I LIKE THURSDAYS MAR 30

Greetings!

Thanks to Lee Ann at NOT AFRAID OF COLOR, I have some more likes to share with you:

1. Easter decos around the house. These are such fun to put together and are just small vignettes:

This one is the kitchen table -hence my kalanchoe plant and an orange. The purple stock is from my small patio garden.

This one is on a small bookcase in the living room.These bunnies I got at Tuesday Morning many years ago.  They are so cute!

2.  Chocolate Bunnies.  This a small wall hanging I made for my daughter this week :

It's about 15 x 12. I started to use the pattern from Seamstobesew 2015 but had to change the bows so I could make them in larger pieces.  Having tendinitis in both thumbs makes it difficult to work with small pieces.  It took 3 hours just to make the bunnies! But, my daughter(46) actually squealed when she saw it.  I made triangle hanging sleeves on the back and added a 12 inch dowel so she can hang it easily. :
                             
I find this type of sleeve easier to make for small quilts;

3.  Watching basketball  on Sunday afternoons with my special needs grandson. So. much. fun. He gets all excited and tries to imitate the "moves" on the court. Slam dunks, three pointers, etc. All while siting on the floor! And, he repeats announcer comments verbatim  He is constant entertainment.

4. The "Mission" company for making flour gluten free tortillas.  Unbelievably like the real thing!  Many companies make corn tortillas but I prefer the flour for making cheese crisps or enchiladas.   They are expensive but such a treat. Years ago I tried making my own, but that didn't work.

5. The irreverent movie "The Heat" with Melissa McCarthy and Sandra Bullock.  We ran across it on the tv again recently and after watching the frustrating news reports of the day, this was a laugh-out-loud treat.

Hope you all are having a nice Spring week and don't forget to hook up with Lee An for more fun.
Thanks for stopping by and seeing my craziness.
mary

JELLY ROLL RACE QUILT

Greetings!

I finished the Kaffe Fassett 2013 Cool Jelly Roll race quilt. It's for my bed for the summer.  It's about 60 x 75 finished. 

It's the only jelly roll race I've done, ( from MSQC tutorial on you tube) but I'm ready to do another one. This is fun if you are watching a movie at the same time. It took an afternoon to make the top. Then  a year later, I added a white border and a purple/lavender  border, plus a backing of a green floral and quilted it with vertical lines. I used my new favorite color-Robin's Egg Blue for the binding. 

I love it.

Hope you have a wonderful day!

m,ary

PINK CARNATIONS

Greetings!

Happy Spring!

It's actually cool here today-yay.  Pink Carnations are my favorite so I was shocked when I saw a big bunch for $5 at my local Safeway:

They appear so delicate and yet they will last at least a week if I change the water daily.  Thank you Safeway for making them affordable.  Makes me want to make a pink carnation quilt...hmmm.

THINGS I LIKE MAR 23

Greetings!


Thanks to Lee Ann at Not Afraid of Color, we are expressing our likes today which is so fun.


Here is my list for today:

1. Pulling out Easter decorations for my home. The house will be much more cheery. Here is a basket of Fabric Easter eggs I made in 2015.  I got the pattern at retro-mama.blogspot.com.

They are so cute and easy to make. My grandson and I play catch (or pummel) with these where no harm is done to lamp shades in the living room.


2. Any music from the 80's. I love music in most forms but especially that era. I literally cannot sit still if Michael Jackson's Pretty Young Thing is on the radio. Even in the car.-yep-that's me.


3. My new "Mod Dre" quilt which hangs over the sofa. It is 51 x 46.  I designed, sewed and quilted this cutie from Kaffe Fasset Spring 2016 layer cake. These are  half Dresdens. I used Bella Solid Robin's Egg blue for the background. The circles and border are made from Kona Cotton Purple Colorstory.

It's so cheery to see this hanging in the living room each morning!

I hope you are all having a good week and will hook up with Lee Ann for more fun.

P.S. After all my worries of early summer degrees in the 90's-we are having rain and 54 degrees this morning.  YES.
mary

HAPPY SPRING 2017

Greetings!

I wish we had smell -a- vision so you could smell these beautiful blossoms right now on my orange tree near my patio.  They are such a sweet orange scent. They only last maybe 2 weeks so I savor for now.

