Rainbows and Fun

Walk in the rain, jump in mud puddles, collect rocks, rainbows and roses, smell flowers, blow bubbles, stop along the way, build sandcastles, say hello to everyone, go barefoot, go on adventures, act silly, fly kites, have a merry heart, talk with animals, sing in the shower, read childrens' books, take bubble baths, get new sneakers, hold hands and hug and kiss, dance, laugh and cry for the health of it, wonder and wander around, feel happy and precious and innocent, feel scared, feel sad, feel mad, give up worry and guilt and shame, say yes, say no, say the magic words, ask lots of questions, ride bicycles, draw and paint, see things differently, fall down and get up again, look at the sky, watch the sun rise and sun set, watch clouds and name their shapes, watch the moon and stars come out, trust the universe, stay up late, climb trees, daydream, do nothing and do it very well, learn new stuff, be excited about everything, be a clown, enjoy having a body, listen to music, find out how things work, make up new rules, tell stories, save the world, make friends with the other kids on the block, and do anything else that brings more happiness, celebration, health, love, joy, creativity, pleasure, abundance, grace, self-esteem, courage, balance, spontaneity, passion, beauty, peace, relaxation, communication and life energy to...all living beings on this planet. 

Bruce Williamson

Doesn't this list look like a great one for New Year's Resolutions?  I have already done the first one a few times and a few others.  Our year has been pretty soggy so far with more rain coming today.  That's OK you need the rain to get flowers and rainbows but I hope it stops before I get too blue.

I started the year off with a trip to the movies with my two younger children.  We had been trying to find a day when we were free to see The Hobbit and finally did.  Dear husband wasn't feeling up to it.  He has been a little under the weather the last few weeks but is finally feeling a little better and is planning to go see it today.

The movie of course was great.  I was a little sad when it was over because I have enjoyed all of Peter Jackson's journeys into Middle Earth so much and they are over now.  They have made me want to take a trip to New Zealand too.  If only it weren't so far away.

I will just have to focus on trips I can make for now.  This year I plan to make a trip around the Rainbow again by joining the Rainbow Scrap Challenge again.

I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of a hand dyed packet of fabrics from Vicki Welsh to use in my monthly blocks.  I will also try to make some progress on two of the other projects that I had planned to work on last year.  Here are some pictures in case you have forgotten what they were.

A Storm at Sea variation and this Amish Batik Beauty.

You may remember that I made blocks for this one.  I still need to add the corner triangles and work on the border units.

Here is what they were looking like one of the last times they were on my design wall.  Just in case you need to refresh your memory.  I made more including some green ones but I don't know if I got a picture of them all together before I took them down.

Right now I have the whole set of the ones below on my design wall.  I need to get of picture as soon as I am done swapping them about for the final layout.  I made a total of 31 blocks.

I was surprised that my husband said he really liked them.  They are very bold and modern.  I think I am almost over my solid fabric faze for a while.

Of course the top I did get finished was my Soul Searching one.  I had so much fun with that one that I might have to make another one this year.  Do you think I should?

I know you probably aren't interested in the clothes I wear.  Honestly, I think it would be a little strange if you were.  However I wanted to share this fun shirt I found while I was Christmas shopping a few weeks ago.  If you have been reading my blog for very long you know I have a thing about owls.  This one just flew into my hands and had to come home with me especially since it was the right size.

Isn't it a Hoot!  Love the glasses!  By the way it is laying on my bed.  I'm not that flat.  LOL

I'll be back with more to tell soon.  I need to get to my studio and work on something to share with you.  I haven't even made it down there yet this year.  

Pincushion Blog Hop

Circumstances may cause interruptions and delays, but never lose sight of your goal. Prepare yourself in every way you can by increasing your knowledge and adding to your experience, so that you can make the most of opportunity when it occurs. 

Mario Andretti

Welcome to my day on the Pin It Blog Hop!!!  If you haven't been to my blog before I hope you will take a little time and have a look around to get to know me better.  I haven't been posting much lately due to some internet connection problems but I'm hoping those days are all behind me now and I can resume chatting with my readers easily and regularly!

