twist, loops and turns/THX and snow days

First let me thank the lovely folks who stopped by my place to see the Door Stop Hop item.  I had a ball making them, learned a few things along the way and reminded myself how much fun it is to make things that are more crafty than quilty.  These two critters just make me smile and if they elicited the same response from you, then so much the better!

You may also be aware that we had weather situation here in Alabama yesterday.  We don't get snow often but when we get anything collectible it is usually a problem.  I know my friends and family in the Midwest won't understand how 2-3 inches of snow could paralyze the state but it does. It started around 10 or so and kept up for 4-5 hours.  Dry powdery stuff, not the snowball packing kind.  Not that windy either but I think the sleet-y stuff froze and then the snow came.

The roads are often hilly and winding with  deep ditches and a ton of trees so it won't melt off quickly.  There are no snow plows to speak of either.  Or salt trucks like we had in Illinois.  They do spread some sand but they cannot get to all areas where there are slick spot quickly enough to spread it.  The weather dudes in missed the prediction of just where the bands of dusting/ 1-2 inches/3 or more were going to be by about 125 miles.  The kids went to school rather than cancelling to begin with.   People went to work.  When they realized that they missed the forecast and were going to send them home a few hours early it really was too late.  The interstates were iced over and turned into virtual parking lots. The parents left to pick up their kids--some did and some got stuck out on the interstates and secondary roads.  It was taking hours and hours for folks to get home if they did at all.  Some were stranded at work and some kids and teachers spent the night at the schools.  A real mess.  Believe it or not, it was worse in the SOUTHERN half of the state where there was less elevation a factor.  Who knows how many accidents?  I know there were some fatalities down near Montgomery, a good 100 miles south of us.

Here in Calhoun County---the midsection of the state roughly on a line from Birmingham to Atlanta and I-20--we were expecting a dusting and got 2 inches according to my crude measuring device.  That is a 6 inch ruler atop my car, right at the 4 inch mark.   While early on I was afraid that I might have jumped the gun on cancelling our Bama Belles meeting, I am so glad that I did go with my gut of "what happens if they get it wrong and the girls come anyway."  That line of demarcation they suggested was just below I-20 about 30 miles or so and too close for comfort to me!

The view out the kitchen window in early afternoon

This was taken around noon and the car was covered but not as much as it would be.  I about fell on the carport heading out to my pantry closet.

So today dawns with snow still in place though maybe clearing a bit on the road. The sun is out but it was only 11 degrees when we got up.  Only up to 19 now as I write this but the temps are going to rise to more reasonable, seasonal levels by the weekend.  If it does melt, is it going to refreeze or get slushy and still freeze?  Thankfully, we don't have to go anywhere.  DJ had a doctor's appointment yesterday but they called to cancel it but rescheduled for tomorrow.  Who knows?  I just wish I had picked up some eggs when I was at the store Monday.  Yeah the old cliche--stock up on milk, bread and eggs, LOL.  We are not going to starve but it may change my menu plan a bit for the want of an egg.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Moving on:
Susan from patchwork reflections emailed a pinterest link this morning and said that "this looks a lot like your block.  It is called Celtic Twist"  The link sent me to http://madebychrissied.blogspot.com/2013/02/were-gonna-do-twist-and-it-goes-like.html.    The pattern is from McCall's Quilting and they do have a pdf file if you are interested.  The McCall's link will take you there.)   Apparently this chrissie's NYC Metro Mod Quilt Guild explored this last year as their February Bee block.

I told Susan I would draw it up in EQ to see what happens when you join actual blocks.  Let's contrast the two blocks---my modified version of Mr. Roosevelt's Necktie

Celtic Twist---okay draw a magic line horizontally and vertically separating into 4 quarters----looks like just an extended version of Roosevelt's Necktie to me.  An old block revamped.  I colored it the colors I might use if I were to make this for my challenge quilt.  You want rainbow colors then I'll share a coloring sheet with you--just ask.

And what happens with you join these things?  Really the whole quilt is just alternating Bright Hopes (twisti blocks) and Snowballs again---features of Around the Twist.  That is not new either only it is set horizontally, rather than on point.  Okay, 12 inch blocks 4 x 6 set 48 x 72 without borders but ugh, joining lines.

Then re -drawn in custom set and without lines using the two alternating blocks and half blocks as filler around the periphery.  Looks a little cleaner to me.  In my opinion, make a Celtic Twist block if that is all you are going to make---one block for a sampler or to learn a technique or something.  A whole quilt?  You may want to revisit your construction method and see the one below but I may be wrong, LOL.

Stay warm you all!

THANKS!

Image found here:  http://beachscoot.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/many-thanks.jpg

Though I try to reply to each email comment when it is blog hop time, I realize the someone might sneak through under the radar and I miss one.  Some are no-reply bloggers and may not realize it--darned that google plus anyway.  Some don't comment at all but do run by to take a peek.  The view number shoot up into the mid to high hundreds.    Some may prefer to head to the overview shown on the Pinterest page that Mdm Samm has set up.  Who knows??

