The Quilter's Gift

Just a quick note for today I start restocking the kitchen.... not just food, but all of everything that has been lying around the house for nearly 2 months... wash it all and put down paper on the shelves. Ugh! Not my favorite kind of work.

Here's what I wanted to show you, one of my Christmas Gifts.  A Jelly Roll.  It's called Slices by Creative Cuts and the back says it's the Exotic Batik Slices.... here are 2 pic of it unrolled.

in all it's yummy but noncaloric goodness!

See the two hearts on the center fabric? I figure that is she and me... my daughter that sent this gift. Thank you, Chrissy!  I love it!

Hugs,
Terri

Our Christmas "Tree"

Merry Christmas to you all and to yours!

Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!

Happy Holiday Hugs to you all!

Terri

Unexpected gift, donations and fabric purchased

Hi Folks,
We had a lovely time with our local kids today, and the granddoggies. We had dinner and exchanged gifts. It was fun! Thank you two!

So here is my little Show and Tell for today. First is my gift from Sheila at Sew Cook and Travel. She sent me cookies from their local place, a card, and little squares (2.5") that she cut of her fabrics. Aren't they gorgeous?

Below is a closer look at the squares. Thank you, Sheila!

Next are the two paper pieced butterflies I sent to  two dresses studio for her Butterfly Effect project. She is ending her affiliation on the 31st so I wanted them to count for her time on the charity.  Artists, and we amateurs make butterflies to commemorate the innocent children who were victims of the holocaust.  I've wanted to donate for over a year, it seems, so right at the deadline I got it done. You can still donate. Just go to her site to find the museum address to send in your bflies. You can use any medium from paper to leather, feathers to fabric.

And below is my donation to Beth's House block party. She is at  Love Laugh Quilt and of course, her deadline to join in is on Dec. 31 also.  I tell you, if you're waiting for me to get something done, you've gotta have lots of patience!  It's a paper pieced (but you knew that!) Lighthouse... get it?  I did make a house! And I especially wanted some pebble fabric for the edge of the island... I thought I had some... I looked and looked. I have my fabrics sorted by color, so it should be easy to find anything. NOT!  I looked in the browns and the bird colors.... yes, I have a small box of colors that look like birds to me. I also looked in the top layer of the multicolor fabric.  Still NOT!  I looked through the HP patterns for Hagrid's Hut.... thought I singled out that fabric for that pattern.... NOT!  So while we were out  on Monday I stopped at my local quilt store and found all kinds of fabric that I couldn't leave without.... but no pebbles.  While waiting for the cut lady I continued to shop - any of us would - right? Guess what was in the cut rate bin right inside the door?  I did find some. It was all brown... and you all know I don't care much for browns.... but it looks so good as the edge of the island. Don't you think so?

You know some of the quilting bloggers are trying to reduce their stashes..... Here's the fabric I couldn't leave without.

This is gorgeous... lighter and yellower than the photo. I got a yard.  I think it might make a really pretty baby blankie as a center panel.

Really. Could you leave the store without some of this? Please!

These are 2 different quarter yard pieces... for HP paper piecing. You know magical fabric.

     On the left - more magic                                                          on the right - pebbles!!!!

And this is white and metallic gold! Yum

So you now you know my weakness... but then you do know my weakness.

Love you lots,

Hugs,

Terri

Sending off some blocks...

Howdy folks!
I'm reducing my stress/guilt UFOs by one. I started this quilt as a wedding gift, but neither the bride nor the groom liked it, so it's going to a church group who makes quilts to give people in need.  I like the idea, and I might just give away a few more of the unfinished things around here.  Here's the first candidate - an old picture from last year.

Since this picture I've sewed rows together. There's all kinds of color, and a variety of off white set with it.  I'm hoping they will make it look great and give it to someone who will love it.  It's going to Sarah Craig who blogs at Confessions of a Fabric Addict.  Sending it tomorrow, Sarah.

I sent off some 4 patches a while ago, too.  It's for a breast cancer charity...(BTW my daughter just had her  reconstructive surgery. She's in alot of pain still, but hopeful that she will be done with surgery now.) The charity is run by a daughter who lost her Mom to the disease.  You can donate a few blocks. To see the requirements go to Regina's blog. I sent 11 blocks this last time. See if you can beat that!

