Adventures With Fabric

What Else?

2011-03-21T17:45:00.000-07:00

Oh gee, look, it's a pillowcase. Big surprise :) This is such a no-brainer project for me. I am working on a quilt right now, but it is not ready for viewing....in other words, it is in pieces. Ergo this quick little diversion. The Easter fabric is over two years old, but most importantly, it is now OFF the to-do list.

Look Familiar?

2011-03-13T21:00:00.000-07:00

I made this pillowcase to coordinate with the Funny Babies quilt I made a while back. It has the fold over flap back. Flap backs are great because you don't have to worry about the pillow falling out of the case. They are great for toddlers who like to lug their pillows around.

St. Patricks Day

2011-03-07T18:08:00.000-08:00

St. Patrick's Day is fast approaching. I picked up some cute kids fabrics at JAF to make a couple of pillowcases for the boys. Matthew is getting the leprechaun pillowcase and the Snoopy one is for Beckham. My goal is to make both boys a pillowcase to celebrate every holiday in the year.

A Finish

2011-03-05T09:22:00.000-08:00

Aren't these the cutest belly babies you have ever seen? This is from a fabric line called "Funny Babies" by Amy Bradley. I bought this as a kit, so all the fabrics were included, even the backing and binding. The babies are a panel. Now Beckham has a nice quilt to nap on when he comes to visit Grandma.

"It's Always Something"....

2011-02-22T15:19:00.000-08:00

is a quote and title of a book made famous by the late Gilda Radner. And, isn't it the truth? For the last two weeks or so, I have been dealing with a bout of bronchitis. Thank goodness it has passed, but I feel like I have a lot of catching up to do. A few weeks ago I made valances for Matthew's bedroom windows. Today I finally got one set of the lower panels completed. I still have another set to go, but I am hoping to get to those tomorrow. The valances as well as the panels are lined.

P.S. Don't look too close at the painted stripes. Unfortunately some turned out well, while others did not. That is on the future redo list. At that time the chair rail will also be painted.

For Your Special Day

2011-02-06T14:56:00.000-08:00

How lucky am I? I found the birthday fabric at JAF. During the same week, while shopping for another project, I came across the coordinating black fabric at a quilt store. One pillowcase is for Matthew and the other is for Beckham. Of course both boys will need to wait a while. Beckham's Birthday is in October and Matthew's Birthday is in November.

Be My Valentine

2011-02-05T21:15:00.000-08:00

Here is today's bounty. Three Valentine table toppers and a bib. What is missing is a Valentine pillowcase for my Grandson. I found the cutest Valentine fabric with dogs and the words "I woof you" on it. I got it at JoAnn Fabrics last week. I was ironing the fabric today and noticed a 3 inch imperfection. Grr. I went back to the store, but they are now sold out of that fabric. A check of three other stores came up empty. I'm hoping I can find a comparable replacement somewhere before Valentine's Day.

Get Your Craft On Girlies!

2011-02-05T20:48:00.000-08:00

Lately I have been checking out quite a few DIY blogs. People are doing some amazing things to their homes. Anyway, you know how you check out one blog, then you see a sidebar link with a photo and it piques your curiosity? Well, this was what I saw, so I decided I had to see more. Actually, this has nothing to do with a DIY project, so if that is what you are hoping for, you can stop reading NOW. But, this is just too cute not to share with my fellow bloggerettes. These are my ingredients, go get your own! P.S. you can get the cherry jelly hearts at WalMart. http://poppiesatplay.blogspot.com/2011/02/cupids-arrows-super-quick-valentines.html

The Great Blizzard of 2011

2011-02-02T11:08:00.000-08:00

The great blizzard of 2011 has hit. It packed a one-two punch. Our area saw at least 5 feet of snow. The digging out has begun.

As you can see, it is at least waist deep on my husband, and he is 5'10". When he got down to the bottom of the driveway, the city plows had piled the snow so high that it reached his shoulders! I just keep telling myself March 20th isn't that far off. March 20th is the official start of spring and it can't come soon enough!

When You Run Short of Fabric

2011-02-01T21:07:00.000-08:00

I bought this fabric at least 5 years ago, which means I doubt I could find it any more. I did buy it with the intent of making curtains from it. I remember when I bought it, I took what was left on the bolt, hoping I would have enough. Fast (okay, slow) forward 5 years. Once I measured what I had, I knew there wasn't going to be enough for both gathered valances and gathered curtains, which was what I wanted. I started hunting through pattern books hoping I would find an alternate pattern that used less fabric. This valance is a Simplicity pattern and the name of it is Sewing Patterns For Dummies. No comment.

My New Toy

2011-02-01T15:46:00.001-08:00

Isn't it beau-ti-ful? I so needed a new stove. Only two of the four burners on my old stove worked. And, my previous stove was electric. This time around, we opted for gas. We chose this model because I cook a lot of casseroles, frozen pizzas and little items. I always hated to heat up an entire oven for things so small . It also has the convection option on the bottom oven only. Of course, my favorite feature so far is the timer that beeps to let you know when the oven is done preheating.

