44th Street Fabric

Finished Star, Flags & Bunting top and created yet another UFO!

2013-06-17T08:37:00.003-05:00

Monday morning! Well, I finished stitching together the 4th of July quilt top and created another UFO. I'm still making 3 piles of UFO's...those to finish, those to sell and those to donate. This is the first one on my list to quilt. I think it's bright and fun. Sorry the pic is crooked...

I had to add this to my UFO list:

and this one:

and this is the worst part, I still have 2 drawers to go through. I've decided to spare you that. I still need borders on the Farmer's Wife and the Row Along Quilt here. Well, it probably won't happen today. I have to work at my "real job" and write about men's clothing and women's shoes and pumps for garden water features today. Hope you all have a great week! Cheery wave from Bev

We Have a Winner! And a New Giveaway!

2013-06-16T10:44:00.002-05:00

We have a new winner! The winner of the last 3 Kathy Schmidt patterns is Tammy from Tammy's Sew N Life blog! I've sent you an email Tammy because you included your email in your comment! Here's our next Giveaway:

It's Kathy Schmitz's new book, Simply Red! I just love it and I know you will too! As you can see, there are a lot of beautiful patterns in this book! You can make the big quilt with applique or you can use the applique patterns as embroidery patterns. There are so many things you can do with this book. Kathy's instructions are easy to follow and makes it fun to work any of the projects in Simply Red.

Just leave a comment on this post ALONG WITH YOUR EMAIL (I don't know any other way to emphasize this because so few people are actually doing it) and you are entered to win this great new book! Follow me or let me know you are already a follower for 5 extra entries. If you blog about the giveaway and leave the link to your blog post and you get 5 extra entries. This giveaway will end Friday, the 28th of June and I will announce the winner on June 29th, Saturday.

Good luck girlfriends! Thank you for supporting the blog and entering our giveaways! Hope the rest of your weekend is great! Cheery wave from Bev

Last Day to Enter! and Temptation....

2013-06-15T10:00:00.001-05:00

Don't forget! Today is the last day to enter the giveaway for the last 3 Kathy Schmitz patterns for February, March and April. They are so much fun! See the little bluebird with the love note in her mouth? That applique piece is included in the pattern!

So I'm going to show you my very first embroidery piece and I know you will not mock me openly. I sew a lot (on the machine) and do applique but haven't done embroidery. This one looks like a very unstable person did it (which is true although not physically). I found out after it was finished that I was doing the stitches wrong. Oh well, it was fun to do in front of the tv. I'm working on the one with the bird, cherries and the nest with 3 blue eggs now. I can only get better, right? I might make this one a pillow or I might put it in a drawer forever. Please don't judge Kathy's embroidery patterns on this one! It was supposed to be done with other stitches! I think it is so much fun to learn new things! I hope I live long enough to at least try all the things I want to.

Enter to win HERE! So what are you girls doing this weekend? I'm going to work on my UFO stack and try to separate them out and then do a priority list. I've already found 3 new quilts I would like to start (I know, crazy, right?). Why can't I do everything? You know the Farmer's Wife quilt? Well, there is a book I was sent called The Farmer's Wife Pony Club.

It has 90 blocks to make. The stories and photos are so cute. Apparently the Farmer's Wife magazine had a contest for children to write in and tell why they would like to have a pony. This book has photos of the winners and their ponies and has some of their letters. It's so sweet. So of course, it is sitting there mocking me.

Barbara Brackman has a book called Civil War Sampler.

Well, I love sampler quilts so I bought this book a while back. Now, Pam Kitty Morning has done a sampler quilt with blocks from this book in her adorable fabrics. It's a bright sampler quilt with red borders! So cute. Makes my fingers itch to start pulling fabrics. You can see it HERE. Oh it's so cute! They have a Flickr group with blocks from this quilt.

