Sunday, January 31, 2021

spirit Sundays

 PLEASE please listen to this video


Eyes upward, Feet forward, and hearts Homeward.... the five legends

you know the right thing, you can check facts, you know what is wrong, and it's up to you to make decisions to do the right thing. 

there are always consequences

Saturday, January 30, 2021

Sewing Saturday!...two more challenges

 

For this week's sewing round up I have two challenges to share! Three really as one of them is monthly color challenge, and January is for PINK!

The sewing machine (pattern from Lori Holt) is my Stay at Home Round Robin quilt. We are given a block to use in our rounds, this time it was the plus block

I admit I am not a fan but a challenge is a challenge. The block is boring and static to me, but then it's only boring if you don't put your own spin on it right? I used my  sewing fabrics  to run the blocks together. 

It required a series of partial seams (grrrr). Here is also a pin cushion block to add in...   but I love the flower head pins on cream fabric, and fussy cutting to include the little dress... shoes... I've been collecting for a while now!

I am not sold on how I want to include this row yet... so it's sitting here waiting for inspiration

The really big project this week was to finish my table runner for my friend JOY who challenged us to make "Table Scraps" (finished table covering of any kind using scraps) once a month. 

I carefully cut lots of 2.5" squares to start mine...

98 squares (plus some extras)
and arranged them from lightest to darkest.... then arranged them on the design wall and carefully sewed them together matching all the corners!!! 

I added a border to tie them together and carefully quilted down each row and cross row.

then I quilting in some diagonal rays of stitching, keeping the geometric feel  making repeating triangles...

Originally I thought I'd do curvy edges and applique but changed my mind during the design stage.

It's hard to see, sorry 'bout my photos, but I finished up with white wool flowers. I used a couching foot, zig zag stitch and sort of "sketched" with wool the outline of three flowers. It's subtle in photos but pretty in person and very delicate!


It looks so pretty on the credenza in the family room!
that little gear man is a clock

It's about 16"X 30" finished size

Linking to

http://frombolttobeauty.blogspot.com/
can I get a whoop whoop Fridays  

patchwork Sunday                    

https://thejoyfulquilter.blogspot.com/ 

Thursday, January 28, 2021

I Like #229

my sister gave me this plate!

well it's Thursday, the day we list our likes for the past week... and Milo says let's get a move on. 

I feel like I just wrote an I Like post (HERE) last Tuesday

I would like a muffin!

Books

reading     listening toMaisie Dobbs (Maisie Dobbs, #1) by Jacqueline Winspear... not sure if I like it yet...

just finished Winter in Paradise - Hilderbrand, Elin  and ordered the next one in the series 

also finished The Little Shop of Found Things - Brackston, Paula   and waiting next in the series Secrets of the Chocolate House - Brackston, Paula

tv shows

I'm enjoying the remake of All Creatures Great and small.  I think Celebrity Game Face is hilarious! Kevin heart hosts 3 celebrity contestants in silly but really funny games. 
The bachelor is always good, The Good Doctor and This is Us, The Crown, Best British Bakeries (on TUBI) is so fun... two judges test the merits of three bakeries in an area. Finding your roots on PBS

creativity

I got some new pens from Dick Blick... I love color! (posca paint and fineliners

 I want to find an inexpensive sturdy paper journal and make my own journal like Shayda Campbell's videos ( watch it here

pinkie goodness in a table runner in progress...
grand finish on Saturday's post!


people chow

an old recipe for fruit cocktail cake

This recipe was a staple at every pot luck I went to in the 70's. We ordered some fruit cocktail in it's own juice, and I'll just say it's better after sitting overnight or several days in the fridge. It's quite sweet!
I told you about the banana pumpkin muffins on the Tuesday post... best ones I ever made!

youtube

heartwarming! 
The next one is SO FUNNY I subscribed and have spent waaaay too much time watching this funny dog's life!

hopes and dreams

that "goodness" will win out, that law and order will return, that people will remember to follow the Golden Rule (replacing the idea of  "my guy can do it but you can't") & that people will begin to look for facts in life.

when it feels like you're never done in the kitchen...(bored panda site)

I’m Doing The Dishes 

MILO's MOMENTS 

Hi to all my fwiends out there... I've got to admit I like wearing extra skins mama makes me. I feel handsome.  I was busy this week watching out the studio window for danger. Every time I sees something move, I BARK to let EVERYONE know and they don't seem to appreciate it. 

I've been enjoying the big bed at night, and snuggling up to the pawrents because it's cold. 

