a different tune . . .

I wasn't sure how today's stash report was going to play. I *finally* finished quilting the commemorative block and got the binding on it. It's now hanging in the mini-stand!

I'd already counted that out in stash usage, so that sweet little finish wasn't going to change my report. But I was also able to get in some glorious time in the ol' Nook. I got all my HST's trimmed and stitched up the four green blocks for Lil' Charmer. 

I also played around with it in EQ and added a substantial border to it, so I could do some fun hand quilting in it with my variegated rainbow thread.

I thought I'd get a lot further and have the whole top pieced by the end of the day (which would make a substantial difference to my stash report), but by lunch time, I knew that wasn't going to happen. When I took a lunch/potty/FB break, I stumbled on a darling little Easter craft and saw the promise of instant gratification, so I printed out the template and headed back to the nook.

It didn't take me long to find the perfect fabric and put one together! And so that's how I spent the rest of the afternoon . . . 

Bunny Sachets! (Or pattern weights -- right??!) Aren't they darling?  You can make your own . . . the free pattern and tutorial is here!  And those are what kept the title of this post from being "broken record".  Because the five of them used about a fat quarter's worth of material! So here's my stash report for this week . . .

Finally.  A little something happening! I know it's not much, but at least it's not much in the right direction.  :)

And last, but not least, I do have a little something new to be working on for some slow Sunday stitching.  Joc ordered matching dresses for the girls . . .

She ordered the blue -- but they have plain collars like the pink -- only she wants them embroidered similarly to the blue. LOL! So I worked up a little custom monogram design . . .

It's a go -- that oughta keep me busy for a couple of Sundays! Linking up with Patchwork Times and Kathy's Quilts.

It's cold, but sunny and beautiful, today.  I'll take it!  Y'all enjoy your Sunday!

:)

ad nauseam . . .

Okay, well, maybe not as extreme as my post title would indicate, but this is week three of the same stash reporting numbers . . .

Not that I'm complaining, mind you.  I've already finished up two big projects this year, so my usage numbers look fantastic (for me).

I hate to say this, but I'm *still* working on the hand quilting on my commemorative block . . .

I meant to do a post on the curved cross-hatching I'd decided to do (thanks to a post on Karen's Quilts, Crows and Cardinals), but it's just been too busy. Plus, I finally finished off a course of antibiotics for a sinus infection, only to find myself on another round for a bladder infection, of all things. So I guess it's understandable that I've been feeling rather puny. Anyway, I finished cross-hatching three of the corners and only have one corner and to echo stitch around the final border left to quilt. The binding is ready to be stitched on, so hopefully this project won't drag on too much longer.

Spring has finally arrived at the camp, as is evidenced by all my favorite blooms making their respective appearances . . .

I love these sweet purple flowers from the ground cover in the turtle sanctuary.

And then there are these tiny little purple flowers, all over the in the grass!

And of course, my favorite Spring flowers, the daffodils!

The chipmunks have been enjoying the milder temps, too . . .

They're here, there and everywhere!  They're such fun to watch.

And speaking of enjoying the milder temps, we had some two-legged visitors to the camp this weekend, too!

Sawyer and June love to get out and run and roam and ride. Sawyer is showing off his muscles--that was a pretty big limb he had over his head.  And June wanted to climb with Pawpaw to the top of the monkey bars -- she's a daddy's/pawpaw's girl! And little Miss Olivia is happy to see the sights from her snuggly spot!

With all the snow and rain we've had in the last month, both ponds are full to the brim.

The upper pond has a drain down into the lower pond (pictured above).  Then the lower pond has an overflow canal that runs down the side of the hill . . .

And underneath the road where it runs a very windy path through the woods . . .

Until it reaches the big creek. It's rare to see it so full and running so fast through the woods!

That's it for me for today . . . enjoy your Sunday!!  Linking up to Patchwork Times and Kathy's Quilts.

:)

stash, et al . . .

Nothing to see here, folks:

Stash is unchanged from last week. I didn't expect there to be, so all's well there!

I mentioned that Thursday was Sawyer's *FIFTH* birthday . . . how have the past five years flown by so quickly?! Kim and James chose to celebrate at Chuck E. Cheese's, which was a magnificent choice . . . 

