Life Lessons, New Shoes, Up Coming Blog Hop

Well I have to say it’s nice that this week has quieted down for a change.  I will take a “slightly” slower day at any time that I can get them.  All the drama and family issues can be so mentally draining on a person. 

On the other hand, I guess;  I should think about learning what battles to fight.  I can quickly think of 3 different issues that I had to make some quick thought processes on and predict the outcome.  One I had a rip-roaring argument about and the end result was nothing but some empty words & being sneaky about it.  Does that person really believe that they are getting away with it?  Like I can’t Smell it in spite of the nose on my face?  At this point I choose not to say anything anymore as it doesn’t seem to matter and I found I’m tired of fighting about it only to have it continue.  There was another family matter that I just basically went “whatever - your decisions/your consequences”  as I said good-bye. With the third one, I tried the “let it roll off my back” approach.  I’m not sure which one was the correct way to handle it’s own situation, but I’m trying to use them all as a Life lesson. 

While we was out today, I upgraded my tennis shoes.  I hate buying certain types of clothing but this ended up being a quick buy a couple months ago just to keep my feet dry.  Now that the $10 specials are “broken in” they aren’t worth a hen’s teeth.  They were causing my ankles to roll out wards, hadve no arch support and it’s true that you get what you pay for.  I did cringe once I saw the price tag but if I’m to really make an effort to commit to walking, I needed a better shoe; so I bit the $30 bullet and bought them.

In the quilt-y side of things, I have been hard at work on my projects for the “It’s for the Birds”  blog hop for next month. This hop will be hosted by wonderful  Madam Samm of  http://www.sewwequilt.com// and has Ms. Mary of  http://ipiece2-mary.blogspot.ca/ as our cheerleader on this go around.  I'm soooo excited and I'm really stitching as fast as I can for this hop is scheduled for May 7th -15th. I did find out that my day is on Tuesday, May 14th.  And I will be having a give-away that I will be reveal that day. 
A couple of weeks ago I got a mysterious package in the mail.  I got it from my friend in Wisconsin.  The kit was a nice surprise after a rough month, and it is a great way to learn a new technique.  I have not made a Thangle quilt before, so I’m hoping I can it justice. Here is the 1st block… as you can see the colors are sooooo me.

                                        

The other thing I taught myself was how to make tissue holders as I was making some 4-Patch pincushions that I make as gifts.   Sometimes I need a something that is homemade but i tend to do things that are practical.  It’s just the way I do things I guess.  But it’s nice to learn something new, even it’s something simple as a tissue holder.  Here is a picture of a few that I made before I got the pincushions stuffed.

                                                              

I guess week things may slow down a bit that I might attempt to make the next couple of FWS blocks this week as I also finish & gather what I need for the Blog Hop.   Once that happens, I promise to post pictures of them next week.  So with that I with you with something to think about and I hope you will let me know the answer to the following question.

What would you like to see more of on my blog?  More Give-aways?  Learn about what I’m reading?  Challenges of some sort?  Come on Y’all … this input would be helpful to me for the future of my blog.  Maybe I should figure out how to get some sponsors, I hear that  sponsors are good.  Any body know how that works, if you do; could you share your tips with me?

Well … I’m wrung-out tired and I’m calling for an early night.
Toodles,
Tricia

No Blog This Week

I just wanted to post a quick note to let my followers. 

Due to some family issues that has come up, there will not be posting this week.

Sorry and I hope that you will come back next week as I plan to give ya some clues to what I'm doing in the May Blog hop "It's For the Birds".

Sincerely,
Tricia

 

Sunday, Sunday... Looks Sew Good to Me!!

Sunday, Sunday... Looks Sew Good to Me!!

Well Howdy!!  Welcome to the Sunday Sew Day.  I know this is a couple days later than I would have liked, but until today I really didn't have much to share with ya.  It was looking like a "No Sew Week" with all that has been going on.  Today was actually really satisfying for me. It was the first chance that I really got to sit down with the sewing machine after another week of on the run with appointments and such.  So I made it count to make up for the whole week. 

