Happy Halloween to everyone.
My last sketch of the Big Draw done quickly in my office while waiting on the phone this evening for one of three AT&T guys to help me get a modem set up in my office so I can have DSL there...Didn't happen! Groan.

Sketch depicts what I saw around me today, employees at lunch time in the bakery in costumes as Hippies, and cats, and beauty queens, kids on the street all dressed up, grown ups too, mom's and kids in matching costumes. Teenagers working in the grocery store where I went to buy my candy tonight garbed as gypsies, and witches. No one knocking on my door yet, so we may be eating miniature Butterfingers and Tootsie Pops all week long. Right now I am getting high on Dark Chocolate Peanut M & Ms. Bought those for ME!

The Big Draw was fun. Thanks Lizzi for bringing me into it...and everyone for your Kudos that I hold tight to my heart.

I'll be on the Create Everyday bandwagon! See you there!

These M & M's are really good. I am sure they will help my creative spirit sew tonight! Hobgobblins on the quilt maybe? We shall see!
;-)

Fifteen Squares Done, Twenty Five To Go!

This is so much fun! I love being creative every day!

Butterflies flew in today to visit the flowers.

Ah there's another one!

Big Draw Draws to An End

Approaching the end of the "Big Draw" and ready to enter "Be Creative Everyday".
I sketched this off a brochure that came to my office in today's mail. Not bad for a beginner, beginner, huh?

I also free motion sewed on my quilt today. A few more squares are done. Butterflies and a fire fly are added to the mix of "hearts and flowers". Am I having fun yet? You betcha!

Art in my Day

The painting above is by an unknown (to me) artist. It hangs in the German Bakery where I had lunch again today!

I saw the license plate on my way to work today...a good omen!

I did the above sketch today too!

Now can I go quilt?

My World in My Purse

Suki challenged us to post our purses and what we schlep (my word) around in them. Here's mine. I did buy it at a garage sale for fifty cents. I think it may be from Guatemala or Mexico. I get compliments on it ALL the time!

Beginning the Quilting of French Rose Quilt Top: Hearts and Flowers

Let the Quilting begin:I have decided on a theme for my free style sewing around the Rose Squares of haphazardly sewing hearts and flowers, leaves, a hummingbird, and other squiggles so far. I have completed eight of the 40 squares! You do the math. It will be a while longer to complete this massive quilt. Although the process is slow it's fun. With lots of rest stops along the way. And once again I am counting my sewing as drawing on fabric...doodling if you must, but my fabric sketching for sure! ;-)

Sharing My JOY!

I had a wonderful two days with my grand kids. They picked apples from a tree in their back yard; Ten kids took turns climbing this little step ladder and got to pick an apple from the tree. The apples will be made into an apple pie by my SIL later. Then they were carving and cleaning pumpkins... All this today!

On my my Grandma's Friday I took care of my grandchildren alone! We spent some time at the park across the street from their house, and they did try on their frog costumes I made them! They were delighted with them and I to see them in them. It was a wonderful time. And they did not tire me out completely. But I did sleep well last night!

I did do some sewing while there and I did some sketching too. Maybe I'll blog those later.

It's NOT my birthday...

Okay, it's not my birthday, but Suki got a new sketch book and new pencils, Elizabeth got her Moleskin sketch pad, so I wanted one too. I opted for "Not Fancy" for my first one. I went to Michael's and got a medium sized one that would fit in my bag. And I got water color pencils and a "DRAWING CLASS KIT" both from the ART section! I have no idea the quality of what I picked, but I liked the idea of the colored pencils that I could add water too and have it look like watercolor painting. I haven't tried that yet. And the "kit" has lots of neat stuff. Charcoal pencils, regular pencils with different numbers on them, a cool soft eraser, a little pencil sharpener even!
Do I sound like a little kid let lose in the art supply store? I am! I got a glue stick too, that is for my textile work (I think)...I have no idea what I am doing here...but I am having fun.

I took the sketch pad and pencils to the little German Bakery where I like to eat lunch downtown. The picture on the left was done there. And the one on the right I did at my office of a part of my desk. Big Draws. I have no idea what number I am on. Does it matter?

But I posted a lot tonight as I will not be here tomorrow! See you on Saturday. The Trapunto class was cancelled. Not enough interest. So I will stay with the kids as late Saturday morning as I can before they start off on their plans for the day. Then I am sure I'll go home and crash and rest.

Tomorrow is Toddler Sitting Day!

I spent the morning sewing the frog feet onto the Halloween socks as tomorrow I will be taking the Frog costumes to my grandchildren for the first time. I can't wait to see them in them.

