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

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!

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

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?

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

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

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!

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.