deeroo designs

I MADE three yards of fabric today!

2012-01-28T16:16:00.000-08:00

It has been a really strange winter....warm, rainy, cold, rainy, warm, rainy, gloomy, gloomy, gloomy! I don't remember a winter with so few days of sunshine. I can take the cold but I need my vitamin D!

One redeeming thing about the clouds...we have had some lovely sunrises!

In the meantime I have been busy with all the flickr swaps I joined...silly me! More than I have ever done at one time and my first Round Robin. Above is my center, signature block and journal that has crossed the pond joining Jo in the UK...all a part of the Around the Bend and Across the Pond round robin! If you go look at Jo's photostream you can see the fabric she has pulled for my center and all the other lovely things she has created! WhoooHOooo!!

Also for the first time I'm doing a traditional online Bee, this one is called

Sew Fun Bee! Cute huh?!:) Twelve crazy quilters, each assigned a month, each gets to pick what they want the other eleven crazies to make for them. Krista, our fearless head crazy, wanted anything Trees! Above is what I made, a swing tree and HP's Whomping Willow. Click here to see all the other amazing free paper piecing patterns on the blog Fandom in Stitches! My month is November so I have a long time to pick my theme.

Round 3 of Hoop Up! is getting ready to start....sign-ups are until Jan. 31. Last round my theme was Classic Modern Furniture. I enjoyed it so much I picked it again for this round. Above is my inspiration piece... Snowflake of Ghost Chairs! I really, really love those chairs...one day...one day! So if you love embroidery and I know you do, go check it out and maybe even sign up!

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, I did make some yardage by sewing together loads and loads of WOF (width of fabric) scraps in a rainbow of colors!

Each of them are at least 12" wide so

12 times 9 divided by 36= 3 yards of fabric!:)

What to do...what to do?!

Last Week of Dec 2011...FUN!

2011-12-31T15:32:00.000-08:00

Had a great time celebrating Christmas on the Eve with my parents and sibs.

Christmas morning drove four hours back north to in-law's....lovely day!
Then the day after Christmas we did it all over again, just the four of us...rip and tear...it was great!

Several days later took the girl to her biometrics appt. She is applying to extend her visa to the UK for two more years. Then we went walking around Old Town Alexandria...where they hang their trees!
When we returned home there was a package on the porch...it came all the way from Scotland!

Dear sweet Lynz made me an awesome yellow and grey pillow...with a pony button!! She included this amazing calendar of Scotland...it is already hanging above my computer...waiting for tomorrow...the first day of 2012! Thanks bunches Pal...I heart it!:)

The last thing I managed to do this year is finish The Sketchbook Challenge. I'm happy to report that I submitted something all twelve months and I'm excited that they are doing it again in 2012!

Speaking of 2012....

...this is what we are going to indulge in on the first day of the new year...gift from my brother. But for the last day of the year it's lasagna and Haagen Daz...Cherry Garcia and Half Baked Chocolate ice cream....um...and I think we'll drink that little bottle of Processo!!

Happy Freaking New Year Everyone!

Happy, Happy!!

2011-12-25T15:00:00.000-08:00

Happiness is being with the ones you love....

(The trunk is a scarf I crocheted for my brother)

...Spreading a little Humbug Bag joy....

...yep, these are called Humbug Bags and I made 18 of them!

Happiness is a new Birthday Banner...made for my in-laws....

...and a clutch of chicks, a brood of hens, and a parliament of owls made for family and friends.

(Opposites Attract pattern by Julie Herman of Jaybird Quilts)

Happiness is a new lap quilt or two made for mom and pop...

...and new Perle cottons for quilting and embroidery....

...ah....but mostly I wish you the happiness in those eyes...really....he's happy!;)

Merry, Merry to Everyone!!

Tis the Season!

2011-12-16T16:20:00.000-08:00

Wow! It has been quite a busy couple of weeks and I am happy to report I am DONE! Everything is wrapped and baked! Now we are just counting the hours til Wednesday when the girl comes home for the holidays from the UK and the boy joins us next weekend. The boy gave me this Christmas cactus last year and it is give, give, giving! That's just the start of my wealth of receiving!

Max...my 8 year old buddy on the west coast...sent me this amazing "Window Tree" mini for last month's Mini QT swap! Isn't it amazing! There is no end to this young man's talents and we are all the luckier to have become online buddies with him! Look at the luscious fabric he sent and that fantastic card! I have strung it on a ribbon and pinned it to the back of the mini. It is now hanging right above my nightstand so it's the first thing I see in the morning and the last thing I see at night...I dream about what is beyond the window tree!!:) THANKS MAX, I'll treasure it always!! xoxo

The bounty didn't end there...my Scotland pal Jo (bearpaw) sent me this totally unexpected surprise! She started to teach classes at the family shop, Avery Homestore, and I often bugged her with ideas...cause I'm extremely jealous and so wish I could be there to help play! Because of my pestering this lovely personalized journal arrived at my doorstep! It is just beautiful and what's nice is after you fill the journal you can always replace it! Just look at that keyfob, yep she sent that too! The leaf is so soft I just sort of play with it while I'm driving...just kidding...but it is soft and lovely! I even saved the wrapping! Thanks so much Jo, your kindness has touched my heart! xoxo

Still having loads of fun at the sewing machine (even though the light bulb is out!) making things with scraps from work.

This mini was made with scraps from a line by Dan Bennett, very colorful. I only had a few wonky pieces so I paired them with a grey Bella solid....I really didn't notice the big circles until I took the picture! The binding is from one of the girl's dresses. Love recycling!

Here were some Blueberry Crumb Cake scraps. I meant to make this look like it was woven, should have just put that cream sashing on opposite sides of each block then alternated. Don't know what I was thinking when I put it on all four sides!

I love making stockings....this one is for the boy's girlfriend and the scarf is from something my folks gave me...I have enough cream fleece leftover to use for the cuff of future stockings. I finished sewing a bunch of other things...but I can't show you right now....you know why!:)
Here is our tree. First time we have ever put up an artificial tree. It belongs to the girl, she used it when she was at WVU and has informed us that when she returns home from the UK for good this tree is going with her. That's fine with us...as long as she does return!:o

Hope you all are having a great December too...can you believe it is almost 2012?

Remember that Stack of Loulouthi?

2011-12-06T15:13:00.000-08:00

It was killing me...I really wanted to play with my Loulouthi but Christmas presents (which I can't show to you) had to have my full attention. Then I caved.

...I mean come on, how could I resist and our sad looking couch was calling for some attention!

See! I mean SAD! It's bad enough that we have an ancient This Ends Up couch but I can't do anything about that so the gross old pillows and dated duvet cover had to go!

Found a two-sided coverlet with colors that compliment the Loulouthi...at least I think it does....then I headed to the sewing machine....

NEW PILLOWS!!

Really...it's kinda hard to tell from the photo but the pillows really do go with the colors on both sides of the coverlet!:) But something was missing...

...oh yeah...a new quilt!:)

Yes, so much better...I mean I'd love a new couch but that will have to wait for a new house!;) There's a new area rug too...but I have to leave a few surprises for the kids!

Now I want to play with these. I need a bigger container!
Here's a wee peek of the rug...with a new stocking for boyfriend of little sis. OK, back to sewing and cooking and baking and.....!;)

I'm swapping with an eight year old....

2011-11-20T13:23:00.000-08:00

....and I am so honored and thrilled!:) Especially since Max is a Star Wars fanatic like my own kids!:)

This month's theme at The Mini QT Swap was windows and doors sooooo since my partner is the very talented Max and his favorite character is Obi-Wan Kenobi I thought What did Obi-Wan fly? An email to my girl in the UK and a quick reply...."an Eta-2 Actis-class light Interceptor." Of course...why didn't I think of that?;p

So here is my version using some Stonehenge for the planet and space, some batiks, a little Fairy Frost, Dimples, felt...and clear vinyl...

...instant Jedi interceptor...well maybe not instant!:)
I made a slit in the back of the window and a pocket in the front because I wanted Max to be able to take the figures out.

I permanently "borrowed" a couple of my son's micro machine figures...these were made WAY before Max was even born and before the SW prequels...back when Polly Pockets and Micro Minis were one inch tall...before they made them bigger because they were a choking hazard!

The ion cannons were made out of shish kabob sticks colored with Sharpie...the laser fire is glow in the dark thread as is the...

...white Fairy Frost binding!:) Love that My Universe backing fabric...you can just see the little slit to the left of the E in Earth. Love that seamripper too!:)

Can't just send a mini to an eight year old without some goodies and a few things for his sister....no those books aren't the boy's...I bought them especially for Max. I hear he loves the mini!;) Thank heavens!

(I put the avocado there for size reference!)

Now I'm making (trying to follow) recipes for The Turnips that Ate Virginia! Hope the relatives are ready for these on Thursday!:o

ps...I can't wait to get my mini from Max....stay tuned!

Mini Quilt Challenge? You Betcha I'm There!:)

2011-11-13T14:37:00.000-08:00

Heard about it from Dana at Old Red Barn Co.....amylouwho is having a
Modern Mini Quilt party and giveaway to celebrate the new flickr group! Giveaway...I'm in!

But mostly it's nice to have another fun place to post photos of my minis...which are mostly made from scraps...scraps from full size quilts but mostly scraps I get from work (see Webfabrics.net button over there on the right)!:)

Another great thing about minis is the chance to try out different quilting methods...

...but as you can see I am still afraid of my free motion darning foot!

Mostly straight or wavy lines for me! I really need to get over it! In the meantime hop on over to amylou's and the new flickr group and have a look at all the creativity out there....I'm inspired!:)

I can't wait to show you this...but I'm gonna have to! Ugh!;)

Journaling a Giveaway Winner!:)

2011-11-05T09:13:00.001-07:00

Want another idea for all your scraps? How about a Journal cover?

Grab a handful of scraps (in someone's favorite colors), some interfacing and an awesome Marble Composition Notebook with GRID PAPER!!!
Stitch the scraps together...fuse on the interfacing....do a little accent stitching...add a couple of flaps and a piece of elastic and there you have it....

A journal cover to spark your imagination...or at least jot down notes!

This was a birthday present...I really wanted to keep it! The Waterman pen was a present from hubby many moons ago...that I DID keep!:)

Ok, ok...I know this is what you really wanted to see....the winner of my Second Year of BlogBlatherings giveaway!!:)

Random Gen picked.....

....PINKBRAIN!! I love that moniker!!:)

pinkbrain said...
Happy Blogiversary! I absolutely love that little scrap quilt you made! Those costumes are awesome. I love it when adults dress up for halloween. My favourite cookies are peanut butter cookies (straight out of the oven!).

I love adults dressing up in costume too...and I am getting ready to bake some cookies because you ALL have made me very, very hungry! Pinkbrain is going to get all the above goodies and I thank everyone very much for all your lovely comments...and drool inducing cookie ideas!:)

Now I am going to go play with some more scraps....think I have enough?:)

A "View"...of Halloween...and a HaPpY TwO YeaRs Giveaway!

2011-11-01T13:32:00.000-07:00

Wow....Two years of Blogging! Boy have I had fun all thanks to my online buds! My View of things has changed...there is a whole big world out there right at the tip of my keyboard! One of those world's is The Sketchbook Challenge! It has taken me back to my colored pencils and a new found love...watercolor pens! Last month's challenge theme was "View"..any kind of view. Well, I love my view of the world and happened to see it a little differently while riding with hubby in his truck....

