Teacup Lane View RSS

Long Time No See 11 Mar 2022 10:52 AM (3 years ago)

 What Have I Been Up To

My…but it has been a long time since I blogged.  This past year has been a tough one personally for me.  Of course COVID restrictions along with my testing positive to COVID (I am fully vaccinated) but luckily my symptoms were mild with a head cold only.  

Last summer as a screened in porch.

My oldest and last brother, Robert, had a turn for the worst in his battle against cancer last July and lost his battle in August 2021.  He was 78 years old and a wonderful brother to me.  Unfortunately I realized his wife was unable to live by herself having several medical issues including severe hearing loss.  So, I made the decision to move her into my guest bedroom last August.  Her adult children live on opposite coasts.  Taking over her finances, getting her house and car ready to sell took up most of my spare time.  Not counting all the doctor and test appointments to take her too.  I have a full house now with my sister-in-law, niece and my niece’s fiancé living with me.  Oh, I can’t forget the two doggies too, Jewels and Lucky!

Hubby at the beginning…

As I have mentioned in previous posts I decided to convert my screened in porch to a 4 season room and work started finally on it at the beginning of January 2022.  The windows didn’t come in until the middle of December and with the holidays January worked out to start the project.  I am so fortunate to have a good friend who is a designer and she accepted the job as the project manager.  The porch isn’t completely finished but it is probably 99% done.  The only items remaining are the exterior siding, another tramson window on order, another coat of interior painting and finishing the trim on the new and old sliders and Great Room exterior window.

I have loved my porch from the beginning especially after purchasing the new porch furniture several years ago.  But as I age cleaning the porch in the spring and breaking it down in the fall became harder to do.  

Ready for winter

My favorite spot is my chaise lounge chair.  Relaxing and reading out here is heaven.  

My chaise lounge chair!

I am typing this as I sit out in my new 4 season room watching it lightly snow and I am warm as a bug in a rug.

Lucky out in one of our snow days.

We had several heavy snow storms this winter.  I have a few heated mats for the doggies to get to the back yard.  This is our young Lucky.  He’s a rescue and very loving.  

The screened in porch…stay tune!

I will share the porch project with you all so stay tune!  More to come!

My Hydrangeas, Daisies & More 26 Jun 2021 12:53 PM (3 years ago)

 My lovely hydrangeas and daisies are in full bloom.

When we landscaped our yard six years ago, I deliberately told the landscaper I wanted to keep my plants small.  After having over grown shrubs in previous homes, I knew how fast and huge plants can grow over the years.

The original landscape design was loaded with plants.  I cut it under half what was shown.  

I didn’t want shrubs that would obscure the view of the house or allow someone to hide behind them.

One thing I miss from our Pennsylvania home is the flower window boxes on our cute shed.

My plan is to someday add window boxes to my garage windows.

I’m holding out running the sprinklers in the front yard.  It’s so expensive to water the yard here.

I was shocked when I received my first several water bills the first season the grass was put in and watered frequently.

I didn’t even know how to run the sprinkler system.  I googled it and learned.  This is the first house we have had sprinklers.  One thing I learned over the years, the brown grass will turn green again.

I was in pain the last week.  So I didn’t get much done.  I even had to cancel one of my strength training sessions on Friday.  I don’t know if it was bursitis and/or arthritis in both hips.  All I know was it hurt and it disturbed my sleep.  Last night I finally took an Aleve and slept better.  It’s not gone completely but it’s not bothering me as much now.  We have had a lot of rain and more is forecasted for the next week. 

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A friend gifted me her Brother Cut n’ Scan machine.  I have misplaced the manual but I found the DVD with all the information and the manual.  I’ve printed out the manual and it is much easier to read than the original one that came with the machine.  So maybe it was a blessing I misplaced it.

I have to rearrange my sewing area [..again] to accommodate the machine.  It has to be connected  to my PC.  I’m hoping I can get it connected  so I can at least tell my friend I used it.

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I went out to lunch for the first time since March 2020!  It was wonderful to visit with a dear designer friend who is helping me plan to convert my screened in porch to a 4 season room.

We looked at Pella windows to replace my screens and a sliding door to replace the current door which has never closed properly.  

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I had hoped to finish a July 4th wall hanging in time for Independence Day but I don’t think it will happen.

