visit by EB

E.B. was busy with visitation on our street this Easter Holiday...

Our house got two visits...
On his first stop here he brought a brown handled paper bag with tasty candies (the chocolates are already gone), two balls of cotton yarn and the most darling card stitched up with a surprise inside... He had taken a vintage Easter postcard with a backing stitched up the sides placing a beaded fob inside... I really hated cutting the end off to find out what was hidden in there.

E.B.'s second visit came early Saturday morning when this adorable Honey Bunny appeared... isn't he just the cutest thing. Since we didn't want this cute fellow to be appreciated by only us old folks we took him with us when we traveled down into the middle of the state for a birthday party for a one year old .. the kids were amazed when they saw him sitting on the serving table... he was a hit.

The third visit by E.B. was to the little girl up the street. This time he brought her a purse made of straw like material that looked like a little house. She found it hanging from her front door knob when she got home from the Easter Egg Hunt. Inside was an M&M egg and a wind-up chic. I hear it was a smash hit at Sunday School the next day :)

Forgotten bag

I've discovered one really good thing about cleaning... you rediscover things that you forgot you owned.

Years ago while attending as estate sale I found this lonely tote bag that no one was interesting in owning... it was just way too cute and home made, I HAD to have it.

The base of the tote appears to be a rectangular piece of fabric gathered and attached to the wooden circles that are on each side. The circles have drilled holes to accommodate the attaching. It is roomy and just too cute... Now that it is reclaimed I am thinking about turning it into a knitting bag.

Signage

I really enjoy a good sign...

For the past year or more while driving the back roads down to a relative's home I've seen the sign for a specific BBQ restaurant. I even asked my brother-in-law in the middle of the state if he knew where the place located...... I was thinking of getting a t-shirt from this place. I mean after 30 years of teaching blind and visually impaired children how to use a cane I just had to have a t-shirt from the....

I'd taken my camera down to the party for my niece's baby's first birthday... I didn't take any photos of family or friends but I couldn't pass up the pig sign.

Once we got back to the south side of Atlanta we decided to eat at the Oakwood Cafe which is located in the Farmer's Market campus. We have found their flower garden signage interesting.



Now why not is our question??? Is it to keep the cats hungry so that they'll chase mice away from the market or is it an attempt to get them to move away??? K

All Ironing Boards are Not Created EQUAL

I'm not sure what has gotten into me but I've been cleaning, tossing and sorting like crazy these last weeks. Last week after helping our son get ready for the interior of his house to be painted I came home and cleaned out 6 tubs of fabric...GONE. Just take a look. I sure hope that some new quilter shops at the thrift store where the American Kidney Foundation takes this donation.

Some time over the past year I'd seen a much wider ironing board at "some" average old store, meaning I didn't see it at a fabric or quilt store. Since I'm on my cleaning jag I thought I might as well invest in a new board (take the currently used one over to church for the quilt group, then we'd have two). So I went for a QUICK drive to find it. Most of a day, three Wal-Marts, and a Target store later I finally found it.

Now look at these two boards, don't you think the new is worth it??? And are all ironing boards created equal... I don't think so... Ironing yardage could be much quicker now... Notice I didn't say anything about shirts or other garments... K

!!!SO FAR BEHIND !!!

How can a retired person get so far behind??? I mean I don't get in the car everyday and spend hours some where else... so how do I get so far behind... I guess, that might be one of those ageless questions...

Well, to help catch you up on what I've been doing I thought I'd just group things together rather than do individual posts...
So here goes QUILTING

I've got another Christmas BOM done... is the Civil War block done NO.

Here is a photo of my blocks for the TreadleOn Spring TOBE (Treadle On Block Exchange) which was due at the beginning of the month. These will make a great split rail fence quilt. I sent in multiple sets.... On the right is a photo of the extra block that I made each of the participants, it's made with the special state of Georgia Fabric fabric that commissioned for the recent Metro Atlanta shop hop.



I took a two day class in hand applique... it was advertized as 6 ways to applique... but I think the teacher slipped an extra one in there somewhere... The picture shows the results of the first day of class... basket, handle and one leaf. I have the flowers prepared for stitching down but this will be one of my projects on my up coming quilting trip to the north Georgia mountains.

Last Wednesday my Georgia Friendship Quilt Guild had a workshop on making these neat pincushions...we made ours big so that folks could get the hang of the process. We made two and had a drawing for one made by a guild mate. Here is a link to a smaller sized that is worn on the wrist... In my picture the one is made is on the right... the purple one was made by a guild friend. It was a fun project.