...my Blue Ridge Mountain View from an awesome red truck. I love riding up high!!:) Go check out The Sketchbook Challenge...the lovely folks there are gearing up for another year of fun...thank heavens!!

Here is another view I love...the girl...standing near her UK home...with her new Ghastlies Bag and harem pants from Turkey...gotta love it!

Then there was our Halloween view...

...how awesome is this? That's the girl's roommate in all her dinosaur ferociousness! Way to go Rose!!!

Then there is Neil Gaiman's Coraline...in the flesh...standing on her bed with awesome blue hair and shoes...I want blue shoes!

We had fun at the shop too...Dr. "Take two FQs and call me in the morning"Fabric, The Sleepless Quilter- complete with pjs, slippers, threads stuck all over the place and dark circles under her eyes and me...JACKie THE seamRIPPER!! Bwhahahahahaaa!!:)

Hahaha! Now this is what you really stopped in for....a giveaway! To celebrate two years of zaniness I have a huge bag of NOVELTY SCRAPS and....

....this little item that I made out of the scraps from my

Doll Quilt Swap 11 mini.
Lots of people seemed to like it so I thought this the perfect thing to show you all how happy you have made me these past couple of years!:)

This is all you have to do....I feel like making cookies...the boy is coming home next week for jury duty and I'm going to bake for him. Alas for that I'll have to take out my vegan baking cookbook but I just want to know what is YOUR favorite cookie!!:) That's it...just leave a comment with your fav cookie and on Saturday (Nov 5th) morning...whenever I wake up and get up....I'll have that old pal of ours Random Generator pick a winner!!:)

International peeps are definitely welcomed!!:)xoxo

Hope your View has been as fun as mine and thanks so much for stopping by!!

You Have to Try This....

2011-10-30T18:52:00.000-07:00

I mean who doesn't want to finish a lap quilt top in less than 2.5 hours?:)

Do you want to know how I took this pile of hot Wild Bunch craziness and made.....

....THIS?!!! Well I could tell you but I'll give credit where credit is due...my pal Kerry hooked me up with this link to the Jelly Roll 1600 Quilt!! One jellyroll...one sewing machine...some thread and scissors and voila...
... I think I should call it Jolly Rancher since it reminds me of the candy and yes....we had snow yesterday and the leaves aren't even totally off the trees!

Kerry made this beauty using Urban Couture....awesome!

Then she used a Hoffman Bali pop....cherry flavored....yummy!!

I think she has found this habit forming because a Kumo jellyroll became this lovely top! I hear she has done several more! Great job Kerry and thanks so much for sharing!

Here are a few of my 1600 variations...these are 3.5" strips. I used what we at work call the New Boyfriend flannel....oh my it's soft...this is an Xmas present for hubby...shhh...it's a secret!:)

I also tried it with 20- 4.5" strips....only took an hour to cut and piece. I think the wider strips really showcase the Loulouthi fabric. I am currently hand quilting this...it is still in two pieces right down the middle to make it a bit easier to handle. I can't wait to get it on my couch!
The whole trick to the Jellyroll 1600 is sewing the strips together like you would binding....I used the triangle trimmings from the Loulouthi to make this mini...it's hanging up in the shop!:)

Really....you could do this and then cut it all up and sew it back together in some new fun way...my mind is just reeling with possibilities...but for my next post...

...I think I'll have a giveaway! I totally forgot my 2nd year bloggieversary last Friday...oh....and I'll show you my Halloween costume or you could come by the shop and see it tomorrow!!!

Happy Halloween everyone!

She wants to be Coraline for Halloween....

2011-10-16T16:31:00.000-07:00

....she has a blue wig...

...will this work?:)
And how about this for her hair?:)

Blogger's Quilt-UberFest Progress

2011-10-07T19:50:00.000-07:00

I've done Quilt-Alongs before...that's how I started quilting a couple of years ago following Dana at Old Red Barn Quilt-Along...but I have never participated in a block-a-day kind of quilt-along....WHY THE HECK NOT?!!! They are so freaking fun!!!
I don't know what made me start this one....Blogger's Quilt-Uber-Fest....but I'm sure glad I did! A fat quarter stack of Across the Pond, lovely scraps I won from Quiltdad (gotta find out the name of the collection!), several yardage cuts of Grunge, a few brown batiks and the fun began in earnest!

Block #1- Take Flight, Block #2- Flying North

Block #3- South for the Winter, Block #4- Cabin in the Woods

Block #5- Homes, Block #6- Watch Over Me

It's fun but not as easy as I thought it would be... since I have all these coordinating fabrics I figure I could just pick a few and start cutting but you can really make a mess of it if something is too close in value...I am learning a lot....and I'm getting better at making half square triangles!

Looking at the above photo it's interesting to see that even though 1-3 were made before 4-6 the blocks above each other are so coordinated! Did that make any sense?:) I didn't do today's block so I'm going to have two blocks tomorrow but that's ok...I'm motivated!!:) Go visit the flickr group and see how much fun everyone is having...thanks Scott!!

How about these colors?:) Sigh!! Sixteen hundred inches of fun up next...I promise!

Ghastlies Anyone?

2011-10-06T19:28:00.000-07:00

Happy October! Did you know that this October has five Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays? I heard it said this only happens every 823 years....NOT! If a month has 31 days and the 1st falls on a Sat...you can figure out the rest!:) All I care is this October has FIVE weekends!! WhooHOoo!:) Of course my favorite day of October is the last day...it's a work day so I'm trying to think of a costume I can wear and cut fabric at the same time...any ideas?

In the meantime I made a ghastly bag for the girl....no...I didn't do a bad job...
...I made it out of The Ghastlies!:) I love this fabric, love the colors....

...love the characters....

...love the cemetery and the trees...I especially loved making this for my kiddo....she almost didn't get it because I really, really wanted to keep it!

Several pockets and a carabiner on a twill tape loop inside....please girlie...keep your eyes on this at all times!!!

This past weekend was my pal Sally's birthday...I heard she likes roosters and chickens....so do I! Happy bday pal!

I swore I wouldn't sign up for anymore swaps for a while...I lied. Come on...windows/doors and crazy quilt squares...who could resist?

Here are my door 3.5" bitties...I took artist license...I say these beads and felt look like mice...what do you think?

How about a few crazy quilted 3.5" squares? This is the first time I have tried a crazy quilt square...they really are quite fun and liberating. You should go visit the Bitty Block Committee and see the other lovelies that are going to be flying around the world! I can't wait to start getting soft mail again!

Another new project...hopefully finished by the 16th because I'm participating in the Bloggers' Quilt-UberFest which is a block a day for 16 days...go check it out!

Stay tuned for the first finished blocks and 1600 inches of fun...really...FUN...at least I thought it was fun!

Girl Pals in the HOUSE!:)

2011-09-25T11:45:00.000-07:00

Look what my pal Mandy (Mandalin18) sent me from all the way down under! I mean just look...isn't it amazing? Perfection in cloth!:)
Between the amazing dresses the ladies are sporting, the tree fabric and squirrels frolicking at their feet and that awesome paint by numbers sky this little treasure almost made me cry!

To top it off Mandy spoiled me with postcards, batik squares and that adorable neon green Kewpie Doll...which is now hanging out on my bulletin board! You can see what I sent Mandy here...but alas I didn't spoil her with extra booty!:o

Thanks so much Pal....you outdid yourself and I'm so glad to reap the benefits!;) xoxo

Now how about some thoughts of Christmas....

....no you say? But how could you resist this fabric from Alexander Henry? I sure couldn't. I think it will go nicely with some holiday fabric I bought from Amy (Diary of a Quilter) last year. What do you think Amy?:)

It was supposed to be a tablerunner....

2011-09-22T09:40:00.000-07:00

....but I went a little overboard!

How have you all been doing? I can't believe it's been since the end of August that I last posted...I have no excuses except I really didn't have anything interesting to show or tell...just life happening and it's been good!:) I did finally finish this quilt.

It is going to the UK for Maria's flatmate Rose's family as a thank you for signing as Maria's guarantor....paying rent monthly is soooo much better than having to pay three months at a time!

We so appreciate their trust in her and felt a little thank you was in order....but I was having so much fun stitching this and that....it became a lapquilt!

The print is In the Beginning's Botanica....I just love it...I hope they do too!:)

BTW...notice the new Webfabrics button I have over there on the right? My sister Foo made it for me...that's where I work and now when I talk about a fabric I bought from work you can click over there if you are curious!;) She made my flickr button too! If anyone is interested in a button and can't make one...like me...Foo's your gal!!:)

This IS a runner I made for my SIL's bday....I made the photo skinny on purpose because the runner is only 7 1/2 inches wide. Scraps of brown and black sewn into a long strip and then cut into squares...easy peasy. Was looking for something really cool for the back and found the perfect thing in my stash...and it was only 8" wide...awesome!!:)

Went to the Bluemont Fair last weekend....

...such a cute town in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains where Washingtonians used to go to beat the heat of the summer...until the train stop going that far!

Lots of yummy food...this being the heathly stuff...didn't take a photo of what we ate!;)

Lots of great Flea Market goodies...Hey Dad...think you could make one of these?

And lots of flowers to be planted for the Fall...but I need to sew and that's just what I have been doing. I just can't show anything else to you....sorry!

How about this....Maria.... is this good for your curtains? Better be since they were mailed today!:)

Mailbox and Basement Goodies!

2011-08-29T15:03:00.000-07:00

Found something really fun in my mailbox this afternoon....a package from Amy of During Quiet Time! Her hubby does these amazing lathe turned seamrippers and Amy...the creative genius of the family...does EVERYTHING including printing on fabric!
Look at the adorable buttons she has on her business cards....go check out her blog and see for yourself....so much goodness....made During Quiet Time!:)

Last weekend...before the Earthquake and Hurricane...we went down to visit my folks...brought dad a lot of wood and trims....took home a bunch of treasures!

These two chairs were hanging in the garage..."Dad...can I have them?" YEP!:) Haven't decided if I am going to strip them or paint them...I have time.

There was one other chair hanging in the garage...

...the one on the right...awesome yes?:) I took the other one out of dad's workshop...I think it was the one he took his breaks on...I replaced it!:) I love all the bits of paint still on that one. I think I'll go ahead and finish stripping the other one. Check out the turnbuckle on the green one!

We brought home one other treasure....this bench that dad refinished for me...it is part of a banquet we took out of Don's granddaddy's house in Hampton, VA. Was this dreadful peach color...dad worked hard taking off many layers of paint. The seat lifts up for storage....this one and the mate are going in our mudroom. Thanks DAD!:) xoxo

See the little treasure sitting on top of the bench? That's the awesome quilt I received from my secret partner Kristy (Love Old Houses)at Doll Quilt Swap 11!

It's only 10 3/4" square! Those are some itty bitty HSTs!! Kristy included the squares from her first idea. I think I was a winner either way she went with this quilt!;) Thanks Kristy!

What to see another treasure in our basement?

Yep...it's a sailboat. Red and white with an aqua interior and a natural mast...love it!;) Maybe one day we'll take it out on the water!!

Lastly...these have been mailed to the boy....I wanted to try to make something that he and his band mate's could sell at their shows along with their LPs and t-shirts. I drew the owl/Hold Tight! on Paint and printed it on fabric and the skull...the boy drew that. I scanned it and put the band's name in the eye sockets...a few bits of scraps....some ribbon, a keyring...voila...Hold Tight! key fobs! They can always give them away too!:)

First Shaken Earth...next Sky Opening!

