check in/blog hop schedule

another facebook find

I have made some progress on one of my entries for the upcoming "It's for the Birds" blog hop next month.  Actually the first item IS done and I was trying to get a decent picture of it last night.   The colors are not right or the light is glaring----ugh.  With flash, without??  Every available camera setting too.  Early in the day I was attempting some outdoor shots of the pom pom entries.  No, I can't show you any of this yet.  All in due time!

Today I will be moving on to another bird hop choice, mostly narrowing down the fabric choices.  I have a pile of possibles on the cutting table and need to get it winnowed down.   I sure could not cut anything with that mess piled up! 

Most of the state of Alabama is apt to be under some sort of severe weather threat today through the evening hours.  Our area in particular is targeted between 3 and 9 p.m., they say.  The schools was already planning on releasing the kids early before the storms even entered the state, announcing it yesterday.   Maybe they have to do this to give the parents a heads up but it still strikes me as a little odd.  How do you know, for sure, that it is necessary??  It is spring and anything can happen but last time straight line winds were the culprit, not tornadic activity.   Hope the electricity will stay on as there were so many affected by outages.  We'll see-------

In the meantime, since I have no other pictures to share, you can always pop on over to the April Showers mug rug participants for the day.  I woke up thinking that maybe I could do HIS and HERS mug rugs for DJ's bday later in the month--golf theme for him, sewing theme for me??  I may not do it, but considering it, LOL.  They are wearing me down on not wanting to make one!!!

THURSDAY, APRIL 11th

Kathy @ Kwilty Pleasures

Jill @ Apple Avenue Quilts

Cathy @ Cathy's Chatter

Quilter Kathy @ Kathy's Quilts

Marsha @ Quilter in Motion

Pat @ Life in the Scrapatch

Connie @ Shepody Mountain Crafter

Vickey @ Gingersnaps Quilts

Danielle @ A Geeky Crafty Life

Gwen @ Get More Done...Today

Rachel @ Sew Happily Ever After!

food for thought

Found on facebook----true

Now I am off to see what today's group of April Showers blog hop participants have been up to!  I have never felt too compelled to make one of these but the results have been inspirational!

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10th
Hayley @ Mrs. Pickles
Karen @ Sew Much 2 Luv
Mélanie @ Les passions de Cliodana
Cindy @ Quilt Doodle Doodles
Jamie @ Busy Bee Quilts
Regena @ The Distracted Domestic
Amy @ Domesticity and other Ponderous Things 
Denise @ My Whittle Adventures  
Heather @ a Reformed Heath'n
Marica @ ~Englating~

meeting day

Spring has definitely sprung though the temps will hit the low 80's today.  There are storms on the way in tomorrow so I suspect that the higher temps will be colliding with a cooler system and cause the possible bad weather.  The dogwood is out, some azaleas could be seen on my drive to the meeting place along with some irises.

This particular dogwood is right outside the church's Fellowship Hall and I could not resist getting a picture of it before I unloaded the car.

The pollen is horrendous right now though.  I swear that I did not see any of that fine yellow dust on Sunday but my car was covered on Monday.  One of the girls said she could actually see clouds of it blowing as she was driving the past few days.  I believe it!

There is a section of the paper where they print the weather/coffee break info that has a weather map, almanac etc. They also list the pollen forecast--available data from http://www.pollen..com.  Apparently oak, juniper and birch are the worst culprits--- and HIGH levels!!!  Snarky---no kidding??

We were missing about half the group today for a variety of reasons but still a little beehive activity.  We'll be having our spring sew-in date when we meet two weeks from now and we try to avoid pinning then and concentrate on sewing so the pinning table was really hopping, thanks to Lois and Bev!

This Bridgecreek Blossom (Atkinson Designs pattern) was one that Lois whipped up for Marilyn's Mexico project---we don't have to worry about pinning it as that is her group's responsibility. Tops and blocks, we make.  Lois said she used a jelly roll for this but they were cut wider than they should have been by an 1/8th inch.

