June Schnibble Done!

Did I wait until the last minute? 

Of Course!!  Lately, that seems to be the norm with the monthly Schnibbles!

But now that I am retired, I hope to also resign from the title of “Queen of the Last Minute”!!

I used two charm packs of batiks this time!  I’ve never done a Schnibble in batiks!

Don’t get me wrong… I’ve got tons of batiks… most of which I’ve never cut!!  They are just too pretty!!

Even the pile of little cut off edges of the charms are pretty!!

I chose to do the 36 patch version of Carrie’s pattern…not sure why…but I do like it!

I decided to make her blocks into a long table runner instead of a square quilt.  I used black solid fabric for the sashing and binding.

I quilted it with pretty multi-colored variegated thread in a water-like horizontal meander design.

Can you see that Yogi got too hot sleeping in his bed on my sewing table and decided to lay instead on the cooler laminate tabletop!

Look at that cute little pink belly!!

I found an awesome black batik with whales and dolphin on it for the backing.  So the whole thing looks very tropical to me!!

I am giving this as a Christmas gift to a couple who loves the beach and is decorating their apartment in beachy colors and accessories!!

And with the temps we’ve had here in northern Virginia the last few days…

it feels hotter than the beach here!!!

Last night we had a really bad storm and the power went out.  It didn’t come back on until 5:30 tonight.  Reallllly long hot day.

Cell phones dead, so sat in car with AC on to charge them.  All land lines here are still down…internet just came back on… so I’m posting this quickly in hopes it all holds out a bit longer!!

Hope you are having a better weekend in your area!! 

Day One!!!!

Yesterday was my last day as a teacher after 34 years!  I am officially retired! Waaahooo!!

Yogi is so confused!  He can’t figure out why I am still at home!! LOL! 

I’m thinking of spending the WHOLE day in my pajamas!! What do you think??

At The Beach!?

I bought a beach tote kit at a quilt show two years ago.

‘Bout time I get it made, right?

The kit came with pre-cut batik strips for the tote bag front and back and enough extra fabric for the straps.

I didn’t really like some of the strips, so I substituted some of my own batiks from my stash… do you do that sometimes, too?

I’m having fun deciding what motifs to quilt into the bag… so far I’ve decided on some seashells, a crab, a seahorse, a turtle and a shark…

What are you sewing on this weekend?  Something fun?

Not My thing…

Those of you who have been following my blog for awhile now, probably remember that years ago, before moving here to northern Virginia, I was a doll maker. 

I used to design doll patterns and create dolls and critters and sell them at local craft fairs in south Florida, for many years.

When we moved here to Clifton, my day job- teaching special ed, involved allot more of my time in the evenings and weekends…

so I closed down my doll business, but needed something new to do.  That’s when I got into quilting.

Last month, when I moved the old chest of drawers out of the spare closet and into the new guest room, I went through the drawers and found some old Daisy Kingdom doll kits I‘ve had for 20 years. 

So, as I decorate my house with Raggedies for the summer months, I decided to make up the Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls to put in the family room.

It’s funny how our bliss can change as we age.  I used to love making dolls and was pretty good at it!

But boy has that ever changed!  I soooo did NOT enjoy making these two dolls…

I kept thinking it was such a waste of time…

of what quilt I could be making… I need to make my Schnibbles quilt for June!! 

But I persevered, and finished the Raggedies!

And they are sitting together on a twig loveseat by the fireplace!!  Helping us celebrate summer!!

Soooo, what are you up to these warm summer days??? 

Yogi says HI!!!