And, last but not least, I want to make this quilt:

Isn't it adorable? Ahhhhhhkkkkk! But I'm being good. I did order the Strawberry pattern but I'm NOT going to give in on any of these until I have done lots of the UFO's that I decide to keep. I'm off to the machine to work on the first of the quilts I've decided to finish! What are your temptation quilts? Or are you a "finisher"? Whatever you are, have a great weekend! XO and cheery wave from Bev

To Finish or Not...on and on with more UFO's....

2013-06-14T17:20:00.002-05:00

It's a sickness, I tell ya...I have even more UFO's on my stack:

and

and these blocks:

The bag is finished. I thought it would be a good baby quilt with matching bag.

and

There are 30 of these appliqued blocks.

There are almost 30 of these blocks done. They just need to be put together with a border.

I have 4 more of these blocks and they are stitched together. They just need a border.

I have quite a few of these blocks finished. They just need to be stitched together.

Just needs a border. I'm not even finding the photo of the Row Along quilt. Then there are all the BOM's I'm working on.

Okay, that's enough. I'm going to make a list and do what was suggested by my buddy, Missy Shay. I'm going to make 3 stacks. A stack of ones I want to finish, a stack of ones to sell so I can buy more fabric and a stack of ones to donate or give away. Then I'm going to start finishing stack one with all of the enthusiasm I start projects with and see how long it takes to quit working on them--lol. I got some quilted last summer and it was just getting disgusted with myself that led to that.

I won't be bothering you guys with UFO's for a while. Think good thoughts for me. I have yet another new project manager who is probably 22 (he's right out of school). I still have the other young project managers but they have mellowed some. Save me from 22 year olds who want to do something new....sigh....

Have a good weekend everyone! Cheery wave from Bev

To Finish or Not....Part 2

2013-06-13T09:08:00.003-05:00

In my last post, I lamented the fact that I keep finding ufo's. I asked what you do with your ufo's and got a lot of answers. Apparently, you give them away. Immediately I felt guilty because that was not something I considered doing. What kind of person am I anyway? So I decided to make a pile of the ufo's I have and then make a list and then decide what to do. Who to give them to? Should I give backing and binding fabric too? Here are some more that I found:

This one was made from Folk Art Wedding fabric when it first came out. Remember how everyone went crazy for it and then it was gone? It was by Moda but I cannot recall the designer.

This is one I made with wide borders so that I could do scalloped edges. It's made with Tanya Whelan fabric. I just love that white with roses fabric! The green is much prettier in person.

Here's one from my "homespun days". I made this from scraps.

Here's the Rattlesnake quilt. I love the bright colors.

Here are the blocks for the "unnamed quilt". I have most of it actually sewn together now. It's made with my favorite color combination.

Here's the aqua star. Gina said she wanted it but wants me to put a bunch of borders on it to make it king sized. That would assure that it would never be quilted by me.

Here's an attempt at an "art quilt". It is supposed to be the center of a big quilt. I thought I would put Gina's hand made pottery buttons on it. But it has just been sitting there waiting for inspiration.

This is a Christmas Star quilt with appliqued center. At least I still have the red Christmas fabric for the borders. I was going to do smaller stars for a border and then an applique border. So okay, that has not happened.

This group is just what I pulled out last night. I'm getting a huge stack. I feel like a hoarder. So you are the unfortunate (unless you already stopped reading) recipient of my guilty confessions. Sigh.....

Don't forget to enter the Kathy Schmitz Giveaway #4! It ends Saturday and I will announce the winner on Sunday. You don't have much competition in this giveaway for some reason. You can enter it HERE. And don't forget to enter our giveaway for free fabric from Lori Holt HERE. I have to go do my beloved "real job" and write about foreclosure and leasing agreements today. I hope you all have a good day and that your UFO stack is more manageable than mine! Cheery wave from Bev

To Finish or Not to Finish....That is the Question....

