New site...

It's not like I have enough to do!  I started 2 new blogs.  One is cooking, the other is books.  I spend a lot of time doing both, if I'm not quilting!

As the Spine Breaks... is my book blog.  It is mainly a way for me to keep up with the books I read and favorite authors.  I tried keeping a notebook, but my children took it.  They have a strange love affair with notebooks.  Seriously.  My first book is by Clare O'Donohue.  She writes a cozy mystery series with quilt block names.  The books are really good.  If you haven't read one, check it out.

As the Fat Fries... is my cooking blog.  This was my Sweetie Pie's idea.  I think he figures if I am blogging I will be too busy to buy fabric!  Poor guy.  Don't you love the title.  I don't fry a lot, but I am Southern!  It's food related and fun.

I tried to keep my titles linked to my quilt blog ;)

Don't forget I have a giveaway coming in October!  It will be so much fun.  I hope to have another in November, I have to get Sweetie Pie's help on that one.

Happy Quilting
Caren

Fish Finished

I have had a rough weekend.  I have shingles.  No I am not old enough to have shingles, but I do!  And it is really painful. 

During a lull this morning I finished my Fish Quilt.  The Lure was my grandfather's and I still need to tack it down.  This quilt will go straight on my sewing wall.  I know it is very wavy.  It adds to the feeling of the ocean!

Happy Quilting
Caren

Fishy Foto

I worked on my wild fish tonight!  This is a memorial for my grandfather who died last year.  He was an avid fisherman.  He also had a work shed full of old rusted bits and bobs, that;s what I used for the fabric! A week, or so ago, I posted a picture of the start of the fish.  Tonight I finished the fussy cutting and fusing.  I fused the whole fish to a piece of fabric I dyed this summer.  The borders were "rusted" this summer also.  That was really hard to sew through!  Parts of the fabric have a thicker coating that others. 

The color combination is unusual, but I think it works.  Hopefully I will start quilting it tomorrow.

9/25- Note to self:  When free motion quilting use a "jeans" needle it helps with the crazy tension that is the bain of my existence!

Happy Quilting
Caren

I have a Button!!!

I have a button!!!  Thank you Sue for the site you mentioned, but it took my wonderful techno wizard to figure it out.

The button is on the side, go ahead and grab it, you know you want one!   The code is on the side.

 

I have a secret.

I will be having my first giveaway in a few weeks.  Don't tell anyone...it's just between us .

 

I also started two new blogs, one on cooking and the other on books.  I want to keep my quilting blog about quilting so I decided I needed new outlets.  I'm am still building them, I'll let you know when they are up and ready.

 

Happy Quilting

Caren

Redesign

I have been busy this morning redesigning my blog look....again!
It has been interesting.  Sweetie Pie didn't like my banner, he said it was too big.  I hope this on looks more "professional"?!  I don't know if that's what I want.  Less clutter and neater than my house would be nice.

I want a button!

That's right.  I want a button for my blog, of my blog.  Does anyone know how you do that.  I have spent the morning looking at blogs I enjoy reading.  And I have button envy.  Can anyone help?

A Finish
I did finish little britches dress.  It had less pieces and looked easier than Daughter #1's dress.  She loves it.

Of course she won't be wearing it with her PJ's!  I have to find a long sleeve shirt.

Gotta Go, it's off to work I go

Caren

Quilting Survey

Hello bloggers

Last week at the quilt guild there was a woman conducting an online survey about the Internet and quilting. (I don't know if she is a quilter.)  I took the survey, it is quick and easy.  There is also a chance to win fabric!!!!

If you are interested, you can take the survey without leaving any personal information, here is the website.

Happy Quilting

Caren

I actually sewed today!!!!

The temps. have gone down.  I actually went into the dungeon and used my sewing machine.  It felt so nice!

Today I worked on a Christmas present ( unfortunately it was for someone else!)  My mom has Macular degeneration and can not see well enough to sew.  She wanted little britches to have a zebra print pillowcase, she loooves zebra print.  So mama bought the fabric and I whipped it up this morning, in like 20 minutes!

Her name will be monogrammed on it also.  This is the easiest pillowcase pattern.  Here is the link.  The only thing that takes so long is the pinning.  Once you have the shop cut the fabric there is no cutting.  You just lay it out, pin it, and sew.  The inside is french seams, so there are NO raw edges anywhere.  Super simple!

