STOP WITH THE QUILTING ALREADY!!!!!!!

And so I did.........I stopped quilting for a day!

I made this instead!!!!!

My Patty Cake Pincushion was sewn using MORE of my precious little crumbs!

It measures about 7 1/2" round. What better time could be spent surrounded by your

own fabric you made (see previous post), Yo Yos, rick rack some polka dots and a cute little vintage covered button used as a cherry on top?????

QUILTER DOWN!!! QUILTER DOWN!!!

HEY....I may be down, but I'm not out!!!! For some unknown reason something happened to MY BACK last Tuesday!!! OUCH!!! It's been a mystery, but maybe vigorously shaking out those 10 blankets on the back porch may have had something to do with it....???? I'm not able to do much, I'm soooo mad, there are tons of things I need to be doing!!!

SO........I made some of these!!!!!!!

The only place my back feels better is sitting in my sewing chair with the ole heating pad. Not a bad spot to perch whilst I try to mend!!

Out comes my crumb bin! And boy do I ever have me some crumbs!!!!! I finally figured out I think the main reason I make quilts is so I can have scraps and crumbs to play!!! HA! ( no seriously)!

And when I say 'crumbs' I mean CRUMBS!!! I know some of you may think I'm crazy, but I save anything that will hold a seam all the way around and still have 'some'......yes, I said 'some' of the fabric showing. OK ANNIEO stop rolling your eyes!!!

Those 'crumbs' can quickly become larger pieces like these. LOOK...LOOK how cute they all play together! I usually keep some of these blocks made up, they are great for potholders and such. I make them 8 1/2".

Before you know it you can have THIS!!! If I sew the blocks all together with no sashing this is what I would get. I. LIKE.

This piece of fabric I made measures about 25" x 25". I am amazed that alllll those tiny pieces can turn into something that makes my heart sing so!!!!

Mr. Brown Dirt just stood at my design wall and was just mesmerized and in awe of those teeny tiny pieces that were mixed in! He likes it too!!!!

Check my sidebar under CRUMB THERAPY to read more about my CRUMB THERAPY/FABRIC MAKING.....I've enjoyed MAKING FABRIC since 2008!!!

..........it's snowing!

Scrappy Trips

I am just W-A-Y crazy over these Trips Around The World Blocks!! This is what we are making for our November BLOCK LOTTO. I made 9 blocks this time to enter in the drawing. These blocks were made using 2 1/2" strips I had saved up in my scrap bins. Your strips only need to be 16" long and your finished block with be 12". The pattern was taken from one of Bonnie Hunters tutorials on her QUILTVILLE website.

One of the main reasons I LOVE this block is it's versatility. You can get totally different quilt looks by just playing around and re-arranging your layouts as you can see in the different photos.

This is one of my favorite layouts along with the layout of the first photo I posted.

These blocks are VERY easy to make, but require a little more extra time than most blocks but I think they are WELL WORTH IT!!

I HOPE I WIN THIS MONTH!!!!!!!

Down Memory Lane with Bonnie Hunter

First quilts are always fun to see and to use as a comparison as to how far we have come. Some first quilts are comical and then some are quite grand and impressive. I think mine falls somewhere down towards the comical.

Bonnie Hunter over at Quiltville Blog has put up a link for anyone wanting to share their first quilts. She has a great post sharing about her first quilt!

Here is a photo of my first quilt (in the process of being finished). You can go HERE to read all about it. Finish photos also included!

Run over to Bonnie's blog and check out the other quilts......add your link too!

WHO CARES...!!!...???

I DON'T...!!!! It hit me the other day and I literally stopped in my tracks and actually said out loud "WHO CARES"???? Who cares how many Q.U.I.P.'s I have??? In laymen's terms that is Quilts In Progress!!

I just couldn't stop beating myself up every time I wanted to start or try out a new pattern I would come across. I continually scolded myself and pledged NOT start anything else UNTIL I finished EVERY project that was piling up!! NO NO NO I would tell myself.

