What's On My Design Wall-Week 5

I've been working off and on trying to figure out the row robin. Every time I think I have a plan, I change my mind. I made the row of picket fence but I need a transition row to the tulips. I made the birdhouses and butterflies to put on as side borders but I've changed my mind about that--today anyhow.

I've folded the rows up and put them away. This is the movie watching bed and today the kids will be here and probably at sometime want to watch a movie. And my brain needs to work some more.


This is what is on my longarm. I'm about 2/3rds done with the quilting but Hubby wanted to go over to dad's to see the new tractor. So we did, then came home and crashed on the couch. I'm anxious to get this UFO crossed off the list.

Ooooppps, I forgot to add:
Check out Patchwork Times for other What's On My Design Wall Posts. Thanks Judy for keeping this going.

Peaceful Morning

This is the view out my kitchen window this morning. (I really need to trim the azalea but I can still see around it so I won't!) When I went out earlier, the birds were singing a hallelujah chorus. It was beautiful, no traffic noise, no lawn mowers, nothing, just birds.

The neighbor was trimming some brush up his driveway and came over to thank Hubby for mowing the edge of his long driveway. Hubby loves to use the brush hog and drive his tractor.

Enjoy your day.

It's Done!

And I am happy, happy, happy! You know how it is when you get going on something and then it turns into an obsession??? That's how I felt yesterday. I wanted this quilt done. I turned off the sewing room light at 11:45 pm.

Now on to the next UFO. Actually, I have a small wall hanging to finish and then the last quilt of Crystal's to do. I think I'll load the wall hanging on and get it done and then I can obsess about Crystal's.

I'm going to get her's done and then I have 3 in line for myself. Backs need to be made but I have the fabric right here to do it with. Imagine that!

"We Are Free!"...

.
...say the 10 little chicks.

We let them out this afternoon. Taylor, DJ and Tony were keepers of the flock. They did fine. It was fun to watch them discover their wings. I've seen them do it before but not like today.

Today was filled with all kinds of activity. We went to a bunch of garage sales. I passed up 3 sewing machines! 1 was too much money for what it was, another looked like a junker and the 3rd one, I'm kicking myself in the hinnie for not getting. An old New Home in a cabinet. $20! Darn me! Maybe I'll go back tomorrow and see if it's still there. Maybe not.

Then Grampa took us to lunch. He hasn't worked the last couple Fridays........I'm hoping if this continues--4-10 hour workdays--I'll get used to it. You know how it is when you get in a rut (most people call them routines) and someone or something comes along and messes with it. I know it's Friday but my brain is thinking Saturday.

After Taylor went home, I went into the sewing room and finished the quilting on my UFO #2. I am going to get the binding made and sewn on tonight and then I am going to try sewing it down the way Judy L shows in this post with the video. I've tried it before but she makes it look easier than the way I did it. I think I needed to use more pins. I can't wait to give this quilt to the lucky recipient.

So I am out of here and into the hidie hole to make binding. Wish me luck!

Through The Eyes Of A 9 Year Old

Taylor is staying with me for a couple days and today decided to take the camera out and shoot some pictures. She has always loved to take pictures and has learned a lot just watching her Aunt Jen. Above is Tony and DJ. I'm surprised they stopped moving long enough to have their picture taken.

This is a bird's eye view inside the chick's run. (Don't look at the poo on the perch!) Missy Chick is giving Taylor the stink eye!

These are the year old hens that give us an egg or 2 every day. Taylor named them Sally, Jessy and Sue. As soon as we heard Sally and Jessy, we waited for her to say Raphael (Sally Jessy Raphael--tv talk show host in the 80s with those fabulous red glasses --I loved her and watched daily!) We aren't sure which girl isn't laying the egg so we blame Sue the Slacker--not named after my Sissy, really, we wouldn't do that!
And this little Missy, I think is trying to escape. I wonder if she is the same one that got out yesterday. I'm not quite brave enough to just open the door to the pen and let them go. Will they come back in at night??? So I'm easing it along. First into the little enclosure and maybe this weekend I'll open it up for them to free range.

What's On My Design Wall-Week 4

I love What's On My Design Wall Monday from Patchwork Times. If you click on this link, you can go blog hopping and see what other are working on. But don't come back here yelling at me because you got sucked into blog world and spent way too much time in front of your computer. :-)

The past week has been crazy so my design wall has not changed much from week 3. I did get my center row taken apart and new sashing made and it's put back together. Now I need to do the same to row 1. But I didn't have much sewing time and the time I did have, I spent quilting.