I also manages to cut out the first of the dress patterns.  Today when they get home I have to pin it on her to make sure it will fit.  Keep your fingers crossed.

Happy Quilting!
Caren

Stanley Cup Quilt-Off

Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims are at it again!  They are playing in the Stanley Cup Quilt Off! If you haven''t heard of this yet...it is cool.  12 amazing, dare I say famous, quilters have teamed up with AAQI (Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative) to raise money for research.  They are divided into 2 teams.

The Feed Dogs: Alex Anderson, Hollis Chatelain, Becky Goldsmith, John Flynn, Renae Hadadin, and Sue Nickels

The Rotary Blades: Caryl Byer Fallert, Pat Holly, Libby Lehman, Judy Mathieson, Mary Sorensen, and Ricky Tims

Each have made an amazing quilt (Fallert's would look great in my bedroom).  These gems will be auctioned off November 1 - 10.  Just think you could have your very own quilt made by Anderson or Tims! 

There is another way to help raise money.  If, like me, you can only dream of owning one of these beauties you can still help your favorite quilter or team win bragging rights for raising the most money for AAQI.  All you have to do is vote (root) for your favorite.  Each root is a dollar, $5 min.

I know which ones I'm voting for!  I also know which one is going on my Christmas list!  Go to AAQI, check out the beautiful quilts and root for your favorite, or buy one of the Priority quilts for yourself or as a gift.


Happy Quilting!
Caren

Last days of summer

Yesterday Sweetie Pie surprised us with a trip to the beach, well sort of...Dauphin Island, it's closer than Gulf Shores! 

This large fellow hung around all afternoon.  We even saw him catch a fish and eat it!

Theses were everywhere!  Dauphin Island isn't know for it's shells, but it had a ton of driftwood and jellies.  Daughter #2 had fun poking them, until one of them poked back!  Ouch!

                                                                  Beautiful View

                                           The Pier without water!

                 I found shells!  (Sorry about the shadow!)  These move....hermit crabs galore.   

                                               This fellow caught his supper!  I wonder if he will share?

                                                                       Ahhhh....

                                                 Time to go home.
Happy Quilting
Caren

Cool weather

After Tropical Storm Lee left we have had the most wonderful weather.  For the past 2mornings I have woken up  to temps in the late 50s.  It is wonderful.  I am almost ready to start sewing again!  I did a little sewing this morning.  Girl scout season is starting up and Daughter #2 is now a Brownie.  I had to sew on her insignia, although all of it didn't get sewn on, I have no dark brown thread.  (How is that possible!)

Over at Quilting Arts the new challenge of the month is using altered fabric.  Yippee...I have lots of that.

This fabric I dyed this summer and the center was rusted.  Now my idea is a little odd.  One of the blues will be the background with a collaged fish.  The rusted fabric will be the border.  The idea was to make a remembrance quilt of my grandfather who died last summer.  All of the rusted stuff came from his shed and he loved to fish.  I have one of his OLD fishing lures that will be dangling in front of the fish.
 This is what I have so far:

He's not sewn down yet.  Just sort of loosely stuck in place!  I'm not sure if I like the colors.  I like the red fin and the green spotted fabric, but not so sure about the black.  It seems too dark.  What do you think?

I also have another sewing project in the wings.  Daughter #1 is having a Middle Ages Feast for Thanksgiving!?  I know sounds odd, but fun!!!  So of course she needs an outfit to wear.

Of course she likes the green dress with the pointy hat!  For some reason US pattern makers don't make many, or any, pattern for Halloween for little girls above a size 8.  So mommy has the additional joy of altering the pattern.  Her fabric is a glittery purple satin.  The trim is shinny gold rickrack.  She wanted a fancy gold braid, $4 a yard!  I told her it was too expensive for a costume she would only wear 2 or 3 times!  I did tell her I would add a few beads and sequins to the collar.

Daughter #2 was upset she wasn't getting a dress, so of course now I have to make 2!  She's getting the red dress.  She even wants it to be red satin!  Now, she is only 7.  She saw the pattern and got excited over the veil.  She said it looks like a wedding dress!  I am in so much trouble!


There are rumors of other sewing projects, but we will have to see!

Happy Quilting
Caren