French Roses

My french roses quilt is back from Natalia.

It is gorgeous.

I just love how she quilted it.

Can you see how she outlined the flower petals and the centers?

A-D-O-R-A-B-L-E

yes.

I am happy can you tell?

She sent me two more small quilts...

I have to load the pictures and I will share them soon.

Now I am off to finish another jelly roll race quilt top.

I'm addicted to them.

:)

Makin' plans

Makin' plans for some serious quilts.

okay not really serious.

I am embarking on making some jelly roll race quilts

or rather my version

of the jelly roll quilts.

I have several jelly rolls and definitely plan on buying more....

but I feel good about using my stash for these quilts.

I think I am going to mix it up with squares, rectangles and angle piecing.

We'll see how it goes.

I have already started a 'basic' jelly roll quilt with some old fig tree fabric.

I am going to try make pictures as I go to post.

Have you made a jelly roll race quilt?

How many jelly rolls do you have?

Was it wise to ask how many jelly rolls are in someone's stash?

my heart is singing...

 when I look at this quilt.

I finally finished quilting and binding my pick up sticks quilt.

It was a beautiful sunny day to make pictures of it.

Just a small dose of Flea Market Fancy Legacy....

a large dose of kona solid white....

Some stash fabric used on the back.

I think it's a Sis Boom print.

It even has a scrappy binding.

Tonight I am watching 'The Blindside'...

loving this movie and

I just can't make myself go to bed

before I see the ending.

Going to Pieces

I just love that little sign....

I think it's from Connecting Threads a couple of years ago.

Don't we all have days when we feel like we are going to pieces?

Today has been weird.

I woke up thinking I was going to a dental con ed. class and ended up in the ER with my husband.

He had some back pain last night but this morning it was so bad he couldn't walk.

I somehow managed to get him in the car and take him to the ER.

Luckily there wasn't much of a wait and 2 hours later we were on our way home.

On our way home heavily armed with medication.

He ended up with 3 shots and oxycodone!

I have never seen him like this.

I hope to never again, but as those of you know that suffer from back pain/ problems... or chronic pain...it doesn't usually go away completely.

So needless to say, my whole day turned upside down and I just haven't been able to get a grip.

I have been hand sewing some hexagons so it's not a complete loss.

Maybe all this 'sitting' around will prompt me to blog some more.

we'll talk soon,

Geared for Guys: Circus

Today's my day to show you my version of a Geared for Guys quilt.

I chose 'Caution' to remix.

Here it is at quilt market.

awesome greys with bright zig zags...

It got me to thinking about what I could do with more girly colors.

When I agreed to remix a quilt for this blog hop, I was 'finished' with my book quilts

 and figured I had plenty of time.

Whoa was I wrong.

So I began with red and white and thought I would add aqua and flowers to it.

Then I found out that I should need to make 3 more quilts for my book!

And I had a relatively short time to do it.

yikes.

I made them.

Shipped them.

They were on a train derailment in Montana.

I freaked for 3 days.

They were found and safe.

So the book was good, but with my jungle garden bounty

 and the kids going back to school...

well my 5 year old actually started kindergarten and the schedule is all new,

things have gotten out of control in my life.

I don't do well with change.

I soon realized that through all that chaos I STILL needed to finish my Caution quilt.

So I set out to find my aqua fabrics.

I spent hours auditioning fabric from my stash.

I finally decided to use a P and B textile fabric by Piece o' Cake.

The selvage was dated 2000.

Yep the red floral aged 12 years before I found the perfect project.

My stash is gold,

your stash is gold,

remember that.

I decided that stars or flowers appliqued wasn't going to work for me...

My husband asked If I was making the American flag......

.....................................

after a LONG pause, I said "no".

{sigh}

Anyhow, when I finally completed the quilt top yesterday.

I stepped back and thought...

'It's a circus tent!

 I created a circus tent...

I soon realized that the chaotic circus I was living 'in' had found it's way to fabric.

Now things are much calmer...

the book is here for the final edits from me....

kids love school...

work is still, well, work and there is no changing that.

At least I have fabric,

 therapy in a bag so to speak.

Now how to get this quilt, quilted?

***

I hope you like my version of "Caution".

 Be sure to stop each day and

see what the other designers are cooking up with their Geared for Guys recipes.

This blog hop has been one of the best/most fun for me.

As a consumer quilter, it is sometimes difficult to see past the fabrics that the designer used.

This was an excellent challenge to over come that.

Here are the bloggers for your reference and

remember to stop at Emily's blog for a giveaway on the 16th.

Sept 4: Ericka - High Voltage

Sept 5:  Lisa - Helix

Sept 6: April M.- Oddball

Sept 7: ME!! - Caution

Sept 8: Sinta - Ivy League

Sept 9: Marion - Gamer

Sept 10: Sherri - Urban Decay

Sept 11: April R. - Switchback

Sept 12: Tricia - Caution

Sept 13: Shannon - Urban Decay

Sept 14: Shari - Ivy League

Sept 15: Michael - Helix

Sept 16: back to Crazy Old Ladies for the giveaway!

wiped out...

 yeah I am wiped out...

We've been canning up a storm here.

I believe we getting near the end of the tomato mountains.

Now there are only 5-6 pounds a day ripening, a more manageable speed!

So far we have done:

• diced tomatoes

• tomato sauce

• pasta sauce

• ketchup

• pizza sauce

• pickled peppers

• pickled pear tomatoes

• grape jelly

• raspberry jam

• peach jam

• mixed berry jam

• champange blush jelly { a total flop :( }

We have had a bumper crop of yellow pear tomatoes.

With a new recipe in hand we decided to pickle some.

It turned out awesome.

They are a tad sweet, mega sour and a perfect appetizer size.

By the way, if you didn't know

the 40 minute process times for tomatoes can be dangerous/expensive.

 I ended up spending time on my I-pad surfing etsy, ebay and various onlin/e fabric stores.

Chicopee by Denyse Schmidt found a home in my sewing space....

and a little Birds and Bees by Tula Pink.

I haven't started any projects yet, as it has to age appropriately.

In the mean time, I can be found canning tomatoes...

in fact, I am about to start processing another batch this morning.

Have a Great Labor Day!

p.s. oh don't worry, I have been sewing too....

Coming SOON: GFG REMIX blog tour

When Emily- aka 'Crazy Ole Lady' on a Rascal Scooter,

asks me to participate in her blog tour.

Of course I said 'yes'.

Join us beginning September 4th to see how each of us

 REMIXED the geared for guys quilts

and how we put our own

spin on the designs.

Sept 4: Ericka - High Voltage

Sept 5:  Lisa - Helix

Sept 6: April M.- Oddball

Sept 7: ME!! - Caution

Sept 8: Sinta - Ivy League

Sept 9: Marion - Gamer

Sept 10: Sherri - Urban Decay

Sept 11: April R. - Switchback

Sept 12: Tricia - Caution

Sept 13: Shannon - Urban Decay

Sept 14: Shari - Ivy League

Sept 15: Michael - Helix

Sept 16: back to Crazy Old Ladies for the giveaway!

Emily is going to have a giveaway at the end of the tour...

hope you join us :)