what's everyone doing?

I took the time to remind myself that I am myself and that I don't have to do what everyone else is doing!  Now, I can get on with my morning.

my hearing is as old as I am...

I went to the doctor this morning for my usual checkup.  Just before exiting the room, doc asked if I had any more things that were troubling me.  AND that's when I remembered that my ear has been aching a little lately.  Not a continuous ache, just an occasional pain.  He also asked if  I had any problems with my hearing.  I told him no, I could hear just fine, but that the HuMan had begun whispering.

Doc just grinned a bit as he turned his head and prescribed a drop to be administered four drops at a time, four times a day.  The first four drops just went in so I haven't had enough time to know if this will work on eliminating the pain; however, I do know that the medication hasn't improved my hearing....or is HuMan still whispering.

Here's the way the last conversation with the HuMan of the house went:

HuMan:  This winter storm is named ??len.

Hard of hearing wife, hereinafter known as HOHW:    They've named a winter storm Ellen?

HuMan:  No, it's named ??len.

HOHW:  Okay, Ellen.

HuMan:  No, No, No.  Helen...read my lips H E L E N

HOHW:  Okay, Helen.  You don't have to scream!

It isn't my eyes that are having a problem, but thankfully the box reads loud and clear so I won't confuse this medication with my eye drops.  Hope everyone is braving  the effects of the winter storm, HELEN!

Material Things!

Cottonwood by Colin-Canderson for Newcastle  Fabrics

When all else fails, fill your day with fabric.  Now, doesn't that feel good?

Is there a BOM resurgence?

I'm re-thinking the quilting block-of-the-month!  When I started quilting so many years ago, making a BOM was a great way to learn new techniques.  Then, I branched out on my own and rarely joined in any BOM groups.  Is it just me, or does there seem to be a resurgence in the BOM movement?

Here's a few I found that really caught my eye:

Sisters' Ten Modern BOM with Gen X Quilters.  January 2013 block is Grandmother's Frame.

and then there is the Craftsy BOM -  it's free too!  Sew along with quilting legend Laura Nownes as she teaches us how to make 10 blocks of various sizes.  She'll be teaching y-seams, partial seams,  45 degree and 60 degree triangles and more.


Next, I found Victoriana Quilt Designs BOM.  January's block is Rising Sun - and on to completion of several blocks, the Santa's Rising Sun quilt.  I'm thinking that each BOM will also include a how-to to complete a quilt using the block.

And, where else but Pile O' Fabrics for another fresh take on modern:  Alyssa Lichner's Skill Builder BOM will be filled with lessons to learn or a refresher course on already learned skills.

I'm sure there's more, many more free blocks-of-the-month out there.  So, I would love to know where you've gotten your BOM 2013 inspiration.  Send me the link and I'll update today's post.

First things first!

Do you find the pattern first?   That was the first thing I did.....love this picture from the cover of Ellen Pahl's "PINWHEEL Party." 

Next, I made my fabric selection from my stash.  Not exactly as Ellen's picture, but quite the color blend to suit me. 

Then, I made pinwheels/windmills:  18 pinwheels to make my windmill rows for  this 40" x 46" quilt top.    All stitched up and ready for the quilter. 

 

 

 

When the Postman Knocks -

I answer it as fast as I can.....I was expecting a surprise in the mail and it has arrived.  Blogging has many rewards and is so fun.  It's the friendships that are cultivated that make each blogging year even more memorable than the last.  Yes, a tiny package came in the mail today.....filled with big fabrics from Kris, AKA Lavender Quilts.  She pulled these five big beauties from her shop,  The Quilting Garden.   I'm lovin' her garden filled with fabric choices, delectable enough to eat. 

 

Photo Collage No. 24....look at life

 

Let's Celebrate

It's the tail end of 2012 and life was very good to us this year.  No major tumbles and falls or hurdles to leap over.  We took one day at a time and lived it in our usual slow-moving-Jones-pace.  And that is a good thing, since we are moving more slowly with each passing year. 

I'm reminded of what someone once told me ...."you can't do what you should have done."  So, here's looking at you twenty thirteen - I'm putting my 'should haves' for 2012 behind me. 

Now it's time to see the front end of 2013.  Looking forward is the best way to see the world.  Memories of the past are wonderful.  Reminiscing with family and friends over a cuppa brings tears of joy and sadness, but I won't linger.   I my optimism, I enjoy thinking that the best is yet to come. 

Oh, yes, let the celebrating begin.  I'm looking forward to the new year....a year to be filled with love, laughter, good cheer and great health. 

 

ColorWheel (Fabric) Swap

ColorWheel Swap with CITYstitches was my first ever fabric swap and I'm in love with what I got in the mail last week.  Eight fat quarters of delicious modern fabric -

Hmmmmmmmm....now to get this cut and sewn into more modern quilts:  Let the fun begin! 
To enjoy more, here's Megan's ColorSwap Flickr Group. 










