Sharon Stroud's Out of Her Mind

Finished and a Friend Returns

2012-01-25T23:01:00.002-05:00

Here is the Crazy Eights top set together. Once you can stop yourself from rearranging the blocks, it sets together fast.

And my visitor was back today. She (I'm thinking she's a she) grazed around the bottom of the spruce tree for quite a while. Then Lynnie saw her from the door and started barking. The deer here are so used to us that she looked up and then slowly meandered away.

I'm going to go hand quilt for a while. I'm really excited at how this piece is turning out.

Hugs,
Sharon

P.S. Check out The Quilting Professor blog (link on side bar) about her charity quilts. It's truly an AWWW moment today.

This and That

2012-01-24T23:22:00.000-05:00

This morning, when I looked out at my car, I couldn't imagine what was going on! There was fluttering and much to-do near the passenger side mirror. I finally figured out that there was a female cardinal trying to "take out" the bird she saw in the mirror! Herself! She fluttered in the mirror, flew to the top of the mirror and then repeated the process five or six times! A bit later, as I was sitting at the computer in the sewing room, she tried the same trick against the window! When she finally calmed down enough to sit, I snapped her picture.

The amaryllis has three of four blooms out! The box said the blooms would be pink and white striped. Oops! Still striking! I've had to prop the stem against another planter to keep it upright. No matter how much I turned the stem away from the light, it stayed in one crook.

You can practically see the plants growing by leaps and bounds, which is fun during the winter. My mom has had two batches of snowdrops blooming outside already.

I am quilting away on a project that was over half done about five years ago. And I've rearranged my Crazy Eights about nine billion times! I may set it tomorrow just so I will stop playing with it.

More tomorrow!

Hugs,
Sharon

Playing with Fabric

2012-01-23T00:09:00.001-05:00

For Christmas a friend gave me the Crazy Eights pattern and the fabric bundle! It's been fun working with fabrics that I didn't have to agonize over!

Here's the pattern cover, in case you get the urge to try this yourself. There are also shops that bundle the fat quarters for you. One is Quilters Corner in Ithaca, NY (www.e-quilterscorner.com). I know none of you have 8 fat quarters in your stash!

Here are my four sets of blocks.

And this is the layout after much re-arranging and fretting. I am still looking at it and won't set it for a few more days. (Looking at the picture as I am typing, I found one area I didn't like and I've already rearranged it.) I don't think there is a wrong way to put this together--mostly trying to get the fabrics separated. I'll post the final picture--when I get there!

I'm finding it more and more valuable to take digital photos of quilts on the design wall. First, it means that each time I rearrange blocks I can go back to a prior iteration without any difficulty. Second, as in the photo above, many things that you keep staring at aren't apparent until you look at a picture. The good news? You don't have to print any of the pictures! You can look at them on the camera or download them to your computer to view them larger.

That's it for now. I'm listening to The Next Always by Nora Roberts and reading The Rope by Nevada Barr.

Hugs,
Sharon

Fabulous Student Applique and A Quilting Dilemma

2012-01-20T23:36:00.000-05:00

I must say that I am so thrilled that students are finishing their class projects! It's so exciting to see the tops come alive.

You saw part of Judy D's In Baltimore Style top in a prior post. She had it machine quilted by Sandy Branch in North Carolina and just needs to bind it!

Here's a detail shot of some of the quilting. On the cutwork blocks she did echo quilting. The red border is filled with undulating feathers. Congratulations to both Judy and Sandy!

Kathy F., a member of the Green Thumb class, made this stunning Iris block last month. Kathy learned to applique about a year and a half ago. It's impressive what she's accomplished in that time!

I'll be sharing more student blocks from the Green Thumb class in upcoming posts. The flower fabrics and backgrounds are varied and beautiful!

I've heard several comments over the years that a hand pieced or hand appliqued quilt should ONLY be hand quilted. Being a dyed-in-the-cotton hand quilting lover, of course, I would love to see every quilt done by hand. BUT...I am a realist and I also mix techniques myself. I learned to machine piece long before I did any hand piecing or applique. But I did teach myself to hand quilt right at the beginning because I loved it so much.

Someone a few weeks ago, in one of my hand piecing classes, asked if the top had to be set by hand because the blocks were hand pieced. My answer: Absolutely not! (I thought the student was going to faint with relief!) I purposely choose blocks for hand piecing that I would not want to sew by machine--with as many set-ins, tiny pieces, Y-seams, etc., as possible! But I can more quickly and as accurately set those blocks with sashing, cornerstones and borders by machine. Can people do it all by hand? Yes. Do I do everything by hand--rarely. And let's be serious--with over 120 unfinished projects (over 65 basted for quilting), something has to give.

Another option? Machine quilt down long lines and around blocks to stabilize the quilt (after proper basting, of course)--you know, the in-the-ditch stuff that won't show. Then hand quilt details! A great resource for this? A Modern Mix by Anita Shackelford (www.anitashackelford.com). And check out the chile pepper quilt on the back cover (and it's inside too!); that's mine! I pieced the top and Anita machine quilted it with a chile pepper design in chile pepper colors!

I still remember the first time I told a class that I had sent out a quilt for machine quilting. A simple machine pieced checkerboard design that would be used hard. I struggled with myself over the decision but decided machine quilting would be best in that case. One of the students looked me right in the eye and said "That's unacceptable from you." At first I was taken aback. Then I put in perspective. At that time (many years ago), I had probably hand quilted over 300 pieces from small to large. So machine quilting one was certainly not going to throw my percentages off by even 1 percentage point. I could live with that. Of the over 500 finished quilts I've done to date, less than 20 are machine quilted. I do admire the look of fine machine quilting. It's an art form in its own right.

Bottom line: Do what makes you happy. There is no wrong answer if you are happy with your choice. Finished and usable--isn't that the real goal?

Geez, I was thinking this would be a short post--you probably needed that second cup of coffee to get through this! Just food for thought. Comments, anyone?

Hugs,

Sharon

P.S. This is a message for the naughty prankster currently out of the country. You know who you are. You owe Rose big time--she didn't get her homework for class done! She said she wouldn't throw you into an active volcano over this...but there was a certain gleam in her eyes....

Bits and Pieces

2012-01-18T23:06:00.000-05:00

Just a couple quick things tonight.

First, I've updated the Schedule page on my website: www.sharonstroud.com. Classes are listed, by shop, from now to the middle of April. I hope to see you at one or more, if you live close enough!

Second, for those of you who have been at the Wiawaka retreats, sad news. Menga has passed away. Truly the end of an era.

Did any of you watch Alcatraz Monday night on Fox? I was on the edge of my seat--no knitting or quilting during that program!

That's it for tonight. Have to prep for class tomorrow. We don't have much snow, but it is bitter cold and then add the wind chill. Icy underneath from the rain we had first! I guess the weather people call that a "wintry mix".

Hugs,

Sharon

Still Growing

2012-01-17T23:30:00.000-05:00

Yes, its the amaryllis again! The one stalk has taken over. The three or four leaves are only a couple inches tall and the other bud is going to fall off (I can't bear to cut it off--there might be some miracle and it will survive). Just today the tip split open.

I'm not sure where I can move it to next...it is going to be too wide when the blossoms come out to stay on this windowsill. I'll worry about that another day!

Spent part of the day cleaning stalls and buckets. A little knitting, a little hand quilting...life is good!

Thank you to Anonymous for the info on the thimble. I did not know that! It's my favorite go-to thimble but I never leave home with it.

That's it for tonight. Remember how truly special you are--I have so decreed it and I will have even more power to decree it once I am elected President!

Hugs,
Sharon

P.S. I am listening to Save Me by Lisa Scottoline.

A Thimble's Tale

2012-01-16T23:22:00.001-05:00

Quite a few years ago, my parents, my husband and I were at an antiques shop in the Finger Lakes Region. We spent quite a bit of time browsing and I happened upon a beautiful thimble. Now, Murphy's Law says that anything you love will not fit. But...Hoyle was on my side that day.

Here is part of the lovely engraving on the side:

And some on the other. Sorry, no 3D images for this techno nerd ;-)

This is the view from the top of the thimble.

And from the inside of the thimble. You probably noticed the holes....

Now for the tale. On the tag was "SS" and the price. Now SS really stands for Sterling Silver, but it also stands for Sharon Stroud. The price was reasonable and, the SS not withstanding, I decided it was fate. I took the thimble to the counter where the nice gentleman asked me if I knew what the holes were for. I decided this was too good to pass up and said I did not (well, actually I didn't know what they were FOR, but I did know what they were FROM). He said...okay, be prepared--this is laugh-out-loud funny--you've been warned...they were air holes so that the thimble would not get stuck on my finger when using the thimble!!!!!! And he was serious! After getting myself back under control, I nicely explained that they were holes made from the needle hitting the same dimple repeatedly. And they significantly devalue a thimble. But, because I use the side of my finger to push with, holes in the top are not a problem for me! I paid the full asking price for the thimble, because the story was priceless! (As an aside, even my husband knew what those holes were ~~for~~ from!)

To show you that I am actually doing some work, here is a pic of my hand quilting sample. I wanted to test the backing, batting, top and thread on a sample before committing to the full piece. I am really happy. The top is Oakshott from England, the backing is a batik, the thread is Sulky Blendable in 12 wt, with vintage Thermore batting. I have over 1/4 of the actual piece quilted today.

I think that's about it for today. Hope you enjoyed the thimble's tale. It had to be better than a mouse's tail....

Hugs,
Sharon

A Visitor

2012-01-15T21:59:00.000-05:00

Early this afternoon, I looked up from my desk to see this visitor. About 15 feet from my window!

The deer here are so friendly that when I go in and out of the house or drive, I just wave and they resume their activities.

If possible, I think it is even colder tonight than last night. But up to 41 degrees on Tuesday. Plus I saw a double sun dog today--huge!

That's it for now. I've spent most of the day sewing, so I'll have something to show in the next couple days.

Brrrrry hugs,
Sharon

It's Colder Than...

2012-01-14T23:54:00.000-05:00

A brass monkey's...well, you know. Temps hovering new 0 degrees, not counting wind chill. And snow. I had to actually use the snow blower today--my most fervent hope was not to have to use it this winter. But that's my hope every winter. This one has come the closest so far!

Nothing very exciting today, but I just wanted to stop in and say hi. I know some of you have a three-day weekend, which is so exciting. For those of you in the Monthly Bliss 1 class, remember we do not meet until January 23 and 30 because of the holiday.

Stay warm--now is the perfect time to hand quilt something big enough to cuddle up in!

Hugs,
Sharon

A New Portal

2012-01-13T23:30:00.000-05:00

Part of the time last fall when I wasn't blogging I was actually doing some home repairs. Here is the original front door. I have to say that I've loved that door for over 20 years--solid oak and stained glass. The unfortunate news? It leaked air like a sieve! And with the cost of fuel oil, that was not a good thing.

The new door! I must admit to being reluctant to venture into the door section of Lowe's, sure that I'd never be able to pick just one. But lo and behold, I looked at most of them, then looked up...and there it was. The whole process took less than 10 minutes! It is, of course, very white.

Next came color! The pic is a bit brighter than the real color which is a dark cranberry. I just love it!

And the view of the outside of the door. It took three coats to cover the white. For a while it seemed like all I did was paint, repaint, and paint again. But the results were worth it.

And the door is air-tight! A really good thing as we have gotten quite a bit of snow in the past few hours, along with major wind. I have spent most of the day finishing that binding. Now all my binding is done for a bit and I can move on to something else.

Hugs for now,
Sharon

P.S. I am listening to New York to Dallas by J.D. Robb.

