April 30, 2012

Tuesdays With Tag - Good Corgi, Bad Corgi...

 Hi, again. Tag here!

I want to tell you about something you probably haven't noticed before.
Mom always says, "Good Corgi. Bad Corgi." to me.
 Until she explained it, I had no idea what she meant.

So, listen (and look) closely 
and I'll explain it to you...my adoring fans. 
(hee hee)
John Wayne. Good Guy. (Web image)
Mom said she remembers the old Westerns where you 
could always tell the "good guys" from the "bad guys". 
She said the "good guys" always wore white hats...

Jack Elam. Bad Guy. (Web Image)
and the "bad guys" always wore black hats. 
(Well, except some guy called Clint Eastwood 
who was always a good guy but didn't much care 
what color his hat was.)

Anyway, she said that you should look at these pictures 
she took of me so you can see why she calls me "Good Corgi"...

My "Good Corgi" side
 See my white whiskers?
That would be my "good" side...

My "Bad Corgi" side
 ...and my black whiskers. 
Need I say more?
I think not.

My "Disapproving Corgi" side
 I am not amused.

Actually, I think Mom is pretty clever., but don't tell her.
It's hard for me to see these things from my point of view!
I'm glad she told me, and now we all know.

Happy May Day, everybody!
'til next week...
"More Waggin' and Less Barkin'!"

April 29, 2012

Memory Lane Mondays - Generations...

George Newby Family
I love this photograph. It's the family of my great-great grandfather, George Newby. I never knew him or his wife, but my great grandfather, Percy is third from the left. His sister, My Aunt Ethel (she hated being called "great" aunt) is next to my great grandpa, Percy (fourth from the left).

My great-grandpa was a colorful man who I loved. He and my great grandmother owned a trailer court in Plover, Wisconsin and worked hard their entire lives. I have fond memories of our visits to my great grandparents house with I was a kid.

Aunt Ethel (Newby) Mills was an educator, starting in one of the first one-room schoolhouses in Wisconsin. She lived in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, within a couple of blocks of the house where I grew up. I was able to spend much more time just because of her proximity to our home.

Manners and grammer were always paramount with her - a trait I guess I inherited. She would correct grammatical errors when she heard them, and I find myself doing the same thing now. I'm usually the person who corrects the improper uses of "myself" and "there's" in sentences. (Most times "I" should be used where people now say "myself", and "There's" lots of [multiples of anything] should be "There are".) Sorry. Incorrect grammar is a pet peeve. Thanks, Aunt Ethel! Blessing or curse? You decide.

She held a position placing graduates from the Marian College Education program long into her actual "retirement". Her whole life was dedicated to teaching others. I admire her for that.

Laverne Newby Family
Fast forward to 1955 or early 1956 and here's another five-generation photograph. (l-r: back - my father, my beloved Grandfather Laverne. front: my great-great grandmother Boushley (Dora's mother, I think), my great grandmother Dora (married to great Grandpa Percy) and me!) Please ignore that the photo is crooked and the top of my father's head is cut off.

I don't look very happy, but I'd only been in America with my parents a short time and really only knew my father and Mum at the time this photograph was taken. (I even had a sweet British accent at this time!) My little sister was born in July of 1956, and I believe it was taken prior to her birth.

See the mirror on the wall? That's my pretty Mum reflected in the mirror. I don't know who's standing next to her, but I think that's so cool to have her in the picture, too...smiling at me. I love that.

My younger sister always remembers jumping on "Grandma" Boushley's" feather bed. (Her name is pronounced like "Bosley".) I don't remember that, but I remember much more time spent with my great grandma. I remember her wearing plaid shirts more often than not, and she always had that gorgeous smile on her face. I think my grandpa got his smile from her, and I'd like to think that my smile and laughing eyes are her genetic gift to me, too.

Handsome and I have photographs of generations of our family, too. The contemporary images are some of my favorites, but I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for all of the "oldies".

