More Pillow Covers...

I will never tire of making pillow covers.

I will never have too many.

This weekend, I have made two.

One had more to it than the other.

Neither one was difficult.

One had several different prints.

One had a few strips and bigger pieces.

One was both linen and cotton fabrics.

One was all cotton fabrics.

One was quilted.

One was not.

One had an envelope backing.

One had a zipper on one end.

I enjoyed making them.

One as much as the other.

Black linen with 3 black cotton printed strips.  12x16 inches.

Heart Day is coming, so I am ahead of schedule with this one!  16 inches.

I need pops of color in my living room...

so the next pillow covers will have COLOR!  

Hope your weekend is going well for you.

"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

Everything About It..

I love this bright yellow color...

I think it's called Mimosa.

I love a linen hand towel.

I love that there is a loop for hanging

(though, in this bathroom there no hook to hang it on).

I love that linen dries quickly.

I love that this is something I made.

I put in a 1.5 inch hem all around.   And, mitered corners....

I made a second towel.

For the kitchen...a dishtowel.

This towel has narrower hems.

And, I put the hanging loop across a corner.

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I did replace the monkey wrench (block 6)

with a different brown print.

I am hoping to get the last 3 blocks done today so that I can start working on that big 8 inch hst border.



"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

In The Mail...

A few days ago, I received a box of linen.

   
oh, I do love me some linen!

black, redwood, meadow (very lt.blue), turtle green, dress blue, tawny port

On that same day, I received the fabric
that sister Joyce and I (with Ashley)
chose using FaceTime.  
(first mentioned back here)

And, as if that wasn't enough fabric...
in today's mail 

I received another box from Cathy.

It's been 5 years since I first 

ran across Cathy's blog (click here).

Five years since I won her first box of 'scraps'.

Five years of calling her my friend. 

It is always great fun to open one of Cathy's boxes.

In this box, I knew there would be some

already made small doll heads.

Here they are...

I have something definite in mind for these...

I hope to work on them very soon.

The rest of the medium flat-rate box

was filled with fabric.

And, what fun fabrics they are! 

                      Here's the stack of small-sized pieces...

 

The stack of medium-sized pieces...

Look at the fun prints!

These are the large-sized pieces...

*alert**cuteness factor**alert*

red corduroy with embroidered gingerbread men...

And, look at this cute floral corduroy!

                         All of this in a medium flat-rate box.

Thank you so very much, Cathy! 

**Excuse me, but I must go and play with all this new fabric.

"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

Linen, oh Linen!

How I do love thee!

Look at what arrived at my doorstep today.  Well, I don't actually have a doorstep, that is, a step outside my door.  Just a hallway.  No step.  But, you know what I mean.  Right?  Just look at all of the scrumptiousness!

l to r:  Natural, Ginger, Buckthorn Brown, Chocolate

l to r:  Sphinx, Mixed Natural, Lima Bean, Translucent Yellow

Linen!  OH!  Linen!  I love linen.  It is all about linen!  I think I mentioned this before.  Why yes, I did...right here under Random Thought #6.  This box of linen totally made my week.  Which, by the way, was going very well.  Yeah, yeah...I know you're wondering what I am going to use this linen for.  Admit it, you are at least a little bit curious.  Or, if not, it's because you think you already know the answer!  Well, I have some marvelous ideas.  Yup, for doll clothes.  All involving linen.  Cuz, you know.  I love linen.  We shall see how it works out.  That, by the way, is only part of the answer.  Secrets are at work! 

I've been working on a quilt all week.  There are several components to the blocks...so I've been cutting and sewing and pressing and trimming.  Here are a few peeks...

 

 

 
Because I have nothing to do (she said tongue-in-cheek), I picked up 2 more projects this week.  They both sound like they'll be fairly simple to do.  One is due now and the other can wait a bit.  So, that's all good. 

I know what I'm doing this weekend.  Do you?  Have a great one!




"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

Random Thoughts On a Saturday Afternoon...