I Wont Be Buying A Lottery Ticket Today

2011-01-31T21:03:00.000-08:00

Remember how I said I was working on a binding today? Look at this...yep, that is a miter, right smack dab in the middle of my corner! What are the chances that it would land there? And, of course it was on the third corner. There was no way I was taking that baby out!

Cool Tool

2011-01-31T14:38:00.000-08:00

Today I am making binding for a quilt. This nifty little tool is a great help.

Important: On your strip (and yes, it is still folded and I am working on the open ends), place your ruler so that the top of the ruler is even with your fabric. You then rotary cut from the bottom of the strip to the top (about where 4 is). Then cut the small vertical piece.

These strips were both cut the same, just turned around .

Now you nestle those two strips. Sew 1/4 inch from corner to corner (where you see the two pins) and...and...wait for it...

VOILA..you have a perfectly pieced biased binding strip. Pretty cool, huh? Told you it was a cool tool!

More of the Same

2011-01-30T19:22:00.000-08:00

Unfortunately, I only had one yard of this fabric. I wish I would have had more. It was enough for just one pillowcase. I'm sure I bought this fabric for some lovely young lady, but since it is more than 5 years old, I am sure she is probably out of this stage by now. Those ballerina hippos sure are cute though.

Again, another one yard piece of fabric. Some of these focus fabrics are so darn cute. I am keeping a small square of each one of these pillowcase fabrics, just in case I decide to make an i-spy quilt someday.

Batter Up

2011-01-29T20:23:00.000-08:00

How do you like my valance? I bought this baseball print to make a valance. Needless to say, I changed my mind and used something else. I was stuck trying to figure out what I was going to make with 3 yards of this fabric. Ugh. I already used up 1 yard making some bibs for Matthew. Since I had enough left, I decided to make a set of pillowcases. Pillowcases are such a great way of stash busting large pieces of fabric. And, I finished them just in time. Spring training is only 3 months away (grin).

Consignment Shops

2011-01-28T11:40:00.000-08:00

Mike will be transferring jobs beginning February 14. This job will be 5 days a week from 8 to 4. Finally some normal hours for my son. With the changing of jobs comes a shift in babysitting duties. Beckham will now be with us on Thursdays AND Fridays. It was time for me to update the toy collection/selection. Since winter in Wisconsin is in full swing, rummage sales were out. I decided to check out some consignment shops. Wow, I had no idea what great places these are. I found some wonderful, like-new toys at more than reasonable prices. The picture shows just some of my bargains...Becks is one happy camper. Even though I found all these great toys....

....he still likes to play in Maddy's pet carrier. Thank goodness Maddy can't talk, because I am sure she would have a few choice words for the little interloper!!

Katz

2011-01-28T11:16:00.000-08:00

Friday's pillowcase of the day is some krazy katz. Pretty soon I will be sewing pillowcases in my sleep!

Another "Kick"

2011-01-27T12:03:00.000-08:00

It would seem I sew in spurts. Sometimes for weeks on end, I do no sewing. Then there are times when I get on a kick, like a few months ago, and I make multiples of one thing. Well, I think I am on another kick. My Goddaughter visited last Friday and wanted me to teach her how to make a pillowcase. It went so quickly and easily, that I wondered why I didn't make more of them. I decided to dig out all the fun focus fabrics that I have. Matthew now has a few new sets of pillowcases, with more to come. The "kick" continues.....

This is NOT a Paid Advertisement!

2010-12-27T21:02:00.000-08:00

I know it is wrong to have a favorite Christmas present. I truly love all the gifts I received. I know my family puts a lot of thoughtfulness into each one, and I appreciate that. But, that being said, I am going to break the rules. There is something about a hand made gift. Maybe it is because I am creative and I know how much work it takes to pull something together. My daughter-in-law Ashley decided to go on Shutterfly and make a personalized calendar for our family. This thing is AWESOME. For each month, the top of the calendar has photographs of family members who are celebrating something that month. Then on the dates themselves, there are smaller pictures of the person who is celebrating. I picked October to show, because my birthday is on the 9th and Beckham's is on the 21st. Ashley did a great job and picked out some wonderful photos. This is truly a keepsake.

That's Hot....

2010-11-27T19:25:00.000-08:00

Pink, that is. My daughter-in-law has a pink/black kitchen. During the holiday season, she has a small, hot pink Christmas tree in her kitchen. Last week she asked me if I had some fabric (now there's a laugh). She wanted some pink fabric to wrap around the bottom of her tree to resemble a tree skirt. I told her if she would give me a few days I would be glad to make her a real tree skirt. This is the fabric she picked. The tree skirt is roughly 20 inches in diameter. I hope she likes her hot pink tree skirt.

Happy Thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-25T22:27:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving dinner for 2010 is now just a memory. But, those turkey sandwiches are going to taste so good tomorrow. My niece brought this yummy "turkey" appetizer to the festivities today. The body of the turkey is actually a dip covered with bacon bits and nuts.

