Blackberry Creek Home Arts

I Made a Hat Last Night

I've been promising to make Ramey a hat for some time now, so last night I just did it. It's crocheted using Cascade Peruvian wool from a pattern called Gulf Shores Hat. It was so quick to make that I might just make another one. I have another skein of the wool yarn in a sort of camel color.


 

I'm not going to church this morning. I have a prayer group dinner at a friend's house this evening and don't want to risk tiring myself out to early. That might sounds a little silly, but I've learned with the fibro and chronic fatigue to be very stingy with my spoons when possible.

I'm taking Paula Deen Dutch apple pie and vanilla ice cream to share. It's potluck. Good excuse for pie.

UFO Progress Report: Week 4 (2012)

I'm proud of my report this week. I got a lot done. I finished my "Africa" fabric book and the cuddle quilt top from the leftover string blocks that I didn't use in the Santa "Family Album" quilt. Today, I'll be that that top, the Santa top, and my "Cherry Lasagna" top to Lena to quilt. Then, if I'm not completed done in, I'll stop by my favorite thrift store, which is on the way home from Lena's. Might find a treasure; who knows?

Below is my UFO Bust Show-and-Tell. I hope some of you have something to report this week. Below my pics, you'll find Mr. Linky. If you're one of our Little Green Quilters, please add your link so we can know what you've been doing this week, progress or not.

 

 

 

Front Cover

The blue fabric on the left-side page forms a pocket, but I haven't put anything in the pocket yet.

 









Back Cover







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"Strips and Strings" Cuddle Quilt

Note: I'm so sorry it has take me so long to get this up this morning. Typepad has been very stubborn with loading my photos. 

New Sewing Machine

It's about two inches high, and my foot won't fit the pedal. But I love it all the same. Now the Yellow Doll House has a sewing machine. 

Ramey brought me a couple of treasures (see below) for the doll house too. She painted these herself, and they are very tiny.

It is, as Aunt Edna used to say, raining straight down this morning. Actually, the term gully-washer comes to mind. I had planned to run some errands today, but I think those plans have changed. Nothing needs doing that won't keep till tomorrow.

Do you ever just suddenly think of something, maybe something you've owned a while back, and wonder what happened to it? Do y'all remember this?

For some reason, this popped into my mind yesterday, and I can't remember what I did with it. I remember that I was going to hang it in the dining room, I think. But it isn't hanging there. I found the frame at a yard sale, maybe a year or so ago. And I framed some of my fabric postcards in it. Now what did I do with that thing?

Ok, the doggies are getting impatient. They want me to play. So bye for now. And don't forget tomorrow is UFO Progress Report Day.

If It's Wednesday...

Good morning from Skipper and Blue Toy

Ramey came over last night and we watched the President's State of the Union address and then "Justified." I had never watched "Justified," (well I tried once but couldn't get into it). But this time, I got hooked. Ramey has ordered the first two season videos from the library for me so I can catch up.

Look what I found this morning while blog hopping. Looks like a fun challenge and great prizes. It's a toilet paper cover. Now I don't know who wants to cover their toilet paper, but it would make a great "conversation piece," now wouldn't it? I think I'll make one for my friend Jennifer who runs the facility, Red Rooster Retreat, where my quilting bee holds our autumn retreat. I sure would like to win that $100 gift certificate from Fat Quarter Shop. The project looks very easy (you'll find instructions with the link), and I think a red rooster toilet paper cover would  be just tres chic! Non?

Gotta go. I got all the laundry done yesterday except one load, which I'll do now. Then maybe some sewing. Boy, have I got some stuff to show for our Friday UFO Progress Report!

Happy Chinese New Year!

It's the Year of the Dragon. Wouldn't it be fun to make this quilt to celebrate? I probably won't, although I really love it. But I'm not into dragons, and I have too big a pile of UFOS, with a to-make list just as big. But if you'd like to make this little dragon wall hanging, you can find the pattern here. It's a Australian company; I haven't been able to find a site in the U.S. that has it, but there's probably one somewhere.

Laundry day today. Laundry and reading. That's the plan.

This Is NOT My Yellow House!

After another tense and stormy night, I opened up online photos of tornado damage just a few miles north of me, and this is one of the first photos I saw. The house in the photo looks so much like mine that I almost fainted. 

At least two people have been reported killed in last night's Alabama tornadoes. And the extent of the damage is still not known since news crews are unable to go into some of the effected areas. Please keep my state in your prayers once again as we deal with Nature's fury.

 

I believe this is downtown Centerpoint.

