Orange Crush Mystery Quilt

I have finally chosen my fabrics for the new mystery quilt starting April 1st from Bonnie at http://www.quiltville.com/ I'm getting very excited about it now. I've tried to sort of ignore it all until it was closer time for it to start. Avoiding driving myself nuts in anticipation! So far, so good. But now... I'm ready! So ready! Of course, I bought double the fabric she told us we needed. I'm just going to claim it's for my stash, which was looking somewhat sad.

I also got all my scraps cut and ready to go for the Orange Crush. Why do sliced up fabrics look so yummy? They just scream.... "Sew Me, Sew Me". I'm telling them to be calm ... we'll get there soon....ahahhahaa!

I've also been making more Star Struck blocks, also a pattern from Bonnie at Quiltville. I've got 92 blocks made for that one. I love it and already made one but decided I needed another. She has another pattern I'm going to work on between clues for the mystery, I think. It's called Fun with Bricks. You can see it here: http://quiltville.com/funwithbricks.shtml. I do wish I knew how to make those "links" to other sites. I don't. Maybe I'll spend some time trying to figure it out one day. Right now, it would require too much thought.

My friend, Val, has been sewing for years and years. The woman has more fabric than most fabric stores. She prefers dressmaking and such more than quilting. That means she has loads and loads of scraps. So, she invited me to come over Friday and go through all her fabrics and take what I wanted. I just couldn't bring myself to take her cotton yardage. But I did hit all the scrap bins she had and came home with a giant garbage bag full of scraps. Perfect for me. I've spent the past two days ironing, sorting, folding, cutting, ok...fondling all of it. I refolded and sorted all my fabrics and now they look much nicer.

Thanks to all of you who have sent the wonderful messages to me about my son and that whole situation.

Sundays are such long days for us. Sunday school at 10, church service at 11, then most Sundays a large group of us go out to dinner. We went to Lucky's today, a local Steakhouse. It was great. My biggest downfall with food is bread and butter and potatoes. They bring out these big fresh loaves of bread and butter and OH MY! I don't really know why I order anything else, I could just eat that and be happy. Not that I did that....I ordered a steak and baked sweet potato. I recently heard that sweet taters are much better for ya than regular potatoes. I don't know if it's true, but it was soooo good. Then we didn't get home from dinner til after 3 and we go back to church services at 6 again. So, now I'm tired and I spent way too long in heels today. So, time to curl up in my rocker and pretend to watch some tv with hubby and then off to bed.

UFO March Project...In motion.....

Been working on my March UFO. I really need to thank Moniek and Bethany for sending me new scraps to add to this project. It's made a big difference in my attitude toward it to add some new fabric and patterns to it. A great big virtual "hug" to both of you!
As some of you already know, things are not so great at our house. Just suffice to say, adopted son = nightmare. He'll be 18 one week from today. I knew him before we adopted him and I've spent 18 years worring about this kid. Unfortunately, nothing we have done for him has helped. He has severe amoral behavior problems which cause all of us some bad problems. It's time for him to make a life for himself on his own. I know that sounds harsh but we are talking about a kid who is violent and has even threatened to burn our house down while we're sleeping. I'm usually a very upbeat, perky kinda person, but not as of late. So...if I seem weird for the next while, it's due to lack of sleep and such. And now back to sewing.....

Need more hours.....

Hiya Everyone! I've had almost no time lately. All the getting ready for the Easter Egg Hunt and then having it. There was no time for me to take any pics. We had 575 people there! I don't know how many were kids and how many were adults, but it was a great turn out. Someone else too pics, and if I get my hands on them, I'll post them. Then, of course, I got sick. You know that kids carry every germ imaginable to humans. Feeling a bit better now, but Sunday was not good here. Hubby is feeling crappy too! I'm so far behind now, I'll never get caught up.....

Carol over at http://noreasonneeded.blogspot.com/ tagged me and I'll play along....

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? Nope

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? Last Tuesday at court for one of my kids...ahhh....he's a nightmare....

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? Sure...why not

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE LUNCH MEAT? Ham

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? One stepson, one biological daughter, one adopted daughter and the nightmare adopted son....lol

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? I hope I would.

7. DO YO USE SARCASM A LOT? Yep...learned it from my Dad...the most sarcastic person I know.....Love it!

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Nope...my younger sister and I got them out together...I made her go first so the dr. would have practiced more....hey, I was like 10 years old

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Not a chance....

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE CEREAL? Really? You wanna know that? ok..Captain Crunch (without those berries)

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? If they have laces I do...

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? Yep. Mentally, for sure. I'm as physically strong as any other woman my age.

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ICE CREAM? I don't eat ice cream. It doesn't like me.

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Eyes...

