I'm a Lucky Lady!

I used to think I was unlucky, but this summer I have won several blog giveaways. The generosity of quilt bloggers never ceases to amaze me. This is a great community to be a member of. (By the way, I know I am not supposed to end a sentence with a preposition, but this is how I talk. What can I say? LOL) A couple of weeks ago I won Debi's giveaway. I received it last week. This was a great giveaway. I won some great Gutermann threads and ribbon.

There were also these three wonderful charm packs. All three are colors I love. Looking forward to using these.

This all came packed inside this cute tote bag with the sweet card. I can use this tote to carry projects with me when I have appointments.

Thank you so much Debi. This was a great giveaway and I love everything.
I also received these in the mail from my friend Cyndi. These were a 'just because' gift. Aren't they cute?  Cyndi knows how much I love kitties. We have that in common. Now I need to decide on a project to use them in. Also, check out Cyndi's new button over on the right side of my blog. She makes awesome bags.

I spent some time quilting on Bob's quilt this weekend. I am now half-way done on the blocks. Hmmm, tomorrow is the last day of August. So much for my goal of having it quilted by the end of the month. LOL Oh well, I'll extend the goal a bit. Last night, I just needed to play. I was going through some scraps and found 5 leftover blocks from a quilt I did a couple of years ago. I drug out some stash and started playing . I haven't taken any pictures of it yet, but I am liking it. It will be a baby girl quilt, since it is pink. LOL I have never done a flying geese border, so why not try it? I just looked and found Callie laying on all my flying geese blocks. Now why did she have to pick the only place I had blocks laid out on the ironing board? I guess my hair remover roller will get some more workout. (sigh)  I also finished block 2 of the Raggedy Annie and Friends BOM. I'll try to show pictures of it tomorrow.

Thanks for visiting. Please come again and have a wonderful day!

My First Bow Tucks Bag!

I had fun making my first Bow Tucks bag, but will probably change things on the next one. I did change the way of making the handle. I have made several bags and made the handle the way I like best. I could hardly wait to use the fall fabric I got last weekend.  The front and back sections are the same. Here they are before I machine quilted a crosshatch design on them.

 Here is the linings. They are both the same too. One thing I will probably change is to use a lighter fusible on the lining. I used Pellon fusible fleece on everything, as was called for in the pattern, but I don't think I would need to use the heavy stuff in the linings and on the pockets. This stuff is expensive, so I am going to try different ways of making them. I also think I will try using a cotton batting in the front/back section, then quilting it, to see how it will work.

 Here are all the pockets ready to be added.

Here I have the inside pockets and outside pocket sewed on, and the ties, handles,  and button loop  prepped and everything ready to go together. I machine quilted a 1 1/2" crosshatch on the front and back sections. I started out by drawing a line from corner to catty-corner, then using my quilting bar thingy to keep the lines uniform. I quilted an 'X' in the outside pocket. I used a 2 inch crosshatch on the linings. The inside pockets didn't need any quilting.

And here we have a Bow Tucks bag. This is the front.

The back.

Here is the inside. Lots of lovely pockets. I love pockets. (grin)

One more view.

That is it on pictures. I am sure you are getting tired of seeing pictures of this. LOL I am so glad that I had my walking foot to make this. I really don't think I could have sewed through all those layers without it. I love my walking foot. (grin) For the inside bottom, I took 2 pieces of cardstock, glued them together, then used my trusty glue gun to glue some leftover lining fabric around it. I will just remove it when I need to wash this bag. If it gets too dirty, I can just make another bottom. This is a pretty big tote, so I may try cutting another one down some to see how I like it. If I fill this full, I will have trouble carrying it. LOL

Everyone have a great day. Thanks for visiting.

Catching Up!

I just realized that it has been about a week since I did a post, so decided I'd get one done. I have been busy. I have 15 blocks done now out of 35 on Bob's Patriotic Shoo Fly. It is not going as quickly as I thought, but that might be because I keep getting sidetracked with other projects. LOL I have the first redwork piece done on the Raggedy Annie and Friends BOM block #2. I decided to make the backgrounds bigger for the redwork, then cut them down to fit with the other pieces of the block after I get the embroidery done. I think that is going to work better for me. I had some raveling on the first block and wanted to avoid that. I also found my red pens that I bought especially for tracing redwork. If all else fails, look in the drawer where they are supposed to be. LOL

I am working on putting the blocks together for the Charm Pack Quilt Along. I still have several of these to do, but may try to get them finished up this afternoon. I like how they are turning out.

