Midwinter Blues

Of the quilting kind. Those are the only kinds of blues here, indigos that is. 

Have you started Humble Lori's quilt along? 

I knew I was going participate, I just needed to gather my fabric. 

Then I had a great idea. Use the fabrics that Lori personally gave me last February! 

These little squares have been sitting on my shelf in my cute little fork stand that my Daughter gave me. But I decided to break up a perfect set to make a cute, quick quilt.  

Yes I had to piece the centers but that makes it more me and I love that Lori gave me these fabrics! A perfect union!

Really I think I'm avoiding those tiny trees! It's starting to feel like work with all the cutting, trimming and pressing. And I'm feeling lazy! So lazy that I pulled out another UFO to appliqué so that I can avoid those trees. Shame on me! No finish this month!

But don't feel sorry for me because I'm still having fun. I finished my little red blocks and now I need to send them to my Valentine. I sure hope she likes them! I've owed her for over a year! Bad, bad, bad! I hope she doesn't remember how long it's been. Maybe she will be completely surprised and forgive me. Keep your fingers crossed!

Have a wonderful Thursday!

Take care, Brandie

Petite

I'm just stitching away. Either on those tiny trees or this little red thing. 

It seems as if I need to work in a small scale. Hope I get over it soon!

Have a happy Tuesday!

Take care, Brandie

Stars Part 2

I don't know if this is a star or a snowflake, but I like it. I had fun with the embroidery, which is what it's all about. I need to take time and enjoy my hobby and not be in such a rush. 

My second star turned out more like a Sheriff badge but I still had fun.  

I'm still working on star 3. Not sure what I'm going to do in the other corners. I liked some of the patterns that were used by others but most of them have leaves and I'm not sure how I'd like blue leaves. So I'm still thinking about it. Any ideas?

Happy Wednesday!

Take care, Brandie

Block 1

I've finally finished my BB block. I wasted time fiddling with the corner leaves on the buds. Because I reduced the pattern, the leaves didn't come out with much of a scalloped edge. But I tried and my fabric frayed so I just rounded them out. No biggie, just a speed bump. 

I'm looking forward to the next block of this quilt along. The next block has more recognize able flowers and they look beautiful. 

I did a bit of embroidery on one of my stars but I'm not sure if I'm done yet. I'm just looking to enhance my star and not take over. That can be a hard call to make when you are confident in your skills. 

Last but not least, I've been bitten by Bonnie Hunters latest mystery quilt along. Since its no longer a mystery, and everyone has been posting their pictures, I just can't stand it! I need to make that quilt! 

So I went to my stash and I gathered up some fabrics and I'm super excited to start it! But I need to finish my trees. Yes, I must finish those trees. Tiny or not, they need to be completed. (I'm giving myself a pep talk)

Happy Tuesday!

Take care, Brandie

Tiny

After a wonderful tutorial from Jo, I came home and started working on my new trees. These new trees will be smaller, much smaller than the first set of trees. 

Each half square finishs at 1 1/4 inch. 

I think I may have bitten off more than I want to chew, but I will go on. 

There is a lot of trimming to make them just right. They need to be precise so I don't fail Jo's tutorial. Or have a wonky quilt. Those days need to get behind me!

So trim, trim, trim and then construct the units. 

Then make them into these tiny, adorable trees! This makes all the pain worth it, kind of like childbirth. When you see how adorable these trees are, all you can do is sigh and smile. 

These little trees finish at 7 inches. The big trees finish at 13 inches. 

My plan is to frame the big trees with rows of tiny trees. 

I may have to go back and fiddle with that trunk. 

I also ran of the check fabric and will have to add another fabric into the quilt. Which is alright. It'll be fun to add a bit more color into this quilt, but it will still be green. 

Today is "cocktail" day. It's not so bad. I thought it would be much harder but in reality, it releaves my symptoms. Thank goodness!

Have a wonderful Thursday!

Take care, Brandie

New, Part 2

The other new project I started is an appliqué project from Just Takes 2. It's a free download every month and at the end you will have a gorgeous copy of an antique quilt. 

It may take me a couple of years but if I make one block a month it seems doable. 

I did reduce my block size down from 16 inches to 12 inches. The original blocks and quilt seemed to big, for me anyhow. 

I've gone with a reproduction look but I have added cheddar. Every block will have those rose buds in the corners and my will all be cheddar, at least for now. 

I'm still working on my first block but I'll have it done in time before the next block comes out. 

If you are interested, check out the blog on the right in my blog list. There are links there that will take you to where you need to go for the patterns. 

Yesterday I came up with a plan for my trees. I was getting great advice from my friend Jo. She educated me on how to make perfect half square triangles, so no more wavy edges and unmatched corners for me!

Now I just need to get off my butt and get them done! 

Take care, Brandie

New Temptation

I've caught the bug that's going around. It's a fun bug if you want to be tempted.  I couldn't stand the cuteness and I had to join the fun! 

Karen from Faeries and Fibres (look on my blog list to find her link) started a sew along. If you like English paper piecing and embroidery, rush over there and get started! 

I was so excited that I made three centers! Friday Karen will share part two with us. I CAN'T WAIT!

