Laprobe, Sampler Blocks, a Dolly, and Moxie

Here are the Simple Sampler blocks for this week:




I was up early today and put together another laprobe to donate.



I used the same fabric collection as the other laprobe and added a light green print and a dark green solid. I more or less followed a pattern in a book from the library, but instead of using nine patch blocks I used three strips sewn together. I don't know what that is called. Right now it's a 38" square. I think I'll add a border and then that's it for the top. I added a yellow border to the other laprobe, and it's ready to be quilted and then bound.

You've probably heard about Dolly Donations. Sarah Hanson who has a blog for it is collecting dolls for shipping on November 1st. They will be sent to Haiti. As a kid I loved dolls (and still do, but now they are Annalees) so I'm planning on making a few to send. I cut one out yesterday. There are patterns for sewing, crocheting,and knitting on her website, http://dollydonations.blogspot.com., and her button is on the left.



Can you tell what this is? It's a little cat snuggled into a cozy space between the pillows on my bed. I wish I could fit in there because it looks so comfortable.




God Bless You.

Six Grid Chain Block Times Nine

I mentioned liking the six grid chain block that we did last week for the Simple Sampler with Amy of Amy's Creative Side. Well, yesterday and this morning, very early this morning because I couldn't sleep, I put together a laprobe using that block and some fabric that I had gotten last year from Walmart.

It went quickly because all of the cutting is from 2.5 inch strips. I need to add a border to make it closer to 40 inches, and then the top is done. I think the log cabin would be a good choice also because the strips are all the same width so the cutting would go quickly. I am very happy with how this top came out.

I have entered the giveaway at A Little of This and A Little of Pat, and participation in creations for charity are part of the requirements. I have donated crocheted lapghans and wanted to quilt some, so now I'm off to a good start. My intention is to finish this in the coming week, make another, then drop them off at the hospital.

I am exhausted and intend to lay on the sofa and read for the rest of the day. I am re-reading Murder on the Orient Express . I have watched the PBS version twice. I hated it the first time, and liked it better the second time. I want to read the book again to check on the liberties I think the writers took in the PBS version. Agatha Christie's books are almost sacred to me, and I don't think anyone can improve on them.

I'm listening to a Carolyn Hart book, and the mystery book store cat is named Agatha. Cute.

God Bless You.

Just Ramblin' Giveaway

Visit Just Ramblin's blog for a giveaway of very charming 1980's fabric. Nola has made up nine charm packs, so there is a good chance of winning one. I love charm packs and hope to win one.

July Cross-Stitch, Sampler Blocks, and a New Dress

This past weekend I worked on the July cross-stitch pattern from Sylvia. It is so cute, and I think very German or European. I say that because I've not seen anyone hang fish after a catch so I'm assuming it's done where Sylvia lives. If I'm wrong, let me know. Now I'm all set for the August design.

I completed my blocks for this week's Simple Sampler: The first is the hourglass block and the second is the 6 grid chain block.




I like the block called 6 grid chain. I can't wait to check out the other participants' blocks because the different fabrics make every block look like no other. We are all going to have a very nice quilt top when we're done. Thanks again, Amy.

Here are all of them so far:

This is my Claire Cami Dress. I bought the pattern and fabric with the Sew Mama Sew gift certificate I won. I love the dress. I do need to alter the armholes because they gape a bit, but that's not a big problem. I love the fabric. It's from Kate Spain for Moda called Verna.

At Saver's today I bought a Marcia Adams Cooking from Quilt Country cookbook, three Just CrossStitch magazines, and a package of Aida cloth, all for $4.14. I live in an old mill town, and workers at the mills got to bring home big spools of thread, or as in my Mother's case, ribbon binding and buttons that were used on the Garland sweaters that were made in her factory. At Saver's today I saw many of these types of things, and couldn't help but think that the worker's children were cleaning out stuff. I say this because I have done the same thing. But I kept lace, and the ribbons and buttons. My father used to bring home thread, and we still have a few old, big, wooden spools of very old thread.

Listening to Anne Perry and Charlotte Hart books helped me get my projects done.

God Bless You.

Inchworm Fabric Giveaway

Click on the title of this post to learn about the giveaway at Inchworm Fabrics. I receive another entry for posting this, and I would love to win the Christmas fabric that is the prize. Their shop is having a really good sale right now, too. Good luck.

Spun Sugar Quilts is giving away an Accuquilt Go. By posting this, I receive another entry, but there are five ways to get entries, so head on over and give it a Go!

Fabric Giveaway

If you could use some fabric that is from the 80's, then click on the title of this post and read about Just 4 Rambling's idea of giving away her extra fabric. It's a generous giveaway, not a contest. Read about it for yourself. Thanks to Barb http://bejeweledquilts.blogspot.com/ for posting about it.

