Sew Happy Quilting

4 quilts for 4 special little girls

2011-04-18T15:48:00.000-07:00

Dynamic views

2011-04-09T20:22:00.000-07:00

I'm really loving the new dynamic view feature blogger has added. I especially like the flipcard view!
thank you blogger.
I know I haven't posted in a very long time but I just haven't had the time. I do have lots of pics waiting to be shared. I hope to get those posted when I get back from our big retreat the end of the month.
Until then, happy stitching
Donna

Joy Studio

2011-01-18T12:49:00.000-08:00

Is having a wonderful giveaway. I just love her fabrics and other works of art. She is a very talented artist. Go check her out and join her generous giveaway.

Got a few things finished

2010-11-07T15:22:00.000-08:00

This is a little miniature scarecrow I made for a swap and then decided it just wasn't something I thought my partner might like. He's about 14" tall.

So, I made this for her and it felt more like what I thought she was hoping for. It's the size of a piece of printer paper.

And then I finally finished this queen size top that I had made about a year and a half ago. I lost this top more then once during my moves and just about everything that could possibly delay it being finished happened but in the end, we were all happy with how it turned out. The piecing and top itself turned out great but my quilting on this was not some of my best work. It was easy to for me to see I hadn't quilted in awhile but no one else seem to see what I seen. That's the wonderful part about making quilts for others they love them no matter what and never pick every little stitch apart like I do on my own work. But I've always felt done is better then perfect, so I'm very happy with how it turned out.

30+ years later

2010-09-27T09:25:00.000-07:00

This post is somehow difficult but exciting for me at the same time. I do feel the need to post about it. So, here goes.. Back when I was a younger, 16 years old I gave birth to a beautiful baby girl. It was decided that the baby would be given up for adoption upon her birth. Abortion wasn't an option for me. Now, I don't judge those that have chose this as a option, it just wasn't one for me. There was never a day that went by that I didn't think about how she was, did she go to a good family, was she a happy child, where she was. After many years I began to wonder if she had married, had children, etc. Now, it's 30+ years later and I have all those answers. Yes, that right we reconnected and I've have been talking to her via FB. She turned into a beautiful young lady, was raised by a very loving lady and has 2 beautiful children which of course means I now have 3 DD's, 6 grandbabies and one on the way. She has a masters degree in accounting and lives in eastern KY. where she now teaches a the University where she got her degree. My family thinks she looks just like me. I think she does too only a much much younger version of me. All I can say is I'm a very happy lady right now and my DD's are all thrilled too. So I would like you to meet my newest DD Amy, DGS Trey, DGD erin.

Double dose of wonderful news!!

2010-09-22T13:01:00.000-07:00

First I just found out we close on the new house Monday. Then my DD tells me that the Dr. said the baby's head is down there and he said she had a contraction while he was examining her. So, by the time she gets home, she tells me she thinks she's in labor but is trying to block it out. Unfortunately we all know that isn't working, LOL. We sure was hoping to get moved before the baby arrives, but we're ready when he is. I just knew she was gonna have this baby early (her stomach is huge) just didn't expect it to be a whole month early. I'm on cloud nine at the moment. we are so excited about the arrival of my new grandson. My next post might have some really cute pics!!!

Need a laugh?

2010-09-10T06:30:00.000-07:00

While blog hopping today I found a post on createdbycj's blog, that was too fun not to share.
http://www.createdbycj.com/from-my-studio/2010/9/9/for-those-who-need-a-little-extra-help.html

Pickles

2010-08-20T14:58:00.000-07:00

A Few Scraps: A quilt along and a GIVEAWAY!

2010-08-19T20:04:00.000-07:00

A Few Scraps: A quilt along and a GIVEAWAY!
For those of you that's been wanting to try some FMQ this will be so much fun and I don't know about you I hope to learn something other then stipple. I think this is just what I need to help me break free from my old faithful. Don't get me wrong I love stippling and meandering. I think it looks great but there's times I'm just wanting something a little different. How about you join us in the FMQ quilt along.. I've added her button to my side bar to take you there.

Updates

2010-08-18T07:57:00.000-07:00

I have neglected my blog for so long. I really have missed blogging, but sometimes life happens and we have to prioritize and get things back on track. Many changes in the last year for me but it's just one of those bumps in the road we all have.
Updates!!

1st.. I will be back sewing and blogging full force by OCT. Yeah!!!!

2nd.. my oldest DGS Blake turned 12 yrs. old3rd.. My newest DGS will be here to start his journey through life in about 8-9 weeks.4th.. DGD Katelyn gets prettier every day, if that's possible..almost time to start worrying.5th.. DGS Keith loves his big brother and strives to be like him.6th.. DGS John still hasn't been able to part with his blue dog.7th.. I can't wait to get back to quilting and show everyone my new sewing room, once I get moved in it.
8th.. My friend of 30 yrs. has moved back to GA. and is a quilter too. Woohoo... I have a wonderful friend to sew with.9th.. We move in our new house Sept.10th.. Been stitching on the CQ block for DS and carrying my machine to the gym a couple days a weeks to sew patch on every ones' Gi. pics of those projects to come.

11th.. Number 11 but MOST IMPORTANT, I thank God for it all...

I also thought about changing my blog since so many other thing have changed. But I decided that everything doesn't have to change. I can just redecorate this one..well, when I get the time. Busy times right now.

Have a wonderful day!!!

OH how I wish I could sew

2010-04-30T20:12:00.000-07:00

I really miss just sitting and sewing. I know it won't be long before I can have all my sewing stuff out again, but I am missing my quilting sew bad. I know one thing for sure once I do get to drag all my clutter out again, I will be quilting up a storm. You can bet there will be threads a flying.

You know what I love about blogging

2010-04-10T16:41:00.000-07:00

When you get to missing your family and loved ones, you can go back to the beginning of your blog and relive all of the wonderful times you spend with them. At least the ones you wrote about. I didn't make it all the way through, because I'm about to cry now. I do miss them.

I've been CQ

2010-04-03T08:15:00.000-07:00

Here's a block I'm currently making for my sister. I'm just getting started on it. I'll do all my seams before adding any beads, do-dads or other pretties. I just like to do it like that even if I end up covering them with other things I like to have all the seams worked so if one peeks through it has been worked. My theory is you can never have too many stitches on a CQ block!Chance made us sisters, hearts made us friends! The theme here is a Garden Tea Party.I think it's a good theme because I could sit and talk to her all day. I have sew many ideas for this block. I think she's gonna love it when I get it done. I'll post my progress as I go along. It's rather large, so I had to turn the top up a bit to fit it on the swing for a pic. My camera doesn't take pics indoors very well. Oh and the green tatted piece is a first for me, although it is far from perfect, it is special to me and adding NickiLee gorgeous dyed laces to it made it look tons better.

I've also been doing some CQ work on some blocks in the CQRR swap NickiLee is hosting on the HGTV message board. Such Fun :)
My other news that's got me so excited is I've got my plane ticket for my trip to Ohio in June. A few of us are having a sort of mini retreat/vacation and I know we're going to have the most wonderful time. I can't hardly wait!

All I want for Christmas gifts

2009-12-09T19:17:00.000-08:00

First I have to say shame on me, yes I should have been on here at least a week ago and posted about the wonderful surprise I received from Bea ( Holee) in the mail. I have been extremely busy but that no excuse because I know it only takes a few minutes to say thank you and share the kindness and thoughtfulness of others. I also know that Holee has been just as busy and still found time to do this. I came in one night from doing some shopping. Which I didn't enjoy doing alone. So, like I always do I try to carry everything in one trip and barely made it up all those steps to the door. When I went to set the stuff down so I'd have a hand to open the door I seen 2 big boxes sitting there, I instantly looked to see where they came from and they were from Bea. My boring night of shopping suddenly got better and I was doing a little dance. I tried to pick up one of the boxes and it was so heavy I knew it was gonna take more then one trip to get everything the house this time, but it didn't matter I was too excited to see what was in those boxes. OMG! wait til you hear all the things she sent me. I know she put a lot of time and thought into each one of these gifts and she took the time to wrap and make labels for each one. I just can not thank her enough. I hope she knows how much she has lifted my spirit this holiday season.
First thing I want to show you is the absolute adorable sewing machine cover she made me. She must have spent hours working on this. Oh if you could just feel it, it feels so good. I love him so much. Just look at how much personality he has. Garfield is my new most favorite thing in my sewing room. And when I sewing and have to take him off the machine I put him over the back of my chair. He really has livened things up around here.
She also sent me machine needles, pins, ribbon, rick rack, buttons, zippers, two multi packs of guttermans thread in some yummy colors, 3 patterns( I have one picked out from each of those I'll be making very soon),thread conditioner, and some strapping to make handles or belts out of. Look at that stocking, isn't that the cutest thing!! That jingle bell has already found it's place hanging right above my sewing table. All all those beautiful fabrics are going to work perfect with the patterns, plus some...The kids are going to love the fun straws and lollipops. She also sent me a cute snowman coffee cup full of Chocolaty candy that DGS comes back and gets a few pieces of everyday. Now that I look at this pic I realize you can't really see how pretty all those fabrics are,I just love them. She got me a great srapppy quilt book. I have a pattern picked out already. I do love fig newtons and she must have read that some where on the quilting board and remembered. Oh and the three patterns are just perfect. I'll be making one of those CQ bags very soon!! She sent me several different fabric collections more then enough to make any one of the patterns she sent, plus some. These will keep be busy for a long time and you will be seeing many projects made with this in the new year. That yellow roll is golden thimbles quilting paper. I think I'm gonna be hooked on this stuff once I get a chance to give it a try. You know I have a fear of trying to quilt designs. This will let me trace out any design, it sticks to my quilt and then just tears away. Now this should get me over the my hump of straight lines and stipple. I'll make sure and post pics of how that goes when I give it a try. She sent me a magnetic pin holder and I just don't know how I ever lived without one of these. If you don't have one it's a must!!
Last but definitely not least is a wishing pearl necklace. Now, first thing I did was read the card she sent and it say that maybe me and my DGD would enjoy the oyster together. Now, I thought I was reading it work, because I knew I wasn't going to get Katebug to try an oyster so I asked my daughter was I reading it right. Well, sure enough it was a oyster and me and Katebug did enjoy it. It was a wishing pearl and it was still in side the mollusk shell and we had so much fun. We both made a wish and then opened the mollusk and found our pearl inside the oyster. Once we seen what color we got we knew our white pearl was for wisdom. We took the pearl and put it inside the necklace which was just beautiful. Now, I just knew Katebug was gonna want to keep the necklace but she said nanny can we give this to mommy for Christmas. I thought that was a wonderful idea. I wish I had captured how proud she was when she carried her moms present to put it under the tree. Bea, thank you so so much. I'm sure that will be one of those special memories that Katelyn will always remember about her childhood. It's moments like those that last a lifetime.

Got my CQ block pieced

2009-11-16T18:54:00.000-08:00

I signed up for a CQ for ME challenge that Nicki is hosting on the HGTV quilting board. There was a catch though. We were all sent the same 2 fabrics and 1 motif that we had to incorporate into the piece. We could make what ever we wanted with it. I decided to make a door hanging for my SIL. I did have a hard time at first trying to figure out how I was going to make the teal fabric work for me because I personally like things a bit country, but turns out that the bright teal fabric made the perfect rooster tail. The other fabric was the sage green silk that's in the background. I haven't done any stitching to my block yet but plan to do quite a bit. I'm not sure if I will make the deadline of Jan 1st because I'm over 2 months behind. I'm not giving up though, it's better late then never. I do have a vision in my head of where I'm going with this but you know how that goes, once you get stitching, LOL!!! I see a sunflower in there, maybe some morning glories and some barbed wire on that fence and well we'll see...Here's a few pics of my block I finally got pieced today. I just noticed that part of the tail looks black, but it's not it's just a deeper shade of the teal. I don't know why but my camera makes most darker colored fabrics look black. Maybe I should start taking my pics outside......

More sewing

2009-11-07T08:48:00.001-08:00

First I want to thank you all for your nice comments on the scrappy quilt. It's not exactly my pattern or anything I was inspired by a quilt I had seen on creativechicks bogspot. I just loved hers and knew this would be a great way to use up some of my scraps. I got my top finished it just needs a strip of the white sewn across the top and bottom. Usually by the time I finish one I'm sick of looking at it but this went together so fast I still love it, LOL.
Remember this quilt. I don't have a pic of the finished top. It had a wide border of the red print. I was planning on quilting some of the tops I have finished this year. I was going to start with this one but it can't be found. We looked and looked for it. I searched high and low. Practically tore the place apart, but no quilt. After telling my daughter whom I had made this for, she came over thinking she would find it. I tried to tell her I went through everything 3 times it's just not here. She couldn't find it either and it broke her heart. I guess it somehow got thrown out when we moved. I always fold my tops to where the seams are on the out side, so it probably looked like a bunch of scraps just laying around. But you know how the story goes no one knows nothing. It's just gone, at least until we maybe one day come across it. In the meantime I start her a new quilt. I have another bundle of Tula Pink's Flutterby fabrics that are pretty similar that I had saved to make a braid quilt with. They are some of my favorites but I guess I'll use them to make her another top. I found one that I really love over on interchangableparts blog. She made it using Tula Pinks nest pattern. I really like how hers turned out. I also love the merry-go-round quilt she made. I'll have to give that a try one day.
So, I gave up my great idea of quilting all weekend and decided to go ahead and piece her a new top before I started quilting all these. I no longer have room for both my big tables set up at the same time so I have to either piece or quilt. My little EZquilter has to set up on a table and I just don't have room to keep it out all the time now. But luckily it's easy to set up. When I bought it I had attached it to a big board to keep from have to put screw in my table and boy am I glad i did Now all I have to do is get it and set it on top ANY table!!! If I had of attached it to the the other table (I no longer have room for) I would have been in a pickle and had to go back to tugging those BIG quilts i like to make through the machine again. I've done enough of that to know it's not an easy task. I don't guess I've ever made a small quilt other then the 2 baby quilt I made and I hand quilted one and did quilt as you go on the other. Now I do love making mini's. But I have to say when I make a bed quilt I make it BIG, real big! I have a hand quilting frame I use sometimes but mostly I like to machine quilt mine, because it takes me forever to finish one hand quilting.
Well, I did get started on my sister tumbling block lap quilt. It's my first ever lap quilt and Y-seams. I've always been a bit intimidated by Y-seams but I gave it a try and they aren't difficult at all. Then after making some of the blocks I thought how am I going to piece all these rows together. So had to see if I would be able to join those zig- zag rows together. I used the same method of pivoting as I did on the Y-seam and it went rather well and the seams lay nice and flat so I guess she'll get her tumbling block lap quilt after all. She choose the Metro Goes green fabric line we had seen when we went to Mariette to meet up with Some of our quilting friends form the board. They didn't have enough, so I thought maybe since we were soon going to the retreat and would have the chance to go to Keepsake Quiltshop I could find some there, but we didn't find it. As soon as I got home form the retreat I googled around to see if I could find some since I knew she loved it so much and she just didn't see anything else she liked as much. I was lucky enough to find it so I got them and some of the dots for the backing and strips for the binding.

