My Gardinia is actually getting flowers on it this year!  Amazing....

This is what most of my stuff usually ends up looking like.... house plants do much better.

This is my dragon from Laura Wazalaski's class!  I do love dragons.  This is going into the "Itty Bitty Quilt Show" in the Appalachian Arts and Craft Shop in Norris.  That's in July.  Also on July 4th for one day ONLY, a quilt show up in Norris.  Worth going to see that and all the activities that go on during the 4th of July there.

This is the next quilt for me to work on for customer.  I got it all pieced, marked, and basted.  Now.... ready....set....GO!  And I'll start quilting it tonight or tomorrow.  It was a panel that I cut up and pieced together with other blocks.  It is a pattern in a magazine.  Pretty easy.  And I love the content. 

It was 55 out this morning!  After 3 or 4 days of 90 something heat, it was a wonderful feeling to head out and not feel like you walked into a sauna.  I am doing the weekend stuff around here and the end of the month stuff... you know, change air filters, water filters, water plants, clean bathrooms and other stuff.  Just not a fun list of things, but very neccessary.  And there's no one else around to get them done! 

Went to breakfast with my friend Brenda.  We tried out a new place to us, called the Plaid Apron.  What great food!  All locally grown things, so their menu will change depending on what they can get.  It was delious!  Then we walked around and enjoyed the cool air and the beautiful gardens.  Went to a couple of shops and then headed home.  We always catch up on what has happened in the last month (or so) and have been friends for over 30 years!  Always make time to be with friends!  It is reguvenating!  Easy to laugh.  I love it. 

The guild meeting is tuesday night.  Look forward to show and tell!  Need to figure out what to bring!  Patty

It's done!  I can't get the pictures to do what I want tonight.  But this is the wonderful postage stamp quilt.  Got the binding done just a minute ago.  It's soft and so sweet. 

Here's a close up of a couple of the centers.  They are different quilting designs.  Because there was a piece of linen in there instead of a batting, there is no loft in the quilting.

All the little fabrics are so pretty.  It had to have taken sooooo much time to cut all those out.  They didn't have olfa cutters back then.  So each little square had to be cut out with sissors.  It was machine pieced.  But still had to have taken a very long time.  It's 65" x 45". 

I have the next one basted and another waiting for attention!  That's not counting mine. 

I got the car sensor changed out today.  Yea.  I love it when the things on the car all work right!  You can't just put duct tape on things now and expect it to be ok.... Then I went to bee.  Lots of laughing today!  Not many people, but still a very good time!  Next week is the SMQ guild meeting.  So I'll show the postage stamp quilt! 

I guess graduation is going on this week!  Plenty of signs up around town and new cars on the road with the "paper plates".  Also had a party truck leaving the neighbor hood a minute ago... so I expect the traffic to and from the party site will pick up later.     

Not much energy tonight, so will turn in early.  Just want to get alittle more stitching done on the blue one.....

Patty

Ok, you just shouldn't practice machine quilting at 9:30pm.  I was tired and wanted to get this done... and it is.  A fabric bucket.  Won't hold water, but it is cute!

I had pieced it together when I did the log cabin blocks... then last night I cut the batting and sat down.  Zoned out and got 'er done.  I think it's a nice size to use to stash things in it.

Love the checker board inside with the plaid.

I almost have the postage stamp quilt done.  Working on the binding.... boring part that has to get done.  So I'll have a picture of that for tomorrow.  Probably will bring it to the guild meeting. 

Bee tomorrow.  Also take my car in to have a sensor replaced.  Then donate blood over at Food Lion.  They are supposed to be there.  I don't like donating, but it's needed.  Do you know how much they charge if you don't donate?  Something like $125 a pint.  So go donate.  It's not a big deal or I would be too chicken.  Your family gets free blood if they need it with in a year.  And you usually get a t shirt.  (I do it for the cookies!)

I was looking at the pictures from the dragon, where they all go driving, and one jeep had a sticker on the back that said, "Hang on, I want to try something." 

At least if I say that in the sewing room, no one will throw up!

Keep laughing!  I makes people wonder.

Patty

Start with a big bag of scraps, and a long weekend.  Determination to make something out of nothing....

Sew and sew and sew....

They do come together after a while and there are very colorful blocks!

I needed this.  It's like therapy for me.  Nothiing exact and just bright colors.  I will get these together in a wonky way.  Why I only got 14 made is beyond me.  But now that is part of my own challenge.  To "make it work."  Love that saying. 

It was in the 80's last night, all night.  Someone left the heaters on from last winter!  (Just kidding)  I have an idea why it's getting hotter.... too many hair dryers, clothing dryers and electrical motors running.  When the power goes off, do you do ok?  I'm fine without power.  When Mike was at home, we would play chess when the power went out.  Great game that takes a long time and very little light. 

So?  What did you make over the long weekend?  I have had one movie after another going.  So I'm looking forward to bee this week and actually talking with people.  I do have to have the car in the shop.  Needs a sensor replaced that reads the oil pressure.  Bothers me to see the gauge go up and down all the time.  I go by gauges, so they have to work. 

Ok, lunch first then quilt more... Been eating too much... but, that's ok right now too....

