What Happened?

2024

Just life. That's what. Yep, it took me this long to finally get back to this blog.

It's been a rough year two years - but it's also been a good two years.

Adjusting to moving and not being the type of mom I used to be has been much harder on me that I thought.  I'm used to being with my children (even though they are adults) and seeing them, laughing with them.  But distance makes that so much harder. 

Lets talk quilts for a minute.

Look! I did it!

 

I FINALLY decided on a plan and actually made Rosanna's quilt.  This quilt panel (middle six pictures) had been in my drawer for years, really a decade or more.

UGH!  How could any quilt be so hard!

Well, for one thing Rosanna doesn't like geomatic shapes - no flying geese, or square in a square blocks for her!  So playing on the curves of her art and the art of Van Gosh I created more blocks of gentle curves.  Rather landscapish if you ask me.

Wah La!  It all came together and I LOVE it.

One of the best things to happen since I last posted is this little guy.

Levi

My newest little grandson.  He is so adorable!

I also got to spend time with him and his parents when they moved from Denver to Ohio.

It was a blast!  A lot of work - but wonderful memories. 

I did make him a quilt for his first birthday - hey there's no hurry to get these quilts done quickly! His mama likes neutral colors and was thrilled with it.

Dogs wearing Pjs

Sharks!

Yep I do love those sharks by Elizabeth Hartman.  I made this quilt for a different grandson.  Mostly I made it because I wanted to.  Her pattern instructions were scary to look at but once I started in, it was quite easy and fun.  Honestly I would love to make another. 

Okay enough for today.  

Love you all,

Linda in Arkansas

Moda’s Branching Out

I sewed up three more blocks for my Branching Out Quilt. 

Where I now live, Arkansas, has lots of trees.

 

This is a picture from yesterday when we were out on the golf course. 

So you can see why I’m naming this quilt, My Arkansas Quilt.  I decided to add a few fall orange colors. And I do love them among the greens. 

We’ve now been here one year. I suppose it time I change my name from Linda in Calif.   Don’t  you agree?

Happy Stitching!

Linda. 

Still Here -And Kicking!

 I'm sure by now you all think I have fallen off the earth. I couldn't get my computer to work and I had so many other things going on it wasn't the most pressing matter to fix.

So where shall I begin....

I started working on  Moda's Branch Out. It's a fun project although it's not an easy block.

My work on it was interrupted by the announcement of a baby being due.  My little daughter and her husband are expecting their first

We threw them a surprise shower at our annual family camping trip.  This is the only picture of the quilt I took  It's a disappearing 9 patch.  

We actually haven't had our annual camping trip the last 4 years and it was good to get back in the swing of things. 

Me and grandson Troy.  Isn't he the cutest thing?  He told me he was 13 and his mother insists he's 12.  LOL!  Neither one of us would do the math to figure out the truth.  

During the Christmas season I made this stocking for Stephen.  My sister did the horse.

I love doing these Brucilla Stockings. They are tons of work but so worth it.

I found this kit at an yard sale. I've been SLOWLY working on it. It will get done someday.

On our camping trip we also made it to the Grand Canyon.  It was our second time and we enjoyed as much as the first time.

And here's my cutie pie Elora and doggie Gracie.

I also had the opportunity to give my daughter Rosanna her quilt.  For years she said she didn't like quilts. That she didn't want one.  However, when I started Fat Quarter Shop's Bat and Boos quilt - I knew it would be hers.

Yep, she was happy with it.  She does love Halloween too.

The next quilt I'll be working on is the one for my sister. 

A 4-patch Posies

I'll be back with more on this one another day.

Hopefully, I'll be able to post more often.

If you read this, please leave a comment so that I know I'm not just talking to myself.

Happy Stitching,

Linda

Word up 2022

Well Hello January!

I'm ready to see what kind of year this will be.  I haven't had much interest in sewing or quilting.  I've been spending time making a home here.  It's a rural area so I thought I would use my time in my sewing room, but that hasn't happened.  I have been working on a Burcilla stocking for my son-in-law.  

Some of the items for the stocking are so darn tiny! It will be ready for next Christmas.

  Next Thursday I plan to attend the meeting at the local guild. Hopefully, this will help me with getting back into sewing and make some friends. 

I'm still working ever so slowly on the Bats and Boos Quilt. Geez can you believe it's taking this long?

My WORD UP ought to be HURRY.  But I decided on TRUST. 

I trust God is working things out for me with this move.  That I will adjust, find some friends, enjoy my sewing again.  And I trust Him that He has good things in store for us here.  

Let me know your Word up and 

Happy Sewing,

Linda

  

Time Flies - Alligators to Dogs

 How does a whole month go by so quickly?  Well one reason was because two of my daughters and granddaughters came to visit. 

We all went to the alligator farm. We also went boating and for rides in the golf cart. So cool to have them come see where I live and how things are for me here. My life is so different here than in California. I just do different things here. I don’t have the pool and kids around. 

I did work on my Bats and Boos Mystery quilt.  

I almost finished it.  I just lost interest in it. I sort of don’t like it and I need to buy more fabric to finish up the borders.  

