The List - Progress Report #1

The other day, I made a list of all the quilty things I need to accomplish.  In the interest of accountability, I plan to keep track of my progress here.  So far, I have completed two of the items on my list.  The first is this Card Trick block for Leona in the Sew and Bee Happy bee.  It looks complicated, but it is a fairly simple 9-patch block.  Leona asked for aqua and red, which is great because I have a lot of both on hand.

Stacey said anything goes, but she is planning to make quilts for her little brothers.  I decided to make rocket ship blocks.  I printed a coloring page from the internet and adapted it to my purposes, then appliqued it onto charcoal Kona.

On a side note, do you have a preference in fusible web products?  I thought they were all pretty much the same, but I've been using Heat N Bond lite for awhile, and just recently purchased Wonder Under.  I had a lot of trouble with the web fusing to the fabric, and then staying on the fabric when I tried to pull the backing away.  If you have thoughts on the subject, I'd love to hear them.

Along those same lines, I recently made a quilt (to be revealed soon) and used 100% cotton batting.  I normally use Warm and Natural or the Poly-fil equivalent, but this 100% cotton was on sale, so I thought I'd try it.  I was very surprised at how much it shrunk.  I don't normally wash my quilts before I give them away, but I did this time, and wasn't really prepared for so much shrinkage.  What do you prefer?

Finally, I have received some lovely blocks recently that I haven't posted.  This one was from Anna (Singing Shells) in the Fall Bee.  She said it was her first attempt at hexies.  Great job, don't you think?

This block came from yayaquilter (Cindy) in the 3x6 Bee.

And this one from Yellow_Bee_58 (Mary), also in the 3x6 bee.

These will both be great additions to my sampler quilt.  Thanks ladies!

And now, instead of sewing, I've got to go to work.  Of course, I've been sorting squares for my Granny Square blocks, so I'm covered in threads.  Oh well.

Have a great day!

Waaaay Behind

Since I've spent 3 of the last 4 weekends traveling, I'm getting way behind on my sewing and crafting.  My New Year's Resolution to only do one swap at a time is his*tor*y and I have lots to accomplish.  The good news is that WH is with BD#1 helping take care of the grands and so I have no distractions... the downside is that since I've done so much traveling, I'm exhausted.

I planned to at least do bee blocks tonight, but no.  Not tonight.  Maybe tomorrow.

For now, I will content myself with creating "THE LIST" of the quilty things I plan to accomplish this weekend.

1.  Bento Blocks - how many?  Hopefully 10 - that will give me 40 quarters.  I made these awhile back, though, and it took me forever.  Maybe they'll go more smoothly this time.

2.  Bow Tie Blocks - these babies are pretty small.  I swapped 30 last time and would like to do 50 this time - that would be enough for my quilt, I think.

3.  Anything Goes bee blocks for Stacey

4.  Card Trick bee blocks for Leona

5.  Potholders for PP11

6.  Fabric Napkins for private swap with Peggy

7.  DS Quilts Doll Quilt Swap

8.  Pinnie for FLiPs Pin Cushion Swap

9.  Mini QT Ticker Tape Swap

10.  Mini Scrap Basket Block Swap blocks

11.  And more Granny Squares for the GS QAL

12.  I really want to do the AMH Prism QAL

13.  And I have my Fairy Tale Friends

14.  Andy my Jelly Roll Race quilts to sandwich, quilt, and bind

15.  And I have both March and April's blocks to do in the Craftsy QAL.

 And several more quilts in my mind just itching to become a reality...

I'd better git crackin'.


But for now, I'm exhausted just reading this list.  It must be bedtime.

More Family Time

I know it has been kinda quiet around here lately, but I've been traveling again to visit my adorable children and grandchildren.  This weekend was a whirlwind, but we were blessed to have all of us together, if only for a short time, as we met to bless our new little grandson.  Britton's daddy's family was in town for his sister's graduation, so it seemed the perfect time to get together and give our new little guy a blessing.

His blessing was a wonderful little affair.  The weather was gorgeous.  My daughter and son-in-law chose to bless him at home, partly to accommodate those who had long distances to travel.  I was afraid I would also have to race off, but was fortunate enough to be able to stay until this morning.  Who could pass up an opportunity like this?

As you can see, the whole affair was exhausting (or it could possibly be nearly 3 weeks of sleep deprivation), and both mommy and baby needed a nap.

It was a wonderful weekend, and made me sincerely wish that I lived closer. 

