Tenderoni Quilts

Under the Weather!

2011-02-21T07:41:00.001-08:00

After feeling like I missed the bullet the last couple of years....no cold or flu. It was my turn.
For the past week I've been doing all the over the counter stuff. My cough got so bad I went to the ER yesterday. Chest X-Ray, two breathing treatments, some steroids, and prescriptions for more along with one for antibiotics I am home. I am not looking for sympathy but wanted to explain why I've been absent and will be until I get over the hump. See you in a bit!

Happy Valentine's Day!!

2011-02-14T10:06:00.001-08:00

Maya is on the Mend!!

2011-02-11T14:09:00.000-08:00

That's great news because it means I can get back to this.

I've done very little sewing while she's been ill and tending to her has been my first priority. Also being afraid for her has kept me pretty paralyzed..that is par for the course for me. When I'm afraid, I hunker down and stay put.

I'm so glad that she is doing better and that I still
have some time with her.

Two Finishes ~ First in 2011

2011-01-24T12:58:00.001-08:00

Last week was a "lost" week. My dog is still sick, and I had a minor procedure done at the hospital and the anesthesia took a couple of days to work it's way out of my system. Let's just say I caught up on my sleep.

I got the binding sewn on two quilts and they will go out in the mail tomorrow.

I made a lot of 8" half square triangles from my "rust" fabrics in the stash. I didn't know what I was going to do with them all, but I managed to get 3 quilts out of them. Two crib size and one generous throw. This is the last of them....a crib size. I enjoyed them all and am ready to move on.

The second one is a double bed size quilt. I didn't have the pattern, but I had seen the quilt on Flickr a long time ago and had some of the fabrics, but not enough, and Victoria from Bumblebeans came through with the rest. I love this quilt!

I love that the person who originally made this saw that using these 5 fabrics in this way could give the illusion of a lace overlay. Very clever!

This quilt was started in 2010, but got set aside for a bit and was finally finished when I got the binding on. I enjoyed working on it, and would love to sleep under it, but am passing it along to someone who I hope will love it as much as I do.

Pin Basted and Ready to Machine Quilt

2011-01-09T18:24:00.000-08:00

I've been finishing up a few things that came back from the quilters and I'll have pictures of those later this week.

While considering yet another wrinkle in the Mariner's Compass Quilt, I put together this little quilt from my african fabrics and some batik blocks of African Dancers. I love it!

This is the quilt top, pin basted and ready to be quilted. I'll do the quilting myself...just a simple grid and some kind of geometric frames on the border.

The back is also fabulous with just one strip of pieced strips down the center.
I think either side will look fabulous.

I have not been present here because my baby girl, Maya, has been very sick. We've been to the vets and we've done two sessions of extensive lab work, but we don't have a diagnosis.

She has had a major lower gastrointestinal upset and no, I won't ruin your day with details....but for the past 3 weeks I've been cooking her meals myself. White rice and boiled chicken meat.

Understand that I don't cook for myself daily, so she should really be feeling princess-y and know that my love for her has no bounds.

In addition, she has been doing major lounging and has dibs on my bed from the moment I get up until I move her out so that I can go to bed at night.

During this long illness she has required extra trips "out" and since I've been so worried about her, I have accommodated every diva-like desire of hers.

She has given me a couple of false hopes and it seemed like everything had settled down, only to get bad again. So, I'm hoping that her unusual perky-ness and cessation of belly upset today means she is on the mend and not another false hope.

Stay tuned....

2011 ~ I'm Ready! (tomorrow is 1/1/11!)

2010-12-31T11:00:00.001-08:00

A Little Diversion

2010-12-28T11:10:00.000-08:00

I'm still procrastinating on starting the Mariner's Compass quilt. I wish I knew how to use those Electric Quilt programs so that I could plan it all out there.

Meanwhile, I had an itch to make something quickly and ran across some batik squares of African Dancers
that I bought in the vendor faire at a quilt show many years ago.

I decided to pair that with some african fabrics from my stash and make a wall size quilt for my ETSY shop.

It was a simple little diversion. I framed the batik squares and some of the african prints.

I used full size blocks of the other prints.

I pieced a backing.

Today I will layer, pin baste, and quilt it.

Merry Christmas to All, and to All a Good Night!

2010-12-24T10:00:00.000-08:00

Layer Cake in The Mail!

2010-12-20T21:36:00.000-08:00

I didn't think that this fabric would be available until March or April. It made it's debut at Quilt Market and someone there showed swatches on their blog (thank you anonymous blogger....I forgot to thank you). Last week on the Quilter Blog Roundup I saw the swatches again and someone was selling jelly rolls and layer cakes. Wa-hoo....I was on that like a cheap suit.

And, look what the mailman brought me today!

Sherbet Pips by Aneela Hoey for Moda. If you want to see more photos of the fabrics in the collection Sherbet Pips, you will find them on her blog, "comfortstitching".

I have not yet formulated a plan....but I shall. After all, I waited for months before cutting into Flea Market Fancy and have just used the last of that collection. I'm patient.

Meanwhile, I have some paper-pieced mariner's compass blocks and mariner's star blocks that need to be made for quilts in blue (2). And a quilt for my other granddaughter utilizing Seattle Mariner's colors (don't ask!).

Another One Ready to Go...

2010-12-19T15:52:00.001-08:00

My young neighbor from across the way came by to show me his 4 new "hot wheels" and his new shirt. He also showed me his newest ninja moves. I love that!

I asked his mom to help me show off this finish before I send it off. This pattern "Georgia's Quilt" I bought from Red Pepper Quilt's Etsy shop. She had written about it on her blog and I thought I'd like to make it one day.

When my grandaughter Ashley said that her favorite color is pink, I immediately knew what quilt I'd make. I think there is about 35 different pinks and creams in this one.

I will ship it out tomorrow.

I wanted to do something different on the back so that she could show either side on her bed and get 2 looks from one quilt. I like it too.

Binding Finished Friday.....ready to go!

2010-12-13T10:56:00.000-08:00

I finished stitching the binding on this quilt Friday, then I got sidetracked making a baby quilt.

I just need to wash this, dry it, admire the soft crinkliness of it and send it off.

This is a wedding gift.

I used the last of my Flea Market Fancy fabrics making it ~ I had been hording them waiting for a special project and this was it.

I hope they like it!

Just a little detour....

2010-12-12T21:03:00.000-08:00

My hairdresser Tracey is having a baby, and I thought I had time, but when I saw her yesterday afternoon it was clear that she's further along than I thought.

She told me her last work day is the 29th of this month....so I set aside all that binding I was hand stitching and put together a baby girl rail fence quilt.

I got it pieced and got most of the quilting done before I went to bed, and when I got home from running errands today, I finished it.

Tomorrow it gets washed.

I have the binding finished on one of the quilts, so now I'm back to start on the other.

Binding, binding, binding.....

2010-12-10T13:42:00.000-08:00

Sewing the binding on two quilts today.
Once it's on, I can pick up this handwork to do in the evening while the TV watches me.

I know a lot of quilters have learned how to stitch down the binding by machine, but I am not one of them. I can sew it on by machine, but must stitch it down by hand once it is folded over to the back side of the quilt.

There is something pleasing about doing this last little bit by hand. My grandmother, the first quilter I was aware of, used to piece by hand. She and the "Ladies Aid Society" used to meet and hand quilt their quilts at a large frame set up in the living room during the winter, and under the black walnut trees out in the side yard during the summer.

Although I was taught to hand piece, I abandoned it quickly and wouldn't be a quilter today if I hadn't learned to use a rotary cutter and my sewing machine.

So, when I hand stitch the binding on my quilt, it is an homage to my Grandmother and I am satisfied.

Loveliness in the Mail.....

2010-12-04T14:45:00.000-08:00

I love getting packages in the mail.
Even if I am expecting them, they always take me by surprise.

I ordered these dishtowels from Pony and Poppy on ETSY.

The talented Amy Stone makes lots of different things from paper, cloth and ink....go take a look and be prepared to treat yourself.

I love these and my time in the kitchen will be cheerier (is that a word?) now that these will be there.

When I was making lots of quilts, I sold on ETSY under the name Tenderoni Quilts and one day I hope to get back to stocking the store with projects. I like patronizing ETSY as a buyer too. And as you can see, I always feel like I hit the jackpot when I receive my purchase!

Holiday Baking

2010-11-27T14:53:00.000-08:00

Okay, so I haven't gotten back into the zone on my newest quilt yet.

I've gotten a little sidetracked with the holidays, which seem to have crept up. I have some holiday baking to do so I got online and ordered a new toy. A food processor will make quick work of all that mixing and chopping ~ and I have gotten too used to doing without one. The FedEx guy (still in shorts even though it's only about 40 degrees today ~ go figure!) delivered it today.

I'm making Almond Biscotti.

That lovely little tool helped me put it together and get it ready for the oven in less than 5 minutes. Uh huh....that's what I'm talkin' about!

These other pictures were just because.

Who Needs Words?

2010-11-25T18:07:00.000-08:00

A Picture is Worth a Thousand......

2010-11-24T10:53:00.000-08:00

Thankful for all of you!

Still in the Zone, Just in a Different Way.....

2010-11-21T12:30:00.000-08:00

Getting ready to work on some new quilts that require a new skill set means practice, practice, practice. So there is not much progress on the actual quilts because I haven't really started them.
I'm still in the reading and learning phase.

So, first things first....I needed to reorganize my workspace so that I could do the extra steps necessary when paper piecing. So I got a little worktable to put to my right at the corner of the sewing table
so that I can press and trim as I go.

