The Quilting Ninja

Through quilting I've met some wonderful people.  One of which you will often hear me refer to master, she calls me grass hopper.  If your my age or a lil older you know what that reference means.  Do you remember?  If you do please post the answer in my comments.

I also call her the quilt ninja.  Linda can cut fabric and sew them together faster than anyone I've ever know in my life.  While I sewing along on one block Linda cut out and sewed together step one of Bonnie Hunters "Grand Illusion" mystery quilt.

Here is a picture of her "Broken Dishes" 200 of them to be exact.  Plus the extra 80 half square triangles.  

A month or so ago Donna (another quilt buddy) posted a photo of a scrappy star quilt block that I fell in love with and just had to try.  I got it in my head that I wanted this particular block to become the starting block for a "Round Robin" I will be participating in.  There was one problem I had no idea how to make it the size I needed it to be.  This is where the Master comes in and taught me how to graph and create this desired size I needed.  I just can't believe how easy it was to do this and wow does it ever open up some doors for me.  I so need to make a trip to the office max and get me a table of large graph paper.  Below is a photo of our graph.

Who would have thought it could be that simple and fun even if math can make my head hurt.  LOL!

WOW what a mess I can make!!!  

And here is the results of that mess...  I'm not sure who originally created this block but thank you for the inspiration you gave me.  This block combines two of my favorite quilt style one its scrappy and the other its a star.  I've got a lot to learn and I'm so very fortunate to have a super awsome ninja master to teach me.  Thank you Linda you so rock my friend!

And although I'm no ninja I felt very good with that fact that I not only got my star block done but I also sewed together 280 half square triangles need for step one.  I do need to square them up and cut off the lil dog ears.  I wish I could stay up and sew the blocks together to create my broken dishes blocks but I have to work tomorrow so I best get to bed. 

Oh by the way if your interested in Bonnies mystery quilt go here

Happy Crafting!

tina

Christmas eve tradition

I guess you can tell by now I post thing a Lil late but hey at least I'm getting more constant on blogging. So I'll work on that too.  Most days there is just not enough hours in a day. I'm sure you feel the same way.... most days!

My dad and mom started this year's ago and those if us who are lucky enough to be off work on Christmas Eve try and continue  the family tradition. We start Christmas Eve out at Cracker Barrel for breakfeast.  This year it was Alexandria, Caleb, myself, and Kevin was able to get off work to meet with us.  Some years there is more of us and some just a few but we always try. 

Caleb and Lexy playing a game while I shopped a bit

Me and my mini me... Alexandria!  Isn't she a cutie pie!

My nephew Caleb joined us even though his momma (my sissy) had to work he still went with us!

I bet you know why I'm smiling and where I was heading...

Yep picking up a starbucks before I head home to get our Christmas dinner ready.

will post more about my christmas another day!

Have a crafty evening!

tina

Some defragging going on

I decided today that I get way too many emails and Facebook posts from people, groups, businesses and so on that I decided to Defrag a bit.  Off and on today I've un-subscribed to a ton of emails I get a day that I don't even open half the time I just delete till I get to the good stuff that's interest me.  Also I had a ton of groups and people I don't know and some how friend ed at some point and time but decide to un friend them today.  A lot of times I've had people ask me if I'd seen their post and I've found that I've missed a lot of good stuff from close friends and family because such an such group had someone pissed off and they posted a million times about it.  I get tired of missing out on the events of those close to me because I get so many thing on my page that I don't have the time to scroll though it all.  So I've really cleaned house so to speaking keeping family and close friends and even a few groups of things that really interests me.

OK enough about all that.  I can not be leave that Christmas is here already.  I've truly enjoyed all the party's and good times I've had this year with friends and family and my quilt groups.  

We'll I most likely won't post again until after Christmas and wanted to wish you all a very merry Christmas

Tee

19 years ago "Somewhere"

19 years ago today my bestest buddy asked me to become his wife. I would without a doubt say "yes" again! We went to the Christmas Walk at Metamora and he tried all evening to find the perfect place to ask me. The evening was almost over and it was time for us to meet the kids in our youth group back at the bus. When he asked me to walk down one of the little roads that lead to a little "Old Chapel Church." There was a bench outside with a little Christmas lights around it, a very beautiful Christmas Scene. He got down on his knee and asked me right there to marry him. I started to cry but said yes over and over. Like any couple we had a hard time adjusting to life together, a good relationship is work but its so worth it when you meet and love a person who loves you back and you never doubt that love.

 Our song was a Barbra Streisand song "Somewhere."

