LaVieEnRosie

Upside down...

Everything - and everybody - here is fine.  And improving.  Mostly.  

Whew.  That's the good news.  And maybe the so-so news.  I think my point is that no matter which way we get turned, we're still hanging in - and on.

No matter what they're doing, pandas always manage to look cute.  I can't help it but that sort of annoys me.

My Mom is still in rehab and it looks like she'll be there at least another week.  We've had a lot of ups and downs the past couple of week, and while I won't bore you with details, let it suffice to say that she still has some issues that are very worrisome.  In short - getting old isn't for sissies.  My Mom is handling it all well and the thing that makes me the happiest is that she's maintained her sense of humor and she's still nice to people.  That might sound odd but oy vey, there are some really crabby old people.  Were they always that way, or did life make them that way?  I often wonder.

Uh... I like that pandas always manage to look cute.  Really.  (Not.)

My brother was here for a "short week" and that was a really nice visit.  When he heard that my Mom needed to gain some weight and could have "contraband" food, he introduced her to Five Guys hamburgers.  It's that sort of thing that really cements his status as the "favorite".  I've told you before that he's a really nice man.

I wish I could tell you that I've been getting a lot of sewing done but that's not the case.  This is about it...

I got them pieced almost two weeks ago and I still haven't had a chance to trim them up.  If I don't get a chance to sew this weekend, I'm going to be a crabby old person!

What else has been going on?  I cleaned out a storage unit - mine.  I sorted through boxes there and while I took a few carloads home, I'm now on a first-name basis with the nice young men who unload vehicles at Goodwill... except they also go running when they see my car.  Boxes of books are heavy.  So are boxes of old fabric.  Going through all that stuff has given me new perspective on those shows like Storage Wars... as in, huh?  I know there are folks with really good stuff in their storage units, but that's like... what, 1% of the storage-unit population?  From a set of encylopedias - don't ever doubt how much you love Google! - to old quilting fabric - hey, VIP and Cranston used to be really good stuff!  I had papers and projects from school - porquoi?  Clothes from the 70s, 80s and 90s... does anyone still wear legwarmers?  Great moments in fashion history - Flashdance and Jane Fonda workout videos.

Thankfully, with an assist from Two Men & A Truck (.com), I'm done.  I admit it, I was going to do the last bit myself but when I weighed all the costs, they were far and away the smartest choice.  Yes, it cost $300.00, but I probably saved at least $1000.00 - the minimum amount it would have cost me to be transported to the emergency room to have my foot/leg/hip fixed after dropping the 150 lb. butcher block while trying to move it.  Watching the two men wrestle that thing out of storage, onto the truck and then into the kitchen reminded me that every time that thing has been moved, two men were involved.

As for one of the things I brought home... two men were not involved when I "obtained" this:

I've had this for thirty-something years so I know the Statue of Limitations has expired.  My brother thinks I should send it back to the City of ***** with a letter of apology.  Yeah, right.   

I can't think of anything else... I mentioned a while ago that I was pulling out my Fig Tree creams for a "crumbler" quilt and this is what I've got.   The challenge is going to be making myself take them out of the basket to actually cut them up.  I rather like the way they look just like this... I know, I know... that means I'll really like it when it's a finished quilt.   

That's all the news that's fit to print here - and no, I don't have any news that isn't fit to print either.  

One last thing - Sinta and Sherri will be starting a new Schnibbles event on Monday.  The pattern - think "vintage" - will be in the store on Monday as a PDF file and there will be a little special offer listed there... if you're interested.

Happy Easter!

Mixmaster...

A couple of lifetimes ago, I lived in Dallas, Texas.  It was a big change for a girl who had grown up mostly in the San Francisco Bay Area, followed by a couple of years in Los Angeles.  If you've never been to Texas... it's different.  

Good.  Even great.  But different - at least, different from California.