2011-08-23T16:11:00.000-07:00

We are only about 100 miles north of Mineral, VA....not far enough! At 1:51pm today the shop shook! As you can see from the map ALL of VA had at least light to moderate shaking...that was enough for me!
James lives 35 miles away...way too close...but of course it was all fun for him!

If you felt it you can go to this map at the U.S. Geological Survey and let them know. Thanks for finding this Foo!:)

Next up for the east coast....Hurricane Irene! Ugh!

On a lighter note...I just had to share this photo. That's Maria when she visited Vienna, Austria this past June.....gotta love red Chucks!:)

~d

Graduation, Anniversary, Baby Gifts Given...Oh Yeah!

2011-08-20T17:26:00.000-07:00

Maria and her flatmate Rose want to give their expecting friend a handmade gift and asked me if I would make them a baby quilt.....HECK YEAH I yelled across the Atlantic!! Their friend doesn't know what she having...other than it's a baby:) ....so I ran to my stash, fondled a bunch of fabric and sent them some photos. They pondered my wonders and picked their favs...elephants, owls, monkeys, camping critters, donkeys...and some Pips!:) This is what I did with them....

Gotta love simple squares in frames some blue fabric on one side and some mauve on the other!

Oh the wonders of the washer and dryer!! Crinkly goodness!

But my favs of what they picked were the farm animals...and castles!

Perfect for a wee babe born in the UK! Yes, the animals and castles are going in different directions but I didn't want to cut up the fabric so I took some artistic license and just went with it!:)

I used some of a tapestry I bought from Urban Outfitters for the binding and

in the bottom corner I embroidered "From Maria & Rose 2011"

Hope you girls like it...I'm sure the baby won't mind what he/she is snuggled in as long as it is warm!!:)

My pal Sandie's youngest graduated from high school this June. I wanted to make her a little something to remember it all...something she could put her pins and stuff on....this is her growth from elementary school to high school and the seed that has been planted as she begins her new adventure at Temple! Congrats Court....Do Everything!!!:)
It's my folks 57th anniversary tomorrow....they love the beach, especially the Outer Banks. I was inspired by this quilt by Kelsey Creates I saw on the Fat Quarterly blog of four lighthouses (BTW...on that blog post my little quilt is #7!:). The folks don't need another quilt...but I think a little wall hanging might just do the trick!:) You can't tell from the photo but the black stripes are 4 different black batiks and the whites are tone on tones....looks better in person!:)
Now I finish up a few more projects that need to head over the ocean and then it will be time to start working on Christmas projects. In the mean time we are still enjoying the yard...finally got some much needed rain last week....and look what bloomed in the crack! Gotta love freebies!!:)

Trees and Houses and Gourds...Oh MY!:)

2011-08-13T12:33:00.000-07:00

Been playing with my bitties again...now I am all caught up...not a bitty left to be sewn together...PHEW!

November 2010 the Bitty Block Committee made houses...adorable houses....they hung in a bunch from my bulletin board. February we made trees...so freaking cute....they hung next to the houses. Until this past week! I was going to try to come up with some cute neighborhood with a cul-de-sac and an orchard and the Big Woods and Nob Hill for the (s)n0bbier neighborhood but in the end kept it simple...I'm glad I did!:) Plus it was going to end up huge! I made the castle block.

Around the same time we were doing the trees one of the group...who will remain nameless cause she is a trouble-maker...Flossieblossoms...had this wacky idea rolling around in her head and thus was born Out of Our Gourds! Each of us picked a veg and made it human....here is the motley lineup:

Billy the Kidney Bean (Quiltinkimmie)

Carroty Kid (Sandy in Buenos Aires)

Ludwig von Beet-hoven (Ruthiequilts)

Alexander the Grape (the crazy person)

Melon-y Griffith (EdyB1)

Tina Turnip (Fingers, Inc)

Lima Minnelli (LethargicLass)

Pablo Pea-casso (Spiced Coffee)

Beety Boop (Sewjo)

Black Scallion (Lucyellen06)

Dr. Pepper (me)

Squash Buckler (Marilynkb)

Grapeful Dead (Nanotchka)

Abraham Lin-corn (Hohnstreiterrific)

I printed the names on some fabric and put that next to each veggie because I figured we all weren't up to figuring them out...heheheh!:) Thanks Ladies!!!

So...now I am all caught up....I'm hoping to convince the gang that we need to do a bathroom theme...can't you see it...toothbrushes, tubs and toilets...OH MY!:)

On the Doll Quilt Swap 11 front I'm finished. I wasn't feeling it...I mean I really like it but it was outside my comfort zone being new to paper piecing so I'm not really satisfied with my workmanship. Everyone at DQS was so encouraging that I'm going to send it on. Hope my partner likes it!:)

Just for fun I made this little colorful thing out of some Makower Sew scraps that I brought home from work. I was just having fun sewing these weirdly cut strips together adding some Meadowsweet on the outside...looked cute as individual blocks....now I see from the photo that the Meadowsweet wasn't a great idea cause there are some wacky zig zags going on there! Alas I still think it is cute and was going to send it to one of my online buddies....think I still should?:)

Three Minis made by 22 Quilters...and Me!:)

2011-07-31T13:31:00.000-07:00

Yep, I could have never made these minis without the total creative efforts of the Bitty Block Committee!!:) Making all those different 3.5" squares is not going to happen but making 12 of the same thing each month and trading is awesome!:)

February's theme was words/text...everyone had a lot of fun with these. I really wanted to make a word with my bitties...one of the blocks was LOL! Perfect!;)

April's theme was sewing. I had an extra measuring tape and was inspired. This mini ended up being 36 1/2" tall....perfect for a quick measurement. The bow at the top is a piece of measuring tape ribbon graciously given to me by the lovely Amy...perfect topper!

In May we were cool and hip with a 60s retro theme. I kept this one simple using some of the extra fabric generously sent by Spiced Coffee and Friedazzzz. I made some easy square in square blocks to go with the bitties to make this groovy little piece!

To always remember who sent each block I make sure the backing fabric is light enough to use a Sharpie and note on the back of each square where it came from...so thank you....

Crazyfun01

EdyB1

FlossieBlossoms

Friedazzzz

hohnstreiterrific

JGmehlin

LethargicLass

Mandalin18

Marilynkb

Spiced Coffee

Mindboggld

4MonkeysQuilts

Nanotchka

Needleanddime

QuiltinKimmie

Ruthiequilts

SandyinBuenosAires

Sewgentle

SewSheDid

Sewwunderful

Silort and

Uniqueandnovel

for being wonderful, creative and generous swappers...I have learned a lot from all of you! A big thank you to all the other wonderful folks of the Bitty Block Committee....go check them out!;)

I still have a stack of wee houses, trees and veggies gone wild to make into minis but in the mean time....

...here is another sneak peek of my secret project!;)

Skull Auction....ends today!

2011-07-28T08:11:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I forgot to post about this last week!!! This auction is on ebay and all the proceeds goes to Becky Lee Women's Support Fund which raises awareness and prevents dating and domestic violence through education, support, referrals, and life skills trainings.

My square is the John Lennon with lightening bolt on the lower left!;)

These quilt squares were all donated by artist from all over the world for the First Annual Skull Appreciation Day that was in Richmond, VA last month. You can see more about Skull-a-Day by clicking that button on the right. After the exhibit all the quilts have been put up for auction and for seven of them the auction ends today!
Tomorrow the last 6 will go up for auction and this is one of them...my square is the one in the lower right....both of my skulls were made with glow in the dark fabric!;) This is the only wall hanging that has six squares! Isn't it amazing?!!:)

So please...go check them out...there are some amazing pieces of cloth art going on and check out the Skull-a-Day website...Noah and crew have brought bones to a new level of coolness!:)

Hold Tight!! This is about the cutest thing I have ever MADE.....

2011-07-26T19:17:00.000-07:00

1994...see him holding his fav Dino?:)

....other than them of course!;) But I digress...this is what I wanted to show you...Several years ago, when James and the boys started Hold Tight! , they were thinking up tee designs and this is what I came up with...a play on their name. I have been wanting to make a banner with this design and on Saturday I finally did!

Ta DA! I don't know about you but I think this is so stinking cute! I mean I guess a pop-punk band isn't really into cute but that's what happened!

It is about 27"x 20" with a few ties holding it on a dowel. I used a bunch of black and brown scraps for the letters and owl....

... the owl is loving that moon which is made out of Michael Miller Glow in the dark Fairy Frost!:)

The boys loved it....here they are playing at The Old Firestation #3 in Fairfax, VA...it was so great to be able to see them...a fun afternoon was had by all...thank heavens for earplugs!;)

Eric, boy, Jake and Alex

After the show the boys gave us some exciting news...they have been invited to play at FEST 10 in Gainesville, Florida on the weekend of Oct 28-30! It's quite an honor because this is the biggest Punk Fest of the year and it's the 10th anniversary so they have invited back all the biggest past bands and hardly any newbies....except our boys!;)

Congrats boys!!

DQS 11 Peek et al!

2011-07-18T11:58:00.000-07:00

Yep, it's Doll Quilt Swap 11 time and I was lucky enough to make the lottery. This round we are going back to their roots and making a true doll quilt using multiple repeating blocks...no art quilts. Above is the label for this wee quiltie...

...and this is the peek...4" Hexie Stars!;) So much fun...might even make a bigger quilt one day...of course with bigger stars! This is a secret swap so my partner has no idea this is for her...hope she likes it!

I just finished a One-on-One swap with the lovely Mandy from Australia. She made a mini she called girl pals for someone else and I begged her to do a swap with me and she graciously agreed. Lucky me!!:)

This is what will be winging it's way to Australia tomorrow...it's 9x12...the perfect size to fit in a mailer without folding! Hope you like it Mandy...that is if you peek!:)

Here is another peek of a couple of blocks from my secret project...I'm just having TOO much fun!;)

Hold Tight! is Touring Again....

2011-07-09T11:22:00.000-07:00

(James is third from the left)

...with their pals from This Is Your Life! Man...I wish I had posted sooner as they are a third of the way through their tour dates but here is where they were and where they are going...
July 2 - Philadelphia, PA @ Cracker Factory
July 3 - York, PA @ Skid Row Garage
July 4 - Kent, OH @ Kent Stage Alley
July 5 - Kalamazoo, MI @ The Fat Guy House
July 6 - Antioch, IL @ Garik’s House
July 7 - Milwaukee, WI @ Borg Ward
July 8 - Minneapolis, MN @ The Hexagon
July 9 - Lincoln, NE @ Mad Ave.
July 10 - Kansas City, MO @ Club Mustache
July 11 - Catawissa, MO @ 8265 Highway HH
July 12 - Nashville, TN @ Little Hamilton Collective
July 13 - Birmingham, AL @ The Firehouse
July 14 - New Orleans, LA @ The Saint
July 15 - Tallahassee, FL @ The Shark Tank
July 16 - Gainesville, FL @ Wayward Council
July 17 - Tampa, FL @ The Hold Tight! House
July 18 - Orlando, FL @ Will’s Pub
July 19 - Miami, FL @ Churchill’s Pub
July 20 - Ft. Myers, FL @ Cool Hand Luc’s
July 21 - Atlanta, GA @ Wonderroot
July 22 - Greenville, SC @ Suite 8
July 23 - Charlottesville, VA @ Magnolia
July 24 - Fairfax, VA @ Old Firestation #3
July 25 - Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter
July 26 - Norfolk, VA @ The Jewish Mother

(James sent me this photo so I don't know who to thank for it!)

