Feathered Star Addition

Lookie, lookie, lookie!

I finally got around to adding to my feathered star.  I dug into my stash after cleaning up the sewing studio......which took me awhile......LOL.........I auditioned several designs before choosing the floral one......of course, I'll need to stitch these down....(I used my favorite stuff - Steam-A-Seam)

This isn't all that I'm planning but I couldn't wait to share. So what do you this?????

Feathered Star Retreat

Feathered Star Retreat......better known as Marsh, Molly, Marsh!

Molly was a fantastic hostess/teacher/inspiration!

The above Feathered Star was Molly's first from years ago.

As we all prepared our stations, she gave words of encouragment...that we could do this. Armed with those words, we dived in! 

Kathleen showed off her skills with glue and fabric....yes, that's a mini feathered star made from tiny fabric scraps and glue.......(teacher's pet)

All of my little half squares are ready to go.

My diagrams are ready to go making placement easy to spot.

TaDa....here's my wonderful green feathered star.

This is Molly's scrappy feathered star.

This is Kathleen's beautiful feathered star...notice it resembles her mini star. (teacher's pet)

Annie's two color feathered star.

Kathy's floral feathered star.

Each star was made from the same instructions and diagram....the color choices and placement really make things pop!!!!!

Many thanks and much love to our Molly!

Feathered Star

If you are reading this post....I'm on a retreat with a specific project in mind.

Molly, one of my "wacky" girlfriends, is the Queen of Feathered Star and has graciously (we pushed her into it) offered to tutor us in making our own (she'll probably have to use a cattle prod). She had given us homework assignments of pre-cutting and such.......we've only groans a couple of times but our excitement is still very high.  Kathy, has sent several emails to Molly attempting to get one up on the rest of us (teacher's pet) but we aren't worried.....hardly.  We're plotting revenge, no doubt.

I will have plenty to talk about on Monday or so and hopefully, I'll have a completed feathered star to show...oh boy!

It's Earth Day Everyone!

It's Earth Day!  Follow this LINK which gives suggestions for going Green!

Couldn't Find a Thing Until.......

You know how it is........you're searching for that certain fabric you bought last week for that special project......where is it? That was me yesterday..........I got so frustrated, couldn't find it anywhere.  So, you know what I had to do.....take everything from the storage shelves, refold, iron smooth,  restack and ...........TaaaaDaaa........I felt alot better........however.....I still didn't find that elusive fabric......I'm beginning to think that I might have put in a place where I should have put something else.....like the freezer or the medicine cabinet or where I keep the phone books......LOL
Has anyone ever done something like that?  I'd love to hear your stories.

Bunny Tutorial Part 3 - Lettering

Choose a "font" from Word document or whatever source you wish.  Next use "WordArt" to write out your theme. Note: I used Two Hearts Beat As One.

I enlarged the lettering to fit one one page and printed it out.  Place your sheet on a lightbox or lighted source turned face down so that the letters appear backwards or you could have used Mirror Image when printing.

After tracing letters onto an adhesive....I used my favorite Steam-a-steam....then ironing that onto the wrong side of your chosen fabric, begin the tedious job of cutting......make sure to cut the inside of letters such as "Bb";   "Aa"; "Oo" before cutting around the outside of each letter.....trust me, it much easier that way.

I am auditioning where I want to place the next part of the Bunny Rabbit wallhanging.

Bunny Tutorial Part2

The "bunny" wallhanging is coming along rather slowly.  I got side tracked looking for that elusive copperhead......he's still on the run....BTW.

The 3 hearts pictured were found in one of my many UFO boxes (imagine that).  I decided to cut around one of the hearts and applique it as if the bunnies are holding it.

I'm planning on doing one other panel underneath....... so stay tuned.

Bunny Applique' Tutorial

Choosing a design is half the fun....I have chosen a bunny design is honor of a very dear girlfriend who is no longer with us but in spirit, she lives on.

Using freezer paper, trace the various parts of our design, seperately, cut around design and iron onto back of fabric. Make sure to leave at least a half inch from raw edge of design.

On the ear of this design piece you can see that I have cut away all but 1/4 to 1/8 inch of fabric then scored on the pencil line using a straight pin. Next I tear the excess freezer paper away.

Next, clip around the edge of each applique' piece......I usually clip about 1/8inch apart.

Using an art paint brush and starch, coat the edges of your applique' piece.....using your fingers can get messy and sticky.......you could use a piece of sponge.

