Happy 4th of July!!!!

WOW!!! I am behind in blog posts! I am sorry, but I've been going through some dental issues and will be for the next few weeks. :( But, I wanted to stop by today and wish you all a Happy Independence Day to all in the USA and a belated Happy Canada Day to those of you who follow me from Canada!!!

Stamp On It Blog Hop Starts Today!!!

Mini Stamp Quilts 

will be the 

Main Menu

Thearica from Pigtails and Quilts

is Head Cheerleader

The Blog Hop Starts Today

Here is the schedule:

June 26

Marjorie'sBusyCorner

Life in the Scrapatch

Pig Tales and Quilts

littlemushroomcap

sosewgreen

The Thimblemouse

Just Let Me Quilt

Words & Stitches

In Stitches And Seams

June 27

Life @ Ruffhaven 

Englating

Charlottes Creations

Moments

Sew Many Yarns

Feathered Nest Studio 

Moose Stash Quilting

Jane's Quilting

Hillvalleyquilter

June 28

Robin's Fabric Nest

In The Sewing Basket

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

Just Quilt It

AnnieOak Designs

Buzzing and Bumbling

krislovesfabric

CherrysPrairiePrimitives

Hanging On By A Thread


July 1

Quilt Matters

Scrapbook-ChickADoodle 

Patchouli Moon

The Slow Quilter

A Loose Thread

Janes Fabrics and Quilts

Selina Quilts

Debby Kratovil Quilts

Dancing Thru Threads


July 2

Sew and Sow Farm  

fishkopp

Scraps of Life

Meadowbrook

Katie and Kwilts  

Em's Scrap Bag   

GrammieQ's

How ART you?

BumbleberryStitches

A Stitch in Time


July 3

More Stars in Comanche

Dachsies With Moxie

NotionNanny


 13 Woodhouse Road

Heikesquilt’

Traveling Quilter

Jackie’s Art Quilts

What About Rheema?

From This to That

Sew We Quilt  Madame Samm

Head Vision Master

Monday Musings

Hi! Hope you have had a blessed day today- June 24, 2013. Where is this year going? I can't believe half the year is gone already. Whew! It is true that time flies when you get older and when having fun. I guess that must mean I'm getting old, plus I must be having fun doing something. :D 

Well, I don't have a new quilt to show you, nor  a new purse, jewelry, etc. I did want to check in and say how much I appreciate my followers. I appreciate all that I'm learning from those whose blogs I follow and from those friends on Facebook where I interact with other quilters and crafters. I am meeting online crafters who have written books, and designed bags, quilts, etc. I feel so honored to be part of their lives even if it is online. I never dreamed three years ago when I had to leave work that my life would turn into what it is today. Even those of you followers who haven't written books, or designed patterns, but are quilters/crafters, I learn so much from you. You challenge me to become a better quilter/crafter, to do more projects, to step out of my comfort zone and do things I never dreamed I could do. Thank you for the influence you have on me. You make me a better me.

On a different note, I delivered the Auburn purse I showed in Friday's post to its new owner yesterday. She loved it! Now her daughter is wanting one, too. May have some quilt orders in a few months, so I best be getting the Christmas gifts made and out of the way where I can sew some for others. I love this feeling when people think I do a good job. I have been thinking about designing my own handbag, but not exactly sure how to do it. I don't know if I can get anything that someone else hasn't already done. I just do not like taking the chance of messing with the copyright on other's patterns. I need to make some money because I want an embroidery machine. Any suggestions are welcome on how to handle this type of thing. 

I was able to get the Carpenter's Star top fabric cut out on Saturday and I did sew some of the squares together to make the half square triangles. I've cut some of them apart to make sure they are the size they need to be. Once that is done, then I can start sewing the background blocks to the half square triangles. Once I get going, I don't think it is going to take very long to make this quilt! I sure hope not. :D 

Bama Belles meets tomorrow. That is my quilting group. We aren't a guild, but a group of ladies who love getting together to sew and work on projects. I am not sure I will make it tomorrow. I really need to get some things done around here. I have to go get myself a new CPAP mask, and ship a package to Virginia. Plus sew on my swap project for a Facebook group. Not sure, yet if I will go. 

I will go for now and leave you with a picture of the cutest grandson anyone could ask for. He was in a play this weekend called Pinocchio at their local theater classes. He was a toy soldier. 

Blessings,

Teresa

It's Friday!!

How is everyone on this beautiful morning? I am doing well. I actually got some things done this week in the sewing area and made some jewelry, too! I am linking up with Richard and Tanya Quilts today for their Link a finish Friday.

I finished the following handbag yesterday. I made this for a former co-worker/friend. She asked me about this two years ago, so I contacted her and asked if she was still interested in it. She said, yes, so here it is!

I used the Lazy Girl Designs Margo Bag pattern for this bag. I love the way it turns out and all the pockets this bag has in it. She is an Auburn University graduate and fan. I hope she likes it!

I also made some jewelry for a friend yesterday, too. 

Here is one of the necklaces and the pair of earrings I made for her.  I know it isn't quilting, but this is what I've done this week.

What have you made crafty this past week? I know it is beautiful whatever it is. :D

Blessings to you all,

This Has Been a Rough Week

Good morning all. I have a few things I want to share with you today. I hope you will bear with me during this post. I have a memorial to tell you about  

and some projects I have planned to report.

