A Quilting Southpaw's Thoughts: February 2013

Saturday, February 23, 2013

Come on Spring!

This month is almost over and I'm ready for Spring.

I was in Hobby Lobby earlier buying fabric for the Log Cabin w/Chain quilt, I've mentioned in previous blogs. While I was there, I bought items to make this wreath. I thought it would be nice to hang on my front door welcoming or wishing Spring to be here soon. :)

I've been ready for Spring, since my hubby gave me my Valentine card. It had Spring flowers on it. :)

I read a quote today that I thought would fit in with today's blog.

"If spring came but once in a century instead of once a year, or burst forth with the sound of an earthquake, and not in silence, what wonder and expectation there would be in all hearts to behold the miraculous change.~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow"

God bless and keep you,

Sonia

Friday, February 22, 2013

Hungry Hook Primitives: Second Annual Anniversary Giveaway

Hungry Hook Primitives: Second Annual Anniversary Giveaway: Well gals, running true to form, I am again late getting you the details for my big spring giveaway, but alas, it is indeed underway , so le...

Thursday, February 21, 2013

I thought to myself...

This morning I woke to rolling thunder.

I've always like the sound of thunder. I knew though, that it was not an ordinary thunder shower.

It was a thunder, rain/sleet shower. Yesterday it snowed all day, then through the night and this morning rain/sleet, with temperatures at freezing or below.

Since I didn't get out much yesterday or today, for that matter, I took care of a few fabric scraps.

At my last quilt guild meeting one of my friends showed a love quilt, that I thought was just too cute. :) She mentioned that each time she finishes a quilt; she takes the scraps and cuts them into 2" squares. The quilt she showed had some of the 2" squares she has collected over time.

I thought to myself, I need to so that with my scrap fabrics.

I have a small tub of scrap fabrics (my scrap tub). I took a big handful of scraps out of my scrap tub and decided I would cut them down to 3" and 2" squares.

I started with cutting 3" squares and got quite a few from this first batch.

Then I took the squares and put them together in groups for quilt tops. I came up with three different groups and as I go through the rest of the scrap tub, I will add to them or create new groups.

What do you do with your fabric scraps?

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I received a call for a job interview today.

It will happen next week.

The interview will be my first, since my layoff.

☻☻☻

That's all I have this evening.

Hope you have a fantastic Friday!

God bless and keep you,

Sonia

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Lil' Izzy...

Here is lil' Izzy the Iguana. He was suppose to be an alligator but since I used a light green and dark green yarn, his coloring is more like a lizard of some sort, thus his name.

I will make another in a solid color and it will be more like a lil' gator. :)

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This evening the Logan County PieceMakers had their monthly meeting. It was good to see everyone again. The last time we met was in December, due to the weather being bad in January.

There were several quilts and quilt tops shown. All beautiful of course. :)

The program given this evening was on a new way to baste a quilt, using boards. Now I know you are wondering, boards?... so I looked up on YouTube and found a video by Sharon Schamber.

I think this method would work great for tying a quilt too.

Here is the quilt we will be giving away this Fall. Tickets for this quilt will be available in March. It is a beautiful quilt and this picture does not do it justice.

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That's all I have for now.

Until next time,

God bless and keep you,

Sonia

Saturday, February 16, 2013

What would you do?

This morning I woke with a recipe running through my mind. I wondered if it would be good. So I got up and started making it, writing the ingredients down as I went. It turned out tasty.

Oatmeal Apricot Muffins

1 cup oats
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/3 cup sugar
2/3 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup milk
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 heaping tablespoon apricot preserves

Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
In a bowl mix the dry ingredients 1-5 and mix well. In a separate bowl mix ingredients 6-11 and mix well, adding this wet mixture to the dry mixture. Mix well and then fill greased or lined muffin tins with batter to about 3/4 full. Back for 15-17 minutes. Let cool in pan about 5 minutes, then turn out on to rack to cool rest of the way. I think this recipe would work good with other fruit, preserves or jams (peach, apple, raisin, banana) too.

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This afternoon, I planned out the fabrics I will need for the log cabin quilt I plan to start next week.

