Hey, the Postman Cometh Early Today!!!

When I saw the postman come to my house early today, I knew I was getting something special.  I don't usually get my mail until 3:30 or 4:00 in the afternoon and it was only 9:30 a.m. and he was coming down my drive!!! I got two packages, one small one and one bigger one..well, the smaller one was the piece of vintage jewelry that I won!! I commented on Nancy Moser's blog several weeks ago and she notified me last week that I was one of three winners!! How cool is that? The picture above is the piece, it can be worn as a brooch or a necklace.  The green stones look like emeralds and the rhinestones look like diamonds but they  really aren't, I wouldn't know what to do with real ones anyway so I love it just the way it is. It is a very pretty piece of vintage jewelry and I will enjoy wearing it...thanks so much, Nancy!!

Now about that bigger package,,,wellllll, I have to admit that I ordered more books, shhhhhhhh!!!!  (whispering) I ordered nine!! Geez, that's hard for me to admit but I can justify every one of them. (I think)

First, is the book of Gwen Marston's on Four Block Applique Quilts. In searching through this book on Amazon, I found a 4 block Eagle that I really thought I would like to make. Only to learn, the quilt is shown in the Gallery of Quilts only and there is no pattern. Oh well, not all is lost, as there are several quilts in the book that are very interesting but I was disappointed about not getting the Eagle pattern.  Next, the book on silhouettes, doesn't that look like something you would like to do?  That's my sentiments exactly, I have a photo that I have been wanting to use for this technique for several years and it can't hurt to have a book to give you a few good pointers, right? I'm glad that I bought it too. Now, how about this one on Beaded Crazy Quilting?   If you know me at all, you know that I love beads and beading so I'm always looking for some good beading techniques and beautiful things to do with them.  How could I go wrong on a book like this??? No way, so I bought it too!!

This next book by Darlene Zimmerman just really caught my eye..she has a quilt for each month of the year and I truly like about 12 of them. Just a lovely book to pick up and drool over the quilts..Everyone needs a few books like that, don't they?

One Line at a Time, well, I fantasize a lot about being a great machine quilter so I thought I should have another book telling me how to become a good machine quilter.  I have at least a half dozen more on the subject, I study and I read but I don't do much machine quilting yet..but I know when I get up the nerve to dive in,  I should have all the how-to's and know how's that I will need. ;-) I wish myself, Good Luck!    Now we come to the Portraits from Nature.  I just really thought it looked like fun and want to try making something from this book someday.  I have a couple of old window frames and think these whimsical flowers would look good in them. Maybe one of these days, it will happen.

Machine Embroidered Flowers, just because I like Donna Dewberry and I have an embroidery unit that I rarely use..I am hoping this will get me in the mood..No other excuses for me!

Here we are again talking about Embellishments and beads are included too! It's just fun to look at all the ways a person can decorate or embellish a simple item and make it into something someone would love to have...I'm just a dreamer, if you haven't guessed it by now...dream on, Stitches!!

Here we are at #9...it's called  " Love of Quilts, A Treasury of Classic Quilting Stories".  A little book filled with inspiring quilting stories, taken from vintage magazines, many from the 1800"s. It will be a nice book to pick up and read a quick story or two..It could be a good resource for a Quilt Guild program, I'm always on the look-out for good programs too.  Whew, that brings me to the end of my "exciting" day with my new piece of vintage jewelry and my new books..time to hit the sack and cruise through a couple of the books.  Gee, I hope you had a "Stitches" kind of day...Sew until next time, take care...Stitches

Cinnamon Roll Recipe for those who asked!

