Monday, May 13, 2013

It's For The Birds Blog Hop

My day has arrived to show you my birdie project.  I really enjoyed visiting all of my fellow birdie bloggers last week and I know this week will be just as inspiring.  I hope you've been hopping along too!  The list of bloggers that are joining me today are listed at the end of this post.  Please fly on over to each of them!
 
 
I must always mind my manners and start my blog hop posts with HUGE thank you's to our hostess, Mary, and to Madame Samm, the overall chief cook and bottle washer of all of these hops.  They both have put in endless hours to keep this blog hop moving along without a hitch. Thank you, thank you!
 
 
As usual, I didn't know what I was going to make and had to sleep on it for a few days.  I'm one of those people that finds inspiration while dreaming.  Sometimes I don't remember the dream, but I remember the solutions to my issues.  It's not a fail proof system, but it often works.
 
I came up with a kind of fantasy forest with birds and trees in fun, happy colors.  I knew that I was going to use some sort of inspirational quote and found one that I really liked.  This wall hanging measures 21" x 26"..... a fairly good sized hanging. 
 
 
 
Here's the quote I chose.  I think you'll be able to read it quite clearly on your monitor. 
 

 
 
A close up of one of my birdies....one that is holding up one end of the quote quilt.  I made their eyes and their tales out of beads.  The tails are strung on wire, shaped in the loops, then tacked in two spots.  I just wanted a little dimension to go along with the dimension of the quote quilt (say that quickly five times!).
 

 
 You know that I had to include a cat in my project somewhere.  I had some fabric that had cat faces in a diamondy shape that really looked like they were peering out of knot holes.  Even though the scale is goofy, I had to include them in my forest and hide them in the trees. 

 
 
I'm not sure who is the most concerned..... the cats watching the birds or the birds watching the cats!  In my fantasy forest, they all live in harmony!

 
 

 
 
I also wanted to show you another use for Wonder Clips.  I was wrestling with the quote quilt,  twisted ribbons, and the heart buttons......things were slipping and sliding and I couldn't get a handle on things until I used my Wonder Clips to hold everything together while I sewed all of the layers.  It worked seamlessly!

 
 
I hope you have enjoyed your stroll through my fantasy forest.  I've enjoyed your company and hope that you will come back soon!


 
 
 Now keep the momentum going and hop over to these other bloggers today.  Let them know how much you
appreciate their great projects!
 














Sunday, May 5, 2013

 
It's almost time for the "It's For The Birds Blog Hop!" 
 
It begins this Tuesday, May 7th and continues through
May 15th.....no week ends. 
 
Here's the full schedule of all of the participants.  It's a huge flock of bloggers, each making their own creations with a bird theme.  My day is May 13th and I hope you'll check out the project I made that came from my own little bird brain!
 
Tuesday, May 7
 
















Wednesday, May 8

















 
Thursday, May 9


















Friday, May 10


















Monday, May 13















 
Tuesday, May 14














Wednesday, May 15














Here's a little tease of my project.  The backside.  As of this posting, it isn't finished and I need to really focus to get it ready for it's debut on the 13th!
 
 
 
And on another note..... here's a tree that I have on my tiny patch of land in the back yard.  It's in its full glory right now and the scent, as you walk by, is intoxicating.  This tree was a gift from a friend and I planted it many years ago.  It continues to bring lots of pleasure each year.  Oh.... it's a Red Jade Weeping Crab Apple, for those who are interested.  
 
 
 
 
Close up of the flowers......mmmmmmmmm
 

 
 
Finally, here's my "all season" Christmas Cactus.  It's been blooming off and on for most of the year and has quite a batch of blooms on it today. 
 



Hope to see you back here on the 13th. Please visit the other blog links above to see some wonderful, creative, bird themed projects!  I guarantee these bloggers will inspire and amaze you!

