Merry Merry Everything yall!

Hope yall gave a nice layed back holiday today! 2012 is gonna be a great year for all of us!
Keep On Stitch'n On!
(mauh) Liz

I love my hugs!~

November is Native American Hertiage Month

Have you hugged your favorite Injun today yet?

Keep On Stitch'n On,

(mauh) Liz

Weekend Projects

hiyall,

I gotz skillz!

Keep On Stitchin' On!

(mauh) Liz

Rez Truck one, Bambi zero

hiyall,
me and bambi had a run in early this am. I am ok, no injuries, truck is repairable but Bambi lost. If my nephew has lived near by, I would have called him to come get and dress the 4pt buck that I hit. Who needs a compound bow to hunt deer with when I have a truck!

major part of the damage, smashed headlight and frame and crushed grill. Hood opened but now wont closed properly. hood will need to be replaced.
Bambi hit the hood HARD. send plastic shards from the grill into the radiator and punched holes. now radiator will need to be replaced.

those spots you see on the hood edge are bambi's blood and brain matter. parts of his scalp is embedded in the turn signal lense. bumper is smooshed but its ok.

gotta love living in the city but have to go thru country side to get to work.
how was YOUR day?

Keep On Stitch'n On!

(mauh) Liz

its a miniature world

punkin wall hanging swap from last year

monocrome swap, each block measured 3 inch

lunch time mini. all done by hand. each block 1.5 inch

shawl dancer susie, my own design. won a blue ribbon at the local country fair.

recent swap, made from left over snippets from another full size quilt

disappearing nine patch made with kona black and batiks

another online swap.


Keep On Stitch'n On

(mauh) Liz

Happy Fourth Of July!

Hiyall,
Have a safe and fun 4th of July!
Keep On Stitch'n On!
(mauh) Liz

long time no post

hiyall,

I know its been a while since my last blog post and I have no excuses. I have kinda lost my mojo. It comes in spurts and leaves just a quickly as it gets to me. I was hoping with the work slow down at the Q, reduced hours, I could get alot of sewing done but noooooooo. I have enjoyed reading others blogs and having been getting a some great inspiration from yall. Just havent had the energy to get more sewing done. I have decided to start a tiny little at home cottage industy with my quilts and crafts. from time to time I will be posting of some things I have designed and made for sale. I will be posting on my facebook page too. Like I said before I have done a little sewing but I hope to get more done this summer. KEYWORD: Hope.......

Meet Pricillia, Queen of the Unfinished! Prissie for short. Prissie was gifted to me by a quilting buddy named Connie (no blog). She decided to downsize and knew I would give her a good home and get good use out of her. Prissie is a Pfaff Hobby 1200/Grand Quilter. She came with a inspira frame for which I am waiting for Beloved Monkey Boy to come over and put together. He has his own things he is doing lately so I may have to do it myself. No worries, I have been using her on the dining room table and getting some good results. I am loving the huge extended table and speed I get from her.

I still working on my meandering and wavey stuff, but I think I got the spirals nailed. This is a BOM from several years ago that I gifted to my Nephew's wife Michelle. Should have seen the big ass grin on her face when I presented it to her.

As I read blogs I find alot of crafty goodness there. I found this quick and easy cell phone pouch and was inspired to make a few. I gave them to friends to product test for me to make inprovements. They all suggested a small pocket on the inside and a secure loop. Even though the pouch is tight and secure to hold a Iphone, they still like the idea the extra security. I will tweek it some more and will be selling these. I gave one to a guy and he really like the idea of tucking it into his back pocket and it does protects the screen on his phone. Feed back is a good thing! Im thinking about making some out of NFL and AFL fabric for the sports fans.



This is my new purse. I put together the best parts of 3 different purse patterns I got free off the net. I used cut off legs of a pair of jeans I had and some sturdy canvas material. I like this purse, lots of pockets and small.

Inside of purse. 2 more pockets on the inside, great for keeping my work id safe and a pen.

For my local quilting buddies (southeast Virginia/northeast North Carolina) who read my blog. I have started a Quilt Binding Service. I have always said that the binding on a quilt is a necessary evil. If you have a Quilt that you would like me to finish the binding on, please contact me at Erzebatbat@aol.com. Please put in the subject line, Quilt Binding Service so I dont automatically delete ya.

