Look at my poor cold porch rockers.

Hubby set them out 2 weekends ago, at my insistence.

And I've been waiting for the sun to shine ever since.

I hope you'll notice my new blog look. 

I added a top navigation bar and removed the links on the side.

When you get a minute take a look at the

Out & About page.

I've haven't finished adding all the sites, but it's a start.

More will be added as I find time.

******

It seems all I've been up to is quilting customer quilts.

I'm working on a Spring yo yo table topper. 

Need just a few more nights in front of the television yet.

 Both quilts were made by Lin from Las Vegas.

Can you tell her favorite color is blue?

 Close up of the star block.

 Hard to see the quilting on the back because of the print.

 Not much happening here this week.

I'm trying to get a huge customer quilt finished
and organize a few projects to take with me.

  Where to???
A 3 day retreat, leave next Friday.

OOO, I can't wait!

Sewing with friends.

Can it get any better than that?

Blogger Problems

I have tried to post for the past couple days
but BLOGGER isn't playing nice.
Anyone else having problems?
But it did let me embedded this video.
It's been floating around the web all week.
But well worth seeing again.

Wouldn't he been great at the Super Bowl?
Will try to post again tomorrow.
Keep Stitching!
Karen

The Next Best Thing Since Sliced Bread

OOOOO, I didn't forget about you......

I've been sew-o busy,
just like the you, I'm sure.
But now with day light savings time
I have an extra hour of sunshine in my day!
Cuz let me tell ya
when it's dark by 4 in the afternoon
I'm in my jammies.

There's HOPE for Spring!
Check out my BOM from Little Miss Shabby.

Lovin the orange and teal!

January Snowman

February Love Birds

Lucky Shamrock March

Of course I'm not doing the suggested setting.
In fact, I used that setting for my Snowbound quilt.
Cute. Cute. Cute.

And here is the next best thing since sliced bread!
Erasable gel markers.
The ink disappears when ironed!
* Can be purchased at the office supply store or Walgreens.

And this sweet tea towel pattern is available
FREE

Click Here

Here is a customer wall hanging.
Love the eagle!

Keep those sewing machines humming!

Snowbound

Not here in WI.....thank goodness!

Just in fabric.

I completely changed directions on the setting for
my embroidered "Snowbound" blocks.

My inspiration came from
LMS's Birdie BOM.
Hmm, I just happen to have 2 charm packs of
Mary Engelbreit's The Caroler.

Love the bright colors with the white.
I debated whether or not to use the black prints.
I'm so glad I did.

I had enough fabric left to add a piano key border.
Now to get it quilted by Christmas.


Look at this spectacular quilt my customer Sharon pieced.
You know how I love 1930's reproduction prints!

The pattern was in the Spring/Summer 2008 issue of
Quilt Sampler magazine.
A million half square triangles.

Love those wide open spaces for quilting!

The back can be used as a whole cloth.

Wool batting really shows the quilting details.

Well, that's my life up to the moment.
Rainy and yucky outside.
Guess I'll just have to stay inside and play with fabric.
And work on customer quilts.
Pretty quiet here without the grandbabies.

Keep those machines humming.

Toy Story 3 with Mac & Cheese

And a few Candy Land and Uno games thrown in.
That's how we spend our weekend.
The 4 yr old prince and 2 year old princess came for a visit.
Papa and I had so much fun!
Plus, I was able to get my coloring practice in.
Went for lunch at Mickey D's to use their playground
and burn off some of that energy.
I forgot how fast their little motors run!

Have you seen this Crab-apple Hill pattern
called Berry Picking Party?

This pattern is moving to the head of my line.

The photo doesn't do the pattern justice.
Here are a few of the stitchery patterns.
Wouldn't these be perfect on tea towels?

I stitched this last night while watching
the Academy Awards.
What a boring show.
Bring back Billy or Whoopi!
PLEASE.

Cute-Cute-Cute!If you want to learn more about PhotoShop,
check out Kim Klassen's website.
I just finished Kim's FREE
Skinny Mini eCourse.
I loved it.
The PhotoShop Recipe Book looks interesting.
Going to try it next.