Today and everyday, my blessings are plentiful. I try not to take them for granted. And, I try to remember to share with those less fortunate, because I am so blessed. My life is a work in progress.

The Big Blue Bear

2010-11-11T18:39:00.000-08:00

Jack and I spent part of this week in Denver, CO. This Blue Bear art statue can be found in downtown Denver. He appears to be peering into the Denver Convention Center. The bear is 40 feet high and is made up of 4,000 interlocking triangles. Now that's one BIG BEAR!

I Am Soooooo Lazy

2010-11-01T14:18:00.000-07:00

You're not seeing things. This is a Valentine's Day pillowcase, actually there is a set of them. It was on my "to do" list. I needed to get them done because I have black thread loaded on my serger. My serger is old, dinosaurish even. Changing thread on it is challenging, to say the least. So, there you have it. I am lazy and won't be changing that thread until all the "to do" projects needing black thread are done.

Happy Halloween

2010-10-31T20:07:00.000-07:00

In between all the birthday partying today, Becks found time to trick or treat. Obviously, since he only has two bottom teeth, he won't be eating much candy. But, he had the best time dressing in costume and hanging out with all his little cousins who were "teaching him the ropes". Grandma's little monkey sure had a big day!

Grandpa's Gift

2010-10-31T19:07:00.000-07:00

When I was a child, my father made a rocking horse for my sister, brother and me. Then, when all three of us had our own children, our kids rode the horse too. The rocking horse now resides with my niece. We asked her if we could borrow it to make a pattern from it. My husband traced the pattern pieces, cut, sanded and painted the wood. If you ask me, I think it turned out awesome! This new rocking horse will hopefully be an heirloom to a new generation.

Love That Serger

2010-10-31T18:47:00.000-07:00

Look familiar? Since I gave Beckham a quilt for his birthday, I figured I better whip up a little pillow to go with it. Now that my serger is working like a charm, it took me no time at all to make this matching pillowcase.

Beckham's First Birthday Party

2010-10-31T18:32:00.000-07:00

Happy Halloween. Today we celebrated my Grandson Beckham's birthday. Beckham turned 1 on October 21st. I started this quilt for him months ago. Then my cancer came back and I started chemotherapy and the quilt got put to the side. I finally finished it last week. And yes, it even has a label on the back!

Did I Hear That Right?

2010-10-25T12:32:00.000-07:00

I spent the weekend in Door County with some friends. Fish Creek to be exact. Quilting was on the agenda, and quilt we did! The fall foliage was a bit past prime, but it still made a lovely panorama.

While quilting, we either listened to the radio or tv. One particular commercial announced on the radio got our attention. At first we thought perhaps we hadn't heard it correctly, so we listened intently when it was repeated. Sure enough we had heard the information correctly. An area jeweler was advertising, "buy a diamond, get a 12-gauge shotgun FREE". Now there's a deal you don't want to pass up. So run, do not walk...actually, with a 12-gauge shotgun involved, that might not be a good idea.

I HATE Mending

2010-10-17T14:17:00.000-07:00

I guess because I am a quilter, people assume you must also like to mend. WRONG! I hate mending. Oh I do it, mostly out of necessity, but that doesn't mean I like it.

Last year, when our dog was a puppy (and in the chewing-everything-stage), she chewed a hole in this pillowcase. I just couldn't bear to throw it out, just because the fabric was so cute. I thought I could replace just the fabric panel that she chewed. Of course not, that would have been too simple. I had more of the fabric. Unfortunately, it was 3/4 " short of what I needed. That meant I needed to replace both sides of the pillowcase. So, as long as I am "unsewing", I decided I would take it back to the point where I could serge all the edges.

I am hoping the dog is out of her "chewing stage", because I really hate mending!

Almost

2010-09-27T20:10:00.000-07:00

This is Beckham with his "aide". He isn't quite ready to walk on his own, but you should see him scoot around with this toy. I'm guessing it won't be long before he "lets go" and takes that first step on his own.

Comfy

2010-09-27T19:52:00.000-07:00

This is Beckham's new comfy pillow. It is one of those small travel pillows. I sewed a flannel pillowcase for it. Whenever we go to restaurants, Beckham gets put in a high chair. The problem is, there is a big gap between where he sits and the back of the chair. I made this pillow to fill that gap. We tried it out tonight and it worked great. Problem solved!

The Only Mouse In My Home.....

2010-08-26T13:22:00.000-07:00

....better be the ones on this bib! Although I know some people are lovers of rodents, I am NOT. The closest pet my family has ever had to a mouse is a guinea pig. This fabric was just too cute to pass up. Another addition to Matthew's bib collection.

Like Riding A Bicycle

2010-08-24T10:27:00.000-07:00

I haven't quilted/sewed in so long, I almost thought I forgot how to. So, I wanted my first project to be easy. Like the back of your hand easy. No thinking easy. Of course, I resorted to a table topper. Easy peasy and very colorful, wouldn't you say?

