Saturday Frittering

Here I am frittering away another Saturday. When was the last time you frittered away? Seriously, where do these words come from, and why do they pop into my culturally sensitive brain?

I finally took the time to finish up a couple of cross stitch projects this week. I have the sad habit of doing the needlework and setting it aside. So above you see the pillow I made from a design by Stacy Nash Primitives. I love it! You can see that I finished in it 2010 and the border fabric is current Barbara Brackman Battle Hymn by Moda that just happened to be on my cutting table and is a perfect match. Oh dear, I am putting historians in a quandary. Haha!

This little pincushion is a Blackbird Designs project, again 2010. I have a few more of these and wonder if my eyes are up to it?


I have been on a rampage the past two days making flying geese like crazy. Yes, more designs coming, but it will be a while. I tried to take photos but I am afraid the slide on my camera that holds in the batteries got cracked and so I am having trouble pressing the thing closed while trying to focus. Yes, even with auto-focus you need to hold the camera somewhat still. 

 

 So here is my photo attempt. Take note of the little cheddar unit. It has a special template on it that I love. It is made by Bloc-Loc. I picked up a few of their precision rulers at market a while back and have really gotten hooked on them. There is a little ridge in the bottom of the ruler where the seam runs on the block. You slide the template into place and it catches on the seam, then trim around the edges for a perfect Flying Geese unit! I know lots of people love wonky everything these days, but I am a stickler on accuracy and these Bloc-Loc rulers give me that. They also have HST template rulers and they keep coming out with new rulers for different shapes all the time. For me these are a great investment because I know I will use them for years and years. Click on the link and watch the video.

  

Summer Fun

Looking for a cute little project to work on this summer? This little quilt called Tinder Box is fun and easy! You can find the pattern at my website, patchalotpatterns.com.

 Sometimes I come up with names for quilts while reading books. For Tinderbox I was reading a book by Suzanna Kearsley called The Rose Garden. This was an enjoyable story about a woman who visits Ireland and lands back in 1712. She falls in love with a man named Daniel Butler and the rest, as they say, is historical fiction! At some point she needs to start a fire using a tinderbox! I don't believe I have ever seen a tinderbox, let alone know how to start a fire with one. But I did send some sparks flying on this cute little quilt, don't you think?

I am back in Virgina as of a few days ago. The weather started out cool and refreshing, but now it is heating up. I finally broke down and turned on the air conditioner which my husband has been reluctant to do. He goes into competition with himself to see how long he can last. Well, he lasted until I came home!

Friday morning my husband woke me up at 6am and told me there were tall ships in the bay. We live one block from the Chesapeake Bay, close to the mouth of the bay where it opens into the Atlantic Ocean. There are always cargo ships lined up out there waiting for their chance to cross the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and go into Norfolk and northern ports. So we walked down to see the action. It was quite a sight and took us back a couple of centuries (rather like time traveling).

Hard to believe this is right down the road from us! As you can see their sails were lowered as they waited for their opportunity to go up the bay.

 This photo is of the Godspeed, a replica of the vessel that sailed to America in 1607 along with two other ships, the Susan Constant and the Discovery. Currently these ships are located at Jamestown and tourists may board them and get a feel for the travel conditions in 1607. (I borrowed this image from the internet). I am told that the Godspeed was one of the ships in the bay, and one of the smaller ones! You can see the other ships at the OPSAIL 2012 website. The event, I am told, was to commemorate the War of 1812.

I am off to try and get some sewing done at last! Yesterday I managed to pull muscles in my back as I reached back and forth to the floor sewing pieces together then replacing them in order. It was all too big for my design wall so I improvised. What a mistake! But today is already better, so let's try it again!

Hot weather and hot quilts!

Just a quick little post before the weekend begins. I am still in the desert living in a refrigerated house. My aunt said the silliest thing yesterday when I went to see her. I came to the door and she said, "Oh, you are outside!" Well, yes I am. It is essential to be outside when driving from one place to another. It was 96 degrees yesterday, and it is going into the 80's for the weekend, so that will be a pleasant break.

I finally got blinds on most of my windows. Not the beautiful wood shutters that I want, but faux wood (vinyl) blinds that will have to suffice for now. We are on the “pay as you go” plan and so far we have paid plenty for carpeting and tile, etc. My contractor friend, Harold, send over three Mexican men to install the blinds. They speak Spanish to each other, which I recognize from three years of taking the language in high school. I really can’t translate, but I heard one of them say “Oh no”, which I immediately understood. Some things are universal. Anyway, faux or no, the blinds look fine and are desperately needed in this blazing desert heat. It has been 105 degrees and more. But no humidity! Ha ha!

