so fast . . .

Can you believe that this young buck, who graced us with his presence just this morning:

Pictured above with his latest dining companion (who is pictured solo, below) . . .

Was this little guy, less than a year ago? I took this picture August 18, 2010.

They grow up so fast! The group of does that he's traveled with over the past year has finally kicked him out. He had too much antler for them. Hence his new dining companion.

I've got my fabrics laid out and ironed . . .

All ready to sew! The question I still have is which pattern?!? Can you believe I'm still undecided? Ugh.

One thing I did decide was that I actually liked my red better when it was wrong side up.

I like the more muted flower pattern, especially for this project. I'm headed back to the bunk room. I'm not coming out until I'm finished! (Or I have to use the restroom, whichever comes first.)

:)

patriotic design . . .

I played around in EQ7 over the weekend. I found a design I like. It's a simple pinwheel, but I like the look ... now it's just a matter of putting the colors where I want them. I've got five different samplings that I like. Now it's just a matter of deciding which one I like best. Hubby's already put in his vote. And I admit, I'm leaning towards a particular combination. But I'd love to hear what others have to say, too!

Block 1


Block 2


Block 3


Block 4


Block 5

Which one would you want gracing your table on Independence Day?!?

Oh, and don't forget to go and check out what other fabulous work is going on in the quilting world by visiting Judy Laquidara's Patchwork Times.

Happy Monday!

:)

design within reach . . .

Saturday evening I returned home from a long day out and about, and decided I needed to put away the red and pink and white quilted heart that had been adorning my table since February, and work on a more "summery" design.

In less than three hours, this is what I'd come up with!

Even with a cute little back -- I could probably reverse it if I ever felt so inclined! I'm so infatuated with orange right now. It's my color of choice. Why is that?!?

Ta dah! I love what I can accomplish if I put my mind to it. And what's even nicer is that this is an original Design by Denise. LOL! :)

My BOM's are what's on the design table cloth right now. First, here are the two blocks I completed just in the nick of time on Saturday, for a turn in win! (I'm determined to NOT use my Ooops! card this go 'round!)

So now there are ten blocks completed, six to go. I have two sashed and quilted and I need to audition the rest. Well, first I have to decide whether I'm going to do the four corners in the purple, or do the whole thing in the orange (like I'd originally planned). I just think the four corners in the purple would create eye interest.

I do believe that if I go with the purple corner, this block that I finished this weekend will be a purple candidate:

While the other block I finished this weekend will definitely go orange!

Head over to Judy Laquidara's Patchwork Times to see what other creative genius is flowing in the quilting world!

Last week I watched Sawyer on Thursday, so Kim could run some errands.

He's gotten so big -- he hardly looks like a baby anymore!

He was all about holding that spoon while he ate, too. He held it in his right hand, and ate with his left hand. I wonder if he'll be a lefty or a righty?!?

He loves, loves, *loves* his books! My favorite thing is to sit in the rocker in his room and have him bring me a book and climb into my lap!

Without a doubt -- Neesey heaven.

:)

Yukata Table Runner

I have finally finished this latest Yukata cloth table runner. (This striped Yukata cloth is a type of Japanese fabric that is traditionally used to make men's kimonos. You can see other ones that I have made here and here.)


Despite the fact that it is entirely hand quilted with approximately 7000 stitches, (no, I didn't count them all... I do have a life! I just counted one row and multiplied it by the number of other rows.) ...I am still not sure why it took me soooo long to complete. (I've done more extensive hand quilting on other pieces that seemed to take me a fraction of the time.)


With this one, I felt like no matter how much I stitched on it, there were always lots more rows to go. It began to remind me of some nightmare where the hall you are walking down just keeps getting longer and longer, with no end in sight.


Because it was such a bugaboo, I've decided to keep this one for myself. :0)

P.S. That old scale with it's original weights, was just given to me the other week by my aunt. It had belonged to my Greek immigrant great-grandparents who used it to measure out candy in their confectionary shop in Baltimore, Maryland. Pretty cool, huh?!

Keeping it Simple

My hands needed a break from hand stitching, and my mind needed something very straight forward to work on, and so this is what I made...


A very simple table runner made from muslin,
(some of which I hand dyed with coffee, turmeric and walnut ink).


The center strips were torn, and the edges left raw...


The machine stitching consists of closely, but unevenly spaced rows of meandering straight stitch...


The piece was most definitely inspired by the colors and textures which I see on the old, (and once white) barns that I pass everyday.


I think it would lovely on an old wood table.

(Now for sale in my shop).

(Note: Now sold)

Playing with Pojagi

Still playing with Pojagi inspired patchwork...


Because all of the seams are folded in and stitched down, both sides can be displayed...


I think that the stitched patches and seam work really give the cloth a wonderful utilitarian feel...


This shot cotton was woven with green and yellow threads, producing a beautiful chartreuse color...


By alternating the direction of the grain on the individual patches, sometimes, (depending on how the light hits the cloth) some patches appear more green based, and some more yellow based...


And of course, hung in the window creates a totally different look...




This Pojagi Inspired Utilitarian Patchwork Panel/Runner is currently available in my shop. Note: Now sold.

One by One

One by one, I am adding new items to my shop.

This stitched, patched and quilted Table Runner...


Made from the Japanese striped "Yukata" fabric that I showed in an earlier post, and bounded and patched with my beloved shot cottons.


I think it would be very well suited for either a modern home, or a rural country home...


More of these are in the works.

Also, just added to the shop are these two Hip Pockets...

I made one in a small size...


and one in a large size...


The large size not only carries more but is perfect for sticking your hand into when you don't know what else to do with it... I don't know about you, but when I am around a lot of people, my hands sometimes get shy and just like a good place to go and hide. (Esmeralda, my trusty model friend of nearly 30 years, does not have this problem.)

I decided that the pockets would be a great way to use up some of my vintage barkcloth stash.






(The pocket flap lays nice and flat... I just popped it open for the photo.)


Esmeralda, who always thinks on her toes, (well if she had them she would) had the great idea of also knotting the 'apron strings' and wearing the pocket like a shoulder bag. That Esmerelda really has a good head on her shoulders!


... Well, lets just say that she has a good head for someone who has no head.


(She's a bit sensitive about the whole body part thing, you know.)

More Hip Pockets are also in the works... till then have a great week!

Open For Business!

Yippee! My new designs arrived in the mail late yesterday afternoon from Spoonflower, and I am pleased to announce that my BooDillys shop is now revamped and reopened for business selling my original fabric designs!


Blue Bells


Pinwheels


Posie Party


He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not


Orange Grove

(Also available in the shop are my Marrakesh Mix and Moroccan Medley fabrics.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Good News! I'm starting to feel much better physically and am now trying to play catch up with all my projects. I am so behind in my sewing. Happily I did find time to use some of my Marrakesh Medley to make a quick and super easy table runner:



Wishing Everyone a super-duper weekend!