Stash Report – and so much more!!!

I didn't do a Stash Report last week because I was off celebrating our son’s wedding!  Yoohoo!!!!  Congratulations to Todd & Nikki!!!

Plus, I had nothing to report – no additions, no usages – blah, blah, blah!

However, this week I did some MAJOR DAMAGE!!!  Yep, my last post told you I was headed to Paducah for the AQS Show where there were more fabric vendors than you can shake a stick at!  And I want to know how any self-respecting quilter can resist all that gorgeous fabric just laying there in all its glory saying, “Here I am, I can be yours, I can live in your stash, you can pet me every day….”  Well, you know what it says, right? 

And of course, you know that I have absolutely ZERO willpower when it comes to beautiful fabrics LOL!!!

So this is what came home with me….

2-1/2 yards of  this - YUMMMMM!!!!

Batiks!!!  All but the one on the right were 1/2 yard pieces

Orientals!!!  That red is just simply delicious!

This is also a Batik, a lovely soft dove gray with a metallic sparkle in the small flakes.

Fat quarters galore!

And more fat quarters .........

And more.......

I think Gypsy approved of my purchases!  What do you think?  I had just laid these out on the sofa to show Don, we turned around, and there she sat!  And look at that look on her face! LOL  "Don't you dare try to move me.... this is MY fabric!"

I'm really happy with my new fabric acquisitions, but it sure does put a big dent in the funds department, and another big dent in my Stash Report numbers!!!!

And to add insult to injury, I DIDN’T FINISH ANYTHING!  Really!  

All I did this week was travel around the countryside in style with my handsome husband as chauffeur, go to the most amazingly beautiful wedding where our son married the love of his life, visit with our family (grandbabies!), and come home in time to go to the AQS.  ............. You know, it’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it, and it might as well be me!  =^..^=

So here’s the final numbers for this week:

Used this week:      0 yards

Used YTD 2012:      52.50 yards

Added this week:   16.5 yards

Added YTD 2012:   84.00 yards

Net Used for 2012: -31.50 yards

OUCH!!!!

Head on over to PatchworkTimes to see how others are doing with their stash management.

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

=^..^=

Going to Paducah!

We are on our way! Paducah! Quilt capital of the world - or something like that! Me, Joanne and Corinne - off on a day of quilty fun & adventure! I'll try to keep you posted after we come out of our class this afternoon.

Hugs @ Blessings!
Teresa
=^..^=


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Life is Grand when you have Grandchildren!!!

Look what I got during my visit to Carolina - a picture of all of our grandchildren in one photo!!!



This is - left to right - Emma (16), Adam (4), Reaghan (7) holding Hudson (5 months), and Sara (13).

Wow! Isn't life grand?

I hope to back blogging soon.... just got back from our trip yesterday evening, so lots to do to get back into the swing of things!


Hugs & Blessings!
Teresa
=^..^=

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

TNT - Chalkboard Fabric

I found this really cool chalkboard fabric in Little Blessings last winter when I drove through Crossville, and I thought it would be a nice little gift for my youngest granddaughter, Reaghan.  She’s almost 8 and still loves to do anything artsy like drawing, coloring, etc.

Here she is with some of her artwork :*)  I think she shows great promise, don’t you?

Once I got home, I picked up these cute fabrics from The Quilter’s Path that I thought would work great for a little chalkboard wall hanging.  

Reaghan is really into peace symbols right now, and I love the lines on the fabric, like notebook paper!

And here is the finished product! I was very surprised at how easy it was to sew through the tough chalkboard fabric.  I expected at least one broken needle, you know what I mean?!?  But it just sewed up like butter! 

I wanted to keep it simple because realistically I know she won’t play with it all that long before something else catches her attention :*)  But without the little flower on the top corner, it was really dull.  

I am happy with this I think.  I hope Reaghan enjoys it!  =^..^=

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

=^.,.^=

Linking up with:

TNT Thursdays at Happy Quilting

Can I get a Whoop Whoop at Confessions of a Fabric Addict

April Finishes Linky Party at Such a Sew and Sew

BINGO!

Anybody ready for a rollicking fun game of BINGO?  I know I am!!!

