A GREAT START TO THE NEW YEAR!!

I am so excited to show you this post.  I am truly going to try to post more this year. 

 Last year was not a fun year for me or for that matter anyone.  As you know, I lost my mother, then I lost a friend of 42 years.  My sweet friend was old enough to be my mother but she and her husband were the first friends we had when we were first married.  She was like a grandmother to my sons.  Then I lost two very very dear friends from Covid and another two church friends who died of covid.  I am not telling you this for you to feel sorry for me but in the grand scheme of things, it is who you love and who you are loved by that makes the world a better place to live in.

'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.

Alfred Lord Tennyson

It is the sweet memories and wonderful examples that bring me peace and happiness.

So.....enough of that for now.

I made a 12 1/2" log cabin block  out of the scraps that I have been cutting up...just for fun.  It looks crooked but I measured the blocks and they are fine.  I think it is that one fabric after the orange, it creates an illusion.

I also looked at all of the colors I have and I believe I have gone over to the dark side....not as much light.  So I thought to myself....I could cut me up some light.  Then I thought it would defeat the purpose of the scraps.  So I am just going to go willy nilly.

I do think I am going to cut that one last 12 1/2" inch strip out of greys.  I have a ton of grey scraps in another bin....yes...another bin...haha.  These scraps are much larger.  Anyways, I think I am going to have that consistent grey through out the quilt and maybe create some kind of design....won't know till I get the blocks together.  I also might make the middle small blocks grey as well.   

Plans change, ideas turn over and then there you have it....something totally different than what you intended.

LIFE IS GOOD!!

So Let me show you what I have done.

I showed you in my last post that I purchased the top two compartment boxes from Micheal's.  As I was cutting more out, I knew I needed more compartment boxes but this time I went to Walmart and got the boxes that do not have dividers.  It would be in my best interest if I did have just plane boxes and no dividers because it will suit future projects.    So the top two are completely full to exploding.  The next one is half way full but I still have a few things on my ironing board to cut up...not much but enough.

Next you will see the 4 1/2" squares....This box is almost full.  Of course, you all know that I used my log Cabin die (that is having issues) and my 4 1/2" die from my 8" Qube set.

Next is the most fun.

 

Empty!!!!!!

Was full

                                                                         Empty!!!!!!!

                                                             AHHHHHHHHH

WINTER WONDERLAND - Island Batik Ambassadors

                                             

                                                Better late than never right???

Did I tell you that the Island Batik fabric hardly fray?

Totally wonderful to applique with...raw edge or needle turn....

So I decided to make this bunting.

I love to sit and look at the fabulous fabrics.

I chose the lazy way out when I made these.

                                                 Folded my fabric to the length I needed

                                        Got my trusty triangle ruler and marked around it

                                                         see the markings

                          Then I pinned it in a few places, then used my pinking shears and cut around it.

Looks like this when unfolded but you are going to leave it folded.

I sewed a seam with my sewing foot next to the edge of the pinking part and then a seam 5/8 from the top for the ribbon to go through.

Then I blanketstitched the lettering onto the fabrics.

                                        Did I tell you that Island Batik fabric hardly fray?
                                                                 Of course I did!!!

    I love making hand towels and I love it even more when I go in my friends home and find it hanging on the stove handle.

To show you how much I love making them.....(that is an understatement)

I have a collection here:

You can tell I have been didgging....

A collection hanging here:

Some more here!!!

Great for a fast gift.

But I wanted to make some more Christmas ones

                       I just love this reindeer....if you have been to my blog you have seen him before.
                                                  One day I will make myself one.

I truly loved using my Island Batik fabrics for each of these projects.

I also love using my Accuquilt Go cutter

There will be more later....looking for my Santa one but can't find him.....

It is raining here in Texas......time to take a book and hide somewhere.

BRINGING IN THE FALL WITH "BOUNTIFUL TABLE TOPPERS" USING ISLAND BATIK FABRICS

                                    

                                     

This month has been a continuation of last month which means getting even one project done is a success.

                                          We got our new box of fabrics from Island Batik

                                                    All I can say is YUMMY!!!!

                       For my Bountiful Table Topper I chose yellows, browns and greens.
                       From my Island Batik Bountiful Basket of fabrics!!


                                      This is what I came up with!  Which doesn't have a name.

Talking about racking one's brain....oh my gosh.  I have fretted, I have worried and even tried different things but nothing I did worked out or made my heart sing......until

                                      I certainly didn't want to waste any of my gorgeous fabics.

                     

As you can see, I finally came up with something that I felt was worthwhile and it is now sitting on the bar in my kitchen.  Just matches perfectly.  My husband just called from the kitchen and said how pretty he thought it was.... (singing heart).

This topper measures  18 1/2" x 28", just perfect for the bar.