2013-06-11T08:56:00.002-05:00

Hi girlfriends! I was moving boxes last night in the sewing room to find something (triangle paper rolls) and I found these ufo's. I'm honestly beginning to feel buried in ufo's.What is wrong with me?

This is a Jan Patek pattern that was originally done in homespun fabrics. I thought I would see how it would look in bright fabrics:

I mean, what do you do? Throw them away? Keep holding them?

Ugg...more and more:

And on and on and on....Does anyone else have this issue? It feels so wasteful but I don't know if I even want to finish some of these. What do you do with your UFO's from long ago? Please share! Thanks! Now off to work at the pesky "real job". Have a wonderful Tuesday! Cheery wave from Bev

4th of July Wallhanging (just needs borders)

2013-06-09T10:29:00.002-05:00

Happy Sunday everyone! Yesterday I stitched together my little 4th of July wallhanging. It just needs the border (or borders) and it will be ready to quilt. I might actually make it by the 4th!

I'm thinking that I will do a narrow red border out of the stars on red tone-on-tone that I used for the buntings and then a red, white and blue border from some Alexander Henry fabric I have. It's kind of busy fabric but it will be bright and fun. This was a quick, easy wallhanging to do and, instead of working at my real job today, I think I'm going to work on finishing this. Lately I haven't actually finished a quilt in a long time. I have two other tops that need borders and to be quilted and tons of blocks but no finished product.

Don't forget to enter our giveaways! You can enter the giveaway for Kathy Schmitz patterns HERE. And you can enter our June Giveaway for free fabrics HERE. Have a happy Sunday! Cheery wave from Bev

Blocks in Progress, a free pattern and painting inspiration!

2013-06-07T09:34:00.003-05:00

Hey everyone! It's Friday! Woot! I've actually been working at the machine but instead of "quilts in progress", I'm reduced to "blocks in progress". I'm working on machine applique for the Civil War Bride Block 2 and it's taking for.ev.errrrr!

It looks awful without all the leaves and not ironed but see....I'm making progress! Also working on the bunting part of the 4th of July quilt that probably won't be finished before the 4th of July. Here are 2 of the bunting pieces without their applique center:

The bunting goes with the flags and star blocks:

So much fun!

I can't wait until tomorrow when I can sit at the machine and actually finish something. What are you all up to? Any big plans for the weekend? I'm cleaning and sewing and that is it! Well, I take that back...there may be a nap or two. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! I'm off to write about cookware and jewelry. Happy subjects except I always end up writing about something I like and think I should buy. Especially cookware and Betsey Johnson jewelry! There are so many cool gadgets out there now!
Oh, Kaaren at Painted Quilt blog has a free embroidery quilt pattern that you can download! It's adorable summer fun! You can find it HERE.

She is an amazing artist and does the cutest embroidery patterns. Thanks Kaaren!
And if you want an adorable tray painting project for summer cookouts or drinks around the pool, visit Judy at 20 North Ora! She has painted an old tray and I think I might just do one too!

She is an artist so does all kinds of unique and original home decor makeovers. With this one, she said to paint an under layer of hot pink under the red to make the red bright. I never knew that! I'd probably have put 20 coats of red on and still not been happy! I think she should do a book but she won't even talk to me about that. You can visit at 20 North Ora HERE. Thanks for all the inspiration Judy! Now I've GOT to get to work! Everyone stay safe in all the storms! Cheery wave from Bev

A Gina Blog Post or Shamless Promotion of my Kid's Stuff

2013-06-06T09:52:00.000-05:00

Hi girlfriends! What are you up to today? I'm getting ready to work and write about home appliances and technology and baby clothes. That's all actually fun to write about. I have done no sewing so thought I show you Gina's iPhone and iPod cases. They are selling like crazy because they are so cute!

These are my favorites.

You can buy them HERE.

It's so fun to see pictures of people talking on their phones with one of Gina's phone covers!

You can also get her art in cards, prints, pillows and more HERE.

