Monday, December 29, 2014

Midwinter and Crazy for Reds


I'm changing my blog design so this is really just a test post but I do have a picture of what I'm working on. It started as a churndash of Midwinter Reds. Then I needed a few more blocks but the fabric is gone so now it is a churndash of Midwinter Reds and Crazy for Reds. I want it to drop of the side of the bed so I have some more sewing to do.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Blooms, Emily, and Jellybeans

A few of my plumeria are blooming. They are beautiful and fragrant. It's funny that you don't see visitors on the blooms until you look at the photo. 

 I just love the pine cone gingers. Last year they were eaten by critters. This year they are popping up throughout the yard. We might be overcome with them one day. This one is showing some red on it. They have a distinctive but mild scent.
 Emily has joined the crew. She is absolutely adorable. An organization, Pup Squad, rescues mama dogs with puppies and small orphaned puppies who would succumb to viruses in the kill shelters. Rescues are the best dogs. We have fallen in love with Emily.
 I bought some precuts of Jellybean by Edyta Sitar for some mindless sewing. When I need to zone out I make 9 patches, 4 patches, etc. Sometimes I just need to sew without real purpose. It's meditative.
 I'm putting the 9 patch and some rails together to make a throw. Not a work of art but fun to do.
Hope you are having a restful Sunday and headed into a great week.


Sunday, July 20, 2014

Happiness and Grace

The Key to Happiness is the Decision to be Happy. Marianne Williamson

After a 2 week rest from life/staycation, I am centered again. But just like dieting, it's not that I can't get there...it is the struggle to stay there.

I'm starting my day reading Grace for the Moment: Inspirational Thoughts for Each Day of Year by Max Lucado. Grace for the Moment
I believe that the attitude we choose determines how our day will go. He starts with choices; " I choose love...I choose joy...I choose peace...I choose patience...I choose kindness...I choose goodness...I choose faithfulness...I choose gentleness...I choose self-control...Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. If I succeed, I will give thanks. If I fail, I will seek his grace. And then, when this day is done, I will place my head on my pillow and rest." Max Lucado.

The sewing room is getting more organized, slowly. During my two weeks off from work, I played, cleaned, and organized.

On the design wall:

I'm taking a borders class. The teacher, Winnie Fleming, will soon be on Craftsy. She is a fabulous teacher. I don't love my fabric combinations. It's a long story. I love what I'm learning, though.
 The Barbara Brackman Threads of Memory BOM. I"m behind but having fun. I'm using her Ladies Album fabric. They are gorgeous. Barbara Brackman is such a generous person. A free BOM with a history lesson attached- nice lady.


Fat Quarter Shop BOM using Edyta Sitar's Snowdays fabric. I LOVE this fabric. I also like this block pattern. I'll be using it again.
Pictures for the Garden:
Bunny Ears Cactus
 Hibiscus
 Begonia

Begonia (I think) climbing the orchid.

 Vines taking over the fence. I love them. My husband hates them.
 Invasive ruella, mexican petunia, which I think is so pretty when it blooms. And I get to spend the rest of my life pulling it out of other areas of the yard. 
 Begonia
 Orchid cactus. 

Wishing you a wonderful week.

Monday, March 31, 2014

Vintage Spin and Spring

I'm loving making these blocks. They go together so quickly and I get to see how the fabrics play together very quickly. I've ordered a square ruler large enough to cut a 13 1/2 inch square. Rulers/squares are pricey when they get that large!


I love, love, love the blue print in this block.
And the blues in this block. This may be too matchy-matchy but I like it.

Teal and gold. Yum!
This blue print is gorgeous in "real life." It has birds too!
Burgundy, gold, and green. This is a bold one.
Birdies!

Hot pink. Bright.

Hot pink in our new redbud tree. I love spring.
Bunny eared cactus. Whimsical.
Desert rose. My husband tried to water it to death but it lived despite him.
Azaleas. Gorgeous and the announcement of spring.



Hope spring has sprung in your world or will soon. Life renewed.

Monday, March 17, 2014

Lincoln in Grants Park-Schnibbles

  I enjoy making Schnibbles. The patterns, from Miss Rosie's Quilt Co., are designed for charm packs and layer cakes. They are easy, quick, and pretty. Sinta from Pink Pincushion and Sherri from A Quilting Life select a Schnibble each month. Folks make them and then put them on parade on Sinta's and Sherri's blogs. It's just the right commitment for a month.

This is Lincoln made out of Grant's Park.


The stars were fun to make. They are so cute. I want to make them for other things....what those things are ....I don't know. But I want more stars.

Today I am grateful for some kind words from coworkers. There are far more kind people in the world than not.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Spring Outside the Window

It's the end of spring break. It was early this year so spring wasn't in full form. This is the view outside my sewing room window. I LOVE my azaleas. They are just starting to pop. I absolutely love sitting in this spot to sew.


I have a new book that is motivating me. Kathy Doughty's Adding Layers. I first saw it on the Exuberant Color blog

I fell in love with this block. It is similar to a block she has in her Making Quilts book but this one is squared off. No sewing curves! This appeals to me. It is basically a dresden plate. I love sewing dresdens. They are quick and rewarding.


 I'm trying to choose fabric combinations that are wildly outside my comfort zone. I tried but not sure they will be wildly outside what I normally choose. Maybe a little bit.


I want to end up with a quilt for my king sized bed. It will have to have a lot of blue to look good in the room. Here's my first block.


Today I am grateful for my husband who made me the wedge I needed. He made it from MDF which is a great template. I'm so spoiled and grateful for that. 





Saw this on a blog and thought it would be good for me to live by. 

Mooi verwoord

Sunday, January 5, 2014

Path for 2014

Leader and Enders....
 My leader and ender project has been using my Accuquilt for half square triangles. The long range goal is a Lady of the Lake or Oceans Wave quilt. The pattern said something like 800 squares. I have several hundred done. It is amazing how quickly they add up. This is my first attempt at sewing all the squares and triangles together to make a block.

Now on to some accountability for myself....

My goals for 2014 are simple. They all involve spending more time doing the things I enjoy. In full disclosure, this has been my goal for at least the past 2 years. What I've faced is that the time will pass whether I spend it doing things I love or whittling the time away. So, here are my simple goals.

1. Let it go. I saw an interview of Bill Clinton reflecting on Nelson Mandela. Clinton asked Mandela if he wanted to call out his guards/captors at his inauguration. Mandela said something to the fact that if he held on to that emotion, he would still be captive to his guards. Mandela told Clinton you have to let it go. For me this also involves just not saying it. Let it go and keep my mouth shut. Simple.

2. Stick with hard projects. I spin around rather than jumping into the unknown. The Antique Wedding Sampler and Di Ford's Mystery Quilt will be my commitment to this goal.

3. Yoga and spinning. I love it when I do both. Just do it.

OK, that's enough. I will have accomplished a lot if I do those 3 things.

 
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