Paper Doll Quilt

My mom and sister bought some of this paper doll fabric to make quilts. There's a pattern in the January/February Fons and Porter Magazine. I loved it and so bought 2 yards of the dolls and clothes about a month ago. You can't find it anywhere now. My husband just ordered some for his store (here in April!!). The salesman said it is the hottest fabric in the country right now and they are reprinting it. I had to use some matching fabric because I couldn't find any of the doll fabric line -- but I think it turned out good. My mom (smart lady) figured out that if you cut the corners on the template and then use a matching fabric for the corners you can get more dolls out of your fabric. I think it looks better this way too. I'll post a better picture soon of the template.
I got the pocket sewn on the back last night. I added some rick-rack to dress it up. You put the doll clothes in the pocket.

I've been cutting out paper dolls and clothes for 2 weeks now -- and yes, I am sick of them! I need to make a little bag to put them in. What a cute idea to keep little girls busy in the car or at church.

I've had a little bit of "spring fever" this week. Love the blue sky we have been having!

We even got the 4-wheelers out and rode them around the block a few times. I'm sure our neighbors love the noise.

I neglected Maggie all winter. I was just too cold and snowy to trod the path out to the barn to feed her carrots. Now that it's warmer I've been doing it again. She remembers me! If I go outside without carrots I'm in big trouble. Gary went to put a roast in the oven Sunday and couldn't figure out where the huge bag of carrots he bought went. I had to fess up.

Pink Flower Quilt

I've been working on a few new projects. I bought a jelly roll to try this pretzel quilt pattern. I did one block and it's a bugger! I put it aside until I get in the mood to tackle it again. I love this article in a recent magazine about happiness being your own quilting room . I've been enjoying my new sewing room. As soon as the chair rail and new molding are on I'll post a before and after picture. I spent Saturday in there sewing and it was wonderful!! My sister Nann came over and we had a productive day. I wish I would have taken pictures of her project. She make truck blocks from the new Buggy Barn pattern. I cut out and sewed up this quilt top. I love the colors. I used chenille for the center of the flowers.

It's so nice that the days are starting to get longer. It's been a hard winter on me. I just haven't wanted to do much of anything -- even sewing hasn't been as appealing to me.

Eden's Big Day

My granddaughter turns 6 today. I celebrate too because 6 years ago today I became a grandmother. I remember holding that tiny pink bundle and falling in love immediately. I've added 2 more wonderful grandkids since then and will add 2 more this summer. Eden gets to go to her mom's ultrasound today and find out if she is having a baby sister or brother. I think it's a boy. I'll let you know tomorrow.

This is a picture from last year's dance recital.

I checked out a new fabric store yesterday. My sisters and mom have been there and told me about it. It's Gracie Lou's in Salem. I bought these fabrics and then the rest of a bolt of a black print. You know you have a serious fabric problem when you have a bolts of fabric in your stash (guilty!). I had to hurry because Jodi had to get to work. I'm going back this weekend so I can spend more time (and money) looking. I tried to get Jodi to drive home so I could look and touch my fabric. I told her if I drove I might swerve the car and get a ticket for DWF -- driving while fondling fabric. She hates driving my "old lady car" so I lost out on that one.

We got a little more snow last night. It is melts fast so this time of year that I really can't complain too much.

Food Storage and Cooking

This is a quilt made by my great-grandmother. I have it hanging in my bedroom. I love the pastel colors.

I read about the Everyday Food Storage blog in the local newspaper and then saw it on a fellow blogger's site (Nedra). It has some practical, tasty ways to use your food storage for everyday cooking. I went and bought some powdered eggs today so I can try her breakfast egg roll tomorrow. (The egg recipes are in the handout section on the site). I saw the powdered eggs in the Macy's grocery store add last summer but had no idea what to do with them if I bought them. Ta Da! She makes it so easy. There are lots of ideas for using wheat that I want to try. My mom has always make homemade wheat bread. That's what we were raised on. I'm sad to admit I have only made homemade bread a couple of times in my life. I want to try making it....maybe later this week.

I had the morning off and spent it painting my new sewing room. I took some before pictures and will post them when it's all done. I wasn't sure I would like the lavender walls but they look really good. We have carpet coming on Wednesday. I'm getting excited to get it finished. Can't wait to have a sewing day in there.

80's Goggles

I had a productive weekend. I machine quilted a wall hanging and this Valentine table topper for my sister's friend. Then I machine quilted one of the antique quilts for Gary's aunt. It feels soooo good to have that one checked off the list.
I love to look at the back of the old quilts and how they hand pieced them. I wonder how many hours they spent hand sewing them together. This quilt top is about 55-60 years old. This is the top after quilting it. So many different colors. I'm not sure what the name of this block is. I guess I should research it a little. It might be some variation of the Jacob's ladder, but I'm not sure. Any suggestions??

Another picture of the hand piecing.

I have a phobia about eyes. I have a sharp little pair of scissors and every time I use them I get chills thinking how they could poke me in the eye. When I machine quilt I have a fear of the needle breaking and shooting into my eye. (I have no fear when I using a regular sewing machine). I think this all started when I worked for an eye surgeon in Salt Lake before I got married. I saw all sorts of eye injuries and it make me paranoid. So every time I machine quilt I wear my "80's Goggles." It makes me feel a little more secure for some reason. They're a pair of glasses I wore in the 80's and since the frames are so huge I figure they provide good protection!

There's a reason I didn't take of picture of them on my face. I think they look a little ridiculous on...but I still can't quilt without them!