Another link party

Karen from Sew Many Ways, has started a link party. This is her fourth week, first time I've joined in though. This is a great way to see some fun new blogs.

Thanks for stopping by, Dorian

More snow pictures.

 You would think with all the snow we've been getting, that I would have some projects done to show you. But...I don't :)

 We got up to a foot of snow by Friday afternoon! That's the most snow we've seen at our place. It isn't supposed to stay long, we'll have some sun for a few days, then some rain. But it's fun while it's here.

 Here is the tree on our back porch.

Isn't it beautiful!! Spock was having a fantastic time searching for snowballs in it. LOL

And look at these icycles in the fruit tree!

I did pull these out to work on.

This is part of some donated fabric that I have to use in our charity quilts. The woman was making simple 9-patches, three different sizes.  At least...I have one 9-patch she made, so I am guessing that's what she was doing with them all.

I've decided to do an Irish chain. I love Irish Chains! I will have to trim the smaller squares just a little, so that I can use the larger ones in the quilt too. I'll be doing a triple Irish Chain, so will only be using 4 of the colors. I think I'll keep the whites aside for something else.

But I didn't get very far. Got the note paper out and my colors place where I want them (on my paper). So maybe today I'll do some trimming and sewing.

I have a new tutorial up, it's on squaring the bottom of your bag. You can find it here and here.

Have a great day!

Thanks for stopping by, Dorian

The Satchel bag

Here is my satchel bag. The 'prototype'. LOL. It needs a few kinks worked out, and I think it will be better with some hardware to hold the straps on.

I really like the binding along the edges, but have to figure an easier way to put it on.

Here is a side view.

 It has a zip pouch on the inside, as well as a few layered pockets, so you have plenty of space for pens, lipstick, phone, ipod, whatever.

It's deep, 11" from top to bottom, with two large spaces for putting all your stuff.

Now lets head over to Quiltstory, and see what fabulous things others are making this week.








Look at what I won from Kate Spain, in the Moda blog hop! Aren't they cute?!

These little goodies are 2.5" square, and have 40 pieces of fabric in them. You can see one line is Central Park, and one is Lovely. Both are lovely fabric lines!

Thank you Kate!!

Thanks for stopping by, Dorian

Snow, snow, beautiful snow!!!

I am a snow lover. It's so pretty coming down, so much fun to walk thru and play in. 

One of the many Oaks out here

Mt Lassen on the left, Mt Brokeoff on theh right

part of the canyon

along the ridge

my dog Spock LOVES the snow

Mother Nature dumped another inch or two on us over night, so there is even more out there this morning.

So I spent much of yesterday working on my jelly roll quilt. I don't have anything to show you right now though.

Have a great day.


Thanks for stopping by, Dorian

A new bag

 I haven't been doing a lot of sewing this week. When it gets cold, it's hard for me to do much standing. So unless I have something already cut out and ready to go, I do other things.

But, I have been working a little bit on this bag.

I used strips from my scrap basket.

 I really like the binding along the edges. Something new for me. A lot of experimenting going on.

I have been sitting and staring at the pieces I cut out for the middle. I want big pockets and little pockets a divider or two. Different things. This is the hardest part for me to figure out. But I'll get it...eventually.

It's going to have a flap opening and a nice, thick adjustable strap.

I'll show you when it's finished.


Thanks for stopping by, Dorian

Winter has returned

Well Old Man Winter has decided we needed some more cold. On Sunday we had a storm start blowing in...it blew all thru Monday and Tuesday. The wind was so strong, it blew over our little wood shed!!

Remember this post, with the pictures of blossoms on our fruit tree. Here is what the wind did to it.

All the blossoms have lost their petals. Or most of them anyways.

Here is what is outside right now. Just a smattering of hail/snow. The forecast calls for rain/snow showers on and off till Monday.

I love the snow, my arthritis doesn't, but I do. One of my favorite things to do is have a pot of something going on the wood stove. Monday it was  a big pot of hamburger/veggie soup. MMM! Yesterday I had a nice beef roast cooking. I cook with cast iron, right on top of the wood stove. Makes things taste so good. Tomorrow I will have a pot of beans and leftover roast going.

Hope you've had a good day.


Thanks for stopping by, Dorian

Jelly rolls

I can certainly see why jelly rolls are so popular. I am having a good time with my bowl full of sunshine, er, Sunkissed. (Please forgive the poor quality photos today, I think I hit the wrong setting on my camera.)

Making 4-patches are sooo easy!

Just sew two strips right sides together...

 

Cut apart every 2.5"...

Turn one, and sew two together...

You can also make an very easy 9-patch.

Sew three strips together....

Cut apart every 2.5"....

Make two different strip sets, and sew together...

