WHAT I DO WHEN MY PRINTER IS OUT OF INK OR I CAN NOT GET THE PATTERN TO PRINT AT THE RIGHT SIZE

You and I both know that nothing is more frustrating than wanting to do a project only to find you are out of ink.

Or even worst yet and more frustrating you can not get the pattern to print at the right size.

Well.....

First off...usually the pattern has a square of some kind of gauge to measure your patterns by.

If there is a one inch square (which this pattern did not have), I take my ruler and measure the square right on my computer screen.  If it is too big or too small, I just zoom in or zoom out until I get it to one inch.

Easy...

This is the pattern I want.

Lay the computer screen as far back as possible.  Get me a trusty ruler and pencil.

I just start tracing.  Use a ruler for the straight edge.

Can't help you with the round parts, as you can see mine is kinda messy.  Not to fear.

I just go and smooth out the edges.

Now if I have a pattern that is too big like a huge heart that you have only half of the heart on your screen, I just go ahead and trace what I can and then scroll up the page for the other half of the heart, match the seams and trace away.  

I guess I started doing it this way when the pdf patterns started coming out and couldn't get the scale right when it printed.

There you have it.  Easy!!!

GREAT PROJECTS, GREAT THREADS

It is dew berry picking time but I did find time to make this adult bib.

My cousin asked if I could make some.  

I said of course....

I just had to find a pattern...and I did.

Michele Bilyeu's blog "With Hearts and Hands"

What an easy pattern and great directions.  Thanks Michele!!!

Next on my list was a Walker Caddy for my mother

For some reason she thinks she can carry her soda (big gulp) mind you where ever she goes with her walker.  Which....yes, you guessed it....the soda lands all over the floor.  

Well....

.Now she has pockets to put her big gulp in.  Needless to say she is thrilled and so are my floors (my sister's floor).

I got the pattern from Maui Rainbow

Once again great instructions but I didn't follow them...just wanted the measurements.

  I put a button on each side of the walker caddy and sewed a hair bob on the other side and brought it around the button.  Works great for keeping the walker caddy in place.  I know, mine is not as pretty with all of the ribbons and bows but hey..

.call me lazy.

 All I can say is it works and she is happy.

Now I want to mention this awesome thread from Superior Threads.  It is called Fantastico

I am using this thread on a project for the Island Batik Fall Catalog (which I can not show you).

This thread is AAAAA mazzzzzing.  I love these threads, smooth as silk for my blanket stitching, doesn't break or fray.  Had a great time using this thread.  Truly is Superior!!!!  

Nope..didn't get paid to say that.....

HEAVENLY JELLY BERRIES

I know that for some of you think picking dewberries or blackberries is not your idea of fun.  But it is mine.

In fact, if I drove you around our property I would probably bore you with what I consider to be my best berry picking spots.  If my husband happens to run over my berries with his tractor....well....you can imagine the ear full he gets...

So once I get them picked then I juice them.  This part is fun if you like getting your hands messy.

The plums are not ripe on the vine yet but I did find some in the freezer ready to jelly up.  I have to tell you that this plum jelly is out of this world good, you can eat it like candy (not that I would.....HA!!)

I did make jelly from the dew berries I picked the other day and jelly from the blackberries frozen from last year.

You might think work...

I think fun....

and when you hear the ping of the lids when you know they sealed....oh yes....

that causes a smile to cross my face each time.

"

You can tell I do not need a roller coaster ride to get my thrills.

So...here is my "Playful Paper Piece" using Desert Rose Island Batik Fabric.

                                                       
                                                                Laying in my rose bush.

                                                I was hoping to catch the flowers to the left....

                                                This project is Joanna's from the  Shape Moth's blog

                                                   
Click on the link above and you will find the pattern for the jars.

Now having done that, I have to admit, I am not a fan of paper piecing.  I have done one quilt using the paper piecing method and well...that was that.

Thank you Island Batik for allowing me to practice this method again.  The Island Batik Ambassadors will be posting at various times during the month about their projects for the month as well.

LIFE'S CHALLENGES

Sometimes the challenges of life just keep a person busy.  It was not until Friday that I got back to sewing.  I had not touched my machine for two weeks.

