A productive(though expensive) day

OK, my day started out innocently enough. My sewing machine dealer (domestic machine) called to say the eyelet punches I had ordered were in...finally. I ordered these when Mary was here in Jan.....they were backordered. So I go to the dealer this morning to pick them up. We use these to punch the holes for buttons and brads on our postcards. They work better than anything we have tried. They have a cutting edge, rather than just a point, so it goes effortlessly thru the fabric/batting and peltex. I ordered 4. I get there and they have 2. OK, so I take the 2 they have and tell them I still want the other 2 and to call me when they come in. OK, so I'm all the way out there, so I might as well go to Michael's while I'm out this way.
Aren't these brads cute?! They'll go great with the musical instrument charms I have for a musically inspired postcard. I bought other brads and letters and such...these were the cutest.

And then on my way back home again, I have to go right by the bead store....oh boy...I'm in trouble now! LOL. Well as fate would have it, they were having a huge sale of their myuki bead mixes....oh my! Well, this is just a small sampling of what came home with me. Aren't they pretty?

And then a stop at JoAnn's before heading back over the bridge to home, for a bolt of peltex.

Out of some weird sense of dignity, I won't share this week's joggles purchase. A girl's got to have some secrets :)

Have a great night!

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A new finish

I have been working on Mary's quilt, but my eyes needed a break, so I loaded this client quilt. She made it with civil war reproduction fabrics. She is an excellent piecer and does beautiful hand applique. I used Renae's arcs for the curved crosshatching. Good tools make the job so much easier! This has Quilters' Dream Blend batting and I used Superior So Fine thread # 402.

Now I'll load Mary's again and work on it a little more.

Have a great evening!

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Thanks Mother!

Mother has been bitten by the postcard bug too! Look what she sent me in today's mail... isn't it cute!
And on a work note, for those longarmers out there....Renae's amazing arcs are very versatile tools. And I found another use for them... I am using them today to do quick, easy, no mark curved crosshatching in these pineapples. Gota love good tools! Makes the work easier.

And that's it for tonight...we went with friends to a Mexican restaurant for dinner...very good...but I'm stuffed and done for the night!

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Wow, it's been a week since I posted last! It's been hotter than snot here....near the 90's all week. All little early for that, even around here!

At any rate, I've been keeping busy. This is a piece of tyvek (soft structure) that I painted today with Lumiere. I am teaching a textures class soon and I need to get some new samples made. So this is the first step.

And here we have the latest loot from joggles....wool felt, and lots of colors!
And I've already used some it making this postcard! Actually, I made 2, mailed one off to my SIL and kept this one for myself for now, anyway. Nice and summery!
And the rest of the photos show some of the pieces I will be using in my Textures sample. This is warm and white batting, painted with dye na flow in 2 colors. This makes great appliques...it doesn't ravel so the edges don't need to be finished and it is soft and had a wonderful textural feel. Looks great cut with a decorative edge blade. I usually cut my applique pieces and stitch them down as I quilting. Quilts up beautifully and a dream to bead!

These are pieces of peltex, also painted with dye na flow. Again great for applique , good texture, no ravel. A little firmer than the batting, but still stitches and beads easily.

And of course I couldn't throw the leftovers away, so I dunked some cheesecloth! Then it all went out into the sun to dry. Cause in case you didn't know the sun intensifies dye na flow colors.

I've also done a little quilting and gardening to this week. Now to go catch up on my blog reading!

Have a great night.

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Another thought on a sad note

In my last post I mentioned the death of pets. It is a very difficult time for anyone going through it. And the time leading up to it is probably even harder. So, I want to post a poem written to address that difficult time. For those of you who have dealt with this or will deal with this issue, I hope it helps.

The Last Battle

If it should be that I grow frail and weak,
And pain should keep me from my sleep,
Then, will you do what must be done,
For this--the last battle--can't be won.

You will be sad, I understand,
But don't let grief then stay your hand,
For on this day, more than the rest,
Your love and friendship MUST stand the test.

We've had so many happy years,
You wouldn't want me to suffer so,
When the time comes, please let me go.

Take me to where my needs they'll tend,
Only, stay with me till the end.
And hold me firm and speak to me,
Until my eyes no longer see.

I know in time you will agree,
It is a great kindness you do for me.

Although my tail its last, has waved,
From pain and suffering I have been saved.

Don't greive that it must be you,
Who has to decide this thing to do;
We've been so close--we two--these years,
Don't let your heart hold any tears.

author unknown.


For Sidney, Ira, Boudreaux, and Jingle Bell....We love you still, and always will.


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Been busy

Been a few days since my last post. I'm still here...just busy. With Mary's quilt, working on our garden, guild responsibilities, family stuff, and the stuff that we deal with as we get older...generally, life. And yes, all that stuff is definitely better than the alternative!



Sadly, today my SIL's beloved kitty, Jingle Bell died. He was only15, but had cancer. He was so deeply loved, and will be missed terribly. It made me useless today, as it brought back all the pain of our loss of Sidney and Ira not all that long ago. But, they are all together now, no longer in pain or debilitated; waiting for us to join them. And join them we will when it is our time.

And, it made me very thankful for the 2 baby fluff balls that now share our life.


And on a lighter note:
Friday, I received Janet's postcard. A may birthday girl; she did her rendition of the Wizard of Oz emerald city. Love the glasses Janet. Great job!

And today's mail brought Margie's postcard. Another May baby, Margie's card celebrates green of all kinds...flowers veggies, jewels, cats' eyes, and in general, the renewal of spring. Beautiful Margie.

Thank you both for beautiful cards.

And, just to report...yesterday was Sunday....Joggles newsletter day! Can you imagine what I did?? Yes, I read the newsletter. Did it stop there? NO....but I was good this week(relatively speaking); I only spent $37.95 :)

Have a good night!

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Shopping AGAIN!

I have been quite bad yet again! But first let me show you what I received from my MQR secret sister today! Luscious fabrics..with kitties, of course, a "scratch" pad..yes, that is a pun...LOL. And beads....do ya think she knows of my bead fetish??? And then, if all that wasn't enough, a package of toys for my babies! How thoughtful is that?! And I'll tell you, they are playing with some of them already and loving them! Thank you so much, dear secret sister, for wonderful, thoughtful gifts.

If you didn't notice, she also sent a postcard she made...it arrived today, separately from the package. She claims it is her first.... hard to believe.... it is fabulous! Thank you for all you have done.

And, now to the shopping part.... for some reason, I seem to be unable to just READ the Sunday joggles newsletter. I always have to buy something. It's very hard though when every Sunday you get this newsletter telling of all the wonderful stuff that's new this week! Yes, I know...I have a disease...LOL!!!

But this is the last of the felting molds....cute, huh?

But my big find this week..also from joggles is this book. Absolutely wonderful! Although it is geared to painting, all of the exercises easily translate to fabric or mixed media. I think this is the best single buy I've made in a while.

Not only does the book have wonderful insight, explanations, and creative exercises, it comes with these "card decks" Whenever you need to stimulate your muse, just pick a card or 3. There are 3 sets, 1 called "doors of awareness" gives themes or subjects for an exercise, 1 called "circles of growth" gives color suggestions, and the other called"windows of opportunity" gives

techniques or approaches that force you to think in new ways. Basically you shuffle the decks and choose 1 card from each. You can make it as simple or complex as you like.

Learning to think and create in new ways is always something valuable.

And a good way to jump start the flow of new ideas when I'm stuck or in a rut. I'm sure this will prove to be a very valuable asset to me.

A great mail day for me!

Have a great night!

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