This is a cutie top that Beverly was working on at the last meeting.  Today she was working on a Snuggle Up top.  Always a good pro bono choice top.  It is similar to one that Bev had made recently but a bit wider.

This is one of Lois' scrappy tops and the pattern is from GE Quilt Designs called Strip Stacks.

When I asked Lois to hold this one up for a picture she said, "why don't you wait till it is finished?"   I said "blog fodder".  I don't have anything of my own done that I can share as it is all stuff for the blog hops!  LOL.

This is the Block of the Month they are/were(?) doing at the JOY group.  I know that this is one that was an older online freebie from Block Central called Sentimental Journey.  Lois said she was not loving it and 6 of the 12 blocks were enough--donation quilt.

Isn't this one cute?  Valera foundation pieced the kites and the quilt will be going to a grandchild.  Apparently another is in the works.

Valera was helping Bridge learn how to foundation piece by working on some flower blocks.  We couldn't decide if it was a tulip or what--some sort of stylized flower from Carol Doak.  Bridget had one block done and another started just to be sure she remembered her lesson once she got home.

Donna was working on her blue and white Chevron quilt while I did a bit of pom pom making, embroidery but mostly looked through a pile of old Fons and Porter magazines for some inspiration.   I found a cute flip flop pattern that Bev might try---heck I would even try it---among other things.


This is a whole cloth piece that Bev quilted up.  It has a nice blue shirting type stripe on the back for a fun quilt.

I am sorry that I didn't get pictures of the other two she pinned.  One was a fish panel that she dressed up on the borders.  The other one was more girlie and we were able to use some donation fabric for the backing.

I had some stuff I could have cut out but didn't (top secret) so will get started on it now that I am home and add it to tomorrow's creative plans.

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

break time/April Shower's Blog Hop 8-18th

Break from what I don't really know as I haven't done much today but look at stuff online! Wowie, just search Pinterest for "pom pom" and you will be on searching overload. 

This picture from bitchknits etsy store has got to be the oddest thing in the search!  She has three pages of such cats' hats and costumes!  There is even one that even looks like a mohawk.  Some may be done up in team colors, I'm guessing.  I know exactly what Skyler would do with those things hanging down, chew the living daylights out of it.  He loves strings, cords, bathrobe sashes, elastic.

I am sensing a red theme here.  I am wearing a red sweater and here is red yarn, a red cup of iced tea, red rick rack.  I was not sure what size I need for my bird hop item so I picked some up at the store yesterday.  The baby stuff was in my on-wall storage drawers and if I remember correctly, Maggie passed that on to me.  No, I cannot show you what I am working on or have planned---hop stuff.

After going on inspiration overload this morning, I put my fingers to better use and started on a knitting project. Yeah knitting project that needs a pom pom atop it.  The weird thing to me is that when you knit in the round, you knit every row to obtain stockinette stitch.  To do garter stitch you have to do knit a row, purl a row to get that ridged look---like an inside out sock or the backside of a sweater. On straight needles and flat knitting, it is just the opposite. 

The other part of the morning's search was trying to figure out what to make for supper----the age old thing of "what do you do with a lb. of ground beef?"  Tons of things really but I do NOT want to make another run to the store when I am probably getting groceries tomorrow.  It seems that anything I come up with I am missing an ingredient or we just had something similar last week.  Or for example,  it calls for corn tortillas and I have flour ones.  Mexican is out.  Or we already had a pasta meal---there goes Italian.  Ditto something with rice.  Had a form of soup too or we would go THAT route.   I have a feeling it is going to end up be something like "diner dinner":  meatloaf, mashed potatoes and a vegetable though I have been known to change my mind in the short time it takes to get out to the kitchen.   Enough to make you throw up your hands and fix something else entirely----like breakfast for supper, LOL.  Maybe I'll do the "what would you rather have?" game with the husband presenting him with two options and leave it up to him.   That may work.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The April Showers Blog Hop will be coming up next week----April 8th through the 18th.  I think the badge button on Sew We Quilt says the 16th still but they must have added a few more days to accomodate the sign ups.  I am not participating in the hop this round but do plan to follow along.  Perhaps you will as a well?  Here is the schedule.