This is my friend Sharlene's quilt she made for her daughter. I don't want to show the whole quilt but I can tell you about it. It's the BQ Quilt Pattern from Maple Island Quilts. I used the Maple Syrup Pantograph from Willow Leaf Studio. She has wool batting and flannel back with the batik top. Let me tell you, I wanted to take that quilt and wrap up in it and hide for a while. Talk about yummy. I plan to use wool batting in one of my own quilts as soon as I figure out which one I want on my bed next.

Since I have the day to myself, I am going to spend it quilting UFO #2 that should have been finished in March. I'm behind on that project too! But I'll get there, it just might take me a while. And when I want to sit down and have a cuppa, I'll take that darn row 1 apart.

What's on your design wall? Post about it and then link to it at Patchwork Times so the rest of us can cheer you on.

Wanted: 2 More Hours Just For Sleeping

I'm having a week short on sleep. Late to bed and early up. Someplace to be or something to do every day this week. Tomorrow, after Hubby leaves for work, I am going back to bed and not getting up until I want to!

I bet I don't even think of going back to bed. The garbage truck should be backing up the driveway about 6:30, the big dog will bark like a maniac and little dog will try to get under the covers. The birds will be singing and the chickens will start their daily gossip session.

I have flannel yardage in the dryer to make into a back and load that on the machine. I have to pick up Taylor so she can spend the night and while I'm in town, she can help me grocery shop. We have a picnic to go to on Saturday and on Sunday the family will be here for a BBQ.

With all of this on my mind, I wonder when I can sneak in just a couple more hours of sleep. Now??? Yes, I think I will go to bed now, maybe I'll read for a while!!!

I saw this huge butterfly hovering over my flowers this morning. She was so busy, she didn't notice I was there. I took one picture and then left her alone.

What's On My Design Wall Monday-Week 3

This should read What's Not On My Design Wall. On Thursday, I was so excited to finally be putting my BOM together. The sashing pieces were completed, then I started sewing sections together. I did section 1, moved on to section 2 and hadn't started to put section 3 together. I was having a tough time getting thing together. I hadn't bothered to check measurements. I just kept on sewing like a woman possessed.

I got sidetracked and left the project on the wall for a few hours. Crystal commented on how puckery it was. I told her I must have stretched the blocks when I took the paper off the back. That made sense to me. I know these blocks finish at 12".

I started thinking and went in and grabbed the ruler, measured the sashing pieces. Damn! I cut them at 12", not 12 1/2". What was I thinking? Wait, I wasn't. I am now spending quality time with my seam ripper. Last night I pulled section 2 off the wall and started taking it apart. I have both rows of sahing off and apart.

I'll work on this during TV time with hubby. That means I won't work on it tonight. Monday night he watches rasslin' and I shut myself in my sewing room. Maybe I'll cut some new sashing and sew the star points on........Maybe.

Go on over to Patchwork Times and see Judy's design wall and click some links to other gorgeous design walls. I love Monday blog hopping from Patchwork Times.

We Have A Winner!

Through a very scientific method-numbers written on paper, put in a bowl, then mixed up-we drew a winner for the fabulous prize I offered while begging for help with the UFO on What's On My Design Wall Monday post. Several people posted VERY good ideas and now I have a plan and have actually worked on my plan. Yeah. Thank you all for your ideas and inspiration.

Congratulations to Julie from Through the Barn Door. I "met" Julie while blog hopping and visit her blog often. On Monday I will be mailing Julie her prize package and will show it off to you after she receives it. I don't want to spoil her surprise. ;-)

How much do you love my photo today?? Miss Clella loves shoes. She isn't fussy about who's shoes she wears. Her boots go lovely with Elliot's crocs. If she could figure out a way to wear all the shoes she has collected, she would be even happier.

There is a new infomercial on tv for some fabulous garden groom thingiemabob and from what these happy people are telling me, I gotta have this thing! I must go now and turn off the tv before I.....

......punching the tv sounds so violent!!!

The Mojo Is Home!

Yeah, the Mojo is home to stay for a while! I hate it when it goes away and comes back for a little while, only to leave again. But it's back in full force now. And for that, I am happy. I decided to make this big post before I lose my pictures on my computer. This brand new computer is giving us fits! And yes, I have things backed up! Weird, I know!!

