kaleidoscopes and bazaar items

Just a quickie post today as I didn't have the time for a proper post like I thought...

Last Friday was Hexie Club, where I stitched the bottom row to the doll quilt. 

Since this is my fall UFO project, I decided to dedicate this week to the kaleidoscope project.
That's right, no Mr Serious this week! I'm in serious withdrawal! LOL
I will have completed 3 blocks by the end of today 

I've made 9 candle mats. These last 5 just need simple quilting.

This is 5 of the 6 picture frames I've made. Next up is round frames
It's been fun to throw crazy fabrics together.
They were fiddly but oh so cute.

When I asked friends at work and Hexie Club for magazine insert cards,
I never expected them to find so many cards!
I've been punching away at the pile - it's especially nice to get any aggression out after a trying day (I may be doing a LOT of them tonight) 

Mission Monday

With the countdown beginning towards Christmas and the "bazaar" shopping season I finally got my tuchus in gear for production mode. I started with taking inventory of my box of leftover items from last year and found quite a bit left, reminding me of the meager sales from last year. Sob. Sob. Well, that just affords me the time to try some new items....such as candle mats!

Hopefully sales will be better this year as I just made a purchase from MSQC - when Tula Pink is the daily deal it's hard to resist...I picked a pattern and also bought the border fabric. No random purchases here.

But I digress so back to the candle mats...

2 done!

I got the idea from Chantal, to use the wacky web template and they come together pretty quickly. I used a cardboard box to make a template for the batting and backing. The "hardest" part is picking fabrics to pair together. The next hardest part will be deciding on a price - ugh - worst chore in the world.

2.5 almost done!

I also spent a considerable part of Saturday finishing Chicago Med season 3 and working on Mr Serious.

Just 4.5 rows left until I hit the top left corner!!

Last week I counted what I had done so far and found I had completed something like 328 hexies, which put me about a week behind the 10-a-day schedule. It's OK tho because a couple more 23-hexie-days like Saturday will get us caught up soon enough. I'm probably done with the counting - why count when I can be stitching?!

Wednesday Weather Report #40 - 2/21/18

I had three quilty goals for my long Presidents Day Weekend...

Goal #1 was to work on inventory items for an upcoming sale at my annual work conference. That began with working through some of the bits and bobs on the tables that have taken over my huge living room.  I didn't take any worthy photos but I did get some of the fabrics sorted and kitted so that I could put the scraps away. I really already have a lot of my general inventory thanks to a poor Christmas sale so my biggest goal is to make tons of name badge holders - I like to cut out as many as possible and then stitch them in batches by thread color. Someone asked how long it takes to make one and I had no idea since I mass produce them.

Goal #2 was to complete the 4th section of my Christmas Tree Skirt and I came pretty close.

I only took the one photo so you'll need to trust me...I've got 4 big seams left until it's in one piece so I'm certain I'll have it done by the end of the week.

Goal #3 was to get all my temperature rosettes appliqued onto back ground squares and this was completed 100%!!!!!

The blank square on the bottom left is for the rosette that finished yesterday and the 2 blanks on the right are half of the "label" that will be a thermometer to explain the rest of the quilt.

I did have snoopervision while I was sewing but I had to be very, very, very careful not to move my rolling sewing chair!

I thought I was so cool, basting yesterday's hexie before work so that I could stitch it in place during lunch and then get it appliqued after I got home really late for a final photo of the updated quilt.

44 - 56 - 32 - 30 - 35 - 46 - 70F

Except!! We were in for a big surprise when it was actually a record breaking 70F yesterday. I had prepped yellow but I needed orange!! I took several walks yesterday, just ask Mr Cranky Ankle, and I even slept with the window open last night. It was fabulous to wake up to the birds singing. Yet, it's February in Wyoming County and tonight it will be a mere 30F when I get home. We all enjoyed it while we could!

The pic is pretty washed out but I couldn't resist the morning sunshine. That orange in the bottom left sticks out like a sore thumb doesn't it??!!

And one last photo of my new mug. Thanks for the link Janet - such an enabler!!!

And now it's time to share your latest temperature rosettes:

An InLinkz Link-up

Design Wall Monday - 12/4/17

It was another busy weekend (I know you've never heard that before on my blog) some of it a total waste of time and some rather useful.