You can buy the original paintings HERE. You can get framed prints HERE.

Have a good day everyone! Cheery wave from Bev

Virtual Quilting Bee blocks from Daisy Cottage fabric

2013-06-05T10:44:00.001-05:00

We woke up to thunder and lightening at 4:00 AM again. Charlie freaked out as usual. I would get a "thunder shirt" and try it but they are too much money. I still might save up. It doesn't do his heart condition any good to get so frightened. I still think it is because, as a puppy, he was chained up outside in all kinds of weather.

Last night I finished the latest Virtual Quilting Bee block:

I decided to make my blocks out of Daisy Cottage fabrics from the shop. I've been doing some fussy cutting on these blocks and I think it makes them look old fashioned and sweet.

What do you think? Have you done any fussy cutting lately?

Not all of the blocks have fussy cutting. They are so much fun!

It's not too late to join in on the fun! Every two weeks, the uber-cool Amy Smart, who is hosting, shows a new block done just for the VQB. You can see the details and get started HERE.

There is a Flickr group for the Virtual Quilting Bee and you can see what people have been doing. The Flickr group link is HERE.

The blocks are simple and fun to do. I've had fun using Daisy Cottage fabric by Lori Holt because the colors are so different than the colors I usually use.

So check it out. Lots of people are just starting and it kind of takes the place of the Row Along quilt that lots of us were working on.

Have a great day! Cheery wave from Bev

Steam Punk ladies!

2013-06-04T10:08:00.003-05:00

More storms! More rain! More terrified shih tzu sleeplessness! We had a huge lightening strike close to us at 4:00 AM so I was awake anyway and decided to do another Steam Punk block:

I used the fabric with exercise ladies for this one. Isn't it cute fabric? I am always happy when I can use fabrics like this from my stash. I think these ladies look like roller derby stars but they aren't wearing roller skates. Love them!

Hope you are having a great Tuesday! Don't forget to enter our two giveaways! Cheery wave from Bev

June Giveaway!

2013-06-02T11:36:00.000-05:00

Today the storms have passed (for the present) and I'm announcing our June Giveaway for Millie's Closet fabrics by the talented Lori Holt for Riley Blake Designs! I dearly love this colorway. It is so unusual...yellow, gray and green! In this giveaway the winner will receive 1 yard of the Designer Cloth:

and 1/2 yard cuts of four supporting fabrics, the dresses on yellow, the yellow dot on gray, gray solid and green and white daisy print on gray.

I love the designer print because each square is 6" and you can cut 4 squares 2.5" x 2.5" from each. I'm making a Great Granny Quilt with these squares and think I'm going to use the dresses for the border:

With a yard of the Designer Squares, you can cut a ton of these 2.5" squares or you can use it whole to make a baby quilt with a couple of borders. No piecing! I think Lori did an amazing job with this fabric! I just love it!

To enter, just leave a comment. If you are a follower or become a follower, you get 5 additional entries. If you blog about our giveaway, you get an additional 5 entries. If you tweet about it or do a Facebook entry about it, you get an additional 3 entries.

And PLEASE remember: LEAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS in your comment. Blogger uses Outlook and I can't put Outlook on my computer because of software conflicts so I can't email you back through Blogger! Without an email address, I have to skip your entry.

This giveaway ends June 30th and I'll announce the winner on July 1st (unless we blow away in a tornado). I wish I could give everyone free Millie's Closet fabric! Good Luck! Cheery wave from Bev

Running from the Tornados and a Giveaway Winner

2013-06-01T09:31:00.000-05:00

What a combination subject for a blog post. I live in Oklahoma City and, as you may know, last night there were 9 (at least) tornadoes wrapped together making several big ones coming into the city and heading right for my house! Most people here don't have basements, even though we are in tornado alley, because the soil is red clay and basements become swimming pools over the years. So when the weather guy says that if you are above ground, you will DIE, you hop in the car and take off.