Margw, Here's a pic of the block construction. It's pretty simple. Sew two 9" squares on the diagonal to make 2 big HST. Then just add a 3.5" square on opposite corners and sew on the diagonal. Here's what the block looks like. Then here's how I layed them out to get that top.

All it took was a pep from Beck and some scraps.

2009-11-01T10:50:00.000-08:00

I was feeling a little down on Friday, maybe even a lot down but my sister called to talk about how she needs to get in gear and work on her to do list and next thing I knew I was feeling better and motivated to tackle some of those scraps. So, I broke out all those bits and pieces you end up with after cutting those strips to swap out nickels and coins. I always have those end of the strip pieces that don't quite measure up. That why they end up in the loose change pile. I found that most of the end pieces could be cut to 4.5" pieces with the least waste. I got to cutting and in no time at all I had plenty of 2.5"x4.5" pieces. Now I like the way brights look so crisp against white so I pulled some white from my stash and cut 2.5" strips and then sub cut to 4.5". I sewed all my bright pieces to white pieces, then pressed all those while watching some scary Halloween movies. Today I sat down to sew all those together into strips. Then got to crying which made it hard to see, so I took a break and went outside which somehow seems to cheer me up. I went back to sewing and wa-la, next thing I knew I almost got all my strips sewed, only 5 more to go. This is going to be a very bright and cheery quilt. Here's what I have so far. I plan to put a 2.5" of white between the rows. I really like how quick and easy this was to make. A the best part is I'm one step closer to my scrap busting goal!!!! I'm going to call it Loose Change.

Pumpkin Patch Primitives Quilt Shoppe: It's a Happy Halloween Giveaway!

2009-10-28T09:31:00.000-07:00

Pumpkin Patch Primitives Quilt Shoppe: It's a Happy Halloween Giveaway!
Lets see now, I know I decrease my odds of winning by doing this but she made me do it for a chance a winning these yummy fabrics. So go on over take a look but you don't have to enter if you want my odds of winning to be greater, LOL. But if I was you I would do what I did and help spread the word to have a chance at winning this wonderful giveaway.

It's been awhile

2009-10-26T20:53:00.000-07:00

I just want to start by saying thank you to all of you for helping me through this difficult time. I'm doing well and have know that sewing and spending time with all my quilting friends is the best for me now.
I want to share with you a little mini I received from expatquilter in the Fall mini swap that Holee hosted. She did a fabulous job and i just love it!!
I would show you a pic of the mini I made expatquilter but I didn't get a pic of it before mailing but it's like the one I made for my sis except the blocks were 3" instead of 1.5"
Next is a little mini I made for my sister out of some very small 1.5"blocks I was going to use in the inchie swap but had a difficult time trying to put a binding on them so ended up sewing them all together and this is the result. This little mini measures 5x5". It's it cute. When my sister got it she she it was so much smaller then she had envisioned and she loves it.
Here's a quilt I'm working on for my daughter. I didn't really plan it out or anything. I just seen one someone else had made and knew I wanted to give it a try, so I guess that explains why I've run out of background fabric. I was hoping to have enough blocks to make it large enough but I guess I'll have to make some sort of border to make it a bit larger. I know I seen on SQ that you shouldn't put a border on just to make your quilt larger but Hey, I also heard there are no rules in quilting and after my visit to Handcocks today for more fabric, which they no longer have guess I'll be adding a border. I still have one more layer cake of the 9 patch blocks so maybe I can work with that. I open for suggestions on the border. I was thinking about adding 9 patch block all the way around but my other DD said to add a solid fabric. I have so much fabric now that I'm trying not to buy anymore until I use up some of this that I have stock piled.
I'm also working on a bear quilt for my DGS John and it still likes one more row of blocks. It's okay but I'm not sure I really like it or not. Maybe it will look better once it gets quilted. I'll show how it turns out when I get it done. I had also started my first tatted piece which I was working on when I wasn't able to spend time at home and sew on my machine. I was nearly done but had to lay it down and now I'm not sure if I remember how to. I'll have to send my sis a pic and see if she can help me figure that out.
I want to show you the gorgeous block I received from Carmellady in the CQ one block swap, hosted by Nickilee. I asked for french country and it couldn't have been more perfect. It is more then I had ever hoped for.
Gosh, while I'm at it I'll show you the blcok I made for Ely. She asked for fairies, pink, blue, yellow green and she even likes orange. I thought I was the only one who liked orange!! My sister painted the bird nest and sent it to me to make postcards with but I told her I had to have it for Ely's block so she didn't make me beg she gladly let me have it. She also made me the 2 tatted pieces, it's like they just belonged here. The 2 dyed lace pieces where some that I had got from Nickilee. I used the big one for the woodland garden floor. The yellow flower vine was inspired from Ivoryblushrose. I don't even know if she know but I love her CQ. This is my second CQ, my first one drove me crazy and was just a disaster,but this one was a joy to make. I need to get started one the other CQ for me block. I think I have an idea of what I want to make I just haven't had the time to get it out and get started.

I spent most of the day yesterday cutting my scraps into squares to use as leaders and enders. Some people with this much fabric might have just tossed these bits of scraps but I just couldn't bear to part with them. I love scrappy quilts, plus I'll have bits of most of the quilts I made all in one. I didn't color coordinate them or anything. I've just decided to sew together what ever I pull out. I like doing this, you end up with a big pile of 4 patch blocks before you know it and when my jars of square starts getting low I just get my scrap drawer out and cut up some more. Maybe I'll win the battle with the overwhelming amount of scraps I have accumulated.
Oh almost forgot here's the mini I sent Susrina for the Christmas mini swap. It's about 13x14 if I remember right. My sis brought me the kit to make it when she came down. I was a little intimidated about try to paper piece something so small but it ended up going together pretty easy. I added some embroidery and beads to finish it off. You really can't see them but I did a few embroidered snowflakes with this thread that looks just like snow that my sis had gave me. I love that stuff.
Me and a few of the other girls from the HGTV board are all planning to go up and spend a week at my sisters in Ohio this June the week of the quilt show. I'm excited and June can't get here fast enough for me. We're going to have a blast. I know they have some great quilt, thread and bead shop so you know we'll be going to those.
I sure have missed all of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MIA

2009-08-07T06:03:00.000-07:00

I just thought I'd let you know that there was just too much going on for me this past month. I'll spare you all the details and just say some good and some bad. I do have some quilting things to share with you, that I managed to complete during all the chaos. Just don't have the time today, but I hope to get to it in the next couple of days. I can't wait to read all my favorite(your) blogs too and see what all you have been working on.

Another mini and a fun giveaway

2009-07-03T08:01:00.000-07:00

Sewmeow is having a fun giveaway and is adding something new everyday to her giveaway for the next 18 days. here's a link to her blog so go on over and sign up....http://sewfunquilts-sewmeow.blogspot.com/
Now, that she has received it I can post a pic. I'm happy that she likes it. I was worried, then after seeing the one she made me I got real worried. But she said it was her and it screamed her name. So that made me feel better. This was a fun swap and all the little mini's are just amazing. The ladies on the HGTV have incredible talent. I'm going to keep joining this swap, I want a mini from all of them, and it wouldn't hurt my feeling to have two from each of them. Having these mini's on my wall mean so much to me. The are all so unique and inspiring. I just love being surrounded by them while I'm back there sewing, which is where I spend a lot of my time. Here's a link to all the mini's in the 2nd swap Holee has hosted. She has a link to the first mini swap photo too, in her side bar. I see she doesn't have all the mini up yet but they should be headed to their new homes and added soon. Thanks Holee for hosting these fun swap. After getting the top done I could not figure out how to quilt this thing. The hexagons were very small making the seam allowances bulky and hard to sew through. So, I asked Lois(bluesnail) if she had any ideas and she had a wonderful idea which I knew a soon as she told me would be perfect. I have a real hard time quilting mini's because of the bulkiness. But she made it easy for me. She suggested tying the center of the flowers to make it look like stamen. and then just hand quilt around the bottom of the fence and around the outer edge of the applique & flowers. So that's exactly what I did.

Look at this Mini quilt

2009-07-02T16:10:00.000-07:00

I received the most incredible mini quilt today from my partner Shawana. I was going to wait until I could get a better pic, because the wind kept trying to sweep it away but I just have to share her beautiful work. Remember the other day I said I just has this feeling it was special, well I was almost right it is special but I think it is more then special, it's absolutely the prettiest mini. I could not believe my eyes when I opened it. I was just in total shock, speechless and in awe. This is a tresure for sure. I'm going to have it framed. I would just die if it got one speck of dirt on it. Words can't describe how lovely this is. Click the pic and you will get a close up and see all the incredible details. I just can't stop looking at it.

Time for the tooth fairy

2009-06-30T20:17:00.000-07:00

Isn't she so cute without her tooth. She so excited about the tooth fairy, she might actually go to bed on time tonight. I had to run down and snap a few shots when she called me with her exciting news. She also went for her appt. today and they are trying to fit her surgery in the first part of this month, were expecting the call from the Doc in 5 days. She's so brave, wish we were.

MY CQ sneak peeks

2009-06-29T19:43:00.000-07:00

Here's a couple peeks of my CQ block for the swap. This is a secret swap and I was so lucky and got the name of a lady I had met at the retreat and she was just someone that when you meet for the first time that you know is very special. She has the best hugs and the biggest beautiful smile. I only got to spend a few minutes here and there talking to her but those were some of the best minutes. We were only allowed 2 small peeks. I choose these because I didn't want to reveal any of the main parts of the block. These were such small areas that is was hard to crop them and get them big enough to see without some blurring. But you get the main idea. I have this block filled from top to bottom, although I'm new to CQ, I found it easy because I wanted to give her everything. The theme she picked was fairies, pinks, blues, lavender, greens and peach. So I got it all and it took me a bit to get all those colors to play nice together but it's all there, and I hope that she loves it. I laid awake at night dreaming of what to put on her block and it's like God just dropped little ideas down one by one and it went together so fast, even with all the things I had to take out to put new things in. This block is nothing like what it started out to be. I learned a great deal working on this block, and am anxious to start another, and I know just what it'll be. I want to add that I got some of my inspiration from other CQ blogs. And shame on me because I don't think they even know I read their blogs, I am guilty of not always leaving a comment on many of the blogs I read. I feel pretty bad about it too because they are big inspirations to me, so I will do better and at least leave a small comment from now on to let them know that I appreciate all the pretty things they share. So thank you my favorite bloggers for all your inspiration. We will be swapping our blocks out at the end of July so I'll have the block I receive and this one to share. I can hardly wait to get mine and see what she has made for me. We get a block from someone other then who we are making one for, I'm sure I will love the block I receive. I seen her work last year in the swap and it was very beautiful. One more thing. It's time to swap our mini quilts too, so mines going in the mail tomorrow and I should receive one from my partner in the next few days too, I can't wait to share those with you, my partner in the swap does amazing work and I know she has worked very hard on this mini. I just know I will be getting a very lovely quilty form her. You'll see, I can just feel it in my bones that what she is making me will be very special. You can see all the mini's on Holee's blog, if you look in her side bar she has a link to where she adds them as them are received, go have a look there are some really pretty minis being made in her swaps. She'll be hosting another one very soon.

Quilting on a Budget: Extraordinary Creativity

2009-06-29T11:27:00.000-07:00

Quilting on a Budget: Extraordinary Creativity
WOW! check out this video I just seen on one of the blogs I read, it is so cool. I wish I had half the creativity of others.

My CQ do-dad find of the day

2009-06-27T12:23:00.000-07:00

I went to this antique, collectible, second hand thrift shop today that has about 4 levels and just enormous. It is impossible to navigate this whole store in one day. But that's okay because I didn't make it past the first room before my budget was spent. But I'm happy with today's find and see another trip there in the near future. My very favorite of all the things I got is the yellow roses and the rhinestone bird, I probably paid too much for them but they were the two pricier items I just couldn't live without. I need to clean the little bird up but it has a lot of pretty stones on it. I don't know why the alligator struck my fancy but you never know when you might need an alligator, LOL, and I may never need the gloves either but they didn't cost too much so I got them. The pic doesn't show good but the milky looking stones on the earrings to the right are more like opal stones they have pretty sparkles in them. There was just too much for me to take it all in. I'm going to divide these goodies up and send some to my sis who is just starting her first CQ block. I'm going to be stingy though and keep the bird and yellow roses. I did find some pretty rose beads that I love and want, so I'll split those up with her so I don't feel bad about keeping the 2 yellow roses all to myself.I had planned to go to Hobby Lobby afterward but decided to call it a day, maybe tomorrow. I think this thrift store shopping could become an obsession.

Inner border on

2009-06-17T09:14:00.000-07:00

I'm so happy to have had time to do some sewing, my poor machine must have been feeling neglected. This is one of many quilts I hope to have done before Christmas. I'm going to add the red fabric laying on top that bucket as the larger outer border. The brown under it is what is in the quilt although it looks black in this pic it is actually brown with small red dots.I still need to get some backing for it. I had originally bought a lighter back with dots in the colors on the front but after rethinking about the quilting which I've decided I think I'll do in a darker variegated thread or do you think a lighter background with the variegated thread would look pretty. I've got way better with my machine quilting so it's not a problem if it shows it's just I don't know about how that would look on that backing fabric.

Leaders and enders

2009-06-15T12:18:00.000-07:00

After seeing some pretty quilts made on the HGTV message board being made by sewing strips and patches as leaders and enders I thought it was a great idea to use up some of my scrap fabrics. I had several strips of some dot fabric left from my DGD's princess quilt. I also have about a yrd of each that hasn't been cut. I started yesterday sewing the strips together while piecing the last of the blocks I need for my DD's quilt. I was amazed at how quikly I had so many strips sewn togehter. Today I cut those into sub strips and sewed those togehter and now I very happy I did. I will soon have enought to make quilts for my 4 great grand nieces. They will all be made form the same fabric with different layous. Hopefully by doing this I will be able to surprises these little princesses with a quilt for Christmas. Here's how my strips look after I had sub cut hem and then sewed them into longer strips as leaders and enders. I'm excited about these and have layout planned for all four of them. I'm finally putting the blocks together on my DD's quilt I started several months ago. I hope to have the borders on and ready for quilting by July.
I'll have the kids for 5 days starting Thurs so won't get any sewing done next week. Katelyn goes to Chattanooga on the 30th to get scheduled for her surgery. My DD said she is pretty sure they will doing her surgery at Egleston Childrens hosp in ATL. Cliff vascular surgeon is thinking he might have to replace Cliff shunt which is showing signs that it could rupture. He's going to watch it for the next couple of weeks and see if it gets better or worse.

