'll be fine..."  

I was disappointed    It wasn't very pretty, but I wanted her to know how I hurt for her loss and so I plugged away. Maybe the piece will look better quilted.  It wasn't until I was half way through quilting it that I looked under my sewing machine and found six missing blocks. Great.

It may not be the 'Blue Ribbon' piece I had hoped for, but I still want her to know how I feel.  Her Mother-in-law passed away right after Christmas--Everyone's lives have gone back to  normal...except theirs.  Her family lost someone they really loved.  I'm tying it up---With my own Blue Ribbon and giving it to her tomorrow....

January Word Play

It's not just a Photo...It really is winter.. It's six degrees out side and I'm stuck with--- you guessed it, a horrible cold. I did get out last evening and fill my car up before the temperatures dropped.  The high temperature this week is about 17 degrees. I walked into church long enough to drop of my Sunday school class material and let someone know they needed to get someone to teach. I had such high hopes for the weekend with quilting plans, but in the end I need to be grateful I had the time home to recuperate. 

  The photo is my current hand project.  It's Word Play by Brenda Gervais.  This is my first attempt at working with linen. I'm still really slow, but I think it's something that gets better with practice (and not having your nose in Kleenex constantly.)

Here's my mantle for January and February.  The grapevines are from my new secret source I harvested this fall.  

I did have a small scare Friday night.  A Propane leak where the propane enters the house lines.  I called my propane guy-- Friday after 5 pm... he came out and repaired it.  Be aware of your surroundings-- any changes to smells or the way things look. I dodged a lot of problems.

Sunday Agenda...

Church, Vege Pizza and Salad... Quilt all afternoon.....

Weekend Sewing

When I left the office on Friday--- all I kept thinking about was I had to knock out the weekend chores (housecleaning,grocery shopping) where I could do the fun stuff.  I got the borders sewn on two quilts.  Above I am working on the wool corner blocks.   The quilt called for a vine running through the borders but I love the prints so I am calling it "pieced' once I get the cornerstones complete. 

We have about four dog beds in our house (not  no mention mine!!!) but for some reason they always wind up together.  Ripley  7 1/2 months &  Bruno 3 years old.

Gratitudes:

Being able read-- what a gift

Clear roads on a cold day

A Warm Bed --- for me and my pups

First Completion 2013

My first completion 2013 - Hop to it Garden Quilt.  If you ever get the opportunity to make a quilt with a couple of friends --- do it.  Every time I look at this project I think about how much fun we had comparing  blocks and how we envisioned the quilt.

Pottery Barn-- Sort of....

Here's the Pottery Barn Photo.... It's called a Silverware Stocking.  I don't know if it was the holder or the plaid plate under it but I was completely charmed.  They were $29.00 for 4.  In the shape of a sweater stocking,  I rarely having just four at a 'deck-out' meal.  I refused to let go of the money.

Off I went to Goodwill.  For ninety-nine cents I brought home this and went to work.

The sweater was turned into 13 sweater pouches.  Squared off.  They aren't stocking shape where I could even use them for Valentine's Day or in the Fall with leaves tucked in.

I love the idea of making something for almost nothing.  I cut the sweater pieces 7.5 by 6.5 and stitched into a pocket shape.

Welcome 2013

Happy New Year....filled with all the hope and positive feelings one can possibly hold.  The year 2012 was not a bad one, but I have high hopes for this New Year.

I have decided to focus on the UFOs this year. Joining with Carrie, I have three projects targeted for January---pretty confident I can complete two of them.  I will start new ventures, but I am hoping  that I will lessen the UFOs.  My list is not that great.  I don't have the finances to hold onto too many things. 

The list will start  with the binding for my Hop To It Quilt.  I just have the handwork of turning the binding down...why haven't I already completed it????

Next is my Heart and Home Project.  I have borders, wool applique, quilting and a binding.  It's a big project but  hubby has some long hours predicted in January so if I can get the machine part done I absolutely love the wool handwork in the evenings.

My third is a nine patch project. It got placed on the 'back burner' because I didn't have border fabric.  I have the fabric now---and a backing.  Excuses are running out ....it's on January's list.

Last week I lost three elderly friends. I have hopes to make up a runner for each family--to take after life goes back to normal for everyone...everyone but the loved ones they were closest to.

One of the friends had not been ill.  I saw him at church and 3 days later he was gone.  There's a huge lesson here--One I want to focus on in the coming year.... Some things matter and some things just don't.  Focus on those things that really matter ...toss away the things that don't. Tell those that you love just that...that you love them.

Again ---Happy New Year.

 Welcome the new year 2013 with all it's possibilities.

Lora's Quilt

Hand-stitching while watching Christmas movies over the holidays I got Lora's quilt finished.  I'll UPS it out tomorrow.

Her yellow walls and white cabinets will be the setting for this quilt.  Her farmhouse kitchen -- complete with fire place will make the perfect home for this piece.

 It may be late, But I did a much better job not being rushed by a date on the calendar.  I'll get another shot at it next year.

We showshoe'd twice a day for the last 4 days.  The trail is packed enough now to go without snow shoes.  Bruno has had a little trouble managing the deep snow with Ripley being a puppy and rough-housing him.  I got a puppy backpack for Christmas so Bruno rides until Ripley settles down a little bit. Plus I get an extra work out lugging an extra ten pounds.  Pictures to come soon.  

Tomorrow we have family coming from Florida -- but tomorrow I also turn back into a pumpkin and return to the office.  But that's life.  I'm grateful for the time off and grateful for the job at the same time....

Merry Christmas....

Christmas is forever, not for just one day,

 for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away

 like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.

 the good you do for others is good you do yourself.

Norman Wesley Brooks

From my Covered Porch, I wish you not just presents under the tree, but presents in your heart.... And remember sometimes presents come in unlikely places and events....Kind of like thinking you are getting a labrador and ending up with something really special, like Ripley..