Happy Fabric

Doesn't this fabric scream happy? I discovered it a few weeks ago while Daughter 2 and I were at Joann's. It was one of those shopping trips when I wasn't planning on buying fabric. We were there to buy the little eyes and nose for the doxie puppy she was crocheting. BUT...this fabric jumped off the shelf and into my buggy.
The squares are about two inches. I can see this as a quilt in itself, with simple straight quilting along the perimeter of the squares. Or it would be an absolute bonanza for fussy cutting. I bought a ton of it - I think six yards. I have big plans for it!
Here's a shot of the selvage in case you want to score some for yourself.

I'm still stuggling to get my strength back. Today I'm trying a new approach - I'm starting the day off with a list of things to accomplish. I just can't keep sitting here in my recliner! I think forcing myself to get a few simple things done may help me feel better. Included in my list today are making a few phone calls, prewashing some fabric for a quilt binding, sketching a few quilt designs on paper (it's time they got out of my head!), and maybe even a bit of machine quilting. Wish me luck!

Lucked Out!

We really lucked out in our area weather-wise. Birmingham sits right in the middle of the winter storm that came through last night. Some areas not far from here got six inches of snow. But we only got a dusting. However, there is about an inch of ice under the snow, so the roads are all impassable. It is the best case scenario for us. Hubby must work from home (yay!) and we didn't lose electricity (yay!).

So I will continue my recliner sewing that has been going on for quite some time now. I still don't feel that great - I have that dizzy feeling in my head that won't seem to go away. But I know in another week or so, I'll start getting my strength back and hopefully will feel less loopy. I took my last antibiotic this morning.
I started stitching hexies together in a long chain on Saturday. I had hubby place them on the deck so I could get a few pics from the doorway:

Hubby: You want me to put them where? But there's snow on the table.
Me: I know. It won't hurt them.

He patiently stood by while I zoomed in and clicked away. He's a good dog, as I always tell him. The ultimate compliment.


And yesterday I felt compelled to start the Baltimore Christmas block number 2. So much for my break on this project! I was thrilled to discover that this block is much less intricate than the angel block!

Lollypop Tree

The year of the BOM continues. You already know I'm working on the Baltimore Christmas quilt, and I'll also be doing the Sue Spargo 2011 BOM project. But wait! There's more! Hubby got me Kim McLean's Lollypop Tree pattern along with plenty of chocolate Kaffee Fasset Aboriginal Dot for the backgrounds.
These are big, easy curves to applique - a walk in the park after the Baltimore Christmas angels! And it's really fun to fussy cut wonderful Kaffee fabrics to stitch.

There are 16 blocks in this quilt, so it's not truely a BOM, but it will be fun to work on this year.

We have a forecast of up to 8 inches of snow here Sunday night. Along with ice. Oh dear.

Hubby and I are ready in case the power goes out. We have stocked up on peanut butter and jelly, along with trail mix so we won't starve.

We've stocked up on batteries for the flashlights so we can see.

I did all the laundry so we'll have clean clothes.

We stocked up on paper plates and cups in case we can't wash dishes.

We even went the extra mile and rented a generator to power our television Monday night so we can watch our alma mater in the National Championship game.

Bring on the snow!

Blurry

This is how I'm feeling today - a bit blurry, but slowing coming into focus. This morning Daughter 2 left for college, so I'm alone in the house for the first time in over a month. My antibiotics are beginning to kick in - by Monday I should be fully focused.

I've set myself a few small goals for the day so I can get back into the swing of life without overdoing it.

1. Thoroughly clean kitchen. Check.
2. Clean den. Check.
3. Vacuum kitchen and den - still need to do.
4. Make roasted vegetable soup for supper. Check.
5. Go to Costco to pick up new eyeglasses - still need to do.

So I'm making headway. Once the house is back together, I'm going to get my studio in order. That may take a few days. Then on to my next big project - pulling my next book together. I've been designing quilts in my head during the holidays and I'm looking forward to putting them on paper and then selecting the fabrics for the samples. It's going to be a good year!

One BOM done

Despite not feeling well, I've managed to sit in my recliner and stitch. Yesterday I finished the Baltimore Christmas January block. Okay, so I haven't done the embroidery yet, but the applique is done - yay me!
I put a dime in the middle so you can see how tiny the shoes are - smaller than Barbie shoes! The funny thing is that the first pair of shoes I stitched ended up being the best! Somehow, as I progressed through each angel, their shoes got bigger and wonkier!

The next block has candy canes and gingerbread men. I'm going to take a break before I start it. I think my Sue Spargo BOM kit for January is supposed to come next week.
Thanks for all the nice comments on Daughter 2's crocheted dachshund puppy. The pattern came from this boxed calendar I gave her for Christmas. I got it at Joann's near the checkout counter.
Here's the publisher. There were lots of cute patterns inside!

Happy Birthday to Elizabeth, Daughter 2! My baby is 21!

A New Puppy!

Isn't he adorable? Daughter 2 whipped him up this week with her crochet hook in hand. Next best thing to having another real one.

I'm feeling a bit better. Hopefully, tomorrow I'll have more energy.

The Inevitable

After getting through the wedding, Christmas, and New Year's Eve and Day, my cold turned into something worse. I can't complain though since I made it through all the celebrations. I went to the doctor today and was given a lovely steroid injection. Came home and crashed on the sofa. Hopefully, I'll have more energy tomorrow.

So why am I showing you mushrooms and pearl onions? Because before I got so sick, on the 30th, Daughter 2 and I spent the entire afternoon making Beouf Bourguignon, Julia Child's recipe. One year I gave her Julia's book, Mastering the Art of French Cooking, for Christmas, and she gave me a copy of the movie, Julia and Julie. We had seen the movie together months before.
We had never attempted to cook something quite so complicated and time consuming. It was so much fun doing it together. Special memories! And the dish fully lived up to its expectations - very delicious!!!!

Be back soon with crafty goodness. Sniff, sneeze, cough....