Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Snowman doll from 2014

Good afternoon friends. Pictured above is a darling snowman that was included in the Homespun Holidays Giveaway back in 2014. There was not a close-up photo of him, so here he is again, re-posted, lol. He is from a pattern by: Sweet Meadows Farm named HoHoHo, Let It Snow. Someday I will make one for myself. Isn't he just too cute?

~Linking-up with Val at Tuesday Archives: snowmen~

Monday, January 30, 2017

Granddaughter's toy box

Pictured above is my granddaughter, Macey. She is having fun writing on the chalkboard of her new bench toy box. "Santa" (great-grandma Sarah & granny Danice) bought this toy box and refinished it for Macey. It is solid wood, and appears to be about 25+ years old. It was in a horrible shape, but has "good bones". This is what it looks like after much sanding, painting, and child-proofing. There is even a pink damask seat cushion for Macey to sit on, plus two throw pillows for added decor. 'Want to see what the toy box looked like pre-restoration? Please continue reading.

Saturday, January 28, 2017

2017 Fish Fry Tiny Tot Pageant

'So happy that my granddaughter Macey won the 2017 Fish Fry Tiny Tot Pageant this year! All of the girls are darling, and it must have not been easy to choose the winners. 'Proud of all of the contestants. Pictured here is Macey with her parents. 'Couldn't help but to brag a bit, lol. They all look so happy. Read more about the event on this Facebook page: WMUF/WLZK Radio.

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Constellations QAL

This year, for my first time, I am participating in the annual Rainbow Scrap Challenge that is hosted by: So Scrappy. The Constellations monthly QAL at: The Academic Quilter is all about that. The color chosen for January is purple, and this block is called the Wyoming Valley. Every month will feature a different color. This is an attempt at getting good quality photos indoors, as it is too cold to be outdoors, lol. My chosen fabrics are simple blenders, and every block will have that same deep blue background. Be sure to check-out So Scrappy and The Academic Quilter for more quilting and more information about the Rainbow Scrap Challenge 2017.

Monday, January 23, 2017

Amish children wall hanging quilt

Hello again. Pictured above is a wall hanging that I began nearly 3 years ago. This was when I was just learning how to quilt, lol. This pattern is from an older book that was purchased many years ago, anticipating to "one day learn how to quilt". The book is titledSunbonnet Sue Visits Quilt in a Day®, ©1992 by Eleanor Burns. Yes, the same book that my granddaughter's Sunbonnet Sue bed quilt was made from. This wall hanging {on the book's inside back cover} is titled Springtime, and was designed by Patricia Knoechel. It features an Amish boy and girl. She is hanging a quilt on the clothes line, and he has gone fishing. How fun is that? The fabrics are from my stash, all 100% cottons. The backing is solid white with hanging pockets in the top corners, and the binding is a dark slate blue color. Per the instructions, the machine quilting is stitch-in-the-ditch around the two main blocks. The children are both machine appliqued. Measuring 18.50"X32.50", this wall hanging's batting is Warm N' White©. Please continue reading.

Friday, January 20, 2017

Batik Scrappy table runner

Today is a nice today, although the skies are quite overcast. 'Perfect time to stay inside and sew or quilt, right? Recently, I was the lucky winner of Island Batik's Tradewinds collection. Connie at: Freemotion By The River hosted the giveaway. That's the completed table runner pictured above. The pattern, Batik Scrappy table runner, is designed by Connie. The batting is Warm N' Natural©, and the quilting is machine meandering with a taupe color thread that blends well. The backing is the same batik fabric as the binding. Sewn size is: 14"X40". Tradewinds is so lush and vivid, and I absolutely love it. 'See the fish, shells and seahorses in the batik designs? It's very beachy and calming. Sending more thanks to Connie.