See the green sky? I'm so glad to have a photo of that because when you tell people that green skies mean the tornado is near, they don't understand that the sky is really green....not greenish. It only stays green for a few moments but there is always a tornado when the sky does turn green. This photo shows just one of the several tornado clouds coming right at my house. My daughter, Gina, and her kids live 2 houses away from me and my son, Eric, lives about 3 miles "up the road" with his family. We all hopped in our cars with our dogs and drove to Edmond, a suburb to the North. The storm did a sharp turn and we were spared but our friends to the south were not. We sat at the Sonic Drive-In in Edmond in the pouring rain and waited out the tornadoes. I just had a little damage at my house:

That is half of the little tree that was by my sewing room window. The other half is gone. I have no idea where it is but that tree was nowhere near the air conditioner. There are assorted size branches around but most of what would blow down, already blew down last week. Charlie, my little shih tzu, is deathly afraid of storms and he had a really hard time riding the storm out in the car. The tornado sirens were blaring and the wind was blowing with 60 mph gusts and this went on and on for about an hour. This was outside the tornado zone. Imagine what people in the south part of the city were going through. I thank God AGAIN and STILL because my family is okay. I am so sorry for the 5 people who died last night and the hundreds who were injured.

And now, the winner of a half yard of each of these fabrics is:

Belle Johnson from Belle Bottom Blog! I've sent you an email, Belle. Congratulations! Tomorrow I will announce the June Giveaway. I think you will like it! Thanks again to everyone who supports the blog, enters our giveaways and who emailed me to see if I was okay! You all are amazing! Cheery wave from Bev

New Kathy Schmitz Giveaway (#4) and a Winner for Giveaway #3!

2013-05-31T09:11:00.000-05:00

Let me say thank you to everyone who has been entering our gifeaway for patterns generously provided by Kathy Schmitz! She is SO talented! I wish everyone could win! The winner of our Giveaway #3 is Jacqueline who has an anonymous blog. I've emailed you Jacqueline.

Now to our Giveaway #4 for 3 more patterns! In this giveaway, the winner will get the embroidery/quilt pattern for February:

The pattern for March:

and the pattern for April (the Easter bunny!):

I love these versatile little patterns because they can be framed as stitchery, made into pillows or, Kathy has included the instructions to make these into a quilted wall hanging. Another thing I love about these patterns is that Kathy has included a colored accent piece that can be appliqued on for a unique look! I love the brightly colored eggs in Peter Cottontail's basket! You can shop at Kathy's website HERE!

To enter to win these 3 patterns, just leave a comment on this blog with your email address! If I don't have your email address, I can't count it as an entry. I will only use it to notify you if you win. We don't have a mailing list.

In your comment, let me know if you would like to have a giveaway for one of Kathy's new Simply Red books! If I get enough comments, we can probably do that giveaway! Blog, Tweet or Facebook about this giveaway and get 5 entries for each. Just add the link to your comment. This giveaway will end June 15th and I'll announce the winner June 16th. Don't forget that today is the last day to enter our May Giveaway for 6 half-yard cuts of Polka Dot Basics fabrics from Riley Blake! You can enter that giveaway HERE. Good luck and cheery wave from Bev

Giveaway Deadlines!

2013-05-30T09:44:00.002-05:00

To win 1/2 yard of each of these dot fabrics, enter the May Giveaway HERE. You can enter through tomorrow. I just love these dots because they go with everything. I think they are the perfect basic fabrics.

You can enter the Kathy Schmitz Giveaway #3 for her monthly wallhanging and embroidery patterns (for November, December (shown) and January HERE. See the little holly berries on Santa's hat? Those are included in the pattern. So clever! This giveaway ends today and I'll announce the winner tomorrow and start the next Kathy Schmitz Giveaway!

