It's a snap!

Three things to be happy about:
(1) wifi
(2) soothing lotion
(3) new calendars

It's time to get my 2016 calendars, I purposely waited til this week to get them at less than half price.  Last year I bought some from a little cart in Wheaton Plaza at 70% off!

Here I am at Part 5 of the Allietare mystery, we're heading for the home stretch!

But, as I was finishing Part 4 I made a "what-was-I-thinking" boo-boo -

Do NOT try this at home!

Don't you love when we're at an easy part in Bonnie's mysteries?  There's the Intro and the Reveal, but in between ... really close to the end ... there's a part that should be labeled "snap!" because that's what it is to do - a SNAP!

All the neutral rectangles were stitched and flipped upon, so they can be set aside for a future step.

... 18 matching sets of each!

I haven't started the 98 HST 4-patches yet, that's on the calendar for this week.  Meanwhile I'll be linking up at the Allietare mystery thingy over at Quiltville  - check it out!

That's it for now, unless you'd like to see the disorder I've been hiding every time I take a picture on my cutting table?

Yes?

Okay, here ya go!

Sew forth and sew on til later!

Silent Sunday

Sew forth and sew on...

Almost there

Three things to be happy about:
(1) church lady hats
(2) the smell of theater popcorn (but not the price - that's ridiculous!)
(3) holiday visiting

I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas with family and friends; I got my Christmas "dropping in" done before the rains started, thank goodness!  When I gave the 2 year old next door a large candy cane Santa left at my house for him, his eyes got round with amazement.  He reminded me of an all-important fact I had forgotten - if you're not asleep, Santa flies right over your house!

I managed to get some more of the Allietare units done yesterday, what a pile!

I haven't counted the "done" ones, but I have only 9 more to go.

Whew!

Part 5 of the Allietare mystery was released today, just after midnight.

I think I'll go ahead and finish those 9 before starting the new units, they look intriguing!




That's it for now, have a happy day after, get those returns done - sew forth and sew on!

Merry Christmas!

From my home to yours -- have a very blessed, Merry Christmas!

More Allietare units done

Three things to be happy about:
(1) rainy weather moving out
(2) a back scratch
(3) chunky jewelry

Lately the news anchor ladies seem to be wearing chunky necklaces, like the ones popular in the 80's.  They say fashion moves in 30 year cycles, maybe it's true - but please, please don't bring back the bell bottom pants!

I got more Allietare mystery units done yesterday, but not without some drama!

I hate the kind of drama that's also a mystery ... for example, why was my bobbin thread skipping and jumping around?  I checked the tension, checked the bobbin itself, rethreaded the machine...   Finally I just sewed some crumb blocks til it straightened itself back out!

While I was digging around in my Christmas fabric stash I ran across these two pretty holly pieces.

If someone had asked me "Do you have any black Christmas fabric?"  I would have answered, "Of course not!  Christmas fabrics should be bright and cheerful!"

Well, these aren't necessarily bright but I like the cheerful holly patterns!  In fact, I fussy cut some pieces from the one on top to use in a small quilt.  See it here.

And angels!  Who doesn't love angels for Christmas.

I also have this South Sea Imports fabric with a light background: "button button designs by cheri"

It works up nicely in the mystery block - I love it!

It's Christmas eve already but I'll be sewing up more Allietare units today.



That's it for now, have a great day - Santa rides tonight!  Sew forth and sew on til later...

Cutting neutrals

Three things to be happy about:
(1) new calendars
(2) loading your stapler
(3) Hallmark cards

Yesterday was a neutral kind of day - as in, the cutting of for the Allietare mystery!

I allowed myself to cut into some more neutral stash - I did a good job of using my precut strips, so I can cut some more.

I'm still following Bonnie Hunter's guidelines for selecting neutrals, I even used a piece of brown paper bag!

This piece is pretty but it sorta didn't make the grade, I'll save it for another project.  In fact, why is it even in my neutrals container??

These two pieces just slid under the line so they will go into Allietare.

As you know, I like words!

Anybody remember these headlines??

Sometimes you can't tell if a fabric will work at the size you need; you'll never know til you cut it!

It worked just fine!

I may have to do some fussy cutting if I use this strip again, but I like how this one turned out.


I've cut all the neutral lally-furry-grams or whatever, now I just need to finish cutting the black sets for the wings.

That's progress!  Sew forth and sew on til later...

A no-sew day

Three things to be happy about:
(1) car deodorizers
(2) visiting with an old friend
(3) Penguin cornbread mix

If you haven't tried Penguin cornbread mix you should!  You can get it at Costco but they seem to only have it November through January.

Sometimes when you have errands to run, do you find it takes most of the day, even simple errands?  It started with a medical appointment in Rockville; then, since I was that far from home anyway I figured I'd go on to Gaithersburg to the credit union.  Then, since I was at the credit union I called a friend who just moved closeby and spent about an hour having coffee and talk.  Then, since I was at King Farm anyway I figured I may as well stop by the Whole Foods ... see what I mean?

I left home around 8:30 and got back after 3:30!

