Cleaning, Schnibbles & Christmas

(a very productive week)

Lest you think I've been sitting around doing nothing while this blog has been sitting idle. It's been a very productive week in my little corner of the world.

I spent several days cleaning and decluttering my sewing room. There's still some work to be done but I'm ecstatic with the results of my hard work. :-)

With a clean cutting area I was ready to jump into this month's Another Year of Schnibbles project Dimestore. Nothing like waiting till the last minute - LOL With encouragement from my CTTY partner in crime, Cheryl, I got it done. woohoo!!!!

I love Carrie's version of Dimestore so I, too, used Urban Cowgirl to make mine. Not very creative but I'm a happy girl. LOL (someday I'll take a straight picture-LOL)

The Christmas Through The Year Train is pulling into it's next stop - August 31. Bear in mind there are less than four months until Christmas. I hope that Cheryl's and my encouragement has paid off and you made one (or two) Christmas gifts this month. I did get one Christmas gift done but I can't show it yet - I promise I will soon. I keep encouraging you and yet I'm accomplishing next to nothing - September promises to be different because I'm planning to focus on Christmas gifts and projects. Stay tuned! :-)

I appreciate your visit - come again soon.

Enjoy a pieceful day.

In Friendship!

It's time to add your link:

We're here to do a CTTY post for Darlene because she's tidying up her sewing room - apparently digging a hole is not enough these days. It really is a huge mess - don't tell her we told you. teehee

Could be several days before you see her. LOL
Christmas is less than 4 months away - YES - it's coming! Darlene & Cheryl hope you've taken a little time to make a gift (or two) for family or friends.


This jolly guy will be ready to deliver gifts - will you be ready?

If you need some ideas please visit Cheryl - she always post some wonderful tutorials.



The CTTY Train will be making it's next stop on Friday, August 30 so you still have a couple of days to hop aboard.


Darlene will have Mr Linky ready for you to add your link to your finished gift(s).


As Darlene says "Enjoy a pieceful day".

The Wabbit Daze Gang

The Backing(s)

Sigh

Long ago I told you that I'm a simple process person - I truly enjoy just sewing and usually don't care one or the other whether or not a flimsy ever becomes a real quilt. I have piles and piles of completed quilts and probably twice as many quilt tops and I've found that the quilt tops are easier to store. LOL I know, I know some of you are shocked but it is what it is and I make no apologies. :-)

Anyway, I've been thinking about the more recent flimsies and think I'd like to get them ALL to the real quilt stage. LOL

I am now met with a challenge - the backings. Sigh! I usually try to purchase backing that is from the same line of fabric, making sure it's all matchy-matchy but the expense makes me cringe. Another Sigh!

I have a question for you.

Do you get all matchy-matchy with your backings; making sure you're using something from the same line of fabric or do you just simply use something that will look nice?

I have been known to use something that provides an element of surprise - i.e. I used some whimsical cowboys on the back of a quilt made with Civil War type fabric and everyone that looked at the back always smiled. LOL

So, tell me, what do you do?

Enjoy a pieceful day.

In Friendship!

Imagine

definitition

i·mag·ine
v. i·mag·ined, i·mag·in·ing, i·mag·ines
v.tr.
1. To form a mental picture or image of.
2. To think; conjecture: I imagine you're right.
3. To have a notion of or about without adequate foundation; fancy: She imagines herself to be a true artist.

I had a quick e-mail exchange with Monica about her upcoming retreat. I teased her that I was going to be at the same retreat. Obviously, that's not possible. LOL

I then allowed myself to imagine.

Wouldn't it be wonderful to have a fun bunch of blogging friends meet in one spot to have a retreat?
We'd laugh, sew, eat, sew, laugh, sew, laugh, sew, etc. We could play games - what's a retreat without some fun games? Sing along with the radio knowing most of us couldn't carry a tune but convinced we sounded like the Supremes. LOL We'd have finished projects, say our good byes (while shedding a tear or two) and we wouldn't remember why we laughed so hard. LOL

There would be some incredible memories - don't you think?

