What Happened to Spring...and Some Other Stuff

Spring came to Arkansas some weeks ago. First I saw hints of pink on the Redbud trees. Then the forsythia and the japonica bloomed. Along came the Tulip trees and, of course, the daffodils were everywhere. Now my Carolina Jasmine is blooming, and the hyacinths. That was yesterday. Today it's just barely above freezing and it's been raining for two days with two more days of rain to come. I had started getting out my summer clothes. After all it was 80°! Now my closet is crammed full, half with winter, half with summer. Sweaters are hanging out with capri pants. Boots linger beside sandals. My closet is not large. Woe is me.


Hello. My name is Marlene and I have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. OCD for you fellow sufferers. I spent most of my day yesterday finishing the organization of my fabric closet. I had just had my fill of not being able to find a fabric to go with what I was making only to find the perfect one in my closet after I'd gone out and bought another. So with the blessing and urging and enabling of my two neighbors, Connie and Cissy, I went to Hobby Lobby and bought 20 x 30 foam core, cut them in fourths, and this is what the result is. Of course that was several trips to Hobby Lobby over the course of a couple of months and only when the foam core was on for half off. I wish I could tell you that this is all of my fabric. But it isn't. I have several (many) pieces pulled out and in tubbies as part of a project or ten that I'm working on. However, now that I can see what I have I no longer have an excuse for not using it. Right? Unless someone out there can think of a good excuse for me to buy more and I'm all ears....

My computer has spring fever. Or something equally yucky. It gets slower and slower every day. Sort of like me. Do you think it needs castor oil? I've cleaned everything I can think of to clean and still it slows down. I might have cleaned out something I wasn't supposed to - I've been known to do that in my house so it stands to reason I could have done it here. I suppose I'll take it to the doctor but what shall I do while it's gone? I'll be lost. I'm sure I'll wilt or wither or something really bad. Oh, I know. I'll take it tomorrow when my husband has gone fishing for a couple of days and I'll use his! All is well.

Economic Stimulus Package, Gifts, Awards

Ya'll I have been so excited to stay at home today and out of this horrible wind that it's 3:30 and I'm still in my pajamas! I do plan to take a shower soon and put on clean pajamas. Don't you just love days like that?

This Rodeo Clown fabric is some I found at the quilt shop in Quitman, Texas. I just loved it but they only had 2 fat quarters. Of course, I bought both! I think I can get 4 of these squares (not all are the same) out of each fat quarter and together with some other cowboy fabric and some basic solids I think I can make a pretty cute kid's quilt.

These are the things I bought at The Lone Star Quilt Shop in Arlington, Texas. There's a cute wool Halloween pattern, a great big tote bag pattern, a really cute rag quilt pattern, and a small wallhanging wool kit.

Of course I also found a couple of books and two pieces of fabric. This was my contribution to the Economic Stimulus Package!

I recently participated in a Valentine Swap and got this wonderful scarf and matching covered buttons from Harley at Koala Fuzz. I forgot to take a picture of the other side but it's made from Moda squares and in wonderful colors! Harley says she is fairly new to sewing but I think if she's new at it she's definitely a natural! Won't this be fun to wear?

And look at this cute Attitude of Gratitude Award I got from Grammy Staffy at Grammy's News. She says I take lemons and make lemonade. To tell the truth, I love lemons with salt and I love lemonade so it's a win/win situation for me. :) Just kidding, of course, but my personal philosophy leans towards the glass half full side rather than the glass half empty.

Finished by Friday....Thank Goodness!

Before you read this you should hop over to Sharons because she's giving not one, but two really cute bags!

I cooked, I cleaned, I did laundry, I washed dishes, I shopped for groceries, I swept (but I didn't mop) and I still got something Finished By Friday! It's another Winter Wonderland block - this makes the third out of (I think) eight. It's going quickly, don't you think?

And, ta da! The electrician came! He came early, he stayed a long time, he stood in the hall between the sewing room and the bedroom and scratched his head, he climbed into the attic, he charged a lot of money, but.....he fixed it! I have light in the sewing room and I can actually turn on the ceiling fan in the living room without turning on the light in the sewing room. :) And when I could turn on the light I was able to find the counter top! I really did have a cutting mat under there!

So I was able to cut out this Checkers and Rails Quilt. Apologies for the picture but it's in a book that I couldn't get to lay right and I couldn't get the glare off. :( It's a very traditional pattern first documented in the early 1800s. I thought it was an appropriate pattern to choose for a young couple who have old fashioned traditional values. If you look closely you will see that the pattern is actually made from the sashing, rather than from a block.

Even though this young couple is very traditional in their views of family, they are very modern in their style. They've lived in Manhattan, worked at jobs most of us don't understand, hail taxis like the pros they are, and take museums and theater for granted. They are dot com kind of people and I adore them both. But muslin and navy just didn't feel right for their wedding quilt. So I chose these two fabrics. One is a beautiful light teal batik with swirls of a darker teal running through it. The other is a dark brown with the exact shade of teal polka dots as the batik. I know it doesn't look like it here, but my camera leaves a little to be desired.

I think the batik looks like the water at Cancun where they will be getting married next week. So Natalie and Josh, if you're reading this, I finished cutting out your quilt!! You can expect it to be mailed to you in a few weeks, strike that, months. :) Quilts take a while. I will be praying for each of you as I sew - praying that you will continue to love the Lord, to love each other, to have many years of joy with lots of babies.