MONDAY, APRIL 8: Erin @ Sew at Home Mummy

Patty @ A Stitch in Time

Jenny @ Squawk That

Stacey @ The Tilted Quilt

Daryl @ Patchouli Moon Studio

Lisa @ In The Boon Docks

Julie @ Jolie Maxtin: the project girl

Beluah @ Sowing Stitches

Karen @ Bungalow Bay Quilts

Cyndi @ Stitch, Stitch, Stitch

DeAnna @ Georgia Girl Quilter

TUESDAY, APRIL 9th

Gina @ Sew Much and More

Sharon @ Vroomans Quilts

Theresa @ Bumbleberry Stitches

Jennet @ The Feathered Nest Studio

Patti @ A Yankee in Queen Liz's Court

Gene @ Gene Black - Alabama Artist

Susan @ Susan's Scrappy Domain

Bente @ I Like to Quiltblog

Deb @ Quilting & Other Craft Therapy

Megan @ AnnieOak Designs

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10th

Hayley @ Mrs. Pickles

Karen @ Sew Much 2 Luv

Mélanie @ Les passions de Cliodana

Cindy @ Quilt Doodle Doodles

Jamie @ Busy Bee Quilts

Judy @ That Other Blog

Regena @ The Distracted Domestic

Amy @ Domesticity and other Ponderous Things

Denise @ My Whittle Adventures

Heather @ a Reformed Heath'n

Marica @ ~Englating~

THURSDAY, APRIL 11th

Kathy @ Kwilty Pleasures

Jill @ Apple Avenue Quilts

Cathy @ Cathy's Chatter

Quilter Kathy @ Kathy's Quilts

Marsha @ Quilter in Motion

Pat @ Life in the Scrapatch

Connie @ Shepody Mountain Crafter

Vickey @ Gingersnaps Quilts

Danielle @ A Geeky Crafty Life

Gwen @ Get More Done...Today

Rachel @ Sew Happily Ever After!

FRIDAY, APRIL 12th

Bobbie @ From This to That

Leslie @ Les Quilts

Kristen @ Meadowbrook

Lavonna @ ZellerWear

Lynn @ Thimblemouse & Spouse

Amy @ Sew Incredibly Crazy

Martha @ Living Life

Shawn @ Creative Inspiraciones

Rhonda @ Sunrise at Ravelly's!

Toye @ Quilting Adventures of a Ginger

MONDAY, APRIL 15th

Cathy @ Cate's Linens

Nicola @ Sunshine Reflections

Martina @ Sunshinequilting

Judith @ Frimart

Anita @ Anita's quilts en handwerken

Linda @ Sew Nicely

Kris @ krislovesfabric

Laura Ann @ The Fuzzy Hat Quilter

Carol @ Just let me Quilt

Selina @ Selina Quilts

Mary @ Crooked Gulley Art Quilts

Marisa @ Passion et Couture

TUESDAY, APRIL 16th

Cathi @ Quilt Obsession

Jane @ Jane's Fabrics and Quilts

Heidi @ Nutz4Redwork

Cherry @ Cherry'sPrairiePrimatives

Christine @ Quilt Monster in my Closet

Vickie @ More Stars in Comanche

Pauline @ Stekje

Jan @ Jan's Art Friendzy

Nissa @ Nissa Made Stuff

Robin @ As Sweet As Peaches

Lyndsey @ Sew Many Yarns

Eleni @ That Other Blog

Wednesday, April 17

Jen @ Quilter in the Closet

Marjorie @ Marjorie's Busy Corner

Elita @ A Pieceful Perspective

Green @ So Sew Green

Mara @ Greco Mara

Wendy @ Why Knot Kwilt?

