April Is the Cruelest Month...

Boy, just when we get used to 80 degrees, sunshine, and sweet breezes--along comes 20 degrees and fierce winds! Kansas City's weather is as fickle as can be. Oh, well, as they say, just wait a few minutes!

I spent two days with no internet access! Talk about withdrawal symptoms. I had to go to my public library to use their internet so I could at least check my email. And, wow, did I miss checking in on my favorite blogs!!! My Roadrunner guy came early this morning and got me back online. Turns out I needed a new modem. Hope that solves the problem permanently! Must have internet, must have internet, must have internet...

Thought I'd answer a few questions from the comments on my last post. Dawn and Judy, those cute little green thingies on the ends of the scissors are actually knitting needle protectors. Clover makes those little ones and I can usually find them at a craft store (JoAnns, Michaels, or Hobby Lobby). Atet asked about the quilting charms. I found those at Hobby Lobby in the beading department. Angie asked about purchasing the little scissors with beaded fobs. They've been turned over to the boutique chairperson for the quilt show. I'm not sure what they will do with the unsold "merchandise" but I'll keep you in mind!

Here's a photo of what I worked on when I couldn't be on the internet yesterday (hmmmm, is there a lesson to be learned here? Nah!) I adore English cottages and Mary Engelbreit cottages and decided one would brighten up my dining room for Spring. So I did some stash-nibbling and came up with this. And, yep, there are some yo-yos for bushes and clouds. Had to justify the purchase of those yo-yo makers LOL! I will try to machine quilt it this afternoon.

Hey, you should really check out Dawn's blog today. She has the most amazing tutorial on freezer-paper-piecing to achieve those incredible pointy points! I have heard about this method before but never fully got it until I read her tutorial--complete with great photos!!!

Okay, KC Quilter, get off the internet and into the sewing room!

What Will They Think Of Next?

Being the gadget junkie that I am, I just had to order the Clover Yo-Yo makers from Connecting Threads. They came on Saturday and I've been having some fun with them! Basically, you clamp a piece of fabric between the two parts, trim the edge, and sew in and out of the holes. Remove the plastic pieces, pull the thread like a shower cap, knot off, and Voila! you have a yo-yo! Great mindless work for TV watching. Finished 3 scissor jewelry beaded fobs for the quilt show boutique. Purchased some small scissors to include with them. They'll be handy to toss in the take-along sewing bag. I put some "I Heart Quilting" charms on them. Next I'll make a couple of larger ones for shears--if I can find some large lobster claws around locally. Scissors NOT included on those babies!!!!

Last week Blogger wouldn't let me post the finished Bo Peep mini so here she is now. The thermometer outside says 82 degrees and the sun is shining and the sky is the prettiest blue you've ever seen. Hope it lasts.....

'Tween Times

Well, most UFOs are still at a standstill: BOAF is STILL at the longarmer's, Hawaiian Snowballs, Scrappy Stars, and Chocolates & Cherries STILL await backing fabrics, Broken Dishes STILL longs for a cleared-off basting table (did I use the word "still" enough times in that sentence???) Sooo....alternate pursuits!

Bread Machine....Several years ago I received a very-much-coveted automatic bread machine. I used it furiously for a couple of years. Then the word came down about bad, bad CARBS. So it sat on top of the refrigerator for a lo-o-ong time. Well, recently I decided to live dangerously and resurrect it and dig for some recipes that may (or may not) be more "body friendly". I've started baking bread again and decided to make a fun little booklet out of recycled grocery bag to save the recipes with photos in that I will want to keep. Along with that I made a little lunchsack booklet to keep soup recipes in. Today I will try to find time to embellish them.

Tasha Tudor...About once a year I check this book out of the library. I adore reading about her lifestyle. I was always a fan of her children's book illustrations and find her to be a true inspiration. Looking at her antiques and collectibles, her gorgeous handdyed yarns, dipped candles, Nubian goats, amazing hens, lovely hand constructed clothing, quilts, linens---oh, I could go on and on about this book---is sheer eye candy. I should probably just purchase the thing, huh? Bead Love.... Digging out the beads and bead paraphenalia, I'm making some scissor fobs for the quilt show boutique. I really like to work with beads--guess it's the ole "hippie" leftover in me LOL!!! This post sounds like "What I Did on My Sewing Vacation" doncha think?

WIP and Whipped!

Well, for now, Blogger is playing nice! But I want you to know that I do have fingers, toes, legs, and eyes crossed! Thank you, Patty, Libby and Paula for your input on the photo situation. I haven't been doing anything different than usual but for some bizarre reason could not get photos to upload. I had a couple more but was not going to press my luck LOL! I am wondering if it makes a difference what time of day one tries to post pix. Seems that later in the day works better. I knew I was whipped this morning when, after about eleventy-twenty times, I was getting nowhere! Ah, well, at least the price is right for this service, huh! The Broken Dishes baby quilt and backing are ready to be sandwiched, pinned and machine quilted. I know, I know, Rocky should not be allowed on this quilt, but I will launder it after the quilting. And I am sure the recipient will wash it again. Rocky, being the alpha male and all, pretty much lays wherever he pleases! Now if I can just get DH to move all HIS tax stuff off MY long tables in the basement, I can get this basted. Well, I guess it is my tax stuff, too, come to think of it. The colors in the pieced backing look a little softer in real life. I think the lighting was not as good as it should have been. Maybe some day I'll get this photo/internet/blogging thing all figured out! But just in case, I'm keeping my fingers, toes, legs and eyes crossed!!!

Crying Uncle

Anyone else having problems with New Blogger--or is it just my computer? Have been trying all morning to get pix to upload, even tried through Picasa. It just isn't happening. I keep getting the "The page cannot be displayed" message. Would appreciate any feedback. Thanks!