I'm a "tree" person but sadly, this is the only tree I have.  I live in a subdivision next to Sun City (retirement area) where there are only rock lawns, palm trees,etc.  Of course, for older folks, this is very low maintenance, neat and tidy.  I prefer green lawns, plants, flowers and so I have a mini potted plant garden on my patio.  Luckily, the citrus trees in the area have been here for decades. The birds are going crazy on this tree.


Enjoy this SPRING day! We will be 95 degrees today. I hope you will be cooler!

mary

St Patrick's Day

                                        HAPPY ST PATTY'S DAY!    

THINGS I LIKE MAR 16

Greetings!

Here are things I'm liking today.  Please hook up with Lee Ann for lots more likes at: lapaylor.blogspot.com

1. Batiks.  Besides being beautiful, I love the way they feel and keep their crispness. The Batik pieces  are easier  to sew together.  Here are 2 purses I have made from Batiks:

The above bag is mine that I have been using since October.  Love love love these strips of jelly roll from Tonga Treats of Timeless Treasures. This bag is roomy but light weight.

The above bag was made from Tonga Treats also, just a different color combo made from charms into patchwork design. I made this bag for a friend. I hope she likes it.  It will be hard to give this one up.

2.  Air cleaning machines. I have allergy issues like most people here in the valley but also have COPD so I am more conscious of air pollutants. It appears that I have "batting" issues.  Most battings seem to "fly in the air" while I'm machine quilting. I sew in my bedroom so the stuff is everywhere.  I have tried different batting types but they all seem to shed so I purchased an air cleaning machine. Of course, there are hundreds of air machines  to choose from, but I chose this one based on cost and features:

It works as long as I remember to use it!  My furniture and tile floor seem less dusty since I've been using it; the machine is  doing it's job.  I just need to do mine.  By the way, I really don't like to dust furniture!!

3.  Chasing Squirrels.  I just heard of this term and feel so much better.  Evidently other sewists get easily distracted while completing their projects and stop to try something brand new they just saw at a fabric store or online.  Case in point, I have been slowly completing two WIPS this last 2 weeks but had to go to a sale at my LQS yesterday.  I found the cutest "scrap bag" from Me and my Sister (Rainy Day line) for $5.00.  I purchased a few other pieces to stash away for Christmas. However, when I got back home, I started cutting the scraps in the scrap bag into a baby quilt where I can attach white background pieces. Why?  I do not know of anyone who needs a baby quilt today or in the near future. I have a list of projects that need to be started or completed!  I'm not going to think about household chores needing my attention.

I had a wonderful afternoon cutting those pieces.  Just sayin.

That's all for now.  Hope you enjoy this post and will hook up with Lee Ann.
mary

NATIONAL UMBRELLA MONTH

Greetings!

Did you know March  is National Umbrella month? Me either.

Is this the cutest Bird Cage Umbrella? It's from Ella Umbrella. Now you can impress your friends with some very important info.  The umbrella was invented 4000 years ago and waterproofed later by the Chinese.  It's to get you ready for the April showers. 

Enjoy.

mary

HAPPY PI DAY

PUSHING SPRING

Greetings!

As they say, be careful what you ask for. I didn't really ask for anything but I was complaining about the cold weather 2 weeks ago. It was in the 50's here.  Last night I had to turn on the AC because we are already in the 90's! All this week... R U kidding me? I have to get summer clothes out already.

But, I did make a great purchase this week: $12.95 was spent for a charm pack and a yard of fabric. STEAL... from MSQC folks.

The fabric is a yard of Moda Robin's Egg (almost a light turquoise but definitely Easter).  The charm pack is Moda Lulu Lane by Corey Yoder.  this makes me so happy.

The Robins Egg is  one of my favorites.  I used it for my Mod Dre quilt last month (to be posted soon) and also for an Easter pillow cover I made for my daughter last week.  This group above will probably be a baby quilt or not. I might just savor the view.

Have a wonderful week!
mary

THINGS I LIKE THURSDAY MAR 9

Greetings !

I always think of Mork when I type Greetings.

