When You Are REALLY Tired

I'm talking not nearly enough sleep for a few days in a row tired. REALLY sleepy exhausted, no charge remaining at all, nothing left, tired.

When that happens, do you find yourself eating entirely too much.. lots of snacks, sweets, junk-no-good-at-all-for-you food?

Do inane song phrases run through your head? like "moving kinda slow... at the Junc-tion"

Do you alternate between moving slower than molasses and speeding around like an out of control top, never pausing in the middle at a normal rate?

Do odd blog posts and weird Facebook status updates compose themselves in your head?

Do you power nap? Mom used to lie down and set her alarm for 15 min. She'd sleep, then get up with the alarm and be back to her usual bustling self. I used to do that and it used to work great. Not so much anymore. Getting older causes... oh never mind... falls into the TMI category.

Do you spend more time correcting you spelling and grammar mistakes than you spend actually typing. Or correcting what came out of your mouth.

Do you wander around aimlessly wondering what you got up to do, feeling like you head is stuffed with fuzzy cattails and fuzzy pussywillows with just enough space left for their fuzziness to rub all around in there. (Oh, wait. Maybe that's from last night's whiskey.)

Do you crave a blizzard?

Do you?

Let Me Tell You About A GO! Giveaway

I was a little slow to catch the GO! fever bug. I saw all the buzz about it and thought "enh, whatever".  Then I started hand sewing hexagon flowers.  You know, Grandmother Flower Garden flowers.  I love sewing them but they come out wonky if you aren't careful cutting.  Marking the fabric with a template and then hand cutting them is SO tedious. So for want of a hexagon die I'm hooked.  Then I saw the light and realized it would open up a whole new world of FUN!

So I've been browsing the AccuQuilt website and drooling. 

I've been saving pennies....that's really going pretty slowly.

And I've been watching for giveaways...
 Jane's Fabrics and Quilts is having one now!

A Paper Piecing Project Comes Together

This quilt pattern is actually MH Designs Floral Wreath pattern. The Fall Wreath pattern has the leaf stems so they look more like leaves. But I had this pattern already and lots of fabric in fall colors so I went for it. It was kinda of neat to watch the finished blocks come together. The seams are so precise but the fabric pieces are not uniform and the edges look raggedy. Then the block gets trimmed and the paper comes out and it all looks for perfectly pretty.

I took pictures as I sewed thinking I'd make a virtual flipbook but couldn't find software I was comfortable with (i.e. free) so I just took a video as I scrolled through the pics on my computer...

Obviously the quality is lacking but you get the idea.  If anyone knows a better way to make a virtual flip book I'd love to hear about it!

This was another attempt at free motion quilting on my regular machine as opposed to my frame.  I think I'm getting addicted. 

Kankakee Quiltmakers Quilt Show 2010

The Kankakee Quiltmakers Guild has a show every other year.  I spent a couple hours there today admiring all the beautiful quilts and soaking up all the inspiration. 

This design was so simple and yet so unique.

Another simple but beautiful quilt.

I thought of One Flower Wednesday when I looked at this one.  I WILL get back to those.  I enjoy sewing them - it's the cutting I don't care for..... the one reason I now want a GO! cutter.

All these dresses were embellished - with lace, ric rac, buttons....

I thought at first that all the circles on this quilt were appliqued and I was stunned.  They're not... it's fabric.  But it still made for a striking quilt.

Beautiful applique and beautiful quilting...

I love the shape of this tree.  I didn't notice the sparkles until I got home and looked at the picture.

Several of the quilts were red work.... just lovely.

This one made me smile every time I looked at it.

These are just a few of the quilts.  I took pictures of nearly every one.  If you want to see the rest they can be found on my Flickr page.  Grab a cup of coffee or tea and treat yourself to a slide show of inspiration.

