Pillow Case Progress

I hope you clicked on over to Cassie's last week
to check out her pillowcase tutorial.
These are the two I made for our bed.
Isn't that birdie fabric the cutest?
And matching stripes for the back.
All on sale to boot!
I actually made 3 cases.
One for practice
since my crocheting skills are pretty rusty.

This is the ONLY cotton yarn I could find.
Lily's Sugar & Cream.
It's 4 weight. Not 3.
But until I can get to the "big city"
it will have to do.
The colors are perfect.
This week was the blanket stitch
around the edges.

Click on the logo to see what all the fun is about!

Winter is over so I took the down comforter off the bed.

I hate to see it go.
It's like sleeping in a cloud.
But hubby doesn't agree.

This is the quilt I keep folded at the bottom of the bed.
I purchased the top on Ebay 7 years ago.
And quilted it with Baptist fans.

The lady I bought it from said her sister
was the quilter in the family.
She had no use for it.

When I saw this beauty I was so sad for the piecer.
To think that her family didn't value her hard work
and fabulous eye for design.
The quilt is made from 1 1/2" squares hand pieced.
At first glance the quilt looks pastel.
But look at the "pop" of black she used.

The Ebay seller contacted me
to say she had found another top
and would I be interested
in purchasing it for the same price.
It was the same pattern as the first but different colors.

Isn't it beautiful?
All prints with that solid black fabric.

Made by an anonymous woman
whose name will be lost forever.
I'm so happy to be able to complete the tops
into finished, usable quilts,
to honor the efforts of her skill.

Now, back to my bedroom.
When we moved in I purchased curtains for the windows
but didn't like the valances. I planned to remake them.
Well, 4 years later, I haven't done it.

Then I was shopping at Wally World and noticed
what a nice selection of curtains they carry.
Better Homes & Gardens.
And found the perfect colors to match
the panels I already had up.
Buffalo plaid.
$15.00 for an 54" x 84" panel.
So, I cut one up and made 3 new valances.
I love them!

And I couldn't leave you without the latest pictures of the babies.
Our sweet baby girl is growing up so fast.
Love those little pig tails.

And our sweet boy likes to show off this muscles.
He's always throwing a ball......
baseball, basketball, or football.

Well, I'm off to the grocery store.
Mike's sister and family are coming up
from St Louis for a visit.
Gotta get some baking done.
Trying out some new recipes that
I'll share with you next week.

Hope all is well in your world.

Not your Grandma's pillowcases

Check out the fun prints!

Aren't these just the cutest!
LOVE the crochet trim in bright colors.
What a cheery Spring addition to any bed.

Cassie over at You Go Girl is hosting an
"ON THE EDGE"
Pillow case crochet along.


Each week she's sharing a different step on
how to make your own cute-cute cases.
This week she has a excellent tutorial on her method of making a "flap"
pillow case (it holds the pillow edge so it doesn't stick out on the end).
Just like those expensive ones at Pottery Barn.
They go together very quickly and easy peasy as pie.
(The above photos were taken from Cassie's site)

I made two in no time!

Notice that each side of the case is a different fabric?
See the patchwork "flap" hiding the end of the pillow?
They look great on the bed. Very finished.

I thought hmmmm why wouldn't it work on different sizes.
So I recovered my 2 sofa pillows (18" square) using the same technique.
One side floral, the other striped.

Now click right on over to Cassie's and see for yourself.
This is going to be fun!

Time Flys When Your Having Fun

And this week just flew by.

Apple Butter House held an Anniversary party
yesterday and you know I just couldn't miss it.

Spring was in the air!
Easter bunnies, gardening and
country favorites filled the barn.

Can't believe I didn't take pictures
of the treasures I bought.
What kind of blogger am I!
I bought a braided rug, with lots of red in it,
to put in front of my kitchen sink.
A red & white tea cup & saucer to make a bird feeder
later this Spring.
And a cute round tea pot for a friend
who just happen to tell me she was looking for one.

There are cute signs everywhere.
This is one my favorites.

Here is the hanging of the quilt for pictures.
Notice anything different?
I added 8" borders to enlarge it.
And scrappy binding is the finishing touch.

I Love every pattern in this book!
From Kim Brackett of Magnolia Bay Quilts
Every quilt is made from 2 1/2" strips.
Now just to get the time to piece one.
But in the mean time I can dream
and look at all the pretty pictures.

ME! ME!

Surprise-Surprise!