First I want to start off with a BIG THANK YOU! to Madame Samm and Kristen for making this event possible.  They blog at Sew We Quilt and Meadowbrook.  It's always fun to get to hear from some new quilters and fabric lovers around the world.  Here is today's blog hop list.  Make sure you check them ALL out.

September 11

Vroomans Quilts
More Stars In Comanche

Dancing Through Threads

Jackie's Art Quilts

What About Rheema?

Stekje

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

Just Let Me Quilt

Patchouli Moon Studio

Bea Quilter

Quilting Lines  That's Me!

I Piece 2 Mary

Quiltingbydawn

Nati's Little Things

Marjorie's Busy Corner

Krislovesfabric

Bquiltin

If you are one of my regular readers you may know by now that I have a thing about OWLS. I don't have a huge collection but I do have a few.   I even designed a paper pieced one, Dr. Whoot for a blog hop last year.  So when I saw this cute little pincushion in a magazine I saved it because I knew I wanted to make at least one.  After looking at the pattern a few times I realized that it was fairly small.  You know how small cute things are, you can't make just one!

Let me introduce you to my Pin Powls

Owllie

Owllie has a Scottish heritage I think

Paisley is a bit more of an introvert

Leafy is a bit more laid back than the other two

They are a great trio!  Now if they could sing it would really be a Hoot!

They were easy and fun to make.  Just 3 seams and a little handwork.  They are filled with crushed walnut shells.  I think I want to enlarge the pattern and make one that is about twice as big which still will be smaller than my hand.

Now, how about a GREAT GIVEAWAY!  I have been promising my followers that I was going to run this giveaway for months now.  I was going to start is earlier this month but I had serious internet connection problems so it had to wait.  I'm not going to put it off any longer.  Here's what the prize is:

I won this last year in a giveaway on the EQ Blog.  It was a great prize and it came with some other software too (which I kept).  I already owned it though so I thought it would be a good prize to offer on my blog at some point.  I've been a EQ user for many years and it is a great tool for quilters.  I designed my Dr. Whoot block in it.  The value of this prize is $189.95 plus shipping. 

The reason I'm giving it away now is because I passed the 50,000 pageviews mark last month.  I also am approaching the 500 followers mark although it's a little harder to keep up with since there are so many readers in use now.  This will also be my 149th published post so 150 is coming up.  So let's celebrate!

THIS DRAWING IS CLOSED.

Linking with:  Fabric Tuesday and Linky Tuesday

Something To Smile About

There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. 
One of these is roots; the other, wings.                                                                                               

                                                                                               William Hodding Carter, Jr.

I have been trying to get a post written since Monday and this isn't it.  What I was going to write about will just have to wait for another day because I want to share something that is going to make you smile.  I'll share a few other things first.

I've been trying to get through with a quilt for the Blogger's Quilt Festival.  This year Amy decided to allow 2 quilts to be entered by a quilter.  I have one from a few years ago with photos all done and I have been trying to get the binding on another one.  I'm about halfway through stitching it down.  Hopefully it will be done tomorrow.  Yeah!  You should enter one too!  Check out the link in my sidebar.  It's not too late yet.

If you have been reading my blog, you know I like OWLS.  I found another one while one our trip.  After I came home I found another one.  They were both on sale for half price so I just couldn't leave them on the shelf could I?  If you like them I'll let you know where they can be found.  Both places are national chains.

Ceramic Owl

Metal Owl

I really love the color of the first one.  We are going to change the wall color in our bedroom soon and it will go it there.  The metal one has eyes that kind of follow you around because it is very three dimensional.  I hung him on my longarm studio wall for now.  He will also stand alone so I may find another spot for him.  I have some shelves that I want to add somewhere in the studio so he may end up on one of them.