Now you are caught up on all of my sewing adventures...k

House Hunting again

I enjoy a good looking old house or building, it doesn't even need to be in acceptable repair, as you can tell from these photos...

The pinkish house is in Tifton near the water tower and the other is downtown Ty Ty, maybe you've heard of them.... the big Ty Ty nursery is there.... they send fruit trees and plants all over the south (maybe the north as well...) The more flourishing photo is downtown Sylvester GA... the home of Aunt Inez... my mother-in-laws sister...we went by during my recent visit to the southern part of the state...

Another BOM done

While hubby was away shooting at the Glock match I spent the day working on the first block of the month (BOMs) installments for my two Red Hen quilts for this year... I've never done a Christmas quilt and this year is the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.
Well, I just finished the Civil War block which was constructed mostly of HST sections (half square triangles). Some of my most favorite blocks or quilts are made up of HST sections...
Anyway, here is the finished Civil War block for January...

And yes it really is 2:45 AM... love that coffee at late dinner :)

DONE

Red Hen Quilt Shop Christmas Quilt Block of the Month (BOM), January Block... DONE :)

Challenge Quilt 2011

Well, I've moved into that thought process of "it's better done than perfect". Even though I've been working on the quilt top of my East Cobb Quilt Guild 2011 challenge quilt for weeks it was still under production last night when I took it to evening guild meeting. Matter of fact, I was picking out free motion quilting that I'd done and didn't like like. Not sure if it was color thread, awful design or the fact that I'm a terrible free motion quilter. Anyway, it was not done in time to turn it in last night.... so I was working on it till the wee hours of the morning... I got to hear the 3:00AM thunderstorm roll through.

I got it all together this morning and turned in...I've not decided if I'll redo any of it or just hide it in the drawer... it is finished and that makes another thing DONE on my deadline list.

The challenge elements were, one friendship block, a heart, obvious binding, a certain size, and it had to tell you something about your best friend....
... So my Best Friend is (or are) my treadle sewing machines... I used some treadle fabric that a TreadleOn member shared with me. My friendship stars had black backgrounds. There was a thin purple with metallic silver pattern fabric piping (?) edge trim then 2.5 inch squares of various sewing fabrics. The outer border was the same snake fabric that I used in my ISMACS convention Halloween quilt contest entry, now that is all gone :) The binding was supposed to be obvious so I did lime green... The lime green binding looks okay at 100 yards while riding a galloping horse, up close it is awful--- I might trim it off and redo... haven't decided.

Yes, one of the friendship blocks is misshaped, that's because our friends are not perfect... not even treadles--- I know that is hard to believe...

I have the quilt back home so will take a better picture but this is the photo taken this morning before leaving for guild meeting...

My Buddy Blocks

Good morning All....
Things in Georgia are moving into Spring... It is gorgeous.
Speaking of all things gorgeous... Monday I had the opportunity to "coffee" with one of my East Cobb Quilt Guild evening members, Denise. The spark for this gathering was exchanging our Buddy Blocks that I think might have been due back in December. However, neither Denise nor myself were aware that December's party was also the exchange date. Anyway, before our next were due (this Thursday--tomorrow) we decided to pass these along. Before long it was obvious that this quick meeting over coffee to exchange blocks was going to morph into something longer....it was an enjoyable lunch event, good thing we had a very patient waiter. So here is my block made by Denise's very own hand... Plus check the next posting down to see the total collection of blocks thus far.

The Collection

Continue on down to the next posting to see a couple more...

Continuation

Aren't they just the greatest. I sure hope that I can do them justice... how to set them? What to put with them? My desire is to make a quilt for ME... what a novel idea, right?

we love our postal carrier

I had to giggle when the doorbell rang and my husband came back with a message from Tammy our postal carrier.... she told my husband that she'd be out on vacation till today (2-17) and that last year I'd given her some great chocolate candies for Valentine's Day. She wanted to make sure that I didn't leave anything in the mailbox that the other carriers might consider eating, you know.... it might not still be good when she comes back so lets eat it for her. Now you might think this is a little presumptuous of Miss Tammy, not really...she knows me too well. I try to leave her a little something in the mailbox on most special occasions. Since I couldn't remember what delicious candies I'd given her last year I had to come up with something interesting and tasty but not too much.... so I'd found her a box of 6 "rich chocolate truffles" and made her a set of mug mats from her two favorite colors.... orange and purple.

I met her at the mailbox today even though I'd already placed the little bag in the box along with all the depressing bills... don't you just hate writing out bills?

