Rush Hour coming soon!

Wow! I've have been quite quiet on the bloggy front! I am sew glad Madame Samm has just the right hop to get me blogging again! This time its Rush Hour!

 and the way life has been it's been a constant rush hour 'round here! Hopefully things will get back to a normal ish schedule now that I have an assistant again. I have been toying with  ideas for the hop and just today a perfect idea popped into my email! YAY - I have the fabric just didn't know what I wanted to make! Stay tuned- I will be showing it off soon!

 I have been working on a quilt for EmmaBean (she is 5yo)- she was with me at the fabric store and I decided to make her a dress but couldn't decide which owl fabric I liked best so I asked her. She said- with that sweet sigh, "Aunt Bobbie, I'd rather have a blanket...." How can an Aunt Bobbie say no to that? Emma is the only one of my nieces and nephews that didn't get one when they were born. Emma picked out the rest of the fabric- with some veto power from Aunt Bobbie- and a few nudges the right direction.
 I spent a couple hours playing with the ideas for the pattern, and I am pleased with it so far. I forgot to buy binding and found the rosebud fabric in my stash and ended up using it for the back and a border- and didn't have enough to use for binding- soI got some white with dots- not that I'm ready for the binding yet, but...
I am using Warm and Natural batting- which I've not used before and WOW what a difference! I LOVE this stuff! I almost feel like I should apologize to all my other projects for not using it!

Have a fab day!  

Monday sew along on Tuesday

Monday, I decided to look for something in the craft room, aka "i don't know where to put this, let's throw it in here room" and got side tracked.
"I can't clean my craft room because I get distracted by all the cool stuff I find"
One of the "cool finds “ was a zip lock baggie of HSTs. These are for one of my first quilt attempts. The quilt was  for my sister's first or second  Christmas after her wedding. She's been married for over 10 years now. I remember being so happy that the quilt to was going to be ready to wrap by Christmas. I knew the whole quilt wasn't going to be finished but the top was coming along nicely and then.... (insert dramatic music) if you look closely at the pictures you will see that these lovely half - square triangle squares are stitched wrong sides together. EVERY ONE OF THEM! I didn't even notice until I had cut 14 of the little boogers apart. My friends and I had a girls night that evening, watching a movie and they helped pick some of the offending squares apart but these were still waiting. For Christmas I gave Lou the book that had the pattern with one finished block inside and a note. And that was as far as this quilt ever got. 
I started picking the squares apart and have only a few left. Who knows? Maybe she will get a quilt for her anniversary this year! :-)

Iron quilter

Vote for your favorite quilts!
My CaMom's quilt this gorgeous one! Please vote for it! (my phone isn't being very nice and won't let me send the link. if you go to missouri star quilts on facebook, or google +, you can vote :-) http:// bit.ly/1isuOoF

https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=705136912838928&id=174183745934250&set=a.705136326172320.1073741831.174183745934250&__user=1186147588#!/media/set/?set=a.705136326172320.1073741831.174183745934250&type=1&__user=1186147588

Stitchin' "on a Monday"

My Grandma Harps always did her laundry "on a Monday." (so Pasan always said) It was never just on Monday, twas on a Monday, she did other things on Tuesday and Wednesday, but laundry was "on a Monday" so any hoo, I am doing laundry and stitchin' on a Monday. I got one project finished for the For the Boys Hop which starts on Wednesday, and I am making progress on the Musicals Quilt- I really want to have it all quilted tonight. I have three other projects I hope to get done for the hop and since my day is the 15th, it may happen. Be sure to click the button on the side bar for the full schedule!
Here is a sneak peek of my "for the boys" projects:

Tie quilt completed and gifted!

Even a migraine wasn't going to keep me from finishing the quilt yesterday! Late Saturday Eve,I discovered that my math must be wrong because I was 18 inches short when I attached the binding! I Even gave myself an extra 22 inches to start with,so I don't know what I did. Anyhoo, I decided to wait to finish due to the head ache that was beginning and the irksomeness of bad math. after I fixed the binding length Sunday afternoon, the binding was a breeze! I used the tutorial from Emily at mommysnaptime (http://mommysnaptime.blogspot.com/2011/05/no-pins-no-handsewing-binding-tutorial.html?m=1) and I loved it! Binding used to be my least favorite part and side from my lack of math skills,I am not dreading the next one!
This quilt was made out of Dorothy's husband's ties, and two Susan Winget fabrics. The fabric helped tie the ties together. Dorothy was very surprised and couldn't wait to show her children. She kept saying,"so many memories"
Thanks Don and Pamela for spear heading this project and the challenge to try! It was alot of fun!

Vintage Quilt to gift bag

I went to a bridal shower yesterday.never met the bride before, all I knew was her name and liked vintage. (she is marrying a friend of mine) So I made a gift card holder from part of the vintage Quilt.

