Half a Snow Day!

We got a little bit of snow on Sunday. But, we still made it to school this morning. I had a feeling it would be short lived.

Sure enough, by 11 o'clock, the decision was made to close school at 12 to get the children (and staff) home safely.

About an hour after I got home, the snow stopped, only to start heavily about 2 hours later.

So around 4, I got the idea to sit down, read a magazine, and sip on a cup of hot cocoa and enjoy the snowfall.

What a life! So relaxing.

I just got the phone call. No school tomorrow. I guess I can have another relaxing day of quilting, reading, and drinking hot cocoa.

I did take some time to quilt on this quilt . . .

It has been 10 months since my mother died. Each time I quilt or pressure can food, I think of her and so want to call her up.

Monday evenings are when I sit with my dad. This week and last week, we had snow so I couldn't make it. Hopefully, I can get out tomorrow evening and visit with him, then.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting.

A busy day planned

I tried my hand at canning some tomatoes. My mom always made tomato juice. I don't think I ever remember seeing her make whole or diced tomatoes. We really don't use tomato juice. We do use diced tomatoes when we make Gnocchi, Tomato Florentine and chili, etc.

So, I searched the internet and found I don't know how many ways to do it. Some say, "Raw pack!" Others say, "No, hot pack." So many different opinions and ways to do things. I finally got out my Ball Canning Book and used it. I did use the pressure canner instead of the boiling water pack.

They look pretty good. I have more to do today. I would really like to try my hand at spaghetti sauce. If I had a garden and could grow all of my tomatoes, I would make all kinds of things. Salsa, juice, sauce.

I also have about 1/2 bushel of peaches to do something with. I would love to jar them but they are not freestone and they were seconds so I got a really good price on them. So, I'm not sure if I could get a pretty jar of fruit. We will just have to see when I get them started today. I will probably just put them in the freezer and see if I can locate some Freestone peaches later on. I absolutely love cottage cheese and peaches and eat it for lunch quite a bit during the school year.

I think this method is interesting and I think I will try it and use the peaches to make smoothies.

I finished my last block last night. Now on to the border.

Well, going to get an early start. Peaches and tomatoes are calling.

Happy snipping, stitching, and sewing.

Well, it is all quilted now.

I think I will go with the green I used for the vines for the binding.

Tomorrow's job--square it up and add the binding.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting!

Quilting is finished

On the Christmas quilt I have been working on.

I still need to trim, square, and bind it. But that is all downhill, right?

Craig and Becca were talking about making their own laundry detergent when they visited this weekend. He sent me this link with the recipe and a review from a blogger who has used it for an entire year.  I decided to make some today. I used a tote with a lid from Walmart.

I tried it and I like it. I had some clothes with stains and the detergent got them out as well or better than the normal liquid detergent I use. If you decide to make it, read all the comments on the post as there are some good ideas telling how people have changed it to make it better.

Well, it was back to school this morning. The day off just makes me want another one or two or three.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting!

The first two weeks

of school have really kicked me. Changing grade levels (moving up to 6th grade) is a big jump. Some of the things we are required to teach--I don't think their young minds are ready for. But I will work hard and they will too. Hopefully, we will persevere.

On the homefront, we spent the weekend in Branson, MO last weekend. We stayed at the Bradford House Bed and Breakfast. It was so homey and the host and hostess were wonderful. I have never been to a bed and breakfast but we are sold on them now.

This one has twenty rooms so it was quite large. My dream home has wrap around porches and lots of decks. I think the wood is so warm and homey feeling. Our room was in the back of the house and opened to a deck that looked out onto the pool and a wooded area. It was so nice and quiet and peaceful.

We worked for a few minutes Saturday morning on the quilt Becca is making her mom. We still need to add borders.

I finally finished the block border that goes around my latest Christmas quilt (Welcome to the North Pole). This one has been in the making for most of this year. I quilted one block of it last night. My plan is to work on it again a little this evening.

I really planned to complete it this summer, but once again, I didn't accomplish anything. I have decided that sewing and quilting is a big stress relief and that is why I quilt during the school year and not the summer. Or maybe it takes me the summer to recuperate from the school year. lol

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting!