Cloth & Comfort

Here are a few pages from an art journal/altered book round robin I took part in a while back. It's called "Cloth & Comfort," and it's all about sewing.

These are pages and spreads that I created. Will show other participating artists' work at a later time.

Now I'm going to get ready for church. Happy Sunday to all.

Pink Saturday Patter

Thrift Store Hearts

What a great supper we had last night! Both my sisters, Ramey and Joanne, and my daughter Andy joined me for soup, salad, and Little Debbies. The rest of the crew had various excuses and couldn't make it. But we had a great evening--eating and laughing and talking about various subjects, including quantum physics, astronomy, movies, books, and reasons why we don't have (want) boyfriends. We all pretty much agree that having a mate on Valentine's Day isn't reward for all the work the rest of the year that having a feller takes.

This morning the house is fairly clean and straight, the laundry basket is not quite full, and while the dogs do need baths, I think they'll do without them today. I'm going to have an easy day today. Maybe do a little bit of sewing and a little bit of reading and have a lunch of leftover veggie beef soup.

Now it's Pink Saturday, you know. So be sure to visit Beverly's blog party to see what's happening in the pretty world of pink.

Happy Pink Saturday

UFO Progress Report: Week 3 (2012)

The Sitting Room

No UFO progress for me this week, so I decided to show you some things I've collected for The Yellow DollHouse. As you see, I haven't done any wall decorating yet. No painting or papering or even hanging wall art. But I will--eventually.

The Play Room

The Dining Room

The Human Family

The Human Family Cat

Good-Luck Lady Bugs

Have to get busy now preparing for a family night (my real family) soup supper. We're having homemade vegetable beef soup, brocolli/grape/bacon salad, and Little Debbies for dessert.

Below is Mr. Linky. Please sign in if you're a member of the Little Green Quilters UFO Challenge and have a blog post you'd like us to see.

 

My Rag Wreath

I made this wreath yesterday. I wanted something Valentiny for the front door, and this is it. I had planned something entirely different using strips of red fabrics tied around the wreath--sort of raggy looking. I started that, and it just wasn't working for me.

Then I came across this piece of gorgeous fabric in my scrap bag. This is what we used to border Ramey's Drunkard's Path quilt a while back (a picture of which I cannot find to save my life!). I tore off a couple of wide strips, wrapped the wreath form, and added the hearts, which were in my stash. I think they came from a yard sale, or maybe thrift store. Voila! Wreath.

I feel like I've been quite productive this week--although I haven't really worked on UFOs. Maybe this afternoon I'll get in a big of busting, just so I can have something to report tomorrow.

This morning I have to make a shopping list and go grocery shopping. The family is coming tomorrow night for a soup supper. I'm having vegetable beef soup, some kind of salad, and some kind of dessert. As you can see, my plans are a little sketchy so far.

I did get my fibro med prescription (cymbalta) refilled yesterday. I'll try to not let that run out again.

All you Little Green Quilters, don't forget to check in tomorrow and leave your link. Now listen: you don't have to have any progress to report to post your link. We still want to know what you've been up to. So link up, ok?

Bernice Got a Garment

In spite of one dog barking and biting me and pulling on my pants leg and one dog staring at me all afternoon, I finished my sewing machine cover, just in time for my Bernina, Bernice, to spend a cold night snuggled under it. As you can see, like Lynn, I didn't feel the need to include the pocket on my cover.

For some reason, Skipper and Sophie hate for me to work in the sewing room. One of these days, I'm going to take all my stuff downstairs and set up in the dining room, thus defeating half the reason for a sewing room (to keep the mess out of the dining room) and see if they'll leave me alone while I sew.

The cover is simple to make. It would have been an absolute cinch had it not been for the doggies pestering me and the fact that the instructions said "sew completely around bottom of project," which I followed to the letter. Of course, then I had to pull out part of the stitching in order to turn the cover right side out. 

I had such an intense and disturbing (and long) dream last night. Not a nightmare, just troublesome. Like people and forces working against me and wearing me out. Driving a car whose brakes didn't work, watching an ex commit a crime, having late husband and his friend working against me, painting a house only to have the paint peeling off immediately, etc., etc., etc. This morning, the bed was completely tumbled. I usually only have to smooth the covers when I get up in the morning. But not this time. It looks like a big storm came through the house.

This morning I'm exhausted and feeling quite strange. I think I might know the cause. I have let my fibro med prescription run out and haven't taken it for two days. It's one of those drugs that comes with a explicit instruction to not stop taking without doctor's approval. I'll go today and get the prescription filled. 

