Late Gifts...

Though I try hard to get gifts to people on time, it doesn't always work out that way.  My sister, Joyce, has been patiently waiting for her Christmas gift, which she received today...only 2 weeks late! Course, her birthday gift was also in the package, and that is about 3 weeks late!  ~sigh~  We FaceTimed while she opened the package. (I love technology, don't you?)  My sister, Julie, had made a counted cross stitch piece for Joyce that needed to be finished.  Shown in the second photo...it reads, "Sisters love to go shopping together".  For a long while, I had no idea how to finish the piece...but then - ha! - it came to me.  How about a messenger bag for Joyce?  So, here it is...

Not sure how well you can see the front flap, but it is rounded on the corners and goes almost to the bottom of the bag.

Here it is with the front flap folded to the back so you can see the counted cross stitch piece I inserted.  I made a dark purple flange around it with a purple solid.  

Julie also made a counted cross stitch piece for sister Jill, which I finished and gifted last week.   For her, I made a log cabin block with the puppy as center for a 12 inch pillow cover...

I also received a counted cross stitch piece from Julie...unsure what I'll do with mine.  Guess time will tell, hey?

More to do...always more.


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

What I Made...

In my last post, I wrote that I had made a few things I could not yet show.  Well, those things are arriving at their destinations today, so I am finally able to show you.  Nothing that exciting, mind you...just a few things I made.


First off...linen napkins for Lindy.

Unfortunately, I only had enough of this natural linen to make 4 and she has a family of 6, so when I get more of the natural linen, I will make/send 2 more for her.  I also made her two face cloths...one red and the other green.  Sorry, no photo of them.  

Lindy is my 'almost' birthday twin.  Her birthday is the day before mine (the 15th...and, yes, her gifts were late) and she is a few years younger than I am.  We met on a rug hooking message board several years ago and started exchanging birthday wishes...which eventually turned into gifting one another.  Lindy is the one who gave me the Curio fabric to make this quilt...which, of course, needs to be finished.  This year, she sent a gift card for the Missouri Star Quilt Company!  I had fun spending it.  I bought a layer cake of Denyse Schmidt's Hadley collection, some yardage for binding, needles for Naomi Janome and a package of needles for hand sewing.  Thank you so much, Lindy! 

oh!  I must tell you...dealing with the Missouri Star Quilt Company is a very pleasant experience.  My layer cake was short two 10" squares, so I called them.  Instead of sending two 10" squares, they sent me yardage!  More than 1/2 yard!  Wasn't that nice?  This was not my first shopping experience with them and it definitely will not be my last.  Love to find suppliers that are willing to take that extra step to satisfy a customer!

Next up...more kleenex cozies.  Apparently, there are more people in the state of Maryland who have yet to receive one.  My sister, Joyce, is determined that everyone she meets receive one...so, of course, it is up to me to supply them.  ~grin~

fronts

backs

And, that is all I have done!  Well, I have been planning things, too.  That takes up way more time than it needs to most days.  But, you know, it has been so cold and gray...definitely saps any energy I may have.  Spring is not far off.   

Yes, I had a birthday.  And, the federal government honored my birthday by giving federal employees (at least some of them) the day off.  Nice!  ~grin~

One of the things I bought with birthday money received was...you guessed it...fabric!  I wasn't going to buy any fabric, but then decided that if I was going to, it would be better to spend birthday money than to take money out of my budget.  HA!  So, I ordered a fat quarter bundle of Anna Maria Horner's Folk Song!  It arrived today and I am in love!  Her fabric is so wonderful...the colors and the feel/drape of the fabrics are just something else!  When I made this quilt  back in September...

Pretty Potent by Anna Maria Horner

I fell in deep, deep love.  

So...want to see what I received?  

