Playing in Fabric ......

It may not be cheaper than therapy anymore, but it sure is easier and definitely more fun!!!

Photo found on Pinterest

I want thank all of you for your sweet and loving comments about our loss of sweet Gypsy.  

Gypsy on my lap her last morning with us .....
I had to go pick her up and bring her upstairs with me
because she couldn't walk on her own anymore,
but I will always be glad that I did ....

I have to confess that I haven't been able to respond to each and every one of your comments - I get all choked up and upset all over again each time I sit down to the computer to answer those wonderful emails.  I hope you will understand and forgive me for not responding to you individually.  Please know that your compassion and caring lifted my spirits and gave me many reasons to smile through my tears the last few days :)  And I prayed for quite a few of you who shared your own pain at losing a beloved pet.  Praying for others is another thing that lifts me up out of the pit :)  Does it you too?

Today was a better day.  My Guy and I puttered around the house and tried to get back to what passes for normal around here.  I finally began to feel the urge to do some sewing again, and there were a few projects demanding attention.  Playing with fabric is usually a sure thing to take my mind off what ails me, and it didn't fail me today.  I pulled fabrics to my heart's content!

Aren't these luscious??? 

Rainbow version?

I'm really beginning to love working with solids - they have such impact!

Or how about these???

Sunset version?

Tone-on-Tone prints in bright, hot colors!

Hmmmm - how do I choose??? 

I know - You're wondering, "What is she up to now???"  LOL!!!  Well, there are few things that can yank me out of a deep hole better than pulling lots of gorgeous, color-drenched fabrics off the stash shelves and planning a new project!  So that's what I did today :)

I've decided I absolutely HAVE to make the Arcadia Avenue quilt by Shayla and Kristy Wolf of Sassafras Lane!  I'm sure you've seen this quilt, right?  It's been all over the Internet for months now :)  I went over to Sassafras Lane and bought the book the first day it became available - I knew the minute I saw it I would have to make it :*)  I do love to paper-piece and haven't had a good PP project in the works for quite a while - it's time!!!

The above picture shows it in beautiful Dear Stella dot fabrics and a light background .... (Psst....Canton Village Quilt Works has a limited number of kits available in this colorway if you're interested!)

Of course, I'm drawn to the darker background, and I really want to use that gorgeous shade of aqua in my pictures above.  (I know it looks more blue in the picture, but trust me - it is a perfect aqua!)  I've challenged myself to pull all the fabrics from my stash, although I will allow the purchase of one or two small pieces to complete the set if needed.   I already know I will have to buy a light and a medium constant.  I'm sure more of the fabrics in my pictures above will be subbed out for others.  A few are just there to audition the colors I think I might want to use, even though I know it is not the particular fabric I want to use.  Make sense?

My biggest problem right now is in deciding which color way!  I love the Rainbow version I've pulled together - YUM!!!  But I also love those sun-loving yellows, oranges and pinks in my Sunset version!  I may have to toss a coin - but I'm leaning toward the Sunset :) 

And just a reminder - Shayla Wolf is also the talented designer of the cute little Hootie owls I've been sharing with you!  She's super talented, isn't she?  I interviewed browns for the tree limbs today since I wasn't totally sold on the original choice of the chocolate brown (the one in the background between the Hooties).....

I think I've finally decided to go with these fabrics ....

I'm thinking most tree trunks and limbs are not really a dark chocolate brown, but rather have a lot more gray in them.  I kinda liked the touch of green in the top left batik and plan to work it in as the tree top somehow.  This project is on schedule to get lots of love next week :)  Since I've also worked these owls one block each month, I'm linking up with Lyn at What a Hoot! for her BOMs Away Party.  Did you see that she graduated?  That is such an accomplishment and I am so proud of her!!!!  I'm hoping this means we will begin seeing more of her lovely quilts in progress :)

But ..... before I did any of these things, I had to get my #3 Sew Sweet Simplicity block done and a post ready for you for Monday morning!

I hope you'll come check out all the fun blocks - and get inspired to make your own.  This month, there is a Bonus Block included, and there's another GIVEAWAY too!  Jacquelynne is just so generous to us, isn't she???

Now, I plan to get back to my therapy session - relax and pull some fabrics for my next Patchwork of the Crosses block!  Here is the start of my current block...

I'll be Slow Sunday Stitching on this, and hopefully start another, while watching football with My Guy tomorrow.  Why not pick up a slow stitching project and join the fun by linking up with Kathy's Quilts!

Hope you all have a lovely Sunday!