This one is my favorite. Even the background is my favorite. Yes I know my corners don't match up. This was the edge near the binding and I had a limited amount of fabric to work with. I'm hoping that there will be something in the corners or I'll just have to add a couples of buttons, or something. 

This was the star fabric. 

So far my only problem has been finding centers for my stars. I just don't seem to have the amazing fabrics in my stash that make up the hexie centers. 

But I'm sure I can doll up a plain center. 

This was my first star. Not sure if this center will stay. 

The fabric that made up the star.  

My third star. Somewhat interesting. Maybe my background was a tad to big. 

Anyway, even if these don't all get made up, they could be starts for something else. 

So are you going to go over there and look around and start something fun and new? Or maybe I'll tempt you with tomorrow's new BOM I started. 

Stay tuned!

Take care, Brandie

A Green Forest

Last week I was telling you that I started working on my trees again. The reason I had stuck them away was because I was having issues with my first block and the trunk. I didn't have a pattern but I thought I could wing it myself. But those seams didn't match up and I wasn't happy with the trunk. So away it went into a tote. 

Then my friend Jo (who I copied) Pinned a tree quilt on Pinterest and I had an epiphany! 

I didn't have to piece a trunk (because we all know piecing isn't my strong suit), I could appliqué a trunk! Ta da!

And then one tree became two trees. 

Then it became a forest with a Catzilla monster. 

Catzilla would not leave the forest till he heard the musical sound of monster treats tinkling in the distance. 

Finally!

Here is my forest. 

Isn't it neat that there is a pattern to the trunk roots? That wasn't planned, it's a happy accident. 

Now I just need to think of how to finish it off. A border? More trees? Lots of borders?

So it sometimes is a good things to put something away. Coming back with fresh eyes can make all the difference. And so can Pinterst!

Take care, Brandie

First 2014 Finish

I finish one of last years UFOs. I started this last February and then packed it away. Well it's finished and I have an empty tote. Yippie

For some reason the pictures are clipped. To see the entire quilt, click on the picture

The majority of these are French General fabrics. There are a few red scraps that aren't but who cares.

My inspiration came from Hubby's new job and his office being located in Beaune, France. (I still have my fingers crossed that I'll be going on the next trip with him)

There wasn't quite enough fabric to make a solid backing so I had to make a puzzled backing. But I was determined to  use up all those little extra pieces instead of packing them away in a scrap box. 

Now that I've finished this, I can play with my green fabrics and finish up my trees. 

I already cheated and started playing with them. I'm really excited about this quilt too. But you'll have to come back Monday and see. I'm in the mood to empty another tote! 

Wow, two finishes in two months. I'm thinking that my hormones are getting back to normal. That's the best news ever!

Take care, Brandie

Working in Red

I've been working on my red quilt. It's almost done! Today I should finish it. Unless I get super lazy. It could happen!

Just simple quilting. Echo and grid. Easy-peasy. 

Every time I go to work on it, I have to first remove a black fur ball. I think every night Miss Sheba makes herself a bed and leaves me evidence of her love. Is it me she loves or the quilt?

I did something different and strange to this quilt. I added a point to the sides and bottom. My goal was to make it look like a shield. Not sure if it did or not. I don't hate it so I'll keep it this way. 

Dorian was checking it out for me. If I wanted a picture if him, I wouldn't be able to find him. But if I want a picture of a quilt, he will always be around. 

 

Take care, Brandie

Winter Coat

I don't have much to show but I am working on an older project. I'm working on my red Fleur De Lis quilt. I think I'm happiest working with few colors. It's boring, but it me. And so is this. 

Hubby bought me some special stickers for my mixer but when he said I could use them on my sewing machine I just knew it was me. I wasn't sure about the mixer but I was positive about my machine needing a facelift. Pretty snazzy ain't it!? There'll be no mistaken my Juki for anyone else's. 

Now to get personal. Last weeks surgery was fine. More than fine because I didn't have to do the second procedure. So maybe that means less money too? I have my fingers crossed on that. 

The main thing was taking care of my bladder. You see I have what my Hubby calls a "walnut sized" bladder. He laughs and sometimes gets annoyed by my frequent restroom breaks but apparently there was more to it than size. 

I have a chronic condition that is called 

"Interstitial Cystitis". My body produces too much acid and that acid is eating away my bladder lining. In actuality, my bladder is normal sized but with the inflammation and irritation it feels full all the time. Hence the constant restroom breaks. 

So the surgery was to stretch my bladder and to hopefully retrain it to remember its normal size. I was also given a cocktail of meds that I had to hold for as many hours as I could. Four being the goal, three being my limit. Talk about torture! The surgery was a breeze, it's the holding that's my problem. 

Now that my bladder has been retrained, I will go to the Dr twice a week to have more of that cocktail installed. Yes, installed. Not the normal way fluid is usually taken either. Nope, this cocktail is forced the wrong in. But the worst part, I have to shave my legs all winter! I mean I HAVE to! I wouldn't want anyone to know that my winter coat has grown in. The Dr visit is all ready degrading enough!

So think if me every Monday and Thursday morning while I hold it for four hours. Like right now! Only one more hour to go! 

I'm thinking of anything to keep from thinking about it. 

Be more entertaining on Mondays and Thursdays to help me keep  "IT" off my mind, please?

I'm going to go stand on my head for the next hour. 

Take care, Brandie