Happy Halloween

I really want to be working on my McKenna Ryan block.

But that darn Halloween Quilt has been keeping me from it.

Mark is so sweet to me there's no way I can say no, or even wait.

It is all pieced and layered.  And I've been quilting on it. I quilted some bats and spiders and spider webs.  

Next I'm going to do some straight lines.

We did go shopping.  YEA!  That was so much fun. 

These fabrics are for the McKenna block. Do you see how much fun is waiting for me?  There's nothing like a new project to breathe new life into my sewing mojo.

We did get together and make some Halloween Cupcakes. 

Cupcakes + little kids = FUN 

And sticky fingers! LOL

 

And prayers for the those in affected by Superstorm Sandy. 

Linda

Book Review: The Giving Quilt

I feel so lucky that I was given Jennifer Chiaverini's new book "The Giving Quilt" to review. The people that contact me are so nice and I am not asked to give a positive review.

This book's setting is present day at the Elm Creek Manor.  Chiaverini introduces us to new characters and as the story unfolds we are given some background story on each of them.  I love the way she writes and develops each character    Each one comes with their own problems, hopes and dreams.  And I love the way Chiaverini gives such a realist voice to them.

I have to tell you, at one time I called my daughter and told her "listen to this - this character sounds just like you!"  As I read to her we laughed and agreed is sounded like Chiaverini had been a fly on the wall, then wrote about my daughter.  It's truly amazing the way Chriaverini characters are so real.

In "The Giving Quilt" the characters come together for a week of quilting for charity, Project Linus. I like the way Chiaverini has the characters interact and develop; finding solutions to their problems. I do find the book very entertaining and I highly recommend this book.  It is a lovely "sit by the fire and enjoy reading" type of book.

Happy Reading,

Nicey Linda

Lavender Street Winner

I've been on a bit of a winning streak.

I won a gift certificate from LavenderStreet.com in the Fabshophop.

I am so appreciate of Lavender Street for offering the certificate. I wanted to tell you about the shop because it was so easy to shop at their online store.  

I quickly found three must haves.

 Part of this is gift certificate and part is just because I wanted it.

Cuzco Charm Pack - like who could resist Kate Spain? 

Mark - that's who.  When I asked him if this wasn't the cutest fabric ever! He said no. What??  But then again, he chose those creepy Halloween fabrics. Remember?

The Sweetwater Down Home Tote  - Okay I admit I'm a sucker for dots and red. But isn't this bag so cute? I can't wait to make one. And then another and another. You get the picture. 

And lastly, a McKenna Ryan pattern: Roomies

 I love chickadees and bird houses and batiks. 

Happy Stitching,

Nicey Linda

Really Random Thursday -10/25/2012

It's Thursday, I want to post but do I really have anything to say?  

And then I realize it's Really Random Thursday and I do have those random pictures. I could link up with Cindy at Live a Colorful Life.

Okay! Let's go for it!

  I bet you weren't expecting a burned out Palm Tree.

On one of our Motorcycle trips we went to a statuary store and they had Palm trees. 

One just spontaneously caught fire while we were there.

However, the firemen said that some one had shot a bottle rocket which had landed deep in the tree. Apparently it smoldered for days and we just happened to be there the day it caught fire.  

While we were there I found this cute little fountain fish. 

Water comes out his mouth.

I have this old fountain Mark gave me for my birthday years ago. It's really special to me.   I think the fish looks great in there and now I have a bird bath for the birds!

One day while I was swimming, I found someone else swimming with me.

So Cute!! 

This little guy is so tiny!

On the my daughter's birthday I did a little extra surprise for her.  

I cleaned her room - as a teen you know she loved that!

I bought paper hats and party supplies and when she walked in late at night from work, she found her stuffed animals were all giving her a Surprised Birthday Party!

Yeah, that was fun.  

Stephanie over at Peas in a Pod challenges us to also do a Random Act of Kindness today.  

I think that's a great idea.

Happy Random Thursday,

Nicey Linda

Design Wall Monday - CW Quilt

I really didn't get much sewing done on my CW quilt this past weekend.  

I did make a Lemon Meringue Pie. Yum.

And got the car wash - got a little wet.

And did the laundry - so I won't be miss stinky.

Took hubby to the movies - where he took a nap.

Rescued my daughter when her car broke down - Nothing like having Mom & Dad & the checkbook come to the save the day.

And helped at the church Nursery School - No one cried. YEA!

And played catch with the cutest rough and tumble little boy - my little grandson.

  I do have a little bowl full of applique flower finished. I sure hope there will be enough!

And I experimented with my vines.  I've always heard that they have to be cut on the bias. I have a bunch of strips cut on the straight away - (hey, I bet that's called something else) anyway, I practiced curving them, and stitched them down.  See..

That looks like it's going to work.  It curved just fine and lays flat.   So I'll use up those extra strips.  Unless - anyone knows some other reason I shouldn't use these strips?

  And lastly, Mark didn't do anything on his quilt.  I did go down and buy some fabric to separate some of those blocks.  

I'm linking up with Design Wall Monday over at Patchwork Times. 

Happy Stitching,

Nicey Linda

I've been having a good time - Appliqueing

I'm sure ya'll want to know what I've been up to lately.  APPLIQUEING!  You know some think it's a dirty word.  But I enjoy it. I don't want to do it all the time - I like piecing with the machine best. 

I get all my supplies on my ironing board - get Netflix ready. And lower the ironing board to the lowest level so that I can use it while sitting on the couch. See Sugar? She's on Zombie Watch. (Explained a little later in this post.)

I use the Magic Sizing and then iron with my Clover Iron - hey, that's one of my BEST investments! I put the waxy side up so that when 

I curve that little HOT iron around the flower piece - it makes the fabric stick down to the edge of my freezer paper. Nice smooth round edges. I'm not saying this is the right way. It's just the way I do it. 

Disclaimer here: If you notice any dark spots on my ironing board it's from the Magic Sizing - not coffee or tea. It's that darn Magic Sizing. I think starch does it too.

I've been working on this while we have been watching The Walking Dead. Have you seen the program?  There are just sometimes when I can't watch the TV. Some of scenes of zombies eating are just too much, just disgusting. But for the most part I like the story line.  And it's so appropriate for Halloween time.

 

So that's what I've been doing, sitting on the couch merrily working away. I have the glue to tack down difficult spots but so far I haven't had to use it. 

And I have a report of Mark's Halloween Quilt for my next post. 

Happy Stitching, 

Nicey Linda

Halloween Quilt - Need Advice

Tonight is Sewing Night - or maybe Beer Night - Or Pool (as in billiards) & Beer Night or maybe The Walking Dead and Coffee-all-night Night.  Oh there are just so many options!

Mark's Halloween quilt - sorry for the poor lighting and strange ghosty things at the bottom of this photo.

This is how the quilt is coming along.  I would like your advice - do you think I should suggest to Mark that he put a strip between the houses and the blocks? A plain fabric to give the eye a place to rest?

Here:

Or a narrow strip to give the block a border from the row above?  I hope to have a good time sewing tonight - and I hope you do also.    

Happy Stitching,

Nicey Linda