SPRING BREAK???

Hi all you bloggers,

This week is spring break for my kids and right now outside my window it is snowing!!?!?!?!?!?!?
Can you believe that!! Don't get me wrong, I love snow at the right time of year, but Easter break, come on now!!!! There is a bright side to all of this icky weather, my two love birds (don't know what kind they are) have taken up residence again this year on my deck. They only come when the season changes to spring and then they stick around until fall. They are not even that pretty, but they make the most beautiful sound, so here they are yesterday... You have to look really closely as they blend in with deck, but you can atleast see one and the other one is little to right of that one.

I haven't named them yet...am thinking of doing so, as they literally fly around the outside of my house making this beautiful sound....okay maybe I really do need to get out more or maybe get a LIFE! But somedays I just like to watch these two. What would I name them anyway (I can't believe I am thinking of naming two birds...WOW getting scared now!?!?!!??!

Well, I better get back to all my Domestic Goddess things I have to do...Cook dinner and sort through laundry.

Hey, if you think of two bird names let me know...

Hugs,

Mary

SATURDAY...HAPPY PRE-EASTER EVERYONE!

Hi All,

Happy Easter a day early, since I am going to my sister's tomorrow, I thought I better post today. Am getting some sewing done today on some unfinished projects. Then it's off to take our 3 teens out to dinner for a pre-easter celebration!!! Gotta Love Easter!!!

It's a little weird this year, though, since they are all in their late teens, they are not expecting big baskets like before...NOW, they want bigger things, which of course is impossible, soooo am putting together candy baskets for each one of them and I think they are going to think they are a little lame. I loved Easter when they were little...the easter egg hunts at the park district and then the hiding of the eggs that night and ofcourse, Easter Baskets!! There was always sooo much preparation done the night before with baths, and hair-rollers and getting to bed early so that they wouldn't run into the Easter Bunny! Now, it is just Different...my kids are growing up...but I am still going to create delicious Easter Baskets (I think it is more for me than them, but oh well).

Being a Mom/Domestic Goddess/Can I borrow $20.00/Alarm Clock/Overseer of ALL Laundry can be a little lonely at times...but I do have my memories of when my three were little...oh What Memories They Are!! Those I will cherish!!

With that..Happy Easter and God Bless,

Hugs,

Mary

GOTTA LOVE OWLS!!

Hi All,

Bought this fabric of Owls, "On a Whim" designed by Amy Schimle for Robert Kaufman, is it too Cute or What?

Now what do I make with it is the Question? I just LOVE this fabric!!!! Have been racking my brain with what to do with it! I can see using it in a block, but can't seem to figure out what block I want to use?!?!!?

Just signed up for a Spring Swap through Pat Sloan's Yahoo Group! Am excited on seeing who I get and what their colors and favorite things are so I can start planning...

I have so much sewing to do and am hoping this weekend (even though it is Easter) I will get something accomplished...Fri night and Sat afternoon, so far, look good, so am keeping my fingers crossed!

Oh and what about this weather? Here in the great state of Illinois, we have a winter storm watch out for this evening, isn't that Great! Expecting 1-6 inches of the white stuff, so instead of Easter Shoes it will be Easter Boots to wear! Maybe weatherman is wrong, because it is sunny and 50 degrees right now!

This morning I took a picture of a bird (actually there are two, but only one showed up) on my deck. Every spring these two birds have been coming since 1997, isn't that weird. They make the most lovely sound, kinda like an owl. I don't know what kind of bird they are, but I like to think of them as doves(you know Love Birds). The other day I left bread out for them, but Oreo, my courageous (not) lab, found the bread on the deck and well, he consumed whatever I put out there! So will try again today. Anyway, these two birds show up in Spring and last all the way through Fall, wish I knew what kind they were, but I did get a pic of one of them this morning.

Also took a picture of THE mosting amazing sight...smoke coming off my deck this morning. Yes, I was doing laundry and the dryer was on, so that was the reason behind the smoke, but thought it looked to cool to pass up the opportunity to take a picture! Now all my neighbors know that I, domestic goddess that I am, was doing laundry this a.m. YEAH!!!!

I do have another goddess in training (my 15 yr old) who came home from the mall last weekend with this lovely tiara on her head. They were giving them out free at the mall and well, you guessed it, had to grab camera and take a pic of her!

You might as well know, I am also obsessed with taking pictures! Now that I have gone digital and all!!

