The Quest Continues

Well, we didn't get the house, so the search continues...not much out there.  We went and looked at another one yesterday, but no.  

It's tiring, I must admit.  We're both looking for different things - I'm looking mainly for that perfect sewing room.  Well, wouldn't you be?  *G*

In the meantime, I re-arrange my sewing room so I can actually move around in it, and keep stitching.  I've finished the embroidery on Whirly Twirly Garden, next up is the border.

I'm also still stitching on block one of - gee, I don't have a name for this yet.

My ironing table is in front of the window now, the perfect place for Hermione to sniff some fresh [COLD!] air, and watch the wildlife.

That means I can't iron, but cats come first, right?

Plus I'm stitching June's postcard, and 7 other projects.  So I'm not really slacking, even though it sure looks like it from my blog posts - no finishes!

I'm also battling a yeast overgrowth again.  Lots of probiotics, and a diet consisting of nothing but meat and veggies.  No sugar, yeast, fruits and very little dairy, only the half-n-half in my coffee.  Can't give up coffee.  It got so bad that all I could do was sleep - no energy.  I hate that!  I'm pleased to say I'm on the mend now.  

I've been so sleepy I haven't even been around to visit you.  I slept for 15 hours last night, and feel pretty good today, so that's my plan!  I'll be around to see what you've been up to, I'm sure you've been busier than I have!  See you soon....
Love,
Allie

Postcards From Heaven BOM, April Block 4

Time again for another new block in our Postcards From Heaven BOM!!  This month is my month, and it really hits home for me [no pun intended....well....maybe a little bit].  

As you know, we're house-hunting.  It's not a lot of fun, really.  Especially when you see something perfect and someone gets there first.  But, we have hope....

Someday, I'll have the perfect forever home, prepared for me by Jesus Himself.  Now that is something to look forward to!

And look how gorgeous Jenny's block for April is!!!

Head on over, she'll be posting soon.  It's hard to coordinate our posts when we're so far away - she's something like 10 hours ahead of me!  Click >>HERE<< for her blog!

How are you coming with your postcards?  Have you started stitching yet?  I've seen some really wonderful versions around blogland.  As always, I hope this is a blessing for you!

You can pick up your free block from my craftsy store, click >>HERE<< - enjoy!!

Love,

Allie

Happy

The days are getting longer - and I love it.

We took mum grocery shopping last night [although there are so many leftovers from Easter, I don't know what she could have needed], and they had some bouquets of tulips on sale.  They were looking a little sad....droopy from lack of water...so I rescued some.  Tulips are my favorite flower.

Don't you just love the inside of a tulip?  It's like a wonderful secret. 

I'm having an anniversary of my mother's most painful day, so she tells me - so my boys got me seasons 1-3 of Downton Abbey.  Unfortunately, they like to spread these things out over several occasions.  

I was going to wait til I had all six seasons to start watching, because we all know how addictive Downton can be, but last night I caved and watched all of season one.    I'm going to have to rush order seasons 4-6.  I had never seen season one, and refused to watch season six on principle, because I didn't want it to end.  Having the dvd's, it doesn't have to end ever!

There is some stitching going on, and drawing - 

I'm currently working on nine projects.  I must be certifiable.  I need more project baskets.  Or more hands.  Or maybe therapy.  

Don't forget - tomorrow night my time, which is Friday morning Jenny's time, I'll be uploading April's postcard - I've seen Jenny's version and I love it!  I think you will too!

Til then, be good, be happy...wait a minute.  I almost forgot to tell you - I can't believe it!  We put in an offer on a house!  It's a foreclosure, on half an acre, 4 bedrooms in the main house, fireplace, full dry basement - our current basement is always wet - and best of all?  An addition.  A HUGE addition, with its own bathroom and kitchen.  It will be my sewing room, if we get it - there are seven offers pending on it!  There's no garage, so we'll have to put in a pole barn, but there's plenty of room.  A 1947 Cape Cod - prayers are ever so appreciated!!!!


Love,
Allie

Warm Woolen Mittens

You need them today - winter seems to have returned, although tomorrow is the first day of spring.  I had to unpack my winter coat again!  Although yesterday, I saw a gal go into the Dairy Queen in the shortest shorts I've ever seen in my life.  Typical Michigander.

Since it's chilly, I pulled out a project that requires the iron.



Nothing like summer colors and a hot iron on a cold winter day.  I started re-making my Whirly Twirly Garden.  I didn't have any fabrics I liked, so I went shopping at my best friend's sewing studio and found a perfect charm pack.    But because you can't wash a charm pack to get the sizing out, it doesn't want to stick as well as it should, so I'm ironing then stitching one piece at a time.  And LOVING it.

