Tying Up Loose Ends!

Hi, Darlene is not quite 100% yet, so she asked if I would please do this post to 'tie up some loose ends'. This 'bug' that Darlene and her family have been fighting is one strong wooly bugger - it just hangs around making everyone it attacks feel yucky and extremely tired. Lots of napping going on around here! ZZZZZzzzzZzzzzzzzzzzZZZzzzzzzzzzzz

My name is Snippet!!!!
Recently we asked if you would please leave us some ideas for a name for me because Darlene was struggling to come up with something fitting. I think you'll all agree that Snippet fits - teehee - thank you Janet! (go visit Janet and take a look at her banner - there's a "Joy" lookalike. My friends Thimbles, Joy, Miss Millie, Bea Bunny and I will gather together soon for a 'family' portrait. Oh, that will be so much fun, I can hardly wait.

On Friday, Darlene spent the day in the quiet solitude of her sewing room assembling the 'guts' of her "Rabbits Prefer Embroidery" project. Hopefully this week she'll feel like prepping the borders for applique. Sadly, it won't get done for Easter but it's not for lack of trying!

Yesterday she made a mad dash to her local quilt store with her list of needed border fabrics. Last night she added the borders to the Dutch Treat quilt - it's officially a flimsy. :-)

Then today after a 3 hour nap (she was feeling very tired and puny) she added the borders to her Whirligig quilt and it's now officially a flimsy, as well. Look closely - the red next to the outer border is a little peeper - isn't it cute. We think it really adds a little something to the whole thing

I hope you've enjoyed visiting and reading my report. :-) I especially hope that I haven't scared you off and that you'll be back to visit very soon!

In Friendship!

Snippet

Time to cut again!

I spent time last week cutting a couple of projects so I could do some power sewing. Well, it's time to cut again.

What is this obsession I have with quilting???? I can't seem to stop. Sigh

I've completed 'the guts' of my second project and need to make some border decisions. When I was preparing to do the cutting for this project I needed the tools in the next picture. A Easy Windmill Template by Omnigrid and Come Quilt With Me and my Olfa Rotating Mat (if you don't have one of these, use your 40% Joann's coupon and grab one). I don't use it often but it sure is handy when I need it.

Stephanie calls these windmills, Whirligigs and I've watched her make several adorable Whirligig quilts. I searched for the required template and finally found one after visiting three Joann's Stores.

Here's my Whirligig quilt top using Oh Cherry Oh by Moda and Kona White. I seem to be having issues and challenges with background fabrics this year because I've used the last of my Kona White and now I need more for the inner borders. Huge Sigh! LOL Guess it's time to buy another bolt!

Last week my Sweetie was suffering with a bad cold and my grandson, Seth was suffering with tonsillitis. I offered to take it so they would feel better but I was only being polite .....guess what.....I'm suffering with a terrible head cold this week and feeling a bit puny. In a day or two when I feel better I'll make a dash to the quilt store to grab border fabrics for my recent completions (Dutch Treat and Whirligigs).

I'm ready to start searching for new projects but first I'll have to do some Celebrity Stunt Sewing for a local Quilt Diva. ;-)

I'm off to curl up with my book and hopefully take a little nap.

I hope you've enjoyed your visit - come again real soon!

In Friendship!

Every Quilt Tells A Story

I'm a firm believer that every quilt tells a story. And, this could be the reason I have such a difficult time parting with my quilts. :-)

Here's a story about a flimsy I finished this morning!


Once upon a time in a place called "The Surface of the Sun" (aka Arizona) a quilter named Darlene vowed and promised to herself that she would stop buying fabric unless it was necessary to finish a project! You see her stash closet, stash shelves, stash drawers, etc are simply overflowing with fabric 'she had to have'. Staying true to her promise and herself she's been working primarily from her stash for several months and quite proud of herself, I might add. :-)

Recently she discovered and purchased a pattern called "Dutch Treat" by Pieces from my Heart and was quite smitten with it. It's a Honey Bun pattern - oh my! Darlene loves to work with fabric from Moda and in the past has purchased Charm Packs, Jelly Rolls, Fat Quarter Bundles and Layer Cakes but has avoided purchasing Honey Buns and/or Turnovers. Not that she hasn't been tempted, mind you, but she's stayed true to her word and to herself.

Sometime last week Darlene visited a nearby LQS and came across a handful of Honey Buns (Flag Day Farm & Zippity Doo Dah). Either one would be perfect to use with the "Dutch Treat" pattern - she picked them up - oohed and ahhed and put them back on the shelf with a small sigh! Then she thought to herself "oh what the heck" and turned around to grab one and they were all gone - some one came along, quick like a bunny, and grabbed both Honey Buns. Bigger Sigh! "Just wasn't meant to be" she told herself. She spotted bolts for American Primer by Moda and it hit her like a bolt of lightning - "make my own Honey Bun from my American Primer fat quarter bundle that's sitting on the shelf in the closet - they're just 1 1/2" strips". She grabbed the bolt, had the clerk cut two yards of a sweet background print and skipped off to her car anxious to get home to start pressing her fat quarters.