Last week at Marian's I made my 2 June blocks for the Stashbuster BOM and yesterday I did the 2 for July. I am in love with this quilt finally. I'm so happy to be caught up with the blocks. I hope I continue this new trend I have going! Having the July blocks so early is kind of scary for me......what if I forget about this by August!

This beauty is the 2007/8 BOM from the Carol Doak Yahoo group. I finally got the fabric for the sashing and borders. This morning I made my star cornerstones for the center and now I am sewing the rows together. I'm hoping to have this UFO marked off my list soon.
Speaking of UFOs...Here is my plan for Bamma's Flower Garden. Thanks to everyone for the fabulous ideas. I have renewed energy for this now and have even completed a couple blocks for the side borders. I have to make a trip to the quilt shop tomorrow to find the green fabric I want for the grass/picket fence area I have planned. Ideas are still welcome and your name will be added to the others in the drawing. Fun time!

This morning, UFO Mom posted the next UFO number for our small group. It's #6. My UFO is a mystery from a different online group.........yeah, I belong to several.....and I've never been happy with the final border, the binding is even made. I have some fun fabric to use for the back and I've decided I am going to get it quilted and finished and give it to my friend Nadine for her charity. Someone else will love it. And besides, I have 3 new pantographs to try out!

What's On My Design Wall Monday

It's Monday and Judy at Patchwork Times has reminded us to show our design wall. This is my wall as of this morning. I am asking for some help with this one. If you enlarge the picture, ignore the extra business in the picture. :) (And please ignore the wrinkles......I should have ironed those before taking a picture!)

Way back in 2001, I was involved in a row robin with an online group. My row robin was titled Bamma's Flower Garden. One lady had some life issues and couldn't complete her row so I was going to do it. I folded the rows up, put them in a bag, put them away. All these years this has been on my UFO list and I've ignored it. Not totally ignored it, it's been nagging at me all this time.

When my small online group started the UFO challenge, this quilt was listed first. Guess what May's number was? Guess who just pulled this project out of the box? Guess when the new number will be called? Answers are One, Me, Tomorrow!

I don't know what to do to this quilt top. I have some of the background fabric left, just under 2 yards and I have quite a bit of Kona white. And lots and lots of other fabric. I even have some books! Right now it measures 60" across and the way it is right now, not sewn together, not quite 60" long.

What would you do? I think I need a row of white background between the bottom 2 rows. I also think I need something very green for the bottom row. And I'd like to add some borders to make it wider. What I really need is to get going on this so I can call it finished.

Help me please, leave me a comment with an idea or 2 or 12 and I will put your name in for a drawing for something fabulous. I'll draw a winner Friday evening. Thanks in advance for your help.

I Think I Found a Little Mojo

I'm finally excited about sewing. Not so much quilting, although I did make 2 blocks for my Stashbuster Not So Ugly BOM while at Marian's on Wednesday.

I've been in need of a new swimsuit for a while now. After searching online shops, almost ordering fabric, I remembered I had done that a couple years ago. So I unearthed the box and found my pattern and spent this morning sewing this up. I was a bit excited when I tried it on the first time and it was a bit too big. Yeah! So I made my adjustments and now it's finished and ready for the real test, the hot tub. I think after my day, a nice soak is in order.

The baby chickens are growing like crazy. They are going to be ready for the big pen in no time at all--I'm thinking in 2 to 3 more weeks for the older girls. They sure are fun to watch.

Time to get dinner started. Friday night, pizza night. Yummers

Do You Know Where I Put My Mojo?

I can't find my sewing mojo. Do you know where I put it? I've been in my sewing room for short spurts of time trying to organize it. I figure if I work for 10 minutes at a day, I should have that room the way I want in in 46 days!!! That's really a good idea and I should start keeping track of the time I spend and see how close I am. ;~) What I need to do is just get in there and get busy.

I've been doing outside things. The "little girls" are growing like crazy and the "big girls" have been giving us eggs and I say thank you to them every day for that. The "boys" have settled down and like to lay by the pen and guard their new friends. I think they are just waiting for the day one of them escape! We plan(ned) to leash up the dogs and let the hens out this afternoon--I'm not doing this by myself--and see how the dogs react. ( I just let the dogs out, a robin was in the yard and they both took off after it. I don't think our hens will be free ranging. I do think Hubby will be making a chicken run this weekend.)

