Where's Deb?

Hmm...I see Waldo, but where is Deb?

At work!! Agh!! Work has seriously been cramping my style!! It seems like there are not enough hours in the day to work, take care of my family & home AND declutter my stash. But, I am optimistic about the upcoming three day weekend!! For those in the USA...next weekend is Labor Day. Which, will be a 3 day weekend for me!! Yippee! Until then, here are some snickers I found that reminded me of me at work!! 

Hmm...I am wondering if my boss would buy the Feng Shui thing?

Until the weekend...I will be putting little hexies together...and will post them for your viewing pleasure!! So, mark your calenders..."Deb...hexies...check her blog..."!! 


Deb

Anniversary Snickers

Today is my 23rd anniversary of marriage to my dear Quail. We've had our ups and downs like many couples, and we are doing our darndest to keep more ups than downs. So, in honor of our anniversary, here are a few snickers about age and marriage. 

My kids hate this picture, but it is on my key chain! I love the sentiment and the photo. I suspect if I looked in the mirror, that's what I look like from behind!!

Oh, and what did my dear Quail get my for our anniversary? Why the traditional 23rd year anniversary gift: Twizzlers and Champagne! 

Lovin' my bits and pieces (and Twizzlers)
Deb

Better Late Than Never

It's the day after One Flower Wednesday...but here is my flower!

She's just one lonely flower...but in a day or so, she should have a friend. And then they will be winging their way to my One Inch Hexie swap partner!!  


It has been a slow week for me again in my decluttering efforts and sewing efforts. That hasn't stopped me from gawking at other's blogs. One of my favorite non productive past times!! And, through the magic of Pinterest  I have found a place to post pictures of all the cool quilt pictures, etc I find!! Here are a few of the goodies I pinned. I couldn't figure out how to attach the links to the pictures...so you'll have to go to Pinterest to find the origins!! 

Beautiful  napkins made from vintage sheets and finished with ric-rac

 

I want to make this quilt. I MUST make this quilt. Now, to check my vintage sheet stash...

A bag tied with a fabric covered pipe cleaner. Cool idea!! 

Have a large collect of doily's you don't know what to do with? Make a table runner!! 

The weekend will soon be upon me and I have plans to do some serious work in my sewing room/basement.  Now I hope I can follow through!  

My kitty Thimble, engaged in some serious snoozing. Ahh...to be a cat!!

So, here's hopin' I can get my pieces together!!
Deb 

 

You've Got Mail!

Isn't it amazing how old fashioned snail mail can brighten your day?  Today started yucky. Actually, it started last night. I woke up around 3:00 AM to the sound of LOUD hail hitting our house.

My husband's car was  tucked snugly into our 1 car garage. Mine was left to fend off the weather on her own.  I got up and stood on the front porch and watched helplessly as hail the size of ping pong balls pummeled my car. (Picture the Captain Kangaroo show!) The morning sun revealed several LARGE dents. Fortunately, the windows were not cracked or broken. This is the second time this summer my  car has been hailed on. We hadn't even had a chance to fix the last round of hail dents and now there are more. And, to top everything off...I have been fighting a migraine since Sunday.  Grumpy quilter! 

That's the back story. At noon, the mailman drives by and leaves a lovely squishy package in our box and it's for me!! My blogger friend, Kris, from Lavender Quilt & Other Fineries had mailed me a bunch of 1 inch paper hexies! I can start on making flowers for a swap she told me about. It's called 1 Inch Hexagon Swap.  Each month different people are paired to swap one inch hexie flowers. Jane has the list neatly organized as to who has what preferences. I've chosen 1930's repro's with a solid center.  My first swap partner is clear in the United Kingdom!  I know in this age of airplanes and internet, the world is a small place. But I am still really pumped that a little ole flower that I am making will be traveling all the way across the ocean!! 

Maybe this handsome guy will be taking it?!

So, thank-you, thank-you, thank-you Kris for getting me out of my funk and back on track!! 


In other news, last weekend, as I organized the closet in my sewing room I came across these:

A Mess of un-ironed, vintage Apple Core blocks

Neatly ironed. 

 They are vintage apple core blocks I had bought many years ago and never done anything with them. At the time, I think I hoped to use the fabric for making other vintage mini or doll quilts, but it never happened. As I looked over the fabric, I was discouraged by how thin it is. It was as though the person who had carefully pieced the blocks had maybe used old  worn clothes/fabric and it is now thin and faded. I decided to iron/starch them any way and see what I could do with it. 

