Wee Gifties

I signed on for the Birthday Siggy swap (I did mention earlier that I was a real pushover for siggy swaps).

Since everyone deserves a gift on their birthday so I thought I would enclose a Wonder Wallet with each one.

When I got home from work yesterday I cut out 20 of them. They don't take long to cut and you can get two from one fat quarter. I then sorted them into colors that could use the same thread color. Changing the thread can eat up time. Especially if you have to fill a bobbin too. No I do not have a sidewinder but if anyone gave one to me as a gift I would enjoy using it. I mention this only because sometimes my daughter reads this blog and I thought I could give her a hint.


Here they are, all lined up with the correct thread and pressed and ready to stitch. Time to go downstairs for the evening.


This morning I got 14 of them sewn. Six more to go.


I made these years ago for friends and my Dear Lu asked if I could make a few for her friends too. "Of course", I said but alas I never got it done. I called her last night and suggested she stop by before I mail them off to select the ones she wanted. I will probably make 10 more next week. Tomorrow is breakfast with the girls and mornings are when I can sew.

Saturday I will be in the garage packing up some odds and ends and getting that area looking a bit more spiffy.

Sunday is another open house for us. I keep hoping the Lord will find the right buyer for us but so far He has us treading water for some reason. I understand that He knows best but my human nature is wanting to move NOW.

Finishing

Lately I have been giving much thought to finishing and the importance we place on it.

I will confess that I tend to be a bit compulsive obsessive. Doesn't seem that I have seen a quilt I did not want to make. Fabric makes my heart go pitter pat. The more small pieces a quilt has,
the more my heart flutters.

Thanks to the encouragement from some of my fellow bloggers I will say I am at long last enjoying more finishes and starting fewer projects.

I have finally made my list of the projects I have in the studio. I really go oven the top when anyone offers a B0M or if Judy has a new pattern.

Siggies are another weakness of mine. Below are the first of my birthday siggies. This year I am adding a wonder wallet by Lazy Girl. If you don't have one of these you are missing a real handy item. I am moving right along and have one fourth of them done.





The other day there was nothing prepped in my basket by my chair except this Gail Pan design. You can click her link on the side bar. This is a pattern she offered free. I have no idea at this time what fabric I will use for this stitchery or exactly how it will be finished. A small wall hanging or even a pillow. Only time will tell. I am still counting it as a finish for now.


A few days later I prepped the April block from Gail Pan. I have two of them stitched with fabric but I am not to happy with the choice. It is what I had on hand. I am not going to add the borders to anymore but look for a fabric I like better first.

One of my Long Term Projects is the ubiquitous Grandmother's Flower Garden. I have been working on this since 2005. No, not consistently but every once in a while the muse brings this to mind and I add a few more flowers. Well, all the flowers are done and now we are in the assembly stage. FINISH? I sure do hope to. SOON... Probably not. I am enjoying this adventure. I have gotten pleasure from every stitch I placed in this quilt. I have stitched it at home and on car and plane journeys. This quilt has traveled with me to North Carolina and back more than once. And when it is done I will remember those times while I wrap it around me.


This past weekend I cut all the rest of the strips of fabric for the pathways. Now I can just cut out the hexagon shapes

and iron on the freezer paper. I will be working on this for many more days and nights. But who is in a hurry?


Finishing is nice but so is the journey. I will be much more thoughtful about any project I begin and I will be finishing many more than I start but I will alter my pace and savor the time I spend with my needle much more than ever before.

Another Thing or Two.

I made a few of these little bags with a pocket and a zipper closing. I really do not remember the name of the pattern but I will add it later with a link.

They are easy to assemble and I enjoyed making them. I made one for the Siggy swap mom and one for the designer of the siggy stamp I used.

This one was mailed with my Dear Jane Siggies.


This is the picture Jane drew for me for my Dear Jane Siggy swap. Then I sent it to Carol to be made into a stamp. They are all done and in the mail. Boy am I happy about that.

