Design Wall Monday–December 12, 2016

Oh my, it’s been a while since I posted anything.  What can an I say, I’ve been busy?  Well yes I have been but I’m pretty sure we’ve all been very busy.  Anyway this Monday morning I’m finally sitting down to write a blog post. 

I belong to a group of quilters that exchanges handmade gifts every year.  There are 12 of us but each individual only makes 5 gifts.  We pick Christmas names when we arrive so that you don’t know who’s gift you are going to received.  You bring 5 gifts and you leave with 5 gifts. 

This year I made toiletry/make-up/sewing notions bag. 

They start out as pre-made bags designed by Joy Mangano.  I then take them apart and rebuild them using the “insides” for my new creation.  I think they end up waaaaay cuter than how they come from the store. 

Here are the 5 gifts I received. 

A very cute Halloween table runner by Pat Adair.  Love it!!!!

A wonderful summery table runner by Marie Blash.

A very patriotic table runner by Carol Logue.

A perfect wall hanging (or in my case a new front door quilt) made by Nancy Post.

And last but not least………………….

A binding kit  made by my BFF Marilyn Pond. 

Thank you to everyone for all the wonderful gifts.  There were many other great projects made that went to others, but I am delighted with what I received. 

Now it’s time to start thinking about what to make for next year. 

To see what others have been working on, check out Judy’s blog.

Enjoy,

Happy Halloween–My dear friend Margie

Today is Halloween and is one of my favorite holidays.  As a kid I loved to go trick-or-treating and as an adult I love seeing all the kids dressed up and having so much fun. 

It’s hard to believe but it’s been 7 years since my friendship group “The Wednesday Wacko’s” attempted to celebrate Christmas in July.  In a typical Wacko move for some reason we didn’t make it by July and we rescheduled it for September and again had to reschedule it for October.  That year I was so thrilled that my friend Margie picked my name to make a gift.  And what a gift it was.  All hand appliqued even some of those itty bitty pieces. 

This is one of my prized possessions.  Margie and I shared a love of Halloween and she made me this wonderful wall hanging. 

Unfortunately my dear, sweet Margie had a massive stroke and we lost her 4 years ago today.  How ironic that she found her way to heaven on one of our favorite days.

Love you Margie!!!

Hugs,

A Rainy Friday at Home

I live in Southern California so unfortunately we get very little rain and we desperately need it.  Hopefully today’s the day and we get some rain. 

Yesterday I finished decorating a pillow sham for our guest room. 

On another note, it’s been quite a week. 

Unfortunately we’ve been dealing with a rat issue.  My husband’s car has been damaged by a “rat” eating some of the hoses in the engine causing some serious damage.  We think we have the car fixed and have now contact a “rodent” guy to try to trap the rat or at least find and seal any openings the rat is using to get into the garage.  We were hopeful that the rat was on the outside until last night.  As many of you know, my husband and I like to sit on our front patio in the evening, enjoying a glass of wine.  Last night, later than usual, we decided to sit outside before the big rainstorm hit.  As we were enjoying our wine I noticed a dark spot on the glass side of the blinds that cover the garage window that faces the patio.  As my eyes focused, the dark spot moved.  I grab my phone and took this picture.

It’s fuzzy (I zoomed in to far) but that’s the rat sitting in the window of the garage.  Now what?  We think he’s trapped in the garage but so far none of the 8 traps have caught him.  The “rat” guy is coming back out this afternoon to do something.  Thank goodness that although the garage is attached to the house there isn’t an entrance from the garage into the house.  I’m pretty sure we’re safe but…………….YUCK!

On a much happier note, our grandson Sean and his girlfriend Sawyer were here earlier this week.  The stayed at our house while they enjoyed 2 days at Disneyland/California Adventure and an afternoon at the Long Beach Aquarium.  The night before they left the weather cooperated and we were able to take them to the Seal Beach Pier to enjoy the sunset followed by dinner at our local Mexican food dive.

Now it’s time to sit back and wait for all that much need rain to arrive.  Have a great weekend.

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday–October 17, 2016

It’s raining!!!!!!! I live in Southern California so you have no idea how rare this weather event is.  The only draw back is………………………………we’re grand puppy sitting and this is his first experience with rain.  We made it outside and managed to “do our thing” but immediately came back in to dry off.

Here he is, all dried off and ready to take on the day.

His name is Kona and he’s almost 4 months old.  He is such a cutie but he gets to go home tomorrow night.  

Back to sewing.  Very little is happening but I did have time to make a skirt. 

Can you see the fabric?   Here’s a close-up. 

I love this day of the dead fabric.  It’s got a gray background that I really like. 

Hopefully after Kona goes home tomorrow night I can get back to actually doing some “real” quilting.  We’ll see.  Wish me luck.

To see what others are working on, check out Judy’s blog for Design Wall Monday. 

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday–October 10, 2016

Working on a very old UFO. 

I made this top several (more than I care to remember) years ago at a Quilters by the Sea retreat.  Why it’s taken me this long to get back to working on it is anyone’s guess because I really like it. 

