Stay at Home Robiners

Well, ladies, how is everyone doing with their center block?  I only see one posted on the flickr site so far.  I had to go back to the drawing board for mine, but my goal is to have it posted by tomorrow night. 

If you haven't joined the site yet, or introduced yourself, come on over!!

I just went looking for a little more inspiration and here are a few images that speak to me.

What design is speaking to you??  It's not too late to join the fun.  If you'd like more information, click on the tab just under my header photo. 

See you aRound!    Sunny

Busy Friday

Wednesday night, hubby told me that he had made plans for us to go out to dinner with friends on Friday night.  Yeah!  He's feeling well enough to go out, and I don't have to cook!!  In the back of my mind, I'm thinking It's FNSI, but that's okay, because I usually stay up pretty late, so I can still get a lot done.  On Thursday night, he mentions that he had also invited said friends over to the house after dinner.   I'm thinking, but it's FNSI!  So I got up early and sewed most of the day on Friday.  I did some cutting and stitching, and then took  a break for this.

This is what the highway looked like at approximately 12:40 on Friday afternoon.  Fairly typical.

Here it is again at 1:15:

And for the next 25 minutes:

As soon as they started coming through (they had congregated at a nearby shopping center for lunch and fuel, and were just starting out again), there was a minor three-car accident in the opposing lanes, and traffic started backing up.  I was very glad I was watching from an overhead bridge instead of sitting in traffic.  The ride is in remembrance of 9/11, and was the 10th annual ride.  There are usually a couple hundred participants, but with this being the 10th anniversary, over 2600 motorcycles participated.  From our local newspaper:

HAGERSTOWN, MD - Thousands of motorcycles roared through Western Maryland Friday, honoring the lives lost in the terrorist attacks on September 11th.
The 10th annual America's 9/11 Ride started early Friday morning in Somerset, Pennsylvania, and the riders are expected to reach Arlington Friday evening.
The motorcyclists took a break at Hagerstown's Premium Outlets around noon. They traveled from Shanksville, where United Flight 93 crashed on September 11th. A memorial ceremony was held in Shanksville Thursday night.
The riders will be heading to the Pentagon next. From there, they'll travel to New York and make a final stop at Ground Zero.

It was an awesome sight.

Back home, I got Fiona humming again, and this is what we produced, some before dinner and some after.

The same idea will work for 2 swaps/exchanges, so why not make 2 at one time.  Leftover fabric was already on the sewing table from Spools quilt.

Bee blocks, will be headed to Portugal!

Hmmmm....three little gifties!

And I cannot tell a lie.  I stitched while our guests were here.

A flower for a friend.  And because my computer takes forEVER to upload pics to blogger, I've nearly finished a second flower while writing this post.

So what did YOU get accomplished for FNSI?

Counting my blessings......Sunny

Thrifty Thursday?

I knew I should have stayed home today, but hubby asked me to pick up a prescription for him.  Once I was out of the house, I decided to pay a quick visit to a nearby antique market.  I left there, picked up the prescription, which I then took to the Pharmacy, and then went to the thrift store while waiting for script to be filled.  Not counting his meds, I spent about $20 today.  But look what I got!!!!

$2!!!!  I'll be getting out the paint can tomorrow.

$5.75 for two baskets

$2 - a splurge, but I thought it would perfectly match some fabric that I bought yesterday, and it does!



$4.50 for two frames They'll be painted too.

 

$3 for all these sheets and pillowcases!

And now I need some advice.  Remember this from last night?

I really like the design, but I was afraid the colors might be too 'modern' for my tastes.  Today, I added two borders, and now I'm in love with it.

So,  the question is, what should I use for the binding?  I'm thinking of scrappy?  What suggestions do you experts have?

Counting my blessings......Sunny

OFW, FNSI, and MISC

I have kept myself very busy this week.  Oh how I love being unemployed!  It is time to start getting serious about finding a job, though, because the medical bills are starting to roll in.  ugh,  On a brighter note, however, I've spent some time cooking because DH is eating again!!!!  Tonight was a gourmet dinner of tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.  Soft food, but real food.  He's finally found the right combination of pain meds, and he's a totally different person than he was one week ago. 

My garden continues to bloom this week.  I made  flowers for myself, and flowers for a swap.  Can you guess which is which?  If you'd like to see more pretty flowers, check out Karen's blog for links.  Karen graciously organizes us each week, and we'd love to have you join us.  It really is One Flower Wednesday, so don't feel you have to spend a lot of time, but they are addicting!

Today I went shopping for the border fabric for this.  I have a very bad habit of doing most of my shopping in the fat quarter section, and then I have to go back for the final touches.  But that's okay, because I didn't choose anything close to what I thought I wanted for the borders.  I hope to finish this flimsy tomorrow.

These colors aren't quite true, so next time I'll photograph it outside. 

I've also been making blocks for bees:

I"ve been itching to start a new cross stitch project, but I decided I had to finish a few UFO's first.  I didn't realize how many I had started.

Not sure what I'll do with them, but I'm thinking of making cushions, or adding some borders and making quilted wall hangings.  I've started a Christmas design now, and I have another one in mind.

Shortly after I started quilting, an older friend gave me a huge stack of quilting books and magazines.  I also found a bag that contained a stack of siggy blocks, made in the late 80's, and this block.  It's a basket pattern with a cat.  If you know me at all, you know I love basket blocks, and I love cats.  I think I'll make this into a small cushion!

