Super Sunday Sewing

Edgar Poe being very cute :) and "helping"

No big (American) football fans here and yet I still went out to get pizza, Greek salad and buffalo wings for dinner LOL!  Not a whole lot going on this weekend, although at was at Sweet Home Quilt Co. twice this weekend. 

Saturday was the last Groovy Girls meeting.  I can't wait for the next season to start sometime after spring quilt market.

Today, I was there to pick up the first blocks for a block of the month.  I came right home and finished it. Each month is two 6-inch blocks made from Thangles.  There are three different colorways to choose from. I picked "folk art."

I finished sewing the jelly roll sampler top on Saturday (with Edgar Poe's help of course) and started my February UFO challenge (oops forgot to get a photo--will do next post). I also made this week's Civil War block called "Richmond".  Something was off with the measurements and it ended up kinda wonky with points missing. If I get ambitious, I may remake this maybe with the 4-patches a smidge smaller or just live with it.

I can't believe it's nearly Monday already.  Seems like this weekend flew by too fast.

Snow-pocalypse 1-10-11

A big time snow event in metro Atlanta extended my weekend an extra day and possibly for tomorrow also. It started snowing huge flakes last night about 8:30PM and it just kept coming down like...well...like it does in the North.

I recorded the official snowfall on my back steps this morning.

About 4 1/2" on the top step.

 Bird tracks on my front porch.  I love seeing bird and animal prints in the snow.  I bet the birds were wondering what in the world was going on.  My birdseed and suet feeders were jam-packed all day and lots of birds hung out on the porch in the shelter.

Edgar Poe had a great time today watching all the bird and squirrel activity while he stayed warm in a quilt nest on the bed.  Poe-TV is what we call it.

 It was sleeting when I took this photo.  So now there is a fine crust of ice on top of the snow and the roads are thick slushy ice. 

I'm definitely not going any where.

 No way I'm attempting my front steps!

 No coffee on the porch this AM. 

I'm headed back inside for some sewing and movie watching time.

 I worked on my penultimate Groove Girls project.  Melisa said February is our last meeting until the new session starts after spring quilt market.  I am so happy that there is going to be another session because this has been a super fun club!

This month our project was a sewing roll to keep our handwork supplies organized. I carefully centered the little pink owl to be on the flap.

The outside

The inside with pockets and a zipper pocket

Well OK the little pink owl kinda worked out by mostly luck and a little centering by me :)

Homemade Holiday

My family is not really exchanging gifts this year.  Well except for buying my nine-month old niece Mackenzie her first Xmas presents :)  We decided that no one really needed anything (except for boring expensive things like I need new tires for the truck...) and I think everyone is just grateful for health, loved ones, jobs, and houses.
I did make a couple little projects from Groovy Girls from stash and clearance fabrics.
A stand & stow bag for mom (left) and my sister-in-law (right). I bet these are used for sewing stuff or Mackenzie stuff.

For my brother who has to travel a lot for his job, some travel totes (a large and 2 medium bags). He is interested in the American Civil War so I used reproduction fabric for his.


I made these for my dad too just because dads are hard to find presents for and I figured he would find a use for them. These were easy to pack in carry-on luggage too--always important to think about gifts & traveling especially nowadays.

Voila!  I even used ultra-green wrapping by folding neatly and re-using ribbon remnants.   

I'll let you know how they liked the gifts (I'm pre-blogging before my trip!!!)

Is it really December?

 I think I am still in denial about the whole December thing.  It's been a busy week at work which means it's been a slow sewing week.  Nothing new going on right now.

Tomorrow is Groovy Girls at Sweet Home.  I do have my project done from November.  The theme was entertaining and we got a great pattern for making cloth napkins, some recipes, and napkin folding tips.  I decided to make napkins for everyday and not buy anymore paper napkins--"green" and stashbusting.

I used a small bundle of 30s fabrics to make these napkins.


As I dig through my fabric stash, I've been pulling out fat quarters and making a pile to turn into more napkins. As Martha would say "It's a good thing!"         

A Sunday Morning

Hello!  I feel like I have been away from my blog forever! Well it has been a week.  I have spent most of this week on the phone trying to resolve an issue with a bank.  Yes, 7 hours on the phone over several days, one day off of work, 1 1/2 hours at an actual physical bank (where no one could help me because no one in Georgia could correct the problem....), 6 days of not being able to use my checking account--all because of the BANK'S ERROR!  Grrrrr.....

The bank I've had since the mid-1990s was bought out during the financial crisis and was "converted" to this new national bank on Oct. 23. My problem started Oct. 26.  It was resolved late Friday Nov. 5. Guess who is taking their accounts and going to a new bank? 

OK enough with the evil, horrible, uncaring, too-big-to-fail, they-better-not-come-looking-for-another-bailout bank......except I have a suggestion of where they can park their stagecoach!!!!!!!

Moving on...
Yesterday was Groovy Girls at Sweet Home.  Before class, I talked with Melisa about her trip to quilt market. Can't wait for those new fabrics, patterns, & books to arrive.  Did a wee bit o' shopping.  Then it was time for class.  If your local quilt shop offers the Groovy Girls program, I highly recommend signing up and if they don't offer it, why not?  It is a super fun program with wonderful, easy projects (great for gifts) that you can make with your stash.
I came home and worked on this month's Le Petite project.

 These cute little churn dash blocks are 4 1/2 inches finished.  Sweet little blocks! The weird lighting is sunshine from the windows. It was freezing cold here in GA (in the 40s F) so I had the blinds up trying to get some warmth. I also made a big pot of beef stew and piled on the quilts.

Today is catching up on usual housework, blog reading, more sewing, etc.  Hooray for any extra hour of sleep and an extra hour to the weekend.

