Projects Be Done! (Patagonia, AZ)

 I am crocheting the edging now!  Two more sides and this blanket will be done.  Of course, there are six more skeins waiting in the closet to be made into a second blanket...sigh, maybe I will learn someday...

#9 on my 2012 Project list I have Valentine Angel.  It is a mug rug for - well, you guessed it for Valentine's Day.  I have a feeling this one is going to be late.  I just picked out some fabric and got most of the pieces ironed on.  As soon as I finish the blanket I plan to spend most of my time working on the mug rug.

Featured Treasury!

Rose Ann from NutmegCottage featured my Star Baby quilt in her "Cozy Warm on a Cold Winter Day" Treasury.  Thank you Rose Ann for adding my quilt to your beautiful collection!

One of Rose Ann's beautiful items

You can click on the picture to go to NutmegCottage to view more of Rose Ann's items.

...and now,  some more nature photos...

A very hazy morning

Captain Jack Sparrow move over!

I AM the Captain of this Ship!

Yea?  I don't see no ship!

I might be in the Crow's Nest, but I ain't no Crow! (Cedar WaxWing)

12 Projects of 2012 (Patagonia, AZ)

A Facebook group called Crafty Mavens invited me to join their 12 Projects for 2012.  Each person makes out a list of projects to finish.

Here's my PhD (Projects half Done) list:

1. Small Stockings
2. Mug Rugs – Seasonal
3. Crochet Blanket
4. Teddy Bear Quilt
5. Dresden Quilt
6.  Traveler Mug Rug
7. Frog – Witches Brew
8. Cat Quilt
9. Valentine Angel
10. Cake Mix Quilt
11. X-stitch Cat Sign
12. Granddaughter’s quilt

I'm looking at this list and thinking it doesn't look all that bad, does it?  I could finish a few of these in one month, right?  This list is a Breeze!  Yep, famous last words...

Since I'm more visual, I decided to add photos from the list.

1. Stockings

2. Mug Rugs

3. Crochet blanket

4. Teddy Bear Quilt

and or

4. Teddy Bear Quilt

5. Dresden Plate Quilt

6. Traveler Mug Rug & Rabbit for another quilt

7. Frog and Mummy Mug Rugs

8. Cat Quilt  (I stashed so well that I can't find it right now)

9. Valentine Angel (No Photo)  The patterns and material are packed in the basement right now.

10. Cake Layer Quilt

11. X-stitch kit

12. Garden Quilt

Then I piled them all together.  Oh yea, the list feels a lot bigger now....

My order of yarn finally showed up.  It only took two weeks to get here.  I think it took the scenic route.  :0)

I will leave you with a couple of photos of birds.  Both of these birds are hard to photograph.  They like hiding in thickets and bushes.  The Albert's Towhee was playing peek-a-boo with me.  I finally got one good photo when he ducked down to see if I was still there.  Gotcha!

Albert's Towhee

Townsend Solitaire

Well, I better get back to my projects, because I've already got another list going of new projects that are floating around in my head.

Oh No! Short on Supplies (Patagonia, AZ)

Must be my week to be short on supplies.  First, I goofed on cutting strips, so I had to use some of my green border material.  Here's the result....

Not too bad.  I haven't decided if I'm going to make more blocks or stop with what I have now.  In honor of the Delighted! fabric, I think I'm going to call this quilt "Delightfully Dizzy".

I accepted a challenge from a Facebook group called "Crafty Mavens" to finish one project a month.  I figured it would be a good incentive to get some of these UFOs done.  I started with this crochet blanket that was halfway done.  I can't believe I miscalculated how much yarn I needed and I ran out!  

The nearest Joann's Fabric Store is an hour away.  It does not make sense to drive to Tucson for one skein of yarn, so I went to Joann's website with hope of finding the same yarn.  Not only did I find the same yarn, it was on sale!  Yes, I know the dye lot will not be the same.  Hopefully, it will not be too glaring of a difference.  It seemed silly to buy one skein for under $4 and pay $6 shipping....so I bought 7 skeins instead for the same shipping cost.  Now I have enough yarn for a second blanket.  The reason for finishing this project was to get it out of my closet so I can have a little more space.   Okay, did that make sense?

Well, back to my projects.  I'll leave you with some photos of a Ladder Back Woodpecker  Red-naped Sapsucker  getting a drink of water from the creek.  I spent two days trying to get pictures of this guy while he was pecking away on his favorite tree across the creek.  On the third day, I guess he felt sorry for me because he landed in the creek right in front of me!  (Oops! I goofed!  Thanks Barbara for letting me know!)

