Placemats for Sylvie...

The placemat quilt swap 3 (PQS3) is over...both Sylvie and I received our mats from each other.  What a fun swap this was!

And now, for your viewing pleasure...the placemats I sent over to France.

placemat 1 front

placemat 1 back

placemat 2 front

 

placemat 2 back

I took today off, as well.  Need to finish up a few small projects and then straighten the house!  When I am in the midst of several projects as I have been these last several days, I don't make my bed, nor do I do the dishes.  Pull the covers up on the bed...rinse and stack the dishes.  That's all I do.  

Have a good day!

Coming Soon...Very Soon!

Big news!!!  Exciting news!!! 

Brenis and I have decided to collaborate and open an etsy shop!  Our focus will be fresh, modern quilts in varying sizes, but we will also offer rug hooking supplies (like hand-dyed and as-is woolens!) and finished products.

The name of our shop is 2Peeps.  Cuz we're peeps, and there are 2 of us.  {grin}  Please be sure to visit us and mark us as one of your faves!  Check in often, as you never know what we'll have there to tempt you!  

I am really hoping that items get listed by this weekend.  After today, that will be my focus.  

There will be a grand opening special...be sure to see the announcement on the opening page of the shop. (It isn't there yet, but will be once items are listed and the shop is officially open.)

We are very excited about this new venture!

Mail from France!!!

I received my placemats from France today!  Sylvie and I were partners in the PQS3 (placemat quilt swap 3).  We agreed to make 2 placemats for each other.  oh. my. gosh.  I love them...they are just what I like...simple and understated.  Take a look...

 

I love this label. 

Didn't get anything else quilty or crafty done today.  Talked on the phone.  Watched the movie, 'Angels & Demons'.  Liked it a lot...course, with Tom Hanks starring and Ron Howard behind the camera, how could it go wrong?

Have a good night!  I know I will...DWTS and Castle are on.

Days Off...

I have today and tomorrow off.  YAY!  Though I've gotten quite a few things finished, I still have much to do.  I may have put more things on my list than anyone could possibly  get done in 4 days, but by having so many things on my list, I am able to pick and choose what project I want to work on next.  haha!  There is a method to my madness.  I have one huge project to complete...and will work on smaller projects when I need a break from that.  

I finished this tote bag this morning.  It's a Mother's Day gift for my Aunt/Godmother Bev.  I started it yesterday but it took much longer than I thought it would...or that it needed to.  Probably because I was making it up as I went along, and had to stop and think.  Which hurts.  The next one will go much faster.  I hope.  ohyeah.  I know.  It's late.  For a very important date.  ohmy!  
 

It measures about  12 x 16 inches, has a flat bottom, and a little loop for keys sewn into one side seam.  Inside, there are pockets.  One side has pockets that go all the way across...on the other side, there is one pocket higher up...for keys or cell phone or whatever you think you might need easy access to.   And, it matches the pincushion I made for her last year for Mother's Day.  See it here.

Aunt Bev sews and knits...always totes something along wherever she goes, so I think she'll like it.

There's a folded strip of fabric that is sewn into the seams that runs across one side...divided by stitching lines into 5 pockets.

 (the pocket is on straight, just looks crooked)...

Update on other projects...I finished the hand-sewing on the baby blush quilt and will be washing/drying the two quilts for Joyce today.  Cannot show them until she's received them.  They are too dang cute...just sayin'.

I'm sure I'll be adding to this later.

Don't forget...DWTS tonight!

This n That...

I was planning on doing a post yesterday...a big long post...baring my soul and all of that.  I got so busy getting things done, though, that I never did sit down and write it.  Now, this a.m., it seems totally inappropriate.  But, I do have a lot to say, so sit back and relax and enjoy the ride (read).  

Today is a special day for celebrating motherhood...

Happy Mother's Day to all!

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I had my 3rd injection of synvisc on Friday morning and am so pleased with the results.  No pain!  Well, an occasional twitch here and there, but nothing like I have had for so long.  

Friday was kind of an off day for me.  Will spare you the details.  Suffice it to say that I was feeling sorry for myself.   So, on my way home, I was having a good talk with myself...so what if I don't have this or that or so what if my life is different than what I thought (30 years ag0) that it would be.  Were it not for what has gone by, I would not have what I have now.  And, I did have the next 4 days off work, after all! That's gotta make one feel better, yes?