I wish I could give everyone something! Thanks to you all for supporting the blog and entering our giveaways! Have a great day! Cheery wave from Bev

Miscellaneous Wednesday

2013-05-29T09:13:00.002-05:00

How cute is this quilt? This pic is from the finishing page of the On the Pond Mystery Quilt by Sarah Fielke. I've been printing out the blocks but not making them because I am just obsessed with making blocks of the month. I wish I had been making them all along now because it would be finished.

Since this blog post is about a variety of things, I thought I'd show you a painting of Gina's that I think would make great fabric:

What do you think? I'm trying to get her to submit something to a fabric company but with no success. Sigh.....

Don't forget to enter our giveaway for 3 Kathy Schmitz embroidery/quilt patterns! You get November, December and January from the series. Tomorrow is the deadline for entering. Even if you don't know how to do embroidery, you can easily learn from some of the excellent tutorials on the internet. I've finished my first one but it is very cloudy and dark outside...yet again...and I can't get a good photo. You can enter the giveaway for free patterns HERE. I still have a lot of pain from my dental issues. Going to the doctor tomorrow about it and she will scold me. I'd go to the dentist if I had the money to get it done. I actually work for a living so don't qualify for anything free or lower cost. Okay, enough feeling sorry for myself. On to work! Have a great Wednesday! Cheerily waving through the pain.....Bev

Memorial Day

2013-05-27T10:57:00.001-05:00

Happy Memorial Day to everyone. We used to call it Decoration Day and Grandmother would pack a lunch (there were no drive-ins back then-imagine) and we would go to the cemetery and clean up the graves of our relatives and put flowers on them. While we had a picnic lunch at the lake on the way home, we would talk about those who had died and remember them.

This year in Oklahoma, the clean-up of the tornado continues this Memorial Day. Even though the weather is still full of storms and even though people have lost everything. Everyone I know is doing something to help.

What we can do without is the broadcasters from liberal television networks and other top liberals who come in and actually make fun of those of us (the majority here) who believe in God and thank Him for our blessings. I won't name any names (well, okay, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, Senator Barbara Boxer and more) but it makes my heart hurt to hear their snide remarks. Then they turn around and are amazed that the clean up is progressing in an orderly fashion and that people are not sitting around whining for government money...they are just putting their heads down and going forward. They are shocked that, unlike disasters in other places, there was no looting or violence. I am so proud to be an Oklahoman and to be part of the Bible believing "hicks" they are making fun of. Here in Oklahoma, we still say "hello" to strangers at the grocery store, still get to know our neighbors and still have a society that is strong and self-reliant.

Well, I'll get off my soapbox and go work. Maybe making fun of Oklahomans will make the liberal press and politicians feel better about themselves and help them maintain their smug feelings of superiority. Please don't write me and tell me that there were like-minded people in Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Katrina. I know that. I just don't remember the press and elected officials giving them a hard time about it. Of course, those states still haven't gotten all of their promised federal aid. We will see what Oklahoma gets. Texas wildfires destroyed millions of acres of land and they got no help AT ALL. I don't want to think that this is because of the fact that Texas is a red state. No, the administration would not punish those with differing political views....unless it's the IRS. Okay, I'll stop. I'm just amazed at the tone of those who have our ear and our purse strings. I'd still rather live here. We will help each other. Bev

Steam Punk Bathing Beauties

2013-05-26T11:00:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I woke up with a little toothache. By 4 in the afternoon, it was raging and painful. I got nothing done yesterday but nursing that darn toothache. I also watched Cloud Atlas, the movie. The book was so good and the movie was so disappointing. If I hadn't read the book, I would have had no idea what was going on. I still have the stupid toothache this morning but the pain isn't unbearable. I got some antibiotics and hope they work. I just do not have dentist money. Sigh...

To celebrate some sun this morning, here's a Steam Punk block made with bathing beauty fabric. I love this fabric and am always glad when I can work it into something.

The girls are fun, aren't they? Take care today. I'm off to try to work. Cheery wave from Bev

Star, Flags and Bunting on a Sunny Saturday!