Monday, April 22, 2013

***4/27/13 Update from the end of this post..... I made the cut for the Tammy blog hop!  Gotta pick out my fabric and get moving!***
 
I found a cute pair of BIG scissors online to snazz up my sewing area.  They are 31" long, stamped out of metal, hinged and movable, and painted black.  There's a hook on the back for hanging.  I'm not sure yet, but I might spray paint them a fun color someday. 
 
 
 
 
Here's Oliver demonstrating the scale of the scissors.  (We've had the "never run with scissors" lecture, but never the "don't sleep with scissors" lecture.  Somehow, I didn't see the need at the time.....)
 

 
 
Lastly, there's another blog hop that I have hopefully joined.....haven't heard back yet..... only the first 50 will be selected.  Anyway, it's called "The Tammy" project bag and it's a cute little bag (or purse) to hold your sewing supplies or for any other use you might have.  There will be a free pattern for those who made the cut and as always, it will be such fun to see all of the different interpretations of the same pattern.  I sure do hope that I'm in!
 
 
 
Happy Earth Day!

Thursday, April 11, 2013

My sewing machine got a new outfit today!  I had a gift card from Christmas and I finally decided to use it to buy a Sew Steady extension table for Sewphie (my machine).  It also came with a little swing out tray for underneath the table, but I'm not sure that I'll want to use it or not.  (No picture of the tray.)
 
 
 
 
Sorry about the poor picture..... between the lights and the reflection off of the acrylic, it was hard to get a good shot. 
 
It seems like I'm doing more and more free motion quilting and I thought a few more inches of work surface might help my technique a bit.  OK, anything to help my technique.... if you could even call it a technique..... would be a good thing. 
 
I'll be giving it a test drive soon, as I'll be finishing my next blog hop project shortly.  Meanwhile, I'll see how it functions for regular sewing too.  Whoopee!

Sunday, March 31, 2013

 
 
 
 

Matthew 28:6

He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.
Come and see the place where he lay.
 
Have a Blessed Easter!

Saturday, March 30, 2013

Winner of Stitch Me Up givaway!

WINNER!


GwenMarch 20, 2013 at 7:27 AM What lovely memories of your mom! And your little mini turned out lovely too!


Gwen has won my little Stitch Me Up blog hop giveaway!  I've sent an email for your address, Gwen, and will send out your package ASAP!

Thanks to everyone who entered and left such nice comments!  It was such a joy to read each and every one of them!




Monday, March 25, 2013

It's For The Birds Blog Hop

Well, it IS for the birds today (more about that at the end of the post) .....OK.... the birds aren't exactly happy today.  Here it is, March 25th, and we have had another major snow storm in Indiana.
 
Here's my bird bath..... you will notice that no birds are using it or even coming near!   
 
 
 
My lawn chair...... care to join me for a cuppa!
 

 
The good news is that I'm all done shoveling today and warmer weather is on the horizon.  I suppose we only got 6" to 7" last night and I was able to get all of my shoveling done in an hour and a half.  It's a lot of work, but it surely is amazingly beautiful.
 
Now.....back to the birds...... there is a new blog hop..... "It's For The Birds."  You'll notice that it isn't until May, so there is still great hope that the weather will actually be bird-friendly.  I've joined and hope you will too.  All you have to do is make something bird themed.  Click on the Birdies below and let Madame Samm give you full details! 
 
 
Happy Spring (or so the calendar says)!

Thursday, March 21, 2013

Oh boy..... Look what the postman brought yesterday!  It's the fabric that I won in the Nancy Drew blog hop last week.  Carol had a mystery giveaway and after my name was drawn, I got to see what I won...... this fun Domestic Diva fabric manufactured by Riley Blake designs!  There's a charm pack and three other cuts of fabric.  The vintage look is just too cute!
 
 
 
 
Many  heartfelf thanks to Carol for having such a generous giveaway..... and to Jane, who offered the fabrics in her Etsy shop for Carol to shop and choose from. 
 