 

Life was so busy for us between work and Church and raising "our" daughters (I say "ours" because he loved them just as much as any natural dad loves their children even though they were from my previous marriage) that at times it was hard for us to find time for just us. So we always said that "Somewhere" there would be time for us. After almost 19 years I feel like we've have recently found that time. We've learned to "make" that time, to take off for long rides either by car or on our bikes, long walks on the trail or curled up on the couch watching t.v, work on the house together or the yard or hanging out with our family or friends.  We have recently really begin to enjoy life more then ever with each other.  Life is too short to sit back and wait for your "Somewhere" or sometime to happen.  I really love where our "Somewhere" has gone lately, we spend more time then ever together and I am loving every minute of our life together.

Kevin,  I LOVE YOU MORE!  

Grand Illusion Update

I finally got all of step 1 of Bonnie Hunters quilt cut out.  I've also got a few of the broken dishes blocks done.  Gonna have to play around and adjust my seam allowance a bit they are a lil off.  But will now set that aside and start on step two.  Bonnie suggests for us slower working quilters to do a few of each step at least to keep up with the group so that's what I've had to do.  Just not enough hours in a day.  With work and life going on.  But I do what I can when I can.  If your interested in doing Bonnie's free mystery quilt you can follow here...Grand Illusion Mystery Quilt

Here is my first lil block it's called Broken Dishes.  Can't wait to see what we are going to be doing with all 100 of these, 4 down and 96 to go on this one.

I will store each step on a cookie sheet till I can get back to it.  

I love doing this even if I am slow and not so perfect of a quilter.  But I'm learning and enjoy every step.   Last night I started cutting out step 2 and got 200 2.5 by 4.5 rectangles cut and 110 pink squares this morning.  I've decided since I am out of ink anyway to do step 3 of the 3 she choices she gave us to do.  Plus I love the idea of having the extra half square triangles to play with later.

Happy Quilting!

tina

YEP some more Christmas Decor!

Are you getting tired of my Christmas Decor posts yet?  Hope not cause they gonna keep on coming.  Above is my lil Green tinsel tree with Purple ornaments on it.  Its just a lil 4 foot one I put in the family room so we can have a lil Christmas in that room too.  

Last year me and my sis made these lil glass light boxes.  They are very easy super fun to make.  I may have to make a few more this year if i get time.

 As I drove up last night and saw our tree from the window it warmed my heart and felt to homey and cheery to me.  I love to pull in and see this after working all day!

I'm not sure if you remember but Kevin's work had a pumpkin contest at Halloween and a friend of his had this one made for fun.  I asked Kevin if he thought it was time to get rid of it and he said no and put this santa hat on it. LOL!  Merry Christmas!

Sunday Night we were invited to a ugly sweater party.  We had a blast.   Below is me and Kevin in our snowman get up.  Not sure this past for ugly but it was fun and Kevin was a trooper and put up with me doing this to him.

Our Friend Andy!

And the D.J. for the night Bruce and he made it really fun with his "Name that Tune" game.  

Memories:

I was at work the other day and saw we had some really cute puzzles and it reminded me of my dad and mom sitting up the card table every winter to work on puzzles.  We all took turns finding and placing the peices.  I thought it would be fun for me and Kevin to do one this year.  In memory of them.  So I picked up this one.  It may be after Christmas before we get to it but I'm looking forward to making the time to do this with my sweet hubby!

More On Antiquing

I wanted to share some more about my trip to the Antique mall!  You will be shocked to hear this but I have a love for quilts there its out there.  LOL!  I know you that read this know I love quilts I was just being a silly.  Guess its later then I thought!!!

Ok back to the quilts and antiquing.  I sure saw some really pretty one some in very poor condition but still beautiful to me.


This first one I hope to try to make some day.  Yep it's on my quilt bucket list.  The three below were my favorite ones that I saw.

I saw a lot of neat antiques and hope to go back again soon.  Of course while I was there i saw some of my new love "Flow Blue China"  I also saw some Blue Willow dishes that I hope to add to my set to complete it someday.  

 So I bet by now you are wondering if I bought anything?  OH YEAH Baby some flow blue found it's way home with me.  Three did in fact one of which is hard to come by and that was the ladle.  LOVE THEM!

Well I need to get busy and get some sewing done!  What's on your craft table right now?

