On Sunday, I made a pillow for a long overdue swap.  I pieced strips of linen with strips of a floral and gingham with the intent of making a striped patchwork pillow.  Once everything was pieced, I didn't really like it so I cut the piece into more strips and added the dotted print.  I finished that up, still wasn't crazy about it so I cut it again and added more dots.

Finally happy with the piecing, I quilted the front with back to back loopy lines and threw it in the wash.  After it was dried, I cut it to size and made the back.  I put in a zipper if you were wondering....and, for the record, I had to consult my own tutorial because it has been awhile, ahem, since I have done the zipper thing.

We are getting ready to go south for spring break.  I will probably post some, but not a whole lot while we are gone.  Just wanted you all to know in case it gets really quiet in this space.  See you soon.

There isn't much I feel like talking about.  Here are some of my recent flickr favorites.  I am hoping they will brighten my day and yours, too! (You can click on the mosaic to get the individual photo credits.)

Today is just one of those days.  You know the kind I mean.  It's rainy and gloomy and crawling back into bed seems like the best idea.  Until I remember that there is physical therapy to do, groceries to buy, help needed at school, miles to run (most likely on that awful contraption known as a treadmill), laundry to fold, a house to clean.  So what do I do?

Play with fabric for a bit, ponder choices, wonder why there is no grayish blue fabric in the stash.  Find a spot next to a window, take some photos, rearrange the fabrics, think of the different possibilities.  Look at the clock and snap back to reality.  On with the sneakers and the rain coat, up with the hood and out the door.

What are you doing today?

Did you know that Emily is hosting a green week?  Of course, I am all over that.  Really, you aren't surprised, are you?  After all, we all know that green is my favorite color.  It is.  (I do like other ones, too, though.  Just wanted to make that clear.)  So I am going to play along and post green photos this week.  I might throw some crafty things in, too - I'll just have to see how it all comes together.  I think it is going to be good fun.

Welcome to my green kitchen.  This photo was not staged....I swear.

That's my butter pot on the right.  It was a Christmas gift and I love it.  It is so nice having soft butter at all times and Miss Kitty Cat can't get to it - bonus!  On the left is my new cookie jar.  Well, actually it's old, but new to me, you know.  Fatty gave it to me for Christmas - thrifted it himself (he's quite the guy).  The woman he bought it from said it was McCoy, but it isn't marked so we don't think it is.  No matter.  I adore it.  Really - wouldn't you just love a ceramic bundle of asparagus sitting on your kitchen counter?

Spring is around the corner, friends.  We slept with the windows open last night.  Of course, it won't last.  Rain and colder temps are on their way.  But then again, it won't be long before the temperature is rising, the flowers are blooming and the grass is green.  C'mon spring.  I'm waiting for you.

I have found myself at a loss for words.  I don't know what did it - maybe because it's February? - but I just don't have much to report.  I am sewing, but don't have much to show for it.  I am not knitting much - still having wrist issues.  I am running, but half marathon training would be a subject for another blog.

So....posting will probably be sporadic for the next week or so.  Maybe just photos and few words.  Maybe nothing at all.  Bear with me.  If all goes well, I will be back, energized and refreshed with something decent to share soon.  Take care friends.

It's a Friday in February...ho hum.  Just think in two more weeks it'll be March.   That gives me hope.

Not much happening over here.  I've been making x's like crazy.  Well, not too crazy - I have three done.  They each take me a little more than an hour - an hour and a half if I obsess about the random factor.  So really, they take an hour and a half each.  Who am I kidding?  I hope to finish the entire quilt top by next weekend.  If I make an x a day that is entirely do-able.  If I stop obsessing about pattern and color, it will be a piece of cake.  Wish me luck.

Jennifer has received my quilt square.  I love it and she likes it so all is well.  Pop on over to the virtual quilting bee group on Flickr.  I love how it is coming together!

Tomorrow looks promising - I have a sewing class to learn how to use my Bernina Stitch Regulator (woo hoo!) and a date with my man  (yippee!).   Hope your weekend holds just as much promise.  Enjoy!

No school for the girls today.  We got about three inches of snow with freezing rain on top of that.  It doesn't take much to make them close the schools here.  The bummer of the whole deal is that the snow isn't even good enough to play in.  I guess we just have to admire it from inside.

We live in an old neighborhood with lots of mature trees.  It really is beautiful to see them all covered with white.  It won't last long, though.  It has already begun to melt some.

When I took these photos, it reminded me of my newest piece of art.

This is "I like the trees outside my window" by Jennifer Judd-McGee.  This is the original.  Yes, lucky lucky me.  When I saw it on flickr, I had to have it.  We live in a yellow house and have the crazy Japanese maple right outside.  So it was perfect for me.  The drawing is so beautiful, much more so in real life than in photos if that is at all possible.  Right now it is sitting on a chest of drawers in the kitchen and I get to look at it many times each day.  I love it, Jen.  Thanks for helping me get in touch with those fine ladies at Edith and Edna so I could call it my own.

OK - back to making snacks for the girls and more x's.  Ta ta for now.

We have phone.  And internet.  Phew.  That was no fun.

No internet = a LOT of sewing.  Let's start with my apron for Tie One On.

The theme was polka dots and although you can't see it well in this photo, they are there.  Teeny tiny chartreuse polka dots trimmed with tennis ball yellow pom poms.  I love this fabric.  When I was finished cutting this out, I threw the scraps in to the x string quilt pile.  They look happy there.

See the dots now?  Cute, aren't they?  I am not sure where I got the idea, but I HAD to add pin tucks to this apron.  And you know what?  I love them.  So so much.  I can just see them on a summer skirt for the girls - well, Kate, I guess.  She's the one who would wear it.  OK, I can see them on a skirt for me, too, but that is an entirely different post.  Back to the kids - Jane does like this fabric - she made mention of that.  When I asked if she would like a dress or a skirt out of it, she shrugged her shoulders and said, "Maybe an apron?"  With the pom poms, of course.

I used chartreuse colored thread for contrast on the entire apron.  I love the way it picks up the color in the dots, but is still subtle.  I think I should do that more often.

Back to regular posting starting now.  Thanks for hanging in there with me.