I got tickled at her pulling the bag out, she rubbed her hands together and said I can hardly wait, I'll have to open it back at the post office.... with much gratitude she pulled away...

Now what to do for St. Patty's day????

Minnesota potholders

Don't you just get a kick out of Becky's bright cheerful potholders. These arrived in the mail last week and I've just now gotten them from the kitchen to the sewing room for a photo shoot. My husband thinks they are rather insightful... he had a difficult time picking a favorite but since he's been working so much over time I think the cabin themed one wins out........ he wishes he were where the fish and wildlife play. The cat potholder is wonderful with it's frisky felines starring back at you. Becky did a fantastic job. I'm hoping that we get paired up again in the future.

Bella's block

I seem to be on a roll...
So far I've posted a block a day for two days straight...can I keep up this fury of postings :)

This block another in the series of Buddy Blocks for the evening East Cobb Quilt Guild group.

The recipient of this block is now a stay at home professional long arm quilter. She does beautiful work and is in much demand. The raffle quilt that is a few postings back was quilted by Miss Bella.

This block was also found at BlockCentral.com and is called DANDY. There are two different layouts of the block, the difference is the positioning of the corner blocks. I've used the alternative position.

Hope you enjoy it Bella.
K

Charity Challenge

While reading Pat Sloan's email newsletter today she linked to Cora a blogger that is challenging us to do good. Now most of my friends are already in guilds that have on going charity projects but Cora challenges us to step up to the plate and do more. To do a hands on good deed for the organizations that comfort and support those unable to tend to themselves right now, in this place.

What can we do? Cora speaks of seeing a sign at the shelter asking for paper towels... She asks us to find out at least one basic item that the shelter or organization needs and fill it, maybe even on an on going basis... you could become the oatmeal lady, or the soap man. Step up and help provide the basics that we all take for granted.

What will you do.... read Cora's post & get busy, there could be a small pat on the back coming your way.
http://www.caraquilts.com/
K

Denise's Buddy Block

Even though Denise is not due to get her block for another week I thought I'd go ahead and post the photo... This is a Buddy Block exchange from the evening meeting of the East Cobb Quilt Guild. Every two months we're matched up with another member, through discussing the blocks that we'd like for our projects we learn a little something new about exchange partners. It has been an enjoyable to strengthen our connections.

Denise wanted red & white so I dove into my scrap bin for a variety of both colors. The toughest part of the process was picking a block design. This one is from BlockCentral an on line quilt block resource. The block must have a "real" name but only tag it had was "Year's Favorite" so I can only conclude that a Block of the Month or something similar was done and this was the favorite of the many designs.

It is a fun block to do... only Half Square Triangles (HST) and full squares of fabric were used. the design is from the placement of the individual HST. Now I must admit before you point them out, many of my points don't meet.... but I was happy with the first time result and the crispness of the block, so I didn't go back and try to perfect it. From a galloping horse no one will tell, right????

Hope you like it Denise.... see you next week to exchange blocks :)

Trying to be better

Okay I am trying to be better.... a new year, a new me, maybe.
I've revamped the listed on the right side of the screen. One list is things that I have a DEADLINE for, either a "real" external deadline or one I've projected for myself. The list is rather sizable in that I am in the East Cobb Quilt Guild's evening group Buddy Block Exchange, these are swapped every two months and you make up what your exchange partner has requested. Then I'm in two BOMs (Block of the Month) programs at Red Hen Fabrics. I'm doing both the Civil War and the Christmas Quilt. On top of these I've signed up for several of the TreadleOn block or project exchanges. If this is all that I do, I'll be a busy girl and no need for people to worry about my idle hands. The second list is ON GOING PROJECTS... these are projects that I have floating around in my thoughts, or ones that are UFO's.

So far so good... have the first item done on the Deadline list and here are the pictures. I was partnered with Becky from Minnesota, we were to send two potholders to our partner. Becky and I agreed to make something appropriate for a cabin. The pictures of my loon potholder (a modification of the vintage chicken potholder...) and the second is a log cabin style block.

Knitted cowls in the mail

This Christmas season I was not knitting as quickly as the days were passing, so when the mailing date for over seas packages arrived I still didn't have all of cowls knitted. Since the holidays I've spent several evenings a week working on the cowls as well as during waiting and meetings. Here are pictures of the finished projects so far...

Want a Raffle Ticket????

This quilt is a knock out...
This is a quilt show year for the East Cobb Quilt Guild, the raffle quilt is done and will soon touring guilds and quilt shops in Georgia. I have the honor of taking the quilt to many of these "showings". If you'd like a ticket.... I'd be ever so happy so take your money...