Back to normal! A WIP and another Fawkes...

Welcome to my spot in blogland...   Ahhh, I still have one.

So far I have the pieces cut and hanging on the design wall - (please pardon the lumpy look, but the little triangles are still pinned there under the "jelly roll" strips.
Here's the picture of my WIP:

As you can see there are a few sewed together on the right - sorry about the sun spots. (We are having the prettiest winter we have ever had since I've lived in CA since Dec. 1979.  We've had but mist since Oct, and we really need the rain.) I have incorporated a bunch of my stash in the classic blue and yellow-orange colors... and I've been influenced by an  esteemed colleague . I like the cheery fabrics she buys and uses and I think you will, too. I did buy a few fabrics I've liked that she uses.

Below find the latest Fawkes.. the only one at my house currently. (If you are new to this blog, you might not know that you can find Harry Potter (and other genre) paper piecing patterns for free at Fandom in Stitches (one of my favorite blog spots) who today is showing a cardinal... If you follow this blog you will find that Veeeery Interesting. It isn't my cardinal.... I want that very clear... I have not trouble with her version! It isn't my version. It's just funny how life works out.

Anyway, heeeeere's Fawkes, again. I like the background of this one. Fawkes in the cave, I guess.

Sorry I didn't crop this picture, but I don't have software for cropping any more. New computer. The old one had a "fix it" button - all "kina" ways to change your photo, and I don't have that now.  Tonight I'm going to tackle the "Knight Bus" from the Fandom in Stitches collection of HP patterns. (You can use them personally or for a charity project, but not for sale items.) I don't know what to do with the blocks I'm making, but I enjoy the making.  If you go over there to FiS, you can find the cardinal, there are patterns for SiFy and Animation and Vampire subjects as well as HP and some I don't remember. Today's cardinal is going into the Sports heading.  Have fun. If you have any questions about paper piecing, Jennifer has directions, too. And you can always ask me. I've done a bunch of that and I'd love to help you out.

Hugs,

Terri

You will not believe it!

I love blogging and reading blogs. Yesterday I was knocked off Blogger. I think it was from a comment from a non-blogger who insulted me - said my cardinal was someone else's design - I had to translate it with Bing to know what it said - and the Internet address that was given as the owner's name was a place that didn't exist.

I think she complained when I deleted her comment.

Beware! and back up your files and pictures that are on Blogger.
 I did get Blogger to look into the trouble, and they apologized for taking me off the air.  She must have seen the cardinal (my banner right now) on Pintrest or some Flickr account and thought the owner of the account owned my cardinal.  I spent a day of anxiety, to be sure. What I really can't understand is that one comment could be a death knell. Innocent until proven guilty, and I am not guilty, and Blogger (Google) agrees. (I do forgive her the mistake... not all of us understand in another language, and who in their right mind understands the workings of Pintrest?)
So just some words of advise today. I'll show my PIP that I worked on yesterday for Project Linus, but that will happen tomorrow.
For today, it's just wonderful to be here!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hugs,
Terri

Slow start to 2012

You know after the holidays I like to do nothing.... but there is so much to do around here. I have been slowly getting the kitchen put back together.  (Translation: it still isn't.) I like it in this minimalist way. The counter tops are so clean and shiny, I don't want to mess them up. I especially don't want to bring back the microwave which is white. I'd rather leave it in the hallway. The most we use it for is to warm something, make coffee water for the instant - which is staying right next to that m machine. Anyway, there is lots more to do, and there is alot of it all still camped out in the living room.

But I have made some new blocks.

This one had a flaw. I tried to revamp it with a new tail - extra feathers - and more wing, but I had to take out the new wing parts after the whole thing was put together.... just didn't look right.  Now it has a hole. Well, it'll be good for a card.... or a hubby. He hinted that he'd like a phoenix. Who knew?

This is a little comparison with the two different Fawkes. The one on the right went to my daughter in a card, (and is shown here from the copy I made of it, so it is kind of faded... if a screaming red phoenix can be termed faded.) I love the background fabrics of each. I always pick and choose very carefully all the fabrics for each of the HP  blocks. Love goes into those, too.

And these ladybugs (2 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches) are going into a (modified) jelly roll quilt for Project Linus.  We are getting together again to make JRQs for Linus next Thursday, and I'm going to be a devilish woman, and add some artistic elements into my version. I just don't like the fabrics they cut and put together for quilts for kids. (I'm sure they would make nice enough quilts for, say, old ladies and gents, and anybody afraid of color.)  I couldn't even work on the one they sent home with me last time. - Well, here's a picture.... you decide.

Here's the whole package with "girl" written on the plastic bag. The camera has been very kind to these fabrics. The backing (at the top) and the same yellow strip are really more goldy. The landscape fabrics should, in my opinion, be used to wash a very dirty floor. These three on the right, are not this nice either. They are darker.  Below are close-ups of the same.

I like the beige fern on the right, but that's cause I'm an old lady. This combo just isn't for little girls!

Still not girlish.

So I'm bringing it back. Maybe someone else can stomach this grouping.  I am assembling some yellows and blues from my stash and will make a strip quilt that will not be the same as a jelly roll race quilt, but sewn in strips, and will turn out larger... I think, and more exciting.  Here's what I propose...

There are paper pieced parts, and some of the Happy Squares that were sent to me by my good friend, Sheila of Sew Cook and Travel. Take this violet colored link to her quilt.... OMG, it is a Beauty with a capital B. Now that's a girl who knows color and how to use it! 

(I'll probably get into trouble for bringing my own "Jelly", but I got into trouble last time for a comment I made about not liking brown. I do see some uses for brown, but not for Linus quilts, unless you are making one for a sullen teen. Anyway, this time I will be driving myself there and back, so I won't have to wait for my hubby to pick me up... and I can leave if I get yelled at too much. Last time I got into trouble for using the diagonal seams - which are prettier, I think - when all the rest were doing blunt assembly... and they crabbed at me for being too slow. (I really do think that they wanted me out of there) Going this time is a penance. I'm a bit arrogant - I know, big surprise. I'm going to try to stick with it this time as a humbling experience... (I know you are laughing.)  I was slow last time, but in my defence I have a very small button on my foot pedal, and I'm not used to using one. I always use the knee pad... I've used a knee pad for over 50 years. It takes a while to get used to different technologies at my age. If you are thinking this is all toooooo strange, quilters don't usually act like this... well, the crabbies were crocheters... monitoring us quilters. I think they may have been instructed, and thought that they needed to enforce rules. I hope we've all learned our lessons.

I guess that's enough ranting for today. Here's one last picture of the true (and self adorning) Christmas tree. We leave the fruit on the trees for months after it ripens. It's pretty, a good storage method, and in the cooler weather the fruit stays fresh and keeps on sweetening. There's nuthin like tree ripened.

Love and Hugs to you all!

Terri

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