Hurrah for the Red White and Blue

I am enjoying this blog hop immensely! Sew many talented people out there! Sew much inspiration! Check out the pinterest page for all the blocks! There are 75 different blocks so far and we are only on day five!


Today's bloggers are:

July 5th

 

 

Mrs. Pickles

 

CraftNurseQuilt

 

Dexter Days

 

Judith Hand Made Treasures

 

Insanity Defense

 

unDeniably Domestic

 

 

 

 

 

It is also Teacup Thursday and MySweetMommie got me a new blue teacup!I don't have any blue ones so I'm pretty excited about it!


Be sure to visit these blogs for more tea cups:

Rose Chintz Cottage* Antiques and Teacups*

The Rosemary House*Lady Estelle's Tea Corner*

Denise's Delights*Faith Hope And Cherrytea*Beautiful Clutter*

Martha's Favorites*Breath of Fresh Air*

Lady Linda Teacup*Gracious Hospitality*

Atteatude and Chocolate*Teacups In the Garden*Letters from the Northwest*

A Delightsome Life*Poetry in a Pot of Tea*Romance of Roses*

From This to That* (hey! that's me)

Art Books Tea*The Nest at Finch Rest*

Rosewalk Cottage*Two Cottages and Tea*Tea Cozie Cottage*Breath of Fresh Air*Fabby Living*Cairn Cottage*
 and of course our wonderful Hostess Miss Spenser*

I am settling in at my new job and having a great time with the residents. I will hopefully get on a better blogging schedule soon! I miss it more than I thought!

Have a great day!

Thursday Teacups and Triumphs

I bought this teacup and sugar bowl at the thrift store a few months back, on a day I forgot to bring one from home. I don't remember exactly why, but I never posted that day. This poor cup has been in the car all this time! I am assuming that the lid to the bowl is still somewhere in the car- the price tag said 4 pieces- I count only three! I paid a whopping $1.89 for all four pieces!

The fabric they are sitting on is from my stash of FQ's that CaMom sent and it works perfect for the pillow quilt I am making for one of *my* kids that is going off to college this summer. I started out to make a pillow using this pattern that I adapted from a Moda Bake Shop pattern.  6/8/12 Update! I realized yesterday that I forgot to add the link - for the tutorial that inspired me to make this, go here.  For Andrea's blog go here. I wanted to use the leafy camo fabric, I only had 2 four inch squares. That's all. So I tweaked the pattern to add the squares and went to two LQS's and found the right fabrics.  







Can you see my oopsy?
I almost left it but decided I do have to take it out.

I,Of course, Genius that I am,  forgot that I was making this pillow sized and pieced my blocks just like the tutorial said.  (by the way, it is a great tutorial!) I was having a blast putting this together and when I went to take the pictures I realized- That is a BIG pillow top - I don't even have the borders on yet! SO I decided to make it a quilt instead. I used up an eraser and a half sketching out the ideas for the finish of this quilt. I thought I finally got it the way I wanted it and when I got to work this morning I found an even cooler idea in my email box. so its back to the drawing board! And back to the quilt shop for more of this fabric.  

And now my triumph! I FMQed bananas on my Monkey in the Middle hanging!

they are sideways in this picture

I also made some circles and square ish zig zags

Now I am off to my other job and to check for more fun mail! TTFN

A Lovely Lugubrious Day

Click here for music  just don't forget to come back!

 It would be such a perfect day for staying home, curled up with a book and a cuppa tea or sewing, maybe a little of both! This song, along with Singing In the Rain, always gets stuck in my head on days like this.  Since I am working both jobs today, I won't be doing any sewing or reading until after 8:30pm. But hey! I am getting paid to be here and I will enjoy this day! I do love rainy days!

'Tis Thursday and I actually remembered to take Teacup pictures before leaving the house! A lovely stack of teacups- these were hanging on the plate rack, so the saucers were not in reach- I really need to put them in reach.

