"Mark" this a Snow Day!

Hooray for a snow day!

I finally got my marking tools together to do a post on marking.  This is my collection:

Those white things in the box are soap slivers, which really work well, actually, and definitely wash out.

Instead of reviewing the ones I don't use - I'll tell you why and for what purpose the ones that I use.

These are the marking tools I use for prep work, weather it be tracing applique' pieces, marking lines to sew Half Square Triangles, etc.

My new favorite are the Sew Line marking pencils.  The leads are made of some miracle ceramic something, and the line is fine and nice!

They offer several different colors, grey, pink, white and I think yellow, although I dont' have that one....yet.  I even invested in 2 of them so I could have a light and dark one at the ready at all times.

For marking quilting lines I use these; Crayola washable kid markers, the water soluable blue pen and the sew line pencils.

I have had great luck with the washable markers.  They are cheap and mark really well. When washed in the machine with Clorox 2 color safe bleach, all marking has come out for me.

I love the blue markers, both the regular and fine line work great.  I have on occasion accidentally erased lines by mistake, and once humidity played a factor.  Again all marking has always come out for me. I used this on Mother's Garden.

Sew line is great.  Mary V. used the white on her red & white quilt for long arm quilting it and all the marks came out.  I'm using in on the white Olympic Star Quilt.  I should have made more definite marks, I used a light touch and now it's a little hard to see.

This is what we woke up to:

This is my heated bird bath.  The center fell and melted, but the birds were not up and about....

Coco is wondering where her yard is.  It doesn't look quite right.

 

 She decided to sit and think it over....

Finally she takes a leap of faith and then is on her way.

My start on Lori's Quilt Along - hey, that's not blue....and what's with that pink?

Let me know if you have any input about marking tools.  Generally I feel whatever works for you is what works best.

**So many people asked about the "Don't Drink and Quilt" t-shirt, here is where you can find it:  Cafe Press they have several cute quilting related T-shirts.

Just Stuff

Hello!
I really am trying to pull it together.   I feel like I'm going in a million directions and getting nothing done.

This is a weird post with lots of unrelated things.

Progress on "Mother's Garden". 

The battle to control the universe is on.  Andrew and I have been playing Monopoly since he was little.  We have many versions and this is his new one from this Christmas. 

I think this was my favorite Chirstmas vignette this year.  My Charlie Brown tree, my leg lamp, Lori's quilt along quilt, Strawberry Wine and 2 sock monkeys that I made some years ago.  They're holding hands.  That is not a real mouse on the fez, but one of about 40 that we hide around the house for Christmas.  I'll miss on the way to bed at night.

Hooray!  Quilt along time with Lori, of Humble Quilts!   It's not to late to join the fun!  The mo, the mo better.   I haven't quite decided on colors yet, but I'm going to start this as soon as Christmas is away today or tomorrow.

Coco snacked on my ipod, which I use everyday to listen to books :(
Santa got me a new, tiny, pink one for Christmas, thanks Santa! :)

Here is what I'm listening to at the moment.  I am almost finished with Remarkable Creatures and I really enjoyed it!

Okay, back to housework.  Have a great weekend everyone!

Happy New Year!

Good Morning!
I'm back from a wonderful week "down on the farm" in Illinois and it was a wonderful visit.  I am so grateful we had good driving weather, 840 miles is a long trek there, and then back.

Here is the last doll quilt that I'm making for my daughter, Hanna, for Christmas.  I started the tradition when she was about 3 years old.  Since she is a senior in high school, I've decided it's okay to stop.

This is a big girl doll quilt.  I thought it would be fun to do a selvage project.  I even found some great words to use, drama queens, and peeps - how funny.

I used a variegated blue thread which had a cool effect on the blue background.

The backing is part of the City Quilters NYC fabric collection.

 

 And one of my super simple, super quick labels.

My son gave me this hilarious t-shirt for Christmas.  Sage advice......except on retreats or  Fridays :)

Help this poor kitty!  I needle-pointed this in middle school, mid-1970's.  My mother blocked it, but clearly it needs re-blocking.  Help!  How is this done?  And does anyone have any suggestions about my making this into a pillow? 

**Finally, as you may have noticed I've made some changes to the blog.  It will remain "fun with barb and mary" but Mary has decided that blogging is not for her.  As I have been the sole author for almost a year, we thought it time.  We had a wonderful visit on Christmas Eve - thanks again for sharing your fruitcake Mary!

Big Puppy Love

It's Practically Here!

A good quilt for a good puppy.  My coco will be turning 1 year old on Christmas Day!  What better reason do I need to make her a special quilt just for her.



My friend, Sheila, will recognize these blocks.  We exchanged them years ago and I decided to use some for this scrap happy quilt.

In honor of Tonya's new book, I used her style of liberated letters.





I did my favorite unmarked liberated cross hatch.  I developed a new method of doing this and will share it with you soon.



I think she likes it!  And yes, I do intend for her to use it on her bed, in her crate, wherever she likes.



Yooray!  I finally finished my Christmas Red Work.  It only took about 10 years..... I love this 50/60's Santa, he is the real one for me.

I also finished my house for Beth's House Project.  You still have until January 1st to send her a 12" block.

And finally, from my home to yours, Merry Merry Christmas!!  Poor coco, she just had to endure it.

I am still planning to do a post on my marking techniques and tools.  But first, a Christmas break and a road trip to the "Farm".

See you next year!

Now That's Christmas

Wow - last Sunday I was lucky to be invited along to a special Christmas house tour.

Jill invited me through her friend, Mary Ann - Thank you so much ladies!  This was not open to the public, but to members of The Golden Glow, a national club of vintage Christmas collectors.

People who know me or have come to my house know I love all things Christmas.  This group, however, is on a whole new level!  We toured 3 out of the 5 homes in NJ.  Most houses had 10 tress or so and other displays - it was Christmas Heaven.

Pretty, pretty pointesettia quilt.  I'd love to have one of these.

Look who is attending this event, it's Christopher Radko.  That was a nice surprise.

All of the following photos were taken at one home.  I can not give you his name or location, except to say rural NJ, on 3 beautiful acres. He is also master gardener and collects vintage Easter and Halloween decorations and items.

 

He is a serious collector, with the means to indulge.  In this custom built addition he has thousands of items on display.  They are all in like new condition.  Ebay, anyone?

On the shelf are salt and peppers, and the bottom portion is filled with vinatage boxed Christmas cards.

Me (well my ponytail) and Christopher,  I'm a  sucker for a celebrity sighting.

In the dining a lovely PINK feather tree.  A collection of painted turkeys are flocked on the lower shelves.

This is a real white feather tree and is covered with plastic icicles.  I have some of these thanks to my friend Susan McD.  Many me of them glow in the dark.

A tree in the sun room -

Spinning silver tree with 40's and 50's ornaments and the spinning color wheel - of course :)

I hope you enjoyed this Christmas tour, I loved it!