Also sent off two paper pieced butterflies that have been hanging on my design wall for a while. I sent them to  the Butterfly Effect... you will have to look around for the address. This blogger is done with her project and handing it over to a museum now, but they are still collecting butterflies. Make one in any medium - painted, collage, fabric.... whatever you like to work with. They want one for every little kid killed in the camps during the holocaust. I think I'll make another and that'll be one for each of my kids who were healthy and lived into their 40s so far. (How can that be? I'm younger than that, am I not?

I've got a neato idea for a house for Beth at Love Laugh Quilt. Her deadline is Jan. 1, 2012, so I'm cutting it kind of close. (I always do this. Think of something at the last minute.) I have the pattern set, I'm picking the fabrics, but I thought I had some pebble fabric... and I just can't find it. I looked in the brown box, I looked in the bird box (mostly browns in there) I looked a little ways down into the multicolors... nothing. Maybe I never did buy any... I have admired it many times.  Anyway, I'll make a second choice for that part of the design, and maybe I can send it off on Tues or Wed.

Sew what are all you doing? I love reading your blogs.... probably why I'm not getting much of my stuff done. I know my hubby would love to have some time on this contraption. Maybe tomorrow.

Hugs,

Terri

Name tags

Hi Friends,

Yesterday we spent the day finishing and shipping all the Christmas gifts and cards. Whew! All will be to their recipients before the 24th, so good job!

Here is one of the things we made... Yes, I said we.  He was roped into it, and I think he enjoyed it, too.

We stamped with a brown ink using our thumb prints, then drew on some reindeer horns. The noses are sticky "jewels" and eyes are sticky  wiggly eyes - Voila!

An out of focus (sorry) close up. I think the grandkids will love them. The eyes move, and so it could be a game to make them look as funny as possible.  If you do this - don't do like I did... write the recipients name on the back first! It'll be easier that way.

Sew I'm back to sewing - I have another gift project in mind, but it's not for a birthday or Christmas.  I'll show it when it's been received.

Hugs & Happy Christmas,
Terri

Folded Wreaths

Hello Friends,

I've been making little wreaths for the small packages we are sending for gifts this year. Here's the picture of one for each of my kids, their spices and their kids.

The big one on the right is made of 8 - 6" papers and the others are all 12 - 3" papers. I used Sandy's Space  as a starting point. While making all these I learned that you don't have to be that precise and that there is a pocket on the front and back for each of the tabs, so use one in front and one in back, and it'll turn out less bulky. The project is a bit exasperating... especially if you have a shaky hand. So beware. I used premade bows - had to go to 3 stores looking for them - so much stuff is already gone from the stores. Also, there is a gold or silver thread with which to hang them on the tree.

I used 12" square scrapbook paper in a color they liked, or representing something the recipient is interested in... one has musical notes, another basketballs, etc. I thought I'd make some for an ETSY shop, but there is too much of that afore mentioned exasperation.  Besides you can make your own.  I have every confidence in your abilities.

Next up, tags to id. the gifts. And then we wrap and ship.

Hope you are doing better with your Christmas preparations. The kitchen is scheduled to be done on Dec. 23, but I'm not holding my breath.

Hugs,
Terri

Couple of new blocks

Just a couple of new blocks to show.

First is another Penseive

 I'm liking this one better than the previous try. (See below) It's the background... more contrast, I guess. And the wand on the one below is too dark to be seen, I think. (The picture below is much lighter than the actual block.. this time the photo is better than reality.)

And this phoenix is gone already. They seem to fly from my house. I've used them on "Get Well" cards to quite a few of my peeps. Below is a photo of the copy I made of  the recent card. I used some of those glue on "jewels" as tears. (I started with water - no that wasn't going to leave any marks... then I tried glitter glue, but mine takes forever to dry... after scraping that off I figured out the jewels. All of this is trial and error, and you wouldn't believe how plentiful the error part. Who was it that said "98% perspiration and 2% inspiration"? The longer I live the more I know that to be true.

 I used 3 different orangy reds on this version of Fawkes, and I like the green background. Punches up that red, plus it's Christmassy. I'm working on another that I've modified a bit so the tail looks like it fits with the rest of the bird. We'll see how that goes.

