These are the quilts I made yesterday to send to Newtown, CT for the families affected by the shootings at Sandy Hook School. I have finished two, and plan to make 18 more. I have the tops of two more quilts put together, and the squares for 12 more cut out. I wish the batting wasn't so expensive.

 

The pictures don't do the quilts justice. There is a halo that is 3 - dimentional. One of the quilts has praying hands.

 

Rest in Peace little ones...

I just posted pictures on the Apron swap site that I swap on regularly!!

I got gifts for the word SANTA!! My Secret Santa was Cynthia Matzat!!

S: socks to keep my feet warm!!
A: Assortment of Coffees!! Everyone knows I love coffe!!
N: Novel to get me in the X-mas Spirit!! "1225 Christmas Tree Lane" by, Debbie Macomber
T: Terrific Homemade tote that I will cherish forever!!
A: a BERRY x-mas tree ornament

Cynthia made this beautiful tote that I will use everyday!!

Rocco walked right in front of me while I was taking pictures!! He is very needy!! Only a mom could love this face!!

My so cute Hoot Hoot Hot Pad!!

My Flirty not Naughty  Apron!!

I am so finished with this Secret Santa Swap!! Just look at my pictures!!

I am off to the Post Office this morning, then off to the Historicak Museum to help with the Christmas Tree Display!!

Shawnee, you host  very special swaps!! Just wanted you to know!!

Shawnee sent off our Secret Santa Swap Partners, and today I am going to be a sewing Busy Bee!!

Last night my grandson Tony came over for a sleep-over...we had a great time!! He will be heading home soon, so I can get started on my Package for...!~:;"%#@*... Sorry, you have to be surprised!!!

Friday night Joe and I attended the LARC Dinner Fish Fry! We invited past neighbors, Bob and Linda, over for homemade Cherry Pie and ice cream. We should get together more often. When they left, I stayed up and made a dress.

The Dress...let me explain. This very nice young girl called and asked me if I would make her bridesmaid dresses, 5 in all, the wedding is next July. I said sure!! I told her I would want a separate pattern for each girl, stricktly for alteration ease. Not a problem. She asked if she could come over with her mother to discuss all the details. They came over on Monday late afternoon. We talked for awhile, and it was decided that they would go to a fabric store in Chicago and pick out the fabric they wanted and bring it back to me. The next day they came back with fabric. Also they asked if I would just make one dress so they could see if I new wht I was doing!! Can you believe this?  I can't believe I agreed!! I am nuts!! Certifiable!! Anyway, they then told me they wanted me to copy a dress they had without a pattern!! Be sure not to take apart this dress, because this little girl may still want to wear it!! This is all what this MOM was saying to me.

Okay, I have cooled down...

Friday afternoon while I was getting ready to go to the LARC Fish Fry, this little girl called, and asked if her sample dress was completed. Her bridesmaids were coming in for the weekend, and she needed the dress to show to them. Can you believe this...I'm still amazed that I haven't hung up the phone...I politely say to her...give me a call tomorrow afternoon, and we will work something out .

I haven't even thought about how I was going to make this dress...So now it is Friday night at 9:00pm.

I lay out the fabric, lay the back side of the dress down, and trace the outline of the dress with tailor chalk. Do the same with the front side, estimating the wideth of the neck line, because it is gathered into the collar. I cut the pieces  out, and then use those pieces to cut out the lining. Really a simple process, Cut out a collar, and start sewing.

The Process...I sewed the side seams of both the dress and lining separately, Put the lining inside the dress, lining up the side seams. Gathered the neckline to fit the collar and stitched them together. I hemmed both the lining and dress, and now I am finished...it is now 12:00am.  I waited until 2:00pm to call her. She loved the dress.

I have three pictures that I took of the Friendship Quilt that I put together and hand-quilted!!

This is one of eight counted cross-stitched squares that were provided to me to be included in the quilt!! Sew pretty, don't you think?

It took me 13 days from start to finish!!

Fits beautifully on a King Size Bed!!

 

After I finished this quilt, I started the Memory Quilt that I am making for my brother's second child, Valerie!! She graduates from High School this next June!!

 

 

Valerie is going to love her quilt, and I am very happy to be so far ahead of my schedule!!

 

This is what happens when I am waiting for my swap partner info!!!