Here is my BINGO game quilt all ready to go.  And here are the categories in each row:

B - Blue         Ladybug, Angel, Zebra, Umbrella, Thread

I - Yellow      Swing, Moon, Bird, Bus, Bee

N - Red          Heart, Cat, blank, Cardinal, Rose

G – Green      Frog, Shamrock, Tractor, Tree, Leaves

O – Purple      Alligator, Plum, Stripe, Butterfly, Flower

I got lots of help from friends who shared their novelty fabrics.  THANKS to all of you – you know who you are :*)

And since I don't have an embroidery machine, I used this black & white letter fabric for the letters - how perfect was that ?!?

Ok, I’m ready!  Are you?  Go HERE to learn more if you’d like to play BINGO too =^..^=

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

=^..^=

My First Blog Award!!!

What a fun day!  First thing this morning, I learned that Melodie over at In the Desert awarded me with the Liebster Blog Award!  I’m just tickled pink to receive my first blog award!  Thanks Melodie!!!  But more than the award, I’m so happy that you enjoy my blog and I really appreciate your sweet description ---- *blush!*

So here are the rules for receiving and passing on the award….

1. Thank the person who gave you the award.

2. Link back to their blog.

3. Copy and paste the Liebster award to your profile.

4. Pick 5 blogs that you feel deserve to be in the spotlight (they must have @200 followers or under).

5. Blog about it and leave a comment for your nominations to let them know that you have chosen their blog.

So without further ado, the 5 blogs that I am choosing to pass on the award for the coveted Liebster Blog Award are:

Count it *all*JOY!!  - What a “JOY” it is to have a friend like Denise!  She is the most open and generous person, and that warmth glows throughout her blog.  She has a lot going on in her life, and she shares it with a smile and a JOY that is definitely catching!

MarveLes Art Studios  - Oh my!  What a blessing it has been to get to know Leslie!  And what she does with fabrics, threads, paints, ribbon, yarn, stamps, papers….  I get dizzy just thinking of it!  She is a very talented artist and her art quilts are just amazing.  Go now & check out her blog – but be prepared to drool!!!

Dar's Patchwork Garden  - Dar is just the sweetest person!  Like most of the bloggers here, her life is full of many things, not just quilting.  Right now I am enjoying the bird’s nest watch on her blog!

Me & My Stitches  - How can you not love a blogger who shares her adventures on The Great FART?!?  If you haven’t already found this blog, go and check out the wonderful jewelry she makes.  Warning – you might as well have your credit card handy when you go!

Rogue Quilter – Janet is just an amazing blog friend!  She is always ready with a friendly & supportive comment, and I look forward to hearing her thoughts because she always has a different way of looking at things :*)  She is also very productive & her blog is full of lovely quilts!!!

You can click on the blog names to get to each blog.  I hope you'll go over and check out these wonderful bloggers!  They have wonderful stories to tell and gorgeous quilts to share!  Maybe I'll see you there!  ;*D

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

=^..^=

Stash Report – Week #16

Good morning!  Is it as beautiful in your neck of the woods as it is in mine?  I’m just LOVING this beautiful sunshine and warm weather!!! 

My cat, Gypsy, is loving it too, but she’s not very happy with us right now because we won’t let her outside to enjoy it.  Why?  Because she’s been a very naughty girl!

Last night we were outside after dark on our little side porch, just enjoying the peace of the evening, when Don & I heard a little “squeak!”  We looked at each other and our expressions were identical – “Oh no!  Gypsy’s grabbed some poor creature!”  We were especially concerned because the noise was coming from the area of the yard where Don had seen a little bunny rabbit earlier in the day when he was mowing the grass. 

Next thing we knew, here came Gypsy with something in her mouth heading straight for the door to try to take it inside!!!  Oh no, you don’t there girlfriend!!!  I slammed the door shut (we often keep it slightly open so she can go in and out in the evenings), and Don grabbed her and made her drop her prey. 

We turned on the light, and just as we suspected, it was a little rabbit!!!  Not a tiny baby, but maybe half grown and just the cutest thing!  Aaaawwwwww!!!  

It was still for a few moments and then tried to get to its feet but couldn’t.  I’m sure it was still pretty stunned!  We didn’t think she’d had it long enough to do drastic damage, so Don kept helping it get up, and then he picked it up behind the ears and took it over to the cypress trees out of harm’s way.  He said when he put it down, it hopped off like lightning!!!  Oh, I was so relieved!

So now we have to watch the old Gypster like a hawk - she's been an enthusiastic hunter since she was a baby (she's now 16).  I know this is her nature, and I don't begrudge her that.  But not in my backyard!!!  And not baby rabbits!  Since it appears there may be a hole or a nest, or whatever it is that rabbits do to have their babies, over under those trees, we're not letting her out of our sight.