Barnyard Ladies - The Country Stable.... Quilted

Free motion quilting on my regular machine (instead of on my frame set-up) was sort of scary to start but oh what fun!  I kept wanting to do more and add more but finally stopped and bound the quilt.  Lots more practice is needed!  Some of it turned out pretty good and some of it not so much.

I really liked the shingles on the roof....

...and the straw under the chickens.

The horse's mane and forelock turned out nice, as did the rooster. 

The horse's body... not what I was going for at all.

While they weren't perfect, the flowers and leaves were a pleasant surprise.

The clouds are awful.  I need to research how to do clouds.  That will mean hours of laying on a blanket staring up at the sky some day when it's nice and blue with lots of puffy clouds.  Now I just need to find a way to get paid to do that research.

pssst....pattern giveaway

They are having a few pattern giveaways this week (and next?) at QuiltersShowcase.

It's a cute paper piecing pattern.

Pumpkins In The Park

We attended Pumpkins In The Park Saturday and look what we found!

Trevor brought his Grandma Joeanne and Grandpa Darwin.  All three seemed to have a great time.

Cooper has his face painted. 

When he saw this picture he said "turn my face, grandma, so I can see the spider."

Cooper and Dexter both enjoyed the inflatables, each in their own way.

There were pony rides.

And there were horse and cart rides.

Trevor really liked Mr & Mrs Scrarecrow.

Trevor and Cooper both enjoyed the dogs.

Storms threatened but never materialized.  It was a beautiful fall day in the park and then more visiting at home.  Adam and Scott were there too, just not in the pictures.



Happy Birthday Big Sis!

Happy Birthday Pat!

I hope you are having a great day.

The Country Stable

This pattern is from the Barnyard Ladies series of patterns by Sweet Season Quilts. It's the second paper piecing project I've tried. So much easier than the first time.  Once you get the hang of it, paper piecing is really quick, with great results.

This felt like home!

Look at the hens sharing the local gossip.

 And here's the rooster scolding the horse for thinking about stealing an apple.

I'm looking forward to the quilting.

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy birthday to a strong, giving, thoughtful, amazing woman.



We celebrated with a big birthday breakfast at our usual Sunday breakfast restaurant.   Lots of family, good food and conversation.  We filled the room to overflowing; Mike and his "kids" sat in a booth apart from the rest of us.  He said it worked out fine 'cause it was Kate's last day in town so they could visit so more. 

Dexter ate almost as much as he tossed on the floor.  He's learning all about "letting go" and "gravity".  Once he started eating, most of the adults admired from a bit of a distance.

Cooper used a knife for the first time to cut his pancakes. We were impressed. He was too.  He just couldn't understand his Dad's instructions to not lick the knife.  After all, there was good pancake stuff on it.  How else can you get it off and into your mouth?

Here's mom watching her birthday pancake approaching the table. 

Then my camera quit.  :(

Darn thing eats batteries.

Though she doesn't need to wear a bib, sometimes in the comfort of her home, mom does like to use one to save her clothes.  I made her a couple with matching napkins. 

Say It Isn't So!

I was sitting at a stop light minding my own business when I see, passing through the intersection, my sister's car with my niece at the steering wheel!  Something is not right!  She can't be that old!  I can't be that old!

Congrats on getting your learner's permit, Alyssa.  Drive safe. (or is it "safely" .... come on teachers, which is it?)   And to the mom and dad, prayers for patience and courage as you clock the driving hours required.

Happy Birthday Jared!

My sweet, smart, funny, athletic, handsome nephew turns eleven today! 
Hope you have a blast Jared!

Now How Did That Happen?

I photograph every quilt I do on my short-arm-wanna-be-a-long-arm-frame.  I don't post every one, but I photograph every one.  Just to keep a little history of my quilting.  This past weekend I let THREE quilts leave without any pictures!!!  I don't know what I was thinking.  Duh.  Guess I wasn't thinking. 

Elaine & Barbara, if you take any pics of your quilts I'd love it if you could share a few.  (please)

Pat & Penny's Excellent Adventure