Don't let the difficulties of the present moments overshadow the reality of God's promises. God's promises still stand. And God's promises are stronger than our failures.

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Good Heavenly Days!

Oh my goodness February is over. :( What happened to it...where did it go? Wasn't it just Valentine's Day yesterday? This is a sure sign of old age isn't it....when time slips away without you noticing? Not only that but I'm supposed to be through with all my Febuary goals...and I'm not! Oh well, better just get it over with it. Here are the Finishes and Failures. I'll start with the good stuff:

FINISHES

1. Finish the Snowball Quilt. Now you know when I say finish I mean finish the top, right? Because that's a finish, really it is. It doesn't have to be quilted to be a finish. And so the top is finished. And pretty darn cute if you ask me. I used 4 Moda Recess charm packs plus some white fabric I bought at Alco and don't have a clue what it is, then added some borders from the Recess line. I have one row of snowballs left which I will use on the back as part of the label. Don't you just love this fabric? Of course, I'm partial to Moda. Well not just partial - I truly would marry Moda if I wasn't already married. And if Patrick Swayze didn't ask me first.








2. Make "Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep" quilt for Andrew. This one is done, quilted and delivered. Along with a little cloth book that went with it. Now truth be told all this panel needed was one border with cornerstones so it was super fast and super easy. But I loved it and he will too - he would have told me that this weekend if he could talk yet. And I did the machine quilting myself, yes I did. At this stage of my machine quilting game, less is more if you know what I mean.





4. Read "The Measure of a Man" by Sidney Poitier. I read it. And I don't recommend it. Oh it wasn't bad, it was just sort of rambling and didn't really rocus on anything. It told a lot of his background but it was patchy. It said on the cover it was a "spiritual journey" and I didn't see that at all. I love Sidney Poitier - admire him and think he's a phenomenal actor. But the book didn't do him justice.


5. Make one charity quilt. At one of our guild meetings they gave out fabric for us to make a quilt for a child. The fabric was donated and therefore was free. Not everything free is good. This fabric was not only precut, some of it was made into blocks. But for a child, this just didn't work at all. Brown and brown print are not my idea of something a child would like. And to top it off the blocks that were sewn had been ironed out of shape. But I put it together like I was supposed to....and hated it. I've added these bright yellow stars to it and now I'm trying to decide what else I can do with it. I'll add bright yellow binding but I'm thinking maybe a face on the big star? Anyway, this top could be finished, but I don't think I can leave it like this. Any suggestions?






6. Finish sampler. I actually finished this at 9:00 p.m. February 28 but it's not ironed so I'll show it later...but you're gonna like it!
Now here is my excuse for the failures that are going to follow. A friend gave me a book that had this pattern in it and I've had the handwork done for some time now. I pinned it on the wall in my sewing room trying to decide just what I wanted to do with it. Finally I decided on a pillow for my bed. And ya'll it's just perfect. In fact, it made my bed perfect. Next week I'll show you how much it added to my bedroom because I plan to show some pictures of how I use quilts in my house and I know you'll agree with me on this. It did take me a little longer to make than I thought it would - I'm not real good with ruffles. So I "unsewed" a time or two. But it was worth it!


FAILURES
There are no pictures here because, well, because there's nothing to take a picture of!
3. Read "The Memory Keepers Daughter" by Kim Edwards. I'm only half through this so it's going to have to stay on the list for March. I listen to a lot of books on tape and I'm wishing this was one of those because I don't seem to just sit and read much any more. But so far I like it and I do want to finish it.
6. Finish one block of Botanika (applique). Ok this is the second time this block's been on my goals list and the second time it's not done. But in my own defense it's almost done. All I have left is about a dozen circles the size of a dime. I hate circles. Especially the ones the size of a dime. So this one stays on the March list too.
7. Finish Winter Wonderland (pieced blocks). This quilt is so beautiful and the hand embroidery has been done for a while. I've done about half the pieced blocks but got sidetracked by some other things so I plan to leave this on the list and surely will be finished in March.
9. Lose 5 pounds. Last month I lost 6 pounds. This month I lost 0 pounds. However, I did not gain any so that's a victory. Just didn't meet the goal.
Goals are good things. They build character. Goals are good things. They build character. Goals are good things......

27 comments:

judycolby said...

Yellow smiley faces and scalloped yellow border?

Marie Rayner said...

Congrats on all your successes this month and that includes not having put on any weight! That's always a plus in my books!

Jan said...

Maybe a moon,and clouds,Very well done on all you have achieved ,I am in awe and think you have done such alot I love to look at the pictures of your lovely sewing,I have been knitting a sweater all this year ,but in my defence I have been ill ....love Jan xx

Michelle said...

You have been a busy girl, and your projects are beautiful. How about adding a yellow border to take the focal point away from the background and tie it all together?Maybe you will like it better then.

You have been a busy girl, and for that, I say, good job!
Blessings,
Michelle

Amelia said...

