Found a Butterfly Block!

After months of looking for a butterfly quilt block pattern I have found one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wanted one that was pieced and not appliqued. I can applique but not good enough in my opinion to give to someone in an exchange. I'm going to use White on White fabric instead of the black. So far, everyone that has posted in the forum has used white for the background for the butterfly. I haven't decided what color to make the block. The lady that choose butterflies for her blocks told us that it didn't matter what size, pattern or color we made her blocks. I'm leaning toward a blue and yellow..............or green and yellow...............or orange and yellow.................rats too many color combinations that would be pretty. Guess I'll have to make a butterfly quilt and use a rainbow of colors. I think that if I make one I will use black as the background..........its so dramatic looking.

Death of a Friendship

It feels like death when a friendship ends. I met a lady on a weight loss group that I belonged to last year. We became best of friends. We are both very creative and crafty........so we exchanged lots of creative ideas with each other for months. Suddenly she drops out of the weight loss group without any explaination. She sends me a email telling me that she can no longer email me.........no explaination.......zilch. For about 6 months I did not hear from her and then I received a message through my Etsy store from her. She told me that her husband had hacked into her emails and her weight loss site...........he didn't like my emails to her so he forbid her to have anything else to do with me or any of the weight loss ladies. I emailed her back and told her to take care and I would miss her.

Right before Christmas I received another message from her..........she then started sending me messages frequently. I thought that everything was okay and she could email me once more.

Wrong!!!!!!!!! Today I receive a message from her telling me that she was grateful that we had reconnected again. Then she went on to write that she was sad but she couldn't talk to me anymore.

I send a reply to her message............I told her not to bother sending me any more messages or going into my Etsy store and looking.......I cannot handle a friendship that is on one day and off the next. I told her that I hoped one day she would free and be able to have friends. Maybe I was wrong.........I just don't need the stress of that kind of friendship in my life.

I will miss my dear friend!!!!!!!!!

Busy, Busy, Busy

It's a busy, busy, busy day for me today. I've set goals of completing 2 quilt block swaps that I'm participating in right now. One is a Block Challenge and I have 2 more blocks to make out of 12. I'm struggling with a butterfly block......can't find a pattern that I really like. The other block is cut and and just needs to be sewn together. The other swap is for the January BOM swap. I have 5 Contrary Wife blocks to make. I have most of the blocks cut and just need to sew them. I want to get both of these swaps finished, packaged and ready to mail Friday when I do errands .

I'm still working on my nine-patches.

Step 6 has been posted.

Bonnie posted Step 6 this morning. We are finally getting to lay out our blocks to form the quilt. I don't have all my blocks sewn yet.......I'm still working on those pesky little nine-patches.



After looking at the layout and what size the center of the quilt without the borders will be I'm going to have to go back and make more of Steps 1, 2 and 3 because I want more quilt hanging over the edges of our bed. I hate to have a quilt that just barely goes over the sides and ends of the bed. One quick roll by Rich or I and the other one has a bare b___!!!! Not ideal sleeping conditions in the winter months.



Bonnie said she will be posting Step 7.....borders on Wednesday or Thursday. I think I will have plenty of cutting and sewing to last me until then. It will be a while before I'm ready to put on the borders.



Off to calculate how many more blocks I need to make in Step 1, 2 and 3.

Cell Phones........Pro and Con

I have just spend the last half hour activating my new TracFone cell phone. I think my eyes are permantly crossed from all the numbers in all the different codes required. I kept at it and now I once again have a cell phone available for my needs.

I had a perfectly good one until Christmas Eve afternoon. Rich and I both have cell phones as we did away with our in home phone........that's another story. We had stopped on the way home from Dad and Mae's to buy more minutes for our prepaid phones at the Truck Stop. No problem so far........I bought 120 minute cards for both of our phones. Rich added my phone card to my phone while I went into the store to get a couple of items. After putting the groceries in the back of the van........I got into the driver's seat. Rich handed me my cell phone and I put it in my jean pocket where I always keep it. I had to stop at the post office and drop a letter in the outside box. I couldn't quite reach the opening so I opened up my door and leaned out to drop the letter in the opening. I shut the door and we drove home.

After getting home I went to use my phone and couldn't find it. Rich used his phone to call my phone. We couldn't hear it ringing so Rich went out to the van thinking I dropped it in the van. No ringing phone in the van. The phone must have dropped out of my pocket when I leaned out the door to mail my letter. Rich called the post office. The lady said she was going out to clean the parking lot and she would call back if she found the phone. No call back. About that time Rich's phone rang and somebody was calling from my phone that I had lost. They would not talk.....Rich told them that it was his wife's phone that they were calling from and she had dropped it at the post office. Would they either let him know where he could pick up the phone or take and turn it in at the post office where it was found. They hung up. They called several more times that evening......they still would not talk. I do hope that they enjoyed using my phone that was my only means of communication for emergencies and other times.

