Icy Second FAL Finish

Snow, rain, ice, rain, wind...

 ...you name it we have been getting it.

 A river of ice down our driveway.  No walking happening there!

 This little piggy definitely didn't go to market.  I promise to upright him, when he thaws!

 That little tractor isn't doing anything.  Needs some TLC!  Hatteras Lighthouse whirligig is a reminder of warmer weather to come!

Since that's not  happening anytime soon (forecast is for more snow this weekend) I have a second finish for the FAL to share.

A little taggie and taggie steggie! He's only about 9" wide, great for small hands!

Off to work on finish #3.  Slate approved!:)

~d

One down....five to go

Five UFOs left on my Finish Along list. Didn't put every unfinished project hidden in the house on the list or I would have been embarrassed!

 So, number one finished is the Liberty of London Hexi wreath. It's a table topper, a wall hanging AND...

...I can put a pillow form inside. Once our house is done that is exactly what I will do with it.  In the meantime it goes in the "Finished" Rubbermaid bucket!

(Some of my many future projects stacked on top of my bookself and a hidden surprise!)

Here are a few other things I finished before joining the FAL. I was inspired to make this because of a pillow Jo made last year.  Go look at Jo's...it's fabulous!

One of my problems is knowing where to quilt.  Now that I have finished this one I wish I had quilted in the yellow diamond and green triangles.  Hopefully I'll remember and learn from this experience.  Don't get me wrong, I love it, but I see what I should have done!:)

 A mini made from scraps of PB&J.  I made some blocks to hang at work...guess I should have taken a photo of them too!;) See...I think I should have quilted this one different too!

 A baby quilt for a friend in Hawaii.  Sort of an I Spy so big brother can play the game with new baby brother.  Simple but fun!

This month's theme at the Sketchbook Challenge 2014 is Sketching with Collage.  I used tickets and stubs and prints and postcards from last year's trip to the UK.  Man o'man we did a lot!!

I am now working on hand quilting the Sew Fun Bee quilt and I have sashed and joined all the Polaroid blocks but I don't have enough pins to baste it until the other one is done!

In the meantime I'm thinking about projects to use these colored elastics I found on sale. Hubby needs a Kindle cover....think he'll mind polka dots to hold it closed?:)

~d

Bandwagon...Here I Come!!

I wasn't going to jump....no...I wasn't going to worry about all those unfinished projects laying about the house.  No problem...they'll get done eventually.....eventually!  Arrgh! Not a good way to start 2014 right? So I'm jumping in on the Finish Along 2014 hosted by Katy all the way over in Scotland.  Come join us!!:)

 First off a Hexi flower wreath made from Liberty of London precuts I purchased last August.  I'm making this into a combo wallhanging/tabletopper/pillow! That's right...I'm going make an envelope flap in the back for a triple functional memory of our trip to the UK! Those prints are amazing and since I couldn't pick one I went for loads of bits!

 Second is my pile of Winter bitties from the Bitty Block Committee and  Polaroid swap.  Sashing them with my fav green for some snuggling fun!:)

 Third is this pile of 30 nine inch scrappy squares that have been hanging at work for a year as our Block of the Month project.  Now the year is finished and it's time to put them together!

 Fourth, Ugh, why did I start this?  But I have to finish! I'm making yarn from old tee shirts and I want to try to crochet a bathmat.  There are about 30 tees in that bag.  My hand hurts thinking about cutting them all up.  I need to cut one or two a day and get 'er done!!

Fifth is (yes Katy...bee blocks) that I have had from the Sew Fun Bee for almost two years. I asked for 12.5" low volume blocks. Aren't they lovely?  So calming and we all need some of that right?  I do think it's about time I get them together! I need to pick out something for the sashing. I'm thinking a very, very pale purply grey or aqua....any suggestions?

Sixth....and so looking forward to this little babe's birth....a couple of taggies and a surprise or two for my dear friend's daughter who's having a daughter of her own!:)

So...do you think I can do it all in three months? I know, I know...if I don't I can roll UFOs to the next quarter but where's the sport in that?  Have I inspired you to join in?

Come on....join in on all the fun with Katy....there are prizes!!!!:) Hahaha...knew that would get you interested!! Thanks Katy!!!

Happy Stitching and here's to a most marvelous, healthy, happy and productive New Year!!

~d

Good Time was had by All!