I added a new page, Useful Links, at the top.  if you have any to add feel free to let me know!  They're not tutorials to specific projects, but rather different techniques.  I've used quite a few of them.  I'm sure I'll be adding more as I find them!

It feels good to be working with fabric again, I've been in such a slump the past couple of weeks.  Lots of trouble getting to sleep, then sleeping for 12 hours.  I'm almost regretting giving mum my exercise bike, as I really need to exercise, but she's doing so well now that I couldn't think of taking it back!  I'll just go up and down the stairs as many times as I can.  

I hope you're enjoying your weekend, too - 

Love,
Allie

Sloppy Saturday

More snow today, big fat fluffy flakes coming down, but it's melting on the roads.  Very pretty!  And warm enough that I enjoyed cleaning it all off my car this morning.  I was wishing I had someone to throw a snowball at to.

I only got 3 hours of sleep last night - my lovely neighbor decided to regale the neighborhood with a concert at 8am this morning, while he cleaned off his car.  [And again at 9:30, and 11:15.]  So I got up, made a pot of coffee, got dressed and headed off to Walmart.

I got a BIG box of crayons.  I've had this pattern hanging around for 2 years - drawings completed, even started stitching it, but decided I wanted to add color.  I think it's time this thing gets off the paper and onto fabric.  I don't know if it will ever become a pattern - there's 9 blocks.  But I'm sure having fun with it.  I'm already stitching this block, yay!


And speaking of having fun, look what a reader has made - my Spring pattern!

I LOVE the red flowers, and am now wishing I'd made mine a different color, so they'd stand out more!  Brilliant!  I love the elegant look to this!

Not much else is new, I'm just waiting for bedtime now - it's almost 7pm and I know I could sleep, but don't really want to be up at 3am.  I'm going to play at my friend Cathy's sewing studio tomorrow...I don't think she'd appreciate me coming at 4am, even with coffee. 

As I close this post, I'd like to ask for prayer for mum.  Her foot [the one she almost lost] is giving her a great deal of pain and making her an angry little elf.  We're not sure what's wrong with it, but she's been breaking down crying with it.  It's probably diabetic nerve pain, which is no joke.  We'd sure appreciate your prayers!

Enjoy what's left of the weekend - see ya soon!

Love,

Allie

Hello March!

Wow is it coming down out there....



And once again, Thing 2 was called off work.  Much worse north of us, white-out conditions and accidents everywhere.  Thing 1 was trying to scrape his windshield when he got out of work, and as fast as he scraped it off, it iced up again.  Most of what you see in that pic is ice.  But we had fun in it, when *I* drove!    That's a pic of mum's street, we had to get groceries for her.

I have to show you some squishy mail, from Sunny at Quilting Dreams.....



Vintage sheets!!  My fave!  I have a collection that is going into a summer quilt, and now I really can't wait to get started!  Thank you Sunny!

Sunny recently went on a quilt retreat [lucky gal] and I was so excited, she took my Fair Winds for Milady pattern with her....



Head on over to her blog HERE to see the final reveal!  She also made a wall hanging for her room at the retreat!  

I have to show you something else.



See those 3 baskets?  A brand new purchase, from the Dollar Store - I'm getting organized!  Each basket holds a quilt-in-progress.  Everything from the drawings, notes, fabrics, floss, everything I need for that particular pattern.  For some reason, I'm working on four patterns at once, and needed some way to keep them straight.  I've finally wised up and paid attention to all you prolific quilters, who get so much done - and it's paid off already!  I got so much done yesterday I didn't know what to do with myself, lol.  The only thing I lost was my glasses, and they were on top of my head.  I am my mother.

Got something else too, I made my very first ever [under my own name, lol] ebay purchase.  I got a new foot pedal for my Featherweight.



See the foot pedal on the left?  It's the original Bakelite foot pedal, and I just love it, but it doesn't love me.  I have a hard time using it.  My feet are so bad, and it hurts to try to use that button.  You rest your toe on the button on the left, then rock your foot to press the button on the right.  I wasn't using my Featherweight like I wanted to, because it hurt!  So I found a new one on ebay, and it works wonderfully.

I'll keep the old one, because she's original and vintage, like me.

Whew - I think that's all - I'm going to go put on my fleecy jammies, and relish the fact that I'm not leaving the house tomorrow.  I think I'll stitch the rest of the evening, watch an old movie, and listen to the muffled sounds of the city as the snow falls and falls...so lovely.

I hope you have a wonderful evening too!

Love,
Allie