I also found the neatest iron ..... I love it because it is heavy and I don't feel like I really need to press down. It is hot. It has burst of steam when I need it for actually ironing clothes and getting a good crease in things. It is big so that I can really press fabric in a snap.
Did I mention that I love it? I do. Hamilton Beach I love your iron!

I'm practicing on some simple paper piecing projects.
They probably won't end up in a quilt....but I'm learning some stuff I wouldn't have learned without practicing and would have been really sad to learn while working on my actual quilts....so, it's a good thing.

This paper piecing stuff requires new and unfamiliar tools as well as new ways of looking at the block. Sort of working backwards and feels like I'm guessing at whether the fabric will actually cover the
shape when it's stitched in. A little crazy making for this quilter.

I now have a selection of tools from which many quilts could spring if I get enthused, which at this point I am not. Still, my niece has made her request and I love this girl to pieces so I want to meet her expectations and challenge mine.

So, in the midst of all this preparedness our city had it's annual quilt show sponsored by the local quild. I didn't take a single picture and spent more time looking through the vendor section than the show. Yet, there were some stunning quilts.

Luckily I found a picture of one of the quilts that really caught my eye. It is an image of the sugar skulls that signal that it is Dia de los Muertos in Mexico. I love those images and this quilt was outstanding in person....sparkly, embellished, and so well executed it got my vote for best in show.

And, so today I work on some more practice blocks while Maya stays alert at her post. Checking the view from her ever-vigilant post for any stray leaves that might bounce across the lawn or heaven forbid an errant squirrel come into the yard setting off a race from the slider in the living room to the big window in the bedroom.

Save On Rotary Cutter Blades.....!!

2010-11-16T12:18:00.000-08:00

Wilma in North Carolina posted something on her blog that I couldn't hardly believe....she found blades at Harbor Freight that looked like they would work in her rotary cutter and they were about a buck apiece! Click HERE to see them. Wilma, bless her heart, did the field research for us and ordered them. Yep, they work. Just fine.

Why then, have I been paying about $25 for a pack of 5??

The cost of quilting fabrics and quilting accessories (tools of all sorts included) is through the roof.
Why? Because they can and because they know we will pay it.

Thanks Wilma, I'm going to Harbor Freight. There's one about 4 miles from my home. (You can also order them online....even with postage you'll save a bundle.)

I guess I'm drawing a line in the sand.

Getting Ready...

2010-11-13T11:26:00.001-08:00

After looking closely at this book and realizing I haven't a clue....I've decided to choose a simpler mariner's compass and have ordered yet another book! The technique in this book is so alien to what I know or what was taught in the class I took, that I don't know how to "translate" it.

Maya is snoozing while I make all these decisions about the how-to's.

I needed some input from my niece Ann about her color choices for
this quilt. She sent me some paint chips in colors they like and I told her I'd take them into consideration and might add one or two.
I like the colors she selected. I've chosen a pale gray for the background and the center medallion will feature shades of blue with touches of pale gold and some burgundy. The frame will be a variety of water/ocean colors from deepest blue to palest seafoam and all points in between in the storm at sea pattern. I'm excited.

But, I need to practice paper piecing, so I've chosen some simple blocks to play with. Also, since this quilt will be slow going since every bit of it will be a learning curve for me, I've decided to also work on another quilt at the same time. That too is something I've never done before. I usually just plow right through a quilt before starting another.

Nothing like changing up the way I do things, is there?

My fabric has all arrived and I'm pleased with the choices and the editing of it all. I had very little blue in my stash and now that's not the case.

Also, the library has located the books on disc I requested and I picked them up yesterday.

Wow! It looks like I'm ready.

Blogger's Quilt Festival

2010-11-03T09:15:00.000-07:00

I love this event! I never seem to have a quilt to share, though.....so this time I'm going to show
a quilt I've shown here on the blog before. It is the simplest design utilizing fabrics that have been in my stash since I moved back to the United States. I made it for my cousin who is an artist who once teased me about my passion for quilting by referring to it as "making hotpads".
I hope you like it.

Wow! Everyone's Busy!!

2010-11-02T10:04:00.001-07:00

I've been reading Amy's Creative Side blog and visiting quilters who are taking part in the Blogger's Quilt Festival. Wow!!! There are some amazing quilters who have been hard at work.

Please go check it out.

For my part, quilting is on hold for a week or so.
I have been doing some homework in preparation for my next project.

These two books tell it all.
I'm really moving outside my comfort zone ~ but I'm excited that I'll practice a new technique that may open up design possibilities for me.

I'll also be working in "blues" which is the one area in my stash that is sorely lacking....so I've been online ordering fabrics and they are heading my way. It's always exciting to get squishy packages in the mail.

This project will be slow going for a while, but I'll take pics along the way.

How are you being challenged?

Quilting Done, Binding On ~ A Finish!!

2010-10-26T20:09:00.001-07:00

Wow!! It's been a good month. One quilt top and quilt back to the long arm quilter (see posting here) and this one completely finished!

60x60" throw started and finished in the last 10 days. Wooo-hoooo!

I have plans for the next one, but since I haven't done much but sew in the last 30 days, my house is a mess.

I'm going to take a quick break to clean the house and get things ready for my next project.

Mariner's Compass!
Paper Pieced!

Never say never......I said I'd never do one, but my niece has decided that is what she would like and so that is what she will have.

I'm actually looking forward to it.
note: I just noticed a huge mistake in this quilt.....first one to spot it and make a comment gets a squishy surprise in the mail. LOL

Sunday's Task

2010-10-24T12:30:00.001-07:00

Nothing to show yet....

2010-10-23T10:16:00.000-07:00

The rows finally got sewn together and today I will be sandwiching it. I got sidetracked with some other little projects and errands. Back on task today, though. Stay tuned!

Update ~ it's nearly midnight and after some other distractions, I was able to get it on the table, pin basted, and ready to go. If all goes well tomorrow, I can start machine quilting it.
Wa-hooooooo!

Coming Along Nicely

2010-10-18T23:29:00.001-07:00

I started listening to "The Christmas Quilt" when I started making the pieced blocks for my current project. It is one of the Elm Creek Quilts novels that I had heard about and so I ordered it from the library. It kept me entertained while I was at my machine and today I was able to get the backing sewn together and get all of the rows sewn for the top.

I also was able to finish this book.

These are the completed rows pinned to my design wall and ready to be sewn together.

I hope to get that done tomorrow.

I have another book to listen to ~ Jodi Picoult's
"Change of Heart". It is a long one and will be considerably more complex than the book I just finished.

If I am able to make good progress tomorrow I may be able to get the quilt sandwiched too. I'd like to get it quilted this week and get the binding stitched on by the weekend.

I have amassed a considerable amount of orphan blocks, patches and strips from many projects and would like to find them a home. If you know of anyone who might like scraps....drop me a line or comment here and I will pack one of those post office one price mailers and ship them off. I really don't have room to store them here and hate to just toss them.

So, what's going on in your world?

The usual.

2010-10-17T14:03:00.000-07:00

Cutting up some fabric to make 4.5" squares.
And cutting some to make 2.5" strips.
Sewing strips together and cutting again.
Chain piecing to make 4 patch blocks.

Busy, Busy, Busy....

Quick Report

2010-10-14T09:34:00.000-07:00

Ashley's quilt is off to the long-arm quilter in Tennessee. It is too big for me to wrestle with, and they do such a good job. When it comes back I will sit with it while I hand stitch the binding, then give it a wash to make sure the colors are "set" and won't run. I love it when they first come out of the dryer ~ all that crinkly goodness.

Then I box it up again and mail it off to my grandaughter.

I am waiting for color choices to come back to me from my other grandaughter and my niece.....soooooo.....I'm going to take a minute and make a throw size sunshine and shadows quilt using some fabrics that were given to me. I'm looking forward to seeing how it all plays out.
What are you up to?

Parts Done.....YAY!!

2010-10-11T15:34:00.000-07:00

Back is done.

Frames blocks done.

Log Cabin blocks done.

Tomorrow we start sewing blocks together to make rows.

Progress

2010-10-11T11:43:00.000-07:00

This part seems to be slow going.

I was able to get the back done over the weekend and had thought I'd finish all the rest of the blocks too.

The back is nice and I like it a lot.....not nearly as complex as the front will be, but I still think it will be attractive enough that Ashley will be able to have two looks in one quilt and can alternate which side is "up" when she makes her bed.

I'm glad that her husband, Ben, is not fussy about
having a pink quilt on their bed.

The log cabin blocks are taking longer to make than the alternative "frames" blocks took. I think it's because it is easier to keep the frames blocks square and the log cabin blocks will get wonky in a heartbeat.

I know there will need to be some trimming to square them up before I start sewing them together. This is going to be a fairly large quilt....approximately 84" square, and already it seems heavy so I know it will keep them warm.

I am listening to a new book, "When Madeline
Was Young" by Jane Hamilton. The reader is good and I am speeding right along. This little handy device hangs around my neck and tucks into my bra to keep it safe from my scissors, rotary cutter, and out of the way of the quilt while I am at my sewing machine. The earphones keep me from distraction and it is an altogether clever way to zip through a book and get a quilt made all at the same time.

I hope to have the top completed by the weekend and off the the quilters....I can't wrestle this huge thing under the needle of my trusty Janome.

Have a great week!

Under the needle today....

2010-10-05T17:23:00.000-07:00

I am half way there to finishing the blocks. I have just started working on the Log Cabin Blocks.....
I have completed all 24 of the Frames blocks and they are put aside while I work on the Log Cabin blocks.

