Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Stashes

It seems my stash of eyeglasses has reached an end. I have three broken pairs now.

I managed to find the Scotch tape this morning .... and I have to go to work with tape on my glasses. Hopefully there's a LensCrafters near the office.

If that isn't bad enough, I applied hand lotion right before applying the tape. Now I have a VERY up close and personal view of a fingerprint!

Sheesh, you can't take me anywhere!

Sunday, February 19, 2012

DeStashing Sale

When the tubs won't close, it's time to destash.

A money order or cashier's check are preferred. I will take a personal check, but that will delay your shipment for ten days.

Please email me if you would like to purchase anything below. This is, obviously, on a first-come basis. If for some reason the deal falls through, I will contact the second person who expressed an interest.

The descriptions and prices are below the pictures. Shipping is included in the price.

First up, a few fat quarter towers.

WELL, EVERYTHING SOLD, SO I'VE TAKEN DOWN THE PICTURES. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!

Slanted Stars



The fourth binding finished in short order. I have one more to do, but I need to square it and make the binding. Maybe I'll get the squaring done this week.

I loved making this quilt. Just pulled red scraps from my overflowing scrap bin and started cutting away. When I ran out of that white-on-white, I was done.

It's interesting to go back and look at fabrics from the scrap pile. I remember a lot of these from past quilt projects. There's such a variety in here. And it also reminds me of fun times making the quilts. Eleven years of red scraps.

I think all of these reds were prewashed, but I'm going to wash this quilt again just to make sure the colors don't run before I give it away as a charity quilt. If there's an issue with it, I'd rather it be here than a disappointment to someone else down the line.

It feels good to get these done. Now I need to send some more out to be quilted!!

Saturday, February 18, 2012

A Decision

Remember this fabric from a blog post last month?





I've spent all morning going through patterns and, frankly, making the biggest mess of things, searching for the perfect pattern for this gorgeous Durham Renew 2011 fabric by Brenda Riddle.

Well, I could have saved an awful lot of time. The pattern I wanted to make was one of Brenda's that was sitting right there in front of me all along ---- Stitches in Time!

I had been looking at the darker quilt on that pattern cover out of the French General fabric. It wasn't until I really looked at the cover that I saw the pastel quilt in the background.

This is it!

I'm going to enlarge it a bit, and I am going to do the applique on the borders.

Isn't it gorgeous?! It looks like a fun one!

Brenda, I sure wish you had clunked me over the head when I first posted about your fabric! You could have told me that I already had the pattern that I needed to use! Or Bailey could have called Penny to tell her mom to open her eyes!

I'm excited! Yes!!!

It's now third on the list. I have a fun one to make, and then an obligatory baby quilt, and then I'm on to this one!

I love it when a plan comes together!

Friday, February 17, 2012

An Apparition

Do my eyes deceive me? Could it be?

Yes, it's Penny!!!!!



OMG, she honors us with her presence!

She must like this quilt. I threw it over her, and she actually came out from under to explore! I'd say it's a winner!

Another few nights of sitting on the sofa stitching. Another binding done.

I'm still working on bindings, I thought my last, but I picked up a quilt last night from the quilter.

That's okay.

These are moving from the to-be-finished stack into the done-done-done stack!

Slowing but surely ...

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

String Beans

I love string beans. I could eat them with every meal. So when I saw the "String Beans" pattern by Loft Creations, I couldn't resist. Besides, Jane was making one and I blatantly stole the pattern inspiration from her! I don't think she minds when I do that ... at least, she's never told me she minds! Best friends don't really mind, do they?



I decided to use the Reunion line by Sweetwater. I worried about the contrast but when I laid out the fabric strips across the background, even the lightest colors contrasted nicely, like that red and white pin-stripey fabric third from the left.

Shoofly blocks are so much fun to make, and I was especially drawn to these enlongated flies. This is a dynamite pattern! And easy!

I started cutting it out on Sunday, but those bindings were calling to me. And Penny was calling to me. "Please come sit by me on the sofa, Mommy." Mommy is such a push-over!

There's another pattern by Loft Creations that I'm going to poke the button on. It's Wringer Washer. I have a lot of leftover Chocolat by 3 Sisters that I was going to toss, but I can make use of it for this pattern, even enlarging it a bit. And I have a lot of leftover '30s fabrics, too. Decisions, decisions!

Or I may choose another route ... since I'm already poking the pattern button at the Fat Quarter Shop. Might have to do some browsing today to see what strikes my fancy! Christmas fabrics? Soft and pretty pastels? Sigh ...

