Snow with Sprinkles

My young pine trees garnished with snow.

Two inches fell in about two hours. A very fast snowfall.

And tiny sprinkles with borders. Here's the recipe:

1. Use 1-1/4" strips to make the 9-patches. Trim squares evenly.

2. Cut 1" strips of teal fabric to frame each block. Trim evenly.

3. Use measurement of 9 patch blocks to cut 4 alternate block B of pink (about 3-3/4").

4. Cut two 6-inch squares from pink. Cut diagonally first vertically, then horizontally for a total of 8 set in triangles.

5. Cut two 3-1/2" squares. Cut them in half on the diagonal for corner triangles.

6. Cut inner pink border from 1-3/4" strips.

7. Cut outer teal border from 2-1/2" strips.

Of course, these are the basics. Measurements will vary depending upon your lighting, your sewing machine, your ruler, and how you trim your fabric. Everyone sews in a different environment. However, the side set-in triangles and corner triangles have allowance built in so those measurements should work fine for you. If not, just e-mail me.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Itzzzz heeeere . . .

for a few minutes, there were a few flakes and then wham!


I don't think I've seen snow come down this fast since I lived in Pennsylvania. I'm very excited, as I want to try snow dying if I can locate my "somewhere-its-packed", ready-to-dye fabric.

. . . and here is "Tiny Sprinkles" without borders.

If you're also experiencing extreme weather, please make sure your animals have a warm shelter with plenty of fresh water.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Tiny sprinkles

Ooops, I cut the strips at 1-1/4", so the squares ended up being about 3/4" or less. I love the hand-dyed fabric swirls of color.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

One of the nice things . . . .

About dye-painting fabric, is you can keep painting over it. (This was originally 2 colors.) Admittedly, it's not very appealing at the moment, but soon it will be tiny 1" squares, hidden in 9-patches. Like sprinkles on a cupcake, just lil' bursts of color hidden throughout.

(Notice we saw the sun here today. Thank goodness!)

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Work in progress . . .

. . . and obviously, it needs a lot more work. LOL

(strip size 1-1/2")

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

"Tinman, is this Oz?"

"No Dorothy, we've landed in Pennsylvania. It's a much more colorful place."

(just a bit of eye candy from my adventures last summer.)

Side Note: If you're traveling to Burkholder's Fabrics (and I forget which road it's on) be warned it's out in the middle of pretty much nowhere. However, on the right hand side of the road, you'll see the boat planter. If you miss it, don't worry, you can get a photo on the way back like we did. . . in August that is. Right now it's a bit chilly up there for flowers.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . . .

The possibilities keep stacking up

Sew many newly washed colors to choose from . . . . hmmm. I think I'll wander back over to Tonya's blog and look at the mahhvelous 9-patch.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Ohhh nuts!

I can't get my Neocounter back. Can anyone help me?

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Out into the light

Railroad crossing is a pattern not often seen these days, especially done in Amish solids. I made this around 1987. It's been tucked away since then, waiting patiently.

This close-up shows the variety of tone-on-tone blacks, along with the various shades of teal triangles. Harriet Hargrave gets the credit for introducing me to the concept of multiple black fabrics. As always, she was right, it does make a quilt far more interesting.

Now what to do about the border . . . any ideas?

Until then, keep stitchin' . .

Color my world

Thursday evening sundown.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Can squirrels get Alzheimer's?

Young oak trees pop up everywhere in the spring, leading me to wonder how squirrels remember where they hid their stash.

Kinda like quilters who move. Perhaps someone should invent an iron that beeps and lights up when you whistle. After all, they did it for car key rings.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Could she really be sewing . . . something?

I'm thoroughly tired of unpacking. Really. And even though I can't find my iron, I decided to sew something just because. It's nice having a box of pre-cut squares ready to go. Nine-patches are floating all around blog land so I joined in. I've no idea what the final pattern will be. It's okay to not have any ideas once in awhile. It's okay to turn the lightbulb off and pretend no one is home. You'll have to trust me on that one.

All 3 of my sewing machines have been in the cold, chilly studio space and the oil has gotten thick and gummy. Not good. Machines need to be used so the gears get going and the oil warms up. If your sewing machine sounds like it's going into battle, take it apart and oil all the metal places that rotate, glide, whir, or shimmy. Not the rubber or plastic, just the metal.

In the photo, you'll notice a few stacks of recently washed and dried hand-dyed and solid fabric. That is for my next project. . . . as soon as I find my iron and turn the lightbulb back on.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Feathered musings

"Why are the best ones always on the top shelf?"

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Winter blues

For all of their chattering, the blue jays really are a lovely color.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Winter scenes

A road less traveled.

Frost on the pumkin.

Cold fire.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Brrrrr

I had considered going out to take snow pics today. However, since the wind chill is at 0, as in "ZERO" right now, I believe I'll wait a bit.

Hope you're staying inside with a snugly quilt on this cold snowy day.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Auditions

Since my sewing studio is still under "construction", I get to dream about future projects that will compliment my balcony railing. This one tops the list. Thank goodness the folks over at the Quilt Study Center have a vast selection to choose from.

Some folks envision (or escape to) warm tropical beaches in the cold grip of winter. Not me, ut uh, I dream of color in sparkling Amish quilts.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Considering the wind chill

Please remember to bring your pets inside during this extreme cold snap. If they can't come inside, perhaps there is an outbuilding where a pile of hay can be placed, or rig up a light bulb in a wooden box with warm bedding and make sure it's out of the wind.

Now these fellas, you don't have to worry about, unless you're ice fishing of course. LOL

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

Inspirational nature

This lil' fella came for a quick snack today. Luckily I was able to get a shot of him using my zoom lens. His coloring is inspiring, as I love black and white quilts with a touch of red. I even have one started (in that baggie stack you know), which of course is still packed.

So for now I'll just enjoy the colorful show and hope that these wee creatures find a warm spot to nest in on this very chilly 27-degree day.

Until then, keep stitchin' . . .

The world of Pandora

Even without the benefit of 3D, it's the most "color-full" epic I've ever seen on the big screen.

The creative genious in both technology and artistic merit is to be commended. If you've not seen the movie yet, as a quilter, I highly recommend it. And if you know any botanists, take them along also. They'll love the flora and fauna.

Until then keep stitchin' . . . .