My Sister Made Me do it.......

Treasures from Trip Home

2012-03-04T13:14:00.000-07:00

Inspiring quote for today:

"You cannot change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction overnight." -Jim Rohn

I took a short trip to New Mexico this week to see Mom and Dad and had a great time with them.........and a bonus.....also got to visit a little with my Brother and Sister too.............

While I was there, I spirited my Mom away to visit the local second hand stores to see what fabric treasures we might find.................I can report that I made a fantastic buy! I have been dissatisfied lately with the fabric I chose for my JustTakes2 quilt along. I love the design and color but it isn't 100% cotton and I have been struggling when it comes time to press it......sometimes some of my hard work has literally MELTED when I have pressed it! I got so discouraged that I just stopped and decided to change fabrics............well guess what? I found the most PERFECT fabric! ...............It is a violet, teal, and cream 100% cotton plaid by Kaufman and it matches my companion JustTakes2 fabric perfectly! I got 13 yards of it for less than a dollar a yard! So I will have enough for the backing too! WooHoo! See what you all think:

The fabric is scotch guarded but I think it will wash out..........anyway.........I am ready to start anew with JustTakes2! (I'm a poet and don't know it!)

Ok next................we stopped at a "Dream Fabric Shop" in Ruidoso (No, that's not the real name.........it is really named Martha's Fabrics....LOL) and after I drooled for a good half hour......................well if you don't believe me, just look! This is definitely a "drooling place"!

The good news is that Martha had some sale fabrics and I came away with a couple of half yard cuts of some dreamy picks.......(My Sis and I usually buy a half yard so each of us can have a fat quarter!)

Here is what I finally decided on at Marthas.....well I have been trying to NOT buy anymore fabric! My stash is overflowing! (Of course.....your stash NEVER has what you need for a project, right???) So I am proud of myself because I only bought these two fabrics:

Pretty sweet, huh?

oh yeah.................and I also got some of that giant rick-rack to match the Kaufman print.....sorry but I just remembered that so I don't have a photo but you all know what I'm talking about.............

OH! and for the last treasure..............on my way home I stopped at one more second hand store before I left town and found a fabulous plastic zip-loc back full of BUTTONS! It was only $2! There were a couple of real treasures in there........some huge white buttons I can use for throw pillows and some other pretty little things that who knows? They might even make their way into one of Ida's giveaways! Check it out:

Well it is just about time to wrap this post up but I did make out with one more little jewel.............Mom had a nice box of Merlot which I "tested" out while I was there.....you know, just to see if it was still ok............My Sis had taken it there last time she visited.......it isn't her favorite....and my Mom said (and I quote) "When you are my age and taking all this medication, you can't even drink a glass of wine anymore! If you like it, just take it!" So I made it home with some beautiful fabric, a bag full of vintage buttons, and some Merlot...............But MOST important..........I got to see my Mama and Daddy.................that is the best thing I got from this trip.............

.............................Ta ta For Now.....................

The Real Honest to Goodness Winner!

2012-03-02T10:26:00.001-07:00

"The most spendid achievement of all is the constant striving to surpass yourself and to be worthy of your own approval." -Denis Waitley

First off, let me apologize to anyone who already saw this post on their dashboard and then came to an empty page.........I thought I had posted the winner of the Leap Day Giveaway by mistake so I deleted the post... please forgive the aggrivation while I try to recall what I wrote....(embarrased grin)

OK...here we go again.....

Gosh is it Deja Vu or what? I have this feeling like I just finished announcing a giveaway winner...........and, of course, all my followers know that I did just that yesterday for the Leap Day Giveaway! I want to thank you all for entering the giveaway and either already being a follower or becoming a new follower. I have met so many new friends since I started blogging a year ago!

The all random, all knowing.......yes, Mr. Random, himself, had to stay up and do some overtime yesterday because he also picked the winner of my First Blogiversary Giveaway....better known to you, my followers, as Ida's Honest to Goodness REAL Blogiversary Giveaway. And the number he came up with is lucky #9!

And who is this "Lucky Number 9", you might ask? Well you could go find out back on the Giveaway Page........but wait, I am too excited to announce the winner myself to make you do that...........The Lucky Winner, "Ms. Number Nine" is Rachel!!!! Congratulations Rachel, I have already emailed you with the good news!

Here is what Rachel had to say:

I also want to give a million thanks to the Fat Quarter Shop for Sponsoring this giveaway and give you all one last look at the Fat Quarter Bundle that Ms Rachel won:

So now all there is to say is "See you in Blogland"!..............and, of course.....TTFN!

Leap Year Giveaway Winner!!

2012-03-01T20:05:00.004-07:00

"I look to the future because that's where I'm going to spend the rest of my life." -George Burns

Wow what a fabulous idea Elizabeth from Such a Sew and Sew had with the Leap Day Giveaway Blog Hop ! Thanks Elizabeth! And thanks to YOU, all my followers who signed up and made my giveaway so much fun!

Now I want to announce the winner of my Leap Day Giveaway.......(drumroll please)......according to the all knowing, all random, yes, Mr. Random Himself!!............my winner is number 65!!!!!!! Woo Hoo!!!!!!!

Oh.........who exactly is Ms. Number 65, you might ask?? Well you could just go to that post and count them out......but you don't have to do that because I am so excited that I'm just going to come right out and tell you!! Yes the winner is KoCanQuilt who said:

Congratulations to the winner who has already been notified and thank you all again so much for helping make this giveaway such a success!

Just a reminder if you haven't already signed up as a follower and commented on Ida's Honest to Goodness REAL Blogiversary Giveaway, I will be asking Mr. Random to work overtime tonight to make a pick and I will announce the winner of the Tweet Fat Quarter Bundle from the Fat Quarter Shop tomorrow so stay tuned!!

so guess that is it............and as always...............TTFN!

One Flower Wednesday........so far so good......

2012-02-29T18:13:00.000-07:00

"Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other." -Walter Elliot

Whew..............what a fun day this has been! Between hopping all over the giveaways for the Leap Year Blog Hop and trying to get to Mom and Dad's house for a long needed visit to checking my email for the visitors I had on my own giveaway...........I will say that so far I think I am getting the most out of this extra day in 2012!

So here is the next installment on my Wizard of Oz hexie series: How about the first friend Dorothy met when she blew out of Kansas??

Here is Mr. Scarecrow!

Oh Dorothy! You're not in Kansas anymore!

Unfortunately.....some of our real life inhabitants of Kansas and the mid-west have suffered from the recent tornadoes. Please join me in prayer for their good-will and swift recovery......

Ok then I am off to enjoy some more time with Mom and Dad.......

TaTaForNow!

Leap Day Giveaway!

2012-02-29T00:10:00.001-07:00

This giveaway is now closed. Thank you so much for making it such a success!

"It is necessary to help others, not only in our prayers, but in our daily lives. If we find we cannot help others, the least we can do is to desist from harming them." -Dalai Lama

Elizabeth over at Such a Sew and Sew has come up with a great Blog Hop she is calling "Leap Day Blog Hop Giveaway" The Blog Hop will last for only one day. Elizabeth has posted a “linky" on her blog so that everyone who wishes can hop over there and enter as many giveaways as they would like. The linky is open from noon on Feb 28th and will close at 10:00 AM MST on March 1 (this will allow all time zones to participate)

So after much hemming and hawing I am making it under the wire here to post my own little Leap Day Giveaway.

I recently acquired a Go!Baby die cutter and a couple of dies..........so I am going to offer some cute Red Birds and Yellow Birds from the Go!Birds dies for you to create some wonderful applique piece with:

..........and I have also cut 3 beautiful butterflies for you:

Add to that a red FQ with White Dots from Brother Sister Designs and a sweet Mary Englebreit Cheater panel.