Most of my Q.U.I.P.'s don't need a whole lot to be finished. Some I get bogged down on finding or having the right borders or backing fabric. Some just need to be "sandwiched". I have 2 right now that are sandwiched, basted and just need to be quilted. I am "hand quilting" on one right now that will be slow going. One quilt I am thinking about sending out to be quilted, but the "jury" is still out on that one, after all, I REALLY REALLY would like to do them all myself. BUT, as the Q.U.I.P.'s pile grows I may be forced to let someone else quilt some of them.....wah wah wah!!!

I've decided not to fret on it anymore!! I WILL eventually get them all done!!

The WINNER of my little guessing game in my previous post about HOW MANY of these Q.U.I.P's I have IS......JANET O......the VERY FIRST commenter!!!! My mouth dropped open to the floor when the very first commenter guessed the exact amount I have which if 22!!!! Ok.....there, I said it....22! Interestingly, it really didn't hurt that bad to say it out loud. After all, some of you who guessed fessed up to how many you have and several of you have W-A-Y more than me!! LOLOL

Way to go Janet, we'll get together on your mailing address so I can mail you YOUR PRIZE for being such a good guesser. WAY TO GO JANET from Rogue Quilter Blog.

SOOOOO.....WHO CARES??? RIGHT???? I am right...aren't I???

Leaders and Enders Flimsy Finish

YEP.......I've added another one to the PILE!!! I used Bonnie Hunter's Leader/Ender method to finally get this little flimsy created. It is her Basket-Weave-Strings quilt. I started this project way back HERE and I gave the instructions and a little tutorial on how I started it. This is a GREAT way to use up those pesky little strips and strings left over from other projects. I threw in a little bit of everything as I've shown in the following photos. I used a paper piece for my foundation and these blocks measure 5 inches.

This green strip is a LETTUCE print Mr. Brown Dirt bought me a Christmas or so ago. I did point it out to him that I was indeed using some of the fabric he gave me.

BUTTERFLIES outlined in some garish gold. The white with the blue design next to them is some cut up mens boxer shorts! Har har har!!!
OINK! OINK! Mr. Porky Pig jumped right in too!!!

I'm not sure how/where/when I ended up with this little tad of PINK FLAMINGO! Notice the AFTERNOON TEA selvedge in the upper right hand corner!

A-N-D these UGLY EASTER EGGS!!!!!

So SEE, this is an EXCELLENT way to get some OR ALL of those numerous and UGLY strips and strings out of your way!!! It's like getting a quilt for FREE!!!!! It was easy and mindless and I plan on doing another one or two. I could control the colors in the next one....Maybe RED WHITE and BLUE!!!

As I mentioned in the beginning about adding to the PILE, yes, I went through and rounded up ALL my Q.U.I.P.S......that's Quilts In Progress. I was amazed when I discovered how many I had. I should be ashamed!!! Do you care to make a guess as to how many I have PILED in the closet???? There might be a little prize if you guess it right!!

COTTON HARVEST is in full swing. Mr. Brown Dirt is already anxious for it to be over and I think he'll get his wish. Last year we harvested around 1800 bales of cotton and this year with the drought we will harvest only around 500 to 700 bales. Quite a difference indeed, but never fear, we always have CROP INSURANCE. Read about how we HARVEST right HERE.

Just to keep you informed.....COTTON PRICES are around $ 1.00 a pound right now. Mr. Brown Dirt says it will probable fall some before the year end. I WONDER if those FABRIC PRICES will fall some this year too???????????

3 Word Wednesday

QUIETLY

S-L-O-W-L-Y

QUILTING

12 of 12 FINISHED and A QUESTION

YIPPEE...WOO HOO...WOWZER and all that good stuff!!! I actually finished all 12 of the 12 blocks on my FIRST ever really truly ALL HAND APPLIQUED quilt!!!!!! I just had to put them up on the ole design wall to check them out!!! I must say I. LIKE.

You can go HERE to read how it all started!

I used the vinyl over-lay and needle turn method this go around, but there are some other methods out there I would like to try NEXT TIME. YES, there will be some more hand applique in my future.

