Outer Space Quilt in progress

I am working on making 2 quilts with an Outer Space theme.  I finally have made some progress.  Here is a photo of what I have so far......still needs a border and quilting.  I have most of the second one ready to put together.  "Making" fabric is time consuming but I really like how it looks. The lighting does not allow the true colors to show up but you still get an idea of what it will look like.

Here is a close up of the center of the quilt.   I still need to add some details to the space shuttle.  

Our Red Hat group visits local TV Station WDSU

Today was so much fun.  I am a member of the Jazzy Red Hat group in our little community.
We take turns planning outings for our group.  This month I was in charge of planning our trip.  My DH and I have our coffee every morning while watching the morning show on Channel 6, WDSU.  I feel as though they are all part of our family. We have enjoyed their company for many years. I always thought it would be nice to meet some of the broadcasters in person. SO....... Today a group of us drove into New Orleans for one of our monthly trips.  We had a great time touring Channel 6, WDSU TV.

Here are a few of the photos we took.

Ann Bell (front left) gave us a tour of the studio.  I am so sad that I did not get a picture of Ms Lu Adams, the sweet lady who set up the date and time for our tour. Everyone there was so nice to us.



Jay Galle, a meteorologist,  gave us a demonstration of how they look at maps in front of a 'green' screen.

Diane gave it a try...pointing at a screen while looking at a map on a monitor is not so easy to do!

We were aloud to watch a live news update broadcast. 

We were all able to get behind the news desk with 

Jay Galle and Sula Kim (she is new to the station)  I think she will fit in perfectly with all the others on the news team.  

The news room was a busy place!

Susan and I were able to get a picture with Randi Rousseau.  She does the news in the morning.  She is the one I contacted to get the plans of this tour started.

Here is a photo of the WDSU TV studios.

Beautiful blocks from online Bee

I am participating in an online bee over on the 15 minute site http://www.15minutesplay.com/
These are the blocks I have received so far.  I think they are so pretty.  I am waiting for a couple more to arrive so I can put it together.  Not sure how I will sash them together.  Any ideas?

Another bag completed

I posted a photo of a bag I made a while back for my DIL...I made another one today for my younger DIL...
Here is a photo of the bag.

I also added a photo of the book I used.  This is the third project I made from this book and plan to tackle a couple of the others in the book...it's great!

Something Lost Can Be Found!

I have an amazing story to tell.

About 5 weeks ago I lost my gold chain with religious medals and a special crucifix on it in the parking lot of our local mall.  At least I thought that was where I lost it.

I went back to check where I had parked just 15 minutes earlier and it was nowhere to be found.

I asked St. Anthony to help me find it.  After a few weeks I figured it was really gone for good.   I figured this time St. Anthony could't help me with this one. I really wanted to find it because the medals had special meanings but I refused to be upset about it because it really is just “stuff”

Yesterday my BFF sent me a text saying she read in the want ads of the paper that someone found a chain with medals in the mall parking lot and they included a phone number.   I figured it couldn’t be mine but I called anyway.   When the girl answered the phone I described my medals and she said, “yep, that’s what I found.”  Today I drove to her house to get it.  (she lives only 12 miles from my house!)  I was so happy to get it back.  She told me that her 10 year old daughter found it and that she knew she had to find the owner.   I am still blown away that I really did get my chain and medals back.  I am so thankful the right person found it.  This girl proved that I am right in saying that there are good people in this world.  You always hear of the bad things that happen around us but I thought I would share this amazing good story with my readers.

It is so true, if you loose something you should ask St. Anthony to help you find it.  I will never doubt that again.

A new online quilting bee..

I am going to give this a try.
I want to host an online quilting bee.
If you are interested please visit The Bee Balm at http://thebeebalm.blogspot.com/ and leave a message.
I will contact everyone as soon as we have enough to get one started.
My plans are to wait until the Fall to get things started.
I have to learn a little more about adjusting the site and how to allow others to post on the site.

 I am not sure of the specifics of the bee yet but we will have some time to discuss ideas of what we want to do.

Hug from South Louisiana,
beebee

Dinner, Louisiana style

There was a little breeze so it was not too  hot to be outdoors. My DH and I were sitting on the swing we have in our back yard oak tree when it arrived. Around 7:00P.M. my BIL walked over with a tray of boiled crabs. (He lives next door to us) The crabs were so good and they were boiled perfectly.  YUM!!

I do not drink alcohol very often but you have to have beer when you eat boiled seafood.  The Coors Light was perfect with the crabs.

He also brought me a few very large boiled shrimp... I had a feast.

oh, no photo of the shrimp, I was too busy eating, but take my word for it they were delicious!

What a great way to end a very nice weekend!!!!

I hope your weekend was a good one too.

Counted Cross Stitch completed!