This is my "Grandma's Bag", that I take with me. Those are the "Grandma Lynnie" and "Grandpa Fred" dolls I knit them. They have the two dolls in their images I knit them at their house.

There are new books (from garage sale finds), a "Thomas the Train" sticker game; some badges and stickers, a Frisbee, and another plastic toss toy, little cars, a magnet game, cards with numbers, "I Spy" cards, a little furry chipmunk that lives in a canister, another canister of stickers and crayons, paints, tapes of kids songs, and little hand puppets and finger puppets among other little things I can't remember. It's FULL. And I have been lugging this bag with me each time I visit for the past two years. ( I keep some of the original stuff and change out books and toys over time) Well since they were born and they are just three now.

I'm also taking the frog costumes, my camera, my sewing machine/quilt/notions; (to use while they are sleeping) and personal items for spending the night. I will be alone with them from 8 a.m. till their bedtime at 8 p.m. for the very first time! I can hardly wait!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Is it morning yet?

Lynn Coming Clean after Cooking Disaster

I even used a dryer sheet to help get the guck off this pyrex bowl and lid!

Needed ingrediants for this tasty dish

(actually that's what went on the pork, lOl)

Ready to eat! How to surprise ones husband!

Getting clean!

Follow up on Louisiana Blackened Rice Dish
Or
How to clean a glass pyrex bowl

Now HOW do we get the burnt smell out of the house????

I can't cook #2

Looks like I am still IN the big DRAW!
Also consider yourself tagged (if you want to be, and want to play: "What you can't do")

1. I can't cook
2. I can't spell
3. I can't ride a horse
4. I can't do math
5. I can't ski
6. I can't tell which is left/right
7. I can't hear (well)

What can't you do?

Why I don't cook!

Big Draw: #?
Pen and Ink, tongue in cheek, entitled: "Why I Don't Cook".



DH offered several suggestions upon seeing this:

1. Call it Louisiana Blackened Rice
2. It's your art object Du jour
3. Take it to the local Mexican Restaurant and suggest it for their menu for Re fried Rice.

I chose #2.

It WAS in the microwave.
I did follow the directions on the Brown Rice packet to the letter.
I did go upstairs to sew when it had ten minutes to go on the timer.
I knew it would be OK because it said to let it stand for ten minutes after it was done. So it had to cook for 45 minutes. The microwave would stop then and it would STAND for ten more minutes. Makes sense right?
Wrong.
It obviously got done long before the 45 minutes were up.
I thought I set the temperature correctly, but as I have never ever reduced the temp on the microwave before...
obviously I did not do it correctly...duh!

DH saw smoke!
The house was FULL of SMOKE.
He called up to me to do what? Put out a fire? I think he thought the house was on fire.
So now all the windows in our house are open to let the burnt smell out.

Needless to say I now remember why I don't cook. Tomorrow night we will eat the take out Chinese food DH brought home tonight.
I hope my try at surprising him with a home cooked meal, knowing he was coming home stressed to the max, tired out, did not go unnoticed. I think he noticed. Oy!

One of Diane's Hand Quilted Quilts

This is one of my friend Diane's quilts she did by hand. The fabric pieces are very interesting too. As are the shapes and positions (to me). This is just a small part of it as it is a large quilt and very beautiful. Unfortunately the photo here does not allow you to see the fine stitching. Take my word for it, it's awesome.

Doodles

Doodling on the border fabric with the flower designs. I will not be using a dark color on the final piece, but wanted to "see" the design. Will probably use cream or pink thread on this. Or maybe I should just out line the flowers that are already there? Comments welcomed.

Today's Draw! And this is just playing around with doodles. Thinking about the online art class called Doodles.

But not sure this is the right time. It will slow down the quilting...could do both? How busy do I want to be?

French Rose Quilt is Sandwiched and Pinned

The top pinned

The sandwich with backing folded over the top and the white batting under it.

I speak to you from a very sweaty body tonight folks. It's been a busy day. At noon time I high tailed it over to the quilt shop again, and this time Patti, my Nine Patch Pizazz Quilt teacher (the Fish Quilt, my first big one) helped me lay out the backing flannel on the floor to fold it in half and to cut it to be seamed. It took the two of us to do it. This is by far my largest quilt to date (my fourth).

That done I enjoyed a Mexican lunch of chicken enchilada, rice and beans and probably not so healthy chips, ice water and fresh lime to drink at the little locally owned restuarant I like in this area. Then back to work.

