August #7 Mini Mania Challenge

Ah Leslie....you about did me in with this challenge!

Of course I had to do something different. After the frustration paper piecing the sewing machine I didn't have the heart to piece the draping fabric....

....so I used some draping fabric!;)

 Used some clear vinyl to make the jar with off centered lid and stuffed it with tiny buttons.  There is yarn on the wonky spool and for some reason a huge indentation on the sewing machine body...I must have had some of Lynda's wine!:)

There was all this empty space under the fabric so.....

 ...I appliqued a little surprise!

Still trying to perfect my needle turned skills....don't know if the kitty has a funny tooth or he is licking his chops in anticipation!;) Thank you Charise for letting us use your design!

This was a fun challenge true to the word.  Next month it's my turn....watch out gang!;)

Participated in this month's Mini QT Swap....Circles and Curves.

Used the tracing wheel...this is the Dritz product we can get in the US. 

I do like the wooden handled one better.  

The photo was my inspiration.

 The mini on the right went to Nan, my swap partner.  The mini on the left is hanging in the shop.  I used Nan's product Chenille-It for the grass. That stuff is so much fun!

Lastly Halloween bunting flags for a side swap at Mini QT.   Little sparkling net pockets.  

Serious skulls on one side....

....a little wacky on the other side!

One stayed home and the others are on their way around the world.

Fly little skull flags....fly!

~d

Patio redo fun!

While cleaning out my bag of leftover binding I decided on a new project!

(leftover bindings sitting on the new coverlet my folks gave me for an early bday present!)

The bindings across the top are big enough for future projects....the bindings underneath are made from smaller scraps soon to be joined to the ball in the middle and one day...one day...to be made into a rug!:)

  A little mini made from leftovers of PB&J now lives with Pam for correctly guessing about my new driveway project.  I still need to dig the other side!

One of the many quilt tops made from the Angled Frames tutorial is now a baby quilt heading to the UK

 This mini now lives in Oregon with Jodi.  Made for this month's Mini QT Swap...theme was "traditional"     pinwheel, log cabin or stacked coin.  I sort of went out of the traditional box with my stacked coin!

(Lousy photo taken at night!)

 There were a few extras in the package.  Those buttons have nine holes so you can make any letter of the alphabet on them!

Birch Trees....8"x 8.5".  I miss it!

Now for the patio redo...this is how it looked before.  Needed to be a little bigger since we put the chiminea there on the right.

Couple hours later then bench has been moved to the opposite side and hubby  has added a little low wall to hold back the dirt and those lighter colored flat stones to extend the patio.  Most of the flat stone was leftover granite countertop from remodel jobs laid shiny side down. Score!!

It might not look much bigger but we can put a couple more chairs there when we have a fire.  Old kids desk needs to be cleaned up and moved elsewhere...but that's the girl's next project...not mine!

Love, love, love Solomon's Seal in all stages of growth.   

It is a foot higher and blooming now!

On the way home Mother's Day weekend, after a lovely day with my parents and siblings, we stopped in Old Town Fredericksburg to stroll and check out all the little shops.

Of course the rare and used book store Riverby Books was the girl's favorite stop. 

 "Dad...this is how I want my bedroom to look...one day!"

In an antique store I found another future project!!

~d

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

....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

~d

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

Exclamation Day!!!!!

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!!!

~d

A GREAT Day!!:)

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!!:)

~d

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

Fabric and Dirt

Been busy. Wanted to get my April swaps done since it's time to work out in the yard. But it's so hard to stay away from the sewing machine...and even harder to mail these puppies....but I did!:)

This mini rainbow ticker tape quilt went to Missouri...this was for the STUD (Swap Til You Drop) Swap. The theme this month was "Hip to be (not) Square"....yes...it couldn't be square or rectangular. I think this fits the bill!

This wee mini coin quilt went to Texas...and eight of the 3.5" camping theme squares to various places around the world for the Mini QT Swap. The tree fabric is from Spoonflower. Love it!:) So now I can concentrate on Round 6 at ORBC....Hexagons!!:)

I started a few tomato seeds for the veggie garden....these are jiffypots...they are only about 1/4" tall until you add water and presto....2" tall peat pots ready for seeding...and the plastic greenhouse....the containers you get your apples in from Costco!:)

Now they are resting nicely on the warm spot above the refrigerator and I'll put them in our south facing window as soon as they sprout!:) Hope it works!

Old garden location...only about 4-5 hours of sun now that the trees are getting so big. This is looking north.

New garden location...plenty of sun...as viewed from Fairyland before the sassafras leaves come out to hide it. This is looking south...old garden on other side of the house.

Whitebud and fading forsythia.

Fern unfurling.

Bleeding Heart loveliness.

Dena....Dogwood!;)

xoxo

d

For my Verbosity...I'm a Winner!:)

Hahahaaa.....Back in December, Scott from Blue Nickel Studios celebrated his 200th post with a very nice giveaway....and all he asked in return was what we thought of when we heard the words "bungalow" and "cottage".....well....I spewed a bit!:) I won the prize for "verbosity"....go figure!;o So in the spirit of my verbage Scott was very generous with my prize...and do you see something in the upper left hand corner....see it....it's blue....yes, a blue nickel....very witty Scott!;) If you are bored...and I'm sure you aren't....here is a link to the winning wordiness. There were 7 winners...I think he just felt sorry for me! Mine is comment 61 of 79 so just go from the bottom up.

Changing the subject...thought you might like to see the loveiness I pass at this time of the year while driving to and from work. Bluebells....thousands of them. This is one time of the year I don't mind waiting 5 cycles of the light to get home!

And here is the back of my mini coin quilt for the Mini QT Swap....it is heading out to Texas...I'll show you the front when it arrives at its destination.

It is about 7"x9"....fun!;)

~d