W I P's

I've joined into some internet fun, with Sophie and her friends at Block Lotto. I "know" a few friends there, like Wilma in North Carolina, and Sophie is a new-to-me person. I guess I've joined in on a tidal wave year, but Sophie's block is so do-able this time, I've enjoyed making them. Here are my eight blocks, which I hope one will be a winning ticket. :-}

There is a button added on my sidebar to take you to Block Lotto. Sophie adds a new block, and therefore a new lottery each month. Check it out and see it it's a project you would like to join in. Of course, there are no guarantees, except sharing and growing in the creative process.

Last week, I quilted Ginny's little Duck, Duck, Goose quilt, and Monday had me finishing the binding, yeah! another completion!

Back last summer, I sewed 200+ scrappy 4-patch squares, and joined in an exchange with Bingo Bonnie. My goal is a scrappy Irish Chain. Well, scrappy sewing for the lotto has me sewing those patches again,

this little stack is sw-ee-ee-t!

...but, I think some of the motivation has come from these folks, too ~

Terry is the most recent one ~

...and there was Lane's, too...




...and lastly, Libby had the black background that Sings to me...

Libby's was a kit, too.

I have to admit, this is a long term project, so I don't think I'll have it done anytime soon, but they are beauties. Oh, I'm wanting to mention Bonnie Hunter's book, Leaders and Enders, that kinda got my ball rolling in the Irish Chain direction.

For those of you that like the soft colors found in vintage sheets, you may want to check out this giveaway....

That's it for now! Hope your week is great!

This is a double wedding ring from Virginia. My Grandmother made it, she did all piecing and quilting by hand.

Any fabric would do in her quilts! Often the quilt backs were feed sacks that she would dye a dull pink/red. This one isn't, though.

What's on the Frame

This is the weekend I am SUPPOSED to work on my report cards. So, you know that I did what I am supposed to do, right? Yeah, right.

I quilted 2 quilts!

(insert a cheeky grin here!)

I can seem to get all kinds of busy when I have a job hanging over my head, and I've always been that way. I think it's the procrastination/easily distracted/creative part of me.

Do I see other hands out there?

Truthfully, I usually meet my deadlines ahead of time, partly because I draw an earlier time to meet it. My report cards are due in the office on Monday, 01/31/11, my date is Friday the 28th, see? I'll make it. . . .



Anyway, back to the fun stuff. I was working on Steven's quilt earlier in December, he was born the 18th. December being what it was in our house, well, the finish is coming now.The shower for him and his momma sweet Valerie (1st grade teacher at my school) is Wednesday-! yes, this Wednesday, I'll make the deadline!

I line quilted this one, mostly. That was kinda fun.

I've had the fabric for a while, Valerie likes these colors, and I had a feeling that the baby was going to be a "he" (they did this the surprise method). Val called me a "prophetess" but it's nothin' like that. Besides, I had some pinks I could throw in if I was wrong. *vbg*



It started out to be a Stacked Coins, but I turned them on end, can it still be called that? What's cool is, I used some of the fabrics from the wedding quilt I made them.

I'll try to edit and add Steven's finished quilt pictures later...
Here it is finished, and fresh out of the dryer!

This is hanging above my dryer. It was from my friend Ginny B. :-}

This little duck quilt was using a panel print, and Ginny wanted to make it into a quilt for her grandson Colton. Her goal is to make a quilt for each of her 7GK's, and I'm her production manager, lol. I love it, I'm always on the lookout for simplicity, and "we can do it" ideas.

We found this panel out of date, so we looked for our own coordinates, and they are working great. This will be bound with the stripe piece. I love striped binding...

Here is another share from Virginia. This painting was done by Momma for my Daddy. It was from a print, most of her paintings were. It is the biggest canvas she ever did,
I think it is 2' by 3 1/2'. It's beautiful, so dramatic! It now hangs in Happy's home.
They have 4 horses, it seemed right.

Oh, lastly, look at my new signature, made by my honey! (a.k.a. my Larry).

