Just a couple of items of interest! (OR NOT)

While this isn't really very interesting, I did get a giggle this morning.  I sometimes peek into  my spam folder.....not the emails within the folder....just the folder itself to see who seems to be wasting so much of their valuable time.  Well, this morning, this spam heading caught my eye -  P E N I S     E N L A R G E M E N T      P I L L.  It was typed out in capital letters and spaces between each letter.  He or she really wanted me to take notice.   I did -  thinking how could this apply to me?  I don't have one, nor do I want one.  So I made the thought smaller in my mind by just calling it PEP!  Now, T H A T  I need a little of.   My energy has been draining lately with all the heat and humidity here in the Deep South.  But, as they say, this too shall pass.  About the time November gets here.   

Also of interest is that I learned in English 101 that a new paragraph should be started with each new subject.   I must have failed English 101 'cause the above paragraph starts out talking about a penis then PEP, then moves to my lack of energy and then on to weather conditions in a season yet to come.  I sure hope the search engines don't hone in on the P word!!!!

Another item of interest, or not.   I've been without internet service for a few days and what a bummer that has been.  It made me realize just how 'connected' I am.   I had a good time looking for ways to fill the void.  Came up with a few:

(1) Editing photos taken during a recent long weekend trip to New Iberia, Louisiana.  It was a whirlwind trip, but fun to get away and have someone else cook breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

A real charmer any month of the year!

(2) Took stock of what fabric I had on hand. 

(3) Assembled fabric and cut a few more "Idea Pouches" for gift giving.  I don't often purchase patterns, but this Michelle Pattern was a must have.  I know it's still a little early in the year, but having Christmas gifts for kids in the family is now almost off my to-do-list.  It's a pouch for all ages, personalized by using fabric that suits the age of the kid, whether young or old. 

I put notebooks, pencils and pens in this one but it is also perfect for sketchbooks, crayons or art pencils and brushes. 

Interesting or not.....this one is complete.  More later.

 

It's a long story: but someone has to tell it!

It was at QuiltCon 2013 where I picked up a little card/advert with a Valori Wells' quilt pictured on the front.  When I got home from Austin that year, I searched diligently for her quilt pattern and never found one published.  Perhaps it wasn't her pattern, but just her Novella fabric that was being showcased.   Who knows. 

I continued to sit on this picture and when Tula Pink's Acacia fabric line (last pictures in the post) hit the streets, I grabbed a few yards, knowing this was the perfect fabric for me to use when, or if, I ever got my hands on the quilt pattern I coveted.   To the Tula Pink fabric, I added a Michael Miller, Kona in gray and snow, and a Kaffe shot cotton.  I put all this fabric into my "Projects" bin and labeled it Project No. 1 to keep it all safe and organized and ready to grab when the time arrived. 

Fast forward early 2014, when  I decided to stop messing around and figure out how Valori might have made her quilt.  Here's my little sample.   Okay, I got this far then was distracted again, so back to the back-burner this project went.

Was it March or April that I found Emma Jean Jansen's  Terra Australis 32-fabric bundle?  I've been looking at that bundle since purchased and finally last week the lights came on and I knew what I wanted to make.  (That's another story.)   I've now labeled this one Project No. 2. 

Well,  now, remember the fabric I bundled and stored for Project No. 1?  I need that Kona snow in my newly-found quilt Project No. 2 which can only mean that I must complete Project No. 1  to be able to get started on Project No. 2 before I am further distracted by a new fabric line! 

 

The sewing machine has been running in high gear.  Project No. 1, the one I'm calling "Playful Raccoon," is completed.  The Kona snow is now bundled with Project No. 2 and it's on the design wall. 

 

TTFN

 

 

Changing: Now, that's a good thing!

 It wasn't one of my original ideas -

 

but I loved it enough to copy.  Several weeks ago I saw a picture of a baby's changing table that had been repurposed.  I put out the word to friends and family that while I wasn't expecting a baby in the house, I indeed needed a baby's changing table!