OK, here's my question: these blocks are 20" in size. How in the world do I square them up or trim them down without having to buy one of those $60.00 dollar, over 20" rulers??????????

No Shopping Around Here

Would you believe me if I told you the following items are THE ONLY sewing/quilty things I have purchased since FEBRUARY?????Just a little ole marking pen and some bees wax for my thread when I'm hand appliqueing.

AND THIS PATTERN!!!! OH be still my heart!!!! COG & WHEEL LOVE!!!

Yep, I've kind of been on a fabric strike. The average price farmers got for their cotton this past year was 84 cents a lb.......NOT the 1.50 the market was showing. You can check with the DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE to verify. Yes, some farmers did receive the higher prices, but MOST farmers had CONTRACTED their cotton before it was harvested.

COTTON HERE AT BROWN DIRT COTTAGE RECEIVED .75 CENTS A LB.

My local fabric store had already started MARKING UP their prices BEFORE we had even started harvest.

SOOOOO, I have been a little MIFFED at a LOT of those who used the news media and the price of the 1.50 a lb. the market guys were touting as an EXCUSE TO MARK UP THEIR PRICES ON OUR FABRICS!!!!!

OK......I'll get down from my soap box...........WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON??????

Hurt Feelings....

Have you ever been working on a quilt or quilty project for someone and somewhere during the process they said or did something that hurt your feelings???? What did you do???

Did you ignore the hurt feelings and continue with the project and give the gift as was first intended OR did you quit and stop the project all together???? Well, this is what happened to me this past weekend!!!

Go here to see the quilty project I have been working on lately for my brother.

I called him this past weekend to try and tease him about his birthday gift I had been working on....NO, he was NOT interested. He was COLD, hurtful and let me know real quick he didn't WANT any gifts of any kind from me. He wasn't joking, he was short and curt with me!!

We did not have an easy life growing up!!! He being the oldest probable felt the cruelest aspect of it all! AS for ME, well, I was the only girl AND the true focus of our step father's abnormal affections!!! All and all, he and I being the two oldest SHARE the same life long effects of our childhood and those affects still cry out on occasion!!!

To make a l-o-n-g story short......MR. BROWN DIRT came to the rescue and told me..." Your brother can not help it.....he is not to blame for a lot of his feelings and actions....you are the only outlet he has for a lot of his frustrations....Just finish his quilt and send it to him...maybe it will help mend his heart"...............SO, I will....being sad and all.....I will finish what I started......but, I sure had the wind/fun of making his quilt knocked out of me!

Getting Started Is Half The Battle

I've been collecting gently used recycled plaid shirts. I've had an idea for a quilt floating around in my ole noggin' for a while now.

Nice pile I have here to work with don't you think!!?

I began cutting 2 x 4 inch strips.......scattering the various pieces where I wanted them...BUT, I wasn't happy with how it was turning out. It looked so good in my mind!!! In real life it was just too boring!!

Sooooooo, I got jiggy with it!!! I thought some cute little stars were in order, I did those first and still thought all the pieces were too small and really busy and needed a little more contrast in the size of the blocks. I thumbed through one of my Bonnie Hunter/Quiltville books and decided on some of her UNION SQUARE blocks. They measure 12 inches. PERFECT!!!!

NOW......I think I'm on the right track don't ya think!!?? I rearranged some and I may rearrange again before I finish it!!

This quilt will be for my brother. He lives in COLORADO and I thought the plaids would be fitting for a MOUNTAIN MAN!! HA!

Cute Surprise

Lookee what I got in the mail today!!! This CUTE CUTE CUTE little postcard!! What can I say.....I love it!!! My friend Julie over at Joe Tulips blog is a MASTER at making all things CUTE!!! She modge podged this up and sent it from Iowa to all the way down here to TEXAS! Click on her blog link above and go over and see how she makes these! THANKS JULIE!!!!

Here are the blocks I sewed up for the Block Lotto this month. It's just about time for the drawing. Maybe I'll win!!!!!

