Can you believe...

Another finish! and this one is on my UFO list.

For me, these fabrics have stood the test of time. I believe I bought them in 2002 and they are just as beautiful now as the were then. I still treasure the box filled with these leftover fabrics. I feel like they are too precious to use.

I love this quilt. I'm glad years ago, cousin Linda convinced me to keep it. Thank you Linda! Now I'm ready for a girl grandchild. I think I'm going to start a hope chest for grandchildren.

I love everything about this quilt. From the mistakes to the prairie points. What mistakes, you ask. Well this was early in my quilting years and I didn't get all those stems under the big rose. So a couple of the stems have furry beginnings, where they are attached to the big rose.

My fingers are a little sore from the hand quilting, cause I'm out of practice. It's not as heavily quilted as most of my quilts, but I still love it.

Take care, Brandie

A scrappy finish

After spending 2 hours at the DMV yesterday, I finally got back to quilting. And I finished "Swiss and provolone on toast". Hurray another finish. Unfortunately, this was not on my UFO list, but I still finished it and I'm thrilled. The simple quilting really makes the cheese squares pop. My husband walked by it this morning and called it cheese puff. Made me laugh, so I might start called it that also. I made it big enough for a baby and I did say I might give it to my niece, but I really like it and I think I will keep it for my first grandson. Someday I should have one, so why not start planning now.
Looks like we will have another day of sunshine. Nothing like sun to lift the winter blues, specially before another storm.
Take care, Brandie

A Finished UFO

Look at what I saw yesterday. Sunlight coming through the window. I was starting to feel vitamin D deprived. My skin was starting to become translucent. We had half a day of sunshine and today has started with the sun shining on the trees to the east. Today will also mark the first day in over a month that my BBF and I get to go out for a brisk walk. I'm really looking forward to that, with my sunscreen on.
I finished up the linen and green silk. Hurray, finally done with something I started in 2007.
Now I did start quilting this quilt then, but I hated it and took weeks un-sewing it. I put it through the washer and am very pleased with the results. No the quilt it not square, it's a little wonky.
I'm so happy, that means I now have 2 UFO's done out of 20. On to the next one (I'm trying to inspire myself to finish more).
Take care, Brandie

More about books

This last December, I started a "Brown Bag Challenge" with our Guild. I am in charge of this challenge, and I don't know where to start.

These are the fabric and ribbon, that I chose, to challenge the participants. They're challenging even me. I'm trying to think of them as a color, and this is what I told everyone else. The theme is "Your Favorite Book". This should be easy. RIGHT! All we have to do is use each of these fabrics 3 times, no smaller than 1 inch.

So what is my favorite book? Well, this book still makes me laugh. And my children laugh at me when I read it to them, so I think this might be my first choice.

I loved it so much, it is in bad repair. Unfortunately, it is even colored in. I have been think about this and I don't think I did this, I think my little brother (who grow up to be 6 ft 5)did this. He was always getting into trouble. So it must be him.

I don't know why the computer flipped them like this, all these pic were taken at the same time.

This is my second favorite book. And it would be easily identifiable.

Some great pictures to get my creative juices flowing.

So now I need to come up with an idea. What book would you do? If I start now, I might have this quilt done by my deadline, the second of December 2010.

Take care, Brandie

Old books, new inspiration

This weekend, my MIL found this great book. What am I going to to with it?

Well looking through this book my MIL thought I would like it to make a quilt pattern. (She was at our home once, while I took pictures of a marble floor, off a TV show. Sounds crazy, but it would make a beautiful quilt.) So when see saw this book, she thought of me.
And she was right. Look at this quilt patterns or just quilting motifs. This book has it all. Sorry about the flash glare.
A medallion in the middle of a quilt? Can you see it? Or enlarge it and it can be a huge bed quilt. So many possibilities, so little time. Patterns can be found almost anywhere, we just have to be looking for them.

Take care, Brandie

I'm going to tell you a dirty little secret.
For many years, I've been sleeping on the floor. When we up-graded to a queen sized mattress, our attic room would not allow a box spring up the narrow stairs. So I gave the box spring to my MIL and throw the mattress on the floor. Till now, I never told anyone. Me a grown woman, sleeping like a college student.
Well this October, I moved us downstairs and put that same mattress on the floor.

Isn't that gorgeous carpet? (that will be the next thing to fix)

This last weekend, we finally got around to making a platform for the bed. We bought narrow shelves at Target in Espresso. Laid down plywood and screwed it all together.

I had previously bought these leather boxes to house whatever I need them to. I'm so happy with the results. And making the bed is so much easier. Even rolling out of bed is easier. And it's still not to high for PugsLee.
Maybe next, we'll install indoor plumbing. Just kidding!
Take care, Brandie

Mother's Day Picnic

Mother's day picnic quilt. Remember, you can click on any of the pics to make them bigger.
I've always called this Mother's Day Picnic. About 4 years ago I was working on the middle of this quilt during Mother's Day. We all went to a local park to eat, ride bikes and such. While we were there, I saw almost all these flowers. The California poppies, bergamot, ground roses and wild iris's.