 

One good friend took me at my word and found this one.  It didn't sell at her church's rummage sale so she called me to see if I wanted to take it off their hands.  After donating to the youth mission fund, I hauled it home.  The cats gave it a good once over as did the huMAN of the house and all

declared that it wasn't in the best of shape

and

what was I thinking?

 

I persevered their verbal abuse and stayed with my vision of

 

transforming it  into my new ironing surface!

 

AFTER

 

the top roll bar was trimmed off

and

rolling casters were put on the four feet

and

 pullout drawer and shelves were made stable

and

 ply board cut, padded and covered and securely attached to the top

 

 

The perfect addition to my sewing/crafting studio where 

quilt patterns and ideas are stored in the drawer space

 rulers - all safely stored together within easy reach when needed on the first shelf

and

fabric bins holding projects ready for sewing on the bottom shelf

Man O Man - times, they are a changing! 

 

 

 

 

Quilt Blocks - bright and sassy!

 ~

 

When Melanie offered me these quilt blocks, I just said "yes."   That was several months ago.  I knew I didn't have time at the moment, but one day I would.  There were even more but I've already made one quilt out of the others and it's been donated.  I know some beautiful child is enjoying that quilt just as one will soon enjoy this bright and sassy one. 

 

Am I lucky?  Or What? 

Melanie is a quilter and she loves to make quilt blocks and she usually puts them into service herself; however, she was paring down in anticipation of moving day and I just happened to be in her path. 

I love being stumbled upon ~

 

Louisiana Traveling Quilt Block

Just a quick post and picture to prove that I'm still around and still making quilts.  Here's the second round of the Louisiana traveling quilt.  A group of ten are making sure our traveling blocks are making their way around the state and beyond. 

Here's my second block which will eventually travel into the hands of Marie Easterling.  My block joins the one made by Mary Marcotte. 

These blocks are off my design wall and will be in the mail tomorrow morning to the next quilter in the rotation.  Enjoy. 

 

Tuesday Tugs No. 1

When inspiration leaves, where will I be?  Where will my future be?   Here, I sit, pondering my future when I should be getting projects completed!  Life continues to be good.  However.....

 

.....My inspiration has been put on hold by projects that 'must' be completed.

 

So, I created myself a friendly challenge

Tuesday Tugs

May not be every Tuesday

But perhaps

Some

Tuesday will tug at me

Soon

 

 

Big and Bold and on a Field Trip

My big and bold and zig and zagged quilt took a trip to Our House in Milford retreat center last week.  And it loved the trip!

First stop was the front steps of the retreat center where it  enjoyed the huge expanse of the front porch.  Wide open steps extending a warm welcome for all to enter. 

Oh, you brought me a flower ~

And the rockers, comfortable for the quilt and the quilter. 

No birds allowed in this bath.  Well, not while the photographer is working so diligently.   The surrounding farmland makes for a picture-perfect setting. 

A little farther down the road - on the front porch of the farm house. 

 Love the cactus...man-oh-man! 

 

 

On the fence on the farm house property.  We didn't see a "no trespassing" so just forged right on.

 

Heading home now....just a quick stop at the Milford Cemetery.

 

Back home now with memories of a good time. 

Hoping for another time,

another year. 

 

Red Dress

I've been sewing all week and finished my red dress this morning ~




 

 

The week just past was a delight.  With friends that I see frequently and friends I met last year and friends I made just yesterday at Our House in Milford....Texas. 

 

home is good

this morning

sitting at my computer

wanting to draw

wanting a

red dress

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A traveling quilt ~ you say!

Northeast Louisiana Modern Quilt Group.....NelaMQG, here in North Louisiana has started their first traveling quilt.  There are ten in this group, some near, some far, so we've started a Pinterest board to show our progress and to keep us all together as we travel through the months. 

Mary at Fleur de lis Quilts and Accessories  made her first block and mailed it to me and I made my block to add to hers and it is now ready to be mailed on to the next person in the Louisiana Traveling Quilt rotation. 

