Halloween decorations

Here you go! The October BOM is finished. I cheated again in that I had fabric with pumpkins on it and so I did not have to make my own applique pieces. I just ironed fusible onto the back of the pumpkin fabric, cut it out, ironed onto a square and buttonhole stitched to attach. This is the Halloween deco I have at the shop. Notice the Scentsy Jack o'lantern on the counter. I'm not a great Halloween lover so this is the extent of my holiday decoration. Click on the picture to get a closer look.

Crochet

I've been trying to find a pattern for a crocheted hat that works up quickly and is cute. I may have just found it! I made this one last night in an hour and a half. I know how long it took because I was listening to my Scentsy training audio and that's how long it lasted. By the way, the training session I was in on last night had 1,000 people hooked up to it! The largest session Scentsy has ever had. They were instructing us in the new website changes. Can't wait to place my first order on the new site!

Finally, a finish

Here's the yellow background quilt I had been asked to finish for a client/friend. The top is very, very old. I don't know exactly how old, but I would imagine at least 50 years. Some of the seams of the stars were coming apart so I had to mend them. I hope they will be happy with the design I decided on for the quilting. It feels good to finish a larger project for a change.

I've started a quilt for my niece's baby to be born in November. It will use blocks that Mom and Aunt Dolores painted many years ago. I'll post a picture as soon as I get them put together. If you look closely, you can see a snippet of the pieces of the quilt in the left bottom corner.

It's chilly outside!

Yes, it's 48 degrees as I write. The little hat I crocheted actually fit little Miss Kerrington. She left it on long enough for me to take a picture but as soon as I left her alone, off it came. It took a minute, but she managed to pull it off. Then she tried to put it back on. That was too cute. Then again, anything this little angel does is too cute! I posted the second picture so you can see how pretty her eyelashes are growing in.

I've been working on an afghan for a baby gift. Although, tonight I had to cut some fabric for a project I committed to last week. The quilt top must be done and out of here before October 1. Wish me luck! I cut over 200 squares tonight in about 45 minutes and decided I was tired. I don't want to make any mistakes so I'll finish cutting tomorrow.

Time to head to bed. Jim will get up early to hit the links. I hope it's not much colder than it is now!

Bits and pieces

The newest addition to my sewing room is this 22" flat screen, Phillips television. I was having some issues with my old TV so I decided to treat myself to a new one. I love it!
Sew, what's this, you say? A jelly roll? No. One of those MRI pictures sliced to show the inner workings of our brain? lol No. It's part of my collection of odds and ends of bindings. When I make binding for a quilt, big or small, I never measure so as to come out "just right". I like to have some left over so I can use the pieces on scrap quilts. I love the effect of a scrappy binding.

Alright, I admit it. I didn't feel like working on the quilt tonight so I found some stray pink yarn and worked up this little beanie cap. After all, it's getting cooler outside and little heads with little or no hair will need to keep warm. I hope this one fits Kerrington. If not, it will go to a certain not-yet-born baby girl in OKC :-)

We all went to dinner tonight at Applebees. Judy, Joe, Robert, April, Kerrington, Jim and I. We had an enjoyable time and the food was good. Jim might have something to say about that since the veggie on his plate was (gasp) broccoli! But, I am proud to report he ate it all. He was hungry! lol

Off to bed in anticipation of another Saturday morning. Busy day ahead of me. Thank you, Lord! It's also massage day!

An angel surprise

A quick note as I am walking out the door. I received this angel in the mail yesterday. Many, many thanks to my friends at QOR (Quilts on Review). It touched my heart to know that someone I have not even met has taken the time to make something for me to ease my sorrow. Thanks again to whomever requested this little angel and to the kind lady, Elaine, who crocheted her.

Wordy, but informative (says who?)

Well, I've got the quilt ready for quilting! Picked it up off the living room floor. I had not spray basted it after laying it out for a week (or more) so this morning I decided it just HAD to be done. Jim was gone to play the second day of his golf tournament so I had the house to myself. Have I started quilting on it? No. I think I've decided on the pattern I'm going to use, but I have a feeling the quilt itself is going to give me some trouble. Remember I had to re-do the borders because it was too wavy to quilt as it was when my client brought it to me. But, the inner part of the quilt is so loose because of bias edges, I don't know what it's going to do. I only hope that the quilting will help to lay it flat. Please send a prayer and all the good wishes you have to help me get this done! I only have about two weeks to finish it.