I am going to quilt it, as I go, one block at a time.

It is going to be a log cabin with a chain. The blocks will 9" square when finished and it will be a full size quilt when I'm done.

I will be making it in variations of blue with the chain being a contrasting color, I'm leaning toward an antique white.

The only thing I have left to decide, is if I will make it a scrappy quilt, using the blues I have in my fabric stash, or if I want to buy fabric. Again, I'm leaning toward the fabrics I have in my stash.

What would you do?

God bless and keep you,

Sonia

Cookies, Treasures and Quilts

Oh the smell of cookies baking... yum. :)

I baked sugar cookies last night and pulled my last batch out of the oven around 10 p.m. The smell of baking cookies, cakes and bread is one of my favorites.

Each year the WMU (Women's Missionary Union) in my church (First Baptist of Paris, AR) hands out cookies to the widows and widowers. This year we added the singles.

So several of us ladies baked cookies. All kinds of cookies ~ macaroons, oatmeal raisin, sugar, chocolate chip and peanut butter, that I can remember.

This morning they were bagged up with name tags and will be delivered to the recipients Sunday morning during Sunday School.

I think this is a sweet way to let them know they are loved. :)

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at an time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and His love is perfected in us. ~ 1 John 4:10-12

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Going to flea markets, antique shops, and craft booths is one of the fun things I like to do from time to time. This morning was one of those times. So I went to a shop, one of my friends owns ~ Sabrina's. Here are the treasures I found.

A hand blown solid glass blue bird of happiness, signed by artist Ron Ray 1989.

I've always like these cute little things.

He is now sitting on a shelf in front of two of my McCoy pitcher and bowl sets.

Then I found this neat little item. It is a vintage cut crystal table lighter with frosted roses.

I no longer smoke, but thought this was a neat looking item. So it now sits with my other crystal items.

As I was searching I spotted this. An old corset.

Sabrina told me it was from one of her great-relatives. I can't remember if it was her great-aunt or great-grandmother (?), anyway we discussed it and she told me that she felt it was hand sewn as her relative sewed all of her own clothes. This item has definitely been around for some time. I didn't purchase this item, but I figure the right person will come along and it will find a new home. :)

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I finished the Grandmother's Garden quilt, I mentioned in my last post. I think it turned out very pretty. It is close to a full size. In this picture it is on a queen sized bed and covers most of the top but doesn't drape over.

I added a dark green border then backed it with a pretty fabric. I used the backing as the binding as well and it frames out the dark green border nicely.

I tied this quilt as the flowers are hand pieced. I didn't want to take a chance with my machine pulling the hand stitches out.

I'm glad to have this finished. It has been hanging over my head for quite some time. I knew I needed to do something with it and finish it out, but kept putting it off. Now, I can move on to my next quilt without this one weighing on my mind. :)

Well, that's all I have for this evening.

Here's wishing you wonderful weekend!

God bless and keep you,

Sonia

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

God's Valentine

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VALENTINE

~above all things, remember God loves you~

I can't think of a better valentine to share, than the love of God with others. I know He has made an amazing change in my life. He sought me, I gave my sins and myself to Him, He loves me unconditionally.

How?

God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to die on a cross for our sins. All we need to do is believe, trust and accept His love. We can't buy it, work for it, nor will we ever deserve it, but God loves us unconditionally and is waiting for us to heed His call.

Source: wonderwomancreations.blogspot.com via Sonia on Pinterest

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I thought, since tomorrow is Valentine's Day, I'd start out with the valentine section as I most likely won't post again until Friday or Saturday.

I've been busy since I last posted. I have a "grandmothers garden" quilt top that I received some time back, from a friend. It is all hand pieced. It was not finished and I didn't have the pattern to finish it. It was big enough for me to square it off and it still be a full size quilt. I am going to tie this quilt, as I'm not sure I want to take a chance trying to quilt it on my sewing machine. I hope to get it finished by the end of the week as I have a log cabin quilt I want to start sewing, no later than Monday.

