To try and fail is better than...to never......

 From  here, I found a great journal cover tute...I chose to use my own fabric rather than to piece the Dresdan..for now...Good thing that I have started already making holiday presents....because...hmmmm

 Cute IKEA scrap for the outside and cute IKEA scrap for the inside....and...

Someone evidently does NOT read directions...stressed out....The directions say that the covers fit the "standard" size composition binders....so who would measure...just ass--u--me....that I know what that means...hmmm. Clearly mine are not "standard" .  So tomorrow off to Walmart to find one that fits my newly finished journal cover....

p.s. the directions say that the size should be 1 inch bigger than your journal...oh, well....glad I started now!

More on the Candy thing....

 Another post from this tutorial....using iron on vinyl, empty M and M bag and chalk cloth from Oilcloth Addict..I used to get charm packs, but I do not see that listed...check it out on the site..

Is the answer in the candy bag????

Trying a bit to relax after the dentist...no candy left(:  Next best thing??  maybe ....the candy wrappers I have been saving thanks to this post.

 I have never used iron on vinyl before.  My vinyl projects are with the plain vinyl from Walmart.  It was tricky...I got crabby...first try, the heat was too high on my iron, next the candy wrappers wrinkled...but now it is done.  I have another one already cut...then I think that this project is not one to repeat!! Although, I do like the funky look at the end of the day.   Does it ever happen to you...a project that turns out just right makes you sooo happy and one that doesn't makes  you sooo  crabby?????  Mr. O'Quilts is not this way...he has so much more patience than I do....

Travel Bowl Lid covers...again..

From this tutorial Travel bowl lid comes these.  I also posted others  here.  I use them to take cold dishes to parties and I use them in my own fridge instead of tin foil, etc.  I have them clipped in my pantry with clothes pins and toss them in the wash in between uses.  I love them so, that in the New Year, I am going to make some smaller ones for leftovers.  (any excuse to have fabric everywhere...even in the refrigerator!!!!!)

One is for the exchange at the Quilter's Guild Holiday party...the others are for whatever:)  And, now my room is a mess again.......Lordy...  I just tried to add this to my tutorial list...but oh, no...I could not do it right...better stick to sewing!!

The Season begins....full throttle ahead!!

The last of the Sage bush and Carolina blue..............

 Picking the Sage for the turkey dressing...ala...Susan Branch...maybe I am a Susan Branch wannabee?

 The Sage flowers for the Turkey bowl....

 Washing the Sage, picking the cutest leaves...

 All dry the leaves , single layer...2 min at 30 sec intervals...crumble in your hand...put in airtight something...If this was on your blog, let me know so I can give you credit...it certainly was not an O'Quilts original!!

The above leaves had to be discarded.  They burned because I did not let them dry completely and I did not put them in the microwave single layer.  I finally got it...c below:)

 Oven mitt finished for the potholder swap....thank u .Denyse Schmidt for the free pattern!!.

I just made a second one.  The first had a layer of Insule-brite and one layer of batting.  I felt that I preferred it softer so I made the second one with only one layer of Insule-brite...It was much easier to turn and finish.

 I figured that it was time to bring out all my Christmas fabric.  Afraid that some of them look old, dull and boring...hmmmmm

Lunch time and a bit crabby here....

The concussion has made me feel 100 years old, but it will not do me in....I decided to sleep under 100 year old quilts!!  ha...I will survive:)...just join in the ranks...

I know that I will feel even better after I have some of Bridget's Butternut squash, mixed in Grandma's bowl. Mr. O'Quilts is off playing tennis...so I will have to relax with myself today...

Some of My Favorite Things..

Since I have been bragging to myself on using my favorite fabrics, might as well brag out loud...it is more fun.  I have decided to use the Nicey Jane fabric below on my Sunshine on a Cloudy Day....When this fabric first came out, Heather Bailey made a small UTube to announce it...Nicey Jane by Heather Bailey.  Not only did I love the fabric...holding it to my heart and buying too much of it, but I loved the cute little video clip with the catchy music and the fabric...check it out..

 Next up is the finished Indian Hatchet stroller quilt...

 I was going to do a quick quilting job here until Dora commented that it would be fun one to quilt.  Now she not only does amazing quilting..but she does it on a treadle machine...wow...I am awful at freemotion quilting...I did think I would try something new since this quilt was so small...I am delighted with the results.  Also...yeah me...used this cute backing I had been hoarding for awhile:)  I quilted this at our Sit and Sew yesterday...Alas, I had to cut my time short with the big bad CR (concussion recovery) relapse again.

 Rummaging around in a closet, I came upon this stamp basket quilt, which I remember hanging over the piano at our home wedding reception.  We got married in 1980 so I think that this pattern must have been in style in 1979.  I still have the stamps somewhere.  Hand quilted in the colors of the year and well worn as my children grew up.  Notice in the background my new bottle tree...it is a sucker from the old fallen one...lucky me..

PS  Pearlie...I want to thank you for the nice comment you left on my recycled bags, but I could not find an email for you....