Happy Crafting!

tina

Relaxing to go to the Antique Mall

Last Thursday I was off work and spent a good part of it with my friend Bruce at the Centerville Antique Mall.  It was like a mini vacation that I was able to travel though time and see all kinds of interesting items from all sorts of times.  Of course my interest was mostly for the china and quits and sewing items I found.  But I also saw many other items to admire and some I wished I had the room for.  Some beautiful cabinets.  One of which I horrified Bruce when I teased him that it would be perfect to house Kevins C.d collection.  That was so funny!  I really would love to have it to display china in.  But my house don't have the room.

Some of my favorite things I saw and dreamed of owning were some vintage sewing machines.  Did not find the exact one I hope to find someday and purchase but enjoyed these there was two I wouldn't mind owning to play around with and see if I could get them back in order to actually sew on.  

Here is a treadle that looked like it just needed a belt.  It looked like it would run good hand cranked it and it was really smooth running.  I couldn't get a good shot of it for it was displayed backwards.  Speaking of displaying I would love to go in there and play with displaying the booths for people that would be so fun!  Either one of these would be fun to play with.  

I also saw a early electric singer 99K.  I loved the look of it but from what I've read this one was a bit over priced.  They normally will sale around 40.00 to 75.00 ish.  This machine was first made in the 1920 though the 50.00.  It was first designed as a hand crank in the 1911's.  Although I like this machine it is heavy, and I would much rather find a vintage singer featherweight 221.

Now this sweet looking machine is not the featherweight I hope to find some day but it is one I would like to have to play with.... First it is green after all  :)  How could I not love it for just that reason alone.  It my understanding that the price the vendor had on this one was a great one and that it is a great machine to sew on.  The Elna and look it's GREEN!  LOL!

Next up was a Treadle Singer Leather machine.  I never knew there was such a thing.  How cool it this but I have to admit it didn't look very comfortable to sit at or maybe you stand.

Well that is all I'll post for now.  The next blog I will post a few pictures of some quilts i saw and then I'll share with you what I got.  

I still keep thinking about that green machine.  If I had the room for it and it was still there after Christmas I would get it to play with.  

Alright I need to head to bed soon.  Hope you all have quilty dreams

tina

More Christmas decor...

Thought you all might enjoy seeing some more of my Christmas decor and especially the ones that hold memories.

I finally got a full shot of my tree to share with you!  It did look a little better until ms. lucy thought she needed to attack the feathers I have it in!

This tin is very dear to my heart.  Kevin gave me this the Christmas before we dated.  He had a couple of cassettes (Yes cassettes, LOL I've had it a few years) and I've set it out every year since.  If I'm doing the math right I've now had this for 21 years.

But one of my most precious decorations is the one my mom got me her last Christmas with us.  What was so cool was that she ordered it and wrapped it herself.  Daddy had done all the wrapping for years.  But this year she did it herself I loved that!  

This lil snowman is another favorite.  One of my preschool students about 15 years ago gave this to me as a gift for Chistmas.   I love the look of it.. that primitive decor look.

I have a few more I'll write about in another blog but had a lil bit of time before bed and thought I'd share a few.

HOpe you all have a crafty weekend! 

tina

Traditions

I love holiday traditions, some are old ones and I like to create new ones.  One I have kept for many years is decorating our home the weekend after Thanksgiving.  This year was no different so after work on Saturday Kevin and I picked up Alexandria and went shopping for our tree.  Last year we decided to get a real tree after Lucy killed our old artificial one the year before.  I have to say I LOVE having a real one in our house.  It looks and smells wonderful.  I just can't imagine not having a real one ever again, well at least until I get too old to do it.  Wait... who gets too old for Christmas?  Not me!

Ok back to Saturday!  We picked out our tree and brought it home and then took Alexandria with us to have some dinner and to go shopping for a few new Christmas decorations.

Below is a picture of our tree before we decorated it.  The tree is beautiful though not perfect and I love it that way.  The tree trunk is so crooked I thought for sure it was going to fall over.

We left the tree alone over night so the branches can rest a bit before we decorate and fall into place from being wrapped up.

Sunday morning we got up and got busy.  Opps I just noticed in the picture above that Madison's gift is showing.  LOL  Good thing she is only 1 1/2 and won't see this.

This tree ended up being a little bigger then last years and I almost didn't have enough decorations to go around it.  We ended up using about 900 lights on it.  I added my lights on a little differently this year.  I weaved them in and out and not round and round putting them deeper into the tree.  There is a diagram online that I found.  I will try and see if I can find it again and post it on here if the person  don't mind my doing so.

I also got made a couple of arrangements for top of my kitchen cabinets.  They turned out really pretty.  I made two in two different shaped tin containers.  

Below is a wreath I bought for my kitchen this year.  I saw it come into the store I work at and watched and waited till the price was right.

