Anyone Can Quilt

Grandma's new baby.

So we've had some happy and sad news from my dear grandparents.  Joe and Leona have always had cows.  Not too many, but they are a huge part of my grandparent's lives.  Recently my girls were staying the night at my dad and step-mama's house.  They just so happen to live right next door to my grandparents so it's always fun to get to visit all of them at the same time.  Early in the morning little sis and my dad were on a walk in the field hunting for moles when they came across grandma cow.  Grandma cow has been around for ages and when my dad saw her laying down motionless he feared the worst.  After telling little sis what might be going on she reassured her gramp that she wanted to go with him to see, no matter what the outcome.  When they got close they noticed that grandma cow was not only alive, but that she had had a baby in the night!  Holy cow!  I know, nice choice of words, thank you.  Nobody even knew she was expecting and we were all so exited at the news.  But sad too.  It was all too much for the old gal and she wouldn't recover.  So now my grandparents have their new baby to care for, named Miracle Nuisance.  I was thinking something like Oliver would fit him well.  But he is a little miracle, and a nuisance, so it fits too.  When he was just three days old we went to help with a feeding.  Animal loving little sis was in heaven.

Let me tell ya, grandma loves her baby.  He's a little doll. 

He's a spunky little guy too, biting pants, sucking on available fingers, jumping around. 

Did I mention little sis was in heaven?

Mr. ACQ likes the baby too. 

See you next time little baby!  Now who is mooing outside the barn?  Let's look around the corner....

Oh!  It's aunties and cousins I think.  Very concerned about the new baby.  So sweet. 

I have to mention before I go.... wow.  Thank you all sooooo much for your wonderful comments about my sewing room!  It makes me so happy that you all like it!  I know I have some emails and questions to answer and I promise I'll get around to it.  We use dvd's for our homeschool curriculum and since big sis's computer is broken at the moment she's on mine all day.  Then evening rolls around and there are after school happenings, dinner, laundry, pulling my hair out, all the usual stuff.  As I'm typing this my gal is patiently waiting to start her school day.  So I best be on my merry little way to the breakfast dishes. 

Oh!  Real quick, I've also been working on my Christmas Cottage quilt and wanted to post some pictures of the quilt top put together.  But it's still on the design wall waiting to be put together.  I'll show it to you anyway!  I'm working on the sashing.  Little red stars with white centers.  I can't wait to have this sewn together!   Have a great day friends. x

You'll know where to find me.

 

I'm so happy.  My sewing room is done.  The woodwork is painted, the design wall is up, the chandelier is hung.  I have my own creative space.  I decided not to paint over the light yellow walls from when this was the girls' room.  They are light and cheery.  But I did notice spaces where I never finished painting three years ago.  Where did that paint can go anyway?  I'm sure I'll find it some day.  Anyhoo my friends, please come in. 

 

This little apron belonged to my mother-in-law when she was a little girl.  It's so sweet.  It buttons and ties in the back.  And the little red bits are tiny ricrac. 

 

My husband hung my chandelier.  It's the most wonderful green and is covered in beads and crystals.  It has been waiting patiently in the basement for a room of it's own.

 

I have two sewing machines set up on my table.  I couldn't put one away in the closet!  That would have been too sad.  While I'm using one the other gets to wear the sewing machine cover.  My mom made this cover for her Bernina when she was 19.  Isn't it adorable?

 

 

On my sewing table I have a violet given to me years ago by one of my quilting students, a nesting doll that is missing her nesters...and her nose, and a picture of my wonderful friend MT and me.  It was taken when we got to go to the Houston Quilt Festival a few years ago.  Actually I think it was in 2003.  Wow, I feel like we were just there.  This picture was at the end of the day, we were lounging and looking at all of our new treasures!  MT is on the left, I'm on the right.  You look gorgeous MT!  And you can't kill me because you're 3,000 miles away. 

 

 

See?  No nose.  But she's giving us the thumbs up, so she must be ok with it. 

 

My desk and my ever shrinking roll of batting.  This thing was HUGE when I first got it.  But let me tell you.  It is so worth it to buy your batting by the roll.  Joann's often has sales for 40 to 50% off so you can get a whole roll for wholesale basically. 

 

 

 

My design wall.  Every quilter needs one!  Simply hang some cotton batting on the wall for an instant design wall.  Cotton sticks to cotton so you can just slap your blocks up there and get a good view of what you want where.  This is soooo much better than trying to do this on the floor. 