Little quilt...Lynsey's

 Taryn  at Repo Quilt Lover, is having a small quilt show...So much fun.  I am showing this small quilt that I made for my first granddaughter's wall....It was also, actually, my first blog post:)

Sunshine on a Cloudy Day

 I have loved this Darlene Zimmerman yellow print.  If I had not had my concussion, it would still be on my shelf to be patted and loved...instead..today is the day of its glory:)

Equilter Relief Fund for Hurricane Sandy

Equilter Relief fund

The benefit of making quilts and keeping them on hand for whatever comes up...is that this quilt is ready to be mailed to NY at the Equilter address given on the above link...Having lived thru Hurricane Andrew in Miami...I know a bit about it all...but the cold, I cannot know..brrr...just have to put a loving note on the back and off it goes this week.

Obsession....quilting that is....

So fine, I just could not let it go...I had to finish one of these tops.  Yesterday my sister came over to get a few of the frozen homemade chix soups for Mom...When she looked at my ever so neat cabinet, she noticed that most of the colors were equal...except for purple...tiny stash of purple....

Guess I have to remedy that one!!!!!!  So of course I had to look at the Fabric.com sale again.  The availability of purple is slim....Guess that color is just not in right now..funny..

I am pleased with the result of these orphan blocks...These were leftover from a couple of siggy group quilts I had made. Went to the dentist today..all my poor brain could take.  I took them all their potholders with teeth fabric:)  They were thrilled (the women anyway).  I told them that the presents were because they always took such good care of this big dentist baby..and they really do..:)

Project Boxes and Process.....

I really love my project boxes.  I do not have the attention span to sit and make a quilt from start to finish.  I like them to stew on the design wall and/or to make quilts in sections.  Today, I opened these two boxes, finding blocks already made.  It was so easy to put the main parts of the quilts together.  Now, I can either put them back in their own boxes for future borders...or I can work on them now...my choice.  So much fun...

Cleaning help

My poor old cat...whatever he wants...I love him so....

The story of my life....mess...clean ....mess...clean...mess...clean...sigh....

 This took me all day.  I think I might get some of that yellow caution tape and put across it...

 Balkan Puzzle Block from Craftsy...the November block of the month for Charlotte Modern Quilt Guild.  Mine turned out way too funky.  My second fabric was a stripe with white in it....so the pattern got lost...oh, well...

Uncle Kieran's tree

Eleven years ago, Uncle Kieran came across the sea from Galway to visit his relatives in the United States.  He was then 80 years old.  At each place he planted, with the family, a 2 foot Japanese Maple tree.  The next year he died from kidney failure due to diabetes.  Here is our tree now..at least 20 feet high and in its glory in the fall.  Thank you Uncle Kieran... Every time we enjoy this tree...indeed we think of you!

 My finished cuddle quilt under Uncle Kieran's tree....

 With the cool truck backing from IKEA.

The fast cuddle

With a hundred plus 5" squares in the box already...It was easy to put together a boy cuddle quilt top.

 Basting it now so it is ready for the Guild on Wednesday.  I am happy to say that I am all caught up with my monthly hospital cuddle donations!!

Fun Friday

What a day!!  The doc for a lady's annual, a visit to my dear old ma....and my new and awesome camera.  At a smaller price with twice what I had before, I am happy.  I wanted a Sony this time because it has the wide angle..got the Target sale price...yeah... 

 Then from Michelle comes my new labels...Thank you Michelle and thank you Jennifer for the idea..

The visit to my mother brought one more lost tooth due to Parkinson's medication.  She was not a happy camper as the tooth was right up front.  She hit me up again for tooth fairy money.  I offered $5 because she could not produce the tooth, she had swallowed it.  She scoffed....so I offered $10.  No way Jose....I dropped $20 with my mother as I am the tooth fairy!  Small drop for a delighted mother.....

Loving the fall...top done

This picture is from my I-pad.  Gotta get a camera soon...quick...now...yesterday....I just hate that I dropped it and broke it!!!  I-pad does not have a flash or I cannot find it and had to move the whole thing to the light.  Glad to get a fall top done..just in time for winter:)

 And what to put on the back.  This comfy Kaffe shot cotton that I bought on sale in Asheville a few years back..  You see, best to have a stash...a great big wonderful stash.  Because then, the perfect fabric just shows up in the middle of the night with no shopping needed. 

I am a big fan of Marianne.  We do different kind of quilting, but in some ways we think alike:)  So I have moved quilting things to my office to make more room in my sewing room....including the portable design walls....so much fun. (Honey,  no need for you to be reading this now...just have a good, relaxing vacation:)  Quilting is soooo much fun....such good therapy....sigh.....

Getting my teeth back into quilting

Just look what I got at the Goodwill on Tuesday...the envy of them all...looks like another quilter made a tie for her beloved and he gave it to Goodwill...ha ha..his loss...my gain.

Hope everyone had a great Halloween.  I had an unprecedented 28 ghouls and goblins at my door:)  I was dressed up, but they informed me that they were not scared(:

I went back to my water aerobics class today..my poor old body after 4 months of not moving.  I came home and had to go back to bed...I think that my concussion has aged me 100 years.  But, I still can love a good tie buy!!!!