The garden is all planted and I'm seeing signs of corn and beans already-we planted the seeds on Saturday. It's been sunny here all week and is supposed to stay sunny for another week. I think I should turn on the water this morning for a while. It's hard for me to buy produce when I have it in my garden--I know, kind of a dorky thought but that's the way I think! Why should I buy tomatoes when I have 20 plants in the garden! Doesn't matter that there is not one plant with a tomato on it! The potatoes in garbage cans are doing awesome. I am having to cover the new growth every other day. I should have fresh potatoes in no time--I need them too, I didn't buy any!

I need to bake some bread, pizza crusts and hamburger buns . These recipes make the best breads I have ever made. Thank you ladies for sharing with us. I have meat in the fridge that needs to be prepared for the freezer. I found pork loin on sale at Safeway so I bought 3 to make into roasts, steaks and sausage. I tried one sausage recipe yesterday and will try a different one today to see which one will be the keeper. I'll let you know. I froze yesterday's sausage after making patties so today I will cook part of it up so I have some ready to use in the freezer and for pizza topping tonight.

Gotta get moving........I have lots of things on my list today.

What's On My Design Wall-Monday

Judy L over at Patchwork Times is having a Monday post "What's On Your Design Wall". This is what's on mine.

When I saw a photo of this quilt called Pig In A Poke, on one of my Yahoo Quilting Groups, I knew I wanted one like it. Within a few days, Jean, the gal that posted the picture, posted her instructions. I had a drawer full of 2 1/2" squares and a bin full of half square triangles. So I started making blocks. Pretty soon, I was working on the border. All of the sudden, I was putting blocks into rows. I am now ready to press this top and measure for the last 2 1/2" off white border and it will be ready to quilt. I still have a drawer full of 2 1/2" squares.......wonder what I can find next!


While Hubby was cruising through Craigslist today, he found an ad for 3 Buff Orpingtons/something cross hens. I called and they were right up the hill from my house! How cool is that. So Crystal and I jumped in the car and went to adopt these girls. They are used to free ranging and no dogs. Surprise, we have a pen and 2 very curious dogs. They have settled down now and so have the dogs--I hope. Let's hope we have fresh eggs in a few days.

Munckins Meet The Chicks

Elliot was fascinated by by the baby chicks. These chicks are going have to be tough birds to live around here. I'm trying to handle each one several times a day so they will be friendly. See the water jug? That thing was too much money for what it is. I can't figure it out......something about adjusting that lid so the water flows to level itself. I say forget it, I'm going to get the simple water jars--something I can use!

Mae Mae didn't want to touch them at all! Get that thing a away from me now! She is the one that will make them strong birds. We put a big chunk of lumber down for her to stand on so she could see inside and that was as close as she wanted to be. She did discover how fun it is to pound on the screen and see the chicks run. Yip, they have to be tough birds to be here.


This picture is just too cute not to share. This girl was a total grub ball by the end of the day.

Does This Make Me A Chicken Farmer??

The boys are checking out the newest family members. DJ, on the left, wants to be the mom and Tony wants to play with the chicks. We brought home 10 chicks today. I wanted hens but they are hard to come by so I'll just be patient and spoil the chicks.

We got 2 Black Sex Links, 2 "Production" Rhode Island Reds, 3 Buff Orpingtons, and 3 Black Australorps. I believe what the gal told me so we'll see if we have "Great Egg Layers".

It will be an adventure, especially teaching the bird dogs that these birds are family. Oh and the water thingie I bought, not so great--could be the operator but I'll let them use it until I find something better. Wish me luck!

I May Be In Serious Trouble

This DSL thing may cause some serious trouble around this house! I am having a heck of a time pulling myself away from the computer. I can see so many things so much faster and one blog leads to 6 others and the pages don't time out and the next thing I know the dryer buzzer is going off and I need to fold a load of clothes. And then I get sucked back in to blogland and then............. I am just like a kid with a brand new toy.

So I am going to show you a picture of a little part of the quilt I finished quilting a few days ago for my friend Nadine. I played with some line dancing and some loops. I need to practice both but she is very happy with the quilt.

Now I am going to get my shoes on and go to town to pick up Hubby's medicine. It should have been mailed but it seems that I have a problem refilling on line. They say you have to put in all of the correct numbers! Imagine that!! So like the good wife I am, I will go get it so he has his medicine for today. I wish he would say something before he is totally out so I can check up on myself. I need a watch dog!

Playing

It's a big day for me!!! I finally have DSL. WoooHooo! So I'm seeing if blogger will let me upload 3 regular sized photos without resizing them. Oh yeah, I am being super brave. And it worked!!! I'm giddy with excitement. :~)

Let's see what we have here, first off is Clella and Elliot playing with the wagon and rocks. Elliot loves rocks and because he does, so does Clella. Next is our old house. This is the front side.

