Anyone Can Quilt

Wasn't this a quilting blog?

Ya, I thought so too.  Seems I haven't been doing nearly enough quilting lately.  It's not that I don't want to.  It's just that life takes over at times.  Throughout my busy days I often walk in and out of my sewing room.  Pausing to enjoy just being in here for a moment.  I keep thinking that after a long day of homeschooling, household chores (cleaning cat PEE out of the laundry, oh yes he did, now you know why we call him Mr. Precious) and making dinner, I'll retire to the sewing room and start stitching.  But lately I just retire to the couch like a blob.  So, yesterday I locked myself in my sewing room determined to finish quilting a certain Cottage quilt...and instead started piecing something new... I know!  What's wrong with me??  I really need to finish my Cottage quilt, and I really and truly can't wait until it's done, so what's my deal?  Can't tell ya.  I'm kooky like that.  Or as M.T. would say, "I ain't right."

So, be on the look out.  I'm using a jelly roll for this quilt and I can't wait to have the top done to share.  I've also been putting off doing a couple of tutorials and some cutting and pressing tips for beginning quilters.  I'm hoping to muster up some new quilting mojo so I can finally get those done. 

 Down on Main Street we have an old antique store that is closing it's doors.  So sad, but... everything is 50% off.  How many times have I been down there you ask?  Only THREE times thank you very much.  But look at what a few buckaroos got me.

This apron was wadded up in a little zip-lock bag.  I adore it.  I wish you could still buy these beautiful old border prints. 

And get a load of this cute gift idea.  I'm sure many of you have seen these before, but it's new to me.  And I want to get crocheting and make some of these!

Come on now, could this card be any cuter?  Apparently you crochet up a couple of dish clothes, run ribbon through the bottoms and tie off to make the leg holes, and a longer ribbon to lace through the tops of both to make the waist.  These are stapled through the middle part, but I think I'd just lace more ribbon through somehow. 

I was happy to wake up to a nice email from my German friend!   We'll call her, 'no blog Sabine'.   She recently went to an outdoor fabric fair.  Which just happened to be held in front of a castle.  How cool would that be!!   She sent me a couple of pictures.  These gorgeous spools of ribbon made my eyes pop out and hit the computer screen.  Have a gander.  And hold on to your eyeballs.

What?!  Are you kidding me?!  Why can't we have this gorgeous ribbon here?  And by HERE I mean in my purse, which is where all of these would have gone when the vendor wasn't looking.  Don't look at me like that, I can run fast.  And look at these booths. 

Can't leave out my summer house.  It's where I keep all of my 'hot' ribbon.

So what do you say we all surprise my friend Sabine and show up on her doorstep so she can take us all to this fabric fair?  Who's with me?!  I'm sure she won't mind a few guests.  With rather large purses. 

Ok, stop dreaming Sarah, time to get back to work.   

  

My coffee and quilting are waiting for me.  Hope you can fit some sewing into your day my friends.  xo

Let's catch up. First of all, I could cry.

See the crack?  The other day I was innocently walking out of our bathroom when the doorknob on the inside came off in my hand, and this glass one fell onto the tile.  This old doorknob is original to my house, about 75 years old.  I'm so sad!

Ouchie.

Whyyyyyyyyy???

Now it's naked.  I hope I can find a good replacement.  I'm on the hunt people.

This past week has been a full one!  Last weekend was my girls' big Mother's Day performance for dance.  Which means days of dress rehearsals and performances.  Looong days at the Performing Arts Center.  But it was so much fun.  I was pretty exited this year because both my girls were in the same class.  And their costumes included little go-go boots.  Pulling the precious go-go boots on over the tap shoes for four days almost caused me to lose my religion.... but damn it they were cute. 

Little sis is the 3rd one from the left, big sis the 5th.  They danced to a Sonny and Cher song.  It was fabulous. 