All you need to do is be a follower and tell me so in ONE (1) comment..... and then hop on back to Such a Sew and Sew and sign up for more goodies!

Great Great Giveaways!!

2012-02-27T18:37:00.000-07:00

"Forgiveness is the economy of the heart... forgiveness saves the expense of anger, the cost of hatred, the waste of spirits."
-Hannah More

I have nothing ready for my blog today so I am going to fill this day with some great giveaways for you and here they are!

Hilachas is giving away 5 pretty Fat Quarters to get you ready for spring plus a nifty take-along Sewing Kit ...just check it out: - ends March2

(and if you would like to make the handy sewing kit yourself, Hilachas has a tutorial for you!)

Hawthorne Threads is giving away a Stars and Stripes fat quarter bundle for their weekly giveaway.........-ends February 29

SewCalGal is having a giveaway. You could win a copy of Sonoma Rose by Jennifer Chiaverini. - ends March 2.

And another giveaway at Needles and Pins , who says:

Well, I have truly enjoyed blogging... so I am

celebrating my 100th post

with a giveaway !!!

Three followers may win...

Would you like

a quilting magazine,

some cool fabric,

a sweet set of crocheted dish cloths?

-ends March4
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Annies Ruby Slippers is having a Mystery Monday giveaway and you could win 5 fat quarters!

-ends March 3

and, of course, don't forget my first blogiversary giveaway at:
Ida's Honest to Goodness Real Blogiversary Giveaway.........you could win a fat quarter bundle of Tweet from the Fat Quarter Shop!

-ends March 1

That's all I found today..................TTFN!

Grandma's Sewing Machine and the Gift of Friendship

2012-02-24T13:02:00.001-07:00

"As I grow to understand life less and less, I learn to love it more and more." -Jules Renard
My Mother-in-law, Ruth, and I were always such good friends........so close.............that was until that ugly creature, Mr. Alzeimers, stole her from me................and even knowing that it wasn't her fault that she now despised me, it was hard not to take it personally at times.............

My sweet Mother-in-law became that again in the last year of her life....."Sweet". No longer was the mean Ruth to be found but she began to fade fast no longer able to walk, hardly able to eat.......we buried her last March.

Last week I began to think about the sewing machine she had given me together with the silver jewelry she said was mine when she was gone. The jewelry was easy to use but for some reason I was angry at the sewing machine and I cast it out into a garage sale (it didn't sell) and then banished it into the garage.

As I said, last week I began to think about the old Singer and how nice it would look up here in my sewing room............I dusted it off and got Wayne and Josh to bring it in. YES IT IS HEAVY!

I thought I had emptied the drawers out already but I found some little treasures inside:

Lots of thread, a seam guide, tons of pins, and a pin cushion. The old Singer originally belonged to her Mother, Blasta Macik, (Czechoslovokia) and I even found a spool that came from there!

Check out the original oil can and the pin cushion (it is stuffed with sawdust!)

Here it is in it's new home.

I also got this gorgeous antique sewing basket from Ruth and had been using it for awhile

She always kept it atop the sewing machine when it was hers and now it is back in it's old spot:

And all is well with the world......................

On another note...............I just received this lovely embroidered hoop from Talia in a Craft Swap. I has an open box with hearts flowing out of it......."The Gift of Friendship"..........Thank you again, Talia..........I Love, love, love it!

And lastly..........if you haven't signed up for

"Ida's Honest to Goodness REAL Blogiversary Giveaway",

please do so now.........The Fat Quarter Shop has generously agreed to send a Fat Quarter Bundle of Tweet by Timeless Treasures to some lucky follower! Just click on the link above and it will take you to the page where you can enter the giveaway.

Guess that is it for this time........ so...............TTFN!

Ida's Honest to Goodness REAL Blogiversary Giveaway!!

2012-02-23T10:25:00.003-07:00

This giveaway is now Closed but thanks for dropping in.........please come again!

"The world is full of suffering. It is also full of overcoming it." -Helen Keller

It's here! February 23rd..............One year ago today I started my blog. In that year I have met new friends, learned new sewing techniques, started and finished projects, and just plain had a great time with you guys!

So I have been telling you that even though I had the "Official Month before my Blogiversary Giveaway" that I would have a real blogiversary giveaway too, so here it is!

The Fat Quarter Shop has offered to sponsor my giveaway with this fabulous prize from their fabulous shop..........are you ready????

How about a Fat Quarter Bundle of Tweet by Timeless Treasures?? Yeah! That's what I'm talking about! I wish I could enter this giveaway too!
But since I can't I will give you the lowdown on how to enter.....you have four chances to win:

1. Yes, you have to be a follower of this blog....leave a comment and let me know you're a follower.

2. Post a link to this Giveaway in your blog and leave me the link in a comment.

3. Go check out the Fat Quarter Shop, sign up for their newsletter, come back and let me know with a comment that you did.

4. While you are at the Fat Quarter Shop look around and tell me what your favorite line is.........I am planning to make some house blocks and I think the Summer Lodge line would be perfect! It has wood panel fabric and trees, etc.......well YOU tell me what you like and leave me a comment.

That's it...........I will ask Mr. Random to pick the winner a week from today (March 1st) and announce the winner on Friday............

Good Luck everybody!
Yes....EVERYBODY....FQS ships internationally!

Thank you Fat Quarter Shop!

One Flower Wednesday

2012-02-22T13:39:00.002-07:00

"Wrinkles should merely indicate where smiles have been." - Mark Twain

I just joined One Flower Wednesday.........well you all know why...........YES, MY SISTER MADE ME DO IT...........haha.................as I mentioned to someone earlier today, if it wasn't for her I may not have ever accomplished ANYTHING!

I really haven't even decided if I really even want to make hexies but I will post one today...............I have always loved The Wizard of Oz so here is my first try:

And the second thing I wanted to mention is that my sis over at Hilachas has posted a fabulous tutorial........A little take-along sewing kit made with ziploc bags! I think it could be used for more than sewing though.........go check it out........click on the Hilachas link above and it will take you directly to the tutorial............as soon as I catch up with my Swoon and other quilting stuff I am going to make one myself!

So here it is, my day off, and it is already nearly 2:00 in the afternoon and all I have managed to do in my sewing room is take some fabric up there that I bought at the fabric shop yesterday after work.

I know this is short but I'm going to run upstairs and cut out my latest obsession: The Swoon............................

I'll check in later on you guys................................TTFN!

Of Birthdays, Blogiversaries, and Swooning............

2012-02-18T19:01:00.008-07:00

"Every tomorrow has two handles. We can take hold of it with the handle of anxiety or the handle of faith." -Henry Ward Beecher

OK this week I was obsessing on a wall hanging to give my Sis for her birthday..........I'm like that.........going along my merry way when out of nowhere a project jumps out at me and I can't think of anything else until I finish it...........This is one of the reasons that, until recently, I have been unable to have any UFO's...........I just can't stop until it's finished!

And the other thing with me is that it is hard for me to really plan a project ahead of time because it goes through so many adaptations and changes that by the time I'm done, quite often, the final project is very different from the original project born in my head..........

Alright now that you have the disclaimer so I will go on with the story.......

I found some adorable Alice in Wonderland Motif fabric awhile back intending to do something for my Sis for her birthday......Alice (or maybe more appropriately).... Lewis Carroll is one of her heroes.......Originally I think I was just going to make some Alice hexies for her but I ran across a Red Queen Project which is a take-off on one of the illustrations from the original Alice in Wonderland book.
Here is a photo of the project I found.......a beautiful pattern which you can find at Robin's Quilt Nest

The Original Illustration from A-I-W Book

In case you haven't figured it out........I'm not good at waiting once I've decided on a project so instead of ordering the pattern I thought I could probably adapt it somehow so I printed the illustration, got out my handy dandy tools and began...........