   

I have spent months intermittently working on a quilt and finally FINISHED it. You know how some quilts seem to take forever? I began this one months ago, last year in fact, making 9-patches and more 9-patches. I planned it with the help of EQ7, EQ7 being one of the things I would put on my deserted island list. So I made a ton of blocks and found that I didn’t have quite enough of a certain tan fabric to complete my quilt. Back to the drawing board formerly referred to—EQ7. I came up with several solutions and then had to choose one. Now it is terminado! Hecho in Arizona! (My meager attempt at Spanish).

I also completed this little cutie. I saw the original on Pinterest and fell in love. Mine is made with 1-1/2" cut squares, of which I never have a shortage. 

This is the original. A vintage doll quilt. Love it!

Also, I just finished reading The Book Thief. If you are looking for a good book, this is it! 

Have a nice holiday weekend! Wave that beautiful flag of ours!

A Bountiful Life and more...

 I didn't go to market this time and I sure wish I had been there! Look at this beautiful display of quilts in the Kansas City Star booth. They publish quilt books, as you probably know. Front and center in this display is my good friend Karen Mowery's quilt, A Bountiful Life. This quilt is a replica of the famous Bird of Paradise quilt that is at the American Folk Art Museum in New York City. It is an awesome quilt and Karen's book is awesome as well. Request it at your LQS or order it online. You won't be disappointed! See what Karen has to say about all this excitement at her blog, Sew Primitive.

And 

Other books on display from Kansas City Star, Including Simply Charming by the darling Tara Lynn Darr. I love this book! Confederates in the Cornfield by Edie Mcginnis has the most amazing cherry quilt in it.

Edie's new book, A Bag of Scraps, is wonderful for those of us who live and breath scrap quilts. Plus, Edie always adds interesting facts and stories. Edie is an editor at Kansas City Stars, so she knows a little bit about writing books! Also, I stole these photos from her on Facebook!

 

 Above, a few more wonderful quilts from the Kansas City Star booth.

Even tho I didn't get to market this spring, I have been excited to see the photos and hear about the enthusiasm of those that were there. You can see more market photos at the links below:

 Fat Quarter Shop,  their Jolly Jabber blog

Country Quilts-Cheryl Wall

Fat Quarters Quilt Shop (Vista, CA) their Facebook page

There are probably more, but I don't have time to look right now as I have been on this blooming computer all day!

Enjoy!

Praying for a miracle

If you have ever watched a loved one suffer from a debilitating disease while you were helpless to assist, our friend Michele Bilyeu knows how you feel. Her sister-in-law, Rebecca Savikko, of Eagle River, Alaska, is desperate for a kidney transplant. If you know Michele, you know that she is the type to dive in and begin searching for a miracle. Michele has put out the call to her online friends to spread the word. Because of blood types and anti-bodies it is necessary for this search to be very large in hopes of a kidney swap within a circle of willing donors. Please check out Michele's blog, With Heart and Hands, for the details. Pass the word to everyone. Hopefully this search will find someone who can save Rebecca's life. 

I believe in the power of prayer, and I encourage you to say a prayer for Rebecca right now while you are reading this. If we all contribute in this way perhaps a miracle will be forthcoming.

I realize that I haven't been the best blogger in the past several months. I came to Arizona to look after my Dad and I am still here.  I am now living in our mostly vacant house here, but I did buy a bed and a friend loaned me a couch and chair, so I am comfortable. My sewing machine is set up in the kitchen with piles of fabric all over the counters. My Dad dropped over yesterday and told me I should clean up this place. Huh, I thought I did! But it just goes to show, when I am in the middle of a project I am the only one that recognizes my piles of fabric and HSTs and 9-patches, etc, as part of a larger plan. 

Last night before the sun went totally down I took my first dip in our pool. My daughter asked if I had a swim suit. I said yes, from 1985! I haven't used to too much over the years, but it sure felt good in the water. And it is fairly private also as there are cement walls between all the yards. 

Later today I will be going to have dinner with my daughter-in-law and grandkids. Dad is coming too. I love being in my own house, but also having family close by.  Still no clue when we will be moving here permanently. My husband will be here soon for a quick visit and then I will be going home with him. 

No project photos this time. I want to focus on Michele's search for a miracle. If you are a mother I hope you have a lovely Mother's Day! 

 

Hi Friends! I have been lost from the Internet for ages! I am still in Arizona, after taking a side trip up to Provo, Utah to visit family. I have been so disconnected! When I first got here I crashed my computer, then I ran over my cell phone. Very disconnected! Finally I got my computer up and going again. Dell helped me reload everything that was apparently dead from some nasty virus. I seriously don't know what gives some people such perverse pleasure in disabling the computers of strangers. I can only hope that Karma will visit them in kind.

