As Promised...

Here I am, as promised, to show you what a lazy butt I've been I've finished since the holidays.  If attempts to get something done counted, I'd have a lot more to show you.  Just sayin'.

I made these two kleenex cozies...just for the heck of it.  For kids...or very young-at-heart...

Last year, I made two quilts with Vintage Happy fabrics by Lori Holt (see here and here).  I have enough of the fabrics left to make at least one more quilt.  But, before I do that, I wanted to ensure that I would always have some of the Vintage Happy fabrics around to make me happy.  So, I made this 24" square 16-patch mini quilt... 

And, that is all I have to show you.

Course, now that my interest in reading has resurfaced (if you have no idea what that means, click here and check out Random thought #2), there is time spent doing that.  I even added a widget on my sidebar so that you could track what I have read...should you be interested.  It seems that I am back to my old reading self...I am currently reading my 6th book of this year.  It's not like I'm reading every single minute of the day, either.  Lots of time is spent doing other things...or nothing at all.   

Onward and upward!



"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 Revisited...Again

ohyeah...I have more random thoughts.  Never at a loss there, for sure.

Random thought #1:
I hate winter.  I hate being cold.  I hate the snow.  Actually, that's three separate thoughts.  But, definitely linked to this season.  Perhaps hate is too harsh of a word.  I harbor a very strong dislike of this time of the year.  Slippery sidewalks...being so careful, cuz if I were to fall...well, let's just say it would not be pretty.  Drivers not knowing how to drive in winter.  Five minutes of bundling up to go outside for two seconds.  Gray, dreary days.  Where is the sun?  I can deal with the cold and snow so much better when the sun shines.  

Random thought #2:
I started reading again.  What a good feeling!  I have been a voracious reader my entire life...always, always making time to read.  In fact, I read 84 books in 2010 and 90 in 2011...all while working and making lots of quilts and other things.  (I know this because I started tracking books I have read on goodreads.)  Then, something happened and reading a book was the last thing I wanted to do.  In 2012, I read 23 books and last year, in 2013, I read 8.  What?  It bothered me a great deal that I had no desire to read, yet not enough to make me do something about it.  You know, like pick up a book and read it.  But wait...I am very happy to say that I have read 2 books already this year and have 5 books checked out from the library that I am very much looking forward to reading...my book bag is being put to good use.

Random thought #3:
In random thought #3 of my second post of random thoughts, I wrote about using words...that my fave word is perspicacity.  Recently, I ran across a word I had never seen before (yes, while reading!).  So, of course, I have now added this to my list of fave words.  Percipience.  (Please note that it also begins with the letter P.)  ~grin~   

Random thought #4:
White Collar, a popular show on the USA network, has ended.  I enjoyed it very much and feel that they could have gone on much longer.  I will miss Neal and Peter and Mozzie.  Oh, but guess who showed up on one of my other fave shows?  Yeah, Mozzie was on Hawaii 5-O last night!  I was so excited to see him.

Random thought #5:
There are way too many food commercials on television.  Interestingly, even food I would never eat somehow looks delicious at the end of the day.  

Random thought #6:
Big dogs (especially those 70# brown ones) can fit into very small spaces.  If they want to badly enough.  Case in point...Tag decided that he wanted to curl up in the big easy chair with me last night.  Not the usual 'butt on chair, front end on ottoman'...but all curled up in a space that measures no more than 12 x 20 inches.  He must have been comfortable enough, as he stayed there for over an hour.  I love that boy.

That's my left arm behind his head...he is between my left side and the arm of the chair.

Random thought #7:
One of the very best things about American Idol is Harry Connick, Jr. 


That's all I have for today.  Hope you enjoyed those random thoughts of mine!
    


"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

Reading...or Not!

It has been over a month since I have read a book.  Yes, I know...very unusual for me.  I have read only 12 books thus far this year...that is less than one book per week.  My norm is more than one per week.  I guess I have been distracted by a few things.
 
I've been working on my 'Snow Days' block units...

All last week, I had the blocks laid out on my dining room table.  I wanted to make sure that I was balancing the colors/values before I sewed the block units that will make up the left border.  So far, so good, methinks.  I put them away last night, and began cutting out the pieces for the remaining blocks...only 4 more block units to go (of the border blocks, anyway).

And, as I mentioned before, I've been watching 'Burn Notice'...

 

I've watched 80 of the 81 episodes (5 seasons worth) thus far...and will watch that 81st one this weekend.  I discovered that Season 6 begins in June, so that is something to look forward to!

I did mange to sew something this week.  

When my sister, Joyce, saw the cover for my eprinter, she asked me to make one for her.  She keeps her eprinter in the kitchen, on an out-of-the-way countertop.  So, of course, I made her cover with a kitchenwares fabric, first shown here.  I did some simple straight line quilting...various widths.  I think it will look great in her kitchen!

Perhaps I will get back to my reading very soon...I have many books waiting to be read.



"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

Catching Up...

Still getting fatigued way too easily. 

Still taking my daily nap.

I've been working on some easy things, though.
Things that don't require too much energy.

I'm stitching on block 7 of the 'snow days' quilt.

(no photo)

I finished piecing this quilt top today.
Right now, it measures ~48 x 57.
I'm not sure if I'll add a border.
This took me all week to put together...

working in small increments of time.

If you'll go visit my friend, Erin, 

you'll see that she is working on something similar.

Actually, I totally ripped off the idea from her.

The big difference is that
I used a charm pack (5" squares)...

she is using a layer cake (10" squares).

She knows I did this.
(Thanks, Erin!)

And.

I've been reading.

A lot!
Way more than usual.
I'll for sure hit my goal
of 80 books read this year.
I'm at 51 right now.

 Hope the weekend goes well for you.

Those on the east coast...

I'm thinking 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