When I was tracing the designs for the Raggedy Annie block, I went ahead and traced a few more designs. I now have lots of redwork to keep me occupied. I may try doing some in these in bluework or greenwork to just kind of mix things up a mite. (grin)

I decided to see how much damage Buddy had done to my new batting. It was not as bad as I feared. I only had to cut about a foot off the end of the batt. It will still be usable for a twin size quilt, and I can use the cut off piece for small projects.  See, not too bad. The rest of the batt is fine.

I was in Walmart last weekend and found these fabrics that I just fell in love with. These just scream fall, don't they?

 I have already used them. I made a Bow Tucks bag yesterday, but I will share about that next post. I took several pictures while making the Bow Tucks bag.

I love hand quilting, but I also want to learn free motion quilting. All I have ever done with my machine is with my walking foot. Christina over at A Few Scraps is doing a free motion quilt along. I am going to attempt this. You may never see the results, though. LOL I will see how things go. I have the ugly quilt top all ready to begin. She said to just pick 3 fabrics and put this simple quilt together. It is for learning and practice, so it doesn't matter how ugly it is. Well, mine sure wins in the ugly category. LOL

I have all of my supplies ready. Now if I can just be coordinated enough to do free motion quilting. LOL

It has cooled down a lot here. We have had the highs in the 70's and lows in the lower 50's this week. I even have been able to turn the a/c off. What a welcome relief this is. It definitely feels like fall is here.

Things are up and down with Buddy, Callie, and Aeris. One minute Buddy and Callie will be laying next to each other with no problems. The next moment, she is hissing and he is barking. LOL Aeris is still hiding out, but did come up to sniff Buddy and rub her chin on his. That about freaked him out. LOL Buddy has managed to lose 2 of his squeaky toys. I cannot find them anywhere. I am thinking this is his way of getting some new toys. (grin) He does very well at night now. He goes in his crate without any whining or crying and stays quiet until we get up. I realized that we have the ABC's here at our house: Aeris, Buddy, and Callie. LOL I know, I am lame. (griggle) Here is a picture of Buddy that shows his cute tail.

 Here he is smiling for the camera.

Here is Callie's 'Whatever!' attitude. Sorry about the mess behind her. What can I say? I am a messy quilter. LOL

Well, that is my update for now. I am laughing as I watch Buddy chase his own tail around and around. Callie is sitting here saying, 'Stupid dog!' LOL  I'll be back soon to share my Bow Tucks bag with you. Everyone have a great day. Thanks for visiting.

Finished Redwork Barns and Sunflowers!

Good morning everyone,

It is a cool and refreshing morning here. I am thinking maybe fall will be early this year. At least that horrible heat and humidity has left us. Of course, they say the heat is coming back towards the end of the week, but it shouldn't last too long. We are on the down hill side of August. Hard to believe it is almost September! Where did this year go?

I have been so wrapped up with training Buddy, that I forgot to post about my Redwork Barns and Sunflowers wall quilt. I finished sewing the binding down last week. I really like how this one turned out.

Ehhh, Blogger is changing things again. I liked things the way they were. I am a creature of habit and hate having to learn new stuff for my blog, especially when it was working just fine before the changes. LOL
As you can see, Callie approves.

Here are a few closeups of some of the barns. I did this embroidery over two years ago. I was just learning to do redwork. I did these while in Kansas City watching Noah when Izabella was born.

Of course we have to see the back, although the fabric is so busy the quilting doesn't show up real well.

This wall quilt was just pure fun to work on, even if it did take me over two years to get it done. LOL

Things are getting much better with Buddy. He whines a couple of times when I first put him in his crate at night, but then sleeps all night without a fuss. He even took a nap in his crate yesterday with the door open. He still likes to bark at the cats, but I think he is just being a brat when he does it. I laughed yesterday. He had been annoying Callie all morning. She was laying on the bed. He would run up and put his front paws on the bed and bark at her, then run away. He did it one time too many. LOL Quicker than a flash, she hissed, growled and slapped him upside his head. You should have seen the look on his face. LOL Guess he got the message, because he left her alone the whole rest of the day. She didn't hurt him, just took him by surprise. It was funny to watch.

I did some sewing yesterday. Callie was right there on my cutting mat, so things are getting back to normal. Buddy slept on the floor behind me. Aeris is still refusing to come anywhere near him. (big sigh)  I finally got the 4 patches done for the Charm Square Quilt Along. Today I  hope to put the blocks together. I have 12 out of 35 blocks quilted for Bob's Patriotic Shoo Fly quilt. It is moving right along. Of course the blocks are only 9 inches square and I am doing a simple, simple quilting design. The fabric is just too busy to show any elaborate quilting. Also, I think I would have been better off using white thread instead of red. The red doesn't show up very good.  Oh well, it is what it is. No way I am taking all of that out. LOL

Well, I guess that is it for this post. I want to run in and get a paper. Today has the grocery ads and this is grocery week. We have a convenience store/gas station about 5 miles away, so I don't mind making a special trip on Wednesdays to get a paper. Everyone have a great day. Thanks for visiting and please come again.

