{Post #929} Mail Surprise

Got a nice surprise in the mail today.  Two actually, but this one is a quilty one!

Leeanne is one of my bloggy friends from New Zealand.  She sent me these lovely bow tie blocks to add to my collection.  That was so thoughtful!  This afternoon I sewed them to some of my others.  Yippee!


~Joan

{Post #927} Red Zinger

Here is the progress on my Red Zinger as of this moment.  I also have the bottom selvage border pieced, measured, cut, and ready to sew on.  I would have sewn it on already, but duty calls.

Here is my favorite fabric in the top selvage border...the monkey in the middle.  So cute. 

I'll tell ya...making a selvage quilt is like making a library of your fabrics.  A tiny piece of them all!  Well, at least the ones you've taken the time to cut the selvages off of :)


TTFN, Joan

{Post #926} Red Zinger

Below are the 36 blocks of my beloved Red Zinger quilt.  I admit it...I love selvage projects.  Having Sam and Pam here pushed me to finish the center of this.  I finished all the blocks this AM and have one 30" section of selvage piano key border finished for the outermost border.  


Yesterday I took out my stack of I spy fabrics to cut some squares and shave off all THOSE selvages.  So now my collection is big again, and bright as well.

{Post #925} Sam and Mary Jo

This is me and my friend, Sam.  I am in the pink jacket.  She drove down to NC from TN with a friend to see me and Mary Jo's.  Here we are at Mary Jo's, which has gone under a major change about a month ago.  Here is a picture of the "new" inside of the store.

Gone are the butcher-paper hanging-down signs.  In are the lime green fuzzy rectangle signs with the fabric types glued on each side.  

Sam and Pam (her friend) had a great time in NC and on the way...and I'm assuming on the way back.  They were planning on shopping until they were dropping!!

~Joan

{Post #924} Yard Sale Saturday

Bonnie Hunter is hostessing another Yard Sale Saturday tomorrow.  I am getting a jump on it.  My faithful readers will have a head start on my items.  Tomorrow it goes to the public.  Here's how this works.  If you want an item from my list, email me (whistlersmother10@carolina.rr.com).  It is first-come, first-served.  I answer the emails as they come in.  I charge actual shipping for all items, so let me know your zip code.  You can choose media mail (cheapest but takes the longest to arrive) for books, and for patterns, hoops, and quilt, first class or priority.  I will combine all items and give you one total with shipping.  I prefer Paypal but do take personal checks.  Here we go!


First up is my first large quilt.  It is a combination of hand quilting and machine quilting.  The large stars in the center have hand-quilted matching star shapes in the 4 corners of every block.  The quilt measures 88" x 104".  It has a white-on-white backing.  It will need to be washed before use as it's been stored for several years.  The pattern is called Stars in the Cabin.  Here is a picture of it all and several close-ups.  I want $150 plus shipping.

Next up are two hand-quilting hoops.  I used them both briefly and quilt w/o a hoop now.

The oval one is 9" x 15" x 1" deep.  The border hoop is 10" x 10" x 1" deep.  To use the border hoop, you open it up, pin your border to the "leader", then close the hoop on it and voila--you have a taut surface to quilt on.  (Border hoop is sold).  They are $10 each plus actual shipping.

Now for the books and patterns.  All are in like-new condition.  Descriptions are after each picture.

"Quilts Through the Seasons" by Eleanor Burns.  A quilt for each month of the year.  239 pages, spiral bound with soft-board cover.  $10

Thimbleberries "Collection of Classic Quilts" by Lynette Jensen.  26 Quilting Inspirations for the Home.  224 pages, soft cover.  $12 

"Winter Rose" by Barbara Brandeburg.  Like-new condition.  40 pages, soft cover.  Purchased with high hopes, but never used ;)  $8

"Scrappy Shaggy Stars" by Country Traditions.  It uses the raw edge applique method where the edges of the stars are loose.  3 different sizes.  Like new.  $4

"Harvest Table Toppers" by Thimbleberries.  Finish at 23" x 39-1/2".  Like new.  $4.  I have 2 of these; one has the applique shapes already cut out. (1 is now sold)

"Pairing Up 2-Block Quilts" by Nancy Mahoney.  Like new, $10.  94 pages, soft cover.

"Quick Quilted Miniatures" by Darlene Zimmerman.  Slight scuffing on bottom right corner of cover.  Instructions are given for each quilt in small and mini size.  I made the cover quilt, and it is one of my favorites.  The sizes for that one are 12-1/2" x 14-3/4" and 20-1/2" x 24-1/2".  128 pages, soft cover.  $8

"Stars Galore and Even More" (Speed-cut Quilt Designs Using Hexagons and Octagons) by Donna Poster.  Like new.  182 pages, soft cover.  $5

"Simply Fun" by Glad Creations.  Like new.  84" x 98".  $4

"Scrappy Hearts" by Prairie Designs.  53" x 63-1/4".  Like new, $4

"Trail Mix" tote bag pattern by This & That.  Like new, $4

"Federal Square Table Runner" by Calico Cat Patterns & Designs.  20" x 45".  Like new, $4

"Day's Gone By" by This & That.  Runner 16-1/2" x 32-1/2".  Like new, $4

"Harvest time" by Anka's Treasures.  Like new, 2 sizes (48" square and 22" x 28-1/2").  $4

"A Dash to the Finish" by Classy Patterns.  57" x 68".  Like new, $4  SOLD

"My Favorite Bear Quilt" is 65" x 85".  You could leave off the bear and just do an Irish Chain pattern if you chose.  The bear is pieced into the quilt top, not appliqued.

 That's it until next time.  As items are claimed, I will strike them through.  Let the shopping begin!!

I will link this to Bonnie's blog post tomorrow.

~Joan

{Post #923} March Count On It

Here is a good reason for having 29 days in February this year...I had to sew my March "Count On It" block this AM.  Cut out the pieces last night.


Check it out:

Just need to hand sew down the hanging sleeves, and I'll be finished.


~Joan

{Post #922} Winner Recipe!

The potatoes were a definite winner!  I will have to make more if there are more people eating.  I made 7 medium-sized potatoes and 5 of us ate...we all would have eaten more of them if there had been any.  I also made sauteed bella mushrooms and a separate dish of sauteed cabbage and carrots.


Here are some pictures: