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I'm not doing very much right now, so I don't have a finished project that I want to post.  ( I knitted something that I'm not ready to reveal right now).   In fact, I'm going to disable the comments for now, since this is just to document my life/days.  I'm in a quilting slump, I guess.  I'm not depressed, I just don't have the desire to make anything in particular right now.  It's a good time for Jennifer to finish her quilt-top and get it to me to quilt, so I am nudging her along here.   I would like to have something to pick up everyday, with all my decisions already made of what I'm going to do on it. 

It was cool here again today, and since we're already well past Blackberry Winter, I've dubbed it a new phenomenae.......Blueberry Winter.   At this rate, I've told the hubby that we'll be observing Watermelon Winter sometime around the Fourth of July !

Praying for safety

Tornadoes are popping up all over the midwest right now, and I've just heard the name of my little town in Oklahoma, over and over.  Please take these warnings seriously,out there,  friends and family, and take cover and PRAY.

I love you all and hope to talk to you soon !

A little piecing, a little knitting........

I cut into my little pile of pink fabrics that I bought in February.  I didn't want anything complicated......that seems to be a running theme in my life right now..hmmmmmmm......ANYWAY, there have been lots of half-square triangle quilts that have caught my eye in the last couple of years, so I just cut lots of triangles and a few squares to break up the piecing a bit.
Here's the resulting baby-quilt top.  I don't have a recipient in mind for it yet.

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And I just, in the last hour, actually, finished knitting my first cardigan sweater !   It's a little one, sized for a 2-year-old, but it still teaches me the same principles that I would use on any size of regular knitted cardigan.  I am so excited........like when I finished my first pair of mittens a few years ago.  They were the first thing that I ever knitted that took shape right before my eyes as I knitted, and it was like magic to me !

This sweater had to be seamed up the side and sleeve seams, and I wouldn't want to enter it into any competition, but I'm satisfied with it as a first effort, especially for having so many color changes (I just used leftovers that I had in worsted weight Red Heart acrylic yarn).   I had to pick up stitches to knit the sleeves and the neck and front bands.  This was a good refresher course for my knitting.

When I started it, I just had in mind to make a sweater to have here at my house for when Allyssia comes over and isn't dressed warmly enough to take a walk with us.  I think that it will work fine for that and it encourages me to try bigger sweater projects.

Blogger's mistake !

Things got put in the wrong order yesterday when blogger removed some posts and added  them back.

I shared my finished leaf quilt, but it's not showing up as my latest post on people's sidebars, so if you'd like to see it, please click on my other post.

Here's a peek........

Blogger's Quilt Festival

My quilt festival entry is this quilt that I had finished during my hiatus !

Remember this one?  The leaf blocks that I had stored away for YEARS, and finally broke out and pieced together with center blue scrappy squares is now a finished quilt.
I  machine-quilted it.

I started out with the intention of closely stippling behind the leaves, quilting veins into the leaves, and then doing a large allover water-swirly design in the center blue squares.

But after doing a bit of backgrounding, I realized that the quilting would be heavier on the edges of the quilt than in the center, so I decided to just do the close stipple/meander over the entire quilt.

It turned into a bit stiffer quilt than I intended, but since it is really a good visual quilt for hanging on a wall, that's not a problem.

I pieced the back from bigger pieces of leftover blue prints, and added in a free-pieced tree block that was made at the same time as the leaves.  That makes the quilt a horizontal quilt from the backside.  But I put the sleeve on vertically for the quilt to hang widthwise over my couch.

I hope you enjoyed seeing this one finished............I really like it !
You can see more beauties from links at Bloggers' Quilt Festival, 2011..

Happy Mother's Day........a bit late !

I'm back online for a bit.......had it turned back on today, so here I am at the computer again after not touching it for so long.

I have pictures of the pink baby quilt to share.  I finished it about two weeks ago, and sent it on to Michigan.  The mommy-to-be was very pleased with it.

I warned you that it was going to be simple. 
They wanted the quilting to be the focal point.

In this picture, you can see how it's size relates to the top of a queen-sized mattress.  It finished around  40 inches x 42 inches.

Here you can see the quilting designs a little better...........and the darker pink flannel print that I used for the backing.

This is really all that I accomplished except for finishing the pillows for my couch.  I almost hate to share them since you saw SO MANY pictures of the zigzag quilt before I took my hiatus.
But here's a quick shot besides the one in my header.

I did have a wonderful week-long visit from my daughter, son-in-law, and three grandkids during the month of March.  It was way fun, and I can hardly wait until we do it again.  Seth even called me today by special request, just as I was heading out the door to church !  He yelled, "NANA !"

Isn't that precious ?

Praise the LORD !

Hello, my friends......

......and Happy LATE birthday to Terri and Mary !

I won't be here to read any replies, but I just wanted to say hi while I'm here at the library. 

Last week, Kelley, Tim, and the three grandkids came and stayed with us for the entire week. 
Personally, I had a blast.  It was a really good visit, and I think that we all enjoyed it. 

I'm back to working on hand-quilting the pink strip baby quilt;  it's slow-going, but it's coming along, and will be finished eventually. 

Our weather is bordering on hot, and the babies left me with my first spring snotties, but I surely am glad that Spring is here.

Everyone be well and blessed........I really do want that for you !   And I'll stop in again when the mood and the timing fit. 

Love you all !

By the way, I REALLY don't like not having my blog fix every day, and I'm much LESS productive, since I have no pressure to produce photos ! 
I told hubby that we'll have to switch up someday and he'll give up his cable while I get MY internet .  HA !

Taking a hiatus.......

I've dropped internet service for awhile, so I wanted to let you all know that I haven't just disappeared.

I'm around, and hopefully will be a little more productive. 

I will only be checking emails VERY infrequently, so I am requesting that friends and family CALL me if they need to communicate.  OR......a very nice long letter would be fun.....do we still remember how to do that?  I know that Kelley does.  Now if only we can learn to start getting photos actually developed or printed too !  Wow, what a concept.

Anyway, be well and productive, and prosperous, and most of all, BLESSED.

Love you,  

I'm on a pink kick !

I don't know,..........I guess it's because I've been asked to make something simply beautiful and quietly tasteful............AND THAT AIN'T ME !

Ha !

Simple-minded, I might have been accused of once or twice, but quiet, NEVER !

But I CAN DO THIS .

These are what I have in mind for it.........the flannel back is a stronger pink than I expected.  But the light pink for the top is exactly what I had in mind.
.
Still, my quilt-nerve is going through a period of rejection, and I just had to have these today.  They're not quite as strong in color as this photo indicates.  (As I post my own photos, I'm starting to understand why I'm having so much trouble buying online.)

But, of course, that's been such a big part of it, too, ...... I received an online order and the colors of some of the fabrics were SO DIFFERENT from what I thought I was buying, that when I got the chance to see some beautiful fabric today, in just the shades that I was hungry for, I had to OWN THEM.

 But I was very good !  I only spent the money that I earned appliqueing that little dino block, although I have to admit that I was OVERPAID. 

Here are a few other fabrics that I've bought lately.  I've been on a grey kick too, but this grey has a strong hint of taupe running through it's blood.  It doesn't fit with other fabrics that I had intended to pair it with, but that's actually a good thing.  It goes beautifully with the "Swanky" turnover triangles that my daughter bought me for Christmas, so I'll probably whip up something small out of all of that just to have something 'purty to pet'.  It's a great neutral, background-type print, don't you think.  And I adore the blue in the middle. 

Now, this fabric, I cannot stand........I don't know what to do with it.  It's a one yard piece........I didn't realize at the time that I got it that Fabric.com has free returns.  This time I know, and will be returning these pinks

Not a good representation of their color.....once again !

 that I don't like.

Good morning, bloggy friends

What a wonderful morning !  So full of possibilities, and so very blessed by God !  Are you feeling well, did you rest safe and warm?  Count your blessings this morning.......you'll feel better !

Yesterday, my landlady and landlord came and worked on our plumbing/drain problems......in fact they spent about 3 hours or MORE here doing just that..........and got everything running smoothly again.  And they wouldn't accept any payment, God bless them ! 

When they left, I set up the basting frame in the driveway to baste my little blue leaf quilt.  Suddenly I noticed that the sky was all grey and the wind had that feel to it...........uh, oh !

I had no idea that rain was in the forecast !  But hubbykins kept me company, sitting on the picnic table with Piper while I worked, and blessedly, the rain never came ! 

I'm all basted and nearly ready for quilting.  I'd like to try to find some blue thread or something dark and neutral to quilt with.  I'm not sure what I'm going to do.....meander?  Straight, semi-straight-line?  We'll just have to wait and see what kind of inspiration strikes.

In the meantime, Mandy has said she'll pick me up this morning, and she, Allyssia and I will hit the second-hand store for end tables/furniture;  then she's going to show me her new apartment.   She'd like for me to make her a throw for her couch, so I need to get some idea of her furnishings and preferences.

Kell, I hope you had a good time at your house-warming last night........I sure wish I could have been there !   So happy for all of you in your new house !   Papa and I send our love !

Gonna get spoiled....

...on these 60+ degree days and I'm NOT going to want to go back into Winter !

Lovely day today, and the trees have buds on them.......one thing about it, they shouldn't suffer drought for a long while ! 

I finished Jodie's applique today, but I'm going to hold off on a photo of it until she receives it and tells me she's happy with it.

I just placed an order with Fabric.com  for fabric for a baby quilt that I've been asked to make.   Of course, as Cheryl taught me, a smart girl has to add a little sumpin-sumpin to the order for herself,..........I mean, just to bring the total up to the 'free shipping' level, mind you ~!~

I've been asked to make another non-pattern quilt, almost whole-cloth, but in soft pink and cream. 

I'm hoping that this will make a beautiful back for the baby quilt.

This one is for my cousin's second grandbaby, obviously a girl this time around. 

Remember, I made her this one before for her first grandson?

The baby is not due until June, but I'd like to get the quilt well underway.  Blessedly, I have all the work I can ask for right now.

I'm think I'm going to sneak away from the computer now, though, to get a little further in a fun book I've been reading a little bit of.

Good night all !

Oh, by the way, Jodie, you're getting comments in MY comments section !  Wanda wants to see some of these projects that you're always mentioning.  We think that YOU should start a blog too !  At the very least, send her an email with photos ! 







Good timing

My quilting buddy, Wanda Gayle, told me that she has been appliqueing blocks using the method where you put the top fabric onto the background, and just snip an inch at a time along the applique line's seam allowance.  At about the same time, my other quilting buddy, Jodie Ann, decided to send me an applique block to do for her, and I found that it was the perfect candidate for this method of needle-turn applique.

Here's my beginning drawing, traced onto the dark fabric
 by placing the pattern in a sunny window.

Here's my progress thus far.........

My starting slit is cut and applique has begun.

Slitting another inch or so ahead of where I'm stitching.



Halfway done.

Jodie worked as a secretary for many years and has retired now, ready to do her 'retirement quilting', but left with hands that have damage from all of that keyboard work.  They won't let her hold the applique for long periods, so she and I corroborate on projects like this.  She's always sending a little work my way........she knows it gives me a new perspective, as her choices for projects, and mine are always so different.  Plus, a little fun spending money isn't minded either !

On a weather note, it was absolutely beautiful today, and I DID get my little ol' Jeep washed.   She's sighing in relief as we speak.

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention that today was the first day this year that I've hung full loads of laundry out to dry on the clothesline.  Yippee.......Spring is truly on it's way. 

Happy Valentine's Day

♥♥You make my HEART sing ! ♥♥

Today's temperature is supposed to be near 60, so I hope to turn the outside water faucet back on and wash my jeep !

A couple of new projects have fallen into my lap this week, so I hope to start a little bit of hand-applique later today, too.

Hope you spend the day with the people you love the most.........and remember that GOD is love; HE is the source of all love and life, and the reason you have special people IN your life !

Unwashed and unashamed.......

