Working here and there

I've been around.

Working here and there on different projects, most of them being Christmas presents that I can't show here. Well, I can't show here yet.

But this one is for a beautiful baby girl in Washington, DC.

I learned how to make these maverick stars here. They're quite addictive, so consider yourself warned.I put said stars in the "middle" of wonky log cabin blocks, and outlined them in orange. And, as usual, I had a supervisor, ready to step in should I need assistance.

I hadn't made sleeved pillow cases before, but it was a cinch, and I got to use up two blocks that otherwise would not have had a home. They were just a tad too big for the quilt, and I needed fronts for the pillows anyways, so I quilted them and attached a bright orange backing.

And now it's back to more Christmas sewing!

If you want to eat some apple crisp...

Then you've got to buy the apples. Preferably at the Farmer's Market.

Where you'll see a bike you've just GOT to have, because of course, everything you buy would fit in that perfect little basket.

And there will be bright and sunny flowers that would look great on your table...

But remember that you came for apples, so go buy your apples and go home. But buy a pumpkin and cream cheese muffin first, because it's going to be de.li.ci.ous.

And when you get home, try out the cute little bowl your mother just picked up for you, because it looks so lonely when it's empty...

It's not that Duncan loves apples or new bowls, he just loves to scratch his chin on anything nearby, in an attempt to distract you from a certain "too much apple crisp-eating coma".

Remember that your Husband is helping you to take pictures, and stop yelling at him for taking ones of you, because you can just delete them later (ah-ha!).

Wash the apples...

Peel the apples...

Cut them up and pour them out...

And this? Well, you can just ignore this:

Yes, it's a potato masher. So sue me. I thought that just maybe it would work. That just maybe it would cut up my not-soft-enough butter and I wouldn't make a mess. *sigh* I don't think I have a picture of the part where the Husband cleans up the kitchen as penance for taking pictures of me...

Meanwhile, someone has be patiently waiting for you to stop baking and play with him...

"I brought you my tiger toy 15 minutes ago and it still hasn't moved."

"Puh-leeease?"

I think in exchange for not getting to play he may have had some ice cream. Oh wait, of course he had ice cream, or else he'd stare at you as if you'd just informed him "dogs don't eat ice cream anymore".

Mmmmm... enjoy your apple crisp-eating coma.

Peonies

*Sigh*

I know I've been gone for far too long. So sorry.... I think about writing here all of the time. I take the pictures, write the stories that go with them in my head, but then I sit on my back porch with Duncan, or take a bike ride with Husband instead of posting all of it. Not that I'm using those things as an excuse to leave this space unattended to, but really, I am. I can't resist summer, what can I say?

What do you do when you have these beautiful flowers opening up all over your yard?

Or when your dog wants nothing more than to roll around on dead worms in the dirt pit that (was) your backyard?

I promise it's all green and lush and beautiful now.... if I can find another "before" picture, I'll happily post an "after" one too!

Yep, I think it's time for someone to go on a walk....

Playdate

It's always entertaining to watch Dax and his best friend Charlie play together...

There's a constant need to steal toys from each other so that somebody can be chased...

And then there's Charlie's tricks, that he's trying to teach Dax how to do.... unfortunately, his legs are just a bit too short...

And Charlie hasn't quite figured out how to run while wearing his hula hoop.

He looks like a circus dog instead...

I promise there's been work around here, and not just puppy-lovin'! I'll post a few pictures of quilts and other handmade projects next, okay?

Blossoms

I promise I didn't mean to be gone for such a long time....

This warmer weather means I'll be spending much more time in the sun with a certain fuzzy face.....

He looks so serious and studious, and he's really just patiently waiting for me to tell him he's allowed to go eat his treat that's just out of the frame. Either that, or he's trying to use his mind reading powers to figure out whether or not I'm going to take him on a walk after his portrait session. You can almost see his mustache here.... Monsieur Le Dax.

Duncan is apathetic, and therefore must also endure having a camera block his view of the birds in the yard. He'll get me back for this at about 2 AM, when he decides it's time to lay on my head while I'm sleeping.

All of my bulbs have finally opened up and are happily showing off their bright colors...

I'm not the only one who likes to sit outside and enjoy the spring flowers....

I did tell Husband that this looks like a posed senior picture, to which he laughed and agreed. Dax almost looks like he might be fake, just little stuffed Corgi toy.

Would you believe him if he told you he didn't like dogs?