I started this picture in 1983...yes you read it right....1983 ...
I was going through a closet and found it a few  years ago and my sweet 93 year old friend offered to finish it for me.  I have a hard time seeing the little squares.   Once she finished it I had it framed and it hangs in my kitchen... I think it is so pretty!

It measures about 11" by 20"...just thought I would share it with ya'll!

Sweet gift

I was surprised with this sweet picture.
A quilting friend brought it to me on Monday and I wanted to share it with all of my blogging friends...

It is so cute. I have it hanging on the wall in my sewing studio!  She is so talented!

God bless America

Memorial Day is a special day that all Americans should observe.
I visited Normandy, France a few years ago.  Standing in that cemetery was a very moving experience.  In all directions for as far as you could see there were white crosses naming our American boys who gave their lives to help make our world a safe place. Each cross had the name and state of each one.  I cried as I walked through all those crosses.  I thought about all the families of most of the men buried there that never got to see their head stones.  Such a great sacrifice that everyone needs to remember!
God Bless America and those that keep it free!

I hope every American took the time to think about and pray for all the brave men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice so that we can be free!

hugs
beebee

Space theme quilt part 2

I started work on quilts for two of my grandsons a couple of weeks ago.  My DIL is going to decorate the boys room in their new house with an Outer Space theme and asked me to make quilts for the beds.
If you check an earlier post you can see where I started.
Last night I made one of the space rockets I plan to use on the quilts.
I pinned some of the stars and planets and background sky onto my planning board then I pinned the space rocket on top just to get an idea of where to go next.
Here is a photo....note:  the rocket is in pieces and will be put together when it is time to attach it to the quilt top.  I plan to put a name on each of the rockets. Perhaps the name of a past space mission or maybe the boys names...who knows...I won't know til I get to that point.
I am letting the fabric and the theme guide me.  I can't wait to see what I end up with!  LOL

cute little bag!

I have been trying out patterns.  I made this little bag last night.  It is about 10" x 5".   The hardest part for me is picking colors!
This one is for one of my DILs.  She picked the pattern and I picked the fabric.  She likes it! whew!  I am glad about that.

comments please on what you think of it! thanks

Visiting Alaska and checking out a couple of quilt shops!

My DH and I celebrated our 40th anniversary (Dec.17, 2011) by going on an Alaskan cruise last week! We had so much fun.  We managed to visit a couple of quilt shops while there!
 Here are a few photos of our trip.

We visited Skagway, Juneau and Ketchikan.  We also got to see a glacier!  It was a wonderful trip.

 Changing Tides LLC on Franklin Street in Juneau is a nice quilt shop to visit.  She has loads of Alaskan gifts and beautiful quilt patterns and fabric.

My DH was a sweetheart and let me take my time to look around.

The Silver Thimble in Salmon Landing in Ketchikan is a beautiful, quilt shop to visit.  It has so many beautiful quilts on display.  There are tons of fabrics to pick from.  If you go to Ketchikan you have to go check this place out.

Starting a space themed quilt

My DIL asked me to make quilts for the boys.  She is planning a space theme for their room so I am going to make quilts with space stuff...
I am developing a pattern that I hope she will like.  I am going to use "made" fabric for most of the quilt top.

here is the first block......... can you guess what it is?

Lots more to come later!   I will  post as I design and make more  of the blocks..

Another try at making a purse

I decided to make a purse and wallet to match.

I adjusted a pattern I had. I made it a little smaller than the pattern.  I made up the pattern for the wallet.  I like the way they turned out!

Another beautiful morning in South Louisiana

As much as I love to sit at my sewing machine, I can not resist sitting on the back screened patio to take in the beautiful mornings we have been  having here.  Enjoying a great cup of coffee and the quietness of the morning are such a wonderful way to start my day.  I wish you could hear the birds.  They are squabbling over their territory in the bird house we put up.  It is too funny to watch them chase each other.  I can hear a whisper of traffic in the background but other wise it is very very quiet.   I am including a picture of my view....wish all my blogging friends could stop in for a cup of coffee one morning!

You can see the bird house we put up above the fort on the swing set we have for the children.  Our oak tree (in the background) is the prettiest I have seen in the last few years. I sure hope a hurricane never takes it away from us. We have two swings and a glider under that tree that we enjoy in the early evenings.  Even when the temps here are in the 80s and 90s, it is cool enough under the tree to have a great visit with family and friends who stop by.

Every girls dream?

Just had to share this.....

Another new purse

this time I used the same fabric for everything, lining, pockets, purse and handle.

How do you like the black and white!  It goes with this wallet I made too.

A new purse

I made this bag a couple of days ago.  It is fun to make these. I have another one cut out and ready to be put together. They are perfect size for traveling.  I made one for my DIL a few months ago to use as a diaper bag.  I even gave my embroidery machine a try and put my monogram on  one of the pockets.

