A Bright, Happy Friday to You!

 

This project was just completed, read about it on down~

Hi, from sunny, HOT California! I know, I am not the only one who has trouble with the HEAT! Enough on that, it's Friday! That means we'll be on our way to Beth and Jerry's for a dip in the pool tonight, oh, I'm looking forward to that. When we bought our home 4 years ago, we tried so hard to find one with a pool, but it wasn't meant to be. I love our house, and God knew what was best. When Beth and Jerry bought a place with a community pool, it was a blessing to us all. That has been a weekly activity for us this summer, and it is wOnDeRfuL ~

Okay, I wanted to show the little projects that have filled in the cracks between larger quilts (and swimming!). "Bright and Happy" is the theme behind them all~

~ chook friends chatting ~

 Raw edge applique, yep, I used Elmer's washable school glue again!


the washed and crinkly version

  




vintage sheet on the back, and straight line quilting

 

On other projects, this was a piece of striped fabric used for a guide. 

 While squaring up some hst's, there was a collection of 1/2" strips, too pretty to toss! 

     Here, they are sewn down with a zigzag stitch,

 

then a ripple stitch to secure the thin strips down.  

Afterwards, it is cut up to use in a few projects like Chook pincushions,

 "Has anyone seen my eye buttons?"

  and zipper bags (there are only the bag parts showing right now, lol!)

 a brood of hens-can you hear them clucking away?

Shake your tail feathers!

This little chook is for the girl who made the basket postcard for me ~

Some crocheted coasters I might have shown you before....

Long ago, really-last year! these flower blocks were made for the Block Lotto.

 

I redeemed the centers that were so tiny, but had enough to do this little pincushion, made to fit in this s-w-e-e-t ruler box from Temecula Quilt Company...I misplaced the box...I didn't have the walnut shells to fill the pincushion pillow...

 

but they finally all found each other this past week!
(Are there really pincushion fairies?) :-}

Have a great weekend, everyone!

 

"Delight thyself also in the LORD; 
and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart." Psalm 37:4

July is The Best!

 
 Hi there! I have a few finishes and some starts, 

 thought I'd like to share them.

Shabby Chic is done, and I'm so happy with the results ~

 
 sewing the binding, see my full cup of chia tea?







 
the tea is about gone, and I've cut the binding- that's the scrap in the side chair ~

It's finished, and so is the tea... here's the label ~

  Jeff's posing with the finish, before the wash~

 

 

 ~ quilted love, a heart, their last name, and pretty loops ~

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Beth's birthday came, and we delivered last year's twister "Cherries" table runner. I made this last year, and it took me for-e-v-e-r to quilt it. . . I K.N.O.W., what a friend I am! 

But she loved it, and laughed when I showed her the one I started for her for next year,  lol!

  

 ~A thank you goes to my friend Gail of The Cozy Quilter, 

who shared how to do this without purchasing a ruler~

(see my post here)

 Beth also had me quilt her newest grandson's quilt, she had it pinned, and waiting for me. I brought it back to her to bind ~

  

~  for Colin ~

 On the 4th of July, we were together with Beth and Jerry and I played with her  red, white and blue fabrics and made some crazy patch blocks into a table runner for her entryway. She immediately put it on the table and added a sweet blue teapot, and a red, white and pink one, sorry, I forgot to get a picture of it on the table...her runner is pieced but not quilted yet.

 
Here are my squares... yep, not finished...

I and 2000 others have been stung by a bee. Well, not really, but Lori Holt of A Bee in my Bonnet started a Granny Squares Quilt Along, and I did, yes I DID jump in...tell me if you did too. Here are my first three squares, and another is laying by the table for tomorrow. (Because, I'm typing tonight  :-} lol  )

 

 

 Now, lest you think I'm being lazy, we've also been swimming, sewing swimsuits (well, Beth has, mine's only cut out), going away overnight weekly this summer, cooking, teaching a bit of quilty things, went to a free concert under the stars for a group called California Guitar Trio,  refinishing a few pieces of furniture, you know, stuff like that. I love July!

I'll leave you with a video, if I can.

 

"I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly." John 10:10

Shabby Chic Coming Off the Frame ~

 

On the bed, Shabby Chic is trimmed and waiting for binding and washing!

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My Grandquilter froze on me during quilting yesterday, I had just cleaned and oiled before I began. The needle was in the up position, and stayed there.!.

Plugs? Check. Switch? Check. Bobbin? Top thread? Needle? 

Check, CHECK, CHECK!

I went online to troubleshoot, went back and re-cleaned the shuttle runner...no luck. The last thing I had done before moving the machine down the frame was pushed the cutter button...I pushed it once more, and down went the needle, which was what I couldn't get it to do. Man, what's the deal? I lined the machine back up, pushed the start mechanism, and we were off and running fine. But not without about 45 minutes of frustration. I guess it is some occasional glitch, as it has done this before. Now, I know to check one more thing next time....

 ~ coming off the frame, this almost always brings a smile ~

Here are some of the different designs I put into the centers, though most just were a repeat of the outer edge...what shape DO we call this?
The pattern fits on a charm square, which I thought was good to know....

Next, the binding and washing. 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

I'm working on a present for bff Beth, too, one of those raw edge table runners I talked about at quilt class. Her birthday is Saturday, and we are going to visit them this weekend. I'm hoping to post the chicken directions next week... see you then!

Happy Quilting!

Psalm 37:4 "Delight thyself also in the LORD; and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart."

On the Frame: Katie and Shawn's Shabby Chic Quilt

I like to leave little messages in the quilt lines...and there are always a few hearts sprinkled in...!

Just have a few photos to share of the "shabby chic" quilt for the newlyweds. 

 


The quilting part has begun. No machine mess ups so far, I'm so glad to report that!! Yes there have been some human error, I'm the human...but I am smiling anyway. 
 Tell me, would you be a bit unnerved to see your squares falling off while you had a quilt top on the frame?
 
 It does give you a second thought, but so far, so good....

We participated in the Southern California Quilt Run again this year, driving around three different days. 

~Jeanne, Pokey, Beth and Ginny~

 ~quilt run friends at Stars and Scraps in Corona, California~

Here is the group I chauffeured around last Thursday, when we drove about 200 miles for 7 stores and home again. Needless to say, we had a grand time!

 The Temecula Quilt Company is one of our favorites, too. This time, Sheryl prepared little pincushion directions and pieces for us to make. Beth and I sat down and sewed them together Friday night.  
Paper piecing is about the only way I can make 
such tiny pieces turn out accurate, lol

Tonight, I'm planning to share how to make a chicken pincushion 

 with the girls at quilting class, and also a bit on raw edge applique.

Seems me gluing my pieces into place with Elmer's Washable School Glue caused a few eyebrows to raise (and question my methods,lol)! But I've proven this method of gluing before with successful results. 
I'm glad to oblige.

The plaid ticker tape has been used on my table for 2 years now.

In our family news, please say a prayer for my Larry. He has a procedure tomorrow, but he is still having tummy troubles. I'm hoping to see him start improving in his health issues! 

TTFN~

"Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in Thee... Lead me in Thy truth, and teach me: for Thou art the God of my salvation; on Thee do I wait all the day."   Psalm 25