With or Without

I don't know what was going on with Blogger but they had some major difficulties, I think. I had lost the whole last blog post, it's back but my comments are gone. I treasure those nice comments, dang, I would like to have them back!! A couple of you had asked for the recipe, can't remember exactly who it was, so I will just post it here for anyone who would like to have it. It's rather lengthy so bare with me.
OVERNIGHT CINNAMON/CARAMEL ROLLS
    
2 envelopes active dry yeast (I use Rapid-Rise)
1/2 cup warm water
2 cups milk, scalded
1/3 cup plus 1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 T. baking powder
2 t. salt
1 egg
6 1/2 to 7 1/2 cups all purpose flour ( I use Bread Flour)
1 T. cinnamon
1/4 cup butter, softened
     In large mixer bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water.  Cool milk to lukewarm and stir into yeast along with 1/3 cup sugar, oil, baking powder, salt, egg and 3 cups flour.  Beat for 2 to 3 minutes with electric mixer. Stir in enough remaining flour to make a dough that's easy to handle.  Knead on well- floured surface until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes.  Place in oiled bowl, turning to grease the top. Cover and let rise in warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.  Meanwhile, prepare two 9"x13" baking pans.  For frosted cinnamon rolls, liberally grease pan.  For caramel rolls, prepare topping (recipe follows) and divide evenly between two pans.  Mix 1/2 cup sugar and cinnamon; reserve.  Punch down dough and divide into halves.  Roll one half to a 12"x10" rectangle.  Spread with 2 T. softened butter (or more) and sprinkle with half the cinnamon sugar mixture.  Beginning on the 12" side, roll up dough, pinching edge firmly to seal.  Cut into 12 one-inch slices. Arrange on one prepared pan.  Repeat with remaining dough, butter and cinnamon sugar mixture. Wrap pans with sprayed foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 12 hours, but no longer than 48 hours. (To bake immediately, do not wrap; let rise lightly covered until doubles, about 30 minutes and proceed with baking.)  To bake, remove foil from pans. Bake at 350 degrees until golden, about 20-25 minutes. Immediately invert pan onto baking sheet or heat proof serving plate.  Wait a minute, then remove pan.  Caramel-topped rolls are ready to serve.  For cinnamon rolls (without caramel) prepare glaze and spread on rolls while warm. Makes 24-26 rolls.
     Caramel Topping:  1 cup brown sugar, 3/4 cup butter, 1/4 cup white corn syrup and 1 cup pecan halves. Heat brown sugar and butter until melted. Remove from heat; stir in corn syrup. Divide mixture between two baking pans and sprinkle pecans evenly in each pan.
     Cinnamon Roll Glaze: 2 cup powdered sugar, 2 T milk, 1 t. vanilla or almond flavoring. Mix all ingredients until smooth.  Drizzle or spread over warm cinnamon rolls.    Enjoy!!!

Seven Sisters, Fray Block, Glue Pen & Cinnamon Rolls

This is sort of a weird title for this post but it includes everything that I want to show you.  First, the Seven Sisters Civil War block is shown above. I hand appliqued it and used some 'new to me' products. I used the Ricky Tims' Stable Stuff Poly to make the templates and then I used the glue pen to turn the edges over. Because the star points were so 'pointy' after I had finished appliqueing them, I used some Fray Block on each of the points. I let it dry then I washed the block to get rid of the stiffness from the Stable Stuff. The SS did soften up a lot but it still has quite of bit of body to it. I'm not sure I would use it if I were to hand quilt, especially if I needed to do some quilting within the stars..Since the stars are small, I think it worked fine and would use it again for a project like this.  I did like using the glue pen, small and easy to handle and the glue worked just fine too! Although Elmer's Washable School Glue is very inexpensive and I think it works just as well.  The Fray Block hopefully did the trick to keep the points safe and sound when washing after the quilt is finished. Overall, I was happy with the results of all of the products.

Now, on to the Cinnamon Rolls that I made for a Mother's Day breakfast at my daughter's house. Nothing really special about them, except everyone likes them so being the bread maker in the family, I whipped them up the day before. They are 24 hour rolls, so you can make them up and stick them in the frig, get them out the next day and bake them fresh to eat.  Can you smell the aroma? My house still smelled like cinnamon and bread when I came home after breakfast. Gotta run for now, sew until next time,  have a "Stitches" kind of day...