Let's see the done pile of completed items include 4 four-patch pincushions, 3 pocket tissue holders, 2 "Birds In The Air" blocks, and 1 Mysterious Thangle block.  I got some fabric bits sorted and ironed for a package that is going out this week.  I also got my Quilting Board Secret Pal package all together except for it's pincushion. From there I made the journal entries into the right book.  Dug out some orange fabrics for my "It's for the Birds" project, took pictures of everything and did the needed work to them to get them ready for posting, did some chores and some cooking and ate some chocolate... which is on my daily list and the easiest thing which is something I know I will ALWAYS manage on my daily list.  LOL.

I know that I told you all about my St. Valentine Day Challenge Swap that I did with my Canadian Friend Ms. D. (which you can revisit here) where I showed you what I sent her I forgot to revisit it to show you what she sent me.  So here we go.... from Ms. D to me.


The Whole Package

Red, Pink, White and .....

CHOCOLATE!!!

 Now that's a combo that I can live with!!  I love the cupcake snowball block and it's so fitting for the swap.

The other thing I need to catch you all up on is the progress of my FWS blocks. I now have 8 blocks done including the pictures.  I have been quite re missed in keeping up with my quilting stuff in the last couple weeks due to all the running hither & yonder over the last couple of weeks.  So here is was the first couple blocks and now the new blocks.

Mother's Dream, Windows & Friendship Star

Temperance/W.C.T.U.

Birds In the Air X's 2

 Yes I'm making great progress and truly enjoying the experience and freedom of the whole thing since I'm doing the "3 Brown Bag" theory.  I look forward to every Monday when the new block information is posted on The Quilt & Needle group.   And even though I might not have the exact block pattern on hand at that second of the announcement, I do try to use other resources at hand to at least attempt to make the given block.  Sometimes I can figure it out or in the case of the W.C.T.U. block, choose the wrong block if more than one version is given.  But for now that oops block will stay in with the rest.  Who knows it might even be destined to become the label for this great quilt, so it only a matter of finishing it; that it might take up it's place upon the back.  One just never can tell how these things might work themselves out. 

Now you might be wondering with all that has been going on, have I had sometime to myself other than sitting with the sewing machine today.  Well I did get picked up yesterday by my quilt buddy Mrs. D for an outing.  We checked out a small craft show at the Big Rapids Eagles to have a look-see and then we went over the Ferris State Campus to have lunch @ the Rock Cafe.  Boy is that place HUGE!! And the food was yummy too!!  On Friday, I had to go to Mt. Pleasant to do some grocery shopping. Since I was by myself, I putzed around & took my time meandering about.

I have also been working hard on my stitchery items for the "It's For the Birds" blog hop for next month.  This hop will be hosted by wonderful  Madam Samm of  http://www.sewwequilt.com// and has Ms. Mary of  http://ipiece2-mary.blogspot.ca/ as our cheerleader on this go around.  I'm soooo excited and I'm really stitching as fast as I can for this hop is scheduled for May 7th -15th.  I even did a bit of shopping for my give-away that one of you lucky followers will have the chance to win from me!!  LUCKY DUCKS!!  I'm really excited with what I picked up that I'm offering up a sneak peak in to my prize.  READY?????? Okay ..... Peek!!   Heee Heee. 

"It's For the Birds" prize

So what you think?  Won't this make for a great prize?  I can't wait to show you all the neat things I have to show off as my day comes along.  Again once I know which day is my day I'll be sure to give ya a heads up and there is a badge link on the right hand side that will also give the information too. 

You might have noticed some changes to the page as I am trying to do a few things with the supposed up coming changes that blogger is going away.  I add a Bloglovin follow button so that is another way to find me.

Well I'm off to bed.
Toodles,
Tricia

Updates, Kitties & Eye-Candy

"The Sun will Come Out Tomorrow"

So the past 2 weeks been very busy with many, many appointments and  I found them to be very tiring mentally and physically - which is why I didn't post last week.  We have has some progress on the SO home front but the path wasn't smooth at all.  But I knew it wouldn't be easy.  With his new diet, it looks like I'm on it too by pure default.  It came down to a choice of spending most of my day in the kitchen cooking 2 different sets of meals for us or given in and just cooking the same meals for both of us.  Guess which one won out?  I love to cook but I decided I would not be a short order cook!  With all the sodium counting, I'm going to have to make our own bread, everything needs to be made from scratch, change my shopping habits and work on meal plans for a picky diabetic.  Oh the joy...ummmm ... NOT!  Who knew that there was so much hidden sodium in items you wouldn't think about.  I mean who would have thought that 1 egg has 65mg sodium and that in 2% milk there is 130mg in an 8 ounces serving.  Since I have been keeping track of the sodium, we are finding out "hidden" sodium that we have been taking in on a regular bases!  It was kind of shocking to say at the least.

