Ravelly Followers

Reminder

If you are a "non-responder or OpenID-er" which to me means I have no way of responding to a comment that you've left, please leave a way for me to get in touch with you, especially if you're participating in a blog give-away or if you are asking for information or links.
By leaving your email within your comment, I can find you. I realize that this is sometimes a scary thing to do with scams and all but if you disguise the email as say.....
me at yahoo dot com
this is the perfect way to hide from the unwanted eye. So please help me out if you are one of the non-responders.
Thank you, in advance.....Ravelly Rhonda!!

Feb 28, 2010

Bad Hair Day

I had a little visitor yesterday......my little princess, Ayden came for a visit. I immediately noticed that her hair was all over the place......her mommy just laughed and said that she had done everything she could to keep Ayden's hair in her little barrettes but.......as babies will do......Ayden took them out..........then ran her little fingers thru it......thus the standing on ends look.........she was so funny.

Now, to a serious note........as some of you know, my email account was invaded by some weirdo who has sent out an "E" about me being stranded in some far off place and to please send an amount of money...........I hope no one fell for that.........please know that I don't travel that often and I certainly don't leave the country........now, if you every get an "E" from me stating that you should send fabric.........hehehehehehehehe........send any Civil War, Thimbleberry, Moda, Tone-on-tone, Robyn.........well, you get the picture!

Feb 27, 2010

Odd Fabric Solution

Sometimes a fabric just speaks to you......not because it's one of your favorite lines or designers but because there's just something about it.  When I saw the Kokopilli fabric some years ago, I had to have it (click on picture to see fabric better).  You know how this goes....I only bought one yard of it........nuts!
One night......during a dream......you know, that reocrruring dream of being locked in a quilt store with a million dollars to spend and 30 minutes to do away with that amount........and just as you walk up to the checkout counter.....you wake up?????........I woke with no fabric but I had an idea.....yea!
I fussy cut the little Kokopilli guys, did  wacky churn dashs around each and for the center.....I make a boy and girl Kokopilli with flutes(made from faux suede).  I really loved this quilt......it was my first non-traditional quilt.......and while at a quilt shop someone offered to buy it for her  therapeutic swimmning and rehab center.......she said that when she saw it from across the room, it touched and inspired her deeply and that she had to have it (where have I heard those words)...............how cool is that.
So when you buy an odd fabric and don't know what you're going to do with it.......try thinking outside your box or go to bed and sleep on it.

Feb 26, 2010

Distracted

A friend asked me to make he and his wife another quilt......Eeeek, I'm thinking.....there's not enough time in my world for this but.......sometimes you can't say "no"....you know.
The Rabits n' Carrots quilt was given to the couple in 2008.....I can't believe if's been that long.......it was a blast to make and fast.......so we'll see what's up my sleeve for their next quilt......I'm sweating this.....cross your fingers everyone!

Feb 24, 2010

Mariner's Compass & Snow Storm

Here's a little clip of yesterday's snow storm which BTW was a big surprise!!! The snow made for a great back drop as I sewed all day long.

Next, lookie at what I've been doing this morning!!!!!!! Again, I want to thank Shar for blogging about this wonderful block, Mariner's Compass. This is my first try thus the weird colors but I love it. I'm thinking about turning it on point at this phase and doing a Medillion type little quilt.

Feb 23, 2010

Compass Time


Shar at Quilter's Nest is working on a Mariner's Compass. Of course hers look fabulas. She provided a link to get the design so I popped over, ran off the pages and then.....the hard part began.........selecting fabrics from my stash.......why is this hard you ask????........you know the answer to that.......because we never think that we have just the right color, that's why............but I was bound and determined to use only fabric from my stash..........and here's what I've chosen and how far I've gotten today while watching the snow wall.  I'm using a tone-on-tone batik......love it......some brown tones and I threw in red which my friend, Molly, says always jazzes up a quilt. 

BTW, this method is paper piecing, thus the great accuracy on my part......LOL!

Of course, tomorrow I'll need to cut and sew that strange shape thingy to each wedge......then it's onto the first border.  This is my first experiment for the Mariner's Compass....maybe next time I'll work with colors that are more nautical.
Make sure you check out the Mariner's link provided above.

Feb 22, 2010

Freedom - The End

YeeeeeHaw!  I'm all done and lovin this little quilt!  It measures at 35 1/2" by 56" and as you know I've named it "Freedom" ............ This quilt started about a month ago....... it was something in my head and I had to get it out......LOL ...... as some of you noticed, one of my borders is the "fractured diamond" blocks.......see tutorial at this link.......... I wanted this quilt to look different from the "standard" quilt shape, so I decided to make what I call "rays of moonlight" curved top. This was accomplished by strip piecing all the scraps left from the log cabin and fractured diamond.   
The word "Freedom" is from the font - Papyrus.  It is one of my favorites.