Do you have generations photos of your family? Do you display them or are they in boxes? I love the digital frames. You can store all kinds of images on a thumb drive and them load them into the frames so that they rotate through the display. One frame with many photographs. One frame to dust. That's a good idea, too!
Thank you for joining me on another stroll down Memory Lane. If you have a special memory posted on your blog this week, please come back and link here so all of us can read it, too! I'll be back with another nostalgic post next month!
Mum and Dad Burt are on a plane Monday morning to spend a whole month in England. They're both so excited about seeing family and old friends while they're there, and Mum can't wait to show Dad all around her homeland (and stuff British food in his mouth!). They're going to have a ball, I know.

Please say prayers for their safe travels and an incredible time overseas. 
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April 28, 2012

Sunday Scripture - Pets In Heaven...

Fezzik Inconceivable - One year ago today
 “And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, 
and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, 
and all that are in them, heard I saying,
Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that 
sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.”
                                                                     - Revelation 5:13
 
I miss you, Fezzik, but I trust His promise that I will see you again someday.
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April 27, 2012

Accuquilt™ GoBaby For Sale...

For Sale in my eBay Store
I'm selling a brand new Accuquilt GoBaby Cutter, tote, 2 1/2" strip cutter and three different sized mats. I writing about it here because I wanted to let my blog friends here know first.

My listing is on eBay for this item and I've offered free shipping. (U.S. and Canada only) None of the items has been used and everything comes in its original packaging.

If you're interested, here is the link to the listing. If you're interested and live outside the U.S., please contact me via email after viewing the listing.

I'm heading out for coffee with the quilt girls and then I'll be playing in the studio this afternoon. I'm also busy editing the video I recorded Thursday night for Handsome's last band concert of the season. I'll be sharing clips on YouTube very soon.
Monday is Memory Lane Monday again. I'm having a great time putting together another "stroll" for you! More old photos to share. It's going to be fun!

Have a great weekend!
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April 26, 2012

Paper Piecing Progress...

Arbor Window
I played with Loreen again yesterday. Four more paper pieced blocks were created to be incorporated into my Farmer's Wife quilt.
Hovering Birds
I think I'm really getting the hang of this! I only had to "unsew" one piece because I misjudged the size of my scrap. (It didn't fit when I turned and pressed it. It was too small.) Nothing serious and I was back at sewing and pressing before I knew it.

Twin Sisters or Whirlwind
Some are simpler than others and that's great. It gave me a chance to work out my technique before I got to the hard ones.
Kansas Troubles
Which is good, because this block - Kansas Troubles - was aptly named. I ended up cutting, sewing and pressing two of these blocks because I wasn't happy with my first effort.

These blocks haven't been squared up yet and the paper is still on the back, but they're going to be added to my stack of Farmer's Wife blocks as the quiltalong continues.

May 1st will debut another set of blocks for the group, but it's really great that there's no pressure to move at anyone's pace except your own. Speaking for myself, I'm having a ball making all these wonderful, historical blocks. One of the most enjoyable things for me is debuting the fabrics and colors. I'll share a photo of all the blocks I've completed so far during May. Be sure to go to the Quiltalong link at the top of my blog so that you can visit all the participants and see their progress, too!

Don't forget that this Monday is Memory Lane Monday in the event you'd like to participate. If you didn't read Wednesday's post, I'm having a giveaway for my readers, too, so go check it out. So much fun going on at Brynwood these days. I'm so glad you're hear to read all about it!

Have a great weekend! I'll see you tomorrow.
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April 25, 2012

Art Quilt Giveaway...

Not too long ago, my friend, Helen gave me an art quilt. She said it had been given to her, but she wanted me to have it to do with as I saw fit. I already have soooo many handbags that I can't possibly use one more. I have more than a few quilts,  too, so I've decided to share it with one of my lucky blog friends. I'm offering it as a giveaway!
The quilter who created the quilt attached actual gloves in each corner, and it's very well made. There are handbags of all shapes and sizes...
and it's embellished with laces, beads, buttons and ribbons. It's really wonderful and would even make a fun dress-up quilt for a little lady in your life. (I would be careful with really little girls, though, because of some of the embellishments.)

