want to know a secret?

I have developed a love / hate relationship with borders.  I will be so glad to get this quilt finished.  I completed the top a few days weeks months ago and it has been hanging in the closet.  When I took it out to make the backing and get it ready to quilt I noticed how it seemed to be pulling and puckering around the borders.  After several failed attempts at smoothing all those wrinkles,  I finally removed the two borders and took them apart .  I don’t know what I was smoking thinking the day I put the borders on but the inside (black) border was so short that I was able to add a 1 1/2 inch square in each corner and didn’t trim much of anything off  the length  

…and I had to add a little bit to the outside border too.  It is much better but still not perfect.  Anyway, I’m going ahead and finishing the quilt as is and I think it will turn out ok.  This is the front

and this is the back.
 
I think it turned out pretty.  I love the bright Mary Englebreit colors with the white.  I’m going to use scraps for the binding and then it will be done.  Woo Hoo!!

there’s muslin and then there is really nice muslin

I’ve gotten to where I enjoy using muslin to back quilts whenever it’s an option.  I thought I had enough to use as backing for this quilt     

but I don’t.
I have a good bit of muslin that I could use for backing on a wall hanging or a lap quilt that I’m keeping but my really nice muslin that I got on sale is almost used up so I’m going to have to see if JoAnn’s has some more.  I did finish my embroidery  for the back.

The plan is to place these sort of randomly on the back.  Once I figure out the placement, I will cut strips accordingly and piece it together.  Hope everyone is having a great week.

my front door

My house is red brick/taupe siding , red shutters that melt into the brick and white doors and trim.   B.O.R.I.N.G.  I’ve been wanting to do something to liven it up. Decided to start with my front door.  So I got this paint sample  and painted the top left quarter of the door --- I just didn’t fall in love with it.

… and this paint sample and painted the top right quarter of the door and really liked it but after looking at it every time I drove away or returned home for a couple of days weeks, I realized that it was not going to pop with the red brick.

After several people asked me if I was dcorating early for the fourth with my r/w/b door, I went back to Lowes and looked at paint again.  This is what I ended up with.  The color is evergreen and I liked it so much I didn’t even worry with a sample.  I just got a quart and got busy.  I still have to paint the side lights and I’m also going to take the hardware off and spray paint it with

some Oil Rubbed Bronze.  The guys have taken my shutters down and I’m going to paint those black.  I think it will look very nice.

Then I will move on to phase 2 which is to  build a grand front porch with a swing and …. figure out how to make the steps leading up to the door more inviting.  But that will be for another day.

finished quilt top

I finished the quilt top.  Here it is with one border

and here it is with all the borders.

I'm going to try a new sandwiching technique that I saw here.  I really like how she uses pins to mark the center and corners of her quilt top so she can get the backing on straight and also that she starts with the top and adds the backing last.  So, I'm going to give it a try.

i’m trying a new no-bake recipe . . . .

I got it from the Moda Bakeshop.  It’s called  Boxed In Quilt by KarrieLyne.  You start with 25 pairings of these (I did 30 so my quilt will be 50 x 60 instead of a square 50”) 

“slice” until you end up with stacks of these

and then it’s just a matter of putting them together.  Hopefully I’ll get started tomorrow.  I need to have this finished before the end of July which is quite do-able if I don’t get sidetracked.

maybe I should plan a trip to las vegas

A couple of weeks ago I got an email telling me I’d won a giveaway.  My prize was a jelly roll and a really cute pin cushion.  A couple of days ago I got an email telling me I'd won another giveaway.  This prize -- A charm pack of a new fabric line from Riley Blake called Hoo’s In The Forest ….. Isn’t it cute.  I can make a baby blanket or a girls skirt or some little zipper bags or a table topper.  Can’t wait to get it.   Click here to see the whole line of fabric.
Compose

for jessica

This link is for my neice Jessica. You think you have crazy DYI ideas?? Check this out.

Cherry Hill Cottage - Car Slipcovers


I actually kind of like it. Wouldn't mind riding on those cottagey seats at all:)

recent finishes

Ruffley Dresses for the girls



a quilt that has been sandwiched and waiting for at least 5 months
Front

Back

Just need to finish hand sewing the binding.  Used a multicolored thread with red, blue, green, dark brown and taupe. 

happy quilting has a new sponsor and a giveaway!!

 I love looking at Quilting Blogs.  They are so addictive:)  You can get lots of ideas for ways to use the most beautiful fabrics.  One of the newer (to me) blogs that I 've  come across is Happy Quilting.  This blogger has tutorials for some of the quilts she's made and for some other things too.  You should check it out.  Why . . . you might ask.  Because  . . . . . Melissa  from Happy Quilting  is having a giveaway.   As an introduction  for becoming one of her new sponsors,the Fat Quarter Shop is going to give  one of her readers a FQ bundle of  Patricia Bravo's Natures Elements.

Go on over to her blog and check out the giveaway details and all the other neat things she has.

newest neal

I went to Texas  to see my newest grandson William Tullus Neal.   He is precious (just like the rest) and a very sweet baby.  You have to be sweet when you are number five!!  Everyone is doing a great job of adjusting to a new sibling.  Mom and Dad are doing great too. 
We had a very enjoyable time.  Read some stories, played some cards, shot some baskets, visited a farm to get some fresh milk, watched a couple of family friendly movies and stayed out of the heat as much as possible.
As usual I took several pictures a time or two and none the rest of the time.  (apologies to “B” for not snapping any shots of her).  Here is a sampling.
Happy grams – thank you Stacey for always letting me hold the baby whenever I want Hope I didn’t spoil him too much.

 
My new BFF  Charley Kate.  Don’t you just love her oversized shoes!



He’s smiling just like his daddy here.

Jack was holding the rabbit that the EB left at Easter and they both dozed off.

Sister pictures

Suzannah is growing up so much.  She  pretty much does all the prep work for attaching her pod when it is time and even  puts in the numbers needed to figure how much insulin she needs.  Mom or Dad still double check but it amazes me how she can do all that stuff.