Creative Process According to Me

The top is done...It is just the look I was hoping for.
This quilt was made from blocks using up scraps.
It was so relaxing...for a few years it sat around...UFO
Then I put in the lattice...and it sat around another  year..etc..
In the past month, I decided to finish something..anything..
I did not want a square quilt, so I started adding pieces.
The black border batik, I brought back from my daughter's stash in Portland
The Kaffe brown shot cotton is from a sale at Foust Textiles, years ago.
The odd pieces I added...This random windmill,

A piece of a skirt I made my daughter in kindergarten.
31 years ago...Fabric from Mae's discount fabric in Miami.

A piece of my grandmother's apron.

Old Navy boxer shorts from my son.

Yellow square bargain fabric from Randy's quilt store in Greensboro
When Emily was starting a graduate program in oboe.

When the creativity started to roll, I made Stitch get off my fabric.
Here he is, pouting with Zoe.

A finish is exhilarating.

I will have to wait until after the holidays to piece a backing.

Then, into my pile of the unquilted...it goes..

One step further to the end of one more UFO

The beginning of this year's Christmas cactus blossoms.
All I know about Christmas cacti, I learned from Wanda

A cold, but lovely day.

My son scrubbed the 14 year old's room for my daughter.

Thank you God, Fintan and the angels for my son.

Talking About the Process...

About 20 years ago our favorite..great Uncle Kieran... came to the States to visit.

He was 80 years old.  At each family place, he bought and planted a Japanese Maple tree.

This time of year, when our tree is stunning,I always think of him.

He then, went home to Ireland.  

He announced he was done with kidney dialysis so he stopped.

In three days he was dead.  His good heart glows in the fall in our front yard..

Choosing the last border for my rustic 16 patch in turquoise and brown..

Putting it all up on the blog gives me a different perspective.

Oh, my goodness...this is harder than I had thought.

Too bad the turquoise is gone...alas...

Now I usually like stripped borders horizontally...However, this vertical seems the

best bet as the other one is so wonky on this busy quilt...hmm..

Just putting it out there for feedback.

The shock when a quilter realizes that her 50 year old stash is out of wack.

Need more in the dark turquoise range.

My girl and her man's booth at the Irish fundraiser in Portland

Hand carved Santas by him...and home sewn Christmas catnip pouches by her.

Below, my stomach insists that I switch to Rhine wine 

from yummy Red.

Sad...change is hard....

To compensate...Trader Joe's offered me this today:

Peppermint Joe-Joe's

The season's favorite.

A happy thought...a very happy one

My girl and her man arrive soon for Thanksgiving.
Oh, my heart!!

A Friday Night Date with....My Sewing Machine!!!

Exercise??  Walking the aisles of Tuesday Morning.
A find!! Five Fat Quarters (Benedex) for $5.99...So excited..worth the exercise!!

Tonight...my first rope bowl with handles...using the fabric wrap like Susie showed me.
I used batiks so it would not fray.

Show and tell pictures from the Queen Bee
Marie's Blue and White Irish Chain.

Made by Deborah

Heather's Triangles

Heather and her Orange

Our Lucy died last year of cancer.  Her scraps went to Ellen.
A place mat here from Lucy's scraps...She would have been so pleased.

Ellen, our artist...we love Ellen.

More place mat material...Ellen, log cabin with Elvis.
Just her style.

Jean's Triangle quilt, shown at Wednesday night IQ meeting.

Candy reminding me of my grandma.
When I would sleep beside her growing up....under her pillow would be
Bit O' Honey candy and True Detective Magazine.
At 99 She was clear minded, smart, artistic and wonderful ! xoxo

As long as I am aging....this is my goal!!
Who I Want to Be: Margaret Fabrizio

Sew Much Fun at the O'Quilts Place..

Evan and his friends...ninth grade stuff

Emily's catnip toys for the Irish bazaar in Portland.

Queen Bee Sit and Sew....7 machines and way too much fun.

Crowded around my small old table makes it easier to chat.

