Ta-Daaaah!!! Chickens.

Over a year ago, I found this book and HAD to have it! Each block represents a different chicken recipe, and the recipe is included. I thought it would be fun if the Wild Threads made a block each month and made the dish too, to eat at our meeting. We got through four months. Oh well. I kept up with my blocks though, and here is my top finally finished! I really like the setting and I'm glad I put the effort into the dark flanges around each block to set it off.

This is Chicken Divan. I used an embroidered corduroy for the sofa. Notice the empty chocolate box on the floor, and the book is 'The Sky Fell' by C. Little. Tooooo funny!
Chicken Caesar!

Stewed Chicken!
Hawaiian Chicken!

Chicken a la King!! This one really cracks me up! I put beads on his crown.

Chicken Chow Mein!

Chicken soup.

Southern Fried Chicken!

Chicken gumbo! My friend Cheryl made this block with the chickens feet hanging out of the pot. It looks great, I wish I had thought of that.

Chicken Italiano!

Chicken Cacciatore! Get it? Catch, cacciatore? Hee hee.

Chicken in a basket!

Aren't these the cutest and funniest blocks? I hope Linda Huber and Bonnie Collins come up with another fun pattern to make. I'll pick a backing from my stash this week and then I need help with quilting ideas, so start thinking please.

UFOs part 2, and Final

Have you missed me? Sorry, I have apparently been in a slump, and I have figured out why. For about 4 months before the holidays, all of my creativity was about finishing things for Christmas and gifts. Whenever I saw something that I wanted to try, I would tell myself that I could do it in January. Then I had to go and make that resolution about finishing things up. I really like to get my 'chores' out of the way before having fun so I have been staring down at all of these projects, bleh. This first one is 2 inch apple cores all hand pieced. I was going great guns on it for a while then stalled when I tried to decide how big to go. It is also a charm quilt, no fabric is used twice. I really like this project but I'm OK with it waiting a while. Next, I have a couple of stray paper pieced blocks. Carol Doak visited our guild and I took her workshop, making the block on the left. Then, for fun, I made the one on the right. I really love them but their final destination is undecided. Pillows? Maybe. Or maybe I'll take Bumble Beans advice and try a kitchen sink quilt some time.
And these lovelies have been parked on my design wall for at least 2 years! I haven't even stitched the applique down. Shame, shame, shame Lisa!!! I do see completion for these this year though, I mean it.

And now! One of my favorites. Crazy chickens! Each block represents a chicken recipe. The Wild Threads started this project as a BOM, and every month we made the recipe to go with that month's block. We didn't get very far, who knew there were so many people who aren't fond of chickens? I am the only one who made all 12. I've been putting this top together for 2 days now. Tomorrow, I will show it off, with closer pictures of these chicks.

Here is a quilt top that lost his way. I love Kaffe Fassett fabrics and have quite a lot. A year and a half ago, I took it all on retreat and just started cutting and stitching. It's quite big and now I just need to decide on a border (or not) and 'git er done'.Next item on the menu is a Round Robin. It started with the 3-d flowers in the center (that's my block) and the rest was added by the Wild Threads. This was a fun challenge and I love being able to identify my friends' style in their contributions. I just need to let this marinate a little longer before I decide where it's headed.

And man oh man is this an old project. The center is fused and very STIFF! I'm done with it!! This is going to the Wild Thread UFO swap and someone else can have it.
This is from a bunch of leftover half square triangles. I have been planning for a long time to put a few borders on it and make it a lap quilt. It will probably become one of the quilts I plan to make to have on hand as an unexpected gift.

Last but not least, this is from a batik block swap. Organized by a friend of mine, 9 people from my guild used all batiks and swapped blocks every month. Unfortunately, one person dropped out without telling us for months or finding a replacement. This swap wobbled and sputtered and limped along to the end. We all pitched in and made extras and tried to keep it all going. We made it to the end and gave our organizer a gift for her HUGE effort. I will finish this quilt this year because it really is pretty. So there you have it. Lisa's unfinished objects. I have more but I'm sick of thinking and talking about them, so I will stop. I think I will head back to the chicken coop and work on my birds. Tomorrow, I will unveil the finished top. Bye-bye!!

Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative quilt is done!

My little quilt, 'Tearful Broken Heart' is done. I tried to quilt little teardrop shapes all over it and they turned out 'so so'. To draw attention away from my quilting, I embroidered little red tears over the quilt. Hope it works, lol. This was fun to make and I have some ideas for some others I would like to make. Hopefully I will get this in the mail to Ami Simms this week. Well maybe next week. the Wild Thread are having a quilting marathon next Saturday, maybe I'll take it for show n tell. Meanwhile, the nativity wallhanging is quilted and just waiting for binding, phew. AND... I stitched down the petals on two more blocks for my citrus Joseph's coat. I got a little shout out for my blocks from Kelli over at Don't Look Now. Thank you! That was fun.
Now, about those definitions for WIPs and UFOs. I am not too happy. It appears that many people (well, just three of you) have some harsh restrictions on allowing projects into the UFO club. I did NOT know it was so exclusive. The negative side of this is that I can finish lots of projects without reaching my goal of completing 3 UFOs this year. The positive side of this is that maybe I don't have so many UFOs after all. I so think that I should be able to amend my resolutions up until the end of January. After all, I had definition confusion, right? Maybe I will amend my list to mention completion of WIPs, I seem to have LOTS of those. Now I gotta go get stuff ready for next week's marathon. I have two quilt top finishes planned and I can't wait!!

