Almost a Quilter???

As some of you remember, my first Thimbleberries quilt class was yesterday. I must admit I was a bit nervous about how I'd do and my hands were a little shaky at first, lol. We (my machine and I) got off to a bit of a rocky start, but then I finally got the swing of it and went zooming along. :)) I think the shopowner/teacher was wondering if I even really knew how to sew at all in the beginning, but she kept giving me hints that really helped and was very knowledgeable. I almost felt like I was taking a refresher sewing class at first, which is what I need desperately! LOL The nice thing about it was the other gal had cancelled, so I got the teacher all to my self pretty much the whole day! She had ALL the pieces cut out and marked lines on all the pieces of where to sew, so she had done the hard part ahead of time, thank the Lord or I'd still be there today!!! LOL I chose the lighter quilt blocks as opposed to the darker set, mainly because she didn't have all the fabric in at the time and also I thought I'd end up w/this quilt in our b'room and these lighter colors would work better in there. However, I've almost convinced myself that I'm determined to also make the darker blocks later on as well, and put that quilt in the family room. The first block was the hardest, but I finally got the hang of it....go easy on me, I know my points don't match up exactly, but some of them were pretty doggone close. LOL I have to say this class really helped boost my confidence. Block #2 was way easier and not as many seams/points to match up........

and block #3 was not nearly as time consuming, but did have a few more points to match up. Overall I was pretty pleased w/how they turned out and I'm pumped about doing the next set the end of next mth. We meet quarterly and do 3 blocks at a time, but since I was added late, I am all caught up now and will be ready to go for the next quarter. If you have a keen eye, you will notice that the center square and all 4 corners are the exact same for each block.

Needless to say, I haven't been on here much the past few days and hope to catch up w/some of you very soon! Two days ago it was 78* and a bit muggy out so later in the day I had to close all the windows and turn on the a/c for the very first time this yr!!!! Now, 2 days later, it dropped 40* and was only 38* this morning, so had to turn the heat back on!!! wahhhhhhhh! Otherwise, it is beginning to look a LOT like spring w/all the trees/plants budding/blooming. Hope you're enjoying the weather wherever you live! Here's your quote for today: "If you have but one true, faithful friend, you'll have adventures w/out end." (hope I didn't repeat this one ~ I'll have to check later) tee hee. **Tanya**

Fri. Nite/Sat. afternoon Sew-In

Here's what I ended up working on for the Fri. Night Sew-In. Actually I didn't work on these last nite cuz of the horrendous thunder/lightning storm we had. I kept thinking the electric was going to go out completely and I didn't want to run out to the craft barn in the pouring rain and get electrocuted, so I waited till today to work on sewing these blocks. I am a bit rusty as you will soon tell and need way more practice! I should have strip pieced these, but didn't think of it until I had already cut them into small pieces individually, so I ended up taking the LONG way ~ Grrrrrrrrrrrr!!! Here they are laid out in the way they are to be sewn....

Ok, don't look too closely!! I know some of the strips look crooked as a dog's hind leg, and I even tried squaring them up, too!! wahhhhhhhhhhh!!! Don't laugh! I'm more of a quilter~wanna~be!! LOL Honestly, I really can sew, I promise!! I just haven't done any strips lately~ ha. Today it seemed like I couldn't even sew a straight line!! What was up w/that???? hmmmmmmm.

I had heard really good reports about 'Best Press' and I wanted to see for myself how good it is. I bought the smallest size I could find and so far I really like it and it smells wonderful. Seems to get the wrinkles out of your fabric real easily.

Here's the rest of the blocks sewn together.... can anyone guess what it's gonna be???? If not I'll try to get it finished in the next few days or so and show you the finished product. (Maybe that'll motivate me to finish it)!! :))

This Wed. is my first BIG quilt class that I mentioned on an earlier post and I'm real excited, but a little nervous. Boy, I sure hope I can get my strips a LOT straighter for the class!!!

We are having gorgeous weather here the last few days, sunny and warm and it finally feels like SPRING!!!!!!! Hope you are enjoying your wkend. so far!!