Ugly tie Quilt quilted!

Yay Yay Yay! All the quilting is done! Now I just have to bind it! I tried a few different designs and played around with fmq. My favorite was the pebbling, and the roses. My hearts are very misshapen and the squiggles are too.
I bought a new seam ripper,whose name is now Rupert, and had to use him alot. I should have used him on the hearts too....
I haven't quite decided what I am using for the binding-either ties or the backing fabric. Just depends on how much I have left of the fabric.

NewFOs for April

I am actually going to remember to link up this month- I ALWAYS have a New FO going on, I just never remember to link up! 
In April I was rather busy with the Volunteer Party- I made rice hot/cold packs for the volunteers (I used Lori's tutorial over at Bee in My Bonnet) but I can't seem to find a picture :( I just realized the extras are lying on the table so I can take a picture!

 

I called them Hot Lead/ cold Feet packs to go with the movie theme

 
I also started some bags

and made a blueberry (AC wanted everything blueberry for his birthday and since my fabric for his gift wasn't here yet I made a blue berry) 

Him and Bernard the blueberry are rather silly

 I also made a scrap bag and pin cushion- just for me!

I got the Debbie Mumm fabric for my birthday

and started a memory tie quilt for a friend

I have since found a much better fabric for the background

I even have a plan in mind for the tie quilt- and may be able to work on it this weekend.All these projects are finished except the Tie Quilt-I got more done than I thought, I should do this more often. 
Have a great day!Oh by the way, I am linking this up with Cat Patches NewFO Party!

It isn't Raining Rain

(Click for music- it will pop up in another window and you can listen whilst you read) 
 "When April Showers come your way, they bring the flowers that bloom in May. So if it’s raining, have no regrets. It isn’t raining rain you know, it’s raining Violets." 
I have had this song stuck in my head ever since this April Showers Mug Rug Hop was announced! So now you can have it stuck in your head too!:)

I was ever so excited that this hop was just in time for my birthday- and my friend Laurie’s birthday too! I decided to make Laurie a rug for her birthday gift, but I’ll show that one in a minute. This is the rug that was inspired by the song that is running through my head. This is MY rug for MY birthday!

I quilted the raindrops around the violets

I am NOT happy with the FMQ words but I didn’t have time to redo them.


 

 I am so thankful to Gina for reminding me that my day was today – I was thinking that I was on Monday. 


 

Brain Freeze! My mind is rather occupied with a million things (sound of music Picture)   especially our Hollywood Volunteer Party that is happening on Tuesday. I am glad my day isn’t Monday! 

Laurie’s birthday was on Saturday  so I made her this rug- The Hollywood Party is in black, white and red and they happen to be my favorite colors and Laurie's too, so here is the Yambo Awards Mug Rug: 

 

if you look closely I added an L for Laurie

Sunday evening, while Pastor Fritz was preaching, I was inspired to make this one.

Our Spring Campaign is titled Get in The Boat and Pastor loves to fish, (usually from his kayak- this is a canoe because the kayak looked odd.)  And I had this fish material so….

 Get In The Boat. Made for Pastor Fritz.

 

 

I think if this fish got in the boat- Pastor might capsize!

 

I will be cutting a few more rugs in the near future, they are fun to make! Thank you to Erin and Madame Samm for keeping us all together and inspiring us to try new things!  Have fun hopping over at these fabulous blogs: FRIDAY, APRIL 12th

Bobbie @ From This to That <--- That's Me

Leslie @ Les Quilts

Kristen @ Meadowbrook

Lavonna @ ZellerWear

Lynn @ Thimblemouse & Spouse

Amy @ Sew Incredibly Crazy

Martha @ Living Life

Shawn @ Creative Inspiraciones

Rhonda @ Sunrise at Ravelly's!

Toye @ Quilting Adventures of a Ginger

Hairbrained

I took Thursday and half day Friday off work so I could clean my poor neglected house. Thursday, I did really well, worked all day and got a lot accomplished. Friday…. Well, after making snow ice cream with cherries on top with my residents and walking home through a winter wonderland, I made the mistake of cleaning off my nightstand. "Why is cleaning off your nightstand a mistake?” you ask. It was a mistake because my charm pack of Nancy Drew fabric was there. It was such a lovely snowy day I ended up sewing instead of cleaning. (I know that none of you have *ever* done such a thing.) <wink>

I had some issues with my math ( you can't get 2.5 inch HSTs out of 2.5 inch squares unless you have super powers or magic and my wand is broken and I am out of fairy dust!) so I needed something brainless to work on to rest after fixing all my calculations.

In retrospect, I should have started cleaning house then  but instead I thought I would start a scrappy trip around the world- I have this wonderful bag of strips already cut. ( Thank you Fairy CaMom)  I sorted some of the strips and then realized they were NOT all the same size and some were  a wee bit diagonal. “Ok, no prob- I will make a wonky trip around the world” so I started stitching strips together. I cut the first set of strips and realized it wasn’t going to work as I had pictured but I could still do something with the strip sets.