I mean, seriously, look at us ------ aren't we cute????

There is definitely a retreat happening in that picture - wish I was there! :-)

I can only imagine!

Thank you for indulging me.

Enjoy a pieceful day.

In Friendship!

Vintage Modern and Me

I've been spending lots of time in MY "Happiest Place on Earth" this week - it's just too darn hot to do anything else. Ugh!!! I was out and about quite a bit on Friday - it was 113 degrees. Bigger Ugh! Yes, I do live in the desert, the Chamber of Commerce calls it the Valley of the Sun and you already know I call it the Surface of the Sun, so I know to expect lots of heat. I swear the sun has a bit of turbo boost this year! This seriously menopausal woman does NOT like it. LOL I just want to go on record that I'm ready for much cooler temps.

I'm excited to share what I finished Saturday evening. The pattern is Boardwalk by Fig Tree Quilts with Vintage Modern by Bonnie & Camille. A couple of months ago I made Spools by Camille using California Girl by Fig Tree so I thought it was only fair to switch things up a bit. :-)

Boardwalk by Fig Tree Quilts made with Vintage Modern by Bonnie & Camille

(I plan to bind it with the same red in the corners - yum)

I feel the need to clear up some confusion regarding The Accidental Quilt I showed you a few days ago. If you visit Christine at Auntie's Quaint Quilts and scroll down to her July 14 post you'll see a quilt made using Vintage Modern. OK, in my moment of disengaged brain I thought it was Picnic from Scrap Basket Sensations by Kim Brackett. (see the resemblance) After I started assembling blocks and putting them on my design wall I realized the quilt on Christine's blog was not Picnic. Oh well - my moment of disengaged brain resulted in my beautiful Picnic quilt. The one on Christine's blog is beautiful, as well. :-)

Picnic by Kim Brackett using Vintage Modern

Our buddy, Cooper peeked around the quilt - I hope you'll say Hi. :-)

So how many quilts can one make with a fat quarter bundle of fabric? As many as one wants - LOL
Look at all the Vintage Modern fabric I still have - stay tuned I have a couple of ideas. For now, I need to step away from it. It's time for a slight change of pace. :-)

I plan to spend Sunday sitting with my Netbook going through neglected e-mails.

If I'm not playing with my Netbook then I plan to do some embroidery - it's been way too long.

Enjoy a pieceful day.

In Friendship!

Sewing?????

Why, yes I am, thank you for asking. :-)

I'm not ignoring you but I'm in the midst of another fun project. I've fallen love again - sigh - I'm so fickle! LOL

Only a few hours to sew this morning - lunch plans with friends at 11:30. But, do not dispair I will be back in my "Happiest Place on Earth" this afternoon. It's the best place to be because 'Baby, it's hot outside' - yesterday we hit 116. huge ugh!!!!!

Enjoy a pieceful day.

In Friendship!

I think I created a little confusion regarding my accidental quilt so I'll explain a bit better later.

Off to sew! teehee!

The Accidental Quilt

A few weeks ago when I was making plans to do some precutting so I could do some serious sewing I tripped across a quilt that truly captured my heart. I was instantly smitten ------ yes when it comes to quilts there is love at first sight for me. :-) I recognized the pattern, knew I had the fabric so I was good to go.

Sunday I made the first 6 - 8 blocks, arranged them on my design wall, pulled up the picture on-line just to double check layout and such. Sccccrrrrreeeeeccccchhhhhh - wait a minute - wait a dang minute - those blocks did NOT look like mine. What the heck!!!! I looked at my design wall, back at my monitor, back at my design wall, back at my monitor ------ OK you get the picture. Then all I could do was start laughing! It wasn't the same quilt - similar but definitely not the same. ROFLOL - seriously ROFLOL.

