Cute as a Button!

Happy Friday - I hope you had a great week.

On a trip to Ikea, my daughter spotted this rug for me.  How cute is this?

I have carpeting in the sewing room, but who can resist the cuteness?  It was only $39.99.  My cat, Luna, seems to like it.

I have finally started machine quilting the lavender chevron quilt.

This is a big quilt, so I set up my ironing board to help support the weight.  This one will take a while.

I'm quilting a gentle curve in either side of ESS (every stinking seam).  No marking, so there will be variations, which I actually like.

Fun For Friday - Hooray!  I have been driving a Hybrid for 6 year or so and I was rewarded this week at a rest stop.  Front row parking.

Sunday is Oscar night.  I'm a sucker for the Glitz and Glam.  I'm looking forward to Ellen Degeneres hosting again, her sense of humor is gentle and fun.

Have a great weekend!

Framing Lincoln

Since it was Presidents Day on Monday, I decided to finish up a little quilt that I started last year.

Mr. Lincoln:

This may seem quite simple, but when only a few fabrics are used, I find it quite challenging to pick just the right ones.  Notice it is log cabin style piecing :)

On the back I used a toile' with a river scene.  In the foreground is a flat boat, much like the one that Abe traveled down to deliver goods to New Orleans.

You can see with the spool of thread in this photo that it is quite small.

I was inspired by this little quilt that my friend, Susan McD made with the first four Presidents.  Isn't it great?

This week I started reading "The Invention of Wings", Sue Monk Kidd.   You can click here for the page on Amazon.  It is a story of a slave girl and her abolitionist "owner".   There are references to patchwork quilting, and also primitive applique' - my favorite!

Happy Friday everyone and enjoy the weekend - Closing Ceremonies on Sunday!

Siberia and Fun For Friday (early)

Hello from the Winter Olympics of Connecticut!   We are in the midst of yet another winter storm.   I'm posting today in case the worst happens. . . and we know what that is.

Hooray!  I finished my two Mid-Winter Blues quilt tops while watching Olympic Curling.

For this one I used red lattice, cheddar cornerstones and a blue border -

Here is my second one set with pink lattice, red cornerstones and a column print that I love.  How different it looks.

Rich had a work snow day today.  Here he is getting ready for an adventure with coco -

Here is the snow on the deck outside the kitchen.  I know, we all have this view, don't we?

Next up today:  finish pinning the lavender quilt.

Fun For Friday - Harry Potter Stamps

The U.S. Postal Service is offering this wonderful little "book" of Harry Potter stamps.  I'm spellbound!

It is really well done and each stamp is different.   What a "magical" surprise.

Happy Valentines Day - Stay safe and warm

Olympic Quilts!!!

Hope you are enjoying the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi Russia.

I am a total Olympic enthusiast.  I love to watch the competition, hear the back stories, and learn about the culture of the host country.

Here is a review of Quilts that I have made to commemorate recent Olympics:

I started this quilt during the opening ceremonies of the games in Turin, Italy.  The eagles are holding the Olympic rings.

Beijing Summer 2012 - the star is made in the colors of the rings, which represent the 5 continents.  They use these colors because they are the common colors in ALL country flags.

Vancouver, Canada Winter 2010 got a pass -

London Summer 2012 games - Liberated crowns and stars.

I have too many irons in the fire to do one for these games.

Can you believe the Sochi uniforms are patchwork?  They are literally designed to represent the patchwork quilt to reflect the different regions of Russia!

The US sweaters look to me like an americana quilt pattern in the Red Wagon style.

The medals look to me like English Paper Piecing diamonds - 

Lastly who doesn't love these guys from Norway (No Way)?  I am especially attracted to them having recently finished a chevron quilt top, which I plan to pin and start quilting this week.

Grab some sewing and enjoy the games! 

GO WORLD :)