Feb 20, 2010

Freedom Border #2

So, I was thinking................about my "Freedom" mini-quilt (Link here) .....I needed to do something else or should I say........more......to it. 
This is what I've come up with so far.......what do you think?

Feb 18, 2010

It's Obvious Two

Up and at it already this morning!  I couldn't wait to finish sewing this little number together......get it....."number"......LOL.......as of right now, it measures 32" by 56 1/2".........perfect for a small throw for my little princesses to roll around on.  Remember the previous post, I am using up scraps and using the half square triangles that I ran upon (didn't know I had) the other day.  Therefore, I'm not making any more of anything, thus the smaller version of the quilt.
 I am going to put a border on this one.......I'm thinking a dark brown border...... 2" should do it.

Feb 17, 2010

It's Obvious

I got a late start with my sewing project today........ running around town and shopping for groceries isn't fun.......I need stuff delivered.......LOL.......after putting away all the can goods, I got into my sewing studio #2 (the livingroom because my real one is far too cold at the moment.....don't ask)  and started playing around with some half square triangles that I didn't know I had.  I found a design I really liked entitled "It's Obvious" from some quilt magazine from years ago.  I'm using up scraps so don't panic....................LOL...........................Scrap Disclaimer Alert...................No new fabrics will be used in this quilt. 
As you can see there are also, solid squares involved as well.  To stop any confusion of my descriptions or directions,
I am including a diagram of the layout that I am using in case anyone else is interest in making this fun quilt.
By tomorrow I' hope to get sewing these together.......I've decided to watch some of the Winter Olympics for now.......so easily distracted.

Feb 15, 2010

Angel Whimsey

I've been working on this little project for several  months, thinking that if I ironed out the kinks....LOL.....I would make the parts for the angels into  PDFs to share with everyone.  I must admit, I am not that computer savvy.....usually it takes me forever to upload a movie let alone turn a doc. file into a PDF. 
I've been experiments with different stitches on my Janome....I was going for the feathery effect  when stitching down the angel parts, but I'm not sure I like the look.  It looks uneven or something....What do you think? I really need feedback.
Note the different shapes and colors of the wings and hair.
My thoughts ran in the direction of Angels of the Month with a splash
of attitude. I wanted each Angel to have her own personality.
I decided not to place faces on the Angels....thinking that I could use my imagination. I, also, varied the sleeves of each angel.  I did want some uniformity, thus the white robes and golden yellow halos.

Anyway, if anyone is interested in my angel designs and would like to take this journey with me, let me hear from you?

Your feedback is very important. 
Since I've been blogging, I've learned alot from everyone and appreciate all your help.

Feb 13, 2010

I Dropped My Needle, Again


Arrrrrgh!  I can never decide which needle to use of hand work.........before you all start laughing......yes I do get down and dirty and actually use hand needles on occasion......LOL..........but I always struggle with which ones to use for certain jobs.  Well, my "wacky" girlfriend, Kathy found a great blog that talks about needles in a way that even I can understand.  She posted about it on our Wacky Blog that you might have missed. Pop over and take a gander at this BLOG which is quite informative.

Feb 12, 2010

Ayden In The Box

I know the picture is fuzzy....but her mom couldn't get any closer without Ayden moving away....she's squatting in her birthday cake box.  It's her favorite place to be these days.
She may be practicing for "time out".......LOL
So far Angie hasn't found her old camera, pocketbook, a large spoon, one of daddy's work shoes 
and who know what else is missing.
Ah, the woos of motherhood!

Snow in February

Look what rolled in last night and what I woke up to this morning. Here in central Texas.....we rarely get snow......so this is a treat!

Feb 11, 2010

Scrappy Runner


I'm using up scraps again........LOL......it seems that the more scraps I use, the bigger my pile gets.....you know what I mean.   Just look at my "wacky" girlfriends Kathy and Molly digging thru some of Molly's scraps.  My pile is just as mountainous as Molly's......LOL
Anyway, in this table-runner I've used some half square triangles us a great method that I have posted at the bottom of my blog (Half Squares in a Flash), along with plain squares and some 4-patches.  I plan to border it with a 2 inch dark blue fabric then maybe come back with a beige"y" 4 inch tone-on-tone something. What do you think?  Let me hear from you.

Feb 10, 2010

For The Birds

Some of you may remember that one of my "wacky" girlfriends talked me into doing 3 BOTMs........yes, 3!  You know what happens.....at first you're all excited with choosing fabrics and backgrounds; then you make your first, second and even third blocks....things are looking great.  You've been able to keep up......then something happens......before you know it, you're 2 months behind.  No problem, you can do this, catch up.....right?
NOT!!!!!
I got really behind but did manage to print all the designs, thank goodness! This past weekend, I managed to make and stitch around the rest of the blocks and put them together...YEA!
My "wacky" girlfriends suggested the border color and I chose the cornerstones.........perrrrr-fect-o........I'm gone.
The quilt measures approximately 60 by 78.