I'm pretty organized, just not in the sewing room!!!

2009-06-12T10:19:00.000-07:00

But I do know where almost everything is. I admit that I need to get my fabrics organized. It has got to the point where I have absolutely no where else to put it. So it just stays in the bag I bought it in and either hangs on a doorknob or on hangers in the closet. I have plenty still in the boxes it was shipped in. I didn't take pics of the closet in the spare room, but it's just about as bad. So something has got to be done. I've been wanting to paint in there. I know I will have to move everything out. I think that's the part I dread the most. I have two 6ft tables in there and both have tubs and buckets under them too. It doesn't leave me much room, I have about a 3-4 foot walkway around the tables and the surrounding walls are full with shelves, a chest of drawers and my ironing area. So, I'm making my new years resolution early. Starting January 2010, I'm moving everything out and start painting. Then I'm going on a search for storage that will hopefully allow me to have all of it where I can access it. Those huge tubs have been buried for so long that I have totally forgotten what fabrics are in them. The only fabrics I have access to on the shelves are mostly odd and end stuff, with the exception of the tub of WOW fabrics. My DD starting laughing at me the other day when she seen I have started hanging fabric on hangers in the spare room. I'm thinking I could line the closet with shelves for all my fabric and no one will have to see my madness and think I'm crazy when I say I need fabric. But you know how it is , no matter how much you have you never have that one shade or hue you need. So, I've done it. I usually don't make New Years resolutions but I have one for 2010. To get my sewing room painted and organized!!I have a little more good news, I started back piecing blocks today!! I love making quilts.

~Tonya's Sewing Room~: 100th Post Giveaway!!

2009-06-11T08:01:00.000-07:00

~*Tonya's Sewing Room*~: 100th Post Giveaway!!
Tonya is having a nice giveaway, hop on over and give her a visit.

Hello

2009-06-08T18:37:00.000-07:00

I'm about caught up with all the odd and end projects I've been working on. I'll be glad to get back to making some quilts, looks like I'll be back at it by next week. I have been working on a couple quilts but I can't show one yet. It's for the Scraps to Treasure challenge I joined and we can't post pics. The other on is one I started a few months back for my daughter. I should be able to get my blocks sewn together and a border put on very soon. I had hoped to start the tumbling block quilt my sister wants but Cliff still hasn't forgotten the Wonky Dawgs quilt and has once again reminded me he needs it. So, when I told him I'd have it made by Christmas he said he had to have it before ball season started in Sept. I think it will go together pretty quick since I have most of the strips already cut. I have about 5-6 other quilts on my list to do before Christmas. I just don't see me getting them all done but we'll see. So from now til then my list looks like this. 1-DD#2, 2-Cliff, 3- Becky, 4-DGS#3, 5- DD#1, 6-SIL#2, 7-Sil#1, 8-James. My nephew has also asked for one. Now, I have got all my fabrics bought and most of the patterns picked out with the exception of my nephews. But it doesn't look like I'll be getting to it anytime soon any how.It doesn't look like I'll be getting a quilt this year either, but I'm okay with that.
The past couple of weeks I have been working on my CQ one block, I made 15 of the card holders for a restaurant here in town, only they wanted vinyl for theirs. They had seen the one my DD had and asked her if I could make them some, so naturally she told them I could. I've done quite a bit of sewing for them in the past and they always pay me pretty good. Yesterday I made two large baskets. One for Cliff to put all his meds in so I can have my dining table back and the other i made for my DGS to keep some of his toys in. I'll post a pic of them tomorrow, I haven't took one yet. But I got the memo board made for a friend who seen the one I posted last week and propositioned me a trade. Now, I would have made her one anyway but she wanted to make me a Calligraphy wedding ring, now how could I resist that. I know just who to give it to. Here's a pic of the memo board I made her.
My DD and SIL are going to Vegas for 5 days so I'll have the kids that week. This will be the first time she has ever been away from them. I know she is looking forward to a little break. She'll be starting her new job when she gets back. I'm not certain what her schedule will be after she gets done training. So, I'm not sure how it will affect the babysitting schedule I have now. She was offer to move up where she was working but that would have required her to work more hours then she wanted. I'll be going to Ky. In July for a small family reunion. Katelyn will also be having her surgery shortly after that. Cliff's going to Emory tomorrow to be screened to see if he is now able to have a transplant. Last time we went he was turned down due to his unstable health. He's been doing pretty good and the doctors have scheduled him once again to go for a screening to see where he stands now. All seems to be going good, just very busy. But if we're not busy we're not getting anything done now are we. My cat had kittens and they are all spoken for, just try catching them, LOL. They are outside cats and run everytime someone comes up. I'm so glad they are here. I haven't seen any snakes this year, last year before someone dropped the cat here we seen snakes out here all the time. Speaking of snakes my SIL killed a huge snake in his yard just a couple weeks ago. That thing must have been at least 6-7 ft long. He layed it right beside the door stoop so when I went over to babysit and went up to the door it would scare me and it did. I ran like crazy, I told him not to ever do me like that again. I could have a heart attach at my age. Not to mention they'd be finding a new babysitter. Well, I guess no one really wants to hear about the crazy pranks my kids play on me, so I'll quit rambling. Just wanted to come and let you know what I've been up to. We'll be sending in our minis for the swap before long so I'll get to post the one I made and the one I receive before long and hopefully once I get past through the busy next month I'll be back to quilting and posting some real pics. I'll let you know how it goes for Cliff tomorrow, I'm not sure we'll know anything definite but you never know. One more thing I want to mention. I have a good blog friend Kristi that is having an online yard sale to raise money for her son. She selling quilting fabric and books so go take a look and see if you can find anything that interest you. She (Cowgirlquilter) has a link in her side bar to her yardsale, with great prices for a good cause.

I'm feeling better today

2009-05-25T08:27:00.000-07:00

I've been very sick for the last 4-5 days and am starting to feel human again. I did absolutely nothing this weekend. I stayed in the bed mostly and tried to get up a few times only to realize I needed to go back to bed. What ever it was Cliff had a touch of it too. We sure was a pitiful looking pair, but we made it through.
I thought I should post something so everyone doesn't think I just fell off the face of the earth. I don't have much to report because I haven't made much so I'll just show you some of the things I worked on in the past few months.
Here's a pic of the FQ challenge I made for the retreat. I actually made 2 one for me and one for sis. I made the memory board for me so I could display all my COF pic on it in my sewing room. I made the car caddy for my sis because I had seen one over on Sewmanyways blog and thought it would be a great thing to have.
Then there was the t-shirt challenge and turns out it was a challenge for me It took me 3 attempts to get one made that I could actually use. I got my first shirt all painted up and was relieved to have it done, then I tried it on to find it was too small. So, instead of buying a new shirt I thought I just cut the small one up and make a southern bell hat for the challenge, since I am in the heart of the south. But after making that I talked to one of the committee members and she said it we had to have a shirt that was a bill board for our state. So, here's my billboard, I buttoned it to my shirt using peanuts for buttons. I'm glad I had to redo my shirt because I tried thread painting for the first time and loved it. It was so much easier the I had thought it would be. If you have thought about trying it you should it is just too much fun.
At the last minute before leaving I was reading the new regulations for carrying computers on the plane and found that the case we had wouldn't do because of all the layers of leather and metal that was on it. So, I thought I whip something up right quick to carry it in. So, I went and found some (ugly) fabric I thought I'd never use for anything else and threw this together and well it turned out pretty nice after all, and the fabric doesn't look half bad on this. I like it so much that I use it all the time now.
We had the Miranda bag for our group project, but only a few of the ladies actually completed the bag at the retreat. We were just having too much fun to sit and sew. Never thought I'd say that. I didn't think anything would rank higher in my list of fun things to do then sewing, LOL. But I did finish the bags when I got home. They are nice bags, but after carrying it for a few days found I just don't like these handles.
Here is one of the postcards I made for the "I wish" postcard swap. I'm sure we all have the wish in common.
I also made some fabric baskets for a friend, I didn't take pics of these. I have completed my mini for the "Summer" mini swap, I 'll post it after my partner receives it. I'm a bit worried because my daughter says it looks more like Spring then Summer. I never get anything just right so this is just typical of me, but I'm happy with how it turned out and if she loves it then I'll love it. I made 9 more paint brush roll-ups for my sister. I've also been working and my Trash to treasure challenge, it won't win no prizes either but it is for a good cause, so that's the important thing. I have also been picking out things to use in the CQ one block swap. No I'm not really a CQ but I do like trying. I most happy about who's name I got for the swap. I got to meet her at the retreat and instantly loved her. So, I'm working extra hard to make her a block she will hopefully love. Last but not least we celebrated my youngest grandson's Birthday Tues. right before I came down with this awful stuff. This maybe where I picked it up. But We had a ball at his B'day bash and as soon as I upload some pics I'll share those with you. I had my daughter take a few of me and Cliff so maybe one will be good enough to update my profile with. If not, it will just have to wait until after I get some teeth. I've been having them pulled 3 at a time. I'm down to 6 teeth now which makes eating almost impossible. I have about 2 more months before I can actually eat something that I have to chew. Did I mention I am hungry, I found that liquids and creamed foods don't seemed to fill you up for very long. Well, I think I'm going to try and get a few things accomplished today. I won't be making it to the PO until tomorrow. I had hoped to do it Sat but neither of us felt like it, so maybe I can get these 3 packages out to their new homes tomorrow. I hope everyone had a great Memorial Day weekend.

Thank You Holee

2009-05-16T22:15:00.000-07:00

I made a trip to my daughter's house yesterday to deliver something very special Holee had sent my granddaughter. She also sent gifts for my 3 grandsons and me too. She sent Katelyn a collectible Scarlet O'Hara Barbie. Isn't she beautiful!! Katelyn just loves her. She had to open her but doesn't want anyone to play with her so she now lives on Katelyn's shelve with all her bowling trophies. Holee made many outfits and a sleeping bag for Barbie too. Katelyn adores them. I made a video of the kids opening the gifts to send to Holee. I won't be posting the video but will share a couple pics I captured out of the video. The boys all got some really cute pillow cases which they love, but the little ones went stright for the candy. Keith could not get to those lolli-pops fast enough. They kids just played and played with their things and my daughter told me Katelun was still dressing her Barbies at bedtime. I don't have pictures of all the outfits because they went straight to playing with them, but here's a soot of some of the first outfits Katelyn dressed her Baribies in. She was singing going to the prom while dressing them. It was so sweet and I'm glad I got that captured for Holee. Do you see the red. white and blue dress Holee made. Well, my daughter said she want a dress just like that one only knee length. Wonder if Holee has that pattern in a ladies size 8,. LOL. Now I'll have to see if I can find a pattern that I can make this dress from. Holee I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. My daughter says Katekyn is wanting to make you something now. I want to thank you for the pattern and FQ pack also. I hope watching the video brings you as much joy as the gifts did my grandbabaies. I hope to have it in the mail to you soon.

I bet you think I've been slackin

2009-05-11T07:54:00.000-07:00

But the truth of the matter is I have been very busy, more busy then I would have liked at times. Cliff went and bought the out building to store his bike and some other things in. So, I could use the other building it put his other things in that he just won't part with. I guess he got tired of me complaining about all of it sitting around out there. Cliff would have gladly put this thing together but he is just not able. So, I got started on his building, when I got home. After getting the floor and sides together he decided he wanted a wood thing built to put it on. So, it had to be took apart and a platform built. Now, he loves to supervise but I just have my own way of doing things. My famous words are if I'm going to do it I'm going to do it the way that works best for me. So a few fusses and cuss words later we had a wood platform, YEAH! Then it was off to my daughter to replace the fuel pump that went out on her car while I was away. Of course she saved that job for me. My girls think mom can fix anything. I did get the fuel pump in, but had to take out the back seat to get to it, and then once I got the old one changed out I realized the seal was stretched and had to order one and wait to get it all put back together. Now, I've just got to get those seats put back in, hopefully I'll get to that this week. Next, it was my dentist appt. Oh boy, I hate the dentist. I got 3 teeth pulled, I know that doesn't sound too bad but for me It was shear pain and I laid in bed for 2 days like a big baby. I've got nine more to go then they will make my upper plates. The majority of my teeth on top were fine, it was just the two he said root canal that made me say pull em, I'm not getting no more root canals or crowns. The two crowns I have now have always been sensitive and one has since fell out. Thank goodness all my bottom teeth are fine. I have been living on mashed potatoes and ice cream all week, and to think I thought this process might help me lose an extra 10-15 lbs. That was wishful thinking. I think I gained a little. Well, back to the building. Sat. morning when Cliff asked me how I was feeling I knew what he was thinking. I told the truth, I was feeling better. So, back to assembling I went. I worked all day but didn't really see much progress because I was basically putting all the mechanics on for the door latches, sky lights, trusses and shelving. There were so many parts it was just unreal. Why couldn't he have got a plain old building with out all those extra bits. Sunday rolled around and I got right up and was bound and determined to get this thing finished. It was hot and having to climb that ladder didn't help, but after working almost non-stop. I finally got the thing together and the roof put on. I hope I never see another screw driver for awhile. But everyone's happy now, Cliff even went and got his fold up chair and went and just sat in his new building. I have this feeling I'll have to move all the stuff from one building to the next, but I don't care I'll be glad to get it all off the patio and not have to look at it. I worked so hard for 2 years to plant that unsightly barren hillside it is just a shame to have to look at trailers and lawn mowers all piled in front of it. My grand kids just love to come and play out there, this big patch of concert is good for Katelyn to get around on plus it's a good spot for the little ones to ride their little scooters on, but most of all they just love that they can get out here and just run wild. At least now I won't have to worry with them getting hurt on the all these things sitting around out there. It's hard enough to make sure no of them fall in the pond. I always tell them if you fall in there nanny is not coming in to get you. But you know I would even if that big snapping turtle gets me. Boy wouldn't that be sight. The water is probably only waist deep but you can tell the bottom is just as slippery as can be with algae. It has one of those tarp bottom but it sure would be hard to get a foot hold in there and just the thought of it makes me shutter so I won't think about that. I never let them out my their self and stay right with them if they go near it. I usually let them feed the fish and then they are over the urge to be near it, and go right back to playing with their things. I almost forgot, the kids were over yesterday and Katelyn seen the building and decided it would make a perfect playhouse for her. Now, she's pretty good at working papaw but I have a feeling she won't win this one. But I'm here to tell you if he gets her a play house her mom and dad will be putting it together, not nana. We have this little fort house that she just loves to play in but she's gotten too big for me to lift her up in there, so I thought maybe we can just chop the legs off it and make it low enough to the ground for her, but it won't be happenign this week. I'm pooped. I hope everyone's Mother Day was just as nice as mine. Everyone came bearing hugs, kisses and dinner to show how much they love their mom. So, everyone's happy which makes me happy. Here's just a few pics of the monster that has been staring me down for the last 2 weeks, but it's done and it feels good to sit out there and stare at it now. Let's try not to notice that I didn't get the doors lined up too evenly. I'll have to go work on them some more.