I used my Accuquilt Go cutter with the FUN FLOWER DIE # 55334 and the

 ROUND FLOWER # 55007 (for the center of the flower).

Two 1/4 yards fabric for the circles and the flowers, and 3 - 2  1/2  strips from selvage for the binding.

The blanket stitch was used to edge the applique and wonderful Heat N Bond for my fabric adhesive.

Now I am ready for cooler weather, what about you?

I noticed that a few other ambassadors posted their runners today.....

Beaquilter

Mary Mack's Blog

here are a few others

Freemotion

Patchwork breeze

Pamela's Quilts

For Quilts Sake

Inchworm Fabrics

Vicki's Crafts and Quilting

Moose Stash Quilting

There will be more.......but these are the ones I know of.

TIPTOE THROUGH THE TULIPS

Remember Tiny Tim?

Singing Tip Toe Through the Tulips?

Well...here are my tulips.

I  made this wall hanging a few years ago with the Accuquilt Go Cutter.  This is my most favorite of favorites and you will see it hanging on my wall in the previous post.

Here is the newest version using Island Batik Fabric's.  This pattern works so well with Batik's.

As you know, this week is the Tour of all of the Island Batik Ambassadors...today's room is

07/16 – Christine Martinez of Made In Scraps   hop on over there and check out her room.

FROM DRAB TO GO-FAB!!!

 I have a baby shower this Sat.

Drab brown bag

Trusty Go Cutter

Animal die

Lapel Stick and here you are...from Drab to Fab!!  Even covered the card with orange fabric...

Here is a burp cloth

Wanted to cover the back

One 6" strip of orange fabric the length of the diaper

rotary cutter

Lapel Stick

Iron (glued the edges under, then glued the strip to the diaper....sew)  No gumming of needle, no waiting to dry, no slipping of strip!!

From drab to FAB!!!

Phone call last night saying they needed a pink baby quilt by Sat.

No problem, got these amazing pink squares that I went OCD on when doing a quilt a few months ago.

16 squares sewn together....and you have FAB!!!!  (still have about 40 squares left)

YEA!!!  ME!!!

OF COURSE WE HAVE TO CLEAN OUR SPOT FIRST!!

It seems that every time I want to get down and dirty with my sewing that I have to clean my sewing room first?

What is up with that?

I could be a messy quilter????

I could be a lazy quilter (not willing to take the time to pick up after myself as I sew).

I could be a "I don't care" quilter.....don't care about the mess and don't care how long it sits there.
            to be honest, I hate clutter.....

Hummmmmm

Maybe I am  an unorganized quilter?

 No matter how hard I try....just don't make the gravy.

So my floors are swept.

My table is cleaned off.



Do many of you do this?

I cut off an old Clorox bottle and used it for a catch all by my sewing machine.

So I moved it and decided to put a smaller one next to the machine hoping that I could not catch too



much in it.



I notice that I clean it out more...and notice that the Clorox bottle is not cleaned out yet....

  Do I really need those items?

  Hummmmm

Now...when I cook, I clean as I go so there is not so much to clean when I am done.

My mother taught me to clean the bathroom as I am in there...

So....what can I say?

I make my bed when I get out of it....

So why can't I keep my sewing room organized.

 I have seen some of your sewing rooms....

I have a drool rag next to me when I see them and my sin of envy comes out.

Does it really matter? I am happy...you are happy....

Happy!  Happy!  Joy! Joy!

So...don't judge me....!!

Now to some down and dirty sewing...it is serious business today....WHOOOOOOOOO

Let the sewing commence.

Oh by the way, I failed to mention that the runner  Gobble Gobble was made with the Accuquilt Go cutter, I used the Heather Feather die # 2 and the heart die.  I don't have the letter's die but if you have that you are set.  Even if you do not have this Accuquilt Go cutter, the applique pieces are included so you can cut them out youself.

THE REST OF THE VALENTINE "FOREVER & ALWAYS" PANEL BY MODA

Fist off, here is the finished runner....

The question was raised "What are you going to do with the rest of the panel?"

The answer is this:

I got this much done today. Trust me when I tell you that there was barely a scrap left. Just the white pieces. Put my Accuquilt Go Cutter to great use


. I hear there is a great British series on Netflix called "Wild at Heart." This will keep me company while I stitch this down.


 Off  I go!!!

CONFESSION TIME!!

Okay....I should not quit my day job!!!

You give me a piece of fabric and I can manipulate the death out of it but anything else.....I just go plop plop....fizz fizz     My Go cutter made easy work of these....

The PTA of Sandy Hook has asked for snowflakes, so when the children return at the beginning of the years their school will be decorated with snowflakes. Go to Sew Cal to get the address and further info. I plan to go to Micheal's tomorrow to get some pretty paper...no more glitter for me.