Well, that's it and if anyone of you gals have any ideas for that Owl Fabric, leave me a comment, I might just have a little give away for ya!!!

Hugs,

Mary

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!!

Hi all! Happy St. Patrick's Day to all of you who are IRISH!! This past weekend was soooooo much fun! I participated in the Pat Sloan Quilting Retreat and WOW actually got a lot accomplished! It's funny how an on-line Retreat makes you want to complete projects so that you can post pics. I worked on a wallhanging that has been partially done for a couple of months. It is called Saffron Hill by Sue Spargo. It is machine pieced, then hand appliqued, then machine appliqued, it really was a project that used so many different skills, one part is even paper-pieced (the flag roof). It is almost done, just needs the finishing touches and then I will post a pic!

I also worked on Cottage Blooms...it was a swap done through Pat Sloan, and I didn't like the background of greens, so switched it to yellows and creams...I like it much better now. I just got the blocks done, not sewn together so will post a pic of that later too!

Then at night I worked on Leanne's House, because it was hand stitching and I could do that in front of TV. (Oh saw the movie, "August Rush", GREAT Video! It's a tear jerker, even hubby cried, so you know it was good!)

My 20 year old came home Fri night and claimed my Owl Wallhanging for her apartment at school. She wants me to make another one with different colors (using opposite fabric that I used in the original), so she can hang both of them up, so that is next on the list! Thank you, Diane, Amanda, Karen and Selma for your very kind comments re my own wallhanging! You made my day!! I just love being a Sloanie!

Well, back to sewing...and laundry...and cleaning!!!

Mary

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 2008

Today I finished the top of my Owl Wallhanging! I don't know why but I am obsessed with OWLS! I still have to finish back of wallhanging and then machine quilt it, but I think it turned out cute! I have never actually sketched out a pattern before, so this was a first for me.

This weekend, Pat Sloan at Yahoo is having a sewing weekend! Am excited for that and am going to try to get some UFO's finished!

Well, off to bake a Meat Loaf, sounds exciting right? Oh the life of a Domestic Goddess!!!!

Have a great week Ladies,

Mary

FUNKY FABRICS!!!

Picked out some new "fun, funky fabrics" for my "owl" theme card! Then sketched Owl's on Branches! What do you think?

FLU BUG HAS BITTEN!!!!!

Yes, it is true! Myself and teenager daughter have been sick with the flu for the last several days! Coughing, Coughing, Coughing and yes, more coughing!!!!!!!

Hubby and Son and Oldest Daughter and Friends are going to the Chicago BlackHawk's Hockey Game today and Emily and I were supposed to be among them, but due to the "coughing", did I say we can't stop "coughing"?!?!?we didn't go! So....I should be in sewing room finishing up some things and starting on others, but here I sit at computer! Did I tell you I am sick? Oh, yeah, right the coughing thing...well was at the local Walgreens and picked up this adorable card! You can just imagine why I was at the drugstore (coughing thing, remember), and anyway, I think "Owls" are the NEW THING, because I keep seeing them everywhere...on fabric, cards, paper...you get the picture...so I thought, maybe I could sketch this picture and make into an adorable wallhanging! Sounds like a plan!! OK, now to post picture so you can see it...

Also, if you have been following my previous posts, Oreo (my black lab) is doing much better!! Surgery went well on his paw, all the tests came back negative - GREAT NEWS! Only problem is still trying to get him to go out with baggy on his paw, so that bandage does not get wet...will post pictures of my "Baggy Dog" so you can see he is NOT very happy with me.

And, MOM LOVED HER QUILT!! It has been delivered to her and she has it at the foot of her bed, so when she takes a nap, she can pull it up over her and be snuggled in by my Aunt Lois!!

No new adventures on horseback because....you got it right - the "coughing thing"!!!

Take Care to all of you in Blog Land (can you tell I have been in the house way to long!?!?!!?!?)

Hugs,

Mary

"OREO, WHAT IS SHE DOING TO ME"??!?!?!?!