Anyway, I hope this one works for my DD. She had a particularly painful week. Bless you!

Sew that's it for today... and do me a favor... hug your kids today. No matter how old they get, they are still your babies. No matter how naughty they may have been, or are, give them a hug today. I'd love to hug mine, but they all live so far away.  Hugs to you, my babies, and lots of love.

and Hugs to all of you,

Terri

Hi Again~

I'm a baaaaaad girl. I told you I'd be back the next day, and I wasn't.  I do have two blocks to show though....

Well, you know what they are, and where to find the patterns (if not, go to older posts). I'm off to work on a new Pensieve.

Hugs,

Terri

How to make the easy more difficult

Or The Terri Way

Hello Friends,

I'm working on a fairly easy pattern



~one half of the Deathly Hallows block done successfully~

of the Harry Potter blocks you can see on Fandom in Stitches, but I keep making mistakes! I set the fabric at wrong side to right... I get a fold over when I set it under the needle, (see below)

 or I use the wrong color... OMG. Last week I had to "unsew" four pieces on one patch of the Mimbulus Mimbilitonia. I guess there is just too much on my mind lately.  There is the Darling Daughter trouble... never leaves my mind for long. (Love you Honey!) There is the kitchen mess - while awake there is no way to look away... there is kitchen everywhere except in the kitchen! Then there is the regular stresses of the Christmas season - will they like their gift?  When can I get out to shop? Where is the money for it all?  I'm really amazed by the ladies who have kids and a job, too, that also make things and have all these same stresses.  How do we cope with all that?  ANSWER=Youth.  The great elixir... Where can I find a drop or two?

Couple of pictures of my closest granddogs. They were here for a couple of hours on Sunday. Their "Mommy" took us out for lunch.

This is Ivy and Max is in the next picture. (They are toy sized dogs that think they are lions.)

Well, I'm off to go "unsew" the mess I made last night. Just a few more pieces to this side, and the center seam, and I'll have the DH to show tomorrow.

Hugs,

Terri

Love from the UK!

Hi Friends,
Look what I got in today's mail~

How sweet of you, Melanie! I love the little elf - he has his own scarf. Look how wonderfully he is made. You did a great knitting job...  and he brought me Chocolate!

 He even brought a bar with my name on it!!!  I love it all. The card - Santa's village - is very dear. I love the candy, and the elf - I'm going to call him Mel - is beyond measure, thoughtful and absolutely cute! For those of you who do not know, Melanie is the Houseelf. She makes all kinds of things, bags, knit things, and quilts! Right now she's refinishing her floor... and with big dogs - greyhounds - in the house, too.  You are amazing, Melanie.  Thank you so much!  The package was a  big surprise, and a lovely one.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and a wonderful start to the Christmas season... I did!
Hugs,
Terri

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

It's a day to remember what we are particularly appreciative of... (Okay, I know that is the worst English Grammar there is, but you get what I mean, don't you?)  There is one thing I'm particularly thankful for, but it is quite a melancholy thing, so I won't divulge it. Suffice it to say, I'm particularly thankful for family.  But wait there is also a looooong list which, in part, includes sunshine, and You, my Blogger Friends.  I especially appreciate the ones who consistently leave a little sunshine/love by way of the comment section.  Thank you all - you know who you are... I Thank God for You!
So there still is no kitchen - just look back a few posts, and you will see how ripped up and unusable it is...still. That could be a good thing.  That's how I'm getting to eat out for Thanksgiving this year... That's right, no all day cook-a-thon for me.  The he and me will be at Denny's for dinner tonight.  (We are not the "goremet" type.)

Now that's enough old lady maudlin talk... (Did I tell you we've been a few days without sunshine, and I get pretty morose without it.)

I've a few new blocks from the  Harry Potter paper piecing site  finished and I want to share and show....

This is my version of the Goblet of Fire. I went to the book to find the description. I'd forgotten that it was wooden, (the movies confuse things) thus the wood grain fabric.  I did remembered the blue and white flames. I like how it turned out. I found just the right background, black and blue swirl, at High Sierra Quilt Store a few weeks ago.

Another Mimbulus Mimbulitonia.  The other one I used a white background, and, while I did like the outcome, I thought it might not "fit" with the rest of the blocks.  I do always like to have a few extra blocks to rearrange the final layout. (If you are just tuning in, there is my Pensieve, too.  I have it padded and ready for the project that I can't describe right now.  After Christmas....)

