It's Me Again

I just wanted to see if everyone is ready for the upcoming holiday yet? I can't wait. My brother and his wife have decided to host this year. This brings a deep sigh of relief for my sister and I as she isn't feeling the best and I have to work awhile on Thanksgiving. Ordinarily, I like to have Thanksgiving but I'm not arguing this year. I hope everyone's plans are coming together and you have great holidays with your famlies and loved ones.

I wanted to post about that Christmas wallhanging I am working on. I am at a standstill until I can get some ribbon. Turns out what I had, I had to cut it down to size and of course, it frayed. I thought about forgetting about the one piece of ribbon and just using bows on it made out of what I have here on hand but I'm not sure I like the way it will look. I just had an idea. I could use lace or ric rac in place of the one ribbon and I could possibly live with the bows I have if lace or ric rac will work. Hmmm. Now I'm pondering. Anyway, that is what I have on that. When I decide which direction to take it, I will post some more current photo's.

I got all the presents made up for the girls from my forum. Still no covered calendar books yet but I think I've decided to just use what I have. I think they'll be happy with the coffee cozy's and tissue holder. I would be.

My table runner I started still isn't finished. I have to finish tying off the ends and it's done. That's all that's left. I just about go blind every time I try to work on it though. I need new glasses in the worst way. It was just for me to see if I could do it so that's no biggie if it gets done or not.

Still got a couple of corn bags to do but I'm switching over to rice this time. I am having bad luck with the field corn and I'm just going with rice from now on. I had my son's ready to go the other day and I pull out the corn, fill the sack and when I moved the collander the corn was in, there were little, tiny, black bugs all over my ironing board. I pitched the whole entire mess right outside. How gross!!! lol. At this point I am just going to make him and my daughter-in-law one each for a little Christmas gift. He's waited this long, what's another month? lol.

That's about all that's on my plate right now. I do want to get some drapes made. We're really starting to feel the draft with the cold weather setting in. I thought it would be a great way to use up some of that upholstry fabric I have and it would look at least a little better than the Cleveland Indians blanket over the windows. lol. What's everybody else got going on?

I'll call it a night for now. Hope everyone is stitching away.

Night, Night

Renee

WOOT!!! Look What I Did!!!!

Yep, I got off my lazy duff here awhile ago and I made these two silly little articles in about 30 minutes. Sad aint it? lol. Took me all this time to muster up the gumption to go do it and now look. I have one of my Christmas presents done now. I have two more sets of these to make and then I think I'm going to throw in a third piece to the set. Obviously the one is a coffee cozy and the second item in the pic is a travel tissue package cover. The third item I wanted to put in with them is one of those purse calendars, I want to make covers for those too. I went to the dollar store last night to get some and they didn't have them yet. Of course I actually need one before I can make a cover darn it. Maybe I'll sneak out some time today and try another store. Now I'm excited!!!! hehehe. Doesn't take much to tickle me does it? lol.



P.S. I belong to a forum called Our Gang Forum. A bunch of us used to work for an internet search engine called Cha Cha. That's how we all met but now that we've all for the most part left Cha Cha, we wanted a place to go and chat with each other and maintain our friendships with one another. That's how Our Gang Forum came about. It's for the most part a Work At Home Job board but we just talk about anything and have a great time. Anyway, a couple of the girls over there that I have come to know and like a lot are just bonkers crazy over tinkerbell. Hence, the fabric choice for these gifts. lol. I hope they don't pop over here and check out the blog anytime soon or the surprise is over. lol. By the way, if you're looking for a place just to come and chat with some good honest hard working people, please feel free to stop by and register. All the job listings don't hurt having a peak at either. lol. Thanks.

Renee

Okay, Remember Me Sayin'???

Awhile back I was asking for ideas on quilt block patterns and got some really great suggestions. I did manage to find a table runner pattern I thought I'd try and while it's been ready to quilt for some time now, I'm just finally getting around to getting a pic. I want to try that daggone stipple quilting technique again but I want to be prepared for the hassle when I do tackle it. My famous last words, Maybe tomorrow. lol. Anyway, here it is according to pattern and all:









Don't laugh!!!! lol. It's the first time I ever did the triangles like that and I got in a hurry and put it together using pre-cut "vintage" to say the least, fabric squares. My son told me if I was going to do this I had to nail those corners lining up. He's the only one who will be at least partway honest with me when I ask for his opinion. lol. He's right though. Sometimes I rush through stuff that I am just doing for the heck of it to see how it turns out. You should have seen the first coffee cozie I made. lol. Wow is all I can say. lol. Anyway, she aint pretty but she's mine and I'm going to use it on my table or counter when/if I get it done. lol.

I'm waiting for my son to get home from work here soon so I'm gonna be short tonight. You are all probably silently saying woo hoo. lol. I sometimes think I have too much of the gift for gab. lol. Hope everyone is healthy and well. Have a Great Night!!

Renee

High Hopes

Well, so I haven't gotten any sewing done. I don't like it. But alas, tomorrow is my day off and I plan to sew like a fool. lol. Yeh right. lol. Not sure what I am going to sew yet but I will sew tomorrow.