Oreo had surgery yesterday on his left paw and am Happy to report, he is HOME!!! He does not like, however, the white sock I had to place over his paw, so that, he will not eat his bandage off! And then, I was told by Vet that when he has to go outside, I have to place a Plastic Baggy on his paw to keep dry!?!?!? Tried that, well, let's just say he tore it off before he got out of house, so now we are going through Socks!! Each time he goes out, old sock comes off and new, dry sock is placed on!! He is such a trooper! He just kind of looks at me with those big brown eyes, lays down and lets me keep putting socks on his left paw, probably thinking, "what in the world is she doing to me now"!?!!?!? Wouldn't you love to know what dogs think? Maybe, Oreo is thinking I am trying to teach him how to skate on one paw across our wood floor or maybe, he thinks I am trying to dress him up...I don't know, what I do know is that he just licks my hand everytime I place a new, dry sock on him and then ofcourse he gets a special treat! Oh, the life of my dog, Oreo!

What would call this Quilt?

Having finished a quilt I made for my Mom, which was by far the hardest quilt I have ever made, I laid it out to take pictures of, and it dawned on me there is sooo much meaning in this quilt. At first glance, you notice (well, really it kind of slaps you in the face) that the fabrics do not match. In fact, they are actually fighting against one another!

At first, you might think, how can she ever give this to her Mom! Let me explain...

My Mom, had only one sibling, a Sister, named Lois. My Aunt Lois had a vivacious personality. Bubbly would be a word I would use to explain her. She loved to sew...from clothing, to draperies, to covers for her couch. She had an "eye" for color and detail. She never used a pattern (which I thought was so genius), she would just look at something either in a magazine or store and then go home and replicate it and I mean, replicate it! She was truly an artist. She also painted, and once even needlepointed a cushion for a chair, which was undeniably "spectacular"! She never questioned or painstakingly pondered whether one fabric would go with other, she just knew (the color wheel was imprinted in her brain, I believe) and then she would create...so, after she died I wanted to make my Mom something out of all the beautiful fabric she called clothes. The result was a quilt.

She loved Pineapples on her door to make sure everyone felt WELCOME, therefore, you will see a pineapple made out of material she used as a chair covering. She was an ardent gardener, so a lot of her summer clothes were made with fabric that had, ofcourse, flowers on them. So you will find a daisy print used in some of the borders. You will also see an Iris print that she purchased before she became ill, which I don't know what she would have used it for, so that is the back of the quilt and the binding. In later years, my Aunt along with my Uncle were "Snow Birds", you know winters where in Fla and summers where spent in Long Beach Island, New Jersey where they had a summer home. Those summers, my sisters and parents would visit and stay and they are packed with the most wonderful and beautiful memories that I will always cherish. That is why there is a Lighthouse on one block, but it is not just any "old Lighthouse", this one is special because she painted that yellow bird on another piece of fabric, which I cut out and hand-sewed to the block, flying above, watching over the Lighthouse. There are some blocks where I just hand-sewed sayings I thought would help my Mom cope with the grieving process...they read, "Sometimes you know an Angel only by the Miracles she leaves blossoming in her path after she is gone", and "Angels live among us...they just hide their wings" and ofcourse, "In Loving Memory of Lois J. Budash". There is one block, using the daisy fabric again of a Heart that is broken, but sewn together by a piece of lace (my aunt always used lace to hem her skirts) and by using her lace, I thought it might tell my Mom, "I'm Ok, I'm out of pain now and that I miss you too". The last block I thought of was a hand(my Mom's) at the bottom of the quilt holding a heart and then if you trace this heart up towards the Pineapple there is another Heart...waiting...being caught by an Angel, my Aunt Lois.

So, yes the plaids don't match, the colors are off, but the meaning is there. Life isn't always pretty, it doesn't always go the way you want it, but always on the top (sometimes we have a hard time seeing) there are love ones that make the trip, oh, SOOOO BEAUTIFUL!

Dedicated to my Aunt Lois who was always a ray of sunshine in my Life and
Dedicated to My Mom, who is my Life!!

Mary

CABIN FEVER INSANITY....

Yes, it is true, I definitely have Cabin Fever Insanity...One of the groups I belong to is Pat Sloan Quilt Group on Yahoo and Pat has challenged us to make a log cabin throw or table runner to "bust out" of the cabin fever insanity....HOWEVER, can I add one more project to my many lists of things to get finished??????!!!!?!?