So on to more mundane matters :*)  After all that drama, I can feel the let-down – can you?  =^..^=

The Stash Report continues on its lackadaisical trend into red territory…. add a little fabric and do little in the way of finishes!  I did finish two blocks, but I can’t count those fabrics until the quilts are complete.

As for my additions – I purchased 3 yards of these fabrics.

Just couldn’t resist these scrumptious spring-looking batik beauties!  I brought home 1 yard of the lime green – yum! – and 2 yards of the multi-color since I thought I might use it for a border on a spring quilt at some point.

Used this week:      0 yards

Used YTD 2012:      52.50 yards

Added this week:   3 yards

Added YTD 2012:   67.50 yards

Net Used for 2012: -15.00 yards

I have to say, no regrets on purchasing these!  And I’ve got a very busy week coming up, so I’m not sure how much I might manage to get done this week.  Plus traveling, which often means fabric acquisition…. Oh my! *sigh*…….

Head on over to PatchworkTimes to see how others are doing with their stashes.

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

=^..^=

Two Finishes!

Since I was not finished with Moonglow at the end of March, and the number Judy pulled for April’s UFO still has a lot of work to be done on it, I decided (at the urging of several very wise readers!) to just continue with Moonglow through this month until it is done.  Immediately all the pressure was off and I began to enjoy the process of bringing this quilt around the home stretch again. =^..^=  And since ENJOY is my word for 2012, I'm happy!!!

And guess what?  Moonglow Block #11 is DONE!  

Yes, it’s only a block, not the entire quilt, but it’s progress!  And the way these blocks are behaving, it almost feels like finishing up a quilt by the time I’m done with one of them!  LOL!!!

Hip Hip Hooray!!!  Only one more block to go now, and I can put the center together and then start on those SEVEN torturous gorgeous borders.  Next thing you know, I’ll be posting a finish for this quilt!!!

Here’s the process of how I put together this particular block.  

It was only partially paper-pieced.  The black and aqua pieces are paper-pieced.  I had to cut templates for three of the sections and set them in with Y seams – Yes, the dreaded “Y” word!!!  The blue and olive pieces had to be cut individually with templates, as well as the center square.

It was a royal pain, but I finally got them in.  They’re not perfect mind you, but they’re in, and they’re staying in!!!

Here is a picture of the entire center with a gaping hole right smack dab in the middle!  I can’t wait for that last block to be finished and placed there – it might be time to party, right?  As I’ve said before, that last block is a doozie and a half, so keep those ear plugs stuffed in nice and tight folks!!! :*D

My second finish is the Promises and Borders stitchery Block #3.  

I just loved working on this block, especially with the addition of my beloved hearts in its border! 

Can you see the sweet little bird perched on those spring flowers?  *sigh* I’m in love!!!

Here’s Block #4 for this project.  I’ve got it all prepared for beginning the stitching, and it will be a welcome project to have with me while I am visiting my family in North Carolina soon!  =^..^=

Hope everyone has a lovely weekend!

Hugs & Blessings,

Teresa

=^..^=

Linking up with:

Design Wall Monday - Patchwork Times

BOM's Away - What a Hoot

LAFF - Richard Quilts

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop - Confessions of a Fabric Addict

What’s on Your Bed?

Bonnie Hunter set up a little impromptu Linky party today, asking in her post – “What’s on your bed?”

This Twisted Bargello quilt was the first quilt I made when I got into quilting in 2006.  (Or should I say, when I “dove” into quilting?  I’m not sure I’ve come up for air yet – LOL!!!)  Prior to this, my entire experience with quilting had been starting a hand-pieced grandmother's flower garden during a class in the early 80's that was still half-pieced and abandoned in a box on the top shelf of my closet!

When we moved to Tennessee, I was able to not work for the first time since my children were little and I was looking for something to do that would be fun and creative.  Then I learned about a small quilting group in a local quilt shop, and since I had been sewing since I was a little girl, I was very interested in seeing what they were up to.  The first day I walked into that shop, these wonderful ladies welcomed me in like a long-lost friend and I have been having a ball with them ever since!!!  