And what happens when you put feathers in your tree you come home to this.  Miss Lucy thought she'd help with the decorating by killing a few of the birds in my tree.  STINKER!

I have a few more things I want to add yet in my kitchen area and the bathroom so as soon as I do I'll blog a update.  Until then happy crafting!

tina

A lil catching up

Last week was CRAZY busy!  As it was for all of you as well.  It was a very busy week for us at work as we geared up for the Black Friday!  Its a lot of hard work but I am weird I actually like black friday.  I love seeing all our customers coming in and getting good deals and hearing about the projects they want to make before Christmas for gifts.  I however was not thinking about the gifts I plan on making I was picking out last minute fabrics for Bonnie's Hunters 2015 Mystery Quilt.  She release the first step on Black Friday!

When I wasn't at work preparing for Black Friday I was busy preparing for Thanksgiving.  I did as much prep during the week as I could.  I really enjoyed creating our centerpiece and setting the table.

I used my mom and dad's old dishes this year.  They are Blue Willow pattern and I just recently learned the story the plate tells us.  Thanks Bruce I hope one day to have you write it down for me so I can post it for you all the hear it.  Loved the story.  I don't have the complete set of dishes but hope to find and add to it to make enough table settings for my family.

I took a old vase and painted a band of chalkboard paint on it and write on and filled it with crushed walnut shells and the fall flowers you see.  I also added a few sticks from my back yard.  I love to decorate and cook.  I'm not very good at it but really enjoy it.

My turkey turned out great this year.  I tried a recipe from a magazine I'd had for a few years.  It was a herb roasted turkey.  You put sage leaves and thyme under the skin and when it cooks you can see it though the skin making it look very pretty.

I was thankful for many things this year.  It would take me all night to write them all down.  But one of the things I am most thankful for is the time I spend with my family and friends.

At first Tabitha and her husband and my grandson Zachery were not going to make it this year.  But they ended up getting to after all and I so enjoyed it.  Zachery and I are having fun with the camera.  He is so silly!

After filling out belly's we got busy playing some a card game Bruce and Andy taught us.  It's my new favorite game now.  Its called "Hand and Foot."

I've started working on my first step of Bonnie Hunters qult that was released on Friday.  I've got all of my hst cut out and I am now in the process of sewing together 280 sets of them.

Well best head to bed I have to work in the morning

Happy Crafting
tina

Terrible with dates

Today I posted a blog earlier about how my dad had past away 8 years ago but I'd gotten mixed up it wasn't today it was the 16th.  I feel bad that I'd forgotten the exact day.  My hearts hurts the same and misses him the same everyday.

I MISS HIM!

A few days ago it hit me that this day was drawing close.  Then I got busy and went on with life.  This morning I woke up with a heavy feeling in my heart and I knew It was because the day was drawing close.  Then it dawned on me that it was today!  Today, 8 years ago in the very room I am typing this in I had to say good bye to my daddy.

I miss him so much!  There is not a day that goes by that I'm not thankful for what he gave me while he was here.  His life was cut short due to cancer and the complications that the cancer and treatments was causing him.  When I think back to different times I remember that he was always and I do mean always there for me, for us.  He was a very hard worker and though he wasn't a man who told you he loved you or a huggy man you knew he loved you, in the way he took care of you the best he knew how.  We didn't always see eye to eye, times I didn't always agree with the way he handled somethings, by hey what child does?  My dad taught us to work hard, don't lie, or steal, rules I try to live by.  Dad also taught me that people were people, not a color, or a size, or anything but people some where richer, smarter then other but still just people.  I wish he was here to say and I quote "If I were you" or "I'm not trying to tell you what to do but if I were you."  I remember when I had surgery he came over almost every day and brought me lunch and took my dog out for me while Kevin was at work.  YEP MY DADDY LOVED ME!!  Even when there for a few years I shut him and my family out with many regrets of that now I knew, I always knew I was loved.

The one thing I never question was that I could always count on him no matter what.  He always made sure we had clean cloths, food on the table and was warm and healthy.  I can remember him having jeans and tshirts with holes in them and driving a beat up old truck so he could take care of us.  I remember him walking across Richmond one year he was layed off shoveling snow to buy us Christmas.  That year I got my guitar.


OH wow check out my sisters boots I'd love to
have them boots now!

I miss him so much.  I hated what I had to watch him go though that last year of his life.  But I'm thankful I was able to be with him and try to take care of him.  Never as well as he did us but I wanted to and I like to think he knew that.

LOVE YOU DADDY BEAR!!

tina