Did I show you the Slytherin Snake?  I'm not real happy about the mouth, I wish there had been a red eye... maybe I'll revise this one and make it again.

Finally, here's a sneak peek... I'm working on the second block in the There and back again BOM.

I really got myself into trouble with this wood grain fabric... particularly hard to get it to go across correctly. It'll keep me out of mischief, for sure. Another new experiment.

So that's what we are up to -  since we don't get to cook. Hope your holiday is happy and fun!

Hugs!

Terri

Geek Squad helped some...

Hello again Friends!

Lets give this thing another chance.  We went to the computer store, and the Geeks tried to fix it, I thought they were heroes, but in the long run they didn't help much.  F10 is supposed to turn off that VERY sensitive patch on my lap top so I can actually type, but it doesn't work. I was able to get my printer as the default today.  It's like wandering around in a foreign country in the dark.

Anyway, lets get back to some quilt show pictures from Friday.

This is a detail of the quilt above.  I love the applique roses, don't you?

Apparently I was not the only one that liked this little wonky house quilt.

I liked this one, too.

You wouldn't believe how narrow those strips are.  I would say they weren't much more than one quarter inch wide.  It's gotta be paper pieced.

I didn't know what to make of this one.  Just love it.

There were lots of bird house quilts... see the other one off to the left. I'd say there were at least 6 all shown in near proximity. I love the cat on this one.

This one is only the 4 panels... most unusual. The colors on the extreme right are part of  the next quilt.

This is the quilt that convinced us that the lighting needed to be improved.  Without the flash you can hardly see the windmills. We were amazed.

I want to make a pointy circular quilt like this some day.... bucket list of a quilter! Mine will have more color, for sure, but even though I don't care much for brown, I do love this quilt.

And here is what I won as a door prize.  3 one yard pieces.  Aren't they pretty?  Copper Mountain Quilting in Nevada. If you know the store, stop by and say "hi" for me.

I bought these 3 fat quarters for $1 each at another vendor.

And I went back to get this yard at the generous lady's spot. It just called to me, and will fit well as background for the Harry Potter paper piece blocks.  Looks magical to me.

I made a Goblet of Fire today.... Show it to you next time.

Hugs,

Terri

Slipper Experiment & a Quilt Show

Hi Friends,
Today for your amusement I will show off the slippers I made. (Please, no laughing until I'm out of range.)  I even used a pattern. It's the first bit of clothing I have made in a loooong while. ( I used my afore blogged about  "genius idea", and covered the sticky material for the nonskid bottoms with paper while I sewed, and that made it possible to sew at all.  You really should try that idea.)

Nonslip Slippers:

I stuffed them with paper so they would stand on their own. I'm sending them off to my DD for her to try them out. Giraffe are her favorite animal.  Below is a different view.

Looks like I swiped some giraffe parts from the zoo... Hope you like them, DD.

And now for the River City Quilters Guild Quilt Show from Sacramento, CA some of my favorite quilts... then the camera got a bee in its bonnet, and threw a fit, so no more pictures. (Found out today - new batteries fixed the problem.)  Here are the very excellent quilts I did get pictures of. (Let me just say they look better on the pictures.  I know that seems backwards, but the lighting just wasn't that good at the Scottish Right Temple, and we were amazed what the camera picked up with the flash that we couldn't actually see standing right in front of the quilt!)

Doncha love the little baskets... so colorful.

 Love this one, so much variety of shape and color.

A different basket quilt. Must have been a challenge.

And with this picture you get a bonus segment of the quilt next to it... which is awesome, as well.

I liked the leaded glass look of this little quilt.

Sorry, that is all for today.  There are another 10 or so to show you, but the computer is just taking forever to download them... still don't have the beat of this machine.  It's supposed to be faster - buncha liars that sold it to my hubby. It keeps falling out of the Internet connection, too. Very exasperating - new technology.  I wonder if a spanking in legal?  Anybody know? Maybe a few well placed kicks. It sure would make me feel better.

Come back to see the fabric (my hubby) I won for a door prize.  I'll catch up with you in a few...

Hugs,

Terri