A Laughing Matter!! ;-) ;-0 !!

I don't know if I can write and get this across to you or not but I will try...Today I was at my DD house (she had back surgery a couple of weeks ago) planting some flowers for her and my 23 year old grandson was digging up the dirt a head of me so I could get the flowers in. Well, my "beloved" (and I truly mean it) SIL was afraid the GS was going to hit a sprinkler head so he decided to turn the sprinklers on to mark the heads.  BUT I was sitting on the ground and just happened to be in the line of fire (water) when it came on. Needless, to say, I got wet. I'm yelling at my SIL, Mike, Mike!! I tried to lay low to the ground, hoping the water would go over me, duh!!! That didn't work so I rolled over (picture this in your mind) to get up on my knees and got blasted from the back and when I got up, I sort of got it from the front. My glasses were completely covered in drops and everyone was laughing so much they were crying. I thought my DD was going to undo her back surgery, she was laughing so hard. It was not a pretty scene, just wish someone had recorded it so we could have sent it in to America's Funniest Videos..I'm still laughing when I think about it and it will be something that comes up in conversation in our family for a long time, I'm afraid..It was an eventful afternoon to say the least!!! I had a "Stitches" kind of day for sure!!! sew until next time..keep dry!!!

Happy Mother's Day and Grandma's Too!!

And Grandma's too... While we honor all our mothers
with words of love and praise.
While we tell about their goodness
and their kind and loving ways.
We should also think of Grandma,
she's a mother too, you see....
For she mothered my dear mother
as my mother mothers me.
Author Unknown

I just wanted to take a few minutes to honor Mother's and Grandmother's on this special day.  I'm a Mother (3X) and Grandmother (8X), roles that I will always cherish. We had a nice brunch this morning up at my oldest DD's house and I received some lovely gifts....but the real gift was just being together as a family. My youngest DD wasn't home today but she will be here next week for a graduation celebration..I got her beautiful card yesterday with a gift certificate to one of my favorite stores so I think I'm about the luckiest Mother around today. Blessings to all of you and I hope you are having a "Stitches" kind of Mother's Day....until next time.  Enjoy your day!!!

My, Oh My, Don't Be Shy!!

Please don't be shy about leaving a commnet or two, they make a blog so much more interesting. It's fun to read what others think and they really do help to encourage a blogger to post more often.  I'm really not begging you or pleading although you might call it that, hmmmmmmmmm!!!  Frankly, I had this cute little card and wanted to post it, so I thought I would put out a call for comments...Did it work???? Sew until next time, have a Stitches kind of evening. 

It's Good to Be Back!!

     Greetings to all of you and Happy May Day!! Yes, it has been over 2 weeks since I have written on my blog, whew, I can't believe it!  I really have been busy but I know the rest of you have been busy also. My oldest DD had back surgery on the 19th of April and that same day but in the evening, I had a trunk show at my guild..It was a long day for me to say the least. I am happy to report that DD is getting along okay but I think she is trying to do to much to soon, guess that might just be the mom in me! I think our cold, rainy weather the last couple of weeks didn't do a lot for energy levels, I really needed some sunshine and have finally gotten it the last few days. Thanks be to God!

     First, I want to show you my progress on the Barbara Brackman Civil War quilt. Here are 3 blocks that I made on April 15th. All on one day!! Whew, it must have been raining again!  Here is mine called North Star.

This is Texas Tears.

    

And this is Kansas Troubles. The picture looks rather faded but it is a light lavender background, not grey.  I also have my Seven Sisters done and will post it soon too. I hate to admit that I have 2 plastic bins (big ones) full of civil war reproduction fabric now, I think scrappy civil war quilts are on my agenda in the future. But you have to buy when you see something you like or it will be gone, never to come back, right??  That's my theory and I'm stickin' to it!