But I did spend some time in my sewing room, every little bit counts!

I cut the rest of the red pieces for Allietare step #4, I needed 23 more sets.

I found this piece the other day in with my Christmas stash, I call it my Faberge collection.

I have no idea how long I've had it, but there's a date on the label - 1999 - which tells me it's probably been in my stash awhile!

I've included a piece of this one in a set I already made, you can probably see it in yesterday's post.

I don't know how long I've had this Debbie Mumm fabric, but it seems not to want to go away!

If you look closely you can see 1986-1996 written on it; I don't think it's meant to be a millineum fabric.

Having said all that, here's where I am on the Allietare mystery - all red pieces are cut for step #4!

The white pieces and all the black wings will be cut today, definitely some sewing will be done too!

That's it for now, drink a cuppa, enjoy the mild weather, eat something good, sew forth and sew on...

Moving right along!

Three things to be happy about:
(1) charm bracelets
(2) keepsakes
(3) seasonal Coffeemate flavors

Sugar & spice? Peppermint mocha?  Gingerbread latte?  Eggnog latte??  Come on, be happy!

Whatever.

I'm digging right into Part 4 of the Allietare mystery - we're using black, baby!

This gives me a chance to cut into some of the new black fabrics I got in Lancaster; I just love this one - animal paw prints!

But look!!!

I've worn out another GO mat, had to open up a new one!  I've got only one more in reserve, I wish they made them stronger.

But the good news is, look at the progress I made on step 4!

Seven sets of "centerless bow ties" made, only 23 more to go.

I'm linking this post up with the Allietare Mystery Monday Link-Up on Bonnie's blog - check it out!

Meanwhile I've done other digging too - lookit these scraps, gotta move em out!

I love receiving other people's scraps, it's always like opening a new present every time I dig into the bag.

As I'm working on Allietare, I'm also making crumb blocks as leader-enders.  When I get a "whole heap" done I'll use my Accuquilt 4-1/2" die to cut these down into usable parts.

If you look closely you'll see some HST's from Allietare part 1 that didn't make the cut - let no scrap be left behind!!

Well I'm off to my last medical appointment of the year, my eye doctor.  Have a great day, finish whipping out those quilty projects, sew forth and sew on ...

Guild meeting

Three things to be happy about:
(1) slow cooker bags
(2) hot cider
(3) Christmas cookies baking

Lots of great show and tell, fellowship and fun at our last guild meeting for the year!  I usually get a photo of the food and more food we have, but I wasn't quick enough this time, LOL.  Just let me say, "Willie Mae, your cabbage was slammin'!   Cynthia, your rum cake had me singing all the way home!"

As usual there's a lot of beautiful pieces to see this time - I should warn you this post is photo-heavy!

Jackie has done it again!

She drew these figures - freehand - from a small picture her sister gave her - gorgeous!

Elsie was inspired to make this appliqued hanging from a post card!

And here are two more round robin group results from our retreat in October

Another one from Jackie...

Melba's cathedral windows, front...

... and back!

I envy Melba - she works at the National Zoo and can see the new babies up close and personal!

Jennifer made embroidered Christmas bed pillows.

Looking to buy decorative pillows at Pier 1, she realized she already had everything she needed at home to make exactly what she wanted.

Clever use of unwanted drapery panels, Scarlett!!

Renea's gift for her father-in-love - gorgeous!

He's a WWII veteran in his 90's and this will be his first quilt from Renea.

That one definitely goes on my to-do list!

December show n tell wouldn't be complete without a Christmas tree - nice one, Sheryl!

This one's hand embroidered; every year she will add more buttons to the background.

Did you get all those, Renee?  Nice hat!!





That's it for now, enjoy your Sunday - sew forth and sew on til later!

It's the weekend!

Three things to be happy about:
(1) photos of childhood
(2) new software
(3) "forever" stamps

Those stamps!  I told the postal clerk "If they last forever, you should only need one!"

Allietare progress!  I finished step 3 yesterday evening, so I'm all caught up now:

- 36 3-1/2 x 7-1/2" neutrals
- 20 sets of red, neutral and grey "santa hats"
- 294 grey and neutral half square triangles
- 120 neutral and gold 4-patches
- 98 2" black squares
- 36 2" grey squares
--- and a very messy cutting table!

Based on the amount of yardage specified, I think I can probably put away the gold and grey fabrics.

All ready now to start step 4 that came out yesterday morning!

We're making more rectangular winged units and this time I thought I'd try the specialty rulers.

I couldn't find my companion angle but I did find this ruler, it works just as well.

I made a test unit to see if I liked using these rulers and you know what?  It's actually easier than the sew and flip method!

When I thought of having to draw diagonal lines down "that many" black squares - I was pushed out of my comfort zone!

So these are the rulers I'll be using for this step.

Using the specialty rulers I should be able to whip those units out in no time!


Well, my guild's Christmas party is today, it should be fun!  It's so hard to believe we're almost at Christmas again, where did the year go??

Have a great day everybody, sew forth and sew on til later!