Proof we've had some sunny weather...

See? Flowers are blooming in their own little patch of sunshine. This is another of the "Four plus One" patterns. Five FQ and you are set. It even finishes the little quilt with backing and binding. I don't applique much- I'm really bad at it, but I have been practicing some on my newer sewing machine and while I cannot imagine wanting to make an entire applique quilt, one block is rather fun. I used the same color thread on the whole block- a funky color that Thread Art sent to me in place of the back ordered cream. It's a nice golden color and matches the background fabric perfectly. I'm not to picky about thread- as long as it works.

Now ain't that a coincidence?
Here I am using an old phone book to make a string quilt and when I flipped a block over and look! Recycle, indeed. My blocks are shaping up to 7". I am really running to the bottom of the bag this time. I am determined to use every little morsel of string fabric! I'm not sure how I'll set them - I like them all alone. I need to check out Bonnie's amazing quiltville site. She always has loads of ideas.

Just because I can...

this was just too funny to pass up. Joe found a huge icecicle hanging off my quilting room roof. In between blizzards we had a little sunshine and warmer weather. Icecicle weather. And boys will be boys. We are under a winetr storm warning for the day and it is so gorgeously snowy out right now. You'd think I'd be tired of winter by now- it is Februaury- but no, I am hanging in there and still loving the snow- especially when it is newly fallen. Great sewing weather! Hope everyone has a great week! Snow or no snow.

Something light and bright...

Sarah sent me some really pretty fabs for Xmas. Mostly orange and peach and green. I added some of our hand dyed that we did a couple summers ago and tada! A wallhanging is born. The orange matches my walls in the bathroom just perfectly. Thank you, Sarah! The pattern was on the cover of a magazine- in reds and blues. I don't like the way they had you set up that hst inner border- looks off kilter to me, but that was how the pattern was and I actually followed it. Won't next time. But the whole thing went together very smoothly. I like how they had measurements for everything- that can be a problem with round robin quilts. This quilt is a real cheery-upper in the bathroom. I like how the on point blocks match my tin wainscoting.

Julia has me all in lather for the string quilts. My sis is here this week and she has been helping me- marking diagonal lines down the middle of my telephone pages. And then she sliced my strips into skinnier pieces. Slave labor is a good thing!

Time on my hands...

Been enjoying the stormy weather- glad to have anything other than ice! The snow is just beautiful- especially since I am surrounded by such good company. My sweet sister-in-law is here for the week with her two boys- the kids are elated. I am too! I finished these two doilies and have started another. That's what winter is for- handiworks. I might need to resume work in the quilting room since the view is so spectacular out there with a couple walls full of windows. My parents surprised me and stopped in for a two nights. They had venison to bring to Lisa and her family. It was a short visit, but not so short that my dad couldn't fix my furnace- which wasn't broken but is always in need of maintenance. This is a picture of my Dad in the closet, standing on the furnace! A very tight spot even for a very skinny man! He isn't happy unless he is working on something- he should be ecstatic here at my house as things are always breaking!

It seems like everyone here is having a ball sewing up quilts- I love to think about our shared joy of sewing and pressing and choosing colors and designs... so much fun!! Have a great day everyone!!!

All-over-rover...

That's what Darcie calls an edge to edge pattern and I think it is so cute! All over rover. Of course, there are endless possibilities to an all over rover. Meandering and piddling. This is just one that I used recently. I practice on 60" wide fabric so that when it is all used up, someone gets a little throw blanket. This one went to Boo. I bound it in yellow- binding I had forgotten that I'd already made- who would've suspected I was being such a good girl? Anyway, it was from the binding scrapbin. I am amazed at how many little bits are resurrected from there. Scrap binding doesn't need to be that long- sometimes I just sew together like-colored pieces and other times there is plenty for a small wallhanging or such. Really small pieces can be ironed flat for the string quilt project. Just hate to throw anything away, ya know?

I'm a bit apathetic about the quilting room, here lately. Maybe my feelings are just getting more normal! I have been super busy and I just feel myself slowing down a bit. Which is usually a good thing and coincides with the laundry pile getting so high it has become a hazard to walk by! It might fall on my wittle head.