Folk Song by Anna Maria Horner

Oh. My. Gosh.  I love these colors...they are so vibrant!  There are only 14 fat quarters in this collection, but if I pick up a few of the coordinating solids, I will be able to make a very nice sized quilt!  Not any time soon, though.  It's going into my 'someday I'll make a quilt with this' container.  

Yeah.  So.  My birthday.  In honor of me, I am having a giveaway!  Not today, though.  Check back in a few days.  I need to decide what to give away.

In the meantime, stay warm and safe!  Have a great weekend!




"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

She Loves Her Some Purple!

This week went by really fast and I didn't get too much accomplished.  Two things that I started were non-finishes, as they were not turning out as I wanted.  That is always a disappointment for me.  ~sigh~

But, I did get a 24" pillow cover done for sister Joyce.  I wrote a post a bit ago talking about how we chose the fabrics via FaceTime...Joyce in Maryland with me here in Wisconsin.  Click here to see that post.

It's bright, so put your sunglasses on!  

front

back

I finished the backing with a zipper closure...it's there hiding under the little flap where the purple butterflies join the lime green.  Very easy to do that type of closure...will do it more often.

I had a little bit of leftover fabric, so made some Kleenex cozies for Joyce.  I am sure there are some in Maryland who do not yet have one.  ~grin~

The package arrived at Joyce's house today...she is very pleased with her new pillow cover and excited to have more Kleenex cozies, too!  

I have been trying to develop something new, but am having a bit of difficulty with it right now.  I really want it to work out, so I'll keep working at it.  In the meantime, there are more projects waiting to be completed.

edited to add:  photo of cover on pillow insert...

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For those of you in need of a Tag fix...

Tag and I spent a lovely morning in bed one day this week.  For no particular reason.  Tag snoozed while I read.  (oh look!  Four quilts on the bed.)   

Have a great Sunday!




"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Library Book Bag...

I was browsing through my photos this morning and realized that I never showed you the book bag I made.  It was in one of the mosaics a few posts ago, but if you didn't look closely, you had no clue about it. 

While going through my fabric one day - looking for something totally unrelated - I ran across 3 Summersville fabrics that I have had for over 2 years.  One of the pieces is 'town'...a print of buildings and vehicles.  Looking at it, I spied the Library building and an ah-ha! moment occurred!  (See the library in the photo?  It's in the row under the vehicles...with a little flag atop it.  If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you'll be able to find it more easily.  LIBRARY is actually printed on the building.)

Sister Joyce is an avid reader.  She has a Kindle Fire and reads books on there, but not everything she wants to read is available as an e-book.  So, off to the library she goes.  Often.  My ah-ha! moment?  I should make Joyce a bag for her library books! 

So, I did!  I carefully cut the print so that the Library was (somewhat) centered.  I used Kona cotton solid in Black for the straps and bottom.

 

I lined it with Kona cotton solid in Purple...cuz my sister loves purple!

I even made a little pocket for her library card and sewed a little patch of the library building on it...

I am very pleased with how it turned out.   

  

But, most importantly, Joyce loves it.

And, there you have it...the 'up-close and personal' story of the library book bag.

Have a great Monday!

 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

God Bless Technology...

I tell ya, I am loving what we are able to do in this age of technology. 

My sister, Joyce - the one who lives in Maryland - asked me to make a tv/bed pillow cover for her.  She wanted to choose her own fabrics, but when at Joann's, she became a little overwhelmed with all of the choices.  So, we worked together through FaceTime and accomplished it quite effortlessly.  Her granddaughter, Ashley, was a big help!  That 8 year old girl has a great sense of color and style...a little fashionista, for sure!  

(Are you familiar with FaceTime?  It is a real time video chat application for Apple Products only...similar to Skype, Viber, Tango, etc., which are also available for android phones.) 

Here is what we came up with...

Poison green for the backing and the other 4 prints for the pillow front.  Not sure what I am going to do, but there is enough of each piece so that I won't have to be restricted in my choice of pattern. 

