Sneak Preview

 Today seemed like a good idea to play around
with my "Valentine Hearts" and see if I could
come up with a idea of how to put them together.
(http://kviltstina.blogspot.com)
This one seemed to work out well.  So. thought
I would share a "sneak peak" with you.






















Can't wait to finish stitching the last two hearts!

Project Nearing Completion

It was a headache at work this morning.  One of the

cashier's reconciliation sheet was entered wrong and

really was a pain.  Just hope that everything will

balance out tomorrow with what I was able to correct.

So, it was nice to come home and go to lunch with

a friend and just catch up.  We haven't been able to

do much since before Christmas when her daughter

and family came.  

Also did more banking today.  Hopefully everything

is about done and we can get on with our lives!

I am really grateful for projects to occupy my time 

and my mind.  These are three that I am working on.

These dainty little hearts are 

from: http://kviltstina.blogspot.com

I have three of the four stitched

and am already contemplating how

I want to put them together.  They

are so fun and quick to do.  Am

also thinking of doing another

set and stitching them to tea towels

to give as Valentine gifts.

This is my first block of the month from:

http://tozzscorner.blogspot.com

I just have the bottom little squiggle to stitch and 

it will be completed and just in time since the

second block comes out Monday!

My Valentine's Heart quilt is in the process of being

hand-quilted.  Four blocks are completed.  My goal is

to have it quilted and bound by the first of the week.

Not sure if I'll make it as I'm going to play tomorrow

with a friend.

It was really quick and easy to piece, but I'm thinking I

should have added another color.  It almost seems to pink

for me.  But, it will only be out for a month and by the 

time I set some accessories on it, maybe it won't seem

quite so PINK!

The Simple Woman's Daybook

I'm going to give this a try each Monday.  Tried to import

the logo but for some reason I'm unable to, but will keep

working on it.  However, there is a link to her website
on the sidebar.

FOR TODAY
January 25...
Outside my window...I observe a overcast day, so different
from yesterday.  Clouds are thickening and I wonder if
we will get more storm or if we are on our way to another
inversion.


I am thinking...Of all the things that need to be done
today:  More bank finals (our bank failed last week),
errands to the fabric shop, sewing projects to work on.


I am thankful for...Peace in my heart this day.


From the learning rooms...that all things will work
out.  Just be patient!


From the kitchen...Dishes waiting to be put away from
breakfast and floor to be swept.


I am wearing...  levi's, pink tee shirt and pink floral
blouse, warm fluffy socks


I am creating...a Valentine Wall Hanging


I am going...to have my wall hanging ready to quilt
by this evening :)


I am reading...Abish, Daughter of God.  Just off the
press written by my friends daughter.


I am hoping...for a great day!


I am hearing...the quiet of the morning.


Around the house...I find little projects I'm working
on calling me.


One of my favorite things...a recipe I just found:
"Fruit Salsa".  I am addicted!


A few plans for the rest of the week:  Complete on-line
BOM's, play with my grandchildren and spend a
play-day (hopefully) with a friend from Logan.


Here is picture for thought I am sharing...
This was taken a couple of weeks ago after a
beautiful snow storm.

Headache!

What a day I've had as has everyone else that banks
at the same bank.  Our local bank failed Friday.  So,
today I've spent the entire day setting up new accounts,
spending time on the phone trying to get payments,
deposits, etc. changed. And, I'm still not done!
Spent three hours at one appointment today.  Never
thought I'd see the day this bank would fail.  A
very sad day for our community and depositors.
But, we'll get through it.  My heart aches for the
employees and their families.  It really affects so
many.  Now to just get rid of this headache and
I'll be good to go for all that needs to be done tomorrow!

899 More Gifts To Go

It has been a couple of weeks since I've added to my
"1,000 Gifts" so thought I'd add a few more:

71.  A brand New Year
72.  A great Oncologist
73.  Still in remission (four more months)
74.  Snow-free roads
75.  Birthday lunches
76.  Surprises in the mail
77.  Talented designers who freely share patterns
78.  Blogs that inspire and lift
79.  Jack Frosts winter touch
80.  A jar full of "Memories"
81.  Projects that keep me busy
82.  Hot chocolate
83.  Good books to escape into
84.  Phone conversations with Kohler
85.  All is well with my daughter's pregnancy
86.  That I can share a "quest" with my son
87.  Family dinners
88.  Good charities that assist those in need
89.  Service-oriented people
90.  Sunshine breaking through the fog/inversion
91.  Grandson's are feeling better
92.  Clean air
93.  Supportive friends
94.  A good nights rest
95.  Strawberries in the winter
96.  Happy thoughts
97.  Inspiration
98.  Finished projects
99.  Bursts of energy
100.  My heritage
101.  FDIC

Oops! Wrong Cut

Woke up this morning to find we were completely enclosed
by fog.  Trees and shrubs are beautifully covered with
hoarfrost.  So decided this would be a good morning to head
down to my sewing room and get my "First Saturday BOM
cut out and pieced.  Well, everything was going fabulously
until I cut one piece wrong.  Grrrrrr.  Do you ever do that
or am I the only one?  Needless to say, I now have to visit
the quilt shop to purchase one small piece so I can
complete my block.  Frustration!

This is the block as far as I was able to go.

Should be able to finish it later today.  Then I can

work on my new projects.  Got my "Madeline" pattern

in the mail yesterday and am anxious to get started.

Plus, found a darling stitchery on line that I'm doing

in the evenings.  Pictures and credit to come later.

Yesterday my friend, Stacie and I dropped off 20

pillowcases to our local quilt shop for the 1 Million

Pillowcase Challenge.