It feels good to be inspired! Thank you, Jane!!

Sunday, February 12, 2012

A Binding Finished

I'm plowing my way through these one at a time. These were back from the quilter a year ago. The awfully busy year intervened. Now is the time to just get 'em done.

Penny's official third birthday portrait didn't turn out as I wanted. She was supposed to be ON the quilt, not under it peeking out.



Sigh.......

No way was she going to cooperate. I even had a doggy treat to tempt her. Nope.

Now you can see why she has so many "nicknames."

Punk!

The quilt is "Out of the Bag" by Judy at Patchwork Times. I think we did it as a challenge to pull our fabric from our stashes before she gave us the pattern. You can find it on her "Patterns for Free" link. Here's the quilt. This is a great, quick quilt, Judy. Thanks!!

I'm binding a Halloween one now. Maybe it'll be finished before October!

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Celebrations Winner

It rained. I cut a couple of inches off my hair. Penny snored out loud for quite a while. I fiddled with fabric and came up with a quilt I hope to cut tomorrow.

All in all, a good day.

And I spent a long time reading all of the comments, laughing, checking your blogs, following links -- and came away inspired!

Penny actually cooperated tonight and pulled a winner. Of course, I had to chase her down and pry the slip of paper out of her mouth. She was quite put out by that! Brat!

The winner of the $60 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop is ....

Lynne in Hawaii!

.... who said:

WOW! The blog is 6 and Miss Penny is 3 already! Time flies! I understand the 60 very well but that changes on the 14th to 61 for me. Puts me in the old as dirt category...lol. You are so generous! Thanks for the chance.

Congrats, Lynne. I'll order up your gift certificate tomorrow. Have fun shopping!

Thanks to everyone for entering and sending Penny birthday wishes. She appreciates it, and so do I!

Friday, February 10, 2012

Celebrations

It's that time of year again!

Saturday, 2/11, is my sixth blogging anniversary - but more importantly, it's Penny's THIRD birthday! Hard to believe "Slick" is three already. Yep, that's her nickname - along with "Punk" and whatever else seems to fit at the moment.

No pictures this morning. She would have none of that!

This will be a quick give-away. Drawing will be held at 6:00'ish p.m. California time tomorrow night, Saturday 2/11.

Just leave a comment and you'll be entered into the drawing. Be sure to leave a way for me to contact you.

Oh, yeah -- I almost forgot!

The give-away will be $60 gift certificate to the Fat Quarter Shop! Yep, you read that right. 6-0. Cuz that's how old I am....... I didn't think anyone would want a $3 gift certificate to celebrate Penny's age!

Sunday, February 05, 2012

Valentiney Box

This box has been sitting here all week, and I just got around to opening it.



I know, I know, I vowed I wasn't going to show purchases any more, but I couldn't help snapping a picture of this box.

Doesn't it conjure up images of Valentine's Day? All that luscious Rouenneries Deux - red and cream with just a touch of gray in it!

Something about French General is so romantic. Maybe it's because it's French inspired. After all, Paris is THE city for lovers.

That bolt in the back -- I couldn't resist getting a whole bolt. I can back two or three French General quilts with it.

Kimberly at the Fat Quarter Shop helped me shop for this box of goodies! I was determined to order it one day but got too busy to get my shopping done. One quick email to her and she hopped right in and did the deed for me! Thanks, Kimberly!

I love the packaging by the Fat Quarter Shop. Everything is folded so neatly and tucked into plastic bags. I recently ordered a piece of yardage from another online store, and was dismayed when it came practically wadded up in a box. I guess I've been spoiled by Kimberly and her staff!!

Opening this box this morning made me feel much better!

Saturday, February 04, 2012

Crashed and Burned

Well, that might be a bit dramatic, but that's kind of how I feel right now.

I took a tumble yesterday. One of those instances where you have your hands full and miss the bottom step. I really banged my head and my hands got tangled in the tub I was carrying.

Today I'm sore all over. My head is okay, but I have two or three fingers that are sore and aching. My shoulder was wrenched. It's not damaged but just sore. My left knee is sore. My right hip is sore.

Frankly, I'm surprised there wasn't seismic activity recorded when I hit the ground!

A very busy week this week, but I did manage to get one binding hand stitched and started another.



Baby steps.

But right now I'm baby stepping back to bed. Too bad they don't make full body heating pads!