I hate paper piecing!! Either that, or I am an idiot....shouldn't be as hard as I make it. I am thinking of making fabric cards for just a few of my closest people this year. I was going to do a whole bunch but have narrowed down the list. We'll see how many I can finish. The tree is finally making sense and I have 8 of the basic block more or less done. Will post finished one later, hopefully before Christmas 2011. The heart one is very easy but I only have this sample so far and will plan out a better grouping. The trees are chenille strips and I will add some stars, etc. Will put little hangers on each one. One for my 16 year DGD
will be decorated with some vintage earrings which she seems to like.

The darker one is actually much smaller than the rather large patchwork one. It has lace, red roses and school related charms for an old friend. The patchwork has a sweet puppy for my very awesome computer lady. She is a hero and deserves my extra effort on this project. Lining job was especially well done for me...hope they both like the merry things I have made for them,

Here she is! Wasn't really looking for one but came across it on my way home from somewhere at a garage sale. I used to look for a nice cabinet to drop my my Kenmore in but when it died so did my search. I already had a New Home w/cabinet so have been using that one. The wear is where the fabric rubbed from lots of use. There is about 20 bobbins w/different colored thread so it was someone who was pretty active. 1910, 6 drawers instead of normal 2 or 4....all half separate locks...and key fits all. What are the odds of even having a key? The belt is off but not sure if anything is wrong with it. They are readily available at Montavilla Sewing so there must be a decent demand for them. I only got it about half refinished and will quit for a while. Love it and can't wait to get it working!!

I have only recently started going to sales again and it is surprising what I am turning up, even late in the day. I went to the bank 20 blocks away last week and stopped at 10 sales on the way so you have an idea what is going on with the Portland economy. Unfortunately, my plan was to only buy fabric that is needed to finish projects but have have buying bargains that are only in my "need" mentality.

I'm surprised I haven't put this on here yet. It's almost half done but that half is stashed somewhere in this smaller than I like condo. Someone asked me for the pattern but there really is none. Basic Sunbonnet Sue Halloween style. Finished squares are divided by black strips with JOL squares in the corners. The white dress shows the cut better. When I come across it again I will post some finished pix.

Selvage, etc Quilt

Haven't paid attention to my blog lately but here is one project I have gone insane over!
I was always told to cut off the selvages but thought some of the selvages were a little interesting as were diagrams, directions plus sample views. So, by the time I decided to try one incorporating those pieces, I was surprised at how much was accumulated. I had been making quilts for charity plus my love affair w/Daisy Kingdom who went out of business more than 6 years ago. When we moved last year, I was forced to narrow my belongings down so as I sorted things out, started building for this quilt with...yes...scraps. Thought I would never make a scrap quilt but here I am. This one will be a large queen size and it's going to be too big to quilt on my lowly sewing machine and I don't make tied quilts anymore. Mostly because people don't know how to take care of them and feed it to the washer and dryer. So, we'll see about that.

PS I forgot to mention the Oregon shaped object...it is a very nice flannel piece mounted on cardboard someone made over a 100 years ago. Then, the house and scenery was penned in
by this very talented person of long ago. I hang it up every year!

I've had computer woes as of late which gives me some excuse for not posting. We didn't do much for Christmas this year because December is always a very sad time for us...well...every month is sad but very much so in December since our oldest son died 9 years ago. It doesn't really ever get much easier. My youngest son almost had me talked out of having a tree because, since we moved, we have a much smaller space for such frivolities. Let alone which box was which decorations. However, death is again raising its inevitable head. My husband of almost 49 years is losing his battle with cancer and this was to be his last Christmas so I tried to spread some cheer just for him.
Thankfully, I have the distractions of quilting to ease the worries of the day away. I have been doing some of the tedious hand embroidery work on my cherry quilt and I have even followed thru on using all of the fabric and to not be tempted to make it smaller to get it done sooner. Organized 2 quilts for my grand daughter who says she wants to make one. Her and I made a couple together but I will be surprised if she ever starts on these. let alone finish. The night I wanted to go over it with her, she had 2 separate boys drop by and at 15, guess who got her attention.
I only got out my samplers and the quilt with the reindeer is a cheater flannel but really snuggly. Upon moving, I found all the places where I had put the 9 patch squares! I was originally going to make 12 quilts. Two recipients have died, I don't speak to one anymore and one has gone into a rest home. But, I have a lot of Christmas squares put together and have hope again for those with a revised list. The 2 large frames are prints telling the story of woodlands creatures Christmas' party....1920s probably.