Design Wall Monday

 

I finally got the two borders on this little quilt. The red 1 1/2 inch stop border and a 4 inch black/tan border. Final measurement 38 inches square.  I love it!! Thanks everyone, for the wonderful suggestions.

I don't remember which blocks I posted about so here's an overall view of what I've done so far. Just 5 more blocks to go before I start stitching around them. Believe it or not, stitching in the easy part.
Remember, the "Teapot BOM" begins August 2nd!!! Grab a button from my Sidebar to get in on all the give-aways.

Make sure to pop over 

to 

Judy's blog, Patchwork Times, 

to see what 

others are 

up to.

Leafing Through The Year - BOM - Block #8 & Announcement

I'm posting Leafing a few days early because the next few days of my life are going to be hectic with family fun and a lot of bar-b-quing, corn on the cob, volleyball, card playing and watching Ayden bounce around (one of my favorite things to do, BTW).  

I'll be starting the Teapot BOM on the 2nd (look for the give-away on that post) and Going Buggy is still in progress, as well.

Here's a quick recipe for 

Broccoli Salad

1 to 2 heads of broccoli, cut into small flowerlets 

3/4 cup bacon bits... if you love bacon, add more

1 red onion, chopped

1 cup grated mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup grated Colby cheese or a cheese of your liking

Mix well and set aside

Combine 1 cup real mayonnaise, 5 tablespoons cider vinegar and 1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar. Mix well. At this point, you may want to taste this mixture. If it's too tart, add more sugar, if it's too sweet, add more vinegar.

Pour mayonnaise mixture over broccoli mixture and blend well. Chill before serving.

Enjoy!

Block #8's Link is here and on my Sidebar.

Strung Out Finale

I know, two posts in one day but I'm excited about this little quilt!!
I finished piecing my Strung Out Cowboy quilt. Final measurements 40 by 60 inches. I found, in my stash, a black with white barbed wire design for the stop border (click on photo to enlarge) and then I went with the piano keys as a second border partly because I had loads of strips left over and because it fits with this scrappy quilt.
Sorry about the camera angle. I think it had something to do with the operator of said camera....just sayin'!

More From the Horn of Plenty Book

 Bananas

 Green Apples - the photo is not this block's true colors....don't know what happened but it was probably the camera's fault......just sayin'

Strawberries

I just can't seem to stop myself even though I know I should be doing house work or canning or something else.... SIGH!

Going Buggy Block #3

It's Wednesday already and time for another block. I have no idea which block I've LINKED to so I'll be as surprised as you are......LOL
The LINK is right here on this post.  Remember, if you've missed a block just check the previous Wednesdays for the links.

Design Wall Monday & Give Away Winner

It's been awhile since I've posted on Design Wall Monday. So happy to be back. Make sure to pop over to Judy's blog to see what everyone else is up to.
I've been doing lots of things but I'm posting the following.

 This is one of my favorite applique books. I've made one quilt from it before and have wanted to do another. I so enjoy choosing fabrics from my stash.

I use a 3-ring binder and plastic page covers to store the chosen fabrics and copies of each design in reverse. That makes it easier when working over my light-box.

 Lemons

 Apples

Plums

Peaches

These 4 blocks which measure 9 1/2 by 11 1/2 inches, are what I have so far. I'm trying to do a block every other day or so but I know that some times I'll have to skip a few and other times, like now, I can't stop myself from doing just one more....... LOL
I usually stitch around each piece when I go on retreats.

Today's my mom's birthday.

Happy Birthday, Mom!!

Oh I almost forgot to announce the winner of the Birdhouse pattern give away.....

It's 

Jo!

Congratulations Jo. Just leave a comment on this post and we'll then communicate via email.

Don't Forget, I'm..........

I feel that I must explain again to all my friends in Blogger Land about my time. I live blessedly alone......no kids within 20 miles and the little princesses visit once a month or so. So, you see, I have plenty of time on my hands to get into trouble with fabric, new projects, UFOs, fabric, quilting magazines, gadgets. Did I mention fabric???

With that said here's what I've been working on lately besides the "bug" embroidery project and that great Teapot BOM starting the second of August. I'm really excited about that so mark your calendars and grab the Teapot button off my sidebar.

I found some muslin hidden under something that I had forgotten I'd bought and it just called to me. "Do something with me before I rot!" Or something along those lines......hehehehe

 So I made a weird elongated triangle, traced off its shape in one corner of the muslin, found some cowboy fabrics and got to work.

 I liked the way the shapes came together making a funny star...BTW, these blocks were not sewn together yet.

This is what I've gotten so far. It measures 32 by 45. I know I'll add a couple of borders. Don't any of you mention piano keys in your comments.......LOL

Next, I found one of my favorite applique books and began to scan through it. Oh, I love this book. I believe I'll try to make a block every day or so...... oh yea, that's doable..... right??

 Here's my first block. The fun is picking the colors for each block. This block is lemons.  Love it!1

BTW, today is the last day to get in on my little GIVE AWAY pattern.  Just click on THIS link to view it and leave a comment on that post to be eligible.