And here is a recent photo of the ole GOOBER dog. He's looking all serious and stuff.....don't you think????

Be Careful What You Wish For

You just might get what you wish for if you wait long enough! And waiting might be a good thing. Remember that ole saying that "good things come to those who wait!!! WEll, good things came my way!!!!!

When you get what you waited for it might include A LOT of this!!! Sewing on papers and THEN removing all those papers!!!

It might also include separating out 12 months of blocks into their individual units!!

Because you waited there may be a TON of ironing and ironing AND ironing!!!!!! Lots of little tiny pieces to this project!

But look what you got for all that waiting!!! In January '2010' , I really really wanted to do this Susan Garman block of the month when EVERYONE else was doing it, after all, I am sooooo crazy for STARS!!! In fact, it was so popular Nedra over at the Cactus Needle set up a blog dedicated to just this STAR CRAZY block of the month that was featured on the Quilt Show! I think I had other things going at the time and I just didn't bring myself to buy the $225.oo+ kit at the time!! I was soooooo crazy over the fabrics in this project that I really wanted the kit. Could you hear my whining way over there in St. George Nedra?????

Well LO and BEHOLD Quilters Special had a 'special' on this monthly kit back in January of THIS year for 1/2 off!!! Yep....'cause I WAITED, I got this kit.....fabric (which was 23 yards and averaged around $5.oo-ish per yard.....printed pattern and all for

around $12o.oo-ish. KAPOW!!! What a deal!!!!!!

One of my favorite blocks so far! Isn't this amazing what I got for just waiting!!!! I have 6 months of this quilt done! Only 6 more monthly units left to do!!! YIPPEEEEE!!!!

DANG....I LOVE THIS QUILT.....'cause after all, I'm allllll about STARS!

Have You Ever......?????

I HAVE!!!! I've done it numerous times, in fact, I do it ALL THE TIME!!! I've done it outside.......I've done it in my swim suit and I've even done it in my night gown. I especially like to do it in my fancy flip flops........and I look really good doing it when my toenails are painted up cute!!!

I wash my hair outside with the garden hose!!!!!! Yep, I do!!! OK, I know you can see that my shampoo there is for colored hair. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!!!

Shampoo.........Rinse............Repeat..........

WOW...........THAT'S BRISK BABY!!!!!!!

....... with this heat...... my hair is steaming under my towel and I'll be dry and done in about 10 minutes..................now.......doesn't that feel better!!!

This is as dangerous as I'll be living today Joe Tulips!!!!!

Learning Something New

YES....I'm learning/teaching myself to hand applique! Here are 8 of the 12 blocks I have done so far!

Over a year ago I bought this kit from Piece O Cake for just 30.00 dollars!! Can you believe it!!! I was drawn to this pattern for it's old fashion look and feel AND for the great price! It also looked like an easy one for me to start with.

I am using the Piece O Cake way by just needle turning.....BUT... I have seen some other very interesting ways to do hand applique that I am soooo anxious to try! I haven't pressed any of the blocks yet and I hope all those little pin holes will disappear....aarrrgghh! I am using the tiny sequin pins they suggest!

These blocks are 20 inches! I must say it has been difficult for me at times getting all that fabric wadded up in one hand so I can keep it flat/smooth and easy to stitch. I have come to realize that solid fabrics show every little flaw as well.

But LOOKEE......here are blocks 9 & 10 of the 12.......yippee, I'm getting closer to a finish, and believe it or not I knew exactly how I was going to HAND quilt it before I even started, that is usually a big hold up for me in getting some of my quilts finished. I LOVE this quilt!!!!

Here are just a few of my Hand Applique Hereos:

Susan from SueGarman.blogspot.com

Janet from Quiltsalott.blogspot.com

Teresa from Fabrictherapy.blogspot.com.......Teresa has a fabulous 3 part tutorial on her process....go HERE to read about it!

Carrie from Apassionforapplique.blogspot.com

Go check out these gals and see the FABULOUS work they do!!! They are AMAZING!