Doggie Dip

2010-08-23T09:17:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, quite a few of the Milw County Parks closed their swimming pools for the season. However, before they close completely, the last evening is set aside for "the dog days of summer". You bring your dog and, for a $5 fee, they can take a dip in the pool, with or without you. There are dogs everywhere. Big dogs, little dogs, dogs of every breed, having the time of their lives. Doggie delight, indeed.

Beckham's First Fourth of July Parade

2010-07-04T15:20:00.000-07:00

My Daughter-in-Law sent me this picture of my Grandson, Beckham at his first Fourth of July parade. The weather here is in the 90's today, and with me having had chemo this past Friday, I figured I better not chance an outing at this point. You absolutely MUST click on this picture and see his two front teeth...they just appeared in the last two weeks. Happy Birthday America!

Lucky Me

2010-05-24T14:55:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, I attended a quilt retreat in Lake Geneva. There was a choice of two different classes or open studio. I chose open studio, keeping in mind my already-too-many ufo's. Saturday at lunch, there was a drawing for door prizes. I was lucky enough to win this board game. Everything associated with the game is quilt related, even the markers. I had a wonderful, productive time and hopefully in the next few days I will have some awesome photos of finished projects!

That Time of Year

2010-05-08T18:44:00.000-07:00

This lovely young couple is my Godson Zach and his girlfriend Lid (Lydia). Oak Creek High School is celebrating Prom tonight and these two will be in attendance. I was lucky enough to share a little time with them on this special day. Have a wonderful evening you two!

Oldest First

2010-03-23T12:54:00.000-07:00

Last year I started a scrapbook for my Grandson Beckham. It is a scrapbook of his first 12 months of life. Beckham was born in October of 2009. I created the first 6 pages in anticipation of his birth. I haven't touched his scrapbook since. Time to get the oldest of projects done first. The three new pages are devoted to Beckham's Baptism, his first Halloween and his first Thanksgiving.

Everything But Sewing

2010-03-15T13:17:00.000-07:00

These last two weeks have been crazy beyond belief! My family has been sick with this virus that is going around. All of us have had it in one form or another. Matthew even spent an evening in the ICU at Froedtert Hospital. I hope we are done with it.

Then there was all the household hubbub. I had wallpaper stripped in my foyer (my foyer extends upstairs and downstairs). Our wood floors, which flow from the dinette, through the kichen and half bath into the foyer, were sanded, stained and recoated. That means we "lived" upstairs for 4 days.

Maddy was spayed. Since the floors were being done, she was also boarded for the first time.

So now, hopefully, you can understand why there have been no posts. I need my sewing fix. I have my list (if you know me, you know I live by lists). I need to get going on my State Fair entries.

Since St. Patrick's Day is Wednesday, Matthew just has to have a bib to celebrate.

Time to get busy with that list!

Busy Day

2010-02-21T20:03:00.001-08:00

We had plans for dinner and a movie with some friends of ours, so that didn't leave much time for sewing today. This afternoon I found time to make Matthew another bib. His favorite color seems to be red, so I am sure he will like this one. After we got back from dinner, I cut, pieced and ironed the binding for Beckham's quilt.

It Was Bound To Happen

2010-02-20T19:58:00.001-08:00

A table topper for St. Patrick's Day. Pretty soon I will have one for every holiday. Plop a candle in a holder, place on top of the topper and you have a great centerpiece. My daughter-in-law places her toppers under her living room lamps. These are so versatile, you can find lots of uses for them.

Valentine's Day Bingo

2010-02-14T14:42:00.001-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day. Today I held a Valentine's Day Bingo game at my house. I had 13 ladies who came for lunch and FUN! One of my neighbors held one of these a few years ago and it was a blast. Each guest is asked to bring a new, wrapped gift (something they would like themselves) valued between $20 and $25. After we have lunch, we play bingo. When a person gets a bingo, they are allowed to go to the gift table and select a gift. They need to unwrap the gift and show it to everyone else. When all the gifts are opened, we take a short break for dessert. Then the real FUN begins. I set a timer for a specific amount of time. Only I know the amount of time. Then we play "take away" bingo. We play fast, since no one but me knows when the timer will go off. There is always one gift that everyone seems to want. This year it was a pearl bracelet. That bracelet really gained some mileage before the game ended. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves and it was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

More Valentine's Day Goodies

2010-02-10T15:00:00.000-08:00

Wow, I just noticed, from looking at this picture, how bad my front door needs to be sanded and restained! This post was supposed to be about the wreath I made. Isn't that how it goes though? You start with one project and pretty soon you are involved in another one before you realize what is happening. Oh well, with the freezing weather we are having, the front door will just have to wait until spring. Sheesh, another thing to add to the "to do" list.

Valentine's Day is Fast Approaching....

2010-02-09T13:39:00.000-08:00

And that means, break out the decorations! Since red is one of my favorite colors, I can really get into this holiday. I made these two table toppers over the weekend. Previously I have made these same table toppers for Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas. Therefore, a Valentine's Day table topper was in order. I have a few more projects in the works. Tomorrow I will post a picture of another completed project.