Now as for this Twisted Bargello on my bed, no one told me I shouldn’t start with a Bargello, so as soon as I saw one of these beauties, I loved it and immediately signed up for the class to make it.  It took me several months to complete the quilt top, but then it sat for about a year because I really wanted to quilt it myself and I took classes here and there while I jumped into several other quilt projects at the same time.  Ever been there done that?  Come on, you can admit it here!  We’re all friends here, right?  Hehehe!

After a while, my husband and I decided if we ever wanted to enjoy having it on our bed, we’d better cough up the bucks and get it professionally done because it was taking me a while to feel competent enough to quilt something like this special quilt on my home sewing machine! :*D

This quilt is a favorite of my husband’s, so it has remained on the bed ever since.  I’ve started new ones for it, but somehow they never seem to be able to live up to the Bargello in his eyes!

So what’s on YOUR bed?  Go to Quiltville to see all the lovely quilts on your fellow quilters’ beds!

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2012/04/whats-on-your-bed.html

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

=^..^=

Stash Report on Easter Sunday!

Happy Easter!!! 

What a wonderful day to celebrate JESUS!!!!  In His LOVE for us, He gave His ALL.  I hope to be more loving this year, to pour out all of myself on the people in my life.  Enjoy your family and loved ones today!!!  (Oh, and don't eat too many bunny ears or you'll start to look like one :*)

As for stash - this week I added a little, I used a little – sounds a lot like cooking doesn't it?  I was very busy, but you’d never really know it by looking at my stash report for this week!

Additions – I purchased 2 half-yard cuts of batiks and a couple of fat quarters for ongoing projects.

Used – Backing & binding for the April Calendar quilt came to about 1-1/2 yards, and then I finished up my Bingo card as well as the test block for Quiltmaker and few other little piddling projects…. I’ll say 2 yards total.

Used this week:      2 yards

Used YTD 2012:      52.50 yards

Added this week:   1.5 yards

Added YTD 2012:   64.50 yards

Net Used for 2012: -12.00 yards

I have GOT to get busy and get some fabric outta here!  How is your stash coming along?  Head on over to Patchwork Times to see how others are doing with theirs.

Hugs & Blessings!

Teresa

=^..^=

Something New for Hudson!

Remember our little grandson, Hudson?  Here he is, feeling so much better and happily smiling at one and all once again. He asked me to thank you all again for all your prayers!!! =^..^=

Recently, his mom asked me to make him some pacifier keepers for the type of pacifier he uses. These do not have a handle, so you can’t use the standard keepers on the market.  

So, I am making some TOTALLY cute little pacifier keepers for him!  These keepers have a ribbon that can be threaded through a little hole on the side of it.


Aren't these ribbons just adorable for our little man?

I think he is going to like Grandma a LOT for making these, don’t you?

I’m using a tutorial we found at My Crafty Side blog. I used these suspender clips from Joann's which come two in a package for about $3.

Tracie’s tutorial is very easy to understand and follow, and I had a couple keepers made in no time at all!  I mean it - in just a few minutes literally!!!  

Hudson is going to love these happy little monkeys!!!

The only thing I would add to her tutorial is that I used my glue stick to hold the narrow ribbon edges in place so I could stitch it together.  

Before I did that I struggled a lot trying to keep the two pieces directly on top of each other and steady under the foot so I could stitch it.

If you’ve got a little one, you may want to jump over HERE and make a few for your little special someone! :*D

Are you trying out anything new for you? Go to TNT Thursday HERE to see what others are also trying out!

Before I end this post, I decided to try to get a few better shots of the April Calendar quilt to share. It’s just amazing what a little sunshine can do, right? =^..^=  Here it is already hanging in its place of honor on the family room wall.....

Here is a closeup of the wonderful black print for that cute little umbrella with the happy gold spikes….

And the little galoshes are just adorable with their snappy little straps and red heart buttons….

Okay, that’s it! I promise to not post anymore photos of April. Now I’ll start on MAY! :*)


Enjoy your day everyone! I’m sewing as I watch the Masters Tournament… yes I love golf and my husband just happens to be there today! Maybe I’ll catch a glimpse of him out there…


Hugs & Blessings!
Teresa
=^..^=


Linking up with Can I Get a Whoop Whoop! at Confessions of a Fabric Addict, FAFF at Sew Many Ways, Try it on Tuesdays at Jo's Country Junction, and LAFF at Richard Quilts.


Also linking up with Such a Sew and Sew for A Stitch in Time April Finishes - 

Click here to Go!