One of those days . . .

and they seem to be coming around more often.

Yep, the green plaid should be where the beige floral is above it. Luckily, it was in the corner of the quilt and I was able to rip it all out and put it in correctly.

Had to stitch it by hand. Not the best job. But, it will do. And after I quilted it, it is not really noticeable.

But, those mistakes seem to be coming around more and more often. I'm much too young for this.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting!

Quilting Marathon

I spent the weekend in a quilting marathon. Actually I can spend just about any weekend I want in a quilting marathon.

Craig and Becca visited on Sunday and we worked on Becca's quilt.

We now have all of the blocks made and are ready to add the sashing between the blocks.

My homework is to square the blocks.   Her homework is to cut the sashing strips.  They are coming down for a wedding on Saturday and plan to arrive early to spend some time sewing. Maybe we can get some of the sashing sewed on.

I have been working on another Christmas quilt. I have a shelf full of Christmas fabric that I got on clearance several years ago. And it needs to be used. More on that later.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting.

I happened upon this blog over the holidays, bookmarked it and then forgot about it. When I came across it again this evening, a recipe for Olive Garden breadsticks flashed across the header photo. Becca just told me this evening how much she liked the breadsticks at Olive Garden. There were also quite a few other recipes that looked really delicious. Since I don't have Becca's email address, I thought I would just post the site.

I reached the half way point on Becca's Bday quilt early this afternoon. Since I don't want to show the whole front, I decided to show the back.

Before I started quilting, I decided that I did not want to sit and plan out the triangles I was going to quilt in the sashings. I decided I would just quilt them as I got to them in whatever fashion worked for that area. My goal was to start and stop as few times as possible.

I usually like to try something new each time I free motion quilt. Usually when I stitch in the ditch to stabilize the quilt, I use the walking foot. This time, I am not using the walking foot, but doing it free motion. This is also the first time I have made the swirls.

Larry has an aunt that lives just across the border into Oklahoma. She held a shrimp boil for her husband's birthday. Larry and I picked up Craig and Becca and went to party for a few hours. The food was great and visiting with the family was nice. Kelsey had to work so she was not able to come with us. We sure did miss her. Of course, her step-grandfather asked about her.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting!

Yippee, it's finished.

So this is the back of the poinsettia quilt.

I just love the fabric and thought I would just use it for the binding also. So I cut the fabric strips and even sewed them on and pinned it down. I was getting ready to take stitches to sew it down and just couldn't make myself do it. I let it sit overnight and decided that "No, I didn't like the way it looked."

So, I cut it off. Yes, I was too lazy to rip it out so I just cut it off and made the border 1/2 inch smaller. I cut strips from the inside border fabric and and alternated the strips to make my binding. When I was about half way finished sewing it on, I wasn't sure if I like that fabric either. Oh, well.  I went ahead and finished sewing it down and here is the result.

I kept the quilting very simple on this quilt and love it. First I did a stitch in the ditch to hold it all in place. Then I quilted around the applique. Wavy lines fill the sashing and inside border. The outside border is just straight lines about an inch apart.

At first I was planning to hang it in my living room. Then I decided I would hang it in my bedroom. Right now, it is laying across a rocking chair in my bedroom. It looks pretty good there. So if I don't hang it, I'll try to get a good picture of the whole quilt.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting!

Sunday Sewing with Family

I cleaned up my sewing room so that at least three of us could have a work area, laid my camera out . .

and then didn't even think to use it. So I don't have a picture of us working or a picture of the complicated block.

We started working at about 1 p.m. There were three of us cutting pieces and my mom was cutting off the dog ears. While we were able to cut strips for the pieces, we were not able to make half square triangles or anything else. We cut out templates of the odd shaped pieces and then had to cut around each. We were able to get some pieces sewed together and got ONE block finished. Too funny for 3 to 5 people cutting, sewing, and pressing.

But that's okay because we had a blast. My sister and niece thanked me over and over for the day and my mom called me after she got home to let me know she really enjoyed the time spent together.  I think we need to do this at least once a month.