The 2009 COF Retreat

2009-05-02T19:38:00.000-07:00

I had a blast at the COF quilting retreat. I'm been totally exhausted this week, but thought I'd share a few things with you. Here's at group pic of most the ladies that attended. We are all members of the HGTV quilting and needlework message board and it was so nice to finally get to meet so many of them. I have never laughed so much and just can't tell you how wonderful of a time we all had. New Hampshire was just beautiful and the weather was perfect. We were up early and to bed very late. Every minute was filled with fun and laughter. We did the Miranda bag for our group project which was taught by Christine. They also offered many classes(around 20) to choose from. I choose to take the Shuttle tatting, machine quilting and overlay applique. I loved the overlay applique and hope to work on it soon. I'll be doing Quiltbeas Victorian Ladies, she taught the class and you can see her beautiful patterns on her blog. I also learned some great tips and techniques from Jayardi for machine quilting so maybe I won't be stuck on stippling forever after all. The shuttle tatting class was great and I hope to find time to work on that some soon. We all took a charter bus trip to Keepsake quilting were I'm sure we broke a record for the biggest sales in one day, LOL. Then many of the ladies and I hit 3 bead shops, wow I know we had to of boosted the economy in that small town. We had 3 fabulous speaker from our group. We have such talented ladies that the committee members didn't have to look far to find some of the most amazing and inspirational speakers. I wish I pictures of all the treasures and things they showed. Some of the many things they shared with us was some quilts that had been quilted on the LA by Thearica Burroughs, she is a impeccable quilter. Her work is jaw dropping and I've seen pictures of her work but they just do not so her work justice. Then we got to see some of Kathy Shaw's fabulous Shadow applique, CQ, and another amazing red and white quilt she is working on that just blew me away. Next we had Quiltbea show us her stack and whack quilts, replique(which look just like stained glass) these were gorgeous and some of her overlay applique, which is to die for. Her quilts were just stunning. They shared with us there methods and tips, which made my to-do list grow twice as long. There was a show and tell session also, which was so inspiring.The meals were delicious but the time we shared while enjoying them were the best and I'll cherish them forever. We had our meet and greet where we each got up and showed our t-shirts we made to represent our state. This was not an easy challenge but the results were just fantastic. I was just totally in awe of the creativity of this wonder group of ladies. It was so much fun that it made my hating to get up in front of a group so worth it. We did some speed dating which really gave us all a chance to meet and get acquainted with each other. It was so nice to finally be able to put a face to the board name of the ladies I've been online friends with for the past year.I shared a room at the Inn with my sister and Lois and I couldn't have had better company. I hadn't seen my sister in many years but that won't happen no more. I have the best sister, to know her is to love her. Lois just made me feel right at home, easy to talk to, kept me laughing and is so energetic. She taught me how to do filet crochet, hand piecing curves. I got to see some of the things she was working on, one was stunning kimono quilt blocks and her things were so beautiful that she has got my sister wanting to start quilting again. My sister has already went and bought her some of the Asian fabric. Lois does all kinds of quilting, needle work, CQ, beading and just about anything thread related. She also won on the FQ challenge we had. I can't say enough about the ladies I got to meet and am already planning on getting together with them again soon. I'm sure I've left some things out but it was just packed full of so much fun memories and I just can't quit thinking about it. It was more then I had ever dreamed it would be. We took up the Bed and breakfast and most of the main building and had the conference center where most of the events took place. Everything was so convenient for those of us that wanted to arrive early and stay later to explore on our own. Here another pic of just a few of us, 4 of the comittee members(Nickilee, Quiltingnewbie, Ely, and Auntie Reba)They done a fabulous job of putting this all together. Then there is my sister, Lois Kathy, and I. I'm on the left with the yellow shirt. My sister is on the right with the black jacket. You can't tell in this pic but we look a lot alike. My roommante Lois is front center with the diamond appliqued sweater, and next to me in the back row is Kathy, I just love her and she doesn't live too far from me(YEAH!!!) I have more pics to share but that will have to be another post. Gosh, I also want to tell you I got to meet Tisme, she hosted the first swap I was ever in and she has always been such a great friend to me. It was a dream for me to finally get to meet her. The only thing that could have made this any better was if I could had got to meet Holee.

Card Holder Key Chain Tutorial

2009-04-24T15:37:00.000-07:00

These are very simple to make, it took me longer to put the tutorial together then it did to make the five key chains in this tutorial. I took lots of pics, but these are easy to make and anyone can do it. The monogram is optional. You can embellish these anyway you like and you might even choose to fussy cut certain fabrics. I made 70 of these monogrammed and used snaps for closures but wasn't happy with the snap. So, I started all over and made them 70 more with Velcro. I'm happy with the Velcro so that's what we'll go with here. But If you are better at setting snaps then I was you can give that a go. Just do what works best for you. You also have option for what to use for the piece that holds the ring. I used the fabric and sewed it just like making double fold binding but you could choose to use ribbon or even the straps the Moda uses to wrap their bundles in would work nicely and make great use of something that might otherwise gets thrown out. So lets get to it.

Here's what you need:

2 pieces of your fabric cut 3"x5 1/2"
1 piece cut 3"x8"
1 cut 3"x3" (you won't need this if you use ribbon or something else for the ring strap)
hook and loop Velcro cut to 1 1/4" or snap
metal keyring (I bought mine in the craft section at WM)
monogrammed square optional

Here's a few tips that I learned along the way.
Ironing embroidery thread will melt it. I never thought about it being synthetic when I made that mistake. So, my second tip is that the Velcro would probably melt too, luckily I didn't make that mistake too. I suggest covering with a cloth before pressing with an iron.
One more thing I used a 1/4" seam allowance.

Start by cutting your fabric and Velcro pieces. I did mine by cutting a 3" strip of the with of fabric (selvedge to selvedge) then from that I cut the two 5 1/2" pieces, one 8" piece and one 3" piece from the strip to get the four pieces needed for one key chain.
Now we want to fold the 8" piece wrong sides together and give it a press with the iron. You will also fold the 3" piece wrong sides together and give that a press to, but you need to turn the raw edges of that into the center fold just like if you were making double fold binding, press again. It should look like this. If you see extra pieces in there don't let that confuse you. I was making 5 of these at the time I took the pics.
Now we need to draw a line down the center, length wise of the 5 1/2 piece. This will be a guide to place the ruler so you get your corners cut off straight. OOPs, forgot to take pic so had to run back and grab some fabric to show what I mean, so ignore that this piece of fabric is different. But it still gives you the right idea.
Now the next step is the reason for the line. You will need to cut the corners off the two 5 1/2 " pieces. So, line the diagonal line on your ruler up with the center line on your fabric making the top of the ruler line up with the 1" mark on the ruler(note that the ruler is hanging over the top at the 1" mark). I stacked all mine so I could cut them all at once. Cut the two corner pieces off. Now all your pieces are ready to go to the sewing machine. This is what you should have. Two 3x5 1/2" with the corners cut off, one 3x8" folded in half and pressed and one 3x3" folded and pressed like double fold binding. If you are doing monograms you'll need those cut in small squares and ready also.Now the next step is only for the monogram, so if you're not doing a monogram then just skip this step. Place your little monogrammed square on one of the pieces that have the corners cut, center it as best you can. You might want to measure, I just eyeballed mine. Then I did a satin stitch on the edge all the way around in the same color thread as the monogram. I did do a couple with rick-rack around them and then stitched it down but you do it the way you like best!!
Now take the OTHER piece that has the corners cut off and sew the Velcro to it (if you choose to use a snap skip this step). Line it up between the two top points and down 3/8" from the top. I used a very narrow satin stitch all the way around. So if you used the hook part of the Velcro for this use the loop part for the other piece which will be now sewn to the folded piece on the end that has the fold. It too will be centered and down 3/8" from the fold. These are the ones on the right side of the pic. Next we will sew down both sides of the small 3" piece that we pressed with the double fold. This will be to close and the other side just for looks. I sew the open side first and then back down the other side. Once those are sewn I insert them into the metal rings and line up the raw edge and sew a stay stitch down to hold the ring in place. These will be sewn to the folded piece on the same side as the Velcro but opposite end. I back stitch here to make sure these are secure and don't pull lose. Now you should have these three pieces. I have 15 because I made 5 at once. One with monogram (or plain), one with Velcro and the folded piece with Velcro and ring attached. We're almost done. Now, take the folded piece with the ring and lay it directly on top of the Velcro piece that has the corner cut, both facing up. Lining up the bottom edges, like this. Now lay the monogrammed piece (or plain piece if you choose not to add a monogram) right side down on top of that. Making sure all the edges are all lined up. I pinned my 3 layers so I didn't have to worry about anything shifting. Starting on the bottom (short straight edge sew up the long side. I back stitch at the beginning and end so your stitches don't come loose when turning. Sew all the way around to the the other end. This is what you'll have. Now here is the tricky part. Not hard but tricky because if you don't have it turned right before sewing the bottom seam well it just won't work right. So when you look in the bottom where it is still open you will see the two other pieces and the middle one with the metal ring one it. Turn your piece from between the side of the middle that doesn't have the ring sewn to it and the outer fabric. If you click the pic you will get a close up and see the arrow pointing to where you need to turn the piece thru. Once it is turned it will look like this on one side(top one) and this (bottom one) on the other side. I know this doesn't look right, but it is. Go ahead and give it a press on the side that doesn't have the velcro. I was afraid the velcro might melt. Next sew a seam across the bottom to close. I backtack at the start and finish here too. Snip those corners to eliminate bulk. Reach in and pull the ring out to turn. After pushing those corners out you will want to give it another press with the iron. That's it, enjoy!!!

It's time!!!!!!

2009-04-21T16:51:00.001-07:00

I wanted to let everyone know that I'll be heading out in the wee hours of the morning and won't be back until the 28th. Sorry if I haven't responded to all your wonderful comments you made about my favorite quilt. I've been so busy. I promise to do so, just as soon as I get back in town. Sooner if I find a free moment in our very busy retreat schedule, probably unlikely though. I'm so excited, this is my first retreat and I get to meet 70 of my quilty friends that I've spent a lot of online time with this past year, and finally get to meet them. I will be sharing a ton of pics with you when I return. I will be carrying my laptop and will post the tutorial on Friday. I have to tell you it takes a lot of time to do one of these pic tutorials, next time I think I want to share something I may just do a video and make it easier on both of us. I know I'm not good with words or explaining things, and even worse when it comes to typing them. So you can expect a ton of pics. You know a pic is worth a thousand words. So, if what I'm trying to say doesn't make sense, I have a pic for every sentence. So you will be able to click any of the photos and get a good look at each step. I'm off to get some much needed sleep. Hope you all have a wonderful week.
Hugs, Donna

Park City Girl: Quilt Festival - Spring 2009

2009-04-18T20:47:00.000-07:00

I seen where Park City Girl is hosting an online Quilt Festival. So thought I add my favorite quilt. I made this quilt out of some scrap fabrics to donate to QWL (Quilts with Love) to go to the troops overseas. They are the reason we lay down at night in peace. So thought it would be nice to help our troops rest a little better too. Out of all the quilts I've made I think this is my favorite. I had to think it over for a few days deciding between a few when I remember this one which left the house right after it got the binding. It was made to the cot size they had asked them to be, which was a bit narrower then a twin but the quilt was very heavy and the hand quilting just made it feel so good. I have always been a big fan of RW&B quilts and have made one every year for the past three years since I started quilting. This is my favorite because it has 4 of my most favorite things, Bear paws, flying geese, RW&B and crosshatch quilting. I don't have a very good picture but I'm sure glad I took one. You can see the red and white strip backing. I still have some of this fabric. I remember buying the whole bolt. When I first started quilting I never knew how much to buy, so I'd just buy it all to much sure I had enough. I've made 2 quilts and backed one with it and still have some of that fabric left, LOl.

I almost forgot

2009-04-15T19:37:00.001-07:00

I told you I would post a pic of the buttercup bag I made my sister. It didn't take no time to make this and was one of the easy things I've made lately. Here's a link to the free pattern. Make sure you show us your buttercup bags!!! madebyrae,blogspot.com/

Quilt giveaway

2009-04-14T21:18:00.000-07:00

The Bitchy Stitcher: Because I care. And I'm lazy.
Head on over and sign up for this quilt giveaway. Make sure you read the requirements to enter so you can get extra entries.

I've gotten behind

2009-04-11T21:38:00.000-07:00

On reading everyone's blogs and posting on my own. But I've have been terribly busy getting ready for the big retreat. If you look on my side bar you will see a COF retreat countdown clock. When I first put it there I had over 190 days. Boy has the time flew, now I find myself in a mad dash to get everything done. I have got the tutorial I promised, all drafted up and ready to post the day I leave (April23rd) can't do it any sooner or I may ruin the little surprise I made for this great group of ladies. I had quite a few projects/challenges to complete. So, as soon as I return I'll be posting lots of pics, I know everyone likes pics. I'll also be taking several classes and will show you what I accomplish at those as well. There was a spot come open at the last minute so my wonderful sister was able to now join in on the fun. The best part is she is going to fly from Ohio down here to Ga. to fly back up to NH with me, where we'll have a stop in Pa. What's so great about that you ask, well not only has it been far too long since I have got to spend time with my sister, but I have been terrified about traveling alone and have came close to backing out several times. This is a once in a lifetime event for me, I have never attended a retreat or quilting class, and the best part is getting to meet 70 of my online quilting friends, and spend time with my sister. We will also be taking a big trip to Keepsake quilt shop, woohoo. I've only been to 2 quilt shops before and although I thoroughly enjoyed it they were quite small and a bit of a drive so I usually do all my shopping online. I decided I had better bring an empty suitcase to haul my loot back in, and it's a big one too : ) We will be playing FQ bingo, show and tell, making the Miranda bag, we will be doing a meet and greet where we all will be wearing the T-shirt we created to represent our state, they have too many things on our to do list for me to possibly list them all. So after 2 suitcases and a purse later I decided I needed more, so I made a tote for my sewing things. My sister wants me to make her one of the cute little buttercup bags that she seen some of the ladies on the HGTV message board make and the tutorial for them is on madebyrae.blogspot.com/ I hope to get started one that tomorrow, and possibly finish it and post tomorrow. But for now the only thing I can show you is the tote, which is a Simplicity gardening tote pattern but I loved the big pleated pockets and it has 12. that should hold all my stuff. It looks rather small in this pic but it will hold my pocket book, laptop and all my sewing tools, camera, cell phone, a few good books and of course some snacks(fig newtons for me). I have the matching apron pattern, if I have time I'll be making that too.