With all these appointments, having the time with the sewing machine has been almost impossible.  So there isn't much to show ya on that front this week and for that I have to say I'm sorry.  And now that I'm a full time driver, I no longer get to do hand work in the vehicle.  I'm now stitching in small burst in the parthia of waiting rooms.  Sometimes I might get as little as 3 tiny stitches in before I have to pack it back into the bag or I might have time to do an inch or two.  It all depends on how on time the doctors are. 

Right now I'm working on things for the blog hop that I have signed up to take part in the "It's for the Birds" blog hop.  This hop will be hosted by wonderful  Madam Samm of  http://www.sewwequilt.com//  and has Ms. Mary of  http://ipiece2-mary.blogspot.ca/ as our cheerleader on this go around.  I'm soooo excited and I'm really stitching as fast as I can for this hop is scheduled for May 7th -15th.  I already have a couple things that I can finish up for this one and IF (and that's going to be a big if) I'm really lucky I'll have a new project for the hop too!! YEAH!!!  So be sure to stop on by my blog along with the rest of the wonderful blogs that will be taking part too.  As soon as I know, I will post the schedule when it's hot off the presses.

So the calendar says it's Spring but being in Mid-Michigan, the weather subjected to do as it wishes.  The cats on the other hand are feeling a bit feisty.  I pulled the curtains open the other day and they decided to help with the window plastic ....

They have been literally bouncing off the walls, and just in general terrorizing anything in their path.  Ms. Honey has taken a real liking to a small panel doll that is maybe 4" tall that I had made a one or two ago.  I might get to see it occasionally as it goes flying by me across the floor.

The other day I got a box of scraps in the mail from a friend on the Quilting Board  after a day of appointments and a rough week.  It was the highlight of my day. While opening it,  I happen to look at the weight and it reads 2 pounds.  Well once I grabbed by 3 brown bags for sorting, I popped it open, only to dump the whole thing onto the floor.  So what does 2 pounds of scraps look like once they are released from a medium flat rate box? Well it looks kind of like this.

LOL ... as you can see Ms. Honey is all ready to "help" mom with the sorting.  These scraps are pre-destined for my scrappy FWS blocks and nine-patch quilts.  I sat there on that floor for the better part of 3+ hours.  But I was dealing with kitties who decided to help and I also spent time on the telephone with Ms. D.  so it wasn't a totally boring project.  There are so many pieces that needed to be petted as it was sorted thus I decided that it was part of my fabric therapy.  After sorting all the pretties, it most definitely counts as a quilt related process and labeled it as such.   I was pleased to add this into my quilting journal along with some bit of times that I had spent on my hand work for that evening. 

So here are some pictures of the kitties "helping" mom with the scraps.  It was bound to happen.  They LOVE when Mom gets mail from other quilters. Between the smells of the fabric, the quilter and the quilter's fur children, it is bound to smell interesting.  They are really happy to get the box or wrapping to play with afterwards.
  

Ms. Rosy Plays Peek-A-Boo With Ms. Honey

Ms. Honey's Action Shot

I was lucky at one point to have had the forth mind to grab the digital camera as I had a feeling I might get a picture or two.  Ms. Honey was having such a great time that she was partically mummy wrapped in fabric strips.   At one point,  Ms. Honey tryed to get into the box and had managed to tie flag strips around her tail.  Which was funny when she took off across the room with strips flying behind her with her sister hot on her tail.  LOL ...  it was a hoot to watch.

Well we have another week of appointments, so I'm not sure what I'll get done.  If I'm lucky, I might a little bit of stitchery in between appointments; so that I'm ready for next months blog hop.  So with all that said, I have to grocery shopping and take all the laundry to the laundrymat this afternoon.  But I still have some of those carousal horses pictures to show ya.  And next week I'll post some more of those Port Huron pictures that I took a few weeks back.  Enjoy the eye candy. 

Toodles,

Tricia