Doggone Cool

2010-01-31T20:22:00.000-08:00

First up is a picture of my Grandson Beckham. He is sporting his new doggie hat. Although he doesn't look too happy about it, he sure does look adorable in it!

The next picture is a scrapbook page that my Goddaughter Ashley created (with a little help from me). After looking through the scrapbook that I am making for Beckham, she decided she wanted to try her hand at some scrapbooking. I think she did an awesome job.

I'm Back In The Saddle....

2010-01-18T09:09:00.000-08:00

Again, as the saying goes. I'm finally back at the sewing machine. Saturday my quilt guild had a get-together at the local library. The purpose was to make things to be sold at our quilt show boutique. Our quilt show is in October. I had to bring my sewing machine.

At this point, let me back up. I stopped quilting right before Christmas so that I could concentrate on the holidays. You know, decorating, cooking, Christmas cards, etc. Well, when I went into my studio to get my sewing machine, I knew why I had not resumed quilting. It looked like a bomb had gone off in there! My entire sewing table was covered with fabric, notions, scrapbooking stuff, beads---you name it, it was there. I had to "dig out" before I could even begin to think about sewing.

With everything back in some semblance of order (my studio will never be totally organized), I could now proceed without guilt. I packed my bags and headed for the library.

Once back home, my sewing area clean, I made these two man bibs for Matthew.

Thursdays :)

2010-01-07T20:11:00.001-08:00

Beckham is now 2.5 months old. He is starting to recognize people and has started to smile and babble some. What an exciting time. I love Thursdays. That is our day together. Life is good.

Did I Mention....

2009-12-28T20:50:00.000-08:00

....that these necklaces are addicting? I have made these over the last two days. Most of them don't have completed clasps because they are for friends and I like to measure them right to their necks. Some people like the choker style, while others like them a bit longer. What a great way to use up a stash of beads!

No One Can Make Just One

2009-12-27T19:45:00.000-08:00

A few weeks, my Goddaughter and I took a beading class at Hobby Lobby. We learned how to make a beaded daisy necklace. You make it with number 11 seed beads. It has become an obsession! Whenever I have some free time, I find myself making one. They are quick, easy, and the color variations are endless. And best of all, you can make them while sitting in your easy chair...lol...

Grandma's Christmas Cutie

2009-12-25T12:03:00.000-08:00

Well, ain't it the truth? Beckham celebrated his very first Christmas with us last night. Unfortunately my Grandson is not the party animal he appears to be. He slept through most of the festivities. When he was awake though, he was passed from person to person, gathering all the love a family can give. May your Christmas be blessed with peace, love and joy!

Beckham's Christening

2009-12-11T10:02:00.000-08:00

So much has been going on lately. It must be the season. Among the celebrations was Beckham's Christening last Sunday. May God bless him always.

A Special Day

2009-11-19T19:45:00.000-08:00

Another table topper. Is there anything I haven't said about them? I love, love, love them!

Today I got to spend some special Grandma time with Beckham. He was such a good boy. I can't believe he is going to be 1 month old on Saturday. Time is passing far too quickly.

Oh Baby!

2009-11-17T09:34:00.000-08:00

While on retreat, Linda and I visited a local quilt shop. I was doing so well, thinking maybe I would get out of there without spending any money. WRONG! As soon as I saw this baby panel, I knew I had to make another quilt for Beckham. Two borders were added to the panel and voila, another baby quilt top is born.

4 Days of Quilting

2009-11-16T13:04:00.000-08:00

Thursday morning I left home for a 4 day quilting retreat. It was held at a beautiful resort in Delavan, Wisconsin. Before my friend, Linda and I arrived at the resort, we stopped at two quilt shops along the way. Of course, I found something to purchase at each one. Once at the resort, I got to meet lots of old friends and some new ones too. It was such a pleasure to be able to share a love of quilting with so many others. The great thing about a retreat is the fact that everyone brings their own projects to work on, so you get lots of new ideas. You also receive feedback on your own projects. There is always something new to learn. I had a wonderful time and can't wait for next year's retreat. This table runner was my first project. I didn't have a pattern, so it took me a lot longer to complete. I had trouble figuring out that outer border of squares on point. A math whiz I am NOT! It still needs to be sandwiched and quilted, hopefully before Thanksgiving.

Come Meet Beckham

2009-11-07T17:43:00.001-08:00

Today Jack and I held a party for our new Grandson, Beckham. It was a "come meet Beckham" party. Friends and family got together with us to share our joy and meet the newest member of the family.

Happy Birthday Matthew!

2009-11-03T12:38:00.000-08:00

Today is my oldest son's Birthday. He is 30 years old. Matthew was born with profound cerebral palsy and wasn't supposed to live past the ago of 5. Way to go Matthew...you proved them all WRONG!!!! Happy Birthday Foof.

