WHEW!

It has been a very busy couple of days....work, cooking and a little fun family get-together....

I am working on the Tea Party quilt and these fabrics are calling me for another special little project....

More on that later!

mary

Weekend Work...

Pick stitching and piecing....

What are you working on this weekend?

mary

A Work Day....

I love Thursdays....everyone is gone and I have a quiet house.  I usually get up about 5:00 am...the boy {my husband} gets up about 4:30 am to get his shower....so at about 5:00 I drag my bag of bones out of the bed and down to the coffee pot. 

Once everyone is gone...I do a little jig and get going.

This morning the Strawberry Fields got me cookin'....

After some deliberation over the cutting instructions....I have a few blocks beginning to look like they belong in a quilt....

I love this fabric!!!  It is Flower Sugar by Lecien.   Very Spring- y....

And I think I have decided that this Strawberry Fields quilt should be re-named Tea Party Quilt...

It is turning out to be a very feminine quilt ....

Delicate Lace....by Hokkoh....

So - of course - in honor of the Tea Party quilt....I had to make Blueberry Muffins :)

YUM!!!!

A girl has to keep her strength up....you know.....

I hope you are having a lovely Thursday....maybe I will have some blocks all sewn together to show you soon {and yes the pickle-dish is almost all quilted}....

Flanders and I wish you a happy Thursday!!!

mary    

Weak in the Knees.....

I've been waiting for the remainder of my Strawberry Fields {quilt} fabric to arrive....Oh GOODNESS....does fabric ever make you as giddy as a school girl, weak in the knees, and an all-around blithering fool???

Delicate Lace - Tea Party....by Hokkoh

Day Bloom Bouquet - Garden....by Hokkoh

**smile**

mary

Trip Down Memory Lane....

If you have not checked out Lynne's blog at Lily's Quilts...pop over and enjoy all the lovely inspiration.  For the past week Lynne has been inviting bloggers to add photos and links to their favorite quilts, blocks and now "things".....

This got me thinking about the "things" I have made.  "Things" are fun since they take considerably less time than quilts.  "Things" often turn into a "practice" session for an idea.  So "things" can sometimes become a happy accident!!!  

Since I have several "things" I made before (and after) I had a blog....I will share a few here....

Katie's Cathedral Window Pillow...

This sweet block was embroidered using a Jenny Hart design {bird}....I added the extra embroidery embellishments...the block is a traditional quilt block...then this became a pillow that sits on my bed everyday...I am so glad I made this block/pillow...I do love it!

These little cones were stuffed with candies and a pin cushion for Christmas gifts...I love the kitty, bow fabric teamed with the oval dots....so cute!

This little pin cushion was the result of an evening of play...

So pop over to Lily's Quilts and check out all the fantastic links...as well as Lynne's amazing work!!!  Her blog is lovely and her ideas and sewing magnificent!  Have fun!

mary

Friday Finish....

I had great intentions today...no class this evening so nothing to stop me....right?  Oh well...it seemed everyone was stopping me....Molly wanting a sewing lesson...Mary wanting to pick out fabrics for a new quilt...

And then the disasterous curtains for my family room...I chose an absolutely lovely Echino fabric...nobody liked it for curtains, but I insisted it would be fantastic and so cheery.  I finished one panel, put it up and didn't like it!  I love the fabric...just not in my family room and on that window....Oh well....I tried.

But I did have one finish for this frustrating Friday....

The Union Jack has it's binding and a precious label....

This is actually an outside picture....Yippee...it was warm today!!!

For the binding I just used the same red polka dot fabric!!!

And Molly embroidered a precious final touch....the label!!!

So much for my bumbly...jumbly day....hopefully tomorrow the fabric I ordered will arrive and I can get crackin' on the Strawberry Fields quilt...I am itching to get goin'

mary

Working in Strawberry Fields....

On Tuesday I pulled the fabrics I have collected so far for my Strawberry Fields quilt....

 

I have a couple of other fabrics I have ordered, but they haven't arrived yet....

It always seem a bit hit or miss ordering fabrics you have not seen in person, but hopefully they will work just fine...if not I am sure I will use them somewhere :)

So things were clicking along just fine....

And then for some reason I could not get the cornerstone square to work....I read and re-read the instructions...trying to figure out if I had left out a step, done something wrong or if the instructions were just incorrect.  I remembered that Suz from PatchworknPlay made a very cute Chubby Star quilt from the same pattern....she was so kind to add technical support to my perplexing issue....and, of course, the issue was all mine.  The instructions are correct and work like a dream when you read them correctly :)  

This is the precious cornerstone square....

So this is how the block will look {without some of the sashing}...

It is not my usual bright, bright....but I am liking it....kind of "Spring like"...

And I must say...I am lovin' the internet, Blogger and Flickr....without it I would not have known Suz and her cute quilt....with it I was able to get much needed support from across the ocean!  THANK YOU Suz!!! 

If you have not visited PatchworknPlay...you really need to check out all that Suz has done...this is one gal who likes a challenge!

On another note....last night, I had the opportunity to meet the talented and gracious Amy Butler {I forgot to take my camera out of my purse so you will just have to take my word for it}  She is a lovely person and it was so fun to meet her!!!  She visited our little shoppe and I was lucky enough to be asked to work...so I got to be a part of the excitement all evening long...it was a super great time!!!