Patty

So?  What have you been up to?  I have been concentrating on quilting this piece. A holiday weekend is my time to do my own work.  My hand is so tired and sore after 2 intense days of quilting.  Shall I stop...nay.  I am waiting for the sunday paper to get here.  I woke up at 5:15am, and just didn't want to go back to sleep.  I have such weird, sometimes terrible, dreams that it's better to just get up.

Can you see the quilting?  Each block is different.  Took me 4 hours to mark.  I really want this one done and out of the way.  Just too many others to work on. 

Ok, blue is my favorite color.  Want to make something of it!  It gets to be a joke, but I don't understand why all the time.  ...just go with it.  Not like I'm the only one with a favorite! (Ok, you can tell I needed more sleep!)

I was thinking about the Sunday Paper.  Do you know that my parents never let us read the main news in the papers when I was growing up?!  I guess they were just shielding us or thought they were protecting us in someway.  But when I started to find out about all the problems in the world, it was unreal to me.  Very difficult to understand the hatred and malice of people.  So I'm glad in a way that they did it.  But, I had to catch up on current events quickly.  Learning history shouldn't be about what happened yesterday...

It's easy for me to tune things out that I don't like.  I do learn more about them before saying it's a load of crap.  I don't try to tell people how to run their lives, and I really don't want or need anyone else to tell me how to run mine.  So I usually steer clear of people who constantly tell you how to handle things, or what I should be doing.  I do my own thing.  I am an adult now.  Something else that some people don't seem to get.  Just because I'm happy and having a good time doesn't mean I'm childish, or child like.  Would you believe I'm going to be 60 next year?  They say it's the start of another childhood.  I haven't given up the orginal one.  I feel sorry for others who have. 

Too deep?  What's your favorite color?

What if Zebras were green?

Patty

In progress!  Still on the wall... I added black sashing and some more blue...

Today started weird.  Something got into the garbage...so I had to get another bag and climb into the can and clean it out.  Then hose it out... Cleaned bathrooms... just seemed to be never ending yuck around here! 

The other day when I went to baste a quilt I didn't have any MM light batting.  So I ran to Joanne's and batting was 50% off!  Alright!  Got 2.  Then off to Bee!  The parking lot was packed because another big meeting was taking place in the building.  So I had to park in the back lot... Got there just as another bee was coming in, and only one other was there and I was an hour late!  Now we still have a good time even when there are only a couple of people there.  At least it had been a calm week in everyone's life for a change!  Others did show up.  I left early because UPS was bringing something my hubby ordered and he didn't know if I would have to sign for it...4 wheels with tires!  Don't want those just left by the front door. 

Anyways, I have been trying to get into gear and get somethings done in the sewing room the rest of the day.  Dinner is done, and I have some time now!!!   When did life get so complicated.  I have a hammock and would love to put that out this summer....oh, the tree come down last year in a storm. 

Patty

THis is what I was talking about marking with the long piece of cardboard in the wavy lines.  You mark one line, then move the cardboard closer to you and shift it to the left.

Get the lines close together in one spot and it makes a great wave.  Very easy borders!  I usually do 4 lines in a border.  You can do these across a whole quilt.  Makes a great background.

Yesterday, I had planned on marking this quilt, then basting it.  Then quilt for a while on the postage stamp one, and finish up with working on the one on the design wall.... but it never goes the way you plan.  I marked this one and it took hours.  None of the blocks are alike, so I had to come up with a different design for each one!  Did get it basted, and then my back was tired.  So today, I stayed home this afternoon and quilted on the postage stamp one.  I didn't get to the Norris guild meeting.  Two meetings and a bee in one week is alot of time for me to be running around.  So I skipped one. 

Tomorrow is Bee!  Yes.  And when I went to baste this quilt, I realized I was out of Mountain Mist Quilt Light Batting!  That's my favorite!  I can't believe I don't have any in the house!  I have 2 regular MM Battings... and  cotton battings up the wahzoo!  I have won several, bought a couple and was given a few by others.  Also have 2 wool batts, and a bamboo one!  Think I'll try the bamboo one in the quilt with the sheep.  It's super soft...but when I had tried a sample piece, the needle seemed to drag through it.  So I'll pull it out and put a piece of fabric on either side and give it a quick go.  If it is easier than I remember, then I'll use it for that.  If not, then I'll try the wool.  Everyone has been saying how wonderful it is to quilt through wool.  Seems right for  a quilt with sheep on it!    So what does this have to do with Bee?  Well, the shops to buy battings are down there!  So on my way to bee, I'll swing by and pick up a batting or two. 

In 2 different guilds, we have done batting samples.  You have to write to several batting companies and get what you can find locally.  Cut out strips from all of them, 2" x 18".  Get 1/2 yard of muslin and line up the samples of batting, butted up against each other.  You write on the back of the muslin what each sample is.... Then you sew 3 wide strip together, light, medium, and dark strip to make a top.  Put that over the battings and quilt down the line.  You will be able to do a nice comparison between all the battings.  Nice to see them through the fabrics, and see the difference in the relief of the quilting.  It was about 18 to 20 years inbetween the 2 times I have done this.  Batting has really changed!  And the varieties that you can get now are great!  On the back of the muslin, you also should write down how easy it was to quilt through each one.  What else you like and don't like about them.  It is great to have around.  I have my two samples around here somewhere....

Keep quilting!  Try new techniques and have fun cutting up all that pretty fabric! 

What did the cowgirl say to the cowboy?  "Don't flatter yourself Cowboy, I was looking at your horse!" 

Patty