One of the first things I learned in Texas was all about "the Mixmaster".  I thought it was a mixer - you know, like a Sunbeam.  That was all the rage then, it was before Kitchen Aids were so cool... before all the colors.  Anyway, this had nothing to do with baking.  This had to do with freeways, more specifically, with freeway intersections.  Especially the freeway intersections that connect the loops and the criss-crossing arteries of freeways that connect up all the big cities.  It's an engineering marvel... unless you're "here" and you need to get "over there" in the space of 1/4 mile and 12,000 other cars are trying to do the opposite.  And it's all happening at 80 mph... or maybe that was just me.  

The point is, it's like being thrown into a mixmaster.  Or it sure feels that way.

That's what life feels like these days.  It isn't a bad thing, it's just a little chaotic... and I'm a girl who likes my peace and quiet.  

My Mom is good - doing better - but she's not home yet.  Two days before she was ready to be sprung, her little cold turned into pneumonia and wham... parole denied.  If all goes well, we're looking at the end of next week.  

So while my days are divided between visits with my Mom, Rosie, that pesky work/business thing, and all the house/life/normal stuff, I am getting a little sewing done.  It's National Quilting Month and yes, I've managed to do at least a teeny bit of sewing every day - even if it's almost midnight.

I don't know if you remember these blocks...

I need 200 for my quilt and I have almost half of them done.  (No, this isn't all of them.)  I'll get started on the half-triangle squares for the next batch tonight.  

I'm also finishing a border on a new Schnibble...

Avalon by Joanna Figueroa  - Miss Fig Tree.  It's even better in person - I really love this collection.  Okay, so I like them all.  Does anybody do "cream" better than Joanna?  I don't think so.  The downside of it is that I got a little distracted and started going through drawers and shelves to pull out as many cream prints as I had.  Which then led me to a little midnight-online shopping for a few more because I think I need a Crumbler/tumbler quilt made entirely of Fig Tree cream prints.  And 37 different prints wasn't enough variety.  (Okay, it is... but more is better, right?)

Speaking of Crumblers... oy vey.  Here's proof of just how slow I've been lately.  I have a new one - a little one.  

It's Kathie's fault.  After I asked - some whining and pleading may have been involved - she sent me some small tumblers she'd cut for a little project.

How cute is this?  I added the extra rows of tumblers and the side borders, and I'll trim it all straight after I've quilted it - which I'll do when I decide how to finish it.  I'm thinking this would make a cute little pillow.  

And because she didn't want to hear any more whining, she sent me this for Halloween.

This is going to be a wall-hanging - after it's quilted.

I was having so much fun with the tiny tumblers that I wanted to make "more" little Crumbler/tumbler projects.  And since I already knew that I'd have a hard time finding "my perfect template", I pestered the ruler-folks until they made a little one for me - the Lil' Crumbler.

Of course the first thing I had to make with the prototype was something with tumblers even smaller the ones Kathie had sent...

These tumblers were cut from a 1 1/2" strip and they finish at 1" tall.  After I pieced it, I "aged" it a bit and then framed it in an 11" x 14" frame.  The funniest thing about this little quilt is that it took me longer to lay out all the little tumblers than it did to sew them together.   

What?  What about that little red and cream thing under the frame?

Uh... I'm sorry about the blurry picture.  I didn't realize it was blurry until this morning and I can't take another because the quilt is "elsewhere" right now.  But this is what I can tell you - it measures about 10" x 12" and it's made with 1 1/2" strips.  The tumblers are cut from two strips - one red and one cream - sewn together.  I think it looks a lot more complicated than it is.

Like "mixmasters".  

And me.  I do like to make things interesting getting from "here" to "there."

Since you've been gone...

Oh wait.  You're not the one who's been gone.  Away.  That would be moi.  

And yes, I do rather like that Kelly Clarkson song.  Though no, I don't have it on my iToys.  

Life here is fine - good - progressing - improving.  I've just been having a hard time finding a regular routine or schedule.  I'll be glad when my Mom is home and I'm not making daily trips to rehab.  Have you ever thought about how much time it takes to shower, do your hair, put on some make-up and find clean clothes to wear?  Spending the day in your sweats isn't just comfortable - it saves a colossal amount of time!  

Rosie says Hi. 