There is something so satisfying when a stack of completed quilt blocks is trimmed, pressed, and waiting for the remainder of the blocks before being sewn into rows . Just lovely.

This quilt is coming together nicely and though it is not made of my favorite colors; I know that pink is Ashley's favorite, so she will be happy when it makes it's way to her.

Her sister has requested one of blues and greens. Why doesn't anyone love Orange as I do? lol I have a stash of orange you wouldn't believe and am dying to work with it. Guess I'll have to make one for me!

Get Ready, Get Set, Sew!

2010-10-01T14:31:00.000-07:00

I originally saw this pattern on the blog "Red Pepper Quilts".

I appreciated that she (Rita, in Melbourne) had done all of the work of figuring out how much, how many, etc. and that the quilt lent itself to a variety of color combinations. I recognized it as something I would make when I was pushed for time and needed to knock one out of the park. In other words, I liked it a lot.

I ordered the pattern and printed it out and set it aside. When my darling grandaughter asked specifically for a pink quilt, I didn't have to struggle with setting out to design something from scratch.

I already had a collection of pinks in my stash and a bolt of Parchment in a nice off-white that I bought and kept on hand after reading about how versatile it is in AmandaJean's blog. So I set about cutting, cutting, cutting.

A ton of cutting! But thanks to my local library I have 2 books on disc that have been calling to me and they made the task so much easier.

I am currently listening to: The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Sroblewski. This version at my local library comes with it's own little player that hangs from a lanyard around my neck. I just plug in my own headphones and I am transported into the story. This book is so good that I woke up twice during the night just to listen to a little more!

So, all the strips are cut.
I am well into the book.
The hours stretch out before me, and there is nothing left but to sew.

Slow going....

2010-09-28T11:42:00.000-07:00

On my current project ~
Not too much to show ..... the math has been done (I hated math in school, but am glad for it when planning my cuts and quilt layout). I have begun cutting, but that too is slow going.

On my next project ~
Tonight is my paper piecing class so I'm gathering supplies and equipment for that. This image is just to give you an idea of what I'm taking that class for.
Mine will be very different, but you get the idea, right?

Don't you always have one project under the needle and another two or six rambling around in your head?

Moving Ahead....

2010-09-26T12:13:00.001-07:00

I will give you a little peek at what is up next. I spent yesterday pulling fabric and ironing it. Today I will begin cutting and who knows how far that will take me?

Pretty in Pink for my oldest grandaughter. She is grown, but she is still a girly-girl and loves pink....so pink it will be!

This one will not come together as quickly as the last one as there is a lot of piecing involved and the look will be scrappy....so much more thought involved. Last week's quilt was simple in that the fabric did almost all the work. Still, this one will be a labor of love. Can't wait to get going on it. Also, this week I have some Dr's appointments, lab work and a mammogram as well as a class on paper piecing one evening. Busy, busy, busy.

Found on Flickr.....can't remember who made it.....

2010-09-24T14:13:00.000-07:00

I found this quilt a couple of years ago on flickr and saved the image....I loved it immediately and said one day I'd try to make it. Victoria also mentioned liking it and she had some of the fabric which she generously shared with me. I went searching for more and when I found it, I put it aside. Months, and maybe even a year passed.

When the day came, I still hadn't found the pattern, so I worked it out on graph paper. This is the first time I ever copied a quilt exactly, and while I'd love to give credit where it's due, I searched and cannot even find the original flickr entry. So.....this was not my idea and it is a copy of someone else's work. I loved it that much.
Today I sewed the final seam on the top.......

And, I pieced the back. The quilt will be 89" square when finished. I have the binding cut and ready to go on once it comes back from the longarm quilter. I'll take it to the post office this afternoon and send it on it's way to Tennessee. Did I mention that I love this quilt? I do.

No Pics Yet....

2010-09-23T12:19:00.000-07:00

All the rows are sewn together and am only missing the final border...it's all cut out and ready to sew on. But first, I need a haircut and a pedicure.....I look wooly and have claws...Yikes!

By Bedtime....

2010-09-21T22:35:00.000-07:00

I thought I would post a picture of where I work. I sew just at the entrance to the living room...I have a design wall to my left and the sliding doors to the patio are directly in front of me.....across the street is the levy (along the Sacramento River) where walkers, joggers, skateboarders, bikers, dogs, babies in carriages and strollers all pass throughout the day.

I use the dining room table for cutting.

I was able to get all the blocks sewn into rows. The seams still need to be pressed and then the rows can be assembled. Movin' right along on this one and planning the next two in my mind.

How was your day?

Next!!

2010-09-21T09:34:00.000-07:00

This is the plan...

It's almost all cut out...
Let the sewing begin!

Busy, Busy, Busy

2010-09-19T11:31:00.001-07:00

Sewing for baby is fun...instant gratification! My friend is having her first (and according to her, only) baby in December and she knows it's a girl. Girly pinks and brown to go with her planned baby space.

I ordered fabric to go with what I had in my stash and set to work.
I finished with ~~~ drum roll please.....

3 double sided flannel blankets...snuggly soft.....

4 burp cloths and 2 changing pads......

1 little zig zag quilt perfect for the bassinet and later for the car seat.

1 stacked coins quilt and one framed squares quilt (both crib size). All of the quilts feature "California Dreamin" by Jenean Morrison for Free Spirit ~ very colorful! I love looking at that little stack of colorful goodness
sitting in the corner of the dining room and waiting for the new owner to get back to town so I can give it to her.
I hope she'll like it.
Today I'm cutting out my next project. Pics to come.

Shut-In

2010-08-24T09:24:00.000-07:00

Why "shut-in" you ask? Temps are again in the triple digits and what better excuse to stay in and sew. Except for brief trips out to take care of my dog's needs, I'm sewing.

I have some UFO's I'm working on, and I have a few finishes to share.

This is the last of the half square triangle blocks! I will finish sewing the rows together today.

Here is a backing I pieced for this top. I used chunks of fabric left over from piecing the blocks.

Stash reduction in action. Woo-hoo!

Here is one of the finished tops. The other should be finished by the end of the day today.

And........this top is finally done!

I have worked on it off and on for over a year and I felt like I really couldn't start any new projects until I finished it. It feels good to have it done and ready to send it off to be quilted. It is 90" square and more that I want to wrestle with using my sewing machine.

I like to sew my own bindings on, so once it comes back and I've got the bindings on I'll take pictures.

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The Next Step....

2010-08-18T15:00:00.001-07:00

Here we are!

Finally have all the blocks sewn into rows.

Starting today I will be sewing rows together.

We are nearly there!
I have already gathered fabrics for my next project and it's been sitting over there in the corner waiting patiently (can you see that bit of orange showing in these pics? ~ that's it!). I have to tell you a bit of a secret....it's a simple pattern with fabric that lends to making it look un-simple...lol. I have my buddy in the big apple, Victoria, to thank for helping provide a push and some fabric to get me started! Thanks, V!!
This Saturday is part 2 of my serger class. My fervent prayer will always be, "Please, God, don't let this machine become un-threaded!"
And the following Saturday I will be attending all-day class at Traffic School. Yes, I got a ticket, and No, I don't want a point on my record. This is a sore subject, but it will pass and I'm working hard on not getting a resentment. Thank goodness that I have fabric therapy to get me over the hump. You all understand that, don't you?

Parts

2010-08-10T01:17:00.001-07:00

Parts ready to assemble. All piecing is complete.
This next part is always tricky. Were my seams consistent throughout? Will the sashing match up to the cornerstones and then when sewn together will it all fit the block?

Started sewing the sashing and cornerstones into rows.....barely started.

These are the horizontal rows with side sashing ~ 5 rows.
Now they are waiting for the horizontal rows of sashing and cornerstones.
Meanwhile in my head I'm working on the next quilt.

I will have to shift gears for a bit on Saturday....I have a class this week and the following Saturday learning how to use my serger. I need some pants and can't find the ones like I bought in Mexico....so will make my own. I want to make them quickly and assembly-line style, so I needed to get a serger. Melody at Fibermania has been answering my questions about sergers and I got one made by Janome because I like my Janome sewing machine. She has a Janome serger and likes it.

This quilt top and another quilt top I've made will be off to Tennessee for long-arm quilting.

Happy stitching.

Gifts...

2010-08-02T10:29:00.000-07:00

This quilt was made by my sister, Jill for our Uncle Bob and was given to me after he died. I love it because my sister made it, and her quilts have always inspired me.

What's New.....and old....

2010-07-24T10:40:00.000-07:00

This little pinkie-ring is a mood ring that I found during my travels this summer. I bought it because it reminded me of the old mood ring I had in the 70's. I generally can tell what my mood is depending on whether I've had my coffee yet or not, but this little ring is confirmation.

I wish I could get my text to line up with the pictures, but I have confidence that you can figure it out.

New acquisitions to the stash ...... some gifted and all wonderful!

New serger and
fabric to make new summer-weight pants.

I'm signed up for classes on how to use the serger and have my pants pattern ready....

These are kept in the closet...no room in the stash cabinet. The fabric on bolts is for projects requiring a considerable amount of sashing or borders. The fabric in bins is for specific projects.
I'm so overrun with fabric at this point that I want to call a moratorium!

And finally.....this is the same quilt that I've been working on periodically. Some blocks are made, and some are in progress as you see here on the table next to my machine. Poco a poco. I'll get there.

After my summer travels, and my summer guests, I think I can clear the deck and get back to it. I'm in the mood to work!

Back in Action....

2010-07-21T20:48:00.000-07:00

New Title for the blog....Tenderoni Quilts....which is also the name of my ETSY shop. We've all been gathering dust and it's time to get back to work. I wanted to change the name of the blog because it seemed too heavy for the life I'm living.

