Category: Crafts

Hospital Hexies again…

20170310_070254_resizedWell, I am at the hospital  making hexies again.  Today Miranda is having surgery on her elbow.  When she had her accident, she had a compound fracture of her elbow.  She also lost about 3 inches of the bone.  So today, they will take a bone from her thigh and use it to permanently repair her elbow.  She has limited movement, so hopefully this will provide her better range of motion.  The x-ray is totally scary looking.  I have a few others I will ut on her page.

For now, I will continue to make hexies to pass the 20170310_094411time.   I still have two more pieces to make for the entire bedroom set, so at least it is productive.

Happy Quilting

Happy Sewing

Treasure your family

Limited Progress Ho Hum…..

Well, I finished the topper for one nightstand.  Now I need to quilt it and get it on the 20170305_201141_resized_1nightstand.  Two more to go and all of the bedroom furniture will have some protection.  So, you can tell this one is not for my side of the bed, although, I love the dog bone fabric, and of course Ohio state.  The blue plaid is actually a cotton shirt that got a hole in it.  It was one of Kevin’s favorites (and mine), so I decided to cut it up and use it somewhere else.  Worked perfectly and was 100% cotton.  All though he did look at me like I was some kind of weirdo when I cut the arm off his shirt and started to use it for something other than a rag.

So nearing the completion of this piece, I watched a Jenny Doan video on English Paper Piecing and 20170305_201151_resized_1instead of sewing down the corners, they glued it.  Never thought of that and it saved a ton of time.  You can see here on the back how I 20170305_201202_resized_1sewed most of them and then started using my glue stick.  Looks the same on the front and once it is quilted, who is going to know?  Has me considering some other shapes for my “Sit on the couch” projects.

Made some progress on my “One Monthly goal for March”.  Need to make more. It is not going to bad.  About 20% complete.

Happy Quilting

Happy Sewing

Treasure Your Family

Mom’s adventure to the Quilt Show (Circa 1993)

I mentioned in a post last week about a trip my Mom and Dad went with me to a quilt show 20170224_184935_resizedmany 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

Cute Quick Little Bag form the Crazy Dog Lady…..then why is it made with Cat Fabric?

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. 20170211_210814_resized_1

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,20170211_210808_resized_1 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

 

 

Finally, some time in the sewing room…and some Quilting I don’t hate.

20170211_112954_resizedI 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 mind20170211_113029_resized 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.

udHappy Quilting

Happy Sewing

Treasure Your Family

 

More Quilting Money….an idea on how to get some……

money.jpegI 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

Finally, some progress…but what a pain

So, I finally was able to work on a bit of quilting.  However, things did not go as planned.  I never like my quilting.  I wanted something very specific for my Dog Bone Dresser scarf, mainly Dog Bones, duh.  So, I decided to use that sticky saran wrap “Glad Press and Seal”.  There were good things and bad things about it.  So, I don’t exactly hate the quilting.  Dog 20170128_205041bones actually look like dog bones.  However, now that I am done with the quilting, I am pretty sure I have spent more time picking out that “Press and Seal” wrap than I actually spend quilting the entire piece.  The other part was that while doing the quilting, I found that the “press and Seal was not easy to re-position.  Once you start quilting and compress your quilt sandwich, I found that the “Press and Seal: needed adjusted and it was not possible.

I put the entire design on, including sqiggely lines.  I found it difficult to follow.  Most of the time I did my own squigglies until I got to the dog bone.  Then I follow the pattern.  I have three other pieces to make for our bedroom.  I think I will make a dog bone template and use a Frixion Pen.  I don’t need a template for squiggely lines.  That I have under control.  The hands are getting better, so hopefully I can get back into my routine and be less cranky.  If anyone has had luck using “cling Wrap”, I would love for someone to tell me why it was so difficult and if there is an easy way to remove all that plastic.  I am curious how everyone else marks their quilts now that I becoming more adventurous with my quilting.

Happy Quilting

Happy Sewing

Treasure your family

The holidays totally got the best of me…..

20170107_184745_resizedI had some time off, but I was not off during the entire holiday season like I am used to. I user a lost (most) of my vacation time with Miranda’s Accident.