Once home I spread the backing down the upstairs hallway, it just about filled the whole floor. And I had to cut only one layer down the long length of this doubled over fabric. It was not a timid job believe me. I have no idea how straight it is or isn't. I put the huge bulk of material on my ironing board where I ripped the salvages off four sides of the fabric two at a time! Yes, ripped. I'd not done this before, but Connie said to so I did and it came out fine.

I then took it to my sewing machine and sewed quarter inch seams down two sides.

This done I ironed the seams open and then laid the backing face down on my bed. It covered the queen sized bed and ran down the sides and ends. I then got out the batting and laid it on top of the backing and it was even longer and wider than it. And finally I smoothed all that out and then laid the top of roses on top of it finishing the sandwich. I smoothed and smoothed them so there were hopefully no wrinkles on any of the 3 layers. This was not an easy task either as there is not that much room between the bed and ironing board on one side or the bed and three walls on the other side and ends. Another words, not much room for ME to fit next to it.

I squeezed in best I could and began the pinning. Each square got five pins, one in each corner and one in the middle, working from the middle of the quilt to the outside. A slow, laborious process. That is when I began to sweat. I had to reach underneath all three layers smoothing out as I went to pin through the layers careful not to pick up the bedspread underneath it all. I did not prick my fingers once!
I do believe it took about an hour and a half to complete the pinning out to the borders.

DH came home as I was finishing up and I yelled to him to bring up the camera. I felt this needed to be chronicled with pictures! As you can see Henry V got into the act immediately! Too funny.

I am in awe of how much sewing there is to do on this top. A little overwhelmed at the prospect of it, but excited to get started at the same time. Wish me well and smooth sailing, I mean sewing! ;-)

May all your projects and creations be as fun as this is for me.

Drawings of possible border flowers for Free Style Quilting

Drawings of flowers to free style sew onto the border of my

French Rose Quilt
Practicing, as told in class to do, so when I go to sew them it will come automatically, easily.
Ideas.

Folding is a Struggle, It's NOT A Bed Of Roses!

I think I will go back to Connie at the quilt store on my lunch hour tomorrow and let her or someone else there fold this fabric for cutting. It hangs over my queen sized bed. I need a flat surface. It's too much for me to shake into shape alone.

You can imagine me all tangled up in a bed of roses.

French Rose Quilt got Her Backing Today

I was able to get flannel backing fabric for my French Rose Quilt today! You can see it above left.

I had a free hour this morning so flew over to Joanne's and got the batting for the middle of the quilt sandwich. It was on sale for 50% off and that is SUCH a good DEAL! I almost bought double, but since I do not know the size of my next quilt, and they have sales often I just took the deal. I also got another handful of Sulky Rayon threads in wonderful colors. I did look at the flannels there and there was one with small roses on green background. Possible for the backing.

Then I went to lunch and had a mango chicken salad and a side of guacamole and healthy chips at Fresh Choice. Read a bit and then since it was now only noon I drove to the quilt shop. I wanted to compare the flannel there to the ones I'd seen at Joannes that were 40% off. I really do trust Connie at the quilt shop...yes, she's an owner and of course she wants to sell her stuff, but I did believe her when she told me she made flannel pants for her daughter (2 pairs) one from Joanne's flannel and one from their flannel and the latter turned out better, lasted, washed up, etc. was superior in every way. Okay, I bought from her. I found this adorable tiny rose bud intertwined with lots of green stems and leaves and a beige background. Really soft and really pretty. I needed A LOT. So it was very pricey. But the good news was that because there was just enough for my needs and it was the end of the bolt I got it for 20% off. So the best stuff and still a good deal! (The 5th Saturday of the month isn't this month after all so can't hang around for that deal & this was nearly as good as that would be.) So I am happy.

The fabric is in the washer now. Will go into the drier next. And maybe I can get the ironing and begin the pinning of it done tonight. Back on roll. I will take the sewing machine to my babysitting day on Friday and sew then too when the kids are napping and after they go to bed in the evening.

Today I practiced drawing free style flowers for the outer border and rounds for the roses themselves. I think I'll do echo stitches in the beige areas between the roses. Not too dense.
The design for the top quilting will all be my own. Getting excited again.

Suki Doll has a Cat

Suki Doll got a cat today. He likes to perch on window sills and this one looks out over a pond where he dreams of fishing. (Or maybe he's sitting on the dock).

Significant scraps: furry fleece cat fabric was originally used for a Doggie pillow for youngest grand daughter. The beige background from French Rose Quilt; the green border and blue/fish is from The Fish Quilt, my first large quilt. I think that other piece the cat is sitting on was just a wrap around some fat squares or something like that. Kind of fun to try to remember where it started.

