Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Howdy Neighbors!


 
Hello and welcome.  Marlene over at Stitchin By The Lake has been posting a weekly series introducing other blogs so we can get to know our bloggy neighbors.  If you have come to visit via Marlene, then thank you and make sure to enjoy your visit.
How about I just share a little bit about myself?
I have been a pediatric nurse for years.  I have worked in the Pediatric ICU, Labor and Delivery, Pediatric Oncology, and currently in the Pediatric Operating room at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore.  I love taking care of kids and their families.  However, when I'm not at work, I want to spend all of my time in my sewing room making quilts.  I am constantly rearranging my sewing space and trying to find the magic formula for staying tidy and organized.  Somebody needs to smack me on the head and clue me in that it just ain't gonna happen. 
Here is a picture of my sewing room midway through it's most recent renovation.  Yup!  The floor is spotted.  So now you know I am a little wacky.  Since this picture, I have put wooden blinds on the windows and I have big sliding doors on the closet to the left.  They are covered with cork and batting so I can use them as my design wall.  I moved the light fixture too.  I love this space and spend a lot of time here.
 
 
 
I live on a family farm and all of my neighbors are family.  A couple of weeks ago, I looked out front and there was a HUGE flock of birds out front.  What a ruckus.
 
 
Out back we have trees.  The last few years have been hard on the trees.  Twice we have had little tornados come through and take out a few trees (with our power lines).  This past fall, Hurricane Sandy blew this one over.  I just happened to be standing at the kitchen door and saw it go over.  So lucky it fell the way it did.
 
Oh yeah, it was a big one!
 
 
Like most quilters, I have UFOs.  This year I have committed to trying to get a few done in addition to just having fun trying new things.  A few years ago I started this quilt along and got 36 of these round blocks done.  All hand appliqued, eesh!  Last week I sewed four of them together, again by hand.  I am SO SO tempted to just finish it up by machine.  Until I decide, I'm just going to leave these on the design wall to taunt me.
 
Here is another UFO whose days are numbered.  I usually refer to it as 'The Orb quilt' and I found the pattern here.  I didn't intend for it to be so dark so I stalled.  Very soon I will commit to some kind of border and git er done.
 
 
Another plan for this year is to keep playing with my scraps and use them up.   Lol, ha ha ha ha, guffaw guffaw!  Use them up!  Good grief,  let's just settle with using them.  I put this top together a couple weeks ago using this tutorial.  So much fun and shockingly easy.

 
I picked out these fabrics for borders and can't wait to get it finished.

 
I am also having a love affair with half square triangles.  I finally got this wallhanging funished and hung.  Two inch finished HSTs.  The wall is pale yellow and now I think it needs to be painted.

 
I am weak when it come to fabric.  I have such a hard time resisting.  In the past month, I have gone on two delightful daytrips with some pals to the Lancaster, PA area where there are awesome quilt shops.  Great prices just add to the fun.  Wanna see what I got?
 

 I seriously consider this yellow dot to be a neutral.  I think it goes with anything.
 
 
I love the Tammis Keefe tribute fabrics by Michael Miller.  I had to have this.
 

 
Text fabric.  Gotta have some at all times.
 
 
Couldn't resist.  Just couldn't.  I mean, seriously........... lime green, crosswords, and the school tablet stripes.  Delicious!
 
 
Mod.   
Enuff said.
 
 
Oh my!
 
 
I want to pet this.
 
 
And this.
 
 
And while I'm at it, let's just throw in a few fat quarters. 
 

So now you know a little bit about me.  What I like to make and what kind of fabrics I like.  And here's a few more fast facts....just because.
 
-we have 4 cats (and one doesn't have a tail)
- I can't whistle
- I am a Ravens fan, whoop whoop!
-I read every single night before I go to sleep.
- I can wiggle my ears, and so can BOTH of my kids.
 
Thanks for coming by to visit.  Toodles!
 





18 comments:

  1. Love your dotty floor! Oh, all that fabric goodness all over - those being played with and those waiting it's turn! Welcome to the neighborhood. Oh, we are an ear wiggling family too.

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  2. Nice to meet you neighbor. It was fun to take a tour around your farm, and see some of your UFO's.

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  3. Nice to meet you, neighbor! I love your wall hanging, and your choices of fabrics. Beautiful! Your sewing room is wonderful and bright - who wouldn't want to spend time there?! And your property is gorgeous.

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  4. I can't wiggle my ears, but I do share a love of quilting with you. I can see where quilting would be a great release after stressful days in your profession. That's awesome! Your orb quilt reminds me of vinyl records! Thanks for sharing.

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  5. Hi Neighbor!
    Yup, Marlene sent me over. Thanks for the tour. I love your sewing room floor. We may be kindred spirits! I too am in the process of trying to finish UFOs this year and have that same weakness for fabric! Have a wonderful day!
    ~Jeanne

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  6. Ok, so I was a little sad when I heard you all went to PA and I missed out on the fun but after seeing the fabric you bought I am seriously sad! Beautiful! I love the blue with the dots and that lined paper fabric! I might have to take a ride on Saturday!! I can't wait to see your finishes throughout the year. And the picture of the field with the birds is awesome!

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  7. Greetings from Canada! Where to begin? I love your round blocks, the colours are to die for, and your quilt from the previous post is stunning. Sharing the felled tree is heartbreaking, thankfully it did go the opposite way :)
    I really like your sewing space as well, the floor is awesome!
    Thank you for letting us take a peek inside :)

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  8. :)
    I'm an ear wiggler too! :) Sadly the 'gift' skipped my children, hopping someday my grandchildren can wiggle their ears. :)

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  9. Lisa this was just a wonderful post! I'm jealous of your trip to PA...I've only been once but I'm going back next year and can hardly wait. And I enjoyed the quick peek of your sewing room. I added wooden blinds to mine this last month too. I've been visiting your blog a long time but I learned a lot about you today! blessings, marlene

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  10. How delightful! I'm so glad I stopped by on visiting day! Your projects are amazing--and you've learned some fun techniques doing them.
    Happy stitching!
    Liz

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  11. Visiting by way of Stitchin by the Lake. As a parent of a child who spent time in a PICU (and NICU), I have to say thanks for all you do.

    I love the crossword puzzle fabric, too!

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  12. Love all your pretties! Love your sense of humor too. ;) good luck with the scrap busting. I wish I could pet your fabric thru the computer--so pretty! Thanks! vickise at gmail dot com

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  13. Wish I'd gone shopping with you... I'd have bought exactly what you bought, and maybe double of the yellow dot!And I love the shops in Lancaster area, though I don't get there anymore from FL. Great projects, and the Orb is really intriguing. Hope you'll finish that one and show us the result. Quite unique.

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  14. Good afternoon Lisa - sure loved looking at all of your new treasure fabrics. Do you have a hard time cutting into them? I think I would.
    Lovely visit. Judy C in NC

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  15. I enjoyed reading that! You amaze me with how much sewing you get done each week. And I loved seeing your latest purchases. Good luck with all the projects.

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