Thursday, December 26, 2013

Part 4 and Thanks!

It looks like I made linking up just under the wire--whew!  I can hardly believe I actually got all of part 4 done although I still need to twirl those seams.  I just love making those little 4-patches.

Company this weekend so I doubt that I'll make much progress on Friday's clue but I sure can't wait to see what is ahead.


Linking up is such fun and I want to take a minute to thank everyone who has taken the time to visit my blog and to leave such nice comments.  I recently received a lovely note from Mary Huey and a very sweet and generous offer for a piece of nasturtium fabric for my quilt.  Look how beautiful!

Thank you Mary!!!  Mary has a lovely blog as well and you can visit her at Rose-Colored Trifocals to see her progress on Celtic Solstice.

Want to join the party?  Celtic Solstice at Quiltville is where it's happening.

Cheers,

Debi





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Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Read All Directions

What happens when you casually read the well-written directions Bonnie writes for clue three of Celtic Solstice?

Now you may ask what's wrong with these cute little 2" squares?  Well they should have been nice long 2" strips!
Much better, although I was able to use those 2" squares to make cute little half square triangles.
After actually reading the directions I cut correctly and ended up with a finished pinwheel, but don't look too closely as those center points don't quite match up--LOL. 
Thankfully I still have plenty of orange and yellow strips to cut and sew and surely at least a few of those center points will match.

There is still plenty of time to join Bonnie's Celtic Solstice mystery.  Why don't you join us?

Cheers,

Debi






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Monday, December 9, 2013

Nasturtiums and Celtic Solstice

Chevrons!  I can't believe I have never pieced a chevron in over 30 years of quilting!  A few done and tons left to sew.
Why did I go with Bonnie's color scheme on this mystery quilt?  Because it does really remind me of Ireland.

Nasturtiums in the back garden of a B&B we stayed at in Castlebar, Co. Mayo, Ireland in September, 1996.  Not a great photo because a) I took the photo and my photography skills are not great; b) it is a photo of a photo.  LOL!

Although the colors are out of my comfort zone I am having great fun sorting through fabric and using pieces that I never thought I would use--corn, lemons, celery, apples, grapes and shamrocks just to name a few.

There is still plenty of time to take a mysterious trip to Ireland and make Celtic Solstice with Bonnie and her peeps. 

Cheers,

Debi
 

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Monday, December 2, 2013

Irish Eyes are Smiling!

I can hardly believe it's mystery time already and Bonnie Hunter of Quiltville has created one that calls to me--Celtic Solstice.  Ireland gets all the credit for my love of travel as it is the first place I visited when deciding to take a trip to Europe way back in 1996.  I loved it so much I went back in 1998 and hope to return someday.

Sadly, I didn't get much done over the weekend as I am trying to finish up another project before starting the mystery.  So much for the best laid plans as I didn't get the first project done and barely made a dent in our "homework" for week one but I have the whole week to attempt to get caught up.

Here is a sampling of the little I got done.

The doll is something I picked up in Ireland in 1998 when I visited the Doolin Crafts Gallery.  Irish Molly is made from hand-made felt and at the time I had sheep and was fairly active in my local spinning and weaving guild so she was of interest to me.  I am not sure I think Irish Molly is that cute, and I'm not really in to dolls, but she is a little different.

Here is a close-up of two of the neutral fabrics I selected from my stash.

I can't believe I am finally able to use that shamrock fabric and the good news is that I also have some in black which is in my green pile.  I also pulled out a fabric that had an Italian flare--see the Leaning Tower of Pisa.  I just love novelty fabrics and Bonnie's quilts are perfect for such fun fabric.

The mystery has just started and there is still plenty of time to join the fun.  Why not sort through your stash and join Bonnie and her peeps and create Celtic Solstice.

Cheers,

Debi











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Sunday, November 17, 2013

Rose Colored Glasses

Last week I went into our local antique shop just to see if they had any vintage sewing machines and they did not.  I did happen upon a embroidered pink and white quilt top that I liked as I have had a thing for pink and white quilts for awhile.  The top wasn't very expensive and at first glance it looked like it was in decent shape so I bought it.  

Apparently I had my rose colored glasses on when I looked at the top and only saw one place where it was coming apart and I thought I could fix that without any problems.  Once home I discovered all kinds of problems including a little hole in one of the blocks--sigh.  I decided to frog stitch the entire quilt and patch the hole.  

Here is the block with the hole above the embroidery.
The quilt top was hand pieced and I thought it would be a breeze to take apart but who would have thought the quilter would have sewn two lines of hand stitching on each and every block!

I have the quilt completely apart now and have patched the little hole as well.  I purchased some pink polka-dot fabric to use as stashing and now all I need to do is take some time to put it back together again.  Had I realized how much work this little top was going to take I am sure I would have folded up and put it right back on the shelf.  Note to self, be sure to remove rose colored glasses when looking in antique stores.

Cheers!

Debi

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Friday, October 25, 2013

Wicked Prowling

The Wicked Blog Hop is one of my favorite hops as everyone has such creative and fun things to share. After two years of lurking I decided to join the fun but first,
thanks to Mdm Samm for hosting Wicked and Wicked Wendy  for organizing and cheering us all on.

