Scriptures Table Cover Update

Love what you have. Need what you want. Accept what you receive. Give what you can. Always remember, what goes around, comes around...

— Unknown

Ok I am on a roll here with the official "Rose of Sharon-Ways to Love & Beatitudes Scripture Table Cover"..........whoa, that's a mouthful so I think I'm good with just calling it the "Beatitudes Table Cover"..........

The flimsy with the nine blocks was not quite large enough to hang over like I wanted so I added some coordinating red fabric along the border......I had made a similar design when I made the Americana Tablecover and I liked the way it looked so I did it for this one too.........

I forgot to mention on my last post that the flower in the center block is "The Rose of Sharon" and the 4 scriptures surrounding it are some of the "Ten Ways to Love" scriptures......

 
And here are some closeups of the 8 Blocks embroidered with the 8 Beatitudes............. Did I mention how much I love my Embroidery machine????

Oh my gosh......it's late and I'd better go to bed........maybe tomorrow I will be able to start quilting the sandwich!  Good night and Ta-Ta for now...............



 

Back in the Tablecover business!

Friends are helpful not only because they will listen to us, but because they will laugh at us; Through them we learn a little objectivity, a little modesty, a little courtesy; We learn the rules of life and become better players of the game.

— Will Durant

When my little Sister visited a couple of weeks ago she loved my 4Seasons tablecloth and reminded me that HER table was the exact same size and SHE would love to have something like that for her table............well I suddenly became obsessed with making her "Belated Birthday-Early Christmas Present"...............I have been enjoying my embroidery machine so much and I never seem to tire from making new projects with it................here is the flimsy for what I am calling "The Beatitudes Table Cover"............

 When I started out with the first block I really didn't know what I was going to do but I wanted to include some scripture for her so I used some of the "Love Scriptures" I had also used on the 4-Seasons cover but I used my Embroidery software to "split" the pattern and leave just the written scripture without the additional embellishments.........Unfortunately on the one you see on the upper right corner of the center block (photo below), I forgot to center the pattern in my resulting file after I split it, so it isn't didn't center to the hoop correctly.......was I going to pull it all out and risk tearing my block????? NOT! ......so the little mistake becomes part of the "character" included with all the love I am putting into this project......lol.........

 Unfortunately, I didn't stop there at including "character" into this project......After I decided that the 8 Beatitudes would be perfect for the other 8 blocks, I began by cutting out 13x13 inch squares for each block.  I gave myself a half-inch leeway so the squares would be 12.5 square after the embroidery was done.  I wanted the scriptures to be able to be read no matter where one was sitting at the table so I turned each corner block when I embroidered the pattern....ummmm...well I turned the first two corners and forgot and embroidered the last two straight...........that meant I had to re-cut those blocks, which wasn't a huge problem since I decided to add the red half square triangles to the corners........ except that now the "mistake blocks" became bias-blocks and they stretched some and created some puckering when I connected them.  I am hoping the quilting process will correct it............

I still haven't decided on what I will use for the drop.....I am one of those sewing by the seat of my pants sort of girl and I don't often know how my projects will end up until I see them so we shall see what this project turns into.......til then I will say Ta-Ta for now......talk to you later..............

I'm Still Here!

Occasionally in life there are those moments of unutterable fulfillment which cannot be completely explained by those symbols called words. Their meanings can only be articulated by the inaudible language of the heart.

— Martin Luther King, Jr.

 I'm still here and still plugging away at a few projects.........just spent a few days visiting with family for 4th of July in New Mexico.....what fun!  Also got a good dose of  "Nana time" so I am rejuvenated!

While I was away I got some wonderful mail.......my swap partner, Kat, sent me this fabulous mug rug...........

 

 I had admired one of Kat's mug rugs, in which she had included some hexie flowers, and she remembered! Look at the clever fussy cutting she did with the matching fabric on the center.  And I borrowed a photo from Kat's blog which shows more clearly her embroidery of the ladybug and her hand quilting.......

 Kat also sent me some goodies.....a jar of Adirondack maple syrup, a sweet ladybug notepad and some lucky shells......

 Thank you, my friend.....I love it all! Since this is my One Flower Wednesday offering, as well, I don't want to forget to remind you to check out the other flowers in Karen's garden this week......just click HERE

I also managed to come home from my visit with something from my Mom.....this gorgeous copper pitcher which she had put outside "to clean up"...........ummm....I sort of asked for it (probably with this little sad face that only children can get away with) and she gave it to me......I wish now that I had taken a "before" photo......

this is after the first cleaning I gave it.  I also pulled out the stand,which had been crushed up under the bottom of the pitcher.......it still has a way to go but it is already gorgeous, don't you think?




There is a little second hand shop that my sister and I like to go to when we are visiting Mom and Dad in New Mexico......they usually have some nice quilting fabrics that we like to snatch up......unfortunately I didn't get a chance to go there this time.......but fortunately, my sis did and I managed to finagle my way to getting this piece to blue gingham from her.....

