Elephant Bread

Or bear butt bread?


Just a quick check in. Ive been selected for jury duty. Too tired to sew. But I had to make bread, who knows how long this process will take and I need to eat, to keep my strength.

Be back soon (fingers crossed),
Brandie

Absinthe Minded

After fighting a head cold for the last few days, I've finished my third quilt this year. Hurray!

I've spent all morning sneezing and stitching on my crazy binding. In no way is this a traditional quilt. Crazy quilt is more like it!

How do you like it's name? Absinthe Minded is my Hubby's brilliant suggestion. I love it! Appropriately named.

Glad to mark another UFO off my list. Time to start another!

I've drawn a name from the hat, and that name is, Sunny! Congratulation Sunny!

I like this "Pass it on" idea so much, I know I'll be doing it again soon. So keep watching for another one to adopt.

Have a wonderful weekend! I'll be back when I can. Next week I'm scheduled for jury duty. Great time to do some appliqué. Who knows how long this will take! Wish me luck.

Take care, Brandie

Pass It On

How would you like your name on this mystery box? I won't tell you exactly what's in it, but I will say there are more books and patterns then fabric.

First a few rules.
You need to be a blogger, so that you can "pass it on" to another blogger and keep us posted as to where it's going.

You must be willing to ship it on to the next person.

You have to part with leftovers. Things like orphan blocks, books you have no use for, fabrics that just don't float your boat. Maybe a sewing tool you don't use. You don't need to buy anything, just gently used leftovers.

Everything you adopt needs to be replace with something you don't need.

So there are the rules. Still willing to receive it?
If so, leave me a message and I'll pick a green winner on Friday.

Good luck you thrifty quilters!
Brandie

Green Devil

Have you ever heard of Absinthe? Did you know that many artists were said to be under its influence. Many like, Van Gogh, Picasso, Degas, Poe, Verne, Wilde and Hemingway.
When I look at this green devil of a quilt, I think I must have been drinking absinthe! What was I thinking?

Now don't misunderstand me, I'm in No Way an artist like any of the above mentioned. I'm just relating myself to the crazy part, not the artistic part.

This quilt is my crazy concoction of unrelated blocks trying to work together. And it doesn't. But it too late so I'm going for it.

But I just may name this quilt "Absinthe", and if I do, we'll all know why.

Take care, Brandie

Green Fantasy

I've been working on "that" green quilt between babysitting jobs.
My friend Nichole had a sweet baby girl Friday afternoon. Which left me with Hailey. She sure was a sweetie, but not very helpful in the sewing department!

But during some quiet moments, I pulled out that Green quilt. I did manage to get it sandwiched and did most of the straight line quilting. Who knows where this is going, but I'll figure it out when I get there.

I thought some swirly circles would look nice around the dragonfly. I do like. What I don't like? Metallic thread! It keeps breaking on me! But I've started and I need to continue. I think it'll look nice on the wings, if I even get the thread to work!

Any hints?

Patience awaiting advice in Paradise,
Brandie

Quick Finish

Well here it is, a completed quilt-along quilt. All ready to go for the next baby. Assuming that it's a girl and these are the nursery colors.
Again if you haven't done a quilt-along with Lori, I strongly suggest that you do. They're quick and fun. And if you're like me, you make them bigger or add borders and you have a baby quilt.
So check it out. She has other tutorials too.

While I was going through my stash looking for fabric, I came across a few things I probably will never use again. Books, patterns, fabric and what nots. I have a thought, what about a "Pass it on" box that will travel from blogger to blogger with items removed and then replaced with the next bloggers leftovers. What do you think of this idea? I not talking about new everything. I talking books that no longer appeal to us. Patterns that we will never use again. Fabric we now find ugly or just know we'll never get around to it.
Let me know what you think. Because I'm sure another persons leftovers may be someone else treasure box.

Take care, Brandie

Flimsy Finish

Here's a little flimsy finish. Yesterday I sat down and used my rotary cutter, with little pain, so I'm truly on the mend. I made Lori's little quilt-along quilt. But I don't think the name Pink Lemonade works for mine.
I used the Aster Manor fabric collection for the blocks and just stashed fabric for the borders.
As usual, this has been an excellent quilt-along. Lori gives great instructions and has always been very helpful. So if you haven't already, check out her blog (Humble Quilts).

Don't I have the best fabric holders?! Maximus is doing an impression of a paper weight. He's making sure that flimsy doesn't fly away.

