Thursday, July 29, 2010

One Flower Wednesdays


I have joined One Flower Wednesdays and have made my first hexagon flower! Woo Hoo!
I have always wanted to try this but I have never seen a quilt that I liked. The colors just
weren 't me. Well, one of the blogs I follow, Journey of a Quilter, has been doing this for some time and I was intrigued. I then saw another blogger's flower garden and I loved her colors of tans and creams. So I decided I wanted to join this group. I chose Moda's Astor Manor Charm Pack and purchased one yard of a cream on cream, Martinique by 3 Sisters for Moda, for my background. I had purchased a pack of Quilt Patis a few years ago at a quilt show. I almost forgot that I had them. These are plastic templates. So here is my first flower! It is not perfect, and I may have to redo a petal, but here it is. When I told my hubby that it is one flower each Wednesday and it is for a quilt, he wondered what year it would be completed! I really don't know, but I will have fun making these cute little flowers!
PS You will notice the basting stitches on one of the petals. I had decided that I could make a petal without a template, but I couldn't, and now I have to leave those basting stitches in until I join that flower to another flower or the background.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Today is the Big Day for two reasons!


Today is my youngest son's birthday!!Woo Hoo! He is a big 35! So Happy Birthday Tony!


Tony is sitting on the floor with the tatoo on his arm, cracking up as usual. It seems everytime we have a family get together we always get silly at picture time:)
Also, my other reason to celebrate.....(drumroll please) my stitches come out this afternoon! WaaaHooo! Please pray I won't be in too much pain. I still can't walk very well, still have a lot of swelling and still have my buddy Mr Pain. But we are progressing. I have been in this house for 11 days today. It will be good to get out for awhile. I think it is supposed to be a little cooler today. Now I am rambling....lol! Hope you all have a great day!

My Birds

This is what I see every morning at 6 AM. My birds waiting for me out back. I usually water my flowers first, pick a few weeds if necessary, clean and fill bird bath, then feed the birds. If I take too long, they start swooping down around my head. When I looked up this morning from my deck, it reminded me of Alfred Hitchcock's movie. "The Birds". Remember that one? The larger birds in the top photo are mourning doves, which my granddaughter has renamed Happy Birds because she doesn't want them to be sad. The bottom photo are the usual wrens and sparrows. They are all getting nice and fat now:) I didn't realize how many wires were out there until I took these photos. Ahhhhh city life!


Sunday, July 25, 2010

FNSI Results


Well, here is what I accomplished. Doesn't look like much does it:( Here is the reason why. I finished attaching all the berries and leaves on the first border. I attached 4 more berries on the second border. ( I had already attached the vine) I looked in my little case where I am keeping all the pieces for this quilt and I can't find the remaining 24 leaves!!!! Where did I put them? I had wrapped them in a tissue because we ran out of sandwich bags and with my knee pain I didn't feel like going up to my sewing room where I keep used bags from swaps. So I wrapped them in a tissue. I use tissues all the time for everything. I keep a box right next to me in every room in the house. I remember placing the little tissue package in the corner of the project case. At least I thought I did. I looked everywhere but I couldn't find them. So.....I had to remake them. I still need to make 6 more, I think, but I was getting tired and knew I could make them later. Oh, and as far as the missing leaves, I think I mistook them for trash when I cleaned my table. Moral of this story? Store things in their proper containers:) Now I am going blog hopping and look at everyone else's FNSI projects!
PS I am just wondering if anyone has noticed my color code these last two posts? Have you figured it out? Let me know if you have!

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Friday Night Sew In!


Woo Hoo! It's time for Friday Night Sew In! Even though I still can't sew on the machine yet, I have loads of hand applique to work on. "Sew" tonight I will continue working on my Warm Wishes For Christmas quilt. I am still adding vines, berries and leaves to the borders. It is starting to look pretty good! If you would like to join me for this sew in, please click on the button on the right! This FNSI is sponsored by Heidi and Bobby, and participants are eligible for a cool give away. I won a couple months ago the very first time I signed up for the sew in! "Sew" let's stay in and beat the summer heat and have a fabulous time! I will post a picture of my FNSI project Saturday night....so stay tuned!