Thearica is celebrating her daughter birthday with a giveaway

2009-04-09T09:59:00.000-07:00

Thearica is having a very generous giveaway on her blog pigtalesandquilts.com. She is celebrating her daughter 30th birthday and has been so kind and generous to offer a chance to win 30 FQ!!!!! She has a wonderful blog and is a very talented LAQ so be sure to go take a look at her work on her other site while you are there.

Don't look now!

2009-04-06T09:42:00.000-07:00

My goodness, I stumbled across a blog today via my visitor map and WOW does not describe her work. I think I will be ordering some of her patterns, not that I think I could pull on off but maybe one day (never hurts to have positive thinking). She is also having a giveaway, so be sure to enter that. Here's the link to her giveaway, make sure you hurry, I think it ends tonight!
http://dontlooknow.typepad.com/dont_look_now/2009/03/ta-da.html
Oh my, I had to come back and edit this post. To tell you she has some tutorials to make some of her pillows on her blog!!

Remember the purple pokla dots and checks

2009-04-05T19:52:00.000-07:00

It was for my PIF gifts. Now that some of them have made there way home you can see what they turned into and where they went here and here. I still have 2 more on their way out that are a little different but I can't show those yet. I also made this cute little lady bug bag using the tutorial from here. It's for someone who loves ladybugs. It's not very big but would work well to keep jewelry in while traveling.

Mail Call

2009-03-25T15:59:00.000-07:00

Check out this beautiful mini I got from Quiltnrules a member of the HGTV quilting and needle work message board. Isn't is lovely. I was so happy when I seen it, it couldn't have been any prettier. This purplish blue color is my new favorite color. I just loved everything about the mini, she done a fantastic job, can you believe the HST are only 1/2". She doesn't have a blog although I wish she was she makes beautiful quilts. Thank you so much Lisa I adore it.Sorry if it looks a bit wonky, I could not get a straight angel on the pic, for the 2 huge table I've got planted in the middle of my room, one has got to go along with that crummy wall color that makes everything look dingy and dark. My camera takes horrible pics in there but it is so gloomy out side I think it wouldn't have done any better anywhere else. I will get a better pic when the sun shines. I also want to add that Holee hosted this oh so fun swap, you can see all the mini that have arrived on her blog. She has a link to them in her side bar look for it under labels. There is still a few headed to their new home but they will be added to her blog as they come in.

Sneek peek

2009-03-24T10:44:00.000-07:00

Here's a peek at a project I've been working on for some time. Why am I showing you this, because I love checks and have finally sewn them with out them being wonky. I asked Cliff if he thought this was too much, or over powering the other design which I can't show or it will give my surprise away. He liked it, maybe I should have asked someone that doesn't love bold as much as him, but since he gave me the thumbs up on this over the more subdued fabric, I'm going for it.

I 'm making something

2009-03-20T09:13:00.000-07:00

I 'm making something that I haven't seen on any other blogs, I made my own pattern for these and they are just too cute! I'll be putting a tutorial together for these right after I get back from the COF quilting retreat, which is a fast approaching. So if you are looking for something creative to make for yourself, group of friends or as gifts this just might be it. I wanted to make gifts for all 70 of the ladies attending this retreat. Now, 70 is a BIG number when you only have a few weeks to do this. I do not like making things for people unless I think they will actually use it, other wise it just gets tossed or sits on a shelf somewhere to add to the clutter. Now, how do you make something for that many people and not spend a bundle, but make something that doesn't look like it came from the $ store. You make it yourself, and personalise it. I can't go into any more detail right now or I might give it away, but be on the look out because around the end of April first of March I have a nice tutorial to share with all. I'm sure you can change this up and add your own little touch to it and make it your own, but remember I'm on crunch time and have 70 to make so I'll show you my basic pattern. I drafted a pattern and then sewed one together for a trial...errrr... made some adjustments, tried again, still not uqite right, but the third time was a charm. So, hope you will like it, and make some for all your family and friends.

You can make it

2009-03-20T08:52:00.000-07:00

Would you like a chance to win a new Janome.Well, here's your chance. Just go to this wonderful site for a chance to win. I like this blog and thanks to tisme for sharing it with us.

Progress on DD's quilt

2009-03-16T09:02:00.000-07:00

I'm so happy with the way this one is turning out. I love the fabric and the pattern. This is the first quilt I've made that I haven't second guessed myself on. I'm totally happy with it. I know she will be happy to just finally get a quilt, but I think she will be pleasantly surprised at the my color choices. This is a very simple pattern but the fabric just makes this quilt in my opinion. I learn something with each and every quilt I make and I think I finally learn my best lesson on this one, it doesn't have to be a difficult block to have punch, it's all about color. Did I tell you how much I love this quilt. That's unusual for me to be completed happy with what I'm making, but I'm more then happy, I'm thrilled!!
Now do you see something wrong in this next picture? It's not my oh so needed ironing board cover. Yes, you got it, I should have put right sides together but not me I do this way to often. You would think that as many times as I've had to frog blocks I've done this to I would take extra precautions. I do, I start out every time thinking now make sure you have them right sides together. Then next thing you know my mind has done went off into which colors should be next to each other or getting those edges lined up perfectly and now even realizing all that doesn't matter because I'll have to take it all apart in the end.

Working on my to-do list

2009-03-14T10:45:00.000-07:00

I've been working very hard to get my to-do list down. I'm going to my first retreat in April and can't tell you how excited I am. I've had so many things to do to prepare for this, that I haven't got much quilting done but am making some progress. I have finished my cuppa blocks. I only had to make 3 sets before I got them right. Here's a peek at them before they head out the door Monday morning. I'm going to be working on my t-shirt challenge for the retreat today and tomorrow. I've also been working on my PIF gifts while I watch American Idol. These have quite a bit of hand work so they are nice to work on while watching TV. I've also started the blocks for my DD's quilt. I'm loving the colors of these.

Tea/ Coffee Cup Pouches

2009-03-09T09:07:00.000-07:00

I joined a cuppa swap on the HGTV board and we are swapping tea/coffee cup blocks. Fun, fun, fun I like all the cup quilts I've been seeing, and for me I love scrappy so the variety will be perfect. I sure am hoping we do another swap making the kettles. I would like to have kettles in my quilt too. I wanted to show you the little tea cup pouches I made for my 9 partners. I ahd a hard time with the zippers but I still think they turned out so cute and hope they like them.

The Black and Whit challenge

2009-03-08T08:26:00.000-07:00

I joined the black and white challenge a few months back and have finally made a decision on my pattern and fabrics. So, here is a sneak peek. I was originally going to go with a robins egg blue but when I seen this green it jumped in my arms. I know my daughter will love this quilt. She loves B&W and green is her favorite color. She is also a big fan of bold prints and bright colors, so this will be a big hit with her.

The true loves of my life

2009-03-06T09:10:00.001-08:00

I do have a pic I can share with you today. These are my precious grandchildren.
Top left is Blake he has the biggest heart, he is so caring, giving and thoughtful. He's only 10 but he already has a weekend job. He works on a farm. Jim a friend of the family seen how hard he works and enjoys every job you give him, so he gave him a real job earning wages. Blake saves most of his money, but what he does spend, he spends on others. While I was over keeping a eye on them the other day, I heard water running so I had to go investigate and my precious boy was doing up the dishes for mommy. He is full of energy and puts it to good use. He always gives me a big hug and tells me he loves me. He is a big part of my heart, a true delight, and is always thinking of others
Top right, is miss Katelyn the super star. She's all girl and a true princess you see. She loves attention and gets it. She loves to sing, dance and put on shows for us. She is not shy, and always says just what's on her mind. She's a big talker and is older then her age, she may only be 6 but she can carry a conversation like an adult. She is a book worm and her spelling skills are lets just say better then mine. She excels in her school work. She's cute and she will tell you how cute she is, LOL. If you say oh Katelyn you look so cute, she says I know. She is the only girl and knows just how to work pap paw, she has put her girls skills to work on him many times. She know a few bats of the eyelashes and she wins. She has taught me a few things about living life to it's fullest. She is a such a joy it often brings tears to my eyes.
Bottom left, Keith our mr mischievius. He is so sweet and loving you just want to squeeze him. When he comes running to the door to greet me with his arms all stretched out, hollering nana all the way, it makes my heart melt. He loves to investigate and explore new things. He is a danger to him self at times. He started early too, as soon as he could crawl he was a climbing and in to every thing he could get his hands on. If he couldn't reach it he found a way. He's not near as bad about climbing as he use to be but I still have to keep a very close eye on him, because you just never know about him. Locked doors and high up places don't stop him, LOL. He just turned 2 and is talking up a storm. Me and Keith have a special bond, that even I can't explain. He thinks I'm his nana and only his, he thinks I should never leave and go home and if mom stops by for a visit you can bet he'll let everyone know he wants to stay with nana. I can take him anywhere and he is so well behaved, a little gentleman for sure, now if I can get him to do this at home. He just got a big boy bed and has learned to use to potty. He's growing up far too fast for me. He is so fun loving, always puts a smile on my face and keeps me young at heart.
Bottom right, John, he is so gentle and animated. You can see exactly what he thinking by the look on his face. He is so full of personality. He's almost 2yrs, he doesn't talk much but says it all with expressions. He has a face for everything. There is so much I could say about John, I'll just have to pick a few. He is an only child and good at keeping his self busy. He has always loved music, he will stop dead in his tracks to listen to a song playing. He loves to cook, give him some pots and a spoon and he's content for hours. It is funny to watch but he is so neat and tidy. If he gets his shirt wet when drinking, he wants a clean one. He keeps his toys right where he thinks they go. If one of the other kids leaves his leapfrog and the floor he picks it up and puts it back on his table, he knows his tools go on the work bench and his plastic french fries go in his play kitchen. I think he will be a neat freak like his mother. I have never seen his his room a mess, it just amazes me how he puts everything back where he got it. He's not one to get into things, he knows what his and what's not. I have to say his favorite thing would be his dog and outdoors, he could stay outside rain, shine, sleet or snow. He is also a momma's boy, as bad as I want to call him mine he's hers. It's usually bath time when mom gets home from work but as soon as he hears the horn beep from locking the car doors, it's all over for me. He can't get out of the tub fast enough to see his mommy. I love when he gets tired he crawls up in my lap and lays his little head down and goes right off to sleep. It like heaven for me to have him in my arms.
You know it's a funny thing how each one is so different. I wouldn't change one thing about either one of them, I love them all with every bit of my heart. When I think of any one of them I feel so blessed, it makes me cry with joy just thinking of them.

Blake, So loving and thoughtful!! Katelyn, Our super star!!! Keith, Mr. mischievous!! John, is gentle and animated!!

I've been busy

2009-03-05T08:11:00.000-08:00

I spent the last 2 days cutting 75 FQ's, 30 for Bingo Bonnie's FQ bingo and the others for the COF quilting retreat which is in April. I'm so excited, this will not only be my first retreat but I will get to meet 70 on my HGTV online friends. How great is that??? That's what that countdown clock in my sidebar is for. I bet you thought I was just into hunky guys,LOL. The hunky guys is a pic of some PJ's that were worn to the last retreat and I thought they made a cute clock for us 70 crazy ladies. It won't be long now, as bad as I want to go, I'll miss have that clock, LOL..

I also joined the Scraps to Treasure challenge this year. Is is going to be fun, not only are all the quitls going to charity but it will make me put my thinking cap on. I'm just not that creative of a person, but it doesn't stop me from trying. After all it's not about who wins but who finishes right and we all have fun and someone somewhere get a great quilt. There was 58 of us sign up this year, so come see the show over on the HGTV message board and vote for mine, hehe. Just kidding, you won't know who's is who's until after the voting. Doesn't hurt to have wishful thinking though. I will post when the show is, the ladies have made some very nice quilts in the past 3 yrs. and we all love pics.

I have so many things I's like to show you but they have all been pretty secret projects up to this point. I let one quilt get out the door before taking a pic of it. I'm going to try to remember to get a pic of all the other things before sending them off so you can see what I've been up to. I know I'm not the master of quilting and have tons to learn but good or bad I'm showing it. The way I look at it is at least I gave it my all and who knows it might make someone very happy and say "hey come look at this, I'm not such a bad quilter after all, what was she thinking". I know I ask myself that a lot. I always start out thinking i have a good plan and by the time I finish, I'm not happy with it, only happy to be finished. I know one day I will make a quilt that when all is said and done I will love. I feel that day coming, just wish it would hurry up and get here. I'm taking a class at the retreat on overlay applique. Quiltbea is teaching this class. She made some of the most beautiful applique Caroline ladies and this is what we will be learning. I know I have it in me, if I can just find it, I'll make me some too.

I'm off today is my day off so I've got to go fabric zipper and rick rack shopping to finish up several projects that have to be done soon.One more thing, Cliff's been doing pretty good and it been at least q month since I'v ehad to call an ambulance and that feels good. I've got to say it has all wore me down a bit and I've been feeling less the perfect for the last few weeks but i think it is all from stress and allergies. It's so spring like here and our temps will be in the 70's all week crazy huh, especially since last week was freezing and some had snow. I just heard Cliffs feet hit the floor so guess I have to run, talk to you later. Have a great day!!!

OMG, Check these ladies out!!!

2009-02-27T12:22:00.000-08:00

And I know how to crochet. This is definitely on my list of to-do's. Now, I've just got to get the patterns.
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://bp2.blogger.com/_zdJtk2RM07k/R3pYuTul3uI/AAAAAAAAAMY/6gleRtan_Ak/s320/000_0146.JPG&imgrefurl=http://blarneysweb.blogspot.com/2008/01/crinoline-ladies.html&usg=__AKdNfEKAzhh5Peo_JUHrRzqDxX8=&h=238&w=320&sz=21&hl=en&start=10&sig2=OOYvQo0Sx1wTHF1XCVkESA&tbnid=YkYcVUR5pIif4M:&tbnh=88&tbnw=118&ei=TkuoSbf_C5P0MprI2NIC&prev=/images%3Fq%3D%2522crinoline%2Bladies%2522%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1B3GGGL_enUS276US280

My sister started a blog

2009-02-25T23:28:00.000-08:00

She is the the artist of the oil painting that I have used as my header. She just started a blog. It is titled One Craft at a Time which is very appropriate because I can't think of any thing she can't do. Her favorites are painting with oils and acrylic, tatting and paper crafts. She use to quilt, crochet and well too many to name. I wish you could see just a portion of the things she has made. Her art room is so full of paintings and other things she has done she can no longer get in there. I don't know if she wants me telling you that. But we all know about that, so maybe she won't care. I wanted to share this with you so you can go visit her blog. She's just learning her way around blog land but she'll be up and running before you know it and you will see some pretty amazing things she has made. Please leave her a comment so she knows you stopped by.