We live 800 miles apart, but that did not prove to be a deterrent for us!  HURRAY!

A very special thank you to Ashley!  You were a big help, Sweetie!

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I managed to get 7 maple leaf blocks done this weekend.  I have 7 more to do.  I have something special planned for this quilt...but you will need to wait to see what I am going to do.  At least, until I have everything that I need to do that something special with! 

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A few weeks ago, I received a jury duty summons in the mail...to report tomorrow.  But, my number was not in the range of numbers that need to show up.  This counts as having served, so I am off the grid for 4 years. This is my third time to receive a summons and I really thought that I would be making my way downtown early tomorrow morning.  Well, I guess I won't complain.

Have a restful Sunday night.

 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Fast and Easy...

Not too much going on around here.  

I had every intention of pin-basting

my wonky charms quilt this weekend

but that just didn't get done.

Nothing much got done.

In fact, I didn't do anything sewing-related!

So, today, I got started bright and early.

I made more Kleenex tissue cozies.

Yes, for sister Joyce.

Back on May 15, I said that I thought

that everyone in the state of Maryland

will soon have one of these!

Apparently, Joyce is doing her best

to make sure that everyone does get one! 

Not sure where they all go, but she requested more.

 

Pinks and greens...what a fun color combo!

Oops...where did that red owl one come from?

(These are all made with scraps from Cathy, by the way.) 

Not sure what I'll work on next.

I know what I should work on.

Time will tell.

Have a great week!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Jingle All the Way!!

I know that it is Spring.  Well, supposedly.  With all the cold weather and snow everywhere, it is sometimes difficult to tell.  Being in the mood for something quick and fun, I put together a doll quilt...with flannel!  

 Jingles Flannel by Minick and Simpson (2009).

Measures 18 inches square.

Tied with red perle cotton.

 Now, that should make the warm weather come...don't you think?  ~grin~

I received a surprise package from my older sister, Joyce, this week.  She just learned how to read a knitting pattern, so has been busy knitting some fun dish cloths with designs!  The first one she did was a church design...

The note included with it read, "I am giving you my very first Church dishcloth because you were so instrumental at getting me back on track with my faith and I thank you for that and love you very much."  That is so special and made me tear up, that's for sure!   

The other one she sent was this...

The state I live in...Wisconsin.  Pretty cool, hey? 

Joyce is such a special person and a wonderful older sister!!

This week, I have been working on some other projects which I cannot show you quite yet.  And, I finished hand sewing the binding on me Mum's quilt...  

I don't have anyone to hold it or anywhere big enough to lay it out, so will need to wait before I am able to show you the entire thing.  I will be getting it laundered and photographed soon, though...I will be taking it to me Mum in 2 weeks!  I am so very excited to see her bed all decked out with her new quilt and pillows and bed skirt.

I should be able to show you a few more things before the end of the month.  

Wishing you all a Blessed Easter weekend!



"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Home Again...

I brought Naomi Janome and her niece, little Miss 'nobody puts Baby Lock in a corner!' home from the repair shop yesterday.  They were checked over thoroughly and given tune-ups.  No problems were found...yay!  The 'big bad boy' will be going in late next month.

I am so looking forward to starting me Mum's quilt!  I am hoping that it goes together very quickly.  I should have something to show you very soon.

In the meantime...I now have two dishcloths that match the dishtowels I wrote about here.  

Knitted by me with yarn - Heatwave - shown in previous post.

Knitted by sister Joyce.

I think sister Joyce may also be knitting a few dishcloths with solid color yarn for me.  One must have a color-coordinated kitchen, you know!  Not that anything else goes with these...but they could...these are definitely colors I like in a kitchen!  

What are you working on this week?


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

What Does She Do With Them?

I swear, she must give them away to people on the street!  Kleenex tissue cozies.  My sister, Joyce, has received dozens of these from me and continues to ask for more!  Not that I care, mind you.  They are quick and easy peasy to make.  I follow this tutorial, by the way. 