Enjoy!

mary 

Happy Valentines Day!

Happy Valentines Day!  We are expecting warmer weather...maybe a little sunshine....and lots of love to go around!!!

I woke up this morning to find this waiting on the table.....

But alas...this bouquet is for the lovely Maggie!!!!  And Happy Birthday Maggie!!!

Then I opened the front door....and this was waiting on the porch....

But alas....this sweet sampling was for the adorable Molly.....

And my treat?  Well, besides seeing their excited faces....I made plans for daughter #3, Mary, and I to see Riverdance this weekend....AND....I finished quilting The Union Jack...

It is quilting with #8 perle cotton in white, red, aqua, and pale yellow....

Just need to add the binding...but that won't happen today....I think I may treat myself to a trip to Anthropologie....Happy Valentines Day!

mary

Hokkoh Heaven.....

My favorite little fabric shoppe....and the place I spend many hours with the most delightful people....just continues to stock their shelves with absolutely irresistible fabric....

Such as this adorable Tea Party line designed by Hokkoh....

The colors are so clear and the prints are simply charming....

So while I am working on a couple other little projects, and working out the details for the Eloise Quilt....I am going to begin another from the Material Obsession book....what a surprise, right???

This is Strawberry Fields and, to me, it just calls for these fantastic Hokkoh fabrics...plus a few others....I can't wait to get started!!!

mary

Stitchin' for a busy weekend....

Just a little hand quilting on the pickle-dish....and almost finished with the Union Jack....

I know you have heard it before....but I really do love hand quilting....and although I started out some 20+ years ago only quilting in the traditional way with tiny needles and marking my quilt top...I can't get over how much I love the perle cotton and stitches that make a statement.

I do still machine quilt....it definitely saves time...but if I have the time I enjoy hand quilting - plus - it keeps you warm on these cold Ohio days!!!

We have a busy weekend in store....classes....working...visiting with the g'ma's and building up to the BIG DAY.... that's right....my Maggie will be 21!!!  On Valentines Day!!!  Oh my goodness!!!

So not much will get done this weekend....just celebrating...

Have a wonderful pre-Valentines Day weekend!!!

mary

Dresden Disregarded....

With all this talk of Dresdens....did you know Corey has started a Dresden?  I remembered I have a Dresden that is definitely a belated W.I.P.  

Now before you think me delinquent in my quilty duties....I just need to finish hand quilting...and this is my second Dresden....I do love them!

To this Dresden I added Prairie Points between plates and border....

I am quilting the blades, pie sections on the center, and all around the outside of the entire plate...

The background fabric is a white with green polka dots and the center is the opposite...green with white dots...

The back is pieced with log cabins of various sizes....more spots...of course...

There really isn't that much left to do....another project for the stack!!!

mary

Design Decision.....I think.....

I have come to a decision on the design for my Eloise quilt...I think...

I have been turning arcs and circles this way and that....asked several family members (who don't really care a wit about my design delimma)....and I think I have settled on this for the block... 

The block is fairly large...measuring 24 inches and I will turn it on point...

This leaves open the possibility for more design decisions for the "fill in" triangles.....hmmmm....maybe a little patchwork???  And then there is the border....

And for a touch of whimsy...maybe a yo-yo in the center circle....

Happy Snowy Monday!

mary

Love the Spin We're In.....

Back to a "normal" schedule today....everyone back in school....mid-terms continue (hee-hee)

And I have been able to focus a little on the Eloise Quilt...

It takes a lot of scraps to make a scrappy quilt...but what better way to clear out the old and get ready for the new (fabric that is)....

I really like working with high contrast fabrics...they just add some zest to any scrappy quilt

My design is still not completely cemented, but I am happy with these Split Ten Blade wheels...I have added an extra large center....and some blocks will be just quarter wheels opposite each other.

When piecing wheels or arcs I love adding striped fabric in a horizontal pattern...it makes the wheels spin and movement is always a good thing!!!

Now off to have coffee with my flea market cohort....

mary ;) 

  

Baby It's Cold......Inside!

Not much to show today....as I have spent most of the day trying to thaw out my fingers!

We lost our power yesterday...remember that picture of my lilac tree....hmmm....apparently ice doesn't mix well with power lines.  We were amazed at the "lightning" we were seeing in the sky last night....found out today that wasn't lightning but it was power lines or transformers or something -  exploding.

So today I tried to do a little quilting, but even my sweet gloves knitted by the talented Janelle did not keep me warm....my neighbor brought me hot coffee because I hadn't had a shower and I looked like a crazy bag lady.  

Finally, I gave in and with two sweatshirts, two pairs of socks, a scarf and my pup....I shivered under layers of blankets.  

Just as I was fading....ok maybe that is a little dramatic...the power was restored!  Yee-haw!!

Anywhooo....here is an old flour sifter I snatched while at an Antique Mall this weekend....

I love the graphics!  I bet this mom has never spent a day shivering and cursing at the power company and the weather....she just bakes pies....and wears cute aprons!

Someday...

Have a warm night ;)

mary