I was able to save a couple of blocks from the "grandmother's garden" quilt, after trimming it, and made a cute pillow to throw on the couch.

one side

other side

I crocheted a potholder to go with two dishcloths.

posted on blog dated 1/29/13

back side

front side

♥ ♥ ♥

My sweetheart, David, has come down with an upper respiratory sickness (I think). He woke Monday sounding like he was losing his voice, he has felt bad and has had a cough since then. Please remember him in your prayers. I tend to worry about him, as he has a weakened immune system and is more susceptible to pneumonia and such.

I guess that's all I have for this evening.

Microsoft clipart

Here's wishing you a Love filled Valentine's Day!

God bless and keep you,

Sonia

Monday, February 11, 2013

"Slow Down"

Last night, I sat down and scheduled out my week.

So how's that working out for me?

Well, today I didn't get everything I had planned done. As you know my mornings are for job hunting and afternoons for projects. Today, when I finished with job applications and such, I realized it was 3:00 p.m. Thus, my afternoon was shot. That's okay though, as least I have my name in on a few more job opportunities.

I will catch up on projects tomorrow.

This afternoon, it struck me as I walked to my mailbox, of what a beautiful day the Lord blessed us with. It seems I tend to over look those simple blessings when I'm busy. I'm glad I had that moment to "slow down". :)

Now, we're expecting some snow tomorrow. Gotta love Arkansas weather. :)

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One Pan Meal

This evening I cooked a cabbage/rice casserole. I found a recipe in one of my cookbooks, but like usual, I didn't have everything it called for or I thought I could add to it to change it up. Today it was little of both. So here's what I came up with.

Cabbage/Rice Casserole

Cabbage/Rice Casserole served with tortilla chips and pepperoncinies

1 lb. ground beef
1/2 head of cabbage - chopped
1/4 onion - chopped
2/3 cups uncooked rice
1 can chili beans
1 can diced stewed tomatoes
1 can chicken broth
1 Tbsp chili powder
1/2 Tbsp cumin
salt and pepper to taste

Heat oven to 400° F
In a skillet combine ground beef, onions, chili powder, cumin, salt and pepper and cook until ground beef is done.
While beef is cooking, grease a baking pan and add chopped cabbage to pan.
When beef is done, add rice, chili beans, diced stewed tomatoes and mix well. Pour meat mixture over cabbage in baking pan. Pour the chicken broth over all.
Cover pan with foil and bake in oven for 50 - 60 minutes.

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VALENTINE

~above all things, remember God loves you~

This is a simple but heartfelt valentine to give your sweetheart. I did a crocheted version of this a few years back for my husband. He used the crocheted heart pocket as a coaster for a long time, until I changed it out. :)

Here's what you need...

Coordinating papers, I used pink and a mottled colored paper.
Coordinating color yarn, I used hot pink.
Large eyed needle
Hole punch
Scissors

Take pink colored paper (or the color of your choice) and cut out two hearts the same size, they should be big enough to create a pocket.

Punch holes around the edges of the hearts and use the yarn to sew them together to create a pocket. You can use any stitch you want. I used a crisscross stitch.

Using coordinating colored paper, cut out smaller hearts and write the reason you love your sweetheart on them. Stuff them in your heart pocket. Leave them for your sweetheart where they will find it easily on Valentine morning.

♥ ♥ ♥

Here's wishing you terrific Tuesday!

God bless and keep you,

Sonia

Friday, February 8, 2013

Really?

Have you ever read something that made you wonder what circumstance caused the need to type such information?

My hair dryer went out and I had to buy a new one. The new dryer had a button on it that my old dyer didn't have. So I read through the little pamphlet that came with the dryer to find out what the button is for (it was a cold shot button).

Anyway, as I read through the pamphlet I see this warning: Never use while sleeping.

Really?

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This evening, I attended a Ladies Bible Study by Andrea Lennon. The study was titled "Walking With God". It was a good meeting. Andrea does an awesome job and gives all credit to the Lord for her ministry.

She is also having another session tomorrow, Saturday, morning from 9:00 a.m. - Noon, at First Baptist in Paris, AR. I won't be able to make that session but plan to study the rest of her lesson, using the handout she gave this evening.

If you need a rekindling of your walk with the Lord or an uplifting in your faith, you can check out Andrea's ministry at the following resources.