A disclaimer!  I do take life seriously.   Mary asked for grays and neutrals and her theme is "Squares in a Round."  Mary....this is about as neutral as my head can go and if you look very closely, you've got a square in a round. 

And, so it grows: 

and so I play:  

 

 

 

 

 

 

From clear packing tape to greeting cards ~

Pinterest has it's advantages:  I learn lots of new card tricks....as in making cards using old magazines, clear packing tape and white card stock.

Card Trick No. 1 ~  It was a nail polish ad......but it expressed exactly what I wanted to say on my greeting card.  Sadly, the cat (the black one) dropped a cat hair as I was sticking the invitation onto the cardstock.   Oh, well, such is life.  Yes, she's still in the world. 

Card Trick No. 2 ~ I found this picture of a yellow door in a magazine published locally
and fell in love with the red mailbox.   This entry was so warm and seemed to welcome everyone into its midst.   My little 2" strip of packing tape got the picture perfectly. 

More on the board:  I'll probably add a thought or perhaps an invitation to  "Come Fly With Me"  or something like that. 

Not sure what I'll do with this one.  It was just a pretty picture.  It took four strips to get the most of it transferred.

and here's another chance to make a "let's get together and paint the town" greeting card.  Advertisements make the best pictures to pull with packing tape.  I'm not even going to consider that it's copyright protected since I'll only be making one little card to mail out only one time!  Surely, they won't waste big bucks on me! 

 

Another Lyric to Live By: Three Dog Night...one of their best

"Mama Told Me Not To Come"

I'm not hysterical but it might seem that way at times.  It was a fun approach to scrapping together some batik fabrics.  I'm not finished yet, but from here I rambled on to my "Lyric to Live By....'Mama Told Me Not To Come' by Three Dog Night."

 

 

 

 Added radial blur to complete the hysterics.   Yes, I should have listened to my mother, gotten some secretarial skills to get a good job!  Or, maybe, join the Peace Corp and see the world!  Mom was so funny at times with her nonsensical advise. 

 

 

 

 

When I woke up this morning ~

You were on my mind ~

and you were on my mind ~ oh, I've got troubles, ooooh troubles

One of my troubles is called too little time.  I've been concentrating on getting a few more community service kids' quilts completed.  While sewing orphan 6" squares together is easy, it still takes time.

               Yes, time, you were on my mind ~ when I woke up this morning!

 

Faulty Construction?!!

Melanie....it's all your fault !

Several months ago my most generous friend Melanie, who in the process of getting rid of stuff, gave me a gallon zip bag filled with  blue and white star blocks.  Yesterday when I dug through the bag, I didn't know whether to thank her or curse her.   How stupid happy am I to have taken this bag off her hands!    As I filtered through the bag  separating the finished from the unfinished quilt blocks I found that she had completed  six 12 1/2" blocks and many 6 1/2" ones, enough to finish my lap size quilt at 42" x 60". 

No, her construction isn't perfect.....nor is mine.  Upon close examination of each block, I remembered her telling me that there were a million bunny ears to clip off each block and that this was one of her early quilting attempts and that the seam allowances weren't perfect and none of the blocks squared up correctly and she just didn't have the time! and on and on.  At the time, I remembered just seeing these beautiful blue and white stars and not believing my luck that I was the recipient.  Each block had so many little pieces.  How did Melanie even get this many sewn together?  I would have given up long before she did.    I'm sure Melanie has a quilt pattern somewhere for this quilt, probably in one of her zillion quilt books/magazines that she pared down in her recent move.   But I didn't have it so I just puttered and placed blocks on my design wall and came up with this arrangement. 

I think it turned out beautifully and don't think it will collapse on top of me when it gets all quilted, washed and spread across my legs as I doze.    No, I see no faulty construction here and

here's what remains that will be put into another quilt.  Aren't they gorgeous?  No,  I see nothing faulty about the construction of these little blue shining stars. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I got my Michael Miller fabrics today

Michael Miller Fabrics is once again sponsoring the Modern Quilt Guild  members fabric challenge...and I got my 6 fabrics this morning at the NELA MQG meeting.  I've already added a few solids to the new Petal Pinwheels collection  but do not yet have a project idea.  But, that will come. 

