A Beautiful Day

It's amazing really. Just a few days ago, it snowed. A lot! We had a good 14-15" of soft white snow and windy conditions that may have qualified as a blizzard.


Today, the snow is nearly gone, just a few small piles where it was heaped during the removal process. It was a beautiful 64 degrees, with sunshine and blue skies. I left my coat in the car and felt the sun on my face.

Lovely

Gives one hope that spring is actually near!

On the swap quilt front, I've played with EQ5 this week. For hours. I've got some basic ideas that I really like, but I'm having a huge problem making them work with my stash. I've decided that my stash isn't a very good one. Most of the fabrics are in the muted, mid-tone range. I want to make a quilt with happy, bright pastels, not muddy roses and muted blues and greens. So, I'm tossing my "rule" to use my stash out the window. I'm going shopping early next week for something fun. Bring on the sunglasses! My stash can sit and wait for another project. I've certainly designed enough doll quilts to keep me busy for awhile!

A Blizzard?

I was so ready for Spring and today we are having a blizzard!! Yes, a real blizzard, which really doesn't happen often in Ohio. Look at what I found outside my front door! We've had 12 inches of snow and it is still snowing. The winds are blowing, the snow is drifting and we are housebound. The roads are treacherous. I was supposed to attend a bridal shower today about 1 hour away in Kentucky. But, I'll be staying home instead. Thank goodness I have lots to do! I think I'm going to sew.

The arrival of the blizzard also marked the arrival of my Winter Swap Quilt from Abby. The package contained a sweet little blue and white quilt and lots of extra goodies. Very sweet! Thanks Abby!


So I'm off to the sewing room to play. I'd like to decide what I am making for the Spring Four Seasons Quilt Swap. I've got a couple of good ideas, but I need to sort through my stash to see what will work. I've made a goal to make it completely from my stash, if possible. I should be able to do so; I've got lots of fabric piled up but sometimes the right colors/values just aren't there. So I'm going to start with the stash and design around that for a change. I usually do it the other way, which almost always means a trip to the fabric store! Have I mentioned that I LOVE to buy fabric??

Have a happy Saturday!

Winter's Last Hurrah!?!?

Maybe.

I took this photo yesterday when I went out to check for mail. Still no quilt. Maybe Monday. Anyway, we've had too much wintery weather lately. Last week was a very strange week. Holiday on Monday, snow day on Wednesday and another one on Friday. Thank goodness for snowblowers. Of course they don't do much good when you get ice!

All of the trees were covered with a glistening layer of ice. How pretty when the sun came out and made everything sparkle. I'd like to make a quilt like that. My picture didn't quite capture the sparkliness.

More icy pictures:






Enough of the cold stuff! Bring on the Spring flowers!!

And I almost forgot! Sign-ups are going on now over at the Four Seasons Swap Blog for the Spring installment. I sent my information along to the marvelous Margaret who arranges all the madness. I find the swaps a great opportunity to try new techniques and complete a fun, small project at the same time. Go visit the blog if you'd like to give it a try!

Another Snow Day!!

We had a winter storm last night and today, got some snow, got some ice. Kids got a snow day. I guess I did, too. My productivity suffers when I have people home. Hopefully, tomorrow will be a regular school day for them, work day for me. The roads aren't bad now, but they'll probably freeze up over night.

I keep checking the mailbox for my Swap Quilt. So far, it hasn't come. I'm so eager to see it. I hope it comes soon. Margaret is organizing another swap, a round robin this time. I think I'll have to pass on that one. I really want to do the Spring installment of the Four Seasons Swap and I need to focus on some projects I've got to finish and my Etsy store. So I'd better not put anything else on my list just now. But it does look like fun...maybe next time.

And I found out yesterday that I'm needed back on the bowling league to finish out the year. One of the ladies hurt her shoulder so I'm taking her place. It is fun; I can't say I ever thought I'd join a bowling league, but it's nice to get out and be with the other ladies. I thought I'd like to find a quilting group but I haven't had much luck there.

Bye for now!!

Snow Day!

Pretty, isn't it? As long as I don't have to drive in it, I can look out and say, "Oooh! How pretty!" Unfortunately, a lot of people did have to drive today and the roads were a mess. I think the first snowfall every year catches people off-guard. They have to remember they need to slow down a bit, this stuff is slippery! I think we had about 5-6 inches. So we had a snow day today, no school, no errands. I worked in my sewing room and the kids played video games. I did manage to wrestle the snowblower out of the corner of the garage and get it started. What a back saver that thing is!

Today I worked on a t-shirt quilt, a special order. I've got the front all together with the borders. I'd show a picture but it's meant to be a gift so even though it's highly unlikely the person receiving it would see, I'd better not. It's turning out quite nicely. Tomorrow after bowling, I'll get it sandwiched and quilted. I stitch in the ditch along the sashing and border and tie inside the squares. I'll be happy to finish this and move on to the next thing on the list.

I got my Hinterberg frame down to the basement. Poor thing is leaning up against the wall in all the mess down there. I've kept it up all year in the living room, but haven't used it as much as I'd like. I needed to take it down for the Christmas tree. My plan is clean out part of the basement and get a few area rugs and set it up permanently down there. I'll need the help of an electrician, as there are only 4 little light bulbs and one outlet in the whole basement. That can wait until January...

Well, back to the sewing room!