My rendition of crazy quilt squares!

I have found the quick pleasure in "crazy quilt square" sewing. I keep making these squares all colors all sizes at some point I will need to decide what to create with them. But until then I guess I will just keep sewing one square at a time....

I guess your getting the idea😃. If you have any suggestions on what I should create with all of these and probably many more please feel free to let me know..

Halloween Bean Bag Bats!

Halloween is upon us, one of my favorite times of the year. One night when I should of been sleeping but couldn't. I grabbed my iPod and tapped into pintrest, after typing in the search words "Halloween tutorials" I came across this; http://www.pinterest.com/pin/137570963591445697/. Then I must of feel back to sleep.

The next morning I was up bright and early and to my surprise I started digging through my scraps found everything I needed to make my 4 Grandkids these cute silly bats. The fun thing about the bats is they just hang around the house on a door knob or something like that. My 2- 2year old Grandkids like to wear them on their arms sort of like a purse.

If you want something to sew that doesn't take very long at all and they are just the right size to were you can use fabric out of your scape bins, virtually no cost and a fun 2-3 hours of a Grandma's time. This is a tutorial you should look at.

 

 

Happy Halloween!

Glenn's Birthday camping quilt

When I asked Glenn to clean out his closet of old jeans and tee's he doesn't wear anymore, I really had other intensions. Making my first rag quilt, using denim tested my patience and made my hands sore sore sore! Cutting up the tee's made me smile, watching how all the pictures and symbols all came together. I decided to personalize some of the denim squares with embroidery so 4 months later the quilt is done just in time for Glenn's birthday!

Today's Thoughts: Learning something new and relearning something all over again!

Kendall Jay one year later...

Relearning something new!
I have had the pleasure of watching Kendall during the week while her mom and dad work for the past year now.  During my job search Kendall has helped me understand (over and over again), you need to be patient and just take things in life one step at a time. It has been a real treat to watch her grow into a toddler from just a new born baby, she really is good to me when it comes to understanding that I am just her grandmother so let's figure this out together:)...

Learning something new!

I have also taken on a few projects to get me through the winter time, mostly in the sewing area. I have been working on these pot holders, which we need desperately. The ones we use now have really been through a lot and really need to be replace. Here is why I am talking to you about these pot holders...As silly as it sounds so far, all 3 of them have been sitting on my desk waiting for me to complete the next step...BINDING! Which is also the final step. I have never "bind" anything before and for some reason it really intimidates me to do it.

I am going to try and follow this seamstress tutorial; http://www.flickr.com/photos/8244232@N08/7113404587/in/set-72157602048418660/.

She has set up 22 photo's with the steps you need to take to bind something correctly. If there is anyone out there who has a better website or advice on this topic by all means TELL ME.. So until I get the courage to complete these very cute potholders here is a picture of them just sitting on my desk waiting for me.

Cute aren't they, the embroidery on them was fun and simple, now the challenge "binding"..Ouch that hurts....wish me luck!

Snowy Day Off

It's funny the things you find to do when you have 2 days off in a row and you wake up to 6 + inches of snow that you didn't even know was suppose to happen.

 I have had this funny desire to sew and quilt before spring/summer arrives. The attempts I have tried in quilting in the past month, which I might add is my 1st time at this art, have been OK, I guess.

 I saw this pattern in a Martha Stewart magazine for quilted coasters, and that is what I did today while the fire was going in the wood stove and the snow was stacking up outside. Let me show you;

Start of my day, watching Glenn leave for work. Drive safely!



This is in my backyard, look at the snow build up on the rails of our trellis. If you look real close you can see how much snow is coming down.

Here is the fabric scrapes I had to work with, as you can probably tell already, the coaster are really for my Husband Glenn to use when he is drinking beer or whatever.

Close up shot of the finished product, cute isn't it.

Take a look at my set of 4. I need to work on my measurements, each one is a different size:(
They were all suppose to be 4" x 4". I guess just like anything else practice makes perfect. But one thing is for sure Glenn will like them and he will use them because he knows that will make me happy.

Here is the link for the pattern I used, just in case you might want to give it a try.

                                      http://www.marthastewart.com/article/quilted-coaster-set

Have a great snowy day, and thanks for reading my blog,
                                                                                          Betty

Quilting/log cabin pattern - My first time!

January through May can be a little frustrating if you live in Central Oregon and you are a gardener or you like to be outside but not really found of the winter sports. Well that would be me! Don't get me wrong I love the snow but I don't really partake in skiing or snowboarding. I will occasionally snow shoe but that is really it. So my point here is what do I do with myself after the holidays when everything has really slowed down? This time I have decided to learn how to quilt beginners style.

With Glenn gone camping for a few days (crazy), I put my thoughts together and decided to test my skills at this wonderful art. What inspired me to do so was this article in the Martha Stewart Magazine Jan 2011 issue.

http://www.marthastewart.com/how-to/quilting-how-to-make-a-log-cabin-pattern

I really don't have a clue as to what I am doing nor what I will do with the squares when I complete them but I have to say it is really quite fun and boy do you use a part of your brain you don't use a lot, at least it felt like it.

Thanks to Leslie who owns a small fabric store in Redmond I was able to get started. I started going to her store because of the quality and variety of her fabrics, when I talk about her fabric I tell people it is "top shelf":).  I love her assortment, having made Glenn shirts, robes, pjs. they have all worn well. And yes he does wear everything I make for him. He is so good to me, I miss him when he goes camping! Anyways....

If you like to sew or like color/patterns and your in Redmond stop in to see Leslie she is a great lady and will help you with what ever you need when it comes to sewing.  Every Saturday is her SALE day that is a great day to go in.

http://www.superpages.com/bp/Redmond-OR/Material-Girl-Fabrics-L2138821773.htm

So enough said here is my 1st quilting square I have ever made.



My very 1st log cabin block! I can't wait to see what I can do from here:).

Until next time, have a great day!

Thanks for reading my blog, Betty