Friday started with a doctor's appointment - the doc was 45 minutes late and I was the first patient. Totally annoying. I made a quick run to the closest Joann's (45 mins away) for some wrapnzap to make soup bowl cozies as gifts and then back home to continue sewing for Saturday's Bazaar.

I really needed a "higher" display piece to the middle but I'll remember for next time

Despite lots of advertising to the students/parents and a nice mix of crafts and vendors there were very few shoppers. The weather was nice and I don't know of any other local events so I'm not sure where everyone was. Let's just say that the high table fee (PTA fundraiser) and the required raffle donation put me in the hole. I think this bazaar has potential thanks to the space and variety but I don't think I'll be joining next year. Bummer. On the positive side, I've got lots of inventory for my spring work conference!

On another positive side, I had 5 hours to stitch! These are for a set of 4 placemats I've been planning for ages.

Yesterday was spent with a little time on each of a lot of projects. It was divine.

I cut and stitched a few jewel hearts.

I cut out the parts needed to make half of Bonnie's mystery clue #2. Check out her linky party HERE.

There was a bunch more cutting and little clean up projects here and there that didn't warrant pictures or that I couldn't take pictures of for secret reasons. HOHOHO.

I will share 2 more pictures from my walk this morning.

Taken from the end of my driveway.
It's a little hazy and the sunrise was just lighting the sky.
Too bad you can't see the Christmas lights on the firehall at the end of the street
Maybe you can see the church steeple on the right - love those hourly bells

Love crossing this little creek twice on my walks.
The temp drops about 5-10 degrees when you cross the bridges.

Happy Monday!

Wednesday Weather #28, Clue #1 and a new project

Have you ever been in a blogging slump that you just can't drag yourself out of? While I worked at my fall seasonal job during my lunches I restricted my blogging to the bare bones. That job is 99.9% over but I haven't found my mojo just yet. I'll skip all the excuses and just say that here's a little catch up and hopefully that mojo will show up over the weekend...

46 - 40 - 35 - 46 - 40 - 33 - 53F

This is my missing rosette from last week. I had thought that the top right hexie would be another dark green, making a neat design for the colors but Mother Nature surprised me.

34 - 32 - 52 - 52 - 34 - 40 - 60F

And this was this week's weather. That yellow was a total surprise but let me tell you it was a great day for decorating our office building with a slight breeze and gorgeous clear blue skies.

I've added the sashing to 2 or three of these blue rosettes for Mickey's On The Road project. It dawned on me that I may not want to make the quilt as big as Mickey's so I'm trying to sash up all the finished blue rosettes so I can lay them out and see what I really have so far. I've got 2 more to add grey sashing and 3 or 4 to add white. It's a slow going process but great for watching DVDs. I'm currently watching Wayward Pines Season 1. It's got M. Night Shyamalan's name all over it. Love that guy.

I'm sure no one (Janet!?) is surprised to hear that I've started a new project and I "mustache" you if you like it??!!? LOL. Have you seen the new Brimfield Block papers from paperpieces.com? I was on a FART with Lisa last Friday and we just couldn't get over this Santa fabric so I pulled a couple FQs and just fell in love with this. I have yet to stitch this, saving it for after the bazaar I am doing this weekend. Actually, I always take a hexie project to work on at bazaars so maybe this will be the one...

And last, but not least, I did my Bonnie Mystery Clue #1 blocks last weekend. I'm am currently making half the needed blocks until I see the final layout and then I can decide exactly how many bits I need for a smaller quilt.

For anyone joining today from Bonnie's Mystery linky party - I host a weekly Wednesday Weather Report linky for anyone working on a weather quilt. We would love to have you join in our project - let me know if you would like details or check out this link.

An InLinkz Link-up

HeLP for Hexie-aholics and Feline Friday - 11/17/17

Hello! Hello! It's one of those rare days where HeLP and Feline Friday fall on the same day!! Welcome to hexie-ologists and Z Fan Club members alike.