I wanted to "dress" the queen up in some "finery" so I decided to construct her, more or less, in the way we do a crazy quilt block using "Queenly" fabrics and shiny ribbons.
I had an Royal flush cheater panel that I decided to incorporate into the mix and while on a stash building hunt to Hobby Lobby found a bag full of ribbon and notions at the bottom of the remnant pile for $2.50.............it had this strip of white roses adornment which, I guess is used for Prom dresses and such..........

I was pretty sure I could paint the white roses red with some nail polish. As many Alice fans would recall.....the white roses were planted by mistake so in order not to upset the Red queen and lose their heads, the cards were painting the roses red........

Below is my version of "painting the roses red", which I can do since many people say I'm a card....(padum pum!..........OK...guess I should stick to quilting and forget the stand-up routine)

ok so anyway........here is how the final project turned out.........

I did FMQ on the center panel and here was born another triumph from a mistake: I had been doing some zig-zag before changing out the presser foot to the FMQ foot and had forgotten to change back to the regular straight stitch before doing the FMQ..........consequently the FMQ has a sort of choppy...crazy look to it which I liked for this project!

I also tried to quilt some "rabbit holes" on the side sashing and didn't do a great job but got a lot of good practice........in the end I was really pleased with how it turned out in spite of all the mistakes but more importantly.......

my Sis loved it!

Oh! Almost forgot the "Swooning" part of this blog..........I have decided to get in on the Swoon Craze...........how can you not love a block that is so huge? Sounds like a win-win situation to me..........create one block and have a mini quilt done all at the same time! So until further notice I guess the Swoon will be my next obsession.............

and also the blogiversary part.........February 23 is my First Blogiversary so stay tuned for "Ida's Honest to Goodness REAL First Blogiversary Giveaway" coming soon!

Tonight is a work night for me so guess I'd better go get ready...............hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!..................TTFN!

Traveling Stash is going to Florida!

2012-02-14T23:07:00.003-07:00

"In essence, if we want to direct our lives, we must take control of our consistent actions. It's not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives, but what we do consistently." -Tony Robbins

Ok I waited awhile before asking Mr. Random to take a spin and let me know who gets the Traveling Stash next because I wanted to make sure everyone had an opportunity to get in on the chance to win. But it has been several hours since the last person commented so all I can say now is:

Hey Robin from RsIsland Crafts..........YOU ARE THE WINNER!!! If you will send me your address I will get this treasure chest off to you tomorrow!

And.........hmmmmmmmmm, I think I may have found maybe one or two more things to sweeten the stash..........I was looking through my crazy quilt stash and I came across a pretty Cranston State Birds Print, a Marcus Brothers winter deer & cabin print, and a parrot print. (I was into birds at the time....what can I say??) so I cut a fat quarter out of each of those to send along and then Sun Bonnet Sue said she had never been to Florida and could she go too........so here is a photo of the last minute travelers:

I want to thank everybody who commented and also want to invite you all to check back here in the next few days for my

"Honest to Goodness REAL First Blogiversary Giveaway"

TTFN!

A New Toy and Itinerary of the Traveling Stash

2012-02-11T20:20:00.004-07:00

"What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals." -Zig Ziglar

I just got a new toy! I was gifted a Go!Baby cutter a couple of weeks ago and was having a time deciding which dies to get. I finally decided to not get in a hurry so I ordered only one die..... the Go!Birds, which arrived yesterday!

And look at all the little birdies that appeared soon afterward!

I am going to do a couple of projects, I think, with the birdies.....I have gathered a bunch of blues to use so I think I might incorporate Accuquilt's free pattern Night Song into this quilt, using this Accuquilt pattern for the center block, using only blue shades........

and then I found another sweet pattern to make a wall hanging...........now that I have the Go!Birds die I have to get good use of it!
The next thing that I seemed to have gotten obsessed with was learning the tracks of the Famous "Traveling Stash" I received last week. It seems that the idea was born with Nan at Pot's & Pins........here is the info, as I got it from Marianne's blog at SewRuffhaven:

Nan started the stash on January 3, 2011.

she filled a box full of fun quilty love and had a giveaway on her blog.
The rules were simple enough. ....
Take what you want...fill it back up...
host a giveaway...mail it to the winner.

The first person to receive the stash was Ariane

Ariane sent it to...

Debbie mailed it to

Shannon sent it to

Kelly

Kelly split the box it two and

Box 1 went to Anne
I'm not sure where Box 1 is

Any way Box2 went to Julia

the trail continued:

Julia --> Debra --> Lisa --> Natasha --> Susan --> Monica --> Sandi

Sandie sent it to

Sunny and then Sunny sent it to Marianne.

Whew!.....Let me catch my breath!

Ok, now here is the info I searched out and found:

Marianne sent it to Jen at The Quilty Home,

Jen set it to Mama Sparks World,

who sent it to Linda at Stray Stitches.........

Linda sent it to Barb at Cat Patches.........

Barb sent it to Miki at Miki's Fabric Creations

Miki sent it to Sharon at Vrooman's Quilts

who sent it to Barb

and Barb sent it to me!

Somewhere along the way, one of the lovely ladies above split the box once again and I received #3........so Nan's "Pay it Forward" idea has really taken off and tripled in size already!

I spent nearly two days tracking down the trail of the Stash and I wonder why I can't seem to get any quilting done????

But, nonetheless, now that I have finally satisfied my obsession with the Traveling Stash's history, let me remind you that I will be sending it off Next Wednesday to the lucky winner picked on Tuesday, Feb 14th, so if you haven't left a comment yet, please click on the link below and do so!
TTFN!

Click here to enter your comment to win the Traveling Stash!!!

A Year of Rugs and Better Late than Never to the Teddy Bear's Picnic

2012-02-10T08:49:00.005-07:00

"All, everything that I understand, I understand only because I love." -Leo Tolstoy

Here we go..........Friday again and this is the day my work week STARTS......so we will not be hearing any of that TGIF stuff from me.......(grin)

I took my little Koala Bear and her baby to Melody's Teddy Bear's Picnic at The House on the Hill ~~yesterday~~, ummmmmmmm early this morning........which was wayyyyyyyy late since Aussie time where the picnic is held is already nearly a day ahead of us and I actually didn't make it there til after midnight yesterday USA time. I tried to say I was being "fashionably late" and I'm not sure that's going to fly.......... But since my little Koala bear has lost track of Aussie time since moving to the USA, I hope Melody will forgive her this time........Here is little Koala......an old toy of my Son, Patrick.......she has her baby with her:

Anyway......Melody has the Teddy Bear's Picnic every SECOND Thursday of the month and always has some great freebies and giveaways......be sure to check it out sometime!

Ok.......next, here is my St. Patrick's Day Mug Rug that I finished for my Year of Mugs Swap........ a Paper Pieced Shamrock.... done! I used some of the green fabric I got from the Traveling Stash I was lucky enough to win last week.

I actually was able to go nearly all the way around my project without stopping my FMQ this time! There is no particular pattern to my FMQ..just random meandering but I am improving a little.........

And speaking about the Traveling Stash.........you still have a chance to sign up for a chance to have me mail it to YOU next! Look at the treasures I got to choose from:

I would love to send it to YOU next! Just click on the link above (or below) and it will take you to the page where you can leave me a comment to enter your name for a chance to dig your hands into the treasure next! Mr. Random will be picking a winner next Tuesday (Valentine's Day!) and I will mail it out to the lucky winner on Wednesday, Feb. 15th. Rules for entering are posted on the Traveling Stash page.

So I guess now I'd better go do some more sewing! TTFN!

Traveling Stash is HERE!!!!!!!

2012-02-09T00:54:00.003-07:00

This giveaway is Closed and a winner has been notified. Thanks to all who entered. Please check back for next giveaway!