Class Updates

2012-01-12T23:01:00.000-05:00

Remember the snowball tablerunners? Here are three more! Terry, on the left, and Shirley, on the right, both had their tops done. Debbie, in the middle, had hers machine quilted and bound! Everyone started with the same fabrics, but got to choose which 10 for the center, leaving the other 10 for the border. Shirley added/subtracted for her borders. This is a great runner. Debbie already has fabric to make two Valentine versions!

We've also been working on the Duck Duck Goose quilt from one of the Kim Diehl books. Debbie chose not to do the piano key border, opting instead for two regular borders to frame the center. Debbie used reproduction prints. And trust me, every point is sharp!

Great job, ladies! We will have more photos as finishes occur!

That's it for tonight! Have a fabulous Friday!

Hugs,
Sharon

Holiday Brunch Casserole

2012-01-10T14:31:00.000-05:00

I know it's after the holidays, but this is a fabulous recipe for any time!

Holiday Brunch Casserole (recipe from Jimmy Dean sausage)

1 package Jimmy Dean Regular Pork Sausage (cooked, drained and crumbled)
4.5 cups cubed day old bread
2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
10 eggs, slightly beaten
4 cups whole milk
1 tsp. dry mustard
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. onion powder
Fresh ground pepper to taste
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms (optional)
1/2 cup peeled, chopped tomatoes (optional)

Place bread in well-buttered 9 x 13" baking dish. Sprinkle with cheese. Combine the next six ingredients. Pour evenly over the bread and cheese. Sprinkle sausage and optional ingredients over the top. Cover and chill overnight. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Bake uncovered for about one hour. Tent with foil if top begins to brown too quickly. Serves 6.

Sharon's Notes: I am especially fond of Italian bread (the freshly baked stuff). I have it sliced and then let it sit a day before use. I just tear it up--no cubing for me! I cut up an 8 oz. package of mushrooms and layer on top. I have not used the tomatoes.

This is mmmmmm-mmmmmm-yummy! It's a favorite of my family and the leftovers are as good or better than the first meal. Start this Saturday night and have a wonderful Sunday brunch!

Hugs,
Sharon

A Bit of Greening

2012-01-09T23:33:00.000-05:00

Remember the ghost of amaryllis present?

It is ghostly no longer! This is the same bulb tonight!! I do believe that the taller stem, in an effort to really put on a growth spurt, cut off the water supply to its sibling. I fear that it is taking a downturn. There are, however, two or three leaves making an appearance.

I am still hand sewing binding. Another day and I am hopeful about finishing. It doesn't help that I work at it spastically.

More tomorrow!

Hugs,

Sharon

P.S. I am reading The Eighty Dollar Champion by Elizabeth Letts and listening to Chaos in Death by J.D. Robb.

When in Doubt...

2012-01-08T23:26:00.000-05:00

Smile!!!!

Hugs,

Sharon

It's Saturday Night...

2012-01-07T23:36:00.000-05:00

and I ain't got no pictures! Oh, well. It's been a day of quilting, sewing binding, reading, letting Lynnie in and out, keeping Callie off the quilts. In other words, pretty typical!

I was watching the Republican Debate in New Hampshire tonight and thought I would remind you all that I am running for President AGAIN! I ran in 2004 and 2008--and garnered no votes. So I am going to start stepping up my presidential campaign so that I will stand a better chance this November. So stay tuned in upcoming posts for blatant campaign rhetoric. And, so that you will be prepared in November, remember to vote early and often. Change your clothes, change your hair, add or subtract glasses--but GET OUT THERE AND VOTE--but for ME!

Okay, enough politics for one night--a little goes a really llllooooooooonnnnnnggggg way.

Hugs,
Sharon

P.S. I am listening to Why My Third Husband Will Be a Dog by Lisa Scottoline.

Another Fabulous Finished Top

2012-01-06T23:17:00.000-05:00

Can we say WOW? Lori M. of Watkins Glen finished her Flower Garden top. Lori has a wonderful color sense--and she's not afraid to go bold. The actual fabrics are much brighter than they appear in the picture. Great job, Lori!

I actually did a bit of hand quilting today--it's been a while, which makes me sad as it's my favorite part of the process. I have several things to get done over the next couple days--including hand sewing the binding on the frog quilt. But I am definitely back into quilt mode. Semper calcitat!

More tomorrow!

Hugs,
Sharon

P.S. Many thanks to everyone who has responded to the tech debate. If you have not yet commented, it's not too late. I know people are still "lurking" and would appreciate your input, as will I!

Random Wednesday

2012-01-04T23:58:00.001-05:00

I almost wrote Random Tuesday! I think I lost a day!

At any rate, as I was looking through some old pictures today, I found two I thought would be interesting to share with you. Both were taken in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

First--you all know the saying "When life gives you scraps, make a quilt". Well, I guess when life gives you scrap metal you make a sculpture! This piece is several feet tall!

This church spire is just lovely. As you may have guessed, I am partial to taking pictures of what most would deem "odd" objects. Some make me laugh out loud, some are just awe-inspiring and others are--well--just odd!

A couple housekeeping chores:

First: Josie, please send along your address--I don't mind sending things "across the pond"!

Second, my friend Jay said to tell Terri (and anyone else interested) that the Sewline threader replacement heads can be found at www.clotilde.com.

Third: Thanks to all who have responded about the "technology" question. It's interesting to hear the pros and cons of these devices. I am reluctant to go the smart phone route--I still remember having most of my life organized on a PDA (that's a blast from the past!)--and then it crashed. I'm okay with separate things to do different tasks.

Okay, enough randomness for this Wednesday!

Hugs,
Sharon

A Nose for News

2012-01-03T23:54:00.001-05:00

And the news is: Officially Karen was the first person with the correct answer. But...Cindy may have tipped subsequent participants, though her guess was wrong to start. And...several new people actually left comments, and the guesses were excellent! So...without further ado...everyone wins! (What can I say? I love comments!)

So, if Mittens, Josie, and Deb G. in VA will send their snail mail addresses to sharon@sharonstroud.com, I will get the prizes in the works. Karen, Emily, Janet and Cindy--I've got your numbers!

Now I have a question. I have a laptop which I love. But, as you know, I have dial-up at home and lugging a laptop for a wi-fi connection is not a lot of fun. So, for those of you who have opinions, would/do you like a reader like Kindle Fire or Nook Color or a real tablet (not necessarily an iPad). I'm thinking of getting something a bit more portable so that I can actually view videos that are on-line, surf the web and maybe do a bit of reading. Any suggestions? I welcome all comments, good and bad, about anything related to e-readers and tablets--just be civil and use clean language, please. Also, do you like getting magazines on e-readers?

Okay, that's it for tonight. Congratulations again to our winners!

Regular hugs,
Sharon

Binding Help...

2012-01-02T21:35:00.000-05:00

or not! Because this quilt was a bit bigger, I needed to move Callie's fleece nest (which had been enhanced with cotton batting scraps) off the sewing counter--temporarily. She was not happy and proceeded to jump into my lap and then onto the quilt where she promptly made herself at home.

What do you mean, I'm impeding progress?

Drats, I think she means it.

Yes, I did make her get down! It's really hard to rearrange a quilt with a cat lying in the middle of it! The binding is on by machine and has the clips holding it down for hand sewing. I absolutely, positively must have this done by January 11.

I haven't forgotten that I need to show you pics of my finishes--I'm just looking for a good place to hang them for that purpose.

Interesting guesses on the significance of January 1's post--I'll be back on Tuesday with the correct answer and the winner! Stay tuned!

After the holiday hugs (hehe),

Sharon

Happy New Year!!!

2012-01-01T13:52:00.000-05:00

It's a new year and...the first person who can tell me the significance of today will win a yet-to-be-disclosed-but-obviously-fabulous prize! Don't be shy, take a guess! It will be exciting to see how many comments there could be from this simple question.

Back soon with the answer. You have until 11:59 pm, Monday, January 2 (Eastern Standard Time). You must leave your answer on this post to qualify. Good luck to all!

Okay, one last

Holiday hug,
Sharon

Looking Back

2011-12-31T22:47:00.002-05:00

It hardly seems possible that another year has come and gone. I'd like to take a minute to look back on 2011.

First, I'd like to thank all the students who have put their faith in me and my classes. It's so amazing to see people's skills improve, but, even more, so wonderful to see friendships bloom. When I sometimes wonder if I am making a difference in the world, I think of the many friendships that may never have started but for the classes in common.

Thank you, too, for the many kind things you do for me throughout the year. Sometimes it's a hug, a note, a comment on the blog, an unexpected gift--there are not enough words to express how these make me feel. So, even if I don't always send a written thank-you, please know how grateful I am.

The best thing? Seeing your smiling faces--whether in class or out. I am truly blessed to be doing work I love with people who appreciate it. And knowing there are people who miss me when I don't blog--even people I've never met--or haven't had that pleasure yet.

My 2012 wish for you is peace, prosperity, joy, love--amazement and wonder at all the beauty and goodness that surrounds us. Let's choose happiness in our lives.

And our motto for 2012 and beyond? Semper calcitat (Always quilting).

See you next year!

Yet more holiday hugs,
Sharon

P.S. The picture above is of "Parcheesi", a mariner's compass block designed by Anita Shackelford and hand pieced by me. There is no applique on any of my mariner's compass blocks (a bonus for those who are applique phobic--which I am definitely not!).

A Little Help

2011-12-30T23:56:00.000-05:00

Have you noticed how cats love to be near you when you are sewing? While trying to finish the binding on two pieces this week, I spent more time moving Callie off the pieces than actually sewing. So I finally found a piece of fleece and put in on the counter. She, of course, has to inspect the progress by climbing over the piece in question, but she then goes to the fleece where she is close enough to supervise but not be constantly moved.

The duck quilt you see above is a baby quilt for my best friend Cindy who is a first time grandma. Can we just say that the baby turned five months old recently and Cindy will get the quilt soon. I will show you more pics of this when the binding is finished--if it ever is! I only have one more corner and part of a side, but it seems to be moving at the slowest pace possible. I'm sure it couldn't have anything to do with my attention being sidetracked onto lots of other things.

Hope you are enjoying the last few hours of 2011. Big plans for New Year's Eve?

Holiday hugs,
Sharon

P.S. I am reading Explosive Eighteen by Janet Evanovich and listening to Dick Francis's Gamble by Felix Francis.

Nature's Majesty

2011-12-29T22:35:00.000-05:00

Some sky pictures for your viewing enjoyment.

Holiday hugs,
Sharon

P.S. Terri: I think your best bet for the replacement heads is through a shop. I cannot find an on-line source. I'll keep looking!

The Eyes Have It

2011-12-28T22:58:00.001-05:00

Callie wanted to send along holiday greetings of her own. I think she looks way too stern. Probably not enough catnip!

Still with the holiday hugs,
Sharon

P.S. Apparently the winter-lovers united--we now have high winds, almost 0 degree wind chills and a bit of snow. So come on, winter-not-so-fond-ofs, we need to battle back!

A Bit of Rambling

2011-12-27T23:16:00.000-05:00

Sorry, no pictures tonight. I've been doing a bit of this and a bit of that today. Finished the hand sewing on one wallhanging today and added binding to a crib quilt tonight that I will hand sew tomorrow.

Started a new sweater a couple days ago, twisted the join, but didn't discover it for several rounds, ripped back, corrected the mistake and continued. Only to find that I had a hole where I apparently did not pick up an increase correctly. I kept thinking, it will be okay. I'm sure it won't show, blah, blah, blah. Tonight I took it all off the needles and ripped it out. Have it restarted and am doing the yoke increases again. I'm happier and there is no hole. (Yes, I do know there was probably a simple way to fix the hole, but my way made me instantly happy. I am definitely a process knitter--unafraid to rip back to the beginning!)

