I mentioned in a post last week about a trip my Mom and Dad went with me to a quilt show 
many many years ago. I talked about the picture Mom painted on fabric, but failed to post a picture of it. I realized this as I stared at it lying in bed yesterday. She certainly did not want to go to a quilt show, but found that she really enjoyed herself. It is a memory I will always cherish.
Happy Quilting
Happy Sewing
Treasure your Family
As I go through the many many boxes of miscellaneous quilt boxes (like it’s Christmas for me). I am coming across projects that I started and never finished for whatever reason.
I could guess that this never got finished because, well, I got pregnant and my daughter was born. I am sure that is why I know that I started this quilt in 2003. I am not sure I remember why. The colored part is actually one piece of fabric with all the multi colored batiks. I sometimes can’t remember what I ate for lunch, but I remember that I bought this not in the quilting fabric area. It was actually in the clothing fabric area. Weird the things you remember. I most likely remember because I thought it was interesting and since it was not in the quilting fabric, it was way less expensive. I love a bargain. It is high quality fabric too.
Now to the odd issues. So, the black in this quilt is defiantly 100% cotton, but the fabric seams weak. I had a couple of seems that were previously torn out (like 13 years ago).. When i resewed these seams the fabric just fell apart. It happened on a couple of pieces. So, then I took a square to see how easy it would come apart if pulled at both sides. It was way to easy. With my rheumatoid arthritis, I would expect me not to be able to pull apart (not tear) a Piece of fabric by holding one edge in each hand and pulling. So, I have a concern that this quilt is just going to fall apart. Nearly all of the squares are done, so I feel compelled to complete it.
Has anyone ever experienced anything like this? it does not appear that any bugs or anything got to the fabric, so I am at a loss. I would appreciate any insight, because it sort of pretty and would be a shame to have to lose it. Thanks.
Happy Quilting
Happy Sewing
Treasure your Family
So, I like to make gifts. I am not always sure that everyone appreciates handmade gifts, but because a part of me goes with them, I like it. I know I treasure the things that others have made for me. 
Sorry, reminds me of a story. My mother could crochet and knit beautifully. However, I had to try and do everything crafty. For as long as I remember I was always doing something. After I moved from home, my parents came to visit for a weekend. I wanted to go to a quilt/craft show (Imagine that). My Dad would go walk around anywhere. He was easy to please. Mom, agreed to go, but I knew she was doing it just for me, not because she really wanted to. We stopped at a booth that was doing a demo of stenciling on fabric. They asked us to sit down and try. I am pretty sure my mother wanted to run away, but she did it. She made the most beautiful tulip painting on fabric. She was actually quite pleased with herself. She hung it up in the bathroom at her house. Every time I went in that bathroom, I smiled when I saw it. Now that she is not here with me anymore, I still smile when I look at that tulip hanging on the wall of my bedroom. Enough reminiscing and missing Mom.
I especially like to make gifts that help me practice a skill (putting in zippers on this one) and are useful. This cute little bag could be used for makeup, keeping credit cards/money,
receipts. Whatever you want. It was fairly easy, considering there was a zipper in it (which initially scared me). I obviously have friends and family that are cat lovers, even though I live in a “Dog” house (Ha! Pun). I will put some candy and/or lip gloss and give this to a friend for her birthday.
This pattern is available for free at WWW.Craftsy.com. Search for “Easy Zipper Pouch”. The Exact title is “Easy Zipper Pouch … Two Ways”.
Happy Quilting
Happy Sewing
Treasure your family
I actually completed something. The English Paper Piecing Dog Bone Hexie Dresser scarf is complete. I even went as far so to clean off my dresser and put it in its home. Three more to go, but they are all smaller pieced. Two for nightstands and one for the tall Dresser. Overall, I enjoyed English paper Piecing. I had never done it before and started it when my Daughter had her accident. For weeks I was at the hospital and this gave me something to do in the ICU. It was quite a while until she was able to talk, so it was mostly sitting there listening to machines. I am really glad for that to be over. Much easier to deal with when you have something to occupy your mind
and hands. I just about have one of the nightstand scarves done also. As for the quilting, I don’t hate it (like usual). As I mentioned in a previous post, I would choose a different marking method (Not the clingy plastic wrap). The dog bones I quilted actually resemble dog bones. How about that. Shocking. It might lead me to get more adventuresome with my quilting. Who knows.
I also completed some Uncle Donald blocks. Since these are scrappy, there are memories that go along with each one. For me, that makes this more enjoyable to do. As I piece these, I take a trip down memory lane.
So for my Uncle Donald Blocks, I have “Becky’s Block”(my niece). This was made from the scraps from her college graduation quilt. It was a picture quilt with many photo’s of her growing up. Addison’s Block (Addison is actually Becky’s daughter, my Great-Niece) are scraps from her baby quilt. It was charm squares and I chose not to use any that had dark colors since I was making a baby quilt. The Crazy Dog Lady Block is totally mine, since I am the crazy dog lady. These are scraps from many dog fabric blocks. Then we have Derrick’s block. Derrick is my later husband whom I miss dearly. He always wore camo. Sometimes I had to ask him to wear something else. He always made me laugh. Only the good die young.
Happy Quilting
Happy Sewing
Treasure Your Family
I am a big skeptic of anything that is essentially, “free money”. However, since I am always looking for ways to keep up my fabric hoarding without taking money from our “living” budget, I looked into something I saw on the news and was pleasantly surprised. There are many apps available that say you earn money back by shopping. This usually involves online shopping. While I do some of that, I never was that interested. But, there are a couple of apps that give you money back for grocery shopping which is a necessary evil. In about 10 days, I have earned about $40.00. I didn’t buy anything that I would not have normally bought. It didn’t take a huge amount of time. Since I was already buying these things, why not let someone give me some money back to buy fabric? Free money in my opinion. I believe these companies are really collecting consumer data. They are interested in what all you buy, not just the things they are offering money back on. I am not sure I care if they know I have an addiction to Diet Pepsi. These sites are Ibotta and Checkout51. Each week, they add to the list of products that they are offering money back on. Some are brand specific, while others are not. You can use the same receipt for both sites. For example, they may offer you money back on a gallon of milk, any brand. Last week, there was an offer for $10.00 back if you purchased a 12 pack of bud light, a twelve pack of Pepsi and a bag of Tostitos. I needed all of these items for Super Bowl Sunday. You have to have at least $20 in your account to get your money. They offer multiple ways to get your money. Cash, PayPal and gift cards (Jo Ann was on the gift card list). There is also cash back options for Jo Ann Fabrics on Ibotta. Even if you don’t buy fabric there, everyone needs batting thread and other notions. Just want my quilting friends to have more money for quilt supplies. In the words of my daughter “Just Sayin”.
Happy Quilting
Happy Sewing
Treasure your family
QuiltingNeeds.com 