I'm working again and happy to be at it. Watch this space.

Bearing Gifts from Afar.....

2009-12-20T10:56:00.001-08:00

No, not the 3 Kings.....the postman!

Okay, I've been a bad, bad, girl. I saw the Christmas paper wrapped squishy inside the box.

I saw that the box was from Gotham City.....my fave!

I knew who it was from.

Could I wait? After all it is only a week away. Could I?

Well, your answer is right here.

Yessirreee Bob, I snatched that paper off in about two flicks of a bobtail dog (which in Maya's case is lightening speed fast) and what to my delight did I find?

Awwww, my heart is full and Christmas arrived officially at my house anyway!

Thanks V. I love it and it is perfect for the table isn't it?

When I moved here, I chose this table because I knew it would have to do triple duty. It is my cutting table, and it is the table where I pin baste my quilts, and finally it is where I host a dinner party or two.

That I have my stash in the dining room (in that lovely red cabinet at the end of the table) seems not to faze my guests and they love looking at all the fabric there.

I'm a lucky woman.

Katie Did.......

2009-12-15T14:13:00.000-08:00

I got an email today about an earlier posting on my blog from Katie at the Katie Did blog.
Bless her heart for writing and I'm going to try to answer her here because it requires pics.

This is the quilt she was asking about and what she asked is ~ Can you share the size of the larger squares?

Simple enough request and I probably should be able to whip out a number, but I'm not there yet. I don't have the pattern for this quilt and don't even know who to give credit to. I liked it and wanted to make it and saw the picture somewhere and while mine will not be exactly like this....it will be somewhat like this.

I decided to figure out the pattern by working backwards from the outside in.

I resolved to cut my strips 2 1/2 inches wide for the sashing and thought that I'd make the corner squares first. Those are the squares at the intersections where the big squares and sashing meet. I made them with the smaller squares (2 1/2") framed with 2 1/2" borders like you see in this picture. They measured out at about 6 1/2" as you see here.

Next I would make the rectangles that would be on each side of the larger squares.

Here they are all laid out and ready to go. I know that they will be 6 1/2" wide by approximately 10 1/2". Once I know how long the rectangle sashing blocks actually are, I will be able to cut the large squares. Then it's just a matter of assembling the quilt top.

I have no idea what kind of border I'll finish this with...I might float the whole thing in the plain off-white fabric that I used for the sashing. Not every quilt demands a frame and I'll have to see what this one calls out for when it's assembled.

These are the fabrics for the large squares. There is some yellow and some brown prints, but I think it's an awful lot of pink, don't you? I had originally thought I'd make this quilt for my bed and am making it full/queen size. But, I'm not feeling it so much. So maybe it will be gifted.

By the way, go on over to see Katie's blog, it's full of goodies.

Happy sewing.

Recognizing Generous Crafters and Other Stuff......

2009-12-15T09:52:00.000-08:00

The Sew, Mama, Sew blog writes today about recognizing those crafters who do charitable work and asks for nominations. I've participated in a joint effort or two, and follow the work of a very talented artist who has encouraged many of us to do just that. They're going to gift 15 of the nominees, and I would love for her to be one of them, but more than that I just wanted to publicly acknowledge her generosity. This is what I wrote:

I'd like to nominate Victoria of the Bumblebeans blog. (http://bumblebeans.blogspot.com/) She has organized some "block gather" projects for quilts that she assembled, quilted, and donated. She issued the call to action on her blog, sent out fabrics to be used in the blocks, and encouraged us along every step in the process. She also set up a separate blog for one of the projects (http://sisboompow.blogspot.com/) so we could see each others blocks as they were sent in before being assembled, and for us to talk about our process. It was an incredible amount of work, done joyfully.

Since I'm writing about V, I swiped the photo of that fabric you see from her blog. I hope she doesn't mind, but it is a direct link to my first ever sewing memory. When I was about 7 or 8, after watching my mom turn out clothing, home decor, and upholstery from her skilled hands and sewing machine...I too wanted to sew. Mostly for my dolls, but the very first thing I made were pillow cases for my mom on Mother's day. My Godmother showed me how to make them on the sewing machine at her house and the fabric you see there in that picture is the fabric I remember using. Now it may not have been exactly like that, but it was yellow and it was roses and it was a border print. I can't describe how accomplished I felt and it was the start of a long relationship for me and the machine.

I'm sewing blocks today.

Oh so thankful for....

2009-11-25T16:47:00.001-08:00

* Friends and Family, far and near

* Quilty Gurlz in North Carolina at the LQS who still count me among them

* Blog Buddies who encourage and inspire me with their creativity and good humor

* Needs are met and so are most of my wants

* My sweet girl, Maya, and her constant companionship....woof!

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

What's in the works?

2009-11-22T09:49:00.001-08:00

Not in these colors. Not with these fabrics.
Not with this border.

But you get the idea. It's all cut out and some of the sashing is in progress. Those little squares are 2 1/2 inches and I'm using a dozen different fabrics. The last to be cut will be the big squares, and assembly should be fast.

I wanted a quilt that would showcase some of my favorite fabrics that I collected in 2006.

Can't wait to show you.

Wow ~ where have I been?

2009-11-21T11:31:00.000-08:00

I've been squirrely.

I was gonna move and was half-way into packing when it occurred to me that I was happy in this apartment and didn't want to leave. So I had to undo all I had done, cancel all I had arranged for, and settle back in.

In the meantime the clock was ticking on finishing the Sis Boom Pow blocks....done and in the mail.

The clock was ticking on finishing some pillows for my cousin's daughters who are both away at school....done and mailed.

And I was anxious to get back to a quilt I had started piecing months ago and then abandoned.

So, how are you?

Eenie Meenie BumbleBeenie

2009-10-02T11:09:00.000-07:00

I love getting envelopes in the mail from NY, NY!

That is where the lovely V (of Bumblebeans blog) lives. She's assembled another group of quilters to do a quilt for charity and the fabrics arrived today. YAY!!! Now, just to put the old thinking cap on and see what I can come up with.

Also in the package was a little itsy-bitsy quilt she says is a mat for my tea cup or coffee mug. Oh man, I'm not sitting any hot liquids on it ~~ I think it's going on the wall in my sewing room. I love it. Thanks V, my heart is glad.

I love it especially because it has one of her favorite fabrics (see the turquoise flower?). I've seen it in many of her quilts and she must be running out of it, which makes it so precious to me. It reminds me of Mexico.

I'm supposed to be photographing and listing stuff to sell on Craigslist in prep for my move next month.
I'm supposed to be working on my cousin's pillow covers.
I'm supposed to be making a gazillion decisions on what to take or what to sell.

But guess what I'll be doing? LOL

No, You're Not seeing Spots....It's Snow!!

2009-09-30T23:21:00.000-07:00

I found a blog or two with snowfall and thought I'd like some too.

After all, for about 5 months of the year our temps here in Sacramento are in the 90's/100's and I'm ready for some snow!!! (Just to clarify, it never snows here....so this is all wishful thinking.)

This was the view from my porch in N.C. when I lived there. Before the snow plow passed. Lovely, quiet, soft-falling snow.

I miss it.

The temps here have lowered to the high 70's which lets me know that the two weeks of fall (or of spring) has arrived. So, that means that winter is on the way.

Sis Boom Pow!!!!

2009-09-29T10:31:00.000-07:00

Lovely V, my buddy from the Bumblebeans Blog is always doing something wonderful, and now she's asked me and a bunch of talented quilters to join her. She will be gifting us with some white squares and some pieces from Jennifer Paganelli's Sis Boom line of fabrics for Free Spirit. We are to make 2 blocks and send them back so that she can assemble them into a charity quilt.

Now, I'm just a little intimidated by the company I'll keep, but I'm game and excited to see what those fabrics say to me. Those are her two blocks......see what I mean?

She has started a separate blog to keep everyone up to date on our progress. You can follow along with us HERE.

Friday.....

2009-09-04T16:10:00.000-07:00

She's the sweetest girl and even though she's 8, she still looks like a little girl. That is, until you look up under her chin where she has lots of white hairs (just like the ones I have up under my chin!).

Anyway, I thought I'd show you so you could admire her great beauty along with me. Did you notice that she has thick eyeliner on? She is channeling her inner Cleopatra, or maybe it's Nefertiti.

I also thought I'd show you that I've put up a flannel sheet to serve as a design wall near the sewing machine, and there are 4 blocks up there. The only part that shows up on this pic is the center, cause the frame is the same color as the sheet.

Hey, every little bit of progress counts. I also put some snazzy red legs from IKEA on my sewing table, because the original legs were wobbly.

I had to run errands earlier and didn't finish because I had to get home and out of the smoke. My asthma is giving me fits and there are fires in the foothills to the east and also to the west, so it's all coming here. Oh Happy Day.

Lovely Squishy In The Mail....YAY!

2009-09-02T13:44:00.000-07:00

Hey, I might not be consistent in blogging, but I'm consistent in reading blogs and one that I read daily is Wanda's "Exuberant Color" ~ doesn't that title just say it all? Lately in addition to quilt making she has been making journal covers. She featured one recently on her blog made with selvages and Kaffe Fasset fabric and I was a goner.

I sent off a quick email asking if she would make another and sell it, and she was kind enough to agree. Paypal handled the transaction and the mailman brought this to me today!!!

Ta-Daaaaaaa!! She even sent me a "seed" block to encourage me. I love it!!