.....I present,

ZIGGY

The back is just solid, yummylicious flannel in an aqua-dot.

Most of the fabric in this quilt's top came from the strip set from Connecting Threads, and is unwashed.  So, I'm not in any hurry to wash the finished quilt......kindof questioning how all the colors will behave, and just a little too happy with the way it looks right now to chance it.

I can't get enough of the photos of the quilting in this quilt.  I must have taken 50 shots between last night and today.

I chose a solid medium grey for the binding, very close in color to what is pieced at each end.

STATS:  Pattern source-- this tutorial

Finished size:  45 inches by 67 inches.
Fabrics:  2 sets of 24--2 1/2 inch strips , plus probably 2 strips-each of 3 of my own colors.
Top pieced -- Jan 6 thru Jan 8, 2011
Hand-quilted -- Jan 27 thru Feb. 10, 2011
Binding -- Feb 11-12, 2011

The flannel on the back of the quilt made it stick to this fence like a design wall !

EDIT-EDIT ! ! ! ! NOT two months........

CORRECTION:    TWO WEEKS ago today I started hand-quilting the zigzag quilt.

Today I finished hand-quilting the zigzag quilt.

Hooray !  Hooray !   This was a VERY GOOD DAY  ! 

Praise the LORD !

Now I need to decide on a binding fabric,

 and sew it on,

giving me a good sturdy edge

 from which to remove those final points !

SNOW news is OLD news.....

....but it's still news to me !

Oklahoma got plastered again, and we here, southwest of Nashville, are finishing up with about 2 1/2 inches.  Wow, I love to watch it snow !   I sat down at my sewing machine and was able to look up through the windows above it and get my heart's fill !

And........I finished this little top.........unless I decide to border it, which I HIGHLY doubt.  It is what it is.   I don't guess I"ll truly name it until I've quilted and finished it.  I am now reminded of leaves lying on a swimming pool or some other water.

 The photo is a bit overlightened, but was too dark before and I went with auto-adjust in my photo program.

On the techy side, I had two problems solved today.
My digital camera has been making me format the memory card after EVERY set of photos I take, and I suspected that it was more a problem with old batteries than with the card.  I use rechargeable AA's and I've had them for atleast 4 years, maybe 5.  I bought new ones today, and sure enough, no more problem with the card !  Yay, praise the LORD !

And I had a live online chat with my cable company because my phone was out YET AGAIN.  I learned that power surges cause you to need to reset the modem by unplugging it and plugging it back in.  Could I not have been told this one of the 6 or so times I've had this complaint before?  Hmmmmm.......well, anyway, atleast it's working again and it was an easy at-home solution.

By the way, since Connecting Threads sent me a replacement set of strips, I am impressed with their customer service if not their quality control.   So I want to mention that if anyone is interested in making a zigzag quilt like mine with solids, the sampler set of strips are on sale again, 40% off this time, making them $3.98 for a set of 24  2 1/2 inch strips, and it takes two sets to make a top like mine.
Scroll down the page a bit for the fabric samplers.  I used the cool solids sampler, but am thinking that the light solids would make an awesome one.

6 more days to decorate our blogs with hearts !

Then we can start looking for 'Springy' themes !   Woo HOO !

Today was a very good day........lots of sweet baby time.  I watched Allyssia for 10 hours while her mommy was at her new job, house-cleaning/sitting with an elderly home-patient. 

Baby-girl was very good, including an hour-and-a-half nap in the morning, and quiet play that allowed ME to play at my Autumn Blues quilt-top just a bit more.  I won't bother with a photo tonight, as I'm close to finishing.  I got half of the blocks sewn into rows and then into half a top. 

Thank you for the generous enthusiasm over it.  The leaves were pieced many years ago when I pieced the ones that are in this quilt.  I guess I couldn't decide on a background, because I pieced about the same amount of leaves on a blue background as I did on a light background.
The light ones weren't even pieced for the quilt in which they wound up.  There was originally a quilt in an issue of Quiltmaker that was all leaves and I collected the same fabrics that were featured in that quilt, and used the pattern, but that's where the similarity ended.  That's the only quilt design for which  I remember ever actually trying to purchase the exact fabric that I had seen made up in the original quilt.

