Strips & Stripes & Everything Nice

I've been cutting a massive amount of 1 3/4" strips this weekend. In preparation for next Saturday, which is a day-long retreat with my repro quilt buds! The initial cutting is done, and I'm hopeful I'll get some strip sets started this week yet.

Other things that have been capturing my attention...


Noro. Striped. Scarf. Yep...it's true...I'm very late to the game on this, but it's one of those projects I purchased yarn for BEFORE I knew how to knit because I knew I was gonna make one! Well here I am...tackling it! Mel
urged me on, so I cast on and am whizzing along! The Noro....it is mesmerizing. The scarf....well, let's just say I'm already plotting the colors for the next one!

*Peace!

The Excitement Builds!

Have you seen this??


Oh the excitement is building! I cannot wait for this release from Blackbird Designs!

I've got some on order....they'll be here near the end of August! If you'd like to reserve a copy...Pre-Order, if you will, leave me a note! I'll be passing these along to my sampler-lovin' friends for $25 ppd US!

I've got time to sort linen and threads now....you know, just to get a handle on what I have vs what I will need!

Speaking of....how do you organize your linens and threads? Uber orderly? Tossed in a tin? I'm not very organized. I'll admit it. Gone are the days when I would wind threads around the little cards and file by number. Now my DMC is in a huge biscuit tin....my finer threads are in ziplocks..grouped together for projects, as I tend to order silks by the project. And my linen is in a picnic basket.

What about your stash? Spill on your organizing techniques!

*Peace!

Thrifty Thursday!

Definitely a thrifty week!


It's true....one stop....$2.92 was spent.

Five items were purchased!


This great Oneida Wicker Sugar and Creamer set! Nary a fleck, chip or crack! Must pay to be a smiling patron among the grump G'Willy shoppers today. The gal charged me .50 for each piece since they were unmarked!


Loved the color on this handpainted Noritake creamer! Again...two quarters!


and my 'big ticket item' of the week....


a celery vase/spooner for .75! In excellent shape with no damage! Wooohoo! You can also catch a glimpse of a tomato pincushion that was also .50!

$2.92 and some lovely pieces! Have you thrifted lately?

*Peace!

Thrifty Thursday!

As I was photographing this week's finds, I decided I need to buy stock in a bubble wrap company because when we finally move, I'm going to need a TON of it to wrap all my pottery! LOL

Oh well...that won't stop me from bringing home things like this!


Two long planters...the yellow one is USA pottery and will join my little growing collection of warm yellow pottery! It's got a neat basketweave pattern. It was .79. And the RED one...well....what can I say...it was RED! And had wonderful color! It says it's from Lake Oswego, Oregon. It was 3.79, so I thought it needed to come home and adorn bookshelves....or perhaps find a place in my quilt den!

Then there was this 2.00 find.


I don't know what drew me to it...the color? the old pottery feel? It's from Japan and is definitely a different type of pottery....great shape. Almost feels like chalkware, but I don't think it is.


Anyone have any info about it?

And then...there was this fellow.


I spied him across the store. He was 'behind the counter', so that meant 'pricey' as far as a thrift store goes. $29. I left him....I walked OUT of the store....I put my purchases in the car. I couldn't stop thinking about him. No marks, but there was just something that kept digging at me.

So I went back in...shelled out the $29 and brought this home.


Isn't it wonderful? It's in excellent condition...nary a chip or crack! And once I started investigating online....I believe this is a piece of McCoy pottery. I love him and his bird-chicken-quirkiness!

Did you find anything special as of late? Would love to hear about it!

*Peace!

A Little Housework

It was a relaxing, yet somewhat active, weekend, so there wasn't much sewing happening. I did get a little 'housework' done. You may recall my quilt den is located in the basement...so it was a wonderful place to be during this scorching heatwave we've been enduring!


This pattern just cements the fact that I detest paper piecing...but I paper pieced that dang flag. That fills my paper-piecing quota for the year. BLECK!

I've got the main house components put together. Next up...the log cabin foundation. Then it gets appliqued down.


I'm still playing with fabrics for other parts of the quilt, but "Climbing Up On Saffron Hill" is coming along!

In other news, I added to the yarn stash this week with these lovelies...


