Fabric postcards again...

Here is a recent postcard. I call it "Spring Moon" and it is one of the 12 I made for a swap in our own Quilt Guild. It is a piece of Rayon print from a dress I had to shorten, and a sheer piece to make the moon. The threads were a pearly white, which doesn't show in the pic as well as for real.

Foolishly, I sent out the first bunch without remembering to take pics. I hope to remedy that at our May meeting. We are all supposed to bring the ones received, and I will just have to get shots of all - including MY OWN.

I have two more to finish up. Should remember to take those shots, and I want to get pics of all the ones I received, also. It is their very first ones, and I can tell that, as they resemble some of my first attempts. Okay but not as well made as I can accomplish now. Practice does make a big difference.

Sweet Magnolia...

YUP! That's her!

And she is doing just great. Not to go on tooooo long about a dog on a quilt and screensaver blog, but she is coming around to commands and bonding to me so quickly. I just love her. Quilt-wise, of course I can make her a little jacket, and easily make some quilted pads for her crate, and her soft carrier.

When I was picking up some new sock yarn I asked if there were any sweater patterns for a pug, as that would be her size. The lady delightfully brought me over to a rack and found one immediately. I was a bit rushed, so I said I would be back to drool over what yarn to use and pick up that book. So my future yarn projects are already in my head!!!

She is knibbling on my shoe, so I will stop for now and play with her. She NEEDS me---ain't that great!!!

...awaiting a new PUPPY!

No time for quilting...spent a few minutes surging an edge around a mini-blanket for the crate that the new puppy would be coming home in.

She is named Sweet Magnolia...Maggie for short. And she is an unusual mix that is apparently becoming popular out in the California area. She is a "Brug", which is a Pug momma, and a Brussels Griffon daddy. OMG is she adorable!!!!!

Haven't had a dog in over 15 years, but I felt the need to have a little furball that needed to go outside on a regular basis, and would want to go riding with me. I have a problem with agoraphobia, which in simple terms means I don't like to leave the house and be with bunches of people. I can do it, but I get very anxious, and want very badly to keep the visit short and gooooooo hoooooome. I'm hoping the dog will give me more confidence and something to put my attention to, which will hopefully get me past some of my anxieties. Already, just in talking about getting her has made me more open with some aquaintences recently.

And I certainly don't overlook the love and devotion a dog can give, and I can return. My cats are loving, but don't follow me around, and don't want to go for a walk or a ride in the car. Ya know what I mean???

Will post a pic ( or maybe a whole bunch!) as soon as she gets here.

Now shouldn't there be a way to quilt for my pup? A simple blankie that I know will be chewed and/or peed on. Or maybe a doggie coat for when our weather gets cold.

BTW, I was delighted to read they don't like really hot weather, so she should be very content to be in my AC house in the high heat of summer, whooohooo!

A try with "Paper-Piecing"...

I picked up these paper-piecing patterns when I was at my last Quilt Camp. I finally tackled three of the blocks. I'm thinking it is not my kind of quilting. Seemed to be extra steps I didn't feel I needed. Maybe it is more worth while when there is a lot of different pieces involved. This was just a log cabin pattern that was a bit fancier. Oh well, live and learn. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, eh?

It looks quite nice on this long skinny spot of wall and it will do til I find a design I like better.

This winter's "Obsession"...socks

Yup, I finally got brave enough after all these years, to try using four needles instead of two. I had visited other quilter's blogs, and found they had a thing for the crazy new yarns available to make 'designer' socks without all the yarns being changed for each color. Whooohoo, now we're talkin'!

Here's what I have made so far, minus one pair I gave to my daughter in Texas. She was visiting home and watched me making them, and couldn't resist asking if I would make some for her, especially in the cool green/beige colors I was using at that moment. Well, of course, I finished them in time to offer her that pair, instead of making her wait for the next ones. She was tickled pink to wear them right away. It was quite cold here compared to when she left home.



These blue ones were my first try, and they came out almost the same size!!! The toe on one got finished a bit sooner than the other, and slightly different in manner. But they both fit, and that is the important point. I love how warm they are and want to show them off more with some kind of winter sandle. A berkenstock???


This pair of soft browns and oranges were my first attempt on circular needles that were long enough to do both socks at the same time. This avoided my first problem in the blue socks. And I love this yarn, as it has some aloe and jojoba in it that make them sooooo soft. There was enough yarn left to make a pair of fingerless gloves, too. They are not quite finished.



These green ones came out real purty, but were of a thicker yarn that said wool/ machine washable, so I gave it a try. I may consider putting on those noslip soles and make them slipper socks. I like the look and the texture of this yarn, but they are a bit tight in my shoes. They sure did wash great, though.



Now that spring is just around the corner, and actually started as far as the calendar says, I will be out in the garden more and save the sock making for next winter.

My first keeper in twin size quilting

This was my first attempt on a larger than lap-size quilt to keep for my own use in our guest bedroom. I love putting the pieces together and seeing a design emerge. But I really dislike the trying to keep three layers together and long days of hand stitching.
In doing the hurricane relief quilts, I was shown the machine tacking idea for getting them made quickly. I love it. Now I can get those bigger ones put together fairly fast. And the batting has changed since I last tried a big one. So now I am being brave.

Purple is PERFECT

No wonder I love purple... this little test says I have a purple brain. And I think I can agree with the description. Fun!

Your Brain is Purple

Of all the brain types, yours is the most idealistic. You tend to think wild, amazing thoughts. Your dreams and fantasies are intense. Your thoughts are creative, inventive, and without boundaries. You tend to spend a lot of time thinking of fictional people and places - or a very different life for yourself.

What Color Is Your Brain?

New blogger, eh???

As you can guess, I've been busy otherwise and just noticed the change in Blogger. Hope the pic uploads are better, as that was my only beef with the old Blogger.
To test, here is a new pic of my cat, Chauncy, waiting patiently for us to let him in this morning.
I can't believe he is sitting in SNOW in the middle of March. I just ordered a birdfeeder, and a pretty new bird bath, and was considering a visit to the local garden center for perennials that could handle it a bit chilly. BUT THIS IS RIDICULOUS!!! The mildest winter in Ct. history, and then we get dumped on in March. YUUUUUKKKKK.
So here goes with the pic, and I'll see if I can get some shots of my winter quilting work.