WIP's vs UFO's ! Smackdown !

This is a Nativity wallhanging that is a gift for my mother. Ummm, yes, it's a Christmas gift, and no, it's not finished. So! My question is--- is this a WIP (work in progress) or a UFO? I really need some help with my definitions. The pictures yesterday are a project in the same boat. Not finished but almost. These haven't been waiting a long time but I have stopped working on them to work on other things. So let's have it folks! When does a WIP stop being a WIP and start being a UFO?
Pssst - I don't want to twist any arms or anything but my resolutions for 2010 did not include any WIPs, just UFOs. Bye-bye!

Making do without sushi grass!

While I wait for someone to get me some sushi grass, I decided to play with other 'found' materials. Santa brought me a tin of Pirouette cookies for xmas, a really big tin. I ate a few, gave some to the Wild Threads, took some to work, and ate some more. When the tin was empty, I couldn't throw it away, it's a great size. Some pretty paper, a little mod podge and it will make a nice storage tin. But then, I noticed what was in it. Look!! Corrugated paper.
Add a few raggedy fabric strips, and some old fabric crayons. I rubbed a crayon across the paper, sewed some strips on, cut out a shape and ......

Voila!! A broken heart, :( I sewed it on an ombre background square, but felt that it needed something else.

So, I stitched the heart back together.

I would love to finish it today but I have to get to my day job (the one that will pay for some sushi so I can get my grass!). I think some qulting and binding will do it, unless I find some other useful 'trash'. Happy Tuesday everybody, Wordless Wednesday tomorrow. My xmas BOM is together finally, just needs its border then finishing.

Ummm, still learning how to blog.

I don't have all of this blogging and computer stuff figured out yet, as demonstrated by my most recent post. The library post, you ask? Nope. The 'brain 24/7' post, which somehow looks like I posted it yesterday before the library post. You see, yesterday morning I uploaded all those pictures and saved them as a draft which I finished and posted this morning. I guess when you go back and finish a draft and post it, it keeps the original date. I'm sure there's a way around it, and I will ponder that another day (a la Scarlet O'Hara). Anyway, I didn't want to post without a picture so, do you want to know what that pile of red is up there? It's been crumpled up in that baggie for a while. Yup, another UFO. A LONG time ago, I cut and pinned those red squares together. It's supposed to be another little patchwork doggie. Maybe some day, sigh.

Anyone else out there have trouble at the library?

I was going to post some pictures of my UFOs..... but then I made a quick trip to the library. Quick!! Ha ha. I'm like a kid in a candy shop when I go to the library. First I went to the new fiction shelves up front and found a few books that looked good. (mind you, I just got 5 different books for Christmas) Then I hit the non-fiction aisles. First some photo blogging books for my daughter, the photography major, then the quilting section. I grabbed a few Kaffe Fassett books just because I like to look at the purty pictures. Then a Denise Schmidt quilt book. I love her style. Then I found this book!!!! If you can't read the small print, it says, "Small art quilts created with paper, plastic, fiber, and surface design." Let me give you a hint... my husband just went to the grocery store and I told him that if he saw any sushi packaged with the fake plastic grass, to buy it! Yep, I'm in search of 'sushi grass'. And you know that plastic mesh over the top of those cute little clementine crates, I could use some of that too. I have wanted to make another little quilt for the Alzheimer's Initiative, and this book just gave me the push I needed. Ooooh yeah! I'm gonna get out some paints, crayons, crazy threads and yarns, maps, newsprint, and all kinds of 'whatnot' and have me some artsy fun. And don't go nagging me about UFOs, I have ALL year ahead of me!

My Brain runs 24/7!! UFO's Part One.

When I figure out what guides my brain on its journeys every night, I will write a bestseller. You heard it here people! My family knows that I am a vivid and imaginative dreamer (and Jon lets me know when I shout and talk in my sleep, although when I shout I usually wake myself up). My favorite dream was about getting a new pet - a 'tomato colored' Dinky. A Dinky, apparently, is a lap-sized pony! (btw has anyone seen the new mini pigs? I'm serious! google it.) Anyway, back to my dream, the tomato red Dinkys are coveted and I had one, yay! I wish I could remember what I named that ol' Dinky. Maybe I should write a children's book....... Okay, I am now waaaay off topic for this post. Last night I was dreaming about UFOs (gee, wonder why?) and I woke up with the realization that I missed two the other day. This first picture shows them. My guild had some block swaps a few years ago, one was jars with bugs and the other was cats. I love cats so I signed up for that one twice and have 24 of those blocks. I should have taken these when I went to the Project Linus marathon.