It is also the end of the month and I did *not* get to quilt my runner last night.

The pattern is Verna's Garden
from Moda Bake Shop

  #1 the batting I got at the thrift store yesterday was small pieces rolled inside a pillow size piece- not big enough for the runner.

  #2 After I got home from the Kings Kids Awards Night- I was exhausted! It was fun and the Kids worked really hard this year. I am so proud of them. Tired, but proud!




The Christmas Train is at the Station



I did, however, find something I started a while ago that I finished for a Christmas present! This little box used to be a Cricut Cartridge Box. I don't keep my cartridges in the boxes, but couldn't bear to toss such a nice box out. I used scrap book paper, stickers, hymnal pages and graphics from The Graphics Fairy and a wee bit of Mod Podge to cover it. I am sure Jo will be able to use it for her drawing pencils or something!



I used it to carry my squares for Aunt Sukey's Block



NewFO Challenge

I also started a NewFO - Kristen over at Meadowbrook is making 366 blocks in a year and I loved Aunt Sukey's Block, so I decided I *had* to make a table topper.  I just got the squares cut at 2 and a half inches and realized I forgot to add the allowance for the HST's- I do not think my block will be 12 inches, unless of course I decide to start over (probably not happening)- I may have to convert it to a 10 and a half inch ish block :) I did sketch the topper and write down which squares and hst's are needed- I do so love graph paper!

Tomorrow, we shall see how much I get done after work tonight.... maybe I'll have a friday finish? I also have some Memorial Day Picnic Pix to share. If I don't get anything done I'm sure I'll find *something* to talk about! :)

Thank You to Karen at Sew Many Ways
for teaching me how to make my signature!

Enjoy your Thursday!

                

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more teacups, be sure to visit:

Rose Chintz Cottage* Antiques and Teacups* The Rosemary House*
Lady Estelle's Tea Corner* Denise's Delights*
Faith Hope And Cherrytea* Beautiful Clutter* Martha's Favorites*
Breath of Fresh Air* Lady Linda Teacup*
Gracious Hospitality* Atteatude and Chocolate* Teacups In the Garden*
Letters from the Northwest* A Delightsome Life*
Poetry in a Pot of Tea* Lady B's Time for Tea* Romance of Roses*
From This to That*(hey that's me!)
Fabby's Living* Art Books Tea* Tea, Friendship and the Fine Art of Card Making*
The Nest at Finch Rest* Rose Walk Cottage* Christine's Home and Travel Adventures*
Just Cats*Rosewalk Cottage*
Two Cottages and Tea* Tea Cozie Cottage* Breath of Fresh Air*

Teacup Thursday/ Friday Finish

 Teacup Thursday  FRIDAY
and a FINISH!!!!

It is finished and on the road to California and my cream and sugar bowl are also "on"  the Road to California block :)



Can You see the Sunshine in the purple square?



Here is a sneak peek.   Of course I can't show you the entire thing just yet because it's a Mother's Day gift and probably won't arrive until Tuesday. I will post it on Wednesday for sure!

There is a Give Away over at It's Sew Kiki

and at Maureen's    There are a few more giveaways on the sidebar -be sure check them out!

Have a pulchritudinous Mother's Day Weekend!

Tips from friends!

Don't you just love it when a handy dandy tip from a friend really and truly works? Sometimes the tip works but not quite the way you thought it should. Sometimes it just doesnt work AT ALL.   I have been working on a project with Sistermine, AbbyDoo and MySweetMommie and I can't wait to show you the finished product- of course that means I have to finish the product first.... It is nearing completion and the tip I got from SewCalGal (I think it was in Leah Day's Video) is the reason that my free motion quilting went smoothly (which is amazing in itself) *and* I made cool loop-de-loos and squiggles with out fighting with my machine! I can't wait to try it on Granny's Domestic Bliss- this will definitely help with the "writing" on the borders.  I still don't have the opened toed foot for my machine and just used my zigzag foot- which means I can't really see where I am going, so the smaller hearts aren't quite right - in fact one kinda looks like a bird instead of a heart.