I had looked at these books for several weeks and finally decided to take the "bull by the horns", (that would actually be ME) and ordered them. I have really enjoyed looking at all the projects in them and can see several quilts that I want to make. I want to make some doll quilts for a doll stroller that belonged to my mom and her sister. And then I have my doll cradle that could use some fixing up and TLC and that would include a quilt or two. I also joined the group on Yahoo and have enjoyed reading on it.  But, and this is a big BUT, now I really would like to have this book.

The price is $28.00 and I just don't know if it is worth it, books are getting really expensive, don't ya think? Does anyone have this book?? Do you really, really like it?? I wish you would let me know what you think about the book and the projects. I hate to order a book and not know what is inside for projects. I hope to hear from some of you about this book.

Lastly, I want to show you a couple of pictures of my Lenten Rose. This is about the 3rd or 4th year for it and it has really made a spectacle of itself. There are easily over a hundred blossoms on it right now. Mine happens to be a dark purple color and they don't show up real good against the dark green foliage. It started blooming back in March and still is getting buds on it! Way to go, Lennie Rose!!  I think on that note, I'm going to call it quits for this time...Sew have a great "Stitches"  kind of day...see ya soon!!

Let Me Introduce, My Friend Diana & Her Pattern Company

Today I am blogging about my personal friend, Diana.  She has a pattern company and she has developed some really neat patterns. Her patterns are simple but look difficult and on most of them she has several sizes, from which to chose. Her directions are written very clear and easy to follow. The pattern that I have shown is Emma's Star Quilt pattern, and I think it is so bright and cheerful and she has directions for 4 different sizes. The best part is that most of her patterns have an e-download so you can get the pattern and start sewing today!! You can't beat that plus, for a limited time, she is offering free shipping on a hard copy of her patterns.  Her website is http://www.pleasantvalleycreations.com/ and I know you will be pleased if you check it out. Not only does she have great patterns but Diana is an awesome long-arm quilter. She has posted a lot of her machine quilted quilts on Webshots and that link is under her Machine Quilting Services on her website. I guess from my descriptions that you know, I think Diana is a remarkable person to do what she does and do it so well. I hope you will take the time to look at her site and see for yourself..Sew, my wish for you and myself, is to have a "Stitches" kind of day...until next time.

Nothing to Brag About!

I truly have nothing to brag about, last week I made a big deal out of starting the Civil War block of the week by Barbara Brackman.  It's really no big deal on my part, I got a whole sum of ONE block done, whoopee!!  I guess life and other things have gotten in the way a little. And then there are simply a few times that I just had to sit and rest and not do a darn thing.  I don't like those moments very well really, as I don't like to waste my time but my 70+ body just says "it's time to rest". Okay then, I believe it. After the hail storm, it's been one thing after another. Talking to adjuster's, roof and siding "experts", and trying to decide what to do. My yard is a mess with tons of sticks and I'm trying still trying to clean up the fall/winter debris too. The spring flowers are coming up through the leaves and old flower parts and need to come off..I've been trying to work a few hours every day on that. And now I have 3 quilts to bind, one is the T-shirt quilt that Granddaughter Abby and I worked on together, another the one I am making her for graduation and the other is one  to finish for the PhD Challenge. Well, I have put in my 2 1/2 hours in the yard today so I'm headed for the shower and then will get some binding sewn on one of the quilts so I can sew it on tonight while watching TV. GD Abby is really anxious for me to get her T-shirt quilt done so she can show it off. I will post it as soon as I can so you can see it.  It came out very nice. The block in this post is the first Civil War block that I have made, I know it is going to take sometime for me to catch up but if there is a will, there is a way...and I hope to find the will and the way very soon.

Catch Me If You Can

Sew until next time, have a "Stitches" kind of day...

I've Done It Again!