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Macey's Christmas dress 2016

Good morning all. Pictured above is the dress that I made for my granddaughter for Christmas 2016. It is McCall's 6983, and is made of 100% pinwale corduroy in a lovely shade of royal blue. The bodice is self-lined, and the fastener is a back zipper. 'Love that front inverted pleat. The white blouse has a rounded white rick-rack trimmed collar, and is purchased. This dress was fairly simple to make, and will get a pattern difficulty rating of:

Fairly Easy

Sunday, January 15, 2017

Birthday gifts 2017

What a grand "50-something" birthday twin sister Janice and I had! We and our mother, along with Janice's son, really celebrated. My daughter called, and the day was awesome. Pictured above are my gifts. The batik table runner (an unquilted top now) is made of fabrics won from Connie of: Freemotion By The River. 'More photos when it is completed. My daughter Amanda is going to bring my gift soon, as she lives in TN and was afraid it would get broken via the mail. Mother, Janice and family all gave me fabric. Oh yeah, we know what that means: fabric for the quilt-alongs. The cute fabric purse and mug coaster are from Diane of: Lavender Dreams. She also included a cute 2017 calendar. Wow, all such perfect gifts. Sending heartfelt thanks to you all. Family and friends are most important of all, and the gifts are excellent extras. Prim blessings.

Saturday, January 14, 2017

Happy birthday to my twin sister

Sending happy birthday wishes to my twin sister, Janice. Let's just say that we are "over 50", lol. The lovely butterfly in the photo above is called a Blue Morphofalter. 'Just think the photo is gorgeous also, don't you? Janice and I are fraternal twins, but have totally opposite tastes in clothing, food, and other preferences. Her favorite color is blue, and mine is green. We do both love butterflies though. Janice, mother and I will celebrate later today. Prim blessings.
image: Meli 1670 | Pixabay.com

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

wholecloth Allegory Story quilt

Good afternoon friends. 'Remember a couple of months ago when I won a gift certificate and purchased some quilting fabrics? The collection is Allegory Story by Carrie Bloomston for Windham Fabrics. Pictured above is the first of two projects with those fabrics. This panel is now a wholecloth wall quilt. Wholecloth refers to one piece quilt tops instead of many pieces in the quilt top. 'Decided to get bold (lol) and attempt the trapunto technique. This literally means "stuffed work", and is a process in which a heavier loft batting than is used for the main quilt is sewn behind the quilt top in design motifs. When the quilt's main batting is then later added behind the quilt top, those areas are raised to create a depth layer to the quilt. The background stitching also helps to accentuate the trapunto designs. Please keep reading for more info and to comment.

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

Ugly Christmas Sweaters completed quilt

Talk about being late, lol. Here is my completed Ugly Christmas Sweaters quilt. This was a really fun QAL that was hosted by Lorna of: Sew Fresh Quilts. The completed quilt measures 42"X50", and is backed with an aqua geometric print fabric. The binding is my favorite color, kelly green. Simple machine meandering quilting was done. Batting is Warm N" White©.
I did take some liberty on the lowest right corner block. That one features a fussy cut Grinch® fabric, and is actually paying homage to an actual sweater that I have had for many years. Be sure to go visit Sew Fresh Quilts for some fun activities and great quilting tips. Thank you Lorna, for this awesome QAL as well as for the never-ending link party. There is also a Flickr group for this QAL.

~Linking-up with Sew Fresh Quilts' Ugly Christmas Sweaters Link Party~

~Linking-up with Kelly at: My Quilt Infatuation: Needle & Thread Thursday~


Sunday, January 1, 2017

Happy New Year 2017

Happy New Year everyone. Hoping your first day of 2017 is going happy and well. My word for 2017 is patience. Closely related to last year's word, relax, yet a bit different. Sometimes things do not happen/get done immediately, and patience would definitely help to deal with the stress of waiting. Maybe then relaxing would be easier, think so? So, for 2017 the plan actually merges with 2016's plan: to be more patient + learn to relax more.. Do you have a word for 2017?