The blue-backed leaves got put into a little plastic shoebox, and I revisited them often.  Finally a few days ago I got the idea of making the blue scrappy nine-patches to set alternately with the leaf blocks.  But when I lay it out, it just struck me as being too traditional for my current quilt-mood.  So I arranged the leaves around the ninepatches, which really became just a scrap-square center, and I was much happier with the new look.  I had one leftover leaf, and lacked 3 nine-patches to fill in the center, so I made 2 more nine-patches and threw in a green leaf for starting Fall's descent.  



Photo taken at same time as  previous shot.......not updated with today's progress.

Some people get the blues when Autumn comes around, with the foliage dying and all, but I'm always so ready for the change in temperature, and some good in-house recreation (quilting, sewing, or knitting at my age, don't get any other ideas now !) that it's kind of refreshing to me, and one of my four most favorite seasons.  So, I'm dubbing the little quilt, "Blues of Autumn", or "Autumn's Blues".  Which do you like?   You can wait to see the finished quilt to decide. 

Once again, this will be a small quilt,.......6 blocks wide by 8 rows long......7 3/8 inch blocks......approximately 44 x 59 inches, unless I add some kind of border.

Phew,.....been a little under the weather

And what weather we have this year.

   It's snowing again, .....

 not alot, but coating the trees prettily again. 

 I've figured out that it's not only the blowing

 wind during the snow,

but the rain that comes before hand that makes it

fill in all the places in the limbs and everywhere

.   That God of ours,........what an artist !

Be safe and warm everyone........

Spring WILL come, and you'll have something to celebrate,

 for sure !   I know that I WILL,

right Kelley?

And, when I get around to sewing again,

 I hope to be playing around with this some more !

Yep, it's being hand-quilted

I call it "big-stitch" and most people tend to do it with perle cotton, but I'm using different colors of quilting thread and an embroidery needle.   I find that flannel backs take better to the bigger stitches, and wow, it is faster to do. 

I'm not having to mark any of the quilting lines, as I am going once in the ditch of the colored zig, and once half-way through the zig.  The rectangles finished at about 1 5/8 inches wide, so I'm just eyeballing it. 

Every other day, I hoop the quilt in my 17 inch-square Q-snap frame, and that gives me four different colored zigs that I can quilt.   I follow them all the way across the quilt horizontally.  I start around 8:00 in the morning with the light coming through my sewing room window to where I sit in my glider-rocker, and usually the sun has gone from my window by the time I finish the four rows in the late afternoon.  Of course, I'm jumping up and down all day long doing other household things too.  In fact, I didn't get to finish my rows today, as I kept Allyssia for a few hours.

On the odd days, I take a day off from quilting to let the fingers get over the soreness caused by stabbing myself with that huge needle.  (I can't wear anything on the finger under the quilt....it just keeps me from feeling whether or not I've made a good stitch all the way through.)

*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*@*
I want to send warm wishes and thoughts to those of you who are so covered up with the latest snow STORM.  I am so sorry for the inconvenience it's causing you.  I hope that you can stay in, well-fed, warm, and happily busy with your favorite craft/quilt.
All we got was a quick dusting of snow this morning, and then the sun came out and immediately melted it away.  But I'm still enamored of the last snowfall we got, and just had to use another photo from it for my header. 
We're supposed to get more snow this weekend, and all I can say is PRAISE GOD for keeping us warm and safe, and if it has to come, I hope it's a beauty like the Jan. 26th one.

I guess I made a MUG RUG

New times, new names.........we would have just called it a coaster !
Maybe it would look more up-to-date if I had made it rectangular.

You girls have done a much better job of this than me !

I took one of the free-motion quilting practice pieces and colored it with crayons. 

Oh, well.  It will protect my little double-wedding ring quiltie........which they are now calling 'pickle dish', by the way !!!!!!!!!

(Thought I'd inject a little summertime blues into the winter's picture for all of you who are snowed in right now !  Stay warm and safe !)