the larger hearts were MUCH easier to see



"I am sure it was supposed to be a bird-
 I actually meant to do that"



 On the whole, I had a lot of fun stippling and squiggling and looping- there was no growling or snarling (well, I did snarl *a  little* when the bobbie bobbin ran out) I always seem to type my name when typing bobbin- bobbie  did run out ...of energy and had to go to bed. LOL

Oh, I almost forgot to tell you the tip- careful now- it is an incredibly difficult thing to do and very technical- are you ready? Here it is!

"set the stitch length to zero"

Now wasn't that hard? *giggle* - then you can go forward and backward and side to side and don't have to shove the whole quilt back and forth through the arch 842 times! I didn't even drop my feed dogs. I can't show you the whole project yet- tis a Mother's Day gift, but here are a few peeks at my fun FMQ! Be sure to check out SewCalGal's Free Motion Quilting Challenge- I haven't joined the challenge, I am just watching at the sidelines, but after last night's fun I may have to jump in! She also has alot of other cool stuff on her blog and she has Shamu on her banner (which just makes her even cooler!!)

Tea Cup Thursday has been moved to Friday- I forgot to grab a cup before leaving the house!
But you can visit these others who remembered!

Rose Chintz Cottage* Antiques and Teacups* The Rosemary House* Lady Estelle's Tea Corner

Denise's Delights* Faith Hope And Cherrytea* Beautiful Clutter* Martha's Favorites* Breath of Fresh Air*

Lady Linda Teacup* Teacups In the Garden* Letters from the Northwest* Gracious Hospitality*

A Delightsome Life* Poetry in a Pot of Tea* Lady B's Time for Tea*

Romance of Roses* From This to That* Fabby's Living*

Art Books Tea* Tea, Friendship and the Fine Art of Card Making*

The Nest at Finch Rest* Rose Walk Cottage* Christine's Home and Travel Adventures*

Just Cats* Rosewalk Cottage* 

Atteatude and Chocolate* and of course our wonderful Hostess Miss Spenser*

Cherry Blossoms tea cup & Mug Rug

Wow it's been a crazy month and its only the fifth! I had all sorts of plans to post last thursday and poof its next thursday already! I have been discovering lots of nifty neato peachy keen cool n stuff blogs from the lists on the sides of other blogs- I just haven't figured out how to put one of those lists on the side of *my* blog. I just figured out how to one on the side of *my* blog!  On one of these "ooh let's see what they have over here" adventures I discovered Cherry Blossoms Quilting- What made me peek at her blog? It was this:

Isn't it cute? I love all the details. Thanks to the Expo and a BOM from CaMom, I have been tinkering with applique- I played around with applique many moons ago- mostly sweatshirts using t- shirt paints instead of stitching. I did make a wall hanging for my MIL but the stitches were Faux- made with a pen. So, of course I see Cherry's adorable mug rug, and then I look at my mug rug



snazzy ain't it?


and think "I can do that, I need a cute mug rug." I printed out a picture of Cherry's rug and proceeded to copy it. I was going through some scraps at MySweetMommie's while she sewed her triangles together and came across fabric with hearts in a circle so I asked if I could have them. I got home around 11:30pm and had to play around with the mug rug. searching for the right scraps was alot of fun- except I never found the right scrap for the cat.

Notice the cup is turned around because I am left- handed!
Not because I forgot to flip my template, no no that's not it

Now I have a cute mug rug of my own- I still need to work on my stitching- everything I have read seems to indicate an open toe darning foot would expedite the stitching process because I'd be able to see where I am sewing. I have a whole box of feet (sounds psychotic, doesn't it?) but the only darning foot is a high shank and my machine is a low shank.  I guess I will have to get the right foot and make some more rugs to practice :)

  !Sew We Quilt! is hosting a month of kitchen tutorials and this morning they sent a lovely tutorial for a cup cozy- maybe I should make one to match my mug rug.....