Buddy is doing better.

They say today is the last day of this heat. I so hope they are right.  Highs in the 80's are predicted for all of next week. I am counting on this, so the weather people better get it right. LOL Yesterday was a horrible day for me. I hate thunder and lightning. It stormed all afternoon and evening. I ended up just unplugging things and laying down with Buddy in front of the fan. For some reason, I feel safest in our bed during a storm. (eye roll here) I know that sounds like a child, but that is how it is with me.

Things are going much better with Buddy. I now have him leading on a leash and going to potty outside. A friend emailed me some tips to help with his barking while in his kennel. Really helped. Thanks Jill. We moved his kennel into our bedroom. I was hesitant to do this, because his barking was bad enough while he was in the living room. Kevin thought if he was closer to us, he would settle down. I will have to say, Kevin was right. Last night, we had a little whining, then he settled down for the whole night. Sure was good to get a night's sleep without all that yapping. I really wonder how so much racket can come from such a small dog. LOL

Now on to some quilty stuff. Seems like it has been a while since I posted anything about quilting. (grin) I finished block one of Raggedy and Friends BOM this week. I really am loving this quilt. I do think, though, that from now on I will wait to put the black sashing on after I get the redwork done. I am using Kona  cotton in black. It raveled quite a bit.

Look how cute Annie and Andy are.

I just realized that I need to get those 4 patches done for the Charm Pack Quilt Along. I think she will be posting the next step tomorrow, and I haven't gotten the second step done yet. I plan to work on that in a bit. I am sorry that I haven't been commenting much on posts this week. Having a new puppy has taken it out of me. LOL It is like having a small child. He is always in something. Look what he did to my new package of batting.

I almost cried when I saw this.  Hopefully I will be able to work around the bad areas, so should still get plenty of good out of it. Kevin could not keep a grin off his face when he looked over and saw me standing holding  this with my mouth dropped open. (Big Sigh) The batting is now put up where the brat can't reach it.

I really had forgotten how much work a puppy is, but he is worth it. Callie and Aeris would disagree, though. LOL They are starting to get along better. Aeris pretty much ignores Buddy and Callie has gotten back to going wherever I am. She had quit hanging around me. I think I was being punished. (grin) So things are slowly getting back to normal. I just have to remember to puppy-proof my sewing area. Callie is waiting on me to sew those 4 patches, so I'd better get with it. Don't want to get on her bad side again.

Can't you just hear her saying, 'Come on, mom, quit playing with the dog and let's get to sewing.' LOL
Look at Buddy. All tuckered out. Tearing up mom's batting is hard work. LOL

Well, I'd better get with it. Since things are starting to settle down here, I hope to be back to blogging, reading, and posting like normal next week. I have started hand quilting on Bob's Patriotic Shoo Fly. I have 7 out of 35 blocks done. I am doing a simple outline around the HST's and 'X's' in the squares. Thank you for visiting. Everyone have a good evening.

We have a new family member!

Yes, we do. We now have a Pomeranian puppy in our home. His name is Buddy. He is 6 months old and already knew his name, so we didn't want to change it. Poor little guy is going through enough changes. (grin) He is so dag-gone cute. Kevin and I love him, Callie and Aeris, not so much. LOL Here he is.

Isn't he cute?  Now, here is Buddy's story, or as much as I know.....
I was at our daughter, Carolyn's house this past Saturday. I took her a bunch of yarn that I didn't need. She makes Linus Project afghans. She also gave me several quilting books. Pretty fair trade in my opinion. LOL Here is a picture of the books.

Ok, where was I? Oh yes. While there, our son, Jon called and asked if I wanted a Pomeranian puppy. Huh? I hadn't even been thinking about a puppy, but Jon said that he had already talked to his dad and dad said it was fine with him as long as it was a boy. So I called Kevin. After talking to him I got the feeling he really wanted this puppy. We kind of miss not having a dog in the house. We lost our 17 year old rat terrier in Jan. So I called Jon back and told him to go pick one out for me. Trusting, aren't I? We made arrangements for me to pick him up on my way home. Jon lives half way between Carolyn and our house. I get there and find out the puppy is 6 months old. That is ok, I guess. He is also trained to a pet pad. Well, I will work on getting him to go outside. He answers to the name Buddy.  Not a creative name, but I don't have the heart to try to change it. Besides, I'm not that creative with names myself.  He is cute as can be and seems very friendly. So I bring him home.