Here's a new little pincushion I worked on tonight. Not my best work, but it holds pins. I need to get a few things together for my swap pals and just can't seem to settle on any projects. I hate it when I get in these slumps. I started, and stopped, a little embroidery piece because I just can't seem to get the satin stitching right. I'll try something else.

Remember I said Jim was gone to play in a tournament? He won first place in his flight! He was excited. Won a little bit of money for his efforts. And, let me tell you, it was an effort! This morning his tee time was 7:10. Therefore, he had to get up at 5:30! He didn't even do that when he was working! LOL I didn't wake up since I decided to sleep in the other room so I didn't hear the alarm. I appreciate that he didn't expect me to get up with him. I'd made muffins the night before so that's what he took for breakfast. He even went a bit further with his spoiling of me in that we went to Chili's for lunch/dinner! We had a nice time.

Right after we got home, Joe stopped by to visit for a minute. Needless to say, I didn't get to the gym again. Will have to make an honest effort to do so this week. I'm thinking that three times a week may be all I can do for a while. Maybe the idea of going 6 days a week, like we did last time, is playing games with my mind. I need to start slow.

I've been feeling sorry for myself all day in spite of all the good things that have happened. Yesterday afternoon, after I got up from my nap in anticipation of going to dinner with Jim, I had to rinse my contacts. In doing so, I inadvertently squirted heavy duty CLEANSER on my contact and proceeded to insert it into my eye! Ouch! And double, Ouchh! In all the 30-plus years I've worn contacts, I've never done that. Boy, did I feel the burn! My eye swelled, turned red and hurt like crazy. Could not put my contacts back in, of course. On top of that, I'd come up with a fever blister on my lip that morning. So, the whole of the right side of my face was/is a total mess! LOL My eye is much better today but I still only wore my glasses. The fever blister has been tended to all day with Abreva. Here's hoping that all the hype about Abreva is true! Let's see, I started applying it on Saturday morning, as soon as I felt the tingle, and it's now Sunday. I'll let you know how long I have to deal with it. Normally, I think my fever blisters last about 5 - 7 days, sometimes longer if they get out of hand. Once, the blister spread from my lip to my chin! I know, TMI..lol Jim and Judy have reminded me, several times, no grama kisses tomorrow! :-( Kerrington won't know how to act if she can't plant a few kisses on grama's nose! lol

I guess I should've known I'd come down with the blister since I've had a couple of "down" weeks. Just haven't felt like myself. Felt lazy and it was all I could do to get done what needed doing. Sometimes even that was left undone for a day or two. Let's hope the coming week finds me in better spirits and more energetic!

Have a good Monday!

Sew, what's new with you?

Here I've been rambling on about all the "little things" I've been doing and haven't taken the time to catch up on the rest of your lives. Is everyone as busy as I seem to be? I want to start commenting on blogs I read, if only to say, "howdy!" because I know how it feels to write and wonder if anyone reads... Oh, I know ya'll do read because those of you that see me in person tell me you do. I think you enjoy seeing the pictures I post, therefore I try to have at least one or two in every post. Today's pics are a tablerunner I'm making for a friend and another set of Church Dolls for Mattie, Kerrington's little cousin who goes to church with her. I don't want them to fight over their dolls! So, a set for each.


I've been toying with the idea of having a little drawing. It will entail you to leave a comment and it will mean I will have to come up with a prize! LOL Therein lies the dilemma. Stay tuned for details.. How's that for a tease? :-)

Time to get ready for the day. I spent the most wonderful two days with Miss Kerringtotn. She's sitting up on her own now and making the most beautiful sounds. As soon as I can get pictures off of my phone, I'll let you see how big she's getting. Have a great day!

Summer's end sundress

One more little sundress for Kerrington before the summer is totally gone. Surely we'll have a few more days when she can wear this. Please excuse the sink and counter. We were at Judy's and she was fixing spaghetti for dinner.

I had to add another water picture of Kerrington wearing her sunhat.

It's the little things that count!

Here I go again. I have a large quilt laid out on the floor waiting for spray basting and quilting but I would rather work on something small. The monkey blanket was made one morning this week before work. It's for a friend's new grandbaby. The "Church Dolls" I made this morning. I made the pouch last night and the dolls this morning. This one is Kerrington's and I plan on making another one for her cousin, Mattie. They go to church together so I want them both to have one. Judy reminded me that the dolls are just the right size for K's mouth so maybe they'll wait until she's done teething before she plays with them at church.

