Work Today

Well, late in the afternoon yesterday I got a call from my old boss. She needed someone to work in the store doing what I did before they let me go. So I said yes, I may be crazy but I loved that job, and would love to go back. They are down a couple of people right now and if they would like me to fill in for one of them I would take it in a heart beat. I figure if I go do this I have a better chance of maybe getting the place.
Okay so on to other things, I have had the pattern for over a year for a large tote, called a Chubby Tote. I collected the fabrics I love and have carried them around for months. Today I cut them out, and I realized that I have enough to make two. I have almost enough home deco. fabrics to make one of just that. Then I also cut enough of my quilting fabrics for another one as well. Oh, and last night I got the top made from the pattern I showed you the other day. We read the pattern wrong and I don't have enough for a backing. So as soon as I figure out what to use for that I will get it quilted and make pictures.
Did I tell you I also had one of those wonderful light bulb moments late yesterday afternoon. I remembered that at quilt festival several years ago I bought some storage boxes for quilt blocks. I have all my past block of the month blocks that are made in them. So I went looking for them in hopes that I might find the missing pink and brown blocks and the missing bluebonnet blocks too. Bingo I found both, so now ,instead of having to find fabric to remake the blocks that are missing I can start getting the tops put together. I have been a busy girl the last few days, and I like it.
Well, I am off for tonight I hope you all have a very quilty week.
Tennye

This, That and the Other

Well, I am here and very glad to be here. I have been sick for a long time and I really hated to feel so bad. I did finish the Lizard top so here is a picture of it.

I sent one in an email to his mom and the little boy who it is for is very excited about it. I may even be able to get it layered this week. I am not having so much sinus pressure now.
Then I spent a good several hours with my old boss at the store on Fri. We talked about a lot of things and what we need to do to get some classes going. I brought home some books and other projects. We even got some fabric for one, I have never done anything like it, so I am looking forward to it. Here is the fabric and the picture in the book so you can see what I will be doing.

Then for the kids we thought we might do an upcycle using some old jeans. I may even provide the extra fabrics from my stash. I have so many  already cut and saved in the sizes that are so easy to store in my shoe size plastic boxes. Sorry the picture is on its side, I went in and changed it in my saved files and sure enough it came out sideways . Oh, well I did try.

So yall have a very quilty week and I will be back soon,
Tennye

I'm Back

   I guess feeling like garbage does not mean you can't get back to the sewing room. I went in today and the Lizard quilt is now a complete top. I can begin to get it together and ready for quilting. I may have to feel better for that since it does require my getting on the floor on my knees. When I hang my head down I begin to have some major pain in my head.  My lovely daughter was very sick last week as well, however she took the time even though she was sick and called the Dr. They put her on tamiflu and she was over it in five days and that put her on Fri. so she had an extra two days to get her strength back. I never made the call and here I am still feeling like cr___ . So take my advice and if you start to get the flu call the Dr. the first day, because they can only give it to you in the first 48 hours. It won't do any good after that.
I have a photo of the Lizard quilt with the first boarder on, the one I was afraid I would not have enough fabric for. In the middle of last week in my fuzzy mind, I realized I was making this quilt a full size quilt when I needed it to be a twin. So I took off a row of blocks and started adding borders. I am very happy with it and had enough fabric to make it work.
We are currently without water for the second day. The pipe from the street to the house had broken three times in the last two years, well I guess it is really three years. It is never at the same place it was last time, but it is always at a bad time. Hubby is always very busy with work and has no time to fix it. Yesterday my girls and I got out before dark and dug out the hole so it would be easier for him to try and work on it in the dark after he got off work. 
Well, I guess the photo isn't going to be on here tonight. I am so tired and I think I will make one of the whole top to show.
Have a quilty day and I will be back soon.
Tennye

UFO Challenge

Quilt number 8 is the challenge to complete this month.

Life bites you in the B___ sometimes

Well, I have seen life from the floor this week. My daughter has the flu, I am pretty sure I am coming down with it myslef, and I lost my new job today. I have to be honest I didn't really love my new job, but I really needed the income and I was happy with that. Sadly the kind man I was working for is in need of prayer, his divorce is not going well for him.
I did finally figure out that I can get the first boarder, on the lizard quilt. It won't be in one piece for each side like the pattern shows, but it will work. That makes me feel better, and I can stop procrastinating. Well, I guess it wasn't really procrastinating, just fear. OK so they are the same thing, I know. LOL My son came last weekend and it was good to see him again. He will be back in a few weeks, for a concert at the rodeo then the next week for the car show.
Well, Looks like we are supposed to have more ice and snow tomorrow after every one gets to work. That is not good since they say it will be worse this week than last weeks was. As I said I am pretty sure I am coming down with the flu, so I will go for tonight. Thanks for all the responses to my last post, I really had fun with it and will be looking forward to getting us back to our scraps.
Have a quilty week,

Tennye

What Inspires You To Start a New Quilt?

Well Wayne over at Wayne Killingers Scketch Book , Has asked the question and I will ask you the same one. What Inspires you to start a new quilt? I also will answer that question for you today.
I can find any number of reasons to start a new quilt, they come in small ways and sometimes they come in a slap in the face way. Once in a while I am looking through a magazine or book and see a pattern I just love. Not necessarily a quilt pattern either. It can be a floor tile, or a painting or a wall hanging. Suddenly my mind is racing with ideas on how I could turn that into a quilt.
Sometimes I get out a sketch book and start sketching. Other times I just let it stew in my minds eye and meditate on how it could be done. Like right now I have had a pattern design in my head for a sweat shirt jacket for a couple of years. I know what I want, I just can't figure out how to execute it. So I wait, for inspiration of a different kind. I draw it out and redraw it, and then I keep on thinking.

Other times I feel compelled to design something wonderful that I can offer up for sale. You know what I mean that one thing that will make ,not just one persons life better, but many lives. That is usually when I start wandering around on the internet and looking at other blogs and find that someone else has already done that one. So I shelf it and move on, or I try and make it better, than theirs.
I seem to also have an inflated opinion of my talents, and abilities sometimes. Not that I am boastful or proud. I just believe in what I have done and what I can do, that is when I see a quilt and I want to make one, only better.
I have done very little with the idea, however in the back of my mind I want to use two or three blocks that completely disappear into the quilt top and you can't find where one starts and the next one stops. It just looks so complicated and beautiful and together. Then when you see the directions you go,"Oh my how could I have missed that."
Then last year 2010, I decided to challenge myself. I set out to make quilts that had qualities and parts that I had never done. I wanted to stretch myself and see what I was made of.

Well, I found out I was made of more than I thought, and I like stretching. I like making quilts that don't make everyone say " I could have done that, it is an easy quilt." I like surprising people and doing something new.
Just the other day I was thinking about my Aunt, who has helped me to be who I am in my quilting. I want to make her a quilt that will make her feel all warm and fuzzy when she sees it and uses it. Something that makes her say I am part of this even though I don't quilt.
So, that is what inspires me, what inspires you to start a new quilt??? Let me know, and have a quilty day.
Tennye