Beckham's Pumpkin

2009-11-03T12:25:00.000-08:00

I never got to see Beckham on Halloween (he is in high demand these days). So, yesterday Ashley, Mike and Beckham came for dinner. I finally got to give him his Halloween pumpkin. Don't you love it? It is a kit that comes in a box. You provide the pumpkin, you also need an awl or some kind of poking tool and the kit provides the body parts. Kind of like a Mr. Potato (make that Pumpkin) Head. There is no picture of Beckham because Grandma (me) was too busy holding and kissing him to worry about taking pictures. Sheesh.

Everyday

2009-10-29T19:59:00.001-07:00

Oh dear, this is a terrible shot of this table topper. However, I just couldn't seem to get a good photo with the true colors. Maybe if you click on the picture it will show better. Anyway, this table topper is for my daughter-in-law, Ashley. I made her a table topper for Halloween and I thought she might like one that matches her kitchen decor for everyday.

Aunt Shirley

2009-10-25T12:57:00.000-07:00

I have an Aunt Shirley, who is also my Godmother. She only collects two things. One of her passions is collecting Hummels. Her other is collecting anything with cardinals on it. I found this fabric in my stash and thought it would be perfect for her collection. I hope she likes it.

Puppy Kindergarten

2009-10-23T20:04:00.000-07:00

Maddy went to school. Not because she is bad, but because her owners (us) want her to be the best she can be. We want her to be social and have good manners. Just like when we had children, what they learn to be acceptable or not acceptable in our home is our responsibility. Maddy was the example puppy tonight. The teacher used her to teach commands to the group. Of course it didn't hurt that the teacher had a pocket full of Pupperoni to grab Maddy's attention. I now know our dog is treat-dependent and will probably need a doggy support group very soon.

Sweet

2009-10-22T16:25:00.000-07:00

I don't think my life could get any sweeter than this week. My first Grandchild, Beckham Anthony was born last night at 10:01 pm. Then today my husband and I had our visits with our oncologist. Both of us are in remission. If you look up, you should be able to see the glow over our house tonight. We know how precious life is. We take nothing for granted. We are truly blessed and we know it.

Christmas Pillow

2009-10-18T20:23:00.000-07:00

I have had this panel for the longest time. I always meant to do something with it. It worked perfectly for the centerpiece of this pillow. The hardest part was figuring out the dimensions of the fabric that surrounds the panel. I made a flap closure for the back. This picture is really dark, but if you click on it you will be able to tell that I used two fabrics for bordering.

When Will I Ever Learn......

2009-10-17T23:25:00.000-07:00

.....not to buy directional prints for use as borders? This one was a beast (or maybe that should be bear) to piece together. When finished, the quilt will belong to my first Grandchild...who was due today, but is taking his time making his appearance!

Go Badgers!

2009-10-17T11:46:00.001-07:00

Another 2 man bibs for Matthew. Go Badgers!

Table Topper

2009-10-12T20:56:00.001-07:00

I had just enough of this black fabric left to squeek out one more table topper. Further down in the posts, I referred to this table topper as being octagonal. I guess I got my hexagons and octagons mixed up!

Burp

2009-10-11T19:36:00.000-07:00

A while back, a friend of mine bought some fabric to make burp cloths for a shower gift. Buying the fabric was as far as she got. Boy, can I relate! Anyway, she asked me if I would like the fabric to make some burp cloths for Beckham. Heck yeah! The yellow duckie fabric was mine, but the rest was my friend's fabric. I got 10 burp cloths out of all that fabric!

Making a Positive Out of a Negative

2009-10-05T21:01:00.001-07:00

This fabric was not meant for a bib. It was supposed to be used for the cuff on a pillowcase. I measured the cuff correctly, but didn't pay close enough attention to the print. By the time the cuff fabric was folded over, the trick or treaters heads were on one side and their bodies were on the other. Not very attractive. This fabric was so cute though that I couldn't just pitch it. I had to piece it, but I had enough for two bibs.

Pie Anyone?

2009-10-04T17:42:00.001-07:00

All three of these octagonal table toppers were made the same way. You sew strips together to form a strata. Then you cut the strata pieces on a 60 degree angle to form the pie shapes. The bottom photo table topper is made with pieces cut consecutively from the strata. The top two photos are constructed of pieces that are cut the same way, but you use every other piece. If you click on the photos, you should be able to see the decorative stitches used to secure the piece.

Snoopy

2009-09-27T19:32:00.000-07:00

Here is the last set of pillowcases for Halloween. This fabric reminds me of my childhood, when Snoopy, Woodstock and Charlie Brown were all the rage!

How The Heck Did I Miss This?