It's after 1 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon and we plan on going to a movie later so I'd better get a move on. I got up around 7, worked on the dolls, made breakfast then did some farming. So, I still need to shower and get dressed. Rob and April are back in town after a quick trip to the lake this weekend. Maybe we'll see Miss K tonight!

More Kerrington and Sept. BOM

Kerrington has the sweetest little laugh. I thought I was getting the heartiest of her laugh this afternoon until I realized my camera was not in record mode. That's why you see such a bad start to the little bit I did get on video.



This first picture shows her as she was this morning. Bless her heart...her teeth are giving her fits! She was not feeling very well this morning and you could see it in her little face. In the second picture, she's "modeling" the sundress I made her. I had to lay her on the floor to take the picture because she's not quite steady standing on her own yet.



The September BOM is this little apple basket. I used some fabric with apples on it and just cut the apples and leaves then appliqued them to the background, ala Broderie Perse method. I hope to get it ready for hanging tonight.

A Productive Sunday

This was one of those days when I decided I needed a "me" day. Just to do what I want to do. So, after I fixed breakfast for Jim and Rob (lol, okay, we'll say that's what I wanted to do) I spent a good part of the day finishing up this baby quilt for a friend's new baby.

I did this in the quilt-as-you-go manner but when I put the blocks together, I used a little bit different technique. Well, the same technique as I always used but a bit different in construction. Instead of cutting the front sashings one width and the back another, I cut BOTH front and back sashings two inches wide. When attaching them, I took a half inch seam. Like I told Judy, you can't be married to the quarter inch seam thing when working with these numbers! It really went a lot faster. Oh, I found these particular instructions on sew-whats-new.com.

I also worked on Kerrington's little sundress that I've had started for a while now. I'm doing the hand work around the neck and armholes and will add some froo-froo decorations, I think. I'll take it with me to work on while watching her today.

Judy and I went to see "The Time Traveler's Wife". It was interesting and afforded Judy a few hours in cool comfort since her a/c is on the fritz. She came to our house later and we had leftover tacos and I made a fruit pizza.

Time to get ready to go see Miss K. Have a good Monday.

Weekend notes

It's Saturday again, and I should be getting ready for work. But, I just had to post these pictures of our little Kerrington. She loves her monkey bouncer and can sit in it for a long time before she wants out. Usually it's because it's naptime! And, have you EVER seen a cuter water baby? I think NOT! lol


It tickled me to see her wearing the little sunhat I made for her. I'm so glad she doesn't mind wearing it! This was taken on a weekend outing to the lake with her mama and daddy and her Grampoo and Gramille Jackson. She loves the water.

On a sad note, please remember my friend Leota and her family today. Her cousin was killed yesterday in a truck accident in Louisiana. I have no more details right now other than they know his rig burned with him in it. Leota is distraught, as you might know, since this is one of her cousins who buried his dad just a few weeks ago in Dallas. Hard, hard time for the family. Our prayers are with you, Leota!

Bookmark

Maybe I've found a quick way to use up even some of my smallest scraps. This little bookmark was made in about an hour. The hardest part was turning it inside out since it's only about two inches wide. Then I had a hard time getting the opening turned under and sewn. You can't see that part 'cause it's at the bottom of the bookmark.
I bought these little charms a while back and I thought this one looks nice in this space.

It's after 10 p.m. and I didn't get another baby block quilted. Oh well. Tomorrow's another day. Gosh, I was thinking I still needed to give you an update on Dad :-( Goodnight, all.

A lazy Sunday

Still feel as though I'm forgetting something very important. Not having to take Dad his Sunday morning coffee makes me a little sad. Yet, I still feel his presence. I slept in a little this morning and before I ever sat down at the 'puter, I decided I'd better take care of some paperwork. That done, and breakfast over, I worked on the baby quilt for a while. Then Judy and I met one of my consultants at the shop. Kym attended the Scentsy convention in Utah last week and had lots of things to share and show. She's a sweet girl and is one of my favorite consultants. Actually, she's one of my first ones!

I'd like to take this moment to remind all of you who enjoy Scentsy that all products are 10% off for the month of August. There are quite a few scents that are being discontinued in the Fall/Winter catalog. If you would like to know if your favorite scent is still going to be available, give me a call or drop me a line. You can order online at www.scentsy.com/4886.