I know others are lamenting the weather we are having, but seriously, I don't have to shovel rain!

Do you all have your 2012 calendars ready? I just love the Lang calendars with the Lowell Herrero cows. They are just the best, and I use mine in my sewing room to keep track of classes. The pictures never cease to make me smile.

I must admit to being a bit disappointed that only one person responded to the Stockings post! I couldn't stop laughing as I stood out in the rain and wind at 10 pm to get the picture. Yes, I know, I am a bit warped. I prefer to think of it as part of my charm ;-)

Head over to the Quilting Professor blog (see link on side bar) and take a look at her serious blog topic. I'm not sure what I would do. Any suggestions? Leave them here or on Kate's blog.

Okay, enough rambling for tonight. Oh, wait...I will be so glad when the holiday commercials for the car company with the big blue oval signs are over. Just sayin'.

Still with the holiday hugs,
Sharon

One Giant Tree

2011-12-26T23:54:00.000-05:00

Tonight my family and I went to a friend's house to see her lights and tree. Outside she has over 80,000 lights and displays! People drive purposely to see the display!

But this is her inside tree: WOW! Here is it with just the tree lights for illumination.

And here it is using flash. Now...believe it or not...this tree is 7.5 feet tall and--wait for it--8.5 feet wide at its fullest! Hard to imagine! There are 700 lights on it and what must be tons of tinsel. The tinsel is placed in almost pyramid-like shapes which overlap, creating almost a gossamer net effect.

Truly beautiful! How's your holiday afterglow? I've spent the day reading (Red Mist by Patricia Cornwell) and napping, and hand sewing binding on a large wallhanging that you'll see soon.

Holiday hugs,
Sharon

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

2011-12-25T22:52:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas!

I hope your day was spent with family and friends,

surrounded by love and a belief in miracles.

The year is counting down.

Let's make every minute of what's left

of 2011 count.

Holiday Hugs,
Sharon

The Stockings...

2011-12-24T23:46:00.000-05:00

were hung on the chimney with care!!!!!

Okay, admit it...you at least smirked if you didn't outright laugh!

Holiday hugs,
Sharon

The Ghost of...

2011-12-23T23:35:00.000-05:00

Amaryllis Present!

I just took the bulb out of the box this afternoon. Imagine my surprise when it was already this big--but totally white!!! These are not black and white pics!

The blooms are supposed to be a pink and white stripe. I'm just hoping the leaves turn green!

Holiday hugs,
Sharon

We Bring You...

2011-12-22T23:07:00.002-05:00

Holiday Hugs,

Sharon and Her Merry Band of Misfits

The Reveal

2011-12-21T22:43:00.001-05:00

Ta Da! The piles of fabric you saw a couple days ago, plus black and a royal/medium blue turned into this:

(The gray around the edges is my carpet!)

Twenty different batik squares--10 for the center and 10 for the border. I think this combination looks a lot like stained glass.

The pattern, you ask? It's actually in a Creative Grids Snowball template package! Theirs was done in black and white and red. Really striking, and I did consider those colors, plus a few other combinations, before deciding on what you see. I can see you shaking your head about why you would need a special template for snowball blocks. Well, unless you particularly like making snowballs with one large and four small squares, drawing lines, etc., this is money well spent. And...it can be made from a charm pack plus 1 yard of fabric for sashing, binding and backing! This tablerunner cut fast and accurately and went together like a dream. Add more blocks and you'd have a great quilt top. Think different holidays or occasions--it's that easy!

Last night was our holiday party and Debbie, our hostess, gifted us each a ruler. I cut the kits beforehand and we did some serious sewing after our sit-down dinner, complete with candles and good china! Which is why I couldn't reveal this until today! So put this on your list for 2012--and plan for holiday gifts that can be done before Easter (if you buckle down now!).

Holiday hugs,
Sharon

P.S. Emily--you are so going to be the official candymaker to the President. Plan on it-- I fully expect to be elected in November 2012. There are no words to describe those peanut butter cups--and caramel--super yummy doesn't begin to cover it ;-)

Not the View from My Window!

2011-12-20T23:40:00.000-05:00

I can't tell you how thankful I am that this is not the view from my window. I know the skiers and "snow" people are disappointed in our present weather, but as someone who has to travel a fair bit, I am thrilled. We'll get it sooner or later, but my vote is for later!

Happy Hanukkah to those readers who are celebrating this holiday. Celebrating is good for the soul--we really should celebrate even small things. Because, really, it's the small things that make up our lives.

Holiday Hugs,
Sharon

Wednesday Surprise Update

2011-12-19T23:14:00.000-05:00

Just a quick note for tonight. Remember last night I posted a picture of fabrics and said to imagine them with black and a deep gold? Well, luckily I did the math on the gold before cutting. And found, alas and alack, that I did not have enough and nothing in the stash to even come close.

So today, before class, I stopped at the LQS and looked for gold. Curses, foiled again! There was nothing close to what I had and nothing else looked good with the other fabrics (remember they were already cut!). So on to plan...C...D...whatever.

The gold has now been replaced by a lovely mottled medium/royal blue batik. I think it will look even better than the gold and it looks quite good next to the black. So tomorrow I will wash it and finish cutting and make my sample.

And no, still no pics til Wednesday! I'm quite excited about this!

Holiday hugs,
Sharon

It's a Surprise!

2011-12-18T23:31:00.000-05:00

Picture this stack of fabrics with solid black and a deep gold. All batiks! And all from my stash!

Here's a handy tip you might enjoy: When I need to cut multiple blocks or groups of things, I use paper plates to hold the pieces for each block or project. Stacked, they take up almost no room, and it's easy to pick up just one part of the project and work on it without trying to sort out what I need each time.

The surprise cannot be revealed until Wednesday. Stay tuned!

Holiday hugs,

Sharon

It's Not Too Late...

2011-12-17T23:09:00.000-05:00

to add one of these wonderful threaders to your Christmas (or other holiday!) list. And if, after the official holiday, you have not received one, get yourself to a quilt shop and get one for yourself!!!!

These are the new Sewline quickthru needle threaders. Just slightly larger than a lipstick tube, it is a joy to work with.

Here is the glamour shot!

The top retracts to reveal the actual threader.

A size 9 to 12 needle is inserted in the pink part--the hole is small and holds the needle securely. Lay your thread into the V groove. (The instructions on the package are clear and easy to understand.)

Now press GENTLY with your thumb. If you feel any resistance, STOP! This is a delicate threading mechanism and it can be broken if you force it. Simply turn the needle slightly and try again. This allows the needle eye to line up with the threader.

After pushing gently, you can remove the needle from the hole. You will see a "bubble" of thread.

Pull the bubble, and the needle is threaded!

Adding to the major coolness of this threader: a magnet on the bottom AND and a needle storage place!

While the ability to thread needles easily is priceless, these dandy threaders are a bit over $16, depending on where you buy them. And another benefit? If you are a bit forceful and bend the threading mechanism? You can buy just the replacement head for about $5! Did I mention the cutter? On the opposite side from the threading lever (see photos 5 and 6 above).

How's the shopping, baking, wrapping, etc. going? I am about 6 rows from having a hat done!

Holiday hugs,
Sharon

P.S. As always, I get absolutely no endorsement fees...and I don't tell you about anything I don't personally use.

Everyone Should Have One

2011-12-16T23:58:00.000-05:00

Several years ago a friend gifted me a Christmas tree made of chile peppers! It has a star that blinks, and it even plays Christmas carols!

It sits in my octagonal window on the stair landing. An equal opportunity decorator, it stays there year-round. The little wreath on top is actually a napkin ring, but it is perfect as a tree ornament!

So there you have it--a bit different to be sure.

Holiday Hugs, my friends!
Sharon

It Was a Dark and Stormy Night

2011-12-15T23:45:00.000-05:00

Do you realize that at midnight, it will be exactly nine days til Christmas? Literally. Just helping you keep it real.

Hugs,
Sharon

So Beautiful

2011-12-14T23:44:00.000-05:00

Carol R. of Ithaca, NY, is a special friend indeed. Each year she makes me something beautiful for Christmas--hardanger work, zippered pouches in multiple sizes, a baby alpaca scarf, napkins...the list goes on and on.

But this year! Carol's work is meticulous and she pays attention to detail.

A detail.

And another detail. 3D buttons are the perfect finishing touch to this superb piece.

Just Carol's presence in my life is gift enough. She's one special lady. Thank you, my friend!

How is holiday prep progressing for you? I am still teaching through the 20th and trying to get a few small things done in my "spare" time!

More tomorrow!

Hugs,
Sharon

P.S. I am listening to Beyond Suspicion by James Grippando and reading Red Mist by Patricia Cornwell.

Trees, Trees...and More Trees

2011-12-13T23:30:00.000-05:00

You may remember Terri H. from her beautiful In Baltimore Style quilt a few posts back. Monday night she came to class with this beauty! The trees are from a cutwork pattern I designed. Terri completed three and set them into this stunning tablerunner. She is definitely on a finishing roll!

I tried very hard to get Terri to show a bit more of her face but to no avail. This is so Kilroy--but it needs a bit more nose to be truly right!

Thanks for sharing, Terri!

That's it for tonight.

Hugs,
Sharon

Raw Edge Ornament Tutorial

2011-12-12T15:08:00.000-05:00

I'm sure that many of you know someone with young children or four-legged children who like to help "undecorate" the Christmas tree. So instead of filling those bottom boughs with heirloom ornaments and breakables, you can gift them with these lovely ornaments. I have designed a bird for you to get started, but anything you can imagine is fair game. Cookie cutters are wonderful for design ideas.

Here is the pattern, drawn on 1/4 inch graph paper. You should be able to print this picture and then see how large or small you want it.

Make two plastic templates. One of the full bird and a separate wing section. I write RS for right side on my template, as the wing is asymmetrical.

For each ornament, you will need two 5-inch squares of fabric (I usually use muslin for both sides, but feel free to experiment). The biggest concern is the ability to mark the pattern on one side). The pieces can be larger than 5 inches, but not less. You will also need a 5-inch piece of batting--I particularly like cotton for these ornaments. I have successfully used Hobbs Heirloom bleached and unbleached. This batting will show at the edges of the ornament.

Trace the full bird template onto one piece of fabric. Place the bird at an angle so that it fits better. I use Prismacolor Verithin pencils in silver for this step. This should not be a permanent marker. Make a dot where shown on the wing. This is the marker for the hanger.

Now place the separate wing into place and

trace the bottom edge! Layer the backing right side down, the batting, and the top piece (with the traced design UP, of course!). Baste about 3/8 of an inch beyond the drawn line through all three layers. You could add more basting if you'd like, but it is not really necessary.

I like to use a Richard Hemming Between size 10 to quilt with. Here I have used a variegated 24 wt. YLI Fusions thread. Start on either side of the wing and quilt as shown above. Quilt right on the line. It is not a good idea to travel any great distance when using light colored fabrics on both sides and a thin batting. Bury knots in line with a quilted line to make it look more like a shadow.

Now start at the tip of the wing and quilt the wing section. Consider using a different colored thread for the wing.

Ta-Da! The quilting is done! Pretty fast and easy, wasn't it? Add an eye to both sides with pigma pens or you could embroider the eyes with a french knot--or how about a small glass bead on either side.

With small, sharp scissors, carefully cut out the bird. I like about 3/16 inch; you may like a bit more. Don't be tempted to get too close to the stitching--it will fray out!

