Wednesday, November 4, 2009

It's been A Long Time



It has been a long time since I last posted on my blog. I have had a number of things that took priority. I do hope to do better here now. I finished a small project this past Monday. It is a cheater's preprinted Christmas Holiday Vest. My friend, Mama C, made a vest and that is where I got my inspiration to make mine. Thanks Mama C.



I covered the inside seams and so it is reversible.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Happy Birthday To Trey

Trey had a birthday yesterday and he is a big "1 year old" He had 17 people (includes kids) at his birthday party. All Trey got for his birthday was a shoe. lol His mom and dad did make him a cake. And yes he had presents. He like what this Great Grandma and Grandpa gave him. He loves music and this toy gave him plenty of noises. Happy Birthday Trey. I love you much.

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Books I have Read

In between quilting, making totes/purses and our family reunion I have been able to read four books in the past couple of months. I have listed them on my bookshelf that is on the sidebar. 1. Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand, 2. A Thread of Truth by Marie Bostwick, 3. Pretty Woman by Fern Michaels and Ticket Home by James Michael Pratt. I enjoy reading before going to bed as it helps me to fall asleep.

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Am I A "Bag" Lady?


It has been a while since I have posted anything on this blog. I have not forgotten about it, it is just that I have been on facebook. I have found out how much time that can take up. In the past few days I have made a couple of new purses. I don't know which one I like more. I guess you could say I am excited about both of them. I know that I have enjoyed making both of them. I am finding I can really get into making new bags. the first one pictured is called "The Potato Chip" bag. I will like this one to carry to quilt guild meetings and such because I can just carry some ID and some cash in it and not have to carry a large purse each time. My next one is called "Charm Party Tote" and because of the title I made it with very bright and cheerful fabric. I just love the fabric combinations on this one.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Family Reunion





Words cannot express the joy my husband and I have for holding the family reunion at house. I personally had so much fun preparing for it and then having everyone arriving for it. The four out of six brothers are sitting on the porch. My husband is sitting on the far right. From the left is John from California, Ron from Florida and Robin from Tenn. Ron's wife Anna also came. They got to meet my boys, grandsons and great grandsons and the wives for the first time. Words cannot express the joy our family had.




Saturday, August 1, 2009

Pokadot Tote

Last night our president of the Guild taught us a tote bag made out of 5 inch squares. The class was so much fun and many of the ladies turned out for this class. The room was abuzz with chattering and laughing. Our dinner was wonderful with a Mexican theme. I took brownies, which my husband got into before I left the house. But that's OK, I still had some for the ladies. Now I have a new tote to carry with me on next weekend's retreat.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

My Friend Mama C

My friend Mama C, is the most wonderful friend to have. She has had to deal with things that if it were me, be an emotional wreck. Instead, she will keep me from being that way. She loves to laugh and is so very caring. But there is another side to her and that is she is so very, very talented. She is a quilter and I think she is a quilt artist. She has won many ribbons for her quilts. Along with that, she will help you with your quilting and she will teach you how to do it correctly. In fact some of us girls have come to really depend on her. I cannot begin to tell you the many things she helps us with, from what kind of thread to use, fabric choices, help with pattern instructions and ways to do a quilt easier, which stabilizer to use when machine embroidering and different techniques to use. I have learned so much about quilting through her knowledge. I have learned to be careful when seeing her "stuff" about saying how cute something is, as she may just give it to you. She did that just the other day when I saw a pincushion of hers and mentioned it. Before I knew it, it was mine. My friend, Mama C, is one of the strongest and talented (gifted) women I know and when I grow up, I want to be just like her (I'm older than she is, but she is my Mama C). Thank you Mama C.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

New Book On The Bookshelf

I finished reading "The Rescuer" by Dee Henderson and have added it to my bookshelf on the sidebar. I enjoyed it very much. This was my first time reading one of Dee Henerson's books.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Preparing for December Embroidery Retreat



In December I plan to go to a machine embroidery retreat. There will be six of us and we will all work on the same project. It will be a project with large designs and multiple hoopings, so I am practicing lining up the design. I have the center shown here and now I will play with lining up a border on each side. It's really fun doing something challenging.




Thursday, July 16, 2009

Fabric Basket Thread Catcher




I have just been playing making small things that are quick to make. I saw this fabric basket at a site called Pink Penquin and really liked them. They can be made to any size and used for just about anything, from thread catcher, notions holder, spools of thread, etc. I am going to use this for a thread catcher when I go an all day sewing with our guild. I told my husband it was my newest purse and he said if I carried it, people would laugh. I did tell him what it was really for. This could also make a small Christmas present.

