A Blog worth it's weight in GOLD

I want to share a couple finds with you.  If you are anything like me and love inspiration these two sites will surely fit the bill.
Here is a sample of one of the cute quilts she has made:

So just in case you want to follow the blog here is the link.

Ulla's Quilt World

and for more interesting quilts here is a FaceBook page I found by browsing Ulla's Quilt World:

Chica Fiapo
I hope you enjoy my finds as much as I did.  Have fun trying to recreate the beauties on these sites!

Cross Stitch OH MY

So it seems that cross stitch is back on the scene.  My niece has discovered the joy of making those little x's that create a stunning piece of art!  My goodness, I haven't crossed stitched since 1993.  I burned myself out on that after creating oh about 50 pieces.  I only saved a few for myself so I thought I'd share with you.  I still have all the "stuff" needed to make anything in cross stitch that my heart desires...but the desire isn't in me again yet.  I do feel a little xstitch inspiration coming on...just not full blown yet.
I hope you enjoy some 90's designs all in cross stitch!

and this one I made for my mom...but now I have it as just one more memory of her.  

I taught her how to cross stitch and she gave me her very first one.
Here it is and I love it.

My Irish Chain Quilt nearing completion

I found this pattern on the Missouri Star site video's section, it's called Irish Chain.  This is so easy it will make you sick!  I found this "fabric for a cause" at the Spring Quilt shop and purchase 3 jelly rolls, and a fat quarter bundle as well as backing for any quilt I decided to make using it.  In the Missouri Star video for this quilt there is no borders but I'm going to add boarders using nearly an entire 40 piece jelly roll.  Can't wait to show you.  This will be the largest quilt I have ever made.  It is a king size quilt, it is so large I had to take it to the quilt shop to take the picture.  I promise to take another picture once the borders are on.  You are going to be so jealous that you'll have to make one for yourself.
This quilt takes 1 - 40 strip jelly rolls plus 8 more strips of assorted colors and 1 - 40 strip solid (I used white and I cut my own jelly roll for the solid fabric) and 6 yards of the same color solid as your solid jelly roll.    Very quick to put together!
Here is the video on You Tube but please be sure and visit their site because it has so much to offer.

Mad rush to no where!

It dawned on me yesterday that my friend and neighbor's birthday was the next day.  I was in a panic of what to do for her birthday.  Since she is such a wonderful friend and neighbor I like to always give her something that I think is special and here it was only one day to do just that...so I rushed around thinking, looking on line for idea's....  Then I finally found it.  A little matching kitchen set.

I sat down at my computer, I found an image of an apple that I like then I digitized it.  I dug through my stash to find fabric that would go with her kitchen and found a pattern for the long double pot holder you see there in the back and for the dish towels I just winged it.  All that sounds like a lot but really it didn't take long.

Then I decided I'd expand on the apple theme and make her an apple pie!  So I went to the store, picked up some granny smith apples and of course some ice cream.  Oh and I also picked up a couple steaks, after all it was my anniversary!  Okay, so once I got home I started the apple pie right away.  I dug out my favorite pie crust recipe.  Pealed and put the apples on to simmer (so I could get more apples in the pie) and in a matter of an hour or so I had a 6 inch apple pie all ready for delivery.   I need to deliver this a day before her birthday because I'll be out the entire day of her birthday.

So I'm now ready to deliver my goodies to the birthday girl.  I give her a call to let her know I'm coming over with a surprise...and no answer...  Then I go to my PC to email her and to my surprise she's posted on FB and well...to my horror she is in SEATTLE....  How could I forget!    LOL now, the rush is over and there never even needed to be a rush cause she's not due back till Sunday!  Anyway a trip to Seattle is definitely better than an apple pie so she still is having a wonderful deserving Birthday, and when she gets back...well she'll have a frozen apple pie to thaw!

Lesson learned....WRITE things down if your memory is failing you!

My Dresden Star top complete

I went on a retreat last year sometime, don't ask me when cause I'm getting too old to remember all the details of life!  Anyway, a lovely woman named Bankie was also there at the retreat and she was working on this wonderful pattern by Edyta Sitar called Dresden Star.  I fell in love at first site of this scrumptious pattern.  As soon as I got home I went to the quilt store to get all the supplies to make this beauty!  I even got the templates and they were a whopping $5.00. That's what I call a bargain!

After my trip to the quilt store for all the supplies I needed to complete my very own Dresden Star I began getting all the pieces cut out and ready to start sewing.  That day I made one block and was so amazed at the ease of this pattern.  It sure looks a lot more complicated.  Well, even though I got it all cut out and one block complete I had to set it aside.  Life sometimes gets in the way of my creative side.  I knew I'd get back to it and last week I did.

I did have a bit of trouble with the large triangles and I wrote Edyta with a question, well she must be really busy cause she never got back to me.  I was a bit disappointed about that because I also make and sell weaving tools and my customer service is 100% always, and I just expect the same.  Oh well, I just kept plugging along and everything ended up working out so all is well.
I am extremely happy with this one, and it's for ME!

Hope you love it too.

Fences keep the dogs in!

You know, I'll be 50 next year but I feel 70!  I wish I was more fit but I'm not.  I told my son that he needs to think of everything labor intensive he needs done so we can get it done before I'm no longer able to tackle jobs like these!  You seen he acquired his first pet now that he has his first home right?  Well part of dog ownership is to keep your dog from roaming the streets!  Jason's new home needed tons of repairs and one of them was his back fence.  It was leaning at a 45 degree angle toward the treeline behind his house.  Besides that the pickets were probably as old as the house and needed to be replaced 5 years ago!  Well, me sending pictures of cute dogs, then Jason choosing one at the end of August was probably poor judgment on my part knowing the fence needed replacing!  Oh sometime I think I just love punishing myself, and I do it often.  Anyway last weekend we tackled the job, it was 100 in the shade..(had we had any shade) but we did it and we did it well.  The fence looks like a professional put it up.  We are so pleased!  Here is the fence complete and Catlin is hosing it down so we can seal it...definitely sealing it, don't want to have to repeat this project anytime soon.

Fun at the Boutique Workshop

I finally took some pictures of one of the monthly workshops we have for the boutique.  This was our August workshop so we were not as full as usual but we still had tons of fun.  These ladies are so awesome, dedicating time to make things for us to sell at the 2014 Peace Love, Sew Quilt Show Boutique.  We have so much fun and I've grown to really love these ladies!  Here are some pictures of them working like busy bees.

Artimis my new Granddog...:)

Life is moving right along for my Son.  His new house, his new girl and now his new dog Artimis.  The cutest little Miniature Pinscher ever!  He adopted him on Monday and now he's officially part of the family.  Who doesn't love a great pet.  Jason is so over the top in love and so happy to finally have a pet that is REALLY his.  My donation (among other) was this dog couch.  No I didn't have a pattern but felt it couldn't be that hard so I just went for it...  2 less 2x4's later we had the frame.  Then I tore open some old pillows that we were no longer using and stuffed it the best I could.  Then picked out some fabric to match Jason's house (2 yards) should have purchased 3 yards but I made due and didn't hardly have a scrap left!  Artimis loves his bed.  He knew it was his as soon as he seen it.  Isn't that hilarious!  He jumped in it, jumped up and down on it and then just laid down.  He's a happy boy!