The fat quarters were pressed, separated into piles like the pattern suggested, two 1 1/2" strips were cut and then the sewing began. WooooooooooooooooooHoooooooooooooooooo!

Saturday was National Quilting Day so Darlene spent the better part of the day working on her "Dutch Treat" quilt top. And, this morning she finished assembling the 'guts' as she calls it and tomorrow she'll make a quick dash into the same quilt store and purchase her outer border fabric. And, now the decision - what to do with the 14+ inches of American Primer fat quarters that are leftover. I'm sure Darlene will think of something. teehee!

A new flimsy with a new pattern using a fat quarter bundle that was sitting on a shelf in her closet! Do you have any idea how happy Darlene is? There's a huge smile on her face today.

The End!

I appreciate that you've stopped to visit with me - come again soon!

In Friendship!

Reasons to Smile :-)

Sometimes with the burdens and challenges of everyday life we have a tendency to forget about all the little thing that make us smile.

Please allow me to share a handful of things that have put a smile on my face recently!

1. In Friendship - I've been signing off on my blog postings with "In Friendship" for approx 2 years. This week I received a thank you note from a bloggy friend and she signed it "In Friendship, xxxxx" - I actually got tears in my eyes because she really gets what those two words mean to me.

2. There's a new girl in town! And she's oh so cute!

A couple of weeks ago I was chatting via e-mail with Janet regarding directions that she'd figured out and she offered to share her findings with me via snail mail. I was expecting an envelope and was stunned when a package arrived instead. I found a Homespun magazine and this new little bunny - talk about a huge smile on my face. I haven't introduced her before because a sweet name eludes me - do you have any suggestions. Remember she's joining Thimbles, Joy, Millie and Bea Bunny - my Sweetie suggested "Stitches" but I'm not sure. Please leave some suggestions. Janet, thank you for making me smile!



3. Taking time to cut two new projects! This really makes me smile! :-)

I've been asked on numerous occasions how I get so much done. This is my biggest reason - I take time to pre cut a couple of projects and then I can 'power sew'. Besides, I do love to sew. LOL

The fabric on the left is Oh Cherry Oh and the fabric on the right is American Primer - both by Moda. Yummy!


4. Two flimsies quilted and ready for binding. This really puts a smile on my face!

On the left is North and South and on the right is my 3" nine patch swap quilt I did with Wendy over a year ago.

5. My shiny, new, red bobbin wheel full of "Frostings" threads by Superior Threads - this is an awesome variety of colors ready to use with my hand applique. I ordered these from Piece o'Cake after Carrie posted the information on her blog a couple of weeks ago. Thank you, Carrie!

6. No picture to share but I have finished stitching "Rabbits Prefer Embroidery" and will start assembling the blocks.

Please take a few minutes to think about the things that made you smile recently and would you please leave a comment and share one thing with me!

Thanks for visiting with me today - I hope you'll come again soon!

In Friendship!

Oh Those Backings!

I spent time this morning digging through my stash in search of yardage for backings. I shudder when I think about purchasing yardage for backing; fabric is now approx $9.50 a yard. Huge Sigh!!! In the picture there is only one fabric that was purchased for a specific quilt; the other three came from my stash. I have been known to get creative when I don't have quite enough yardage for a quilt - adding a strip, extra blocks, etc.

Would you please take a few minutes and tell me what you do about backings for your quilts. I welcome all ideas and thoughts.

I hope you've enjoyed your visit with me today - please come again soon!

In Friendship!

Just Sharing!
(more wabbits, too)

You've seen all the wonderful treasures Carrie sent to me for our Tea Time Swap and I directed you to her blog to see what I sent her. Thought it might be fun to share a picture here, too.

My theme for her was a "Tea Party for One" so I sent a table topper for her tea table; a teapot/teacup/saucer combination with a teabag for her tea; a calorie free dessert (cupcake pincushion with cute cupcake pin) and included a scissor fob and mini teapot just for fun. I've had that teapot fabric in my stash for several years and remembered it as soon as I accepted Stephanie's invitation for the swap. I have enough fabric for a second table topper - hmmmm! LOL

I've been stitching, stitching, stitching and stitching some more! Blocks #4, 5, 6, 7 & 8. To my delight yesterday the postman brought a package with my Chelsea Manor fabric I just ordered on Thursday from The Fat Quarter Shop - WooHoo!!!!!

I'm stitching my "Rabbits Prefer Embroidery" on Moda Bella (ivory) and have fallen totally in love with this fabric. I've used it in the past as a background for a quilt but this is the first time I've used it for embroidery - wowzer! I'm thinking I need to buy yards and yards to keep on hand for future embroidery projects - if you have an opportunity to try it please do.

Have you spent time with your needle and thread this week end? I don't have to explain the bliss you feel when you do so please take a stitch or two.

I hope you've enjoyed your visit - come again very soon!

