What a SURPRISE!

I came back to work only to discover that somebody had dropped off in my office some fabric!  Wasn't that a great surprise for a Monday?

Theresa found this fabric somewhere and liked all the Christmas themed fabric so she picked it up for me.  I'm to help her do two projects for Christmas and I hope she remembers which ones they were because I'm not sure that I can right now.  She hinted that if I didn't want some of the blue fabric with snowflakes on it perhaps it could be used in her two projects.  Of course I love it but I will set it aside so that she can use it.  I just won't tell her that ahead of time.  hehehe...

I separated out the fabric and found that there duplicates so I stacked all the duplicates up together.  I think I will have to wash these and iron them before putting them away but that's a small price to pay for getting free fabric, right?!

So, without further delay, here are pictures of the fabric that she gave me.

There is quite a bit of the fabric on the left

Theresa loved the blue and white snow flake fabric on the left

Isn't that a fun green fabric on the right?

There are so many ideas for this fabric

More Christmas fabric

There sin't much of this fabric but I love the Christmas swans

This was interesting.  It's all one long panel.  I think I could do a table runner showing the fall fruit on one side and the Holly leaves on the other!

Isn't that some great fabric?

I also brought in my circle wall hanging and hung it up.  It's a little small and my screws to hang up things on that portion of the wall are a little off but nothing that masking tape on the back of the fabric doesn't cure!  It helps it to stay in place and not flap around.  Then I had to change up what I had on my little table underneath it.  I decided to throw out the poor flowers that I got from Professional Administrator's Day (they lasted almost 3 weeks!) and go with something more sunny.  The table cloth is just a piece of Ghana fabric which I use periodically as a table cloth until I figure out what I want to make with it.  I probably should just make a table cloth.  There are two fabrics that I usually use as table clothes for that area.  LOL.

Break time is over.  Everybody have a great day!  

Another finish!

I did it!  I set some goals for this weekend and I met the goals.  Besides doing icky stuff like laundry, I needed to get one quilt block done in preparation for June Beginner BOM in a facebook group I'm an administrator on.  I also needed/wanted to finish sewing the circles on to my repurposed wall hanging.

So let's start with the repurposed wall hanging shall we?

This started out as a test project called Dust Bunnies.  I liked doing it but it wasn't one that I would keep for myself so I took off the bunnies that were sitting on the dust pan which was in the middle of this wall hanging and then decided to add a bunch of circles.  :)  I like it a lot better and also it shows that you can redo some things without taking everything apart!

The block that I needed to get done is for my facebook group Creative Rectangles.  The other Admins and I are  offering two free BOMs this year.  One is for beginners and one is for intermediate levels.  I decided I would do the beginning ones so here is June's.  I wanted to get it done ahead of time to show people.  It's a spool block.

I never realized that the spool block kind makes a pinwheel affect in the middle.    I think I like that.  I also used the front and back of one of the fabrics.  The metallic is the front of the fabric (lower left) and the back side of the fabric is shown in the upper right.

Here are the other Beginner BOMs blocks that I have done.

I think in my next block or two I might have to use more tan fabric so that the one block isn't all by itself.  This isn't the order that I'll put my blocks in and I'll probably put sashing between them but it will give you an example of them.

Time to get back to cross stitching.  :)   Everybody have a great day.

Here's to finishing something!

What a busy time I've had since my last post!  Let's see...

The end of the semester at work
The end of a fiscal year at work
tuition waivers at work
A new course started with FutureLearn
My car breaking down
Never enough money (of course)
and started to work on UFO's.

The work things are ongoing.  Even though the semester has ended, it is now time to do the dismissals and academic probation letters.  I don't have to do that part but I do have to check the names because it will affect some of the offers for graduate assistantships and fellowships that my office made. As far as tuition waivers are concerned, that is an ongoing thing.  Job Security right?

Have you heard about FutureLearn?  It's an online community that you can take courses through.  I am taking a couple of courses through there.  Not for credit or anything but something to keep my mind sharp a bit or at least not so dull.  I'm into the second week of a pre university writing course.

https://www.futurelearn.com/about


Then the car broke down.  According to the diagnostics that were run on it, there were three possibilities.

1.  Cam sensor was bad
2.  The wires were just disconnected.
3.  One of the belts is bad and it's the one that you have to disassemble the engine to get to (forget it's name right now).

Luckily it was the cam sensor so it only cost me $50.  $50 is bad enough but at least it wasn't more.

With everything that is on my plate to pay it seems like I never have enough money.  Actually I'm not sure there is such a thing as enough money.  It has, however, made me search through my stash and see what I can work on.

Remember the Angel hot plate that I had?  FINISHED IT!  WOO HOO!  Here it is.

The front

The Back

You can see the outline of the rest of the acrylic hot plate in "the Back" picture.

After I finished up the Angel I started a new cross stitch pattern.  It is a kitten hanging onto a limb which says "Hang in there".  But I stopped after a bit because I wanted to try a couple of cooking things.