It is just the best. I am not much at journaling, but I have wanted a little notebook to keep notes in about the quilts I make. Stop laughing! I do make quilts....just haven't made many lately. But I have big plans and so that counts, doesn't it? LOL

Thank you Wanda for making my day.

Iraqi Bundles of Love

2009-08-24T11:06:00.000-07:00

"It is a project intended to help people who are just trying to get on with their lives–clothe their children, make a living, create something beautiful. And best of all, it is in a language I totally speak–the language of fibers."

I read about this effort a month or so ago on someone's blog (sorry, I can't remember where) but ran across it again today on Sew. Mama, Sew! Blog. Click on the link and go read about it.

I wanted to participate when I first read about it, but was held back by having to decide which fabrics I wanted to send....lol....which of my lovelies would I part with?

No worry. Sew, Mama, Sew has taken all the worry out of it. For $15 they will send a bundle containing all this!!!

5 yards of new fabric
16 sewing needles in a case
32 pearlized pins on a wheel
1 tomato pincushion
1 pair folding scissors
1 150-yd spool white thread

Not only is it generous, thanks to their partnership with wholesale fabric vendors, but the price includes the shipping! It's easy to do, just Click on the this link which takes you to the SMS shop and you can purchase your bundle there. So easy.

Not much going on sewing-wise here ~ but soon. I have stuff cut and ready to go. The dining room table is covered with pieces and parts, so I need to get going on it. Soon.

Please Take a Minute to Read This....

2009-08-21T19:58:00.000-07:00

Those of you who have been quilting a little bit may recognize the name Kathy Sandbach, author/teacher/machine quilter recognized for her machine quilting talents and her willingness to share them. I ran across some disheartening news about her recently and wish you would take a minute to read on and do what your heart leads you to do.

Here's a link to one of her books
and here's something her son wrote ~~
Hello, this is Ken Sandbach, Kathy’s son. As some of you know by now my mom has been diagnosed with a nasty type of dementia, called Frontal Temporal Dementia. If you were around her the last few years at all, you may have noticed some behavior changes—slight at first, and then progressing to downright bizarre. It took the kids some time (unfortunately), but this last December we finally got the diagnosis, and began putting all the pieces together. Her symptoms these days are too numerous for this email, but if you’re curious Google Frontal Temporal Dementia or go to www.mayoclinic.com and search there.

The reason for writing is to let you know after a long conversation with my sister we have decided to begin selling my mom’s quilting legacy. We are down to about 6 month’s money left for Kathy’s care, and have found that Social Security and Medicare just don’t cut it. Assisted living care is running 7k/month, not including her insurance and mortgage payments (her Oregon house in on the market, but no one is buying these days).

As a test experiment we have put 3 of her quilts on eBay to test reception (check them out soon, they won’t be there too long). If this eBay auction proves to be worthwhile, there are more quilts that will make their way to you—her fans. While this is a tough time, and even tougher decision to make, we’re hoping that the people who love them most will be willing to adopt them.

Please, PLEASE, forward this information to your address books/quilt lovers, and ask they do the same. Kathy has traveled all over the United States and UK teaching, so I am hoping this information will make its way around the entire quilting universe!

If you have any questions feel free to email me at ken.sandbach@beamglobal.com or my sister at kristine.sandbach@wachovia.com. Also there is a guestbook at mom’s old website www.machinequiltlady.com. Please go there and sign the guestbook. It would mean a lot to grasp just how many people Kathy has touched through quilting.

Sincerely,

Ken Sandbach

Two More Finishes

2009-05-25T23:45:00.001-07:00

Yes, I know ~ they're just alike!

I used up the last of my racecar fabric to make these two cuties for two cuties. My great-grandson Kyle just got his first big boy bed and it's one of those race car beds. The little boy across the hall, Jesse, who is a month older than Kyle just got his first big boy bed too and it's a race car bed too.

So, in celebration of this momentous event in their lives, I hit my stash up and made two. I've found that making two is as easy as making one, if they are both alike and use the same fabrics.

I sewed the binding on yesterday and today washed them and dried them...I love that moment when I take them out of the dryer and see them in all their crinkly loveliness.

Ahhhhh.

Now I have some blocks in progress that I'll pick up and work on tomorrow.

A Satisfying Finish ~

2009-05-11T10:30:00.001-07:00

love this quilt!

I've been saving these fabrics for more than a few years knowing that I wanted to make a scrap quilt using these colorways.

Then a year ago I started cutting into the fabrics thinking I would make a scrappy mountain majesty quilt. But, I needed to stop so I could pack for my move to California.

Then I hit the wall, once here, and was in a creative slump and little depression.

Finally, I pulled the pieces out and thought about it a while and changed my mind. I wanted a zig zag quilt.

More cutting and playing around with the fabrics....trying some and then setting them aside. This is the result.

My cousin Ted who is a fine artist who loves to tease me and always asks if I'm still making "those pot-holders" will get this one.

Pot holder? I don't think so.

This fabric is my favorite. It has script which I can't read (is it me in my old age or is that how it was designed?) and scattered throughout are some images. I love the horse. I hope it will remind Ted of our Grandparent's farm.

Sally Bramald's Wonderful Feathered Star....

2009-04-25T09:49:00.001-07:00

If you are not familiar with this blog (Feather on a Wire) you need to go have a look. I started reading it oh at least a couple of years ago. I initially was attracted to her wonderful quilting....Sally is the queen of feathers and I love feathers. For several months she has been working on a feathered star quilt with some swags on the border to die for. Go have a look. Go on, be envious, it's okay. And while you're there, say hi.

The Direct Link to the Quilt....

2009-04-23T22:15:00.000-07:00

is HERE
Go Bid it Up!!!
Remember it's called Nothin But Kisses......Muah!

Love Without Boundaries

2009-04-22T11:34:00.000-07:00

The live auction of the quilt that many of us contributed to will be up on EBay Here tomorrow. Be sure to bid on it to help raise as much money as possible to this worthwhile cause. If you don't remember the quilt.... Here it is.

Last Week it was Susan Boyle....

2009-04-20T23:44:00.000-07:00

But this week on Britain's Got Talent it was a 12 year old...check him out!

Has he got amazing pipes or what?

I've gone missing again!

2009-04-02T19:22:00.000-07:00

I realize that I've been gone, but haven't felt up to blogging as it is serious allergy season here in the valley and I've been gone for 10 years and now that I'm back for my first spring, it's like I'm fresh meat to all the pollen! Yikes! Hack, hack, wheeze, wheeze, and all the lovely other bits. So, I'm out of it. This too shall pass, but in the meantime, I'm out of it.

In the mail today I got a card from Victoria of the Bumblebeans Blog. She put a picture of her Nothing but Kisses quilt that she made from 9 patches gathered from friends. I sent her some, but they were the wrong size...doh!
Anyway, this quilt will be auctioned at the Born in my Heart Art Auction. You can read about the non-profit group sponsoring this auction by clicking HERE.

The auction will be online on April 23-28, and I hope you will bookmark the link and bid up the quilt. It will help a lot of children.

I've got a couple of things in process, but going is slow. And now, I'm back to the couch!

Squishy Envelope in the Mail....WaHoooooooo!

2009-03-05T16:59:00.000-08:00

I love it when the mailman brings me a squishy package that nearly fills the mailbox. I didn't immediately figure out who sent it....I ordered fabric and a book yesterday, but they wouldn't be here yet. I turned it over and saw that it was from South Africa, and then I remembered that Heather Moore had a giveaway on her blog Skinny laMinx. Heather also blogs for Elle Decor, S.A. and a lot of people read her. I knew there would be fierce competition just from sheer numbers, but I entered a comment and I was one of the lucky people selected to receive goodies.

I opened it the envelope as soon as we got in the door. I found a wonderful note card she had designed, a lovely velvet heart sticker she created, and one of her signature tea towels made from fabric of her own design. She has a towel she designed that has images of IKEA furnishings, so you know we are kindred spirits. I'm so happy because the red is the same as the IKEA red that is my accent color in every room. Made just with me in mind, right?

Thanks Heather for the lovelies in the mail today! I love them.

I'm always excited by the generosity of the quilt/blog community. Someone is always giving something away. Hmmmm. I'm thinking there are some things I could give too.

Stay tuned!

Just A Temporary Lull in the Action

2009-03-03T11:10:00.000-08:00

Even though we are in the midst of a terrible drought, this week promises to be a drizzly one. When it rains, everything becomes a little more complicated here on the home front. Maya still needs to be taken out for her walks and for toiletting ~ we come back soggy and even though I leave a towel by the door we still track in.

Yesterday it was errands all day and just taking care of the "stuff" of life ~ today promises to be some more of that. Meanwhile it's wet out as you can see from this shot of the patio off of the living room.

Blocks are waiting and fabric for the next project has been pulled and is looking at me too.

I like that I have all those choices, though so I leave it out to bless my eyes.

Drizzly or not, it's good.

2009-02-23T16:33:00.000-08:00

The first block, in the upper left corner was made by Sherri-"Sue" who works at the Quilt Shop where the quilty girls meet weekly, oooh and aaaah over fabric, pull bolts and play, plan our quilts and help each other with design issues. Sherri is calm and maybe that tea she drinks has something to do with it.

Block 2 was made by Debbie-"Sue" and her Sue is Wild (see the black and white dress) and loves travel. Her Sue is holding an actual little bitty quilt with an itty-bitty angel charm in the corner. Debbie has moved to South Carolina but still gets back to the group from time to time. I was sad to hear that she was leaving too.