Signs of Spring and a couple things I got done

2009-02-23T07:23:00.000-08:00

I filled the bird feeders up 3 days ago and see today they have completely emptied one of them. And if you enlarge the image you will see a bird on the green feeder. I enjoy hearing the birds sing. I haven't got my hummingbird feeder out yet, but will soon.
The buttercups are starting to bloom there are several patches of these throughout the yard.
I also noticed the crocus are about to open the beautiful blooms, I just love these, but they don't last long. They are so pretty when they are open the almost don't look real. Mkaes you want to touch them and see if the are fakes.
And the biggest sign is the fish are no longer lethargic, they are starting to move about, enjoying the sun. The bigger ones dove to the bottom when they seen me coming but I managed to capture some of the smaller ones. It's still too early to start feeding them, they do not digest food well until the water temp stay at least 50% or above.
The disappearing nine patch I made for QWL, I had planned on getting a small border on and sandwiched this past weekend but ended up in the bed sick. Stress does me like that. I had a few stressful moments last week that did me in. I'm feeling a little better today, so maybe I can manage to get these ready to be quilted. The pic is blurry but you get the idea, It needs to be pressed!! I also got the firecracker blocks put together, It needs a border, I just don't know what. The fabrics used in this top all look like they came from ties. For some reason my picture taking is not to clear today to see the details, I don't know if it me or the camera. I also made a few things for a very sick little girl. I made her a small activity tote just big enough to hold a crayon roll-up and a activity book, stickers and things of that sort she will be able to do if she does get to feeling like doing something. I learn how to do the 2 basic stitches in tatting. At first I knew I was doing something wrong because my stitches were sliding on the ring thread and not the shuttle thread, but once I figured the problem out I was off and running. What caused my problem was my knot was not transferring over, this is a must or it just won't work. Thought I share that in case someone has this problem. It took me longer to figure out the problem then it did to figure out the method. I'm not too happy with the shuttle I got, it was the only ones they had so I got it. I think my sister or a friend might be sending me one of the clover shuttles which has been recommended by both. I haven't got very far on my Pay it Forward gifts, I needed certain colors of floss so we made a trip to Micheals for that. I'm dangerous in that store every time I go in there my bill is ridiculous. I went for 4 skeins of floss and ended up buying about 40, not to mention all the other things. It doesn't help me when Cliff adds things to my cart either.

Done and to-do's

2009-02-18T23:26:00.000-08:00

I finished this little mini quilt today. I plan on sending this to someone special. I hope she likes it. I choose the red color way of Feathered Friends by In the beginning because I know red is her favorite color and I'm pretty sure she likes birds. Maybe because I love birds I think everyone else does too, we'll see. I actually made 2 of these because of the big sister rule. If you don't know what the big sister rule is, I'll tell you big sister says everything I make I have to make her one too. Now, I don't always do that, I do good to get one made most of the time, LOL. You know how that goes. I love my sis and wish I could make more things for her. My sister is always making or sending me things. I've been making them both something else(surprise), so can't show them. I started those before I started these but they are taking longer then I had expected, but I work on them a little everyday. I've just about got the firecracker blocks put together. I'm going tomorrow to buy the batting for it and another top I made for QWL. I hope to get one more QWL quilt done before the deadline. I'm going to start the quilts that I'm making for my DD's in the next week (if all goes as planned). I have such a long to do list this year. That in order for me to get all the things I want to have made by Christmas I have got to get started now. I worked so hard to get my swap list down and said I wasn't going to join any more until I had most of these other projects done but I just can't resist jumping in and have added another one to my list, just when I was starting to see the light. I finished the FQ challenge for the COF retreat. We also have a T-shirt challenge, I had that finished too until I tried the shirt on and it was too small.

I'm sinking and can't get out

2009-02-18T15:20:00.000-08:00

My day was going just great. I left to go keep the kids for the couples hours between DD and SIL work shift, like I always do. I was nearly there when suddenly the front end of my van just went completely down. WOW talk about traumatized, I didn't know what in the world was going on. But it just keep sinking so I tried to open the door to get a look and the door won't open. So, I rolled the window down to see that the front end of my car had fallen down so far that the tires were barely visible. I freaked out. I immediately called my son in law, Cliff and said get here quick. I don't know what's going on but the front of my van has sunk so low that one of the back tires is now off the ground by this time. I said please hurry and bring chains and the 4 wheel drive. I had gotten out of the side door, and of course it seemed like forever before they got there, but in actuality it wasn't but a matter of minutes. The man from across the road came over too, seeing that something was wrong. He kept saying it still sinking and finally after about the third time he said that I told him please don't say that every time you do I feel more stress. Then i could see my help coming to the rescue. Oh boy I could tell by the look on Cliff face he was not happy, He thought I had drove off into a hole. But honest there was no hole, but do you think men believe women when it comes to driving. I said Cliff you know me better then that I would never drive through a hole. After a few tries they finally managed to get me pulled out. WHEW, I could breathe again. So after they got me pulled out we stuck a 5 foot shovel down into this big hole and never did hit bottom. Turns out it was a sink hole it was about 4 foot across and 4 foot wide, and who knows how deep, it was completely full of water. Talk about scary! Once I realized how lucky I was, knowing this could have been a far worse situation, I was actually grateful. When at first I thought no one believes me, honest it was a road when I went over it and it just disappeared, and now after they seen that shovel disappear they knew it was a sink hole, don't know how deep, but I called and reported it and we found some railroad ties to keep anyone else from driving through it thinking it was just water one the road. Geez, when I look back I think lucky me, I could have drown in that big water filled hole, and I guess being I was in a van helped. Gosh if this had of happened to someone in on of those small short compact cars the out come might not have been so good.

What color is your rain bow?

2009-02-16T16:21:00.000-08:00

Your rainbow is slightly shaded green.

What is says about you: You are an intelligent person. You feel strong ties to nature and your mood changes with its cycles. Those around you admire your fresh outlook and vitality.

Find the colors of your rainbow at spacefem.com.

I found this over on Tammy blog, it was fun to do.

Teenytiny quilt swap

2009-02-15T17:43:00.000-08:00

I got my mini quilt from the swap Tracy hosted. She was the maker of this sweet little mini quilt. It's it just darling. She also sent me a pattern and templates for mini bow tie quilts. So, I'll be making one real soon. Thank you so much Tracy, you're a wonderful host and hope to join in some more of your swaps when I can find the time. What a lovely ending to a great day!!!!!!

Since we are on the subject of mini's Tracy got me hooked on these little babies, Once I made the first one , which wasn't the greatest I just couldn't quit making them I have made 7 since Christmas. The first one was a snail trail using fabrics that were sent by my partner. Looking back, I know I could have done better. The second one was the mad about plaid one, it's very tiny it measures 9x12" . Next I pieced the DWR all was going good until I quilted it on my machine and it got sort of wonky on the edges, so I went on to make the fan/dresden one, it's 10" square without the border. Next was the pinwheel with prairie points I really like this one. The last one I made for a swap we had on the HGTV forum, My partner gave me the color she liked and so this is what I made it was 11" square before the border was put on. I"ve been wanting a mini quilt wall since I have seen so many and loved everyone of them. So, I'm off to a good start.

The winner

2009-02-13T14:57:00.000-08:00

of my b;og giveaway is.........

My grandchildren had so much fun doing this and wanted to draw another name, so maybe we can do another one soon. Katelyn was upset because she said the video was too short, she loves the camera. So, I promised her I would get some video of her sewing next time I'm over their house. Last time I was there she told me she needed more practice, but I think she's ready to show what she's making now. Congratulations asimplelife you are the winner, hope you enjoy them.

Lavender Lime

2009-02-12T12:22:00.000-08:00

Cliff asked me the other day what I wanted for Valentines day. I know he thought I was going to say fabric, I always do, but I surprised him and said a walking foot. I could see the stumped look on his face I said I'll show you what I'm talking about. He loves to go back in the sewing room so he gladly went to see what I was talking about. I showed him all the feet that came with my machine, and told him I didn't know what half of them were or what they are for but I knew that none of them are a walking foot and I've always wanted one. I told him I thought it would be pricey, but he said that's fine, can you get it online. I looked around but only found them on ebay, I'm leary about buying some things off ebay and told him I'd have to go to a dealer to make sure I got the right one. He said we could go Thur. since that is the only day we are both home at the same time during business hours. So, I went online and found a dealer for my machine in Chattanooga, Normally I go to Atl. but I just didn't feel like driving that far and dealing with the traffic. Cliff's just not been feeling the best lately, and tires easily so the closer the better. He secretly loves fabric, so I knew he would want to go too. He always wants to go with me to any craft or fabric stores, and he does pick fabrics sometimes and says go ahead and get this you know you'll find plenty of uses for it. So, bright and early this morning he was ready, before I had even got up. He looked over at me and said are you ready to go to the quilting store (that's what he calls it). I got right on up and took my shower and off we went to the Lavender Lime Quilt shop. Neither of us had been there, we have only been to one other quilt shop so this was exciting for both of us. Turns out it was rather easy to get to, right off the interstate. Immediately we could see this was a far better quilt shop then the one we had been to previously. Cliff is attracted to the machines and LA tables so first thing he says is her come try this machine out. He sitting there in front of a Bernina 8 series, I said oh no, if I try it I might like it. I see him sitting there looking at the price, and he says well just go ahead and try it, if you try it you'll be entered for a chance to win it. I did not want to try it, I simply told him I was happy with the machine I have. So, I went straight to getting my walking foot, which just happen to be right beside the bobbins and boy do I need bobbins so I got a few of those. Next he says you should try to find that brown fabric you've been needing. I looked the whole store over and was about to give up when the shop lady told me that all the fabrics on that particular wall were on sale, now why did she have to go and do me like that. She must be a quilter and know we can't resist a sale. Cliff said go ahead and get you some while we're here. Oh my they did have some beautiful fabric, my poor head was swimming, I knew I had to stay focused though, and picked out a few things I knew I needed for my Pay it Forward gifts and on my way back up I spotted the perfect brown, with the tiniest dark red dots on it. It was like hitting the jack pot. I've been looking for a certain tone on tone brown for some time, and haven't had much luck because things online don't always look the same when you get them home. The whole point here is the best part of my day was finding this great little shop, not too far from home and sales lady was just the best. They have classes that I definitely need to learn how to work the embroidery module on my machine. I can do the basic designs that came with it but that's it. I have been limited to that because I just don't know how to do anything beyond that point. This was such a great little place and I'm so glad we found it. I see myself going back very soon. They have some of the prettiest fabrics, so much better seeing them in person the on a screen. So, I did manage to stay on track and just get the things I needed with the exception of one panel. They have a website also, I haven't visited it yet but will very soon. So, this is what my sweet baby got me for Valentines Day, a walking foot 10 bobbins and the fabrics I just couldn't find online. It's hard to find fabric on line sometimes, because if you type in a color you sometimes have to search pages and pages for the certain one only to not find it. I usually get side tracked by another fabric I wasn't looking for and having a whole new project to work on and still not having the fabric I originally needed.This was my Lavender Lime experience, my favorite new place. Oh and here's a pic of the quilt I needed the brown for, I had all the other fabric but needed that brown, this is the quilt my daughter wants who has no other quilt made by me except my very first quilt if you can call it that. I did not make this quilt in the pic below, It's a pic I found online and have no idea who made this beauty, It is the inspiration for the quilt I'll be making in the near futute.

Firecracker or rail fence?

2009-02-11T21:23:00.000-08:00

I've never been a big fan of the rail fence quilts, but I have seen some that I like. I originally started out to make a fire cracker blocks for my patriotic quilt but realized these could be laid out like rail fence.. I'm still leaning toward the fire cracker side. But honestly I'm not loving either one. I even tried a nine patch where the QST are but wasn't thrilled with that either. So, out of the 3 I think I'll be going with the firecracker, maybe just because firecrackers are how many Americans celebrate independence day. If you have any suggestions other then the ones I've tried I'd appreciate any suggestions. You know I just realized I could cut these rails up and make them all nine patch blocks, hmmm, then I'd have a ton of nine patch blocks I wouldn't know what to do with. I always do this, I always think I know what I want and by the time I get the blocks made I second guess myself. Does this happen to you? Just about every quilt I've made I start out loving it but by the time it is done I think I should have done things different. I have about 3 times this many rail blocks made already. I just made these QST out of some cheapo fabric I had to see if I was going to like it. If I decide to go with that one I'll be using the same fabrics that are used for the rails. Go ahead and click the image and get a better look and see what you think. Well, I come back to say that the more I look at it the more i think I'll just go ahead with the firecracker and be done with it and thenI can just start on another.

Candy Kisses and a Dozen Roses Giveaway!!!!

2009-02-02T17:57:00.000-08:00

Okay, it's official. One the way back to the house today, I stopped and checked the mail and got the package I've been expecting. So, me and Katelyn came in and I said okay lets got do, I told her pick anything out you want Katelyn and remember this has to be something special, She looked and looked she couldn't reach any of the top shelves so I held her up and let her do a littler digging and had to set her back down because she was getting heavy. So, she was ruffling through all the bottom shelves, while I opened my package. I said oh Katelyn look what nanny got aren't these so pretty. And before I could ask her if she wanted me to make her something with them she said I pick theses, talking about the fabrics I just brought in the house. Oh boy I didn't even get a chance to play with them yet. Guess, I"ll just have to get me some more, I couldn't tell her no, after all I told her anything. I had put up the fabrics I knew I needed for certain projects so thought I was safe. No big deal, I thought this was a perfect choice after all it is nearly Valentines day. WOW, just what we all want for Valentines Day candy, roses and Fabric, not necessarily in that order. Better be glad it wasn't Blake doing the picking or you might have ended up with Ga. bulldawgs or cowboy and Indians. Now, I haven't given much thought on how to play, but thought I better make this easy because I just might not be able to keep up with all the extra name in the pot thing. So, if you have a blog or are a current member ( joined before today) of the HGTV forum board then you can join because I know that I'll be able to contact you. I'm sorry if their are others that might want to join but I don't open emails if I don't know who they are from. My apologies. So, just leave a comment and don't forget to thank Katelyn!! cause she'll be reading this. If you do not have a blog but are a member of the HGTV MB make sure to sign your comment with your HGTV name so I'll know who to contact.The deadline to enter will be Feb. 13th, I'll one of my grandchildren to draw the winning name. I'll get pics of the drawing so stop back by on Valentines day and see who wins. Oh forgot to say, I know your going to count the roses and you're right it is only 11 roses but I added another FQ of green to make up for the FQ I just couldn't live without. This giveaway is suppose to be for my 100th post giveaway, I'm just about 10 posts too early, but we all know i'll have 100 post by Valentines day. So good luck andthe main thing is just have fun. Guess you're wondering where the candy kisses are, it the name of the fabirc but i'll go out and get a bag of hersheys to add to it.
Donna

Cuppa Swap

2009-02-02T11:47:00.000-08:00

I got the hard part done, well hard for me anyway. I picked the fabric I'm going to use for my coffee cup blocks. The fabric is suppose to say something about me. Well now if you knew me, you'd know that's hard because there are so many things I love. I love birds for one and have some beautiful bird fabrics, but that only says one thing about me. I love coffee too, but that's probably obvious since I joined the swap. I do love to travel and seen some really cute fabric about Paris, I think it was called Pack your bags. But this fabric says 3 things about me. One is I love the soft colors, two, I love flowers, and three I love nature. Now guess you're wondering what this has to do with nature, This fabric is from a April Cornell collection called Natures Chorus. Now I don't know exactly how I be doing my blocks but have a pattern in mind. This picture doesn't show the real beauty of this fabric but if you click for a close up you will see it very pretty. I'll keep you posted. I've got to go keep an eye on Keith for a little while so maybe if mom says Katelyn can come home with me, she can pick out some fabric for my giveaway.

