{Post 1,367} Mini Needs Bordered

Here is my latest mini...a pinwheel design.  I love the way it came together.  Finished piecing the blocks this AM.  

My dear husband helped me hang the first 2 (of 4) yardsticks.  Yes, the clothesline is already going the way of the fondue pot.  The day I hung it my friend, Janet, posted about her yardstick hangers.  Brilliant.  I am a convert.  Pictures of the yardsticks to come.  I stained them with a light wood stain.  

The above quilt is about 10" x 14" right now.  I am going to add a small border and binding, of course.

Update.  Here's the above quilt with borders and pinned for quilting.

{Post 1,366} Another Mini Started

This is a 3-1/2" finished block.  I wanted to try the pattern, so I cut and pieced this while my husband got ready for Planet Fitness this AM.  If I have more time later today, I'm going to try to piece the rest for a mini quilt of these little pinwheels.  This one went so fast and was relatively easy, despite the small pieces.

We are still awaiting the appearance of our grandson who is 11 days past due.  Maybe he'll be a 4th of July baby!

We are having a huge meal for lupper (combination of lunch and supper).  BBQ ribs, dirty rice, corn on the cob, broiled bread, peach cobbler and ice cream, white chocolate-covered cake cubes with sprinkles...the works!!  Better get back to it.

Went to Charlotte last night for a concert by the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra with an amazing fireworks show afterwards.  There was a deluge before that delayed it (even flash flood warnings), but we stayed and stayed until they could play.  Went out for a very late supper with our son afterwards (finished near midnight!).  Looking forward to relaxing later today.  I hope to get in a few more fireworks locally tonight if there is no labor for Elisabeth yet.

{Post 1,365} Mini Finished and Clothesline

Here is my latest mini.  It is about 12-1/2" square with the binding on.  I was inspired by Ruth's post last night.  She likely inadvertently answered my plea for sharing minis.

The bottom picture shows my "clothesline" in place on a long wall.  It looks like it needs something else on there.  Maybe a vinyl quote above it?  My cedar chest is below it.  I will get a better picture later.

The middle one is just a top.  I pieced it Saturday.  Inspired by Janet.

One of my friends from church asked me to make her a quilt large enough to cover a day bed with a trundle underneath it (she wanted it to go to the floor).  She sews a lot, just not quilts.  YET!!  She is coming over in about 10 minutes for me to introduce her to the love of quilting.  At least I think she is!!

{Post 1,364} First Mini for Office

So I have decided to make a wall of minis for my new office.  I have two very long (11') blank walls to fill.  One will be with mini quilts.  I'm very close to hanging a "clothes line" and pinning them on there until I have enough to fill a wall nicely.

If you have a favorite mini (pattern or picture), please email it to me.  I'd might like to add it to my collection.

{Post 1,363} Shower News

Here are a few pictures from the wedding shower I did back in May.  The banner behind the gift table was taken directly from the bride's invitations.  So cute!

The food and drink were not in the containers yet or on the cupcake stand.  I didn't have time to get a picture after they were.

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I am baking a giant cupcake and 200 regular-sized cupcakes for a friend's daughter in August for her wedding.  We are using a huge cupcake tower that arrived at my house today.  Check it out if you need one!

Here was my first attempt at decorating the giant cupcake.  It's about 9" tall.  Keep in mind that I didn't mix up enough icing.  I was test driving the pan to see how long to bake the cake.  It will be larger next time.  And the base will be cake batter that was dyed purple and left un-iced to show off the fluted edge of the base.

Fun times ahead!

{Post 1,362} What's Been Going On Here

The winds of change are a-blowin'.  My son, Ben, moved in with his older brother a week ago yesterday (Father's Day).  A couple days later he came back to finish cleaning out his bedroom.  

I was wondering what we should do with his former room.  My husband suggested (I think...maybe I planted the idea) that I use it for an office space/craft room/supply space/guest room.  Since we moved my sewing stuff into our bedroom, it has been very cramped and does not multi-function with my other "roles" very well.

So, I repaired the nail/screw/hanger holes with spackling and primed the whole room white.  Here it is before any work to change it:

After spackling, sanding, and priming:

I couldn't decide which color to use, but I wanted it to be cheery.  Here is what I decided to use.  I put up a couple decorations today.  More furniture will be in here, but only a bookshelf to hold bins of craft supplies and a cedar chest.  The extra space is something I'm not used to.  It's actually making me kind of nervous.

I like the desk facing the window.  It give me a view of the back yard which I have rarely seen since moving in here.  The quilt to the left is a charm quilt my sister pieced for me in 2001.  I hand-quilted it.  I actually removed the original beige binding last week and replaced it with dark brown fabric.  Here was the before:

I ended up putting it on a different wall, so it could be seen while I'm at my desk and from the hallway as well.  I put a quilt puzzle that has been permanently sealed in the doorway above the light switch.  Some friends gave it to me for Christmas years ago.  I think 2006.  This does not show the true color the paint.  It is not THIS yellow:

I like being able to see that from the hall as well.  

Looking back at the 3 pictures, they all look so different as far as the room color.  It is called "palomino", and it looks just like the color of one if that helps.

In other news, I have been asked to be the baby and wedding shower coordinator for my church.  It is not a big job.  We are divided up into six serving groups to have responsibility for showers, funeral meals, etc.  In my new role, I will coordinate and work with a serving group to host a shower.  I've been gathering items for future showers.  Tablecloths, table decorations, cupcake tree, cupcake liners, sprinkles, confetti, banners, napkins, etc., etc.  These items were added to the mayhem on my pressing area and cutting table along with the home paperwork, school work, etc.  Now they all fit into my "office" closet quite nicely.  

My husband and I teach the 2- and 3-year-olds at our church.  There is a plethora of craft sheets, stickers, story cards, and take-home papers for each week.  I get them a quarter of a year at a time.  Yoy!  The stuff just explodes.  So that is in my office desk now instead of all over the aforementioned space.  

So yes, things are becoming more organized.

I am also expecting a grandson any day.  My daughter's due date is today, but nothing has happened yet (she lives with us).  'Twill be soon though.

  

{Post 1,361} Gift for New Friend

I just made this little case for the iPod Shuffle shown.  I LOVE my Shuffle.  If I hadn't made myself a case for mine, I am quite sure I would have lost it by now.  Or lost the headphones.  Or lost the charging cord.  You get the picture.  The Shuffle itself is 1-1/8" x 1-1/4".  Tiny.  It is meant to be clipped to clothing or something.  But it would be very easy to misplace.

My Shuffle is my companion at Planet Fitness 6 days a week.  I cannot tolerate the music played there, so I turn up the Shuffle and listen to good stuff.  Enough said.

I have a future friend (we haven't met in person yet) who is driving 2,000 miles over a period of a couple months.  I bought this for her.  To establish our friendship and to help her stay encouraged and uplifted with great worship music.  I downloaded some of my favorites.  I hope it can help keep her company while she drives.