Momma has been very busy sewing things for a church bazaar tomorrow. One of the things she was making this week was catnip toys. Can you believe she was working on them while I was outside? What if I had wanted some 'nip?? Luckily she gave me the tray and the bowl to lick out when she finally finished. Well, it was that or I was going to help myself and she knew it...

Yo duuuuude - that was some crazy good 'nip!

Do all y'all remember when the Squeakster did a PSA on using 'nip? I didn't until after the fact either...

Wanna see Momma's design wall when she's been around 'nip? 

Isn't it craycray busy? She claims it's cuz her brain works faster than her fingers. Seems like an excuse to me.

I think she wants me to tell you that the important part of today's picture is the progress on the temp quilt. She passed the half way mark a couple days ago. Did a little happy dance and everything. 

Ok now, my feline lovin' hexie-ologist friends - time to link up your favorite feline (well, other than me of course) and your latest hexie project. Extra 'nip for you if there is a feline in your hexie photo!

An InLinkz Link-up

Design Wall Monday - 4/10/17

It was an excellent weekend!!

How could it not be when 5 miles under cloudless, sunny skies was done and dusted before 8am??!! Woohoo!! Weather and schedule permitting, my goal is to do the same every weekend. I'm telling you, not to gloat, but to need to hold myself accountable...

We even hit 73F yesterday which meant that the windows were open wide at Casa Grande while I cooked, baked and cleaned up a storm yesterday and this morning.

Maybe now it's safe to put the snow shovel away?

Zorro got up in the world on "his" new stool.

And I sewed my fingers to the bone. Yet, can you believe that I haven't touched a hexie in three days? Me either?!?!

23 name badge holders were finished.

And I've started prepping the next set of 20+. I certainly hope people want to buy these...at some point I'm going to saturate my "market" and I have no idea when that is going to be...

Next up: zipper bags and bookmarks.

Workin' Wednesday

I don't know what software all y'all use to edit photos before posting but the online software I use has been crashed for several days. Very frustrating.

These are the zipper bags I've made recently.  They are always fun to use up scraps of this and that. There are others that are currently on display at the LQS - I'll be picking them up tomorrow before a bazaar on Saturday.

I've finishing mugrugs, catnip toys, and a few random gifts this week around several meetings. This week's meetings all seem to include food so I just consider them dinner breaks and work in the "sweatshop" before and after the meetings. LOL.

See ya tomorrow for HeLP!!!

Design Table Monday - 11/7/16

I had a nicely busy weekend. I spent all day Saturday in Niagara Falls - now don't get too excited cuz I left home in the dark, spent all day in a EMT conference (in a casino!), spent about at least an hour walking around the state park at the Falls, picked up Indian food for dinner and then drove home in the dark. I'll show those pictures later this week.

Yesterday I slept in a wee bit thanks to the time change and then got busy making zipper bags and mugrugs for the next holiday bazaar.

I spy something that starts with a Z!

The table works as my staging area - each pile is a different pattern but I sew them in
any order depending on which ones match the thread color I'm using at the moment.

The prep always takes the longest - cutting batting pieces, letting cats outside, cutting fabric pieces, letting cats back inside, matching fabrics to zippers, letting cats outside, matching fabric to trims, letting cats inside again, answering rescue calls and eventually one gets to the sewing part! Phew!

I've got 4 almost finished...the rest should move right along since all the decisions have been made already.

99% of the branches have buds!!

And, just because everyone at my office loves it, I thought I would share my Christmas Cactus. I know it's the beginning of November but this little beauty likes to blossom 3 times a year. I don't do anything special to accomplish this  - in fact, I think it's merely because it's by the front door and the blast of cold air every time a customer comes in "forces" it to blossom at Halloween, Christmas and sometime in the spring.

Workin' Wednesday!

With a little "free time" last night, this morning and tonight, I'm working on making some zipper bags. Over the weekend I had pre-cut several of them and sorted them on the table by sizes.

Yes, Zorro ended up with the "large" sticky note stuck to his britches.
Funny for me but he didn't appreciate me retrieving it. LOL.

Here you can see my quality control officer holding all the bits in place. Lucky me =^..^=
I'm sure the CQO will clear his schedule to snoopervise me making catnip toys this weekend...

