Saturday, February 23, 2013

Random...Is There Such A Thing?


Apparently not.  For me, at least.  I tell you...I just cannot do random.  I couldn't when I was hooking rugs and I cannot when I am quilting.  argh!!  What's up with that?

So.  Here's the scoop.  Lotta Jansdotter fabrics Echo and Bella.  Love the colors...they play well together.  I decided I wanted to do a simple patchwork quilt.  I had twenty 10" squares of the Echo fabrics, 5 Kona cotton solids and then added in 2 more Kona cotton solids and seven of the Bella fabrics.  I cut 182 five inch squares to make the quilt top 13 squares across and 13 squares down with some left over for a strip on the back.  Okay...so random.  I thought I would just put all the squares in a bag and pull them out and sew together.  Truly random.  Just wouldn't put two of the same print/solid next to each other.  Not so easy as it may sound.  I did okay with the rows...but when I started putting the rows together, I did not like what I had done.  For one thing, there are some darks and some lights and I did want them somewhat evenly distributed throughout the quilt top.  I ended up reverse sewing about half of what I had done and started over.  Felt like I made this two times.  ~sigh~

Anyway.  Here is the quilt top...not quite how I wanted it, but certainly better than my first attempt...


I had a wonderful birthday last weekend...thank you to all of you for the well-wishes.  I received a few more cards and gifts this past week...gotta love an extended celebration, hey?

Here's a special gift that arrived in yesterday's mail...

Sister Julie made this...she buys chicken stuff for my kitchen.  Including the frame, this measures 15" square.  I know - having done counted cross stitch for several years - how much time and effort went into this...she did a great job!  The colors are so much more than this photo shows...very soft rich colors. 
 

I am in the process of reading, "The Third Bullet" by Stephen Hunter.  It's a Bob Lee Swagger book (remember "Shooter"...same character).  This story involves the assassination of John F. Kennedy, so is based on fact, but it is so much more than that.  Though the book is very technical in parts, I believe that those details are what makes the book all the more interesting.  WOW!  This guy really can write!  A storyteller at the top of his game, in my opinion. 

Work is becoming very stressful for me.  Not sure how this can be good.  Perhaps retirement will come sooner than I originally planned!  I wouldn't mind that at all. 

I hope you are having 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

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Winner, Winner...

Thank you all for entering my giveaway.  I wish I could give
each of you something! 

The winner of the small quilt is Nanci...CONGRATS to her!

Wishing you all a great week!

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Happy Birthday to ME!...and a Giveaway!


Happy Birthday to me!!! I actually love my birthday.  Gotta love a day that is 'all about me'!  ~grin~  Every year, me Mum reminds me of the year - I was a young child - when I became very upset because my Dad had to work on my birthday!  Actually, I always thought that, but it seems that one year I made a particularly big fuss about it.  That makes me smile.  Because, of course, everyone should be available to help me celebrate MY day, don't you think? 

What am I doing to celebrate my special day?  Well, for one thing, my son, Paul, along with his wife, Rachel, will be stopping by.  They picked up a tv that I bought and will be delivering it.  (I am so excited about this...but more on that at a later time).  We will have some time together and then will go out to eat for lunch.

For those of you who are wondering, I will be 61 years old at 12:12 today.  And, not a minute before!  ~grin~  One year closer to retirement is the way I see it.

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Later...

So, I had written all of the above this a.m. and, for some reason, my laptop shut down.   It's now almost 10:00 p.m. and I am just getting back to it.

I had a great day.  Paul and Rachel came...as planned.  Paul got my tv and blu-ray player set up and then we went to Outback for a birthday luncheon.  Very nice waiter and great meal!


I had one of these...

we shared one of these...

served by our waiter, Ben.

I didn't take a photo of our dinner...too hungry or something, perhaps.

Here is a great shot of Paul and Rachel...

and another one... 
We had a great time.
    
It has been a great day.  YAY!

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On to the exciting part of this post...the Giveaway!

I made this little mat before Christmas and did nothing with it.  I thought it might make someone a nice little gift.  The fabric is Jovial by basicgrey for Moda and the mat measures about 13 1/2 inches square.  I quilted it with little loopy-loops.  

front

back

No tricks or hoops to jump through...just leave a few nice words for me.  I will use the Random Number Generator at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 20 and will email the winner.  Please ensure that I have your email address...either through your profile or left in the comment.

Good luck to all of 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

Friday, February 8, 2013

Brown Boy's Birthday!

Today is Tag E. Butt's birthday!

He is 11 years old...
so hard to believe!

He has not slowed down.

Not. At. All.

Happy Birthday, Tag!

Love you to pieces!


xoxo


"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, February 2, 2013

Lotta Stuff...

I am very happy to have several different things to show you...works in progress and a few finishes.

I finished the curio quilt top...and the backing, too!  Here is the top...I love the secondary pattern the background fabric makes...
 

I made mitered corners for the very first time!  It was actually much easier than I thought it would be...and I am really liking the look!

The backing is pieced, of course, though not as much as many of my other quilts...

Now to get batting...meanwhile, I need to think of how I will quilt it.

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I received all the fabrics needed for the Lotta Jansdotter patchwork quilt I mentioned in the previous post.  And, I must say...Pink Chalk Fabrics absolutely rocks!  I wanted a solid to match the purplish/pinkish color in the Echo line and couldn't find what I wanted in the Kona colors.  So, I called the ladies at Pink Chalk and they found the perfect match in a Kaffe Fasset shot cotton...thank you, ladies!  I cut 5" squares - 182 of them...

 This one should be fast and easy!

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I also pulled out some blocks I've had for awhile...from my friend, Cathy, of Quilting On Turtle Hill and Pink Petunia Cottage Dolls.  I had made a quilt using these prints/blocks a few years ago...see it here.  I loved this quilt so much and will be making exactly the same quilt for an upcoming happy event. 

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Speaking of Cathy...when I first mentioned that 'knitting is my therapy', Cathy asked if I wanted some yarn that she no longer had a use for.  I thought she might be sending a skein or two...should have known better ~grin~.  Here is what I received - 11 skeins!

WOW!  What a generous soul!  I already knit two doll sweaters with yarn from her.  This one is a bit small for Aubrey...would fit a 12" doll nicely...

I made this one to send to me Mum...she has a little bear that she dresses up to fit the occasion...

It takes me about 3 hours to knit one of these doll sweaters...they are so easy and fun to make!  Thank you, Cathy!  You're the best!

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And, last but not least...I continue to make the soft cotton face cloths. I love the pattern on this one...simple knit2, purl2...stitch count can be whatever you want...multiples of 4 plus 2 so that you begin and end each row with knit 2.  I use 34 stitches to knit the face cloths, making them to be about 7" square using Peaches and Creme yarn with size 5 needles. 


So.  That's what I have been up to.  How about you?

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A special note...in six more days, Tag E. Butt will be 11 years old.  And, a week after that is my birthday.  I am thinking a giveaway is on the horizon...stay tuned for more information on that.

In the meantime, have fun doing what you love.


"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