A little too excited....?

One more brag about the progress of my yard.  I wish I could remember the name of this bush – it has long spindly branches with bright green leaves and yellow pom-pom blooms.  Dora (my fiber artist bud) was thinning out this bush and gave me a few clumps of it.  There’s always the fear it won’t be happy in my yard, but it's blooming really nice for a new transplant.   

Now for the quilt dish.  A few weeks ago my quilt bud Sue and I attended our Guild’s weekend workshop.  I was excited to attend, I felt “one” with this workshop – this is right up my alley.  Finally a Scrappy workshop!  We were told how many colors to choose and given cutting directions prior to class.  

Once there, the instructor would walk us through putting the first block together.  Quickly I deflate because I’m not loving the colors I’ve picked out.  Mine aren’t going together super cool like everyone else’s.  All the other blocks (including Sue’s) have a pop of color.  Ahh, mine aint poppin’.  At the time I pulled my colors, I had no idea how the blocks would go together.  What’s happening?  Am I rusty at scrappy?  Have I lost my mo-jo?  This isn’t what I had in mind at all……

Block 2

 Block 1

What made me think that orange could sit 

right up next to that yellow?

Err, all the fabric is cut for 16 blocks.  Not sure if I should finish the rest of the blocks or stop where I’m at.  Decisions....decisions........ 

Not enough time in the day....

I would love to say my absence has been from having the pedal to the metal on my sewing machine – but that’s not the case.  Spring Fever has hit me hard.  When I purchased my home last summer, the yard was free of any type of landscaping.  I couldn’t wait for this spring to arrive so I could start planting some gorgeous perennials.  There’s been more weeding and digging up old tree roots than planting – but it’s starting to come together.  My first show-n-tell is my first ever Rhododendron bush.  She’s a beauty and not sure why I haven’t been excited about them before.  All credit goes to my friend Dora, she turned me on to the Rhodo’s.

I planted this stunner directly under my picture window in the front of the house.

My 2nd brag......I knew I had a Lilac, but just didn’t know what color.  Nice to see bloomage! It was looking a little rough when I moved in.  Pruned it up, pulled some weeds away and it’s lookin' mighty fine.

National Quilting Day

Is your machine cleaned and oiled?  Have a UFO which needs some special attention?  Stack of scraps calling your name?  Get ready, set…..tomorrow is National Quilting Day.   Marge (my mom) still has me ball-n-chained to her kitchen, but I’m seeing the light at the end of this renovation tunnel.  So, I may join Kathy over at ASentimental Quilter tomorrow eve for a sew-a-long.  Kathy will post a small project to commemorate the day.  Who can resist?  It’s only fitting to do some kind of sewing on National Quilt Day!   

If your looking for a bigger project, The National quilting Association has a free pattern to celebrate the day.

2015 National Quilting Day Pattern & Directions

The 2015 Quilt – Crooked Path, will make my “to-do” list very soon.  Danniele Bohannon, design winner of this year’s National Quilting Day quilt is about 40 minutes from where I live, but on the Missouri side.  Quilter (Kelly Cline) and quilt photographer (Richard O’Kell) live a stone’s throw away from me.  Feeling proud to have so much talent right here in the mid-west.  

Luck O' The Irish

Wishing you a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day!

Is the smell of corned beef and cabbage wafting from your kitchen?  Since I’m the Queen of spread-yourself-too-thin, I don’t have any aromatic signs of St. Patrick’s Day at my house. I’ve spent my weekend and last evening at my mother’s house renovating her kitchen.   With a coordinating wall to paint, grouting to be done and the cabinetry to replace, I suspect I’ll be there the rest of the week finishing up.  Thankfully, my son is assisting with the plumbing and demolition.  Instead of calling my blog the Quilt Dish, it should be the Reno Dish as I have forgotten what my sewing machine looks like….

Before the cabinetry was ripped from my mother’s kitchen and my life as a tradesman began, I was able to finish up two more Fussy 6 pointers.  I love the fabric pattern of both of these.

March First Friday

It’s time to Dish about one of my favorite Cyber spots.  Ok, so technically, it’s not the First Friday in March.  But I was dog sick last Friday and I’m just itching to share this Blog with everyone. 

Quiltville’sQuips and Snips is another of my favorite Blogs.  Before her blog, you could find Bonnie K Hunter at Quiltville.com.  Bonnie creates her own quilt designs, teaches, and lectures.  If you’re into the scrappy quilts (and this chick is!), it doesn’t get any better than her blog.  She has tips, tutorials, and several freebie patterns.  Each fall she hosts a free mystery quilt-a-long, the pattern will post to the blog for a few months or so.  Having several quilt books in print now, the mystery pattern will then leave the blog for publication.  How sweet is that?  You get to try a pattern first hand before it's offered to the public.

Strip Twist is one of Bonnie’s freebies on her blog.  It whips together really quick and super easy.  I know this because 3 out of my 4 grands have their own version of the Strip Twist. 

Wyatt’s throw – in between a baby and twin size.

Amber’s quilt, twin size

Beezer’s (Willow) crib size quilt

*but don't call her Willow, or she gets mad!

Disclaimer:  Any views or opinions presented in this Blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Quiltville.  This Midwest chick is in no way involved with the Quiltville’s Quips & Snips Blog.  I’m not on their payroll, In fact I’m sure they don’t even know I exist.  I’m sharing because I appreciate complimentary directions, patterns and quilt a-longs like any other budgeted quilter does.  

Spring Forward

I don’t want to jinx it, but I think it’s happening.  Spring appears to be right around the corner! These warmer temps could not have come at a better time for me.  For the last 2 weeks I’ve had two different illnesses.  Apparently one type of flu wasn’t enough, but 4 days later the nastiest of nastys got me.  That’s right kids, the dreaded Norovirus.  Without going into too much detail, my youngest son (who’s 25 yrs old) knocked on the bathroom door and suggested he take me to the hospital – and for MY comfort we could go in MY car.  First of all – smart kid, but secondly – how bad did I sound?  I felt like I was dying, but did I sound like it too?  No thanks, at the moment I’m finding comfort in the coolness of the ceramic floor tile……

Once I tamed my bedhead and emerged from the house, look what was there to greet me…..!

Are these Hyacinths?  There are several bunches all around the house.  I know the little red tips starting to appear are a Peony, but since I’ve never planted Hyacinths I can’t really be sure.  Non-the-less, it’s a wonderful surprise.

I know I said I was going to step away from the 6pt Stars, but due to an electrical issue in the family/sewing room, which then extends to the garage, I’m not able to power up Sven.  So, I’m still doing a little hand sewing.  That is, in between illnesses.  

It was yummy while it lasted....

My gorgeous box of Valentine chocolate didn’t last as long as I thought it would….or should have.   I would tell myself to only take one piece, but end up gobbling down 2 or 3.    I have no will power when it comes to chocolate, sour candies, mac & cheese, pecan pie or a zillion other things.  So not sure why I’d be surprised the chocolates lasted less than a week.  When not pilfering through the kitchen, I whipped together a few more Fussy Stars.  

Another inch or so of snow – nothing like the East coast, just enough to bugger up the roads.

I am ready to get this show on the road.  I already know the Fussy 6pt Hexies will be my new favorite quilt when complete, but this is taking a long time.  I think I’ll take a short break and work on another one of my unfinished projects.  It’s not like I don’t have enough projects to pick from!  I’ll keep you posted.