It was the least I could do. I had to sit thru a long and very boring insurance conference, so this is my reward! ;o) It's some yummy Skinny Bugga! from The Sanguine Gryphon! Gorgeous colors (these are Sea Star and Sitticus Jumping Spider)...scrumptious cashmere....yes...my reward! Already seeking out some great wrap/stole patterns to use these in!

I hope your weekend's been a relaxing one with working A/C, and little to no housework!

*Peace!

Oh Yeah....the SOCK!

It's been a couple weeks since I've shown updates on THE SOCK! Well....this past week, I had a 'moment'. An "A-HA!" moment when finally, for some reason, having turned 6 other heels in the past, the whole process just really CLICKED for me!


I tweeted this Hallelujah moment! I turned this heel like I actually knew what I was DOING!


It was a beautiful experience.

And THEN I picked up those gusset stitches and proceeded to pretend I was a real actual sock knitter!

This morning I finished all the decreases!


Ready to knit the rest of the foot!

The sock is making progress!

*Peace!

Thrifty Thursday!

Remember when I found the pearl white plaster cherub and did a makeover and ended up with this?


I still love the way this turned out! And this week...I found a companion piece on my thrifty outing!


Again it's a plaster piece!


Two bucks.


Ready for a makeover.


I plan to do something quite similar to the first cherub!

*Peace!

Climbing Up On Saffron Hill

I've been downstairs playing with fabric again tonight!


I've had this Sue Spargo pattern whispering to me for quite some time...


Saffron Hill.


So I decided to just get started!


I've got the background put together!

Next up....pulling and prepping for the applique.

This will be a leisurely climb!

*Peace!

SDW Progress

Moving along on the SDW, A German Band Sampler. Even though it's mammoth, I'm enjoying the stitching!


Enough variety to hold my interest, and I'm loving the colors!

*Peace!

Ready & Waiting

That would be Avery's quilt which is ready & waiting.


Spray basted.


Machine quilted.


And bound.

That's been my Sunday. Ready & Waiting!

*Peace!

A Simple Saturday

We've got some sweltering heat this weekend in Sioux Falls, and I AM NOT COMPLAINING! I just go back in my mind to what February was like, and, well...you'll not hear me whining about the heat!

We're going to be enjoying a simple Saturday.

There will be a little of this....


some of this....


and Emmitt always loves it if we accompany him in the lounging/napping activity he always loves to do.


I hope you're enjoying your own form of a simple Saturday!

*Peace!

Dance A Little Friday Jig!

Happy Friday!

*Peace!

Thrifty Thursday!

A few quirky trinkets for Thrifty Thursday!


Is that not the coolest shade of green! Loved this piece, and the baby spoon....and the richness of the blue Asian porcelain piece.


A small piece of Frankoma pottery for the collection!


And while I don't usually go for the candle sticks, this heavy pottery piece was one I couldn't pass up.


And it's signed RED DUCK...quirky!

*Peace!

Down the Road and Back Again!

I just put the last border on Plantation Road!


It's done!!


All 94 x 107 inches of it!


All fabrics came from my stash. Yes...I know...it's pathetic that I have large quantities of running yardage, but I make no apologies. ;o) I'm THRILLED with the border print. It's a Paula Barnes piece that ties the whole thing together!


The other fabrics are a mixture. Some civil war, some Jo Morton, some French General, some William Morris, a few Kona Bays. And I think they all get along great! I don't usually stay 'within a line' of fabrics or even within a certain type (i.e. only civil war repros), yet I hope my quilts still have that old scrappy feel I'm going for.

While it seemed like a LOT of piecing (okay..it WAS a lot of piecing), it wasn't all that daunting and I can't wait to get this one quilted and on the bed!

*Peace!

Celebrate!

Happy 4th of July everyone! I hope you enjoy the day celebrating! It will be a low-key day around here, but the kids will be over with grandbabies, so that will keep me hoppin'!

How will you spend your 4th of July?

*Peace!

Heading Down the Road

I got a little sewing in this evening!

I don't think I mentioned what quilt I'm making though! I'm making Plantation Road from Bonnie Blue Quilts!


It's a big one....and I'm glad because I really have a fondness for all of the fabrics I'm using, so the quilt can grace the bed and I can admire the fabrics daily!


All of these 3 1/2" nine patch blocks are ready!

Waiting to be mated up....


I'm glad it's a VERRRRRY long weekend!! I'll be busy...heading down the road...Plantation Road!

*Peace!