Still Here

Yep, I'm still here. I seem to be in a funk about blogging this month...I think it's going around. So all I have done this week end is stocking my etsy store. Lots of moda bella solids, marbles and other goodies. Check em out...now, go quilt something...Elaine

Just a quick post

I spent all day away from home in Tyler with dh...he had shoulder surgery, did very well with it. It's >35 miles from home and we have animals to care for so I couldn't stay long with him. I had enclosed the 2 chihauhaus in the bathroom with food and water....and after 12 hours...a miracle! What...pads dry and clean? Wow! Everyone else was happy to see me to. Now I just want to drive back to Tyler to see dh, grumble, grumble.

On the upside, I did get a little more done on my Waiting Quilt...can you tell?

                                                           

I love my kitchen now

Have you been to Rhonda's and caught any of her Kitchen sink tours? Very cool. She features kitchens from all over the world. And then....Vickie, who is my sweet neighbor, featured hers. The rest is history...

I love it this way. Oh, the strings of Christmas lights...they were there when we moved it, honest! So when was the last time you single handedly raise your dh's blood pressure?

So dh said, after removing the cupboard doors...."so, if you decide the refrigerator door has to go, call me so you don't have to yank it off," men are so weird! I have to go straighten the cups AGAIN. Lol, go quilt something!

                                                                            

What I take with me

                                                      
I bought this top on ebay several years ago. I couldn't feel the love. So I bought some pre-made flower parts on ebay @6 months later. This is what I take when I am waiting for babies to be born, husband at the doctor office, long car trips.

I didn't like the huge border on this baby/lap size quilt, so I added some vines, leaves and the beginning of coneflowers. I need to add the centers of the coneflowers with some fun little french knots. I taught myself how to make french knots last year and love the look of them.

                                                      
What do you take when you wait?

                                               

Happy Valentines' Day and a winner

I hope everyone had a heartfelt day~~I just feel lucky to have power and internet.

The winner of my last giveaway is Millie:

Millie said...


Well for keeping it real...I was born in South Africa and lived on a farm. My family and I moved the day after Valentines Day, 11 years ago, to the US.

I love candy and so I am always trying to loose a few extra pounds.

I love the pink and white quilt and as a longarmer I will have so much fun with the machine quilting...this is such a generous give away.

Send me your snail mail address Millie please! Also, Tara, you brought tears to my eyes, you little dickens! Thank you so much, you have no idea!
 

Keeping it real and a giveaway

I saw a couple posts from Ryan and Kerri about keeping it real...scary stuff. So here goes.

                                                         
I was born and raised in Eastern Washington state, 3rd of 6 kids to a logger and stay at home mom. My dad had been married once before and I have a  sister I have never met. My dad, younger brother and I were all in the Navy (me in the reserve), I as a corpsman for the Marines. I was also working full time at nite in an ER as a tech, going to nursing school during the day, raising children and busy being a wife at the same time...multi tasking at the optimum! We moved to Texas 5 years ago. I love thrifting (yeah Kerri) and have my own cart for the flea market! I cringe at shoe prices but think nothing of spending hundreds on quilt fabric, ahh, for the shop, yeah, for the shop, lol!

                                                       
I quit smoking 3 years ago, after a 42 year habit. I love ice cold watermelon and hate okra. My idea of a deliciously fun time is an old timey tent revival with singing and testifying.....you know? I am hopesly addicted to popscicles and have great grand children. I have 1 bff and collect antique quilts and quilt tops. I collect feedsacks and LOVE finding unfinished projects.
I love to can vegetables, pickles and jam. I love to cook from scratch and have begun using herbs for the first time and love it! I make really good gravy and suck at pie making. I used to sing to my grandmas cow...we were both pregnant at the same time, she freshened before me. I've bleached my hair for over 25 years and refuse to stop. My ears are pierced and nothing else. I have NO tattoos. I want to wear full frilly skirts and cowboy boots. My favorite sporting event is anything cowboys  do. I hate social clubs. I can do push ups. I sit with my animals when they die and have viewings with funerals for them. (call me Ryan, we can chat). I do not believe in coincidence, but in karma.  I love hot tea and dislike chocolate. I want a pink refrigerator and stove...real bad!

