November 29

Busy, Busy, Busy!

I have been concentrating on schooling and a retreat with my quilting friends in between.

I have been learning more and more about "Word" program.  I am so glad I have the opportunity to learn what I will need to get a better job.

My typing is getting much better.  I started at 20 wpm and in 3 weeks I am now at 25 wpm. I just need to stop looking at the keyboard every now and then.

Now for the fun stuff.

Here are some of the pictures of things that were done at the coast:

My curtain climbers

Christmas Dotee

Lit'l sis Dotee

Paisley Dotee

Wild Dotee

Pinky Dotee

Sock Monkey Sweat Shop

Lorle's Table Runner

I made 5 little Christmas Tree Dottees that went to Finland.

My Girlfriend Suzanna made a basket of Sock monkeys. 

Lorle shared with us her table runner.  We love the block pattern.

Time to go back and concentrate on getting my life in control.

Don't feel guilty!

When I first started blogging, I thought I would be posting at least every other day.  As you can see, it has been 1 month since my last post.  

Life Happens!

Phone died and had to get a NON-touch screen phone.  It is hard for me to use.

But it is a phone and I can get in touch with people. It keeps me off the phone too.  It is a good thing.

Part time job, Body hurts and not that much time to sew, but I now realize that I can get retraining to work in an office from the state.  It is a good thing.

Daughters are not home as much, but I remember what I did when I was an only child and how to entertain myself.  It is a good thing.

Not as much income, I am learning how to appreciate what I have and not what I don't have and that I really don't need all the things I want.  It is a good thing.

I am not overly religious but I would like to thank God for giving me the hand and the brain to look for the ways to help myself.  

It is not other people’s job to take care of me.  It is my job to go out there and find the things that can help me help myself. Whether it is food stamps or financial aide. I tell others to go and do it when you need it.  That is why it is there.  Now to listen to my own help

Just remember:

"It"s a Good Thing!"

Long time to write.

A lot of things have been happening

Getting training on a new career (Office work)

finishing swaps

and finding new places to swap.

Don't know if that is good or bad. Ask me later

I have decided that I was spending too much time on my computer surfing (3 hours a day min)

I will now only go on every other day. I need to do things and not sit and dream.

The rest of the year is going to be:

"DO, DON'T DREAM!"

Now for the fun stuff.

Here are pictures of what I have been doing:

Little pincushion (Crab apple anyone?)

Fussy Cut mini from "STUD" (swap till you drop)

New obsession "Dotee Dolls" This is Dee my first.

This is Betty. She has more hair on the right.

My "Row Robin Swap. I did the outer row It was easier than I thought.

I big mushroom I saw in a park during a walk with Kevin.  I love the textures.

Now to go and check out everyone Else's blogs

September 24

All in all, it was a good day.

Stayed home and did some sewing.

Today would have been my Dad's birthday. He would have been 86. I think with Mom passing this year I was more aware of today. He passed away 18 years ago. 

I will post pictures either later today or tomorrow. I have a few things to do today.

Friday Night Sew In

Well I decided to call it quits at 11:30 pm. I have made 3 things. I finished 2 of them from start to finish.

first:

This mini is for one of my swaps.I used my die cut machine and fusible webbing. I then went around each butterfly using a different stitch. (16 of them) I did couching to attach the fuzzy yarn in between the blocks and a straight feather stitch for the binding.

Next:

I made this little frog from The Purl bee blog.

The pattern is there for you to down load. Johnny was so easy to make and I stuffed him with Navy beans. I think I will use rice next time. The I could put him in the microwave to use as a heat pack.

Lastly I did this:

This is just a sample for a quilt pattern I found in a book. I can't find the book right now to tell you what it is. 

Each square is 1 inch finished. I am going to use the little squares from my postagestamp swap. I will change the flower color for each rose. The block will be 5 inches alternation with an "X" block. I will need 111 Rose blocks and 110 "X" blocks and about 40+ half blocks for the inner border. No I will not finish it real soon. It will take over 6000 squares to make a full size quilt

My Daughter Shay

I am doing a quick blurb about my youngest. Here is a picture of her bedroom wall. She moved into her older sister's room after Kat moved out.

All of the art work is her own.

Giveaway!

 I visited the most coolest site today. It is called Artisania.

Sonja is developing her own business of quilting patterns. You need to go and check it out.

Sonja is also giving away a pillow of one of the patterns.

I did follow a good idea from Bobbi.

I took about 15 minutes and pulled some weeds and blackberry vines out of my front yard.  Thanks Bobbie.

I am going to my guilds UFO day tomorrow. I still haven't decided what to take to work on and it is midnight. I need to get off the computer and get it ready.

Don't forget to check out both Sonja's and Bobbi's sites.

Scrap Happy Summer

I WON!