Well, I know that I have had a blast participating in these hops and coming up with ideas and projects that I can share with a larger audience.  It has stretched me a bit, gave me "permission" to sew on something else besides donation quilts.  I have been able to try some new patterns or patterns I have collected in some manner.  Any number of things are involved and I so enjoy it.  I appreciate your kind comments and a little recognition for my work.  That is often in short supply around my house where the husband's attitude is along the lines of "So?  You will just start another one tomorrow.  You never are finished".   I don't know why I expect anything else from him though I have been at it for 25 years now.  While he may have a point, that is an age old complaint on my part.  He is not going to change but I can change how I feel about his attitude.  I don't want to ever be finished!!  I want to be excited about what I am working on till I am physically unable to do so.  But I digress-----

Here's the thing.  As sewists, crafters and quilters you "get" it and know something about the time and effort that goes into this.  I love the support that we give each other, cheering each other on. We all seem to rise to the occasion and it is fun to be along for the ride!   I was honored to have my stitchery piece picked for the Halloween Hall of Fame (top 2) last week.  I was thrilled when my name was pulled for one of the sponsor prize packages---woo hoo there!  Mdm Samm emailed me to say that a lovely package of Windham Hill Halloween fabrics and a Bird Brain Design pattern will be coming my way along with some other goodies she has tucked in.  THX to the sponsors and Mdm Samm again!

So as the banner says "THX to you all!"   YOU make my heart sing.

I may be a bit MIA for a few days as I am participating in the "For the Boys Hop" that starts on Wednesday.  I am not up until the 15th, the last day, but am no where near ready though I hit the half way point last night.   Fortunately this is a week where I am mostly home and can hit it.  Next week, not so much, LOL.   I DO still plan on posting a tutorial for my little envelope bag that I made for the Wicked Hop but it will have to wait till I can spend a bit more time on the computer.  

And sew it goes-------

thank you and what's next?

I want to thank everyone that stopped by my little spot in the blogsphere the past few days.  Many of you left such sweet comments about my Amy Bradley included ME on my new sewing machine cover.

The range of talent and imaginations of the participants was wonderful to see.  I am happy that I was allowed to play along with such a creative bunch. Imagine how thrilled I was to have it selected by Madam Samm for "most creative" that day!  You picked me??   I know that sounds a bit like Sally Field's infamous Oscar speech, LOL.   After seeing all the variations of the basic design, new words, some without bias, etc. I was afraid that I had stayed "too close" to the pattern, that I had missed the point.  Commenter LJ probably said it best when she said "You may not have changed your "ME" as much as others but that didn't affect your ability to "change" the pattern to fit the cover".  

Oh that I can do!  I am so used to tweaking existing patterns to get the size I want for donation quilts. Or playing in EQ to change block sizes or the block itself even if it doesn't always make it to cloth.  Switch out the fabrics to fit my stash---all of that.  I very rarely want to make an exact replica of an existing quilt.  I am wear the badge of "traditional quilter" proudly and I hope that shows in my work.  So thank you!

There will be a drawing for the giveaways on Monday but of course, I don't expect anything there but I am proud to be among 24 people chosen as top 3's.  Oh Lord, now I sound like I am saying "it is an honor to be nominated."  (But it's true)

As far as any creative work, I am still working on my embroidered piece for the "Stitch Me Up" blog hop coming in late March.  I am almost done---just a couple little bushes to go!  Today's goal, or maybe the weekend goal, more like.

A friend asked me what I was working on, what was next----of course, as one project winds down you start thinking about the next ones.  I will probably be a little late doing my "Seasons In a Row" for March as I want to do shamrocks rather than kites. Part of the reason I didn't want to do kites is I have/had no decent blue for sky so I ordered a little bit and a possible green choice for the shamrocks.  There is a flower row coming up so none of it will go to waste.  If I use the two different greens I have now then I won't have them for a later row---it is a trade-off.

What is calling me more is the guild challenge projects that are due in April.  Not sure where the pictures will land on the page but here are the two pieces of challenge fabrics.  I know exactly what I want to do with the cupcake stuff and will start there.  I have a plan for the other heart fabric though not etched in stone.  Mentioned it the other day when I had a flash of inspiration.  Unfortunately that flash did not include a way to include BOTH in some project---- like something reversible, LOL.

It has been cold and blustery lately with March coming in as a lion.  I had to laugh when a long time quilt list pal said on facebook "March came in like a lion for sure. and by the way, that groundhog is just a lying rat....probably in Fla. by now....."   She may be right as here in NE Central Alabama we were under at winter weather advisory with snow/rain mix in the forecast possibly till noon today.  I didn't see any snow, not even a dusting on the grass, when I got up.  I don't THINK we have flurries either.  Ordinarily I would just stay in and house mouse it but I am invited to an event this afternoon.  It will involve driving up over the hilly elevations on winding 2 lane road.  Wondering about the advisability of that.  Wait and see I guess.

One last picture to show you.  Yesterday Skyler had been asleep in DJs recliner after lunch.  It came time for DJ to take his nap but rather than displacing the cat, he hit the loveseat---not the couch or his bed.  Doesn't look comfortable to me but I don't have the forward head posture deal that DJ does.    Legs hanging off the end would kill my low back and hip.  Anyway, DJ was snoring away.  Eventually he woke and found Skyler sitting on his lap sharing the wool blanket.  He told me to get the camera-----awwwwww.

But of course, Skyler left as soon as he saw the camera so all you see is a black blob with one of the back paws.  Silly, silly boys!  At the moment I am writing this, DJ has full claim to the recliner and Skyler is window watching but give them a half hour and they'll be sharing the chair again.  The process continues when he takes over said chair when I tell kitty daddy that lunch is ready.  Crack me up.

And sew it goes--------