Does anybody else but me see Dorothy Gale of the Wizard of Oz here???  I thought this would make a wonderful border for my Oz Wall hanging.......of course that means I actually have to get back to working on it......but maybe this fabric will help.......

we shall see.......Ta-Ta for now.................

More Love for PNG

"Stop searching the world for treasure, the real treasure is in yourself."    ---Pablo

Here is the last of the gifts I have made for the babies in Papua, New Guinea................I had planned to try to do something with some American Indian Petroglyph motif flannel that I have but my idea was just going to take too long and I wanted to be able to get these warm quilts mailed to Gina in Victoria by tomorrow...............so, instead of the flannel quilt I quickly tied up this fleece throw which is nice and snuggly and will keep some little soul warm and happy.........and I kind of like sending all these hearts full of love..........

 Notice the top far left orange heart...........that is my label........

 and the other two quilts are labeled and ready...........

 Rolled up in the box or folded flat in the box...............lets get going!

Gina, these will be on their way to you down under tomorrow so that you can send them on to PNG for me!  

I Got Another B-I-N-G-O !

"Happiness is not a state to arrive at, but a manner of traveling." --Margaret Lee Runbeck


Little did I know that it would take such a little thing as a tiny little cold baby to get me back to my sewing room................
and here it is.........another BINGO quilt for some sweet baby in Papua, New Guinea........

This BINGO card started out as a rectangle so after surrounding it with a green button border I added a strip of the striped fabric to each of the long sides to square it up and added one more border of whimsical zoo animal print before surrounding the whole thing with the rail fence blocks

.....I used some of the red fabric I had used in the rail fence blocks for the backing.  This quilt has a little thicker batting inside but still isn't too heavy, I think. I quilted in the ditch on each border then diagonally across the rail fence blocks......

Now back to the sewing room to see what I can come up with for the American Indian Petroglyph flannel fabric......Ta-Ta for now.............



 

Got my Sewing Mojo back with a Charity Quilt.......BINGO!

“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.”  ― Dalai Lama

I have been wanting to make some charity baby quilts for quite some time now..............my first thought was to donate some quilts to the Children's Hospital next to where I work and I also thought about donating to Project Linus.......and although both ideas are worthwhile I seemed to be dragging my feet when it came to actually doing it.................

Well yesterday I saw a post on my friend Melody's Blog (click on the link to read about it)  and my heart was so moved that I knew I had to do something.  The quilt drive is for babies in Papua, New Guinea, whose families have been displaced and moved to the high mountains where it is so cold that many babies are dying from the cold.

I not only wanted to do something but do it FAST.......I looked through my stash trying to find something bright and "baby-like" and browsed the internet for a quick pattern.......What I found in my stash was a BINGO card that I had made for a "May for Me" celebration a couple of years ago.......I had stashed it away thinking there must be something I could do with it.........I still had many of the same fabrics I had used to make it......and in one afternoon the bingo card went from this................................

To This!

 

I used matching fabric I still had in my stash for the back and then just quilted in the ditch on all the borders.....and made a "cheater binding" with the backing....

By the time I had added the five borders to the BINGO card it grew to be about 36" x 36"...........perfect for a newborn and still big enough to keep the baby warm for a year!  

Can we hear a big "B-I-N-G-O!"???

I am going to look some more.....I found some flannel which I think will also make a warm quilt and hopefully I can send them off next week................here is the link again in case any of you are interested in sending charity quilts to the babies in PNG......

Click HERE

Oh......and I did manage to make one more little project this week when I wasn't busy watching the squirrels and the birds and the flowers and the turtle.................

This little mug rug is a belated birthday gift.....since I missed the birthday I thought it might be appropriate.....(still loving my embroidery machine.....this one used an applique pattern...)

Tonight I go back to work for two graveyard shifts then off work on Monday because I have Jury Duty..............so I'm off to the shower and will talk to you all next time............Ta-Ta for now...................

 

The reason I can't get any sewing done......

Magic exists. Who can doubt it, when there are rainbows and wildflowers, the music of the wind and the silence of the stars? Anyone who has loved has been touched by magic. It is such a simple and such an extraordinary part of the lives we live.-----Nora Roberts

 I can't seem to get myself upstairs to my sewing room when I have all this beautiful scenery out my back door!

 

This little visitor was at my back door this morning...He stayed in this position long enough to let me get a photo......

....

then went scurrying up the Mulberry Tree and then over the wall.......

.................

so then I came to the computer and looked out the window and should be outside but our turtle, Donny.......

 

I did take a nap earlier so maybe after the sun goes down and it gets dark and I have no more beautiful outdoor distractions I can go upstairs and sew???

 

 

A Swap Block Done.....

Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.       -----Judy Garland


I decided it was better to keep on blogging even if I only had one thing to show you today..............here is the block I am sending to Sandi, my BSA partner for June.............