"If I were given the opportunity to present a gift to the next generation, it would be the ability for each individual to learn to laugh at himself." -Charles M. Shultz

So look what arrived at my door yesterday! Thank you, Barbara from Cat Patches, who scooted it over to me like it had wings! And just look at the stash....

fabric, thread, patterns, books......truly a treasure!

I loved several things and so I TOOK THEM!

.............and replaced them with this!

Some of the fabric pieces I liked were large so I only cut off a piece of them and saved the rest for YOU, the next lucky blogger who will be picked by Mr. Random on TUESDAY, Feb ~~7th~~ (oops....sorry, that is Tuesday, February 14th), so I can send it on to you on Wednesday, the 15th. (I stayed up VERY late last night and I was a little bleary-eyed when I posted this.....)

So would you like to have a visit from the Traveling Stash?
Here are the rules:

        1. You must be an active blogger.

2. When you receive it, write a blog post on its contents, what you removed, and what you are putting in.

3. Replace per diem - if you took 4 yards of fabric, replace it with 4 yards. of quilt quality fabric.
4. Due to postage and customs - open to the United States only.

If you are ok with that, then leave me a comment...just one (1) telling me you would like to dig your hands into this fabulous treasure chest!

Ready? Set! Go!!!

............................TTFN!

Somebody pleeeeez help me!!

2012-02-03T00:28:00.002-07:00

"If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?"

-John Wooden

I have now made 6 heart blocks for the Block Lotto and I can't seem to stop! I have other things I need to do like catch up with my JustTakes2 blocks, but nooooooooooo........I keep making hearts!!! Well anyway..........my poor sewing room has suffered........just look at this............

Hurricane Ida has arrived and there is "Sunset" strewn all over! I was so disgusted with my mess that I "sort of" picked things up so I could continue with my "heart mission".........

...........and so I made three more heart blocks to add to the three I had made already.......I had mentioned yesterday that we can make any kind of heart block we wish as long as we use only sunset colors consisting of orange and pink hues and cream and gray hues......I made a couple more paper pieced blocks and a Wonky:

Oh! I got some fabulous news today!!! I signed up with Barbara at Cat Patches for the "Traveling Stash" that had just arrived there from Sharon at Vroomans Quilts. Barbara just notified me today that I am the winner! I will be getting the Traveling Stash next week and seeing what wonderful treasures it has! I will take what I want and replace it with something comparable and then send it on to the next lucky winner.......one of YOU! So don't forget to check in and see when it is ready to go out again! (Unfortunately, the Traveling Stash is open only to United States addresses due to postage and customs requirements)

Ok, back to my obsession with these heart blocks..........I have just been cleaning up again and PUTTING AWAY ALL THE SUNSET FABRICS.........tomorrow I get back to the JustTakes2 blocks.....and I mean it!

Oh....one more thing..........my daughter-in-law (Love that Girl!) sent me these adorable photos of my Grandsons "loving" their tied fleece blankets that Nana made for them and I have to share them with you:

I'm going to finish cleaning up in here and go to bed.......tomorrow is a work day (graveyard) so I'd better say Ta Ta For Now...........

Moving Right Along............

2012-02-02T01:24:00.003-07:00

"Here is the test to find whether your mission on Earth is finished: if you're alive, it isn't." -Alice Roosevelt Longworth

I have been burning the midnight oil with all my quilting projects since my giveaway last week......and by the way.........Naomi, your package is on it's way! First of all, I am done with my Name Game Swap project from Samelia's Mum's Blogsite. I promised my sister at Hilachas that I would wait til she gets back from her trip to send it to my secret swap partner so I am going to give you all a little peek at it........(I had to cover up the name in case anyone else peeks too.) I bought myself a pair of Fons&Porter grip gloves and REMEMBERED to cover the feed dogs on my sewing machine and the FMQ actually went a little better this time....

And I also finished 3 blocks to enter in the BlockLotto. This month we are supposed to do any heart block we wish as long as we use ONLY certain color tones, ie, pink, orange, gray, or cream.........colors of the sunset. I was a little sad that the color red wasn't included but there are really many shades of orange and pink that are quite nice.....and as long as the predominent color is one of the above, we can have splashes of other colors...........so anyway, here are the blocks I've made so far............

I am still having a little trouble getting back into my JustTakes2 Quilt Along. I still need to finish 3 more from January. The good thing is that the ladies from Sentimental Stitches and Dear Jane, who are the administrators of JustTakes2 must have "felt my pain" because they only gave us 2 blocks to make at the beginning of February........so now that I am caught up with my other projects it is time to dig in my heels and get back to JustTakes2!
There is a nice giveaway for two winners at Lili Pad Quilting. The winners will receive 3 charm packs and a 550 yard spool of Superior So Fine 50 wt. thread. Giveaway ends Feb. 5th so go check it out and see if you can be one of the lucky winners!
EGAD!! It is after 1:00 in the morning! Time to get my beauty rest.......good thing I am off work tomorrow.......TTFN........

And The Winner Is.............

2012-01-27T08:51:00.000-07:00

First of all I want to thank the Academy.....oh, wait, that's the Oscars........Seriously, I want to thank all my followers, old and new, for making this such a fun giveaway. And here is what Mr. Random has to say:

The winner of all the fun stuff is Naomi of Beeshebags who said:

Congratulations, Naomi, I will be contacting you for your mailing information. Thanks again to everyone and please keep dropping in..........it stands to reason that now I need to have the official, actual, blogiversary giveaway, right??? That will be next month......February 23rd..........we all have a date, right?

RIGHT!

Last Chance to Enter the One Month Before My Blogiversary Giveaway!

2012-01-26T15:49:00.000-07:00

"A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new." - Albert Einstein
I wonder if Mr. Einstein was a quilter??? LOL........

I will be talking to Mr. Random tomorrow morning as soon as I have my morning coffee to see who he has chosen to be the lucky winner of my very first giveaway so hopefully we can get a few more entries between now and then............. Here is the Link for those of you who haven't seen the giveaway:

http://mysismademe.blogspot.com/2012/01/official-month-before-my-blogiversary.html

So anyway...........I have been trying to get back into the groove of the JustTakes2 mystery quilt-a-long.

I was able to get #7 and #8 of the blocks done this week.....and not without a little trouble........which I attribute to my desire to get to work on my Name Game Swap over at Samelia's Mum.....I am still waiting for some fabric for that project but I have enough to get started on it and I can't seem to concentrate on any other projects right now so I think maybe I was just too much in a hurry........but anyway, here they are:

bLOCK 7

bLOCK8

Block8 was paper-pieced. It was more fun (and more forgiving) than Block7...there is a little dark shading which not really on the block....(I think maybe it is the shadow of my head taking the photo...haha)

I still have Blocks 8,9,10, and 11 to finish before the next group comes out the first of the month........

The good news is that I am getting more projects started and I actually have a couple of UFO's now! I feel so proud....haha......yeah I know I am somehow unclear on the concept of UFO's.......which we are supposed to want to get finished, right? ...... but for now, having a UFO is making me feel more like a "seasoned" quilter.......so I will bask in my ignorance for awhile......will talk to you tomorrow.......TTFN

The Official "Month Before my Blogiversary" Giveaway!!!

2012-01-20T19:24:00.005-07:00

Please don't comment on this post but Click on this link and comment there to enter drawing for Traveling Stash:

Giveaway is now closed......thanks to everybody for participating!

"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently." -Henry Ford

So now without further ado......I present to you, my very FIRST Giveaway!! As I explained on my last post.....whenever I have something to give someone, I JUST CAN'T WAIT!!! So instead of this being my Blogiversary Giveaway it is the (drum roll....)
"Month Before My Blogiversary" Giveaway!!!!
I am giving away the following cool items:

6 pretty Fat Quarters from ConnectingThreads by designer Mary Jo Tuttle.
They are: Criss Cross-Red, Whimsey-Multi, Watercolor Wash-Blue, Summer Blooms-Multi, Happy Stars-Cadet, and Full Blooms-Multi

A pair of Fons&Porter Machine Quilting Grip Gloves

A handy wrap-around your sewing machine pin cushion

A package of Steam a Seam2 double stick web

A copy of Fast, Flirty, and Fun Easy Quilts From Fabulous Fabrics by Sarah M. Bisel

And lastly....In plenty of time for Easter, a Bunny Wall hanging by Yours Truly.........