See you Monday morning, bright and early :)

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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Long Live the Queen!

Our darling little Gypsy passed over the Rainbow Bridge today. I am pretty sure that right about now she is letting all the others there know that The Queen Has Arrived =^..^= 

We are at such a loss. She was with us for 18 and a half years and filled such a huge place in our lives. She felt it her duty to keep me company, no matter what I was doing. Always a faithful companion and ready at a moment's notice for a snuggle in my lap. 

There are so many things I'm sure I will not know how to do alone now..... drinking my tea in the quiet time with the Lord each morning with Gypsy in my lap....  winding down at the end of the day, watching a favorite show on TV with Gypsy in my lap....  watching the Panthers play football on Sunday afternoons with Gypsy at my side as I stitched....  she was even an excellent traveler!

I think the hardest thing for me will be when the Spring finally arrives.  She and I are always so excited to be able to get outside again.  We sit on the side porch in the early morning hours and welcome the warmth, grateful for the passing of winter and our enforced captivity inside.  I sip my tea and talk with the Lord, she sits beside me and listens, ever watchful for birds and intruder neighborhood cats, sniffing the air in appreciation.  We sit in companionable silence and watch the world come alive.  I'm sure I will have no idea how to do that alone this year.....

She may have loved my stash almost as much as I do!!!

            I am glad our sweet girl is no longer in pain or suffering, but we miss her terribly.....

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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Design Wall Monday - Catch-up Style!!!

There are so many things to do now that Sara has gone home!!!  

Not only do I have to get back into reading all my favorite blogs, but all my projects are screaming for attention!

This is why my Design Wall is in two pieces....

I often have to get behind it to get into my stash closets :)  No work has been done on my Blooming Nine-Patch this week, and I really want to get that next color up there.  These strips are just waiting patiently to be sewn up and made into delicious 9-patches - YUM!!!

You can see tons of wonderful projects in progress at Judy's Patchwork Times today!

My next priority is to make sure I am ready for several classes for the below quilt that I will be teaching soon.....the bright and beautiful Amish Beauties!

Then I have TWO Bertie's Year blocks that desperately need attention....

Yep, they've been languishing!  I've got them fused down, but not yet stitched down.  And I was doing so well at keeping up!  And I got an email that the next one is already on it's way - yikes!

I want to make a See-N-Go Project Bag  - from these gorgeous scraps (you can see mine HERE and get your FREE pattern from Jacquelynne Steve's Summer E-magazine - also FREE - HERE!) to match my Stitchery Keeper - see more about it HERE.




And then I have "just a few" other projects that are calling my name LOL!!!  

This month is Light and Lime Greens for the Rainbow Challenge over at SoScrappy, and I don't need to make any more green blocks so I'll take a break from that this month.  Hopefully that will give me time to catch up on some of these more pressing projects :)

So I know you're wondering if we got everything made for Sara before she left, right?  Yep, we did!  And then some, because I did some repairs on several of her pieces of clothing the night before she left :)

The Foxy Shorts turned out really, really cute!

I was a little nervous about making the Woodland Creatures PJ's.  It had been quite a while since I did any apparel sewing and working with these new-fangled all-in-one patterns was a little bit of a challenge at first...

And working with jersey knit fabric again - let me just say UGH!!!

But they really did turn out cute and very, very comfy!!!

And Sara finished up her second pillowcase - cupcakes for her sister Emma!

Yesterday morning we met her father and sister halfway between Nashville and Monroe NC to get her on her way back home so she can begin getting ready for school.  They start on August 26 there.  On the way, Sara finished up the little cuddle rag quilt I made the night before for Miss Link by snipping all the edges to make them ruffle when they are washed ....

As you can see below, Miss Link was a huge help - LOL!!!

It turned out really cute and I enjoyed sewing up those scraps and getting them out of my stash!  Sara will wash it and make it all raggy and cuddly today :)

It was so much fun to have her here ... and teaching her to sew was a privilege I never thought I would have.  What a blessing!!!  And I really want to thank you all for listening to my posts about her visits :)  But it was really strange to wake up this morning and see her room empty :(  That will take a few days to get used to I'm guessing.  But my guess is that Gypsy is not missing Miss Link even one little bit!!!!

What do you think?

Oh - if cats could talk, we'd all be in trouble!!!!!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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Slow Sunday Stitching? Probably not today.....

You all know how much I love sitting on Sundays and slowing stitching something beautiful along with my friends over at Kathy's Slow Sunday Stitching party.  Alas (I just love that old-fashioned word!), that's probably not going to happen this Sunday, because today is Red Rooster Retreat preparation day - we leave early tomorrow morning so I've got lots to do today!  However, I will of course be taking several hand-stitching projects with me to retreat for quiet, relaxing evenings.

I'm steadily making progress on my last block for The Blue Collection.....

The vase itself is done except for a space in the top for the tree to slip down inside when it is ready.  Applying the leaves is really fun now that I have all the preparation done and they are ready to just stitch down in their proper places....

I started with this.....

Then using the starch method, each piece was prepared like this...

And then it's a simple matter of using a few tiny drops of glue to hold them in place for stitching down ...

I really enjoy this method of applique!  I shared this technique with a group from my guild last week at our monthly sit-n-sew.  They all did great!  I'm hopeful that a few of them will finally begin to enjoy applique after learning this method, as I did :)

Carole brought the CUTEST little cup for holding her starch.... I heard a group of students all ooohhhing and ahhhhhing, so of course I had to go over and investigate :)  And there was Carole holding up this tiny cup - the most adorable little starch holder in the world!!!

I'm sure you all know someone like Carole.  She is one of those people who always looks beautiful, no matter what she's wearing, and she always has the perfect accessories ... if she weren't so sweet and lovable I'd probably hate her :*)  She loves laces and ruffles and everything girly!  And she always finds the perfect little tools and accessories for her quilting adventures too.  So I wasn't at all surprised that she had come up with this cute little cup - the perfect "Carole" accessory :)

I told her that I had seen someone use a small child's tea cup in one of the blogs I follow, and that she had used the handle for a rest for the brush.  I have been keeping my eye open for one like it with a handle in thrift shops ever since.  Well, in typical sweet Carole style, she came up to me at the end of the class and presented it to me!!!  I was thrilled of course!!!!  She says she has another one at home, but I have a sneaking suspicion that she just told me that so I would accept it :)

I'll also carry the June Bertie BOM block along for some quick embellishments once the center is assembled....

I love that pop of red in this design :)

So what will you be slow stitching this week?  

Share it at Kathy's Quilts!

And just so you all know what I have to put up with around here ..... while I'm running around trying to do a blog post, pack things up, and take care of a million other things in order to be ready to leave in the morning, this is how my faithful companion helps out!

Well, come to think of it, isn't this what you're supposed to do on Sunday - rest?  

Good girl, Gypsy!!!!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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On The Needles - 4-4-14

I'm making some good progress on the Swing Cowl.  It seems the designer is now calling it the Wavy Cowl, but it will always be the Swing Cowl to me :)  I think I am a little more than halfway done ....

Pardon the quality of this picture please!  That muddy "browny" color in the middle is actually a plum-purple.  I had hoped to take a good picture in the light this morning, but it is not so light here.... stormy and rainy and dark.  Just yesterday, Gypsy and I sat out on the side porch and enjoyed the lovely spring sunshine....

Ahhhhhhh....... There's a reason for that old expression, "Like a breath of fresh air!"  It is heavenly to have the warmth and sunshine back after the bitter cold of this past winter.  I know some of you still have cold temps and even snow - UGH!!!  I am glad to have my faithful friend to sit with me in the mornings again this spring.  This is one of our favorites things to do together!  I am sad to realize it will probably be her last considering the way her health has been failing this past year.  She'll be 18 in August, and she's had a wonderful life, so we really can't complain, can we?

I also got a good bit done on my current pair of socks while at Guild this week...

It always makes me smile to think about how much the first stage of these two-at-a-time socks on the magic loop look like knitted bra cups LOL!!!!  I tried to start these at the same place in the color strata, but as you can see, they are each taking on a life of their own :*)  I don't mind at all - I think it makes them more beautiful!!!

Sharing with others who love to play with needles at Judy's Patchwork Times today!

Have a lovely weekend my friends!!!!

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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Rainbows, Books and Cats.... Brrrrrrr!

Remember this pile of yummy fabrics I shared last week ????

Well, I promised to show you why I was playing with them, didn't I?

Soul Searching

Block One - BLUES

This is ONE HUGE BLOCK!!!  Unfinished it measures 24-1/2" x 27-1/2" - Yikes!!!

You may notice some grays in the background fabrics in the first picture... I decided I really didn't like them in there, so I pulled them out and stuck with the light blacks-on-white.  I chose from my washed fabrics first, then I dove into my fat quarter drawer for more.  Although I am not using only scraps for this one, I do want to use up the smallest size fabrics first when I can :)  Many of these had not been washed, so I had a "wash" day last week....