I added the little creatures, just cause I like them.

I know turtles don't really stack, but they do in my imagination. Do you see the bite the big turtle took out of the leaf. This makes me laugh, what was I on when I made this?

Didn't they stack in "Yurtle the Turtle"?

A dragonfly and do you see the little spider, to the right? Oops,I cut of the dragonflies head.

A snail and a better view of the dragonfly.

I always like my quilts more after I'm done with them and time has passes. While I'm doing them, I see every mistake and every mis-matched point, which this quilt has many of. Now I look at this quilt and am proud of my imagination and color choices.

Take care, Brandie

Power has been restored

I'm finally able to make a post. We have been having severe winds and rain for days now, and this morning knocked out our Internet, cable and power.
As I write, the winds have calmed and power has been restored. So on with the post.
Last night I came up with a quilting pattern. I used the embroidered leaves as a template and draw up my design on tissue paper.
The blue pen was not showing up on the green silk. In fact none of the making tools were showing up on the fabric.
After adding the leaves and swirls. Now I just need to come up with a design on the linen triangles. Maybe I'll come up with something before the power goes out again.
Take care, Brandie

Something done

Yesterday I got off my butt and started working on UFO's. Of course I picked the easiest one to start with, the pillows. All they needed was (I'm going to call them gussets) and backs. And Murphy's Law is, if you need something, you won't have it. I don't have any filling. Why am I using filling? The pillows are 14 x 18, and I don't think there are pre-made forms that size. So I'll have to wait till I go to the big city of Chico, to pick up my filling.

The pillows were from a class I took with Rami Kim. We were suppose to make these into a purse. I love purses and all, but thought these were too big. So now they will be pillows from my children's ex-school to auction off and make money, I hope.

I did do some more quilting. I had been doing the little square with the walking foot and it was taking sooooo long. So I switch out that foot for the free-motion, and went to town. I think in the time it took me the same time to do 1 line with the WF, as I did 6 lines, free-motion.

A close up of the little squares. Aren't they cute? After I wash the quilt, the open square will pop right up.

Today I'm going to try to come up with a design for the open silk part. Wish me luck.

Take care, Brandie

Be careful what you wish for

That pear quilt that you see in the header, has started a whole new obsession.
I made the comment that cousin Nikki's pear would look great with my quilt. Well she showed up one night and insisting that I have her pear. We finally came to an agreement that I would take custody of the pear for a little while. Maybe when I get tired of the quilt, they can both go live at her house.
And of course, there are also babies. My son bought me a marble pear bookend at Barnes and Noble. And cousin Linda bought me an onyx pear for Christmas.

They all live on the same shelf, next to the quilt. But I'm not collecting pears! But I must say, they do look wonderful with the quilt.

Can you believe I've done 80 posts? Wow, it seems like I've only just started blogging. Just letting you all know that fro the 100 post, I'll be having a give-away.

Take care, Brandie

Done!

Yesterday I finished my "Swiss and Provolone on Toast". I'm so happy with it. I love it and that's all that counts. It may not be perfect, but I still love it. I used up small pieces of scraps, didn't buy anything for it, finished it. What could be better? I made mine bigger to be a baby quilt. It finished at 36 X 36. My scrap boxes are ready for more scraps.

I'm thinking of this blue as binding and maybe a small border. So happy, I should do more scrap or small piece quilt. I'll just have to learn patience, but I love the look.

So now it's back to quilting on the linen and green silk. See you all Monday, I hope to have more to show you.

Take care, Brandie

Show and Tell

I'm not going to bore you with more pictures of my cheese and toast. Just so you know, I'm still working on it. It really is a lot of fun. If you are looking for a fun project, this might be it.
So because I don't want to bore you with picture of an incomplete quilt, I have another to show you.
This was a table cloth that I found at an antique store. I paid $15. for a non-antique made in India. But I loved the colors. These are me. Soft, light, natural colors. So I turned it into a heirloom quilt. (haha) There are a couple of stains, but the lighting is so bad, I couldn't find them.

A close up of the machine made embroidery. I quilted around every flower, stem and bud.

The center, with quilted feathers. I did this at a local class and it was the first time I had meet Debbie. She took me under her wing and gave me several helpful suggestions. She taught me a new way to do continuous line feathers. I love this quilt and hopefully, someday, my children will to.

Take care, Brandie

Are you hungry?

Yesterday, between sneezes and nose blowing, I worked on my version of cheese and crackers. I'm having a lot of fun. I'm not the best piecer, but I am enjoying myself. It is kind of a challenge to keep all the colors straight. I've never done a quilt with so many piece. Thank you Lori for all the fun.

I should be working on my quilting, but I'm having too much fun.

Take care, Brandie

Feeling Better!