I want to thank Em for hosting the Scrap Happy Summer challenge.

It was a good reminder to use my scraps (love to use them) and to post what I was doing.

I chose the scrap bag filled with cozy country color scraps.  It is my style.

Now for the leaf update.

I am almost half way done. Working with black on black is harder than I thought. It doesn't help when you have your "Supervisor making you take a break.

Can I repeat that she is so "Bossy!"

I will get this done. Lucky for me Shelli has a Wedding to do this month and can look at the updates.

Again Thank you for Em and her challenge. My first blog site win.

Labor Day Marathon

I have an up date from yesterday.

I have completed one side minus the center of the flowers. All of this with my "Supervisor" looking on to make sure that I stay on track.

I have learned a lot from this. The main thing is to applique the border on BEFORE attaching it to the main quilt (it is easier to twist and turn) and be glad I use only a few dots of glue. The needle has no problem going through it when I sew at a slow pace.

I did go on a small Quilt Shop Hop with a girlfriend.

First was The Cotton Patch. It is a great shop in Keizer Oregon outside of Salem. Then we went to Greenbaum's Quilted Forest. It is a fabulous shop in Salem Oregon.The last place was Canby Quilt and Fabric It was a first time for me there and I wasn't disappointment. 

If you are in the area, please do stop. I feel they are a good use of your time.

Well I am going to go back and work on the leaves again before I visit Kevin my boyfriend. He has been a little neglected, but he says he understands. He's a keeper.

Labor Day Marathon

Round 2

Here is what I have been mainly doing:

 These are the leaves that were in the little pail. I have 2 more sides to "Glue" on using small dots of Elmer's school glue. Then I am going to machine applique them down.

Wish me luck.

Did you notice the "Supervisor" in the last picture. I will use tape to get off all the "Fluff" she will leave.

Labor Day Marathon

I am off starting early! Here are pictures of my progressions:

I sorted out my Niblet (3 inch 9 patches) swap and the Inspector said, "You may mail them out now!"

She is so bossy!

Next I played with some blocks I made earlier while I ran a scan on my computer.

I call them my "Playground". They were a stress relief block. They too are 3 inches finished.

I am going to work on the border of a round robin I must finish this weekend! I will take pictures of their progress. The bucket of leaves goes with it.

Scrap updates.

I finally took pictures of the minis in the flimsy top state. I won't quilt them until later in winter.

Postage stamp swap 1 flimsy

 

 

 

New UFO flimsy

I am finding out I like to test the blocks this way before I commit to a larger quilt.

Going to my small quilt group tonight to give one of my Girlfriends a bag I made using a cut up Cat Litter jug for a liner. I made one out last week and Lorle fell in love with it. Fran asked for one too. I have only one jug left and I had recycled 3 a couple of weeks ago. Oh well!

I will post pictures of it tomorrow.

Scrap parade

I want to thank Em for hosting the "Scrap Happy Summer" parade. (use button on the right to see more.) I have been working on my scraps and posting them through out my short history. Here are a few I have taken pictures of before I sent them off.

This little pincushion is made from a 2 litter pop cap lid.

These are my first postcards I have made from fabric. They were fun and I know I am addicted to making more.

This little quilt, (the squares are now on fabric) will be my record of what postage stamp squares I have swapped out. I was going to put them in a book, but decided a little quilt was better.

Well that is all for now, but I will continue on through out the winter.

Happy scrapping to all.

Treat Yourself

I decided to just treat myself.

Why? 

Just because.

I stopped at a "you pick" stand and picked out these. 

There was enough for My DD to have some in her room also.

By the way!

4

MONTHS

UNTIL

CHRISTMAS!

Cleaning

Well I took a tip from my Youngest DD. Just do it!

I put together my bed frame and put up my bed. ALL BY MYSELF!

I then cleaned out the top half of the hall closet. 4 boxes later and 3 twin sheets (no twin beds in this house.), the top is mainly empty. I have 3 large sheets to use as backs for some charity quilts. It feels good.

Most of the boxes had old bathroom stuff from Mom's and My old places. Again Mom popped up. I smelled some perfume from "The Fuller Brush Co." that was hers. Smelled good.

I did some sewing but not much. Here are over 200 leaves that are going on a Round Robin quilt.

I can't wait until it is done. I have put it off long enough now. Inspiration is on the move.

Canning

I have attempted my first time canning blackberries. I mainly use them for pancakes. While I was typing this, I heard my first "POP" as it sealed.

I use to can with my mom when I was younger. It is funny how I usually go back to doing things the way Mom did. We had a very good relationship. I am very blessed for it. Thanks Mom. I miss you.

5 half pints and leftovers! Love leftovers!

"POP" number 2 went off!