I just love the Ghastlies fabric and have several yards of it but for some odd reason I don't want to cut into it.   My favorite character is Sebastian and I decided to make a cat bed for my wickedly wonderful kitties using some of the fabric.  Yes, I had to cut up a yard but it's for a good cause.

Notice Sebastian in the middle and I know it's hard to see, but I did use his featured fabric on the sides of the bed although they are upside down when his side of the bed is up--LOL.  Of course one of the Wicked kitties had to test it out and Coconut found it most comfy.
I have made lots of Halloween items but it seems like I always gift them to friends which isn't such a bad thing but I don't have a lot for myself which is surprising since I really do love Halloween.  Prowling for Treats from Autumn Threads is a pattern I have always liked and wanted to make some day and Wicked seemed purrfect.  My little quilt is made using recycled wool and I did a blanket stitch around the pieces and parts.

And yes there is a ruffle!  Mind the cat hair as black wool just seems to be a cat hair magnet.

Finally, I was inspired with all of the seasonal pin cushions in the Pin It! blog hop so I made myself a Black Cat hexie pin chusion.

Looking for more Wicked?  Check out the rest of today's schedule.

Friday, October 25th
 
Cheers!

Debi



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Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Eeeeek, It's Wicked!

Time to get your eeeek on and join everyone for the Wicked Blog Hop!  See the schedule below for the entire hop and be sure to take a minute to visit each blog.  I'll have my post up on Friday so be sure to stop back.

If I would have made this table topper recently I would have saved it for Wicked, but I didn't and so instead I'm sharing it as a Wicked preview.  The pattern came from Feline Drive.

Now here is the complete schedule.  I am amazed at what has been shown today--wow!


October 22nd

October 23rd

October 24th

October 25th
  

October 28th
I Piece 2-Mary
The Distracted Domestic



October 29th


October 30th

October 31st

Cheers,

Debi
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Saturday, October 19, 2013

Bloglovin

Setting up a bloglovin account--gee, I should have done this on a day when I didn't write a post. 

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I am so used to bookmarking blogs and reading them that way and now I will need to remember to add them to Bloglovin and go there to read them.

Cheers,

Debi
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Almost Wicked

The Wicked Blog Hop starts next week and as soon as I have the complete schedule I will post it.  In the meantime, here are a few Halloween projects I made and gave to my friend Nina.

I know I said I don't like fusible projects but I did use a fusible to make this quilt as there were just too many pieces that would have been a pain to applique.  The fabric I used for the bones is a glow-in-the-dark fabric.  If memory serves me right I believe the pattern is from Material Girl.

I also made Nina this table topper.  She really liked it but I am not sure she knew what a table topper was and I don't think she uses it either.  I guess I should be happy she still has it though.  I just love it and want to make myself one some day.

The pattern is called "Cat's Night Out" and I purchased it from Feline Drive which is one of the best kitty shops on the planet.

Once I have the confirmed Wicked Blog Hop schedule I'll be sure to post it.  I can hardly wait to see what everyone has created--what fun!

Cheers,

Debi



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Tuesday, October 15, 2013

Seasonal Pin Cushions

Many years ago I made some Halloween/seasonal pin cushions for a friend and she uses them all of the time.  Of course she has other pin cushions as well, but these are always in her drawer fully loaded with pins and ready to use.

These little pin cushions are made from recycled wool and are stuffed with polyfill which isn't my preferred filling but at the time that was all that was available. The face features were fused on and those areas are extremely hard and almost impossible to stick a pin in.  I am not a fan of fusing and I don't do any unless I absolutely have to and I wish I had done something differently for these guys especially since my friend actually uses them. 

Oh, the black cat isn't really a Scottish Fold, but he was jammed in the pin cushion drawer and his little ears bent.  

Cheers,

Debi

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Saturday, October 5, 2013

Wickedly Working

At the end of the month I will be participating in the Wicked blog hop and I have been working away at a project to share.  I can't show you anything just yet but I have had a lot of fun working on it.  

I thought I would share a Halloween quilt I made for a friend of mine which was wickedly fun to make and give.  I can't believe how many Halloween things I have made and given away!  

The pattern is Yellow Brick Road and it was a lot of fun to do using Halloween fabrics from my stash.

When I was working on this quilt my cat MiniMe was such a helper and I could hardly keep him away from the thread as I was working on this quilt.  The quilt eventually got quilted, but it was a struggle!


Thanks for stopping by and be sure to stop back to see a few more seasonal favorites before the Wicked blog hop.  The Wicked Blog hop starts October 22nd at Sew We Quilt. 

Cheers!

Debi




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Friday, September 27, 2013

Crazy About Wool Blog Hop

Yippee!  Today is my day to share my wool items with everyone.  First, thanks to Denise of Pieced Brain for the invitation to join all of the wool lovers.  Thanks also to the sponsors for their generosity and to everyone who is participating in the hop and/or visiting all of the blogs.

