I'm Still Here!

 I'm still here, plugging away. Despite having so many projects in progress, when one of them is close to completion it's all I want to work on. Thus I've been focused on Allietare. Yesterday I finished the blocks. Next I made the parts and pieces for the corner pieces to fill in the edges.

Today I plan to finish the corner pieces and have it ready to sew together! (But then I still need to add the borders...) I really LOVE this quilt and my color choice worked well, I think. 

And why this this little bit of happy come home with me?

I need a bit of happy and I grab it where I can by polishing my nails bright orange or getting a good haircut or buying a bit of Tula Pink.

There is so much sadness with my FIL's impending death. He's been in an in-patient hospice for a couple of weeks. He's really struggling. It's hard to watch and hear about. We hope and pray he will soon go quietly in his sleep.

So if I miss a day or two of blogging here and there, it's probably because I'm looking for some happy.

I hope you find some happy today! I'm going out to lunch with Daughter 1 - lots of happy there!

Thread Painting

I had planned to make hexie yesterday...but you know what they about best laid plans. My new free motion quilting foot was calling me... and so, I started thread painting.

I quickly learned that thread painting is like eating potato chips - I couldn't stop! I still have more blending to do on the part on which I'm working. But I'm pleased with what I've done so far, especially since I've never done this before.

So what's on tap today? I have so many projects and I want to work on ALL of them! Haha! But I'm determined to make some hexies today - so that will come first!!! I hope to get back on my regular schedule next week.

But first I'll finish my cup of tea and eat some breakfast. Did you read that right? Tea???? I've always been a coffee drinker - two cups (at least) each morning. But a few weeks ago, suddenly I just didn't have a taste for it. A couple of days in a row I realized I only drank a few sips and poured it out. So I abruptly switched over to a cup of tea each morning. And I haven't gone back! Weird, huh?

Parts and Pieces...

This photo is from Sunday - I decided to make the final parts and pieces for Allietare. Then I sewed the parts into block rows. Now I'm ready to make the remaining blocks! Boom!

Yesterday I didn't sew... instead I made a quick trip to Birmingham and back. 

And so...and sew...today I'll get back on track! Hexies anyone? 

Happy Tuesday!

Busy and Productive!

My energy level was back up yesterday. The TV was tuned to FOOTBALL all day! And while watching, I sewed ALL DAY!

I made the finished needlepoint into a pillow. I love to bind quilts with black and white striped binding. So I decided the pillow needed some black and white striped cording - LOVE!

The back of the pillow is a fun Kaffe Fassett print - of course!

Then I pulled out my Allietare project. Yes, I had a bit of help - Mickey insisted on being in my lap...

I made of few of these and then made lots of parts and pieces so I can make more blocks. Bonnie Hunter's pattern called for gold - but I switched it to mint green - I had some mint scraps leftover from the wedding quilt and the bridesmaid quilts - and I like the mint with the orange and navy.

I also did some hand quilting on my Lollypop Trees quilt. WHEW!

I stayed up way too late watching football, so this morning I'm a bit sleepy. I'm going to have a slow start....

Oh Yes, I Did...

When I was lamenting about not being able to find my free motion quilting foot...someone left a comment about how to find it - simply buy a new one and the old one would then turn up. Haha! So true. But actually a good idea!

I did my research and found that a new one was only $15.99. Well, then. I can swing that! I made sure to pick out an open toe foot so I can clearly see what I'm doing. And so a new foot is on it's way to me as I write this! I'll be thread painting in a few days!

College football is here! We love our football here, especially living in an SEC college town. Our TV will be tuned in to game after game today...while I sew. No worries...I have a large TV in my sewing room. I won't miss a play!

Happy Saturday!

Sorting Yarn...

Since I didn't feel well yesterday, sorting yarn was the perfect task. Though it was not easy. I was hoping bright daylight would help - it did not!

Look at this- I found the light cranberry, the cranberry, and the medium cranberry. There is supposed to be a dark cranberry, but it is nowhere to be found. Instead I ended up with this odd green left over. I had already accounted for all the greens. I may email the company and see if they can send me the dark cranberry which was obviously left out.

Last night I did start stitching just a bit. This is the center of a sunflower.

Last night's meal was inspired by something I saw on the Piece o Cake blog. I warmed some leftover brown rice and topped it with shredded cabbage, green onions, ramen noodles, and peanuts. Then I topped it with some Asian salad dressing. SO GOOD and so easy. I didn't add any chicken, though you could.

It's cloudy today. I'm hoping we get a bit of rain from the outer edges of Hermine. If you look at the weather map it seems to come into east Alabama just a bit. We need the rain.

I'm glad to report that I'm feeling better today! My voice doesn't sound like a foghorn and I have more energy. And so I'll head to the grocery store this morning to pick up some odds and ends and settle in for the rest of the day.

Happy Friday!

Tah Da...Tah Done!

When I picked up this 20 year old UFO a few months ago, I guessed it would take a year to finish it. I was wrong! I put the last stitch in last night. I blocked it - it was really wonky. I simply squirted it well with water and pinned it to my ironing surface, using a quilting ruler to make sure it was square. Then I left it to dry overnight. It's ready to make into a pillow!

My scratchy throat has turned into a full fledged cold - UGH! I haven't felt like sewing, but this needlepoint is mindless.

And so...I've thrown my schedule out the window for a bit - no worries - it will be back when I'm better and things settle down around here. Quilting is still my number one activity!

I've loved having a needlepoint to work on here and there. And so...this kit came home with me from Hobby Lobby last week. Yes, another needlepoint kit. I wish it were square, but I like the colors.

Last night I accepted the challenge of sorting the yarn by color. And it was a challenge! I mean...what exactly is 'Medium Dark Blue Violet'???? And I can't determine the difference between 'Straw' and 'Autumn Gold'! I did the best I could and decided to finish this morning in daylight - maybe the extra light will help me figure this out.

And so it goes. Think I'll have another cup of honey lemon tea...cough...