Family and More...

It has been a busy week.  Me Mum and sister arrived in Canon City on Tuesday!  We are so excited!  Jill and I had found a very nice duplex for them and we had the truck unloaded when they arrived. It all worked out so well.  Less stress than it could have been, for sure.    

Not sure if you knew, but me Mum - who is 85 years old - has Parkinson's Disease. She does very well with it, but does require help and cannot live alone.  Julie has lived with Mum for almost 4 years...Jill and I are very happy that they live here so that we will be able to help with Mum.  

Tomorrow is Mother's Day!  It has been several years since Mum has had more than one or two (of the 4 of us) with her on that special day.  We are looking forward to celebrating together.  

I have not had much time with Naomi Janome, but I did manage to make what I had originally planned to be a mini quilt into a pillow cover.  Cuz, you know how much I love pillows!  It's the envelope pattern by Carolyn Friedlander.  I rather enjoy paper piecing, and need to do more of it.  The fabric is Doglandia by Peter Horjus.  I have made other pillow covers and cloth napkins with this fabric...seen here and here.

Speaking of paper-piecing.  I have not done anything with my wonderful little hexies.  Trying to decide what to do with them...several options are available.  

I have been slowly working on a t-shirt quilt for my niece, Jody. She is a very patient woman...I say that because this should have been done a year ago.  But, with the move and all...well, it just wasn't happening. BUT...I now have all of the t-shirts interfaced and cut to size and I am beginning to cut/sew the filler strips.  It's going to take concentration and planning...which I am not in huge supply of. However, my plan is to have it done in time for Jody when she comes for a visit in late July. 

In other news...I am still putting my apartment together.  I got some barn siding boards a few months ago.  I needed to sand them down somewhat, otherwise the paint would flake off and they would be difficult to dust.  So, I sanded them down and put 2 coats of sealer on them.  I found the perfect iron brackets and got the long shelves put up this past week.  

Here is what I have on the living room shelf thus far...it will primarily be for family photos.  The shelf is 6.5 ft. long...  

So far, the 4 ft. long dining area shelf looks like this...    

Well, I think that is about all that is going on with me.  

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

Late Gifts...

Though I try hard to get gifts to people on time, it doesn't always work out that way.  My sister, Joyce, has been patiently waiting for her Christmas gift, which she received today...only 2 weeks late! Course, her birthday gift was also in the package, and that is about 3 weeks late!  ~sigh~  We FaceTimed while she opened the package. (I love technology, don't you?)  My sister, Julie, had made a counted cross stitch piece for Joyce that needed to be finished.  Shown in the second photo...it reads, "Sisters love to go shopping together".  For a long while, I had no idea how to finish the piece...but then - ha! - it came to me.  How about a messenger bag for Joyce?  So, here it is...

Not sure how well you can see the front flap, but it is rounded on the corners and goes almost to the bottom of the bag.

Here it is with the front flap folded to the back so you can see the counted cross stitch piece I inserted.  I made a dark purple flange around it with a purple solid.  

Julie also made a counted cross stitch piece for sister Jill, which I finished and gifted last week.   For her, I made a log cabin block with the puppy as center for a 12 inch pillow cover...

I also received a counted cross stitch piece from Julie...unsure what I'll do with mine.  Guess time will tell, hey?

More to do...always more.


"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

Gifts in the Mail...

You know I've been in a Strawberry Pincushion Swap, right?  (If not, just scroll down and see the previous post.)   Yesterday was the deadline for mailing out our packages.  So, I am thinking that I could possibly receive a package from my partner in today's mail. 

LO and BEHOLD!  I received a package!  Have I mentioned before that I absolutely LOVE receiving gifts in the mail?  Yeah.  So, anyway, I opened it and this is what I found...

  
It went through my mind that this was not quite what I expected from the swap.  But, who am I to question, right?  So, the first thing I opened was the little gift on the left.  It was a mulled cider votive candle...yummy!  But, I thought...mulled cider...strawberry pincushion swap...what?  Shrugged my shoulders and opened the card.  Well, duh.  It was from Dog Trot Farm's Julie!  I guess I was so excited that I didn't check out the return address.  Had I done that, I would have known. 

Anyway.  Turns out that it's a thank you gift for the tractor bag I made/sent for Julie's grandson, Travis Lloyd.    Here is everything she sent (oops, I must have covered up the feather)...

A bit of Fall decor for my kitchen!  A towel and potholder.  And, see the too cute little sign?  And, there's the mulled cider candle (which now makes total sense...~grin~)

And, the feather.  I feel very ignorant on this subject.  I know that to receive a feather is very special.  That it's a symbol.  That it can mean different things, depending on what kind of bird it's from.  So, I will ask Julie and let you know what she says.    

edited to add:  Julie tells me the feather comes from her Bantam rooster, Don Juan...and that it is a symbol of friendship.  Thank you!

Here's a closer look at the potholder.  Darling, isn't it?  Cutest scarecrow!

 

Thank you so very much, Julie!  Your gift, though totally unnecessary, is much appreciated.  I love it all!  I feel very honored to know you.