Let me get to the important things - my Mom is fine and should be home this week.  She caught a  bit of a cold a few days ago but it's only slowed her down a bit.  Rosie is also really good.  She's slipping and sliding more than ever, and while that's heartbreaking and sad, it hasn't really slowed her down.  She's still the same rambunctious scamp she's always been.  So it's all good in my little corner of the world.

I have been sewing - new quilts coming soon...

One is bound... the other two are in need of a visit from the Binding Fairy.  So they're "coming soon".  

Work is "progressing" on the next book.  I should tell you that it has been "in the works" for almost two years but when life got in the way, I kept pleading with the lovely folks at That Patchwork Place to let me postpone it.  Instead of being published last Fall or this Spring, it should be out next year, right around the time of Spring Market.  The "subject" is scrap quilts.  Wish me luck - better still, wish the folks at That Patchwork Place luck.  I'm not sure what the odds are right now for my delivering the manuscript on time but if you want in on the action regarding that, you probably ought to know that with two manuscript deadlines in my history, I'm batting 0-for-2.  I was born late and I might never recover if I was on time for something big at this point in my life.

Speaking of being late - and behind - I'm sorry I've been so lax about this blog-thing.  I had the Rosie Club/Class at Olde World Quilt Shop last weekend, and a Crumbler / tumbler demo at Sun Valley Quilts yesterday.  Getting ready for those keeps me busy, especially since both involve having samples and demo pieces.  Can you believe that?  As if!

I can only speak for myself but I'm having a really good time with the projects for the class.  As much as I've enjoyed the main project every month, it's been the little bonus things that have kept me the most entertained.  It's also been a boon for Aaron Brothers and the frame departments at local craft stores.  I'm having too much fun framing little quilts, blocks and other projects.

This is one of them ~ and please forgive the picture.  The glass is always an issue.

The nine-patches finish at 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" - the squares finish at 1/2".  But they're so easy to make.  The first thing you need is an 8" x 8" square frame. 

Have you ever learned the technique for making two "reverse" nine-patches using two squares?  While the technique itself has been around for years, the best book of projects using the technique is Primitive Gatherings' Nine Patch Gatherings.  If you love quilts with lots of scrappy nine-patches, you'll love this book.

As for the technique, it's pretty cool.  You take two squares and with right sides together, you sew a scant 1/4" seam on two opposing sides of the square.  Then you cut it apart - into strips - and press.  Join strips and press.  Match the squares again with right sides together and stitch.  Cut it apart and press.  Join the last strip and press.  It's easier than it sounds - and you get two nine-patches from each pair of squares.  

The thing is, while it works really, really well using a 3" square for two 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" nine-patches - finished size, I prefer to use squares that are a little bit bigger.  It just works better for me.  And for my aging eyes.  

For the technique - Two For One Nine-Patch.

The little framed quilt above is amazingly simple.  Start by making at least nine nine-patches that finish at 1 1/2" x 1 1/2".

Then sew them together in a little mini quilt.

This is where clipping seams can be a huge help.  This is what the back of my little quilt looks like.

The seams are clipped so that the seams for each nine-patch can be pressed toward the alternating square.  I love this trick of clipping seams - Thank you Jo!

When my mini quilt top is pieced - finished - I like to "age" it with washing and pressing.  

Because my mini quilt is smaller than the frame size, I "mount" it on a piece of illustration board that has been covered with fabric.  

There are two things to tell you here.  Three - I just remembered one.  First, the fabric is adhered to the illustration board with Steam-A-Seam 2 Lite.  Don't laugh - it's works beautifully!  I cut a piece of fabric and Steam-A-Seam bigger than my piece of illustration board - 8" x 8" - and fuse the Steam-A-Seam to the fabric.  Then I fuse it to the board - lightly.  I trim the edges - I don't need a ruler, the edges of the illustration board are enough to guide the rotary cutter - and then I finish fusing the fabric to the board.  Then just let it cool.  

Second - place a small square of muslin or plain fabric behind the mini-quilt to prevent shadowing of the fabric on the board.  My squares are usually a 1/2" to 1" smaller than the mini-quilt.  

Third - the mini quilt is then secured to the board using tiny dots of a basting glue.  I use Roxanne's Baste-it Glue.  