Grandma Time - Part 2

Britton napping on Ali's beautiful Hexi Baby quilt

One of the joys of being a grandma is having the time to do the little extra things that I had neither time nor creativity enough to do with my own children.  One of those things was the opportunity to make baby announcements for both Abby and Britton.  Mommy and Daddy have chosen elephants (or "oncos", as Abby calls them) to decorate Britton's room, so it seemed natural that his baby announcements would go with that theme.

Of course, I meant to have them completely finished when I arrived, but I only had the elements partially put together, so there was lots of cutting and punching and gluing and putting together to do while I was visiting.  Why ever did I design a card with so many pieces and parts?

Two years ago, when Abby arrived, I was able to make her announcements as well.  Her room was decorated with lambs.

Sorry for the lousy cell phone picture, but it seems that it's the only one I have of Abby's announcements.  I actually didn't design this one - a friend had over-created announcements for her little girl's birth, and I bought the partially completed cards and replaced her teddy bears with punch art lambs. 

While I was visiting, we had a little crisis.  Abby received an adorable dolly stroller for her birthday, and it quickly became her favorite toy.  She used it to push around her dolly and her stuffed animals (and the occasional box of cereal) and frequently to chase and terrorize the dog.

 Sadly, the original fabric stroller seat was something less than sturdy - certainly not able to withstand all the use that a certain little girl made of it - and while I was there, the seat ripped so that dollies, critters, and cereal plopped out of the stroller and onto the floor.  These circumstances did not make for a happy little girl.  So last Thursday morning, I took the old stroller seat apart and created a new seat.

 I think this one should last awhile.

Grandma Time

(Photo shamelessly stolen from acraftyfox.net)

 I'm sorry if it's been a little quiet lately, but I have been slightly distracted.  This has been a GREAT week.  I got to see all of my children - they all live about 2000 miles away from me - from where they grew up - so it has been wonderful to get to visit with them a bit.

We got to have Easter dinner all together, which was great.  And I spent part of a day with BD #2 and went on a "date" with HS.

(Photo shamelessly stolen from acraftyfox.net)

But it has been wonderful to meet baby Britton, and play with his big sister.  She is so sweet to him.  It is so heart-warming to watch them together.  I don't get to play Grandma very often, so I have to make the most of it.  I do have a couple of finishes, and a WIP I'm working on, but we'll share those later.

For now, I'm going to go watch "Tangled" with Abby - again.

2nd Blogiversary - Flea Market Fancy Giveaway! - WINNER

Thanks to everyone who stopped by to help me celebrate my blogiversary.  I had so much fun reading everyone's comments and discovering what you would do with these strips of fabric goodness if you were the lucky winner, or learning what you have been creating lately.  I'm so amazed that so many creative people are doing so many lovely things.  Creating for  others. Creating for yourself (much less common, but necessary, now and again!).  A dozen projects going at once.  Current trends (several people talked about a granny square quilt and jelly roll race quilts, which seem to be a current trend).  Pillow covers are very popular, I think.  It was great to journey into your creative space with you, if only briefly.

I tried to respond to everyone (although I did not respond to the "follower" comments), but I think I may have deleted a few from my I-phone, so if I missed you, I apologize.  The best part is, I feel like I made some new friends and connected with several of you.  It's wonderful how much we have in common (I laughed at how many of you said you would just pet this fabric for awhile, if you won {grin}).  Thank you all for visiting my little blog and making my blogiversary special.

It seems everyone who stopped by deserves to win, but alas, I only have one FMF fabric roll, and there is no more to be had, so I can only select one winner.

I talked to Mr. Random Integer Generator this morning, and he said...

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

51 

Timestamp: 2012-04-06 11:05:05 UTC

I guess I haven't done a giveaway in awhile, because I hadn't realized that although I had comment numbering on my blog for a long time, it is now gone.  In searching the web for a solution, apparently you have to go directly into the HTML code and add some code, and I'm just not that good - especially at 6 am.  So after trying to count the comments on the screen, in desperation, I finally printed them out to figure out who number 51 actually is.  I counted and counted, and I believe - I hope - I am right.  Whew!  I'm going to have to find a computer geek knowledgeable computer expert to put comment numbering back on my blog before I do another giveaway.

With that said, THE WINNER IS...

epbanApr 1, 2012 04:58 PM

Happy 2nd Blogiversary! I would make a table runner with your generous prize. Thanks for the chance!

Congratulations!  I'm off to email you now.

And thanks again to everyone who entered.  I wish you all could have won.