All the babies had such fun, as is evidenced by the collage of their big grins (and cake-smeared faces)! Please note that the birthday boy in the center is also missing his first tooth.  Lost it on the day before his birthday. So he woke up on his birthday with 'square money' under this pillow!  I'd like to start my birthdays that way!  *grin*

I didn't get as much quilting finished on my block as I'd hoped to. I took it with me to Shocco Springs this weekend, for annual MSC missionary's retreat, thinking I could get in some stitching on the ride to and from, but it wasn't to be.  I was having a hard time seeing my lines, so I set it aside. But we did make a stop at Patches and Stitches on the way home and I was able to pick up this little gem:

My friend Sarah has one and she let me borrow it as I finished up on my Pineapple Quilt. It works like a charm -- really nice, fine tip!  Plus you can get filler 'lead' in a variety of colors, which is helpful! 

So today I'll use my new tool to remark and finish up the center of the block . . . and then figure out what to do in the four corners!

Linking up to Patchwork Times and Kathy's Quilts!

Happy sunshiney Sunday!!

:)

riding off into the sunset . . .

It's been a while since Leia made an appearance.  So much has changed in her bitty life . . .

She's been totally domesticated.  And saddle broken. *grin*

Happy Friday, y'all!  Linking up with Feline Friday over at sarah did it!

:)

wip's . . .

It's a WOW day!  (And trust me, this rainy, grey Wednesday needs a little WOW! in it.)  Believe it or not, I snuck in a little Nook time and actually have something to share!  Ages ago I cut out the pieces for this charmer . . .

Now I've got all my half square triangles together and ready to trim (and they definitely need trimming).

And I got all four of the pink blocks put together!

That's pretty good progress, don't you think?! Of course, I won't have dedicated time in the Nook again until . . . who knows when. The next two weeks are super busy, especially since starting next Monday, I'm working full time at least through the end of March. Yikes!

Today is Kim's birthday and tomorrow is Sawyer's. I'll be headed directly to Chuck E. Cheese's after work tomorrow to celebrate! It brings back *such* memories.  James's 6th birthday was celebrated - and videoed - at Chuck E. Cheese's, and father and son are so much alike. We watch and relive that one every so often and it never fails to give us the giggles. I can't wait to enjoy it again through Sawyer's eyes!!

Linking up to Esther Aliu's blog today!

:)

birthday quilting . . .

I think I mentioned in an earlier post that yesterday was Joc's birthday. We celebrated last night in high style with Chinese take out, carrot birthday cake, lots of children antics, and a board game.  It was a LOT of fun! How could it not be, especially with two sassy cuties like these two??

Right?!?

Joc wanted gift cards, but gosh, I hate to just give a gift card!  So I grabbed some Nook time over all the snowy days we had last week and got this pretty little topper finished up for her . . .

It's in the same prints as her Wedding Quilt, so I thought it would be a happy little reminder of it and her wedding day. Ellie, upon seeing it, immediately scooped it up and exclaimed, "Oh it's just my right size! 

Thank you SO much, Neesey!"  And Joc wanted me to tell her it wasn't for her?! Gracious. How do you deny such precious, darling gratitude??!

That and the commemorative block constitute my usage this week.

Nothing in. I'm getting really good at this.  LOL!

And speaking of the comm block, it's also my hand work for the day.

I do love hand quilting . . . it's so . . . steady. Linking up to Patchwork Times and Kathy's Quilts!

Have a fabulous Sunday -- and hopefully I'm not the only one enjoying a sunny, gorgeous day!

:)

wishy washy weather . . .

Can you believe the above?  That was from Wednesday. The official high that day was 77 degrees.  The official low was 27 degrees. Today is March 6th and there is ice all over the place. Tomorrow our high is 55 degrees. Aye yi yi! How is it that this is the deep south??

Speaking of early in March . . . Tuesday was Bibliophile Files day and I missed it. I am doing some reading this month, along with my morning quiet time reading that's a yearly goal.  This month I'm reading a Bethany Publishers book for review.  Beverly Lewis's The Love Letters, to be specific.  I've actually started that one and so far it's quite intriguing!

I've also checked out a library book to read. It's the second novel of the Mrs. Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children series, Hollow City by Ransom Riggs.  The first book of the series was fascinating -- kind of fantasy/intrigue/historical fiction -- so I'm looking forward to reading the second.

