Followers

Thursday, June 25, 2015

SWELTERING


Today is another sweltering mid-western Summer day.  After doing laundry and running errands early I decided to sew a little more on the patriotic quilt.  The picture below is the center panel of the quilt.  There will be an inner and outer border, which I will likely do this weekend.


The inner border will be the same off-white (French Vanilla) in the pinwheels and the outer border will be made from trimmings from snowballing the Rail Fence blocks.  I've said this before, this quilt looks more difficult than it is.  Missouri Star Quilts has a great tutorial on making this quilt on YouTube.

I hope you are working on something that makes you happy.

Stay cool....Barb




Tuesday, June 23, 2015

MAKING PROGRESS


Our weather has been brutal for several days with extreme heat and humidity.  It's the perfect time to stay indoors most of the day and tend to the hummingbirds and other critters we feed in the cool of the morning and evening. 

I have been working on the Pinwheel On Point & Fence Rail quilt a bit.  I'm to the point of sewing the blocks into rows.  This has been fun to make but has taken me quite a bit of time.  Here's what I have so far ~~~

 
 
This pattern looks more difficult that it really is.  The pinwheels are formed when four patches are joined together.  Note how you can see half pinwheels on the bottom and top rows.  You can watch the tutorial at Missouri Star Quilts.  I used a patriotic fabric line called Heart of A Nation and added some Civil War prints from my stash.  It's still very much a work in progress.  I did something a little out of the norm and cut and pieced the borders before I have the quilt center finished.  Yesterday I went to our local fabric shop and bought the batting and backing, so I must think I will finish it sooner than later!  Jeff really likes the look of this quilt.
 
 
What are you working on this Summer?  I love hearing about your projects.
 
 
Wishing you all a blessed day.....Barb

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

NOSEPRINTS



Our summer weather has arrived in all its blazing glory with humidity. 

I decided to wash windows this morning and even before 9 am it was really hot and humid.  Our precious Girls, Dottie & Olive, love looking out the living room windows and storm door.  They think nothing of pressing their noses on the windows when they get excited.  We have the same issue in our vehicles.  So, the windows are sparkling clean for the moment.  Isn't that the truth of all housework? 



Today was also the day the winter linens and quilt were washed and packed away until this Fall.  A pretty lightweight quilt is on our bed now.  I didn't make this quilt but it's one of my favorites. 


I have been sewing some Halloween blocks for a small quilt that will be used in the kitchen on the table or on the back of a chair.  I had 18 10-inch squares of Halloween Magic fabric and I decided to make some Four-Patch Frenzy blocks.  You can tell at a glance how simple the blocks are ~~ a black/white four-patch sewn onto a strip of Halloween print.  You can find the tutorial at Missouri Star. 


I have about an hour of sewing time before Jeff gets home.  I hope you are doing something that makes you smile.  I'm off to work on the Halloween blocks.

Stop in again soon.....

Thursday, June 4, 2015

A QUIET MOMENT OR TWO



I spent a few cozy hours sewing together the rows of curved log cabin blocks together yesterday (I will post pictures after the borders are added). The house was quiet except for some background music and I sewed and pondered life.  Sometimes I try to imagine how different my life would be if I didn't have creative work to do with my hands.  Again I thank my precious grandmother and great-grandmother who taught me to sew, embroider, crochet and knit.  I'm positive I was a challenge to teach, but my desire to learn and do everything they did was enough for them.  Thank you, thank you Nan and Grammy.

The weather in our area can't decide what it's doing.  The farmers are frantically cutting hay and crossing their fingers that it will dry enough to bale it before the next rain, which is predicted for tomorrow.  This is a very unsettling year to be a farmer....when is it not!

I have a sick scottie girl today.  I believe our Sweet Olive must have eaten a frog or a lizard because her tummy is giving her fits.  She's our little huntress.  Dottie sounds the alarm and Olive bursts into high gear.  After a little Pepto this morning she seems a little more settled, but she wants me to hold her while she whimpers.  At times like this I give her drops of water from a short straw and allow her to nap on our bed and she feels extra special.  I'm quite sure she will be hunting again tomorrow.

I hope all is sunny and warm in your corner of the world.  Take care and share a smile with someone you don't know...it makes them wonder what you're up to!

Note:  I love it when my readers leave comments, even brief ones.