Finally, a quilty post. Well, not all quilty.

Here is the result of my toothbrush rug experiment. I only got it about 8 inches in diameter before I stopped. It is a toothbrush trivet, LOL. The rug started cupping into a bowl shape. I now know how to control the tension so that it won't do this. Not bad for a first try.
This is my favorite project right now. English paper piecing is lots of fun, and the perfect portable project. I am going for a tumbling blocks look. It is challenging to find those medium colors! Contrast is the key.
I completed this needlepunch project while on Spring Break. It is called Scaredy Cat, or is it Fraidy Cat? I don't remember. Anyway, I just love the faces on the little pumpkins. Needlepunch is such a cool thing to do, and most people have never heard of it.
This is a miniature quilt top, still waiting for its borders. It seems so boring compared to the other things I am working on.
I am looking forward to my quilt guild's retreat in a couple of weeks. I hope to get a charity quilt made, as well as some baby quilts. I am way behind in these projects. I don't want to try to do too much, because I know from past experience that I get more talking done than quilting.
Only 13 more student days until school is out for summer break. The kids are getting more and more out of control as the time approaches. I just hope we can avoid any major meltdowns or drama. The last couple of weeks we have to really tighten up, because the kids are stir crazy.
Enjoy your week.
Julie

Key West - More Spring Break Pictures

Here are some gift shop display stands in Key West. John Owen and his friend each bought one of these coconut dudes.
This is just a cool, and very colorful sign in town.
Here are John Owen and Joy posing by this very large conch shell.
You can get hours of entertainment from a fun house mirror! Gotta love 'em. This one is in the Ripley's Believe it or Not Museum.
John Owen insisted I take a picture of this gigantic strawberry he was eating. It was actually four strawberries fused together. I will continue to post Key West pictures over the next few weeks, maybe. I will try to put quilty stuff in too, for those of you who are looking for that.
By the way, I have figured out how to make a toothbrush rug, and am starting a small one now. Such a cool way to use up undesirable fabric.
Julie

Carol and the Beach Quilt, and a giveaway

Here is my sister-in-law, Carol, with a beach scene quilt I made for her several years ago. It uses the landscape quilt method in which you use spray adhesive, raw edge pieces of fabric, and tulle. Then you quilt over the entire thing. I think it turned out well.

Detail shots of the quilt. I had fun using embellishments on this one.
Carol lives in Florida, very close to a nice beach. We love to visit her, and stopped by her house on our way to Key Largo for Spring Break. She is a really sweet sister-in-law.
She has the quilt in storage now, and it is "in retirement" from decorating her home. Ahh, such is the way, eventually, of all my quilts I suppose. :-)
By the way, Cornfield Quilter is having a giveaway for her 200th post. Be sure to stop by, and don't forget to mention that I sent you her way!!
Julie

Key Largo, Florida - Spring Break 2009

Key Largo was glorious. The weather was perfect, the water was warm, the sun was bright. You can see for yourself what the sky looked like here.
We chartered a boat, the Aquarius, for snorkeling. They took us to a coral reef off the coast of Key Largo. It was a blast. Here is Joy enjoying the ride.
John Owen loved snorkeling and seemed to be an old pro at it.
Here I am standing by the water in Key West. It was such a beautiful place.e

This is Ann's Beach. It is actually on another key, Islamorada, Florida. We enjoyed the clear water and all the sea life. My kids got to catch sea cucumbers, hermit crabs, blue crabs, sea slugs, and all kinds of other animals. Of course, we released them after checking them out. The water was nice and warm. So luxurious....
Julie

Spring is Here

I took some photos in the yard the other day. There are dogwood and azaleas blooming, birds building nests, etc.... I wanted to share these with you. I did not take any photos of the yellow pollen all over everything.
I wanted to make a quick little post in case I don't get to post any more until after spring break. We will be very busy getting ready to leave and then will be gone for a week. I will check in when I return.
Julie

Tea Party

Joy and I had a tea party. Karol-Ann had sent me some tea and tea biscuits. I had been waiting for a good time to have a tea party. We decided a couple of weeks ago to go ahead and party! I have a Wedgewood Countryware set of china, and I just love the teapot. It was nice to finally actually use it instead of just look at it.
Here is the teapot alone, I love how it looks like a cabbage!
Here was a bowl of citrus that was so pretty. Those reddish blood oranges are so good, and make such a colorful picture.
This is what Karol-Ann sent. The T biscuits are sooo yummy!
And yes, they are actually shaped like the letter "T."
Here are our cups of tea.
I even have a flower pot shaped like a tea pot, LOL. This is in my kitchen window. It is sitting in a peanut butter jar lid because I had just watered it.
The whole thing was simply boring and exhausting for Cabalito. He decided to take a nap on his "perch." We have this little place fixed up on an old sewing machine treadle table by the window. He likes to sit up there and watch the cats across the street. He has to bark and bark to make sure those cats know better than to come into his territory.

Twisted Bargello/Loser Monday

As promised, here is the completed Twisted Bargello panel. I still have not added borders. I have been so busy lately. I really want to finish it, but it may have to wait for summer break.
We have spring break coming up in two weeks, and I am really ready for it.
I finally got back to Weight Watchers. Good news.... I lost 4.4 more pounds .... for a total loss of 16 pounds! Wow!!
I hope you have a good week.
Julie

Deb sent Joy a "Get Better Soon" package from New Zealand!!

Joy was thrilled to receive her very own package from Deb at Works in Progress. Deb sent this to help Joy feel better as she is recovering from her broken ankle. Joy has looked and looked at her magazines, and has almost completed her felt cat. Deb, that was so thoughtful of you. Joy couldn't wait to tell her friends that she had received a package from Christchurch, New Zealand!
An update on Joy's ankle. We went to the doctor today. They cut off the cast and did a new X-ray. Everything was looking good, and she now has a cast that she can remove for bathing or swimming. I am excited that I don't have to put the plastic trash bags on her cast anymore for showers. :-D
BTW, the candy did not last long at all! It was so good - I had a taste of it myself. The kids devoured it. LOL
I hope you are having a good week. It is almost the weekend, and I am really ready for it. I plan to go to Atlanta Saturday and visit Little Quilts and Red Hen. Fun!!
Julie

Bagpipes!

Beth came to my Mom's house and played a private bagpipe concert for her today. We enjoyed it so much. Beth is a friend of the family. She couldn't have found a more appreciative audience, I don't think. We loved it!!Here is my son, John Owen, checking out how hard it is to push the air out of that air bag.


I hope you are having a great week. We are having loads of fun around here!
Julie

Twisted Bargello

Here is a picture of the bargello with all the strips done. This is before I put them all together. I have put them together now, and am waiting to put borders one. I haven't taken any pictures of that stage. The sewing machine and temporary design wall, and all the other sewing equipment, has been taken downstairs to my sewing studio finally. I gave my house a good cleaning this weekend and it looks so much better. I was tired of the quilt taking over the dining room.
Julie