The lilac bloom is as exciting as the DSL for me. I bought 2 little lilac starts several years from the Hulda Klager Lilac Garden I have babied those bushed all this time. Last year I had one bloom. This year both bushes are full and beautiful.

For years I've said that I want my yard to be kind of like a park. Not all fancy schmancy, just full of bushes and flowers. Slowly this is happening. Someday it will be like I want it but for now, I'll just keep working on things and try to keep up.

OK, here we are, it's time to click on publish post.......hopefully it worked.

ttfn

The Chicken Condo

I am going to have some happy chickens. I just wanted a simple chicken tractor for a couple of hens but Hubby decided we needed a fancy house and eggs for your kids that want them. We spent the weekend working on it and now it's ready for occupants.

How sweet is Elliot bringing Poppy a bottle of cold water!! And of course, Tony must be right where the action is.

I was kind of wishy washy about getting chickens. As a teenager, I spent some quality time working at my Uncle's fryer farm. There were thousands of fryers in 2 barns. Then as a young wife, we had farm animals and raised chickens from Uncle's farm for meat--we never had any layers and I'm not too sure why. Now that we are trying desperately to simplify our lives, he decides we need a few hens. I'm thinking that is not simplifying...maybe it is.

So hens will be coming to the farm as soon as I can find some. I don't really want chicks but I may have to get them. I just hope he doesn't want to get a goat!!! No offense to the goats but...

I Should Be...

...Quilting.

Instead I've been making blocks. I did finish a charity quilt this morning but I haven't taken a picture of it yet. I made the 2 May blocks for my Stashbuster BOM. They are the top left and top center in the photo. I think I am really starting to like these blocks. And it is very exciting to be caught up.

I've been thinking today about how I want to sash them. I know I don't have enough of the cream background that I'm using so I may have to find a different cream. Whatever I decide, I want to do it soon so I have it when we are finished with the blocks. That is one thing I have learned with the Stashbuster group, use what you have, only buy what you need. (Don't tell anyone but I don't always follow the rules!)

Another Retreat Has Come and Gone

And what fun we had! I have sore cheek muscles--all cheeks--from laughing and sitting! My stomach hurts from laughing. Just a look or a sound or a simple word can send me into hysterics.

Show and tell was awesome and I was very happy to show my finished Orange Crush quilt. I wrote about finishing the top in my post for April 9th . It is now residing on my guest bed.

I spent most of the retreat working on another quilt as you go string quilt. I have one more row to add and then put the binding on and it will be ready to give to Nadine for a local charity. I even gave a demo on how I join the blocks-boy talk about pressure! On Saturday night, Berta gave a lesson on locker hooking. I now have another obsession. It is so fun to visit with everyone and the inspiration from everyone is almost overwhelming.

I love going to the retreat but Monday morning I'm not worth anything. I spent most of the day today trying to get a few things done around here but as my friend Karen so eloquently put it, I had a retreat hangover! It took until after 2 this afternoon before I finally felt like a normal person. It might have helped if I could have went back to sleep this morning but I had too many ideas in my head to settle down. It's early to bed for me tonight.

Hubby is watching his rasslin' and I am going to pull out the string quilt and see if I can make some progress on it. I have a full day of quilting tomorrow so I better sew tonight.

TTFN

Hooray, Hooray, The First Of May

Hooray, Hooray, the first of May is a naughty little song that I learned 20 some years ago when I was driving school bus. You can only sing it one day a year and I sing it all day long. :-) I didn't learn it from a child, I learned it from a woman who loves life. I can hear her laughter right now.......sing your heart out Bo.

I haven't been too busy in the sewing room this week. I do have my Orange Crush almost quilted but haven't touched it since Tuesday. I have been packing a bit for the retreat next Thursday. I have another string quilt as you go ready to work on. I have a couple other projects I am taking. Stashbuster sent out the new BOM so I will get that ready to go. I have a three tote bags to finish--maybe I'll get them done this weekend. It's supposed to be rainy for the next several days. I have a few things to work on outside today so will do that and enjoy the last day of sunshine for a while.

The photo was taken looking through kitchen window (yes, it needs washed!). I love looking out the window. A few days ago the flowering plum tree on the right was filled with butterflies. I have never seen so many at one time. Of course by the time I got the camera, they had flown away. The azalea bush right in front of the window was one my Gramma planted in the 60's. She recieved it at Grampa's funeral. So it's been pampered for 45 years. I also have a climbing rose and a peony. But with those 2, I've had to fight and scream to save them. They are finally in their permanent homes, never to be moved again. A couple years ago, they had a near death experience when Hubby got carried away with the Round Up. I'm happy to report that both the plants and the husband are doing fine.