Have you read
Water for Elephants?
Couldn't put it down.
Loved it!

Customer Quilt Show on Friday.
Hope you'll stop back.

OOOO NO, tomorrow is March 1st.
You know the saying,
"In like a lion, out like a lamb".
Keeping my fingers crossed
Stay warm.

A Little of This & That

When was the last time you bought 6 yards of rick rack for 15 cents?
Look at all this lovely bias trim.....
pink and gray stripes,
teal gingham, red and flower prints.
I almost hate to open the packages.
Gosh, I love to go "junking" opps...
treasure hunting!
How old to you think these are?
From the 50's or earlier?
Who knew Fruit of the Loom made rick rack?

I baked this delicious Apple Cheesecake last month
for our St Louis company.
We liked it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
And coffee, of course.

Click on recipe to enlarge and copy.

Here are a couple quilts that I finished recently.
Both where machine embroidered by my talented
customer, Kathleen.

Santa before
and after the "bling".

And look at this delicate cut out work.

Have I told you I have the best,
most patient, loyal customers
in the whole wide world?

Here's what I've been working on, at night,
in front of the television.
I'm a little late jumping on the yo-yo train.
But with this Clover yo-yo maker it's so quick & easy.
Will surprise you with the finished project.
Soon.

Stay warm.
And keep those sewing machines humming.

Free Pattern & A Bargain!

Happy Heart Day!!

Lookey here.
Isn't this just the cutest dang tea towel pattern!
And it's free from....
Debbie at Busy As Can Be

Debbie suggest using a lightweight interfacing or pellon
on the back of the embroidery.
Something I've never tried before.
Makes for smooth stitches.
And no thread shadows.
I'll definitely be using her technique again.

And now for my bargain.

Carpet cutting blades from Freight Harbor.
They fit my Olfa 45 mm rotary cutter
and cut cotton fabric like butter.
The cost....drumroll please....
$1.99 a pack.
In fact, I picked mine up yesterday at the store
and they were on sale for $1.49 per pack.
Sew, let's see $6.99 OR $1.00 per blade.
I can change blades 7 times for the same cost.
Give them a try and
let me know what you think....
I see no draw backs.
Yet.

Oh, and I celebrated a birthday last week.
Lordy, don't make me say which one.

Here is my NO CALORIES birthday cake.
Just Beautiful.
Thank you Peggy Sue.

And now I need to rant a little.
Yesterday, hubby and I went to the movies.
Saw The Fighter,
with Christian Bale & Mark Walburg.
Great movie. Mark is such a hunk.
But I digress.....
It's the COST of admission and snacks!
Afternoon senior price $7.50 each.
We splurged and shared one
soda and popcorn for $12.50.
Shared, being the key word here.
Total $27.50.
That's a lot of Red Box movies
and pop corn let me tell ya.
I know some movies need to be seen on the BIG screen.
Avatar, being one.
But really.
Who will be able to afford to go to the movies before long?
Forget families.

Okay, I'm over it.

Hugs and Valentine Kisses.

Scrappy Sue

Oh WOW, have I been busy.
Machine quilting!
I'm so happy!

I haven't been on my machine for months with this broken arm.
I needed to put a practice top on and just go for it.

These Sunbonnet Sue blocks were rescued from a garage sale years ago.
Waiting patiently to be made into a quilt.
I pieced random strips of reproduction fabrics around the block.
Wouldn't the gal who hand stitched Sue
be delighted to see her quilt finished?
I

Four pieces from my stash were used for the backing.
I can't wait to wash & dry it
to get that cuddly, soft, wrinkled vintage look.
Surely, one of my 3 granddaughters, will take a liking to it.
Can you tell I love feathers?

On my table, the finished Valentine topper.

This yo-yo block, another rescued treasure,
is my usual table topper.

Well, that's my life up to the minute.
To dang cold to go out and about.
And snow......let's not even go there.

Stay safe and warm.