It’s pieced but needs to be sandwiched with batting and back and quilted.

We plan to BBQ for Independence Day.  

I might fix Strawberry Shortcake because it such a nice summer dessert.

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I keep changing the subject, but I have 34 Inspector George Gently books by Alan Hunter (pocketbooks and kindle versions).

There are more but I haven’t found them all yet.  I’m going to try to see if Barnes and Noble can order the ones I am missing.

So what have all of you been up to this summer? 

Have a wonderful day!

My Screened In Porch 29 May 2021 3:17 PM (3 years ago)

 I spent Saturday last week scrubbing down my screened in porch with Spic n’ Span using our boat brush and rinsing with the hose to remove all the pollen, dirt and grime from winter and spring.

I almost finished it in one day and didn’t feel sore, although maybe a little tired.  But so pleased it was done and I could use the porch before the hot and humid summer weather starts.

I had already paid to have the house, deck, driveway and sidewalks (sealed too) professionally powered washed a few weeks before. 

I store the porch furniture cushions in a storage bin over winter and I always cover the furniture with painter’s drop cloths.  

Spring Cleaning & More 3 May 2021 10:21 AM (3 years ago)

 I’m back.  

I have been meaning to blog but instead I’ve been Spring Cleaning.

I have a lighted China Cabinet above my coffee station that was filled with teacups, Polish Pottery mugs, miscellaneous mugs etc.

It was busy looking to say the least.

So I decided to go on Amazon.com to see if I could find some teacup holders to hang my teacups.

I found a set of four and ordered two after measuring to make sure they would fit on my shelves.

They came quickly and they were easy to put together.

I positioned a set for each side to show off my teacups through the glass.

I had a set of white teacups that I placed on the back row and put my set of Royal Daulton teacups in front.

Then I order two racks to fit on my bottom shelf to better display my Polish Pottery mugs.

I was so pleased when they fit perfectly too!

I am lucky to live very close to a Polish Pottery store here in my town.

I couldn’t believe that I have 22 Polish Pottery mugs!

I love them because they are all bordered by a deep blue ring, microwave and dishwasher safe too.

And, as many of you know, once you start reorganizing it expands to other areas.

Next I ordered six white racks to go in my Christmas Cabinet.

They look nice, are study and display my Christmas decor beautifully.

These little white racks are working out so well that I ordered three more of this size plus one larger.

I have a Knick knack cabinet in my laundry room that could use reorganizing too.

I even managed to polish my silver that had turned dark.

We had a lovely sunny 80 degree day yesterday to celebrate my niece’s boyfriend’s birthday.

Andrew loves to cook so he BBQ’d baby back ribs on the grill.

They were delicious!  

We are back to rain and cooler temperatures the next few days.

But I took a delightful spin around the neighborhood on my Liberty Trike yesterday.

The builder is still working on the drainage in the wet lands behind our property line.

They reached behind me on Friday and then quit at noon leaving this ugly thing with gravel in it and the pipes all lined up.

The machines are so noisy I had to put ear plugs in my ears. 

 I dread them coming  back but I want the work completed.  

The machines run back and forth all day!

They even drove up my driveway with a pickup truck loaded with 5 or 6 of these heavy pipes and across the back yard to dump them without asking permission.

And the ground was wet from the rain.

I couldn’t believe their nerve.

Well, I better get back to work.

Thanks for visiting and all the lovely comments.

Early Spring & Snow Forecasted 19 Apr 2021 3:29 PM (3 years ago)

 The trees have budded out here in Ohio.  It’s the earliest Spring I can remember in a long time.  And then up popped a weather forecast on my iPhone today advising that heavy snow of 3 to 5 inches is forecasted for this Tuesday night.  I’m tired of snow.  My Serviceberry tree in the front flowered a few days ago too.

Lots of changes happening here in my neighborhood.  Across the street a new house is being built on the empty lot.  It’s been empty the whole six years I’ve been here.  The geese used to build their nests there and raise their young.

And behind our property line for our street the Davey Tree workers came through and torn down a 20 foot strip of trees to install drainage for the new homes (28 homes!) that will be built behind us.  The builder “promised” that no more trees will be cut down but I’ll believe it when I see it.  They let the huge trees fall into the wooded area they didn’t cut and unfortunately lots of uncut trees were damaged.  This area is considered wet lands and it wasn’t to be cut or disturbed.  Today the workers came back to remove most, but not all, of the trees they cut down.