But first, I get to go to town (3 days in a row-that is not me) and do some serious grocery shopping. The hall cupboard is almost empty and that makes me nervous. Not nervous really, just twitchy. I like looking at it packed full of goods. But I am so good at not going shopping that I let it get low.

Here I go, I'm going to get there before the hoards of people do. Get in, get what I want, get out, get home!!! I wonder if I can put this off for a few more days...hmmmmmmmmmmm

No More Flu At My House!

This has been an interesting week. We have both recovered from the flu bug and it is not welcome in the house again! Ever! I know hubby is a better nurse than I am but I am a better patient. I just want to be left alone. Don't tell me I need to eat or drink anything. Just let me be. He is a whiner. I'm sorry you don't feel good, I'm sorry nothing tastes good, I'm sorry you feel horrible! I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Now go back to sleep and leave me alone!

I finished my string quilt Thursday (while I was hiding from hubby) and will give it to a local charity. I have enough strings in the basket to make at least 2 more quilts and I have 5 bags of strips and strings that I bought last week at the bazaar that I haven't opened yet. One bag is crammed full of blue and cream fabric so I will save that one for a project by itself. Maybe, maybe not.

I need to start making a list for the retreat. It's going to be May 7th before I know it. I can't wait to spend time with my quilty friends. Spending time at a retreat is good for my soul. I'll still have to come home during the day to let the dogs romp outside for a while and I will probably come home to sleep. It is only a few miles and my bed is so nice.

Now I am going to go grind some wheat and bake some bread......

Stay Away From Us

We have the flu at our house! Hubby spent last weekend at a hunter's safelty class full of kidlets. Bless their little hearts, someone in the class shared the flu and he, being the sweetie that he is, shared with me. I don't want to share with you so please Stay Away! He is on his second day home from work and I hope he is well enough to go back tomorrow---you all know what I mean by that!

I had been laying down on the couch this morning, trying to get warm, got up for a bit, came back to the couch and Mr. Tony had made himself comfie in my spot. So I covered him up thinking he would jump down and he didn't budge. I had to take a picture. Ya can't miss a good blog photo.

I'm done in now, so I'm going to see if the couch is empty. If it isn't, I'll give in and go to bed.

Quiltathon Progress

Judy at Patchwork Times is hosting another Quiltahthon this weekend. I have been quiltathoning along and have made a little progress.

Saturday was the Clark County Quilter's Stash Builder's Bazaar. I met my friends early and we started to shop. Oh did I shop! It is a Stash Builder's Bazaar after all. I came home with 3 bags full (Bah, Bah, Black Sheep, have you any wool?) of great fabric, strings, strips, a book, 3 patterns and inspiration.

We had planned to all meet for lunch but I started feeling horrible so I came home and took a nap. Feeling better, I got busy on my string blocks. I finished them and then went outside for a while. It was a very nice spring day and me and the dogs needed the fresh air.

Hubby is taking the final training for his certificate to be a Hunter's Safety Educator. I am spending most of the weekend alone. Poor me! I think not! This morning, I gave myself until 10:00 to work in the sewing room and I got 3 rows put together with 3 ready to go. Bindings are cut and pressed so this gem will be complete in no time. I need to do a few things around the house and then I will go to Grandson Jonah's 5th birthday party. I embroidered a dirty 4 wheeler on a sweatshirt for him. I hope I get a picture of him with the shirt on. Reminder to me: Put camera in your bag! (I put the camera in my bag and left my bag with the camera in it locked in the car. He liked his shirt I think but he liked his new motorcycle more!)

Hope your day is filled with sunshine.

Friday's Design Wall

It's Friday and I have new things on my design wall. I've been spending time this week jumping around from project to project.

I decided yesterday to clear off my cutting table. There were little 3" blocks that I had left over from 2 Quiltville mysteries. I took those parts and with some other scraps, created the 6 blocks on the right side of the wall. These will go into the orphan box with some other blocks. Someday, they will become a quilt.

I love string quilts and on Wednesday, we started talking about them. So this morning, I found the link with a great tutorial and sent it to my freinds. Jan at Sew Many Quilts - Too Little Time, has written this tutorial for Quilt As You Go blocks. I think it's wonderful that she is has such a following with her tutorial and QSYG blocks and that she is doing such good for the victims of the bush fires. Take the time to read her blog. You will want to help, if not there then find a local charity that needs your help.

