Occupy Your Sewing Room

You may have noticed the button to the left saying  Occupy Your Sewing Room.  It has already started but there is no reason you can't join in on the fun.  Plan to spend a day in your studio doing what you want to do.  In my case, I need to finish a few swap things and start and finish a Christmas present.  Click on the link and sign up to work in your sewing room this week.  Barbara is running a give away in conjunction with her Occupy Your Sewing Room event.  She has some lovely prizes to give away.  

I was just over visiting the blog she linked the button to.  And, good news, it isn't too late to commit to working in your studio this week.  So, rush right over and sign up.  Grab her button and play (or  work) in your studio.  You'll have fun and get further along on your projects whether they are for Christmas or not.

THE END.

Well, if I don't finish this I won't get anything done... so ***poof*** I'm off to the studio.

Happy Quilting. 

High Tea

Thursday I spent with Sharon.  We were suppose to be stitching together but she suggested we go to tea out in Sykesville.  So off we went for our adventure. 


Sykesville is a cute little town with interesting shops on the main street.  Here's the outside of the tea shop we visited.  You can visit it online here Sweet Simplici-Tea.

It was a quiet day at the tea store so we enjoyed a leisurely tea.  The wonderful thing here is we could try as many different types of tea as we wanted to.  I started with Cranberry -- can't remember what other type of tea was in it but it was wonderful.  We also tried vanilla tea and Buccaneer tea.  We tried many more. We bought some Buccaneer tea that we split and I bought the cranberry. 

Here's the first two pots of teas in their fancy tea cozies.  I untied one to see if I could figure out how to make one.  Sure I can -- it was very simple.  I'll have to try to make one to see how well it fits my tea pots.  




There was a lot to look at also.  Definitely Victorian style with lots of little things around the room.  And, it was all decorated for Christmas.  I may have to "borrow" some of the ideas.  Except Raggs would probably want to "play with" (read that as eat) the decorations. 

Here's our main food. Yummy!  Do you see the little cupcakes on the second tier?  They are red velvet cupcakes with peppermint frosting.  The little red bits are actually miniature candy canes.  Too cute.  And I found some just like them at the next place we went to. 






After our tea we went to Columbia to shop at Ann's House of Nuts outlet store.  Cool.  I love nuts and the prices were right!  Sharon didn't get as much as I did but I bought a bunch of stuff.  If you live near Columbia, Maryland and you like NUTS it is well worth visiting.  



Sharon and I didn't have any time to sew at all Thursday. By the time we got home it was time for me to head back to Jen's.   One thing I am very careful about is trying to travel before or after rush hour.  So it was already an hour after I thought I should have gone back to Jenny's by the time I left.  The good news is there was no traffic the way I went and I didn't have to get on the Washington Beltway.  Made a world of difference that's for sure!   Of course, I didn't really do what  Gypsy (gps) suggested unlike driving up to Jenny's when I missed a turn and Gypsy sent me straight through Washington, D.C.  Luckily it was early afternoon and I didn't have a problem although it took me a good 30 minutes longer than it should have. Sigh.


Now to get some more work done on my secret project.  I have made a little progress and it is going fairly quickly.  


Happy Quilting All!    

November Stash Report EEK!

I finally measured all the fabric I bought at the guild auction.  I didn't realize I would be so very lucky ??? to get so much fabric for a mere $31. And once I blew my numbers sky high I decided to support the buy local event the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  Where did I go?  To a local quilt store. Might as well! 


Month of November 

Fabric used:  3.125 yards

Fabric purchased (acquired):  87.375 yards  oh my!

Net fabric ADDED to stash: 84.253 yards   OH DOUBLE MY! 

YEAR To Date 

Year to date fabric used: 64.5 yards

Year to date fabric purchased: 179.625yards

Net Year to Date Acquired : 115.125 yards

Ok, so maybe next year I should skip the guild auction held in November.  I ended up with more than 85 yards of fabric, not including the non-cottons.  Well, except I think one other piece is a mixture of fabric and will make something really cute for Sophia.  (Note to self -- measure and delete that amount from the incoming fabric...) 