It measures 44" long by 33" wide and has a matching hanging sleeve already attached. I know that someone is going to be the lucky winner.
To enter the drawing for this art quilt, just leave a comment on this post telling me what you like to read about on my blog. I'll draw one name on Tuesday evening at 10 pm and I'll announce the winner on Wednesday.

Good Luck!

I also want to remind you that Memory Lane Monday will be this coming Monday (April 30th). Anyone who has a special memory they'd like to share with their readers can post on their own blog on Monday and then link back here. The link will be open for latecomers until Friday (May 4th). I'll have my post up Sunday evening so that you can start linking Sunday for Monday's post. I'd love to have you join me for a stroll down Memory Lane.
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April 24, 2012

A Project For The Flying Cloud...

New curtain panels in the living room area
One of the things I missed on our forays in the Flying Cloud was "darkness". When we sleep here at home, there are no street lights or outside lights shining in our windows. Only the stars and moon illuminate the walls of our bedroom. Being a country girl, I really like that. No. I actually need that.
Close-up of living room curtain panels
When we stay in campgrounds with the Flying Cloud, there are always street lights. Always. We close the blinds, but the light peeks in around the sides. Then the light bounces around off our aluminum walls and it somehow augments the effect. In one campground, we were so close to the light that it fairly lit up the inside of the bedroom! I decided at the end of our trip last fall that I'd add faux curtains. Just enough fabric to block that sneaky light.

I took 13" wide strips of fabric, 32" long (for the living room windows...longer and wider in the bedroom). I chose one of the fabrics that I used in the quilts I made last year that you can read about here). I folded it lengthwise with right sides together (so that the fabric was double thickness) and stitched across the top and down the open side. Then I clipped the corners, turned it right-side-out and pressed the fabric. I created four pleats across the top and stitched them in place.
New curtain panels in the bedroom window above my bed
I hung them using those adhesive velcro strips that remove without leaving any damage behind. One side adhered to the wooden valance that was installed on the camper, and the other was stitched to the curtain to keep it in place on the fabric. At the bottom of the curtain, I stitched a round, plastic ring in place. I attached the curtains at the top and then slid the ring onto the clip that holds each end of the blind in place. Now the bottom of the curtains won't flap around.
Curtain panels above Handsome's bed
When everything was in place, I checked to see how snugly it fit to the wall. No light bled around our new curtains. Voila! The next time we sleep in the Flying Cloud on our travels, we'll dream in the dark.

I can check another project off my project list now. I'd love to make new slipcovers for those cushions in the living room/kitchen area, but that will be for another time.  (I'm actually think of using quilts that I'd make just for upholstering, but canvas would be good, too!)

Come back tomorrow. I have a little something that was offered to me by a friend for a blog giveaway. I'm going to offer it to one of my lucky blog friends.
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April 23, 2012

Tuesdays With Tag - Recuperated...

It's me again...Tag! 

I'm back to my usual active self now, but I want to show you two new pictures of me that I really like. I know you're wondering why, but it's easy to figure this one out.

It's like this...Mom really babied me after my surgery. She was a little overprotective, so she had me sleepin' on the bed with her. Sweet, right?
Now, every night when it's time to go to bed, I just stand on the floor next to her and look up at her with this expression that I've perfected (you'd love it...trust me!), and she picks me up and puts me on her bed! I get all snuggled up against the pillow and wait for her to turn the lights out. Sometimes, I even cuddle up to her when she's sleeping.

Don't tell anyone that I'm a cuddler. It could ruin my "Tough Guy" image. I really do like snuggling, though, so let's keep it just between us.

Next week, I want to share some "action" shots with you. We're still working on them this week, so that's one of the reasons why you just get to see my "Burt Reynolds" poses today.

So, enjoy my "adorable-ness" today and I'll be back again next week. 'til then...
"More Waggin' and Less Barkin'!"

April 22, 2012

Playing With Blocks...

