Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Small Projects...

I have been working my fingers nearly to the bone.  Well, okay.  Not so.  But, I have been diligently working on the small projects that I need to complete this month.  I think I may actually accomplish the goal I set!

Here are a few more things...

One large cover (~23" square) for a pillow for me Mum to use to prop herself up with when she reads or works word puzzles in bed...

Two covers for 12" pillows for me Mum's bed...

Three covers (2 @ 18" square and 1 @ 12"x18") with zippers for pillows for me Mum and Julie's new sofa...

There are a few small projects that I have finished that I cannot show until they are received.  And, a few more that are almost completed that I will show you when they are.  

I am so excited to see how Mum's complete bed ensemble looks...will be putting it all together for her in a few days.  I will definitely take photos to show you all.  




"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Monday, April 28, 2014

Going on Nine!

I had a wonderful weekend with my dear granddaughter, Kaylynn.  She is such a bright spot in my life...I know you've read this before, but I gotta tell ya...she truly makes my heart sing.  

Kaylynn will be nine years old on May 4.  WOW!  Already?  I gave her a few gifts while she was here...some cloth napkins to take for using at home (she thinks it is way cool to use cloth napkins when she is here!), the skirt I made back here, a white t-shirt and the promise of another skirt (I wanted to see how this one fit before making another).  Here she is modeling it...a perfect fit!
  

 We watched the movie, 'Frozen'...

went to Rocky Rococo's for birthday pizza...

and ate these for dessert.
 


Tag, of course, was ecstatic that she was here.  Wherever he was, she was...
Resting after time spent playing.

Kaylynn does beautiful artwork...
see the brown dog?


She is hoping to receive a bitty baby for her birthday.  If she does, you know who will be busy making clothes for the doll.  ~grin~

It was a wonderful time and was gone in the blink of an eye.  Now that I am retired and things have settled down both here and there, I should be able to spend more time with her.  She lives about an hour away, but her Mom is very willing to meet me halfway for the visits.  That makes it so much easier.

I hope you had a good weekend, too! 




"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Friday, April 25, 2014

The Tail of Two Dogs...

I briefly mentioned Curly Sue in an earlier post (see it here).  I have been stopping by her house (to give her a potty break) on my way home from work since 2006 (I think).  Now that I am retired, I take a break from whatever I am doing and drive about 5 minutes to her house and spend a bit of time with her and make sure that she potties.  She was about 1 year old when she was rescued from a puppy mill...where CS spent the majority of her days in a crate with her brother.  Needless to say, she was fearful of almost everything.  Her owner, Sheri, has done an outstanding job of exposing her to various situations...and I would say that CS is fairly normal at this time.  Sure, there are still some incidents that make her run and hide, but for the most part, she has learned how to handle the situations she encounters.   

For instance, my little iPhone kinda freaked her out for a bit...stopped her dead in her tracks, it did.  But, she got over it. 

We have always wondered why she was named Curly Sue.  Being a Beagle and all, she has not one curly hair on her.  

I am in charge of brushing her teeth and trimming her nails...lucky girl.  ~grin~  She doesn't really like having her nails trimmed (what dog does?), but she behaves during the few minutes it takes.

 Today, she and I decided that a selfie was way overdue!  So, here you are...

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Then, there is Tag...aka brown dog, Tag E Butt, chocolate puppy.  As you probably know, he does love his warthog.  When he received a new toy - Nanny Hoot Owl - he sort of ignored his warthog.  Of course, there was the question of whether or not Nanny Hoot Owl would become his new favorite.  Well, I want to set your minds at ease...after several days of hardly looking at his warthog, he was back to playing with it today.  Whew.  ~grin~

In this photo, he is making the choice between the two.

And, here he is 'woofing' quietly at his warthog.  He had a jolly time playing with the warthog, throwing him around and pouncing on him.  I feel safe in saying that he will remain faithful and true to his warthog.

The end.  (Now, if I was really clever, I'd have a photo of someone's back end to insert here.)

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I am very excited...Kaylynn is coming for an overnight tomorrow!  I haven't seen her since before Christmas, for pete's sake.  We have FaceTimed a few times, which is really fun to be able to do with her now.  

I hope you all have a great weekend!