Remember the dot on the wing? Now use a piece of quilting thread to make a hanger. You can do single or double strand, no knot yet. Bring the needle up or down through the dot, match the ends and make a knot at the end of the hanger. You may want to sign the back of the ornament or you can embellish the bird more. I'll just warn you to beware of heavy embellishments. If you decide to use buttons or such, the bird starts to tip--you may need to adjust the placement of the hanger to compensate.

So there you have it! Quick, easy and unbreakable. And you won't be too annoyed if two- or four-legged children grab hold and chew or drool on them. Because you can repeat this for next year's holidays! And don't forget, these make great gift tags at any time of year!

Big holiday hugs!

Sharon

P.S. I finally finished The Boleyn Inheritance--and trust me you so do not want what those girls inherited! I'm now listening to The Affair by Lee Child.

Get a Move On!!!

2011-12-12T01:52:00.001-05:00

Only thirteen days left to finish all that holiday stuff--you know--like decorating, presents, cards--breathing.

Check back later today for something you might enjoy.

Hugs,
Sharon

Is This You?

2011-12-10T22:11:00.005-05:00

Do you have your head stuck in the water? (Yes, I know it is traditionally sand, but just play along.)

Are you asleep on your feet?

Holiday pressures making you grumpy?

Almost came to fisticuffs over that last--insert item here--you found at the mall?

Then take a break and reflect on how lucky we all are. It's easy to think "oh woe is me" at any time of the year, but Christmas seems to make it all seem worse. Look around, you will see someone who is far worse off than you are. We all have a gift that can be given freely, costs nothing, but spreads warmth and good cheer wherever we go--the smile! So spread it around. Let's see if we can brighten up some grumpy faces! At the very least, people will wonder what we are smiling about!

Sending smiles your way!

Sharon

I Give Up

2011-12-09T23:41:00.003-05:00

The photos and their captions were chosen with care. Uploading them to the blog was unsuccessful--twice. So I give up. I will post that hopefully tomorrow.

I have something fun in store for you probably on Sunday...so stay tuned.

Hugs,
Sharon

P.S. I am still listening to The Boleyn Inheritance in case you were wondering. 15 cds--and compelling as all get out!

It's Snowing!

2011-12-07T23:15:00.003-05:00

A wet, heavy snow. About two inches since 4:00 pm. This time last year I had already cancelled at least two classes!

A knitting question answered: The yarn I used in my sweater was Plymouth Encore, 75% acrylic, 25% wool. Color number 7991 Drifting. I purchased mine at Knitting Etc. in Ithaca, NY. Their website is www.knittingetcithaca.com. They have a wonderful selection of yarn and patterns, and their customer service is tops.

Hugs,
Sharon

Now That's Attitude!

2011-12-06T23:29:00.002-05:00

Be honest...wouldn't you like to do that in public? (It's especially effective with a good tail swish!)

Til tomorrow!

Hugs,
Sharon

A Knitting Finish

2011-12-05T22:26:00.003-05:00

You may remember the infamous start to this sweater (thanks again, Elaine!). Well, months later, it is finally finished. The neck, cuffs and bottom edge are knit on much smaller needles than the body/sleeves, so they are supposed to roll. I also find it interesting how the yarn made stripes--some wider than others, depending on how many stitches were on the needle at the time. I guess most people hope for stripes; I was sort of hoping for pooling. But this sweater is lusciously soft and hopefully will keep me warm!

A close-up. The sleeves are kind of like a pair of socks--similar but definitely not identical!

I had forgotten about Glee: The Christmas Album until my friend Jay reminded me. It's from last year and is still fabulous! So I have been playing that between bouts of the Boleyn girls. Can we say extremes?

More tomorrow!

Hugs,

Sharon

My Improved Design Wall

2011-12-04T11:51:00.002-05:00

As you may remember, my quilt pictures almost always have weird humps and bumps, leading one to believe that I cannot make a "flat" quilt! Here is my old design wall. It was simply thumbtacked to the top of the wooden shelving. The bins behind it made it bumpy, and whenever I wanted something behind the design wall, the thumbtacks came out as I tried to hold it out of the way. Bummer!

I recently had new flooring laid and while everything was out of the room, I tried to figure out a better way to hang the design wall. Voila!!! A heavy-duty curtain rod!

Here you can see the supports and the rings with clips attached. For scale, this rod extends 108 inches and I have 14 ring/clips.

Now I can pull the curtain to the side to get what I need behind.

Or I can pull it all to the center! And my stuff stays on! An added benefit? I have a fairly good sized window in this room and the design wall acts as a sun barrier for my fabric! The rod is an allen + roth from Lowe's and was just under $50 with tax. Mine is pewter but they have at least two other finishes. The rings are from Walmart--around $5 for seven. Having a design wall that lays flat and doesn't fall down--priceless!

And look--it's a day time post--not the middle of the night! Oh, the quilt top shown was finished last night. All batiks in a Bricks & Blocks setting. Several of us combined our fabrics to have more variety.

More soon!

Hugs,

Sharon

Ramblings

2011-12-03T23:49:00.003-05:00

It's been a picture perfect fall day here. Yes, I did say fall--it's not officially winter yet and we don't have snow yet. I'm hoping this weather will stay until oh, say, April...and then turn warmer! It's always good to wish!

If any of you are in the Groton area, about 20 of my holiday quilts are on display through December at the library.

I know this is quick, but pictures will return tomorrow. Stay tuned!

Hugs,
Sharon

P.S. I am listening to The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory.

P.P.S. Check out my new profile photo--so life-like, don't you think?

Lovelies

2011-12-02T23:51:00.003-05:00

This has certainly been the fall for finishing!

Terri H. finished her In Baltimore Style top early last week. What a wonderful job!
And, yes, that's Terri peeking out from behind her lovely! Everyone is so camera shy! I used to be that way, but now I try to just suck it up and not look too stupid! (Wearing a tiara does NOT count as stupid--just sayin'.) Thanks for sharing, Terri! You rock!

That same evening Pat L. shared this stunner! A combination of Buggy Barn patterns, completely finished and...wait for it...hand quilted with my method! Pat took the hand quilting class recently and decided this was the perfect project to use it on.

She used variegated perl cotton and added beads as an embellishment.

EEEEKKKKK! There's a spider on her quilt! Who wouldn't like a sparkly spider? And, the truth can now be told. Pat said she "likes to baste!" I couldn't (okay, wouldn't) make that up. So I am not the only one out here in quilter land who likes to baste. (I think there are many out there who like to baste but dare not say it aloud in public for fear of heckling. So, thanks, Pat, for standing up and being counted!)

I am going to make a real effort to blog as much as possible this month. I have some cool stuff to share and maybe a couple surprises.

Hugs to all,

Sharon

P.S. I finished listening to Son of Stone by Stuart Woods and Kill Me if You Can by James Patterson. Both with surprise twists.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T21:49:00.005-05:00

I'm hoping that everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Safe travels to and from wherever the holiday road leads you. I'm lucky to have family close by.

Thank you to everyone who has been commenting on the blog and to those who have been especially supportive over the last month. It has meant a great deal--and I am thankful.

I have managed to finish a hat for a friend--it was gifted about a week ago--and yesterday I noticed it already had a hole in it--compliments of the dog! I was smarter this time--much cheaper yarn (no wool) and a K2P2 ribbing all the way. Pretty fast to knit and I didn't even cringe--okay, I really was expecting something dastardly to befall the hat.

I am about 50 rows from finishing my neck down sweater. I was telling my mom that and she said, "So that makes you two, right?" I nearly fell down laughing--because it's still the first one! Oh, well.

Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy every minute of this holiday weekend.

Hugs,

Sharon

Knock Knock

2011-11-22T23:21:00.004-05:00

Callie was feeling a bit neglected because she hadn't been on the blog in quite some time. Needless to say, she's got her eyes on you!

Cold, rainy weather. But Thanksgiving is coming and then the mad rush to Christmas. Thanksgiving seems to get pushed further and further to the background every year. I swear they started playing Christmas carols in the malls right after (if not before) Halloween. I was going to try to get some errands done before Thursday, but who knew that Black Friday would last all of Thanksgiving week?

Gotta run for now. It's late and I am trying to get a few on-line things done...like the blog!

Hugs to all,
Sharon

More Finishes and a Surprise Sighting!

2011-11-18T21:32:00.002-05:00

Margaret of Trumansburg, New York, brought her finished Flower Garden Applique quilt to the hand quilting class on Saturday. Isn't it lovely? Unfortunately, the colors are not very true in the pic--it's a beautiful green on green background with vibrant flower fabrics. Margaret is a very enthusiastic student, to say the least! Great job!

A true finish--no kidding! Sharon G. of Skaneateles, New York, not only had her top finished, but it was quilted and bound! Now that's finished! This is from my In Baltimore Style Block of the Month.

Here's a detail. The sashing was perfect for this colorful quilt. Doesn't it make you think of the Caribbean?

And the surprise sighting? It was me, with my new tiara and wand! Thanks to Susan M. for suggesting the photo! I had just received not just one but two beautiful tiaras and matching wands. Several of the shop's staff thought it was my birthday! Truly, one should wear tiaras whenever the mood strikes--it's good for the soul!

We've been blessed with snow yet again. And then it's supposed to be in the mid-50s tomorrow! Go figure!

Hugs,

Sharon

P.S. Books I've listened to: The Red Queen by Philippa Gregory; Horse Heaven by Jane Smiley. I finished the series on foxhunting by Rita Mae Brown and am still reading Animals in Translation.

Catching Up Once More

2011-11-07T22:35:00.004-05:00

I'm hoping to catch up a bit here and then be able to move forward with the next post.

First up, another Flower Garden finish! Bettina, who managed to hide herself behind her beautiful quilt, did a superb job with this. Her plans are to hand quilt it, as she does all her quilts. And she does finish in a timely manner. Ahhhh, to be more like Bettina!

And Wilma brought in her finished Triangulated Star top! Two lovely borders are the perfect finish to this colorful top.

Deer have been making regular pilgrimages through the yard. This one is only about 20 feet from the front porch!

In a previous post, I had shown you snow on the front porch and in the yard. The next morning I took these shots:

Much too early for this much snow--plus the leaves were still on the trees. Luckily no damage to anything major. Still...a rude awakening to what's coming.

So there you have it.

Hugs to all,

Sharon

P.S. I have listened to Sleeping Doll and its sequel Roadside Crosses, both by Jeffery Deaver. I am reading Hounded to Death by Rita Mae Brown (the last in the series so far) and Animals in Translation by Temple Grandin (non-fiction). You may also want to check out Stacy Westfall's blog: www.stacywestfallhorseblog.com. Yes, it is about horses, but also has some interesting insights about other things. It's a good read, with videos you can watch...or not.

Not Scary at All

2011-10-31T23:17:00.003-04:00

I took this picture several weeks ago during the rainy season! I thought it looked appropriate for Halloween.

And this pic came along for the ride. Interesting water droplets pattern.

A little known fact: As a child I HATED trick-or-treating! My favorite Halloween was when I was in third grade and had chicken pox and couldn't go trick-or-treating! My brothers gathered candy and brought it home to me! I have made a few pumpkin/jack-o-lantern wallhangings, but I don't do any specific decorating for Halloween. On the other hand, I do have a fabulous fabric pumpkin made by Nancy A. that sits on the dining table during the fall/Thanksgiving season.

So there you have it. An odd post to be sure--but definitely not scary.

Hugs,
Sharon

P.S. I am listening to Sleeping Doll by Jeffery Deaver.

Stars!!!!

