Favorite Fabric Monday/Apron Fever/Tag, I'm It!

I wanted to thank everyone who visited my blog and left a comment about the quilt I picked for the Blogger Quilt Festival. Amy really did a great job organizing and commenting on each blogger's project. Thank you Amy!!!!!

It's FFM again. I'm so happy to present this fabric as one of my most loved fabrics. This is a very old fabric which I bought over 10 years ago before the labeling on the sides of the newer fabrics. I have roughly, one half yard left. The design on this fabric reminds me of old adobe homes or homes carved out of a side of a mountain or a painting of some kind. Love this fabric!!!!!

It works well in log cabins, applique projects and some background projects, as well.

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Finally! After a little over one year, I've decided what to do with the applique` butterfly panel I made on our "wacky" cruise. I made it into an apron by adding 2 1/2" side panels, a box pleated bottom (I love box pleats) and my signature very long ties. I'm telling you, I've really gotten into aprons, again. All because of a wonderful "swap hostess", So let me know what you think, I'd love to here from all my blogger friends!!!!! An apron tutorial is posted on our WackyPac blog to share with everyone.

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My "wacky" friend Molly tagged me.........lulled me into a false sense of calm and then.....BAM, I was tagged..........LOL Molly................So I'm to talk about 8 things.........Easier said then done, in my case!!!!!!!! 8 things I look forward to: (1) Our wacky retreat, coming soon to a deer camp near me! (2) Shopping at one of my favorite quilt stores. (3) Watching the hummingbirds each morning. They are so cute and territorial, too. (4) Checking my blog, FaceBook & Twitter...the last two are pretty new to me but just as much fun. (5) Getting in as much sewing as I can, which seem alot more impossible these days. (6) Fishing at our small yet peaceful lake. (7) Reading before bedtime. (8) Seeing Ayden, my little pumpkin! 8 things I did yesterday: I can't remember 2 minutes ago.....lol but I'll try: Made a salad; painted my toenails pale pink; tried on several outfits; washed & styled my hair; washed 2 loads of clothes; helped my mom choose an outfit; played Solitaire; & went to dinner. 8 things I wish I could do: Drive up the west coast (Hwy 1, I think); travel to Spain; visit the Smithsonian Museum; visit Niagara Falls; See Mt. Rushmore; learn to machine quilt; write a play about the "Wackies"; & build my dream kitchen. 8 shows I love to watch: This is so easy!!! CSI-Thursday nights; Bones-Wednesday nights; Chuck-Monday nights; Courtv; DIY; The Closer; Dexter; & Jon & Kate Plus 8!!!!!

Westerns?

Yes, Westerns! I grew up watching them. Daniel Boon, Chyenne, The Virginian, Bonanza, Meverick, Lawman...........the list goes on. But soon Westerns faded into the background. A few Western movies were made but most weren't very good. But I do want to recommend 3 which I could watch over and over and over. In fact I do....LOLThe first is Two Mules for Sister Sara. I love Clint Eastwood way back from when he starred in Rawhide.....remember that one. The second is Riders of the Purple Sage......love Ed Harris. This is a rather dark western sad in some places but great ending, no less. The third, I don't have a photo of "The Hallelujah Trail" starring several of my favorites........... Burt Lancaster-Lee Remick-Donald Pleasence-Martin Landau-Jim Hutton-Pamela Tiffin....I could go on............LOL.......The last is my all time favorite. What's yours? I really love to here from you!

Favorite Fabric Monday

I'm participating in the "Bloggers Quilt Festival" so please scan to the previous post to take a gander at my quilt, "Nature's All Aflutter." And now for the FFM of the week: Look at this great fabric. It's tightly woven and would look wonderful as a border. I have used it in an Irish Chain before. It is difficult to hand quilt because of the weave density so machine quilting is recommended. There is no labeling on the selvages so I don't remember who produced it. I have plenty of this fabric so all I need to do is come up with yet another project........LOL

Bloggers Quilt Festival

I am participating in the "Bloggers Quilt Festival" hosted by Amy. I learned of it from QuiltDad and was immediately taken with the idea. Amy asked everyone to show a completed quilt along with a description of what went into the project.

I named this quilt "Nature's All Aflutter" because it has pretty flowers and birds which I was really into a year ago. The bird designs came from "Birds Flowers Album" by Bea Oglesby, one of my favorite authors. Her designs are well thought out with great instructions.

The flower designs are from "Wildflowers" #P3-140 by Pearl P. Pereira. She, also has great instructions.

The most fun part of this project for me was the choosing of the fabrics, cutting and placement. I did most of this at night while watching TV. I used one of my favorite products, Steam-a-Seam2 Lite. I sat the blocks in the Attic Window design because I wanted a depth affect.

My "wacky" friend Kathy L., our resident machine quilter did the quilting in no time flat. After which, I showed it in our local County Fair and received a 2nd place ribbon.

