Pillowcases

I've had some fabric set aside for pillowcases for a couple of years. Sunday I decided to dig into it and made 2 pillowcases using this cute western fabric. These should make a good gift for some little cowboy or cowgirl.

What's on My Design Wall?

More "attention deficit" sewing going on at my house. I just can't seem to stop myself from starting something new as the inspiration strikes. Oh well . . .

Earlier this spring I bought my first turnover - the Frolic line by Moda. To go with it I recently bought an antique looking beige. I've been working on an asymmetrical quilt top and have just a few blocks left to piece. I have enough to add 1 more to each row on the left side. The plan includes a dark brown narrow inner border and then a wide second border using one of the bright green prints from Frolic.

The other items from Sunday's frantic sewing? Pillowcases made from a cute kid's print. Maybe I'll post those tomorrow.

And I did add the final block to a spring tablerunner and started the hand quilting of that after going to the movies (Letters From Juliet) with Sylvia. I worked on that hand quilting all evening while watching the Survivor season finale on Sunday night and for a little while again Monday night. Maybe it will be ready for binding next week. Here is a sneak peak!

This old quilt

I have a favorite old quilt on our bed. My mother is probably rolling over in her grave, because it would have been something she kept in the cedar chest - waiting for something special. Well, I've been using some of the things in that old cedar chest and enjoying them NOW.

In 1976, a couple of months before I graduated from South Dakota State University, my mother sent a yellow sheet to one of my friends along with instructions. Each of my friends was asked to write a message on it. Then the sheet was mailed back to Minnesota where my mom had some lady embroider and quilt it. The identity of this quilter remains a mystery to me to this day, but she embroidered butterflies all over the yellow top, embroidered every single letter of every message, added a brown border, and then hand quilted the whole thing with yellow thread. The results are lovely- and I enjoy looking at it daily and remembering the friends of my youth.

Another new acronym

OK - I heard another new acronym today that really fits my reality lately. I attended a retirement party for a dear friend this morning, and some of the gals were discussing the acronym that a speaker used during the local school district's employee recognition dinner.

AA ADD = Age-Activated Attention Deficit Disorder

It is a perfect explanation for my actions lately. Those who work with me know that I'm pretty task oriented. I prefer working on JUST ONE task until I have it done right. I do have to multi-task a lot, but that isn't my preferred style of work. I tend to be very sequential - including being a list-maker.

However, in my little sewing world, I've always been quite random. I have lots of UFO's and usually have about 3 projects going at once. And it is getting worse, because lately I seem to start and stop numerous projects, and can't seem to get motivated to finish any of them. So now I realize that I can blame it on my AGE!!

I wonder if there is a medication for that? Somehow I doubt that the Bloody Mary I had at the retirement party will help.

Happy Mother's Day to ME!

These 2 lovely young ladies are the reason I get to celebrate Mother's Day! They are pretty, smart, and even better . . . they are GOOD people.

I'm proud of my girls!

Cats on quilts

I came across a reference to this cute blog, all about cats and quilts - and the occasional dog. I just had to send them a picture and story about my favorite quilting cat, Sammy.

See http://catsonquilts.com/ for Sammy's story.

Random sewing

It was really nice today to hide in my sewing room for a few hours of "piece" and quiet. I didn't really work on any one project, but instead I worked on little bits of several.


I finished another block for a block exchange. 4 finished and 9 to go before June 15. No problem. This block exchange is using a fun turquoise floral as the focus fabric and 12 of us are making blocks to exchange with each other. A 13th one will go to make a donation quilt for a scholarship fund.


My block for next week's Saturday Sampler is also done. I am loving this pink and brown and cream color combo. This month's block is called Maggie's Wildflowers. This makes 4 of the monthly blocks completed.




I've been playing around with my EQ6 software and figured out how to make a block that I saw some weeks ago on a blog. Of course, I don't remember where I saw it now. But the block is kind of a sunburst pattern. I've picked out some batiks from my stash to use. So far I have only 1 done - in this aqua batik.

















And finally I finished 2 more 8.5 inch blocks using selvages on the diagonal. Then I put the 4 of them together. Not sure yet what future life this will have. This size would work nicely for one side of a bag. or it might be a great start on a quilt top.