Thanks for hanging in there with me and the blog.

Keep On Stitch'n On!

(mauh) Liz

another finish!

hiyall,
doll quilt for online swap finished! approx 14 in by 17 in. each block is 1 1/2 in . I used left over HSTs from another quilt I made for the shop. mock binding was used, made from scraps. machine quilted using the stitch in the ditch technique. its called, flying geese, east meets west. it is being sent to texas from virginia!
not sure what mocking binding is? here is a tutorial that I did back in December:
http://erzebat.blogspot.com/2010/12/mock-binding-tutorial.html

Keep On Stitch'n On!

(mauh) Liz

Happy Mothers Day yall!

hiyall,
Wishing everyone a Happy Mothers Day and some words of inspiration:

25 things my mother/dad/grandma taught me:


1. My grandma taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE .

"If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished cleaning."

2. My mother taught me RELIGION.

"You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

3. My grandma taught me about TIME TRAVEL.

"If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle of
next week!"

4. My dad taught me LOGIC.

"Because I said so, that's why."

5. My dad taught me MORE LOGIC .

"If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going
to the store with
me."

6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.

"Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

7. My grandma taught me IRONY.

"Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.

"Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

9. My grandma taught me about CONTORTIONISM.

"Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

10. My grandma taught me about STAMINA.

"You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

11. My dad taught me about WEATHER.

"This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

12. My dad taught me about HYPOCRISY.

"If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't exaggerate!"

13. My dad taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.

"I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.

"Stop acting like your father!"

15. My mother taught me about ENVY.

"There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't
have wonderful parents
like you do."

16. My grandma taught me about ANTICIPATION.

"Just wait until we get home."

17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING.

"You are going to get it when you get home!"

18. My grandma taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.

"If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to get stuck that way."

19. My mother taught me ESP.

"Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

20. My dad taught me HUMOR.

"When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

21. My grandma taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.

"If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

22. My mother taught me GENETICS.

"You're just like your father."

23. My dad taught me about my ROOTS.

"Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

24. My grandma taught me WISDOM.

"When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

25. My dad taught me about JUSTICE.

"One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!"
Keep On Stitch'n On!
(mauh) Liz

mail call!

my prize from aurifil thread arrived today! since blogger is not being nice tonight I won't be able to caption each pictures. love the collection. only disppointment was that the spools are small. 200 meters. in the last picture is the size spool (on the right) I though I was getting, 1300 meters. no worries, I love this collection and I will put it to good use! I am saving the spool that I named shamrock spring for a special quilter I know. she has been busy dealing with a sick granchild and this spool just might perk her up since she loves the name I gave it but lost the contest. the spool that I named that won this collection for me is called storm at sea. a wonderful deep blue varigate. that one I am keeping! there will be a blog giveaway coming this weekend. stay tuned for details!

to all my quilting buddies in the midwest and deep south who are having to deal with tornado warnings just about every day, my good thoughts and the grannies are thinking about you! be safe and head to the basement!

Keep On Stitch'n On!
(mauh) Liz

hoppy easter yall!

squishies and recycling

hiyall,

this week has been a jackpot in the squishie mail! first, my local blogger buddy Lola

http://ansewon.blogspot.com/

sent a wonderful giftie of a side purse made from the selvages just like the one she wore at the Quilt show in Feb. I admired and drooled over it and she said she was making me one. I kinda forgot about it til I saw it one her blog. Next thing I know, I have one in my mail box! She also sent a stinkin' adorable wall hanging of CAMELS pattern!! I love and collect camels (mainly cause I was born in Morocco, former Navy brat here) and she saw it at the quilt show and bought it. Funny thing is, I was standing right there when she did it! Had no clue that she had done that! She is so generous and sneaky that way. If you like to see more details, go to her blog and check it out. She posted a lot of pictures with details. This woman is very creative! Love, Love, Love it!

Another friend Melissa with the Quiltville Yahoo group I am in, had a bunch of cuff and collars left over form cutting up a couple of dozen shirts she got from the thrift shop. Bonnie Hunter has a couple of books out on how to make quilts from thrift shop 100% cotton shirts.

http://quiltville.blogspot.com/

She said she had no use for the cuff and collars after she gleaned the buttons and usable material. She offered them to anyone who would pay for the postage. I resisted at first but then I said, what the heck I asked for them. She sent them this week. Look at all the wonderful pieces she sent me! I wasn't sure what the heck I was going to do with them. I do enjoy a challenge when it comes to recycling unusual cloth items. Then I had a light bulb moment. This pieces are long and wide enough for pouches! Take a collar and matching cuffs and make a coin purse!

