Some big numbers

Whew!!  I finished all 194 of these “eye” things… at last!

Now to join them to the centers.

 

I finally got used to sewing curves but now….all those intersections…they make me nervous.  These are my first ones…thanks to my trusty seam ripper and a few tries they aren’t too bad.

Hopefully it will get better and easier and quicker by the time I sew 168 more intersections!  Yikes!

 

Then this morning I finished two more applique blocks. A lot more relaxing project.

 

This means I only have 18 left to go

…and then 41 pieced blocks.

Math is not my thing but I can count down quilt blocks.  LOL

 

A few days ago this pretty package arrived at my house and inside was…

 

Lots of fun!!

Thank you so much Nancy!  That was really sweet of you.

Nancy has a great blog called Tattered Garden Quilting.  You should go visit her.  She does beautiful applique and is very inspiring. 

sidetracked!

In a corner of our family room we’ve set up a play area for the grandkids.  They head right to it when they come to our house because they know they have fun there.  We try to keep it stocked with interesting things to do.

When I saw this project in Curiosities & Mischief by Nancy Halverson, I loved it! and knew it was the perfect addition to the play space decor.  My two other quilt projects were set to the side and this little one squeezed in instead.

 

This time of year its easy to be sidetracked anyway. It is finally nice outside and we’d rather be out there instead of in here.  Sunday Mr. Sunshine had a great time with the grandkids and the wheelbarrow.  Reminds me of him with our kids when they were little. 

Good times.

 

I’m almost half way into a new book, Eighty-Days by Matthew Goodman.  It’s a true story about Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland, two women news writers in the late 1800’s, who raced around the world in different directions.  It is really good.  I have a hard time putting it down and take it with me everywhere I go.  Not necessarily because of the suspense of the race…but its fun to read because its a good story and well written.

But if you know who won…don’t tell me… ☺

a couple of good days

Hope everyone enjoyed their Easter as much as we did.  Ours was spent with our kids and grandkids and was such a fun day.

Then the day after, I was finally able to sit down at my sewing machine again.  It’s been a couple of weeks.  I made some progress on my grandmother’s double wedding ring.  I’m halfway done with the “eyes” now …about 40 left to go …give or take a few.

And I finished a Sprig block this evening and that makes 19.

…it was another good day.

 

 

Tonight I’ll be taking a new book to bed with me.  It’s Murphy’s Law by Rhys Bowen …about a young woman, Molly, who’s running away from a murder she committed in Ireland and heading to America where another murder mystery awaits her.  I think its early 1900’s times. 

I’ve only just skimmed through a few pages but it looks pretty good.

Sew on the go

Haven’t had much chance at my machine lately… it seems like I’ve been running around like a crazy person the past few weeks… but I can always find a minute or two to applique.  I’m really grateful for a portable project. 

I pinned my sprigs on the design wall and like what I see so far.  It gets more exciting with each one finished.  Soon I’ll start the pieced blocks to put in between the sprigs. 

This is so fun!

Hopefully next week I’ll be back to sewing on my Grandmother’s Wedding ring again.  I’ve missed it.

what do you call these anyway?

 

Still working on the double wedding ring quilt.  While I sew, I’ve been calling these “eyes.”  That was the first thing that came to mind.  I also sometimes think “almonds.”  I know others have called them “footballs” or “melons.” 

What do you call them?

So far the sewing has been all good. I’m sure that scary challenge that I’ve been expecting is going to come along eventually. But not yet.

…I’ll be sure to let everyone know when it arrives. ☺

 

I also finished four more sprig blocks.  One more and I’ll be half way through the appliqued blocks for my Stars and Sprigs quilt top.  Yes!

The weird lighting and shadows in the photo are because it’s late …  just haven’t been ready to give up my day for sleep yet.

 

My latest read is God’s Smuggler.  I thought it would be like “Angel on Her Shoulder” by Kenneth L. Wilson, about a missionary woman in Taiwan.  I read that book many years ago and loved it and still think about it from time to time.  I was so touched by that woman’s sacrifices and her determination.  This one hasn’t made an impact on me that way but I am enjoying the story.

…I’ll be linking up with Judy at Patchwork Times….right here.

And then finally… off to bed.

Not as hard as I thought

So… I started sewing the “eyes” for my Double Wedding Ring quilt…those curves making me a tad nervous.   But I found out it isn’t so difficult as I imagined. 