Yeah, me either.

Pup Cup

Just a quick note to say hello...

And to let you know Dax has picked up my addiction to coffee.

What??

No....it's just whipped cream.... but yes, he just kind of likes it. Can't you tell?

So Very Excited....

Wow!  That's about all I can say at this point!  It is so wonderful to read all of your great comments and visit your blogs and websites!  I am itching to get started on this mini-quilt giveaway, and I'm debating about whether or not to do two or three instead of just one....

Until I can get started on that project though, I'm cutting all of my pieces for our quilt top:

I'll be very glad when I have enough scraps to someday make a large scrap quilt instead of buying yardage.  Mostly because I don't appreciate when this happens:

I purchased a quarter flat at Joann's, and now I can't get the stupid sticker off.  Please help if you have any remedies for getting rid of this sticky gunk!  If you do, I may give you the recipe for a piping hot bowl of "Baked Potato Soup", complete with bacon, cheese, green onion, and of course, potatoes.

Now this is off subject, but I have to share a picture of Dax with his best friend ever, Charlie. Charlie lives across the street, and they love to do things that all dogs do, but playing tug-of-war is their speciality.  

Someday I hope to be able to post a video of Dax running across the street to go see Charlie.  My neighbor and I check the street for cars, and then I open my door and Dax runs as fast as his little bunny legs will let him to go play with Charlie.  

Hilarious, I tell you. 

Bourbon Slush!

Okay, it was requested by Dozer that I hand over the bourbon slush recipe.  I made you a fun little recipe card- although it isn't nearly as cute as the ones Lollychops makes! Although I haven't tried printing it out yet to check the size.... I suppose I should do that.

I am not responsible for any embarrassing stories that may occur after partaking in said bourbon slush! But feel free to blog about them so that I can say "See honey?!  I'm not the only one that does that!"

Thank you so much for all of your wonderful comments!  And of course your fuzz butts should be on the quilt too- they are a big part of the family.  Now I'm even MORE excited to make the mini-tree quilt!  Remember that you have until January 16th to enter... and I'll throw in 5 extra entries if you blog about the giveaway!  Maybe I'll add another way you can earn entries  every day.... hmm... sending me chocolate will always work. 

Maybe another way you can enter is by volunteering to sweep all of the Corgi and cat hair off of my couch.  This is what Husband and I come home to most every day:

I think it's called "if we sit here and stare out the window long enough, maybe they'll come home".

How can I be mad at that face for shedding 24/7? Oh that's right, I can't be. 

Sad face...

Here's to hoping that everyone is getting their Christmas shopping done!  I know I haven't started... eh... maybe Etsy will help me out with that.  The giveaway "surprise" is still not finished, but it's my only project for the night, so it has to get done, right?  Until then, I give you Dax's best sad face (or his get-that-out-of-my-face, face)...  

More Hours in the Day, Please!

I believe that there may be nothing better than being wrapped up in a quilt and a sweatshirt on a cold fall day.  In case you haven't noticed, it's my favorite time of year.  Yes, I love Christmas too, but falling down because of ice, having the cuff of my jeans get wet from snow, and being broke from buying gifts does mark it down to maybe third place. 

Dax loves fall just as much as I do.  Probably because it means I'm more than willing to take him to the park to make new friends.

But, I promise that going to the park has not been the only thing I've been doing!  I've been mainly working on a wedding dress and birdcage veil for a friend of Husband's. She had her alterations done at a national wedding dress chain where she purchased her gown, and they did a horrible job "fixing" her dress.  I was amazed at what I saw when I took it apart! 

This is a (poor quality) picture of her birdcage veil in progress.  I drew out a 10 second sketch of what her floral lace pattern was, and re-drew it onto freezer paper.  That was then ironed onto satin, cut out, and sew onto muslin to give it stability. The end product was beaded to match her dress, and I'll post pictures of it after she, well, gets married!

I still haven't free motioned quilted yet.... yes, I'm scared. I think I may be too much of a perfectionist to just "go for it".  But, I'll keep practicing and let you know when I work up the courage to use it on a project.  

Here is a quilt top that Husband says looks like a pantone book:

I have to agree with him, and I like it that way. Gradating colors make me happy! I appliqued the circles on using a blanket stitch, and I've backed it with a piece of thick cozy fleece.  I want to try something that doesn't have as much weight as a quilt, but still has that quilt "look".

I think Dax approves.