Anyway, here are the likes for this week to share with Lee Ann  at Not Afraid of Color

1. My Janome 6600 sewing machine.  When I purchased this new machine, extended table, travel contraption, accessories, I felt like I arrived in the quilting world!  Based on the expense alone, I should have.  Just kidding.  It has been worth every dollar.

I especially like the cutter button and threading feature.  I use a lesser machine, Singer Confidential , when I travel for classes etc and really have to adjust to a machine without these features. I have to use the other machine because the Janome is too heavy for my back to lift from house to car to destination and back.   I have had my Janome a few years but haven't really spent the time to use some of the fancier stitches.  Someday.

2. My Singer Touch and Sew model 646 machine.  It is in the original cabinet and is about 50 years old and in good condition.  The bobbin winds under the plate! very cool. I acquired it from a co-worker who wanted to get rid of it! I did give her some money for it. I only use it for piecing scrap strip  blocks. This machine is a workhorse. I can take it out of the cabinet any time, sit down and sew-quiet and dependable. I've had it a few years and haven't gotten it serviced-need too I guess. Disconnecting it from the cabinet should be fun. Some of you may remember it from Home Ec in the 60's.

3.  My local quilt shop, Quilted Country Bear in Glendale, Az.  It's small, personal and fun. The ladies are so helpful AND TALENTED. I attend a monthly WIP day and it feels like a mini retreat every time.

These are just a few of the "likeables" for me.  Hope  you all enjoy your day and link up with LeeAnn for more.

mary

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY!

just sayin.

I SPY WITH MY LITTLE EYE

Greetings!

Today I'd like to share with you my "I Spy" quilt number 2.  The first one I made was given to a charity before I started taking photos of quilts years ago.

This quilt is for a toddler son of a friend.  The fabric was from Missouri Star Quilt Co and was called "I Spy Charades" from Kanvus Studios.  Here's the best part-I ordered the 10 inch Square packs 2 different times cause I liked them. (Never realized I had the first pack.) The pattern/tutorial is also from MSQC called Double Slice Layer Cake.  Super easy and quick.  I made the top in one afternoon at a WIP day retreat then it  sat in a cupboard for over a year! I just love this fabric.And so do little boys. I paired the fabric with some polka dots to let the subjects pop.

The quilt is 53 x 45 which is perfect for a little boy. The backing as you can see is red/white dots. I took this photo before I attached a tiny black/white binding. (see below for binding)

Here are some close ups of the blocks in the quilt.

Frogs, race cars, Mexican hats, numbers, popcorn, soccer balls, and my personal favorite-dancing monkeys to name just a few.


check out the binding:

I'm going to get more of this Moda polka dot! Love it as binding.

Hope you enjoyed this.
Have a great day.
mary

THINGS I LIKE THURSDAY MAR 2

Greetings!

Here are my like things for today:

1. Retirement.  I apologize to those that are not able to retire yet. I remember your pain. I retired from 50 years of working last summer. Truth be told, I wanted more time to enjoy life not just walk through it. I felt  like a hamster in a wheel. Plus, it was time to let a younger person take on the responsibility of that position after my 19 years there.  That's a freakin long time, people.  sorry.
I love not setting the alarm!!!!! I can take my time in the morning. I'm a morning person so this is such a treat to start my day slowly.  My joints are thanking me and behaving so far.  Don't get me wrong- I miss money and I am constantly weighing pros and cons of any purchase.  My brother and I live a very simple life which helps control the budget.  The freedom I feel not answering to a boss is PRICELESS. If you can swing it at all, do it.

2. Volunteer for Friendship program at my grandson's public elementary school.  Students with and without special needs are paired up for fun activities throughout the school year. 5th-8th grade volunteer students who demonstrate leadership skills with good grades are recommended by teachers to the volunteer program. The kids are Best Friends Forever. For my grandson who is a special needs student, his friend Charlie provides a friendship that is so sweet to watch. Charlie has learned and watched my grandson grow and progress in school in areas Charlie would not otherwise been aware of.  Win Win for everyone.

3. Old Lady's day at Joann's. Ok, that's so inappropriate a title, but that's how I think of it.  It';s not every first Wednesday of the month, but this year we have had 3! Check your local Joann's a few days before.

What great marketing!
Please hook up with Lee Ann for more likes: lapaylor.blogspot.com.....they are such fun.
Enjoy your day.
mary