All you have to do to enter is:

#1 Be a follower and tell me what you would make with the fabric
#2 For a second chance to win, blog about this giveaway, then come back and leave the link to your post.

Good Luck! Mr. Random will pick the winner one week from Today!

Valentine Schmalentine.....

2012-01-15T13:26:00.001-07:00

"A true friend never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down." - Arnold H. Glasow

So I finished my Rose/Heart paper-pieced Valentine's Day Wall Hanging.....I think it could probably be used as a table topper too...I'll have to try it out on my table......I really enjoyed working on this project....I did a little free motion quilting and also tried out some of my pre-installed stitches on my sewing machine. I know, I know....it is kind of cheating but I really do like some of them....the little star flower is nice...and I used it around the frame....and I also used the tiny vine to do the quilting on the rose petals and stem..........I got this free pattern from eQuiltPatterns.com and enlarged it from 11"x10" to about 16"x17". Here it is:

I had found some lovely fabric full of bright colorful large valentines and was thinking about fussy cutting one and using it instead of the paper-pieced heart in the upper left but, in the end, I opted to do some "real quilting".........while still fussy cutting a small heart and appliqueing it at the tip of the rose....

My next Valentine's Day project was a Ruffled Valentine Mug Rug I made using another free pattern which I downloaded from FreeQuiltPatterns .

The front of the mug rug is made up of small one and a quarter inch squares of various valentine prints.........the ruffle is a pre-fab binding which went on rather smoothly.

I am also going to show you the back, which is just one piece of some darling valentine print fabric I found.......I almost like the back as well as the front even though I spent a lot more time on the front!

This is the front

And here is the back........

Is that the most adorable print you ever saw??? Reminds me of all those Valentines we used to have "way back when".......

Well ok I guess that's it but OH! before I say TTFN.........please keep checking back because I will be posting my Blogiversary Giveaway soon....I actually got the fabric I ordered for the giveaway yesterday so I just have to photograph it with the rest of the cool prizes and my giveaway will be "up and running"! My Blogiversary isn't til February 23 but I have never been one who can wait once I have a gift for someone so I'll post the giveaway as soon as I get everything photographed...sometime next week and I will announce the winner the following week.

I worked last night on the graveyard shift and my get up and go has just about got up and gone.........so I will say TTFN! Talk to you soon!

Productive Wednesday!

2012-01-11T22:35:00.001-07:00

"When you help someone up a hill, you're that much nearer the top yourself." - Anonymous

I actually made myself a "mental" list today......First I wanted to vacuum my sewing room floor since it was muddled full of pieces of fabric and thread (it is a dark blue carpet....not the best color for a sewing room but very pretty and easy to clean). Then I wanted to cover a pillow with a beautiful hooked rug my Mother made about 20 years ago. When she gave it to me originally, I displayed it on the wall but after my color decor changed I took it down and stored it. Over the years I have seen it and wished I had a place to show it off. My new sewing room has only my sewing chair so when I have company (or when I need to sit and rest) we sit on the floor and lean on throw pillows. I thought Mama's rug would make a fabulous pillow top and I was right! Just look!

I had already cut some brown fabric to use for the back when I happened to glance down at my sewing table and saw one of the fabric treasures I found at GoodWill last week............the perfect match!

After making the pillow and vacuuming the floor I needed a rest so I tried out my new pillow.......soooooooo comfy!

Next on my list was replacing the motherboard in my laptop, which I keep in my sewing room. One of the USB plugs in the back had stopped working and I had bought an extra motherboard last fall when I replaced the motherboard in an identical laptop that my sister had given me.

I also planned to finish a tied fleece blankie for my nephew's future son (this was really the reason I vacuumed.....didn't want all those little pieces of fuzz all over the blankie)

...... and finally I planned to start on my project for my Valentine Swap.

The motherboard was replaced........since I already knew the drill from replacing the earlier one it went rather quickly..........Next I finished the fleece blankie and it is ready to mail to my nephew and his wife (Baby Max is due next month)......... I just love the new fabric patterns they are making in fleece these days....so adorable! And I love the ease of these "hand crafted" throws...........did I say EASY????? What a great way to get together a fast gift...........

So now I am getting ready to start the project for my Valentine swap and I'm still awake! Oh, by the way, I even had time to go to lunch with my Sis today!............I love days like this when I get so much done.........makes the day last so much longer..........

Ok I'm still revved so I am going to go get acquainted with my sewing machine again...........TaTaForNow!!

All Aboard Please!!

2012-01-05T23:28:00.002-07:00

"Do you know the difference between education and experience? Education is when you read the fine print; experience is what you get when you don't." -Pete Seeger

Ok I am nearing my Blogiversary (February 23) so I have been gathering some items for a giveaway and today I spent most of the day working on an litte Easter Wall hanging to include in the giveaway.............BUT you all have to promise that you will look at it from a fast moving train! I'm pretty happy with all but the free motion quilting part, which is really bad.......I think maybe the areas were too small for my lack of expertise and it just kind of got away from me.........so there are double track overs and pointy looking things but if you all have boarded that fast moving train I will show it to you...............

The other little problem I had was the printout of the bunny was too big for the square so I had to recut the bunnies..........all in all it was rather fun........I found the free pattern at CraftIdeas.info.

And speaking about giveaways..........a little birdie told me that Maureen over at Maureen Cracknell Handmade is having a giveaway tomorrow so hop on over to her blog and check it out.........I know I'm going to! Guess that's it so TTFN............

Ready for Round 2!!

2012-01-04T20:36:00.000-07:00

"Many of the things you can count, don't count. Many of the things you can't count, really count." - Albert Einstein

I just finished my first group of blocks for the Just Takes2 and now waiting til the 15th when the next group will be available. I have noticed that many quilters name their projects so in the spirit of trying to become a true quilter I have named this WIP "Desert Blossom". Most of the blocks are 6 1/2" squares except for the large 12" square in the upper right.

I am not the best at following directions.....I have been sewing since I was 8 or 9 years old and sometimes since "I know what I'm doing" I skip the directions and plow ahead.........often those are the times that I become reacquainted with my seam ripper.....The good news is that the directions on these first 6 blocks were fabulous and I didn't sew one thing backwards! I confess that I didn't do the "back basting" method when I appliqued the heart block....I used some wonderful stuff called "Steam a Seam2", which is a fusible web that sticks temporarily without ironing or permanently when ironed.

Fabric Worm is giving away a fabulous Farm Bundle in their weekly giveaway....3 or 4 ways to get chances to win!

I came across an interesting Valentine Swap going on over at And Sew We Craft
Drop on over and check it out:

And now before I get to rambling too much I will just say, TTFN!

Just Takes2 Block1 and Block2 Finished!

2012-01-04T00:06:00.000-07:00

"There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when it's convenient. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses; only results." - Kenneth Blanchard

Moving right along.........I have finished Block1 and Block2 of my Just Takes2 January Blocks which are posted at Sentimental Stitches........I just didn't want to make a plain 2 color quilt so I have used a pretty Beige/Brown Floral with a tea-white background. I looked for the teal and brown I was wanting to use but couldn't find anything............then I looked in my stash and found 7 yards of the floral and decided to quit buying and use what I had! So anyway.........here they are........Tada!