***Tanya***

A little St. Patty's Day Decor

I don't know about you, but I'm ready for some sunshine! We have had several overcast, dreary days and it's starting to get to me. I keep telling myself that spring is just around the corner, but the corner sure is taking its good ol' time getting here! LOL

I know most of you don't probably decorate much for St. Patrick's Day, and I never used to, but since I AM half IRISH and look the part~ reddish hair(when it's colored properly~ HA)!! green eyes, fair skin and freckles. Both of my dad's parents were of Irish descent, but my mother's side was from England, so I decided I would try to put a little 'green' out for the holiday. :))

Here's a little stitchery pillow I made in no time. I just traced around a shamrock cookie cutter, found a DMC green that matched the fabric I had and stitched it up quick. Then added a little shamrock button in the center. It looked sort of bare w/out it, but thought it turned out cute.
The bottom fabric actually has little gold flecks of color in it.

This is out in front of our house on my wee lil' flag......

The wind caught this one as I took the pic......the big flag.

A homespun towel I made last yr.

This is actually ceramic and heavier than it looks.

I always have to show you at least one or two pics that are either blurred or too light, tee hee.

Found the stand above and below at HL awhile back on sale, of course! :))

Here's that cookie cutter I traced around.....

A Pine Mt. pillow that has the cutest shamrock charm, but sorry it doesn't show up too well.

The pillow in the background is another P. Mt. pillow that I added a pillow form to. Here is our family room fireplace mantel once more..........

I bought this haulographic St. P. Day sign at the $$$ store for a dollar, but didn't realize it was 6 ft. long. There wasn't really a good place to hang it, so I just stretched it across the hearth part of the fireplace.

And that's all folks!!! LOL I wish everyone a very Happy St. Patrick's Day tomorrow, but esp. my sweet blogger friends who really live on the 'Emerald Isle'!! Don't forget to wear green tomorrow so you won't get pinched. (does anyone know how that tradition started)?? I'd love to hear if you know.

Here's your quote for today......"May the Lord continually bless you with heaven's blessings as well as with human joys." adapted from Psalm 128:5

See ya back here on Sat. for the update on the Fri. nite Sew~In. Come on over and join the fun! You can work on anything you want, then post what you worked on.

***Tanya***

Happy Friday!!

How's your week been so far?? Ours has been rainy, colder and just plain dreary out for a good part of the week. Flooding in some areas nearby, but here in eastern Ky. we live in a very hilly area, so where we live, we don't have to worry too much about getting flooded out like some, which I really feel for those who have to deal w/all that. My family lives about 5 hrs. north of us(in northwest Ohio) and they have had some real issues w/certain roads due to all the flooding they've had to endure the past few wks. So I hope they (along w/everyone) else are staying warm and dry!

My week has flown by, although not really much going on. I have been trying to go see our neighbor lady who is in the nursing home for a couple of mths. on a regular basis. I love to bake so I usually take her and her 90 yr. old roommate some fresh baked cookies every so often. Just something as simple as that can really brighten someone's day, even a teeny bit. We, as Christians, are to be a blessing to others, so I am trying to find more ways to do just that.

On Wed. I had to go pick up my sewing machine that was in for its annual check~up, which is FREE for 5 yrs.(this is my third time, so only 2 more yrs. FREE) and there just happens to be a quilt shop right next door!! I went in and talked to the shopowner for a few minutes and looked at all the gorgeous fabric that she had to offer and somehow ended up signing up for the Thimbleberries Quilt Club!!! I am getting a late start, but there are a few others who signed up late too, so we will start in a couple of weeks. I have always had a special fondness for quilts and fabric and have dabbled in it for yrs., making small items, but have only made one BIG quilt top which I never finished, so I am really excited about it. We will meet once every quarter and make 3 blocks at a time, so by the end of the yr. I should have a complete quilt top. But shhhhhhhhhh, don't tell my MIL, she'll flip when she finds out!! LOL

I only have a few pics to show you today. I have been slowly plugging away at a cr. stitch candle mat that I've been trying to get finished before St. Patrick's Day and I'm not sure I'll make it in time, but here's what it looks like so far.......
I am using overdyed threads in Juniper and Peoria Purple, but it doesn't show up too well on here.

Here's the pattern that it's from. A bit light but you can get the idea.

This little pincushion or sashet is something I made recently out of some homespun fabric I had in my stash. This was part of a b'day gift I sent recently to my sweet friend Wendy from England. She is a leap~yr. baby! You need to check out her blog ~ she is hilariously funny! The way she tells stories just cracks me up!