Teacher presents....homemade.extract...Lemon, Mint and Vanilla
Little bottles have been ordered...and jars are shaken every day for a month.
Recipe for DIY Extract

Grating the lemons.

Dylan separating the mint leaves from the stems.

Lynsey splitting open the vanilla beans
All we needed was a big old bottle of cheap vodka and we were all set.

My new ironing board cover...Take a good look..you will never see it so neat again!!

Mrs and Mr. O'Quilts
xoxox

great tute for rope bowls

and 

Wonderful free tutes and ideas for holiday making:

Michele's Blog...Hearts and Hands

The Family Affair

With the morning sun, I started in on finishing an old UFO.

The family cooks...Making of the stew..
Dylan scrubbing potatoes and washing carrots.

Lynsey braising the stew meat.

Great workers...fast learners...this grandma is proud.

Lynsey taking notes from a book I am reading to her.
Homework outside with nice comfy new jacket present...Thank you.

In the bottom corner of this picture is her "yummy" meal from the Pancake House this morning.
Green Grinch pancakes...a fine success. Especially as it left a peaceful sleep for me.

My son and Zoe cleaning the house for my Queen Bee quilting tomorrow.

Lynsey's pink rope bowl from Susie.

Below:  a Portland find!!  A lady who had just bought a new house had this piece
of furniture left by the previous owner.  Free for pick-up..It was so big.
But my girl and her man were able to get it, sand it and start work on it..
It is a perfect fit for their closet and a perfect price.

I am trying to believe this:
I do think it is true...the stronger wiser part..
But, why does it have to be so hard???

Thank you Nancy for the lovely visit..and the patterns and the cookies.
 I am reporting a good day from North Carolina.

The See-Saw

Daddy love and my cup runneth over..xo

Mrs. Fox got my Fox, thus up on the design wall went this:
An improv piece I did in Sherrylynn Wood's workshop.

Sometimes despair is so great, a person can only sew one block to
another, no thinking required.

Lynsey and I took our little Blue sewing machines to the Guild Sit and Sew today.
We packed our lunches and met with friends.
Lynsey met a new friend.
Now they are both signed up for sewing lessons with Tawny in January.
Very fun!!!
The weather today was blustery and freezing
My aching joints triggered a loneliness that spiraled downwards.
It became worse when Lynsey wanted to go to a store in the nearby mall.
Perfect  young Grandma strode quickly into the mall... I mean, limped slowly
with her cane.  The mall was packed..really packed.
One would think that Christmas was tomorrow.
Christmas joy without my dear man...?
I have not been in the mall for probably 8 years.
I think I have out grown it!!
BTW, I had to remind myself that really and truly, without a doubt,
I am no longer 40!!

Kathy bought a new travel 12 pound Janome on Amazon.
It does more things than our little blue machines.
She brought it to Sit and Sew today for show and tell.
You know how they say not to go grocery shopping when you are hungry???
Well..the same applies to being tempted by a new sewing machine when
despair engulfs one.
An I-phone is a miracle, so is Amazon Prime.

Flippin" the Switch to Happy

Guess what we found at Aldi tonight.....amongst the bananas and bread???

Fat quarter fabric packs...OMG

The grands were wonderful..At Aldi,they loaded the cart, unloaded the car

and put all the food away when they got home.

Tomorrow Dylan goes to work with his dad.   Evan helps his mom move,

and Lynsey comes with me to Guild Sit and Sew..with her machine, 

her Ipad and her homework. 

Last week helping Carol snip threads at Wednesday night quilting.

Today's happy news was a visit from Susie

Susie has been following my blog for years...

She just happens to live in Charlotte close to me..

Susie gave me a scrap rope bowl she made and taught me how to make them.

She gifted me with more clothesline and inspiration.

We had a great visit which lifted my spirits for sure.

Family love here...Daddy and his girl,,,

Double Stuff for life's difficult days

Thanks Drenna for the cool quilting napkins.

Outside today, was cold and blustery 

Inside was warm and toasty!