I ordered a new phone from TracFone on Dec. 26th. It was to be delivered by FedEx in 3 days. I realize with the holiday and weekend that it might take a few extra days...........I didn't realize it would take until Jan. 5th to receive my package. My 3 day delivery turned into 10 day delivery. Next time........I'll wait and go to WalMart, KMart, etc. and buy one. I would have really been upset if I had to pay for the shipping........it was FREE!

A Gift from a Friend

George is one of the members of our church and shares a passion for wolves with me. This morning before church he told me that he had something for me out in his car. After church services we went out to his car and he gave me this beautiful wolf lithograph. He said that he had accidentally bought a second copy and he hadn't know what to do with the extra copy until he found out that I loved wolves as much as he did.

George invited us to stop by his home after church to see his wolf collection.......which includes a real 2 year old Wolf. His collection was awesome.........I looked and looked and looked some more. He also had a 1942 Chevy pickup sitting in his driveway............old vintage pickups are another passion of mine. He then had to show us his new touring motorcycle. Of course, it was sitting in the garage.

You would never know that George is 80 years young. He is so full of life and loves to share with others.

Step 5 has been posted!!!!!!!!!

This is my Double Nine-Patch block

I'm still working on Step 3 blocks.....those darling little 3 1/2-inch nine-patches. I have several done and several more to finish.

I did jump ahead and use some of them together with my 3 1/2-inch neutral prints to put one of the Step 5 blocks together.

I really like how the colors I chose are coming together. I think pinks in Bonnie's block are pretty.......but I love the way my red pops out.

Well, back to the sewing machine to sew more nine-patches.

Step 4 Block Finished This Morning

I'm still working on Step 3 blocks(which are the small 9-patch block in center). I just had to take some of the small blocks and put them together as directed in Step 4. The block is 9 1/2-inches after sewing the nine 3 1/2-inch blocks together. I love the quilt so far.......as does Rich.

By the way there is already over 3,000 pieces to the quilt. I don't know how many more pieces there will be to cut and sew yet. Stand by for update.

Step 4 has been posted

Step 4 has been posted. We are combining our small blocks to make 1 large block called Rolling Star Block. We are to make 30 of these large blocks.

I have Step 1 and 2 finished and I'm still working on Step 3. I have my three 1 1/2-inch strips sewn together and I'm in the process of cutting those pieces into 1 1/2 -inch strips. Then I have to sew them into 9-patch blocks.

Back to the cutting mat!!!!!!!!!!!!

Curiousity killed the Kitty Cat......Satisfaction brought it back!!!!!!!!!!!!

Step 2

Step 3 a Lighting was bad when I took photo.........the light blocks are not yellow.........they are different tans and beiges.

Step 3 b Lighting was bad when I took photos..........the light blocks are not yellow.........they are tans and beiges.

Yes, curiousity killed the kitty cat........but satisfaction brought it back. I was so curious about how my colors for my Mystery Quilt was going to go together that I did samples of Step 2, Step 3a and Step 3b before I finished all of my Step 1 blocks.

I think my colors are going to be beautiful........patting myself on the back.

I have to quit sewing for a while as Rich is home and its time to prepare dinner.

First Friday of the New Year!!!!!!!!

Farmyard Angel Kitty

Farmyard Angel Piggy

Farmyard Angel Bunny

Farmyard Angel Cow



It's the first Friday of the new year. Wow!!!!!!!!! I've been very busy this morning. I checked in at Quiltville.com and downloaded Step 3 of the mystery quilt early this morning. When I get to that step I will be using red instead of pinks and my neutral colors as used in step 1.

I finally took photos and got the Farmyard Angels (above) listed in my Etsy store. My best friend, Jen (her store is Boogalooloo Bedding) has been encouraging me to list more items in my Etsy store (Squirreltree). In fact, she challenged me to list 5 items by the end of January. I'm proud to say that I met that challenge this morning and have listed 5 items. I have more items that I will list later this month.

I have all of Step 1 blocks sewn together. I just have to finish pressing and then trimming them to size. I cut all the triangles for Step 2 this morning and 45 of the 120 2 5/8-inch blocks. I thought I had enough of the Dark Yellow/Gold fabric and I didn't. It is a fabric that Joann's carries all the time. I never thought I would use that much of the color so I only bought 1 yard. I told Rich this morning that I'm going to buy 2-3 yards of it when I go shopping. Of course, you can see his eyes rolling up.........actually he never complains about any crafting or quilting supplies that I purchase. He loves to see me crafting or sewing. Thank you my dearly departed Mother-in-law for being a sewing lady.

I'm off to have lunch and then back to working on Step 1 blocks.

