I've Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy, Down in My Heart!....and then there's Brioche Knitting......

 O- yes I do!  I got good news from a friend of mine, who's breast cancer tumor is shrinking!
Can you believe that?  You CAN have breast cancer and survive.  My friends letter was so joyous, I cried!  With happiness, at how God heals.  He really helps me with my problems too.  I just "deliver a letter"  to Jesus, and let Him have my worries and wants and concerns, and leave it in the mail box!  I try not to take it out- ever- but If I find myself worrying about the same things I've just asked Him help for, I remind myself of the letter box.  Once something is in that mailbox, you can not take it out-- it's gone!   So I am now joyfully awaiting to see how He will answer my "letters"!

This is the progress of my Baubles shawl by Drea Renee Knits.  I think I have ripped out my repeated attempts at Brioche knitting probably about 50 times, and have discarded yarn twice for that spot, because it felted from being reused so many times  (aggggh).  For some reason, my brain is having a real hard time getting this pattern.  I am not giving up, however.  I keep thinking of ways to conquer it.

 Everglades fabric:  It's still on the table, but I sure do enjoy looking at it!!  So many bright and wonderful colors.  I want to breathe them in, or eat them in ice cream.

 AND YES,  I did buy the "Time of Flowers" cross stitch kit from Posie Gets Cozy.  

I LOVE IT!!  THE COLORS ARE BEAUTIFUL.  

and I love the color of the background fabric.

It is so appropriate for right now, because the trees and early spring flowers are blooming right now, and it's getting warmer, but not tooo warm.  

I like it cool!

The stitches are two threads over two threads, so I'm just going to bear with it.  I can actually see what I'm doing without a magnifying glass.

 And to leave with you with a happy thought:  Here is the former Catwalk.  These are kittens out of the first litter of kittens born here after we moved here.  They were tame, so I could play with them.  The one that is second from the back was one of my favorites.  His name was "Squirt".  He was the runt of that litter, but he was scrappy!  He would not hesitate to get in a tangle with his siblings.  I helped him out when he was smaller-- fed him because he was pushed away by the others, but he fought back.  Unfortunately he, along with my George, must have been poisoned, or got into something that poisoned them, and they both died.  My heart broke over those two.  I have had a hard time attaching myself to any other cat(s).  They are also buried in my pet cemetary.  Not all animals get that honor.  Love you Squirt-- You are not forgotten!

Rainy Day Chat

Welcome to the Banter!  It's a rainy day here in the mountains, and with the rain and drizzle comes the fog... so typical for the fall and spring here.

Speaking of fall, its about at it's peak here, colorwise.  It is beautiful.  The leaves are clearing out though, and they'll soon all be gone.

Which doesn't bother me much at all, because, next is Winter!!  I love winter.  I think people think I am crazy-- who loves the cold??  I do, because I get to wear sweaters, and thick socks and warm pants and coats and knitted hats and gloves.

And, speaking of sweaters!!   I'm knitting one for myself.  This is the first sweater I've ever made for myself.  I think it's coming along well.  I made some mistakes, but corrected them all before going further.  I had to knit several swatches first, and learned the pattern quite well, as I had to start over and over.  My brain just doesn't want to work with me in counting, unless I do it over and over, and over again.  So it is quite a challenge for me.  This is the back of the sweater, it is going to be seamed, which frequent makers on the internet comment that they really hate seaming.  But I have to do it for the experience.  There is more on my Ravelry page which you can link to HERE. (click on the word "here").

The three pictures above are part of my BEE HAPPY quilt project organization.  I'll be cutting the 10 inch stack today, then hopefully start at the machine very soon.

 This is my foyer.  I've never had one before, but I think it looks okay.  It's really not done yet, it's always  a work in progress around here.

 Some mums for you!

And here's my Good Bye Girl.  I decided to put her on display in my glass case.  She's too fine to keep in the shadows.

I hope your day is fine.  I love the rainy fall days.  I've made some chocolate chip cookies and am ready to cut some fabric!!!!     XXOO,   Bebe

Why God Made Colors.....

I can't say that I really know the mind of God.  I actually only have theories about why He made colors.  I think He gave us colors because He loves us.  Colors are a gift to us.  And speaking as a person who Loves color, works with color,  plays with color, it makes my heart feel better about the world, and it humbles me to think of all the Good Things He has given us.

Colors are like a balm in Gilead.