I am pretty choosy about food, like I don't always trust what Mama hands me but I am ALWAYS ready to taste the baked stuff she makes lately! Tell her to give me a WHOLE muffing next time! 

now sit! stay! visit these nice humans who have lists to share too!

  https://whataboutrheema.blogspot.com/  

unable to post this week  http://homesewnbyus 

Linking to

Tuesday, January 26, 2021

t is for Tuesday, M is for muffins

 

Joining my friends at T is for Tuesday today... 

It's snowing today, a fine snow that falls... not blowing sideways as usual. It's a portrait of winter to me.

Today I have to make another batch of iced tea.... I steep 6 bags (half decaf green) to make two quarts for us to have with the week's lunch.

I have to finish my third challenge quilt for the week

it's going to be a table runner made from the pink scrap bin. I plan to do curvy edges, and appliqued flowers and a heart. It is the kind of quilt that symbolizes the importance of each one of us to the whole... each 2" finished square is small but brings different color to the whole, each one is strengthened by the others, each one is integral to the whole piece, and together they make something of beauty. Just like citizens of the world... each one of us is important to the group, and each one of us can bring beauty to the world, or if they fray and pull away the whole life quilt is affected. 

 I just finished a wonderful audio book and glory be! There is another one in series to reserve at the library! Can't wait to continue the story!

The Little Shop of Found Things - Brackston, Paula
finished!
Secrets of the Chocolate House - Brackston, Paula
ordered! 

the story is that a woman who is sensitive to objects and their owners from the past traveled back in time to solve a mystery case.

On TV, There has been a BBC remake of All Creatures Great and Small... I loved the older series and am enjoying the current one, with the one drawback of casting for Tristan... they cast the guy who played the gun happy younger brother in the Durells in Corfu... miscast in my opinion as he is distracting to the story. Still.. worth watching. (and reading the real life books written by the actual vet)

I've been baking and want to share these

https://www.centercutcook.com/pumpkin-banana-muffins/ 

I had bananas. I had pumpkin. I had a desire for a good breakfast muffin and these are the best ever muffins I've ever made!

Of course I changed the recipe a bit. I used 1 cup of whole wheat flour instead of all white flour. 

 I used half brown and half white sugar

I added in some fresh (frozen) orange peel

I adjusted the heat/time for high altitude cooking. 

I'm turning into a cook... 

 Finally, I've enjoyed watching this man play music for his whole ranch of critters

I have watched a lot of videos of this rancher playing his guitar and singing for his donkey Hazel but this video made me really smile... some people are critter whisperers

 If T is for Chooseday... please choose to wear a mask and stay back from others. Reports are showing that having the virus causes 1/8 to have permanent neurological problems after recovery. Things like mental illnesses, strokes, dementia, as well as lung scaring. It's no joke. 

Those of you in America who don't want to wear a mask and believed this was a hoax, it's not. You're endangering me with your denial of it's danger. To the wonderful people reading this who are doing all you can to stop the spread... Thank you...

Happy Tuesday y'all

Linking with

Saturday, January 23, 2021

sewing Saturday.... two challenges met!

 

"Dancing on Air"
For this week's sewing round up, I have two challenges to show you and one painted art piece. 

I took on the Project Quilting challenge this year, at       

We have a prompt, this time to fussy cut, each time and one week to complete it! I have a Mary Englebreit collection of fabrics,

and I wanted another mantle quilt for February (Valentine's day) so Dancing on Air was made!

The borders came from the tiny scrap box, the flowers from the fusible scrap box. To make those, I fused two fabrics together, and cut flowers out, so they can be minimally stitched to the quilt and not fray. I attached them with pearl and crystal beads. 

While we're talking beads, I added in a tiny drop bead on a shoe, crystal beads on her tiara, and letter beads for the word at the bottom. Love is the basis to everything right?

Freehand machine quilted with cotton and metallic threads, little growing heart vines!

I left extra fabric at the top sides to pull to the back to finish those edges. I left extra backing fabric at top and bottom to pull to the front to finish those sides! It's about 9" X 10" 

Next up was the Round robin challenge, to use the block, "piano keys" somewhere on your center. 

I added in some white confetti fabric on the right side, a Mary Englebreit fabric along the bottom, and went looking for some cute sewing motif fabrics in my stash

so many to choose from... all happy and fun! Some of them I put aside to fill in as the challenge continues. I want the finished quilt to hang over my cutting table so it can't get too big, therefore I only put one border on this time

there are sewing tools, clothing, patchwork, and of course a flamingo. The aqua fabric 2nd from right has a pink poodle in it too!

 


yesterday (HERE) I posted pictures of my painted lady quiltlet, with discussion of how I made her...

She is inked on muslin surrounded by pink scrap fabrics. Love! 

