My Perspective

Christmas and New Year's "Loot"

Foreword: I would get packages of fabrics and not open them. I believe this started back in late June of 2016. At first, I would use a package as a reward for completing a block or a section of the Gypsy Wife quilt. But, I never did open up a box. So, they kept piling up. In the end, I just decided to open up a bunch of packages that were in mailing envelopes on Christmas day at the lake and the rest of them at home on New Year's Eve. Opening up the packages on Christmas day was extremely fun. (Note: Dan and I did not exchange gifts this year. Instead, we got our own gifts.)

The below is from New Year's eve and I finally got through them all on January 2nd. By the way, most of the fabrics were purchased at 50% off or more with either free or cheap shipping (e.g. flat rate shipping of five dollars).

Abby Gail photobombed my picture of the pile of packages. She made me laugh!

She looked like how I felt about these packages -- drool and slurp! Ha!

The other side of the pile of boxes.

The result of opening up all the packages. By the way, the fabrics inside the crate is from Christmas day.

I had just sat down in my chair and thought that the view was pretty. So, I decided to take a picture of the back of this pile.

I think I have a severe problem, don't you?

Fabric Tuesday

We went to Lake Livingston for the Fourth of July. We stopped at various places on the way for a quick break and one of those stops was in Hunstville which happens to be one of my favorite places in Texas.

There was a store called Fabric Carousel located on the square. We went inside and I found a clearance section with fabrics marked 50% off! As you can see, I ended up purchasing a few. The green fabric with Mr. Potato Head faces was my favorite and I ended up getting a yard of that fabric. The rest are a half yard each.

Note: This post was in draft until now. Better late than never, correct? :-D

Weekly Recap #25

{June 20 through June 26, 2016}

General

• I managed to get out of the doldrums in the latter portion of the week. It was a relief to feel more like myself. However, I did crash a little Saturday. Fortunately, I recovered by dinnertime. Usually, when I crash, I am down and out for the rest of the day and not doing great the following day.
• I am pleased as punch with the new ceiling fan Dan put up in my room (studio).

Quilting; Crafts

• I picked up the Gypsy Wife Quilt in the latter portion of the week. I cut fabrics for the Old Maid's Puzzle block {Section 2). I need to document the difficulties I have and this block is one of the extremes.

DIY Cat Playground

• We finally put together some tree limbs we managed to get for free from a ranch where the land suffered damages from storms in the area. Abby Gail has already gained confidence on this "gym" and needs no encouragement on climbing the thing. However, we need to cut a branch (on the left in picture) that is in her way when she wants to get on the horizontal branch that is between the two support structures. We also have to get some longer screws as it is temporarily attached together with a bunch of zip ties at the moment. I would love to find two more nice branches to add to the support structures.

When you’re a kid, they tell you it’s all… Grow up, get a job, get married, get a house, have a kid, and that’s it. But the truth is, the world is so much stranger than that. It’s so much darker. And so much madder. And so much better.

~ Elton Pope [Doctor Who: Love & Monsters episode] ~

Not So Macro Monday

{To see a larger image, go here.}

I had a lot of fun shopping amongst my fabrics. This is what I finally ended up with for the Gypsy Wife quilt. There are two or three fabrics buried in this mixture. Now, the real stress and fun begins. Picking and cutting fabrics and making the blocks and strips (stripes).

Not So Macro Monday

Top Three Rows of Fabrics are Stonehenge by Northcott. I just love the colors and whatnot and thought they would be perfect for the Gypsy Wife quilt. However, I do not tend to stick with a line of fabrics. The bottom row are from shopping amongst my fabrics and thought they go well with the colors and whatnot of Stonehenge. This is just the initial stage. It is a work in progress.

Feline Friday {Blending}

{February 3, 2016}

I could not find Gracie and looked everywhere for her. Much to my surprise, she was eventually found in an unusual spot. She looked so content that I did not disturb her.