I went to a coffee shop the other day, thru the drive-thru and ordered a tall coffee. Well I was just getting it to investigate the cup sizes and see if my cozies would fit them or not. Don't you know, they use styrofoam cups too. Not really a need for cozies with styro cups. Well, like a dummy, I have my son ask for a sleeve. Of course they don't have sleeves either. Well, why would they? lol. Oh well. I just wanted one of these elusive sleeves for measurements anyway so I guess I'm off to Starbucks next. Then there are two other small independent owned coffee houses in town as well. I just have to find one that uses paper cups and might not mind having a little basket full of cozies on the counter for sale. lol.

I am itching to try making a quilt block. A real quilt block. Nothing I have made so far has been real extravagant or according to any pattern per say. But looking through all the great quilting blogs here lately I am seeing some lovely quilts made out of the most beautiful blocks and I'm just kinda getting the hankering to try something. Any ideas on a great starter block? Sure would appreciate any tips.

I have two quilts that I am not real happy with and I am thinking of donating them to project Linus. Has anyone ever done this? They are cute and all but just not perfect and maybe I'm too hard on myself but I just don't feel right selling them. Money is so hard to come by these days and it's going to get worse. So I thought I may as well let some little kid get some use out of them.

I wish I had some more stash. I never think I have enough of anything worthy of putting together and making a quilt top of but I wonder if I had all the fabric in the world if I wouldn't still feel that way. lol. I seriously need a little lesson on choosing what colors to put together and which go best with each other for sure.

What makes you all get off your duffs and get busy with your projects? I sure could use some motivation. I need some way to make extra money and sewing is about my only talent to do so with. Aside from motivation I also need help with getting out there and showing my wares. I guess I'm afraid folks will make fun of me mainly. Not everybody appreciates sewing and quilting. And I'm also "awkward". lol. I don't like crowds, I don't like to stand out, and always wish I was at home whenever I'm someplace else. That rules out alot of craft shows and fairs and such. So, that's way I like the online gig at etsy. But it's not proving such a good thing for me right now. I just noticed that I've been a member since July 07 and I still haven't had a sale yet. But there is alot of competition on etsy. And alot of beautiful, skilled work too. Oh, what's a girl to do? lol.

I've been thinking about going to one of our local quilt guild meetings. Maybe I could find a group to be comfortable with that can help me get better at what I love to do and help me build some confidence in my stuff. And ways to get rid of it. lol. We'll see. I make no promises. If hubby can't or won't do something with me, I usually just don't do it. He is my rock and when I'm with him I can go anywhere and do anything but take him away and I'm lost, running for my house til he gets back to me. Told ya all I was "awkward". lol.

I think I'll close for now and go see what I can get into. I might poke around tonight at some stuff and get it ready for sewing tomorrow. There are a few little things I think I can get cut out tonight and have ready to just throw on the machine in the morning. Sounds good, eh? Will it happen? lol. Who knows? lol.

Keep creative friends!!!

Renee

Another AC Article

I forgot to mention last night that I had a part two to a story I've written about my experience with Effexor published. I am glad to say that I am now completely off of this medication and I am feeling pretty good right now. If you're interested, here is the link. Thanks in advance if you take a peek.

It's been a busy day today and when the fella's all take off this evening, I'm spending some time with my sewing machine. lol. I have to work tomorrow so I don't look to get a whole lot done tonight but I do have one thing I want to wrap up and get off my plate and that is the goal for tonight.

What goals does anyone else have for the weekend? Or month? I think I'm going to take some time and make up some of those coffee cozies and hit the local coffee shops to see if they'd be interested in carrying a few of them. Wish me luck.

Until next time, Happy Quilting!!!

Renee

These Kept Me Busy Yesterday

These are coffee cup cozies. If you want to go "green" and you buy coffee to go at different places, these I think are just dandy. They are intended to replace the paper sleeves that coffee joints give you so the cup's not too hot to hang on to. They save a tree and jazz up that ordinary cup of joe a little bit. They can be made out of most any color, style of cotton and a thin layer of quilt batting. I found making them to be very easy. Trying to make a pattern was the hard part. I thought I could just make a paper pattern based on my cups at hand and be sewing cozies all day. NOT!!!!! I feel really dumb now but no matter what I tried, I knew I wasn't getting it. So, I headed to my trusty computer and did a google search for a free pattern for one and WHALAH!!!!!

I have one more seat back cushion to do on the golf cart. I have high hopes of getting that together and done with tomorrow night. I have decided that because that little Flower Garden quilt I'm working on is like driving me nuts, that I just might tuck that stinker away for a minute. Just Walk Away Renee, as the song goes. lol. There is a customer at work who has been singing that to me for this last week. lol. What a geek. lol. Anyway, I have a court house steps quilt in pinks and pink florals that I started ages ago and think that I would really rather mess with it for awhile. I still have blocks to cut out for it even but I can't get it off my mind lately so it's like calling me. lol. Does that ever happen to any of you?

Other than that, life in general isn't treating me too bad at the moment. The old man is good, the boys are good, my new daughter-in-law is good. My sis and my bro's are good. It's a good feeling.

I'm kinda run down a bit today so I'm saying goodnight for now. Talk with everyone later.

Sweet Dreams,
Renee