I must say that I have met the nicest women through my blog!  Women I will probably never meet in person, but who feel like close friends.  Women who share my interests, who cheer me on, who share their lives, who care about my life.   Women I care  about...think about...pray for...and whose words I read with love in my heart.     

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tag is feeling better.  Eating rice eagerly...will get back on his regular food tomorrow.  Today is all about ensuring that his stomach is settled.  He is pretty much back to his normal self...looking for food...and not lethargic.  I am relieved.  Thank you for your well-wishes. 

 
 "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 Photos...

 I went to Eau Claire last

Thursday and came home Friday...

a quick vacation.

I spent time with me Mum, 

all 3 of my sisters

(Joyce was there from Maryland

and Jill was there from Colorado),

my Aunt Bev and Uncle Babe,

and my BFF Janer.

Here are some random

photos from the visit.

Strawberry Margarita

 

 

Julie

Joyce

Jill is picking up

her new dog tomorrow.

Jaxen is a tricolor smooth Collie.

I had this fabric from

several years ago.

Perfect!

Jill with Jaxen's crate pad.

Zippered utility pouch.

The time went by too quickly,

as always.

It was good to go, though.

ONE of my current projects.

I will have a few fun things

to show you later this week.

"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 Night...

I never get as much done 
on the weekend as

I think I will.

But.

I got this done...a pillow cover for
sister Julie (the one who lives here with me).

The pillow cover is her (late) Christmas gift.

 The fabric was in one of the boxes

received from Cathy of 
Quilting on Turtle Hill.

I bartered with Julie...

I supplied the pillow form for her cover

and she bathed Tag.

Methinks I came out on the

better end of that deal.

 

I started quilting on the baby girl quilt.

But, because I took time out to watch the 

U.S. Figure Skating Championships,

I only got half done.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please say a prayer for my friend, Doreen.

Her latest ct scan showed that

the lung cancer is growing.

She's coming down here to

Madison to the UW Hospital

to see about a clinical study.

Doreen is being very positive

and believes all will be okay.

It's got to be.

Right?

"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

Sunkissed Revisited!

Remember back here, when I made

the Sunkissed quilt for my lqs?

I've been visiting it on a regular basis...

waiting impatiently for it to come home.

Well, it finally did!

YAY!  I love this quilt!

Not sure what I'll do with it, though.

For now, I will admire it.

And, my goofy quilt holder

(aka sister Julie, aka J3)...

when I say, "turn, please"...

this is what she does. 

I have several sewing projects 

planned for this weekend.

How about you?

What are you up to?

"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

Good Sunday Morning!

Before I write anything else, I need to apologize for not replying to your comments.  I've just been very busy and distracted (it's more the distraction part that keeps me from getting at them).  It'll get better.  Thank you so much for taking the time to read/comment.

So.  Julie is still here...we made it to the one week mark without hurting each other.  {grin}  I guess that means she's staying!  She has been very busy unpacking.  I've been busy as well, working at my job (only 3 days this week, though) and moving my stuff around so she has room for her stuff.  And, let me just say...she has a LOT of stuff!  So much for decluttering.  At this point, there is not one room in this house that is entirely the way we want it.  It'll get there...slowly but surely. 

I've been working on the t-shirt quilt (no photos yet) and need to finish that up...the deadline is fast approaching.  I am really looking forward to getting it done, as I have a ton of things waiting for me...and that I am very much wanting to work on.  Quilts to start, blocks to make for charity quilts, quilts to quilt (6 are waiting to be sandwiched, basted, and quilted...can you believe that?), tote bags to make, fabric to organize, etc.

In the evenings, I've been working on my stitchery for the Snow Days quilt.  I'm on block three.  Still haven't put any of the fabric blocks together.  I'll wait until I have more done...better to plan placement of colors.  Here's what I have done on this one...

I started this block on Monday night...and stitched some on it every evening.  I am really enjoying having this to work on! It relaxes me more than I thought it would.    

The dogs are getting along fine.  We weren't really worried about them.  There have been no more dog/cat encounters.  Julie has a gate in her bedroom doorway that is several inches off the floor so that fat cat Kisa can get under it should the need arise.  So far, Kisa hasn't ventured out on her own.  She seems perfectly content right where she is. 

I think that's all I have.  Have a great day!

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

They've Arrived!!

~1300 miles,

3 days,

2 overnights,

25 hours driving,

1 Rav4,

1 U-Haul trailer,

1 dog,

1 cat

1 sister.

They got here last night before 6:00...

 

Manley...the original Doodlehead.

This new chapter...
our new adventure...
begins

NOW!

This and That...

 Tag is feeling much better.

Thank you for all of your

good thoughts & prayers. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here's a watercolor print I had made
(several years ago...one for me & one for Julie)

depicting Manley and Tag at play.

This is how they actually played

together when they were pups.

For some reason, I never got

an actual photo of them like this.

They are 6 months apart in age.

art by Jenny McMurtie...find her here.

 

 This is Kisa, Tag's feline cousin.

Tag's cousins, Manley and Kisa,

will be here in a few days.

And, of course,

sister Julie will be here, too.

I am so excited!

I keep telling Tag that our

lives are going to change.

Drastically.