2011-10-29T22:28:00.004-04:00

Wednesday was truly an "all star" day! Four ladies worked very hard on rotary cutting, precision machine piecing, and pressing to make what I call a "triangulated star".

First up is Marlene with gorgeous shades of purple and black. A gift for someone special, it is absolutely stunning!

Chris is up next with dark gray, white/silver and a brick-ish basket weave background. We purposely chose to alternate the basket weave fabric to add even more interest. Chris has started pinning her two halves together ready for that final seam.

Wilma chose dark green, bright red and black for her star. She has a bright pink for the small border and a lovely rose patterned fabric that pulls in all the colors for her large border. Truly eye-catching!

And Claire! Claire chose to use eight different fabrics combined with black for her star. Her plan is to use scraps from the star colors to make the small border, followed by black. Her grandkids will love this one!

As you can see, what a fun and productive day. We cut and laughed and sewed and laughed...well, you get the idea. Great job, ladies!

That's it for tonight.

Hugs to all,

Sharon

P.S. Yes, Kathleen, you remember Penny from the In Baltimore Style class! And she is always smiling! Love the borders on your new quilt!

Knock Knock Knock...Penny

2011-10-27T23:09:00.004-04:00

Knock Knock Knock...Penny! (Sorry, I couldn't resist!) But this really is Penny! Part of Penny's consolation prize for not going on her planned trip with friends was that I would put her picture up on the blog. (Okay, her friends were texting her and emailing her pictures from the trip--and they were supposed to be in class with Penny if they had not gone without her! So turnabout is fair play.) So Penny has worked on her first Monthly Bliss 1 block and is making good progress. I was thrilled to see her, but sad that she was not on her trip. Life...happens!

Today we received these gifts: snow and wind and cold. It's not unusual for us to have snow on Halloween--but we aren't at Halloween yet. Geez! Killing frost tonight. Notice that the hops vines on the shed are pretty much gone already.

On a personal note, many thanks to all who have commented or sent cards or thought of my family. It has meant more than you know. I am truly blessed to have such wonderful people in my life. You are indeed special.

More tomorrow. Class pictures from Wednesday to show!

Hugs,

Sharon

P.S. I listened to One Summer by David Baldacci (I may have listed this before, I honestly don't remember) and am listening to Killing Floor by Lee Child. I am reading The Tell-Tale Horse by Rita Mae Brown (only one more book in the series and I am up-to-date!) (Did I mention Edge by Jeffery Deaver?)

P.P.S. Lest you think Penny and I were upset with her friends for going without her, we were not. Their texting was a way of keeping her close. True friends.

Poorer and Richer

2011-10-22T22:16:00.004-04:00

Our world is poorer and heaven is richer...because heaven now has my dad. Regular readers of the blog know that I rarely talk about my family. But my dad was such a special man that I want to share him with you.

You may remember that I first showed his picture in a prior post of veterans from my family.

Such a handsome man. A dedicated husband and father. His legacy includes hard work, love, friendship, laughter, patience and so much more.

Last night my mom, youngest brother, and I were with him when he made his final journey. He was such a special man--I can't think of a single person who didn't like him. His ready smile and great sense of humor have been passed to us, his lucky children.

Here is a picture of him taken in February on his 91st birthday. You can see that special mischievous gleam in his eyes. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

I love and miss you, Dad. See you on the other side.

XXXOOO, Sharon

Marie Finished!

2011-10-18T22:34:00.002-04:00

This is just too exciting! Marie finished her Flower Garden top! She decided to add borders all around the outside. Her color choices were bold and beautiful, and I love that she grouped her tulips by color family instead of alternating them.

A close-up of the center. Great job, Marie!

That's all for tonight.

Hugs to all,

Sharon

P.S. I just finished listening to The Edge by Jeffery Deaver and have started One Summer by David Baldacci.

Still Crazy!!!

2011-10-16T21:35:00.002-04:00

One last glimpse from the quilt show. Another of Marion T.'s beauties--her crazy quilt. Marion is a master embroiderer, and this piece showcases her skills. She also won a Viewer's Choice first place ribbon!

Isn't the detail amazing? If I remember correctly, she was trying not to repeat any of the stitch patterns. Truly breathtaking! I can't wait to see what she's up to next!

That's it for tonight. I've spent quite a bit of today painting, and you will see the results of that soon.

Til next time, dear readers, remember how truly special you are.

Hugs to all,

Sharon

Even More Proud Moments

2011-10-15T21:54:00.003-04:00

On October 6, Traci brought in her finished Flower Garden top! We have spent 13 months working block-by-block to bring this to fruition. Absolutely stunning, Traci! (Now she's on to hand piecing for 10 months!) There should be more of these lovely pieces to show over the next few months as others get their tops finished.

The Tompkins County Quilters Guild Show was the first weekend in October and several of my students had finished quilts to show. First, Carol R. of Ithaca hand appliqued and quilted "All Curves."

And "All Points." What a thrill to see these hanging! Great job, Carol!

Marion T. hand appliqued, embroidered and quilted this beauty. Based on a Kaffe Fassett pattern, she should be proud of this accomplishment.

Here's a close-up of the workmanship. Just superb!

More to show next post. Did you miss me?

Hugs to all,

Sharon

P.S. I am listening to The Edge by Jeffery Deaver and reading The Hounds and the Fury by Rita Mae Brown. Also listened to The Chopin Manuscript, a serial thriller by Jeffery Deaver, et al.

A Brief Update

2011-09-27T23:04:00.003-04:00

There have been brief sightings of me recently, hopefully allaying the fears that I have gone missing. Still super busy, cramming as much as possible into each day. Hoping for at least a brief lull soon.

In the brief moments before I fall asleep, I am reading The Hunt Ball by Rita Mae Brown. Yes, I am gulping these books one after another. I think I only have three or four more and I will have done the entire series to date. I'm not sure if there will be more or not--I hope so!

Listening to: The Burning Wire by Jeffery Deaver and Next by Michael Crichton. Neither for the squeamish....

Don't give up, my faithful readers--I will be back with more regular postings...just not yet!

Hugs to all,
Sharon

P.S. I have been thinking about Nancy A, Barb McA, mkmouse--how are you all? Also, Marion T, we miss you at First Tuesdays--everything okay? Okay, I am thinking about many more of you...just not naming you right here.

Alive

2011-09-19T11:11:00.003-04:00

It's just insane. I think I need to get less of a life! I have just updated my website (www.sharonstroud.com) so that you can see what classes I am teaching this fall. There is still time to sign up for a fun time. Imagine....hand piecing, hand quilting, machine piecing, hand applique. So many classes, so little time!

I have literally been busy from morning to night since my last post. I am hoping for a bit more time to download pictures and tell you what's been happening. Don't give up!

Last week I judged for the Mohawk Valley Quilt Club. Their show is September 23, 24 and 25, 10:00-5:00 each day, and it will be fabulous! So if you are in the Utica, NY, area this weekend, check out the show. Please visit www.mohawkvalleyquiltclub.com for more information.

Okay, I need to get back to my non-blogging life. Stay tuned for updates.

Hugs to all,
Sharon

P.S. I have listened to Crescent Dawn by Clive Cussler. And am reading Full Cry by Rita Mae Brown.

P.P.S. I have the body of my sweater done and am knitting the neck/collar now.

More Bliss

2011-09-04T22:51:00.003-04:00

My philosophy is that something good should happen to women (and men!) every month. As some of you may know, I have had two Monthly Bliss series--10 months of hand piecing bliss. And now...drum roll, please...there is Monthly Bliss 3! Hot off the sewing machine at 3 a.m. September 1. Eighteen all new hand pieced blocks. I set mine together by machine--to me the blocks are the fun part--all those set-ins and pivots, circling star points...ahhhhh, pure bliss!

This entire top was made in the last four weeks. (Please remember that the pictures look weird because of my design wall--it's not stable--so things look cockeyed.) In hindsight (always 20/20) I wish I had used more contrast in the blocks. I love the richness of the green and burgundy, but they were too similar in value. But I love the new blocks and the next sample will have better contrast.

One of my favorite blocks. This one looks better because there is background separating many of the pieces.

If any of you are in or near Watkins Glen, NY, you may be interested in this fun, informative class. Ten months of bliss! Just think of it! For more information or to register, you can contact O'Susannah's Quilts at 607-535-6550. Plans for Monthly Bliss 4 are already under way--but I am not sewing the blocks tonight!

So there you have it--a new quilt top and class.

Hugs,

Sharon

P.S. I am listening to Cold Moon by Jeffery Deaver. Thanks for the tip, Penny and Emily! See you both soon!

An Adventure

2011-09-03T22:21:00.004-04:00

Okay, this was a big step for me but I think most of you will be rolling your eyes wondering what the fuss was about--just sayin'.

In all the years I have been going to Lake George for retreats, I have never touched the water. I like being on the water and near the water but not IN the water. With Eleanor Roosevelt's voice in my head urging me to do something everyday that scares me, I decided this was the year. For those of you who remember the early days when I wore dresses, slips, stockings and really good shoes, these images may be shocking!

As the years have gone by I have become less formal in dress for retreat. Last year I was down to shorts and skirts (plus shirts!) and joked about next year maybe sandals! Well, I was as close as I probably will get. Just before retreat I got a pair of fake crocs with horsehead cutouts--in candy cane pink, no less. Perfect shoes for touching the water.

After lunch one day, I came back to the classroom wearing shorts, shirt and pink clogs. Today was the day. (If I look fat in the following pictures, it is because there were four cameras on me--and we all know that each camera adds 10 pounds!) These pics are courtesy of Cindy--she did a great job!

These are the stairs going down from the porch to the water. (Please remember that I had visions of losing my footing and landing in the water with a giant splash--did I say I don't swim?)

Death grip on the railing--on both sides! Not quite in the water.

In the water, still with death grip on railing and being brave enough to kick out one foot. (Yes, in my mind's eye I could see the clog flying off into the deeper part of the water!)

I did go down one more step than what you see...and a big wave came in! Still death grip on the railings.

Even scarier was turning around to get out! I had to let go of both railings at the same time! But I managed to climb the stairs and get the water out of my clogs! Mission accomplished!

The ladies at the retreat were so much fun with this...I can't thank them enough. We did silly, crazy things this year and had a wonderful time. And I can say I survived Lake George!

By now you are either asleep or rolling your eyes at such a display of stupidity or rolling on the floor laughing at how this could be scary at all. So my purpose as entertainment or a sleeping aid has been successful! Thanks for letting me share.

Tomorrow is a quilting post--thump--was that you hitting the floor from shock? You'll like what you see!

Hugs,

Sharon

P.S. I am listening to Everlasting by Iris Johansen.

A New Low and More Retreat Pics

2011-09-02T22:30:00.003-04:00

Okay, even I am embarrassed! Three posts in all of August? That's the fewest number of posts in all three plus years of blogging! I'll try to do better in September.

These are the "wrap-up" pictures from the retreat.

First, three ladies who braved the most intricate of the four designs. Gale, Sandy and Nancy.

Sharon G, Cindy, Gale, Sandy and Nancy. Cindy worked on the hardest design for all three days, Sharon G worked on the nine hearts for the three days, and Gale, Sandy, and Nancy completed the nine hearts project before starting the hardest one! It's fun to see what designs are chosen and how fabric choices make them look so different. Great job, ladies!

And the last hurrah. We had a wonderful time, even taking time to "porch" and, of course, enjoy the Thursday night fireworks from the boat dock. It all goes by so fast.

Several of us took a boat tour on Sunday morning, actually cruising on the Minne-Ha-Ha, the tour boat that comes in close to our classroom several times a day. It was fun to see things from the lake side!