 

To the right we have my ironing board.  This is the check out counter that my husband made for me when my sis-in-law and I had a little shop.  I decided it would make a great ironing board (and hidden storage).  I just used a stapled gun, a couple layers of batting, and some pretty home dec toile.  I love it! 

 

 

 

This room is full of my favorite things.  Including my favorite wedding picure.  He had just seen me for the first time in my wedding dress and the photographer just clicked away.  I remember feeling happier than I ever had before in my life.  And wondering what I could ever do to deserve him, and how much he loved me.  I still feel that way.  Except now I sometimes feel like picking his dirty socks up off of the floor, shaking them in his face and yelling, "WHERE do these belong?!!" 

 

This is Vanessa, the wool kitty.  She watches over the ironing board.

 

This is the high chair that mama used for us babies.  She was so sweet to give it to me.

This is Miss Marcia.  Purchased from the wonderful Alicia.

 

My first four of many future pennie pockets!  Thank you so much Monica for this wonderful pattern.  These were so quick and fun.  They bring extra sunshine to my sewing room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

So here it is.  Nothing fancy and nothing new, full of repurposed items that we've had for years.  Our first "new" dining room table looks happy with it's fresh coat of paint.  Although the crayon scribbles on the underside I guard with my life.   Old embroidery hoops proudly display favorite fabrics as artwork.  A chandelier glows that used to light my little shop.  An old high chair that has strapped in many a child, tied around the waist with a floursack towel.  Including my own children.  A cozy room ready to inspire new creations that will be loved for years to come.  Oh I do love my room.  I wish we were all neighbors so we could sit across the table from each other, sharing coffee, patterns, and friendship.  Thanks for visiting my sewing room.  Please come back soon.  x

Some Sewing Room Peeks...

Hello my dears.  Ok, the sewing room is really almost done now.  But, there are three major elements that are yet to be finished for the BIG reveal!  But you are all so patient and kind, that I'm going to give you a fix.  A few little peeks if you will. 

This is my darling.  I took this picture of him when I was 19, and he was 20.  It's been by my bedside ever since.  Mr. Anyone Can Quilt is having a 35th birthday very soon by the way.  Maybe he'd like some new fabric for his birthday... you think ... no ...? 

 

Rosie has been a huge help as you can imagine.  Don't you just want to scoop her up and kiss her soft ears?!  If you did she'd just try to lick your mouth and that would ruin the moment anyway.

An addiction.

To help me with my addiction.

One of my great-grandmother's crafts.  Don't you love her blue eyeshadow?

My sewing room is right across the hall from our bedroom.  And these are the only two bedrooms in the house.  Which is why we are so happy that the girls are now in their attic rooms!  It has made our little cottage seem so much bigger.  Here is the view from my little sewing room, to our little bedroom. 

When it comes to old houses, tiny = cozy in my opinion.  And that's just right for me.  Now, cross your fingers that when the birthday boy gets home from work he'll help me hang the sewing room's new light fixture.  He's very good at those kinds of things, but dreads doing it, and may say bad words while in the midst of the wiring.  Can't wait till you see that loveliness.  And by that I mean my new light fixture... not the birthday boy hanging it... the boy is just for me, curse words and all.  x

A Quilt Gift for my Far Away Friend.

I am so busy in the midst of preparing my new sewing room.  Getting it ready for many great moments of sewing in quiet bliss.  I have been sanding and painting and sanding and painting.  Moving in and out furniture.  Deciding what to hang where.  It's coming along so beautifully and I can't wait to share it with you all.  It has taken all of my spare time.  Which means I'm quite behind on things like blogging, laundry, blog reading, laundry, answering emails, laundry, and brushing my hair. 

So for a quick blog post I thought I could finally share with you the quilt I made for my wonderful friend Sabine.  I didn't share it while I was making it because I wanted it to be a surprise for her.  She just received it last week and now I can show it to you all.  She is such a kind and generous new friend.  And has spoiled me way beyond what I deserve.  I hope she snuggles up with her new quilt and is reminded of how much her friendship means to me. 

I think I have an uncontrollable picture posting problem.  Really, I don't know why I do it.  I am perfectly aware that so many of them really look the same.  Here I go again..

I do love how this quilt turned out.  There is something so old fashioned and quaint about a pinwheel quilt.  I love pinwheels. This quilt is made from the same fabrics as my Summer Stash quilt.  I even had enough left over from my stash for the borders and binding.  I'm so glad I did because now we have sister quilts across the globe. 

I know, I know, enough with the pictures already.  I'll enter therapy I promise. 

I do highly recommend making a pinwheel quilt though.  And if you can part with it, send it to a much appreciated friend.  I'm so glad I did. x