The first thing I tried was Ziploc ice cream.  I like how it turned out but it melted pretty fast so I guess that meant I just had to eat it quicker right?

Then tonight I mean pinwheel Pizza roll ups.  The first time I tried that recipe.

The flavor was good but it needs tweaking some.  I'll let you know how it does if I do make it again.

Weekend Sewing

Can't say that I've done any quilting today but I did go through some more totes from storage and separate them into stacks.  The stack that needs to be shredded, one that goes into the sewing area, one that goes out to garbage.  Then I rearranged the room a little bit so now I can use my floor hoop/stand. I have it set up more for cross stitch and embroidery than for quilting.

I'm still working on the 5" angel that will go underneath plexiglass for a hot plate or trivet or whatever it is called.  I can't decide if I will undo the French knots for the angels halo or not.  I'm not particularly happy with how they look and am not sure they are needed.

I'll decide that in a day or two.

I did receive a surprise in the mail today.  One of the ladies from one of my facebook groups sent me three charm packs.  They are all three the same and guess what!  It is Stonehenge chips!  I love Stonehenge fabrics.  And these are blues which even make it better!

They just came out of the blue.  It was a wonderful surprise!

Time to get back to some sorting or perhaps tackle some of that shredding.  Everybody have a great weekend.  I hope it is as nice where you live as it is here.  Today has been in the 70s and sunny.

Happy May Day!

I'm only a little early since some of my readers are ahead of me.  So Happy May Day everybody.

Do you have May Day traditions that you remember?  I do.  At school, about every 4 years, one of the Physical Educaiton teachers would get in their heads the idea to try and teach us awkward students how to dance around a May Pole.

That was semi fun but what REALLY fun was when mom would drive us to the neighbors to leave May baskets on the neighbors door.  Of course the theory was that you left it on the door or stoop, knocked on the door to get their attention, and then run!   Of course in the country when you have a mile drive way to try and escape down it wasn't as easy as people made it out to be.

This May Basket has flowers in it but Mom would have us make the cones out of paper and then we'd put fruit and nuts and marshmallows in them.  Every once in awhile a dandelion or daisy might have been stuck in it also.

I was going to do this at work this year but expenses didn't allow me to.  Ok, I will admit that May 1st snuck up on me.  Maybe next year.  :)

Have one more May Day pictures just because it is too cute not to add.

 On Saturday I'll post some more quilting stuff.  Right now I have to look through recipes to see what I want to bring to the office for another food day on May 7th.

Until then, keep whatever traditions you want, throw out whatever traditions you want, but always remember to have fun!

Until next time....Have a Great Day!

Weekend Sewing

I didn't get much done this weekend since it was a gaming weekend but I did manage to finish a block.  This is call the Hug Block and is from McCalls Quilting.  They have it for a 16" block (if I remember right) but I needed it as a 12" finished block.  It took me forever to figure it out.  I just asked somebody else to figure it out since I'm not good at that.  LOL.  Anyway here it is.

I'm not totally pleased with it but not totally displeased either.  That was on my list of things I wanted to accomplish on Sunday so that is good.  It is joining the other blocks now.  Here is what I have for the Beginner BOMs.

I will use more tans in a couple of other blocks later.  I'm trying to use most of the same fabrics in the blocks.  I have put those fabrics aside so that I won't accidentally use them in something else.  LOL.

After that I picked up my cross stitch again.  Made good progress on it.  I have to finish the halo and all the back stitching for the Angel.  I have to get some metallic thread first though so it might have to wait until the payday.  I also need to add a little more to her hand and the blue ribbons.

That's ok.  My fingers are protesting doing so much with them so they can use the rest.  On the other hand I might start the Delft cross stitch.

I have the Aida cloth and the blue floss all ready to start it.  I had hoped to be picked up a scroll frame for it but I wasn't able to.   Payday isn't here yet so it might have to wait a bit.  I did mark my center on the Aida cloth as well as used up leftover binding that I had. Instead of sewing the ends to stop fraying or using fabric fray etc., I sewing on (basted) my binding pieces.  I'll take a picture of it to show you later.

It is time to get ready for bed.  Everybody have a great night/day.

Name of Magazine

This is a super quick post to tell you the name of the magazine that I couldn't remember the other day.  Here it is....

Now I have to run to a meeting.  LOL.  Everybody have a good day/night.

Happy Administrative Professional Day

Yep, it's that time of year again.  About the only time I get flowers but you know what?  I'm not complaining.  I love where I work and I'm always remembered on Administrative Professional Day.  Not everybody can say that.  So this year, "the Recruitment Office" sent me these flowers.

