Having a bit of fun...

This is "Sue the Squirrel"

She is one of the "Funky Friends Factory" adorable stuffed animal patterns,

that I made in someone's favorite color!

You see a few weeks ago on my way to quilt club, I saw a squirrel

that had been run over in the street.

When I got there, I went into my "ewwwwwwe...there's a dead squirrel" story, 

only to find out that one of our own was telling her story

 of hitting the poor little guy!

 She was visibly upset!

So what would all good quilt club folks do?

Your absolutely right, we went shopping for squirrel yard ornaments

and decorated her yard while she was on vacation!

This one's "nuts" light up at night.

LOL!!

We even added a little note before we left them.

As soon as she got home the texts started to fly.

We didn't admit to anything for 3 days.

She asked her neighbors who were taking care of her yard about it, and

when they claimed the squirrels weren't there the last time they were over,

 that comment was met with a response of 

"how well do you know these neighbors" and "do you trust them"?

We were dying laughing behind those texts!

But the best was when someone, who shall remain nameless drove by after work

one night and reported back that, yes, indeed the "nuts" were glowing in the dark!

Oh my goodness the joy it brought everyone.

Can you believe she even brought the little note off the squirrel 

to quilt club last week to compare handwriting?

hahhhhha

Yes Joi...Deb and I had a blast with this prank!

I hope you and your new friends live long and prosper.

And you keep all those words of wisdom headed our way...

cause we are enjoying that last one...

It' really is OK to be a little nuts!

til next time...

Keep on Stitchin'

Aftermath...From a long day cleaning

After my long day cleaning yesterday...

I  really needed to just sit down and stitch something.

"Sew"...I finally turned in this old t-shirt into a pillow.

It too, has been on the shelf for years, just waiting.

I loved this shirt and just couldn't bear to part with it.

It's from our very first trip to Alaska in 1995,

and holds a very special place in my heart.

Heck I had to use the label from inside too.

After all, it's got moose on it!

:-)

I cut the front of the shirt out, and then was able to use the back of the shirt

to create the backing of the pillow. It was wide enough, to be able to get two pieces

that I could overlap and secure with a Velcro strip.

Boom...it was done in less than 20 minutes.

LOL!!

And that's why it sat on my shelf for so many years????

A perfect match for my couch, that I recovered a few years back.

Still not ready to quit stitching, I took a few minutes to play...

If you followed the "My Favorite Quilt Block" hop last week, you likely saw 

Susan's post over at "Quilt Fabrication".

She showed us lots of fun ways to use a 9-patch block, and

included a chart of sizes for cutting, unfinished and finished sizes.

It got as small as a 1" block cutting.

I laughed with Susan over stitching anything that small...

With some scraps I had laying on my sewing table, I decided to give it a try!

Not too bad, I'd say, but this will likely be the last one I do.

LOL!!!!

Here's my hint...

if your going to make anything this small use lots and lots of starch.

Are you at all wondering about these fabrics?

Could it be that it's because Carol is having a blog hop next month?

I guess you are going to have to check back and see!

It looks like Google is having some issues today.

I see comments on my post yesterday, but I didn't get any emails to respond to.

Just know I read them.  They really do make my day!

Hopefully they can work it out soon.

til next time...

Keep on Stitchin'

A Blast to the Past in the Sewing Room

I certainly hope you spent your Saturday doing something more fun,

than I did.

I've put off cleaning out the little room off my sewing room, 

and under the stairs for entirely too long.

Today was clean it up, day.

While most of it was boring boxes of stuff that ended up in the trash,

I did stumble on my Mother in law's sewing box that I've had, 

since she passed away over 10 years ago.

I was really like looking through a treasure trove, of sorts.

It's amazing what we collect, and sadly I'm no exception!

LOL!!

I had to laugh, when I saw that she had rolled up ribbon

 and kept it nice in neat with a Christmas Card she had cut up.

She carefully marked what she was going to use things on.

I'm not sure if I'm more shocked at the sticker price of the machine needles 

or the fact that she kept one with a burr on it!

:-O

Here's a blast to the past. Montgomery Wards needles for 65 cents!

I really needed needle threaders recently.

Who knew I had 3 packs of them here.

These were a quarter from Woolworth's. I loved that store, 

and it's long been gone, too.

:-(

This puzzled me. A one size fits all embroidery guide.

I can't imagine if or how it works, but it was only a buck, which 

was probably a lot of money in those days.

I have a jar that I keep some of the classics in.

Check out this "Advance" sewing pattern, that was 35 cents.

And how about the white fabric from Penneys...

Did you catch that price tag?

I found these not only fascinating but too funny!

Who better to have "witch" pins that myself?

Yep, if you've followed me for long, you've likely seen my witchy photo.

hahahaha

These are more JC Penny treasurers.

I'm not sure exactly what the price is. 

Could it really be 4 cents?

I had to save the best for the last...

War time package!

WOW!

 Here's the"vault" to not only store, but show off these treasurers, 

in my sewing room.