Happy New Year and Double Delight Clue 2

Happy New Year everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was quiet noisy around our house last night. Poor Misty spent most of the night right next to the bed or on it. There was gunshots, fireworks, and loud music until around 4am this morning. We have these neighbors that shoot off fireworks.........we are talking the kind that you usually see on the 4th of July......the bombs bursting in air.......they light up the night sky in reds, blues, whites, greens, purples......you get the idea. Anyway they shoot off fireworks for the slightest thing.......we're talking holidays, birthdays, Saturday nights.......you get the picture. They also shoot off ones that are just sound.........we're talking the noise shakes the home. Yes, its illegal to shoot off fireworks privately.........that's a little technicality that doesn't stop them. The police says they have higher priorities............so what do you do????????? In the summer when its dry you pray that they don't start a fire. Off my soapbox and back to quilting.

Bonnie posted the second clue for the Double Delights mystery. I will be using my Dark Yellow/Gold for her Cheddar. I will use Black with Silver print for her brown print. We are to make 120 of these blocks.

I'm still working on Clue 1. I have 2 triangles sewn on all my blocks. Now I have to cut off the dogears and press all 120 blocks. After that I will sew on the 2 opposite triangles and press all 120 blocks again. Then they have to be trimmed to 3 1/2-inches...........yep all 120 blocks.

I'm so happy that I have learned how to use rulers since finding Bonnie's site. That and getting a rotary cutter and mat. They sure make the cutting go faster. Of course you have to be careful in cutting your strips or you will get a valley and hill in the middle of your strip. I did that at first........now my strips are getting straighter.

I was very fortunate to win my rotary cutter and mat. I belong to Quilt N Friends Yahoo group. Ann was having a quilt-a-long and I participated. She gave out prizes for the first one to finish sewing a themed top and a scrappy top. I was the first to finish a scrappy top. She decided for the prizes to let the winners Make A Wish...........so I wished for a rotary cutter and mat.

Well, off this computer and back to sewing and sewing and sewing and then pressing and pressing and pressing then cutting and cutting and cutting.

Shirley

My color choices for the New Year's Eve Mystery Quilt

I know, I know that I got the cart before the horse in posting photos. I just got all the fabrics laid out in one place so I could take the photo. The colors are a little muddled in the photo.......in real life they are much prettier. Anyway this will give you an idea of the colors that I found in my stash to do this Mystery Quilt.

Update on Clue 1 of Mystery Quilt

I have all the Dark Yellow and Indigo pieces cut for all 120 blocks. I have about 75 of the Neutral pieces cut. Curiosity got the better of me and I just had to sew one of the blocks together. The block was not cooperating in the photo.......it does lay flat and it is 3 1/2-inch square.

As you can see it takes a rotary cutter, mat and 3 different rulers to cut the pieces. Overkill in the ruler department........not really. Each ruler has a function. I use a 2x18-inch Draft N Cut ruler, 6 1/2-inch Easy Angle ruler and 6 1/2-inch Easy Square, Jr. I never used rulers like this until I found Bonnie Hunter's site and started using her patterns. The rulers make it so much easier cutting the pieces.

Now that my curiosity is satisfied.........I need to finish up housework that I've put off today so I could play with my stash.

Bonnie Hunter's New Year's Eve Mystery Quilt - Clue One

The first clue for Bonnie Hunter's Double Delight Mystery Quilt was posted this morning around 6:30am. The photo show what the finished block will look like........it doesn't show that each block is 3 1/2-inches. We are to make 120 of these blocks.

My quilt will be a little scrappy as I am using several prints for each one of the colors. I want to use some of my stash instead of going out and buying more fabric. Of course............using several prints from my stash will diminish my stash and we can't have that...........so I will be shopping for more prints soon. I try to take advantage of Joann's sales and coupons.

On Black Friday after Thanksgiving I was able to purchase $140 worth of quilting supplies for $63 by using my coupons and buying what was on sale. I loved the early bird coupon that you could use to get a percentage off your whole purchase even sale items.

Off to walk for 15 minutes and then on to cutting pieces for my 120 blocks.

Anxiously Awaiting First Clue

The above photo was found on a quilt blog. I thought it was quite unique.

I'm anxiously awaiting the first clue for Bonnie Hunter's New Year's Eve Mystery Quilt. I have my fabrics picked out, pressed and ready to cut. Now I have to finish moving my sewing machine and getting everything arranged again. I don't know why I decided to move my sewing machine in the first place. I loved it where it was at and I had everything within reach that I needed.......rulers, rotary cutter, scissors, cutting mat, threads, fabric sorted by colors, ect.

Not only is Bonnie Hunter.....www.quiltville.com having a Mystery Quilt for New Year's. Planet Patchwork.....www.planetpatchwork.com is having one starting at 11am EST and ending at 5pm EST. There is also going to be a Mystery Quilt at About.com:Quilting starting at 8am EST. From the fabric listed it will be a wallhanging.