Just Takes2 Block1

Just Takes2 Block2

Tomorrow is my day off so I am going to try to finish Just Takes2 Blocks 3-6 so I can be ready when the next blocks are posted on January 15 on My Jane.........................TTFN!

Ellipse Blocks for Block Lotto.......DONE!

2012-01-02T22:14:00.003-07:00

"Being defeated is often temporary, giving up makes it permanent." - Marilyn Von Savant

Ok I am off to a good start with my quilting resolutions for 2012! I just finished 4 blocks to enter in the Block Lotto so here they are!

The violet colored block didn't photograph very well.......and I confess I had to use my Corel PaintShop to bring the colors to a better representation of the actual block and it is actually pretty darn close. The violet block was my favorite combination until I saw how the fuchsia tie-dye turned out.......I used the same fabric on the arcs for all the blocks, believe it or not there are that many different colors in the fabric..........so anyway, now it is time for bed because I have to go to work tomorrow.............TTFN!

Year 2012 Projects

2012-01-02T15:22:00.000-07:00

"Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present" -Jim Rohn

Welcome 2012! This year I am planning to be more involved with my blog and YES....I will have a giveaway on my blogiversary (February 23)..........today I wanted to show you a nice homespun FQ stack I got on Ebay for my rag quilt project......

There are 25 DIFFERENT patterns and I have about 5 yards of another pattern I may use for the back if I don't decide to use just these. So now I am actually going to put the rest of my quilting plans in print so as to try to hold myself more accountable:

I have also decided to join the "It takes 2" Mystery Quilt-along at SentimentalStitches , together with Dear Jane.

The January patterns are up right now at SentimentalStitches and the next patterns will be available at Dear Jane on January 15. I think I have decided my two fabrics will be teal and brown to match my bedroom decor. Still have to buy the fabric....eeeeee!

In addition I am quilting with the Block Lotto

Our project for this month is the Eclipse block. I will post mine as soon as I am done...........

.....and, of course, remember I already said I would make a banner for each season (yes, I said "season", not month) of the year to hang on my little banner hanger from Irene.....and I still have to finish my Americana tablecloth for 4th of July....and my crazy quilt is still there....

EGAD! I'd better get started! Okay....I am really not putting the Crazy Quilt or the Americana tablecloth on my list of "do-its for 2012" because then I wouldn't have a UFO to talk about......lol..........TTFN!

Bloggers Choice Fat Quarter Bundle Competition!

2011-12-29T20:43:00.000-07:00

Ok, I hope I can do this right..........

Quokka Quilts is hosting a Blogger's Choice Fat Quarter Bundle Competition together with the Fat Quarter Shop providing the prize!

If you are the winner you will receive a Half yard each of 15 fabrics of your choice which you have picked out as your favorite palette from the Fat Quarter Shop.

I love a bohemian look and have chosen the following and posted them at Quokka Quilts

1. Bella Solids Fuchsia 9900-190

2. Bella Solids Purple 9900-21

3. Bella Solids Sienna 9900-194

4. Royal Gardens Wisteria&Gold Tiny Florals J8628-229G

5. Royal Gardens Cream&Gold Diagonal Fans J8627-33G

6. Royal Gardens Wisteria&Gold Ribbon Florals J8626-229G

7. Cactus Garden Batiks Cactus Allover Berries IB53-A3

8. Bohemian Soul Plum Lace LAE-1307

9. Bohemian Soul Terra Tribal BOH-506

10. Bohemian Soul Ocher Destiny Road BOH-607

11. Bohemian Soul Night Rhapsody BOH-603

12. Bohemian Soul Hay Endless Dream BOH-502

13. Bohemian Soul Dark Mystic BOH-600

14. Bohemian Soul Green Caravan BOH-504

15 Bespoken-Orchid Jacquard BE-7102

Let's have more champagne!

2011-12-15T13:35:00.000-07:00

I am still practicing with paper piecing so I decided to give the champagne glass another try and voila!........it is much straighter than the first! Here is my second champagne glass flag: the bubble applique was made with a fabric with little stars in it which was a little too much like the background so I used a dark blue to applique with. I used a multi-colored thread that I found at a little quilt store here in El Paso for the quilting. I really like the way that thread looks.........I am still practicing my freehand quilting and I do well for awhile then it sort of gets away from me but as "they" say.........from an airplane it looks great!
I am going to take a day off from quilting to wrap a few gifts and BTW....Irene you can have one of the Champagne glasses .....I'll trade it for the Turkey you made...LOL....take your pick!

New Year's Flag done!

2011-12-10T20:31:00.000-07:00

My sister, Irene, who you may infer from the title of my blog has always seemed to be the one who "gently" pulls me (kicking and screaming?) into doing many things....lol......last month she brought me the most darling turkey wall flag hanging on a little wire hanger and said, "now you have a hanger to put a different flag on at each season!"......I said, "Oh cool! When are you going to make me the Christmas one??", to which she rolled her eyes and informed me that from here on out it is up to me to make each flag.......here is the turkey hanging.......Those of you who follow her at Hilachas may have already seen it but I think it calls for reposting...it is so cute!

Well, anyway, I am so busy with the Christmas season that Mr. Turkey is standing in for Santa Claus this year but I found a fabulous paper-pieced pattern for a glass of champagne designed by Susan Druding at equilters.com/

I am new to paper piecing so I have been trying to practice and here is my New Year's Flag...the glass is a little crooked but I decided probably this was already the 4th or 5th glass for the drinker so he was a little tipsy? Well that's my story and I'm sticking to it.......

I've seen many bloggers talk about New Year's quilting resolutions so maybe this should be one of mine; to create new seasonals flag to hang in 2012. (Notice I'm not saying "monthly"....hahaha......

I leave you today with this inspirational quote I received today:

"Even a mistake may turn out to be the one thing necessary to a worthwhile achievement." - Henry Ford

Block Party House Block Finished!

2011-12-08T15:50:00.000-07:00

My entry for Love, Laugh, Quilt's annual Block Party is done! It is my first attempt at paper piecing......I found the pattern at Paper Panache.com and they also have a wonderful tutorial on paper piecing but I also found a fabulous tutorial at quilterscache.com and between the two I sort of got the hang of it........I only sewed a couple of pieces backwards and I learned that one should probably pull the paper out as you go instead of waiting til the end. I finally was able to get the remainder of the paper out by washing my block.

Anyway here is my block and I am also including the links to the web sites I mentioned.........happy paper piecing everyone! Oh...by the way......those are ducks flying over the house not reindeer...LOL.......

http://lovelaughquilt.blogspot.com/

http://www.paperpanache.com

http://www.quilterscache.com/StartQuiltingPages/startquiltingthree.html

Christmas Decorations, WIP's, and UFO's......

2011-12-02T17:06:00.000-07:00

So I messed up and finished one of my works in progress so it can't be a UFO anymore....LOL.... Here is the baby blanket for a friend I made using the Take5 pattern....pretty fast pattern....It is all cotton flannel except for the cotton chennile I used. The brown flannel is not really as dark as it looks in the photo....

I got my Christmas tree up, my Christmas town, and Fireplace mantel decorated and finished a couple of fleece throws tied for my Grandsons....
More of my "instant gratification" crafting....I made a 45"x45" Tow-Mater throw for my little guy who is not yet a year old:

...and a larger (heavier too) race-car motif throw for my nearly 5 year old "big boy" grandson:

I would like to mention a couple of great giveaways: Hilachas has an After Thanksgiving Giveaway with great stuff from the Fat Quarter Shop and at Linsnaweary Quilts, an opportunity to win a Go Baby Cutter....just click on the logos below:

Craziness..........