~

There are so many fantastic fabric designers in the world today.  Some new ones to the Moda world of fabrics are Lauren and Jessi Jung.  Click here to read their blog.  Yes.  It was me.  I won a jelly roll of their new line- Birds & Berries.  (BTW- I'm NOT getting paid or otherwise to mention them in my blog. I really did win this in a random drawing.)  If you love color, and pattern and detail, you should run to your nearest quilt fabric store and treat yourself to some of this gorgeous eye candy.  I guarantee you it will make you feel better.   Digital photography is great, and if you don't have a quilt shop near you, it's the next best thing to being there, but there's just no comparison to touching, seeing, feeling the FABRIC and seeing it with your own eyes in different light.  Trust me-- just GO and see for yourself!  Your life will just not ever be the same as when you are viewing textiles, paints, paintings- ANYTHING handmade or artistic or sculpted- in person.  Your life will be forever changed when you see something authentic- the real thing- not just a photograph.

~

Thank you to all the designers who give us wonderful colors and patterns to work with in our lives.

And thank you, God, for making all those wonderful colors!

~

Photos:  1-5:  Lauren and Jessi Jung's Birds & Berries fabric; 6: Fig Tree & Co., Joanna Figueroa's California Girl;  7: My thread spools; 8-9: Joanna Figueroa's Tapestry; 10: Jan Patek's Lilac Hill, with my vintage Singer; 11:  Joanna Figueroa's Tapestry.





New Ironing Board Cover and Spring

I Finally stopped sewing long enough to re-cover my ironing board! 

Sewing things I actually NEED sometimes gets on

my nerves, because they take time.

I had to take time to do this project though, as my old

cover was torn.

It was easier than I thought it would be!

I followed Joanna Figueroa's instructions in her

Fresh Vintage (TM), FTQ#FV550, Issue #19

which you can get HERE.

Oh, and by the way- it's SPRING here!  The trees are

a'bloomin' and the robins are out in force!

But it's a blustery, humid day and we are

probably in for some storms today....

I love how the cover turned out!  It only took me about 30 minutes total!!

Which only took a little time out of my day!!

The fabric is by Joel Dewberry for Westminister Fabrics, Buttercup. 

LOVE IT!!

Did I mention it's Spring here?!!  These hyacinths

are from a single bulb I planted here

two years ago.  They're multiplying!

Happy Spring!!

"How Does Your Garden Grow?" Pattern Now Available

Scenes from the latest design from Hailstorm Creek Press:

"How Does Your Garden Grow?"

These are in our series-in-progress called

"My Country Life".

First in the series was "Mama's Apron".

I also like to think of this gardener as my answer to Sunbonnet Sue.

~~

Pattern uses the following techniques:

Fusing fabrics together, machine applique, and simple hand embroidery stitches; machine piecing.

French Quarter Retreat for Mardi Gras (Idea)

Hotel Lautrec Opera
If you can't go to France or even to New Orleans, at least you can pretend!
~
This is an idea for a quilter/sew-er’s/women’s/girls retreat idea– which could be for a quilt guild, a sewing bee, or a group of friends just wanting to get together. The daytime activities listed are for the women, but you can also include your boyfriend/husband/significant other in the evening activities/dinner and breakfast.

~

It begins with you bringing one item you think is “French”. Give wrap the item. It could be anything- so the possibilities are endless. This is your “ticket” into the retreat. Anything goes!  The gifts get placed into a box for the end of the retreat.

~

Every retreat has to have projects and below are several to choose from, along with a link to where you can possibly purchase these patterns, as some are from a few years ago.  These are from my personal collection, and I have scanned in the covers of these so you can see what I'm talking about. You could also substitute your own preference for a project or pattern– have it relate to the theme.  After you see the project/patterns below, you’ll get the idea of what you could possibly substitute.
~

This is the quilt pattern that inspired this idea for me.  It can be made with a packet of Fat Quarters in a single fabric collection.  The quilt is 72" x 72".