While we were in Massachusetts we visited Hoffman Pottery.  Elaine is a very talented lady.  You can see some of her work at EHoffmanPottery.com.  Some of her designs reminded me of quilting designs.  I found this plate, which will also go in our bedroom.  Notice a color theme here?

Just a nice little plate...

Make that a BIG one!  That's the width across.

Can you see the star in the center?

I worked in ceramics some in college.  They say the clay gets in your blood and hooks you forever.  Sometimes my hands almost itch to work in clay again.  Maybe someday. . .

Now, I hope my OWLS are making you smile but just look at who showed up Monday!

Say Hello to Levi !

Do you see a resemblance there?  Same nose and kisser.

Three generations of LINES men.

"I thought I'd get some MILK when I woke up!"

This little monkey didn't like to be still.  He was still doing flips so the Dr. said C Section to get this little one here.  Yes, he's a chunk!  Just an ounce shy of 9 pounds.  We got to meet him yesterday and he's just perfect!!!  I can't wait to have some more time playing with those sweet little baby feet.

As I was bouncing around looking at the quilts on Blogger's Quilt Festival this week I came across one blogger who was telling about the frustrations she had while working on her quilt.  I left her the following comment and thought I'd share it with you.  I've had birthing babies on the brain this week for obvious reasons.

"Remember making a quilt is like birthing a child, in time 

you forget how much trouble and pain you went through 

to get it here and just love the results."   Patricia Lines  

Enjoy the Smiles!!!  

Patricia

Linking with:  Really Random Thursday

Give Thanks

When you rise in the morning, give thanks for the light, for your life, for your strength.  Give thanks for your food and for the joy of living.  If you see no reason to give thanks, the fault lies in yourself.

Tecumseh

Cornucopia 

The Holiday Season is underway!  I hope that you all had a Happy Thanksgiving!  Mine was nice but not perfect.  I was hostess to my children but one could not come due to illness of a family member who is now in ICU.   I came down with a weird sinus infection that is just today leaving me feeling more or less normal.  Nothing quite like having a headache everyday for a week.  

Big Splurge on Dinnerware!

I have discovered the best way to entertain family.  Make them bring part of the food!!!  I did the turkey and my first gluten free dressing which was great.  I also made carrot salad and giblet gravy and provided chips and dip.  The children contributed appetizers, desserts, sweet potato casserole, broccoli casserole and rolls.  My husband said to use paper plates (I did buy some with a turkey and matching napkins) and so clean up was quick.  A less stress Holiday!  It was fine although the table wasn't as pretty as it is with real dishes.  We'll use real plates at Christmas.

My New Owls

I did manage to do a little decorating for my feast.  I found the silver owl a few months ago and then found the gold one to match right before Thanksgiving.  I really like to shop at T.J. Max!  I had picked up the other decorations a year or two ago.  I found the little gourds at Joanne's this year to replace some that got discarded last year.  My Publix Pilgrims met with an accident a couple of years ago and the little girl was broken.  They are cute but I wish I had the whole set.  Anyone have a spare girl pilgrim?

I even managed to get down to the studio for a while this week.  With the pounding sinus headache I knew better than to try to do any sewing but I did manage to get some cutting done for a new Christmas quilt project.  I've been wanting to make a tumbler quilt for a while.  Since I had the template and a pile a Christmas fabric that had not been put away I went to work with both. I'm using the full size of the template so they will finish at 5 1/2" tall.   Now I'll need to play at the design wall for a while.  I know... I still haven't finished to last Christmas quilt I started.   I got distracted with blog hops for a while and traveling and wedding and pictures....

Christmas Tumbler Quilt Cut Out

Tumbler Template

To end on a HAPPY THANKS...  I'm to be a grandma again.  The twins will be welcoming a new baby to the family around Memorial Day!  Can't wait for some baby cuddling time!!!  

Linking with Freemotion by the River and Design Wall Monday  and Freshly Pieced and Live a Colorful Life and Catpatches
(Yes, I know it's Thursday but I couldn't focus to write with my sinus headache)  Soooo Thankful to feel better!!!

