This and That Tuesday!

I have been working on a new piece, I seem to be in a small, art quilt mode, lately.
This is from my gothic angels patterns and I wanted to try it in applique and I added a saying to this one.
I still have work to do, I will add some more embellishments and maybe stars and swirls with prim quilting for the background.
I was trying to do wavy strips, but I messed up, and had to resew to get the pouches out. I think this one would make a good cross stitch too, so will have to put in it my cross stitch maker and try it.



This is the wonderful prize I won in the Sew Mama Giveaway.
I was the lucky winner of Jane's Fabric and Quilts blog.
I got my choice of a yard of a Kona solid and five balls of Finca thread by Presencia.
I chose paprika, and it is so beautiful in person, perfect prim shade for an orange fall quilt or pumpkin appliques.
I am going to enjoy using my new goodies and the threads will be perfect for my art pieces.



And my yard is full of life. The butterflies were enjoying my Azaleas today.
This in the only flowering bush I have left, the rest died or got run into by the crazy lawn mowing husband;)

Giveaway Winner!

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend, I never did get out.
It was so hot, too hot to walk and too hot to paddle in the sun but too cold to jump in the water, so I stayed home.
We did get things done around the house though and started cleaning the trailer. I was so happy that there were no signs of mice this time;)

Guess who, moki?



Nope, this is Black Jack, the kitty I lost and White feather who died of old age, a few years ago.
I have no memorial pictures for today, so this is in memory of my kitties. Moki reminds me so much of Black, I think the angels sent him my way to fill the void that Black left.



And onto the giveaway winner.... Allie is the winner of a free pattern, congratulations to Allie!
Allie you can email me with your choice of pattern, from my ecrater site.

Giveaway Winners!

Yes, I decided to give away two prizes, makes it more fun;)
But, I will make you wait a minute and show you what had the kitties sitting at the door so intently.

This is Mad Mama, that is her name, lol. She has a nest under our porch and all day she screams at the kitties, the dog and me.
She does not like anyone near her nest, but she built in under an area we walk on a lot, now that it is nice out.
I think something tried to grab her, she has a feather sticking out, but it doesn't effect her flying, so I assume it will fall out eventually.



While I had the camera out, I saw a bird go into my neighbors tree, so took a shot to look at it and see what it was.
I am nearsighted and even with zoom, I just see a bird, but once I put it in photoshop at full size, this is what I saw.



I snapped a second in case the first one was blurry, and this is what I saw.
I can just imagine what they are saying;)



Give me a caption for photo two (Two Birds) or three (three birds), in this posting and I will draw a name on Monday night for a free epattern!

And here is a wonderful giveaway at Teresa's blog, she does beautiful work and has patterns now, for rug hooking and punch needle.

Now for the winners.....
#5 Glossyxox
#15 Quilts and Pieces

Please email me with your choice of an epattern from my ecrater site.
I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

One of those Days!

Giveaway Here!

New Pin Keeps!

I decided to I wanted to make one of Red Brolly's designs into a pin keep for myself.
I stick my needles in a pincushion and the hand sewing ones, always get lost.
So, I made this to hold my favorite ones. I used art markers to color in the design, then I stitched around that.



I made it into a trifold, so it has room for needles and scissors. I used velcro for the closure.
My machine stitching was off a bit, but good for practice and since it is mine, it doesn't have to be perfect, just practical;)
The green wool is one of the first wools I ever bought from our local store. It was a cheaper one, but thick, so it felts up too much with washing and dying, but perfect for wool projects.

Don't forget to sign up for my giveaway, and check out the posting to learn more about me.



I also received a wonderful gift in the mail yesterday. We were having an egg contest at our primitive quilt group and Dorothy sent me this wonderful pin keep as a thank you for hosting it. Isn't it wonderful! She also gave me some vintage thread that I can use in my art projects.

Sew and Tell with Red Brolly and Giveaway!

If you would like to see where I create and a little more about me, then check out the new posting by Red Brolly.
It is all about me! I just love how she set up the posting and added her wonderful drawings.

And in conjunction with the interview, I am holding a giveaway!
Go visit Red Brolly and leave a comment, then come back here and leave a comment or question about the posting. And while you are there, check out her wonderful patterns, including her free patterns. I am in love with Brutus, he is my favorite kitty to stitch.

The giveaway will end on Friday, the 27th of May at midnight and I will announce the winner on Saturday night, the 28th.
The winner will get one free epattern of their choice. That includes booklets, as well.
And as an added bonus, starting today and ending on May 27th, buy one pattern and get another of equal or lesser value for free!
Patterns can be seen at my ecrater site.