Churn Dash Block
I spent part of the weekend working on Farmer's Wife blocks. I've been missing working on these blocks, so I was glad to get back to them.
Linoleum Block
I love choosing the different fabrics to use in the blocks, and then giving all my concentration to cutting, aligning and assembling each block.
Wrench Block
Press (using my favorite linen spray - Fresh Cotton!), square up and measure. I always feel like I've accomplished something when I have a few more to add to the stack. At this rate, I'll have them all finished by...December! (I'm kidding! I'm hoping to have them finished long before then.)
Thimbleberries Cottagewood Print
You may have noticed that I used this fabric in my first block in this post (Churn Dash). I had a fat quarter of it. BIG HUGE COLOSSAL mistake. I love this fabric and don't have enough to make more blocks. I need more to use in future Farmer's Wife blocks.
From RJR Fabrics
Now, I'll be searching for more of this specific fabric. If anyone has any amount that they're willing to part with, please let me know and I'll be happy to purchase it from you. I've checked online and haven't been able to find any there. (I can't type any more. It's too hard while I'm crossing my fingers.)

I'll be in the studio again this week. I'm planning to make more Farmer's Wife blocks, and I'm behind on the quilt shop monthly QAL, so I need to catch up on those, too. If my schedule works out, I'll also go back over to take another of Loreen's paper piecing classes. (I had so much fun last week!)

What do you have planned for this week?
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April 21, 2012

Sunday Scripture...

"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree:
he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon."
                                                                        - Psalm 92:12
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April 20, 2012

Coming Soon...

I've been making cookie mat sets to sell in my Etsy shop. Each mat will come with its own little milk bottle glass. All you need to add is a snack, milk, straw and a special little someone to enjoy it!

I'm making them in fabrics specifically for little girls, little boys or in fabrics that could appeal to either. There will be alphabets, animals, flowers and things on wheels, too. I'm having great fun choosing the fabrics (who wouldn't?).
Each mat is just the right size for a snack, but can also work as a small placemat to help your little one smile look forward to meal time. I'll be making more and listing them all up next week, and I'll be sure to let you know when they're listed.

Special orders will also be available. I can even make them with the name of your favorite child(ren), but only on special orders (as opposed to the ready made versions)!

I'm off to my Saturday coffee group, so have a great weekend and I'll chat with you again tomorrow.
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April 19, 2012

I Really Like Paper Piecing...

This is my first attempt at paper piecing and I am really happy with the way the block went together. I had a little trouble with the "reverse" thinking at the beginning, but quickly "turned my thinking around" (I know...narf!) and this Friendship Star block was my first paper pieced block.
Loreen (my friend and our class instructor) shared a joke with our friend, Will. They had all of us laughing. Will is quite accomplished with his machines. He's got more than two Babylocks and was sitting at his Janome for the class. He told us that he earned three ribbons at the Venice (FL) Quilt Show a few weeks ago. We were all duly impressed, even though we didn't get to see the actual quilts.
There were five of us taking the class, but most of the gals were camera shy. That's my Sofia in the foreground, and she was quite happy to help me create my block(s). I like the fact that, unlike Miss Ellie (my Ellisimo) and Prissy (my Espire), Sofie only weights about 12 pounds. It's a truly portable machine, so I don't have to worry about lugging around something heavier.
If anyone needed to cut their fabrics, the main cutting table in the front of the shop was available. It's also where we gathered to watch Loreen demonstrate layout or other paper piecing techniques. There may have been money and merchandise exchanging hands, too, although I was sworn to secrecy so I couldn't possibly comment.
This was as far as I got on the second block yesterday. It's called Kansas Troubles. I used the same fabrics that I've been using in my Farmer's Wife blocks, so I can add it to the blocks to go into my Farmer's Wife quilt when I complete them.

All in all, I think the class was a great success for me. I now understand the concept of paper piecing, and have completed one block, with patterns for three more from the class to finish. They meet every week, so perhaps I'll go back over again. All I can say for now is that I'm happy I took the class, because I've found that I really like paper piecing! If you haven't tried it before, get thee to a class and learn. Who knows? You might like it, too!
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