This week I did a lot of straightening and cleaning my sewing room...found underneath the rubble even MORE projects that have been started by me and then left uncompleted, YIKES!!! Didn't know I had so many and even forgot about others!!! HOW can this happen???!!?!!?!? Easy, I have determined I LOVE TO START new projects but HATE to finish!! OK so now I have to find a way to FINISH!!!?!?!? So....this is what I plan to do. MAKE A LIST of the most pressing projects I want to finish. First on the list is a quilt I made for my Mom, using only the material from her sister's (who is deceased) clothing. My Aunt, (Mom's sister) was an ardent sewer, who loved to create clothes without patterns. She was the kind of sewer who could just look at an outfit or dress and then go home and replicate it!! She was amazing! So, when she died, I asked her daughter (my cousin) if I could have some of her outfits that she designed and I would use them in a quilt for my Mom. My Mom only had one sister, one sibling that is, so I know she will really love this quilt, as it is part of my Aunt (at least the creative side). The quilt is pieced, quilted and now all I have to do is the binding, so will complete that this weekend.

Next on my list is to keep up with "Leanne's House"...then a quilt I made for my youngest, which is pieced and quilted but needs prairie points added as border and then to add binding! After that, I will move on to a project I started 5-6 yrs ago from Country Threads. It was a BOM which has a garden theme.

The problem lies with the fact that I REALLY WANT TO START THIS LOG CABIN QUILT, I eyed by Pat Sloan called "Sweet Stripes" in the Feb 03' American Patchwork & Quilting Magazine (I will take a pic and post) - this would make such a great quilt for a soldier, I think! And I think could be put together fast using red/white theme! OH, HERE I GO AGAIN!!
I also, want to start the Wedding Quilt blocks, that I just love in another on-line quilt group!
Maybe, I should have renamed this entry instead of "Cabin Fever Insanity", "The Trials and Frustrations of a Quilter"! I think that would have more suitable for me!

Also, keeping you posted on my horseback riding adventures... am posting a picture of "Americana", who took me for another spirited ride for an hour on Saturday. Remember she is half/thoroughbred, half/quarter horse! We trotted, galloped and cantered, English style, fun, fun, fun!!

Quote for the day..."Creativity is really the structuring of magic" by Anne Kent Rush
and
"The imagination needs moodling, --long, inefficient, happy idling, dawdling and puttering" by Brenda Ueland.

OH, CHECK OUT THIS WEBSITE, REALLY COOL! http://www.thepioneerwoman.com
(Too cute!!)

Stay warm, safe and happy,

Mary

IT'S SUNDAY AND FREEZING!!!!! FEB 10, 2008

Hello friends,

It is Sunday and below zero in Illinois! Brrrr.... Woke up this morning and temp was -3 degrees (not including wind-chill) ! Monday, weather is calling for 2-3 in of more snow! Okay, Winter is beginning to get a little "old" now. Keep thinking every cold day is one more day closer to spring/summer - YEAH! Even, Oreo, my black lab doesn't want to go out -too cold for his paws.

So what am I working on, you ask? Well, it seems everyday I keep adding more and more projects to my UFO list(s). I keep seeing more and more adorable projects that I want to start, but I HAVE TO FINISH what I am currently working on. Which is? Bloomin' Rose Blocks, Leanne's House, Mini Blocks 1-3 and then 2-3 stitcheries I have started!! When am I going to find the time to do this? Maybe I could stretch the time during the day to be a little longer...if I find a way, I will let you know my secret:) Actually, nights are a great time for stitchery while watching TV and mornings are another great time (before everyone gets up) to work at my sewing machine - love that sweet sound of a humming sewing machine! Sooo much to do!

Just finished a really great book, too! "Choosen by a Horse" by Susan Richards - what a great read, especially if you love horses. Speaking of horses, rode "Americana" yesterday. She is half quarter horse, half thoroughbred, Chestnut and WOW can she move! "Americana" had me Cantoring yesterday, OH WHAT FUN! I love to ride her with an English Saddle, she is young and loves to fly me around her indoor riding ring. Her gallop is a little bouncy, but am learning how to direct her using my legs with pressure. I can't even wear my spurs on her, because she just needs a vocal command and off we go! What a pleasure to ride her, she is such a Gentle Giant of a Horse and so, so Beautiful. I feel so privileged to be sitting on her with her mane flying free! A Sweet Piece of Heaven, that is what I whisper in her ear (I think she really likes that name because she nuzzles her large nose into my shoulder) whenever I say that to her. Carrots help to!!

Better get back to sewing, oh and Laundry too!

