Quilting In My Pajamas.....

has taken on a whole new meaning.  My aunt was out shopping, saw some really cute pajama pants, and bought me some.  She got to talking to my mum about them, and they decided they would make good quilts, as they're 100% cotton!  I think so too...and they were only $3 a pair.



Together, they picked out the largest sizes they could find, so I'd get more bang from their buck.  How fun is that???  I can't wait to come up with a quilt for these!

I just started making a gift for my brother's upcoming birthday, I'm using a free design from Wendy at Sugarlane Quilts, it's so darling!!!  Thank you Wendy!



Years ago, after our father died, I took my brother on a fishing trip.  He's 11 years younger than I am, so he was a little guy - I think maybe6 or 7?  All we caught was a tree across the river, but we had a lovely time.  I'm pairing this with a gorgeous fishing-themed fabric, and making a big cushion for him.  I hope he likes it, and that it brings back good memories.  I'll show you when I'm done.

Another freeze warning tonight, I'm going to be huddled under quilts, stitching away.  Sounds kind of nice, doesn't it?

A beautiful hibiscus from my friend Shirley's home.

Ouchie

Hello all you talkative people - been trying to stay off the computer, but I find you all rather interesting, so I've been reading but not commenting.  I stitched too much last week, and lost the use of my right arm for the weekend.  I could still use it, I guess that's kind of dramatic, but it did hurt!  So I stayed away from typing, and stitching, and read every single library book from the stack that was supposed to last 3 weeks.

Today I felt better, and I had lost my scissors, so I went through every drawer, tote and pile on my tables.  I also re-arranged the furniture.  I had help.



Do you know how hard it is to move furniture when kitty is doing her Snoopy impression?




She used to do that on top of our refrigerator.  We wouldn't see her in the dark, and suddenly you'd turn around and find eyes staring right into yours.  Heart. Failure.

And no, never did find my scissors.  Hermione woke me one night last week, she was on my sewing table and I heard some thuds...I think my good scissors went into the trash, and went to the curb.

I also tried to get pics of the green quilt today.  We've had high winds, so I can't go outside, nobody would be able to hang onto it.  It would act as a sail and I'd have to chase them to Minnesota.  I don't want to go to Minnesota.



My light in here is awful.  Not sure when the raffle is, so I'll just keep trying to get good pics.  More high winds tomorrow, though.





I woke up at 6am this morning, first time in weeks.  I had a nightmare.  I was in Australia watching tv, and it was incredibly violent.  I kept changing the channels and it kept getting worse.  Now, I know it was just a dream and my lovely Aussie friends don't have that kind of tv....but when I come visit, we'll just keep it off, ok?

I hope you all have a great week, I'm going to slowly get back to typing comments, and stitching.  I have so many projects ready to go.  I was bored out of my mind, not being able to stitch or blog.  What did we do before computers????

Oh The Horror

I popped into my dashboard today, and had such a scare...blogger has changed!



I'm too old for this.  I may rearrange my furniture every week, but I like my computer to look the same.  This post has no meaning except to see if I still know how to post, and if everything will work.  So far so good.  The palpitations are slowing.

Oh Mum

My mum is a nut.  And I love her for it.



She keeps us in stitches.  And keeps us guessing.  We drove by a small two-seater sports car once, and she said "Oh look, a two-people person!"  She meant car, of course...and the windy day when she said "look how the flags are flagging!"...meaning "flying".

And doesn't everyone listen to "Sympathy Number Three" on the radio?

She does love my blog friends, although she won't look at my computer.  She hates computers, she thinks they're the devil's tool.  [Not really...she just thinks she's too old to learn one.  I tell her I have friends here who are in their 80's and she thinks I'm telling tall tales.]  So when the boys and I talk, about computers or websites or youtube or facebook, or blogging, she doesn't get it, and gets a bit testy.

Tonight on the way to the library, the boys were talking about something computer-related, and one said to the other, "I'll google that when we get home".  To which my mother promptly replied, "I'd rather giggle than google".