I have thoughts that I often think of sharing, but somehow I never get around to it.  And, it seems I have gotten so that I don't post anything unless I have something to show you.  This blog was named 'doodles of my mind' and those doodles were intended to be whatever comes to mind regarding family, friends, brown dog, God, sewing, quilting...well, you get the point.  

So, today, in this post, I am going to share with you some random thoughts I've had lately...those that I think you might need to know.

Random thought #1:
I wait for the mailman.  Every.  Single.  Day.  Always have.  Course, back in the day before computers, letters and bills filled my mailbox six days a week.  Now, of course, I pay most of my bills online, and letters are a thing of the past...emails and instagram and facebook and blogs have taken their place.  Sometimes, I am expecting a package, but with tracking information, I always know when it is going to arrive.  Unless, of course, I receive a surprise package.  Which doesn't happen nearly enough, in my opinion.  All of this to say that (at least) 5 of the 6 mail delivery days will find me disappointed at the mailbox.  Yet, the next day finds me waiting.  

Random thought #2:
I think I've said this before.  I am so happy to be retired!  I love the freedom.  Each day could be a new adventure.  Course, I am almost always here sewing and chatting on the phone.  Partly because most of my friends are still not retired.   But.  The fact that I can do whatever I want whenever I want gives a great sense of freedom in and of itself.

Random thought #3:
I think I've also mentioned this before.  I love to sew.  However, I do not like to do alterations.  And, I don't necessarily like to make something because someone wants me to (like the last two sweatshirt jackets I made for my Aunt).  Those things tend to sit for a long time before I get at them.  Something about stifling my creativity, I suppose.  (Or, that could just be an excuse.)

Random thought #4:
I love music.  I have music on most of the time...unless, of course, I am watching tv.  For one thing, I love it (I know I just said that), and for another thing, it helps to distract me from my tinnitus.  Or, at least, helps to make it less noticeable.  Because, frankly, there are days that the constant ringing in my head about drives me crazy! 

Random thought #5:
I know my limitations.  My sister and I were talking about this one day.  She thinks I can do everything and that I can do everything perfectly.  I know that I cannot do everything...and that I cannot do everything perfectly.  When I am complimented on something I've done, I know that much of the time, it's because the person who is complimenting me would not be able to do it.  When I said that to Jill, she  thought I was downplaying my work.  That's not it.  I am well aware of the fact that there are those out there who do much better than I at specific things.  That's not downplaying my work...that's being realistic.  I do the best I can.  A lot of the time, it is more than adequate.  We all have our strengths and weaknesses and I do not pretend to be the best (or even adequate) at all things. As I said, I know my limitations.      

Random thought #6:
I love linen!  I want to sew with linen.  I intend to do something about that.  Perhaps someday.  Though, not to the exclusion of sewing doll clothes. 

Random thought #7:
I joined Mandisa's Word Warriors...we memorize a new scripture each month.  July was 2 Peter 3-9..."The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness.  Instead, He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance."  

Well, those are all the random thoughts I have for now.  We should do this again, hey?

I am keeping busy this weekend with much cutting and sewing and pressing and trimming.  

Hope you're having a great weekend!

Well, okay!  I guess I cannot leave without posting a photo.  Here is one that I shared the other day on Facebook.  Not sure what to call it?   It measures 6 inches square and is made of linen.  It took a very short amount of time to make...and is just the perfect thing for the two little tealight holders to sit on...

"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

The Eleventh Hour...

You know how sometimes you think you have something all figured out?  Well, I thought I did, for sure...up until 2 days ago.  That's when I started having doubts.  So...a complete change of plans.  At, ya know...almost the Eleventh Hour!

I am talking about the Strawberry Pincushion Swap. 

We had two weeks from the time we were assigned our partners until the mail out day, which was today.  I started working right away, playing around with some ideas I had been thinking about.  As of Tuesday afternoon, this is what I had put together...        