"too often we under estimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around." --Leo Buscaglia

Monday, February 4, 2008

Good Morning and Happy Monday,

Yesterday, during Super Bowl, worked on Mini Blocks 2 and 3 of "Leanne's House". Just did a lot of cutting and today will sew them together. Love how these colors are coming together. Can't wait till I start the stitchery part!!!

Did not watch Super Bowl, except kept peeking in to see commercials!! My favorite was the Draft Horse and the Dog - I always pick the "warm your heart" commercials! Anyway, did enjoy the different commercials.

Got hit with another snow storm last night...took a picture this morning. My deck is slowly disappearing under all this snow! Great weather for all the snowboarders though!

Thought for the day: "Rarely do climbers stare up to see how far away the top still is. Instead, when they rest, the look down toward the starting point of their journey. The view they see assures them that they have already come a long, long way. Today, I will remember to face my climb with optimism". -quoted from a book called "Easy Does It".

Have a Great Day!

Mary

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Hi Everyone, I am currently working on Leanne's House BOM, Block One. I love the fabrics and threads! I am posting a picture of what it looks like now and then will post one, once I have Block One cut out.

Today is another extremely cold winter day!! Last night the wind blew so hard that it looked like we were having a blizzard, when all we got in snow was about 1 1/2 inches! It was a great night to snuggle up with a good book!! Finished "The Kite Runner" - great read!!

I keep checking in to see the development of the Fractured Quilt on Pat Sloan's webpage, can't wait to see how those quilts develop, waiving to all sloanies!

Well better get cutting!

Mary

Monday, January 28, 2008

Good Afternoon, OK I am trying to fix the header on my Blog and have decided to wait until my daughter gets home from school to try and shrink it! Have tried but now I want to throw my "mouse" out the window!!!!

Am behind today, so must get caught up on sewing and housework...don't you just love Mondays!?!?!

Hugs,

Mary

"It's believing in roses that makes them bloom." French Proverb excerp from "Heart of the Home" by Susan Branch

ITS THE WEEKEND, SUNDAY AT LAST!

THANK GOD for weekends!!

Today my oldest is Snow Boarding in Wisconsin. Praying she will come home in one piece! Today after finishing one of my stitcheries (I hope that is what you call them), I am going to start Block One of "Leanne's House BOM" by Leanne Beasley. I love all her work and everytime I go on her website, I can't help myself...I want to buy all of her patterns!! I am waiting for Butterfly Garden which I ordered a couple of weeks ago so better start on Leanne's House before I get to far behind.

Lisa and Tamara have added you to my fav's for blog sites!!

Will be hand sewing tonight! YEAH!!

Yesterday (Sat) was horseback riding and this time I got to ride my favorite horse, "Rocky"!! He really got into Cantering, loved it, loved it! He also loved the Carrots I brought him, but then had to feed ALL of his friends who poked their heads out of stalls to say "Hi" to me! (Went through 2 bags of large, whole, carrots) LOVE HORSES!!!

See you tomorrow, Mary

HAPPY THURSDAY!!!

Boy, it has been such a busy week! Couldn't seem to get back to my blog!?!!? Oh, well, here I am.

Currently working on Let it Snow Stitchery! Very cold here in Illinois. For last two days it has been snowing on and off. Looks like we are in the middle of Winter...want to get it over, then spring, then Summer will be here! Yea!!! The snow is pretty though, especially at night when all is quiet outside and a new layer of snow has been added, reminds me of "powdered sugar" you bake with. Soooo pretty!!!

Thanks for all the "Sloanie" comments!! Pat Sloan is back from Cruise! YEAH, we sure missed her!

"the artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place, from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper; from a passing shape, from a spider's web..." Atkinson.

I am going to try and add a pic of "let it snow" stitchery!

Keep sewin,

Hugs, Mary

Monday, January 21, 2008

Happy Monday! Everyone is off today, due to Holiday! 18 yr old Son and 14 yr old daughter are still in bed and Oreo my black lab is resting at my feet, so thought I would start my very own blog!

Things to do today:

Finish stitchery "Let It Snow"!! Feels appropriate to do since it is very chilly outside! Finish up laundry and hopefully get some reading in. Currently reading, "Kite Runner", very good book.

Met with girlfriends over the weekend, have seen in a couple of years. Had a great time. The saying is true, "Girlfriends are good for the soul"!! It is sooo nice to see old friends and "catch" up!

Life is good! Thank you God!!

This is my first blog entry for the New Year! More to come...

Keep Quiltin' & In Stitches!!

Mary