Photo from the Civil War blogspot

I broke a promise and that is not good. The promise was to myself though so does that make it okay? I had told myself ( a "telling" is really different than a promise, I think, isn't it?) that I would not start any new projects until I finished one (or a few) but dang! this Civil War Sesquicentennial Quilt that Barbara Brackman is doing for FREE every week, just kept pulling my apron strings until I couldn't stand it any longer..And some of you know that Barbara Brackman is one of my all time favorite people/designers. And Civil War stuff, fabric, books and stories are a favorite also. Barbara is posting a new block every week for a year (yes, that's 52 blocks to make) and there is a story or history lesson to go with each and every one of the blocks. It's really, really interesting.I have a button on the left side on my blog that will take you right too the CW blogspot. I'm excited but also a little fearful about committing to this at this time of year but it will be okay, it will be okay and I repeat, IT WILL BE OKAY. Whew!! I really like starting new projects, hmmm, I think I might have said that once or twice before too.  Well, I am not telling any of my family or friends that I am doing this so they will only know if they read my blog, that will be a good test for them. Well, I best get busy and see about this first block..I'm on my way to having a "Stitches" kind of day..sew until next time. Wish me luck!

Check out My New Books!

Here are my new hardback books that I won on The Raspberry Rabbits blog. They are wonderful books with lots of  "eye-candy" in them. So many beautiful pictures, colors and ideas, enough to last for a long, long time. I just want to say a bit THANK YOU to Michelle for drawing my name and sending me the books. She is a delightful gal and has a delightful blog to visit..please drop by her blog http://theraspberryrabbits.blogspot.com/ and see what she is has been up to. She has the cutest rabbits and they are always getting in trouble and she has great ideas too!  And I know she would appreciate if you would leave a comment, we all love to read our comments. Sew, I hope you will have a "Stitches" kind of day..until next time.

Eeeeeeeeeeeek!! It's foggy!!

It is so foggy here this morning that I can only see half way down my block..I would take a picture but what would I get?? A whole picture of nothing, I think!! Sure glad that I don't have to get out and go anywhere until this afternoon.  This is just an update on our weather,,,crappy.  Come on sunshine, I need it!! Please!!!

This is what I want to be and guess where I'm going????   SOUTH!!!

Hail or Snow, Hail or Snow, I Don't Want To See Anymore!!!

Well, a week ago today, we had a great hail storm and tornadoes that touched down in our area. It was some of the biggest hail that I have ever seen. I have 3 broken storm windows, damage to the siding on the west side of my home and I don't know what it did to the roof yet..The insurance adjuster hasn't been here to check it out and he won't get here until next week sometime.  Some of those hail stones above are golf ball size and really hard and they make a lot of noise when they are hitting your house!!!!  And then we've had snow about every other day. These are pictures of the first snow. It came down so gentle and was so full of moisture that it just clung (clung, is that really a word? sounds weird to me) to everything. Notice how it piled up on the lilac hedge and the outside lamp post below.

And then there is the wire cage that supports my Oriental Lilies. I think it's really neat the way the snow looks like frosting on it. I am just thankful that everyone was okay from the tornadoes and hopefully this will be our last snow for the year..I'm ready for all that yard work to begin. ;-)

I am the Winner for the March Give-A-Way on the Raspberry Rabbit Blog!!

I cannot believe it!!! But Michelle May informed me that I had won her March Give-a-Way and I won these two beautiful books!! I'm am so excited about these books, everyone who knows me, knows how much I like books too!! They will be a very nice additon to my library and I can't wait to receive them..and rest assured, I will be sharing them with anyone wishing to drool......Please check out Michelle's blog, The Raspberry Rabbits, (http://theraspberryrabbits.blogspot.com)/ it's really a neat blog and she has a free BOM that she is doing for us too! It's cute hand-embroidered heart designs that will make a lovely quilt when we are done with them. And she has rabbits, sometimes they are nice and sometimes they are naughty, naughty!! But cute! Wow, March has been a good month for me.

