Christmas: Time's A Coming....

As long as there is a child in my heart, there will be a little gift.   I do so enjoy making gifts for all the nieces and nephews in my family.  Come Christmastime, each one will have a little idea pouch to tug along.  I still have the pens and pencils to purchase, and of course, the wrapping to do, but except for the youngest (less than one year old) and the oldest (an almost grown teen) , the kids gifts are ready for the holidays.   The Michelle Patterns.....so easy to follow and a perfect hold for the composition notebook and pens where each child can jot down that idea as it unfolds in their smart little heads. 

 

 

 

 

 

 I'm not sure what I'd be doing if I had nothing to do!  One thing I do know for sure is that Christmastime would be so slow in getting here if I had nothing to do but wait! 











 

I'm suppose to be seeking inspiration and sketching it out......

;however, I was distracted this morning with music in my head.  

I'll resume my original plan in a moment or two.   In the meantime, let's dance! 

I've been traveling the state ~

Yes, I really have been traveling this summer, but this post isn't about really traveling the state....it's about the Louisiana traveling quilt ten of us are co-authoring....one block at a time. 

Mary sent me three blocks a couple of weeks ago and they languished on my design wall for a week!  I just couldn't figure out how to add to the blocks:::::::until I just did it::::::the unthinkable!  NOOOOO - I cut Mary's grove of three trees into.  Sorry, Mary, but I just had to do it! 

 Outdoors, anything outdoors...that's the theme for this quilt. How about outhouses...the ones we don't see anymore but were once a part of the outdoor landscape.    My outhouses fit beautifully  in amongst the grove of trees. And, setting each outhouse on unbleached muslin stopped the dread that all the other blocks' background whites weren't the same.  It's my way of saying, don't set yourself up for disaster.   All ten of us just don't shop at the same store and we certainly didn't compare notes on what fabric to use! 

I had some hand dyed fabric that I pieced together to add a stormy sky, but that was way too much so off that came.  I did finally use a small piece of the sky to make the blocks fit together. 

Next I surrounded the outhouses and some of the trees with flying geese.  What?  Give 'em a break!  They flew into Thibodeaux for a little R and R and had a little too much relaxation.   You betcha!  South Louisiana is noted for its good food and hearty drink. 

Inspired by Tula Pink's 100 block sampler quilt, I added my version of her block number 59 on the left corner, then using fabric from a bundle of ella blue "terra australis by emma jean jansen"  to make my log cabin block, I filled another blank hole. 

It's now in the mail to Glenda who can slice and dice at will and add even more  outdoor magic to  Carlie's  Louisiana Traveling Quilt.

 

 

 

and we passed a good time!

 

 

 

Quilt As You Go - my latest

I've been (almost daily) doing community service quilting and quilt-as-you-go has made the process so simply, so easy, so affordable.

First you find a block that doesn't seem to fit anywhere and you make your quilt sandwich....you know - the top, the batting, the backing.   Then you add some quilting and trim to the desired size.  In this case, my little house block didn't quite measure up to the 12" block size I desired, so I added borders then squared it up on a slight angle - just to give my house more curb appeal. 

 

Keep finding blocks, quilting and squaring up until you have 12 or 20....either number makes a good size lap quilt for the young or young at heart.  Put them all together in your favorite QAYG technique and it's ready to donate. Most of the blocks in this quilt were donated to me by like-minded quilters.  Some were too small, so I just added borders.  Some were too large, so, you guessed it - I just trimmed them down.  Either way worked just fine.  Life is too short to be insecure in adding or subtracting. 

And here is QAYG Sampler No. 2  washed, dried, and ready to donate. 

 

and here's the back, showcasing all the different pieces of fabric that make the back as full of vim and vigor as the front. 

 

 

 

Oh, yes, two and counting! 

 

 

 

 

Signs of Summer

Surfacing once again from a very busy summer....

just long enough to find myself in August.....

already?

 

 

 

 

 

 

Food for thought:  The Praying Mantis is a most adored insect and makes a desirable 'pet'.  It is a beneficial predator of pest insects....mites, aphids, mosquitoes and can turn its head and look over its shoulder.  I can't do that any more!

It is large, solitary, and a slow mover.  Just three descriptive adjectives

the two of us have in common!

 

 

 

 

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.