Meet my Cat family

2009-01-31T20:12:00.000-08:00

Last years some stray cats turned up out here, and they looked like they were about to starve to death. So, I fed them, they were afraid of me at first, but now they're my babies. Only thing is I've got 2 more babies this year, I don't have the heart to part with them so we've decided if we are going to keep them we'll have to take them all in and get em fixed. The 2 new ones are the gray with white and the Siamese. The big fat black one was next to death when I found them. Her head was the size of a well between a golf and tennis ball, but it looked huge because her body was so scroony that she couldn't hardly hold her head up. She also has a deformed foot. She took to me right away and she's my best buddy. It took the other ones a little longer to realize I was there friend. I didn't push them to come to me, I just let them do it in their own time. I have given them quilty/sewing names; Buttons, bobbins, Noodles, Zipper and Patch. I wanted to include the babies in the picture so I had to take it through the back door window, they just now got where they will come up on the porch to eat with the others and I don't want to spook them. I have a picture of a big black snake they killed too, but I'll spare you and not post that pic.

Katelyn, loved her cowgirl skirt so much she asked me to make her another. She didn't have another skirt to add a ruffle to, so I thought since Katelyn always wears the knees out on her jeans from crawling we could just cut those off and use them. So, her mom went and found me a pair and it worked. I left the pants intact just cut the legs off. I still need to make a orange belt to go with them. I'm thinking about putting a piece of rick rack on the top edge of the ruffle, not sure yet. I so glad she likes them because she goes through pants so fast crawling around all the time. Guess I could have cut those legs off a little more even, but my original plan was to rip the seams out and make it a skirt when I realized most of her skirts have shorts built into them so there was no need to do the extra work. If this one looks good on her, Katelyn has several pairs of holey kneed pants so, I may be busy for awhile. I realized today that I have nearly 90 posts so I've been wanting to do a give away for some time just haven't had time or a clue as what to give. Lately my brain has been overloaded, so the best I can come up with based on my thought of what would be a good gift to give that most would love, is fabric. We quilters do love fabric. Now, I can't decide on what fabric, but I have about 10-12 more post to go before deciding. Oh well, guess I'll figure it out. until then I just wanted to let you know that sometime here real soon I'll be doing a give away. I would let Katelyn pick but there is just no telling what you might end up with, but it is a thought, we'll see. Do you think it would be better to do more yardage of one fabric or FQ pack? Or maybe I could offer different ones to choose from. Gosh, maybe I should just go to bed and quit thinking!!!

Quiltbea's mini DWR

2009-01-31T13:21:00.000-08:00

WOW, go take a look at this. It's just gorgeous and can you believe it's a mini. It is just so lovely, I couldn't help but post about it. She is a very talented quilter and has some great tutorials on her blog. So, here's a link to her post and her mini.
Quiltbea's mini DWR

Got some sewing done this week

2009-01-29T23:06:00.000-08:00

I finally got around to finishing some things. My DGD school is having western day tomorrow, so we thought instead of buying an outfit we'd just add this ruffle and belt to this skirt for her. She loves it. I did have to go back and sew around outside top of the ruffle to keep it from poofing up so much. I had already taken the picture before I took it over to see if she liked it. Once we got it on her we decided it wasn't laying down too well, so I pulled out Katelyn's mini Janome she got for Christmas and run another seam on top and wa-la, it worked and looked great on her. I wish I had of took my camera with me, so you could see it on her. And speaking of Katelyn she making her new cousin a quilt. She's doing quite well I'll show pics soon of her progress. I have a few to take apart but most of her seams turned out good.Next I made a roll-up for my sisters paint brushes. She needed something to carry them in to class. I told her a while back I'd make on for her but just got around to getting it done. I made this just like they make the crayon roll-ups only I added a handle and vinyl to the inside. I put vinyl over the inside fabric so when she put her brushes back in and there still wet it will work out better. I still have to pick the tissue paper out of the seams. I didn't know vinyl wouldn't feed thought the machine so I laid that on top the vinyl so it would feed through. I was going to sew a flap of vinyl to fold down over the top of them too, but thought it might make it hard to get the brushes out so I'm just going to lay a piece of the vinyl inside to lay over the top of them too. I left the ribbon pretty long because I wasn't sure how much she'd need to wrap around, she said she usually carries 30 brushes to class. I didn't know they made 30 different brushes. I learned something about painting! I hope it works good for her, if not I'll try again and try to work it out. I also got some pants mended for a friend which have been mended so many times before the only thing that was holding them together was the seams. What is it with men that they won't give their pants up even when they are practically all patched up. Just about every part of these jeans have been patched. I don't doubt that in 6 more months I see these pants come back to me. I also got some mini's done, Ill be posting them in the next week or so once my partner has received them
Wanted to update this post. My sister got her roll-up and loves it. She said it is just what she needed. Here's the pic she sent me with the brushes in it.

Choosing a Happy Attitude

2009-01-27T16:34:00.000-08:00

Today I read a post on a blog I like to read and it was such a nice post, that I thought it worth sharing. The post is on Michele's blog- with Heart and Hand here is a link the post, titled Choosing a Happy attitude.
http://with-heart-and-hands.blogspot.com/2009/01/choosing-happy-attitude_23.html

Lecien fabric

2009-01-26T15:35:00.000-08:00

My fabrics came today, I only ordered 1/2 yards pieces of these, because they are rather expensive and more then I normally like to pay. I just couldn't resist them they are so soft and pretty. I have always wanted a quilt made with soft, girly fabrics. So I thought I could stretch theses by using a pattern that has a lot of white background fabric. Boy, did I make a mistake because now that I have them and looked at them all day, I think I need more. The greens and pinks are my favorite, don't you just love them? I think these will make the perfect quilt to go on the rope bed in the spare room. I have my sisters painting hanging over that bed and the room has such a feminie look to it already, with the dainty tables and things I can't wait to see a quilt made of these in there. It's my favorite room, has just a easy feeling about it. Reminds of the days back when kids played outside, going to town was a big event, and grandma washed our cloths on the wringer washer. Gosh, it really wasn't that long ago, but such a different age. I remember we'd all gather round and grandma played the organ and Bill on his guitar, and we'd all be singing. I remember eating squirrel dumpling, and drinking goats milk-might be why I hate milk! Bill made his own shot gun shells, brewed his own beer. And every morning we had to go gather the eggs from the hen house. I hated that job because there were always snakes in the hen house trying to beat us to the eggs. If we didn't raise it, grow it or kill it we didn't eat it. I think grandma even made her own lard and soap. Me and my siter use to have to fill the tub up in the morning and let it sit in the sun all day to warm so we could get our bath. I really miss those days when you could let your kids out to play and not worry that someone would come along and snatch them up. I'll tell you about a day I remember so vividly. Bill (my step grandfather) got drunk and passed out in the yard, so grandma told me and my middle sister if we went out and got bill check book out of his pocket she'd take us to town for ice cream. So, we did! We never went to town but once every couple of months so we were just thrilled. Now, I don't know what happened when bill woke up and found his pocket empty and all of us gone but it's just one of those days I've never forgot. Any how, that's what this fabric reminds me of clothes hanging on the line and sitting on the porch, the good old days.

A few good things to post about

2009-01-16T13:35:00.000-08:00

First up is, I'm thrilled to say I have won a Moda jelly roll from Debi in the Whirl into winter giveaway. Hers was the only one I entered, I just haven't had time to do much blogging lately. So, I was so surprised when I read my email that I had won. I had totally forgotten about this. It's the Harvest Home line. I've never worked with a jelly roll, but I'm very excited about winning and can't wait to see it.
Second, I've been so worried that I would fall behind on the swaps I signed up for, but am glad to announce that I have completed my PC's on time. Just need to fill them out and get them mailed. I have also made great progress on the mini swap I'm in as well.The next pressing deadline is for the cuppa swap on the HGTV board, not quite sure of how many to make yet but have a plan for my blocks and will try to get stared on these soon. So, it's looking like I'll make my deadlines after all.
I have a couple other projects to complete for the COF retreat. I haven't even started on these. I do have a plan, but haven't made it to get the things I'll need to complete these, so this is high up on my list as well.
I;ve also started thinking about the PIF gifts I need to make for Holee, tisme, and Lani. I haven't forgottn you ladies. I know I have several months before these are due. I've just been planning at this point.
There are other challenges I've signed up for but the deadlines aren't that close yet. So, I'm going to concentrate on these first. I don't want too much to think about at one time. I do know that I won't be joining any more swaps for a while. Just don't think I have the time right now. I love swaps but I have other priorities at this time.
Just want everyone to know I'm working very hard to meet my obligations. Wish I could show pics of the PC's and mini but they are secret swaps. They will be going out soon so I'll post a pic once they have been received.

I'm sitting here wondering what tomorrow will bring.

2009-01-11T22:21:00.000-08:00

I really want to thank everyone for helping me through this tough time and tell you how things are going right now. Cliff"s very confused most of the time. Example, I thought he was all tucked in for the night so I set down to relax and sew on some binding and hear Cliff get up and get dressed. He walks into the living room and says where's my phone, well it's right there beside your chair. He sits down and says what time is it. I said 10:30, why, where you going, knowing he can't drive. He said don't I have to go to work. I said Cliff, you retired about 5 years ago, and haven't worked since. He said, well what do I need to do then. I said well you probably need to lay down since you have dialysis in the morning, but I'm going to check your sugar and give you your night shot. He said okay, where's my wallet. So, I'm thinking his sugar has got to be high or low, so I do my check and it in good range, but I fix him his snack he has to have at night so his sugar don't drop too low. Amazingly he ate the whole sandwich and all his fruit. I have had the hardest time getting him to eat all day. I cooked him a nice breakfast, and I grilled him some fish for supper and all he had was maybe 2 bites. But when I fix him a sandwich he devours it, go figure! I'm starting to feel a bit confused myself!! I'm not sure Cliff will fully recover from this last episode but I love him just the same. He was always a quiet man, but he seems to do a lot more talking now, even if it doesn't make sense sometimes, I enjoy it anyway. I'm glad he's able to get in and out of the tub, that was the difficult part for me. I do have to keep a close eye on him, because today things seemed to be going pretty well and he was sleeping. So I went to my sewing room to do some quilting on a mini. When I came out he was up and sitting in his chair. So I got supper ready and I always give him his meds at that time. Since he has so many meds and has to take some once a day and some twice I get up in the mornings and set them all up and put them in ziplocks marked morning and night. Well, Cliff had already took his night meds and I still don't know when or how, I just wonder if that don't explain his confusion. Now, I can't help wonder how in the world he got hold of the bag, I had it put up. I'm concerned he might just decide to get up one day and go somewhere, no knowing where he's going. Not to mention that he's not been able to drive for several months now. I sure was glad I was up tonight or I guess he'd been off working somewhere. All and all, I have to say it was a good day, after all we're still here. I did make a mess of the mini with the SID quilting though. I'd show it but I'm a bit embarrassed about it. Maybe in the next few days when I can laugh about it I'll give you a look.

A better day

2009-01-09T12:41:00.000-08:00

I'm having a good day today. Cliff had an allergic reaction to one of his meds but that's all been resolved. I had a conversation with someone special to me, and it has helped me to be less stressed about some things I've been going through. I know life's not always a bed of roses and there is always going to be ups and downs. It's just when the going gets tough you sometimes need that encouragement to stay up, and just do the best you can. I might try to do a bit of sewing today. I think it will do everyone some good. I want to thank you for your nice comments and being there for me. It helps me to vent and just gets things out that are weighing me down. I feel things are starting to get back on track a bit more and I'm sorry I'm just rambling on. It just feels good to have a moment to write and read some of your blogs. hoping you all have a wonderful day, Donna

Update

2009-01-02T19:22:00.000-08:00

Cliff is off the ventilator and responding, when I talk to him. I want to thank you all for your prayers. I guess I should tell you how he got in this shape. Well when I came home that day, Cliff had ate 7 or 8 Popsicles , That's a big no-no. He's diabetic and on dialysis, he is not suppose to have sugar or over 8oz. of fluid a day, just enough to take his meds. Maybe just maybe he will stick to his strict diet this time. I told him tonight I was throwing away all his popscicles, he didn't like that, so I knew he knew what I was saying. Thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers, it has been a comfort to me knowing that you all were praying for him.

Prayers needed

2009-01-01T17:33:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post. My Cliff is in very critical condition. I came home from babysitting and knew right away something terrible was wrong. Please, please pray for him. They had to give him emergency dialysis to remove the fluid from his heart. His blood pressure had sky rocketed, his blood sugar was higher then they have ever seen before(1200), They have managed to get his temps down but he's still in grave danger and I won't know the result of the cat scan on his brain until tomorrow. He's still non responsive and on a ventilator.

A Miracle for Christmas

2008-12-26T16:57:00.000-08:00

Today I seen my granddaughter walk for the first time. Just a few months ago she stood for the first time. She went to therapy for nearly 4 yrs. but the therapist said they were going to stop her therapy because she hadn't made any progress, and was unable to stand or walk, that was about a year and a half ago. My daughter and her family moved down to Ga. 1 yr. ago, and since then Katelyn has gotten new doctors and therapist. The found that she didn't have control a certain muscle that she needed to walk, so they designed braces specially for her needs. Katelyn is nearly 7 now. She spent the her whole life on the floor or in a wheelchair. She could crawl but could never stand, so I never seen her upright until today. Today was the first time I seen Katelyn walk, I couldn't help but cry, I tried to hold it in for her, but it was a very emotion moment for me. I was told about a month ago that she was starting to walk, but the school would keep her braces and walker and just send her wheelchair home. They said it was just too much to transport everyday. So since Katelyn liked walking at school, it was her choice to keep them there. Katelyn loves to sew and make dotee dolls with me, since she decided she wanted to come stay with me tonight, I think we'll make a valentine dotee together. I hope who ever receives her dotee in the swap loves it. here's a link to the youtube video if you'd like to see her.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwdBEjKo1XA

I've been trying

2008-12-26T16:17:00.000-08:00

to upload a video for the past few hours but I keep getting a failed message. So I also tried to upload to youtube so I could post a link. I'm not sure if I done something wrong when making the video or have done something wrong trying to upload. I've uploaded videos before with no problem. This file may be too large or something. If I can't get it on this try, I'll make a new video tomorrow and post it then. It looks like I may have some success with the youtube this time but I not certain. I hope I can get it posted for those who have been waiting all day. If not I apologise, and remake a video tomorrow.

