Whatcha Reading Tuesday

I’m excited to be linking up with Judy’s “Whatcha Reading Tuesday” because right up there next to loving to sew, I also love to read.  You might have figured that out by my side bar…I have a reading list from Goodreads and another one from Shelfari posted there.  Overkill maybe… but oh well.

Just last night I finished reading “Navigating Early”, about 2 boys, Jack and Early, who venture out by themselves on the Appalachian Trail in search of the great black bear…and Early’s long lost brother.  They meet up with some interesting characters along the way.  Also, the mathematical pi (3.14) is an important part of the story.  …huh?? 

I decided to read it after finishing another one by Clare Vanderpool…

…Moon Over Manifest, which I really, really loved.  Both of the books are written for youth but are perfect for adult readers too. I shared Moon over Manifest with my book club and they liked it.  It made for a fun discussion that night.   Clare Vanderpool is a talented writer.

Like many of you, I am always looking for another good book. I hope to find some more great leads on Judy’s Tuesday links.

Go check it out (here) …and share what you are reading.  I’d love to know.

My applique tools

I haven’t been on my blog for a bit, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been sewing away.  I have four blocks appliqued for my Stars and Sprigs quilt… 

…and three more prepped.  My way of prepping things may not be “the way”  but it works for me.  Prepping is my least favorite part of the job…I like to get it all set and ready quickly so I can sit down with needle and thread.  And I work it out from there.  Kind of impatient that way.

I first learned to applique right after I was married…about 35 years ago… and loved it right away.  Since then I have learned a lot…especially from fellow bloggers the past few years.  There are some awesome ideas out there.  I’m thankful for them all. 

A while ago I found this little bag, a make-up bag or something like that.  It was ideal for what I needed.  It also had advertising so I sewed the sunflower ribbon on to hide it. 

Perfect portable size for keeping my applique stuff handy-dandy in one spot.

Inside I keep…

-My Clover Quilt Dome.  In the past I used a homemade felt booklet to hold needles and threads…it was always tangled no matter how careful I was.  This little device is awesome…it holds 10 threaded needles…nice and neat and no tangles!!

-Travel soap containers are perfect for threads.  I keep my favorite ones on bobbins and refill them when needed.  Then I always have a wide assortment with me.  And I use the plastic tubing pieces idea to keep them from unraveling.  Thanks again blog ladies!

-My little house needle book was also a blogger’s idea that I fell in love with and holds used needles…I like straw needles size 10 and sometimes 11. 

-I only need a little pincushion for those teeny tiny pins and also keep a tin with more pins and stick on thimble pads. 

-I use a white charcoal pencil for outlining and a lead pencil for light fabrics. 

-I love my sharp little scissors

-and my very comfortable thimble. 

-Last, but not least, a used film canister (can’t find those anymore can you?) to hold threads and clippings and keeps everything neat and tidy.  A miniature waste can!

These Stars and Sprigs blocks fit just right in my case with all my supplies and I’m ready to take it anywhere with me. 

And that way…I just might finish them.

2013 here I come!

Wow, December was such a whirlwind for me.  Lots of Christmas fun, of course, but no time at all for the sewing machine and rarely even time for the computer.  I notice I didn’t blog once for a whole month. 

But now it’s over and I’m really eager to spend time with needle and thread.

Mostly because this is what I got for Christmas!!  From Mr. Sunshine…who knows just what I like. (& because he’s really good at picking up hints)

I have 2 tubs full of fabric that have been stashed away for a day when a project like this one came along.  So excited to use them now!

I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to finish those awesome borders but I’m going to try.  And I do have great plans for the main body of the quilt irregardless.

 

And I haven’t forgotten my Double Wedding Ring (well I did in December but now I’m back).  I am so close to being done with those arcs. 

 

These are my two main projects for 2013. 

…or at least until something else comes along…

that’s how it always seems to go, isn’t it?

Happy New Year!

2012… VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

…was a good year! VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

I was surprised to see what I’d been able to finish this year.  What a fun year it has been…in my sewing life… and life in general.  I have much to be grateful for.

Here’s wishing all of us a very wonderful 2013! 