 

Decided to post this on my blog too!! Christmas is just around the corner, so be nice and not naughty!! You never know who is watching!! HO!HO!HO!

 I'm clicking through everyones websites, wondering when our Secret Santa Swap Partners will be announced! Come on Y'all!! Creative time is a'wastin

So...Who else knows about Swap-Bot. Seems to me, that I just might enjoy that swapping community!!

I loved Shawnee's very cute dress, so I thought I would put her on my blog to make sure I was nice and not naughty!!  LOL!!

NTOOD, or National Tie One On Day is a great way to give back! Sounds like something I could really enjoy participating in!! I will make the apron, wrap up a loaf of freshly baked bread and give it to someone who could use a nice addition to a meal!!

Remember, November 21st, 2012!!

I have spent the better part of a couple hours checking out the blogs of all Secret Santa 2012 Swappers! Everyone is so creative! Most blogs look so professional. Sadly, I am lucky to find time to make a posting...

I just finished making a quilt that is going to be raffled off at a fund raiser for LARC, an organization that works with adult physically and mentally challenged individuals. I didn't make the entire quilt. I put the Squares together and did the quilting by hand, but there where eight squares that were cross stitched by other people. The quilt ended up being King Size. Just beautiful!! I never considered myself to be a quilter, but I really am enjoying it. I will be posting pictures soon, just not now.

I started another memory quilt for one of my neices. Made from her volleyball T-shirts. I started hand quilting it yesterday.

Last night I bought fabric to make a queen sized duvet. I am not sure the best way to work the closure,so I will have to think about that awhile!! I am using wasable suede!! Very cool stuff. Hope it holds up. Very pricey!!!

1. What are your hobbies? Sewing, Gardening
2. What are your favorite colors? Red, Green, Gold
3. Do you collect anything? Owls
4. Are you allergic to any fibers or animals? Not that I am aware of
5. Do you have any pets? Boxer named Rocco, 3 1/2 yrs old
6. Coffee, Tea, or Chocolate? Coffee
7. What do you like to read? Romances
8. Do you prefer Cookies or Candies as a sweet? All red candies
9. What is your favorite holiday treat? Ribbon candy
10. Describe your favorite holiday tradition. Taping the conversation at X-mas dinner
11. Did you believe in Santa as a child? Yes
12. When do you open presents? X-mas Eve
13. Do you put up a tree and when? If not, how do you celebrate? One day before Thanksgiving, until New Years Eve
14. Does your tree have a theme? Not this year!
15. What has been your favorite gift to give? to receive? Love to give to my grandchildren!! I love to get Hugs with kisses !!

Really looking forward to this Secret Santa Swap!! I have been busy getting my home ready to host Thanksgiving for 18 family members!! I MUST BE INSANE!! No, I really love this time of year!!

August 2012

Tomorrow Joe and I are going to Wisconsin to visit with Pete, Jessica and Joey!! I am so excited!! We are going to swim, BBQ, and just have a super time! Next week-end, I get to babysit Joey for a few days while his parents go on a  short mini vacation!! I just am so lucky to have wonderful children!

My oldest grandchild, Tony, registered for Kindergarten this morning, and I got to babysit his two siblings, Peter and Robin...What would I do if I didn't get to see these super kids grow up? May we always live near each other.

I have been watching the Olympics the last few days, and I have to admit, the athletes seem to be larger, stronger and more agressive than in years past. I don't know if that is good or bad. Cheering on the USA!!!

On Monday, I am going to start a new sewing project. I will be designing a wedding dress, using an old dress and making it completely different than what it was!! I plan to take pictures of the original, and then take pictures of the on going process, to the finished product!

Quilt for 1st Responders of Aurora, CO

Here is the quilt I made for the 1st Responders and families affected by the shootings in Aurora, CO.  My blogging friend Jean, put out a call to all quilters to make a quilt for a very worthy cause!! She is aiming to get 300 quilts. I am hoping she gets that amount and more!! Stitch to it ladies!! I am shipping this out tomorrow!!

Ruth received her package!!!

So Ruth contacted me this morning, and the good news is...She loves her apron and all the goodies I sent her!! Yeah Rah!! I love to hear my swap sisters are happy!! It just makes me so glad. Just keep an eye out, cause I may just pop in for a visit to retreive that hat I sent you...LOL!! I really wanted to keep it!!