Love being a part of the modern quilt movement and  having new eye candy in the house.  I'll be designing a quilt in my sleep tonight.   

 

For The Love Of - Springtime and flowers and paint and fabric

I awoke just in time to see the first ray of sunshine dancing across my fabric....painted flower on muslin.  Edited in Photoshop to include in Kim  Klassen's Texture Tuesday blog edition.....for the love of ~

Okay...Okay...so it's Wednesday - I'll get over being a day late if you will.   I still woke this morning with sunshine in my face and on my flowers. 

 

.....and what a fun challenge it was ~

As if I didn't have enough projects to complete! 

When Victoria (as in 15 Minutes of Play, Bumble Beans) issued the Spring challenge, I just couldn't resist.  It's been a long and cold and wet winter and I was so desperately needing a Spring day when I saw her newly posted challenge. 

And I new just where my starting point was going to be.   After ordering the fat quarter bundle of Anna Maria Horner's new fabric collection, True Colors, I cut most of it into 7" hexagons for my next quilt.....but I saved all the little scraps.  Some fabrics are just too precious to trash....don't you agree?

Back to my story - here's the challenge block diagram.  Not much going on here!  But with high hopes of Spring nearby,  I intend to make it my own. 

Victoria says we can do anything to the block that we want....make it any size....sub-divide it even more....whatever.  Her only "rule" is that somewhere within the block, there must be some "made fabric."  Okay, I can follow that rule!  Using my left-overs from my True Colors collection, I set about making fabric which I then turned into a 4-patch square - flying geese.   Component #1 now complete x 4.  To SOLIDify my block, I found some Kona snow and cut into my attaching triangles to complete component #2 of the challenge block.  Now what?  Lucky for me I went to our local Hancock's the other day and found a home dec fabric remnant on sale which I thought read Spring.  Component #3 complete.  

I got four blocks completed just in time to STOP and smell the Spring flowers.  It's a skinny little wall-hanging - 8" x 32" with flower petals and leaf free-motion quilted.  Yes, Spring is bursting out all over the sewing room wall. 

 

 

 

We got rain last night....lots of rain

A friend of mine posted a Facebook picture of how high the rain water came up on her patio last night during all the rain....reminded me of this Johnny Cash song....."How High's The Water, Momma?"



 

For all the Johnny Cash fans.

 

 

 

 

True Colors - An April Calendar

Anna Maria Horner's "True Colors" fabric collection was just the right color for my April calendar.

 

It's all about A Song Title - An Art Quilt

Have I told you lately that I belong to "Art Quilts Around the World", where 20 or more of us make  art quilts based on a chosen theme.  The theme this month was A Song Title.  After much deliberation, I decided on "Frog Went A Courtin'."  Here's my finished art quilt

Notice that Miss Mouse isn't wearing white...rather, she has very blue hair today.  She did venture out of her hollow tree and is sitting on the roof top oogling at her fancy frog.   Also, the big black snake isn't big and isn't black, but is a joyful snake of many colors eyeing the frog for reasons other than Miss Mouse's. 

 

In doing a little research about this folk song, I learned that there is quite the story behind the lyrics which have been altered and added onto and updated through the ages.   It dates back 400 years and was all about Queen Elizabeth I who very often gave members of her ministry animal names.   Although she never married and was known as the virgin queen, she did play love games with several suitors before rejecting them as unsuitable to be her king.  Her frog in the song refers to Francis, Duke of Alencon, France.

Froggy Went A Courtin' has been recorded by many, including Tex Ritter, Burl Ives, Bob Dylan,
Elvis Presley, Pete Seeger, Bruce Springstein....just to name a few.  I found this delightful version sung by Elizabeth Mitchell and thought it would be fun to share.