2 back from the quilter

I started this quilt some time ago (I just noticed it was in 2010…oh my!) as part of Erin’s Florabunda quilt-along.  I got 7 of the 12 blocks done before setting them aside for a break.  Last summer I decided I probably wouldn’t finish the rest, so instead, made plans to use these 7 in a quilt all by themselves.

And I’m really happy with it. 

Thank you Erin for the pretty applique designs.

I admire my quilter, JoLynn.  She always does very nice work.

She quilted this one too.

I love the sweet little extras she added…children and letters all around the border.

Makes it really special…

And I was excited when I found this fabric for the back… perfect!

 

I’ll be spending the next few evenings binding them…

Then back to work on Christmas stuff!

Such a fun time of year!

charmed!

Look at what can be done with just two charm packs! 

especially with my pretty Cinnamon Spice charm packs…

…and a little bit of cream colored fabric.

I have the perfect spot for this runner on a cupboard I inherited from my grandmother.  A very special place.

 

I got the idea from Lori Smith’s book…

on page 42… 

making a few changes to fit my needs. 

This has been one of my very favorite books!

 

More snow here….but this time it seems so light and pretty. This is the view out of my sewing room window, right above my sewing machine and looking right into the top of our cherry tree. I love this view…just a couple of weeks ago it was glowing golden with all the fall leaves. So beautiful!

What a lovely day

We woke up this morning to this… looked like a dreary sort of day out there.

 

But then this pretty package was delivered to my doorstep from Thelma and my day brightened considerably…

 

And when I found these gorgeous fabrics inside, it suddenly became an absolutely beautiful day! 

Thelma and Nicole had a great Spools Quilt sew-along using Camille Roskelley’s pattern, and one very, very lucky me won these as a prize. 

Thanks so much Thelma.  I really appreciate you.  The sew-along was fun and I will be looking for something special to use the charms for.

a pretty stack

Still sewing those delightful Double Wedding Ring arcs.

130 down…

67 to go.

I do believe I’ll make it!

wedding jitters?

I don’t know if it’s all the hype about “those difficult double wedding ring quilts” that makes me just a bit nervous as I work on mine.  I give a little sigh when a completed arc fits together as it should.  I have 82 finished so far….my final total will be 194.

 

I keep them together in bundles of ten so I don’t lose count.  I like seeing the little piles grow taller. 

Though I keep thinking about what comes next… making them fit just right into all those daunting curved seams!

But I wanted a challenge so I’m going for it…

and really, I am enjoying working on this.

 

This evening I took a break and caught up on my Row-Along quilt. 

Now this one is very relaxing and just plain fun! 

lost and found

Our mornings are quite crisp now and the days much cooler.  Time to change out blankets and quilts to get ready for winter.

That’s when I discovered this quilt. 

I finished the top almost a year ago and had it quilted and then, for some reason or another, it was put away and forgotten…left unbound.

But that’s all taken care of now and it’s sitting in our family room ready to be used this winter.

While I was in the binding mood, I kept right on going and finished this baby quilt too.  This one won’t be forgotten in the linen closet.

Doesn’t it just feel so good when you finish a quilt!

therapeutic stitches

For the third time, cancer has darkened our doorstep.  This time it was Mr. Sunshine and I was having such a hard time with that.

To occupy my mind…and soul…during the many hours in waiting rooms while he went through testing, procedures, surgery and recovery, I gathered some yarn and began to crochet.  One of the most calming things one can do without a lot of concentration.

Last night I crocheted the very last stitch.  And I have a pretty little afghan.  It was very therapeutic for me.  But it isn’t mine…I hope to give it to someone else who could also use some comfort…perhaps Hospice or a Care Center.  I hope it helps someone else just like it did me.

And Mr. Sunshine is doing very well…we think we got it all.

A new challenge

I’ve had an idea to try a double wedding ring quilt for awhile but was just a bit nervous about it.

Well… now I’m finally going for it. 

30’s reproduction fabrics are so cheerful, they should make it fun to work on. 

Wish me luck!

 

Mr. Sunshine and my sweet granddaughter think it’s all cool.