We will have to get together again to finish it so I'll try to take pictures then. I bet someone would be able to give my some tips on an easier way to do it.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting!

Decisions Made -- Or Not!

I finally completed the quilting on all of the tree blocks. That forced me to sit down and make a decision on how to quilt to pieced blocks. Someone suggested leaves and/or stones.

I didn't have an template for leaves and didn't like my free hand drawings. So I decided on a feather wreath design template. But, I couldn't see the tracing marks. The blue fabric pen wouldn't show up on the blue fabric and the white fabric pen didn't show up on the blue either.

So I decided to try free handing a feather wreath with pebbles all around it. I am not completely satisfied with my first feather wreath but I will not frog it. I have made the decision that this quilt will be a learning quilt. lol

I haven't quilted inside the wreath yet. It will be a close together cross hatch or pebbles.

I stopped after this first block so that I could take a break from it and decide tomorrow night if I like it enough to quilt all of the blocks like that or if I want to do something different on each block.  Not that I have any clue as to how I would quilt each block differently. lol

It takes time . . .

I forgot just how long it can take to custom quilt a quilt.

I must say I have never quilted a quilt in this order before. Usually I stitch in the ditch first (if I need to do so.) Then I quilt the blocks and then move on to the borders.

After I stitched in the ditch on this quilt, I had no idea what I wanted to quilt in the blocks so I started with the borders. I showed you the wide pieced border on my last post. (I must admit though that I only quilted the pieced borders on one side though. I wanted to see what it would look like. Then, of course, I wanted to figure out how to do the inside borders.

And . . . that is what I accomplished last night. I didn't get very far at all--only the wide blue and two narrow white borders on each side of it.

I am surprised that it took me a couple of hours to do these 3 borders. But, I did try to watch Vampire Diaries and Grey's Anatomy while I was quilting. So I would have to stop frequently because the TV is directly to the right of me when I am using the Janome 1600DB.

So tonight, I guess I'll complete the other three sides of the pieced borders--or take the night off.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting!

Design Wall Monday & "Snowbound Quilt"

One of my design walls has the "Tree Time" blocks on it still. I haven't worked on them at all.

One the other design wall is one poor little lonely "Poinsettia Block".

I put it there when I was working yesterday to remind me that I really need to work on this wall hanging.

In the meantime, I resumed quilting on the "Snowbound" quilt yesterday. I finished stitching around the blocks and then started quilting on the blocks. I decided to do a edge to edge loop and stars meandering. I know most people don't quilt over the applique but I decided to see what it would look like. I can't make up my mind if I want to continue or rip it all out and start again.

I believe it looks fine on these Irish Chain blocks but . . .

I'm wondering if it looks too busy or takes away from the applique on the snowman blocks.  I really dread taking it out but I don't want to mess up the quilt.

Be sure to stop by Judy L's to see what everyone else is working on .

"Be Attitudes" Update

I mentioned that we may be spending a few days at the local corp of engineer park. It is always very relaxing but it doesn't have internet connection and cell phone service can sometimes be iffy. So when we go,  I take books and magazines. If we are going to stay for several days, I will take my sewing machine also.

This time, we will only be there for 2 or 3 days. (Thursday evening to Sunday afternoon.) I have decided to do the applique on the "Be Attitudes" quilt by hand and take it to work on while I sit around the camp fire with friends. But, since I have never hand appliqued before, I decided to start on the first block while at home. (Sure don't won't to forget something I might need.) I have been working on it the past 2 evenings and have finished the snowman. The words are fused down and ready to be stitched.

Not perfect, but not a bad start.

My fingers are a little sore. I'm going to have to dig out a thimble. If I do this very often, I may have to get me a pretty new thimble like Karen got at the quilt show.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting!

Slow Progress

Instead of the lazy days of summer, I have the lazy days of spring. Last night I walked my two miles and then planted 6 patio pots with beautiful, colorful flowers to spread around the patio. That is, after I hose away all of the pollen this weekend.

I have 4 blocks for my "Be Attitudes" quilt made. I think I'm going to get the applique cut out and ready to iron also. That way, if I want to stitch the applique while I am camping (next weekend) the blocks will be ready.