While continuing to laugh, snicker, giggle, chortle and smile I made the rest of the blocks, assembled my quilt top and stood back pleased as punch. The pattern is Picnic from Scrap Basket Sensations by Kim Brackett made with Vintage Modern but in my house it's always going to be know as "The Accidental Quilt" LOL

I think it's pretty obvious that I'm not even a good copy cat. LOL

Enjoy a pieceful day - thank you for stopping to visit.

In Friendship!

Gifts, Christmas and Sewing!

(picture heavy long post)

I decided I'd share the wonderful birthday gifts I received from special friends. They never forget! I'm sure you are aware that there are friends and then there are REAL friends. :-)

I'm very blessed to count these ladies as REAL friends. :-)

Carol at Brown Quilts 4 Me sent a package of fun. I felt like a kid in a toy store. Staples is a toy store to me. LOL These fun treasures represent the bright colors I've been using in my quilts so much in recent months. Sticky notes, a fun spiral notebook with matching pen, cute mechanical pencils, zippered bags and sadly I cut out a cute plastic box. Thank you, Carol, you definitely know me. LOL

Carol at Carol's Craft Blog sent a gift certificate for the Fat Quarter Shop and I promptly ordered With Fabric and Thread by Joanna Figueroa/Fig Tree Quilts. No grass grew under my feet - LOL

Thank you so much, Carol.

Here's a little known fact about Carol and I.....we live in the Phx, AZ area....she in the West Valley and me in the East Valley (approx 75 miles apart) and we've never met. :-)

Mary at Quilt Hollow sent the beautiful green mat. It's actually beyond beautiful - my horrible picture doesn't do it justice. I'll try to remember to post a better picture when I decide where I'm going to put it....it does need a place of honor. Mary, thank you so much!

Giftees from Wendy at Snippets of a Quilter. She knows that I'm seriously bagophobic so she surprised me with three adorable bags. The small half moon style bag is very, very cute. It's my favorite but don't tell the other two. LOL

This sweet My Buddy case was sent by a mystery friend. I've been wanting one of these cases for a very long time but just never treated myself. I've already set it up with scissors, needles, wonder clips, etc.

Thank you, Miz Mystery, you definitely ROCK. ;-)

Speaking of gifts!

We need to talk about Christmas gifts - nice segue, huh? LOL

Have you started working on Christmas gifts for the month of August? I'm not going to bug you too much today - it's too dang hot and who wants to think about Christmas NOW.

But, trust me, I will be back to bug you very soon. LOL

Sewing!
Yes, yes, yes I've been spending lots of time at my sewing machine and having a grand time. This is finish #2 of my precut projects. WooHoo!

It's Dottie by Cluck, Cluck Sew made using Sew Cherry by Lori Holt.

I'm not going to bore you with all the details of my journey with this quilt. There were lots of twists and turns; forks in the road, etc. When all was said and done I decided that I'm Lovin' It. :-)

I came very close to finishing precut project #3 this evening but we had a sudden tragedy. Please bow your heads in a moment of silence - my Rowenta died. She served me very well - 7+ years.

Guess she decided it was time to cool her steam vents. :-)

Here lies a steamy little number

RIP

Enjoy a pieceful day!

In Friendship!

Christmas Through the Year

I wasn't feeling 100% today so I'm a bit tardy with everything. Please accept my apologies!

I finally finished quilting the table runner (the prize) and will sew down the binding in the morning! If all goes well I'll visit the post office sometime in the afternoon to put this in the mail along with all the winnings from my celebrations. :-)

I spun the random generator wheel and couldn't believe who the winner is :-)

I hope she won't mind receiving this gift because she inspired me to make this project.

She's already made two!

Have you guessed?

The winner is Carol of Carol's Crafty Creations

Congratulations Carol and thank you for all the inspiration you provided with your Christmas in July projects!

Enjoy a pieceful day.

In Friendship!