After today, it's getting pretty full.

Full of love and yester-years sewing supplies!

til next time...

Keep on Stitchin'

My Favorite Quilt Block Blog Hop

When Carla asked me to join in on her "My Favorite Quilt Block" blog hop...

I jumped right in, cause my favorite quilt block was the "Bear Paw"

NO..."Churn Dash"

No...

oh, that list goes on and on!

LOL!!

Actually I wasn't quite sure just what block I was going to share, until my quilting 

buddy "Joi" gave me a new book for my birthday.

It all became very clear what my favorite block was then...

Not just because he's a moose...well, maybe because he's a moose!

I am sure your thinking, that's not a block.

But he is, he really is!

LOL!!

And he's right from the pages of this fun book!

And, when he joins all his buddies, he becomes part of the herd with a message to

"Make the "Moost" out of life!

And, that's a motto, I can get onboard with!

:-)

This is a new to me, technique. If I had to describe it,

 I'd say it's paper piecing. for those who hate to paper piece.

LOL!! 

There is paper involved, but only freezer paper that you use to trace and cut the pattern with.

You cut multiple layers at one time.

Once that's done, you just start stitching pieces together.

This is what you end up with.

Kinda crazy I know, but once it's squared up...

...you have this guy!

:-)

If you noticed above,  there are numbers on each piece. It's really important that you keep organized when stitching these blocks. Those numbers are as crucial as keeping your fabrics stacked correctly.

And when you try to move your mat and trip over your feet, you end up with this mess!

Lets just say, that after a few hours of frustration, I managed to

sort and re-stack everything, so I could continue on!

LOL!!

There's just something about these guys!

These bright and fun fabrics are my hand dyes...

...and, I chose the QAYG method to put it all together.

With so many holidays covered...

you'll likely see these guys around sometime again!

(winky winky)

I'm wrapping this up with a photo of my trash can.

:-)

There's just something about looking into my trash can!

Thanks Carla for another fabulous hop.

You'll want to make sure, you don't miss a day of the fun,

so the schedule is posted below

Monday, September 9th

Just Let Me Quilt

Words & Stitches

VroomansQuilts

PamelaQuilts

Songbird Designs

Days Filled With Joy

Quilted Delights

Tuesday, September 10th

Quiltscapes

Melva Loves Scraps

Stitchin At Home

Homespun Hannah's Blog

Mary Mack Made Mine
Just Because Quilts

Den syende himmel
Selina Quilts

Wednesday, September 11th

MooseStashQuilting

Elizabeth Coughlin Designs

Kathleen McMusing

Karrin's Crazy World
April Grace Quilts
Hazel’s Daughter
Seams To Be Sew
Limeleaves

Thursday, September 12th

Websterquilt

Cynthia's Creating Ark

Nutz 4 Redwork
Quiltsbyjoanne
Ms P Designs USA
Pampered Pettit
Hill Valley Quilter

Friday, September 13th

For the love of geese
Life in the Scrapatch

Kathy's Kwilts and More

Alycia Quilts - quiltygirl
Domestic Felicity
The Joyful Quilter
QuiltFabrication
Creatin' in the Sticks

On a completely unrelated note...
Keep in mind, today is 9-11, a day we will always remember.
 Please say a little prayer for those we lost,
 as well the first responders we continue to loose.

I received this pin a week after it happened,
from an FBI agent, I helped at the airport.
It's always held a very special place in my heart,
as I was working while it was happening that terrible day.
It's feels strange to say...
this is the first time since the 9-11, that I am no longer an airline employee.

til next time...
Keep on Stitchin'

Child Play with "Island Batik"

This month it's all about "Child's Play" with 

and

"Accuquilt" has generously given me one of their new "BOB" dies.

What's a "BOB" you ask...

Block on Board!

Yep, everything you need to make a block all in one die.

I received the "Crossed Canoe" die and

 decided that a little "play on words" was in order, for this challenge.

LOL!

Here you have...

"You Canoe It"

Life is tough and the best thing we can do for our kids is to 

inspire them to be their best, and let them know that,

 they "CANOE" anything they put their minds to

don't you think?

:-)

While the actual canoe isn't a die, the beautiful background

 is made of "crossed canoe" blocks.

I've been hoarding/saving this beautiful stack, of fat eighths from the 

 Blue Moon collection that "Island Batik" gave me.

The time had come...this project just called for me to use it.

LOL!!

All those colors were perfect for these blocks.

It's amazing just what you can do with fat eighths.

That's all it took to make the crossed canoe blades.

As for the canoe...

I searched online for free clipart, and enlarged it.

It was just what I needed to complete my little play on words!

A big thanks to "Accuquilt" and "Island Batik".

I do hope you've enjoyed my "Child's Play".

"Accuquilt" makes these blocks so easy to stitch together, that

you "canoe" it too.

Are you interested in this die? If you act quickly, it's on sale

HERE

 *an affiliate link

til next time...

Keep on Stitchin'