The Longarm Lady: February 2014

Friday, February 28, 2014

Christmas Rails Quilt

Christmas Rails Top; QUILTED with Holly & Berries Meander (freehand)

Here in the northeast we're gearing up for yet another snowstorm!! This has got to be the last one of the season, don't ya think??

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Appliqué flowers

Applique Flowers Top; QUILTED with Single Reverse Loop Meander (freehand)

This one does lend a hint of spring, no? I don't think we're "there" yet though. Our air has gotten cold again & we're looking at some snow flurries for today. No matter, the beastly lab & I got our morning walk in & the crisp air felt wonderful!

I finally feel like I've "woken up" from my after-Christmas-daze, and I'm full-steam-ahead on new plans & goals for the upcoming year. I don't think too hard on New Year's resolutions, because really by that point in time, my brain is fried from quilting & holiday overload!

I do, however, think of yearly goals at the beginning of the new year, and during January I start to slowly implement a few new habits. The first habit I began was taking some time every morning to write a little bit. These spewing thoughts are not for the public but for me, and maybe they'll get used some day & maybe not. It's become part of a larger devotional time that keeps growing.

The other personal goal I've begun is my daily stitchery challenge. You can find pics of all my stitchery doodles under the tab under my cover photo. I wanted to challenge myself to create something every single day. A few huge obstacles had stymied my creativity, and I'm helping me get the mojo back! That sounded like a little bit 'o bad grammar, but it is what it is...

The next few goals have more to do with gifts & business, and they'll be revealed as I can :)

Happy Tuesday!

Days 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, and 53

Day 48

Day 49

Day 50

Day 51

Day 52

Day 53

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Navy Stars

Navy Star Top; QUILTED with Leafy Swirl Meander (freehand)

Leafy Swirl Meander is by far one of the favorite quilting patterns requested! It looks terrific on just about everything.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Woodland Animal Quilt

Woodland Animal Top; QUILTED with Swirly Curl Meander (freehand)

Just had to step outside ~ it's raw & miserable out there! Our snowy scene has been replaced by a freezing rain. It feels like a good day to hunker down inside & get busy. I'm thankful on days like today that we homeschool & I work from home :)

Monday, February 17, 2014

Day 46 & 47

Day 46

Day 47

Repurposed blanket

This blanket was tortured by Smokey during his puppy phase (aka chew everything in sight like carpet, walls, furniture, and the usual clothing & shoes phase.)

For awhile he used it in his crate, but I didn't want to encourage him eating it, so it kept getting washed, laid on, washed, moved, washed, etc...

I'm so much my Grandma & Mom when it comes to hating throwing good, usable STUFF away! I figured I could do something with what remains, and so that was my Sunday project ...

The first thing I made was a roughly sewn dog blanket (ignore the fact that the tiny cat has already laid claim.) I literally chopped the blanket apart, slapped three layers together, and just sewed some grid-like lines through. It's not beautiful, but it's soft & warm, I already know the animals love it's texture, and best yet, it can be thrown in the washer a million more times!

Next up, were two lame chair covers. They are lame in that they don't match anything in my family room, they don't wrap around like covers typically do, and they're not padded. BUT my cats love to sit on these chairs & deposit their white hair on them, and since I'm sick of spending $$$ on the lint rollers, I figured some easily washable "lame covers" would save a bit of my sanity.

Last but not least was a smaller, 2-layer "blanket" I made for this chair in my sewing room. Again, even though there are three of these chairs plus a recliner in my sewing room, THIS is the chair preferred by Daisy (refer to statements made above about cat hair & saving my sanity!)

This is all that's left of the 89" X 89" blanket ... about a 4' X 18" piece, which since it was full of tiny holes & jagged rips, got thrown in the trash.

I love repurposing items which are typically thought of as having passed their prime :)

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Patriotic Log Cabin Quilt

Log Cabin Top; QUILTED with Stars & Loops (freehand)

Finished this quilt earlier in the week, but I've been awfully busy playing in the snow with Smokey & digging out cars (over & over!), so I'm behind in posting.

I can't admit to being sick of the snow just yet. Even after having 20"+ dumped in the last week, I can't help but feel like I'm witnessing a beautiful event orchestrated by God. Snow is beautiful! It's peaceful (as long as you're not in one of pile-ups on the turnpike I suppose.)

Yeah, it's annoying, it drags the school year out, messes up fun plans & work days, but well, that's life. Every day brings about annoyances & obstacles or blessings & life-changers ... a snowstorm, a hurricane, a flood, a beloved's death, a birth, an engagement, a broken heart, a mended marriage, illness, broken cars, missed bills, empty bank accounts, and the list goes on.

Perspective is everything. And I choose to see snow as beautiful!