Sorry, you'll have to turn sideways to see this.  Blogger is giving me fits tonight, and I am not going to try to reload this pic.

Di had a giveaway for these scissors on her blog a couple of weeks ago.  I didn't win, but today I found some at my LQS!

Don't forget that this week is Friday Night Sew In.  You're all invited to join us, so just click on the link to sign up.  You know you want to.....

Counting my blessings... Sunny

Can anyone help??

First of all, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your hugs and prayers.  Hubby got some new pain meds today, so hopefully he'll be feeling a little better.

About a month or so ago, I found the most adorable Purse Quilt online, and I want to make one.  Can you believe I did not save the site or the picture?  I have Googled for hours since then, and cannot find it.  Did I see it on one of your blogs?  The purses were approximately all the same shape, but different fabrics, pleats, etc. They were appliqued, not pieced.  Does this sound familiar to anyone?  There is a reward offered to anyone who finds "THE ONE"  I don't even know what I was searching for when I originally found it. 

Counting my blessings....Sunny

One Flower Wednesday

DH and I marked our 9th anniversary today.  I can't really say that we celebrated, because he is in pain and miserable, and is only able to eat mush.  I feel so bad for him, but there's not much I can do to help.  I'm doing all the household chores and cooking, because he's still working and comes home totally exhausted.  He's now had 12 of 33 treatments, and the road is still long.  He did stop by buy me a rose on his way home from work though!

When I go to visit my patient on Sundays, I take hand work to fill the time.  this week I made a couple of flowers for my Aunt Sara inspired quilt, in addition to a few others that I made throughout the week.  Now that I have a lot of free time, and I know what I want to make, I'm anxious to get there! 

I also worked on a cross stitch project on Sunday.  When I got home I finished this.

I was then motivated to finish a couple of others that I had started.  I don't know if I've forgotten how to count, or if my eyes are that bad, but both of them had mistakes that needed to be ripped out.  So I ripped and stitched and ripped and stitched some more.  I'll have two more small projects to share soon.

There's also a small quilt in progress.  While I was looking for something online the other night, I saw a small spool quilt that I NEED for my sewing room!  As usually, I wasn't looking for another project - it just happened.

I've bought my fabric for the Stay at Home Robin, and I've picked my pattern.  It's not too late if you'd like to join us!  Click HERE for more information if you're interested.  Leave a comment and I'll get back to you.

So, what else is new?  I bought a couple of new cookbooks from the sale rack at Border's.  Oh my am I going to miss Border's.  Anyway, I've tried several new recipes and this was a beautiful success. 

Tomato, Caramelized Onion and Brie Galette

Next up is the "400 Soups" cookbook.  I knew I'd be needing it soon!

So that's my life!  I've been reading all your blogs, but haven't been in the commenting mood lately.  Sorry.  To borrow a page from Darlene's book - I need a hug if you have any to spare!

Sunny

Quick P.S.A.

Do NOT let your iron hit your arm as it wobbles and falls!

O U C H ! ! ! ! ! !

One Flower Wednesday and picture for QuiltSue

It's late and I'm tired, and it's taking hours to download photos tonight, so this will be short and sweet.

I saw this book at the Quilt Show last week and had to take a picture!

I spent way too much money that day, so I didn't add this to my collection.  Yet.

Counting my blessings....Sunny

Stay at Home Robin-Let's start stitching!

Ladies, it’s time to begin making your center block. I would suggest making it 12-16”, and it can be anything you want! We will probably be setting it on point in a couple of months (if desired or appropriate) so keep that in mind. I plan to do some type of floral appliqué, but any pattern will work.

 From Stars:

Applique:

Baskets,

Do not feel restricted by these ideas.  Anything goes!  I love looking for new quilt blocks, and spend plenty of time on Google. If you type in the block that you’re looking for, and then click IMAGES on the left side of the screen, you can get plenty of inspiration.  Keep in mind that this will set the tone for your style of quilt, and for your color scheme. Do you like primitive? Shabby chic? 30’s reproductions? Modern brights? Since we’re making this up as we go, I’ll probably be buying fabric most months, but many of you have fabric quantities that I can only envy, and can shop your own stash.

Once you’ve finished your block, be sure to post a picture on the flickr site. I hope to get all of the invitations sent today for the site.  If you need advice or help, the flickr site would be a good place to post as well. There is only one absolute requirement for this Stay at Home Robin and that  is that you have fun. If you love stretching yourself and learning new techniques, this is a great time to do it. If you prefer perfecting a techniques that you’re already comfortable with, do just that. No stress! Deadlines are only suggestions, and the monthly border assignments are meant to be fun. If you don’t like a particular one, don’t do it, or change it to something that is more suitable to you. I am not an expert quilter, and the assignments are not difficult, but can be made very intricately if you wish.

One last thing.  There is no requirement that you "sign up" for this.  Obviously anyone who sees it is free to join in.  However, if you want an invitation to the flickr site, you must send me your info.  I have two "no reply" bloggers who expressed interest.  Please send me your email info if you wish to be included.  pjmcewen at hotmail dot com.

Are you ready? Then let’s get started!!

Happy Stitching....Sunny

eta:  We will be doing a new border each month, and I will post the new assignment on the 1st of the month.  We will skip December, and resume again in January.