Some progress

Well, I did get a LOT done on my day off. Laundry galore, house cleaned, kitchen coop cleaned out, etc. I did squeeze in some fun. I got more circles cut out for the jeans quilt:



I got the rest of the handles made for my Delfina's Basket quilt:



I got the hanging sleeve on my Trees of Life wallhanging and got it hung up. I do have to get wire to hang the rod instead of the ribbon:





I even canned some pasta fagioli:



I got everything ready for the "Ugly Fabric Challenge" over at Marie Bostwick's web page (see link on right side for her site). This is going to be such fun. Can't wait to see what these 19 ladies are going to make out of the ugly fabric I send them!! Oh, btw...Marie's next book is out at the end of May!!! I am so excited..pre-order it!!

I have so much more to share with you. Quiltmaker's 100 block magazine is coming out and I can't wait!! I had such fun testing the patterns for the blocks. And Quiltmaker sent such wonderful things to me for doing it! I will share pics of that and the blocks I made for them soon. They are already getting ready to put the NEXT edition out and I am testing patterns for them again. yay!!!

Well, I have chatted on long enough. I am really getting on top of things over here and I LOVE it. Hopefully will have lots to show you soon!!

A day off

So, what to do, what to do??? I could do absolutely nothing and use this quiet time on my own to read, watch some chick flicks, turn the tube on and watch court tv (yes, I am a sucker for Judge Joe Brown and all those like him). I could fill up the tub and take a looooooong bubble bath with some hot cocoa, candles and a good book. Or, I could clean like crazy and get stuff done that so needs to get done. I could clean out cupboards, dust baseboards, etc. The weather is awful, so no planting outside, so that lets that out. Or, I could hibernate and just sew. Or I could do a little of both. Or I could write some way long overdue letters..or make phonecalls. Sigh..I HATE days off!! No matter what I choose, I will feel like I chose the wrong thing.
Well, while I decide how to spend this day, I am off for a date with Judge Joe Brown. Update in a bit!!

Happy Easter!!

Easter is a very emotional day for me. When I think about what God did to save me and my sins, it is heartwrenching. I hope you stop today and think about it.

Let's start with this today:



This is a Lover's Knot quilt. The blocks were made by members of the Cobbled Court Quilt Circle from all over the US and Canada. We made them for the husband of one of the member's husbands. They are going through a difficult time right now, so we made a quilt for each of them. We made Friendship star blocks for Patrice's quilt and these Lover's Knots blocks for Joe. Beth put Patrice's quilt together and I had the honor of putting Joe's together. I hope they know prayers and love went into every stitch of this quilt!

We went down to Kentucky this past week to visit my dad. I made a bunch of dishrags on the trip but these are all I have left (gave the others away down there):



I also got 13 basket handles done for my Delfina's Basket quilt:



I need a total of 20, but I only had 13 ready to go.

I wanted to sew today, but so far I have been just puttering in the sewing room. More organizing, cut up a handful of scraps from those overflowing bags of them, etc. Not really sure what I will work on today. So far I am just enjoying this part.

Btw..we had a GREAT time in Kentucky visiting my dad. Just wish it wasn't such a short visit and so far away!!

Some savings

These were my purchases this morning. Cost: $24.12 Savings: $96.75 Not bad for a mornings work!!!

Another update

Yay! I got all the pieces stitched on now:



Here is a closer shot:



Ugh..I hate when they turn sideways and I don't know how to fix them!

I am still deciding on whether or not to add a border or not, but right now I am leaning towards not so I can call this top done! LOL

Not sure if I am going to have time to do anymore today, anywho. Still too many projects calling my name!!!






Well, I got a later start than I would have liked due to nasty things such as housework, but at least I got started! I have the pieces all fused on now:




This pattern is from a book called Quilt and Sew Fanciful Folk Art by Miriam Gourley. Hers was borderless, but I am thinking of adding a black and red 4 patch border. Not sure yet, though. Now I am off to machine stitch these pieces down!