Take care, Brandie

First Finish!

I did it! I finished a quilt. Not as impressive as Lori's from Humble Quilts, but I'm happy. The only thing left to do is name it and put a label on it. My first finish of 2012.

Remember these started as pre-cut lozenge shapes. I then started to piece them together and than appliquéd them to unbleached muslin.
I carried them with me to meeting and I think it took me most of the year.
I had it all sandwiched by December than I had to take time off because of my unfortunate finger accident.
But I'm on a roll now!
This weekend I buckled down and just started quilting and finally finish yesterday about noon. Then I throw the whole dirty quilt into the wash and let it soak for about four hours.
Those lozenge shapes were starched and dirty from years of being tossed around. But they're clean now!
And of course I throw it into the dry to get it all crinkly. I love that look. It's so inviting.
So there you have it, Dirty Dresdens to beautiful antique.

I just did a simple 1/2 inch quilting all around. I decided against feathers. One, I didn't know if my hand was up to it and two, I didn't want to take away from the Dresdens.
I'm thrilled with the way it looks. Right down to my monogram. This is my quilt and ain't nobody can say different.

Take care, Brandie

Old Rings

I did some quilting! I'm so happy! This has been a long time coming. I've been going stir crazy being away from my machine.

Yesterday I quilting the inside of all the individual Dresden pieces (20 x 9 = 180). This took me a couple of hours, with chores between, but I managed fine. No achy hand! Hurray!

So then I decided to quilt some more. I only made it around one square, till I had to stop because my back ached. Haha, I just can't seem to win.

But don't worry, I woke up all refreshed and I'm off for a walk which always does wonders for my back.

So take care and I'll be back on Monday.

Brandie

A New Ring

Thank you all for all the well wishes and Holiday cheer. It's nice to have friends like you. You are all kind, talented and inspiring.
While I've been away, I've been having a mild pity party. Little things would set me off like, not being able to pull up my big-girl-panties. Tie my own shoes. Type. Text. Wash dishes. The list goes on. Losing the middle finger affects the whole hand. But Good News, it is now on the mend (hopefully).
Since you've all been so patient, I'll tell you the WHOLE story, just no laughing.

It all started at a buffet. You know, one of those places that with every serving spoon you're sharing everyone else's germs. As I usually do, I washed my hands after fixing a plate. While at the sink, silently singing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star", I somehow twisted my middle finger hearing an audible pop. It sounded just like when my kids crack their knuckles, but when I did it, I felt intense pain. It felt as if a pea sized piece of glass was inside my knuckle. I couldn't bend my finger.
Retuning to the table I showed my Husband and of course he laughed that I over washed my hands.
Dinner was a disaster. I ended up using my left hand to eat with.

Three days later, I meet some of my quilting buddies who thought my fashion statement of a taped straight middle finger was a no-no. After their scare tactics, telling me that finger would fuse that way, they convinced me to go to the Dr.
Well, confession time. I don't have a Dr. When I have to go, I just go to the urgent care down the street. I guess it has been awhile because when I got there I found out that the insurance I've had for a year wasn't accepted there. So they sent me to the clinic. Eeewww! But I went.
They made me an appointment to see a Dr downstairs. They told me I was seeing an OB-GYN. Seriously!
Being the obedient person that I am, I went downstairs. The OB came into the room and I told her straight out," I just need you to assess my finger, I'm keeping all my clothes on". She asked how I hurt my finger and for the third time I had to hear the giggles.
Diagnosis, I had pulled the tendon in my finger that is connected at the top of my hand and will affect my whole hand until it heals. She also suggested that I take the tape off and move it. So I did. Boy what a quack!
I've since learned that wasn't the best advice. I had been re-injuring it every other day, hence the pity party.

What have I learned from this experience?
1. Most people don't sing while washing their hands

2. Other people don't wash each finger separately. But if you do, let me know

3. Never see an OB for a finger exam

4. Learn to laugh at yourself

So now that I've had my finger stationary for about a week, it feels so much better. I've been able to do dishes, tie my shoes and even pull up my big-girl-panties. I'm going to stop wallowing in pity and get back on the horse.
Today I'm going to see Gail and I'm going to attempt to quilt. As long as I don't have to use scissors, I'll be fine. This new ring is now a fashion statement. But I also know it's keeping that finger safe so it can heal thoroughly.

Good bye for now.
Take care, Brandie