French Quarter by Joanna Fiqueroa of Fig Tree Quilts

You have to visit their website--

Merveilleux!!

http://www.figtreequilts.com/

~

~

Next is:

"Nudes Flash Needlecase" by Elinor Peace Bailey.  Everyone needs one of these!

http://www.epbdolls.net/

                                                                               ~

How about this:   "Weekend in Paris Pillow" designed by Lyn Hosford, published in Need'l Love "French Market Threads" booklet. 

http://www.needllove.com/ 

~

Frilly Dilly Bag by Janelle Wind,  http://thejanellewindcollection.typepad.com/

~

Petite Gateau pincushion by Joanna Figueroa of Fig Tree Quilts, http://www.figtreequilts.com/

~

Cupcake Pincushion by Sandi Henderson, Portabellopixie Boutique Patterns, http://www.sandihendersondesign.com/product-p/sh05cp.htm

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"Primitive Pears" by Trudi Honeycutt http://www.crowsintheatticprimitives.blogspot.com/

Also printed in the Spring 2010 issue of “Prims” magazine.

~

Anything from "Let Them Eat Cake" by Susan Maw and Sally Bell (sisters).  I love this book!  I want one of each (project)!! 

http://www.maw-belldesigns.com/Maw-BellDesigns.asp 

~

I think you get the idea, right?  Anything yummy!

~~

Play french music in the back ground.  Joanna Figueroa's blog has some nice music on her playlist.

~~~

FOOD SUGGESTIONS

Breakfast: You must have French Market coffee, which is Chickory and coffee. Just remember to use HALF of what you normally would for regular coffee, otherwise it will be way too strong.

http://www.frenchmarketcoffee.com/

~

Beignets, coffee from Café du Monde  http://www.cafedumonde.com/beignet.html 

~

Pain du Chocolate

http://dinnerwithjulie.com/2010/02/06/pain-au-chocolat/

~

Croissants

http://www.latartinegourmande.com/2006/10/19/croissants-step-by-step-la-confection-des-croissants/

Pastry chefs would groan at this suggestion:  Walmart's that have bakeries have croissants.  They'll have to do if you have no bakery in your neighborhood.

~

LUNCH

Chicken Salad on Croissants

http://southernfood.about.com/od/chickensalads/r/71214a.htm

Soup du Jour (of course)

Your choice of soup

~

DINNER

Chicken filets in Orange or Apricot Marmelade

(don't have a recipe for these- you'll have to search for one you like)

Risotto

After dinner drinks:

Hurricane

http://www.drinksmixer.com/cat/3226/

SNACKS

Chocolate Truffles

~~

EVENING ENTERTAINMENT

Movies

I picked these because they either have to do with something French, France, or New Orleans.  I like "Chocolat" because it takes place during Lent.

“French Kiss” with Meg Ryan and Kevin Kline

“No Mercy” with Richard Gere and Kim Basinger

“Chocolate” with Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp

~~~

Before going home, have everyone pick a going away gift from the gifts that were brought as a ticket, as mementos of the weekend.



Great Quilting Tool

Good Monday to You All!

~

I wish I'd had this binding tool years ago! It would have made my life so much easier when finishing the binding on my quilts! I highly recommend this tool for you. I have been making quilts for 18 years, so I speak from experience.

~

This tool is used when you are sewing the binding on your quilt, and you need to join the ends. It's so simple and easy to use and you don't have to get all complicated trying to figure out how to get the ends joined accurately. It really works!

~

I found mine in the Connecting Threads catalog: Here's their toll free number:

1-800-574-6454

They'll send you a catalog upon request.

~

Connecting Threads also carry books and patterns and cotton fabric at a reasonable price. The fabric is a good quality. It's better than what you can buy for $3.00 a yard at Hancock Fabrics or Jo Ann Fabrics, but less expensive than at a quilt shop. It sells for $5.96 a yard, and they always have discounts or sales.

~

Have fun sewing today!

Dottie Rose

From Bebe: This is my mom, Dottie Rose, and two of her quilts. The quilts were both given to me. The log cabin is the first quilt I quilted, before I knew how to do the rocking stitch with one finger to make small stitches. The flower garden quilt is all sewn by hand, and is not quilted yet.

Dottie Rose is a retired homemaker. She made many things around our house - like curtains and pillows, but she mostly sewed clothes. And not just simple things to wear. She made SUITS and jackets that required tailering. She is a smart cookie, this one!! She taught me to sew - first with needle and thread, then embroidery, then sewing by machine. I remember her teaching me on her lap at the machine.

I spent many hours playing under the fabric bolts in stores and sitting looking at the buttons on cards on the wall. Where ever there was fabric for sale, we went! Dottie Rose is whom I first learned the names of different types of fabric - twill, wool, duck, ticking, woven, cotton, gingham, paisley, eyelet, calico, homespun. . . .

The love for texiles and sewing has never left me! Thank you, mom!