2009-09-27T14:06:00.001-07:00

I had no idea JoAnn Fabrics had licensed 100% cotton fabrics in another spot besides the quilt section. Where have I been? I happened to be looking at the fleece that was on sale last week. I rarely go into any other fabric section besides the quilting section, just because I mostly sew with 100% cotton fabrics. Wow, they had all kinds of cool licensed kids fabrics like SpongeBob Squarepants, Scooby Doo, John Deere and Clifford The Big Red Dog. I guess I need to look around a little more. My husband will love that, like I don't buy enough already! :)

Three Weeks

2009-09-25T20:17:00.000-07:00

It has been three weeks since we got Maddy. She is such a sweet dog. She is a fetching dog, which for us is a big deal. We have never had a dog that would play fetch. We found these small sized tennis balls that she can just barely squeeze in her jaws. The potty training is coming along. She is doing pretty well with the puppy pads, with just an occasional accident. But, I still keep my Little Green Machine handy. We have also been trying to crate train Maddy. We are to the point where the whining is barely audible and after a while she just gives up and settles down. However, she is a bit confused with the English language. She seems to think "good girl" translates to "I deserve a treat"!

Still Making Pillowcases

2009-09-25T20:03:00.000-07:00

This is one of a set of pillowcases for my son, Matthew. This is brand new fabric. Yes, I did say I wasn't going to buy any fabric except to finish up projects. Well, that went out the window when I bought the body fabric to go with a cuff fabric that I already had. Then, I screwed up cutting out the cuff fabric (it was a very cute border print). That meant I had no cuff fabric. Back to the fabric store I went to get cuff fabric. So, I ended up with brand new fabric pillowcases. Go figure.

Beckham's Pillowcase

2009-09-23T19:32:00.000-07:00

Since I am still working on clearing out Halloween fabric, I decided this pillowcase would be for Beckham, my Grandson, who is due in October. His parents can put it away until next year. The fabric is babies dressed for trick or treat.

Halloween Pillowcase

2009-09-20T19:48:00.000-07:00

Once again, I put my serger to use. This time it was to get rid of more of that excess Halloween fabric by making a pillowcase. If you click on the picture, you will see the cutest little goblins fabric ever.

Baseball Game

2009-09-19T21:12:00.000-07:00

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Tonight we attended a Brewer's baseball game sponsored by WOCA (Wisconsin Ovarian Cancer Alliance). The Brewers won 7 to 2.

I Love My Serger

2009-09-19T14:42:00.000-07:00

This pillowcase went together so quickly. Now I wonder why I didn't try my serger sooner! The pillowcase matches a quilt I made for my Goddaughter a year or so ago.

The man bib is polar bears dressed for winter.

It Was 1995

2009-09-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I dragged out my serger. According to the manual I purchased it in 1995. I'll bet I have used it twice. A few years ago I took a course at the local tech college to relearn how to use it. Again it sat. I want to make some pillowcases and I thought I would serge the edges for a cleaner look. One hour and two trys later, I finally had the darn thing threaded. So far the sample swatch looks great. Wish me luck.

I had a photo I wanted to upload, but Blogger appears to be having some problems. I will post it later on.

I Can Sleep Standing Up.....

2009-09-17T12:53:00.000-07:00

....Or atop a bone that is as big as I am!

2 Yards Short

2009-09-17T12:42:00.000-07:00

I'm sure you think I am referring to fabric. On the contrary, I am referring to thread. I was finishing up a bib last night and ran out of a particular color of thread with just a small section left to be quilted. Isn't that always the way?

Maddy is too small for the smallest sized dog harness. Therefore, we have been playing "come chase me" in our backyard. I have a friend who wanted to get rid of all her baby gear. This outdoor playpen was part of the booty. Apparently it works for puppies too!

Are You Adding?.....

2009-09-15T19:38:00.000-07:00

....because I have lost track of the number of bibs that Matthew now has. I wish I could say this is the end, but I think I bought every fat quarter of cute kids fabric that ever existed! The pile of "to do's" never seems to go down!

Update on Maddy

2009-09-14T21:27:00.000-07:00

This photo is our Maddy sharing a bowl of chow with her cousin, Zeus.

And Finally....

2009-09-14T21:21:00.000-07:00

This is the last of the table toppers for Halloween...although I think I said that once before. These are addicting!

Walk For Cancer

2009-09-14T21:05:00.000-07:00

Saturday evening, my family joined me in a walk for the Wisconsin Ovarian Cancer Alliance. I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in January of 2007. I had a reoccurance of ovarian cancer this past February. I am so blessed to have family that supports me.

Catch Up

2009-09-14T20:52:00.000-07:00

Ever since Maddy came, I have been lax in my blogging duties. This was last weeks bounty. More man bibs for Matthew.

Welcome Home Baby

2009-09-01T18:39:00.000-07:00

Today we welcomed a new member to our family. Her name is Maddy and she is a puggle. Maddy was born on July 8, 2009. Welcome home baby.

Almost Gone....

2009-09-01T10:12:00.000-07:00

I am almost out of Halloween fabric....finally. I have a small amount left that is going to be used for pillowcases. That is, as soon as I figure out how to use my serger! These are the last of the table toppers. I made 3 from the Halloween/stripe fabric and 2 from the black, orange and green fabrics.

More Of The Same

2009-08-27T21:03:00.000-07:00

Table toppers that is. I finished these two tonight. Personally, I'm not crazy about the one with the striped outer border. In retrospect, I should have used that stripe on the inner, smaller border. I think it would have looked better.