Iron around the piece. The starch will make the edges stiff. The iron is very hot so I use a wooden skewer to save my fingers.

Score the middle of the freezer paper to remove it.

I am planning to machine applique' around this bunny and his little friend, in a couple of day.  Will show progress as it happens!!!

Daddy's Shoes

Isn't this the cutest photo? Ayden has found her daddy's shoes and after several frustrating minutes, a couple of temper tantrums and pouting, she manages to get them on and keep them on. This picture reminds me of when I was little rummaging around in my mother's closet trying on her high heels, Sunday hats and gloves.........nearly broke my neck trying to walk but I had a blast.

Does this picture bring back any memories to you? If so, please share when you leave a comment.

A Rainbow of........

A rainbow of colors are at my disposal.....these little 2" squares are from last year's "wacky" exchange.........this little photo is the tip of the iceberg.......I have around 9 hundred squares........ranging in all shades from light to dark............now what to do with them......I'm thinking about making a color-wash type quilt but haven't committed yet.........what are your thoughts?

Spider's Web

This quilt was made a few years ago using a Robyn Pandoff line of fabric. It measures roughtly 45 inches square.  It was a way to use up some of my stash, which grew by the time I finished the project....Hummmmm!

Band - Big Finish

The quilt is done.......YEA!  It measures roughly 68 by 94.

It was fun but I'm glad it's over.

I didn't get to go to the school for signatures but that's okay, too.

Now, it off to the quilter's.

Armed To The Teeth

I looked high and I looked low. I searched under bushes, under my little shed, across the fence, inside the water hose containers, around the mailbox and even inside the water meter........do you know what I found????  Not Mr. Snake........oh    nnoooooooooooo!.............I found several spiders big enough to take down a new born calf............I giant moth with those fluttering WINGS and those feather like antennas....................several black beetles with the hard outer shells and six prickly legs that attach themselves to ones clothing........How do I know this little known fact, you might ask.................well......don't....... Where was I.......oh yea, a couple of yellow-jacket nests..............a few million ants............did I mention that I have several species in my yard................but I digress.................a lizard, who scared me to death when he bolted from underneath a rock.......can you say heart-attack.

The hummers were mad at me for disturbing their feeding frenzy....the tiny little demons actually dive bombed me.......I mean really!

The mail lady gave me some curious looks........I think it was the shotgun that got her attention.........I say that because she sped off in a cloud of dust right after noticing that I was packin' heat..........my neighbor's dog ran under his house.......I haven't seen him since then.....................BUT........I saw hide nor hair of Mr. Snake..............so he lives to see another day................but.......  I'll be watching and waiting.

Armed & Ready

Enough said!

(See previous post for the details)

So I was .........

So I was walking around my yard around 7PM this evening, looking at all the colorful flowers, the hummers (hummeringbirds), the little finches, morning doves, deer in the back 40, squirrels, bumblebees, wasps, etc., etc., etc............when what to my wondering eyes should appear but a...........COPPERHEAD........oh my gosh.......what to do........what to do.......what to do!!!  He just slithered out of nowhere to greet me in my own yard! 

For those of you who know me........you know I dislike (hate) bugs, spiders, crickets, grasshoppers,......basicly anything had flies, flutters, slithers, creeps, crawls, glides, waddles, lopes, gallops, etc...........though I live on a non-working farm..............just picture it.  Now, I must admit, the science teacher in me was awestruck with it's coloring...the way it blends in with dead leaves and stuff......but I took a dim view of him placing himself in my path!

So Mr. Copperhead was just lounging in front of me and I have nothing, mind you, nothing that would allow me to defend myself..... but I was determined not to let the little vermin get away........so off to the shed to get a shovel, I ran...........it's only a very short distance away but when I came back to said snake......he had slithered away...............EEEEEEEeeeeKkkk!...........Well, that's not exactly what I said.............but you get the idea......So tomorrow, I'll be going snake hunting with my trusty double barrel shotgun loaded for bear, a shovel, a short ax, wasp spray, knee boots, goggles, gloves, thick denim jeans, a long sleeve shirt, my cell phone............hey, just in case Mr. Snake starts hunting me!

Stay tuned...........

Happy Easter

Jesus rose with all power in His hands.
His death and resurrection cleansed us of our sins.
He asceded into Heaven....
He intercedes on our behalf.

Happy Easter