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Butterfly Embroidered Purse





Last weekend I saw a lady carrying a purse that was made out of muslin and she had some machine embroidery on it. Well, I just thought it was so cute, so I have made one of my own this week. I embroidered "whimsical butterfly" on the front and just did four small butterflies on the back. I did not do any quilting on it, except for the gusset. I did use some brighter fabric for the inside, as you can see. I am telling you I can really get into this purse making and I seem to take notice when I see one being carried by someone else. It is just a small break from doing my quilts of which I have not given up doing. Sometimes it is nice to just get something small done and feel I have finished something. LOL I get inspired by Diane's blog at sewman maniac quilter. Her blog is on my sidebar. She comes up with the prettiest purses and totes. I enjoy reading her blog. Anyway, here are pictures of my purse being added to my purse collection.


Friday, July 10, 2009

New Blog with Give Away

New Blog With Give Away-check this one out. I have her on my sidebar.

justanotherhangup.blogspot.com

Saturday, July 4, 2009

More Blogs To Follow

On the Side Bar I have added more blogs that I like to follow:

TruckingQuilter
Sue Garman
Silver Thimble Talk

I hope you enjoy them too.

My "Doings" This Past Week


This past Tuesday our Newcastle Quilt Guild had a class making a crazy patch purse. Everyone that participated in the class had a great, great time. It was so much fun seeing how different each purse turned out. At first I was not too sure I would like mine, but by the time I got done, I love it. I did not get to finish it that night, but got it done when I went to the Chickasha Churndasher's Quilt Guild on Thursday. The Churndasher's had a class on covering a box with a lid (shoe box) with fabric. That was a lot a fun. You can use them as gift boxes and for organizers in your home (sewing room, etc)





Thursday, July 2, 2009

Grandma Has A New Baby

Mom and Dad presented me with a new baby. Oh, it is so, so cute. It was a little pinkish and I noticed how very cute the feet are. I just cooed and awed at this brand new baby. I kept saying how very sweet you are. The little eyes were just looking at me and it was very still while looking me. The hair was fluffy just like a newborn baby (which of course it is) Mom and Dad were a little worried about what my reaction would be, but they were pleased when they saw me. I am posting a picture so you can share in my joy. As you can see it is a baby bird (it's a cardinal) just out of the nest. Mom and Dad were at the living room window guarding their new young one. I just could not imagine what was going on and my first thought was a snake. So when I got up from the chair I could see what the excitement was all about. I was able to get close enough to take this picture. After I took the picture, I told Mom and Dad how beautiful it was and to keep it safe. Thanks Mom and Dad for sharing your beautiful little darling with me.


Saturday, June 27, 2009

My Granddogs and New Craft Tote


This past week I have been babysitting my "Granddogs" while Dad and Mom are vacationing in Cancun. I let them play early in the morning because our weather has been getting to the 3 digit number and it's way too hot for them in the afternoon. This morning I play fetch with them and it was cooler for me also. The big long haired German Shepherd has been looking for Dad when she looks out the living room window. When she sees a dark gray truck out the window, she starts to perk up. Then I have to disappoint her and tell her it's not him. She a real good girl. Her name is Nila.


Now comes Jillian (Jill). She is a sweetie pie too. I have had her before and she has really calmed down. I guess that is because she has 3 playmates now. She and Nila play in the house together and it is so funny how delicate they are with each other.














That's the two big dogs and we are now down to the dachshunds. First there is Willie. Willie is rather chubby, but he is so sweet. When the big dogs get frisky, he stays out of the way, but then he is 5 years old. He is a big baby and is well behaved.

















Last, but not least is Cricket, she is real fiesty, but affectionate. Our first day was spent on how she was getting out of the back yard. Well, I caught her and she is just small enough to squeeze through a gate opening. Well, we fixed that and now she has no choice but to play in the backyard. She is quite the character.















In between the dogs I did manage to finish making a craft tote bag. The front has two pockets, that are divided down the middle of the bag. The back has 4 pockets done the same way. I did not put pockets inside. It was not hard to make.










Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Purse

I have made my second purse. I used scraps left over from my jacket I made a couple of months ago. I really like this pattern and it was fairly easy. I really had fun making this and I may try doing some more.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Found a Give-A-Way

If you go to ranettesdailystitch.blogspot.com she is giving away Moda's Bake Shop - Honey Buns.
Just go to her site and leave a comment. Quite a few have left comments, but it may be worth a try.

Friday, June 12, 2009

My Sister's Lily




My sister passed away nearly 4 years ago. Time has just flown by. Jean always like her flower garden and one of the flowers that I always liked was a yellow day lily. I wanted to get one of the lilies from her yard. A nephew said he had some of them in pots and gave them to me. Well, I lost one of the pots. I did plant one close to the house wall so it would be protected from the weather and mainly from my husband mowing it down during the warm months. It never bloomed until this year and it was absolutely gorgeous. I would go out everyday to see how the buds were growing. Then this week I noticed it was close to opening up. I was fortunate to have 3 buds open. I am so excited about it and took pictures of this yellow lily. So now my memory of my sister's yellow lily has come full circle and brought me beautiful memories of her.