Halloween Fabric

2009-08-26T20:16:00.001-07:00

I have been cleaning my studio. I recently came across a cache of Halloween fabrics. Why did I buy those again? I certainly have no intentions of making a Halloween quilt. I am sure I had some lovely project in mind though. Since a lot of the fabric was pre-cut yardage, I only had so many options. I decided on table toppers. They don't take a lot of fabric, they are quick to make and I can just about guarantee that I can actually finish them by Halloween! I made two of these spider table toppers tonight. I quilted the middle, but the quilting is lost in the busy fabric. Of course, I HAD to make Matthew a couple of man bibs from the stash!

Home Run

2009-08-16T19:51:00.000-07:00

Yes, I am still making man bibs. Matthew has an aide that really likes to dress him according to what sport is taking place on any particular day. I have been lax. Up until now he had NO baseball bibs. That has been rectified.

While checking the ufo closet, I came across some tissue holders that were cut but not sewn. Those are now done and put away for a quick gift when needed.

Slurp and Burp

2009-08-14T08:16:00.000-07:00

It is time to play catch-up. I did finish two more scrapbook pages last week. Just in time for the baby shower.

Yesterday I decided to make a couple more bibs for my son. The textile manufacturers have such cute patterns on their fabrics that they are hard to resist.

And finally, I finished up 3 ufo burp cloths. Apparently I was going to make them for someone, but they have been in the ufo pile for so long that I don't remember who! They are the perfect color (blue) for my Grandson, who is expected to make his appearance in October.

I'm Baaaaack!

2009-07-29T18:47:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, where the heck have I been? I have been receiving chemotherapy treatments for ovarian cancer. Long story.

Anyway, I have been ever so slowly working on something special. I am going to be a first time Grandma this October. I wanted to do something special for this baby...by the way, it's a boy and his name will be Beckham.

I've decided to make him a scrapbook for his first year of life. Now I have to say, I am NOT a scrapbooker, so this has been a real creative journey for me.

My son and daughter-in-law's baby shower is one week from Sunday. I want to complete the first 5 pages and present it to them at the shower. These are 4 of the 5 pages. I am waiting for my daughter-in-laws baby picture to arrive in the mail to finish page 5. I will post that picture later on.

Be kind in your comments. Remember, this is my first attempt.

Postcard #22

2009-04-16T17:20:00.000-07:00

The title of this postcard swap is Blossoms. There is nothing more beautiful than cherry blossoms in the spring. If it is hard to see the blossoms, it is because they are pink beads. You might need to click on the picture for a better view.

Postcard #21

2009-04-04T17:43:00.000-07:00

What would spring be without some lovely tulips?

Be Back Soon

2009-02-25T19:29:00.000-08:00

I will be out of the office (tee hee) for a while. Surgery tomorrow to repair an umbilical hernia and have my chemo port removed (hurrah). I don't know how mobile I will be, but I hope to be back with more projects soon. TTFN

Postcard #20

2009-02-24T21:11:00.000-08:00

This is the FINAL postcard in the Continent Series. This completes all seven. The postcard is representative of South America...or Fruit Loops if you are under the age of 5. If you click on the picture, you will be able to see that his chest is a different color from his bill. Again, lousy picture. I think part of the problem is that I need to take these pictures in the daytime rather than by incandescent lighting in the evening.

Beachy's Postcard #4

2009-02-24T21:02:00.000-08:00

This is the final alphabet postcard for my friend, Beachy. The letter was "Q". Of course I had to try and recreate a quilt. Too bad I didn't plan the space for the border very well. Oh well, it's a learning experience! And so is photography apparently. Another blurry picture.

Postcard # 19

2009-02-24T11:56:00.000-08:00

The title of this fabric postcard swap is "to dye for". I owe the creation of this postcard to Frieda Anderson, http://www.friestyle.com/ . Frieda sells beautiful hand dyed fabrics. This particular flower was shown in a past Quilting Arts Magazine, with an article authored by Frieda. She is one talented lady. Please check out her website for awesome inspiration. Thanks Frieda!

OMG

2009-02-18T20:00:00.000-08:00

Yep, I don't know what else to say....I am smiling from ear to ear today...My husband and I just found out we are going to be GRANDPARENTS for the first time!!! It doesn't get any better than that. A new little baby to love....ahh....life is good.

Beachy's Postcard #3

2009-02-18T09:57:00.000-08:00

Here is another postcard for Beachy. This time the alphabet letter is K. Wow, is this picture ever distorted. The edges are actually straight. You'll just have to trust me on this one.

Postcard #18

2009-02-17T13:03:00.000-08:00

This postcard is the sixth in the Continent Series for my Artsnthemail Group, the continent being North America. I found the flag and Mount Rushmore on a computer generated program we own and merged the two. I then printed it out on fabric.

On a side note, tonight I will be giving an informal lecture on the making of fabric postcards to my quilt guild. It need only be 10 to 15 minutes long. I hope I can find enough to talk about for that amount of time. I am bringing samples....plenty of eye candy to keep them distracted!