Block 3 was made by Sonja-"Sue" and is probably the most traditional of all the blocks. Her bonnet is embellished with lace and Sue is carrying her fabric in an actual little basket with a little scissors charm tied on! Isn't that the sweetest! Sonja always came to our Wednesday work group with her latest project and supplies in a big basket. I remember when I wandered in to the Quilt shop on a Wednesday for the first time and saw that small group working at the tables in the back...Sonja invited me to sit down and that was the beginning.

Block 4 was made by Sandy-"Sue" and says Shrimp Boil Sue in reference to the wonderful meal that she and her husband put together for us. A traditional Southern Shrimp Boil is a layered meal of Potatoes, Corn on the cob, Shrimp, and I forget what all else. Oh my gosh, it was not only beautiful, but we hurt ourselves eating it. Her Sue has braids and a little ribbon rose on her bonnet. I love the detail!
The Center block is "Stripper Sue" and was a collaborative effort. I can't remember if it came about because I told the girls I had once worked as a stripper. (I stripped cars in a salvage yard in my younger/stronger years when work was scarce) But I love this block because it shows Sue in a whole new light. In the audience are skeletons from some Dia de los Muertos fabric I had and had shared. The stripper pole is 3 dimensional from really shiny fabric. Sue has a tattoo on her hiney that says "Slappy" which is in reference to my imaginary boyfriend, "Slappy the Bait Shop Guy".

Block 6 was made by Ann B and is all about making a home a wonderful place. We refer to her as "Martha-Sue" (she is the most like Martha Stewart) and her SBS shows all of the traditional home making things that she enjoys and does so well. Martha-Sue is my bread guru.

Block 7, was made by our fearless leader and local quilt shop owner, Tod. She chose to make a block representing Sunbonnet "Slappy the Bait Shop Guy" who featured largely in my stories about "love gone wrong" that I shared with the group. Tod is a Kaffe Fasset Groupie and you'll notice that the overalls are from his line of fabric.

Block 8 was created by Annie-"Sue" and features her love of gardening, nature, comfortable birkenstock shoes and unshaven legs (hey, I only report the truth!)

Block #9 was signed by all and reads:
"Made by the Ladies at Tod's Sweet Tater Quilts, Funeral Parlor, and Tea Room."
There is an image of the cover of the book, Sweet Potato Queens Book of Love by Jill Connor Browne which is a collection of stories that we received "readings" from. They're a hoot and are decidedly "southern".I will never forget them. Never. And just to make sure, they made me this quilt...lol.

Sun Bonnet Sue ~ Love from the Quilty Gurlz

2009-02-21T10:59:00.001-08:00

Do you remember that lovely package I got earlier this week? It was a much-anticipated box from the Quilty Gurlz in Boone, NC. We met together every week on Wednesday and by the time I knew I was leaving, I was already sad to be saying goodbye.

They threatened me with a Sun Bonnet Sue quilt! I had let it be known during one of our meetings that I didn't care much for that much-loved iconic quilt and that I knew I'd never make one or even have one in my house. Gleefully they set to work and I got sporadic reports when I'd call back there on Wednesday! Oh, they were having waaaaaay too much fun with Sue.

I opened the box on Wednesday, while I was on the phone with them....thanks Tod, for letting us be on speaker-phone! We laughed, giggled, hooted and I knew whose block was whose even without seeing the signature.

On Thursday, I went to Tap Plastics to have a clear plastic rod made and drilled so I could hang it. My neighbors, Mike and Dana, said that they could come down on Friday after work to put it up.

After figuring out how far down from the ceiling I wanted it to hang, Mike got to work and in about 5 minutes it was up.

I think I got up 2 or 3 times last night and had to turn on the light just so I could admire it all over again. There is significance to each block. I'll share them with you tomorrow.

Thank you Quilty Gurlz ~ I love you back!

Friday.....

2009-02-20T11:36:00.000-08:00

Not much happening today, but I seem to be on a roll blogging, so here I am today.
I watched this movie ~ Mad Love ~ last night. I had never heard of it, but was browsing the foreign films section of the local video store yesterday and found it along with two others.

"The true story of Juana de Castilla (Pilar Lopez de Ayala), daughter of Queen Isabella of Spain, who married (and fell passionately in love with) Archduke Fernando of Austria. When Juana's mother and older brothers die in 1504, Juana becomes queen, but her discovery of her husband's many lovers leads to erratic behavior. It's the perfect opportunity for her cheating husband to declare Juana insane and himself king."

She seriously was crazy with love. Have you ever been crazy about something/someone?
Fabric!!!

what is your style???

2009-02-19T16:12:00.000-08:00

While reading the How About Orange blog today, I took a quiz that they linked to to determine what my "design" style is. While taking it I found that I didn't care for a lot of the designed rooms they showed, and that being said, that I'm "picky". hehehe Didn't need a test to determine that!

This is what it said I am...

Your personal style is a mix of 3 specific styles:

42% Cottage Chic

42% Vintage Modern

16% Zen Style

What are you????

Leftovers...

2009-02-18T08:46:00.000-08:00

I've got plenty of blocks left over from the zig-zag quilt top. I can get two good sized crib quilts out of them, and I like to have a few on hand so I'm not caught up in a rush when I hear of a new baby on the way.

I haven't figured out the layout yet, but have been playing with a few ideas. It won't take me long to knock them out once I get started.

I'm still looking at the Flea Market Fancy fabrics that I'm going to use in my next quilt, and trying to figure out how I will use them.
I don't want anything complex...the simpler the better...because the fabrics should be the focus. Maybe coins? Maybe a zipper quilt?

The fabric will tell me what it wants.

Wednesday with the Quilty Girls

2009-02-18T08:23:00.000-08:00

Our little group met on Wednesdays at The Quilt Shop in Boone, NC. Even though I'm not there, they continue to meet and I think of them every Wednesday and many days in between. They are the best bunch of Quilt Queens and I was so lucky to be there with them for 2 years. We spent the day chatting, sewing, and we often pot-lucked so there was a fair amount of eating too. We came to know each other's preferences and I think expanded each other's comfort zones. As for mine, I told them that while I admired many kinds of quilts I was pretty sure that I would never come to love Sunbonnet Sue. They promised to make me one...lol.

Look what came in the mail yesterday!!!!!!!!!!!!

I knew it was coming and I know it's Sunbonnet Sue, but I promised not to open the box until I had them on the phone on a Wednesday. That's today!!! I called a while ago and they are iced in, so will call them back in a couple of hours to see if any of the girls have made it in. I'll open it then. I'm so excited!!

I'm A Winner!

2009-02-17T09:38:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, on Skinny laMinx Blog, I was one of the winners of her fabulous giveaway! She is giving away some wonderful stuff and I can't believe some of it is coming my way. Heather Moore lives in South Africa, works for Elle Decor, SA and is a graphic designer/fabric designer as well! Quite impressive. She recently designed a dish towel with images of IKEA furniture on it....I love IKEA, so I love the towel as well.

Go take a look at her blog, and check out the Elle Decor, SA blog too for their take on design trends.

I enter a lot of giveaways on various blogs, but this is a first-time win for me! YAY! And thanks to Heather for making my day!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-14T10:38:00.001-08:00

Hope yours includes some chocolate!

I'm still assembling blocks for the zig-zag quilt and tomorrow I'm going to see "Slumdog Millionaire" with a friend.

What are you up to today?

Drizzle, Drizzle.....Cheer up Chum!

2009-02-11T15:17:00.000-08:00

This is the kind of day it is today....wet, drizzly, cold, and generally the sort of day that makes you find stuff to cheer yourself up with.

The tree across the street is abloom to cheer itself up, and it cheers me up too.

The mirror in the entry hall always cheers me up when I come in from outside. It is totally made from tin, embossed, then treated to darken parts of it, and I love it

The tulips I got from the market today were just begging me to take them home and promised if I would that they would be cheery. I did and they have.

This little vignette on top of my stash cabinet is cheery too.

I have a picture in my files of a quilt that might be next up on my to do list. I've printed it out and am looking at it as I work on the zig zag.

These fabrics have been auditioning for the part. I pulled them yesterday and have been looking at them every time I pass the dining room table. They are cheery too, don't you think?

My most favorite cheerful color is orange, and I've been collecting orange fabrics for a while. Still thinking on that quilt.

Working again....YAY!

2009-02-10T15:52:00.000-08:00

I started thinking of this quilt over a year ago and got as far as cutting the strips in anticipation of making the half square triangles. Then I put it away as I knew I'd be getting ready to move. I've really been in a creative slump since I got here. I did make one king-size bed quilt as a commission, but it didn't inspire me in any way and I was just stuck.

Bumblebeans got my motor running again when she asked for some 9 patch blocks. I got them made and while working on them I started thinking about the 2 color planned scrappy zig zag quilt I had wanted to make. I dug out the parts, and started making those blocks.

Now they are made and I've been sewing the blocks together today. It feels good to be working again. I've pulled out some fabric for the next quilt and it's ready to cut. The zig-zag quilt will be about 75" square, and I'm going to machine quilt it myself.

Tonight's Menu

2009-02-08T13:34:00.000-08:00

Same group of friends....relaxing good time and good food.
The Menu:
Asparagus and Cheddar Stuffed Chicken Breasts
Green Salad
Scalloped Potatoes
Dessert ~ Amish Friendship Bread
Yum!

Remember This?

2009-02-05T09:53:00.000-08:00

My post yesterday was full of accomplishment....I got the 9 patch blocks done and ready to mail. I took another look at Bumblebeans blog to compare my blocks to the one she posted.

It was only then that I realized I'd cut the squares too big. My blocks are bigger than she called for. I wrote to her with big apologies and she said send them anyway.