I love the tropical colors in these strips

I must have dreamed about the strip sets because as soon as I woke up on Saturday I had an AHA! Moment. I could make some herringbone blocks. I sorta used the tutorial here at bijou lovely –except the pictures didn't come through at all on my phone AND I already had these lovely strips sewn together so I just started cutting my wonky strip sets into diagonals. 

  I was late for work at the store because I was having way too much fun. I had some yellow marble from Moda in my stash (again thanks Fairy CaMom) added some sashing.

I told my moms it was a wild hair –ing bone and then decided it was because I am hairbrained, so I have dubbed this my Hairbrained Herringbone Quilt.

Since I can’t show you Nancy Drew yet ( my day is the 14^th) I shall share this with you!

I still have quite a ways to go before it is done- I want it Cuddle size for a snowy day.



On another note- I also wanted to share my Dr Seuss What's Happening Board that I did for the nursing home each of the trufula trees, stripes and hands has the date and time for an activity happening in march. I love celebrating Dr Seuss with my residents. We have a group of kids coming to celebrate with us - we  will be making oobleck!

Thursday we are having a Quilt Show at the Nursing Home- I will share pictures next week!

Leafs me Bewildered

Bubbles- notice my Dottiness?

Well, as most of you know, the day after my Dots on Dots post, I was walking in the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Besides making balloon animals, Bubbles usually makes popcorn, so I got to the nursing home and proceeded to load the popcorn machine into Jupiter (my Saturn) I mistakenly thought I had loaded this popcorn machine into Jupiter on a previous occasion. So I wrestled it into the front seat. And told everyone I would see them at the park, took the popcorn cart back into the building and proceeded to start the car…Oh no I didn’t – the popcorn machine was wedged over the gear shift and on the steering wheel. I couldn’t get my hand under the machine to even get to the keys! Hmmm now what? So I got out and decided maybe it will fit in the backseat ( I really should have videoed this process- I was dressed as a clown after all) Nope! Won’t fit back there either. I tried this way and that- and I was lifting the machine off of the ground by this time because- I took the cart in already. It was elephant appreciation day-

I felt like I was trying to get an elephant into the car. Altho’ having an elephant there would have been handy- I could have strapped the popcorn machine to his back and given rides at the Walk. Anyway I wrestled the machine back into the building ( uh, Bobbie why didn’t you go get the cart? Well I was in a hurry and hadn’t had my coffee yet…) and we just didn’t have popcorn this year :(  My lower back was a little sore on Sunday and Monday, but just a twinge. Tuesday, we had our Luau and I moved tables and chairs and then moved tables and chairs and undecorated and by Wednesday, I couldn’t move well at all. I don’t remember ever hurting my lower back, I have hurt my shoulder and neck but this was AWFUL! I haven’t sat at my sewing machine since. This Thursday, I tried to cut my blocks for the blocks I really wanted to make for this hop. I got three strips cut and then my back told me without question- NO MORE. I have been to the chiropractor multiple times and I do feel a bit better so, I am hoping that I can at least make one block tonight after church and can post it in the morning.

I do have a block to share. I started this runner last year and when I got it out, I was thinking it was a disappearing 9 patch but as I took these pictures, I realized it isn’t.  I am not quite sure what it is…. “Leafs me Bewildered” is now the name of my block. :)



Leafs Me Bewildered



I started Free Motion Quilting it, but the thread was not cooperating so I gave up. (and I had no clue what FMQ was at the time- so that could be why the thread was sew uncooperative) Since FMQ is not sew bewildering now, I will be picking these stitches out and trying again.



does anyone recognize this fabric? it
was a charm pack but I didn't notice
names back then. Just one more thing I am bewildered about :) so far the concensus is it is a Sandy Gervais line



Hopefully, if you check back around 8am Illinois time,  later this week... (me back didn't like the idea last night) I will have added "Leaf me Bee" and "Falling in Love" posted as well. I also wanted to do Leafin' on a jet plane but will definitely not have time for that.

Thanks for stoppin' by!

Be sure to check out the other wonder-fall autumn creations over at:

Monday 8

Feathered Nest Studio

Grandmama's Stories

From This to That <-----you are here!

Little Mama Hen

Quilt Monster in my Closet

Kathy

in stitches & seams

Buzzing and Bumbling

Nunu's Quilt World

Quilts And Dogs

Briarside Lane

The Master Schedule can be found over at Cherry's by clicking on her name.

And a Cheer goes out to our hostess Cherry and dear Madam Samm

2-4-6-8 Our Blog Hops are really Great

8-6-4-2 and it's all thanks to you!!

Sew Team!