Happy Easter

Happy Easter to all my blogging friends! He Is Risen!

Heart Quilt

Just finished up this Heart Quilt for mom. Another kit she bought, and asked me to put together for her. I love the colors in this one, of course. Had to do a few modifications, because some of the pieces didn't "add up" but all in all, I love how it turned out. A bit of hand quilting on this one... :o)

tube socks for Jimmy

I decided for Jimmy, that I would make "tube socks" rather than socks with a heel, so they're quicker to make, and easier for him to put on! :o) So I got out one of his socks and went to work... A couple attempts later, success! :o) The only thing I did NOT take into consideration, was I laid out his sock flat, well, that didn't account for the heel that was on the original sock, so the ribbing goes down way to far onto his ankles... But he LOVES them! That's all that matters! And now I know exactly how to make them for next time! :o)  

Not bad, for only starting to learn to make socks about a month ago... :o)

socks....

Been busy with a different sort of project lately.... Knitting socks! :o) Anna's pair is done, it's the pink and purple pair. I made one "test sock" because all I've done is knitted a "regular" scarf before, and then these socks of Anna's are my very first pair! :o) Not bad, if I do say so myself! :o)   

And this is the first sock for Lizzie - gonna start on sock #2 today... :o)
Life's been pretty hectic the last couple of weeks -- dr appts, etc., so socks have been a nice take-along project... :o)

you shouldn't be surprised...

You shouldn't be surprised that I chose "ROSEBUD" pink to paint a few pieces for my sewing room.... Any die-hard Singer fans (like me, even tho I don't have any old Singers), before you cuss me out for painting a Singer cabinet... I only painted it because it was in really rough shape. It was given to me, missing the machine, and already painted... So, what's a girl to do?! Have the kids paint it Rosebud pink for her! :o)  

We also painted my fabric cabinet to match. It used to be an old stereo (the top opens up for the record player) but it's missing all that stuff, so it's been my sewing cabinet for years... Love, love, love the color! 

And look at these SEW CUTE knobs I found to match! I'm a happy girl... :o)

happy

The last few years, it's been hard to be happy at Christmas-time. But this year, how could I not be happy, with all this wonderfulness.... :o) Here is Jimmy with Santa, when he came to visit their PreK class earlier this month. :o)

I'm using "Fresh Palette" fabrics from Carrie Nelson to make the "Mill Girls" quilt from the "More Elm Creek Quilts" blook by Jennifer Chiaverini. LOVE how these are turning out. :o)

Cinnamon applesauce ornaments, made with the kids the last few nights after school! SO easy! Applesauce (the cheap stuff!), cinnamon (which is never cheap!?) and glue -- mix it, roll it out, use your cookie cutters. Then just let them dry! I dried ours in the oven for about 4 hours on 170*, and then let them dry the rest of the way on the counter. We run the humidifier, and also have 2 cats, a dog, and 4 kids, so I figured they'd dry quicker that way... :o)

And last but not least... Brownie! Brownie is my bear, on the right! VERY well loved! I don't remember quite how old I was when I got him, but he used to go to grade school with me, and I'd sit him in my desk, so I could see him... So probably about 35 years old, give or take... And on the left, is Jim's! Apparently, Jim and I really were meant to be, because we both had the same bear! HA! His is not nearly as well loved as mine, and they aren't exactly the same, but definately by the same maker!
I am happy... :o)

4 little bears and snowmen...

Usually, it's the story of the 3 bears but this time it's 4 bears! :o) These are the bears that I made to give the kids this Christmas. These are keepsake bears. David gets the dark brown one, Anna gets red, Lizzie gets the cream one, and Jimmy gets the light brown. The boys have buttons on their vests and the girls have flowers... I love how they all look a little different (besides colors) even tho they're made from the same pattern. These bears stand about 7" tall. :o)

And I made some snowmen last week... Out of chenille! Wool felt angel wings, sticks for little arms. (Thanks to my Boy Scout for whittling them sharp for me, to be able to insert them!) Added a little snow glitter to them... I *love* the way they turned out. :o)

14 and bear parts... :o)

My "babies" turned 14 years old earlier this month! Time is just flying!