The redwork piece is a pattern from Bird Brain Designs.  I made this same piece awhile back for Sharon.   It needs to be stuffed, but it's kinda big...about 5 x 7 inches.  The wool pink strawberry with the little one is a gift I received several years back.  I have never used it, but it has always been on my shelf of favorite things.  I thought, what is more perfect than this!  Then, I used a bit of Briar Rose fabric with strawberries to make the round gathered basket.  The tutorial by A Spoonful of Sugar can be found here.  Quick and easy to make!  And, of course, strawberries...lots of strawberries. 

I was thinking that this was a nice package to send my partner.  But, then I began to think that this package was too 'cutsie'.  Nothing wrong with that, but I wanted to do more than cute.  Ya know?

While browsing Sharon's blog, I saw something that stopped me in my tracks.  Seriously!  I was so inspired by it...and this is what came of that inspiration!

The strawberry is stitched with linen floss on linen fabric, bordered top and bottom by a polka dot fabric.  It measures about 2.5 x 3.5 inches.  The bitty strawberry - about 1" - is made with the same polka dot fabric, has linen leaves stitched down with linen floss, topped with an antique button.  It is tied to the pinkeep with linen thread.

I made something else that I think is kind of special.  See the dog stitchery with the bone in the corner?  She has a Corgi named Taggart...she calls him Tag.  Is that fun, or what? 

I am now feeling pretty good about this package I put together for my partner.  And, it did get mailed today...~whew~!

Now, on to other projects that are patiently awaiting my attention.

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Speaking of Tag...he isn't feeling well.  Vomited a few times this a.m. and is somewhat lethargic.  He has a high normal temperature.   Didn't even ask to eat supper...this from the boy who starts bothering me and looking for his supper an hour (or so) ahead of his normal feeding time.  ~sigh~  I am sure he will be okay, but still...I worry.

I hope you 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

Stitching & Car...

My car is fixed...YAY!

Wow, two weeks without a car.

It makes one totally dependent on others.

Rides to work.

Rides home...to the

Credit Union, grocery store, church & lqs.

I so hate to be dependent on others.

But, it's all good now.

whew.

I did get quite a bit of stitching done while waiting

for my ride home to be done working.

At least one hour every day.

I finished block one and started block two.

Here's my block one...

The design is drawn on

Kona solid cotton in the color Bone

and then backed with muslin.

So easy to stitch on.

Doesn't that floss look great?

It's a variegated...

I think I showed you before.

But, here it is, again.

Once I sew the fabric blocks together,

there will be more stitching

(on the sewn fabric blocks)

to finish out the trees.

Before I get there, though,

I need to do some commission work.

Scrub tops, totes and t-shirt quilt.

One more day of work.

I think I can get through it.

Have a great Friday!

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OH...and hey...be sure to check out my selling blog

(up on top of the sidebar...the chocolate puppy).

I have linen for sale and hope to list some wool soon!

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10

Christmas Gifts

I am almost done making Christmas Gifts.  I need to finish one more thing and then everything I have will be ready to mail.  I mailed a big package to Joyce today.  Had to make sure she got her box, as most of the stuff in it is for her to give.  

Unfortunately, I cannot show you any of what I made for gifts until they've been received.  It won't be long, now!

I can show you these, though...the two carrycots I made for my sister to give her granddaughters.

I think they turned out darn cute!  As you can see, I used the same fabric for the outer shell for the two carrycots.  To distinguish one from the other, I quilted them differently (one meandering and one loopy), made the pillowcases with different trims, and used red on one quilt front and backing and yellow on the other.  Alyssa and Ashley will (hopefully) love them!   These are not difficult to make at all, but ohmygosh, they take a good bit of time and are so putsy!  Not complaining (well, kinda), cuz it's all simple sewing...but just sayin'.

It was sure nice having today off!  I only work 3 days this week, 3 days next week, then work 2 weeks and have a week off.  Pretty tough, alright.  {grin}

Stopped at my LQS to pick up thread and came home with 1/2 yard linen.  I didn't know they had it, so was quite excited!  I've been wanting to try working with linen.  Not sure if I'll incorporate it into a small quilt or use it to make napkins.  Only time will tell, I guess!

Must go quilt a tablerunner.  I'll be able to show you that one when I've finished it.

Have a good night!

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. - Ecclesiastes 9:10