Revisited

This wonderful top was one of our "wacky" challenges. We traded four-patches & half-square triangles for a couple of years. Then each of us chose a quilt design from one of the two Nickel Quilt Books by Pat Speth & Charlene Thode. I chose "Idaho Beauty" from More Nickel Quilts. I finished off the quilt top with a maroon 2" border and a 6" black floral border. Of course, I haven't had it quilted yet. This quilt top is a more recent "wacky" challenge where we were to make 1 to 2 blocks for each other. My theme was everything Cowboyish. I finished the quilt blocks with checkerboards and Texas fabric strips then placed a 1 1/2" yellow border to stop it and use the last of the checkerboards.

Favorite Fabric Monday

Welcome and Happy Monday to all!

This great fabric is from Windham Fabrics - Presents Colonies Archives c. 1850 Pattern #26672

I bought this fabric a couple of years ago and have used it a lot. I'm down to about half a yard. As usual, the picture doesn't do it credit.

A Christening for A.J.

Pastor Baggett, Myra and A.J.

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Pastor and Myra

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Ebony(cousin), A.J. & Pollette(Aunt)

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Myron(granddad) & A.J.

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Little A.J. was Christened today to his utter dismay. But he took it well considering the water was a little bit on the cold side and his mommy was holding him a bit too tightly. But he smiled for the camera and waved to the audience and our pastor sprinkled him generously with water and we all welcomed little A.J. into the fold.

Happy Easter

In April of 2007, the Saturday before Easter, a snow storm took our little community. I could hardly believe my eyes my house draped with snow. Snow in April at Easter in Texas...WOW! My mom's driveway and house. The oak tree in my front yard, all blanketed with snow. Incredible and glorious. This year, the Hackberry is in bloom with no snow to be seen but rain is in the forecast. My thoughts on the matter are simple. God is so awesome that He can paint our world with color and wondrous sights. He is so awesome that He gave His only Son, Jesus, to cleanse us of our sins with His blood and by His resurrection. We have the victory!

Giving Back & And The Winner Is............

Today I was invited to our Senior Citizens Center to present a presentation about "Hats." I used several sources to emphasize how and why women choose and wear their hats. Hat making is alive and well today. After the program, I took individual pictures and a group picture, printed them off as everyone enjoyed lunch, so that each lady could take them home. Hats are an important part of our culture and they always make the wearer feel more feminine.

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Holly, Holly, Holly! Hooray for Holly! Holly to receive those lovely blocks email me our address and they will be on their way to you very soon.

Favorite fabric Monday

I look at this as background fabric. It's perfect for blocks such as stars, churn-dash, Irish Chains, etc.

"Bonnie Blue Basics" by Paula Barnes of Bonnie Blue Quilts.

The fabric is black with tan paisley......love it!

April Retreat Continued

Well, I'm back home from a wonderful retreat and I wanted to show all my blogger friends some of the projects the ladies were working on. This first one, Pat told me was a BOTM from along time ago (6 or so years). She's finally gotten around to the borders.

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Judy-Judy, I love saying her name twice, was working on a 60 degree kaleidoscope with dark blue corners.

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Lori worked on blocks from an exchange. Believe it or not, these blocks are from 5 sewn strips of fabric originally measuring 5"X8". I know I'm not explaining that well, but she added the muslin type triangles to a corner which gives a circular effect.

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Lynn was working on a star project from a previous swap. She was adding different black backgrounds between the stars.

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Sue was sewing her beautiful applique quilt together. Of course, this picture doesn't do it justice at all.

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Jamie worked on this stain-glass moda quilt which when finally sewn together will also have the black strips between each block.

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...........Delona's stunning earthy quilt caught my eye from across the room with its browns, tans, reds and beiges.

I made another black/white/rose quilt to top off my challenge. This was a fun and fast quilt.

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And here I am with another best friend, Monica. I was very happy to see her. We converse via email and blogging but it's not the same and in person.

Reminder to Followers..........don't forget to participate in my Monthly Embridery Give-away for April. Just scroll down and sign up.

April Retreat

Hi everyone. Guess what?????? I'm on retreat. So far I've finished my patriotic quilt and placed 3 borders on my black/white challenge. I'll have measurements in a later post for the quilts.

I'm pictured here with my great friend Judy-Judy. She and I met years ago on another retreat and have kept in touch via email.

Reminder: If you are one of my FOLLOWERS, make sure you leave a comment on the Give-away post below in order to get your name in the "hat."

April Give-Away

Oh boy.......it's time for my next embroidery give-away. Lookie what's on display for one lucky winner. Six Veggies in "Blue-work." Disregard the blue fabric that appears between the 6 1/2" blocks...........don't even ask what was happening there. Whoever wins will get those bites of fabrics, by the way. Now, for the rules...........Remember, you must be one of my wonderful FOLLOWERS to participate and you must leave a comment on this particular post. If you stumble upon this give-away and you aren't a follower.....just become one and leave a comment. I'm giving away my embroidery experiments all year, so there's plenty of time to win. Thank goodness it's getting warmer so that when I do the drawing on April 8th, I won't have to worry about any cold weather as I'm walking over to my neighbor's, into his pasture with all those huge cows, flies, cow patties, snakes.............huuummmmmmmmm........I'll just ask my mom to draw a name. My wonderful friend, Holly sent this cute kitty postcard. I don't know if you can see but she wrote with her machine "meow".......totally cool. Thanks Holly.