Gmama Jane @ GrandMama's Stories

Debby @ Debby Kratovil Quilts

Britt-Inger @ Hill Valley Quilter

Connie @ Freemotion by the River

Beth @ Words and Stitches

Kathy @ iHeartSquishy

Thursday April 18

Merry Gay @ Merry Gay in Stitches

Mary @ Sew Maybe I Can

Joanne @ Everyone Deserves a Quilt

Linda @ Buzzing and Bumbling

Mary @ NeedledMom

Sherry @ Peanuts Patchwork

Fredrika @ Feltfree på Åsly

Shauna @ Welcome to Shauna's World

Sharon @ Dancing thru Threads

Madame Samm @ !Sew WE Quilt!

 

check in

It is impossible to get a decent picture of these rows at least in my home.  The design wall is just a spot  in the corner of the room about 38 inches next to the window so that's out.  The rows measure about 60 some inches.  The bed or floor? Still a odd angle even if I stand on the little step stool.  The key thing is that it is done!

I still had time to play last night so I got back to my pom pom project that had been derailed waiting for more of the size/color pom poms I need to complete the project.  I will admit to filching some from Skyler's cache of "cat toys" but they are MINE now.  That is done now and I have the hot glue burns on my fingers to prove it.  I cannot, of course, show you my creation till later in the month.  ( I don't know my assigned day at this point.)

I still have a couple of other smaller things that I want to do for that hop.  One involves an opportunity to try out the Clover Pom Pom makers.   I was able to find a couple of these here locally at Hobby Lobby.  When I was looking for a link to share, I see that they have a you tube video that I will need to view a few times just to make the directions with the pom pom maker a little clearer.

Then we have mail call today.  Thearica over at Pigtales and Quilts who will be leading the "Shake Your Pom Poms" blog hop later this month has a side business and I had hoped to order the medium sized pom pom from her at Crazy Quilting Supplies.  Actually we had a bit of a little snafu,  not on her part though.  I did not realize that the medium came packed with the large and I already had one and had placed the order.  What to do?   She called and we had a fun conversation since she is originally from Alabama, the northwest area, and comes back this way to visit family.  I decided to just sub out the costs of the cancelled pom pom maker with the Karen Kay Buckley Perfect Circles though I will probably have to order the smaller ones too.  These puppies are nice! Nice smooth edges and not flimsy with two each in sizes from 2 1/4 to 4 1/2 inches.

The pattern and scissors were added to the mailing because I was Thearica's 600th blog follower during the "Stitch Me Up" blog hop!   Who knew?  Thanks so much!  Fun applique and pieced pattern and who cannot use an extra pair of embroidery scissors?

Then this order came too---I have not worked with wool before but this might be something I will be doing for "It's for the Birds" blog hop coming up in early May.  I have something else in mind as well and have some fabric possibles pulled for it already.  It is just the execution of said plans.   On my store run today I  got a good supply of Pellon Wonder Under (my preferred fusible choice) in so I am ready for any applique elements headed my way.  Nope, can't tell you what just yet, LOL.

And sew it goes-------

just about to get it!

I would probably be done with my rabbit row except it was time for "Justified" season finale and my hands were squawking at me.  I left off last night with two hearts to button applique and also two beady eyes and two pom pom tails to stitch down.

I slept in but only because I had one of those nights where I was awake from 3 a.m. till after 6 a.m when I got up to feed Skyler.  Then after 10 I was busy in the kitchen----making this--------

I wanted to try an Apricot Cheese Bread recipe that Norma had sent me.  Recently I had asked her to send me her TNT Banana Bread recipe so she had just scanned the page from the group cookbook.  LOL, the ingredients were listed but only about an inch of the actual directions.  I fumbled through the best I could, just guessing about the process and how long to bake in what degree oven.   It also called for dates in there somewhere but I used nuts, pecans because I am out of walnuts right now.   I'll ask her to confirm those hunches.  It tastes good and appears to be properly baked though it made a thick batter making me wonder if the water to soak the dried apricots was supposed to be included.  I want to individually quick freeze the slices for coffee break time with the hubbers.  It is not a daily thing, by any means, as I don't want to have to keep us in baked goods when he is just as happy with a slice of toast at 10 a.m.