More Blocks and Crochet

I made the next two blocks in Amy's Sample Quilt along, and I have discovered a block I really love. It is the Log Cabin block. I know, it's old, simple, been done a million ways, but I love the one I made today.
I like the solf colors and the simplicity of the block. The other block we had to do is this Mosaic: It's a striking block and a good contrast to the log cabin.

I made the Word Play quilt top on Saturday, and I really like it. It is not like anything I've made so far in that the fabric isn't anything I would have chosen on my own. I have to think of a nice way to finish it.


This dishcloth and hotpad are my entries so far in the Crochet Soiree July CAL, which has a Christmas in July theme. I have so many other things going on that I don't think I'll make anything else, but we'll see.

This is the fabric and pattern I bought with the Sew Mama Sew gift certificate I won last month. I've been wanting to make a dress that would be comfortable in this humidity and yet pretty, and I hope this is it. It's called the Claire Cami Dress, and from what I've seen of it on other bloggers it seems to look good on everyone.


I listened to The Tale of Despereaux today, and although I liked it, I didn't get the same good feeling as I did from The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Maybe because I read the first book and listened to the second book. Still, it's a good story with a nice theme, and since it has a castle and a princess and a dungeon, I suppose it would appeal to young people. I did laugh out loud a few times. Yesterday I read The Christmas List by Richard Paul Evans and loved it.

We're still stuck in this grungy hot humid weather. I wish I could like it. (Yippee, it just began to rain. Boy, do we need it!)

God Bless You.

Sample Blocks, Lapghan

I worked on the two sample blocks for this week's quilt along with Amy. Here are mine:
I like both of them, and all of the other four. We're doing 16 blocks, so next week we'll already be half done. I'm enjoying this qal.

I prepared my Word Play squares and hope to cut and sew them this weekend.

I finished my second lapghan, and I like it very much. Pictures don't do this pattern justice, but I intend to make another. I may drop off the two I have so I can get feedback on them, and then go from there.



I discovered, via Dean Koontz, the children's writer Kate DiCamillo, and I feel blessed to read her books. Last night, in my insomniac hours starting at midnight, I read The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. What a good children's book (and apparently adult book too.) I've got The Tale of Despereaux to read next, and I'm sure I'll be awake to read it and enjoy it. Insomnia and 90 degree humid weather aren't conductive, for me, to do much, so I'm glad I have something good to read. While I crochet and sew I have been listening to Inspector Brunetti mysteries, and Anne Perry's books, along with another mystery series set in Italy, all of which I enjoy.

God Bless You. Gentle God, thank you for watermelon and ice cream.

Lots of Stuff

I caught up with Amy's sample blocks (Amy's Creative Side Sample Quilt Along,) and here are mine:

The fabrics are actually a collection even though they don't seem to go together yet. The placement of the blocks in the finished quilt will be different.

I received my first package from the Benartex Preview Club. There are about 30 five inch squares, so there's enough to make an interesting smaller quilt. I'm going to follow the pattern they feature in the newsletter. The collection is called Word Play, and it's something I may not have chosen, but I like it.

This is the lapghan I'm working on now. I actually abandoned one pattern because it was too slow going, but I like this one. The picture doesn't show the ribs and shells in the pattern, but they are there making the lapghan feel very thick and textured. It is from Red Heart, but I'm still using Caron One Pound yarn. I have so much yarn that it would be a sin to buy any more. I really need to use up what I have. Hopefully, I have enough to finish this lapghan. If not, I'll have to get creative with the border.

Browsing in the Savers book section the other day, I picked up two books from 1986 and 1987 that were published by Better Homes and Gardens. When I got home and was looking down the list of designers in one of the books Blue Ribbon Bazaar Crafts, I found Mary Engelbreit listed, and these were her contributions:

The pattern of the little girl in bed is also embroidered on a pillow. Look what else was in the book from 1987:

I was looking at the reusable lunch sacks and the needle holders thinking what good ideas they were twenty years ago. These books are in excellent condition, and the name of the former owner is stamped in the front of each book. I don't know her, but she and I have something in common; books and crafts. And she took care of her books.

Don't tell anyone, but I forgot it was Moxie's birthday yesterday. She was two years old. But, funny thing is I bought a toy and catnip on Friday because I had a coupon, so she got gifts anyway. I'm wishing her twin brother, Onyx, Happy Birthday too. He lives with a former co-worker. Their litter was found on the deck of another co-worker when they were just a few days old. This good person took care of them, about 7 of them I think, and brought them to work when they were six weeks old to see if any of us would adopt them. Of course, it was a sure thing. Supposedly, Moxie was the runt, but she is a feisty little runt.
Yep, the gardener needs to cut that grass!


Happy Birthday to Katrina, too. I didn't forget.

God Bless Everyone, and God Bless America. We sang that in church yesterday. For me it's a tear-jerker.