September Thimbles

Yesterday was Silver Thimble Quilt Club. It was packed full and several people were absent at a quilt retreat (Karin, Becky, Cindi, and Brenda). To paraphrase one of my favorite movie quotes "Pat, we're gonna need a bigger boat!" I did manage to snap some photos of show n tell this time. There was not much room for quilt showing this time. I think we need a stage area too.

Here is Jane with her "Minnesota Hot Dish" quilt. I love the colors. Some lucky person is getting this quilt as a present. Wish it was me!

This quilt was made by Awesome Beth (she is behind the quilt and that is Trisha on the right). Beth is a longarm quilter and does amazing quilting. She did an amazing job on my Mardi Gras quilt, I just need a couple of quilt holders so I can photograph it outside.

Here is Trisha's quilt (Beth is on the left) and a detail...
This quilt had gorgeous fabric and is perfectly pieced.

I spent time chatting with Kristie and working on a new Halloween project. Here's a little look-see.

Today is more sewing. I made another Groovy Girls Club project using both selvages and a zipper for the first time (this little cutie is a pattern called "Cash n' Carry".
As you can see I am really getting into the Halloween spirit. October, my favorite month, is nearly here! I just love the spiders instead of the usual dots on the selvage in the center.
And the other side
As with all Atkinson Designs, the instructions were fabulous and my first attempt at a zipper went OK. I vowed I wasn't going to start saving selvages because I don't need one more thing to hang on to. Although I do have some neat jars that are currently empty. Maybe I'll just save Halloween fabric selvages...

well, maybe French General too....

After a Trying Week, Some Sewing Time

Good thing this week was a short one because it was a very trying week, and try as I may, I didn't have a chance to blog. I'm glad the week is over. I missed a Labor Day post and I missed posting photos from Sarah no blog (sorry Sarah!).

I did get a lot of sewing accomplished last weekend.

A Groovy Girls project: this super-fabulous bag in my all time favorite fabric line Rouenneries. I can't wait to make more of these bags--easy, fun, and useful! Plus they stand up all by themselves. Edgar Poe and Morph both took turns jumping into the bag and both were much too quick for the camera.
And some tiny treat bags.Both projects courtesy of Bad Melisa.

I also finished all the blocks for Double Delight and started sewing rows together. I also did some major cleaning up in the sewing room (long overdue).

Today instead of working on Double Delight, I started a new project (sometimes you just need to start something new...) Here is a Gomez paw with a sneak peek.


Along with the rest of America, I am remembering the events of September 11th today.

Although I am not going to start in on the rant I would like to, I do have to say that I am sick and tired of the lies and fear-mongering and am deeply saddened by the blatant bigotry and racism that has poisoned the summer. In the noble words of a great president: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." Franklin Delano Roosevelt, first inaugural address.

On this ninth anniversary, peace everyone. Peace.

Labor Day Weekend Rambles

Warning: Long rambley post....

I have been celebrating my first Labor Day weekend off in eight years. I used to celebrate three-day weekends by being happy to only work one job for three days. This not having to work at all for three days is really great. I did all my errand running, grocery shopping, and housework on Wednesday and Thursday so I could stay home the rest of the weekend.

Let's catch up on the past few days. The new fridge didn't arrive until 6:30PM Wednesday evening. I was the last delivery of the day and I felt really bad for the delivery guys having to deal with my crazy old house--steep granite stairs to the back door, sloping ceiling in the back hall because it is an enclosed rear porch, and galley kitchen with maybe an extra 1/8 of an inch to squeeze in the fridge.

The guys were so nice and professional, I called their supervisor on Thursday to give kudos where kudos were due. Good karma is a good thing.
So here is the new fridge. We have cold and unspoiled food again. I love the fridge except for one thing...
magnets don't stick to stainless steel. Who knew? Not me. So I guess I can't cover the front of this with Mutts comics, postcards, souvenir magnets, and photos of Mackenzie. Oh no! What is an aunt to do?
Cover the side. Here are new photos sent from my mom.

On Thursday, I received the giveaway I won over at Thelma's wonderful blog Cupcakes n' Daisies. Thank you again Thelma!! I can't believe how quickly it arrived all the way from Green Fairy Quilts in Utah. I think there is a fleet of green fairies that zoom all over delivering fabric goodies. If you are as addicted to Moda pre-cuts as I am, go visit the Green Fairy shop.
For the giveaway, I chose a Luna Notte layer cake and Arcadia honeybun.Luna Notte is another winner from Moda. There are some luscious grays in there and I am all about gray fabric.

Saturday was the first meeting of the Groovy Girls club at Sweet Home Quilt Co. I am excited about this new club by Terry Atkinson and even more excited to have another reason to visit Melisa at Sweet Home. The focus of the club is small projects and new techniques.
I was there bright and early (8:30 AM is early for a Saturday) on a gorgeous morning. Melisa had a groovy-themed breakfast table.
Click on the photo for Melisa's cool idea to make flowers from buttons and a table full of projects for neat gift ideas.
During this session, Melisa demo'ed bags and zippers. I've never tried doing zippers but our homework challenge is a bag with zipper so I will tackle this. I love the display of Terry's brightly colored zippers. Wonderful colors you could just look at all day. Melisa lived up to her Bad Melisa nickname so I came home with some patterns to use up some stash.

The rest of the day, I worked on Double Delight (ugh I wish this quilt would hurry up and finish itself!) and watched/listened to marathons of "House" and "Burn Notice". It was so nice out, I turned off the A/C and opened the windows. The cats hung out in the windows and enjoyed the sunshine and fresh air.
Gomez looking sweet
and Gomez and Morpheus artistically posed.