Before the First of May

I simply MUST finish:

Tisket Tasket Block

Leanne's House Block Six

Birthday Siggies

I am close on all three things but so far I have not crossed the line on anything.

I also looked at my Finishes for the year. I see a few things missing from the list so I need to update that.

We should have good weather this weekend and making some order in the garage is on the top of the list. I should also clear out my car a bit. It seems to collect things that need to be taken here and there and now most of it needs to be unloaded.

I would also like to get some email read and answered. So many things - so little energy.....

I Have Had

just a little hitch in my git-along..............

Several years ago I fell and injured my back. All has been well until the last year. Things have been increasingly worse so we (not the royal we, just myself and spouse) had the Dr. check it out.

Then it was off to The Spine and Pain Clinic of New England. We did a test several weeks ago and another one today. In May I go back for one more try to get the problem resolved.

As many people in America, I am working for health insurance. I have to show up each day but by the time I got home it was just to try anything to get the back to ease off.

That meant not much sewing going on each morning although I did manage to get my siggies made for the Blog Siggy swap and they were mailed out on Tuesday. I haven't been able to get my usual blocks prepped each morning for hand work in the evening.

Fortunately I had already prepped the Noah's Ark blocks and I am pleased to report that they are done and assembled.

Yesterday I was looking around for something else to stitch in the evening and my GFG came to mind. Vickie and I had laid out the flowers and they were all marked and ready to assemble. I now have that beside my chair for a time.

Who knows, perhaps the next treatment will work and I will be back to my old self.

Saturday

Another Saturday has rolled around and once more we are being put out of our house. Someone coming to look at it at 11:00............ It would be really good if they made an offer that we could accept.

I have been up and with Lem's help finished the house blessing. Now for a shower and out the door with the children. I have packed a lunch so that we can sit at Fort Hill and watch the ocean while we enjoy our lunch.

I finished block 16 of 50 of the Faye Anderson blocks recently. So I am a few years late completing them I am enjoying myself making them. I am even contemplating the setting. Any suggestions?




I did finish my Tisket Tasket block for March. They are so easy and a pleasant change from whatever project I am involved in at the moment.

I also got my Gail Pan block completed. I am not really happy with the fabric I have for this quilt so I am not adding the fabric until I find just what is right.


Perhaps I can get some pictures of Capt. Penniman House today.

Happy Anniversary

It is hard to believe but we have been married for 45 years...... Imagine that.

It has been a fraught two weeks. Things really busy at the office leaving me unable to even move much when I get home. I will be pleased when the health issues are taken care of so I can resume a more normal life.

I just could not let this day pass without some acknowledgement. I have been stitching but not much to show for it right now.

The Beginning of the Week

The weekend was spent being Suzy Homemaker. There was a section in the basement that had never been organized and correctly packed. I spent most of Saturday having a real sort out down there and doing the ubiquitous laundry.

No stitching to speak of was accomplished because we had another open house on Sunday. That meant putting away all of my stitcheries and sweeping out. The children along with their beds and toys were loaded into the car and Lem and I did a few errands. We also took time to stop at Fort Hill to watch the ocean for awhile.

For supper I fixed Barbara's chicken. You pound a half of a chicken breast till it is about 1/4 inch thick. Then add a slice of ham, a slice of munster cheese and roll it up. Wrap it in a slice of bacon and bake at 350 for an hour. So easy.......So good.....

Last week someone asked about the baby hats I had made some time ago. While I looked for the instructions I found that I still had some baby yarn. The knitting tide rolled in so I made these this past week for our local hospital. I will give them to Joan to take to the Auxiliary meeting tomorrow.


Things are rather hectic at work and I don't even get break time right now. By the end of the week it will be back to normal. Until then I remain behind in blog reading and answering comments.

Noah's Ark and Double Delight

I procrastinated working on the Noah's Ark. It was so TINY... I was not sure I could even see it much less embroider it.