But the best news is I have another little love. This is Jovi 

She is six months old and we have had her for 5 days. She is such a lovely little doll!  She is so sweet and sooo soft!  We are working on the house breaking. She has learned come, sit, pick up (for when I have to pick her up) and to walk on a leash. Best of all she sleeps all through the night! That means I get the sleep all through the night!! 

I’m finally working on Bonnie Hunter Mystery Quilt. I’m so happy to be getting this quilt quilted. Okay so I haven’t actually started quilting it yet. But I ironed the backing! LOL

 I plan on getting the top ironed & starched tomorrow and then my layers pinned. 

 I also need to vacuum the house. And I better get to the grocery store if I want to eat next week. 

What are you working on?

Happy Stitching,

Linda

Bats & Boos - Pumpkin Block

 Blocks of the week or month have always been an easy thing for me. Until the puppy came!

Oh my she takes up so much of my time. Playing with her, taking her out to potty 20 times a day. It all adds up to an incomplete pumpkin block.

Although I much admit I’ve been having so much fun working on it. 

So I need to go sew while she is sleeping.

Happy Stitching,

Linda

 

Bats and Boos Bat Block

 I was so very devastated to lose my Marizpan. I know I need a dog in my life so we found our new little one. She is super cute. 

She’s doing her part to help me mess up my sewing room. That’s what I want. 

Oh my gosh, I decided to let Bruce name her.  He was in no hurry.  It started to drive me nuts! But today we have a name.  MiaJovi which means my joy or my beloved.  We may end up calling her either Mia or Jovi or change it but for now she has a name  

I’ve been working on the bat blocks. They are so cool. 

 And this week I’ve been working on the pumpkin block. I love the block! So I’ll be back to show you those.

 It’s just comforting to get back to making blocks and sewing.   

Now let’s get back to sewing or maybe back to playing with MiaJovi. 

Happy Stitching,

Linda

Bats and Boos Mystery

 Now that I’m in a new place and most of the house is put together I was curious about the quilting shop in town.  Bats and Boos Mystery gave me the perfect excuse. 

Before moving I greatly reduced my fabric. So much of it I was given, had stored for years and to be honest I was never going to use it. The best part was letting my granddaughter come over and take any thing she wanted. I also gave her my mothers machine & cabinet, scissors, thread and any notion I could think of. 

Well back to the Bat & Boos

I love the fabrics I found. I love Halloween fabrics.

 I admit it was fun to cut and label the squares for the bats. It’s been so very long since I’ve seen.  I sewed a little bit and hope to do some more sewing this afternoon. 

This is my daughter Serena teaching a little girl to skate. Check out her reaction when she accomplished her goal. 

We should all be so happy with our accomplishments big and small.

Now it’s ice tea time!

Happy Stitching

See you all soon!

Linda

New Baby and some Finishes

We decided that life is just better with a little furry friend. I’m so used to having a dog that life is strange (and empty) without one. 

I wanted a toy poodle and Bruce wanted a black and white one.  This little girl will be coming home to us this next Saturday. 

I’ve been working on my cross stitch. 

I saw Lori Holt uses her small design boards for her threads. 

Is that I great idea or what? 

Since I don’t have a small one I use my big one. Perfect! 

Doing this cross stitch has been very enjoyable! It is a Durene Jones design. Garden SAL

I finished up the little wall hanging for my daughter. The one where I used the lace from her wedding dress. 

And I finished up the dish towel. I added a little ruffle. To my relief my sewing machine is fine. No damage from the move. Whew!

I’ve been trying to be more active. I go with my husband when he plays golf. It’s hot but I just try to ignore it and walk around anyways. 

We do have fun together. 

 Tomorrow starts Fat Quarter Shops Halloween Mystery Quilt.  I have some fabric. I need a background fabric.  Who else is doing this one?

See you soon and happy stitching,
Linda

 

 

Ups and Downs

This NASCAR race season I decided to have a nice cross stitch project to do while watching the race.  I got this idea from Di of Quilting  is Blissful. 

I was so worried about my sewing items while we were moving. Wondering if the guys that packed me know this cutting mat could not be rolled up. It was a great relief to see it flat. It’s a Lori Holt mat and I so enjoy using it. 

My sewing machine appears to be okay. It was packed upside down. Hmmm very strange. I haven’t had time to use it yet. My fingers are crossed maybe tomorrow I can sew and confirm it’s okay. 

Every Sunday we have a routine. NASCAR and homemade pizza. We have been doing this for three years now. My sister told me she wants to do something similar. Sometimes routines can be good. 

We went to a garage sale this last week and picked this pizza cutter up. 

Makes life a little easier and certainly more fun. 

Life should be more fun. 

We were out on the golf course and I saw this butterfly or moth. Not sure which. But I do know I’ve never seen a pink one before!

We were super lucky to have company come to our new house for an impromptu dinner. It was my Dad’s and the rest of the families first time to see our new house. 

I’ve been busy trying to move in and visit my dad in the hospital. It was such a joyous occasion that he was out and had dinner with us. Unfortunately he passed a week after this dinner.  

And more sad news my little love, Marzipan was ran over. 

She was my little buddy. We took her everywhere!  

Well this is life. Ups and downs. 

Thank goodness we can always count on God to be there to see us through. 

Sorry this is a bit of a downer of a post. 

In the meanwhile, let’s enjoy our stitching,

Linda