So, this post is only showing blocks from swaps. Apparently I can't resist a block swap. Any of you Wild Threads reading this will hopefully understand why I hesitated to join our winter theme swap. And maybe you'll even show remorse for pressuring me until I signed up. This is supposed to be the year we conquer UFOs and now I'm gonna have another!!! Below you will see my birthday blocks. I have an online group of friends, The Blockswappers, and for a while I participated in the birthday swap. These are the blocks I got, aren't they great. They are waiting for me to be smitten with some setting inspiration.

These are from a Wild Threads fall/Thanksgiving swap. Don't you love the center block and the mashed potatos?

Here are some signature blocks from the Blockswappers. The batiks are gorgeous.

These are from two Blockswapper swaps. One was red & white and the other blue & white. I also have some red/white/blue not pictured. I actually used some of them for a wallhanging to donate to my guild's silent auction. Amazing, huh?
Here are some black and white basket blocks from a Wild Threads swap. They are 12 inches.

And here are some 9 inch black and whites from the Blockswappers. I can't decide whether or not to combine them with the larger b&w's, so here they sit.

Here are some 12 inch blue and white blocks that were actually not a swap but a BOM from my LQS. (sorry non-quilters, that's Block of the Month from the Local Quilt shop). There are a dozen of these and they are lovely. Alas, again I have stalled while pondering setting possibilities. And should I combine them with my smaller blue and whites?

So, there you have UFO's, part 1. And please! For the love of all things quilty, don't let me sign up for any more block swaps! Starting after the winter swap of course. And if our guild does another 4 inch block swap, I'll make an exception for that. And of course, I could be tempted by a Dear Jane. SLAP ME!! Please! Someone SLAP ME!!

I've put it off long enough.

This is a picture of my bin of UFOs. If you don't already know, a UFO is an Un-Finished-Object, a quilt or project not completed. Resolution # 1: I vow to complete at least 4 UFO's in 2010. I started taking pictures of some of these UFOs and....good grief!! I feel more discouraged than motivated. I'll share some of these pics later this week. One of my quilt buds, Kathy, resolved to eliminate ALL of her UFOs from her life, by finishing, discarding, or giving away. Wow!! What a great idea. The Wild Threads promptly decided to bring out our unwanted UFOs at some point this year and see if anyone wants them. Resolution #2: I vow to make AT LEAST 3 quilts to have on hand as gifts for friends in need of comfort. Accidents, illness, losses, and difficult times don't always happen when we have time to whip up a quilt for a friend. I know that quilts don't solve the world's problems but it's what we quilters do. This is a picture of some blocks that became a quilt for a friend. When I was a brand new nurse, I got a job in the Pediatric ICU at Hopkins. There was so much to learn, the children were so sick, and I was 'scared silly'. There were a few nurses there who will always be heroes to me. One of them was Dottie, she taught me so much and showed me how to be a dedicated nurse. We moved on and lost touch but over the years, whenever an occasion brought us in contact, it was like no time had passed at all. About a year ago I discovered by accident that one of my friends from quilt guild went to nursing school with Dottie. We laughed and said, what a small world. Shortly after that, Dot was diagnosed with leukemia. Between the two of us, we finished a quilt and Dottie LOVED it. She showed it off to everyone and kept it on her hospital bed through multiple admissions for chemo and a bone marrow transplant. So quilts show love and give comfort. Dottie passed away just before the holidays. I visited her a few days before she died and her sister told me how much the quilt meant to Dottie. I hope her family can enjoy it now. Soooo, I really want to have some quilts made and ready to go for when I think someone could use some comfort. Resolution # 3: Don't give up on my Citrus quilt. Remember the Don't Look Now quiltalong? It started Nov 1st and the pace is 1 1/2 blocks a week. Here are 9 of my 10 blocks and there will be 49 altogether. And didn't I mention in a previous post that just preparing the petals is a chore? So I'm several blocks behind and.... only 2 of my blocks are stitched. These 'petals' are pinned and the stitching is by hand, waah! I really think these quilts are going to be stunning and I will be crushed if mine becomes a UFO. When I show you my pictures that I took today, you will know why I worry. Resolution #4: I resolve to make at least 3 projects 'just because I want to'. This means I will make sure I take time to make some of the quilts that I've been wanting to try. Like this, and this, and this. There are millions of awesome blogs out here with zillions of gorgeous quilty goodness. There are so many that I bookmark to try out some time but never get to. And let's not forget the quilt books I couldn't live without and then haven't made anything from yet. Oh yeah, I also have fabric that I couldn't live without that I haven't used yet. Like the gorgeous solids from Cherrywood that my mom gave me, and the Christmas flannels that are washed and ready to go.


Last but not least... Resolution #5: I want to try dyeing my own fabric. the internet is full of tutorials on dyeing, like this one and this one. I have at least one friend,(thanks Jennilyn) who said she will try this with me. Yay!!


I hope you're not too disappointed that I haven't resolved to eat less, exercise more, keep my sewing room tidy, cook more for my family, or try to curse less. Those things just don't sound like much fun but I'll sure let you know if any of that works its way into my life. Tee hee!