Moms

 

Right now TOMS  shoes are the "IN" thing.

They look comfortable.

Even my 80 year old mother-in-law LOVES them.

 

I almost bought a pair for myself and then....

I found a knock off brand at the drug store

and added my OWN brand NAME.

Kinda fun, huh?

 

All it took was a little tiny piece of striped fabric,

a black pen

and

a little stitching.

 

;)

 

 

Home again

Just back from a weekend retreat.

:)

I took an applique project with me and

was able to complete my FIRST block

of a new project!

 

Believe it or not...

I was ALL OUT of hand projects

and had to scurry around

to get this one packed up!

 

I CAN.NOT. leave home for a retreat,

doctor appointment

or car trip

without some HANDWORK!!!

 

I hope to make a few of these blocks.

Eventually....I'll have enough

for a quilt!

Had a wonderful time with daughter.

I was in charge of a simple craft.

Tinted jars with knobs.

We painted on the "tint"
(modgepodge and food coloring)

Spray painted the lids

and added knobs.

 

Very simple.

 

Then...

I came home to babysit this....

HAPPY face!

Free piecing on Friday

It's Friday.

;)

 

I'm beginning a quilt!!!

I love beginnings.

This time I'm FREE piecing.

Here are my first THREE blocks.

 

It's easy to free piece.

It begins with pulling scraps.

If they look good all piled up on your table....

Then they will look GOOD in your quilt!!!

 

That's MY theory.

 

I try to get some contrast as I move out strip by strip.

Sometimes there's a LOT of contrast when white is added...

sometimes there's not much contrast at all.

 

The only thing I'm aiming for is...

2 blocks with a LIGHT center.

(half log cabin block)

and....

 

2 blocks with a DARK brown center.

Put 'em together...

and what do you get????

 

A funny four patch in the middle

and some happy scraps...

because THEY found a HOME!

 

Have a great weekend!

 

Do some FREE piecing....

and WATCH!

Your pile of lonely scraps will become a QUILT!

2 inch love

Who doesn't LOVE 2 inch squares???

Raise your hand.

Did you see any hands???

Me neither.

Today I've decided that 2 inches

TRANSFORMs!!!

 

My fun quilt went from this.....

to THIS!!!!

 

I LOVE what those 2" squares

of scrappy happiness

do for this quilt!!!

And LOOK!!!

 

I've got LOTS leftover

to TRANSFORM my NEXT quilt!!!!

;)

Do you make tshirt quilts?

At least once a year I'm asked to make a tshirt quilt for someone.

I don't LOVE making them...

but I always say YES!!

;)

Maybe it's the pocket change I earn...

Maybe it's because I KNOW how much they mean to people!

 

I went away on vacation last week

KNOWING

this quilt was waiting for me.

Waiting for a WRESTLING match!!!

 

Waiting for me to BASTE....

Mark....

and QUILT!!!

(quilting these babies

is the hardest part for ME!)

 

It WAS a wrestling match....

AND  I WON AGAIN!!!!

 

The secrets to WINNING for me are:

1. spray basting

(I spray basted today while at church

where there are tables BIG enough

to spread the quilt out!)

2. using TAPE to mark.

3. quilting VERY sparingly (lines 4"-5" apart)

4. WAVY lines with a free motion foot.

 

Can you guess what kind of music

this young adult likes???

I'll let you GUESS!

Hint: Look at the colors in the border.

I had some fabric that worked for the backing too!!!

Woo Hoo!!!

 

This 74"x84" memory quilt

is now BEHIND me!

 

How about YOU???

Are YOU ever asked to make a tshirt quilt??

What do you say?

 

 

Monday

I'm cleaning and organizing my

"NEW to me" sewing room.

My almost married daughter found

an apartment this weekend.

 

I didn't waste any time.

She's gone...

and I'm IN!!!

LOL!

 

As I moved things around I came across this little

nametag/pin.

 

Don't think I've shared about it before.

If I have...

you'll have to see it again.

;)

These are supposed to be flowers in the pot.

I covered heavy duty interfacing for the pot

and machine stitch doodled on top.

I used some light weight wire for the stems.

 

You can see how I attached it all on the back here.

Kind of messy.  :/

But it does the trick.

I also have a finished rug!!

Made with t-shirt yarn.

Woven on my trip...

and...

Ready for the shop!

 

Happy Monday to you!

One week.

It's been quiet here on my blog.

I've been AWAY from the internet....

but I haven't been still.

 

I've been sewing orphans together....

and Playing with scraps.

Cutting t-shirts up....

and weaving outside!

Making rugs and things.

Nice BUMPY rugs!!!!

Loving the granddaughter....

and taking little ones swimming.

Eating.

Ice cream.....

and pancakes.

;)

 

O.k.

I DID sit still a little bit.....

with my VERy FAVORITE camping blanket!!!

 

I admired the BLUE sky....

Saw spring coming.....

And listened to the sounds of NATURE!!!

 

Home again.

Nice to be away....

and nice to be home.

 

So happy there's a balance in life.

:)