That's All, Folks!

I was listening to public radio today, and there was a political analyst who would get wound up and start stuttering like Porky Pig.  Kind of amusing and annoying at the same time.

It could be I'm feeling just a little Looney Tunes after having finished the last of the 14 clutches I've made since the weekend. 

There are four not pictured here because they were sent packing via the US Postal Service yesterday and are on their way to fabulous new destinations.  

Together with the last batch, that makes a grand total of 31 clutches sewn, photographed, and blabbed about. 

Every one of them has or will have a new owner soon.  

As I've mentioned before, the pattern for these clutches is from Noodlehead.

It was fun to make these, but now it's time to turn my attention to other things.  Only 10 more days 'til Christmas!

Midweek Mirth

It's the heart of the holidays, and I know you are enjoying all that goes with it for you and your family, including your favorite Christmas songs.

I caught an episode of Austin City Limits recently featuring comedian/actor/musician Steve Martin (doing his musician thing; I forgot what a fine banjo player he is!).  Anyway, they sang a song that had me cracking up.  I thought I'd share it here today.  It's called, "Atheists Don't Have No Songs."

I am not making any kind of religious statement by posting this, just wanted to share a smile.  You may even find your particular affiliation represented in the lyrics and get a chuckle.  I noticed he didn't mention Presbyterians though.  ;)



And here's an extra of one of his original bluegrass tunes.  Enjoy!

Sunday Sundry - Vol. 18

Oh, the weather outside is frightful...
What's your local forecast today?  Does it include the word "blizzard"?

Actually, it doesn't look too bad out there right now.  Maybe it'll miss us...or perhaps the worst is yet to come. 

 

Let it snow, let it snow...and I'll sew 
I have gotten a fair amount of sewing done this week, although there is some quiltus interruptus going on as well.  When you've got multiple irons in the fire, that's bound to happen.

I made a backing for the whirlygig Christmas quilt, which took some  mathematical calculations and a pencil sketch to make it all work.  The backing fabric came in three separate pieces from fabric.com (but it was on clearance and the last bit left, so whaddaya want?), plus I had ordered a panel from this line on a whim, and that proved to be a good thing.  I used every bit of the turquoise snowflake print with only a teensy bit of scrap left over.  There were also some ornaments on the lower part of the panel that I think I'm going to fuse and machine applique randomly to the backing.  But then, in order to baste the thing on the only hard surface large enough to do so—my kitchen floor—we're going to have to go to the home supply store and see if we can find some new casters for our antique dining table, so we can roll it out of the way without cutting up the new floor.  We've tried the furniture sliders already and it didn't work.

Winter Sunshine
The mail lady delivered a box of sunshine this week when I received this wall hanging from my buddy Michelle over at The Prairie Quilter.  It's just gorgeous!

And that's the name of it too, Winter Sunshine, which is so perfect!  Look at the feather quilting, so beautiful! 

It went right up on my wall here in my office.  She also sent along a fun Big Bad Voodoo Daddy CD.  Thanks so much, Michelle!  I love it—especially on a day like today!

The Blessings of Friends
I have been reminded often this week of what a precious gift it is year round to have wonderful friends.  Long-time friends who understand you and share your ups and downs, as well as your sense of humor and whimsy.

New friends you my have not met yet in person but with whom you share a special bond nonetheless.  Quilting, sewing, crafting, music, thrifting, collecting.  Those are just conversation starters.

Friends can give you a fresh perspective on a situation.  Sometimes it's just a subtle shift...

...but then you see things differently through them.

Friends are such a blessing, and I appreciate each one of you in so many ways. 

Thanks for visiting, friends—and stay warm!

Favorite Things Friday - Imagining the Possibilities

I was stumped just now for a succinct title for this FTF post, because I'm not really sure what to call my favorite thing this week.  It has to do with fabric.  Not fabric per se, though I do love the stuff, but specifically, pulling pieces for a project.  What do you call that?  Coordinating?  It's not really designing, is it?  Putting things together?  Eyeballing what works?  Testing?  

Really, it's kind of like swirling paint together on a palette.  A dab of this, a bigger dab of that, and making adjustments until the mixture results in something pleasing to the eye.

Yeah...that.

Anyway, it's what I've been doing recently, and I just love that part of the creative process.  Looking through my fabric stash, most of which has ended up stacked on my side table because the bins meant to hold it are full.  Holding up one hunk of fabric next to another, gauging the result, swapping one piece for another, then another, all the while imagining the finished product.  I get into that zone where time disappears.

Remember those 17 clutch purses I made over the past several weeks?  Gone.  All happily spoken for, and more have been requested.  The clutches I was going to give to my nieces for Christmas?  Well, let's just say I need to make them...again.

So I am back in manufacturing mode, having been engaged in what I think is the most pleasant part of the process.  Aside from seeing the end result, that is, because that's pretty awesome too.

What you see here are some of my groupings for the next go-round.  There are a few more that aren't pictured.  I think that bold orange and turquoise vintage fabric from the thrift store may turn out to be one of my favorite ones yet! 



You too can join the Friday favorite fun at Quilting in My Pyjamas.  Thanks for stopping by!

You Would Not Even Believe...

There has been some impromptu thrifting going on the past two days.  Just two stops on my way to or from somewhere else (fabric store, dad's house), but you would not believe the cool stuff and the deals!

 

Pyrex carafe and cute mugs

How come when a thrift store has a 50% off sale, it almost feels like stealing?

Well, I am here to confess to you, in pictures, everything I bought.

 

Butterfly Gold Cinderella Bowls (Size 444 and 442)

Awesome Platter! (unmarked-anybody know?)

 Pyrex Colonial Mist Cinderella Bowl Set 

(Sizes 444, 443, 442, 441)

 A humongous set of these vintage dishes.

The name of the maker/pattern escapes me.

Funky vintage fabric!

And here is the most incredible part.

Under thirty bucks for everything you see above!

Forgive me, but that was just so much fun!