Yeah! Today is the Christmas Quiltalong!! You can click on the link on the right sidebar if you would like to join us. I am making a Partridge in a Pear Tree wallhanging this time. At least I will get it started. I have a quilt with a deadline to work on, and a few other projects that I need to get finished. Also, the weather is just perfect for me to be out there in the garden getting my cold weather vegies planted. Sigh...Why couldn't it be rainy today so I could just sew????

More updates in a bit!!

A find and a new project

While I was busy doing nothing in my sewing room the other night, I found a bunch of half square triangles that I had made awhile ago.



I think I had made them to make a second Trees of Life wallhanging. I had grand visions then of keeping one and giving one away, but I should have known better. I don't do seconds. As much as I love a pattern, I rarely ever make one twice. There are too many quilts out there that I want to make to make the same one twice! lol

I counted up the hst's and had the perfect amount to make another Edyta Sitar pattern, Delfina's basket.



I LOVE this pattern and since I already had the most time consuming part done..making the hst's..I was ready to roll!! I cut the rest of the fabric needed that night and am now making the basket handles. Once those are done, it will be quick work to put this quilt top together.

Yes, I do have guilt over starting something new when I have tops waiting to be quilted, but hey...I could say that it was already started since the hst's were done! lol

Joe got his cast on yesterday and is well on the road to recovery there. Today, though, the poor kid had his wisdom teeth out and is in more pain from this than he was from the broken ankle and surgery!! At least now he is done and God willing..it will be smooth sailing for a loooooong time for him!!

Btw..a big thank you to Kim and Dawn for passing along old jeans, assorted clothes to be used for fabric and a big bag of fabric odds and ends!! Your contributions are going to keep some people at the shelter warm and hopefully they will feel loved when they snuggle up in a quilt that you helped provide them!! Thanks, ladies!!

Fabric pervert no more!!

Finally have made it up into my sewing room..YAY!! My mind is still going in 300 different directions, so I am having a hard time choosing what to work on. So, I sat and looked at my fabric. Then I got up and straightened my fabric. Then I started feeling and fondling my fabric. Then I quickly looked around and made sure no one was watching me and reporting me to the police for being a fabric pervert!! LOL
So, I decided to work on a few odds and ends. I decided to make some blocks I have been eyeing up. Nice, big, simple yet gorgeous blocks. Here are the 2 I have made so far:




I have a bunch of the tiny 9 patches made and I have more jeans ready to add to that quilt, so I think I will probably work on one of those projects next, but ya never know.

I did cut a bunch of scraps up, but I didn't take pics, so you will just have to trust me on that! lol

Oh, and lookie here:
Start with this:



and end up with this:



Your own homemade laundry detergent! It smells wooonderfully and cleans so well!! I have a front loading HE washer and this is a low suds recipe that works just great. Here is the recipe:

3 cups Borax
3 cups Arm and Hammer WASHING soda (not baking soda!!)
3 bars grated Fels Naptha soap

That's it! How easy can you get! Saves money, works great!!

Did you miss me??

Wow..look how long it has been since I posted last! No time for sewing these past few weeks. I was too busy with work and taking care of Joe and his broken ankle. He ended up having surgery on it (plate and a half dozen screws) and is now on the mend. He gets his hard cast on Wednesday..and then his wisdom teeth out on Thursday! Well, at least it will keep him out of trouble! lol

I did finally get a little time in the sewing room and finished up my Kitchen Sink quilt top. It measures in at 58 x 63 1/2. This pattern is from Kim Brackett's Scrap-Basket Surprises. I really love this pattern, but I goofed up in some of my color choices and used lights that ended up being too dark, so the pattern gets lost. Sigh..that's okay...I still like it!! I added an extra border as hers measured in at 53 x 58 3/4. I don't get quilts that size. Don't get me wrong, I love her patterns, but the sizes for the quilts are all small. Not big enough to snuggle under, yet not little enough to use as table toppers. What are quilts that size used for?? I just don't get these small quilts. What do you guys think? Oh, here is a pic:



I have LOTS of plans on getting old projects done and new ones started so will hopefully have more to share soon. Will be tough though, the nice weather is here and I need to be planting. We will see what wins out!!