December started out with a BANG, loads of snow and some Holiday makes.

 Snow is the perfect setting for all the little birdies made from this tutorial.

 So much fun. So easy and fast.  Hardest part was picking out the button embellishments!

I had my mom for Secret Santa. Easy peasy!:)

 The boy had a great time visiting his sister in Oxford...brought back these adorable mugs and...

 ....loads of the girl's stuff.  Two whole suitcases full!!  Countdown has begun for her return on February 1st then she can put all this stuff away!! Yipeeee!

 My guys surprised me with this Holly tree...that we have named Chookie!:)  Tomorrow it goes outside to be planted in the front yard.

Christmas day at my folks...good company and food! 

 Next day more good food and laughter at the in-laws'.

A new face has joined the extended family.  Bro-in-law's new pup Findley....welcome!!:)

Third Christmas was today at our house....hubby, the boy and his girl and me.  There is a new Kindle HD Fire and Roku in the house...we are on technology and candy overload!:)

Happy, Happy!!!

~d

The Boy is with The Girl in OX!:)

Man do I wish we were there too!:) 

 Though unable to be there I did send some more stuff for her to give her peeps.

 A couple pillowcases.

 More mug rugs with fun printing prints!:)  It's on Rose's quilt but I can't show that yet!

 Had a leftover piece of a block and it called to be made into a little bag....

...with some Batman inside!:)

Sent a lot of Christmas themed snack foods too...gotta keep the roommates happy!:)

 I still sooooo love to do English paper piecing....Slate likes to watch.  Haven't decided what to do with this yet, might be a clock, pillow, table topper...any other ideas?

We are doing Secret Santa on both sides of our family....my folks needed bigger stockings so they could still give us stuff....I complied!:)

This tray of bits and bobs became 25 items....any ideas? 

While sewing the above these guys (gals?) visited.  We've seen them several times right outside our window...what a joy!

This I'm not so sure about.  Have you ever heard that Woolly Bear Caterpillars predict  Winter's severity? Legend has it the more brown segments (there are 13) the milder your Winter.  Well....this one has 7....the other one is totally black and huge (it's rolled up)...there is 5 inches of snow outside and it's not even winter yet!!!

~d

Hoping for some good Karma!

This past March I was lucky enough to go to the first ever Sew South Retreat where I got to hang out with my buddy Dana of Old Red Barn Co.  Dana gave me a load of lovely presents but this one really touched my heart....

 Eighteen almost finished 12" hand pieced antique quilt blocks.  Almost because they still needed their corners.  I think she bought them at a flea market or yard sale.  Dana also gave me some turquoise and green fabric for a perfect finish!

Corners sewn....added two squares of Lark.....

 ...Voila!!  Don't you love it?!!!:) It is just awesome!

 The ladies at the shop think these may be 1940s fabrics.

 What do you think?  They are fabulous!  Some of the blocks are a bit faded but who cares?!:)

 This just makes me sooooo happy!

 But mostly I hope some good karma has happened and someone somewhere ;) is happy because the blocks are finally all together!  Thanks so much Dana!! xoxoxox

 Keeping with feel good quilting is this stack of red, white and blue which became....

 ...this patriotic cuddle!  Our shop was trying to collect 100 quilts that will be given to returning soldiers next month.  I wanted to be one of the 100.  I ended up being is one of over 135+ quilts for our troops!!!!  

A big heartfelt virtual hug to all you wonderful quilters from Virginia, Maryland, DC and across the USA (we received many by mail) bearing warmth from your loving hands.

Happy Thanksgiving to All!!

~d

Beautiful Song for a Wonderful Museum!

Greetings all! I just wanted to take a moment to tell you about something close to our hearts and our girl's heart.

Faithful readers all know the girl has been living and working these past three years in the city of  dreaming spires, Oxford, UK.

She's been working for several non profits but  

the one closest to her heart is The Story Museum, a center of children's literature and storytelling, a place of wonder and magic!  

One day the museum will be totally open to the public but in the meantime in their words, 

"The pumpkin is being 

transformed into a coach and taking us one step 

closer to the ball!"

One of the lovely interns, Nat Mahri, has written a song and the proceeds are going to the museum.

Spaces is a beautiful song and can be downloaded for whatever you wish to pay...your call! 

Go give it a listen and hear for yourself!:)

Thanks Natalie!!

~d