I will save the clues from both of these sites for another day. One of the ladies on a quilt group I belong to said that she will be doing 3 Mystery Quilts on New Year's Day. I don't think it would be a lot of fun trying to do 3 projects of this magnitude at one time. I would rather save 2 of the projects for another day.

Mystery Quilts can become additive I have found. I have finished 2 and will be starting my third as soon as Bonnie posts the first clue.

Is it New Year's Eve day yet???????????

I'm so excited about the new Mystery Quilt that Bonnie Hunter is doing this year on New Year's Eve day. I have my colors all picked out and ready to go. Now I'm just waiting for the first clue!!!!!!!!! Can you tell I'm excited????????

I moved my sewing machine to a different area in the living room about a month ago........thinking that I would have more room for everything. WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!! So today I'm going to put it back where it was located.

I know that I really should move everything into the craft/computer room........I can't stand being isolated when I am sewing. It's a good thing that Rich grew up with a sewing mother. She too, didn't like to be isolated. Her sewing machine was located in the dining room. Rick said that she would sew while all the kids did their schoolwork at the dining table.

Our living room, entry, dining room and kitchen are all open to each other. My sewing machine will be moved back to entry area. With it there I can use the dining table which is located close to the entry way. I just have to remember to push in my chair so that its not blocking the front door........which is hardly ever used as our mobile home is set up backwards and we enter through the back door. That's a lot easier that walking across the lawn and around the corner to the front door. The reason the mobile home was set up backwards is so that we could see out across the valley through the bay windows across the front of the mobile.........otherwise we would have been looking straight into a hillside. We bought the mobile home already set up.........so choice was not ours.

Well, I'm off to get laundry started and then start moving my sewing machine and fabric stash.

Shirley

Double Delight Mystery Quilt

As most of you know I'm a huge fan of Bonnie Hunter.......www.quiltville.com She periodically has Mystery Quilts on her site. In the past she has done Carolina Crossroads, Orange Crush and Old Tobacco Road. I have finished Orange Crush and Old Tobacco Road tops.......they are waiting in line to be quilted. I didn't get in on the Carolina Crossroads project at the time it was going on.........I do have all the clues saved for a time when I need a project. Yeah, right!!!!!!!!! You needing a project. Bonnie's new Mystery Quilt is called Double Delight and it will start on New Year's Eve Day. She has already posted the material requirements. It calls for Double Pinks, Light Neutrals, Indigos, Brown and Gold/Cheddar. I hurried to my fabric stash.........and was soon disappointed that I didn't have any Double Pinks, Indigos, Brown or Gold/Cheddar. Now what am I going to do????????????? So soon after Christmas I can't go shopping for fabric........so I need to sit and rethink my color choices Okay.........I found some beautiful red fabric I will use instead of Double Pinks............some shades of blue that are lighter than indigo..........some beautiful black with silver design that I will use instead of brown.........then I found some dark yellow with gold fabric that I can use for the Gold/Cheddar. I had recently bought several pieces of small tan and beige fabrics that I can use for the Light Neutrals. After placing all my fabrics together I think they will come together and make a beautiful quilt. Now, I have to patiently wait for the first clue

Over for Another Year

Christmas is over for another year!!!! To me, it didn't seem like we even had Christmas this year. I didn't feel like spending 2 weeks putting up our tree and decorating the house this year. Usually I can't wait to start dragging out all the boxes of Christmas Goodies. I kept dragging my feet until Rick asked me if I needed any help dragging all the boxes out of the storage shed. I told him that I really didn't feel like decorating for Christmas this year. He told me what ever I decided was okay with him. I kept thinking that I would find the energy to decorate..........I never did. Maybe not decorating the house was one of the reasons it didn't seem like Christmas to me this year.

I could go on and on about why it didn't feel like Christmas........now that it's over I guess it doesn't matter so I might as well focus on getting in the mood for next year. Maybe if I start now I can find my Christmas spirit that I seem to have lost this year.

Shirley

I'm Still Around and Kickin'

It's hard to believe that I haven't posted to my blog since July. The reason why I haven't is because we have not had internet in our home since August. I have been going to the library and using the computer 1 hour each week. In that time I don't have time to blog........I barely got everything else done I needed. We now have our internet back in our home. It's so nice to be able to communicate with all my family and friends once again on a daily basis.

Rich is still busy working and counting down the years until he can retire. He has been having some medical issues. They found that some of his arteries around his heart are small. They think it is a heritary problem. He has to go back for more tests in March.

I have been doing pretty good lately with my Fibromyalgia. It hasn't gone away.........it still rears its ugly head some days and I can't get out of bed. I've been busy making Christmas gifts. I have been sewing pillows, tablerunners and crocheting hot pads. I think I can crochet the hot pads in my sleep. I'll have to take some photos and post later.

Talk to everyone later.