By the way, the crochet clown doll on the left is the very first one my Mother made. She was going to undo her work "because it was just practice"; but, I would not let her. I grabbed and stored it in my room and never let it go.

Fabric Frenzy Friday {on Thursday}

Minions By Despicable Me for Quilting Treasures
Kevin Tonal Blenders

When I saw these fabrics, I knew I had to have them. I also knew, from past experience, that I could not wait for a sale or clearance because Minions fabrics sell out quickly! I am a HUGE fan of the Minions.

You can see Kevin in this closeup picture. This fabric is perfect as a blender, solid, or even a humor insert in quilts. I did this with Dad's quilt by using chicken fabrics. As long as the color, hue, etc., and etc. is perfect, why not use them?

These fabrics currently can be found at:

• Fat Quarter Shop
• Missouri Star Quilt {search for "Kevin Tonal"}
• Fabricworm {search for "Kevin"}
• and many other shops including your local quilt store

Merry Christmas! (And, a Finished Craft)

Completed on December 10, 2015 using instructions and fabrics from Sweetwater. I made these ornaments for the youngest members of my family, the grand nieces and nephews. I hope the kids like them. I think they turned out so cute. These are so easy to make and requires no sewing (except for threading the hanger onto ornament).

I had to refrain from posting about these cuties due to the fact that maybe some of their parents read this blog. I wanted them to be surprised too. So, this post was written in advance and scheduled for late on Christmas day.

Wordy Wednesday {A Peek}

The Current State of Things. The view is from the kitchen, back door entrance area.

Wordy Wednesday {Fabrics}

Dan snapped this picture with his iPhone on Sunday, March 1, 2015 while I was loading the built-in with fabrics. I will be organizing them once they are all in the built-in.

We also moved an old desk that will hold an old embroidery machine and my mother's sewing machine and cabinet/desk into my room.

The next item we will move into the studio is the "longarm" quilt frame which will need to be dismantled in the "guest room" and then put back together in my room.

Random Thursday {Helping Paws}

Previous episodes are: {Waiting} and Leaning Piles of Fabrics. Between those two episodes, I went outside a couple of days to put fabrics onto "bolts" as the weather was lovely. I put down cardboard from moving boxes on our farm table to keep the fabrics clean. I also let the cats out to roam a bit.

(2/19/2014)

Abby surprised me by joining me on the first day. She looks like she is getting big, does she not? She is! She is long and lanky. She jumped up on the table and tried to help me (playing); but, I would not let her as the pins were dangerous. She was happy to lie on my cutting mat and watch me in addition to the birds. (Bird feeders are hanging to the right of this picture).

I went back outside the next day and let the cats out again.

(2/20/2014)

Gracie decided to join me this time. She was content to just lie there and loved my infrequent attention.

Here is a bonus picture for y'all. Gracie wanted to ham it up for all my readers. Ha!

Random Thursday {Leaning Piles of Fabrics}

Remember that pile of fabrics I posted last Thursday? Well, here they are now!

By the way, this pile is missing some of the larger fabrics I put onto "bolts". It was just too much for one picture. Ha!

These bolts along with many others I have already done will eventually go into a custom built-in cabinet we are planning to build in my room. It will be like going into a fabric store and shopping from my own stash! At least, that is my hope.

Random Thursday {Waiting}

Waiting to be put onto "bolts".

A Week in Pictures (#21)

A Hole in the Ground 2/8/2013

I went outside and discovered a humongous fresh hole in the ground by the garage. I was curious to see if I could capture a critter inside. Imagine me freaking out upon opening up and zooming into this image. My imagination got away from me. You do not see it? Here, let me help you:

Eyes. It got eyes! Ha! 2/8/2013

Actually, I do not know why this jumped out at me. But, I believe the clumps of dirt are weeds and whatnot that fell into the hole as it was being made by a critter. We do not know yet what makes the holes and clumps of dirt all around the yard; but, I am determined to find out soon. There is a nursery out back that I plan on visiting and maybe the kind gentleman (owner) will tell me what is what. It is because of these (among other reasons) that I have not started on gardening. We are going to make beds and whatnot; but, I will not get started on any type of gardening until fall.