Lots of Excitement Around Here

We have had some wonderful things happen in our family today!  Here is newborn Britton who almost came before his mommy (or his daddy) was ready.  Welcome, Britton!  I can't wait to meet you.  Grandma will be there on Saturday.  So excited!  So blessed!  So thankful for a healthy daughter and a healthy grandson!  Thank you, Heavenly Father!

Then, I received this totally amazing swap package from Karin in Sweden.  The market bag is so big and sturdy and beautiful!

And check out the cute piggy mug rug she sent!

But I was truly blown away by the artwork on this mini quilt!

Check out Greta's hair!  Oh my!  I am so amazed!  How do  you do thread art that delicate? 

Thank you, Karin, for a wonderful swap package!

And, as if that wasn't enough yummy goodness for one day, I also received this awesome parcel from Linda in Ireland in the Scrappy Mug Rug Swap.  When you've been married as long as I have, new kitchen towels are a real treat.  But check out the mug rug...

The paper pieced leaf is gorgeous, and the hand quilting makes it truly special.

And then there's the back.  Gorgeous flowers.  Hand embroidery.  Oh my!  I'm really not sure which side I like best.

And now that Karin has also received her movie mini, I can share what I made for her.  She said she liked old classic movies, and what is more classic than the Wizard of Oz?  I had lots of ideas...  and then I ran across this poster from the movie....

 and an idea was born.

Here is my version of the Wizard of Oz...

I really had fun with this one.  The covered  button flowers were way fun.  (Sorry for the cockeyed picture - I didn't realize it until I already had the parcel in the envelope ready to mail.)

And the embroidered phrase is my favorite one from the movie, and one that I wouldn't mind having hang on my wall. 

And I really loved making Dorothy's shoes.  They were way fun.  Can you believe I drew them myself?  (I'm not an artist at all, but these actually look like shoes!)

I'm not sure if the back might not be my favorite part of this little quiltie.  These kitties at the movies are just too fun.  Myra at my LQS suggested this fabric.  Ruthie wondered what movie they were watching and someone suggested "All Dogs Go to Heaven".  Cracked me up!

And then, as if I don't have enough to do, in the last 24 hours I have signed up for four more swaps - three Flickr swaps and a private swap.  Oh boy.  They are so fun - and so stressful - at the same time.  But I know in the end, I'll be glad I did them. 

So all in all, it has been an amazing day!  Truly LOTS of excitement around here!

Wow!

Note:  This is not the giveaway post.  If you are interested in the giveaway, go here.

I just finished answering the comments from my giveaway post. I love it, but I admit to being slightly overwhelmed.  I knew FMF was popular, but I've never had so many bloggy visitors before.  I was determined to answer everyone who commented, but it is something of a daunting task to answer them all.  Whew!  I'm caught up for now.  But of course, it's bedtime.

Thanks everyone for the wonderful comments.  I've had so much fun reading them.  Everyone is so nice, and there are such wonderful plans and projects being contemplated.  I wish I could do half of them myself.  In fact, I found myself wishing I had more than one FMF fabric roll, but there are no more to be had, so we'll just have to be content with what we have.

Thanks again everyone for visiting. 

2nd Blogiversary - Flea Market Fancy Giveaway! - NOW CLOSED

If you had asked me two years ago if I thought I would ever be a blogger, the answer would have been a resounding "no".  On April 1, two years ago, I started this little blog simply so I could respond to posts on my daughter's blog about my little granddaughter, Abby.  So I am as surprised as any one that I actually have a blog, and that I actually post rather frequently.  I really enjoy sharing my little creations, and the lovely things that people in Flickrland send to me - and the things I send them.

Happy blogiversary to me!  To celebrate, I have a little surprise of my own.  I am giving away a fabric roll of Denyse Schmidt's re-release of her incomparable Flea Market Fancy, provided by Westwood Acres.  The fabric roll consists of a 2-1/2 inch strip of each of the 21 fabrics that make up this oh-so-yummy line of fabric.

How do you enter, you ask?

1.  Leave me a comment, and tell me what you would make with this roll of fabric goodness.  Or, alternatively, tell me about something  you completed recently.
2.  If you are a follower - or become a follower - you will get a second chance.  Just leave another message to tell me so.

That's it.  Easy peasy.  Be sure I have an email address to contact you!  If you are a no-reply blogger, I won't have a way to get in touch with you, and I'll have to choose another winner.

Giveaway closes April 5 at midnight Central time.

Good luck - and thanks for stopping by my little blog.

The giveaway is now closed.