I had a template I made from my favorite coin purse that had seen better days. I played with the template to fit the collar. Cut out 2 pieces. then I use template again and use it to make the cuffs as side pockets in the coin purse. use a coated elastic piece and a button for the side pockets closure and a zipper closure for the main body. made a tab from the left over welt on the collar and keyring. I am very pleased withe results.

The purse is about 5 1/2 inches long, I plan on shortening that just a tad. 3 inches tall and 1/2 wide. side pockets will hold credit, loyalty, business cards. zipper will keep what little cash you may have secure. Ribbon on the zipper fob to easy opening.

Didn't take long to make but there are a lot of details in making it. I may do a tutorial on how to make it as soon as I learn how to incorporate into a PDF file. Since the collars already have facing and interface there is no need for lining or enforcing the walls. My plan is to make up all the collars and cuffs into some kind of pouches and sell them thru my facebook page. If they dont sell, I will have xmas gifties for later this year.

Keep On Stitch'n On!

(mauh) Liz

shameless plug

hiyall, I was on face book and befriended Aurifil Threads. they are running a contest sort of called 'name that variegated thread'. I named (among hundreds of other people) a spool variegated green "Shamrock Spring'. I was of three chosen for the name. Shamrock Spring is up for voting. If and when I win I will win a collection of variegated threads for my stash. Please vote for me, you will be my bestest friend! http://www.facebook.com/?ref=hp#!/aurifil.quilt.thread Keep On Stitch'n On! (mauh) Liz Editors note! I didnt win :( Shamrock Spring lost by 2 friggin'votes! 2 votes! yeeesshhhhh.......good news is, unbeknownst to me, another varigated thread that I submitted a name to was also put up for a vote AND I WON!!!!!!!!! I won 36 spools of varigated thread from Aurifil!!! woohoooo! this thread is 50 wt and Im told it great for machine quilting. what color was the winning name? a spool of varigated blue, I called it Storm at Sea. it reminded me of the imfamous quilt pattern in blue and white that was all the rage several years ago. When I get my hot, sweaty dingbat hands on those spools, there will be a giveaway on this blog! Thanks to all who voted for shamrock springs! (mauh) Liz

quickie tutorial

hiyall, How is the weather in your neck of the woods today? Mine is cold wet and nasty! A little further north there is SNOW! Snow? in late March??? Oh yeah, the Circus is coming to town, of course there is snow (snicker-snort). Never fails.....Circus = Snow...... My bones are aching with all this dampness. Time to drag out the ol' heating pad. Of course I have lost the heating pad cover somewhere. I think I went to wash it and it poofed. No worries, I will make a new cover. My tutorial today is about how to make a quick and easy, cheap cover for your heating pad.

This is heating pad, nekked as a jay bird. It has a plastic cover and

could make me sweat if I use it without a cloth cover.

Off to the dollar store to get a nice 100% cotton

tea towel. This one is in my favorite color, RED,

with pretty color threads running thru it. Its

approx. 20'' x 28'' Perfect size to cover the heating pad.

Looked into my stash of notions and found some Velcro.

Fold towel in half, place heating pad on top.

Trim to fit your pad. Make the cover oversize so when

you go to wash it, it wont shrink too small.

Of course you can prewash it to preshrink too.

Hem the top of the towel if you need too. I didn't have to on

this one because it was just the right size with a little

shrinking room. One less step for me to do.

Evenly space your Velcro and stitch in place.

Stitch up the sides with a 1/4 in seam allowance and zig zag

to finish off the seams. If you have a serger this step will go

faster. Turn inside out and slip over the heating pad.

taaadaaaaa! A new heating pad cover and it cost you less

than a $1.50 to make! Of course you can make a fancy one

by making a mini quilt and do some fancy machine

quilting on it. For me it would make it too thick

and I would not feel the heat. This one is thick enough to

protect my skin, but thin enough for me to enjoy

the heat. I like it! Took less than 20 mins to make

it and get it on the heating pad! I am thinking this

would make cute little sneaky gift. You know, go to a friends house

and leave a little gift without their knowledge and they

find it and wonder where it came from........