So Megs got that cat toy after all!! You know dogs are so smart. Ya just have to love them!! Rocco loves the Turkey that was suppose to go to Megs. Not much left of him at all. Not sure I would know what kind of animal it was, if I hadn't bought it.

Tonight I am going to a play with some friends " Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" Should be very entertaining!! I haven't been out for an evening in a very long time. After the show we are going to Baker's Square for a piece of pie!! Cherry with vanilla ice cream will be my pick!


On another subject...I am going to try my hand at a quilting project to send to the 1st Responders of the Aurora, CO shootings that took place earlier this month. I am not a quilter, but I can give it a try for such a worthy cause. My friend Jean from Washington state has asked all of her quilting friends to reach deep into their hearts and pull out a quilt to send. I am going to have to get the address, and when I do, I will post it!!

July 25th, 2012

I am really hoping Ruth will receive her package today!! Even though I shipped 2 day priority, USPS doesn't always do their job. I am sure I would have lost my job if I had not done that job in a timely manner!! Ruth has already waited long enough, and the rest of the swap sisters are waiting patiently to see what her apron will look like!!

Today I have to finish the jacket tux I am making for my husband. He has been after me for months/years...not a lie, to finish it! The trouble is, he is very hard to fit and I get frustrated and just tuck it away so I don't have to look at it!! Today is the day...just get it done. Wish me luck....I will let you all know how it goes!!

Quilting Ranny is asking for donated quilts to send to Aurora, Co. This is just a wonderful, thoughtful thing to do.  As I wish I was a quilter by trade, the few quilts I have made have taken me a long time to create. It would take me months I believe to send something completed. This is however a very worthy cause.

God Bless the residents and first responders in Aurora, CO and God Bless the USA.

Back to sewing!!

So last Wednesday I got back from my 5th visit this year, to Ohio to help my Mother unpack from her Last move!! Boxes filled her second bedroom...what can I say, she never throws anything away, and we just keep packing and unpacking for her!! Maybe my sisters and I are the problem!! Anyway, I finished all the unpacking that needed to be done.

I checked my e-mail and low and behold, there was a message from Shawnee!!! Hi Shawnee!! So she asked me if I would "Angel" for someone in our current swap, and you know I can't say no!! Just not in my vocabulary. I did post a picture on the Apronista website, just a peek!! But here I will show what I made!!

I think the apron turned out great!! Definitely one I would like to keep!! The next picture is a quick shot of the other tuck-ins!! I got a little carried away!! You know I have to spoil my new friend!! There is nail polish, Cherry Jelly Bellies,2 mini fry pans in pink and green, a purple spatula, candy buttons and a cat toy! I did buy a dog toy, but I wasn't careful where I put down my shopping bag, and my Boxer Rocco got a hold of the toy and mauled it to death. So sorry Megs...Pink yarn and a circular Knitting needle.

This hat was just so perfect and easy to doctor up to fit in with my colors. Hope my new friend wears hats!!

I am getting ready to wrap everything so I can ship out tomorrow!!

Minot to Lansing package has arrived!!

Thank you thank you Becca!! I love my apron and all of the wonderful tuck-ins!!
Everyone else will be so jealous that they didn't get you as a partner! I sure lucked out as one would say. Here is a picture of my apron!!

                                                          Becca sent me several fun tuck-ins...Patterns to make scarfs and sundresses for a little grandchild named Robin that I know"LOL", a beautiful pill box that will come in handy, a small tin of hard candies, a note pad with a card stock cover with a magnet closure, ceramic measuring spoons and a purse hanger for a tabletop!! Pattern and fabric for a small quilt top. She is trying to keep me busy for a while... I plan to make the quilt, and ship it to her to quilt for me on her long arm quilting machine!! Good idea, right?

Thank you so much Becca!!

                                                    

I lost all the history on my blog awhile back and never replaced these swap participation stamps!! So here goes...

I'm not sure how to put them in order, but that doesn't really matter does it?

Loved the Alice in Wonderland Swap!!

Here is the swap that got me lots of ooo"s and aaa's...The original went to Connie in Wisconsin. Jen W commented that she wished she had this runner, because it matched an apron she had!! So you know I had to send one to her too!!