Down by the old mill stream!

I have been stuck in the house with all the rain lately, so today we went for a shorter walk.
This park is the site of the old Tillinghast Factory that manufactured, cotton threads.

We start out at the old mill pond. It was smooth as glass today.



You would never know these quiet waters are roaring underneath the bridge, with all the recent rain.



As the water rushes down the river, we walk slowly along it's paths, enjoying the beautiful canopy of green that surrounds us.

Sea Bird Quilt!

I started a piece last night, but it was late and i was tired, so decided to finish it today.
I joined a flicker group that is making quilted pieces from Charley Harper designs.
They are wonderful designs and great practice for art quilts and machine quilting.
I started with the machine, then I added hand stitches and decided it would look good with walnut stain.



I still have a lot to learn with machine quilting, but it is fun practicing and I really like how this one came out.
I decided to antique it and hang it in my bathroom, since I have a mermaid theme and a few sea items will go nicely in there.
It is the perfect size for a small area next to the bureau.

I still don't know how I will edge my quilt, first I will do the panels and lay it on the bed, then I can decide what to do next.

Quilting and Dying!

Today I did a little of this and that.
I started a new quilt for my bed, a braid using the Accuquilt Go Chisel die.
These are my first three strips, of two color variations and a third will go in the mix.
My bed is high, so I am thinking about using a black ruffle for the outer side edges, what do you think?



I found a package of rolled felt that I bought years ago. It was yellowing from sitting so long, so I washed it out and threw into a dye pot. I used; brown, black, green, tan and yellow rit dye to make a mud bath;) The felt was pure white, so now it is aged tan. It is tablecloth size, so I might do applique on it with felt and make a holiday table cloth with it. The water was still dripping from the bottom, the original color was brown, but it dripped out and left a nice tan cast.



Since I had more mud bath left, I threw in some old wool yardage. I bought this from a store that sells, by the pound, so not sure if it was 100% wool. One took the dye and gave it a nice mottled look, the other got a little darker, so at least they are not brights anymore. They will be good for quilting projects, they have a nice soft loft.

New Welcome Quilt!

I finished my quilt yesterday and today I antiqued it, so all done.
I made this one to go at my entryway, to replace my bird piece.
I cropped the quilt, since I stuck it up quick for a photo, it looks distorted;)

This quilt is a design by Cheri Saffiote for the new magazine, Primitive Quilts and Projects Magazine. I decided to do this one first since it was perfect to put on the wall for the spring and summer season. This is one magazine that I didn't say, I will make this one day, I want to make a few now, lots of wonderful projects. Cheri does a lot of wonderful primitive patterns, so if you have never seen her patterns, visit Quilts by Cheri and you won't be disappointed.

Today I started a new quilt, a new one for my bed. I did not make my last one, large enough, so hoping this will fit better.
I am attempting a braided design, so once I get a few rows done, I will show you my progress.

As for my last posting.... I was a writer for a while, I wrote a weekly column for kid's science and medicine. I also wrote trivia questions for an educational site, a game site and a review for a Mac gaming site. I haven't written in ages, except for my blog, so I have gotten lazy with my writing;) There is always beach glass, but mostly from kids and people who don't care about our environment, not enough wave action on the bay to get smooth glass, unless it has been laying there for years.

The Sea and it's Blessings

A quiet stretch of Beach



Inlet waters, rushing out to join the sea



A ancient light, guiding ghost ships into the harbor



Sails to the wind, heading home, farewell to the sea

A little bit Country, a little bit Rock N Roll!

I finished one piece last night, but with Blogger down, I had time to finish another, so I can show both tonight.
The first is a primitive doll by Tiffany of Primitive Blessings. I made this a year ago to go with a friends crib, but never finished it, so I finally got it done. I wasn't sure what to add to it, so I just put some basic stitcheries and antique it. I love to add names from my family history, Loper is one of those names.



And for all you lovers of bright and crazy, here is my hippie piece. To recap the story, the first time I met my husband, was when he drove a few of us to Boston, to see Aerosmith. I had a boyfriend at the time, but the minute I met Bill, there was a connection that we had. I had to add a kitty and dog to my world and the words are two songs from their first album. I did free motion on the background, using the swirls are a guide and the outer edge has a machine, feather stitch.

Moki Caption Winner!

Today I needed to take a sewing break, my fingers are really sore. I stick myself a lot, the point in one finger and the eye in another. Plus when I sew, I tend to lean into my bad ribs, which is not a good idea. So, what to do, a new punch needle. I decided to make the pattern that Sharon sent me. I used colors from my scrap boxes, need to use those up. For the bird, I used the valdani black. The original pattern is by Brenda of With Thy Needle and Thread. It is pin keep on a base, so maybe I will mount it later. I actually made in this afternoon and finished it tonight, so maybe I will reduce it and make some smaller ones to put around the house.