Not only is Hold Tight! on tour...they have a new EP...Call The Zoo...that you can download for free or a donation here....along with all their other stuff AND.....
....they have an LP...actual vinyl...out of their last EP...Can't Take This Away... you can preorder it at Animal Style Records. I think I'm going to buy one of all the colors!:)

So go visit the guys at a show...tell them I sent you...or visit their facebook page and like them and check out their music...good old pop punk...for free! Of course if you buy an LP that would make me very happy too!!:)

~d

Hubby took the day off...

2011-07-02T07:35:00.000-07:00

...Thursday because he knew it was going to be a gorgeous day and I wanted to go to our favorite place....

...Shenandoah National Park!

Can you believe how clear it was?
We decided to hike up Stony Man Mountain...can you see his brow, nose and jutting chin always watching the western world? Imagine all the lovely sunsets he has seen!

We made our way to the trail head greeted by this sea of ferns...they go on forever!

We encountered a Yellow Birch splitting a huge hunk of greenstone in half!

As we made our way almost to the top the trees start getting shorter and more gnarly, growth stunted from altitude and drying winds.

The view from Stony Man's brow is amazing!

You can see why he is called Stony Man as he sits up there guarding the town of Luray and the Shenandoah Valley...lucky guy!

He has some beautiful plants growing on his brow.

Triskets and peanut butter never tasted better. We enjoyed the view and the sun all by ourselves for over half an hour before another admiring hiker joined us.

This is where we came from...you can just see two little pieces of Skyline Drive there on the right....one where we stopped to take the first photo of Stony Man.

This is where we went after saying our goodbyes and thank yous to the Old Man.

We headed further south and was greeted by a traffic jam...wish I had taken a photo of all the crazy people....crazy because they saw this.....

We didn't see her at first, she was further up the drive.

She kept coming closer and closer grubbing around and the crazy people were all out of their cars, leaving their doors open, trying to get a picture in awe of the sight....

...we just stayed in the Bronco, one... because we were stuck between all these cars with no drivers, two....we were surrounded by people with cameras in their faces but three....it didn't matter because the bear was only 15 feet away stopped right by our vehicle!

She turned around to go back to the tree stump a few feet away...

....really playing for the cameras by knocking over small logs and rocks to get to the goodies. The reason we know the bear was a female is because as she walked back into the woods...

...we could see two other little black critters....

...watching momma and hoping for their share of the bounty!

Now that is a face more than just a mother could love!:)

Thank you dear hubby for taking the day off...it certainly nice to be self-employed!

Once home we snuggled with our critter...after he snuggle with his!:)

The First.....

2011-06-28T05:53:00.000-07:00

....harvest of the year became...

...the best pizza on a whole wheat crust....YUMMY!:) Can't wait for zukes, cukes and bigger tomatoes!:)

Another secret project...1 3/4 inch squares!;)

Pathways

2011-06-21T17:32:00.000-07:00

The garden is coming along nicely, we are getting a wonderful soft rain, hope it continues for a while. While the Three Sisters are growing I have been sewing....and drawing....
...my pal Dena is moving with her family to New Mexico soon....sigh...I wanted to make a little something for the Queens.

Queen #1 (my bday twin) likes black and white...with a little color...

...and Queen #2 likes it all....I think this covers it!:)

Took them for a little visit to see my coworkers....I want all that thread!

While Dena and her family are finding a pathway to their new life in the Southwest I needed to finish this month's Pathways theme for the Sketchbook Challenge.

I drew this from a photo Maria took when she and her dad followed a rainbow that came out after a lightening strike burned down a neighbor's barn.

These adorable birdhouses were outside a shop in Yorktown....I think the birds had no problem following this path to a fabulous new home, their only issue was which one to pick! I can't wait for next month's theme!

While visiting the folks for dad's day I finished this mini....it didn't have a home....my sister looked at it lovingly....it now has a home!

(I had two fortunes in my cookie last week:

If you're riding ahead of the herd, look back once in awhile to make sure it's still there.

and

Impossible is a word only to be found in the dictionary of fools.

:)

Drug Rugs Anyone?:)

2011-06-16T15:42:00.000-07:00

Wow...been a long time. I really have been busy...just that it's been all gifts that I couldn't share with you without revealing the gift before it was given! Now I can show a few things...because we did Dad's day at my in-laws last weekend AND because my dad opened his present even though I had printed right on the package to wait until Sunday!!

What do you give your dad for Dad's Day when he really doesn't need anything....how about a Drug Rug?:) Heheheh!:) I'm trying to get my parents to be a bit more green....no more tissues....no more napkins....no more paper towels....sitting under their morning coffee/juice and medications!:)

(Made a bookmark out of a trimming)

Think these will help? Made these Drug (mug) rugs out of some scraps of Byzantium and some Stonehenge for the binding. I put my little label on the narrow side so they can hang them when not in use. I hope to see these in use when next we visit!
For Dad-in-law, who also doesn't need anything, I made this little catch-all bag out of some Mr. Fix-it. I put a loop on it so he could hang it from a button on the dash of his truck and put whatever he wants in it. Actually...it is big enough to hold a water bottle.

This is a little six inch mini I made for a friend.

I LOVE SCRAPS.....

.....and this is a secret project I finally started and my first paper piecing...I'm HOOKED!!;)

There are still a few things I can't show you....yet!

Quiltdad inspired and my Latest Obsession!

2011-05-27T19:15:00.000-07:00

Wanted to make a little runner from some Anna Griffin fabric, something simple but a little different....just couldn't think of anything...until I saw John's (Quiltdad) little mug rugs....
...such a simple idea and really fun to do....

....thanks bunches for the inspiration John!:)

Here at the shop is my latest love....Anna Maria Horner's Loulouthi....I don't know if I am going to be able to resist it....

....but even more tempting is this huge case of Presencia Finca Perle Cotton!!! Over 150 colors in size 8 and 12.....oh the possibilities!!! I bought 5 balls today...I need to get a large jar to store them. They are just tooo, too pretty to hide away!

BTW....this weekend (til June 1st) there will be free shipping for orders over $35....go visit our Facebook page to get the code word....and see a photo of me and my mystery quilt! Tell Carly you like it!:)

Skull Appreciation and Mystery Quilt Revealed!

2011-05-22T14:51:00.000-07:00

Ever been to the blog Skull-A-Day? No? Oh please go check it out...so much fun! They are having a Skull Appreciation Day on June 4th in Richmond, VA and part of the festivities is an auction of wall hangings using 12" squares sent in by artist from all over the world....and me!:)
This was my inspiration....a couple of drawings James did a while back. The one on the right is an ACEO card and now lives in Scotland!

Here is my interpretation in cloth. I'm liking that diamond tooth!:) Go visit the blog and you can see some of the other squares that have been sent in....I hope they post photos of all the finished quilts.

Last week I finished the Mystery Quilt AND we sent out the final clue so I can finally show you what it looks like....

...scrappy browns, greys and ecru batiks....

...it's supposed to be a lap size but it must be for a giant lap because it is 60"x84"! Since it is soooo, sooo big I decided to treat myself and for the first time ever I had a coworker long-arm it for me!

The lovely Linda of A Design in Motion did a fantastic job!

The designer of the quilt itself is Jackie Robinson of Animas Quilts. Very well written...I mean come on....I was able to do it!;)

I was tickled when Carly asked me to be in charge of it for the shop and I sure hope she finds another one for us to do!

Here's the boy again...he and Hold Tight! are heading out on another tour starting May 31st in Pittsburgh, PA.... pop punk at it's best!

Love those tattoos....he is drawing one for ME!:)

Stay tuned!

Northeastern Graduation, Gifts for Maria's UK pals...and some donuts!

2011-05-13T16:55:00.000-07:00

We've done some traveling...all the way to Boston from Virginia. That's ten hours in the car but it was worth it to see our niece graduate from Northeastern.

Several days before we left I realized we still had not bought her a gift. I just happened to be looking online to see where Northeastern was in relation to the rest of Boston and saw their logo...

"Lightbulb moment"

Looks like a quilt waiting to happen doesn't it?

So with a little help from some huge graph paper and hubby at the computer screen with a ruler we drew it out...and figured it out...and pulled some fabrics...
Black, Red and Warm Grey are the school colors...I think we got it right!:)

Laura seems to agree!
She's happy and we are proud!

Purple and Orange, Maps and Books, Diner and Rt 66, cute Robots...

...African, Eiffel Tower, Hawaiian, New York, Science/Math...

Fish, Star Wars and the above all folded in a nice colorful stack, stack of pillowcases! Twelve of them for Maria to give to her UK friends. I think she will be able to find something they like in that stack!

With the leftover scraps I made some bookmarks and little wall hangings that I think would be great to display pins and buttons! I'm sure Maria will find them a home!

Of course while in the home of the donut hole we had to go to a Dunkin Donuts...we said Hi for you Maria....see the Mountaineer on Daddy's lapel?:)

Been a long time...so how about some pictures?:)

2011-04-28T14:36:00.000-07:00

It has been a very, very wet April so weeding has been put on the back burner but I have been having some fun inside...
...this month's theme at The Sketchbook Challenge is Branching Out....so I did...a little weaving on a garlic bag, some cutting, pasting and a wee bit of embroidery and there you have it. This was very out of my comfort zone!

At the STUD Swap our theme was Favorite Things...we listed five and our partner picked one or all. My partner loves Lily of the Valley and Salzburg, Austria. Hmmm...how do I do that? A little freezer paper ironed on to some white fabric...run it through my printer...snip, snip, sew, sew and there you go. I can't believe I stuffed flowers that small! Never again!

You can see what Nan made for me here! It is amazing!

This is what I really want to show you....my mystery quilt....but it has to stay a mystery until May 15th when we emailing the LAST clue to our participants...then I can do the big reveal. I love it so much I splurged for the first time ever to have it long-armed....more details next month!!:)

The boy and his band Hold Tight! will be going on another tour soon...go check out their schedule and if you live near one of the cities they where they still need a venue and know of a good place drop them an email.....they would so appreciate it!:)

My new favorite line at work....Sherbet Pips. You think it might be because of the grey....I'm thinking yes!:)

Seen riding with my exercise pal Sally....a car covered with pink blossoms. Almost makes it worth all the rain to see something like that!;)

I leave you with this....and Easter card....my husband gave me...

....Creepy Bunny......*shudder*!:)

Three for the road!

2011-04-13T20:10:00.000-07:00

The Relay for Life road! Made these for my parents' Relay team. They are having a silent auction next month.

(The workshop dear hubby built for dear daddy)

Finished the Crazy Nine Patch, did some wavy line quilting on the big center square and then just went around the outer edge several times....

...was having problems uploading the photos so I couldn't get a close up of the quilting....the binding is red and yellow stripes. I love it!

This little quilt was made from some fabric I won in a giveaway...I FINALLY tried some free motion quilting! It was fun but I still need more pratice.

I'll be brave and show you some stitching....see...it is still a bit too big. Need to get my hands and foot in sync!!

(Daddy is refinishing this bench for me....it has a mate....they are going in our mudroom....one day.)

Now for my favorite. I call it Chocolate Boxes. Sew some different width strips together....cut it up one side and insert a long brown strip and there you have it.

Used the leftovers for the back and binding.

This one was hard to part with!

Small Stuff....Really Small!