15. RED OR PINK? Red

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVOURITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF? Truth? My weight. I've gained a few over the years and I hate that....

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? My husbands Grandfather. He was amazing!

18. WHAT COLOUR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? No shoes..but white socks. Blue sweats...laundry and housework day
.
19. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Peanut butter and crackers last night.

20. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? Movie: Face off...just for noise, not really watching it.

21. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOUR WOULD YOU BE? Uhmmm...I don't even understand that question....I have no idea....

22. FAVOURITE SMELLS? Fresh Laundry, Beef Roast baking in the oven, Shalimar perfume.

23. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? My husbands ex father in law. Weird huh? We're good friends.

24. FAVOURITE SPORT TO WATCH? Baseball and AMA Supercross Series (dirtbikes)

25. HAIR COLOUR? No clue anymore...the box is an auburn color so....red?

26. EYE COLOUR? Hazel

27. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Nope....had lasik surgery about 10 years ago.

28. FAVORITE FOOD? Seafood of any kind...lobster, crab, scallops....

29. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? Hap hap happy!

30. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? Click

31. WHAT COLOUR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? White t-shirt with dirtbikers on it....

32. SUMMER OR WINTER? Summer. Please!

33. HUGS OR KISSES? I'm a hugger...I hug everyone!

34. FAVOURITE DESSERT? More taters???? I'm not big on desert....

35. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? Can't Wait To Get To Heaven, Fanny Flagg. One of the best books I've ever read.

36.. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSEPAD? No mousepad...laser on desktop

37. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT? I, Robot and Men in Black

38. FAVOURITE SOUND? The hum of a sewing machine(s)these days....

39. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Oh..hard one...Beatles I suppose...

40. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Jamaica

41. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I thought I didn't, but Jan from church says I'm my talent is being the "ray of sunshine" for everyone. I don't see it...but that's what I'm told.

42. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Lewiston, Maine (navy brat)

My Saturday "Craft" Day

Oh! I had the best Saturday. Arrived at the church building about 9 and got the coffee and tea going. And here the women came. These people are some of the most wonderful women walking the face of the earth. My life wouldn't be the same without each and every one of them.
This is Jan, Terry, and Sharon. Sharon was working on a beautiful stack n whack quilt. She's going to Europe to see her son and his family next month. She's going to be a Grandmother again soon! Jan and Terry were working on the Puzzle Quilt, with a lot of help from Sharon. The pattern was really weird and hard to figure out. I decided not to make it because it irritated me so much.
And this is Julia. She's amazing! Julia and her husband donated the land and built our church. Both she and her hubby, Wally, were teachers. I was so scared of her when we joined our church. She's very lady like, I'm not so much. But, she loves me! She even told me I was "delightful". I don't think anyone ever called me that in my life. She certainly doesn't scare me anymore and when I have a problem she's always there with a hug and a new way to look at it. She's a real blessing in my life, as all these women are. I was very unhappy with my binding on my star struck quilt and she sat and took it all out for me. She also crochets wonderfully.

This is Sherry, working on some knitting. Wow, can she knit. She's also one of the best cooks I know. We had brunch at her home recently and WOW...everything was sooooo good. She's also one of the women who taught me to wear a color other than black. Long story but they locked me in a dressing room and brought me clothes I would never have chosen. In the long run, I now wear other colors and actually like them. They still make fun of me about it, though, and I love her too!
And these are my "girls". Cindy, my daughter, and Ashley, Jan's daughter. They made sleep pants. They are best friends and I love both of them so much. I have very high hopes for these two girls. They tell me I am cool, too. Not bad for an old woman like me. Cindy just loves this sewing thing. She thinks it's the greatest thing in the world. She had her stuff loaded in the car by 8 a.m. and told me she dreamed about sewing all night on Friday night. This makes me so happy. They did the bend over thing to prove they wouldn't have a "blow out".
This is Aira and Kendra. Aira is Val's daughter and Kendra is Val's new Granddaughter! 12 weeks old and she rolled on her side Saturday. She was so good all day. I don't think she ever cried one time. Of course, she was getting held a lot...hehehehhe...Who doesn't want to hold a new baby? Aira was working on a baby scrap book. Yes....I did make her a quilt when she was born. One of the first ones I ever made.
And...this is my BFFL..hehehehe....Val, helping Cindy. Val is like no one I've ever known. She has fought cancer twice in the past six years. She has non-Hodgkin's leukemia and recently had surgery and radiation therapy for salivary gland cancer. And it didn't slow her down a bit. She's our township supervisor, pres. of our Chamber, sits on a million boards, owns our local Curves, the list could go on forever. And .. for some reason I don't understand, she finds me interesting enough to be my best friend. I can't say enough about what she brings to my life. She sews like a mad woman, but not much into the quilting.
Well, there were more people there. Women wandered in and out all day and I got busy sewing and forgot all about taking more pics. We had a pot luck also. Lots of great food. Chicken Enchilada Ring, Antipasto, bread sticks, chicken and dumplings (I made them), a wonderful fruit tart, mac and cheese.
We have decided to stop the Tuesday night meetings and to do this the second Saturday of every month. More women can come this way, the younger girls can be involved, and I personally would rather haul all the stuff for an eight hour day than for two hours. You know how when you find the perfect meal at the perfect restaurant and the service is extraordinary? You want every one you know to go there and have that same experience? That's how I feel about each and every one of these women. They bring so much to my life and I love being around women who just want the absolute best for me and my family. I don't know any other way to explain it. I just had the best Saturday in ages! I will have to admit one downfall. I sat in that metal chair too long. My back has been killing me for three days now. I may have to load up my office chair and take it with me next month....small price to pay