All freshly washed and ready to quilt!!!!

I'm making nine blocks for this quilt, each one a different color, much like the original which can be found in the book, Making Quilts by Kathy Doughty of Material Obsession.  So, of course, it works perfectly as a Rainbow Scrap Challenge quilt!  (Right now, it is only $9.99 on Kindle.  Go HERE to find it at Amazon.com if you are interested.)

May I go out on a little rabbit trail here?  Have you purchased a quilt book on Kindle?  This is my first Kindle edition quilt book.  I really hesitated before hitting the "purchase now" button, but then I decided to give it a try to see how I like it.  Do I really like Kindle as the best way to view and use a quilt book?  No, not really.  But the negatives are not deal-breakers, and I think the positives make it worthwhile.  Such as - with the iPad, I still get beautiful pictures and easy-to-read presentation........no pages flopping closed on me as I'm trying to hold a block and read the instructions at the same time :)

In addition, sending it to my Kindle Paperwhite means I can take the book with me anywhere I go - to sit-n-sew, to classes - without the bulk and weight of a real book!

And at half the price of a print edition, no shipping costs, 

no addition to the clutter on my book shelves ...... 

I feel like I am really working that SIMPLIFY mojo - right???

Still, this was not an easy decision for me.  I LOVE BOOKS!!!  I love having the real thing in my hands - the feel, the smell, flipping through the pages and stopping where my eye pleases .... well, you get the idea :)  But let's be honest here - I have a million books on my shelves!  I'll be doing a post soon to show you some of my book shelves ... and book clutter!  And the quilt book section is growing way faster than I can make quilts.  Am I preaching to myself here, or are you shaking your head, "Yes, me too!"?  Sharon at VroomansQuilts has started her Let's Book It  linky party this year to encourage us all to take those books down and actually start using them to make a quilt - what a "novel" idea!  (Just couldn't resist that pun hehehe!!!)  I quickly made up my mind to join in of course :*)

Anyway - after trying it out and weighing the positives & negatives, I'm pretty happy with the Kindle edition for this book, and I love that it is neatly out of sight on my Kindle "shelf".  It will be handy to have the directions on my Kindle when I go to retreats or sit-n-sews.  But will I start buying all of my quilt books that way - NO WAY!!!  [we have reached the end of that particular rabbit trail :)]

So back to the lovely Soul Searching.....I must admit that I have been inspired to make this quilt by several of the bloggers I follow - Kevin the Quilter and Exuberant Color to name a couple :)  It has that look I love - Traditional meets Modern!  And I felt it was simple enough to add to my agenda this year without adding a major project.  I hope you enjoy seeing these blocks come together each month :)  I've already cut all the background pieces for all nine blocks - lotsa cutting going on today!!!  But with that done, now all I have to do each month is pull my 24 different fabrics of the designated color, cut and sew.

It looks a little like a wedding cake, doesn't it?  LOL!!!

I'm already looking forward to seeing what next month's color will be, aren't you???

To close, I thought I would share a cute picture of our usually sweet Gypsy - sitting right smack dab in the middle of all my washed fabrics!!!  Little minx!!!!  Can you read her lips?  I can!!!  "Girlfriend.... don't you even think about making me move!!!  I'm finally comfortable - do you know how hard it is to get comfortable at my age???  Do you????  And you know you don't want me mad at you!  I may be old, but I haven't lost my mind, and I still know perfectly well how to get even!!!"

Oh yes she does!!!!  I say "usually sweet" because this little girl has some spice to her LOL!!!  She's always been a bit feisty, but as she has become elderly, she's gotten downright cranky!  She's always had a tendency to nip lightly at your fingers if you stop petting before she's ready for you to stop, but this past week she actually broke the skin on my finger!  Poor little girl is just about skin and bones, and my heart aches every time I look at her and realize that her trip to the Rainbow Bridge is not very far away.  So of course, I forgive her for her crankiness and snuggle her every chance I can get!

And speaking of snuggling .... well, there's a WHOLE LOT of that going on around here!!!  It's no wonder Gypsy is taking refuge in warm mounds of fabric!  Am I allowed to whine about the cold yet?  No?  Well, look at this....

That's right!  SIX degrees - in NASHVILLE folks!!!!  

I may have to move .....

Linking up today with:

SoScrappy - 2014 Rainbow Scrap Challenge

Sarah Did It! - Feline Friday
Patchwork Times - Design Wall Monday
Freemotion by the River - Linky Tuesday

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

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