 Sandi said she had no block preference but she loved oranges and harvest colors because she likes Halloween and Autumn so I found some pumpkin fabric and also some pieces from a Sweetgrass Prairie Line layer cake in my stash then added Mr. Scarecrow from my ME pattern library and....Voila!
I hope she will like it and I also hope she doesn't see my blog post before she gets it! LOL.................

Did anyone notice the author of the quote above.....Judy Garland???  I think she is reminding me that I am way behind on the Oz Hanging.......

Hope everyone is having a wonderful week............Ta-Ta for now.......

 

I'm back!

“when things break, it's not the actual breaking that prevents them from getting back together again. it's because a little piece gets lost -- the two remaining ends couldn't fit together even if they wanted to. the whole shape has changed   ― David Levithan

Well ok......as my Sister noticed....it has been over a month since I posted to my blog.......and I do, actually,  have a couple of things to show you....

First I want you to see the gorgeous block I received from my BSA swap partner, Marina, from the Netherlands.....

 
Marina handstitched the paper piecing on this "Wild Zinnia" block!  You can't see it as well in the photo but the print fabric is a beautiful dark navy blue with gold accents......I know I will find something fantastic to make with it......Thank you, Marina, I love it!

Marina had asked for a block in batik fabric and this is what I sent her.........
 

.......I have been trying to get the feeling of darks and lights (or at least trying to use two colors)  when I do the log cabin block and......as you can see, I am still madly in love with my embroidery machine......lol.............

I also worked on the mug rug for my swap partner, Kat, which isn't even due to be mailed until next month but what the heck.....I got an idea in my head and then couldn't stop...........unfortunately, because Kat has been one of my followers who has been checking to see if I have posted I can't post more than a sneak peek.....so here you go, Kat............you will see the rest of this next month.....lol....

 I have cut out the blocks from the Grinch panel I bought to make a couple of little Christmas lap quilts for my Grandsons but other than that.....I haven't done as much sewing as I have sitting out in the back yard watering my tomatoes and cucumbers and watching  the birds and my son's turtle...............

Oz keeps calling me so I think I will soon get back to the Oz hexagons...........don't give up on me yet!  I will talk to you next time..........Ta-Ta for now.............

More Tortilla Cozies and some Lovely Packages!

To solve the human equation, we need to add love, subtract hate, multiply good, and divide between truth and error.           -Janet Coleman

I have made a couple more tortilla cozies and decided I would stick to just one size...................Again,I used some machine embroidery patterns.........

Here are the fronts.....

and the backs...............

I also got some wonderful mail this week.............here are two blocks I received from my BSA swap partner, Susan.....The top block is called Scrap Bagger and the bottom one is Goose Creek.  Thank you, Susan!

 I also got a lovely package from my other swap partner, Mary.......in this swap we have a group of wonderful ladies who swap a mug rug every two months.....Mary and I decided we each wanted a patriotic theme this time............here is what I found in Mary's surprise package..............

 In addition to the lovely mug rug I got a koozie, a sewing gauge and this beautiful crocheted pot holder....thank you Mary....I love it all!

Below is the mug rug I sent Mary...............

 That's all for now.......I go back to work tonight so I am going to try to take a short nap so Ta-Ta for now!  See you next time!

How to make a Tortilla Cozy with a Rooster.........

  
Dreams are renewable. No matter what our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us and new beauty waiting to be born.             ----Dale E. Turner




Here was the problem:   The Tortilla Cozy tutorial  said to use a 10 inch plate to cut the circles for my pattern and, well...............here are the shapes of the plates in my kitchen:

 .....so on to Plan B:  While searching the kitchen I spied the bowl I keep my fruit in and.......Voila!.....a 10 inch circle!

I had decided that I was going to make several Tortilla Cozies as Christmas gifts this year and I also thought I would make two sizes;  one for regular size tortillas and one for the smaller taco size tortillas.................enter Rooster #2!  

 This plate is the perfect size for the smaller cozy! 

I cut 2 outsides and two insides for each cozy (I used a pre-quilted fabric for the inside).... I had thought the pre-quilted would be enough padding but discovered it wasn't so I added a layer of polyester batting in between. 


And so here you have it----- Tada!  A tortilla cozy made with a rooster!

I used two different methods for putting them together after I had sandwiched the fronts and backs with the batting:
 
 On the smaller one I sewed the front to the back all in one step with the binding and on the bigger one I sewed the binding to the front and the back separately and then sewed them to each other.  I think I like the second method better even though it uses twice as much binding.....

 


The yard continues to compete with my sewing room for my time................Here is what I worked on this morning before I went to the sewing room. 

 This little water feature is in the corner of my little side patio..........St. Francis is made of clay and over the years he had begun to shrink because the water has broken down the clay so I had to stand him up on a pedestal of sorts so he would be taller...........then I decided to add some new river rock and clean it up a bit.............all the little frogs and turtles and squirrels seem to like the new arrangement......and so do I!

Ok...........back to the sewing room......Ta-Ta for now...............