Oh Happy Day...................

Lem and I are celebrating our "50"th anniversary today............

We are celebrating by staying at home and enjoying each others company......

Now for an update on last week.................

I have had this pattern for some time...  You can enlarge the picture and see where it came from.

I have been wanting to make these bunnies and have a basket full of them one year.....  This is the year.....

I went through my fat quarters, selected my fabric and made a template of the rabbit.....  Cut them out and sewed them together.........

This little bunny sat and waited while I found eyes for everyone........

I will confess that one of the most fun parts was searching through the buttons for just the right ones......



 

I should have them arranged soon............

Design Wall Monday

Another top done.....  I have been sewing during the odd moments I could find and I have finally finished another top...........  This is for the Guild Challenge.......  Now my challenge is to get this top and the one I finished last quilted........  I am going to attempt to use my sewing machine for these projects.....

I will be basting them using the Sharon Schamber method using two boards....  You can find a video of that method HERE...........

If you have not looked at that video you will find it shows you how to baste any size quilt alone.........  I have used it on several quilts and I am quite pleased with the results..........

Jason has gotten the boards for me and I have cleared a table upstairs........  Now all I need is the time to get this done..........

Several things on the agenda keep me from working in the studio very much but maybe next week.......

Lots of other ideas and eye candy are at Patchwork Times HERE

A Few Weeks Ago

Well, really over a month ago I had my sisters-in-law over for lunch one Saturday............

That same evening a group of neighbors came over for refreshments that afternoon......  Two events in one day means less time for me to stress about how the house looks..........

For luncheon we had a Greek Salad followed by Zuppa Toscana..........Hot Rolls and lots of talk......

That evening we had fruit and cheese and crackers and I made two pecan chocolate pretzel pies that were on the cover of Woman's Day several months ago................

I am trying to do better at posting but when I turn on the computer I find that time goes much faster and before I realize it an hour or two has passed.......... 

Right now I had better get back to sewing...............

Design Wall Monday

Each year my Guild has a challenge for everyone.........  This is the challenge for 2014.........  Those that participate will have their quilt ready to show at the Christmas Party...........

This is the book the challenge is taken from............  I am so glad to have this book because it has so many quick but attractive quilts to make........

Garden Magic is the one we are asked to make..........

A trip upstairs and I found fabric that I felt was just the right thing........  Now I will have something else on the design wall next week..............Go to Patchwork Times........HERE.........  for more eye candy...

The first sleeve is moving along..........  It appears that I might actually get this sweater finished this year..........

Next week I will need to stop to get ready to demonstrate a placemat pattern for the Guild........

Busy days ahead...............Other people have been plying their needle..........  Go to Patchwork Times HERE to see what they have done.........

What Grandfathers Are For............

 Jason stopped by Saturday to help me with a few things............... Andrew was with him......  Andrew was his helper that day.....  They took a break and played for awhile............

How grand it is to watch the together...............

Valentine...........

Yes, it is a little late for this post...........  Since all of the decorations have been put away and Easter is out I thought I would post it now...........

No, the table runner has not been layered and quilted........  Rome wasn't built in a day........  and I surely never get much done in a day............

The small quilt is from Temecula Quilt Company...........  They have a monthly small quilt plan and I got this one put together in time for Valentines........  The same Roman rule applies to this one......  Maybe they will both be finished next year.....  One can only hope...................

A touch of red and white on the table ..............

The Red Teddy Bear from Marilyn..............

The doll holding a small stuffed heart................

Valentines in the plants.............

And a wreath on the cabinet door....................

Just a few things that take no time to put out but add the right touch.........  And if fulfills the need I have to rearrange without moving the furniture................

Design Wall Monday

I was beginning to wonder if I would ever get this quilt top finished...............

At last it is done.........  Now to go upstairs for the backing and get that prepared for the next step of layering.  I am going to try to quilt this one myself using my new table...............

I also found a kit for a doll blanket that I had purchased over a decade ago..........  It is now a top and will await the next step toward finishing.............

Many more exciting things are being shared at Patchwork Times go HERE...................

I am behind in my emails and I hope to be able to answer them some time this week.............Thanks for your understanding.

On the Needles Friday

Back to knitting for babies.........  A friend needed a gift so I made a few things for her.........

Then I heard that a member of my Sunday School Class had a new family member weighing 3 pounds....
It is supposed to be a preemie pattern.......  I have trouble making things for little ones.......  I tend to forget just how small they are............

Lots of lovely things are being knit every day all around us........  Check out Patchwork Times HERE  for other lovely eye candy..............

New Projects and a Trip to Happy's

I have had this pattern for years and had even selected the fabric to make it.......  Never got it done....

Then it occurred to me that I could alter it a bit and put this stitchery in the top and have a pillow for the living room......  I have a little doll to sit in front of it......

Finished this stitchery last year........... 