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Jo Morton Project

Well, this time last week I was getting ready for my surgery. I am still hobbling around, still have a bit of pain, but I am glad it is over! I will have my stitches removed next Monday, the 26th, and then perhaps some physical therapy. Not too sure about that yet. I have watched so many movies my brain is fried! I was able to resume work on some hand applique a couple days ago. I had cut out the 32 leaves so I have them basted and ready to go. I also cut out 52 berries. I use the Karen Kay Buckley templates, but you only get 4 of each size so it is a little slow going. I have found that if I use spray starch and let the berry sit for at least 12 hours on template, I get a much nicer circle. So I can only get 8 per day! I have my borders cut, 1 vine attached and second vine in progress.


I had to share this little cartoon my friend Rita enclosed in her get well card! It really gave me a chuckle!!! Thank you again Rita!

I also thought I'd take a photo of some of my applique essentials. The item in the upper left corner is an armchair caddy. It has the pincushion in the center and a pocket on each end. I used quilt labels for the pincushion and pockets. Next to it on the right is a small pillow. When I took Mimi Dietrich's Baltimore Album classes, she used a pillow like this. It really comes in handy to help you attach your pieces, smooth out your fabric, and jab some pins in when you need something handy! On the center left are the remainder of the 52 berries waiting to be placed on templates. Then there is a needle book that one of the ladies in my quilt guild made. And on the bottom is one of the borders for my Warm Wishes for Christmas quilt! Must go now as I can't sit at the computer for very long. Will see you again in a few days! Happy sewing!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Laptop Satchel, Thursday is the day!

I have been working on a cute laptop satchel for Seminole Sampler.
While I was busy cutting.....

my granddaughter was busy cutting! I just purchased a little sewing kit for her to keep her occupied while I sew. Now she can play with her own spools of thread! lol See post on Saturday, June 19.

Ta da! After several days I finally finished the satchel! Pretty cool, huh?

Now my big news of the day is that today, July 15, I will be having surgery on my left knee! Hooray!! This is a good thing:) I have been suffering with a torn meniscus for over three years. I also have some other things going on in that knee that the surgeon is going to take care of. So....I will not be online for a week or so as I will be recuperating and learning to walk again! Walk....oh my, isn't that a wonderful word? I have not been able to walk without a cane, brace and pain for so long!!!!! I have stocked up on hand work, books and dvds so have fun sewing everyone and I will "see" you all soon!


Friday, July 9, 2010

More Birthday gifts,Jo Morton leaves and Paper Pieced Pineapple block

Okay, off we go. First picture: My wonderful hubby fixed a friend's garage door opener. As a thank you my friend gave me this quilt kit which included a wonderful basket to store it all in!!! I decided, however, to make the table runner and table topper, which are pictured on the back of the pattern booklet! Aren't the fabrics yummy? I am an earth tone girl:) And the cool wire basket everything was in..... I love it, love it, love it! She is probably reading this so Thank You Mary!!!

Then, my First Wednesday Dear Jane group met and the ladies had a little birthday party for me! Woo Hoo! And look at the goodies I received! A beautiful hand fan(because I am always HOT), lovely fabrics, and a gift card to one of my favorite quilt shops. Now that big, giant thimble you see in the middle I actually bought for myself at JoAnn's at 70 percent off!!!!! I really didn't need one more sewing knick knack but I just couldn't resist this one. After I find its new home I must take a pic of my knick....knacks !
Okay, third picture! Tonight I was naughty. It was the Second Thursday Dear Jane meeting night but I have made all the blocks and triangles that I wish to make for right now. I have been stumped on what color fabric to use for sashing and borders. I have decided on reproduction blue, and I want to use a Jo Morton blue, but haven't had a chance to shop for it....yet. So.... I decided to make the 32 leaves that I need for my Warm Wishes at Christmas quilt. Hence a photo of 32 leaves. I forgot I wanted to turn one over so you could see the back. I trace the leaf on to freezer paper and then iron the freezer paper to the back of the fabric on the bias. I then cut it out adding a 1/4 inch of fabric all way around. My next step will be to turn under that extra 1/4 inch and baste the fabric to the paper. The last step will be to applique the leaf to my background and remove paper from a small slit I will cut in the back! The fabric I have the leaves on is the actual background fabric for my borders. My next step at this time is to cut out fifty-two berries! Woo Hoo! I love applique!