It has been a sad week. I have felt so helpless, but yet did/said all I could do for my daughter and her family from a distance.  Monday morning brought a sad day for our family. My daughter's basset hound, Oscar, went over the Rainbow Bridge. He was 8 1/2" years old, but had a lot of issues. His health had really gone down over the past two weeks. He had almost stopped eating, slept a lot, stayed isolated from the family. They have had Oscar since he was seven weeks old. He was such a beautiful dog and was very sweet. When his health declined so rapidly, my daughter could not stand it any longer, so she and her hubby took him to the vet. He discovered that Oscar had lots of arthritis in his spine and a spinal disease that left him very weak in his hind quarters and was pressing on his spinal cord and causing him lots of pain. He had been very irritable for several months prior to this, so I guess that was from being in so much pain. He loved playing with a laser(red bug) with Papa. He would run and run chasing that red laser on the floor. He still loved it, but had gotten a lot slower. He was our grandson's buddy. His little heart is so broken that this Mimi and cried and cried, too. He feels so lost without his best friend, Oscar. He even told him Mama that Oscar was a brother to him. Jackson is seven, but oh so smart and wise for his age. He misses his best friend so much and wants another buddy to greet him, play with him, cuddle with him. So, needless to say, this has been a very hard, long week. Keep them in your prayers, if you will.  Below, you will see a collage I made of various pictures from my daughter's collection of pics. We had a basset hound for over 12 years, and it hurt losing him, but losing Oscar has really hurt, too. 

Okay, let's move on to something more cheerful. I have so many projects on my to do list, it isn't funny. I typed it up to print out where I can check items off as I go. I have a minimum of three purses to make, one of which is mine. I have a minimum of three Christmas gift quilts to make, two swap items from Facebook groups, donation quilts that I want to finish, and possibly another two purses to add for sure later. I also promised to make that awesome little man in our lives, Jackson a stuffed puppy. That will probably be first on my list to do today. I have to cut out the pattern first, though. :D I pray that I have enough fabric to use for it. If not, a trip back to Hobby Lobby will be in store. I need to stop sitting in my recliner and get busy!! I enjoy working on these items, but really procrastinate especially if I am not feeling very well. I will have to stop that. LOL

Okay, I did get the last two pillows finished for my client, but need to make a few pieces of jewelry, or help DH make her some jewelry to go with it. I may send the pillows and worry about the jewelry later. It is not a paid item. She sent beads and asked that DH make her some jewelry. 

Well, I have to go get busy for now. Hope you all have a fantastic day. I need to do all I can this morning, because we are expecting some bad weather this afternoon. Take care and stop by and tell me what you have on your to do list. 

Hugs,

Christmas is on My Mind

Yes, you read correctly. I have Christmas on my mind. Christmas presents, that is. I have been planning and searching and planning for just the right fabric and pattern to make our children and their spouses a quilt. Yep, they know that is what they are getting, because I needed their input on fabric choices and what they desired. I chose the pattern for our son and DIL's quilt. They chose the colors. He has the most beautiful blue dress shirt that we have all loved seeing him in. You see, he has beautiful blue eyes. And this shirt makes his blue eyes pop! He has always loved blue, so I am not surprised about the color choice. I will be making the Day and Night Quilt by Eleanor Burns that you can see here: http://www.quiltinaday.com/shoponline/books_display.asp?i=20490

The colors will be Kona Cotton's Surf blue, Kona cotton black and Kona cotton white. I know it will be a beautiful quilt when it is finished. I am nervous about making it, but I don't think it will be too hard once I get the fabric cut into the strips I need.

For our daughter and SIL, I will be making a Carpenter's Star quilt designed by Debby Maddy
seen here http://www.keepsakequilting.com/productdetail/6391.htm?scode=KDGSHP&utm_source=Googlebase&utm_medium=cse&utm_campaign=Feeds&zmam=91142768&zmas=1&zmac=7&zmap=6391&gclid=CNCzkLq_z7cCFSU6QgodZngA8Q



I found my fabric at Joann's in Hoover on Monday. It is beautiful! I have two batiks that will be my blues. I bought Kona Cotton chocolate brown solid for the dark brown color, and I bought a pretty lighter brown fabric with vines on it for the light brown. I just have to get the background color which may be Kona Cotton  Ivory or Snow. Whichever goes best with the fabric I have. I can get that at Hobby Lobby. I would show you the fabrics, but I sort of want them to be a surprise for my daughter. LOL She has seen pics from my phone of the blues, but not the others.

I want to make our grandson a jungle quilt focusing on the big cats. I have a panel for the center but I need to add to it with just the right big cat blocks. Still looking for those. So, as you can tell, I have had a busy brain and online looking, but haven't done a lot of sewing.

 I did work on these blocks Tuesday and plan to do more on them today.

I have fourteen blocks done so far. I need maybe 21 more. That shouldn't take too long once I get in there and get started. 

Well, this is what I've been up to lately. Hope all is well with you and yours. Bless someone with your creative juices today. 

Hugs,

Teresa

Happy Sunday!

Where do you get your motivation to sew? I have several projects I need to work on, but I have had no motivation to work on anything this past week. I plan to do some sewing today on the string quilt I'm working on for Wrap Them in Love for our Bama Belles quilting group to donate. I need to get something finished. I want to have something to show you all. I feel so let behind with everyone that I follow and their projects they are showing. :( Help me find my mojo! Help!!!!

What I need to do is:

1. wash and cut out son and DIL's quilt for Christmas

2. Buy fabric for daughter and SIL's quilt and get it started

3. Finish the two pillows I still have to do and make a little jewelry for a client

4. Quilt a donation quilt I brought home last year to finish and never did. ;(

5. Make hubby something for Christmas

6. Make grandson a jungle quilt for his bed for Christmas

7. Make me something!!!!

8. Make three purses. One for a friend, one for a friend/client, and one for me

9. Anything else I find I need to do.

SO WHERE DO I START?????

Have a blessed day. I just needed to talk. LOL