A Bit of a Break....

So much has been going on over the last couple of weeks that has kept me away from blogging or even catching up on my blog reading....

Most of my time has been spent worrying and caring for my precious pup...

  

It all began as routine blood work before having some dental work done.  But her blood work was a little off and so she was put on prednisone.  While on the prednisone she contracted a nasty intestinal bacteria.  Needless, to say we spent several sleepless nights.  She has been on an antibiotic and is feeling better...but she is an old girl - 14 yrs old.  We all love our pets so much and seeing them get old or ill is very difficult.  But for now she is doing much better.  

In between all the puppy care, I have had a couple of projects to complete for Quilt Market in Houston.  I should be able to tell you more about this later...

It is fun to be able to work with fabric not yet released....and this particular designer is pretty darn amazing...so it is always a joy to work with her fabric!

And, in the last couple of weeks, there have been birthdays!  Mine and a very good friend who has a birthday just a few days before me!   We both love all things Anthropologie!  So a little yummy smelling bar of soap and a handmade needle case fit the bill!

        

I enjoy making these needle pouches...and they are very useful!

Perfect pink stripe lining and a piece of wool felt for tucking needles into.  

I also had some left over blocks because of a measuring error on my part....ooops....so I made a couple doll quilts for a couple of cute little girls....

    

a very scrappy quilt with a scallop border.

And then for the little sister another scrappy quilt!

 

Now Emma and Madeline can keep their dolls nice and warm this winter!

As I said, I also celebrated a birthday!  And received some wonderful handmade gifts!

My dear friend Rachel from Family Ever After stopped by one evening with the most precious mini Dresden!

     

The Dresden Plate block is so near and dear to my heart!  I love this teeny version with sweet embroidery!  It was a happy day!

And my other dear friend, Susan, from PatchworknPlay sent a package bursting with fun!

she knows my love of fun socks!

But best of all, is the Dilly Bag she made using a piece of vintage patchwork I sent to her last year!

 

 

Amazing!  I absolutely LOVE it!  Thank you, Susan!

And I finished my birthday celebration by having lunch with my good friend, Mary Jo!  She is another lover of fabric and quilting!  It was great to see her impressive stash of fabric and chit chatting about quilting.  She is dear.  

Lastly, I have to say to my bee mate, Mary from Mary On Lake Pulaski...your block should be at your house this week!  Sorry I am so late!

happy sunday!

mary

 

The Charm of Cherry Christmas....

When it comes to shoppe sewing, I try to think a few months ahead....try....

but when I saw Aneela Hoey's new line of Christmas fabrics...

I didn't have to think at all...it is just adorable!!!  So several cuts came home with me :)

I mixed in a little Essex linen and some perle cotton....

spiced it up with some rik-rak and ball fringe....

 but I couldn't stop with just a stocking....this is too darn cute!

so a little patchwork fun...

and some petite dresdens are occupying my machine right now!

Dresdens are so yummy!

Happy Tuesday!

mary

Happy 4th. of July!!!

Such a busy weekend....and this year it almost seems never ending.....the fireworks began Friday night and have been booming ever since!!!

I worked on some blocks....and Molly worked on her Crazy Dresden...in between the fun and the food!!!

This is a fun checkerboard star....I really like this block, but it needs a little tweaking...

I used freezer paper to paper piece it and it does have a few inset seams, but not too bad!

I would say a great All American Beauty!!!

Earlier in the weekend I had a notion to try a Glorified Nine Patch....

Then still on roll with the arcs and the flowering snowball block....I tried a melon block in black and white...

And I will leave you with Molly's Crazy Dresden...the center of the center block is complete....

Now she is working on quarter blocks....

Have a wonderful Independence Day!!!

mary

The Progression....

Molly is working on the embroidery for the center circle of her Crazy Dresden Plate Quilt...

I love to watch her mind at work....

How she builds...layer by layer.....

 

More to come....stay tuned....

TGIF!  Have a happy and safe 4th. of July Weekend!

mary

Whole Lot of Crazy Goin' On!

Molly mastered applique without a problem....today we work on needle turn applique!

With her background chosen and her Dresden appliqued to the square....she took off with the embellishing....crazy quilt style!!! 

This was the part she was itching to work on!

Molly loves Embroidery......

And she loves the crazy quilt style....with a little more structure...I think this idea is brilliant!

Today she will appique the center...I can't wait to see the stitches she adds!

mary :) 



More Flowering......

In keeping with the theme of the Flowering Snowball block....I thought I would bring you the real deal!!!

  

This is the Snowball Bush from my front yard....we have had this plant for about 24 years....I look forward to seeing it bloom every summer....

While I am at it here are a few other pretties from my garden...

And now let me introduce you to a new block to me....but one that reminds me a bit of the Flowering Snowball....it is the Alabama Beauty!

It is a lovely block....not sure my templates were all that accurate though....she took a bit of convincing....LOL!

And remember the sweet vintage tablecloths?  Well, I tore into one today....and used a section for a kitchen towel....

I added a Dresden....and rik-rak {that was a perfect match}.....and now it is hanging from my oven door...

Hope your day has been full of flowers and good things :)

mary

Lovelies....

I picked up some lovely fabric and fabulous buttons while at work yesterday....

The buttons stacked with roses will go on the back of a Dresden Pillow....

This one....

applique the center circle....

And add some hand quilting with perle cotton!

Hope you are having a lovely Sunday :)

mary

Piecing....Embroidery....Ducks.....

I feel so good because I set my mind to getting a few things off my 'to-do' list and now they are 'to-done'......

One is super top secret so I can only show very teeny sneak peeks...

This is only partially complete....but it is getting there...

In the summer I will be offering a Dresden Plate Pillow Class.  A fun way to learn the Dresden Block, some applique techniques and hand quilting without the stress of an entire quilt....

So I worked on another sample for this pillow....I simply adore this sweet Hokkoh blue polka dot fabric.....

Then there is my QAL with Lily's Quilts....I have been itching to try something different with this quilt....yet stay true to my idea of a vintage looking quilt....so I decided my circles will be fans instead...

I love fan quilts...there is one at a local tea house that I covet....

Sorry - these pictures don't do it justice....I still need to sew the rows together, but it is lovely....

I had to cut the outer circle about 1/2 inch on both ends...and of course the center circle is just a quarter of the size....

Molly has been working on some embroidery for me....

This very simple embroidery....

Done on a vintage hankie....

And this piece is for a special occasion.....

So we have had a good couple of days....and this morning as I looked out my back door these little fellows waddled across my lawn...

Love ducks!!!

Hope you are having a great Friday!!!

mary