Dexter and Henrietta

I am on a roll and I am loving it.  My random UFO for the month has been Henrietta Whiskers my hand pieced quilt.  As you can see I am making some really great progress this month.  Here is where I ended up last night before I stopped. 

So when I started this month - my goal for the month was to get at the last 3 blocks done. 
At one point, I wasn't sure I was going to get that much done. Well the clouds lifted and the wind blew in the right direction.  As you can see I got the 3 blocks done.   

So I kept going. I next sewed blocks 1-6 below together.  Then the blocks above 7-9 together.  

And then I prepared the wool birds and stars that will go into the borders.  

Then I cut out the borders and started sewing them together.  

You know the squirrel's name is Henrietta. Are you wondering yet where Dexter comes into this?  It comes from Netflix!  Normally I listen to books on tape while I sew and quilt.  But while I've been doing all this hand work I have been sitting in a comfy place in my living room.  Doggies at my side, binge watching Netflix. I ran out of episodes in some of my other standby shows Criminal Minds, NCIS...so I started looking for other series I could get into and ran across "Dexter".   


Dexter is a forensic technician specializing in blood spatter pattern analysis for the fictional Miami Metro Police Department, who leads a secret parallel life as a vigilante serial killer, hunting down murderers who have slipped through the cracks of the justice system.   
 Above in Blue comes from Wikipedia. 
What makes it more intense is that his Sister is a homicide detective, working right next to him daily.  

My Doggies are loving the extra cuddle time - I'm getting to enjoy a great new series of shows and in the process my UFO is getting close to becoming a flimsy.   
I have one more border to go as you can see in the picture at the top, before I can put the remaining birds and stars on.  And I am hoping since I have a couple more days that hubby will be golfing left in the month that I really can finish this top into a flimsy.  And the bonus is that this UFO is on my UFO list twice this year so next time it comes up I will be hand quilting it.  YAY!!!!  Could I possibly finish a whole UFO this year.  The year is starting off really well.  

Have a Blessed Day!
Lynn 

Henrietta the Wooly Squirrel

My Wooly Squirrel is Henrietta Whiskers. I have been working on her for a long time but she is getting so much closer to being done.  Yay.  This is my UFO for the month and my goal was to at least get the last 3 blocks done.  Blocks 7 - 9.   As of last night I have blocks 7 and 9 completed 9except buttons for eyes) and block 8 is 90% done.  I just need to do the panes in the window.  Since this is hand pieced I of course will be hand quilting this too.  So even when the borders are on I still have my work cut out for me, but having all the blocks done just give me the light at the end of the tunnel feeling.  This is block 7 to the left and block 9 below. 

And here is block #8.  

They will next be joined together with 1-6 

Now you know what I've been working on for the last few days.  I have been hand stitching and watching shows and movies on Netflix.  
None of the blocks have been sewn together and since the month is not over yet - that will be next.  Then I can get the borders on with a little more applique and then the hand quilting.  Not all of this will happen this month, however I have this UFO listed 2 times this year in hope of getting closer to getting it done.  
Have a Blessed  Day!
Lynn 

Reflecting Pumpkins

Unscheduled, finished projects are always a bonus.  Even if they aren't a planned bonus project for the month in the goals list.  

I realized one of my friends birthday's is way closer than I knew or remembered.  So all the sudden I did the " what can I do? "  thought process.  After taking the etching class, I got the idea I could make her an etched mirror with the items I know she likes.  Her and I both like working with wool and like doing the primitive stuff.  So pumpkins, sunflowers and crows are the answer.  Here is what I came up with.  

It's hard to get a good picture of these mirrors, because you're trying not to get in the picture but get the detail too. 

I saw a picture in one of my primitive magazines that spurred this picture, however most of this I drew myself.  Which is an accomplishment because I was never an artist that way.  My Mom was an artist and could draw pretty much everything and paint it in any medium you could think of.  I can do the sewing and cooking and painting, my Mom could do, however, I didn't get the natural drawing talent.  But as I get a little older,  I am getting better. 

That was the majority of what I got done yesterday in the sewing room.  I did a little stitching on my UFO of the month "Henrietta  Whiskers"  while I watched TV.  I got 3 square in a square blocks done and 4 squares sewn in a row.  I'll be working on that more today I think and so I'll show more of that later.  

My Sister and Brother in Law are only here for 2 more days.  They will be leaving early Thursday morning so not sure if we will be doing something with them today or not.  I know we are going to dinner tomorrow - but we may be doing that today as well.  

. 