Okay - four things.  Yes.  I know.  The "N" is upside down.  I just noticed that.  I'll fix it in a few minutes.  (If you're curious, the "N" is a vintage French laundry label I bought at a flea market in Paris.)

If you want to make something like this - Two For One Nine Patch ~ Mini Quilts.

I made this one for class - 

The frame is 7" x 15" and it needs 21 nine-patches.  

(The background fabric is from Chateau Rouge by French General.  I love this print - it's the same one I used for Marguerite.)

That's all I've got for today but I hope to be back soon as "life" looks like it might finally be settling down a bit. 

At least I hope so.

It's either that or I'm going to have to make an emergency run to MAC and Sephora.  

Relativity...

Not the Einstein thing but the "how do these things relate to each other" thing...

A rubber mallet.  A Phillips head screwdriver.  My car keys.

(If you're wondering why I have a bottle opener on my keychain, that's a good-luck charm of sorts.  I've had one on my keychain since I was sixteen... which sort of tells you something about my teenage years.)

Here's how these items are related:  On my way out of the house today to visit my Mom and run some errands, I picked up about seventeen different items that pertained to those errands.  Unfortunately, my keys were item No. 18 on the list.  After coming up with zip for alternatives, I decided that removing the door was my best option.  So the screwdriver was inserted into the bottom of the door hinge and the rubber mallet was used to remove the hinges on the door.  

I'm happy to say that while the whole process seems simple enough, actually getting the door out is a whole lot harder than I thought it would be.  I suppose that's a good thing.  I had to use a flat-head screwdriver to pry it out enough to remove it.  And, no, it didn't help that Rosie was going a little nuts on the other side of the door.  Still, it does make me wonder how Darwin-nominee Delbert "popped" two locks so easily.  

But I learned something... I'm going to hide a set of keys in the garage.  Just in case.  

I suppose I should be happy about it though, it did give me something to blog about - life's been kind of boring lately - and the folks at my bank thought it was a really funny story.  When I arrived there looking a little more "rumpled" than usual, they asked how my day had been.  I related my adventure.  They laughed.  I'm changing banks tomorrow.  

Whew.  

I can't thank you enough for all the kind thoughts and good wishes.  I appreciate it very much, and so does my Mom.  She's doing really well - she's walking, standing and getting stronger every day.  If all goes well, she should be home in about two weeks.  I just might be caught up with e-mails and "thank yous" by then.  

I stitched a binding while watching the Super Bowl...

This quilt started as a kit, I bought it about five or six years ago at Country Sampler in Spring Green, Wisconsin.  Colonies Chrome Yellow, Poison Green and Turkey Red.  I made a few changes - I changed the red background fabric, added a few yellows and greens and changed the size of the nine-patch.  (I know... it's a compulsion that I just can't stop.)  It came back from the quilter this past week and the binding is almost finished.  I used a green - you can see it down in the lower left corner.

And I sewed some strips together for a new litte Schnibble quilt... but there isn't much to see there.

When this is done, I have some new "candy" to play with...

I think I need a clone.  Or some kind of mechanical sewing robot.  

And I will show you the blocks I'm working on for the "just for fun" project I showed last week.  I have to take some pictures and I need to make some notes about the cutting I've done.  I think I'm going to include the quilt in the book I'm working on... but I'll still tell you all about the blocks.  

NCIS has just started so I need to go spend my quality time with Jethro.  And then Neal and Peter.  And then Jon and Stephen.  And then maybe David.  Tuesday is definitely a good night for men.

 Toodles. 

Girls gone wild...

Everybody is fine.  And look, there is some sewing going on.  

I won't say that life is busy... or crazy... or any one of those other oft-used, over-used words to describe the goings-on here in Rosieville.  It's just been "life" with all the usual ups, downs, changes and adjustments that everybody goes through every day.      