Today I spent most of the day cleaning my granite kitchen counter tops and stainless steel appliances.  I really like the Method Stainless Cleaner.  Boy does it shine the appliances!

I made strawberry shortcake again for the second time this year.  It’s turned into a family favorite dessert. 

We have used our BBQ grill already too.  

I have always used Bisquick’s shortbread recipe to make my shortcake.  

And, of course, lots of Reddi Wip Whip cream!

We love our doggies, senior gal Jewels and puppy, Lucky.

Lucky is so adorable and sweet.  He loves all his toys.

He is spoil rotten of course. 

Getting sleepy.

Eyes closed.  Toy still in his mouth.

Jewels in the meantime sleeps a lot.

Thanks for visiting and have a good day!

Missing Our Trips Together 30 Mar 2021 11:48 AM (4 years ago)

My T-Shirt Quilt 17 Mar 2021 11:09 AM (4 years ago)

I had never made one and knew it could be tricky working with knits.

She brought over around 12 T-Shirts and I washed them and ironed them.

Next I googled how to videos and found an excellent one explaining in details all the steps.

That took FOREVER due to COVID.

And luckily my niece’s heat press helped to reduce the time needed to press the interfacing to the pieces.  Ironing it would have taken forever and would not have been done as completely.

I followed the instructions from the video to mark the center lines of the pieces.

I cut all of the blocks (except for four) 13 inches by 13 inches.

The other four had larger designs on them so they became 16 inches by 16 inches.

I played around with the placement and once that was decided I started sewing the blocks and then rows together.

I decided to make a border around all the blocks alternating the knit colors.

In the meantime I ordered a knit backing fabric after my cousin selected the ones she liked.

Then it was sandwiched with the top, padding and backing.

That took several smoothing out the wrinkles to get it ready to quilt.

I tried to do free motion quilting but the quilt was so heavy to move around and I was very disappointed with the results.  So I picked out all the stitching and put my walking foot on.  First I stitched 1/4 foot on each side of the stitch lines to stabilize it.  Then with the walking foot I marked quilt lines for each of the blocks.

I made a machine embroidered label for the back too!

My cousin loved it!

But I did say it’s my first T-Shirt quilt and my last one.

LOL!

Ribbet Photo Editing Tutorial 10 Mar 2021 10:22 AM (4 years ago)

Then the past several years I didn’t blog at all.

Now that I’m back to blogging I think I would like to update my header.

I found out that Ribbet has an app now.  

So I downloaded it and discovered it is different from what I remember.

Luckily Ribbet invited me to a webinar today to talk about their new browser version.

I think I will have to play with either the website version and/or the browser version to come up with a new header for my blog.

I’m still working on my office.  I wish I wasn’t so slow.

It’s an unbelievable 69 degrees out and windy today.

My gifted Christmas Poinsettia is finally looking a little under the weather.  

But I’m surprised how long it lasted.  

Have you ever had one of those days where you have so many things to work on and you don’t feel like doing any of them?

That’s me today.

I have six accounts to reconcile for the last month.

Bah...

Ain’t going to be done today.

I started a new Alan Hunter Gently book and it is calling me.

How is your day going?

Hope it is happy!

A Warm Day Here in Ohio 8 Mar 2021 11:57 AM (4 years ago)

I sat out on my screened in porch in the sun feeling the fresh air and loving it.

First time this year!

I had three items on my agenda today and I completed all of them.

1.  Sign my income tax return and deliver it to my tax guy.  DONE!

2.  Try the new microfiber window cleaning cloths I ordered from Amazon.  DONE!

3.  I had ordered a BISSELL portable carpet cleaner to use on my stairs but it was too much work for me at age 74 to do the scrubbing needed.  I was so pooped after doing the first part of the stairs I couldn’t finish the rest.  So I’ve decided to return it for a refund. DONE!

