Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us; And confirm for us the work of our hands; Yes, confirm the work of our hands.
Psalm 90:17

Thursday, September 27, 2012

It's a quilted first for me~

 Back in March I was a pattern tester for Cindy (Quilt Doodle Doodles) and I made two versions of her sweet "Bear Tracks" pattern, one in flannel and one in Civil War cottons. They were my largest tops to that date and I really didn't want to deal with the quilting so I saved my pennies to pay a longarm quilter. There are so many wonderful quilters out there! I chose Mary at Quilt Hollow to quilt the flannel . Something about her work just pulled me in and I'm so happy it did! Her communication is awesome and turnaround and price were just great! Because of the straight lines and 'blockiness' of Bear Tracks, I asked for an allover swirl to soften the look a bit. I am just so pleased with how it came out!
Now I'm looking forward to some pleasant fall evenings on the porch to sew on the binding.
I've already started saving for the next one!

These pictures were taken by Mary before she sent it back to me:


Now I know what I want to do when I grow up...

Monday, September 24, 2012

A different kind o'Pinterest post~

 I have never tried pinning anything to Pinterest that hasn't already been pinned but I quickly learned how in order to try to win a great fat quarter pack from Randi at (Etsy Shop) Fresh Squeezed Fabrics. I read about her giveaway and when I realized Randi's shop was already one of my favorites I jumped in. Help a gal (me!) win by re-pinning my pin here:
http://pinterest.com/pin/161003755399746976/?timeline=1

And maybe you'd like to play too! Details here:

http://ihavetosay.typepad.com/randi/2012/09/pin-it-to-win-it.html

Monday, September 17, 2012

Scrap... vomit?



Yeah. It caught my eye, too.

One blogger I follow, Cindy over at Quilt Doodle Doodles, posted about a new swap she found at GnomeAngel. Inspired by I'm a Ginger Monkey, the scrap vomit quilt is what we old folks call a charm quilt made with 2.5" squares in all different fabrics. Gnome Angel used SwapBot to set up a swap for said 2.5" squares. I have a plethora of 2.5" squares, or the fabric to make some, so I signed up. Can't say for sure it's a DUFUS--  after all, I'm getting back as much as I send out. But I'm more likely to do something with all those scraps so that'll lead to the eventual DUFUS---yes?

 Besides, how fun is it to say "scrap vomit" several times?

Click on GnomeAngel^ to get sign-up information if you'd like to play too.

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Pinworks

 I'd bet most of you are familiar with Pinterest, that website of inspiration that can make you feel eternally crafty or woefully inadequate at all things...life. What started as a place to gather ideas and useful information has evoleved into a mecca of food, craft, style and humor that ranges from innocent photos of sleeping babies to obscene references to Justin Beiber. (Which may be totally justified. We're not here to debate that, though.) Like any popular site on the web, however, it has gone from great idea links (still some) to 'how can I lure people away from the good stuff and shove my crap into their cookies so I can rake up big hits and maybe plant a virus' links. Photography wizards post beautiful pictures of yummy food or cool crafts and you are intrigued. Awesome captions and frequent use of the words 'simple', 'easy', or 'quick' lure us into a false sense of "I can do this!" And so you pin and plan to have the most incredibly decorated house with the yummiest dishes at the fantastic themed party and won't that just put Martha Stewart in her place!
 But do you ever try any of the stuff you pinned? Lately, I've been reading a couple of blogs that are devoted to 'testing' popular pins and seeing how well they turn out. I enjoy the humor, although often the language is a bit off-putting and I especially enjoy it when a pin proves disastrous. I guess that's the cynic in me that wants to say--"See? I'm not lazy-- I just never tried it 'cause I knew that wouldn't work...".  Actually, the more pins I read, the easier it gets to pick out the phonies and I don't even bother with them. Like this one for baked apples:


                         Even a culinary catastrophe like me can tell those apples are not baked.
But then there are projects that are appealing enough to think--"Hey, that's cool and I don't think I need to even look at the original directions to make it!" Like this:
 I was immediately drawn to it because:
1. It's a rainbow;
2. Even Jacie wanted to make one right away and
3.-- It's. A. RAINBOW. I am a sucker for most things rainbow.
 So we bought a two-pack of 16 X 20 canvasses on sale at A.C. Moore, a bunch of crayons at the back-to-school sales, tacky glue and commenced our projects. We played with different layouts, glued the crayons in place and let them dry. Jacie asked to put a caption on hers. I thought it a great idea so I stole it. So, after a lovely warm evening on our front steps with our only hair dryer going for about an hour, we were left with these works of art:
                                                 Jacie's caption reads " live life in color".

   Mine. The caption is from the Harry Chapin song "Flowers are Red". This song is why I love rainbows.
 
Jacie and her art. Don't tell her I 'showed her off'.
 
It's a Pin-Win! Go for it. But look for a real baked apple recipe for your baked apples and ice cream.


Wednesday, September 12, 2012

What not to do when you're busy~


  I've heard it said 'When life gives you lemons; make lemonade'. While I get the sentiment, I always thought that unless you get sugar, too, it's going to be lousy lemonade. But that's neither here nor there and has nothing to do with this post. I just thought of it because it kinda goes along with today's other thought: When you're already busy, don't take on more stuff! For goodness sake, I need to put my "no" button in a more reachable place.

On the docket this month is:
-new school lessons
-turning 51(this one happens without any real effort on my part)
-beginning work on "Aida"
-beginning work on "Portrait of a Nude"
-the Doll Quilter's Monthly mini quilt
-ongoing (intended for Christmas) projects
-running the lightboard for 'my' theatre; three shows each weekend
-breathing and sleeping. And eating. But I always find time to eat. Not a problem.

So when Sewing Mamas opened up a Fall doll quilt swap I said sure. I mean, I'm already making one--what's one more? Right?

Right. I'm nuts. But at least I'm a sensible nut. I had already planned to make two of the same quilt because I like the pattern I chose and I wanted to keep one for myself.  I've already started them; they're progressing well, so I think it best I just take a picture for my quilt album and pass both minis along in the swap. Photos when they're done.

I received this beauty for the August swap from Leonie in Germany.

 It is gorgeous and the quilting---oh, I wish I could get my stitches so perfect! I hinted at the quilt I was making for her in my "I. Hate. Diamonds."  rant. I hesitated to show the finished quilt because she hasn't received it yet (as far as I know) and also because I'm embarrassed. It was my first attempt at a Lone Star and to say it is wonky is being kind. I had to do all kinds of crazy adjusting to get that sucker to lie flat and it will never will any prizes for symmetry or matching points. It's also bigger than I thought it was going to be. I think the best lessons I took away from the project were that things will always take longer than you think and, for goodness sake, keep it simple when you're on a deadline!
 

Anyway, I hope it makes to Leonie safely (I may have messed up her address, on top of everything else.). Time for rehearsal...

...did I mention ( I know I didn't yet, I'm 51, I'm not that far gone) that Jacie auditioned for a role in "Portrait" and she got it! She's playing a British schoolboy and is tickeled to death that once again she has thwarted having to wear a dress or look at all feminine. Auditioning was her idea, she went through the whole audition/callback process and earned it. Mama is proud. :)

 Oh--- the top picture? Gratuitous picture of Kal-El and Leia--  I made whipped cream and suddenly I was the most popular Nannie in the house! Can you believe Leia will be one year old next month?