Lost

I'm still stitching away on my little take along project...

but I had a VERY sad event.

 

I LOST one of the finished blocks!!!

There WERE 5 pre-printed squares..

and now there are only FOUR.

:(

The one I lost was FINISHED too!!!

Ugh.

 

I was so sad when I realized one was missing.

I REALLY think it dropped out

or was left on the chair in the waiting room

at my daughter's eye doctor.

I've called TWICE

to see if it turned up.

NO LUCK.

Would someone TAKE it??

 

I'm still hopeful it will show up!

IF it doesn't..

I have a PLAN!

:)

IF I can find some white cotton that matches...

I'll be drawing the pattern with washable blue marker

using a finished one as my GUIDE.

 

LOTS of work...

but WORTH it!

 

I already have the quilt worked out...

sort of...

in my HEAD!

AND.....

I need FIVE embroidered squares.

NO LESS.

:)

Welcoming SUMMERtime

One week withOUT a machine!

 

It was a challenge...

but I managed to keep myself PRODUCTIVE.

 

These pre-printed embroidery blocks

had some QUALITY time with me!

I love how they're coming out!

I plan...someday....to use them in a scrappy quilt

using some fun 30's reproductions.

Nine patch blocks?

Half square triangles???

I get to dream about that one!

;)

We'll see how many more vacations it TAKES

to get them ALL done!

LOL!

This GORGEOUS yarn also

spent time

with my CROCHET hook...

Resulting in a YUMMY scarf...

that I couldn't WEAR because it's SUMMERTIME!

:/

I'm going to wear it AS SOON as the weather turns cool!

I LOVE it!

Had a GREAT week with FAMILY and friends.

What a wonderful way to begin the summer!

 

It was extra special having my niece along

to help out with the younger one during her class time!

I'm Feeling blessed tonight.

 

 

 

 

Packing light

I'll be traveling this week.

I HAVE to have something to keep my hands BUSY!

But....

I need to pack light.

 

Leaves pre-cut.

Check!

Vines basted.

Check!!!

(I used 1" strips and basted them in thirds.)

 

A little bit of cotton yarn to mix things up!

Check!!!

 

And....

Some embroidery squares - pre-printed.

Check!!!

 

 

I bought these YEARS and years ago

to use in making a quilt.

There are 5 generous 17" squares

READY to be stitched!

 

NOTICE how much I've done in the last 10 years!!

:)

 

It IS a light weight project

that will keep me busy

in case I want something different to work on!!

OR

JUST in case I RUN OUT of projects!

 

I'll miss zooming along with ms. juki.

 

See my new little pin cushion there

tied onto the machine?

Thanks to a dear friend

for this little sewing gift!!!

Cute. cute.

 

See you when I get back!

 

 

 

 

Happiness

Happy.

My daughter picked up a needle and thread this week!

They look kind of like snowflakes!

Happy.

I get to babysit sweet granddaughter.

It's a JOY even though my design floor

(behind her in the photo)

Never stays PUT!!

;/

 

Happy.

Serving a lunch twice a month at church

to senior citizens always

puts a smile on MY face!

Happy.

My new recipe for chicken turned out!!!

 

I didn't even try it out BEFORE serving it to others!!!

;)

Happy.

There was enough for everyone!!!

Happy.

Someone made these little jello molds!

Almost TOO beautiful to EAT!

 

Happy Friday to YOU!!!.

 

**********

 

 

 

Deadlines

I know you've seen this quilt top before...

but Now it's DONE!!!.......Thanks to a deadline!

Aren't deadlines GREAT????

Wonder what we'd get done without them???

I added a little bit of embroidery.

I think it adds a nice TOUCH!

 

The center house block for this quilt has been in my orphan drawer.

It came from Applique Addict during one of the last two

neighborhood blog parties I hosted.

 

Isn't blogland NICE???

Marjorie sent me an extra block

just BECAUSE!!!

 

Like I said.

There are LOTS of sweet people in blogland!

It's been fun getting to know each and every one!

The back was pieced with what I have on hand.

I'm happy to say I haven't needed to buy fabric for a while!

Guess that says something about my stash, huh?

It's quilted and READY for the

BRIDE to be!

 

This quilt features LOTS of scraps

in my "dump and sew" style!

Gotta love those SCRAPS!

handwork

Making table mats is something I really like to do.

I'd call them table runners....

but they're always a BIT short.

I have a drawer with my little collection.

Oh...

And sometimes I'll give one or two away.

;)

This little table mat has been traveling around with me.

I'm finally DONE!

(well almost)

;/

There was the piecing..

There was the embroidery...

then.... the hand quilting.

It saw me through meetings...

doctor appts....

and most recently...

a CAMPING TRIP!!!

The binding is on!!!

And tomorrow...

I'll be stitching that down on the back!

With FRIENDS.

That makes the sewing so SWEET!

Vacation Time!

I'm taking a little trip!

The bags are packed.

The dinners are prepared for the family!