  I was glad to get my car out for a drive today.  My hubby was the driver and I was the passenger.  I’ve never been crazy about driving unless it was a route I knew well.  Although I’m so much more comfortable driving with the back up camera and sensors.  When my hubby and I took off on our trips we both just relaxed and were so happy to be on the road.  I purchased my Subaru Outback 2016 in September 2015 and I only have 7,700 plus miles on it.  I’ve had to put three batteries in it.  If it sits the battery completely drains.  Finally this winter my brother in law attached a trickle charger to it and I haven’t had any problems so far.  I think something in the electronics drains the battery.  Other than that issue I haven’t had any other problems with the vehicle.  It’s the third Subaru we (I’ve own) have owned.  

Isn’t that the truth!

I’m enjoying another cup!

Thanks for visiting little old me!

March is here! 7 Mar 2021 2:53 PM (4 years ago)

It’s been awhile since I posted.  I’ve been busy with projects around the house.  Another garage door sensor died on me.  So I had to order a new one.  And now the garage door keypad isn’t working either.  Then last week while cleaning out my refrigerator I noticed one of the lights is out and the other light panel is broken.  The ice crush feature has been out for a good year so I guess it is time to schedule the GE service.  

Meanwhile I’ve been going through boxes that we moved here six years ago.  My hubby shedded so much before our move.  But I’m trying to sort through stuff and decutter what I don’t need to keep.  Right now the focus is the office.  I’m getting there but it’s not done yet.  I jammed my shedder and managed to clear out the mess but it still didn’t work until I realized I had to put the bucket back in.  One job taken care of and then to fix my label maker.  I put a roll of labels in crooked and jammed it too.  I managed to clear the label out and it printed labels that were in the queue but when I tried to print new labels it wouldn’t print.  I may need to uninstalled the program and reinstall it.  Ugh!

We have had a week of colder weather but warmer temperatures are on the way.  I can’t wait for spring!  You probably have seen my photos of my screened in porch.  I love it.  But I’m finding it harder to clean it every season and break it down and set it up as I get older.  So, I’m exploring turning it into a 3 or 4 season room.  Put some heat out there and maybe air conditioning too but have windows I can open to get that screened in porch in the summer time that I love.  

I haven’t had time recently to sew, quilt  or crochet.  But I am reading every day.  I streamed a British series called “Inspector Gently” that I enjoyed so much I decided to read the books (author is Alan Hunter) it was based on.  There are 46 books in the series.  I’ve ordered about 15 of them and have read half so far.  

It was chilly out today but tomorrow is forecasted for a high of 57 degrees with the week in the 40s and 50s.  The birds will be chirping.  I’m ready for Spring!

I put away my Polish Pottery Christmas mugs today.  My cousin gifted me the cute shamrock Polish Pottery mug!  St. Patrick’s Day is a bittersweet one.  My Mom loved celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.  She passed away 30 years ago this coming St. Patrick’s Day.

My niece has lived with me the last three years.  And last December her sweetheart moved in too.  I lived alone for the first two years here after my hubby passed away except when my BIL and his wife stayed with me the first few months.  I had never lived alone in my life.  I lived at home until I went to college and had roommates there until I married.  This is such a different life now.  I miss being with my hubby and taking care of him.  It’s all the little things.  He never had a chance to see our dream home all settled with all the boxes unpacked and the landscaping completed.  I don’t understand why I’m here and he isn’t.  He was such a good, kind man.  It seems all evil ones live long.  

Sunday is ending.  The sun has set.  Another day tomorrow.

Valentine’s Day 14 Feb 2021 9:43 AM (4 years ago)

 This is not an easy day for me.  

Memories of past Valentine’s Days with my sweet hubby are flooding my mind.  

Several cries already.  

So lonely for him.

My niece and her sweetheart greeted me with chocolate chip pancakes this morning.  They are are a joy to me and so much comfort.  

I sliced fresh strawberries last night and piled them on my pancakes this morning.

And a good friend dropped off a Valentine’s gift yesterday.

It’s the first Valentine’s gift I’ve had since my hubby passed.

 It was such an unexpected surprise and touched me so much with her thoughtfulness and generosity. 

 I’m sure she doesn’t even realize what it meant to me.

I’m typing here with romance music playing on my Echo.

I’ve washed and changed the sheets on my bed and laundry is almost done.

I’ve made frosted brownies for a treat today.

We have two rounds of snow forecasted..one after midnight and another coming Tuesday morning. 

Three to six inches.

Three fourths of my driveway is icy.  The weather been too cold to melt it.