First, this is a view of Fuller (on the right) and Mayflower Cottage (on the left), and a tiny bit of Rose Cottage just behind Mayflower.

And this is the House of Trix--the classroom! There is a small waterfall behind the building, so water actually runs right under the building. Having taken the ride on the lake, we will make even more of an effort to race to the porch to wave when the boat passes!

We did a bit of shopping and eating near the docks, and then it was the mad dash for home. The time is always too short, but we make the most of every minute.

Next post will be a water adventure featuring yours truly. Stay tuned!

Hugs,

Sharon

P.S. I finished listening to Crunch Time by Diane Mott Davidson and Timeline by Michael Crichton.

P.P.S. Traci, the thread color is Mettler 823 in 50 wt.

Hard at Work

2011-08-24T21:20:00.003-04:00

Sunshine, chocolate and needleturn applique...who could ask for anything more? We spent three days working on any combination of four designs. Some have decided to do all four, some only two, and some only one. There was no wrong answer!

Here are three of the ladies working hard. Right outside the door is Lake George. We'll see more of that later.

Two more--so serious!

Here are three finished hearts. The project was for nine hearts with a ruffled-looking edge. These were done by Nancy, Gale, and Sandy, who decided to add a 10th heart to hers.

Tomorrow--more pictures of these ladies and their projects. And there is a tale of daring-do coming in the next few days--stay tuned!

Hugs,

Sharon

Pics and a Project

2011-08-23T23:35:00.003-04:00

Ahhhh...school supplies! This time of year makes those of us with an office/school supply addiction salivate. To help fuel your creativity, here is a project that's perfect to use at home or in a class. Check it out!

First you need letter size manila folders--I like colored--choose what you like. You will also need 150 grit sandpaper cut to 8 x 11 inches. Open your folder and either glue or double-sided tape the sandpaper inside. I usually put it on the tab side of the folder--but be bold--do whatever you'd like! Shut the folder and press firmly to seat the tape or glue. (Please note: If you put the double-sided tape on the folder without the sandpaper and then close it, you will have a wonderful folder--stuck firmly shut! I put the tape on the wrong side of the sandpaper and then apply it to the folder--so I don't forget!)

Next: Stickers! Lots and lots of stickers! I've always loved stickers and am not ashamed to use them in my supposed adulthood! At a recent event, we made folders on the first night--to be used for the next few days in classes. Here are the results:

Sandy decorated not only her sandpaper folder but her class folder as well.

Sharon G's penchant for ladybugs is readily apparent!

Nancy was more reserved, but equally artful.

Cindy decided to take no chances--first and last name--so no one else could claim her prize!

And here is my version. 13 is my lucky number, so I used that instead of my last name because we were out of S's! Who knew we needed so many! It was a fun time, reminding us of how much fun we can have with such simple things. Join the fun and make your own. When it gets ratty, you can trash it and start over--the fun never ends!

Over the next several posts you will see what other creative things these ladies did over the course of three days. We had so much fun it should have been illegal!

Hugs,

Sharon

P.S. I've listened to 10th Anniversary by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro and am now listening to Treachery in Death by J.D. Robb. And I'm reading Outfoxed by Rita Mae Brown.

Still No Pictures

2011-08-10T23:06:00.002-04:00

I've been reluctant to post yet another picture-less blog, but I guess that's marginally better than no blog at all.

Things have been hopping here. Scheduling new classes, working on the new hand piecing sample (one of the things I will take pics of--hopefully soon!), teaching classes, driving to and from classes (PLEASE beam me up, Scotty!), plus the usual day-to-day stuff at home.

I've listened to lots of books while working on the new quilt--Bel Air Dead by Stuart Woods, Chasing Fire by Nora Roberts, A Thin Dark Line by Tami Hoag. I've also spent a fair amount of time in the car listening to the 20th Anniversary Edition of music from Dirty Dancing. Can we say Hubba Hubba about Patrick Swayze? Okay, and Brett Cullen. Or insert your own hunka hunka.

I think I'd better sign off for now. Hot Donna, if you are reading this, there is a Charley Harper calendar at the Ithaca Barnes & Noble. Just so you know....

Hugs to all,
Sharon

The End

2011-07-31T22:11:00.002-04:00

of July! Had you going there for a minute, didn't I! It's just amazing to me that over half the year is gone. Other times I keep thinking that it's the end of August and September is rolling around--that's so scary that sometimes I have to go lie down for a bit until the dizziness stops.

And, yes, my nose is still to the grindstone. I lack one fabric to finish fabric selection for the new hand piecing series. Then it's on to sewing like mad.

Okay, I'm just rambling tonight. You are probably reading this as blah, blah, blah, blah. So, enough already.

Sleep like you haven't a care in the world.

Hugs,
Sharon

P.S. I am listening to Kill the Messenger by Tami Hoag and reading Riding Shotgun by Rita Mae Brown.

Nose to the Grindstone

2011-07-27T22:22:00.003-04:00

I decided to skip the pictures tonight, but wanted to give you an update on what I've been up to.

On the applique front, I've designed three new patterns to complement another design I've had for a while but never done much with. All four can be used in any combination. When the samples are done I will share more.

On the hand piecing front, I have a new Monthly Bliss coming up. Eighteen new blocks have been chosen, and I am now deciding on fabrics.

On the lawn front--there really isn't much lawn left. Hot, dry weather yields weeds and not much grass. So no mowing for several weeks. But I had to have a bit of digging done (with a Bobcat) and am now in the process of raking and shoveling. And picking rocks. I'm wondering if I can restart the Pet Rock craze from, I think, the 1980s? I have everything from tiny to boulder.

We've had a brief break in the weather--cooler nights that make sleeping so much better.

I guess that's it for now.

Hugs,
Sharon

In Baltimore Style, Part 2

2011-07-24T21:16:00.004-04:00

And now...the rest of the story!

Here's Sharon G's bright and beautiful quilt--the top row, anyway! Oranges, and blues with a setting fabric that is light and airy and perfectly complements the applique. Fabulous, Sharon!

Judy D. used a variety of reds and greens with blue vases for her masterpiece. Judy is new to applique and took this class with her friend, Susan, who couldn't attend the setting class because her daughter was sick. We missed you, Susan. But Judy did a wonderful job and is now considering adding a large border to perfectly frame this beauty. Great job, Judy!

Beth was one seam from having her top all together when she ran out of bobbin thread! So she decided to call it a day. Her choice of corals and cool greens gave an entirely different feel to this quilt. Meticulous work, great fabrics--that's Beth to a tee!

Judy E. also chose an unusual palette that was very successful. The brown sashing helped carry through what I think of as a very organic, serene feel. A lovely lady...a lovely quilt. You go, Judy!

And last, but not least. Gale worked very hard to get her top finished in class. Her background is more of a homespun and her fabric choices were inspired. Check out the great batik she used for the cutwork blocks. It added so much interest to those blocks. Fantastic job, Gale!

As you can see, this is one talented group of ladies. Deb L. finished her top a few weeks ago and is adding an appliqued border around it. When she is a bit further, I will include her picture here. And, in case you wondered, I BEGGED these ladies to show their faces. You can see how much luck I had with that. So most will be known forever more as Kilroy.

What a thrill to have spent the last ten months with these women. It was truly my pleasure.

It's a bit cooler tonight, so maybe it will be better sleeping weather. I won't say no to that!

Hugs,

Sharon

In Baltimore Style, Part 1

2011-07-23T22:54:00.004-04:00

On Thursday, July 21, eight of the In Baltimore Style students met to set their applique blocks. Wait til you see!!!!

First are a couple photos of students hard at work. It sort of looks like a sweatshop! (Okay, it was really warm in the room--machines, irons, laughing...you get the picture!)

In the background here you can see my quilt top.

And here is part one of the parade of quilts. Please note that not all the tops are finished, but you can see how wonderful each will be.

First, Kathy F.--just look at the vibrant colors she used. Kathy was a beginning appliquer at the start of this 9 month journey! A few months ago, I was walking through the shop to get to the classroom and I saw a totally awesome fabric on top of the shelves. I fingered it, drooled a bit, but decided I didn't have anything to really do with it. Lo and behold, that same day, we were choosing setting fabrics for Kathy's quilt. It was fate: It was exactly perfect with Kathy's blocks. I just love spending someone else's money! Great job, Kathy!

Pat S. chose beautiful reds and blues for her masterpiece. Her tiny circles are done in polka dots, so we chose a different dot for her cornerstones. Isn't it amazing how these blocks are transformed by fabric selection? Pat is a master appliquer--her work is meticulous.

And last, for tonight, is Sandy. Sandy was also fairly new to applique when she started this class--and she has done a fantastic job. Sandy is setting her blocks with a dark navy and is then going to use a blue and white floral print as the final border. I am so proud!

You can't imagine how fulfilling it is to see these blocks come together into tops. All the ladies worked so hard and now they get to reap the benefits of those efforts. Tomorrow you will see.....the rest of the story! You won't be disappointed.

Hugs,

Sharon

P.S. I just finished listening to Borderline by Nevada Barr and am doing A Single Thread by Marie Bostwick next. I'm reading a horse related book.

P.P.S. For those of you interested in a great tutorial on backstitch embroidery, please visit Cinderberry Stitches (on the blog list at right).

We Interrupt This Heat Wave

2011-07-20T22:46:00.002-04:00

Okay, stick a fork in me--I'm done! These temperatures have roasted me. So I thought I'd give you something to perhaps make you think "cool" or "frosty".

I was surprised to find that these pics were taken in February 2004. I had to orient myself to decide what direction I was facing when they were taken, as there has been substantial growth of shrubs, trees and the addition of a huge flower bed between where I was standing and the huge spruce tree you see in picture one.

And this is facing northwest. See the stunted birch tree midway between the icicle and the spruce tree? That fell down and was replaced by the ladder and trumpet vine which you have seen in other posts. And the spruce tree is giant now.

I am just amazed at how much things change when we don't really realize it.
Stay cool--it's supposed to be over 100 degrees on the heat index here on Thursday. I'm mmmmmeeeeeellllllllttttttiiiinnnnngggggg.........

Hugs,
Sharon

The Year of the Cone?

2011-07-18T22:41:00.004-04:00

Every few years it seem that the spruce trees are extra full of pine (spruce?) cones. I think this is one of them. This is the view up into just one tree.

Multiple cones per branch.

So tightly closed. See the whiter bits of sap?

It's just amazing. The trees both sides of it have almost no cones. Shall we call this one fecund? (www.dictionary.reference.com)

Breaking news, Quilt Fans! Anita Shackelford has started a blog! Yes, you've heard right! You can click on Quilts and Cuisine on my blog list to the right to hop right on over and take a look. I think you'll really enjoy it.

Enough for tonight.

Hugs,

Sharon

P.S. I am listening to Prior Bad Acts by Tami Hoag.

So Proud

2011-07-12T20:15:00.002-04:00

Have I mentioned how much I love seeing pictures of students' work? A couple days ago, I received this:

Deb H. took Hexagon Bliss at O'Susannah's Quilt Shop in Watkins Glen, NY. She decided that she did not want a hexagon-shaped quilt and went for the gusto. Hand pieced! Isn't it beautiful? I love the colors in the blocks and the setting fabric brought out the best in them. Check out the half-blocks on the long sides--too cool! See the secondary stars formed by the setting triangles?

So while the rest of the class was working on this:

Deb went forward with her vision. Well done, Deb! You rock!

Hot, hot and dry at the Stroud household. Makes me feel like...wait for it..."I'm meeelllllttttiiinnnnggggg!"

Til next time!