What is it carpenter's say...measure twice, cut once? In my case, re-read the blog entry before making blocks.

So, I'm off to the post office with an envelope full of too-big blocks and a shovel full of regret thrown in for good measure. I'm hopeful that she can find a way to use them.

Industrial Accordian Accident

2009-02-04T16:57:00.000-08:00

Okay, I have to tell on my friend, Ann. I called her yesterday to report that Barb had been here and gone, and Annie's hubby, honey-bunnie, told me that he and Ann had just come from the Emergency Room. When I asked what that was about he said that Ann had been in an Accordian-related accident.

Ann, like me is a women of substance and her chestal area is not lacking, if you get my drift. Well, I put together her endowments and the image of an accordian and my mind went to places we probably shouldn't even talk about.

When I stopped giggling long enough to get the details, it was so much tamer than my imagination. She and Rick were clearing out his mom's house, and Ann was carrying up an accordian from the basement. She somehow got her hand caught between the accordian and the wall and got a laceration that required stitches. See, I told you it was tame. Anyway, I couldn't wait to call the Quilt Shop back in Boone where we all meet on Wednesdays, and where they still meet without me (boo-hoo!)....because I had some embellishments to that story that I wanted to share with the Punkin Haid Quilty Gurlz there. No such luck...the shop was closed today due to weather.

That story is just too good to wait, so you get it.

9 Patch Blocks Done

2009-02-04T16:36:00.000-08:00

Bumblebeans put the call out for 9 patch blocks and quilters scrambled to respond. Rotary cutters whirred, fabric flew, and sewing machines all over the land hummed.

Be careful what you ask for, because shortly thereafter she closed the request....lol. I squeeked in under the wire.

After some false starts and interruptions, I finally got the blocks put together today. I'm going to the post office tomorrow and get them on their way.

These simple blocks have got me out of the doldrums, and I'm happy to be busy again. She posted a very simple pattern on her site in the last couple of days and I'm yearning to get going on that.

And, I also have pulled out some squares that I plan to cut and make half triangle blocks for a zig zag two-color quilt that's been fermenting back there in my head.

Thanks Victoria for moving me on down the path.

On other fronts, I baked another loaf of bread....put together a grocery list for shopping tomorrow.....pulled my stuff together to meet with Bob the tax preparer on Friday noon.....and had a good walk with Maya this morning.

Thankful today for being able to do all those things.

Guess what? Chicken Butt!

2009-02-03T13:42:00.000-08:00

Okay, that's the mood I'm in today. My friend, Barbie, from North Carolina came to visit me yesterday and what a visit it was! Too short. But sweeeeeeeet!
(click on this picture to read it....sorry it didn't post big enough)

She and I laughed, chortled, hooted, snorted, giggled and, oh my.... how I loved that she took the time. She was visiting some friends in Reno who generously lent her their car so she could drive down here.

She only had a day, so she came yesterday, and had to leave this morning. We went to IKEA! We picked up our conversations like we'd just seen each other yesterday. I love an easy friendship like that.

Then after I got her on the road today, I was just marveling about how lucky I am. Those Sweet 'Tater Haid, Qwilty Gurlz in NC just folded me up in their hearts and haven't let go. I miss them.

I've got a bowl full of yeast dough rising to make another loaf of no-knead bread, and am still making 9 patch blocks for Bumblebeans. They're fun.

Also, today on the True Up blog I read one of the best articles on stash building and color mastery. It is really helpful. I think I'll buy the book she references, and for sure I'll pay attention to what I buy for my stash. I have a ton of material....so why do I need to buy something for what is lacking in my stash that I need in my current project. It's not that I don't have enough, but it's that I have too much of the same stuff and not enough of the fillers.

You really have to see this if you love animals....

2009-01-28T13:24:00.000-08:00

No, it's not an animal rights ad. Though I have nothing against them. This is something I saw on Bonnie Hunter's blog....a small youtube video that is absolutely unbelievable.

Click here

I wish I knew how to embed those videos on my blog like she has on hers, but I don't. So, do yourself a favor and go over there and take a look. While you're there, look around at her wonderful quilts ~ she is very talented, and she repurposes thrift store shirts into many of her quilts.

Adventures in bread making....

2009-01-27T17:19:00.000-08:00

This was the first time making the NYTimes No Knead Bread in the new dutch oven. I made the dough and let it sit covered for 18 hours til it was roughly twice the size (and then some, I think).
After forming the loaf and letting it rest covered for another 2 hours on a cornmeal sprinkled tea towel, it was ready to go into the Dutch Oven which had been heated in the oven at 450 degrees.

Careful! I was fearful of dumping the dough into the sizzling hot dutch oven, but all went well and I think the reason is that the cornmeal dusting on the tea towel allowed it to just fall off into the dutch oven. I quickly put the lid on and into the oven it went for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes I cracked the lid on the dutch oven and let it bake for another 15 minutes. I took it out of the oven and inverted the dutch oven over another tea towel which I used to handle the loaf and get it onto a rack where it rested.

(actually, I don't own a rack, so I used the steamer insert to my sauce pan (inverted) and it worked just fine.)

Isn't it beautiful?

After resting for 15 minutes I couldn't wait another minute and cut it in half and took half over to my neighbors across the hall. I'm so lucky that they are willing to be my guinea pigs on all my kitchen adventures.

Then, I came home and tore off a piece. Oh just YUM!

Dutch Oven Beautifulness.....

2009-01-26T14:10:00.000-08:00

When I moved from North Carolina, in my hurry to get packed up and on the road, I forgot about my little Dutch Oven in the drawer under the oven. It wasn't until I started looking for it here that I realized it never made the trip with me. I made do until recently when my friend Ann sent me the recipe for no-knead bread, and that was followed up by another one that called for being cooked in a dutch oven....sigh...

So, I bit the bullet today and found this enamel over cast iron beauty. I think it's lovely. I need to put it to the test. But I wanted to show it to you first.

Welcome!

2009-01-25T15:25:00.000-08:00

Isn't this cheery? I love it.

Now that I've got the ironing board out, I'm going to catch up on that and then press some other fabric for a couple of other small projects.
No quilting yet, but soon I think.

It's a start.

2009-01-24T17:37:00.000-08:00

I've been meaning to take a picture of this Lamp Jewelry that my friend Annie-Bannannie's Hunny Bunny made for me. He is actually a craftsman who makes musical instruments ~ mandolins and such....but he does some incredible beadwork too. When I was getting ready to move from NC back to California he made me a little hanging doo-dad that I thought I might hang in the car, but I already have too much stuff hanging in there. When I got this bedside lamp, it is utilitarian as all get out and contemporary to boot, but it needed a little something. Now it has bling......Perfect!

Thanks Rick.

I'm sewing this evening. (Gasp!!!)

You'll see what it is tomorrow....but since I haven't sewn in months, I'll tell you what got me moving. Wanna hear about it.....here it goes!

I have been wanting another duvet cover for the bed...the two that I have are both really light and I thought something darker for the winter months would be nice. Short hop over the river to IKEA and I found one that was plain .... charcoal gray on the backside and that's the side I liked, once I wrestled the down comforter into it. So it's on the bed, and I'm liking it, but it needs just a little something.

Then I remembered a little treasure that I had put away. I bought it from a fabric printer on ETSY, and don't throw bricks at me, but I can't remember her name. It only came in one color if I remember correctly, blue, and I'm not a big blue fan but I knew the day would come .... so I tucked it away where I could retrieve it when I needed it. "Welcome" it says.

That would be nice to see when I go to bed at night, so I pulled it out and started playing with fabric from my stash. I found a nice paisley that went well with it. And I'm ready to go.

Maya says she'll just watch. And guard me.

It's what she does best.

Blog Buddies, Part Deux

2009-01-20T10:48:00.000-08:00

Victoria, whose blog "Bumblebeans" has had me loving her long time...lol...she quilts, lives the life I've fantasized in a fabulous NYC Loft, has her own Harley (and rides!) and generally is a joyous spirit. She has music on her blog with a new artist and playlist every week, so she is introducing me to music I mightn't have ever heard without this thoughtful feature. There's a delay to the start up of the music, though, and I've been startled into full wakefulness when it comes on while I'm reading. Her quilts reflect her own sense of playfulness and confidence in her style sensibilities. I love that they are an eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary.

Victoria also appreciates good food (see I told you we were kindred
spirits!) and has another blog ~ "Try This Yourself", an anthology of home made food. There are some interesting recipes there, and last night I had guests over and served them 2 dishes I got from her blog. Cassoulet (from Jacques Pepin) andCarmelized Brussel Sprouts.

Both of those dishes were to die for!! Trust me. Thanks Victoria!

In addition, I tried out Rustic Artisan Bread with a recipe from Ann who is in my quilt group in Boone, NC. Even though I'm clear over on the left coast now, I still consider myself a member of that group......those quilty girlz are the best! The bread was a hit, and while it didn't raise up as much as I'd anticipated, it was crusty and good! It was easy and I can see myself making this again and again. Thanks Ann!

We had a spinach salad with vinegar and oil dressing, and for desert we enjoyed a selection of sorbet from Ciao Bella ~ Passionfruit, Mango, Lemon, and my favorite Blood Orange.

It was heavenly. Great company, good food, and lively conversation. Ann and Victoria were there in spirit ~ their contribution to our evening's pleasure evident in our satisfied smiles.

Good Intentions....