Usually I’m in Florida at my cousin’s on Valentine’s Day.

My sister-in-law sister’s took this beautiful photo of a lovely deer couple.  

She’s quite an accomplished photographer!

Enjoy your day!

Row By Row “Bits ‘n Pieces” 8 Feb 2021 7:47 AM (4 years ago)

 Another very cold day here in NE Ohio.  It’s in the teens (17 degrees feels like 8 degrees).  Snow is on the ground.  I tried applying de-icer the other day but it’s so cold out it’s not working.  My garage doors face north and are always in the shade and get icy very easily.  

Here’s another quilting project.

I used string for the threading the needle.

In 2017 I received this cute “row by row” wall hanging kit as a gift.  It’s called “Bits ‘n Pieces”.  I don’t believe it is available anymore.  I loved the black sewing machine on it.  I machine embroidered the Janome name and the Horizon name on it.  It’s pieced together.  I used little clips for hanging the tiny quilts.

My niece pointed out I forgot to add the doorknob button.

I still have not gotten around to it.

One of these days I will.

Keep safe and warm wherever you are!

Finally a Sunny Day 2 Feb 2021 9:58 AM (4 years ago)

 Yippee!  The sun is shining today.  It’s all white outside after our snow fall yesterday.  The wind even blew snow onto my screened in porch.  I woke up feeling refreshed this morning.  It’s good to have a decent night’s sleep.  I managed to clean my bathroom but I’m still enjoying my Winter Tree!  

As many of you know who have followed my blog through the years, my hubby and I loved to travel in our various RVs.  We collected patches and pins with the thought to sew the patches on jackets and attach the pins to hats.  I never got around to it though until last year.  I made a wall hanging of black cotton and sewed all the patches from our travels throughout the USA and abroad.  I pinned all the pins on it too.  

I hung it in our downstairs media room.  I love looking at it and remembering all the wonderful times we had together.

Our rescue puppy, Lucky, continues to bring us joy.  He is a delight and just loves all his toys.

His big sister, Jewels, will take his toys away but Lucky doesn’t care.  He just grabs another one.  

They like to sleep a lot too!

My niece and her boyfriend had to cut Lucky’s nails last week.  Unfortunately while trimming one, Lucky moved and they cut the quick on one nail and blood went everywhere.  See the white cover Lucky is laying on.  They ordered a new cover but I took the old one and said I could get the blood out.  I tried using the Carbona Blood remover but when I used up two of the little bottles, I knew I had to find a better solution  So, I googled it and found out vinegar was recommended.  I had a big bottle of vinegar and it worked amazingly!  Quick too!  So, now they have a spare cover to use when trimming his nails.  

I should start working on my income taxes.  But I don’t think I have all the forms yet I need.  I was so spoiled because my hubby did the taxes our whole married life.  This will be the sixth year I have had to do the taxes since I was single.  Well, I don’t “do” the taxes.  I just gather all the documents and give them to my tax guy.  My hubby use to run the taxes himself just to check the results of our tax accountant.  He caught a few minor mistakes over the years.  Only two constants in this world...taxes and death.

Well, that’s all for today.

A Quiet Snowy Day & My Fall Panel 1 Feb 2021 10:32 AM (4 years ago)

I slept in this morning (don’t sleep as well at night) so mornings are my catch up sleep.  I have my orange juice followed by coffee while sitting in my hearth room with the fireplace going.  Currently I am reading an Allen Hunter novel, “Gently Floating”.  This is my fourth Gently novel.  Mr. Hunter wrote 46 of them.  I so enjoyed watching the Inspector Gently series streaming that I had to read his books.  Normally I am in Florida this time of year staying with my cousin but with COVID 19 I’m staying home this winter.

I thought I would share another project with you that I stitched up late last year.  I have several fabric panels I purchased over the last few years and this was one of them.  It’s a fall themed one with golden leaves falling and a bicycle under the tree.   It has pieced maple leafs in the corners...my first ones ever.  

I misplaced the instructions for this panel so I had to go to my expert quilter cousin to learn how to do the maple pieced blocks.  Since quilting this one, I purchased new free motion quilting gloves that I like.  One’s fingers are free and the palm of the gloves grip the fabric nicely.  

I still have several fabric panels projects.  I liked this Santa Claus panel and ordered two.  Needless to say it was much larger than I realized.  I’m not even sure how to cut it out and add borders.