And this one..........  Never had them framed because, well you know the cost of framing these days.....

Found this tray at Happy's the last time I was there and knew it was just what I was looking for for the coffee table............  The crewel in it is lovely but the yellow is a bit strong for my taste...........Then I realized that the stitchery above would look good in this tray...............It does not exactly fit but I can use the aqua fabric I had been saving for the pillow idea above to make a mat for the stitchery............

I also found this delightful bear to add a touch of Valentines day to my space...........  Marilyn bought it and gave it to me........  She is so kind...........

I also spotted this pitcher........  I need three..........  One for sweet tea, one for unsweet tea and one for water............  I now have two.....  I know that one day I will find a third at Happy's.................Now to find time for my two new projects............

It is me again...........

I had great plans to be a better blogger this year.............  We know about how plans go..............

Rebekah has finished PT and has moved back home.........  I have gotten the house in order again.....  It was wonderful to have her here and we really miss her and her dogs.................

This is a hibiscus blooming in the breakfast room along with the violet and poinsettia.........  I thought it made a lovely picture..........

And then we had snow.............  Don't laugh.......  This is Eastern NC where we are not supposed to have four inches of snow...........  We stayed in, cooked soup and I did a bit of house blessing..........

But best of all, Jean came to visit......  We ate and talked quilting and laughed and had a grand time........

It is really delightful to spend time with someone that speaks the same language that you do...........

While she was here I finished a pair of socks for her.........  The next pair is cast on and in my sock sack for the next round of doctor visits.........

I did make a pair of socks for Marilyn on her birthday and a pair for a blogger friend........  Just forgot to take the picture...........  Marilyn is wearing hers and the other pair is boxed and ready for the mail....  Rebekah hopes to mail them tomorrow...........

I am embellishing some sheers for a neighbor that will be movind into the neighborhood soon.......... It is taking much longer than I ever thought it would but that is usually the case...........

I tried to clear the decks and get some of my own projects completed but that is not to be for awhile......

Jean's sweater is at the top of the list and Cassie brought some more scarf yarn and then there is Kate's scarf yarn, not to mention that I still do not have a scarf myself but I too have scarf yarn, oh and don't forget the newborn hats that are needed..................

On the Needles Friday

Some progress is being made on Jean's sweater.........  By Monday I should have the right front done and will be ready to start on the sleeves.................

Judy at Patchwork times is hosting On the Needles Friday......  Go here for information on what others are doing..... A word of warning however....... You tend to see things you want to make for yourself and will add to your project list if you are not careful..........

Baby Its Cold Outside

But it is blooming like the tropics in my breakfast room.....................

I brought in the hibiscus that someone shared with me in November............  I am trying to keep it alive till the spring when I can put it in the yard again.................

Ane it Bloomed....................

Design Wall Monday

No, I still have not finished the quilt you saw last week...............  The path diverged in another direction and I got lost...........

This is from the latest Love of Quilting Magazine.......  It is online and liking it I printed a copy.....

I have selected my fabrics ...............

Now to find time to get this darling item finished....................

Check out Patchwork Times for more inspiration............HERE

What is on your Needles Friday

Scarves for Cassie...........  One left to knit and her scarves are all done.........  I told all my friends that if they bought the yarn I would knit the scarves...........  They have been keeping me supplied............And I have enjoyed myself at no cost to me.........  Sounds like a Win/Win to me..........

To see what else is going on in the world of Knitting check out Patchwork Times HERE.....

The New Studio and New Years Resolutions

Here is the new studio............  It gets more crowded each day.........  It will soon be time for a purge but this time I am going to try to get things completed instead of just taken upstairs only to be brought down again.

A cozy chair for relaxing with hand sewing.....

My new quilting table.........  Yes it is short..........  That is fine...........  I am short........

The Duchess in front of the windows to the lake......  I had to close the blinds to keep some sun out to take the pictures......

My beloved but strange bookcase with the tchotchkes ................

The design wall with the same quilt that I hope to get together this month.

And a big basket of yarn to be made into scarves.......

As to resolutions I have decided to make them one month at a time to see how it goes.....
I have the habit of rolling out of bed and heading to the studio to play for a bit..........  That means the bed is left unmade and so am I............  So for January my goal is to make the bed before I leave the bedroom each morning and to get dressed complete with make-up........We shall see.......

Happy New Year.................

Gift from one of my favorite shops.........They have the nicest BOM,s and I keep one going all the time.......  I don't really know why...........  I still have some from several years ago but if we ever get snowbound for a month or two I will have some needle work at hand,,,,,,,,,,

This is one of the applique blocks from a Lori Smith quilt that is to be framed.............

I have already gotten behind because I became so caught up in Christmas that I have not selected my fabric for Tell It To The Stars............... This project is hosted by Judy at Patchwork Times...... The button is on the top left of my page.........  Why not join in..................