Something Wicked Block Hop

...the taste of chocolate is a sensual pleasure in itself, existing in the same world as sex... For myself, I can enjoy the wicked pleasure of chocolate...entirely by myself. Furtiveness makes it better. 

Dr. Ruth Westheimer

Well, I can't give you chocolate but I can give you another Wickedly Delicious paper pieced block today. 

It is at last my turn on the month long block hop and I hope you like the block I have designed.  
Before I show it to you I want to say a big THANK YOU to Soma at Whims and Fancies she is and has been doing a great job with this block hop.  As soon as I saw the logo for the hop I knew I wanted to participate and what I wanted to make.

I have mostly used paper piecing to create elements in traditional blocks that are difficult to rotary cut.  I have also made things like five pointed stars and a bird that were designed by someone else.  Designing this block was fun!  I was surprised at how I could create a block from an idea in my head with just a little time doodling in EQ7.  I didn't even refer to a picture while I was doing it either.  I actually came up with several versions.  Maybe I'll share them sometimes.  

EQ7 is a great program to add to your quilting library.  I started using it as EQ4.  It just keeps getting better and better.  Now you can even edit pictures with it.  I'll have to talk about it some more another day.

So let me introduce you to Dr. Whoot.  With a name like that I probably should have given him a bow tie (Dr, Who fans will know why).  I didn't think of it until after the block was done.  Maybe in the next version.

Dr. Whoot

I hope you like him.  Be sure to check out the other blocks being revealed daily through the end of the month.  They are all 10" finished blocks so you can make a big quilt with them.  

You can download the Pattern here is Page 1 and here is Page 2 and Instructions are here.  Download ALL THREE to get everything needed for the block.

And just for fun how about a little chocolate after all.  This was served at a shower I attended Friday.   No recipe but I bet you can figure it out.  It was a so good!

Strawberries, marshmallows, cherries, and pretzels on a
swizzle stick drizzled with Yummy Dipping Chocolate.

If that's not enough to make your mouth water then I'll tell you that my sweet husband gave me a bag of Lindt Lindor Dark Chocolate Truffles on my birthday.  Gotta go now... I here one or is it two of them calling my name!

Yeah, I'm being WICKED!!!

I'm Linking to Sew Many Ways, Patchwork Times, Sew Happy Geek, Plum and June,
Freemotion by the River, Quilt Story,

Traveling Quilter

Know from hence you came.  If you know whence you came, there are absolutely no limitations to where you can go.

James Baldwin

Antique Quilt in Arkansas

One of the joys of traveling is finding new quilt shops to visit. While on vacation to Branson in April I got to visit Quilts & Quilts http://www.quiltsandquilts.com/ It is an incredible shop. What made it even more awesome was the fact that six weeks before I arrived their shop had been hit by a tornado. I would have never known they were in a brand new location if they had not told us.  They have bolts and bolts of fabric, many books and patterns and a lot of finished quilts for sell. I didn't get any pictures but I did buy a few goodies that I'll share with you another day along with some other great shops I visited.

On the way home we stopped for lunch at a cafe that had a crafts, shoes, Tshirts and furniture.  The quilt above was hanging on the wall. Here are the close ups:

Antique Block

Another Block

I don't know the name of the pattern but I just loved it.  They had some other quilts hanging, log cabin and ninepatch but this is the one that caught my eye, along with this:

Pottery Owl

Pottery Pitcher

I really fell in love with the owl vase that was sitting on the mantle. Unfortuneatly it was not for sale. I have a thing for owls. I also collect pitchers and after asking several employees I was finally given a price. I got it for less that $40.  Don't think it was a good deal?  I know you can't tell from the picture but this thing is huge! It is glazed ceramic pottery and probably will hold 2 gallons - more than I'd want to pass around the table for sure!  My husband likes to ramble through antique shops with me and we did a few of those too. I will have to share the other pitcher I got on the way through Alabama later.  By the way, if you know where I can get an owl like that please let me know.