I think I will make a large lap throw out of it.  I have a year to get it done.  LOL!

I’m streaming a new “Sherlock Holmes” series made in Russia in 2013 with subtitles.  It’s an interesting take on this famous detective although a bit strange in a foreign language taking place in London.  I was sad to learn that the actor who played Dr. Watson died in 2013.  

I find I’m streaming more shows than watching cable these days.  I went from four cable boxes down to just one and have four Amazon Fire Sticks to stream around the house.  I hate commercials so streaming is better than cable.    I’m not ready to cut the cable cord yet but I’m getting closer.  Do you like to stream shows?  

I’m fighting the urge to do something positive today.  Maybe I can count this posting.  LOL!  Enjoy your day and thanks for visiting this little old lady in Ohio.  

Vintage St. Nicholas Panel & Silly Me 31 Jan 2021 1:15 PM (4 years ago)

 I’m typing my post as snow is falling here in Ohio.  One to three inches is expected.  My Great Room Fireplace is on and my white lights Winter Tree is still up.  Today is my busy day doing laundry, making the bed, vacuuming the floors and cleaning my stove top.  Now I can rest and enjoy watching the snow fall.  I’m happy I don’t have to shovel it.  My niece’s boyfriend will do that for me.

Now to apologize to all who have commented on my blog since 2019.  I guess this is another senior moment for me.  I went in blogger to do this post and just for the heck of it, I clicked on “comments” and was so surprised there were 83 comments waiting for moderation.  I did’t even realize I had “moderation” set on my comments.  Luckily, many were spam but quite a few weren’t.  Now I know to check that more often.  I asked on my last post if anyone was still reading my blog not realizing there were comments left. So thank you all.

Getting older is no fun.  The body aches and one has to take many more breaks.  Speaking of getting older.. I did something today that I thought was so funny.  I got two Echo 5 thingies (they were on sale on Amazon) one for my Great Room and one for my bedroom.  My niece also got two for the Media Room and her bedroom downstairs.  When I realized I could control my lamps from the Echo 5 through Alexa I purchased several “smart plugs”.  I have the majority of my lamps controlled by Alexa now and really like it.  That is until I had WiFi outages and had to reset the “smart plugs” over and over.  I ended up replacing my Orbi router with a new beef up Orbi 6 Mesh WiFi router and satellite to cover 5,000 square feet and over 60 devices.  I’m hoping that is the last time I have to reset all the “smart plugs” until this router dies.  Now what did I do that was so funny.  I told the Echo to turn on my Great Room lamp.  She wasn’t responding and I couldn’t figure out why.  Then I realized I was telling “Amazon” to turn on the lamp and not “Alexa”.  LOL

I want to show you this beautiful vintage St. Nicholas fabric panel I made into a wall hanging for my niece, MJ.  I bought it at a quilt shop but don’t remember where.  I think it was when my quilting cousin and I were driving from Ohio to Florida a few years ago. As I was working on it I was texting and calling my quilting cousin for help.  I free motion quilted it too.  That’s Lucky, our new rescue pup watching me.  He’s the sweetest the puppy!  Tomorrow I hope to take down the “Winter Tree” but if not I’ll enjoy it a few more days.  Thanks for visiting dear friends!

This and That..my iPhone Cases & My Sewing Room 29 Jan 2021 10:28 AM (4 years ago)

 Sewing Room

Since I have been working on my sewing panel projects my sewing area in our Hobby Room really got messy!  Finally, this week I cut up left over pieces of fabric and batting to put in my doggie bag.  It’s a great way to utilize these scraps and some day will be a bed for a rescue doggie.  The cutting table is cleared...whew...so happy.

I bought some fabric eye glass cases at a Quilt Show last year and I have used them to hold my iPhone.  I pin the case to my pants waistband.  I don’t know why women’s pockets are made so shallow.  I like deep pockets to hold my iPhone and realized it was too much work to enlarge all my slacks pockets.  Much easier to make a few iPhone cases.  My first one was too small, the second one I used the eye glass case as a pattern but wasn’t happy because the seams showed inside.  I googled an excellent video of sewing a small tote bag with no seams showing and I was off.  I could make 2 in 30 minutes once I had my pattern and measurement down.  