Hugs,

Sharon

P.S. I am listening to The Alibi Man by Tami Hoag and reading Smokin' Seventeen by Janet Evanovitch. Both excellent.

Spacers

2011-07-09T22:20:00.002-04:00

Here it is: A quick tutorial on using spacers for hand piecing.

These spacers are 1/2 x about 4-1/2 inches. The 1/2 inch is critical; the length can be to your liking. I hand them out in my hand piecing classes so that students can more accurately judge the distance needed between two templates to allow for seam allowances. The spacers are made from card stock--index cards work great and come in wonderful colors.

Lay out two freezer paper templates on the wrong side of your fabric. Lay a spacer between the two templates as shown. Press with a hot, dry iron--the freezer paper will stick to the fabric and the spacer will just lift off to be used again.

You can use multiple spacers if you'd like, so that you can position multiple pieces easily.

The purpose of the spacers, you ask? When you rotary cut around the freezer paper, leaving a 1/4 inch seam, you only have to cut once to get perfect seams on both pieces. On this pic, notice that the 1/4 inch line on the ruler is lined up with the edge of the freezer paper. One cut, two seams!

This shows the resultant fabric, marked for piecing and cut with perfect 1/4 inch seams using a rotary cutter and ruler.

Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I rarely use the spacers. My preference is to place my pieces slightly farther apart and cut around each piece separately. But for anyone learning hand piecing, it is so much easier to know exactly how much fabric to leave between templates. (The templates are the finished size, no seam allowances added.)

For tons of hand piecing tips, patterns, books and dvd's, visit www.lindafranz.com. She has also appeared on Simply Quilts and is the inventor of Inklingo--a method of marking fabric for hand or machine piecing using your ink jet printer. Check it out!

And, of course, (okay, here comes the shameless self-advertisement), I offer hand piecing classes. You can check them out at www.sharonstroud.com.

Okay, enough frivolity for this time.

Hugs,

Sharon

Not Quite

2011-07-07T23:34:00.003-04:00

The butterfly bushes are not in bloom yet...but there is hope. And I have seen the butterflies.

Hugs,

Sharon

P.S. Kathleen, I will tell about the spacers tomorrow. But I use 1/4 inch masking tape and a ruler to mark any size grid--it lessens the chance of tape residue over a larger area.

The Industrial To-Go Container

2011-07-06T20:41:00.004-04:00

Yes, it's too big for a bag--it must go into a giant container! This is the 5.8 qt. Lock n Lock filled to the brim. I carry this to every hand class, and sometimes to others as well.

Here we see it fully loaded.

All the contents are now out of the box and on my cutting board. A pretty impressive array, eh? The smaller containers make it easy to find just what I want.

Here's how it breaks down. The hand sewing kit has two kinds of needles, pins and cushion, extra pins in a box, an extra thimble, a bulldog clip (just in case?), thread, a seam ripper, scissors, Thread Heaven, a used needle case, and a couple pieces of pink felt (just because).

A slightly smaller box has seven spools of 50 wt. Mettler thread. Shades of gray, taupe and a navy. I can add others as needed.

I have two small cutting boards that fit in the bottom of the bigger box (handy for rotary cutting for hand pieced blocks), big scissors, a 1 x 12 inch rotary ruler, two 1 x 12 inch C-Thru rulers for tracing and drafting, and a rotary cutter in a chile pepper case (a gift from a student).

The marking box: Tons of markers--Pigma pens, mechanical colored pencils, Sewline, mechanical pencils, extra leads, and two pairs of paper scissors. (Remember, not all markers are used in all instances.)

I have an extra rotary blade, as well as a container full of ultra fine Sharpie markers, with overflow markers rubberbanded together. The lovely piece at the bottom of the picture is of a needle case made for me by another student. (Have I mentioned how lucky I am?)

I also carry a 7.5 inch square ruler, two circle templates and the bag at the upper right is full of 1/2 inch spacers for hand piecing.

Wow! That's a lot for such a small container! I know that a couple times I have forgotten it and am absolutely lost without it. Because I only have one industrial size to-go container, I have to transfer it from one class bag to another as needed.

I realized a couple days ago that I had never finished the to-go series--so now you know the rest of the story!

Part of today was spent basting for classes and also a piece I had pin basted several months ago. And this evening I took my hand saw and loppers to two rather overgrown bushes in the yard. I know I heard each of the bushes breathe a sigh of relief to have so much weight off them.

That's it until tomorrow!

Hugs,

Sharon

It's In the Details

2011-07-05T16:53:00.005-04:00

As I was deadheading my Martha Washington geranium this afternoon, I had a chance to take a really good look at it. The patterning of the colors and the delicate details are just amazing.

The stamen is almost star-like.

But apparently starts out as a straight shoot. Can you believe those colors?

And Lynnie said she hadn't been on the blog in a bit--so here is her too cute face. I just love her to bits.

Perhaps tomorrow will see something quilt related here. Unless I get distracted yet again!

Til then...

Hugs,

Sharon

Happy July 4

2011-07-04T22:18:00.003-04:00

The perfect ending to a perfect weekend. Good food, family, friends, and weather that was hard to believe for so many days in a row.

Hope your weekend was whatever you most desired.

Hugs,

Sharon

Are You Looking at Me...

2011-07-03T23:28:00.001-04:00

or am I looking at you?

Hugs,

Sharon

Too Cute

2011-07-02T23:22:00.003-04:00

For several mornings this doe and fawn played in my front yard--and my camera was nowhere at hand. Until....

The fawn was quite a handful! Running and jumping in huge ovals around the birdbath, tree and its mother! She kept a good eye on her charge, but I think she was getting a bit weary.

But who could resist this face?

Taking time to smell...the leaves?

One spot, two spot...how many spots do you think I have?

And this is just precious!

All the pics were taken through my kitchen window with a 10x telephoto lens.

Are you all having a great weekend?

More to come....

Hugs,

Sharon

Another Finish

2011-07-01T21:06:00.003-04:00

Long time, no post, I know. Let's just say things are looking up and here I am with another finish.

This is an Apple Creek Tablerunner. My friend Debbie gave me the kit for Christmas 2010 and I have it finished! Partly because Debbie machine quilted it for me! It's a delightful addition to my kitchen island.

And here's a detail. The kit was from Connecting Threads. They were generous with fabric--working in fat quarters rather than smaller pieces that are not enough if you -- eek! -- make a mistake.

The start of a long weekend for most. Half of 2011 is gone--so let's whoop it up for the second half!

What's up next? You'll have to tune in tomorrow to see!

Hugs,
Sharon

P.S. I finished reading The Pioneer Woman by Ree Drummond. It was FABULOUS!!! A must read for everyone. I am simultaneously listening to Dark Horse by Tami Hoag and The Jungle by Clive Cussler and Jack DuBrul. Okay, it's really not simultaneously, even though I have two ears. One is on cassette and one is on CD. So one is done at home and one in the car. And I am enjoying both.

believe

2011-06-25T10:15:00.003-04:00

The reveal. Several months ago I showed you a stack of fabrics; then I revealed small details about what I was doing with it. Well, the quilt has been delivered and I can now show you what resulted.

This will be a surprise for several of you who thought it had something to do with shoes, as in someone wearing them. One of the previous posts had a detail of the "e", which sort of resembled the toe of a shoe. Even Rose thought it would be a witch wearing red shoes!

The lettering was transferred to the red fabric and then basted to the cream. Each letter was then appliqued using a cutaway technique. (The lettering is from A Quilter's Alphabet by Anita Shackelford, www.anitashackelford.com.) Here's a detail.

The lettering was outlined, then the background filled with a 1/2 inch grid. The borders have two gentle wavy lines. The witch fabric was the one I had to order and wait for!

And here is the label. Rose received the quilt on Friday, along with an assortment of believe-related items. She thought it was worth the wait. You can read her comments on the last post.

So that's the scoop for today. I did try to post this last night, but Blogger refused to accept my pictures. This morning it was no problem. Go figure.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Hugs,

Sharon

Simple Beauty

2011-06-22T23:08:00.004-04:00

Tonight I thought I would share some pictures I took earlier this spring. It always amazes me how much detail there is in something that looks so simple.

First up, cherry blossoms

And tulip centers:

Isn't this the coolest star center ever?

And this looks like it should be a bug or something!

Happy whatever-day-it-is-for-you! Next will be more finishes. And, yes, I did finally get the mystery quilt in the mail today. She should have it Friday, so I will post pics of that then. I am pleased with it. Have been making and appliqueing labels. Finished a baby quilt top too!

Til next time--

Hugs,

Sharon

P.S. I just finished Tick Tock by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge. Just started Dark Horse by Tami Hoag. And I'm still reading the Pioneer Woman's book. It's fabulous--and long. But you don't want to miss a single word.

Monkey Business

2011-06-16T22:55:00.004-04:00

Nothing beats a quick baby gift for just pure piecing joy. The baby in question was actually born in March, and I did have the top pieced before that. But...life intervened and it was just Tuesday when I finished and gifted this.

Made from flannels, Mountain Mist batting and tied with pearl cotton. Hard to see in the pics, but the "not monkey" fabric is a pale white and yellow stripe. I like to tie to the back so that the top is not as busy. You can see the ties at the top of the picture. Monkey fabric was the backing.

Here's Callie --aka "Inspector 12"--making sure I did a good job.

And, to complete the gift, the book Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed. It's a fun book--even for adults!

So there you have it--another finish. I actually have two more finishes which I will share soon. And I am working on a little something for my best friend, who is soon to be a first-time grandma. I cut the top tonight and have about 1/3 of the blocks pieced and on the design wall with the alternate plain blocks. I think it will be really cute--okay, no bias there!

Spent most of the day working in the yard. Did some mowing, trim mowing, weeding and weedeating. Didn't get finished because it started to rain, and I bent the blade on my trim mower. Bummer...especially since I didn't hit anything hard that would have caused it. Dee dee dee dee!

That's all for this time. Are you remembering how special you all are?

Hugs,

Sharon

Endless Mountains

2011-06-11T23:10:00.005-04:00

On Thursday I had the privilege of spending the day with ladies from the Endless Mountains Quilt Guild in Sayre, Pennsylvania. These ladies are so much fun!

In the afternoon I presented the Stained Glass Tulip workshop to twenty eager students. Eight of us had dinner together, where we laughed and talked and laughed some more! A trunk show of many of my early quilts followed. Presented by decades, people were able to see how my tastes and skills have changed since I began quilting in 1988. (Can we just say that my very first "quilt" went to the New York State Fair and the comment they had was "quilting should go through all three layers".)

Can you believe that several of these dedicated women continued to applique on the class project throughout the evening--and five of them finished the center applique. Here are the smiling faces of (l to r) Traci, Marie, Kelly, Mary, and Sue. What a great job, ladies! I'm so very proud.

Eleanor Roosevelt said "Do one thing everyday that SCARES you." My scare for today was driving the tractor at the barn and learning to use the bucket loader on the front. No power steering. No one to talk me through it--just what I learned by watching others over the last few months. I had a big stall to clean on the end of the barn farthest away from the manure spreader--so I needed the tractor. At the worst, I figured I could just stop and park the tractor if I chickened out in the middle. But I loaded (by hand) and dumped (with the tractor) three loads. Can we say WOHOOOO? (I know that's a stupid story, and no one really cares, but there you go. If you are this far, you obviously read the whole stupid story!)

Okay, enough nonsense for tonight. Many thanks to all who commented on the blog or to me in person about Floyd. It meant a great deal.

Hugs to one and all,

Sharon

P.S. I am listening to Secrets from the Grave by Tami Hoag; it's the sequel to Deeper than the Dead.