You might have noticed I got very little done in the way of finished projects this month.  I actually finished a twin size quilt but most of the blocks were sent to me from the FCQ Equilter group.  I don't count them coming in or going out.  They sent me so many that I didn't have any of my own blocks in the quilt.  I counted the 2 yards used for the backing and binding.  I bought it last month at Mary Jo's.  It was a fat back that I counted as 2 yards in, so only 2 yards out.  I knew I would use it up fairly fast. Sigh.  I should have at least one or two finishes in December even if they aren't very big.  

I'm up at Jenny's house to watch Sophie while Jenny's at a rehearsal for her horn quartet. Her Daddy is out of town.  Sophie and I were playing peek a boo before she went to bed... 

    Where's Sophie?                                                            Here I am! 

Happy Sophia! 

These were taken with my cell phone so not great quality but we were having a great time.  Then it was off to bed with a healthy set of lungs letting me know I wasn't Mommy.  But, she soon gave in and grabbed Ducky.  She sat up looking around for 15 or 20 minutes and all of a sudden she was down and out.  I love the new video monitors available now.  It's fun to see what she is doing in her bed. 

I'm off to do a little bit of stitching on my "secret" project.  I am hoping to have it almost finished by the end of the weekend.  Happy Quilting All! 

Design Wall Monday 11-28-11

Not too many Design Wall Mondays left this year.  See what others are working on by going to Patchwork Times. Here's what is on my wall.  YEAH! Progress is being made on this quilt! 

I have one more block nearly done but ran out of time yesterday.  I need to make at least 9 more, possibly 13 more.  I'm hoping I can get by with a 1" coping border.  Beth sent me a formula to use but it was coming up with a 5" border.  I realized the applique part is 26" and I could add 3 9" blocks and they would equal 27".  So, couldn't I do a 1" border and have it work?  That's what I'm thinking.  Of course, I'm going to have to find more of that luscious goldy yellow.  I don't have much.  Or, I have a print that all the colors were taken from.  I may need to audition it as the little border.  Or at least use some of it in the blocks.  I think the blocks need to be a bit lighter -- what do you think?  And more pink.  Do you have any favorite 9" blocks you'd like to suggest.  I'm hoping for something more involved than a 9 patch but not a million pieces! 

Goals for Week of 11/21/11

Make a snap purse

Finish blocks for beige and turquoise, sew into top made some but don’t know how many more I need!

Add another round to pink floral quilt √ at least the next row is started

Sew rows together of 16 patch quilt √

Finish clue 3 and start clue 4 of Carolina Christmas √

Pick a UFO to work on Do I need another one to work on?

Have a great Thanksgiving √


Not too bad overall.  Do I really need another snap purse? Maybe not. 

Goals for Week of 11/28/11

Make secret little quilt for a swap…

Layout beige and turquoise quilt, start sewing rows together

Make more blocks for the FCQ Equilter’s Komen quilt

Finish Clue 4 of Carolina Christmas, start putting blocks together

Make a quiltie

Baby sit Sophia

Sew with Sharon


I'm traveling this week so I may not get all of these goals completed -- but I should be able to work a bit on all of them.  I'm looking forward to snuggle time with Sophia.  I haven't seen her for 6 weeks. I wonder what she is saying now! 


Happy Quilting All! 

T-Day & Black Friday All Over

We had a lovely Thanksgiving with your neighbors at Jennie & Del's house.  I didn't get photos of the food before the feast but I did get a picture of the desserts.  Yum!

 From left to right Chocolate Gingerbread cake, pumpkin pie and apple pie.  Look below to see how beautiful that apple pie was. All those little leaves.  I mean, honestly it was too beautiful to eat.  NOT! And the ones I had tasted fabulously.

 We even went outside to play this crazy game.  Let's just say I didn't win.  You can't tell from here but the bean bags were in Virginia Tech colors.  Someone is a big Tech fan.

