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??