The Love of My Life

2011-06-06T22:53:00.003-04:00

There are several reasons that I am sharing this story today. One is because "Mitten-Stater" suggested it (she already knows it and thought I should share it more widely) and because today is an anniversary.

Back in the late 1970's my friend Cindy and I had taken a road trip to Lake Placid, NY. We spent a week touring the mountains and went to the Olympic site (pre-renovation for the 1980 Olympics) and had a great time. Cindy was either engaged or pretty serious about Ron, who became her husband. I was foot loose and fancy free.

To make a long story slightly shorter, I returned Cindy to her parents' home and started back to my home. Part way back I realized that I had forgotten to check my oil before the trip. So I pulled into Longway's Truck Stop near Watertown, NY, to do so. I pulled in between two big rigs and popped the hood on my little yellow Buick. As I was under the hood, a man came over and said "Do you know what you're doing?" And, bold as brass, I responded, "Yes, quite frankly, I do!" Not deterred, this gentleman struck up a conversation which extended to several hours. At the end of our time together, he asked for my phone number and said he would call me. I figured that was the last I would ever hear of him. Imagine my surprise when he called me that night...and the next night...and every night for over 25 years. We dated long distance for almost two years before we were married. I can honestly say that my heart raced whenever I saw him--and that happened all through our marriage.

I rode in the truck with him for over a year--visiting 44 of the 48 contiguous states. For quite a while we hauled yachts all over the country. I have seen him put an over-wide boat into an alley with only inches to spare on each side, backing in from a narrow roadway with traffic coming both ways. Just amazing. A kind and generous man who loved me with all his heart.

This memory is especially poignant today; he's been gone seven years today. He was the one who encouraged me to follow my quilting dreams and made my life special in so many ways. I miss him every day.

Thanks for listening....

Hugs,
Sharon

A Finish, A Gift, and a Visitor

2011-06-05T23:28:00.005-04:00

If my math is correct, this is finish 3 for the year to date. Hand appliqued, machine pieced and hand quilted. I am quite pleased with it.

A detail of the applique and the quilting.

On Saturday, I went to a wonderful bridal shower for my best friend's daughter. So last week I spent spare evening moments knitting this dishcloth. It has hearts knitted in it--appropriate for a bridal shower, don't you think?

And a detail. Made of cotton yarn.

Earlier today I heard something just outside my sewing room window. When I went to look, here's what I found.

A female cardinal doing her best to get in! The picture is not the best because of the tint on the window. I think she was looking at herself on the other side, which acts as a mirror. She was there for quite a while, alternating between the window sill and the shringle bush near it.

I have spent the day appliqueing and weedeating. What a combination! But my new weedeater works great and is so much more advanced than my old one (let's just say it was into double digit years and the motor was smoking the last time I used it--and it is electric).

Tomorrow I am going to share a story with you--something personal that not many of you know. So stay tuned.

Hugs,

Sharon

P.S. If you are wondering why the spacing is so spastic on the posts, it is because I have given up trying to figure out how to edit html to get it right. WYSIWYG does not apply to editing this blog. I think others have given up as well--but it torques my cookies not to have it look better. Just sayin'.

Even Better Storm Pictures

2011-06-01T22:27:00.003-04:00

Several nights after I took the other storm pictures, we had another one--with even more lightning. As you are viewing them, remember this is the middle of the night and the sky was pitch black when there was no lightning.

I have been quilting--show and tell for that is up in the next post. At least it is a bit cooler tonight--much better for sleeping!

Hugs,

Sharon

P.S. Listening to Heart of Dixie by Tami Hoag.

Thank You for Your Service

2011-05-29T23:02:00.004-04:00

Memorial Day--a time to remember those who have served and those who are currently serving.

My husband Floyd

My brother Eric

My dad Otto

His brother Hugo

And his brother Othmar (Bill)

My mother's brother George

And his oldest daughter Ginny

And his son Joseph

My family does not have anyone currently serving in the Armed Forces, but my thoughts, prayers and thanks go out to those who are serving and their families. Throughout history our brave men and women have stepped up to keep us free.

On Monday--and every day--when you see someone in uniform thank them for their service.

Proud and thankful to be an American,

Sharon

Optical Illusion

2011-05-27T23:46:00.006-04:00

Once this applique block was finished I hung it on my design wall. Wanting to do something a bit different in the setting category, I decided to add squares around the applique block. The math turned it into an off-set block--or at least gave it that illusion.

Notice how the outer corner squares change how the applique looks. My eye sees an elongation toward the outer squares. (I measured the applique block and the placement of the applique on it--all are symmetrical.)

Here it is on point with the dark squares up.

And with the dark squares on the horizontal.

I thought I liked picture 2 best, but after seeing them all, I may take the applique block out and try something else. Or maybe not. What I do know? Nothing will happen to it tonight.

I have finished the applique on two blocks tonight. And we are being blessed with a lot more rain.

See...I do still do quilting-related blogs!

Hugs,

Sharon

P.S. I am listening to Tough Customer by Sandra Brown and am just starting to read The Pioneer Woman: Black Heels to Tractor Wheels by Ree Drummond.

Scenes from the Storm

2011-05-26T22:43:00.003-04:00

It was a dark and stormy night.... And I was taking pictures! You have to take a lot of duds to get even one shot of anything but darkness. But it is worth it!

Severe storms swept through the area for several hours tonight. We were lucky and did not have the tornado predicted.

Maybe something quilting related tomorrow! But these were literally hot off the camera!

Hugs,

Sharon

Gloversville

2011-05-25T09:02:00.004-04:00

This past weekend was spent in the company of quilters from the Sew Busy Quilt Guild of Gloversville, New York. From my arrival to my departure, these ladies could not have been more welcoming. On Saturday we worked on the finer points of binding and sleeves. That afternoon, as we were trying to do labeling, it rained so hard that, even with the ladies within touching distance of me, I could not make myself heard!

On Sunday, we worked on fussy-cutting Dresden Plates. I had an opportunity to see some quilts started several years ago when I last visited, and there were some stunning fabrics being used this time. It's always hard for me to stop playing with other people's fabrics! The ladies have promised to have a show-and-tell and to send me pictures, which I will share with you. I can't wait!

It was a wonderful weekend!

On Saturday night, Patti, Katherine, Sandy and Markie took me to dinner at Union Hall in Johnstown. The building dates from 1798 and is remarkable. (Most remarkable was the flourless chocolate cake!)

Across the road is this monument.

The plaque was especially poignant.

Now it's back to reality. The lawn was over 6 inches tall --and full of water. But the air is redolent (www.dictionary.reference.com) with the scent of lilacs. The flowering bushes and trees seem especially pretty and full this year.

My plan for today is to finish up some quilting and binding on several projects that are almost done. I'm way behind on my plan to get 12 old projects finished this year! I may yet be finishing most of those in December!

Hugs to all,

Sharon

From the Darkness

2011-05-23T20:13:00.003-04:00

Friday afternoon as I was traveling east on the Thruway, the sky ahead turned an ominous shade of gray.

But the "light" was so...how to describe it...odd. Dark and light at the same time. Eerie almost.

Further ahead was a strange cloud formation--almost looked like a funnel cloud, but thankfully was not twirling.

Then...the double rainbow! Look closely for the second one a bit to the right of the big one. Just arcing over the road sign.

How exciting to see both ends and the full arcs of both rainbows! It was truly like a miracle. And it stayed for quite some time--and rained really hard after these pictures were taken.

More on my trip tomorrow! Stay tuned....

Hugs,

Sharon

P.S. If any of you are in the vicinity of Ithaca, NY, on Thursday night, May 26, there are still openings in my Rotary Cutting 101 class from 6:30-9:30 pm. Please call Quilters Corner at 607-266-0850 for more information if you are interested.

Is Anyone There?!?!?!?

2011-05-20T12:14:00.003-04:00

Just wondering....

Hugs,
Sharon

Hops and Turkeys

2011-05-19T22:33:00.003-04:00

I swear you can see these hops vines growing while you watch them! The first picture shows them part way up the lattice. (As an aside, they went from no activity to almost 8 inches tall in less than one day!)

In seven days they went from the above picture to this! And now they are almost a foot taller--just in two days. It just amazes me! If any of you are looking for a vine, consider this one. It does not grow under siding or cause harm. I have this lime green and a dark green. The lime one seems to grow the fastest.

About a week ago, I looked out and a wild turkey was near the house--and I was on the phone and had no camera. I kept an eye on it as it meandered away. When I finally could get to my camera, the single turkey had left the yard, but a small flock was tearing across the yard in a different direction! That's a trumpet vine on the ladder--very invasive, but the birds love it. Swallows nest in the house on the top of the ladder.

That's all for tonight. Happy Friday, everyone!

Hugs,

Sharon

P.S. I am listening to Rainwater by Sandra Brown. Still reading the horse book!

An Update

2011-05-18T23:46:00.004-04:00

Several months ago I told you the sad story of Janet Atkins' quilt Kaaterskill being lost in transit. That, unfortunately, is still the status of the quilt--lost.

But...you can see this beautiful quilt on the cover of the June/July issue of Quilters Newsletter magazine! And learn more of the story, and see the original quilting designs Janet used to complete this stunning piece. Four full-color pages inside and a cover--congratulations, Janet. Well deserved.

Check it out, everyone--you won't be disappointed.

Hugs til next time!
Sharon

Bottle Tree

2011-05-17T14:27:00.004-04:00

Last night in class, Emily mentioned that she had stopped to purchase a bottle tree. I was surprised, because I had seen one years ago on an episode of American Quilter. No information about it, just a quick scan of someone's property. It was about a two second glimpse but I was hooked!

My brother Chris is multi-talented, and I asked him if he could build me one. Remember he did not see the tv program. I drew a rough diagram and set him to it. He welded metal rods into my tree. The first year there were three metal prongs to set into the ground--they didn't hold up well in heavy winds, so the next year he got me a heavy base (maybe from an outdoor umbrella [okay, I guess you wouldn't have an "indoor" umbrella]). The original tree sets into the base and it stays where you put it! I have all blue glass on mine, but Emily is drinking wine from as many different colored bottles as she can find to make hers more colorful!

Here's a close-up. The branches can be bent into different configurations, but I pretty much left them as they were. Today was gloomy and overcast...and, yes, rainy. The tree is especially pretty in full sunshine.

Short post for today--and the middle of the afternoon, no less!

Hugs,
Sharon

Hard to Believe

2011-05-13T22:29:00.003-04:00

Last night I had the pictures ready and logged in to post a blog. And Blogger was down! Can you believe it? So here's what would have been yesterday's post!

Traci L. made this beauty in a Monthly Bliss 2 series at O'Susannah's in Watkins Glen. The blocks were hand-pieced, the top set by machine; long arm quilting by Laurie Derr of Elmira Heights.

A close-up of some of the blocks. Check out those points! Love the colors--so fresh looking. Great job, Traci!

Sue Y., whose work you've seen in previous posts, brought her finished Baltimore in 3D wallhanging to share. Check out the quilting! It's so exciting to see completed tops...and even more exciting to see finished pieces. Did I mention it's exciting for people to share their quilts at any stage? Sue's fabric choices are almost always on the bold, dramatic side.

I'm so proud of both these ladies!

It's been a week of painting (still my parents' house), mowing and raking my lawn (read "hay field--should have just baled it!), horsing around, and some classes and a bit of quilting and some planning for future quilts. Next up will be a couple posts to catch you up on all the doings. Stay tuned!

Hugs,

Sharon

P.S. I am listening to Port Mortuary by Patricia Cornwell. And reading...wait for it...a horse book.