Even tho I was busy, I got a hair brained idea to make curtains for my kitchen.   Trust me when I tell you that I have hardly decorated this house since we moved in two and a half years ago.  Some of my windows are lacking attention, pictures have not been put on the walls...etc.

So...as busy as I have been I did find time to buy some scrap fabric on line (you know.....we can always squeeze in time for buying fabric)!!!  

I got these lovelies at Modernality Fabrics on etsy, just the colors I wanted.  As you can see or not see, they are upholstery fabrics.

Here are my curtains!!

                                         

The fabrics were next to nothing in cost, she shipped quickly and well....I had fun.  I even lined these curtains.  Now there are things I would change but not now (which means not ever).

I also have enough left over for a Kitchen corner mat....to replace the one I have now

                                            
 and to make a bar runner but that will happen later...got some irons in the fire right now.

                   A paper piecing project coming up for Island Batik.....more will be revealed later.

Using Deseret Rose fabrics by of course the awesome Island Batik.

Needless to say with all of life's challenges that present itself on a daily basis and sometimes keeps me from posting or sewing.....................LIFE IS GOOD!!!

APRIL SHOWERS TRULY DOES BRING MAY FLOWERS!!!

I don't know about you but I believe that there are certain parts of Texas that are going to float away.  We are expected to have more rain this week.

Shreveport is truly going to float away near the Red River.  

Relief efforts are in the works for parts of Shreveport.

That being said and prayers their way.

Here is a wonderful quilt using Island Batik fabrics.

I just love this quilt.

Now as for the last giveaway of the Sunshine Topper....you will not believe me if I tell you this but I can not remember who I sent the pattern to.  I sent several people the pattern and for the life of me it is gone.  I even told myself that I would remember.  Have any of you ever done that?

ROUND TOPPERS AND A GIVEAWAY

The winner of the April Showers Pattern is:

Siouxzq64@gmail.comApril 5, 2016 at 2:06 PM

Cute table topper and love the ideas for the potatoes, and the strawberries

don't you just love the Island Batik Fabrics?

                                                                           Here is my Sunshine topper 

This topper is actually on the Accuquilt pattern site but I want to give one pattern away, just leave a comment.

APRIL SHOWERS BRINGS MAY FLOWERS AND MAKES MY LITTLE GARDEN SO HAPPY.....

                           Here is my April Showers Round Topper which you can find the pattern here!

The fabrics I used were Island Batik's Lavish

 and Deseret rose for the flowers and handles

. Can I just say that I love this fabric and I also know that I am a broken record.  I took this picture out on our tree stump.

 This picture was taken in my house and was wondering which buttons you like?  Answer this question for me and I will give one person a free April Showers Pattern.

Now for some over due business....

The winner of Wendy's  book  "Quilts and Projects from precuts and stash" was

Rita LynnMarch 22, 2016 at 4:48 PM

Cute placemat. Thank you for the chance to win the book.

The winner of my April Showers Island Batik fabric giveaway is :

ShebandowanMarch 23, 2016 at 3:08 PM

What gorgeous fabric! I think you may be making a table mat with umbrellas? Just guessing.

Janet

So Janet, I just need your address.....  Rita's book is probably already on it's way.

Thank you to all who came by and left a comment. 

 The weather is so beautiful outside so I want to show you my potatoes, tomatoes, strawberries, and cucumbers.  Truly April Showers did me good.

I don't think you can call me a farmer or a person with a green thumb but I know you can call me lazy.  I put everything in pots.    My strawberries are in rain gutters (thanks to my husband for the construction).  Tomatoes on the side as well as cucumbers in pots.  

 What I am really proud of is my potatoes.  I saw a youtube and couldn't wait to try it out.  So far so good.  I prepared the bottom with rocks and paper.  Put a layer of soil, then placed the potatoes.  Added soil on top and just waited for them to grow.

Believe me when I tell you that it didn't take long for them to grow.

When they sprouted up about 4 inches I added more soil on top.  I have done this process five times now.  They just sprung up again and tomorrow I will add more soil on top.  I am so excited.

The hardest part is waiting to see if I have some good potatoes.

 Here are my strawberries....I am so happy since last year they did not do too good.

I hope all of you are enjoying this beautiful weather.  This month Island Batik Ambassadors are showing the wonderful fabrics of Island Batik using the theme "April showers"....which you can find the ambassadors on my sidebar.