Going Buggy Block #2 & Give Away

This is a fun Block of the Week (BOW) for all of us hand embroiderers who need something to do with our time when sitting at the doctor's office.....LOL

Here's the LINK to the next block everyone. I have no idea which one I linked to but......Enjoy as you find out which one you'll be stitching this time!
And remember, I will only have the LINK on each post on Wednesdays, so if you miss a block, check the Wednesday the before.

If you'd like in on this week's give away, click on THIS LINK, scan down to read about it and then leave a comment on that link.

Chit Chat & A Give Away

Let me tell you about my weekend!
First I had a little visitor......yep, you guessed it, Ayden came for a visit showing off her new hat that she picked out all by herself.
After some vigorous playing, on Ayden's part, as GoGo sat watching from a safe distance......that little girl has too much energy.....I wonder if she'd be willing to share.......LOL.  This was followed by a nice chicken salad, fruit and crackers lunch then Ayden and parents headed out for home.

 
Which brings me to the fresh figs I got my hands on. Five pounds of them. I plunged in, cutting off the stems, cut them in half, poured sugar over them and began the one hour process of cooking and canning. OMG, the smells were heavenly. I wound up with 5 half pint and 4 pint jars of fig jelly. There was about a fourth of a cup of juices left so I saved that in the frig to pour over a pork roast that I'll be cooking in a couple of days. I throw nothing away......LOL

Recipe:

5 lbs. figs

4 lbs. sugar

Remove stems; cut figs in half; pour into large pot, figs and sugar. 

Cook over low heat stirring constantly until figs are tender and there is plenty of juice. (about 30 to 40 minutes)

Pour into hot mason jars, seal and place in hot water bath for 15 minutes.

Now, for the give away.  

Let's see if any one else resembles this...

I often go to quilt shows, love just about everything I see and wind up purchasing designs and patterns that, at the time, I just know that I'll get around to making very soon. Needless to say, it "never" happens and I'm left with these wonderful patterns, not able to throw them away but they are taking up space that fabric could be using.

Anybody out there have that problem?

So, I'll be giving away these types of things for a bit. If you want a chance at this first one just leave a comment on this post and you are in the "HAT"

I'll pull a name in a few days, get the winner's addy and rest a little easier.

In the coming months, I'll be doing some other give aways that are slightly more complicated because more items will be involved but that's another story....LOL

Coming In August - Tea Time

No, it's never too hot for this project. Living in Texas in the summertime it's usually too hot to even think about drinking anything hot but this project does not require drinking.

I've been working on a new BOM which I've named "Tea Time" and of course it's all about teapots. This twelve month project is a great way to  dive into all those wonderful scraps you have laying around.  If you love tea or you're a collector of teapots and tea kettles, you might like to make a quilt to hang in your sewing room or kitchen area. 

Stay tuned in because August is when it begins. Start pulling some fabrics and think about background fabrics and threads.........I need to stop.......LOL......join in the fun......

See you in August!!!

Going Buggy! Block #1

Some of my blogging friends asked me about doing a BOM for the bug embroidery that I did while mom was re-copping from her surgery. I said, of course, but I'll be doing a Block of the Week (BOW) instead. Each Wednesday for the next nine weeks I will post and link to one of the little critters.
There is no pressure to complete anything, just go at your own pace.  I will only leave a LINK on the post not on the sidebar.

Enjoy this little project or big one if you care to enlarge the images. It would make a great "boy" quilt.
Remember the LINK is on this post!!!

I will always post the link at least twice on each Wednesday so that you won't have a hard time finding it.

First July Finish

I added a butterfly and spider to the mix of hand embroidery critters.

Next I cut 1 1/2 inch strips to sew between each block. I wanted to have the blocks appear of center so I trimmed them with each insect and arachnid a little to the top, bottom or side of the blocks plus sewing the strips at the beginning of one block and at the ends of the other two.  Was that confusing or what??? 

Finally, here's the results and I love it!!

It measures 22 1/2" by 32 1/2" inches.

Tea Time Experimental BOM and Two Winners

I'm back!

At home, that is.

I am so grateful to all my blogging friends who gave me words of encouragement, prayers and warm thoughts during my mom's surgery and recovery.

She is 100% better and cleared for active duty, so to speak, again.

So, I'm back at home, in my house and ready to get back to my favorite activity.......

fondling fabric.....LOL

Here's what I'm up to at the moment:

I love teapots and have a very small collection. For years, I've thought about making a quilt for various shapes and sizes of teapots. Finally, the time has come. I'm thinking that this will be a block of the month. Each block will be made from colorful fabrics in my stash. Stay tuned in if you wish to join me on this journey.
Now for the announcement of the "two winners" from the post about my good old days on the neighbors' swing set.  The photo was hard to see and I had so much fun reading all the comments as to who was who.
So the winners of the FQs are ....

Candace who was one of the commenter who guessed correctly
and
Judy who was one of the commenter who guessed incorrectly.
In other words, I have a couple of wonderful FQs to choose from and couldn't decide. You never know when or what I'll do to give out some of my favorite fabric lines.
If you ladies would leave a comment, we can correspond via email to get addresses.

Leafing Through The Year - BOM - Block #7

Block #7
Enjoy the stitching and have a great month of July!

First Ride

My first ride was a clean little red and white number with black spoked tires and two long tassles.

"Look out world, here I come!" 

LOL

I'll announce the winner of the previous post after the 4th of July celebrations!