Keep On Stitch'n On!

(mauh) Liz

One Star Challenge

hiyall,

I actually got to sew this weekend! I am partipating in the Just One Star Challenge being promoted by United Notions/Moda Fabrics. I made 3, one for granpa(army), one for dad (navy)

and one for the unknown solider. I got the info and instructions from here:

http://minickandsimpson.blogspot.com/2011/03/just-one-star-tutorial.html

I encourage all of yall to join this challenge, let show our military folks we appreciate their service and honor our wounded men and women!

Keep On Stitch'n On!

(mauh) Liz

give away at Barbs!

hiyall,

I was doing some blog surfing and was reading one of my favorite blogs http://bejeweledquilts.blogspot.com/

Barb is having a give away on some iddy biddy bird buttons from South Africa that are so stinkin' cute! Please go to her blog and read all about it!

Keep On Stitch'n On!
(mauh) Liz

P.S. The Sarcastic Quilter is having a giveaway too! please go to her blog and check it out too!
http://sarcasticquilter.blogspot.com/

its yummy turnover, cute cute cute!

dont pay the ransome! I have escaped!

hiyall,

I know it been almost 2 months since my last post but stinkin' life got into my way.

First thing that happen was a dead battery. During the snow storm right after xmas, I was kinda house bound and didnt run the car. the day I can go back to work I have a dead battery. Nephew and beloved monkey boy came to my rescue. Nephew bought the new battery and BMB and I changed it out. I printed out the instuction off the net and it wasnt that hard to do. As we were changing out the battery I discovered that I had a bad tire! Apprently when the car manufacturer tell you fill your tires according to the sticker on the door and not the tire they mean it! I was putting way to much air in them and ruined one of them. since they are fancy smancy low profile, it cost me big time.

The day I plan on doing a post about the battery and tire, a water pipe busted in my house. It was a mess, took almost 4 weeks for my house to get back in order. Good news is, I got new carpet! I chose a med to light gray. As you know gray is a hot neutral! I am please with my choice of color.

During the restoration, Abby the wonder dog found not one but 2 rats! She caught one in the house and right outside the door. grrrrrr. as we were packing up the house, she found a couple of dead country field mice near the fireplace. You figure that with all the ferral cats in my hood we would have the rodent problems!

The Mid Atlantic quilt festival was this weekend and I went 2 days out of the 4. we had a little bit of an controversy at this show. Apprently a few quilters were offended bu a wall quilt. Made the local news and went viral on the internet!

http://www.wavy.com/dpp/news/local_news/sexually-explicit-quilt-on-display

I saw this quilt, its not porn, its one of those high end artsy fartsy type of wall hanging. It textile art, I have seen worse. The construction was not the best, although I think it was meant to be that way. I took alot of pictures and posted them on my FaceBook page. here is a link, non facebook people can see them too by following this link.

http://www.facebook.com/#!/album.php?aid=368548&id=758713081

I didnt buy much, a few fat quarters, a graphite pencil for stenciling machine quilting patterns. There were more vendors this year but alot of the sme ol' stuff. I talked to some of the vendors and they did well. better than last year which is encouraging. many vendors dropped out because of the soft sales. which is a shame, they could have lasted one more year.

I made a cute little side purse to wear and use at the show. I like it so much I will make it out of different fabric for the occasions. I made this out of a jeans leg I had lying around. I put a long strap on it to wear across the body. I got alot of compliments on it.

I met 2 AOL quilting chatroomies! The ladies are a hoot. Its always nice to put faces to the screen names.


me, helen, carol

I also met up with a couple of blogging buddies, Lola and Alice.

http://ansewon.blogspot.com/

http://aliceinquilterland.blogspot.com/

Those 2 can pack a mean picnic. They invited me to join them along with Lola's niece. We had bagel samwiches, deli meat kabobs, devil eggs, and smack yo granma delish brownies and pecan bars. We sat there in the lobby and eat til we wanted to bust. We were laughing so hard people were staring....

yummy food!

I do declare Ms Lola, you are lookin' finer than frogs hair!



Ms Alice and Lola's Niece (who name escapes me) lickin' their fingers it was so good!

I will try to be a better blogger!

Keep On Stitch'n On!

(mauh) Liz