2011-11-18T10:22:00.000-07:00

"Opportunity does not knock, it presents itself when you beat down the door." - Kyle Chandler

What a beautiful day here in El Paso, Texas. I love the fall here! It is close to 70 degrees during the day and I don't think we have had a freeze yet....I am going to begin adding an inspiring quote which I receive every morning to my blog in the hopes that someone will appreciate them as I do.........
Ok, back to the craziness......... I am beginning a new project.........I have been feeling inadequate as a quilter because I had very few (if any) unfinished objects (UFO's). Am I unclear on the concept of quilting?? LOL
So anyway, I am beginning a crazy quilt and I have finished 3 blocks! Knowing me the way I do though, I have a feeling I won't be able to stop til it's done. Here are my first 3 blocks:

And as Pooh says :TTFN!

Beauty Shop Update

2011-11-13T19:35:00.000-07:00

Ok I am back home and even though I ran out of time and the tie-dye workshop was cancelled, I still was able to get the beauty shop time in with my kids.......My son's sweet wife (she is my only daughter) was ready for "the shortest my hair has ever been" haircut so we did some chopping and here are the results:

Although I have not been working in the field since I started taking x-rays, I still keep my Texas Cosmetologist License in force and thanks to my family I can still keep in practice. My youngest grandson, Chase, got his very first haircut and anyone who was ready got a trim while I was visiting.

Since getting back home I have been trying to start my crazy quilt. As in most projects, the hardest thing for me is just getting started. I did get several squares of batting cut and now I am going to cut some muslin squares for backing and hopefully I can get at least one done today.

I would also love to get some Christmas projects done this year but that remains to be seen........

For now can you check out these two goblins I ran into while visiting the kids:

More on Computers and Quilting...and a little on tie-dyeing!

2011-10-30T11:13:00.000-06:00

Ok first of all.........my computer is fixed! And not without the help of my computer genius son.......(now doesn't that sound like a Mama talking?)........After picking up the motherboard and "dropping" it in to the computer.........it was such an easy job! No soldering or much plugging in of cards or boards.......I pushed the "on" button and TADA! Nothing. Zilch. Nada...............I was so disappointed! So I texted my son, Patrick, and got a promise that he would drop by to "take a look". As soon as he took that look and clicked a couple of buttons it was up and running! Guess the on button was stuck or something or, as I believe, "he just has that magic touch because he's my son" LOL........(there goes Mama again)...........so there is a little problem with one of the memory modules and once I get that replaced it is just like a new computer! Yay!!! Here it is next to my other laptop and it is charging away like it oughta be!

Ok now to the quilting part:
I am now haunting all the second hand stores for quilting books and I found some really cool ones at Half-Price books.........two of them have CD or DVD disks so I can fire up my computer and see what my quilt pattern will look like.......(I hope, anyway.........we shall see).......One is a flannel quilting book, another has pinwheel quilts, which sounds interesting, and another is a fat quarter quilting book. I can hardly wait to start!

And last but not least..........the Tie dyeing...........Today I am still on vacation visiting my kids and we are going to tie dye some t-shirts and I am also going to play beauty shop and do some hair cutting and hi-lighting.........will post pictures next time!

Drunk:30

2011-10-22T19:55:00.000-06:00

Back again and getting ready to go to work........I work at our area's only Level One trauma center.....weekend graveyard, no less. Everything is realtively quiet most weekend nights.......just routine x-rays that keep us steadily busy until around 3:00 AM (or "Drunk:30") hits and we get the car accidents and assaults from the bars that have just closed. When we get a trauma come in, everything changes and we must drop everything and go take care of that. The level of care there is wonderful, our hospital has saved countless lives and my work crew is also wonderful......a crew of professionals when they need to be and really fit that old saying, "you don't have to be crazy to work here, but it helps!" So as I get ready to go to work just wanted to say, Here's to you, UMC......proud to be a part of all the good work you all do everyday.....24 hrs and day.....7 days a week.....365 days a year! Special thanks to Toots, KAR54, and PamCakes!
...........And while I'm here........I found out the perfect fix to Irene's little Sunbonnet Girl Mug Rug.........I didn't even have to iron it! I just cropped the photo file! LOL!!!!!

Computers and Mug Rugs and Rag quilts, Oh My!

2011-10-21T20:41:00.000-06:00

This week I decided to work on the "not so dead" computer that my sis gave me.......it is exactly like the laptop I already have except for one small difference: The power plug won't charge the battery nor will it power up from the wall. So I decided to get online and get some tips on how to replace the plug, which was only $19.95 online. After taking the computer apart with the Dell instructions and removing the motherboard from the housing.......I stumbled upon a deal on eBay which was a brand new replacement motherboard already in the housing which I merely have to drop in for $34.95!! So here I sit with computer parts left and right and I didn't have to do any of it!

So I gathered all the computer parts and set them aside and decided to quilt instead! (I will pick up the new motherboard when I visit my kids next week and install it there)

Now here is my quicky little project........and I wish I could have kept it a secret but I'm not very good with secrets, so Irene.........here is your new Sun Bonnet Girl Mug Rug......my very first mug rug! I looks a little crooked at the lower left side but maybe we can iron it???

So now I have to get ready to go to work so that's it for now........Oh Wait! I nearly forgot the Rag quilt part of this post: I picked up a pattern on rag quilting...the quilt as you go kind and I also picked up a few neat quilting books at the second hand store today. Hopefully I can start the rag quilt next week..... wish me luck!

Bless Us Oh Lord...............

2011-10-13T09:01:00.000-06:00

Finished with the banner for my Grandson! Tada! I am really pleased with the colors, which is good since I spent so much time going back and forth to the fabric store trying to decide on what to use. In the end I essentially threw up my hands and said, "What the heck......if I don't start the darn thing I will spend more time trying to decide on a plan and it will never get done"..........so here it is......I am not thrilled with my quilting expertise but, as they say........."from an airplane no one will know the difference, and anyway, only God is perfect". So without further ado......(drum roll please).....here it is!

Nana always brings "surprises" when she comes to visit but usually in the way of toys or games. My grandson will graciously accept this offering and tell me, "Nana, you're the best".........but I'm sure that will be followed by, "Do you have any more surprises???" My hope is that when he has his own home he will remember this little gift from his Nana and do like his Dad did and teach him this little prayer............

Free! Free At Last!

2011-10-12T17:02:00.000-06:00

I think even Martin Luther King would be happy because after many hours of un-doing, my Americana tablecloth backing is free at last! Amazing how much quicker I can get into trouble than out! So now I am ready to begin the quilting once again. I decided, however to pretend to be like the seasoned quilter and go to another project so I can have an official "UFO". (I feel so grown up!)
My next project is a banner for my Grandson. At age 4, he has learned the prayer at meal-times so he now recites it at all our family gatherings. I ran across a stamped linen piece at a garage sale and took it off the wooden planks it was glued to so I could quilt it for him. I think it will be a nice addition to their dining room. One of my biggest problems when deciding on a project is just that: Deciding on a project. I have pored over books and magazines to get ideas for the perfect border and bought numerous fabric pieces and I am tired so I am just going to do it. Here is my next project:

Today while enjoying the El Paso autumn, I tried to get a photo of a Monarch butterfly for you but my batteries in my camera were dead, and of course, after the batteries were charged, the butterfly was gone. I did, however, get some shots of my glorious Cosmos:

Until next time.....

Of Stipling, Meandering, Scavenger hunting, and just plain getting lost.......

2011-10-06T13:48:00.000-06:00

Well here we go...........I have put together my Americana tablecloth and begun the quilting part......The first block was done definitely NOT by the Stipling method, nor, I fear the Meandering method for neither of those allows the quilter to go back over a previous stitch. I thought maybe I would invent my own method and call it the Scavenger method because I have gone over the same places again and picked up several surprises along the way. I am posting two photos. The first shows the backing I decided to use for my tablecloth. It is the same fabric I used in the center squares. I have to argue with myself quite often because I have a tendency to want to "save" fabric so I end up with pieces of fabric with nice patterns that are sitting on the shelf. I made myself put away the white backing I had planned to use in favor of the one I used for the center squares and I love it!