I just mailed these off to her...

 

Not sure what I'll be working on this weekend...I was moving rather quickly along on the quilt I wanted to have put together by now.  2/3's of the blocks are put together and I was all set to finish with the final 1/3...and then I decided that the background fabric I had planned to use for those blocks was not exactly what I wanted.  So, I am getting a bit more of what I do want...just a little delay.  OH!  I just realized that I had not blogged about this quilt.  hmmmm...well, then.  I guess it'll be a surprise for you when it's done then, hey?  Here's a peek at the fabrics...

The first weekend of the new year is going to end with some absolutely frigid weather coming our way.  Well below zero temperatures across the Midwest.  At least I don't have to go anywhere.  (the joy of being retired!!!)  Tag and I will snuggle in the big easy chair and watch movies. 

edited to add:  I got my preferred background fabric, so will sew those final 12 blocks today - YAY!!!




"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Random Photos...

 I went to Eau Claire last

Thursday and came home Friday...

a quick vacation.

I spent time with me Mum, 

all 3 of my sisters

(Joyce was there from Maryland

and Jill was there from Colorado),

my Aunt Bev and Uncle Babe,

and my BFF Janer.

Here are some random

photos from the visit.

Strawberry Margarita

 

 

Julie

Joyce

Jill is picking up

her new dog tomorrow.

Jaxen is a tricolor smooth Collie.

I had this fabric from

several years ago.

Perfect!

Jill with Jaxen's crate pad.

Zippered utility pouch.

The time went by too quickly,

as always.

It was good to go, though.

ONE of my current projects.

I will have a few fun things

to show you later this week.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Nesting Time on Lilac Hill...

Warning...long post with many photos!!!

Be sure to click on the photos...
you should be able to see more detail on some of them.

 I'll admit it right away...
just so you all know this
was not an original idea of mine.

I read about Nicole's idea
on Sister's Choice Quilts

back in November, 2010.
It totally captured my imagination.

Course, as time went by,
I had other things to think about
and I forgot about it.

Until the 'Snow Days' quilt

adventure with Sharon began.

Then, as I was browsing through

Crabapple Hill Studio's patterns,

I spied the 'Nesting Time' embroidery.

I fell in love with it.

And, remembered that I had seen it before.

I even remembered where! 

I wanted to make

something very special for my sister, Joyce.
A combined birthday and Christmas gift.

I thought this would be perfect...and
I knew (hoped) she would absolutely love this!

I worked on the embroidery in August,

which was the month

that Sharon and I designated
to work on Christmas gifts.

And, remember, I had pneumonia.

So, I started the embroidery...

and finished it 10 days later.
The design area of this pattern
is 15 x 21 inches.

And, then it sat.

No reason to have it ready
too far before it was needed!

In the meantime, I received 

several Lilac Hill fat quarters from

my doll quilt swap partner (click here). 

How fortuitous, hey?

See how these things work out?

Here are photos of 
Nesting Time in progress.

 

 

 

Now it's time to add on some fabric...

 

 

I got this far and thought...

'how on earth am I going to quilt it?'

I looked online at many, many

quilts that had embroidering or 

that had an embroidered center.

Nothing stood out as 'the way' 

to quilt something like this.

So, I went with my gut.

I did free-motion quilting...

pebbles in the crock, 

small stippling on the background,

and straight-line quilting on the border.

This is how I wanted it to look.

Imagine how amazed I was when

it turned out just as I had pictured it?

Hallelujah!

The backing is a piece of yardage

from the Lilac Hill collection. 

This measures about 28 x 34 inches.

Perfect for a wallhanging.

Joyce received it today.

(yes, a little late, after all.  Had to redo the binding,

which involved waiting for more fabric to arrive...{sigh})

She was very surprised.
And, she is very happy.

So am I.

(Thank you to Nicole.)

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."Jeremiah 29:11