Can you tell the two on the left use band aid fabric and the pin dot matches the bandaid dots?
Aren't I just so clever?!
I'm hoping people will make them into mini first aid kits...

It took a while to get my mojo in order but now that I'm in the groove it think I can get them finished much faster.

One for Three

Boo!
Sadly the bazaar yesterday wasn't very profitable. I made enough to cover expenses but not enough to also cover the cute things I bought. Oh well.

My main Christmas tree will someday be all bird ornaments (right now I fill in with family ornaments, santas and cats) so I had to buy the crocheted turkey!

Sadly, there won't be time for Cookie Day this year but I am trying to get some made here and there...

I also bought this darling sign for my kitchen...it's painted on an old chunk of wood.

Boo!
After the show I ran over to the LQS in East Aurora, planning to pick up some 505 spray baste and FQs for my mystery quilt. Can you believe the 505 was $3 more than locally and they didn't have a single fabric that matched my mystery fabrics??!! I walked out with 5 zippers to make more inventory.

Yay!
On the other hand, I did have lots of time to sit and work on hexies!

I finally finished this POTC block. I don't have any more bits fussy cut yet so this will probably get set aside for a while so I can finish some more pressing projects.

I made some progress on this 1/8th section of my tree skirt. I finished basting all 288 diamonds a week or so ago. Yesterday I stitched together the 2nd row down from the top and basted the bottom 3 or 4 rows together. As soon as I finish this post I'll stitch more together before my lunch ends. I do think there is a real possibility this will be finished before Christmas 2015.

She may be tiny, but that girl can cast shadows =^..^=

And when I had finished everything else I brought with me yesterday, I returned to an old faithful - Value Proposition block #11. Yipper still behind and probably will be for a while but I am still really enjoying this project and I think I can get this done before Christmas 2015 too (ok, maybe just the top will be together and it won't be quilted...)

Feline Friday - 11/21/14- gorilla test

Momma says I have to tell you this post is not for the faint of heart! Harumphph.

On Wednesday Momma was making hexies on the couch and thought I was being too quiet in the quilt studio so she came to investigate. This is what she stepped on. Oh the horrors. Poor little catnip toy. How did that happen?

You see, on Tuesday Momma was finishing catnip toys for her bazaars this weekend. She gave me and my sissies some plain catnip on the ugly pink carpet to entertain us long enough for her to get them sewn. Momma is funny, huh?! When she finished, I was sleeping on the inventory box so Momma stashed them in a basket on the top of the really high curio cabinet from Uncle Tommy. Momma keeps her hexie UFOs in the cabinet.

Back to Wednesday, Momma scolded me but knew it was too late for the poor catnip toy. She put the rest of the toys in the inventory box. This is what the toys originally looked like and maybe you can see what I  did to the bag last year.  Momma makes good toys!

Momma went back to her hexies but then I was being quiet again.

See Momma - THIS is how I got the single toy out of the basket to test...just don't forget I left you the other nine toys! I'm such a good boy!

An InLinkz Link-up

It's Monday...

Ok so the photo is not the best since I was in the basement this year but this was my table at the Christmas bazaar. I love that there is a riot of color and many people commented on all the color combos and my "creativity" :-)   I do need to find a different or better way to present the mugrugs tho. They were a big hit this year for the first time so maybe I shouldn't change my display at all.

I think this was one of my most profitable shows which is good since I already spent part of the profits the day before the show by buying King Tut thread that was on sale over at Superior Threads. LOL.

And as I was running leftovers home after the show (The show is in a church just 4 houses up the street from my house!) I found someone comfy on the afghan - this was the first time I've seen her on the afghan since her sissy is usually lounging in this spot.

Yesterday was spent lounging about all morning, cleaning the studio so I can get ready for the next show in 10 days and raking leaves. I never did get the cookies made. My figure probably thanks me...

Design Wall Monday - 11/3/14

Bazaar season is fast approaching so I spent some spare time this weekend making more mugrugs, cord keepers and zippered pouches.

I'm sure all y'll have heard about the cobbler whose kids were always shoeless... Well, this quilter finally has a new wallet to replace the old one that was a disaster from the day I made it, which was probably over eight years ago! Woohoo!

Cya tomorrow for The Bibliophile Files!