2009-01-19T22:44:00.000-08:00

I love my blog buddies...I especially love those bloggers who post regularly. I know when I log on and run over to their blog, they have something there that gets my motor running. Wanda, whose blog Exuberant Color, is the most faithful. And she's probably one of the most prolific quilters I read. So, no matter what everyone else is doing or not doing, she's always got a new post up. I aspire to be that kind of blogger. I want to have something here for you to read, but I've never been strong at self-discipline and no matter what my intentions...the reality is that when I come check out my own blog ~~ Surprise!! There's nothing new there/here.

Dang, I hate when that happens.

For those of you who check in here regularly and find that I'm missing in action...thanks for coming back. I can't promise I'll get better at blogging. But I can promise that when I have something to say, or something to show you....this will be the first place I come.

How I Wake Up in the Morning...

2009-01-01T13:15:00.000-08:00

I don't need an alarm clock.

I sleep on my stomach on the edge of the bed, facing out and am awakened every single morning with a wet kiss from my dog ~ which I hate....which makes me go ecccchhhhhhhhh! I turn away from the edge of the bed, wipe off my cheek, and turn in towards the center. She jumps up on the bed and settles in with her back against my front, spooning, ~ she immediately falls sound asleep.

I, on the other hand, am awake.

Usually I lay there a while, figure out my next move, and then slowly I ease out and get on with my day. She backs up until she's in the warm spot I left, and stays there until I make her get down so I can make the bed. That's how it is in our house.

What gets you moving in the morning?

Happy New Year!!

2009-01-01T00:54:00.001-08:00

Welcome 2009!!!

Adios 2008!!!

2008-12-31T13:05:00.003-08:00

I got this card in 2006 from the Obama family and I treasured it then, but even more so now.

I welcome the new year and what it will mean for our Nation and her people.

We Went to the Movies

2008-12-27T21:52:00.005-08:00

Despereaux......little mouse with big dreams, a big heart, and big courage.

My niece TreShawn generously let me have the company of her son Haki for a couple of nights. It was his first sleep-over at my house, and we had a great time.

We rented some DVD's to watch at home and then today we went to the movies. It's been a tradition of mine for many years to go to the movies on Christmas weekend, and this year we chose to go see the animated movie "Tale of Despereaux". It had a great message about not accepting the limitations that others try to put on you. For example Despereaux got terrible marks in school because he refused to "scurry" and didn't "cower". LOL I really liked the movie, and Haki was attentive throughout. He gave it two thumbs up.

Right Down to the Wire....

2008-12-24T13:20:00.006-08:00

I shopped yesterday for the stuff I need to make Green Bean Casserole, which is my responsibility for Christmas dinner. I'm spending it with my "sista-women-friends" and their kids. I have made this before and it's soooo easy to do and everyone seems to like it. So that's a snap.

I'll take everything there to assemble and bake. Easy-Peasy.

Before I headed out to do that little bit of shopping, and for my dentist appointment, I made my first ever batch of Biscotti. Orange almond in flavor and so good with my morning coffee today.

OH YUM!!!

The last of the goodie trays went out the door yesterday evening. I made a total of 7 with cookies on the bottom and candy on top. They were lovely and I was channeling my inner Martha the whole time.

Actually I was channeling my inner Ginny Ingle, mom, who was Martha long before Martha became a brand. She was room mother when we three were in school and her treats were over the top. During our school's fall festival, her decorated cakes were the ones that raised the most money. Her holiday platters were altogether amazing and looked-forward-to by all our neighbors. If I can do anything at all well, all thanks belong to her.

I got a lovely in the mail this week. My friend, Doro, who is a water-colorist and was a neighbor of mine in Mexico sent me a watercolor she painted ~ already matted and framed. She and David live in Ouray, Colorado part of the year and this is a painting of the mountains in the fall, showing snow on the peaks. She had no idea that the colors in my bathroom are all in those fallish colors, so it is perfect. I took down the picture I had in there and put this one up. It is so beautiful and makes my heart glad. Thanks Doro for sharing your talent with me.

It's rainy today and I'm doing laundry and cleaning house. Maya and I have been on our walk and we both got wet and were glad to get home, where it's warm and dry.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Peace!

Home, Sweet, Home....

2008-12-23T18:24:00.002-08:00

City living has required some compromise on my part and some patience on the part of my companion and best-dog, Maya. Until we moved here, Maya only had to stand at the door and I'd let her out to go take care of business. I cleaned up the yard after her when we were in Mexico. When we moved to North Carolina we lived out in the country and she had the run of 80 some acres which she shared with cows, coyotes, wild turkeys, deer, and other critters. No clean up was required.

Here in the city, she has to be on a leash and I follow behind with bags. She has me right where she wants me...lol.

This is our apartment, the one on the bottom floor to the right of the lamp post. You can't see it, but not only is there a patio off the living room, but there's another off the dining room (behind the bushes there in the picture). I love that it gives me the illusion of more space than there is.

I took this picture from the top of the levy that runs along the Sacramento River which is across the street from me. The levy provides a paved surface for bike riders, stroller-pushers, joggers, dog-walkers, skateboarders, walkers, and Maya and I walk it regularly. I'm the one on the end of the leash with the plastic bags.

Looking at the river to the right, you can see we are on a bend.
and looking to the left, you can see the bend going away. Those are barges tied up to pilings and filled with rock and dirt....they are working on the levys.

We sometimes see seals in the river who have made their way upstream from the San Francisco Bay, and also Sea Otters. Once or twice whales have made it upstream and have had to be guided back down to the bay...they get their internal direction finder out of kilter somehow.

Some days we go to the park for our walk, and sometimes we go to the dog park where Maya can be off leash. She never strays far from my side though so we more often go to the people park.

2008-12-16T11:47:00.005-08:00

I am enjoying my clean-for-a-minute house. It's been rainy so I am not even trying to convince myself that it will stay that way for long. Every time Maya and I go out, we track. I towel her off at the door, and we wipe our feet.....but the outside still clings and insists on being invited in! Oh dang.

I've been enjoying my eensy teensy tree!
It is manageable and so festive at night with all the lights turned off except for these twinkly ones on the tree and the flicker of candles throughout the house.
I love the look of the holidays and always feel cheery with all the decorations, the music, and the generally sparkly look of the world.

I wanted to make some slipcovers for the task chair at the desk in my room. The basic black is okay, but it is of some fabric that is a dog-hair magnet and no amount of brushing, lint rolling, or vacuuming will work. 5 minutes later, it needs it again. So for now I have the back and seat covered with pillowcases...not a good look.

The bed linens are rust/orange part of the year and shades of caribbean blue/turquoise the rest of the year. I got this fabric at IKEA and have made a pattern. Stay tuned.

This year I'm going to make a few trays of iced cookies and some homemade candy. I remember that my mother always started well in advance and made oodles of trays of goodies for us to give to our teachers, carry to the neighbors, some went to Dad's workplace, and she mailed off boxes to relatives who couldn't be with us at Christmas. She was Martha long before Martha existed and did it all so well.

I've never made candy before but yesterday I made Peanut Brittle and this morning I made English Toffee! And they both turned out! Waaa-hooooooooooo!!!!

This afternoon I'm going to make the cookie dough, wrap it and refrigerate it and once the cookies are made....I can make up the trays and deliver them. Early yes, but I don't have room to store all that stuff, nor do I want it in the house...lol.

I don't think I'll do this every year. Candy making is messy and tricky. Cookie making is okay, so that will probably continue. I never mastered the art of decorating with royal icing and a pastry bag.....I got it all over me, and it seemed to get flung far and wide as well. I can manage icing and sprinkles though.

All of this baking/cooking has me in the kitchen spending time with memories of mom and all the loveliness she created for our holidays. I'm a little nostalgic and enjoying it.

Seasonal Deliciousness

2008-12-13T01:41:00.002-08:00

Trader Joe's, which in any season is snack-central, has some special items that are only available during the Holidays.

Chocolatey cookie goodness with stuff in the middle containing crushed peppermints. Oh dang, it's amazing!

I love Joe-Joe's and curse the day my cousin Peggy introduced me to them.

Hope you have some sinful sweetness in your life.

Acccckkkkkkk! How do the days get away??

2008-12-12T12:26:00.004-08:00

I love my blog buddies who manage to rassle with kids, keep the house, cook, do lovely crafts, make their Christmas presents, quilt, take amazing photographs, and still blog every day. I love that they can. I can't. Today I'm cleaning house, so I still won't be able to take pics and blog.

I have this sign hanging up; I feel like it was meant just for me. I need to remember it right now.

Maybe I Found My Quilt Shop Home!!!!

2008-12-09T17:15:00.005-08:00

I finally found a shop in the greater Sacramento area that sells Quilting Arts Magazine. I've been looking all over for the latest issue because it features one of my favorite bloggers shown on the cover...Malka Dubrowski. The magazine is pricey, but I was curious about her process, so wanted it.

I walked into JR Flamingo (which was a new fabric store to me) and I felt right at home. The ladies there ~ Susan and Valerie ~ were really helpful and the quilts were gorgeous. They are also a shop for sewers other than quilters, but most of their fabric was quilt fabric and their selections were wonderful. Every quilt shop is different in the fabric they select to sell, and I really liked the "eye" of this shop's buyer. They had a lot of Kaffe Fasset shot cottons, tons of dupioni silk ~ which I want to incorporate into some of my quilts, and they had a good selection of african and ethnic prints.

I'm going to try to take a class there when the new schedule comes out. It felt like home.

Wanna Be Santa?

2008-12-09T13:18:00.003-08:00

Have you seen this Macy's Page? You gotta try it. I've doodled away 45 minutes making me and everyone I have a picture of into Santa...what a hoot!

And here's another Holiday Season pic showing the first Xmas card I received. I thought it looked good on my red stash cabinet.