Here is my third block from the Christmas Story quilt that Melanie www.jellybeanangel2.blogspot.com and I are doing together. I'm having serious doubts about my choice of fabrics. I'm using scraps from a bag of imported french fabrics. But boy oh boy - is this ever busy.

a ufo finished!

I took a class a while ago at my local quilt shop. The premise is to make intricate blocks, that at least for me would never have matching points. You can achieve these elusive matching points with an interesting method using all squares. Even though there is a more waste than usual doing this method all of my blocks were accurate. Bring on the quilt police. The woman who taught the class has since published a book about it http://www.americanquilter.com/books_supplies/item_detail.php?id=8024. I made one top (another ufo) and started this one, which I am happy to say is done.

Welcome Chookyblue

Did you hear, Donna from Chookyblue is doing a virtual blog tour. It seems that Chookyblue went on a real trip and helped (forced?) some of her friends to get out their ufo's and work on them. After reading some of her friends comments in the aftermath of her visits a clever person suggested that she come to all of our houses and help (make) us finish our ufo's.
So Donna when you get to Cary, North Carolina http://www.townofcary.org/New_to_Cary_/About_Cary_272.htm (voted one of the best small cities 2006 and the best place to live 2004 by Money Magazine). You may think it's a bit on the boring side. And you'll be right. But it's a good boring - a nice town and a good place to raise a family. If we want more excitement we can go into Raleigh or Durham.

When you first arrive at my house

We can sit for a while and discuss our plans

my mother's antique sampler hangs in my kitchen, we'll have a glass (or several of sweet tea)

Every morning starts with a 4 mile walk here. I spend a lot of time watching the wildlife while I walk and listening to my ipod, but I'll unplug and we can chat.




After the walk, back home to work on my ufo pile - yes please I'd could use a bit of help and some focus.
Next I think we need to go shopping first it's off to Joann's a big chain store but they have some cute fabric, then on to the local quilt shops we have several here. One of my favorite's www.plainandsimplequiltshop.net just had a big honor this shop will be featured in the May 11th issue of American Patchwork and Quilting Quilt Sampler edition.
My other favorite - very sweet and welcoming - I've been going here for years.

There are more farther out in Raleigh but these two are my favorites.



The cat, the dog, the kids - you'll need to go somewhere quiet after my house.

A few months ago Karen www.messykaren.blogspot.com (aka: Messy Karen) sent me some scraps with the instructions to have fun. This is what I came up with. It was such a nice little surprise and I certainly did have fun. Thank you Karen.

Not much sewing going on that I'm ready to show. I've started some spring cleaning this week, my thinking is who wants to clean in the spring - not me so I'm doing it now. I'm working on cleaning out each and every closet and drawer before I even start the actual cleaning part. I've also been working on binding some ufo's and spent a few hours just cutting out some patterns.

Have you all seen this post www.chookyblue.blogspot.com , ? Chookyblue (you know her - she does the very spectacular Christmas swap that quilters from around the world participate in). This weekend I'm going to take some pictures for her virtual blog trip and post them on my blog. I'm really excited to see where some of the people who commented live (the French Alps and Milan seem so much more interesting than North Carolina).
And because I need a picture here's the second pan of brownies I made in 24 hours.

Perfect recipe for brownies found here (March 3 post):
www.deliciousnessofyum.blogspot.com ,

A New Name!

I never liked the name of my blog. I think it makes me sound angry, a little crazy and not too happy. So I've been thinking about new upbeat, happier names. I was looking at a book that I have reread many times. In fact I read it every summer. Anyway I saw a line in it and I thought - "that's it". I had to put a hyphen instead of a comma. But that's okay. Everytime I type it in I'll think of my favorite book and the hours over the years I've spent reading it. Anyone guess the name of the book?


There are generous people in blogland who share, tips,patterns, tutorials and ... recipes! Thank you Stephanie www.loftcreations.blogspot.com for sharing this recipe. I made your chocolate chip coffe cake for the kids when they got home and they ate it as soon as it came out of the oven, before I could take a picture of the whole cake. A new family favorite.
Block one of the Bunny Hill Designs - Rabbit's Prefer embroidery done!