 

It’s a fun quilt and I think it really only needs simple quilting so it’s time to get to it. 

Check out the back.

It’s a giant kaleidoscope and I set it similar to the small blocks on the front.   It’s layered, pinned and ready to go under the needle. 

To see what others are working on check out Judy’s blog. 

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday–9/26/16

I was at a retreat in Big Bear last week but for some reason was unable to post my Design Wall Monday so today I’ll share some of the things I worked on during the week. 

First up – my churn dash quilt.  I had started this at the Big Bear Retreat last May and although I didn’t get it finished this time, I got all the blocks made. 

I now need to add the sashing and borders.  That may take a while but I’m in no hurry.  This quilt doesn’t have a designated home yet so I’m in no hurry.

Next up………………..a seat cushion to take to workshop.  For me, the chairs are always too low or the table is too high.  Either way I need a seat cushion.  When Marilyn and I had our Two Wacky Women business we sold really nice seat cushions but for some reason mine “literally” would get sold out from under me.  Finally I have my own.

I love how it turned out.  The foam was 16” x 16” x 3” and is very firm.  Maybe too firm but I would suspect it will soften with time. 

Another project that I cut out a very long time ago but I finally started making my blocks.

It’s completely made of Kaffe fabrics.  I still need to make a whole bunch of blocks.

It was a wonderful week, filled with friendship, sewing and waaaaay to much food.  But I can hardly wait until the next time in May, 2017.  Woo Hoo!!!!!

To see what others have on their design walls, check out Judy’s Patchwork Times blog. 

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday–September 12, 2016

This is kind of a silly thing to show, but it’s actually the only sewing that I’ve done lately.

In case you can’t tell, it a cover for my new little featherweight, Rosie.  You remember Rosie, don’t you?

She’s so shiny and pretty that she needed her own cover.  The Day of the Dead pattern seemed perfect for her. 

Can you guess what it’s made out of????? I bet you can’t……….

I was at the 99 Cent Store and they have all their Halloween stuff (including Day of the Dead) stuff out.  Here’s what I found.

I bought 3 of them for 99 cents each.  I sewed two together at the top to make it big enough and then added ribbon ties to the sides.  It’s a little cushy so it will help protect Rosie when she’s packed for a retreat.  The funny thing about this is I was planning on making a simple cover but was having trouble deciding what fabric to use.  When I saw these dish drying mats I knew that they were perfect.

Check out my new little table. 

It’s perfect for a sewing machine table.  It’s a little lower than normal desk height so my machine sits a little lower as it would if set down in a regular sewing machine table. It also has a side panel that you can raise to give you room to the left of your machine. 

And, it’s on wheels so I can simply roll it into the dining room when I have friends over to sew.  I’m planning on painting it soon, probably a sea foam blue.  Once again I can be dangerous with a spray can of paint in my hands. 

BTW……………………the best part?????? I paid $7.99 for the table at my local Goodwill store.  I love the Goodwill store.

Until next time…………………….check out Judy’s Patchwork Times blog for other design walls. 

Enjoy,

Meet Rosie

A while back I decided I wanted to get a Singer Featherweight 221 made the same year I was born.  It took a while to find just the right one but I did indeed find one.  It sewed great but it had been well used and wasn’t in great shape cosmetically so what’s a gal to do.  Find someone to spruce her up by painting and refurbishing it of course. 

Today “Rosie” came home after having a wonderful “spa” experience. 

 

I am really, really happy with her and she seems to be delighted to have a new life. 

Here’s her before picture.  Just a little rough around the edges. 

Enjoy,

Design Wall Monday–August 15, 2015

I just returned from a five day retreat with my Quilters by the Sea quilt guild.  I had a wonderful time sewing, eating, drinking wine but most of all visiting with many old friends.  Ii loved every minute of it and actually got a few things accomplished. 

I finished several quilts by adding binding, made a wallet/clutch, made a baby quilt top and started a hexi project to put on a cushion. 

The beginning of a large hexi flower that will be the front of a seat cushion.

This is a quilt that I added the binding to.  I rescued the quilt top from a guild boutique, had it quilted and then I added the binding.  This is possible my very favorite quilt, ever!!!!

This is a cute little quilt that I made using scraps left over from a prior project.  I finished it by adding a faux flange binding while at retreat.

A One Block Wonder that I made a while back but recently completed the top and added the binding at the retreat.  Here’s a picture of the back.  This is the panel I used to make the hexagon blocks.

Here are some pillow shams that also needed the binding added.  Done and done!

Such a cute wallet/clutch/purse.  These patterns are surprisingly easy to make if you follow the step-to-step instructions. 

This is very hard to see but it’s a really sweet baby quilt that has elephants and geese.  It’s just a top for now but hopefully I’ll get it quilted soon.

Overall, I’d say it was a great, productive retreat.

To see what others have on their design wall, check out Judy’s Patchwork Times blog.

Enjoy,