Isn't it exciting to hear the UPS man drive up and ring your door bell?
I had been waiting all day for him.
My high school friend from CA sent me a birthday present.
Yep, high school.
She told me I had something coming and nothing more.

Aren't they beautiful!
8 dessert plates.
So delicate looking.
Thank You-Thank You.
Makes me want to have a tea party.

I came across this picture of my maternal grandparents
while cleaning out a box of old pictures.
Taken 85 years ago.
My grandmother was only 19 and had been married 2 years.
What surprises me is the comment she wrote on the side of the photo.
Written with white pen on the right side
"Somewhat happy"
For some reason it makes me sad.

I'm off to Milwaukee tomorrow morning.
To visit the grandbabies and give my DDIL some adult conversation.
My son is out of town all week for work.
Going to try and lighten the load a little.

I quilted some small customer quilts this week.
After that raffle quilt I needed a break.
I didn't get pictures of them. Darn.
I had to hurry to get them to UPS before they closed.
Alright, truth be told, hubby had to hurry to town.

Nothing much else going on.
It's snowing.
Like that is something new.

I want to leave you with a smile.

Raffle Quilt...feeling lucky?

I first want to THANK all the gals who stopped in from Picket's Place.
Dot is such a doll! She tells the funnest stories.
Be sure to catch her tale of chasing garbage cans
down the street in her nightie.
And creative.....what she can do with a cloche.

I have a few photos of our Quilt Guild 2010 Raffle Quilt.
Our sewing group the "Sew Whats"
was chosen to make it this year.
We decided to do a hand embroidery pattern called
Aunt Bea's Parlor
by Judy Reynolds of Black Cat Creations.
We have 20 members in our group
and there were 42 embroidery blocks.
Thus, everyone had "a hand" in making the group quilt.
Three members pieced the top together,
I quilted it and have the binding to do yet.
The raffle is in August 2010.
If you'd like to buy a chance just let me know.
I'd love to mail tickets out to you.
They are $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00.
Feeling Lucky?

This quilt has the distinction of having spent the most time
of any quilt, ever-ever, on my quilting machine.
First off, I'm slower than before
and I spent 2 weeks waiting for parts.
Every time I walked by my machine
I swear the quilt grew!

The fabrics are 1930 reproductions.

Feathers... of course!

Notice all the color changes in each basket block?

Here is my version of the vintage baskets.

REDWORK!

I'm using DMC Cotton size #8.
I'm collecting red and white fabrics to make the blocks with.

Have you used these vinyl words?
I picked this up at HL and I'm kinda scared to start.
If anyone has any suggestions I'd appreciate them!

Here are some new apron fabrics.
The vintage kitchen with red mixer is back.
So cute with the red & white polka dots.

Mary E.'s "Cup of Kindness"
With black & white polka dots.

Pink Ribbons with pink & white polka dots.
If your not a "sewer" and would like to purchase one
just drop me an email.

And our final Apron Give Away Winner.........

Number 3!!!!!

I hope you sweet ladies are staying warm
and keep those sewing machine humming......

Quilty Hugs,

Valentine Kisses

Cookies that just SCREAM
Happy Valentine's Day!

Macaroon Kisses

Made these for our "Sew Day" at the Quilt Shop.
They were a BIG-BIG hit,
if you love coconut.
I can't believe how many ladies don't care for it.

The green depression glass cake stand was
given to me by my Grandma Cottrell.
I get my love for pretty dishes from her.

Give them a try. Sweets for your Sweetheart.
The recipe makes about 4 dozen.

Here's the last apron in my give away.
Just leave a comment to enter.
I've had a few emails asking where I find my cute apron fabrics.
The fabric above, both the print and polka dots, is from Hobby Lobby.
The cupcake fabrics were from JoAnn's.
And the Michael Miller "Fifties Kitchen" was from the quilt shop.
The line came out, I guess, 5 years ago?
Available now on EBay.

And for this week's winner...

YEAH PAM!!

On the quilting front....
I'm having machine (longarm) trouble.
Can you believe it?
I had to replace the "mother board"
and a few other electronics.
Of course the warranty ran out last summer.
Just my luck.

I hope the weather is being kinder to you where you're at.
We had a million inches of snow fall the past two days.
As my Grandson says:
"Snow, snow
Go away
Aiden wants to go out to play!"

Have a great Sweethearts Day.
It's the Olive Garden and a girly movie for us.

Hugs,