I'm not busy packing for the cruise... after a couple of difficult months with my Mom's health, I pulled out of that trip shortly before Christmas.  I also cancelled my trip to the Quiltmaker Block Party event in Portland in March.  My Mom felt very guilty about my decision to cancel and because I'm a really good daughter, I didn't interfere with that.  I even let her give me an extra-special Christmas present because of it.  But because she's such a great Mom, she decided that she could do a little more to make my "sacrifice" worthwhile.  So on New Year's Day, my Mom fell and broke her hip.

Call me crazy but I thought that was overdoing it just a bit.  

Then again, maybe she's always wanted an Open Reduction Internal Fixation.  An ORFI.  Translation:  The doctor pinned her hip to fix it.

She didn't quite consider the "having to go to rehab" part of it all but that's working out pretty well too.  At 82, my Mom has a personal trainer and a very handsome young man tucks her into bed at night.  Everything is going so well that she should be home in a couple of weeks, though at this point, I'm not exactly sure why she wants to leave.  (Until they serve a meal... then she remembers why she wants to come home.)  

Even though you didn't ask... yes, Rosie has gone to visit.  I asked if dogs were allowed and after providing an up-to-date Certificate regarding her shots, Rosie is a regular visitor at the facility.  That part has been a lot of fun as Rosie greets everybody there - the other residents, the nurses, the PT folks, the doctors.  A few folks have even come to my Mom's room looking for her after hearing her charge walk down the hallway.

In between trips to rehab, Rosie finally got to be the star of her show.  After telling Dee that I was a little sad that Rosie would be all alone for a whole l o n g day, she said I ought to bring Rosie with me to class.  Huh?  Cabby - Jordan's dog - wouldn't be at the shop that day so if Rosie wanted to come, it would be fun.  My brother thought I was nuts to even consider it - he thinks Rosie is a little "excitable".  I put the crate in the trunk as a "just in case"... but you know how that goes.  If I bring it, I won't need it.  But if I leave it at home, I'll wish I had it.  Had it... didn't need it.    

So Rosie was the "Special Guest" at the two Rosie Club meetings at The Olde World Quilt Shoppe this past Saturday.

This picture was taken during the break between the classes.  I had to hold a cookie over my head to get her to concentrate.  

It was a hoot.  And she did behave.  Mostly.  She was excited and happy to meet everyone, and everybody kindly fibbed and said they were excited and happy to meet Rosie.  The highlight was when Rosie sat down right in front of sweet Gerri and shamelessly gave her "The Stare" to beg for part of her cookie.  It would have been very embarassing if it hadn't been so funny.  

When I'm not chauffeuring Rosie to her social commitments, I am working on a few things.  Some are for patterns, some are for the club at Olde World - I'll share those next week - and some are "just because" things.  The strips at the top are part of that - those are pieces from the Bloomsbury Garden collection by Liberty of London mixed with some Essex Linen.  They will be cut into tumblers using my little template.  

And this is a "from my scrap basket" project.  I am making 210 blocks that finish at 5" so if I make four or five blocks a week, I should finish in 2026.  Actually, I have 20 blocks done and another dozen almost done.  I'll share all the particulars next week... if you're interested.  

So there you have it, we're doing life.  

And we're doing just fine.   
  

Tis' the season...

Bake cookies?  

Done.  Though these aren't mine - these are from Smitten Kitchen.  If you don't already have it, I'm smitten with Deb Perelman's cookbook, Smitten Kitchen.

 Packages wrapped?

Done.  

(And no, these aren't mine either... but it's late and the lighting is bad so this will have to do.) 

What is "mine" is this - I wish everyone a safe, merry and happy Holiday season!

Merry Christmas.  Joyeux Noel.  Feliz Navidad. And so on.  

Happy Hanukkah.

Happy Kwanzaa.

Happy Holidays.  

Did I forget anybody?

I've been a bit late... slow... forgetful.. and out-of-touch this year but since your humor, camaraderie and friendship are the best gifts a girl could ask for, I didn't want to miss this opportunity to thank you, and to wish you a wonderful holiday.

Merry Christmas and to all a Good Night!

HoHoHo!  

Just because...

 

Have you entered yet?  There's still time... but the clock is ticking!  Leave a comment with the fabulous Pat Sloan and you could win a prize box from Rosie.  

Happy Friday!

Aaacckkk! Today? December 20th?