I made the plunge last night and here is my first block. I am delighted.... The directions said to add 3/4 inch strips to each side. How lovely it was to open my drawer of 3/4 inch strips and select the ones I wanted.



I have also set up Double Delight on the dining table to be quilted... I am a novice at this task so once again I tend to procrastinate getting it finished. It sits there and mocks me each night. Perhaps this weekend will show some progress.

Tag Along Teddy

My Tag Along Teddy pledge was to at last begin my Leanne's House BOM and finish it this year.

I have three blocks done and I am now working on a fourth one. It is actually block six in the series but block two was on back order and I dropped down and began the second row.

This is mini block one............

This morning I prepped mini block 2 for this piece, prepped an embroidery for another change purse and prepped my Jan Patek February 2008 block. They are now downstairs awaiting my attention. When I sew again it will be to make my siggies....................

I love it when a plan comes together.

This and That

At night Wade Hamilton likes to curl up on the couch with his father. Upside down on his back with his little head twisted to one side. Doesn't look comfortable to me at all.



Close up of the Farmyard Bear Quilt.


And here it is with Part 4 all done. I am really liking this quilt more and more.

Report on Sunday

Yesterday afternoon I went to Vickie's. She helped me layer "Double Delight". This morning Lem brought the Janome downstairs and I hope to begin machine quilting it.

We also organized the flowers for my GFG. Soon I will be working on joining them. That is going to be another winner.

Progress

Here is the progress so far on my Bears in the Farmyard quilt. I still have the top and bottom of the ecru border to add and the next border to be finished with part 4. If you did not join in on this project, I would suggest you buy the pattern from Judy when she puts it up for sale. The original version is based on stripes but I had no striped fabric and no budget left for a purchase so I went with what I had.



This is a close up.


I can only sew for a limited time each day so it takes me awhile but we keep plugging away and things are improving.

Saturday

No, I can't think of a snappier, wittier title for this post.

Tried to sleep in this morning but the children would not cooperate. Gave up at 6:30 and went upstairs.

Thursday I had selected my fabric for the March Tisket Tasket block. I am getting the fabric from "The Bag". That means I pour out the fabric and pick around until I find what I like. Sewing time came to an end so I left it on the floor and went downstairs to dress for work.

Naturally the realtor called me at work about 12:30 to tell me that someone wanted to see the house at 2:30. Told the boss that I had to go home for a bit and dashed out the door. Lem and I managed to get the show towels in place, put the show bedspread on the bed, vacumm, mop the kitchen and put away all of our toys. The children and their beds are put in the car. I headed back to work and he went to Fort Hill to watch the boats. It would be nice if we got a decent offer on the house.

That means the house blessing is done for this week. I might get some cooking ahead done today and of course some sewing.

This morning I prepped my Tisket Takset Block and my Gail Pan Block. When the timer goes off I will go back upstairs to finish my Farmyard Bears blocks and move on to part 4. Maybe there will be a picture later today. Maybe not.

Ta Da

Here it is..........Block Five from Leanne's House. I am delighted to have this one finished. That is three in all. Now on to Block six.................

Monday, Monday

I did get the top finished. Sad to say it is bigger than I thought so the fabric I had for the back was not large enough. I did have some pink left from the quilt and added a section to the 5 yards I already had and now the back is pieced and ready to layer. If Vickie has time on Wednesday afternoon, I can get it layered. I am not planning to pin this one, just spray baste as I intend to quilt it right away. A simple grid using a walking foot.


I took one side trip Friday morning. I found this on the Polka Dot Pineapple's blog and had to try it. Took no time and I am delighted with the outcome.


I began the next installment on my Farmyard Bear quilt this morning. My sewing time is so much more limited these days because of the dratted back problems. The Spine and Pain Clinic of New England called this morning. I have an appointment tomorrow at 11:00 for a consultation. Prayers are appreciated.

Saturday

I am up and sewing this morning. Taking a break to do a bit of laundry.