Feb 8, 2010

Freedom

Greetings from Ravelly1!!!!  I've been busily toiling away on a new project. 
I love raptors and the eagle is my favorite.  I have researched its coloring and body language and came up with this little quilt top, which I'll naming "Freedom." The eagle is has a free spirit and is so majestic in flight, I couldn't resist trying to capture that freedom.

I started with a drawing (shown in blk/white) which I dissected into several parts in order to establish the coloring of the eagle's feathers. 
The background is a wonderful gradient fabric which flows from a subtle pale blue to a blueish purple hue. The line is from McKenna Ryan's Silent Inspirations Style by Hoffman California International Fabrics - Screen Prints.  I have several colors of fat quarters and as usual, I'm thinking now.....why didn't I buy more.....LOL

My "wacky" sisters suggested that the log cabin blocks reflect the colors of the eagle and the background.  I went with that suggestion instead of the red/white/blue colors I originally planned.  I'm very glad I did.  The photo doesn't to it justice and the picture was taken on an uneven surface.  I plan to finally border the piece in black.  BTW ...... each log cabin block are 2 1/2 inches square ..... I thought I'd never get finished.....LOL

It is great to have friends to bounce ideas off of.  I appreciate the help.  Thanks to all my blogger friends for your suggestions about my tablerunner "Which Way/What Then?"   I'm thinking a few leaves will look great.

Feb 6, 2010

Thinking of Summer

Still away from my computer but couldn't resist "scheduling" this post.
I embroidered this little watermelon patch a few days ago because it was
a cold rainy day and I was feeling that I desperately needed some SUN!
It took 45 minutes to stitch out with 18 thread changes...which.....BTW...I have learned to quick-change with ease...YEA!..
So, here's to Spring and Summer weather.

Feb 5, 2010

Scenes from A Quilt

While I'm away and for your viewing pleasure, here are a few pictures from 
last year's quilt show in Tyler, TX.



Jerri, could you please get out of the way?????

Look at the machine quilting on this Christmas quilt......WOW......sometimes it's the quilting that really makes a quilt pop.


This little froggy was made with a thread stitching technique....of course the picture does not to it
justice.

I love the soft coloring on this quilt....the colors are not something I would buy but
if they came in a kit.......I could certainly make this quilt.


Yummy pink.......I really like this quilt done in pinks and browns. The quilt does
however remind me of Pepto-Bismol.......hehehehe

Feb 3, 2010

Which Way - What Then


I need your help......Which direction looks best.  Well, first allow me to explain.....I found this wonderful Batik fat quarter in my stash....imagine that........I love the fabric but as usual didn't buy enough....so I made this little tablerunner top from scraps (in my stash).  When I placed it on my design wall, I noticed that the batik had a direction to it......after turning it several times.......I decided that I needed help.....
So, which direction.....across or up and down?
The next thing I thought about was....do I need to applique anything in the center?????
HELP!
Signed,
Out of my mind...better known as .....Not A Clue!

P.S.   I'll be away from my computer for a couple of days but am looking
forward to your suggestions.
Thanks, in advance!

Feb 2, 2010

Quick Wallhangings

Sorry about the carpet background..........here are two  8"X12" wallhangings.  I used my favorite bonding technique (Steam-a-Seam), several patriotic fabrics, some batting and beige thread.
Remember, if you are going to use lettering, you will need to turn the letters right side down to trace, so that when you iron on the bonding element and cut out letters, they appear correctly on your fabric.  Since these won't be washed, I didn't have to sew around the letters.
This project took about 2 hours and will brighten up my Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day celebrations.

Feb 1, 2010

How Old Am I?

Mrs. Goodneedle  (her link) did an interesting post a few days ago about how old she was..............as in days and weeks. She gave a link to go to so that her blogger friends could try it.
 
I'm 19,909 days old.........that's 2,844 weeks and 2 day
.......totally cool!!!!!
Please try the link and take it one step further.................Name the first president that you remember.........for me it was John F. Kennedy........I was born into 78 LP (that's records for the people born in the 80's); B&W televisions; rotary telephones; well water; 5 cent Koolaid; Jack Cookies; marbles (game); Jacks (game); P.F. Flyers (tennis shoes) "You can run faster, jump higher"; I watched Superman....."Look up in the sky....it's a bird, it's a plane.....no, it's Superman.....; Dragnet (TV show)............77 Sunset Strip & Route 66 (TV shows).......remember Love That Bob?????.......or Dobie Gillis??????............come on..........join in the fun........REMEMBER.................leave a comment and link back to me so that we can share.

;-}

Don't count the days, make the days count!

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