Messy Fun

My waste basket overflows. My scrap bin overflows.
My cutting table overflows.

But I am having so much fun working on my secret Christmas project. I'm actually doing...... (I can hear the gasping) applique! Shocking I know. Not hand applique - goodness no. All machine applique and I'm really enjoying the process. Amazing. And fun!

Today I am grateful for -

1. All the Veterans - God bless them for keeping us safe.

2. Time to play with fabric.

3. My electric blanket.

Good Day

It was a good day today. First thing this morning I cleaned up my desk, paying bills, pulling cookie recipes for the coming weekend when I plan to bake, starting a shopping list, and filling in the Stash Buster's Pledge for 2009
Have you made your pledge yet? It doesn't mean you cannot purchase new fabric. And I'm pretty sure there are no Pledge Police that will arrest you for infractions. It is just a fun way to plan on using more of your stash in 2009. I wonder how I will do.......... Although I spent the majority of the day working in my Quilt Studio, I still cannot show pictures as I am working on a secret Christmas project. I'm having fun with the project because it takes lots and lots of scraps of which I have an endless supply. Also, I am not cleaning up as I go so there are bits of fabric everywhere. It is a royal mess, but a few more days of this frenzied search through scraps and I will have the project done. Then it will be time to clean up so I can start all over on another project. Clean, make a mess, clean, make a mess, clean, etc., etc.

Today I am grateful for -
1. A full day at home with meals at normal times. ( I was brought up having breakfast between 7:00am & 8:00am, lunch at noon, and supper between 5:00pm and 6:00pm, and that is the way I like it.)
2. Getting a lot accomplished on my Christmas project.
3. Sweet butter lettuce.

Blogging

It is upsetting to me when I look back and see the last date that I posted on my blog. When I began blogging I had every intention of writing something every few days or at least once a week. It seems like the weeks go flying by and I seldom have the time or inclination to post to my blog. I'm gong to earnestly try to change that.

My favorite blogs are the ones that post every day. (See my favorites on the side.) Judy, Mary, Jeanne and Ree are women that I have never met, but I feel like they are dear friends because through their blogs I learn about their everyday lives. Of course there are many other blogs I read and enjoy, but Judy and Mary I especially admire because they get so much quilting done and their work is inspiring. Jeanne I enjoy because she is so honest and spiritual - and does such nice quilting and stitching - and she is the owner of Elvis, my very favorite dog. Ree of course is well known for her wonderful blog about her family and life on a cattle ranch.

Lately my life hasn't been very interesting. So much time is spent in the car driving to and from the nursing home to visit my sister. With that and church activities, there is less time for quilting and other crafts. I much prefer to post about quilting or stitching or knitting than about driving to and from the nursing home.

I did have one day last week when I stayed home all day and had a great time in my Quilt Studio. I wish I could show you what I was working on, but alas, it is for a Christmas present and the recepient would see any pictures I might post. I had a great time though and look forward to another day at home tomorrow.

Last Thursday night I met a friend and we went shopping at a local knit shop. Do I need more projects????? NO, NO, NO. Yet..........I ended up purchasing four balls of yarn on sale and started a plain scarf. Twenty stitches, only knitting. Easy. AND, I can work on it while visiting my sister at the nursing home. Therefore I have gotten quite a bit done already. I can't read a book, or bind a quilt, or answer mail when I'm visiting my sister, but straight knitting on something as portable as a scarf is just perfect. It keeps me happy that I am accomplishing something and I can still visit with my sister to make her long days more endurable.

Today I am grateful for -
1. Pecan crusted tilapia - yum.
2. Friends at church.
3. A recommended book from the library.
4. Sewing and knitting time.

Hello

Blogging hasn't happened lately because of driving my BIL around while he waits for the suspension on his driver's license to be lifted, visiting my sister in the nursing home, and entertaining company. Out-of-town relatives have come to visit my sister and I have enjoyed having them stay here.