And now for the winning number, it was number 21, Melissa of Farm Field Primitives! Congratulations Melissa! Please email me with your choice of pattern from my ecrater site. Thank you all for joining in and making me laugh. I still need to get some patterns made up and when I do, I will have another contest when they come out.

Moki: Add a caption giveaway!

I have been working on projects, so nothing finished today.
So, I thought, lets have some fun and let you put a caption onto Moki's photo.
I will draw a winner from the comments, on Tuesday night, and the winner can pick one of my epatterns.
So, make me laugh and tell me what moki might be saying in this photo and you might win a pattern.

To answer the question of our new car it is a Ford Fiesta. The bare car with nothing fancy, lol.
As for me, I have my jeep, I like a lot of metal between me and the next car;)

The Three Musketeers!

We were out today looking at new cars and yes, we got one. I am hard core, the poor car dealer, lol.
I am blunt and said I want the cheapest car with the lowest payments;) Took him a few trips to the manager, but we got what we wanted and with the payments and gas mileage, it comes out less than what he is paying to fill mine, for a month.

When I got home, the kitties were no where in site and this is where I found them. This was such a shock, Dora never goes near Moki and when she does, it is usually to attach him. Lately Moki and Izzy have been sleeping with me at night, so I guess Dora decided that it is her bed too;)



It was a day of surprises, I got a special surprise from my friend Sharon. In her note, she said the gifts were supposed to go out last spring, and since then she has added to the goodies and I am overwhelmed with all of the wonderful gifts. It is like she read my mind, books that I had wanted, patterns I had wanted, candles, a journal, magazines for quilting and hooking, Kits to make pin cushions, a wax crow who looks great on my peg rack and a beautiful cross stitch kitty. I am awed at her cross stitch, such perfect tiny stitches, I wish I could stitch like that, but at least I can enjoy her beautiful work. And in the packages on the left are shapes that are made from compressed scraps of cloth, very neat to use and neat idea to try myself. I can't wait to make some of the items and they will make great gifts for others. The funny thing is, I was just thinking that I need to make a few more braided chair pads and this time, try to make them right. Well, one of the books she sent is a braiding book with wonderful instructions and photos, so I am definitely going to read that before I make one.



Here is a close up of the cross stitch. Not a great photo, it is so wonderful in person. I hope everyone has a wonderful Mother's day tomorrow. I plan on running away from home and going for a walk. It's either that or stay home and cook for them, I don't think so, lol.

Egyptian Quilt!

I thought I would dig out an old quilt, I have been hanging onto for years. I had two, but gave one away, not realizing what they were. They were given to my Grandfather to give to his first grandchild, but I got them instead. I decided to take a look today and did find a similar quilt for sale and they are alike in the type and materials, so I guess that is what I have. They were made in the 1920's to commemorate the opening of the tombs.

Mine has a few torn spots, but I notice the auction items, have worn spots, as well.



Here is a close up, the stitching goes from primitive style to hidden stitches, but it could be because of wear and a washing, years ago.



Here you can see the applique mixed with stitchery.



And here is what it looks like on the back. Someone once said, they thought it might have been made by school girls in the 1800's as a school lesson. But I do not think the stitching would look like this and they would have signed it, I would assume.
I used to decorate with it, but have no use for it now, it is unique piece though. If I could get as much as the auction house is asking, I would sell it;)

ABC's Stitcheries!

I decided to carry the ABC theme in a few pieces to group together.
My bad angles make things look more warped than they really are, lol.
This wall needs to be painted, so I just stuck them up there for now, but everything needs to come down soon, so will redo the decorations on that wall again.



Here is a closer look at the K is for Kitty.
The stitcheries are done from old illustrations.



Here is the pillow I made to go with them. I might do some more, it is fun doing the alphabet. I might try some with color, like an old children's book. I also have been collecting ones I find with animals and kids and some play ones. I would like to do them into a quilt.

Doggy Pillow!

Since I made the dog piece to practice my machine stitching, I decide not to go crazy with it.
I thought it might make a nice pillow for Casey, so I added a saying and his name and his favorite things, a bone and lots of balls.
I used stuffing from an old pillow, so it is a bit lumpy, but I don't think he cares;)
If you would like to make your own dog piece or something to donate to your local shelter, you can get the pattern at Angie's Bits 'n pieces. You can find it under the free patterns.



And here he is, giving me his grin of approval.