2011-04-12T17:43:00.001-07:00

Made my Mom-in-law some potholders for her birthday last week.... ...don't you just love that fabric? Wish I knew what it was, all I had was a fat quarter of each! This was leftover from the grocery bag dispenser I made for my parents....they loved it. Now I need to make one for sis.

I am participating in the STUD swap this month....see that beauty up there? That mini was made for me by the amazing Nannette (nanotchka). The theme is "My Favorite Things" and we listed 5 favs...gardening was one of mine. I think Nan nailed it!:) Look at all those wonderful extras. I know just where I'm going to plant the hollyhocks...one of Nan's favs!

Now I need to finish hers....I'm a little intimidated!:o

One of the themes this month for the Bitty Block Committee is Sewing. Gosh...do you think we would have a problem thinking of wee little 3.5" squares to make for this theme? I don't think so!

A little template plastic and fine point Sharpie later and....

....we have a ruler, rotary cutter and cutting mat fit for a sewing fairy!:)

Yes...I made 2.5"x.5" rulers!:) I won't tell you the size of the rotary blades!:)

That Face Part II

2011-04-09T00:03:00.000-07:00

Yep....really LOVE this face....yep...proud too. Twenty-four years of amazing adventures.... ...and she is just getting started!!

Happy Birthday Girl!

And Happy 5-0 sweet man... four days late but I know you'll forgive me!:)

xoxoxo

ps...the girl had another article published on the Young Adult Fantasy Guide...go read it!:)

That Face Part 1

2011-04-08T05:47:00.000-07:00

We SO love that face....are so proud of that face....has it really been 22 years? Yes, 22 amazing years! Happy Birthday Boy!!

xoxoxox mom and dad

ps....the boy's band Hold Tight! just released a B-side to their "Can't Take This Away" album...go download them both for free!:)

Using my Hands....

2011-03-30T16:48:00.000-07:00

....folding fabric that went to Nicole who has organized a flickr group to make quilts for Japan. There is a great need for twin and full sized quilts and many people here in the US that are trying to fill that need.

Nicole's Quilt Blocks for Charity is one of the many groups of lovely folks trying to help out... it really is a small world. If you have fabric/batting or some orphan blocks you no longer need they would love to have them!

Using my hands to work on my mystery quilt...eight clues finished....

...two more clues til the big reveal...but that won't be for two more months!

Using my hands at work (Webfabrics)...cutting 77 new bolts of Kaffe reprints...I was in heaven! Go visit our Facebook page....April Fool's Day is going to be a doozy!:)

Last but definitely not least...using my hands to eat this lovely plate of goodies...I do love birthday parties...as long as they aren't mine!:)

Catfish to Cat Butt...Oh My!

2011-03-22T18:32:00.000-07:00

She did it...the girl succumbed to the world of Tweeting! A couple of years ago Maria and her pal Nicole started Catfish Productions on Facebook...the start of their entertainment media company....and the stuff they put on it is pretty entertaining!!:) Now Catfish has hit the world of Twitter and would love for you to join them in the fun.

Embroidery from a bag I made Nicole!:)

Not only is Catfish on Twitter...Maria is too. You can read about her caving here! I'm not creative enough to tweet in 140 characters or less!

I played on the sewing machine yesterday....

...made this grocery bag dispenser...thought my folks needed one to replace the yellow plastic bag they have hanging on the back of their laundryroom door. I found the tutorial on DIY Bag lover. It's a great site...all KINDS of bags!:)

Made this mini using the scraps from my Stripy Tiger Crazy 9 Patch....I call it... Cat Butt.....because that's all that was left of the tiger!

I love this little wonky mug rug...I think it's a keeper!

Now I have over 300 two inch HSTs waiting for me....ugh!

Bonfires, Stripey Tiger and a Tour!

2011-03-15T18:35:00.000-07:00

You want me to put what in that little wagon and take it all the way down where?! Um...there has to be an easier way. Dear Hubby...can't we use your sashing?....Your strapping?...Your binding thingies? Dear Hubby's response...."This is not quilting!":) But he thought it was a good idea.
It's March....lots of Spring cleaning needs to happen in the yard, especially after the huge heavy wet snows we have had this winter. My little wagon just isn't going to cut it so I thought of the straps hubby had in his truck....pile up the clippings all facing the same direction.....

...tighten the ratchets...attach it to the back of the truck....

....and drive it away! Away to the world's largest....

...burn pile!!! So Dana...think that would be a good bonfire?:)

Those tall branches are what broke off of our crepe myrtles...so sad!

After a bit of outside time I had a date with my sewing machine. My folks asked if I could make a couple of lap quilts for their Relay for Life team's May Silent Auction....do you think this one is a good start?:)

Gotta love Crazy nine patch using Stripey Tiger!:)

On the tour front the boy's band Hold Tight! is playing around the northeast. Are they coming to your town?

PS...like my new header? Was stopped by a flagman down the road from where we live...have always wanted to take this photo....couldn't have posed those cows any better!!:)

Exclamation Day!!!!!

2011-03-03T19:57:00.000-08:00

WhooooHOooooo....it's been a great day! First of all I finished a few things today one being this mini made out of the last scraps of Kaffe...
....it's wonky on purpose and I think it looks like an exclamation point so that's what I am going to call it. I think I want to give it to Maria's friend Beth...don't know why....I just think of Beth when I see it. Do you want it Beth?:)

Second....PIPS are in the house...well...in the store!! We received a shipment of Sherbet Pips jelly rolls and charm packs by Aneela Hoey. This is Aneela's first fabric line and from all the buzz online I don't think it will be her last!:) Bolts won't come in until next month. I guess Moda just wants to get us excited so that's why we have to wait....teases! Decisions, decisions!

Third....my lovely online pals over at Mini QT received their minis today so I can reveal them to you all. This "Dotty " themed mini went to Laney....she's new in the swapping game and I was tickled to be her partner this round! I think we are all ready to see some fireflies!:)

The other mini I had to make this round was 3D for my bud Amy. The felt birds hang off of the jinglebell apples which are also tumbling out of the basket while bead butterflies flit over beaded flowers. These were so much fun to make....thanks ladies for being such great partners.

Lastly, it was a great soft mail day too....my pal Mandy sent me an extra 3.5" block for this round of bitty blocks....she said she was going to scrap it but remembered our sweetie Slate and thought maybe I could find a use for it.....You betcha Mandy!! I added some Max & Whiskers border and a leftover dotty star block on the back, ribbon drawstring and now I have a bag for the nano Don gave me for Christmas!:)

Like I said....Exclamation Day!!!

A little Kaffe...a little Jacobs.....and Maria's Big Good...Bad...Good Week!

2011-02-26T11:07:00.000-08:00

Several months ago...lucky me....I brought home from work a bunch of Kaffe Fasset and Phillip Jacobs trimmings. I sewed them together in groups of 5 or 6 depending on the colors or shapes of the trimmings since they were all pretty wonky, then put them aside. Finishing Emanuela's quilt I fell in love with the Kaffe map fabric I put on the back so decided to pull out those strips and start playing with them once again.

I laid them out light down to dark, added a border of fuchsia fabric and some yardage of Kaffe I had been hording and came up with this! I love it, when you look at it from a distance it looks like a sunrise/sunset. One week after I put this together I found more Kaffe/Jacobs trimmings in my apron pocket at work! Well, the top is done....but I still needed a backing!

Sewed those scraps together, did a little cutting, added the map fabric and there you go. It will be a while before this is quilted because I feel it needs some FMQ... need to learn how to do that first!!

Made this mini from the scraps....put my label up at the top so I can use it as a hanger....kinda looks like Stonehenge doesn't it?:) Maybe that's what I'll call it!

I've been busy but this girl has had a roller coaster of a week! She found out one of her papers was published on the Young Adult Fantasy Guide. Great! A couple days later she went to a poetry slam and her backpack with her Acer netbook, ipod, American phone, camera and external hard drive was stolen! Worst of all her notebooks, one of which she has been writing ideas in for the past 5 years was in the backpack too! Downer! Luckily she had her UK phone and her WALLET in her hand!

Earlier in the week she was contacted by the Save the Children, Born to Write Blogging Conference that she had won a spot in their Masterclass with Melvin Burgess....but she had to work! Downer! After the backpack incident she contacted work and found a replacement so off to London she went! Yeah!

She tells this all much better than I do...go have a visit and sent her some bloggie encouragement!!:) There's more to the story!!

Goodness....can you believe that March is almost here? Time to start thinking about the garden! Yeah!!

Triangles....Love Them....Hate Them...

2011-02-18T05:20:00.000-08:00

I love triangles....have loved them since learning how to make Half Square Triangles (HST) in Round 2 of the Old Red Barn Quilt Along. But I am lazy and I'll try anything that is a shortcut to getting a quilt top pieced quickly so I can move on to my next idea. So when Marguerite of Adventures of Quilting and Sailing told me a trick she had learned from someone else for making HST I had to try it!
This is what I came up with....or at least what my little quilt was supposed to look like and here is what Marguerite told me....

Using charm squares (you can use whatever size squares you want but this was really easy) take 2 putting right sides together, sew a 1/4" seam ALL the way around the outside edge of the squares....cut on the diagonals and iron toward the darkest side!! With 5" squares you end up with four 3" HST!!! LOVE this!!!

Chain stitching is sooo much fun too....but now I'll tell you what I don't like about triangles....all the seams while quilting!! My machine just seems to get stuck a lot when I quilt tops with triangles...I think it's me...I'll figure it out because I'm not giving up on triangles..... the other thing that is aggravating....is me...

....when I sew my rows together wrong and end up with diamonds

instead of Zig Zags!! Oh well...I still like it!

Thanks for the tip Marguerite!! xo

A GREAT Day!!:)

2011-02-17T14:58:00.001-08:00

First of all the SUN was out and it was almost 7o degrees, nothing was going to stop Dena and I from finally getting together again! After lunch at Panera's and a visit to Dena's place of employment....
...we promised to get together again sooner than later...me thinks next week!!:) We did remember to take a photo...man do I need to go for a touch up!:) Thanks for a good time Little D!!xo
The great day didn't stop there...waiting for me in our mailbox was a plethora of soft mail! Three envelopes had bitty blocks, the biggest envelope had this....

Can you believe this? Amy of Stolen Moments for Creativity is my partner for this round of the Mini QT Swap, the theme is 3D...and boy did she nail it!:) Between the linocut print, open door, embroidery, pleated lampshade with bead body and the wee little picture hanging from ribbon this little gem is a masterpiece and is already hanging in my room for me to enjoy 24/7!!:) There is lots more...go visit her blog to see her lovely photos and the other wonderful things that she makes during stolen moments!:) Thanks Amy!!

One other envelope arrived along with all that soft wonderfulness....postcards and a music CD from Maria. Alas sweetie...the CD doesn't work...but we loved the postcards....see that door at the bottom right? That's where Maria works!:)

To top it all off Don came home with some lovely fruit and veggies for our dinner...yum!

Yes, it was a great day....now I'm going to go play with some Kaffe!!:)

ps....Slate is doing well!!:)

Happy Valentines Day....to Us!

2011-02-14T14:22:00.000-08:00

He was our Christmas present to each other last year because we spent so much on his vet bill....he is our Valentine's Day present to each other this year....because we spent soooo much money today on his vet bill.
We don't know what he is fighting with to get these wounds that then get infected. He is the SWEETEST kitty....we think he is related to the cat in Neil Gaiman's "The Price" ...have you read that story?

Slate is not real happy right now....he has to be an inside cat for two weeks!