As always, I have big plans for my quilting/Sewing and it did not happen. My sewing room is a disaster, because we had company for new years. This means that everything got dumped in my room. I look at it right now and it frightens me. Trying to move stuff a bit at a time, but it seems to be daunting task.

I wanted to make a page for all the items I really need to finish this year. Did not that done either. Of Course On December 30th I was at the Immediate Care with Bronchitis. It figures. Company coming and I am sick. I made it through, and had fun. Two of my sister came for the New year, which had never happened before. We had a Chinese gift exchange which involves stealing gifts etc…. I wound up with a toilet light. It was meant to be funny (and it is) but I also find is useful. Makes me not have to turn on lights when I get up at night. Unfortunately, my nephew Alex got the gift I provided. Cottenelle wipes, Toilet Paper and PooPourri. Needless to say He won for worst gift. It was worth a laugh though.

I did manager to work on my English Paper Piecing and finished the one that will go on my dresser. Dog Bones for the crazy Dog Lady. I have now begun work on the nightstands and will eventually get to Kevin’s dresser. I like to work on my English paper piecing while I am watching TV with Kevin or my daughters. Gives me something to do besides snack.
I plan to attempt to quilt dog bones on the dog bone dresser scarf. Will see how that goes.

Happy Quilting
Happy Sewing
Happy 2017
Treasure your Family

So Many Things to be Thankful for…especially Monnie and the Wool Coat Quilt

I often forget how lucky I am.  Sometimes, getting caught up in the day to day img_03301activities of life makes you forget a few very important things.

I am still here.  For this I am grateful.  I have a beautiful, healthy and smart twelve year old daughter.  I still have Miranda, which at one point in time not too long ago, I did not think I would.  She hobbles around the house today.  For this I am grateful, even when she gets on my last nerve.

I have Kevin, who in his very own way is a very kind man, who looks out for all of us.  He was most certainly my rock during Miranda’s accident.  Lately he takes care of me when I don’t feel so well.  Currently I struggle with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Dystonia.  They don’t go well together.  But, it will get sorted out, eventually.  Kevin son’s Bryce, who is cute as can be and such a helpful sweet boy.  I miss him when he is not with us, but grateful when he is.  I can’t imagine what it feels like not to have access to your child at all times.

I am grateful for my three sisters, even though we sometimes we get off track.  I am hoping to see them all at New Year’s this year, so we can work on getting things back to the way they used to be, or as close as we possibly can.

These photos are of a quilt that my sister Anke has.  It belonged to my Grandmotherimg_03321 Monnie (Uncle Donald’s sister).  She was one of my most favorite people and the reason I sew today.  This quilt is made of old wool coats.  Imagine how warm it is…  The history.  I wonder who wore all those old wool coats?

A big thank you to my sister for sending me the pictures.  I remembered seeing it, but it had been a long time and brings back the fondest memories of Monnie and reminds me of who I am.

At 52, I have already said goodbye to two husbands, both my parents and a couple of dear friends.  It is a lot.  Sometimes I think it is too much for me.  But then am I reminded of all those that are still in my life.  For this I am grateful.

Happy Quilting

Happy Sewing

Treasure your Family

Something for the Fur Babies

20161112_162030_resized_1My dogs usually tear off bandannas.  I think they are cute, but for whatever reason they come untied and I find them in the yard.  So, I decided to make some that slipped over their collar.  Super cute and easy.

My First model is Moka.  She was not happy about wearing the bandanna. Not sure why, It complemented her Ohio State collar and dog tags.  She wasn’t happy last Christmas when I put her in a holiday sweater either.  She rolled around on the floor for hours til she wiggled out of it.  She eventually found a way to get it in her mouth and I had to remove it before is got Mokaed (destroyed).

My second model is Snibble.  She liked her bandana.  Especially since it made our resident20161112_154733_resized_1 OSU fan happy (Kevin).  Snibble has been madly in love with him since she met him.  We are all OSU fans, but I have to say, Kevin is the only one that arranges the shirts in his drawer by: OSU Football, OSU Basketball, anything related to New York (that is where he is from) and misc.  Heaven forbid I put something in the wrong pile. LOL.

 

The lucky bandannas must have worked, because OSU won in a smashing victory and some of their top opponents fell also, which should make them rise in the polls.  Which makes everyone at my house happy.

 

Happy Quilting

Happy Sewing

Treasure your Family