But, all for the better.

He has yet to be convinced.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A bit of trivia:

Manley was named after the football player...

Dexter Manley.

Just so ya know, before Manley,

Julie had another golden retriever

whose name was Dexter.

And another bit of trivia:

Tag was named after Rachel Green's boyfriend.

Tag Jones.

Ya know, on "Friends".

Real name, Eddie Cahill...

he now plays a detective on CSI: NY.

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

More Handmade Gifts...

This could go on for a bit, yet...

A few gifts I made have yet to be given.

I'll post photos of them as they are received.

 I showed the coco express quilt at our 

Thanksgiving celebration and Jill fell in love with it!

I didn't give it to her, though.

I did, however, make these two pillow covers.
Quilted.  Decorative.  18".

One for her birthday and one for her Christmas gift.

For my sister, Joyce, I used scraps

of her black & white quilt to make these.

Also quilted.
The first two are 14" and the third is 18".

 

My sister, Julie, received these today.

Four 15" cloth napkins.

The colors are much prettier than shown.

Perhaps she'll take a photo I can snag from her.

(she didn't want pillows)

I guess that's it.

Thus far.

About 5 things left to show.

Yeah, I know, I am a slowpoke.

But, hey!
I am all excited...

and so looking forward to the new year!

I have many projects in mind that 

I am really looking forward to working on. 

One goal I am setting for myself this next year...

increase the level of difficulty in what I do with my quilts.  

AND, I have a lot of organizing and

rearranging to do in the very near future.    

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

You Asked For It...

you got it (Toyota)!

Julie (younger sister - dexmangoldens blog) 
asked if I could make 

a holder/bag for her sunglasses.  

So.

I did.

Kinda was making it up as I went along.
(well, I did spend a bit of time thinking about it first)

Took about an hour from start to finish.

Lined & quilted (with batting) with a drawstring closure.

~3 1/2 x 6 1/2 inches.

(glasses not included)

(Julie, this will be mailed out on Monday.)

Quilt Received!

Julie's quilt arrived at her mailbox in Durango last Saturday...so I can finally show it in all its glory here!  I think it ended up to be about 76 inches square after washing.  

She called me while she was opening it...and cried.  I liked that.  When giving gifts to my sisters...my goal is to make them cry.  {grin} 

She also received the kitty blankets I made way last fall...see them here...2 pillowcases (one is shown on the photo above) and a matching kleenex cozy.  She was very happy, which made me very happy.

Pillowcase, Dilemma & Masseuse Needed...

This is all I've done thus far today.

Too busy gabbing on the phone.

And looking through fabric.

And just plain hangin' out with Tag.

But, hey!  This is pretty cool!  

I think I might have to go into

the pillowcase making business.

These are super simple to make and 

one is only limited by one's imagination!

This pillowcase is for Julie, 

the sister who is still waiting

for her beautiful quilt!  

(And, ohman, it is one beautiful quilt!)

I am not allowed to show photos of her quilt 

in progress...as she wants to be surprised.

But, I will tell you this...

I am about half done handsewing the binding.

Then, I'll wash/dry it to get the crinkly softness,

& take it a few places to show it off.

Then off to Colorado it will go...

and I will post photos as soon as she gets it!

This pillowcase is the first of two.  

Both made with this fabric, which is the same

as the border and backing of her quilt.

I made a little trim with plain black.

I think it's gorgeous.

Absolutely.

If I do say so myself.

And, I do.

(I may break my arm patting myself on my back.)

 

I found the tutorial here...
by Ashley of Film In The Fridge. 

Have you visited her blog?
I love seeing what she's up to
and am so inspired by her creativity! 

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have a dilemma.

Last fall, a friend asked me to make a quilt

and donate it to her son's school fundraiser.

It will be auctioned...great exposure for me!

(gosh, I hope it goes for a good price!)

So, I agreed.

Well, it's time to start working on it.

Cuz it's due March 1.

YIKES!  Can you say panic time?

Actually, she extended the deadline...

to March 15.

Better.

But!

I have no clue what fabric to use.

Or, what pattern to make.

One kind of dictates the other, I think.

My head has been full of ideas that are all rapidly being discounted.

I think I know what I want to do, though...

make a modern quilt using new/modern fabrics.

Okay.  But, what fabric?

I have lots of fabric...

yet, I don't have enough.

That's my dilemma.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 I need a masseuse.

Seriously.

I can only sew for about an hour at a time.

More than that, and my neck & left shoulder start to hurt.

I usually put a cd on, and sew for however long the music plays.

Then, I take a break.

Used to be that would be that.

However.

Lately, I seem to be building up a lot of tension

between my shoulder blades and extending up into my neck.

Or, perhaps it starts in my neck and extends down my back.

Whatever.

Does not feel good.

I think I need to revise my sewing table/chair arrangement.

Perhaps a higher chair.

Or, a lower table.

I am aware that I sit with my shoulders up.

A lot of the time.

Not just when I sew.

So, I am really conscious of it when I am sewing.

I try to relax my shoulders

and move them around to loosen them up.

To no avail.

What to do?

Any suggestions?

That's all for now...

hope you're having a great weekend!