This is not going to be easy!

With Love to Italia

2011-02-13T13:17:00.000-08:00

I have recently reconnected with my Dad's family back in Reggio Calabria, Italia...young Emanuela and I have become email pals. She is my dad's(Anthony), sister's (Domenica), son's (Antonino), daughter!:)
Did that make sense?
Emanuela had seen my blog and commented on the quilts and right away I knew I had to make one for her. I asked her what her favorite colors are and she said fuchsia, rose, lilac, blue, turquoise..."clouds in the morning". Well that sure made it easy. I immediately thought of my little collection of Kaffe fat quarters. So with a little Kaffe and a couple of yards of Bella solid I had a little fun!:)

This photo is for Lynz's husband!!:)

Here is my fun displayed on the car I drove in high school...a '67 Mercury Cougar and Don's '77 Mach I Mustang...our courting car...is behind it. They are officially antiques...they only have to be 25 years old to get that designation...what does that make me?:)

Look Emanuela...your quilt has been in the snow!:)
It has been over 2 1/2 weeks since the big snow but has been so cold there is still a ton on the ground....looking forward to the 60+ degrees they have promised in the next couple of days!

To make this a really international quilt I used Kaffe's map fabric on the back...continents that aren't real continents...love it!!

Rainbow Explosion and a few fish bones!

2011-02-10T09:59:00.000-08:00

December's theme at the Bitty Block Committee was Roy G Biv....rainbow colors...the prism, and I have finally put that little mini together....Slate decided it was a good place to sleep as this is where I found him this morning. I used one of Maria's old dresses for the backing.

This morning we had luscious sunshine....I basked in it while at the computer....

....and so did the minis. The one on the left is made from all the scraps. I am trying hard to use up scraps while they are sitting there on my cutting board.

I had this great fabric...Puzzle Pieces in a rainbow gradation for the sashing and of course....fish bones for the binding!:)

I needed this pop of color today...and the sunshine!

Hope you are getting your "D" today!!

Bitty Blocks Tres and Some Other Sweet Stuff!

2011-02-07T15:55:00.000-08:00

ORBC Quilt-Along Ticker Tape Round 9 is finished so I have rejoined the world of Swaps!:) One of my favorites is the Bitty Block Committee! This month's themes are word/text or trees. Of course I had to do both of them!
I had some Moda Sunkissed scraps from work and sewed them together...decided they needed a little something so I took inspiration from one of the words on the fabric and embroidered a little sprout!

I want to put the trees with the houses from last month...I love felt and whipped these up. I can't wait to get all of them...I have an idea!:)

How about these guys...Sooz had this idea to make bitties with veggie celebrities like Beety Boop or Lima Beanelli....I picked Dr. Pepper...I just realized their arms are above their collar!! Oops!:)

When bitty's were finished I dug out the Pure canvas I bought several months ago...I decided I needed a new bag. Like my hot pink Swiss Army knife?:)

This was my favorite project of the week! My lovely coworker Kerry brought me some sweets from her trip to Road to California....a couple of candy coated FQs!! I added them to some cupcake fabrics and colorful scraps and now have a fantastic tablerunner that I will use for birthday parties...and to top it off the mailman made a timely delivery of that teapot fabric...isn't it perfect?:)

These were made with the scraps from Emanuela's quilt....still working on the quilt's binding. I promise I'll be done soon Bella!:)

~d

She's Not Here Yet....

2011-02-06T14:54:00.000-08:00

....but this is for Penelope....she's due next week.

Her mom and my mom sing in the same choir at church...mom asked me to make a quilt for her.

Penelope...your family is excited!

Do you think she will like this?;)

Round 9 of the Old Red Barn Quilt Along....Together at Last!:)

2011-02-03T17:56:00.000-08:00

That's right...all the steps (links) for Round 9,

Variations on a Theme: Ticker Tapes

all on one post!

Post #1- Declaring the Theme!
Post #2- Supplies
Post #3- Cutting time

Post #4- Samples

Post #5- Samples Continued

Post #6- Sewing on the Scraps

Post #7- Quilting Examples

Post #8- Sewing the quadrants together

Don't forget....we want to see your lovely creations so make sure you post on the ORBC flickr page!!

Ciao

Round 9 ORBC...Sewing your Four Quadrants Together....Finally!:)

2011-01-30T19:34:00.000-08:00

I sure am loving these wonderfully creative Ticker Tape projects showing up on the ORBC flickr page....you all rock!! For those of you who are making a larger project I guess you want to know how to sew the pieces together!!:) Deep breath.....Ahhhhhh....ok...here we go!
First lay your four quads face down on the bed or floor and if you have directional backing like I did make sure the pieces are lined up correctly. This is how they will be sewn together.
Starting with the center vertical lines formed by the four quadrants, pin the backing and batting over the the left and to the right exposing only the back of the top fabric.

Starting with either the two top pieces or the two bottom pieces put right sides (fronts) together, pin and sew using between a 1/4 -1/2 inch seam allowances ...remembering that this is the flap you left on the edges where you didn't sew any scraps...right?!:) If you have done a lovely design on your quadrants like I know some of you have please check the layout in the front while it is still pinned....then sew!:)

Once you have done that you can unpin those edges and pin the horizontal backing and batting over and then put right sides together matching the center seam, pin and sew these two sections together....now the top of your quilt is DONE!:) If you want you can now iron those seams from the top.

It should look like this....

....and like this.

Now this part might be easier to understand from the photos...I'll try my best to explain....starting with either horizontal or vertical seams put the batting from one side down like I did with the batting on the left side....

Then trim the right side so it butts up to the left side....you can see there at the top of the photo they meet up (just under the scissor blades)....at the bottom of the photo I had just pushed the left batting up and out of the way so I could cut easier.

See...batting to the left in photo down and you can see where it was trimmed on the right.

Next I laid both left batting and backing down, meeting up with trimmed batting on the right side....see at the top? Unfortunately I cropped this photo too much at the top so I hope you get it!:o

Then I took the right backing flap and folded it in half and laid it down going to the left. In this photo I just have it pinched between my fingers.

See, fold the remaining flap in half and over and pin in place.

This is a photo of the horizontal and vertical joint.

Now it's hand sewing time....using your favorite blind stitch.

In this photo you can sort of see where the vertical seam is because of the birds that are missing their faces! But you can't hardly tell where the horizontal seam is located. Once you finish the back seams you can bind the edges like you normally would do it.

I made this quilt with nine sections sewing the scraps on one square at a time then doing the above process to sew all nine squares together. See how nicely the seams in the back are hidden when you don't have a directional fabric for the backing?:)

Making this quilt in 12" wide strips was the easiest of all, nothing needed to really match up in the front!:)

I hope this made sense...what's in my head doesn't always convey to the keyboard! If not please don't hesitate to email me or ask on the flickr thread.

I have really had a great time leading this Round 9 of the Old Red Barn Quilt-Along ...it has been an honor and a privilege. I thank you all for your wonderful creations and kind comments!!

Now I can finish this!!

We Heard a Loud Noise....

2011-01-27T15:11:00.000-08:00

....looked out our livingroom window and saw what scared us....poor crepe myrtle!!Don went out to try to save the rest of it! In about six hours we had about 12" of wet heavy snow on the ground, the heaviest we have ever experienced in all our 24 years of living here.
In the light of the morning we saw more destruction...another crepe myrtle that used to have three trucks now has one! So sad....they were so beautiful in the late summer.

Looking around we saw more victims.....

...everything behind the grape arbor is a goner...

....but the biggest mess is down the driveway...those white pines on the right have given up tons of branches....we have a big clean up ahead of us.

But Slate doesn't care....he just wanted to be as high above it all as he could get!

I don't know why he had to come out there...oh yeah...I forgot...he thinks he's a dog and follows us wherever we go around the yard!:)

Back inside, warm, full of coffee and homemade chili, I have robots on the brain....two yards of robots....can anyone think of something fun I can do with them?:)

ORBC Round 9 A Few Quilting Examples

2011-01-23T07:56:00.000-08:00

Greetings All,
Hope everyone in the northern hemisphere is staying warm...it was 8 degrees
(-13.3C) last night!! At least the sun is shining this morning and the wind has died down!
Just a quick post to show you a few ways of quilting some of the Tickers. Of course there is the regular way going around each scrap and some of you are making some amazing stuff using Free Motion Quilting...kudos to you all! Keep it up and don't forget to post on the ORBC flickr page so we can all learn and be inspired!
This little doll quilt shows the very easiest way to do it if you have cut all your scraps the same size and put them in nice rows....do all the vertical and then all the horizontal making sure you start with a center row.

With the zig zag I did the green line first...can you see it...horizontal and vertical lines? Then I did the ZZ which is the purple line and all I had left was one white horizontal line. I'm just showing you how I sewed down my pieces....I figured you can have fun figuring out how you want to do the rest!:)

Lastly the flying geese....I followed the alphabet for each triangle, when I got back to the beginning I sewed over the D to C line and outlined the whole wreath of geese. After that I decided I wanted something in the middle so I sewed on the circles.

You could also do parallel horizontal, vertical, or diagonal lines for a

checkerboard or diamond effect OR you could even do wavy lines! As long as you get some sort of stitching down on all four corners of your scraps they will not wrinkle all up on you when you wash!:)

I think you all are really inspiring me be brave and get out my darning foot!!

This is my next project!!!

Next up...sewing your quadrants...I promise!:)

Two QLD Flood Relief Auctions...and a Giveaway!!

2011-01-19T09:00:00.000-08:00

Update 1-19-2011: It is just amazing, in just two days the QLD Flood Appeal Auctions have raised over $45,000!!! I am so happy to be a small part of it. Please go visit the button on the right..they are adding new auction/raffles all the time and there is a facebook page where you can see each individual item easier!!

Thank you all for your creativity and caring!! xoxo d

I'll make this brief....our friends in Queensland, Australia are living through a serious flood disaster and Toni of Make it Perfect and her sister are trying to make a difference. I would like to help, in my small way. So here it goes.....I have three small quilts here for the auction. All you have to do is bid on the quilt or quilts of your choice, if you are bidding on more than one please do it in a separate comment. At the end of bidding the two quilts with the two highest bids will be the auction winners and the quilt with the least bids will be given away by Random Gen!:)

Before I forget....click on the QLD Flood Appeal Auctions button over there on the right and it will take you to all the other lovely people around the world that are trying to help with auctions, raffles and sales of their lovely crafts.

Details for my auction are below...so here we go....
Mini quilt #1- Meadowsweet
Mini quilt #2- Blue Hill Toy Box
Mini quilt #3- Island Batiks

All quilts are 100% cotton and between 15 1/2"-17" square.

How this auction works:

1. Bidding will start at $10 (US).

2. You can place a bid by leaving a comment on this blog post with your bid amount, name of the quilt you are bidding on and contact info. Please make sure that your bid is higher than the previous bidder for that particular quilt.

3. If you are bidding on more than one quilt please do it in a seperate comment...and thanks!;)

4. Your bid must be in whole dollar increments.

5. This auction is open to everyone, even International addresses. I will pay for postage!

6. The auction begins NOW and will END at 9pm EST on Monday, January 24, 2011.

7. At the close of the auction, I will contact the winner(s) (please make sure your bid comment includes a way for me to contact you). The winner will pay the winning amount directly into the Premier's Flood Relief Appeal and send me proof of payment via email. Once proof of payment has been received, I will post your quilt and a few surprises to you.