And I have plans for another project too. I bought a wreath form when I was at Hobby Lobby the other day. I want to make a Valentine's Day wreath for the front door, using fabric strips and hearts. But for right now, I'm going to go and have another cup of coffee, take a shower, and go and get my prescription.

A Fab Day

I just received a package from stepdaughter Amy. Look what it included.

A sweet lap quilt top, made from beautiful bird and floral panels

Fabric to match

She also sent me a set of those round knitting looms that I've always wanted to try. And some beautiful yarn. What a girl! What a daughter! I love you, Scoots.

Yesterday I got a horrible attack of cabin fever and had to get out of the house--so, I went to Hobby Lobby--and look here what I got.

They were having a sale, and I fell to temptation. I'm going to use it to make my sewing machine cover. I've had some of both the M.E. tea pot print and the yellow bee print before. And I think I still have a couple of squares of the bee print in my 6" squares box.

Oh, and I also added a little bit to the back cover of my heart journal. The thing about doing art journals and altered books for me is that I never know when I'm done. But I think I am with this one. 

OK, I'm going to the sewing room now. I did get my cutting table cleaned off yesterday before I had the cabin fever attack. So it's all ready for me to cut out that sewing machine cover.

It's Done!

In spite of complaints and objections from two furry folks yesterday, I finished my "Heart to Heart" journal.

Front Cover

Title Spread

 Intro and Sign-in (tags in heart pocket for signing)

My Art Spread

Back Cover (I think maybe it needs a small heart in the top left.)

I've left my cutting table in the sewing room an absolute mess, so I hope to get that cleaned up today. Then I might work on that sewing machine cover. Haven't decided for sure. Have y'all seen Lynn's sewing machine cover that she made from the tutorial I linked? If not, go look. It's darling.
You'll love her fabric.

Happy MLK Day, everyone. I leave you with a quote from that great man:

"I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word."

I pray he was right.

Art Journaling

I'm taking part in an art journal round robin put together by Beverly of How Sweet the Sound. The group consists of ten women. We each choose a theme and prepare a journal to send around for each member to work on.

My theme is "Heart to Heart," and the only requirement is to use at least one heart in your spread. I've chosen a Canson blank photo/scrap album (made in the USA) for my journal. I have my front cover almost finished and have also worked on the inside end sheet and my title page. Below is my title page, in progress.

It has been a few years since I've done any art journaling and I'm a little rusty. So I've been researching, mostly on Pinterest, for inspiration. Look what I found this morning.

Source: marthalever.blogspot.com via Johoanna on Pinterest

I have two fabric journals on my UFO list. One is titled "Africa" and one is "Sweet Little Girls," or something like that. The above journal makes me want to get right to work on them and even make more.

I think I'll try to finish up my Heart to Heart journal today and pull out one of my fabric journal UFOs.

Happy Sunday, everyone.

Coming Around

Just checking in to say that after a day of doing little or nothing, the back is marginally better today. Now the trick is going to be to not overdo and lose the progress I made by not doing.

For a while now, I've been wanting to make a sewing machine cover for my Bernina. And I've found a pattern that looks easy and fun to make. I might even already own some fabric that would work (not the fabric in the photo). If you'd like to see the great tutorial for this project, go HERE. It can be customized for any sewing machine.

Have a great Saturday, everyone.

UFO Progress Report: Week 2 (2012)

I did a little handquilting on "Blackberry Creek" and joined a few of the string blocks for the cuddle quilt this week--but that's about all in the way of UFOs that I got done.



Thanks for all your birthday wishes for the doggies; and thanks for the well wishes for me. I have to find a new doctor or talk one of the ones I've seen into finding me some help for my back. Either that or give up and go to bed--which is what I'm about to do right now

Below is Mr. Linky. Please enter your link if you're a member of the UFO Busting Challenge. If you aren't but would like to join, just let me know. We welcome all busters.

 

Building Houses

I joined a house block swap with the Cloth Paper Studio group. The blocks are tiny, 4 inches, and we only had to make three. Here are mine.

House 1

Houses 2 & 3

I'm not sure what I'll do with the three I get in the swap. Maybe make one more and use them to make a two-by-two mini-quilt. Or not make another and use them to make a three-down mini-quilt. We'll see. I'm sure they'll speak to me when I see them.

Today is Sophie's 10th birthday. And since we don't know when Skipper was born, it's also Skipper's birthday--we're calling it his third, based on Dr. Rachel's best guess when he arrived.