Dad is doing very well. He is back to his normal self and his busy schedule. He plays cards every Wednesday night and makes home visits to people from church to check on how they are doing. He has a regular route of people that he visits monthly. Sometimes he forgets that he is 89 years old and wonders why he doesn't move as fast as he wants to. He is still very sharp, but at 89 and living alone he has developed some funny habits. For example, he uses paper plates, and doesn't want to be wasteful, so he washes them off when he is done. He loves his TV shows and records them on his DVR. But usually he watches them while they are regularly scheduled and then deletes them when they are over. Recently he bought some freeze dried meals that he thought sounded great. I think they were intended for emergency preparedness, or maybe camping. He prepared one of the meals for us one night by adding 2 cups of boiling water and letting it sit 15 minutes. We had "lasagna". Let me explain that whenever we go out to dinner he finds something in the meal that is not up to his expectations and feels the need to tell the wait person so they can raise their standards. Somehow though, this freeze dried meal tasted just dandy. I took 2 bites and opted for a peanut butter sandwich. He ate his all up and told me not to throw out my portion, that he would heat it up later. I tell you this with the warmest affection for my Dad. We all do funny things, and I suspect as we get older we become even funnier. My kids laugh at me already, and I don't care a bit. Their day will come! Mostly though, in our family, we are pretty good at laughing at ourselves. Like me running over my phone with the car. As one person told me, it shouldn't be funny, but it kind of is. I agree, otherwise why would I even mention it?

I have been trying to get a few things done as far as sewing goes. Here is a baby quilt I just finished for my nephew's baby. They chose gray for the babies room, and I found a darling blue and gray collection of prints designed by Buggy Barn that hopefully they will like. Gray is a really popular color right now and this line falls into my traditional way of thinking.

I was in Utah for Easter and staying at my son's house. Here are a couple photos of Isaac and Ellie. Aren't they a riot? You have no idea how many pictures my daughter-in-law took of these two. Ellie is the most adorable baby, but try getting a photo of her! She is hilarious! Keira made Ellie's dress and Isaac's tie to match. She is so talented!

I guess that is all for now. My plaster guy never showed up and says he will be here tomorrow. I am nervously connected to someone else's wireless Internet. Hopefully I will get back online again soon.

Farewell from sunny Arizona, where it is already reaching 100 degrees!

Teaberry Stars--Oh Baby!

Has anyone out there missed me? I have been in Arizona for the past three weeks as my Dad suddenly ended up in the hospital with pneumonia. As I arrived he was transferred to a rehab facility for another week and a half. (heaven help we call it a nursing home). I seriously hope we never have to see that place again. He is home at his apartment now and recovering quite nicely I am happy to say. It has been nice to be here and spend time with him. When I think of all he has been to me in my life, it is a pleasure to be able to do for him for a change.

I feel bad that I don't get into blogging when I am away. There is just so darn much keeping me busy and running around. Once again I am getting a few things done at our house in Mesa while I am here. Yesterday I ordered carpet and am so excited to have that installed. Coughing up that much money has not been easy. After that we can begin moving in. Just waiting for my husband to retire to make the move official. It is so beautiful here this time of year and I don't miss the onslaught of pollen that is clouding the skies in Virginia Beach this time of year.

So here is some exciting news to share. McCall's Quilting May-June 2012 issue, is featuring a baby quilt that I made for my granddaughter Ellie who will be less than a year old when she finally receives it! McCall's also featured her brother Isaac's baby quilt, so I am delighted that they will both be able to say that their quilt was published by McCall's. That is when they can speak! 

 These are five inch blocks made primarily with a darling fabric line called Little Pink Stars designed by Margo Krager.You may be able to find some online if you check. There is also fabric from my stash included. I love pink, so I am always collecting it! McCall's also has an online pattern available for this quilt using 10" blocks to enlarge the quilt to bed size.  I have considered making it larger in blue. Wouldn't that be pretty?

Tomorrow I am leaving to drive to Utah with my son-in-law. He has been here helping me on the house and making himself very useful. He is done with school and about to embark on a new career as a pharmacist. A man of many talents! My daughter, Polly, is driving to Provo, UT from Missoula, MT and meeting us there. This is the home of my darling twin grandsons, and also Ellie and Isaac, so my life will be filled with grandbabies for the next two weeks!

I doubt I will be blogging until I return to Mesa, and then I will have baby pictures! Thank you dear readers for coming to visit me once again, and check out my Pinterest boards--see the link at the top right.