Today I feel so much better. I have 1 and 1/2 half nostrils, no body aches, ears feel fine, just a little lite headed. We are all on the mend. Even William is feeling better after a shot of steroids in his butt. This was after he had 2 shots of an antihistamine and 6 days on Prednisone. This time he was given 2 weeks of Prednisone, lots of Benadryl, but that steroid shot seems to be the one thing that worked. So hopefully he is not scared by the patches on his face and doesn't end up with cauliflower ear.

I did get some quilting done. The easy kind, straightish lines. I did a grid and thought it was too large, so instead of unsewing again, I did another grid on top of it.
Can you see the X-ed squares and the open squares? What do you think?

I thought I might do a smaller square around the X. Hmm, I'm still thinking about it. I think I like it, I don't dislike it. There will be a more flowing pattern of quilting on the green silk, which I think will soften this all out.

By the way, Ranette is having a give away. Go check out her blog and leave a comment.

Take care and stay well, Brandie

Ah-choo !

Last night I felt a head cold coming on. I took Nyquil, turned on the bed warmer, fell asleep and woke up feeling worse.
Today I have the use of 1 nostril, my teeth hurt, my ears hurt and my body feels like a bag of cement. My whole head is plugged and nothing is coming out. I haven't decided if having snot is better or worse. At least I would feel more productive if my head produced snot.
Sorry that was gross. Forgive me, I don't feel good.

If I feel better, I will continue quilting the green silk and linen. So far I have only cross-hatched most of the top. I have high hopes of returning good health. I've been up for hours and every hour I feel a little better. I'm hoping by noon, I'll have the energy to sit at my machine.
Take care, Brandie

He calls this "meat face"

Sorry for the late post. I been at the Dr.s with my son. He has been suffering from ? He came down with this face rash on the first day of the year. So he has had it for 11 days. We have been to see the Dr 3 times and the rash has only gotten worse. The poor boy is miserable.
Off to the pharmacy to buy oatmeal bath and anything else....
Take care, Brandie

OH NO, Another UFO

This is the very first applique I ever did. It was a lesson from the class. We were to make one block the learn curves and some straight stitches. I had so much fun, I did four blocks. I had already done some piecing so the little pinwheel in the middle was no problem. I gave this to my MIL along with my very first quilt. But I always thought this quilt needed something.
Back in the days when I hand quilted everything. I still love the look, but I have so much to do, I don't have the time for it anymore.
Along came this book. I was surprised by the way everything fit so well together. Who ever heard of pink and yellow together? But I loved it!
So I made my own version. I didn't want to copy too much of the same pattern. I wanted it to be my own. Also this was before I know about quilt fabric verses Walmart or Joann's. The only thing I didn't like about "Pink Lemonade" was the fried egg flowers. So I used the same type of flowers from the quilt above.
I loved the insects in this quilt. Learning from the book that spider and their webs were good luck, made me put them in many of my later quilts.
The fattest spider to never live. But I loved the web. This quilt is also hand quilted.
A close up of the ugliest dragonfly ever!
A every primitive bee.
So the point to all this was, The first quilt needs a border just like this one to finish it off. Then I can give it to my MIL. I think she thinks I forgot about giving it to her. Someday I will finish it and you are all witness's that this is her quilt.

Take care, Brandie

Does anyone else remember underoos?

When I was a young girl, I had a large crush on a movie star. I might have even believed she was truly real. Who you ask? Wonder Woman, AKA Lynda Carter. I would turn and swirl for hours, trying to turn into her. Just so you know, nothing ever happened, except I got very dizzy. I even had the underoos. I wore them as often as I could. They made me feel so strong.

A couple of years ago, my husband found grown up underoos. You'll never guess what kind. Yup, Wonder Woman. I was so excited, my kids thought I had finally lost it. Not only did I get new underoos, they were sent by Major Steve Trevor.
The only bad thing is, now I afraid of wearing them out. I've worn them maybe 3 times in the last 3 years. So I need to buy another pair. I'm using this as motivation to lose more weight and buy a smaller size.

This year, I have more to add to my collection.

My daughter found this for me. I not really a belt person, but I did wear this all day, over my underoos and with my red boots, hidden by my clothes. I felt so powerful and strong. After the Bad Day, I needed all the help I could get.
Sorry, I don't know why my pictures are sideways. I've tried uploading them twice.

Cousin Nikki found this mug for me. Isn't it great? I love Wonder Woman so much, I've thought of getting a small tattoo, on my toe, of her crown. But I'm a coward and would probably never do it.
For Mother's Day, which my b-day fell on, I received a new Ipod. I had a first generation Ipod with 10 GB. The family upgraded me to a 160 GB with video. I have loaded it up with every bodies music and I still have 58 GB's free. When I say everything, I mean it. Weird Al to classical. 4 banker boxes full of CD's.

Both kids have their own and I didn't want mine confused with theirs, so I made a sticker. I went to skinit.com and made my own sticker using pics we found off of google. I love it!

I haven't gotten any sewing done in days, I've been cleaning out a couple of closets and reading. Tonight is Guild night and I might have something to show you tomorrow that is quilt related. But don't hold your breathe, I still not feeling it.

Take care, Brandie