I like her set-up. Ironing while sitting down! Easier on the back! And dig the dress & blouse. I always iron in a dress and blouse. Don't you?

As I was "piecefully" ironing...an idea hit me! I decided to use a foundation pattern, which could support the thin fabrics. From there, my mind said: Why not a string quilt? Just slice the ironed pieces into various widths and sew them onto muslin foundations! YES! A plan was born!! It won't be a very big quilt...probably wall size. But I like the idea of using the vintage fabric to create a new design. What do you think? 

I need to get busy...I have two hexie flowers to finish  this week! One for my August swap and one for my One Flower Wednesday posting.  Guess what I am going to do tonight and tomorrow!! Happily sitting and hand sewing!! 


Sewin' pieces bit by bit,
Deb

Snickers, Anyone?

Hi! I have been AWOL all week. I started my new job last Monday. After 5 months of unemployed living,  I discovered I am not in full day of work shape any more!! Gosh, I was SO tired when I would get home. I'm not used to having to be smart all day!!  I hope this week I will be more productive in the evenings...but I ain't makin' any promises!!  :) 

Here is my weekly prescription for smiles. I hope you enjoy them!!  

This could be me someday...the caption didn't copy, but it is entitled "Death By Unfinished Projects"!

Actually,  this would refer to my Christmas QUILT!!

I read where they  used to actually PROMOTE drinking beer for nursing mothers.  I guess it helps to relax them?The ad notes the malt in the beer is believed to be healthy for mother and baby. Times have changed!!   

YES!!!  

And finally, what may become my latest mantra: 

Here's hoping you don't have to eat too many cookies this week due to "unpleasant moments"!! 
Deb

Saturday Snickers

Not this kind!
The happy, NON-FATTENING kind!!

And finally, 

Take some time to giggle this weekend...you'll be glad you did!!


Deb

I'm a Ramblin' Gal...

And by ramblin', I mean I have SO many things to blog about today. So, pour yourself a cold drink, sit back and enjoy the ride!  


1) Here is this week's One Flower Wednesday  addition to my flower garden.  

The flower has a purple wasp or fly in the center. Buzz! 

If you would like to see more flower gardens, just mosey on over to Journey Of A Quilter . And be sure to let Karen know how much you enjoy the "garden walk"--she does a great job sponsoring it!


2)   My sister Karen from Hazel Dell Quilts  and I made it to the Sarpy County Museum Quilt Show !!  If you are in the area, I recommend going to see it...it's inexpensive (just $2.00 donation) and has some gorgeous quilts, plus a neat museum.  Here is a taste of some of my favorites: 

A bold black and yellow string quilt by Joyce Martin

Sun On The Mountains by Anna Miller
Does this quilt look familiar, Jeanine? ;) 

Quilt made in 1930's by Alvera Seidel's great grandmother

A close up of the fabrics. They were rayon type dress fabrics. 

Baby quilt owned by Kay Holst.  Made 1937

I loved the little birds in the quilt! 

Sand Castles made by Roxanna Duncan. It is a pattern by Teri Christopherson.
It is my favorite quilt of the show! 

Close Up: It is made entirely of vintage feedsack fabric. 

Nebraska Fallen Hero's Quilt #4 

Backside of the Nebraska Fallen Hero's quilt #4.
It is a very moving quilt. 

If you want to know more about the Home of the Brave quilt project (it is national). Check out their site:

Home of the Brave Quilts.

3) And finally,  I have been quietly decluttering in my sewing room.  I re-arranged some boxes and labeled them. One set of stacks is "Fabric To Be Sorted" and the other is "Stuff To Be Sorted."  I think it will be easiest for me to purge the "stuff" boxes, so I am going to start with those. So far, I have gone through two boxes of papers and culled it down to 1/4 of a box.  Not bad!! I also decided to tackle the small closet in the littlest of the two rooms which house my sewing/fabric. 

Before picture...messy, cluttered closet. 

Neat, tidy AND....

Labeled boxes!! 

I hope your week has been going well. I never seem to get as much done as I hope to...but I keep reminding myself:


 A) It didn't get this way overnight
 B) Every bit I go through and either throw or give away, leaves me that much more space for the things I really love! 
C) Baby steps!! 


Back to piecing my life together, a stitch at a time...
Deb