Saturday, October 26, 2013

Life's Little, Scrappy Distractions ~








I've been messin' around with little sewing bits--tiny, actually--just for the challenge. Oh yes, I have been way busy with school and cannot believe I'm
working on the first quarter grades! But, I've been trying to reintroduce 
~ B a l a n c E ~
which somehow evaporates with life demands. 
I'm gonna share some photos, it's up to you 
if you want to read the messages in between ~


 



These spools were my summer project from Bonnie Hunter, 3"finished, and all from scraps. I used a spool fabric print for sashing, but my favorite print is the top view of spools that are in the cornerstones. Needs to be quilted.
   
That thin turquoise flange was a chore for some reason, but I'm happy with the results.
Edited to add: Miss P. had a good idea for this to be linked to the challenge on Jo's Country Junction; maybe I'll up the game to get this one quilted! Thank you, P!

 

From each spool block was 4 bonus, or what I prefer to call "redeemed" hst's.
 



They were tiny, but I thought, "Why not?," and would get a tiny pinwheel with each spool.


 


This pinwheel Irish chain block is the result of those redeemed blocks! Set together in a 12 inch finished block, the math is 335 pieces per 12 inches! 


 

I have 4 completed blocks to make a 24" table topper. I've run out of my pretty confetti background, so it is sitting for the next fabric selection....

From there, I've moved to these 1 1/2 inch half square trianges...jus' cuz'... no real plans.....
 






This are the final photos from the quilt I made from Leanna's embroidered blocks. It was finished this summer, but she let me borrow it to share at quilt class and get photos taken.

~ Love this quilt ~

In the other "household" news,  Larry is not feeling well, and is facing another surgery, bless his heart. He is also unemployed, but working constantly with anything he can. It is wearing, as you can imagine.... We have been doing our Bible studies on the Sovereignty of God. Amazing blessings to be had...!
My second grade students are adorable, but quite a challenge this year. Over half of the class has diagnosed learning disabilities on various levels, and its hard work trying to bring them up to the mark. These are the years you question your own capabilities! Hopefully, we will get through with some growth in each of us, student and teacher, lol


Lastly, I just am not happy with bloglovin'. More times than not I cannot leave a comment on a friend's blog, without pulling the blog up on a separate window. It has caused me to slow down on my connections, and mostly I just connect though my own bloglist. Sorry for the grumbles, but one more reason I've felt a little lost from blogland.


 So, all that to say hello, and we are still kicking. Hope to get the posts coming a little better than one a month. Happy Saturday!


Happy Quilting, 

"Thus says the LORD: 'Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength… Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, and whose hope is the LORD. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; but her leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.'" Jeremiah 17:5a, 7-8

 

24 comments:

  1. Those spools are adorable, as are the tiny pinwheels from the leftovers! I wondered if you were planning to link up with Jo's Country Junction, who is having a linky for folks to finish (or start & finish) a Bonnie Hunter quilt they may have been working on and put aside. Yours sounds like something that fits right in with that.

    I do not use Bloglovin' (even though I've got the durned "Follow Me" on my page. I like Feedly better as a reader, but I really miss Google Reader. *Sigh* I, too, feel a step out of touch with blogland, mostly because I am overwhelmed with so may blogs I "theoretically" would like to read but don't have the time/energy. My beef with Feedly is it picks the dumbest photo to highlight when I post. If anyone goes by the first thing they see in the preview, they're apt to skip right by. Like I could have 6 quilt pictures and a youtube link at the bottom, and it'll post the youtube thumbnail seemingly every time. Ah well...thanks for putting up with my mini-rant there. So nice to catch up with what you've been doing when not in school. All the best to Larrry in his health issue.

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  2. LOVE your spool quilt! I have a bunch of spools too but don't know what to do with them yet. Your quilt is awesome!!!

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  3. Love all your quilts! Those tiny pinwheels are amazing! I use Feedly to follow blogs and I love it. :0)

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  4. Love your spools! Oh my those pinwheels are tiny! Sounds as though hubby is in a season of trials!

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  5. You are incredibly patient to work with those tiny pieces. But the end result is great. Love seeing the blue embroidered quilt again. It's gorgeous. Best wishes to Larry for the upcoming surgery.
    And good luck with your class. i have had years like that and it is hard work but eventually very rewarding.