We briefly talked about doing some Black Friday shopping but really, going out at midnight to try to buy stuff?  Not me.  Pat and I were ready for bed by about 10.  Well stuffed and tired. 

I spent Friday in the studio working on the FCQ Equilter's donation quilt.  I am making blocks to go around the applique piece.  I was tickled to use my V Block Trimmer by Deb Tucker when making a block. I really like Debbie's rulers.  I get really accurate blocks using them. Here's the section I was making. 

 I used the ruler to cut the correct pieces.  Then I trimmed it down to the correct size.

 And, with very little effort I had my pieces sewn and trimmed.  I like that the pointy parts are trimmed while cutting the pieces.

Here is the block that I made.

Which way do you like best?

Does it even matter?

Check back tomorrow to see some of the blocks I've already finished.


Did you support the buy local Saturday?  I did!  I grabbed Diana and went off to our local quilt store.  Jennie met us there because she wanted to buy some fabric for a winter quilt.  I bought some blue fabric to use for a baby quilt and two pieces of red.  Yes, I know I'm adding to my stash but I've blown my acquisitions out of the water so why not buy what you nee  um, want to get?  They were also having a great sale buy two of anything and get the third free.  So I bought 2 half yard pieces and got the third one free.  And, I never have many reds around cause I use them so much.

I've been bad about blogging.  So I'm hopeful I can get about 3 blogs a week written for the rest of the year.  I always do Design Wall Mondays but I need to add a couple of more postings.  Sounds like a great new year's resolution. But let's see how well I do for December.

Happy Quilting All.  

Design Wall Monday 11-21-11

Yep, it's Monday again.  And it is almost Thanksgiving.  Where did the year go?  


I worked late last night so I could mark things off of the goals list and have something to show this morning.  Whatever gets me moving! 

 First up is the center of a quilt to be donated to Komen.  I need to get going on this one as it will be hand quilted by Pam.  The Faithful Circle Equilters are doing this one.  


My thoughts are to make 8 or 9" blocks to go around this center.  I've got to figure out how to trim the excess side corners off.  And then make the extra  blocks.  I may need a coping border.  It would be far easier to make 12" blocks so I may try to get it to a number divisible by 12.  Stay tuned.  You'll be seeing more of this one.

Do you remember the old Alfred Hitchcock show?  You only saw his profile in shadow?  Well, there is my shadow taking the picture. My studio faces east so I get the morning sun.  Hum, that might be why I don't get upstairs in the mornings especially in the summer!   I closed the blinds for the picture of the Komen quilt. I'm sure I showed you these  other blocks last week but I've done a few more and put them the way they should be set.  Hum, I wonder what would happen if I switched them around? As I was moving them this morning I realized these would be perfect blocks to use up small bits and pieces.  The strips are cut 3" by 23", one light and one dark. Sew them together right sides together. Then they are subcut into 5 1/2" pieces and sewn into this arrangement.  Super easy.  I'm going to mail these 4 to Faithful Circle for the drawing but I think I'll make more to make a charity quilt.  I do like easy! 

Did you notice a new button on my side bar?  I'm going to participate in a quilty swap. You make 3 quilties that are 4" x 6". Send them to Sandie and she swaps them out and you get 3 back.  The deadline is Dec. 15th for mailing so you have time to join in if you want. Check out the last swap here. Here are directions for the quilty swap.  Or, if you click on my button you go to her blog page.  Then look at the right hand side for the quilty button that is framed -- if you click that you go to all the posts about quilties... maybe 6 or 7 posts.  Sandie has made some really cute quilties.  I really like the ones she made of her kids as babies.  Neat.  

And mystery fans . . . Fabricholics Anonymous is having their annual New Year's Eve mystery.  It is a one day mystery available for members.  Hum, actually I think several yahoo chat groups get this mystery.  It is fun and if you make the smaller size you'll have a top done by the end of the day if you can keep at it.   (Sorry Marge, I just have to crow about this one.  Are we closing membership on 12/1?) I need to decide if I want to make this one or not and get going with fabric selection.  

I am thrilled with all the progress I made this week.  I got almost everything done on my list. YEAH! 