My wonderful Mother in-law drove up from California to watch the girls' performance.  She also brought an old juicer, determined to make juice with the girls.  They made juice by golly!  Making it proved to be more fun than drinking it.  Carrot-apple juice anyone?

One of the things I love about my Mother in-law visiting, is that my kitchen sink magically looks like this after every meal.  It's amazing.

Come back!!!!

Moving on.  Little sis grew some cat grass for Mr. Precious. 

He loves it.  But he doesn't love me snapping too many pictures.  Just look at his face below. 

I love irritating my pets.  I can't help myself.  Speaking of which....

Rosie wants in.  And instead of just letting her in.  I grabbed my camera to take pictures of her wanting in.  Plus she has something up her nose.

Look what she and her grass eating brother do to my window.  Dirty scoundrels.

Ooohhh.  She means business now.  She's staring me down.  I best be letting her in.  But she still has something up her nose. 

Now, I did make a small fabric purchase last Saturday.

And now my dears.  Do you have a favorite bag?  If you make one of these I promise that you will.  I ordered this wonderful kit from Nanette, of Freda's Hive.  It is so cute!  The kit includes the pattern, the fabric for the outside of the bag, ricrac, and a covered button.  I am in love with all of the fabrics Nanette chose for this purse. 

I hope you love this bag too!  It makes me happy.  Thank you Nanette!  And thank you all for catching up with me.  x

My Rainy Spring Day..

During a slight pause in the rain yesterday, I went out and snipped a few flowers for my great grandmother's antique bud vases.  I found two pink tulips, lovely lilac, and some little white flowers that I don't know the name of. 

I smile each time I pass by this spot throughout the day. 

Today has been all rain, all day.  Last night too.  I think my newly potted plants on the front porch steps are drowning.  Poor darlings.

Little Rosie does NOT like being out on the rain.  And she is quite appalled that I would not only make her go outside to go potty in the rain, but then make her wait by the front door to take pictures of my flowers.   Who do I think I am anyway?

Look, she's closing her little eyes and reciting to herself, "If she does not open this door in one second I swear to all that is good and holy...."

I better put her out of her misery.  Right after she got inside she snuggled right into her little doggy bed.  Aaah, the life of a weiner dog princess. 

Now, what to take pictures of inside the house on a rainy day... How about some fabric inspiration. 

I'm loving all of these.  Wouldn't lots of little squares of these make a great old fashioned bed quilt.  Me thinks they would. 

And I just recently found this next stack tucked away.  I forgot I had them!  I'm thinking a nice summer quilt to sit under on the front porch, with a glass of wine on summer evenings. 

Oh!  And I keep forgetting to share what I won from two recent giveaways!  I LOVE what I won.  I'm a lucky girl.  My first sweet prizes were from Pam at White O'Morn Cottage.  Pam lives in Ireland and is renovating the sweetest old cottage.  She sent me a few handmade treasures.  One is this tiny oval frame with shamrocks from her cottage garden.  It's dainty and beautiful.

Then there is this sweet gingham heart, which hangs proudly in my sewing room.

And for extreme cuteness, she crocheted these little cookies.  Love them!

She also sent an adorable patchwork Christmas pillow, and I just realized I didn't take a picture of it!  So sorry, I promise to share it next time.  I can't wait to decorate with it at Christmas time.  Thank you so much Pam for sending me such wonderful treasures.  I really appreciate your hard work!!

And now for my next big win.  My zombie friend Monica recently had a great giveaway.  I won one of the prizes and received this fabulous Cosmo floss in the mail.  Oh my stinkin' goodness it's so soft!  And the colors are gorgeous.  I'm still shocked at the sheer amount of lovely floss she sent.  I have a nice stack of flour sack towels that I can't wait to start stitching on.

Thank you Monica!  I love love love this stuff.

Let's see what else...hmmm...Oh!  I recently put up a little ribbon clothes line on my wall by my sewing machine.  I can clip on patterns and see them easily, and not have them on the table.  It's working out nicely.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Enjoy your Spring, rain or shine. x