Just to continue this pink theme, encouraged by the Rainbow Scrap Challenge to use our pink scraps this month, I made probably the best muffins I've ever had... (recipe to come on tuesday)

banana pumpkin muffins

 Remember to wear masks and stay a safe distance from others... this is not a hoax y'all. Nearly half a million Americans are now dead from the pandemic.

Going to a link party:

http://frombolttobeauty.blogspot.com/
off the wall Fridays
can I get a whoop whoop Fridays  

 design wall Mondays at smallquiltsanddollquilts
lovelaughquilt.mondays

oh Scrap Sundays 

Project quilting

scrap happy Saturdays 

Round Robin

 









Friday, January 22, 2021

paint party Friday... mixed media?

 

"Gazing out with Hope"
This is the day I usually share paintings and drawings.... and here is my big finished painting this week!

it's quite different  working with fabric rather than paper. The fibers in fabric can wick a thinner liquid along their lines, or bleed, causing you to have unplanned lines. I started this piece, one evening when I just wanted to paint a face... I got a scrap of muslin fabric, and these basic materials out on the work table

I start a face with two half moons for eyes, one crescent for lip top, one tiny one for nose bottom one for chin. Then I add in eyebrows and start. Fabrico markers are awesome with dual tips. Clear clean color, and prismacolor pencils are my favorite medium for soft color on fabric. Both are permanent when heat pressed. 

What to do with this tiny 5" X 4" scrap with a face? 

I got out my scraps with fusible (glue) on the back and fussy cut out flowers and circles and hearts and moved them around til  liked the collage. Instead of flimsy batting I used peltex thick stabalizer. Then I quilted it with sparkling metallic threads with the idea of Tree and Leaves.

to hold down the muslin scrap I did a hand stitched variation of partial lazy daisy stitches in thick embroidery variegated thread.

and used pinking shears along the edge. I went over the edge with thick embroidery thread to cover the edges. 

I need to enjoy her for a bit but am cosidering giving her to someone who might enjoy having one of my little pieces later.... be thinking  if you'd enjoy her too


going to a party!

off the wall Fridays
can I get a whoop whoop Fridays 
tgiffriday
https://paintpartyfriday.blogspot.com/



Thursday, January 21, 2021

I Like #228

 

Welcome to this week's list of likes. Above is a pic of the shirt I wore yesterday. 

I like having hope again. 

I like having a woman in a top office of the country... finally 100 years after we won the right to vote.

I loved hearing these sentences yesterday:

"disagreement must not lead to dis-union"

"...lead not merely by the example of our power, but by the power of our example. We'll be a strong and trusted partner for peace, progress, and security."

"Democracy and hope, truth and justice, did not die on our watch, but thrived,... America secured liberty at home and stood once again as a beacon to the world. That is what we owe our forebears, one another, and generations to follow."   

I like the book on audio I am listening to:

 

the heroine is swept back through time to save an innocent woman... well written and so interesting to me... very engrossing in audio form. I had to listen during yet another ocular migraine episode this week.

I like this book I'm reading, in the "tea house series" set in Charleston SC

a current day mystery from a fave author

I liked finishing a small painted woman art piece this week, with hand stitched daisies... more on Saturday. 

a close up
 

I think I might like this quilt-along on handwork at this blog starting soon https://kristinesser.com/


 I like Donkeys especially little ones   see more here https://www.boredpanda.com/cute-miniature-baby-donkeys/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=organic

Sparky The Week-Old Miniature Donkey At Ashington Park Stud In Melbourne, Australia, Has A Surrogate Mum And Companion In The Form Of A Teddy Bear Called Ted. Sparky Was Rejected By His Mother After A Difficult Birth And Now Relies On Carer Sarah-Jane Lov

 

 baby panda gets wellness visits... mews like kitten

Milo's Moments

(editor:  note that date... 1776... when we decided to unite our states)
 

Soooooo I know when Mama is sad or scared and she has been for days now, but yesterday my pawrents seemed  happy! so that's better! Here's what I find helps when you get worried, get petted.

I am not ashamed to admit I love my back and back legs scratched! 

well, who doesn't?
 I back up to one of the pawrents, and press up against them til they realize how nice it would be to pet a poodle at that moment!

So for all the worried people out there, remember, somewhere there is a soft critter to pet or watch on videos. It's a scary time for humans right now, so I also say, be peaceful. Disagree if you have to but quietly so you don't disturb us critters.

 And get along because life is so much better when you get along with each other. C'mon if dogs can do it, humans can too!

Yep, voting is good, now let's vote on what to have for dinner


And put on a mask! They make you look funny!

now sit! stay! visit these nice humans who have lists to share too!

  https://whataboutrheema.blogspot.com/  

 

Going to a party!