I have played with wool on and off over the years but really haven't done much with wool for the past several years.  So when the Pin It! pin cushion hop came along I knew I had to do something in wool and that is where Denise came in as she asked me to join the Crazy About Wool blog hop.   Seeing so many fun and wonderful seasonal pin cushions in Pin It! I knew that I wanted a seasonal pin cushion too.

The pattern is from Autumn Threads and is actually a pillow pattern but I decided to make it my Halloween pin cushion.  Spooky!  

In a previous post I mentioned I used to have sheep and dabble in hand spinning and I've made a few items from the yarn I've spun.  I can't knit and barely crochet so I had to find other ways in which to use my yarn.  I love rugs and my coarser yarn ended up being perfect.

My rug was made using the rya stitch and was fun to make.  I keep thinking I want to make another one someday especially since I still have plenty of yarn! 

Tinkle the cat was made using handspun and hand dyed yarn.  I'm not wild about dying though.

I have hooked rugs and other small items over the years as well and I have used my handspun yarn to bind my rugs.  Muffin was a house rabbit I had and I made my rug in his memory.
A mat and hooked piece that stands up that was made in honor of Honey Bunny.
A penny rug for Easter.
An Easter wall hanging.
A sewing pouch.

I have a few other items to share but I'll save them for another day.  Thanks so much for visiting!

Cheers,

Debi






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Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Crazy About Wool Blog Hop Schedule

There is still plenty of time to visit with everyone participating in the Crazy About Wool Blog Hop.  I know you will enjoy the show! 

Monday, September 23

Tuesday, September 24

Wednesday, September 25
Maria do Carmo (Pieced Brain will be hosting!)

Thursday, September 26

Friday, September 27

Cheers!

Debi
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Monday, September 23, 2013

Woolie Week

During the Pin It! blog hop I was asked to participate in a wool lover's blog hop by Denise of Pieced Brain.  The Crazy About Wool blog hop started today and runs through Friday.

Pieced Brain announcement

Here is today's schedule:
Monday, September 23
Denise will be posting the schedule for each day on her blog so be sure to stop by. 

My introduction to wool began years ago and eventually it led to having a small hobby flock of Lincoln and Lincoln X sheep.  I always enjoyed seeing them out in the field, visiting with them in the barn, and it was great having their fleece available for spinning. 
The sheep have been gone for many years but I still have some of their fleece just waiting to be spun into yarn.

Cheers,

Debi

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Thursday, September 19, 2013

Everyday Pin Cushion

I loved participating and visiting everyone's blog in the Pin It! blog hop.  Thanks to all of those who visited my blog and left comments, they are all appreciated.  I thought I would show you my everyday pin cushion.  I made it several years ago and I still love it. 

I love using selvedges to make pin cushions and want to make a few other things some day as well.  The selvedges are from cat fabrics and British-themed fabrics and of course it is filled with crushed walnut shells. 

I used to use the standard yellow bead head pin as quilting pins and about 13 years ago I discovered Clover flower head pins  and made the switch.  I loved those pins for years until I found Clover made a super fine flower head pin and I feel in love and can hardly stand to use any other pin. 

I recently heard Clover makes a skinny pin with a bead head and lots of quilters are starting to use, and love, those pins.  I love my flower head pins so much I am pretty sure I won't make the switch but I sure want to compare/contrast the two some day.

Fully loaded and ready to sew.
Be sure to stop back on Friday, September 27th as I will be sharing some wool items in the Wool Lovers blog hop at Pieced Brain  See you then!

Cheers!

Debi
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Friday, September 13, 2013

Pin It! Palooza

It's finally here, my day to share my pin cushion and on Friday the 13th no less!  First, thanks to Madame Samm for hosting the hop, Kristen for cheering us on, our sponsors for their generous support, and everyone who has taken the time to enter the hop and visit each blog.

I had planned to make quite a few pin cushions for the hop but ended up making just one.  It's a Union Jack--surprise--LOL!

My Jack is made of recycled wool and weighs a whopping 478 grams.  You might ask why I weighed my pin cushion.  What?  Doesn't everyone weigh their pin cushions?  Well, when Madame Samm mentioned That Other Lady had a pin cushion that weighed 2 lbs. it made me curious as to how much mine weighed.  It came in at just under 2 lbs. so I decided it sounded heavier if I used grams! 
My Jack is also lined with muslin because I really don't want the stuffing to escape as I use it.  I used to make pin cushions with fiberfill stuffing and I was never really happy with the way they felt.  Eventually I found out that reptile bedding is used as stuffing for pin cushions and off I went to the local pet supply shop and came home with a huge bag of crushed walnut shells.  I just love the "feel" of a pin cushion filled with walnut shells.

A couple of months ago I made a clowder of cats and gave them away as gifts to a few sewing friends.  They were a big hit and I thought they needed to be shown again.

Cotton Ginny's carries the pattern for these pin cushions in case you want to make a few of your own.

I've had a lot of fun with this blog hop and I know my fellow bloggers are anxious for you to visit with them today.  Enjoy the show!



Cheers!

Debi  =^..^=


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