That is a "leaf" that is wrapped around the flowers in the vase (the green stripe).  Never seen that done before so it will be interesting to see how it holds up.  The pink square vase is nice as a change from the normal vases you see.  Overall - I love it.  :)

Now on to some talk about quilting.  Yeah, I haven't done much but I did find a new magazine which I think I might love.  Of course I can't remember the name of it and I don't have the picture of the front of the magazine with me today.  Does that stop me from posting the other pictures?  Of  course not.  You'll just have to wait for the title until my next post.  The magazine (it's the premier issue) concentrates on precuts.  I love how the table of contents is laid out.  If you are looking for fat quarter patterns they are all listed in one place.  You want squares?  THEY are all listed under one heading.  I think that is a very useful way of doing.

I also like the diagrams.  They are large and easy to see so you're not scrunching up your eyes (Yeah, showing my age there) to get the idea.

So all in all I like the first issue.  I'll have to see what else they will come out with.

Now, sit down for the next part of this.  I found the story book that my grandma made my brother Philip (Tony).  So to preserve it, I'm taking pictures of the pages and will be posting them under the family ancestry page of my blog.  For those who wonder what to do for their grandkids, this is one idea.  As you can see it survived for a number of years.

Did I forget to post my 4th block?

It looks like I might have.  I didn't get much quilting done last week but did manage to get one block done.  This is the fourth block and so you can see it with the other three I am reposting them also.

I actually like the 4th block (square within a square).  It didn't take long to do and that is always a plus.

I'm not sure how much quilting I'll get done this weekend either since I'm determined to finish emptying out the storage shed that I share with somebody else.  Of course that means I'll have totes to go through and see what to get rid of.  I went through some of it last night and discovered some cross stitch and quilting gems.  I'll post more pictures of them later.  Right now I'm off to a meeting.

Have a great day.

Wordles - do you know what they are?

A Wordle.  What a strange word which I didn't know what it meant until today.  I've seen them but didn't know their name.  Do you know what a Wordle is?

A Wordle is a word cloud.  Wordle, or weighted list in visual design, is a visual representation for text data, typically used to depict keyword metadata on websites or to visualize free form text. According to Wikipedia anyway.

So I went to a site which is suppose to help make them.  I got this information from my Graduate Assistant who had an Instructional Technology class.  She gave me her PDF lessons and some of them I can do without being in the class.  This was one that I did with putting around 30 quilting words down for it to it's thing.  I chose the rectangle design because I might have a use for it.

:)

Then I did this one which I just plugged in my blog address and IT chose words from my blog to put into the Wordle and I chose a heart shape.

It was a fun thing to learn and I have a lot more to learn about it but it is past quitting time and I need to close up the office and start my weekend.  It's a gaming weekend so no quilting until Sunday.  I did, however work on a little bit of cross stitch last night.  The Angel is coming along.

I hope everybody has a wonderful night.

I'll catch up with you later.

What a find!

Did everybody have a good Easter?  Mine was ok.  The holidays aren't as big of a thing for me now that mom has passed on.  I enjoy going to see other people but also enjoy having the time to myself for a bit to get stuff done.

I did get stuff done.  I managed to finish up two blocks that have been mailed out to friends.

This a design from Bird Brain Designs

This was just out of one of my quilting books but can't remember which one.  Perhaps Inspired by Tradition.

Those have been sent in the mail so then I turned my attention to something that I have been postponing for quite awhile.  Removing my stuff from the Storage unit I've been sharing with my ex and his family.  It's a long story but it's time for me to get my stuff out of there (no he's not making me do it).  I managed to get hold of Jessica and she helped me take out 12 totes.  These are the plastic tubs from Walmart that Rubbermaid makes.  I had forgotten how heavy they could be!

The first 12 were taken and put into my apartment.  I can't finish taking out the rest until I go through all of these.  Jessica says she'll keep my quilting frame in her garage for me since I don't have room for it in my apartment.  I did manage to empty out 4 of the tubs.  It was rather easy since a lot of it was mom's knick knacks which I didn't want.  I do not have a lot of room and I already have a lot of things from mom--especially fond memories.

Back on topic Bonni.  Ok. so here I am with all these full plastic totes and at least 12 more waiting for me in storage yet.  I HAVE to get them emptied out and gone through to figure out what I want to get rid of.  Now, when I say get rid of, I don't always mean thrown out.  I might send some of my magazines or patterns to other crafts who might want them.   That means I will probably scan some of the patterns, if possible, so I will always have an electronic copy of it.  That is where my great find comes in.

Going through some old cross stitch magazines, I saw this cover and OMG!  It will be a perfect accompaniment to Oma's Blues which I'm going to do.  Ready to see those two pictures together?  Here we go......

 How great is that?!  Two of my favorite things, quilting and cross stitch that would compliment each other.  If you look closely, you can see that the magazine goes back to 1986!  I can't believe I've kept it all this time.  Back then the magazine only cost $2.95.  Ahhhh, an affordable price and well worth it.  LOL.

That's it for this segment.  I wonder what other treasures I will find.

Until next time, have a great day!