Whoopsidaisy!!!

Ever have days like that? I was making a chocolate cake for the kids(OK, so I was making it for me, but I was gonna share!) And as I was taking the cake out of the oven...whoopsidaisy!! the whole cake flipped over and landed on the oven door. I have no idea how that happened. As I stood there, jaw slack, Jacob helped me salvage it by scooping it up with a spatula and setting it back on the pan. We poured the icing over it and ate it anyway. If you're given cake crumbs...make crumb cake. The kids were all very good sports and said that it was even better this way because the icing soaked into all the little cracks and crevices.

Quilting can be like that, too. Sometimes, for mysterious reasons, there's a big ole whoosidaisy! And something didn't quite turn out like I planned. But I'll be like the kids and insist that it's better this way. Really. I am starting work on a Dear Jane quilt(insane, I know. Now you know and we're even.) I was really mystified by the whole thing and after a couple whoopsidaisy moments, I have a few blocks that I can live with. Hey, they measure 5" and I'm guessing that they'll fit into the quilt. Who says they have to be identical to Jane's. She has a fair amount of wonky in those blocks. No, I'm not being catty, I'm just saying, she's one of us. Has anyone tried the EQ Dear Jane? Curious how it measures up to the challenge. They are kinda addictive- though I am sure it is like any addiction. Fun at first but a terrible monkey on your back after a while. Hope all of you are dealing with your whoopsidaisy moments with grace and a sense of humor!

Quilting by candle light...

Well, admiring the quilt by candle light, anyway! We had a power outage yesterday evening, due to someone sliding their car into a pole- county roads aren't really very civilized. Everyone was fine, but the pole had to be replaced. The kids get downright giddy when the power goes out. I had just stepped out of the shower and I was less than giddy to be sitting in a cold house with a wet head.

But the quilt over the piano was awfully pretty. It is a very old one that my Aunt Shelia gave me. The fabrics are very coarse and the quilting very utilitarian- but you know how I love that look. It is one of my favorites because it gives the room a nice, cozy feel- important when the snow is flying and the wind is howling to get it.

Today was spent in less than quilty endeavors. I had to meet my MIL at the dr office. It was really quite pleasant as the dr was as cute as a button- aren't they getting younger every day. What? I'm getting older? Well, yeah, I know. Rub it in why don't ya? He was also very sweet with her and that put him on my good side. All is well. Then I went and had lunch with Sandy and we organized her fat quarters- you know how those drawers can get all out of hand! Now she is color coded and I am the proud new owner of her batiks. Score! Now it's home and I had the good sense to put the hen in the crock pot before I left. Chicken and dumplings for dinner. Sweet William will be home tomorrow night. He is in Atlanta for business. One more night without him. I think I can do it!

Who knew scaffolding could be so...useful?

The scaffolding is still up in the dining room- I guess it will be staying there until the mudding on the drywall is done. Makes a nice monkey gym for the little ones when they are tired of being couped up because of the cold. And it makes a mighty fine place to have the kids hold up a really big quilt. (I took this picture before the lighting was installed, so it is kinda blurry and dark as that flash is almost useless in such a big room. And it a BIG room- I think it is something like 18'x30'. I hope I will have room for several dining tables and lots and lots of people.)

I finished this quilt and got it in the mail just in the nick of time for them to get it by Xmas. Forgot to add it to the gallery, down there. Yes, there is a mistake in the quilt. Found it, did ya? Well, I seriously considered doing something about it... but decided eh, it'll keep me humble. The pattern came from Evelyn Sloppy's 40 Fabulous Quick-Cut Quilts. It wasn't a hard pattern, but I did get a little weary of hourglass blocks. Don'tcha just love scrappy quilts? I am now working on a two color quilt and it just doesn't have the sparkle of a scap one.

I'd like to give you a heads up, Sarah- http://www.alwayswantstobequilting.blogspot.com/ a little trial she is going through. Her daughter ran headlong into her son and she cracked her cheekbone- and is having surgery, today, as the break is causing muscle problems in her eye. She is a sick little girl and I know you guys are praying people, so I am sure Sarah would appreciate it.