Reindeer Poop, Snowman Kisses & Chocolate Cherry Mice

2008-12-21T09:34:00.000-08:00

My last minute goodies for kids, friends, teachers, co-workers and we can't forget our oh so loved postman and the UPS drivers, after all they bring us packages all year!!!!! What simple gifts to let them know you are thinking of them. First up is the reindeer poop, just some chocolate covered raisins with printed labels attached. For the snowman kisses I used white chocolate chips with peppermint chocolate baking chips with labels. Pretty simple and fun. Next up is the Chocolate Cherry mice, these are too cute and so yummy. First I might add don't tell hubby it pick you up a few cherries and make sure they have stems or you just might end up with too many. Be a little more specific then I was, LOL. Here's what you need to make these .
1 bag chocolate chips, melted
1bag of white chips, but you only need a few for the tip of the nose so the extra are for the snowman kisses, melted and add the food color, which is the next ingredient.
Red food color to go in the white chips.
Almond slivers for the ears.
And of course just a small jar maybe 2 of maraschino cherries with stems which become the tail.
1 bag of coconut for the snow.
Now you can either make boxes out of card stock, scrap booking paper(there is a tutorial on Youtube) or you use tins or just what ever you can think up for packaging.
I'll add a pic of the labels I printed to use, I'm going to add ribbon around the top of the tin and attach the label to the ribbon.

I admit it

2008-12-19T09:08:00.000-08:00

I'm bad, I'm very bad! I will blame a few of my blogging buddies for part of this bad breakfast this morning. I've read too many scrumptious cookie and candy recipes this week!! They say you are what you eat. I guess that makes me Fast, Cheap, and Easy!!! Why don't I weigh 300lbs? Most of the time I eat pretty healthy, making healthy food isn't that difficult after all, maybe that's why I can get by eating the crazy things I eat for breakfast. I spotted the french vanilla ice cream this morning and that set my sweet tooth off, but plain ole ice cream isn't enough for me, I had to crush up a butterfinger and add that to the mix , along with some pecan halves I got from my daughters yard. It was looking pretty good, but something was missing, AH HA chocolate syrup. May not be a breakfast of champions, but it was wonderful to me. Now I'm ready to go do some machine quilting.

Creating keepsake ornaments

2008-12-17T18:48:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry the original link didn't go to the page for how this works and the tag to use so I've added this link which will take you to the tag for the ornaments. Today, I learned that crafters all over the world are making homemade ornaments and leaving them in public places for others to find with a tag downloaded from the Creating keepsake ornaments blog. This is so much fun and a great way to share the spirit of giving. I made 3 drop offs to day. The first one I made at the news stand. The second at the station near the house, and the 3rd on the way to my DD's. Now , on the third on I did the drop and went in to buy a drink, and on my way out I seen a man had already pulled up to the pump and found the little snowman. He had the biggest smile, of course he didn't know it was from me, but it sure made me smile too. If you are interested in doing this here the link.

Men are funny!!

2008-12-17T08:20:00.000-08:00

About a month ago I asked Cliff how he'd like a Ga. bulldog quilt made with the wonky log cabin block I found on Jacquie's blog . I showed him a picture of her quilt and explained how I"d fussy cut the bulldawgs for the middle, what fabric I'd use for the logs and he simple said no, he didn't like that idea. But I like hers so much, I was going to make it any way, but for my grandson who loves the bulldawgs too. He has his whole room done in Ga. Bulldawgs. Well any way, I made the quilt, and the whole while Cliff keeps coming to my sewing room and looking at the blocks on the wall. He never says anything, but he never does say much. He just looks and walks away. So last night I finally get the other 2 border pieces on, and bring it to the living room to lay it out and see what I need for backing, but don't have enough of any of the coordinating fabrics to use for backing. So, I tell him I'll have to go get some Bulldawg fabric for backing, he said "Are you ready" , I said "ready for what" , He says "ready to go get the backing for MY quilt". I just looked at him totally confused, and said this isn't your quilt, I made this for Blake, you told me you didn't want one like this. He didn't like that! Now, I certainly have enough to make him on like it, so looks like I'll be making another one of these soon. He thinks he's getting this one, but it's going under the tree. I had originally planned on making my grandson a cowboy quilt. I collected cowboy fabric for a year, but when I told him I was making it he didn't seem happy about it. He just wanted some GA. bulldawg curtains for his room. He will be toally shooked to see I made his favorite "The Georgia Bulldawgs" quilt. I think I'll use all that cowboy fabric to make quilts for the NICU and underprivileged kids in our area, after all I have yards and yard of it. I have such a long list of too do's this year, I hope I can get them all done. I think in 2010 I'll get to make me a quilt, but I said that about 2008 & 2009 too. We'll see. I also got the cafe style curtains made for my daughter. I had to make 2 sets of panels , I hope they look good in her kitchen.

Chili peppers

2008-12-15T15:12:00.000-08:00

My DD has asked me for the last year to make her some chili pepper place mats. They took me 2 days to make and I know I should have done it sooner. But I just had too many other things going on. Now she has no idea she's getting these. I'll put them under the tree. The colors go perfectly with her kitchen. I thought when I started these yesterday that they'd be pretty simple and only take a day, forgetting about all the binding which took a whole day to stitch down. I would have never thought it would have taken me 2 days to make 4 simple place mats, LOL. I watch a lot of sewing show and they make things look so simple. I watch Sewing with Nancy yesterday, and she constructed a nice bag with a zipper closure and lining. Now she done the whole thing in a 30 minute episode. I told Cliff it's not as easy as she makes it look. She a very experienced seamstress and makes things look as simple, but it not quite so simple for me. Maybe I should have just bought the place mats!!
Now, I'm off to make some kitchen curtains for DD#2. She has her kitchen all done up in apples, it's really cute. Everytime me and Cliff go to Cracker Barrel we can't leave without buying something for her kitchen, I'm hoping they'll get in some chili pepper stuff, before my other daughter feels forgotten. I have some great fabric to work with and I am hoping they turn out nice. I've made plenty of curtains so maybe I'll get these done in a timely matter, so I can finish a couple other things I like to make before Christmas. I thought I was done with all my gifts, but I just keep thinking of all the things everyone would love to have and I can make. I'm even thinking if I have time I'll make matching pot holders and dish towels with the small amount of fabric I have left over.

Nickilee's Ravioli Dreams is having a giveaway!!!

2008-12-15T06:51:00.000-08:00

It is in honor of Christmas and the spirit of giving. Nicki has put together some CQ items for this giveaway. Now, all you have to do is take a guess at what time her oldest son was born on Dec. 13th. and leave a comment. Simple enough, but I think it would be nice to post a link back to her blog. You should really check her blog out, she a amazing CQ artist, she also does the most beautiful lace dying. Her creativity is endless. She is definitely an inspiration to all. Her blog is alive with color of her work. Nickilee"s Ravioli Dreams

My attempt at Holiday PC's

2008-12-07T09:43:00.000-08:00

I join a swap for Holiday PC on the HGTV message board. I had to make 4, I made several with the button wreaths and then got worried that they might not go through the mail. So I made some that I could just stick stamps on and mail. I ordered some plastic envelopes for the button ones so I'll probably just send everyone 2 PC. Now for me the hard part is deciding which one to send to who!

Confessions of a craft addict

2008-12-06T20:10:00.000-08:00

Is having and amazing giveaway. This is a special giveaway, and a great way to let others know about charities you support and how they can help. Hop on over and join this giveaway.
Confessions of a craft addict

To give of yourself is the greatest gift of all.

2008-12-04T18:52:00.000-08:00

Here's a Youtube video, I borrowed the link form Lani's blog. I think giving of yourself is the greatest gifts of all. For you and them!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVqqj1v-ZBU

Mini quilt swap

2008-12-02T08:04:00.000-08:00

I received the fabrics from my partner Gina for the mini quilt in a bag swap. She likes traditional with a twist quilts. I had a few ideas before I got the fabric, but they all flew out the door once I seen the fabrics. I drew a total and complete blank as what to do. I have been searching high and low on the web and through every book I have looking for the perfect traditional with a twist pattern for the fabrics. I've only come up with one that I think might work, but still hesitant to cut into them yet. I'm open for any and all suggestions.

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-26T18:09:00.001-08:00

I'd like to wish each of you a Happy Thanksgiving. May your day be fill with Family, friends and love.

I made the cat a Christmas present

2008-11-23T14:53:00.000-08:00

I hate mice, but the cat loves them.

What I'm up to

2008-11-23T07:05:00.000-08:00

I've joined a holiday PC swap. I love making and receiving these. I have a cute idea for mine, I'll be posting them soon since they have to be mailed out fairly quickly. So, I'll be making those right away.
I still haven't received the mini quilt in a bag fabrics yet, so don't have any idea as what to do yet.
I have made a few more pincushions since the other day, and have put the wonky dog blocks together and have the side borders on. I'll probably get the top and bottom done today and get to ready for quilting. My oldest grandson loves the Georgia Bulldawgs, so he'll be really surprised when he gets this. I told him I was making him a cowboy quilt and he wasn't too enthused, I can't wait till he sees I have tricked him.
What are you working on?

I made some pincushions tonight.

2008-11-20T21:53:00.000-08:00

I made several of these a few months back for a pincushion swap I was in. I love these pincushions, so I thought I's make some for gifts, I'm sure my friends will like them too.

Have you ever heard The Story of Stuff? Well it's important to me and I hope it is to you too. Please take a look at this.

Break out the buttons

2008-11-20T16:49:00.000-08:00

I found these absolutely adorable Homemade Christmas ornament on One Crafty Mumma's blogspot. I just love, love, love the button wreath. She has a pattern for the reindeer on her blog.

My sister tatted this wonderful iddy bitty wreath, isn't it just too cute.

Do a little dance

2008-11-18T19:19:00.000-08:00

I went to visit my daughter, and found that my grandsons have learned to dance. Ones a booty shaker and the other does tap. They use the coffee table as there stage. I adore my boys, they are the sweetest nature babies I have ever seen. And they both have so much personality. If you listen you'll hear how they communicate, I think they understand each others baby jabber. Keith is the one who took the head dive into the table. He's the one I was telling you is such a dare devil. John's more cautious, thank goodness. These 2 really keep me on my toes, when I watch them. I wouldn't trade it for nothing in the world

A Special gift from Bea

2008-11-18T18:45:00.000-08:00

I have the most wonder online friend named Bea. Her blog is in my side bar "Bea's Hive". She is so creative and talented , but most of all she is such a caring, thoughtful, wise, and beautiful lady. Today, I received a package from her, it was wrapped so cute in Christmas embroidery towel and in oven mitts. It smelled so good, I thought the wrapping was just wonderful, but could not believe my eyes when I seen what was in side. I just have to share her extraordinary work with you all. I will load the pics large so you can click and get a good look at her birds and the beautiful sewing kit she has made. I soap smells divine, and the angel is just lovely. I feel so lucky to have such a special lady as my friend, who I've never met in person. I hope that I get the chance to meet her at the COF retreat this April. Thank you, so much. I can't tell you how much I love them and Cliff was even WOWed, by your work.

Pay It Forward

2008-11-17T13:03:00.000-08:00

I moved this back up to see if I can get one more person to play, I have 2 nice ladies already committed. This will fun and you have 6-12 months to make your gifts. I will start making my gifts right after the holidays. Hope you want to join.

Here's how it works. I am one of the three people who committed, which means Patti will send me a hand made gift sometime in the next 6-12 months (or sooner if she can). In turn I promise to send a hand made gift sometime in the next 6-12 months to the first three people who comment and commit themselves to playing. In order to play you must post it to your own blog, and promise to send handmade gifts to the first three people who leave you a comment committing themselves to playing along. (I sure hope that makes sense - if it doesn't and you're not sure how this works just ask me.)
So - who of you would like to receive a handmade gift from me? I'm eager to see who wants to play!
The title of this post links back to Patti blog, where I commited to the Pay It Forward.

Another gift

2008-11-16T10:25:00.000-08:00

My sister sent me 2 long pieces of her Tatting, she said she didn't know what to do with them after she made them and they have been sitting in a tote ever since. So, I decided to use them for trim on pillow cases which I will send to her as a gift. I used a WOW cotton. I thought a print might over power the beautiful tatting. I think she will be surprised and I know she will love them. These will look good with her new quilt.

I finally have something to show

2008-11-15T17:48:00.000-08:00

Only I'm not the maker. My very talented sister painted this on screen of all things, Isn't it fabulous. It's still a work in progress, but I think it is perfect the way it is. I can't imagine it being any better. I want to be a painter, just like her. She just amazes me at her many talents. Also I forgot to post a picture of the tattings she sent me a few weeks back but I have to tell you they are pretty. She said she made these years ago but never knew what to do with them, well I'm currently working on what I thought they would be perfect for so I'll share those tonight or tomorrow, when they're done. I'm making them for her. I loved her tatting and really wanted to keep these for my self, but I felt she should be the one to have them. Anyway back to her decorative painting, I think it is just the cutest, I would love to have this, you know I love birds and who doesn't love snowmen. I seen a lot of snowmen but never a sleeping snowman.

I brought home

2008-11-14T07:09:00.000-08:00

more then I had bargained for while shopping the other day. Apparently I picked up a flu bug, while I was having such a wonderful time, not knowing it was all about to end with 3 days of the worst stomach flu. I'm out of bed for the first time, but I'm afraid it won't be for long, I am still very weak. I have managed to get some Gatorade down this morning and take a nice shower. This will most likely be my great accomplishment for the day. Cliff's been wanting to take me to the Dr. but I could only respond to his request with "I'm afraid I won't make it to the doctor unless we can take the restroom with us". It would have been a disaster waiting to happen. I don't feel up to doing anything, I'm just happy that I can now get up. I have missed reading everyone's post and hope to catch up on them soon.

Christmas Project

2008-11-11T11:04:00.000-08:00

I'm making these Ornaments, they are fairly big, 15". So, they make good place mats, or the can be sewn together to make a wall hanging or table runner. I've got 6 made so far, I'm not sure I like some of the fabric choices, but I try. A quilting friend jbk65 from the HGTV message board board gave me a link to the pattern. Hers turned out so pretty I had to give them a try. I'm making these for the family. Do you think they will like them? I haven't got these sewn together yet I'm waitng until I have more finished to see what looks best together. You can click for a close up view . I appreciate any suggestions as I'm not too good at choose fabrics that look good together.