Cutting

I currently have a Accucut studio die cut machine. I have previously shown how I use it. I went to Poppyprints blog and she posted a link to Paulette give away. Paulette had a good tutorial on how to use it.Check it out.

Skeletons in your closet?

I am hosting a swap on About.com. It is called "MORE SKELETONS IN YOUR CLOSET"
We believe it is a "HAUNTED" swap because some can access things where others can and it changes constantly.I am posting the guide lines here just in case.

MORE SKELETONS IN YOUR CLOSET - due September/27

You asked for it and here it is. Its time to gather all those terrific Halloween fabrics you have in your stash and join us in making blocks for a  Halloween quilt.  We will be making a simple version of the attic windows block to showcase all those great Halloween prints.

FABRIC REQUIREMENTS:  pre-washed, good quality 100% cotton.   We will be using Halloween prints as our focus fabric and a solid BLACK fabric such as Kona Black for the two (2) border strips.  Please do not use any fabric that is too thin or see through. As always, please be considerate of those swappers who are allergic to smoke, perfume, or pets.


DIRECTIONS FOR CUTTING AND SEWING THE BLOCK:

The blocks will measure 6” finished  (6 ½” unfinished). 
The cuts for one block:
Halloween print:  One (1) 5-inch square 
Black fabric:  One (1) 2 X 5-inch strip and one (1) 2 X 6-1/2-inch strip
To assemble the block:
Join the 5-inch-long strip along the right-hand side of the square;
Then join the 6-1/2-inch-long strip along the bottom.
Please do not trim your blocks.
Please take care to center any figures in your Halloween print so that part of the motif is not cut off.  Even though it is Halloween, we don’t want any headless horsemen.
Note:  When cutting my black fabric, I added 1/8”   as extra insurance.
Barbara (BarbaraSews) used this block in her 18th Scrappy Swap.  I want to thank her for the instructions even though she hasn’t been here in a while.
Please place a label with your name and forum name on the back of each block.

Maximum number of blocks you may swap:  48
Maximum number of blocks from a single focus fabric: 8

Enclose a stamped (the equal amount of stamps used to mail them to me) self addressed envelope.  No meter mail.

Please email me you name, address and Forum name. I will email my address.

Everyone is more than welcomed to check it out and join if you would like. You need to be a member of About.com to join.

Thanks

Busy Times

Boy have things taken off. I have been working on many things, A few swaps, but a lot of cleaning and visiting.

My boy friend is a big help in motivating me. He enjoys visiting and helping me CLEAN! I think he is a keeper. He doesn't make me feel guilty about anything. All he wants is for me to be happy. Isn't that cute? The 28th is our 1 year anniversary. He has it all planned. Dinner on a riverboat. Yes definitely a keeper.

This is my latest Round Robin. I did the outer most row. I used all Batiks. It took a longer time that usual because I had to design each side separately, but worth it.

Well off to bed and on to the next project.

(Still making more pinnys)

Scrap quilts

I finally took some pictures of quilt tops I have. I am going to leave them unquilted, because they store easier that way.

The top left is a 4 patch from swapped squares. The top right is my $5.00 top. I purchased all the fabric from a quilt show. It was a scrap bag. I really made out on that one. It is all flannel.

The bottom left was just some pattern that caught my eye. The bottom right was a quilt (it is finished) that I made for a raffle at work. We used to host families at Christmas. I liked the colors so much that, I made another in colors that were not my favorite and kept this one.

They all are about twin size, which is surprising since most quilts I design are hugh.

I am slowly collecting all of my UFOs and placing them together. I think they hide off alone and multiply. Maybe sticking them together, they will patrol each other and not multiply?

This and That

My new toy arrived yesterday. I own an Accucut studio die cut machine. I purchased it before the "To Go" model was available. Now for the "new toy". It is a die that cuts 16, one and a half inch squares. I swap "Postage stamp" size squares. Each set has 50 different squares in it and we usually send 25 sets. That equals 1250 squares. This is my first time swapping. I could have used my rotary cutters but, I have so many scraps that it would be easier to use a die and cut 5-8 sets of 16 at one time. Here is the process:

Step 1

Step 2

Step3

Step 4

Step 5

25 sets finished

This didn't take more that 2 hours. What took the longest was deciding what fabric to cut. I have extras left over for me, so I will be getting 1250 from others. I am so excited. I need to do the same for a neutral group. 1250 more to go!

I have been working on cleaning my bedroom since my oldest is gone. I have done quite a bit. I will post before and after pictures. Yes I have taken the "Dirty" pictures before hand.

Ok here is one. (not the worse one.)

Upstairs #3

The wall in the back is mainly scrapbooking and papercrafts.

It has helped me to work on getting it cleaned by blogging it. It keeps me on track. I like showing my progress.

I need to go and sew. Have a good night.