I want her table!!!, forget the runner!! LOL!!

Here is a picture of one of my gardens in the back! It is an on going project! I will never finish it!!

Here is the otherside of my back yard!!

These Star Gazing Lillies are not what I expected!! They should be lots taller! Rather a disappointment.

I have finished my apron for Becca!! Yeah Rah!! Actually, I finished it a couple of days ago!! I took pictures of the package this morning, and also took pictures of my gardens out back!! I have been busy weeding...just like all of my fellow gardeners!!

Here is what I originally wanted to make for Becca, but decided in the end to follow all the rules and make the apron look like the Moore apron!!

So here is the apron...What do you think!! She wanted Red and Pink!!

Now if I can find the pictures I took of my yard, I will show you all of my hard work!!

Oops! This is one of the tuck-ins!!

Here we go! Not sure what this plant is called, but I do know it is a Perrenial that grows well in the Calumet Region!!

So am I suppose to cover the hoses with mulch?? Help!!

Hoping these Hostas will survive the deck cleaning that is happening this next week!!

Contacted my swap partner!!

Shawnee did a super job matching me up with Becca O from North Dakota!! We have e-mailed back and forth and have a little more info on each other! Becca has a Boxer named izzie and I have a Boxer named rocco. LOL!!!

I have picked out a few fabric choices, and as much as I would like to share those choices, I would like to keep them secret just a little bit longer. I had intended to make my own design of the ruffled apron, but my Mother talked me out of it for this apron...OK, I know what the issue is...I just don't like to use ready made patterns. It has to be my own original pattern. I promise I will make it pretty!!

I worked in the yard this morning, mowing the back yard, and what else...WEEDING! Oh how I hate to weed these gardens when it is so hot!!

My daughter and her family came over for a BBQ, and her first born Tony has a garden in my back yard. He is growing pumpkins, green peppers and Sunflowers!! We went out to water, turned the water on, and out of know where, the sky let loose of a storm so quick, that we got completely wet before we could get back in. Just crazy! But lots of fun none the less!!

Just as soon as I can, I will post some pictures of my gardens...then you can see all the weeding that still needs to be done!! LOL!!

Hugs, until the next time!

I have been weeding my garden since dawn this morning. I have put in about 7 hours and will now call it quits for the day! After a quick bath I will start planning the design for Shawnee's Apron Swap! I have been thinking about it for two days now, and I am pretty sure what it will look like when completed. However, I have to wait now for swap partner info for colors, favorite collections, etc... The waiting is the hardest part for me, anyone else feel the same?

There is a storm brewing from the West. Lots of thunder, and a few drops of rain. This will make for a good sewing session this afternoon!!

I hope this time around I will have a partner assigned to me that loves to sew, and will put in all the time required to make me a beautifully constructed apron.

Until the next post!!!!!!

Shawnee's new Apron Swap!!!

I am happy to say I have signed up for Shawnee's new swap!! Looking forward to sewing for fun again!! That is what swapping is all about, right!! Aside from making new friends, sewing for others is a way to open your expressive creativity and share it with someone you have never met!!

Prom alterations!!

I am always amazed by the fancy dresses that show up at my doorstep for Prom!  These young girls spend a fortune on dresses that will be worn one time only. I am happy to shorten and alter them as needed, but wonder what they will do for wedding attire when the time comes. Perhaps I should start advertising now, to custom make these dresses. I could use some of this money that is spent in these fancy dress shops!!

Off to Ohio!!

Well, it has been a very long time since I visited my Blog.. I was sick for about 7 weeks. Very hard to function when you aren't feeling well enough to stand up...

So I am going to Ohio Today to help my Mother move one floor up and into a different wing of the independent living facility that she and my father downsized to. This whole move is very hard for mom because my Father passed away just 3 days after they moved in. That was 3 years ago. Her new 1 bedroom apartment is smaller and not so Hoveround friendly. That is her motorized power chair...I am hoping mom can adjust. She may have to move back to the Chicao area. It would be easier for me, but ultimitely the choice will be hers.

I am missing all the apron swaps I was in. I am afraid however they have run their course, and I will now have to find something different to occupy my time.

I have run out of time to continue my post, so I will talk to you soon...Ciao!!!