2013-05-25T10:00:00.000-05:00

There's nothing like sunshine to make a day special, unless it's a 4th of July wallhanging! I got a start on the flags and star and will do bunting today.

I'm making this for the front door on the 4th. We'll see how it looks.

I realized when I was pulling fabric for this quilt that I don't have much of just blue fabric. I mean, I have blue fabric (2 and 1/2 shelves of it) but not clear blue. The PKM blue. I've been using aqua for almost 2 years instead of blue.

See--no blues. And this doesn't show the fat quarters in the drawer. Someday I'm going to have a big sale on eBay or something and cull the stash....or not. Funny how really looking at the blues makes me remember the quilts I was going to stitch up with each one of them. Do you think I have a bit of a hoarding issue? Well, I actually consider myself a collector, yeah, that's it...a collector! Have a wonderful day! Cheery wave from Bev

More rain! When will it end? And a cool new quilt to see! (not mine)

2013-05-24T10:54:00.002-05:00

Hi everyone! I managed to cut an applique block from Green Tea and Sweet Beans last night:

My photos still look yellow because it's so cloudy outside. This is so crazy...we are supposed to have rain today, Saturday and Sunday. Anyway, the applique in this quilt is really simple but the pieced blocks are complicated and tricky. I feel a new UFO bin coming on....

I discovered a new (to me) quilter's blog that I would love to share with you. Her quilts are beautiful and she actually finishes them! The blog is The Little Red Hen and the quilter is Lynn Harris. Just take a look at this gorgeous quilt:

The colors are amazing, aren't they? You can see other photos, including close-ups, of this quilt and other quilts Lynn has designed HERE. She actually sells patterns for some of her quilts. She has one called Atomic Pinwheels that is done in solid fabrics with an eggplant purple background that is to die for. It is graphic and beautiful!

Well, off to work at my "real job". Have a good day! Cheery wave from Bev

Steam Punk and MORE bad weather!

2013-05-23T07:32:00.000-05:00

I got my acrylic templates for the Steam Punk quilt pattern yesterday and made a test block:

The photo is so rough color-wise because it is dark as night outside. It looks like it has a yellow filter. I would wait for sun but we are going to have rain for 3 more days! We are experiencing another huge storm today. No tornadoes but heavy rain and hail and flooding. It is so sad for the people in Moore. Misery upon misery. Here's the storm moving into Moore right where the tornado hit.

Back to something happier, there is a Steam Punk Flickr group with great discussions on how to make the Steam Punk block. You can see it HERE. I don't want you to judge Steam Punk by my test block! The templates are from Sunset Seams and a lot of the Steam Punk quilters use them. Lisa even engraves your name on each pattern piece. Fun! You can see her templates HERE. Fun I tell ya!

Don't forget to enter our giveaways! You can enter our giveaway for 3 of Kathy Schmitz's embroidery/quilt patterns HERE. And you can enter our giveaway for beautiful Basic Dots from Riley Blake Designs HERE (6 half yards). I'm off to work. Please pray for the people of Moore! XO Bev

Safe but Broken Hearted

2013-05-21T09:12:00.000-05:00

Thanks to all who emailed me to see if I was safe from the horrible storm of yesterday. I am about 10 to 12 miles from Moore where the tornado touched down.

I still have friends who live in Moore that I don't know their status. All of our phone service (including cell phones) was out yesterday. Well, the cell phone worked intermittently. People who have never experienced a tornado cannot imagine the damage. Here are some photos from Chris C Anderson for the Business Insider.

In the photo on the left, you can still see the shapes of the houses, even though they are damaged beyond repair. Most of the damage looked more like the photo on the right. It looks like this in much of the city:

If the tornado left a tree, the tree had no bark and was only a stump:

This is the hospital...or what's left of the hospital. It had 10 to 15 cars inside.

The "X" on the car shows it has been searched for bodies.