In Friendship~

Time for Tea Swap

(more wabbits finished, too)

I believe it was sometime in January I received an invitation from Stephanie to participate in an 'by invitation only swap' called Time for Tea. Oh my goodness stop the presses, I started fretting, agonizing, stressing, wringing my hands, rubbing my forehead (I do that when I stress - lol), etc because sometime last year I swore I would not participate in any more swaps. Why? I'm just not good at them - I play the 'what if' game; what if I can't find the perfect gift, what if my partner doesn't like what I send, what if my partner doesn't like me, what if my partner is disappointed, what if....yada, yada, yada. Do you play the 'what if' game with yourself? Anyway, after chatting via e-mail with Stephanie I decided I'd play. After all, it was Stephanie and I adore her, how could I say no. LOL

Stephanie has been the most delightful swap hostess - someone in the swap group called her 'the hostess with the mostest'. She's been sooooooooo organized; Tea Talk Tuesday on her blog every week - passing along swap ideas, sneak peeks from other swappers, etc. It's been a ton of fun.

Bear in mind through all this I've still been playing the 'what if' game with myself and actually trying to figure out how to back out. LOL! I stuck with it and mailed the package to my partner earlier this week and she received it yesterday - visit Carrie and you'll see pictures of the treasures and goodies I sent her way. Whew, I think she was happy! :-)

Recently I received an envelope from Stephanie with this delightful treasure enclosed (there's a little pocket on the back with a tea bag tucked in it - it's a thank you for participating in her swap. She sent one to everyone in the swap (30+ swappers). Thank you so much, Stephanie!

Drum roll please - my package from Carrie has arrived. We did not realize that we were matched as partners - Stephanie kept that a secret. LOL

Look at what I found when I opened the box. Is that delightful or what? I mean, really, check out the tiny Dresden plates in the corners and Carrie's handwork is exquisite. Sigh!

Under the pillow a tissue wrapped package with a card addressed to 'Darlene' - that's me :-)

Once everything had been opened and admired (and given the sniff approval by Cooper) I posed it all for a picture to share!

The pillow is darling - I love it. It will look wonderful in my bedroom (yum). The red tote on the left was full of goodies - tea time stickers, an adorable quilting journal, the strawberry is a needle case (too cute) and the little red snap case held a spool of red thread and a sweet teacup button.

Carrie, thank you so much for your wonderful attention to detail - the box is 'all about me'. :-)

Look..............more wabbits preferring embroidery! These are blocks #2 and 3. This project is moving along nicely and I couldn't be more pleased. Guess what? I decided to treat myself - very little fabric has come into this house for months (I've been a very good girl). I ordered the Chelsea Manor fabrics to finish the project - should be here early next week. I wonder how many blocks I can get done before the fabric arrives?

I hope you enjoyed your visit with me today! Please stop by again...........I love it when you do!

In Friendship

Silly Wabbits :-)
(do they prefer chocolate or embroidery?)

I believe it's quite obvious that I love bunny wabbits; therefore you won't be surprised when I tell you that I couldn't wait to start stitching "Rabbits Prefer Embroidery" by Bunny Hill Designs. The pattern arrived in Monday's mail; I zipped up to the quilt store yesterday afternoon to purchase Bella solid in ivory (Moda); zipped home traced block #1 and spent the evening stitching, stitching, stitching! Can you say "Bliss" - sigh!

I'm sorry about the picture quality - couldn't get the flash to cooperate. :-( Don't you just love my large 'chocolate' bunny - he's quite regal in my entry. I'll share a picture of the entire entry later!

Here are the two stitched pieces that are part of block #1 (you're smiling, aren't you?)
Now I've got to decide whether I want to search through my stash to assemble the quilt or place an order for Chelsea Manor (Bunny Hill's newest line of fabric - suggested for this pattern) HMMM - what would you do?

I can't seem to finish my "Rabbits Prefer Chocolate" version so hopefully I'll finish the embroidery version.

I hope you enjoyed your visit today - please come again soon!

In Friendship!

Poof!!!

That's the word that would describe this week - just POOF! It's been a busy week and I've spent very little time with my needle and thread. And, little time to spend on the computer to visit your blogs and such. Sigh!

I did manage to prep, applique and stitch Bunny Hill Designs, A Tisket, A Tasket, block #3 - woohoo!!!! :-) I struggled with this month's block because I don't applique hearts very well and my lazy daisies leave alot to be desired. Oh well! :-)

Take a close look at my appliqued bunny's nose and mouth - couldn't do that again if I tried.

I hope you've spent time with your needle and thread. Thanks for stopping by - come again soon!

In Friendship!

Celebrate Spring!

While it's snowing in so many parts of the country we're experiencing Spring temps. Ugh - those hot Summer days are not far way. Sigh!

I've been in a Spring quilting mode lately. While digging deep in my closet I found an old Celebrate Spring Jelly Roll by Sandy Gervais and had a light bulb moment. I'd seen a quilt like this on Kerri's blog last week and she kindly shared her cutting dimensions with me - she used charm squares and I used my Jelly Roll. I really like this simple cutie because it'll look adorable draped in a spot in my home to ................ Celebrate Spring! It is my favorite season, after all. :-)


This is only my 6th finish for 2009 but I'm very pleased to say that they have all been from my stash. I've been trying to do some deep sorting and cleaning of my sewing room but I keep discovering hidden treasures and then I want to sew. LOL


Thanks for stopping by! Please come again soon!

In Friendship!