Do you, or did you ever, have older relatives and friends who used the phrased "down in my back"? Well that's what I am today. Waaayyyy down. I almost didn't get out of bed. And then I remembered it's Doggie Birthday Day and also that I promised Lori I would come to hand-bell practice at church tonight.

Now I'm one of the most unmusically talented people you'll ever want to meet. I can read music and tell you what the note is, but I can't tell you what it sounds like. I'm going to make it perfectly clear to our choir director that if I'm as bad at this as I expect to be, I won't last long as a bell-choir member.

So now, I'm going to go and fill the tub with hot water and soak my aching back. Then I'm going to play with my birthday dogs. I can't take them for a birthday walk, due to back thing, but also because it's still raining.

Guild Show & Tell

It's always so much fun to get together with my fellow guild members each month. The drive is long (40-something-miles round trip), and I don't always feel like going. That's one reason I like my current job as Block of the Month chairman. It pushes me to attend, even when I feel like lying in bed for a while longer. Even though pushing hurts, it's often a boost to my self confidence when I do it--well, most of the time. Sometimes it's just a boost to my pain level and I can't enjoy the extra self confidence it instills. But yesterday wasn't too awful bad.

Yesterday's meeting started with a lecture by Eileen Moore, who works at Heart to Heart Quilt Shop in Trussville, on math in quilting. Very informative and useful info. And at times, confusing. (Math has never been my strongest subject.)

January Block of the Month, "Snowball Foursome"

Our president, Vasha R., won the stack of blocks of the month (above). Vasha was also one of the fat quarter winners. Congrats, Vasha, on your lucky day.

Below are some photos from our show-and-tell session.

A beautiful Quilt of Valor for the new Pell City veterans home

Quilting detail on Quilt of Valor (click to enlarge and better see quilting detail)

Believe it or not, this is Sandra's FIRST QUILT.
 

Lillis's logo quilt

A quilt for Fairhaven Retirement Home. The blocks were made by children. BQG member, Craig H., whose father lives at Fairhaven, put the blocks together and quilted it.


 Sheryl's husband had to try out her new machine. This is one of his creations.


 A beautiful Buzz Saw design

Another Quilt of Valor


 Cyndi's Christmas gift from her Japanese stitching pal

I think I'm going to take it easy today. We have a weather forecast for severe weather, and my body fully agrees with that forecast. So I'm going to take my anti-inflammatory pills and camp out on the couch with a book and a couple of doggies. In fact, the doggies are already in position.

Fun With Lori

The ceramic heart was a recent thrift store find.

Loribelle and I put in a long day yesterday. First shopping at JoAnn's, where Lori signed up for another quilting class and bought supplies. I touched all the fabric but resisted buying any. I got a ClothPaperScissors magazine instead. 

After lunch at Jim 'n' Nicks (I had a pig in the garden salad and Lori had a chicken in the garden), we returned to The Yellow House for a sewing session. We got the binding and sleeve made for Lori new grandbaby quilt--and I forgot to take a picture of it. But take my word, it's awesomely cute.

I was pretty much pooped after all the shopping and eating and sewing, so I didn't do much last evening. Sophie slept on the bed with me and Skipper last night. That's the first time she has slept on the bed in years and years. 

I have to go now and get ready for church. I've missed the last couple of Sundays because of family gatherings. I feel the need for some hymn singing this morning. 

But I'll close with a view of my doll house that FedEx delivered on Friday. It turned out to be quite a bit smaller than I had expected, and so I won't be able to use most of the things I've found at thrift stores, etc., for it. But I love the size. It fits perfectly on the antique Singer in the foyer. And it will be fun finding teeny tiny little accessories for it.

Happy Sunday to all from The Yellow House.

Letting Sleeping Dogs Lie

Lori and I are going to Joann's Fabrics today. Then we're coming back here to work on her quilt. She didn't get to come over on Thursday because she had to work late. So I'm just going to let these two snooze while I shower and dress.

Have a great weekend, everyone. Oh, and if you're looking for some prettiness, take a peak at Beverly's Pink Saturday Blog Party.

UFO Progress Report: Week 1 (2012)

Source: lilybeanpaperie.typepad.com via Susan on Pinterest

 

I don't have anything to show that I haven't already shown. All those string blocks are UFOs from years ago, but I won't show them again. Instead I'm showing you this beautiful heart that I saw on Pinterest this morning. I love hearts. I want to make a heart wreath for my front door and need some really good ideas.

We have 14 participants in the UFO Bust this year. But if anybody else wants to get in on the fun, you can still join. Just let me know. Most of last year's participants have said how the challenge has given them the added incentive they need to get some of those old projects finished and make room for new ones.