Bloggers are some of the most lovely and generous people around and I hope you will get involved in Blogland so that you can get to know some of these wonderful ladies (and men)! 

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Stitch Me Up Blog Hop

 
 
 
 
 
Time for the Stitch Me Up blog hop! 
 
For this fun hop, we were generously given several embroidery patterns and were asked to use one (or more) of them in our project.  Our project could be whatever we wanted as long as we included one of the patterns.
 
I chose a pattern designed by our own Madame Samm, as it spoke to my heart as soon as I laid eyes on it.  Somehow, without knowing, she had captured the essence of my Mom and her evening, after dinner coffee routine.  I'm calling this little hanging, "6 PM Coffee." 
 
The 6 AM coffee time was a much different scene..... Mom would be disheveled and groggy until that first cup of coffee entered her system.  It was always a rushed time of day .... getting my Dad off to work and me and my Brother off to school.  The evening coffee was a different story, a different atmosphere.  She and my Dad would sit and relax after dinner, discussing the day's happenings.  Mom would be "put together" by this time, hair fixed, make up on, and dressed properly. She was usually still wearing a half apron that was worn while fixing dinner. 
 
This little hanging is yet another mini quilt for my table stand.  I really love to change these out, depending on my mood and the season or occasion.  The fabrics that I used were gifts from Christmas and I thought they had a vintage look about them, perfect for the mood and era I was trying to recreate.
 
 
 
 

 
 

 
 




 
 

 
 
 
And here's a picture of my Mom in the kitchen....my inspiration for this blog hop.  The embroidery pattern even shows the counter on the same side as our own kitchen.  The back of the picture says "May 1963."  You can see the coffee pot on the stove, always ready.  There was also a large percolator that was brought out for company, holidays and special occasions.  Wouldn't my Mom love the new coffee makers and the K-cup machines..... it's made making coffee so convenient, quick, and easy.  My Mom passed away when I was only 19 and there will always be a hole in my heart from her absence.  I am, however, bursting with fond memories of my Mom and this little quilt is dedicated with love in her honor.  
 
 
 
 
I have to thank Madame Samm for organizing this blog hop and for providing the pattern that I used, and thanks to Jane, for being our wonderful hostess and cheerleader for this blog.  It takes a village to successfully put on one of these blog hops!
 
Here are the other blogs that are going to show you
their wonderful embroidery creations today. 
Please stop by each one to be awed and inspired!
And if you are still with me, and I hope you are, there's a little giveaway after the list of participating bloggers.  It's open to all (as long as you are not a no reply blogger)..... Just leave a comment.  Thanks!
 
WEDNESDAY March 20th








Gracie Oliver Arts (that's me!)







Selina Quilts 


I've got a couple packages of iron on embroidery patterns to offer as a giveaway.  One is cooking themed, one is sewing themed.  Just leave a comment to be included and a way to contact you.  I'll leave the giveaway open until the blog hop is finished (midnight March 29th) and will randomly choose the winner on March 30th.  Good luck!
 
  

Thanks for visiting today!  Please come back soon!

Saturday, March 16, 2013


SADLY, the Nancy Drew blog hop has ended......... HAPPILY, the Stitch Me Up blog hop is starting on Wednesday!  Here's the line up of the hop participants.  My day is Wednesday, the 20th.  I've got to get hopping because my project isn't finished yet......Yikes!  Please come back and visit me on Wednesday and then continue visiting everyone through the 29th.  You'll be HAPPY that you stopped to see everyone's creations because you will be overwhelmed with inspiration!

WEDNESDAY March 20th








Gracie Oliver Arts (That's me!)








THURSDAY March 21st















FRIDAY March 22nd
















MONDAY MARCH 25th

Beverly @That Other Blog













 

TUESDAY MARCH 26th


Jeanette @That Other Blog
















WEDNESDAY MARCH 27TH















 

THURSDAY MARCH 28th

Kristin @That Other Blog















FRIDAY MARCH 29th


Patricia @That Other Blog