On the chart you have many "+'s" and very few "-'s"...so lady you are defintely a winner.

Quilt for that sweet baby is certainly a winner....really like the words on the border about loving everyone.

Have a wonderful Sunday...

Anonymous said...

Great quilt for Andrew and I am sure too that he loves it, who wouldn't with all the pretty colors and the sweet prayer. I'm a Moda girl too and anymore that's almost all that I buy with some exceptions, of course. But lots of Moda here. I wish you a happy March now that it's here. :)

Nancy Near Philadelphia said...

You snowball quilt is terrific. I'm making my second snowball and both of mine have alternated dark or light and bring snowballs. Makes a different look, somehow. I'm going to try YOUR style snowballs next!

And keep in mind that flimsys are easier to store than finished quilts. I have a nice pile of flimsys and when I need one for someone, I get it finished, but meanwhile they don't take up so much space!

Lori said...

You've been a busy lady! The snmowball quilt is really nice as well as all the other projects. For the baby quilt, why not add a bright blue face top the star and maybe topstitch bright blue along the insides of the other stars to give ti alla little umph. I'm not a brown person for baby stuff either but it does seem to be the "in" thing at the moment. So see you're trendy!

Lori said...

You've been a busy lady! The snmowball quilt is really nice as well as all the other projects. For the baby quilt, why not add a bright blue face top the star and maybe topstitch bright blue along the insides of the other stars to give ti alla little umph. I'm not a brown person for baby stuff either but it does seem to be the "in" thing at the moment. So see you're trendy!

Dandelion Quilts said...

Marlene--

I LOVE your snowball quilt. Those Moda charms are just so cute. Thanks for sharing exactly how many packs you used. Wow, I think you got a lot done in a month!

Anonymous said...

You are my hero. In my dreams would or could I do what you do. Might help if I didn't blog all the time. LOL

Hugs,
Chris

Gene Black said...

I see some other ideas. My first thought was add some Red balls, and some Blue crescent moons, and maybe something in a bright ceery green. Thus adding a good bit of color in primary colors, which are so appealing to children.

or a take on Lori's idea, inside each star do echo rickrack (or embroidery or whatever) in Blue and red. Except just outline the biggest one and make a happy face of some type on it.

Needled Mom said...

It looks as though you accomplished so much. I do love Moda. All of their lines are so good.

Harley Dee said...

Your quilts are beautiful! And I love that pillow :)

molly said...

Yes, goals are definitely good! Especially when they make you finish all those projects! Good job---take a gold star!

Grammy Staffy said...

You are amazing.... simply amazing. I love all of your quilts. I wish that we were neighbors and you could be my guilting teacher.

I am proud of you

Calamity Jane's Cottage, Bonnie said...

Hi Marlene, you should be proud of all your accomplishments. They are great. Love the snowball quilt. I have a pattern and never have done it, but seeing yours makes it go on the list.
Keep Stitchen'
Bonnie

Cindy said...

Your ambition is inspiring. My only goal was to finish a cross stitch project this winter. I'm making headway but I see on the calendar that I officially have 20 days before it is spring so I need to work harder on it!

Lisa @ Life with 4! said...

at least you don't "beat" yourself up if the goals don't get done. love the little pillow. and i agree about the kids' quilt. It's nice but a cute face on the star would make it even nicer.

Sandy said...

You did great for February...and your snowball quilt makes me want to do one for sure....maybe a snowball in spring colors! I love your redwork also.

Love Bears All Things said...

I think you did great. I took a cue from you and put goals on my blog. I haven't shown the results for March but think I did alright. It helps having something to aim toward even if we don't finish it all.
Mama Bear

Aunt Julie said...

Your quilts are wonderful! Aunt Julie has finished a couple recently...I'm still trying to get photos from her to post at my place!

Purple Pam said...

What a busy bee you have been! All your projects are wonderful. Cannot wait to see your Winter Wonderland finished. That is a great quilt. I admired it in the quilt store. Keep up the good work.

Mary L. Briggs said...

You managed to get a lot done! I think a face on the star would be pretty cute~something a child would really like.

That pillow is just perfect! I'm working on some pillows for my bed, too. I always like to add a little bit of bright color to the house by the time spring starts rolling around. Well, I think it's rolling around~sure has been cold, hasn't it?

Anonymous said...

I don't know where my February went-but I can see yours went to creating some beautiful works of art!

Cindy said...

I'm doing a "crafting it forward" give away at my blog. I'll bet you'd have fun doing it too.

The Calico Quilter said...

So you didn't get a few things done - what you got done was good, and you're batting more than .500, so anyone would be happy so have your accomplishments! Love the redwork pillow. Haven't embroidered in ages, and everytime I see a blogger's needlework I think about trying it again. Oh, and if your Botanika is the quilt I'm thinking of, I couldn't finish one block in TWO months!