I won the Quilting Gallery contest for "My Dad, the Sailor" fabric portrait, a couple of weeks ago and just received that book in the mail yesterday. It looks like it's going to be a good read too!!   Where is all this Good Luck coming from???  It's sure is nice, and I would never look a gift-horse in the mouth....have you ever heard that old saying??? On that note, I'm getting out of here because I'm having a very good "Stitches" kind of day and I'm going to make the most of it,,bye for now..

A Good Mug Rug Morning

Good Morning! It's a good mug rug morning here. Mug Rugs seem to be a very popular item lately and I just received one from Switzerland, along with a yummy Swiss Chocolate candy bar. Both items are very good!! I'm trying to take it easy on the chocolate bar but every time I walk by I can smell it and I just have to have another "little" square of it..so I put it in my pantry..but I have found out that the door opens so easily. I just can't fool myself! The above picture is the red and white MR that I received from Liliane Marquis  in a MR exchange that I joined. The picture below,  is the one I made and sent to my gal, Dianne Brooks, that lives in Pennsylvania. She should receive this about tomorrow, I hope she likes it. This was a fun little exchange to do. This is my very first MR so I kissed it goodbye (and cried a little) and sent it on it's way.

I am also including a picture of another MR that a friend, Jill C., gave to me and you can see that I used her idea when I made mine. I really like the idea of putting a cup on it and tucking some tea bags inside for a little treat. Cute, huh?This Not a Mug Rug, I repeat, this is NOT a Mug Rug....I just got hungry for homemade Mac N' Cheese the other day so I'm showing you that I really do cook once in a while...oh, by the way, remember the other day when I said I had to go make 2 Apple Pie's. Well, I did but forgot to take pictures of them, dang! And they looked really good too! I had kids and grandkids over for pie on Sunday evening and then GS Joel took the other one to school on Monday. Monday was 3.14 so his class was celebrating "Pi" day. He was excited about taking the pie but before he got a piece it was all gone!!  He was checking out what the other kids brought and when he got done, his Pi was gone..hungry little munchins, I guess. Sure glad he had a piece the night before..Well, this is about all I have time for today as I'm heading out to the city...hope you are having a "Stitches" kind of day, ya all!!

Sugar Cookie Recipe is here.

I have had some requests for the Sugar Cookie recipe so I am posting it here today..I hope you enjoy it and be sure and let me know, if you did..thanks, I'll be back soon, but gotta go make 2 Apple Pies right now!!

Bet You Can’t Eat Just One Sugar Cookies

1/2 cup of butter, softened

1/2 cup of cooking oil

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 powdered sugar

1/2 teaspoon  cream of tartar

1/2 baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups of all-purpose flour

granualated sugar or colored sugar

          In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and oil with an electric mixer for 30 seconds.  Add 1/2 cup granulated sugar, powdered sugar, baking soda, cream of tartar and salt. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally.  Beat in egg and vanilla until combined. Beat in the flour. Cover and chill 4 to 24 hours.

          Shape into 1/2 inch balls for small cookies and 1 1/4 inch balls for larger cookies. (mine were the larger ones) Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.  Flatten balls with the bottom of a glass (I used the ashtray!) dipped in granulated or colored sugar. I actually used white sugar when I flattened them and just sprinkled the green sugar on before baking.

          Bake in 375 degree oven 8-10 minutes for small cookies or 10-12 minutes for large or until bottoms are lightly browned. (I cooked mine for 9-10 minutes) Transfer cookies to wire racks and let cool. Make 72 small or 36 large cookies..Note: Dip bottom of the glass in the cookie dough so sugar will stick to the glass.  Next, dip into the sugar.  If you like, add a little cinnamon and nutmeg to the dipping sugar. To store: Place cookies in layers separated by waxed paper in an airtight container. Store at room temperature up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months.  (That’s if there are any left!)

