March 1st

... is a day of remembering. My youngest brother died on March 2nd a few years ago. That horrible day seems like yesterday but it has been over 3 years. His bear hugs are really missed and I have yet to find any one who can give one even close. I really miss my baby brother. 

crawfish at their best

  Roy loved his crawfish so we will celebrate his life Friday by taking his God-daughter, Samantha (DGD#2) and Chris (DGS#10) out to eat crawfish with DH. These two's consumption of Louisiana mud-bugs would make him proud.LOL

   Judy L's UFO number for this month is #8 which is my "Paper-pieced cats". Well, I am still working on machine quilting February's UFO #1 Saint Stars and appliqueing the face and embellishments on UFO#5 Orange Tom Cat. Yes, I know I am slow as molasses in Greenland which is why I have so many started projects.  I won't be attempting 'Paper-pieced cats" since it only has one cat pieced so ...I will do Batik leaves instead once I get done with those I have started unless Glenda plans a '#8' piecing day!
  Lator Gators! I am off to work on Saint Stars. 
Keep making LEMONADE from LIFE'S LEMONS!

A Interesting Week

...Yes, indeed! 
    Monday, we traveled to Maurapas to see DD#1's new studio and help her make flaps for her Bailey machine. It did not go as planned but her studio is great.
   Tuesday,  we learned that Mrs. Ruby Landry, our long time neighbor died and would be buried on Thursday. This news hit us both very hard. She will be missed! Then DGS#8's team lost by 3 points and are out of the playoffs.

   Wednesday, we got up at 4am to drive to meet DD#1 to drive to Houston. I got to drive DD#1's BIG truck which was lots of fun and made me want a truck even more. DD#1 went to work and I went to trimming and de-papering 170+ half square triangles. Slow tedious work but it is done! Next I have to iron the seams open. Then these will be made into a baby quilt for a friend. They were from the signature blocks we made for her wedding. That evening we registered in the hotel and then went find a JoAnn's that was suppose to be 14 minutes away. 45 minutes later we were there but they didn't have what we were really looking for. DD#1 came out with quite an addition to her stash. I thought I had the bug but she has it worse! I came out with a seam ripper and tracing pens.

   Thursday, DD#1 went to work in the morning and I stayed and finished pulling paper. Then I worked on sewing drunkard path blocks I had cut with the GO!. Easy Easy sewing, but I never did think that drunkard's path was hard. Next I will work on the 3 1/2" drunkard's path. Those will be harder I think! At 11:45am, DD#1 picked me up from the hotel and we went back to her work. I read blogs and 'colored' blocks while she was in frustrating meetings with her bosses and some idiots that think being male with a college degree makes you smarter than any woman. Really not a good idea ever but especially not around that woman. Then at 4pm we began our drive home-first to my drop off point and then for her another 170+ miles. When I got home, I had a package from Ireland. I love this block b/c it takes the Box Square up a step with the friendship star in the center. Those fat quarters are fantastic.

Agnes' block and fat quarters

   Friday, DH and I spent the day grocery shopping and cleaning. It was a restful day! At 4:30pm, I helped Christopher, DGS#10 with research on Dr. Charles Drew. Then DH and I went to the gym to exercise. He worked with his trainer and I with Billie. We were both tired when we were finished. Afterwards we went home and ate the second half to our tuna subs from lunch. At 8pm, I was under my grandma's quilt watching tv.
   Today, Lorenzo woke me up early (5:45am) and I have been busy ever since. Tonight at 8:30pm, DH is bowling in BR for the National Bowling Tournament so we won't be home until after 1am. 
   Sunday, he bowls at 11am. Fun Fun in a freezer but he loves it.
   Well, like I said, it has been an interesting week.
Lator Gators! Keep making lemonade from life's lemons.
    


  

A Good Day turned Sad!

   I got to sew today on the backing of my Tumbler quilt, spend time with my DH, and play awhile. It was a good day...
   Then the news was given to my DH who told it to me. The dear old lady who lived across the street died early today. She had a long life at 94+ and has been ready to reestablish in heaven for a few years especially when she had to move into a nursing home due to ill health and falling problems.
  Mrs. Ruby Landry was one of a kind. If she liked you, the whole neighborhood was convinced to like you and if she didn't, well, easiest to move somewhere else.  She accepted his family in 1980 at a time when it was a segregated community and his family was of the 'wrong' color. She accepted me in 1997 when mixed couples were not the norm. She liked me alot and my husband even more; so no one was allowed to speak ill of us. 
   I liked her even more. When my mom died, she listened to my troubles and woes and joys with equal attention. She listened to all the trials and tribulations I went thru trying to blend two adult families of different races and beliefs. She didn't judge or scold except that I don't visit enough and I didn't. I am not a people person and like solitude.   
  Her grandson was on his way here from Georgia hoping to see her but was 100 miles away when she passed. I was hoping that she wouldn't be buried until Friday or Saturday but he has to get back so they are burying her Thursday. I had already promised DD#1 to help drive her to Houston at 5:30 am Wednesday so won't make the funeral. 
  I am ok with this b/c I don't usually go to funerals. In fact the joke is that I will miss my own if at all possible...I will since I plan on being cremated and have my DGD#2 put an empty vase for viewing. 
  Actually I said my good-byes, when she moved from her home to the nursing home b/c she told me she would not make it to her next b-day. We went see her each week until DH went into the hospital.  The graveyard is within walking/yelling distance from my house so I can walk and visit her when ever the mood hits.
Lator Gators! Thanks for letting me grieve out loud. This is all lemons but Mrs. Ruby would find sugar to make it into lemon pie or lemonade.
  

