And More Blocks

I continue to work on the blocks for my next sampler quilt. I have averaged about one block per day, and just love the hand piecing. I hope to start cutting sashing and borders this coming weekend. I finally realized that I don't have to follow all the rules. It's my quilt, and since the quilt police don't live here, I can do my own thing. Our Sampler class had specific blocks to teach us specific methods. I wanted to do the same basic blocks, but since I'm better than I was, I chose a few blocks that are a little more complicated. So far, I'm loving this quilt.

This is a block I got from quilterscache.com. It's called SeeSaw, and I liked it because it is a kicked-up pinwheel block.


This is a block called Flying X's. It was from my first Sampler quilt, and I liked it so I chose to include it into this quilt.


This is Card Trick. I love this block, and chose to use the same fabric in four different colors to do it. Loved the outcome.


This is my Attic Windows Block. I chose to use two florals and make them like a 9-patch.


This is another block from quilterscache.com. It's called Arrowhead Puzzle. I chose it because it is a kicked-up 16-patch.

I'm working on an Oregon Train block, and that leaves only 6 blocks to go before the 20 blocks are ready to put together. Stay Warm.

More Blocks!

Yes, I'm moving right along on the blocks for my Sampler quilt. Keep in mind that I bought background fabric, fabric for sashing and cornerstones, and the fabrics for the borders. But, all the fabrics for the blocks are leftovers from the Be Attitudes BOM that I was in. I really love doing these blocks. They are hand-pieced and for me, hand-piecing is very relaxing.

This is my Rose of Sharon block.



This is my Sawtooth Star block.


This is my Churn Dash block.



This is my Judy's Star block.

We're expecting a few days of warmer temps, but over the weekend more arctic air is to move in. The snow that was on the top of the bird feeder has all melted off, and so the feeder gets a short reprieve before more snow is expected to move in. Spring can come anytime. Keep warm.

Inauguration Day

What a great day in history for our country. Wish I could watch all the festivities, but I think Dora, Oswald and the Backyardigans will win out. Kids don't understand history in the making. Our local news showed a cool website on their morning broadcast today. It's http://www.obamiconme.com

Check it out, You can use it to create your own poster. Here's mine



Have a quilty day!!

Pittsburgh's Going to the Super Bowl

Go Steelers!!!! Wow, what a game! And nearly 4 hours long!! But when it was over, our beloved Steelers were on top. Rod said he didn't know if he would be able to sleep last night after the game --- but he did.

Today we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. What do you think he's thinking right now -- tomorrow our nation inaugurates its first black president. Dreams can become reality. Growing up as a child, I experienced little discrimination. We knew that blacks could come to the local pool only on certain days, and the project near us isolated the blacks onto two streets. But in school, we showered together in gym class, we ate together in the cafeteria, we enjoyed Girl Scout activities together, and attended football games together. We were allowed to be good friends, and no one questioned. I thank God that I grew up in such an environment, rather than in one where people were despised just because of the color of their skin. When we moved to Virginia in the 80's, it wasn't this way -- I was shocked by the differences, and was glad to come back home to Pennsylvania.

I finished two more blocks for my quilt, and have another nearly done. I'll take photos later today. Stay warm.

Let It Snow????

Yes, I love that song. . . but enough already!!!! We have had so much snow, and it hasn't quit yet. Talk about cabin fever. . . I think I have igloo fever!! LOL.

This is my birdfeeder in the front of the house. The only part of the rope you can see it the knot.


This photo is of the fence along the front of our property, and of the trees across the road. It's beautiful, isn't it? Sorry about the quality of the photos, but the screen was down, and I didn't think about putting it up before snapping the picture. But I think you can get the idea.

We took our tree down today, and put away the decorations. Usually I can't wait to get that done, but today it made me sort of sad. Must be that I'm getting maudlin'. My mom got the flu on Thursday, fell in the back hall, and we had to call an ambulance. She's very dehydrated, and had we not gotten her there on Thursday, she probably wouldn't have pulled through. Say a little prayer for her, please. I'm hoping that when she's well enough to go to skilled nursing for physical therapy, she might decide to stay there permanently. So, say a quick prayer for me, too. Stay warm.

Cold and Snowy here

Brrr. It's so cold here, and it just won't stop snowing. My bird feeder is wearing a top hat (snow is piled that high). I've been putting off getting groceries, since I hate that job, but we finally went on Tuesday evening. And I'm so glad. Now it's done, and I don't intend to go out again until it warms up some.

I'm having so much fun!!! I told you that the twins want their sampler quilts -- want me to take the one off my bed, even. Well, I'm not giving them up until I have another quilt made by me to put on the bed. I was in a BOM sponsored by This-n-That Fabrics last year, and although I haven't finished the blocks, I have enough fabric to start another sampler quilt. I really love these quilts because they are all hand-pieced and I can work on them while the kids are here and watching TV. The fabrics we used in the BOM were Williams Inn by Nancy Halverson, and they are so pretty. I have four blocks completed and one is halfway done.

My 9-patch

My version of drunkard's path.