It's a Gomer Pyle moment... surprise!  Surprise!  Surprise!

(Spoken with the inflections and twang that only Jim Nabors could do as Gomer.  Yeah... do I ever feel really old right now.  Thanks for that, Pat!)

I knew it was coming... I just couldn't remember when.  Soon.  Later.  Huh?  Now?  You mean today?  Yikes!

(See... I knew there was something about January in there.)

Here's the most important thing you need to know - go here to enter to win a Holiday package from moi.  Pat Sloan's Place.  You have until New Year's Day to enter to win.  

Now I have to explain a little bit about the rest...  Pat likes to ask us these questions and sometimes the answers come easily, and other times... not so much.  Maybe it comes easily but it's kind of like an avalanche of 382 possibilities.  Or maybe that's just me.  Yeah, yeah... it's me.    

 So here's what Pat asked:

What's your favorite drink? 

Maybe it had been a long day... maybe it was the time of day... whatever the reason, my first thought was something "adult".  Age-wise, not necessarily behavior-wise.  

 I love a really good Bloody Mary.  I've never been a fan of fruity drinks or sweet drinks.  A Chocolate Martini?  Uh, no thank you.  Unless you can add a healthy dash of Tabasco or some wasabi, I'd rather not. 

No, I do not add Tabasco or wasabi to my lattes.  I love Cappuccinos - especially the very traditional kind served in a small cup with just a little bit of milk added to the single shot of good espresso.  Love those.  But when I go to Starbucks - I live about three blocks away from one - I get a Triple - that means one more extra shot of espresso - Venti Sugar-Free Cinnamon Dolce Latte made with 2 Percent milk and no whip cream.  If the barrista isn't incredibly busy, I ask for extra foam.  And because you're not already shocked enough, I occasionally have a Quad - two extra shots of espresso... and hold the Cinnamon Dolce, please.  

More than you wanted to know, huh?  

What is your favorite food to eat, make or buy? 

This was hard - I come from a family that loves to eat.  And it's the time of year for baking and cooking.  And have you seen the Williams-Sonoma, Zingerman's, or Dean & Deluca catalogs lately?

My Mom is of German descent so the holidays have always meant Stollen.  My Mom used to make it and I've made it but I confess that I much prefer buying it - especially when what I can buy is much better than what I can make - especially when you figure out that I probably spend more on the ingredients!  Our two favorites are from Zingerman's in Michigan and Big Sur Bakery in California.  (The picture is from Big Sur Bakery.)  

 

As for baking, that's on my schedule for today!  I'm going to make just a few kinds of cookies - Chocolate Chip, Oatmeal Raisin, these Walnut Bars my Mom likes, and I think that's it.  Oh, and Lemon Bars!  We picked the last of the lemons this past week and we've still got about 50 pounds of lemons that need juicing and freezing.  

On Monday, I will also make White Christmas Pie.  My Mom first made this recipe about 40 years ago and it has been our family "Christmas Eve" pie ever since.  

My favorite Christmas picture...

Rosie would prefer this...

Rosie loves snow.  And she loves walks in the snow.  Since I would love walking in the snow here, we'd both be happy.    Joyeux Noel!

Every year I get one of these from Sur la Table - every year, the design is a little different.  They're always pretty.  And there might be one in the box... that you could win... if you enter.

Favorite Christmas Song.

This one always makes me happy. 

 

Another favorite.

 

I love The Christmas Song.  I have always believed - and still do - that Nat King Cole's version is far and away the best.  But this one comes close.

  

And since it's Christmas...

Santa.  I've been good.  Really.  

Okay, mostly.  

Good enough?

Go say Hi to Pat - and remember, enter to with HERE.  

As in over there... not here.

Thank you Pat!

Grilled cheese face...

You will not eat the last bite of that grilled cheese sandwich!

That makes this a "grilled cheese face".  

My Mom wanted soup for lunch and you can't have tomato soup without a grilled cheese sandwich.  There's some kind of law about that.  And if there is grilled cheese around - okay, any kind of cheese around - Rosie wants in.  