Of course, square patches aren't ALL you can make with jelly rolls. There's strips, like for this new bag I'm making (although I did not use a jelly roll for this).

And there's diamonds and triangles and a variety of other things....which I'm sure you all know about ;) But they are for another post.

Hope you're having a good sewing day.


Thanks for stopping by, Dorian

Blog hops...

I love blog hops! They are so much fun. I get to see new blogs and 'meet' new people. I always comment, but never seem to win anything. LOL. That doesn't stop me though.

This week I've been having fun with this one...

Not only do you get to see some cute pillows, but you get to know some things about the designers for Moda.

Here's another one that is starting today at Sherri's blog. It's about this book

It looks like a great book!


And on Monday, Quiltstory will be announcing the winners of the Block Party!!

I've posted on the Q&N this week too :)

Have a great day all.

Thanks for stopping by, Dorian

Some lovelies in the mail!

YAH! My first jelly roll came in the mail today!! Sunkissed, from Sweetwater. And it's sooo pretty!! See...

I have two different patterns I've designed, and I'm trying to figure out which one I want to make with this jelly roll. I just love the white color way.

 I got a half a yard of the white with gray swirl, and a half yard of the white with multi-swirl as well.

All the colors are lovely though...

I'm going to have a lot of fun creating with this jelly roll.

I've also finished my Summer star. Forgive the sun and shadows picture. My 12yr dd took the picture (notice the pretty manzanita blooms under the clothes pins in the corner?! ).

 Now I need to get some backing and batting and start doing some quilting!

Don't forget to head over to Quiltstory today, we are having the block party going on.

Have a great day!


 Thanks for stopping by, Dorian

For Carol

My good friend Carol commented on wanting to see more Summery/Spring like photos. She is one of the many with snow and ice outside her windows.

So here is our apricot tree.

The warm, Spring like days have made the fruit and nut trees start their blooming.

 In the valley, we have orchards of almonds and plums that are just fantastic this time of year. Imagine acres and acres of blooming trees. Just beautiful!

And here's some Manzanita blooms.

Have a lovely Sunday.


Thanks for stopping by, Dorian

Block Party!

Hello everyone!

I hope all of you that got a lot of snow and ice, are starting to thaw out. And that you're keeping warm.

Over at Quiltstory, the block party starts on Monday. Here is my contemporary block. Adding some of the Nicey Jane to my star block, made me want to play with it some more. I think this green and blue go so well with it.

The button....click here to see all who are entering.








I originally made this block when I entered a block contest for Jackie Robinson. I have altered the original block I made up, just a little bit. It looks so Summery in blues/whites/greens!

So on Monday, I will put a link to this post on the Quiltstory blog. Then you visit all the blogs that have blocks, and look at all the lovelyness...lol.

Have a great day!

Thanks for stopping by, Dorian

Around the net

I hope that all of you that have lots of snow and ice, are warm and safe in your houses. With lots of snuggly quilts to be under. LOL.

For us, we are getting our annual pre-spring weather. A kind of lull in the winter months. Later this month, in March and sometimes April, we'll be back to rain, snow and a bit of freezing occasionally.

I wish I could send you all some of my warm sun... But I CAN leave you with a few warm pictures. These were taken last Summer. Daisy's are so sunny and cheerful :)

Well, what is happening around the net today...

Samm is getting ready for the mug rug contest, voting starts tomorrow.

Quiltstory is gearing up for the block party next week. Heather and Megan are doing their own blocks for US to judge.....My block is done!

Moda is doing a pillow talk blog hop, which is lots of fun!

Hmm, well, that's all I know about right now! I am having fun with all three of these things. I just love blog hops! You get to see lots of new fabric and patterns and learn about designers, both fabric and patterns.

What fun, quilty things are you doing around the net?

Have a great day!


Thanks for stopping by, Dorian

Summer star

Here's my progress on my next scrappy star... I think I'll call it my Summer star, as it's so flowery and pretty.

Here is a close up of the outer diamonds. They are a very lite green, so are kind of washed out in that top picture. (Sigh, I think it's just the picture. LOL. Even outside in the shade, there was too much sun on it)

 I just love the Nicey Jane for the background. I do admit though, that I had to cut into some yardage for the background. I just did not have any scraps big enough, in the right color and I didn't want pieced. Although I did try out some pieced backgrounds, I like this better.

I decided to put in a little flange there too. It seperates the colors a bit I think.

I have one more border I am working out, then I think I'll leave it as a wall hanging too.

And it's Fabric Tuesday over at Quiltstory! So I am doing my weekly link up.  I want to thank that Gals over at Quiltstory too!! This fabric Tuesday is helping me stay on top of my projects! LOL

I've also posted a few quick HST tutorials over at the Q&N blog.


 Have a great day!

Thanks for stopping by, Dorian