It was hard to even identify the structures that were left. The loss of life is so low because we have so many of these storms that we have the most up-to-date storm forecasting equipment in the world. The only thing is that there is not much time from sunny skies to bad tornado..maybe 20 minutes.

These storms always bring out the best in the people of Oklahoma City, the USA and even the world. In fact, the rush to help can be a problem until there is some sort of organization. Here is a group of bystanders digging someone out of the debris.

My little daughter-in-law works as a nurse at the pediatric intensive care unit at Children's Hospital and she worked all night. I haven't talked to her but Eric tells me that it was bad.

They are still looking for survivors. My children and I are all okay. We thank God and pray for those that are not all right. Please join us in prayers. Thanks again from the bottom of my heart to those who emailed me to check on me. It meant the world to me! Love all you guys! Bev

Sewing During the Storm

2013-05-20T09:09:00.003-05:00

It was a dark and stormy day...but that didn't keep me from sewing! I did the next Virtual Quilting Bee block. It was challenging so that made it fun for me. I'm using Daisy Cottage fabric from the shop to force myself to use fabric other than my yellow, red, aqua, pink, orange, lime colors.

I love my blogging friends! I not only found the names of the fabrics I was looking for but I emailed back and forth with the designer of one of them. Alas, it looks like those fabrics were from 2006 and it will be difficult to find them. The first fabric is Prairie Paisley by Minick & Simpson and the second is from Chloe's Closet and is called Picket Fence. Thanks so much to those who helped!

Yesterday I watched the weather and tried to keep track of the whereabouts of all my kids and grandkids...like that would do any good. Oklahoma City was where the storms started. It was kind of amazing. At 3:00 PM the sun was shining and not many clouds. At 3:30 PM it was dark like night and there were 3 tornadoes (not on the ground but up in the air) within a couple of miles from my house! Brett took this photo of the tornado that hit Shawnee, a small town near Oklahoma City. I've been right in tornadoes at least 4 times and have 4 stories of what that was like. I can tell you that they really do sound like freight trains. I think what makes them so bad while you are waiting for them is that they are so unpredictable. Once after a storm that hit a town about 10 miles away, I was standing on the back deck watching a rainbow and a huge piece of metal from the side of a large building of some kind crashed right into our swimming pool. The debris had traveled that far and was falling out of the sky. The largest percentage of injuries and deaths are men who are standing outside watching the tornado! I won't comment on that. We are supposed to have the same thing happen today. Then these storms are going to move East. Keep good thoughts for everyone please! XO Bev

A little help from my friends....

2013-05-18T18:26:00.001-05:00

Hi everyone! Having a wonderful Saturday! Waiting for the "big storm" that is supposed to roll in tonight. I have a BIG favor to ask you all! I am looking for either or both of the blue fabrics shown here. The photos are bad, I know but they are the best I have.

I anyone knows the name of either of these blue fabrics, please leave me a comment! I really appreciate it! Hope you guys are all having a great weekend and staying safe! Cheery wave from Bev

Gingham Style and an Owl Giveaway!

2013-05-17T06:47:00.001-05:00

Good morning! I'm at the computer early today and wanted to share some fun things with you! I'm working on the Civil War Bride block #2 and it's taking for.ev.errrrr to do so thought I would show you the Riley Blake so fun video, Gingham Style:

This little boy reminds me so much of my youngest grandson. I have that aqua gingham in the shop btw! This video is really cute. I don't know how they got him to do that. And....

one of my favorite designers of all time, Jennifer Heynen, is having a giveaway for tons of cute owl creations including 2 yards of owl fabric, 2 owl patterns (we sell one of those patterns in the shop), an owl pendant and 3 owl buttons! Check it out HERE.

I'm happy it's Friday, even though I have to work this weekend. We picked up a new big client again. Good for job security (hopefully). Have a happy Friday! Enjoy that adorable video! Cheery wave from Bev