Big Finish

Today is the final day for the Color Challenge issued by Natalie of Cinderberry Stitches. Red is her color of choice today. I have shown you many of my reds. Just page back to blue day and you will see that they go together so well that I have combined them in many of my quilts. Here's the first quilt I ever made. It was, in fact, the project from my first ever quilt class. It hangs in my studio.

You can probably tell from my banner that I love '30's reproductions. I think I have mentioned it a time of two (gross understatement). Here are a few of them from my stash.
Ain't they pretty? (Shh, don't tell my sweet kid #3 that I said ain't. She's planning on being a high school english teacher and she just cringes when I say ain't.) It's because of this....
This sign hangs in our kitchen. But let me show you what's red and hangs in our entry hall.


















My husband is an artist(a hobby right now). He's really good if I do say so myself. And you know I am not the least bit biased!! He has done a series of seasonal old barns. This one obviously is fall. It is my favorite of the barns. This barn sits just a little south of the small town we used to live in. If you would like to see more of his art you can check out his website here.

Here are a few more shots from around the house with red, of course.













































Well, if you have stuck it out to the end, thanks. This has been fun.
Happy Quilting!

How about Brown?

When I zoomed on over to Natalie's site to find out what the challenge color for the day would be I thought, "Uh oh, brown. I haven't done much brown." But not wanting to be stumped (this is, after all, a challenge), I grabbed the camera and headed down to my studio. I was pleasantly surprised.

This is a table square using the Winter Rose line of fabric. I've shown you this one before. It was fun and easy to make and includes brown and creams.

Both of these are waiting for my next quarterly installment from the 2008 Thimbleberries Club. Since I chose the "lodge" color-way instead of the "lakeside" color-way there are several browns in the quilt.





























I have a few scraps left of this cute brown polka dotted fabric after making this purse. Aren't pink and brown together just the cutest?




















And this little cutie sits of my sewing table in the studio. My mother-in-law made him for me. Notice the creative little details. I love the little frog on the arm(paw?). And the little red earrings. She had a real knack for making things beautiful. She passed away in 2002 and we miss her very much. She was so very creative and we have several things around our home to remind us of her.

There is only one day left in the Color Challenge. I wonder what color she will choose next? There are so many left to choose from. Thanks for stopping by.
Happy Quilting!

Blue, Blue, My World is Blue

Not really! Natalie over at Cinderberry Stitches has named blue as the color of the day. I am having so much fun with this color challenge. Color is such an integral part of a quilter's world. Now I know some quilter's love to make black and white quilts and they turn out so pretty but how boring would it be if that was it for choices of color. I'm so very, very glad that God didn't create this world in just black and white. Aren't you?

Before we moved here to Ohio most of my home was decorated in blue(mostly Americana). That has changed here but since my stash had so much red and blue in it a large portion of my quilting has been in those colors (until now, as I said - that has changed). Here are a few of my early quilting projects.


























I could go on but I won't. Next come the wonderful tools we have as quilters. Another of my rotary cutters (who can have just one?), seam ripper (not one of favorite tools), and the brush to keep my sewing machine running smoothly and blue thread. There are so many shades of blue.






















Next is a close up of a feed sack I bought at an antique store near here. I would love to begin collecting feed sacks to make quilts from but haven't gotten that far yet.
And last, but certainly not least, is a fun little knick-knack that sits atop my desk in the studio. It was a gift from my bff Claudia. I am a displaced Texan and she doesn't want me to forget it(as if I could). As they say, You can take the girl out of Texas but you can't take the Texas out of a girl. Or something like that!! Yee Haw!!!

Thanks for stopping by! Happy Quilting!!

Color Challenge Green

Today's challenge color is green which I found was easy to get from my studio. I really like green. Maybe it takes me back to my high school days where we were the "mean green fighting machine". Maybe it is because it portrays life everywhere in nature. Maybe I just like green. Anyway, below are my offerings today for the color challenge.

