Off the Needles & Giveaway Goodies

I have finished my 6th pair of socks.  These are significant because they are the first pair of toe up socks AND they are the first pair done at the same time AND they are the first pair where the stripes match!  And I had a great time doing them.  The only problem I had was that I got the bind off a little tight and need to spend some time learning a better bind off that will give me some more stretch. 

I still have my gray socks on the needles and have just begun the heel.  The only reason there is no picture is that it would look just like the last one.  I will take a picture again when the heel has more definition.  Meanwhile, I am hoping to begin casting on a sweater.  This will be the first sweater I have tried so who knows how that will go.  I figure I might have it ready for next Fall, if I am lucky and really work on it.





I have begun some Spring Cleaning (around here that means furniture moving) and cleaning dust catchers.  It has been a while since I showed any of my collection of glass owls but recently I had to remove a small selection from a baker’s rack so I could move it.  This group found it’s way into the dishwasher this week and I was so pleased with how they sparkled after they came out.  There are a lot more but these looked so pretty sitting on the kitchen counter I just had to share them.  Now they are off to the bedroom where they reside.






And now, as promised, I must share my goodies from Stephanie at Loft Creations.  I won a giveaway of fabric scraps, leftovers from the patterns done for her new book.  AND she included a signed copy of her book, also.  Well, this was quite a wonderful gift.










There are strips of all colors and prints.  Bunches of strips.  I love all the bright colors along with the neutrals that I never think to buy.










Then there are bigger strips.  And look at that wonderful owl fabric.  I think I may have that in quilter’s cotton also. 











And even some large pieces of fabric.  Doesn’t you mind just get whirling with ideas?  Mine has.











But the first thing I found when I opened the box was this completed to, just like on the cover of the book but without the dresden plate.  Nothing like having a jump-start on a quilt, huh?

I haven’t had time to start even planning what I am going to do with these but believe you me I will be at it next month.



I have spent most of Feb trying to either get caught up or keep up with my BOMs.  Usually I do 3-4 a year and do pretty well keeping up which gives me 3-4 half completed tops as the new year begins.  But with people doing BOMs with 2 and 3 blocks per month, I was falling dreadfully behind.  I eliminated one BOM from my plan for the year and another from last year is coming to a close and for that I will be grateful.  As of now I am up to date with the owls, Alphabet, Knitter’s Gifts, and only 2 months behind on the fish.  Maybe I can do better next month and even get back to making quilts.




I looked over at DH last evening and this is what I saw.  I call this picture “Happy Pappy” because there is a really big smile behind all that pile of dogs.  There really is nothing like a room full of unconditional love.


Hope everyone has a great weekend.  We will be driving to Prattville, AL Sunday to see a quilt show.  I am very lucky that DH enjoys these shows and asks enough questions to make me sound knowledgeable as I answer.    Stay warm!!  Gari

Merry Design Wall

Today begins a whole year before my next birthday and the beginning of the Christmas season: how fun.

Doesn’t it seem right that my design wall today has 11 snowmen? All of these are appliqued down and ready for the hand embroidery which I will try to get done when we are visiting in MD at Christmas. Anyway there is only one more snowman in this years Bunny Hill Designs BOM. And here is my problem, I need 13 snowman blocks for this layout. What to do, what to do?

Anyway, I finished these last two snowmen blocks this week so I am ready for #12 and will have to decide what to do about #13 later.

I have my 12 Days of Christmas ready to quilt and it will be on the HQ before today is over.

Yesterday was my birthday. After a week of reviewing the DVDs, DH took me to see Harry Potter (big fan), out to eat.

I only thought to take a picture (taken with my new iPhone) after I had almost finished.

And after we got home I opened my gift from DS#3 and his wife. Thanks my children.

It was a great day and now it is off to another great year.

Bunny Hill, Owls, and Spring

My design wall has changed. I have 5 of my Bunny Hill BOM basket blocks completed: the others only need a little hand embroidery. Last week I found some lace I have had for several years and came up with this layout. I cut the sashing, red, and then overlaid it with the lace. I have only basted the lace on as it will be caught in the seams and then I will sew it down at the edges. Next week I will cut the cornerstones and borders (same fabric and the top will be ready to sew together, if I can only get that hand embroidery done. This little quilt is so out of my comfort zone as I just don’t do frilly but I like it because it is different.

And as long as I was working on the Bunny Hill blocks, I decided to get started on her new BOM. It is a series of snowmen and she has posted 3: I hadn’t started any. So I spent part of the weekend copying the designs onto the Heat & Bond and put the first block together. I think that when I get the basket blocks done, I will start the embroidery on these so I don’t have all of them to do at the end. The background fabric has silver metallic so there is a lot of shine behind this little snowman. I have the designs ready for blocks 2 & 3 so will have them fused before the week is over

My new glass owls arrived this weekend. Here it is (the little clear one) nesting nicely with a small selection of my collection. Also in this grouping is the first glass owl I ever got (light brown furthest left) and the clock my paternal grandpa bought for my grandma following the birth of their first son in 1907. Also you can see my collection of batiks: isn’t this a wonderful set of shelves? No wonder I love going into my studio.

And last but not least is a sure sign of spring. Here is the first rosebud on my bushes. We have lots of new leaves but it appears that this will be the first flower of the season. Today it was 74 with sunshine and I took advantage of it by sitting outside designing a snowball quilt.

Rain, Rain, Rain

And it continues to rain, rain, rain. 6+” last weekend and at least 2.5” today. Now, I really like rain and have no problem with it raining except for one little thing. I bought a new camera yesterday and really wanted to go out and try it out on the new blooming spring. I did get this one shot before the rain got going hard.


So, how did I do? It is going to take some getting used to looking through the view finder and then there is the figuring out what all the settings are. This is a low end SLR camera but the first one I have ever had that I can get accessories for (opps, more money?). Why a new camera you may ask. Well, I tried to get a close up shot of something last week and the camera, which I really like, would not focus on it. Since I started blogging I have been taking more pictures and I keep seeing things I want to shoot, either for me, the family, or the blog and DH and I decided it was time to upgrade: he is also going to use it. We bought a SD card for each of us so there should be no mix-up with pictures.





I have not been in the studio for three days. Sunday DH and I went shopping and antiquing. All I bought was two more pair of Crocs. I do love those shoes and have several: here are a few.


This is my “shoe tree.”


Monday we took clothes to Goodwill and then shopped for fabric (oh, shock) and the new camera. Today was laundry day and I got it all done along with some computer work. But I still wanted to use the camera so I have decided to share my glass owl collection.





This is my dining area. I bought the wicker buffet top at a consignment store and it allows the light to come from behind the owls so the color shows up nicely

These are in my bedroom, also up against a window. Every once in a while I rearrange them, moving owls from room to room.

And these are in the bathroom. I love the little owl shot glasses. We don’t see many of this kind of glass so I tend to hyperventilate when I find them. There are more: they have been collected over the past 26 years. There are owls in every room in the house and even in the studio. I have other owls also but they are scattered rather than grouped. I have been collecting them for over 40 years. But when someone gave me my first glass owl creamer, I was hooked.