 

I feel as though the year is ending, but I've only just

BEGUN: 

 

 

 

 

It's going to be a busy day again, but I just couldn't resist the temptation to reflect!

 

 

 

 

 

December 26

 

Christmas isn't over until the last picture is edited!

 

 

 

What's all this hoopla about!



Mister Santa, my list is really too long, so I'll just smile for you and the camera.

There really is a Santa Claus ~

 

 

Who dat?

 

Oh, really!  For Me? 

I'm dressed and ready~ Let's start the show.....



 

 

December 25

Where the tree tops glisten and children listen to hear sleigh bells.....

in the snow

No, there's no snow in Louisiana, but the tree tops are glistening. 

Santa and his sleigh had no trouble finding the way. 

 

Merry Christmas!  May your day be merry and bright.

 

 

Spreading Holiday Cheer.....

.....from the Oak Point front door - throughout the house. 

 

 

Wishing you a  Merry Christmas filled with good cheer

and a Happy New Year filled good health ~

Marty and Tom

 

Holiday Cooking Assignment ~

My family, as I am sure yours is too, is scattered from here to wherever.  And the family now has families, which now have families which makes it difficult for all of us to come up with just the right day during the holidays to be festive together.   Today is the day!  We all share the cooking and my cooking (?) assignment is fruit salad.  I started the prep work yesterday, draining and chilling.  On alighting from the bed this morning, I mixed!  That's it.....an Easy Fruit Salad.  So yummy for so little effort. 

 

 

 

My fruit salad is ready to load in the car and travel.....let the holiday fun begin!

 

 

 

Christmas Time At Oak Point

It's a special time of year:

Feeling the spirit at the dining table ~

and seeing a Southern winter approach from the front porch ~

and dreaming of another day at the lake ~

No, it isn't mine, but I can dream, can't I! 

 

Lou, Lou, Skip to the Lou

I haven't sketched anything in so long....this morning

was the right time to renew an old habit.

 

Louise and I greeted the day together.

 

 

Fly's in the buttermilk, Shoo, fly, shoo

There's a little red wagon, Paint it blue

Lost my partner, What'll I do?

I'll get another one, Prettier than you

Can't get a red bird, Jay bird'll do

Cat's in the cream jar, Ooh, ooh, ooh

Off to Texas, Two by two

Skip, skip, skip to the Lou,

Skip, skip, skip to the Lou,

Skip, skip, skip to the Lou,

Skip to the Lou, my darlin'.

 

Just a few of my favorite things from yesterday:

What a joy filled day

 

 

 

 

On the Hearth

 

 

The only thing blue in this home was the bottle collection.

Christmas is everywhere

In the sleeping loft

Vintage quilt in the foyer to help spread the Christmas cheer

 

 

What a happy time of year:  Surrounded by family and friends.....

 

 

 

Putting triangles together! A triangle quilt work in progress

Know your triangles: 

Isosceles Triangle:  Any triangle with any two sides the same length.  I wanted mine to be 6" top to bottom, so I  cut a 6" square, found center and cut off each side to form my Isosceles triangle template. 

Right Angle Triangle:  Triangle has one interior angle that is a right angle (90 degrees).

To get a pair to attach to my Isosceles triangle, I cut a rectangle 3" x 6", then cut diagonal corner to corner:

Putting them together:   You naturally loose some of your width and length when the two types of triangles are sewn together.

Trimming to fit my purpose:  Since I didn't know what I was doing when I made my first cuts, I trimmed everything down to 5" square so all things would be the same! 

More to come:   Yes, I'm making a triangle quilt. 

 

Share projects: Now you can on Craftsy

So much to do, so little time.   But Craftsy is really helping 'simple' down my life.  So many classes, so much inspiration right at my fingertips.    This is just one of my projects that I shared on Craftsy.  Searching for DIY Inspiration....Craftsy on line classes, workshops, patterns, projects. 

Source: zipper pouches via Step 1-2-3 on Craftsy

It's a Charlie Brown Christmas

TREE - for those who are young and young at heart:

Finished part of my inside Christmas decor....this traditional dining room table display is done.  Yes, you guessed it - a Charlie Brown Christmas tree, all spindly and spiky with dumb little ornaments and lights that don't work.  But, like Charlie Brown, I believe in angels and I love my little tree decorated to my liking. 

While I had the camera out, I took a picture of the outtakes - what was left over from the CB tree:  birds - and played with this not so wonderful picture in photoshop this morning.  I'm no longer very young, but I'll always remain young at heart. 

SHE was waiting at the station
HE was getting off the train.....words from a song that seemed to fit the picture perfectly.
Must I explain everything?