And the third book is How Sweet the Sound, by Amy K. Sorrells.  I actually downloaded this as a freebie on Amazon for my kindle. It's free through today, I believe, if you want to check it out on Amazon.

UPDATED:  I just saw on my favorite tea blog, Tea with Friends that Amazon is offering another Kindle freebie:  Jesus, Me, & Afternoon Tea, by D. L. Stalnaker. I don't know how long it will be available, but *I'm* sure going to add it to my reading list for the month!! Doesn't the cover just appeal to you all that are tea drinkers?? I can't wait to download it and 'flip' through the pages. I think I've got a little bit of Earl Grey and lavender tea that would be the perfect brew accompaniment to an afternoon read.  :)

The positive side of ice storms in March is an unexpected day off . . . which meant I got in some more nook time!  I printed off the photo for the back of my Kentucky Crossroads block and got it bordered . . .

And then sandwiched the front and back together and choose a quilting design (at least for the center of the block). 

You probably can't quite make out the markings on the piece, so I'll make it easier . . .

I liked this design because the points traveled nicely up the length of the 'crossroads'.  I'll do something scrolly in the red portions, and then probably outline stitch all the way around in the light border, just off the red.  The binding will be the darker blue.  Should be a pretty little finish to put in the mini quilt stand!

So that's it for me. Tomorrow we're headed out to spend the evening with the collective families, celebrating the first of our family's March birthdays . . . my Jocey! Happy Friday, Happy weekend!!

:)

wow . . .

aka, Works in progress On Wednesday!

I've gotten a bit more finished on Mr. Owlie . . . specifically, the red flowers at the top left.  LOL!

I think I may have spent more time trying to make sense of my flosses than actually stitching.  C'est la guerre.

I got a whim and headed out to the Nook yesterday morning to work on my book block. I was so pleased to find I had *all* the fabrics I'd originally used -- and in fact, it looked like that block was the only use for the red print and the shirting. So here it is now . . .

To back it, I thought it would be fun to give a nod to the whole reason I'm doing this to begin with -- it's in a book -- LOL! So I snapped a shot of the the block in the book, with the book's and author's name, along with Barbara's personal inscription to me.  I'll print this on white fabric and block it in the blue floral -- here's my mockup in EQ:

How fun is that??!  I'm really so excited about this project -- is that silly? All that's left to do now is to decide how to quilt it . . .

 

 

Those are my original top four templates. Still playing it out.  Hmmmmm.  Todd likes the fleur de lis (top right).  I'm not sold on any particular design. Regardless of which of these I'll use, I'll still have to find something to do in the setting and borders.

So that's my works in progress for this week! Linking up to Esther Aliu's blog today . . . head on over and take a peek!

:)

old block revisited . . .

Waaaay back when, I got a wild hair and for about three weeks, played around with Barbara Brackman's Civil War Sampler quilt blocks, as they were posted on her blog.  I happened to catch weeks #33, #35, and #36 .... and then I forget what happened--maybe a foot surgery?--and that was it for me on the Civil War blocks.  But I'd faithfully uploaded the three I'd done to the Flickr photo stream for the group, and lo and behold, several months later, I had an e-mail from Ms. Brackman herself, asking if she could use the photo of one of my blocks in her book, Civil War Sampler.  Uh, yes!  That was a no-brainer for me! (I blogged about it here and here.)

So, back to the present, I stumbled across that block (Block #36 - Kentucky Crossroads) in the transition from RV to Nook. It was kinda sad, just seeing it in a box of unfinished stuff.  It really bothered me.  So after some thought, I've decided I really need to do something with that published block! I'll never do the entire quilt (I'm just being honest), but that one block deserves preserving. I mean, it's sorta famous, right?? LOL!  So I thought I'd set it, do some really fancy, pretty quilting on it, notate it's page in the book (of course!) and make it a candidate for my mini quilt stand! Here are some setting ideas I've come up with so far . . .

So on point or straight?  

Use the original fabrics to set it, or use different solids to make the original block stand out?

This is just another example of how EQ is so cool!  I was able to take a photo of my block and break it up into 2" squares of each print . . . and import it into my fabric library. So the first image up there is an actual photo of my block.  The rest are EQ generated images.  Pretty nifty, eh?!?  

Anyway, that's the extent of my design wall this week.  What are *you* working on??  Linking up with Patchwork Times today!

:)