Early Stash Report Sunday, February 19, 2012

Fabric Added this Week: 1 yard
Fabric Added in February: 1 yard
Fabric Added YTD: 2 yards
Fabric Used this Week 13 yards
Fabric Used in February: 14.625 yards
Fabric Used YTD:  27.5 yards
Stash Reduction: 25.5 yards
   I finished putting together Tumblers top on Friday and the backing this afternoon. As usual my husband and DSS both claimed the quilt. Tumblers is pretty but don't understand why because the pieces are placed without rhyme or reason and the border is...well, it just seemed right at the time! The backing is pieced strips.
  The one yard was bought to finish the flip flop border due to a cutting miscalculation on my part. This was the first yard that I truly bought in 2012 since the other yard was Ricky Tims' Caveman fabric won at QGA guild meeting.
   My 'Shop in the Stash' campaign is getting to be fun. I am not attempting a 'No buying' kick but having just one vehicle, living 35 miles from the nearest fabric shop, & having life get real busy makes shopping in my stash the best option. But our guild meetings have moved to within a mile of a LQS. I see fabric in my near future!

   Well, we are off to bowl at Fort Polk Sunday all day and since we are going in the car, it will be a non-quilting day. Good thing is I will bring 'My Sister' to my sister. It is a twisted sister design by Ami Simms from her twisted sister, me. LOL
Lator Gators! Keep making lemonade from Life's lemons.

It's Not a Twin!

Tumbler top is finished complete with mitered corners! 72 by 103. It is not a long twin b/c it fits from side to side and from bottom to top with under pillows tucking room on my King bed. 
According to my app it took 6 1/2 yards of fabric but according to my calculations, it took 6 yards -3 down and 2 across. The backing will take another 6 1/2 yards so I will have some great numbers to post Sunday.
  Now to get it to DD#1 for quilting by May. I think it will be a well loved graduation present. The next graduation quilt to complete is the one that DGD#2 has been collecting fabric for the last 6 years to make. A Halloween themed true spiderweb quilt-think Simply Quilts octagon quilt built log cabin style complete with episode taped and saved for reference. Hopefully, it can be done in twin size like she wants.

Lator, Gators! I have to go piece a 80 by 112 back. Think I will do it out of scraps with hearts sprinkled around.
Keep making Lemonade out of Life's lemons. 

I did it! All by Myself.

     The overpriced flip flop fabric came in yesterday as we were leaving for BR. It matched the one I had perfectly so this morning I cut and pieced the border that was missing. I decided to make true mitered corners although usually I make fake ones by sewing two squares together into a half square triangle. 
   A flat mitered corner! It is amazing what I can do when I put on my "big girl panties" as my daughters say. I have enough of the grey and flip flop fabric to make a pillowcase too. You can bet I will use every bit of that $17 yard especially since most of the quilt was made from scraps or stashed fat quarters.
   Last night I did a guild presentation on making your own printable fabric using 'Bubble Jet' at $16 a bottle and how to make a "Faux Bubble Jet" using Washing Soda, Alum, Fabric Softener, and very hot water which cost about $13 initially, but make many batches and supplies have household uses too.
    These sheets can be used to make backgrounds for embroidery, labels, or pictures.  Yes, the printing will wash away eventually but so do the 'store bought' ones. 6 of one or half a dozen of the other. LOL 
   I am a big supporter of quilters putting some type of label on every thing they make.  In fact I support labeling of all crafts and pictures. Just don't label children or people!
    Labels give a quilt a sense of ownership, pride, and history. With quilts being stolen, labels should, if at all possible, be part of the quilt back not an add-on which could be taken off. 
    My first quilt, no label, was claimed by another family member who thought it was made by my mom who used it when she would go into the hospital including her final visit. My second quilt was returned to me after my aunt died since it had a label. Both of these are special to me b/c of the strong women who used them until their deaths. 
   Saturday I am having a Sew Day with my BFF Pam. Since my 5 day mom & daughter retreat has been cancelled due to b-ball games - bowling & basketball, this is a real treat.
Lator, Gators! I am off to sew more mitered corners and quilt a bit on Saint Stars 2.
 Keep making Lemonade from Life's lemons.

  

Design Wall Monday Feb. 13, 2012

   My design wall is still stagnant. I have started quilting Saint Stars 2 and it is looking good. It is simple straight line stitching except for these. I quilt on it for 30 minutes and then work on something else for an hour like Tom Cat's face or SHB or Tumblers or house chores.

    DGS#11 helped me cut tumbler blocks on the Go while recuperating from a mysterious rash.  He was amazed that they came out so perfectly. He cut enough for 2 quilts b/c he was having so much fun! He made lots of scraps and used lots of fabric out of the "why oh why did I buy that!" bin.
   I had to stop working on Tumblers, because of a miscalculation causing me to be short by 2 4 1/2 by WOF strips of border fabric. Since I had my BIG GIRL PANTIES on from quilting on Saint Stars 2, I went to the internet, found more of the Debi Hron black flip flops, and bought it. The shipping was more than the fabric! When the fabric comes in, I will finish that top, but in the meantime, I will work on piecing the back, all from the stash, of course.
   I am beginning to wonder who owns who. Lorenzo determines my wake up time, my bedtime, uses me as a pillow when he needs a nap, types when I am blogging, and demands rides. He thinks he is the owner and I am the pet! I am beginning to believe that too! DH just laughs at us but he is getting pulled in by that cute face too.
Lator Gators! Keep making Lemonade from Life's Lemons.