Have a Blessed day doing something you want to do   Lynn

Ernestine - Ronnie Lyn

Yesterday was a nice relaxing day.  Randi came over we each were doing some stitching.  She worked on an embroidery and I worked on the binding on the military quilt while watching a movie.  "Blended"  It's a cute romantic comedy, with Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore.  Then while we were doing that, she cooked us dinner.  Baked Chicken, White Rice with Gravy and Green Beans with Tomatoes in them. Yummy.  Chicken and rice is one of my favorite meals and one that I always asked for on my Birthday each year.  So it is always one that my Sis knows is a treat for me and is why she made for us.  

After dinner and a little more visiting they headed back to their place and we kicked back and watched some football and I worked on finishing the first Bag Lady - Ernestine.  Her other name is Ronnie Lyn and you can ready about the 2nd name to my Bag Ladies here.   

I think there is going to be a little link up for the Bag Ladies each month but I'm not sure where and how that will work, once I figure that out I'll let you know. This will be the next one up for next month.  (If I can hold off until then)  This is Charlotte - Gloria. 

Today the guys are going golfing - so my Sis will come over and I think we are going to work on some glass/mirror etching.  Last Monday we took a class at her RV park clubhouse and learned how to do it, and I decided I wanted to do another one as a gift.  So I think we'll work on that today.  I offered to show her how to paint using ink and gel and she didn't bite so I guess it will be mirror etching.  :)  

Here is the one I made while taking the class. 

Well that's about it for now.  Have a Blessed Day doing something you want.    Lynn   

Almost There

I have two "Almost There's", that I'm very happy about, but for different reasons.  The first one is the best of the two.  My Sister and I have a package that is "almost there" to it's destination.  YAY!  

We made a quilt together for a very special little baby girl that has been adopted by friends of ours.  They are so over the moon with their new little baby and it's so awesome that Sis and I actually were able to give them something that we both made - especially since my Sister is not a quilter.  She did all of the embroidery blocks and I did the piecing and quilting. With the exception of the back, She cut 90% of the squares for the back and we both sewed them together.  According to USPS - it is scheduled to be there on in a couple of days. (The pattern for these blocks was part of a free pattern offered by Kaaren Johnson of the Painted Quilt) 

We had lots of left overs so we did a patchwork back. 

Here is my Sister Randi. 

And Me

The other "Almost There" is not near as exciting, however it is a happy moment too.  One of our guilds agreed to make 12  -  63" x 87" quilts for a new Veteran home that is opening in our area to rehabilitate veterans with chemical dependency issues.  Well since so many needed to be made and quilted I ended up having to make and quilt it myself.  This wasn't made with any type of pattern and frankly I don't like how it turned out.  I think that is another reason I just want it to be done and over with it.  I didn't do anything fancy on the quilting, and since I was quilting it on my little domestic machine, I just did wavy lines. I am very happy that as of yesterday the quilt is made and quilted and the binding is on.  I just need to do the hand stitching of the binding. So I am almost there with it too. 

I'm pretty sure I'll be working on that for an evening or two.  

Have a Blessed Day!

Lynn 

Needle Book Archive

I noticed that the Tuesday Archive Link up this week is needle books.  It's kinda funny how timing is because I was just looking into my needle books because we're getting ready to teach them at one of our guilds.  I have several more than this, however here are a few from over the years. 

These have pockets on the left  to store floss, thread and scissors. The right side is made of wool for your needles and pins.

The Needle Book below is one that I did a Needle Keep/Book Tutorial for on my blog, if you are interested.  

And the below - are some needle books I made for my friends as gifts one year. 

This is one I made for a gift for my friends birthday.  

it was fun looking back on my posts of Needle books, thanks Val for the link up party. 

Have a Blessed Day. 

Lynn 

Route 66 - Oatman

Route 66 is an iconic part of the continental United States.  I wouldn't say everyone has heard about it but I'm sure a lot of people even ones that have never been on it - have heard of Route 66. (Click on link to read more about it)

I would imagine that each state, and or each town in each state that the highway runs through has their own little claim to history.  For us in our little corner of Arizona, we have Oatman.  Oatman, AZ  (Click on link to read more about it)  is an old mining town that has turned into a tourist attraction for persons traveling and vacationing on this area of Laughlin, NV and Bullhead City, AZ on the Colorado River.  

So it's only fitting that we take our family and friends to Oatman.  Oatman was also the Honeymoon location for Clark Gable and Carole Lombard in 1939.  It's sad to think about the fact they supposedly had such a great love and it was cut so short by her tragic death.  

This from my friend Wikipedia:

According to the Hotel on March 29, 1939 Clark Gable and Carole Lombard spent their wedding night there after having been married in Kingman, Arizona. Remembering this memorable night, the couple often returned to the hotel for the peace and solitude it afforded them. Clark was known to spend many a night playing poker with some of the miners.  Sadly, Carole Lombard was killed in a plane crash in January 1942. Though devastated, Clark continued with his life and his career and later married again.