My Dad, the Sailor on the Quilting Gallery

(The voting is over so I have edited this entry about the voting.) This is the fabric portrait of my Dad that I entered on the quiltinggallery.com in this week's contest. I took a Marilyn Belford class on Quilt University and it was a very good experience. I had looked at this class for several years and wanted to take it but just didn't know if I would be successful in taking a class like that over the computer. I got a lot of help from Marilyn and it was a great class. It was a challenging learning experience and I'm so glad that I did it. I bought a bundle of hand-dyed flesh colored fat quarters at the AQS show in Des Moines and used them for all of the face. My Dad will be 98 in June and he really likes the portrait. He lives independently and is sharp as a tack. He told me this picture was taken in Gulfport, Ms.  before he was shipped overseas in WWII. He was 28 years old and served the Navy as a Seabee (26th Construction Battalion) and ended up in Guadalcanal for over a year. My main reason for doing this was to honor my Dad for his military service. Now I really think I should do another portrait of him at this age, hmmmmm we'll see.

This is the actual picture that I worked from for my project. Really, handsome guy, I think, but I know that I am prejudice. I hope you will stop by the Quilting Gallery, there is a lot of good stuff on there. You can read blogs from all over the world, it's fun!  Until next time, have a 'Stitches' kind of day..I hope to do some sewing and check out the voting from time to time!!

Hungry for Sugar Cookies?

 I mixed up some sugar cookie dough yesterday and could hardly wait to make the cookies today. They are called "I Bet You Can't Eat Just One" Sugar Cookie. And you can't!  Well, you could if you had a lot of will power, you could eat just one or maybe two or maybe none at all..sorrrrrrrrrrrrry, that just ain't gonna happen here in the house! Why would you want to go to the trouble of making Sugar cookies if you were only going to eat just one? That doesn't even make any sense to me, especially after smelling them bake and sending out delicious odors into your house to make your mouth water.

Check out my fancy cookie stamper.  It does a good job of leaving some indentations on the cookies. It's an old ashtray that I found at an antique store long ago. Whatever works!

Here is my guard bird, keeping careful watch on those cookies. I have to report that he has already eaten 3 of them. I had 36 when I got done and now I only have 33 or is it 32? hmmmm I better go count again real soon. Did you notice the cute mug rug? A very kind friend gave it to me with 3 tea bags in the cup pocket, cute, huh? I love it! A great idea!  Best I get on with my "Stitches" kind of day, I hope you are having one too!

It's Now or Never?

 Well, it's now or never (maybe), I don't know what to call this post, it's just a little bit of several things. First, I just got done taking down my Valentine window clingy thingy's..a couple of grandson's had put them up and I guess I was of the mind-set, "you put them there, you take them down". But obviously, that didn't work and I got so used to them on the windows in my kitchen, that I didn't even notice them,, LOL

 

 They are kind of cute...

 And here are the remainders of my pretty flowers that I got 10 days ago, just couldn't seem to part with the little pink roses. They will look nice in a little crystal bowl, I think.

 And here are the fabrics that I got for my borders. I will use the green strip on the bias for the binding too.  I hope it will look great when it's done.

 I am going to our Mini quilt group meeting this afternoon and I'm taking these little blocks that I have been working on for quite a while. I've got the urge to make a doll quilt so this is going to be a doll quilt when it's done. The block is stamped on muslin and then it's hand pieced in the same way you would do paper piecing. They almost look quilted already by the time you get them done. The little blocks will finish at 2 1/4" so they are pretty tiny. I don't think I will have to make many more before adding a border or two but don't hold your breath before you see it again finished.  I'm not the most speedy of finishers..And below is the little basket that I keep them in...................................................................................it reminds me of Little Red Riding Hood.

I bought a nest of these, three, I think, years ago and they have really come in handy for small projects.  I think I have thrown a lot out here today but it's just what came to mind,....now I best get ready to go to my Mini's...I'm have a "Stitches" day.