I Need Some Help!

I have been making 1/2 inch 9 patch blocks for at least 3 or 4 years. When ever I had the time I would cut scraps of fabric into 3 1/2 x 1 inch strips. Once I had a nice pile I would sew them into little 9 patch blocks. About a month ago I realized I had almost 100 of these little blocks. Over the last few days I made enough to reach 100 and today I laid them out to see what it looks like. I like civil war scrappy quilts but this is sooo scrappy I decided to put it out there and ask for some input!! So ladies, here is pic number 1.

Scrappy huh??

Should I set it with a solid tea stained muslin? Or a civil war small light print or ????

Closer look ...

  I could use up some more scraps and set the blocks REALLY scrappy! Almost overwhelming!!

This is what 100 2 inch 9 patch blocks looks like.

 After looking at this for awhile I decided that maybe I should make it a rectangle ....

Here lies enough strips to make 3 more rows ... a total of 130 blocks.

While I have your attention maybe I should make more blocks and make it bigger all the way around. See my dilemma?? I just don't know what to do!!

Another shot of the scrappy setting blocks.

Now on to something else ... If you like making quilts out of small, tiny blocks like I do but feel intimidated I have a suggestion for you. Recently I purchased three or maybe four kits from the quilt shop Primitive Gatherings. I have blogged about this shop before so it should be a familiar name! Lisa Bonigan, the owner does a wonderful job with her patterns and instructions, (meaning they make sense and are correct!!) Over the years I have made many small quilts and I have struggled with making the blocks look even. Well, my dear blog friends Lisa has made the whole experience so much easier!!! If you are in So Cal. or Wisconsin visit her shop Primitive Gatherings or you can shop online at www.primitivegatherings.com. Her small quilt kits are not pricey so buy one, read the directions all the way through, purchase the suggested items and you will be so happy with your results. I made the little quilt "Four Dozen" in just a few days and I am so pleased with the results. It's on her website so check it out!

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

With Valentines day just a day away I used up some extra small blocks I had and made a little quilt for a friend. I named it Broken Windows! I did a little hand quilting to hold it all together. That is the beauty of smalls ... you don't have to send them out to be quilted!!

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

A couple of years ago I was invaded by tiny rodents. Others might call them mice ... after several months, a contract with the Orcan man and traps all over the house I finally eradicated the little creatures. My friend Tanya new how much I loved and missed them (NOT) that she purchased these to remind me of the "good ole days."

 Let me just say ... I like these little cast iron ones soooo much better!

Valentines ...

With Valentines day just a few days away I got busy this weekend getting my Valentines ready. I sent three cards with a little gift inside to my grand kidlets, wrapped my daughters valentine gift and I bought a card from Betsy Ross the blog dog to give to her favorite brother-in-law Shawn! Not sure yet what she wants to give him ... probably food so can can beg for a bit or two! I have a little something for my sweetheart that  I will hide somewhere clever for him to find.

I have a Longaberger Branch meeting coming up on Valentines Day morning so I fixed up a baskets of Conversation Hearts for the girls ...

Longaberger 2015 Easter Basket

Since I bought the new Easter Basket in pink I thought it was the perfect basket to carry my Valentine gifts to our meeting. I am also bringing my moss covered bunny to decorate the basket with once all the boxes are gone. This year our baskets are available in 6 color options! I love them all, so hard to choose.

A side view ... I wrapped some pink and green ribbon around the handle and tied bows on each side.  Easter is still two months away but like everything Longaberger, we sell at least two months ahead!

 

All of the Longaberger Bunnies and Eggs match the baskets of the same colors. If you are interested in purchasing any of the wonderful items for Spring please feel fee to email me at Baskets4anita@aol.com!

Happy Sunday ... Downton Abby is on in 30 minutes Pacific Time!

Betsy Ross ....

I haven't spoken about her lately but Betsy Ross my blog dog is alive and doing very well!! She brings a lot of joy to both my husband myself and all those who come for a visit. We had some company yesterday who completely wore her out! After they left she made a nest in her favorite blanket and settled in for a nice winters nap.

Is this the face of contentment or what?? As I sit and blog my faithful Betsy is always close by to put in her two cents!

