Little Projects...

fit in between big ones. I have been pressed with a couple big projects- full sized quilts for weddings this Summer and Fall, but here and there I have been working on some visual aids for the kids' Bible class. They are 10" squares. These are two divisions of the Bible: "In the Beginning" and "The Flood and a new beginning." When I finish them, there are 17 in all and I am done with 7, I plan on backing them with Fast2Fuse so that they will be rigid and we can hold them up for the kids to see.

I finished the top for the summer wedding- there will be pictures soon- as I bought a backing for it, today. I have to have it finished by the shower, next Saturday. The other wedding quilt is coming right along. 15 more blocks to sew up and they are pretty fast, made from 4-patches. I don't know if I can show it here or not. Southern eyes might be watching... but I am tickled with how it is turning out. Well, I'm going to head out to the quilting room and see about pinning a quilt on. Hope everyone is having a great week.

Rainy days...

Well, the rainy weather has kept us from getting the boys' room cleaned out. I have been making good use of the "free" time in the quilting room. These are a couple tablerunners that I've made for my "neighbors." They live a mile down the road, but neighbors just the same. I got a little winfall in 3" squares, from Sandy, and so they made quick work in these projects. How easy was that?

I am also working on a few different wedding quilts. Two for my son- I don't think he will be getting both of them, but I'm trying to finish them both so that I can decide what one I'll give to them. One is a dresden plate and the other is a batik sampler. The other is for a friend's son. Just a simple Jacob's ladder. The colors are a bit subtle- not like me at all, but neutral enough that they should suit anyone. Hope everyone is getting some sewing in on these rainy days!

I have a dream...

to once more be able to see the boys' bedroom floor. Do you think it's possible? I have my doubts and yet... I have a dream!!! I found this old picture in the archives and I guess it got me riled up! It was taken after a clean sweep! Last week, I went up there- can't remember why I so lightly took my life into my own hands... Maybe the fresh Spring air was inspiring me to get to the bottom of a very big problem. See, when we have company, I tell the boys to clean their room. Later, I ask, "Is your room clean?" and they say, "Almost." And that seems to be where we leave it. I guess ignorance is bliss. Last week, my dear sweet sister in law came with her two sons. The one is too young to sleep more than a door away from Mama and the older goes up to the boys room and stays- never fully appreciated what a brave boy he is. Or maybe just as oblivious as my boys seem to be. Anywho... I opened the door and was greeted by the smell of socks from five boys... nearly knocked me flat. Guys! You know, they never notice. And their bathroom- it was Joe's chore and he's been gone for two months- my oversight in not assigning a new chore to someone else, but you'd think some one would have noticed it. Nope. Not guys. They did, however, notice the clean stool. Yes, I caved and cleaned it. There was no way I could have slept that night knowing what was up there!

Tonight, they are having their bonfire and a high old time. Let them enjoy the moment for tomorrow is a day of reckoning. Any suggestions on decluttering- other than throwing it ALL away and starting fresh?- my idea.

Spring!

Finally!! The weather has been so gorgeous for three whole days! The boys are feeling the weather is warm enough to go barefoot- or wear flipflops. I am tired of nagging them to put their shoes on. It's their feet, afterall. The liitle ones are asking every five minutes if they can play in the hose- I put my foot down on that one! A warm breeze does not make a summer!

This quilt is finally finished. I pieced it from scraps from a previous quilt several years ago. And then I found the perfect backing for it- a very good quality sheet from a thrift shop- it had hand made lace on the edge- which I salvaged, of course. It was a lovely leaf green. So I put it on the frame and got it done lickety split. This one goes into Jacob(16y) stash. He loves green and blue together.

I have a little project to do next- a quilt made from paintstiks- all leaves. That'll be fun, I hope. You never know.

The prairie is looking so peaceful- waiting to warm up. Notice how the sky looks like the fields. The same rows...

Just an itty bitty...

This quilt is 16" square. Lots of tiny little triangles. Not my thing so much- but I love how they turn out all quilted up and hanging on a wall. This one is made from Sandy's reproductions. She is making one from my hand-dyed stash. It was one of those projects you just had to nibble around on- otherwise, you'd go bonkers trying to keep all 100 or more pieces straight!

Speaking of chickens...

This is the chicken tractor that William made for a friend of ours- I was sorta jealous, 'cause it's a really cool tractor. But notice, he built it in the "dining room" and had to remove the picture window to get it out. Poor dear mismeasured by 2 lousy inches and it wouldn't fit through the door! He knew I was gonna blog about this. Granted, he did the work on the project in the middle of the night and didn't finish until 2am. But I still thought it was hysterically funny. Bob's chickens are gonna be so happy to move out of their cardboard box in the living room and into a real chicken environment.

Above and beyond...

the call of duty! A couple of my hens are all wrapped up in Spring and are laying double time! I have 15 poulets and I am getting 17 eggs a day! Woo-hoo. Soon I'll have enough to share. That's always fun.

Sewing just a little- literally. Working on a tiny quilt. But working on the yard while the sunny days are here. The little ones are enjoying some hard work. Funny how they love the jobs I don't like so much.

The girls and I ran some errands last night and we were killing time at the mall while waiting for sweet William. I am ever so proud that we came away with just two books- no clothes. My kind of girls!

Well, yeah...
I know I was supposed to use dark, folkart colors... and aside from the fact that I don't own anything like that, batiks are just a whole lot of fun. Nobody could take it too seriously.

The girls in their Easter frocks...

that Grandmother made them. Don't they look just adorable? Hello Kitty is big around here.

April showers...

bring May flowers. Right? It is pouring buckets out there, so the flowers should be very happy- as soon as it warms up a bit. Boo made this flower for me and we wrapped it in contact paper so it will catch the light. Very cheery. She has made one for almost every window.

Bread making...

has been a whole lot of fun, lately. "When it rains, it pours." I have been sprouting wheat berries- adding them to wholewheat bread. It makes a heavy, moist sort of bread with lots of interesting texture. Yum yum!! The sprouts are very tasty alone, also. And good for you, to boot. Can't beat that.

Hope everyone has a great week!