What is it about fat quarters that I absolutely love them? Maybe it's because I can have so many different fabrics to fondle without spending an unreal amount of money for them. I don't know but I'm addicted to fat quarters especially when they are the '30 reproductions like these.
Just one of my rotary cutters.
Scissors and thread.
I love this stuff. I use it for my applique. It comes in several different scents. Mine is the Citrus Green. I like it so much better than regular starch. It leaves the pieces lighter and doesn't leave as much residue on my ironing board cover. Check out the link above for more info.
This is the gorgeous view out of my studio windows. Sorry about the screen. It will be even more green once the corn starts coming up. I love this view in the spring and summer.

If you haven't been to Natalie's blog yet you really need to check it out.

Thanks for stopping by. Happy Quilting!

Color Challenge

Natalie over at Cinderberry Stitches has issued a color challenge. Her plan is to share 5 items from her studio in 5 different colors over the next 5 days. Today she chose pink. Use the link above to pop over to see her wonderful photos. If you have never been to her blog you will so thoroughly enjoy it that I'm sure you will bookmark it for daily inspiration. She is so very talented.

I love pink. So it wasn't really a problem to find 5 items in pink to share with you today. Here goes.....
Of course, I have to start with fat quarters. That's a given for a quilter wouldn't you say? I chose the brights but I could have gone with the '30's reproductions also. Maybe even a mixture? Choosing fabric is soooo hard even if it's not for a quilt right now!

Here's a valentine table runner that I need to sandwich and quilt. I guess I don't need to stress too badly over it yet since I won't need it until next February. It's a free pattern from Monica's blog. She's the Happy Zombie and I also love her blog. She's such a talent and so generous to share her patterns. I used charm packs of the All You Need Is Love fabric to make this one.
I wish I could say that I made this doily but I would be a liar if I did. I bought it at an antique store in Texas. I would really love to learn how to make these myself. I do crochet but have not attempted this yet. Maybe one day!!
First, let me apologize for the bad picture. It's dreary here today and I just couldn't get a good photo of Chatty Cathy. I know this is dating myself. I will be fifty-something this month and can I just tell you that Chatty Cathy was one of my all-time favorite Christmas presents. I think I was either 7 or 8 when I got her for Christmas. I'll never forget it. Unfortunately, I don't have the original anymore. My mom gave me this little replica a couple of Christmas's ago. She even has the pull string in the back. So very cute!!
A cup of tea, anyone? This is a cup and saucer from my mom's china. I have the whole set and just love them. Aren't they pretty? They are so light and dainty.

Thanks for stopping by. Happy Quilting!

Weeds

Spring is definitely here. Finally!!! But just look. The weeds are just everywhere. I have to confess a real hang-up of mine. I hate to get my hands dirty. I don't know why but I always have. I don't like to dig in the dirt. I don't like to touch meat. I just don't like for my hands to be dirty. I know -- weird. But, with all that said, this is the first house we have ever lived in with wonderful landscaping. I love what they have done with all the beds. So, I'm going to put on my big girl pants and get out in those flower beds and pull those weeds. I can do it!!

This beautiful plant is around the corner from "the weeds". I have to tell you that I think this is about the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. They are climbing up the antenna beside
the house. They bloom all summer.



















Thanks for stopping by. Happy Quilting!

Mayberry Again

We stayed at the home of some dear friends while in Mayberry. (Thanks again Lynn and Larry!) They weren't there so we sneaked in (Ha -- not really). Although they are on vacation they offered their home to us for the weekend. Such great friends!! Sunday morning while we were getting ready for church sweet kid #3 called me down to the kitchen. I couldn't believe my eyes. Here's the story as it unfolded.......


Hey, I see something moving inside that house.

I'd better go check it out.
I need to get a little closer.
Hmm...This trip is taking longer than I thought. I think I need to stop for a snack.
Better! Now I just need to get serious and get there.
Finally, I've arrived. Now, I'll just be subtle and sneak a look.
What is it?
Oh, nothing exciting. Just a couple of idiots. I think I'll just go find something else to eat. Oh, nuts!! One of them has a camera.
OK, enough already. I'm outta here.
I SAID ENOUGH ALREADY!!
Sheesh, Paparazzi!!
Well, maybe that is not exactly what happened but we were mesmerized. I had never seen an albino squirrel. They are common in a small town nearby but I had never seen them. It was so cool that I nearly made us late to church.

Sorry again no quilting. Thanks for stopping by.
Happy Quilting!