Project Number Three

Here is the table runner project.  This is a pattern from Jeri Kelly.  You will recall that I bought three of her patterns a couple of weeks ago in La Claire, Iowa at the quilt shop.  This is the last one.  The others were 14x14 small quilts. One was a hare and one had a heart. This reminds me of Suzani motifs that I keep seeing on pillows in Pottery Barn. (Not in these colors, of course)

Here is a close up of the motif..Its called Caterpillar (there is a purple one one each side).  I had to piece the short border on one side because I ran out of fabric!

 I had to order the light green dot fabric on- line. Hope it gets here soon.  But, as I look at this, I'm thinking, 'If its just for the back, why does it have to match?' Hmmm, maybe I can finish this sooner than I expected....stay tuned!

Finished!

Well, I finished the small quilt that I scorched the other day. I realize this picture doesn't really show it too well, but I added a small satin stitch around all the vines and hearts, etc.  The biggest pain was stitching around the little circles in the heart. And somehow, the scorch just looks 'old'....go figure.

Today was a busy day around here. I guess it started yesterday.  Bob FINALLY put in the new toilet in the basement (taller, for all us old geezers).  Unfortunately, there was a tiny leak.  So he took it off and got a different one from Menards. Today, he put on the new tank, and, low and behold, ANOTHER LEAK.! So, he will return it tomorrow and the guy at Menards said he would check the next tank before Bob picks it up. Hope so...

While he was busy doing that, I was working on putting a sleeve on the quilt my grandmother made.  In the picture below, I have the ends folded in so it would fit in the quilt holder.

So this afternoon I made a sleeve and added it to the quilt so I could hang it with the Hang It Dang It.  

It worked, but only after I cut the sleeve in the middle and hemmed the two pieces and re hand sewed the sleeve back down.  Then I put the hanger thingy directly on the metal rod.  Otherwise, the black hanger thingy would have shown.  Not exactly fool-proof...

All in all, an interesting afternoon.

Happy Valentines Day!

Here's our Valentine's Day supper.  I prepared beef tenderloin with Merlot cream sauce, roasted asparagus, baked potato and pickled beets. Pretty darn good, if I do say so myself! Just about everything was purchased at Costco...our new favorite store!

Granted, we have to buy in larger quantities, but things are usually packaged so they are easily stored. And its always an adventure to go shopping there.  Always new products to explore and lots of free food samples to try!
P.S. I was going to make Sally J.'s chocolate sauce, but ran out of time.  Soon...

Bob and I also visited my mother yesterday.  She seems to be adjusting quite well to her new surroundings...YEAH!!  No complaints or questions about where she was at or why.  A HUGE 'thank you' to the staff at Windmill Manor!
We took Cooper with us to Windmill, yesterday. We had purchased a Thundershirt  for him and wanted to give it a try.  I had seen You Tube video of dogs wearing this and remaining calm when they would normally have been going crazy.  He was fine at Windmill Manor, but Bob held him the whole time anyway, so not really a good test.  But, in the car on the way over, he was his usual sniveling self, so I felt this product wasn't for us. Also, when we got home, Bob went into the house with Cooper and I rang our front doorbell...the true test!  Cooper went bonkers, as usual.  Back to Petco with the Thundershirt!

New Little Quilt Project

I made this adorable little quilt this last weekend.  The pattern is by Jeri Kelly . I purchased the pattern at a quilt shop in Le Claire, Iowa. I wasn't too excited about the choice of fabrics so I got these from Common Threads Quilt Shoppe in N. Liberty. Also, the pattern leaves the edges of the rabbit, flowers, etc, raw.   So I added a lovely satin stitch.  All set for Easter, I guess.

I also bought a kit from the Le Claire shop.  This was also by Jeri Kelly. It was also a small quilt, but for Valentines Day.  So yesterday I put the kit together.  Unfortunately, when I used the iron to adhere the design onto the background, I SCORCHED THE PIECE!!!  Damn that iron!!

I thought about 'tea dying' the piece, but I decided to just leave it for a day or two...OR FOREVER! We'll see

I have one pattern left from Jeri Kelly.  It is for a table runner.  I have to chose the fabric for this one.  Hope I don't scorch it.

Update on my mom...

Just an update on my mom.  She is in a new facility after being in the hospital for a few days.  It's taken a few days (and I'm sure more) for her to adjust.  But she is doing pretty well.  Bob and I visited with her this afternoon.  Her memory is not good, but she was in good spirits. Physically, she gets around well with a walker. We took one of those delicious chocolate covered strawberries to her this afternoon..  She thought that was pretty yummy! The above picture was taken last November on her 93rd birthday!

Yummy Delivery!

This was delivered to our house this afternoon.  A box of chocolate covered strawberries.  Did I mention they were giant chocolate strawberries? Oh, man...they are tasty!! Bob was 'house sitting' and this was our 'thank you'! Thank YOU, Rita and Kurt for the Shari's Berries.

I finally came up with a plan for my little tapestries.  You might recall that I hung them on the back splash in the kitchen but wasn't too thrilled with the location.

So I eliminated the clutter of the phone, etc. (which I have wanted to do FOREVER) and threw in a platter, books, and lamp and ...VOILA! Much better...totally frivolous, but so what?

I've also tried to incorporate some pieces in our home that belong to my mom.  We have recently had to move her to a care facility and most of what she had at her old place couldn't go with her.  And I just couldn't "Goodwill" it.  So I rearranged...again.  There is still a pile or two that needs to be dealt with, but at least her 'stuff' is in a familiar place for now.

Above is her little roll-top desk. It seems to be just made for this spot. The lamp and chair are hers also.  Her rhododendron  is sunning itself on the back porch. I put several of her little nick nacky things on my baker's rack. Including a bust of a child reading, a figurine of an old lady with balloons ( that my mom made many years ago), and several framed photos.

I really wish she could have stayed where she was, but that wasn't working well for her.  I know she's not happy where she's at, but I also know she would not be happy anyplace these days. Her memory is failing her and it is very sad to have to see these things.