Goals for Week of 11/14/11

Package up and send Quilts for Kids√

Send fabrics to friend √

Trim and bind red, white and blue twin √

Finish beige and turquoise top

Continue working on Clue 3 of Carolina Christmas √

Finish counted cross stitch ghost ornament√

Add two sections to the pink floral quilt. √  Add triangles to square it up √

Host neighborhood tea√

Clean living rm, dining rm, kitchen √

Goals for Week of 11/21/11

Make a snap purse

Finish blocks for beige and turquoise, sew into top

Add another round to pink floral quilt

Sew rows together of 16 patch quilt

Finish clue 3 and start clue 4 of Carolina Christmas

Pick a UFO to work on

Have a great Thanksgiving

I'm trying to be realistic on the goals this week.  I know I won't get much of anything done on Thursday.  We are spending the day with neighbors.  Our kids are spending turkey day with their other families. 

Do you like to see what people are working on all over the Internet?  Go to Patchwork Times to take a tour.  Happy Quilting All! 

Finishes -- YEAH!

I've finished a few things I've been working on for a while...  but none of them are quilting.  Maybe after the weekend I can show some quilted finishes.  First up a pair of socks.  I think Pat gave me the yarn this past Christmas.  I used a different sock pattern and the plan was to make them a bit shorter than I normally do.  Um, er, didn't happen for some reason.  They are a wool blend so will have to wait a bit before I can wear them much.

Next up two little ornaments I cross stitched on a small count plastic canvas.  I have a Halloween tree that for years has had about 6 weird ornaments.  (well maybe now there are only 6 cause Mr. Raggs has gotten some of them in the past...) I've wanted to make counted cross stitch ones but thought I couldn't see well enough to do any counted cross stitch.  Well, guess what, I'm wrong.  I think the ghost is about 3" tall and the candy corn is probably 2".  All that needs to be done is put floss hangers on them.  I'll do that next year when I hang them on the tree.

So, if I can see well enough to work on 10 count plastic, why not work on 11 count waste canvas?  (numbers are approximate . . .  I really don't remember what size the canvas is.)  I had a sweat shirt from years ago all ready to work on -- don't remember when I set it up or what I was going to put on it.  Hey, it would work for Santa -- but oops, not the enough waste canvas.  Put new canvas on and have started this little Santa.  If I were good I'd get it done before Christmas... but don't hold your breath.

How did you like the blue fabric behind all the projects?  It is the same piece of fabric!  Yes, it's a Moda that goes from sky blue morning to dark blue night.  Isn't that cool?  It is in the last bag of fabrics I got at the auction.  I still haven't measured the last bag but I will -- maybe this weekend. 

I had my neighbor ladies over for our monthly tea this week.  The house got cleaned and the fall decorations were put out on the table.  If it hadn't been for them coming over I would have skipped the table decorations.  But they looked great. I just floated the loose leaves down on the table after I had everyone's place mat down.  Looked just like fallen leaves.... 

 This was on the small buffet we have.  It is the wreath I made several weeks ago on top of a table runner.  Unfortunately the table runner is way too wide to use on the table.  And you can't see the cute applique in the center.  Hum, this may one of the only applique projects I've ever finished.  I think I have about 3 more going -- or not going as I seldom work on them.  Sigh.

So my techie friends out in blogland... how come sometimes I can write next to the pictures and sometimes I can write only on the bottom line.  This always drives me crazy.  Does it make a difference it I uploaded more than one picture at a time?  Hum, I'll do a little experiment... all the above were loaded three at a time.

OK, maybe not... except I had to move this so maybe that caused the issue.  We've been having crazy weather recently.  It got in the 80's off and on for a week and then plunged to the 40's.  The poor cherry tree doesn't know whether to bloom or not.  It was a horribly windy, overcast and rainy day when it decided it was time to bloom Thursday.  It was 28º this morning. Ok, so it isn't spring!

I'm heading up to the studio to try to finish a couple more things on my weekly goals.  I've been making great progress on it so far.  Happy Quilting All!