(I get extra POINTS for that one!)

AND...

I finally figured out what to take along for the

L-O-N-G car trip.

I wasn't worried about supplies for the class...

I wasn't worried about forgetting my toothbrush...

NO.......

I've been WORRIED about a handwork project!!!

I've had SO many finishes lately,

(like my hawaiian pillow),

 I thought I had RUN OUT of take-along projects!!!!

This is a little table runner I began a while ago.

I'm So happy I ran into it today...

JUST in the NICK of time!!!!

If this corner of blogland's a little quieter this week...

You'll know why!

I'll be taking a class from Hollis Chatelain

way up in Northern California

at the Empty Spools Seminar!!!

Woo Hoo! for learning more about QUILTING!!!!

I'm so thankful my husband is willing to

"hold down the fort" while I'm gone!

What a sweetie!

Thursday Thoughts.

I now have THREE pineapple blocks.

"Do I stop here and make a table runner...

Or keep going and make a quilt???"

Lots of 2" squares that now measure about

60 something inches by 80 something inches.

"Oh boy! I want this to be queen size....

I thought I was closer than that...

I've got a long way to go still!!" :(

A little mug rug or wall hanging being created by my friend's daughter.

"I can't believe a 7 Year old did such

NEAT stitching!!!"

Inspired by this book.

"That chicken and dumplings last night was

THE BEST EVER!!!"

"Think I"ll have some leftovers today!"

What are your thoughts today???

Here's the recipe for the chicken and dumplings.

It doesn't look like much....but it was amazing!!

I looked high and LOW for the recipe on-line...

Since I couldn't find it...

"I'll have to type it in."

"Am I getting lazy??"

"Naw."

Crockpot Chicken and Dumplings

1 potato, peeled and chopped

3 carrots, sliced

1 onion, chopped

3 cloves garlic, minced

1 c. mushrooms, if desired

(14 oz.) Chicken broth

1 can cream of chicken soup

1/4 c. flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. dried thyme leaves

1/8 tsp. pepper

2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken, cut into 2" pieces

cook on low 6-8 hours

(9 oz.) frozen peas

add peas 1 hour before you're ready to serve

and turn crockpot up to HIGH.

1 1/2 c. bisquick

1/2 c. milk

2 tsp. butter, melted

In small bowl combine these ingredients for the dumplings.

Drop by Tablespoon onto hot bubbling chicken mixture.

Cover and cook on high for the last 20-25 minutes.

Serves 4-5

Enjoy. This is the PERFECT comfort food!!!

stitch doodling

I went to visit my sweet Mother-in-law yesterday.

I always have a nice time visiting...

but I do like to sew a little something while I'm talking.

I'm so glad I had this old velvet skirt.

(purchased..you know where...the thrift store!)

I'd been dreaming about turning it into a pillow someday

and had already cut a nice 15" square out of it.

I picked it up as I ran out the door

And when I got to my MIL's

I began to doodle.

Sewing and talking...

Sewing and talking....

Very nice.

This little project requires so little.

fabric. needle. thread.

It was kind of fun too!

See those little french knots?

When I sat down to visit yesterday I noticed

the fabric had some faint bleached spots!!

Oh NO!!!!

So necessity became the mother of invention!

I began covering them up with knots!!!

The fabric told me what to do!

And...

I like it!!

Now the question is...

Should I keep going with more doodling?

OR

Leave it AS IS???

Hmmmm.......

I also did some doodling last night.....

Getting ready to quilt another quilt.

Thought I'd goof around for a few minutes and

dream about possibilities!!

Dreaming

and

Doodling.

What a great pair!!!

proof

As I was digging in an old sewing box today

I unearthed the proof.

I've always loved fabric.

fiber.

needles.

thread.

yarn.

The first sample is maybe 20 years old.

Little. Only 8" x 3".

Those houses are a classic,

Huh?

This one's even older.

30 years??

There I was in high school......

doodling with fabric,

yarn and thread.

Memories......
Can you hear Barbara Streisand singing in the background???

bee block.

Since signing up for two virtual quilting bees I now have

a new reason to look forward to the beginning of each month!

Two little packages came this week.

Maybe I should have signed up for more bees....??

I love getting little packages!

Especially ones that are filled with fun fabric!!

I wanted to sign up for more, but decided I better see if I could

keep up with two bees first!

This quilt block is going back to Ruth

from the modern quilt bee.

She asked for a 12.5" block.

For guidelines on How to make the block...she said,

"The sky's the limit!"

"do anything"

and,
"do something that maybe you haven't done before".

I decided to make some waves,

So that those jelly fish and mermaids

would have a place to swim!

I overlapped the first two pieces a little bit
then used my handy dandy
rotary cutter and cut
a very gentle wavy line!



They match!
Sew those two together and then
keep adding waves!


I especially like the way the very simple
embroidery stitches add dimension
to the waves!

I'm now thinking about making waves around
a four patch.
Do you think that will work??
We'll see.