I think I'll be making more of these and maybe even use bigger strips the next time. I filled them w/crushed walnut shells so the pins would be able to stick in better. It almost reminds me of a 'log cabin' type of design from Cotton Way.

Well, I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! We are going to see our grandkids tomorrow for the day, so are really excited to spend the day w/them! They live less than 2 hrs. away.

We were recently reunited w/my stepdaughter, hubby and the grandkids we never knew for the past ten yrs. Ethan is 10 and Brooke will be 9 next month.

It's a very long, emotionally painful story, but we praise God for bringing us all back together again and we are beyond thrilled to be grandparents, altho' I am still getting used to that new word ~ grandma! LOL


Here's a quote for you today: "God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy. He is more interested in your character than your comfort." Rick Warren.

See ya soon!

***Tanya***

Come and join the fun!!

Next Fri. March 18th is the Friday Night Sew~in. Click here to join in the fun and sign up for a night of sewing/stitching/quilting or whatever you want to work on. This will be my very first time and I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone else is working on.

In the meantime, keep on stitching!!

**Tanya**

Prim Room~ Part Two

Hope everyone is enjoying their week so far. Just think, we are one day closer to SPRING!!!

Yesterday I attended a funeral (in the pouring rain) of a dear Aunt who lived to be 91. My dad's sister(Ruth) is the very person who taught me how to sew when I was a young teenager. I have such fond memories of spending part of my summer w/her and her hubby when I was 14(we lived 5 hrs. away at the time) and waking up to the sound of roosters nearby, and she lived in the city! LOL
I have lots of wonderful memories of her~ she was such an inspiration to me and a great Christian lady who will be missed my many! It was so sweet to see and catch up w/relatives that I hadn't seen in many many yrs.

Today I want to continue w/a little tour of what I call my 'prim' room. This first pic is in between the door to the room and the closet. This is to the left when you enter the room. There is only a few inches of space, so I finally found a spot to hang this hook. The top part has a raised star imprint on it(which didn't show up too well) and was given to me by a very dear friend. The stitched hanger was given to me by another good friend when we were in a Prairie Schooler exchange.

I will take you around the room as we enter. The closet door and the computer desk......

I apologize for the messy desk........

Here's where I keep lots of family photos...... The picture in the back middle section was me when I was a baby and maybe 2 or 3 yrs. old~ I was holding my baby doll~ LOL.

This black shelf used to hang out in the craft barn. I brought it in and rearranged some things on it, so some of you might recognize several items from earlier posts. As I sit at my desk, this wall is to the right of me.

I made both of the dollies. I named the one on the left after my sweet mother, Iva Jean. The other doll on the right I named 'Keisha' ~ LOL.

Some of you might remember this green New England slantback cupboard. I moved it from the other wall over to this corner and it fits here nicely. The bottom door opens to a shelf that I keep some of my books in.

Several items I have on here are from swaps, give~aways or exchanges and some of the items I made. The 'simplify' picture is actually a greeting card that I put in a distressed frame I bought w/a 40% off coupon.

This continues to the right of the green cabinet. I gave you a sneak peek of the lamp awhile back on an earlier post. The lampshade looks exactly like the one I just posted about in Part One, (the one my dh found on sale). I should have turned it on so you could see how the light shines thru the rusty tin. The little dropleaf whitewash table used to sit in the living room a few yrs. ago.

Remember that darling prim shop I gave you a tour of last fall? Well, this is the plate I bought from that shop. I made the two prim pears about 3 yrs. ago.

I also made the prim sheep on the floor as well.

Here's another cabinet that used to hang out in the barn. I kept the same items on it. I thought it looked good above the little table. To the right of this is the window that I showed you on the last post. So now we've taken a full trip around the room, LOL

Well, I hope you liked my 'mini' tour of my little prim room. I'm running out of rooms to show you, but I still have a couple more in mind. You'll just have to come back and see what I come up w/next, tee hee. Now you know where I spend a LOT of my time.!

Here your quote for today~ "God's specialty is making impossibilities possible."

***Tanya***
Sorry ~ I tried 4 times to get this underline off of here, I give up!!!!