September 20, 2010

Christmas in September?? Thanks Barb & Mary!



Sadly, our summer is coming to an end--at least on the calendar. Since we had a wet spring and cool weather in June and July, it seems early, but the first day of fall is on Wednesday.   One good thing that resulted from our odd summer was that my potted flowers grew enormous.



I kept meaning to take a photo of them, but didn't, and since the nights are getting colder, it's now or never.


Please try to pretend they are covered with blooms like they were just a couple weeks ago.




And while you were busy looking at the pretend blooms, did you notice the boxes by the front door? 

I knew what two of them were:  Last fall I had some problems with my knee, then topped that by falling down some stairs and spraining my ankle.

Despite therapy, I developed a frozen ankle and bottom foot pain this summer. So more therapy. Two of the boxes are supplies to help me rehab my ankle (and whole body--it needs it!). Cheaper to buy the equipment than to pay for the therapy appointments.  

The blue cushion is supposed to help with balance--hmmm--even my good ankle has trouble standing on it--it will likely become a chair cushion! The half roller is for balance also. The full roller is primarily for my husband (if you're ordering, you might as well make it count!)  

I'm sure in a couple of weeks I will be slim, trim and flexible--right?  Now if you know where I can order energy and motivation, please let me know.... 















The third box is definitely more exciting!  It's from Barb and Mary who write the blog, Fun with Barb and Mary.  Visit their page for lots of lovely quilts and inspiration, and recently some delicious looking whoopie pies.  And, I was the winner of their wonderful fall basket!!!! Whoopie for me!!! (with almost no calories!) 
 
So surprising, as I never win anything, and this was the second time I've won something in the past couple of weeks. (My luck's been so good, I guess I should have bought a lottery ticket!) As I moved the boxes inside, I was surprised by how heavy this box was, but no wonder with all the goodies inside...
 
Two books full of tempting quilts to make (I've already spotted one I will make soon as my self-discipline wains), tons of lovely fabrics, a wonderful basket, a cute bookmark kit, notepads, and some other fun treats!  My oh my!


   


And after seeing my blog and realizing I was working on the bright colored Roseville, these wonderful girls added some bright fabric to their original Fall basket  (so nice, but not necessary!)  These will definitely find a role in that project (and/or another one I've got going on too!)





And, I think maybe they've been reading my mind--how did they know my latest addiction is for Linder Orange chocolate bars??  (They are wonderful!)






 
 
I kept thinking it was Christmas, but then I opened the crayons and smelled that new crayon smell.  I guess it's Fall after all.....and it looks like it's going to be a wonderful one!   Thanks Barb and Mary--you made my day!


PS.  FINALLY finished both quilt tops (and their backs), and they'll go to be quilted this week.  I figured out the fabric for the birds and am continuing to stitch on my first Roseville panel--I'm awfully slow, and it's maybe a third completed.  Will post a photo in the next few days...

September 15, 2010

Goodies in the Mail

Monday when I went out to get my mail, the mailbox was jammed.  That's when I remembered that I'd been lucky enough to be the 2nd place winner of the Star Struck Quilts book blog tour on Quilternity's Place.  I wasn't lucky enough to win the book (which looks like it has all kind of lovely quilts in it), but I did get some fun, fun goodies.  (I was especially excited to win a Chaco pen--I have debated purchasing one for awhile, so great timing!)



I'm sure they'll all be put to good use!    Thanks so much to Barbara Cline at Delightful Piecing and Teri Cohen at From Here to Quilteternity for hosting the tour!

September 09, 2010

Surprise in the Mail

I was wishing for more fabric today to help solve my bird dilemmas, and what did the mail bring???  Goodies...aren't they lovely?

It's pretty exciting when you are able to forget what you ordered and have a nice surprise when it finally comes! 

Roseville Confession...Obsession?

Are my quilt tops finished?  No, you know they're not.  And YES, I started the Roseville--you knew I would.  I did finish one top--the Bordered Diamonds.  It is all wrapped up and ready to be taken for quilting along with its lovely Kaffe Bekah backing--I'll show you when I get it back.

The other one remains on my living room floor with only one border attached.  It's my goal to work on it soon (today??)--no photo of that mess!

So I started on the Roseville Album by Kim McLean.  It has been so much fun!  This photo is early in the process.  I decided to start with one of the side panels--I guess because I like the bird's nest.  If I had it to do over, I'd start with a regular (smaller) block to get my feet wet.

If you look at this photo and compare it to some of the next photos, you'll see some fabric changes.  (the squirrel's body and the larger bird's front wing for starters) .  It still is very much a work in process.

The pieces are only glued (with the exception of the eggs and nest, which I stitched).  I am doing this a different way than I've normally appliqued--using freezer paper on the front, then finger pressing the seam allowance and gluing it to the back, then using a bit of Roxanne's glue to "baste" the piece to the background loosely.   There are two birds in the photo (below right) that aren't finished yet--I can't decide which wings, head pieces, and tail feathers they need. 


I've been moving the leaves and berries around, trying to figure out where they look best--some of the leaves aren't in their proper spots, but I took the photo any way. I haven't marked the background at all as it is so light it is easy to see through to place the pieces.
 
Also, there are two birds at the top of the panel that have me stumped (see left).  I just can't figure out which fabric I want to use for them.  All I can "see" is the fabric that was used originally in the pattern. 
 
I guess bad quilt karma may be holding back the inspiration needed to finish--hopefully it'll be easier once I finish my other top. ;)  Happy Quilting!