Trying to work on Christmas... Remember last year I made a bear for my Mom, and I've made a few others over the year... I'm making keepsake bears for the kids for Christmas. Lizzie's is the yellow "pooh bear", Anna's will be the red, Jimmy's will be the light brown, and David's will be the dark brown. I have all the pieces sewn on three of them (have to work on the dark brown today). I will have to have Jim turn the pieces for me. I can't do it anymore with this arthritis...! (these bear kits were purchased here)

4 years

Merle Lee Thompson
October 12, 1944 - October 30, 2007

On 9/11 this year, when they were reading the names, one of the gals said this of her loved one: "Happy 10th Anniversary in Heaven". I am trying to remember that, to try to change my way of thinking.

I miss you, Dad. I love you. Happy 4th Anniversary in Heaven.

busy, busy

Been busy, busy since my last post! Finished up this customer quilt! Twenty paper-pieced 12" stars, and then just a simple sashing. Hope she likes it! (She supplied the fabrics.)  

I also put together my "Friendship" row swap rows. I will probably hand-quilt this one. This row swap was SO fun! Our group is doing another one in 2012. (I'm the hostess! Yeah!) I need to start thinking about my theme... :o)  

I got my "Snowmen A to Zzzz" quilt top together. Still have to get batting, and then I think I'm going to tie it, with all sorts of red buttons, in the corners of the embroidery blocks. This one will be for my Mom for Christmas.  

And last but not least... I made this rag quilt using the "Wanna Be a Cowboy" fat quarters from Riley Blake. It went into my Etsy shop this morning... It'd be perfect for a new baby boy, or for a take-along quilt for a wanna-be-cowboy! :o)

Not much else going on besides that... :o) Besides my Mom falling and breaking her arm 2 weeks ago... Oh my! :o) 

Happy Birthday Dad

Merle Lee Thompson
October 12, 1944 - October 30, 2007



Happy Helper and Etsy...

Jimmy came running out of school one day last week, with THIS! He was the "line leader" that day, so he got the "Happy Helper Award"! He was so Happy! :o)

Been working on new things for the Etsy shop.  First off, is this "Winter Pinwheels" throw in "It's Snowing" fabrics. This is the Schnibbles "Jacks" pattern. Very fun, and I love the secondary designs that the blocks make. I've had these fabrics since at least before last Christmas, and decided it was time to do something with them! :o)

And then for Fall, I made this "Scrappy Autumn Owl" pillow. It was fun to just randomly put together his body section, using all kinds of fall colored scraps. David helped me draw up the pattern. :o) Thanks for looking!

Vintage Chenille pillows

I worked on these two matching vintage chenille pillows for our couch today! Fun to make something for me! Especially out of vintage chenille! :o)  

I added this cute two-tone blue pom pom trim! It was easy-peasy using this "Fussy Cut" tutorial!

I made "envelope" style backs so I could wash (soak) the covers, as needed...
I used the edging of the vintage bedspread piece, which gave it the back these cute chenille stripes! :o)

9-11-11

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I made this little graphic shortly after 9-11.
If you want to put it on your blog, feel free to right click and save it.

Preschool, 7 years and Jingle Bells... :o)

Wow, what a title, huh?! :o) Friday was Jimmy's first day of Preschool! My little boy didn't even cry! (I did, just a little...!) 

When I picked him up, he said they had a great time! I asked what they did: Did you color? "No", Did you play with blocks? "No", Did the teacher read to you? "No". So what DID you do?! "I have no idea", he says! I guess he just knows he had fun! :o) 

Seven years ago, Jim and I did this! :o) Happy Anniversary to my best friend! I love you more!