As soon as the bread was in the oven then I started on the soup for lunch---Easy Mulligatawny Soup.  I've posted the recipe before HERE.  (It looks like I need to go back and see what happened to those images or at least see how invasive the image loss is!)

This was what I was up against yesterday trying to stitch----Skyler thinks that pom poms are cat toys!  Actually around here they are.  By trial and error, white ones and he likes the 1 inch ones, not the giant ones.  It is one of the few things he will play with on his own but he likes it better if you play with him.

Try the paw first---he is declawed in front so that's no good!

Let's try biting it off there!  

Oops--rabbit is getting away from him!

Then I was afraid he was going to go after that dangling string.   I made him get down and distracted him by chasing him up and down the halls.   He will try to eat string if you don't watch him.

So finish those bunnies--10 days ahead of the due date---and then get back to my "Shake Your Pom Pom" shop entry---due the later two weeks of the month.   Actually I could include my finished rabbit row in that! And sew it goes----------

Still seeing rabbits

DJ was a little disappointed that I put the Easter decorations up even though the rabbit figure I had put atop the entertainment center was sort of,  kind of blocking his view of the living room clock.  He moved it to the other side directly in front of him.  "I thought you would leave that stuff out for another week or two " he said.  I had considered it, LOL.

1 done and 6 to go on the embellishment stitching.  Nope, I didn't get much more done than fusing the hearts to the bunnies.

The pattern shape is from Tonee White's 1994 book  Appliquilt:  Whimsical One-Step Applique and Quilting published by That Patchwork Place.  I have used it before on the Easter wall hanging in the book and love that little thing.  Actually between Ms. White and Country Threads and later Red Wagon Quilts--- I think that is where I started having some love for folk arty stuff.  I am still a traditional pieced quilter and always will be but this stuff is just fun!   Part of the reason I am drawn to Nancy Halvorsen and Joined at the Hip too.

When I followed the book, I was never happy with how things looked when I sewed and flipped the sectioning of the quilt to the batting/backing base. Too wrinkly but these days I would probably use some 505 temporary spray baste and get things smoothed out better, if I did not go with a more traditional  "make the top, baste the top and then quilt".  The idea is that the motif and the stitching you do not only adds the applique shape but quilts it through all layers.  Knots are often left on top and tied off.  I didn't on the first rabbit but I could have!  I still might!

It had a tail but I wanted to use a pom pom even if the color is slightly different than the warm and natural batting I used for the bunnies.  I am getting to try the Prescenia Finca #12 perle cotton on the button hole stitch around the hearts.  Loving it so far----I did get one small knot but it was my fault for not stopping to unwind it a bit.  Fine thread with a lovely sheen to it, don't you think?   #5 DMC perle cotton on the running stitch.  I can't match the color but I like the slightly darker shade anyway.

The "Seasons in a Row" pattern has a pieced row that I would no doubt foundation piece.  I own the pattern so I can draw it up in EQ and piece it by whatever method I wish at that point.  I did that with the snowmen and the hearts, after all as I am not messing with teeny flippy corners.  The photo jacket does not do it justice as you don't see the dimensional ears or the pom pom, yo yo deal that could happen instead of a pieced in square.  All I see when I look at it is a pear in odd colors, LOL.  That is why I am substituting the applique and having fun doing some hand work.

The rows are 60 inches across (approximately) and I have been leaving a bit extra on either end "just in case"  Subsequent rows have far more piecing and each seam can suck up a bit more fabric particular if you switch out machines as often as I do.

So 6 more rabbits to stitch around.  I think I could be done with this by day's end particularly since I don't have laundry, haircuts, people stopping by, Easter stuff to put away and only one quick errand to run.  And sew it goes---------