I also loved having my same-time-next-year friends here last week. Four women who have been coming every year for at least the past 30 years. We laugh and talk and share and shop and eat and laugh and talk. Sooooooo much fun!

They also treat me like a Queen and even gave me a crown this year - made out of pink foam and sporting curly ribbons. (I bet you are all jealous.)

One of the gals gave me this adorable wool wall-hanging of a startled looking cat with Mr. Redbird on his head. I decided to name the cat, King Cat. He does look rather regal. He is adorning the wall in my office and I can see him as I sit at my computer. My cousin made me this little tote bag. I love it! The stitching details, button, and fabrics are so well put together. She has such an artistic talent.
While the gals were here, we went to my favorite local quilt shop. Did I need fabric? NO. Did I buy fabric? YES. Is there any among us that can resist? The red and green fat quarters are because I wanted them, the Kaffee Fasset fabric is because it needed to be in my home, and the Christmas bundle is a table topper kit because ....uh.....because I might run out of projects before Christmas. (in 2072 maybe.) Ah, but it sure is fun to get new fabric.

I'm working on quilting the Christmas crazy nine-patch that I showed ages ago. I'm using one of the machine's fancy stitches to give it more of a crazy-patch style.

My cousin also gave me nine 2-1/2 strips of batiks to make a Sudoku puzzle quilt. I played with it today and it is going to be fun and colorful. I love batiks.

Although I am a little weary of driving and visiting at the nursing home, I really have been enjoying the scenery along the way - with the bright sunshine highlighting the yellow and red leaves. It is such a beautiful time of the year. My complaints fade away as I take in the beauty of nature.

Today I am grateful for -

1. Red and Yellow leaves of Fall

2. Batik fabrics

3. Mr. King Cat and his friend, Mr. Redbird

4. Family and loved ones

Playing

Today I wanted to print instructions from a blog. That was three hours ago and it lead to "playing" with my computer equipment. I moved my desktop computer to the basement and setup my laptop computer at my regular desk. The printers then did not work! I still don't know why, but I had them plugged into a docking station and couldn't get anything to work, so I disconnected the docking station and plugged everything into a USB hub.
Once I got the printers working, I went back to print the blog instructions and it printed 15 pages! It printed not only the instructions, but all the comments and all the side bar information. I didn't want all that stuff. So I investigated screen shot programs and ended up downloading a program called SnagIt.
Not only can I capture what I want from the screen, I can also edit and add stuff to my photos. I'm using a free trial program - 30 days free - and if I like it I will purchase it. Does anyone out there use a screen shot program and if so, which one, and how do you like it?

Early to Rise

The days when I wake up early are much more productive days for me. This morning I finished the border on this quilt. (Click to enlarge) Then I seamed the backing (same fabric as block centers but a different colorway) and the binding. Now it is ready to be shipped off for quilting - or if I feel ambitious I could do it myself.
All the fabric is from my stash.

Today I am grateful for -
1. Apples dipped in peanut butter
2. Waking up early
3. Plenty of fabric

Done, Finished, Completed

The Road to Indy quilt that I have been working on for a loooooooonnnnnnng time is completely done and ready to send to my cousin. I put a striped flange along the binding edge for an extra bit of whimsy. The quilt got washed and ironed to make it nice and fresh.

Today I put out some Halloween decorations. This is a small quilt I made years ago.

A friend made this quilt that has some glow-in-the-dark fabric.
The same friend made this blonde witch for me since I am a natural blonde. (wink, wink)
This little counted cross-stitch piece is part of my 12 month series.
Life continues to be busy for me which makes me appreciate a day like today when I was home all day long, cleaning, doing laundry, and working on some crafts. It is truly amazing how much one can do in a day without any interruptions.

Today I am grateful for -

1. Halloween decorations

2. Clean sheets and PJs

3. Split pea soup

4. A good energetic mood.