Friday, January 29, 2010

Ironing Board Cover

It was March of last year when I got the bright idea to cover my ironing board with dark brown fabric. I thought it would be better than a light color as it would not show the burn marks. So here is what it looks like today.
With the exception of some fusible web slopped on the edge, I think dark brown was a good choice.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Sunbonnet Sue

I was never very fond of Sunbonnet Sue quilts, but she is cute on a postcard.



Saturday, January 23, 2010

Be Attitudes Block 8


Are you tired of these yet? Hang in there, there is only 4 more to go.

Thursday, January 21, 2010

This is getting crazy

I listed 4 new cards in my etsy shop about and hour and a half ago.


Basket  Block


Log Cabin

Enjoy


Fun
The basket block and enjoy postcard has already sold. I can't seem to make them fast enough.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Score!

It was several month ago (I don't even remember when) that I won a blog giveaway. Well, it was so long ago, I don't really remember if it was a giveaway or what, but anyway, I was promised a prize. It wasn't the first time I had won and never heard from the blogger again, so I wasn't too disappointed when my prize never arrived. The blogger emailed me about this and that and why she hadn't sent the prize, I just shrugged it off.


SURPRISE, the mailman just dropped off my prize and what a score indeed. Do you see all those handmade greeting cards? Fab - u - lous and do I have a list of people in need of cheering up to send them to. There is also a bunch of scrapebooking supplies. One of the packages has assorted decorative papers. I now have all the materials for making the pop-up cards I have been thinking about for years. No more excused why I can't.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Be Attitudes Block 7

I am on a roll, here is block 7. This is one of the blocks that calls for a special button. It is the piece of candy in her hand and I have pinned it on just for the photo. It will get sewn on after the quilting is done.


I have had a lot of practice doing fusible, raw edge, button hole stitch applique in the last two years. It is the method I use most when making my postcards. I usually use matching thread for each individual applique piece but for this project I am using only black thread. I am using 50 wt Mettler as it seems to be just a tad heavier than most other threads. I really like using only black as outlines each piece and gives it all more definition. It sort of reminds me of the cross stitch projects I did many years ago, where you would outline everything. At each start and stop, I pull the top thread to the back and tie a double knot. It is very time consuming but I think it will help all that button hole stitch hold up over time.

Monday, January 18, 2010

More Fabric Postcards

I really wanted to work on the Be Attitudes blocks but all my new postcards have been sold and I needed to make some more.

Baby Bird


Baby Owl


Turtle


Dinosaur


Hello


Thank You

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Be Attitudes Block Buttons

I went and did it, I splurged on the custom made buttons. I have no idea what they are made of but they sure are cute. It's going to be awhile before they get sewn on the quilt but I'm glad I got them.

I'd like to thank you all for the kind comments about this quilt and my postcards. The postcards I posted yesterday were sold within 3 hours of listing them. Wow, I am overwhelmed. I am trying to make more but there is only so many hours in a day. I would also like to remind you all, that I cannot respond if you don't link your user name to an email address or blog.

Saturday, January 16, 2010

New in the Shop

I constantly get these emails from Etsy about some cool (or what they think is cool) new items in sellers shops. It really confuses me. Some of the stuff has prices that I just can't figure out. They showed a purse the other day that was $9,100. Yes, you read that right. Forget whether the purse was cute or not (I personally thought it was the goofiest thing I ever saw) who in their right mind spends that kind of money on a purse? On the other side of the coin, there was a listing for silver spoon garden markers. Cute idea, but have you ever priced a silver spoon? How can she sell these at $7 each and make any money doing it? I know what you're thinking, maybe they are not silver, maybe not, but her ad says silver, not plated.
There seems to be a rash of weird going on too. There is some stuff being promoted that just makes me kringe to look at. I would love to give you links and let you decide for yourself, but I have enough enemies in cyberspace, I don't need any more.

So with all that craziness going on over at Etsy, I will be listing my newest, unusual but not weird, most reasonably priced postcards



Quilters Flower

Baby Bird

Turtle

Dinosaur

Lady Bug

Friday, January 15, 2010

Be Attitudes Block 6

Halfway there.......................



This block seemed to have more parts, or maybe it was just more letters. Either way, it took a little longer than the rest. I'm still having trouble getting pictures of blocks to come out square. This block is square, honest it is.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Fabric Postcards

I took a break today to create some new cards for the shop.





Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Be Attitudes Block 5



This block will be even cuter when I get the special flower buttons on it.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Be Attitudes Block 4



Block 4, this is usually the point where I get bored and start on something else. But I'm still enjoying this project and have started on Block 5. There are 12 blocks altogether and I hope you like them as much as I do.
I have had a flurry of sales over in my Etsy shop and my inventory of fabrics postcards has just about been wiped out. I'm not complaining, in fact I am thrilled but I have to start making a new supply soon. Be Attitudes blocks, postcards, Be Attitudes blocks, postcards, decisions, decisions, decisions........ if only these were my biggest problems.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Be Attitudes Block 3


Block 3 in the series is not one of my favorites but it sure is the easiest. BTW, the button on the top is just pinned there for the photo, it's not the button that will go on when the project is done.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Dear Friends, I love getting comments, I really do, but I have been getting a rash of junk lately. It has been in several different foreign languages and I'm not quite sure what they say. It is most distressful. Having said that, I will be moderating the comments for a while.
Also, I would love to reply to many of your very nice comments but there is not way to contact you. Your blogger email addresses are set to no reply so I can't answer your questions of thank you for your comments.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Be Attitudes Block 1

I didn't want to sound like a cry baby so I failed to mention that I have been sick since December 28. It's that miserable head cold that's been going around. It is likely the reason for my lack of ambition. I didn't start to feel better until I got to the theater last Saturday.
I got a small burst of enthusiasm yesterday and decided to start on the Be Attitudes. I added an old collection of Thimbleberries to the Moda fat quarters and I think I've got a winning combination. The first block is called Be Warm, rather fitting considering the weather that is sweeping the country.


I am usually the first one to critize my own work, but I have to admit I really like the way this turned out. I think I'll start block 2 and not even wait for February. I like it so much, I think I'll spend the arm and a leg to purchase the specialty buttons that were created for this project. After all, the snowman has to have a nose.

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Which way do I go?

I got this stack of Moda fat quarters as a gift from my husband awhile ago, but I really didn't know what to do with it.

Last month I found this pattern that would look great using my fat quarters.

My plan was to make one block per month but it's already the 5th and I haven't even started.
I have wanted to make pop up greeting cards for years and years. I have purchased two books over the years but my cards have always ended up in the trash.  (It might be the reason I make fabric postcards, because my paper cards are so bad). I did some reading and discovered I needed something to score the paper. It wasn't easy finding this inexpensive embossing tools but here it is along with my attempt at a card.


The supply of postcards in my shop has dwindled and I am in need of making more of those. But, I am way behind in making preemie quilts for charity. I have made 48 string blocks that need to be sent to the Heartsting Project. I have a small supply of donation fabrics left, but I need to take a trip to the fabric stores in search of discounted fabrics.
If all that isn't enough, I still have a house full of Christmas decorations that need to be boxed up and taken back to storage. I am really feeling overwhelmed and don't know where to start or what I want to do next.
How in the world did I do this when I had a full time job?

Sunday, January 3, 2010

New in the Shop

I have been struggling with photos of my work for a long time. It is especially true with my postcards. No matter what I do, they always look cockeyed.
Last September, we bought a new color printer, scanner, copier, fax machine. It didn't occur to me until just this morning to scan the cards instead of trying to photograph them. Can we all say DUH in unison?





Now that's a whole lot better isn't it?

Saturday, January 2, 2010

It ain't no Wednesday Matinee




A few months back I went to a wednesday matinee of Fiddler on the Roof. If you remember, I was pretty disappointed at the theater patrons and their lack of respect. Well I'm here to tell you it's a whole different crowd on a saturday. For a Christmas present, my husband got me a ticket to see The Phantom of the Opera. It is my all time,  most favorite musical. I have seen it before, I have seen the movie and have the complete cast recording (which I know by heart). This performance did not disappoint me as the chandelier, proscenium, pyrotechnics, music, singing, staging, lighting, well just about everything was terrific. But the audience new how to conduct themselves. Although there were a few late seaters, mostly everyone knew what proper attire was. I only saw one guy (probably a tourist) in shorts and there wasn't any candy wrapper rustling going on.
The best, however was at the end. The performers came out to take their bows and the crowd remained seated and applauding. When they got down to Raul, the crowd got louder, Christine, even louder and when the Phantom took his bows the crowd went crazy. Standing ovations all around and not one single person walked out early.
If all that wasn't enough, the performers were collecting money for charity and were in the lobby, in costume. How spectacular to see those costumes up close and personal.
If the tickets weren't so expensive, I would go see it again, and again and again.

Friday, January 1, 2010

I'm setting my scheduler to 12:01 so I can be the first to wish you