Going to send these anyways...maybe they will get mixed up with your prettier ones and no one will notice.  If time permits, I plan to make some fabric ones and blanket stitch around them.  We will see...4th son is coming tomorrow (I thought Friday....was I ever wrong)...and my older friend is in the hospital....so like I said, time permitting.

HOLY STINKING SCRAP!!

So if you have been reading my blog, you all know that I am at my mother's. My sister Beverly and Mother (Quilter's Corner) have the most amazing scraps. Yes...scraps!!

Some of you know that I have been using my Go Cutter to cut through some of those scraps. But.....some of the scraps were in yardages.... I would go...are you sure this is a scrap? Some of them I just could not cut into....so.....

so.....

I have made a home for the lost scraps. Anyone for scraps anonymous? I was actually drooling over their scraps, how bad is that?

Now...we all know that I need scraps like I need a few inches added to my behind!! But....home girl is taking home a bag of scraps.

Right now I have several projects I am working on with the scraps. Been up since 5:30 and sewing.....whohoooooo!!! Back in the saddle again!!!

So before I get back to my sewathon (before mom wakes up), I am going to leave you with this picture



This fabric line is called "Are we There yet," my sister blogged about this today but she didn't mention that you can find it in her store, Inchworm Fabrics. I just love this quilt top, her daughter Jennifer and her made this while Jennifer was visiting a week or so ago. I just have to have this fabric (you hear me Jeanette...wink wink!!)

Have a fabulous day, I am back to sewing again and will share picture of the scraps I have been using.

WHAT'S IN YOUR WALLET?

I finished this reindeer the night before I left....uploaded on flickr and I invite all of you when you finish your reindeers to upload as well.

Now to show you what is in my wallet. My husband's eyes bugged out when he saw all of these pouches,bags...and I didn't show you the two cosmetic bags in the bathroom right now. He just laughed...but I laughed at all of his electric cords in his suitcase. At least my stuff in organized in one compartment.
A pouch for my jewelry, kindle cord and camera cords, bag for medicine (gotta have headache medicine), bag for embroidery, computer cords etc....the list goes on.

Now to give my husband credit, he is so organized and all of his things are wrapped nicely with rubber bands around them (so much better than what I would have done...the cords and wires would have free range with me and get tangled up).

Oh...that pink bag is my camera battery charger (yes...I did finally find it the day before we left)...sheweee how I looked for that. I kept thinking if I could only remember what color bag it was in. Now I know and it is documented.

What do you see below? I am trying to support my friend Caroll in her embroidery reindeer games. I sit here wanting my machine so badly....but keeping my hands busy doing this is therapy for now.
What you see below is some awesome Batiks fat quarters, eight of them. I got them at JoAnn's for five bucks. Oh yes....the package had been damaged. When I saw the price my eyes bugged out, I looked around like I was stealing .... snatched up the bag of fat quarters and ran to the counter...didn't want anyone to change their minds .... I also got the 2" Go cutter strip die for 19.00, I purchased it for a friend. What was I thinking? I didn't buy me one...I went back a few days later and it was regular price.....I felt my boot on my bootie for not getting one earlier.
The weather in San Antonio is totally wonderful....it feels like home.

YOU ASK......"WHAT IS GOING ON OVER THERE?"

Remember HeHaw...

What's for supper Grandpa?

Well.... What is going on over there Barb? Glad you asked....Least ways I got a few emails asking.

Yesterday was spent running around.

Today I had a friend come over, I am helping her design a Bowling quilt for her Brother.

Then more running around.

Well....Saturday while running around with my husband we stopped at Hobby Lobby.

And I found these....

Aren't they cute???? Fifteen cents each....the only problem is they mostly have the initial "I" and one "A"..... So I walked away but then I grabbed my husband arm and said...

"Hold ON".....he heard the breaks screech!!!!

Whoa Nellie!!!

Yep....I couldn't pass them up....fifteen cents....did I say EACH????

My husband is now rolling his eyes (One day he is going to freeze that way).

We get in the car and he goes what on earth did you want those for. I said, I brought 10, that is one dollar and fifty cents....take it out of my pay....HA!!! (no, I didn't say that).

Well.....the wheels were churning

and a churning ( I am thinking in the Young Women mode for church)....

So I pull out my slice
Pull out my Accuquilt go cutter.
Cut circles the size of the circles on the pails from the Go cutter.

Cut each gals initial from the slice

Got some trusty MOD PODGE (you know where I am going with this....I guess I can just stop my post here)
Put some dots around the circle....and this is what I came up with. Oh yes.....do I hear some high fives????? Hasn't dried yet....but we are dancing over here!!
I made just one, this gal can't attend...but the other girls can do their own.

Oh yes.....so Mr. Bejeweled you can bring those rolling eyes from the back of your head now......

Other than that....you guessed it...not a thing is going on here...Not a thing.