I am trying to finish the Double Delight top today. It looks like that is a goal I can accomplish.

Much has been said about using what we have and finishing a project before starting another one. I do try but for me it is difficult. I must have attention deficit disorder. I cycle through projects as the muse demands but somewhere along the way I do seem to come up with a finish or two.

I have made a decision to no longer agonize over what I should be doing and begin enjoying what I do more. I have several projects in my "sitting downstairs and hand stitching" tote bag. Instead of listing them here I will list them on a note card for beside my chair. I will not add one until another one is complete.

The other thing about the upstairs machine sewing. I like signature blocks. If there is a block swap, I want to join. I have 3 siggy swaps going on right now. As soon as the Double Delight is complete I will start getting those in the mail......

I am also working on my Bears in the Farmhouse.

Lots going on and I am enjoying every minute.

The washer just finished so I will go put those clothes in the dryer and wash another load.

More later.........

Hexagons

I saw a site requesting 2 inch basted hexagons for Australia....... I spent a couple of hours last night and I have 25 basted. I will do more and send them along. I cannot imagine having everything I cherish destroyed by fire. Anything I can do to help I will.




That also meant finding my own flowers for my GFG. Do most quilters make a GFG or a Cathedral Window? I am working on both. There is something about sitting with needle in hand and stitching that a machine cannot replace. The day is long enough for both methods.


I got this started and then realized that if I joined as I went I would not be able to control the colors. This is where I stopped joining. I have all but 11 basted and after they are complete I will have 18 flowers to assemble. Then I can begin the pathway.


While blogging around I found this idea for storing those pesky plastic grocery bags.

The idea is from The Polka dot Pineapple.

Friday's Idea

Joan sent me a sketch for my Dear Jane Siggy stamp. On the back of the envelope she added this drawing. I traced it onto three fabrics and made three little bags. I apologize for the picture being sideways. I thought I had corrected the problem but it seems that I did not. Just tilt your head and you can see the pattern and the three bags I made.






When I get home from work I will be putting away all the things that have gathered by my chair and focusing on making Hexagons for "Hexagons for Hope". There is a link on my sidebar should you care to join me.

A Few More Pictures From SSS

Here is a flimsy by Nancy. Such delicate colors. And such an easy block.



This quilt was made by Kathy............. She donated it to a fundraiser.


The quilting on this is exquisite.

Unfortunately

I just got this from Jane at Sew Create it who got it from Monica.................

A GOOGLE GAME where you search for “unfortunately, your name”, including the quotes. The search results should reveal some interesting, if not unusual quotes.

It seems I lead quite a life.

Unfortunately Susan Lefevre had parents with your mentality.

Unfortunately, Susan B. Anthony did not live to realize her dream of women’s suffrage, but thankfully her legacy survives.

Unfortunately, Susan made things worse by showing up at the review board drunk and accusing the hospital administrator of having a vendetta against her.

Unfortunately, Susan's ardent supporters began turning on her when she starred in Stage Struck, the 1957 remake of Morning Glory

Unfortunately, Susan's husband was resourceful and tracked her down. But Susan's time in the support group had helped her build inner strength.

Unfortunately, Susan is unaware that the last man she was with is entangled with the mob.

That must be some life I lead.................

Progress

Here is my Double Delight all laid out and waiting for the end triangles. I will be adding them this week. Then I will have another top ready to quilt. I have many tops ready to quilt but currently I have little space to work in. Therefore I have made the decision to just keep them safe until we move. Then I will get started on making quilts out of my tops.



As you can see, there is progress here in my nine patch quilt. Remember, it is a Leader/Ender quilt and these are slow in growing. This is going to be a favorite quilt. I can already tell.



I am overjoyed to announce that my Nifty Fifty blocks are ready to mail............... That sure brings joy to my heart. I will like it even better tomorrow when they are mailed.




I spent some time working on my idea from Friday morning. Perhaps I will have something to show for my efforts later this week.........Stay tuned.