Ever so slowly my rag rug is coming together. I've made a couple in the past but it seems I had forgotten some key points. Like how to make the connecting knots and the way to transition from row to row. However, I did manage to figure it out early enough that I am on track once again!

 

Check it out!! I've got everything going the right direction!

While I was at Road to California I saw Michelle from the Rusty Crow just whipping her rugs out and I was reminded again how fun and relaxing they are to do. My friend Debbie got her own little tool and instruction book. She hopes to make rugs for their little cabin in the woods. These will look perfect in a woodsy cabin!

 

As you can see I have a long way to go before this is a rug!

I'm almost out of fabric strips. I will need to go into my sewing room and get busy cutting a lot more 1 1/2 inch strips.

 This morning while waiting for the property appraiser to arrive I attached the the binding to my newest small quilt. 

The binding is sewn on and clipped down for the final stitches. Love this pomegranate fabric!

I hand quilted this little piece. Note the arc's in the white triangles! This was a fun one to do.

All done! Nice and bright for a Spring table.

A Tiny Quilt ...

There has been a lot of quilting going on around here since Christmas! I have sent three quilts off to the quilter in various sizes, completed two doll quilts with a third one almost done! I'm hand quilting it right now then all I need to do is trim it and put on the binding. I picked the kit up while I was at Road to California at the Star's and Scraps booth. Sadly I have just learned that this wonderful shop is following in the path of so many others. It will only be open three days a week as well as online sales. I imagine in the near future the shop will close entirely. It's just sad to see so many of my favorite shops closing.

However, on a brighter note my friend Tanya came and sewed with me on Wednesday. She finished her first hand quilted doll quilt!! She has done a great job as a student and has nice tension to her hand stitches!

Here it is! Tanya actually pieced this one as well ... This was the first time she has attached a binding and learned how to do mitered corners!!

Tada! Binding is stitched down and done.

A closer look at the hand stitchery!! Good job my friend keep it up.

 

Wonderful Weekend

Don't you just love it when you have a wonderful weekend? I do. Saturday afternoon my daughter and I attended our first 6 year old birthday party! Yep, we went to Miss Olivia's party ... this was an all adult women party celebrating little Miss O.

Once we all were there our hostess, Olivia's mom Pam had us hide before Olivia arrived home. She walked in and was chatting with her mom when we heard our que to pop out. "SURPRISE!!" we all yelled and scared the poor kid to death! It was such fun. Then we sat in our seats to begin our art project. Each of us were given a small canvas and paints. We could paint what ever we wanted and this week Olivia and mommy will be hanging them on Olivia's bedroom wall.

Miss Olivia, the birthday girl! Isn't she adorable??

Deanna and Margaret working hard on their art work ....

Four of the six paintings ... we did such a fabulous job!

This is my beee u tiful creation ...

A very happy girl. Tiff and I got her a beginners sewing machine!

Olivia is an only child and is very bright. When you have a conversation with her she sounds like she about 26 instead of 6! Such an adorable little girl. Happy Birthday O, we love you!

The next day was Super Bowl Sunday. As you know I am not a huge football fan but we did watch the game. I have to admit, it was quite a game! Kept you on your seats edge the whole time. I was rooting for know one so every play I could cheer! Woo hoo! Katy Perry's half time performance was GREAT, she was very entertaining to be sure. And lets not forget those commercials!!

However, the best part of the day was Family Game Night. We played Go For It, a very old game my 32 year old son loved to play as a child.

All set up and ready to play. The game is a mix between Monopoly and Life.

Tiff is in the process of explaining the game to Joe.

Mr Joe, my hubby can't hear and I guess he can't see either! He got out his little flashlight to read to game board! Shawn, sitting to his left was cracking up. Being a retired attorney Joe had to read and research every detail of his turn. OMG, he is too much.

 You'll never guess who was the winner of the game. Yep, is was the youngest player, little Ms Betsy.
Just look at her, she telling me how to play her move. I can't prove it but I'm sure she cheated!

Thank you Tiffany and Shawn for keeping us young ... we so need it!

Mr. Joe laughing at Betsy and I.