8. I will also use the Random Generator to pick a winner from all of bidders and that person will win the quilt with the lowest bid...so it won't feel like it is last!:) I will contact you via your contact info.

Please, if you don't really want to bid on one of my quilts....that's totally fine....click on the above button and have a look at what else is out there, I'm sure you will find something that is your cup of tea!;)

If you have any questions don't hesitate to email me!

Thanks again, and to quote Toni, "we hope we can make a real difference together."

Scraps Here We Come ORBC Round 9

2011-01-17T05:51:00.000-08:00

Are you ready? Fabric sandwiches and Scraps all piled up and raring to go? Ok...LET'S DO IT!!

First of all...and most importantly....NO stitching or scraps pieces 3/4"-1/2" from the edges!! Get that? Either use a washable pen/pencil to mark the edge or use your wonderful imaginations but always remember NO stitching 3/4"-1/2" from the edges of the fabric sandwiches!:)

Yes, you can use your rotary cutter....no you don't have to use pinking shears!:)
So, depending on your design this is how you start....3/4"-1/2" from the edge!
Have I impressed that detail enough?:o Learn from my mistake....the following photos were taken BEFORE I realized I needed to have the batting and backing bigger than the front! I put my scraps far enough away from the edge but my backing shifted a little on one of them and the backing wasn't long enough....you'll see later what I did to fix it!
Put a few pins in the corners and the middle of your sandwich for now and randomly lay out your scraps depending on the design you want to do....

I didn't pin my scraps on....a glue stick was my best friend! I filled up one fabric sandwich at a time and then glued the scraps on.

I laid my four fabric sandwiches on the bed how I was going to stitch them back together so I could see that my rows would line up but really, it doesn't matter if they don't. If you have a certain pattern in mine like 9 patch or checkerboard then yes, you want them to line up. Another good thing about the glue stick is you can unstick a scrap and move it! Also, if you have directional backing like I did with the birdcages make sure your fabric sandwiches are all going in the same direction!

Once I had my final layout I put a few more pins throughout the sandwich. I used straight pins but I did stick myself a lot! Then it is time for sewing them on...see my starting and ending point? That's what you want to do, start in the middle and just go around and around and you won't have puckering.

Starting with a scrap in the middle, at least 1/4" from the edge, stitch all four sides and when you get back to where you started just backstitch a couple of stitches. Then move the sandwich over to the next square and do the same going around and around until you have sewn all the scraps down. This is why I did it in smaller fabric sandwiches because if you try to turn a bigger quilt through your machine for all those small scraps....well....I think we all know it would be a bugger!

Once you have finished all you have to do is snip off the threads!

If you lay out your scraps in perfect rows and they are all the same size all you have to do is go back and forth and up and down each row sewing down the edges like the mini quilt on the right in this photo.

That was half the fun with each different Ticker was figuring out the easiest way to sew the scraps down.

I think I have covered it all in the scrap sewing down stage. If you don't understand something please ask...I see what needs to be done in my head...you can't see what's there....which I guess could be a really good thing!;)

Next up....sewing the quadrants together!

PS...is anyone brave enough to try sewing their scraps down using free motion stitching? I wasn't this time but I am curious!;)

Alas...the Last of the Ticker Samples!!

2011-01-16T13:43:00.000-08:00

Greetings all....last examples here...I really need to start working on other WIPs!!
Last time I showed you the back of a quilt, here is the template I used to get my triangles lined up...thanks for the math dear hubby!

So this nice stack of 13" tops became......

....flying geese anyone?:) Or how about flying geese flowers? Just thought the centers looked a little lonely.

Or how about doing strips and triangles?

These strips became...

....this quilt....

...and after washing, this crinkly lovely!:) I...LOVE....GREY!

I ran out of time...and desire...but I had a few more ideas so I just drew them up on Paint.

Here is an idea shown in the four quadrants.

This is a checkerboard. You can just place your scraps in a checkerboard pattern or even sew different top fabrics together to make a checkerboard and then put the scraps on one or the other fabric. Of course each square can be scrappy or one kind of fabric...I just didn't have time to put different colored little scrap squares in each bigger square....guess they are more rectangular but you get the idea!

Or how about a radiating sun?!:) Yes, you can do this AND you can cut out circles!! My sun is a bit lopsided!

Last but not least a little wall hanging....

...that city building fabric gave me this idea...

....I want to embroider a few things on here like antennae on top of a few of the buildings with glass bead beacon lights.

So...did I give you enough ideas? I have others but figured this was enough!

I leave you with fresh out of the dryer fuzziness...it is keeping me warm right now!!

Tomorrow....laying out your scraps...I promise!

Tickers Unveiled!! Some ORBC Round 9 Samples!

2011-01-13T17:45:00.000-08:00

I know this is what you all have been waiting for....so here they are...some Ticker Tape samples! Some of you may recognize these. I did them last year. One of them is now living in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the other is on our bedroom wall.
Here is my Frame Me Ticker, yes, you can do this!!:)

And this is a mini I made for the STUD April 2010 Hip to be Not Square Swap. It now lives in Kansas City, Missouri. I do miss this one a lot!! These are the quilts that made me such a fan of the Ticker Tape ...thanks so much Amanda Jean for coming up with such a novel way to use up our scraps!

Now for some recent additions to my Ticker Tape Album, most of these are small examples that you can use to make the quilt we are doing in Round 9.

Here is an idea using scraps with a holiday theme. You know those novelty fabrics that have great drawings but you have to cut one up to get a whole one of another...well here is an idea using those scraps!

This one is a baby doll quilt I made for a two year old cousin....I Spy...I know you have lots of cool scraps to make one of these! It was well received!

This one was made for another cousin. I want you to notice the scraps are inline and the same size. That makes sewing them on so much easier because you can just do straight lines up and down top to bottom, side to side. I also used fabrics from a collection...just wacked a 2 1/2" strip off the bottom of four fat quarters and cut out the rectangles....so yes, these weren't scraps!:)

Here is an example using a dark colored top fabric and then all black and white fabrics.

I noticed I had a lot of green scraps and that book fabric and immediately thought of a tree...a ticker tape tree!!

Here we have the nine patch look with a row of squares on point...yes...you can sew your scraps on in traditional block patterns!! This was another easy one to sew as I hardly had to lift up my machine's foot!!

Here at last is the bigger quilt, the one I am showing you how to make....here is the back....

...and here is the front! It is a nice lap size....made with four quadrants that were then sewn together to make a bigger quilt. It is so much easier sewing in smaller sections.

So next post we will start sewing scraps on, hopefully now you will start to get an idea how you might like to place those scraps. Did I give you more ideas?:)

I still have several more to show you....

Here is a sneak peek of one!!:)

Hope you are inspired!

ps...see that button at the top, QLD Flood Appeal Auctions? Please check it out and help if you can. I will be posting an auction this weekend to help in my small way....but small ways add up to large ways!

ORBC Round 9 Time to Cut!

2011-01-10T13:06:00.000-08:00

Isn't that a lovely little stack of scraps?
Here is the fabric I'm using....my batting: Warm and White, my top fabric: Nature's Palette in Baby Aqua, my backing: a cute birdcage print from Urban Outfitters!
Can you see a problem already? I mean I figured it out but using a big directional print is not a great idea!!

Here is a cutting diagram. It is definitely NOT to scale! This is based on your 2 yards of fabric being 44" wide...adjust accordingly!:) The backing and batting are basically the same size but I drew it so you could see the fabric sandwich better! All I did was cut my 2 yards of fabric into two one yard pieces and then cut those in half on the fold and cut my batting the same size and the tops 2 inches smaller length and width. Make sense?
After cutting and ironing fabric lay them on top of each other and put in a few pins to keep it from shifting. You'll have four fabric sandwiches!

Here is what happens if your backing is the same size as the front....this is what you don't want to happen....learn from my mistakes! Any questions please email me!!

Post your fabric sandwiches on the ORBC flickr site!!

Next up, playing with scraps!:) I promise you won't have to wait a week!!

PS....what you cut WILL all be sewn back together!!:)

Lucky Numbers 24 and 87!

2011-01-10T09:06:00.000-08:00

I gave Don a notepad and asked for two numbers between 1-105...he didn't even ask what for...just wrote two number down and got a cup of coffee. Guess he's used to me asking him to do odd things!:)

Livingonair and meri_drake are the winners of the bags o' scraps...and a wee surprise. As soon as I get your addresses I'll pop them in the mail.
Thank you all for your wonderful NON-resolutions. I really enjoyed them all!!

Here is a little sneeky peeky of one of my Ticker Tape examples....next up...cutting and sandwiching directions! WhoooHOOooo!!
~d

ORBC Round 9 Supply List....and a couple of Giveaways!!

2011-01-03T10:01:00.000-08:00

WhoooHOoo.....supply list time for Round 9 of the Old Red Barn Quilt-Along!! Below are what you'll need...easy peasy!

~2 yards top fabric…any light color…even a small print-

but not TOO busy.
~2 yards backing fabric….non-directional

(I’ll explain later…I learned my lesson!!)
~batting to equal your backing fabric
~thread, most use white but I have also used

greys/off whites
~pins
~pinking shears/scissors
~glue stick
~S C R A P S !!

That's it...easy peasy...I bet you already have most of it in your stash!!

Ok...so now you know what you need AND I have some of what you may like to have....two gallon bags of scraps!! All you have to do is leave me a comment...tell me what resolution you DID NOT make!! I'll have our pal Random Gen pick two winners next Monday, Jan. 10, 2011...I will also get this party started on that day!

The fun doesn't end there.....the lovely and talented Amanda Jean of Crazy Mom Quilts and the inventor of the Ticker Tape quilt is ALSO having a giveaway of HER scraps!!! So mosey on over there and tell her something nice!!:)

~d
PS...make sure there is a way for me to contact you if Random Gen picks your number!;)

The Sketchbook Challenge

2011-01-02T19:25:00.001-08:00

Kerry told me about it.....I haven't drawn in years....years....YeEEaarssss!
January's theme is "Highly Prized"....first thing I thought of was my family....
Maria's words, James' music, and Don's skill with handtools....
they rock my world!!
Next I need to be brave and try some color!

Join the Challenge....click the button over there on the right!:)

~d

Variations on a Theme-Round 9 of the ORBC Quilt-Along!

2011-01-01T08:07:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everyone! I am so pleased and honored to be starting the new year leading Round 9 of the Old Red Barn Quilt-Along....thanks bunches for your confidence in me Dana!! So here it is......Variations on a Theme....and the theme is ...

TICKER TAPE!!

This wonderful way of using your scraps was invented by that quilting guru Amanda Jean of Crazy Mom Quilts!

Here is a link to AJs tutorial on Sew, Mama, Sew! What I am going to do is show you a way to easily make a bigger one and lots of variations....sort of like my Frame Me quilt....but of course done the right way!!

On Monday, Jan 3rd, I will post a supply list...which I'm sure will be pretty short since you all have most of what you need already in your sewing rooms!! I will also start this party with a giveaway at the ORBC flickr site hosted by me AND Amanda Jean!:)

So stay tuned and please....stay interested!!!;)

T-Shirt Quilt, a Wallet, and the Number 9

2010-12-29T14:56:00.000-08:00

A week or so before Christmas I finally finished Maria's tee shirt quilt using her WVU tees from each year's Marching Band shirts and others that she accumulated in her four years of fun in Morgantown....

...and appropriately enough she picked out some Stonehenge in Old Gold and Blue for the backing and binding....goes good with the Mountaineer theme!