For some reason, that sent us into paroxysms of laughter...I almost veered into oncoming traffic.  I wonder what the poor guy who saw me coming at him, with my maniacally laughing face, was thinking?



She's lucky I'm a good driver.   I have no idea why that struck us so funny, but it did - and once we started, we couldn't stop.  It doesn't help that Sam has the most contagious laugh you've ever heard.  When he was little, he'd get the giggles at bedtime - so bad that he would almost cry.  I loved to hear him laugh, so when he started to wind down, I'd say "you crack you up" and off he would go again.  I'm a cruel mother.  I would do it more than once....even more than twice.  *evil grin*

I like to read even more than I like to sew, so I was thrilled beyond belief when I found the latest Flavia de Luce book at the library tonight.

This has to be my favorite series ever.  I highly recommend starting at the very beginning...there are only four.  I read the whole thing tonight.  Can't put them down!  I do love a good read.  The series features an 11yo girl as the heroine, but don't let that put you off, she's the most unusual 11yo you've ever met.

Hope you have a great week, stitching, reading, gardening, or whatever your hands find to do - and that you laugh lots!

Bling Your Thing Challenge

Recently, Kelly at I Have A Notion had a bling your thing challenge - and it sounded so fun I jumped at it!  The deadline was all set for today, but she's extended it - if you'd like to get your bling on and send her your pic before Thursday, go read her blog and join in...you could win a copy of Creative Quilting With Beads!

I finished my project, and boy did I have fun.  I pulled out the hot-fix crystal applicator that I'd bought several years ago, and found the courage to open the package.  I'd never tried it.  It's addicting!  I made a little wallhanging, and yes, it's supposed to be crooked.



Do you remember when I made this Sis Boom quilt?



The flowers on this little quilt are made from the leftover pieces that I cut out from the big quilt.  I had been saving those pieces since I finished, just KNOWING I wanted to make them into flowers.  I had actually drawn up this design awhile back, and was so glad to put it to use!  All of these fabrics are by Jennifer Paganelli.



I stem stitched inside the flowers, and in the leaves.



I should probably have used darker floss, it doesn't show up well.  Then I backstitched the thingies [that's a technical term] coming up out of the flowers, and put the crystals at the ends and in between.

I had just enough blue crystals to do the vase!



I used a knife-edge binding on this [tutorial here], so it doesn't show on the front.  I do love that method.

I liked it so much that I decided to do another one.



This one isn't finished yet, and won't be until I get my machine fixed.  I'm doing just one line of straight stitching inside the appliques, no blanket stitch....not sure if this one will be blinged or not.

I must thank Kelly for this challenge - my hot fix crystals are no longer gathering dust, and I had a lot of fun doing this!  Thank you Kelly!

Lazy Days

No pics to show you, so you'll get some of my tree outside my window.  Boy was it full of bees today!



I got my sewing room all nice and tidy.  Where does all the dust come from!  I've been working so hard on that green quilt that I haven't had the energy to tackle it.  But it's clean now, and all ready for some new projects.



They're all going to be stitcheries, I think.  My sewing machine is down for the count.  It's making terrible stitches.  It'll be awhile before it can go in, which gives me time to do handwork.



The plan is to kit up a bunch of projects.  Get the designs printed, traced, and fabrics and floss all picked out.  I'm really looking forward to that!  I can do stitcheries even on hot days, because it's not a big quilt on my lap.  I'm drawing too, planning some new designs.  That's always fun.



I'm going to a church rummage sale in the morning.  I want to be there when the doors open.  It's bag day - you fill a bag for one low price.  I'm hoping to get some men's shirts for quilting.  I LOVE church rummage sales.  I've been waiting for this one!  What's your kind of favorite rummage sale?  Estate sales?  Garage sales?  Thrift stores?  Mine is church sales....so many treasures at such a good price.