I refuse to be defeated!

I ordinarily only post about things I have made, but today I have to share something personal.
I may have mentioned that I have rheumatoid arthritis.  Two years ago this month I was diagnosed with RA.  I have to admit it was a scary thing to hear.  I did go through a mourning period but I have tried and tried to not let it stop me from doing what I love to do. (take care of my grandchildren, spend time with my family and friends, participate in church activities and sew)
It has been a challenge but I keep going.  I have tried (I think) all of the meds out there. Painful shots, infusions and lots of pills.  The med I am on now, Enbrel, is helping a lot.  Still have very swollen hands and fingers and pain here and there. I miss the life I had before. The predinsone (steroid) helped put 45 pounds on me.  I am now somewhat in control and have managed to loose 24 of them.  I have to keep going because I know that the extra weight is not good for my knees and feet.
For some reason, this morning I feel so sad and disappointed in my self for letting it get to me.
I have a wonderful family and a lot of caring friends but I feel so alone. I do not want to be a burden on anyone. I try to do everything for myself. I hate it when I get like this.
Sorry I am so pitiful today.  I have to shake this off quick!

I am working on a couple of projects in my sewing room so I guess I should go to my sewing (therapy) room and get started.

thanks for listening.......I will try not to write like this again.

Trista's quilt

I finally finished everything on this project.
Here is a photo of the quilt with the pillow shams I made.
It is for a full sized bed.

I also made a valance for her window (no photo) and I posted a photo of the little version of this quilt on an earlier date.

My new toy!

Do all of you wonderful quilters out there have this kind of iron?
 I just discovered it and bought it as a birthday present to myself.

I am looking forward to putting to use when I work on my next project!

Here is a photo:

Another quilt completed!

I finally finished this project.  A friend asked me to make a quilt for her three year old daughter.  She will be moving into a full sized bed and she needed a quilt for it.
She said she wanted a "princess" type theme.  I wanted it to be simple but special.  It took a while to come up with a design I liked.
I hope she likes it.   I am working on some pillow shams for her and I made a valance for her window.  I hope to get a photo of the room later.
For now...here it is:

Hoppy Easter!

Happy Easter everyone!  We had a beautiful day.  My children and grandchildren were here. We also celebrated my 60th birthday.
They gave  me a great new camera!
Here is a photo of my three precious grandsons.

Michelle brought this cute little chicken. So cute.
I hope you can open the video.   Be sure to turn up your volume so you can hear her song!

Pillow cover for an online exchange

For this exchange we get a different project each month.
For February we had to make a pillow cover for a 14" pillow form.
I did March's project first so I  had to get on this one right away because I have another project for April!

I decided to make a pillow with a theme well known in New Orleans.  I hope the person who gets my box of goodies will like
this pillow cover!

here is a photo of the front and back.

My first attempt at making an ipad cover

My nieces are going to be using ipads for school next term.  They each got an ipad 3.  Hailli came over two days ago and asked me if I could make a soft cover for hers.  She bought a pink (Otter) box to put it in for protection but she wants a soft cover to keep it in when she has to carry it in her back pack for school.  She picked out a couple of matching fat quarters from my stash and this is what I came up with.

I embroidered her name in the lower right corner.  Then I just let the fabric take me along for a ride.


I quilted it using 2 layers of Warm and Natural batting

I did the binding  and trimmed it to fit the ipad

this is the front...

this is the back

I added the pink velcro.

the otter box thingy she bought is the bright pink

this is the front opened!

this is the front...it is closed

it measures about 8 1/2" by 12 1/2 " when complete.  I think she is going to like it.

Pillow cases?

I wanted to try something different so I am taking part in a "Stocking Exchange"  It will run for the whole year.  Each month we have something to make.  It's fun to have a different project each month. I have learned something new with each item I make.

Check out http://wastelandwallowing.blogspot.com/ to read more about the exchange.

This month ( March ), we had to make pillow cases.  I decided I wanted to make Christmas pillow cases.  I have never made pillow cases before.   I like the way they turned out!  Let me know what you think of them....

Thrift store plaid shirts recycled

I went to the little thrift store in our town and bought a few large plaid  men's shirts for 50 cents each.
They are just big enough to make shorts for my grand sons. I was able to make a size 2-3T for them.  I cut out 4 and have already made two of them. They love to sleep in these.

Here are a couple of photos.  I should have taken a picture of the shirts before I cut them up.   The sleeves on them have a lot of fabric too but I don't need it.  If anyone wants the left over fabric from the shirts, let me know and I will send it to you.

another pillow case dress!

These are fun and easy to make!
I made this one a little while ago!
sweet