Just In Time!

Ok, I just sewed the last border on the November Schnibble, Picnic! I really enjoyed this pattern. From the ingenious method for half square triangles to the perfect fitting piano key border it was all so easy. I used Moda's Wiscasett by Minick and Simpson because I love their fabric.

I can't wait until tomorrow to see what our December Schnibble is!

Happy Thanksgiving!

A New Quilt

I broke out a jelly roll for a quick quilt. I love this book! Jelly Roll Quilts by Pam and Nicky Lintot. I want to make every quilt in this book! Actually, I have made one top already and have another planned.

Each quilt is a generous lap size. You only need the jelly roll, some border, backing and binding fabric.

This is the French Braid quilt from the cover. I'm using American Primer by Minnick and Simpson. It worked out perfectly because there were 20 lights and 20 darks. It's simple to sew together and I've been putting one row together a day. I have five done and it takes 8.

That is my design wall. Actually, I have another design wall in the hall outside my sewing room that I use to audition blocks before I sew them into rows. This wall in my sewing room has everything I am working on pinned to it. My friend says I have layers...and she's right. I like to have everything in plain sight, that way I don't forget about something!

Oh, yeah. I am working on my A Year of Schnibbles quilt. Had to stop and order some more charm packs. My design idea got a little out of hand. Hopefully I will be able to show something other than bits of blocks before too long.

Before The Feast

The dishes are ready...



Piled up everywhere...

I'd like to show you my Thanksgiving dishes. The pattern is called His Majesty. They are made by Wedgewood which bought out the original maker, Johnson Brothers. The dishes used to be made in England but are now made in China. I love the turkey and the little bits of pink and green are just perfect for my colors in the living room and dining room.

Stay tuned...I'll show you the table set for Thanksgiving soon!

Locker Hook Rug

I finished another locker hook rug. This time in pink and green for my guest bedroom. This is such a great way to use up some of that stash you're tired of. The pattern of the fabric doesn't really show, just the color.

All you need is a rug canvas, cotton string and a locker hook. The locker hook looks like a crotchet hook with a large eye on the opposite end.

I put this at the end of the bed in front of the dresser in my guest room. Now I'm working on rugs for the sides of the bed. Cheap, easy and cute!

Olivia

Olivia's birth announcement quilt is completed. I used hand applique, hand embroidery and machine quilting. The center of the flowers are buttons. Her room is decorated in pink and brown so I think this will be perfect!

Her quilt top is done too. The backing and binding are ready...

I think it turned out so cute!

Here are pictures of the hand embroidery.

It's ready to go to the quilter.

After: Living Room and Dining Room

It was a long haul but, finally it's done!


It's funny to me how different things look in a picture compared to real life. I never noticed the pictures are crooked and the quilts are all sideways!




I'd like to tell you about some of my things. The double porch rocker (with all the pillows and yo-yo quilt) belonged to my grandmother. I used to sit with her on the front porch and call the whippoorwills. When she passed away I was fortunate enough to get it.




Many years ago my Mom gave me the secretary. She has given me so many things. Once, when my sister visited she said to my Mom, " Now I know where all your furniture is."




The coffee table was the first antique I ever bought. It was a library table and my husband used it to study when he was in college. After a few moves we cut the legs down to coffee table height. I've always loved it cut down. There is a drawer in the front that we use to hide remotes and Christmas Cd's (and candy). LOL~




The framed doily was made by my great-grandmother. I have two more framed pieces that she made.

The two (lime) green chairs were also my grandmothers. I would love to recover them but my daughter really loves the way they are right now. So, I'll leave them as they are for awhile.

The mirror over the couch belonged to my Mom. When my daughter was little it was hanging over her crib and she loved to look at herself. A friend from Florida made the floral swag with branches from a curly willow tree that was cut from a tree in my Mom's backyard. She also made the wreath in the dining room.

The bow front china cabinet and the victrola and music stand are antiques I purchased. I never bought my antiques outright, I always put them on layaway. Everywhere we moved (in the Air Force) there would be a little antique shop that was my favorite and I would pick things up here and there.

I've got the fabric to make the curtains for these two rooms and the rods are already up. Somehow, quilting always takes priority!

This is the dining room. See the cradle? It's full of albums filled with Tootie Babies pictures. Imagine that!

The large cabinet is a display cabinet from a department store. I have my teapot collection displayed in it. We moved it from the other side of the room and I like it so much better where it is now.

The table has two huge leaves and they pull out to make a very long table. We've had many family dinners around this table. Lots of memories...

The buffet was a gift from my Mom as well as the sewing rocker. Sometimes it is called a nursing rocker but I can't imagine that with no arms for support! That is my grandmother's silver tea and coffee service on the tea cart.

I know that these days the decorating style I have is outdated. Pink and blue went out long ago but I still love it. Oak has fallen out of favor too. I wouldn't give up my turn of the century golden oak furniture for anything.

The walls are much darker than they appear in these pictures. I love the new floors! I'm so glad that it is over but, we still have to do the upstairs...

Now that we've caught up on the Tootie Babie's events for October I'll tell you what I've been up to.


I went to the International Quilt Festival in Houston! Oh my, I supported the economy! I also met so many 'famous' quilters. Alex Anderson, the Country Threads girls, Lori Smith, Eleanor Burns, John Flynn, Ami Simms...those are just a few! Wow! I saw some great quilts. Most were in group exhibits and a lot were art quilts but, there were some traditional hand quilted ones too. Those were my favorite!


In late August I decided I would concentrate on finishing some fall quilts. I finished a pillow~

a Schnibble~

Unfortunately, since I supported the economy so well at Houston, I didn't have any money leftover to make October's Schnibble. At least, I felt too guilty to order anything online (at least for a little while).

Leftover Log Cabin~

The Great Pumpkin~

Thirteen Lucky Cats~

Big Stitch quilting.

And, a label!

By the end of October I was over the fall stuff! I'm ready for some Christmas now.

First , I have to finish a baby quilt for my new great niece, Olivia, who was born on Tuesday of this week!

Remember what a mess I was in during August with my new flooring and paint? Tomorrow I'll show you how it looks all put back together!

Tootie Babies turn TWO!!

It was the party of the century! A pink and green explosion!

What? You missed it? There were party hats and balloons! Presents and cake!

Singing birthday cards!

Sarah loved her cake! She ate all the polka dots first!

Emily just dove in and took a big bite!

Then Sarah ate all of Emily's polka dots! Yummy!

New baby dolls!

And, a big, huge swingset! That is Daddy working hard to put it together.

Sliding...

Climbing...

Come on Graddy, go down the slide!

What a great second birthday! We're 'big girls' now!

A Lot Of Catching Up To Do!

Saturday was a big day for Emily and Sarah! First, they visited the pumpkin patch and picked out a huge pumpkin to put on the front porch.

Mommy painted our faces to look like kitties.

We were so cute!

When Emily looked at Sarah she said, "Scary".

Sarah looked at Emily and started to cry!

So, that was the end of the face painting. Mommy washed it off as quick as she could.

Trick or treating was fun. Emily got a red sucker and Sarah got a green one. After a few switches back and forth Emily ate hers and was a sticky mess! Sarah just held hers for posterity.

We decorated our wagon and Mommy, Daddy and Nana walked around the neighborhood with us giving out candy to everyone we saw!

Then we had to go home and have a bath to get the stickiness off our hands and out of our hair. It was a good day!