After sending the links to my friends, I started looking at my baskets of strings and scraps. I found a huge yellow cotton print curtain. I started to tear it apart, you know--snip, tear, snip, tear......and then I had a thought! There was enough fabric in that one curtain to use for the back and the binding of a string quilt. I have a box full of batting scraps from trimming quilts and so I got busy. Just this afternoon, I have made these 7 blocks.

Hubby is at a class this evening and I think I will work on this until he gets home tonight. I was going to go into town and get dinner but I think I'll heat up some soup and call that dinner.

What's On Your Design Wall?

My design wall is a flannel back vinyl tablecloth. I don't know how old it is but I do know that I bought it at JoAnn's several years ago and it was 70% off and cheap--maybe less than $2. I bought a new one yesterday and it was $2.06 with a cute Easter print. I'll put it away until this one dies.

This morning I finished my BOM from Stashbuster Yahoo Group. I am really liking the way the blocks turn out. And the fact that I am keeping up. So these blocks will be folded neatly in half and go back into the project bag with the fabric and wait patiently for May's blocks.

I am auditioning border and binding fabric for the wallhanging. I bought Deb Karasik and Janet Mednick's book, Quilt Mavens and decided to do a simple project with my batik and hand dyed scraps that I bought a while back.

As I was sitting here skimming through the book, I think I will investigate a pieced border for the wallhanging. They have such cool designs and now I don't really want a plain border.......Maybe that black/paisley batik can be the background with some bright spikes...........Oh, the wheels are spinning fast.

I had planned going to go to the kitchen and making a couple loaves of bread, baking Hubby some cookies so he'll stop whining but with my last brilliant thought, that may be put off until next week...........and the plan to later getting the quilt loaded that has been sitting here laughing at my lack of ambition has just been put on hold!

What's on your design wall???

Do You Know What Day This Is?

Yes, it is Good Friday. It is also the day for the next UFO # to be picked for our small online group. Why am I so exited??? Because I am on a mission to reduce the number of UFOs I have. I want FOs!!!

This is UFO #7. I started this in October 2007 at a quilt retreat. And you guessed it, it's another design from Bonnie of Quiltville fame called Diamond-In-A-Square Strings. I framed mine different from Bonnie by using a different 2" strip around each block.

I remember how intrigued some of the gals were with my sewing on old phone book pages so I did a quick lesson. I don't know if anyone else has made this project but I do know that I turned some of the ladies on to Quiltville's site.

This has been sitting in my to be quilted pile for far too long. I have some flannel that was given to me and I will use that for the back and then the quilt will be donated. Now I am excited to get it finished.

I have another pile of strings on phone book pages that I have been working on. I have the layout in my head. I hope I don't loose it in there. I will take these with me to the next retreat and work on them there. It's a great project for chatting and sewing.

Another Top For the To Be Quilted Pile

I finished the Orange Crush top! Yeah!! I'm not sure when I started this and I'm too lazy right now to go back and look. (I did look it up, we started it March 31, 2008 and the final clue was given June 7, 2008.) I'm still not sure how much I like it. I'll decide after the quilt is finished. If I don't like it, someone else will. But it is going to find a home on my bed for a while so don't get all excited Little Miss DeeDee!




It was close on the border fabric . After cutting the binding and inner boarder strips, I didn't measure how much fabric was left. This was a piece that was given to me a while back and I'm thinking it is from the late 70s, early 80s. Something had been cut out of it but it looked like it would be enough. Forget that saying measure twice....I just cut. Then I sewed on the side boarders and made the top and bottom. After measuring, I was about 8" too short. So I dug through the garbage can, found all the leftovers and pieced them to get enough to finish the top. After all that, I had 3" leftover. Oh I would have figured something out. I just didn't want to make a new border and really didn't want to take off the ones that were already on.

I just pulled out the flanned that I want to use on the back and I'm about a yard too short. There is none of this in the garbage can but there is lots of flannel in the tub that would love to live on the back of this quilt. But for now, it goes on the to be quilted pile.

Not Much To Post About But ...

Here is another picture from our road trip last Friday. Several years ago, we would take the diesel powered motor coach (our converted school bus) and park beside the river to go sturgeon fishing. I loved to sit out and watch the ship and barge traffic up and down the Columbia River. I miss those trips. I told Hubby it's time to take weekend trips again but with the garden season coming up and his work season hopefully going full speed ahead, it might not be as possible as I want it to be!