I hope you all have a great weekend, please stay safe if you're in the middle of the States - wicked weather has been predicted for the weekend.  See you soon!

*crickets*

Hi everyone, I'm going to be kind of quiet on your blogs for a bit....because, *drum roll*, I finished the quilting on the green quilt!  And I'm stitching down the binding!!!



And my hands and shoulders are killing me!  Oh wait, that doesn't need an exclamation point.  Look at the gorgeous vintage sheet I found to go on the back....



It matches the colors in the embroidery PERFECTLY.  I'm sorry these pics are so bad, even though I was directly in the window and it was sunny, it was late afternoon.

So, until I'm done stitching down the binding, I'm going to be typing as little as possible.  When I finished the quilting last night, I tried to answer some emails, and I couldn't feel my fingers, lol!  But I got the quilt done.  It was difficult to dance quietly - it was 4am and I didn't want to wake anyone.  But dance I did.

My tree outside my window is making me so happy, it has blooms.  Remember the barkcloth I found at the thrift store, and made curtains out of?  Hard to tell in this pic, but it's the same pink as the flowers in my tree!



The blooms on that tree are the first thing I see in the morning, and a herald of spring - I love spring - I think that's the reason I've not gotten tired of these curtains, they've been up much longer than any others I've had.  They remind me of my tree all year long.

More tree, on an absolutely gorgeous [but blustery] spring day.




I've had some company while I stitch.  We have mourning doves nesting in our evergreen out front, and the male [I think it's the male] sits on the porch roof all the time and talks to me.  Not a great pic, it's through the glass with a reflection.



I love the way they sound.  It's so good to hear the birds again.  Hello earth, so glad to see you waking up!  Let's play!

I'll chat with you all soon on your blogs, I don't think it will take more than a couple of days to finish the binding.  I've almost got one side done already this evening!

Some flowers at my mom's.


See ya soon!

Resurrection Day

He is Risen indeed...wishing you a joy-filled Resurrection Day!!!

Comments are closed..enjoy the holiday!

Why My Son Doesn't Make His Bed

Miss Hermione thinks it's hers.



I'm sure a few of you can relate.

"Why-for do you wake me uu-up????"



"OOH!  BIRD!!"




Why cats are dangerous around quilts....



those talons put holes in them.

No, I haven't been cat and bird watching ALL day...I've been playing with bling.



Wanna see???



Oops, only got a teeny bit of it.  Guess you'll have to wait.  This is for Kelly's bling challenge, I think the reveal is April 15th.

This picture is for Midge, who inquired about my tree.



Not quite blooming yet, not quite sure it will.  Guess I have to make my own blooms.  Hope you're having fun too!

Today is Good Friday....a day to reflect on the work that Jesus did on the cross for us.  An unfathomable love, incomparable grace and mercy....and as my friend Pat posted today, it may be Friday, but Sunday is coming!!!!!!

Still Here

I haven't been anywhere in days.  I'm getting spring fever.  Tomorrow is errand day, thank goodness.

Saturday, the mailman brought me a box.  I was awfully surprised, I hadn't expected anything...but when I saw who it was from, I got excited.  It was from Mickie at Three Poodles and a Nana!  I had to laugh, in the card she said Happy Un-Birthday, but it really was my birthday!

And inside?  The cutest little zipper bags you ever did see....



A charm pack of Good Fortune and a purse insert pattern....



And two darling mini-quilt hangers!



I couldn't believe it!  Thank you Mickie, you are a sweetheart, I love my gifts and will treasure them!  I'm already thinking of a mini quilt design for the Good Fortune - to hang from one of the quilt hangers - I think my mojo was in that box too!

I really am working on something fun, although I don't think I'm allowed to show you yet.  It's not done, anyway.  Tonight I finished the hand stitching, tomorrow will start the wacky borders, and then the serious embellishment will happen....can't wait!  How about just a sneak peek.....



Now I need to go read about 100 blogs, you've all been busy while I was stitching - see you soon!

One more little pic of the puppy bag....