Hi ~

This bowl was my Momma's, and we used it every holiday, or every large batch of potato salad! My baby brother Happy was able to rescue it for me, and I think of him and the folks every time I walk into the kitchen. It is one thing that has made me smile recently. The old glass canning jars with zinc lids came from the "homestead", too. :-}



Man, there is no sewing happening this week. Hap came through with a u-haul after 11 pm, and we worked most of the night sorting through and sharing stories, our own version of a memorial, I guess.

It was so good to visit, however short. Thanks Happy and John.

You did my heart good. We'll share a few pictures of Virginia stuff later.

Now, this week, I was talking to a friend from my youth. Her name is Norma, and she wanted to come and share a special celebration of her "spiritual birthday" with me, and she sure brought encouragement with her! I haven't seen Norma for 35 years, but we have spoken and facebooked for a few years.

See these smiles? We have really enjoyed our short visit. Friends from Michigan can make you laugh endlessly. God bless 'em!



Oh, we had to go to M & L Fabrics. . . and then to Knott's Berry Farm!



I have not smiled this much for a while. We said goodbye tonight, but it has been a boost to my spirit. Tomorrow, it's back to second grade with a bit of joy. I'm glad to feel more like myself again.

Oh, and I've been cutting a few strips of bright prints, more on that to come. . . !

Blessings, Pokey

Floral Blooms

I have seen a few folks sharing their Christmas Cactus, and I wanted you to see this beauty. Honestly, I take no credit for its blooms, it does as it pleases. I water it sometimes. It was a gift from Vicky last Christmas, 2009.
It is still in the paper it came in last year, lol! I know, I have no shame. *vbg*

I guess at this time, I should remind you that I live in Southern California. I know that does make a difference.

Here is the little progress I've made on the crumble squares. I was going for a wonky setting, but I bet there is an easier way. I was kinda thinking along the lines of this one, but Amanda Jean did the smart thing of beginning with the same size square, mine are all different sizes, and some are rectangles. Ah, well, gives me more to think about, and keep my mind active. Busy hands keep you distracted sometimes....

My design wall is the bed, if you haven't noticed.





I've struggled as to whether to share this, so forgive me. I've been feeling like such a "Wednesday's Child" of late. I'm referring to the nursery rhyme,

Monday's Child:

Monday's child is fair of face,

Tuesday's child is full of grace,
Wednesday's child is full of woe,
Thursday's child has far to go,
Friday's child is loving and giving,
Saturday's child must work for a living,
But the child that's born on the Sabbath day,
Is fair and wise and good and gay.

I've not posted this, it has been so hard to deal with, but I lost my Dad. He fell on Christmas Day, and died about 12 hours later of subdural hematoma on Sunday, December 26. He lived in Virginia, I'm in California, and there is so much more than the 3,000 miles between here and there.

I've been so sad, I have barely been able to speak of it. Thank you to those who know, and are praying for us, truly. I'm gettin' better. I'm back to school, and slowly I'm dealing with the loss. Sometimes better than others. I do believe in a Father God Who has a plan, I know He loves me enough to give peace, that passes all understanding.

I think it's been a rough year. I think some of the difficulty is that I've just had my Larry in the hospital and with all swirling around that sorrow and medical bill stress, I just haven't been on a better level to deal with all the loss. I'm seeking the Lord. He has sent such love through others, it's been humbling, comforting, and - emotional.

My little brother has taken on most all of the responsibility and it has been a real gift to talk things over with him. We were left a few items of the household, and when Hap (my brother) asked what I wanted, I told him to look for the useful things.

The sewing basket I grew up with. The mixing bowl we would use for making dressing at holiday time. A few quilts, and quilt tops never finished, made by previous generations of our family. I will quilt them. The rockers. The wall clocks. Momma was a painter, so a few of her paintings. She took oil painting lessons from one of the top rated artists in Japan, when we lived there while Daddy was gone to Vietnam 1/2 of the 4 years we lived there. They are lovely reminders of the artistic dna that flows in our family.

Hap is on his way to my house tonight, driving the family memories here, from our rural Appalachia home, before he heads on to his house in Washington. I am biding my time, typing this, waiting to hug him, and be thankful for another reminder of God's love.

I have to admit, I'm looking for a better year in 2011.


Thanks for looking in. Lord willing, we will get back to the creativity.
Blessings, Pokey

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles;
they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

"Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep." Romans 12:15