True Vine Ministry

Andrea Lennon

https://www.facebook.com/truevineministry?fref=ts

https://twitter.com/AndreaJLennon

♥ ♥ ♥

VALENTINE

~above all things, remember God loves you~

Source: twelveoeight.blogspot.com via Helen on Pinterest

For this valentine craft, click on the picture and when it pulls up again, click on it and it will take you to the instructions.

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Before I sign off ~ Please remember those in the Northeastern part of our country, going through the winter storm Nemo, in your prayers.

Here's wishing you a good weekend!

God bless and keep you,

Sonia

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Jewels were found...

This morning it was soooo foggy!

I took this picture at 11:30 this morning. The fog hung right above the ground for quite a while.

Though it was foggy, jewels were to be found. :)

In my flower bed, at the front of the house, there is new growth peeking through the mulch along with a few weeds that will need to be pulled.

This is what I call Easter lilies but I think they are daffodils.

This has small white flowers with a little yellow and orange centers. Very pretty.

So, it has started. All the pretty little wonders, God has put in place for us to enjoy, are stretching forth to welcome Spring.

Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say to you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ~ Luke 12:27

♥ ♥ ♥

VALENTINE

~ above all things, remember God loves you ~

How about a heart garland?

Check out the Southern Lovely blog for details on how to make it.

http://www.southernlovely.com/2013/02/heart-garland.html

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Here's wishing you a wonderful rest of the day!

God bless and keep you,

Sonia

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Woo... Pig... Sooi!

I woke up earlier today than I have for the past four weeks. Life Style Youth Ministries, at First Baptist Paris, had a Razorback basketball game to catch. We had a pretty good sized group and had to use the People Mover and the van.

On the way up to Fayetteville, we went through the Bobby Hopper Tunnel on 540 N and just before we got to the tunnel one of the kids called out, "hold your breath all the way through the tunnel". So we enter the tunnel and it gets very quiet and is quiet through the tunnel. Oh, if you could have heard the gasp for air as we left that tunnel! :0)

This was my very first Razorback game.

I guess you could say I was in Hog heaven.

Before the game started, I took a overhead picture of the court and stadium seats. I'm thinking it would make a cool looking quilted wall hanging.

Then the Arkansas Razorback team was introduced.

They played Tennessee today.

The two teams went back and forth, each scoring, giving high points and low points in the excitement.

woo...pig...sooi

Razorbacks!

(yes, I learned how to call the Hogs today) :0)

I'm happy to report the HOGS WON!

I wasn't able to get a good picture of them from where I was sitting, but the Razorback Band was awesome!

We were on our way back home around 6:00 p.m., just as the sun was going down.

The sky is clear tonight. I'm always amazed at the beauty God has given us in the night sky. On the way back I noticed the Great Bear in the sky. Ursa Major, which contains one of the most popular constellations, the Big Dipper. Here is how it looks this time of the year.

And God made two great lights; the great light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: He made the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that it was good. And the evening and the morning were the forth day. ~ Genesis 1:16-19

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VALENTINE

~above all things, remember God loves you ~

Source: craftaholicsanonymous.net via Kelly on Pinterest

Check this project out on Pinterest.

http://pinterest.com/pin/254101603945213250/

When you get to this pin on Pinterest, click on it and will take you to the blog with instructions.

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Microsoft clip art

From what I understand, Punxsutawney Phil did not see his shadow today, so it looks like Spring will be early.

Only time will tell. :0)

I guess that's all I have for this evening.

Until next time,

God bless and keep you,

Sonia

Finally... Progress

Finally... progress. :0)

I was able to get the table cloth pieced together today. I will back it and stitch the two layers together but will not have batting between the layers.

The colors bring a little bit of Spring indoors. :0)

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VALENTINE
~ above all things - remember God loves you ~

One of my favorite flowers is the rose. Most of the roses I have are red. I have a ground cover rose that is a coral color that turns to pink as the flowers begin to fade. I think all the rose colors are beautiful and plan to add new colors in the future.

How about giving a rose to someone or to yourself for Valentines? Plant them in the Spring and then you will have beautiful roses every year.