IPhone Cases

Follow my steps to make an iPhone case.

1.  I cut my fabric pieces 4.5 by 14 inches.  (Some I cut a little larger depending on how thick the phone case is to 4.75 inches).  I used Pellon 926 Extra Firm Stabilizer.

2.  I quilted the right side (outside) fabric to the stabilizer.  And sewed up the side seams and added box corners.

3.  I turned the right side fabric to the outside but the inside fabric (lining) is left inside out.  So when they are sewn together the right sides are facing each other.  The right side and lining  are both done with boxed corners.

4.  Stitching the lining and outside fabric together.

7.  All done.

My niece and her Mom asked me to make them some too.  So I whipped up five more.

As you can see, my fabric really needs some refolding and organization.  That’s on my to-do list.  I purchased the big covered ironing board and it fits the former model train table nicely.  Buried under the mess is a sewing cabinet next to the ironing station.  It was my mother’s, and before my Mom, was my paternal grandmother’s Singer sewing machine from the early 1940s.  It needs to be repaired one of these days but when working it stitches beautifully and even has a reverse stitch.

Charming Christmas Tree Wall Hanging 17 Jan 2021 6:37 PM (4 years ago)

Just a few days before Christmas I decided to try my version of the free quilting pattern, “Charming Christmas Tree” by Pat Sloan.  It seemed everyone was making this fun pattern.  I used scrap fabrics I had on hand in some of my favorite Christmas patterns and colors. 

This pattern is made up of 2.5 inch squares and half square triangles.  When I tried sewing the half square triangles in the method where you draw a diagonal line and sew 1/4 inch on each side of the line, my squares ended up much smaller than 2.5 inches.  I tried cutting the squares larger to 3 inches but that sample was still too small.  I ended up stitching on the diagonal line and cutting off the part not needed.  Those were perfect 2.5 inch squares.  

After attaching the inner border of mixed fabric squares, I discovered I had just enough of a lovely green fabric for the outer border.  I liked it better than using white as the pattern instructed.

To embellish the tree I drew a star pattern, cut out the star from a yellow fabric and appliquéd it to the top of the tree.  I used my Jamone 15000 sewing machine’s triple stitch to add the rays coming out from the star.

I had some fabric scraps printed with cardinals so I fussy cut four cardinals and appliquéd them under the tree.  To finish it off, I used red fabric for the binding.

I free motion quilted falling snowflakes and snow drifts.  I tried out my new Marcia Baraldi Quilting Grip gloves I ordered from Amazon and really liked them.  They have excellent grip on the palms and one’s fingers are free.  

I have taken down my Christmas decorations but this adorable wall hanging is still up.  I just love it.  I have removed my Christmas ornaments from my pencil 7.5 foot new tree and switched from colored lights to white.  I now have my Winter Tree which will be up until the tree bag I ordered from Amazon is delivered.  Last year I started storing some Christmas decorations upstairs rather then in the unfinished basement.  This way I don’t have to lug everything up and down the stairs.  I’m thinking about storing the new tree in my guest room closet (if it fits) along with the ornaments.  But first I have to measure and go through the old clothing I have in there. I’m lucky my niece, MJ, and her fellow, Andrew, currently live with me so Andrew carries the heavy stuff for me. 

I really need the cheer during this COVID isolation and all the political crap going on. It continues to be lonely facing each day without my hubby.  At least my hobbies and house responsibilities keep me occupied.  But now holidays and special occasions will never be as happy and joyful as they were with my sweetheart.  

Friends gifted me this huge beautiful Poinsettia plant!  I can’t believe I haven’t “killed” it yet.  I usually “kill” any house plant.  At least I’ve learned.  I’m not over watering this one.  

And here is a photo of my Christmas Tree decorated with ornaments and colored lights.

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  

Kimberbell November Table Topper 15 Oct 2020 6:56 AM (4 years ago)

 I love decorating for the seasons!  

One of my favorite home made items is the Kimberbell November Table Topper or as I named it my “Witches Hat Halloween” table topper.

I free motion quilted a spider web in the center square and added an appliqués spider.

These table toppers are so fun and easy to sew up.  Plus you can add your own embellishments.

And, of course, I crocheted several coasters in Halloween colors!

It’s so fun decorating for Halloween in my Hearth Room.