Today I'll take Mr. Tony to the vet for some very necessary but unmanly surgery. Poor Baby! Then I will do some shopping at Freddie Meyer's to pick up the sale items and browse around while I wait for it to be time to arrive at Marian's. I am going to finish stitching the binding down on Ian's bear paw quilt.

I worked on UFO #27 yesterday. It is Quiltville's Orange Crush Mystery. It only needed the borders and I don't know why it became a UFO. Probably something very exciting came along and I was going to get right back to it. I figure if it takes 3 borders, that's 12 pieces--the pieced border was already done and ready to put on--and I put on 6 pieces. Hopefully today I can get the other 6 on. The binding is made and the backing fabric is out and ready to make.

Now I need to get to gettin'.

I Found The Bears

I just finished quilting my Where Are The Bears quilt. Yeah!!! This is going to Grandson Ian. The pattern is now for sale at Sunshine Quilts. I hope Judy creates another quilt for a quilt along. This one was lots of fun. And there are some gorgeous quilts that you can find links for here.

It was very important to me to use all fabric from my stash and I knew I wanted a flannel back. I made all the kiddos flannel pillow cases for Christmas so I pieced some of my extra flannel using Mary's Off Center 4 Patch method--sort of. Looking back, I wish I would have made it a 6 patch by sewing the camping fabric to the other side, but it's too late now. I'm happy I found bears to make it offiially a bear paw! I knew they would be there somewhere. A bear paw quilt should have some bears and bear paws don't ya think?!?

Later today I will sew the binding on and stitch it down Wednesday at Marian's. Or if I get extra ambitious, I'll sew it down before then! But now I need to go grocery shopping. Yippee.

Thanks Judy, I hope we have another play date real soon.

Day Trip With My Boys

Meet DJ and Tony.

We very seldom take a day trip. When Hubby asked me last night if I wanted to take the dogs to the beach, I assumed it would be for the weekend. So I am getting all my stuff ready and ask him how long we would be gone. He asks "What do you mean?" I say "How many nights, 1, 2, 3, 6?" He says "Just for the day. I have things to do over the weekend!" "Cool" I say, "Let's hit it then!"

I packed up a bag with a bit of dog food, bottle of dog water and a dish, a couple of towels and a spill kit--Tony is only 5 months old. ;-)

Our first stop was the wildlife refuge to let the boys out for a potty break. This is Tony's first big road trip so we didn't want to push it. This is about an hour from our house. As we were leaving, I asked Hubby to stop so I could get a picture. He did and DJ spotted the geese. The dog woofs from his toes and I thought the geese would fly away but they didn't.

Then we drove towards the beach and took a side road where Hubby did a road building job. He knew the dogs could run around and not get into trouble. Tony didn't potty while on the leash so we were getting concerned. After potty break and running around, we continued on. Next stop was lunch. Hubby has some stinky clam chowder and then some fish and chips, I had a shrimp panni. Yummm..........Then we gave the dogs our leftovers and a big drink of water.

Lunch was very expensive! And all I could think of was how much fabric I could have bought with that money!!! Shame on me, it was a date and I should have kept that thought buried but that's how my mind works now.

In Washington State, you can drive on the beach so we headed down to find a nice spot to park where no other people were around. We put the leash on Tony and DJ stayed close. After a bit, we let Tony go. Oh my gosh, you should have seen him run and play. We laughed so hard. I was very concerned about him running off but he stayed right by us. We got back into the Super Bronco and headed for home. We had to make a potty stop for me and they slept most of the way home.

It was an awesome day and now that my boys are all napping. I am going to sew!

No Foolin' April 1

Are you kidding me??? Are those snow flakes I see? Does SOMEONE have an awesome sense of humor or what??? And cold, oh not cold like in some places but I was running around outside the other day with no jacket!

And to top off the beginning of this day, I felt like crap. Headache, achie bones, cold, just felt crummy. I layed down on the couch to watch Project Runway reruns and woke up 2 1/2 hours later! (Speaking of PR--will they ever get the ugly lawsuit settled? I want my PR!)

Hubby came home from work early--or I'd still be sleeping. There is nothing like a good nap on the couch cuddled up in one of your favorite quilts.

I'd like to thank my dogs for leaving me alone so I could sleep. :-) Can April 2 be a nice warm spring day? I have a quilt show to go to and I'd like to leave my jacket at home.