And finally, this is my completed paper pieced pineapple block!! I think it turned out rather well. I did not have two pieces large enough to make the corners so I had to do some piecing, but that's okay. The light colored stitching you see in the corners are just basting stitches to hold fabric in place until I am ready to attach it to the pillow back. That is scheduled for next month's ASG Quarter Incher's quilt group meeting!

So that is what I have been up to. I would love to hear all about your latest sewing project! Tell me all about it in the Comment section!


Monday, July 5, 2010

Front Royal VA

Welcome to Front Royal, VA . Front Royal is the town near the entrance to the Shenandoah State Park. We always stop here to eat lunch, check out the shops, and enjoy the town!




Main Street.

Shenandoah National Park

For our Fourth of July celebration we decided to go to the Shenandoah National Park, or Skyline Drive, as it is known locally. This park is located in the northern part of Virginia, and is only about a 2 hour drive from our home. We have visited there many times and we love it. There are many wild animals that live in this mountain range and I am always trying to spot some of them. There is an abundance of white tail deer, of which we did see several on this trip and there are also black bears. I have spotted some bears on a couple of our previous trips but not this one. When we stopped in the camp store for ice we were told that we had just missed one hanging around the store. I quickly went around back to see if I could spot him but he had disappeared in the trees. I have many pictures here to share with you so sit back, prop your feet up, and enjoy my day with me.


Entrance to park. It was 95 degrees here on the street level. By the time we had reached 3200 ft elevation, the temperature had dropped to a cool 78 degrees!


First overlook. In the very center of the picture is the beautiful Shenandoah River.


Me, looking at you!


See the doe? The deer know they are safe here so they do not run when they see you.


Sign for Big Meadows. On the paper we received it says that on August 14th folks will come here to view the meteor show. I would love to come here for that. This meadow is huge!!

We picked up this little hitchhiker on the antenna. See him holding on? He stayed with us for quite a bit!!!

Another beautiful overlook. I believe we were at 2400 ft elevation. There are quite a few overlooks along the way. Skyline Drive is a total of 105 miles long. It begins at Front Royal, VA and ends at Rockfish Gap, VA. We had to exit at the 65 mile mark as it takes quite a while to drive the entire way. The speed limit is 35 MPH and folks usually do 30 because you are always pulling over for an overlook.

Me in the mirror, having fun!

Another breathtaking view!!! You are looking at the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Another overlook. I thought it would be cool to take a picture looking through the wild grasses growing there. I hope you have enjoyed my little tour to one of my favorite places on earth.



ASG Quarter Incher's quilt group

My ASG Quarter Incher's quilt group meet the first Friday of each month. This month Vicki was teaching a paper pieced pineapple block. We had decided to make a 12 inch pillow top as next month she will be teaching the hidden zipper. Vicki brought in preprinted papers for us. Most of the ladies had not paper pieced before and paper piecing can be quite a challenge. I had to take several classes myself before I finally got the hang of it. A popular saying around here is "Paper piecing, you either love it or you hate it!" A lot of folks I know do not care for it at all. Anyway, the ladies met the challenge and are on their way to having beautiful pineapple paper pieced pillows! Here are some photos of my hard working group!
Members are holding up their paper pieced pillow tops! The rest they will finish at home.


Working hard.

Cutting strips.


Two of my paper pieced blocks from a class I took a few years ago.


Hand pieced and hand appliqued top by Dolores.


Row quilt by Vicki.




Sunday, July 4, 2010

Paper Piecing and Happy July Fourth

Happy Fourth of July to all! How are you going to celebrate or have you already begun your celebration? Hubby and I are going to enjoy a trip to the beautiful Appalachian Mountains! Woo Hoo! I love the mountains. Born and raised a city girl but if you xray my insides you will see snow covered mountains with eagles flying over the lake! I wish you all a safe and enjoyable holiday and may God Bless America!!!!
Now, the other purpose of my post is to hopefully help the ladies who had difficulty Friday night at my ASG quilt group. We had a lesson on paper piecing and our projects just weren't working out as they should. I don't want anyone to become discouraged so with the help of my hubby I made my first sewing video! Woo Hoo! On it I am explaining how to paper piece this particular pattern we were given. Perhaps this will help others with paper piecing as well!
Enjoy and I hope you have a fabulous day!!!
PS I am sorry for the black screen as I do not know how to put the first frame of the video on the front.