Shhh....can you keep a secret?

I've spent the last few days working on this. My son, Chad, will turn 18 on April 2 and he mentioned to his sister, Cindy, that he would like a quilt from me. Since he's 6'5" tall, I made it longer than I normally make a lap quilt. Hope it's long enough...He loves green. He's the only one in the house that likes green so it will be easy to know it's his. I've been working on it mostly when he's not around, but he's seen some of the strips. I still think he'll be very surprised by it. Notice the feet at the top of the pic...yep, Cindy was in a panic to get the duck in there. Trying to decide if I want to dwirl it or stipple it. What do you think?

Who to blame? Hubby, of course!

It was not my fault that I ended up at Joann's last night. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. It's my husbands fault! Everything is always his fault. If you don't believe me...just ask me. Started out last night, just going to the movies with another couple, my BFFL Val, and her hubby Terry. The "boys" wanted to see Jumper. Movie: ok....Popcorn: awesome! Then, my husband is on a Go Cart league. Yep, 60 years old and still not grown up. It's indoor go cart racing and they have like 14 people on their league. It's in the same mall as the movie theater, so hubby says "Come watch me race after the movie". Ok. Guess what is right exactly next door to the Go Cart place? That's right, it's Joann's. And .. while I was waiting for racing to start, I had to do something. On top of it all....my coupons were right there on my dashboard. So.... I needed a new ironing board cover. Could have made one, but had a coupon and it ended up cheaper to buy one than to make one. I like it so far. My ironing board is about 60 years old. It was my husband's Grandmothers and it's heavy and solid and I love it. I have looked at new ones, and I wouldn't trade this one for a new one ever. I happened to spot some clearance fabric and needed more variety for the Puzzle quilt we are making this Saturday. Got a bit of this and a bit of that. FQs were on sale too, so ... I only got five of them, but they are interesting.
Yesterday, I spend a while working on my Road to Insanity top. I'm finding that this top is a great "filler" project. When I don't feel like doing anything else, I work on this one. It's somewhat... mindless? Like when I weed my veggie garden. I don't have to think too hard, and I can see it growing. Does that even make any sense? Scary part...it makes sense to me. Well, I think a nap is in order today. I didn't sleep well last night. Tossed and turned and woke up off and on all night. Makes the night so long. I should have just gotten up, but I stuck it out and now I'm sleepy. I can catch an hour before kids get home.....hehehhee

Star Struck Finished!

In the washing machine now. Quilted (dwirled) and binding done today. I really liked this pattern. Enjoyed every step of this one. Glad my son, Chad, is 6'5" tall so I can have him hold quilts. It's pretty obvious he's not biologically ours since we are all short. I'm 5'1", hubby is 5'8". Chad just looms over all of us and he's become hard to hug. It's like I'm hugging his hips now.
I bought some of those binding clips and this is the first quilt I've used them to put the binding on. I'll have to say, they did help a lot. Easy to use and no pins sticking me at every few inches. I may have to buy another package for even larger quilts.

I had this done to my dogs this week. They have all been shaved. Cindy, holding Qtip here, feels bad for them and thinks they are just too little to have no hair. If they liked to be brushed, I'd agree with her, but they hate it. Perhaps, she'd like to do all the brushing....NOT! All my dogs are Maltese, except Mugsy. Poor thing..doesn't your heart just break for him? Actually, they all act happier when they are shaved. They play with each other hard and this way I can wash them up as needed.

I think they look cute "hairless". I think my other girl, Popcorn is embarrassed because she would have no part in this picture taking stuff. She's been hiding in her bedroom a lot since the shaving took place. Well, I'm off to work on My Road to Insanity Quilt top (my name for it). I have some new scraps left from the finished one today and they are crying to be included in another scrappy quilt.