That lady has been watching me for two days..

Okay, lady.  Are you watching me?

Yea?  How about this view?

Heh!Heh! I'm a baaaaad boy..

Quilting Muse? (Patagonia, AZ)

Confession time:  I have to admit that I had lost my passion for quilting.  Even the thought of creating something new made me...okay, I'll say it "cringe".  Every time I tried to work on one of my projects for the last couple of months, I felt like I was making myself do it.  The love of quilting just wasn't there and I did not know why.  

During my 3-day break, I found my creative passion for quilting and I understand why I lost it.  I contribute this enlightenment to yoga. I know I'm getting a little deep here, but bare with me. I promise to keep this short.  

I started back into yoga about 7 years ago to help lose weight.  I keep to simple poses for strength, stretching, and relaxing/meditation.  I did not realize how much I and my body were missing these sessions until last weekend.  

Halfway through the first session, I could feel my spine stretching, the blood flowing to the brain, and oxygen filling my lungs.  My relaxed mind kicked into high gear and all sorts of quilting ideas start flowing....images of quilts, color schemes, new ideas for finishing UFOs.  

It was a wonderful feeling!  Welcome Back!  Okay, so I sound a little weird, but nothing else motivates me like yoga.   Yoga is my Muse and I cannot ignore it.

On to Q U I L T I N G !

I pulled out the four Dresden Plate blocks and added sashings to them.  It seemed a little small and unfinished.

After some thought, I decided to add borders to make it a little larger.  All right! One top is ready for quilting this summer.  WooHoo!

I also finished the last Redwork block of Teddy Bears.  I bought the red polka-dot fabric just for this project.  I came pretty close to using it for other quilts.  I'm so glad I did not use it.  I hope to start on the sashings soon.  We get another 3-day weekend for New Years.  Guess what I'll be working on.

Did I tell you that I like to crochet too..just for something different that is fast and easy.  I usually crochet while Dan is driving, but I decided I needed to get this one out of the closet and get it done.  I'm about halfway through this one and I hope to have it done before we leave here.

I love this yarn.  It is so soft and fluffy.  I think any child will love having it.  The yarn color is called Tutti-Fruiti, but I think it looks like Cotton Candy, don't you?

Oh, and all three above projects are going to Project Linus unless I can find a local charity that takes blankets and quilts for children in need.

Remember my Delighted! squares that I won?  I thought I would save some time doing some fast stack-n-whack cutting.  BIG mistake!  I cut one of the stripes the wrong direction!  Nooooo!  I should have known better.  I guess I will replace it with some of the green fabric that I bought for the border.  I'm hoping this is a good mistake because I did not plan to add the green into the quilt blocks.  Maybe it will look more uniformed with a little of the border in the blocks.  Fingers crossed - well, not while I'm sewing, of course.

I am curious.  Do you have a Muse?  Not one that inspires you, but actually gets you motivated and gets your creative juices flowing. 

My Memories Freebie Friday

** After today, I will be adding the Free designs on a separate "Freebie" page along with coupon information and tips.  Each one will be available for one week.**


Please note that all of these are .png files only, not MyMemories Suite Templates. They are usable in any software so these freebies are for everyone!! These freebies include 2 Quick Pages, and all of the papers and elements used in creating them. The elements and QuickPages are .png and the papers are .jpg format.

This Digital Kit Includes:

• 5 Page Elements
• 2 Quick Pages

This Digital Kit Includes:

• 2 Digital Papers
• 5 Page Elements
• 2 Quick Pages

It is easy to make your own digital scrapbook. I created the below scrapbook page using one of the free Designer Packs.

Here are the simple instructions from My Memories - LIZ:

Just open MyMemories Suite to a blank layout, click: Photos ==> Add (find your .png Quick Page on your computer)

Add the Quick Page to your project, and then do the same for your photo. Add a little Text for your journaling and voila - you're done in an instant!! 

If you are interested in getting the software, please go to My Memories website and don't forget.....

Use this discount code: STMMMS75192

during your checkout and receive:

$10 off  the software purchase

and a $10 gift  certificate to the online store

Featured Christmas Treasury (Patagonia, AZ)

This Treasury was made by Dess from The BesssCorner.  My Reindeer has sold, but you can stop by to see what is available in my shop.

Thank you Dess for including my Reindeer.  Stop by Dess's shop . She has some cool items!

  

I'm going to leave you with a cute LOL Holiday Kitty, and a classic tune White Christmas by The Drifters....Enjoy!

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!




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