Wildflower from the Phlox family 2/10/2013

These are popping up everywhere on the land. I just hope the ice/frost that occurred several days later did not kill them off.

A Scrawny False Dandelion 2/12/2013

I love these and prefer them over the authentic Dandelions. In fact, I often will pull up the real Dandelions because they are insidious, tend to overwhelm the yard and kill off other plants.

Dotty Dotties 2/13/2013

I have been folding up tons of dotty fat quarters fabrics that I purchased from Fat Quarter Shop at 50% off quite some time ago. It just thrills me to have all these dots. I am wanting to make a quilt all with dots! It will be challenging and fun!

Partial Lazy-Boy Loveseat, Recliners/Rockers 2/14/2013

We purchased this last Saturday and Dan picked it up on this day. It had a middle console at the store; but, we opted to not get one as we want to cuddle up from time to time watching a movie or whatnot. It is not the prettiest thing; but, it is functional and we are both content. I am currently reclining with the laptop watching TV and blogging. Gracie wanted to get up with me; so, I got an old beach towel and put it down for her to lay on. She is happily sleeping beside me. It certainly is going to be a heck of a lot safer for us both because she used to sleep on the back of Daddy's recliner whenever I sat it in the chair. There has been times when I forgot she was there catapulting her onto my back and she would hook me with her dewclaw drawing blood.

A Week in Pictures (#18)

Painted the Trim 1/19/2013

I actually painted the trim on the 18th; but, I forgot to take a picture for this day until the morning of the 19th. So, this picture is really for the 18th. Ha! And yes, I know it needs a little touch up here and there.

Trim is Up! 1/19/2013

Dan put up the trim that I painted and it looks mighty nice. The trim is slightly darker than the wall and I believe that is due to it being wood (different material from drywall). All in all, I am pleased with our efforts. Now, we just have to hang up some pictures and put the saucers back up on the wall. We have also moved onto the living room and hallway.

Yardsticks From a Flea Market 1/20/2013

I had a hankering to get out and go shopping for certain items such as a table or cabinet to use in the entry way and a new dresser for Dan. I did not want to buy anything new. I wanted to buy used and fix it up. So, we went to a couple of flea markets. However, I did not find anything that would do. Well, we stopped by an antique store that had the perfect old cabinet to use; but, they wanted too much money.

Anyway, we found these yardsticks at Bussey’s Flea Market in Schertz, Texas. This flea market is a good one to go to once in a blue moon. I have been collecting old yardsticks for eons; but, I have a two dollar limit per yardstick which makes it difficult to find any as a lot of places sell them for four dollars or more. I was thrilled when Dan spied these yardsticks and discovered they were two dollars each. Perfect!

By the way, the other place we went to was Flea Mart; but, it was horrid unless you love kitschy imports. I did not feel comfortable being there due to these times. So, we left before exploring the entire place.

Beads {Bracelets} 1/21/2013

I made quite a few bracelets over the years and these were dumped into a pile to snap some macro shots.

Tthe Kitchen Island is Freed! 1/22/2013

My sewing cabinet and cutting table was returned. The crate up in the top right is where the sewing machine lift is located. I am happy to be using the cutting table to put fabrics onto “bolts”. The kitchen island is now freed up to spread cooking supplies and whatnot.

Some recently fabrics I put onto “bolts” 1/24/2013

These are ancient fabrics I have no information on such as manufacturer and designer. They are quarter yards (nine inches wide) from a scrap bag bundle. For some odd reason, I thought these four fabrics would make wonderful four patches if cut up. What do you think?

PS I did not snap a picture for 1/23/2013 as that was a bad, bad day for me. I have decided from now on to just post pictures that I have taken and not mention any of the days that I either forgot to take a picture or was not doing well.