Oh my goodness. I think I just witnessed the beginning of World War III. LOL I carried him in. Kevin was petting him and talking about how cute he was. I put him down on the floor just as Callie and Aeris came to greet me. All heck broke loose! The cats were growling and hissing with huge tails and eyes. Buddy was barking and howling and shaking like a leaf. The cats took off to hide and poor Buddy was a basket case. (big sigh) By this time, Kevin and I are looking at each other thinking, 'What have we done?'

It has been three very long days now and things are getting a little better. Buddy is getting better with the leash. At least now I am not either dragging or carrying him. He follows pretty good. I have been getting him to potty outside at least a couple of times a day. Our beagle, Thunder has decided not to kill him. Oh goodness, she scared me so much the first time I took him out to potty. I literally had to get between her and him. She ignores him now. Buddy only barks at the cats now if they startle him. Of course, I think he has realized that they are bigger than he is, so he had better start getting along with them. LOL Here is Callie looking down at Buddy. Look at that body language.

Callie does not like him and makes no bones about it. Aeris just ignores him and hides out most of the day. I am trying to crate train him at night. The first night in the crate, oh goodness, he barked all night long. By the middle of the night, we decided that we needed to find him another home. Things changed the next morning when we saw that cute little face and that little curled tail wagging to see us. Ok, I have really been working with him. He did much better last night and we were able to get some much needed sleep. He wants to sleep with us, but I am afraid one of us will roll over on him or knock him off the bed. He only weighs 5 lbs. I think it is better for him to have his own special safe place. Besides we already have two cats sleeping with us. Sure don't want a battle in the bed in the middle of the night. (grin)

I do not know much about Buddy's previous history. Jon said his mom is registered, but we don't know about his father. I am pretty sure he is not pure bred, but that doesn't matter one bit to me. Evidently his former owners are moving or something and had to either find him another home or have him put to sleep. Oh my goodness! When I heard that, I would have taken him even if he had been ugly as mud. Thankfully he is cute instead. (big grin) Our vet's wife (also his nurse and secretary)  said things should calm down in a couple of weeks. They will probably end up being good friends. Not so sure about that. I'll settle for tolerating each other. LOL  Anyway, the important thing is Buddy is healthy and smart and cute as a button. Don't you think so?

So now my blog will also have the antics of a little bitty dog. We have never had a dog this small, and no puppy for more than 15 years. I am thinking puppies are harder to raise than kittens, but we love him anyway. Now if Callie and Aeris will just accept him, my world will be right again. I have not had much computer time and very little quilting time this week. I am working with him. I put him on his leash and take him with me wherever I go. Today we picked green beans, tomatoes, and zucchini. He likes it outside, but was ready to go into the house when we got done. I don't blame him. I was pretty hot too. (grin)

I will end this post on a scrappy note. Look what my good friend, Cyndi sent me. As soon as things settle down here at the house, I will be getting creative with these scraps. Thank you so much Cyndi.

Now, I am off to snap green beans. Buddy likes to grab one and shake it. LOL He is so cute when he chases his toys. Ok, enough already about our new dog. Everyone have a great day. Thank you for visiting and putting up with my pet stories.

Cats Playing with New Toys

Good afternoon,

I just had to share a few pictures of my kitties playing with the toy mice I bought them yesterday. The mice have catnip in them. I laughed all afternoon watching their antics. LOL I still smile when I think about it.
Callie has an evil gleam in her eye. That mouse is history. LOL

It is attacking my leg.

It is getting away.

Ahh got it! Now you are going to pay!

Callie played with this little toy mouse for about an hour. Aeris took off, afraid of them, but she soon came back to see what Callie was doing. Then after Callie got tired, Aeris took over.
Aeris had the evil look in her eye too. LOL

He's not going anywhere.

Where did he go?

Ahhh, I love him.

I think I will let him rest for a while.

If you look at Aeris' back right leg, you can see how crooked it is. She was dumped on us as a kitten. Her back leg was broken. We took her to the vet, but he said it had been broken for a while and was already healing. He strongly recommended against operating on it. He told us that he thought she would do just fine, although have a limp. He was right. She more than holds her own with Callie. LOL She runs, jumps up and down on things, picks fights with Callie, and keeps my rocking chair occupied. What more could you ask from a kitty? LOL

Thank you all for indulging me this afternoon. I know this might seem like a silly post to some, but my kitties are part of my family. Everyone have a good afternoon.