God has such a way of showing me what a doofus I am.  Ya know?  And, He apparently thought that I needed a BIG message.  There were 3 fun things waiting for me when I got home.  2 packages and a wonderful friendship card.  It was like being slapped upside the head..."are you paying attention, now?" 

The card, sent just because...from Kelley of With Hook & Needle.  I wish we lived closer.  Thank you so much, Kelley.  It sure warmed my heart.

A package from my sister, Joyce, in Alaska.  Had no clue what she sent.  Not my birthday and not any other celebration.  WOW!  It's a calendar...she buys me an Iditarod calendar every year...but for Christmas...not this early in the year.  BUT, what's this?  A 2011 Alaska Quilts Calendar.   Ohboy...this is such an awesome calendar...a collaboration of quilters for a special project to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Alaska statehood.  Here's a photo of the back of the calendar...if someone reminds me, I'll post a photo at the beginning of each month.  These are so awesome and I LOVE this!  Be sure to click on the image to enlarge it.  Thank you, Joyce! 

The 3rd fun thing...a package from Cathy of Quilting On Turtle Hill.  Now, I've mentioned Cathy before...I won a giveaway...a box of scraps.  Well, not really scraps, as there are some large pieces in there!  I made the 'love is in the air' quilt and a pinwheel quilt and a fabric basket and now, the doll quilt (more on that in a bit).   A few weeks ago, Cathy started making dolls and they are just the cutest things I've seen!  Each one having different hair style & color and eye colors...different clothes...they are too adorable for words!  Please be sure to click on the link above and see these too-cute-for-words dolls!  Well, I've been very vocal in my comments on Cathy's blog.  About how much I liked them.  Last week, Cathy asked for my address.  When I sent it to her, I asked if I was getting another box of 'scraps'.  She said that I was not...that maybe her dog, Brodie, had bought a new toy for Tag!  So, I really had no clue what was in that box.  The box wasn't very heavy, and when I picked it up, something inside kinda flopped...so I was thinking that she really did send a new toy for Tag!  Well, I opened the box and about fell over on the spot!  She sent me this...

A 14" doll of my very own!  Isn't that just the most adorable doll ever!  I mean, really!  EVER!!!!  She is posing here with a little quilt my gram made for my chatty cathy doll a bazillion years ago.  She definitely needed her own quilt.  So, I made one for her!  Here it is...all washed and dried and crinkly soft...measures just over 13" square.

The squares finished at 1"...itty-bitty squares.  I did no pinning on this one...and was happy that the points all lined up so nicely.

 We had a photo-shoot this morning...

 ...and Tag helped (?).

 She tired out quickly...

That's all I have on that.  Except that she needs a name.

edited to add:  she now has a name...Aubrey Lynn.  Thanks, Janer!

Ya know...I don't have a lot...but what I do have is precious to me.  That very definitely includes all of the very nice, wonderful, creative & talented, and generous friends in my life.  Those I've met in person and those I've met online.  I thank you all.

In the Meantime...

Today is the first of 4 days off....woohoo!!!  I have many things I'd like to do, but 2 major projects that need to be finished.  Being the procrastinator that I am, I decided to take today just for me.  The plan, then, is to concentrate for the next 3 days and finish everything up.

I finished hand sewing the binding on the turtle quilt last night.  This morning, I finished quilting the baby blush quilt and sewed the binding on...need to do the hand stitching.  No photos to show, cuz Joyce doesn't want to see them until they arrive on her doorstep.

I did some reading.  I played with Tag.  I made a doll quilt.

I have a huge post that I want/feel the need to write, but my head isn't quite ready for that, yet.  In the meantime, feast your eyes upon this lovely, delicate little quilt.   Those are 1" squares...I have a new-found respect for those who work with really small pieces!

More later.

Happy Anniversary, Jill!

Today is an anniversary that my family is very happy to celebrate.

30 years ago, my sister, Jill, survived a horrendous accident.

Picture this...

VS 

Jill on this...

Can you say, "OUCH!"?

Luckily, she had on one of these...

else she would not have survived.

I (now) play it rather light with her, 

but she went through hell...

in spite of being properly clothed

(gloves, jacket, boots, etc.)

and after being thrown 35 feet, 
she sustained multiple fractures

(tibia, fibula, femur, radius & ulna)

and an exposed bone area on her lower leg 
(where her knee-high leather boot was torn off).