"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Monday, April 21, 2014

Makin' Me Smile...

I certainly don't need more fabric.  
However, who can pass up a good sale?

Not me!

Especially when these fabrics make me smile!

 

I have just a whisper of a plan.

In the meantime,
I need to move things around.
There is just too much stuff in this small space.


"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Sunday, April 20, 2014

Easter Blessings...

He is risen, indeed!

 





"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Saturday, April 19, 2014

Well, I NEVER!

I did something today that I never do.  Seriously.  I never go back to bed once I am up...but I did this morning!  After about two hours of sleep - not sure why I wasn't able to sleep last night - Tag was up and ready for breakfast at 5:47.  So, I got up and pottied and fed him...cleaned my face and brushed my teeth...did a few dishes...checked blogs and email...then, at 7:22, decided to heck with it...I was going back to bed!  Which is what I did.  I slept fitfully until the phone rang at 9:38.  I felt better for that extra time in bed.  

However, it completely wrecked my plans for the day.  Which is not a big deal.  Being retired and all, as you know, means that I do not need to cram everything into the two days of the weekend.  Cuz, as you may or may not have heard (read) me say before...every day is like the weekend!  ~grin~

I did manage to get these sewn...


They are pajama bottoms for sister Joyce's grandson, Riley.  He will be six years old in a few weeks.  He loves pirates...and I just happened to have this flannel fabric...PERFECT!!!

I was going to work on some pillow covers for me Mum...but I'm thinking I need to take the rest of today off.    

Hope you are having a restful day.



"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Friday, April 18, 2014

Jingle All the Way!!

I know that it is Spring.  Well, supposedly.  With all the cold weather and snow everywhere, it is sometimes difficult to tell.  Being in the mood for something quick and fun, I put together a doll quilt...with flannel!  



 Jingles Flannel by Minick and Simpson (2009).
Measures 18 inches square.
Tied with red perle cotton.

 Now, that should make the warm weather come...don't you think?  ~grin~

I received a surprise package from my older sister, Joyce, this week.  She just learned how to read a knitting pattern, so has been busy knitting some fun dish cloths with designs!  The first one she did was a church design...

The note included with it read, "I am giving you my very first Church dishcloth because you were so instrumental at getting me back on track with my faith and I thank you for that and love you very much."  That is so special and made me tear up, that's for sure!   

The other one she sent was this...
The state I live in...Wisconsin.  Pretty cool, hey? 

Joyce is such a special person and a wonderful older sister!!

This week, I have been working on some other projects which I cannot show you quite yet.  And, I finished hand sewing the binding on me Mum's quilt...  


I don't have anyone to hold it or anywhere big enough to lay it out, so will need to wait before I am able to show you the entire thing.  I will be getting it laundered and photographed soon, though...I will be taking it to me Mum in 2 weeks!  I am so very excited to see her bed all decked out with her new quilt and pillows and bed skirt.

I should be able to show you a few more things before the end of the month.  

Wishing you all a Blessed Easter weekend!



"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Thursday, April 10, 2014

What's Going On?


I haven't blogged for a week, but I have not been idle.

I have been working on several different things...knitting and sewing...sewing and knitting.

Here are some photos...

in the process of sewing the binding on me Mum's quilt

two pillowcases for me Mum...to match her new quilt

face cloth

dog design face cloth

church design face cloth


So, you see, I have gotten a few things done.

This is the month of finishing up small projects, so I'll have more to show you as the month goes by.




"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11

Thursday, April 3, 2014

All in a Day's Work...

Today was the appointment at The Electric Needle...to quilt me Mum's quilt. 

I had a very pleasant time and learned a lot!  The girls took very good care of me.  Thank you to both of you, but especially to Jen, the owner of the shop.  

I decided to go with an automated design today.  I want this quilt to be special and so I didn't want to play around with free-motion quilting.  With 12 quilts waiting to be quilted, I'll have plenty to play around on.  The design I chose is called 'open swirls' and softens the 'squareness' of this postage stamp quilt.

Here are some photos:








I was there for a total of 3 hours.  I was happy about that...thought I might be there longer.  I am so happy that I found The Electric Needle!  I will definitely be quilting out there again, soon!  




"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.". Jeremiah 29:11