I also have 11 blocks made for Becca's quilt now. so, I have accomplished a little bit this week.

The blocks won't go together like this. I still need the outside border pieced on each block. They are just put up on my design wall in the order I got finished with them. You can see my pink wall hanging still waiting to be quilted. I find that I am a jumpy quilter. I jump from project to project and back again. HeHe. I guess I get bored with one thing and want a change of scenery.

I also have this quilt top that needs borders. It needs to be finished so I can put it on the bed in the guest bedroom. I was planning to add two plain borders but I may decide to add a narrow plain border and then a pieced border. We'll see. I have lots to do so. . . goodnight.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting!

Be Attitudes Quilt

I decided to go ahead and sew the blocks together for my "Be Attitudes" quilt while I picked out the fabric. I have also decided to hand applique the blocks (of course, I may change my mind) so I don't have to cart the sewing machine with me when I am only camping for a couple of days. We plan to go next weekend and some friends are also going to be there. Doing the applique by hand, I can sit outside and visit with friends while I stitch away.

I have 4 blocks sewn together and the fabric for the applique blocks is tucked away in ziploc bags.

The colors are way off on the picture above. I guess it was the angle. The top fabric is a shade of green. There really is a contrast between it and the middle blue fabric. I'm just too lazy to take another picture.

I tried to get a picture of them all together but they are laying on my table and I couldn't get far enough away. I guess its time to finish the projects on my design wall so I can use it when I need it. Taking pictures of the design wall is much easier.


It's getting late.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting.

Wall Hanging Flimsy

I finished the wall hanging flimsy on Thursday evening. I look forward to quilting it. That may be what I do Saturday afternoon after I clean the house.

Then, I will want to hang it. But, I am going to make myself wait until I get the pool table out of my sewing room.  Then I can decide where my design wall and tall shelves will go. That will help me determine where to hang it.  I can't wait to get the room cleaned and organized. I have too much stuff in there and do not have room to get around effectively. But, I will get around to it soon. The pool table is going with my daughter at the end of May. Then I will get busy.

Sorry, if this doesn't make sense. It is 11:23 p.m. and I am nodding off as I type.

I'm Amazed

I find it amazing that I can walk briskly for 3 miles and feel invigorated but pace for two hours in a classroom and be weary and tired. We are doing state testing this week and are required to walk the classroom making sure the students are in the correct spot in the testing book, etc. while they are testing. We test for an hour or so and then take a 15 minute break and then test for another hour. So for two hours, I am pacing up and down the rows of students. At the end of the two hours, I feel totally worn out.

I gave the two pillows and table topper from yesterday's post to Kelsey. She is moving from her apartment to her grandma's house this summer and living there while attending college next year. So since she will have 70's red carpet in the living room, she has decided to decorate with red and black. Hence, the red and black pillows. I think she is going to put the table topper on her dining room table, but she could change her mind and use it as a wall hanging.

Tonight I worked on the pink heart embroidery piece that will be a wall hanging for my sewing room. I am using the same pattern as the blue one I gave to Kelsey.

Funny, until very recently, I didn't really like pink. Now all of the sudden I have decided I do. But you can see the green/blue color of the walls of my sewing room. Pink looks great with it.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting.

Productive Evening

Last night I relaxed walking three miles and then sitting around reading blogs. Tonight I came home from work and headed straight to the sewing room. And this is what I accomplished . . .

One pillow finished  . . .

Another pillow finished . . .

Then I worked on this finished this . . .

I had all of the table topper completed except the quilting around the center hearts. This is the first time I have tried echoing so its not the greatest. I also needed to complete the binding. I did it all by machine so it was quick.

Now it's time to wind down, read a few blogs, and say "Good Night and God Bless."

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting.

Design Wall Monday

Snip on over to Judy L's @ Patchwork Times blog to see what's happening in the quilting world.

Let's see. I completed 2 more blocks for Becca's Quilt "Cotton Candy Squares" from Judy's Weekend Quilts.

The red/black hearts block will be made into a pillow. The pink hearts square is the middle of a wall hanging for my studio.

Can't wait to see what everyone else is up to.

Happy snipping, stitching, and quilting.