I want to live frugally. I love to make my own bread and laundry soap. I am a closet Duggar family junkie! (I secretly envy Michelle Duggar).I have never had a pedicure or manicure but had my appendix out 4 years ago. I have never been baptised but all my kids are Catholic.  I love milking goats, gathering eggs and can skin a snake, but am terrified of anything without legs! I breastfed all my kids and let a pot bellied pig live in my house.

                                             
I have been sick for a little over 2 years. I have good days, bad days and really sucky days. I don't like to talk about it, for real, I don't. I have usually held 2-3 jobs at a time. Now I can't even hold 1. I can't go to the doctor, because I have no insurance. I have no insurance because I have no job. I finally broke down and saw my doc 2 weeks ago. I had a few lab tests. The bill came: $800.00. So you think I'm going back? Oh hell no.                                      

Oops, I digress.  So here's the deal, I found this little 68"x 93" quilt top. The white is broadcloth, I am not kidding, weighs a ton. Lots of seams are loose, partially hand pieced and then machine pieced. Not anything about this quilt top is right. But, I have had it for a long time and I know I will never do anything with it. I need to purge. If you can convince me that you will love her and you have a good relationship with a LAQ that has a wonderful sense of humor...comment. I don't think, as a full quilt, that you could easily machine or hand quilt this piece. Perhaps tied, or long stitch? Maybe cut in half for 2 little quilts?  I tried to fold it the long way and it ripples!

I will let you know on Valentines Day who gets this little beauty, lol. If you live out of the USA, I will split the postage. Seriously, weighs alot! Of course I wouldn't feel right just sending this top, so I would like to sweeten the deal with a Charm pack, some fat quarters, something to take your mind off this quilt top! 

Now make me laugh, give me a reason to add more goodies to the box. And no, I did NOT make this top! The pic on the right shows the back, if you look close you can see the un-skilled sewing.    

Now you can get real on your blog too. Don't forget to comment and make me laugh...cheers, Elaine                            

                        

                                                        

Flea market finds

I have re-homed these little blocks, @ 11 1/2" square, more or less. The petals are like the Lafeyette Orange peel. Rumor has it a young lady attended a ball with General Lafayette where he supposedly ate an orange and she carried it away. The petal shape itself, if pointed at each end, has also been called Bay Leaf, Tea Leaf and Lovers Knot, just to name a few. The pieces are all sewn down with a very thin white thread, not needle turned. The black ring is a little over 1/4" wide. I have never seen this before, very strange. Every block uses scraps with the muslin and black the only unifying elements.

Some of the blocks are age spotty. I love these blocks, all 23 of them. I think it might be wise to remove these flowers and re-applique them to new muslin. What would you do...try and wash the blocks as or re-attach to new fabs?

Are you ready for the super bowl?

So, I am a lame duck...I only watch for the commercials! Then I manage to get sucked in, make snacks for big daddy and enjoy myself.
A friend sent this to me and it amazed me. It is apparently 3 years old, but so relevant, check it out. Have a great weekend, Elaine



oops, almost forgot. My friend tells me this is a 13 y/o boy who wrote, composed and sang it. Since she checks EVERYTHING on snopes, I tend to listen when she talks!

Hunky Dory by Chez Moi and Blush by Basic Grey

                                                             

Hunky Dory arrived today, all in my etsy shop. Layer cake, honey bun, jelly roll and charm packs. Let me know you read it on my blog and get 5 fat quarters of the new Moda Blush line....50% off. But, you must tell me you saw it onmy blog. So, (I am so shameless) check out the newbies in my etsy store...Hunky Dory and Moda Blush. The Blush comes in fat quarters, 1/2 yards and yards. Cheers, Elaine

                                                        

Moda Grunge

Moda has come out with a line called Grunge. I fell in love with it, and blame it all on Liz . I want sheets made from this, camera bag, bellbottoms, everything! I so heart this line...every stinking piece!

                                                          

I have been working, like forever, on this cute little quilt. INow I know why I haven't finished it yet...it NEEDS grunge! I found this poor little tattered quilt at my local flea market and had that aha moment. I wanted to recreate it so I could have it for my own. I love this quilt!

                          

2 different grunge pinks on a pale background...what do you think? Embellished with your own embroidery.

If I stock this in my shop...is it something you would want to use in your quilt?

Moda is not offering this in pre-cuts, big bummer...so I thought I could offer it in fat quarter bundles, 1/2 yard and 1 yard cuts. If there is enough interest.

So I will patiently wait for your thoughts...hmmm, hmmm...