She endured 

 extended (and multiple) hospital stays,

21 surgeries,

re-broken bones,

skin-grafting,

physical therapy,

a hip spica cast
(which kept her in a semi-prone position), 

etc., etc.

She has led a normal life since her recovery.

(well, normal for her...sorry, couldn't resist)

We love her.

And, we thank you, God!

5 Years Old...

Today is Kaylynn's 5th birthday.

Her Mom sent some photos...

be sure to click to enlarge them.

(this first one is a bit blurry)...

She'll be coming for a visit a few weekends from now.

Hoping the other Grandkids are able to come, too...

we'll have a little party.

Happy Birthday, Kaylynn...

I love you more!

My Adventure.

I went to the post office after work today.  I needed to mail the placemats from the place mat quilt swap to Sylvie in France.  (I'll show photos once she has them.)  I parked, turned off the car, laid my keys on the seat (uh-huh) while I put the address label on the package.  Why didn't I put the label on at home?  Who knows...most likely so I could have an adventure!  I got out of the car and as soon as I let go of the door after pushing it shut, I said (loudly!)  "OH NO!!  My keys!"  Yup, there they were...laying on the seat.  "Shit.  Shit.  Shit."  (excuse my french.  OH...but, come to think of it, the package that I was there to mail is going to France, so maybe you shouldn't excuse my french.  ha!) 

Anyway.  Went in and took care of business.  Asked the postal worker if he had a phone I could use and told him why I wanted to use it.  He hollered to the back room, "Hey John, could you bring the phone up here?  A lady just locked her keys in her car."  ummmm, thanks.  He did look a little sheepish when he turned around and apologized for saying it loud enough for everyone in the PO to hear.  I didn't care.  

Okay.  Got the phone.  Who to call?  Couldn't remember anyone's phone number.  hmmmm...called Claire.  She was very helpful.

She asked, "Do you have an extra set of keys?"  I replied, "yes, in my bag, which is locked in my car."  She mentioned AAA, which I am not a member of.  But, genius that she is, she then asked if there was a service station close to the PO...perhaps someone there could help.  YES!  The place my car has grown quite fond of was across the street.  Well, a block away.  Across the 4 lane divided BUSY street.  I figured if they couldn't help, they would at least know who could.  Right?

So.  Off I went.  Remember, a block to the street, across the wide street and median, then about half a block down.  I was huffing and puffing...

nooooo, not that kind of huffing and puffing.  The 'ohmygosh, I cannot breathe!' kind.  But, the good news is...my knee did NOT hurt!  WOW.  

On with the story.  Because I know all of you are on the edge of your seats waiting...

John, the nice owner, took me back over in his truck and had the car door open within 45 seconds.  COOL!  I was impressed!  

edited to add:  He charged me only $10.00!  Nice guy!

So.  Can you beat that?

A Little More Piecing...

This little turtle quilt is taking some time to put together.    I need to work in sections, and really need to think about what I'm doing.  (and, you know, I try really hard to not think...about much of anything.)  Sewing blocks or rows together is much faster.   

I'm laying it out on my light table, but the table is not large enough.  I'm thinking it would be real helpful if I had a design wall.  What a novel idea, hey?  I'm almost 1/2 done, though. Here's what I have thus far...

 

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 So.  My second synvisc injection went as planned.  The doctor was kinda cute...and really nice.  Just not as cute as Dr. CutiePie.  {sigh}  My injection site bothered me all day...wasn't really painful, but I was very aware of it.  This a.m., it's okay.  And, my knee is definitely better.  One more injection to go.  

Need to get my butt in gear...have much to do.  A realtor is showing the house tomorrow a.m., so 1/2 of my day (tomorrow) will be wasted with cleaning/straightening and being out of here when they come.  

Have a great weekend!

There They Are...

The turtles are showing themselves!  I started piecing this quilt together today.  This is all the progress I made, though.  Not that I worked very hard or long at it.  (just sayin)

I go for my second synvisc injection tomorrow morning.  Found out that I won't be seeing Dr. CutiePie...won't see him for the third injection, either.  Gosh...not sure if I can go through with them.  {grin}  My knee has felt better this week...not so stiff and not so much bone on bone.  HURRAY!!!

I am really looking forward to the weekend...rather, to not going to work.  I have so much to do.  Does it never end?  (you don't have to answer that.)