Happy Halloween Panel 10 Oct 2020 12:35 PM (4 years ago)

 While going through my fabric closet I found this Happy Halloween fabric panel I purchased while on my Caribbean Patrick Lose quilting cruise a couple of years ago.

I forgot I had it.

I added two Halloween theme borders and a lovely striped binding.

I free motion quilted all over the panel.

I’m sew pleased with how it turned out.

It’s hanging in my downstairs media room now.

Now to continue decorating for Halloween.

COVID 19, My Liberty Trike and Me 5 Oct 2020 12:20 PM (4 years ago)

 What a crazy year!

Never have I gone this long without going to a restaurant, store or even getting my hair done.

I decided to “let it go” and go gray/white after 20 plus years of coloring my hair.

No one sees me except for immediate family.  So it’s a perfect time for a BIG change.

This is the longest my hair has been in over 20 years too.

Luckily so far I have been well and my family has been too.

But we are being very careful and following all the protocols.

Today was cool and sunny and a perfect day to ride my Liberty Trike around the neighborhood.

I’m not crazy about walking but I love riding my trike.

It makes me feel like a kid again.

I ordered the Trike in hot pink!

No one can miss me riding down the street.

Hope you all are well and enjoying your day!

Colorful Quilt “Trinkets” 29 Sep 2020 11:07 AM (4 years ago)

Camper Wall Hanging 19 Sep 2020 7:46 AM (4 years ago)

Before our warm Fall days leave us I wanted to show you this cute little project.

It was a kit I purchased.

I love the fabrics I chose.

As many of my long term readers know,  my hubby and I were campers when we first married and then advanced to RVing.

We owned many different RVs over the years:

Pop up Camper truck, Sunline trailer, Chinook (a Class B van), Hitchhiker Discover America 5th wheel travel trailer and lastly a Pleasure Way (Class B van).

We traveled to Alaska in 2010 in our 5th wheel which is like having an apartment to live in.

We were on the road 105 days for that trip.

I liked all of our RVs but my favorite was the Pleasure Way van.

At just 21 feet it could park just about anywhere and it’s small size helped when looking at campgrounds sites.  It was so easy to keep clean and we learned to take just the essentials.

My hubby designed our new garage to hold the van with huge 10 foot garage doors and an extra long bay so we wouldn’t have to store it off site.

We never had a chance to take the van on a trip after we moved into our new home.

I reluctantly had to sell it.

Oh, how, my hubby loved to travel all over our great country.

And I loved being with him.  

Mr Spider 19 Sep 2020 6:47 AM (4 years ago)

Halloween Table Runner 13 Sep 2020 8:05 AM (4 years ago)

Kimberbell Watermelon Table Topper & Screened In Porch 9 Sep 2020 9:53 AM (4 years ago)

This project sat unfinished for about two years.  I finally decided it is time to finish it.

I sandwiched it with top, batting and back fabrics, squared it up and started sewing on the binding.

Only to realize I forgot to quilt it. 

LOL!

What really makes this topper POP is the theme appropriate fabrics.

Whole watermelons, red and white checks with cute little ants and red backed fabric with the black watermelon seeds add so much personality to the topper.

All the fabrics came from my quilting cousin’s fabric closet.

I used my Janome 15000 embroidery/sewing machine to quilt it.  A little straight line quilting and free motion quilting.

I have about seven different table toppers done so far.  

My next one I’m working on is a November (pumpkin) table topper.

We’re still having summer weather here in Ohio.

Even today it is currently 81 degrees out.

A couple more weeks and I will have to think about breaking down my screened in porch.

I purchased a storage box to use to store the porch furniture cushions over the winter rather than storing them in my spare bedrooms.

I move all the porch furniture together in a corner and cover it all with huge painter’s cloths for protection from dirt and pollen over winter.  

I also roll up the outdoor rug and cover it too.  

So far that system has worked out well.  

As much as I like Fall, I dislike all the leaves in my gutters.

You can see the huge tall trees and they produce “millions“ of leaves in the fall and early winter.

We are lucky to have woods behind us although someday soon there are plans to build 28 homes there.

I hope they leave some trees as a barrier.

Some parts are considered “wet lands” and they have building restrictions.

So, I’m keeping my fingers crossed.

So, are you ready for Fall?