Grandma's Star


My Dresden plate.

I just love these blocks. The Dresden Plate showcases some of the fabrics I'll be using in the quilt. Stay tuned for more blocks. Have a great weekend, and stay warm.

HAPPY DAY!!!

My new cabinet arrived yesterday, and last night Rod put it together (with Izzy's help). It looks great, and I'm amazed at how much more storage I have. The top will be an excellent cutting and pressing surface, and the shelves in th large section could be placed far enough apart to hold the dishpans of "stuff" that I haven't had time to go through. So . . . . as soon as I finish cleaning off the table, I'm ready to start sewing again!! YAHHHHH!!!! It's been a long three weeks or so. The last time my sewing machine saw action was Dec. 21. I'm sure he's feeling seriously neglected. But, never fear, he will be humming again very soon. And I love the way the room looks. Don't tell anyone, but I bought a desk basket on ebay for $74.00. I'm almost ashamed to say I spent that much on a basket, but it's a Longaberger; and now that it's on the window sill shelf, I'm not at all sorry. I guess we should be allowed a little extravagance once in a while.

My cable box in the sewing room is acting a little screwy, so sometime today the cable guy is coming to replace the box and then I will have HD tv in that room. The room looks so organized and clean that it's just my own little piece of heaven, a perfect place to escape when Mom gets on my nerves. Well, off to clean off the TV area so that the cable guy can switch out the box.

First Whine Fest of 2009

I really need a whine fest today, so bear with me. I started sewing at age 9 when I made a gathered skirt as part of my 4-H years. I won a blue ribbon at the local fair with that skirt. I love sewing, and made a faux suede "Beatle Suit" in 8th grade. I've made wedding gowns, christening dresses, leisure suits and the like, and NEVER did I expose a zipper. Zippers were my greatest foe, and it took years before I mastered them. But now, have you seen the newest trend called "Exposed Zippers"? Just look at this!!!


And here's another:



Please tell me why I beat my head against the wall trying to master zipper insertion when I could have been a trendsetter at age 11 or 12. To me this just doesn't look professional, and yet the leading designers think it's great. OK, I'm done whining. What do you think??

2009

I believe that this is my first post of the New Year. Did I make any resolutions? Well, maybe just a couple. We have booked a trip to Disney for December to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary. DD Mary is making all the arrangements, and I've decided this is a really good incentive for weight loss. So, today is my first day back with Weight Watchers. DD Pam will do it along with me, and it always helps to have a "buddy". My second resolution is not to throw stuff in a corner of the sewing room when I'm done with it, but to instead put it away where it belongs. I may even make a sign to hang up in there that says "Put it away where it belongs". Do you think it will help?

I have just spent the last two weeks cleaning and revamping my sewing room. It was such a mess after the holiday push, and I've gone through most of the boxes and so far have thrown out 4 (yes 4!!) large bags of garbage. Rod built me a new box for the new TV, and last night we covered it with fabric to match the curtainsl. Looks pretty good. We moved the large wire basket rack out of the closet to be used more efficiently, and Rod put up a new shelf which makes better use of the closet space. Yesterday morning, he decided that I needed a plastic storage container for my fleece scaps and took of for Walmart. He came home with two huge containers, which I felt weren't needed. Guess who was right!!! Rod!!! I have filled both of them with fleece pieces left over from quilts, and still have more stashed in a closet. The room is finally beginning to take shape, I still have two dishpans full of stuff to go through, and the window shelf to clean off and of course the table (which I can see but not use), and then I'll be ready to sew again. I'm anxious to get started. The twins want their sampler quilts as of yesterday, and I'm a little upset that they don't want me to use the quilts that I put two years of my life into. But I have lots of scraps from the Be Attitudes BOM that I participated in, and have ordered more of the fabric from This-n-That fabrics. It's from the Williams Inn collection and I love the fabrics. So, I'll just make another sampler quilt for me!!! Will post photos when the room is completely finished. Have a great week.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

We had all the kids here to welcome in the New Year. Mary cooked Cheeseburger Mac and Cheese for dinner, and then we just snick-snacked the rest of the evening. Pam and Pat made a pepperoni and cheese tray and brought the "flip side" crackers. Have you tried them??? They're like pretzels and crackers all in one. Yummy!! I had done a fruit tray with the cream cheese/marshmallow creme dip. Rod loves that dip and says he could eat it with a spoon. We made pepperoni rolls, spinach dip and taco dip. Mary played bartender, and we watched movies until 11:00 and then turned on Dick Clark's Rocking New Year's Eve. The weather was horrible with blowing snow and falling temps. Everyone just decided to stay home this year -- save money and be safe. After everyone left, Rod and I watched a Bon Jovi concert on the HD channel and finally crawled into bed around 1:45a.m. What a way to begin the new year -- all my family and Bon Jovi. I love it.

I have worked two days on the sewing room, and it's beginning to take shape. Most of the fabric has been refolded - hey, the next time I just throw fabric on a pile, slap my hands, OK! I'm moving things around so that what I use most is the easiest to get to. But the place still looks like a train went though. So, back to work.