You can read the whole article and more about Oatman here.    

A short visit and tourist attraction that you see today while visiting does not give you the depth of the towns history but is still fun with the many burro's that roam freely and the many shops selling souvenirs for both Route 66, and Oatman.  They also host a short western gun fight a couple times a day.  

Here are some of our pictures that we took on this visit. 

See the little sticker on the head of the burro on in the picture on the right?  It says please don't feed me carrots.  These were on all the babies as they aren't ready for hard food yet.  
They do have hay pellet clumps you can buy to feed the adult burros. 

The gun fight ->  

Below - Sis taking some pictures.

 The weather was great.  It was very sunny - but a little cool when the wind picked up - all in all a great little outing.
We ended the day by coming back into town and stopping at Bubba Gumps for dinner.  I of course had the jambalaya as did my Sister.  The guys both had fish and chips.  

I love that stuff.  I even eat the shrimp it's so good and I don't like anything fishy except tuna.  

Well that's it for now.  Stay tuned as i will be showing more of our sewing projects soon. 

Have a Blessed day!

Lynn 

Gift Making

On the sewing front, I have been able to get quite a few things done.  Even though my Sister is visiting my sewing must go on.  :)  Kidding aside, she knows I have things I need to get done for my guilds and has been helpful with that. But we already made plans when she was here in October, to make some gifts to give her friend.  
My Sister doesn't quilt,  but does know how to sew. It's been nice because she will trim my threads, iron and cut squares for me and then I can just keep sewing.   Here are a couple of the gifts we have made.  Both are for my Sister's friend for her Birthday later this month. 

Mixer cover - her friend picked this fabric out, but it's been awhile so should be a nice surprise.   

Table topper - She has no clue this is coming so this should be fun.  The friend and husband are snow birding here in Arizona and this will be for their table in their 5th wheel trailer. 

It's definitely been fun for me - I get the best of both worlds.  I get to sew which I love and I get to spend time with my Sister.  And as a bonus I have a helper.   Winner Winner.  

Have a Blessed Day!

Lynn 

London Bridge is not falling down

Well Howdy - seems like a way too long since I've had a chance to post about what I've been doing.  My Sister and Brother in law are here, and we have been on the run.  We've been sewing, and eating and sight seeing.  So I'll see if I can catch up on what all we've been up to.  My Sister has been here a few times but this is the first time for my Brother in law so we've been taking him to some of the local areas for him to see. 
We took a drive to Lake Havasu City a couple days after Christmas.  It's call to fame is the "London Bridge" that was shipped from London brick by brick and rebuilt here. 

Here's a glimpse of the bridge with my Sister and Brother in law in front. 

Below is my sweet hubby. 

Sis and I

View looking at California side from middle of bridge. 

And of course there needs to be shopping. 

It was a very nice day and we came home to some chili that my Sis had put in the crock pot before we left.   

More adventures soon.  

Blessings

Lynn   

Henrietta and Ernestine

I'm starting the year off with something old and something new.  The old will be my monthly UFO. Again, I will be following the random number generator listed on All People Quilts UFO Buster. I'm not making any profound resolutions this year.  It would be the same really as it always is for any given quilter - Quilt more tops, Finish all your started projects. And for me personally I want get in better shape.  I don't have any health issues except being a little overweight so I want to work on that.  That's it - pretty simple - but something to work on the same. 
So back to sewing and quilting - because that's really want we want to talk about right.  The UFO that was picked for this month was #6 and for me on my list - is  "Henrietta Whiskers". This quilt was offered as a free BOM from Bunnyhill Designs and was started in 2012 when our house was for sale.  Because I had my sewing room packed, I decided to hand pieced and hand appliqued this quilt. Here is a picture of the completed quilt.  

Here is my beginning status.  I have blocks 1-6 done.  

My goal is to complete blocks 7-9 which is the bottom row on the quilt.  

Also, now that it is finally the New Year - I can start on my Bag Lady.  I think I will be doing them in order but reserve the right to change my mind.  Here is Ernestine. 

I didn't do any stitching on her yesterday but want to get started today.   I have a little story to tell about these ladies.  I have a group of ladies I sew with once a month.  And when I showed them my patterns they thought it would be fun to assign our names to each of the Bag ladies since there is 12 of each.  :)   So this is Ernestine / Ronni Lyn.   When I get these done and finished into a quilt, it will be a great memory quilt of our sewing times together. 

Have  a Blessed day - Lynn