Just pin carefully and sew carefully and ta-da!  They aren’t perfect, but by the time I finish 194 curves for the “eyes” plus 168 more curves for the centers…(whoa!!)  I should be better at it by then don’t you think?

So far the pieces are matching up so I’m not feeling exasperated and frustrated.  That’s what I worried about the most. 

Instead I’m having fun!

Two more sprig blocks are finished.

 

I’m in the middle of reading the book “Killing Lincoln” by Bill O’Reilly and having a hard time putting it down.  Learning things about our past that I never knew before.  History wasn’t my favorite class in school and I struggled through those text books…but lately I find myself enjoying a little bit of history.  Other good ones are “1776” by David McCullough, and “Destiny of the Republic” by Candice Millard.

Now I’m going over to link up with “Whatcha Reading Tuesday”.

some things finished…and starting another….

Woo..hoo!  I finally finished the arcs for my Double Wedding Ring quilt.  197 of them!  Then I realized I only need 194 arcs, but, oh well, better too many than not enough.  I’ve been working on them for a few months now so I am excited to have them done.

Next comes curved piecing….yikes!!

 

I also finished two more sprig appliques.  Always a pleasure to work on these.

 

This month our book club chose to read Mr. Churchill’s Secretary.  I’m only a few chapters into it, but so far it’s interesting.

And with that, I’m linking up to Judy’s “Whatcha Reading Tuesday” here.

Sprigs and eerie bones

Ten sprig blocks done….thirty to go…but I’ve only been working on them for a little over a month…at that rate it is possible to finish the quilt by year’s end…but…you know…we’ll see how that goes.

So far so good.  This is surely a nice way to spend our cold winter evenings…cuddled in a cushy chair in front of the fireplace and TV and stitching away.

Judy, at Patchwork Times, had a contest for a subject for her Tuesday link party.  Since I’m a reader, I mentioned sharing books.  Judy chose that idea and generously gave me a gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop.  I was so excited! and used it to get some awesome fabric for my Stars and Sprigs quilt.

Thank you so much Judy.  That was really nice of you and I appreciate it.

Speaking of which, the book I am reading right now is “Speaking from the Bones” by Alan Bradley.  I’ve waited a year for this book to come out. 

The star of the story is Flavia, a precocious 11 year old growing up in an old English mansion.  She’s a genius in chemistry, lives to solve murder mysteries and can be a little melodramatic. 

I have read every other book in the series and they are are so much fun!  Mr. Bradley is a gifted writer.  I could easily have finished this one by now but I ‘m trying to make it last, because the next book in the series isn’t due to be out till next year. 

Another whole year!!

I’m linking up with Judy for “Whatcha Reading Tuesday.”  Hoping for leads to more good books.

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?

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!

Welcome to my house

While working on all these little houses, I decided to have my own house be the large center block.  It was soooo fun to try to replicate my house! 

Now I just love “living” among all these nifty neighbors.  After all, who wouldn’t want to live next door to a funny giraffe or a pincushion or a pretty rainbow.

But mine is not just a house…it’s a home…through and through.  Lots of memories here.  This is where my children grew up.  See that rose bush by the front door?  Mr. Sunshine and I spent a lot of time finding just the right one and planted it when it was tiny.  Now it is taller than me.  This spring we chopped 15 feet off the top of that cherry tree by the side of the house.  It was huge!  And from this view you can’t see the maple tree behind it, but I can feel it there…it’s the one my kids spent summers climbing.

Now the hunt is on for just the right “couple” to fussy cut for the front window.  The ones to represent Mr. Sunshine and myself.  It will be an interesting challenge to see what I can come up with.  What better excuse to pour through all the fabric shops I can find.

This quilt is becoming a labor of love.

Spice of Life

This is my design wall this weekend.  They say variety is the spice of life…well I have a lot of variety.  1. I’m always working on my Florabunda applique blocks…(and someday I will actually finish them.)  2. I started making my “Cold Wind Blows” baskets.  I decided to shrink the pattern by half and make a little quilt.  3. My bow tie leaders & enders blocks are multiplying quickly.  I finish a few with every one of my 4. Jacob’s Ladder quilt blocks. 

Speaking of which…

I only have 7 more blocks to go to finish my design.  Very scrappy isn’t it?  You should see my much lighter scrap bins.  I still have some rearranging to do on this quilt and then decide on a border. 

Besides a little sewing today, I also helped Mr. Sunshine install new outside light fixtures and made applesauce from our apple tree. 

Our house smelled so wonderful!