When I am done with the quilting I plan to turn bind the edges with the backing.
"Oh", you may ask.........."how come the backing isn't showing on that bottom left edge?"
That's where the "Just plain getting lost" part comes in...........When I quilted the first block, my machine was still on the countertop and I did that one standing up..........it was slow and not that comfortable so I picked up the jigsaw puzzle off the table and decided to do the rest of the quilting sitting down.......it was much faster that way!! Unfortunately I didn't notice that the backing was folded underneath so all the quilting I did on the second square (yes, pretty much all of it) now has to be removed because I quilted the folded backing in with it!.........is that what "they" mean when they say "back to square 1"????????????? Anyway..........before I get my seam ripper refueled........here is a photo of the two quilted squares I did today.........

On a roll.................

2011-10-02T08:25:00.000-06:00

Ok I have to keep it going now that I decided to devote time to my blog again..........I worked last night and now home and trying to stay awake as long as I can because once I go to sleep that's all she wrote until tomorrow..........(I work graveyards on Fridays and Saturdays)............
So I've decided on the border for my patriotic tablecloth.........OK that is a really dumb name for it so from now on it is going to be named my "Americana Tablecloth"......(I already feel much better).....I still have more of Ruth's blocks so I am going to alternate them so it looks like my finished top is placed a half turn over a large square made of those blocks.....it will also give the table cloth edge a diamond shaped scallop.
Here is a photo of the blocks I've placed more or less in the position I will sew them:

I also cleared off the table in my sewing room so I can begin keeping a jigsaw puzzle to work on in an effort to help ward off Mr. Dementia and his friend, Mr. Alzeimers.......hmmmmmm I wish I could remember what I was planning to blog about...........

Feathering My Empty Nest............

2011-10-01T19:00:00.000-06:00

Ok it has been over 6 months since my last entry and since then I have completed my Sewing/Craft/Exercise....etc room! I promise I will try to be a more focused blogger from now on.
As I mentioned before, my new "playroom" once served as bedroom for two of my sons when they lived at home. First it was Patrick's room and then Josh's when Patrick moved out. This past week I finally finished putting pictures on the walls and new coverings for my storage area and actually began sewing again! Here are some photos of my Feathered Empty Nest; I may never need to step foot back into the other parts of my house anymore!

My current project is an attempt to save and utilize some 9-patch blocks I inherited from my Mother-in-law who passed away this year. I think it was a project started by her and her own Mother. The colors are somewhat patriotic-looking and halfway through piecing the blocks together I decided to stop after 9 blocks and make it into a tablecloth for myself instead. I felt this was something I would really use instead of having it put away in a closet. Some of my other quilting plans are to finally start a crazy quilt and a scrap quilt........maybe I will combine the two?? I have to confess that I wrestle with "Instant Gratification Syndrome".......for some reason I just can't seem to work on a quilt project for very long before having to see it completed........I long to be one of those quilters who complains about having several ongoing projects that are never finished.........or maybe it is just that most of my quilt projects have been done with deadlines to meet......(have it done by Christmas, etc).......I feel like I am beginning to babble now........
Anyway...........here is a photo of the resurrected 9-patch blocks from my Mother-in-law. Hers are the red and blue patchwork blocks, I added the 4 dark blue 9-patch.blocks and the middle block......I think I will add a scalloped border to complete the tablecloth......what do you think?

JUST SAY NO!!

2011-03-03T13:01:00.000-07:00

I am at the computer, having restricted myself from working on the sewing room until I finish a presentation I have due on March 19th. If you knew that I was a master procrastinator, you might ask, "Why are you starting the presentation so early when you could start it on the 18th??" And I might answer that I have a grandchild due this month and I have to keep my calendar open so that I can fly to see him at a moments notice.......This is the 4th presentation I have made to the Rio Grand Imaging Society and the 4th time I have been unable to say "No" when they ask me to present again. This is the same group who gave me a scholarship when I was a student so you see why it is hard for me to say that little word. Not only that but when the research is done and presented, I believe I'm the one who gets the most from it.....
So now I must "Just say No" to the urge to go back to the sewing room project. (I did manage to get one more day with the project though........I told myself I had to start working on the presentation yesterday...and then I told myself I had to start working on the presentation by noon today.......it is 12:48 and I am blogging instead.........)
So now all the excuses have run out and I must get to it..........but here is a photo of my first project in the yet unfinished sewing room.....shortening the curtains for the window........
Well if you'll excuse me now.......I have a date with PowerPoint..............

Of Empty Nests and Sewing Rooms.....

2011-02-25T16:45:00.000-07:00

I have 3 sons and 2 of them lived in this house while they were growing up. Patrick painted one wall in his room black and mounted a blacklight to the wall to reflect his posters. When Patrick moved out, Josh moved into the room (the wall stayed black). At some point, numerous fluorescent stars appeared on the ceiling and after the lights went out it looked glorious....almost like you were out under the real stars! I used to tease Josh and tell him when he left I was going to move my sewing machine into the room and it would become my sewing/crafting getaway. He moved out 3 years ago and I went into his room and cried.......
Well now after using the room as a catch-all junk room for 3 years I have finally begun the transformation.........the black wall has become history, as have the glittering stars.........Ida's sewing/craft getaway is nearly finished...and the bookshelf on my last post is a new addition to the room. I spoke to Josh today and told him the black wall was gone and he said, "you mean my skate park sign is gone?" He also told me excitedly that he had been wanting to buy a basketball goal and lo and behold on his way home yesterday he saw one on the side of the road that someone had apparently lost out of the back of their vehicle.......He pondered on whether to drive on or turn around at the next exit.......He finally decided to check it out and found that it needs a little repair but nothing major.........I told you the "dumpster diving" was hereditary......

Dumpster Diving and other Confessions.......

2011-02-23T20:19:00.000-07:00

First the disclaimer: I think it's genetic and I got it from my Dad......and second, I'm trying to quit............
But anyway.......I was at the dumpster awhile back and someone had thrown away these perfectly good pieces of laminated oak 5/8 inch particle board that used to be a large component cabinet.......and although I knew I shouldn't because my garage was FINALLY clean....I dragged them home thinking I could use them to make some nice work table tops in my craft room. Well they cluttered my garage for about 6 months......Oh yeah, the other confessions.......I went for a ride with my Dad one day and we came home with a "treasure" of 12 dead cow skulls! As we unloaded them at his house he turned and said, "Don't tell your Mother".......Daddy made acrylic horns for the skulls and painted Indian and Western scenes and brought them out one by one as he finished with them.....what incredible artwork he created!
......but I digress.........here is what I finally made out of my dumpster find......it's all ready to load up with my Craft magazines and quilting books!

I also want to mention a wonderful quilting giveaway from Jaybird Quilts:
The Fabric Quarter is going to give you this yummy bundle!!
It's a half yard bundle of Magnolia Lane from Michael Miller with a few companion fabrics... totaling 7 half yards of fabric! Click on the link below:

http://giveaways.jaybirdquilts.com/

We Begin.........

2011-02-23T06:24:00.000-07:00

Well as you may infer from my title........I am starting this blog because my sister made me do it.......She and I have been quilting for many years, having been taught by our Mother and Grandmother. I belong to the IGQA ("instant gratification" quilters association), of which I must be President........most of the quilts I have made have been finished rapidly because I have been on a deadline to get them finished. I can't boast a long list of accomplishments like my Sis but I have made a quilt for each of my Sons and several baby quilts as gifts. For now I only have a photo of the most recent quilt I made as a Christmas gift for my youngest son this year so I shall post it and look for more "evidence" that I can be labeled a "Quilter".........

The Gray Kitties in the center block represent our Tinkerbell and the Gold Kitties are our Lucy, who is no longer with us....