It is Teacup Thursday and since I am sharing my rug from Cherry Blossoms I thought I would share a cherry blossoms tea cup too!

Also participating in Teacup Thursday:
Rose Chintz Cottage Antiques and Teacups The Rosemary House Lady Estelle's Tea Corner
Denise's Delights Faith Hope And Cherrytea Beautiful Clutter Martha's Favorites Breath of Fresh Air

Lady Linda Teacup Teacups In the Garden Letters from the Northwest Gracious Hospitality

A Delightsome Life Poetry in a Pot of Tea Lady B's Time for Tea

Romance of Roses From This to That Fabby's Living

Art Books Tea Tea, Friendship and the Fine Art of Card Making

The Nest at Finch Rest Rose Walk Cottage Christine's Home and Travel Adventures

Just Cats Rosewalk Cottage 

Atteatude and Chocolate and of course our Hostess Miss Spenser

I am  participating in a yesteryear challenge over at Quilt Monster in My Closet and finished a WIP on Saturday. It is not as old as some of my PHD's (projects half done) This quilt was supposed to be for my "daughter's" baby girl's shower (I am CindyLou's Mommy #2- I AM NOT M's Grandma tho') I of course was last minuting the quilting and on the day of the shower was feverishly quilting when my machine decided to rebel and I went to the shower with the quilt not finished and put it away. Since they live out of state, I forgot about the quilt- except when they visited.  M just turned one year old and we had a belated birthday party for her so I finished up her quilt and made a bunny too.




The reason my machine rebelled? my cone thread had been slit
when the box of thread was opened so I had all
sorts of short lengths of thread trying to go through my machine.



the back

I was also inspired by Quilt Monster in the Closet to organize my stash. I now have 37 mini bolts of fabric and will have many many many many many more- especially since I know that CaMom sent me more fabric for my birthday which happens to be Easter Sunday- more on that tomorrow!

the first box of fabric- all from CaMom's stash
some of this fabric pre-dates 1978!

Have a great day!
Bobbie :)

St Patrick's day teacup

Top o the Marnin' t'ye! Well, since its afternoon- the rest o' the day to y'self. I bought these cups a few weeks ago, especially for St Patty's Day. St. Patty's Day is such a fun holiday- even if you aren't Irish. Here's a wee bit o' irish music to enjoy

One o' these day this Lassie will go to Ireland- and Scotland!



Since Earl Stanley Grey thinks he was the star of the last Teacup thursday
He decided to join in the photo shoot.
He is definitely not Irish, tho' he does enjoy a good Irish jig



Have a great St. Patty's Day! Eat a wee bit of Corned Beef and cabbage and have a Shamrock Shake! and listen to a bit o' the Irish Tenors singing Danny Boy!

I will be quilting on Saturday!and enjoying a cuppa Irish Breakfast tea!

May you always have
Walls for the winds,
A roof for the rain,
Tea beside the fire,
Laughter to cheer you,
Those you love near you,
And all your heart might desire!

Others Who Are Participating in Teacup Thursday! * Miss Spenser's*

The Hope Chest * Rose Chintz Cottage
Antiques and Teacups *The Rosemary House

Lady Estelle's Tea Corner * Denise's Delights

Faith Hope & Cherrytea * Beautiful Clutter
Martha's Favorites * Breath of Fresh Air 

Lady Linda Teacup * Gracious Hospitality

Atteatude and Chocolate *Teacups In the Garden
Letters from the Northwest *A Delightsome Life
Poetry in a Pot of Tea *Lady B's Time for Tea
Romance of Roses *From This to That *Fabby's Living 

Miss Kathy at The Writer's Reverie *Art Books Tea
Tea, Friendship and the Fine Art of Card Making
The Nest at Finch Rest