Jim made this cabinet for our CDs and DVDs and for our anniversary, he ordered this vintage doily for me... (Ok, I placed the order and told him about it afterwards! Works for him! HA!)

And I finished "J" for Jingle Bells earlier this week, for my "Snowmen A to Zzzz..." quilt... :o)

not much sewing, but some pics! :o)

Saturday night was the Father/Daughter Royal Purity Ball. This was the 5th annual Ball, and Jim and the girls have went every year. (I'll have to remember to post some of the older pics sometime, I can't believe how grown up the girls are becoming!) That's Anna in the purple and Elizabeth in the teal. Beautiful, even if I do say so myself! :o)  

And then yesterday was the first day of 8th Grade! And Jimmy starts Preschool on Friday - I'm not sure if I'm ready to talk about that yet! :o( He's excited tho, so that's good... :o) 

I did make myself a new "sunny" new ironing board cover! :o) In general, I followed this Moda Bake Shop tutorial. One note on that tutorial, if you have a wider ironing board like I do, make sure to add extra ribbon! I threaded three yards of ribbon thru that casing, and GGGRRR! It was about 3" too short to go all the way around, and I certainly couldn't tie it! So back to the store for four yards of ribbon, that worked just fine... :o) The fabric is from the "Fresh Palette" line by Carrie Nelson of Miss Rosie's Quilt Co! :o) LOVE it! :o)

another Rick Rack quilt

After my Mom saw the Rick Rack quilt (Schnibbles pattern from Miss Rosie's Quilt Company) that I put up for sale in my Etsy shop, she wanted one too! :o) She wanted it in "Dandelion Girl" fabrics. This used every last bit of the fabrics I had left... :o) This is one of my very favorite fabric lines... :o)

Row Swap and braces... :o)

I was lucky enough to participate (and hostess!) a Row Swap thru the Friendship Group that I'm part of! These are the BEAUTIFUL rows that I received back! The Log Cabin row in the center was the starter row that I made, and then 6 lovely ladies made 6 lovely rows for me! I can't wait to put this quilt together, although it'll have to wait a few weeks... Lots to do with school starting, etc...

If you're not a big fan of "teeth" than you might want to skip the next couple pics... David got braces! I'll tell you what, as a triplet, he REALLY got the short end of the stick when it comes to teeth! So he is one of those that is HAPPY to get braces! No having to fight him on that! Here are a couple before shots.

His favorite color is green, so here he is today, with his braces on, with green elastics! He still has more brackets to be added on the top, as time goes, and he will get them on the bottom too, in a few months... (Excuse the poison ivy on my Boy Scout! HA!)

And since I had the camera out, here are the triplets.... :o) I can't believe that they are 13 and starting 8th grade this year! Elizabeth (the basketball star!), David (my "adorkable" boy!) and Anna (the princess!) :o)

Jimmy will be going to preschool in a few weeks and is very excited about it, but wouldn't stop to pose for a pic with his brother and sisters today... :o(

this week's sewing... :o)

Lots of "miscellaneous" sewing this week! :o) First, I made this pillow, which is now for sale in my Etsy shop.  It was made from a piece of vintage Coral Pink chenille, with a vintage baby pink doily stitched to the front... My girls want me to keep it... :o) 

Here is a close up of the doily... :o) 

Next, I made this block, it is the "Illinois" block from the "McCall's Covering America: 50 State Blocks United In One Quilt" pattern. Carol (Cornfield Quilter) and I are making these blocks, and I decided to make her the Illinois one, since that is my state. :o) Carol, it'll be in the mail to you soon!  

Next, was 72 placemats. Just cut fabric, and then hemmed, but still, 72 of them! These are for the Father/Daughter Royal Purity Ball, next month. :o)

And last but not least, my Christmas Stars quilt! Carol (Cornfield Quilter) did a beautiful job quilting it for me, and I added the binding to it today... :o)

Here is a close up of the quilting... Just lovely! :o)