After coming home from my meeting with Kym, I took a nap. Nearly two hours! I guess I needed it. I'm not sleepy now but I really need to get to bed since it's almost midnight. But, before I go, I leave you with a couple of pictures of two of the baby quilt blocks I quilted tonight.
I'm doing this one with the quilt-as-you-go technique. I still haven't decided what fabrics I'll use to connect the blocks. It's a little scary to use a solid color on the back since it is not very forgiving of any mistakes made. But, I really like the feel of this soft cotton fabric. I'm glad I decided to use this quilting "pattern". It's really just a freestyle meandering.

Off to bed so I can see our little Kerrington tommorrow. Have not seen her since last Wednesday when I left their house so I'm needing my Kerrington fix! Have a good week if I don't get back here until the weekend.

This and that and more!

Is she growing up or what! No, she's not walking yet, but Miss Kerrington likes to stand up. She and Grama V. have some good times on Mon., Tues., and Wed. I need to work on another outfit since Auntie J. said she's getting tired of seeing her in this outfit. lol She meant that nicely, I'm sure.

How about these cute little cup cozies? Kate and her mom, Judy, sent me a book with the pattern in it. Such thoughtful friends I have made through my computer. Thanks, you two!


These are four blocks of a nine or twelve block baby quilt I'll be working on the next few days. I didn't even work on it tonight since I was busy at Farmtown. lol The pattern is the Disappearing nine patch.

And, last but certainly not least, is a picture of Dad. I think he was about 21 years old in this picture. One of Judy's friends photo-shopped (is that a real term now?)it into a background with the flags. Nice, isn't it? Thanks, Howard!

I thought I'd better get this done since it's almost 11:15 p.m. and my eyelids are getting awfully heavy. You wouldn't think that taking care of a cute little angel all day would be tiring. A very good tired, though. I'm still lovin' it!

Remember this quilt top?

I finally had a block of time to sew these borders back on. I'd taken them off before Dad died and had not attempted to work on them again. So, after getting home from work today, I decided to "get 'er done!"
This first picture shows the top as it looked when I got it. I had laid it out on the floor and realized that the borders were way too wavy to do any quilting.
After removing and re-attaching the borders, you can see a bit of a difference in how much flatter it lays. I cut off 1 1/2" to 2" of each border! I had to really work with the excess fabric of the center and there are a lot of places that have puckers but I think I can disguise it with quilting. That's the problem with so many bias edges within the quilt top itself. I had to be really careful not to stretch it at all.

The next step is to prepare the lining, or backing, as some folks call it. I bought it a long time ago and it has been waiting patiently on the top shelf in the closet. Maybe I can get that started tomorrow because tonight is Kerrington night! Yup, Rob and April are going to the fair so we get to watch sweet Baby K. April won some tickets from a radio show to the Motor Cross races and they'll stay for the concert. I'm hoping we can keep Kerry Berry all night, but we'll see.

Another week gone by

Another week under our belts and I have not done much of anything except take care of baby Kerrington and work at the shop. I did, finally, get the fleece blankets embroidered and delivered, so I feel as though I accomplished at least one thing. I meant to take my camera to photograph Kerrington and I forgot all three days. She's getting pretty active now and I find myself just sitting and watching her "do her thang" as she bounces up and down in her monkey bouncer or staring at her angel face while she sleeps. Oh, I did help April finish some alterations on pjs for K.

So, here it is, Thursday again. My posts may become even more few and far between now that Judy and I have signed up, again, at the gym. I heard yesterday that the swine flu and obesity may be directly connected. Obesity does NOT cause the flu, they say, but those with a few extra pounds on their frames may be more susceptible to it and end up with more severe complications, ie., pneumonia, etc. So, it's good that Judy and I have arranged to get ourselves back to working out, or "cheerleading" as Dad would say.

Alrighty, then! Time to shower and get ready for work.

Phone pics

These are just two pictures I've had on my cell phone. I don't have the software to transfer them to my computer, so Rob had me blue-tooth them to his phone and then emailed them back to me.
This is one of my favorite pictures of Dad. We were sitting at the Wound Care Center in Lubbock one day and he was looking so well that day that I couldn't resist taking his picture. He was always a ham when it came to pictures. Unlike a lot of us, he really liked his picture taken.
Here is Kerrington letting everyone know how she feels about her grandma. I am so enjoying my time with her this summer! I didn't even spend this much time with my own boys when they were this age so this is a real blessing for me. I think she is really beginning to recognize me.

August BOM

A quick post to show you the August block of the month.

I still need to quilt it, but isn't it cute? And, I had found butterflies to decorate the wooden plaque it will hang from at the shop. Since I don't go back to work until Thursday, I don't feel rushed to finish it right away. By the way, I have NOT finished the July BOMs lol. They'll get done.