Below is Mr. Linky. Please add your link and let us know what you've been up to this first week of a brand new baby year.

The Rest of the Blocks

Here's what I plan to do with the string blocks that I didn't use in my Santa quilt (which, by the way, I have entitled "Family Portrait"). My quilters guild has a program called Cuddle Quilts in which we make quilts for various children's charities, women's shelters, etc., in our area. Each guild member is asked to make at least one cuddle quilt each year. I have turned in one this year and have two ready to be bound. I fell behind in my cuddle quilt donations during Vann's illness and death. I mean to catch up and get a little ahead, just in case.

I have to go to the grocery store today--one of my most dreaded chores. But I have to go. I've put it off as long as I can. The cupboards are might-near bare. Guess I'll go to WalMart. Ugh!

I also have a pile of laundry to get through. I let that pile up during the holidays, washing only what I really needed. So now I have at least an all-day task to get caught up.

And it's cold here! Colder than it has been all season. And, of course, you know what that does to the pain factor around here.

Tomorrow night, my friend Loribelle is coming over. We're going to work on binding and adding a sleeve to the quilt she has made for her new grandbaby. Lori is a new quilter. Nothing like grandbabies to bring out the craftswoman in us.

I'm headed to the shower. Gotta get to getting. Stay warm, everyone.

Bee Buzz

Well, here it is. My Santa quilt, which I constructed over the weekend, had it's unveiling at the first meeting of Piecemakers Quilting Bee yesterday, at Rita's house. I used 68 of my 105 string blocks to frame the Santa panel. I think I have enough blocks left to make a small cuddle quilt for our guild charity program.

And there was lots of other show & tell too.  

Sally is all into Sue Spargo wool applique these days. Here's her beautiful notebook cover.

And here's Sally's finished sewing kit.

It's not all small projects for Sally though. Just look at her jungle print snowball quilt. Don't you love snowball blocks? I do.

Mary showed us how to make these easy continuous prairie points...

...which she is attaching to these purchased tea towels to get a jump on next year's gift giving season.

Mary also showed us this wonderful quilt she had made from a Joann's kit.

 But Gerry (shown at left) stole the show and tell with her "Mama Said" quilt. So much hand applique and embroidery, which her daughter Cyndi (just barely shown at right) helped her with. The photos don't do it justice. It's truly and work of art.

We have 14 Little Green Quilters staying in the UFO Bust for 2012. But it's not too late to join. Whether you were with us in 2011 or not, you're welcome to come along and get some of those leftover projects finished to make room for more. Just let me know. It's a low-key, no-pressure activity. Just work on your UFOs and show us what you've done in our Friday UFO Progress Report. There are no UFO police to give tickets to those (like me) who work slowly.

Hello, 2012!

I didn't get finished with my project yesterday, the one I promised to show you. So I'm just giving you a little peek.

I would have been, should have been, could have been finished--but I caught a thrift store bug and off I went to look for treasures. Found a couple of things, which I'll show another day. But mostly I stayed on my feet, treasure seeking, until my back was killing me--which it still is. If anyone out there knows of a miracle cure for degenerative disk disease, please let me know. I have been to three surgeons and a chiropractor, none of whom has had much help to offer.

I slept through 2012's initial arrival last night--but the neighborhood fireworks woke me up, and I was able to greet the new year when it was just minutes old.

Now I have to get hopping and get my black-eyed peas cooked. Andy and Jesse are coming to eat them with me.

HAPPY NEW YEAR'S DAY TO ALL MY BLOGGING BUDDIES!

Goodbye, 2011

Source: aquieterstorm.tumblr.com via Susan Ramey on Pinterest

 

What are you up to on this last day of 2011? I can't wait to show you what I worked on yesterday and hope to finish today. I might have finished yesterday, but I had to stop working to get ready for date night. Pete and I went for Mexican food last night. We went to El Chokador (so named by Loribelle), a place that Vann and I used to go almost weekly. We saw some friends of mine from church. So I guess the word will be out now that I'm dating. And I guess that's ok. And I think I'm rambling here.

I have no plans for tonight. I guess the doggies and I will watch the ball drop while I work on hand quilting the "Blackberry Creek" quilt. That is if we don't get sleepy before midnight.

Remember to let me know if you plan to continue the UFO Bust for 2012. And even if you weren't a member of the group this year, we'd be glad for you to join us.

OK, now I'm going to the sewing room to finish up that project I mentioned above. You might want to drop over to Beverly's Pink Saturday party to see what's going on. I hear there's lots of pinkness to be enjoyed.

Happy New Year, everyone!