Wanted to make something for James too...so I found this tutorial online...

...I added an extra set of pockets....easy peasy!! Thanks Allisa!!

The number nine you ask..... ....starting next week....hope you can join us in the fun...and a few giveaways!!

Holiday Views and my Wish for You...

2010-12-23T08:19:00.000-08:00

Views through the tree....
...views from a sled...

...views with a little hop...

...and brightened by the snow...

...only two more days to go....

...here's wishing you some of nature's bright lights....

...but mostly wishing you....sock sentiments!:)

Tree Chopping!

2010-12-13T19:00:00.000-08:00

We came, we saw, we chopped!!
Yep, a Charlie Brown Christmas tree if I ever saw one...boy, I need to add some more button stars to my tree forest!

Tonight was our shop Christmas Party at Carly's place, we had to bring a pot luck dish (I brought Curried Rice and Coconut Cupcakes) and a White Elephant gift. Since I work in a quilt shop I thought someone would like a pin cushion....

....with a few special pins!:)

Just a little something for the Shop...and a Tuba Christmas!

2010-12-05T10:57:00.000-08:00

I just had to make it....it had to come out of my fingers...that tree on the right just willed itself to be made out of a scrap of green batik. Gonna hang it at work to demonstrate this magnetic mini quilt hanger....think I might sell the quilt too. Do you think I should....$25 too much?
After I made the mini we went to Harper's Ferry for a little Christmas cheer and enjoyed a Tuba Christmas. These performances happen all over the US and a few places overseas, low brass peeps getting together once a year, practicing for one hour then perform Christmas music for our pleasure!

What a beautiful backdrop. Go check out their site and see if there is a performance near you...it's free! I was a bit meloncoly because this is the first one we have seen with out Maria there playing her tuba. Maybe next year!

For some more free music the boy's band Hold Tight! released a new LP....you can download it for free...or a couple of bucks if you want. His Uncle Peter said that was silly because then they would never make any money....first person to download it bought it for $10!:) If you like the music pass their link on to your friends....or at least their kids!!;)

Lastly...I'm trying one more time. Mailed this wee wallhanging to Maria with a few other items...hopefully this one will make it!

Her Halloween one is still lost.

Oh Little....Stonehenge Tree!

2010-11-28T08:16:00.000-08:00

This is what it will look like on December 1st...see the

buttons....

... this is what it will look like on December 25th to welcome Maria and James home!!:) Blocks for the ornaments came from the Advent Calendar block Swap . I just made numbers 9, 21 and 25. Right now they are in order starting from the bottom...but I think I'll just put them up randomly.

I used four different Stonehenge "Celebration" cut into 5" squares and the leftovers for the binding and quilted it to sort of look like branches. On the back there are two little pockets at the bottom to slide a dowel in to keep the tree spread out while it hangs on our door.

Added a Merry Christmas twill tape for a hook...

...and a wee Longaberger basket to hold the ornaments...in order!

Slate has given it his kitty approval.

I Only Made Three of these....

2010-11-22T17:45:00.000-08:00

...the rest were made by some fellow ROCKING crafters in the Advent Calendar Block Swap . Eleven fellow stitchers making twelve 3.5" blocks for two assigned days and our own 25th day. I decided to make mine into little ornaments....

...that will hang off of these buttons.

The dino buttons are from when the boy was....

a boy.

They're Christmasy aren't they?!

I have no idea why I bought the other buttons but now I do!

So I'm chugging along on it....hope to show you soon.

I Love Eye Candy....

2010-11-21T12:07:00.000-08:00

....especially since it is non-caloric....
.....especially since it's scraps....
....that I get from the generosity of my boss....
....and co-workers....
Vegan coconut cupcakes and chocolate chip cookies for the boy!

...but some real calories are good too!:)

I'm Such a Dingbat.....

2010-11-10T05:26:00.001-08:00

....thank you Wendy for reminding me that I was going to pick TWO winners for my 1st Bloggiversary giveaway! So...Random Gen was put to work again and the lucky number this time was 8.....Rafael's Mum!! Yeah Marg...now you have to pick something!;)

Here is a wee bit of eye candy, it is the Halloween/Fall runner I made for Dana. I have another pile of stuff to bind...hope to have some photos soon but I leave you with this....

"The world is round so that friendship may encircle it."

Pierre Teilhard De Chardin

Our bloggie world sure has embraced that thought!!

Were You Luckier Than This Guy?

2010-11-09T17:00:00.000-08:00

Can you believe this is actually 3.5"x 2.5"?! It's an ACEO card that our son drew. I didn't have any finished projects to show you so I thought I would share some of the boy's stuff.....and announce the winner of my 1st year bloggiversary giveaway!

My pal Random Gen picked lucky number 11.....WENDY!!:) Congrats!! Thanks for playing and thanks again to all you wonderful online pals for making my first years so, so fun!

Here are a couple more of the boy's drawings. These are bigger than the ACEO card....8x10ish so some of the edges didn't scan.

To get him to color these was a miracle, he likes B & W the best. It's not all puppies and rainbows but he sure can draw flowers and skulls!;)
~d

And Drive We Did!!

2010-11-05T19:30:00.000-07:00

From Virginia to Tennessee, through North Carolina, South Carolina and finally to....

... Atlanta Motor Speedway!!!

Lunch, a chat with the man, Dale Jarrett, and of course photos.

Then my guy suited up, waited his turn...

and drove the M&M's car....FAST!

This tryptic is mine!!

My biggest thrill of the week....meeting Dana of ORBC fame!!

I miss her already! Her girls are fabulous...wish we could have met Razor!

She gave us some major goodness....soap, hand/face scrub, a FQ of some lovely fabric (what is it Dana?) all in this adorable decorated container.

Of course when you camp you have to have a fire...and quesadillas!

The weather was amazing...so was hanging with Don's family in North Carolina....our life is full of wonderfulness!

Has It Really Been One Year?

2010-10-28T13:31:00.000-07:00

Yep...on October 28, 2009 at 1:31 pm I posted for the first time here on Blogger!!

I didn't realize how much fun it would be and how many new friends would pass my way! I have appreciated every one of your comments and help with this endeavor.

So as a thank you I want to have a giveaway just for my followers...I am not posting this anywhere else....it's just for you my friends.

Did you see anything you liked? Leave me a comment letting me know which one caught your eye and if your number pops up on the Random Generator you will be my 1st Bloggiversary winner!!

Random Gen will do it's thing on Nov 9th.

Good Luck and thanks so much for being there!!

PS...We are back from our trip down south and this was supposed to post last week but I didn't do something right. In the mean time I got my 100th follower (WELCOME!!) so I am doubling the ante and I will have Random Gen pick twice!

Some Gifts...

2010-10-25T15:22:00.000-07:00

Soon we will be visiting Don's Aunt B and Uncle Z....thought I'd make them something. They have 6 grandbabies so I figured a Halloween runner would be fun. It has Autumn fabric on the back to make it versatile.

Thought I would make something for the grandkids too. The eldest loves to draw so I made this little bag....

... inside is a pocket for a Marble notebook and a pocket with colored pencils and a pencil sharpener. There's plenty of room for her to add more stuff.

For the three grandsons I made Star Wars drawstring ditty bags and inside I put SW coloring books, crayons and sticker books...I wanted to keep one for James!:)

I can't show you what I made for the other two granddaughters.... I am using them as examples for when I lead Round 9 of the Old Red Barn Company Quilt-Along!! That will start January 1, 2011...I hope you will join me!:) Until then keep visiting ORBC because members are still posting photos and we will be having some giveaways!

Getting Things Done?

2010-10-23T18:49:00.000-07:00

Sort of! I'm working on it...here is a top for a wall hanging made out of trimmings from work...it is called Montage. One of the designs looks like shelves full of books and another has numbers and letters....cool stuff.

Sewed up a lot of batting scraps...never throw that stuff out...

...makes great pieces for mug rugs...also made from scraps! That orange and brown went home with my SIL....I'm still working on the binding for the rest of them.

Here are a few fully finished things. These were for Hoop Up! This owl went home to Courtney....

...and the Tinman went to Kimmie for Switchin' Stitches....I am officially done with all my swaps....until I sign up for for more!

Remember I said I would tell you what was in the silver tin...the present I gave Don for our 25th? He gets to drive a real stockcar for 8 laps around Atlanta Motor Speedway!! WhooooHOOOOOoooooooo!!!

Chinese Food, Ice Cream and WOW!!:)

2010-10-19T18:58:00.000-07:00

Our 25th Anniversary celebration, Chinese food, two kinds of Ben and Jerry's, a slice of carrot cake, two candles (one Halloween candlestick with skull's from Maria's room) and some silver gifts....see that wee brown box?
EXACTLY what I wanted!! It's from an Etsy store called Cinnamon Sticks...I saw her button on Dana's blog, hinted to Maria and...
...she told her dad. It is called "My Cup Overflows" and it does. Isn't it amazing, I just love it. The biggest disc is only 3/4" wide!!

Maria...thanks for hinting to your dad...you ROCK!;)
~d

PS...I'll tell you about the other silver gift next time!

Twenty-Five Years Ago...

2010-10-19T06:13:00.000-07:00

I married my best friend....I would do it again in a heartbeat....

(Can you tell we are Italian?)

....just not in that dress...or with that hair!

Pumpkin Haunting...I mean Hunting!

2010-10-14T13:56:00.000-07:00

The Great Pumpkin....
Weighing in at 1324 lbs...sitting there on his throne with all his little minions!

We had a really hard time picking out a pumpkin...

...but here is our happy wagon load....

And here is our haul

at home!!:)

This little Halloween mini now lives in England...really thought Maria was needing some Witchy love!!

Now to think of something for James!

Batiks, Thanks and Ebay

2010-10-10T11:15:00.000-07:00

Thought you might like seeing something made from the trimmings Carly lets me take home from work! Basically a wonky rail fence quilt a la ORBC.

I just had to buy the two border prints....I sure do love those bright colors! I think I am going to use some of my Dutch Wax print fabric for the back but for now this quilt top is joining 7 others hanging in our closet waiting to be quilted.

My little embroidery piece for Hoop Up! was featured on The Selvage Blog. Just wanted to say thanks to Karen for the nod and thanks to Amy for the heads up!;)

Lastly, remember that Pink Fairy Tales quilt that I was lucky enough to get to piece together with donated blocks and trimmings...it is now being auctioned on Ebay with all monies going to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation...go check it out and bid on it!:)

Pumpkin Wizard photo for Maria

Went a pumpkin hunting this weekend...more on that next time!

Witches and Wonderland

2010-10-07T17:05:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween Haunting 3.5"s from that awesome Bitty Block Committee Swap...

...aren't they amazing...there is even a casket with a lid, a bat with beady eyes and Ol' Frankie boy with bolts in his neck!! You all ROCK!!!

But what's most awesome is that Maria is really living in Wonderland...please, please go read her blog post about it...you should follow her blog....it's great, even if I am her mom!!

A Very Productive Sunday...

2010-10-04T16:32:00.000-07:00

Finished my ORBC Quilt Along Round 8 project...took it to work to have it's picture taken with the Moda Pure display...I want some of that canvas on the lower right!! I think there may be a purse in my future!

Close up...echo quilting and some radiating lines in the corners. Sooz is right...it does look like a round butt person holding up another person!;)

Here are some bits I made from the scraps...gotta love scraps!

Then just for fun...a Rainbow House and...

...a Dr. Suess cutie peeking out the window!