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  6. I really, really love the tiny pinwheels! I mostly love your term of "redeemed." How perfect! The spool quilt is lots of fun, too. I will say a few prayers for your husband. I hope he is soon on the road to recovery. I haven't been real thrilled with Bloglovin' either and always read blogs from my dashboard.

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  7. Wow! I love all of your quilts. Your tiny hst are fantastic.

    I started using feedly. I still don't like it as much as google reader.

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  8. ohmy, Pokey! First of all, let me say that it was nice to see your post. Been thinking about you. That spools quilt is very awesome...love the sashing and cornerstones, especially! Great job! Those itty-bitty pieces you are putting together...WOW! You go, girl! Hugs to Larry. I'll be praying.

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  9. No wonder you are a Bonnie Hunter fan with all of that small piecing! I am sure those students are getting a blessing just by having you as their teacher! Are you going to do Celtic Solstice?

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  10. wow! Those little pinwheels are amazing! Don't know how you manage to teach, take care of hubby AND make such AMAZING quilts! God bless.

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  11. Wow...that tiny piecing amazes me. I am sure that is why you are a good teacher - you have the patience of Job.

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  12. Love your post today, Pokey. The spools quilt is beatiful and the pinwheel table topper is amazing. You do good work!!!!! Hoping and praying your husband makes a very quick recovery back to good health. My daughter is an OT in the school system and works with children who are challenged so I know through her how difficult that is. However, it is people like you and my daughter who do so much good for these young ones! Bless your heart!

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  13. So sorry to hear that Larry isn't feeling well and facing surgery... I will be praying for you both!

    Smart of you to keep sewing... esp those itty-bitty blocks.... sewing is THE BEST therapy ever! Love your spool block quilt top!

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  14. LOVE LOVE LOVE your Spools quilt!!! And your tiny pinwheels are amazing. :)

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  15. Your Spool Quilt is wonderful.......using all scraps is better.........finding a spool fabric for the background is the best! Love, love, love the idea of making all those pinwheels while you were making the spool quilt. I have often thought I should do that but just never took the time. That little 12 inch block is darling. Maybe those tiny pinwheels would work great for a hot pad or a cup mat or a key fob or a tiny little pin to wear. Endless possibilities!

    Larry, of course, will be in my prayers again. Hoping for a quick recovery. I'm sure your students are very blessed to have you for a teacher. You've shown you have great patience already working with those tiny quilt pieces.

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  16. Hi Pokey. Glad to hear you are still kickin'! I love your mini projects that you have been working on. I have a Baggie full of bonus hst's here somewhere that I will get to some day. In the meantime, I am working on Christmas gifts. Hope to see you in blog land a little more than once a month! Take care, Gail

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  17. It is always wonderful to see your blog posts pop up. =) All of your quilts are an inspiration!

    Bloglovin...I have my settings set up so they come to my email to be read. If I want to comment, I click and it takes me to the post. If not, I hit delete. Very simple. I never go to the Bloglovin website. =) Give it a try!

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  18. Your spool quilt is amazing!! Lovely quilts!!

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  19. Are the embroidered blocks on evenweave? How did you quilt them?
    I like your mini pinwheels, and the setting for the spools.

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  20. You've been busy! The spool quilt is so bright and cheerful. I don't think I'd have the patience to work on those tiny pinwheels, though! They look really neat, but.... The blue quilt turned out beautifully! It looks as if it were all pre-planned to be that way. :-)

    I'm glad you're being encouraged in the word of God, and I hope things will improve for your husband soon.

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  21. Your pieces are just gorgeous. I LOVE that mini pinwheel and those spools are wonderful. The blue one is stunning too.

    I had to get away from Bloglovin for the same reason. I went back to Blogger.

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  22. OH my gosh......I love everything...truly everything...and that blue quilt is fabulous!!!

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  23. I really like the spool pattern on the quilt! What a great way to use scraps! I hope your 2nd grade class settles in better for you. What patience you must have! Have a lovely week. Hugs

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  24. I just love your spool quilt top! What a wonderful setting for your blocks! Perfect fabric!

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Hello! Thank you for taking time to peek in! If you say hi, I do my best to send back the love :-}pokey