Rosie has been enjoying the cooler weather - she actually bounces out the door in the morning and her nose is even colder than usual.  Which isn't always a good thing.  

I think I've told you that Rosie gets a treat at bedtime.  Because she's "getting older", she has trouble getting up on the bed by herself so when I call her, she comes to where I am standing and waits for me to help her up.  Front paw are lifted up and then I hoist her up... where she prances around in a manner that belies her age.  The other night, I think she suspected I might have another biscuit after I turned off the lights.  I was just about to fall asleep when I got a very cold, wet nose and loud sniffing right in my ear - Rosie was trying to find my hand.

Yes, I had another biscuit.  Clever girl.  

Me?  Not so much.  

Have you finished your Christmas shopping?  Not me.  I'm waiting for a few purchases to arrive so I can wrap them and get them on their way... but I'm actually in pretty good shape this year.  The lights are up but the tree won't be up until Sunday - after my class on Saturday.  There's too much to do before then so it will wait.  But there are poinsettias on the tables and Christmas pillows out... and I've been burning my favorite Christmas candles.  I can't believe I remembered to order those early.  The candle that used to be my favorite - Banana Republic's Winter Candle - is no longer made, but a year or two ago I found a new Winter Candle by Linnea's Lights that is just as lovely.  The Forest Fir is also terrific.  (Find retailers here.  I buy my favorites here.)  

I have been busy sewing - though I feel like I've been mostly cutting strips...

And making block parts...

Both of the boxes/trays are drawer organizers from The Container Store.  I originally got them for drawers and... well, they were re-purposed as quilting organizers.  The little half-triangle squares measure 1 1/4" - they finish at 3/4".  I know.  It's nuts.  

Have you ever noticed how quilter's seem to collect boxes, bins and anything even indirectly "organizational"?

More parts.  It seemed easier to get a whole pile of parts done and then make my blocks.  Yes, I know.  I'm a bit late for Halloween... except that I'm way ahead of schedule if this is for Halloween 2013.  (Actually, at the rate I'm going, I'm probably still running late.  Maybe I should aim for Halloween 2014.)  The fabrics are Reproductions in black and orange/rust, and they're mostly Jo Morton.    

There are still a few more days for the quilts on eBay - thank you for the support there.  There have been a whole lot of page views and there are a lot of watchers - a heads-up to the snipers out there.  

Message in a Bottle

Quadrille

Scratch

Bennington

Little Red

Which means I need to ask - are you a "nibbler" or a "sniper"?  If you're a nibbler, do the snipers make you nuts by swooping in at the last second?  Just curious.  

I'm off - I have to pack more patterns.  The pattern for Marguerite is finally done and it will be in the shop by tomorrow.

The quilt is at the quilter so this is the only one I've got right now.  While I would love to get it back, I'm not in a rush so I think it might wait until after the Holidays.  

If you're interested, there will be a few kits for Marguerite.  The kit includes a Fat Eighth bundle of Chateau Rouge by French General, a Fat Eighth bundle of additional French General fabrics - mostly backgrounds, the Pale Mustard print I used for the alternating squares and the gray binding I'm using.

I think that's it...

Don't worry.  Rosie got part of my sandwich.  Could you say "no" to this face?

I can't.  But then I never could.  

Yeah, yeah... sucker.  C'est moi.   

And now we wait...

Until all the excitement next Thursday night.  

It occurred to me that if I did a listing in the middle of the night - as is my wont - then the listings would end in the middle of the night.  (Note to eBay - can you fix that please?  Can you let me set the ending time for my Auction?)

So they're done.  They will end next Thursday - December 13th - in the evening... depending on your time zone.

So here they are: 

Message in a Bottle

Quadrille

Scratch

Bennington

Little Red

Just so you know, while there is an opening, minimum bid, there is no Reserve Price.  If the Schnibbles sell for $25.01, that works for me.

I will keep posting the links over the next couple of days... because I will be back before next Thursday.  

Really, I have some silly things to share... like how I got glue all over my fingers and self last night making a really cute "primitive" snowman using cotton stuffing, mica snow and styrofoam.  

Happy Thursday night - and Happy Friday!