Allpeoplequilt.com/millionpillowcases

I am really excited to participate and hope to use

up much of my leftover fabrics.  Using about 20 yards

for these really didn't make much of a dent, however.

I do appreciate those friends who are helping me

make the pillowcases by using my fabric.  Below is a
sampling of what we turned in.

Today as much as I hate to think about it, I must

clean house.  The dust bunnies can no longer keep

multiplying.  Why is it that housework is not nearly

as much fun as quilting and stitching?

Productive Day

Today has been a busy day.  I love busy days!

Especially when I get to spend time with great

friends and work on projects and feel like I've

accomplished something!  

Up early and off to work which went well.

Then it was back home to pick up friends for

a birthday lunch honoring Heidi.  It is so fun

to celebrate birthday's and spend time together.

I'm so glad we can always find a reason to go

to lunch.

Then this afternoon I worked on my free BOM

wall hanging:  "A Christmas Wish" by Gail

Pan Designs  (http://gailpandesigns.typepad.com).

This has been such a fun project to do and I'm

so appreciative that these designers are so 

willing to share their talents with so many.

I can't decide if I want to add another border or just

leave as is.  So, I think I'll let it sit out for a few days

and think about it.  The dilemma:  What would I

select for fabric as the outside border?

Here are the four blocks I finished yesterday for

"Cancer Sew Done" (http://cancersewdone.ning.com)

I want to try and get a few more done by the weekend

because Monday I am taking a class and will be

working on a Valentine Wall hanging and won't have

time to do these if I want to get it done by February.

Now I think I'll put my feet up and read a good book!

Projects

A good day to stay in and work on quilt blocks.  Our
air is very bad.  Hopefully a storm that is predicted
tomorrow will clear out all this "gunk".  I'm anxious
to get out walking, but not in this.  So decided to
ignore housework, exercise for today and pull out
my baskets of scraps and work on the"Friendship
Star" quilt blocks for "Cancer is Sew Done"
http://cancersewdone.ning.com

Completed four blocks. (will post pictures later)
They were really easy, quick and fun to do.  Maybe
I'll have to make me a quilt using this pattern.  Hmmm...
Do I really need to add another project when I
have so many going already?

Ordered patterns for "A Year of Schnibbles".
So disappointed that no shop close to me carries
the pattern.  Just hope that I can get it done by
the end of the Month.

Tomorrow I hope to work on my Snowman from
"First Friday Freebies".  Need to give my arm a
rest.  Notice there is a little swelling from too much
cutting, sewing and not taking enough breaks.
 http://thepaintedquilt.blogspot.com

It will be a busy day with work and birthday
lunch for my friend, Heidi.  But, it will be fun!

Another Four Months!

So glad I took time to grab my "take along project" this

morning as I headed out the door to visit my Oncologist

for my four month check up and port flush.  As I walked

into the waiting room it was packed and I knew I was in

for a long wait.  And it was a long wait--three hours

before I got out of there.

I am now out a little over three years and in remission.

Because of my type of cancer, Inflammatory Breast

Cancer, my doctor keeps me on a four month visiting

schedule for which I am grateful.  I dread the time it will

be extended, if it is, because there is comfort in talking

with him and hearing his encouraging words that

"everything is looking great.  Just keep on doing what you

are doing."

This is the project I took today, "Grandmother's Flower

Garden."

I am doing "scrappy" flowers trying to use up left-over

fabrics from my business.  I really had the time to

complete this, but a friend whom I haven't seen in

some time walked in and I stopped to catch up with

her and her husband.

These are a few I have completed while waiting to

see my doctor on past visits or while passing time

at other appointments.

Not sure what I am going to do with them when I'm

done.  Don't think I want to do a whole quilt--maybe

a table runner or small wall hanging.  Any suggestions?

Quick Project

Took a break from quilting today and worked on a quick and

delightful little project.  I found this free BOM Snowman on

Paula Stoddard's: http://pacificpatchwork.typepad.com

web page.  It was so simple and I had it done in no time at all.

Just the kind of projects I like and such a nice change from

cutting and piecing the pillowcases and blocks I am doing

for my quilt.

The bright fabric was given to me by my friend, JoAnn.
Perfect for this little pillow!

Added him to my little collection I have left up for the
month of January.  I can't help but smile every time I
look at him!

Two More Blocks

Yesterday was able to complete four pillow cases with the help of a
friend. They are such fun and really work up fast. I hope I will soon
see a dent in fabrics left from my business. And, the great thing
about it is that someone will be benefiting from my leftovers!

This morning instead of cutting pillow cases decided to get back
to my scrappy "Flying Dutchman" quilt blocks. Completed two
more and now have 12. I hope to complete this quilt this spring.
That is if I don't get too sidetracked by other projects that are in
varying stages of completeness and all those just waiting to get
started.


I've decided to try each day and spend a couple of hours in my
sewing room. That isn't much time but if I get up first thing in
the morning there shouldn't be too many distractions. It feels
good to be back working. Now if I could just get my spring
cleaning done early I could spend even more time sewing and
creating.

1 Million Pillowcase Challenge

I am so excited to have found another way I can use up the
leftover fabric from my business: "The 1 Million Pillowcase
Challenge". It is so much simpler than the quilts I've done
for charity and I can use up bolts of fabric or even piece them.
And the fun thing is that they go to local charities in my area.

I whipped this one out this morning in no time at all.
So now that I know how to do this and how simple it is
I am going to set one morning aside for the next few weeks
and make pillow cases and see if I can empty my shelves.