Cat needs a name. Any suggestions?

My friend Diane had two quilts showing at a quilt show today! Way to go, Diane!

Ten tries, one photo. This is yesterdays creation. "Three Sentimental Squares".

It's been a wonderful Sunday. I spent the morning dressing Suki Doll. And she got posted okay.

Then I cleaned my room. Vacuumed up a ton of thread. Rearranged bags of scraps. Everything looks neat now. Hung up Andrea's Chanukah Mask picture and Suki Doll tracings. My ROOM is starting to take on the look of a studio! ;-) I like that sound. Stu D O. Hey, why not?

Then I needed sewing machine needles so I went to the store. OhMG-D they were having a sale. Needles and the whole notions wall was on sale for 40% off. I had to go get a basket. I got a new ironing board cover with a ruler on it and lines for quilters (circles/angles/etc.) cool cover. I got straight pins and safety pins. I got a ton of threads at 50% off (Sulky, made in Germany, Rayon...fine thread for the work I am doing now.) I got a magazine on Quilters ART. Oh that was at another store I am getting ahead of myself. Okay, at the bookstore I also got The Quilters Bible, filled to the brim with stitches for hand and machine quilting. Lots of ideas there too. Came home and read the sale thingy from the store to find that the batting I need for my Rose Quilt is on sale too. Usually $10 a yd, sale: $4.99 yd. I am going back tomorrow for that. I hope they still have enough. The lines in the fabric store were endless.

Got a very good sandwich at the grocery store (lemon chicken, with fresh basil, roasted red peppers, lettuce tomato, on a fancy roll, forget what she called it, but good crust and chewy in the middle. Also, got a cup of freshly squeezed orange juice. I love that.

Came home and made Suki Doll a cat. Maybe I can post it later. Happy Sunday to all.

DSCN0999.JPG (image) Suki's doll drawing

DSCN0999.JPG (image) This link gets you to Suki's doll drawing. Delightful isn't she?

Lynn's version of Suki Doll

Suki Poet gave me permission to copy her doll drawing and use my free style/motion sewing to make her myself. This is how she came out, with many "artist prerogative additions" on my part. I'll add her drawing and my process next. Thanks Suki. I just love "our doll". Since blogger is not allowing me to upload anymore photos today go to Suki's site to see her original doll drawing. I will do it the only way I know how thus far in a separate post. Bear with me. See above posting.

No new photos today of MORE scrap art

Well Blogger is not allowing downloading/uploading/sideways loading photos today. I hope they fix this soon. I spent about two hours at the sewing machine this morning piecing pieces of scrap fabric in three squares on a long narrow piece. I got to practice my free motion sewing on them. I left it with batting and backing sticking out. Looks cool I think. I won't cut it. It's my ARTWORK today! (rules broken: the selvage is still on the fabric (NO! NO!); there are lines crossed over with sewing; dark bobbin thread shows up in some places on the top, oh shame.) It's fun being a sewing rebel! I took the 850 (sewing machine) to the store to give back to get my 830 model only to be told that she (store manager) decided to send it back to repairs. It was acting up again. Back home I went with the 850. Maybe they should just give it to me. ;-)

Scrap Art

Playing with scraps and free style sewing tonight. Here's the first 2.

On the left we have: Beach scene...inspired by looking at a woman's blog who lives in Belize!

On the right is: sentimental garden???

Lila Tov: Good night:

Very Important Tip...Dryer Sheets!

I meant to blog this after my last quilting class. This is information for anyone out there with a glass shower door. Glass shower doors collect soap scum something awful. My quilting teacher for that day told us that Bounce/or any of those dryer sheets you put in with your clothes to take away the static electricity or whatever, are great for getting the soap scum off glass shower doors. And you know what? She was right! I tried it today, and believe me ours had a fair share of scum, as I am not exactly Martha Stewart or Ms. House Beautiful Cleaning Woman. It took the scum right off. I was amazed. So now I am taking my clean clothes from the dryer upstairs to put away and I am also taking the used dryer sheets to put in the bathroom for next shower cleaning! I figure if I use them after each shower or at least after each clothes drying those doors might even stay clean for a while! Hey, who knew? PS. I have a long list of other things she said they are useful for and I will share when they prove to be awe inspiring true facts.

Star Dancer

This is my "drawing" for yesterday and today. I had to draw the face before I could sew it. And Free Style sewing IS drawing!

Remember the so called Ohio Star for last quilting class that I turned into a dancer? This is it. She has pink toe shoes and pink hearts in the four corners. I have still to sew the final side closed. Something fun for my grandkids to play with. Hugs to all.